>>> Good morning.
>>> WELCOME TO THE CIVIL
RIGHTS, UTILITIES, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND ARTS
COMMITTEE, I AM LISA HERBOLD,
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, I
AM REPRESENTING WAS SEATTLE,
AND SOUTH PARK, IT IS 9:33 AM,
I AM CALLING IT TO ORDER,
WITHOUT ANYONE HERE TO OBJECT TO
IT, I WILL APPROVE THE AGENDA,
WE WILL START WITH A NUMBER OF
APPOINTMENTS, TWO OF THEM TO
THE MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, AND TWO OF THEM TO
THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, AND 4
REAPPOINTMENTS TO SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION, AND THEN
DISCUSSION OF 4 PIECES OF
LEGISLATION, ONE RELATES TO
TENANT LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES IN
THOSE INSTANCES THAT A TENANT
HAS EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, ANOTHER IS RELATED TO
RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THOSE
INSTANCES WHEN A TENANT IS
SEEKING TO HAVE ROOMMATES IN
THE RENTAL PROPERTIES.
THE NEXT IS ALSO A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE
REQUIREMENT A NEW PROPOSED
REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE
PARTICULAR INFORMATION RESOURCES
RELATED TO LANDLORD AND TENANT
RIGHTS, AS WELL AS RESOURCES TO
ASSIST A TENANT IN THE CASE OF
AN EVICTION.
LASTLY, THERE IS A BILL, TWO
MORE, RELATED TO THE
REQUIREMENT FOR LANDLORDS TO
ACCEPT RENT AND THE LACK OF
ABILITY FOR LANDLORDS TO REQUIRE
THAT RENT BE PAID ONLY BY
ELECTRONIC MEANS.
AND FINALLY THE LAST BILL
RELATES TO THE COMPLIANCE WITH
THE RENTAL REGISTRATION AND
INSPECTION ORDINANCE, AND THE
ABILITY TO GIVE TERMINATION
NOTICES IF A PROPERTY IS NOT
REGISTERED WITH THAT PROGRAM.
>>> FINALLY, FINISHING UP THE
DAY WITH A BRIEFING ON THE
SOLID WASTE RATE PATH, SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES, GOOD NEWS
ABOUT THE RATES, SO WITH THAT,
I WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
ALEX?
READING PEOPLE'S NAMES INTO THE
RECORD TO THE TIME, TWO
DIFFERENT PLACES TO SPEAK, WITH
A CHOICE OF THREE DIFFERENT
MICROPHONES.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, IF YOU
WOULD COME TO THE MICROPHONE,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
ALEX WILL BE KEEPING TIME, TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK, HE WILL LET
YOU KNOW AS THE CLOCK RUNS OUT
AT 1 MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS,
WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, STARTING
OFF WITH GINA OWENS.
>>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, GOOD MORNING TO
EVERYONE WHO CAME MY NAME IS
GINA OWENS I AM A 18 YEAR
MEMBER OF WASHINGTON COMMUNITY
ACTION NETWORK AND A NEW MEMBER
OF THE RENTERS COMMISSIN IN
SEATTLE.
TO THEY -- TODAY THOUGH, I AM
IN SUPPORT OF THE TENANT
PROTECTION LEGISLATION, AND
WILL ADDRESS THE PART OF THE
BILL THAT ALLOWS TENANTS TO
LIVE WITH A ROOMMATE.
THIS BILL IS CRITICAL TOWARDS
PREVENTING HOUSING INSTABILITY
AND HOMELESSNESS, ESPECIALLY
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE MY
GRANDDAUGHTER.
MY OLDEST GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO IS
20, IS CURRENTLY IN COLLEGE,
AND WORKS PART-TIME.
SHE COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE BY
HERSELF RIGHT NOW.
BUT BY LIVING WITH ME, SHE IS
ABLE TO FOCUS ON HER STUDIES
WITHOUT THE STRESS OF FINDING
HOUSING AND PAYING BILLS THAT
SHE CAN'T YET AFFORD.
>>> FURTHER, WHEN SHE DOES MOVE
OUT, SHE WILL LIKELY NEED TO
LIVE WITH ROOMMATES.
SINCE OUR RENTALS ARE SO HIGH
IN SEATTLE.
ENSURING TENANTS HAVE THE RIGHT
TO LIVE WITH ROOMMATES PROTECTS
FAMILIES IN THE WORKING-CLASS,
SO I AM URGING EVERYONE TO
PLEASE SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION,
AND KEY PEOPLE HOUSE, THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JOELLE KRAFT,
DESK KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED, THANK
YOU.
>>> MY NAME IS JOELLE KRAFT, I
AM ALSO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SURVIVOR, I HAVE A TWO-YEAR
PROTECTION ORDER AGAINST A
PERSON WHO WAS VERY ABUSIVE,
AND WE LIVED TOGETHER, AND WE
HAD ACCOUNTS IN MY NAME, THE
CHARGES WERE OVER $1700,
HOWEVER WHEN TALKING WITH T
MOBILE, THEY ARE TAKING THE
CHARGES AWAY FOR MY
RESPONSIBILITY FROM IT BECAUSE
OF THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE ISSUE.
THEY HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO
USE THEIR INSURANCE OR EVEN
JUST TO WRITE IT OFF AND I
DON'T KNOW ABOUT TAX CREDITS,
BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT
CAN HAPPEN INSTEAD OF PUSHING
IT ON TO SOMEBODY WHO IS
ALREADY JUST BARELY TRYING TO
SURVIVE, AND IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO FIND
WAYS OUT AND NOT HAVE THESE
KIND OF HORRIBLE THINGS
FOLLOWING THEM, THERE IS NO WAY
I COULD SURVIVE IF T MOBILE HAD
TAKEN $1700 OUT OF MY ACCOUNT,
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY
ELSE, BUT I MAKE $10 -- $1050 A
MONTH IN DISABILITY, AND IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT, ANYBODY HAS HIS
NAME, THEY CAN GO AFTER HIM,
AND MY SITUATION, THAT'S ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING, BUT
IT IS NOT THAT EASY FOR MANY
OTHER PEOPLE TO DO, AND IT
GIVES RENTERS PROTECTIONS.
TO BE ABLE TO JUST SURVIVE WHAT
HAPPENS IN ANY DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SITUATION.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW TERRIFYING IT IS,
AND YOU GET BILLS AND LANDLORDS
COMING AFTER YOU FOR THAT STUFF
IS VERY DIFFICULT, SO I PLEASE
ASK THAT THE CANCEL NOT ONLY
VOTE ON THIS BUT VOTE TO
APPROVE THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION, THANK YOU.>>
FOLLOWING ISAAC WILL BE AARON.
>> WELCOME -- GOOD MORNING, MY
NAME IS ISAAC, I AM SUPPORTING
THE PART OF THE BILL FOR
RENTERS RIGHTS TO LIVE THE
ROOMMATE, I BECAME ONE WHEN I
WAS A FULL-TIME STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, I
RECENTLY GRADUATED, AND I'M
STILL LIVING WITH ROOMMATES,
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT FOLKS
CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY,
THE COST OF LIVING IN THE CITY
IS GOING UP IN GENERAL, AND THE
COST OF RENT IS INCREASING YEAR
BY YEAR, LEASE TO LEASE.
SO THAT THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE
TO BE PROTECTING THEM AND
PREVENTING FOLKS FROM HAVING TO
EITHER LEAVE THE CITY, LEAVE
OPPORTUNITIES, IS TO ALLOW THEM
TO LIVE WITH ROOMMATES.
POLICIES NEED TO BE IN PLACE IN
FAVOR OF REAL PEOPLE LIVING
HERE IN THE CITY, AND THOSE
PURSUING THEIR DREAMS AND THEIR
GOALS, AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE
A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES
AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IT SHOULDN'T BE THOSE HAVING TO
PAY RENT, UTILITIES AND
GROCERIES.
TO REDUCE EVICTIONS AND THE --
THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE
ROOMMATES, LIMIT THE SCREENING
REQUIREMENTS, ASSOCIATED WITH
ADDING MEMBERS, I THINK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS UP AND I HOPE
THAT THE COUNCIL CAN PASS THIS
AND I HAVE FULL SUPPORT FOR IT.
>> AARON FENNER.
-- ERIN FENNER.
>> WITH WASHINGTON COMMUNITY
ACTION NETWORK, 20,000 MEMBERS
HERE IN SEATTLE, I AM A
DISTRICT 3 TENANT, AND I AM IN
SUPPORT OF LISA HERBOLD'S
BILLS, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND REMIT
ISSUES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SURVIVORS ARE IN A PRECARIOUS
SITUATION, AND THEY DON'T HAVE
STABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD, IF THEY DON'T, THEY ARE
IN CONDITIONS THAT ARE SUPER
DANGEROUS AND PRECARIOUS, WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
AND THEIR FAMILY.
SO ONE OF THOSE THINGS, THEY
SHOULDN'T HAVE THE LIABILITY,
BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE
LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES THAT THE
ABUSERS CAUSED, IT IS COMMON
SENSE AND BASIC DECENCY, AND WE
EXPECT BUSINESSES TO PREPARE
FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS BY
GETTING INSURANCE, BY DOING THE
TYPICAL THINGS, LIKE JOE WELL
MENTIONED, LIKE T MOBILE DID
YOU PREDICTOR ACID, WHILE DOING
A GOOD JOB LOOKING FOR THEIR
STASH LOOKING AFTER THEIR
TENANTS, BUT WE THINK IT IS
TOTALLY REASONABLE.
SPEAKING TO THE REMIT ISSUE, I
HAVE ROOMMATES, AND I WOULDN'T
BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY IF
I DIDN'T HAVE ROOMMATES,
MOREOVER THIS SUMMER, MY
COUSIN, A MASSAGE THERAPIST AND
ARTIST, NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY,
I WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT I HAD
THE ABILITY TO HOUSE HER FOR A
COUPLE OF MONTHS, SHE HAS THE
STABILITY SHE NEEDS, WE NEED
THIS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY
STRONGER.
THANK YOU.
>>> DAVE COOK.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
SINCE 1979, I LIVE ON BEACON
HILL, I'M HERE TODAY TO
ENCOURAGE THIS COMMITTEE TO
ADJUST ITS RATE STRUCTURES FOR
THE USE OF WATER, ELECTRICITY
AND GARBAGE.
THE REASON I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT IS NOT SOLELY ABOUT
WHAT ANY OF THOSE RATES AMOUNT
TO, BUT RATHER THAT THE COUNCIL
AS A WHOLE HAS ADOPTED A NEW
GREEN DEAL, AND THE RATE
STRUCTURE ISN'T REALLY LINED UP
WITH ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO
REDUCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
THEIR USE OF WATER, GARBAGE AND
ELECTRICITY.
JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, I AM
SOMEBODY WHO HAS TRIED VERY HARD
TO REDUCE ALL OF THOSE THINGS,
AND SO EVERY MONTH I PAY $25,
THE LOWEST RATE FOR GARBAGE, I
ALMOST NEVER PUT ANY GARBAGE
OUT, I PUT OUT ONE LITTLE
GROCERY BAG WORTH OF GARBAGE A
MONTH AT MOST.
THERE IS NO INCENTIVE REALLY
FOR ME TO HAVE REDUCED MY WASTE
THAT MUCH.
I HAVE TO PAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT
NO MATTER WHAT.
SO I WANT TO SUGGEST THAT THERE
BE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BASE
RATES.
AN EXAMPLE MIGHT BE, YOU
>>> HOMES, AND WHEN THEY PUT
TOO MUCH GARBAGE, YOU CHARGE
EXTRA, AND ALSO
>>> HOMES THAT DON'T PUT OUT
GARBAGE, AND HAVING NO BASE
RATE FOR SOMEBODY WHO PUTS OUT
GARBAGE TWICE IN TWO MONTHS, OR
ANOTHER EXAMPLE MIGHT BE THAT
SOME RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT
ANOTHER EXAMPLE MIGHT BE IF
SOMEBODY USES LESS THAN 500
KILOWATTS OF ELECTRICITY, IN
ONE OF THE BILLING PERIODS,
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A BASE
RATE, THEY'RE USING SO LITTLE
THAT THEY ARE DOING EXACTLY
WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO, I GAVE
MY PHONE NUMBER, I WOULD LIKE
SOMEBODY TO CONTACT ME.>> THANK
YOU.
>>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT 598
IN 606, 598, THE NEED TO
PROVIDE A COMPOSITION FUND TO
COVER THE COST OF DAMAGES TO
LANDLORDS, THE BILL RIGHT NOW
DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY PROOF, ANY
POLICE REPORT, ARREST OR
CONVICTION, AND THE ORDINANCE
SPECIFICALLY ALLOWS TENANTS TO
EXEMPT THEMSELVES FROM
LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES THAT ARE
NOT CAUSED BY DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, LEAVING IT WIDE OPEN
TO ANY KIND OF DAMAGES.
YOUR CONSIDERING AMENDMENTS
THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO REMAIN
UNDISCLOSED, WHICH FURTHER
CALLS FOR THE CITY TO FUND THE,
SINCE NO PARTY WOULD BE NAMED
IS RESPONSIBLE.
THE LANDLORD SHOULD NOT BE GET
DESPERATE AND WITH GUESSING WHO
CAUSE THE DAMAGES, BASED ON
CONJECTURE FOR THIS MIGHT'VE
BEEN TRANSLATING TO AN
ADDITIONAL BURDEN, THE
FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE TROUBLE
úWE WOULD GO THROUGH TO BE MADE
WHOLE, THINK ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE
ME WHO ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MYSELF
AND MY TENANTS, HELP ME KEEP MY
RENTS LOW.
>>> I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
606, 119 606, IN VIOLATION OF
STATE LAW, IT IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, DECIDING WHO
IS ALLOWED TO OCCUPY DEPOSITION
OF POVERTY IS RECOGNIZED BY
STATE LAW AS A FUNDAMENTAL
PROPERTY OF STATE OWNERSHIP.
AND OBJECTING TO THE
REQUIREMENT THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE TO BE PARTIES TO THE
LEASE, THAT MEANS THEY HAVE NO
CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE LANDLORD, SO THE LANDLORD
HAS NO WAY I -- OF IDENTIFYING
WHO THEY ARE, NO SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER TO
>>> THEM IF THEY CAUSE DAMAGES,
AND I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY
PEOPLE COULD BE PUT INTO A
RENTAL PROPERTY WITHOUT
REQUIRING THAT THEY FOLLOW THE
LEASE, THE LANDLORD IS BEING
PROHIBITED FROM -- YET THEY
WOULD NOT BE UPHELD TO THE SAME
STANDARDS.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF TENANTS MOVING IN A
PREVIOUSLY KICKED UP WITH FOR
IN A PARTNER, IN CONJUNCTION
ORDINANCE, SOMEBODY WHO HAS
VIOLATED OR CAUSED DAMAGE, WE
HAD AN ISSUE WHERE A TENANT HAD
SOMEBODY WHO MOVED OUT LATER
AND CAME BACK A FEW YEARS, THEY
LOOKED UP AGAIN, BECAUSE WE HAD
HISTORY WITH THEM, WE LIVE ON
THE PROPERTY WITH MY CHILDREN,
THAT IS OUR HOME, WE TOLD HIM
THAT HE WAS NOT ALLOWED ON THE
PROPERTY WE WERE ABLE TO TELL
HIM HE WAS TRESPASSING, BASED
ON WHAT I'M SEEING IN THESE
ORDINANCES, THAT WOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED, IS PUTTING THAT IN
FRONT OF YOU I WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR YOUR RESPONSE, A TENANT IN
A DUTCH A NEW ROMANTIC PARTNER
THAT HAS A HISTORY WITH THE
LANDLORD, ESPECIALLY MY CASE,
WORD IS MY RESIDENCE.
ONE MORE THING, I WOULD LIKE
YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
LANDLORDS, RIGHT NOW THE
AMENDMENTS THAT YOU'RE
PROPOSING DON'T REALLY REFLECT
OUR CONCERNS, I LOOK FOR TO
THAT, THANK YOU.>>> BRETT
WALLER.
>> GOOD MORNING, I THINK YOU FOR
-- THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS TO
CREATE LANDLORD MITIGATION FUN
WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BILL
THAT IS BEING PROPOSED, WE
BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST
SOLUTION TO HELP SURVIVORS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ESCAPE A
SITUATION WHERE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS OCCURRING, WITHOUT
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO RE-
VICTIMIZE THAT SURVIVOR EDITH
RECORD PROCESS, WHERE THE
LANDLORD WOULD TRY AND RECOVER
DAMAGES FROM THE ABUSER, --
THAT SURVIVOR RECORDED PROCESS.
AND CONTINUING TO ATTEMPT TO
CONTROL THAT SURVIVOR, WE
APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING THAT
MITIGATION FUN, AND WE HOPE YOU
CAN CONTINUE THAT WITH SUCCESS.
>>> THE BILL THAT IS RELATED TO
NONELECTRONIC FORMS OF PAYMENT,
WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF CERTAIN
NONELECTRONIC FORMS OF PAYMENT,
BUT HUGE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
ACCEPTANCE OF CASH ITSELF.
CASH CREATES A BIG PROBLEM WITH
THEFT, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
OF THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY,
AND CREATE STRONG
OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
KNOWING THAT RENT IS ALWAYS
PAID THE FIRST OF THE MONTH,
AND THERE'S ALWAYS A LIKELIHOOD
OF LARGE GROUPS OF CASH BEING
STORED OR KEPT IN A RENTAL
PROPERTY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME, AS A PERSONAL EXAMPLE, MY
PROPERTY HAS BEEN BURGLARIZED,
THE LEASING OFFICE HAS BEEN
BURGLARIZED A COUPLE OF TIMES,
TAKEN THE SAFE THAT IS OUT IN
THE BACK OF THE LEASING OFFICE,
THAT IS BOLTED TO THE GROUND,
ALLOWING FOR CASH JUST CREATES
MORE OPPORTUNITIES, AND
SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES THAT
-- WERE THOSE THAT MANAGE THE
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>>> FOLLOWING MARIAN IS MEGAN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS MARY
DURAND, THE INTERNAL AUDITOR
FOR SECURITY PROPERTIES
RESIDENTIAL, A SEATTLE-BASED
NATIONWIDE PROVIDE, I'M
SPEAKING TO SHARE COMMENTS ABOUT
COUNCIL BILL 119620, RELATING
TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF
NONELECTRONIC PAYMENTS,
PARTICULARLY CASH, I'M AN EXPERT
IN THE FIELD OF FRAUD FOR
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY, I
HAVE WORKED IN INDUSTRY FOR
OVER 18 YEARS, 14 OF THOSE
BEING AN INTERNAL AUDITOR AND
INVESTIGATOR, HAVE ACQUIRED A
MASTERS DEGREE IN CRIME
MANAGEMENT, AND A FRAUD
EXAMINER, AS A COMPANY WE DON'T
ACCEPT CASH FOR PAYMENT FOR
RENT BECAUSE IT CREATES
SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY FOR THE
COMPANY AND PROBLEMS FOR
RESIDENTS.
PUTTING OUR EMPLOYEES AT RISK,
WE OFTEN ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO
PEOPLE IN THE LEASING OFFICES,
FIRST JOB, 18 YEARS OLD, WE
DON'T HAVE SECURITY GUARDS,
PROPERTY SIZES RANGE FROM 74
UNITS TO 512 UNITS, THAT COULD
RESULT IN HAVING TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON SITE AT
ANY GIVEN TIME, AND OUR STAFF
IS VERY VULNERABLE FOR THEFT,
BECAUSE THE RENT IS DUE
ANYWHERE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND
THE FIFTH OF THE MONTH.
IN ADDITION, CASH IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN STRICT
ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS, DIFFICULT
TO
>>> AND TRACE MOVEMENT.
MONEY ORDERS ARE SEPARATE BUT
SIMILAR ISSUES THAT WE HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH, BUT CASH IS
EASILY MANIPULATED AND CREATES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEFT.
IT OFTEN AFFECTS THE RESIDENT.
IN MY 14 YEARS EXPERIENCE, I
HAVE WORKED AT MULTIPLE
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES,
I HAVE AN ON-SITE MEMBER, WAS
LAPPING PAYMENTS, SOME KIND OF
PONZI SCHEME, CREATING
DELINQUENCIES, AND DOING THE
SAME TO ANOTHER TENANT IN
FUTURE MONTHS, I HAVE
INVESTIGATED ON-SITE MEMBER IS
TELLING RESIDENCE THAT THEY MUST
PROVIDE MULTIPLE MONEY ORDERS.
ON-SITE TEAMS, FLAT OUT ALTER
MONEY ORDERS AND STEAL THEM,
THIS LIGHT CASH IS EASILY
TRANSFERABLE AND DIFFICULT TO
TRACE WE DO ACCEPT THEM BECAUSE
THEY HAVE A TRACEABLE COMPONENT.
>>> UTILIZING -- THOSE WHO WANT
TO COMMIT FRAUD PREY ON
VULNERABLE, LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS, WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AS
A SECOND LANGUAGE, AND THEY
PLACED TRUST IN US TO HAVE
THEIR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART,
AND IN MANY CASES THAT'S NOT
THE CASE, AND IN MANY
SITUATIONS THEY DID NOT KEEP
THEIR PAY STUBS, FROM THE MONEY
ORDERS ARE THE RECEIPTS,
BECAUSE THEY TRUST THE ON-SITE
STAFF.
CAN I SEE ONE MORE THING.
THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES,
ELECTRONIC MONEY ORDER PAYMENT,
WE CAN PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
CONVENTIONAL HOUSING WITH THE
MFT UNIT, AND ONE LAST THING,
IF THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS MOVING
FORWARD WITH REQUIRING ACTUAL
CASH PAYMENTS, WE WOULD ASK
THAT YOU RECONSIDER IT AT THE
SITE LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE RISK
THAT IT PUTS OUR SITE TEAMS
THAT, THANK YOU.>> THE LAST
>>, IS SOMEBODY -- THE LAST
SPEAKER.
>> BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO RENT ARE
USUALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE FOR
DISPLACEMENT, ESPECIALLY
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I
THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR THE RESOURCE TO BE MADE
AVAILABLE THAT THE PERSON WHO
WAS ABUSING THEM IS HELD
RESPONSIBLE.
SO THEN THAT MAY FREE THE
PERSON UP WHO IS ABUSED TO FIND
OTHER RESOURCES FOR HOUSING.
AND ALSO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO ALLOW ROOMMATES.
I'M READING A BOOK ABOUT
GENTRIFICATION, AND USUALLY
WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS OF
THE FIRST TARGETS, EVEN THOUGH
THE WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS COULD
SEE THE TRANSFORMATION FROM THE
INVESTMENT FROM THE PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP, WHERE OF
COURSE THE PUBLIC RESOURCES
WON'T SEE THE TEXT COMING BACK,
SO THAT THERE WILL BE A
SHRINKAGE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS,
THEY USUALLY TARGET WORKING-
CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS.
NOT FOR OBSRVING, WILL YES,
FOR OBSERVING, GETTING MORE
WEALTH, IT BECOMES MORE ABOUT
REAL ESTATE AS A SOLID WAY FOR
PEOPLE AT THE TOP TO AMASS MORE
MONEY, PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT
USING IT FOR BASIC NEEDS.
BUT JUST FOR SQUANDERING,
WHEREAS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, IF
IT WAS ORGANIZED AT MORE OF A
PUBLIC LEVEL, COULD SEE THEIR
HOUSING MORE SUSTAINED, AND
COULD SEE THAT THEY ARE HOUSED
PERMANENTLY IF THAT'S WHAT THEY
PREFER.
IF THERE WAS MORE OF A PUBLIC
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ABOUT
DRAWING UP ARCHITECTURAL LIVING
SPACES.
THAT IS WHY I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE AT THE
WORKING-CLASS LEVEL, WE HAVE
RENT CONTROL, THAT'S THE BEST
CANDIDATE SO FAR, BECAUSE SHE
WANTS STRONG RENT CONTROL,
WHICH THIS REINFORCES.
>> THAT WAS MEGAN MURPHY.
SHE HAD NOT STATED AT THE
BEGINNING, JUST FOR THE
RECORD.>>> I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN HAS
JOINED US, WE WILL START WITH
ITEMS 1 AND 2, THE 2
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
>>> 01390, ITEM NUMBER 1,
REAPPOINTMENT OF DOROTHY
HOLLAND MANN, A TERM TO JULY 21
, AND 01392, ROSITA I. ROMERO,
GOVERNING COUNCIL, UNTIL JULY
31, 2020.
>> HANNAH SMITH FROM THE OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
>> CAN YOU GIVE A? OVERVIEW OF
THE MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT
GOVERNING COUNCIL?
-- QUICK OVERVIEW.
>> ONE OF THESE CITIES EIGHT
PUBLIC DEVELOP AUTHORITIES, AND
MDA'S GOAL IS THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE DOWNTOWN MUSEUM AND
OLYMPIC SCULPTURE PARK, HOUSED
WITHIN THE SEATTLE ART MUSEUM,
ANOTHER BUILDING DOWNTOWN,
GOVERNED BY A NINE-MEMBER
GOVERNING COUNCIL, THE SEATTLE
ART MUSEUM, THE MAYOR AND THE
MDA GOVERNING COUNCIL ITSELF, I
HAVE TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS, RUN
FOR THE MAYOR AND ONE FROM THE
GOVERNING COUNCIL.
>> DO YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT
THOSE REAPPOINTMENTS?
>> SURE, FIRST IS DOROTHY
HOLLAND MANN, APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNING COUNCIL, THE FIRST
WOMAN AND 1st AFRICAN-AMERICAN
TO HEAD REGION 10 OF THE U.S.
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, SERVING
WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO AND
ALASKA.
IN HER PUBLIC HEALTH
BACKGROUND, SHE ESTABLISHED THE
FIRST OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH
THE FEDERAL REGIONAL OFFICE,
THE VIOLENCE PROTECTION
PROJECT, AND IS A FOUNDING
MEMBER OF THE WASHINGTON
WOMEN'S FOUNDATION, PASTURE OF
THE SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION,
AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD CHAIR
TRUSTEE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AT
THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, WITH
THIS IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND, A
LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE
GOVERNING COUNCIL, THIS
REPRESENTS HER NINTH TERM.
>> NINE TERMS, THAT IS
DEDICATION.
>> AND ROSITA I. ROMERO IS A
MAYORAL APPOINTEE, A
CONSULTANT AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVIST, THE OWNER AND
DIRECTOR OF A R. KELLY, AND AN
ORGANIZATION DESIGNED TO GIVE
VOICE TO LATINO, HISPANIC AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF
WASHINGTON.
SHE HAS HEADED THESE GO CLUBS
AND LATINOS UNITED.
AND SHE IS ON THE BOARD OF
ARTIST TRUST, AND THE
WASHINGTON STATE ART
COMMISSIONER FROM 2006-2009,
THIS REPRESENTS HER FIFTH TERM
ON THE MDA.>> TERRIFIC.
ANY THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> THAT IS A LOT OF TERMS.
>> BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, 14.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO MOVE
APPOINTMENT 01390 AND 01392 .
>> I WILL SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
NONE OPPOSING, NONE ABSTAINING,
THE REAPPOINTMENT WILL MOVE TO
THE FULL COUNCIL ON MONDAY.>>>
ITEMS THREE AND 4. -- 3 AND 4.
>> 01397, REAPPOINTMENT OF
TYRONE GRANDISON AS MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, FOR A TERM TO JULY
22, 2021, AND 01398, 01392
SIX, THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, FOR A TERM TO JULY
22, 2021.
-- AARON G. ORAVILLO .
>> MY NAME IS MARTA IDOWU, WITH
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> AND I'M WITH THE SEATTLE
LIAISON.
>> FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, A?
OVERVIEW OF THE COMMISSION?
-- QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE
COMMISSION AND WHAT IT DOES?
>> I MANAGE THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION, THE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION, AND THE
COMMISSIONS, ADVISING THE CITY
-- THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL,
GOING INTO DOING WORK PLANS
EVERY YEAR.
>> HUMAN RIGHTS AS WELL.
>> STARTING WITH THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION, BASICALLY
THE WORK THAT THEY DO,
ESTABLISHED IN 1963 TO ADVOCATE
FOR JUSTICE AND EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY TO ADVISE ON HUMAN
RIGHTS ISSUES AND TO
COLLABORATE WITH THE PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SECTORS IN ORDER TO
EDUCATE THEM ON METHODS TO
PREVENT AND ELIMINATE
DISCRIMINATION CITYWIDE, THE
COMMISSION'S GOAL IS TO
ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND
BE A VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY,
TALK TO ELECTED OFFICIALS,
ENSURE THERE IS GREATER PUBLIC
AWARENESS FOR WHAT THEY DO,
WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE AND
CREATE ACTIONABLE -- OBJECTIVES.
AND LOOKING AT A LOT OF POLICY
ISSUES.
THINGS LIKE THAT.
PUTTING ON A LOT OF EVENTS LIKE
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
>> AND YOU SPEAK TO THE
REAPPOINTMENTS?>> TYRONE
GRANDISON, AND AARON G.
ORAVILLO CUP BOTH OF THEM ARE
FAIRLY NEW ON THE COMMISSION,
WE DID REAPPOINTMENT SEVERAL
MONTHS AGO, NOW NOT QUITE TO
TWO YEARS, THEY FILLED THE
POSITION OF SOMEONE ELSE.
A VACANCY.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN VERY
ACTIVE ON THE COMMISSION, DOING
THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION, AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY
HAVE STEPPED UP TO DO IS TO
HELP WITH THE PLANNING OF A LOT
OF EVENTS WE HAVE, A COUPLE OF
MAJOR EVENTS COMING UP, HUMAN
RIGHTS DAY, AND THAT IS ON
INDIGENOUS WOMEN, AND 01392 SIX
WENT TO A HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION WHERE THEY HAVE A
YEARLY GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DO
HUMAN RIGHTS CITY WORK, STATES
THAT ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A HUMAN
RIGHTS CITY, AND BE KNOWN AS A
HUMAN RIGHT CITY, THE GET
TOGETHER, AND THEY HAVE A
CONFERENCE.
AND NEXT YEAR IN MARCH, THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IS
PUTING ON THIS EVENT.
IT IS GOING TO BE AT THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM.
>> THE NATIONAL CONVENING.
THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION IS SPONSORING?
>> 50 STATES IN THE UNITED
STATES, 12 OR 14 CITIES THAT
ARE NOW HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES, HE
WENT TO ONE OF THEM LAST YEAR,
WE SHARED THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD,
AND ASKED THE CITY OF SEATTLE
TO PUT ON AND SPONSOR IT.
HE IS LEADING THAT, WE'VE BEEN
HAVING A LOT OF PLANNING
MEETINGS AROUND THAT.
>> AND IS THERE A PROCESS TO
BECOMING A HUMAN RIGHT CITY?
BAKER THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION STATED THE
RESOLUTION TO THE CITY, THEY
WROTE THE RESOLUTION, AND HAD A
GO THROUGH THE PROPER
PROCEDURES ARE COMING BEFORE
THE CITY COUNCIL TO BECOME A
HUMAN RIGHT CITY.
>> I WAS UNAWARE THAT OTHER
CITIES WERE DOING THAT AS WELL?
PART OF A NATIONAL EFFORT?
>> YES.
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT HE
CAME BACK, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
THERE WAS THAT MANY THAT HAVE
THERE ARE.>> I CERTAINLY S, BUT
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS OF
BOTH TYRONE AND AARON TO BE
SERVING ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, IF THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS, I WILL MOVE THE
APPOINTMENTS -- 01397 AND
01398, NONE OPPOSED, THOSE
WILL MOVE ON TO FULL COUNCIL ON
MONDAY.
>>> AND WE HAVE 4
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION.
>> YES.
>> I WILL READ THEM INTO THE
RECORD.
ITEM 5, DARYA FARIVAR, SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION, FOR A TERM
TO JULY 1, 2021.
01934, ROKEA JONES, 01395, K.
MIN PEASE, AND 01396,
REAPPOINTMENT OF JAMILAH
WILLIAMS, ALL FOR A TERM TO
JULY 1, 2021.
>> IF YOU COULD TELL US A
LITTLE BIT FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC ABOUT THE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION AND WHAT THE
PURPOSES?
>> THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION IS A ADVISORY BODY
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE WHO
COME TOGETHER AS VOLUNTEERS TO
RESEARCH, ANALYZE AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR,
CITY COUNCIL AND CITY
DEPARTMENTS ON ISSUES AFFECTING
WOMEN IN SEATTLE, THEY HAVE
IDENTIFIED ONE PRIMARY FOCUS,
PUBLIC AWARENESS ISSUES, FOR
2019, THE PRIMARY POLICY AND
PUBLIC AWARENESS ISSUES ARE
PROMOTING STABLE HOUSING FOR
WOMEN AND HOUSING -- WOMEN IN
SEATTLE, AND THE FOCUS FROM 19-
20, AND THE NEXT ONE IS DRIVING
DISCOURSE ON THE EXPERIENCE OF
WOMEN AT WORK IN SEATTLE, AND
NUMBER 3 IS PROMOTING ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY
CHILDCARE FOR FAMILIES IN
SEATTLE, AND 4, DRIVING AXIS TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE -- ACCESS TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS.
CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON POLICY
OPTIONS, WORK COLLABORATIVELY
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, MEMBERS OF
OTHER COMMISSIONS AND PARTNERS
TO DETERMINE GOALS AND STRATEGY.
THEY LIKE TO PURSUE
COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES,
TRADITIONAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL
MEDIA TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS
OF THE ISSUES AND ORGANIZE
ADVOCACY EFFORTS.
AND ADVOCATE TO POLICYMAKERS
THROUGH, LETTERS, IN PERSON
TESTIMONY AND OTHER AVENUES,
CONTINUOUSLY WORKING TO
DISMANTLE RACISM'S -- RACISM
AND GENDER NORMS THAT
PERPETUATE HARM.
>> WE VALUE AND APPRECIATE ALL
OF THAT WORK.
WE CAN MOVE INTO JUST A COUPLE
OF SENTENCES ABOUT EACH OF THE
REAPPOINTMENTS?
>> I KIND OF DID
COLLABORATIVELY ALTOGETHER, THE
4 FOLKS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD,
K. MIN PEASE, JAMILAH WILLIAMS
, DARYA FARIVAR , ROKEA JONES.
THOSE FOLKS ARE THE NEW
COCHAIRS, AND ZOE IS THE CHAIR.
>> I HAVE DARYA FARIVAR,
BAGSHAW ONE, K. MIN PEASE, AND
JAMILAH WILLIAMS -- ROKEA
JONES, K. MIN PEASE, JAMILAH
WILLIAMS.
THEY BECAME THE COCHAIRS FOR
THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION,
THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF
WORK IN THE AREAS THAT THEY ARE
INTERESTED IN, ALONG THE LINES
OF THE THINGS I JUST READ,
DEVELOPING POLICY, DARYA
FARIVAR IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE
THAT GO TO OLYMPIA AND LOOK AT
WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE STATE
LEVEL, AND REPORT ISSUES,
SORRY, NOT ZOE, I WILL MOVE HER
PACKET, THEY HAVE BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN MOVING POLICY
AND MAKING CHANGES, I DON'T
KNOW -- I KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN
THE REPORT ABOUT HOUSING AND
THE PROBLEMS AROUND THE
CONVICTIONS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS
THEY HAVE DONE.
JUST SHARING THAT THEY HAVE
DONE A LOT OF WORK AROUND
POLICY STUFF, PUTTING ON LARGE
EVENTS, AUGUST 20, AN EVENTS ON
MATERNAL HEALTH, WE WILL HAVE
THE AWARD COMING UP ON
SEPTEMBER 26, PUTTING IT
TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY AS A
COMMISSION.
SO THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT I
WANTED TO SHARE, THEY ARE DOING
WORK, ATTENDING MEETINGS AND
TAKING ON LARGER ROLES ON THE
COMMISSION, AND REALLY PROUD OF
THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING
AND CONTINUE TO DO ON THE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT
WITH US, WE SEE A LOT OF
EVIDENCE OF THAT WORK BOTH IN
THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE WORK
THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN
THIS COMMITTEE AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO RENTER
PROTECTION.
THAT SOUNDS FANTASTIC.
>> ONE LAST THING, I WANTED TO
HAVE JANET STAFFER COME UP, SHE
IS TAKING -- OUT OF CLASS TO
HELP THE LGBT COMMISSION, I
WANTED TO INTRODUCE HER.
>> WE HAVE THOSE APPOINTMENTS
BEFORE US, AND YOU WILL BE
PRESENTING THEM?
>> YES.
>> I WILL MOVE 01393,
APPOINTMENT 01934, APPOINTMENT
01395, AND APPOINTMENT 01934
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE,
NONE OPPOSED, NONE ABSTAINING,
THEY WILL MOVE TO THE FULL
COUNCIL ON MONDAY.
I WILL LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT
WE EXTEND OUR THANKS.
-- PLEASE LET EVERYBODY KNOW.
>> I SURE WILL.
>>> ITEM NUMBER 9.
>>> 119598 . AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO RENTAL AGREEMENTS
AND TENANT LIABILITY FOR
DAMAGES; RELIEVING A TENANT
EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FROM LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO
THE LANDLORD
BY A PERPETRATOR OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE; AND AMENDING SECTIONS
7.24.020, 7.24.030, AND
22.206.170 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> I AM ASHA VENKATARAMAN,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US A?
BACKGROUND OVERVIEW.
-- QUICK BACKGROUND OVERVIEW.
>> THIS WAS IN RELATION TO THE
LOSING HOME REPORT, PRESENTED
LAST SEPTEMBER, ONE OF THE
ITEMS THAT WAS SLATED FOR THE
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IN THE
RESOLUTION, IN TERMS OF
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THE
ISSUE OF TENANTS BEING HELD
LIABLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED TO A
LANDLORDS PROPERTY WHEN IT WAS
DONE BY A PERPETRATOR OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DURING THE
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, 119598
ESSENTIALLY EXEMPTED THEM IF
THEY PROVIDED NOTIFICATION AND
REPORT TO A LANDLORD THAT THEY
WERE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND THE DAMAGE CAUSED
WAS BY THE PERPETRATOR OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THE INTENT OF THIS BILL IN A
LOT OF WAYS IS TO MERE
PROTECTIONS THAT EXIST AT THE
STATE LEVEL AROUND REMOVING A
TENANT FROM LIABILITY FROM A
RENTAL AGREEMENT IF THERE ARE A
VICTIM, AND THOSE PROTECTIONS
WOULD ALLOW A TENANT TO
TERMINATE THE RENTAL AGREEMENT
EARLY WITHOUT FURTHER
OBLIGATION.
>> SO THAT LEGISLATION, IN
STATE LAW, IS BASED ON A
SIMILAR CONCEPT, A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF LIABILITY, BUT A
FINANCIAL LIABILITY THAT AGENT
HAS WHEN THEY BREAK THE LEASE,
AND UNDER STATE LAW THEY DON'T
HAVE THE FINANCIAL LIABILIT IN
THE INSTANCE THERE ARE FLEEING
THE ABUSE OF SOMEBODY WHO'S
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AGAINST THAT PERSON.
AGAIN, THE IDEA IS, THAT YOUR
STATUS AS A SURVIVOR OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHOULD NOT BE
A BARRIER WHEN -- AFTER FLEEING
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHEN YOU
ARE TRYING TO GET NEW HOUSING.
AND HAVING A BROKEN LEASE IS
ONE FORM OF LIABILITY THAT CAN
KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING
HOUSING.
ANOTHER KIND OF LIABILITY IS AN
UNPAID BILL ASSOCIATED WITH THE
APARTMENT.
>> IN A LOT OF CASE, THE
LIABILITY CAN HELP TO KEEP THE
SURVIVOR IN THE RELATIONSHIP,
OR LINK TO THE PERPETRATOR OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
>> BECAUSE OF FEAR OF WHAT THAT
LIABILITY -- THE FEAR OF THAT
LIABILITY BEING A BARRIER TO
GETTING NEW HOUSING, PEOPLE
CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE ABUSIVE
SITUATION.
>> THEY CAN, OR IN ADDITION, IT
CAN BE BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE OF THE
ISSUES WE ARE TRYING TO
ADDRESS, MAKES THE PERSON
DEPENDENT ON THAT PARTICULAR
HOUSING.
OR THE PERPETRATOR THEMSELVES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SOME OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS WERE ISSUES
DISCUSSED DURING THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE ARE
SEVEN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS
PROPOSING, I CAN DO THEM PER
AMENDMENT, OR TOGETHER.
>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN VOTE AS
WE GO.
IS THAT RIGHT?
THE FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT
WOULD ALIGN PROTECTIONS TO
COVER CRIMES THAT ARE COVERED
IN STATE LAW THAT WE JUST
DISCUSSED, AS ORIGINALLY
INTRODUCED, THE DRAFTING WOULD
HAVE COVERED ONLY CRIMES OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT IN THE
STATE LAW, THE COVERAGE IS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS WELL AS
SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING AND
UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT AND THE
ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THOSE
THINGS ARE COVERED WITHIN THE
NARROW DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, BUT THAT'S NOT
ACTUALLY THE CASE.
SO TO ENSURE THOSE CRIMES ARE
COVERED ALSO, INSERTING THOSE
PROTECTIONS INTO THE BILL, THE
DEFINITIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT,
AND UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT AND
STALKING ON PAGE 2 OF YOUR MEMO.
AND ESSENTIALLY TO INSERT THOSE
INTO THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE A
SUBSTITUTE BILL, BECAUSE WE
WOULD NEED A TITLE CHANGE
BECAUSE THE SCOPE WOULD BE
LARGER, YOU WILL SEE IN
ATTACHMENT A, THOSE
PROTECTIONS, SEXUAL ASSAULT,
ARE INSERTED, WHEREVER YOU SEE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THAT WOULD
REQUIRE A SUBSTITUTE, WHICH
MEANS WE WOULD NEED A NEW BILL,
THAT WOULD BE INTRODUCED AT
SOME POINT BEFORE THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE 24th.
>> JUST FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC
AND THE FOLKS HERE WITH US
TODAY, MY INTENTION IS TO VOTE
ON THE AMENDMENTS.
WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE
STILL HAVE STUFF TO WORK OUT
AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE ONE MORE TIME.>> JUST
SO I'M CLEAR, WE WILL VOTE ON
THE AMENDMENTS OF THIS BILL
PROBABLY MORE SYMBOLICALLY THAN
ANYTHING, BECAUSE WE GET A NEW
BILL INTRODUCED, BUT IT WILL
REFLECT WHAT WE'VE DONE
TODAY.>> CORRECT.
>> THAT WILL BE THE WORKING
THING WE WORK ON IT THE NEXT
COMMITTEE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
>> SO IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON
THE FIRST ONE, WE CAN MOVE TO
THE SECOND ONE.>> I WILL MOVE
AMENDMENT 1, PROTECTIONS TO
COVER CRIMES INCLUDED IN THE
REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON, BY
ADDING IN SEXUAL ASSAULT,
STALKING AND UNLAWFUL
ATTACHMENT.
AND NO OBJECTIONS.
>> IT UPDATES THE LANGUAGE, IN
THE MOMENT TOO, ALIGNING WITH
STATE LAW, THE DIFFERENCE IS
THE BILL WAS ORIGINALLY
INTRODUCED, USING DEFINITIONS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FAMILY
AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS AS
DEFINED BEFORE THE CURRENT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
DURING THE 2019 STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BILL 1517
PAST, WHICH REVISE THE
DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, AND IT WAS REVISED TO
SEPARATE OUT INTIMATE PARTNER
VERSUS FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD
MEMBER, SO THOSE CHANGES ARE
REFLECTED ON PAGE 3 OF THE MEMO,
AND HOW THE STAPLE CHANGES THEM,
AND FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, IT TOOK
OUT SPECIFIC DESCRIPTIONS IN
THE DEFINITION AND CHANGE THEM
TO THE DEFINITION OF INTIMATE
PARTNER, AND NOW THAT I'M
SAYING THAT, I CAN SEE THAT IT
IS NOT INCLUDED HERE, IT MIGHT
BE WORTH A DISCUSSION OF
WHETHER WE SHOULD INCLUDE
INTIMATE PARTNER, AND INSERT IN
WHEREVER FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD
MEMBER IS DEFINED IN THE BILL.
>>> THE REMAINDER OF THE
AMENDMENT IS PAGE 1 OF
ATTACHMENT B, NOT ONLY WITH THE
DEFINITIONS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IN FAMILY AND
HOUSEHOLD NUMBERS BE CHANGED TO
REFERENCE THE DEFINITIONS IN THE
RCW, THE DEFINITION WOULD BE
ALIGNED TO REFERENCE THE RCW AS
WELL, AND LASTLY, BECAUSE OF
OTHER CHANGES MADE AT THE STATE
LEVEL, THAT AFFECT THE
REFERENCES MADE IN THIS BILL,
AND IN THE RCW, IT WOULD JUST
BE A CHANGE FROM THE -- 20 6A,
OR 20 6B.
A LOT OF 26 IS -- 26 A AND B,
THAT IS A LOT OF 26'S.>> THE
CHANGE THAT WOULD BE NEEDED
LATER, IS TO INCLUDE THE
DEFINITION OF INTIMATE PARTNER?
>> YES, INTIMATE PARTNER IS
DEFINED, ALL THE THINGS THAT
ARE CROSSED OFF HERE ON PAGE 3,
THOSE GOT TRANSFERRED INTO THE
DEFINITION OF INTIMATE PARTNER.
IT WOULD JUST BE INSERTING THAT
DEFINITION INTO THE BILL AS
WELL.
>> INTO THE DEFINITION SECTION,
ALL RIGHT, NO QUESTIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN?
>> I AM HAPPY TO MOVE AMENDMENT
TO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
THE NEW BILL WONDERS -- ALSO
REFLECT THE DEFINITION OF
INTIMATE PARTNER.
>> I WILL SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.
IT PASSES.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 CLARIFIES
THE CONTENTS OF THE PETITION
THAT IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO
LANDLORD, AS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED,
THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE
INCLUDED ARE THAT THEY WERE A
VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
AND INFORM THE QUALIFIED THIRD-
PARTY OF THE DAY, AND THE
PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND THEY HAD
INFORMED THEM OF THE NAME OF
THE PERPETRATOR.
THE WAY WAS DRAFTED IMPLIED THAT
IT HAD TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME
TIME, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY
THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
MANIFESTS, THERE ARE THINGS
THAT CAN HAPPEN OUT OF THE
STRICT LEGAL DEFINITION OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT CAN FIT
INTO A PATTERN OF ABUSE,
BECAUSE THE INTENT WAS TO
ENSURE THAT THE DAMAGE DONE BY
THE PERPETRATOR OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, NOT JUST DONE ANY
SPECIFIC LEGAL INSTANCE, THE
AMENDMENT WOULD CHANGE TO
SEPARATE OUT THOSE TWO THINGS.
IN ATTACHMENT B ON PAGE 3, YOU
WILL SEE THE REVISION IS TO
CROSS OUT THE ACT OR ACTS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IN THE-D,
THE ONLY VERIFICATION OF THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIDE WOULD BE
THAT IT IS THE PERSON THAT IS
PERPETRATING IT THAT HAS CAUSED
THE PROPERTY DAMAGE.
>> IDEALLY, IT SEEMS THAT THE
DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WOULD INCLUDE ACTIONS THAT
CONSTITUTE A PATTERN OF ABUSE,
BUT GIVEN THAT IT DOESN'T APPEAR
TO ENCAPSULATE THAT TYPE OF
ACTIVITY THAT IS A PATTERN OF
ABUSE, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD
WAY OF APPROACHING THAT.
THAT ISSUE.
AND THE FACT THAT SAME SORT OF
DAMAGE CAN HAVE A LASTING IMPACT
ON A TENANT IF THAT DAMAGE
COSTS MONEY TO FIX, AND THE
TENANT IS AGAIN TRYING TO GET
OUT OF THAT SITUATION.
SO I THINK AMENDMENT THREE IS A
GOOD ONE TO INCLUDE.
I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT THREE,
CLARIFYING THE CONTENTS OF
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION IN
ATTACHMENT B, PAGE 3.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
PASSING AMENDMENT THREE, VOTE
ABEL PACHECO, NONE -- VOTE
AYE.
>> ALIGNING THE CITY
REGULATONS WITH THE STATE BILL,
THIS IS PARTICULARLY ABOUT
IDENTIFICATION OF THE
PERPETRATOR IN THE REPORT, AND
THE PROHIBITION AGAINST THE
NAME WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ORDER
TO BALANCE A LANDLORD'S ABILITY
TO PURSUE COMPETITION FROM A
PERPETRATOR OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, THE INITIAL THOUGHT
WAS HOW WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO
FIGURE IT OUT IF IT WASN'T IN
THE PARTICULAR REPORT.
AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH IT
BECAME CLEAR THERE ARE OTHER
WAYS IN WHICH A LANDLORD CAN
FIND OUT WHO THE PERPETRATOR
WAS, AND THE WRIST TO BOTH THE
SURVIVOR AND THE ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRYING
TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS, AND
REQUIRING THEM TO REPORT THE
NAME, OUTWEIGHED THE BENEFITS
OF HAVING A LANDLORD FIND OUT
ABOUT THE PERPETRATOR IN THAT
SPECIFIC MECHANISM.
IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH, THAT
SORT OF MADE THIS CLEAR, THE
REPORT TO THE THIRD-PARTY FOR A
VARIETY OF REASONS, THE PATTERN
OF ABUSE, IT CAN BE COMMON FOR
ABUSERS TO ISOLATE THEIR VICTIMS
EITHER PSYCHOLOGICALLY,
PHYSICALLY, AND SO CREATING A
SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
TRADERS CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR
VICTIMS, BECAUSE IT IS IN AN
EFFORT TO GET OUT OF THE
RELATIONSHIP.
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT SURVIVORS
TRY TO DEAL WITH THE LIABILITY
THAT HAPPENS, OR THE HARM THAT
IS BEING CAUSED, IS REPORTING
TO A QUALIFIED THIRD-PARTY, AND
THOSE REPORTS, THE NAME OF THE
PERPETRATOR MAY BE IN THAT
REPORT, BUT IF A PERPETRATOR
THINKS THAT THE SURVIVORS TRY
TO GET OUT, OR THE INFORMATION
IS PROVIDED TO A THIRD PARTY IN
AN EFFORT -- THEY CAN BE REALLY
SERIOUS RETAIL DATE --
RETALIATION, IN AN EFFORT TO
PROTECT SURVIVORS, THOSE
QUALIFIED THIRD-PARTY REPORTS
ARE BOTH PRIVILEGED, AND THEY
-- THE PROTECTIONS IN THE STATE
LAW PROHIBIT THE IDENTITY OF
THE PERPETRATOR FROM BEING
SHARED MORE WIDELY, IN THE
REPORT TO THE QUALIFIED THIRD-
PARTY.
THAT CASE, THE PROTECTION
APPLIES IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
THE PEACE AROUND THE LANDLORD
BEING ABLE TO PURSUE LIABILITY
FOR THE PERPETRATOR, EVEN
THOUGH THEY CAN'T GET THE
IDENTITY OF THE PERPETRATOR
THROUGH THE SPECIFIC REPORT,
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THEY MAY
HAVE KNOWN WHO IT IS, OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE AREA MIGHT KNOW
WHO THE PERPETRATOR IS, AND
MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, IF A
SURVIVOR FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO BE
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, IT IS
PROBABLE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE
ENOUGH TO SHARE THE IDENTITY OF
THE PERPETRATOR, THIS DOES NOT
PREVENT LANDLORDS FROM PURSUING
THE TRADER FOR PURPOSES OF
COMPENSATION, IT JUST PROHIBITS
IT IN THIS PARTICULAR REPORTING
MECHANISM, THE PROTECTION IN
THE STATE LAW WOULD BE INSERTED
INTO THIS BILL, AND TO MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT LANDLORDS ARE ABLE
TO SEE COMPENSATION, THIS
PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD
INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT CLEARLY
STATES THAT NOTHING WOULD
PRECLUDE LANDLORD FROM PURSUING
A ARBITRATOR FOR COMPENSATION
FOR DAMAGES CAUSED.
THAT IS REFLECTED ON PAGE 4 OF
ATTACHMENT B. BECAUSE AMENDMENT
ONE WAS ADOPTED, THE AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD BE VOTED ON WOULD BE
4A.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATED
LEARNING ABOUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE
AND APPRECIATE THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY
TEACH ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND
I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT TO
INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD EITHER
OF RETALIATION AGAINST A TENANT
USING A THIRD-PARTY REPORT, OR
TO MINIMIZE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT
TENANTS MAKE THESE REPORTS,
BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY
ARE USEFUL FOR MANY OTHER
REASONS ASSOCIATED WITH
PRESERVING THE SAFETY OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.
>>> IS ALSO USEFUL TO
REFERENCE, EVEN THOUGH THE THIRD
PARTY REPORTS ARE USED FOR
OTHER THINGS, WE ARE MIRRORING
THE LANGUAGE IN THE STATE LAW
THAT ALSO REQUIRES A THIRD-
PARTY REPORT TO ALLOW A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR TO
GET OUT OF THE LEASE, AGAIN, WE
ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MIRROR
THE PROTECTIONS FOR THE
SURVIVOR AS WELL AS LIMITING
THE SURVIVORS LIABILITY IN THIS
LEGISLATION, MUCH LIKE THEY DO
IN STATE LAW AS WELL.
SO I APPRECIATE HAVING A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, THEN
WHEN WE FIRST DRAFTED THE BILL.
>> I ALSO APPRECIATE THE WORK
ON THIS AND THE ADVICE FROM
FOLKS THAT WORK IN THIS FIELD
TO HELP US GET THIS RIGHT.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT
4A, ALIGNING CITY REGULATIONS
WITH THE PROHIBITION AGAINST
SHARING THE NAME OF THE
PERPETRATOR, WITH THE LANDLORD
AND THE RCW, AND AS A FOUNDS
TESH AS FOUND ON ATTACHMENT B
PAGES FOUR AND 5.
>> I SECOND THAT.
>> -- AS FOUND ON ATTACHMENT B
PAGES 4 AND 5. NONE OPPOSED.
>>> THE PROTECTIONS IN THE RC W,
THE STATE LAW INCLUDES
PROVISIONS THAT MAKE SURE THAT
THE PRIVILEGED NATURE OF
REPORTING WITH A SURVIVOR AND A
QUALIFIED THIRD-PARTY STAYS
THAT WAY EVEN IF THE REPORT
DETAILS THE VERIFICATION, IT IS
SHARED WITH THE LANDLORD,
WITHOUT THE SURVIVOR
SPECIFICALLY WAIVING PRIVILEGE,
PROVIDING THE DETAILS WOULD NOT
OTHERWISE WAIVE PRIVILEGE, IN A
COURT PROCEEDING THAT IS
INITIATED AGAINST A SURVIVOR.
A LOT OF TIMES IT IS NOT ALWAYS
CLEAR BECAUSE OF THE PATTERN OF
ABUSE WHO IS A SURVIVOR AND WHO
IS A PERPETRATOR, AND SOMETIMES
CASES ARE TAKEN UP AGAINST
SURVIVORS AS BEING THE
PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, PROTECTIONS MAKE SURE
THIS REPORTING ISN'T THE WAY TO
FURTHER VICTIMIZE SURVIVORS,
THIS PROTECTION WOULD BE
MIRRORED IN THIS CURRENT BILL
AS WELL.
AND THIS IS REFLECTED ON PAGE 6.
BECAUSE AGAIN, AMENDMENT ONE
WAS ADOPTED, 5A.
>> AND AGAIN, THIS IS IMPORTANT,
IN THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT
IN TRYING TO STRENGTHEN THE
RIGHTS OF TENANTS, WE ARE NOT
WEAKENING THE RIGHTS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, I
WILL MOVE AMENDMENT 5A, ADDING
IN THE PROTECTIONS FOR
SURVIVORS.
ALL IN FAVOR, VOTE I. -- VOTE
AYE.
>> AND THE LAST ONE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION IS THE ENFORCEMENT
BODY, A LOT OF CHANGES TO
LANDLORD TENANT LAW, AND THIS
EXTENSION WOULD ALLOW SDC I TO
FIGURE OUT THE RESOURCES,
APPROPRIATE OUTREACH MATERIALS
AND ANALYZE ANY ADDITIONAL
NEEDED ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY.
>> IN OUR ONGOING DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THE BILL, A LOT OF
INTEREST IN TALKING ABOUT SOME
SORT OF A MITIGATION FUND THAT
WOULD LIKELY BE SOMETHING THAT
WE COULD DISCUSS DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS, I DO WANT TO
USE MY COMMITTEE AS A PLACE TO
TALK MORE ABOUT HOW, IF WE WERE
TO ESTABLISH A FUND LIKE THAT,
HOW IT WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED,
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS NECESSARY,
I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT WE
HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS WHO WANT
-- IN REACTION TO NOT HAVING
THE ABILITY TO SEND A BILL TO A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR, THE
ARGUMENT IS THAT THE CITY
SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE DAMAGE
, I'M SURPRISED BY THAT, I WAS
SURPRISED WHEN I SAW THE LOSING
REPORT, AND I SAW THE INSTANCE
OF THE LANDLORD WHO SENT A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORA
BILL FOR BLOOD ON THE CARPET,
BUT NONETHELESS I AM COMMITTED
TO HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT
THE COST OF DAMAGES, AND WHAT
OPTIONS LANDLORDS HAVE
AVAILABLE TO THEMSELVES TO MAKE
THEM WHOLE FOR THOSE DAMAGES.
I THINK CHANGING THE EFFECTIVE
DATE TO JANUARY 21, 2020,
ALLOWS US TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSIONS.
I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT SIX,
CHANGING THE EFFECTIVE DATE TO
JANUARY 1, 2020.
NONE OPPOSED, AND ABSTAINING.
>>> AMENDMENT SEVEN.
>> THE LAST AMENDMENT IS MORE
OF A TECHNICAL ONE, WE HAD
INSERTED A CODE REVISORY
SECTION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE
FUTURE POSITION TO MAKE
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS, AND
ORDINANCE ALREADY DOES THAT,
THIS WOULD REMOVE THE SECTION
AS UNNECESSARY.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE
AMENDMENT SEVEN.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.
NONE OPPOSED.
DO Y█OU WANT TO CLOSE US OUT
WITH NEXT STEPS?
>> BECAUSE AMENDMENT ONE WAS
ADOPTED, THIS BILL WILL NOW
STASH ALL OF THEM WILL BE
INCORPORATED INTO A NEW COUNCIL
BILL THAT WILL BE INTRODUCED
BETWEEN NOW AND THE 24th, A
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE 24th,
INCLUDING POTENTIALLY ANY
ADDITIONS OR UNDO DEDICATION
FUND, IF THAT BILL IS VOTED OUT
OF COMMITTEE, IT WILL GO FOR A
FULL COUNCIL VOTE ON SEPTEMBER
30.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
APPRECIATE IT.
>>> LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM
ON THE AGENDA.
>>> 119606.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO RENTAL
PROPERTIES; RESTRICTING A
LANDLORD
NUMBER OF PERSONS RESIDING IN A
RENTAL UNIT; PROHIBITING THE
USE OF CONDITIONS THAT ARE
APPLIED TO PERSONS RESIDING IN
A RENTAL UNIT WHO ARE NOT
TENANTS; AND AMENDING SECTIONS
7.24.020 AND 7.24.030 OF, AND
ADDING NEW SECTIONS 7.24.031
AND 7.24.032 TO, THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>>> AGAIN, A RECOMMENDATION
COMING OUT OF THE LOSING HOME
REPORT, MODELED ON SIMILAR
LEGISLATION, IN NEW YORK,
PROHIBITING THE LANDLORD FROM
LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
RESIDING IN A RENTAL UNIT TO
FEWER THAN THE LEGAL OCCUPANCY
UNIT ESTABLISHED BY LOCAL,
STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, WE HAVE A
BILL AND SOME ISSUES TO TALK
THROUGH ON THIS ONE?
>> AS WE DISCUSSED, AT THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING, A VARIETY OF
ISSUES CAME UP FOR POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT, TODAY'S DISCUSSION
DEALS WITH THOSE AMENDMENTS, AND
I WILL TALK THROUGH SOME ISSUES
FOR FUTURE AMENDMENT THAT HAVE
COME UP SINCE THE LAST TIME
THIS CAME UP.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 IS JUST
CHANGING SOME TERMINOLOGY, AND
YOU WILL SEE REFLECTED IN
ATTACHMENT A, PAGES ONE AND 2,
THE FIRST CHANGE WOULD BE
REFERENCE TO THE TERM HOUSEHOLD
MEMBERS, AMENDING THE SAME
SESSION OF THE CODE AS WE JUST
DISCUSSED, DOES, THERE ARE
DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS THAT WE
WANT TO USE FOR DEFINING FAMILY
AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, THE TERM
WOULD BE CHANGED TO IMMEDIATE
FAMILY, TO BE CLEAR ON THE
DISTINCTION.
IT WOULD ALSO ALIGN THE
CONVENTIONS FOR THE USE OF
DEFINITIONS.
RENTAL AGREEMENT WOULD BE THE
RCW, AS AMENDED, NOT
SUBSTANTIVE, IN SESSION 2, YOU
WOULD BE ADDING IN THE TERM
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER TO
SWAPOUT FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD
MEMBERS, AND MAKING CLEAR THIS
APPIES TO RENTAL UNITS, NOT
JUST UNITS GENERALLY, AND
CHANGING FROM ADDITIONAL PERSON
TO ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS, THAT
WOULD BE REFLECTED IN SECTION 3
OF THE BILL.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME
UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I HAD
NOT THOUGHT ABOUT AS IT RELATES
TO THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS THAT
WE HAVE LAWS AS IT RELATES TO
THE ABILITY TO SCREEN OUT
TENANTS, FOR REASONS THAT WE
MAY HAVE OTHER LAWS THAT SAY
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SCREEN
OUT TENANTS FOR THOSE REASONS,
ARE DIFFEREN, IN THAT INSTANCE
WHERE SOMEBODY RENTS FOR ME
LANDLORD WHO LIVES ON THE
PROPERTY.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING, WHETHER
OR NOT WE SHOULD CONSIDER THAT
SORT OF AN EXEMPTION FOR THIS
BILL, IN ORDER TO BE CONSISTENT
WITH OUR OTHER LAWS THAT CREATE
THAT EXEMPTION IN THOSE
INSTANCES WHERE A LANDLORD
LIVES ON SITE?
>> AS CURRENTLY DRAFTED, THE
ONLY EXEMPTION THAT WAS
INCLUDED IN HERE WAS THE
FEDERAL EXEMPTION AROUND
PRODUCTION OF METHAMPHETAMINES
ON THE PROPERTY OR THE LIFETIME
SIX OFFENDER -- SEX OFFENDER
REGISTRATION.
SHARED OCCUPANCY, THE OWNER
LIVES ON THE PROPERTY, THAT YOU
MENTIONED, AND WERE -- DETACHED
WERE THE OWNER LIVES IN THE
PREMISES, BOTH OF THOSE COULD
DEFINITELY BE CONSIDERED FOR
EXCLUSION FROM THIS BILL, IT
MIGHT JUST REQUIRE SOME DIGGING
INTO THE IMPLICATIONS.
>> LET'S PUT A PIN IN THAT AND
CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT IT.
>> THAT IS AMENDMENT ONE.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO
DEVOTE AS WE WENT.>> LET ME GET
MYSELF ORGANIZED.
FOR THIS BILL, HOW MANY
AMENDMENTS?
>> FIVE AMENDMENTS.
>> WE JUST WENT OVER AMENDMENT
ONE, YES, LET'S DO THAT AGAIN,
DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU?
I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT ONE,
WHICH MAKES THE DEFINITION
CONSISTENT, REVISES IT TO
RENTAL UNIT, AND CHANGING
ADDITIONAL PERSON TO ADDITIONAL
RESIDENT.
ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE, NONE
OPPOSED, NONE ABSTAINING.
>>> AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 AMENDS
THE DEFINITION OF FAMILY
HOUSEHOLD MEMBER, WHICH WOULD
NOW BE IMMEDIATE FAMILY, ONE OF
THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP WHILE
DISCUSSING THIS DEFINITION, IS
THAT IN SOME WAYS IT IS
EXTREMELY BROAD, AND COULD
ENCOMPASS ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE,
BECAUSE THE INTENT OF THE BILL
IS SPECIFICALLY TO DO WITH
PARTNERS AND CHILDREN, AND
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE WOULD MEAN
TRADITIONALLY BY IMMEDIATE
FAMILY, THE CHANGE WOULD BE TO
TAKE OUT SOME OF THE BROADER
TERMS HERE, WE WERE -- REMOVING
WHETHER THEY WERE MARRIED
ANYTIME, ADULT PERSONS RELATED
BY BLOOD, IT WOULD MOVE THAT,
BECAUSE IT IS NOT ENTIRELY
CLEAR HOW FAR THAT WOULD --
WITHIN A FAMILY THAT WOULD GO.
>> PEOPLE WOULD BE GETTING DNA
TESTS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IT TAKES OF THAT PROVISION,
IT PUTS IN SIBLINGS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT IS COVERED, A FEW
LINES DOWN, THE ORIGINAL HAD
PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP,
BUT IT COULD MEAN ANY NUMBER OF
THINGS, IN ADDITION TO
STEPPARENTS, STEPCHILDREN, AND
COVER THE LEGAL PEACE, ADOPTIVE
PARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS,
CUSTODIANS OF MINORS.
THE LAST PIECE THAT DIDN'T MAKE
T INTO THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE
IS DATING RELATIONSHIP,
INCLUDING IN PIECES AROUND
PERSONS 16 OR OLDER WHO ARE
RESIDING TOGETHER OR HAVE
PRESENTED TOGETHER AND HAVE HAD
A DATING RELATIONSHIP, THAT
DEFINITION COMES FROM THE SAME
SECTION OF THE RCW, SO WE ARE
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT COURTS
WOULD OTHERWISE INTERPRET AS
DATING RELATIONSHIP.
>> FINDING DEFINITIONS FOR ALL
THESE THINGS.
ALWAYS BETTER TO NOT MAKE IT UP
AS YOU GO.
IF WE CAN REFER TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, LET'S DO IT.
AMENDMENT 2, THE DEFINITION OF
FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER, I
MOVE NUMBER 2, NONE OPPOSED,
NONE ABSTAINING.
>>> AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 IS
SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED IN THE
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, AT THE
TIME THERE WASN'T ANY PROVISION
THAT WOULD REQUIRE A TENANT TO
NOTIFY THE LANDLORD OF WAS WAS
LIVING IN THE UNIT, SO WHAT
THIS WOULD DO IS REQUIRE THAT A
TENANT NOTIFY THE LANDLORD
WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ANOTHER
PERSON OCCUPYING THE UNIT OF
THE IDENTITY OF THE PERSON,
ALLOWING LANDLORDS TO
>>> WHO IS THE -- TRACK WHO IS
IT, WHO IS IN THE UNIT, IN
ORDER TO IDENTIFY THAT.
>> THAT IS SUPER HELPFUL, I
THINK IN SOME WAYS, IT POINTS TO
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN
THE PRIOR LEGISLATION, LANDLORDS
, IN THE CASE -- BACK TO THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION,
THE LANDLORDS WOULD KNOW WHO IS
LIVING IN THE UNIT, AND THUS
INDEPENDENT OF THE TENANT BE
ABLE TO HOLD PERPETRATORS WHO
LIVE IN THE UNIT LIABLE FOR
DAMAGES.
ANY QUESTIONS?
I MOVE AMENDMENT THREE,
REQUIRING NOTICE TO LANDLORD OF
WHO IS OCCUPYING THE UNIT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, NONE
OPPOSED, NONE ABSTAINING.
>>> AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 ADDS A,
-- >> -- IT ADDS A COMMA.
>> I'M OPPOSED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IN SECTION 031, THEY CAN
IMPOSE THOSE THAT ARE IMPOSED
ON A TENANT, BEYOND THE TENANT,
WITHOUT A COMMA, IT ESSENTIALLY
SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT ON
ANYONE OTHER THAN A TENANT, IT
WOULD INSERT THE COMMA AFTER
THE WORD CRITERIA, BEYOND THOSE
IMPOSED ON A TENANT, AS OPPOSED
TO NO CONDITIONS AT ALL.>> THE
LAWYERS AND ENGLISH TEACHERS,
HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT CAN
BE.>> FANTASTIC.
I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT FOR.
ADDING THE COMMA FOR ACCURACY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.
NONE OPPOSED, NONE
ABSTAINING.>>> AND AN AMENDMENT
5, ESSENTIALLY A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE MAKING CLEAR THAT EVEN
IF SOME PARTS OF THE BILL ARE
STRUCK DOWN, OR HELD INVALID IN
SOME WAY, OTHER PARTS OF THE
BILL WOULD REMAIN VALID.
AMENDMENT 5 WOULD INSERT THE
PROVISION AS SECTION 5, AND
RENUMBER THE EXISTING SESSIONS
AS FIVE AND 6.
>> I SUPPORT THAT.>> I WILL
MOVE A MEMO NUMBER 52 AT A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
RENUMBERING THE SUBSEQUENT
SECTIONS.
>> I WILL SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
VOTE AYE.
NONE OPPOSED, NONE ABSTAINING.
>> THIS BILL WILL BE BROUGHT
BACK TO COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER
24.
>>> WE HAVE A FEW MORE BILLS TO
CONSIDER RELATING TO TENANTS
RIGHTS.
>> AGENDA NUMBER 11, 119619,
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
NOTICES TO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL
TENANTS; REQUIRING CERTAIN
NOTICES TO CONTAIN A REFERENCE
TO CITY LANDLORD-TENANT
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES; AND
AMENDING SECTION 22.206.180 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THINK YOU FOR JOINING US,
START OFF WITH?
INTRODUCTIONS.
>> GEOFF TALENT, SD CI AND THE
RENTAL MANAGER.
>> MICHELE HUNTER, DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS.
>> THREE BILLS, A PRESENTATION
THAT COVERS ALL THREE OF
THEM?>> YES.
>> TAKE IT AWAY.
>> BEFORE YOU START, WOULD YOU
PREFER THAT WE PAUSE ON EACH
BILL OR DO YOU WANT US TO GO
THROUGH ALL THREE?
>> I THINK IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE
TO PAUSE AND EACH BILL TO SEE
WHAT DISCUSSION WE HAVE FOR
EACH.>> WE WILL START WITH A?
INTRODUCTION, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE
MET MICHELLE HUNTER, THE NEW
SUPERVISOR OF THE TENANT
ASSISTANCE GROUP, SHE COMES
WITH A BACKGROUND IN EVICTION
DEFENSE, HAS BEEN AN ATTORNEY,
AND HELD SEVERAL ROLES, FRONT-
LINE STAFF PERSON IN THE GROUP
AND THE SUPERVISOR, VERY WELL-
ROUNDED AND SHE HAS KIND OF
SEEN IT ALL.
WITH RESPECT TO LANDLORD AND
TENANT ISSUES.
>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR INTEREST IN THESE BILLS,
AND THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP, THE
SECOND OF A COUPLE OF ROUNDS OF
WORK THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS
LEADING, LOOKING FOR
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE TENANT
PROTECTIONS, IN PARTICULAR,
IMPROVING THE BUSINESS
RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
AND WE PUT THE VALUES UP THERE,
I GUESS A REMINDER, WITH
LANDLORD AND TENANT ISSUES,
REALLY FOCUSING ON EQUITY AND
COMMUNITIES IN OUR WORK.
TURNING THAT RIGHT OVER TO
MICHELLE TO JUMP IN.
>> FANTASTIC I THINK YOU.
>> THE FIRST THAT WE ARE
PROPOSING DEALS WITH RENT
PAYMENT ISSUES.
THE STATE LAW ALREADY REQUIRES
PAYMENT RECEIPTS FOR CASH
PAYMENTS AND OTHER REQUESTS FOR
OTHER TYPES OF PAYMENTS, WE
WOULD ALLOW OUR GROUP, TO
ENFORCE WHEN THEY ARE NOT ABLE
TO GET RECEIPTS FROM THE
LANDLORDS, ESSENTIALLY GIVING
TENANTS A WAY TO ENFORCE A
RIGHT THAT THEY ARTY HAVE.>>
CAN WE PAUSE FOR ONE?
SECOND.
-- ONE QUICK SECOND.
I AM NOT TRYING TO BE RIGID,
ITEM 11, IS THE FIRST BILL,
WHICH IS 119619, CAN WE DO THAT
FIRST?
SO WE CAN GO IN THE ORDER
EVERYTHING IS.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE THE AMENDMENT
NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA HERE.
>> WE HAVE EXTRA.
>> SO 119619, READ INTO THE
RECORD BY ALEX EARLIER,
SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO THE
NOTICES TO RENTAL TENANTS,
REQUIRING NOTICES TO CONTAIN A
REFERENCE TO LANDLORD TENANT
INFORMATION.
>> WE HAVE THAT OF COURSE LAST
IN THE SLIDES, THIS IS ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
úINFORMATION ON THE NOTICE, THA
IS GIVEN TO A TENANT THAT
IMPACTS THEIR RIGHTS, TO HELP
THEM POINT TO INFORMATION AT
OUR DEPARTMENT THAT MIGHT BE
ABLE TO HELP THEM RESPOND TO
THAT NOTICE.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO AGAIN ACCESS
-- OF THEM ACCESS THE RESOURCES
-- HELP THEM ACCESS THE
RESOURCES, AND A FOOTNOTE THAT
REFERS THEM TO SDCI TO GET
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RATES AND
TO ASK QUESTIONS.
ALREADY A STATEMENT REQUIRED ON
THE NOTICE TO INCREASE HOUSING
COSTS, UNDER THE PROHIBITED
ACTS NOTICE, A FAIRLY MINOR
CHANGE IN PRACTICE, WITH A
LARGE IMPACT, TAKING THE SAME
PRACTICE AND APPLYING IT TO
NOTICES TO TERMINATE AND ENTER
INTO UNITS.
>> SO IF YOU JUST BACK UP A
LITTLE BIT, YOU MENTIONED THAT
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT ON WHICH
NOTICES?
>> TO INCREASE HOUSING COSTS.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A REQUIREMENT
INSIDE THE ORDINANCE TO GIVE
TENANTS A STATEMENT ABOUT WHERE
THEY CAN FIND ACCESS -- WHERE
THEY CAN ACCESS INFORMATION
ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS.
>> OKAY, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY,
DOES THAT INCLUDE NOTIFICATION
OF THEIR RIGHTS TO LOOK TO SEE
IF THE UNIT -- WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THIS IN ANOTHER BILL, IF
THE UNIT IS REGISTERED?
>> BY POINTING THEM TO OUR
ORGANIZATION, WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO HELP THEM OUT QUESTIONS
ABOUT REGISTRATION AND VALIDITY
OF THE NOTICE, AS WELL AS
REFERRALS TO OTHER NOTICES,
LIKE WAYS TO PAY THEIR RENT.
>> SO IN ESSENCE, THIS IS THE
SAME INFORMATION THAT YOU
REQUIRE ON RENT INCREASES THAT
YOU ARE NOW REQUIRING ON WHICH
NOTICES?
>> ALL NOTICES -- WE ARE SAYING
IMPACT TENANTS RIGHTS, ENTER
THEIR UNITS, OR ASK THEM TO
MOVE, THOSE VERY IMPORTANT
NOTICES THAT ARE ASKING A
TENANT AT THAT TIME TO DO
SOMETHING.
GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO CHECK
IN WITH THE CITY, MAKE SURE
WHATEVER THEY ARE BEING ASKED
TO DO IS WITHIN THE
REQUIREMENTS OF CITY LAW.
>> WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR
ENSURING THAT NOTICES THAT ARE
PRODUCED AT THE PLACE OF
PRODUCTION, INCLUDE ALL OF THIS
UNIFORM INFORMATION?
>> WE ARE GOING TO BE CREATING
A DIRECTORS RULE, THAT IS WHAT
WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO, TO HAVE
THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE WE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE ON THEIR NOTICE,
THE FLEXIBILITY, CHANGING FROM
EPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF
INSPECTIONS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE
TO REWRITE THE ORDINANCE, BUT A
SIMPLE LINE ON THERE, PLEASE
CONTACT OUR RENTING IN SEATTLE
RESOURCES.
>> A LOT OF THESE NOTICES, THE
10 DAY NOTICES, NOT PRODUCED BY
THE CITY, THEY ARE PRODUCED BY
ATTORNEYS?
>> THEY CAN CALL IN AND
COMPLAINED THAT IT IS MISSING,
WE WOULD SAY IT IS NOT VALID
UNTIL IT IS REPRODUCED WITH THE
INFORMATION ON IT.
>> IF THIS PASSES, WE WOULD DO
A BUNCH OF LANDLORD OUTREACH,
SOME OF THE TOOLS, WE CAN EMAIL
THE REAL REGISTERED LANDLORDS,
19,000 CONTACTS, THE QUARTERLY
LANDLORD TRAINING, A CHANCE TO
GET THAT UP THERE, WORK WITH
THE ASSOCIATIONS LIKE
WASHINGTON MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
ASSOCIATION, TO GET THE WORD
OUT.>> WE ALWAYS GIVE LANDLORDS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTARILY
COMPLY BEFORE WE TAKE VIOLATION
ACTION AS WELL.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
BILL, WHICH IS?>> AT A NUMBER
12, 119620 , AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL RENT
PAYMENTS; REQUIRING RECEIPTS
AND NON-ELECTRONIC PAYMENT
OPTIONS; AND AMENDING SECTION
7.24.030 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> WE WILL RETURN TO THE FIRST
SLIDE, AND PROVIDING RECEIPTS
TO TENANTS, EVERY TIME THEY PAY
WITH CASH, AND WHEN A TENANT
ASKED FOR A RECEIPT IF THEY PAY
BY ANOTHER METHOD, WE WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE IT AND MAKE IT
PART OF CITY LAW, ALLOWING US
TO ENFORCE, GIVING TENANTS A
WAY TO ENFORCE THE RIGHT THAT
THEY HAVE UNDER STATE LAW, BUT
MAY BE HAVING DIFFICULTY
ENFORCING AT THIS TIME.
>> THE RIGHT IN STATE LAW IS
THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE A RECEIPT.
WE ARE GOING WITH THIS
LEGISLATION A STEP FURTHER,
WHICH SAYS TEST GIVING TENANTS
AN AFFIRMATIVE RIGHT TO PAYING
CASH IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE SECOND PART IS PROPOSING
THAT OWNERS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
A NONELECTRONIC MEANS OF PAIN,
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE CASH,
CASH OR MONEY ORDERS, WHICH IS
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE BEFORE
ONLINE PORTALS BECAME A
PRACTICE, MANY TENANTS DON'T
HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT MANY
TENANTS DO, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO DON'T HAVE TRADITIONAL
BANKING SERVICES, THEY CAN
CREATE A PROBLEM WHERE THEY ARE
HAVING TO PAY VERY LARGE
CONVENIENCE FEES.
>> UNDERSTOOD, PART OF THIS
BILL ISN'T SIMPLY GIVING THE
RIGHT OF A TENANT TO RECEIVE A
RECEIPT, IT IS ALSO EXTENDING
THE RIGHT TO A TENANT TO PAY
RENT, WHICH IS NOT A RIGHT THAT
URRENTLY EXISTS IN STATE LAW?
>> PAYING WITH A NONELECTRONIC
SOURCE.
>> FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, THE
BARRIER, THOSE TYPES OF
REQUIREMENTS.
OF SOME PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANIES, WILL KIND OF
BARRIERS.
>> IN THE PUBLIC,, ABOUT
REQUIRING CASH PAYMENTS TO BE
ACCEPTED, MANY LANDLORDS IN THE
CITY HAVE A POLICY OF ONLY
TAKING MONEY ORDERS OR
TRACEABLE FUNDS, WE ARE NOT
PROPOSING THAT THEY CHANGE THAT,
JUST THAT THEY ALLOWED TENANTS
A WAY OF PAYING THAT IS NOT ON
THE INTERNET.
ONE OF THEM DID TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH MONEY
ORDERS, PROBLEMS WITH MONEY
ORDERS, SOMETIMES UNFORTUNATELY
WITH DIFFERENT SCAMS THAT
HAPPEN, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING
WE ARE LOOKING TO FIX WITH
THIS, BUT THOSE TENANTS THAT
ARE USING THEM ARE DOING THAT
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
TRADITIONAL BANKING MEANS, AND
UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE BEST
TRACEABLE OPTION WE HAVE FOR
PEOPLE WITHOUT A BANK ACCOUNT,
OTHER THAN GOING ONLINE, WE ARE
HEARING TENANTS COMPLAIN THAT
THEY ARE PAYING RENT FOR 20
YEARS, AND SUDDENLY A
REQUIREMENT TO PAY ONLINE, THE
D'ESTE EITHER DON'T HAVE THE
ABILITY TO USE THE INTERNET TO
DO THAT, OR A PROBLEM WITH
CONVENIENCE FEES, THEY ARE
PAYING UP TO 5% SOMETIMES IN
ADDITION TO THE RENT JUST FOR
THE ABILITY TEST THE ABILITY TO
PAY THAT RENT.
>> THIS LEGISLATION WOULD NOT
GIVE TENANTS AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT
--
>> THE CONCERN WE HEARD ABOUT
THAT I WOULD ARGUE IS NOT AS
FOUNDED, GIVEN THAT A BUNCH OF
MONEY ORDERS, NOT AS MUCH OF A
ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE AS A SAFE
FULL OF CASH?
>> WE AGREE, THERE HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN PROBLEMS WITH LOCKBOXES
WERE COLLECTING RENT, TENANTS
ARE AWARE OF THOSE PROBLEMS,
THEY DO THEIR BEST TO TRY TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES, BUT IF THEY
HAVE AN OPTION TO GO ONLINE OR
PAY WITH A MONEY ORDER, AND
THEY ARE CHOOSING TO TAKE THE
ADDITIONAL RISK, WE WANT THEM
TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT, THEY
ARE PROBABLY CHOOSING THAT FOR
ANOTHER REASON.
>> PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANIES COULD PROHIBIT CASH
PAYMENTS, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE
TO ACCEPT CHECKS OR MONEY
ORDERS THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN.
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THE COMMENT THAT I HEARD,
THE WOMAN WHO DOES FRAUD
INVESTIGATIONS.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT
EXPERTISE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING,
WHEN SHE WALKED THROUGH, VERY
EXPLICIT, WE ACCEPT MONEY
ORDERS, THAT WOULD BE
CONSISTENT WITH THIS LAW.>> WE
CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
AGENDA ITEM 13
>>> ITEM NUMBER 13, 119621, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
TERMINATION OF RESIDENTIAL
RENTAL TENANCIES; REQUIRING
COMPLIANCE WITH THE RENTAL
REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION
ORDINANCE BEFORE ISSUING
NOTICES TO TERMINATE A TENANCY;
AND AMENDING SECTIONS
22.206.160 AND 22.214.075 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THIS IS ABOUT REQUIRING THEM
TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE
RENTAL REGISTRATION, WE WOULD
LIKE THEM TO BE REGISTERED
BEFORE AN EVICTION NOTICE, IN
THE CURRENT LAW, LANDLORDS ARE
REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED
BEFORE THEY EVICTED.
REQUIRING IT EARLIER IN THE
PROCESS, ALSO A MATTER OF
FAIRNESS.
BREAKING RULES, AND COMPLYING
WITH THE RULES AS WELL.
>> I THOUGHT WE HAD ADDRESSED
THE ISSUE, WITH THE EARLIER
LEGISLATION, PROHIBITING THE
EVICTION IF NOT REGISTERED, BUT
DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
WAS AN ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO
THE TIMING.
THE TIMING OF THE NOTICE.
AND THE ABILITY -- I THINK THAT
WAS AN UNINTENDED LOOPHOLE AND
I'M GLAD YOU CAUGHT IT, IT
SHOWS I THINK -- ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT THE COUNCILS AND
THE EXECUTIVE SEVEN WORKING FOR
YEARS TO DO IS TO GIVE SDCI THE
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO BECOME A
MORE ROBUST ENFORCEMENT UNIT,
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
HAPPENS IS THAT YOU HAVE THESE
ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCES OF
THE DIFFICULTIES IN ENFORCING
SEATTLE'S WALLS.
AND WITH THE GAPS ARE.
-- SEATTLE'S LAWS.
>> THE LAST SLIDE, WE TOUCHED
ON THE SOMEWHAT, IS WHAT WE ARE
DOING FOR IMPLEMENTATION, LIKE
MOST OF THE WORK, A ROBUST
RENTING IN SEATTLE, LANDLORDS
AND TENANTS, POSSIBLY QUARTERLY
NOTICES TO LANDLORDS,
ELECTRONICALLY, ABOUT 19,000
PEOPLE ON THE LIST, THAT
LANDLORDS NEED OUT THERE, AS
THESE CHANGES ROLLOUT, AND
OTHER CHANGES, WE WILL CONTINUE
TO GET THEM INTO LANDLORDS
HANDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE MATERIAL IS ON OUR WEBSITE,
AND TO THE EXTENT WE NEED TO
UPDATE THE MATERIALS, THEY WILL
BE UPDATED AND INTEGRATED INTO
THE FUTURE LANDLORD TRAININGS,
WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR.
WE ASK FOR PREREGISTRATION,
THEY ARE SOLD OUT EVERY TIME.
>> CHARGING A GOOD FEE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THE CLASSES ARE FREE, WE
JUST ASK FOR PREREGISTRATION,
ABOUT 150 LANDLORDS WITH EACH
EVENT.
>> WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN ON
SEPTEMBER 24, HOPEFULLY WE WILL
BE MOVING OUT ALL OF THESE
PIECES.>>> LAST ITEM ON THE
AGENDA.
>> ITEM 14.
2020-2022 SOLID WASTE RATE PATH
, BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>>> GREETINGS, WELCOME.
>> MAMI HARA .
>> PAULA LASCHOBER.
>> SPENCER HUANG.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE
PROPOSED SOLID WASTE RATES FOR
2020 THROUGH 2000 22 CUSTOMERS
WILL PAY 6/10 OF A PERCENT LESS
. -- 2022.
6/10 OF A PERCENT LESS FOR THE
SAME RATE., RATE AFFORDABILITY
IS CRITICAL, AND BECAUSE MOST
PEOPLE ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT
SOLID WASTE, THEY DON'T FACTOR
THAT MUCH, WHAT -- IT IS
IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
ARE THE DRIVERS OF COST, AND
HOW WE ARE AIMING TO GIVE THE
BEST VALUE POSSIBLE, THE SOLID
WASTE COSTS, THE CURRENT
COLLECTIONS PROCESSING AND
TRANSFER CONTRACTS MAKE UP
ABOUT 55% OF THE SOLID WASTE
EXPENSE, AND THE REMAINDER
COVERS THE MODERNIZATION OF OUR
TRANSFER STATIONS, PAYING FOR
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTIVITIES, CUSTOMER SERVICE,
TAXES AND OTHER GENERAL COSTS
SUCH AS PLANNING AND RECYCLING
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.
BEFORE WE STARTED THE
PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE PAULA LASCHOBER, WHO
HAS THE RULE FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES, THE INTERIM
SINCE APRIL, YOU PROBABLY KNOW
HER FROM HER 32 YEAR CAREER AT
CITY LIGHTS, AND SHE WAS MOST
RECENTLY THEIR CFO.
>> THANK YOU.
SHALL WE MOVE INTO THE
PROPOSAL, A ONE PAGE, IT IS
ALREADY ON THERE IN CASE THE
PUBLIC WANTS TO SEE IT.>>> ON
THIS PAGE, WE HAVE NOTED A
VARIETY OF FACTORS THAT HAVE
LED TO THE FACT THAT WE CAN
CHARGE A LITTLE BIT LESS THEN
WE HAD PLANNED WHEN WE DID THE
STRATEGIC PLAN.
NOTICE THAT THE AVERAGE
INCREASE IS JUST AROUND 3% PER
YEAR, AND THE FACTORS LEADING
TO THE DOWNWARD TREND COMPARED
TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, ARE THE
NEGOTIATION OF A NEW
COLLECTIONS CONTRACT, WHICH
SAVED US ABOUT $5 MILLION TO
PUT TOWARDS THE NEW RATE.
OF 2020-22, THE SECOND THING IS
A -- TOWARDS THE NEW RATE YEAR
OF 2020-22, REALIZING $6
MILLION MORE THAN EXPECTED,
ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOWER
RATE INCREASE.
>> CAN YOU REMIND US OF -- THE
$5 MILLION IN SAVINGS UNDER THE
NEW CONTRACT, JUST TO GET A
LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL INTO WHY
THAT WAS, WHY THAT THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO HAVE THE SAVINGS.
>> THE $5 MILLION IS AN ANNUAL
SAVINGS FOR THE SOLID WASTE
COLLECTIONS CONTRACT, PART OF
THAT IS JUST THE COLLECTIONS
SAVINGS THROUGH NEGOTIATION,
AND ABOUT $3 MILLION A YEAR, IT
IS SAVINGS BASED OFF OF THE
CONTAINERS THAT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITY, NO LONGER PAYING FOR
THE CONTRACTORS, OR PROVIDING
THE CONTAINER CAUSE.
>>> THE THIRD THING IS, THE
FINANCIAL POLICIES -- >> I WILL
ASK YOU TO PAUSE, WHAT DOES
IMPROVED DEMAND MEAN?
>> YOU EXPECT CERTAIN
COLLECTIONS OF CERTAIN SIZES OF
CONTAINERS, AND CERTAIN HAULERS
DUMPING THEIR BUILDING
MATERIALS AND SO ON.
YOU GET MORE.
>> IT IS MORE DEMAND.
WE HAVE BEEN SEEING MORE USE OF
THE NORTH TRANSFER STATION THAN
WAS PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED, SO WE
HAVE HAD MORE REVENUE THERE
THAN WE ANTICIPATED.>> SO WHEN
THERE IS MORE TO DO, IT DRIVES
THE COST TO EVERYBODY DOWN?
NOT JUST IMPROVED DEMAND, IT IS
INCREASED DEMAND?
>> INCREASED.
>> AND THAT IN ITSELF HAS
RESULTED IN $6 MILLION IN
SAVINGS.
>> LITTLE BIT OF AN OUTSET --
AN OFFSET.
>> THE 2020-22 RATE PERIOD.
>> HOW DOES THAT ALIGN WITH THE
STATISTICS THAT WE HEARD IN THE
SOLID WASTE REPORT, THAT SHOWS
A REDUCTION IN THE SOLID WASTE
COLLECTION, ARE YOU POINTING TO
OTHER PARTS OF THE SYSTEM, THE
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USE
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE SOLID
WASTE COLLECTION?
>> YES, ONE OF THE MAIN PARTS,
AS MAMI HARA POINTS OUT,
SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE
COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAD
ORIGINALLY PLANNED BEFORE THE
NORTH TRANSFER REOPENED, ONCE
IT REOPENED, ABOUT 70% MORE
TONNAGE THAN WE HAD EXPECTED.>>
77 -- 70%. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD
MORE WASTE OUR
>> WE HAD A POPULATION INCREASE,
EACH RESIDENT SHOULD BE
APPLAUDED, BUT WE DO HAVE MORE
PEOPLE.
>> WHEN THE NORTH TRANSFER
STATION -- WE SAW THEM TRANSFER
TO OTHER STATIONS, NOT
NECESSARILY A SYSTEM INCREASE,
IT IS AN SPU INCREASE, NOT
NECESSARILY CREATING 70% MORE
WASTE NOW.
>> SUCH AS THE KING COUNTY ONE.
>> A GREAT IDEA, SUCH A
ATTRACTIVE TRANSFER STATION,
PEOPLE WANT TO THROW MORE WAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION
WASTE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
A LOT OF IT PROBABLY IS
CONSTRUCTION WASTE CONSIDERING
ALL THE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING.
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN?
>> A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, I
COULD SEE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WHEN
THE TRANSFER STATION WAS CLOSE,
SOME PEOPLE WENT TO SOUTH, BUT
SOME PEOPLE WENT TO KING
COUNTY, I ASSUME, AND THEN OF
COURSE THE POPULATION CONTINUES
TO GROW, SO I CAN SEE AN
EXPEDITION, AS THE PATTERNS
HAVE CHANGED, IT CAME BACK,
THIS GREAT FACILITY, FOLKS WILL
SAY I WILL DRIVE A LITTLE BIT
OUT OF MY WAY TO GO TO SEATTLE,
WHEREAS THEY USED TO GO TO KING
COUNTY, EASIER TAXES, THAT CAN
MAKE MORE SENSE.
AND GREAT STAFF.
CONSTRUCTION WASTE IS A
REQUIREMENT, I BELIEVE, IS
THERE A -- THIS IS TRICKY, WE
BOTH WANT TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS ODYSSEY, THE MORE
VOLUME WE DO, THE MORE YOU CAN
ADVERTISE OVERHEAD, MORE
REVENUES, COVER COST, LOWER
RATES, THAT'S GREAT, FROM A
POLICY PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT YOU
TO COLLECT NO WASTE.
I THINK THERE'S A BIT OF AN
EXPEDITION HERE, THAT WE ARE
STEALING BUSINESS FROM KING
úCOUNTY, OR RECAPTURING
BUSINESS, MORE STUFF HAPPENING
IN THE CITY, BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO WATCH
THAT AND FIGURE OUT IF WE SEE
CONTINUAL INCREASING TRENDS,
CURBSIDE PICKUP AND DROP OFF AT
THE NORTH AND SOUTH TRANSFER
STATION, WHAT IS THE PER CAPITA
WAYS TRENDING TO, THAT IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, AND
FRANKLY, IF THERE IS SOME
REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE USING
TRANSFER STATIONS INSTEAD OF
CURBSIDE, WHY IS THAT, DOING
REMODELS, THAT MIGHT BE A BIG
PIECE, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE
DYNAMICS IS GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT.
>> WE SHARE THE GOAL OF ZERO
WASTE, OUR TEAM HAS
PASSIONATELY DRIVEN TOWARDS,
THEY ARE WORKING HARD FROM ALL
THE WAY UPSTREAM, THE PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY, LEGISLATION AND
OTHER ACTIVITIES, DOWN TO
WORKING AT THE CUSTOMER LEVEL,
AND HELP THEM REDUCE THEIR
WASTE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
ALL SHARE THE INTEREST IN, AND
ULTIMATELY, IT CAN BENEFIT THE
BOTTOM LINE OF ALL RESIDENTS,
WE JUST HAVE TO DESIGN THE
DYNAMIC OF REDUCTION, AND OUR
OBLIGATIONS IN THE RIGHT WAY.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A
LITTLE BIT MORE, THERE WAS A
COMMON IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING,
BEFORE YOU WERE HERE, A TEST OF
FIRE SPOKE TO THE DESIRE THAT
IT IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY
THAT IT INCENTIVIZES THE
BEHAVIOR WITH A DIFFERENT BASE
CHARGE FOR PEOPLE WHO -- THIS
TESTIFIED WAS TALKING ABOUT
UTILITIES GENERALLY, NOT
SPECIFICALLY SOLID WASTE, SOLID
WASTE WATER AS WELL AS
ELECTRICITY, BUT FELT STRONGLY
THAT THE WAY THAT THE RATE PATH
FOR BOTH UTILITIES IS CURRENTLY
DESIGNED, IT DOESN'T INCENTIVIZE
A REDUCTION IN THE USE OF THE
UTILITIES?
THAT WAS THE EXAMPLE OF THE
FACT THAT HE PAYS $25 AS IS
BASE RATE FOR GARBAGE PICKUP,
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH GARBAGE
SHE PUTS OUT, IN THIS EXAMPLE,
HE PUT OUT ONE VERY SMALL BAG A
MONTH, YOU GIVE EXAMPLES FOR --
I WON'T ASK YOU TO SPEAK TO
THAT, BUT ARE THERE OTHER
THINGS WE CAN BE DOING TO
INCENTIVIZE WASTE PRODUCTION
BEHAVIOR THAT WE WANT TO SEE,
WHILE ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE
RATES AND NOT CREATING A RATE
PATH THAT IS REALLY
UNAFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE FOR
REASONS EXTERNAL TO THEM.
THEY HAVE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH
THEY CAN REDUCE THEIR
PRODUCTION?
>> IS IMPORTANT FOR UTILITIES
TO TAKE THE LONG VIEW, AND TO
REALLY LOOK OVER ALL OF THE
POTENTIAL STAGES OF EVOLUTION
TOWARDS BOTH YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL
GOALS AND YOUR FINANCIAL EQUITY
GOALS, FOR YOUR CUSTOMER BASE.
AND TO CALIBRATE THE APPROACH
THEY USE, AND THE DESIGN OF
RATES IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE
NEEDS IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE
AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHIN THAT
ARC.
SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT
POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE
MECHANISMS THAT WE CAN USE IN
ORDER TO INCIDENT CONSERVATION
AND BETTER BEHAVIOR.
-- INCENT. OUR RATE TEAM IS
ALWAYS LOOKING AT INCENTIVES,
AND IN-HOUSE ECONOMISTS AND
CONSULTANTS TO HELP US
CONTINUALLY LOOK AT RATE DESIGN.
BUT IT IS HARD FOR ME IN THE
ABSTRACT TO SAY WHAT IS THE
RIGHT THING AT ANY GIVEN POINT,
BUT THERE ARE SOME REALLY
EXCITING OUT -- IDEAS OUT THERE
IN THE FIELD, WE ARE LOOKING
AT, I WOULD WELCOME A
CONVERSATION LATER ON, AT SOME
POINT, WHEN WE HAVE MORE TO
SHARE.
>> DID YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING?
>> NO.
>> ARE WE FINISHED WITH THE
PRESENTATION? OR THERE IS STILL
MORE TO COVER?
>> THE DRIVERS.
>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING UP.
>> ANOTHER DRIVER DOWNWARD WAS
THE FINANCIAL POLICY.
WE HAVE ONE .7 SERVICE COVERAGE,
CERTAIN YEAR IN CASH BALANCE,
KIND OF GIVEN US A CASH RESERVE
THAT WE CAN APPLY TO THE NEXT
RATE CHANGE.
AND THE FOURTH THING IS THE UP
DATE IN THE CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
SIDE, IN THE DISCOUNT PROGRAM,
WHEN WE WERE DOING THE
STRATEGIC PLAN, SINGLE PLAN --
FAMILY, WE HAVE A PREPONDERANCE
OF MULTI-HOUSING, MULTIFAMILY
COMPARED TO SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSING, AND CHEAPER TO SERVE
IN THE MULTIFAMILY ARENA, THAT
ALSO SAVES ALMOST $8 MILLION IN
TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE FUTURE
RATE CHANGE.
>> THAT IS VERY LOGICAL.
WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE LIVE IN
THE CITY, AND WE TALK ABOUT
DENSITY AS BEING A WAY TO
REDUCE PEOPLE'S IMPACT, IT IS
ALSO EASY TO SERVE PEOPLE FOR
COVERAGE PICKUP, TOO.
>> PARTICULARLY EASIER AND LESS
EXPENSIVE FOR FOLKS WHO RELY ON
AND NEED A DISCOUNT.
YES.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
>> THOSE ARE 4 FACTORS DRIVING
RATES DOWN, 2 FACTORS DRIVING
RATES UP, ON THE BACK OF THE
HANDOUT, ONE IS THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS, THE RECYCLING
CENTER, ENTERED INTO SERVICE IN
2021 AS COMPARED TO THE
STRATEGIC PLAN, WHERE WE
THOUGHT WE WOULD BE DONE BY
2019, THE OTHER IS RECYCLING
COMMODITY REVENUES, OFFSETTING
CUSTOMER RATES, CHINA'S
RECYCLING BAN HAS RESULTED IN
SUPPRESSED COMMODITY RECYCLING
PRICES, THE PROJECTIONS FOR
THAT, A $50 MILLION DECREASE IN
EXPECTED REVENUES.
12 MAKE IT CLEAR, THAT WE ARE
COMMITTED TO RECYCLING, WE
DON'T SEND THINGS TO LANDFILLS,
WE HAVE NEGOTIATED OTHER
CONTRACTS.>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
THE RECYCLING CENTER AND THE
TIMELINE DELAY?
>> SURE.
WHEN THE PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY
CONCEIVED, THERE WAS SOME
PROGRAM ELEMENTS THAT WERE
INCLUDED THAT HAVE NOW BEEN
TAKEN OUT, BUT WE NEEDED TO
VALUATE WHETHER THAT WAS THE
RIGHT BUSINESS DECISION.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS
WE WERE ORIGINALLY THINKING
ABOUT WAS HANDLING --
DEWATERING AT THE SOUTH
TRANSFER STATION, SO THEREFORE
THE DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER
LINE OF BUSINESS WAS GOING TO
BE CONTRIBUTING FINANCIALLY TO
THE PROJECT, AND ALSO USING UP
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE
SITE.
IT TURNED OUT THAT WAS NOT THE
MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO PUT
THAT FACILITY, ANOTHER PLACE TO
PUT IT, TO DO THESE ACTIVITIES,
ABLE TO COME UP WITH A MUCH
MORE SIMPLE AND USER FRIENDLY
SITE PLAN.
AND THAT TOOK TIME TO COME UP
WITH BETTER FLOW FOR THE SITE,
WITH THE SITE DESIGNERS, AND
MAKE SURE WE HAD A DESIGN THAT
ELIMINATED ANY KINDS OF DANGER
FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE
RECYCLING, DRIVING THROUGH A
BUILDING AND RECYCLING AT THE
SAME TIME, DOING SOME
REFINEMENTS LIKE THAT.
SO I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THE
OVERALL COST OF THE FACILITY IS
LESS, THE SITE IS LESS, BUT IT
WILL BE A MUCH BETTER FACILITY.
>> IF THE COST OF THE SITE IS
LESS WISE IT GOING UP?
>> BECAUSE OF THE TIME.
YES.
>> THAT IS HELPFUL.
>>> FINALLY ON THE RECYCLING
BAN, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW OUR CONTRACTS ARE
DIFFERENT THAN THE CONTRACTS OF
SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND
WHY THAT PUTS US IN A DIFFERENT
POSITION AS IT RELATES TO THE
RECYCLING BAN, BUT THAT THERE
IS COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT,
BUT THE COSTS ARE WORTH BEARING?
>> THE SHORT OF IT IS, THE
RECYCLING CONTRACTS DO NOT
ALLOW THE CONTRACTORS TO DISPOSE
OF THE RECYCLABLES IN
LANDFILLS, AND MANDATES THAT
THEY HAVE TO MOVE THOSE -- THE
COMMODITIES, ALLOWING US TO
TAKE A FIRM LINE AND NOT
PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO THE
CONTRACT.
>> WHICH MEANS WE ARE
CONTINUING TO RECYCLE, WHEREAS
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE NOT.
>> THEY DID NOT NECESSARILY
HAVE ANY STIPULATIONS AND
REQUIREMENTS, PEOPLE THOUGHT
THE MARKETS WOULD BE OPEN, AND
THEY WOULD ALWAYS GET SOME KIND
OF MONEY BACK FOR THE
RECYCLING, AND WE WERE VERY
LUCKY TO HAVE STUFF, THAT WAS
SO PRESCIENT.
>> NOT HAVING THAT REQUIREMENT
IN THE CONTRACT, WITH THESE
SERVICE PROVIDERS ALLOWS THEM
TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT ARE
INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S
GOALS AND VALUES.
AGAIN, MANY THINGS TO OUR
CONTRACT STAFF WHO THOUGHT
AHEAD AND INCLUDED THIS
LANGUAGE.>>> I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE LONG-TERM
DEDICATION THAT THE UTILITY AND
THE PEOPLE OF THE UTILITY HAVE
MADE TO THIS, IT IS GREAT TO
SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
GLOBAL RECYCLING MARKET, A REAL
CHALLENGE, WE FIGURED OUT HOW
TO NAVIGATE THAT, TO THE
OVERALL WASTE STREAM THROUGHOUT
úTHE COUNTRY REDESIGN HAS TO
HAPPEN, AND PART OF TRYING TO
FIND ALTERNATIVES, NAVIGATING
WITH A TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE,
OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT MAY
NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY, WE ARE
NOT DOING EVERYTHING, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU PUT
SOMETHING IN THE RECYCLING BIN
IT GETS RECYCLED, BUT WE WANT
EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT,
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN
DEVELOP NEW MARKETS FOR THINGS,
DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL, THAT
IS NOT JUST GOOD FOR SEATTLE,
THAT IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE ELSE,
TOO.
>> DEVELOPING THE MARKETS HERE
IS CRITICAL, THE ROLE THAT THE
COMMUNITY PLAYS IN TERMS OF
MAKING SURE THAT RECYCLABLES
ARE CLEAN, DRY AND EMPTY,
CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED, IF THEY
WERE, THOSE MARKETS
INTERNATIONALLY WOULD BE OPEN
TO US, AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
GET A HIGHER PRICE FOR THOSE
COMMODITIES.
MY NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE
WRONG, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 90 AND
A HUNTER -- HUNDRED DOLLARS, WE
MIGHT GET $40 FOR.
BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE
RECYCLER BE -- RECYCLING.
THEY KNOW THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
BE RECEIVING THEM, POSING A
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
FOR THE COUNTRIES.
THAT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AT EACH
RESIDENCE AND BUSINESS CAN MAKE
ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN
AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL OF US,
AND ALSO FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE
THE RECYCLING IS HANDLED.
>> I REMEMBER READING AN
ARTICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
ABOUT RECYCLING IN JAPAN,
TALKING ABOUT ONE SITE WHERE
THEY HAD 30 DIFFERENT BINS THAT
THEY WOULD SORT INTO, NOT AT
THE RECYCLING CENTER, AT THE
RESIDENTIAL LEVEL.
AND THESE MULTIFAMILY
BUILDINGS, PEOPLE WOULD POLICE
THEIR NEIGHBORS, IF THERE WAS
SOMETHING IN 26 THAT SHOULD
HAVE BEEN AND 27, IT SOUNDED
LIKE SEATTLE, BUT ON STEROIDS.
LEFT BACK -- [ LAUGHTER ] IT IS
FUNNY AND INTERESTING.
>> IT IS IN ALL LIKE -- AT ALL
LIKE SEATTLE, WE DON'T HAVE
REQUIREMENTS FOR BINS ON EVERY
LEVEL OF THE BUILDINGS.
>> PEOPLE IN SEATTLE WHO ARE
DILIGENT, I WILL USE THAT WORD,
BUT THE CULTURE THAT HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED AROUND RECYCLING
OVER THERE IS INTERESTING TO
READ ABOUT, BUT IT HAS
SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS, THE VALUE
OF THE PRODUCTS ARE VERY HIGH.
>> WE DON'T ASK FOR THAT, BUT
PLEASE CLEAN, DRY AND EMPTY.>>
THE ASPIRATIONAL RECYCLING.
I WANT THIS TO BE RECYCLABLE.
IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT, THROW IT
IN THE TRASH.
>> WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT.
THANK YOU.
>>> SO THIS IS JUST A BRIEFING,
WE WILL HAVE A BILL THAT
APPROVES THE NEW SOLID WASTE
RATES AS PART OF THE BUDGET
PROCESS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, WE ARTY HAVE THE BILLET
COUNCIL, IT WILL BE PART OF
BUDGET LEGISLATION.
>> AND THE HIGH-LEVEL TAKE
AWAY, THE AVERAGE REDUCTION IN
SOLID WASTE RATES OF 6/10 OF A
PERCENT, THAT IS INDEED GOOD
NEWS.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING.>> THANK
YOU ALL.>>> IF THAT IS IT FOR
THE MEETING, I WILL ADJOURN, IT
IS 11:25 AM, I THINK YOU
EVERYBODY.
-- THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
>>> THANK YOU.