>>> HELLO?
HERE WE GO.
GREETINGS AND WELCOME.
IT'S 9:36 A.M.
THIS IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS,
UTILITIES, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND ARTS
COMMITTEE.
IT IS JULY 23, AND I AM THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, LISA
HERBOLD, AS WELL AS COUNCIL
MEMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT
ONE, WEST SEATTLE, AND SOUTH
PARK.
JUST REAL QUICKLY GOING OVER
THE AGENDA, WE WILL START OFF
OUR MORNING WITH CULTURAL
SPOTLIGHT, WHICH IS A MONTHLY
EDITION, SPOTLIGHTING SOME
LOCAL CULTURE IN ARTS, IN THE
REGION.
WE'LL FOLLOW THAT WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON
TO THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS FOR
THE DAY INCLUDING A REPORT FROM
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES ON
SEATTLE BAG BAND COMPLIANCE.
WE WILL HEAR A BRIEFING ON AN
ORDINANCE THAT WE REFER TO AS
THE HARMONIZATION BILL WITH
STATE LEGISLATION THAT WAS
RECENTLY PASSED TO ACCOMPLISH
SOME REALLY IMPORTANT EVICTION
REFORMS.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THEIR
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORT.
AND WE WILL THEN HEAR ANOTHER
ORDINANCE RELATED TO A LIFT FOR
SOME FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL
PROVIDED FOR TOWN HALL TO
FINISH CAPITAL PROJECT.
AND THEN FINALLY WE'LL WRAP UP
THE MORNING WITH A SOCIAL
IMPACT OF THE ARTS STUDY FROM
ARTSFUND AND THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE.
SO IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS
TO THIS AGENDA, THE AGENDA WILL
BE APPROVED.
WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO
ORDER AND MOVE RIGHT INTO
CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT.
WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY
B.J.BOLLAR WHO HAS A REALLY
FANTASTIC FILM THAT SHE'S BEEN
WORKING ON TO PREVIEW FOR US.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO B.J.
BULLERT.
>> WELL THANK YOU, LISA.
I'D LIKE TO SHOW TWO SHORT
CLIPS FROM MY FILM CALLED SPACE
NEEDLE, A HIDDEN HISTORY.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF
WHAT FILM MAKERS AND ARTISTS
CAN DO TO REFRACT THEIR
PERCEPTIONS AND GIVE IT BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY IN A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT FORM.
SO BEFORE SHOWING, I ALSO WANT
TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M A DUAL-
FILL FILM.
AND HERE WE GO.
I WANT YOU TO JUST TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS ONE.
♪[ MUSIC ] ♪
>> THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT
ARCHITECTURE IS SYMBOLISMS
DEEPLY A PART OF IT.
THE STYLES, THE INFLUENCES, AND
THE EXPRESSIONS COME FROM
DIFFERENT CULTURES, DIFFERENT
ERAS, ARCHITECTURE BUILDS ON
ITSELF.
>> THE UNIQUE SHAPE OF THE
SPACE NEEDLE HAS MADE IT RETAIN
INTEREST UNTIL TODAY.
I MEAN EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT
THINK OF STARBUCKS AND
MICROSOFT, IT'S THE SPACE
NEEDLE IT'S A REALLY NEAT, BUT
EVERYONE WANTS TO FOE ABOUT IT
WHEN THEY COME TO SEATTLE.
THE SPACE NEEDLE HAS A
BEAUTIFUL GRACE.
IT IS LADY LIKE, IT'S A
BALLERINA, IT'S SOMETHING OF
SUBSTANCE AND A GREAT BEAUTY.
WHY IS THAT?
HOW DID WE GET THAT?
IS IT A BUILDING OR A PIECE OF
SCULPTURE?
A BUILDING SERVES A FUNCTION, A
SCULPTURE IS JUST A SCULPTURE.
AND I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT
OF BOTH.
WHY DOES THAT FORM COMBINE ART
IN ARCHITECTURE?
WELL IT WAS INSPIRED BY ART IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
>> SO THAT WAS THE OPENING OF
THE FILM AND IT STARTS OFF LIKE
A CONVENTIONAL DOCUMENTARY, BUT
IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T END UP
THAT WAY BECAUSE AS I STARTED
REIMAGINING THE SPACE NEEDLE AS
GENDERED, IT INTRODUCED ALL
SORTS OF NEW COLLABORATIVE
ELEMENTS INCLUDING POETRY,
DANCE, AND NEW VOICES.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE
SECOND SHORT CLIP AND THEN TELL
YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT
ASSUMING THERE'S TIME.
>> IN 2012 WE'RE GETTING READY
TO CELEBRATE OUR 50th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPACE
NEEDLE.
WE LOOK BACK THROUGH OUR
ARCHIVES, PUTTING A BOOK
TOGETHER, TRYING TO FIND
INTERESTING FACTS AND
DIRECTIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE
LEANING.
SO WE CAME ACROSS A REFERENCE
TO THE ONE.
>> HE TELLS THE STORY AND
DIRECTIONS OF PEOPLE GOING.
WE LOOK BACK THROUGH OUR
ARCHIVES AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW,
PUTTING A BOOK TOGETHER, TRYING
TO FIND INTERESTING FACTS, AND
DIRECTIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE
LEANING.
SO WE CAME ACROSS A REFERENCE
TO THE FEMININE ONE IN VICTOR'S
OFFICE.
>> HE TELLS A STORY IN A
JOURNAL THAT I HAVE THAT HE
WROTE IN THE SUMMER OF 1960, A
HANDWRITTEN JOURNAL.
FEELING THAT I NEEDED TO TRY
FOR SOME FRESH IDEAS WITHOUT
THE PRESSURE OF PRODUCING
SOMETHING WITH THE FORMS THAT
WAS IN THE OFFICE, I STARTED TO
WORK AT HOME, LOOKING FOR
IDEAS.
>> VICTOR TOOK THAT SUMMER AND
JUST, YOU KNOW, WORKED ALONE,
JUST KEPT COMING UP WITH IDEAS,
AND AT ONE POINT HE LOOKED
ACROSS HIS TABLE AND THERE HE
HAD A BEAUTIFUL WOOD SCULPTURE
AND SUDDENLY IT DAWNED ON HIM
THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE
REALLY REPRESENTED HOW HE
WANTED TO GO AS YOU USE THAT AS
WHAT YOU LIKED.
ONE EVENING I THOUGHT OF AND
PUT DOWN ON PAPER THE ESSENTIAL
CONCEPT THAT HAS BECOME THE
NEEDLE.
WHEN I HAD DRAWN THE IDEA IN MY
OFFICE, I CAME OUT AND TOLD
ELAINE THAT I GOT IT, I GOT IT.
THE IDEA THAT THEY WILL TAKE
FOR THE TOWER.
THE SOURCE OF THE IDEA IS THE
WOODEN SCULPTURE OF DAVID
LEMONS THAT WE HAD HAD FOR
ABOUT TEN YEARS.
DAVE CALLS IT THE FEMININE ONE.
>> AND HE HAD THAT SITTING AT
THE END OF HIS DESK WHEN HE WAS
WORKING DAILY ON THE NEW DESIGN
OUTSIDE THE BOX DESIGN OF THE
SPACE NEEDLE.
THAT'S WHERE THIS IDEA CAME
FROM.
>> NEAT.
>> SO THAT IS A SLOW REVEAL.
THE REST OF THE FILM GOES INTO
EXPLORING MORE ABOUT THE GENDER
IDENTITY OF THE SPACE NEEDLE.
I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH A
THOUGHT, WHICH IS WHAT WOULD IT
LOOK LIKE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE IF
YOU STARTED ENVISIONING THIS
ICON OF A REGION AS HAVING A
FEMALE GAZE.
SOMETHING, AN ENTITY THAT WOULD
BE LOOKING AT IN THE WORLD, BUT
NOT FROM THE MASCULINE WAR-LIKE
IMAGE.
I DON'T REALIZE THAT'S A BIT
STEREOTYPICAL, BUT MORE AS A
WELCOMING, EMPOWERING FIGURE.
SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT IT, BUT FILMS WILL
BE SHOWN AT BUMPER SHOOT AND
ALSO WE'RE HAVING A SPECIAL
SHOWING WITH SOME OF THE
ARTISTS WHO MADE THE FILM
POSSIBLE AT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY ON OCTOBER 22 AT 7:00.
AT THAT TIME THE POETS AND THE
DANCERS, AND THEMUSICIANS, ALL
WOMEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY WILL
BE PRESENT AS WELL, SO THANK
YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
JUST A SHOUT OUT TO SOME OF THE
OTHER FOLKS INVOLVED THAT IT
SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A
CHANCE TO MEET.
JORDAN ARMANI KEITH, FORMER
CIVIC POET HERE FOR SEATTLE AS
WELL AS I BELIEVE THERE'S DANCE
AND MUSICAL.
>> YES, GRETCHEN YANOVER THE
ELECTRIC CELLIST.
WHO DANCES WITH SPECTRUM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
REALLY IMAGINATIVE AND
CHALLENGING IMAGERY AND USING
SORT OF SEATTLE TO REALLY THINK
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY
AND HOW WE WANT TO ENVISION IT
MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S FUN TO HAVE THE FAMILIAR
VOICE OF FORMER COUNCIL
MEMBERIN THE CHAMBERS AGAIN.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, ALEX
WILL BE TAKING TIME AND YOU'LL
HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND
LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE A
MINUTE LEFT, 30 SECONDS LEFT,
AND WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
I'M GOING TO READ TWO NAMES
TOGETHER.
IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP TO
THE MICS.
THERE ARE THREE MICS.
BUT IF YOU COULD COME UP TO THE
TWO SEPARATE PLATFORMS.
THAT WAY JUST MOVES A LITTLE
MORE QUICKLY.
WE'LL START OFF WITH CAROLYN
MILONE FOLLOWED BY MACKENZI
GUY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
MY ISSUE IS A CONTINUING CIVIL
RIGHTS ISSUE WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE.
CORRUPT, RETALIATING COPS.
ON JULY 1, MY 74th BIRTHDAY, MY
DRIVER'S LICENSE OF 55 YEARS
WAS ILLEGALLY CANCELED BECAUSE
I FILED TOO MANY OPA COMPLAINTS
AGAINST POLICE FOR HARASSMENT
AND OTHER CRIMES.
AND SO OFFICERS, JOHN ENGSTROM,
PHILLIP HASKINS AND BEE CONWAY
SUSPENDED MY LICENSE.
I CAN NO LONGER FLY.
I DON'T HAVE A VALID PHOTO
I.D., EVEN THOUGH I RETAIN MY
DRIVER'S LICENSE.
BUT THE REMOVAL ARE SUSPENSION,
CANCELLATION ON MY RECORD,
PREVENTS ME FROM DOING MANY
THINGS THAT I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO FOR 55
UNIMPEDED TROUBLE-FREE YEARS.
I NOW HAVE HOUSING AFTER FIVE
YEARS OF HOMELESSNESS CREATED
BY POLICE.
AND IN MY HOUSING BECAUSE I
FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THESE
OFFICERS FOR THEIR SUSPENSION,
I'M THREATENED AFTER THREE
MONTHS WITH EVICTION IN THE
HOUSING.
AND SO I'M A FIGHTER, I'M A
SURVIVOR, AND I INTEND TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON, BUT THIS
IS A PHOTO OF MY DRIVER'S
LICENSE.
I HAVE MY LICENSE, I NEVER
SURRENDERED MY LICENSE BECAUSE
THE SUSPENSION AND ULTIMATE
CANCELLATION IS ILLEGAL.
THANK YOU.
>> MACKENZI GUY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY I BELIEVE IT IS
JORDAN, SOMEBODY WITH A C.
OKAY.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MACKENZI GUY, I'M A
SEATTLE RESIDENT AND A YOUTH
OCEAN ADVOCATE AT THE SEATTLE
AQUARIUM.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF PLASTIC
BAG BANS IN SEATTLE.
I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE MY WHOLE
LIFE AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR FOUR
GENERATIONS.
I CARE A LOT ABOUT OUR LOCAL
ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO GROW UP
NEXT TO AN AMAZING BODY OF
WATER THAT HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH
JOY.
MY FIRST MEMORY IS ACTUALLY
SEEING A POD OF OUR LOCAL
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER
WHALES.
I HOLD ON TO THIS MEMORY AND
OTHER MEMORIES THAT I HAVE
GOTTEN FROM MY LOCAL
ENVIRONMENT VERY CLOSE TO MY
HEART.
WE LIVE IN SUCH A RICH AND
DIVERSE AREA AND MANY PEOPLE
DON'T GET TO EXPERIENCE THE
JOYS OF LIVING IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST.
AND ALL IT HAS TO OFFER.
AS SEATTLE, WE ARE INCREDIBLY
LUCKY TO LIVE NEXT TO AN
AMAZING BODY OF WATER THAT IS
HOME TO AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF
MARINE LIFE AS WELL AS AN
AMAZING ECO SYSTEM.
WE NEED TO HELP PROTECT IT.
PLASTIC IS GREATLY HARMING THE
EARTH AND ON ITS LANDS AND IN
ITS OCEANS.
PLASTIC NEVER TRULY BREAKS DOWN
INTO NOTHING.
IT JUST SPLITS UP INTO SMALLER
AND SMALLER PIECES.
TO CERTAIN SPECIES OF FISH AND
OTHER PLANKTON-EATING
ORGANISMS, MICROSCHISMS LOOK
LIKE PLANKTON.
ONCE THEY EAT THE MICRO
PLASTICS, IT WON'T GET OUT OF
THEIR BODIES.
THOSE MICRO PLASTICS ARE
CARRIED ON TO WHATEVER EAT
THOSE FISH LIKE BIGGER MARINE
ANIMALS OR HUMANS.
THIS MEANS THAT WE TOO CAN EAT
PLASTIC.
IT IS NOW ESTIMATES THAT HUMANS
ARE CONSUMING 39,000 TO 52,000
MICRO PLASTIC PARTICLES A YEAR.
AS OTHER CITIES, STATES, EVEN
COUNTRIES, ENACTING MORE BANS
ON PLASTIC.
SEATTLE NEEDS TO CONTINUE OUR
WORK TO PROTECT OUR LOCAL
ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS THE
WHOLE OCEAN BY HAVING MORE BANS
ON SINGLE-USE PLASTICS IN
SEATTLE, SO OUR LOCAL ECO
SYSTEMS AND ANIMALS THRIVE
INSTEAD OF DETERIORATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JORDAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
KELSEY VALDEZ.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JORDAN AND
I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE
PLASTIC BAN.
I AM FROM THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM
AS WELL IN THE YOUTH OCEAN
ADVOCATE AS WELL.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE MY
WHOLE LIFE, SINCE I WAS FOUR
YEARS OLD.
BEFORE THAT I LIVED IN SPOKANE.
AND I'VE LOVED OUR WATER FOR AS
LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
LIKE THE WATER IS JUST
SOMETHING I LIVE, I TAKE CARE
OF.
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW IN 2020
ESTIMATED TO BE 50 MILLION
POUNDS OF PLASTIC IN OUR OCEAN
AND THAT IS DEVASTATING.
WE ARE JUST PUTTING THINGS INTO
THE OCEAN THAT I THINK PEOPLE
DON'T RECOGNIZE LIKE MACKENZI
SAID IS THAT THE FISH EAT THE
PLASTIC AND THEN WE EAT THE
FISH, SO IT'S NOT JUST THE FISH
BEING AFFECTED, BUT ALSO US
BEING AFFECTED.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S A
BIGGER CAUSE IN WHAT PEOPLE
RECOGNIZE.
I ALSO THINK THAT WE ARE DOING
A GOOD JOB BY BANNING PLASTICS,
BUT I THINK WE COULD DO MORE IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
SORRY, I LOST MY TRAIN OF
THOUGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OF YOU GUYS
JUST TO MAKE MICRO BEADS,
OUTLAWED IN SEATTLE BECAUSE
THEY ARE A REALLY BIG PROBLEM.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING WE
TALK, MICRO BEADS, OH MY GOSH
MICRO BEADS.
SO YEAH, THANK YOU.
>> AND KELSEY VALDEZ FOLLOWED
BY DAVID GARCIA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KELSEY VALDEZ AND
I'M PART OF THE VALLEY YOUTH.
I LIVE IN SOUTH PARK.
AND IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS ME
AND MY COWORKERS HAVE BEEN
CLEANING UP ALL AROUND OUR
COMMUNITY AND BEEN FINDING A
LOT OF TRASH AND POLLUTION AND
PLASTIC.
WE HAVE MEASURED AND FILLED UP
AT LEAST 30 TO 40 BUCKETS OF
PLASTIC AND TRASH.
PLASTIC WAS THE MOST QUANTIFIED
ITEM IN OUR LITTER ASSESSMENT.
I FEEL VERY DISAPPOINTED FOR MY
COMMUNITY BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE
SEE US WALKING IN THE STREETS,
PICKING UP, AND LIKE JUST
CLEANING, BUT THEN AT THE END
OF THE TWO WEEKS, WE GO OUT
AGAIN AND THERE'S MANY TRASH
STILL.
SO I FEEL VERY DISAPPOINTED
BECAUSE THEY SEE US WORKING
VERY HARD TO PRESSURE OUR
GOALS, BUT THEN THEY RUIN IT BY
JUST LITTERING, LIKE LEAVING
THEIR STUFF IN THE STREETS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DAVID GARCIA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ALEXA STORM.
>> HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS
DAVID GARCIA AND I'M A PART OF
THE YOUTH CORE.
TODAY I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT OUR
EXPERIENCE GOING TO ECOLOGY,
WHICH IS A FACILITY OF
RECYCLING.
ON OUR TRIP THERE WE SAW THERE
WAS A LOT OF PLASTIC AND I WAS
SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MUCH PLASTIC
THE COMMUNITY WASTES.
THE THING THAT SHOCKED ME THE
MOST IS THAT MOST OF THE
RECYCLING WAS MIXED WITH TRASH
AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT MADE
IT NOT ABLE TO BE RECYCLED.
AND THAT REALLY SHOCKED ME AND
REALLY MADE ME THINK A LOT
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE
RECYCLE, BUT IF THEY DON'T PUT
THE RIGHT THINGS INSIDE OF IT,
IT JUST REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE.
LIKE YOU DON'T, LIKE WE CAN'T
DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IF PEOPLE
DON'T GO IN AND DO THE RIGHT
THING.
SO I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO
RECYCLE AND THINK ABOUT WHAT
THEY ARE RECYCLING, FIND OUT
WHAT GOES IN AND WHAT DOESN'T
GO IN.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING ALEXIS WILL BE
BRUCE SPITE.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ALEXIS STORM AND I
AM A PART OF THE VALLEY YOUTH
CORE ALSO.
I LIVE NEAR AN AREA CALLED
BOULEVARD PARK, WHICH IS RIGHT
BETWEEN BURIEN WHITE CENTER AND
SOUTH PARK.
RECENTLY OUR GROUP HAS LEARNED
A LOT ABOUT PLASTIC POLLUTION
AND ITS AFFECTS UPON OUR
CURRENT WORLD.
WE LEARNED THE PRODUCTION OF
PLASTICS HAS BEEN ON HIGH-RISE
SINCE THE 80s.
EVERYWHERE WE LOOK ALMOST
EVERYTHING THAT WE PURCHASE
TURNS OUT TO BE MADE OF
PLASTIC.
UNFORTUNATELY A MAJORITY OF THE
PLASTICS SUCH AS WATER BOTTLES
AND THE GENERAL PLASTIC
PACKAGING IS SINGLE USE.
THE REVELATION OF THESE FACTS
IN THAT IS NOT ONLY BECOMING
EVEN MORE POPULAR AND USED, BUT
BECOMING MORE WASTEFUL AND
SPACE CONSUMING AND OUR WORLD
HAS MADE US THE YOUTH,
REALIZING IT WILL BE A HUGE
PROBLEM DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.
WITH THE INCREASE TIME AND THE
INCREASE USE OF PLASTIC,
ALTHOUGH IT IS A GREAT SHAME.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN IT IS IN THE
INTEREST OF OUR WORLD, OUR
ENVIRONMENT, OUR LOVED ONES,
FUTURE LOVED ONES, YOU AND I
THAT THIS CONCERN OF PLASTIC
POLLUTION BE CONFRONTED.
>> FOLLOWING BRUCE WHERE SHE
DANIEL CLINKER.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
BRUCE SPADE, THE DIRECTOR OF
WASHINGTON.
A STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF
MEMBERS HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE
REPORT ON PLASTICS, BUT WANTED
TO SHARE A FEW QUICK THOUGHTS
ABOUT ADDITIONAL STEPS, TAKING
TO ADDRESS PLASTIC POLLUTION.
FIRST WE APPRECIATE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S LEADERSHIP ON
REDUCING PLASTIC POLLUTION AND
HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER DOING
MORE AS WE ARE SEEING CITIES
AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TAKE INCREASING ACTIONS TO
REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION.
NOTHING WE USE FOR A FEW
MINUTES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
POLLUTE OUR RIVERS, OCEANS FOR
HUNDREDS OF YEARS ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE DON'T REALLY NEED IT.
SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND PLASTIC
FRAGMENTS AND LITERALLY
HUNDREDS OF SPECIES INCLUDING
86% OF THE SEA TURTLE SPECIES
AND 43% OF ALL MARINE MAMMAL
SPECIES.
AND THESE FRAGMENTS ARE OFTEN
FATAL.
ANIMALS CAN STARVE WHEN THEY
INGEST TOO MUCH PLASTIC THAT
THEY CAN'T DIGEST.
WHEN ANIMALS INGEST PLASTIC
WASTE, IT COULD BLOCK THEIR
DIGESTIVE TRACKS.
AS A RESULT THEY STARVE.
TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PLASTIC CAN
HARM ANIMALS HEALTH AND PEOPLE
CAN INGEST THESE CHEMICALS AS
WELL AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP
THE FOOD CHAIN.
IN THEIR 2017 MICRO PLASTIC
DISTRIBUTION OF PUGET SOUND
REPORT, PUGET SOUND KEEPER
ALLIANCE FOUND 93% OF THE 44
SAMPLES TAKEN CONTAINED AT
LEAST ONE MICRO PLASTIC.
PLASTICS ARE A MAJOR PROBLEM AS
WE ALL KNOW IN PUGET SOUND.
AGGRESSIVE ACTION BY CITIES AND
GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE
REGION CAN HELP TURN THE TIDE
AND REDUCE THE IMPACT PLASTICS
ARE HAVING ON PUGET SOUND, OUR
WATERS GENERALLY, MARINE
WILDLIFE, AND HUMAN HEALTH.
ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL IS TO
REDUCE AND ELIMINATE PLASTIC
POLLUTIONS.
TO THAT END ENVIRONMENT
WASHINGTON WOULD BE EAGER TO
WORK WITH YOU TO TAKE
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ADDRESS
PLASTIC POLLUTION HERE IN
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> FOLLOWING DANIEL IS HEATHER
TRIM.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS DANIEL CLINTER, I'M
AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONCERNED
CITIZEN LIVING IN DISTRICT
THREE.
I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO
ADVOCATE FOR EVERY OTHER WEEK
TRASH PICK UP INSTEAD OF WEEKLY
TRASH PICK UP.
I'VE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT
RECYCLING SINCE I WAS A
TEENAGER.
BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL I RAN A
SHIFT OF THE RECYCLING TEAM AT
MY HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THE
JANITORIAL CONTRACTS DIDN'T
PERMIT RECYCLING.
SO I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW
RECYCLING WORKED AND HOW TO
MAXIMIZE IT AS A WAY OF
REDUCING WASTE.
I BELIEVE THAT BI-WEEKLY TRASH
PICK UP WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT
MEANS OF DOING THAT.
BESIDES THE OBVIOUS BENEFIT TO
BOTH AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION OF
HAVING FEWER TRUCKS ON THE
ROAD.
IT ALSO HAS BEEN SHOWN IN THE
CITIES OF TACOMA, PORTLAND, AND
OLYMPIA SPECIFICALLY TO
ACTUALLY DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF
WASTE THAT IS BEING SENT TO THE
DUMP RATHER THAN TO DESIGNATED
RECYCLING CENTERS.
ULTIMATELY REDUCING THE AMOUNT
OF DISPOSABLE MATERIALS IS
PARAMOUNT, THE IDEA END GAME AS
MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE
DISCUSSED.
IN THE MEANTIME WHILE WE DO
CONTINUE TO CREATE AND USE
DISPOSABLE PACKAGING AND
DISPOSABLE PLASTICS, WE SHOULD
DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DISPOSING
OF THOSE THINGS RESPONSIBLY.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER SWITCHING
TRASH PICKUP FROM WEEKLY TO BI-
WEEKLY.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
PERSONS.
MY NAME IS HEATHER TRIM,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ZERO
WASTE WASHINGTON.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE TRASH
OBSOLETE IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, BUT WE DO SEE
SEATTLE AS A MAJOR LEADER IN
HELPING TO DO NEW AND
INNOVATIVE THINGS.
LAST NIGHT THE CITY COUNCIL,
THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN KITSAP,
THE COMMISSION, WAS SUPPOSE TO
VOTE ON THE 30th BAG ORDINANCE
IN WASHINGTON.
THEY DECIDED TO PUT IT ON THEIR
CONSENT AGENDA FOR AUGUST 12
INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY TAKING THE
VOTE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S
GOING VERY WELL THERE.
SO SEATTLE WAS A PART OF THE
FIRST WAVE OF ORDINANCES FOR
PLASTIC BAGS IN WASHINGTON,
WHICH HAS NOW AS YOU KNOW SWEPT
THE COUNTRY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF
THAT IN WASHINGTON AND OTHER
CITIES AND YOU TO TAKE THE NEXT
STEP HERE.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
ON THE WAY UP HERE FROM OUR
OFFICE, FOUND THIS PLASTIC BAG.
A SMALL T-SHIRT BAG, A STRAW,
AND A PLASTIC LID ALL WITHIN A
FEW FEET RIGHT BELOW CITY HALL.
SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE A WAYS TO
GO HERE EVEN IN SEATTLE.
THE -- THE ISSUE OF FOOD
SERVICE WARE IS A TOUGH ISSUE.
WHEN WE PASSED THE FIRST
ORDINANCE HERE IN SEATTLE IN
2008, IT WAS THE STRONGEST IN
THE COUNTRY.
BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
WE HAVE A RECYCLING CRISIS.
WE HAVE NEW PRODUCTS THAT ARE
COMING FROM MANUFACTURERS,
THINGS HAVE GOTTEN VERY TOUGH.
AND SO IT DOES SEEM THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LEADERSHIP
STEPS ON ADDRESSING PLASTICS IN
A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS, SO THANK
YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE
PRESENTATION TODAY AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN
THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
GREAT, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR
TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR MORNING
TO COME IN AND SPEAK WITH US
TODAY.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLKS
FROM THE YOUTH CORE AS WELL AS
THE YOUTH FROM THE SEATTLE
AQUARIUM AND RECOGNITION TO
COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN WHO HAS
JOINED US TODAY, AND ALSO FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP IN THESE ISSUES.
AND REALLY THE COUNCIL MEMBER
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPORT THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY IN
MANY, MANY WAYS.
SO WITH THAT I THINK WE'LL JUST
JUMP RIGHT IN TO ITEM ONE ON
THE AGENDA.
>> 2019 REPORT ON SEATTLE BAG
BAN COMPLIANCE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> QUICK INTRODUCTIONS AND THEN
BRIAN, IF YOU KICK US OFF AFTER
THE INTRODUCTIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU, BRIAN
GOODNIGHT, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> SEGO JACKSON, SPU.
>> SUSAN FIFE FERRIS WITH SPU,
THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR SOLID
WASTE LINE OF BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU.
SO IN 2011 COUNCIL DID APPROVE
AN ORDINANCE BANNING SINGLE-USE
PLASTIC CARRY-OUT BAGS IN
RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.
FIVE YEARS LATER COUNCIL MADE A
FEW REVISIONS TO THE BAG BAN
REVISIONS AND PROVIDED AN
EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION DOES MAKE
THAT PRESENTATION FOR THE 2019
UPDATES, AND ALSO CONTAINS SOME
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
LASTLY I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR
ATTENTION IN YOUR PACKETS IS A
MEMO THAT DOES PROVIDE KIND OF
A BACKGROUND ON HIGH-LEVEL
SUMMARIES OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE REPORT.
ADDITIONALLY THE FINAL SECTION
FEW ISSUES RELATED TO THE BAG A-
BAN AND TO OTHER SOLID WASTE
ISSUES THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD IS CURRENTLY
INVESTIGATING OR PURSUING, SO
THOSE ARE LISTED AT THE END OF
THE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND JUST FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC AND FOR FOLKS WHO SPOKE
IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ONE OF
THE ITEMS REFERENCED IN THE
MEMO THAT MR. GOODNIGHT JUST
TALKED ABOUT.
THERE IS A PENSION OF OUR
INTEREST IN LOOKING AT EVERY
OTHER WEEK GARBAGE COLLECTION.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING IN OUR NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING.
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING WE HAD A
PRESENTATION OF THE 2012 PILOT
OF EVERY OTHER WEEK GARBAGE
COLLECTION.
WE HEARD FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ABOUT THE LESSENS LEARNED IN
THAT PILOT.
WE IDENTIFIED SOME FOLLOW-
UPQUESTIONS FOR SPU.
WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO KICK
OFF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO TALK
ABOUT THE BAG BAN UPDATE.
AS BRIAN SAID, THIS IS AN
ANNUAL THING WE'VE DONE FOR THE
LAST THREE YEARS.
IT BASICALLY, THIS YEAR BUILDS
ON LAST YEAR'S REPORT.
WE HIGHLIGHT NOTABLE
DEVELOPMENTS AND THEN TALK
ABOUT NEXT STEPS.
WHAT OUR BIG FOCUS ON WITH THE
ORDINANCES IS ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS OF
OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR
RESIDENTS.
AND THEN THE REPORT BASICALLY
WE COVER FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE COVER FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS
THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, WHICH
IS THE LITTER REDUCTION
BENEFITS, THE STRATEGIES TO
INCREASE THE COMPLIANCE.
I EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
ORDINANCE IN REDUCING THE
CONTAMINATION IN OUR ORGANIC
STREAM.
AND THEN ALSO STRATEGIES TO
ADDRESS IMPACTS OF THE LOOSE
BAGS AT THE CURB SIDE.
SO THAT IS WHERE OUR BIG FOCUS
IS FOR THE REPORT.
WITH THAT I'M GOING TO HAND IT
OFF TO SEGO WHO IS GOING TO GO
INTO THE DETAILS AND THEN WE'RE
BOTH AVAILABLE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT, THANKS.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THE DATA WE
USE IN THE SURVEYS IS WHAT WE
WILL BE REPORTING ON, LARGELY
CONDUCTED BY EVAN SCHOOL
STUDENT CONSULTANTS IN THE SPU
GREEN BUSINESS TEAM.
THE EVAN'S SCHOOL HAS BEEN
TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL TO US.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO
DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE
EXISTING ORDINANCES AND WHAT IS
REQUIRED.
SO PLASTIC CARRY-OUT SHOPPING
BAGS ARE BANNED.
LARGE PAPER SHOPPING BAGS ARE
ALLOWED, BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE
40% POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED
CONTENT, AND THEY ALSO HAVE TO
HAVE A MINIMUM PASS THROUGH
CHARGE OF $0.05, AND THAT IS
KEPT BY THE RETAILER TO HELP
OFFSET THE COSTS.
SMALLER PAPER BAGS ARE ALLOWED
AND ALLOWED AND CAN BE FREE.
CLEAR PLASTIC BAGS FOR BULKING
FOOD, PRODUCE ARE ALSO ALLOWED
AND FREE.
THEN WHAT'S BANNED, MORE
RECENTLY WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
PRESENTATION.
GREEN PLASTIC BAGS LIKE GREEN
PRODUCE BAGS ARE NOW BANNED IN
TERMS OF THE TINTING COLOR.
THEY CAN'T BE TINTED GREEN OR
BROWN.
SO 2.25 MILL THICKER BAGS,
PLASTIC FILM BAGS ARE ALLOWED,
CONSIDERED REUSABLE IN THE
CURRENT ORDINANCE.
NO REQUIREMENT FOR THE PASS
THROUGH FEE.
THEY DO NOT APPLY TO CARRY-OUT
BAGS FOR TAKEOUT FOODS.
WE DON'T USE THE TERM CARRYOUT
FOR TAKEOUT FOOD.
AND THAT IS ONE THING THAT I
WANTED TO POINT OUT TO YOU.
AND COMPOSTABLE BAGS, THEY'RE
NOT ALLOWED TO BE CARRY-OUT
BAGS, BUT WOULD BE ALLOWED FOR
TAKE-OUT FOOD.
I'LL GO OVER THAT TOO.
AND THEN COMPOSTABLE BAGS THAT
ARE ALLOWED FOR PRODUCE HAVE TO
BE TINTED GREEN OR BROWN.
>> ON THE FIVE-CENT CHARGE,
JUST MAKING A NOTE THAT THAT
WAS INTENDED BY THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION OF THE SUNSET AND
THEN WE PASSED LEGISLATION,
LIFTING THE SUNSET.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE, THERE
MIGHT BE A RECOMMENDATION
RELATED TO THAT CHARGE AS WELL
THAT WE WILL HEAR ABOUT LATER.
>> AND IT IS BUILT ON OTHER
REPORTS.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER ALL
THAT DETAIL AND REALLY STICK TO
THE HIGH POINTS IN SOME
UPDATES.
IT HAS A LOT OF DETAIL.
AND SO IN TERMS OF WASTE AND
LITTER REDUCTION, SEATTLE HAS
REALLY SERVED THIS IMPORTANT
LEADERSHIP ROLE RELATED TO THE
BAG BANS AND THERE ARE MORE
ADDED SINCE THIS POWER POINT
HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER.
THERE ARE NOW 29, NOT 28 LOCAL
BAG BANS IN THE STATE.
THAT WOULD BE 10 SINCE 2018.
INCLUDING THREE MORE THAT ARE
NEAR SEATTLE, BURIEN, LAKE
FOREST PARK, AND KENMORE.
NOW THE REASON WE POINT THIS
OUT AS WELL AS A SOURCE OF BAGS
COMING INTO THE CITY ARE FROM
OUR SHOPPERS THAT GET WITH THE
PLACES TO BRING THE BAGS BACK.
THE MORE CONSISTENT THESE BAG
BANS CAN BE AROUND US, THE
BETTER IT WILL BE FOR US.
THERE IS ALSO STATE BAG BAN
LEGISLATION THAT WAS INTRODUCED
IN 2019.
IT WILL BE BACK IN 2020.
THAT WAS SB5323.
NOW A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT ON THAT, THAT
DEFINITELY GOES TO THE NEXT
STEPS THAT ARE POSITIVE.
BUT IT DOESN'T DO EVERYTHING
THAT MIGHT BE GOOD TO DO IN THE
FUTURE AND HELPS ALL LOCAL
LEGISLATION INCLUDING SEATTLE'S
ORDINANCE.
THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE AWARE
OF.
AND THEN ALL THIS WORKS
TOGETHER TO REALLY REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF PLASTIC BAGS IN THE
WASTE STREAM AND IN LITTER, BUT
WE DON'T HAVE REALLY GOOD
MEASUREMENTS FOR WHAT WE ARE
SEEING IN LITTER RIGHT NOW.
WASHINGTON IS PILOTING THE WAY
TO QUANTIFY LITTER IN PUBLIC
PLACES, AND WE WANT TO LEARN
FROM WHAT THEY DISCOVERED AND
SEE WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THAT.
I THINK THE YOUTH CORE IS
PROBABLY INVOLVED WITH THAT.
>>> IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE, THE
OVERALL COMPLAINTS RATE IS NOW
85%.
THERE'S A MISTAKE ON THIS
SLIDE.
I FOUND WHEN PREPPING FOR
TODAY.
THAT SHOULD BE 227 BUSINESSES
SURVEYED WITH 193 COMPLIANT.
THAT WAS FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR
REPORT.
THE ONGOING OUTREACH THAT WE DO
AND THE EXPANSION OF THE BAG
BANS WILL INCREASE COMPLIANCE.
WE NOW HAVE OUTREACH MATERIALS
THAT ARE IN 18 LANGUAGES AND
WELL ONE HAS BEEN TRANSCREATED
INTO CHINESE AND ONE IS IN THE
PROCESS OF BEING TRANSLATED,
TRANSCREATED INTO SPANISH.
WHAT THIS CHART IS SHOWING YOU
IS BY THE TYPE OF STORE, THE
NUMBER OF STORES THAT WERE
SURVEYED AND BLUE IS COMPLIANCE
AND THEN OTHER COLORS SHOW HOW
THEY ARE NOT COMPLIANT.
I REALIZED IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
TO PROVIDE THE ACTUAL
PERCENTAGES HERE TOO.
LET ME DO THAT REAL QUICKLY FOR
YOU.
SMALL REARE TAIL, 93%
COMPLIANT.
LARGE RETAIL IS 94%.
ETHNIC GROCERIES, 60%.
MEETING GROCERIES 84% AND LARGE
GROCERIES 94%.
THE LARGE GROCERIES ORIGINALLY
IN THE WORK LEADING UP TO THE
ORIGINAL BAN THERE AFTERWARDS
IS IDENTIFIED AS THE BIGGER
SOURCE OF THE PLASTIC CARRY-OUT
BAGS IN THE CITY.
94% COMPLIANT RATE IS
SIGNIFICANT.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
HIGH USE OF PLASTIC BAGS IN ET
FIBBING GROCERIES AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR OUTREACH
MATERIALS ARE IN MANY DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES, I THINK 18.
I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT
SPU STAFF ARE FLUENT IN
COMMUNICATING VERBALLY AS WELL
AS THE ORDINANCE.
JUST ANY INSIGHT AS TO, YOU
KNOW, ABOVE AND BEYOND
KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW, WHAT YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE HIGH USE OF
PLASTIC BAGS.
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WOULD SAY NO, WE'RE NOT
FLUENT, BUT OUR CONSULTANTS
ARE.
SO WE HAVE SOME OTHER
CONSULTANCIES THAT GO OUT AND
WORK WITH BUSINESSES AND
LANGUAGE.
AND THAT'S WHERE THOSE
TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS ARE REALLY
HELPFUL TOO.
THE FEEDBACK WE GET IS FROM
SURVEYING ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
TOLD, IT'S LIKE 30%, 40% ARE
NOT AWARE OF THE LEGISLATION.
WE ALSO HEAR, I THINK THERE'S A
LANGUAGE BARRIER SITUATION.
THE OTHER THING WE HEAR IS THAT
THERE ARE SOME GROUPS WHERE OUR
CUSTOMERS ARE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT
WANTING PLASTIC BAGS, SO THERE
IS A CULTURAL CHANGE THERE THAT
NEEDS TO BE WORKED AT.
I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY THE
PRIMARY THINGS.
THIS HAD IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS
WHERE IT SEEMS TO BE STEADILY
INCREASING IN TERMS OF
COMPLIANCE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS
A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN?
>> YOU USE THE TERMS SURVEYED
ON THIS.
IS THAT LIKE SOMEONE GETS ON
THE PHONE AND CALLS UP A
GROCERY STORE AND ASK?
>> IN-PERSON SURVEYS.
>> THEY'RE OBSERVING WHAT THEY
ARE GIVING OUT?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THEN I KNOW WHEN WE
ORIGINALLY PASSED THE
LEGISLATION IN 2011, THERE WAS
A LOT OF WORK DONE BY BOTH THE
CITY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON
OUTREACH AT THE GROCERY STORES.
WE RECOGNIZED THAT WAS A
PARTICULAR CHALLENGE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT TO
DISTRIBUTE SOME FREE REUSABLE
BAGS FOR FOLKS TO GET IT TO
THEIR CUSTOMERS IN DIFFERENT
WAYS.
I'M A LITTLE STUNNED THAT EIGHT
YEARS LATER WE STILL HAVE THIS.
AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE
NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT HAS HAPPENED
IN THE INTERVENING EIGHT YEARS?
I MEAN WHAT EFFORTS HAVE WE
DONE TO GET INTO COMPLIANCE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE THE ONGOING
OUTREACH THAT I DESCRIBED.
IN TERMS OF ANY FORM OF
ENORCEMENT, WE'VE ACTUALLY NOT
DONE ENFORCEMENT ON THE BAG
LEGISLATION DATE.
IT HAS ALL BEEN WHEN THERE'S A
COMPLAINT OR WHEN WE SURVEY A
PLACE OR WE SEE, NOT WHEN WE
SURVEY, BUT WE'RE DOING SIGHT
VISITS.
WE SAW A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
APPLIED WITH WARNING LETTERS.
WE WOULD GO THROUGH A LITTLE
BIT OF WORK TO NOT ACTUALLY DO
A FINANCIAL ENFORCEMENT.
AND I THINK WE'RE HAVING
INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS AS A TIME
TO SHIFT ON THAT BECAUSE WE
THINK THERE'S A GROWING
AWARENESS BY EVERYONE.
THE PLASTIC POLLUTION PROBLEMS
AND MUCH MORE AWARENESS OF THE
PLASTIC BAGS TOO.
SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE
PROBABLY READY FOR THE SHIFT
AND JUST NEED A KNOWLEDGE.
>> I'M STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED
AS TO WHETHER THE NUMBER, NOT
THE GROCERY LIST, 30% TO 40% OF
THE GROCERIES ARE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE BECAUSE THEY'RE
USING PLASTIC BANS.
IS IT MAYBE NOT ACCURATE OR DO
THEY REALLY NOT KNOW DESPITE
ALL OF OUR EFFORTS?
SEEMS LIKE OVER EIGHT YEARS WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
CLEARLY WITH EVERY GROCERY
STORE IN SEATTLE THAT THIS IS
THE LAW.
AND IF THERE IS A REPEAT VISIT
AND SAY OKAY, WE'VE TOLD YOU
TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR, YOU
CLEARLY KNOW THIS, OR PEOPLE
THAT HAVE NOT HAD A TOUCH IN
EIGHT YEARS JUST FINDING OUT
ABOUT THIS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I HONESTLY
KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I DO KNOW WE NEED TO DO MORE
WORK.
I DO KNOW WE'RE WORKING VERY
HARD.
THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE.
I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS THIS
MORNING, DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.
BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY TO DO
SOME WORK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
EVEN TALK ABOUT BAGS IN SOME OF
THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES SO
THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST TALKING TO
THE BUSINESS OWNER, BUT THE
COMMUNITY ITSELF TOO, WHY THIS
IS IMPORTANT.
AND THIS IS MY PERSONAL
OBSERVATION THAT I THINK
SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN
INVITED IN TO MAKING THESE
BEHAVIOR CHANGES AS EFFECTIVELY
AS WE COULD AND WE HAVE JUST
GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE A MAGIC BULLET.
>> ALL RIGHT, I WOULD AS WE GET
MOVING INTO BUDGET THIS YEAR IF
IT IS A RESOURCE ISSUE, WE
WOULD LOVE TO THINK THROUGH HOW
TO MAKE SURE YOUR TEAM HAS THE
RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WHAT I RECALL IN 2011 AND I
IMAGINE MORE TRUE TODAY WAS TWO
THINGS.
ONE, TALKING TO SOME OF THE
ETHNIC GROCERIES AND
RESTAURANTS, JUST FOR THEM IT
WAS LIKE WE'RE BARELY HANGING
ON, TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THE
SYSTEM AND EVERY CHANGE YOU
MAKE IS REALLY HARD FOR US.
AND HOW DO WE DO THAT,
COMMUNICATE WITHIN?
AND LET YOU KNOW AT THE TIME WE
ARE GENEROUS.
YOU COULD WORK THROUGH ALL THE
THINGS, YOU DON'T NEED TO THROW
THOSE OUT.
THE OTHER CONVERSATION THAT WE
HAVE, WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT
BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THESE
ETHNIC GROCERY STORES, THE
COUNTRIES THAT THEY ORIGINALLY
COME FROM, BARING THE BRUNT OF
THE PLASTIC POLLUTION.
IT WASHES UP ON THE SHORES AND
IT IS REALLY POLLUTING THEIR
WATER WAYS.
AND SO SOME OF THEM WERE THE
MOST RESISTANT AND SOME OF THEM
WERE ALSO SOME OF THE IMMIGRANT
REFUGEES TO SEATTLE FOR THE
MOST SUPPORTIVE SAYING I HAVE
SEEN HOW DESTRUCTIVE PLASTIC
COULD BE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT
CONTRIBUTING TO A PROBLEM
THAT'S MADE THE COUNTRY, THAT
YOU OR I OR MY PARENTS CAME
FROM REALLY A MESS.
SO I THINK THERE ARE CHALLENGES
THERE, BUT ALSO GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT IT DOES REQUIRE RESOURCES.
IF THE REALITY IS IT'S SIMPLY A
COMPLAINT-BASED SYSTEM, THEN WE
PROBABLY NEED TO BE PUTTING
RESOURCES INTO THAT AND IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO THINK
THROUGH THE BUDGET.
>> JUST QUICKLY I WILL ADD SOME
ARE BANNING PLASTIC BAGS
THEMSELVES.
I THINK THAT WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE CULTURALLY AS WELL.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE UP THERE.
I WANT TO BE INTERESTED TO HAVE
A LITTLE BIT MORE GRANULAR
INFORMATION AFTER THE MEETING
ABOUT THE FOLLOW UP AFTER THE
SURVEY.
IT LOOKS LIKE 177 BUSINESSES
WERE SURVEYED.
DO YOU DO SORT OF AN EQUAL
CATEGORY OR DO YOU HAVE A
DEEPER SURVEY SAMPLES IN THE
TYPES OF STORES IN LAST YEAR'S
REPORTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS
NEEDING MORE, MORE, REACHING
BETTER COMPLIANCE RATES.
AND IF SO, WHAT DID YOU DO
AFTER THE SURVEY WITH THOSE
PARTICULAR, YOU SAID BROAD
BRUSH DESCRIBED IT, BUT IT JUST
SEEMS LIKE SOME DEEP EDUCATION
WITH THOSE INSTEAD OF JUST A
TOUCH, BUT SOME DEEP EDUCATION
WITH THE FOLKS THAT YOU HAVE
ALREADY SURVEYED WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
>> WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU AND
JUST REAL QUICKLY I COULD
RESPOND TO IT, WHICH THERE IS A
FOLLOWUP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROVIDED.
I THINK A COUPLE YEARS AGO
BEFORE YOU ASKED, YOU KNOW,
WHEN YOU FIND SOMEONE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE, DO YOU IN SURVEYING
THEM ENFORCE?
WE DON'T.
WE GO AND DO THOSE SURVEYS, WE
REALLY WANT TO GET THE
INFORMATION.
>> I REMEMBER THAT.
>> BUT WHAT KIND OF FOLLOW UP
IF IT IS NOT AN ENFORCEMENT
BASE FOLLOW UP?
>> WE WILL GET THAT FOR YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY OTHER AREAS OF
COMPLIANCES, AGAIN, MORE
RECENTLY.
THERE'S BEEN A REQUIREMENT FOR
PLASTIC BAGS TO BE TEMPTED,
THAT NON-COMPOSABLE PLASTIC
BAGS COULD NOT BE TINTED GREEN
OR BROWN.
AND COMPOSTABLE BAGS MUST BE
TINTED GREEN OR BROWN.
I WOULD SAY YOU PROBABLY
REMEMBER THIS IS CREATING A
MARKET SHIFT.
AND BEING TINTED GREEN, LIKE
COMPOSTABLE BAGS AND PEOPLE
WERE STARTING TO PUT THEIR FOOD
SCRAPS, UP IN THE COMPOST IN
THE COMPOST FACILITIES.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF MARKET
SHIFT WHERE CROWN POLLY CAME
OUT WITH AT LEAST WHAT THEY
DESCRIBED TO ME THEIR SEATTLE
BLUE PRODUCE BAG.
THIS IS THEIR GREEN TENANT
COMPOSTABLE BAGS.
>> THIS IS NOT COMPOSTABLE?
>> THAT IS NOT COMPOSTABLE.
>> THAT'S COMPLIANT?
>> THAT IS COMPLIANT.
THAT IS COMPLIANT BECAUSE IT'S
NOT GREEN AND ALSO NOT
COMPOSTABLE.
>> THAT IS NON-COMPLIANT.
>> THIS IS COMPLIANT?
>> CORRECT.
>> YES, YOU CAN TELL BY HOW IT
FEELS.
>> THEY SHIFTED FROM THAT BLUE
TO THE GREEN BAG?
>> THEY DID.
NOW THE LAST SURVEYING WE HAVE
DONE IS 63 GROCERY STORES
SURVEYED.
ONLY SIX OF THEM STILL HAD NON-
COMPLIANT PLASTIC GREEN-TINTED
BAGS.
I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THE OTHER
STUFF HERE IN A MINUTE, BUT
THAT IS PRETTY QUICK CHANGE.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO CONTAMINATION
IMPACTS THE CURB SIDE.
WE HAVE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT
IN THE PREVIOUS REPORT, BUT THE
PLASTIC BAGS, THEY HAVE HAD A
TREMENDOUS IMPACT WHEN THEY ARE
IN THE SYSTEM TO GO TO THE
MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITY.
WHEN INCLUDED IN 2009 IT WAS
WITH ALL GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT
IT HAS NOT WORKED AND HAS NOT
WORKED FOR A DIFFERENT REASON,
I WILL KEEP IT SHORT, BUT IT IS
EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, DANGEROUS,
FOR THE WORKERS TO GET IT IN
WITH BOX KNIVES AND IT WILL
SHUT DOWN TWICE A DAY TO CLEAN
OUT THE PLASTIC BAGS THAT WILL
CAUSE THE RECYCLABLES MOST
LIKELY AND PAPER.
AND THEN THAT FILM IS ACTUALLY
RECOVERED.
THERE'S NO DOMESTIC MARKET FOR
IT.
IT'S CONTAMINATED AND IT HAS
ALL, BEEN SHIPPED OFF TO
SOUTHEAST ASIA, TO CHINA.
AND NOW THOSE MATERIALS ARE
GOING TO OTHER PARTS OF
SOUTHEAST ASHA.
THIS DOESN'T REALLY MEET OUR
EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT
RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING IS, SO WE
HAVE WORKED WITH OTHERS AND ARE
TAKING THEM OUT OF THE CURB
SIDE SYSTEM.
IT'S A PHASED APPROACH THAT
SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY QUARTER
ONE OF 2020.
>> MAYBE A LITTLE MORE ON THAT.
IN OUR HOUSEHOLD HAVE NOTICED
THAT IT DOESN'T, THERE'S NO
PLASTIC BAG ON THERE.
IT DOESN'T SAY IT'S NOT
ALLOWED, DOESN'T SAY IT IS NOT
ALLOWED.
BUT AT THIS POINT, LET'S NOT
HAVE ANY PLASTIC BAGS.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT
AND WHAT IT MEANS.
>> YEAH.
OUR MATERIALS ARE STAGED
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO SINGLE
FAMILY WILL COME OUT IN ONE
TIME OF A YEAR AND ANOTHER
TIME.
AND SO AS WE ARE STAGING
THINGS, WE ARE STRIPPING OUT
THE PLASTIC BAG CONSTRUCTIONS
TO BAG THEM AND PUT THEM ON THE
CURB SIDE.
AND THEN TOWARDS THE END OF THE
YEAR IN BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR,
THERE WILL BE A CAMPAIGN AND A
LOT MORE INFORMATION GOING OUT
ABOUT NOT PUTTING THEM IN
THERE.
THAT'S A PART OF THE PHASING.
I WILL SPEAK TO YOU RIGHT NOW
ABOUT YOU ARE CORRECT THAT IT
WILL BE BETTER TO GO INTO
RECYCLING.
BUT TO PROVIDE THE RETAIL
TAKEBACK, THEY DON'T GO
THROUGH.
THEY ARE KEPT SEPARATE FROM THE
MATERIALS, SO IT WILL BE CLEAN
MATERIAL.
IT DOESN'T CREATE PROBLEMS, AND
THERE ARE DOMESTIC MARKETS
THOUGH, TEETERING A LITTLE BIT
RIGHT NOW FOR THOSE MATERIALS.
IN THE EXISTING RETAIL
PROGRAMS, WE ARE WORKING WITH
AN INDUSTRY-LED GROUP TO
STABILIZE, IMPROVE, HOPEFULLY
EXPAND THE NUMBER OF RETAILERS
THAT WILL TAKE THE BAGS BACK.
AND THAT IS WITH SUPPORT FROM
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING COALITION
AND RECYCLING PARTNERSHIPS, THE
ASSOCIATION PLASTIC RECYCLERS.
>> IF I COULD ADD SOMETHING, WE
ARE GOING TO ALSO FOCUS ON FILM
FOR PLASTIC FILM.
IF YOU GO TO A COSTCO OR ANY
LARGE RETAILER AND YOU BUY YOUR
TOILET PAPER OR OTHER KINDS OF
THINGS THAT WILL BE OFTEN
WRAPPED IN PLASTIC.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T
TARGETED SPECIFICALLY MUCH.
BUT WE WILL WITH THIS NEW
CAMPAIGN TO TARGET THAT TYPE OF
PLASTIC FILMS TO BE ABLE TO BE
TAKEN BACK TO THESE DROP-OFF
LOCATIONS.
>> OKAY, AGAIN, NOT IN THE CURB
SIDE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S TOO
PRAGMATIC.
BUT IF IT IS TAKEN BACK TO
COSTCO OR SAFEWAY WHATEVER, IN
HOPING THEY COULD EXPAND IT TO
THE OTHER TYPES OF FILMS.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN
HOUSEHOLDS A LOT.
IT ALL FEELS THE SAME, CAN'T I
JUST RECYCLE IT, THE GREEN
WISHING, WHATEVER THEY CALL IT
THERE, OPTIMISTIC RECYCLING.
AND SO MOVING ON TO SOME FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'VE SERVED A REALLY IMPORTANT
LEADERSHIP ROLE.
THE WORLD HAS KIND OF MOVED
ALONG.
WHILE -- SO THERE ARE NEW NEXT
STEPS THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO BE
TAKEN IN OTHER CITIES THAT ARE
TAKING THOSE, THE LEGISLATION
INCLUDING SOME OF THOSE, BUT
NOT COMPLETELY.
SO SOME ITEMS WE'VE TAGGED IN
TERMS OF FUTURE POTENTIAL WORK
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWS.
EXTENDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE EXISTING ORDINANCES TO
COVER TAKEOUT AND MEAL DELIVERY
SERVICE BAGS ALSO.
BECAUSE REMEMBER THOSE ARE NOT
COVERED IN THE ORDINANCE RIGHT
NOW.
THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE PLASTIC
BAGS TO ALLOW COMPOSTABLE BAGS
FOR TAKEOUT FOOD IF THEY
INCLUDE MESSAGING TO USE THE
OFFICES.
THESE ARE TWO COMPANIES THAT
HAVE THAT KIND OF MESSAGING ON
THEIR BAGS, SO THE BAG BECOMES
A TOOL FOR REMOVING THE FOOD
SCRAPS INTO THE COMPOST SYSTEM,
WHICH IS TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT.
NOT ONLY FOR OUR RECYCLING
RATE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT FOR
CLIMATE REASONS, GREENHOUSE
GASES.
>> SO THESE CAN SIT ON OUR
COUNTERTOPS IN THE BINS AND BE
DUMPED IN THE COMPOSTING BIN?
>> EXACTLY.
>> THAT'S REUSING.
>> AND A FEE SHOULD BE APPLY TO
OTHER BAGS, BUT THAW WOULD
OPENING THE OPPORTUNITY.
RAISING THE FEE TO A $0.10 BAG
WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
THE 2.25 MIL BAGS ARE STILL
SHOWING UP IN NEXT STEP
ORDINANCES, BUT THERE'S BEEN A
SHIFT TO TRY TO GET THE MILL
BIGGER.
OREGON JUST PASSED ITS LAW
STATEWIDE REQUIRING 4-MILL
BAGS.
A FOUR-MILL BAG IF YOU'RE GOING
TO ALLOW FILM BAGS TO CONTINUE
TO BE CONSIDERED REUSABLE, THAT
WOULD HELP ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS
TO ACTUALLY USE THEM AND BRING
THEM OWN BAG.
>> CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IF THE
RETAILER WAS USING THE 2.25
MILL, THAT IS A FREE PLASTIC
BAG, BUT CONSIDERED REUSABLE
THAT THEY'RE GIVING AWAY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHARGE FOR
THAT?
>> CORRECT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHARGE, SOME
DO.
>> OKAY, I IMAGINE A FORMULA
BAG WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN
A 2.25.
I MEAN AT SOME POINT, HOPEFULLY
WE'LL START TO GET TO MORE AND
MORE INSENTIVE WHERE YOU WILL
HAVE A LARGELOOPHOLE TO GET
AROUND IT.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE
PRESENTATION.
>> GREAT.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT MANY OF
THE NEXT STEPS IDENTIFIED AS
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOLLOW UP,
LEGISLATIVE FOLLOW UP.
ALIGNED WITH SOME OF THE THINGS
WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED WORKING
WITH COMMUNITY ON IMPORTANT
HAVE FORMS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
AS WAS SAID IN PUBLIC SYSTEM
CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY IN
SEATTLE FOR THE REST OF THE
STATE, SO LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUE WORK WITH YOU AND
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS FOR AN INCREASED PASS
THROUGH CHARGE FOR A CARRY OUT
BAG.
AND ALSO LOOKING AT THE
REQUIREMENT FOR COMPOSTABLE
TAKEOUT OR TO GO CONTAINERS.
THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER THINGS
THAT DID NOT COME OUT OF THIS
REPORT THAT I THINK WILL BE
USEFUL.
TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT
THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING
INTO.
HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION ON
WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO BRING
SOMETHING LIKE THAT FORWARD,
BUT I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY
WORTH CONSIDERATION.
AND THEN DISCUSSION AROUND
PROHIBITING TRAVEL-SIZE PLASTIC
CONTAINERS AT LODGING HOTELS,
MOTELS WHATNOT.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SINGLE-USE
PLASTICS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE A
LOOK AT IN LODGING
ESTABLISHMENTS.
BUT WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT
STEPS, WHAT A TIMELINE WOULD
LOOK LIKE FOR FOLLOWUP.
I KNOW BRIAN WILL BE CONTINUING
TO WORK ON THIS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
>> ONE OTHER QUESTION.
WHEN WE FIRST PASSED THIS
ORDINANCE BACK IN 2011, I CAN'T
REMEMBER THE NUMBERS, WHETHER
THIS WAS SEATTLE OR STATEWIDE,
BUT HOW MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW,
SAFECO FIELD WOULD BE FILLED
WITH BAGS.
HOW MANY BAGS WERE IN THE WASTE
STREAM AT THE TIME?
DO WE HAVE NUMBERS NOW FROM OUR
ANNUAL OR BIANNUAL RECYCLING OR
WASTE STREAM ANALYSIS OF THE
REDUCTION OF PLASTICS HAS
HAPPENED?
>> SO WE DON'T HAVE CURRENT
INFORMATION.
WE ACTUALLY LOOKED YESTERDAY TO
SEE IF WE COULD BRING THAT
INFORMATION.
WE HAVEN'T DONE A WASTE
COMPENSATION RECENTLY.
WE FOE THAT PLASTICS IN OUR
RECYCLING STREAM, ALL PLASTICS
IS ABOUT 5%.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PLASTIC
BAGS.
BUT WE DID DO A ROUGH BACK OF
THE NAPKIN ANALYSIS.
BASED ON KIND OF OUR BEST
JUDGMENT, AND INTO THAT
CONVERSATION TO YOU THAT IT IS
PROBABLY, THE PLASTIC BAGS MAKE
UP, IF WE PULL THEM OUT AND
EVERYTHING, IT WOULD REDUCE OUR
RECYCLING RATE PROBABLY BY
300thS OF APPARENTAGE POINT, SO
.03 PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL,
WHAT'S IN THE RECYCLING MIX
RIGHT NOW.
BUT AGAIN THAT'S THE BACK OF
THE NAPKIN, ROUGH CALCULATION,
NOT BASED ON TOTAL, YOU KNOW,
OF RECENT WASTE COMPOSITION
STUDY.
>> WE HAVE TONNAGE ALSO FROM
THE WAYS CHARACTERIZATION
STUDY, BUT THESE ARE ON A FOUR-
YEAR CYCLE.
IT'S THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S
REPORT.
WE NOTED HOW WE WERE GOING TO
HAVE TO CHANGE CATEGORIES FOR
THAT SOURCE.
AND SUCH A THING OF HAPPENINGS
THAT IT'S GETTING DIFFICULT TO
PULL OUT WHAT'S A BAG, WHAT'S A
WRAP.
>> IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET A
SENSE AND THIS MIGHT BE EVEN
HELPFUL FOR STATE LEGISLATION.
THERE IS A PRETTY GOOD NUMBER.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME
FROM, BUT HOW MANY BAGS WERE
BEING USED IN THE CITY BACK IN
2010, 2011.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING JUST TO
SEE THE SENSE WAS THE GROCERY
STORES OF HOME DEPOT WERE A
MAJOR SOURCE OF THAT.
WHILE WE STILL HAVE EXCEPTIONS
FOR TAKEOUT FOOD, THAT WE WERE
SEEING A BIG CHUNK OF THAT.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE
IF THAT SHOWED UP IN THE WASTE
STREAM WHETHER IT IS RECYCLING
OR GARBAGE THAT THERE ARE A LOT
FEWER BAGS.
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S
BEING OFFSET BY INCREASING
OTHER USE OF PLASTICS.
>> YEAH, ALSO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON IS OUR REGIONAL
PARTNERS.
BECAUSE WE ARE VERY COGNIZANT
OF THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN SEATTLE OFTEN WORK
OUTSIDE SEATTLE AND PEOPLE WHO
WORK, LIVE OUTSIDE SEATTLE,
THEY LIVE OUTSIDE SEATTLE, THEY
WOULD WORK IN SEATTLE.
IF OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T HAVE BAG
BANS OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION TO
OURS THEN WE GET BAGS THAT
MIGRATE INTO OUR SYSTEM FROM
OUTSIDE.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING
REGIONALLY TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE
THAT ACROSS THE REGION BECAUSE
AS YOU EXPAND, AS SEGO SHOWED,
THERE'S 29 NOW, NOT ALL OF
THOSE WERE JUST IN OUR REGION,
BUT THREE JUST RECENTLY THAT
NEIGHBOR US HAVE PASSED BAG
BANS.
IT MEANS LESS MIGRATION INTO
OUR SYSTEM.
WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
WITHIN SEATTLE, BUT IF WE'RE
NOT STOPPING THOSE BAGS AT THE
BORDER, THEN THAT MIGHT CREATE
A PROBLEM.
AS WE DO OUR STUDIES, THERE'S
NOT ALWAYS THE WASTE
COMPOSITION STUDIES, BUT THERE
ARE STUDIES WE COULD DO,
NEIGHBORHOOD SORTS, WHERE WE
ACTUALLY GO THROUGH A
NEIGHBORHOOD AND DO RANDOM
HOUSES AND SEE WHAT'S IN AN
ACTUAL HOUSEHOLD AS OPPOSED TO
A LARGE TRUCK THAT'S COMING TO
THE TRANSFER STATION.
THERE'S WAYS TO DELVE DOWN AND
THEN BASED ON THE NUMBERS AS TO
HOW MANY BAGS ARE STILL IN A
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER'S HOME.
>> WHEN IS THE LAST STUDY DONE?
>> SO WE DO THEM EVERY YEAR,
BUT WE DO THEM OVER DIFFERENT
SECTORS SO THE LAST RESIDENTIAL
I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TYPE OF MY
HEAD.
>> 2015, I THINK.
>> YEAH, IT WAS A FEW YEARS
AGO.
>> HOW MANY SECTORS IF
>> SO WE HAVE FIVE SECTORS THAT
FEED INTO THE MUNICIPAL SOLID
WASTE STREAM AND THEN THE
CONSTRUCTION DEMOLITION DEBRIS
SECTORS.
>> OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS,
THE ENTIRE CITY WOULD HAVE BEEN
DONE?
>> YES, YEAH.
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THE
SCHEDULE, BUT IT'S RESIDENTIAL,
RECYCLING.
IT'S ORGANICS, PROBABLY
COMMERCIAL.
>> WE RECYCLE THROUGH EVERY
FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.
WE USED TO DO EVERY FOUR YEARS.
NOW WHERE SHE GONE TO EVERY
FIVE YEARS JUST BECAUSE OF OUR
DATA BEING SO RICH OVER THE
LAST 20 PLUS YEARS.
SO IT MEANT WE COULD SPREAD
THEM OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER,
YEAH.
>> THE LAST THING, THIS IS MORE
FOR THE AUDIENCE, BUT I WOULD
LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK AS WE THINK
TO THIS.
YOU MENTIONED THE STATE
LEGISLATION WOULD BOTH MAKE A
CONSISTENT STATEWIDE POLICY,
WHICH WOULD BE OUTSTANDING.
BUT WOULD ALSO PREEMPT US.
AND SO CITIES LIKE SEATTLE,
BELLINGHAM WAS THE ONE THAT
WENT BEFORE US AS WE COPIED
THEIR LEGISLATION.
I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO
BELLINGHAM FOR BEING A LEADER
ON THIS.
BUT THE CITIES HAVE FLEXIBILITY
TO PILOT THINGS HELPS ADVANCE
STATE LEGISLATION.
OF COURSE, AS YOU LOOK AT THE
MAP, THERE'S A BUNCH OF WHITE
AREAS THAT SHOW UP WHERE CITIES
LIKE BELLEVUE HAVEN'T PASSED
THAT BAG BAN.
STATE LEGISLATION WOULD HELP
THAT.
I SEE HEATHER TRIM NODDING BACK
THERE, REAL CURIOUS FROM THE
ADVOCATE'S PERSPECTIVE WHAT A
TRADE OFF IN THE STATE
LEGISLATION WOULD BE.
WE CAN'T QUITE GO AS FAR AS
SEATTLE WANTS TO GO, BUT WE ARE
BETTER OFF.
I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THAT IS
AND WHAT TYPE OF PREEMPTION WE
COULD LIVE WITH, AND WHAT TYPE
OF THINGS.
WE CONTINUE TO PILOT THINGS
LIKE, YOU KNOW, COMPOSTABLE
BAGS THAT COULD BE REUSED ON
THE COUNTERTOP FOR TEAR
SERVICES.
IF THE STATE DOESN'T ALLOW US
TO DO THAT, IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
AND SO AS WE LEAD INTO NEXT
YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND
I IMAGINE THAT THIS WILL BE A
TOPIC THAT WILL BE A PRIMARY
CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY WE GET
A LOT OF TRACTION.
WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT
GETTING IT RIGHT AND HOPEFULLY
CARVING OUT PLACES WHERE
SEATTLE AND BELLINGHAM AND
OTHERS WERE AN EARLY ADOPTER TO
TRY NEW THINGS.
THIS PLASTIC CRISIS
UNFORTUNATELY WILL INHERIT THIS
PROBLEM AND WILL HAVE TO SOLVE
IT.
IF LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, IF YOUR
LOCAL CITY COUNCIL, SEATTLE,
SOMEONE ELSE, CAN'T BE TRYING
NEW THINGS, I FEAR WE WILL NOT
DO ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE
CATASTROPHE THAT'S COMING.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
THERE ARE ALWAYS TRADE-OFFS
WITH PREEMPTIONS.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
TAKE OUR LEAD FROM THE ADVOCACY
COMMUNITY ON HOW MUCH WE WANT
TO GO UP, YEAH, FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
THIS IS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
FOLLOW UP.
NEXT ITEM.
>> ITEM TWO, 119584, ORDINANCE
RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL
PROPERTIES, CONFORMING TO
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH
CHANGE IN STATE LAW, AMENDING
SECTIONS 7.24.020, 7.24.030,
22.202.080, 22.206.160,
22.206.180, 22.210.030, AND
22.902.120 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU.
ALEX, QUICK INTRODUCTIONS AND
THEN ASHA WANT TO KICK US OFF?
>> ASHA VENTAKARAMAN, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> FAITH LUMSDEN WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTIONS AND INSPECTIONS.
>> GEOFF TALLENT, MANAGER FOR
SDCI.
>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL
HERE.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF I THINK A
SHORT SERIES OF VISITS TO GET
THIS PASSED.
ASHA, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US A
LITTLE BACKGROUND ON HOW WE GOT
HERE?
>> SURE.
FOR COUNCIL BILL 119584,
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS BILL IS
DOING IS ALIGNING CHANGES TO
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS YEAR
THAT WERE IN HOUSE BILL 1440.
SO IT MADE THREE MAJOR CHANGES
THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE
INCORPORATING INTO CITY CODE.
IT CHANGED THE EVICTIONS FOR
NON-PAYMENT OF RENT, PROVIDING
DEFINITION OF THE TERM RENT,
WHICH WE HAVE NOT HAD BEFORE.
AND ALSO INCREASED THE AMOUNT
OF NOTICE THAT LANDLORDS ARE
REQUIRED TO GIVE TO A TENANT IF
THERE IS GOING TO BE A RENT
INCREASE FROM 30 TO 60 DAYS.
SO THOSE ARE THE GENERAL
CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATION.
>> I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
TO THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
CONDITION AND KING COUNTY BAR,
AND I FORGET THE NAME OF THE
OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WORKED
TOGETHER TO PUT, WELL THERE'S
WASHINGTON, YES, I WAS THINKING
OF THE OTHER LEGAL
ORGANIZATION, BUT NEVERTHELESS,
THE LOSING HOME REPORT THAT WE
COMMISSIONED TOGETHER,
IDENTIFIED A LOT OF
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE
SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING PASSED IN
THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THIS COUNCIL LAST YEAR PASSED
RESOLUTION OR EARLIER THIS YEAR
PASSED 31861 AND HIGHLIGHTED A
NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS AS HIGH-
PRIORITY ITEMS FOR EITHER THE
STATE OR THE CITY, IF THEY
DIDN'T ACT, SO WE ARE PLEASED
TO SEE THAT STATE WAS
SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR EFFORTS ON
EVICTION FORM.
>> GREAT.
AS YOU SAID WE WERE REALLY
DELIGHTED WITH THE ACTIONS AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
IT WILL BE A CONTINUED PUSH
NEXT YEAR FOR SOME THINGS, BUT
WE WERE THRILLED TO SEE THE
CHANGE FOR THE PAY OR VACATE
NOTICE, WHICH GIVES US MORE
TIME AND TO RESPOND TO TENANTS
AND ALSO GIVES TENANTS MORE
TIME, WHICH WE SEE FREQUENTLY
IS ALL THAT THEY NEED.
THE BILL DID MUCH MORE THAN
JUST THESE COUPLE OF CHANGES
THAT WE WERE INCORPORATING INTO
OUR JUST CAUSE EVICTION AND OUR
RENTAL AGREEMENT REGULATIONS.
BUT THOSE ARE CHANGES THAT
MOSTLY RELATE TO ALLOWING
COURTS A LOT MORE DISCRETION IN
THEIR ACTIONS WITH THEY'RE
DEALING WITH UNLAWFUL DETAINER.
MY GROUP, THE CODE COMPLIANCE
GROUP IN SDCI WORKS WITH
TENANTS BEFORE THEY'RE IN
COURT.
SO THESE ARE LOVELY EXTRA TIME
PERIODS THAT WE COULD USE WHEN
WE'RE WORKING WITH TENANTS WHO
WERE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE
PROCESS AND MAYBE NOT QUITE.
REAL IMPORTANT THERE.
GEOFF CAN WALK YOU THROUGH.
BUT THESE CHANGES ESPECIALLY ON
THE DEFINITION OF RENT THAT
TRACKS A LOT OF, IN FACT,
EXACTLY HOW WE DEFINE RENT OR
HOUSING COSTS BEFORE THE STATE
PICKED IT UP.
THAT WAS SOME FIES VALIDATION
OF HOW WE'VE TRIED TO SET OUR
SYSTEM UP.
OF COURSE, THE 60-DAY NOTICE OF
RENT INCREASE, UNDERSTAND
THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT
IT'S EVEN 60 DAYS, IS IT
ENOUGH?
BUT GREAT FOR US TO HAVE THAT
CONFIRMED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
IT IS A SMALL, LESS THAN 10%
INCREASE OR A BIGGER, MORE THAN
10% INCREASE.
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK JEFF TO
GIVE YOU A SHORT WALK THROUGH
OF WHERE THESE CHANGES ARE
GOING.
THEN WE COULD ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, FAITH.
FAITH COVERED A LOT OF THIS AND
THESE ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD
CHANGES IN OUR OPINION.
AND SO FIRST EVERYWHERE, WHERE
OUR CODES WILL REFERENCE A
THREE-DAY NOTICE, NOW
REFERENCING A 14-DAY NOTICE AND
THAT'S IN SEVERAL PLACES
THROUGHOUT OUR ORDINANCES.
CHANGING THE CITY DEFINITION OF
HOUSING COSTS TO THE NEW STATE
DEFINITION OF RENT.
AS FAITH SAID THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE STATE
THAT THEY HAVE NOW CAUGHT UP
WITH US, THE CITY THAT WE'RE
BRINGING OUR ORDINANCES INTO
ALIGNMENT WITH HOW THE STATE
DESCRIBED RENT.
>> I THINK FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC JUST A CONFIRMATION OF
MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THIS IS
IMPORTANT ON THE GROUND FOR
TENANTS IS THIS RELATES TO THE
PRIOR ENFORCEMENT THAT SDCI
USED FOR THE 60-DAY NOTICES FOR
RENT INCREASES TO INCLUDE
HOUSING COSTS.
NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 60-
DAY NOTICE AND IT'S NOT TIED TO
A 10%, HOW IS THE DEFINITION OF
HOUSING COSTS.
OUR DEFINITION, THE USE OF OUR
DEFINITION FOR HOUSING COST
GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THE
DEFINITION OF RENT?
>> I THINK SO HOUSING COST IS
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE BROADER
DEFINITION THAN JUST MAYBE YOUR
CORE RENT PAYMENTS.
HOUSING COST IS ALL PERIODIC
PAYMENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED ON
THE LEASE.
SO IF THERE'S PARKING FEES,
UTILITIES ARE SOMETIMES A FIXED
RATE IDENTIFIED ON THE LEASE.
SO ANY CHANGE IN ANY OF THOSE,
STORAGE, SO A CHANGE IN ANY OF
THOSE REPRESENTS A RENT
INCREASE NOW UNDER THE STATE
DEFINITION, SO YOU NEED 60 DAYS
NOTICE.
>> FANTASTIC.
THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL.
HOW DOES THIS INTERSECT WITH I
BELIEVE ONE OF THE CHANGES IF
STATE LAW SAYS YOU CAN ONLY,
FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT, IT
WILL RESTRICT IT TO RENT.
AND IF RENT IS BROADER AND
INCLUDES OTHER COSTS, I'M
WONDERING HOW STATE LAW,
ACTUALLY, UNDER THE IMPRESSION
THAT THEY NARROWED THE ABILITY
TO BE EVICTED FOR TON-PAYMENT
TO NON-PAYMENT OF RENT.
AND SO NON-PAYMENT OF THE LATE
FEES, FOR INSTANCE, NO LONGER
AN EVICTABLE OFFENSE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND MOST OF THOSE CHARGES,
PARKING, STORAGE, SOME UTILITY
FEE, THEY WOULD GET WRAPPED
INTO RENT, BUT LATE FEES, IT
WAS A VERY BIG ISSUE, WE WOULD
SEE SOME LANDLORDS, IF LATE
FEES WERE OWING WOULD APPLY
YOUR PAYMENT FIRST TO THE LATE
FEE, SO YOU WOULD HAVE THESE
RULING, LATE RENT PAYMENTS THAT
STILL CREATED A LOT OF
CHALLENGES, AND COULD SEND
SOMEONE DOWN INTO AN UNLAWFUL
DETAINER ACTION.
SO WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE
RENT GET COVERED FIRST, THEN
GETTING YOU, YOU WOULD NOT BE
FACING AN EVICTION ACTION FOR A
LATE FEE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO MOVING ON.
SO WE ARE CHANGING THE CITY
REQUIREMENT OR A RENT INCREASE
TO A UNIFORM 60-DAY NOTICE AS
FAITH DISCUSSED.
THERE IS AN EXCEPTION FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS ON
THAT 60-DAY NOTICE.
AND THAT WILL BE PROVIDERS
DOING INCOME-BASED RENTS.
IF A TENANT'S INCOME WENT UP
AND PER MAYBE THE FEDERAL
PROGRAM THAT WAS FUNDING THEM,
THEN THEY WERE OBLIGATED TO
RAISE THE RENTS ON THE TENANTS.
THEY COULD GIVE A SHORTER
NOTICE, 30 DAYS.
THEN FINALLY, FAITH JUST
TOUCHED ON THEM.
WE'RE REQUIRING PAYMENTS TO BE
APPLIED TO RENT LIKE WE DID
BEFORE.
CHANGING THE WAY WE DESCRIBED
IT TO MATCH THE STATE'S
DESCRIPTION.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE
CHANGES IN STATE LAW?
MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE
THEM IN OUR LEGISLATION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS.
EXTENSIVE REQUIREMENTS AROUND
WHAT SHOULD BE ON, NOT ATHREE-
DAY PERIOD, BUT NOTIFYING THE
TENANT OF WHAT RESOURCES MIGHT
BE OUT THERE FOR THEIR
ASSISTANCE, IS THAT NOT
SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE DOING
HERE?
>> THAT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT WE
NEEDED TO CHANGE.
THAT'S AN IDEA OF HOW WE'RE
EXPLORING THAT AND POSSIBLY
ENHANCING THAT STATE
REQUIREMENT.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT AGAIN NOTHING THAT WE
NEED TODAY ADJUST IN OUR
CURRENT ORDINANCES TO MATCH THE
NEW STATE LAW.
>> RIGHT.
WE ACTUALLY LIKE THAT IDEA, SO
WE ARE INCLUDING THAT IN A
PROPOSAL AS YOU SAID, WE
PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER COUPLE OF
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> TO COME AND TALK TO YOU AND
THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
FANTASTIC.
>> ALL RIGHT, ONE OTHER PIECE
IS IMPLEMENTATION.
THESE ARE BIG CHANGES,
AFFECTING LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS.
WE'VE DONE SOME WORK TO GET THE
WORD OUT AND WE'LL BE DOING
QUITE A BIT MORE AS THIS GOES
INTO EFFECT IN THE END OF THIS
WEEK, EARLY NEXT WEEK.
SO WE DID SOME EARLY NOTICE AND
INFORMATION ON EVERYTHING IN
SEATTLE WEBSITE.
KIND OF FEATURED RIGHT THERE AS
YOU COME IN.
EARLY INFORMATION TO OUR
MAILING LIST OF LANDLORDS THAT
ARE REGISTERED WITH THE RIO
PROGRAM.
THAT'S 19,000 LANDLORDS OR
PROPERTY MANAGERS THAT WE COULD
REACH.
AND THEN WE'VE BEEN STARTING TO
FOLD THIS INTO LANDLORD
TRAININGS.
THEN COMING UP IS MORE
INFORMATION GOING OUT ON THE E-
MAIL LIST OF LANDLORDS TO
REINFORCE THE EARLIER MESSAGE.
MATERIALS IN THE WEBSITE ARE
BEING UPDATED TO REFLECT THE
CHANGES.
THIS COULD BE INTEGRATED INTO
THE FUTURE OF LANDLORD
CURRICULUM AS AN OBLIGATION IN
GOING FORWARD.
IT'S HIGHLIGHTED FOR GRAPHICS
AND MATERIALS WE'RE USING IN
COMMUNITY OUTREACH INCLUDING
SOME OF OUR GRANT PARTNERS
WE'RE FUNDING.
>> FANTASTIC.
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THE USE OF THE
RIO DATA BASE.
SO YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD
OUTREACH TO FOLKS ABOUT THE
PROPOSED CHANGES IN STATE LAW.
IS THAT A RESOURCE WE MIGHT
TALK ABOUT USING TO NOTIFY
LANDLORDS OF SOME OF THE OTHER
PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE
WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE
OBLIGATION OF DOMESTIC PARTNER
SURVEY OR HIS ATTACKER.
OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO THE
RIGHTS OF THE TENANTS TO HAVE A
FAMILY MEMBER OR ROOMMATE LIVE
WITH THEM?
>> YES, THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A
TREMENDOUS VALUE IN RESOURCE
FROM THE RIO PROGRAM AND THEY
SEEM TO APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH
TOO.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING ABOUT
QUARTERLY UPDATES TO LANDLORDS
WITH CHANGES TO CITY LAW, SOME
TIPS AND BEST PRACTICES,
RESOURCES THAT THEY MIGHT WANT
TO BE AWARE OF.
WE TRY TO PARTNER WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS LIKE OFFICE OF O
HOUSING OR THE UTILITIES TO
FOLD IN SOME OF THE MESSAGING
THAT THEY WILL WANT TO GET TO
MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO YES, EVERY TIME SOMETHING
NEW COMES ALONG, WE WILL MAKE
SURE TO INCLUDE SOMETHING IN
THERE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO JUST MENTION
THE SPECIFIC LANDLORD TRAININGS
THAT WE DO?
>> YES.
SO WE'RE PROVIDING QUARTERLY
LANDLORD TRAININGS THAT ARE
USUALLY 150, 200 PEOPLE.
WE TRY TO DO A PREREGISTRATION
FOR THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN
CONSISTENTLY SOLD OUT.
WE'VE BEEN ROTATING THEM AROUND
THE CITY, SOMETIMES ON WEEKENDS
TO TRY TO REACH MORE LANDLORDS.
IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND
WE GET VERY GOOD REVIEWS AND
FEEDBACK FROM THE LANDLORDS.
>> GREAT.
>> I THINK THAT'S IT.
AS ASHA SAID AND GEOFF, PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO
GET THIS ONE TO YOU AND TO HAVE
IT TAKE EFFECT, YOU KNOW, AS
SOON AS IT CAN.
WE WILL BE ENFORCING THESE
CHANGES WHEN THEY TAKE EFFECT,
WHICH IS JULY 28.
>> FOR THE STATE?
>> YES, FOR THE STATE CHANGES.
IT WILL BE A LOT EASIER FOR US
WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY ADOPTED
AND EFFECTIVE IF CITY LAWS,
PUBLIC INFORMATION AS WELL,
ABSOLUTELY.
>> YES.
ASHA, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
NEXT STEPS?
>> SURE.
SO FOR I THINK WE WILL PROBABLY
PLAN ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE
MEETING FOR THIS BILL IN
COMBINATION WITH TALKING ABOUT
THE BILL YOU MENTIONED AROUND
THE PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND DAMAGES.
THEN WE WILL ALSO BE TALKING
ABOUT, BLESS YOU, THE LAST BILL
YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE RIGHT
TO LIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OR
ANOTHER OCCUPANT OR EXCUSE ME
ANOTHER OCCUPANT IN THE NEXT
EXIT TEE MEETING AND THEN THE
EXIT TEE MEETING AFTER THAT.
AND SO THE INTENT IS TO
HOPEFULLY GET THIS SLATE OF
BILLS OUT OF COMMITTEE BEFORE
BUDGET.
>> FANTASTIC.
AND JUST TRYING TO PULL UP MY
NEXT EXIT TEE MEETING IS.
IT'S AUGUST 13.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALEX.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
EXCITED ABOUT THIS WORK.
AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM
THREE.
>> ITEM NUMBER THREE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE 2018 REPORT.
>> WE'RE KIND OF RUNNING LATE.
>> WE'RE GOOD.
GREETINGS.
WE'LL START WITH A QUICK ROUND
OF INTRODUCTIONS.
>> BOBBY LEE, DIRECTOR OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
>> HI, I'M AMANDA ALLEN, OED'S
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
AND ONE OF OUR CHANGE TEAM
LEADS.
>> OED, YONAS SEIFU, OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO
A SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE, AND
ALSO CO-LEAD ON THIS CHANGE
TEAM AS WELL.
>> KEN TAKAHASHI WITH THE OED
SEATTLE BUSINESS TEAM.
>> ALEX ROSE, OFFICE OF FILM
AND MUSIC, CREATIVE ECONOMY
ADVOCATE, AND ALSO A CHANGE
TEAM MEMBER.
>> SASHA GOUREVITCH, YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT ADVISER AT OED.
>> GREAT, DIRECTOR LEE, IF
YOU'D LIKE TO KICK US OFF.
>> WELL FIRST OF ALL I'M SO
IMPRESSED YOU HAVE THIS TYPE OF
FEEDBACK ON A REGULAR BASIS
HERE AT CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT REALLY SHOWS A COMMITMENT
TOWARDS DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I'M JUST REALLY IMPRESSED.
I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THIS IN
OTHER CITIES.
THIS SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
I WILL JUST KEEP MY COMMENTS
SHORT BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING
OUT OF TIME.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH
YOU TWO DATA POINTS THAT I
THINK ILLUSTRATES REALLY A
COMPELLINGNARRATIVE HERE IN
SEATTLE.
ESSENTIALLY IN TERMS OF
INCLUSION BY OUR ECONOMY, AND
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCALE ON THE
BOTTOM, THE BEST PERFORMING
CITY WOULD BE RANKED ONE, SO IT
WOULD BE AN INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
IF YOU WILL AND THEN 100 WOULD
BE THE WORST.
SO THE CITY OF SEATTLE BY
BROOKINGS IS RANKED 67th.
THAT GIVES YOU A PERSPECTIVE.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE
RANGE OF THE TIME FRAMES, 2007
TO 2017.
SO THAT GIVES YOU A BROAD
PERSPECTIVE ABOUT OUR
INCLUSIVENESS.
IT'S NOT JUST CITY OF SEATTLE,
THIS IS THE REGIONAL, JUST KEEP
THAT IN MIND AS WELL.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF, I JUST
SENT YOU, THE ONE I SENT YOU
WAS RELATIVELY POVERTY AND THEN
IN TERMS OF EARNINGS.
THIS WILL GIVE YOU A
PERSPECTIVE.
BOTH OF THESE DATA POINTS WILL
SHOW THAT REALLY OVERALL SINCE
2007 THINGS HAVE NOT IMPROVED,
HAS GOTTEN WORSE.
AND SO THAT JUST GIVES YOU A
PERSPECTIVE OF HOW OUR ECONOMY
IS BEHAVING AND THE OVERALL
CONCLUSION IS THAT IN AN
ECONOMY, KNOWLEDGE HERE, HERE
IN SEATTLE TENDS TO BE
EXCLUSIVE.
IT'S NOT INCLUSIVE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE
PROCESS, SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW
TO YOU.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT DOES MY
DEPARTMENT DO ABOUT IT?
LET ME SHARE WITH YOU, GO
AHEAD.
>> CALLING IT OUT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> YEAH.
AND IT SHOWS A LOT OF COURAGE
TO FACE WHERE WE'RE FAILING, SO
THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, YOU BET.
THE QUESTION THEN IS WHAT DO WE
DO ABOUT IT?
SO MY DEPARTMENT IS GOING
THROUGH AN INTERNAL DISCUSSION
AND REARRANGEMENT FRANKLY ABOUT
HOW TO BETTER ADDRESS IT HAD
GROWING INEQUITY HERE IN
SEATTLE.
I WON'T SHARE ALL THE DETAILS.
BUT BASICALLY FOUR DIFFERENT
AREAS, SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, INDUSTRY CLUSTER
DEVELOPMENT, AND NEIGHBORHOOD
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO THOSE ARE THE FOUR
ORGANIZING PRINCIPLES.
OUR CORE COMPETENCY LAID ON THE
SECOND PART OF THAT LAYER AND
OUR BRAND NEW VISION STATEMENT
IS BUILDING INCLUSIVE ECONOMY.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS
IN DETAIL DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT THESE FOLKS AT THE TABLE
HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
BEFORE I GOT HERE TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND
ALLOW THEM TO DO THEIR
PRESENTATION.
>> PLEASE, THANK YOU.
>> YOU CAN JUST GO TO YOUR
SLIDE.
>> GREAT.
SO THE RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE ACROSS THE CITY HAS
A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT EQUITY
AREAS, WHERE WE CAN FOCUS OUR
TIME IN ORDER TO INCREASE
RACIAL EQUITY.
AND THERE ARE THREE EQUITY
AREAS THAT OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF FILM AND
MUSIC ARE TOUCHING.
AND THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING
AT THOSE DIFFERENT, THOSE THREE
AREAS THROUGH THE WAY THAT WE
IMPLEMENT OUR PROGRAMS AND THE
PROJECTS THAT WE'RE
IMPLEMENTING IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THEM IN A WAY THAT
REDUCES RACIAL INEQUITY.
AS WELL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
BUILD INTO OUR POLICIES EQUITY,
SO THAT FROM THE GET GO THE WAY
THAT WE APPROACH OUR WORK AND
THE WAY WE ARE OPERATING IS
BRINGING EQUITY TO THE
FOREFRONT.
THEN LASTLY IS THROUGH OUR
PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL AND
REALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
KEN.
>> HI.
RACIAL EQUITY IS A BIG PART OF
OUR ONLY IN SEATTLE PROGRAM
SERVING BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE PROVIDED FUNDING AND
STAFF SUPPORT FOR 11
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE'VE SUPPORTED THEIR ACTIONS
THAT REALLY HELP BETTER ENGAGE
WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND
BUSINESS OWNERS OF COLOR
THROUGH THINGS SUCH AS WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY LIAISONS
TO MAKE SURE THE OUTREACH IS
DONE, DONE WELL.
WE'VE SUPPORTED RACIAL EQUITY
TRAINING FOR THE MANAGERS AND
THE BUSINESS DISTRICT
ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT
HOW TO SERVE COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
WE'VE ALSO SUPPORTED THEIR
EFFORTS TO COMPILE RACE AND
GENDER DATA OF BUSINESSES AND
THEIR DISTRICTS, SO THEY HAVE A
VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE
FOLKS THAT THEY ARE SERVING IN
THEIR DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED DIRECT
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO BUSINESS
OWNERS IN THOSE DISTRICTS USING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANTS AND WE HAVE A SMALL
GRANT PROGRAM THAT WE PROVIDED
FUNDS TO 25 LAST YEAR.
>> AND SO THIS IS OUR SMALL
BUSINESS TEAM.
WE PROVIDE AND CONNECT NEW AND
EXISTING BUSINESSES TO
FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
AND MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND
HELPED THEM NAVIGATE TO
GOVERNMENT PROCESSES IN TERMS
OF OBTAINING PERMITS AND
LICENSES.
AND ALL THESE SERVICES, THEY'RE
AVAILABLE TO ALL SEATTLE SMALL
BUSINESSES, BUT WE PARTICULARLY
FOCUS ON LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
PARTICULARLY IN SUPPORT OF
MINORITIES AND IMMIGRANT
BUSINESSES.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE TYPE OF ASSISTANCE
THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
SEEKING FROM YOU?
>> SURE.
SO ONE OF THEM WE WILL TALK
ABOUT A LITTLE LATER ON.
BUT IT'S THE EDUCATION, WHERE
WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT TO
THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN HELPING
THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR LEASES,
AND WHAT THEY COULD DO WITHIN
THE CONFINED CONTRACT THAT THEY
SIGNED.
OTHER THINGS WE ARE DOING
CURRENTLY, IT IS JUST
NAVIGATING THROUGH THE
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS.
AND THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND
THE CITY.
>> AND HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE
HELP BUSINESSES AS IT RELATES
TO CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS?
BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING WE
HEAR A LOT ABOUT?
>> OH YEAH, DEFINITELY.
WE COLLABORATED WITH SDOT AND
MAKING SURE THAT THEIR
BUSINESSES KNOW ABOUT THE
IMPACTS THAT ARE COMING.
ACTUALLY HELPING THEM NAVIGATE
IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THEM THE
MARKETING TOOLS.
SO THEY COULD REACH BUSINESSES
THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA
OR DELIVERY SERVICES FOR FOOD
OR BUSINESSES.
AND SO THAT VARIES BASED ON
PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> WE'VE HAD A BUSINESS
STABILIZATION FUNDING PILOT TO
HELP ADDRESS THE NEEDS
ASSOCIATED OR THE NEEDS THAT
ARE CREATED WHEN SOME OF THESE
KINDS OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
OCCUR.
SOMETIMES THEY IMPACT A
BUSINESS' ABILITY TO DRAW IN
CUSTOMERS.
AND WE'VE EXPERIMENTED WITH
THAT BEFORE AND HAVE HAD SOME
GOOD SUCCESSES.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
POTENTIAL PLANS TO MAKE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT PERMANENT?
>> YES.
>> WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON
SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE PILOTING A PROGRAM.
WE ARE GOING ON TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND TALKING TO
THEIR BUSINESSES.
WE ARE KIND OF HELPING THEM AND
WITH A THEY NEED.
WE ARE LOOKING AT MAYBE FUNDING
SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT THEY
NEED TO MAKE, WITHIN THEIR
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE
CONCLUSIONS YET, BUT WE STARTED
OUR PROCESS A FEW WEEKS AGO.
>> AS YOU KNOW THROUGH YOUR
LEADERSHIP, THE CITY MONEY, IT
DOES SOME RESTRICTIONS IN THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON'S
CONSTITUTION.
I'M LEARNING A LOT HERE.
>> WE'RE SORRY.
>> WE HAVE TO USE FEDERAL
DOLLARS TO SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES, BUT THE MONEY COMES
WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS.
IT'S A ONE-TIME PILOT, WE HAVE
AN APPLICATION PROCESS GOING ON
NOW.
I UNDERSTAND IT BY TODAY WE
HAVE FOUR BUSINESSES THAT
FILLED OUT THE FORM USING THE
PIPELINE.
SOME OF THE FOLKS ARE FROM YOUR
COMMUNITY.
AND SO THERE'S A PROCESS IN
WHICH THEY WILL APPLY AND THERE
IS A COMMITTEE STRUCTURE TO
EVALUATE THE APPLICATION AND SO
ON AND SO FORTH, AND I WILL BE
HAPPY TO SHARE MORE IN DETAIL.
>> YEAH, I WOULD LOVE SOME
ADDITIONAL DETAIL ABOUT THAT AS
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT A
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE A GREEN LIGHT
YET.
>> NO, WE JUST GOT A GREEN
LIGHT FROM SDOT.
>> AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND
ALL THAT.
>> YES.
>> AFTER THIS MEETING.
>> SURE.
>> WE WILL JUMP ON THAT, THAT
WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
>> NEXT SLIDE.
>> OKAY.
>> AND ONE OF OED'S TEAMS IS
FOCUS ON SUPPORTING
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PARTICULAR
INDUSTRY SECTORS.
THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT
EXAMPLES THAT I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT HERE AS IT RELATES TO
OUR WORK WITH RSJI.
ONE IS THE WORK OF OUR START-UP
BUSINESS ADVOCATE WHO HAVE
REALLY SOUGHT TO MAKE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY AND YOUNG ADULTS OF
COLOR.
SO DOING THAT BY MAKING
CONNECTIONS WITH TECHNOLOGY
TRAINING WITH THAT AUDIENCE AND
CONNECTIONS WITH TECHNOLOGY
TRAINING, AND WITH
INDUSTRYFAMILIARIZATION, AS
WELL AS SUPPORT AND JOB
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS PARTICULAR POSITION HAS
REALLY SOUGHT TO BE OUT IN
COMMUNITY AND IS REALLY FOCUSED
ON MAKING SURE THAT AT LEAST
50% OF HIS TIME IS SPENT WITH
INDIVIDUALS OF EITHER WOMEN OR
MINORITY INDIVIDUALS.
SECOND IS OUR RESTAURANT
SUCCESS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A
PROGRAM THAT'S CREATED TO HELP
ENSURE FOLKS THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN EITHER STARTING A
RESTAURANT, EXPANDING A
RESTAURANT, OR A FOOD TRUCK CAN
DO THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
REGULATIONS AND THE
REQUIREMENTS ARE.
AND THAT PERSON IS REALLY GOING
OUT, SOUGHT COLLABORATIONS WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND BROUGHT
KIND OF A ROAD SHOW TO VARIETY
OF OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES, REALLY TARGETED IN
OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THAT INFORMATION IS EASILY
ACCESSIBLE.
AND THEN LASTLY WE HAVE OUR
PROGRAM, WHICH IS A GREEN
BUSINESS RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
IT'S ACTUALLY OUR REGIONAL
EFFORT THAT WE PARTNER WITH
FROM, GOLLY, I THINK SNOHOMISH
COUNTY TO THE EAST SIDE, KING
COUNTY, AND ANY EVENT, THAT
PROGRAM IS AIMED AT SUPPORTING
SMALL BUSINESSES TO GREEN UP
THEIR OPERATIONS.
LAST YEAR WE ENGAGED A RACIAL
EQUITY TOOL KIT WITH THAT
PROGRAM AND HIGHLIGHTED THE
NEED TO HAVE SOME IN-LANGUAGE
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME
ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS YEAR
AND HAVE LAUNCHED THAT WORK.
>> IT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL TO
GET SOME DATA ABOUT NUMBERS
ATTACHED WITH THESE THREE
BULLETS FOR EACH TECH HIRED AND
TECH TALENT, THE FEW BUSINESS
OUTREACH IN SUPPORT AND THE
ENVIROSTARS, SIMILAR TO WHAT
YOU'RE DOING ON THE SLIDE WE'RE
MOVING FORWARD TO, JUST TO GET
A SENSE OF THE SCALE OF THE
PROGRAM.
THAT'D BE SUPER HELPFUL.
>> SURE.
YES.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
IF IT IS NOT ALREADY IN OUR
REPORT.
>> IT COULDN'T BE IN YOUR
REPORT, WE ARE JUST GLOSSING IT
OVER ON THE PRESENTATION.
I WILL LOOK BEFORE FOLLOWING
UP, HOW IS THAT?
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE WORK FOR
YOU.
>> WE CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAIL
IF IT'S NOT THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
SO THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT
TEAM, WE KNOW IF OUR REGION
THERE'S TOO MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT
BENEFITING FROM OUR ECONOMY,
AND THERE IS EVEN FEWER FEDERAL
WORK FORCE DOLLARS THAT ARE
FLOWING INTO OUR REGION.
OUR LATEST EMPLOYMENT,
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS WE KNOW,
YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR
REGION IS 25% FOR 16 TO 19 YEAR
OLDS.
YOUTH 24 ABOUT 8%.
WE DON'T HAVE DATA ON BOTH
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ON AGE AND
RACE, BUT WE ALSO KNOW AFRICAN
AMERICAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS
ABOUT 11%.
NATIVE, HAWAII, PACIFIC
ISLANDER ALSO ABOUT 11%,
WHEREAS WHITE ALONE IS ABOUT 3%
TO 4%.
>> AND FOR ALL OF THESE
PERCENTAGES, THIS IS THE
PERCENTAGE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC
POPULATION THAT IS SEEKING
WORK?
>> YES, THAT IS UNEMPLOYED AND
LOOKING FOR WORK.
AND SO OUR OFFICE, THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAVE
WORKED ON STRATEGIES TO TARGET
LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
THROUGH THE LEARNING GRANTS,
WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN A
SECOND AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS
WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THEY ARE ALL AIMED AT BUILDING
OUT THESE PIPELINES.
NOT JUST HELPING FOLKS SEEK
THEIR FIRST JOB, BUT REALLY
FIND PATHWAYS TO UNEMPLOYMENT
THAT WILL GET TO THE ECONOMY
THAT OUR DIRECTOR HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT, SO THEY COULD
REALLY THRIVE IN OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
OED'S FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
TEAM OVERSEES OBVIOUSLY THE
GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE
OFFICE.
AND WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO BUILD
RACIAL EQUITY INTO OUR
DEPARTMENT POLICIES AS WELL AS
OUR RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTRACTING
OED'S INVESTMENTS AND
EXPENDITURES.
SPECIFICALLY WE TRACK OUR
ANNUAL SPENDING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR STAT
THAT'S TRACKED THROUGH THE
CITY'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM, YOU
WOULD SEE FOR LAST YEAR WE HAD
11.5% TO SPEND WITH VENDORS.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OED
FACES IS THAT A LOT OF OUR
MONEY THAT IS DISCRETIONARY
WILL GO TO NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SERVING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND ALSO
WHAT I WOULD CALL GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SEATTLE
COLLEGES OR THE PORT OF
SEATTLE.
THOSE EXPENDITURES ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE TO BE, SO THEY DON'T
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SPENDING.
WHEN YOU BACK OUT OF THOSE
TYPES OF EXPENDITURES, YOU'LL
FIND ABOUT 77% OF OUR
DISCRETIONARY BUDGET GOES TO
SUPPORT VENDORS.
WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.
AND THEN YOU MAY OR MAY NOT
REMEMBER SEEING LEGISLATION
COMING THROUGH OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS FOR MONEY FOR
OED TO HELP DO REDEVELOPMENT OF
OUR SPACE.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING OUT
SPACE AND MAKING IT THE NEW
SEVEN BY SEVEN WORKSTATIONS
WITH THE ADJUSTABLE THINGS AND
WHATNOT.
AS WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH
THE PROCESS, STAFF HAS BEEN
REORGANIZED, CONTINUING THE
WORKSTATIONS.
AND WE ARE ALMOST TO THE END OF
THAT PROCESS.
AND I ENDED UP UNDERTAKING
RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT TO LOOK
AT AS IT RELATES TO SPACE
PLANNING HOW ARE WE DOING.
AND ACTUALLY FOUND THAT
DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF OUR
STAFF OF COLOR ACTUALLY HAVE
MORE INTERIOR OFFICE SPACES.
AND I THINK HAD WE NOT DONE THE
TOOL KIT, WHERE WE HAVE HAD
PERFECTLY LOGICAL EXPLANATIONS
ON WHY THINGS PLAY OUT THE WAY
THAT WE DO AND I THINK WE KNOW
BY IMPLICIT BIAS THAT THERE'S
AN OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION SOME
OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.
SO WITH THE COMPLETION OF THIS
SPACE PLANNING EFFORT BY THE
END OF THIS YEAR WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT IN EQUITY.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
ANALYSIS.
IT'S GREAT.
AND SO IT IS JUST A SMALL
EXAMPLE OF HOW THINGS SHOW UP
THAT IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO, YOU
KNOW, SUSTAIN AND REALLY ROBUST
WORK FORCE THAT INCLUDES THE
RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES WE WANT
THERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT HERE.
>> REGARDLESS I MEAN AS IT
RELATES TO THE SPACE, TRYING TO
MAKE A RHYME, BUT I'M JUST
GOING TO LEAVE IT.
>> TRY IT.
>> SPACE AND RACE.
BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WE
GOT THERE, RIGHT?
IT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO
CORRECT IT.
SO I APPRECIATE THIS ANALYSIS
IS GIVING US THE TOOLS TO DO
SO.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES
OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE
SMALL BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH
VENTURE.
WHAT WE DO IS WE ACTUALLY TRY
TO REALLY BE SPECIFIC IN TERMS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE GO
INTO.
WE TRY TO MAKE SEWER THAT THE
PROGRAMS THEY COME UP WITH IN
COLLABORATION WITH US ARE TIME
SENSITIVE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
TO MAKE SURE TO TAILOR OUR
PROGRAM TO BE, TO BE CONVENIENT
FOR THEM, THE LOCATION, A LOT
OF THE BUSINESSES DON'T WANT TO
GO TOO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE
THEIR BUSINESSES ARE.
SO ALSO IN COLLABORATION WITH
LIAISONS.
WE ACTUALLY DO LANGUAGE
TRANSLATION ON THIS SPOT AS WE
DO SOME OF THE EDUCATION.
>> HAVE WE, YOU MENTIONED THE
LEASE COUNSELING FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO
INTERPRET THE LIMITS AND
OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THEIR
LEASES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD
THROWN AROUND A LITTLE BIT IS
THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY A NEED
FOR NOT JUST TRAINING ON DOING
A FEW LEASE NEGOTIATION, BUT
PERHAPS SOMEBODY TO NOT DO THE
NEGOTIATIONS, BUT TO SIT WITH
THEM, RIGHT.
AND HAVE WE LOOKED AT WHETHER
OR NOT THOSE SERVICES COULD BE
A PART OF THE TOOL KIT?
>> DEFINITELY.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT WE
DID IT ON.
AND SO LET ME GO TO THE NEXT
ONE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT
>> ALL RIGHT, FILM AND MUSIC.
AND SO AS YOU HAVE ALL
MENTIONED, DATA IS IMPORTANT,
SO WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET
BETTER DATA THAT WILL TELL US
HOW TO BETTER SERVE THE
CONSTITUENCIES THAT MAKE UP THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY.
SO WE HAVE UNDERGONE A NIGHT
LIFE EQUITY STUDY.
WE DID A MUSIC ECO SYSTEM STUDY
THAT BEGAN LAST YEAR AND ENDED
THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, SO
REALLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHERE
ARE THE GAPS THAT OUR OFFICE
CAN EITHER DIRECTLY BETTER
SERVE OUR FILM AND MUSIC
INDUSTRIES, ANOTHER CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES, AND ALSO WHAT ARE
THE BLIND SPOTS THAT WE HAVE?
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT PEOPLE
OF COLOR HAVE GREATER BARRIERS
TO ACCESSING CAPITOL,
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES, NOT WORKING ON
THOSE ABILITIES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE ON HOW TO
USE DATA TO BETTER PROGRAM,
PROVIDE BETTER PROGRAMMING FROM
OUR OFFICE.
AND ALSO I'D LIKE TO MENTION AS
THE CITY'S LIAISON TO THE
SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION, THE
COMMISSION'S COMMITMENT TO
RACIAL EQUITY HAS REALLY
BLOSSOMED OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS WITH THE
CITY OF MUSIC CAREER DAY.
WE HAVE DONE MUCH MORE
INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO HIGH
SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HIRED NUMBERS
OF PLAQUE AND BROWN STUDENTS,
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY
ARE ALSO GETTING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH
MUSIC PROFESSIONALS WHO LOOK
LIKE THEM.
REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
SO WE'VE ALSO BEEN MAKING SURE
TO DIVERSIFY THE PANELISTS AND
SPEAKERS THAT ARE A PART OF
MUSIC CAREER DAY.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH
YOUTH DIRECTLY TO HEAR FROM
THEM HAD AND MAKING SURE WE ARE
INVITING YOUNG LEADERS OF COLOR
TO BE AT THE TABLE WITH THE
MUSIC COMMISSION TO HELP INFORM
HOW WE DO OUR PROGRAMS LIKE
CAREER DAYS, BUT ALSO, YOU
KNOW, LOOKING AT MAYBE SOME
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OR
OTHER WAYS YOUNG PEOPLE COULD
GET CONNECTED WITH IN CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES.
>> I JUST WANT TO CALL OUT SOME
OF THE FINDINGS OR IT IS ONE
FINDING FOR SEVERAL DEMOGRAPHIC
GROUPS IN THE CREATIVE
ECONOMY'S REPORT.
FEMALE WORKERS WERE
UNDERREPRESENTED.
SEVEN OUT OF TEN OCCUPATIONS,
AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKA,
NATIVE WORKERS WERE
UNDERREPRESENTED IN NINE OUT OF
TEN LARGEST CREATIVE
OCCUPATIONS, BLACK, AND AFRICAN
AMERICAN WORKERS WERE
REPRESENTED ALSO.
AND UNDERREPRESENTED IF NINE
OUT OF TEN HISPANIC LATINA
WORKERS UNDERREPRESENTED EIGHT
OUT OF TEN.
NATIVE, HAWAIIAN, OR OTHER
PACIFIC ISLANDER
UNDERREPRESENTED IN 10 OUT OF
10 LARGEST CREATIVE
OCCUPATIONS.
SO IT'S CLEAR, AGAIN,
HIGHLIGHTING WHERE WE ARE
MISSING THE MARK.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
IDENTIFYING THE GAPS AND COMING
UP WITH STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS
THEM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> AND SO WE HAVE DONE A VERY
SET OF RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKITS.
THESE ARE THE FOUR THAT WE ARE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO OF THEM
THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY.
ONE IS THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
CAREER AND AWARENESS.
AND SASHA WILL TELL YOU MORE
ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN AS YOU TALKED EARLIER
ABOUT COMMERCIAL, EDUCATION, WE
WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THAT.
>> OKAY, I WILL GO FIRST.
WITH COMMERCIAL LEASE
EDUCATION, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT CAME UP IN CHINA TOWN I.D.
AS WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY GOING ON
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WANTING
OPAQUE SURE THE BUSINESSES
WOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THERE
INCLUDING SKIP.
AND THEY ALSO HAD A CONSULTANT
THAT DID A LOT OF OUTREACH TO
YOUR BUSINESSES, TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WOULD BE
REALLY VALUED BY THE BUSINESSES
AND THAT REALLY HELPED INFORM
SORT OF A PROGRAM WE PUT
TOGETHER OR A WORKSHOP SERIES
THAT FOCUSED ON IT.
SO WE CALL IT SORT OF A
COMMERCIAL LEASEHOLD WORKSHOP
SERIOUS THAT HAD REALLY LOOKED
AT ALL THE PARTS OF THE
LEASEHOLD PROCESS, STARTING
FROM BEFORE EVEN TALKING TO THE
LANDLORD.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED
TO TALK TO THE LANDLORD WITH
FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND YOUR
BUSINESS PLAN, THAT KIND OF
THING.
AND THEN WE DOVE INTO
STANDARDS, THE COMMERCIAL
LEASE.
WE HAD A HELP OF WAY FIND AND
AN ATTORNEY THAT HELPED TO
REALLY FLAG THE KEY TERMS OF A
LEASE AND TO HELP DEFINE WHAT
SOME OF THESE TERMS MEANT.
AND SO WE PROVIDED SORT OF A
CHECKLIST ON LEASES.
AND THEN WE LOOKED TO ORGANIZE
A DESIGN WORKSHOP.
AND SO ONCE YOU HAVE SORT OF
YOUR LEASE NEGOTIATIONS GOING
ON, WHAT KIND OF DESIGN, WHAT
DOES YOUR SPACE LOOK LIKE IN
THE LOCATION?
AND WE HAD A DAY WHERE WE WOULD
BRING ARCHITECTURE FILM TO HELP
DO SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY ACTUALLY CAME OUT OF THAT
SESSION WITH A SKETCH.
THEY KNEW OF POTENTIAL SPACE
AND THEY KNEW THE DESIGN OF
THEIR BUSINESS, AND THEY WALKED
OUT WITH A SKETCH.
SO THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF
WORKSHOPS THAT WE DID IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT HAD A REAL TANGIBLE BENEFIT
TO THOSE BUSINESSES.
WE'VE BEEN SEEING THAT
BUSINESSES THAT PARTICIPATED IN
THOSE WORKSHOPS ARE GETTING
LEASES.
AND FOR EXAMPLE IN THE HOTEL
BUILDING, REDEVELOPMENT
BUILDING, THREE TENANTS,
PARTICIPATED IN THEIR
WORKSHOPS.
AND PARTICIPATED IN THEIR
WORKSHOPS, SO WE KNOW IT WOULD
HELP GET THEM PREPARED TO LEASE
THEIR SPACE.
IT IS ALSO HELPING TO PREPARE
THEM TO APPLY FOR FUNDING.
WE HAVE AN IMPROVEMENT FUND.
IT'S ONE OF THE
FIRSTAWARDEES OF THOSE FUNDS.
THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
STEPS THAT THEY NEED TO GO
THROUGH, DUE DILIGENCE THAT
WOULD BE EVALUATED BY ALL THE
PARTIES THAT WE WERE PLEASED
THAT IT REALLY HELPS FROM THE
BUSINESSES SO FAR.
>> AND THOSE ARE ALL BUSINESSES
THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND JUST RELOCATING TO
A NEWER SPACE.
>> I THINK TWO OF THEM
CURRENTLY EXIST, ONE IS COMING
BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO
THEY'RE COMING BACK.
AND THEN ANOTHER IS A MOBILE
FOOD BUSINESS THAT IS KIND OF
GOING INTO THE NEXT STEP OF
GETTING BRICK AND MORTAR.
>> SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND OR AT LEAST IT IS
FOR ME HOW WE ARE DEFINING OUR
OUTCOMES.
I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY OF
SOMEBODY WHO WAS GOING TO BE ON
A LEASE, TOOK THE WORKSHOPS
THAT YOU GUYS OFFER AND ENDED
UP BEING ON A LEASE THAT IT'S A
WAY TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF
THE PROGRAM.
I THINK THE WAY TO MEASURE THE
SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS
TAKING A LOOK AT THE LEASE THAT
THEY ENDED UP SIGNING AND HOW
IT ALIGNS WITH AN EVALUATION OF
WHAT A MODEL GOOD COMMERCIAL
LEASE IS.
AND SO I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR
NOT THAT SORT OF AFTER THE FACT
WORK IS BEING DONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO A
BEFORE AND AFTER, BUT JUST, IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO
CHECK OUR ASSUMPTIONS THAT THE
RESULT OF THESE TRAININGS IS
ACTUALLY THE OUTCOME, YOU KNOW,
BETTER LEASES THAT ARE LESS
LIKELY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A
LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE
DOING TO LOOK AT THE LEES AFTER
THEY HAVE BEEN SIGNED.
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT
AND SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.
WE ARE SEEING AT LEAST WITH
SOME OF THE BUSINESSES WHO ARE
APPLYING FOR THE TENANT
IMPROVEMENT FUNDING THAT THE
LEASES ARE NOT JUST STANDARD,
BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY TO THE
BENEFIT OF THE BUSINESSES WITH
VERY REASONABLE SORT OF LEASE
TERMS, THE RATES, GENEROUS SORT
OF OPTIONS TO EXTEND AND SORT
OF THE INITIAL CONCESSIONS ON
RENT AND TRIPLE NETS, SORT OF
CHARGES THAT THEY WERE SEEING
AND THAT IS BEING BUILT IN.
BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE TABLE WITH
PILOT FUNDING, IT REALLY DOES
HELP THE BUSINESS AND OUR
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION.
>> CREATING AN INCENTIVE FOR
THOSE GOOD LICENSES IF THAT
INSTANCE AND BECAUSE FOR ME
WE'RE HELPING TO FUND
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY.
AND I THINK THAT SORT OF
PARTNERSHIP DEFINITELY LENDS
ITSELF TO GOOD OUTCOMES FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> SO IN PREVIOUS YEARS OED
MANAGED OUR MAJOR PROGRAMS.
WHAT WE'VE MADE PROGRESS WHILE
WE WERE RUNNING THAT INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM TO EXPAND YOUTH OF
COLOR, WE STILL FOUND USE OF
COLOR CONTINUES TO HAVE LESS
ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES AND OFTEN LESS
SUCCESSFUL IN THOSE LARGER
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS.
USE OF COLOR HAVE MULTIPLE
INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO
ACCESSING THESE PROGRAMS, AND
NEED A LOT MORE TARGETED
APPROACHES AND WRAP-AROUND
SERVICES.
SO BUILDING OFF THAT RET WE DID
LAST YEAR WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS THAT INCLUDES KIND
OF A TIER OR KIND OF A JOB
READINESS CONTINUUM, WHICH IS
MEETING YOUTH WHERE THEY ARE.
WE BUILT THIS APPROACH TO LET
THE COMMUNITY TELL US WHAT
WOULD BEST SERVE THEIR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
SO THIS IS A FIRST YEAR THAT WE
HAVE CONSTITUTED OUR CAREER
CONNECTING LEARNING GRANTS
BASED ON WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR
PREVIOUS REPS.
GRANTEES SUBMITTED TO US ALONG
THAT BUSINESS CONTINUUM,
DIFFERENT APPROACHES RANGING
FROM CAREER ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL
CAPITAL LIKE ALEX TALKED ABOUT,
MEETING PROFESSIONALS THAT LOOK
LIKE THEM, ALL THE WAY UP TO
INTERNSHIPS AND EVEN YOUTH
APPRENTICESHIPS.
THIS APPROACH ALSO REQUIRED OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PARTNER
WITH EMPLOYERS, KEEPING IN MIND
THE WORK FORCE COMPONENT THAT
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
PAIRING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THIS
COMMUNITY.
BUT REALLY THE NEW APPROACH WE
DEVELOPED WAS TO BETTER SERVE
THOSE THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY
LEFT OUT OF THESE PROGRAMS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT INTERNSHIP
PROGRAMS ARE ONE OF THE BEST
WAYS TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE
FOR THE FUTURE.
WE STILL NEED TO BUILD THOSE
PROGRAMS.
BUT WE KNOW NOT EVERYBODY CAN
ACCESS THEM AND WE NEED TO DO A
LOT MORE SUPPORT UPSTREAM TO
MAKE SURE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
PREPARED FOR THOSE INTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY GET
THERE.
AND SO THIS APPROACH WE'RE
DOING RET ON THIS APPROACH THIS
YEAR TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS
OPAQUE SURE WE REALLY ARE
SERVING USE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES AND
REALLY LETTING THE COMMUNITIES
WORK WITH US TO DESIGN THOSE
PROGRAMS THAT BEST SERVE THEIR
NEEDS.
>> ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAS
BEEN FOR ME AMONG YOUTH IN
SOUTH PARK IS THE FACT THAT
MANY OF OUR CITY-OPERATED
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMS
THAT PROVIDE A STY PEN HAVE A
BARRIER FOR UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH.
ARE THERE WAYS TO DEAL WITH
THAT OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING
THAT A BRIDGE WE CAN'T CROSS?
>> YEAH, SO THERE ARE WAYS.
THE TRADITIONAL INTERNSHIP
PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALWAYS A
BARRIER ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE
ON AN EMPLOYER PAYROLL, BUT
THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES LIKE
THESE GRANTS, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
ABLE TO BE PAID FOR THEIR TIME.
THROUGH THE VIETNAMESE
ASSOCIATION AND PARTNERS WHO
ARE DOING JOB READINESS
TRAINING, INTERNSHIPS THROUGH
STIPENDS, TRAINING,
ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP, KIND OF IN
A MODEL.
SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE
COULD CHECK IN WITH OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE A USE
OF STIPEND MODEL BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY, ALL
THE DEPARTMENTS USING THE
STIPEND MODEL ARE USING IT IN A
WAY THAT REDUCES THOSE BARRIERS
FOR UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH.
I THINK I'VE HEARD THAT THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS A STIPEND,
BUT IT'S STILL NON-DUPED YOUTH
ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO.
AGAIN, I'M REPEATING THIRD HAND
WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OTHER
FOLKS, SO IF YOU WOULD CHECK IT
OUT.
>> THIS APPROACH TOO THAT
ALLOWS THE DOLLARS TO GO TO THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THROUGH
OUR EXPERTS WITH APPROACHES
LIKE THAT AND TO FIND CREATIVE
WAYS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE
KNOW WE COULD ADDRESS THAT
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND SO JUST QUICKLY IN
SUMMARY.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE ENCOUNTERED ENGAGING IN
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK.
I THINK BEING INTENTION FALL
TAKES TIME AND REQUIRES YOU TO
SLOW DOWN.
AND OFTEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
COULD WITH SEEN AS A LUXURY
BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET IT
GOING.
WE WANT TO GET IT OUT.
WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH
COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT SENSE OF URGENCY IS
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE
INTERRUPTED.
THE TOOL KITS ARE DEFINITELY A
WAY TO HELP US SLOW DOWN.
AND ALSO OPPORTUNITIES, WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
REPRESENTATION AND WHO IS IN
THE ROOM, AND WHO ARE WE
SERVING AND WHO ARE WE TALKING
TO?
AND SO THAT ALSO TAKES SOME
TIME AND CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT
WE NORMALLY HAVE DONE OUR WORK.
REQUIRES US TO REACH OUT.
REQUIRES BUDGET, AND ADDITIONAL
STAFF TIME.
SO THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT
IS IMPORTANT AND ALSO HAS
PRESENTED A CHALLENGE.
I THINK JUST IN GENERAL HAVING
A CULTURE OF LEARNING, NOT ONLY
FOR STAFF TO GET TRAINED UP AND
TO ATTEND TRAINING, BUT ALSO
FOR OUR PARTNERS.
I THINK WE'VE SEEN REAL SUCCESS
WITH THE MUSIC COMMISSION
ENGAGING RSJ TRAINING, BUT THAT
ALSO TAKES CAPACITY AND
DOLLARS, AND ALSO A CERTAIN APT
OF READINESS AND BUY IN FROM
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS MILLION WE
COULD PUSH, BUT HASN'T BEEN
STANDARD IN EVERYTHING THAT WE
DO.
AND I THINK WE'VE TALKED A LOT
ABOUT DATA AND COLLECTING DATA,
SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE
GETTING WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
WHILE THIS IS IMPORTANT, THIS
COULD ALSO BE SENSITIVE IN
FIGURING OUT THE RIGHT WAY TO
ASK FOR DATA AND SO THAT
PEOPLE'S IDENTITIES ARE
RESPECTED AND PROTECTED, AND
ALSO A BIT OF A CHALLENGE.
SO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU'RE
SERVING, BUT YOU ALSO DON'T
WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IF A BAD
POSITION.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE MAIN, THE
MAIN THINGS, AND ALSO THE
IMPACTS OF WORKING IN A
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
PARTICULARLY NOW WITH DISTRICTS
AND MEMBERS REALLY INTERESTED
IN WANTING TO SERVE THEIR
DISTRICT.
SOMETIMES FROM DOING RSJ WORK,
WE CAN SEE THAT AS DIFFUSING
OUR EFFORTS TO REALLY TARGET
OUR WORK TOWARDS THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
>> AND I APPRECIATE THAT
RECOGNITION FOR SURE.
AS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE
HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROMOTE
THE INTEREST OF OUR DISTRICT AS
A CITY.
WE HAVE TO WALK THE TALK OF
USING RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
AND EQUITY LENS TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE SPENDING OUR LIMITED
PUBLIC RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT
BENEFITS THE COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED THE
LONGEST, WHERE THE GREATEST
NEEDS ARE, SO I APPRECIATE YOU
GUYS WALKING THAT WALK.
AND ALSO SORT OF BEING
UNDERSTANDING OF THE LINE THERE
AS WELL IN THE BALANCE.
THANK YOU AS WELL FOR ALSO
LIFTING UP THE RSJI WORK THAT
REALLY HELPS US DEVELOP IN THE
CITY, A LEARNING CULTURE.
I THINK REALLY WE DON'T TALK
ABOUT THAT A LOT.
I THINK BY IDENTIFYING THESE
GAPS.
WE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT THE GAPS
AND LEARN ABOUT THE IMPACTS.
AND TO GET COMMITTED TO
ADDRESSING THEM.
AND THIS WILL KEEP PUSHING US
FORWARD TOGETHER.
COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN?
>> I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.
I APPRECIATE THAT RECOGNITION
AS A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT TENSION IS REAL.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL IS WHEN
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY AS A
WHOLE COULD KIND OF LAY OUT
WITH A WHOLE CLARITY ON HOW
WE'RE GOING TO CLARIFY THINGS.
FOR INSTANCE PARKS DEPARTMENT
HAS DONE A GAP ANALYSIS THAT
SHOWS WHERE THE AREAS OF WHERE
PEOPLE ARE, YOU DON'T LIVE IN A
CERTAIN DISTANCE OF A PARK.
SO WHEN MY CONSTITUENTS COME TO
ME AND SAY HEY, WE NEED TO HELP
LOOK AT THE PARK, THAT'S GREAT.
AND IF THE REALITY IS LIKE OH,
ACTUALLY YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS
REALLY WELL SERVED BY PARKS AND
I RECOGNIZE IT AS A RARE
OPPORTUNITY.
THAT MEANS AN AREA THAT'S NOT
WELL SERVED WILL MISS OUT.
SOMETIMES THAT RESPONSE TO A
FRUSTRATION, BUT OFTENTIMES
PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
FAIRNESS OF THAT, AND THEY WILL
SAY WELL, WE THINK THERE SHOULD
BE A GAP ANALYSIS.
GREAT, LET'S WORK OUT TO FILL
ALL THE GAPS AND TALK ABOUT HOW
WE EVEN MAKE IT MORE INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITIES AND THAT MEANS YOUR
PROJECT MIGHT FEED NEED TO
WAIT FOR A WHILE.
THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IS
OUTSTANDING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS WORK.
I THINK HELPING US TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO PRIORITIZE IT IN
SOME KIND OF A SYSTEMIC WAY OR
WHETHER IT IS MAPPING OR OTHER
THINGS THAT WE COULD USE AS
TOOLS TO LOOK AT AND SAY YEAH.
YOU KNOW, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,
THEY COULD USE SOME HELP, BUT
IT'S DEFINITELY WAY AHEAD OF
SOME OTHER BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE
PRIORITIZED AND HERE IS WHAT
WE'RE DOING, AND THOSE MAY NOT
BE IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I'M
COMMITTED TO RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
WORK AT THE CITY, THAT MEANS
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO TAKE A
BACKSEAT TO ALLOW OTHER PLACES
TO CATCH UP AND I THINK THAT'S
GREAT.
>> NO, I'M RIGHT WITH YOU.
SO WE ARE DOING MASSIVE DATA
AFALLACIES MASSIVE DATA
ANALYSIS.
AND ALSO IN CUTTING THOSE DATA
INTO PIECES TO MAKE SENSE OF
WHAT'S GOING ON IN TODAY'S
ECONOMY.
BUT ONE OF THE INTERESTING
PERSPECTIVES, AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH BECAUSE YOU JUST, YOU
PARAPHRASED WHAT I WAS GOING TO
SAY.
WHEN I PRESENTED TO BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT OUR NEW
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY VISION, SOME
FOLKS WILL SAY YOU'RE TURNING
INTO SOCIAL JUSTICE AGENCY.
THEY COULD DO THAT WORK IF IT
IS INTENTIONAL AND YOU HAVE A
ROLE TO PLAY AND WE WOULD TALK
ABOUT THIS PRIVACY.
TO CREATE SPACE FOR THAT.
THE DAY-TO-DAY URGENCY OF ALL
THE STUFF WE REALLY NEED TO DO
IS IMPORTANT.
I KNOW OFTEN FOR CHANGE TEAMS,
IT'S A COMMITMENT THAT YOU DO
ON TOP OF YOUR OTHER
EXPECTATIONS, MAKING SURE THE
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
WHOLE CITY WILL BE CARVING OUT
SPACE AND PRIORITIZING
EVALUATING IT, SO THE TEAM
COULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT
AMAZING WORK IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THEY WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH
THE LEARNING PROCESS THAT IS A
20% RULE THAT I HAVE APPLIED IN
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S 20% SET ASIDE FOR
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, NOT
JUST FOR US, BUT OUR SERVICE
PROVIDERS AS WELL.
SO WE WILL DO THAT TYPE OF
ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
COULD DO THAT SOMETIMES, IT
MEANS THAT ADMIN COSTS WILL GO
UP A LITTLE BIT.
BUT FROM STUDIES IF YOU WANT TO
REALLY CREATE AN ANTI-RACIST
ORGANIZATION, YOU NEED TO HAVE
CAPACITY TO DO IT.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF ANALYSIS FOR
OUR PARTNERS AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
>> THANKS.
>> YES, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR
WORK.
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.
ALL RIGHT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, I
HAVE AN 11:30 MEETING.
LEAVING YOU IN THE FUN PLACE OF
VOTING AND SECONDING A MOTION.
>> QUITE ALL RIGHT, I
UNDERSTAND.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.
>> YES.
>> ITEM FOUR 119583, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE, AMENDING
ORDINANCE 125724, WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2019 BUDGET, AND LIFTING A
PROVISO IMPOSED ON THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE'S CULTURAL
SPACE BUDGET CONTROL LEVEL BY
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL GREEN
SHEET 2-5-B-1-2019.
>> HELLO AGAIN.
WE JUST MADE AN OFF-CAMERA
DECISION TO HOLD THE LAST ITEM
ON THE LAST AGENDA, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, FOLKS.
>> ASHA VENTAKARAMAN, CENTRAL
COUNCIL STAFF.
AND DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET
THAT $150,000 IS ALLOCATED IN
GREEN SHEET 2-5-B-1. THE
PROVISO STATED UNTIL COUNCIL
WAS ABLE TO SEE THE NEGOTIATED
BENEFITS, PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT
WERE COMING THROUGH.
WE COULD HOLD THAT FUNDING.
AND AFTER NEGOTIATING THOSE
BENEFITS IN CONJUNCTION WITH
YOUR OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE.
WE HAVE A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT
THAT WOULD CREATE ANOTHER SET
OF PUBLIC BENEFITS IN EXCHANGE
FOR THE $150,000.
THE REASON FOR HAVING TO
NEGOTIATE THOSE BENEFITS IS A
LIMITATION IN THE WASHINGTON
STATE CONSTITUTION THAT
PREVENTS THE CITY FROM GIFTING
PUBLIC FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS.
SO THE PRACTICE CITY WIDE AND
THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE IS TO NEGOTIATE A SET
OF BENEFITS THAT WOULD BENEFIT
THE CITY.
AND SO THIS FUNDING IS THE LAST
OF THREE SETS OF FUNDING,
EXCUSE ME THREE SETS OF BUDGET
ACTIONS THAT WILL PROVIDE
FUNDING TO TOWN HALL.
WE DID $500,000 IN 2016,
$315,000 IN 2017.
AND AS I MENTIONED IN 2019, AN
ADDITIONAL $150,000.
SO THE BENEFITS NEGOTIATED FOR
THIS $115,000 ARE TO HAVE TOWN
HALL CONTINUE THEIR FOCUS ON
RACE AND EQUITY BY PROVIDING 50
HOURS PER YEAR OF FREE USE OF
THEIR READING ROOM BY CITY
DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER
COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND IT IS ALL
FOR PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY
RELATED TO RACE AND EQUITY.
TOWN HALL PLANS TO ADVERTISE
THIS, THESE OFFERS THROUGH
THEIR NORMAL COMMUNICATIONS
PLATFORMS, PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
TO ENTITIES SUCH AS REGIONAL
EQUITY FACILITATORS, OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, AND ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO PASSAGE OF THIS BILL
WILL LIFT THE PROVISO ALLOWING
THE CONTRACT TO BE EXECUTED AND
THE FUNDS TO BE RELEASED.
>> FANTASTIC, THANKS, THIS IS
VERY HELPFUL.
AND FOR FOLKS WHO WILL BE
WATCHING ALONG, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
YOU WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT APPROPRIATIONS, THE
UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE THOUGH FOR
EACH OF THE TIMES THAT WE HAVE
FUNDED THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH
THE TOWN HALL CAPITAL PROJECT,
WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC BENEFIT
REQUIREMENTS.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THOSE PUBLIC BENEFIT
REQUIREMENTS ARE UNIQUE TO EACH
FUNDING DECISION.
THEY ARE NOT, WE DO NOT
OVERLAP, SO YOU DON'T GET FOR
THE FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDED IN
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU'RE NOT
GETTING CREDIT FOR THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT THAT YOU PROVIDED IF
YOU BEING WITH THE TOWN HALL
PROVIDED IN 2016 OR 2017.
THERE IS A NEW PUBLIC BENEFIT
REQUIREMENT THAT IS DISTINCT
AND UNIQUE FROM THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT REQUIREMENT, THE
PREVIOUS TWO YEARS.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE TERM, THE
NUMBER OF YEARS THIS PUBLIC
BENEFIT IS REQUIRED?
>> AND SO FOR THESE --
>>
I SEE IT SAYS 50 HOURS PER
YEAR, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
YEARS.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON
THAT PIECE.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE FOR HOW
LONG.
I KNOW IN PREVIOUS --
>>
ANOTHER 2017 PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR
FIVE YEARS I BELIEVE AND THAT
WAS A PUBLIC BENEFIT TO REQUIRE
ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES FOR
YOUR CHARGE TO PEOPLE UNDER
'22, BUT YEAH AGAIN, I THINK
THAT WAS A FIVE-YEAR
OBLIGATION.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW.
AND ALSO WHAT THE PLAN IS THAT
THE TOWN HALL HAS TO GET THE
WORD OUT.
AND AVAILABILITY BY NOT JUST
CITY DEPARTMENTS, BUT COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK.
I REMEMBER FORMER COUNCIL
MEMBER DID AN ORGANIZATION BY
THOSEOBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THEM.
WHAT HE FOUND AT THE TIME THERE
ARE A LOT OF PUBLIC BENEFITS
OUT THERE THAT THE COMMUNITY
COULD BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THAT THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE THEY
DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO IN TERMS OF THEIR ADVERTISE
WANTS, SO THEY WILL DO THEM
THROUGH THEIR REGULAR
ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT ALSO
TARGETING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
MARGINALIZED AS THEY HAVE IN
THE PAST BECAUSE THIS IS
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT RACE AND
EQUITY WORK, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE
LAST SET OF PUBLIC BENEFIT
AGREEMENTS WHEN THEY WERE
PROVIDING PROGRAMMING TO
CONDUCT OUTREACH TO THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
IT WAS SPECIFICALLY INVITING
THOSE COMMUNITIES TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE TICKETS THAT
THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND SO MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT
APPROACH IS GOING TO BE
SIMILAR, SO THEY ARE GOING TO
REACH TO THE COMMUNITIES, THE
CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE GENERALLY
AWARE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY
EXISTING, BUT IN RECENT MONTHS,
THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF A PUSH TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE
OF WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
HAVE BEEN.
>> DO WE TYPICALLY REQUIRE ANY
SORT OF A REPORT BACK ON THE
SUCCESS THAT FUNDED
ORGANIZATIONS HAS IN FULFILLING
ITS PUBLIC BENEFIT?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A
REPORT THAT WILL COME TO
COUNCIL, BUT MY IMPRESSION IS
THAT ARTS TRACKS ALL THE
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WHAT
KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY
HAVE AND WHEN THEY GET
FULFILLED.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW OR TO
HAVE THAT CONFIRM THAT IT IS
TRACKED BECAUSE I DO RECALL
WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER DID THAT
AUDIT, IT WAS PRETTY, IT WASN'T
BEING TRACKED.
AND IT WAS AN INEXPENSIVE JOB
TO COMPILE ALL THE BENEFITS, TO
FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES HAD SORT
OF EXHAUSTED THEIR OFFERINGS TO
THE COMMUNITIES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS FOR ALL
DEPARTMENTS THAT IT WILL TRACK
SO CLOSELY.
>> YES.
>> AND FOR EXAMPLE OUR CHANGE
TEAM RETREAT THIS YEAR WAS DONE
AT HUGO HOUSE BECAUSE WE WERE
ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
>> YES, FANTASTIC.
ALL RIGHT, GREAT.
WELL, I HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, AND GIVEN THE TIME
AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M
GOING TO MOVE COUNCIL BILL
119583.
I'M GOING TO SECOND.
COUNCIL BILL 119583 AND VOTE IN
FAVOR OF COUNCIL BILL 119583.
AND NOBODY IS ROB STAINING AND
NOBODY IS OPPOSING, AND SO THIS
WILL MOVE ON TO FULL COUNCIL.
THIS WILL BE ON MONDAY.
WITH THAT THE MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.