>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WELCOME BACK TO COUNCIL
BRIEFING , THE MARCH 8, 20 2021
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:30 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> I DID NOT KNOW I WAS FIRST,
HERE.
MIKE LEWIS?
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT.
THEIR HERE.
STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> MADAM CLERK CAN YOU CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ONE MORE
TIME?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELCOME TO THIS MORNING'S
COUNCIL BRIEFING.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT OVER
TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF MARCH 1st, 2021 WILL
BE OBJECTED.
THEY ARE NOW ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I WANTED TO
START OFF AT THE TOP OF THE
AGENDA TODAY TO JUST SAY THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR COVERING FOR ME LAST MONDAY.
I AM SURE THAT YOU ALL WERE IN
VERY GOOD HANDS WITH COUNCILMAN
PRESIDENT PRO TEM STRAUSS AND
MY SINCERE THANKS TO HIM FOR
STEPPING IN DURING MY
PREPLANNED VACATION.
>>> IT HAS ALSO BEEN A BUSY
WEEKEND FOR OTHER LEGISLATIVE
BODIES, AND I WANTED TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK
OF OUR LEGISLATORS, ESPECIALLY
OUR SEATTLE LEGISLATURE AND IN
CONGRESS.
THERE WAS SOME TRANSFORMATIVE
LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS THAT
CLEARED MAJOR HURDLES OVER THE
WEEKEND IN BOTH OLYMPIA AND
WASHINGTON, D.C. FIRST, AFTER
ROUGHLY A DECADE OF ADVOCACY
AND POLICY WORK TO PASS A
CAPITAL GAINS TECH IN
WASHINGTON STATE THEY ADVANCED
OUT OF CHAMBER ON SATURDAY.
I'M EXCITED AND HOPEFUL ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS CRITICAL
REVENUE TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES,
ESPECIALLY SERVICES LIKE EARLY
LEARNING AND CHILDCARE.
WHILE ALSO BEING A MEANINGFUL
STEP TO CORRECT OUR STATE'S
REGRESSIVE STATE TAX STRUCTURE.
I KNOW WE HAVE OUR FOLKS FROM
OIR HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR MORE
DETAILS FROM THEM ABOUT THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE
WIN.
>>> ALSO ON SATURDAY, THE
UNITED STATES SENATE PASSED A
MAJOR 1.9 TRILLION, FEDERAL
STIMULUS PACKAGE.
THIS WILL SUPPORT THE SURVIVAL
OF RECOVERY AND WORKING
FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
ACROSS THE COUNTY AND HERE IN
WASHINGTON.
THE STIMULUS PACKAGE IS NOT
PERFECT BUT IT DOES PROVIDE
CITIES LIKE SEATTLE MEANINGFUL
RESOURCES AS WE FOCUS ON OUR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
REVITALIZING OUR CITIES.
SO, WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN
PLANNING ON THE CITY COUNCIL
SAID FOR HOW TO PRIORITIZE THE
FUNDS WILL COME DIRECTLY TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IN
ADVANCE THE WORK OF BUDGET
CHAIR TERESA MOSQUEDA, THAT IS
GOING TO LEAD OUR WORK IN THOSE
EFFORTS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OIR IS
GOING TO GIVE A QUICK LITTLE --
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBJECT AT
THE BEGINNING OF THEIR SITE
REPORT TODAY SO WE CAN ALL BE
AWARE OF WHAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE
FROM OUR FEDERAL LOBBYISTS AS A
RELATES TO GETTING A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS
INCLUDED IN THE STIMULUS
PACKAGE.
WHAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE CAN
EXPECT FROM THAT $1.9 TRILLION
STIMULUS PACKAGE.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND HEADED OVER TO OUR
STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
UPDATES TEAM.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
KICK IT OFF WITH DIRECTOR LILY
WILSON-CODEGA FOR INTRODUCTIONS
ON THE RECORD, AND THEN WE WILL
DIG INTO THE PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, FOR THE
RECORD, LILY WILSON-CODEGA,
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
PASSING IT TO ROBIN.
>> ROBIN KOSKEY, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
>> QUINN MAJESKI, STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR, OIR.
>> HANNAH SMITH, GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS DIRECTOR.
>> THANK YOU, DEAN.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR
BRIEFING TODAY WE WILL BE
REVIEWING THE COUNCIL'S STATE
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
GIVEN THAT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ALLUDED TO, WE EXPECT
THE AMERICAN RESTIVE PLAN, THE
MASSIVE $1.9 TRILLION FEDERAL
AID PACKAGE CURRENTLY BEING
DEBATED AND AMENDED IN CONGRESS
TO MOVE THROUGH THE HOUSE NEXT
TUESDAY.
WE HAVE A SLIGHT CHANGE IN OUR
AGENDA TODAY, SO ROBIN WILL
START US OFF WITH A BRIEF
STATUS UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL
AID PACKET THIS WEEK BEFORE
QUINN BEGINS WITH OUR REGULAR
STATE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING.
WE WILL THEN WORK TO SCHEDULE A
FULL BRIEFING FOR YOU ALL FROM
SIERRA, OUR FEDERAL AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR. THAT LOOKS LIKE IT
WILL LIKELY EITHER BE THE 15th
OF THE 22nd.
WE ARE FINALIZING THOSE DATES
WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
OFFICE THIS WEEK SO WE CAN
BRIEF YOU ON FINAL PASSAGE OF
THAT LEGISLATION.
ALSO AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
ALLUDED TO, SOME INCREDIBLE
WORK THAT THE LEGISLATOR --
LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. AT THE
STATE LEVEL, WE ARE JUST A
LITTLE PAST THE HALFWAY MARK IN
THE 2021 SESSION AT THIS POINT
HAVING A PAST SEVERAL MAJOR
MILESTONES, INCLUDING HOUSE OF
LORDS AND POLICY COMMITTEE, THE
FISCAL AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE CUTOFFS, AND THE
HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUT OFF
TOMORROW, TUESDAY, MARCH 9th.
IN LIGHT OF TOMORROW'S CUTOFF,
LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN WORKING
OVERTIME ON THE FLOOR, LONG
DAYS, LATE INTO THE EVENINGS,
AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND, WITH
MANY SIGNIFICANT CITY OF
SEATTLE PRIORITIES MOVING OUT
OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS.
QUINN WILL TOUCH ON THIS IN
MORE DETAIL.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
WORKER PROTECTION ACT.
THAT PASSED OFF THE HOUSE FOR
53-54 FRIDAY EVENING.
CAPITAL GAINS MAKING IT OUT OF
THE SENATE ON A RAZOR THIN 25-
24 VOTES.
JUST CAUSE EVICTION PASSING THE
HOUSE ON SUNDAY.
ONE FINAL THING BEFORE I TURN
IT OVER TO ROBIN TO START!
RECOGNIZING POLICE DISCIPLINE
IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL
AS A WHOLE.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL
THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR HER WORK ON THIS ISSUE IN
HER CAPACITY AS PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES CHAIR.
SHE IS CONVENING A DISCUSSION
WITH KEY LABOR PARTNERS, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE OF THE CITY'S
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRIEFING YOU
ON WHAT PROJECT WE ARE ABLE TO
MAKE UP THE MEETING WHEN WE
BRIEF YOU NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TURNING IT OVER TO ROBIN
KOSKEY.
OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
SO, AS LILY SAID, WE EXPECT
THAT THE FINAL PASSAGE OF THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WILL
HAPPEN AT SOME POINT TOMORROW.
AT THIS POINT, WE ACTUALLY
DON'T HAVE THE FINAL TEXT.
THE LANGUAGE IS STILL BEING
WORKED ON AND OUR FEDERAL
LOBBYIST IN DC TELLS US THEY
DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE THE FINAL
VERSION OF THE BILL UNTIL LATER
THIS EVENING.
WE DON'T EXPECT TO SEE CHANGES
IN THE HOUSE, SO WHAT PAST THE
SENATE SHOULD BE WHAT THE BILL
IS.
SO, THAT IS THAT.
WE ARE WORKING ON GOING THROUGH
ALL OF THE DETAILS OF THE BILL.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET
SOME SUMMARY DOCUMENTS OUT TO
YOU BY WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY OF
THIS WEEK.
OF COURSE, WE WON'T HAVE EVERY
DETAIL.
WE DO KNOW THAT MANY OF THE
PROGRAMS ARE FOLLOWING -- THE
EXACT SAME METHODS AND FORMULAS
THAT WERE IN PREVIOUS BILLS.
SO, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE
OUT WITH SOME REASONABLE
CERTAINTY HOW MUCH MONEY WILL
BE COMING DIRECTLY TO SEATTLE.
WE WILL CERTAINLY WORK ON
WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THAT,
AND FIGURING IT OUT AND GIVING
THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AS SOON
AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT
IS IN THE BILL.
IT IS 600 PAGES LONG.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF IN IT
FOR SURE.
I WANT OBVIOUSLY HIT ON
EVERYTHING, BUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS,
OF COURSE THERE ARE THE DIRECT
STIMULUS PAYMENTS OF $2000.
WE WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL
$1400.
PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE AN
ADDITIONAL $1400.
SUPPLEMENTAL UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS SETTLED AT 300 PER
WEEK REDUCED TO $100 FROM WHAT
THE HOUSE HAD.
THERE IS MONEY FOR DIRECT FUNDS
FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THERE IS MONEY FOR VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION AT $14 BILLION.
THERE IS $40 BILLION IN CHILD
CARE RESOURCES.
THERE IS QUITE A BIT IN THE
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FIELD
AS WELL.
$27.4 BILLION FOR VARIOUS
DIFFERENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE
STREAMS.
$5 BILLION FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS.
$5 BILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS
ASSISTANCE.
$10 BILLION FOR HOMEOWNER
ASSISTANCE.
$120 MILLION FOR HOUSING,
COUNSELING AND FAIR HOUSING,
AND $5 MILLION FOR UTILITY
ASSISTANCE.
THERE'S ALSO $12 BILLION IN THE
BILL FOR NUTRITION.
THE BILL EXTENDS THE S.N.A.P.
INCREASE OF 15% THROUGH
SEPTEMBER OF 2021.
IT INCLUDES FRUIT AND VEGETABLE
OUTREACH AND INNOVATION IN WITH
AND ENSURES THAT PANDEMIC EBT
WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE
DURATION OF THE PANDEMIC,
INCLUDING THE SUMMER WHEN
CHILDREN ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.
THAT'S A VERY GOOD CHANGE.
THERE IS MONEY FOR SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT THAT INCLUDES
$15 MILLION FOR ECONOMIC INJURY
DISASTER LOANS.
$25 BILLION FOR A GRANT PROGRAM
FOR RESTAURANTS.
$7 BILLION FOR THE PPP.
$1 BILLION FOR SAVE OUR STAGES
FOR LIVE VENUES, MOVIE
THEATERS, AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS.
THAT IS JUST KIND OF THE MAIN
HIGHLIGHTS.
I CERTAINLY COULD TAKE SOME
QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL QUALIFY
IT BY SAYING THAT WE DEFINITELY
DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS
QUITE YET.
THEY ARE STILL BEING WORKED ON.
>> THANKS, ROBIN.
OKAY.
I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE US TO
JUST SORT OF HOLD ON QUESTIONS
UNTIL WE RECEIVE THAT FULL
BRIEF.
UNTIL WE HAVE LESLIE AND SIERRA
IN FRONT OF US TO BE ABLE TO
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND SHIFT OVER
TO THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
RESULTS.
>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
STARTING OFF WITH BUDGET AND
REVENUE.
SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS OVER
THE WEEKEND COMING OUT OF
VIRTUAL OLYMPIA FOR THE FIRST
TIME EVER.
A CAPITAL GAINS TAX PROPOSAL
HAS PASSED THE FLOOR OF THE
WASHINGTON STATE SENATE.
IT WAS, AS LILY ALLUDED TO
EARLIER, IT WAS A VERY CLOSE
VOTE, 25-24.
A FEW AMENDMENTS WERE MADE ON
THE FLOOR.
SO, JUST TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
OF THOSE.
THE MOST PROMINENT AMENDMENT IS
THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE, WHICH
WOULD MAKE THE LEGISLATION GO
INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY UPON
ITS SIGNATURE FROM THE GOVERNOR
WAS REMOVED.
BEYOND THAT OF THE EFFECTIVE
DATE, THIS ALSO MORE OR LESS
ENSURES THAT THERE WILL BE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR OPPONENTS TO
GATHER SIGNATURES AND
POTENTIALLY CHALLENGE THE
LEGISLATION AT THE BALLOT BOX
THROUGH A REFERENDUM.
SO, THAT CHANGE WAS MADE.
I THINK THERE IS ANTICIPATION
THAT IT MAY WIND UP COMING UP
FOR A PUBLIC VOTE.
AT SOME POINT LATER THIS YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO THAT CHANGE,
THERE WERE SOME SMALLER CHANGES
MADE IN TERMS OF THE DIRECTION
OF THE PROCEEDS.
THE FIRST $350 MILLION IN
REVENUE FROM THE CAPITAL GAINS
TAX IS STILL DIRECTED TO THE
EDUCATION LEGACY TRUST FUND
WITH THE INTENTION OF THAT
FUNDING GOING TOWARDS EARLY
LEARNING AND CHILDCARE.
AFTER THAT, THE BILL WAS
AMENDED TO DIRECT THE NEXT $100
MILLION AFTER THAT FIRST $350
MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THEN, THE REMAINDER OF THE
BALANCE OF ANY REVENUES FROM
THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX WOULD
STILL GO TO A NEW TAXPAYER
RELIEF ACCOUNT.
WITH THE ATTENTION OF PROVIDING
SOME RELIEF ON MORE REGRESSIVE
REVENUE SOURCES, OR FUNDING
PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE RELIEF
FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS,
SUCH AS THE WORKING FAMILIES
TAX CREDIT.
FINALLY, THERE WERE SOME TWEAKS
MADE TO THE SMALL BUSINESS
EXEMPTION THAT BROADENED THE
ELIGIBILITY FROM THE THRESHOLD
FROM $6 MILLION FOR SMALL
BUSINESS ENTITIES.
THAT GOES TO $10 MILLION.
REMOVING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
, THE CAP ON THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES OR A SMALL BUSINESS.
THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SET AT 50.
NOW, SMALL BUSINESSES CAN
QUALIFY AS LONG AS THEY ARE
UNDER $10 MILLION IN GROSS
INCOME AND THEY HAVE BEEN OWNED
AND CONTROLLED BY A MEMBER OF
THE FAMILY FOR AT LEAST FIVE OF
THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
SO, THAT EXEMPTION WAS BROADENED
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
OTHERWISE, THE BILL REMAINS
SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS PASSED OUT
OF COMMITTEE.
7% TAX OVER 250,000 PER YEAR IN
CAPITAL GAMES WITH EXEMPTIONS
FOR RETIREMENTS, REAL ESTATE,
AND A HANDFUL OF AGRICULTURAL
PROPERTIES.
SO, THIS AGAIN, EXTREMELY,
EXTREMELY EXCITING AND POSITIVE
NEWS COMING OUT OF THE STATE
SENATE.
I THINK ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF
OUR SEATTLE DELEGATION DESERVE
A LOT OF CREDIT AND PLAUDITS
FOR THEIR WORK TO HELP GET US
TO THIS POINT.
ALONG WITH SENATOR ROBINSON
FROM EVERETT.
HE REALLY SHEPHERDED THIS PRAYER
-- PROPOSAL.
MAKE THIS A REALITY.
VERY EXCITED. IT IS HEADED OVER
TO THE HOUSE NOW.
WE EXPECT THEM TO TAKE ACTION
QUICKLY TO MOVE THIS BILL
FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I WILL PAUSE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR O'QUINN?
I'M SCANNING HERE.
JUST TO MAKE SURE NOBODY HAS
RAISED THEIR HANDS.
I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS UP SO
LET'S KEEP GOING.
>>> ONTO EDUCATION WITH HANNAH.
>> SOME IMPORTANT BILLS WE ARE
FOLLOWING CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD IN EDUCATION.
SEVERAL OF WHICH HAVING VOTES
IN THE LAST WEEK.
THE FIRST FOUR KIDS ACT, THAT
IS THE OMNIBUS CHILDCARE BILL,
THE SENATE VERSION PASSED THE
SENATE 28-21.
LAST WEEK.
SENATE BILL 5321, EXPANDING THE
COLLEGE-BOUND PROGRAM ALSO
PASSED.
31-18.
SENATOR WINN HAS A BILL THAT
APPROVES BACHELOR DEGREE
PROGRAMS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES
THAT BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
AND IS SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING
IN THE HOUSE.
SO, SOME GREAT EDUCATION BILLS
CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'LL PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
SO, WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>>> MOVING ON TO ENVIRONMENT.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE TAKEN
ACTION ON SEVERAL KEY
ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES AND
BILLS IN THE PAST WEEK.
A FEW UPDATES FOR YOU.
HOUSE BILL 1099, WHICH WOULD
INCORPORATE CLIMATE ACTION AND
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION
REDUCTIONS INTO THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT, AND
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
POLICIES, THAT WAS APPROVED ON
A LARGELY PARTYLINE VOTE.
IT IS GOING TO BE UP FOR A
HEARING IN THE SENATE ON
WEDNESDAY.
MOVING ON, HOUSE BILL 5022,
SORRY, SENATE BILL 5022.
WHICH WOULD CREATE SOME NEW
STATEWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR
CONTENT MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING OF
PLASTICS, AS WELL AS BAN
POLYSTYRENE, MORE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS STYROFOAM THROUGHOUT
THE STATE.
THAT BILL PASSED BY A 31-17
MARGIN IN THE SENATE AND IS NOW
HEADED TO THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE WHERE IT WILL HAVE A
HEARING ON THURSDAY.
FINALLY, THE HEEL ACT, WAS
PASSED SHORTLY AFTER LAST
WEEK'S BRIEFING ON LAST MONDAY.
IT PASSED ON A PARTYLINE VOTE
OUT OF THE SENATE AND IS ALSO
HEADED TO THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE.
I WILL PAUSE THEREFORE ANY
QUESTIONS ON ENVIRONMENT.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>>> TWO BILLS TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
HAVE PASSED OUT OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS.
IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE FIRST IS, HOUSE BILL 1189.
THIS IS THE TAX INCREMENT
FINANCING LEGISLATION WHICH
WOULD PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
OF PARTICULAR CITIES WITH A NEW
OR EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS
FINANCING OPTION IN TAX
INCREMENT FINANCING.
THAT PASSED BY A 64 TO 33
MARGIN.
IT GOT SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
THERE.
THAT IS UP FOR A HEARING THIS
THURSDAY ON THE SENATE SIDE.
THEN, HOUSE BILL 1443, THE
EQUITY AND CANNABIS INDUSTRY
LEGISLATION.
THAT PASSED BY A 60-37 MARGIN.
IT IS ALSO GOING TO BE UP FOR A
HEARING IN THE LABOR COMMERCE
AND TRIBAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON
THURSDAY.
I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED,
SO YOU CAN KEEP GOING.
>>> MOVING ON TO HEALTHCARE.
HANNAH?
>> A COUPLE BILLS TO HIGHLIGHT
THIS WEEK.
SENATE BILL 5068, WHICH EXPANDS
THE POSTPARTUM MEDICAID.
THAT BILL HAS A HEARING THIS
WEEK.
THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT BILL WILL
PASS IN THOSE CONTINUED TO BE
REFINED AS IT MOVES FORWARD.
WE WILL CONTINUE MONITORING
THAT.
SENATE BILL 5195, WHICH IS THE
REVERSAL MEDICATION WAS VOTED
OUT OF THE CENTER ON FRIDAY.
THE VOTE OF 45-2. SENATE BILL
53 99, WHICH CREATES THE
COMMISSION FOR UNIVERSAL
HEALTHCARE WAS VOTED OFF THE
SENATE FLOOR 28-20.
THOSE ARE THE BIG HEALTHCARE
BILLS THAT MOVED IN THE LAST
WEEK AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
>>> AS LILY SAID, THE BIG NEWS
OVER THE WEEKEND WAS THE
PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 1236, THE
JUST CAUSE EVICTION BILL.
REPRESENTATIVE MacRI WORKED
EXTREMELY HARD ON THIS BILL.
THE DEBATE BEGAN ON SATURDAY
EVENING AND WENT WELL INTO THE
EVENING.
THEN, CONTINUED ON TO SUNDAY.
SO, IT WAS QUITE A GRUELING
FLOOR DEBATE.
THERE WERE SOME BAD AMENDMENTS
THAT WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE
PART OF THE BILL THAT CLOSES
THE SEATTLE LOOPHOLE THAT
APPLIES TO TERM LEASES.
THOSE WERE MANAGED TO BE
DEFEATED SO THE BILL WILL IN
FACT CLOSE OUR LOOPHOLE AS IT
IS RIGHT NOW.
SO, IT'S REALLY QUITE A
MOMENTOUS PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE
YESTERDAY.
ALSO, SOME OF YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN HOUSE BILL 1070,
TO ACQUIRE BUILDINGS WITH THE
HELP THROUGH HOUSING SALES TAX.
THAT HAS A HEARING IN THE
SENATE HOUSING COMMITTEE THIS
WEEK.
FORECLOSURE ASSISTANCE ALSO HAS
A HEARING IN THE SENATE
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY.
THEN, WE ARE HOPING TO SEE
SENATE BILL 5428 MOVE OFF OF
THE SENATE FLOOR, WHICH EXEMPTS
PERMIT ACTIONS TO SITE SEMPRE
SHELTER, TEMPORARY ENCAMPMENTS
AND THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR DOING SOME ENGAGEMENT
ON THAT BILL TO TRY TO HELP ME
MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOES MAKE
IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS,
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM ON
HOUSING.
>> WE HAVE ONE HAND RAISED.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE HOW
EXCITING IT IS THAT THE LAW
THAT WE HAVE HAD TO PROTECT
TENANTS HERE IN SEATTLE, THE
JUST CAUSE LAW THAT HAS BEEN IN
PLACE SINCE THE LATE 1980s, IS
NOW A TENANT RIGHT AFFORDED TO
TENANTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I REALLY AM SO PROUD THAT
REPRESENTATIVE MacRI IS THE
CHAMPION FOR THIS BILL.
ALSO, THAT SHE FOUGHT SO HARD
FOR SEATTLE, WHERE AS WE'VE HAD
JUST CAUSE EVICTION FOR A VERY,
VERY LONG TIME.
THERE IS ACTUALLY LOOPHOLE AS
ROBIN MENTIONED FOR TENANTS AT
THE END OF THEIR LEASE
AGREEMENT.
TENANTS AT THE END OF THE LEASE
AGREEMENT COULD HAVE PERFORMED
ALL OF THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER
THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT PERFECTLY,
AND THEY CAN STILL BE GIVEN A
NO-COST NOTICE AT THE END OF
THE TERM.
REPRESENTATIVE MacRI NOT ONLY
SAW THE NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE
JUST CAUSE RIGHT, BROADLY FOR
RESIDENTS OF WASHINGTON STATE,
BUT SHE DIDN'T FORGET HER
CONSTITUENTS HERE IN SEATTLE
WHO REALLY NEED THIS LOOPHOLE
CLOSED.
BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF
TENANTS WHO ARE DISPLACED AT
THE END OF THEIR LEASE TERM.
SO, REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF
THAT WORK AND WANT TO ALSO
THINK OIR IN PARTICULAR, ROBIN,
FOR KEEPING ME UP TO SPEED ON
IT.
KEEPING THE NEED FOR THE
CLOSURE OF THE LOOPHOLE FRONT
AND CENTER.
JUST REALLY APPRECIATE HER
UPDATING ME OVER THE WEEKEND
AND GIVING THE LITTLE THINGS I
COULD DO TO HELP ALONG THE WAY.
JUST ALONG THE EDGES A LITTLE
BIT.
ONE QUESTION, ROBIN, THANK YOU
FOR LETTING US ALL KNOW THAT
THE LOOPHOLE CLOSURE LANGUAGE
SURVIVED DESPITE THE AMENDMENTS
TO TRY TO REMOVE IT.
I DID LOSE TRACK OF WHEN THE
PREEMPTION AMENDMENT CAME UP.
I TRUST THAT ALSO FAILED?
>> YES, I BELIEVE IT DID.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF
AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL THAT I
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO ANALYZE
YET.
I WILL CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT
THOSE, REPRESENTATIVE MacRI
SAID THEY DID HAVE TO TAKE A
COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE PREFERRED NOT TO,
BUT IT WAS WHAT THEY NEEDED TO
DO TO MOVE THE BILL.
SO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
SHOULD ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO
YOU.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SAYING SO,
BUT IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE
YOU HELP OUT WITH DOING SOME
OUTREACH TO LEGISLATORS OVER
THE WEEKEND, SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
>> ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS
ON HOUSING?
>> ACTUALLY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY IF YOU TALK ABOUT
THIS.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT, I JUST
READ ABOUT HOUSE BILL 1220.
IN RESPONSE TO KIND OF WHAT THE
CITY OF RENTON WAS UP TO, AND
SOME OTHER CITIES BANNING
CITIES FROM PROHIBITING
HOMELESS SHELTERS AND HOUSING.
>> YES.
THAT HAS PROVED TO BE QUITE A
CONTROVERSY BILL.
WE HAVE BEEN BASICALLY
SUPPORTING IT IN SEATTLE.
I'M CERTAINLY KEEPING MY EYE ON
IT.
IT DID MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE.
SO, IT IS MOVING ALONG.
BUT, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT
NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING ON
THAT BILL.
I'LL MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE
COUNCIL UPDATED ON WHAT IS
HAPPENING THERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE AREA
OF HOUSING?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED.
SO, LET'S CONTINUE.
>>> MOVING ON TO POLICE REFORM.
AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME REALLY
HISTORIC PIECES OF LEGISLATION
MOVING FORWARD.
I'M JUST ASTOUNDED BY THEM GIVEN
THE VIRTUAL NATION OF THE
SESSION.
THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN AREA OF
FOCUS FOR THE LEGISLATURE.
I'M GOING TO SKIP AROUND A
LITTLE BIT, HANNAH, SO I'M
SORRY.
HOUSE BILL 1054, THE BILL THAT
BANS TROLL COLDS, NO-KNOCK
WARRANTS, LIMITS THE USE OF
TEAR GAS, FIRING ON A MOVING
VEHICLE AND THE USE OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT HAS A HEARING ON LAW
AND JUSTICE ON THURSDAY, MARCH
11.
THEN, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AUDITS BILL, THAT WOULD ALLOW
THE WASHINGTON STATE AUDITOR TO
AUDIT DEADLY FORCE INCIDENTS TO
SEE IF PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED
PROPERLY.
ALSO, ALLOWS THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION TO
AUDIT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
IT IS SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE
SESSION ON THURSDAY.
ANOTHER BIG BILL OVER THE
WEEKEND ON SATURDAY, HOUSE BILL
1310, REGARDING USE OF FORCE,
PASSED BY A VOTE OF 55-42.
THEN, SENATOR PEDERSEN'S
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF
PEACE OFFICERS BILL HAS A
HEARING IN THE HOUSE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY AT
1:30.
SO, THEY ARE MOVING THAT BILL
ALONG AS SOON AS THEY COULD.
RIGHT AFTER OPPOSITE -- RIGHT
AFTER CUT OFF ON TUESDAY.
SENATE BILL 5066, THE DUTY TO
INTERVENE.
IT ALSO HAS A HEARING IN THE
HOUSE THIS COMING FRIDAY IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
FINALLY, SENATE BILL 5259
PASSED THE SENATE LAST MONDAY
AND HAS BEEN REFERRED TO PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THE HOUSE.
I'M ACTUALLY JUST REALIZING
THAT MY NOTES ARE A LITTLE BIT
VAGUE ON THAT BILL.
ANYWAY -- SO, HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS IN THE POLICE
REFORM VENUE.
I DO THINK THAT THERE WILL BE
POTENTIALLY SOME OPPORTUNITIES
TO WEIGH IN ON POLICE REFORM.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN DOING
THAT.
NOW THAT WE ARE KIND OF MOVING
FROM BILLS BEING PASSED TO ONE
CHAMBER AND THAT CUT OFF, WE
ARE BACK OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE
WHERE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE
HAPPENING, AND THERE WILL BE
OPPORTUNITIES AGAIN FOR
WEIGHING IN.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
>>> JUST ONE NOTE IN PUBLIC
SAFETY FOR THIS WEEK, WHICH IS
THAT HOUSE BILL 1320 PAST THE
HOUSE LAST MONDAY.
THAT IS THE BILL THAT ALIGNS
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CIVIL
PROTECTION ORDERS AND WAS
REFERRED TO THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON LAW AND JUSTICE.
THAT LAW SEEMS TO BE MOVING
ALONG NICELY AS WELL.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THIS
WEEK IF ANYONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, CELESTE CONTINUE.
>>> AND THE SAFETY NET AND
CIVIL-RIGHTS AREA, A BIG BILL
THAT MOVED LAST WEEK WAS HOUSE
BILL 1073.
REPRESENTATIVE BARRY.
THAT PASSED 56-40 AND IS
ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING IN SENATE LABOR ON
THURSDAY.
HOUSE BILL 1297, WHICH IS THE
WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT IS
ON THE FLOOR CALENDAR.
IT HAS BEEN DEEMED NTIB, SO IT
WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE AFTER CUT
OFF.
ANOTHER BIG SAFETY NET BILL
CONCERNING ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE,
PAST THE SENATE 29-19 LAST WEEK.
SO, A LOT OF OUR PRIORITIES IN
CIVIL RIGHTS AND SAFETY NET
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> HANNAH, IF YOU CAN JUST GROW
BACK TO THE TOP.
I'D LIKE TO JUST -- HERE WE GO.
HOUSE BILL 1072.
IF YOU COULD JUST SPEND A FEW
MOMENTS HIGHLIGHTING THAT
PARTICULAR LEGISLATIVE EFFORT
THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING IN
TERMS OF CIVIL LEGAL AID FUNDS
AND HOW THEY CAN USE THAT WOULD
BE HELPFUL.
>> THIS BILL REMOVES PROHIBITION
OF USE OF CIVIL LEGAL AID FUNDS
BY THE STATE'S OFFICE OF CIVIL
LEGAL AID.
ALLOWING THEM TO REPRESENT
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN THE U.S.
WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY.
THAT BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IN
THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, 56-40,
AND HAS NOW BEEN SCHEDULED FOR
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION OVER IN
THE SENATE.
>> THANK YOU, AND DO WE EXPECT
THIS BILL TO BE ABLE TO BE
PASSED THIS SESSION?
>> I THINK IT IS MOVING ALONG
VERY WELL.
I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WILL.
>> OKAY.
>> IF NOT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO WEIGH IN.
>> ALSO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY
MY ONGOING INTEREST IS
IMPORTANT IN THIS ONE.
I JUST THINK IT IS REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT.
OBVIOUSLY TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WHO REALLY NEED THIS IMPORTANT
LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON THE
CIVIL SIDE, NOT JUST ON THE
CRIMINAL DEFENSE SIDE.
SO, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO KEEP TRACKING IT AND
CONTINUE TO SIGNAL SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS, I WILL TOUCH UP ON
THE SCROLLING AND PASS IT OVER
TO QUINN FOR TRANSPORTATION.
>> LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHER HANDS RAISED, SO TAKE IT
AWAY, QUINN.
>>> ROUNDING IT OUT IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SPACE.
HOUSE BILL 1301, WHICH WOULD
AUTHORIZE SOUND TRANSIT TO
PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE FAIR
ENFORCEMENTS, INCLUDING THE
ISSUE OF WARNINGS WITHOUT
MONETARY CITATIONS.
THAT BILL PASSED THE HOUSE 96-
1. IT WAS A VERY STRONG VOTE.
IT NOW HEADS OVER TO THE SENATE.
THEN, HOUSE BILL 1304,
REPRESENTATIVE HACKNEY, WHO IS
THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THAT BILL,
HAS LET US KNOW THAT IT IS NOT
GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD THIS
YEAR.
IT HAS SOME WORK TO BE DONE,
FURTHER WORK TO BE DONE, WITH
OTHER LEGISLATORS AND
STAKEHOLDERS, BUT HE LOOKS
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH US TO
REFINE AND CONTINUE WORKING ON
THAT PROPOSAL IN THE INTERIM
FOR NEXT SESSION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO, NO QUESTIONS.
>>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY
AND WE WILL GET OUR FEDERAL
BRIEFING SCHEDULED FOR YOU ALL
ONCE WE HAVE A FINAL PRODUCT
AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME
TODAY.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
>> ABSOLUTELY, LOOK FORWARD TO
FINDING A FINAL DATE FOR THAT.
HAPPY TO CONTINUE COORDINATION
ON THAT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE SAY
GOODBYE TO OUR FOLKS IN OIR?
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, IT IS
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY A QUICK
THANK YOU, VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF
THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE
ON BEHALF OF WORKERS ACROSS THE
STATE TO SUPPORT THE BILL BY
REPRESENTATIVE HANSEN TO MAKE
SURE THAT WORKERS HAD PROTECTION
WHEN THEY BLEW THE WHISTLE.
YOU ALREADY MENTIONED IT AT THE
TOP OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF
THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKER
PROTECTION ACT WAS PASSED THIS
YEAR.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE LABOR LAWS
THAT WE PUT IN PLACE ARE ONLY
AS GOOD AS THE FOLLOW-THROUGH
ENFORCEMENT AND MAKING SURE
THAT WORKERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
SPEAK UP.
VERY EXCITED THAT THE WORKER
PROTECTION ACT ALLOWS WORKERS
TO BLOW THE WHISTLE WHEN THEY
FACE DISCRIMINATION, AND
VARIOUS FORMS OF LEGAL
TREATMENT.
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE
HELP TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE WITH
THE LAW, AND ENSURE THAT ALL
EMPLOYERS COMPETE ON A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK ON THAT, AND THANK
THE WASHINGTON STATE LABOR
COUNCIL, AS WELL AS
REPRESENTATIVE HANSEN FOR ALL
OF THE WORK THAT THEY DID ON
HOUSE BILL 1076, AND ALSO VERY
GLAD THE AWC AT LEAST CORRECTED
TO A FEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE
MEMBERS, THAT THEY WERE NO
LONGER IN OUR POSITION THAT
THERE WERE NEUTRAL, AND I WANT
TO THANK THE UNITED LABOR LOBBY
FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK TO GET
INFORMATION OUT TO ELECTED
ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE NEED FOR
THIS LEGISLATION.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT
PASS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER.
I WOULD NOT MINIMIZE THE ROLE
THAT YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS PAID IN THE PARTNERSHIP
WITH AWC IN HELPING ADVANCE THE
BILL.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO WORK ON THAT
SO WE ARE VERY THRILLED TO SEE
IT MOVING ALONG.
>> HAPPY WE CORRECTED THAT.
YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK
OIR DID.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO DO IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR MAKING A NOTE
OF THAT AS WELL, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
SUPER IMPORTANT.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF REALLY
EXCITING THINGS THAT WE ARE
SEEING COME OUT OF OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE.
IT'S OFTEN TIMES HARD FOR
ANYONE PERSON TO KEEP TRACK OF
ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOU FOLKS CONTINUE TO DO.
I KNOW WE ARE ONLY 50% OF THE
WAY THROUGH, WHICH IS
REMARKABLE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE
GOING TO LET YOU ALL GO SO YOU
CAN GET BACK TO ROLLING UP YOUR
SLEEVES AND BACK TO WORK ON
THOSE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CONTINUE ON OTHER ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA.
THANK YOU FOLKS FOR BEING WITH
US.
>> THANK YOU, WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT WEEK.
>> SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
>>> PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL ACTIONS.
WE, AS A REMINDER, DO HAVE TWO
BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS AT THE
END OF OUR PREVIEW OF TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS, COUNCIL,
AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND DIG INTO
THAT FOURTH ITEM.
THIS WEEK'S ROLLCALL ROTATION
IS JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN, SAWANT,
STRAUSS, HERBOLD, AND THEN I
WILL CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA
ISCUSSION BEFORE MOVING US
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
FIRST UP IS COUNCILMEMBER WARS,
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> GOOD MORNING, AND HAPPY
BELATED BIRTHDAY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> OH, THANK YOU.
>> HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY.
>> IT'S REALLY --
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING
COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS.
LET'S SEE, FIRST OF ALL HAPPY
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
A REMINDER THAT HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES, WE RANK 53rd
WORLDWIDE FOR GENDER EQUITY
ACCORDING TO THE 2019 GLOBAL
CENTER -- GLOBAL GENDER GAP
REPORT.
THOUGHT I WOULD JUST SHARE
THAT, MORE TO COME.
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMITTEES.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS OF THE
PUBLIC ACCESS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES TODAY.
I WANT TO BRIEFLY DO A QUICK
LID, QUASIJUDICIAL PROCESS SO I
CAN BRING YOU UP TO DATE, OPEN
TO APRIL, APRIL 6th.
LAST WEEK THE COMMITTEE HELD
THE FIRST OF TWO MEETINGS ON
THE APPEALS OF THE HEARING
EXAMINER'S FINAL REPORT OF THE
WATERFRONT LID FINAL ASSESSMENT
ROLE.
THERE WERE 32 APPEALS.
32 APPEALS WERE SCHEDULED FOR
THE MARCH 2nd COMMITTEE MEETING
AND THEY WERE ALL REVIEWED.
THE REMAINING APPEALS ARE
SCHEDULED FOR THE APRIL 6th
COMMITTEE MEETING.
AFTER THE COMMITTEE HAS HEARD
ALL THE APPEALS, THE COMMITTEE
WILL CONSIDER AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING EACH
APPEAL TO COUNCIL BASED ON THE
RECORD FROM THE HEARING
EXAMINER.
THE COMMITTEE CAN RECOMMEND AN
ACTION TO COUNCIL LIMITED TO
THE OPTIONS PROVIDED IN THE
QUASIJUDICIAL RULES EIGHT POINT
SEE.
THE COUNCIL MAY APPROVE,
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS,
MODIFY, REMAN, OR DENY THE
APPEAL.
AFTER THE COMMITTEE VOTES ON
RECOMMENDATIONS OF COUNCIL
ACTION, FOR THE APPEALS,
CENTRAL STAFF WILL PREPARE A
REPORT TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE
QUASIJUDICIAL RULE 7.8.
LET'S SEE.
A REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES,
THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
YOU HAVE ACCESS TO EACH APPEAL
AND YOU CAN ASK THOSE QUESTIONS
TO CENTRAL STAFF AT ANY TIME.
A QUICK REVIEW OF PARKS, JUST
SIX MATTERS TO BRIEFLY REVIEW.
IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION,
MYSELF OR DEAN ARE MORE THAN
HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH
YOU.
STARTING WITH A CLEAN CITY
INITIATIVE.
DURING THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY
22nd TO THE 28, THE CLEAN CITY
CREWS PICKED UP 93,000 POUNDS
OF TRASH.
AND 8737 NEEDLES FROM 61
ENCAMPMENT LOCATIONS.
CLEAN CITY CREWS EMPHASIZED
BRIGHTON PLAYFIELD AND
LONGFELLOW CREEK FOR A DEEP
CLEANING.
ON FEBRUARY 17, A LARGE FIRE AT
THE 1610 ENCAMPMENT IN DENNY
PARK LEFT BOTH THE ENCAMPMENT
AND PARK WITH SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE.
ALTHOUGH THE FIRE WAS ABLE TO --
ALTHOUGH FIRE WAS ABLE TO
RESPOND QUICKLY, THE FIRE
DESTROYED SEVERAL TENTS.
A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE
REMAINED IN THE ENCAMPMENT.
PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN AT THE PARK
ALMOST DAILY SINCE THEN
PERFORMING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND
TO ENCOURAGE ANY INDIVIDUALS
WHO REMAIN IN THE PARK TO MOVE
TO SHELTER.
ON MONDAY, MARCH 1st, THE CITY
POSTED A 48 HOUR NOTICE OF THE
IN CAMERA REMOVAL TO ALLOW FOR
REMOVAL OF REMAINING DEBRIS AND
TO BEGIN PARK RESTORATION.
OUTREACH WORKERS MADE 51
CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
THE PARK, INCLUDING THE OFFER
OF SHELTER.
THE TWO ACCEPTED OFFER OF
SHELTER.
EACH PERSON CONTACTED RECEIVED
AN OFFER TO MOVE TO SHELTER BY
MARCH 3rd, 10 PEOPLE HAD
REMAINED ON THE SITE.
THAT'S JUST AS OF OUR UPDATE
FROM LAST WEEK.
THAT MAY HAVE CHANGED IN THE
INTERIM.
ON MARCH 3rd, PARKS AND
RECREATION BEGAN THE WORK TO
CLEAR OUT ANY REMAINING DEBRIS
WITHIN THE PARK.
SECTIONS OF DENNY PARK WILL BE
FACED OFF ARE CLOSED TO THE
PUBLIC FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE
DAMAGE TO THE PARK FROM THE
FIRE IN THE ENCAMPMENT ARE
ADDRESSED.
THE SHOWER PROGRAM.
WE SERVED 384 PEOPLE.
FROM FEBRUARY 24th TO MARCH 2nd.
UPLIFT NORTHWEST SERVED 93
INDIVIDUALS AT THE GREENLAKE
COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATION.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR
COMMUNITY CENTERS WERE LOOKING
UP THE SHOWERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN
NOTICING, BUT EVERY MONTH THE
OUTPUT HAS JUST BEEN
INCREASING.
PEOPLE COMING IN, PEOPLE
GETTING OUT.
THAT WAS A STRUGGLE TO GET
THERE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED
THIS WITH COMMUNITY CENTERS AND
LIBRARIES.
I REALLY WANTED TO THINK PARKS
AND LIBRARIES FOR OPENING AND
USING THE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR
OTHER NEEDS BESIDES THEIR
EXTENDED USE.
PARK USAGE REPORT.
FIVE BIG PARTS.
THE HIGHEST AVERAGE NUMBER OF
PARK USERS WERE OBSERVED AND
REPORTED AGREEMENT, VOLUNTEER
PARK, SEWARD, GOLDEN GARDENS,
AND ALKI BEACH.
SECOND, THE SPRUCE STREET MINI
PARK PLAY AREA.
THEY HOSTED AN ONLINE MEETING
ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27th, FOR
THE COMMUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT
THE PROJECT AND MEET THE DESIGN
TEAM.
THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO
RENOVATE THE EXISTING PLAY AREA
SPACE.
AS PART OF THE PLAY AREA
RENOVATION PROJECT, THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT IS PARTNERING WITH
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
TO COLLABORATE WITH THE
COMMUNITY OF PUBLIC ART.
PARKS IS ALSO COLLECTING
FEEDBACK FROM AN ONLINE SURVEY
FOR FOLKS WHO COULDN'T ATTEND
THE MEETING ON SATURDAY.
FINALLY, THE SIXTH ITEM UNDER
PARKS, SYNTHETIC TURF
REPLACEMENTS.
THE TURF REPLACEMENT PROJECTS
AT MICKEY MIRIAM PLAYFIELD,
SIX, SEVEN, NINE, AT MADISON
PARK ARE COMPLETED.
DID YOU HEAR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
GOOD, SO NOW YOU CAN HAVE
PEOPLE QUIT SENDING ME EMAILS.
NO ONE HAS GOT A SENSE OF HUMOR
THIS MORNING.
>> I'M LAUGHING.
I'M LAUGHING.
I'M THE ONLY ONE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS ON THE
EDGE OF HER SEAT ABOUT THE
SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENTS.
THANK YOU.
LAKE CITY COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE WARMING CENTER IS CURRENTLY
OPEN THREE DAYS PER WEEK AND
SERVING BETWEEN 50 TO 60 PEOPLE
EACH WEEK.
WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE, IT IS
DOING GREAT.
I WANT TO THANK THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT FOR GETTING CREATIVE
AND LEASING THE SPACE FOR NO
COST.
THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT
FOR FINDING THE FUNDING FOR
STAFFING, AND ARE AMAZING LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY FOR SPEAKING UP
IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
REPORTING THAT THE WARMING
SHELTER HAS MANY NEIGHBORHOOD
VOLUNTEERS SEEKING TO HELP AND
THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY STREAM
OF DONATIONS FROM LOCAL CHURCHES
, OR MENNONITE FRIENDS, AND
KELLY BROWN AT THE NORTH
HELPLINE FOOD BANK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER,
OPENING UP THE COMMUNITY
CENTER, HAVING VOLUNTEERS,
USING COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE FOOD
AND OTHER ITEMS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NATIVE COMMUNITIES, I'VE BEEN
FOLLOWING MY FRIEND DEB HOLLAND,
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND, LAST
WEEK, THE SENATE ENERGY AND
NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE
VOTED 11-9 IN FAVOR OF
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND.
CONFIRMATION FOR THE SECRETARY
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS NOW
ADVANCES TO THE FULL SENATE FOR
A FINAL VOTE.
IF REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND IS
CONFIRMED, SHE WOULD BE THE
FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN CABINET
SECRETARY.
AS I SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE,
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WAS CREATED AROUND 1849.
IT IS THE MAIN DEPARTMENT THAT
IS A STEWARD OF OUR PUBLIC
LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
OF COURSE THE DEPARTMENT OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS IS ALSO WITHIN
INTERIOR.
WHICH ALWAYS MAKES ME SCRATCH
MY HEAD ABOUT THAT.
I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER
PERSON OR STEWARD THAN A NATIVE
WOMAN, AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN,
ATTORNEY WHO HAS SPENT HER LIFE
UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC LAND,
PUBLIC RESOURCES, AND HOW TO
PROTECT OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND
OUR GREAT -- OUR LAND.
MAYOR DURKAN AND I SIGNED A
LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE
LEADERS OF THE SENATE ENERGY
COMMITTEE, THANK YOU MAYOR
DURKAN AND THE EXECUTIVE
STATING OUR FULL SUPPORT FOR
THIS VERY HISTORIC MOMENT.
BIG THANK YOU TO SENATOR
CANTWELL FOR HER UNWAVERING
SUPPORT AND POWERFUL WORDS ON
THE SENATE FLOOR.
AND TO THE COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT
OF REPRESENTATIVE DEB HOLLAND
AND AS YOU KNOW FOR ME, THIS IS
SUCH A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR ALL
OF US.
SO, I WILL KEEP Y'ALL TURNED
IN.
ON THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY
COUNCIL, LAST BUDGET SESSION,
THIS GREAT COUNCIL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, VOTED AND FUNDED
THE VERY FIRST INDIGENOUS
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
MY OFFICE IS WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO
DESIGN THE STAFFING POSITION
FUNDED BY COUNCIL LAST YEAR
THAT WILL SUPPORT A NEW
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL.
THE CITY'S FIRST ADVISORY
COUNCIL FOR GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION WITH
TRIBES AND URBAN NATIVE
COMMUNITIES.
THIS MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A BIG
DEAL, BUT IT REALLY IS A BIG
DEAL.
NO OTHER CITIES, PORTLAND HAS
SOMETHING SIMILAR.
WHY THIS IS SO KEY IS IN THIS
DAY WE HAVE 29 TRIBES.
IN KING COUNTY, WE HAVE SIX
TRIBES.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE
TRIBES ARE GOVERNMENTS, WE WORK
WITH THEM.
WE LEVERAGE THEIR SERVICES.
I COULD GO ON AND ON.
DIVIDE SO MUCH SOCIAL SERVICES.
THEY ALSO HAVE A WONDERFUL
REVENUE STREAM FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT KNOWINGLY
SERVICES NATIVE FOLKS, BUT
THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OF
LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND
IMMIGRANTS.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH CENTRAL
STAFF.
TO INTRODUCE THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION CREATING THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL.
THERE IS MORE TO COME ON THAT.
QUICKLY, LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS.
130th STREET LIGHT RAIL
STATION.
YES.
SECONDLY RATE.
I MET WITH THE OFFICE OF THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPING TO DISCUSS GROWTH,
STRATEGIES SURROUNDING THE
LIGHT RAIL STATION.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH
THE NORTHGATE LIGHT RAIL
STATION OPENING THIS YEAR.
EXCUSE ME.
WITH NEW INVESTMENTS IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
VERY EXCITED.
AS YOU ALSO KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE
THE NHL SEATTLE HEADQUARTERS
AND A NEW CLINIC SPACE.
WE KNOW THAT ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY IS EVERYTHING.
MY VISION FOR THIS STATION IS
SIMILAR.
IN MY OFFICE WILL BE BRINGING
TOGETHER LEADERS IN SEVERAL
AREAS TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN
EQUITABLY DEVELOP THE AREAS
SURROUNDING THE STATION.
WE ARE STILL MAKING OUR PUSH
WITH NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE AND
THE NORTHGATE COMMENTS FOR OUR
LOW INCOME AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR OUR LONGHOUSE.
HOPEFULLY A PERFORMING ARTS
CENTER, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE HEALTH BOARD, AND OTHERS
ABOUT GETTING A CLINIC AND
HAVING AN INDIGENOUS FOOTPRINT
IN THE NORTH END.
NOT ONLY FOR HEALTHCARE, BUT
FOR HOUSING AS WELL.
THAT HAS BEEN GOING WELL.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT
SOUND TRANSIT IS SCHEDULED TO
MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON
WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN OPEN THE
130th STREET STATION SEVEN
YEARS EARLIER.
PENDING A JULY, 2021
REALIGNMENT.
I FEEL STRONGLY WITH ALL THE
DEVELOPMENT COMING TO THE NORTH
END, WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL 2031
FOR THE OPENING OF THIS
STATION.
THE WEEK AHEAD, I LOOK FORWARD
TO MEETING WITH DEPUTY MAYOR
TIFFANY WASHINGTON AND DIRECTOR
PAMELA BANKS TO DISCUSS
SEATTLE'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
BACK TO YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
>>> HEARING NONE, WE ARE GOING
TO CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
AND THEN AFTER THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, GOOD
MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH THIS WEEK.
KIND OF A SLEEPY WEEK FOR ME
RELATIVE TO THE LAST FEW.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR FROM MY OFFICE, NOR IS
THERE ANYTHING FROM THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
STRATEGIES.
AND INVESTMENTS.
I DID JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY
HIGHLIGHT A PRESS RELEASE THAT
MY OFFICE RECEIVE FROM THE CITY
AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
DATED MARCH 2nd. THAT
JURISDICTION HAS ADDED 500
ADDITIONAL HOTEL ROOMS IN
CONSIDERATION OF THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION'S 100% FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT POLICY.
THOSE 500 HOTEL ROOMS SHOULD BE
OPERATIONAL WITHIN TWO MONTHS.
TO BRING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
SAN FRANCISCO'S TOTAL TO 2200
HOTEL ROOMS CURRENTLY BEING USED
FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TO
PROVIDE SHELTER DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
NOW, I RAISE THIS JUST TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE SEEING
EXAMPLES IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, AND CONTINUE TO,
OF A RELIANCE ON THE NEW
INFORMATION FROM THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION REGARDING FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT THAT THIS COUNCIL
AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO
EXPLORE AS SOMETHING WE SHOULD
BE DOING.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE WE SHOULD
BE EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THE
FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS WE ARE
ALREADY SEEKING, NOT TO SUGGEST
WE AREN'T SEEKING IT, WE KNOW
THAT FOR HER TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND A LOT OF OTHER
THINGS, THE CITY HAS BEEN
AGGRESSIVELY SEEKING FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD
EXPAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE ARE
SEEKING. I WANT TO JUST LIFT UP
SOME OF THE COMMENTS DIRECTOR
NOBLE MADE LAST WEEK AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
COMMITTEE.
REGARDING PURSUING AN INCREASE
IN FEMA REIMBURSABLE PROGRAMMING
, PARTICULARLY TOWARDS
PROVIDING MORE SHELTER FOR
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
THAT ESSENTIALLY THE CRACKS OF
DIRECTOR NOBLE'S TESTIMONY IS
THAT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE IF
WE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES
EXPRESSED AND ITEMIZED IN
DIRECTOR NOBLE'S FEBRUARY 23rd
EMAIL TO THIS COUNCIL, WHICH
HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY DISCUSSED
IN PUBLIC.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF
THOSE VERY REAL BARRIERS THAT
WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF, BUT
I BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL CAN
DESIGN POLICY IN RESPONSE TO.
THE NEED TO GIVE TIME FOR
PREAPPROVAL.
OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS ACTIVITIES
BY FEMA.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
REIMBURSABLE.
THE RUNNING OF A COMPETITIVE
úPROCUREMENT PROCESS TO
ESTABLISH THAT THE CITY IS
DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO GET
THE BEST POTENTIAL DEAL FOR
BENDING THE SERVICES.
AND MAKING SURE THAT THE
PROGRAMMING IS TARGETED TO
PEOPLE THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK OF
EXPOSURE TO COVID,
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE MAY BE
SOME SHELTERING PROGRAMS THAT
WILL BE FEMA REIMBURSABLE.
BUT THAT THERE CERTAINLY CAN BE
SOME, IF DESIGNED CORRECTLY, TO
TARGET SPECIFICALLY FOLKS AT
HIGH RISK OF COVID EXPOSURE AND
AT HIGH RISK OF SEVERE
COMPLICATIONS DUE TO COVID.
AMONG OTHER CONDITIONS THAT
WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN THAT EMAIL,
GIVEN THAT IT WAS CONFIRMED BY
DIRECTOR NOBLE THAT A POLICY SO
DESIGNED COULD BE PURSUED, AT
LEAST TECHNICALLY, BY THE
ADMINISTRATION TO BENEFIT FROM
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S 100%
FEMA REIMBURSEMENT. ABOVE AND
BEYOND WHAT WE ARE ALREADY
PURSUING AND APPLYING FOR, I'LL
BE WORKING THIS WEEK WITH
COLLEAGUES AND STAKEHOLDERS TO
BRING SUCH PROPOSALS FORWARD
FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
COUNCIL, AND THEN ULTIMATELY
FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
EXECUTIVE.
SO, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, AND I
WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE MORE TO SAY
ON THAT NEXT WEEK.
WHEN I GO, FIRST APPARENTLY, IN
THE ROTATING ORDER.
SO, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO SHARE
THAT LAST FRIDAY, I DID HAVE
THE PRIVILEGE FOR THE SECOND
YEAR IN A ROW, OF SITTING ON
THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THE
FINAL RECIPIENTS OF THE HARRY S
TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR,
THE TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP IS A
FEDERAL ENDOWMENT TO THE LEGACY
OF PRESIDENT TRUMAN INSTEAD OF
A STATUE OR A FORMAL MEMORIAL
TO PRESIDENT TRUMAN.
THERE IS THIS ENDOWED
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
THE SCHOLARSHIP IS AWARDED TO
ONE COLLEGE JUNIOR IN EVERY
STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
+10 AT-LARGE SCHOLARSHIPS. FOR
COLLEGE UNDERGRADS THAT SHOW AN
INTEREST IN A CAREER IN PUBLIC
SERVICE, AND AN INTEREST IN
ATTENDING GRADUATE SCHOOL TO BE
ABLE TO EFFECTUATE THEIR
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE
WITH THOSE SKILLS THEY LEARNED
IN GRADUATE SCHOOL.
I, MYSELF WAS SELECTED IN 2011.
10 YEARS AGO, AS THE WASHINGTON
STATE TRUMAN SCHOLAR.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE PROGRAM.
IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE ON A
NATIONAL LEVEL SO MANY TRUMAN
SCHOLARS THAT ARE IMPACTING
PUBLIC POLICY, MOST NOTABLY
RECENTLY STACEY ABRAMS, ALSO
MICHELLE ALEXANDER, THE WRITER
OF THE NEW JIM CROW AMONG MANY
OTHER UNDISTINGUISHED
LUMINAIRES.
IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING TO
RESUME SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
WERE STEPPING UP IN SUCH A
TURBULENT TIME.
WITH INTERVIEWS, ATTESTING THAT
THERE IS REALLY NO LIMITATION
TO WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IF WE
REALLY PUT OUR MIND TO IT.
IT WAS JUST A NICE, NICE
RESPITE BRIEFLY GIVEN THE
EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH, NOT JUST AS A
COUNSELOR, BUT AS A NATION.
APPRECIATED THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
DWIGHT DUDLEY, THE DIRECTOR OF
BUDGET, AND DEPUTY -- HIMSELF A
TRUMAN SCHOLAR SELECTED
PREVIOUSLY FOR CHAIRING THAT
PANEL AND FOR AGAIN INVITING ME
TO PARTICIPATE.
WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO
WORK THIS WEEK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD
AND CONTINUE.
>>> NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE, WELL,
I WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE WOMEN
OF SEATTLE A HAPPY
INTERNAIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AS
WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON
THE COUNCIL.
WE KNOW THAT IN SEATTLE, STILL,
WOMEN ARE MAKING ONLY 76% OF
WHAT MEN EARN ON AVERAGE.
SO, IT'S AN IMPORTANT DAY OF
THE YEAR FOR US TO REMEMBER
THAT AND CONTINUE TO WORK TO
FIX IT.
AND TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S
ACHIEVEMENTS, RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT WOMEN'S EQUALITY, LOBBY
FOR GENDER PARITY, INCLUDING
WAGE PARITY.
REALLY JUST SUPPORT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT GROW YOUNG
WOMEN LEADERS.
WE'VE GOT MANY OF THEM HERE IN
SEATTLE, WHICH MAKES ME REALLY
HAPPY.
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S CALENDAR,
THERE ARE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS
FROM THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS FOR THE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION, LGBTQ COMMISSION,
DISABILITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSIONS.
WE WILL ALSO BE REVIEWING THE
FIRST SET OF PERMANENT ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE NEW
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE ADVISORY BOARD.
SO, I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT.
THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING
HARD FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE WILL BE TUESDAY,
MARCH 16th AT 2:00 P.M.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS
AFTERNOON, I WILL BE WALKING ON
AN AMENDMENT TO ADD THE
GEORGETOWN TO SOUTH PARK TRAIL
TO THE WATCHLIST.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR AGREEING TO ALLOW
A LATE ADDITION TO THAT.
THIS WEEK, I'LL BE CONCEDING
WITH NEIGHBORS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND VARIOUS CITY
DEPARTMENTS IN THE MT. BAKER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT WE
WERE CONVENING AS MANY
DEPARTMENTS AS WE CAN TO COME,
NEIGHBORS ARE REALLY INTERESTED
TO HEAR FROM DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE A SORT OF
AN ARRAY OF DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS IN THE WORKS.
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND
OTHERS.
AS WELL AS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
FROM NEIGHBORS ABOUT HOW OUR
CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE OPERATING.
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
úHEARING FROM SBU AND PARKS.
ALSO FROM HST.
THAT WILL BE LATER THIS WEEK.
ON THURSDAY EVENING.
LASTLY, MY STAFF AND I VISITED
THE GREENBELT AND BEACON HILL.
I WANTED TO THANK THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY
SUPPORTING AND DOING A LOT OF
WORK ON THE GREEN SPACE.
SUPPORTING FRIENDS, BY COURTS,
AND THE MOUNTAIN BIKE ALLIANCE.
PERMITS ARE IMMINENT FOR THE
SOUTH PORTION OF A PROPOSED
PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE TRAIL.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T
KNOW, CHEESY IS ONE OF THE ONLY
-- IT IS THE ONLY GREEN SPACE
IN BEACON HILL THAT HAD BEEN
COMPLETELY UNUSABLE BECAUSE OF
BLACKBERRY AND ENGLISH IVY
INVASION.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS,
NEIGHBORS HAVE REMOVED SOME
80,000 SQUARE FEET, THE
BLACKBERRY AND THE ENGLISH IVY.
THEY HAVE ORGANIZED HUNDREDS OF
WORK PARTIES.
THEY'VE HAD OVER 9000
VOLUNTEERS, AND PLANTED OVER
15,000 PLANTS AND TREES
THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
ON OUR WALK LAST WEEK, WE SAW
THE KIND OF TRANSFORMATION THAT
THEY ARE BEGINNING AND REALLY
GOT A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THE
FUTURE TRAIL SPACE WOULD LOOK
LIKE.
WHAT THE WETLAND RESTORATION
WORK HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
WE ALSO SAW SEVERAL NEIGHBORS
OUT ENJOYING THE TRAILS THAT
ARE BEGINNING TO BE ESTABLISHED
THERE.
SO, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
WHO HAS WORKED SO HARD TO TURN
THAT INTO A USABLE SPACE FOR
THE COMMUNITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND OUR
NEIGHBORS AS THEY WORK TO
COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD
AND TRANSITION OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING.
>>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, GOOD MORNING,
COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS ITEM NUMBER 18.
ITEM NUMBER 18 IS THE LTG BOND
ORDINANCE SEATTLE CITY CENTER
SIGNAGE PROJECTS.
THIS WOULD AUTHORIZE AMENDING
THE 2021 MULTIPURPOSE LIMITED
TAX GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND
ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE $8 MILLION
OF FINANCING FOR THE SEATTLE
CENTER SIGNAGE UPGRADE PROJECT.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE
ARENA COMPANY WILL BE PAYING
75% OF THE PROJECT'S DEBT
SERVICE WHILE THE SEATTLE
CENTER WILL BE PAYING 25.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE WHO INCLUDED
EIGHTH AMENDMENT THAT WE
BROUGHT FORWARD.
TO THE CENTRAL STAFF, AND MY
OFFICE FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT HELPS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAUGHT A SLIGHT
IMPORTANT CHANGE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE ORIGINAL WEST SEATTLE
BOND BILL DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE
INTEREST.
WE ARE ABLE TO SAVE ABOUT $5
MILLION.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
ADDING A LONG, FEEL FREE TO
ADD ANYTHING ON.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MAKING SURE
WE ARE TAKING OUR
RESPONSIBILITY FOR FISCAL
STEWARDSHIP SERIOUSLY AND
SHOWING THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE THAT WE ARE BEING
CAUTIOUS AND WE ARE ENSURING
OVERSIGHT WITH THEIR TAX
DOLLARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
INCLUDING THAT AMENDMENT IN THE
BILL THAT IS IN FRONT OF US
TODAY.
ALSO, THERE IS AMENDMENT -- I'M
SORRY, ITEM NUMBER 18.
IT'S A RESOLUTION 31991,
RELATED TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS
WATCHLIST.
THERE WERE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT
WE INCLUDED IN COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH COLLEAGUES
FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
IT HAD UNANIMOUSLY PASSED OUT
OF COMMITTEE.
THE FIRST ONE WAS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ADDING
SMITH GO BACK TO THE LIST.
THE SECOND WAS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WHICH
WOULD REQUEST THAT EXECUTIVES
WORK WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
TO IDENTIFY TWO OR MORE THINGS
TO. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT
AMENDMENT COME FORWARD AND WILL
úBE SUPPORTING THAT.
COLLEAGUES, RELATED TO THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
REPORT, I DO WANT TO CALL YOUR
ATTENTION TO A MEMO THAT
CENTRAL STAFF SENT AROUND ON
FRIDAY.
IT WAS SENT AROUND 3:30 P.M.
AS A FOLLOW-UP TO OUR ONGOING
CONVERSATION REGARDING THE
ANTICIPATED FEDERAL FUNDING TO
SUPPORT THE CITY'S COVID
RESPONSE EFFORTS.
BOTH IN THE NEAR TERM AND THE
LONG TERM AS WE LOOK FOR A MORE
EQUITABLE RECOVERY.
ALLIE SENT THE PROMISE, CENTRAL
STAFF MEMO, WHICH SHE DISCUSSED
IN CENTRAL STAFF MEMBERS
DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE, THANKS
AS WELL TO FOR FEATURING THIS
AS WELL AS YOLANDA.
WHO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THEY WERE DOING ONGOING
ANALYSIS OF WHAT THEY
ANTICIPATED THE FEDERAL RELIEF
DOLLARS WOULD MEAN FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
THEY HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON
THAT PROMISE.
THE MEMO IS 13 PAGES AND I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A SECOND
TO READ IT.
AGAIN, THIS ONE TO ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS BECAUSE WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY ON
COUNCIL HAS ALL OF THE UP-TO-
DATE INFORMATION REGARDING THE
FEDERAL STIMULUS AND RELIEF
PROPOSAL.
THANKS AGAIN TO THE OIR TEAM
FOR MAC THEIR QUICK OVERVIEW
THIS MORNING AT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR HER COMMENTS AS
WELL.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN
THIS MEMO, THERE IS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE
COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER AND SHOULD
CONSIDER A POTENTIAL FUTURE
DECISION IN ANTICIPATION OF THE
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL DOLLARS
COMING OUR WAY.
IT OUTLINES IMPORTANT STEPS FOR
OUR CONSIDERATION ONLY CONSIDER
HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES ARE
REFLECTED IN THE DEPLOYMENT AND
ALLOCATION OF THOSE FEDERAL
DOLLARS.
I WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE IS
TWO ITEMS THAT ARE UNDERWAY
RIGHT NOW RELATED TO THE
FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE.
THE $1.9 TRILLION PACKAGE.
FIRST IS A RESOLUTION.
WE DISCUSSED THIS RESOLUTION IN
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
THIS RESOLUTION HELPS TO
IDENTIFY COUNCIL PRIORITIES,
AND GENERAL CONCEPTS,
CATEGORIES, THAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE THE CITY FUND AS WE
EXPECT TO RECEIVE THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE READY TO IMPLEMENT THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
WE DISCUSSED IN THE MARCH 2nd
MEETING THAT THERE ARE GENERAL
CATEGORIES LIKE SMALL BUSINESS
SUPPORT, CHILDCARE, IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE, FOOD
ASSISTANCE, THERE WAS ABOUT A
CATEGORIES THAT YOU WILL SEE IN
THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS
CIRCULATED.
AGAIN, WE ASKED FOR ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS DRAFT RESOLUTION AND
PROVIDE US WITH FEEDBACK BY
THURSDAY.
LAST WEEK.
YOU DID.
MANY OF YOU DID PROVIDE THAT.
WE ARE NOT PUTTING IT ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR THIS WEEK BECAUSE WE
ARE TRYING TO INCORPORATE ALL
THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED ON
THIS RESOLUTION.
WITH YOUR FEEDBACK, WE WILL BE
INCORPORATING THAT INTO A DRAFT
RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IN THE APPROPRIATE
TIME.
FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT
PUBLISHED IN ACCORDANCE TO OUR
COUNCIL ROLES.
WE WILL THEN HAVE IT ON MONDAY
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK
WE'VE RECEIVED ALREADY, AND IF
YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO LOOK
YET AT THAT RESOLUTION, AGAIN
THESE SORT OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
LOFTY GOALS, PLEASE DO TAKE A
LOOK AND PROVIDE A CENTRAL
STAFF WITH ANY FEEDBACK THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PART
INTRODUCTION.
THE GOAL IS TO GET ALL THAT
INPUT PRODUCT INTRODUCTION.
THE SECOND THING WE ARE WORKING
ON HIS ACTUAL LEGISLATION.
THE SECOND IS A CENTRAL STAFF
WILL BE WORKING WITH
LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZE THE
EXPENDITURE OF THE ANTICIPATED
DIRECT AID ALLOCATED TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FROM THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF
2021.
THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE ACTUAL
LEGISLATION, A SPEND DIRECTIVE
IF YOU WILL.
AN ORDINANCE THAT EXPLICITLY
TALKS ABOUT WHERE WE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE THOSE GOOD DOLLARS GO.
DIFFERENT FROM A RESOLUTION.
THE REASON WE ARE NOT
INTRODUCING THAT YET IS THAT
THERE ARE STILL DETAILS TO BE
WORKED OUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THE FULL BILL IN FRONT OF
US AS SIGNS, OR AS PASSED OUT
OF CONGRESS AND INTO
ANTICIPATED SIGNATURE FROM THE
PRESIDENT AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW
WE WILL ALLOCATE THE DOLLARS.
THE ANTICIPATED AMOUNT, AGAIN,
IS AROUND $221 MILLION AS OF
LAST WEEK.
AS ROBIN MENTIONED THIS MORNING,
WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THE
DETAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN
FRONT OF US BEFORE WE DO THE
LEGISLATION DRAFTING TO PUT THE
FINE POINTS IN THAT ORDINANCE.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AS I WANT
TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN
THOSE TWO.
BOTH THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL
BE FINALIZED AND WORKED ON, AND
THEN THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION SO
THAT WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT
WILL BE DRAFTED AND WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH YOU THAT WEEK OF
THE 15th.
WE HAVE A LONGER RUNWAY FOR
THAT.
IF YOU DO HAVE SPECIFIC
PROPOSALS OR IDEAS THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT OUR
EITHER ALREADY PERCOLATING, FOR
THE USE OF THAT FEDERAL STIMULUS
, THAT SUPPORT FOR COVID
RELIEF, PLEASE DO NOT CENTRAL
STAFF NO PACK IT IS REALLY
HELPFUL TO GET SPECIFIC IDEAS
FOR FUNDING IN THE HOPPER WITH
CENTRAL STAFF NOW AS A DRAFT
THAT ORDINANCE.
PLEASE BE SURE TO EMAIL ALLIE
AS THEY ARE BEGINNING TO
COMPILE A LIST OF VARIOUS
PRIORITIES FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
AND CENTRAL STAFF IS ABLE TO DO
THE REVIEW.
AND ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE ITEM CAN GET CONSIDERED IN
THE LEGISLATURE.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF UPDATE ON THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AS
DISCUSSED THIS MORNING AGAIN BY
OUR OIR TEAM.
THIS WEEK, THE SENATE, THIS
WEEKEND THE SENATE MAINTAINED
THE $350 BILLION FOR STATES,
MEETS THE POLITIES, COUNTIES,
TRIBES AND TERRITORIES.
THIS MEANS THAT $130 BILLION
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS SPLIT
EVENLY BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES
AND COUNTIES.
THIS WILL BE RELEASED IN TWO
TRENCHES.
HALF OF IT WILL BE AN
ENACTMENT, AND HALF OF IT WILL
BE 12 MONTHS FOLLOWING THE
RECEIPT OF THE FIRST PAYMENT.
$55 BILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED
TO CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES
THROUGH THE MODIFIED FORMULA.
$45.5 BILLION WILL BE FOR
ENTITLEMENTS FOR COMMUNITIES
WITH POPULATIONS OVER 50,000.
$19.5 MILLION FOR NON-
ENTITLEMENT COMMUNITIES WITH
LESS THAN 5000 POPULATION.
THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE
ON THIS AS EARLY AS TOMORROW
AND THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO
BE SIGNING IT INTO LOBBY FOR
THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
EXPIRE ON MARCH 14th.
WHILE WE ARE STILL AWAITING
FINAL ALLOCATION NUMBERS, I
WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF OUR
OIR TEAM, ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR
DETAILED REPORTS THAT YOU'VE
BEEN SENDING OUR WAY AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK AS WELL THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES THAT
PROVIDED THIS UPDATE THAT I'M
READING FROM, AND ALSO NOTE
THAT THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE, WHICH I AM A MEMBER
OF, AND IS STAFFED BY STEPHANIE
MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDING
REGULAR REAL-TIME UPDATES,
WHILE ALSO HOSTING THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE OF CITIES.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND
REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR ONGOING
OVERSIGHT OVER THE VARIOUS
ACTIONS IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
PROVIDING CITIES LIKE OURS THE
DETAILS.
WHILE THESE ARE NOT FINAL
DETAILS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE
SENDING US REGULAR UPDATES AND
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE AVENUES TO
GET THAT INFORMATION.
HAPPY TO CIRCULATE THAT AROUND
AS WELL.
OUR NEXT FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE WILL BE ON TUESDAY,
MARCH 16, AT 9:30 A.M.
WE WILL PLAN TO INTRODUCE THE
SPENDING LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, THE ORDINANCE, THAT SAME
WEEK.
WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED IF
THERE IS ANY CHANGE IN THE
AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT, BUT
AGAIN THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE
PASSED BY -- BEFORE THE 14th OF
MARCH.
APPRECIATE YOU, COLLEAGUES.
I WANTED TO ALSO, FOR THOSE WHO
DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO JOIN US,
WE INVITED THE FULL COUNCIL.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL HAD
ACCESS TO THE POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION THAT CENTRAL STAFF
PROVIDED AS AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT
WAS DISCUSSE FROM THE CBO'S
OFFICE THE PRIOR MEETING.
CENTRAL STAFF DID A GREAT JOB
THROUGH THEIR POWERPOINT OF
WALKING TO THE VARIOUS EXPECTED
DOLLARS AND HOW THAT COULD
AFFECT OUR CURRENT SPENDING
ALLOCATION FOR COVID RELIEF.
ALSO INTO THE FUTURE YEARS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION ON SLIDE SEVEN AND
EIGHT, I THINK IT'S AN
IMPORTANT SORT OF OFF ON THE
LAND.
WE DID HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT
THE ANALYSIS THAT CENTRAL STAFF
PROVIDED ON THE SECURE
FINANCIAL PLAN.
IN THOSE SLIDES, HE REALLY
ILLUSTRATES THAT THE ORDINANCES
THAT WE HAVE BEEN PASSING
RELATED TO SPECIFIC SPEND
REQUIREMENTS AND ORDINANCE
119811, AND FURTHER DETAILED IN
RESOLUTION 31957, WHICH WAS
RELATED TO SPENDING RELATED TO
THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL TAX
REVENUE.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION IF YOU WILL ABOUT HOW
THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD BE
ALLOCATED IN THE OUT YEARS AND
I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT
DOCUMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT
BECAUSE IT DOES SIGNAL FOR ME,
AND INTEREST IN MAKING SURE
THAT WE PUT SOME MORE FIRM
SIDEBOARDS AROUND HOW WE
ANTICIPATED THE USE OF THOSE
JUMPSTART DOLLARS TO BE USED IN
THE FUTURE.
I REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL
HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN THIS
TIME OF COVID AND THE IMPACT ON
OUR REVENUE FORECAST.
I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
US TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF
INTEGRITY IN THE CONVERSATIONS
THAT WE HAVE WITH THOSE THAT
SUPPORTED THE PASSAGE OF
JUMPSTART, INCLUDING LARGE AND
SMALL BUSINESS.
LABOR, HOUSING, TRANSIT.
FOOD AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELPED TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE PASSAGE
OF JUMPSTART, AND WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT SPEND PLAN
REALLY ADHERES TO THE INITIAL
OUT LOAN THAT COUNCIL PUT
FORWARD.
I'M GOING TO BE CONSIDERING
SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO PUT
ON YOUR RADAR.
IN ADDITION TO THE CLEAR
DIRECTIVE THAT WE PUT IN
ORDINANCE 119 A1, AND
RESOLUTION 31957.
I AM GOING TO BE LOOKING TO
WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND
WITH CENTRAL STAFF IN
ANTICIPATION OF OUR BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS THIS YEAR TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED A
STRATEGY TO HAVE FINANCIAL
POLICIES AND A JUMPSTART
PAYROLL TAX FUND THAT WILL
ENSURE THE COUNCIL'S INTENT IS
ADHERED TO, AND THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO TRANSPARENTLY TRACK
REVENUE SOURCES THAT ARE BEING
USED FOR VARIOUS PRIORITIES.
THIS WILL INCLUDE FINANCIAL
POLICIES THAT WILL NOT ONLY
ALLOW THE USE OF THE PAYROLL
JUMPSTART REVENUES IN 2022, AND
BEYOND, TO SUPPORT SERVICES DUE
TO PANDEMIC INDUCED REVENUE
LOSSES, BASED REVENUE CONTINUES
TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT
ARE BASED SERVICES.
WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT BASED
REVENUES BEGIN TO RECOVER,
THOSE RESOURCES WILL BE USED TO
SUPPORT A SERVICES PRESERVING
THE LARGER SHARE OF THE PAYROLL
TAX FOR THE COUNCIL'S INTENDED
USE DESCRIBED IN THIS JUMPSTART
SPENDING ORDINANCES.
JUST A QUICK HEADS UP ON THAT.
IN TERMS OF UPDATES.
IN TERMS OF EVENTS AND ON OUR
CALENDAR.
I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS AT
THE SWEDISH COVID VACCINE
CLINIC AND THE SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY.
I NOTED BEFORE THE LARGE NUMBER
OF VOLUNTEERS, BOTH MEDICAL AND
NONMEDICAL VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE
PROVIDED A TREMENDOUS SERVICE
TO OUR CITY BY SIGNING UP TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR MOST
PROBABLE HAD ACCESS TO COVID
VACCINE.
THANKS TO THE SWEDISH COVID
CLINIC AND VOLUNTEER CREW.
THEY SERVED OVER THE -- THEY
SERVED FOLKS OVER 40,000 HOURS
IN THE CLINICS.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL OF
THEIR WORK.
THEY DID NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY
THAT SWEDISH HAS FULLY
TRANSITIONED THE VOLUNTEER
OVERSIGHT TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
SWEDISH WILL NOT BE MAINTAINING
THEIR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
GOING FORWARD.
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WILL
CONTINUE. THE NEXT VACCINATION
SITE WILL BE A LUMEN FIELD.
MID-MARCH.
SWEDISH WILL STILL HAVE A
CLINIC IN BOWMAN ALONGSIDE MANY
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SEATTLE
AREA AND MORE INFORMATION CAN
BE FOUND AT SEATTLE.GOVéVACCINE.
JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR
THEIR WORK IN HELPING TO GET SO
MANY FOLKS TRAINED UP TO BE OUR
VOLUNTEER BASE.
AS WE LOOK TO VACCINATE MORE
FOLKS.
LAST WEEK, I ALSO HAVE THE
CHANCE TO WATCH THE OLD FELLA
TALKS PROGRAM.
I WILL BE FEATURING THIS ON
TUESDAY ALERTS THAT GO OUT
TOMORROW.
THIS IS A SERIES OF VIDEOS AND
COMMUNICATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC
ON SPECIFIC TOPICS CENTERING ON
-- CENTERING FOLKS ON ISSUES OF
RACE, AND HEALTH INEQUITIES.
THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM RESIDENTS,
PROFESSIONALS, AND
ORGANIZATIONS.
LAST WEEK'S ISSUE WAS
HEALTHCARE AND RACISM.
IT WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE.
I HOPE THAT YOU DO GET A CHANCE
TO WATCH THE RECORDED VERSION
THAT WE WILL PUT IN OUR TUESDAY
ALERT TOMORROW.
LAST WEEK I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND
TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A
CONTINUED UPGRADE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITY
FOR DENSITY.
THAT WE ARE CREATING
STREAMLINED PROCESSES FOR
BUILDING, HOUSING OF ALL TYPES
AND ALL AFFORDABILITY ACROSS
OUR CITY.
I WANT TO FEATURE THAT THIS
WEEK I WILL BE ATTENDING THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE HERE AND
THERE WHERE WE CAN.
THANKS AGAIN TO BE AN LC FOR
THEIR ONGOING WORK TO HELP
CONNECT CITIES ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
TOMORROW, I'M GOING TO BE
HELPING BOX GROCERIES WITH THE
FOLKS AT THE BEACON HILL
METHODIST CHURCH.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT
UNCLE FRANK HAS REACHED OUT TO
ME TO PARTICIPATE IN TO HAND
OUT MEALS TO SENIORS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW, FRANK, HE IS
A COFOUNDER AND FREQUENTLY
WROTE IN THE ASIAN FAMILY
AFFAIRS NEWSPAPER DURING ITS 14
YEAR RUN.
HE SERVED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF WASHINGTON ASIAN-PACIFIC
ISLANDER FAMILIES AGAINST
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND NOW THAT HE
IS RETIRED HE CONTINUES TO
FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HE
WAS AWARDED RECENTLY IN THE
LAST FEW YEARS, BY THE KING
COUNTY COUNCIL, FOR ALL OF HIS
WORK ON EDUCATION, RACIAL
JUSTICE, AND LABOR ACTIVISM.
I'LL BE JOINING HIM TOMORROW TO
BOX LUNCHES TO SERVE OUR
SENIORS.
FINALLY, SPEAKING OF UNCLE
FRANK, I WANTED TO THANK HIM.
I WANTED TO THANK OTHER PEOPLE.
THE CHINESE INFORMATION AND
SERVICES CENTER WHO WORK WITH
MY TEAM AND CENTRAL STAFF TO
DRAFT THE STATEMENT THAT I SENT
AROUND CONDEMNING ANTI-ASIAN
HATE CRIMES ON THE RISE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
CONNECTING US ABOUT THE ONGOING
ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES THAT WE
ARE SEEING, NOT JUST IN
SEATTLE, BUT ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
TOGETHER, WE HAVE WORKED TO
DRAFT A STATEMENT AND SENT THAT
TO YOU OVER THE WEEKEND TO GET
FEEDBACK FROM ALL OF THESE
WONDERFUL COMMUNITY LEADERS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF SIGNING ONTO THE STATEMENT.
WE WILL, WITH YOUR APPROVAL
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO SIGN
ON, WE WILL INCLUDE YOUR
SIGNATURE AND PUT IT ON COUNCIL
LETTERHED AND SHARE IT WITH
VARIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WHILE THIS IS NOT A RESOLUTION
OR PROCLAMATION, AT THE REQUEST
OF MANY IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS
IS A STATEMENT AND A FULL SORT
OF CONDEMNATION OF THE VIOLENCE
THAT HAS ESCALATED AGAINST OUR
ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN
SEATTLE, AND PART OF OUR
ONGOING EFFORTS TO FURTHER
INVEST IN UPSTREAM INVESTMENTS
TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
WITH ONGOING ESCALATING
VIOLENCE, THE STATEMENT IS A
MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY AND
CONDEMNATION OF THESE HATEFUL
RACIST ACTS.
IT WAS ALSO NOTED OVER THE
WEEKEND IN A CONVERSATION, THAT
THIS IS UNFORTUNATE NOT NEW.
SHE EXPLAINED THE FOLLOWING.
HISTORICALLY SEATTLE
PARTICIPATED AND EVEN LED
VIOLENT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
ASIAN COMMUNITIES.
NATIONAL ANTI-CHINESE SENTIMENT
WAS VERY MAINSTREAM AND SEATTLE
PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
ESCALATING THE HATE 136 YEARS
AGO.
SEATTLE LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME,
INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS AND
LABOR LEADERS, MARCHED HUNDREDS
OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS DOWN TO
THE WATERFRONT AND SHIPPED THEM
OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO.
FAST-FORWARD, IN 2010, A
PROMINENT WOMAN LED A MARCH
FROM CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT TO THE DOCK AT THE
FOOT OF WASHINGTON STREET.
IN COMMEMORATION OF WHAT
HAPPENED.
THIS TIME, ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND LABOR LEADERS JOINED IN AND
SUPPORT AND SUB ALIBERTI.
WHEN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
REMOVED 120,000 PEOPLE OF
JAPANESE ANCESTRY TO AMERICAN
CONCENTRATION CAMPS, IT WAS THE
PEOPLE OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND'S
AND THE CREEPERS WHO STOOD UP
FOR THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY.
THE WORKERS WHO WERE DISPATCHED
FROM SEATTLE TO WORK IN THE
ALASKA FISH CANNERIES HAD TO
FORM THEIR OWN UNION BECAUSE OF
RACISM IN THE LARGER SEATTLE
UNION.
THAT CONTINUED FOR DECADES AND
CONGRESSIONAL ACTIONS REQUIRE
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1991
WAS NEEDED TO NULLIFY A SUPREME
COURT DECISION DISCOUNTING THAT
DISCRIMINATION.
SHE NOTES SEATTLE HAD ALSO BEEN
PART OF RACIAL HEALING.
AFTER THE FALL OF SAIGON,
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON STATE
WERE NATIONAL LEADERS AND
WELCOMING REFUGEES FROM
CAMBODIA AND LAOS, AS WELL AS
VIETNAM.
AFTER I-95 WAS BUILT, THE
EASTERN PORTION WAS CUT OFF
FROM THE REST -- AND
DETERIORATED UNTIL REFUGEES
BUILT LITTLE SAIGON AS A CENTER
OF THEIR BUSINESS DISTRICT.
THE EMERGENCY CENTER WAS
FOUNDED DECADES AGO TO PROTECT
THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE
SAFETY OF ELDERS FROM THE KIND
OF HATE CRIMES THAT INCREASED
OVER 150% IN 2020.
THE SEATTLE FALLOUT OF THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE
SUBSEQUENT DEMONSTRATIONS AND
OCCUPATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
HIT THE CID HARD.
DUE TO RACISM AND HATE,
RESTAURANTS SUFFERED GREATLY
DURING THE COVID SHUTDOWN.
PEOPLE JUST STAYED AWAY FROM
THE CID ENTIRELY.
AS FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANTS AND
OTHERS SMALL BUSINESSES
STRUGGLE TO PROTECT THEIR
BUSINESSES, LOCAL SUPPORT WAS
OVERWHELMING AND SEATTLE.
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
TRUCKS APPEARED AND ARTISTS AND
VOLUNTEERS RUSHED FORWARD TO
CREATE MURALS THAT WOULD BRING
JOY TO THE PAIN CAUSED BY COVID.
PROMINENT ARTISTS AND TOTAL
NOVICES PAINTED QUOTES AND
TRIBUTES TO BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS
úLEADERS AND ICONS WITHIN THE
API COMMUNITY AS WELL.
NEARLY 9 MONTHS LATER, MOST OF
THESE MURALS REMAIN ON THE
BUSINESSES AS THE BUSINESSES
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OPENING
AND STILL STRUGGLING TO
SURVIVE.
SO, WE CAN'T REDO HISTORY SHE
SAYS, BUT SEATTLE CAN, AND
MUST, PLAY A KEY ROLE IN
STOPPING THE HATE CRIMES
AGAINST THE API COMMUNITY AND
LEAVE THE RACIAL HEALING FOR
OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE
FOLKS WHO WORKED ON THE
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT AND
PROVIDED YOUR INPUT.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
TODAY FOR SIGNING ONTO THE
STAFF STATEMENT.
I HOPE THIS STATEMENT WILL SHOW
OUR SOLIDARITY FOR THE API
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE
OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SIGN ON.
WE DO HAVE TO DO THAT IN OPEN
SESSION.
WOULD YOU LIKE THAT TO OCCUR
NOW?
>> YES PLEASE, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY, SO COLLEAGUES, THE
LETTER AS DESCRIBED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I ASKED THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROAD TO CONFIRM WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER SIGNATURES MAY BE
AFFIXED.
BEFORE I CALL FOR THE ROLE
FORMALLY, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LETTER AS
DESCRIBED?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE
AFFIXED TO THE SOLIDARITY WITH
THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
LETTER?
>> WHEREAS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS QUESTION MARK
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER WAR AS ONE MORE
TIME?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WAR IS MATT?
>> WE ARE NOT HEARING FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS
TECHNICAL ISSUES OR NOT.
GO AHEAD.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S REPORT?
REALLY QUICKLY, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, SORT OF AT THE VERY
TOP OF YOUR REPORT, YOU TALKED
ABOUT A RESOLUTION AND
LEGISLATION RELATED TO SOME OF
THE FEDERAL FUNDING ISSUES.
I WASN'T QUITE TRACKING YOUR
TIMELINE FOR THOSE.
I HEARD YOU MENTION MONDAY, BUT
I DON'T KNOW WHICH MONDAY
YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO HAVE
AN INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL.
THEN, WHICH SORT OF MONDAY
WOULD BE SET FOR, IN YOUR MIND,
FULL COUNCIL ACTION.
I KNOW THAT YOU AND MEMBERS OF
YOUR OFFICE ARE ENGAGING
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBER
OFFICES, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT
ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, IT'S
ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE
AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY
FOR THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO ARE INTERESTED
IN WEIGHING IN ON THOSE PIECES
OF LEGISLATION.
SO, I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET
THAT THAT PART OF THE PROCESS
THAT DOES REQUIRE US TO PUBLISH
THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND
, IN DOING SO, ALLOWING MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND,
REVIEW, AND ALSO PROVIDE US ON
SOME OF THEIR FEEDBACK OR
REACTION OR RESPONSE TO THOSE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
SO, CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME A
LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY IN TERMS
OF THE TIMELINE RELATED TO
THOSE THINGS?
>> YES, THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
ON THE RESOLUTION, WE DID
DISCUSS THE DRAFT ON MARCH 2nd.
IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE
COMMITTEE MINUTES THAT WERE
CIRCULATED, AND I BELIEVE
POSTED AS WELL, ONLINE.
SORRY THAT WE DID NOT GET IT ON
AN UPDATED AGENDA THAT WAS SENT
OUT.
WE DO HAVE THAT OUT THERE IN
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
OUR HOPE IS TO GET YOUR
FEEDBACK, COLLEAGUES, THIS
WEEK, EARLY THIS WEEK, TODAY OR
TOMORROW.
THEN, HAVE THAT OFFICIALLY
INTRODUCED, ACCORDING TO I
BELIEVE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE
TIMELINE FOR INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL IF I'M NOT WRONG, IS
USUALLY ON WEDNESDAY SO THAT IT
CAN BE ON THE OFFICIAL
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL ON
FRIDAY.
THEN, WITH THE RESOLUTION, IF
THERE IS INTEREST BY THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THE
COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, I WOULD
LOVE TO SEE THAT PASS ON MAY
15th AS A RESOLUTION.
IF THERE IS A DESIRE FOR
ADDITIONAL TIME, I THINK THAT
WE ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU
AND THE FULL COUNCIL ON THE
RESOLUTION'S FINAL PASSAGE.
WE WOULD BE INTRODUCING IT THIS
WEEK, AND HAVE IT ON THE
OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
AS IT RELATES TO THE ORDINANCE,
WE WOULD BE DRAFTING THAT AND
HAVE A DRAFT FOR CONSIDERATION
AT OUR MARCH 16th MEETING.
WITH THE ANTICIPATED PASSAGE OF
THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE AT OUR
FIRST MEETING IN APRIL.
THAT'S I BELIEVE THE TIMELINE.
I WILL DOUBLE CHECK WITH
CENTRAL STAFF AND I WILL REFER
BACK TO THE MEMO AS WELL TO
UPDATE MY NOTES THAT THAT IS MY
ANTICIPATED TIMEFRAME.
TO HAVE TWO MEETINGS TO DISCUSS
THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE BEFORE IT
COMES TO FULL COUNCIL.
>> OKAY.
ON THE RESOLUTION, I WOULD LIKE
TO ASK THAT THAT BE INTRODUCED
AND PLACED ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR FOR THE
15th, BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO
HOLD ACTION UNTIL AFTER THE
15th.
I'M FINE IF THAT IS THE 22nd.
BUT, I AM WORKING, AS YOU HEARD,
THE FOLKS FROM OIR MENTIONED,
THAT I'M WORKING ON FINALIZING
A DATE FOR THEM TO COME AND
BRIEF THE FULL COUNCIL ON WHAT
IS IN THAT STIMULUS PACKAGE.
I THINK EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT
TO COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE
VIEWING MEMBERS PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDING SORT OF THE
FULLER CONTEXT OF OUR
CONSIDERATION OF THIS
RESOLUTION AND EVENTUALLY THE
ORDINANCE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT LESLIE
FROM OUR FEDERAL LOBBYING TEAM
IS ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS NOW
OF DRAFTING A VERY DETAILED
MEMORANDUM THAT WILL NOT BE
AVAILABLE TO COUNCILMEMBERS
UNTIL WEDNESDAY, THIS WEEK.
SO, I THINK THERE MAY BE
INFORMATION IN THAT PARTICULAR
MEMO THAT MAY, AGAIN, BE
INFORMATIVE TO INDIVIDUAL
COUNCILMEMBERS AS THEY ARE
EVALUATING BOTH LANGUAGE THEY
MIGHT HAVE, MIGHT WANT INCLUDED
IN THE RESOLUTION, BUT MAY NOT
HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET INTO IT
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO COMPLY WITH
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
REFERRAL PROCESS.
OR, HELP TO INFORM
COUNCILMEMBERS IN IDENTIFYING
PRIORITIES THAT THEY MIGHT WANT
TO FLY FOR COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF FOR PURPOSES OF
INCLUDING IN THE ORDINANCE, THE
LEGISLATION, THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO SHEPHERD THROUGH YOUR
COMMITTEE.
STARTING MID-MARCH, THROUGH THE
BEGINNING OF APRIL.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SLOW US DOWN
A LITTLE BIT TO ALLOW US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT
INFORMATION.
NOT ALL OF US ARE THE CHAIR OF
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, SO THAT
MEANS WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF A STEEPER LEARNING CURVE
THAN YOU DO.
IN TERMS OF GETTING UP TO SPEED
ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
SO, IF WE COULD HAVE JUST A
LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE TO DO
SOME OF THAT DUE DILIGENCE, I
THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
BOTH TO THE FULL COUNSELOR, BUT
ALSO TO ME PERSONALLY AS I'M
LOOKING TO CATCH UP ON THESE
ISSUES AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I THINK THAT THAT IS A TOTALLY
REASONABLE REQUEST.
WE WILL STILL PLAN TO WORK WITH
ALL OF YOU TO GET YOUR EDITS
INTO THE RESOLUTION.
AGAIN, HIGH-LEVEL GOALS,
CATEGORIES, HAVE THAT
INTRODUCED OFFICIALLY AT THE
END OF THIS WEEK.
IN TIME FOR THE OFFICIAL
PUBLICATION FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR ON FRIDAY.
SO IT WILL BE ON FOR MONDAY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, PER YOUR
REQUEST, WE WILL THEN HAVE A
WEEK TO SORT OF CONSIDER,
DISCUSS, AND THEN MULL OVER THE
SUMMARIES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM
THE FEDERAL PARTNERS AS WELL.
THEN, COLLEAGUES, THAT WILL
INITIATE DRAFTING LEGISLATION.
WE WILL HAVE SORT OF BOTH GOING
AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WE WILL
HAVE A MUCH LONGER TIMEFRAME
FOR THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE.
BUT, WE WOULD STILL APPRECIATE
YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY AS IT
SOUNDS LIKE WE WANT TO BE QUICK
IN GETTING THOSE DOLLARS OUT,
AND THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOUR
SUGGESTION STILL ALLOWS US THAT
SENSE OF URGENCY.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ON THE FINAL PRESENCE
OF THE RESOLUTION ON THE 25th.
>> THE LAST THING ON THE
ORDINANCE IS, I UNDERSTAND YOU
WANT TO HAVE A COMMITTEE
HEARING ON THAT.
YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE HEARING.
I'M ON YOUR COMMITTEE.
SO, WE HAVE A MEETING OF YOUR
COMMITTEE ON THE 16th.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT THE DRAFT
ORDINANCE, AGAIN BE REFLECTED
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR ON THE 15th.
IS THAT THE PLAN?
>> I BELIEVE THAT IS THE PLAN,
YES.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DON'T -- THAT WE ARE
NOT TALKING ABOUT A DRAFT ON
THE 16th.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE SORT OF SOMETHING
INTRODUCED, UNDERSTANDING THAT
IT'S A DRAFT AND IT MAY CHANGE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
THAT ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR FOR THE 15th.
>> I WILL FOLLOW UP AND WE WILL
STRIVE TO MAKE THAT AFFIRMATIVE
SO THAT WE GET THE DRAFT.
EVEN IF IT IS IN DRAFT FORM, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE IT AND
HAVE IT OFFICIALLY ON THE
CALENDAR.
I WANT TO THANK ALLIE AND OTHERS
WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING THE
EFFORT WITH AMY AS WELL AS
OTHERS ON CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALL
OF THEIR WORK.
TRACY AS WELL.
SHE HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK ON
THE HOUSING PIECE.
SIX CENTRAL STAFF FOLKS HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS EFFORT SO
FAR.
WE WILL CIRCLE BACK AND MAKE
SURE WE GET THAT REQUEST
FOLLOWED THROUGH ON.
>> GRADES.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS ON THIS REPORT?
IF NOT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GO
DOWN THE LINE.
HEARING NONE, COUNCILMMBER
PEDERSEN IS NEXT, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, GOOD MORNING.
OUR TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS TWO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
COUNCIL BILL 120009 ALLOCATES
THE ONE-TIME RESERVE FUNDING
LEFT OVER FROM THE 2014
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT.
TO MOVE AHEAD WITH ALREADY
APPROVED TRANSIT RELATED
PROJECTS.
THE EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED THIS
PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN FOR THE
REVENUE FROM THE $60 VEHICLE
LICENSE FEES BACK ON FEBRUARY
1st.
THE PLAN RECENTLY SECURED THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH OVERSEES
SPENDING OF THE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT.
LEGISLATION WAS RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY THE COMMITTEE.
RESOLUTION 31988 GRANTS
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO CREATE A
SMALL PUBLIC PLAZA.
THIS PARTNERSHIP AMONG THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, LOCAL BUSINESSES,
AND CITY GOVERNMENT BETTER
IDENTIFIES THE HANDFUL OF
PARKING SPACES IN THE EAST LAKE
NEVER SERVED..
WE HAD A THOROUGH PRESENTATION
NOW COMMITTEE.
THE PROJECT IS SOMETHING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN WORKING
ON WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS LEGISLATION, THIS
RESOLUTION WAS RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE CENTRAL STAFF MEMOS
THAT ACCOMPANY BOTH PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
OUR NEXT MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17th AT 9:30
A.M.
IN DISTRICT 4, OVER THE WEEKEND
ARE TOURED THE SMALL BUSINESS
DISTRICT WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT OF DISTRICT 4. I USED
TO WORK THERE FOR 4 YEARS.
IT WAS GREAT TO WALK HER WITH
THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP.
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP IS A PROGRAM
MANAGER ORGANIZATION FOR THE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA.
RECENTLY, WE WORKED HARD WITH
LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
DISTRICT AND WITH OUR OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO RENEW
THE BIA FOR THE NEW DISTRICT.
MORE BIA'S WILL BE UP FOR
RENEWAL.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS 10 BIAS
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY WERE
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES -- THE
DISTRICT LAND ROVERS CHARGE
THEMSELVES ADDITIONAL FEES TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CLEANING,
SECURITY, AND MARKETING AS THEY
STRUGGLE TO PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES.
MANY OF WHICH ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF MULTIYEAR COMMERCIAL LEASES
AND EAGER TO REOPEN FULLY AND
REHIRE ALL THEIR WORKERS.
THE BIAS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT AS A BACKSTOP AND
ANCHOR DURING THE COVID
PANDEMIC AS THEY ASSIST IN THE
HOMELESSNESS, COMMERCIAL
BURGLARIES, AND EFFORTS TO KEEP
THE AREAS CLEAN IN HOPES OF
ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS BACK TO
THEIR BUSINESSES.
WITHIN THE CORE OF THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT, WAS A 65%
OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
OWNED BY WOMEN OR PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND I
DISCUSSED MANY ISSUES SUCH AS
PREVENTING ECONOMIC
DISPLACEMENT.
BOTH OF STRUGGLING SMALL
BUSINESSES AS WELL AS RESIDENTS
IN NATURALLY OCCURRING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR
CITY GOVERNMENT TO WORK HARDER
TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
ENABLES EXISTING SMALL
BUSINESSES TO THRIVE AND REHIRE
THEIR WORKERS.
WE ARE ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THE FORTHCOMING OPENING OF THE
SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL
STATION IN SEPTEMBER AT
BROOKLYN AVENUE.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE
STATION AT ROOSEVELT AND
NORTHGATE.
SPEAKING OF TRANSPORTATION, IT
WAS GREAT TO SEE GOVERNOR INSLEE
IN OUR DISTRICT FOR THIS PAST
FRIDAY.
WITH THE AGING UNIVERSITY
BRIDGE AS A BACKDROP, A BRIDGE
RANGE FOR BY A RECENT AUTO OF
SEATTLE'S BRIDGES.
THE GOVERNOR SPOKE ABOUT THE
NEED TO INVEST IN
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
HE SAID QUOTE, NOW WE NEED TO
GET OUR ROADS, BRIDGES, AND
FAIRIES, ALL THESE THINGS ARE
NECESSARY FOR THE REBUILDING OF
WASHINGTON STATE'S ECONOMY.
WE MEET TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS
FIRST IN THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR
EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
IT IS WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED.
NATIONALLY, THE NEW U.S.
TRANSPORTATION SUCH A CRITIQUE,
PETE BUTTIGIEG, ALSO PUNCTUATED
PRESERVATION.
HE SAID QUOTE, FIX IT FIRST IS
GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT
MANTRA FOR US.
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME
SIZZLE AS DOING SOMETHING NEW,
BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE DOING BOTH.
YOU LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF SO
MANY ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT BACKLOG TO
CONTINUE.
END QUOTE.
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WE ALREADY
HAVE OUR AUDIT OF SEATTLE'S
BRIDGES.
WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.
NOW, I HOPE YOU PRIORITIZE AND
DO IT.
THAT MEANS FUNDING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ANYTHING THE
EXECUTIVE CAN DO NOW WITH ANY
UPDATES TO THE CITY BUDGET OR
OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ADD.
I AM A BOARD MEMBER ON SOUND
TRANSIT.
SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG IS GOING TO
BE FOCUSING ON IMPROVING RACIAL
EQUITY IN TRANSPORTATION.
WHICH IS GOING TO BE ONE OF HIS
PLATFORMS, WHICH IS VERY
EXCITING.
WE ALL KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION
, TRANSPORTATION IS FINE,
ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, ACCESSES
OPPORTUNITY TO HEALTHCARE,
JOBS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT
PIECE AND I'M REALLY MEANING
THAT I'M HAVING MY STAFF LOOK
INTO IT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR EVERYTHING, ALL
THE TIME.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I'M TRYING NOT TO CHUCKLE
THROUGH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY NEXT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
FOR MAKING MONDAY A LITTLE
LIGHTER FOR US ALL.
APPRECIATE IT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S REPORT?
I DO WANT TO KNOW FOR THE
RECORD THAT THIS TIME I DID NOT
SKIP OVER COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN INADVERTENTLY.
I FEEL LIKE MONDAY IS OFF TO A
GOOD START FOR ME.
I THINK A MUCH NEEDED REST HAS
DONE ME WELL.
OKAY COLLEAGUES, IT LOOKS LIKE
NO ONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER SWAN, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHT COMMITTEE MET TO DISCUSS
AND VOTE TO THE RIGHT TO
COUNCIL LEGISLATION FOR MY
OFFICE AND THE RENTERS RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBERS
LEWIS AND MORALES.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED FURTHER STEPS
TO PREVENT EVICTIONS, INCLUDING
THE NEED TO EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM THROUGH THE END OF
2021.
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF
DEFAULT EVICTIONS.
ALSO RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION
OF FOUR.
THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL BILL
PASSED WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN THE POSTING.
IT WILL BE ON NEXT WEEK'S CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
NOT TODAY.
CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
MEMBERS ARE COMPILING ANSWERS
TO FURTHER QUESTIONS AND DATA
THAT WERE REQUESTED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS DURING THE
COMMITTEE MEETING.
IF ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO
REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE.
WHEN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
ENDS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE COULD FACE EVICTION,
AND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT
RENTERS HAVE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION WHEN THAT
HAPPENS.
WE ARE SEEING IN SOME CITIES
LIKE COLUMBUS, OHIO, COURTS
ESSENTIALLY AUTHORIZING MASS
EVICTIONS.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT MAYOR
DURKAN AND GOVERNOR INSLEE
IMMEDIATELY EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM THROUGH THE END OF
2021.
THE COVID HEALTH EMERGENCY IS
FAR FROM OVER.
NOW, THERE ARE PREDICTIONS THAT
THERE COULD BE FUTURE SURGES
AND MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL OUT
OF WORK.
WE ARE NOW A TERRIFYING 23 DAYS
AWAY FROM THE END OF THE
MORATORIUM IF IT IS NOT
EXTENDED.
LAST WEEK I SHARED WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS SOMETHING
DEMANDING THAT MAYOR DURKAN AND
GOVERNOR INSLEE EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM TO THE END OF 2021.
SINCE THEN, A PUBLIC LETTER
SIGNED BY DOZENS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND LABOR UNIONS
WAS SENT TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
MAKING THAT DEMAND.
I URGE THE MORATORIUM TO BE
EXTENDED.
IT IS FRANKLY CRUEL TO MAKE
RENTERS WAIT TO THE LAST MOMENT
TO FIND OUT IF THEY ARE ABOUT
TO BE THROWN OUT ONTO THE
STREET AND THAT HAS HAPPENED
AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR EACH THREE
MONTH EXTENSION.
MY OFFICE IS DRAFTING A CITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
THIS DEMAND.
IF ANY COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD
LIKE TO COLLABORATE ON IT,
PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
IN SEATTLE, THERE ARE LEGAL
DIFFERENCES AGAINST EVICTION,
BUT THAT IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH
BECAUSE MOST RENTERS NEED LEGAL
SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE
LEGAL DEFENSES TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
RENTERS NEED THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
REPRESENTATION. THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT WHICH AS YOU
KNOW IS A PROJECT OF THE KING
COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION HAS
DETERMINED THAT EVEN DURING THE
PANDEMIC LANDLORDS HAVE SOUGHT
MORE THAN 300 EVICTIONS IN
SEATTLE.
TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO FACE
EVICTION, A POTENTIAL DEATH
SENTENCE IN THIS PANDEMIC,
WITHOUT LEGAL COUNCIL IS SIMPLY
APPALLING.
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
REPORTED TO THE COMMITTEE THAT
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC,
LANDLORDS IN SEATTLE FILED
ABOUT 1200 EVICTION CLAIMS PER
YEAR.
THIS IS AN UNDERCOUNT ACCORDING
TO THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
STAFF.
THEY SAY MANY LANDLORDS GET THE
TENANT TO MOVE OUT BEFORE ANY
COURT IS FILED.
THAT DOESN'T GET CAPTURED IN
THE DATA.
OVERWHELMINGLY, THE LANDLORDS
FILING FOR EVICTION OF THE BIG
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
FOUND THAT SEVEN OF THE 10
EVICTING -- TOP 10 EVICTING
LANDLORDS IN 2019 WERE MAJOR
REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CORPORATE
LANDLORDS WITH THE NUMBER ONE
EVICTING LANDLORDS BEING
GOODMAN REAL ESTATE.
A HUGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANY WITH $2.5 BILLION IN
MANAGED ASSETS IN THE U.S. AND
CANADA.
IMAGINE BEING A TENANT FACING
EVICTION BE HAPS BECAUSE YOU
LOST YOUR JOB OR HAD A MEDICAL
EMERGENCY.
HAVING TO GO TO COURT ALONE AND
FACING A HIGH-PRICED LAWYER
PAID BY A CORPORATE LANDLORD.
IT IS NO WONDER THAT SO MANY OF
THE TENANTS GIVE UP LONG BEFORE
THAT.
ACCORDING TO THE ACLU, 90% OF
LANDLORDS GOING TO EVICTION
COURT WITH AN ATTORNEY, WHILE
ONLY 10% OF TENANTS HAVE AN
ATTORNEY.
THOSE RIGHT TO COUNCIL
LEGISLATION WILL GIVE TENANTS A
FIGHTING CHANCE AGAINST
LANDLORDS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF EVICTION
FILING PRE-PANDEMIC WERE FOR
NONPAYMENT OF RENT, AND AS YOU
MAY RECALL FROM THE 2018
REPORT, LOSING HOMES.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE EVICTION
CLAIMS FILED BY LANDLORDS WERE
FOR ONE MONTH RENT OR LESS.
THE LOSING HOME REPORT REVEALS
THAT THE RENTERS WHO ARE WOMEN
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, ARE MORE
LIKELY TO FACE EVICTION.
IN FACT, THE STAFF PRESENTED
NEW DATA ON THE RACIST NATURE
OF OUR EVICTION SYSTEM.
IN 2019, THEY FOUND WHILE BLACK
PEOPLE CONSTITUTED A .3% OF
SIENA'S POPULATION, THEY
ACCOUNTED FOR FULLY 28% OF ALL
TENANTS SERVED WITH EVICTION
PAPERS.
QUITE SIMPLY, THE EVICTION
SYSTEM IN OUR SYSTEM IS RACIST
AND SEXIST.
IT HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF
THE GENTRIFICATION MACHINE OF
OUR CITY.
THAT'S WHY I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBER TO PUBLICLY
SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR OUR RIGHT
TO COUNCIL LEGISLATION WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES WHEN IT COMES BEFORE
US NEXT MONDAY.
SOME SUGGEST THAT TENANT ACCESS
TO COUNSEL SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO
MEANS TESTING.
THAT IS OFTEN PUT FORWARD AS
SOMETHING TO SUPPOSEDLY MAKE
THOSE -- MAKE SURE THOSE THAT
ARE FINANCIALLY WELL OFF DON'T
SKIM OFF PUBLIC SERVICES AND
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING THIS FOR
DECADES.
MEANS TESTING IS ACTUALLY DONE,
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IS
PRESENTING THOSE WHO NEED THE
SERVICES AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
THEM FROM ACCESSING IT.
MEANS TESTING IS WHAT THE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WANT.
NOT WHAT RENTER OR TENANT
ADVOCATE WANT AND RIGHT TO
COUNSEL.
IT MEANS TESTING WOULD
COMPLETELY UNDERMINE THE POINT
OF HAVING GUARANTEED RIGHT TO
COUNSEL.
WE HEARD LAST THURSDAY FROM THE
MANAGING ATTORNEY FOR HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT WHO DESCRIBED
HOW IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE
THERE WAS MEANS TESTING,
ATTORNEYS WOULD END UP HAVING
TO SPEND A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT
OF TIME JUST TO ASCERTAIN
WHETHER THEIR CLIENT WAS
ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES OR NOT.
INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY
REPRESENTING THEM.
HOW CLIENTS OFTEN DID NOT HAVE
THE PAPERWORK TO PROVE THEIR
FINANCIAL SITUATION.
IMAGINE, ESPECIALLY BEING
WORKERS IN AN INFORMAL ECONOMY.
IMAGINE BEING AN IMMIGRANT WITH
LANGUAGE BARRIERS.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROVE
YOUR FINANCIAL AVAILABILITY.
THE MEANS TESTING WOULD REVOKE
YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR EVICTION.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT IN SAN
FRANCISCO WHERE THE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL APPLIES TO ALL, WITH
NO MEANS TESTING ALL KINDS,
THEY FOUND THAT 94% OF TENANTS
GETTING LEGAL AID WERE OF LOW
TO MODERATE INCOME, NOT RICH
PEOPLE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, NO ONE
SUBJECTS THEMSELVES TO THE RISK
OF EVICTION IF THEY CAN PAY.
THEY WILL MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH
TOPAY THEIR RENT AND AVOID
EVICTION FOR WHEN THEY ARE IN
EVICTION OVERWHELMINGLY HAVING
COME OUT OF OPTIONS.
LIKE BEING OUT OF OPTIONS
ENTIRELY.
BEING FACED WITH POSSIBLE
EVICTION, THEREFORE THERE
SHOULD BE NO BARRIER TO
ACCESSING THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
FINALLY, WE HOLD ON THURSDAY,
ABOUT A STUDY IN BALTIMORE THAT
SHOWS THAT EVERY DOLLAR
INVESTED IN PROVIDING TENANTS
WITH LEGAL AID SAVED THE CITY
AND STATE ABOUT SEVEN DOLLARS
IN COST OF EVICTION.
SHELTER, EMERGENCY AID, MENTAL
HEALTH AND SO ON.
SIMILAR TO EVEN LOS ANGELES,
BOSTON, AND ELSEWHERE HAVE
SHOWN DEMONSTRABLY THAT GIVING
TENANTS LEGAL ASSISTANCE
WITHOUT ANY KIND OF VALUES
REDUCES THE NUMBER OF EVICTIONS
AND SAVES GOVERNMENTS MONEY.
WITH THE COUNSEL , WE COULD
SAVE AT LEAST 300,200 MILE
EVERY YEAR.
WHEN PAIRED WITH HOME CASE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WE COULD
SAVE 500,000 TO 700,000
HOUSEHOLDS FROM EVICTION EVERY
YEAR.
EVEN IF THE WELFARE OF TENANTS
WAS NOT AT THE CENTER, EVEN
FROM A PURELY ECONOMIC
STANDPOINT, RIGHT TO COUNSEL IS
A NO-BRAINER.
WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT ONCE A MORATORIUMS
GET LIFTED, WHICH OF COURSE WE
WANT TO EXTEND AT LEAST TO THE
END OF THIS YEAR.
SOME ARE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD
EXCLUDE TENANTS OR RENT FROM
SMALL LANDLORDS.
I WOULD PERSONALLY THINK THAT
IS AN ABSURD ARGUMENT BUT I
ALSO THINK IT'S A DANGEROUS
MOVE THAT WILL ONLY LEAD TO
MORE LITIGATION AND EVASION BY
THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
AS THEY TRY TO SNEAK INTO THE
LOOPHOLE.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST AS LOOKING
AT THE DATA, SMALL LANDLORDS
ARE NOT THE MAJOR PROBLEM HERE.
EVEN IF A SMALL LANDLORD WAS
INVOLVED IN EVICTION, I BELIEVE
THE TENANT DESERVES THE SAME
RIGHT OF REPRESENTATION. IN
FACT, MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED
SUPPORTIVE MESSAGES FROM A
NUMBER OF SMALL LANDLORDS WHO
RECOGNIZE WE DO NEED STRONGER
TENANTS RIGHTS AND THEY SUPPORT
THESE TENANTS RIGHTS.
ALSO IT IS DISCRIMINATORY TO
ARGUE THAT SOME TENANTS DESERVE
LEGAL REPRESENTATION WHILE
OTHERS DON'T SIMPLY BECAUSE OF
HAPPENSTANCE OF WHO THEY
LANDLORD IS.
I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT CORPORATE
LANDLORDS OFTEN INCORPORATE
INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS SEPARATELY
FOR TAX PURPOSES AND CREATING A
REPORT FOR SMALL LANDLORDS
WOULD ONLY ENCOURAGE MORE
EVASIVE MANEUVERINGS BY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
TO ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TIE UP THE WHOLE EVICTION
PROCESS IN LITIGATION OR
WHETHER A TENANT HAS OR DID NOT
HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
COUNSEL.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF
RENTERS RIGHTS AND
SUSTAINABILITY WILL BE TUESDAY,
MARCH 23rd.
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD IN CL
ADAIR TO WITH THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION TO
EXPRESS OUTRAGE AT THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS BLATANT
DISREGARD FOR SAFETY IN THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS OF
EDUCATORS.
A UNILATERAL DECISION TO REOPEN
CERTAIN IN-PERSON CLASSES JUST
WEEKS BEFORE EDUCATORS ARE
VACCINATED SHOWS CALLOUS
DISREGARD FOR THE LIVES OF
EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO STRONG-ARM
THE UNION.
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST
RESPECT THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING THEY SIGNED WITH
SCHOOL UNIONS.
COMMITTING TO A SAFE REOPENING
OF IN PERSON CLASSROOMS TO BE
BARGAINED WITH EDUCATORS AND I
FULLY SUPPORT THE DECISION OF
THE FDA TO REFUSE TO ACCEPT.
THEY REPORT THAT 99% OF ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES ASSEMBLY VOTED
TO REFUSE TO GO ALONG WITH THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PLAN TO
FORCIBLY EXPAND THE NUMBER OF
EDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM BY
MARCH 11th UNDER UNSAFE
CONDITIONS.
THE UNION ALSO VOTED
OVERWHELMINGLY TO DECLARE NO
CONFIDENCE AND TO QUESTION THE
LEADERSHIP.
WHEN EDUCATORS SPEAK WITH A
NEARLY UNANIMOUS FORCE FOR
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD, HAS A
DUTY TO RESPECT THE EXPERTISE
OF THE TEACHERS, NURSES,
PARAPROFESSIONALS AND OTHER
SCHOOL WORKERS.
OBVIOUSLY NOBODY WANTS THE
SCHOOL BUILDINGS TO REMAIN
CLOSED ONE DAY LONGER THAN IS
NECESSARY.
THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A TRIAL
FOR THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
FAMILIES HAVE STRUGGLED TO MAKE
CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS,
VULNERABLE STUDENTS WITHOUT
RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS ARE
FOLLOWING FARTHER BEHIND AND
EDUCATORS ARE STRUGGLING TO
FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
REMOTELY.
HOWEVER, THE RETURN TO IN
PERSON LEARNIN MUST BE DONE
SAFELY AND THAT MEANS
RESPECTING THE EXPERTISE OF THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS
EVERY DAY TO EDUCATE STUDENTS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT SPENT HER
DAYS IN THE CLASSROOM, SHE IS
UNILATERALLY READY TO OPEN,
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP THINKS
THAT WE CAN AND SHOULD MAKE
THESE DECISIONS WITHOUT
INVOLVING SCHOOLTEACHERS.
ULTIMATELY THE SEATTLE SCHOOL
BOARD IS INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENSURING THAT THE DISTRICT
RETURNED TO THE BARGAINING
TABLE WITH THE FDA.
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
RESOLVING THE UNION'S VOTE OF
NO-CONFIDENCE.
UNILATERALLY ARE FORCING
EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS BACK
INTO THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT
ALLOWING EDUCATORS AND PARENTS
TO HAVE A SAYING IN THE DECISION
, PUTTING THOSE WHO ARE MOST
FOLDABLE, ESPECIALLY AT RISK OF
CATCHING AND SPREADING COVID,
THEY DO NOT HAVE A SUPPORT.
IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE FIGHTING A BATTLE FOR SAFE
REOPENING OF SCHOOLS AS AN
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF
SEATTLE'S WORKING PEOPLE, I
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
STA WORKING-CLASS PARENTS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS THEY WORK
FOR FRIDAY SAFETY AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I HOPE COUNCILMEMBERS WILL JOIN
THAT DEMAND.
THERE IS ALSO A LETTER BEING
CIRCULATED.
URGING SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNION.
MY OFFICE SIGN THIS LETTER LAST
WEEK AND I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO DO SO IF YOU
HAVEN'T ALREADY.
MY OFFICE WILL FORWARD YOU THE
LINK TO THE LETTER IF YOU DON'T
ALREADY HAVE IT.
OVER THE WEEKEND, MY OFFICE I
ALL THE DRAFT OF A PROCLAMATION
TO HONOR THE LIFE OF BROTHER
BENJAMIN SHABAZZ WHO PASSED
AWAY LAST YEAR.
HE WAS A PROFOUND COMMUNITY
FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HE WILL
BE DEARLY MISSED, INCLUDING BY
ME PERSONALLY.
FROM FIGHTING FOR THE $15
MINIMUM WAGE AND RENTERS RIGHTS
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO
PROTESTING AMAZON'S DEVELOPMENT
OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT FACIAL
RECOGNITION SOFTWARE, TO BEING
AN OUT SCOBLE HOGAN FORCE
AGAINST RACISM AND FOR BLACK
LIBERATION, BROTHER BENJAMIN
HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE FOR DECADES.
MY OFFICE DEVELOPED THE TEXT OF
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WEEKEND
WITH INPUT FROM HIS FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING
THIS COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER
AND I HOPE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL JOIN ME IN HONORING HIM.
I HOPE TO SUBMIT THE
PROCLAMATION FOR SIGNATURES NOW
AND PRESENTED FOR THE MEETING
THIS AFTERNOON.
HIS SON WILL BE AVAILABLE TO
RECEIVE IT AT THE MEETING.
TODAY, MARCH 8th, IS
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
THIS DAY IS ESPECIALLY
SIGNIFICANT WHEN A NEW ERA OF
WOMEN ARE ON THE FRONTLINE OF
GLOBAL JUSTICE.
THE YEAR OF 2019 WAS A YEAR OF
MASSIVE REVOLT IN WHICH WOMEN
AND PARTICULARLY YOUNG WOMEN
AND THEIR DEMANDS WERE OFTEN AT
THE FOREFRONT, CREATING HOPE
FOR WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE ALL
OVER THE WORLD.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE PANDEMIC
AND THE DEVELOPING ECONOMIC
CRISIS THAT WAS TRIGGERED BY
LAST YEAR'S POSE A REAL THREAT
TO THE WOMEN GAINS IN PREVIOUS
DECADES.
IT COULD CARRY LONG-LASTING
SETBACKS.
UNITED NATIONS WOMEN WARNS THAT
THE POVERTY WAGE ABOVE POVERTY
SEARCH, WILL HIT WOMEN THE
HARDEST ESPECIALLY WOMEN AGED
25 TO 34.
UNITED NATIONS WOMEN DEPUTY
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR SAYS QUOTE,
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC COULD
WIPE OUT 25 YEARS OF INCREASING
GENDER EQUALITY.
IT POSES A REAL RISK OF
REVERTING TO 1950s GENDER
STEREOTYPES.
MORE ALARMING IS THE FACT THAT
MANY WOMEN ARE ACTUALLY KNOWING
THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING BACK TO
WORK.
IN SEPTEMBER, 865,000 WOMEN
DROPPED OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE
COMPARED TO 200,000 MEN.
MOST OF THAT CAN BE EXPLAINED
BY THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A
CARE BURDEN, AND THERE IS
NOBODY ELSE AROUND, END QUOTE.
THE NATIONAL LABOR OFFICE
SUGGESTS THAT THE EQUIVALENT OF
140 MILLION FULL-TIME JOBS MAY
BE LOST DUE TO COVID-19.
WITH WOMEN EMPLOYMENT 19% MORE
OF RISK THAN MEN.
THE DAMAGES MASSIVE AND
FOREMOST SECTOR GLOBALLY IN
WHICH 58% OF WOMEN ARE WORKING.
ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS
WOMEN, AND FORMER WORKERS HAVE
LOST ON AVERAGE 60% OF THEIR
INCOME.
72% OF DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE
HOME, 80% OF WOMEN HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS, WHILE THESE JOBS
ALREADY LOCKED BASIC WORKER
PROTECTIONS LIKE PAID LEAVE,
NOTICE PERIOD OR SEVERANCE PAY.
IT WAS REPORTED ON SEPTEMBER 30
OF COURSE, EVEN IN THE FORMER
SECTOR, THE VIRUS SEEMS TO BE
WIDENING.
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY, NEARLY 7
MILLION AMERICANS AREN'T
EMPLOYED BECAUSE OF CHILD CARE.
WOMEN LEARN ASLAN MEN.
WOMEN LOSE VALUABLE SKILLS
DURING THE TIME THEY AREN'T
WORKING WHICH CAN MAKE FINDING
A JOB IN THE FUTURE HARDER AND
DAMAGE FAMILY FINANCES.
END QUOTE.
A STUDY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN SHOW THAT ALL TYPES OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND
GIRLS HAVE INTENSIFIED DURING
THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING
CYBERSTALKING.
AT THE SAME TIME HOWEVER, THE
WOMEN'S MOVEMENT HAVE SHOWED
REMARKABLE RESILIENCE.
AT THE END OF JANUARY, ACTIVISTS
IN ARGENTINA OBTAINED VICTORY
IN THEIR YEARS LONG AND
PHENOMENAL FIGHT FOR LEGAL
ABORTION UP TO 14 WEEKS.
NOTWITHSTANDING A HIGH
INFECTION RISK AND LOCKDOWN
RESTRICTIONS, POLISH WOMEN
REACTED COURAGEOUSLY TO THE NEW
STEP IN DIRECTION OF A TOTAL
BAN ON ABORTION.
RECEIVING MORE SUPPORT FROM
WIDER LAYERS OF SOCIETY THAN
BEFORE.
THE STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE IN
FUTURE PROTESTS ARE ASSURED OF
THE FIGHTING POWER OF WOMEN.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US IN THE
UNITED STATES AS WELL BECAUSE
THAT STRUGGLE HAS INSPIRED
WOMEN INTERNATIONAL, INCLUDING
IN THE UNITED STATES.
TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS UNION,
HEALTHCARE UNION, GROCERY AND
OTHER ESSENTIAL FRONTLINE
WORKERS ARE SPEAKING OUT
AGAINST UNSAFE WORKING
CONDITIONS AND FOR OTHER NEEDS
OF THE WORKERS.
AMAZON WAREHOUSE WORKERS ARE
COURAGEOUSLY FIGHTING FOR A
UNION DESPITE AMAZON FIGHTING
AGAINST AND SPENDING $10,000 A
DAY ON ANTIUNION CONSULTING.
ALL THESE LABOR STRUGGLES ARE
IMPORTANT IN THEMSELVES, BUT
THEY ARE ALSO OCCURRING IN
SECTORS WITH MAJORITY WOMEN.
THEIR STRUGGLES ARE BEING LED
BY WOMEN WORKERS.
THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
WAS ON THE VERY BEGINNING, A
WORKING WOMEN'S DAY.
THE OBJECTIVE AT THAT TIME WAS
TO WIN UNIVERSAL FEMALE
SUFFRAGE, ITS ASPIRATIONS WERE
MUCH GRANDER.
THE OVERFLOW OF CAPITALISM AND
THE TRIUMPH OF SOCIALISM,
ABOLISHING BOTH THE WAVES
SLAVERY OF WORKERS AND THE
DOMESTIC LIVERY OF WOMEN
THROUGH THE SOCIALIZATION OF
EDUCATION AND CARE WORK AND I
HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WOMEN WILL
CONTINUE THAT STRUGGLE TODAY
AND ONWARDS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR
OFFICE HAS CIRCULATED THE
PROCLAMATION THAT YOU JUST
DESCRIBED.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CALL FOR THE ROLE NOW.
FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO HAVE
THEIR SIGNATURE ADDED TO THAT
PROCLAMATION.
BEFORE I OFFICIALLY CALL THE
ROLE, I DO WANT TO ALLOW ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO MIGHT HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROCLAMATION TO ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS NOW BEFORE I REQUEST
THE ROLE.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS,
SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION HONORING IMAM
BENJAMIN SHABAZZ.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES QUESTION MARK
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES THAT
PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
THEN, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE FOUR APPOINTMENTS TO
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
PRESERVATION GOVERNING COUNCILS
ON TODAY'S CALENDAR.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ON THE FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LAND
USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
IS THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10th,
AT 9:30 A.M.
WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
THERE IS A DISCUSSION AND VOTE
ON COUNCIL BILL 120001.
I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SPEAK TO
THIS.
I GOT TO STOP BY YONDER CIDER
COMPANY THIS WEEKEND.
THEY WERE ABLE TO REOPEN DUE TO
THIS FORTHCOMING REGISTRATION.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT FOR
COLLEAGUES, AND A BUSINESS THAT
IS OPEN IN A HOME IS REGULATED
BY EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT
THAT TOUCHES THAT.
FOR INSTANCE, WITH YONDER, THEY
ARE REGULATED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE CONTROL BOARD.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CITY
BUSINESS LICENSE.
THEY HAVE TO BE REGULATED BY
THE STATE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THEY
ARE ABLE TO EXPAND TO A -- A
CURRENTLY VACANT STOREFRONT.
KATELYN TOLD ME THIS WEEKEND
THIS IS ONLY DUE TO THE FACT
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE
THE GARAGE SET UP TO
SPRINGBOARD INTO A BRICK-AND-
MORTAR STORE.
THIS GARAGE SET UP THAT THEY
ARE CURRENTLY USING IS THE SEED
FUNDING FOR THEIR FUTURE
EXPANSION.
THIS JUST HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME, I
NEED TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS
WHO USE THEIR GARAGES TO
JUMPSTART OUR RECOVERY.
TO FILL THOSE VACANT
STOREFRONTS AS WE EMERGE FROM
THIS PANDEMIC.
AGAIN, THIS BILL IS NOT JUST
ABOUT YONDER.
IT IS ABOUT ALL THE BUSINESSES
THAT I SEE AS I WALK AROUND MY
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE CURRENTLY
OPERATING OUTSIDE THE LETTER OF
APPROVED.
ENSURING THAT THE CODE IS NOT A
FAILURE TO OUR RECOVERY.
AGAIN, ALL BUSINESSES ARE
REGULATED BY EVERY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT THAT TOUCHES THEM.
HOME BUSINESS REGULATIONS, AND
HOME OCCUPANTS AND BUSINESSES
ARE ALLOWED IN SEATTLE.
THIS COULD CHANGE, IT WOULD
ALLOW THEM TO USE THEIR GARAGES.
PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF
FLEXIBILITY AND MORE CLARITY ON
SIGN CODE.
THEN, REALLY GETS AT THE HEART
OF SOME SUBJECTIVE LANGUAGE
ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE
HOME, WHICH IS NOT DEFINED IN
CODE.
BUSINESSES OPERATING OUT OF --
HOME OCCUPANCY BUSINESSES, IF
AND WHEN THIS BILL IS PASSED,
CAN STILL BE CLOSED.
THIS BILL PROVIDES MODEST
FLEXIBILITY FOR TIME-LIMITED
DURATION OF ONE YEAR.
THERE IS A SUNSET DATE ALREADY
INCLUDED IN THE BILL.
THE ORDINANCE CONTAINS A
WORKPLAN TO DETERMINE THE
PATHWAY FORWARD SHOULD ANY OF
THESE POLICY CHANGES BECOME
PERMANENT.
SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS WHAT
WORKED WELL, WHAT DIDN'T WORK
WELL, DID WE INCLUDE SOMETHING
THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
INCLUDED, OR DID WE MISS
SOMETHING IMPORTANT?
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
THIS WORKPLAN FROM THE START SO
THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE ABLE
TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
THIS BILL PROVIDES IMMEDIATE
RELIEF AND FLEXIBILITY.
THIS WOULD BE IN COMMITTEE THIS
WEDNESDAY.
WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION LAST
COMMITTEE.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE BRINGING
IT TO YOU NEXT WEEK.
IN THE LAND USE COMMITTEE THIS
WEEK WE ALSO HAD A BRIEFING ON
AN ANNUAL REPORT ANOTHER
BRIEFING.
AND YET ANOTHER BRIEFING.
IN RESPONSE TO A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
LAST WEEK, AND OTHER BUSINESS
OUTSIDE THE COMMITTEE, I
ATTENDED THE PRECINCT ADVISORY
COUNCIL.
ON WEDNESDAY MY STAFF ATTENDED
THE WALLINGFORD COMMUNITY
COUNCIL.
MY STAFF WAS PLANNING TO ATTEND
THE FINNEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING, HOWEVER THEY CHANGED
THERE'S MAC TO A CLOSED BOARD
MEETING.
I MET WITH A WORK GROUP ON
WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS
ON USING OUR RIGHT AWAY OF
PUBLIC SPACE.
PARTICIPATED IN AN INTERVIEW
WITH MEDIA ON FRIDAY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I GOT TO MEET WITH THE FOLKS
FROM ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORKING.
THEY HAVE ALREADY WORKED WITH
OPCD.
THEY ARE A MEMBER OF DIFFERENT
CONSULTING FIRMS IN THE CITY TO
IDENTIFY HOW WE CAN REACH AND
RECONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED AS WE
HEARD EARLIER IN COUNCIL
BRIEFING.
HOW DO WE CREATE PUBLIC SPACE
IN AREAS THAT WE ALREADY OWN,
JUST ARE UNDER UTILIZING?
THINGS ARE BEING BUILT AND WE
ARE VERY EXCITED.
THIS COMING WEEK, AS I SAID, WE
HAVE THE COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY.
I WILL BE JOINING THE GREENWAY
COMMUNITY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY
AS WELL.
I'LL BE MEETING WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND
OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
MY STAFF WILL BE ATTENDING THE
DISTRICT COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY.
AS ALWAYS, I WILL BE MEETING
WITH DISTRICT 6 RESIDENTS ON
THURSDAY FROM 2:00 TO 7:00 P.M.
IN DISTRICT 6, I GOT TO HOLD
OFFICE HOURS EVERY WEEK.
I HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH
NEIGHBORS FROM DOWNTOWN
BALLARD, EAST VALLEY, GREEN
LAKE, AND OTHER AREAS.
WE HEADED THIS COUPLE
DISCUSSIONS ON STREETS.
AND WHAT SDOT SHOULD CONTINUE
AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.
WE DISCUSSED HOW BUSINESSES ARE
FARING IN SEATTLE AND HOW TO
KEEP SUPPORTING THEM.
THE GREAT WORK OF THE SEATTLE
ULTIMO SHELTER AND ENSURING
ADEQUATE FUNDING.
THERE WERE A COUPLE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
ADDRESS DUMPING GRAFFITI AND
BUTTER.
USING THE FIX-IT APP IS A GREAT
WAY TO DO THAT.
FOR DISTRICT 6, IF YOU WANT TO
FORWARD US YOUR REFERENCE
NUMBER, WE ARE HAPPY TO KEEP
TABS ON THE REQUESTS THAT YOU
MAKE.
WE ALSO HAD A COUPLE
CONVERSATIONS ON HOMELESSNESS.
WE ALSO HAD DISCUSSIONS ON HOW
TO PROTECT OUR TREES.
I WANT TO THANK DISTRICT 6
RESIDENTS FOR TAKING THE TIME
TO SPEAK TO ME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH
RESIDENTS THIS THURSDAY BETWEEN
2:00 P.M.
AND 6:00 P.M.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
OKAY, LOOKS LIKE I DON'T SEE
ANY HANDS RAISED.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I DO
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ONGOING PARTNERSHIP. THAT
BRINGING BUSINESS HOME BILLS.
WE'VE ALL BEEN RECEIVING LOTS
OF EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF THAT
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A
GUEST, A NONVOTING GUEST IN
YOUR COMMITTEE MEETING THIS
WEDNESDAY.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT AND
CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSION OF
THAT BILL IN HOPES OF GETTING
IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.
ON TO FULL COUNCIL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
ONGOING CONVERSATION.
>>> OKAY, LET'S GO DOWN THE
LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE HAS NO ITEMS
ON THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
TODAY.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE IS MEETING
THIS WEEK, TOMORROW AT 9:30.
ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS.
WE HAVE FIVE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
THREE OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS ARE
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
TWO OF THEM ARE CPC
APPOINTMENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE A REAPPOINTMENT
FROM THE MAYOR.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE THE
CONFIRMATION OF THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.
FINALLY, WE HAVE TWO OTHER
ITEMS.
ONE OF THESE, A VOTING ITEM,
HOPEFULLY.
THAT IS A PRESENTATION FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR ON THE
12 MILLION IN COMMUNITY SAFETY
CAPACITY BUILDING RFP AND THE
S.T.E.M.
PLAN.
INCLUDING VOTING ON LEGISLATION
TO LIFT THE PROVISO ON THE FUNDS
IN ORDER TO LIFT THE PROVISO ON
THE FUNDS, THE COUNCIL MUST
APPROVE THE SPEND PLAN FOR
THOSE DOLLARS.
THE DIRECTOR AND HER TEAM
PRESENTED ON THIS AT THE
JANUARY 26th PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING.
FOLLOWING THAT PRESENTATION,
DIRECTOR HOWELL RESPONDED MORE
FULLY TO COMMITTEE MEMBER
QUESTIONS IN A MEMO DISTRIBUTED
TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON
FEBRUARY 18th.
THE RFP WAS RELEASED ON MARCH
1st.
LAST THURSDAY, MY OFFICE SENT
TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS A CENTRAL
STAFF MEMO ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION AND A NEW MEMO FROM
DIRECTOR HOWELL DESCRIBING THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
COMMITTEE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED THROUGH
THAT ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND THE
PROPOSED SPEND PLAN.
AGAIN, THAT WILL BE ON THE
AGENDA FOR TUESDAY.
I DO HOPE WE CAN VOTE THAT OUT.
I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
THIS IS THE -- THESE ARE THE
FUNDS THAT THE COUNCIL AWARDED
DURING THE BUDGET, THE SUMMER
REBALANCING BUDGET PROCESS.
JUST AS A BIT OF CONTEXT AROUND
MY SENSE OF URGENCY AROUND
THESE FUNDS, YOU MAY RECALL I
SUBMITTED A EDITORIAL TO THE
SEATTLE TIMES A COUPLE WEEKS
AGO UPLIFTING THE NATIONAL
COMMISSION ON COVID-19 AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORT.
THEY ISSUED A REPORT IN EARLY
FEBRUARY.
THESE ARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
EXPERTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
IT INCLUDES PARTICIPATION OF
OUR OWN. THAT REPORT WAS REALLY
FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT
AND PROPERTY OFFENSE RATE FOR
39 CITIES ACROSS THE NATION
INCLUDING SEATTLE.
THIS REPORT REALLY FOCUSED THAT
IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS
INCREASED VIOLENT PROPERTY
OFFENSE RATES, WE NEED TO DO
THREE THINGS.
WORK THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE
NEED TO WORK TO INCREASE
CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICING
SYSTEM, AND WE NEED TO
IMPLEMENT PROVEN ANTIVIOLENCE
POLICIES.
THE REPORT ALSO UNDERSCORED THE
CAUSES OF THE INCREASED
VIOLENCE.
IDENTIFY THE FACT THAT
INDIVIDUALS ARE UNDER PHYSICAL,
MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL
STRESS.
THAT THE EXACT INSTITUTIONS
THAT RESPOND TO VIOLENCE
OFFENSES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY-
BASED GROUPS THAT PROACTIVELY
AND PRODUCTIVELY ENGAGE IN
DEPEND HARDLY ON PROACTIVE
RESEARCH.
THAT RISK IN PLACES THAT PLACES
THAT THOSE INSTITUTIONS
THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN UNDER
STRAIN AND STRESS.
REALLY PROUD AND PLEASED THAT
THE COUNCIL HAS AWARDED THESE
DOLLARS THROUGH ITS BUDGET
PROCESS, ALONG WITH THE OTHER
$4 MILLION THAT HSD HAS ALREADY
REWARDED TO THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE.
WANT TO REALLY THANK THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR
RESPONDING TO COUNCIL'S US
CALL TO URGENTLY FUND THE
SERVICES.
THE LESSON FOR TOMORROW IS THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT SENT A MEMO
TO COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF BACK
ON JANUARY 25th.
IT WAS LINKED TO THE COMMITTEE
AGENDA AT THE TIME AS WE
PREVIOUSLY OCCLUDED IN A
CENTRAL STAFF MEMBER LISTED ON
THE AGENDA FOR BOTH JANUARY
26th AND FEBRUARY 23rd.
WE DISPLAYED DISCUSSIONS IN
JANUARY.
WE HAD AN INITIAL DISCUSSION AT
OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING.
FOCUSED ON THE PROPOSED BILL
COUNCIL BILL 99 811.
REDUCING THE BUDGET BY $5.9
MILLION.
SPD'S MEMO NOTES HOW IT DEFENDS
THE MONEY.
INCLUDING THE USE OF OVERTIME
AND SEPARATION PAY.
CIVILIAN HIRES.
INCLUDING FOUR COMMUNITY
OFFICES.
TWO CRIME PREVENTION ORGANIZES.
REPORTING RELATED POSITIONS.
SPD HAS ALSO RAISED SOME
TECHNOLOGY NEEDS.
THAT'S THE RELEVANT BACKGROUND
FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS
PROPOSED A 2021 BUDGET THAT
INCLUDED LEAVING $4 MILLION IN
CIVILIAN POSITIONS VACANT.
THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL.
THE FACT THAT THERE WERE $4
MILLION IN CIVILIAN POSITIONS
LEFT VACANT IN THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET, RAISES THIS
QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
FUNDING SOME OF THESE VOTING
POSITIONS MIGHT BE A GOOD THING
TO DO IN LIGHT OF THE
LIMITATIONS ON SWORN OFFICER
HIRING.
ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OF COURSE, THE COUNCIL FULLY
FUNDED THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S 2021 HIRING PLAN.
THIS MEANS THE COUNCIL IS
PROVIDING ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT
SPD SAYS ARE NECESSARY TO HIRE
THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT SPD
BELIEVES IT CAN HIRE IN A
SINGLE YEAR.
AND DELIBERATIONS ON COUNCIL
BILL 119981 MAKING THIS $5.9
MILLION, I AM INTERESTED IN
ADDRESSING THEIR REPLICATIONS
OF THE CITY AUDITOR.
THE AUDITOR'S LONG-STANDING
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
STAFFING AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS
FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
EVIDENCE STORAGE FORTHCOMING.
AS WELL IT'S INTERESTING IN
CONSIDERING SOME OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
RECOMMENDATIONS.
FINALLY, AS IT RELATES TO THIS
ITEM, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
FOR FOLKS, ON THE COUNCIL AND
OTHER FOLKS LISTENING, JUST
WANT TO -- UNDERSCORE AN
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IN
THESE DISCUSSIONS IS THE
CONSENT DECREE.
WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT WE HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT SIGNIFICANT CUTS
TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
HE HAS EMPHASIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF SCALING UP
POLICING ALTERNATIVES.
AGAIN, WE ARE HEARING ONGOING
PROGRESS REPORTS ABOUT THIS IN
MY COMMITTEE.
LIKEWISE, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
IS HEARINGUPDATES ABOUT THESE
IN HER COMMITTEE AS WELL.
REGARDING BLACK BRILLIANCE
PROJECT.
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS
SENT A MEMO TO THE MONITOR THAT
CLARIFIES THAT THE CUTS
PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR, THAT
CLARIFIES THE CUTS THAT WERE
MADE BY THE COUNCIL, VERIFIES
THE BUDGET CUTS THAT WERE IN
THE ADOPTED BUDGET, BUT NOT
MADE BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
IT CLARIFIES THAT THAT WAS ALSO
AN END OF YEAR ADD A $5.4
MILLION TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED A COPY
OF THAT MEMO, I'M HAPPY TO SEND
IT TO YOU.
MOVING ONTO QUICK UPDATES FROM
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SEATTLE FIRE HAD COVID-19 TESTS.
IT IS NOW CUMULATIVE UP TO
MARCH 5th.
658,000 BEING DELIVERED AT
THESE FOUR SITES.
VACCINATION TEAMS HAVE
ADMINISTERED NEARLY 15,000
VACCINES THROUGH MARCH 6th.
74% OF THOSE VACCINES HAVE BEEN
DELIVERED TO THE ARMS OF
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
QUICK HUMAN SERVICES UPDATE.
I ALREADY MENTIONED IT EARLIER.
AGAIN, SO FOLKS KNOW THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY CAPACITY
BUILDING RP IS AVAILABLE AS OF
MARCH 1st.
OF THE $12 MILLION THAT THE
COUNCIL MADE AVAILABLE, $10.4
MILLION WILL GO OUT TO
COMMUNITIES TO EXPAND THE
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY LED
SOLUTIONS.
THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OVERALL
COMMUNITY SAFETY, INCLUDING
ENDING VIOLENCE IN REDUCING
CRIME.
THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT IS
AVAILABLE AND PRIORITY WILL BE
GIVEN TO AGENCIES LED BY THE RP
POPULATION AND ORGANIZATIONS
WITH AN OPERATION BUDGET UNDER
$1 MILLION.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON APRIL
9th AND THERE WILL BE AN 18
MONTH CONTRACT RUNNING THROUGH
DECEMBER 31st, 2022.
THEN, LASTLY, ONE OTHER POLICE
DEPARTMENT RELATED UPDATE.
BEFORE I MOVE ON TO OTHER
UPDATES.
I KNOW THERE IS HIGH INTEREST
IN THIS RELATED TO THE LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS LEGISLATION.
THE MONITOR OVERSEEING THE
CONSENT DECREE AND THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAVE
REVIEWED THE LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS BILL THAT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED BE SENT
TO THEM FOR THEIR REVIEW IN
LINE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE
PROCESS. %
THEY DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE DRAFT BILL AND I WILL BE
MEETING WITH THEM LATER THIS
WEEK, ALONG WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, AND
THE COUNCIL'S OUTSIDE LEGAL
COUNSEL IN AN EFFORT TO
ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS THEY HAVE
ABOUT THE RECOMMENDED DRAFT
BILL.
COVID VACCINE UPDATES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENTS LAST WEEK.
REGARDING THE VACCINE.
A QUICK ROUNDUP IS, ALL VETERANS
WHO ARE ENROLLED WITH THE VA,
REGARDLESS OF AGE, ARE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE VACCINATION FROM THE
VA.
THEY SHOULD CONTACT THEIR
PRIMARY CARE TEAM TO SCHEDULE.
AS WE ALL KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN
ANNOUNCED THAT ALL PRE-K
THROUGH GRADE 12 EDUCATORS,
SCHOOL STAFF, AND CHILDCARE
WORKERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
VACCINATION.
THEY SHOULD RECEIVE AT LEAST
THE FIRST GHOST IN MARCH.
PHARMACIES THAT PRECIPITATE IN
THE FEDERAL PHARMACY
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WILL
PRIORITIZE THESE FOLKS DURING
THE MONTH OF MARCH.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE STILL A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE
AGED 65 AND OLDER WHO ARE
WAITING FOR THEY'RE FIRST DOSE.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALSO
ANNOUNCED A NEW MANUFACTURING
PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL CREATE
ENOUGH VACCINES FOR EVERY
AMERICAN ADULT BY THE END OF
MAY.
IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE AND STILL
LOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST DOSE, BE
PATIENT.
MORE VACCINE IS ON ITS WAY SOON.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT
THAT OUR OWN PRESIDING JUDGE
WILLIE GREGORY HAS BEEN
RECOGNIZED FOR CREATIVE
LEADERSHIP AS PART OF THE
INNOVATING AWARDS.
THIS RECOGNITION IS BECAUSE OF
MULTIPLE ACTIONS TAKEN UNDER
HIS LEADERSHIP TO REDUCE THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL JAIL
POPULATION WHEN THE PANDEMIC
HIT.
WORKING ON MULTIPLE FRONTS TO
ENGAGE COMMUNITY IN EVALUATING
DISPARATE IMPACTS OF COURT
ACTIONS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
IN GUIDING COURT PROCESSES.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE JAIL
POPULATION WAS REDUCED BY
CONSIDERING MOTIONS TO RELEASE.
CONTINUING OUT OF CUSTODY
APPEARANCES AND MAINTAINING THE
IN CUSTODY ARRAIGNMENT CALENDAR
TO CONTROL OPPORTUNITY FOR
RELEASE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HE SIGNED A GENERAL
ADMINISTERED ORDER THAT INSURED
PEOPLE CHARGED WITH LOW-LEVEL
OFFENSES DID NOT HAVE TO SIT IN
JAIL FOR MISDEMEANOR WARRANTS.
HE ALSO ADOPTED GUIDING
PRINCIPLES PROMISING TO ENGAGE
THE COMMUNITY IN GUIDING COURT
PROGRAMS, ENCOURAGE COURT
LEADERSHIP TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY,
AND NEW POLICIES FOR A RACIAL
EQUITY LENS.
COMMITTED TO INCORPORATED
LESSONS LINES FROM COMMUNITY
SURVEYS AND HIS SUPPORTIVE
INNOVATIVE CHANGES SUCH THAT
THE ELIMINATION OF DESCRIPTION
FINDS AND FEES FOR CRIMINAL
CASES AND THE LAUNCH OF A NEW
COMMUNITY COURT PRETRIAL PROGRAM
THAT CONNECTS PARTICIPANTS WITH
SERVICES INSTEAD OF JAIL TIME.
SO, YES, WANT TO SHARE MY
APPRECIATION FOR PRESIDING
JUDGE GREGORY AND ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL TO
SEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS.
LASTLY, EVENTS COMING UP THIS
WEEK.
TOMORROW I HAVE THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PREVENTION COUNCIL
COORDINATOR MEETING THAT I WILL
BE ATTENDING.
ON WEDNESDAY, I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE REGIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE MEETING.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK
FORCE MEETING.
LASTLY, ON THURSDAY, I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE LEAD POLICY
COORDINATING GROUP QUARTERLY
MEETING.
THEY COULD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A MOMENT
TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
WORDS OF RECOGNITION FOR
PRESIDING JUDGE GREGORY.
AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO APPEAR
REGULARLY IN THE COURTROOM AND
WORK IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT, I
CANNOT EXPRESS ENOUGH THE
PROFOUND CHANGES THAT THE
MUNICIPAL COURT HAS BEEN
UNDERGOING UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.
BASED ON WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED
IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
THE REALLY FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE
THAT JUDGE GREGORY, AND JUDGE
SHOULD DEED, IN PARTICULAR HAVE
REALLY BEEN LEADING ON AS IT
RELATES TO THE COMMUNITY COURT.
JUST WANT TO STATE THAT IT IS
CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS
FOR GRANTED.
IT IS CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING
THAT WAS JUST GOING TO, AS A
MATTER OF COURSE.
IT REALLY IS DUE TO THEIR
INITIATIVE AND THEIR LEADERSHIP
AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.
WHAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY
EXPECTED THE BENCH AND THE
MUNICIPAL COURT TO DO.
I RELOOK FORWARD, POST PANDEMIC
TO CONTINUING THIS GREAT WORK
ON REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY
REVISITING A LOT OF THE CENTRAL
CONCEPTS OF OUR SYSTEM OF
JUSTICE HERE.
HOW WE CAN REORDER THINGS AND
INVEST HEAVIER IN THE KIND OF
PROGRAMMING LIKE THE NEW
COMMUNITY COURT, TO REALLY MAKE
A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
SO, JUST ECHOING THOSE
COMMENTS.
THANK YOU JUDGE GREGORY.
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OVER
THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
SO MUCH.
ALSO WANT TO ECHO MY
CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDING
JUDGE WILLIE GREGORY.
HE'S ALSO AN ALUMNI OF SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, WHICH
IS WHERE I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL
AS WELL.
HE HAS CERTAINLY ALWAYS -- IS
SORT OF A HIGHLIGHT OF THE
ALUMNI NETWORK FOR THE LAW
SCHOOL.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I'VE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH THE JUDGE ON ISSUES
RELATED TO THE BUREAU PROJECTS.
THE REVIEW OF HOW THEY CAN
BETTER CENTER RACIAL EQUITY
GOALS AND POLICIES AND OUTCOMES.
IN THEIR OPERATIONS AND
POLICIES.
I'VE JUST BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED
WITH HIS STRONG COMMITMENT TO
RACIAL EQUITY WITHIN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT, BUT
ALSO NOT JUST A COMMITMENT, BUT
PUTTING THOSE THINGS INTO ACTION
AND REALLY CHANGING HOW THEY
ARE DOING THEIR WORK OVER THERE.
TO REDUCE THE DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND JUST DEEPLY APPRECIATE HIS
WORK.
APPRECIATE THAT OTHERS ARE ALSO
RECOGNIZING HIS WORK AND GIVING
HIM THIS RECOGNITION IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
SO, THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING
THAT FOR US, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>>> OKAY, LOOKS LIKE THERE IS
NO OTHER HANDS RAISED HER
QUESTIONS ON THE REPORT.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND ROUND OUT
TODAY'S CONVERSATION ON THIS
ASPECT.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA I HAVE TWO
ITEMS.
BOTH ARE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
IMMEDIATE AND REFUGEE
COMMISSION.
BOTH OF THESE WILL BE
CONSIDERED DURING THE COMMITTEE
MEETING LATER THIS WEEK.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS
FOR ACTION ON TODAY'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
AGAIN, THE GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL HAVE OUR REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING TOMORROW,
TUESDAY, MARCH 9th AT 2:00 P.M.
WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION ONLY.
THE FIRST IS, AS I JUST
MENTIONED, THE TWO APPOINTMENTS
TO THE IMMIGRANT REFUGEE
COMMISSION.
THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE A
BRIEFING FROM THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS
REGARDING THEIR 2020 RAPID
RESPONSE WORK, WHICH IS FUNDED
BY THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH THE 2019 BUDGET.
LASTLY, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR
TEAM OVER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING.
THEY WILL BE WITH US TO PROVIDE
US AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S
STRATEGY AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0 TO 3. AS
WELL AS OTHER WORK THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE
CHILDCARE ACCESS AREA FOR
SEATTLE FAMILIES LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT REALLY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
NEXT, I AGAIN WANTED TO ECHO
THAT TODAY IS HAPPY -- TODAY IS
TO -- IT IS INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY.
IT IS ALSO MARCH.
WE ARE ALSO SMACK IN THE MIDDLE
OF WOMEN'S MONTH.
ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S
DAY I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF
US TO SUPPORT AT LEAST ONE
WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS TODAY.
YOU CAN DO THAT BY HEADING OVER
TO THE INTENTIONAL LIST, OR TO
EVER OUT SEATTLE TO FIND IDEAS
BASED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
PREFERENCE.
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL TO DO
THAT AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK
OUR SEATTLE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR HIGHLIGHTING
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND FOR
CONTINUING TO AMPLIFY AND
SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
LASTLY, COLLEAGUES, DID WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THIS WEEK MARKS A YEAR
SINCE WE ALL STARTED TELEWORKING
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE
STATEWIDE MANDATE TO SHELTER IN
PLACE DUE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
IT SEEMS LONGER THAN A YEAR
THAT WE'VE BEEN PHYSICALLY
APART FROM EACH OTHER, WHILE
DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK, BUT I
DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THANK EACH OF YOU AND EVERY
SINGLE PERSON WORKING IN THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT AND
THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR YOUR
RESILIENCE AND YOUR ONGOING
PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOUR
FLEXIBILITY.
I KNOW THAT SOMEDAY WE WILL BE
ABLE TO SAFELY COME BACK
TOGETHER, BUT FOR NOW, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO CONDUCT OUR
BUSINESS REMOTELY AND KEEP
COMPLYING WITH OUR PUBLIC
RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT SEEMS SHOCKING THAT IT HAS
BEEN ONE FULL CIRCLE AROUND THE
SUN AND HERE WE ARE STILL DOING
OUR BUSINESS REMOTELY.
I KNOW IT IS CHALLENGING, AND I
KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT.
FOLKS IN THE CITY HAVE REALLY
STEPPED UP TO THAT CHALLENGE
AND REALLY APPRECIATE
COLLEAGUES, YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND MAKING
SURE THAT THE TELEWORK
PROTOCOLS ARE BEING RESPECTED
AND COMPLIED WITH.
SO, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
>>> OKAY, THEN REALLY QUICKLY I
KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SIGNAL IN OPEN SESSION HER
INTEREST IN ADDING HER
SIGNATURE TO THE LETTER I HAVE
DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE HER AN
OPPORTUNITY TO STATE THAT IN
OPEN SESSION.
SO THAT WE ARE IN FULL
COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT.
SO, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I
UNDERSTAND YOU DID WANT TO ADD
YOUR NAME, YOUR SIGNATURE TO
THAT LETTER.
>> YES, I'M SORRY.
I APOLOGIZE I MISSED THE BOAT.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY
NAME TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S LETTER IN SUPPORT OF
THE PROTECTION AND TO STOP THE
VIOLENCE, AND ANTICIPATED
VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR ASIAN
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>>> THAT CONCLUDES THAT PART OF
OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO SHIFT INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AS I MENTIONED IN OPEN SESSION,
WE DO HAVE TWO SHORT EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
US INTO THOSE EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS.
AS PROVIDING OFFICER,
ANNOUNCING THAT THE CITY WILL
CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS IS TO DISCUSS
LITIGATION.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS THE
CITY ATTORNEYS AS AUTHORIZED BY
LAW.
A LEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS
PRESENT.
I EXPECT THE TIME OF THE
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS TO AN BY
LET'S SAY 12:45 P.M.
IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION --
SESSIONS ARE TO BE EXTENDED
BEYOND 12:45 P.M., I WILL
EXPOUNDS THE EXTENSIONS AND
EXPECTED DURATIONS IN OPEN
SESSION.