>>> Each speaker has one
minute. Madam clerk, I hand it
over to you to present the
instructions.
>> The city of flowers and the
city of goodwill -- hello,
Seattle. We are the emerald
city. The city of flowers and
the city of goodwill. Built on
indiginous land, traditional
territory. The Seattle city
council welcomes remote public
omment and eager to hear from
residents of our city. If you
want to be a speaker and
provide public comment, you can
register two hours prior to the
meeting via the Seattle city
council website. Here is
information about the public
comment proceedings. Speakers
are called upon in the order in
which they registered on the
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in council rules may lead to
the speaker being muted by the
presiding officer. Our hope is
to provide an opportunity for
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will assist our orderly
consideration of issues before
the council. The public comment
period is now open. We will
begin with the first speaker on
the list. Please remember to
press star 6 after you hear the
property of of you have been
unmight. Thank you, Seattle.
>> Madam clerk, before we
begin, so I know we have people
that are not familiar with
public comment, those in
chambers, please pay attention
to the clock. You have one
minute then you get a 10 second
warning to wrap it up. I will
caution those folks that you
are here to speak to the items
on our agenda and to actually
be respectful and a safe place
for people to come and have
public comment. With that,
madam clerk, if I need to mute
for any kind of unruly or
disruptive behavior per our
rules I ask you do it
immediately. Madam clerk, start
with the first folks in
chambers.
>> Thank you. The first in
person speaker will be.
>> Hi, my name is -- I am from
India and member of socialist
alternative, a tech work near
Seattle. I urge all the
democrats on city city council
to vote yes from are the
proposal for our community
members to ban discrimination
in our city. As a socialist I
agree with the alphabet union
workers who say that the fight
for the civil rights of cast
oppressed people is a worker's
fight. It's crucial for all
workers in the tech sector and
beyond and all representatives
of working oppressed people to
take up the cast system. It's I
see to think that is is an
issue far away from us. Why
should you support the
ordinance in Seattle. In August
of last year, the California
department of fair housing won
ruling to proceed with a
lawsuit alleging that the cast
oppressed Sysco systems was act
actively targeted by the
dominant cast managers and
denied professional
opportunities. I think this is
just one case that shows it's
urgent for the movement to
fight for concrete steps such
as this ordinance. Beyond this,
I think a victory to make
Seattle the First City in the
country to ban cast based
dicrimination would be a shot
in the arm for the movement
internationally to end all
forms.
>> thank you. Our next speaker
is -- .
>> My name is -- and I am of
Sri Lankan origin. Oppression
is big problem like cast in
India. I ask all democrats on
the city council to support the
cast ordinance and community
activists. Seattle would be the
First City to -- inspiring
people across the U.S., south
Asia and the world. It would
prohibit cast discrimination in
employment and public
accommodation similar to civil
rights laws from the 1960s.
Cast discrimination has been
going in the USA and remains
prevalent in the Seattle which
has a big tech sector where
discrimination is prevalent. It
would help workers to organize
and fight back -- the fight
against the cast system is
linked to capitalism and
racism. [ Inaudible ] In the
world.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is --
>> I live and work in Seattle.
I belong to an oppressed cast
and experienced the trauma and
the system most of my life. I
am here to ask the city council
to pass the ordinance to make
cast discrimination illegal.
Black and other marginalized
communities, struggling with
social segregation [ Inaudible
] And discrimination. When I
was 16 I was thrown out of a
housing when the happened lady
learned about my cast because
of a minor disputes which I
should have asked your cast
before I rented out. No doubt
this has stayed with me and
scared me for life. This
mind-set of superiority [
Inaudible ] However, unlike
other marginalized communities
[ Inaudible ] I sincerely urge
the council members to approve
the ordinance to make cast
discrimination illegal in
Seattle. This will give us [
Inaudible ] And throughout the
state.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is -- is he not here? Our next
speaker is Uma R.
>> Technology executive and I
lived here since 1999. I am
here to urge the down sill
members to join in banning cast
based discrimination in our
city. Seattle region has large
southeastern community that
comes from a cast background
like me. My success in America
is because of my cast
privileges by birth and not
modern minority. This is not
possibility for our south
asians that are cast
discriminated for generations.
Political tyranny is nothing
compared to social tyranny
including the politics of food.
Real change -- many refuse to
rent their place, will not have
roommates that eat meat, share
a cup of water or let beef come
in contact with utensils. This
is cast discrimination.
Americans have to master
identity due to these food
discrimination and social
settings. The children face
cast oppression in schools.
Thank you.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is -- --
>> I was born into a bra mine
family. My community practices
cast discrimination in Seattle
in the following ways. Pride in
the Vedas, vetted tick society
and San script as the pinnacle
of Indian achievement. Cast on
social and matrimonial groups.
[ Inaudible ] Dedicated to
helping people find partners
who are Brahm mines only. Bride
in announcing our cast. Openly
and unsolicitedly declaring
that they are tan BRAM.
Portraying ourselves as victims
of affirmative action. CEO of
Google comes from the most
marginalized community, a post
that you would see a lot on
quota in the United States. The
only way this minister
democracy can be rooted out is
to make cast discrimination
illegal. Let's do that in
Seattle now and then in the
rest of the country.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker,
next speaker Natalie Bailey.
>> Hello. My name is Natalie. I
am a district three resident
and, yeah. I urge all democrats
on the city council to vote yes
on the proposal for community
members and socialist Kshama
Sawant to ban cast [ Inaudible
] This will be historic win.
This will be historic if we
win. I have no doubt it will
inspire working immigrants and
other cities across the [
Inaudible ] To take action.
Racial and gender oppression
needs to be linked with the
fight against all oppression
and economic exploitation of
the majority of people. It
doesn't only take place in
other countries but south Asian
and other people in their
workplaces including the tech
sector in Seattle. That's why
the movement brings forth the
first in its nation.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is.
>> Greeting, council members. I
have been in Seattle the past
21 years. I come from a
dominant cast family. I
strongly urge the council to
pass the ordinance. As a member
of the community which is
infected by [ Inaudible ] I
urge you to provide protection
to the cast. As inside Eric say
cast is actively practiced in
the community through
propaganda and even cultural
education to little children
through whitewashing of the
cast. The cast mind-set
questions the abilities of cast
oppressed because of the
centuries of propaganda that
they have been informed as
children. So, because there is
no such protection available to
the cast I urge that you act.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is Amer.
>> Thank you. Hello, everyone.
Small family business owner in
the Seattle area the past 15
years. I do work on behalf of
the Indian Muslim community. I
am here today to urge the
council to approve this
ordinance unanimously. Your
support will protect my south
Asian immigrants, all victims
of cast oppression. If the city
council sports the ordinance,
proposed by Kshama Sawant,
Seattle will be the First City
in the nation to outlaw cast
discrimination. This will be
historic. I have no doubt that
it will inspire working people.
Immigrants, communities and
other cities across the nation
to take action. I strongly urge
this council to pass the [
Inaudible ]
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is Alex Zimmerman.
>> Thank you. [ Inaudible ] She
is against discrimination. She
is good. [ Inaudible ] She
approves this. You are good. [
Inaudible ]
>> That's it. Cut Mr.
Zimmerman. You are deemed
disruptive and you will be
escorted out of city hall.
>> Our last in person speaker,
the last in person speaker is
-- .
>> I am here to speak in
support of the anticast --
banning cast discrimination,
the ordinance to ban that. My
main point that I want to make
that cast is alive in the local
area. I work in the tech sector
in Microsoft. From my personal
experience, I can tell you that
when there was action announced
by the Indian government [
Inaudible ] There was immediate
discussion about that in the
Microsoft E-mail threads. A lot
of bigoted hateful comments
questioning religious of cast
oppressed people. And those
kinds of hideous comments
didn't lead to accountability.
They still kept their jobs,
maybe got promoted. So, you
know, that's my main point. So,
it's very important that we
outlaw it. I would urge the
city council members to pass it
unanimously.
>> Thank you. We will move into
the remote speakers. Please
remember to press star 6 to
unmute your telephone or cell
phone. The first respotty
speaker is Howard Gael.
>> Good afternoon, we are in
our 11th year of federal
oversight of Seattle police.
These are just a few of the
Seattle times articles in the
last couple of months. SPD
conducted a traumatizing
S.W.A.T. exercise near Ingram
high school the day after the
shooting there. SPD officer on
leave due to a probe in to
stalking. SPD arresting
graffiti artists. The
revelation that the state
police acted is graduating
recruits with a propensity for
violence. The continuing
officers warning a sex
trafficker investigation. SPD
unnecessary arrest of a man in
behavioral health crisis. SPD
leadership retaliating against
a sergeant for revealing
failures and sex assault
investigations. $10 million a
year we spend on police
accountability that contributed
to the illusion of
accountability and gives
council permission to ignore
the repeated failures. This is
over $10 million spent on
justifications, not on justice.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is Joseph and he will be
followed by --
>> I urge all the democrats on
the city of Seattle city
council to [ Inaudible ] To ban
cast based discrimination in
that city. I did my masters [
Inaudible ] About two years
now. I have been affected by
the acts of indians practicing
cast in the public forum. [
Inaudible ] One such incident
happened to me when I moved in
with my roommate. We shared
utensils for cooking. One day I
wanted to cook meat for myself
and use the utensils. My
roommate said I cannot cook
meat with the utensils. It
would affect the purity of them
and they couldn't use it for
the future. I speak a different
language and upper class people
have --
>> Thank you, our next speaker
is --
>> Before we begin, madam
clerk, again I want to remind
people that are calling in we
really hate cutting you off,
please, please listen for the
ding that tells you you have 10
seconds to wrap it up. So I
apologize. But, again, it's
important that we move the
calendar forward and you listen
for the chime so you know you
have 10 seconds to wrap up your
statement so we don't have to
cut you off. Go ahead, madam
clerk.
>> We have two in a row, the
first is --
>> Yeah. Hi, my name is -- I am
speaking to ban many [
Inaudible ] I have speaking
because I have seen how cast
privilege, capital and
supremacy. Normalization [
Inaudible ] Sexual violence of
cast minorities is pervasive.
Cast is a broad civil rights
issues that affects all south
is aians and Americans. [
Inaudible ] Human rights issue
and it is a kwer and transissue
as well. General institutions.
I would be delighted to see
Seattle and city council take a
lead in the battle. Being the
first American city to vote in
favor. I urge you to vote yes [
Inaudible ] Thank you.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is --
>> Press star 6.
>> We will go back.
>> Let's move to.
>> My name is -- I come from
Indian community. I urge
council members to support the
ordinance to ban discrimination
in Seattle for the sake of
those who are in no way
connected to our part of the
cast system. Cast
discrimination happens around
you and among you. Our
apartment complex was burned by
an Indian man who deemed that
his doctor married a man who
was lower cast and this
happened in Chicago. Such cast
atrocity can happen in Seattle.
70 people including blacks,
whites and others that are
affected by it. So, everyone is
affected by it. In California,
you buy insurance. In the
Midwest tornado insurance. In
Florida, hurricane insurance.
When you live with and the
population -- you buy cast
insurance. That's what this
legislation will be for you.
Support the ordinance and ban
cast discrimination in Seattle
and ban across the United
States. Thank you.
>> The next speaker is -- he
has the last initial of P.
>> Go ahead.
>> Hello. Good afternoon,
council members. I am a writer
and technologist. I would like
to talk about cast
discrimination in the
workplace. After Sysco it's
important for us to consider
cast in the U.S. [ Inaudible ]
This means it has little
institutional support in the
industry. It's difficult for
complaints about cast
discrimination at work to lead
to a disciplinary action,
especially coworkers claim
religious discrimination. You
can't bring a complained and
burden of proof will be on [
Inaudible ] So to ban that,
what has been carried to the
U.S., I strongly urge city
council to take lead on this
human rights.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is -- .
>> Hello. [ Inaudible ] Proud
member of the community.
Vibrant culture that we share.
But I must mention things that
I'm not proud of in my
community. One such thing is
the cast inequality which south
Asian people are carrying with
them as they move to the U.S. I
am here to support the ban on
cast discrimination. [
Inaudible ] Remain in their
cast bubble living, dining
among their own cast and sub
cast groups and glorifying the
supremacy of their cast and
same mind-set in their jobs,
renting, housing and so forth
and so on as the community is
facing mental and physical
segregation. I urge all
democrats on the city council
to honor the --
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is -- last initial I.
>> Hi, I am a software
engineer. I urge all democrats
in the city, Seattle city
council to vote yes on the
community members and
councilmember Kshama Sawant to
ban discrimination in Seattle.
[ Inaudible ] I urge all
democrats on the --
>> Thank you, our next speaker
is son Jay Summar. Hello, are
you still there.
>> I am in Islip. [ Inaudible ]
I am in support of the
legislation to ban cast based
discrimination in Seattle. It
is much needed. Especially from
south Asian [ Inaudible ] South
Asian population is growing
across the United States and in
Seattle, too. We bring it as a
part of our culture. Cast
discrimination is the
by-product of cast system. Cast
system is venom for any
civilized society and should
not have any place in the land
of -- Lincoln. We do not want
our children to live with a
cast fight or humiliation.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is.
>> Good afternoon. I work as a
soft water software engineer [
Inaudible ] It is problematic
forecast workers. We had lunch
in office cafeteria. The
conversation was about a movie
and movie actress. [ Inaudible
] When the dominant cast people
[ Inaudible ] Has an impact [
Inaudible ]
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is -- .
>> Good afternoon.
>> Thank you.
>> Good afternoon. Immigration
to the U.S. college educated
upper cast families like mine
from India. The tech sector the
past two decades cast oppressed
communities. Cast
discrimination is not something
out there. It's happening in
our backyard. Race issues in
America and has real
consequences. I work in mental
health and supported people of
King county as a crisis line
volunteer over 25 years. I know
firsthand how it impacts
people's mental health causing
anxiety, depression and
suicidality. Cast is not a
protected category, nothing can
be done if somebody brings a
complaint. Please change that.
Make Seattle a city that values
equity. Pass the ordinance to
ban cast discrimination in
Seattle. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is ram Kumar.
>> Good afternoon. I'm ram
Kumar. [ Inaudible ] I support
cast to be outlawed and banned.
[ Inaudible ] A recent example,
one person sent E-mails [
Inaudible ]
Tools that are important like
good housing. My partner faced
cast oppression in the U.S. I
would urge --
>> Thank you, our next speaker
is -- last initial N.
>> Hi, I am a nonbinary cast
privileged person with
relatives working in tech in
Seattle. America and Seattle is
home to cast oppression. It's
documented at Google, Sysco and
Microsoft and imperative that
we bring these protections to
Seattle, too. If I experience
discrimination for my race,
gender or sexuality I can get
justice through the law. But
here in America when my cast
are oppressed in housing and
education. Cast
intersectionnal. These are
protected classes but cast
which is similar must be given
the same protections, too.
Across the nation, universities
like UC Davis, brown university
and the Harvard graduate
student workers union banned
cast. You can make the
difference and I urge you to
support making it illegal in
Seattle. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is Austin price.
>> Hi, I'm Austin price. I am a
member of social alternative
and I am calling today to say
that I urge all democrats on
the Seattle city council to
vote yes on the proposal to ban
cast based discrimination in
our city. You have heard plenty
of moving testimony with people
that experienced it or
witnessed it themselves. It's
time that Seattle dead
indicates being a bastion of
quality and protection for all
civil rights that we need to
step up and be prepreemptive
about this. It's more
pronounced than a lot of us
never have to deal with. If we
are committed to equality and
making sure that we stay at the
forefront of civil rights where
we have seen other businesses
and cities and universities
start this fight, it's time to
join then. It's about it.
Everybody else said it more
eloquently than I.
>> Thank you. The next speaker
is -- with the last initial K.
>> Hello, council members. I am
a cast oppressed woman myself
and I have seen and faced
discrimination. It is Crystal
clear that cast is absolutely
kwer workers and human rights
issues. Cast discrimination has
been reported and documented
within major universities, tech
companies and among restaurant
workers. We deserve protections
and the time for adding cast in
all American institutions all
over the country are long yo
due. There are many cast
oppressed folks that don't
report it because there are no
legal protections that aren't
broadly recognized yet. Seattle
would be taking the lead
forecast equity and ensure that
the necessary protections would
be put into place forecast
oppressed Americans. As a cast
oppressed woman, I am thrilled
that Seattle is even
considering making cast based
discrimination illegal. I do
deeply urge that the city
council take this important
step forward and fight against
cast based discrimination in
the United States. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is.
>> Hi. I am speaking as be
upper cast ally to cast
abolition. I urge seat to take
the step to ban cast
discrimination. I am a student.
I have seen how other cast
privileged young south Asian
people knowingly an unknowingly
unhold cast power and dim
nature. Even in elementary
school I remember Abraham mine
family refusing to allow their
child to interact with a child
from a cast family. [ Inaudible
] In its space we must do
everything we can to protect
those who are deemed
disposeable by the system. Vote
yes and give cast oppressed
people the protection they
need. That is the only
humanitarian option.
>> Thank you. The next speaker
is John pinkUS.
>> A long time King county
resident. As a technology
executive and activist I work
closely with southeast is aians
and how real cast
discrimination is. You heard
many examples already. One
more. In May 2021 the FBI began
investigating alleged traffic
workers from India forced to do
manual labor in servitude under
abysmal conditions not even
allowed to see their family.
There are a lot of parallels
between the struggles of black
Americans and those at the
lowest running of the cast
system considered untouchable.
When Dr. Martin Luther King
visited India he was introduced
as a fellow untouchable. He was
shocked at first. Then he said
I am an untouchable. Every
negro in the United States is
an untouchable. The NAACP
passed a resolution opposing
the cast system in the United
States. I urge the city council
to ban cast based
discrimination in Seattle.
Thank you. The.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is mark Taylor Canfield.
>> As serve as executive
director for --
>> Are you still there? [
Inaudible ] The least likely to
vote. If the city's economic
refugee camps were on borders
they would qualify for Red
Cross and other humanitarian [
Inaudible ] Seattle has a
chance to set a standard for
the rest of the world. $5,000
per month are the rents for new
buildings in Seattle. More than
25,000 people are living on the
streets or in emergency or
transitional housing across the
state. According to the
Washington Department of
Commerce the state needs to
build [ Inaudible ] I urge the
city council to do everything
it can to alleviate the
problem.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is.
>> Hi. I work in American
industry. I suffered through
the same cast discrimination
from one of my senior managers
belong to upper class people.
They never give me a chance for
my promotion based on the cast
system. Cast system needs to be
banned all over America. The
people are suffering, but it's
hard -- in other sector, we
need to ban the cast based
discrimination. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is -- .
>> I urge city council members
to say yes and pass the
ordinance please. When we talk
about cast it's not much
different from other forms of
discrimination that the people
in this room have witnessed. [
Inaudible ] In this particular
case, we identify as cast and
-- in my opinion, the
motivation of cast -- adding to
existing legislation. It would
be achieving parody with the
rest of the amazing country. We
have been discriminated at
work, retaliated for speaking
of our identities. This
legislation shall allow those
to be in this great country to
fight for it. My neighbors who
are associated with radical
right wing associations. [
Inaudible ] Thank you.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is.
>> Hi. Can you hear me?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Hi, everybody. I am
joining in from the California
State University system to
voice support for the
resolution to add cast as a
protected category. Recently
the CSU became the first and
largest four year university
system in the nation to add
cast. I'm excited to see the
city of Seattle considering
cast and joining this very
historic moment right now. I
urge you all to voice your
support and put yourself on the
right side of history and add
cast as a protected category
and ban cast discrimination in
Seattle.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is Jeremy rinker.
>> Jeremy, are you there? Okay.
We will skip over Jeremy for
now. The next speaker is Logan
swan.
>> My name is Logan swan
district 2 renter and union
ironworker. I am calling in
support of Kshama Sawant to
include cast as protected
category against discrimination
nation. I urge the democrats on
the council to vote in favor.
This is an important workers
right issue considering the
number of is aians in our tech
try. This would build where
California universities ban
cast discrimination and Google
and calls for a fight forecast
suppressed people. [ Inaudible
] Seattle has the opportunity
to lead the nation in becoming
the First City passing cast
protections. Internationally
momentum here will push back on
-- which is attacking workers
in the oppressed communities in
India. We have to build a
fighting campaign to win the
legislation. Physical you are
listening and support it, sign
the petition on councilmember
Sawant's website.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is -- okay. We will go on to
bony Zhaire.
>> Hello. I am a south Asian
scholar. I currently live in
Seattle. I think that nonsouth
Asian Americans get confused
and afraid to act owing to
thinking that they don't
understand the situation. Cast
is a threat of violence. It is
housing discrimination. It's
being afraid to reveal your
surname and is an inability to
be yourself. And you can love
and welcome India, Indian
culture, Indian nests and
simultaneously be against
social exclusion. I urge you to
pass this ordinance outlawing
cast oppression.
>> Thank you. Our next speaker
is.
>> Hello. Thank you, council
members. I want to congratulate
and thank the council for
taking up this historic
ordinance. This is something
that is not only a problem for
minority but becoming an
American problem. When I came
from India to the United
States, I thought I would
escape the shackles and the
mantra of cast but I face
discrimination multiple times
in the U.S. Something that I
had never expected would
happen. You have heard from a
lot of members here who talked
about the horrible cast and now
I urge all of you to pass this
or din Nance. You send a
message, not just to the rest
of the United States but for
all the world that you care.
>> Thank you. The last speaker
is -- .
>> I am an immigrant from India
currently working in the United
States. I come from privileged
cast backgrounds. What I would
like to point out is that a lot
of companies, big tech
companies like Microsoft,
Google, Facebook, et cetera
that have offices in Seattle.
Have have been hateful comments
made against members of
oppressed cast and all comments
that would be punishable by law
in India. However, we don't
have any such law that calls
out such instances in the U.S.
So, it's really important. I
comment the city council for
taking this up. Thank you so
much.
>> Thank you. That concludes
the remote speakers, council
president.
>> We may have one additional
remote speaker that got back
online. Remember to press star
6. We got it. We see you.
>> I'm in. Thank you for
letting me in. I appreciate you
guys taking this action for
discrimination. I want to start
Martin Luther King [ Inaudible
] I still feel we have to stop
discrimination anywhere to be
part of this. And I have
experience myself and I know
without knowing I myself have
banned this kind of
discrimination to people. [
Inaudible ] The actions we
normally do, we discriminate
against people.
>> Thank you. That concludes
the remote speakers.
>> Great. Thank you. We have
done what the folks in chambers
-- I thank all of you who
showed up in chambers and those
of who you called in regarding
the ordinance and the issue of
-- I counted it 22 times the
class -- the cast system and we
thank Kshama Sawant for getting
that to us and her staff. Now
that we reached the end of
public comment. We will move on
in the agenda. First of all,
let's go to adoption of the
introduction and referral
calendar. If there is no
objection the IRC is adopted --
the calendar will be adopted.
I'm not seeing or hearing an
objection, the introduction --
you can see ducks of the
referral calendar is adopted.
Second is the adoption of the
agenda. No objection the agenda
will be adopted. Not seeing or
hearing objection the agenda is
adopted. Let's move on to
adoption of the consent
calendar. So, you all have in
front of you the proposed
consent calendar. Items on the
consent calendar include the
minutes of January 17, 2023.
Payroll bill, council bills
120495. Any items that my
colleagues would like removed
to discuss later in the agenda?
All right. Not seeing or
hearing none, I move to adopt
the consent calendar. Is there
a second?
>> Second.
>> Sorry.
>> Second.
>> Okay. Great. It has been
moved and seconded. So, I move
to adopt the consent calendar.
Consent calendar is now
adopted.
>> Council president Juarez I
can do roll call.
>> Madam clerk call the roll on
the consent calendar.
>> Councilmember her world.
>> Yes. Lewis.
>> Yes. Morales.
>> Yes. Nelson, AYE.
>> Pedersen.
>> AYE. Saw want, yes.
>> Strauss, yes.
>> Juarez.
>> Yes.
>> Eight in favor, none
opposed. The consent calendar
is adopted. Madam clerk a fix
my signature to the minutes and
legislation on the consent
calendar on my behalf and I
apologies getting ahead of
myself on the script. Moving
along to committee reports,
today we have four items. I
believe the first three we hear
from councilmember Lewis and
item number 4 councilmember
Pedersen. Madam clerk read item
one into the record. The record
of the public assets and
homeless necessary committee
council bill 120484, ordinance
authorizing the director of
finance and administrative
services to execute a fifth
amendment to the lease and
concession agreement between
the city of Seattle and BH
music center Benaroya hall.
>> These the first piece of
legislation to come out of the
committee last week, 120484.
This amendment to this ongoing
lease agreement for the hall
with regard to sessions and [
Inaudible ] Generated on the
parcel to be reeven visited in
certain capital and obligations
that we are responsible for as
the manager of Benaroya hall.
It is recommended to be adopted
by the full council.
>> Thank you, councilmember
Lewis. Any questions for
Councilmember Lewis. Anything
you want to add before we go to
a vote.
>> Nothing more, council
president.
>> Will the clerk call the-roll
on the pass San Jose of the
bill. Councilmember Pedersen
Herbold.
>> Yes.
>> Lewis.
>> Yes, Nelson.
>> Yes.
>> Pedersen.
>> AYE.
>> Saw want, yes.
>> Strauss.
>> Yes.
>> Juarez.
>> Yes.
>> Eight in favor, none
opposed. The bill passes. Madam
clerk please of a fix my
signature to the legislation on
my behalf. Moving on to item
number 2. Please read item
number 2 into the record.
120492 an ordinance relating to
the maintenance and operations
for the waterfront park and
public spaces authorizing the
superintendent of Seattle parks
and recreation to deal gate
certain central waterfront
maintenance operations and
management to the Seattle
center department and
delegating authority to the
Seattle center director to
enforce the waterfront and
public spaces. Committee
recommends it pass as amended.
>> 120492 relates to the
ongoing discussion that we have
been having for several months
potentially more than a year
now about the larger role that
the department of Seattle
center will have in the
activation and management of
the waterfront space. This is
the first legislation around
activation, social service and
security and other services
that the department of the
Seattle center has been
providing on their own campus
for many years and it could be
emulated and used in this space
on the Seattle waterfront as
well. We have a long discussion
about this legislation over the
course of two hearings.
Ultimately it passed the
committee with a unanimous
recommendation that it be
adopted at this meeting today.
>> Thank you, councilmember
Lewis.
>> Any counts from our
colleagues? Not seeing any,
Councilmember Lewis any closing
comments before a vote.
>> I'm ready to vote. Thank
you.
>> Will the clerk call the roll
on the passage of the bill.
Councilmember Herbold.
>> Thank you. Councilmember
Lewis.
>> Yes. Morales.
>> Yes.
>> Nelson.
>> AYE.
>> Pedersen.
>> AYE.
>> Sawant.
>> Yes.
>> Strauss.
>> Yes. Council president
Juarez.
>> AYE.
>> Thank you, madam clerk. The
bill passes and the chair will
sign it. Please of a fix my
signature to the legislation on
my behalf. We will go to item
number 3. Could you read item
number 3 into the record.
120496 an ordinance relating to
the Seattle waterfront park
authorizing the director of
Seattle center to accept
noncity funds amending
ordinance 126725 which adopted
the 2023 budget and creating
new positions at Seattle
center. The committee
recommends the bill pass.
>> Thank you. Councilmemer
Lewis, the floor is yours.
>> Thank you, council
president. This bill is
somewhat related to the
ordinance that we just
considered, 120496. This
similarly relates to the
Seattle waterfront park and
essentially manifests the parts
of this relationship that
involve the friends of the
waterfront, nonprofit
organizations that we do a lot
of work with to activate the
waterfront park famously with
the pier that we opened, the
public space that we had lots
of city events at. Similarly we
had a discussion about this
that overlaps significantly
with the previous ordinance and
Seattle center authority
authorization and passed with
unanimous recommendation.
>> Thank you, Councilmember
Lewis.
>> Any comments or concerns
from our colleagues regarding
the piece of legislation?
Anything else to add, Mr.
Lewis, Councilmember Lewis.
>> No thank you, council
president.
>> Thank you.
>> Will the clerk call the roll
on the passage of the bill.
>> Herbold.
>> Yes.
>> Lewis.
>> Yes.
>> Morales.
>> Yes. Nelson.
>> AYE.
>> Pedersen.
>> AYE.
>> Sawant.
>> Yes.
>> Strauss.
>> Yes.
>> Juarez.
>> Yes.
>> Eight in favor, none
opposed.
>> The bill passes. The chair
will sign it and madam clerk
please of a fix my signature to
the legislation on my behalf.
It looks like we are moving
over to item number 4,
legislation on the
transportation and Seattle
public utilities committee.
That is Councilmember Pedersen.
Read item 4 into the record.
The record of the
transportation and Seattle
public utilities committee
120493. An ordinance relating
to use of bus and shuttle
vehicle zones by private
employer shuttle vehicles
making permanent the Seattle
department of transportation
employer shared transit stop
pilot program amending sections
of code and adopting a transit
and mobility fee schedule. The
committee recommends that the
bill pass as amended.
>> Councilmember Pedersen, you
are chair of the committee.
>> Thank you council president.
We received a report in
September of last year about
the shared transit stop pilot
program. They have been
studying the pilot for several
years and supported by King
county METRO and they are ready
to solidify it. The shared
transit stop works with large
employers that use their own
shuttle systems including the
University of Washington and
Seattle children's hospital.
The shuttles encourage more
commuters to leave behind
single occupancy vehicles at
home. It has been a success and
the committee advanced 120493
to nor formalize the program.
It December anything natures
appropriate locations for the
shared transit stops throughout
the city and solidifies the fee
revenue we collect to fund the
expanded program. The
administration has determined
it is good for employers,
workers that need to get to
their jobs and good for the
environment. I would encourage
a yes vote to support the bill
without any changes at this
time because of the great
success of the pilot program
that will encourage commuters
to get out of their cars and I
understand there is an
amendment that we will be
considering today as well.
>> Thank you. I will let you
close this out but I will go
back now. I will open the floor
and I believe Councilmember
Morales has something.
>> Yes, thank you, council
president. I moved amendment A
as posted on the agenda.
>> Is there a second to
councilmember Morales
amendment?
>> Second.
>> It's been moved and seconded
to amend the council bill as
presented on amendment A on the
agenda. Now, Councilmember
Morales, you are recognized to
address your amendment.
>> Great. Thank you very much,
colleagues. I want to start by
thanking Calvin from the
central staff for helping draft
this. As we know, S dot has
existing authority to regulate
the right-of-way and permit
such uses as the shared transit
stop. This is how it has been
operating since 2017.
Legislation before us would
make minor code updates and
authorize S dot to charge a
permit fee to recover the cost
of the program. The amendment
that I am proposing would
expire S dot's authority to
charge a fee and recover costs
after June 2026. As we know,
this program started in 2017,
it was sort of disrupted by
covid. What I'm asking or
trying to do with this
amendment is give SDOT another
three years to monitor the
program and then require that
they come back to council to
demonstrate that the shared
program should continue. I will
say I got a couple of concerns,
as I mentioned in briefing, I'm
concerned about our growing
reprioritization of public
space for private use. We
already overwhelmingly
appropriate public -- the
public right-of-way for private
car parking and I fully
understands SDOT goal for
providing more options to
commute in a climate conscious
way and I appreciate there are
employers throughout the city
providing greener options for
their employees to commute.
There are certainly clear
benefits to the program. And
there are potential -- the
potential for under mining our
goal of getting a more robust
public transit routes if we are
-- if we are leaving it to
private companies to provide
the service between communities
and these places of employment
the goal of the amendment is to
have SDOT use this time and
determine whether the form of
private tests mobility competes
with our resources. It leaves
to the department how best to
monitor impacts and outcomes
and the department come back to
council in three years for
reauthorization if that is
determined to be the best
solution. I will say that we
did speak with folks at SDOT.
We took their suggestion to
monitor, to adjust the date. I
had a March date at first. So,
we moved it to June and
otherwise we understand that
there is no objection from the
department.
>> Just clarification before I
open the floor. Councilmember
Morales, it's June 2026.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So, I'm going to open
the floor. I see Councilmember
Herbold had her hand up first.
>> Thank you. The effect
statement for this amendment
says future council
authorization would be required
to continue the program after
the expiration date. I want to
clarify, there is not a
requirement to allow the
program to expire and then
reauthorize. We could, assuming
that SDOT delivers the
deliverable in time we could
reauthorize the program before
the expiration date for a
seamless continuation of the
program. Is that not the
intent? Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. I see two Herbold
tiles. Councilmember Nelson.
>> For my clarification has
METRO expressed any concern
about this program?
>> About the shared transit
program?
>> Not that I'm aware. I will
acknowledge I didn't speak to
METRO about this. I only spoke
to SDOT.
>> I see Councilmember Pedersen
put his hand up.
>> I'm in control.
>> I just -- I wanted the
answer to that.
>> I see his hand up there. I
wanted to be sure you got your
opportunity.
>> With that, I will go to
Councilmember Pedersen.
>> Thank you, council
president. We did reach out to
METRO. They are supportive of
the program and concluded the
shared stop program would not
create a negative impact on
ridership. If I may present an
alternative view on the
amendment, would this be the
time to do that?
>> It would be.
>> Okay. I appreciate the
intent of the amendment. I'm
grateful for Councilmember
Morales for her early and open
communication about the
amendment and connecting with
SDOT about that and making the
adjustment. After considering
the amendment to sunset the
bill in three years, I don't
think we should change the bill
today to address the concerns
raised. I think imposing a
sunset date now could hamper
the program's goals. It has
been running several years. I
witnessed how it worked well at
several transit stops in my
district, University of
Washington and Seattle
children's. I think the Harold
administration thoughtfully
advanced the program. I think
it will continue to get people
successfully out of their
single occupancy vehicles,
reduce traffic congestion. This
it's important to note that the
revenue from the program will
help to fund SDOT's transit
team that administers the
program. Like I said, King down
METRO has been -- they have
been collaborating with METRO
on this program. If anybody is
concerned about the impact on
shared transit stops it would
be ding county METRO. We have
the per rogue gay safe to end
programs when data supports it.
I'm concerned imposing a sunset
in advance would discourage
employers in investing and ban
pools, shuttle and you end up
having people drive their cars
instead. The director rule
enables SDOT to revoke permits.
That's part of the program if
problems arise or make
adjustments. They promised to
come back in two years for a
full review of the program. It
could be looked at even earlier
than 2026. I appreciate the
hard work that the Harold
administration put in the
program. I will vote no on the
amendment to fully green light
the program.
>> Let me clarify, this came
out of your committee without
the amendment. You had one
person that abstained.
>> The issue was -- this issue
was raised early and came in an
amendment. I appreciate
Councilmember Morales raising
it early.
>> Point of order.
Councilmember Strauss I see
your hand up. I don't want to
turn this into a committee
hearing. Was this addressed in
committee and now it's coming
back again so I have
clarification?
>> I raised the question of
whether this was something that
we should contemplate reviewing
again and decided to turn that
question into an amendment
before -- after committee.
>> Okay. Thank you
Councilmember Morales.
Councilmember Strauss then
Nelson.
>> Thank you council president.
Councilmember Morales, I'm
checking, I know that you
addressed some of your concerns
but I'm still not understanding
what are the concerns moving
forward. Is it that the initial
study period was during the
pandemic and you want to make
sure that there is a study
period after the deep pandemic?
Is that the intent of this?
>> The intent is for us to have
a better understanding. The
study was disrupted for several
years. As we are moving back in
and allowing the program to
continue and considering making
these fees permanent and making
the changes to stops permanent
providing public assets, public
space to private entities that
we are doing so really
understanding that that is
necessary because there isn't
going to be an increase in
public transit service. So, I
am interested in making sure
that we aren't privatizing
public space and giving that
space over private entities if
we could be increasing our
public transit service to
community members.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. That's
helpful. Although we do not
provide point to point transit
service from businesses that
employ high numbers of
employees that reside in the
city. That's more of a
subjective. Just wanting to
check. Are there certain
stakeholders interested in
this? Did I miss some outreach
regarding the reason for a
sunset?
>> No, I'm just interested in
making sure that as we hand
over land and as we privatize
space that we are doing it with
the intention of making those
-- that transit more available
because we know that the public
transit agency is not going to
be providing that service. I'm
trying to understand the
destination. We don't
understand what the uptick will
be. I know we are expanding the
number of stops throughout the
city pretty substantially but
we don't know what is expected
in terms of the number of
employers or the number of
riders or the destination of
these riders. So, I think it's
important that as the program
rolls out for the next few
years that we are collecting
that information and I know
that SDOT does intend to
collect the information so we
have a better understanding of
of where the ridership needs
are, where the preferred
destinations are and have an
understanding of whether it is
possible for our public transit
agency to meet those needs
instead.
>> Thank you, that is helpful.
I know we had a similar
conversation with the safe
starts permit pathway to
permanency to create outdoor
dining. We are essentially
privatizing public space in our
right-of-way. During that
discussion, we -- there was a
proposal to disallow food
trucks to have certain
flexibilities and instead of
disallowing the food trucks, is
a study was requested for SDOT
to study the impact on the
brick and mortar around it. In
the same vein I will land on
this ambassadorment today, if
it was simply regarding a study
and mandating a study, I would
be all there with you. By
taking the next step or putting
a sunset on this, I can't vote
yes on that. So, just for the
viewing public's understanding
supportive of the study. I
cannot get to an expiration
today. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councilmember
Strauss. Councilmember Nelson.
>> Just slightly different
perspective but I hear the
concerns about, you know, the
privatization of public space.
I'm concerned that including a
sunset will decrease
participation in the program
because uncertainty over the
longevity of the program will,
I think, increase employers
financial risk. That's because
to participate they have to
make long-term plans for labor
costs and also make significant
capital investments in the
vehicles. And the depreciation
is five years, ex sughed the
two or three years in which
this sunset could occur. It
just kind of comes down to
whether or not the employer
will have an asset on the books
that they can't use then if
they sell then they will incur
the tax burden. I support the
program because we really have
to focus on revitalizing
downtown and other business
districts and we need to
encourage workers to return to
the office and a good way to do
that is to provide reliable and
convenient transit. This bill
allows us to accomplish a
couple of these policy goals.
That's why I will be supporting
it in general.
>> All right. I will make a few
comments then I will let
Councilmember Morales close us
out before we go to a vote. I
am inclined to support
Councilmember Pedersen and
Councilmember Nelson and
Strauss. If you were to have an
automatic sunset, that that
will be -- have a chilling
effect on the program and hurt
the overall intent which, of
course, if you are in private
or public business, it is going
to impact the longevity of the
program, planning, capitol
investments. I am -- I feel
more comfortable with something
that is more secure and as
Councilmember Herbold explained
nothing stopping Seattle city
council between now and 2026
from reexamining that or
looking at that. So, it isn't
like our hands are tied. So,
with that, I do support the
overall bill but I cannot be
supportive of the amendment.
With that, Councilmember
Herbold has her hand up. Then
Councilmember Morales close us
out.
>> I appreciate it. I wanted to
clarify the point in my
question was to suggest that
perhaps we are looking at this
amendment unnecessarily
negatively rather than saying
oh, the program sun setting. I
prefer to look at it as the
amendment requires
reauthorization of the program
and that that could be done at
any time before the June
deadline. So, I think lack wage
is really important. And I
think talking about sun setting
a program that many of us
support puts a little bit of a
spin on the amendment that I am
not feeling. I feel like this
is a little more than a
requirement to reauthorize a
program but with that said, I
only offer that to sort of
clarify why I was asking about
the ability of the council to
act before the deadline just to
make clear that though the
intent statement made it sound
as if it must sunset before we
act to reinstate it, that isn't
the case. The thank you.
>> Okay. Councilmember Morales,
do you want to close us out
before we go to a vote.
>> Sure. I will say that we are
-- if the goal of the program
is to get people out of their
cars then the program itself
should be competing as an
option for folks in single
occupancy vehicles, not
competing with transit and that
is my fear that the way that it
is structured now, it could
create that situation and, so,
the intent here is as
councilmember Herbold said, to
require some study the next few
years and for the department to
come back and support
reauthorization with the kind
of information that can help us
make a decision or
determination whether that
competition with the public
system is, in fact, happening
or not. So, I urge support for
the amendment and thank you for
the discussion.
>> Thank you, Councilmember
Morales. With that, madam
clerk, call the roll on the
passage of ambassadorment A to
council bill 120243.
>> Councilmember Pedersen
Herbold.
>> Yes, Luis.
>> No. Morales, yes.
>> Councilmember Nelson [
Inaudible ]
>> Councilmember Pedersen.
>> No. Councilmember Sawant.
>> Yes. Councilmember Strauss.
>> No.
>> Council president Juarez.
>> Three in favor and five
opposed.
>> So, the amendment fails. We
will move forward on the
underlying legislation,
correct?
>> Correct.
>> Okay.
>> Councilmember Pedersen can
close us out on his bill then
take a vote.
>> I was just going to go
there. Thank you, Jody.
Councilmember Pedersen do you
want to close us out as Jody
said on the underlying
legislation then we will call a
roll?
>> Thank you, council
president. This was a really
good process that we went
through. Of course I'm happy
that the amendment didn't pass
but it did feel like there was
a good process here where we
were alerted early why to the
amendment and a discussion and
now we had a great back and
forth about it. So, I want to
say that I was pleased with the
process and believe this
program is a good program and
can be revisited in a couple of
years when SDOT comes back with
the data. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> I want to thank
Councilmember Morales kind and
getting us information and
providing us and having open
discussion. Thank you,
Councilmember Morales. Okay.
So, with that now that I'm done
thanking everybody, will the
clerk call the roll on the
passage of the bill.
>> Herbold.
>> Yes.
>> Lewis.
>> Yes.
>> Councilmember Morales.
>> Yes.
>> Councilmember Nelson.
>> AYE.
>> Councilmember Pedersen.
>> Yes.
>> Councilmember Sawant.
>> Yes.
>> Councilmember Strauss.
>> Yes. Council president
Juarez.
>> Yes.
>> Eight in favor, none
opposed.
>> Thank you, the big passes.
The chair will sign it. Madam
clerk please of a fix my
signature to the legislation on
my behalf. We are down to items
removed from the consent
calendar. No. Adoption of other
resolutions. I don't see any.
Any other business before I
actually adjourn to come before
council.
>> I don't see any hands up.
So, let's see. Colleagues, this
does conclude the items of
business on today's agenda. The
next meeting for us, Seattle
city council will be held next
Tuesday, January 31st. Thank
you all. Have a great
afternoon.
>> Thank you.
>> We are adjourned.