>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST A QUICK NOTE, EVERYONE
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE MUTED.
I THINK WE JUST GOT SOME
FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE MAY 3rd, 2022 MEETING OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER.
IT IS TO: 02 P.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER --
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO A
PROCLAMATION HONORING SCOTT
MORROW.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WILL
PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AND I
WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS AFTER COMMENTS
WE WILL MOVE TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION AND ACCEPT
COMMENTS.
>> A GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO
INFORM YOU AND ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC I AM EXTREMELY
UNWELL TODAY AND WILL NEED TO
LEAVE AFTER THE PROCLAMATION IS
DONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH SADNESS I BRING THIS
PROCLAMATION FORWARD TO HONOR
SCOTT MORROW WHO TRAGICALLY
PASSED AWAY. I WANTED TO CONVEY
THE DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR
MYSELF AND EVERYONE IN MY
OFFICE AND EVERYONE IN MY
ORGANIZATION AND EVERYONE WHO
IS AMONG THE LOVED ONES AND ALL
OF THE ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS IN
SEATTLE WHO WORKED WITH SCOTT.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS LOSS.
SCOTT DEDICATED MOST OF HIS
ADULT LIFE TO HELPING HOMELESS
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE.
HE ORGANIZED TO FIGHT FOR
SHELTER AND HOUSING IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.
HE WAS A COURAGEOUS AND
TIRELESS ACTIVIST WHO NEVER
SOLD OUT HIS COMMUNITY OR
COMPROMISED HIS PRINCIPAL. ON
THAT KNOW I CAN ATTEST THAT IT
IS SUCH AN UNUSUAL AND
EXTRAORDINARY THING TO FIND
THAT KIND OF UNSHAKABLE
ACTIVISTS.
SCOTT ORGANIZED WITH WASHINGTON
HELPING RENTERS FIGHT FOR
BUILDING REPAIRS, STOP RENT
INCREASES, PRESERVED BUILDINGS,
AND REPLACE DEMOLISHED HOUSING
UNITS.
IN 1988 HE PUT HIMSELF ON THE
LINE AND WAS ARRESTED WHILE
PARTICIPATING IN NONVIOLENT
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IN THE
OCCUPATION OF THE GATEWOOD HOTEL
, WHICH THE PROPERTY OWNER HAD
LEFT VACANT IN VIOLATION OF
CITY LAW.
THEY COMPEL THE PROPERTY OWNER
TO GIVE TENANT HOUSING A 25
YEAR LEASE TO OPERATE THE
BUILDING FOR LOW INCOME
HOUSING.
AT THAT TIME HE ALSO JOINED
RENTERS PROTESTING THE
WASHINGTON STATE CENTER PLANNED
DEMOLITION OF THE McCABE
BUILDING.
AND TWO BRIEF OCCUPATIONS
RESULTED IN A SETTLEMENT
AMOUNTING TO MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SEEING THE IMPACT OF RISING
RENT ON HOMELESSNESS IN 1989,
SCOTT MORROW BEGAN HANDING OUT
COFFEE TO HOMELESS NEIGHBORS IN
SEATTLE AND DISCUSSED WITH THEM
HOW TO FIGHT FOR SHELTER AND
HOUSING.
HE CONTINUED TO DOING SO EACH
MORNING UNTIL HIS DIAGNOSIS
WITH CANCER IN 2021.
IN 1990 SEATTLE HOSTED THE
GOODWILL GAMES AND WHILE
HANDING OUT COFFEE SCOTT
STARTED TO HEAR MORE AND MORE
FEAR FROM HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AND
PIONEER SQUARE, WHO WERE IN
DANGER OF BEING SWEPT AS THE
CITY ATTEMPTED TO HIDE SIGNS OF
POVERTY FROM THE TOURSTS.
SCOTT HELPED THESE PEOPLE GET
ORGANIZED.
THEY ORGANIZED A GOODWILL
GATHERING IN THE PARK AS A SAFE
PLACE. THIS GROUP OF HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS SAW THE IMPACT OF
ORGANIZING AND BECAME THE
FOUNDING ORGANIZERS OF THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AND RESOURCE
EFFORT.
SCOTT SET UP -- RESIDENTS WERE
ALLOWED TO LIVE IN THE LOWER
VACANT AREA.
HE ALSO STARTED THE FIRST
INDOOR SHELTER AT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH.
IN 2000 SCOTT MORROW REACHED A
AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO HAVE -- AT A TIME IN
THE CITY.
IT IS THE OLDEST PERMANENT
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IN THE
UNITED STATES.
SHARE NOW OPERATES 11 INDOOR
SHELTERS, THREE WORK FOR
HOUSING LOCATIONS, TREE STORAGE
LOCKERS, AND TWO TENT IN
CHEMNITZ.
EIGHT YEARS LATER, IN 2008,
SCOTT HELPED -- -- UNSANCTIONED
SELF GOVERNED ENCAMPMENT ON
CITY-OWNED LAND ON SEPTEMBER
22nd, 2008.
FIVE DAYS LATER THEY SWEPT THE
ENCAMPMENT ARRESTING SEVERAL
DOZEN PEOPLE.
THEY IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED
THEIR AND CAME IN ON STATE-
OWNED LAND AND THEY CONTINUE TO
OPERATE THOSE IN CHEMNITZ AND
TINY VILLAGES EVER SINCE.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK
WITH SCOTT MORROW AND ALL OF
THE ACTIVISTS IN NICHOLASVILLE,
INCLUDING PEGGY HERSELF.
AND BASICALLY EVERY PROGRESSIVE
STRUGGLE IN SEATTLE, SINCE I
FIRST TOOK OFFICE.
WE WORKED TOGETHER FOR
PERMITTING PROCEDURES AND THE
FIRST EVER CITY FUNDING FOR
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
SCOTT WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF
THE TAX HANDLING ON MOVEMENT
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IN 2017
WHEN WE WERE DOING THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET MOVEMENT. WHEN WE DID
THE PEACEFUL OCCUPATION OF CITY
HALL WHERE ACTIVISTS OF
NICHOLASVILLE WERE PROMINENT
AMONG THOSE WHO WERE FIGHTING
FOR THE AMAZON TAX AT THAT TIME
, ALONG WITH MANY UNION
MEMBERS.
HE WAS THERE WITH US WHEN THE
MAJORITY COUNCILMEMBERS SOLD US
OUT, SHAMEFULLY, AND REPEALED
THE AMAZON TAX IN 2018.
AND HE WAS THERE WITH US WHEN
WE REBUILT THE MOVEMENT AFTER
MY OFFICE WAS ABLE TO WIN
REELECTION. AND THEN WE WON THE
AMAZON TAX. THROUGHOUT THE TIME
THAT I HAVE BEEN IN CITY HALL
SCOTT MORROW HAS BEEN AN
ACTIVIST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND CONTINUED TO MOBILIZE AND
ORGANIZE ORDINARY PEOPLE AND
HELP THEM RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN
STRENGTHS AND COMING TOGETHER
AND FIGHTING FOR SOMETHING THAT
THEY DEEPLY BELIEVE IN.
SCOTT BELIEVED, HIMSELF, IN THE
RIGHTS OF HOMELESS NEIGHBORS TO
SELF MANAGE THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES.
HE WAS DEDICATED TO HELPING HIS
FELLOW ACTIVISTS GAIN POLITICAL
CONFIDENCE.
HE HELPED ORGANIZE THEM TO
SPEAK AT PUBLIC EVENTS AND
TESTIFY AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.
HE ALSO BELIEVED STRONGLY IN
DEMOCRACY.
WE HAVE JOINED MANY PROGRESSIVE
COALITIONS AND ENDORSED
PROGRESSIVE EVENTS.
BUT ONLY AFTER A DEMOCRATIC
DISCUSSION, DEBATE, AND GO OF
THE MEMBERS.
THIS IS VERY MUCH THE SPIRIT
THAT IS SHARED WITH ALL OF THE
ACTIVISTS.
THE SEATTLE TIMES RAN AN
ARTICLE ABOUT HIS LEGACY.
INCLUDING A QUOTE FROM OPERATION
NIGHTWATCH, RICK REYNOLDS.
HE SAID HE WOULD NEVER FORGET
THE SUMMER NIGHT HE WAS HANDING
OUT ICE CREAM AT A PROTEST CAMP
AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION
BUILDING AND FOUND SCOTT MORROW
SLEEPING ON THE GROUND.
I REALIZE THIS GUYS GOING TO
GET UP AND SELL COFFEE AT 6:00.
WHY?
HE BELIEVED PASSIONATELY THAT
EVERY HUMAN BEING IS WORTH THE
SACRIFICE.
IT IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO
SAY THAT SCOTT MORROW'S SELFLESS
AND COURAGEOUS ORGANIZING HAS
TOUCHED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.
PERHAPS MORE.
HIS DEATH IS A LOSS FOR ALL OF
US WHO ARE GENUINELY FIGHTING
FOR AN AFFORDABLE SEATTLE, THAT
ALLOWS FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING'S
DIGNITY.
THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF
LIFE FOR SCOTT MORROW ON
SATURDAY, MAY 14th, AT 3:00 P.M.
IN DISTRICT 3. I AM REALLY
GRATEFUL TO PEGGY AND OTHERS
BEING HERE ON THIS ZOOM CALL.
I WISH WE WERE ALL IN PERSON AT
CITY HALL, IN CHAMBERS, WHERE I
COULD BRING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE MOURNING HIS LOSS.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE SHARE THE
MESSAGE, NOT ONLY OF
REMEMBERING SCOTT HIMSELF BUT
REMEMBERING THE LEGACY LEFT
BEHIND AND NOT ABANDONING OUR
FIGHT FOR AN AFFORDABLE AND
JUST SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
I WILL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO MAKE COMMENTS
AND WE WILL THEN SUSPEND THE
RULES AND PRESENT THE
PROCLAMATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE IN THE
COUNCIL CHAMBERS YESTERDAY FOR
THE MORNING BRIEFING SO I WOULD
LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO THE
PROCLAMATION AT THIS TIME IN
THE PUBLIC MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
MADAM CLERK, HAVE WE REFLECTED
HER SIGNATURE BEING ADDED TO
THE PROCLAMATION?
>> YES WE HAVE.
IT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED AT THIS
POINT.
>> VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I MET SCOTT IN 1994 WHEN I WAS
AN ORGANIZER FOR THE SEATTLE
TENANTS UNION.
HE, AT THE TIME, WAS A BOARD
MEMBER FOR THE TENANTS UNION.
I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT HOW
TO ORGANIZED WITH HEART AND PUT
THE LEADERSHIP OF OTHERS FIRST.
SCOTT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING TO AND
CENTERING THE VOICES OF THOSE
WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES LONG
BEFORE IT WAS FASHIONABLE TO DO
SO.
I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT --
AND MORE PORTLY TO THE LIVES OF
INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.
COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE HAD LIVES
THAT ARE LESS BRUTAL AND FULL
OF MORE COMMUNITY THAN THEY
WOULD HAVE BEEN.
FOR HIS ORGANIZING VISIT AND
TENACIOUS SPIRIT.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THIS PROCLAMATION SO THAT WE
CAN REMEMBER AND HONOR THAT
WORK.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
I WANT TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES
TO SCOTT'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING HIM
SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
MEETING IN THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE AS A MATTER FACT.
I LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM ABOUT
THE VALUE OF SELF-GOVERNANCE
FOR SHELTER RESIDENTS.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS
THAT WE CAN REALLY HONOR SCOTT
BY ENSURING THAT WE PROVIDE THE
SERVICES THAT OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS NEED AND BY BUILDING
THE HOUSING THAT WILL PROVIDE
THE STABILITY THAT OUR
NEIGHBORS CONTINUE TO NEED AS
WELL.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WILL JUST TAKE A MOMENT,
SIMILARLY, TO JOIN IN SCOTT'S
RECOGNITION. AS MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE SPOKEN TO JACOB THORPE ON
MY STAFF.
I MET WITH SCOTT AS RECENTLY AS
FOUR MONTHS AGO TO TALK STRATEGY
ABOUT EXPANDING TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, EXPANDING PLACES FOR
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
TO LIVE IN DIGNITY IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
I REALLY APPRECIATED SCOTT'S
ADVOCACY, HIS PARTNERSHIP, AND
HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO
WORK TOGETHER IN A
COLLABORATIVE FAITH TO GET
PEOPLE MORE PLACES TO GO AND
STAY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE
HAVE A HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY
CENTERED ON GETTING A ROOF OVER
PEOPLE'S HEADS AND LETTING
PEOPLE LIVE IN THE SAFETY AND
DIGNITY THAT A LOT OF US TAKE
FOR GRANTED.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT
PARTNERSHIP FROM SCOTT.
HIS PARTNERSHIP IS GOING TO BE
SORELY MISSED.
WITH THAT I WILL CLOSE COMMENTS
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS AND MOVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND ASK IF
THERE IS ANY OBJECTION TO
SUSPENDING THE COUNCIL RULES.
I'M SEEING OBJECTION.
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR
GUEST TO THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE A PANEL
PRESENT HERE TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION?
I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE BOXES
TO SEE WHO WE NEED.
>> YES.
WE HAVE JARVIS AND PEGGY WHO
ARE PRESENT TO ACCEPT THIS
PROCLAMATION.
>> JARVIS AND PEGGY, FEEL FREE
TO COME OFF OF MUTE AND ENGAGE
IN THE MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING
HERE TODAY.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU JOIN
US.
JARVIS, IF YOU PERHAPS WANT TO
START BY MAKING A FEW COMMENTS
AT THIS TIME AND THAT I CAN
HAND IT OVER TO PEGGY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR CHOOSIN THIS
PROCLAMATION. AND TALL
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I MET SCOTT CLOSE TO 15 YEARS
AGO, WHEN I FIRST BECAME
HOMELESS, AND I STAYED AT
DENSITY THREE.
AT THAT POINT THAT WAS THE ONLY
OPTION THAT I HAD.
IT WAS SUCH AN EYE-OPENING
EVENT FOR ME WHEN I FIRST
BECAME HOMELESS AND I DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I HAD NO DIRECTION IN MY LIFE
AT THE TIME.
BECAUSE OF THE SELF MANAGED
NATURE OF THE TENT CITY I WAS
ABLE TO BE EMPOWERED AND JOIN
THE ADVOCACY FOR OTHERS, AS
WELL AS MYSELF, AND HAVING A SAY
IN HOW I LIVE MY LIFE. I AM
FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR SCOTT
MORROW FOR EMPOWERING HOMELESS
PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND ALLOWING
US TO SPEAK FOR OURSELVES.
HE WILL BE MISSED.
HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR, AND
EMPOWERING PEOPLE THAT ARE
FACING ADVERSITY, IT'S REALLY
THE MAIN IMPACT THAT I CAN SAY
THAT SCOTT MORROW HAS ON ME.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE OTHERS THAT
HAVE EXPERIENCED IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION. AS YOU CAN SEE
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU INSIDE MY
TINY HOUSE. THANK YOU.
>> JARVIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE
HERE TODAY.
PEGGY, OVER TO YOU.
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR BRINGING THIS
PROCLAMATION FORWARD.
SCOTT BELIEVED THAT
HOMELESSNESS IS CAUSED
PRIMARILY BY A LACK OF
AFFORDABLE AND SOCIAL HOUSING.
HE BELIEVED THAT HOMELESS
PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF NOT ONLY
OPERATING THEIR OWN SHELTERS
AND ENCAMPMENTS, HE BELIEVED
THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ALL
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS
IN THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT THEY ARE
CAPABLE OF FIGHTING TO SURVIVE
AND SOLVE HOMELESSNESS.
I AM CONVINCED THAT WITHOUT
SCOTT'S DEDICATION AND HIS
UNPARALLELED ORGANIZING SKILLS
THERE CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AND
SHELTERS. AND PROBABLY THERE
WOULD BE FEWER NUMBERS OF THOSE
THINGS.
I SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION AND
I THINK THE COUNSEL FOR DOING
SO.
>> PEGGY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE PROCEDURALLY
NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE TO
DELIVER THE PROCLAMATION?
>> AT THIS POINT WE DO NOT.
>> JARVIS AND PEGGY, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THIS PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE
SCOTT.
AS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WOULD LIKE
TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE REST OF
THE MEETING.
I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION, GIVEN
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS
NOT FEELING WELL , TO BE
EXCUSED FROM THE BALLOT OF THIS
MEETING TODAY.
MAY 3rd, 2022.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO
EXCUSING COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING?
I'M HEARING NONE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU ARE
EXCUSED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO THE
APPROVAL OF THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
AT THE FRONT OF THIS I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF VERY
BRIEF COMMENTS UNDER THE
PRESIDENT PRO TEM'S PREROGATIVE.
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A
CONTESTED MOTION, PROCEDURALLY,
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS.
I WOULD JUST ASK COLLEAGUES,
GIVEN THAT WE DID DISCUSS THIS
A FAIR AMOUNT AND BRIEFING
YESTERDAY, TO KEEP COMMENTS FOR
OR AGAINST THE PROCEDURAL
MOTIONS BRIEF.
SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
COLLEAGUES WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE
THEIR DECISION ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER.
WE DID HAVE A PREVIEW OF
POTENTIAL ARGUMENTS YESTERDAY
AND OF COURSE IT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE ARGUMENTS
TO BE RE-RAISED.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE
COMMENTS BE BRIEF AND WE THEN
BE ABLE TO MOVE ON AND VOTE.
I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT MEMBERS
MAKE SURE THAT PER OUR COUNCIL
RULES THE MOTIVES OF PARTICULAR
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE IMPUGNED AS
WE PROCEED THIS PROCEDURAL
MOTION.
I KNOW EVERYONE WILL FOLLOW
THOSE RULES.
AND PEOPLE SHOULD PLEASE DIRECT
THEIR COMMENTS TO -- RATHER
THAN OTHER COUNSEL COLLEAGUES.
WITH THAT I MOVE TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS TO AMEND
THE CALENDAR?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE THE CALENDAR TO INCLUDE
A BILL RELATED TO
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED BY
12 6490, WHICH ADOPTS THE 2022
BUDGET.
AND REFERRING INTO THE PUBLIC
SELF THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
AMENDMENT?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
I WOULD ALLOW FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD TO MAKE COMMENTS FIRST
AND THEN I WILL ACCEPT COMMENTS
FROM OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ON
THE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY MORNING
, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON RATHER,
THE COMMITTEE FACES AN UNUSUAL
MISMATCH BETWEEN THE TIMING OF
FULL COUNSEL AND THE MEETING OF
THE COMMITTEE ITSELF.
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS VOTED ON AT THE
TUESDAY AFTERNOON FULL COUNCIL
MEETING AND THE COMMITTEE
MEETING IN THE MORNING ON
TUESDAY.
THERE IS A ONE-WEEK DELAY
BETWEEN INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL AND COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION.
OTHER COMMITTEES THAT ME ON
WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY CAN
ACTUALLY CONSIDER LEGISLATION
REFERRED ON TUESDAY'S MEETING.
AS BACKGROUND I JUST WANTED TO
STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I
SUPPORTED, WHEN ASKED BY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I SUPPORTED
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
COMMITTEE AND SUPPORTED A VOTE
ON IT. JUST AS COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON HAS REQUESTED.
I WOULD LIKE A VOTE ON BOTH
BILLS IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING
SINCE THEY ARE RELATED.
AND FROM SOME PERSPECTIVE THEY
ARE COMPLEMENT THREE.
MOVING FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS ON
TUESDAY HAS CREATED A
LOGISTICAL DISADVANTAGE FOR
TIMELY CONSIDERATION OF
LEGISLATION.
MEETINGS ON TUESDAY MORNING,
WALKING ON LEGISLATION IS A
NORMAL FEATURE OF COUNSEL
OPERATIONS AND IS THEN DONE
NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
THIS IS DONE BY SIMPLY AMENDING
-- AND THE RULES THEMSELVES
STATE UNDER SECTION 3A,
SUBSECTION 1E, WHEN ADOPTION OF
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS BEING CONSIDERED
DURING EACH COUNCIL MEETING IT
MAY BE MODIFIED BY A MAJORITY
RULE, A MAJORITY VOTE OF
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT APPLYING OUR
COUNCIL RULES AS WRITTEN IS IN
ANY WAY A CIRCUMVENTION OF
THOSE RULES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE AMENDMENT FOR THE COUNSEL?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M GLAD THAT MY RESOLUTION HAS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD OF THE
URGENCY OF THIS ISSUE.
BY RUSHING THE PROPOSAL ONTO
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR TODAY IS PROFAMILY
DISRESPECT WILL.
NOT ONLY OF OUR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT BUT ALSO THE RULES
AND PRIORITIES ARE AGREED-UPON
NORMS THAT GOVERN THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
YOU ALL KNOW THAT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF OUR PUBLIC OUR
LEGISLATIVE INTAKE AND REVIEW
CALENDARS ARE THREE WEEKS LONG.
FROM THE TIME IT GETS ON THE
PRE-INTRODUCTION CALENDAR TO
FORMAL INTRODUCTION IN THE
COMMITTEE REFERRAL.
THAT IS WHAT IS BEING VOTED ON
TODAY AND EVERY TUESDAY.
THIS TIME FRAME ALLOWS THE
NECESSARY TIME FOR THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT TO REVIEW
LEGISLATION, DECIDE WHAT
COMMITTEE TO REFER TO, AND TO
TRY TO BROKER, COMPROMISE, AND
COLLABORATE.
WHICH I AM TOTALLY OPEN TO.
IT ALSO PROVIDES THE TIME FOR
THE PUBLIC TO SEE LEGISLATION
ON THE ADOPTED IRC BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE.
THIS PROVIDES THOUGHTFUL
DELIBERATION AND TRANSPARENCY.
FOR SOME REASON COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD ASKED COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ TO EXPEDITE
OUR INTRODUCTION PROCESS . BUT
SHE REFUSED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
REFUSED.
KNOWING THAT MY RESOLUTION WAS
UP FOR INFO ON THE 10th.
AND ALSO KNOWING THAT I HAVE A
COMPETING COUNSEL BILL THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD REFUSED
TO LET ME ADDRESS THE LAST
COMMUNITY MEETING.
WE UNANIMOUS ME ELECTED COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS
ATTEMPTING TO GO AROUND HER
AUTHORITY BY TRYING TO WALK
THIS ON A WEEK EARLY ONLY SO
THAT WE CAN VOTED OUT OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ON MAY
10th.
AND THAT AGENDA WILL ALREADY BE
PACKED WITH MY RESOLUTION.
NOW COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WANTS
TO ADD YET ANOTHER COMPLEX
ITEM TO THE AGENDA AND VOTE IT
OUT ON THE SAME DAY, KNOWING
FULL WELL THAT THERE WILL BE
RIGOROUS DEBATE.
I DO HAVE A SOLUTION.
ONE SOLUTION COULD BE THAT WE
DISCUSS IT ON THE 10th.
AND THEN VOTED OUT THE
FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEETING
ONCE IT'S ON THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I HAVE ALLOWED TIME ON TWO
COMMITTEES FOR DISCUSSION AND
VOTE ON THE SURVEILLANCE IMPACT
REPORTS.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN THE ISSUE.
I DID THAT BECAUSE IT'S
CONTROVERSIAL.
TWO MEETINGS ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT, DEBATE, AND
AMENDMENTS.
WE WALK ON LEGISLATION WHEN
IT'S REALLY TIME SENSITIVE.
LIKE WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO BE
SUED OR WE STAND TO LOSE MONEY
IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION.
WALKING ON COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S BILL THIS TIME DOES
NOT MEET THAT LEVEL OF URGENCY
IN MY OPINION.
IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE TO ME.
JAMMING LEGISLATION THROUGH THE
EGISLATIVE PROCESS DEGRADES
OUR FUNCTION AS A DELIBERATIVE
BODY AND CREATES BAD POLICY.
ONE COULD ARGUE THAT SOME OF
THE THINGS WE SEE AROUND OUR
CITY RIGHT NOW ARE THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM
RUSHING AND NOT TAKING THE TIME
TO BE REALLY CAREFUL.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SPENT
MONTHS DELAYING ACTION ON THIS
ISSUE WHILE WAITING FOR THE
MAYOR'S MEMO ON CITYWIDE HIRING
INCENTIVES.
NOW THAT I'VE BROUGHT FORWARD
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
STAFFING INCENTIVES WE NEED TO
TAKE THE TIME.
WE NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO
ENSURE THAT WE ALLOW FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM WE
CAN GET IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE RULES FOR A
REASON.
LET'S FOLLOW THEM WHILE
MAINTAINING A RESPECT FOR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ, WHO
IS NOT EVEN HERE TO DEFEND HER
DECISION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS?
I'M SEEING NO COMMENTS.
I WILL MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN AND
THEN I WILL MAKE SOME REMARKS
AND GIVE COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE , AS
IT IS HER MOTION.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT BOTH
COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO ADDRESS
THIS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE
MORE CLARITY FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ON THE FULL ARRAY OF TOOLS THAT
THEY THINK THEY NEED TO GET OUR
HIRING PLAN BACK ON TRACK AND
TO RETAIN THE DEDICATED
OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES THAT
SEATTLE IS TRYING TO HANG ONTO.
IN MY DISTRICT THERE IS A GREAT
CONCERN FOR MANY PEOPLE ABOUT
THE REDUCTION IN POLICE
STAFFING THAT HAS OCCURRED AND
WANT US TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN.
THIS MAY INCLUDE MOVING
EXPENSES, AS PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
I ALSO APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, WHICH
PROVIDES MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY
AND PRESUMABLY A LARGER DOLLAR
AMOUNT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING
FOR COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
RESOLUTION ON MAY 12th.
AND THEN WHENEVER WE DO TAKE
UP, WHETHER THERE ARE SUBSETS
OF THAT WERE MOVING EXPENSES
AND OTHER THINGS, I WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE
EXECUTIVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY NEED MORE
TIME UNTIL MAY 24th.
BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
GIVING THEM THAT TIME SO WE CAN
HEAR FROM THEM EXACTLY WHAT
THEY NEED.
WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE
STRATEGIES IN THE RIGHT WAY THE
FIRST TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
JUST TO MAKE A COUPLE OF BRIEF
REMARKS, THIS IS A PROCEDURAL
MOTION.
I DO APPRECIATE THE OTHER
ELEMENTS ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON'S RESOLUTION AND THE
BILL PRESENTED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAVE COME INTO THIS
DISCUSSION.
THE COMMENTS TO THIS
PROCEDURAL QUESTION IN FRONT OF
THE COUNCIL.
I WILL SHARE COUPLE OF MY
THOUGHTS, SPEAKING AS A FELLOW
MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL ON HOW
I'M VOTING AND WHY OPT TO VOTE
THAT WAY.
I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE POINTS
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS MADE
ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF OUR
RULES AND WHY WE DO SET UP THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
TO EFFECTIVELY QUEUE UP OUR
LEGISLATIVE WORK AND DISTRIBUTE
LEGISLATION OF THE COMMITTEES,
AND TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT NOTICE
FOR THE PUBLIC AND
COUNCILMEMBERS OF ISSUES THAT
WILL COME BEFORE THEM.
THAT SAID, I THINK THERE ARE
SOME PARTICULAR FACTS RELATED
TO COUNSEL BILL 120320 WHICH
WARRANT APPROVING COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S REQUEST FOR THIS TO
BE ADDED TO THE IRC TODAY. ONE
OF THOSE ISSUES, AS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
INDICATED, IS THE UNIQUE TIMING
OF WHEN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, AND THIS WAS
SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED AS WE
WERE REORGANIZING COUNCIL RULES
LAST FALL, THAT THIS WOULD
PRESENT A POTENTIAL PROBLEM TO
MOVING FULL COUNSEL TO TUESDAY
AFTERNOONS.
FOR MANY REASONS THAT HAS BEEN
A WORTHY TRADE IT'S BEEN GREAT
TO HAVE THE COUNCIL BRIEFING ON
DIFFERENT DAYS.
BUT ONE OF THOSE CONSEQUENCES
IS THE AWKWARDNESS OF HAVING A
TUESDAY MORNING COMMITTEE THAT
IS GOING TO BE IN THE POSITION
OF POTENTIALLY NEEDING
LEGISLATION IN THE PIPELINE AND
FACE UNDUE DELAY, UP TO AN
ADDITIONAL WEEK, FOR THINGS TO
BE FULLY CONSIDERED.
EVEN WITH THAT CAVEAT THE RULES
ARE STILL IMPORTANT.
WHICH WOULD BE MORE GERMANE IF
THIS COUNSEL HAD BEEN DISCUSSED
IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HAD LAST WEEK.
THIS WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE
CHIEF OF POLICE AND OTHER
PEOPLE PRESENT.
IT WAS INTRODUCED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , AT
LEAST IN CONCEPT, AND WITH TEXT
WE COULD ALL READ.
THE BILL HAS BEEN REPEATED AND
REPORTED ON EXTENSIVELY. THE
MEDIA INDICATED THAT THE PUBLIC
IS CERTAINLY AWARE OF THIS BILL.
FINALLY, JUST AS A MATTER OF
POLICY THAT INFLUENCES PUTTING
THIS ON NOW, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE
A STAFFING CRISIS, GIVEN THAT
THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT THE
DEPARTMENT HAS INDICATED A
WANT.
A DELAY OF ANOTHER WEEK IS
SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY, IF
IT CAN BE AVOIDED, -- BY
PUTTING THIS BILL ON NOW ACTION
CAN BE TAKEN EARLIER.
AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
INDICATED.
THESE RESOURCES CAN BE GIVEN TO
THE DEPARTMENT TO EFFECTUATE
THESE CHANGES ON A FASTER
TIMELINE.
JUST FROM A PRACTICAL
STANDPOINT I THINK IT MAKES
SENSE GIVEN THAT THERE HAS BEEN
SIGNIFICANT NOTICE, PUBLIC
DISCUSSION, PUBLIC DEBATE ON
THIS BILL.
AND GIVEN THAT IN PRACTICAL
TERMS WE CAN GET THESE
RESOURCES TO THE DEPARTMENT
MORE QUICKLY.
FOR THOSE PURPOSES I WILL
PERSONALLY BE VOTING IN FAVOR
OF THIS REQUEST FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, AS IT
IS YOUR MOTION AND AS IS OUR
CUSTOM, YOU MAY MAKE THE FINAL
REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WILL MAKE IT REALLY QUICK.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ IS
AWARE THAT I ATTEMPTED TO WALK
THIS ON TODAY.
HER PROCESS FOR WHEN TO EXPEDITE
AT THIS TIME IS FOR A SMALL
SUBSET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
I WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT WITH
HER MOVING FORWARD.
SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY AWARE THAT
MY INTENTION WAS TO WALK THIS
ON TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, AGAIN, THAT
TO SUGGEST THAT BY FOLLOWING
OUR OWN RULES WE ARE SOMEHOW
CIRCUMVENTING THE PRESIDENT'S
ROLE IS A VERY UNUSUAL THING TO
SUGGEST AND LIMITS THE ABILITY
OF COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT A
ROUTINE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.
IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO TIE OUR
HANDS IN THIS WAY TOTALLY
WALKED THINGS ON WHEN WE HAVE
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENTS BLESSING
, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL
RULES THAT ARE BEFORE US.
I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE
COMING TO THE FULL COUNSEL SOON
AND PERHAPS THAT WOULD BE A
TIME TO TAKE UP THAT MATTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
AMENDMENT?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> NAY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE .
>> THE MOTION CARRIES FOR
COUNSEL THE 120320 AND IT IS
ADDED TO THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AND ARE THERE
FOR THE COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR?
I'M SEEING NO COMMENTS.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION THEN
THE REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
I AM HEARING NO OBJECTION.
THE REFERRAL CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED.
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE OF
PROVED CONSENT CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR?
I'M HEARING NONE.
I MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTED CALENDAR?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND
LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF?
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
I'M HEARING NO OBJECTION.
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE
WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE
COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM.
REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE A
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE
CITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
AND/OR ELIMINATE THESE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIODS AT ANY POINT IF
WE DEEM THAT THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR IS NO LONGER
SUITABLE FOR ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
OUR CITY CLERK WILL MODERATE
THIS COMMENT PERIOD AND I WILL
HAND IT OFF TO THE CLERK TO
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THIS MEETING IS UP TO 20
MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH REGISTERED ON THE
WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED AND
USE THE I.D.
AND PASSCODE THAT WAS EMAILED
UPON CONFIRMATION.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT
FROM THE GENERAL MEETING I.D.
LIST ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION THEN THESE CHECK
YOUR SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDER.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED
THE STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
MICROPHONE AND A PROMPT THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN ON MUTED WILL BE
HEARD.
THEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
THEN THE SPEAKER MUST PRESS
STAR AND SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
THE SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN THERE ARE 10 SECONDS LEFT
OF THE ALLOTTED TIME.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT PLEASE WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THE SPEAKERS DO NOT AND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED THE
SPEAKERS MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE.
IF YOU TRY TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, PLEASE
DO SO VIA THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION POST ON THE AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR AND SIX
AFTER THE PROMPT THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN ON MUTED.
WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS WHO ARE
REGISTERED.
ONLY 2 OF 4 ARE PRESENT.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS HAROLD.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR BRINGING UP SCOTT MORROW.
HE WAS AN ICON IN THE CITY AND
STILL IS.
HE HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH IN
GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY.
AND IN MY OPINION THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE COALITION WOULD NOT
BE WHERE IT IS TODAY WITHOUT
HIS GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IN THE
CITY.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
VEHICLE RESIDENCY PROGRAM FOR
THE CITY.
FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR
VEHICLES THEY HAVE A TARGET ON
THE BACK. WE NEED A SAFE
PARKING LOT TO MAKE SURE -- I
SAY THIS BECAUSE OF THOSE
ECOLOGY BLOCKS.
NOT ONLY IS IT BAD FOR US TO
LIVE IN SEATTLE BUT -- ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO PUT THEM OUT THERE.
THE POLICE ARE NOT DOING
ANYTHING.
WHY?
I POSE THIS QUESTION TO THE
COUNCIL.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO MAKE
SCHEDULING FOR THE SWEEPS ARE
THE POLICE.
AND THE PEOPLE HAVE PUT BLOCKS
OUT THERE RIGHT AFTER THE SWEEPS
. THEY KNOW WHEN THEY ARE
HAPPENING.
-- THEY KNOW THE SCHEDULING OF
THE SWEEPS.
LET'S FIND A SAFE PARKING LOT
IN SEATTLE WHERE PEOPLE CAN
MOVE AND HAVE THEIR DIGNITY
RESTORED. THEY HAVE NO TRASH
PICKUP, THEY HAVE NO BATHROOMS,
WE KNOW THAT IS BAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR
HOPEFUL SUPPORT ON THIS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES.
>> THANK YOU.
DAVID HAYNES, DISTRICT 7. IT
DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY COPS
YOU HIRE WHEN THEY WON'T SHUT
DOWN MR. MEADOR DRUG PUSHES.
WHEELING LEGALIZED PROPER GROWN
WEED.
NOT CRACK, METH, OR HEROIN.
RESULTING IN CITY COUNCIL
POLICIES OF EXEMPTING LOW-LEVEL
MISDEMEANOR DRUG PUSHERS FROM
JAIL IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF
SOCIETY IMPLOSION AND WHY SO
MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING
VICTIMIZED BY CRIMINALS,
COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST
HUMANITY. HAS JUNKIE THIEVES
ARE STEALING EVERYTHING IN
SIGHT AND RUINING EVERY BLOCK
OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
-- SEATTLE CITY COPS TAKE CREDIT
AS THEY PRIORITIZE OVERTIME AT
EVENTS AND BLAME THE HOMELESS
FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG.
THE POLICE CHIEF IS UNDERMINING
EFFORTS BECAUSE SEATTLE COPS,
THE MAJORITY, ARE NOT TRAINED,
NOR WILLING, NOR EVEN BOTHER,
TO FOCUS ON DRUG CRIMES THAT
ARE DESTROYING LIVES DAILY.
THANKS TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE STILL
HELPING EVIL STAY OUT OF JAIL,
NO NEED FOR BAIL.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD REALIZE
THAT WHEREVER THE MEDIA TAKES A
PICTURE OF A CRIME HOTSPOT
AFTER THE FACT IS THE ONLY
PLACE THEY DISPATCH A COP CAR
TO SHOW FORCE.
YET THEY NEVER JAIL THE RECENT
OFFENDERS WHO SIMPLY LIVE A
BLOCK AWAY OR AROUND THE
CORNER.
JUST LOOK OUT CITY HALL WINDOWS
TOWARD THIRD AVENUE RIGHT NOW
BETWEEN JAMES AND CARRIE.
THERE IS AN EVIL OPEN DRUG
MARKET RIGHT NOW, AS I SPEAK,
WHERE YOU CANNOT USE THE BUS
STOP OR GO NEAR IT WITH KIDS
BECAUSE PREDATORS HAVE TAKEN
OVER.
YET METRO TRANSIT BUS DRIVERS
NEVER NOTIFY METRO TRANSIT
POLICE, WHO USE TECHNICALITY
INVOLVED, LIVING IT IS NOT
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEAR
THE AREA. IT'S A SEATTLE PLEASE
THEY CLAIM THEY ARE NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING THE
AREA BECAUSE IT'S METRO'S
RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS IS A REPEATED DILEMMA THAT
PROVES WE HAVE UNTRUSTWORTHY
CITY LEADERS.
>> THAT IS OUR LAST SPEAKER
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND MOVE ON TO
OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
FIRST THE GOVERNANCE NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1. APPOINTMENT
02187.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED.
>> IS THE DIRECTOR CURRENTLY
WITH US? THERE YOU ARE.
GREAT.
I KNOW THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ IS NOT PRESENT . WAS
SOMEONE DESIGNATED TO SPEAK TO
THE APPOINTMENT OR SHOULD I
HANDED OVER TO DIRECTOR?
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, YOUR
RECOGNIZE.
>> WELCOME, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ ASKED ME TO SPEAK TO
THIS.
I KNOW EVERYBODY IS EXCITED
ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT . THERE
ARE OTHERS WHO WANT TO SPEAK AS
WELL.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO
DO THE OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION.
WHEN I GO FIRST?
OR THE DIRECTOR?
>> CHAZ MILLER PEDERSEN, AS
VICE CHAIR, SPEAK TO THE AGENDA
ITEM.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ ASKED
ME TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM AS VICE
CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE.
WE UNANIMOUSLY RECOGNIZED THE
PERMANENT DIRECTOR OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
REST ASSURED THAT THE MAYOR AND
COUNCIL FOLLOW THE NOMINATION
AND CONFIRMATION PROCESS AS
OUTLINED IN OUR RESOLUTION
31868.
SOME OF YOU KNOW HER VERY WELL.
BRIEFLY I WILL SAY THAT THIS
NOMINATION OF A HIGHLY
EXPERIENCED REGIONAL AND
NATIONAL LEADER FIRMLY COMMITTED
TO SEATTLE IS NOT ONLY A
POSITIVE REFLECTION ON THE
ADMINISTRATION BUT ALSO A
BLESSING FOR OUR CITY AS WE
COMPETE FOR FUNDING AND POLICY
IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS ALL LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT.
SHE HAS BUILT A SOLID TEAM TO
NAVIGATE US THROUGH A
COMPLICATED STATE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
AS THE MAYOR SAID IN HIS
LETTER, TRANSMITTING HER
NOMINATION TO US, GAEL TARLETON
BRINGS EXPERIENCE OF BOTH DEPTH
AND BREADTH.
AND EIGHT YEARS AS A STATE
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 36th
SLATE OF DISTRICT.
SHE BRINGS A THOUGHTFUL YEAR,
DIPLOMATIC MIND, AND A
COMMITMENT TO ADVOCATING FOR
THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
GAEL TARLETON HAS THE RESOLVE,
TEMPERAMENT, AND DIPLOMATIC
SKILLS NEEDED TO REPRESENT OUR
CITY WITH DISTINCTION.
I WILL ADD TO THESE ACCOLADES
THAT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE
POSSIBLE TO FIND A PROFESSIONAL
WITH AS MUCH SKILL AND
EXPERIENCE AS GAEL TARLETON TO
REPRESENT CITY HALL AS OUR NEW
AND PERMANENT DIRECTOR OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
DIRECTOR GAEL TARLETON, GIVE
SOME REMARKS AND THEN WE WILL
OPEN IT UP FOR GENERAL
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. AND ALL OF THE
MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL TO
OUR GREAT CITY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA .
COUNCIL MEMBER STRESS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, THANK
YOU VERY , VERY MUCH FOR THE
INTRODUCTION.
I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE
BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY.
I'M HONORED TO SERVE.
I AM HONORED TO SERVE THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE IN DOING THE
WORK THAT WE ALL KNOW NEEDS TO
BE DONE TO ADVANCE OUR AMAZING
CITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU IN
PARTICULAR FOR YOUR SUPPORT
OVER THESE PAST FOUR MONTHS AS
WE KICKED OFF A TRANSITION IN
THE ADMINISTRATION.
I WAS HIRING FOR STAFF AND
PROMOTING STAFF TO FILL
VACANCIES AND TO ADDRESS
CRUCIAL NEEDS IN THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AS
A SHORT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
KICKED OFF ON JANUARY 10th.
AS I SAID TO THE GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, I AM
THRILLED THAT WE HAVE A FULLY
STAFFED INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS TEAM WHO REFLECT AND
RESPECT THE RICH DIVERSITY OF
THIS CITY.
I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL. AND
ALL OF YOU KNOW WE CAN'T GET
ANYTHING DONE WITHOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH US.
YOUR INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS
AND THE CENTRAL STAFF OF THE
COUNCIL, EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE
AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS WERE
ON THEIR A GAME THROUGHOUT THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. YOU WERE
ON CALL 24/7 TO DEAL WITH
LATEBREAKING TESTIMONY NEEDS,
LETTERS OF SUPPORT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU GOT
ON THE HORN WITH OUR TEAM IN
OLYMPIA, VIRTUALLY OF COURSE.
YOU MADE SURE THAT WHEN
CRITICAL OF GUN VIOLENCE
LEGISLATION WAS BEING PASSED
THAT YOU WERE THERE SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF NOT JUST YOUR
DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, BUT OUR ENTIRE STATE.
AND THAT GUN LEGISLATION ALL
PASSED INTO LAW.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU ARE
THERE ADVOCATING FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND EVICTION
PROTECTIONS.
AND AT THE LAST MINUTE YOUR
ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT AND DATA
FROM YOUR STAFF HELPED US GET
THE REPRESENTATIVE THE
INFORMATION SHE NEEDED TO TALK
A VERY IMPORTANT BUDGET
PROPOSAL.
AND 45 MILLION IN RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
COUNSELOR PEDERSEN WAS THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS WAS
THERE ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
COMMITMENTS AND BUDGETS THAT
HAVE TRANSLATED INTO HISTORIC
LEVELS OF FUNDING FOR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOUR TEAM
WORKING WITH HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES HAS HELPED US SO MUCH
ON THE HOUSING FRONT AND SO
MANY NEW COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
DONE THE SAME THING TO PUT THIS
CITY IN A POSITION TO REALLY
TRANSFORM ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR
EVERYONE WHO IS ON SHELTERED
AND FOR EVERYONE WHO IS AT RISK
OF LOSING HOUSING.
I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL TAKE A
MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
CITY WORKED AS A TEAM AND WE
GOT A LOT ACCOMPLISHED WITH
THAT TEAM EFFORT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON PAID
ATTENTION TO A VERY INTERESTING
BILL THAT NAVIGATED THE SESSION.
AND WOUND UP PASSING WITHOUT
ALMOST ANYONE KNOWING. EXCEPT
THAT SHE WAS THERE MAKING PHONE
CALLS, WRITING LETTERS OF
SUPPORT, SUPPORTING OUR KING
COUNTY ASSESSOR.
AND WHEN IT CAME TO HOUSING
ISSUES AND DEALING WITH WAYS IN
WHICH WE CAN AVOID DISPLACEMENT
OUR COUNTY ASSESSOR WAS THERE
FOR US AND WORKED WITH US ON
THE LANGUAGE.
THAT IS WHERE PARTNERSHIPS
MATTER.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK
MAYOR HARRELL AND THE ENTIRE
EIGHT TEAM.
NOT ONLY DO THEY WORK WITH OIR
AND WITH THE LEGISLATORS, THEY
WORKED WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING
WHERE WE HAD COMMON POSITIONS.
WHERE WE DIVERGED.
WHERE THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE VOICES NEEDED TO
EXPRESS A DIFFERENT VIEW IN
FRONT OF OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAMS.
IT'S OKAY TO HAVE DIFFERENCES
OF VIEW AS LONG AS WE ARE
CONVEYING THE INFORMATION TO
OUR LEGISLATORS THAT IT IS
ACCURATE AND APPROPRIATE AND
ABLE TO INFLUENCE THEIR THINKING
ON HOW TO RESOLVE THE
DIFFERENCES OF POLICY AND
BUDGET DEBATES.
I ENJOY THAT PART OF THIS JOB.
I BELIEVE THAT GOOD POLICY
COMES FROM HEALTHY DELIBERATION
AND DEBATE.
AS I TOLD THE GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK MY HUSBAND
AND I LOVE THIS CITY.
WE ADOPTED SEATTLE AS OUR
FOREVER HOME NEARLY 30 YEARS
AGO.
I AM SO THRILLED AND HONORED TO
WORK WITH YOU AND THE MAYOR AND
THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND MY OIR
TEAM AT SUCH A PIVOTAL TIME IN
OUR HISTORY.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU
ENTRUSTING ME TO DO THIS JOB
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING
THE WORK DONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> DIRECTOR GAEL TARLETON,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DID YOU
HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION?
>> GAEL TARLETON, IT'S BEEN A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
WITH YOU.
IT'S BEEN AN HONEST HONOR TO BE
REPRESENTED BY YOU AND TO GET
THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO
REPRESENT YOU.
YOU BRING IN SUCH AN INCREDIBLE
WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE,
EXPERTISE, AND RELATIONSHIPS AT
THE LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
YOU DEMONSTRATED YOUR STRENGTH
IN THIS MOST RECENT SHORT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
QUITE FRANKLY WE NEED YOU MORE
NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.
IN LIGHT OF THE DEVASTATING
NEWS FROM THE SUPREME COURT I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU TO DO ALL WE CAN AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS OR
RESOURCES ARE NEEDED AT THE
CITY OR STATE LEVEL TO
SAFEGUARD ABORTION ACCESS.
YOU HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF
CREATING COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS
BY WORKING CROSS JURISDICTIONAL
HE.
I'M GOING TO RAISE A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES RIGHT HERE AND NOW
THAT YOU HELPED US START THE
CORE DOOR.
YOU GOT US OUR FIRST FUNDING
FROM THE STATE.
THAT TRANSLATED INTO $25
MILLION FROM THE STATE BUDGET
THIS YEAR.
THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU THERE.
I HOPE NOT TO EMBARRASS YOU.
SMITH CO.
PARK IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE
OF BRINGING THE PORT, THE
COUNTY, AND THE CITY TOGETHER.
I KEEP THIS PICTURE WITH ME IN
MY OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT WE GET
THAT PART FINISHED SINCE WE
STILL HAVE NOT BROKEN GROUND.
I JUST HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR
ACCEPTING THIS ROLE.
I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION.
IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
THAT WAS ONE FOR THE ARCHIVES.
THAT PHOTO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I'M GROPING FOR SUPERLATIVES
HERE.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT YOU
ARE A FIERCE, FIERCE, FIERCE
ADVOCATE FOR YOUR DISTRICT IN
THE PAST.
I REMEMBER MEETING YOU AND YOU
ADVOCATED FOR THE CRAFT BEER
INDUSTRY IN SEATTLE.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU AN ADVOCATE
BUT YOU BRING TO THE CITY THE
GRAVITY OF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF YOUR
CAREER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS IN OLYMPIA, AND
WHAT YOU DISPLAYED RIGHT NOW.
THINKING EACH COUNCILMEMBER IN
RECOGNIZING WHAT EVERYBODY HAS
DONE AS A TEAM.
THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO WHY YOU
ARE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS
JOB AND I'M REALLY GLAD YOU
HAVE SEATTLE'S BACK.
THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, QUICKLY,
HOW MUCH I FEEL LUCKY THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS GOING TO
HAVE YOUR REAL-WORLD
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE TO HELP
US BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN
ADVANCING SEATTLE'S STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
YOU'RE NOT ONLY A PASSIONATE
AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE, YOU ARE
ALSO A GREAT LEADER WITH THE
SUPPORT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM
YOUR OFFICE.
IT DERIVES FROM THAT LEADERSHIP.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ANSWER
TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I
SUBMITTED.
FOR ME IT CINCHES THE IDEA THAT
YOU'RE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR
THIS JOB.
I ASKED HOW YOU WOULD RESOLVE A
SITUATION WHEN THERE WAS A
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
EXECUTIVE AND COUNSEL, AS WE
ALL KNOW OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
IS A CONSENSUS DOCUMENT.
FROM THE CITY.
YOU REALLY EMBRACED THE
RECOGNITION THAT THERE ARE
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
THAT IS NOT A BAD THING, IT'S
NOT A THING TO RUN AWAY FROM.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A
LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO REVEAL
THE DIFFERENCES OF PERSPECTIVE.
-- EMERGING WITH PIECES OF
LEGISLATION INTRODUCE THIS
RECENT SESSION.
I ALSO WORKED WITH MY OIR TEAM
TO HELP THEM CHARACTERIZE THE
SPECIFIC NATURE OF THE POLICY
DIFFERENCES.
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS
DESIGNED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
THERE IS ALIGNMENT AND WHEN
THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF OF
YOU.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
HELP LEGISLATORS KNOW WHEN CITY
POLICYMAKERS ARE THE SAME PAGE
AND WHERE POSITIONS MAY DIVERGE.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY WE
ARE WORKING TO MAKE UP EVERYONE
UNDERSTANDS THOSE DIFFERENCES
AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
I'M PLEASED THAT YOU EMBRACE
THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR DIRECTOR GAEL TARLETON OR
REGARDING HER APPOINTMENT?
I'M SEEING NONE.
I WILL JUST CLOSE OUT TO
INDICATE HOW THRILLED I AM THAT
WE WILL GET TO WORK WITH
DIRECTOR GAEL TARLETON ON AN
ONGOING PERMANENT BASIS AS A
PERMANENT CABINET OFFICER OF
THE CITY.
TO BE OUR VOICE IN A REGION, A
STATE, A COUNTRY WHERE SEATTLE
HAS A LOT THAT WE WANT TO GIVE
AND A LOT THAT WE WANT TO WORK
WITH ALL OF THOSE AUTHORITIES
ON TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR PEOPLE AND
RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
DIRECTOR GAEL TARLETON, I
THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT WE MET
15 YEARS AGO AT A YOUNG
DEMOCRATS MEETING AT THE
NORTHGATE LIBRARY.
A CITY FACILITY I MIGHT ADD.
IF YOU HAD TOLD ME 15 YEARS AGO
THAT I WAS GOING TO BE
PRESIDING OVER A COUNCIL MEETING
APPOINTING YOU TO BE THE
DIRECTOR OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS FOR THE CITY I WOULD
HAVE SAID YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I COULDN'T BE MORE THRILLED TO
BE HERE, GIVEN OUR YEARS OF
FRIENDSHIP, YOUR MENTORSHIP,
AND JUST YOUR STELLAR RECORD AS
AN OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT
AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT
YOU HAVE SERVED IN FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO BE HERE AND CONTINUE TO
WORK TOGETHER AS WE HAVE OVER
THE PAST 15 YEARS.
I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO
VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS
NOMINATION TODAY.
I ASKED THAT THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON CONFIRMATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNSELOR PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNSELOR STRESS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> CONGRATULATIONS DIRECTOR
GAEL TARLETON.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MUCH
MORE WORK TOGETHER.
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU
FOR SOME LAST REMARKS BEFORE WE
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR
YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND
YOU'RE REALLY KIND WORDS.
YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THAT HALF
THE TIME I'M LAUGHING HERE,
REFLECTING ON THE SITUATIONS
WHERE WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED
THAT WE START WORK AND WE DON'T
KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT IF
WE DON'T START WE WILL NEVER GET
TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
ONE BRIEF MEMORY THAT I'VE
ALWAYS HAD WHEN I FIRST BECAME
A MEMBER OF THE COURT OF
SEATTLE COMMISSION, IN MY VERY
FIRST MONTHS, THE ECONOMY
COLLAPSED AND MARKETS FROZE ON
MUNICIPAL BONDS.
WE WERE TRYING TO DEAL WITH
PORT SECURITY ISSUES AS WELL AS
TRY TO DEAL WITH LOTS OF
PROBLEMS IN OUR CITY AND COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS AND AT OUR PORT.
I HAD TO GO TO A PORT SECURITY
CONFERENCE WHERE EVERYONE
AROUND THE WORLD WAS
COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NEW LAW
THAT SENATOR MURRAY HAD PUT
INTO EFFECT. ALL PORTS HAD TO
BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE SECURITY
OF CONTAINERS COMING INTO EVERY
PORE IN THE COUNTRY.
NATIONWIDE, ONLY 4% OF THE
CONTAINERS THAT CAME INTO THE
COUNTRY FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
WERE ACTUALLY SCANNED.
I WAS AT THE SECURITY
CONFERENCE.
ONE OF THE POOR DIRECTORS IN
AMSTERDAM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PORTS IN THE WORLD, SAID THERE
IS NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO EXAMINE 100% OF THE
CONTAINERS.
BY 2012.
THAT WAS THE GOAL.
FOUR YEARS LATER, 2012.
AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO THAT
PORT DIRECTOR, IF WE DON'T
START DOING RIGHT NOW THEN YOU
ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE THE ABILITY
TO SCAN 100% OF THE CONTAINERS
AND WE WILL ALSO NEVER KNOW IF
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THERE.
LET'S JUST START DOING IT AND
SEE WHERE WE LAND.
BY 2012 WE WERE SKINNING CLOSE
TO 100% OF THE CONTAINERS
COMING INTO THE COUNTRY.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO
WHEN YOU CAN LOOK AT IT THROUGH
A DIFFERENT LENS AND SAY, WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IF WE ACTUALLY
ACHIEVED IT?
AND HOW DO WE GET THERE?
AND WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU,
AND WITH THE MAYOR, AND WITH
THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND WITH
THE PEOPLE IN ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND OUR
PARTNERS AT EVERY LEVEL.
WE CAN GET THERE.
WHEREVER WE WANT TO TAKE THIS
GREAT CITY.
THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 2.
NEIGHBORHOODS EDUCATION AND
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 2. RELATING TO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION --
DESIGNATED BY --
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU ARE
ABLE TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
AS THE CLERK MENTIONED THIS
LEGISLATION ACKNOWLEDGES THE
DESIGNATION OF THE CENTER FOR
WOODEN BOATS AS A HISTORIC
LANDMARK BY THE LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD.
I'M SURE WE HAVE ALL BEEN DOWN
THERE.
I WAS DOWN THERE SEVERAL WEEKS
AGO ENJOYING THE CENTER FOR
WOODEN BOATS.
THIS LEGISLATION IMPOSES
CONTROLS AND GRANTS INCENTIVES
TO THE CENTER, WHICH BEGAN IN
THE EARLY 80s.
THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT SOUTH
LAKE UNION NEIGHBORHOOD, AN
AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY
THE OWNER AND APPROVED BY THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD
INDICATING THE CONTROLS AND
INCENTIVES.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
APPROVAL OF THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE LEGISLATION?
I AM HEARING NO COMMENTS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> COUNCILMAN NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES.
WHILE THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
ITEM 3. FROM THE SAME
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 3 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3, RELATING TO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND
CONTROL UPON THE WAGNER
FLOATING HOME.
A LANDMARK DESIGNATION BOARD.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MEADOW CREEK.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THE WAGNER FLOATING HOME WAS
BUILT AROUND 1910.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED IN
LAKE WASHINGTON NEAR MADISON
PARK BUT WAS MOVED TO LAKE
UNION AROUND 1938 AND PRESENTLY
SITS AROUND EAST QUEEN
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE AGREEMENT FOR THIS PROPERTY
APPLIES TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE
FLOATING HOME AND THE FLOATING
FOUNDATION AND PLATFORM, BUT NOT
FOR MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS IN
THE DESIGNATED FUTURE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
OWNER, WHO ACTUALLY LIVES IN
THE HOME, IS ABLE TO MAKE ANY
REPAIRS THAT ARE NECESSARY. THE
IDEA HERE IS TO PRESERVE THE
FOUNDATION BECAUSE IT IS LOGS
THAT ARE USED RATHER THAN
MODERN TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP THE
HOUSE AFLOAT.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSAGE.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE LEGISLATION?
I'M SEEING NONE.
WILL A CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE IN THE PASSAGE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO LEWIS?
>> YES.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS.
THERE ARE NO RESOLUTIONS FOR
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION ON
TODAY'S COUNCIL AGENDA.
LAST ITEM.
OTHER BUSINESS.
I DID WANT TO TAKE A BIT OF A
DIGRESSION UNDER OTHER BUSINESS
TO GIVE COUNSEL COLLEAGUES
SPACE TO MAKE PUBLIC OMMENTS.
AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE
UNPRECEDENTED NEWS THAT HAS
BEEN SHAPING, WELL IT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO DRAMATICALLY
RESHAPE THE COUNTRY IN A BAD
WAY.
IT BROKE YESTERDAY EVENING WELL
AFTER THE COUNCIL BRIEFING.
HOLD ON.
JUST ONE MOMENT.
MADAM CLERK?
DID WE HAVE, ON THE AGENDA, AND
APPOINTMENT FOR JOEL MERKEL TO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY?
>> WE DID.
HE WAS CONSIDERED UNDER THE
CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
SOMEONE JUST REACHED OUT.
>> THAT WAS ME.
MY APOLOGIES.
>> THIS DOES HAPPEN
OCCASIONALLY.
I'M SORRY.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
ADDRESSED THAT.
JOEL MERKEL, IF YOU'RE
WATCHING, WE DIDN'T FORGET
ABOUT YOU.
YOU WERE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA
AND WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU
HERE AT THE CITY TO BE PART OF
THE WORK ALONG WITH EVERYONE
ELSE WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU.
THAT IS SOME DILIGENT COMMITTEE
CHAIRING THERE TO MAKE SURE ALL
OF YOUR STUFF GOT THROUGH ON
THE FINAL AGENDA.
SO GOING BACK TO IT I DIDN'T
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, FOR THE
GOOD OF THE ORDER, TO GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
GIVEN THE RECENT MISS OF THE
NEWS OF THE IMPENDING DECISION
OF THE COURT TO OVERRULE -- I
JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AT
THE TOP TO RECOGNIZE THE
HISTORIC TRAGEDY OF THAT
IMPENDING DECISION BY THE
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
HAVING READ THE DRAFT DECISION
THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED IT IS
A DECISION ERODING DECADES OF
SOCIAL PROGRESS IN THIS COUNTRY
. IT HAS HORRIFYING IMPLICATIONS
FOR IMPACTING THE PRIVACY,
CIVIL RIGHTS, AND HEALTHCARE OF
AMERICANS.
IT'S A DECISION THAT IS
ENTIRELY DISMISSIVE OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL SPIRIT OF
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES OF
PRIVACY AND PERSONAL AUTONOMY
THAT APPEAR IN SEVERAL PARTS OF
OUR CONSTITUTION.
AND INDEED HAS FRIGHTENING
APPLICATIONS BEYOND THIS
DECISION FOR FUTURE COURT
ACTIONS TO FURTHER ERODE
PERSONAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS
RECOGNIZED BY THE WARREN AND
BERGER COURTS IN PARTICULAR.
IN SHORT, IT IS AN EDICT THAT
WOULD BE EXPECTED FROM A
THEOCRATIC STATE AND NOT THE
JUDICIARY OF A FREE AND
INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC I DO JUST
WANT TO EXPRESS TODAY IN OPEN
SESSION OF MY STRONG FEELINGS
IN OPPOSITION TO THAT DECISION.
MY COMMITMENT GOING FORWARD TO
SUPPORT STATE AND FEDERAL
LEADERS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS INDICATED EARLIER. AND
WHAT WE CAN DO AS LOCAL
OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT
RIGHTS AND GUARANTEES OF
PRIVACY OF REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY
, THE RIGHT TO MAKE YOUR OWN
HEALTH CARE DECISIONS WITHOUT
THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION OF
SOMETHING THAT WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT.
I SALUTE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
INCLUDING OUR OWN SENIOR DEPUTY
MAYOR HAROLD, WHO GATHERED IN
DISTRICT 7 IN CAREY PARK TO
EXPRESS THEIR STRONG OPPOSITION
TO THIS DECISION.
I UNDERSTAND SOME COUNCIL
OFFICES ARE CONSIDERING
POTENTIAL RESOLUTIONS FOR THE
COUNCIL TO FORMALLY COMMENT ON
THIS TOPIC.
I LOOK FORWARD, OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT WEEK, TO TALK TO
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES AND DUALLY
CONSIDER THOSE RESOLUTIONS.
WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO OPEN IT
UP AND ALLOW OPPORTUNITY FOR
OTHER GOOD OF THE ORDER
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS.
IM SEEING NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS.
COLLEAGUES, THIS DOES CONCLUDE
THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ON MAY
10th AT 2:00 P.M.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL
AFTERNOON AND THE COUNCIL IS
ADJOURNED.