F0
>>> BEFORE I GET INTO MY
COMMITTEE REPORT, I'M EXCITED
THAT TOMORROW I'M HOSTING A
TOWN HALL AT 5:30 UNTIL 7:00
P.M.
ON ZOOM.
WE'LL HAVE DR. BEN NOBLE FROM
THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE AND
DIRECTOR ALVARADO FROM THE
HOUSING OFFICE TO PROVIDE SHORT
PRESENTATIONS.
I'LL BE GIVING A QUICK OVERVIEW
OF MY WORK THIS YEAR AND I'LL
TAKE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM
DISTRICT 6 RESIDENTS.
I'M EXCTED TO PLEASE DO SIGN
UP.
THERE'S A SIGNUP FORM ON MY
WEBSITE AND IT WILL BE PUSHED
OUT IN THE NEWSLETTER AGAIN
TODAY.
BEFORE I GET INTO MY COMMITTEE
REPORT, I'M VERY EXCITED TO
REPORT BACK ABOUT THE MARITIME
AND INDUSTRIAL LANDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR THE LAST 18-PLUS
MONTHS.
LAST WEEK WE HAD THE FINAL
MEETING OF THE PROCESS AND I
THINK GOING INTO THE MEETING,
EVERYONE WAS HOLDING THEIR
BREATH BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE
WE THOUGHT WE'D REACH 80%
CONSENSUS AMONG THE GROUP.
THE PROCESS BEGAN WITH 23 STAKE
HOLDERS AND THE GROUP
OFTENTIMES DISAGREES ON ALMOST
EVERYTHING, AND IT WAS AMAZING
TO FIND AGREEMENT ON SOME VERY
IMPORTANT WAYS THAT WE CAN
IMPROVE THE MARITIME AND
INDUSTRIAL LANDS.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THE STAKE
HOLDERS REACHED AND EXCEEDED
THE 83% THRESHOLD AND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL ENCOURAGE
MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE OPPORTUNITIES IN
MARITIME AND MANUFACTURING
LOGISTICS CAREERS AND BETTER
UTILIZE THE LAND.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL NEED
TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE
COMING MONTHS AND INTO 2022
THROUGH LEGISLATION, AMENDMENTS
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING
UP THIS CONSENSUS PACKAGE IN
THE COMMITTE SOON AND
COMPLETING THIS LONG PROCESS.
WITH THIS LEVEL OF AGREEMENT,
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO OUR
MARITIME AND INDUSTRIAL LANDS.
WE'LL WAIT ANT MAYOR TO BEGIN
THE EIS PROCESS.
IT WILL BE CRITICAL THAT THESE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION ARE
TRANSMITTED IN THE FORM IN
WHICH THEY WERE AGREED UPON
LAST WEEK.
SO COLLEAGUES, I'M EXCITED TO
GIVE YOU MORE UPDATES AS THIS
SHAPES UP.
WE SHOULD BE EXPECTING
LEGISLATION AND AMENDMENTS FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN THE NEXT
FEW MONTHS TO BE TAKEN UP IN
SEPTEMBER.
AS WE MOVE INTO THE LAND USE
AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
REPORT, THIS IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN
WITH MANY OF YOU ABOUT MY
REQUEST FOR THE LEGISLATION
COMING THAT WOULD BE DESTINED
FOR MY COMMITTEE THREE MONTHS
IN ADVANCE.
I WILL ALWAYS REMAIN
CONFIDENTIAL IF YOU DON'T WANT
TO TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT
IT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR MY OFFICE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COMING
BECAUSE OF THE NOTICE REGARDING
LAND USE POLICY.
YOU MAY THINK IN THREE MONTHS
EVERYTHING LOOKS CLEAR BUT
BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY MOVING
PIECES, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT EVERYONE GIVES ME A THREE
MONTHS HEADS-UP SO WE CAN PLAN
ACCORDINGLY.
SO THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE AND NINE
ITEMS ONED TO FULL AGENDA.
WE HAVE COUNCIL BILL 12006,
OFFSETTING PROPERTY TRANSFER
FOR THE GREENWOOD SENIOR
CENTER, WHICH WE ARE EXCITED
ABOUT.
THIS IS A LONG-AWAITED BILL.
AND WE HAVE THREE BILLS WHICH
UPDATE THE GRADING CODE, MAKE
CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSTRUCTION
CODE AND UPDATES THE BOILER AND
STEAM ENGINE OPERATIONS CODE.
THERE'S A HEARING TODAY ON BILL
120080, EXTENDING THE
MORATORIUM ON REDEVELOPMENT OF
MANUFACTURING HOME PARKS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS WHILE WE
SMOOTH OUT THE PRESERVATION AS
IT WORKS ITS WAY THROUGH THE
SYSTEM.
WE PLAN TO VOTE NEXT MONDAY,
JUNE 7th.
THE JUNE 9th MEETING WILL BE
CANCELED, SO OUR NEXT MEETING
WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23rd.
I'M EXCITED TO REPORT THAT LAST
WEEK I WAS ABLE TO JOIN THE
NORTH SEATTLE INDUSTRIAL
ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR MEETING
AND RECEIVED UPDATES.
FOLLOWED UP WITH TENANT
PROTECTION LEGISLATION AND
CHECKED IN WITH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING EXEMPTIONS.
ON WEDNESDAY I ATTENDED THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE FINAL
BRIEFING ON COUNTY WIDE
POLICIES BEFORE WE VOTE NEXT
MONTH.
I ATTENDED THE FINAL MEETING OF
THE MARITIME AND INDUSTRIAL
STRATEGY WORK GROUP AND
RECEIVED BRIEFINGS FROM S-DOT
AND SAVED CITY LIGHT FOR NEXT
ITEM.
THIS WEEK MY STAFF WILL BE
ATTENDING THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
ON TUESDAY.
I'LL BE ATTENDING
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE AS USUAL, AND ON
WEDNESDAY, TOMORROW, I WILL BE
HOSTING MY DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT
TOWN HALL, FOCUSING ON HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS.
HERE IN DISTRICT 6, LAST
WEEKEND NEIGHBORS DISCUSSED THE
CREATION OF THE CLIMATE ACTION
COMMITTEE AND HOW EVERY DAY
PEOPLE CAN ADDRESS THE CLIMATE
CRISIS, TALKED ABOUT SPD
FUNDING.
TWO PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED WITH
HOMELESSNESS AROUND GREEN LAKE.
ONE INDIVIDUAL MENTIONED THEY
CALLED THE POLICE ABOUT A
HOMELESS PERSON THINKING THAT
WAS THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND.
I WOULD SAY AS A REMINDER, IF
THERE'S A CRIMINAL ACT OR LIFE-
THREATENING INCIDENT OCCURRING,
CALL 911.
FOR EVERYONE ELSE, A BEHAVIORAL
CALL OR MENTAL HEALTH, THOSE
ARE NOT CALLS THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE FIELDING
BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER HIGHER
PRIORITIES.
IF ANYONE WATCHING THIS HAS
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO TO CALL, E-
MAIL MY OFFICE AND WE HAVE AN
AUTO RESPONSE SET UP WITH THE
CORRECT NUMBERS TO CALL IF
YOU'RE INTERESTED.
THIS LAST WEEK I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE BOY
SCOUTS TROOP 827 FOR THE ANNUAL
MEMORIAL DAY FLAG-RAISING AND
MEMORIAL SERVICE, WHICH IS
ALWAYS GREAT TO BE OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
THIS WEEK I'LL AUDIOCASSETTE TO
RESIDENTS DURING OFFICE HOURS
ON THURSDAY, JUNE 10th, 2:00 TO
6:00 P.M.
AND I'M EXCITED FOR THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
OFFICE HOURS ARE USUALLY THE
BEST PART OF MY WEEK.
THAT'S MY REPORT.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU ALL.
GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY.
HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD
WEEKEND.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK WITH US.
SO APPRECIATE OF YOUR STRENGTH
AND YOUR FAMILY'S RESILIENCE
AND YOUR ONGOING SERVICE TO THE
CITY.
AND YOU KNOW, RECOVERY AND
GRIEF AND STABILITY ARE NOT A
STRAIGHT LINE, AND JUST KNOW
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
HERE WITH YOU AND HOPE FOR YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY FROM THE ENTIRE
CITY SEATTLE ARE WITH YOU.
I FEEL REALLY CONFIDENT THAT
FOLKS ARE THINKING THE BEST AND
HOPING FOR THAT STABILITY AND
RECOVERY.
SO, MOVING ONTO MY COMMITTEE
REPORT, LET'S JUST START THINGS
OFF WITH RECOGNITION THAT JUNE
IS PRIDE MONTH FOR FOLKS.
I KNOW WE'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY
AS THE MONTH GOES ON.
NOTHING ON THE FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA TODAY.
WE HAVE BILL 119981 REGARDING
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET.
JUST WANT TO QUICKLY GIVE AN
OVERVIEW ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF
THE LEGISLATION AND HOW IT
EVOLVED.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS LEGISLATION
IS NOT ABOUT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR OFFICER
HIRING.
THE BUDGET FOR OFFICER HIRING
WAS FULLY FUNDED IN THE 2021
BUDGET ADOPTED IN NOVEMBER.
SECONDLY, THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
AS WE ALL KNOW, IS UNDER A
CONSENT DECREE WITH THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
SO ANY ITEMS COVERED UNDER THE
CONSENT DECREE REQUIRE REVIEW
AND APPROVAL BY THE JUDGE.
AND A COURT-APPOINTED MONITOR
HAS A ROLE IN THAT PROCESS.
SO DEVELOPMENTS WERE NOT ONLY
DRIVEN BY PUBLIC INPUT, COUNCIL
MEMBER INPUT, SPD INPUT, AND
ALSO THE CONSEN DECREE PROCESS.
IN AUGUST OF 2020, YOU RECALL
THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPTED
RESOLUTION 31962, WHICH STATED
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT
SUPPORT ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS
TO INCREASE THE BUDGET, TO
OFFSET OVERTIME EXPENDITURES
ABOVE THE BUDGET FOR 2020 OR
2021.
DESPITE THAT RESOLUTION, THAT'S
NOT WHAT OCCURRED IN 2020.
AN ADDITIONAL $5.4 MILLION
SPENDING REQUEST FROM SPD LATE
IN THE YEAR DID NOT ALIGN WITH
THAT RESOLUTION, AND COUNCIL
VOTED TO ADD THOSE FUNDS,
CONTRARY TO OUR POLICY NOT TO
DO SO.
THE COUNCIL STATED OUR INTENT
AT THAT TIME TO PROPOSE
LEGISLATION REDUCED THE 2021
BUDGET BY $5.4 MILLION IN ORDER
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ACTIONS
WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE SPIRIT
OF THE RESOLUTION.
AFTER THIS WAS INTRODUCED, WE
HEARD FROM THE JUDGE OVERSEEING
THE CONSENT DECREE AND HE
STATED SHARP CRITICISM OF THE
COUNCIL ON BUDGET ISSUES,
EMPHASIZING THAT THE CONSENT
DECREE IS MANDATORY.
THE MONITOR NOTED THAT MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE DECREE
AND PLAN REQUIRE AN ADEQUATE
RESOURCE FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND CONCERNS WERE
RAISED OVER VARIOUS CUTS TO THE
BUDGET, IMPACTING THE CITY'S
ABLE TO COMPLY WITH A RANGE OF
REQUIREMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
SO IN RESPONSE, AND BECAUSE I'D
ORIGINALLY STATED WHEN WE
INTRODUCED THAT $5.4 MILLION
CUT LEGISLATION THAT I WOULD
NOT BE RIGID ABOUT THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT, THE COUNCIL ACTION IN
MY MIND IS NOT ABOUT A DOLLAR
AMOUNT.
IT'S ABOUT A CULTURE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURING
THAT IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT IT
IS THE COUNCIL WHO BUDGETS FOR
THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
SO I SPONSORED A REVISED
VERSION OF THE BILL ON MARCH
23rd, BECAUSE MY OBJECTIVE ALL
ALONG HAS BEEN TO TRY TO PUT
TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT WOULD
PASS THE COUNCIL.
THAT VERSION INCLUDED $3
MILLION IN CUTS TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET WITH $2
MILLION GOING TOWARD BUDGETING
AND $1 MILLION MOVED FROM SPD
TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THE COMMITTEE ACTED IN MAJORITY
TO PLACE THIS VERSION OF THE
BILL BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
THE BILL ALLOWS FOR FUNDING FOR
CIVILIAN POSITIONS AND
TECHNOLOGY REQUESTS MADE AT THE
MARCH 9th MEETING.
I ALSO PROPOSED ADDITIONAL
STAFFING FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
REQUESTS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE
CITY AUDITOR IN THE 2015
REPORT, WHICH HAS BEEN
EXTENSIVELY REPORTED ON BY THE
SEATTLE TIMES AND CALLED OUT BY
THE WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE COMMITTEE AS
PROBLEMATIC IF LEFT
UNADDRESSED.
I ALSO INCLUDED FUNDING FOR
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE STORAGE AS
RECOMMENDED BY THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
THE MAJORITY OF COMMITTEE
MEMBERS VOTED TO SUBSTANCE
ABUSE THE BILL WITH THE NEW
VERSION.
SOON AFTER THAT, THE MONITOR
ASKED A SERIES OF QUESTIONS OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND UPON
RECEIVING THE REPLY, WENT TO
EMPHASIZE THAT FUNDING LEVELS
AND THAT FUNDING BE AVAILABLE
FOR TRAINING AND PATROL.
I THINK THE COMMENT AT THE TIME
WAS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES
OF, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO CUT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
SO IN RESPONSE TO TRY AND
ADDRESS THESE ONGOING CONCERNS
FROM THE MONITOR, I FURTHER
PROPOSED AMENDING THE BILL.
AGAIN, WE REDUCED THE SIZE OF
THE CUT IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS
AND IN THIS LAST ROUND OF
AMENDMENTS, I PROPOSED WE
RELEASE A $2.5 MILLION SPENDING
PROVISO FOR SUSTAINED
MISCONDUCT OF POLICE OFFICERS,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE AT
THIS TIME TO DO OUT OF ORDER
LAYOFFS BECAUSE OF THE
INTERSECTION OF THE PUBLIC
CIVIL SAFETY SERVICE RULES AND
STATE LAW.
SO THE BILL INDICATES
ADDITIONAL FUNDS COULD BE SET
FOR TRAINING AND PATROL AS
IDENTIFIED BY THE MONITOR.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS
A TOUGH COMPROMISE THAT ALLOWS
FOR ADDITIONAL SPENDING, AS THE
MONITOR EMPHASIZED, BUT STILL
MAINTAINS A $3 MILLION CUT TO
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET, AGAIN WITH THE OVERALL
POLICY GOAL THAT WE ARE TRYING
TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND A CULTURE OF
FISCAL OVERSIGHT, AS WELL AS
ENSURING THAT IT IS THE COUNCIL
THAT'S IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR
MAKING BUDGET DECISIONS AROUND
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
LASTLY, THE BILL WAS VOTED OUT
OF COMMITTEE WITH A DO NOT PASS
RECOMMENDATION, DESPITE THE
FACT THAT A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THREE MEMBERS VOTED IN
FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT IN THE
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING AND IN
FAVOR OF THE SUBSTITUTE BILL.
BECAUSE THERE WAS A DO NOT PASS
RECOMMENDATION FROM MEMBERS
WITH SUPPORT, THE REDUCTION OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET
WAS VOTED.
MOVING ONTO OTHER ITEMS, PUBLIC
HEALTH UPDATE, I'M SURE FOLKS
KNOW THAT IN KING COUNTY,
PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS HAVE
ISSUED A MASK MANDATE, THAT
EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR MASKS
INDOORS.
THE DIRECTIVE WILL BE IN PLACE
UNTIL 70% OF RESIDENTS 18 AND
OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND
PROTECTED.
CURRENTLY 65% OF RESIDENTS HAVE
RECEIVED ALL THEIR VACCINATION
SHOTS.
IF YOU KNOW ANYONE 12 AND OVER
WHO'S INTERESTED IN GETTING
VACCINATED, HELP BY OFFERING A
RIDE, HELPING THEM FIND AN
APPOINTMENT OR JUST ENCOURAGING
THEM TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP.
BECAUSE SEATTLE RESIDENTS HAVE
DONE A GREAT JOB WITH
VACCINATIONS, THE CITY
ANNOUNCED CHANGES ARE COMING TO
SEVERAL SITES OVER THE MONTH OF
JUNE, WINDING DOWN
VACCINATIONS.
THE FIRST TO CLOSE WILL BE WEST
SEATTLE ON JUNE 9th.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET BEEN
VACCINATED, NOW IS THE TIME.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE AND EASY
CITY-RUN VACCINATION SITES
WHILE THEY'RE STILL PROVIDING
VACCINES.
YOU CAN WALK UP OR MAKE AN
APPOINTMENT AT
SEATTLE.GOV/VACCINE OR (206)684-
2489.
THERE'S A DRIVE-THROUGH SITE
OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY,
9:00 A.M.
TO 5:00 P.M.
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, AND THE
WEST SEATTLE SITES WILL CONVERT
BACK TO COVID TESTING.
THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE VACCINATIONS THROUGH
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MOBILE
VACCINATION TEAMS, PROVIDING
POPUP CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER.
WE'RE SO CLOSE TO REACHING OUR
70% GOAL OF VACCINATION.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS
AND LOVED ONES TO GET
VACCINATED IF THEY HAVE NOT
ALREADY.
MEETINGS THIS WEEK, I HAVE THE
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE MEETING COMING UP
THIS WEEK.
ALSO WE'LL BE ATTENDING A
MEETING ORGANIZED BY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IN SOUTH RIDGE, AND
TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT
COLEAD HAS DRIVEN WITH THE HELP
OF CITY PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AROUND AND ENCAMPMENT
LOCATED AT THAT SITE.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
REFLECTING ON WHAT'S BEEN
SUCCESSFUL AROUND THAT
ENGAGEMENT ON TUESDAY EVENING.
LASTLY, JUST WANT TO LIFT UP
THAT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION
SIGNED TODAY FOR OBSERVATION OF
NATIONAL VIOLENCE AWARENESS
DAY.
JUNE4th IS GUN VIOLENCE
AWARENESS DAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES LAST
WEEK MENTIONED THE WEAR ORANGE
CAMPAIGN BEGINNING JUNE 4th
THROUGH 6th, AND THE GREATER
SEATTLE MOMS DEMAND ACTION WILL
JOIN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AT 2:00 P.M.
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 1st TO RECEIVE
THE PROCLAMATION.
THIS WORK IS SO IMPORTANT TO
OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT'S A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
NANCY WILL BE RECEIVING THE
PROCLAMATION THIS AFTERNOON ON
BEHALF OF THE GREATER SEATTLE
MOMS DEMAND ACTION.
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE UNDER
THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZALEZ COLLECTING SIGNATURES
FOR THIS PROCESS THIS MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
THAT IS ACCURATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD, REALLY
IMPORTANT RESTATEMENT OF THIS
COUNCIL'S LONG STANDING
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING GUN
VIOLENCE AND INVESTING IN
ADDITIONAL GUN SAFETY AND
MAKING POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL
AFFECT THE GREATER SAFETY OF
COMMUNITIES AND PROTECTION FROM
PREVENTABLE GUN VIOLENCE.
COLLEAGUES, SIGNATURES WILL
NEED TO BE AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL THE
ROLL.
ANY QUESTIONS?
HEARING NO QUESTIONS, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL TO DETERMINE
WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD
LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO
THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING JUNE
4th NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE
AWARENESS DAY.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
ANYTHING ELSE TO REPORT?
OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD ON HER REPORT?
AND I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW,
COLLEAGUES, THAT GREG FROM OUR
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF DID ASK
TO BE PRESENT THIS MORNING AND
HE IS IN FACT PRESENT THIS
MORNING IN THE EVENT ANY OF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBSTANCE OF THE BUDGET RELATED
úBILL RELATED TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD DESCRIBED AS
PART OF HER REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR GREG?
ALL RIGHT.
GREG, ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO
ADD AS PART OF THE REPORT?
>> NO, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD DID A
VERY THOROUGH JOB, AS ALWAYS,
COVERING IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
THIS MORNING.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD, WHO'S BEEN VERY
HELPFUL TRYING TO CATCH ME UP.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HER
LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDING THIS
CONVERSATION, WHICH WE KNOW
TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN
ANTICIPATED.
GREG, I WANTED TO ASK A FEW
QUESTIONS.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T GET A
CHANCE TO SEND YOU QUESTIONS IN
ADVANCE.
I WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK ABOUT
THE PROVISOS, AND IF THEY ARE
CURRENTLY IN PLACE AND THE BILL
PASSES, THEY WILL ALL BE
LIFTED?
IS THAT ACCURATE, INCLUDING THE
$5 MILLION TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
INCLUDED IN OUR PROPOSAL FROM
LAST YEAR?
>> EFFECTIVELY, THE PROVISOS
WILL BE LIFTED.
THE $5 MILLION INCLUDED ON
SALARY SAVINGS IS EFFECTIVELY
LIFTED.
I'LL GO INTO MORE IN A SECOND.
ALSO THE $2.5 MILLION PROVISO
HELD FOR OUT OF ORDER LAYOFFS
IS LIFTED.
REPLACING COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZALEZ'S PROVISO IS A NEW ONE
THAT STILL HOLDS $5 MILLION OF
SALARY SAVINGS BUT RELEASES IT
ON A MONTHLY BASIS AS THE
DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE COUNCIL
WITH STAFFING REPORTS.
SO IT WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY
RELEASED BY THE END OF THE YEAR
BE ENTIRELY IN THE COUNCIL'S
POSSESSION.
HOPEFULLY I HAVEN'T MADE THAT
TOO CONFUSING.
>> CAN I ASK A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION?
>> SURE.
>> I APPRECIATE THESE TIMES TO
ASK THE DETAILED QUESTIONS.
THIS IS HELPFUL SO THANK YOU
FOR MAKING THIS AVAILABLE IN
COMMITTEE.
GREG, I APPRECIATE THE MEMOS
THAT YOU HAVE SENT.
I THINK WHAT I'M STRUGGLING
WITH A LITTLE BIT IS ABOUT THE
$13 MILLION PROJECTED
UNDERSPEND.
I AGREE WITH THE CHAIR THAT
INVESTMENTS AND MAKING SURE THE
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS THAT
ARE REQUESTED OF SPD NEED TO BE
ANSWERED APPROPRIATELY.
I ALSO AGREE WE NEED TO HAVE
FOLKS WHO ARE COMMUNITY
RESOURCE OFFICERS TO HAVE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED AND THERE'S
A NEED FOR THE EVIDENCE STORAGE
TO BE UPDATED.
I GUESS JUST BREAK IT DOWN
HERE, IF THEY ARE ANTICIPATING
$13 MILLION IN UNDERSPEND THIS
YEAR AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH ANY ADDITIONAL
RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR HIRING
PLAN, WHY CAN'T THEY REDIRECT
THAT?
>> I SEE, AND NO NEED TO
APOLOGIZE, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
WE HAD GREG JOIN US IN CASE
THERE WERE QUESTIONS AND WE
RECOGNIZE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
BILL THAT NOT ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DIVE INTO LIKE WE HAVE ON
THE COMMITTEE.
GO AHEAD.
>> THOSE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU
REFERENCED, THOSE ARE
INVESTMENTS COMING FROM THE SPD
CUT, GOING TO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
SOME DOLLARS ARE GOING TO
SEATTLE I.T., AND SOME DOLLARS
ARE STILL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT
BUT BEING PUT INTO THE OFFICE
OF PROFESSIONAL POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
MUCH LIKE THE REST OF WHAT WE
MAINTAIN, WHAT WE DON'T CUT, WE
ARE DIRECTING THOSE DOLLARS TO
BE SPENT IN THOSE WAYS.
OF THE DOLLARS RELATED TO
DISCLOSURE REQUESTS, WITHIN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT WE CAN DIRECT
DOLLARS LIKE WE ARE PROPOSING
TO DIRECT DOLLARS FOR THE
THINGS IN THE BILL THAT WE HAVE
AGREEMENT ON.
SO WHETHER OR NOT THAT COMES
FROM THE BIG $13 MILLION
UNDERSPEND OR WHETHER OR NOT IT
COMES FROM THIS BILL AS
PROPOSED, I THINK IT'S THE SAME
OUTCOME, BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE
ARE THE -- THE $13 MILLION
UNDERSPEND IS FROM THE FEWER
POSITIONS THAN ANTICIPATED THAT
FUNDS ARE NEEDED FOR.
AND THE $5 MILLION PROVISO IS
ALSO FROM THAT SAME SOURCE.
GREG, YOU COULD PROBABLY CLEAN
THIS UP FOR ME.
AT LEAST FOR THE OIG
RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THOSE
DOLLARS GO TO FAS FROM SPD TO
FAS.
SOME GO TO SEATTLE I.T.
AND SOME GO TO THE OFFICE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THOSE ARE NOT ALL FUNDS THAT WE
CAN DIRECT SPD TO SPEND A
PARTICULAR WAY, BECAUSE THEY
NEED TO GO OUT OF SPD'S BUDGET,
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
PROPOSED TO DO.
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FURTHER
EXPLANATION HERE, THE MONEY IS
THEIR CUT AND SENT TO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL
EVIDENCE SPACE AND OBVIOUSLY
THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THEY
HAVE TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON.
THE MONEY RETAINED IN SPD, THE
COUNCIL BILL DOES ASK THAT SPD
SPEND THAT MONEY ON ESSENTIALLY
THEIR OWN PRIORITIES,
SEPARATION PAY, TECHNOLOGY
INVESTMENTS AND OTHER EMERGING
ISSUES.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT THAT
SPENDING HAPPEN, BUT IT DOES
REQUEST THAT SPD SPEND THE
MONEY ON THINGS THAT THEY
IDENTIFY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR GREG
OR COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, THANKS GREG FOR BEING
WITH US.
APPRECIATE IT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO
TO COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
I WANT TO START OUT AND SAY
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
CERTAINLY SEND OUR PRAYERS AND
OFFERINGS FROM THE INDIAN
COUNTRY FOR YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY, WHAT WE CALL NOT JUST
HEALING BUT GOOD MEDICINE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN IN OUR PRAYERS.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT
FOR YOU IN NAVAJO COUNTRY AT
THE GRAND CANYON, SO I JUST
WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT.
OKAY.
LET ME MOVE ON HERE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR READING MY NOTES
WHILE I WAS GONE.
THANK YOU, AND I'LL VENMO YOU
WHAT I OWE YOU.
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMITTEE, NO ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
DUE TO YESTERDAY'S HOLIDAY, THE
PUBLIC ASSETS COMMITTEE WILL
MOVE THE SCHEDULED MONTHLY
MEETING TO JUNE 4th AT 2:00
P.M.
ON THAT MEETING'S AGENDA THERE
ARE FOUR ITEMS.
THE AGENDA HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO REVIEW THE AGENDA AND ITEMS
CORRESPONDING.
ITEM ONE, BILL 120051, RELATED
TO SEATTLE CENTER SIGN CODE
LEGISLATION.
AGENDA ITEM TWO ALLOWS FOR A
LAND SWAP FROM SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION TO THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT WOULD TRANSFER 3 FEET OF
LAND FROM SEATTLE PARKS ALONG
EAST GREEN LAKE WAY AND GREEN
LAKE TO S-DOT.
THIS CLARIFIES THE LAND IS
PROPERTY OF S-DOT.
THEN THE LAST TWO, THIS HAS
BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME BUT
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER.
WE ARE AT THE FINAL STEP IN THE
PROCESS TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LOAN AS A
LID.
IT'S A FUNDING TOOL TO RAISE
REVENUE TO PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE IMPROVEMENT AREA.
ITEM THREE IS SUBJECT TO RULES
SO I ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO
REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING ON ANYONE
WITH INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS ON
THE WATERFRONT.
I INVITE EVERYONE TO LEARN MORE
BEFORE THE LEGISLATION MOVES TO
FULL COUNCIL.
FOR PARKS, THE SHOWER PROGRAM
WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
SERVING OVER 325 PEOPLE IN THE
SHOWER PROGRAM.
CHILD CARE, MAY 17th THROUGH
THE 21st, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
SERVED 300 CHILDREN AT 17 SITES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 17th AND
MAY 21st, CLEAN CITY CREW
MEMBERS PICKED UP 120,000
POUNDS OF TRASH FROM 33
ENCAMPMENTS AND REMOVED 673
NEEDLES.
THEY DID THE DEEP CLEAN AT THE
HOMER HARRIS PARK AND NATE'S
CREEK.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS PICKED
UP MORE THAN 2 MILLION POUNDS
OF TRASH AND OVER 54,000
NEEDLES.
GOOD NEWS REGARDING THE TRUST
FOR THE PUBLIC LANDS PARKS
INDEX.
SEATTLE IS RANKED NINTH IN THE
NATION IN 2021 BY THE TRUST FOR
PUBLIC LANDS PARKS INDEX, A
JUMP FROM LAST YEAR WHEN WE
RANKED 14th.
THIS IS A NATIONAL COMPARISON
OF PARK SYSTEMS ACROSS 100 MOST
POPULATED CITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
THE INDEX LOOKS AT ACCESS,
INVESTMENT, AMENITIES, ACREAGE
AND EQUITY.
READ MORE AT TPL.ORG/PARKS OR
AS USUAL THIS WILL BE FORWARDED
TO YOUR OFFICE.
FINALLY, SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PARKS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
PREPARING FOR SUMMER AND HIRING
FOR SEASONAL POSITIONS.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MOTIVATED,
ENTHUSIASTIC WORKERS FOR A
VARIETY OF POSITIONS THIS
SUMMER.
POSTINGS CAN BE FOUND ON THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT WILL BE IN THE MEMO
WE SENT EVERY MONDAY MORNING
AND IT WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE
AS WELL.
ALBERT DAVIS PARK, THE UPDATED
TIMELINE FOR THE REOPENING, THE
PARK WILL BE REOPENED JUNE
10th.
PARKS HAS DONE A GREAT JOB
CLEANING UP THE PARK, CLEANING
UP THE PLAYGROUND, RESEEDING
THE GRASS.
IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD THERE NOW.
WE ARE HOPING WITH ALL THE
NEIGHBORS AND THE LIBRARY AND
COMMUNITY CENTER, THAT WE CAN
REACTIVATE THAT PARK.
BIG NEWS HERE FINALLY.
THE NORTH GATE PEDESTRIAN BIKE
BRIDGE, THE NEXT MAJOR
MILESTONE TO INSTALL THE NORTH
GATE PEDESTRIAN BIKE BRIDGE
WILL INVOLVE PLACING THE SPANS
ACROSS I-5 TO ENSURE SAFETY OF
THE CONSTRUCTION CREW AND
MEMBERS.
S-DOT IS CLOSING I-5 NORTHBOUND
DURING THE JUNE 12th WEEKEND,
AND SOUTHBOUND ON JUNE 19th
WEEKEND.
DURING THAT TIME, TRAFFIC WILL
DETOUR TO AVOID THE CLOSURE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON SINCE 2015, SO THAT
LAST PIECE WILL COME OVER THE
BRIDGE, AND COLLECT NORTH
SEATTLE COLLEGE WITH NORTH GATE
MALL AND ALL OUR NEW HOUSING.
SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED.
HOPEFULLY THIS WILL GET DONE.
THE NEXT STEP IS NAMING THE
BRIDGE.
WE HAD A CONTEST A YEAR AGO.
SOME PEOPLE WANTED TO NAME IT
BRIDGEY McBRIDGE FACE.
LITTLE DEBBIE BRIDGE, THAT'S
OUT.
WE ARE HOPING THE COMMUNITY
WILL COME BACK WITH SOME NAMES.
ONE THAT WE WANT TO PUSH WITH
OUR EFFORT TO HAVE AN IN AN
INDIGENOUS OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN
INFLUENCE, WE WERE THINKING
MAYBE JOHN LEWIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'LL LOOK
FORWARD TO IN NAMING THIS
IMPORTANT BRIDGE IN THE NORTH
END.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, GONZALEZ,
THERE'S A TON OF ROOM IN D-5 SO
IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT LIVING
SOMEWHERE, JUST SAYING GIRL,
COME NORTH.
>> I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION,
AS I'M SITTING IN HIGHLAND
PARK, 98106 NEIGHBORHOOD IN A
WONDERFUL SHORT-TERM RENTAL
OPPORTUNITY.
I'LL DEFINITELY KEEP YOU IN
MIND.
THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO
DOWN THE LINE AND HEAR FROM
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA FROM MY OFFICE OR THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENT.
I WANT TO BEGIN JUST BY
REPORTING BACK ON THE GREAT
COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE HAD
LAST WEEK, ON THE WORK THAT
JUST CARE, THE CONSRTIUM OF
PROVIDERS ACTIVATED IN THE
CHINATOWN AND PIONEER SQUARE
AREA TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING,
PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY
CRISES ASSOCIATED WITH
ENCAMPMENTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I WANT TO REPORT BACK ON A
COUPLE OF MY OBSERVATIONS, AND
I'M SURE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MADE
SOME AS WELL THAT I WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING OVER
THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR IN THE
LEADUP TO OUR BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS.
BUT THE CORNERSTONE OF A
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY FOR
ADDRESSING SANCTIONS ON THE
ENCAMPMENTS WERE ALL PROVIDED
IN THE PRESENTATION WE HAVE
HEARD AND THE ACTIVITIES OF
JUST CARE, INTERPRETED AS A SIX-
MONTH PILOT PROGRAM, INDICATING
HOW IF THESE PRACTICES ARE
LEANED INTO AND EXPANDED, WE
HAVE A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US TO ADDRESS
HUMANELY AND PROACTIVELY THE
CRISIS THAT'S AFFECTING SO MANY
CITIES AROUND UNSANCTIONED
ENCAMPMENTS AND THE MASSIVE
PROLIFERATION OF HOMELESSNESS,
WHICH BECOMES A PUBLIC HEALTH,
PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC
HOUSING PROBLEM.
I WANT TO GO THROUGH SOME OF
THOSE CORNER STONES.
FIRST, CULTURALLY COMPETENT
OUTREACH THAT THE PROVIDERS
WITH JUST CARE WERE CAREFUL TO
SELECT AND BUILD A PERFECT TEAM
TO COME TOGETHER AND REALLY TRY
AND SOLVE FOR WHAT THEY CAN DO
IN TERMS OF RESOURCE DELIVERY
TO HELP EVERY PERSON THEY
CONDUCT OUTREACH WITH.
THAT OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF
WEEKS, NOT MERELY A PERIOD OF
DAYS TO MAKE SURE THE NEEDS OF
INDIVIDUALS CAN BE ADDRESSED.
THEN INSTEAD OF BEING DISPLACED
AND CONTINUING TO BE
HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE ARE GIVEN
RESOURCES AND ARE ABLE TO GET
INTO A PLACE THEY CAN LIVE WITH
DIGNITY AND THEY WILL NO LONGER
BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY
NEED TO BE CAMPING IN PUBLIC.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SHELTERS THAT ARE THEN
RESOURCED AND MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE CLIENT.
INGMAR GUANDIQUE THIS IS
IMPORTANT AND HAS LED TO A LOT
OF PROBLEMS AS WE AS A REGION
HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS, MAKING SURE WE
HAVE RESOURCES TO HELP WITH THE
NEEDS PEOPLE ARE PRESENTING
WITH.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PROACTIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED MODEL OF
OUTREACH, THAT IT'S NOT JUST A
FIRST RESPONSE KIND OF SYSTEM,
BUT A PROACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD
BASED HUB, WHERE BUSINESS
OWNERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOW
WHO THE OUTREACH WORKERS ARE,
AND IT'S BASED ON CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION AND TRUST AND
PHYSICAL DELIVERABLES.
PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU CALL
THE JUST CARE TEAM, SOMEONE
WILL BE OUT THERE AND MEET WITH
YOU, TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE
SITUATION.
PEOPLE WILL GO AND ACTUALLY
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IN
THE ENCAMPMENT.
WE HAVE HEARD THIS FEEDBACK
SEVERAL TIMES FROM PEOPLE ON
THE PANEL, THAT IN A LOT OF
OCCASIONS THERE WAS VERY DEEP
GRATITUDE, BEING IN A POSITION
WHERE YOU COULD CALL OUT TO THE
GROUP AND THEY WOULD SHOW UP
QUICKLY.
EVEN IF THEY COULDN'T
IMMEDIATELY RESOLVE THE
PROBLEM, PEOPLE FELT HEARD AND
FELT LIKE THERE WAS PROBLEM-
SOLVING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF
THE PROBLEMS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF THE
NUMBERS.
WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ONE
OF THE COMPONENTS THAT WE
ANALYZE IS NOT JUST THE
EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAMS BUT
ALSO THE COST.
THE $49,000 COST AT SCALE,
ESSENTIALLY UNDER THE JUST CARE
MODEL WE SHOULD SAY THE NUMBER
IS FAVORABLE WITH ALTERNATIVE
APPROACHES BASED IN THE
TRADITIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM THAT
DRIVE CONSIDERABLE COSTS.
I WOULD ALSO NOTE, AS VICTOR
SHARED WITH US ON THE PROVIDER
PANEL, THAT THAT NUMBER DOES
NOT INCLUDE THE ESTIMATED
AVERAGE SAVINGS OF $27,000 PER
PERSON ACROSS OTHER EMERGENCY
RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND EMERGENCY
CARE FACILITIES.
SO THAT NUMBER REALIZES OTHER
SYSTEM SAVINGS ACROSS A VARIETY
OF GOVERNMENTS AND CASE LOAD
COUNTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
ONLY ABOUT 13% OF PEOPLE GOING
INTO THE SHELTERS WERE NOT A
GOOD FIT AND EVENTUALLY LEFT
THOSE SHELTERS, ROUGHLY ONE IN
TEN OF THE PEOPLE ON THE CASE
LOAD.
DURING THE PERIOD MONITORED BY
DR. BECKETT, ONLY FOUR OUT OF
THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HERE
KIND OF SERVICE. OR HAVE ANY
I REALLY THINK WE AS A COUNCIL
SHOULD CONTINUE OUR SUPPORT.
I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY HERE HAS
BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MODEL
AND EXPANDING THIS MODEL, THAT
WE REALLY LEAN IN TO THE WORK
THAT JUST CARE IS DOING TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE CRISIS WE SEE
EVERY DAY IN THE UNADDRESSED
PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES WITH UNSANCTIONED
ENCAMPMENTS IN THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY TO
ADDRESS IT.
WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT WITH
THE AMERICAN RECOVERY RESOURCES
THAT WILL BE A BIG PART OF THIS
REQUISITION TO KEEP THIS
PROGRAM GOING TO THE SUMMER OF
2022 AND EXPAND IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
LEAN INTO THIS AND LOOK AT
DEDICATED REVENUE STREAMS AS
PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS SO
THAT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY HAS
SOMEBODY THEY CAN CALL AND KNOW
THAT THERE WILL BE A RESPONSE
TO THESE COMMUNITIES WHO NEED
OUR ASSISTANCE.
MOVING ON, I DO WANT TO
APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ'S INVITATION TO THE
PUBLIC TO DISCUSS SEVERAL
MATTERS RELATED TO THE
WATERFRONT LID, AS THIS IS
SOMETHING IN MY DISTRICT.
I WILL ACCEPT THAT INVITATION
AND LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING
THAT COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY.
I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION
BECAUSE I'M NOT A MEMBER OF
THAT COMMITTEE BUT THOSE
DISCUSSIONS HAVE BIG
IMPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT 7. SO
I WILL BE ATTENDING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
FINALLY, I WANT TO FLAG THAT I
WILL BE AT THE QUEEN ANN
FARMERS MARKET THIS WEEK,
MEETING ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
IT'S GOOD TO GET BACK INTO
FARMERS MARKET SEASON, AND I
KNOW A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES
HERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN
ATTENDING FARMERS MARKETS IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
JUST A SHOUTOUT TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THE
FARMERS MARKET, AND I'LL TRY
AND ATTEND THAT ON A REGULAR
BASIS.
WITH THAT, MADAME PRESIDENT, I
DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
UPDATES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
NEXT UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES THEN COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THERE IS ONE AMENDMENT I'VE
ADDED THIS AFTERNOON,
ADVOCATING THE THREE POSITIONS
AND WE JUST WANT TO GIVE THE
COUNCIL THE LATITUDE TO DISCUSS
THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED WITH
BUDGETING ONCE THIS IS UNDERWAY
AND INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE.
WE HAVE SIX APPOINTMENTS TO THE
LBGTQ COMMISSION AND FIVE TO
THE MUSIC COMMISSION.
THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE JUNE 3rd AT 2:00 P.M.
WHERE WE'LL HEAR ALL THE
APPOINTMENTS.
WE'LL ALSO HEAR BILL 120092,
REGULATING FOOD DELIVERY
SERVICES.
LAST WEEK WE HAD TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION PASS OUT OF THE
RENTERS SUSTAINABILITY RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
THE FIRST IS AN END TO NO-CAUSE
EVICTIONS AT THE END OF LEASES.
THE SECOND SOUND AT HOME
EVICTION DEFENSE, WHICH WOULD
PROTECT ANY RENTER WHO FACED
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DURING THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY, PROTECT THEM
FROM EVICTION.
BOTH BILLS WILL BE DISCUSSED
NEXT MONDAY AT FULL COUNCIL.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THESE BILLS, PLEASE REACH OUT
TO MY AIDE AND HE CAN BRIEF
YOUR STAFF THIS WEEK, SO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT IF YOU HAVE
ANY ISSUES WITH IT.
LAST WEEK I MET WITH MEMBERS OF
THE BEACON HILL COUNCIL TO GET
AN UPDATE ON THEIR ORGANIZING
WORK AND THE ADVOCACY THEY ARE
DOING AROUND NOISE POLLUTION
AND PUBLIC LANDS ON BEACON
SILL.
THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK
WITH KING COUNTY, A LOT RELATED
TO THE AIRPORT, AND WE ARE
TRYING TO HELP THEM CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR THE CHANGES THEY
WANT TO SEE IN AIR QUALITY.
I MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM
THE LEAD PROGRAM TO GET UPDATES
AND SPEAK ON THE POSSIBILITY
FOR EXPANDING THE PROGRAM INTO
MT. BAKER.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN
THE KIND OF STREET OUTREACH
THAT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS
PROVIDE, AND WE WANT TO BE AS
SUPPORTIVE AS POSSIBLE BY
MAKING SURE NEIGHBORS GET
ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY
NEED.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN SUPERVISING
A COHORT OF GRADUATE STUDENTS
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AS THEY RESEARCH
PANDEMIC-ERA TENANT
PROTECTIONS.
úI WANT TO THANK THEM ALL FOR
THE HARD WORK THEY'RE DOING AND
CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR
RESEARCH AND THANK YOU FOR
ENGAGING WITH OUR OFFICE.
WE'LL RECEIVE THEIR FINAL
úREPORT THIS WEEK AND I'M HAPPY
TO SHARE THAT WITH COLLEAGUES
SO YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM OUR
WONDERFUL PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH NEIGHBORS
IN MT. BAKER WHO WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECOME A
WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M SURE EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR
WITH THE CONVERSATIONS
HAPPENING IN TERMS OF WAREHOUSE
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES COMING
IN, A LOT OF FOLKS ORGANIZING
TO BE SURE THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PREFERENCE FOR
MORE APPROPRIATE TRANSIT
DEVELOPMENT IS HEARD.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH
THEM ABOUT THAT WORK, AS WELL
AS FOLKS IN THE RAINIER BEACH
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'LL HAVE A TOWN HALL JUNE
24th TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY
DISCUSSION ABOUT SAFETY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THE SAFEWAY
PARKING LOT.
LASTLY, THURSDAY 10:00 TO NOON
I'LL HAVE OFFICE HOURS AND
FOLKS CAN SCHEDULE A MEETING,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING
WITH YOU THEN.
THAT'S MY REPORT THIS MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA THEN COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WELCOME
BACK.
OUR THOUGHTS CONTINUE TO BE
WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND WE
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AS
OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GO
THROUGH A TOUGH TIME AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK.
THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR HER LEADERSHIP OVER THE
LAST TWO WEEKS AS WELL.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW THERE'S A FEW ITEMS TODAY
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR FROM MY
COMMITTEE.
THIS IS BILL 120093 AND BILL
120094, ALLOWING FOR THE
COUNCIL TO ACCEPT AND AUTHORIZE
SPENDING THAT THE CITY HAS
RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
DOLLARS, INCLUDING $116 MILLION
OF THE CORONAVIRUS LOCAL
RECOVERY FUNDS AND $12 MILLION
FROM THE HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDS.
WE HAVE THREE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I'LL HAVE MORE ON THE FUNDS AND
OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL BE
PRESENTED IN OUR COMMUNITY ON
FRIDAY IN JUST A MINUTE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS FROM
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TODAY.
FRIDAY THIS WEEK WILL BE OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND DISCUSS
THE FUNDS WE HAVE BEEN
ANTICIPATING FOR TWO MONTHS
NOW.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR
TIME ON FRIDAY.
THIS IS A SPECIAL FRIDAY
MEETING, GIVEN THE HOLIDAY
YESTERDAY, AND IT WILL START AT
9:30 A.M.
FRIDAY, JUNE 4th.
WE'LL HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE
ARPA COMMITTEE AND A BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION OF THE HOWING
LEVY AND FINANCE PLAN, AND
WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT FIRST
ITEM.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AGAIN, AND HER OFFICE
AND THE TEAM THAT'S BEEN
WORKING ON DEVELOPING THE ARPA
BILL.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO
PRESENT ON THURSDAY LAST WEEK
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINO'S
COMMUNITY CENTER, REPRESENTING
ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU AS A
COUNCIL HAVE PUT INTO THIS
FIRST DRAFT OF THE ARBOR RELIEF
BILL.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO SEE THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE
CRAFTED WITH YOUR FEEDBACK AS A
FULL COUNCIL AND AS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO TRY AND RESPOND TO
THE CRISIS THAT COVID PRESENTED
AND MADE WORSE WITH
UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE CLOSING
DOWN THEIR BUSINESSES.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US ON
FRIDAY AND I WANT TO THANK THE
CHIEF OF STAFF IN MY OFFICE AND
MY TEAM WORKING WITH THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND HER TEAM
ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND CITY BUDGET OFFICE.
WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO RELEASE
THIS TO MEMBERS OF THE PRESS ON
THURSDAY, SHOWCASING THE
BUILDING THAT WE ARE IN
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES SPECIFICALLY FOR
SENIORS 55 AND OLDER.
AND IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE
ABLE TO RELEASE THIS FIRST
DRAFT OF THE ARPA BILL BECAUSE
MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON
FRIDAY WILL BE THE LARGE
INVESTMENT INTO HOUSING AND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MAKING
SURE OUR MOST VULNERABLE HAVE
THE SERVICES THEY NEED,
INCLUDING ACCESS TO HEALTH
SERVICES, HOUSING AND SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE THE SUPPORT
THEY NEED.
WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO
SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH CASH
ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS
WHO HAVE BEEN HARDEST HET BY
COVID BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF
THE BEST WAYS TO STIMULATE
LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
REALLY PROUD OF THE OPPORTUNITY
WE HAVE TO BEGIN THE
CONVERSATION ON FRIDAY ABOUT
THE CHANGES MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY MAY WANT TO SEE.
THURSDAY LAST WEEK WE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE JOINED BY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL,
INCLUDING THE CEO OF TINY TOTS,
WHO SHOWCASED THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING FOLKS WITH EXPERIENCE AS
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, HELPING
PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON WHAT SHOULD
BE IN THE ARPA BILL AND THE $8
MILLION PROVIDED TO CREATE
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY ACROSS THE
CITY.
AS WE SEEK TO CREATE A MORE
EQUITABLE RECOVERY POSTCOVID,
THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD
TO INCLUDE IN THIS PROPOSAL AND
LOOK FORWARD TO GET THOSE
DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR.
I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT
THIS ON FRIDAY.
I WANT TO BE SURE FOLKS KNOW
WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON
THURSDAY, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO SEE HOW WE CAN USE ARPA
DOLLARS AS THE FIRST BUILDING
BLOCK TOWARDS AN EQUITABLE
RECOVERY.
THE NEXT BUILDING BLOCK THIS
YEAR WILL BE THE SEPTEMBER-
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER BUDGET, WHICH
WILL INCLUDE REVENUE PROPOSALS
AND ALSO OCCASIONS.
SO THERE'S TREMENDOUS NEED
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE HEARD THE
CALLS, THE LETTERS.
WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS AND WE
KNOW THIS WILL JUST BE THE
FIRST INVESTMENT THAT WE'LL
CONTINUE TO BUILD ON AS WE SEEK
TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE
RECOVERY.
VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THE
DISCUSSION ON FRIDAY.
>> WE HAVE A FEW UPDATES FROM
THE OFFICE OF FINANCE AND
MINISTRY, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY VACCINATION SITES
WHICH HAVE ADMINISTERED OVER
100,000 VACCINES, TYING FOR SAN
FRANCISCO FOR THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS AT A
HIGH VOLUME VACCINATION SITE.
IN TERMS OF THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE, FAS IS PURCHASING AND
CONTRACTING HELPING TO COMPLETE
THE SELECTION MANAGEMENT
PROCESS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
BRANCH.
KRAMER NORTH AMERICA,
CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING
SELECTED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING
MEMBERS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING FORWARD TO WORK ON
THAT PROJECT.
I KNOW MANY OF US ARE EXCITED
ABOUT THAT.
AND THE SEATTLE ANIMAL SHELTER
5K IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13th,
PROCEEDS GOING TO HELP THE
ANIMAL SHELTER'S FUND.
THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR
THE EVENT IS JUNE 20th.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
I WANT THEY DON'T SAY THANK YOU
FOR HOLDING IT DOWN LAST WEEK,
OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS
FRANKLY.
OUR OFFICES HAVE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH MAYOR DURKAN'S
OFFICE ON THE SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN, AND UNFORTUNATELY WITH
THE NEED TO TAKE BEREAVEMENT
LEAVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE
WEEKS, I'VE NOT BEEN AS PRESENT
AND IN THE WEEDS AS I HOPED.
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR
UNDERSTANDING AND YOUR PICKING
UP MY SLACK AS I WORKED ON
ADDRESSING THE PERSONAL ISSUES
IN MY FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING IT DOWN
AND KEEPING IT GOING.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEET THE
ONGOING CHALLENGES AND NEEDS OF
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AND
DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
THERE WAS NO SLACK TO PICK UP.
YOU AND YOUR OFFICE ARE
INCREDIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE ON THIS.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO MENTION
ONE MORE THING RELATED TO THAT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE MORE OF
THE DETAILS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT THE
UPCOMING EVENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY AT 12:30
THERE WILL BE A DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS
INVESTMENTS AND PERMANENT
SUPPORT OF HOUSING AND
INVESTING IN SERVICES THAT HELP
FOLKS GET INTO HOUSING.
ON WEDNESDAY TOMORROW IN
COLUMBIA CITY, THERE WILL BE A
SMALL BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORHOOD
RECOVERY FEATURE, WHERE FOLKS
HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK INTO THE
DETAILS ABOUT HOW WE'RE
SUPPORTING OUR SMALLEST
BUSINESSES AND FOLKS WHO HAVE
BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE PPE FUNDS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THURSDAY THERE WILL BE A REAL
FOCUS ON THE INVESTMENTS IN
EARLY LEARNING AND EDUCATION.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE SOME OF
THOSE COMMITMENTS LIKE WE
TALKED ABOUT IN CHILD CARE, ALL
THE WAY UP THROUGH APAREN
SISSHIP PROGRAMS AS WELL.
IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT,
WE'LL GET THAT OUT SO YOU KNOW
ABOUT THOSE EVENTS COMING UP.
THIS IS A CHANCE FOR US TO DIVE
DEEPER INTO EACH OF THOSE AREAS
INDIVIDUALLY BEFORE FRIDAY SO
FOLKS CAN HAVE A FULL PICTURE.
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS IS AN
INVESTMENT THAT WILL BE BUILT
UPON IN THE JULY BILLS COMING
FORWARD AND THE JANUARY THROUGH
NOVEMBER MEETINGS.
THANKS TO PETE HOLMES FOR BEING
IN COURT ON FRIDAY TO DEFEND
JUMP START.
A QUICK HEARING WAS HELD AND WE
ANTICIPATE A RULING VERY SOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> GOOD ADDITION TO THAT
REPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
WELCOME BACK, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
AS ONE ITEM ON THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
BILL 120089 WOULD EXTEND THE
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF
INTEREST CHARGES ON UTILITY
CUSTOMERS DURING THE COVID
EMERGENCY.
THIS WILL BENEFIT CUSTOMERS WHO
MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR
BILLS FROM EITHER OF OUR CITY-
OWNED UTILITIES.
THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD
EXTENSION OF THIS PANDEMIC
RELIEF POLICY.
IT WAS ON THE CALENDAR MAY
24th.
THE THREE PREVIOUS BILLS WENT
STRAIGHT TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
WE PASSED THE PREVIOUS BILLS
AND THIS WOULD EXTEND THE
SUSPENSION OF THE CHARGES
THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
PLEASE CONTACT OUR CENTRAL
STAFF BEFORE THE VOTE THIS
AFTERNOON.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2nd.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM, BUT IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT.
IT'S A BRIEFING FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
COLLEAGUES, THERE WAS A FATAL
SHOOTING MONDAY MORNING IN OLGA
PARK.
AS REPORTED IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES, A 31-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS
SHOT TO DEATH AT A HOMELESS
CAMP.
THIS FRIGHTENING AND HORRIBLE
LOSS OF LIFE IS A TRAGEDY.
I SHARE THE FRUSTRATION OF MANY
OF MY CONSTITUENTS WITH THE
LACK OF BRINGING PEOPLE INSIDE
LIVING AT UNAUTHORIZED
ENCAMPMENTS IN SEATTLE.
MANY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN
WARNING OF THE DANGERS THERE,
INCLUDING THE RECENT FIRES.
UNFORTUNATELY THERE HAVE NOT
BEEN POSITIVE RESULTS YET TO
GET PEOPLE INSIDE SO THE PARK
CAN BE MADE SAFE AGAIN.
I VISITED THE PARK YESTERDAY
AND THIS MORNING TO ASSESS THE
CONDITIONS IN PERSON.
WITH THE FIRES AND THE MURDER
IN THIS LOCATION, THIS
SITUATION IS UNACCEPTABLE.
I APPRECIATE THE RECENT
RESPONSE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS WHILE WE WAIT FOR
DETECTIVES TO CONTINUE THEIR
INVESTIGATION AND BRING JUSTICE
TO THE VICTIM.
I CONTINUE TO IMPLORE NONPROFIT
PARTNERS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS
TO PRIORITIZE BRINGING PEOPLE
INSIDE TO PREVENT FURTHER HARM.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE
COUNCIL MEETING AND THE
PROGRESS MADE BY THE
LEGISLATURE THIS LAST SESSION
WAS DISCUSSED.
REPRESENTATIVE CHOP HIGHLIGHTED
POLICE REFORM, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND MORE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY AT THE TRAGIC
LOSS OF YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW AND
THE LOSS OF YOUR HOME.
MY OFFICE WISHES YOU THE BEST
IN ALL THE RECOVERY THAT YOU
HAVE TO DO.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA FROM THE RENTERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
THERE WERE A FEW BILLS VOTED
OUT LAST WEEK.
BILL 120046, THE LEGISLATION
FROM MY OFFICE BANNING THE
EVICTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AND
THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
AND THE LEGISLATION JOINTLY
SPONSORED FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND MY OFFICE, CREATING
A RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR RENTERS
TO RENEW THEIR LEASE UNLESS A
LANDLORD HAS A JUST CAUSE FOR
REFUSING TO RENEW THE LEASE.
MY OFFICE IS VERY HAPPY TO
BRING THIS UNIFIED BILL AS
OPPOSED TO HAVING TWO SEPARATE
BILLS.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF
AT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
AND ALL THE CENTRAL STAFF WHO
HAVE HELPED US DEVELOP THIS
LEGISLATION.
>>> JUNE 30th THESE MORATORIUMS
ARE GOING TO EXPIRE.
I PROPOSED LAST TIME TO HOLD
THE VOTE ON THAT RESOLUTION
JUNE 7th BECAUSE THE EVICTION
MORATORIUMS ARE EXPECTED TO
EXPIRE JUNE 30th, AND THAT
WOULD BE A DISASTROUS
SITUATION.
THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A TSUNAMI
OF EVICTIONS ONCE THESE
MORATORIUMS EXPIRE BECAUSE OF
THE DIRE SITUATION RENTERS HAVE
FOUND THEMSELVES IN.
THIS IS GOING TO BE TRUE
REGARDLESS OF THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, WHICH IS WELCOME AS
PEOPLE GET BACK TO THEIR JOBS.
BUT THE UNDERLYING CRISIS OVER
THE LAST YEAR HASN'T
DISAPPEARED, AS WE ALL KNOW.
LAST FRIDAY, AMENDMENT LANGUAGE
TO UPDATE THAT RESOLUTION TO
ACCOUNT FOR THE CHANGES OVER
THE LAST THREE MONTHS, THE
AMENDMENT ADDS UP TO DATE
STATISTICS.
THE AMENDED RESOLUTION NETWORK
BEGAN A LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN
TO THE GOVERNOR, CALLING FOR AN
EXTENSION OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM UNTIL THE END OF THE
YEAR SO PEOPLE CAN GET BACK TO
NORMAL INCOMES AND CAN GET
CAUGHT UP ON RENT.
WE WANT POLICIES IN
LEGISLATURE, BUT WE NEED TO
ENSURE RENTERS HAVE TIME TO
CATCH UP ON RENT.
THE AMENDMENT RESOLUTION ALSO
INCLUDES A LETTER SAYING THE
LOW INCOME HOUSING ALLIANCE
BEGAN A LETTER CAMPAIGN STATING
THAT INCREDIBLE NUMBERS OF
RENTERS ARE APPLYING FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND IT WILL TAKE
MONTHS TO GET THE FUNDS
DISTRIBUTED.
LIFTING THE MORATORIUM AND
ALLOWING LANDLORDS TO PROCEED
WITH EVICTION A MONTH FROM NOW
WOULD BE UNCONSCIONABLE, END
QUOTE.
THIS HAS HAPPENED IN STATE
LEGISLATURE THAT HAS A CLEAR
MAJORITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
TO BE CLEAR, WHILE THE
MORATORIUM IS SCHEDULED TO END
JUNE 30th, THERE'S NOTHING
LEGALLY STOPPING THE GOVERNOR
FROM ISSUING A NEW PROCLAMATION
REENACTING THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
SO INCLUDING THAT RESOLUTION,
THERE ARE FOUR RENTERS' RIGHTS
BILLS COMING FORWARD IN A WEEK.
IF YOU HAVE AMENDMENTS YOU
INTEND TO PROPOSE, I URGE YOU
TO SEND THEM OUT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
PLEASE TALK TO MY OFFICE IF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS, WE CAN ANSWER THEM.
IN LAST WEEK'S MEETING,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN PROPOSED
FOUR AMENDMENTS TO THE
LEGISLATION BANNING SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTIONS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
EDUCATORS.
IF PASSED, THAT WOULD DIVIDE
EDUCATORS, EXCLUDING THE LOWEST
PAID TEACHERS FROM EVICTION AND
REMOVE THE PROTECTIONS FROM
SCHOOL CHILDREN IF THEIR
LANDLORD OWNS FEWER THAN FIVE
HOMES.
WE KNOW BIGGER LANDLORDS USE
LLCs TO HIDE THE FACT THAT THEY
OWN MANY PROPERTIES.
NONE OF THE AMENDMENTS WERE
PASSED IN COMMITTEE, AND I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS
AND MORALES.
FOR THE COMMITTEE, THE MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC HAD BARELY ANY
NOTICE AT ALL.
SO RENTERS CAN LET THE CITY
COUNCIL KNOW WHAT THEY FEEL
ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS, BOTH FROM
MY OFFICE AND MANY ACTIVISTS ON
THE GROUND.
WE URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
AGAINST ALL THESE AMENDMENTS.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE
UNION PASSED A NEARLY UNANIMOUS
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
THE NEXT VOTE WILL BE AT THE
REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIME AT THE
END OF THE MONTH, JUNE 22nd AT
2:00 P.M.
THE FULL AGENDA IS STILL BEING
DEVELOPED BUT IT WILL DISCUSS
RENTERS' RIGHTS LEGISLATION,
AND REQUIRING LANDLORDS TO PAY
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IF THEY
ECONOMICALLY FORCE TENANTS OUT
WITH UNCONSCIONABLE REASONS,
AND GIVE RENTERS SIX MONTHS
NOTICES FOR RENT INCREASES.
I WANT TO THANK THE WORK OF THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION ON
THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE AS
WELL.
AS I'VE EXPLAINED IN THE PAST,
MY OFFICE HAS SENT RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR REVIEW
AND INTRODUCTION.
THIS IS A VERY STRONG BILL,
ALLOWING RENT ONLY TO BE
INCREASED BY THE INFLATION RATE
AND ELIMINATE SERIOUS PROBLEMS
IN PLACES LIKE WE HAVE SEEN IN
CALIFORNIA, DEADLY LOOPHOLES
LIKE ONCE AND EXISTING TENANT
VACATES A UNIT AND IT'S VACANT,
THEN THE RENT SPIKES UP TO AT
MARKET OR NEAR MARKET LEVELS.
SO THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE
PROPOSED THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY
WILL BE REVIEWING INCLUDES ANY
SUCH LOOPHOLES.
THEY ARE ALSO PREPARING
LEGISLATION FOR COMMERCIAL RENT
CONTROL TO ALLOW STRUGGLING
SMALL BUSINESSES TO HAVE RENT
CONTROL AND ADDRESS THE
PROBLEM.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THIS WOULD
BE PART TWO OF THE LEGISLATION
THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE
CITY COUNCIL AND CITY COUNCIL
PASSED RECENTLY, TO BE SURE
THAT ALL RENTERS FACING
EVICTIONS HAVE THE RIGHT TO A
LAWYER TO DEFEND THEM IN COURT.
WE KNOW THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM
AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS TO
CREATE TRANSFERABLE RENTER
HISTORY, LIMITING CREDIT CHECKS
IN RENTAL HISTORIES, AND THIS
IS SOMETHING THE RENTERS
COMMISSION ALSO TALKED ABOUT,
AND TO CREATE STANDARD LEASE
TERMS TO PREVENT ABUSE IN
LEASES.
OF COURSE THIS IS ALL AROUND
THE MOVEMENT TO CANCEL RENT AND
MORTGAGE DEBT.
THE AVERAGE DEBT IS $4,000 OR
SO, AND THE NUMBERS KEEP
CHANGING OVER THE SEVERAL
MONTHS.
BUT IT'S THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
FOR MILLIONS OF RENTING
HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE
NATION.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WORKING PEOPLE, UNION MEMBERS,
SOCIALISTS BUILD A BILL OF
RIGHTS INCLUDING CANCELING RENT
AND MORTGAGE DEBT TO BE SURE
BIG BANKS, CORPORATE LANDLORDS
AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATIONS PAY FOR THE
CRISIS, NOT WORKING PEOPLE.
SO THE LEGISLATION THAT WILL
COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON
JUNE 7th, INCLUDING THE
RESOLUTION TO URGE THE MAYOR
AND GOVERNOR TO EXTEND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUMS TO THE END
OF THE YEAR IS JUST THE
BEGINNING.
WE NEED A FULL BILL OF RIGHTS
FOR RENTERS.
AND ALSO, TO BE CLEAR, THESE
BILLS ARE NOT JUST MEANT AS
FIXES TO PATCH OVER TEMPORARY
CHALLENGES BUT TO ADDRESS THE
LONG STANDING CRISIS.
WE KNOW FOR SEATTLE RENTERS,
THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WAS
BAD EVEN BEFORE COVID, AND NOW
STATISTICS RELEASED FROM
CORPORATE LANDLORD WEBSITES
SHOW THEY ARE SEEING RENTS
SHOOT UP EVEN MORE SO THAN THEY
-- IT'S EVEN BETTER FOR
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT THAN BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO THE
MAYOR ASKING SHE EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM?
>> IT IS.
IT'S ADDRESSING BOTH THE
GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR.
>> HAS ANYBODY GIVEN ANY
THOUGHT TO LOOKING AT
POTENTIALLY VERY NARROW
LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS THE FACT
THAT I THINK WE ALL ARE HEARING
INCREASINGLY FROM SMALL
LANDLORDS AROUND OBLIGATONS
THAT THEY HAVE AROUND PURCHASE
AND SALE AGREEMENTS THAT THEY
ARE LOOKING TO EFFECTUATE.
I'VE GOT ONE SMALL LANDLORD
THAT'S BEEN UNDER A PURCHASE
AND SALE AGREEMENT FOR THE SALE
OF HIS HOME THAT'S BEING
RENTED, AND HE'S UNDER
FINANCIAL PENALTY FOR NOT
COMPLETING IT BECAUSE OF THE
INABILITY TO REQUIRE THE TENANT
TO LEAVE.
SO I'M HEARING MORE FROM SMALL
LANDLORDS WHO ARE SEEKING TO
SELL THEIR PROPERTIES, SOME
THAT ARE ACTUALLY LIKE A LEGAL
AGREEMENT TO SELL THE PROPERTY
AND THEY ARE BEING PENALIZED
FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO EXECUTE,
AND OTHERS WITH DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT,
WITHOUT GETTING SPECIFIC IN THE
RESOLUTION, THERE'S ANY THOUGHT
TO RECOGNIZING THESE RATHER
UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
THAT SOME SMALL NUMBER OF
LANDLORDS ARE DEALING WITH?
I DON'T WANT TO BLOW A HOLE IN
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM, BUT
JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
PEOPLE DO HAVE INDIVIDUAL
SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT I'M INTERESTED IN TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A WAY
TO CONSIDER THEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, FOR MENTIONING THAT.
THIS OF COURSE IS JUST A
RESOLUTION.
IT'S NOT A LEGAL POLICY.
I WOULD SAY BEFORE RESPONDING
DIRECTLY, THERE MIGHT BE SOME
POLICIES WE'LL NEED TO COVER
THE NEEDS OF GENUINE SMALL
LANDLORDS WITHOUT PUTTING THE
PENALTY ON RENTERS.
I WANT TO SIGNAL MY INTEREST IN
LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL, WITH
THE CAVEAT THAT WHATEVER WE DO
HAS TO BE ON THE BASIS OF
ACTUALLY PROTECTING SMALL
LANDLORDS, NOT CORPORATIONS
LIKE WIND MERE BECAUSE DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE DID RESEARCH
ON PEOPLE WHO SPOKE AND THEY
WERE SPOKESPERSONS FOR HUGE
LLCs.
MY POINT IS AS LONG AS WE MAKE
SURE THE POLICIES ARE
PROTECTING GENUINELY SMALL
LANDLORDS, WE ACTUALLY SHOULD
DO THAT.
ALSO MANY OF THEM ARE
STRUGGLING AND WE SHOULD MAKE
SURE THEY ARE NOT PENALIZED
EITHER, BUT IT SHOULD NOT COME
AT THE EXPENSE OF RENTERS.
IF YOU WANTED TO PROPOSE SOME
LANGUAGE AND SEND IT TO US OR
DISCUSS IT, I'M ABSOLUTELY OPEN
TO LOOKING AT THAT.
AS YOU SAID, WITHOUT BLOWING A
HOLE IN THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
>> OKAY.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND
CONCLUDE THIS SECTION OF THE
REPORT WITH MY OWN BRIEFING ON
THE AGENDA.
I'LL HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
ONE IS AN APPOINTMENT TO THE
PRESCHOOL COMMITTEE AND SECOND
WAS REFERENCED IN AN EARLIER
REPORT, LEGISLATION TO BE
DISCUSSED ON JUNE 3rd.
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS
MODELED AFTER CALIFORNIA'S FAIR
FOOD DELIVERY ACT, REQUIRING
WRITTEN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
RESTAURANTS AND BARS WITH THIRD-
PARTY APP DELIVERY PLATFORMS.
WE ARE WORKING UP THIS POLICY
AND DOING AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF
STAKE HOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN
ADVANCE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF
THIS BILL, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
THE CONVERSATION IN THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON JUNE 3rd.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
BILL, REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE OR
DIRECTLY TO ME.
HAPPY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH YOU ABOUT THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION COMMITTEE
IS JUNE 8th AT 2:00 P.M.
WE'LL HAVE FOUR ITEMS,
INCLUDING THE PRESCHOOL AND
FAMILIES OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
WE'LL ALSO HEAR AND DISCUSS
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE CITY'S
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.
AND WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION
WITH THE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
MEMBERS THEN TALK ABOUT K
THROUGH 12 LEARNING AND SEATTLE
PROMISE INVESTMENTS IN THE 2019-
20 SCHOOL YEAR WE MISSED DUE TO
THE PANDEMIC.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THESE, REACH OUT TO MY CLERK.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
REPORT RELEVANT TO MY COMMITTEE
WORK BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NO, COLLEAGUES,
ANYTHING ELSE?
SEEING THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS
OF BUSINESS ON THIS MORNING'S
COUNCIL BRIEFING AGENDA, WE ARE
NOW ADJOURNED.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL
AT 2:00.