Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee 8/12/2026

All right.

Good morning, everyone.

The August 12th, 2026 meeting of the library's education and neighborhoods committee will come to order.

It's 933 AM.

I'm Maritza Rivera, chair of the committee.

Will the clerk please call the roll.

Council member Lin.

Here.

Council member Rink.

Here.

Vice chair Hollingsworth.

Chair Rivera.

Present.

Three present.

Please note for the record that Councilmember Foster is excused from today's meeting and Council President is excused until she arrives.

There are 19 items of business on today's agenda.

As you know, many of this year's meetings of the Library's Education and Neighborhoods Committee were taken up by the Seattle Library Levy work.

and the Families Education Preschool and Promise Levy implementation and evaluation plan legislation.

That meant that this committee was unable to vote on some appointments and landmark designations.

So we're gonna catch up today.

We will be considering and voting on several appointments to the Families Education Preschool and Promise Levy Oversight Committee and appointments to the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board, the Landmarks Preservation Board, the International Special Review District Board, and the Community Involvement Commission, as well as in positions of historical landmark controls on the Wild Street Field House and the Burwell House.

On to today's agenda.

If there's no objection, the agenda will be adopted.

Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted.

We will now open the hybrid public comment period.

Public comments should relate to items either on the agenda or within the purview of this committee.

Clerk, how many speakers are signed up today?

Two in person, then remote.

Thank you.

Given that each speaker will have two minutes.

Clerk, will you please read the public comment instructions?

The public comment period will be moderated in the following manner.

The public comment period is up to 60 minutes.

Each speaker will have two minutes.

Speakers will be called in the order in which they registered.

We will start with the in-person speakers.

Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left of their time.

The public comment period is now open.

We'll begin with the first speaker on the list, starting with Bryce and then Jeff Burdock.

Welcome.

Yes, any of the mics work, actually.

You can, if the taller one works better for you, you can use that.

I'm sorry?

If the taller one works better for you, you can use that.

There you go.

I think this will be okay.

Is that better?

I'll be looking down here.

Okay.

Ready to go?

You may begin, yes.

Good morning.

I'm Bryce Sighton.

My wife, Chris, and I are owners of the Burwell House, subject of the last item on the agenda.

I'm here to ask you to approve the incentives and controls agreement with the staff.

of the Landmarks Board over a year ago on May 29, 2025 for the House at 709 14th Avenue East.

You have a very complete report in the form of the Landmarks Board report in your meeting materials.

Look at it where it's full of rich Seattle history.

The House was built in 1904 atop Capitol Hill and what a few years later became known as Millionaire's Row.

It's historically important for many reasons.

The architect was James Schack, noted for many important buildings in Seattle, like the First Congregational Church at Fifth and Marion.

The 8,400 square foot house is an extraordinary work of early example of arts and crafts, craftsman architecture, predating the 1909 AYP exhibition where the form became popularized.

was built by Anson and Gertrude Burwell.

Anson was a highly successful businessman building saddle hardware into a major international firm.

In addition, he was very important in civic and cultural affairs.

He served on the board of the YMCA for about 40 years, leading it from solely providing Christian education classes into providing a safe place for young men to pursue other classes, to have physical education opportunities at the gym and more, changing the role of the YMCA.

for young men and the whole community.

So this house anchoring the Millionaire's Row National Historic District atop Capitol Hill is not just a monument to extraordinary architecture and craftsmanship, but a reminder of a great civic leader who expanded the scope and inclusivity of the YMCA to the benefit of thousands of young men in the community at large.

We want it protected as these wonderful structures are the framework upon which important stories of the men and women like the Burwells who shaped our city are hung.

Controls and incentives agreement is simple and straightforward.

Please approve it and move it forward for formal adoption by the full City Council.

And tours of this landmark house are always available.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Good morning.

I'm Jeff Murdock and I'm speaking on behalf of Historic Seattle this morning.

We are a PDA focused on saving the meaningful places in our city that matter most to their communities.

We believe that historic places provide an essential link to our shared past, remind us who we are as Seattleites and can help to guide us as we plan the future.

This morning I'm speaking in support of two historic properties both unanimously designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board.

and submitted by their respective individual property owners.

Both properties are significant landmarks to their communities.

As you heard, the Burwell House is a Capitol Hill mansion of 1904, one of Seattle's great houses, and a contributing resource in a National Register District on 14th Avenue East.

The house has been restored and well cared for by its owners.

We want to thank and congratulate Bryce and Chris Seidel for being such excellent stewards of the house, for researching its history, and for bringing the nomination forward.

It's really a fascinating story.

The Wild Stretfield House on the steep west slope of West Queen Anne is the life's work of its owners, UW Professor Emeritus, David Stretfield, and his wife, Madeline Wild.

Madeline cared for the garden and published a recurring column about her experiences in the Pacific Northwest garden in her local paper.

David is a landscape architect and historian, educator, and author.

The story of this landmark really revolves around the remarkable woodland garden that he and Madeline created and designed and created over many years.

The landscape surrounds a 1911 craftsman house, which has also been lovingly cared for.

We again want to thank both property owners for bringing these nominations forward and for their stewardship of the landmarks, and we encourage you to vote to approve designating ordinances on both properties.

Thank you for considering our comments.

Thank you.

That concludes the public comment.

That's it?

Okay.

I thought there was one online.

Okay.

There are no additional registered speakers.

The public comment period is now closed.

We'll proceed to our items of business.

Everyone, given the number of appointments for today, we'll introduce each of the separate boards, commissions, and councils independently, but then we'll vote on all boards and commission appointees in full later.

I'd like to acknowledge, oh, sorry.

Clerk, do we read them into the record?

Agenda items 1 through 12. Appointments of Laquea Afolulu, Leon Garnett, Amruta Main, Sophia Michaelis, Gerard Montejo Thomas, as members of the Families Education Preschool and Promise Level Oversight for term to December 31st, 2027. And appointments of Jessica Tolanar, Cafferty, Gabriel De Los Angeles, Fatima Garcia, Lisbeth Hafizar, Erica K. Johnson, Zamzam Mohamed and James Williams as members Family Education Preschool and Promise Lovie Oversight Committee for term to December 31st, 2028 for briefing discussion and possible vote.

Thank you, Clerk.

Director Chappell will be joining us at the table and introducing and presenting our LOC appointments.

Good morning, Director.

My friend, Director Chappelle, will you please state your name for the record and then you may begin introducing the LOC, FEP, LOC appointments.

Good morning, I'm Dr. Duane Chappelle, Director of the Department of Education and Early Learning.

Good morning, Council Member Rivera, Council, excuse me, Council Member Rink and other Council Members that are on the call this morning.

So I am enthused, but I'm also joined today in chambers by DIL's staff, representatives from Human Service Department, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment.

And we are all energized to be here today to confirm mayoral and council appointees to the Every Child Ready Families Education Preschool and Promise Levy Oversight Committee.

We call it the LOC.

The LOC plays an important advisory and oversight function to ensure city departments make good on our commitments to public and work strategically with our partners to advance progress on important child, youth, and family outcomes.

The LOC will be champions for equity, informing investment and evaluation design, and providing mid-implementation guidance to departments.

So we're excited about that.

Deals saw historic levels of interest in joining the Every Child Ready FEP LOC with 47 applicants for 12 community-appointed positions.

And I'll say it again, 47 applicants for 12 community-appointed positions.

positions.

It was very challenging for appointing bodies to make their selections.

For the members of the viewing public, I just want to encourage you to stay connected to DEAL by signing up for our newsletter and watching out for additional opportunities to join the Oversight Committee through 2031. And with that, Councilmember, I'd like to now partner with you, Chair, to introduce our appointees.

All right, sounds great.

And just to underscore what Director Chappelle and Dr. Chappelle, he's both Dr. and Director Chappelle, said about the FEP-LOC, we really can't do the work without the FEP-LOC.

These are important appointments because to Dr. Director Chappelle's point, they help us make true to the commitments that we make to students.

children and their families via this FEP levy.

So this is a really important piece and as always I'm so grateful that folks are equally committed as we are to helping that they volunteer to sit in these roles.

There are great partners in this work and so I really appreciate all their efforts and their willingness to volunteer to take on these roles.

Director Chappell, do you wanna start presenting?

I will.

And I think what you'll do is give a short bio of each, correct?

Okay, yes.

Yeah, great.

Our first, I'll start with Dr. Lakia Afalalu.

Dr. Aki is an Assistant Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Washington.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Lakia works directly within schools and community spaces through the Seattle Multilingual Collective.

Dr. Lakia is a returning member of the FEP Levy Oversight Committee, as she served previously as part of the 2018 LOC.

So it is an absolute pleasure to welcome her back.

The next is Leon Garnett.

Leon Garnett resides in Council District 3 and serves as the Director of Community Partnerships and Operations at Seattle Children's Hospital Equity Institute.

His experience includes program development and evaluation, including steering engagement strategies that impact maternal, infant, and child health outcomes.

We are excited to have his perspective on the LOC, as the 2025 levy now includes birth to three investments.

The next I would like to congratulate is Amruta Main, who is a resident of Council District 1 and serves as the Executive Director of Sound Child Care Solutions, an early learning consortium of 10 programs here in Seattle.

Amruta has a passion for access to high quality preschool and is a champion for the early learning workforce.

Her experience will be an asset during her time on the LLC.

Next is, we would like to congratulate, is Sophia Minkalakis.

Sophia is a resident of Council District 6 and the Managing Director at Phila Engaged Living, excuse me, Giving, which is a philanthropic advisory firm.

She is a Seattle native dedicated to reviewing program data and outcomes, which is fully aligned with the data-driven approach of the FEP levy.

So congratulations on your appointment, Sophia.

Next is Gerard Montejo-Thompson, who was a resident of Council District 3 and a member of the Seattle Education Association.

In the upcoming school year, he will cultivate the genius of young people as a teacher at Decatur Elementary.

Gerard previously served on the 2018 Feb Levy Oversight Committee in his capacity as SEA President.

We welcome him to the 2025 LOC and know his real-time connection to classroom instruction will be important to our work.

Next, we would like to congratulate Jessica Tallarney Cafferty.

And Jessica joins the LLC as a representative of King County's Best Starts for Kids levy.

Jessica is one of two co-leads for the BSK and a close working partner of DEAL.

Her presence on the committee helps promote alignment between city and the county in the areas of shared priority from childcare to youth development and health.

We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to partner.

So welcome, Jessica.

The next is Gabriel de Los Angeles.

Gabriel is the son of Chief Andy de Los Angeles of the Snoqualmie Tribe, is a resident of Council District 5. Gabriel is his tribe's first Director of Education and former Board President of the Indian Parent Advisory Committee at Seattle Public Schools.

DIL is committed to evaluating, excuse me, elevating the voices of Native and Indigenous community and ensuring the community's needs are centered in our work.

Gabriel's participation on the LOC proves crucial for us.

So welcome, Gabriel.

Next is Fatima Garcia.

Fatima Garcia is a resident of Council District 2, and she is also a graduate of the Seattle Promise and Path to UW programs.

Fatima...

remains actively involved with the community by advocating for access to post-secondary education for students from underrepresented communities.

Fatima's participation on the LOC as the youngest ever member is intentional.

Her lived experience growing up here in Seattle, attending Seattle Public Schools, and participating in FEP-Levy-funded program is exactly what our LOC needs.

Congratulations, Fatima.

Next we have is Liz Hussar.

Liz is a resident of Council District 2 and the Executive Director of the Southeast Seattle Education Coalition.

She is no stranger to this room.

Liz has a long history of community advocacy and is a proven, trusted messenger to many in Seattle.

Her presence on the LOC brings a strong community-informed perspective.

So I'm glad to have you on the committee and welcome, Liz.

Next is Erica Johnson.

Erica Johnson is a resident of Council District 4 and the Chief Impact Officer at Woodland Park Zoo.

For many, Erica is a familiar face, as she previously steered city policy for the Seattle Preschool Program and other early learning investments.

Her perspective as a community partner providing STEM and career exposure opportunities for young people is right on time with our 2025 Levy vision.

So welcome back, Erica.

It is a pleasure to collaborate with you again.

And our next individual is Zamzam Mohamed.

Zamzam Mohamed is a resident of Council District 2, and is the CEO and co-founder of Voices of Tomorrow.

Her work centers immigrant and refugee families with a strong focus on a culturally specific and responsive approach.

Zamzam's commitment to transparent, community-led policy-making is proven through her decades-long work here in Seattle, and so we'd like to welcome you, too.

And our last LOC member is James Williams.

James Williams is a resident of Council District 7 and a US Army veteran.

He brings experience in technical literacy and strategic planning, and a passion for young people's development and career success.

So we would like to also welcome you, James, and thank you for your service.

Council Chair, I'll pass it back over to you.

Those are all of our appointees.

Terrific.

Thank you, Director Chappelle.

Are any of them in chambers this morning?

Will you please stand so you're recognized?

All right.

Thank you so much for your service.

All right, colleagues.

Do any of my colleagues have questions or comments?

If not, let me see, Council Member Lynn's online.

All right, then we're gonna move to a vote and confirm these appointees.

I move that the committee recommend confirmation of appointments 3577 through 3588. Is there a second?

Second.

It is moved and seconded to confirm the appointments.

Are there any further comments?

Will the clerk please call the roll on the confirmation of the appointments?

Council Member Lynn?

Yes.

Council member Rink.

Yes.

And Charity Vetta.

Aye.

Three in favor and none opposed.

Thank you, clerk.

The motion carries and the recommendation that the appointments be confirmed will be sent to the August 18th, 2026 city council meeting.

We will now move on to the next agenda items.

Thank you, director Chappelle.

Will the clerk please read agenda items 13 and 14 into the record.

Agenda items 13 and 14 appointments 3589 and 3590 reappointment and appointment of Joe Krentz and Leslie Marin as members Ballard Avenue landmark district board for term to June 30th, 2028 for briefing discussion and possible vote.

Thank you clerk.

We are joined by Lydia Fatalia with the Department of Neighborhoods who will present our commission appointees.

Lydia, please state your name for the record and then you may begin.

And I see you brought some friends with you.

So everyone, if they can state their names for the record.

Good morning.

I'm Sarah Soat with the City's Historic Preservation Program and DON.

I'm Rebecca Freestead, also with the Department of Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Program.

And Chow Lee, Department of Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Program.

Good morning.

Lydia Faitalia, Civic Engagement Manager for the Department of Neighborhoods.

Good morning.

Thank you.

Lydia, you can begin.

I'm not sure how you all are going to divide this up, but we've got these two appointments.

So who's going to present?

Joe Krentz and Leslie Marin.

That will be Min Chow.

Go ahead.

You may begin.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So beginning in the order that you stated, Chairperson, I will start with Joe Crenz, a reappointment.

The reappointment is a lead Green Associate credentialed architect with a deep appreciation for the Landmark District, where he lives, volunteers, enjoys the thriving small business scene, and has served as a Landmark District board member since December 2025. His architectural practice has spanned the west coast of the USA, in Japan, Singapore, and Beijing.

In 2025, he received the distinction of being selected for the Metropolis Seattle Arc 30 cohort, which recognizes architectural talent among professionals under the age of 35. The second we will move on to the new appointee Leslie Marin.

Ms. Marin owns several properties in the Ballard Avenue Landmark District that exemplify the district's pedestrian scaled architecture and its spirit of cultivating unique independently owned businesses.

Her professional experiences in history and public facing cultural organizations are highly relevant to the board's work.

She previously operated a small business in the district, further enriching her perspective on its past, present, and future.

Thank you very much.

Are either of them in the audience today?

All right.

There you are.

Would you mind standing and being recognized?

Thank you so much for your...

for volunteering and your willingness to serve in this role.

Colleagues, do you have any questions or comments?

If not, I'm gonna move that the committee recommend confirmation of appointments 3589 and 3590. Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you, Council Member Rank.

It is moved and seconded to confirm the appointments.

Are there any further comments?

Clerk, will you please call the roll on confirmation of the appointments?

Council Member Lin.

Yes.

Council Member Rink.

Yes.

And Charity Vetta.

Aye.

Three in favor and none opposed.

Thank you.

The motion carries and the recommendation that the appointments be confirmed will be sent to the August 18, 2026 City Council meeting.

We will now move on to the next agenda items.

Agenda items 15 through 17, appointments 3591 through 3593. Appointment of Dan Sloat as member Landmarks Preservation Board for term to August 14th, 2028. Appointment of Hugh Pham as member International Special Review District Board for term to December 31st, 2027. And reappointment of Rochelle C. Olden as member Community Involvement Commission for term to May 31st, 2028 for briefing discussion and possible vote.

Thank you, Clerk.

All right, back to the Department of Neighborhoods.

Are you each presenting one of these individuals?

Okay, let's start with Dan Sloat.

Yes, thank you.

So Dan Sloat is a licensed structural engineer in Washington State with 12 years of experience at Deakin-Kolb Engineers.

Dan holds a Master's of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Washington and had the opportunity to rehabilitate UW's Eagleson Hall, a Seattle landmark.

He is an industry leader in technical preservation practices and helped shape our engineering and construction codes.

Dan is passionate about local history and the opportunity to physically preserve the built environment and the stories it tells.

We look forward to his participation on the Landmarks Preservation Board and sharing his engineering expertise.

Thank you.

We'll go next to Huey Pham.

I'm so sorry if I mispronounced that.

Go ahead.

So I'm enthusiastically introducing the appointment of Huy Fem as one of the two appointed members on the International Special Review District Board for a term ending on December 31st, 2027. Huy is an executive director of the Asian and Pacific Islanders in Historic Preservation or APIHIP based out of Seattle.

He has a BA in architecture and an MS in historic preservation and communication studies.

He previously worked for the city of San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation and currently serves on the King County Landmarks Commission and the Executive Committee of the Friends of Little Saigon Board and For Culture's Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.

Wee aims to apply his expertise by giving back to the local community.

He has experience applying policy tools to design proposals and understands the value of the Preservation Board in helping to guide the future of the community.

And Wee is joining us in the audience today.

Terrific.

Thank you.

And then Rachel Olden, who will be...

Go ahead, Lydia.

Thank you, Chair.

Good morning, Committee Chair Rivera and esteemed committee members, Council Member Rank, and Council Member Lynn, who is online.

My name is Lydia Feitslea.

I am the Civic Engagement Manager for the Department of Neighborhoods.

I am pleased to present one appointment to the Community Involvement Commission.

We are grateful to this community member for their willingness to serve on the Community Involvement Commission.

Thank you for the opportunity to be here today.

In position nine, we are pleased to present the recommended appointment of Rochelle Olden.

Rochelle Olden is a seasoned professional with a rich and diverse background in marketing, tech, international development, and social advocacy.

As a senior product marketing manager at Google, she leads the Tech Equity Collective, an initiative focused on advancing black innovation in tech.

Her journey began as a first generation college student, growing up as the oldest of four siblings in a single parent home in both Brooklyn, New York, and Columbia, South Carolina.

Rochelle has traveled to over 54 countries gaining invaluable perspective along the way.

Her career started with the US Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic and continued with impactful roles at the UN World Food Program in Liberia and World Vision International in Latin America.

She has also worked with the Clinton Foundation, the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, and the Bill Gates and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she focused on addressing social issues and promoting equity.

With an MBA from Duke University, Rochelle transitioned to Microsoft where she managed global industry partnerships.

In 2023, she was honored to be named one of Puget Sound's 40 Under 40 and featured in Essence Magazine's inaugural Power 40 list.

Outside of her professional life, Rochelle is a certified yoga instructor and enjoys teaching at shelters for homeless women.

I just wanna note Chair Rivera that Ms. Olden is watching.

Thank you.

Terrific.

Thank you, Lydia.

And thank you, Department of Neighborhoods for presenting these three appointments to three different boards.

Colleagues, we're gonna, even though there are three different boards and commissions, we just heard about each of the appointees and I'd like to go ahead and vote on them together unless anyone would like to request a separate vote.

I'm not seeing that.

So we will do that.

But first I do wanna recognize You have Dan Sloat, Hui Pham, and I know Rochelle's online, so wanna thank Rochelle online for your willingness to volunteer in this important role.

Hui, I think Hui, sorry, is in the audience.

Do you wanna stand and get recognized?

And Dan Sloat, are you in the audience?

There you are.

All right, thank you for your service.

We are so fortunate that so many folks want to serve in these volunteer roles and have the benefit of their experience into these roles.

So thank you for your service colleagues.

All right, we're gonna go to a vote unless there are any questions or comments.

All right, I move the committee recommend confirmation of appointments 3591 through 3593. Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you, Council Member Rank.

It is moved and seconded to confirm the appointments.

Are there any further comments?

Will the clerk please call the roll on the confirmation of the appointments?

Council Member Lin.

Yes.

Council Member Rink.

Yes.

And Chair DeVetta.

Aye.

Three in favor and none opposed.

Thank you, Clerk.

The motion carries and the recommendation that the appointments be confirmed will be sent to the August 18th, 2026 City Council Committee.

We will now move on to the next agenda items.

Thank you.

Thank you all for being here.

Will the clerk please read agenda items 18 and 19 into the record?

Agenda items 18 and 19, council bills 121, 274 and 121, 273, an ordinance relating to historic preservation, posing controls upon the Wild Stratford House, a landmark designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board, and an ordinance relating to historic preservation, posing controls upon the Burwell House, a landmark designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board, for briefing discussion and a possible vote.

Thank you, clerk.

These designations have been read into the record.

We'll present each separately and take a separate vote on each.

Are you presenting both?

Yes.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Will you restate your name for the record again and then go ahead and present?

Sure.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Sarah Soat with the Department of Neighborhoods.

Great.

Thank you, Sarah.

And we'll do them separately.

So why don't we do the first and then we'll take a vote and then I'll have you present the second one.

Okay.

Is there anything I need to do on the screen?

Thank you.

So Sarah, we'll start with the Wild Stretfield House while we're getting set up with IT.

Thank you.

All right, good morning.

Good morning.

Historic preservation works in collaboration with communities to preserve places that are identified as important to people.

Keeping a tangible connection with the past helps foster community belonging in the present and the future.

So would you like me to go over the designation standards really quick, just as a general overview, or do you want me to just move forward with them?

You can review the standards for anyone who's watching online.

I know we've done these before, but it's been a while.

Yeah.

Thank you, Sarah.

Let me just make it so I can see everything.

So these are the guidelines by which you all, that Landmarks Preservation Board designates.

In order to be designated, the building object or site must be now at least 40 years old and must meet at least one of six designation standards outlined in the ordinance under SMC 2512-350.

So A, it is the location of or associated in a significant way with a historic event with a significant effect on the community, city, state, or nation, or it is associated in a significant way with the life of a person, or is associated in a significant way with a significant aspect of the cultural, political, or economic heritage.

or it embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, period, or method of construction, it is an outstanding work of a designer or builder, or because of its prominence of spatial location, contrast of sighting, age, or scale, it is an easily identifiable visual feature of its neighborhood.

So in addition to meeting one of these standards, the object's site or improvement must also possess integrity or ability to convey its significance.

So the first ordinance that I have to present codifies the controls and incentives agreement signed by the property owner and myself.

The owner, David Stratfield, nominated the property, and the application was authored by local historians Susan Boyle and David Peterson.

So the Stratfield Wild House is located on the west slope of Queen Anne.

It was designated in May of 2025 under standards D and E.

The controlled features are the site and the exterior of the house.

It was built in 1911, and the architect was Frederick M. Barnes.

So the house appears to be a two-story house as seen from the street, but the site has a very steep slope dropping 32 feet from east to west.

The craftsman style structure has four levels, two below street level, and it houses two residents.

The engineering of the house features four large concrete buttresses supporting the house and the four-story octagonal tower with stunning views of the Olympics and Elliott Bay.

David Stratfield purchased this property with his late wife, Madeline Wilde, in 1986. They carefully stewarded the house through a sensitive historic rehabilitation and design, planted, and tended the unique garden spaces for four decades.

The Landmarks Board recognized the significance of the house and its architecture but were equally impressed by the character of the site and landscape garden design that was the work of Wilde and Strattfield.

The upper front yard is a small outdoor room surrounded by a beautiful woodland garden of shade trees and shrubs to filter light, each species carefully selected by the owners.

The steep slope and terrace gardens feature a variety of plants that were selected for the specific microclimates of the site.

Tree and planting selections reflect the Pacific Northwest, California, and the owner's time in Italy, and are shaped by their collective professional work in gardening, landscape design, and history.

Madeline Wild had a career in early computer science, but pivoted towards the natural sciences, studying horticulture, working in garden, design and later studying landscape architecture at the University of Washington, where she met David.

Ms. Wild is well known for a weekly column in Queen Anna Magnolia News that she wrote for decades, later published in a book, Notes from the Garden, creating a Pacific Northwest Sanctuary.

David Stratfield, who's Professor Stratfield to some of us here today, is a renowned landscape architect, historian, author, and beloved educator at many colleges, especially the University of Washington.

He was there since 1971. Thank you.

All right, thank you, Sarah.

Colleagues, do you have any comments or questions?

I'm not, let me see, making sure Council Member Lynn doesn't have a question.

I don't see a hand raised.

All right, if not, we're gonna vote on this item number 18. I move that the committee recommend passage of Council Bill 121274. Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you, council member Rink.

It's moved and seconded to pass the bill.

Are there any further comments?

And I should have asked, are either of the owners here this morning?

I don't believe so for this one.

Thank you, Sarah.

Will the clerk please call the roll on the passage of the bill.

Council member Lin?

Yes.

Council Member Rink.

Yes.

And Charity Vetta.

Aye.

Three in favor, none opposed.

Thank you clerk.

The motion carries and the recommendation that the bill passed will be sent to the August 16th, 2026 city council meeting.

All right.

We're gonna move on to item 19, which was council bill 121273 already read into the record by Amelia, our trustee clerk.

Sarah, go ahead and introduce the Burwell house, please.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So this ordinance is to codify the controls and incentives agreement signed by the property owners and myself.

The owners are Bryce and Chris Seidel.

They nominated the property and the application was authored by them working with DJ Kurlander and Marvin Anderson.

So the Burwell House is located on Capitol Hill.

It was designated in April, 2025 under designation standards B, D and E.

The controlled features are the site, the exterior of the house and portions of the interior, including much of the door hardware.

So it was built in 1904 and the architect was James H. Shack.

So again, the Burwell House was built in 1904 and is located two blocks south of Volunteer Park within a National Register historic district, not a local district.

The architect James H. Shaq came to Seattle in 1901, embarking on a 30-year career with a number of successful partnerships.

Shaq worked in the residential, commercial, and institutional sectors and may be best known for his design of the landmarked First United Methodist Church, just here in downtown.

So the Burwell House is an early and large example of the arts and crafts influenced residential architecture in Seattle, commissioned by Anson Burwell.

Mr. Burwell and two of his brothers moved to Seattle in the mid-1880s.

They met Martin Ballard, owner of a small local hardware store, while attending Sunday Mass at Pilgrim Congregational Church.

Ballard and his business partner were looking to expand and the Burwell brothers joined them, incorporating a Seattle hardware company, ultimately led by Anson Burwell.

Under his direction for nearly 50 years, the local company grew to support the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, eventually expanding into European and Asian markets.

Through his early business contacts, Anson Burwell became heavily involved in the YMCA, helping to expand the mission of the Y, diversifying their programs, and developing new facilities for more than four decades.

Anson and Gertrude Burwell were dedicated to civic responsibility and active in many organizations through their lives.

Bryce and Chris Seidel have owned the house since 1994. And in addition to being a talented gardener, Chris had the skills to oversee five years of careful restoration of the house.

She and Bryce preserved the original features, reversed damage done by previous owners, and rehabilitated the house with changes that are sensitive to and compatible with the historic character.

All right.

Thank you, Sarah.

and also want to acknowledge that we heard from Mr. Seidel this morning, owner of the home.

Thank you for being here.

Colleagues, do you have any questions or comments?

All right, then I think we'll go to a vote on item number 19, Council Bill 121273. I move that the committee recommend passage of this bill.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you, Council Member Rank.

It's moved and seconded to pass the bill.

Are there any further comments?

Clerk, will you please call the passage of the bill, the roll.

Council Member Lin.

Yes.

Council Member Rink?

Yes.

And Chair DiVetta?

Aye.

Three in favor and opposed.

Thank you, Amelia.

The motion carries and the recommendation that the bill passed will be sent to the August 16th, 2026 City Council meeting.

All right.

We've come...

Oh, sorry.

Apologies.

August 9th, August...

18th, 2026 City Council meeting.

Apologies, I had a wrong date in my script and I just read it.

All right, to the August 18th, 2026 City Council meeting.

Thank you, Amelia.

All right, colleagues, we've come.

Thank you, Sarah, for being here today.

Thank you so much.

I want to also recognize Erin Doherty from the Landmarks Preservation Board, who's also in the audience here.

Thank you to folks from the Department of Education and Early Learning and from the Department of Neighborhoods.

who were here today in support of either the appointments or the passage of the incentives and controls for the landmark properties.

Thank you for all for being here today.

And I wanna thank all appointees and also the owners of the homes that got landmark today.

So congratulations to all of you.

Thank you.

All right, colleagues, we're at the end of our meeting.

Are there further questions or comments?

Okay, seeing no further questions, this concludes the August 12th, 2026 meeting of the Library's Education and Neighborhoods Committee.

Our next committee meeting will take place after council recess.

That meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 at 9.30 a.m.

I also want to recognize Amelia, our trustee clerk, because she pitched in from my office today.

We so appreciate you, Amelia.

All right.

If there's no further business, this meeting will adjourn.

Hearing no further business is 10, 18 a.m.

and this meeting is adjourned.

Thank you.