HomeMy WebLinkAboutESJ 2026-04-02 MinutesTukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
TTE E ES
Jo Anderson
Maryan Abdow
Aaron Draganov
Joe Duffie
Kathy Hougardy
Kristen Schwabe -Frye
Eric Lund, Guest
Kris Kelly, Guest
Call to Order
II Introduction (2 minutes)
III Approval of Agenda (2 minutes) Commissioners voted unanimously to reorder business items —
tabling the Ice Breakers to discuss the proposed Encampment Ordinance Amendments.
IV Approval of Minutes, March 5, 2026 (2 minutes)
V Business Items
• Proposed Tukwila Municipal Code Amendments Regarding Encampments on Public
Property
Deputy Chief of Police, Eric Lund, presented; Parks Deputy Director Kris Kelly joined a
few minutes later for Q&A. Lund described the underlying issue being addressed is
liability for the City; amendment provides TPD legal authority to make it a
misdemeanor.
Commissioner discussion and questions included the following:
o Must it be classified a misdemeanor? And if so, more about the Courts'
policies/procedures for handling fines/jail time for such cases.
o Is it possible to codify TPD's procedures for providing support services in the
ordinance? Currently TPD procedure is to go to the site with a co -responder,
provide a warning that individuals must leave within 7 days. When are TPD
policies/procedures updated and how are these changes flagged?
o Commissioners requested that the ordinance read `punishable with up to $1,000
fine/90 days in jail' if an individual refuses to leave/must be removed after a 7-
Tukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
day warning expires. TPDs protocol is to offer support services, but most decline
or shelter is not available/criteria not met.
o Removing people and cleaning encampments is costly; what can be done to
invest in prevention? Dedicated staff, shelters, etc.
o What are other human -centered approaches to protect everyone involved,
including the environment.
o A roundtable discussion with service providers and those most impacted to be
scheduled; Commissioners suggest the City's human services staff and
potentially a rep from Neighborhood House, KCHA and Plymouth Housing.
o We will discuss again at our May 7 meeting. Ordinance Timeframe will likely be
as follows: 6/22 Community Safety & Services > 7/13 COW > 7/20 Regular for
adoption. There will also likely be a public hearing.
• Review Supporting Community -Led Programming and Cultural Celebrations
Commissioners reviewed a draft Cultural Programs & Recognition — Interest Application.
General feedback was positive with a request to translate. The application and process
will be finalized at the May meeting.
• 2026 Work Plan
Tabled.
VI Miscellaneous
• The State of the City is April 29, doors open at 5pm at Foster High School; the Voices of
Tukwila Choir is still seeking volunteers to participate.
• The Tukwila Historical Society is holding the next Stories of Arrival featuring former
Tukwila Councilmember Mohamed Abdi on April 15, 7pm. Seeking ideas for upcoming
speakers.