>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR
OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
ON JUNE 3. MY GOODNESS, JUNE IS
HERE ALREADY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I'M GOING TO DISPENSE THE
PRESIDENT'S REPORT JUST TO SAY
SOMETHING BRIEFLY BEFORE WE GO
AROUND THE TABLE.
VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL HERE
WHO WILL BE HERE FOR A BRIEFING
AFTER WE GO THROUGH INTO OUR
FULL COUNCIL ACTION.
SO THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION
RIGHT AFTER THIS WE'LL CHAT
ABOUT AND MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAME
WE'LL GO AROUND THE ROOM AND DO
HOPEFULLY A QUICK PREVIOUS FULL
COUNCIL ACTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA AND OUR NEXT
MEETING WILL BE AT THE REGULAR
TIME, WHICH IS NEXT TUESDAY,
JUNE 11 AT 2:00 P.M.
IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE'LL BE MAKING SOME
APPOINTMENTS, THE COMMISSION
WITH THE AGREEMENT OF O
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ALSO WANTED TO SAY YESTERDAY
WAS THE FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
OF THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE IN
SEATTLE.
SEATTLE BECAME THE FIRST MAJOR
CITY TO HAVE A $15 AN HOUR
VICTORY.
AND SEVERAL STATES FOLLOWING
WITH THE PASSAGE OF $15 AND
ALSO IT HAS BECOME A PART OF
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
CONGREGATION.
AND ALSO LED THE WAY TO THE
STATE, WASHINGTON STATE MINIMUM
WAGE INCREASES.
OF COURSE WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE
BEFORE SEATTLE'S VICTORY GAME
SEAT TAX INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS
FOUGHT FOR BY THE LABOR UNION,
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE
WHO FOUGHT FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
LET ME SAY ONE THING.
PLEASE.
I SAID PLEASE.
A PART OF THE PROTOCALL NOW
THAT HAS BEEESTABLISHED IS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
HERE.
WE ARE JOINED BY SAWANT,
PACHECO, BAGSHAW, HERBOLD, AND
GONZALEZ.
I COULD HAVE SAID EVERYONE
EXCEPT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
O'BRIEN.
>> YOU JUST SAID IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> AND AS OUR RULES NOW SUGGEST
THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO HOLD OFF ON
THE MINUTES OF THE APPROVAL
BECAUSE THERE WAS A CLERICAL
ERROR.
WE'LL APPROVE TWO MINUTES IN
OUR NEXT MEETING.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> CAN I GO NOW?
>> YES.
>> ARE YOU SURE BECAUSE I WAS
ON TIME, I WAS EARLY.
OKAY, SO THE NEXT CIVIC
DEVELOPMENT NATIVE COMMUNITY
MEETING IS JUNE 5. DEDICATING
THIS AGENDA TO ONE ITEM.
A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON
WOMEN'S AND GIRL'S BY HER TEAM
FROM THE URBAN INDIAN HEALTH
INSTITUTE.
ABIGAIL WHO IS PAWNEE, DIRECTOR
OF THE HEALTH INSTITUTE OFFERED
THE SUPPORT ALONG WITH THE
NATIVE WHO WAS SET IN CHEYENNE.
I'LL SHARE QUICKLY, VERY
PROOFLY AGAIN.
THE DECADES OF AN ACADEMIC,
HAVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AMONG SEVEN
CITIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS
REPORT AND WHERE THE GAPING
HOLES IN OUR GOVERNMENT WHEN IT
COMES TO THE DATA COLLECTION
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
REPORTING.
AND I'M HONORED TO CHAIR THIS
MEETING BECAUSE THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE CITY
LACKS ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
HOW TO STEP UP.
ABIGAIL'S ADVOCACY HAS GONE AS
FAR AS WASHINGTON, D.C. AND
KING COUNTY COUNCIL.
WE HAD IMPROVEMENTS DOWN,
EXCUSE ME, IN OLYMPIA, THE LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES
FOR SUPPORTING US ON LAW THAT
CAME OUT OF WASHINGTON STATE
AND, OF COURSE, THE NATIONAL
PASSAGE.
REPRESENTATIVES DEBORA LAKEOFF
AND IN RESPONSE TO THIS REPORT,
WHICH IS HOUSE BILL 1713.
A BILL THAT NUMBER ONE
ESTABLISHES TWO LIAISON
POSITIONS WITHIN THE WASHINGTON
STATE PATROL TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE
NATIVE COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS
THE LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP
OF THE GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT.
REQUIRES THE WASHINGTON STATE
PATROL TO DEVELOP THE BEST
PRACTICE PROTOCOL FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE IN
RESPONSE TO THE MISSING REPORTS
OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
INDIAN AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE THE
WASHINGTON STATE AFFAIRS WITH
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
TRAINING.
THE BILL WAS SIGNED BY THE
GOVERNOR ON APRIL 24.
WHILE THIS LAW ISN'T PERFECT,
IT'S A GREAT STEP AND A
FOUNDATION TO BUILD FROM.
I'D LIKE TO ADD AND THANK CHIEF
CARMEN BEST WHO I HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH BEHIND THE SCENES
AS WELL AS OUR MAYOR, JENNY
DURKAN, WHO ARE WORKING WITH US
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
REPLICATE NOT ONLY WHAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DONE,
BUT THE STATE HAS DONE AS WE
MOVE FORWARD IN WHAT WE CALL
THIS DATA COLLECTION.
ALSO WHAT WE HAVE COINED AS THE
DECOLONIZATION OF DATA.
I INVITE MY COLLEAGUES AND
OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED FOR
THIS PRESENTATION.
AGAIN IT WILL BE JUNE 5 AT 2:00
IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
TODAY THIS MORNING WE ISSUED
THE IMMEDIATE ADVISORY TALKING
ABOUT THE REPORT, THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE BUILDING
ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BAGSHAW
AND I INTRODUCED AND PASSED
LAST YEAR DIRECTING THE CITY TO
APPROVE LAST YEAR.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS
KIND OF A PERENNIAL ISSUE WHERE
SOME OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS
COLLECTED INFORMATION, BUT A
LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS DID NOT
COLLECT INFORMATION ON NATIVE
AMERICANS.
SO WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
CHIEF BEST, AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IS STRATEGIZING AND
DOING THE SAME THING THAT THE
STATE AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS DOING, SO WE HAVE
MORE INTENSE.
I KNOW THIS WORD GETS USED A
LOT, ROBUST DATA COLLECTION,
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO
TO TARGET.
I THINK WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE THAT SEATTLE HAS THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF MISSING,
MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HOPE YOU JOIN US.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER PACHECO?
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> THERE WILL BE NO ITEMS ON
THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY.
OUR NEXT PLUS COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5.
WE'LL HAVE 11 AGENDA ITEMS.
SIX APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION.
A PROOFING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND
VOTE ON 119505 AND 119506.
A PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE
VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL 119489,
CHANGE TO SEATTLE PACIFIC
UNIVERSITY TO APPLY FOR AN
EXPANDED MASTER PLAN.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A LAND USE
DECISION TO ALLOW FURTHER
TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF THE
NORTH PRECINCT TO ADD PORTABLES
IN PARKING.
AND ANY POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE COUNCIL
BILL 119471, WHICH CLARIFIES
THE DEFINITION OF THE VESSEL.
I'M ALSO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
I'LL BE OPENING UP THE OFFICE
IN DISTRICT FOUR AT UNIVERSITY
HEIGHTS CENTER IN THE U
DISTRICT.
FOR MOST FRIDAYS FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE YEAR AND THEY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO
MY OFFICE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO
MEET WITH ME.
WE WILL BE HOSTING AN OPEN
HOUSE IN THAT DISTRICT SOME
TIME SOON, SO STAY TUNED FOR
THE DETAILS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> EXCITING, GOOD STUFF.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER BAGSHAW?
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
NICE TO SEE OUR BUSINESS FOLKS
HERE TOO.
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR
PRESENTATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER PACHECO,
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR OFFICE.
DO LET US KNOW WHEN YOU'RE OPEN
HOUSE WILL BE SO WE COULD BE
THERE FOR YOU.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING.
OF COURSE, I'LL BE AT THE
COMMITTEE TO HEAR ABOUT THE
MISSING WOMEN AND YOU'VE DONE
TREMENDOUS WORK, YOU AND
ABIGAIL AND COLLEEN AND OTHERS.
I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT
YOU'RE OUT ON FRONT OF THAT, SO
THANK YOU.
WE DO HAVE FIVE ITEMS FROM THE
FINANCE AND NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMITTEE TODAY.
FAIRLY EASY ONES FOR US.
THREE LANDMARK DESIGNATIONS,
SEATTLE TOWER, MOUNT BAKER
WASHINGTON'S PARENTING HALL,
AND WE ALSO HAVE REAPPOINTMENTS
OF MARBLES TO THE COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT COMMISSION AND ALSO
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
CHRISTOPHER MAKEHEAD.
SO THAT IS THIS AFTERNOON.
THE NEXT FINANCE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL BE
A WEEK FROM THIS WEDNESDAY ON
JUNE 12.
MOST OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO
BE FOCUSING ON BOBBY HUMES WHO
WILL BE OUR NEXT HOPEFUL
DIRECTOR OF THE HSD HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND ALSO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
AND SAY THANK YOU -- DID I GET
IT WRONG AGAIN?
>> HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
>> YES, THAT'S THE ONE.
I MISSED IT TWICE NOW.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
>> HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
HRD.
AND SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
AND SAY THANKS TO OUR QUEEN
ANNE COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND
UPTOWN ALLOWANCE SOUTH LAKE
UNION COMMUNITY COUNCIL,
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS.
SUSAN MCLAUGHLIN FROM SDOT AND
EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT AND
JOINED US LAST WEEK LOOKING AT
THOMAS STREET.
THIS IS REALLY A BIG DEAL TO
CONNECT SOUTH LAKE UNION, MAKE
SURE OUR SKATE PARK IS PREMIUM
AS WE HAD BUDGETED FOR IT LAST
BUDGET CYCLE TO MAKE THIS
SAFETY MEASURES AVAILABLE ALL
THE WAY FROM SOUTH LAKE UNION
TERRY STREET AND ALL THE WAY UP
TO AND ACROSS JOHN CONEY BRIDGE
AND THROUGH THE SEATTLE CENTER.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMING
TOGETHER, BUT THANKS TO THE
COMMUNITY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT
THEY ARE DOING AND FOR
ORGANIZING THIS RIDE LAST WEEK.
AND ALSO I WANT TO GIVE A
SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR CITY
PARK WORK.
MANY OF YOU KNOW LAST YEAR WE
BUDGETED MONEY FOR THE
CRESCENT, AT CITY HALL PARK AND
DOWN SECOND AVENUE.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE
OUR KING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
JUDGE WHO IS HAVE BEEN VERY
INVOLVED IN THIS.
AND ALSO ONCE AGAIN SDOT AND
PARKS, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENT.
WE REALLY ARE COMING TOGETHER
AND MAKING BIG STRIDES JUST TO
MAKE IT A HEALTHIER, SAFER
PARK.
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO OUR PIONEER
SQUARE PRESERVATION BOARD
AUTHORIZED OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT
TO TAKE OUT THE BENCHES, THE
CEMENT BENCHES THAT AREN'T ALL
THAT COMFORTABLE, BUT ADD A LOT
MORE TABLES AND CHAIR HADS
MAKING IT A WELCOMING PART FOR
EVERYBODY.
YOU'LL SEE CHANGES THERE WITH
OUR ART FACILITY AS WELL,
RANDY, THANKS FROM ARTS AND
CULTURE, WORKING WITH COLLEEN
ON PORTS AND SQUARES.
TREMENDOUS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I
FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE WILL
MOVE AT SPEEDS BUT THIS YEAR
OVER THE LAST YEAR IS MOVING
AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH ALL
THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AND JUST THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS HAD
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF THE
WORK THEY'RE DOING.
THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BAGSHAW?
>> THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
HOUSING HEALTH ENERGY AND
WORKERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE ON
TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK, JUNE 6,
AT 9:30 A.M., WE WILL HAVE AN
EXTENDED COMMITTEE MEETING THAT
WILL GO UNTIL NOON.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON
THE HOUSING HEALTH ENERGY AND
WORKERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE AGENDA
INCLUDING THE CITY SEATTLE
LIGHT REVIEW APPOINTMENT.
THREE APPOINTMENTS AT THE JOINT
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
THE NOTICE TO SELL PROOFING AND
DISCUSSION ON THAT LEGISLATION.
A POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE REZONE
AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
AS A REMINDER, THIS WILL BE THE
FIFTH TIME THIS COMMITTEE HAS
BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP.
AND THIS COMES AFTER 15 YEARS
OF ENGAGEMENT.
AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE
TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD WITH
THIS COUNCIL'S FULL APPROVAL
COMING SOON.
AND A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
PASSED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE
LAST YEAR TO HELP GET RID OF
THE RENT BIDDING PLATFORMS THAT
WERE ESCALATING THE COST OF
RENTAL UNITS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS
THERE IS A LUNCH AND LEARN, A
LITTLE BIT AFTER LUNCH.
SO YOU COULD EITHER BRING YOUR
LUNCH WITH YOU OR EAT
BEFOREHAND.
IT WILL BE AT 1:30 P.M.
WE ARE ACTUALLY HOSTING THIS AS
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
SO FEEL FREE TO JOIN US ONE AND
ALL.
IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE TO
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE HUMAN
PROVIDERS OF THE CITY.
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF OUR
EFFORTS FROM LAST YEAR AS MANY
OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
WE KNOW THE HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS ARE THE ONES WITH
DIRECT AND MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
RESIDENTS AND WHO ARE EITHER
HOMELESS ON THE VERGE OF
BECOMING HOMELESS OR WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WHO PROVIDE A VITAL AND WIDE
RANGING SET OF SERVICES TO THE
RESIDENTS AND THE CITY, RANGING
FROM THE SHELTER AND THE LEGAL
ASSISTANCE FOR SURVIVORS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SERVICES
FOR THOSE WHO IN SEATTLE ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
LAST YEAR WITH THIS COUNCIL'S
SUPPORT, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT
INTO THE BUDGET, ACROSS-THE-
BOARD INCREASE OF 2% FOR ALL
CONTRACTS, NOT JUST THOSE THAT
ARE GENERAL FUND.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS
INCREMENTAL ADJUSTMENT HAS
OCCURRED IN TEN YEARS FOR ALL
CONTRACTS.
THIS IS VERY INTERESTING IN
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ALL OF
YOU ESPECIALLY ON THE BUDGET TO
MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THAT
MOMENTUM AND THAT WE APPLY AN
ADJUSTMENT TO ALL OF OUR
CONTRACTS.
GIVEN THAT WE KNOW THE HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE WORKING
100 HOURS A WEEK.
SOME ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME
HOUSING SERVICES AND THE CLIENT
SERVICES THAT MANY OF THEIR
HOMELESS CLIENTS ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR.
SOME ARE LIVING IN THEIR CARS,
SOME ARE HOLDING SECOND JOBS.
IN ORDER FOR US TO STABILIZE
AND CREATE GREATER SECURITY FOR
THOSE WHO ARE IN VERY
VULNERABLE SITUATIONS AND
PRECURIOUS SITUATIONS
THEMSELVES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE REDUCE
TURNOVERS AND VACANCY RATES.
AND IN OUR HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS ORGANIZATION.
SO AN EFFORT TO CREATE GREATER
STABILITY, NOT JUST FOR THAT
WORK FORCE AND ORGANIZATION,
BUT FOR THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY CONTINUE
TO TEE OFF THE CONVERSATIONS
COMING FOR LATER THIS YEAR IN
BUDGET.
COMING UP THIS WEEK ON
THURSDAY, I'LL BE ATTENDING THE
KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT
RESOURCE CENTER OF THE 2019
LEGISLATIVE VICTORY CELEBRATION
FROM 4:30 TO 6:00.
ON FRIDAY I'LL BE DOING A
WALKING TOUR WITH SOME OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD
GREENWAYS.
AND ALSO TOURING A RECENT DATA
CONSTRUCTION AND REALLY EXCITED
TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO
HAVE THAT LIVING SPACE THAT IS
IN MORE DENSE QUARTERS.
TO BE A PART OF OUR
CONSTRUCTION HOPEFULLY KNOCK ON
WOOD COMING UP SOON THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
I WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING AT THE
NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES
20-YEAR CELEBRATION, WHICH
STARTS AT 5:30 P.M.
AT THE IMPACT HUB.
YOU CAN GET TICKETS ONLINE
STILL.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE SOLD
OUT YET.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NORTHWEST
HEALTH ADVOCATES WHO I HAVE
WORKED WITH MAYBE 15 YEARS NOW.
EVERYTHING FROM APPLE HEALTH
FOR KIDS AND TO ACA
IMPLEMENTATION AND TO THE
EXCHANGE AND MORE.
THEY'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB
AND SHE'S MY GO-TO HEALTH
POLICY GURU.
VERY EXCITED TO CELEBRATE HER
AND THE HEALTH ADVOCATES AND
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE
LAST 20 YEARS.
LASTLY ERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
MY LITTLE SISTER WHO IS TURNING
35 TODAY.
AND SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MS
AT 19, SO THIS YEAR IS HER 16th
YEAR ANNIVERSARY, NOT JUST
SURVIVING, BUT THRIVING.
SHE'S HAD A ROUGH BEGINNING
PART OF THE YEAR.
AND SO I KNOW SHE'S NOT
INTERESTED IN CELEBRATING RIGHT
NOW, BUT WE'RE INTERESTED IN
CELEBRATING HER.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LITTLE
SISTER, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA,
YOUR LUNCH AND LEARN IS JUNE 6
AT 1:30?
>> YES.
>> VERY GOOD.
EXCELLENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT
TO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR HAVING THE
FORESIGHT TO WORK ON THE ISSUE
OF THE COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS FOR PROVIDERS IN
ADVANCE OF BUDGET.
IT IS ALWAYS A STRUGGLE TRYING
TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE WITHIN
THE CONTEXT OF BUDGETS, BUT BY
YOU LEADING THE COUNCIL, JUST
TO SET THE POLICY IN ADVANCE AT
THE BUDGET, WHICH SHOWS GREAT
WISDOM.
>> THANK YOU, THANKS FOR ALL
YOUR WORK.
>> AND SO I HAVE NO ITEMS ON
THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA THIS
WEEK BECAUSE OF LAST WEEK'S
HOLIDAY.
MY COMMITTEE MEETING MOVED TO
FRIDAY AND COUNCIL RULES ARE
THINGS THAT COME OUT OF
COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY INCLUDING
OUR NEW DIRECTORS APPOINTMENT
MOVE TO THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.
AS FAR AS ITEMS ON MY COMMITTEE
MEETING COMING UP, THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ARTS COMMITTEE HAS A
SPECIAL MEETING.
AND PUBLIC HEARING TOMORROW
EVENING AT 5:30 ON COUNCIL BILL
119504.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO
EXTEND THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
ORDINANCE 125650 BY SIX MONTHS.
THIS IS THE ORDINANCE THAT
COUNCIL ADOPTED TO TEMPORARILY
EXTEND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORIC
DISTRICT TO INCLUDE THE SHOW
BOX.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL ALLOW THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO
CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WAS
DESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE THAT
WE PASSED LAST YEAR.
THE CENTRAL STAFF MEMO, WHICH
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO
REVIEW IT, I COULD CERTAINLY
SHARE IT.
NOTES THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS EXPECTS THEIR
CONSULTANTS WILL COMPLETE MUCH
OF THE WORK NEEDED TO DEVELOP
SOME PRELIMINARY
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
BY THE END OF JUNE.
AND IF THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
IS FOR PERMANENT EXPANSION,
THEY WOULD FOLLOW THAT
RECOMMENDATION.
THIS MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS
RECEIVED A JOINT LETTER OF
SUPPORT FOR THIS TEMPORARY
EXPANSION FROM COALITION
INCLUDING FRIENDS OF THE
MARKET, PIKE PLACE MARKET
FOUNDATION, HISTORIC SEATTLE,
FRIENDS OF THE SHOW BOX, RISE
UP, FISHER STUDIO BUILDING,
HOA, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION,
AND FRIENDS OF HISTORIC BELL
TOWN.
SOME OF THESE GROUPS DID NOT
TAKE A POSITION ON THE EARLIER
LEGISLATION.
THEY ARE AT THIS TIME
SUPPORTING THE TEMPORARY
EXTENSION.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE ALSO READ
ABOUT THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY
IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE OWNERS
REPRESENTATIVES OVER THE LAST
FEW MONTHS.
THE OWNERS REPRESENTATIVES
APPROACHED MYSELF TO PROPOSE A
STANDSTILL AGREEMENT AS IT
RELATED TO THE ONGOING LAWSUIT.
I THINK IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY
THE NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THAT
STANDSTILL AGREEMENT ARE AT A
STANDSTILL.
AND SO ONE OF THE PIECES I
THINK RELEVANT INFORMATION IF
THIS DISCUSSION ALSO FOLKS
MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING
THERE IS ALSO THIS WEEK, A
SEPARATE HEARING ON A SEPARATE
EFFORT TO ACTUALLY LANDMARK THE
PROPERTY AND THAT IS ACTUALLY
GOING TO BE MY PUBLIC HEARING
IS ON TUESDAY, THE LANDMARK
PUBLIC HEARING IS ON WEDNESDAY.
SO LOTS OF BUSINESS RELATED TO
THE SHOW BOX GOING THIS WEEK.
AND THEN LASTLY I HAVE WATER
QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING THIS
WEEK, EXCITING.
AND I WILL SAVE MY REMARKS TO
INTRODUCE THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADVISORY COUNCIL WHEN
APPROPRIATE THEN.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.
>>> COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ?
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA.
ONE IS RELATED TO THE EQUITY
SAFE COMMITTEE'S NEW AMERICAN
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE
OTHER IS WITH REGARDS TO THE
SELECT MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY.
SO THE FIRST ITEM ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA IS BEE'S
LAW, AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE'S PAID FAMILY CARE
LEAVE PROGRAM TO AMEND CERTAIN
SECTIONS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO
CITY EMPLOYEES WHO GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF HAVING A CHILD
AND THEN TO HAVE A CHILD PASS
AWAY SHORTLY AFTER THE TIME OF
THEIR BIRTH.
THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL
SITUATION, BUT A REAL LIFE
EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED TO ONE OF OUR OWN CITY
EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE DOING THIS AS A FOLLOW
UP TO THE HARD WORK AND COURAGE
OF AARON AND RACHEL WHO CAME
FORWARD TO PROTECT THEIR UNION
AND TO CITY LEADERS TO ADVISE
US ON THE FACT THERE IS A GAP
IN OUR PAID FAMILY CARE
POLICIES THAT DID NOT ALLOW
THEM TO TAKE THE PAID FAMILY
LEAVE AS A RESULT OF THE DEATH
OF THEIR DAUGHTER, WHICH
OCCURRED 36 HOURS AFTER HER
BIRTH.
OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT
SOMETHING THAT WE TOOK INTO
ACCOUNT WHEN WE INITIALLY
LEGISLATED THIS POLICY IN 2016.
AND WE ARE NOW TAKING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THAT GAP
INTO ENSURING THAT FUTURE
EMPLOYEES AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THE
HARD CHOICE ABOUT COMING BACK
TO WORK OR SORTING OUT AFFAIRS
AS A RESULT OF THE IMMEDIATE
LOSS OF A NEWBORN CHILD.
AND SO REALLY WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA WHO HAS
BEEN WORKING WITH US ON THIS
ISSUE AND WITH THE ELDERS ON
THE ISSUE.
SPECIAL SHOUT OUT GOES TO PARIQ
WHO HAS BEEN ENGAGING WITH A
FAMILY OVER A YEAR NOW DOING
CASE MANAGEMENT WORKS.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
THE ELDERS WITH US THIS
AFTERNOON.
I UNDERSTAND THEY WILL BE WITH
US AND THEY PLAN TO BRING THEIR
SUPPORTERS WITH US, WITH THEM
TO CHAMBERS AND REAL EXCITED
ABOUT BEING ABLE TO TAKE THIS
FINAL ACTION AND IT IS A REALLY
GOOD ENDING TO A TRAGIC SET OF
CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR
COMMITMENT TO ALLOWING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THIS,
THIS PARTICULAR GAP.
THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
ISSUE IS FROM THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON MANDATORY, ON THE
CITY WIDE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM.
MOST OF YOU WERE IN ATTENDANCE,
IF NOT ALL WERE IN ATTENDANCE
LAST WEEK DURING THE SELECT
COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE HAD
ON MHA.
WE HEARD A BRIEFING FROM THE
STAFF PROVIDING US AN UPDATE ON
THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS THAT
ARE REQUIRED TO THE CITY WIDE
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ORDINANCE
TO MAKE SURE THE MAPS THAT ARE
ATTACHED TO THE ORDINANCE WILL
ALIGN WITH COUNCIL'S INTENT IN
TERMS OF THE AMOUNT THAT
DEVELOPERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO
PAY IN EXCHANGE FOR ADDITIONAL
CAPACITY AND ALSO SOME
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE
LANGUAGE OF THE CODE AND TO
AGAIN ACCURATELY REFLECT THE
PREVIOUS POLICY DECISIONS THAT
THE COUNCIL MADE WHEN WE
SWIRLLY PASSED THIS ORDINANCE.
SO THIS ORDINANCE IS HIGHLY
TECHNICAL THAT WERE ADVANCED
OUT OF THE COMMITTEE THIS
AFTERNOON AND I'M EXCITED TO
PUT THAT ONE TO BED.
NEXT I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY
COVER SOME EVENTS THAT I WILL
BE DOING LATER ON THIS WEEK IN
COMMUNITY TOMORROW, TUESDAY,
JUNE 4. I'LL BE SPENDING MOST
OF THE DAY IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I WILL BE DOING A TOUR, BE
TOURING THEIR AMAZING THEATER
AND CHATTING WITH THEM, WHICH
IS ONE OF THEIR MAJOR COMMUNITY
INITIATIVES, REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT LEARNING MORE ON THAT.
I WILL THEN HEAD OVER TO THE
SHELTERS.
IT'S A TEMPORARY SHELTER
OPERATED BY THE COMMUNITY
SERVICES.
STAFF WORKS TO OBTAIN HEALTH
AND PARENT TRAINING AND
ASSISTANCE TOWARDS FINDING
PERMANENT AND HOUSING TO TOUR
THAT FACILITY.
MEETING WITH THE GOOD FOLKS
OVER AT UPTOWN ALLOWANCE.
AND UPTOWN ARTS AND CULTURE
COALITION.
TO CHAT ABOUT NEW ARENA
CONSTRUCTION AND THE UPTOWN'S
ART DISTRICT AND WHATEVER ELSE
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT.
AND THE CLUB CHARITY, AND FOR
THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW IT
IS A SEATTLE NON-PROFIT
TEMPORARY STAFFING AGENCY
CONNECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I'M EXCITED TO TOUR THEIR
SPACE, LEARNING A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO,
WHICH INCLUDES HELPING PEOPLE
OVERCOME BARRIERS BY PROVIDING
JOB TRAINING MEALS, VISION
SERVICES, COACHING, AND MORE.
ALL OF THAT ON TUESDAY.
ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, I'M
EXCITED TO HEAD UP TO DISTRICT
FIVE TO MEET UP WITH A GROUP OF
LATIN PARENTS FROM THE NORTH
GATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO CHAT
ABOUT EDUCATION AND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT ENTIRELY IN
LANGUAGE.
AND SO WE WILL BE CONVENING
WITH BILINGUAL PARENTS TO TALK
ABOUT SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION
AND THE THRIVING OF THEIR
CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SYSTEMS.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT MEETING
WITH THE GROUP OF PARENTS IN
NORTH GATE DISTRICT FIVE, JUST
THOUGHT I WOULD SAY IT AGAIN.
SHE'S NOT LISTENING.
[ LAUGHTER ] THURSDAY, JUNE
6, EXCITED TO BE HEADING OVER
TO THE FISHERS PAVILION TO JOIN
THE CHILDREN FOR THEIR ANNUAL
LUNCHEON.
LATER ON THAT AFTERNOON,LY ALSO
BE AT THE KING COUNTY SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND RESOURCE CENTER
EVENT THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT THE
2019 LEGISLATIVE WINS.
I'M PROUD TO BE ON THE ADVISORY
CABINET FOR THE KING COUNTY
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RESOURCE
CENTER.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT DOING A
REVIEW OF ALL THE WONDERFUL
THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH FOR THIS LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION INCLUDING
THE ELIMINATION OF THE STATUE
OF O CHILD SEX ABUSE CRIMES,
ENSURING BETTER ACCESS TO
SEXUAL ASSAULT PROTECTION
ORDERS AND EXPEDITING TESTING
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT JOINING
THOSE FOLKS ON THURSDAY AS
WELL.
AND THEN LASTLY ON FRIDAY, JUNE
7, JUST WANTED TO GIVE FOLKS A
REMINDER THAT FRIDAY IS GUN
VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY.
BELIEVE IT'S THE 7th ANNUAL GUN
VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO
WEAR ORANGE TO RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND HONOR
THE LIVES OF THOSE LOST DUE TO
GUN VIOLENCE.
OF COURSE, WE ARE SITTING HERE
TODAY IN THE AFTERMATH OF YET
ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING AND
ANOTHER SERIES OF SHOOTINGS IF
OUR OWN CITY AS A RESULT OF GUN
VIOLENCE.
IT SEEMS HOPEFULLY FOR ALL OF
US TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
SOME GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS
EVENTS AND IN A DAY OF
REMEMBRANCE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 7.
WE WILL ALSO BE PRESENTING A
PROCLAMATION.
I'M GOING TO CIRCULATE IT TO
FOLKS.
THIS WAS SENT OUT ON FRIDAY.
WE CONFIRMED WITH YOUR OFFICES
THAT YOU ALL WANT TO SIGN ON TO
IT.
I WILL CIRCULATE WITH IT NOW.
WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE SOME OF
THE ADVOCATES IN CHAMBERS WITH
US THIS AFTERNOON.
WE WILL BE SURE TO DELIVER THE
PROCLAMATION TO THOSE FOLKS IN
DUE ORDER.
THAT'S THE PROCLAMATION I'M
CIRCULATING NOW.
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS
WITH REGARD TO GUN VIOLENCE
AWARENESS DAY, THERE WILL BE A
BIG DAY OF ACTION THIS SUNDAY,
JUNE 9. IT IS CALLED WEAR
ORANGE GREATER SEATTLE RALLY
AND I-90 BRIDGE WALK.
IT IS BEING ORGANIZED BY MANY
OF OUR GOOD FRIENDS INCLUDING
MOMS DEMAND ACTION, ZERO
U.S.A., EVERY TOWN SURVIVAL
NETWORK, MARCH FOR OUR LIVES
SEATTLE, STUDENTS DEMAND
ACTION, ALLIANCE FOR GUN
RESPONSIBILITY, BRADY CAMPAIGN,
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND
MANY, MANY MORE.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED,
WE'LL BE POSTING THIS
INFORMATION ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA
NETWORK.
BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE FOLKS A
QUICK VERBAL SENSE OF THE
DETAILS.
THIS WILL BE SUNDAY, JUNE 9,
2019.
FOLKS WILL BE MEETING AT THE
SAM SMITH PARK AT THE URBAN
PEACE CIRCLE AT 1400 MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. WAY SOUTH.
THE RALLY BEGINS AT 10:00 A.M.
NEAR THE URBAN PEACE CIRCLE
SCULPTURE IN SAM SMITH PARK.
AND THEN THE WALK ON THE I-90
BRIDGE BEGINS AT 11:00 A.M.
AGAIN THEY ARE ENCOURAGING
FOLKS TO WEAR ORANGE ON THAT
DAY IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING.
THEY ARE EXPECTING HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE TO SHOW UP.
THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL AGENDA
SET UP OF SPEAKERS INCLUDING
OUR VERY OWN U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SEVENTH
AND REPRESENTATIVE DR. KIM
SCHRIER.
REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU
THAT COULD GO TO ATTEND.
UNFORTUNATELY I WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO BE THERE ON SUNDAY MUCH
TO MY REGRET.
BUT IT'S FOR A GOOD REASON
BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TAKE A
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND
SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MY
NEPHEW, WHO IS GRADUATING FROM
HIGH SCHOOL ON SATURDAY FROM
GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL.
MY ALMA MATER AS WELL.
AND HEADING OVER TO CENTRAL
WASHINGTON TO GRANDVIEW TO BOTH
ENJOY THE SUN AND THE 80 PLUS
DEGREE WEATHER.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO WITNESS
THE GREAT OCCASION OF HAVING MY
FOURTH NEPHEW GRADUATE FROM
HIGH SCHOOL.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT CELEBRATING
THAT ACHIEVEMENT.
>> AS YOU SHOULD BE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN?
>> THANK YOU.
THERE IS NOTHING ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA IN THE
SUSTAINABILITY TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE.
WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING
TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
JUST TWO ITEMS ON THAT AGENDA.
ONE IS APPOINTMENT TO THE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD AND
THE SECOND IS WE WILL GET A
BRIEFING ON STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT WE PUT
OUT LAST YEAR AROUND EMERGING
TECHNOLOGY AND MOBILITY
OPTIONS.
JUST AS A REMINDER IT WAS 35-A-
1 AND WE ASK THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO
COME BACK WITH A SURVEY OF
ANTICIPATED NEW MOBILITY
OPTIONS LIKE SCOOTERS, TRANSIT
PODS, AND OTHER NON-MOTORIZED
VEHICLES.
WE ASKED FOR AN EVALUATION OF
OTHER CITIES EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
THESE PRIVATE EMERGING
INVESTMENTS.
AND A STRATEGY TO INTEGRATE
THESE OPTIONS INTO THE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IN A
SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE MATTER
INCLUDING UTILIZING BIKE LANES
FOR THESE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION.
JUST WANT TO FLAG A COUPLE
OTHER THINGS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC
HEARING A WEAK FROM TOMORROW.
JUST A HEADS UP.
THAT'S ON THE BACKYARD COTTAGE
AND IN-LAW LEGISLATION OR ADUs.
THAT WILL BE STARTING HERE AT
5:30 IN CHAMBERS ON TUESDAY,
JUNE 11.
SO WE ARE EXPECTING A PRETTY
GOOD TURNOUT FOR THAT.
HOPE SOME OF YOU COULD MAKE IT.
BE PREPARED FOR A COUPLE OF
HOURS IN THAT MEETING.
A REMINDER ON THE ADU
LEGISLATION, THE GOAL WOULD BE
BACK ON JUNE 18.
MY HOPE IS PEOPLE WILL BE READY
TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON
AMENDMENTS ON JUNE 18 AND
POTENTIALLY VOTE THAT BILL OUT
OF COMMITTEE ON THE 18th.
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
LET'S HAVE OUR GUESTS COME UP
FOR THE COUNCIL BRIEFING.
WE COULD ACTUALLY GET MORE
CHAIRS IF WE NEED TO.
THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.
OKAY.
ONCE EVERYONE GETS SETTLED, I
ASK THAT YOU PUSH THE GRAY
BUTTON, SHOWS THE GREEN LIGHT
IS ON AND BRING THE MICS CLOSER
TO YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING IT TOO
CLOSELY.
BEFORE WE DO INTRODUCTIONS,
I'LL ASK COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
TO TEE THE ISSUE UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO FIRST START OFF WITH
RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT ONE
OF THE MAYORS FIRST ACTION AS
MAYOR OF THE CITY WAS CONVENING
THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY
COUNCIL.
DURING CAN
>> AND IDENTIFYING WHAT HER TOP
PRIORITIES ARE IN ADDITION TO
THE ITEMS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
IDENTIFIED AS THEIR PRIORITIES.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK
ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS,
CREATING A PACKET FOR NEW
BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THE
WELCOMING PACKET AS I
UNDERSTAND IT IS USEFUL FOR
EXISTING BUSINESSES AS WELL.
YOU'RE ALSO WORKING ON TAKING A
LOOK AT SOME OF OUR BNO TAX
STRUGGLES THAT WE TALK ABOUT
THE TAXATION SYSTEM AND THIN
CLOUDS THE IMPACT ON TAXES ON
SMALL BUSINESSES.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
TO THE MAYOR FOR HER
RECONVENING OF THE CITY WIDE
BUSINESS.
IT IS A TECHNICAL SIDE THAT
WILL EXIST TO TIE THE EFFORTS
OF THE DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE
CITY AND TO ACT AS ADVOCATES
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AS THEY
WOULD TRY TO NAVIGATE VARIOUS
CITY SYSTEMS.
THAT IS JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW
AND TO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING AND EAGER TO LEARN
MORE AND EXPOSE YOUR EFFORTS,
BOTH TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE
AND GENERALLY TO THE PUBLIC AND
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THAT INTRODUCTION.
AS WE DO INTRODUCTIONS, BOBBY
LEE, MAYBE INTRODUCE, ELABORATE
A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR
INTRODUCTION.
I THINK YOU MET WITH MOST OF
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THE
PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW.
HE WAS ELECTED HIMSELF IN
ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
BUT MAYBE ELABORATE A LITTLE
BIT ON YOUR BACKGROUND IF YOU
DON'T MIND.
SORRY TO PUT YOU UP ON THE SPOT
LIKE THAT.
>> OH NO, I'M USED TO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE
HERE.
JUST MOVED HERE FROM THE CITY
OF PORTLAND.
I SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR FOR
PORTLAND.
PRIOR TO THAT I SERVED FOR
TWGOVERNORS.
I WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
IN THE SEMI CONDUCTOR
MANUFACTURING FIELD.
A LOT OF THE MEMORY CHIPS ON
YOUR iPADS AND YOUR PHONES CAME
FROM THAT COMPANY.
AND PRIOR TO THAT I WORK FOR A
NON-PROFIT THAT DELIVERED
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
SO I STARTED AS A CASE MANAGER
AND MOVED ON UP, BUT IT IS
SIMILAR TO THE WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT HERE FOR PORTLAND.
THEN PRIOR TO THAT AS BRUCE
MENTIONED, I ALSO SERVED ON THE
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEAR THE
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, ONE OF
THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CITIES IN
OREGON.
I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK IN THE
FIELD THAT YEAR AND NOW,
DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC ISSUES.
VERY CHALLENGING ISSUES THAT
YOU'RE ALL DEALING WITH.
I'M FAMILIAR.
WITH THAT PRODUCTION, I ALSO
WANT TO MENTION THAT I AM FROM
A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.
I MOVED HERE FROM KOREA WHEN I
WAS 15.
SO I BRING THAT EXPERIMENT AS
WELL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PROCEED
FROM HERE?
>> HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO
PROCEED.
>> OKAY, I'LL INTRODUCE AND
KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT BECAUSE
WE ONLY HAVE 30 MINUTES.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS
AROUND SMALL BUSINESSES THESE
DAYS, SO I WILL KEEP MY
COMMENTS SHORT.
BUT I LIKE TO IS INTRODUCE OUR
PRISTINE THREE COCHAIRS WHO
HAVE BEEN LEADING THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE DONNA MOODIE,
THEMARJORIE RESTAURANT AND THEN
TAYLOR HOANG WITH TAYLOR HOANG
RESTAURANT.
AND ALSO WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD WHO SERVES AS WELL AS
TRACY TAYLOR.
AND VERY ACTIVE.
THE DIVERSITY OF ISSUES THAT
THEY WOULD FACE IS JUST
ENDLESS.
TO HAVE FOLKS WHO LIVE THE DAY
THEY EXPERIENCE WILL LEAD THIS
CHARGE.
IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR THE
COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THREE OF
YOU.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GET PAID A
LOT TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE, BUT
THEY ARE TAKING IT VERY
SERIOUSLY.
NOT ONLY DID THEY TAKE IT
SERIOUSLY, BUT WHAT I FOUND,
THERE ARE VERY INTERESTING
PEOPLE AND FUN FOLKS.
SOME DAY I PREDICT THERE WILL
BE A CABLE SHOW ABOUT THESE
THREE RUNNING THE INTERESTING
ISSUE.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DONNA WHO
WILL KICK US OFF, IS THAT
RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
AND OVER A YEAR AGO THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL WAS
FORMED.
AS CO-CHAIRS WITH TRACY AND
TAYLOR AND ALSO JOE WHO IS NOT
HERE TODAY AS HE IS RECOVERING
FROM PNEUMONIA.
BUT HE'S KEY COCHAIR FOR US.
HE'S GOT SOME REALLY GREAT
OPINIONS.
WE ALL KIND OF COME FROM THE
STANDPOINT OF APPRECIATING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE
SMALLBUSINESSES A VOICE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO WAY IN ON
THE POLICIES AND DECISIONS THAT
AFFECT US GREATLY AND ALSO JUST
TO EXPLAIN TO THE CITY HOW
IMPORTANT WE ARE.
IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT 95% OF
SEATTLE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE
SMALL BUSINESSES.
EMPLOYING LESS THAN 50 PEOPLE.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN
THEY THINK OF SEATTLE THEY
THINK OF THE BIG NAME BRAND
BUSINESSES THAT DOMINATE THE
STORY.
BUT THERE IS QUITE A FEW
SMALLER BUSINESSES THAT WILL
MAKE UP THE FABRIC OF SEATTLE
AND FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT AND
KEEP THEM SUSTAINABLE IS A KEY
DRIVING FORCE OF OUR BUSINESS.
TAYLOR WILL TALK ABOUT THE
SPECIFICS.
JUST TO SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT, ZERO.
WE DON'T GET PAID.
WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR PARKING,
BUT WE WILL SEE.
SO THANK YOU.
AND SO AFTER THE MAYOR
CONVENED, THERE'S ABOUT 23 OF
US ON THE COUNCIL WITH
REPRESENTATION FROM DIFFERENT
DISTRICTS.
AND FROM DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING THE MEETINGS AND
BEING THERE FOR US.
WE WORKED WITH OVER THE COURSE
OF A NUMBER OF MONTHS.
WE WORK WITH SEATTLE LIGHT TO
DEFINE WHAT THE STRATEGIES AND
GOALS OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
AND THERE ARE MANY MONTHS OF
DISCUSSIONS, WORKING THROUGH A
LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS.
WE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THREE
STRATEGIES IN WHICH WE WANTED
TO, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY
COUNCIL WOULD BE WORKING ON
MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE DETAIL TO
STUDY THE IMPACT OF THE
POLICIES AND THE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THE SECOND WAS TO AMPLIFY SMALL
BUSINESS NARRATIVES.
AND THE THIRD WAS TO PROVIDE
MORE SUPPORT TO THE SMALL
BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY.
AND THEN WE TOOK IT FURTHER AND
DEFINED EACH OF THE STRATEGIES
INTO A TASK.
WHAT DO WE WANT FOR THOSE
TASKS?
AND SO UNDER THE FIRST
STRATEGY, WHICH IS STUDY
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF
THE POLICIES, THE FIRST TASK
WAS TO RESEARCH AND DEFINE THE
CRITERIA FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT POLICIES AND
RECOLLECTIONS, GIVING DIFFERENT
SIDES, WHICH IS VERY CONFUSING.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OVERLAP,
BUT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR A SMOOTH
TRANSITION, SO THE GOAL OF THAT
WAS TO RECOMMEND THE DEFINITION
OR CRITERIA FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THEN THE SECOND TASK TO CREATE
A LIST AND A REVIEW OF THE CITY
POLICIES AND THE TAXES FOR
SMALL BUSINESS.
THE GOAL OF THAT WAS NOT TO
CHANGE THE EXISTING POLICIES,
BUT TO ENFORCE THE ADJUSTMENTS
THAT WE COULD KNOW WHAT THESE
POLICIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS,
HOW ARE THEY EFFECTIVE AND HOW
ARE THEY RELEVANT TO HOW WE RAN
OUR BUSINESSES, MAKE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THAT.
THEN THE FOURTH TASK WAS TO,
THE THIRD ONE IS TO ASSESS AND
ANALYZE THE PROCEDURES AND
PROCESSES BY VARIOUS CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE WE ARE MEETING
WITH THE SEATTLE OF DEPARTMENT
AND INSPECTION.
THIS COMING MONTH.
IT WAS THE REASON FOR THESE
MEETINGS, TO ASSESS THE CITY
SYSTEMS IMPACT ON SMALL
BUSINESS.
ON THE ONGOING BASIS AND HOW
THESE PERMITTING AND, YOU KNOW,
WEATHER PERMITTING,
INSPECTIONS, HOW THEY AFFECT
THE SMALL BUSINESS AND THE
TENTATIVE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THE STRATEGY IS TO AMPLIFY
THE SMALL BUSINESS NARRATIVE BY
DONNA MOODIE'S BUSINESS IS MADE
UP OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND SO WE WANTED TO AMPLIFY AND
IDENTIFY MESSAGES AND KEY
POINTS THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESSES AND SHARE
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
ECONOMY AND THE CITY.
AND THE THIRD ONE WAS REALLY
ABOUT BRINGING MORE SUPPORT FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
REACTIVATING THE CITY BUSINESS
ADVOCACY TEAM AS COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD MENTIONED.
AND CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING
THE COMMERCIAL AFFORDABILITY
TOOL KITS.
AND TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES,
TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THEY ARE
ABLE TO AFFORD THE RISING COST
AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
AND THEN THE FOURTH TASK WAS TO
CREATE A WELCOMING PACKET AND
THE FOURTH ONE WAS TO CREATE A
WEBSITE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES,
WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BRING
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PERMITTING
QUESTIONS, AND TO OBTAIN THEIR
INFORMATION.
ALL OF THIS WAS WITH THE GOAL
TO CONNECT EXISTING AND NEW
BUSINESSES WITH ONGOING
RESOURCES WITHIN THE CITY.
AND THEN ALL OF THIS WAS
SEPTEMBER TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
I BELIEVE AS WELL AS COUNCIL
FOR RECOMMENDATION.
AND SOME OF THESE ARE BEING
WORKED ON RIGHT NOW AND THEN
SOME OF THEM ARE ONGOING
PROCESSES THAT WE'RE WORKING
THROUGH.
TRACY CAN SHARE WITH YOU A
LITTLE MORE.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
AND FOR A SMALL BUSINESS
WELCOME PACKET.
THE TEAM, THE CITY TAXES AND
THE FEES STUDY.
AND THE SMALL WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES.
JUST A LITTLE UPDATE AS TAYLOR
TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
SMALL BUSINESS WELCOME PACKET
UPDATE THAT WE'RE HOPING TO BE
PHYSICAL AND WEBSITE AVAILABLE
IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
THERE HAS BEEN A GROUP AND
TAYLOR HAS BEEN WORKING WITH
THE OED TO PUT THAT FORWARD IN
DRAFT PROCESS AT THIS POINT.
WE FOUND THAT A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, DON'T KNOW WHERE TO
TURN WHEN THEY WANT TO OPEN.
THEY NEED INFORMATION.
TRYING TO GET ALL THAT
INFORMATION TOGETHER IN ONE
PACKET IS THE GENERAL IDEA.
WE'VE ALSO AS A SMALL BUSINESS
ADVISORY COUNCIL PUT TOGETHER A
MONTHLY SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN DOING, THE WORK THAT HAS
BEEN GOING ON, WHAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING IN OUR MEETINGS.
WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THAT OUT TO
THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY
COUNCIL.
WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO FURTHER
PUT THAT OUT INTO THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, SO THEY
COULD GET UPDATES ON WHAT SBAC
IS DOING AS WELL.
WE'VE WORKED ON ESTABLISHING
SBAC AS COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
MENTIONED OR REESTABLISHING
SBAC, SO THERE IS ONE CENTRAL
PLACE YOU COULD GO TO AS A
SMALL BUSINESS WHEN YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS.
CALLING THE DEPARTMENT, NOT
KNOWING WHO TO REACH IS
EXTREMELY OVERWHELMING WHEN
YOU'RE TRYING TO OPEN A
BUSINESS OR RUN A BUSINESS.
WE HAD SOMEONE PRESENT IN OUR
LAST MEETING, TALKING ABOUT HOW
HIS STREET GOT SHUT DOWN.
THERE WAS PSC WORK GOING ON,
CONSTRUCTION WORK GOING ON.
A SNOWSTORM, THE SNOW GOT
PLOWED IN.
ALL THE STREETS WERE
BARRICADED.
NONE OF THE CUSTOMERS ON ANY OF
THOSE BUSINESSES COULD GET TO
THE BUSINESSES.
ALL DONE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE.
SO THE QUESTION WAS WHO DO YOU
CALL WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
ENGAGED AROUND YOUR BUSINESS.
SO WE'RE DOING CONTINUED WORK
ON THAT.
THERE'S A CITY TAXES AND FEES
STUDY WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
TOGETHER.
WORKING WITH SDOT, LOOK INTO
BNO TAXES, TO REUSE AND
PERMITTING FEES, WE ARE
DRAFTING A REPORT OF THOSE,
WHICH WE HOPE TO HAVE IN MID
JULY.
AND THEN WE WORKED ON THE SMALL
BUSINESS WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
THE SURVEY WAS PUT OUT TO SMALL
BUSINESSES ABOUT HIRING NEEDS.
THAT SURVEY CLOSED ON MAY 1.
THERE WERE 72 RESPONSES IN THE
OED AND THEY HAVE BEEN REACHING
OUT BY THE PHONE CALL TO TALK
TO OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES TO
SORT OF FURTHER THAT NARRATIVE.
THERE WILL BE A DRAFT OF
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL MOVE
AROCK TO SBAC PROBABLY WITHIN
THE NEXT MONTH.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
>> LET ME KNOW.
IS THAT THE CLOSE OF THE FORMAL
PRESENTATION, SO WE SHOULD JUST
MAKE IT UP AS WE GO WITH SOME
Q&A?
OKAY, VERY GOOD.
I MISSED THE PART WHERE HOW BIG
HAS THE COUNCIL BEEN, HOW MANY
MEMBERS ARE THERE?
YOU'RE THE FOUR COACHES.
>> ABOUT 23 MEMBERS, FOUR
COCHAIRS.
>> TWO MEMBERS FROM COUNCIL.
>> AND THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD
CHAMBERS OVERCOMES HOW DO THEY
GET INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU'RE
DOING OR ARE YOU SEEING MORE?
IS THERE SOME INNER PLAY
BETWEEN THE OTHER SORT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE OF SMALL
BUSINESSES?
CAN YOU ELABORATE?
>> WE HAD ACTUALLY LAST WEEK
OUR FIRST MEETING WITH THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE
INCLUDING ALL THE CHAMBER OF
BUSINESSES.
AND YOU KNOW WE WERE NOT ABLE
TO HAVE THIS MEETING UNTIL
ABOUT LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
LOT OF OUR -- THE FIRST YEAR
WAS JUST WORKING THROUGH A LOT
OF OUR, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURE
GOALS AND STRATEGIES, AND THEN
AS WE'RE GETTING THE WORK PLAN
MOVED ALONG, WE BROUGHT IN THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY LAST WEEK
AND ENGAGED WITH THEM, SHARED
WITH THEM THE SAME PRESENTATION
AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS.
IT WILL BE A PROCESS IN GOING
FORWARD THAT WE'LL HAVE REGULAR
MEETINGS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CHAMBERS FORD TO KEEP EVERYONE
INFORMED.
YES.
>> JUST TO CAME IN ON THAT AS
WELL.
MOST OF THE MEMBERS ARE
INVOLVED IF THEIR BIAs OR THEIR
LOCAL CHAMBERS.
SO I THINK THE IDEA IN REACHING
OUT, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT
DISTRICTS AND THE AREAS AND THE
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE
SBAC WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
ARE INFORMING THEIR COMMUNITIES
AS WELL.
SO THAT INFORMATION IS GOING
OUT.
>> AND SORT OF A RADIOACTIVE
QUESTION, BUT WHAT DOES THE
GENERAL CONSENSUS ON HOW
SEATTLE TREATS SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE WE?
IS IT SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLY?
THE WORST PLACE?
I MEAN WHAT ARE YOUR
CONSTITUENTS SAYING ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESSES?
LET'S JUST GET IT OUT THERE.
>> SEATTLE IS RECOGNIZED AS A
DIFFICULT PLACE TO OWN AND
OPERATE A SMALL BUSINESS.
>> I'M SORRY, WHAT DID YOU SAY?
>> SEATTLE IS RECOGNIZED
NATIONALLY AS A DIFFICULT PLACE
TO OWN AND OPERATE A SMALL
BUSINESS.
AND WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD
TO COMMUNICATE WHAT THOSE
DIFFICULTIES ARE AND ALSO TO
TRY TO ENGAGE THE CITY AND THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS
CITY GOVERNMENT ON HOW TO
IMPROVE THAT.
>> ARE THERE SOME CITIES THAT
ARE RECOGNIZED AS BEING MUCH
MORE SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLY?
DO WE HAVE ANY MODELS OUT THERE
THAT WILL COME TO MIND AT
LEAST?
DON'T SAY PORTLAND.
>> I KNOW THAT PHILADELPHIA IS
ONE THAT'S BEEN GETTING A LOT
OF ATTENTION.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME CITIES IN
SOUTH CAROLINA THAT HAVE BEEN
GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.
I CAN'T GO INTO THE SPECIFICS
BECAUSE I DIDN'T COME PREPARED
TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT NATIONALLY SPEAKING THERE'S
A LOT OF CITIES WHERE THEY
ENGAGE SUPPORT AND KIND OF LIFT
UP A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
>> I CAN CHIME IN ON THAT.
I HAVE A RESTAURANT ON THE EAST
SIDE THAT I JUST OPENED ABOUT A
YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
AND JUST THE RESPONSE AND THE
ENGAGEMENT THAT I RECEIVED FROM
THE CITY OF REDMOND IS VERY
DIFFERENT FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THE CITY WOULD CALL ME UP AND
TALK TO ME ABOUT PERMITTING,
LICENSING ISSUES.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S
REACHING OUT TO ME VERSES ME
CHASING THEM DOWN, REACHING OUT
TO THEM.
THEIR PROCESSES ARE MUCH
EASIER, STREAMLINED, LOWER
COST.
FOR EXAMPLE I JUST GOT MY PATIO
PERMIT AND IT WAS THREE PIECE
OF PAPER THAT I SENT IN TO THEM
AND THE COST WAS $156.
SEATTLE IS MUCH HIGHER AND IT
WAS APPROVED WITHIN A WEEK.
IT WAS THE, YOU KNOW, THE GAL,
THE LADY IN CHARGE OF
PERMITTING, SHE WAS THE ONE WHO
CALLED ME AND SENT ME THE
PAPERWORK.
WHEN I DIDN'T GET IT IN ON
TIME, SHE CALLED ME AGAIN.
SHE SAID WELL, YOU KNOW, I KNOW
YOU'RE BUSY, BUT WE WILL BE
OKAY.
JUST GET IT IN TO US WHEN YOU
CAN.
JUST IN GENERAL THE PROCESSES,
I MEAN, NOT TALKING ABOUT
RECOLLECTIONS OF POLICIES, BUT
JUST THE PROCESSES OF
PERMITTING IS MUCH EASIER AND
AT A LOWER COST TO BUSINESS.
AND EVEN TRASH IS CHEAPER OVER
THERE.
THE CONTRACTING, I MEAN I HAVE
THE SAME CANS, TRASH,
RECYCLING, COMPOST CANS OVER
THERE AND COSTS HALF OF WHAT I
PAY IN SEATTLE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO CHIME IN
ON THAT.
THAT IS A HOT BUTTON QUESTION.
I THINK THAT --
>>
THIS IS YOUR STAGE.
YOU'RE HERE.
>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A LOT
OF PROGRESSIVE POLICIES PUT
FORWARD IN THIS CITY, WHICH
MOST SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY
WOULD GET BEHIND, BUT I THINK
THERE HAS BEEN SOME UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE FALLEN
ON SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
BEEN HARD TO TAKE AND HARD ON
SMALL BUSINESS.
WE GET SWEPT UP IN THE CONCEPT
OF BUSINESS AND BIG BUSINESS
AND SMALL BUSINESS, RELATED,
BUT ALSO SEPARATE.
BUT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH A
LOT OF UNATTENDED CONSEQUENCES
ON WHAT HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD IN
PROGRESSIVE POLICIES.
SO IT IS HARD TO HAVE TO WORK
WITH THAT AND WHERE WE ARE ALL
FEELING IT FOR MOST OF US THAT
ARE FEELING IT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
THEN BAGSHAW IS IN CUE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THE REPORT.
OUR STAFF HAS BEEN
PARTICIPATING.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
PARTICIPATING IN THE ZONING AND
THE PERMITTING ISSUE.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW
DIRECTOR'S PHONE ISSUE TO BRING
TO THIS DEPARTMENT, HAVING
STUDIED AND LOOKED AT THE
SYSTEM AND SEEING HOW THEY HAVE
CREATED INCUBATORS FOR SMALL
WOMEN IF BUSINESSES TO HAVE A
PLACE TO GROW AND THRIVE AND
THEN FACILITATION BY THE CITY
IS GREAT LEADERSHIP.
SECOND I THINK THERE IS A
DISTINCTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER
PRESIDENT HERBOLD'S QUESTION,
WHICH IS HOW SEATTLE IS BEING
PERCEIVED.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT NATIONALLY WE DO
GET NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR
BEING ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO
HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS.
AND IN FACT JUST SEVEN MONTHS
AGO FORBES MAGAZINE SAYS THE
BEST PLACES FOR BUSINESS AND
CAREERS IN 2018, SEATTLE LEADS
THE WAY.
AMONG THE 15 METRICS THAT THEY
LOOK AT, SEATTLE IS DOING THE
BEST EXCEPT FOR THE COST OF
LIVING SECTION, WHICH IS VERY
EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE MOSTLY
BECAUSE OF THE COST OF
PROPERTY.
AND I THINK THAT IT IS VERY
FAIR TO IDENTIFY POLICY CHANGES
FOR INCREASED COMMUNICATIONS,
INCREASED ABILITIES TO REDUCE
COST FOR PERMITTING.
STREAMLINING PERMITTING, NOT
JUST FOR CONSTRUCTION, BUT ALSO
FOR SIGHTS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE
ARE LOOKING AND MODELING THE
AUSTIN EXAMPLE.
I THINK THERE'S AN IMPORTANT
NEXUS THERE AND WHAT YOU ARE
ALL INTERESTED IN AS SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
YOU TO BUILD THESE NEW SPACES.
IN DOING SO THAT HELPS OUR
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES
GET THE JOBS AND TO HAVE JOB
SECURITY THAT WILL HELP THOSE
IN THE SERVICE SECTOR TO HAVE
ACCESS TO THE GOOD JOBS THAT
YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
BUT I DO THINK THERE IS VERY
FAIR CRITICISM ABOUT HOW WE
COULD STREAMLINE THE PROCESS TO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUAL
BUSINESSES TO GET A FOOTHOLD TO
START UP.
ONE THING I'M INTERESTED IN IS
DELAYING FEES, SO PEOPLE DON'T
HAVE TO START PAYING ANY OF
THOSE FEES ESPECIALLY FOR THE
FIRST THREE YEARS AS YOU THINK
ABOUT INCUBATION UNDER THE
SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND SEPARATING THAT OUT FROM
SORT OF A NARRATIVE THAT HAS
BEEN CREATED ABOUT SEATTLE NOT
BEING A GOOD PLACE TO THRIVE AS
A BUSINESS.
THOSE WHO ARE MAKING IT OVER
THOSE HARD HURTLES IN THE
BEGINNING ARE THRIVING
ACCORDING TO FORBES.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET
THAT FOOTHOLD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY AROUND
PERMITTING, SITING, ZONING, AND
WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH
IS SOMETHING THAT OUR NATIONAL
PARTNERS ALSO RECOGNIZE.
WE HAVE A WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WHERE
DOLLARS DON'T EXACTLY FOLLOW
WHAT THE NEED IS.
SO IN RETAIL AND SERVICE AND
HEALTH CARE, THEY ARE NOT
GETTING THE EQUAL AMOUNT OF
INVESTMENTS, WHO IS MOSTLY IN
THOSE JOBS?
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS
EMPHASIS ESPECIALLY ON WOMEN,
MINORITY AND IMMIGRANT RUN
BUSINESSES AND OUR DESIRE TO
LIFT UP THOSE JOBS FOR THAT
SPECIFIC, THOSE SPECIFIC
SECTORS.
THERE'S A GOOD NEXUS THERE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ON THOSE ISSUES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER BAGSHAW?
>> THANK YOU.
MOSQUEDA RAISED MANY ISSUES
THAT I'M INTERESTED IN AS WELL,
BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
AS FAR AS STREAMLINING GOES.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE
FRUSTRATION OF TRYING TO GET A
BUSINESS OPEN WITH ALL THE
ECONOMIC STRESS THAT'S ON YOUR
BACKS TO BEGIN WITH.
BUT THEN TO HAVE A CITY DELAYED
OR TO PERCEIVED THAT ONE HAND
IS NOT SHAKING HANDS WITH THE
OTHER.
BUT WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT
EITHER THROUGH THE BUSINESS
ADVOCACY TEAM OR THE WORK THAT
YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR ADVISORY
GROUP THAT COULD HELP US
RESPOND QUICKLY TO YOU AND
BOBBY MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN
ON AS WELL.
>> JUST ONE THING I THINK COMES
TO MIND IS JUST HAVING THE
PERMITTING DEPARTMENT VISIT.
IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE
SCHEDULED.
AND AS WAS OUR EXPERIENCE WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR VISITED
SBAC AND KIND OF HEARD THE
SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS AND EVEN
CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT
THEY WERE UNABLE TO ANSWER SOME
OF THE QUESTIONS SHOWED TO THEM
THAT IF THEY COULD NOT ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS, THERE WAS
CLEARLY A DIFFICULTY IN US
PERCEIVING WHAT THE FORMAL
COMPLIANT WAY TO ACT IS.
SO I THINK HAVING THE
DEPARTMENT OF PERMITTING VISIT
US AND TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
AND HEAR A REAL LIFE STORY
ABOUT WHAT THAT DELAY WOULD
COST SOMEONE FINANCIALLY AS AN
EMPLOYER, AS AN EMPLOYEE, AS A
BUSINESS, OPENING DELAYS, ETC.,
MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP TO PROPEL
THINGS.
SO A PART OF IT IN MY OPINION
IS COMMUNICATION, WHICH WE HAVE
HAD A CHALLENGE WITH ACTUALLY
JUST GETTING IN DIRECT CONTACT
WITH SOME PEOPLE AND I FEEL
LIKE SBAC HAS CREATED A VEHICLE
TOFACILITATE BETTER
COMMUNICATION WITH MANY OF THE
DEPARTMENTS.
IN THAT WAY JUST TO AMPLIFY OUR
VOICE AND TO MAKE OUR CONCERNS
LOUDER WHEN YOU HEAR FROM ONE
PERSON, IT'S DIFFICULT TO
IMAGINE THAT ALL SMALL
BUSINESSES, THEY ARE
EXPERIENCING SOMETHING WHEN YOU
HEAR IT FROM A GROUP THAT
REPRESENTS SMALL BUSINESS AND
BECOMES CLEARER WHAT THESE
DIFFICULTIES ARE AND HOW WE
COULD POSSIBLY OVERCOME THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
I NOTICED MICHAEL NODDING HIS
HEAD BEHIND YOU.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE
HEARD FROM SMALL BUSINESSES FOR
THE DECADE THAT I HAVE BEEN ON
THAT COUNCIL.
I'M SURPRISED WE DON'T HAVE A
SINGLE PORTAL AT THIS POINT,
WHERE IT COULD BE AN ADVOCATE
FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND TO
HELP GET THROUGH THE REAL --
IT'S COMPLEX.
I MEAN WHETHER IT IS STREET
PERMITS OR LIKE YOU WERE SAYING
ABOUT THE PATIO.
GETTING THE HELP THAT YOU NEED
TO GET GOING FINANCIALLY.
I JUST THINK THAT WE COULD DO A
LOT BETTER AND I APPRECIATE YOU
HIGHLIGHTING THIS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT YOU
KNOW THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IS DOING A REAL
GREAT JOB IN SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESS.
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES
THAT FACE SMALL BUSINESSES AND
WHAT THEY FACE AND THEY ARE SO
LIMITED IN THEIR RESOURCES.
AND THE BUDGET THAT'S ALLOCATED
TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT IS VERY LOW
COMPARED TO THE OTHER
METROPOLITAN CITIES.
SO I THINK AS COUNCIL, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
CONSIDERED AS A PART OF THE
HOLISTIC APPROACH OF HOW DO WE
SUPPORT AND BRING MORE
COLLABORATION AND MORE
RESOURCES TO SMALL BUSINESS IS
PROVIDING MORE FUNDING AND
SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR SMALL
BUSINESS.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IF YOU LOOK
AT OED'S BUDGET FOR THE SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT IS REALLY LOW.
AND YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
95% OF OUR CITY'S BUSINESSES,
SMALL BUSINESS, THAT BUDGET
DOESN'T CARRY MUCH WEIGHT IN
TERMS OF SUPPORT.
>> DID YOU WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING?
>> I DEFER.
>> OKAY.
>> JUST GOT A GREAT PLUG.
I'LL LET YOU GO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> AND SO THE PERMITTING ISSUE,
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT
DIMENSIONS TO WHAT IT IS.
NOT JUST MUNICIPAL PERMITTING,
BUT COUNTY AND STATE AND THEN
THERE'S FEDERAL.
SO IN THE FRONT LINE, WE HAVE
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE
TRYING TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE
LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT IS WHAT ADDS TO THE
COMPLEXITY AND THAT IS WHY IT
IS SO DIFFICULT TO CREATE A
SINGLE PORTAL BECAUSE LAWS ARE
CONSTANTLY CHANGING FROM ALL
DIFFERENT LEVELS.
AND DURING MY PRIVATE SECTOR
EXPERIENCE, I HAD TO COMPLY
WITH CLEAN WATER ACT.
CLEAN AIR ACT, AND WATER
PERMITTING.
THE LIST GOES ON WITH THE LABOR
LAWS, ON AND ON.
AND JUST THE FIRE MARSHAL
PERMITTING, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
THE GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE ALL
ASKING THE SAME INFORMATION.
IT IS JUST FORMATTED
DIFFERENTLY.
OFTEN YOU DON'T GET A WARNING
ON WHEN THOSE DEADLINES ARE.
UP TO YOU TO FIGURE IT OUT.
UNDER THE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK DONE
AROUND THIS.
IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWN
CHORE IS JUST STARTING, YOU
DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF
CAPACITY.
THAT IS THE INEQUITY THAT WE
HAVE TO ADDRESS, I BELIEVE.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AT THAT
POINT.
>> AND I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER
WHO HAS A SMALL BUSINESS.
AND THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION, I
HEAR THAT IT FEELS LIKE HOW IS
YOUR DAY TODAY?
OH, I GOT THREE MORE
INSPECTIONS AND I GOT THIS TO
DO AND THE COMMENT LAST NIGHT.
HOW DOES YOUR WEEK LOOK?
WHAT ABOUT AFTER THAT?
AND IT IS JUST BUSY AGAIN.
JUST THE REALITY OF RUNNING A
SMALL BUSINESS.
I WANT TO HOLD A COUPLE OF
THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD TODAY.
AT LEAST FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN
TALKING TO FOLKS WHO ARE
RUNNING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
IT IS POSSIBLE TO BOTH BE IN A
GREAT PLACE TO RUN A SMALL
BUSINESS AND A REAL HARD PLACE
TO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS.
I THINK SEATTLE, THEY HAVE A
LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WILL
MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE.
AND TO OPEN THE BUSINESSES
HERE, WHICH IS A GROWING
POPULATION AND THAT POPULATION,
A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE HIGH
INCOME AND HAVE DISPOSABLE
INCOMES THAT THEY WANT TO
SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES.
A LOT OF THEIR VALUES ARE
ALIGNED WITH THE BUSINESS OWNER
WHO IS WANT TO START HERE.
AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE
CITY LIKE SEATTLE, BUT AT THE
SAME TIME THAT WILL MAKE IT
REALLY HARD.
AND THE COMPETITION FOR REAL
ESTATE, JUST TO START OFF, WE
TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF
HOUSING, BUT THE COST FOR LAND
AND BUSINESSES AND THE REAL
ESTATE FOR BUSINESSES IS REALLY
HARD AND NAVIGATING THOSE
SPACES, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE
LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT DO WANT TO
OPEN UP BUSINESSES MEANS WAIT
TIMES AND PERMITS AND THOSE
TYPES OF THINGS THAT YOU
MENTIONED, THEY DON'T HAVE THE
RIGHT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO
PROCESS IT.
REDMOND IS A SMALLER CITY IN
SEATTLE.
BUT TO BE THE SAME SCALE AND
PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES, YOU
KNOW, HOW DO WE DO THAT AND
PRIORITIZE THAT VERSES SOME OF
THE OTHER THINGS?
AND SO I DO BELIEVE SEATTLE IS
AN AMAZING PLACE TO DO BUSINESS
AND I BELIEVE ALMOST BECAUSE OF
THAT IT WILL MAKE IT A HARD
PLACE TO DO BUSINESS TOO AND
ONCE YOU GET BEYOND ALL THE
CITY THINGS, YOU KNOW, FOR
INSTANCE IF YOU'RE IN THE
RESTAURANT BUSINESS, THEN YOU
HAVE NEW RESTAURANTS THAT ARE
COMPETING WITH YOU EVERY SINGLE
WEEK THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT
WITH.
AND SO EVEN TAKING THE CITY'S
PERMITTING AND REGULATORY SPACE
OUT OF THE WAY, IT IS A HARD
COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL IT'S
GREAT.
AND YOU ALL FLAGGED THIS
QUESTION THAT I THINK CONTINUES
TO COME UP IN FRONT OF A POLICY
PERSPECTIVE, SOMETHING THAT WE
STRUGGLE WITH, THIS QUESTION
ABOUT WHAT IS A SMALL BUSINESS.
I DON'T WANT TO PRETEND THERE
IS A RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER, BUT
WE DO SEE BUSINESSES THAT ARE
VERY SUCCESSFUL IN SEATTLE.
THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ARE
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS EVERY
WEEK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE IT
THERE.
NEW BUSINESSES ARE STARTING UP
THAT ARE UNDER CAPITALIZED AND
ARE MAKING MASSIVE FAMILY
SACRIFICES JUST TO GET THEIR
FOOT IN THE DOOR FOR THE FIRST
COUPLE OF YEARS HOPING TO GET
GOING.
THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ON
PAPER MAY LOOK LARGE AS FAR AS
VOLUME AND SALES, BUT THEIR
MARGIN IS SO THIN BECAUSE OF
THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT OR
THE INDUSTRY THEY ARE IN.
AND WE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND
THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE OFTEN
DEPENDING ON THE MOMENT.
WE'LL SAY LOOK AT HOW
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES ARE.
ARE THEY DOING THEIR FAIR
SHARE?
AND HAVE YOU COME UP WITH SOME
WAY FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
IS A SMALL BUSINESS OR TYPES OF
BUSINESSES OR WAYS TO
CATEGORIZE TO APPROACH IT?
BECAUSE IT IS REALLY HARD WHEN
WE ARE, YOU KNOW, FINDING
RESOURCES, LOTS OF CHALLENGES
IN THE CITY AND WE KNOW SOME
BUSINESSES ARE DOING VERY WELL
AND MAYBE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A
LITTLE MORE.
WHEN WE DO A BLANKET
REGULATION, TAXES, WHATEVER,
AND ON EVERYONE, IT COULD BE
DEVASTATING TO THE SMALLEST
BUSINESSES, BUT REALLY HARD TO
DRAW THAT LINE.
>> YEAH.
I COULD PROBABLY MAKE A
COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF
BUSINESSES.
FIRST OF ALL SOMETHING THAT
WE'RE DEFINITELY ACTIVELY
WORKING ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH
OED TO LOOK AT THE RESEARCH.
AND LOOK AT WHAT OTHER CITIES
ARE DOING TO WHAT DEFINES SMALL
BUSINESS.
BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE ALSO
WORKING ON THE OED OF ETHIC
BUSINESS COALITION IS THAT YOU
KNOW YOU HAVE WHAT I CALL MICRO
BUSINESSES, VERY SMALL, LESS
THAN 10 EMPLOYEES, IMMIGRANT
OWNED.
YOU KNOW, MINORITY OWNED.
THEY ARE SMALL, LOCAL
COMMUNITY, ONE STORE LOCATIONS.
BUT THEY EXPERIENCE A WHOLE
DIFFERENT SET OF CHALLENGES
THAN, YOU KNOW, A 10% TECH
COMPANY, WHICH COULD BE
CONSIDERED A LARGE BUSINESS
BASED ON THEIR GROSS REVENUE.
AND SO WHEN WE AS A CITY
LEGISLATE POLICY, WE LUMPED
EVERYBODY AS SMALL BUSINESS
VERSES MICRO BUSINESS OR, YOU
KNOW, LESS THAN 50 OR BASED ON
THE GROSS REVENUE WHAT THEIR
MARGINS ARE AS AN INDUSTRY.
IT REALLY DOES HAVE A LOT OF
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR
THESE MICRO BUSINESSES.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE THECAPITAL
INJUNCTION.
IT IS VERY LIMITED,
UNDERSTANDING THE REGULATORY
COMPLIANCES, IT IS VERY
COMPLEX.
EVEN SOME OF US IN THE DIRECTOR
OF LABOR SOUNDED, YOU KNOW, IT
COULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON
THE ISSUE OF TIPS.
AND THEY WERE CONFUSED, WE WERE
CONFUSED.
SO YOU KNOW IF THE DEPARTMENT
IS CONFUSED, HOW ARE WE AS
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE WE TO
COMPLY WITH?
AND THEY HAVE VERY LIMITED
RESOURCES IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, GOING OUT AND GETTING
THAT EXTRA HELP LIKE BOBBY
SAID.
IT PUTS THEM OUT OF FURTHER
DISADVANTAGE, EQUITABLE
DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER I'M ABLE TO HIRE
AN ATTORNEY OR THIRD PARTY TO
NAVIGATE ALL OF MY PERMITTING
PROCESS, AND YOU HAVE SOMEONE
ELSE THAT ISN'T ABLE TO HAVE
THAT CAPITAL RESOURCE TO GO AND
DO THAT, IT PUTS THEM AT A
FURTHER DISADVANTAGE.
WE'RE NOT RECOGNIZING THAT, I
DON'T THINK.
WE ARE NOT PROVIDING RESOURCES
FOR THAT.
AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK A PART
OF IT IS BEFORE LEGISLATION
COMES OUT IS HAVING A VERY
HONEST DIALOGUE WITH THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND WITH HAVING FOLKS AT THE
TABLE AND TALKING ABOUT THE
ISSUES, LOOKING AT THE
MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGES
THAT THESE BUSINESSES WILL FACE
AND TAKING THAT NOT AS SOMEONE
COMPLAINING OR MAKING A
STATEMENT, BUT TAKING IT AS AN
EXPERIENCE AND UTILIZING THAT
EXPERIENCE TO HELP US CRAFT
SOME OF THE LEGISLATION.
I KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DO ONE OFF
LEGISLATION, BUT AS A WHOLE IF
YOU TALK TO THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, YOU'LL FIND THAT
THERE ARE A LOT OF OVERLAPPING
COMMENTS AND CHALLENGES THAT
THEY FACE.
AND I THINK HAVING THAT OPEN
DIALOGUE WOULD REALLY HELP.
>> FOUR PEOPLE IN QUE AND
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAD HER
HAND UP.
THE STRONGEST I SHOULD SAY.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
WE HOST THE BUSINESS COALITION.
OUR BUSINESS HAS A COALITION
THAT WE CREATED THREE YEARS AGO
AND YOU HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE.
YOU GUYS ARE BEING -- I HAD
THREE HOURS WITH YOU AND YOU
WERE A LOT MORE VOCAL THAN
YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD FIRE UP.
IN THAT THREE-HOUR MEETING, OED
WAS THERE AND PEDRO WAS THERE.
AND GAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION
AND YOU HAD A LOT OF ISSUES
THAT WENT BEYOND JUST THE TAXES
AND THE POLICIES.
I MEAN YOU WERE CONCERNED AS
SMALL BUSINESSES, WELL LET ME
ADD THIS.
WE ALSO HAD ANNETTA THERE WHO
OWNS THE COFFEE GRILL WHO
ACTUALLY HOSTED THAT.
AND THE BUSINESS COALITION.
BUT I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY A LOT
OF ISSUES, AND I TOOK DETAILED
NOTES AS WE ALL DID, SHANNON
AND I. BUT BESIDES THE POLICIES
AND THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAD
ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND THE
TAXATION, OEDs, YOU HAD
CONCERNS ABOUT HOW WE WERE
HANDLING THE HOMELESSNESS
ISSUES AND THE UNSHELTERED
PEOPLE AND HOW YOU WERE TRYING
TO REACT TO THAT AND HOW WE
WERE TRYING TO GET OUT THERE
WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE
WHO WERE IN TENTS, LIVING
OUTSIDE, PARTICULARLY THE
CLOVER LEAF, THE STARBUCKS, THE
CORAL REEF DRIVE.
I COULD GO ON AND ON WITH ALL
THE BUSINESSES THERE, THE
SAFFRON GRILL.
I KNOW YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH
THE NEV TEAM AS WELL.
A LOT OF YOU SHARED THAT WITH
US AT THE MEETING.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES TO BE CANDID AND
OPEN ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER
STRUGGLES THAT YOU DEAL WITH.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU LAID OUT
THE STRATEGIES AND GOALS WHEN
YOUR REPORTS ARE ALL COMING
OUT.
BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE THIS
FRUSTRATION.
I TRY TO CARRY THIS BACK TO MY
COLLEAGUES AS WELL.
HOPING YOU COULD TOUCH ON SOME
OF THE ISSUES THAT DID COME UP
BECAUSE YOU WERE VERY CLEAR
WITH MARTY ABOUT SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT YOU HAD.
YOU WERE VERY CLEAR WITH OED ON
SOME OF THE ISSUES, AND WITH ME
ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT
YOU HAD AND I WAS HOPING YOU
WOULD SHARE SOME OF THAT WITH
MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL SINCE I
GOT AN EARFUL FOR THREE HOURS,
WHICH IS FINE BECAUSE I GOT TO
EAT GREAT FOOD.
>> AND CHOCOLATE.
>> YES.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> YES, WE DID.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO START
BY SAYING IF THERE IS ANYTHING
THAT WE HAVE OVERLOOKED, IT IS
NOT FROM A LACK OF A
WILLINGNESS TO BRING IT UP OR A
LACK OF CANTER, BUT MORE SO
FROM SUCH A LONG LIST THAT AS
WE APPROACH DISCUSSING IT, I
DON'T THINK, I MEAN THE THREE
OF US HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING
CANDID AND SAYING WHAT'S ON OUR
MIND.
AND I THINK WE ARE COMING HERE
TODAY AND WE ARE TALKING TO YOU
IN GENERAL AND WE STARTED THIS
OR BECOME A PART OF THIS SBAC
BECAUSE WE CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESS AND WE CARE SO
DEEPLY ABOUT ITS PRESENCE AND
OUR CITY AND THE FACT THAT
SMALL BUSINESS IS A FABRIC OF
THE CITY.
WE WERE GONE AND WE WERE JUST A
CITY OF BIG CORPORATIONS,
SEATTLE WOULD NOT HAVE THE
PERSONALITY OR THE ATTRACTION
TAT IT DOES.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE CITY TO
WHAT WE DO AS A BUSINESS.
AND FOR ME NOT TO BRING UP
HOMELESSNESS, IT'S NOT BECAUSE
I DON'T CARE ABOUT IT OR IT'S
NOT ON MY MIND, BUT MORE THAT I
HAVE A LIST ON MY MIND.
IT IS A BUSINESS ISSUE FOR US.
TALKING TO US ABOUT NOT BEING
ABLE TO ENTER THEIR BUSINESSES
OR BLOCKING THEIR DOORS, BUT AN
ISSUE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF PEOPLE THAT USED TO COME TO
THE BUSINESSES FROM OUTSIDE THE
CITY THAT HAVE STOPPED COMING
TO OUR BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY
DON'T APPEAR CLEAN ANYMORE AND
THERE IS SUCH AN ISSUE, THAT IT
IS REALLY LARGE AND WE DON'T
WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT,
BUT WE ARE ALSO STRUGGLING AS
SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND WE'RE NOT SURE ON HOW THESE
ITEMS ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND
WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE SAME
ORGANIZATIONS DEAL WITH THIS
TOPIC.
AND SEEING THE SAME KIND OF
LACK OF RESULTS.
AND IF WE CAN, IF WE COULD SAY
THAT.
WE DID HAVE A GREAT
CONVERSATION LAST WEEK WITH THE
DIRECTORS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT.
AND THAT THE DIRECTORS CAME UP,
AND HAD A DISCUSSION AROUND
SOME OF THE PROLIFIC OFFENDERS,
ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED, SO
THANK YOU.
HI AN OPPORTUNITY OVER THE
WEEKEND TO TALK TO A PERSON
CONSIDERING THEMSELVES A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, ALTHOUGH HE'S
AN OWNER OF THE RESTAURANTS
THAT ARE ALSO A PART OF THE
FRANCHISE.
BUT HE SHARED WITH ME AN
EXPERIENCE HE WOULD HAVE, A
BUSINESS OWNER WHO SUPPORTED
THE MINIMUM WAGE AND SUPPORTED
PAID SICK LEAVE AND SECURE
SCHEDULING.
BUT HE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
FOR RECEIVING A PRETTY BIG FINE
AFTER SOME RULE CHANGES.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE OLS AT A
RECENT MEETING AND I'M
WONDERING IF THE TOPIC OF
NOTIFICATION OF BUSINESSES, OF
RULE CHANGES CAME UP.
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE A DATA
BASE OF ALL THE BUSINESSES IN
THE CITY AND COULD BE USING IT
WHEN THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN.
>> WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY A PART
OF THE CONVERSATION, WHAT'S THE
PROCESS WHEN A COMPLAINT IS
LODGED.
WHAT SORT OF NOTIFICATION
BECAUSE THE BUSINESS RECEIVE
BECAUSE I TOO HAVE HEARD HORROR
STORIES FROM SOMEBODY THAT RUNS
A SMALL BUSINESS THAT WAS TAKEN
BY SURPRISE.
IT WAS PRETTY AWFUL THE WAY IT
WAS HANDLED.
I THINK ALSO WHAT CAME OUT OF
THE OLS CONVERSATION IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS
KNOWN.
THE OFFICES IN CHARGE OF BOTH
EDUCATING AND ENFORCING.
AND THAT IS AN INTERESTING
DILEMMA.
SO THEY ARE TAKING THE
COMPLAINTS.
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
EDUCATING SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING
THE INFORMATION OUT TO
EMPLOYEES.
THEY ARE ALSO IN CHARGE OF
RECEIVING THAT COMPLAINT.
THAT COULD BE A LITTLE
PROBLEMATIC IF THAT PATH ISN'T
CLEAR.
THAT WAS A PART OF THE
CONVERSATION.
>> AREN'T THEY SUPPOSE TO BE
COMPLETELY NEUTRAL PARTY?
>> YES, AND I THINK WE HEARD
THAT AND IT WAS A REAL GOOD
ROBUST CONVERSATION THAT WE ALL
LEFT, FEELING A LITTLE BETTER,
BUT KNOWING WE NEEDED TO HAVE
MORE COMMUNICATION.
>> BUT THE PRACTICE OF THE
ENFORCEMENT PIECE DOES NOT SEEM
TO BE A NEUTRAL PARTY.
>> WELL, AS THE CHAIR OF LABOR
WHO HAS THE OVERSIGHT, I WILL
BE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ON
THOSE CONCERNS.
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A QUICK
SECOND TO ELEVATE THE EXAMPLE
THAT YOU GAVE ON TIPS AND
SERVICES AND THE ORIGINAL
MINIMUM WAGE STATUE.
IT IS A GREAT POINT.
EVERY TIME LEGISLATION IS
PASSED, THERE IS A NEED TO GO
BACK TO FIX THOSE TWEETS.
ONE REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT
THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY
DID HERE WAS INFORM THE
STATEWIDE EFFORT.
BECAUSE OF THE TIPS AND SERVICE
LANGUAGE THAT WAS PRETTY
AMBIGUOUS, IT LEFT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT DO I DO?
EVEN THOSE WHO WERE DOING THE
BEST THAT THEY COULD TO COMPLY
WERE LEFT IN THIS VERY
INTERESTING GRAY AREA.
SO WHAT WE DID WITH MANY OF THE
INDIVIDUALS FROM THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE
WAS TO HELP WRITE IN THE
LANGUAGE AND INITIATIVE 1403.
THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVED THE
LANGUAGE, SO THAT ACROSS THE
BOARD, TIPS AND SERVICES WERE
MORE EQUALLY OR I SHOULD SAY
EQUITABLY UNDERSTOOD, GIVING
GUIDANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
HOWEVER I WORKED ON THAT IN
2016, WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE
THAT PACT.
IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS YEAR OF
MARCH WHERE THE FINAL RULES
CAME DOWN AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO A PART OF MY BIG QUESTION TO
OLS AND LABOR INDUSTRIES OF THE
STATE LEVEL WILL BE HOW ARE WE
COMMUNICATING TO BACK OUT
BECAUSE NOW THREE YEARS LATER
PLUS IF YOU THINK OF IT FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S EXAMPLE,
NOW WE HAVE INFORMATION.
I HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND WHO OWNS
A NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES
HERE IN SEATTLE AND SHE GOT
CAUGHT IN THAT GRAY CARE AND
GOT HIT WITH A FINE.
A VERY SIGNIFICANT FINE BECAUSE
JUST BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE ON
HER RECEIPT WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH
THAT THE WORKERS WERE GETTING
104% OF WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE
BEEN IN TERMS OF TIPS AND
SERVICE CHARGES.
BUT THE LANGUAGE, THE COURT
DECIDED, IT WASN'T CLEAR
ENOUGH.
THAT JUST FEELS SO UNFAIR.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THANK
YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BRING
THESE ISSUES FORWARD BECAUSE I
DO THINK IF IT DOESN'T WORK FOR
THE SMALLER BUSINESSES, IT WILL
NEVER WORK FOR THE WORKERS.
ELEVATING THOSE CONCERNS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO
AND I HAVE ONE MORE PIECE AFTER
THAT.
>> IS THERE A QUESTION IN
THERE?
>> DON'T YOU THINK?
[ LAUGHTER ] TO HAVE 25
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
DISCUSSING ONE SMALL POLICY
ISSUES, WHICH MANY INTERPRETED
DIFFERENT WAYS TO NOT HAVE LIKE
THE HARD AND FAST ANSWER ON
THAT WAS EYE OPENING.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE THE
ACCESS OR THE CONVERSATIONS.
I KNOW EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE
THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT EVERY
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DOES NOT
FEEL THAT WAY AND IT IS
INTIMIDATING.
>> ONE LAST ITEM, SIMILAR TO
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
WE KNOW THE BIGGEST PRESSING
ISSUE FOR MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS
HERE WHO WANT TO VISIT AND
THOSE WHO WANT TO START A
BUSINESS IS THE COST OF
HOUSING.
AND OBVIOUSLY THAT IS CONNECTED
TO THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE THAT
YOU ALL BROUGHT UP.
WE GO TO A DIFFERENT DISTRICT
EACH MONTH.
FROM THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT
MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES, THEY ARE
HAVING TO COMMUTE TWO HOURS IN.
MANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE NO
ACCESS TO CHILD CARE, HAVING
THE STRESS OF WORRYING IF THEY
WILL GET HOME ON TIME FOR THEIR
KIDS AND FAMILIES.
AS YOU TALK ABOUT IMPROVING
STANDARDS, AND HOW BUSINESSES
COULD OPERATE IN THE CITY, IS
THE ISSUE OF HOUSING AND THE
NEED FOR DENSITY IN THIS CITY
SOMETHING THAT THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS HELPING
TO ELEVATE?
BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A
CHANCE WHERE THEY BELIEVE THEY
DON'T NEED DENSITY OR THE WAY
THAT THEY ARE AND THE CHARACTER
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE COST OF HOUSING IS SO
CUMBERSOME.
HAVE THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADVISORY COUNCIL HAD A CHANCE
TO WEIGH IN ON THE DENSITY
ISSUES?
I THINK YOUR VOICE COULD CARRY
A LOT OF WEIGHT WITH COMBATING
THAT ANTI-HOUSING, ANTI-DENSITY
MESSAGE.
>> I THINK TO THINGS COME UP
FROM THAT QUESTION.
ONE IS THE HOMELESS ISSUE AND
ALSO THE ISSUE OF HOUSING FOR
MIDDLE INCOME DWELLERS IN THE
CITY.
THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT AND
DEFINITELY EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE
SUPPORT FOR LOW AND NO INCOME
INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S WHAT IS FORCING OUR WORK
FORCE, SO WE'RE HAVING A HARD
TIME NOT JUST MAINTAINING
EMPLOYEES, BUT KEEPING BUSINESS
OWNERS IN THE CITY WHO ALSO FIT
IN TO THAT MIDDLE INCOME
BRACKET AS WELL.
AS WE SEE RISING COSTS, WE ARE
SEEING BASICALL PEOPLE, EVEN
SOME BUSINESSES GOING TO THE
EAST SIDE, WHICH IS CONSIDERED
HIGHER INCOME BRACKET, BUT MORE
AFFORDABLE LIVING IN SOME WAYS.
AND THEN I THINK WITH
HOMELESSNESS, IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE PEOPLE ON
THE STREET WHO HAVE MENTAL
ISSUES.
THERE WILL BE AN ISSUE ON HOW
WE'RE SOLVING IT.
THAT'S KEY.
THERE IS A POPULATION THAT
NEEDS HELP THAN WHAT PEOPLE ARE
ABLE TO OFFER.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PACHECO?
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE IS TRYING TO GET TO,
THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS,
AFFORDABILITY, SO FORTH.
THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE CITY AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
I THINK, I'M GLAD THE CHAIR,
THE BUDGET IS HERE AS WELL TO
HEAR THIS.
TO CREATE SOME FORM OF
NAVIGATION AND THE SMALL
BUSINESSES DURING THE BUDGET
PROCESS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, THAT WE
COULD FOCUS ON JUST MOVING
FORWARD.
IT WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE
ZONE TO INCLUDE THE SMALL
PARTIAL SPACES.
FOR MORE AFFORDABLE BUSINESSES
TO CREATE MORE SPACES, MORE
AFFORDABLE SPACES FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
I'D BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
ANALYZING THOSE OUTCOMES.
AND AS THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED.
SO THAT YOU COULD REPORT BACK
TO THE COUNCIL, TO SEE WE WERE
ACHIEVING THE DESIRED POLICY
OUTCOMES.
>> THAT COULD BE A PART OF THE
PLAN THAT WE HAVE.
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
AND DONNA HAS SAID AND ALSO
COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN.
THE BIGGER PICTURE IS THAT
THERE ARE OVERLAPPING ISSUES.
INTERNAL, EXTERNAL, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES FACE.
YES, IT IS A GREAT CITY TO HAVE
A BUSINESS.
THERE'S A GROWING CITY, A BIG
POPULATION, AND A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT IT COMES WITH PROBLEMS,
HOMELESSNESS B, PARKING,
LEGISLATION, POLICY, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
THESE ARE THINGS WE ALL HAVE TO
FACE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO ATTACK AND
RESOLVE IN ONE DAY, BUT I THINK
THE OPENNESS OF CITY HALL TO
WORK WITH THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS A LOT OF
THE ISSUES, THEN THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY COULD BE A HUGE
ADVOCATE TO MAKING THESE
ISSUES, TO BRING TO LIGHT A LOT
OF THESE ISSUES, AND TO HELP
CITY HALL TO -- WHETHER IT IS
TO STREAMLINE PROCESSING,
PERMIT PROCESSING, OR ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR STAFF,
BEING ABLE TO GO DOWNDOWN TO
PARK OUR CAR OR OUR CUSTOMERS,
NOT COMING TO THE CITY BECAUSE
THEY FEEL IT IS UNSAFE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE OVERALL
COMMENT THAT I WOULD HAVE IS
THE WILLINGNESS TO INCREASE
RESOURCES.
THE WILLINGNESS TO TAKE A GOOD
LOOK OTHER THAN SAYING THIS IS
THE POLICY THAT WE'RE GOING TO
ENFORCE IT AND TO HAVE THAT
MENTALITY.
PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES,
WHETHER IT IS WITH OED OR OLS
TO MAKE SURE THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES WILL UNDERSTAND A
LOT OF THE COMPLEX ISSUES.
IF THE DIRECTOR CAN'T ANSWER
THE QUESTION, THEN HOW ARE WE
SUPPOSE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION?
WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS HOUSING,
YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS.
PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE THEY ARE
A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY
ARE A PART OF THE LARGER
LANDSCAPE.
AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT, YOU
KNOW, FROM MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE, IT'S WHAT I'M
LOOKING FOR.
>> CAN I MENTION ONE QUICK
THING TOO?
JUST ON DENSITY?
I THINK A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, THEY MIGHT BE MORE
SUPPORTIVE OF URBAN DENSITY IF
WE SAW WILLINGNESS OF THE
DEVELOPERS AND THE BUILDING
OWNERS TORONTO COMMERCIAL SPACE
AND TO REDUCE BASICALLY THE
OBSTACLE COURSE THAT THEY HAVE
CREATED TO GET A LEASE IN THOSE
SPACES.
TO OFFER A DECENT LEASE, TO BE
MORE OPEN TO A SMALL BUSINESS
THAT IS NOT A CHAIN, THAT DOES
NOT ALREADY HAVE 10, 12, 15
BUSINESSES.
AND TO PAY THAT BUSINESS MONEY
TO COME IN, BUT NOT OFFER THE
SAME, BASICALLY TENTATIVE
IMPROVE WANTS TO A SMALL START-
UP BUSINESS.
THE SPACES ARE SO LARGE.
THEY ARE, WE ARE DEALING WITH
LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS THAT
ARE NOT COMPATIBLE OR OPEN TO
INVITING SMALL BUSINESSES IN.
THE CITY SEEMS TO ACCEPT THE
VACANCY OF MANY OF THESE
BUILDINGS, WHILE TAY WAIT FOR
THE PERFECT TENANT TO COME IN
AND WE ARE BASICALLY SEEING A
LANDSCAPE OF THESE DENSE
BUILDINGS THAT ARE COMPLETELY
FILLED WITH RESIDENTS OR
PARTIALLY FILLED.
THEY SEEM ACTIVE, BUT THEY HAVE
EMPTY STORE FRONTS, AND WE ARE
JUST NOW STARTING TO SEE SOME
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
DEVELOPER WHEN THEY ARE
BUILDING THE SITE TO ACTUALLY
DISCUSS WHAT THE COMMUNITY,
WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR
RETAIL SPACES.
SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE, I
THINK BEFORE YOU COULD GET A
FORCE OF SMALL BUSINESSES TO
JUMP ON AND SAY WE WOULD LIKE
THAT DENSITY.
RIGHT NOW WE SEE EMPTY REAL
ESTATE SPACE.
>> SPEAKING OF LACK OF
COMMUNICATION FROM US TO SMALL
BUSINESSES, ONE OF THE THINGS
MAYBE WE DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB
COMMUNICATING IS IN THE MHA OF
ZONES WE JUST PASSED, EVEN
THOUGH IT WAS 6% OF THE LAND IN
THE CITY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WORKED
ON IS AN INCENTIVE TO CREATE
MORE SMALL BUSINESS RETAIL
SPACE ON THE FIRST AND SECOND
FLOOR, SO THEY GOT ADDITIONAL
FLOOR RATIO AND ADDITIONAL
SIDES AND THEY GOT THESE
INCENTIVES THAT THAT HE CREATE
A SMALLER SITE, SO IT WASN'T
YOUR NEXT NEW CVS SPACE.
NEXT TO THE ELLIOTT BAY BOOK
COMPANY.
THAT'S THE SUPPORT WE WANT TO
PROVIDE.
MANY OF US ARE NODDING OVER
HERE, LOOKING AT YOUR NEW
DIRECTOR BECAUSE THIS IS THE
TYPE OF LIAISON PROGRAM THAT HE
RAN IN PORTLAND.
>> RIGHT.
>> SOY THINK WE HAVE PASSED THE
POLICY.
AND NOW WE NEED THE LIAISON TO
MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS HAPPEN.
WE'VE TAKEN THE POLICY STEP.
I HOPE THAT AS WE CREATE THAT
LIAISON IN TRUE CONNECTION THAT
WE DO CONTINUE TO HEAR THE
VOICES OF SMALL BUSINESS
ELEVATE THE NEED FOR THAT
DENSITY BECAUSE IT COULD BE A
REAL WIN/WIN.
WITHOUT IT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
PUSHING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
AND WORKERS OUT OF THE CITY.
>> IF I COULD DIVE INTO THAT
QUICKLY.
AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, I WAS
THINKING ABOUT THE FACTA WE DID
RECENTLY MAKE THIS CHANGE
AROUND DENSITY AND SORT OF THE
FOCUS AROUND URBAN VILLAGES IN
PARTICULAR.
SO EVEN THOUGH THERE IS ONLY A
6% DENSITY INCREASE CITY WIDE
THROUGH THIS NEW ORDINANCE, YOU
KNOW, IT HAS FUNNELED AND
TARGETED IN A LOT OF THE URBAN
VILLAGES, WHICH IS WHERE A LOT
OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
CURRENTLY LOCATED.
I THINK THIS COUNCIL WAS VERY
AWARE OF THE DEVELOPMENT
PRESSURES THAT EXIST AS IT
RELATES TO COMMERCIAL
AFFORDABILITY AND THE FOOTPRINT
FOR THE SPACE THAT ARE BEING
DEVELOPED.
AND IN ORDINARY COURSE OF
BUSINESS BY THESE DEVELOPERS
DOES NOT AND WOULD NOT MEET THE
NEEDS OF A SMALL BUSINESS AND
THAT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE
WERE AWARE OF THAT WE HEARD
THROUGH A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK
AS A PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS.
I BELIEVE THAT NOW THE
LEGISLATION THAT HAS PASSED AND
IS NOW IN IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
REALLY TAKES INTO ACCOUNT IN A
MORE DELIBERATE INTENTIONAL
WAY.
THE RETAIL SPACE NEEDS AND
RESTAURANT SPACE NEEDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY
IN THOSE HIGH-CONCENTRATED
GROWTH AREAS THAT ARE URBAN
VILLAGES THAT ARE REALLY SORT
OF THE SPINE OF THOSE URBAN
VILLAGES, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESSES.
THE DISTRICTS.
AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BEGIN TO
SEE A CHANGE IN THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS.
IT CAN'T EVER COME FAST ENOUGH.
I RECOGNIZE THAT.
WE HAVE SOME GRANDFATHERED
PROJECTS THAT PLAY IN THE
PIPELINE THAT WILL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO THIS REQUIREMENT.
BUT MY HOPE IS IN THE FUTURE AS
THEY BEGIN TO COME IN THERE
WILL BE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO
CREATE THAT PATHWAY AND THAT
RUNWAY TO ALLOW MORE FOR
ACCESSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY
TO SMALL BUSINESSES FOR THAT
SPACE.
I'M LOOKING AT BOBBY BECAUSE
WHEN WE HAD A MEET AND GREET A
WEEK AGO NOW, I SPENT A LOT OF
TIME TALKING TO HIM ABOUT HOW
WE COULD ADDRESS COMMERCIAL
AFFORDABILITY FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR.
MY OWN HUSBAND WORKS IN
RESTAURANTS.
AND JUST OPENED UP A RESTAURANT
WITH MIKE EASTON, THE OWNER NOW
OF EL NITO.
I RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULTY
BETWEEN PERMITTING AND
COMMERCIAL AFFORDABILITY.
IT IS NOT A BINARY
CONVERSATION.
A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
RELY ON GOOD LABOR.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE, IF NOT THE
MOST, THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE.
THAT IS BOTH GOOD NEWS AND
TOUGH NEWS FOR EMPLOYERS WHO
ARE LOOKING FOR TALENT TO
DELIVER THE SERVICES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE NOT HAVING THE
CONVERSATION OR ISOLATION OF
ALL THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE
FORMULA THAT ARE REALLY KEY AND
CRITICAL TO A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS MODEL.
AND THATTIC CLOUDS PEOPLE.
AS WELL AS SPACE TO ENSURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE
SERVICES AND THAT YOU ALL OFFER
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
>> WE LIVE ALL OF THAT EVERY
DAY.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL TAKEAWAYS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
IT IS REALLY TIMELY BECAUSE ONE
OF MY TAKEAWAYS AS WE ENTER
INTO OUR BUDGET, I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE PEDRO GOMEZ FROM OED
AS WELL.
WE NEED PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO
MAKE SURE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR MAKING SURE WE HAVE THIS
ADVOCATE.
WE HAVE A SMALL CLIMATE.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME
UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THE OWNERSHIP OF
THE ISSUES.
I COULD TELL YOU SOME HORROR
STORIES, I HAVE CONSTITUENTS IN
MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT TWO ON
THEIR DEALINGS WITH OLS.
YEARS AGO WE CREATED A POSITION
ON THE OFFICE OF RIGHTS WHEN WE
STARTED LOOKING AT THE
PROGRESSIVE CIVIL RIGHTS
LEGISLATION AND THAT THEY SAID
WELL, COULD WE HAVE SOMEONE IN
THERE THAT COULD SORT OF HELP
NAVIGATE AND HELP WITH THE
CONVERSATION.
BUT AGAIN THE EXPERIENCES WITH
OLS, IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SORT
OF A NEUTRAL PARTY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BECAUSE
I FEEL LIKE I JUST THREW OLS
UNDER THE BUS.
MARTY CAME TO OUR MEETING.
SO I THINK THAT THEY RECOGNIZE
THAT AND THEY'RE THRIVING TO DO
BETTER TOO.
I WANTED TO GET THAT IN THERE.
>> THAT'S FINE.
BUT THAT'S INCONSISTENT WITH
WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME.
JUST TO BE CANDID WITH YOU.
ANY WAY THE CONVERSATIONS, THEY
ARE GOOD TIMING FOR US TO THINK
ABOUT HOW TO BE A GOOD PARTNER
WITH YOU.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
BY THE WAY YOU HAD A SLIDE
THING.
IT'S NOT VOICE ACTIVATED.
YOU HAD TO PUSH THAT BUTTON.
BUT WE KNOW IT WAS THERE
BECAUSE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU
HAVE.
ARE WE OKAY?
EVERYBODY GOOD?
OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, I'M ANNOUNCING THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THE FIRST OF THIS EXECUTIVE
SESSION, PENDING POTENTIAL OR
ACTUAL LITIGATION.
THIS WILL GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTER WITH
OUR CITY ATTORNEY, AUTHORIZED
BY LAW AND A LEGAL MONITOR FROM
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
ALWAYS PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT
COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS
AND POLICY FOR OUR PUBLIC OPEN
SESSION.
EXPECT THIS SESSION TO LAST FOR
15 MINUTES.
SO AT 11:24 RATHER, HOPEFULLY
WE WILL BE CONCLUDED.
IF WE ARE NOT, I WILL GO INTO
PUBLIC SESSION AND EXTEND THE
DURATION.