.
>>> ALL RIGHT.
IT IS 2:03:00 P.M.
HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING
TO ORDER OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS.
MY NAME IS ANDREW LEWIS.
DISTRICT AND CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
JUST AS A BRIEF OVERVIEW HERE,
IN GETTING STARTED.
JOINING ME, COUNCIL MEMBER
TAMMY MORALES, COUNCIL MEMBER
ALEX PETERSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER LISA HERBOLD.
POSSIBLY EXPECTING A FEW MORE
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME IN.
BUT AS WE HAVE A QUORUM, WE'RE
READY TO GET STARTED NOW.
FIRST OFF, CHAIRS REPORT.
THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY
FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE COMING
OUT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
MEETING AS WELL.
AND TO BE JOINED HERE BY FIVE
COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THE PUBLIC
MAYOR MAY NOT BE AWARE, THIS
COMMITTEE IS A COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE.
SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
OF CITY COUNCIL.
ALL NINE OF US SIT ON US.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A
ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT
REGIONAL STRATEGES ON
HOMELESSNESS.
HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER
GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES TO
ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
FACE AROUND CHRONIC AND
SYSTEMIC HOMELESSNESS
THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY AND THE
REGION.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT STARTED
TO DAY WITH AN UPDATE FROM THE
-- ON THE PROGRESS WITH THE NEW
REGIONAL AUTHORITY COMBINED
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
KING COUNTY AND WITH
REPRESENTATION FROM THE SOUND
CITIES, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
HAVE A DISCUSSION OF AN
ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
THAT ORDINANCE REGARDING
TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENTS,
COUNCIL BILL 119656.
>> SORRY.
>> NO WORRIES, SORRY.
WE'RE NOW BEING JOINED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ AT THE
TABLE.
SO HAVING GIVEN THAT OVERVIEW
OF THE MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO
FIRST MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THAT
AGENDA AS OUTLINED AND AS HAS
BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, IT
WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
PROCEEDING NOW TO PUBLIC
COMMENT, I'M GOING TO OPEN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AND A NUMBER OF FOLKS HAVE
SIGNED UP TO TALK ABOUT THE
AGENDA BEFORE US TODAY.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO
HAVE SIGNED IN, IT LOOKS LIKE
ABOUT 21 FOLKS.
I WOULD ASK THE INDULGENCE OF
THE FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS IF
WE EXPAND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD TO 20 MINUTES WITH A
TIME LIMIT OF 1 MINUTE AND 30
SECONDS PER SPEAKER.
IF THERE'S GENERAL APPROVAL FOR
THAT.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYONE IS
OBJECTING.
SO IT WILL BE A MINUTE AND A
HALF PER SPEAKER.
IT WILL ALLOW FOLKS TO COME
FORWARD AND SPEAK AS A GROUP,
IF YOU SPEAK AS A GROUP, I WILL
GIVE THE TOTAL GROUP THREE
MINUTES OF TIME TO SPEAK.
YOU CAN'T THEN SPEAK AGAIN
LATER ON THE AGENDA IF YOU'VE
COME UP TO SPEAK AS A GROUP.
I WILL ASK THAT FOLKS LIMIT
THEIR COMMENTS TO TWO ITEMS
THAT ARE PERTAINING TO THE
AGENDA AND THAT THEY IDENTIFY
EARLY IN THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT,
WHICH AGENDA ITEM THEY ARE
SPEAKING TO.
AND IN THE EVENT THAT FOLKS GO
OVER THEIR TIME, I'LL PROBABLY
PROD A LITTLE BIT TO SUM UP
YOUR THOUGHTS IF FOLKS CONTINUE
TO SPEAK BEYOND THEIR TIME JUST
TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET TO
EVERYBODY.
I WILL PROBABLY AT THAT POINT
CUT THE MIC OFF.
JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY A
WARNING ON THE GROUND RULES FOR
THAT PROCESS.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL THE NAMES
UP TWO AT A TIME.
THERE ARE MICROPHONES.
THERE'S A PODIUM OVER THERE BY
THE WINDOW.
THERE'S A PODIUM IN THE CENTER
OF THE ROOM.
FEEL FREE TO LINE UP AT EITHER
ONE.
SO THE FIRST TWO NAMES ARE MR.
DAVIS HAYNES.
AND MR. ALEX FINCH.
AND MR. HAYNES, YOU MAY PROCEED
WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IS THIS ON?
WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS ON BRO.
WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE
SIX FIGURE SALARY SERVICE
PROVIDERS LEFT OVER FROM KING
COUNTY COMMITTEE AND
HOMELESSNESS HAUNTING WITHIN
THE ALL HOME LOYALTY HAS THE
BUY OFF THE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND
ACTIVISTS TO SENSOR THE REALITY
OF A HOMELESS CRISIS THAT USED
TO BE A PROBLEM THAT KEEPS
GETTING WORSE BECAUSE THE SAME
PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE WITH MORE
DECEPTIVE DATA.
NOW CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO
REWARD LEEHIGH FOR SAFE HAVEN
WHERE SMOKESTACK EXHAUST ON
WARREN BUFFETS NORTHERN SANTA
FE TRAIN PULLING OVERLOADED
UNCOVERED COAL CARS.
RUINING HOUSING OVERWHELMED BY
INCESSANT HORN HONKING ALL
NIGHT EVERY NIGHT.
WHILE CARPENTERS FAIL TO NOISE
ABATE AND AIR ABATE FORCING
PEOPLE TO LIVE UNDER THE
MAGNOLIA BRIDGE.
THE TINY SLUM VILLAGE YOU HAVE
TO GO OUTSIDE ON GRAVEL TO GET
INTO THE TENTED KITCHEN.
PERHAPS THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD COME TO AN
UNDERSTANDING THAT CONGESTION
PRICING IS GOING TO OCCUR FIRST
ON WARREN BUFFET'S TRAIN CARS.
AND SECONDLY ON CRUISE BOATS
WHO NEED TO PAY MORE FOR
HONKING AND FOR THE NEW
LOCATION AT PIONEER SQUARE.
SHARON LEE, MANIPULATED THE
DATA.
BY MAKING HER SHELTER SEEM MORE
SUCCESSFUL.
WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE
SIX FIGURE SALARIES.
I WISH THERE WAS MORE TIME.
I HAVE PROOF.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
>> CAN I HAVE TEN SECONDS
PLEASE.
NO, THANK YOU MR. HAYNES.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
THOUGHTS.
.
>> AND THEN SHE CLOSES FOR AN
HOUR SO THEY CAN TAKE A BREAK
AND GET HIGH OVER IN BALLARD.
AND THEN THEY'RE ALL CLOSED ON
THE WEEKENDS.
THE POPULATION OF HOMELESS
PEOPLE ON THE WEEKENDS.
FIVE SHOWERS FOR 12,000 PEOPLE.
SHARON LEE HAS BEEN RIPPING
PEOPLE OFF FOR 20 YEARS.
YOU NEVER HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU TRADE THE INTEGRITY OF THE
WHOLE PROCESS FOR REELECTION
SUPPORT.
TO PUT ON THIS CHARADE.
>> MR. FINCH, YOU HAVE A MINUTE
AND 30 SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ALEX FINCH.
I'M A RESIDENT AT NICKELSVILLE
NORTH LAKE.
AND THIS IS JUST A LETTER FROM
NICKELSVILLE.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO WELCOME --
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO
THE 2020 COUNCIL SEASON.
THIS LETTER REGARDS COUNCIL BILL
1196 -- THE NEW TINY HOUSE
ORDINANCE.
TINY HOUSES SAVE LIVES.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING SO SINCE
2008 WHEN NICKELSVILLE FIRST
OPENED OUR GATES.
THEY'VE BECOME A HALLMARK OF
PROVIDING LIFE SAVING SHELTER.
WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RESTORING
DIGNITY AND A SENSE OF SELF
WORTH IN A COST EFFECTIVE
VILLAGE SETTING.
WE SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF
COUNCIL BILL 119656.
IT'S LOCATED ON CITY LAND AND
THE PRESENT LEASED LAND EXPIRES
IN MARCH 22.
THE SAME TIME THE PRESIDENT
CITY SANCTION ENCAMPMENT
ORDINANCE EXPIRES OUR VILLAGE
HAS OPERATED SUCCESSFULLY AND
HAD EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH
OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE PLEDGE TO COOPERATE WITH THE
CITY ON CONTINUING THIS
COMMUNITY IN THIS LOCATION OR
ANOTHER.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS WHO SLEEP
UNSHELTERED NIGHTLY IN OUR
CITY.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THIS
BILL WITH THE URGENCY IT
DESERVES.
AS LONG AS THEY CAN BE GOOD
NEIGHBORS AS NICKELSVILLE HAS
DONE OVER THE LAST DECADE, 40
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES WOULD BE AN
EXCELLENT METHOD TO END
HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
AND COPIES FOR ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NOW MR. NICKELS AND MR., I
THINK IT SAYS CHRIS BRAND.
ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE.
BERNARD?
MY NAME IS MELINDA NICKELS.
I'M A VOLUNTEER.
NO PAY.
NO SIX FIGURE DIGITS.
I WORK FOR THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE AS A
VOLUNTEER.
AND I HAVE FOR 20 YEARS.
I'M A CARPENTER AND I BUILT
TINY HOUSES FOR THE LAST FIVE
YEARS AND WE HAVE RECRUITED
HUNDREDS, IN FACT THOUSANDS OF
VOLUNTEERS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.
WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST
INNOVATIVE CITIES IN THE UNITED
STATES FOR DOING TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
AND WE HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES.
AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IS
TO EXPAND OUR TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
WE ARE DOING MUCH BETTER IN
MOVING PEOPLE ON TO PERMANENT
HOUSING.
AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE BEST
WAY TO DO THIS IS TO KEEP
PEOPLE STABLE ENOUGH SO THEY
CAN MOVE ON.
SO THEY CAN BE WARM ENOUGH.
SO THEIR CLOTHES CAN BE CLEAN.
THAT THEY CAN BE CLEAN.
THAT THEY CAN GET A JOB.
SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE
SUPPORT FOR TINY HOUSE
EXPANSION.
AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S
NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE THAT'S
GOING TO BE ANY BETTER FOR OUR
HOMELESS POPULATION THAN
EXPANDING THE ABILITY FOR THEM
TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> NEXT STEP WILL BE MR -- IS
IT MANY BRAND?
SORRY.
I'M SPEAKING IN HIS PLACE.
HE WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK TODAY.
THEY SIGNED ME UP INSTEAD.
I'M SETH.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
THE STABILITY THEY PROVIDE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE ABILITY TO LOCK YOUR DOOR
BEHIND YOU.
TO GO TO WORK.
TO HAVE A SOLID ADDRESS TO GET
YOUR ID AT.
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE GUTTERS OR A
TENT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
GET AN ID NONE THE LESS FOOD
FOR THAT DAY.
SO THE ABILITY TO HAVE A PLACE
LIKE THAT.
TO ACCESS THE RESOURCES THAT
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY IN
GENERAL HAS.
I KNOW IT'S FUNDAMENTAL.
IT WAS FOR ME IN GETTING BACK
UP AND ON MY FEET.
THE VILLAGES PROVIDED THAT
STABILITY AND HAVE BEEN A GOD
SEND.
I THINK MORE OF THEM FOR THE
AMOUNT OF HOMELESS WE HAVE HERE
IS A BIG PROBLEM WE'RE FACING
THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THEN JOSH CASTLE, FOLLOWED
BY PEGGY HOTES.
FOLLOWED BY MARGARITE RICHARD.
YES.
GO AHEAD.
>> I'M JOSH CASTLE WITH
LEEHIGH.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, THE CITY
FOR ALL THE SUPPORT OF TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
I URGE PASSAGE OF THIS
ORDINANCE.
WE NEED IT TO HAPPEN BEFORE
MARCH 22 WHEN IT SUNSETS.
IT'S CHANGED A LOT OF LIVES.
WE'VE GOT 550 PEOPLE INTO
PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH THE
PROGRAM.
I WANT TO YIELD THE REST OF MY
TIME TO REVEREND WILLIS OF TRUE
VINE MISSION BAPTIST CHURCH A
SPONSOR OF TRUE OAK VILLAGE.
>> THANK YOU JOSH AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS PASTOR LAWRENCE
WILLIS.
ALSO PASTOR OF TRUE VINE
CHURCH.
ALSO I'VE BEEN A SPONSOR AND
WORKING WITH LEEHIGH IN TINY
HOUSES FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
MY PRESENT PAST POSITION, I WAS
THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE
PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHICH
WE STARTED BUILDING TINY HOUSES
TOGETHER.
WE DID PROJECTS TOGETHER AT THE
KEY ARENA.
AT THE SAFECO FIELD, 30 HOUSES,
WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS.
BUT DURING THAT TIME, THE
CHURCH TOOK ON THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO SPONSOR,
BECAUSE THEY SAW THE IMPORTANCE
OF HAVING A NICE SPONSORED
VILLAGE AND TO TAKE CARE OF THE
RESIDENTS.
OTHELLO VILLAGE HAD 146 PEOPLE
SERVED IN 2019.
103 EXITED WITH 52% GOING INTO
LONG-TERM HOUSING.
ALSO WE PARTNERED WITH TRUE
HOPE VILLAGE WITH THE NEW HOPE
CHURCH WHICH WE HAD 106 PEOPLE
SERVE.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED I'M
SORRY.
>> ALSO WE HAD 60%.
SO I'M IN SPONSORSHIP IN
WORKING WITH THE CITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING US.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> PEGGY HOTES.
FOLLOWED BY MARGARITE RICHARDS
AND BEKA FINCAS.
>>> WE WERE SENT A LETTER
SIGNED BY DOZEN OF FAITH
LEADERS IN SEATTLE.
I'D LIKE TO READ YOU AN
IMPORTANT PORTION OF THAT
LETTER.
ONE PARAGRAPH.
WE SUPPORT PROTECTIONS ADDED TO
THE EXISTING CITY ORDINANCE FOR
RESIDENTS, COMMUNITIES, AND
OPERATORS TONE SURE THAT ALL
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AND OTHER
ENCAMPMENTS OPERATE ETHICALLY,
FAIRLY, AND HUMANELY, WE'D LIKE
TO SUGGEST AT NICKELSVILLE THAT
YOU PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO
CRAFTING A DIRECTOR'S RULE TO
IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> YES, I'M MARGARITE RICHARD.
AND I'VE COME DOWN HERE MANY
TIMES SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
THOSE THAT ARE UNABLE TO HELP
THEMSELVES.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WITH ALL
THIS RHETORIC AND STUFF GOING
ON AND INTERRUPTIONS AND
PEOPLE'S SPEECH AND STUFF LIKE
THAT, I DON'T LIKE IT.
BECAUSE I GO TO RENTON, WE TALK
FOR FIVE MINUTES, UNINTERRUPTED
SPEECH.
GLAD TO SEE YOU COME.
GLAD TO SEE YOU LEAVE.
BUT IT'S OUR FREE SPEECH.
AS FAR AS HOMELESSNESS, NO, I
DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I LIVE
IN AN AREA WHERE THEY CAN PUT
TRASH ALL ALONG THE STREET AND
FOLK WAIT FOR MONTHS MAYBE TO
COME AND CLEAN IT UP.
THAT'S INSANITY.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN LIKE
THAT.
AND NO, I DON'T WANT YOUR TINY
HOUSE.
DOES BEYONCE LIVE IN A TINY
HOUSE?
IF BLACK PEOPLE HAD OUR
REPARATIONS WE WOULD GET THE
HELL ON OUT OF YOUR WAY, HUH?
AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL
WITH NONE OF US NO MORE.
THIS IS 2020.
AND THEY SAY YOU GOT 2020
VISION.
BUT YOU GOT A WHOLE LOT OF
BLIND PEOPLE STILL OUT THERE
BLIND TO THE TRUTH.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK THE
TRUTH, HUH?
UNTIL THE LAST BREATH THAT I
HAVE.
I'M SAYING YOU BACK UP OFF OF
US AND LEAVE US ALONE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE
OUR AFFAIRS, DON'T GET IN THEM.
.
>> NEXT WILL BE BEKA FINCAS
FOLLOWED BY HADDIE ROADS AND
CHRIS MCDANIEL.
>> I'M BEKA, I WORK WITH THE
TINY HOUSE PROGRAM.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO TODAY, I WAS A
STUDENT AT OHIO STATE
UNIVERSITY COMPLETING A
RESEARCH THESIS TITLED CITY
SANCTION HOMELESS OPEN
CAMPMENTS A CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
OF TINY HOUSE VILLAGES IN
SEATTLE.
AND I WAS READING NEWS ARTICLES
AND TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT
WITH IMPORTANT PEOPLE LIKE
YOURSELF.
AND I DECIDED I WANTED TO DO
MORE THAN WRITE A PAPER.
SO I PACKED UP MY LIFE.
AND MOVED TO SEATTLE.
AND STARTED WORKING AT LEEHIGH.
I THOUGHT I COULD LEARN MORE.
IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS I
LEARNED THAT THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES SAVE LIVES.
AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL
THE RESIDENTS HERE THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR SPEAK ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES AND THEIR STORIES.
AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
SO I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT
AND SWEET.
BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU TAKE
THE TIME TO LISTEN AND TO HEAR
THEM AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU ACTUALLY PROCESS WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING.
AND THEY'RE THE MOST WISE,
RESILIENT PEOPLE THAT YOU'LL
HEAR FROM.
I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER THE
ORDINANCE, THANKS.
.
>>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS HADIE RHODES.
I'M A RESIDENT AT THE
GEORGETOWN TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE
ABSOLUTELY A BENEFIT TO
EVERYONE WHO IS INVOLVED WITH
THEM.
SO THE GEORGETOWN VILLAGE
ITSELF WORKS WITH THE NAV TEAM
AND REACH FOR OUR REFERRALS.
WE CATER TO SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE ADULTS THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND WE HAVE SEEN REMARKABLE
SUCCESS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE
ONLY BEEN ABLE TO LOOK TODAY
TODAY SURVIVAL AND SUDDENLY
THEY CAN ENVISION A FUTURE IN
WHICH THEY HAVE AN ACTUAL LIFE
TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
WE DO THAT RIGHT NOW WITH ONE
FULL-TIME SITE COORDINATOR.
AND 1.5 CASE MANAGERS.
WE COULD DO SO MUCH MORE IF WE
JUST HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE
RECEIVE PHONE CALLS EVERYDAY
WONDERING HOW PEOPLE GET IN.
IF WE HAD THIS ORDINANCE TO
HAVE MORE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES,
WE WOULD HAVE SO MANY MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO DIRECT THEM
INTO HAVING THEIR OWN TINY
HOUSE.
SO THANK YOU, VERY MUCH FOR
PASSING THIS ORDINANCE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> CHRIS MCDANIEL FOLLOWED BY
NAOMI C FOLLOWED BY SUSAN
ZIMAN.
.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
SPEAK TO YOU.
I LIVE IN THE GEORGETOWN TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE ALSO.
I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS NOW FOR
THREE YEARS.
AS OF THE FIRST OF THIS MONTH.
AND MY HEALTH IS FAILING.
I CAN'T WORK.
AND I GOT NO INCOME.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF
I DIDN'T HAVE THIS.
I'M A LIFETIME SEATTLE
RESIDENT.
I GOT GOOGLED, THEY CAME IN AND
MOVED INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND
PRICES WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.
IT WAS STILL 120-YEAR-OLD
APARTMENT BUILDING BUT ALL OF A
SUDDEN THEY WANTED $1,500 A
MONTH.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE, IT GIVES
SOMEBODY A DECENT OPTION.
BECAUSE THE SHELTERS ARE JUST,
THEY'RE A MAD HOUSE.
IF YOU REALLY NEED TO FINANCE
THEM YOU HAVE TO HAVE BETTER
OPTIONS.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS
AND YEARS AND THERE'S MORE
HOMELESS PEOPLE NOW THAN THERE
EVER WAS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CHAP CLAP [ APPLAUSE ]
.
>>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS NAOMI C. I'M AN
UNDER GRADUATE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND A
VOLUNTEER AT THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE.
I FEEL GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO SHARE MY
EXPERIENCE OVER THE PAST YEAR
WITH THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
EACH DAY WORKING WITH THE
VILLAGES CONFIRM FOR ME THAT
THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
OF SEATTLE'S AMBITION TO
TRANSITION RESIDENT INTO
PERMANENT HOUSING AND
FACILITATE UPWARD MOBILITY.
THEIR SUCCESS IS UNPARALLELED.
BEYOND THE VILLAGE'S UNIQUE
ACHIEVEMENTS IN HOUSING AND
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS, THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES HAVE THIS
INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO
FACILITATE THE CREATION OF
COMMUNITY ON A LARGE SCALE.
IN JUST A SHORT TIME, I'VE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING HOW
THE TINY HOUSES HAVE BROUGHT
TOGETHER BUSINESSES, RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS,
GOVERNMENTS, AND CITIZENS UNDER
A SHARED MISSION.
TO CARE FOR OUR FELLOW
NEIGHBOR.
ACROSS THE NATION, COMMUNITIES
ARE ARE RECOGNIZING TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AS AN INNOVATION IN
THE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICE MODEL.
AS WELL AS A REMARKABLE FORM OF
COMMUNITY THAT EXTENDS TO THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE VILLAGE PROGRAM HAS PROVEN
ITS MERITS.
WE MUST EMBRACE THIS EVIDENCE
AND IMPLEMENT THE RESULTS
BEFORE MORE PEOPLE DIE OF
HOMELESSNESS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> SUSAN ZIMAN FOLLOWED BY
CASSANDRA AND IAN.
>> HI, I'M SUSAN ZIMAN.
I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHY
WE NEED MORE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS HERE
WHO CAN ADDRESS THAT MORE
ELOQUENTLY THAN ME.
AND BESIDES, YOU ALL READY KNOW
WHY WE DO.
WE NEED MORE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORK FORCE
HOUSING.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY
EXPERIENCE AS A COMFORTABLY
HOUSED PERSON.
I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE
NEAR THE OTHELLO TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE.
AND HAVING THAT VILLAGE NEARBY
GIVES US IN THE COMMUNITY AN
OUTLET TO HELP IN REAL AND
PRACTICAL WAYS WITH THIS REAL
PROBLEM.
IT GIVES US A WAY TO CONNECT.
IT IS IN FACT A COMMUNITY
BUILDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT
REASON TO SUPPORT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
BUT IT IS ONE REASON.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES CONNECT US.
AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
CHAP CLAP
-- [ APPLAUSE ]
.
>>> AND CASSANDRA GASPARD IS
NEXT.
.
>> HI THERE, MY NAME IS
CASSANDRA, AND I'M CURRENTLY A
RESIDENT AT CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
AND I'M ALSO A, LEEHIGH
EMPLOYEE.
I VISIT THE MAIN OFFICE
EVERYDAY DOWN NEAR FIRST AND
BELLE.
AND I GET TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND
PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS
WITH BARELY A PIECE OF CARD
BOARD TO KEEP THEM BETWEEN THEM
AND THE WET GROUND.
I ALSO GET TO WITNESS, YOU
KNOW, THEY'RE USING THE
RESTROOM OUTDOORS, YOU KNOW,
THE GARBAGE.
EATING OUT OF THE FOOD WASTE
BINS.
IT'S VERY, VERY SAD.
AND I WENT OUT TO TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES TO EXPAND.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE
WILL BE MORE FOLKS OUT HERE
THAT WILL DIE.
AND I ONCE AGAIN AM HERE
PLEADING FOR MORE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
AND IT'S GIVEN ME A SAFE PLACE
TO LAY MY HEAD AT NIGHT.
AND A WARM PLACE TO PUT DRY
CLOTHES ON.
AND TO GET UP AND HAVE THE
SUCCESS OF HAVING A JOB AND
TRANSITIONING INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING.
SO PLEASE, WE ASK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> FOR THE AUDIENCE, THE PODIUM
BY THE WINDOW CAN BE USED AS
WELL.
THE FOLKS ON DECK, IF YOU WANT
TO CUE UP AT THAT PODIUM TO
HELP SPEED THINGS ALONG WITH
THE COMMENT THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
NEXT, MR. GARDESCUE FOLLOWED BY
BRUCE GOOD AND TRAVIS JOHNSON.
>> HELLO.
I'M SPEAKING FOR THE SHARE
ORGANIZATION TODAY.
SEATTLE HOUSING AND RESOURCE
EFFORT SHARE THE LARGEST
NETWORK IN KING COUNTY, SHELTER
NETWORK, RECOGNIZES SEATTLE'S
DIRE EMERGENCY IN HOMELESSNESS.
LAST YEAR AT LEAST 112 HOMELESS
PEOPLE DIED OUTSIDE OR BY
VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTY.
WE DESPERATELY NEED MORE
VILLAGES AND ENCAMPMENTS TO
SAVE LIVES.
THIS NEEDS TO BE A RANGE OF
SHELTER OPTIONS, INCLUDING
SHARES MODEL OF DEMOCRATICALLY
ORGANIZED SOBER SELF MANAGED
COMMUNITIES.
SHARE STRONGLY BELIEVES THE
PROPOSAL TO BUILD 40 NEW TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES WILL HELP REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF LIVES LOST AND
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
SEATTLE'S HOMELESS PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ENCOURAGE YOU
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 119656
VERSION ONE OUT OF COMMITTEE
TODAY.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE APPROVAL BY
THE FULL COUNCIL AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
LAST OCTOBER, DOZENS OF FAITH
LEADERS CAME OUT IN FAVOR OF
THIS CONCEPT.
THEY ALSO SAID, WE SUPPORT
PROTECTIONS ADDED TO THE
EXISTING COUNCIL ORDINANCE OF
RESIDENCE COMMUNITIES AND
OPERATORS TO ENSURE THAT ALL
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AND OTHER
ENCAMPMENTS ARE OPERATED
ETHICALLY, FAIRLY, AND
HUMANELY, THEY HAD AN EXCELLENT
POINT.
WE BELIEVE THESE CRUCIAL
MATTERS CAN BE ADDRESSED IF
YOUR DIRECTOR'S RULES.
ONCE THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED,
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU ACT
BEFORE THE PRESENT ORDINANCE
SETS IN MARCH 2020.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY
COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BRUCE GOGEL.
A RESIDENT AT NICKELSVILLE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE.
THIS YEAR YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION TO END THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN SEATTLE.
IT WILL REQUIRE UNDERSTANDING
AND DETERMINATION TO COSO ONE
OF YOUR GREATEST RESOURCES WILL
BE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
TESTIMONY THAT IS NOT GAUGED
BY THE COLOR THAT IT WEARS BUT
TESTIMONY THAT IS FACTUAL AND
HONEST.
WITH UNDERSTANDING COMES
CLARITY.
WHICH WILL GUIDE YOUR
DETERMINATION.
I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE
PEOPLE THAT YOUR DECISIONS
AFFECT.
NICKELSVILLE SUPPORTS THE TINY
HOUSE ORDINANCE PRESENTED TODAY
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE DETAILS OF ALLOCATION,
PREVENTION OF MONOPOLIZATION
AND MANAGEMENT OF TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES CAN BE WORKED OUT
LATER.
NEIGHBORS FOR NICKELSVILLE
GATHERED OVER 500 SIGNATURES IN
SUPPORT OF NICKELSVILLE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE.
IMAGINE WHAT CAN BE
ACCOMPLISHED WITH 40
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GIVE THE
SUPPORT LIKE OURS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> TRAVIS JOHNSON FOLLOWED BY
ASHA.
AND MICHAEL FOSTER.
>> THIS IS FOR THE EXPANSION
PROPOSAL BY COUNCILMAN SAVANT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
TRAVIS JOHNSON.
AND I'M A NICKELODEON.
I DO SUPPORT 40 TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
TO BE CLEAR, THAT MEANS
DIFFERENT GROUPS, NOT JUST ONE
MONOPOLY OR CORPORATION TO
OPERATE THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
DEMOCRACY TO SELF MANAGEMENT
LEADS TO GREAT THINGS.
PLEASE CONSIDER NICKELSVILLE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE GRASS ROOTS
IN THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY.
OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT
HAS GRASS ROOTS IN THE GREATER
SEATTLE AREA.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THIS
ISSUE.
I'M A PRODUCT OF THE 1965
IMMIGRATION ACT AND HAD A VERY
PRIVILEGED LIFE AND A
SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND I STARTED
MY OWN BUSINESS IN SEATTLE
ABOUT A DECADE AGO.
I LOST MY BUSINESS AND LANDED
INTO HOMELESSNESS LAST YEAR.
WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FAMILY
AROUND ME, AND I ENDED UP IN MY
TRUCK.
AND IT WAS PURE HUNGER THAT
DROVE ME TO SEARCH FOR FREE
FOOD AND I ENDED UP AT THE
ELIZABETH GREGORY HOME.
AND FROM THAT, I ENDED UP -- I
STAYED IN A SHELTER FOR ABOUT
TWELVE DAYS.
IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
AND THROUGH A SERIES OF GOOD
FORTUNE, I WAS WITH THE
CATHOLIC SERVICES AND WITHOUT
THEM I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD
HAVE BEEN.
I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN
HERE.
SO I REALLY -- I STUDIED IN
COLLEGE PSYCH 101.
MASLOW ICE HIERARCHY OF NEEDS.
WITHOUT BASIC NEEDS, YOU HAVE
NOTHING.
AND IF EXPERIENCE IS THE TRUE
TEST OF WHAT MAKES THINGS WORK.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ANALYSTS
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT REALLY
GOOD DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT.
IT'S A BASIC RIGHT.
PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THE TINY
HOMES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> AND NEXT, MICHAEL FOSTER,
KYLE, I THINK IT'S KYLE MALONE.
THERESA HOHMANN.
AND MALONEY.
IF FOLKS COULD PLEASE LINE UP
OTT THE MICS WHEN YOU'RE ON
DECK, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M MICHAEL FOSTER.
THANK YOU FOR THIS ACTION.
AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF FAILURE
TO ACT.
I AM FOR TINY HOMES.
THEY WORK.
I'M HAPPY TO BE NEIGHBORS WITH
A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
I LOVE IT.
SETTLER IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
IT'S A SHAME WHEN NEIGHBORS
DON'T HAVE SHELTER.
A SHAME FOR THOSE OF US WITH
BEDS.
THESE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE
ACTUALLY GREENER THAN MY HOME.
I'M A CLIMATE ACTIVIST.
AND I GOT TO SAY, I'M REALLY
JEALOUS SOMETIMES WHEN I LOOK
AT THE STRUCTURES AND I THINK
CLIMATE EMERGENCY MEANS OUR
POPULATION IS GOING TO MUSHROOM
HERE IN THE SEATTLE AREA AS
WE'RE ONE OF THE LEAST EFFECTED
AREAS IN THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE
ARE BURNED OUT OF PLACES LIKE
PARADISE AND THE FLOODING IN
THE MIDWEST OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED EVERY
SINGLE TINY HOUSE.
EVERY SINGLE SOLUTION WE CAN
COME UP WITH FOR HOUSING.
CBS NEWS JUST REPORTED THAT WE
MAY SEE THE END OF THE 30-YEAR
MORTGAGE.
IF YOU TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE
TODAY, WHEN WILL YOU PAY IT
OFF?
THAT'S NOT A GOOD INVESTMENT.
AND YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE
TO KEEP INSURANCE ON THAT HOME.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR BOLD
HEEDER SHIP.
WE CANNOT DO TOO MUCH TODAY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> MY NAME IS THERESA HOHMANN.
AND I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I ACTUALLY MANAGE ONE OF THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
IT'S WHITTIER HEIGHTS.
IT'S OUR BALLARD COMMUNITY AND
WOMEN ONLY.
BUT THEY'RE ALL REALLY GREAT IN
WHAT THEY DO.
I LOVE THIS PROGRAM.
BECAUSE THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
SEEM TO ME, HAVING WORKED IN
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
FOR EIGHT YEARS AND NOW
SWITCHING OVER TO THE SHELTER
SIDE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
THEY'RE COST EFFECTIVE, IT'S AN
IDEAL STEPPINGSTONE, AND WHAT I
MEAN BY THAT IS THEY WORK
BECAUSE THEY GIVE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE FOR A LONG
TIME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
THEIR -- LIKE ENJOY THE SPACE
AND GET USED TO LIVING IN
COMMUNITY, LIVING WITH RULES.
AND LIVING WITH WALLS AGAIN,
ACTUALLY.
SO THEY'RE PERFECT IN THAT
SENSE.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT MAKES THEM
SO AWESOME.
THEY'RE AWESOME BECAUSE THEY
CREATE A SPACE IN WHICH PEOPLE
CAN THINK AND GRIEVE AND HEAL
AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND AS A WITNESS TO THAT, IT'S
-- IT'S OVERWHELMINGLY JOYFUL.
SO THANK YOU FOR SERIOUSLY
LOOKING AT THIS.
BECAUSE IT REALLY IS MAKING A
DIFFERENCE.
HAVING BEEN A MANAGER IN
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, I
WOULD HAVE ASKED LESS PEOPLE TO
MOVE OUT ON A MUTUAL
TERMINATION BECAUSE THEY WOULD
HAVE ALL READY BEEN USED TO
THOSE THREE THINGS, WALLS,
COMMUNITY, RULES, AND WE
WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE PROBLEMS
WE DID HAD THEY NOT COME
DIRECTLY FROM THE STREETS.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS
EXPIRED.
>> THANKS, SO THEY WORK.
.
>> SO A LAST CALL FOR THE TWO
REMAINING FOLKS, KYLE MALONE,
AND LOANY MCMERTREE IF YOU'RE
STILL IN THE ROOM.
YES, SIR?
>> I'M KYLE MALONE.
I WILL JUST SPEAK ABOUT
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
A LOT OF GOOD FACTS BUT I HAVE
A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
AND THAT HAS CAUSED ME A
SEIZURE DISORDER.
IT'S DANGEROUS FOR ME TO BE ON
THE STREETS.
ESPECIALLY ON A NIGHT LIKE
THAT'S NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD HAVE
DONE.
I TRIED A TENT CITY.
BETTER THAN BEING ON THE
STREET.
BUT STILL NOT THE ENVIRONMENT I
NEEDED TO BE IN TO STAY AWAY
FROM ALCOHOL, WEAPONS, PEOPLE
THAT I JUST DON'T NEED TO BE
AROUND.
WHEN I FOUND CAMP SECOND
CHANCE, I WAS WELCOMED IN.
THEY KNEW ABOUT MY SEIZURE
DISORDER.
THEY DIDN'T RUN AWAY WITH IT.
THEY HELPED ME DEAL WITH IT.
MOST EVERYONE THERE KNOWS THAT
I HAVE IT.
THEY GET ME TO THE HOSPITAL
QUICK IF THAT'S THE CASE.
THEY'RE TAKING GREAT CARE OF
ME.
ON THE LIGHT SIDE, WE DO HAVE
FUN THERE.
WE COOK FOOD FOR EACH OTHER.
IT'S A LITTLE COMMUNITY.
I SEE NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD
BE STOPPED.
THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE
SEEN IN TREATING HOMELESSNESS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
IT.
THREE DIFFERENT STATES BEING
HOMELESS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
.
>> AND THEN THE LAST CALL FOR
LOANY McMURTREE.
>> SHE HAD TO LEAVE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE CAN NOW PROCEED ON WITH THE
AGENDA TO ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS, SO MR.
THORPE -- WELL, THERE YOU ARE
ALL READY UP AT THE DESK, MR.
THORPE, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
AND WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
>> MAYORS OFFICE AND SEATTLE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
BRIEFING AN UPDATE ON THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY.
>> THANK YOU.
SO WE'RE BEING JOINED AT THE
TABLE BY TES COLBY FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I BELIEVE WE'RE ALSO BEING
JOINED BY DIRECTOR JOHNSON.
WE HAVE NOT HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF MEETING YET.
SO IT'S GOOD TO MEET IN PERSON.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR
PRESENTATION.
CAN WE DO A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS FROM THE
PRESENTERS.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DURING
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WE
WERE JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS AT THE TABLE, THANK
YOU, SO WITH THAT, I'LL LET OUR
PRESENTERS INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES.
>> TES COLBY, OFFICE OF THE
MAYOR.
>> JASON JOHNSON WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HELLO.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANKS FOR
JOINING US HERE FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
WE'RE ALSO JOINED FROM CENTRAL
STAFF, I'LL LET YOU MAKE YOUR
INTRODUCTIONS.
SO PROCEEDING WITH THIS ITEM, I
HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING
RECENT HI BRIEFED ON THE
PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE WITH
THE REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY.
THE APPOINTMENTS THAT WE MADE
ON JANUARY 6th AS A COUNCIL IN
OUR DELEGATION TO THAT
AUTHORITY WHICH WILL BE MYSELF,
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALES, AND
MAYOR DIRKEN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE
STILL DON'T HAVE AN IDEA OF THE
ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OF THAT BODY
OR AN OFFICIAL FIRST MEETING
YET.
BUT MOSTLY I WANTED THIS TO BE
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO ASK SIMILAR
QUESTIONS THAT I GOT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AT A
PREVIOUS MEETING.
JUST A GENERAL UPDATE ON THE
ROAD MAP OF KIND OF WHERE WE
ARE HEADED IN THE IMMEDIATE AND
MEDIUM TERM FUTURE AND EVEN THE
LONG-TERM PLANNING OF THE
REGIONAL BODY.
AND THEN JUST OPEN IT UP AND
GIVE MY COLLEAGUES AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE.
>> SURE.
ABSOLUTELY.
SO JASON AND I ARE GOING TO TAG
TEAM A LITTLE BIT ON THE
PRESENTATION AND LIKELY ON THE
ANSWERING OF QUESTIONS AS WELL.
SO JUST TO BEGIN THIS A LITTLE
BIT.
I WANT TO DO JUST KIND OF A
QUICK REMINDER OF WHAT THE
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE LOOKS
LIKE.
I THINK YOU ALL GOT A VERSION
OF IT.
YOURS IS VERY SMALL.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
I HAVE A LARGER ONE WHICH I CAN
SHARE WITH YOU.
AND JUST REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT
YOU ALL APPROVED AT THE LAST
COUNCIL MEETING IN DECEMBER
REALLY PROVIDES FOR IN TERMS OF
THE OVERVIEW AND GOVERNANCE OF
THE AUTHORITY ITSELF.
SO WITHIN THE ILA, IT PROVIDES
FOR A TWO TIERED OVER SIGHT
STRUCTURE SO THE FIRST LEVEL OF
THAT STRUCTURE IS THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
JUST DESCRIBED, THE GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED
PRIMARILY OF FOLKS WHO ARE IN
ELECTED OFFICE AS WELL AS THREE
MEMBERS OF -- THREE
REPRESENTATIVES OF FOLKS WHO
HAVE IMMEDIATE LIVED EXPERIENCE
OR WHO ARE WORKING WITH AND
REPRESENTING FOLKS WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE.
I MEAN LIVED EXPERIENCE OF
HOMELESSNESS.
SO YES, INDEED, CITY COUNCIL
AND THE SOUND CITY ASSOCIATION
HAVE IDENTIFIED THEIR MEMBERS,
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT KING
COUNTY IF NOT TODAY WILL BE
DOING THEIR SELECTION SHORTLY.
AND WE ARE STILL WORKING THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE IS HELPING
WITH THE IDENTIFICATION OF
FOLKS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.
SO THE GOAL IS TO HAVE ALL 12
MEMBERS IN PLACE AT LEAST
IDENTIFIED AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
SOME OF THE FIRST ACTIONS THAT
THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WILL BE, IN
FACT, ONE OF THE SORT OF
LARGEST RESPONSIBILITIES WILL
BE IN NOMINATING AND SEATING
THE SECOND LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE
IF YOU WILL WHICH IS THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
SO WE ARE CERTAINLY FEELING
PRESSURE AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT
MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
>> JUST A QUESTION ABOUT MY
UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOVERNANCE
BOARD WHERE OUR GOAL IS TO MEET
END OF JANUARY-FEBRUARY AND WE
ALSO HAVE THE ALL HOME
CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD THAT'S
WORKING TO IDENTIFY, AS YOU
MENTIONED, THEE INDIVIDUALS TO
SERVE ON THE GOVERNING BOARD TO
REPRESENT THEIR LIVED
EXPERIENCE.
IS IT YOUR BELIEF THAT THE
GOVERNING BOARD WILL HAVE IT
FIRST MEETING WITHOUT THEIR
INDIVIDUALS SINCE THE GOVERNING
BOARD I BELIEVE APPOINTS THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
THEY'RE NOMINATED BY ALL HOME?
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S GOING TO BE
-- NOT ALL HOME, BUT THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD THAT
ACTUALLY SEATS THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL
ESSENTIALLY MAKE THE NOMINATION
TO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND THEN FROM THERE, THEY GET
SEATED.
>> I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION
THAT THE GOVERNING BOARD HAD A
ROLE.
>> GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE DOES
NOT HAVE A ROLE IN SEATING
THOSE MEMBERS, THOSE FOLKS WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE.
SORT OF IN THE SAME WAY THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE
DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE IN SAY
SEATTLEING SEATING ANY OF
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
>> THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD,
NOT FOR THE GORANING COMMITTEE.
IT'S THAT TWO TIERED STRUCTURE
THAT I THINK WILL TAKE US A
WHILE TO GET USED TO.
-- FOR THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE
-- SO WITH THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE
MEETING WITH EVERYBODY THERE.
>> YES, AND THANK YOU FOR THE
REMINDER ON THAT.
THE GOAL WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE
NOT TO HOLD A MEETING WITHOUT
THE FOLKS WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ON THE
SAME PLAIN IF YOU WILL WHEN WE
START THIS WORK.
AND IN TERMS OF COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, THE TIMELINE THAT YOU
JUST DESCRIBED, END OF JANUARY
IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE MIDWAY
THROUGH JANUARY.
AND THERE'S STILL INFORMATION
OF FOLK IDENTIFICATION OF FOLKS
TO BE HAD.
THAT IS THE SHOULD LANGUAGE.
PERMISSIVE NOT MANDATORY.
WE'RE HOPING THAT IT WILL
HAPPEN BEFORE 90 DAYS.
SO WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD,
ADDS QUICKLY AS CAN BE PUT
TOGETHER.
AND THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS
THAT THAT VERY FIRST MEETING
WILL BE COCHAIRED BY THE MAYOR
AND THE EXECUTIVE.
THAT'S PROVIDED FOR IN THE ILA.
BUT AT THAT MEETING, WE'RE
EXPECTING THAT THE COMMITTEE
WILL IDENTIFY ITS LEADERSHIP.
ALSO IDENTIFY THE CADENCE OF
MEETINGS, AND BEGIN THE PROCESS
OF DETERMINING THE PROCESS FOR
AND IDENTIFYING WHO WILL BE
NOMINATED AND THEN SEATED ON
THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> SO SOME OF THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE ARE SOME
BASIC SORT OF GENERAL OVER
SIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES OF, FOR
EXAMPLE, CREATING BY LAWS FOR
THE GORANING COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE
OF THE FIRST ACTIVITIES THAT
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE UNDER
TAKING.
CONFIRMING AND OR REMOVING
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD MEMBERS.
APPROVING PERFORMANCE METRICS
FOR THE AUTHORITY.
AND APPROVING THE STAFF PLAN
AND THE OR CHART FOR THE
AUTHORITY ITSELF.
ALL OF THOSE CAN BE DONE WITH A
SIMPLE MAJORITY.
AND THOSE ACTIVITIES OR
RESPONSIBILITY HAS THE NEED TO
BE DONE WITH 3/4 MAJORITY AND
RIGHT NOW THE WAY THE -- NOT
JUST RIGHT NOW, FOREVER MORE
UNLESS AMENDED, THE WAY THE ILA
IS WRITTEN IS THAT 3/4 OF THE
QUORUM, WHICH IS NINE MEMBERS,
SO IT'S 9 OF 12 MEMBERS.
AT A MINIMUM P/4 OF THE QUORUM
NEED TO BE PRESENT TO APPROVE
GOALS, PLANS, AND POLICIES, TO
APPROVE THE BUDGET, AND TO
CONFIRM THE CEO.
AND THEN REMOVAL OF THE CEO HAS
THE HIGHEST STANDARD FOR
VOTING, AND THAT REQUIRES AN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF ALL NINE
MEMBERS.
SO MOVING ON TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
>> YEAH.
I JUST WANT TO FLAG PART OF THE
DISCUSSION LAST YEAR.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
THE CHANGES THAT THE GOVERNING
BOARD CAN MAKE AS IT RELATES TO
MAJOR AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET
AS WELL AS PLANS, POLICIES, AND
GOALS FOR THOSE AMENDMENTS TO
PREVAIL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
PREFERENCE OF THIS COUNCIL IS
NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE
ADOPTED ILA LANGUAGE.
AND THERE'S BEEN EXPRESSION,
VIA RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL'S
INTEREST IN WORKING ON THIS.
AND WE'VE RECEIVED WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION FROM BOTH THE
MAYOR AS WELL AS THE EXECUTIVE
TO WORK TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF
RAISING THE THRESHOLD FOR
GOVERNING BOARD TO MAKE CHANGES
TO THOSE POLICIES I ENUMERATED
THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD
ENACTS AND THAT WOULD BE TO
RAISE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES
NECESSARY TO -- FROM I THINK
RIGHT NOW, BASED ON I THINK THE
QUORUM AS IT IS NOW, IT'S -- IT
WOULD BE SIX.
BUT WE WANT TO GET IT TO A
MINIMUM OF EIGHT.
WITH THE IDEA, AGAIN, THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD IS THE --
THEY ARE THE EXPERTS IN A VERY
BIG DRIVING GOAL OF THE
REGIONAL BODY IS TO ENHANCE THE
DECISION MAKING OF PEOPLE WITH
EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD AND WHO
ARE SOMEWHAT INSULATED FROM
PUBLIC PRESSURE, POLITICAL
PRESSURE, TO DO THINGS THAT MAY
NOT BE CONSIDERED BEST
PRACTICES.
SO WE IDENTIFIED -- BECAUSE OF
THE WAY THE COMPOSITION OF THE
GOVERNING BOARD AND THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD SHOOK OUT
AFTER PASSAGE OF THE
CONCILIATION LEGISLATION AND
THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATION.
WE FLAGGED THIS AS AN ISSUE
THAT WE WANT TO RETURN TO IN
THE BY LAWS.
I'M JUST FLAGGING THAT.
I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.
BUT JUST FLAGGING IT FOR MY
COLLEAGUES AS WELL.
IN RAISING THE THRESHOLD TO
EIGHT, WE'RE AGAIN MAKING IT
MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE
GOVERNING BOARD, WHICH IS A
BOARD PRIMARILY OF ELECTEDS,
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE THREE
INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCES OR ACCOUNTABLE TO
PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES,
IT'S GOAL IS TO MAKE IT A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF A HIGHER
THRESHOLD TO ACTUALLY MAKE
CHANGES NO THE BUDGET, PLANS,
POLICIES, AND GOALS, THANKS.
IS THAT RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
.
>> IT IS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION AS WELL.
GOING ON TO THE PROCESS FOR
ACTUALLY SEATING THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
SO WHAT THE ILA STATES IS THAT
THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE SHOULD WORK AS
QUICKLY AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN,
EXPEDITIOUSLY, AND
COLLABORATIVELY, TO BOTH
ESTABLISH A NOMINATING PROCESS,
BUT THEN ALSO TO ACTUALLY VOTE
ON AND SEAT THE IMPLEMENTATION
BOARD MEMBERS.
THE NOMINATIONS COME FROM ALL
MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNANCE.
ALL THE BODIES OF THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
AND SO THE WAY IT BREAKS OUT IS
-- IT WILL BE A 13 MEMBER
BOARD.
SO TWO NOMINATIONS.
EACH BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
TWO KING COUNTY COUNCIL.
TWO MAYOR.
TWO SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
TWO SOUND CITY ASSOCIATION.
THAT GETS US TO TEN.
AND THEN THREE ADDITIONAL
NOMINATIONS FROM FOLKS WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE.
THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD
DESIGNATED THREE SEATS FOR
FOLKS REPRESENTING PEOPLE WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE OR WHO HAVE
LIVED EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE NUMBER OF
SEATS.
THAT'S HOW THE PLACEMENT OF THE
SEATS GET BROKEN OUT.
OKAY.
>> AND HOW WILL THIS NOMINATING
BOARD BE STOOD UP?
OR THE NOMINATING COMMITTE BE
STOOD UP?
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR
SELECTING EACH OF THE SKILLS
AND EXPERTISE SPECIFIED IN THE
ILA?
AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO
HAVE THEM FULLY SEATED ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
>> THOSE ARE ARE ALL REALLY
EXCELLENT QUESTIONS THAT I
THINK WE'RE STILL, AND AT THIS
POINT, WHEN I SAY WE, THE
COUNTY, EXEC STAFF AND THE
MAYORS EXEC STAFF ARE WORKING
TOGETHER TO COME ONE A PROPOSAL
THAT WE THINK WE CAN TAKE TO
OUR BOSSES AND THEN ULTIMATELY
TO OUR RESPECTIVE COUNCILS, TO
THE SCA AND THE CONTINUUM OF
CARE FOR HOW THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
BECAUSE THE ILA LEFT THAT ALL
EXTREMELY OPEN.
WHAT IT SAYS IS CREATE A
NOMINATING PROCESS.
AND SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS TO
BE ABLE TO OFFER FOR
CONSIDERATION A PROCESS THAT
WOULD IDENTIFY WHAT THAT
NOMINATION PROCESS WILL LOOK
LIKE.
MY -- IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS
FOR ACTUALLY IDENTIFYING WHO
MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, I CAN SAY
THAT IT WILL DEFINITELY BE A
RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT BE AN
OPEN PROCESS.
AND AGAIN, HOW ACTUALLY THAT
GETS IMPLEMENTED IS YET TO BE
DETERMINED.
BUT THAT WOULD BE THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT IT BE AN
OPEN PROCESS.
TREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS WE
TREAT OTHER KINDS OF CITIZEN
COMMITTEES.
BEYOND THAT, I DON'T HAVE VERY
GOOD SPECIFIC ANSWERS FOR YOU
YET ON WHAT THE TIMELINE FOR
THAT LOOKS LIKE.
JASON IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU A
LITTLE BIT IN A MINUTE ABOUT
THE CEO RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
AND AGAIN, THE SENSE OF URGENCY
THAT WE ALL HAVE AROUND MAKING
SURE THAT WE BOTH HAVE AN
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD SEATED AND
FEELING CONFIDENT ENOUGH THEN
TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEE ON THAT RECRUITMENT
PROCESS.
BECAUSE WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO
GET THE CEO IN AS QUICKLY AS WE
CAN.
BECAUSE FROM THERE BEGINS SORT
OF ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE AND THE STAFFING WORK
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> I CAN SAY THAT WE SHARE, OR
AT LEAST I PERSONALLY SHARE
YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY, IF
THERE'S ANYTHING WE OR I CAN DO
TO ASSIST YOU, WHEN YOU TOM TO
HAVE THIS CRITERIA FORMED AND
THE PROCESS FORMED, I'D LOVE TO
CHAT FURTHER.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I WILL FLAG THE AGREEMENT
MAKES REFERENCE THAT THE FOLLOW
NATEING COMMITTEE IS REFLECTIVE
OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING
BOARD.
SO THE COUNCIL CAN ALSO BE PART
OF CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO
BEGIN CONVENING THAT NOMINATING
COMMITTEE AND THE PROCESSES IN
THE SAME WAY THAT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE OR COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S
OFFICE CAN.
>> UH-HUH, ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY.
CONTINUE.
>> SO IF YOU WERE ABLE TO READ
THE DIAGRAM, WHICH I WILL GIVE
CREDIT TO OUR COLLEAGUES IN
KING COUNTY WHO LOVE 11 X 17
PAGERS.
BUT THE BOARD IS INTENDED TO BE
POPULATED BY 13 PEOPLE WITH AN
ENTIRE ARRAY OF EXPERTISE,
EXPERIENCE, PREDOMINANTLY WITH
THE GOAL OF MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS STRONG OVER SIGHT OF
THE AUTHORITY IN ITS WORK.
BUT ALSO STRONG EXPERTISE AND
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE.
THERE'S ALSO A GOAL TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE BOARD IS
REPRESENTATIVE OF POP
YOULATIONS THAT ARE --
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
HOMELESSNESS.
THAT IT HAS RACIAL DIVERSITY.
AND IT BE REFLECTIVE OF MEMBERS
OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE
IMPACTED BY OR ENGAGED IN
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.
FAITH COMMUNITIES,
PHILANTHROPY, BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS, THAT SORT OF
THING.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE SEATING THE YET TO BE
DETERMINED NOMINATION PROCESS.
THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD HAS
THE GENERAL AUTHORITY THAT YOU
WOULD THINK OF THAT ANY NORMAL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OWE OF A
NONPROFIT FOR EXAMPLE WOULD
HAVE.
THAT'S DEVELOPING POLICIES,
CREATING THEIR OWN BY LAWS.
DOING ANNUAL REPORTING.
SO THERE'S AN ANNUAL
PERFORMANCE REPORT.
AND AN ANNUAL FUNDING
ALLOCATION REPORT THAT WILL BE
GIVEN TO THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEE.
THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO
MENTION AND TO REMIND EVERYONE,
BECAUSE I KNOW THIS CAME UP
QUITE A BIT IN OUR -- AS WE
WERE GOING TOWARDS THE PROCESS
OF CREATING THE ILA IS THE
BUDGETING PROCESS.
AS THE END OF THE DATE, THE
BUDGETING PROCESS FOR THE
AUTHORITY'S BUDGET REQUEST WILL
LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE THE CURRENT
BUDGETING PROCESS THAT YOU ALL
GO THROUGH AND EXPERIENCE WITH
THE CURRENT HOMELESS SERVICES
BUDGET.
WHICH IS TO SAY, THE AUTHORITY
WILL DO A DRAFT BUDGET, THAT
WILL GO THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
SO THE FIRST LEVEL OF DIE HOG
BACK AND FORTH -- DIALOGUE BACK
AND FORTH WILL BE BETWEEN THE
AUTHORITY AND THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
ONCE THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD
APPROVES THE BUDGET, THAT WILL
GO TO THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE
FOR ADDITIONAL APPROVAL.
SO THEY'D BE MAKING THEIR
RECOMMENDATION.
THAT THEN WOULD BE THE FINAL
BUDGET THAT COMES TO CBO.
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND GET
ULTIMATELY INCLUDED IN THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET.
INTERMINGLED IN ALL OF THIS IS
THE SAME LEVEL OF DIALOGUE THAT
CBO AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
CURRENTLY HAS WITH, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES.
THAT SAME BACK AND FORTH AND
THAT SAME DIALOGUE.
SO WE WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE THAT
SO THERE'S NO SURPRISES.
WHAT WE WANT IS THE AUTHORITY
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE WOULDN'T WANT THE AUTHORITY
TO JUST SUBMIT A BUDGET THAT
BEARS NO RESEMBLANCE TO WHERE
-- WHAT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET IS
GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE
DOLLARS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE.
SO THIS WILL BE NEW FOR ALL OF
US AS WE GO THROUGH THIS FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
AND THAT FIRST TIME WILL LIKELY
-- WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD
LIKELY BE FOR THE 2021 BUDGET
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE HIGHLY
DEPENDENT ON THE HIRING OF THE
CEO AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT CEO
IS IN PLACE IN TIME TO BE ABLE
TO REALLY START THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
.
>> SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON.
HI.
DO YOU THINK THAT WE'LL
DEFINITELY HAVE SOMETHING FROM
THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY BY THE
FALL OF 2021 FOR OUR BUDGET
PROCESS?
WHICH WOULD THEN START SPENDING
THE MONEY JANUARY 2022 FOR
PROGRAMS ?
>> OH YES.
CERTAINLY.
CERTAINLY FOR THE 2022 BUDGET.
YES.
IT'S ONLY THE 2021 BUDGET.
SO WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'D HAVE
TO START THIS YEAR.
I THINK THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD
CONTINUE THROUGH THE SAME HSD
PROCESS.
WHICH IS FEELING SOMEWHAT
LIKELY.
OR WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD
END UP BEING FOR EXAMPLE A
HYBRID BETWEEN HSD AND THE NEW
CEO.
IT'S A QUESTION OF TIMING.
>> OKAY.
BUT FALL OF 2021 TO IMPLEMENT
JANUARY 2022.
>> YEAH, JASON WILL TALK ABOUT
THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT THE ANTICIPATION AND OUR
EXPECTATION IS THAT THE
AUTHORITY WILL BE FULLY UP AND
RUNNING.
FULLY STAFFED.
FULLY OPERATIONAL ON JANUARY 1,
2021.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS
ABOUT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
RIGHT NOW, ALL HOME -- THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD IS
ADMINISTERED BY ALL HOME.
WHICH IS TO SAY IT'S
ADMINISTERED BY KING COUNTY.
AND THE WAY IT IS ENVISIONED IN
THIS NEW STRUCTURE IS AS AN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
AND THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THEN WOULD SERVE AS THE FEDERAL
CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD.
AND REMEMBER, THAT THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD'S
PRIMARY JOB IS TO MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT WHEN IT COMES TO
THE AWARD OF THEIR COC FUNDS
PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS MCKINNEY
BENTO FUNDS.
AND THE CURRENT COC BOARD IS IN
THE PROCESS OF AMENDING THEIR
CHARTER TO BETTER ALIGN WITH
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND DETERMINING A PROCESS BY
WHICH THEY WILL ALSO CHANGE
THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO BETTER
ALIGN BOTH WITH HUD'S STANDARDS
OF HAVING A MORE DIVERSE COC
BOARD.
ONE THAT IS MORE REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND LESS SORT OF FOCUSED ON
PROVIDERS.
AND THAT ALSO AGAIN SORT OF
ALIGNS WITH THE NEEDS OF THE
AUTHORITY.
AND THAT IS MY -- INTENDED TO
BE BRIEF, OVERVIEW.
NOT SO BRIEF.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
DETAILED MEMO.
THE STAFF WILL BE COLOCATED IN
LATE 2020.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO SPEED THAT
UP?
OR IS THERE -- I GUESS, ALSO,
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND ON WHY
WE NEED TO WAIT SO LONG?
>> AND I WILL HAND THAT TO
JASON.
>> YEAH, SO AGAIN, JASON
JOHNSON WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU, TES, THANK YOU
COUNCIL, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO OFFER TWO
UPDATES.
ONE ON CO-LOCATION.
AND ONE ON THE RECRUITMENT
PROCESS FOR A CEO TO THE
REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
AS PART OF THAT COLOCATION
UPDATE, FIRST, YOU KNOW, THERE
IS MUCH TO BE DONE WHILE WE
STAND UP A CRITICAL GOVERNANCE
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE REGIONAL
AUTHORITY, THERE IS WORK THAT
CANNOT WAIT FOR ALL OF THOSE
BOARDS TO BE SEATED, FOR BY
LAWS TO BE WRITTEN, AND FOR
THAT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE TO BE
IN PLACE.
THERE IS SOME WORK THAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE NOW.
AND WORK THAT QUITE HONESTLY
BEGAN AT THE END OF 2019.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, ABSENT
BOARDS, ABSENT A CEO, LEO FLEUR
FROM KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES AND I AND
SHANNON OUT OF THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE HAVE STOOD
UP A STRUCTURE OF A LEADERSHIP
TEAM AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
WORK GROUPS.
AND THESE WORK GROUPS, AS WELL
AS THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, ARE
MADE UP OF EMPLOYEES FROM BOTH
KING COUNTY DCHS AND HSD, THE
LEADERSHIP TEAM ALSO HAS
REPRESENTATION FROM THE SEATTLE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND KING COUNTY'S ESJ OFFICE.
IT HAS PEOPLE WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES
FROM AND LEADERSHIP FROM THE
TWO DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT LEADERSHIP TEAM IS IN
PLACE.
THEY MEET EVERY WEEK.
EVERY MONDAY AFTERNOON.
AND THEY ARE THE GROUP.
THE BODY BY WHICH INFORMATION
AND DECISIONS ARE MOVING
THROUGH AT THIS POINT.
THERE ARE ALSO FOUR WORK GROUPS
CREATED.
AND STAFF, EMPLOYEES FROM BOTH
HSD AND DCHS AS WELL AS WHERE
APPROPRIATE FROM THE MAYOR OR
EXEC'S OFFICE, AND PEOPLE WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE ARE
PARTICIPATING IN EACH OF THESE
WORK GROUPS.
ONE IS RELATED TO COLOCATION.
SO THIS IS A WORK GROUP TO MOVE
THROUGH THE DETAILS OF WHAT IT
WILL TAKE TO MOVE TEAMS FROM
THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS INTO
ONE LOCATION AT THE YESLER
BUILDING.
THERE'S A WORK GROUP ON PROGRAM
MIGRATION.
THIS IS A WORK GROUP FOCUSED ON
HOW WE CONTINUE 2020'S
IMPORTANT WORK BUT ALSO
ENVISION THAT WORK LOOKING
DIFFERENT.
AND FINDING AREAS WHERE WE CAN
MERGE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE CITY
AND COUNTY NOW.
AND WHERE WE NEED THE AUTHORITY
TO BE UP AND OPERATIONAL IN
ORDER TO MAKE CHANGE.
THERE'S DATA MIGRATION.
RIGHT NOW WE USE THE HOMELESS
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
AT BOTH THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY.
BUT WE USE DATA IN DIFFERENT
WAYS.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT MEANS OF
COMMUNICATION AND STAKEHOLDERS
THAT WE COMMUNICATE WITH.
AND SO WE NEED A WORK GROUP IN
PLACE NOW TO START THINKING
ABOUT DATA MIGRATION AND HOW
THOSE DATA BOTH THE REQUESTS
AND REQUIREMENTS AND THE DATA
FUNCTIONALITY CAN BE
CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE.
AND THEN FINALLY, ALL OF THIS
WORK IS CENTERED ON A VERY
CLEAR THEORY OF CHANGE.
SO THERE'S A WORK GROUP HELPING
US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EQUITY
BASED DECISION MAKING TOOL THAT
WILL BE IN PLACE WHEN THIS
REGIONAL AUTHORITY IS STOOD UP.
IT'S HELPING TO ENSURE THAT THE
THEORY OF CHANGE IS EVER
PRESENCE AS ANY OF THESE WORK
GROUPS ARE DOING THEIR WORK.
SO I'M JUST INCREDIBLY THANKFUL
THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WILLING
TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND
PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING THIS
REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN,
AGAIN, WE ARE ABSENT A CEO.
WE ARE ABSENT A BOARD OF
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND REALLY
ARE RELYING ON TEAMS AS THEY
EXIST NOW TO START ENVISIONING
HOW THINGS COULD BE DIFFERENT
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE THEORY OF
CHANGE AND THE INTERLOCAL THAT
WAS PASSED.
MR. DIRECTOR, I THINK COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES HAS A QUESTION.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE HMAS
INFORMATION GATHERING SYSTEM.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES
THAT WILL BE MADE IN THAT
PROCESS FOR DATA COLLECTION AS
IT RELATES TO RACIAL EQUITY?
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS
THAT THE WAY DATA IS COLLECTED
IS DISPROPORTIONALLY IMPACTING
THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR,
PARTICULARLY NATIVE AMERICANS
TO ACCESS SOME OF OUR HOMELESS
SERVICES.
>> THAT'S A BODY OF WORK
CURRENTLY UNDER WAY.
AND THERE IS A GROUP OF EXPERTS
IN THE DATA SPACE AS WELL AS
PROGRAM STAFF FROM BOTH HSD AND
KING COUNTY DCHS WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THAT ISSUE AND
CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
THAT WORK WILL NOT BE PART OF
WHAT THE DATA MIGRATION WORK
GROUP IS LOOKING AT.
THEY'RE REALLY DIVING INTO SOME
FUNCTIONAL DETAIL.
JUST ABOUT HOW, QUITE HONESTLY,
ABOUT WHERE STAFF WILL BE
SEATED.
HOW PEOPLE WILL STILL HAVE
ACCESS TO THE DATA BASE.
THEY'RE DOING AN INVENTORY OF
WHAT REPORTS ARE REQUIRED AT
THE CITY AND COUNTY.
AND WHAT THE TIMING OF THOSE
REPORTS ARE.
AND TRYING TO WORK THROUGH
THOSE KIND OF FUNCTIONAL
DETAILS.
BUT THE WORK TO BE MORE
EQUITABLE IN BOTH THE
COLLECTION OF AND USE OF DATA
IS SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO
BE LOOKED AT.
>> HERBOHD.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
I THINK PART OF WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
>> I SAID MORALES.
>> SHE JUST SAID IT CORRECTLY.
SO I THINK PART OF WHAT YOU'RE
REFERRING TO IS COORDINATED
ENTRY AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH
FOLK GOSE THROUGH COORDINATED
ENTRY GET ASSESSED FOR
VULNERABILITY AND USING THAT
PROCESS YET REFERRED TO HOUSING
AND THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF, AS
JASON WAS DESCRIBING, THAT'S
ANOTHER PIECE OF THE DATA, DATA
MIGRATION, AND THE -- SORT OF
THE MIGRATION OF HMIS AND
COORDINATED ENTRY INTO THE
REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
AND THERE'S A GENERAL AGREEMENT
THAT THE TOOL THAT'S BEING USED
FOR THOSE PRIORITIZATIONS AND
FOR REFERRALS NEEDS TO BE
REVISITED.
AND IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE OF
THE OUTCOMES FROM THE
REFERRALS, SHOWING RACIAL BIAS.
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
BEING FOUND NOT JUST WITH OUR
COORDINATED ENTRY HERE IN KING
COUNTY.
BUT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE USING THE SAME TOOL.
SO KIND OF THE GOOD NEWS IS
SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE
HERE IN KING COUNTY TO REVEAL
THAT IS REALLY RESONATING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT KNOW THAT THAT'S BEING
ADDRESSED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> CAN YOU ADD IN HOW HSD IS
UTILIZING MEASURING LENGTH OF
STAY AND THE PRIORITIZATION
TOOL RELATIVE TO THE TOOL
SCORE.
AND HOW MUCH EACH COMPOSES YOUR
PRIORITIZATION.
>> I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND
--
>> THAT HSD HAS BEEN IN THE
PROCESS OF MAYBE 50%, I DON'T
ACTUALLY KNOW THE PERCENTAGE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
OF YOUR PRIORITIZATION WERE TO
RELY ON YOUR SCORE, ON THIS
TOOL, THE VI SPDAT.
THE OTHER PORTION WOULD RELY ON
HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN HOMELESS.
THAT WAS BEING EXAMINED AND --
TO ADDRESS THE RACIAL
INEQUITIES WOULD CREATE IF WE
ONLY RELIED ON THE VI SPDAT.
>> I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP AND
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT
INFORMATION.
>> AND A FINER POINT SO I
UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
THERE'S CONCERN THAT THE VI
SPDAT SCORES ARE RESULTING IN
LOW PRIORITIZATION FOR PEOPLE
OF COLOR WHO MAY NOT BE
CONSIDERED HIGHLY VULNERABLE
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN HOMELESS FOR
A VERY LONG TIME.
SO WE WANTED TO EXPLORE WHETHER
OR NOT WE NEED -- IN INTEREST
OF PROMOTING RACIAL EQUITY
OUTCOMES.
>> YEAH, STAFF OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE GONE
DEEP INTO THE DATA AND WHAT
THEY BELIEVE IT MEANS.
SO I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION.
>> I WANT TO JUST RETURN TO THE
STAFF TRANSITION PROCESS.
SO OUR STAFF MEMO SAYS IN TWO
DIFFERENT SPOTS THAT THE
TRANSITION WILL BEGIN IN -- IN
ONE PLACE IT SAYS EARLY 2020.
AND IN ANOTHER PLACE IT SAYS
LATE 2020.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
>> I'LL GO THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
>> SO IT SAYS EARLY IN 2020 AND
IN ANOTHER PLACE IT SAYS SPRING
2020.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT HASN'T
SLIPPED TO LATE 2020.
>> NO.
>> NOT FROM EITHER OF US.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO THE COLOCATION IS STILL
PLANNING TO HAPPEN SOME TIME IN
THE SPRING.
>> I THINK YOU SAID LATE.
>> WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
IS BUDGET.
WOULD HAPPEN IN LATE 2020 TO
STAND UP THE NEW ORGANIZATION
FULLY IN JANUARY OF 2021.
BUT WHAT I AM PREPARED TO WALK
THROUGH IS THE FULL COLOCATION
TIMELINE.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
I MIGHT STILL HAVE A FEW FOLLOW
UP QUESTIONS BUT LET'S GO FOR
IT.
>> WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TODAY.
TO MAKE SURE WE GO THROUGH IT
QUICKLY.
>> CHANGE MANAGEMENT AT THIS
SCALE IS NOT EASY.
NOR SHOULD IT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
AND SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THAT COMMUNICATION IS FLOWING
AND THAT WE ARE MOVING THROUGH
THIS PROCESS WITH TRANSPARENCY
AS WELL AS BY ASKING QUESTIONS
AND MAKING SURE THAT THE BEST
IDEAS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT,
WE'RE ENGAGING WITH STAFF IN
MANY WAYS.
SO WE CONDUCT WEEKLY HUDDLES.
SO THE ENTIRE HSI DIVISION
HUDDLES ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
THERE'S ALSO EMAIL
COMMUNICATION THAT GOES OUT
EVERY WEEK BEFORE THOSE
HUDDLES.
SO THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET
INFORMATION AS WELL AS
COMMUNICATION OUT TO EACH
EMPLOYEE AT THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE -- I FACILITATE A
BIWEEKLY HR MEETING.
HR PROFESSIONALS FROM THE CITY
AND COUNTY JOIN WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, LEADERSHIP
FROM HSD AND DCHS AND THE --
THOSE MEETINGS ARE REALLY LASER
FOCUSED ON ISSUES OF LABOR.
ISSUES RELATED TO HOW WE CAN
SUPPORT EMPLOYEES DURING THIS
PERIOD OF TRANSITION.
ALSO MAPPING OUT ITEMS LIKE
COLOCATION, LIKE THE CEO
RECRUITMENT.
SO IT'S A REALLY CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT MEETING FOR ALL OF US
THAT ATTEND THOSE.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES CONTINUING TO LOOK AT
BENEFITS.
MAKING SURE THAT WHEN A
TRANSITION TO THE REGIONAL
AUTHORITY OCCURS, THERE'S
COMPARABLE SALARY, BENEFITS,
PENSIONS IN PLACE TO HELP
SUPPORT EMPLOYEES IN THE MANNER
BY WHICH THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO
BEING SUPPORTED AT THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY.
ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING SO
THAT THE TRANSITION TO THE
REGIONAL AUTHORITY AND
COLOCATION AT THE YESLER
BUILDING CAN BE A SMOOTH
TRANSITION.
WE ARE STILL ON TIME AND
MANNING FOR A MARCH 2020 MOVE
TO THE YESLER BUILDING.
THIS IS A MOVE FROM -- FOR HSD
FROM SEATTLE MUNICIPAL TOWER.
AND FOR THE COUNTY FROM A
BILLING ON JACKSON AS WELL AS
STAFF WHO ARE LOCATED CURRENTLY
AT THE CHINOOK BUILDING.
SO THERE ARE EFFORTS UNDER WAY.
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
WORK GROUP AND KING COUNTY
FACILITY'S MANAGEMENT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE BUILDING IS READY
IN EARLY MARCH.
AND SO THAT STAFF CAN BE READY
TO MOVE AT THE END OF MARCH.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD DO
YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> A CLARIFICATION, IS THE
ENTIRE HSI DIVISION MOVING OR
JUST A SUBSET?
>> THEY ARE.
SO A COUPLE YEARS AGO THERE
WERE INDIVIDUALS IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT WORKING ON
HOMELESSNESS IN A VARIETY OF
DIVISIONS AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP
AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION.
AND WHAT WE DID A COUPLE YEARS
AGO WAS ORGANIZE SO THAT
EVERYONE WORKING ON ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS OUT OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DIVISION FOR THE CITY
WAS TEAMED IN ONE DIVISION.
AND SO IT'S REALLY THAT
DIVISION.
AND THERE ARE RESOURCES IN THAT
DIVISION THAT ARE EVEN RELATED
TO FINANCING, COMMUNICATIONS,
AND DATA THAT ARE --
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO BE
SENSITIVE TO THE CHAIR'S DESIRE
TO GET TO THE NEXT ITEM.
I WANT TO GET MY QUESTIONS OUT
IF I COULD.
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A
SUBSET OF THE HSI DIVISION
THAT'S MOVING, IT'S THE ENTIRE
DIVISION.
>> THE ENTIRE DIVISION IS
COLOCATING.
>> IS BEING COLOCATED.
>> AFTER A CEO IS HIRED,
THEY'LL SUBMIT A STAFFING PLAN
WHICH WILL FURTHER EXPLORE WHAT
DIFFERENT ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE NEEDED AT
THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
>> SO I'M -- THE REASON WHY I'M
TRYING TO GET MY QUESTIONS OUT
ABOUT THIS IS THAT I'M HEARING
THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
SPECULATIONS ALL READY ABOUT
WHICH POSITIONS ARE GOING TO BE
ELIMINATED.
AND IF THE COLOCATION ISN'T
GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL MARCH,
AND WE'RE NOT GETTING A PLAN
UNTIL I THINK THE MEMO SAYS
EITHER A SUPPLEMENTAL IN 2020
OR WITH THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED 21
BUDGET.
I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO -- I
MEAN, THE SPECULATIONS MAY NOT
BE TRUE.
IT'S THIRD HAND INFORMATION.
BUT IF IT IS TRUE, I'M JUST
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT
COULD HAPPEN GIVEN THAT THE
ENTIRE HSI DIVISION IS BEING
RELOCATED.
COLOCATEED.
AND WE AREN'T MAKING FINAL
DECISIONS ABOUT WHO WILL STAY
WITH THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY
UNTIL MUCH LATER.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET -- IS
THERE SOMETHING HAPPENING THAT
WE ALL SHOULD BE AWARE OF?
>> YOU ACCURATELY DESCRIBED
EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO OCCUR.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A
COLOCATION PERIOD THAT BEGINS
IN MARCH OF 2020.
THEN AFTER THE HIRING OF A CEO,
WE WILL BEGIN WHAT WE'RE
REFERRING TO AS A LOANED
PERIOD.
THIS WILL BE A PERIOD BY WHICH
THERE IS MATRIX SUPERVISION.
WHERE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONAL
DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THE CEO
OF THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESS AUTHORITY.
BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE EXISTING
LINES OF AUTHORITY BACK TO THE
CITY AND THE COUNTY.
IT WILL NOT BE UNTIL BE-- UNTIL
THE 2021 BUDGET IS PASSED IN
NOVEMBER FOR JANUARY 1, 2021
WHEN POSITIONS THE POSITION
BUDGET AND THOSE POCKETS
ACTUALLY TRANSITION FULLY OVER
TO THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
SO THIS IS A MULTIPHASED MOVE
THAT STARTS WITH COLOCATION.
THAT BEGINS TO TRANSITION TO
MORE OF A LOAN OR MATRIX
SUPERVISION PHASE ONCE THE CEO
IS HIRED AND ULTIMATELY IN
JANUARY MOVES TO THE FULL
REALIZATION, FULLY STAFFED BY
THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT, DO
YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> NOT EXACTLY A QUESTION.
BUT JUST A REQUEST.
WE HAVE THE PRESENTERS FOR THE
NEXT COMMITTEE HERE SITTING FOR
A LONG TIME.
I WAS NOT PLANNING TO BE HERE
UNTIL 6:00.
BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER ISSUES
ALSO TO GET TO.
IF THIS ITEM IS GOING TO GO ON
FOR SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER, CAN I
SUGGEST WE DO ITEM TWO AND COME
BACK TO THIS.
AND ALSO I THINK WE REALLY HAVE
TALKED FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT
THE STRUCTURE OF THIS REGIONAL
BODY.
AND YOU USED THE TERM
COLOCATION A NUMBER OF TIMES
AND THE MOST SUBSTANTIVE
QUESTION WAS WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN TO THE POSITIONS.
AND I HAVEN'T HEARD.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT READY TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT I FEEL LIKE BELABORING THE
DETAILS OF THE COMMITTEE IS NOT
GOING TO HELP.
THERE'S NOT BEEN ONE POINT MADE
ABOUT WHAT IS THE REGIONAL BODY
GOING TO ACTUALLY DO ABOUT HOME
HOMELESSNESS.
BUT IN THE INTEREST OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE FOR
THE MOST SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE IN
THE COMMITTEE, THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE, ACTUALLY PROVIDING
SOME SERVICE, JUST A REQUEST.
>> SURE, UNDERSTOOD.
ILL LIKE TO MOVE THE AGENDA
ALONG.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY
COLLEAGUES CAN ASK ALL THEIR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AUTHORITY
COMING TOGETHER.
IT'S A BIG REGION AL
INVESTMENT.
IT WARRANTS MORE TIME ON THE
AGENDA.
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO RESPECT OUR
PRESENTERS TIME ON THE NEXT
ITEM.
WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO
CONSIDER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHILE WE
HAVE ALL THE PRINCIPLES HERE WE
GET QUESTIONS OF OUR COLLEAGUES
OUT.
I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GETTING
CLOSE TO THE END.
BUT THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
YOU GUYS.
YOU GUYS JASON AND JESS.
THANK YOU.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
ISSUE, IT STARTED BACK IN JUNE
OR JULY, WHILE I UNDERSTAND
COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT'S POINT
ABOUT THE TIME THAT WE'VE
TAKEN.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE
SPENT 90 MINUTES ON A
RESOLUTION THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN
PASS.
SO JUST HOLDING THAT POINT
ASIDE.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL THE
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WHEN WE
STARTED THIS IN JUNE AND JULY
OF LAST YEAR, WE WENT THROUGH
ALL THESE DIFFERENT POSITIONS
AND LABORING AND
RECONSTRUCTING, WE THOUGHT WE
HAD IT TOGETHER, RIGHT BEFORE
THANKSGIVING, IT CHANGED AGAIN.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE
HAD A COUNTY RESPONSE TO
HOMELESSNESS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT
OUT.
IT STARTED WITH THE CITY.
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S A A
COUNTY RESPONSE.
AND NOW WE HAVE OUR GOVERNOR
SAYING OH IT'S A STATEWIDE
RESPONSE.
FORMER MAYOR, IMAN HAS A BOOK
COMING OUT.
ONE OF THE TENANTS OF THE BOOK
IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CITY
COUNCILS AND CITY
REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNITY
GROUPS THAT ARE THE FIRST WAVE
TO SEE ANY KIND OF CONDITIONS
THAT HURT OUR PEOPLE SEE IT
FIRST.
AND WE HAVE BEEN SAYING TO THE
STATE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS AN
ISSUE.
WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT SINCE
2015.
AND NOW WE FINALLY HAVE A
STATEWIDE APPROACH.
WE HAVE A COUNTY APPROACH.
AND IT'S THIS TYPE OF BRIEFING
AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT
THAT MECHANISM LOOKS LIKE.
I WAS INVOLVED.
IT WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
AND GONZALES THAT WILL MOVE
THIS FORWARD.
AND WE FOUGHT LONG AND HARD
ABOUT THE VOTES AND HOW THAT'S
GOING TO BE IN THE GOVERNING
COUNCIL.
WE FINALLY GOT IT NAILED DOWN.
I WANT TO HEAR WHY THIS IS
GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALES SPOKE
ELOQUENTLY ABOUT HOW WE SET THE
STRUCTURE UP.
HOW IT WILL BE A COUNTY
RESPONSE.
AND HOW THE VOTING WILL LOOK.
AND WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME
FROM AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO
ATTACK THIS.
WHILE I DO RESPECT WHAT COUNCIL
MEMBER SEWANT SAID.
AND I THANK HER FOR ORDINANCE
SHE'S BRINGING FORWARD TODAY.
IT HARKENS BACK TO 2015, WE
HAVE TO HAVE EXTRAORDINARY
RESPONSE TO THIS CONDITION.
JUST LIKE WE TRIED TO DO THE
OPIOID OVERDOSE ISSUES AS WELL
WITH THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
GETTING BACK TO MY ORIGINAL
QUESTION, I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE GOING
TO GET HERE.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME.
HOW ARE WE -- HAS THE MAYOR
SAID, OR HAVE WE DECIDED OR
HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT OR WHAT
CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT HOW WE'RE
GOING TO GO TO LOOK FOR THIS
CEO WHO IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE
A DYNAMIC PERSON FOR THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY.
AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE BRINGING
ALL THE CITIES INTO THIS.
SWITCHING IT UP FROM A PDA TO
AN ILA, HOW WILL WE GO ABOUT
LOOKING FOR THIS DYNAMIC
INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL ATTACK
HOMELESSNESS AND SHELTER THE
UNSHELTERED AND PROVIDE THE
MONEY AND LEADERSHIP THIS
COUNTY DESPERATELY NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AND TIME HI QUESTION.
SO THE CEO IS GOING TO BE A
DYNAMIC LEADER WHO HELPS TO
SHEPHERD THIS NEW, NOT JUST
STRUCTURE, BUT THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT THE
STRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE
CARRYING OUT.
SO IT'S INCREDIBLY -- AN
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT HIRE FOR
THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE.
AND IT ALSO IS WRITTEN IN THE
ILA THAT THAT NEW CEO HAS ONLY
60 DAYS TO COME UP WITH A FULL
STAFFING PLAN FOR THE REGIONAL
AUTHORITY AFTER THE DAY OF
THEIR HIRE.
SO TWO MONTHS OF THEY'RE HIRED,
THEY NEED TO SUBMIT TO THE CITY
AND COUNTY COUNCIL A STAFFING
PLAN.
BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBO
LD'S POINT ABOUT THE URGENCY.
THE LONGER WE DELAY THE HIRING
OF A CEO, THE LONGER WE SIT
WITHOUT THAT STAFFING PLAN AND
THE LONGER WE HAVE A WORK FORCE
WHO SITS WITH ANXIETY ABOUT
THEIR FUTURES.
SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
NOT JUST FOR ALL OF US WHO WANT
TO SEE MEASURABLE CHANGE AS IT
RELATES TO HOMELESSNESS IN THIS
REGION.
BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT FOR OUR TIMELINE TO
GET THIS REGIONAL AUTHORITY
STOOD UP AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST
PEOPLE WORKING AS PART OF THAT
ORGANIZATION TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS REGIONALLY.
WE HAVE VERY RECENTLY IN
DECEMBER AND AGAIN THIS MONTH
WILL CONTINUE THIS THURSDAY
WORKING AS AN HR WORK GROUP.
BOBBY HUME, I WANT TO GIVE A
HUGE SHOUT OUT TO HIM.
HE'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER
TO ME.
DESIGNED WHAT I BELIEVE IS A
VERY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS ABOUT
EXACTLY HOW WE WOULD BRING THE
CEO ON BOARD.
AND THAT PROCESS IS ROOTED IN
THE THEORY OF CHANGE.
WE CANNOT JUST SELECT A
RECRUITMENT FIRM WHO CURRENTLY
DOES BUSINESS WITH THE CITY AND
EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET
THE KIND OF LEADER THAT WE
WANT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
SELECTING RECRUITMENT -- A
RECRUITMENT FIRM THAT'S
GROUNDED IN EQUITY.
AND THAT CAN CARRY OUT THE
THEORY OF CHANGE AS PROPOSED IN
THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
AND SO THIS THURSDAY, WE'LL BE
GOING THROUGH AND WALKING
THROUGH BOTH THE DETAIL AND THE
TIMELINE OF EXACTLY WHAT
SELECTION OF THAT RECRUITMENT
FIRM COULD LOOK LIKE.
IT IS THE ROLE OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD TO
ACTUALLY BE ENGAGED WITH THE
RECRUITMENT FIRM AND MAKE A
SELECTION OF THE CEO.
SO THERE'S ONLY SO FAR WE CAN
TAKE THIS AS STAFF.
BUT WHAT WE WANT TO ENSURE IS
THAT THAT FIRM IS READY TO GO.
WHEN THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
IS IN PLACE, THAT THERE'S A
FIRM IN PLACE WHO CAN
IMMEDIATELY START WORNING ON
THAT RECRUITMENT.
-- WORKING ON THAT RECRUITMENT.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CEO HIRED
THIS SUMMER.
ANY DELAY IN GETTING THAT
RECRUITMENT -- THAT CEO BROUGHT
IN TO SUMMER, THEN DELAYS OUR
ABILITY TO SUPPORT THAT CEO'S
STAFFING PLAN WITH BUDGET IN
2021.
SO THERE'S A REALLY SHORT
WINDOW HERE FOR US TO BRING THE
RIGHT PERSON ON BOARD.
BUT WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO
ENSURE THAT WE CAN GET THE
RIGHT FIRM IN PLACE WHO CAN
HIRE THAT CEO.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY
LAST COMMENTS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, I JUST
WANTED TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ'S COMMENTS AND THANK
JEFF, TESS, TRACY, AND ALL THE
COLLEAGUES AT KING COUNTY SUN
COUNCIL FOR YOUR FAST WORK TO
GET THIS DONE.
IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO WATCH YOU
WORK.
AND I KNOW IT WAS NO SMALL
EFFORT.
SO THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND
DIRECTOR JOHNSON AS WELL.
>> CAN I MAKE A REQUEST.
THIS IS IT.
AND YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME ON
THIS.
BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR
REVIEWING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE AUTHORITY.
IT DOES SAY IN HERE, OR IT
DOESN'T SAY.
BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT THE
GOVERNING COMMITTEE WILL
APPROVE PERFORMANCE METRICS.
SO I'D JUST LIKE A LITTLE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE
DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE AUTHORITY ITSELF.
AND HOW THOSE -- WHAT HAPPENS
IF THOSE GOALS AREN'T BEING
MET.
HOW DO WE COURSE CORRECT?
WHAT'S THE PLAN OF ACTION FOR
THAT?
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW WE WILL PROCEED TO ITEM
TWO.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE TEXT
OF THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE PRESENTERS
ON THIS.
I THINK WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THEM
JUST COME UP AT ONCE.
I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE.
MR. THORPE.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEM
INTO THE RECORD.
COUNCIL BILL 119656 ON
ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND USE
AND ZONING PROVIDING
TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENTS ARE
ALLOWED ON ANY PROPERTY OWNED
OR CONTROLLED BY A RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATION WITHOUT APPROVAL
OF A PERMIT TO PERMIT
TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENTS FOR
HOME LEST INDIVIDUALS AS AN
INTERIM USE ON PUBLICLY OWNED
OR PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND PROVIDING FOR RENEWAL OF
TEMPORARY USE PERMITS AS A TYPE
ONE DECISION FOR THE DIRECTOR
OF THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
THANK YOU MR. THORPE.
ALL OF OUR PRESENTERS ARE STILL
MAKING THAT ARE WAY UP --
MAKING THEIR WAY UP.
I'LL BRIEFLY SAY, FIRST, I WANT
TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT.
I WANT TO GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER
SEWANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TO THE ORDINANCE NOW.
THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR THEIR PATIENCE IN GETTING
TO THIS ITEM AS WELL.
>> IT'S FINE IF YOU WANT TO DO
INTRODUCTIONS BEFORE I SPEAK.
>> I THINK WE'RE JOINED AT THE
TABLE BY OUR PRESENTERS.
SO I GUESS STARTING WITH MR.
FREEMAN, WE'LL JUST GO ALONG
AND HAVE FOLKS STATE THEIR NAME
AND WHERE THEY WORK.
>> FREEMAN, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, ARE WE WORKING HERE?
YEAH.
I'M PETER STEINBROOK, COCHAIR
OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST SEA PORT
ALLIANCE.
>> SHARON LEE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE.
>> MY NAME IS JOSEPH, I'M A
CONSUMER OF THE SERVICES OF
SEATTLE CITY.
I WAS HOMELESS FOR MANY YEARS
HERE.
AND NOW I HAVE BEEN STABLE IN
HOUSING FOR THE PAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US HERE
TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEINBROOK.
IN PARTICULAR.
IN CASE WE NEED YOU TO FILL OUT
THE QUORUM.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE MIGHT MISS A
COUPLE MEMBERS AND NEED TO GET
UP TO FIVE.
WE'LL TAG YOU BACK IN.
THAT WILL BE COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
WOULDN'T IT?
>> OH YEAH, FORMER COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, PETER STEINBROOK.
WE'LL BACK TO THAT SIDE OF THE
TABLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CHAIR LEWIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR SCHEDULING
THIS IN YOUR FIRST COMMITTEE
SELECT COMMITTEE OF
HOMELESSNESS THAT YOU'RE
CHAIRING.
I THINK MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND ALSO IN COMMON COUNCIL
MEMBERS HAVE HEARD MUCH
ELOQUENT TESTIMONY ABOUT THE
ROLE THAT'S BEING PLAYED BY
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES IN THIS
UNPRECEDENTED AND AGING
HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS THAT OUR CITY
AND REGION IS FACING.
SOME OF THAT TESTIMONY WAS HARD
TODAY.
BUT I WANTED TO ALSO ADD WHERE
WE'VE COME.
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT CITY
AUTHORIZED ENCAMPMENTS, MANY
YEARS AGO BEFORE I WAS SUDDENLY
IN CITY HALL AND OTHERS ALSO.
BUT IT WAS IN THE 2014
DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD THAT WAS
MY FIRST YEAR IN CITY HALL,
THROUGH THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
MOVEMENT.
HOW CAN WE GET AUTHORIZED
ENCAMPMENTS.
AND CITY FUNDED ENCAMPMENTS.
AND WHAT A LONG WAY WE'VE COME.
ESPECIALLY I THINK IN TERMS OF
PUBLIC OPINION.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
CRITERIA TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
THERE'S TREMENDOUS PUBLIC
SUPPORT.
I DON'T HAVE A RANDOMIZED POLL.
BUT I KNOW IT'S SHIFTED
TREMENDOUSLY.
AND IN A POSITIVE WAY.
CONTRARY TO THE WHOLE STORIES
TOLD BY SAFE SEATTLE AND SPEAK
OUT SEATTLE.
I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE, HOUSED PEOPLE
ARE WELCOMING HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS AND RECOGNIZING THIS
CRISIS IS TOUCHING VIRTUALLY
EVERY PERSON.
I HARDLY KNOW ANYONE WHO HASN'T
EXPERIENCED IT THEMSELVES OR
KNOW SOMEBODY PERSONALLY WHO'S
EXPERIENCED IT.
ANDS A TESTIMONY TO HOW STRONG
THAT PUBLIC PUBLIC OPINION IS.
WHEN MAYOR DIRKEN DECIDED THEY
WERE GOING TO GO AHEAD, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS GOING TO
EVICT THE NORTH LAKE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF
WINTER.
WE, MY OFFICE ALONGSIDE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SET UP A
PETITION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T --
WE THOUGHT IT WAS
UNCONSCIONABLE.
BUT IN 30 HOURS, WE HAD 2,000
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGN THE
PETITION.
WE DO A HOT OF ORGANIZING
THROUGH MY OFFICE.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE
COMING TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE NORTH LAKE VILLAGE.
AND THEN WE FORCED THE MAYOR TO
BACK DOWN ON WHAT WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FRAME WHAT THE
INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION IS.
AND ALSO JUST QUICKLY GIVE A
SUMMARY OF THE STEPS THAT WE
HAVE ALL READY TAKEN TO COME TO
THIS POINT.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AS MANY
HAVE SAID IN SEATTLE HAVE BEEN
PERHAPS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE FACING
HOMELESSNESS.
THAT THEY PROVIDE PRIVACY,
SAFETY, AND A PLACE TO STORE
YOUR BELONGINGS.
MANY HAVE SELF MANAGEMENT WHERE
RESIDENTS ARE ARE IN POWER TO
DEMOCRATICALLY RUN THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND EVEN BASED ON
THE METRIC OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT IS
TRACKING TRANSITIONS TO LONG-
TERM HOUSING, SEATTLE'S TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES ARE FAR MORE
SUCCESSFUL THAN THE ENHANCED
SHELTERS.
AND WE KNOW, THIS ISN'T ALWAYS
THE BEST MEASURE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING TO GO AROUND.
EVEN BY THAT MEASURE, THIS IS A
REMARKABLE SUCCESS.
THEY HAVE THE BEST TRACK RECORD
OF HELPING PEOPLE FIND LONG-
TERM HOUSING.
AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE BEST
TRACK RECORD OF PROVIDING
DECENT AND HUMANE CONDITIONS IN
THE INTERIM.
AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE
MAIN CONVERSATION HAS TO BE
ABOUT RAISING PROGRESSIVE
REVENUES BY TAXING BIG BUSINESS
TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THE
MARKET IS NOT PROVIDING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CANNOT
IGNORE THE FACT THAT TODAY
PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AND TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES ARE PROVIDING
THAT LIFELINE.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE LEFT ON THE
STREETS WITH NOWHERE TO GO.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES CAN BE
BUILT QUICKLY AND INEXPENSIVE
HI.
WE HAD A VOLUNTEER CARPENTER.
THERE SHOULD BE A TINY HOUSE
FOR ANYBODY WITH NOWHERE ELSE
BETTER TO GO.
IT'S A WAY TO MAKE IT LESS
HARMFUL.
WHICH HAS TO DO WITH WHY THE
TRANSITION TO LONG-TERM HOUSING
ARE BETTER.
AND ONE OF THE EDITS TO THE
EXISTING AUDIENCE IS THAT THE
CURRENT ORDINANCE EXPIRES AT
THE END OF MARCH.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CHANGE
WE WANT TO MAKE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
NEW LEGISLATION, THE UPDATED
ORDINANCE ALLOWS VILLAGES TO
CONTINUE TO RENEW THEIR PERMITS
AS LONG AS IT'S JUSTIFY.
ALLOW 40 VILLAGES IN THE CITY
USING THIS PERMIT.
KEEPING IN MIND VILLAGES WILL
NOT JUST SPRING UP BECAUSE THIS
LEGISLATION GOT PASSED.
WE NEED FUNDING TO GO WITH IT.
BUT AT HE'S IT MAKES SURE THAT
THEY CAN BE LOCATED IF WE CAN
FIND FUNDING FOR THEM.
AND THEN ON THE WHOLE, YOU
KNOW, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE
ORDINANCE -- THE NEW ORDINANCE,
IF PASSED WILL STILL MEAN THAT
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES NEED
PERMITS, PERMIT APPLICATIONS
NEED TO BE REASONABLE.
THIS LEGISLATION IS SIMPLY
ABOUT ELIMINATING BLANKET
PROHIBITIONS ON THE CITING OF
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AND THE
LONGEVITY OF THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES WHICH WE FEEL SHOULD
BE BASED ON THE NEEDS OF OUR
CITY.
SO WE PUBLISHED THIS
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE IN
AUGUST LAST YEAR.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE HELD SEVERAL
COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS ON IT IN
MY COMMITTEE LAST YEAR.
AND NOW WE'RE HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION IN COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS' COMMITTEE.
WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING LAST
YEAR WHICH INCLUDED POWERFUL
TESTIMONIALS FROM TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE RESIDENTS.
SOME OF THEM SPOKE TODAY.
AND WE COMPLETED THE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIRED
FOR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS UNDER THE
STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ACT.
AND SO ALL THAT REMAINS IS FOR
US TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION AND THEN VOTE ON THE
LEGISLATION.
I HOPE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS
FIND THEMSELVES PREPARED TO
VOTE THE DAY.
BUT IF NOT, THEN I WOULD HOPE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND I WANT TO REITERATE THAT MY
OFFICE, BOTH MY STAFF AND I
PERSONALLY ARE AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBER SEWANT.
AND MR. FREEMAN, I WANT TO GIVE
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP IN
IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT
TO ADD AS THE CENTRAL STAFF
WORKING ON THIS.
BUT BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO
OUR PRESENTERS.
>> I'LL COMMEND TO YOUR
ATTENTION THE JANUARY 20th
MEMO.
PROVIDING BACKGROUND
INFORMATION ON THE THREE
REGULATORY PROCESSES BY WHICH A
TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENT CAN BE
PERMITTED IN THE CITY.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE CITY'S
REGULATORY REGIME FOR
TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENTS WHICH
IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS BILL
WOULD DO.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED THE
BILL WOULD MODIFY REGULATIONS
AND PROCEDURES FOR INTERIM USE
ENCAMPMENTS AND ENCAMPMENTS
ESTABLISHED THROUGH TEMPORARY
USE AND ACCESSORY TO RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS.
MOST OF THE CHANGES ARE FOR
INTERIM USE ENCAMPMENTS, IT
WOULD MODIFY LOCATIONAL
CRITERIA FOR THE ENCAMPMENTS
AND EXPAND LOCATIONS IN THE
CITY WHERE THEY COULD BE
LOCATED.
AND DO AWAY WITH CRITERIA THAT
WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY AND IT
RAISES THE MAXIMUM NUMBER THAT
COULD BE ESTABLISHED IN THE
CITY FROM 3 TO 40.
AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED
WHEN THE COUNCIL FIRST
ESTABLISHED THE INTERIM YOUTH'S
PATHWAY FOR PERMITTING
TRANSITIONAL YOUTH ENCAMPMENTS,
THAT WAS DONE IN 2015 THROUGH
ORDINANCE 124747 AND THAT
ORDINANCE HAS A SUNSET
PROVISION IN IT WHICH WOULD
MAKE IT SUCH THAT THE INTERIM
USE PATHWAY WOULD EXPIRE MARCH
31st OF THIS YEAR.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
AND THERE WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLLOW UP
QUESTIONS.
I WOULD ASK MAYBE AFTER ALL OF
OUR PRESENTERS PRESENT, JUST TO
KIND OF FLAG A ROAD MAP ON THIS
ORDINANCE.
IT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
AT LENGTH WITH A NUMBER OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND COUNCIL MEMBER
SEWANT AND JUST KIND OF TALKING
ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, THE
HISTORY OF IT.
THE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES THAT IT
WILL MAKE TO THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.
MY INTENT AT THIS TIME WOULD BE
TO STRIVE TO HONOR THE DEADLINE
FOR THE SUNSET THAT HAS BEEN
LAID OUT BY BOTH COUNCIL MEMBER
SEWANT AND MR. FREEMAN FROM
CENTRAL STAFF AND TO -- EVEN
THOUGH OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING IS ON FEBRUARY 26th.
TO HOLD A SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MEETING SOME TIME IN THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS TO ALLOW THIS
CONVERSATION TO SINK IN WITH
EVERYBODY TO GIVE PEOPLE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS AS WE HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.
I WOULD JUST ASK AS A COURTESY
TO CENTRAL STAFF THAT FOLKS
CONSIDERING AMENDMENTS PLEASE
GIVE MR. FREEMAN PLENTY OF TIME
TO WORK ON THEM EARLY AND
DISTRIBUTE THEM SO WE CAN BE
PREPARED FOR THAT NEXT COUNCIL
MEETING TO POSSIBLY TAKE
ACTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THAT
DEADLINE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE -- THAT FOLKS CAN RELY ON
IT AND WE'RE NOT IN A PLACE
WHERE A LOT OF THESE
ENCAMPMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL BY A LOT OF METRICS
WILL BE DISPLACED OR PUT IN
JEOPARDY POTENTIALLY.
SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO TURN IT
OVER TO PORT OF SEATTLE
COMMISSIONER, PETER STEINBROOK.
JUST BY WAY OF A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND.
WHY IS THE PORT COMMISSIONER
HERE?
ONE OF MY FAVORITE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IS
ONE OF THE ONES LOCATED IN
DISTRICT SEVEN.
LOCATED NEAR MY APARTMENT IN
UPTOWN IN INNER BAY.
I KNOW A LOT OF THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED AND THE GOVERNING
BOARD THERE.
I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED BY IT.
I BELIEVE THE PORT OF SEATTLE
AS WELL.
AND I WANT TO CALL COMMISSIONER
STEINBROOK TO TALK ABOUT THE
PORT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT
COMMUNITY AND I'LL HAND IT OVER
TO YOU.
>> OKAY, WELL, CHAIRMAN, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PROVIDING THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PROACTIVE
EFFORTS IN SPONSORING THE
ORDINANCE AS WELL.
AND SPEAKING TO THE CORE ISSUES
OF WHY WE HAVE AN EPIDEMIC
CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK
ANECDOTE.
I WAS THINKING AS WE WERE
TALKING HERE ABOUT MY OWN
EXPERIENCE WORKING ON
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING.
ONE OF THE FIRST ASSIGNMENTS I
RECEIVED LIKE MR. LEWIS HERE,
LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS WAS
TO CHAIR THE HOUSING HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE IN 1997.
LISA REMEMBERS THAT.
I WAS SO PLEASED TO HAVE THAT
COMMITTEE.
BECAUSE FOR ME, IT CUT TO THE
CORE OF WHAT WAS OUR PARAMOUNT
DUTY, THE HUMAN CONDITION.
YET, IT WASN'T EASY.
AND I LEARNED THAT MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES.
NOT TO POINT FINGERS AT
ANYBODY.
BUT WERE SOMEWHAT INDIFFERENT
AND SAW IT AS MONEY DOWN A RAT
HOLE TO TRY TO REDUCE THE
SITUATION TO REDUCE
HOMELESSNESS.
MONEY DOWN A RAT HOLE I
REMEMBER ONE COUNCIL MEMBER
CALLING IT THAT.
SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE
THEN.
DURING THAT TIME, I WORKED TO
REDUCE HOMELESSNESS THROUGH
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION.
RENT SUPPORT.
FIGHTING FOR MORE MONEY.
BACK THEN, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
A LOT TODAY.
BUT FIGHTING FOR MORE MONEY
BECAUSE IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT
THERE WAS NO WAY WE WERE GOING
TO REALLY TACKLE THE PROBLEM
WITH SOLUTIONS THAT WERE
ENDURING WITHOUT MORE MONEY.
WE WORK TO WRITE THE FIRST CITY
RULES TO LEGITIMATE TENT CITIES
AND DECRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS.
WHICH HAD BEEN MANY OF THE
THINGS CONSIDERED CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY.
LOTS OF EXPERIENCE BACK THEN.
THE STRATEGIC RESPONSE WAS TO
RAMP UP PROACTIVELY THE CITY
EFFORTS.
WE HAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS COMING FROM THE REED
TAX THIS INCREDIBLE PROSPERITY
THE CITY WAS EXPERIENCING THEN.
SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE
THEN.
WE'RE FAR DEEPER INTO THE
CRISIS THAN WE WERE THEN.
WHICH IS THE MOST DISHEARTENING
THING FOR ME TO SEE.
AFTER ALL THESE EFFORTS OVER
THE YEARS.
THE POSITIVE THINGS ARE SEEING
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL
-- EXCUSE ME, KING COUNTY
COUNCIL AND THE STATE START TO
ALIGN.
THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME
THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT THAT
HAS EVER MOVED IN THAT
DIRECTION.
AND I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
THOSE EFFORTS TO SEE GREATER
ALIGNMENT AND MORE RESOURCES
COMING FROM OUR ENTIRE REGIONAL
PARTNERS HERE.
BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN IT
TOGETHER.
AND SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT,
I'M REALLY HERE TO OFFER MY
STRONGEST SUPPORT FOR THE MODEL
OF TENT CITIES -- EXCUSE ME,
THE MODEL OF LITTLE TINY HOUSES
AS A PROVEN SUCCESSFUL APPROACH
TO LEADING PEOPLE OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS AND INTO A
PERMANENT STABLE CONDITIONS.
AND I WANT TO SHARE THE PORT'S
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
AS THE LEASEHOLDER OF THE INNER
BAY SAFE HARBOR VILLAGE.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE, AND SHARON
AND I GO WAY BACK, THE MANY
FAITH BATHE ORGANIZATIONS WHO
HAVE BEEN YO WOMAN'S WORK FOR
MANY YEARS.
THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF
THE INNER BAY VILLAGE TOGETHER
HAVE ALL BEEN INCREDIBLE.
AND I MIGHT ADD THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES.
AND I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR
COMMENT ABOUT THE PROACTIVE
SUPPORT YES IN MY BACKYARD.
THAT WASN'T TRUE 20 PLUS YEARS
AGO.
IT WAS STRONGLY RESISTED ALL
OVER THE CITY.
SO I THINK THE ATTITUDES HAVE
BEEN EVOLVING.
AND I THINK THE MODEL OF THE
TINY HOUSE HAS ACTUALLY TURNED
THIS AROUND SIGNIFICANT HI IN
TERMS OF PUBLIC PERSPECTIVES
AND COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES.
AND IT'S TURNED AROUND BECAUSE
THEY SEE ACTUAL POSITIVE
RESULTS.
THEY SEE CONDITIONS OF -- THAT
ARE MORE DECENT, SAFER, AND A
SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
IT'S CALLED THE INNER BAY
VILLAGE AFTER ALL.
AND IT IS A LITTLE VILLAGE.
AND WE MUSTN'T THINK OF IT AS A
PERMANENT SOLUTION.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A POSITIVE
MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND I THINK IT'S DRAWING
NATIONAL ATTENTION.
AND IT STARTED HERE IN SEATTLE
I THINK WITH THE MANY EFFORTS
INVOLVED SO THE NAME ALONE
SPEAKS TO THE SENSE OF PLACE,
COMMUNITY FROM THE START.
AND WE'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO
HAVE ON OUR STAFF, NICK SCHULTZ
ON THE PORT CLOSELY INVOLVED
WITH WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, THE INNER BAY VILLAGE,
AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE
ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT MAY COME
UP AND CONCERNS AND ALL OF
THAT.
SO WE HAVE A, LIAISON THERE AS
WELL TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.
WHEN THE PORT WAS FIRST
APPROACHED IN 2017 BY THE INNER
BAY MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY TO
CONSIDER LEASING PROPERTY TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR A TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE.
IT CAME FROM EARLY EFFORTS FROM
THE COMMUNITY.
WE WORKED WITH THE CITY TO
INITIATE A ROBUST OUTREACH
EFFORT WITH THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY THAT INCLUDED
CONNECTING WITH 25 NEARBY
BUSINESSES.
ONE OF OUR OWN STAFF, VERONICA
VALDEZ WAS OUT ON THE STREET
KNOCKING ON DOORS TO SURVEY THE
BUSINESS RESPONSE TO THIS IDEA.
THE PARTNERSHIP ONLY GREW AND
STRENGTHENED OVER TIME.
AS MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES
HAVE DONATED FOOD, CLOTHING,
AND SUPPLIES TO THE VILLAGE.
HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A TURN
AROUND?
MY GOSH.
THAT'S BRINGING ALL THE
RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY TO
BEAR AS WE SHOULD BE.
IN NOVEMBER 2017, THE PORT OF
SEATTLE COMMISSION VOTED TO
APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR
TWO YEARS.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY,
THIS PAST SUMMER, WE EXTENDED
THAT LEASE BY AN ADDITIONAL
YEAR THROUGH 2020.
I WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THE
PORT COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY
VOTED IN SUPPORT OF DOING SO.
IN OCTOBER 8, 2019 AT A MEETING
ON OCTOBER 8, 2019.
AT THE PORT, WE REWROTE OUR
CORE MISSION STATEMENT TO
INCLUDE QUALITY OF LIFE.
WHILE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS
CENTRAL TO OUR COMMISSION AS A
SPECIAL PURPOSE GOVERNMENT.
THE QUALITY OF HIGH OF KING
COUNTY RESIDENTS CUTS TO THE
CORE.
AND IT SPEAKS TO OUR CLOSELY
HELD VALUES AND SHARED VALUES
OF MAKING THIS TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE POSSIBLE ON PORT
PROPERTY.
WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BE A
RESPONSIBLE NEIGHBOR AND A GOOD
STEWARD.
PORT DISTRICTS HAVE BROAD
AUTHORITY AS YOU KNOW TO LEASE
LAND FOR SUCH PURPOSES AND ON
SUCH TERMS AS THE PORT DEALS
PROPER.
WHICH SUPPORTS THIS LEASE TO
THE CITY FOR THE CITY'S
HOMELESS PROGRAM.
AS A SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT
HOWEVER, YOU MAY KNOW THERE ARE
LIMITS ON THE PORT'S AUTHORITY
TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE PROACTIVE
ROLE IN THE DEVELOPING,
OPERATING, AND OWNING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE AS A
GUEST FOR A TOUR, I'D HIGHLY
ENCOURAGE IT.
IT WAS AN EYE OPENER FOR ME TO
SAY THE LEAST.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THE
TIME WITH THE RESIDENTS
SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THEM.
AND STAFF AND THE TIME AND
ATTENTION THAT THE STAFF IS
GIVING TO THE WELFARE OF THE
RESIDENTS.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT SEEING IS
BELIEVING.
AND WHEN YOU'RE THERE, YOU FEEL
A STRONG SENSE OF PRIDE,
DIGNITY, AND HOPE.
EACH OF THESE QUALITIES ARE
ESSENTIAL TO THE WAY YOU'RE
ABLE TO SEE RESIDENTS TO BE
EMPOWERED WITH THE HELP AND
SUPPORT THEY NEED AND DESERVE.
WE WILL NEVER END HOMELESSNESS
UNTIL WE HAVE RETURNED TO A
PLACE OF DIGNITY.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE -- MAYBE
THE INTANGIBLES OF THIS
EXPERIENCE WITH THE LITTLE
HOUSES IS RESTORING A SENSE OF
HUMAN DIGNITY.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOSE IT, IT'S
ALL LOST.
WHEN YOU'VE LOST YOUR DIGNITY,
THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT THAT'S
LEFT THERE.
AND THIS MODEL I THINK STRONGLY
SUPPORTS THAT ASPECT OF HUMAN
NEED.
AND SURVIVAL.
SINCE THE VILLAGE OPENED ITS
DOORS WE'VE SEEN ASTONISHING
CHANGES IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SUCH AS MOVING PEOPLE'S
FAMILIES FROM UNCLEAN AND
UNSANITARY PLACES TO 45 UNITS
OF WARM AND SAFE SPACE,
MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE, COMANAGED
RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO
RUNNING WATER, SHOWERS, KITCHEN
SINKS AND OTHER AMENITIES ON
SITE.
THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO SURVIVAL.
EVERYDAY AND EVERY NIGHT AT THE
VILLAGE, THERE'S A PROGRAM
MANAGER.
AND DURING THE DAY, TWO CASE
MANAGERS TO SUPPORT THE VILLAGE
RESIDENTS.
THIS IS A NOTION OF HOUSING
FIRST PLUS SERVICES.
IN ORDER TO STABILIZE PEOPLE'S
LIVES.
AND THE PRIMARY -- PEOPLE ARE
ARE ALWAYS QUESTIONING WHY SO
MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE?
WELL, THEY'VE GOT MENTAL
ILLNESS.
THEY'VE GOT DRUG ADDICTION.
YOU KNOW, THIS AND THAT.
WELL, THE SIMPLE FACT IS ONE
COMMON DENOMINATOR THERE IS
THEY'RE ALL POOR.
AND THAT CUTS ACROSS THE WHOLE
SPECTRUM.
WHY ARE THEY POOR?
WE CAN SPEAK TO THAT IN ANOTHER
CONVERSATION.
BUT THE INCOME DISPARITY AND
POVERTY MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT
DRIVES PEOPLE INTO HOMELESSNESS
AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.
THIS MODEL RESTORES STABILITY,
SAFETY, AND SECURITY, AND I
THINK AS I SAID, HUMAN DIGNITY
PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY.
TO DATE, MORE THAN 400
HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN SERVED
HERE.
THAT REALLY SPEAKS VOLUMES
ABOUT THE HOUSING FIRST
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES STRATEGY
FOR MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS.
AND I THINK I IMAGINE THIS IS A
WIDELY RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MODEL THAT
WE HAVE TODAY.
AND I WAS AN ADVISOR TO THE
NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOME
LESTNESS DURING MY COUNCIL
YEARS.
SO I LOOKED AT IT AS A NATIONAL
CRISIS WHICH I BELIEVE IT'S
GROWN TO BECOME EVEN MORE THAN
20 YEARS PAST.
INNER BAY VILLAGE MAINTAINED A
46% EXIT FOR RESIDENTS WHO
TRANSITIONED INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING COMPARED TO 4% EXIT
RATE FOR TRADITIONAL SHELTERS.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE VERY
IMPRESSIVE.
IN 2019, INNER BAY VILLAGE
PROVIDED SHELTER COMMUNITY TO
100 WOMEN AND MEN EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
IN ADDITION THE PORT RECEIVED
ALMOST NO COMPLAINTS FROM
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS OR FROM
WITHIN THE VILLAGE ITSELF.
IF AN ISSUE DOES OCCUR, THE
PORT IS NOTIFIED BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP THERE.
THE CITY HAS NO VIOLATIONS ON
THE LEASE AGREEMENT.
AT THE PORT WE COORDINATE WITH
ORGANIZATIONS IN CONJUNCTION
WITH OPERATORS AND CASE
MANAGERS SUPPORTED BY THE CITY
AND COMMUNITY TO ESTABLISH WHAT
WAS CREATED THERE.
THE UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP HAS
CREATED A NATIONAL MODEL
SPEARHEADED BY OTHER PROJECTS
AND CITIES ALL AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
SHARON LEE'S PHONE IS RINGING
OFF THE LOOK FROM AROUND OUR
REGION AND NATIONALLY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND ADDRESSING THE
HOMELESS CRISIS AND FURTHER
CONTRIBUTING TO THE QUALITY OF
LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS BY
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, EXCUSE
ME, THAT'S ME.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M ALWAYS DOING THAT.
I'M ALWAYS REVERSING THOSE
THINGS AND MAYOR DIRKEN FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING
THIS JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH US.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE
COMMUNITY IN MAKING PLACES LIKE
THIS POSSIBLE FOR OUR
RESIDENTS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
STEINBROOK.
SHARON.
>> SORRY?
>> I'M GOING TO SPEAK NEXT.
>> OF COURSE, YES, SIR, PLEASE.
.
>> MY NAME IS PANDA.
MY FRIENDS KNOW ME AS PANDA.
I'VE BEEN ON THE STREETS LIVING
HERE IN SEATTLE FUR OR FIVE
YEARS.
I WAS IN TENT CITY DRIVE WHEN I
GOT THE NEWS THAT WE WERE
CHANGING.
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE HOUSES.
WE WEREN'T GOING TO LIVE IN
COLD, WET, LEAKING TENTS THAT
WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS WHICH IS
WHAT MOST PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
LIVE IN.
AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH
SWEEPS COME THROUGH AND TAKING
EVERYTHING FROM THEM.
AND THEN THEY HAVE NOTHING.
BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK OF
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
BECAUSE I LIVED IN THE
ENCAMPMENT FOR 18 MONTHS.
I'VE BEEN IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
FOR OVER -- ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
AND MY EXPERIENCE WHEN LIVING
IN THE VILLAGE WAS, YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY ON THE STREITS, WE
ALL FEEL ALONE.
WE FEEL LIKE WE LIVE IN A
BROKEN SOCIETY.
THAT JUST LEAVES US IN THE
GUTTER.
BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CARE.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS INTERESTED
IN MONEY.
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE -- I WAS
EXPLAINING TO SOMEONE IN PAST
YOU SEE, WHY IS THERE SO MANY
PEOPLE HOMELESS?
WHAT'S THE REASON?
EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE HAS A
DIFFERENT REASON FOR BEING
HOMELESS.
YOU CAN'T PIN IT ON SUBSTANCE
ABUSE, MENTAL ILLNESS, SOCIETAL
NORMS.
YOU CAN'T PUT THOSE
RESTRICTIONS AND SAY THAT
THAT'S THE CAUSE OF IT.
BECAUSE THERE'S MANY MORE
CAUSES THAT WHAT WE ARE EVEN
AWARE OF.
LIVING IN THAT ENCAMPMENT
ALLOWED ME TO REACH OUT TO
OTHERS.
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PLIGHT
WAS.
HOW THEY GOT ON THE STREETS.
WHAT THEY WERE LIVING THROUGH.
IT WAS A WAY FOR US TO BOND AND
COME OUT OF THAT HIDING THAT WE
DO WHEN WE'RE ON THE STREET,
LIVING ON THE STREETS.
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE
INFLICTED WITH SOMEBODY'S BAD
WORDS ABOUT OUR STANDARDS OF
OUR LIVING.
WHEN IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT WE
HAVE TO LIVE THE WAY THAT WE
DID WHEN WE DID.
SO I FOUND THAT WHEN WE MOVED
INTO A VILLAGE AND EVERYBODY
GOT ASSIGNED TO A HOUSE AND WE
STARTED DOING OUR OWN
SECURITIES AND MANAGING OUR OWN
ENCAMPMENT IN THE WAY THAT WE
PERFORMED OUR DUTIES AND
PERFORMED OUTREACH SERVICES TO
THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I
LISTENED TO THE PORT
COMMISSIONERS AND WENT TO THAT
MEETING LAST YEAR AND IT WAS
SURPRISING TO HEAR BECAUSE WHEN
WE MOVED INTO THAT COMMUNITY,
WE HAD A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT
DIDN'T WANT US THERE.
AND THEN AFTER BEING THERE FOR
A YEAR, AND WE GO TO THE
MEETING AND THEN THE PORT SAYS
NO, WE HAD THREE OR FOUR OF
THOSE BUSINESSES THAT SAID NO
BEFORE.
BUT NOW THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO
LEAVE.
BECAUSE WE DID -- WE PICKED UP
TRASH.
WE DID OUTREACH TO CONTROL THE
PROBLEMS FOR CITIZENS IN THE
REGION.
THE OTHER THING THAT WORKED
WELL IN THE VILLAGE WAS THE
CAC.
WE BECAME MORE INVOLVED IN THE
GREATER COMMUNITY AROUND US TO
BECOME PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.
IN A SENSE THAT WE GOT TOGETHER
ON A WEEK HI BASIS AND DECIDED
WHAT WE WERE DOING TO MAKE OUR
COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE IN FOR OURSELVES.
WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO TO GET OUT
IF THE STREETS TO MAKE SURE WE
WERE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS TO
FIND HOUSING, TO FIND MEDICAL
CARE.
TO FIND ALL THOSE SERVICES THAT
SOMEHOW WAS A STARTING SPOT,
THE VILLAGE WAS.
BECAUSE WE STARTED TO CHANGE
AND BECOME BACK INTO A NORMAL
FEELING OF BELONGING AND
BECOMING PART OF SOCIETY AGAIN.
I KNOW FOR MYSELF, SPEAKING FOR
MYSELF, IT WAS VERY HARD TO
TRANSITION INTO THAT.
BECAUSE I LIVED SO LONG ON THE
STREETS AND IN MY OWN MIND, AND
NOT OPEN AND ACCEPTABLE TO
ANYONE ELSE AND THEIR THOUGHTS
OF FOR ONE, WHY?
WHAT COULD BE DONE?
HOW COULD WE HELP?
THOSE WERE ALL KEY ELEMENTS.
AND THE CAC INVOLVEMENT PUTS US
ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS WITH
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY,
THE CITY, BUSINESSES,
CHURCHES, TO WHERE WE CAN
PARTICIPATE WITH THEM AND THEY
UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS AND WANTS.
AND FOLLOW THROUGH AND HELP
MAKE THAT BECOME A REALITY.
THAT WAS THE OTHER THING LIVING
IN THE VILLAGE WAS THAT WE
CREATED OUR OWN REALITY.
AND I KNOW I WANTED HOUSING.
I KNOW IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO
GET HOUSING.
TO GET SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
I HAD A LITTLE SOCIAL SECURITY
MONEY.
I SPENT IT AS BEST AS I COULD
SO WHEN I GOT INTO HOUSING I
WOULDN'T HAVE ANY NEEDS.
THAT'S NOT A TYPICAL STORY FOR
THOSE OUT THERE.
THERE'S OTHERS OUT THERE WITH
NO FUNDING, NO MONEY, BUT THEY
NEED THE CHANNELS AND THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE
MEDICAL HELP THAT THEY NEED, TO
GET THE MENTAL HELP THEY NEED.
TO GET THE SOCIAL COUNSELING,
TO GET THE DRUG ABUSE
COUNSELING, ALL THE OTHER NEEDS
THAT ARE THERE.
IF WE DON'T ADDRESS ANY OF
THOSE NEEDS, THEN WE GO BACK
INTO HOMELESSNESS AGAIN.
I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAS
THEIR HOUSING BECAUSE OF
SOMETHING THAT WASN'T
ADDRESSED, FIXED, WORKED ON, IN
ORDER TO MAKE PEOPLE
SUSTAINABLE TO STAY INTO
HOUSING.
I WAS VERY THANKFUL TO BE THERE
AND BE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.
I KNOW PERSONALLY I GAVE TOURS
TO PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT
CITIES, COUNTIES, STATES, AND
COUNTRIES, AND NATIONS FROM
AROUND THIS PLANET.
ON THE CONSTANT BASIS, DAILY
SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE TIMES A
DAY, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT
IS GOING ON HERE?
HOW DO YOU DO THIS?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
AND SO JUST LEADING TOURS AND
HELPING PEOPLE BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE PROCESS
THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE SELF
MANAGED VILLAGE THAT WAS
SANCTIONED BY THE CITY WAS
VERY, VERY HELPFUL IN THE SENSE
THAT IT HELPED ME FEEL MORE
LIKE A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF
SOCIETY AGAIN.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, AND TAKE A
MOMENT TO THANK THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE
PORT AUTHORITY, KING COUNTY,
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, LEHI,
ALL THE OTHER GRASS ROOTS
ORGANIZATIONS, ALL THE CACs
FROM THE LOCAL AREAS FOR EACH
COMMUNITY VILLAGE AND THEN AS
WELL AS THE CHURCHES AND THE
INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS OF SEATTLE
WHO TAKE THEIR TIME TO GO AND
VISIT THESE ENCAMPMENTS AND SAY
HEY, WHAT IS IT YOU NEED?
WHAT IS IT YOU HAVE A WANT FOR?
THAT ALONE BUILDS SUCH STRENGTH
AND DEVELOPMENT OF BEING A
HUMAN BEING AND FEELING LIKE
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S
SOME COMPASSION HERE.
BECAUSE OF THE YEARS -- I'M 58.
I'VE BEEN HOMELESS 23 YEARS OF
THOSE YEARS.
THIS LAST STRETCH WAS NINE
YEARS.
AND I'M VERY THANKFUL -- LIKE I
SAID, I'VE BEEN IN SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW,
AND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY
I'LL EVER LEAVE.
BECAUSE I'M TAKING CARE OF
EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE
TAKEN CARE OF.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT YET I'M ALSO PARTICIPATING
AND TRYING TO HELP MAKE A
BETTER THING FOR THE FUTURE.
NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER FOR THIS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF US IN OUR OWN INPUT IN
HOW WE CAN DO TO HELP CHANGE
THIS INTO A BETTER WAY FOR THE
FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
I JUST APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT
YOU'VE GIVEN ME TO SPEAK.
>> PANDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING HERE AND SHARING THAT
WITH US AS A COMMITTEE.
AND FOR THAT MATTER TOO, THE
FOLKS THAT DID PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT EARLIER WHO ALSO HI IN
SOME OF THESE -- LIVE IN SOME
OF THESE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AS
A COUNCIL WE LOOK AT A LOT OF
THESE POLICIES AND PERCENTAGES
ABOUT EXIT RATES AND
PERCENTAGES ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS
AND I THINK WE FORGET SOMETIMES
THAT THESE AREN'T STATISTICS.
YOU'RE NOT A STATISTIC, YOU'RE
PERSON.
EVERYONE THAT HAD PUBLIC
COMMENT EARLIER IS A PERSON.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
COMING AND SHARING THAT STORY.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE
TODAY.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO SHARON.
OVER TO YOU.
>> YES, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY,
PANDA TALKED ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES
THE CACs, AND ONE THING THAT'S
REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE PROPOSED
BILL IS THAT IT DOES REQUIRE
FOUR NEW VILLAGES THAT THEY
HAVE A COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
CURRENTLY, THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEES INCLUDE SEVEN
STAKEHOLDERS.
AS WELL AS NEIGHBORING
COMMUNITY COUNCILS.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A
REQUIREMENT IN THE EXISTING
ORDINANCE THAT THERE BE FIVE TO
TEN PEOPLE AND THEY BASICALLY
MEET ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND
THEY PROVIDE ADVICE AND
FEEDBACK TO THE VILLAGE.
SO THAT'S A KEY PART OF THE
BILL.
JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION, IS
THERE NOT -- I THOUGHT THIS WAS
A CAC THAT'S ALL READY PART OF
THE LEGISLATION?
>> THAT'S A CURRENT
REQUIREMENT.
>> YES, BUT IT'S STAYING AND
POSSIBLY EXPANDING IN THE NEW
BILL.
SO IT ALLOWS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO
BE ADDED TO THE CAC.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANT
TO MENTION IS THAT THERE'S A
POWER POINT THAT WE PROPOSED
THAT WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN VIEW
THAT BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE SOME
PICTURES OF THE VILLAGES AND
SOME STATISTICS.
AND ALSO WE DO OFFER -- WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER A TOUR FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE
VILLAGES RECENTLY.
SO I THINK WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT
IS THAT WHEN THE INITIAL
ORDINANCE WAS PUT IN PLACE,
PEOPLE DID ENVISION AND THE
CITY FUNDED US TO HAVE TENTS ON
PLATFORMS.
AND SO THEY WERE LIMITED TO
LIKE THREE SANCTIONED TENT
ENCAMPMENTS.
BUT NOW THAT WE'VE TRANSITIONED
THEM TO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES,
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, LAST
YEAR, WE CONVERTED ALL THE
REMAINING TENTS.
THERE WERE SOME VILLAGES THAT
HAD TENTS AND TINY HOUSES.
AND WE CONVERTED -- WE HAD
PEOPLE DONATE AND BUILD TINY
HOUSES.
SO NOW WE'VE ELIMINATED THE --
YOU KNOW THE SMALL TENTS SO NOW
EVERYBODY HAS A TINY HOUSE.
SO WE ADDED 5 -- OVER 50 NEW
TINY HOUSES TO THE EXISTING
VILLAGES.
AND IN TERMS OF STATISTICS, I
DO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS.
LAST YEAR, WE SHELTERED 648.
CLOSE TO 650 PEOPLE IN THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES FUNDED BY THE
CITY.
AND SO WE WERE BASICALLY
HOUSING 20% OF THE UNSHELTERED
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE.
10% OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES WERE
CHILDREN.
SOME OF THE VILLAGES HAVE
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
SOME OF THEM HAVE ADULTS AND
COUPLES.
ONE IS FOR WOMEN ONLY.
ALL OF THEM HAVE ALLOWED PEOPLE
WITH PETS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A DIVERSE
MIX OF SENIORS, VETERANS,
PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND SO THERE'S
A LOT OF DIVERSITY AND
ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE IN THE
VARIOUS VILLAGES.
FOUR OF THE VILLAGES ARE SELF
MANAGED.
SELF GOVERNED.
THEY HAVE IN SOME CASE AS SITE
COORDINATOR THAT FACILITATES
RESIDENT PARTICIPATION,
DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING AND
THE OTHER FOUR ARE STAFFED 24/7
LIKE AN ENHANCED SHELTER.
AND AS YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE
VILLAGES ARE CLEAN AND SOBER.
SOME OF THEM ARE HARM
REDUCTION.
SO IT'S SORT OF LIKE WHAT PANDA
TALKED ABOUT.
THERE'S A DIVERSE NEED IN THE
COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT VILLAGES
DEPENDING ON PEOPLE'S
SITUATIONS AND WE'RE TAKING
PEOPLE FROM THE NAVIGATION TEAM
AND WITH THE COUNCIL'S
DIRECTION, I THINK WE'LL START
TAKING PEOPLE FROM LEAD AND OF
COURSE WE HAVE CHURCH REFERRALS
AND REFERRALS FROM LIKE THE
URBAN LEAGUE AND THE SEATTLE
INDIAN CENTER.
SO WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT A
TINY HOUSE IS THAT IT'S HEATED.
IT'S INSULATED.
AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTUALLY COMES
AND INSPECTS.
SO WE HAVE A SMOKE DETECTOR, A
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, FIRST AID
KITS.
BUT THIS IS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOHD'S EMPHASIS.
BUT WE CONVERTED THE PORT O
POTTIES INTO PLUMED TOILETS AND
SHOWERS.
AND WE HAVE LAUNDRY, RUNNING
HOT WATER IN KITCHENS.
WE HAVE REFRIGERATORS.
FREEZERS.
COFFEE MAKERS.
BREAD MAKING MACHINES.
I MEAN WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF
APPLIANCES THAT NEIGHBORS HAVE
DONATED TO US.
SO YOU SHOULD COME AND
EXPERIENCE THE VILLAGE.
AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE
ARE SHOWING THE LAST FIGURES
ARE ARE SHOWING THAT WE HAVE AN
EXIT RATE TO PERMANENT HOUSING
OF 40% FROM.
>> ARE YOU TALKING IN GENERAL?
>> I LOST TRACK BECAUSE I WAS
DISTRACTED.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ANY
SPECIFIC VILLAGE?
OR OVER ALL?
>> OVER ALL.
SO BASICALLY, THIRD QUARTER OF
LAST YEAR, THE ENHANCED
SHELTERS HAD AN EXIT RATE OF
23% TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
DURING THAT SAME PERIOD, THE
CITY FUNDED VILLAGES HAD AN
EXIT RATE TO PERMANENT HOUSING
OF 36%.
WHEN WE ADDED THE FOURTH
QUARTER FOR LAST YEAR, OUR EXIT
RATE TO PERMANENT HOUSING IS
40%.
AND THEN ANOTHER 15% TO TWO-
YEAR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING WITH
CASE MANAGEMENT.
ESSENTIALLY 55% EXIT RATE TO
LONG-TERM HOUSING.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TYPICALLY
HAS A SECTION 8. PEOPLE GET A
SECTION 8 AND THEY GET A CASE
MANAGER AND THEN THEY GET HELP
WITH EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING.
SO WE THINK THAT THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, WE HEAR FROM THE
NAVIGATION TEAM, WHERE PEOPLE
WHO ARE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN
THEIR CARS, LIVING ON THE
STREET, UNSHELTERED, THIS IS
THEIR PREFERENCE.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO A
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE OPPOSED TO A
DORMITORY OR A SHELLER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ARE YOU READY TO TRANSITION TO
QUESTIONS?
I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOUR
PRESENTATION.
BUT I'M SURE THAT -- I'M SURE
THERE'S QUESTIONS ON THE PANEL
HERE.
>> WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL.
LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL ADDED 2
MILLION FOR US TO EXPAND TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH THE HUMAN SERVICE
DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY TWO OR
THREE ADDITIONAL SITES FOR
VILLAGES.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET ONE IN
THE NORTH END AS WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO
MUCH EVERYONE WHO PRESENTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT, KID YOU
HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION
BEFORE I MOVE ON TO OTHER FOLKS
ON THE PANEL OR THE COMMITTEE
RATHER?
>> TWO QUICK OBSERVATIONS
FOLLOWING FROM SOME OF THE
POINTS THAT SHARON WAS MAKING.
SHARON NOTED THAT WE, AS A
COUNCIL LAST YEAR IN THE
BUDGET, WE APPROPRIATED AN
ADDITIONAL -- SLIGHTLY OVER 2
MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
AND I THINK WE ALSO IMPOSED, TO
YOUR POINT FOR PRIORITIZING THE
REFERRALS FROM THE NAVIGATION
TEAM TO THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
AND ALSO FROM THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION
PROGRAM.
AND ALSO IMPORTANTLY, WE -- IN
THE BUDGET THAT THE COUNCIL
APPROVED, WE REDUCED BY
APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION AN
APPROPRIATION TO RELOCATE I
WOULD SAY DISMANTLE TWO
ENCAMPMENTS WHICH DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE FOR ALL THE POINTS THAT
YOU ALL HAVE MADE.
AND ALL OF THAT I'M READING
FROM THE MEMO.
WHICH IS EXCELLENT.
AND THEN THE LAST POINT IS,
SHARON WAS REFERRING TO THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL'S
COMMITTEES -- COMMUNITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEES THE CACs.
THE BILL IN FRONT OF US --
EXISTING ORDINANCE SAYS NO MORE
THAN SEVEN MEMBERS.
THIS IS ON PAGE FOUR OF THE
VERSION ONE OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE IMPROVEMENT THAT SHARON WAS
REFERRING TO SAYS THE COMMITTEE
SHALL CONSIST OF NO FEWER THAN
FIVE AND NO MORE THAN TEN
MEMBERS.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS
STRENGTHENING IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOHD.
>> THANK YOU.
CHAIR, I WANT TO DIFFER TO HOW
YOU WOULD LIKE QUESTIONS TO BE
TAKEN.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR MISS
LEE.
BUT THEN I ALSO HAD A COUPLE
QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL STAFF.
SHOULD WE ALL ASK OUR QUESTIONS
OF MISS LEE FIRST?
>> SINCE YOU HAVE THE MIC, NOW,
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, VICE
CHAIR HERBOLD.
WHY NOT ASK ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
AT ONCE WHILE YOU HAVE THE MIC
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.
>> SO FOR MISS LEE, I HAVE TWO
QUESTIONS RELATED SPECIFICALLY
TO THE DATA.
I THINK I HEARD YOU GIVE AN
ECZEMA NATION FOR WHY IT IS ON
PAGE, WHAT IS IT, PAGE 24, THE
EXITS TO PERMANENT HOUSING WERE
34%.
BUT THEN ON PAGE 25, THE EXITS
TO HOUSING WERE 56%.
BOTH UNDER THE HEADING OF 2018
DATA.
I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT ADDING AN EXTRA
QUARTER IN OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
IF I DON'T NEED IT NOW, BUT IF
YOU COULD PROVIDE THE BACK-UP
INFORMATION AT A LATER DATE SO
I CAN ACTUALLY SEE HOW YOU GOT
TO THAT 56% IN 2018, I'D REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO THE
PREVIOUS PAGE, WHICH IS I THINK
PAGE 23, YOU PROVIDE SOME
OUTCOMES RELATED TO A SPECIFIC
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE, LIPTON
SPRING, AND YOU REPORT THE
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR
VILLAGE, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL,
ONE, TO KNOW WHAT THE TIME
FRAME IS FOR THE DATA.
BUT ALSO TO GET IT FOR ALL OF
YOUR VILLAGES.
IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.
THE PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS SERVED
THAT WERE CAUCASIAN, BLACK,
NATIVE AMERICAN, HISPANIC,
ASIAN, API AND OTHER AND THE
AVERAGE AGE AND THE GENDER.
SO RATHER THAN JUST HAVING IT
FOR ONE, IF WE COULD HAVE IT
FOR ALL AND ALSO GET A SENSE OF
OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME YOU'RE
MEASURING IT.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND THE
DATA SOURCE.
AND THEN SOME OF THE TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS I HAVE, SO I'M HAVING
A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE
ELIMINATING THE REQUIREMENT ON
THE ENCAMPMENTS, THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO BE
ACCESSORY.
I THOUGHT BY THEIR VERY NATURE,
SO THE WAY I UNDERSTAND, THE
CITY HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING OUR
RELIGIOUS ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE,
IS WE DON'T ACTUALLY REQUIRE
THAT THE LAND BE ADJACENT TO
THE RELIGIOUS FACILITY.
BUT THAT BY THE VERY NATURE OF
THE RELIGIOUS FACILITY BEING IN
CONTROL OF THE EXTRA LAND,
THEIR USE OF IT IF IT IS A USE
TO SERVE HOMELESS PEOPLE IS BY
IT'S VERY NATURE ACCESSORY.
SO I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE I HIM
NATION OF ACCESS ARE RI
ACCOMPLISHES ON THE GROUND.
-- ACCESSORY ACCOMPLISHES ON
THE GROUND.
>> I THINK IT WOULD CONFORM THE
CODE TO THE EXISTING PRACTICE
AT STCI.
AS ORIGINALLY CONTEMPLATED WHEN
COUNCIL ENACTED THE CHANGE TO
THE BILL IN 2011 THE NOTION WAS
THAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE
ACCESSORY.
THAT WAS SOMEWHAT LIMITING
BASED ON WHAT THE STATE'S
STATUTE REQUIRED.
THE STATE STATUTE USES THE
WORDS OWNED AND CONTROLLED.
SO IT WASN'T JUST LIMITED TO
ACCESSORY USES TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT ATCI'S PERMITTING PRACTICE
HAS BEEN WHEN THERE'S NOT A
CHURCH LOCATED ON A SITE, USING
A CHURCH AS A RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTION AS AN EXAMPLE, THE
STCI SOMETIMES REQUIRES THAT A
PRINCIPLE USE FIRST BE
ESTABLISHED.
THAT PRINCIPLE USE COULD BE A
COMMUNITY CENTER.
WHICH SHOT IN WHAT FOLKS
IMAGINE A COMMUNITY CENTER TO
BE.
BUT LAND USE CODE DEFINES IT AS
A PLACE GENERALLY OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC WITH A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
SO SHARON IS FAMILIAR WITH THE
DETAILS HERE.
BUT IN ORDER TO MEET THE
ACCESSORY USE REQUIREMENT, STCI
HAS SOMETIMES REQUIRED THAT A
FAITH BASED HOST FIRST
ESTABLISH HER PRINCIPLE USE ON
A SITE SO THAT AN ENCAMPMENT
CAN BEEN ESTABLISHED AS AN
ACCESSORY USE.
SO THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL OUT
OF POCKET COST POTENTIALLY FOR
A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION THAT
WANTS TO HOST AN ENCAMPMENT AND
COST WHEN IT COMES TO
PERMITTING.
IT CREATES A TWO-STEP PROCESS.
CREATE A PRINCIPLE USE FIRST
AND NAME THAT PRINCIPLE USE
ACCESSORY.
>> FOR AN ACCESSORY USE.
IF IT'S TRULY A CHURCH SITE
WITH A CHURCH ON IT, IT MAY BE
THE CASE THAT THE FAITH BASED
ORGANIZATION WOULDN'T NEED A
PERMIT AT ALL.
BUT IF IT'S NOT ACCESSORY TO A
CHURCH ON A SITE THERE'S AN
ADDITIONAL STEP THAT NEEDS TO
BE ACCOMPLISHED.
>> I'VE ALWAYS -- I FOUND THE
CONCEPT HELPFUL BECAUSE TO ME
IT WASN'T TIED TO THE OWNERSHIP
OR THE TENURE OF THE PROPERTY
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S OWNED OR
RENTED OR ITS LOCATION.
IT'S A CONCEPT THAT BY THE
MERIT OF THE CHURCH, IT BECOMES
ACCESSORY TO THE CHURCH.
SO BY REMOVING THAT LANGUAGE, I
THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE'RE REALLY CLEAR WITH
THE PUBLIC.
SO WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE
CONCEPT.
THE CONCEPT IS STILL THE SAME.
AND IT'S ABOUT A RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTION'S RIGHT TO PRACTICE
ITS MISSION.
AND SO BY PRACTICING ITS
MISSION ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY
THAT THEY'RE IN CONTROL OF,
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S OWNERSHIP
OR RENTAL REGARDLESS OF IT'S
LOCATION.
THAT CONCEPT OF ACCESSORY USE
IS STILL EMBEDDED IN THE RIGHT.
WE'RE JUST NOT USING THE
LANGUAGE BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE
THEN TRIGGERS THIS SORT OF TWO
STEP PROCESS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
YEAH.
I THINK THAT THE NOTION IS
THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PATHWAY, A
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION LAND USE
PATHWAY DERIVES FROM STATE
SUPREME COURT DECISION IN 201
WHEN WOODENVILLE SOUGHT TO
PREVENT A TENT CITY FROM BEING
ESTABLISHED.
AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT
UPHELD THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL
PROTECTIONS IN THE WASHINGTON
STATE CONSTITUTION PROVIDE
FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE FOR A
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION TO HOST
A TENT ENCAMPMENT.
THERE WAS A CHANGE IN STATE LAW
AS A RESULT OF THAT SUPREME
COURT CASE AND I THINK THAT
CHANGE HAPPENED IN 2010 AND THE
CITY CODIFIED THAT CHANGE IN
2011 AND IT'S PRETTY EXPANSIVE.
IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO
CHURCH-OWNED PROPERTIES.
IT ALSO APPLIES TO ANY PROPERTY
THAT A CHURCH HAS A LEASEHOLD
INTEREST IN.
AND IS USING THAT LEASEHOLD
INTEREST.
>> A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO MONOPOLIZE.
>> I WANT TO STATE, I'M BEING
TOLD BY PORT STAFF THAT
COMMISSIONER STEINBROOK NEEDS
TO BE EXCUSED FOR ANOTHER
APPOINTMENT.
SO I WOULD ASK WITH THE
PERMISSION OF THE COMMITTEE
THAT THIS PRESENTER, WITNESS?
STILL TRANSITIONING FROM THE
COURTROOM.
THAT THIS WITNESS BE EXCUSED.
PRESENTER.
>> THIS IS SO ENGAGING.
I WANT TO HELP PERSONALLY.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOU'RE DOING.
I'VE LOST CONTROL OF MY LIFE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
.
>> COMMISSIONER STEINBROOK
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK AT
THE TABLE HERE.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE
REMAINING PRESENTERS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS ? COUNCIL
MEMBER PETERSON.
>> JUST IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS
TODAY, I DON'T HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR PANDA OR SHARON
LEE, BUT WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
THE LEGISLATION SEPARATELY?
>> YES.
YES.
YEAH.
HOLD YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> I THINK ACTUALLY MOST OF MY
QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOHD'S LINE
OF QUESTIONING.
SO I THE, YES, I THINK THEY
WERE IN THE FOLLOW UP WITH
SHARON.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS EITHER.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS,
ALL THE PRESENTERS CAN BE
EXCUSED.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING HERE AND TALKING TO THIS
COMMITTEE.
SO AT THIS POINT, THE
PRESENTATIONS HAVING BEEN MADE.
THE BRIEFING HAVING BEEN
CONDUCTED, IT SOUND LIKE
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON HAS
THOUGHT NOS SHARE WITH THE
COMMITTEE.
IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO.
WE CAN ENTERTAIN THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG FOLKS
WANT TO STICK AROUND.
AS I SAID EARLIER MY INTENTION
TODAY WAS GOING TO BE TO HAVE
THIS PRESENTATION, TO GET ALL
THE INFORMATION OUT THERE, TO
SET A -- AND I'LL COORDINATE
WITH FOLKS ON SETTING ANOTHER
COMMITTEE MEETING SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE A FULL CONSIDERATION
AND AIRING OF AMENDMENTS AND
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS IF FOLKS
WANT TO PROPOSE AND JUST
CONVERSATIONS INTERNAL HI AND
WITH CONSTITUENTS ON WHAT
FOLKS THINK OF THE OVER ALL
ORDINANCE AND HOW WE WANT TO
DELIBERATE ON IT.
BUT FOR NOW, IF ANYONE DOES
HAVE GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE
ORDINANCE, I THINK THIS WOULD
BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US
TO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION.
BUT I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF
COUNCIL MEMBER'S TIME AND
PROBABLY CLOSE THIS OFF AT
4:30.
SO WITH THAT, I MEAN WE CAN
START, COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON,
IF YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU
COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
THANK YOU CHAIR LEWIS FOR
BRINGING EVERYBODY HERE TODAY.
AND FOR EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT
TO SPEAK, I REALLY APPRECIATE
IT I USED TO WORK OTT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT DURING THE CLIP ON
THE ADMINISTRATION.
I WOULD REVIEW GRANT REQUESTS
THAT CAME INTO THE CITIES FOR
THE HOMELESS RESPONSE.
SO WHENTY ANY HEM VILLAGE
CONCEPT FIRST STARTED HERE.
I WAS INITIALLY A SKEPTIC OF IT
AS I'VE TOLD SHARON AND HAVE --
WHEN WE GOT THE NEW DATA IN
2018 TO SHOW THE EXIT RATES HAD
IMPROVED, THAT WAS REALLY GREAT
NEWS.
AND SO THE EXITS TO PERMANENT
HOUSING WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE
AND WE SAW HOW OVER ALL, THEY
WERE SUPERIOR TO SOME ENHANCED
SHELTERS.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS -- THE
CURRENT ORDINANCE IS EXPIRING
SO WE HAVE AN URGENCY ISSUE
HERE TO EXTEND IT.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE
WALLING FORD COMMUNITY IN
DISTRICT FOUR FOR BEING SO
WELCOMING OF THE VILLAGE THAT'S
THIS.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE
YEARS NOW.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR OF
THE TRUE HOPE VILLAGE IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT WHICH IS VERY
WELL RUN.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE THINK OF TINY HOME
VILLAGES, WE THINK OF THE FOUR
WALLS AND A ROOF AND A DOOR THE
RESIDENT CAN LOCK ON THE
INSIDE.
AND THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS
REALLY THE CASE MANAGEMENT.
THE PROFESSIONAL EFFECTIVE CASE
MANAGEMENT THAT RESIDENTS GET.
AND NOT ALL VILLAGES HAVE THE
SAME EXIT RATES TO PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND THOSE THAT HAVE HIGHER
RATES TYPICALLY HAVE BETTER --
MORE ROBUST CASE MANAGEMENT.
SO WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS
WHEN I READ THIS LEGISLATION,
WHAT I'M -- I'M NOT READING A
TINY HOME VILLAGE BILL.
IT'S MORE OF AN ENCAMPMENT
BILL.
AND BECAUSE THE WAY -- BECAUSE
TINY HOME VILLAGES ARE NOT
DEFINED IN THIS BILL.
INSTEAD THE DEFINITION WE'RE
LEFT WITH IS TRANSITIONAL
ENCAMPMENT WHICH MEANS A USE
HAVING TENT OS UR A SIMILAR
SHELTER INCLUDING VEHICLES USED
FOR SHELTER THAT PROVIDE
TEMPORARY QUARTERS FOR SLEEPING
AND SHELTER.
AND SO I GUESS TO HONOR THE
SUCCESS OF TINY HOME VILLAGES,
JUST SORT OF SPEAKING TO
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE
TO ACTUALLY PUT IN THAT
INFORMATION, AT LEAST FOR NEW
ENCAMPMENTS, BECAUSE WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE
NUMBER FROM 3 TO 40, PERSONALLY
I THINK 40 IS TOO HIGH.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
BUT TO GRANDFATHER IN THE ONES
THAT WE HAVE.
BUT THEN TO SET A DEFINITION
FOR WHAT DO WE MEAN BY A
SUCCESSFUL TINY HOME VILLAGE?
DO WE ACTUALLY MEAN A
STRUCTURE?
AND WE MEAN CASE MANAGEMENT AND
WE MEAN SECURITY.
SO TO PUT THAT ACTUALLY INTO
THE LEGISLATION WHICH IS NOT
THERE RIGHT NOW.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING
ABOUT THE REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT ALSO
REMINDS US THAT WE WILL HAVE A
GROUP OF EXPERTS THAT WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE A REGIONAL RESPONSE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WHETHER
THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY, WHETHER
WHAT MODELS THEY'LL HAVE.
AND WHETHER THEY'LL EMBRACE
TINY HOME VILLAGES OR MAYBE
DEFINING THOSE LIKE I THINK WE
SHOULD DO FOR THIS LEGISLATION
BEFORE US.
SO YES, EXTENDING IT.
EXPANDING IT.
BUT HONORING THAT ACTUAL
DEFINITION OF WHAT DO WE MEAN
BY TINY HOME VILLAGE WITH CASE
MANAGEMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THAT'S A
CONVERSATION THAT IS VERY WORTH
HAVING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
FOR THE HISTORIC RECORD THAT I
BELIEVE EVERY TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE
RIGHT NOW STARTED AS AN
ENCAMPMENT.
SO THAT'S SOMETIMES HOW --
WELL, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, IT'S
EXCLUSIVELY, I BELIEVE, HOW
THEY DEVELOPED.
THEY STARTED AS ENCAMPMENTS,
AND AS PART OF BOTH THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN MY CASE
AT CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
IN DISTRICT ONE.
COLLABORATION OF A COUPLE DOZEN
CHURCHES HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER,
WORKED WITH THE ENCAMPMENT
RESIDENTS TO SLOWLY TRANSFORM
WHAT IS A TENT ENCAMPMENT INTO
A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THAT IS THE HISTORY OF HOW IT'S
WORKED HERE.
AND IT MIGHT HAVE REALLY
SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEIR
SUCCESS.
BECAUSE THERE IS THAT REALLY
STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
COMPONENT THAT GOES BEYOND THE
RESIDENTS OF THE ENCAMPMENT
ITSELF.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE
REMOVAL OF THE SET BACK FROM
ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL LOTS BY 25
FEET.
AM I CORRECT IN THAT WE'VE
REMOVED THAT REQUIREMENT
BECAUSE WE'RE ALLOWING -- YOU
CAN'T HAVE A IT IS BACK FROM
YOURSELF.
WE UNDER THIS PROPOSED
ORDINANCE, WE WOULD BE ALLOWING
ENCAMPMENT LOCATIONS TO BE ON
RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES.
SO YOU CAN'T SET BACK FROM THE
RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTY IF
YOU'RE LOCATED ON RESIDENTIALLY
ZONED PROPERTY.
>> THEY CAN BE ONLY LOCATED IN
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES
SO THERE'S A SET BACK
REQUIREMENT THAT CONTEMPLATES A
SCENARIO.
SO THE SET BACK REQUIREMENT
OBVIOUSLY IS NOT NECESSARY IF
THE CRITERIA ARE ARE EXPANDED
TO INCLUDE SINGLE FAMILY AND
MULTIFAMILY ZONES AS WELL.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, ENCAMPMENTS
ESTABLISHED THROUGH A TEMPORARY
USE PROCESS OR AS ACCESSORY TO
A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION CAN
BE LOCATED ANY WHERE IN CITY.
>> I AM INTERESTED IN THE
CONCEPT OF NOT A SET BACK FROM
JUST GENERALLY ADJACENT
RESIDENTIAL LOTS BECAUSE THAT
AGAIN IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD ALLOW ENCAMPMENTS IN
RESIDENTIAL ZONED AREAS.
BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
CONSIDERING OR EXPLORING SOME
SORT OF A SET BACK FROM A
IMPROVED RESIDENTIALLY ZONED
LOT THAT'S OCCUPIED.
JUST AGAIN WITH RECOGNITION AND
THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF DATA
THAT WOULD BE USEFUL.
TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CLOSEST
NEIGHBOR IS IN OUR CURRENT
PRACTICE.
AND JUST TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF
A SENSE, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE
INSTANCES THAT ENCAMPMENTS HAVE
STARTED OUT AS OUTDOOR
ENCAMPMENTS.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE CITY'S
PRACTICE IN WORKING TO SITE
THESE.
AND SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE
GRANULARITY BOTH ON THE
PRACTICE AND THEN CONSIDERING
POTENTIALLY A MANDATORY
LANGUAGE BASED ON THAT
PRACTICE.
>> I CAN SEE WHAT I CAN
DISCOVER.
JUST BY WAY OF A REMINDER.
I THINK THE COMMITTEE IS AWARE
OF THIS.
BUT IT'S MAYBE NOT AS OBVIOUS
TO FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING.
A LOT OF COMMERCIAL ZONES ARE
DE FACTO MULTIFAMILY ZONES.
MOST RESIDENTIAL GROWTH OCCURS
IN NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
AREAS SO THE SET BACK IS IN
SOME WAYS A DEVELOPMENT
STANDARD THAT EITHER WOULD
EQUALLY BE APPLIED WHEREVER IT
IS.
OR MAY HAVE A LIMITED UTILITY
JUST BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE
SEE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN COMMERCIAL
ZONES.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE MORE I WANT
TO FLAG.
>> YES, COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> WE ARE PROPOSING TO
ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT
VILLAGES BE LOCATED AT LEAST A
MILE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
MY DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY,
HIGHLAND PARK HAS BEEN HOSTING
AN ENCAMPMENT LOCATION AT CAMP
SECOND CHANCE FOR ABOUT THREE
YEARS AND PRIOR TO THAT DOWN
THE HILL, VERY NEARBY, WAS
HOSTED NICKELSVILLE FOR QUITE
SOME TIME.
AND I KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO DO
A FAITHFUL JOB IN REPRESENTING
MY CONSTITUENTS IN HIGHLAND
PARK, IT WOULD BE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THEM TO SEE SOME
SORT OF GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY
CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF YEARS
THAT THAT THAT ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ONLY
NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT ONE
HAS HOSTED AN ENCAMPMENT/TINY
HOME VILLAGE.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE
ONE MILE AWAY LOCATION
LIMITATION, I THINK WE NEED TO
INSERT SOMETHING ELSE THAT
EXPRESSES OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR
GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY, PARTICULARLY
AS IT RELATES TO LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND I THINK YOUR MAP THAT YOU
HAVE HERE DEMONSTRATES THAT
REALLY WELL.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE
OPEN UP MORE HAND, WE MIGHT NOT
SEE SOME OF THE PATTERNS THAT
WE CURRENTLY SEE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, MEANING
GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY MEANING WE
DON'T WANT THE LOCATION OR THE
CITING OF THE DINING HOUSE TO
BE DISPROPORTIONATE IN LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
>> THANK YOU, ANY OTHER FINAL
COMMENTS BEFORE WE CONCLUDE
THIS COMMITTEE MEETING?
OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO THANKS EVERYBODY FOR A VERY
PRODUCTIVE, I'LL BE IT LONG
INITIAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF
THE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
GOING TO BE FEBRUARY 26th.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, MY
INTENTION IS GOING TO BE TO
POSSIBLY SET ANOTHER COMMITTEE
MEETING WITHIN TWO WEEKS,
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSES
OF DISCUSSING THIS ORDINANCE TO
MEET A TIMELINE AND MAKE SURE
THAT SOMETHING IS PROPER HI
ADDRESSED BEFORE THE DEADLINE
THAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE
MEETING OCCURS.
AND THAT IS ALL THE BUSINESS
THAT I HAVE.
UNLESS COUNCIL MEMBER SWAN, DID
YOU HAVE A FINAL COMMENT?
>> NO, I JUST SOMETHING I WAS
GOING TO SAY OFFLINE, JUST THAT
MY STAFF WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH
YOU IN TERMS OF I'M GONE A
LITTLE BIT IN THE NEXT MONTH.
>> OH CERTAINLY.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF
IT WHILE YOU'RE GONE.
I'M TEASING YOU.
I'M TOTALLY KIDDING.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY.
.
>> THANK YOU.