>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS JANUARY 8th, 2024. THE
COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER, AND THE TIME IS
2:00 P.M. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. 8
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. OUR FIRST ITEM IS THE
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF DECEMBER 11, 2023,
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE MINUTES ARE
ADOPTED. OKAY, WE GOT A FULL
AGENDA TODAY. WE WILL HAVE
THREE PRESENTATIONS, A STATE
LEGISLATION UPDATE, A
PRESENTATION ON CITY POWERS AND
HOW THEY ARE EXERCISED, AND A
PRESENTATION ON THE NEXT STEPS
IN THE VACANCY FILLING PROCESS.
ALL OF THAT BEFORE THE HUSKIES
PLAY IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME,
WITH STARTS AT 4:30. GO DOGS.
>> SECOND.
>> I SHOULD PAUSE HERE FOR THE
FANS. ALL RIGHT. I'M WET NOT
WEARING PURPLE, WHICH I HAVE A
LOT OF. I WILL TRY TO MOVE
QUICKLY THROUGH THE MORE
ROUTINE ITEMS, STARTING WITH
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT. SO
FIRST, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
THE NEW MEMBERS FOR YOUR FIRST
WEEK IN OFFICE. I WAS A GREAT
AND ENERGETIC START TO OUR NEW
TERM, AND SEEING EVERYONE
BUSTLING ABOUT AND SET A NEW
TERM IN CITY HALL. SPEAKING OF
THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
COMING TO BRIEFINGS HERE ON THE
DAIS. THAT IS A BIT NEW, AND IT
IS MY HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT,
WE CAN WORK THROUGH SOME
TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES AND MEET
AT THE BRIEFINGS TABLE LIKE A
WAY BACK TIMES. BUT WE GOT TO
WORK THROUGH SOME THINGS FIRST.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE. OKAY. AT TOMORROW'S
COUNCIL MEETING, WE WILL HAVE A
DISCUSSION AND LIKELY VOTE ON
RESOLUTION 32125 RELATING TO
PARTICIPATION FOR 2024 AND 2025
ON KING COUNTY COMMITTEES
REGIONAL STATE COMMITTEES, AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE COMMITTEES.
AND SUPERSEDING RESOLUTION
32038. MY OFFICE CIRCULATED
COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION LAST
THURSDAY, I BELIEVE, AND
MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND ON THIS
COUNCIL AGENDA ONLINE. BECAUSE
WE WILL NOT BE HAVING A
BRIEFING NEXT MONDAY IN
OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR. HOLIDAY, WE WILL HAVE
A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
THIS FRIDAY , JANUARY 12,
STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. AND THAT
IS TO ADVANCE OUR WORK TO FILL
THE COUNCIL VACANCIES. SO THE
PRESENTERS FOR THE ITEM 5 ON
THE AGENDA WILL BE COVERING THE
CONTENT OF THAT MEETING. I
THINK IT IS. THE LAST
PRESENTATION WHERE WE TALK
ABOUT THAT WORK, YOU CAN ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT PRECISELY
WILL BE COVERED IN THAT MEETING
ON FRIDAY. AND FINALLY, I JUST
WANT TO NOTE THAT I AM IN
COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE PROTEST
ON I-FIVE CLOSURE ON SATURDAY,
AND I REALIZE THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS MIGHT BE
FIELDING QUESTIONS FROM
CONSTITUENTS. AND I SUGGEST
THAT YOU REACH OUT TO THE
COUNCIL LIAISON, RS PD LIAISON,
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A BRIEFING OR
MORE INFORMATION. JUST KNOW
THAT I ASKED FOR ONE MYSELF,
AND I AM IN CONVERSATION WITH
THOSE FOLKS. ALL RIGHT. MOVING
ON, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IF
PRESENTERS WOULD LIKE TO COME
UP TO THE TABLE, IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO. TODAY'S THE FIRST DAY
OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
IN OLYMPIA, AND EVERY MONDAY,
WE WILL BE HAVING A BRIEFING
FROM THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TO
REFOCUS ON LIVE BILLS AND TO
DISTRIBUTE A BULLETIN IN THE
BILLS THAT THEY WILL COVER
DURING THE BRIEFING PRIOR TO
THE BRIEFING. TODAY'S
PRESENTATION WILL BE AVAILABLE
TO THE PUBLIC ON THE AGENDA
AFTER THE MEETING ONLINE. SO
THESE, JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW, IF
YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THESE
BRIEFINGS, THIS IS YOUR
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON LIVE
BILLS, ASK QUESTIONS, SOMETIMES
BRING ATTENTION TO LEGISLATION
THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN. AND
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ON
OUR RADAR. THAT'S WHAT WE DO
HERE IN THESE BRIEFINGS. AND
BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK DIRECTOR GAEL TARLETON
AND HER TEAM FOR BRINGING --
FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO
PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR'S
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO
WELCOME. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR
TEAM, AND BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MANSON AND ALL
THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
WELCOME. WE ARE THRILLED TO BE
HERE TODAY ON YOUR FIRST WORK
SESSION. I AM HERE IN PERSON. I
AM GAEL TARLETON, THE DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
AND ON THE SCREEN, DOWN IN
OLYMPIA, ARE MY DIRECTOR OF
STATE RELATIONS, SAMIR JUNEJO,
AND THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
LIAISON FOR LAR, ANNA JOHNSON.
TODAY IS AN AUSPICIOUS DAY. IT
IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE SHORT
SESSION IN OLYMPIA. IT IS ALSO
A HUSKY NATION NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP DAY. AND IT IS
YOUR FIRST DAY IN PERSON HERE
IN A WORK SESSION ON BEHALF OF
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. HANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND
FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. SO AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
MENTIONED, WE WILL BE GIVING
YOU THESE BRIEFINGS ONCE A WEEK
ON MONDAYS, AND DURING THE REST
OF THE WEEK, SHOULD THINGS COME
UP IN OLYMPIA, SAMEER AND ANNA
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU AND
YOUR STAFFS AT ALL TIME. I ALSO
WANTED TO REASSURE YOU THAT THE
COMMUNICATIONS FROM OLYMPIA ARE
SOLID, AND THINGS WILL HAPPEN
REALLY FAST IN THE SHORT
SESSION. IT IS A 60 DAY
SESSION, AND SAMEER AND ANNA
WILL GO THROUGH THE SORT OF
PACE THAT YOU CAN EXPECT DURING
THE NEXT 60 DAYS, WHICH IS
REALLY ONLY EIGHT OR 10 WEEKS
OF BRIEFING TO ALL OF YOU. SO
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO SOME YEAR, AND HE AND
ANNA WILL KICKOFF THE
PRESENTATION FOR WHAT WE KNOW
RIGHT NOW . YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO
SEE COMING OUT OF OLYMPIA. AND
THEN THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
SURPRISES, SO I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
SAMIR JUNEJO. I'M HERE TALKING
TO YOU FROM OLYMPIA, THE FIRST
DATE OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION. BEFORE I GET INTO A
LITTLE BIT OF THE PREVIEW ON
THE SESSION, I WANT TO GIVE YOU
A PREVIEW OF WHAT IT IS WE DO.
WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF THE
STATE LEVEL, AND ALSO THE STATE
OFFICE, AND WE ADVOCATE FOR THE
CITY'S POSITIONS ON OUR
PRIORITIES AND ALSO REACT AND
TRACK OTHER BILLS INTRODUCED BY
LEGISLATORS AND ANALYZE THEM
FOR IMPACT ON CITY BUSINESS AND
CITY INTEREST. AS DIRECTOR
TARLETON MENTIONED, I WILL JUST
DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THAT.
FIRST I MENTIONED THE BUDGETS.
THE LEGISLATURE BUDGETS ON A
BIANNUAL BASIS. SO ON THE ODD
YEARS, THERE'S A TWO YEAR
BUDGET, AND YEARS LIKE THIS
YEAR, AND THE THREE BUDGETS WE
WORK WITH ARE THE OPERATING
BUDGET, AND THE TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET. GENERALLY, LATER THIS
YEAR, YOU WILL SEE FROM BOTH
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE
ALL THREE OF THOSE BUDGETS BY
THE END OF SESSION. THEY
RECONCILE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND
PASS A FILE BUDGET ON ALL THREE
BILLS. THE SESSION CALENDAR
STARTS TODAY, THE FIRST DAY,
WHICH MEANS END OF REGULAR
SESSION. A BILL HAS TO BE
INTRODUCED, AND USUALLY, IT HAS
UNTIL JANUARY 31st TO GET OUT
WITH THAT POLICY COMMITTEE, AND
IT HAS UNTIL FEBRUARY 5th TO
GET A FISCAL COMMITTEE, WHICH
IS WAYS AND MEANS, OR
TRANSPORTATION AND
APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE FOR THE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
OR THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THEN THE BILLS MOVED TO THEIR
FULL CHAMBERS AND THEY HAVE
UNTIL FEBRUARY 13th TO MOVE OUT
OF THE CHAMBER, AND THEN THE
SAME EXACT PROCESS GOES BACK,
ESSENTIALLY, BUT IN THE
OPPOSITE CHAMBER AND STUFF,
THEY HAVE AN EVEN SHORTER
AMOUNT OF TIME TO GO THROUGH
THE SAME PROCESS AND GO THROUGH
THE CHAMBERS. THERE'S A VERY
SHORT TIME. IN BETWEEN THESE
DEADLINES, SO YOU WILL SEE THAT
A LOT OF BILLS, YOU KNOW, WILL
NOT PASS. WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE
VERY QUICKLY.
>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
ANNA. ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
LIAISON IT LAR. GIVING YOU A
LITTLE BIT OF PREVIEW. IT'S A
60 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
STARTING TODAY, WE ARE WORKING
ON A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, WHICH
WAS JUST EXPLAINED. THEY'RE
BUILDING OFF OF LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET. THE STATE REVENUE
FORECAST WAS PRETTY POSITIVE,
AND WE ARE EXPECTING ABOUT $1.2
BILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE
TO BE AVAILABLE TO SPEND THIS
YEAR. IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET. THIS MONEY DOES NOT
INCLUDE ANY OF THE FUNDS RAISED
FOR THE CAPITAL TRADE PROGRAM.
AND THEN ROUGHLY OF THAT, $1.2
BILLION, OR ROUGHLY 1.1 BILLION
OF THE TOTAL REVENUES FROM THIS
ARE FROM THE NEW CAPITAL GAINS
TAX THAT WAS PASSED A FEW YEARS
AGO. THIS SESSION, WE ALSO HAD
SOME CHANGES IN COMMITTEE
LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS IMPORTANT
TO NOTE BECAUSE IT DOES CHANGE
THE DYNAMICS OF POLICY BILLS
AND HOW THINGS MOVE THROUGHOUT
THE PROCESS. AND SO IN THE
HOUSE, WE HAVE A NEW CHAIR OF
THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, AND THEN IN THE
SENATE, WE HAVE A NEW CHAIR AND
VICE CHAIR OF THE SENATE WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE. SOCHA
ROBINSON AND VICE CHAIR --.
BACK IN DECEMBER, THE GOVERNOR
RELEASED HIS BUDGET, AND THIS
IS A BUDGET THAT THE
LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO
CONSIDER AT THE STARTING POINT
IS A BEGIN TO DECIDE WHAT THEY
WANT TO INCLUDE IN EACH
CHAMBERS RESPECTIVE BUDGETS.
LASTLY, I WILL JUST NOTE THAT
THIS SESSION IS THE FINAL
SESSION A STATE GOVERNOR WITHIN
HIS FINAL TERM. HE MAY BE
INTERESTED IN CERTAIN LEGACY
PROJECT AND MIGHT BE WEIGHING
IN ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE
FINAL TIME. AND THEN I WANTED
TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
SETTING ASSESS. THIS REALLY
BEGINS THE LATE SUMMER AND FALL
LEADING UP TO PROCESSION. THIS
WILL BE A PROCESS THE NEW
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN, AND WE ALSO HAD
CURRENT COUNCILMEMBERS
PARTICIPATE THIS PAST FALL. THE
WAY WE GEAR UP FOR SESSION AS
WE WORK TO FUND PRIORITIES FROM
BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF THE
CITY. MEANS SOLICITING
PRIORITIES FROM ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS, AS WELL AS
ACCOUNTS MEMBERS OFFICE TO FORM
AN AGENDA. WE CREATE AN
ALL-ENCOMPASSING LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA, AND THAT IS WHAT IS
BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE,
USUALLY IN DECEMBER, AND THIS
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA COVERS A LOT
OF POLICY TOPICS, BECAUSE THE
WIDE-RANGING NATURE OF THE
DIFFERENT BUSINESSES -- OR
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND BUSINESS
THAT THE CITY HAS, AS WELL AS
THEIR VALUES. WE USE THAT
DOCUMENT TO KIND OF HELPS THE
ARREST DURING THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, BUT BILLS ARE
INTRODUCED THROUGHOUT THE
PROCESS. WE ARE TAKING NOTES
ONE BY ONE TO ANALYZE THEM WITH
OUR DEPARTMENT AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO
ULTIMATELY FIGURE OUT THE
IMPACT AND WHAT KIND OF
ENGAGEMENT WE WANT TO HAVE ON
EACH THAT IS UP FOR
CONSIDERATION EACH SESSION. SO
IN THIS CITY AGENDA SETTING
PROCESS, WE HAD A NUMBER OF CD
LEADING ISSUES THAT WE IDENTIFY
THAT WE NEEDED TO REQUEST FROM
STATE LEGISLATORS. AND I'M SO
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A FEW
OF THE BILLS THAT WE ARE
LEADING ON AS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE THAT WE ARE HOPING TO
SEE ACCOMPLISHED THIS UPCOMING
SESSION. SO STARTING WITH
SENATE BILL 5959, THIS BILL IS
ESSENTIALLY AN OMNIBUS BILL
RELATED TO AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC
CAMERAS, BUT SPECIFICALLY
INCLUDED IN THIS BILL IS A
REVISION THAT ALLOWS NONLAW
ENFORCEMENT TO REVIEW OUR
AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC CAMERA SAFETY
VIOLATIONS AND ISSUE TICKETS.
THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT FOR US,
BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING -- WE ARE
INSTALLING AN INCREASING HER
AUTHORITY TO USE AUTOMATED
TRAFFIC CAMERAS WITHIN THE
CITY, AND THE WORKLOAD IS
BECOMING MORE THAN SPD STAFF
CAN HANDLE. AND SO WE WANT TO
BE ABLE TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE
WITH THE TYPE OF STAFF THAT CAN
REVIEW THESE VIOLATIONS. NEXT
IS HOUSE BILL 2012. THIS BILL
IS A TECHNICAL FIX TO THE
NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS
STATUTE, WHICH GIVES OUR
NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPERS AND
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE
ARE CREATING FUNDING COMING
FROM THE CITY, LIKE OUR HOUSING
LEVY, OR MHA FUNDS, OR
MANDATORY HOUSING AVAILABILITY
FUND'S, OR -- AND OUR JUMPSTART
CORPORATE PAYROLL TAX, ANY OF
THOSE CAN QUALIFY FOR THE
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION, WHICH
ALREADY EXISTS. NEXT IS HOUSE
BILL 2549. THIS IS AN EXTENDED
PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR
PACKAGING. ESSENTIALLY, THIS
BILL IS REALLY TRYING TO
IMPROVE OUR RECYCLING SYSTEM,
AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS
ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO
RECYCLING SERVICE AND PUTTING
THE COST TO RUN THAT PROGRAM ON
THE PRODUCERS OF THE PACKAGING
PRODUCTS. FINALLY, ANOTHER BILL
WERE REQUESTING THE SESSION IS
HOUSE BILL 1978. THIS LIFTS THE
PREEMPTION ON THE ABILITY TO
REGULATE FIREARMS. SO THIS
WOULD ESSENTIALLY ALLOW US TO
HAVE ADDITIONAL RULES AND
REGULATIONS FOR FIREARMS,
SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> WE ALSO HAVE BUDGET ASKS
THIS SESSION THAT WE WILL BE
WORKING ON. SOME OF THOSE
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
DIVERSION, AND WE ALSO INCREASE
FUNDING FOR THE SYSTEM, JUST
GENERALLY IF THERE IS A LOT OF
INTEREST IN THE SYSTEM AND
TREATMENT CAPACITY. SO WERE
ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING INTO
THAT SYSTEM. ON TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES, WE LOST $5 MILLION FOR
THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROJECT THAT
WAS FUNDED TWO YEARS AGO BY THE
LEGISLATURE FOR $50 MILLION AS
PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION
PACKAGE. THAT MONEY HAS NOT
BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE CITY OF,
SO WE ARE ASKING FOR 5 MILLION
OF THAT 50 TO BE ALLOCATED THIS
SESSION. WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR
$30 MILLION TO COMPLETE THE
REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AS PART OF
THE PROJECT, AS 30 MILLION
WOULD BE THE FINAL FUNDING TO
COMPLETE THE PROJECT. AS PART
OF THE CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT,
WHICH IS THE STATES PROGRAM
THAT IS BRINGING IN REVENUES TO
THE STATE, WE WILL BE LIFTING
SOME CLIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL
FUNDING FOR THE CITY. THIS WILL
INCLUDE SOLAR PRIORITIES FOR
THE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
REQUIRING THAT THE PROPERTY
HAVING WATER QUALITY FOR LYDIAN
PARK FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES. AND
ALSO FUNDING TO HARMONIZE OUR
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY
IN ORDER TO CREATE COMMUNITY
RESILIENCY HUBS. NOW, WE WILL
GET INTO A PREVIEW OF SOME OF
THE ISSUES THAT WE WILL SEE
THIS UPCOMING SESSION. SESSION
IS NOT ALWAYS PREDICTABLE, BUT
WE WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU A SENSE
AS TO WHAT WE THINK WE WILL
SEE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WILL
GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT ISSUES
YOU WILL WANT TO FOLLOW IN THE
NEXT 60 DAYS. SO STARTING WITH
BUDGET AND REVENUE, THERE IS A
BILL TO INCREASE THE LOCAL
PROPERTY TAX LIMIT. THERE'S A
1% REVENUE GROWTH LIMIT FACTOR
RIGHT NOW ON PROPERTY TAXES,
AND THERE IS NOTHING ALLOWED
FOR POPULATION CHANGE AND
INFLATION, AND KING COUNTY IN
PARTICULAR HAS BEEN ASKING FOR.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR THE
SESSION. TWO OTHER REVENUE
BUILDS THAT ARE IN DISCUSSION,
BILLS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
DROPPED YET, ONE IS RELATED TO
THE EXCISE TAX AMENDED TO
CREATE DEDICATED REVENUE
SERVICES FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND COUNCIL
AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS VOTER
APPROVED AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE A
SALES TAX TO FUND SAFETY
PROGRAMS.
>> THE CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT
SPACE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A
LOT OF TALK THE SESSION ABOUT
THE CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT,
WHICH IS ALREADY IN STATE LAW.
ON THIS SLIDE, THERE'S A BIT OF
INFORMATION, AND WHERE WE ARE
AT WITH THE PROGRAM AND HOW THE
AUCTIONS HAVE BEEN GOING, AND A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT A CITIZEN
INITIATIVE CAMPAIGN TO REPEAL
THE CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT. I
WANT TO MOSTLY FOCUS ON
LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE
INTRODUCED THIS YEAR TO PURSUE
MARKET LINKAGE WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE COMMON
MARKETS, SO QUEBEC IN
CALIFORNIA. THOSE BILLS HAVE
BEEN INTRODUCED AND HAVE A
HEARING THIS WEEK, ACTUALLY.
THE SENATE BILL HAS A HEARING
THIS FRIDAY. SO THAT WILL BE
SENATE BILL 6058. THIS IS
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AGENCY
REQUEST LEGISLATION TO BEGIN
THE PROCESS TO PURSUE LINKAGE
OF OUR MARKET WITH QUEBEC AND
CALIFORNIA.
>> GENERALLY, THIS SESSION OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL BE A
PRIORITY BOTH ON POLICY BILLS
AND ALSO FUNDING. VARIABLE
SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE A
BIG PRIORITY, AND THERE'S A
LIST OF THINGS THAT WE WILL
WATCH FOR TO SEE WHAT KIND OF
THINGS WILL BE FUNDED, BUT IT
WILL ONE REALLY FROM EVERYTHING
FROM ACCESS TO SCHOOL SUPPORT
TO DIVERSION. THERE WILL BE
POLICY BILLS THAT WILL COVER
IMPLEMENTATION, LIABILITY
PROTECTIONS, AND CHILDREN AND
YOUTH, AND ALSO BILLS RELATED
TO INCREASING. HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS WILL AGAIN BE A
TOP ISSUE THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION. ONE OF THOSE IT WILL
BE A NEW PRIORITY FOR THE
GOVERNOR, AND ALSO FOR OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE,
WHICH REQUIRES CITIES TO ALLOW
CERTAIN DENSITY AROUND CERTAIN
STOPS. ANOTHER BIG PRIORITY
WILL BE A TENANT BILL RELATED
TO RENT INCREASES, AND
RESTRICTING RENT INCREASES IN
CERTAIN SITUATIONS. BOTH OF
THOSE BILLS WILL BE HEARD IN
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK IN THE
LEGISLATURE. ANOTHER ISSUE WE
ARE WATCHING, THE INCENTIVIZED
CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. WE WILL
ALSO BE WATCHING FOR CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS AND A COMMON
RESOLUTION. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET INCLUDED FUNDING FOR
RAPID CAPITAL ACQUISITION
PROGRAM FOR THE SOLUTIONS. WILL
BE WATCHING FOR A BIT OF
CONVERSATION ON THAT. AND ALSO,
THERE WILL BE FUNDING FOR
STABILIZING THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROVIDERS, WORKFORCE
INVESTIGATIONS, AND ALSO
OPERATION MAINTENANCE. SOME
BILLS BEING HEARD THIS WEEK
WILL BE PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR
STRIKING WORKERS AND ALSO BE A
BILL TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FOR
CAPTIVE AUDIENCE MEETINGS,
USUALLY IN CONNECTION TO --
RELATED TO -- THERE'S ALSO A
BILL WE HEARD THIS WEEK WHICH
WILL UPDATE THE STEEDS APRIL
PAYOLA TO PROTECT ALL CLASSES.
SO IN ADDITION TO GENDER. WE
WILL ALSO BE WATCHING FUNDING
FOR TOURISM AND THE ECONOMY.
>> ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY FRONT,
WE KNOW A NUMBER OF GUN
VIOLENCE INVENTION EFFORTS ARE
GOING TO COME UP AGAIN THIS
SESSION. I'VE LISTED A FEW OF
THEM HERE AND THE BILL NUMBERS
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. NONE OF
THESE BILLS HAVE A HEARING AT
THIS WEEK. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING HOPEFULLY SOME
LEGISLATIVE CONVERSATIONS WEEK
TWO OR WEEK THREE OF THE
SESSION, THE THINGS WE ARE
TRACKING IS, REGULATING
FIREARMS IN SENSITIVE PLACES,
REQUIRING A PERMIT TO PURCHASE
A FIREARM, REPORTING LOST AND
STOLEN FIREARMS, BOTH
PURCHASING RESTRICTIONS, AND
ALSO DEALER ACCOUNTABILITY AND
CODE OF CONDUCT. THIS
ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALSO GOING TO
BE A TOPIC THIS SESSION. A FEW
OF THE BILLS THAT ARE LIKELY
GOING TO COME OUT , POLICE USE
OF DEADLY FORCE. THIS BILL
WOULD ESSENTIALLY TAKE THE
WORKLOAD OF THE INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE THAT HAS
ALREADY BEEN SET UP AT THIS
LEVEL, AND THEN RUN A NONBIASED
PROSECUTION EFFORT OF THOSE
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
FINDINGS. ADDITIONALLY, A BILL
RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
DECEPTION IS UNDER
CONSIDERATION. THIS BILL
ACTUALLY HAS A HEARING THIS
AFTERNOON, I BELIEVE. AND THEN
BILLS ARE A FOREIGN WHAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS A LOT TO DO WITH
IN TRAFFIC STOPS, AND THEN
GIVING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE POWER TO INVESTIGATE AND
REFORM DEPARTMENTS -- LAW
ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE LEVEL
PATTERNS OF MISCONDUCT. WE ARE
ALSO LOOKING IN THE BUDGET FOR
INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE BASIC
LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY
CLASSES, AS WELL AS A NEW
CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING
ACADEMY REGIONAL TRAINING.
THESE FACILITIES ARE SET UP
LAST YEAR WITHIN THE BUDGET AND
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND WE
ARE HOPING THAT IN CREATION OF
THOSE REGIONAL FACILITIES, IT
WILL OPEN UP CAPACITY IN CGT'S
LOCATION FOR MORE LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO GO THROUGH THE
BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO LOOKING
FOR TOOLS AND POLICY THAT IS
GOING TO HELP IMPROVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION. ON THE SOCIAL
PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION FRONT,
THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO
CONTINUE MAKING STRIDES TOWARDS
UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL MEALS. THE
PRESCHOOL MEALS BILLS ARE
LISTED HERE ON THE SLIDE, AND
ONE OF THEM HAS A HEARING THIS
WEEK, I BELIEVE ON THURSDAY.
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THEM
CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
THIS WAS A BILL THAT WAS
BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR BUT WAS
ULTIMATELY SCALED BACK, AND THE
LEGISLATURE IS TRYING AGAIN
THIS YEAR. WERE ALSO LOOKING
FOR FUNDING FOR A LOT OF FOOD
RELATED PROGRAMS AND EMERGENCY
FOOD ASSISTANCE, HELPING WITH
FOOD BANKS, FOOD PROGRAMS TO
EBT THROUGH STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES, AND THEN ALSO MEALS
ON WHEELS FOR SENIORS. ANOTHER
POLICY AND BUDGET TOPIC THAT WE
ARE TRACKING HIS UNEMPLOYMENT
FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS,
AND WE ARE ALSO TRACKING
DIFFERENT POLICY LEVELS RELATED
TO OUR CHILDCARE SLOTS AS WELL
AS THE STATE SUBSIDIZATION OF
CHILD CARE FOR LOW INCOME
FAMILIES.
>> LASTING ON TRANSPORTATION,
AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER,
TRAFFIC SAFETY WILL BE A BIG
PRIORITY IN THE TRANSPORTATIONS
BASE, AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH
AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SAFETY
CAMERAS. SO WE ARE WATCHING
THAT SPACE TO SEE WHAT OTHER
POLICIES AROUND TRAFFIC CAMERAS
WILL BE INTRODUCED. THERE ALSO
WILL BE LEGISLATION REGARDING
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, AND
ESPECIALLY AS RELATED TO IF
THOSE BILLS PREEMPT THE CITY IN
THAT SPACE. AND ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, THE
BUDGET WILL BE ADDRESSING
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT
OVERRUNS, WHICH INCLUDES THE
520 RUNWAY PROJECT. AND THERE
YOU CAN FIND OUR CONTACT
INFORMATION. WE ARE HAPPY TO
TALK WITH ANYONE ABOUT THEIR
ISSUES THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED
IN, WE CAN HELP YOU TRACK
THROUGHOUT THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION. WERE HAPPY TO SET UP
ONE ON ONES AND GET A SENSE AS
TO WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN HELP
YOU ON. WERE HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS, AND WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ALL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I THINK
ALL OF YOU WERE ALSO PROVIDED A
LIST OF THE BILLS AND PUBLIC
HEARINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
BEING CAJOLED FOR THIS WEEK. IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THOSE, OR WANT TO REPORT BACK
ON WHAT WAS PART OF TESTIMONY,
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO GIVE
US A CALL, OR A TEXT OR AN
EMAIL, OKAY?
>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I
KNOW YOU HAD TO MOVE THINGS
AROUND AND -- AND SCRAMBLE TO
BE ABLE TO BRIEF US TODAY, THE
FIRST DAY. YOU HAVE OTHER
MEETINGS AND THINGS YOU NEED TO
GET TO, SO I JUST WANT TO
ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THIS
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WAS APPROVED
BY THE LAST COUNCIL, AND THERE
IS A NATURAL -- I WON'T CALL IT
INTENTION, BUT IT COULD BE THAT
THIS NEW COUNCIL HAS DIFFERENT
OPINIONS ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA, OR THE POSITIONS THAT
YOUR TEAM IS TAKING IN OLYMPIA.
SO WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO
SURFACE ALTERNATIVE OPINIONS OR
CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THE CITY
MIGHT BE ADVOCATING FOR, THAT
FOLKS DO NOT FAVOR IN THE
REVERSE.
>> EXCELLENT. I WILL HAVE THEM
SHARE WITH YOU HOW THEY HANDLE
IT DOWN IN OLYMPIA AS WELL,
JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW. YOU WILL
ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO READ THE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, BUT THEY
ARE GIVING YOU PRESENTATIONS
WHICH YOU WILL GET AN ADVANCE
ON WHAT BILLS ARE BEING
INTRODUCED, WHAT HEARINGS ARE
BEING SCHEDULED, AND THEN WHAT
POSITIONS WE ARE PLANNING TO
TAKE BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE
MAYORS OFFICE, FROM THE
COUNCILMEMBERS. YOU WILL HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND
SAY, HOW DID IT GET TO THIS
POINT WHERE WE ARE SIGNING IN
SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, OR WE
ARE TESTIFYING WITH CONCERNS.
ALL OF YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT
THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE
A POSITION OF PRO OR CON
ALWAYS. WE CAN TESTIFY WITH
CONCERNS, WE CANNOT TESTIFY, WE
DO NOT HAVE TO SIGN IN. WE CAN
MONITOR AND TRACK A LOT OF THE
LEGISLATION, WHICH WE DO. AND
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT
WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IS
ONGOING DISCUSSIONS THAT THEY
ARE HAVING WITH PRIME SPONSORS
OF THE LEGISLATION, WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WITH THE
OTHER LEGISLATIVE. WITH THE
COMMITTEE CHAIRS, SO THAT YOU
HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT PRIORITIES
ARE EMERGING IN THE LEGISLATIVE
FRONT, NOT JUST IN THE CITY.
AND WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ALIGN
OR DON'T ALIGN WITH WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OLYMPIA. PERHAPS
YOU WOULD WANT TO ADDRESS THE
WAY SOME OF THESE
CONSIDERATIONS ARE HANDLED IN
YOUR BRIEFINGS AND IN YOUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGISLATORS.
>> YEAH. I THINK WE -- IN ANY
SITUATION, WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY
TO HAVE THE COUNCILMEMBERS
TESTIFY ON THEIR OWN BEHALF ON
ANY BILLS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU
HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS
INTERESTING TO YOU. WE WILL BE
HAPPY TO HELP YOU MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. NOWADAYS, YOU CAN
TESTIFY VIRTUALLY MOST EVERY
SITUATION, AND THEN IF YOU HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT -- OR HAVE ANY
INTEREST OR WANT YOUR OPINION
KNOWN, DO LET US KNOW ABOUT
BILLS. AGAIN, WE DON'T OFTEN
KNOW WHAT OUR POSITION WILL BE
UNTIL WE SEE A DRAFT AND HAVE
IT ANALYZE. THERE'S A LOT OF
WORK GOES INTO THAT, BUT PLEASE
DO LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE A
POSITION WHERE IF YOU HAVE AN
INTEREST AND WE CAN LOOP YOU
INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO DO I
UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THESE
MEMBERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO
WEIGH IN ON -- CAN SOME OF THE
THINGS ON THIS LIST THAT YOU
WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR, THEY
CAN EXPRESS THEIR DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION, AND THEN THEY DON'T,
IS THAT THE WAY IT WILL WORK?
>> YES. AND AS YOU KNOW, AND
MANY OF THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL
MEETINGS HAVE INCLUDED
DISCUSSIONS WERE THERE WERE
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION WITHIN
THE COUNCILMEMBERS, BETWEEN THE
COUNCIL, AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AS WELL AS BETWEEN THE
CITY AND THE PRIME SPONSORS OF
LEGISLATION. AS I SAID TO THE
COUNCIL IN 2022, IT IS AN
INHERENT FEATURE OF THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT THERE
WILL BE DEBATE AND DISSENSION.
YOU CANNOT REACH A POINT OF
CONVERGENCE OR CONSENSUS UNTIL
YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT
PROCESS OF DEBATING THE
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND I
DO THINK COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, YOU HAVE HELPED
ARTICULATE THAT NO
COUNCILMEMBER SHOULD EVER
HESITATE TO EXAM HER WHY IT IS
THE CITY IS SUPPORTING OR
OPPOSING A PARTICULAR PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. AND WHAT THE
IMPLICATIONS ARE FOR EXISTING
CITY POLICY, EXISTING
ORDINANCES, AS WELL AS EXISTING
STATE LAW. MUCH OF STATE LAW
AND LEGISLATION THAT IS BEING
INTRODUCED IS NOT BRAND-NEW
LAW. IT IS UPDATES TO REVISIONS
TO IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING LAW
THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. AND
SO, I VALUE THESE MEETINGS,
THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS, BECAUSE
IT ALLOWS ALL OF YOU TO HEAR
THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT
ARE COMING OUT OF OLYMPIA, AND
FROM OUR SEATTLE DELEGATION IN
PARTICULAR, MANY OF THESE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE
HAVE MENTIONED ARE BEING
CARRIED BY MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
HE REPRESENT ALL OF US, RIGHT?
THERE REPRESENTING DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE CITY, AND THEY ARE
ALSO AVAILABLE TO EACH ONE OF
YOU TO HAVE MORE IN-DEPTH
CONVERSATION, MEETINGS BEFORE,
BRIEFINGS BEFORE, TESTIMONY. HE
REALLY WELCOME THAT. SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT
THEY CAN CONNECT YOU TO THE
LEGISLATORS AS WELL AS TO THE
ENVIRONMENT IN OLYMPIA. AND IF
YOU WISH TO TESTIFY, YOU DON'T
NEED TO GO IN PERSON ANYMORE.
YOU CAN TESTIFY VIA ZOOM,
BECAUSE THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
IN OLYMPIA FREQUENTLY CONFLICTS
WITH YOUR MEETINGS. SO
TESTIMONY IS GOING ON IN PUBLIC
HEARINGS RIGHT NOW IN OLYMPIA.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR
SCHEDULES ARE AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL
PASS IT TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AND THAT I WILL
RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. SO EXCELLENT
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR
THIS OVERVIEW. I WOULD LIKE TO
KIND OF DOUBLE-CLICK FOR JUST A
MOMENT ON SB 5959. IT WAS
DESCRIBED OR LISTED IN THE CITY
LEADING ISSUES SLIDE AND ALSO
SEPARATELY IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SLIDE AS WELL.
WE LOVE TO LEARN MORE. JUST THE
NEXT LAYER OF DETAIL ABOUT WHAT
THE PROPOSED BILL IS
SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO
ACCOMPLISH. AS I UNDERSTAND, IT
IS INTENDED TO ADD CAPABILITY
TO ADDRESS THE VOLUME AND TO
AUTOMATE THE PROCESS FOR
TRAFFIC SAFETY VIOLATIONS. BUT
I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION IS,
IS IT INTENDED TO REMOVE A
HUMAN FROM THE REVIEW PROCESS
FOR THOSE PURPORTED TRAFFIC
SAFETY VIOLATIONS? AND
SECONDLY, IF THE ANSWER IS NO,
THEN WHAT IS THE DELTA BETWEEN
THIS PROPOSED BILL AND WHAT
EXISTS TODAY?
>> GO AHEAD, ANNA.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT ONE. THE
PROPOSAL WOULD NOT REMOVE
HUMANS, IT WOULD JUST MAKE IT
SO THAT NONLAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS CAN REVIEW THOSE
CITATIONS . AND FROM WHAT I
UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE OF CAPACITY
ISSUES, THIS DEPARTMENT IS ONLY
ABLE TO PRIORITIZE REVIEWING
THE CITATIONS, AND A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE
CITATIONS GO UNREVIEWED BECAUSE
OF THE LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
CAPACITY. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE
HAVE OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK
AND CAN BE ABLE TO DO THAT
WORK. THAT'S THE NEXUS. AND
IT'S ALSO BROADER THAN THAT ON
OTHER ISSUES. WITH OTHER
TRAFFIC AND RELATED PROVISIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL.
JUST TAKING A MOMENT FOR
COLLEAGUES. I HAVE FOUND
ADVOCATING IN OLYMPIA SOMETIMES
IS BETTER WHEN SEATTLE DOESN'T
TESTIFY. SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER
TO TESTIFY. SOMETIMES IT EASIER
JUST TO SEND A TEXT MESSAGE OR
A NOTE TO A LEGISLATOR THAT WE
KNOW. MY STANDARD POLICY
APPLIES AGAIN TODAY, AND
THROUGHOUT THE SESSION. IF YOU
NEED ME, JUST CALL ME, AND I
WILL SEND A TEXT OR ADVOCACY IN
THE WAY THAT WORKS BEST FOR THE
CITY. OIR SITS WITHIN THE
MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE BRANCH. AND
SO WHILE WE MAY WANT -- THAT IS
KIND OF THE DIRECTION THAT
DEPUTY TARLETON WAS TALKING
ABOUT. WITHIN THE
DECISION-MAKING HIERARCHY, AND
WE HAVE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO
BE AT THE SAME TABLE AND
ADVOCATE IN THE SAME WAY, AND I
THINK THAT THAT IS A
CHALLENGING THING THAT YOUR
OFFICE DOES. YOU HANDED THE
VERY WELL. I'VE ALWAYS REALLY
ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
BUT THAT TO SAY THAT OUR
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA CAN FEEL
LIKE A KITCHEN SINK. AND IT IS
ALMOST INTENDED THAT WAY. IN
SOME REGARDS, TO ALLOW THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS TO ADVOCATE OR TO
DEFEND AGAINST ANY PARTICULAR
BILL, BECAUSE WE HAVE CODIFIED
IT WITHIN OUR AGENDA. IT'S A
NATURAL FAST-MOVING WORK IN
OLYMPIA, AND SO THE WORK THAT
MY OFFICE DOES, WE HIGHLIGHT A
COUPLE OF BILLS THAT WE REALLY
WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE ON TOP OF, BECAUSE THEY
CALL THEM WEEKDAYS IN OLYMPIA,
NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY, BUT A WEEKS
WORTH OF DONE WORK IS DONE
WITHOUT THAT DAY. SO IF YOU
MISS A BEAT, YOU MIGHT MISS
OUT, WHICH IS WHY WE HIGHLIGHT
A COUPLE OF BILLS, AND THEN WE
MEET PRETTY REGULARLY OUTSIDE
OF COUNCIL BRIEFINGS SO THAT
THIS CAN BE RESERVED FOR THE
WEEKLY UPDATES. WE ARE ONE OF
THE ONLY TWO -- WE ARE ONE OF
ONLY VERY FEW CITIES -- WE HAVE
281, 286 CITIES IN THE DATE --
IT HAS AN OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
THAT GIVES THIS TYPE OF
BRIEFING. WE ARE VERY LUCKY IN
THAT REGARD. I GUESS I DIDN'T
HAVE A QUESTION, I'M SORRY,
DIRECTOR.
>> WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?
>> YOU ARE BASICALLY SAYING
THAT THIS IS THE MAYOR'S
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA?
>> NO. I WAS JUST COMMENTING
AND PUTTING ADDITIONAL CONTEXT
TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AND THEN
WHY ARE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA MAY
FEEL LIKE IT ENCOMPASSES
EVERYTHING, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS
ROA OUR TEAM TO ADVOCATE FOR OR
DEFEND AGAINST LEGISLATION
WITHIN THAT BUCKET.
>> I KNOW, I MEAN THIS LIST
THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY.
>> I GUESS I DIDN'T COMMENT ON
THAT LIST.
>> CANCEL PRESIDENT, WHAT I DID
NOT EARLIER ASKED LAME IS THAT
WE HAVE AN UNUSUAL CHARTER IN
CITY ORDINANCE. 3.1 4.400,
WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1979,
WHICH CREATED THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND THAT
CHARTER DOCUMENT IN OUR
ORDINANCE STIPULATES THAT THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS WILL SUPPORT THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THE MAYOR,
AND I AM APPOINTED BY THE
MAYOR, BUT CONFIRMED BY THE
COUNTS. WE WILL SUPPORT THE
MAYOR'S AGENDAS AT THE FEDERAL
AND STATE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL. AND IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, ALSO
REQUIRES THAT THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BE DEVELOPED
IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AS
SAMEER DESCRIBED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION.
IT IS DEVELOPED WITHIN THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH INITIALLY
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT. IT'S
BOTTOMS UP. AND THEN IT BECOMES
MORE TOP-DOWN AND LATERAL. IT
GOES UP TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE
WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH
EACH OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL AND
YOUR COUNCIL STAFF . OKAY? SO
THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS BEING
-- IT IS EVOLVING, AND IT IS
BEING DEVELOPED SIMULTANEOUSLY
PRETTY MUCH BY JULY AND AUGUST
AT THREE LEVELS. WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENTS, IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND WITHIN THE CITY
COUNCIL BODY. AND THE MOST
IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE
ORDINANCE, IT STIPULATES THAT
THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
MUST BE ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION I
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR EACH
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THAT IS
NOT REQUIRED FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE, OF COURSE,
CONGRESS DOESN'T REALLY WORK ON
A SCHEDULE. WHEREAS, THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH DOES. SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
COUNCIL KNOWS AT EVERY STAGE
THROUGH THIS PROCESS -- YOU
HAVE, NOT ONLY THE OPPORTUNITY,
BUT THE RIGHT BY ORDINANCE, AND
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR
CONSTITUENTS TO HAVE A SAY IN
WHAT THE CITY IS ADVOCATING
FOR. AND IT IS NOT UNUSUAL THAT
THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES OF
OPINION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH. WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH, AND WITHIN THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH. THE
DEPARTMENTS DON'T ALWAYS AGREE.
YOU WOULD BE AMAZED TO FIND. SO
THAT IS GOOD. THAT IS WHAT I
WAS SAYING COMES FROM THE
PRECEDENT. THAT LEVEL OF -- I
DON'T MIND TENSION, I DON'T MY
DIFFERENCES OF VIEW. THAT LEVEL
OF CHURN AND THE SCRUM IS
REALLY VALUABLE TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD POLICY. AND
SO, I KNOW WE HAVE WORKED
INTENSELY WITH YOUR
PREDECESSORS, WITH YOUR STAFF,
THEY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU AGAIN, AND WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND WITH
THE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE CITIES INTERESTS ARE
VERY WELL AND FAIRLY
REPRESENTED IN OLYMPIA, AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY ON
HOUSE BILL -- OR SENATE BILL
5959. COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER, A
REALLY IMPORTANT DECISION ABOUT
THE OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. AND REVENUES TO THE
CITY BEING ABLE TO WRITE
TRAFFIC VIOLATION CITATIONS FOR
THINGS THAT ARE VIOLATIONS, AND
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, AND
THIS IS A REALLY SHORT SESSION.
YOU WORK FULL-TIME YEAR-ROUND,
THE LEGISLATURE IS WORKING
YEAR-ROUND, BUT ONLY IN SESSION
PART-TIME. IT WILL HAVE PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS,
AND MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK, YOU
WILL HAVE PRIVATE
CONVERSATIONS. AND I THINK ALL
OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE A
CHANCE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW
WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE GROUND
ON THE FEW THINGS THAT REALLY
WILL COME BACK TO YOUR
COMMITTEES. AND I THINK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD
LIKE TO CLOSE ON. THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL END ON
MARCH 7th, AND YOUR COMMITTEES
WILL HAVE STARTED. YOU KNOW,
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
SAMEER AND ANNA WILL DO FOR ALL
OF YOU IS GIVE YOU A RUNDOWN ON
WHAT HAPPENED IN SESSION THAT
COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED
CITY LAWS, REGULATIONS,
WORKFORCE SITUATIONS. AND FEED
THAT INTO YOUR CONSIDERATIONS
FOR YOUR COMMITTEES. DURING THE
COMING YEAR. AND MAYBE THINGS
WILL BE BETTER. THINGS WILL GET
COMPLICATED, BUT IT IS ALSO A
REMINDER THAT SOMETIMES, LAWS
HAVE AN UNINTENDED EFFECT. AND
SO IT GIVES YOU ANOTHER SIX TO
NINE MONTH TO SAY, LET'S GO
BACK AND FIX WHAT HAPPENED IF
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT QUITE THE
WAY WE ANTICIPATED. SO I DON'T
KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FOR SAMIR AND ANNA.
I DO KNOW THEY NEED TO GET TO A
COUPLE OF TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE HEARINGS THAT ARE
PROBABLY SCHEDULED AND OTHER
HEARINGS, BUT ANYTHING ELSE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ?
>> I DID SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AND RIVERA. I DON'T KNOW
YOUR TIME --
>> YOU STICK WITH US AS LONG AS
YOU CAN, OKAY?
>> I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
ORIENTATION. THAT WAS VERY
HELPFUL. BECAUSE I'M JUST
TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON THE
ISSUE OF THE ISSUE AREA PREVIEW
FROM A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES
HAVE BILLS IDENTIFIED WITH
THEM. HAS THE CITY COUNCIL
STATED THAT IT IS IN SUPPORT OF
THOSE PARTICULAR BILLS THAT
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THIS
SLIDE DECK?
>> SAMIR AND ANNA. COULD YOU
ADDRESS A COUNCILMEMBERS
QUESTION ?
>> SINCE IT IS STILL EARLY, THE
CITY HASN'T TAKEN A POSITION ON
ANY BILLS YET SINCE THE
HEARINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE,
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
BEING REVIEWED. AND THEN
DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING.
THERE WILL STILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LET US KNOW IF
YOU'D LIKE TO.
>> I WILL ADD, ON THE CITY
LEADING ISSUES SLIDE, THERE'S
THOSE COUPLE OF POLICY
PRIORITIES. THOSE ARE ONES THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY ACTIVELY BEGAN
ASKING STATE LEGISLATORS TO
ADDRESS. SO WE ARE LEADING WITH
A POSITION ON THOSE, AND THEN
HOPING THAT THEY RECEIVE
HEARINGS. OBVIOUSLY, THERE
MIGHT BE OTHER THINGS INCLUDED
IN THE BILLS OR THE BILLS MIGHT
CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
IS NOT A LOT OF NUANCE AND
CHANGE. SO WE CAN HELP BY
LETTING YOU KNOW HOW THE BILLS
ARE SHAPING UP AND MOVING
THROUGH PROCESS. YOUR FEEDBACK
IS ALWAYS WELCOME.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
WAS NEXT.
>> THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. VERY HELPFUL.
JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION
ON WAYS TO COMMUNICATE OUR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS. I HEARD YOU
SAY, DIRECTOR, THAT OUR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE A
CONDUIT BY WHICH YOUR STAFF IS
ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH US. WE
ALL KNOW COMMITTEE MEETINGS
ONLY HAPPENED TWICE A MONTH,
AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS
SO FAST. SO IS THERE ANOTHER
POINT OF ENTRY FOR
COMMUNICATING ON THE BILLS OF
IMPORTANCE TO OUR COMMITTEES?
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY?
>> I THINK IT'S COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS SAID, AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALEZ AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON KNOW THIS -- YOU CAN
TEXT ANNA AND SAMIR DIRECTLY.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
COLLEAGUES DOWN IN OLYMPIA .
THAT HAPPENS. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT GETS
FED TO YOU, OR YOU NEED TO FEED
TO THEM. AND SO ANY DAY, ANY
TIME WHERE YOU ARE THINKING YOU
WANT TO FEED INFORMATION TO
THEM, OR GET COMMUNICATION
CLARIFICATION, OR MORE
EXPLANATION, OR EMAIL AND PHONE
NUMBERS WERE ON THAT CONTACT
LIED. AND YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO
CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY. YOU CAN
ALWAYS CONTACT ME. I CAN RELATE
TO THEM, AND IN SESSION, I JUST
WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW -- ALL OF
US ARE LITERALLY ONLINE A LOT
OF THE 24 HOUR DAY, OKAY?
MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. YOU WILL
BE GETTING INFORMATION FROM
SAMIR AND ANNA ON SUNDAYS OR
MONDAY MORNING FOR THE WORK
SESSION. BUT SESSION IS ALL IN,
ALL THE TIME. AND I DON'T WANT
YOU TO HESITATE TO HESITATE TO
TEXT, AS COUNCILMEMBER SAID.
TEXT, CALL, EMAIL -- WE HAVE
BEEN KNOWN TO GET FACEBOOK
MESSAGES. I MEAN, THINGS
HAPPEN. WHATEVER MAKES YOU
FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE IS THE
BEST COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL TO
USE, OKAY?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
DIRECTOR TARLETON, AND WE
APPRECIATE THE BRIEFING. AND TO
ECHO WHAT THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SAID, WE HAVE BASICALLY COME UP
ON A TWO THIRDS SWAPOUT OF THE
COUNCIL. AND AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL
HAVE, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION, AND IS PART OF THE
GOVERNMENT THESE, WE ARE
DEFINITELY GOING TO BE DOING
OUR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND
PARTICULARLY EARLY ON. SO I
LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH
YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW THE LIST
FOR MY PREVIOUS LIFE OF COMING
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SAFETY
PERSPECTIVE, IT REALLY CAN BE A
QUESTION OF EMPHASIS AND
PRIORITY, AND SO I WOULD LOVE
TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A VANTAGE OF
THAT INVITATION MAYBE BEFORE
THE END OF THE MONTH TO CHECK
IN WITH YOU TO KIND OF GO
THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS
AND GET A SENSE FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE AND PARTICULARLY
THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE. THERE
ARE SOME OVERLAPS, AND THERE'S
AN OVERLAP THERE BETWEEN THE
TWO COUNTIES. I JUST WANT TO
GET THAT INVITATION OUT NOW AND
THANK YOU AHEAD OF TIME. I
APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
MIGHT'VE BEEN THE MOST
DIFFICULT HEARING YET. SORRY.
WELL, THANKS FOR COMING.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW
WHERE TO FIND US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE GOT A
PRESENTATION FROM OUR OWN
LEGISLATIVE STAFF, AS WELL AS
THE -- OUR INTERNAL COUNCIL .
AND THIS IS TO BASICALLY GIVE A
BIT OF INFORMATION FOR OUR NEW
MEMBERS, BUT ALSO EXISTING
MEMBERS ON CITY POWERS AND HOW
THEY ARE EXERCISED. SO PLEASE
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> I WILL JUST START OUT HERE.
AND KETIL FREEMAN, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> LAUREN HENRY, YOUR
LEGISLATIVE LEGAL COUNCIL.
>> I WILL PULL UP THE
PRESENTATION HERE. THIS IS, OF
COURSE, ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA,
AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU ALL
SEE THAT? GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SO
THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR
BRIEFINGS PROVIDED OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS ABOUT
SUBJECT'S THAT INFORM
POLICYMAKING AND
IMPLEMENTATION. WE WILL START
TODAY AT A HIGH LEVEL WITH
MODES OF MUNICIPAL POWER, AND
OTHER EXERCISED AND RETURN ON
THE 22nd TO TALK ABOUT
OVERSIGHT AND POLICYMAKING
FUNCTIONS OF COUNCIL
COMMITTEES. THAT IS REALLY THE
BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE COUNCIL
WORK AND WE WILL BE SPENDING
MUCH OF YOUR TIME OVER THE NEXT
TWO YEARS. IN FEBRUARY, WE
PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON THE
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE,
WHICH IS NOW A CODIFIED BODY OF
WORK IN THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS, AND THEN WILL CLOSE
WITH A BRIEFING ON THE BUDGET,
WHICH IS THE ALL-IMPORTANT
POWER OF THE PURSE. STARTING
TODAY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
ABSTRACTION, WE WILL TALK ABOUT
MODES OF MUNICIPAL POWER. WERE
GOING TO SKIP A FEW SLIDES
AHEAD. THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT
OUT OF ORDER HERE. GIVE YOU
KIND OF A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE
WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY.
MUNICIPAL POWERS. WHAT ARE
THEY? WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
ATUL IS A CHARTER CITY, DISCUSS
THOSE POWERS THAT ARE RESERVED
TO THE COUNCIL AND PROVIDE
EXAMPLES OF HOW THOSE POWERS
ARE EXERCISED, AND THEN TALK
ABOUT SOME OF HOW THOSE POWERS
ARE EXERCISED. THERE ARE SOME
LIMITATIONS ON THOSE POWERS, WE
WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE SPECIAL SUBJECT OF GIVING
THOSE POWERS AWAY. SO I WILL
TOUCH ON THE FIRST SEVERAL
BULLET POINTS, AND WE WILL
FOLLOW WITH THE FINAL. SO
MODES OF MUNICIPAL POWER. THIS
IS A RUBRIC THAT FOLKS MAY FIND
IN A LEGAL -- A POLICY
TEXTBOOK, OR AN ARTICLE ON
MUNICIPAL LAW. THESE CAME TO ME
THROUGH HUGH SPITZER , WHO IS A
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. I TOOK HIS
MUNICIPAL LAW COURSE MANY YEARS
AGO. THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY FOUR
MODES OF MUNICIPAL POWER. IS
THE ONE MOST PEOPLE THINK OF,
THE POWER TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
THINK OF LIBRARIES, THOSE TYPES
OF PUBLIC GOODS THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PROVIDES. THERE'S
POLICE POWER. THAT IS NOT JUST
ABOUT POLICE. YOU HEAR THE WORD
POLICE POWER AND THINK
REGULATION. IT'S THE POWER TO
REGULATE A THESE AND OFTEN THAT
IS DONE THROUGH THINGS LIKE
ZONING LAWS, REGULATORY LICENSE
IS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
APPARENTLY, PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN
ASSOCIATE WITH THE MUNICIPAL
OPERATIONS IS PROPRIETARY
POWER. THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
THAT ACTUALLY IN ITS SPACE.
THAT IS OFTEN THE POWER
ASSOCIATED WITH COMMODITIES OR
SERVICES, BECAUSE THE CITY OWNS
TWO ELECTRICAL UTILITIES.
OFTEN, A LOT OF DECISION-MAKING
BY THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR
RELATES TO THIS PROPRIETARY
POWER. ONE THING YOU MAY KNOW
OR MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT THE
CITY IS POWER MARKETERS THAT
BUY AND SELL ELECTRICITY ON THE
MARKET. SO THAT IS AN EXERCISE
OF THE CITY'S PROPRIETARY
POWERS. AND THEN FINALLY,
THERE'S CORPORATE POWER. THAT
IS ESSENTIALLY THE POWER TO
EXERCISE THOSE OTHER THREE
MODES. THAT IS USUALLY DONE
THROUGH HIRING AND CONTRACTING,
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT STRUCTURING
OF GOVERNMENT. IT IS ALSO THE
POWER THAT IS OFTEN EXERCISED
BY THE COUNCIL, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY APPRECIATED.
RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU ALL PASSED
OR WILL PASS TOMORROW FOR YOUR
EXTERNAL COMMITTEES AND DID
PASS LAST WEEK, IS KIND OF A
USE OF THE CORPORATE POWER.
JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT
THIS RUBRIC. WE CALL THEM
RUBRICS. IT'S A USEFUL FRAMING
DEVICE. THE LINES BETWEEN THESE
MODES OF POWER ARE BLURRY. THIS
IS NOT NECESSARILY EXHAUSTIVE.
THERE'S OFTEN TIMES THE COUNCIL
IS EXHAUSTING MULTIPLE MODES OF
POWER AT THE SAME TIME WERE THE
COUNCIL MAY EXERCISE ONE VOTE
OF POWER AND THE MAYOR MAY
EXERCISE ANOTHER. SO MOVING ON
HERE. SO SEATTLE IS A CHARTER
CITY. THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
ESTABLISHED THREE CATEGORIES
FOR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. HER
FIRST CLASS CITIES,
SECOND-CLASS CITIES AND TOWNS,
THIS CLASS CITIES ARE THOSE
WITH A POPULATION IS OVER
10,000, AND HAVE A CHARTER
APPROVED BY THE CITIZEN
ELECTORS. THERE ARE 10 FIRST
CLASS CITIES THAT ARE CHARTER
CITIES IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. ABERDEEN,
BELLINGHAM, RICHLAND TO
SEATTLE, SPOKANE, TACOMA,
VANCOUVER, AND YAKIMA. ONE
THING THAT IS SORT OF
INTERESTING TO OBSERVE ABOUT
THAT IS THAT SOME OF THE BIGGER
CITIES ARE NOT ACTUALLY CHARTER
CITIES. BELLEVUE, FOR EXAMPLE,
ACTUALLY A PRETTY BIG CITY, IS
NOT A CHARTER CITY. THOSE ARE
CODE CITIES. ONE IMPORTANT
THING ABOUT CHARTER CITIES IS
THE REFORM OF GOVERNMENT IS
ESTABLISHED BY A CHARTER. SO
THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY
ESTABLISH THE FORM OF
GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE
ESSENTIALLY TWO THAT A
FIRST-CLASS CITY CAN HAVE.
THERE CAN BE A COUNCIL LAYER
FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND A
COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF
GOVERNMENT. SEATTLE, COURSE, IS
A COUNCILMEMBER FORM OF
GOVERNMENT. THOSE COUNCIL
MANAGER FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.
SOMETHING TO TOUCH ON BEFORE WE
TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THE COUNCIL POWERS THERE ARE
SOME OTHER ELECTED OFFICES.
THERE'S THE MAYOR AND CITY
ATTORNEY AND THE MUNICIPAL
COURT JUDGES. THE MAYOR AND THE
ATTORNEY ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE
CHARTERS BEING ELECTED OFFICES.
MUNICIPAL JUDGES ARE NOT
ELECTED BY THE CHARTER, BUT
RATHER THROUGH AN ORDINANCE
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL WHEN THAT
REPORT WAS ESTABLISHED. A FEW
THINGS ABOUT -- ABOUT THESE
OFFICES. THE MAYOR, OF COURSE,
THE PRIMARY DUTY IS TO SEE IT
ENFORCED, AND SOME OTHER
OFFICER OR BOARD, BUT IT IS
ESSENTIALLY THE JOB OF THE
MAYOR TO IMPLEMENT POLICY. THE
CITY ATTORNEY HAS PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL
LITIGATION IN THE CITY.
MUNICIPAL COURT IS A COURT
LIMITED JURISDICTION. YOU ARE
ALL PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THE
BALANCE OF POWERS PRESENT IN
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND
YOU MAY BE INCLINED TO
ANALOGIZE A CHECK AND BALANCE
FUNCTION THAT IS IN ARTICLE
3.4, AND FEDERAL LAW WOULD HAVE
IT. IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THE CASE.
THEY HAVE VERY IMPORTANT
FUNCTION. SORT OF PROSECUTIONS
OF MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES, AND
THEY PLAY A ROLE IN
ADJUDICATING DISPUTES BY CITY
ORDINANCES. BUT THEY DON'T
PROVIDE THAT FUNCTION OF A
CONSTITUTIONAL CHECK ON THE
MAYOR OR COUNCIL. SO IT IS
LARGELY THE MAYOR AND THE
COUNCIL WHICH ARE CHECKS ON
EACH OTHER. SO WHAT ARE THE
POWERS RESERVED TO THE COUNCIL?
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
ESSENTIALLY, IT COMES FROM A
FEW SOURCES, AND THE OTHERS, OF
COURSE, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON. THERE ARE
18 POWERS THAT ARE ENUMERATED
IN THE CHARTER BUT RESERVES THE
COUNCIL BUT CAN ONLY BE
EXERCISED BY ORDINANCE. MOST OF
THEM HAVE TO DO WITH THAT MODES
OF POWERS THAT WE DISCUSSED
EARLIER. SOME OF THEM ARE
LARGELY HISTORICAL. SO THE
COUNCIL CAN OFFICERS, ORGANIZE
DEPARTMENTS, EXERCISE THE
CITY'S CORPORATE POWER, AND
GIVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT
BY ORDINANCE. YOU CAN ASSESS
AND COLLECT TAXES, LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. WHILE
THOSE THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE POWER OF THE PURSE AND DONE
BY ORDINANCE. PORTLY FOR THE
COUNCIL, YOU CAN ACQUIRE AND
DISPOSE OF PROPERTY. ANY KIND
OF PROPERTY DISPOSITION HAS TO
COME TO THE COUNCIL AND HAS TO
BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON IT. YOU
CAN CONSTRUCT PUBLIC UTILITIES,
WHICH THE CITY OF SEATTLE DOES.
AND YOU CAN MAKE LAWS TO
PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY WELFARE, THAT IS THAT
MOTIVE POWER WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT EARLIER. IF YOU LOOK AT
ALL 18 OF THE INTEGRATED
POWERS, YOU WOULD THINK, HOW
ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?
ACQUISITION OF QUARRIES? AM I
EVER GOING TO USE THAT POWER?
PROBABLY NOT. THOSE ARE LARGELY
HISTORICAL POWERS THAT ARE
GRANTED TO THE COUNCIL AND
ESSENTIALLY REFLECT ENABLING
LEGISLATION FOR CHARTER CITIES.
SO OTHER SOURCES OF POWER
OUTSIDE OF THE CHARTER, WHAT
ARE OTHER SOURCES OF POWER?
WHERE DOES POWER COME FROM?
LARGELY, IT COMES FROM
LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME AUTHORITY
THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY
SPELLED OUT IN CHARTER BUT IS
RESERVED TO THE CITY'S GOAL
CLASSES AT THE COUNCIL CAN TO
GET VANTAGE OUT. MAYBE I WILL
JUST STEP ASIDE BACK HERE AND
TALK ABOUT A DISTINCTION THAT
SOMETIMES MUNICIPAL LAWYERS USE
ABOUT HOME RULE VERSUS DILLONS
RULE, AND YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR
WITH THIS. ALL THE POWERS THAT
ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE
GENERAL PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENTAL
FUNCTION, UNLESS THERE IS SOME
PRESCRIPTION THAT IS OUT THERE.
DILLONS RULE WAS A JUDGE BUT A
COUPLE OF RULINGS IN THE EARLY
1800S AND THERE'S A RULE
ASSOCIATED WITH HIS NAME AND IS
KIND OF THE INVERSE OF THAT.
LOCAL POWERS ARE LIMITED TO
THOSE THAT ARE THUSLY GRANTED
BY STATUTE OR NECESSARILY
IMPLIED. SOME FOLKS DEBATE
WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY --
WHETHER OR NOT THE HOME RULE --
WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS A HOME RULE CITY OR
THE DILLONS RULE APPLIES TO THE
CITY. I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER
IS THAT IF THERE IS NOT -- IF
THERE IS NOT EXPLICIT STATE
STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR
SOMETHING, THAT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MEAN YOU HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO UNDERTAKE SOME
ACTION. IT JUST MEANS THAT AS A
PRACTICAL MATTER IF THE
AUTHORITY IS NOT EXPRESSLY
PROVIDED BY STATUTE OR CHARTER,
YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK IN BEFORE
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT
THING. SO FIRST LOOK AT THE
CHARTER, NEXT LOOK AT ENABLED
STATUTES, AND IF IT'S NOT THERE
-- COME SEE LAUREN. SO I'M
GOING TO GO THROUGH A FEW
EXAMPLES HERE NOW. OF SOMETIMES
WHEN THE COUNCIL HAS EXERCISED
ITS POWER BY ORDINANCE TO DO
ANY NUMBER OF THINGS AND SORT
OF MAKE THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE
REAL. THE FIRST EXAMPLE IS THE
COMMUNITY -ASSISTED RESPONSE
AND ENGAGEMENT FUNCTION OF THE
CITY. THE ALTERNATIVE 911
RESPONSE. SO WHAT IS IT? IT'S A
DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
SERVICES BY UNIFYING IN-LINE
THE CITY'S COMMUNITY FOCUSED
NONPOLICE PUBLIC SAFETY
INVESTMENTS AND SERVICES TO
ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL USE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND LOW RISK
CALLS FOR SERVICE TO A
DIVERSIFIED PROGRAM THAT IS
EQUITABLE, INNOVATIVE,
EVIDENCE-BASED, COMPASSIONATE.
SO IT IS ESSENTIALLY A FUNCTION
OF CARE AS A POLICE FUNCTION,
TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH,
SAFETY, AND WELFARE. THIS WAS
CREATED INITIALLY THROUGH
ORDINANCE 12633, AND THEN
REMAINED. BUT THE MOTIVE POWER
TO GET TO THAT RELEASE POWER
OBJECTIVE IS CORPORATE POWER.
SO THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THE
COUNCIL USING THE AUTHORITY
THAT IT HAS ON THE CHARTER TO
CREATE A NEW DEPARTMENT TO
ACHIEVE A PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY WELFARE EFFECT. THE NEXT
EXAMPLE WE USE HERE IS THE
JUMPSTART PERIL EXPENSE TAX. SO
AS YOU ALL ARE, I'M SURE, VERY
FAMILIAR, WITH DIFFERENT RATES
DETERMINED BY THE SIZE OF THE
BUSINESS AND LEVELS OF
COMPENSATION. IT WAS CREATED TO
FIND, ESSENTIALLY, GENERAL
GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS LIKE A
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, ECONOMIC
RESILIENCE PROGRAMS, AND KIND
OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FUNCTION AS WELL. THE TAX WAS
CREATED BY ORDINANCE 126108. A
SPENDING PLAN WAS APPROVED, SO
THERE WAS AN ACTION TAKEN BY
ORDINANCE, TWO ORDINANCES. THE
MOTIVE POWER HERE IS AGAIN TO
PROVIDE GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES.
BUT YOU WON'T SEE THE AUTHORITY
FOR THIS ESPECIALLY IN THE
CHARTER. YOU WILL FIND IT IN
OTHER SOURCES. THERE IS
AUTHORITY FOR EXCESS TAXES ON
BUSINESSES, AND THAT AUTHORITY
WAS AFFIRMED THE GREATER
SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
VERSUS THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN
2022. SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE
WHERE THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC
CHARTER AUTHORITY, ALTHOUGH
THERE ARE SOME IMPLIED
AUTHORITY THERE, BUT THERE IS
AUTHORITY FROM THE DATE, AND
THAT AUTHORITY HAS BEEN
AFFIRMED BY THE COURT OF
APPEALS. SO A THIRD EXAMPLE
HERE IS THE MINIMUM WAGE. SO
WHAT IS IT? IT'S TO INCREASE
SEATTLE'S MINIMUM WAGE TO $15
AN HOUR. IT INITIALLY WAS
ADOPTED AND WAS IN FACING
OVERTIME AND THERE WERE
ADJUSTMENTS YOU. YOU WILL
PROBABLY SEE ARTICLES FROM LAST
WEEK. IT'S A LABOR STANDARD. IT
WAS CREATED BY ORDINANCE
124490. IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY
BOTH THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR
AT THE TIME, MAYOR BRADBURY,
AND THE COUNCIL CONVENED A BLUE
RIBBON PANEL AND ULTIMATELY
DREW SOME LEGISLATION TOGETHER.
THE MOTIVE POWER MAY BE A
LITTLE SURPRISING, BUT IT
MOTIVE POWER THAT IS OFTEN USE
IN OUR CITIES BUSINESS
REGULATIONS, AND THAT IS POLICE
POWER. IT'S A POWER EXECUTED TO
PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SAFETY AND WELFARE. AUTHORITY
GRANTED TO FIRST-CLASS CITIES
THAT WOULD GIVE THE CITY THE
ABILITY TO IMPOSE OTHER LABOR
STANDARDS. SO NOW, I'M GOING TO
TURN IT OVER TO LAUREN, AND
SHE'S GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THE
LIMITATIONS AND OTHER ASPECTS
OF THE COUNCIL'S EXERCISE OF
POWER.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS. I
MIGHT'VE PAUSED THERE FOR JUST
A MOMENT -- I KNOW HE COVERED A
GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION AT
THE OUTSET. ARE THERE ANY
LINGERING QUESTIONS BEFORE I
HIT THE LAST FEW SLIDES FOR US?
GREAT. PERFECTLY CLEAR
INFORMATION. WONDERFUL. OKAY.
LAST FEW SLIDES WE HAVE ARE HOW
YOU EXERCISE YOUR POWERS
PUBLICLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
EACH OF YOU HAVE ALREADY
RECEIVED YOUR OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT TRAINING, AND
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE ACT TRAINING.
I'M NOT TO BELABOR THOSE
POINTS. BUT JUST TO SAY THAT
THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON,
CHAPTER 42.30, DOES PRESCRIBE
THE WORK OF THIS BODY IN TERMS
OF ITS PUBLIC NATURE, AND ITS
TRANSPARENCY. AND SO THE
ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE, LIKE
TODAY AND HAVING AN OPEN
SESSION, ARE IN CONFORMITY WITH
THAT STATE LAW. AS IT RELATES
TO TRANSPARENCY, ANOTHER
CHARTER PROVISION THAT WE WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU TODAY IS
THE SINGLE REQUIREMENT FOR
LEGISLATION. THIS REQUIRES THAT
THE SCOPE OF MATTER RELATES TO
A SINGLE SUBJECT THAT IS
IDENTIFIED IN THE BILL'S TITLE.
SO ONCE YOU CAPTION A BILL AS
RELATING TO ASK, YOU SET THE
FIELD UNDER WHICH THE
PROVISIONS OF THAT LAW WILL
RELATE. IN DOING SO, YOU
TRANSPARENTLY LOCK YOURSELF
INTO THAT ONE MATTER, AND
CREATE OPEN DISCOURSE THAT
RELATES TO THAT ONE MATTER.
THAT, AGAIN, IS A CHARTER
REQUIREMENT THAT IS ALSO
RECOGNIZED IN THE WASHINGTON
STATE CONSTITUTION. WE
DISCUSSED THE ROBUST NATURE OF
THE COUNCIL'S GOVERNING
AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE LAWS
AND REGULATIONS FOR THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE. THERE ARE
LIMITATIONS ON THOSE POWERS,
MOST DIRECTLY SEEN IN STATE
CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS, AND
BY EXTENSION, STATE LAW. SOME
EXAMPLES, RESTING WITH THE
WASHINGTON CONSTITUTION,
ARTICLE EIGHT, SECTIONS 5 AND
SEVEN, RELATE TO RESTRICTIONS
AGAINST THE LENDING OF THE
CITY'S CREDIT, OR THE GIFTS OF
PUBLIC FUNDS. THESE ARE
TRANSPARENT MEASURES MEANT TO
RETAIN TO THE PEOPLE THEIR
FUNDING FOR THEIR PURPOSES. AND
SO EACH COUNCIL ACTION WILL
NEED TO BE IN CONFORMITY WITH
THAT SET OF EXAMPLES OF THE
STATE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMIT. AS
WE HEARD FROM GAEL TARLETON AND
HER CREW, THE STATE PASSES A
ROBUST SET OF LAWS EACH
SESSION, AND THE REVISED CODES
OF WASHINGTON ARE LIVING AND
BREATHING DOCUMENTS THAT ARE
AMENDED OVER TIME. WHEN THE
STATE CHOOSES TO ACT, THEY CAN
PREEMPT THE CITY FROM ENGAGING
IN PARTICULAR FIELDS OF
REGULATION. THEY CAN DO SO BY
CATEGORICALLY STATING THAT
CITIES DO NOT REGULATE A
PARTICULAR AREA. THIS IS SEEN
BY ONE EXAMPLE IN RESIDENTIAL
RENT CONTROL. RCW 35.2 1.830.
IT CREATES THAT PREEMPTION OVER
THE FIELD OF RESIDENTIAL RENT
CONTROL. AND SO YOU MAY RECALL
LAST YEAR, WHEN THE COUNCIL
TOOK UP A RESIDENTIAL RENT
CONTROL BILL, IT HAD TO DO SO
BY THE ONLY LEGAL MECHANISM
POSSIBLE IS THE TRIGGER LAW TO
SAY, IF STATE LAW WERE TO
CHANGE IN THE FUTURE, HERE'S
HOW CITY LAW WOULD COME INTO
BEING. THAT WAS A DIRECT
BYPRODUCT OF STATE PREEMPTION.
SO OVER TIME, AS YOU CONSIDER
YOUR AMENDMENTS, YOU WILL DO SO
WITHIN THE CONFORMITY OF
EXISTING STATE LAW. AND
FINALLY, AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
THE SEATTLE CITY CHARTER IS
THAT THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES HAVE
RESERVED AUTHORITY TO INITIATE
POLICY THEMSELVES BY
INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA. SO
THAT CAN BE IN ARTICLE 4,
SECTION 1B. IT'S ACTUALLY ONE
OF THE FIRST NOTES WITHIN THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT SECTION
OF THE CHARTER, IS ACTUALLY TO
SAY THAT THE PEOPLE RESERVED TO
THEMSELVES THE AUTHORITY TO
LEGISLATE AS WELL ALONGSIDE US.
AND MOVING TO HOW WE LAWFULLY
DELEGATE OR GIVE OUR POWERS
AWAY. A NATURAL EXTENSION, AS
WE SAID, OF THIS MAYOR/COUNCIL
FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS THAT THE
COUNCIL ENACTS LAWS, AND THE
MAYOR OR INDEPENDENT OFFICES
IMPLEMENT THOSE LAWS. AND SO
THE NATURAL EXTENSION OF THAT
IS THAT, AT TIMES, THIS COUNCIL
MAY PASS A BROAD STATEMENT OF
LAW, AND THEN IN POWER
DIRECTORS OF EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS TO FILL IN THE MEAT
AND DETAIL OF WHAT THAT LAW
WILL MEAN FOR ITS
IMPLEMENTATION OR ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS DONE BY DIRECTORS
RULES, AND THOSE ARE NOT DONE
IN A VACUUM, AND THEY ARE NOT
DONE WITHOUT TRANSPARENT. ANY
DIRECTORS RULE MUST BE ENACTED
PURSUANT TO THIS CITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT,
WHICH IS ITS OWN SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. AND SO BY ONE
EXAMPLE, THE MUNICIPAL CODE
3.06 POINT 040 DESCRIBES
AUTHORITY GIVEN TO STC I TO
HAVE RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE
ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN
ESTABLISHED WITHIN THEIR
PURVIEW. SO THAT'S NOT TO SAY
THAT THEY CAN CREATE A RULE
ABOUT ANYTHING, THAT IF IT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE LAWS THAT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED, THEY
MAY PROVIDE -- THE MEAT AND
DETAIL TO OUR ORDINANCES. AND
THEY DO SO TRANSPARENCY THROUGH
THE ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES
ACT. AND THEN FINALLY, ONE OF
THESE MECHANISMS THAT BY
PURVIEW OF OUR CODE, ALREADY
EXISTS, IS, WHEN THERE'S A
CIVIL EMERGENCY THAT OCCURS,
THE MAYOR CAN THINK OF IT AS
STEPPING INTO THE SHOES OF THE
COUNCIL AND ENACTING USUALLY
TIME SENSITIVE OR EMERGENT
DECISIONS RELATING TO BUDGET OR
PROCUREMENT . OR WHICH LAWS MAY
BE EFFECTIVELY WAIVED FOR SOME
PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS NOT AN
EVENT THAT IS JUST TAKEN ON THE
WHIM OF AN EXECUTIVE CONFORMITY
WITH EXISTING CITY CODE. AND
THE COUNCIL DOES RETAIN ITS
RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY BY RESOLUTION THAT IS
ADOPTED BY TWO THIRDS OF
MEMBERS. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF
A CHECK AND BALANCE THAT IS
PLAYED IN A TIME OF EMERGENCY.
THE MAYOR MAY STEP INTO THE
SHOES OF THE COUNCIL, THE
COUNCIL RETAINS THEIR AUTHORITY
TO CONTINUE TO REGULATE, AND
STEP IN AND AND THAT CIVIL
EMERGENCY SHOULD THEY CHOOSE.
GOOD NEWS. WE MADE IT THROUGH
THE SUBSTANCE THERE. FINAL
SLIGHTEST TAKEAWAYS. AS WE
APTLY DESCRIBED, FOUR NEW MODES
OF MUNICIPAL POWER SHAPES HOW
YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR ROLE, IN
WHICH POWER YOU ARE EXERCISING
WHEN YOU TAKE UP A PARTICULAR
PUBLIC POLICY. YOU USE BROAD
DISCRETION IN YOUR EXERCISE OF
THOSE POWERS VIA LEGISLATION.
THAT BROAD DISCRETION IS
LIMITED IN PART BY THE
WASHINGTON CONSTITUTION AND
WASHINGTON STATE LAWS. SO YOU
NAVIGATE THAT DESCRIPTION
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES THAT HAVE
BEEN SET BY HIGHER POWERS. AND
FINALLY, THERE ARE INSTANCES IN
WHICH YOU ELECT TO DELEGATE
YOUR AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO MAKE
THE MECHANISMS OF CITY BUSINESS
HAPPEN, OR ANY CIVIL EMERGENCY,
THERE ARE MECHANISMS IN PLACE
FOR THE MAYOR TO STEP IN AND
PERFORM SOME OF YOUR LAWMAKING
DUTIES. BUT THAT ULTIMATE
DECISION ON HOW LONG THAT LASTS
AND HOW LONG THE EXECUTIVE
EXERCISES THEIR POWERS RESTS
WITH YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES FOR LAUREN? I HAVE A
QUICK QUESTION. IF YOU COULD GO
BACK TO THE QUESTION OF
DELIBERATION -- YOU MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT WE ARE
ALL GETTING EMAILS, PHONE
CALLS, REQUEST TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
VACANCY. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US
ANYTHING ABOUT HOW AND WHETHER
WE SHOULD BE RESPONDING,
EITHER TO THE INDIVIDUALS, OR
AMONGST OURSELVES TO AVOID THE
DELIBERATION NOT IN PUBLIC?
>> SURE, SURE. IT'S A GOOD
QUESTION, AND IT BLEEDS VERY
APTLY INTO THE FINAL
PRESENTATION OF THE DAY, WHICH
WILL BE ON THE VACANCY. SO
MYSELF AND THE CITY CLERK, AND
I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR, WILL PRESENT JUST
BRIEFLY. THIS IS MEANT TO KIND
OF HIGHLIGHT THIS IDEA OF NOT
HAVING AN ACTIVE QUORUM, EITHER
AMONG A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE,
OR THIS BODY AS A WHOLE. AND
DELIBERATING, MAKING FINAL
DECISIONS NOT IN PUBLIC. AND SO
INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS TO YOU AS
AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER WOULD NOT
VIOLATE THE PUBLIC MEETINGS
ACT. OUR PROCESS IS MEANT TO BE
AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. AND
SO AT A MINIMUM, IF YOU COULD
DIRECT THE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE MAKING, YOU
KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO APPLY FOR
A VACANCY POSITION, MAKE SURE
THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY KNOW
THAT CONTACTING JUST ONE
COUNCILMEMBER IS NOT
SUFFICIENT. TO BE SUBMITTING AN
APPLICATION, AND THAT THEY NEED
TO BE DIVERTED TOWARDS THE
PUBLIC PROCESS. SO THAT MIGHT
BE HELPFUL GUIDANCE RIGHT NOW,
AND THEN -- ONCE THE VACANCY
WINDOW CLOSES, AND ALL OF THE
APPLICATIONS ARE IN FRONT OF
ALL OF OUR COWORKERS, THAT IS
WHEN WE CAN KIND OF --
RESTRICTIONS MIGHT APPLY SO
THAT CRITICAL MASS OF
COLLEAGUES ARE NOT GATHERING OR
DISCUSSING ANY PARTICULAR
COWORKER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WILL ATTEND TO
ITEM THREE.
>> I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO STEP
OUT FOR ONE MOMENT. EXCUSE ME.
INC. YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE TO
NOTE THAT SOMETIMES WE THINK WE
KNOW -- IT'S HEARING THINGS
OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT REALLY
DOES HELP, AND WHEN THINGS --
WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW TO
EXERCISE POWER -- HERE WE ARE,
WE SHOULD KNOW -- BUT I DIDN'T
REALIZE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE
DON'T HAVE THE TYPICAL THREE
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, WHERE OUR
COURT SYSTEM -- WELL, YOU KNOW,
WEIGHING IN ON OUR LAWS, OR --
THOSE DECISIONS.
>> YEAH, AND YOU DO, IT'S JUST
-- AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU
DO. IT'S JUST NOT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPAL
COURTS.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THIS RESEARCH, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE FUTURE
PRESENTATIONS. YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I WILL MOVE ON TO THE LAST
PRESENTATION, WHICH IS TO DIG
INTO GREATER DETAIL ON THE
VACANCY FILLING PROCESS. AND WE
WILL BE JOINED BY -- LET'S SEE.
OUR CITY CLERK, AND I BELIEVE
SHE IS AVAILABLE. I'M NOT SURE
IF SHE'S GOING TO BE JOINING
US.
>> HI, ALL. CAN YOU HEAR ME
OKAY? WE MIGHT GO AHEAD AND
TAKE IT AWAY, PLEASE.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING
ABLE TO BE THERE IN PERSON. I
HAVE A SORE THROAT TODAY, AND I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO NOT
BRING THAT TO THE ENTIRE
OFFICE. SO THANK YOU. I'M GLAD
WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. BUT
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. TODAY, I'M GOING TO
DISCUSS NEXT STEPS IN THE
CURRENT VACANCY POSITION. I
WANT TO THANK LAUREN HENRY,
LEGISLATIVE IN PERSON.
TOGETHER, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE
AFTER THIS PRESENTATION. AND
LET ME SHARE MY SCREEN. JUST A
MOMENT. OKAY. CAN WE ALL SEE
THIS OKAY?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. ON JANUARY
2nd, COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA RESIGNED FROM HER
POSITION, CREATING A VACANCY
THAT WAS EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY
3rd. THE VACANCY APPOINTMENT
PROCESS IS 20 DAYS, GUIDED BY
THE CITY CHARTER AND SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. THE APPOINTED
COUNCILMEMBER WILL SERVE UNTIL
THE NOVEMBER 2024 GENERAL
ELECTION, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A
SPECIAL ELECTION THAT IS GOING
TO BE HELD CURRENTLY WITH THE
NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. ONCE
THAT ELECTION IS CERTIFIED AND
QUALIFIED. THE CURRENT POSITION
ASSIGNMENT IS THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND ARTS AND
CULTURE. ALL PUBLIC INFORMATION
REGARDING THIS VACANT HE HAS
BEEN PROVIDED ON A DEDICATED
WEBPAGE, WHICH IS UPDATED
REGULARLY. AND THIS INFORMATION
DOES INCLUDE THE OPEN
APPLICATION PROCESS.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED
VIA EMAIL UNTIL TOMORROW,
JANUARY 9th, AT 5:00 P.M..
APPLICATIONS -- SORRY, YOU MUST
INCLUDE ALL THREE OF THE
FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO
BECOME LITTERED COMPLETE. SO
COVER LETTER, AND FINANCIAL
INTEREST FORM. APPLICANTS ARE
NOTIFIED IF THE APPLICATION IS
COMPLETE OR INCOMPLETE. AND IF
THE APPLICATION IS INCOMPLETE,
IT IS NOTED WHICH DOCUMENTS ARE
REQUIRED TO MAKE THE
APPLICATION. ALL APPLICANTS
MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS. THEY MUST BE A
CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES,
MUST BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. THEY MUST
BE A QUALIFIED ELECTOR OF THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND THEY
MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER OF
THE CITY OF THE ATUL, AT LEAST
120 DAYS PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN
APPLICATION. WE CURRENTLY HAVE
RECEIVED 28th COMPLETED
APPLICATIONS, 16 OF WHOM HAVE
BEEN CONFIRMED AS REGISTERED
VOTERS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO CONFIRM
HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT DAILY.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS AND
WE WILL JUST KEEP SENDING THEM
TO KING COUNTY. I WANT TO THANK
YOU COUNTY ELECTIONS FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROCESS.
THEY HAVE BEEN REPLYING VERY
FAST. EXCUSE ME. THE CODE
PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PUBLIC FORUM TO BE HELD WITH
THE INPUT FROM COMMUNITY
ENTITIES. COMMUNITY ENTITIES
WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC FORUM
OR TO HOST THE PUBLIC FORUM MAY
SEND A LETTER OF INTEREST
INDICATING ENTITIES CAPACITY TO
ASSIST THE FORM AND RELEVANT
PRIOR EXPERIENCE BY 5:00 P.M.
TOMORROW, JANUARY 9th. FOR
COMMUNITY ENTITIES WHO WISH TO
PROVIDE FEEDBACK REGARDING THE
PUBLIC FORUM, INCLUDING
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FORMS
STRUCTURE, QUESTIONS FOR THE
CANDIDATES, OR ANY
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATION,
THEY MUST USE THE ONLINE FORM
THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE
WEBSITE, AND THERE'S A LIST OF
QUESTIONS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER,
AND THEY WILL GO AHEAD AND
SUBMIT THAT. ONCE A COMMUNITY
ENTITY IS CHOSEN, THE LOCATION
AND TIME FOR THE PUBLIC FORUM
CAN BE CHOSEN. SO IT'S NOT
AVAILABLE AS OF YET.
TRANSLATING THIS PROCESS INTO A
TIMELINE, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY
10th, REDACTED COPIES OF THE
APPLICATIONS WILL BE POSTED ON
THE VACANCY WEBSITE AND
PROVIDED TO COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
REVIEW. CONSUL MEMBERS MAY
CHOOSE TO MEET WITH ANY
APPLICANTS INDIVIDUALLY. ON
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING,
COUNCIL WILL MEET AT A SPECIAL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO
CONSIDER THE FEEDBACK FROM
COMMUNITY ENTITIES TO SELECT
THE COMMUNITY ENTITY OR
ENTITIES TO HOST THE COMMITTEE
FORM, AS WELL AS TO SELECT
CANDIDATES. THIS DISCUSSION
WILL OCCUR IN AN EXECUTIVE
SESSION, THE SELECTIONS WILL BE
ANNOUNCED IN AN OPEN SESSION.
THE COMMUNITY FORUM WILL BE
HELD EITHER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY
17th, OR WEDNESDAY JANUARY
18th. AND ON MONDAY, JANUARY
22nd, AT A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING -- SORRY, A SPECIAL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE
HELD TO ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ,
AND TO ALLOW COUNCIL TO
INTERVIEW APPLICANTS IN OPEN
SESSION, AND TO DISCUSS THEIR
QUALIFICATIONS IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION. AND FINALLY, THE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
JANUARY 23rd, CITY COUNCIL WILL
HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. WITH ALL
OF THAT BEING SAID, I AM OPEN
TO HEAR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE, AND I'M GOING TO STOP
SHARING MY SCREEN.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, I
REALLY APPRECIATE GOING OVER
THIS. AND LIKE I SAID,
REITERATION REALLY DOES HELP. I
WANT TO NOTE THAT YOU SAID
SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT,
WHICH IS THAT ALTHOUGH THE
DEADLINE IS JANUARY 9th, I'M
JUST REITERATING WHAT YOU SAID
-- WE WILL HAVE -- WE WILL KNOW
-- WE WILL GET A LIST OF THE
APPLICANT THAT HAVE -- THAT
HAVE BEEN CLEARED BY KING
COUNTY ON WEDNESDAY. SO
ALTHOUGH PEOPLE WILL BE VERY
INTERESTED IN KNOWING, OKAY, SO
-- WHO IS AT PLAY HERE? THERE
IS AN ADDITIONAL STEP THAT , AT
LEAST I DIDN'T REALIZE AND
MAYBE SOME OTHER FOLKS DIDN'T,
THAT THE ADDRESSES AND VOTING
RECORD HAS TO BE CHECKED BY THE
COUNTY. SO A LITTLE BIT OF
EXPECTATION SETTING HERE.
>> YEAH. AS WELL AS A
REDACTION. THIS IS JUST A BIT
OF A TEDIOUS PART OF IT.
>> EXACTLY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I WILL ASK IF THERE ARE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. I SEE A
COUPLE HANDS UP. NOT SURE WHO
RAISED IT FIRST. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, OR -- OKAY. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU, MADAM CLERK, FOR THOSE
VERY HELPFUL PRESENTATIONS. I
HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE
DIRECTED TO YOU FOR THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, SO I WILL JUST PUT
THEM OUT THERE. I NOTED ON THE
FIRST ONE THAT THE POINT OF
COUNCILMEMBER WILL NOT SERVE
UNTIL THE SPECIAL ELECTION,
NOVEMBER 2024. I'M ASSUMING
THAT THAT JUST MEANS THAT'S
WHEN THEIR TERM ENDS, THAT
WHOEVER RECEIVES THAT
APPOINTMENT, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE
TO RUN, WOULD BE -- WOULD NOT
BE PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING?
>> RIGHT. IT SPEAKS NOTHING TO
THE ELECTION PROCESS. IT ONLY
SPEAKS TO THE VACANCY IN THE
POSITION AND AS YOU SAID, THE
TIMELINE FOR WHEN THEY CAN
SERVE. IF THEY CHOOSE TO RUN,
THEN THEY CAN CONTINUE TO
SERVE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK I SEE
THAT --
>> SORRY.
>> THERE IS JUST NO LEGAL BAR
TO SOMEONE WHO CHOOSES TO SERVE
IN POSITION EIGHT AND BE
APPOINTED. THERE'S NO LEGAL BAR
FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTING
HER CANDIDACY AND RUNNING FOR
ELECTION FOR THE SAME SEAT.
>> THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY ASK
ONE MORE QUESTION, WELL,
ACTUALLY, TWO QUESTIONS. IN
LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE OF
DELIBERATION, IT INCLUDES THE
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS. THEY
MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH
APPLICANT, AND I GUESS THIS IS
PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR OUR
LAWYER COUNCIL . AND I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALEZ WAS SORT
OF GETTING AT THIS. SHOULD WE,
EVEN THOUGH WE MAY, SHOULD WE?
AND THEN LASTLY, IS THERE GOING
TO BE A LIST OF THE QUESTIONS
WE WILL BE ASKING AN OPEN
SESSION? WHO IS GOING TO
DEVELOP THOSE QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT LAST ONE,
IF THAT'S OKAY. THAT IS WHAT
THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
ENTITIES, I BELIEVE, WAS
DESIGNED TO HELP WITH, WHICH
WAS HOSTING A PUBLIC FORUM AT
WHICH THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE
ASKED.
>> WE WON'T HAVE OUR OWN
QUESTIONS?
>> YES, THAT IS -- I THOUGHT
THAT WAS A GIVEN, SO YES. I
MEAN, WE CAN ASK OF --
>> FOR OUR OPEN SESSION, WHO
WILL BE DRAFTING THOSE
QUESTIONS? WILL IT BE EACH
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBER? WILL
IT BE YOURSELF? WILL IT BE
QUESTIONS THAT WEREN'T ASKED IN
THE FORM? I JUST -- THIS BODY
HAS DISCRETION TO SHAPE THE
INTERVIEWING PROCESS. YOU WILL
WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW MANY
CANDIDATES ARE BEFORE YOU IN
SHAPING THOSE QUESTIONS AND
PERHAPS GIVING SOME STANDARD
AMOUNT OF TIME TO EACH SO THAT
WE MIGHT MOVE THROUGH THEM.
BEYOND THOSE CONSIDERATIONS,
THIS BODY CAN DECIDE FOR ITSELF
IF THERE WILL BE A SET SET OF
QUESTIONS FOR EACH. IF IT MIGHT
BE MORE OPEN-ENDED, EACH OF
THOSE COMPONENTS ARE TO THE
DISCRETION OF THIS BODY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE
ARE FOLLOWING A PROCEDURE SET
DOWN IN CODE NOW. JUST SPEAKING
FOR MYSELF, SO MUCH OF THE
PROCESS GOING FORWARD ON THE
10th DEPENDS ON HOW MANY
CANDIDATES THAT WILL INFORM THE
TIME WE HAVE AT THE DAIS. IT
WILL INFORM HOW MANY -- WHICH
WILL THEN LEAD INTO ANY
QUESTIONS, ET CETERA. I FEEL
LIKE WE WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THINGS
WILL GO FORWARD ONCE WE
UNDERSTAND THE SIZE OF THE
FIELD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A POINT OF CLARIFICATION,
PLEASE, MADAM PRESIDENT. THE
COMMUNITY FORUM -- IS IT THAT
THE COMMUNITY WILL SUBMIT
QUESTIONS TO THOSE FOLKS THAT
HAVE SUBMITTED RESUMES?
>> SO BY THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE, WE, AS A COUNCIL, ARE
REQUIRED TO HOST A PUBLIC
FORUM. AND IN PRACTICE, IT HAD
BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY THAT HE
COMMUNITY ENTITY WAS SELECTED
TO ACT AS A FACILITATOR AND
INTERVIEWER AND PROVIDE THOSE
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO THE
CANDIDATES. WITH THE PROCESS
THAT THE COUNCIL HAS SET UP
NOW, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR AN OPPORTUNITY ENTITY THAT
WISHES TO HOST TO PROVIDE A
LETTER OF INTEREST OF EMAIL BY
TOMORROW BY 5:00 P.M. BUT IF
THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITY
ENTITIES THAT JUST WISH TO
PROVIDE SOME GENERAL FEEDBACK
AND GIVE YOU ALL GUIDANCE ON
HOW THEY WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC
FORUM STRUCTURE TO GO , THE
QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED AT
THE PUBLIC FORUM AND THE
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS,
THE CITY CLERK HAS PROVIDED A
FORM THAT THOSE COMMUNITY
ENTITIES CAN GO TO THAT THE
COUNCIL VACANCY WEBSITE AND
FILL OUT. SO THERE'S KIND OF A
BIFURCATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN FORMED.
>> WHAT IS THE ONLINE FORM THAT
THE ONLINE ENTITY WOULD SUBMIT
TO SAY, WE SHOULD DO ONLY
COMMUNITY QUESTIONS, OR WE
SHOULD DO ONLY THE HOST ENTITY
QUESTIONS, ET CETERA?
>> THAT BE WHAT FEEDBACK WOULD
BE WELCOME THERE.
>> WE HAVE RESPONSES TO THE
QUESTION WE ARE ASKING. IT'S TO
PROVIDE QUESTIONS THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE ASKED, AND
NOT THE DIFFERENCE OF WHAT
QUESTIONS WILL WE HAVE. SO WE
HAVE HAD FEEDBACK FROM SEVEN
COMMUNITY ENTITIES SO FAR WITH
THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO SEE ASKED, AS WELL AS
ONE THAT HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER
OF INTEREST. I WANTED TO
MENTION IT HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THIS QUESTION STEMS FROM ONE
THAT YOU WERE JUST ANSWERING A
MOMENT AGO, LAUREN. I KNOW IN
PAST VACANCY FILLING VACANCIES,
THE COUNCIL MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A
CARETAKER. SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT
GOING TO RUN AGAIN. IS THAT
SOMEONE THAT WE CAN PUT IN THIS
APPLICATION? IS THAT SOMETHING
THAT WE JUST HAVE TO ASK
PEOPLE'S PREFERENCES, IF
SOMEONE WAS TO SAY THEY WERE
GOING TO BE A CARETAKER AND
THEN DECIDED TO RUN ? IS THAT
LEGALLY ABLE? AND ALSO,
COLLEAGUES, MY APOLOGIES FOR
NOT WEARING A SUIT JACKET. I'VE
BEEN WEARING MY DOG COLORS
TODAY AND I REALIZE IF I PUT ON
A BLUE SUIT JACKET, I WOULD BE
WEARING THE WRONG TEAMS COLOR.
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR
GRACIOUSNESS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, TO YOUR
QUESTION, PRIOR VACANCIES MAY
HAVE ELECTED TO SIGNAL THEIR
PREFERENCE FOR WHETHER THE
INDIVIDUAL WAS RESTRICTED MORE
TO A CARETAKER ROLE RATHER THAN
THE FIRST OF PERHAPS SEVERAL
DESIRES TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE.
THAT IS A DISCRETIONARY CALL
THAT THIS BODY CAN MAKE. RIGHT
NOW, THE APPLICANTS MUST MEET
THE MINIMUM CRITERIA THAT THE
CITY CLERK HAS ALREADY GONE
THROUGH. SO BY CONSENSUS, YOU
MIGHT MODIFY, OR AT A MINIMUM,
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, REQUEST
THAT AN INDIVIDUAL GIVE THEIR
TIME THAT THEY HOLD OFFICE.
>> WE DON'T HAVE
>>> EVEN IF THEY AGREE THEY
COULD OR -- PERMANENT
FOR A YEAR AND THEN THEY HAVE
TO BE UP AGAIN IN 2025. THAT IS
-- I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A
PREFERENCE THAT WE CAN ALL HOLD
INDIVIDUALLY AND YOU CAN SEEK
THE ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION
FROM INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES, BUT
WE ARE NOT STATING A PREFERENCE
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THAT THIS IS
A PLACE HOLDER OR TEMPORARY OR
MB THAT WILL BE GOING FORWARD
TO DEFINITELY RUN NEXT
NOVEMBER, THIS COMING NOVEMBER.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO GET
BACK TO WHAT I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WAS ASKING
ABOUT THE DIFFERENTIATION
BETWEEN THE PUBLIC FORUM
QUESTIONS AND THE COUNCIL
QUESTIONS. SO MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
HAVE BEEN SOLICITED OR CAN
SUBMIT AN INTEREST IN HELPING
STRUCTURE THE FORUM. THEY CAN
SUBMIT QUESTIONS THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO BE ASKED AT THE
FORUM. HOW THE DECISION GETS
MADE ABOUT WHICH QUESTIONS WILL
BE ASKED AND WHO WILL ASK THEM
IS ONE QUESTION I HAVE. AND
THEN IN TERMS OF THE COUNCIL,
WE WILL HAVE OUR -- I LOST THE
TIMELINE -- BUT WE WILL HAVE A
COUNCIL SESSION WHERE THE
CANDIDATES WILL BE BEFORE US
AND I THINK WHAT I NEED TO
UNDERSTAND BETTER IS IF WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A SERIES
OF QUESTIONS AT THAT POINT OR
IF THE EXPECTATION OR THE
PREVIOUS PRACTICE HAS JUST BEEN
THAT EACH CANDIDATE GETS TWO OR
THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND IT'S
NOT REALLY AN INTERVIEW AS WE
MIGHT THINK OF AN INTERVIEW, IN
WHICH CASE, PRESUMABLY, EACH OF
US WILL WANT TO TALK AND
INTERVIEW THEM OURSELVES. AM I
UNDERSTANDING SORT OF THE BROAD
PROCESS CORRECTLY?
>> SO THE CODE DOES VEST A
GREAT DEAL OF DISCRETION IN
THIS BODY TO SHAPE THE VACANCY
PROCESS THAT IT WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE. THAT INCLUDES WHETHER OR
NOT SPECIFICALLY COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL BE THE ONES THAT ASK
QUESTIONS OF MEMBERS, EITHER AT
A PUBLIC FORUM OR ON THE 22nd
WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR FROM THESE CANDIDATES.
I'LL NOTE THAT THE CODE
REQUIRES THAT THE COUNCIL
INTERVIEW APPLICANTS AND THAT
TERM INTERVIEW IS GIVEN. AND SO
THAT'S WHY JANUARY 22nd IS THAT
OPPORTUNITY, AND THE SLIDES
NOTED THAT THAT'S THE MOMENT
FOR YOU TO INTERVIEW
APPLICANTS. SHOULD YOU CHOOSE
TO DO SO INDIVIDUALLY, THAT
WOULD STILL BE IN CONFORMITY
WITH THE OPMA AND WITH THE
VACANCY CODE THAT'S BEEN
ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE.
>> I CAN JUST IMAGINE, THOUGH,
IF I MIGHT FOLLOW UP, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, IF WE HAVE, LET'S
SAY, EIGHT CANDIDATES AND EIGHT
COUNCILMEMBERS INDIVIDUAL
INTERVIEWS WOULD BE VERY TIME
CONSUMING FOR THE EIGHT
CANDIDATES TO MEET WITH EACH OF
US INDIVIDUALLY, SO I GUESS
WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS WE NEED
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT JANUARY
22nd SESSION IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE
QUESTIONS THAT WE THINK ARE
GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR EACH
CANDIDATE TO ANSWER AND WE HAVE
LIMITED TIME, WE'LL NEED TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE QUESTIONS
ARE GOING TO BE. OKAY, THANK
YOU. WE MAY BE ASKING THIS
ANOTHER TIME OR TWO, I THINK,
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL
UNDERSTANDING IT WELL.
>> SO YOU'LL NOTICE ON PAGE
FOUR OF THIS PRESENTATION,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, IT SAYS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12th, SPECIAL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SELECT
COMMUNITY ENTITY/ENTITIES TO
HOST COMMUNITY FORUM AND, IF
NECESSARY, TO SELECT CANDIDATES
AND SELECTIONS IN OPEN SESSION,
SO SOME OF THOSE -- LIKE I SAID
BEFORE, THE SIZE OF THE FIELD
COULD VERY WELL DETERMINE A LOT
OF THESE LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS
SO. THE ISSUE ABOUT EIGHT
COUNCILMEMBERS AND EIGHT
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES COULD BE
-- THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT WE
WILL NEED TO -- THE FIELD DOWN.
LET'S SEE, WHO IS NEXT,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, MADAME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. SO I WANT TO ADD
ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, DIMENSION
MAYBE TO THIS WHOLE -- THERE
SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF CURIOSITY
AMONGST MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT
QUESTIONS AND THE PROCESS AND,
YOU KNOW, HOW THAT'S GOING TO
PLAY OUT SPECIFICALLY. AND I'M
HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE --
WELL, ONE, THE COUNCIL HAS A
LOT OF DISCRETION IN
DETERMINING AND SHAPING THAT.
AND I'M ALSO HEARING, AND I
IMAGINE THERE WILL BE SOME SORT
OF CONSENSUS REGARDLESS, BUT
LIKE THE QUESTIONS CAN BE CROWD
SOURCED, IF YOU WILL, FROM
COMMUNITIES AND A COMBINATION
OF THAT AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL
QUESTIONS AS WELL. YOU KNOW,
I'M HEARING IT SOUNDS LIKE
THERE'S SOME INTEREST IN
LEARNING PEOPLE'S INTENTIONS TO
RUN OR NOT AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
ALSO LIKE I'M PERSONALLY
CURIOUS TO LEARN WHO'S RUN
BEFORE, HOW MANY TIMES, AND YOU
KNOW, THE RESULT. SO WHERE I'M
GOING IS -- IS LIKE MAYBE --
AND I THINK A LOT OF THIS KIND
OF REMAINS TO BE TO BE SEEN IN
TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO
EFFECTUATE A LOT OF THIS, BUT
DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF
APPLICANTS, IT MIGHT MAKE
SENSE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S
POSSIBLE FOR US, TO SPECIFY,
OKAY -- WELL PRESENT APPLICANTS
WITH A QUESTIONNAIRE, A WRITTEN
QUESTIONNAIRE, BECAUSE THERE'S,
I IMAGINE, THERE'S ALSO GOING
TO BE A HIGH NUMBER OF -- A
HIGH VOLUME OF QUESTIONS, AND
TO SORT OF SIFT THROUGH AND TO
SIFT THROUGH LIVE AT THE DAIS
PROBABLY NOT THE MOST EFFICIENT
USE OF TIME. ONE THING WE
CONSIDER IS MAYBE WE HAVE A SET
OF QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO ASK
DIRECTLY AND HEAR FROM EVERYONE
DIRECTLY VERSUS WRITTEN OUT
BEFOREHAND. SO MORE OF A
COMMENT RATHER THAN A QUESTION.
BUT BOY WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK
BASED OFF OF WHAT I JUST SAID.
>> YOU KNOW, ONLY FEEDBACK I
CAN GIVE YOU IS, YES, THAT
WOULD BE A LAWFUL WAY OF
EXERCISING THAT VAST REALM OF
DISCRETION THAT YOU DESCRIBED.
THOSE DECISIONS COULD BE MADE
IN ANY NUMBER OF THE SESSIONS
THAT WE HAVE FOR A SPECIAL
PUBLIC MEETING. SO OUR REGULAR
COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE
UPCOMING TO DETERMINE THOSE
THINGS.
>> ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS? YES, GO AHEAD.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. JUST
TO A PUT A FINER POINT ON
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON'S
MENTION OF THE WEDNESDAY
DEADLINE, IN AN EFFORT TO
MANAGE EXPECTATIONS, BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE A SENSE UNTIL THE
PROCESS IS CLOSED, HOW MANY
APPLICATIONS THERE WILL BE AND
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT POINTED
OUT, THE COUNTY HAS A ROLE TO
PLAY IN THIS. I WOULD IMAGINE
IT WOULD BE TOWARDS THE END OF
THE DAY THAT YOU WOULD RECEIVE
THE COMPLETED PACKET. SO TO
YOUR POINT, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
THE DETAILS ABOUT WHATEVER
DETAILS THEY SUBMITTED, RESUME,
BACKGROUND INFORMATION, SO WITH
THE LIST IN FRONT OF YOU IN THE
MORNING, YOU'LL HAVE A SENSE OF
THE TYPES OF CANDIDATES YOU'LL
BE RECEIVING, I WOULD IMAGINE,
TOWARDS THE END OF THAT DAY. I
HOPE THAT TIMELINE'S HELPFUL.
>> IT IS, THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, ONE LAST
QUESTION. JUST AT THE END OF
THE DAY, IT'S THE 12th THAT WE
WILL HAVE THE CONVERSATION
AMONGST OURSELVES TO DECIDE
WHAT THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WILL
LOOK LIKE, THE ACTUAL
QUESTIONS, WHO WILL DO THE
QUESTIONS, AND ALL OF THAT. WE
WILL TAKE THE 12th TO MAKE THAT
-- THOSE DETERMINATIONS.
>> THAT IS YOUR FIRST
OPPORTUNITY AFTER YOU'VE
RECEIVED ALL OF THE CANDIDATE
INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE
THE OPTION IN OPEN SESSION TO
DO SO. AND AN ELECTIVE
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS
THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THOSE
CANDIDATES, THOUGH THE PROCESS
ITSELF CANNOT BE IN AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION. THAT WOULD
HAPPEN IN OPEN SESSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT, MORE TO COME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
IT.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING
ELSE FROM THE PRESENTERS? OKAY,
SO MOVING ON TO ITEM SEVEN OF
OUR AGENDA, THIS IS THE POINT
IN THE MEETING THAT USUALLY
TAKES UP THE MOST TIME. AND I
USUALLY WOULD READ THIS
FOLLOWING SCRIPT, WE WILL NOW
BEGIN OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ON
THE PREVIEW OF COUNCIL -- CITY
COUNCIL ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND
REGIONAL COMMITTEES IN THE
ORDER OF DISCUSSION IS
ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATED ROLL
CALL FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
WHICH IS DESIGNATED
ALPHABETICALLY BY LAST NAME AND
WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
CALLED LAST. IN THIS WEEK'S
ROLL CALL, ROTATION BEGINS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AND THEN
I WOULD PASS THE MIC TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. NORMALLY,
I SAY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE --
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD TALK ABOUT
WHAT IS COMING OUT OF THEIR
COMMITTEE THAT'S ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA THE FOLLOWING
DAY, THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT
LEGISLATION THAT IS COMING UP
IN AN UPCOMING THAT WEEK
COUNCIL MEETING AND WE WOULD
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET
INTO MY VISION IS THAT WE USE
THE COUNCIL BRIEFING TIME TO
ACTUALLY GET INTO A LITTLE BIT
OF POLICY DISCUSSION IF SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP
IN YOUR COMMITTEES THAT WEEK
ARE COMPLICATED OR, YOU KNOW,
THEY WILL BE OF INTEREST TO
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR
COMMITTEE. THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT
MORE, AND WE CAN HAVE SOME
OCCASIONALLY, PERHAPS,
DEPARTMENTAL DIRECTORS THAT
WILL BE PRESENTING INCOMING
COMPLEX LEGISLATION, ET CETERA.
SO THAT IS -- SO NORMALLY WE
WILL BE USING COUNCIL BRIEFINGS
IN THIS WAY, BUT I DO WANT TO
PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO DOWN THE LINE
IN THE CORRECT ROLL CALL ORDER
FOR YOU TO MENTION ANYTHING
THAT YOU WITHOUT LIKE TO BRING
TO OUR ATTENTION. I JUST WANT
TO -- I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL
PUT ON THE SPOT IF YOU DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ALSO,
BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T MET IN
COMMITTEE YET, AND WE DO NOT
HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TOMORROW. SO WITH THAT,
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
OTHERWISE WE'LL PROCEED TO ROLL
CALL. OKAY. I SEE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> NOTHING TO ADD, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. SO NOW I HAVE TO --
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THE ONLY THING I'M
GOING TO ADD IS THAT THE FIRST
MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL
BE ON FEBRUARY 14th,
VALENTINE'S DAY, WHICH IS
AUSPICIOUS, SO THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A SHORT
BRIEFING PREPARED, SO MAYBE
I'LL --
>> YES, GO FOR IT, YES.
>> -- SHOW YOU ALL WHAT WE DO.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE TOMORROW. WE
DO HAVE A CONTRACT REZONE BILL
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS MAY SPEAK
TO. THERE WILL BE A LAND USE
COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 7th AT 2:00 P.M. WE
HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA, SO FOR COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES WHO SIT ON THAT
COMMITTEE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE A
BRIEFING OR SKWLUS INTRODUCTION
OF WHAT WE'LL BE DOING, MY
POLICY DIRECTOR IS DEVIN, AND
YOU CAN SPEAK TO HIM TO GET A
LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE. LAST
WEEK I ATTENDED THE PSRC GROWTH
MANAGEMENT POLICY BOARD WHERE
WE DISCUSSED THE BLACK HOME
INITIATIVE WITH MARTY FROM
CIVIC COMMONS, COVENANT
HOMEOWNERSHIP ACT WITH THE
WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING
FINANCE COMMISSION AND THE WORK
PLAN OF PSRC. THIS WEEK I'LL BE
ATTENDING THE KING COUNTY
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ADVISORY
GROUP MEETING AND WILL ALSO BE
MEETING WITH THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM. AND
THEN JUST A COUPLE QUICK
DISTRICT UPDATES. TOMORROW I'LL
BE MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS IN
THE DISTRICT TO LEARN ABOUT THE
BLACK COMMUNITY AGENDA FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. AND ON
THURSDAY I'LL BE MEETING WITH
THE URBANISTS FOR THEIR MEETUP
WITH SHA'S DIRECTOR OF
DEVELOPMENT, TERRY, AND TO
CONNECT WITH OTHER NEIGHBORS IN
THE YESLER TERRACE
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THAT IS ALL I
HAVE TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> YES, ALL I HAVE IS THAT OUR
FIRST MEETING FOR OUR
COMMITTEE, THE LIBRARIES,
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND -- SORRY,
LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL BE
FEBRUARY 8th AT 9:30.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MORE TO COME.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> YEAH, SO I GUESS THE ONLY
THING THAT I WOULD ADD, MADAME
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IS IT'S KIND
OF BEEN ALLUDED TO, INCLUDING
BY YOU, BUT YOU KNOW, TODAY IN
APPROXIMATELY ABOUT AN HOUR OR
SO, THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON HUSKIES, MEN'S
FOOTBALL TEAM, IS GOING TO BE
COMPETING FOR A NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP. AND I CAN'T -- I
CAN'T STATE WITH ENOUGH
EMPHASIS, YOU KNOW, HOW PROUD I
AM PERSONALLY OF THIS FOOTBALL
TEAM, THIS UNIVERSITY, AND THE
INSTITUTION. THEY ARE
REFLECTING, REGARDLESS OF
OUTCOME, WE WANT THEM TO WIN,
BUT THEY ARE REFLECTING GREAT
CREDIT UPON THEMSELVES, THE
INSTITUTION, AND CITY OF
SEATTLE AND MANY PEOPLE IN MY
DISTRICT. THE UNIVERSITY DOES A
LOT OF GREAT THINGS FROM A
LOCAL ECONOMY PERSPECTIVE, AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
IS, OBVIOUSLY, A LARGE GLOBAL
LEADING RESEARCH PREMIER,
RESEARCH INSTITUTION, BUT I AM
VERY PERSONALLY PROUD OF THIS
PROGRAM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
CHEERING THEM ON. AND PROUD OF
THEM REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME
HERE. ON THE MORE SUBSTANTIVE
THING, I WILL SAY WITH RESPECT
TO COUNCIL BUSINESS WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE OUR FIRST
TRANSPORTATION MEETING NEXT
MONTH AS PLANNED. SO STAY TUNED
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. I
HOPE EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF
YOU FEEL FREE TO APPROACH ME
INDIVIDUALLY AND SHARE YOUR
FEEDBACK THAT'S OF INTEREST TO
YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
BUILD A COLLABORATIVE COMMITTEE
HERE THAT REPRESENTS THE VOICE
OF ALL COMMUNITIES. SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, KICK-OFF IN 45 MINUTES, I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE DO
HAVE SOME CONTRACT REZONE
LEGISLATION BOTH BEING
INTRODUCED TOMORROW AND WAS
PASSED OUT OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 8th.
WE'LL HAVE THAT BEFORE FULL
COUNCIL ON THE 16th. I'LL HAVE
MY STAFF REACH OUT TO EACH OF
YOUR OFFICES. IT'S PRETTY CUT
AND DRY, BUT I'M HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY
AS WELL. IT IS ALL CUT AND DRY
LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE
REQUIRED TO PASS WITHIN A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. LET'S
GO DAWGS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. NO UPDATES BESIDES
WE'RE HAVING OUR FIRST
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR PARKS,
TECHNOLOGY, AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IN FEBRUARY. THIS
WEEK I HAVE BRIEFINGS WITH OUR
SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AS
WELL TO GET UP TO SPEED ON
WHAT'S GOING ON AND GO HUSKIES.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THE END
OF MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENTS, AND
I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD TO THE
VERY ELOQUENT EXPRESSIONS OF
SUPPORT FOR OUR HOME TEAM. SO
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. IT
IS 3:46. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEE YOU TOMORROW AT FULL
COUNCIL.