>> LET'S START ROLL.
>> HOLD ON.
WE LIVE YET?
I'M NOT SURE WE ARE LIVE YET
AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED TO START
THE MEETING.
>> I AM STILL WAITING FOR
SEATTLE CHANNEL.
WE ARE LIVE.
GO AHEAD.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD.
THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER LORENA
GONZALEZ.
GOOD MORNING OF MARCH 23 OF
2020 THE CUTS OF BRIEFING
MEETING THAT WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THIS IS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
LORENA GONZALEZ.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD
, HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ,
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW LEWIS ,
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES ,
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA,
HERE . COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN, HERE . COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT . COUNCILMEMBER
DAN STRAUSS, PRESENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LORENA
GONZALEZ, HERE.
10.
IT IS 9:33 AM AND THIS IS A
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF
THE COUNCIL AT OUR COUNCIL
BRIEFING.
CANCEL MEMBERS, THE COUNCIL
RULES ARE SILENT ON ALLOWING
ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION
ACCOUNTS OF BRIEFING MEETINGS.
IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE
PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, I'M
GOING TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE
COUNCIL RULES THROUGH MARCH 31
OF 2020.
TO ALLOW THIS MEETING TO OCCUR
WHILE PARTICIPATING THROUGH
ELECTRONIC MEETINGS.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL WILL BE SUSPENDED TO
ALLOW ELECTRONIC DISSIPATION
AND COUNSEL BRIEFING MEETINGS
THROUGH MARCH 31 OF 2020.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
COUNSEL BRIEFING MEETINGS WILL
BE HELD WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS
PARTICIPATING ELECTRONICALLY
THROUGH MARCH 31 OF 2020.
ALL RIGHT.
ET'S GO AHEAD AND DIG INTO OUR
AGENDA.
IT'S A SHORT AGENDA.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS.
BUT WE DO HAVE REPORTS FROM
EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
THAT ARE PRESENT.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH AGENDA ITEM
ONE WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES AND THERE ARE NO
MINUTES FOR APPROVAL TODAY
WHICH MEANS WE WILL QUICKLY
MOVE INTO AGENDA ITEM 2. WHICH
IS THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
I WILL ENDEAVOR TO KEEP THIS
REPORT SHORT AND CONCISE.
FIRST, THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT INCLUDING THE CITY
COUNCIL CONTINUES TO PERFORM A
CRITICAL WORK VIA
TELECOMMUTING.
AS A DEPARTMENT AND IS
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBER
OFFICES, WE'RE LEARNING TO
ADAPT IN ORDER TO HELP FLATTEN
THE CURVE AND STOP THE SPREAD
OF CORONAVIRUS THROUGHOUT HER
COMMUNITY.
IN THE COMING WEEK AS WE UP
ROACH MARCH 31 OF 2020, I WILL
STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH EACH
OF YOU AND THE MAYOR AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND THE STATE
AND REGIONAL PARTNERS AS I
EVALUATE WHETHER THE
TELECOMMUTE DIRECTIVE WILL BE
EXTENDED BEYOND MARCH 31 OF
2020.
AND IF SO, FOR HOW LONG THE
EXTENSION MIGHT BE.
GIVEN THE ONGOING DATA OF NEW
CONFIRMED CASES AND HAVING BEEN
PUBLISHED EVERY DAY BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN SEATTLE
KINKAID COUNTY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH, I DO BELIEVE EACH OF US
SHOULD BE PREPARED TO OPERATE
IN THIS FASHION BEYOND MARCH 31
OF 2020.
AGAIN, MORE TO COME AS
INFORMATION OUT OF OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH PARTNERS AND AGENCIES
ARE RELEASED.
SECOND, SINCE ENDING MY
MATERNITY LEAVE I HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO BE
INDIVIDUALLY AND FOR PURPOSES
OF DISCUSSING WITH YOU AT YOUR
WORK PROGRAMS WITH THE GOAL OF
IDENTIFYING TIME SENSITIVE
LEGISLATION THAT IS NOT RELATED
TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
I THINK I WILL BE ABLE TO
COMPLETE THIS INFORMATION
GATHERING PROCESS EARLIER THIS
WEEK AND WE WILL THEN BE
PREPARED TO EVALUATE A
POTENTIAL MODIFIED COMMUNITY
SCHEDULE THAT WILL FACILITATE
THE CONSIDERATION OF TRULY TIME
SENSITIVE LEGISLATION THAT
REQUIRES COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
IN DOING SO, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
US TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS
LIKELY THAT ANY REINSTATED
COMMUNITY MEETINGS WILL OCCUR
TELEPHONICALLY.
AND I ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION THE BURDEN THAT
TELEPHONIC MEETINGS PLACE ON A
.'S AND STUFF AND CENTRAL
STUFF.
I APPRECIATE THAT THIS WILL BE
TRICKY NEEDLE FOR US TO THREAD
BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO FIND AN ARRANGEMENT
THAT WILL ALLOW THIS CITY
COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE
ADVANCE LEGISLATION THAT IS NOT
RELATED TO THE COVID-19
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND
CONSISTENT WITH THEIR.
PROGRAM AND THE NEED TO
CONTINUE MEETING THE PRE-
EXISTING AND ONGOING NEEDS OF
OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THAT IS MY PRESIDENTS REPORT.
MORE TO COME ON THESE ISSUES IN
THE COMING DAYS.
IT'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO
AGENDA ITEM 3 WHICH IS A
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS, COUNSEL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
OF COURSE COLLEAGUES IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE DECLARED THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY ON COVID-19 ON
MARCH 3 OF 2020 AND ON MARCH 6
OF 2020 , ALONG WITH THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WE SET A
PROTOCOL THAT IS IN PLACE UNTIL
MARCH 31 OF 2020.
THIS PROTOCOL INCLUDED A
REQUEST THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS
CANCEL MEETINGS TO PRESERVE THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR WORK
FORCE AND TO PRIORITIZE
LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE
CURRENT EMERGENCY AND OTHER
EMERGENCY BUSINESS NEEDS.
I WILL START THE NEXT DISCUSSION
ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
WITH THE COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES BY CALLING ON THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS BY DISTRICT
NUMBER.
STARTING WITH DISTRICT ONE AND
CONCLUDING WITH THE TWO
CITYWIDE POSITIONS OF EIGHT AND
NINE.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR
COMMENT ABOUT THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS REPORT, I WOULD ASK
THAT YOU MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME FOR YOUR
REPORT, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR
COMMENT AND CAN ASK A QUESTION
OF A COUNCILMEMBER ABOUT HIS OR
HER REPORT THAT THAT TIME.
THAT IS JUST SORT OF
UNFORTUNATELY NOT THE PRETTIEST
SEAMLESS WAY TO DO IT BUT I DO
THINK IT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO
NOT TALK OVER EACH OTHER IN THE
TELECONFERENCE FORMAT.
SO IF YOU COULD ALL JUST HOLD
YOUR QUESTIONS AND PUT THEM IN
THE PARKING LOT AND THEN WHEN
IT'S YOUR TURN TO PROVIDE A
REPORT, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
OF A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS
REPORT, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME
TO BRING IT UP.
AND SO, LET'S GO THROUGH OUR
REPORTS.
AGAIN I AM GOING TO GO BY
DISTRICT.
DISTRICT ONE.
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD ,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THINK SO MUCH AND BEFORE I
GO INTO MY REPORT I WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
CLARITY.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE
ALREADY GIVEN A REPORT AND WE
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORT TO COME
AFTER HOURS, CAN WE RAISE THOSE
QUESTIONS?
>> YES.
I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS A
NEW NUMERICAL CHALLENGE OF
SEQUENCE HERE SO I WILL GO BACK
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO ASK
QUESTIONS SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY.
>> PERFECT IN THING SO MUCH.
I HAVE NO BUSINESS FROM THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA.
I JUST WANT TO FLAG A COUPLE OF
ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP OVER
THE WEEKEND.
I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT PEOPLE
CONGREGATING ON BEACH DRIVE AS
WELL AS WINSTON PARK AND NOT
ADVISING THE SOCIAL DISTANCING
RECOMMENDATIONS OF STAYING AT
LEAST SIX FEET APART FROM
PUBLIC HEALTH TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19.
I THINK FOLKS NOTICED THE THEY
HAVE ISSUED AN EMERGENCY STAY-
AT-HOME ORDER ISSUED YESTERDAY.
WITH A SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF
THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO THEIR
MARINA BEACHES.
BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER DRAWING
PEOPLE OUT.
AND I KNOW THAT DISTRICT 1 IS
NOT THE ONLY AREA OF THE CITY
CHALLENGED WITH PEOPLE GATHERING
IN PUBLIC SPACES AND NOT
OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING
RECOMMENDATIONS.
I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT THE
COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY IS IN THE
INSTANCE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE
EITHER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM
THE MAYOR OR FROM KING COUNTY
OR THE STATE REGARDING THE
CLOSURE OF OUR PARKS.
AND BEACHES.
AND SO I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP
WITH STAFF TO GET SOME MORE
INFORMATION ON THAT.
I HAVE ALSO REACHED OUT TO KING
COUNTY.
BUT LICKING COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER McDERMITT AS WELL
AS DWIGHT AS THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICE TO EXPRESS MY
CONCERN WITH THE LACK OF CLARITY
UNDER THE CURRENT STATE
EMERGENCY ORDERS. AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
CONVERSATION.
BASICALLY, I THINK IT'S REALLY
ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE A
CLARITY OF MESSAGE AND WITHOUT
UNDERSTANDING THE WE STILL HAVE
TO ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO
CENTRAL PLACES AND TO GO OUT
AND GET EXERCISE. BUT I AM
CONCERNED THAT WHAT HAS BEEN
CHARACTERIZED AS A PLEA FOR
FOLKS TO STAY HOME IS NOT CLEAR
ENOUGH FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR
OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
ALSO I JUST WANT TO ADD AS WELL
THAT I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY
THE BIA PRESIDENT AS WELL AS
THE WEST SEATTLE BIA ABOUT
INCREASED SMASH AND GRAB CRIME
IN THE DISTRICT, SINCE THERE
ARE SO FEW PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT
AND THEY HAVE RAISE THAT ISSUE.
THERE IS A RUMOR GOING AROUND
THAT THEY ARE GOING TO END THE
ENFORCEMENT CONTROL IN ALL
AREAS EXCEPT FOR THIRD AND PIKE.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAVE
NOT BEEN STOP. BUT THAT THEY
MIGHT BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
BUT THE EMPHASIS OF CONTROL I
THINK IT IS GOOD TO REMEMBER
THAT THE PATROL IS SORT OF A
TERM OF ART AND THAT IT REFERS
TO THE TYPE OF OFFICERS THAT
ARE ON PATROL AND SPECIFICALLY
ON OVERTIME.
SO EVEN IF THEY DECIDE TO STOP
USING OVERTIME OFFICERS AND
INSTEAD THEY USE OFFICERS ON
REGULAR TIME, THEY CAN STILL
LOOK AT DOING WHAT THEY CALL
DIRECTED PATROLS IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE DISTRICT
THAT HAVE THESE CHALLENGES.
SO I AM EXPECTING TO HEAR MORE
OF THE CHIEF ON THAT IN THE
NEAR FUTURE.
AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO
FLAG A CONCERN THAT I KNOW THE
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ HAS ALSO
BEEN MADE AWARE OF.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
EXPANSION OF STATE UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS TO MORE PEOPLE IN NEED
IN OUR STATE.
NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE RECEIVING
FALSE DENIALS AND I UNDERSTAND
THE STATE HAS COME FORWARD AND
HAS SAID THAT THOSE FALSE
DENIALS WILL BE CORRECTED.
BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
THE HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SYSTEM
WHATSOEVER.
THEY HAD SOME INTERACTIONS WITH
OIR OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT MY
HOPES THAT THE STATE WILL
QUICKLY BRING ON MORE STAFF
WITH THE FAMILY LEAD CLAIM AS
WELL AS STATE EMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE CLAIMS.
THESE FUNDS AND RESOURCES ARE
THERE FOR THE USE OF OUR
WORKERS AND IS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO BOTH COURSES OF
FUNDS.
ALONG WITH THE RIGHT TO ACCESS
THEM.
SO WE JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT
THAT IS ANOTHER BIG CONCERN
THAT I'M HEARING FROM THE
PUBLIC.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AND
THINK YOU.>> THINGS FOR THAT
REPORT.
WE WILL MODIFY A LITTLE BIT THE
DIRECTION HERE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THE
BRIEFING PROCESS AND I WILL GO
AHEAD AT THE END OF EACH
COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORT TO SEE
IF ANYONE ON THE PHONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENT.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBER?
>> YES.
THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD.
>> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS A
TWO FOR THAT PART.
LOTS OF FRUSTRATIONS IN THE
COMMUNITY FOR SURE.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAS RECEIVED ANY SORT OF
DIRECTIVE OR ANY PARTICULAR
IND OF TRAINING ABOUT HOW TO
ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT IN A
SHELTER AND PLAY SITUATION YET.
BUT SHOULD ONE ARRIVE, THERE IS
A LOT OF CONCERN IN MY COMMUNITY
AND PARTICULARLY AMONG FOLKS
WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WHO ARE
WORRIED THAT IF THERE IS NOT
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN WAYS
AND IN LANGUAGES THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND, HOW PEOPLE ARE
SUPPOSED TO GET INFORMATION
THAT THEY ARE TO SHELTER IN
PLACE.
AND THE POTENTIAL RISK OF
ENGAGING WITH THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BECAUSE
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT
INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.
I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALONG WITH
COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS WEEKEND
ABOUT THE FACT THAT NOT
EVERYBODY IS WATCHING THE
GOVERNORS LIVE STREAM
ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
AND EMAILS ARE NOT NECESSARILY
REACHING EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS
THE INFORMATION.
AND SO THERE IS A CONCERN THAT
IF WE REACH THAT STAGE WHERE WE
ARE IN A SHELTER PLACE
ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE THAT DON'T
KNOW THAT THAT EXISTS MAY HAVE
INTERACTIONS THAT PUT THEM IN
JEOPARDY
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION AND
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T THINK
THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT WE
HAVE ENGAGED IN TRAINING
SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO HOW TO
MANAGE AND EMERGENCY STAY-AT-
HOME ORDER IN A SITUATION LIKE
WE ARE FACED IN AND THEY DO OF
COURSE RECEIVE THE ESCALATION
TRAINING IN A PLACE WHERE THE
JUDGE AND AS IT RELATES TO THE
CONSENT DECREE HAS DETERMINED
THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS IN A
VERY GOOD PLACE IN FACILITATING
THE OBSERVATIONS REGARDING
REGARDING TRAINING.
I DO STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE
NEED TO TALK AS A COMMUNITY
ABOUT WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS
MIGHT BE FOR ENFORCEMENT. AS I
AM SEEING OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE
MOVED TO A SHELTER IN PLACE
SCENARIO. AGAIN, IT IS A STAGED
RESPONSE.
AND USUALLY A SHELTER IN PLACE
ORDER THAT FIRST WEEK DOES NOT
COME WITH ENFORCEMENT.
I HAVE HEARD THAT LOS ANGELES
AND EVEN THOUGH THEY NOW HAVE
SHELTER IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL
DAYS.
IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
ENFORCEMENT.
I ALSO NOTE THAT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR HAS
BEEN DOING A LOT OF CREATING
PHYSICAL BARRIERS TO PLACES AND
PUTTING SIGNS UP TO FIND OTHER
WAYS OTHER THAN I SHOULD SAY
RELYING ON THE CONSTANT BARRAGE
OF NEWS FROM TRADITIONAL
SOURCES BUT WAYS OF
COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC
FOR WITH THE NEW REALITY IS.
FOR THESE PUBLIC SPACES.
AND I THINK LOTS OF SIGNAGE IS
AT THESE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE
AND SO I THINK WE REALLY HAVE
TO HAVE A PHASED CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS
LIKE AND WHEN I TALKED TO THE
CHIEFS OVER THE WEEKEND, SHE
EXPRESSED HER BELIEF THAT THERE
IS A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE
ABOUT ASKING PEOPLE TO MOVE
ALONG AND TELLING PEOPLE THAT
THEY HAVE TO MOVE ALONG AND
TAKING LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION
TO TICKET SOMEBODY.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM
AND THERE FOR US TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION DONE WE HAVE TO.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST ONE MORE COMMENT AND THEN
I WILL REPEAT MYSELF.
I DO THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
REMINDER THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE
DO IN RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS
NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTANDABLE TO
PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.
AND I'M THINKING THAT OUR
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS IN THE CITY
OR WHOEVER IT IS WHO CAN TURN
AS MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION AS
POSSIBLE INTO INFO GRAPHIC
SIGNAGE THAT WE CAN ALSO PASS
AMOUNT.
IT JUST GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER
THAT NOT EVERYBODY SPEAKS OR
READS ENGLISH.
AND THEIR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND
THE CRISIS THAT WE ARE IN IS
JUST AS IMPORTANT IF NOT MORE
SO TO SHARE THE INFORMATION
WITH THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER AND
THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY WITH
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AGAIN
THAT THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY
TO REMIND YOU ALL OF THE OFFICE
OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS THAT HAS BEEN TO A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK
COMPILING INFORMATION RELATED
TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND
THE STATES WAS ONCE TO THE
EMERGENCY.
AND IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES.
SO THEY DO HAVE A WEBSITE AND A
SET OF DATA AVAILABLE IN A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
AND HAVE BEEN DOING A
TREMENDOUS JOB OF TRYING TO
INTERPRET EVERY THING IN REAL
TIME IN A WAY THAT IS
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY
APPROPRIATE.
SO LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR
PARTNERS OVER THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS
WHO ARE WORKING INTO THE WEE
HOURS OF THE MORNING TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE NEEDS THAT YOU
HAVE JUST ARTICULATED ARE BEING
ADDRESSED.
AND SO I CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN
ONE OF THE VOICES ON THIS
COUNSEL THAT HAS BEEN BEATING
THE DRUM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
THOSE WHO ARE NON-ENGLISH
SPEAKERS OR ENGLISH SPEAKERS
AND HAVE CERTAINLY A
APPRECIATED THIS WORK IN THIS
REGARD.
>> ABSOLUTELY IN MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN REALLY BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND SO THE RESOURCES ARE SO
FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT
THAT PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGE GETS
OUT. AND I JUST THINK AS WE
START TO MOVE INTO OTHER PARTS
FOR KINDS OF INFORMATION WHERE
TRYING TO GET OUT THAT WE NEED
TO SUPPORT HIM AND DO WHATEVER
WE CAN THROUGHOUT THE
DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY AS WELL.
>> WELL NOTED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBER OR COMMENT ON HER
REPORT?>> THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA.
>> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THING SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND IMAGINE THE WORK
HAPPENING AT THE STATE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
DEPARTMENT AND THE IMPLEMENTED
SECURITY DEPARTMENT AND I WOULD
LIKE TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON
THAT AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAG ONTO YOUR
REMARKS AS WELL THAT WE WERE
NOTIFIED ON WEDNESDAY ABOUT A
NUMBER OF WORKERS ESPECIALLY IN
THE SERVICE INDUSTRY WERE
GETTING NOTIFICATIONS OF DENIAL.
I WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE ESPECIALLY AND FROM THE
GOVERNOR'S STAFF WHO IS THE
LEAD ON LABOR AS THEY HAVE
QUICKLY WORKED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT IT WAS THEIR SYSTEM THAT
WAS SENDING OUT DENIAL NOTICES.
AND THEY PUT THE UPDATED FAQ ON
THE WEBSITE WHICH WE WILL SEND
AROUND FOR THE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES POINT WE WILL LOOK TO
SEE IF IT IS IN VARIOUS
LANGUAGES.
BUT FOR FOLKS THAT MAY HAVE
RECEIVED A DENIAL NOTICE,
THEY'RE REVIEWING EACH OF THE
NOTICES.
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE SERVICE
INDUSTRY OR ANY OTHER INDUSTRY
YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED A DENIAL
NOTICE IF YOU ARE ON STANDBY
MEANING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB WHILE YOU
COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN OR LACK
OF DEMAND.
THAT HAS RESULTED FROM COVID-19
AND YOUR EMPLOYER NOT BEING
ABLE TO OFFER YOU ARE HOURS OR
NEAT NEEDING TO SHUT THEIR
DOORS.
SEE CAN APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE AND AFFECTIVE MARCH
20 WHICH IS LAST FRIDAY THEY
HAVE PUT EMERGENCY RULES INTO
EFFECT SO THAT ALL WORKERS CAN
GET 12 WEEKS OF STANDBY
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
AGAIN THERE ARE DENIALS THAT
HAVE GONE OUT AND THOSE ARE
BEING REVIEWED ON A CASE-BY-
CASE BASIS.
AND THE STAFF IS WORKING AS
FAST AS THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE
THEY GET THE UNEMPLOYMENT
CHECKS OUT.
YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO CONTINUE
TO FILE YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS AT
THIS TIME.
AND THEY ARE STAFFING UP SO IF
THERE IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN
WORKING FOR THE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT THEN YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION OUT
THERE AND THEIR AS FAST AS THEY
CAN AND WE WILL SEND OUT MORE
INFORMATION AS WELL TO MAKE
SURE HE CAN TRACK WHETHER OR
NOT YOU HAVE BEEN DENIED AND
CONTINUE TO DENY THAT THE NEW
SYSTEM COULD CATCH UP WITH YOUR
REQUEST.
THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICER FOR CATCHING THIS
GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND I
THINK ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS ARE
WORKING AS FAST AS THEY CAN
THAT THIS WAS ONE THAT REALLY
GOT NOTIFIED TO THEM BY THE
FRONT-LINE WORKERS WHO WERE
RECEIVING THESE NOTIFICATIONS.
WE APPRECIATE THE QUICK WORK
AND IT IS DEFINITELY POSSIBLE
FOR YOU TO RECEIVE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE IF YOU ARE ON STANDBY
STATUS WHILE WE WAIT FOR THIS
COVID-19 VIRUS TO PASS.
>> I'M SORRY IF I GLOSSED OVER
VERY QUICKLY THE FACT THAT THEY
HAVE ADDRESSED IN A VERY
RESPONSIVE WAY THE ISSUE OF
PEOPLE RECEIVING DENIALS.
I DID MENTION THAT IN MY REPORT
AND YOU ARE RIGHT THAT I DID
GLOSS OVER IT SO I APPRECIATE
THE EXTRA DETAIL AT THE ISSUE
THAT I AM RAISING THAT IS AN
ISSUE THAT IS OCCURRING RIGHT
NOW IS THAT PEOPLE CANNOT FILE.
THEY CANNOT ACCESS THE SYSTEM
AND SYSTEM HAS TOO MANY REQUEST.
THAT IS THE ISSUE THAT I AM
PLEADING FOR THE STATE TO LOOK
AT WITH THE EITHER THE
TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACH OR
HAVING MORE PEOPLE ON THE
PHONE.
AND PROCESSING CLIENTS ON THE
PHONE.
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THEY ARE HIRING SO CONTINUE
TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THAT
AND ANSWERING THOSE CALLS.
WILL PUT SOME MORE INFORMATION
OUT ON HER TWITTER AS WELL.>>
OTHER ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD ?
OKAY.
LET'S MOVE ALONG.
DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
ON TODAY'S COUNSEL CALENDAR WE
WILL BE HEARING COUNSEL BILL
119670 WHICH WILL ALLOCATE AN
ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS FROM
HSD TO THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
STABILIZATION FUND.
SO WE WILL BE HEARING MORE
ABOUT THAT AND AS YOU ALL KNOW
THIS ACTUAL DISASTERS SENDING
SHOCKWAVES THROUGH OUR
COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY
DEVASTATING OR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER I WAS ON
THE PHONE THIS WEEKEND TALKING
WITH SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED AS
FOLKS ARE WORRIED AS WE ARE
THAT VIRTUALLY ALL SPENDING
ACROSS THE CITY IS COMING TO AN
END.
BUSINESSES ARE SHUTTING AND
OWNERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW
OTHER TOYS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT.
THERE WORRIED ABOUT RENT.
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE WORRIED
ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO
TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE IF THEIR
TENANTS RENT IS FROZEN OR IF
THERE IS A MORATORIUM.
THIS IS THIS CASCADING EFFECT
OF EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE.
I DID SPEAK WITH CONGRESSMAN
SMITH THIS WEEKEND ABOUT TRYING
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT
MONEY IN THESE RELIEF PACKAGES
SO THAT WE HAVE A TOOL AND A
RESOURCE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND THEY ALSO ASKED IF WE THE
SMALL BUSINESS LOANS THAT
THEY'RE WORKING ON IT HAVE ANY
SORT OF FORGIVABLE COMPONENT.
PARTICULARLY IF BUSINESSES KEEP
THEIR WORKERS IDLE RATHER THAN
LAYING THEM OFF.
SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO
GET THE BENEFITS THAT THEY NEED.
I DO WANT TO TAKE JUST A COUPLE
OF MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
OUR COMMITTEE WILL BE DOING IN
RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS OF THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE FORMING
RECOVERY PLANNING WORK GROUP
AND WE REALLY WANT TO START
THINKING ABOUT HOW ONCE WE GET
THROUGH THIS CRISIS AND HOW WE
CAN REBUILD IN A WAY THAT
INCREASES LOCAL RESILIENCE.
I NOTE THE CITY AND STATE LEVEL
THAT WE ARE MOBILIZING TO REACT
TO THE CRISIS AS QUICKLY AS WE
CAN.
AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO STOP THE SPREAD
TO KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME AND TO
SUPPORT DAILY SURVIVAL.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE
MOBILIZING FOR LONG-TERM PUBLIC
INVESTMENT AND THE GUARANTEED
JOB PROGRAMS.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS
OR PREVENT UNEMPLOYMENT THEN WE
WILL NEED AN UNPRECEDENTED AND
MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC
ART AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
AND PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT THE RECOVERY.
AND WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT IN A
WAY THAT IS EQUITABLE.
I AM REALLY WORRIED THAT IF WE
DO HAVE A BUNCH OF BUSINESSES
AND STOREFRONTS SHUTTING THAT
WE WILL SORT OF PAVE THE WAY
FOR WHAT SOME ARE CALLING
DISASTER GENTRIFICATION TO
HAPPEN WITH THIS ACCELERATED
DISPLACEMENT.
'S WE REALLY NEED TO BE
THINKING NOW ABOUT WHAT WE WILL
DO TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND TO REALLY REBUILD FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A
COMMUNITIES.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A FEDERAL
RELIEF PACKAGE.
NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT IT ALSO HAS BROUGHT INTO
RELIEF FOR ME JUST HOW RADICAL
SOME OF THESE SHIFTS WILL BE.
WE KNOW THAT 40% OF SEATTLE'S
GENERAL REVENUE COMES FROM
SALES TAX AND THE RECENT
COMMISSION FOR.
MADE IT REALLY CLEAR THAT
CITIES WILL FIND IT VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE IN THE MONTH TO FUND
OUR PUBLIC SERVICES IF WE DON'T
FIND NEW FUNDING SOURCES AND
NEW WAYS TO MANAGE OUR REVENUE.
THIS IS CLEARLY THE TIME FOR
STRUCTURAL SHIFT IN HOW WE
FINANCE PUBLIC SERVICES AND AS
EVERYONE KNOWS WE HAD A FEW
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BUT KSHAMA
SAWANT AND I HAVE CALLED FOR
THIS WITH THE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE BILL AND I WANT OUR
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES TO KNOW
THAT I STAND READY TO WORK WITH
YOU TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE THAT
GENERATES THE KIND OF REVENUE
THAT WILL REALLY PAVE THE WAY
FOR THE KIND OF ECONOMIC
RECOVERY THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE
HOUSED AND EMPLOYED.
I AM WORRIED THAT WITHOUT THIS
PROGRESS THAT WE MAY FIND
OURSELVES DOING TRIAGE FOR THE
NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT
I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU TO ADDRESS THIS HEAD-
ON.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN PASS
AN ORDINANCE SOON THAT COULD
REALLY START TO ADDRESS OUR
REVENUE CRISIS AND PAVE THE WAY
FOR THE SORT OF LONG-TERM
INVESTMENTS THAT WE WILL NEED
TO DO.
>> TANKE COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES FOR THAT REPORT I
THINK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR EARLY
EXPRESSION OF WILLINGNESS TO
COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH EACH
OF US AS YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THE
CITY COUNCIL ON THE VERTICALLY
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES ?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE WE WILL MOVE ALONG.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE ON THE
REPORT OF TAMMY MORALES SHE
MENTIONED SHE HAS A BILL FOR
CAN CONSIDERATION AT FULL
COUNSEL.
LAST WEEK I OFFER THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF AVAILABLE AT
COUNSEL BRIEFINGS TO PROVIDE
FOLKS ON THE LINE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OR
RECEIVE A BRIEFING DIRECTLY
FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.
WE REQUESTED THAT COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF BE AVAILABLE SO
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES
WILL HANDLE THAT BILL ON HER
OWN.
DURING THE FULL COUNSEL THIS
AFTERNOON.
AND OF COURSE THEY WILL SPEAK
TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY OFF-LINE IF
QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT THAT BILL
BETWEEN NOW AND 2 PM.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ALONG
TO DISTRICT 4 WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON AND THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
I'M GRATEFUL WE ARE RESUMING
COUNSEL BRIEFINGS TODAY SO WE
CAN INCREASE ERIC KIM
INDICATION TO HER CONSTITUENTS
DURING THIS CRISIS I'M GRATEFUL
TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
MAKING THE SACRIFICES TO RETURN
EARLY TO LEAD THE CITY COUNCIL
DURING THIS TRYING TIME FOR
CITY.
REGARDING THE TRANSPORTATION
UTILITIES COMMITTEE WE NORMALLY
MEET THE FIRST AND THIRD
WEDNESDAYS OF EACH MONTH
HOWEVER THERE ARE NO COMMITTEE
MEETING SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME
THERE TO GO THE CRISIS AND
THEREFORE THERE IS NO
TRANSPORTATION ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
AT THE SPECIAL MEETING WITH
CITY COUNCIL THIS PAST THURSDAY
WE HAD PASSED A COUPLE OF
RELIEF MEASURES AND ONE OF
WHICH IS WAITING WAITING ON
LATE FEES AND UTILITY BILLS FOR
BOTH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR
AND HER TEAMS FOR CRAFTING THAT
EMMA COUNSEL COLLEAGUES FOR
SUPPORTING IT ALONG WITH THE
OTHER BILLS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY MORALES MENTIONED.
FOR UTILITIES THIS IS IN
ADDITION TO THE DISCOUNT
PROGRAMS AND FLEXIBLE PAYMENT
PLANS AND NO SHUT OFF POLICY.
THERE ARE THREE TRANSPORTATION
ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS
AS WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY
SAFE AT HOME AND THE CITY
GOVERNMENT HAS TEMPORARILY
SUSPENDED THE 72 HOUR PARKING
RULE THAT WAS ANNOUNCED A
COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT WHICH
HAS ROUTES THROUGH SEATTLE AND
IF KING COUNTY DECIDES NOT TO
PURSUE REGIONAL BUS MEASURES
FOR THE AUGUST WHILE IT DUE TO
THE CORONAVIRUS, I WANT TO
ASSURE SEATTLE AND MY
COLLEAGUES THAT IT IS A
PRIORITY FOR ME AS CHAIRMAN OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO
MAINTAIN AN EXTENSIVE TRANSIT
NETWORK THAT IS RELIED UPON BY
WORKERS AND BUSINESSES AND
SENIORS AND NEARLY EVERYONE
ELSE THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
YOU ALL IN THE MAYOR AND KING
COUNTY METRO COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPLORE THE
BEST FUTURE OPTIONS TO RENEW
FUNDING FOR THAT IMPORTANT
TRANSIT PROGRAM AND THE TRANSIT
BENEFIT DISTRICT.
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES IS
SAYING AS WE DO WITH THE CRISIS
AT HAND NOW AND ALSO TRY TO
LOOK TO THE FUTURE IN AN
OPTIMISTIC WAY.
LOOKING AT ONE OF THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
IS A WAY FOR US TO UNITE AND
JOIN TOGETHER AND FOCUS ON THE
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CITY.
THIRD ITEM AS YOU KNOW THEY
HAVE ANNOUNCED IF YOU CANNOT
AFFORD IT DO NOT NEED TO PAY
THE FARE TO RIDE THE BUSES OR
LIGHT RAIL DURING THE CRISIS.
AND ALSO MUCH IS TEMPORARILY
OPERATING ON A REDUCED BUS
SCHEDULE STARTING TODAY.
FOLLOW THE LINKS THAT I HAVE TO
THE TRANSPORTATION STUFF ON MY
LOG AND ALL OF OUR BLOGS AND
WEBSITES WITH SEATTLE.GOV
FORWARD/COUNSEL.
SO EVEN WITH THESE TEMPORARY
REDUCTIONS AND THE FREQUENCY OF
BUS SERVICE DURING THE CRISIS
WE ARE RELIEVED THAT KING
COUNTY METRO'S TRYING TO
MAINTAIN MOST BUS ROUTES
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND
CONNECTING EVERYONE FROM PLACES
OF CARE TO SERVICES INCLUDING
GROCERY STORES AND JOBS FOR
SEATTLE RESIDENTS UNABLE TO
WORK FROM HOME.
AND DISTRICT 4, THERE HAVE BEEN
MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN COUNSEL CANCELED AND
OUR OFFICE HOURS ARE HAPPENING
REMOTELY VIA SKYPE OR PHONE.
JUST EMAIL US WITH SEATTLE.GOV
FOR DISTRICT 4. A LOT OF
RESTAURANTS ARE SHUTTING DOWN.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT ARE
OPEN AND ARE RELYING ON TAKE
OUT.
THIS THURSDAY WE PICKED UP
DINNER FOR THE FAMILY ON
THURSDAY NIGHT AND THERE ALSO A
BUNCH OF OTHER RESTAURANT AND
IF YOU JUST GO TO MY WEBSITE
THERE IS A LIST OF A BUNCH OF
THEM LIKE VILLAGE SUSHI AND THE
UNIVERSITY VILLAGE.
I HOPE THAT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO
DO THAT AND TO SUPPORT YOUR
LOCAL RESTAURANTS THAT THAT IS
GREAT WHILE WE STILL CAN THANK
YOU FOR MENTIONING THE
COUNCILMEMBER TALKING ABOUT
FORECLOSURES.
AS YOU TALK ABOUT EXTENDING
EVICTION PROTECTION. THAT WILL
BE ANOTHER WAVE TO LOOK AT IN
TERMS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO PAY
THEIR MORTGAGES.
SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH HER COLLEAGUES IF
THERE IS ANY SORT OF PUSH TO
HAVE THE STATE OR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OR BANKS TO HAVE A
MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES.
AND THAT'S OFTEN DISTRICT 4.>>
THANKS COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN.
REALLY QUICKLY I JUST WANTED
TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE
RECEIVED SOME COMMUNICATION
OVER THE WEEKEND WITH REGARD TO
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
AND IN PURSUING THEIR ONGOING
PLANS AROUND WORK APPARENTLY
THEY ARE DOING PREPLANNED WORK
IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
ARE AFFECTING CERTAIN CUSTOMERS
IN TERMS OF PREPLANNED OUTAGES
AND THROUGHOUT CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THE SCREENSHOT THAT I
RECEIVED OVER THE WEEKEND SHOWED
THAT 326 CUSTOMERS WERE IMPACTED
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 20 STARTING AT
8:30 AM.
AND THEY WERE ESTIMATED TO BE
WITHOUT POWER UNTIL CLOSE TO 3
PM ON SUNDAY.
SO WE JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT AS
A CONCERN THAT I RECEIVED FROM
SOMEONE IN COMMUNITY ABOUT NOT
NECESSARILY BEING CONDUCIVE TO
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY AT
HOME IF THEY DON'T HAVE
ELECTRICITY AT HOME.
DURING THE DAY.
SO I JUST WANT THE UTILITIES
COMMITTEE IN HOPES THAT YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ABOUT HOW
THEY ARE APPROACHING THEIR
PLANNED WORK FOR OUTAGES AND
HOW THEY ARE COMMUNICATING THAT
IN THE CONTEXT OR APPROACHING
THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
CURRENT INTEREST OF THE CITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A
REASON AS POSSIBLE TO STAY AT
HOME.
>> THINGS COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
I WILL GET A COMPREHENSIVE
UPDATE ON THAT SOON.
I APPRECIATE THAT.>> GREAT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
ALEX PEDERSEN OR ANY COMMENTS
ON HIS REPORT ? FAIR ENOUGH AND
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO
D5.
>> THANKS COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HAVE A FEW MATTERS THIS MORNING
WITH THREE ITEMS ON
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR THIS AFTERNOON.
ONE IS THE OINTMENT TO THE
SEATTLE ADMINISTRATION IN TWO
OF US TO THE SEATTLE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES AND THE TWO LIBRARY
APPOINTMENTS WHEN HE PUT THE
TURNAROUND TO ALLOW FOR THE
QUORUM FOR THE APRIL BOARD
MEETING.
SO WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE
LIBRARY ITEMS THIS AFTERNOON
WITHOUT THE STANDARD COMMITTEE
PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR THE
LIBRARY BOARD TO CONTINUE THEIR
WORK.
BASICALLY THEY NEED A QUORUM TO
ADDRESS LIBRARY SERVERS AND
OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL
PROTOCOLS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-
19.
THIS IS OUR WAY AS YOU WERE
SAYING EARLIER COUNCIL
PRESIDENT , THAT MOVING FORWARD
THE ISSUES WILL HAVE TO GET DONE
QUICKLY AS YOU SHARED TO KEEP
THE CITY MOVING.
I APPRECIATE THE OFFICE FOR
ALLOWING THIS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE APPOINTMENTS WHICH ARE
ITEMS NUMBER THREE AND FOUR AND
I WILL SPEAK TO THE INDIVIDUAL
STRENGTHS THIS AFTERNOON.
ALONG WITH THE BOARD IT IS
BASICALLY THE BOARD WITH THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
DISCUSSING ISSUES RELATED TO
SERVICES AND OPERATIONS.
I LEARNED THIS MORNING IT WAS
AN ISSUE WE WERE DISCUSSING ON
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THAT THE
LIBRARY AND STAFF WILL BE
WORKING FROM HOME.
ALONG WITH THE WORK IN THE
TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICT WE
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING SOME OF
THESE ISSUES WITH THE ROLE ON
THE TRANSIT BOARD WITH NO FEE
AND CERTAINLY ON A REDUCED
SCHEDULE.
AND I COULD ALSO ADD IN LIGHT
OF WHAT THE COUNCILMEMBER AND
THOSE OF US WHO ARE STILL
TRYING TO MEET WITH
CONSTITUENTS AS WE HAVE BEEN
MONITORING OUR LEGISLATIVE
REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR
UPDATES. AND HAVE BEEN ON THE
PHONE WITH SOME OF OUR
ELECTIVES IN OLYMPIA AS WELL AS
OUR ELECTIVES IN D.C. WHAT WE
HAVE PUT TOGETHER AND SOME
PEOPLE MAY WANT TO DO THIS AS
WELL IS THE STUFF PUTS TOGETHER
EVERY MORNING A GREAT CALL LIST
OR TOP 10 LIST OR A HIT LIST
AND I JUST GO THROUGH AND TRY
TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS
THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED
WITH PARTICULAR CONSTITUENTS
ORGANIZATIONS OR ELECTED
LEADERS AND THAT SEEMS TO BE
WORKING WELL FOR US.
JUST HAVING THE CALL LIST AND
JUST GOING THROUGH IT.
IT'S A LOT LIKE CALL TIME IF
YOU REMEMBER.
AND WITH THAT, I DO THINK
THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT AND THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
HER REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE TO DISTRICT 6 WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> MORNING AND THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IT'S GOOD TO
VIRTUALLY BE WITH ALL OF YOU
TODAY.
MY OFFICE HAS CONTINUED TO MOVE
FORWARD ON OUR POLICY
PRIORITIES WHAT WE HAVE ALSO
SHIFTED SOME OF OUR WORK TIME
TO MORE OR LESS DOING CASE
MANAGEMENT WITH INDIVIDUALS
AND/OR'S ALL BUSINESSES TO
CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THE MANY
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RELIEF THAT
ARE BEING PROVIDED AT THE STATE
AND CITY LEVEL AS WELL AS
PRIVATE ENTITIES AND
PHILANTHROPIES. AND FOR ANY
CONSTITUENTS OR SMALL
BUSINESSES LISTENING TODAY,
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH
OUT TO MY OFFICE FOR ANY
ASSISTANCE THAT YOU MAY NEED.
ADDITIONALLY, HAVE CONTINUED
WORKING CLOSELY TO TRY TO
PRESERVE THEIR LAND INCLUDING
CONVENING ALL CALLS FROM THE
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COUNTY AND
ORGANIZATIONS AND I'M EXCITED
TO LEARN THAT THE STATES
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET HAS
INCLUDED $250,000 TO FUND AND
SUPPORT THIS ACQUISITION.
MY TEAM HAS ALSO PARTICIPATED
IN THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSIONERS
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AS WE
MOVE FORWARD LATER THIS YEAR
AND WORKING ON A STAR STRONGER
TREE ORDINANCE.
HAVE IN WORKING AT THE FARMERS
MARKET ASSOCIATION TO EXPLORE
ALTERNATIVE WAYS FOR RESIDENTS
TO HAVE CONTINUED ACCESS TO
LOCAL FRESH PRODUCE.
AS LONG AS IT MAINTAINS THE
PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS IN WHICH
WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE TODAY
TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE
COVID-19 VIRUS.
AS WELL AS AHEAD STARTED AT OUR
OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING TO
SUPPORT MANY SMALL BUSINESSES
AND NONPROFITS BY ANSWERING
QUESTIONS AND GETTING THROUGH
THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS AND
PROGRAMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
AGAIN, IF ANYONE NEEDS
ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DON'T
HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO OUR
OFFICE.
WE ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK
AND WE HAVE REPURPOSED SOME OF
OUR POLICY TIME.
WHICH IS USUALLY USED TO
DEALING WITH DAILY COUNSEL
BUSINESS.
WE HAVE REPURPOSED THAT TIME TO
BE AVAILABLE TO CONSTITUENTS.
AND TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN
NAVIGATING THE PROCESS OF
ASSISTANCE.
HAVE ALSO CONTINUED MY
CONSTITUENT OFFICE HOURS OVER
THE PHONE AND WE ARE BUSY OVER
HERE IN DISTRICT 6.>> GREAT AND
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS FOR THAT WONDERFUL
REPORT AND FOR DOING THAT
HANDS-ON CONSTITUENT SERVICE
WORK LIKE SO MANY OTHER THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN DOING
AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS?
HEARING NONE WE WILL MOVE TO
DISTRICT 7 WITH COUNCILMEMBER
ANDREW LEWIS .
>> THANKS SO MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALES AND I JOINED
THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES IN
THINKING YOU FOR COMING BACK
EARLY AND TAKING THAT SACRIFICE
TO COME BACK AND LEAVE THE
COUNCIL.
IT HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD TO HAVE
YOU BACK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS DURING THIS
TRYING TIME FOR CITY AND REGION
AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
ECHOING A LOT OF THE REMARKS
THAT MY COLLEAGUES THAT I HAVE
BEEN SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF MY
TIME WORKING WITH CONSTITUENTS
AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO TRY TO
NAVIGATE THE IMMENSE PRESSURE
THAT THEY ARE FEELING AND IN
OUR ORGANIZATION AND DISTRICT 7
WILL ALSO HAVE QUITE A FEW AND
TO NAVIGATE THE STRESSES THAT
ALL OF THEM ARE FEELING IN
TERMS OF THEIR OVERHEAD COST
AND BEING ABLE TO KEEP THEIR
EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED AND
CRITICALLY TO KEEP THEIR
EMPLOYEES ON THEIR BENEFIT.
PARTICULARLY THEIR HEALTH
BENEFITS WHICH, GIVEN THE
NATURE OF THE PANDEMIC IS
EXCEPTIONALLY CRITICAL
INVESTMENT IN OUR WORK FORCE.
AND SO TO THAT END, ALL OF OUR
OFFICES HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT
OF WORK WITH BUSINESSES AND
INDIVIDUALS TO WARM THEM OF THE
CITY'S EFFORTS TOWARDS PROVIDING
SMALL BUSINESS STABILIZATION
FUND RELIEF FOR UTILITIES AND A
MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS THAT
COMMERCIALLY AND FOR RESIDENCES.
I JOINED THE COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY MORALES EARLIER THIS WEEK
OR RATHER LAST WEEK ON A CALL
WITH THE MAYOR'S SMALL BUSINESS
RECOVERY TASK FORCE COCHAIRED
BY THE FORMER COUNCILMEMBER AND
THE FORMER GOVERNOR GARY LOCKE.
HOPEFULLY THOSE ARE JUST THE
BEGINNING OF MANY MORE
CONVERSATIONS.
A COUPLE OF THE TAKEAWAYS THAT
I THOUGHT WERE REALLY KEY FROM
THE CONVERSATION WAS THE NEED
FOR A LOT OF FEDERAL RELIEF TO
PASS THROUGH THE CITY AND
CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE
COMPILED A MASSIVE LIST OF
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE APPLIED
FOR SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION FUNDS.
THESE ARE BUSINESSES THAT WE AS
COUNCILMEMBERS KNOW INTIMATELY
AS CONSUMERS AND NEIGHBORS AND
FRIENDS.
WE KNOW WHO NEEDS THE RELIEF
AND WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT THERE IS AS
MUCH FEDERAL RESOURCES WE CAN
GET TO PASS THROUGH IN THAT
CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE RELIEF IS
GETTING TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED
THEM AND THAT WORKERS ARE
EMPHASIZED AND MAKING SURE
PEOPLE HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS
MET. THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE
WELL SITUATED TO DO AS A CITY.
AND SOMETHING THAT WE COULD
REALLY USE FEDERAL RELIEF TO DO.
I THINK THAT THAT IDEA AND A
NUMBER OF OTHERS WERE RAISED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH THEM TO GET SOME REAL
RELIEF TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES
AND WORKERS OF THE CITY WHO ARE
REALLY FACING THE BRUNT OF THIS
CATASTROPHE FROM AN ECONOMIC
STANDPOINT.
ON THAT SAME NOTE, I AM PROUD
TO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A
GROUP OF MARKET MERCHANTS, WHO
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ARE
TRYING TO GO ONLINE.
TO TAKE THE PIKES PLACE MARKET,
WHICH IS PART OF THE CULTURAL
FABRIC OF THE CITY AND
DEFINITELY PART OF OUR
INTERNATIONAL IMAGE AS A
DESTINATION AND SORT OF THE
FIRST AND ORIGINAL FARMERS
MARKET IN THE CITY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THEY
WILL TAKE SOME OF THE COMMERCE
ONLINE TO TRY TO SERVE AS THE
RED BASKET OF THE KING COUNTY
AREA AND DO DELIVERIES FOR THE
FIRST TIME POTENTIALLY THROUGH
SOME KIND OF APP BASED SERVICE
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
WHAT WILL COME OF THAT.
THERE WAS AN INITIAL STORY IN
TODAY'S SEATTLE TIMES TALKING A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE MARKET
IS EVOLVING.
I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO
REPRESENT THE MARKET AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH THEM TO ADAPT AS THE
MARKETS HAVE HAD TO DO SO MANY
TIMES BEFORE IN THE PAST TO
MEET NEW AND GREATER EMERGING
CHALLENGES.
I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE
LISTENING AT HOME AND EVERYONE
HERE ON THE CALL THAT IF YOU
HAVE A CHANCE TO PATRONIZE SOME
TAKES PLACE MARKETS AND
BUSINESSES THROUGH THEIR ONLINE
PORTAL AS THE e-COMMERCE OPTION
BECOMES POSSIBLE, PLEASE DO SO.
IT'S A MASSIVE COLLECTION OF
SMALL BUSINESSES IN A CITY. AND
THEY ARE DEFINITELY IN NEED OF
SUPPORT.
ON ANOTHER NOTE, THIS IS CORE
TO DISTRICT 7 AND CORD TO
DISTRICT 6 AS WELL.
THERE'S A PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE TO SAY
THAT IN ADDITION TO RESTAURANTS
DOING TAKE OUT, DON'T FORGET
THAT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BREWERIES HAVE BOTTLES AND
GROWLERS TO GO STILL.
MAKE SURE YOU CALL AHEAD TO
MAKE SURE THEY'RE OPEN.
BUT I WAS VERY PLEASED OVER THE
WEEKEND TO GO AND VISIT HOLY
MOUNTAIN BREWING IN INTERBAY IN
OUR BREWING COMMUNITY AND THE
HAVE BOTTLES AND GROWLERS TO GO.
YESTERDAY I RODE MY BIKE OVER
TO DISTRICT 4 TO COUNCILMEMBER
ALEX PEDERSEN DISTRICT AND
PICKED UP A GROWLER OF BEER
THERE FROM ANOTHER SMALL GREAT
BUSINESS HONOR HERE IN THE CITY.
MAKE SURE THAT IN ADDITION TO
GETTING YOUR TAKE OUT FOR
DINNER THAT YOU ARE ALSO MAKING
SURE THAT OUR MICROBREWERIES OF
WHICH SEATTLE HAS MANY ARE
BEING PATRONIZED AS WELL.
PUBLIC SERVICE ALLOTMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT TO REMEMBER SMALL
LOCAL BREWERIES.
ALSO A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE
SITUATION OF MAKING SURE THAT
OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN THIS CRISIS ARE
ALSO BEING PROVIDED FOR AND ARE
BEING CONSIDERED IN THE PUBLIC
HEALTH RESPONSE.
I AM PLEASED TO SAY AS A NUMBER
OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, BASED ON
THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE LAST WEEK, THAT
THE NORTHLAKE TRANSITIONAL
ENCAMPMENT IS GOING TO BE
ALLOWED AT LEAST FOR THE
DURATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS TO STAY IN PLACE.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO TRY TO
NAIL DOWN A MORE CONCRETE
TIMELINE OF THAT COMMITMENT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SETTLED
IN SOME RESPECTS AND THAT MADE
BE THROUGH A COUNCIL ORDINANCE
OR THROUGH HAMMERING OUT A
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE
EXECUTIVES.
THAT I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING
SURE THAT IN THIS TIME OF
CRISIS WE ARE NOT SEEKING TO
EVICT TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMET
THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY
IN PLACE AND NOT TO BE IN A
SITUATION WHERE THERE IN A
UNSANCTIONED CAMP AND IN A LESS
SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE CITY THAT
WE ARE STEPPING UP AND LETTING
THAT ENCAMPMENT STAND IN PLACE
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH MY COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES AND EXECUTIVES TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A MORE
DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT NAIL DOWN.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
EXECUTIVES FOR LAST WEEK'S
PUTTING IN PLACE NEW GUIDELINES
AROUND THE NAVIGATION TEAM IN
THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY AND IN
THIS TIME OF CRISIS.
WE CERTAINLY NEED TO TIGHTEN UP
AND REEVALUATE OUR POLICY
AROUND THE REMOVAL OF
ENCAMPMENTS AND MY
UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEW POLICY
IS THAT IT IS WITH THE
EXECUTIVES THAT ONLY CAMS
REPRESENTING THE MOST EGREGIOUS
OBSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC RIGHT-
OF-WAY WILL BE REMOVED.
MY COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THIS SITUATION.
TO ENSURE THAT THE NAVIGATION
TEAM IS STICKING TO THE NEW
PROTOCOL THAT HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED.
IT IS CRITICAL DURING THIS TIME
OF UNCERTAINTY THAT UNSANCTIONED
ENCAMPMENTS THAT DON'T GO
OPPOSE AN IMMINENT THREAT TO
PUBLIC SAFETY OR PUBLIC RIGHT-
OF-WAY NOT BE CLEARED IN ORDER
TO PROVIDE THE KINDS OF
STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY
THAT WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR
SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC HEALTH
RESPONSE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MONITORING
THE NEW POLICY FROM THE
EXECUTIVES AND MAKING SURE THAT
IT IS ADHERED TO MORE BROADLY,
SOMETHING I WANT TO LOOK INTO
AND FLAG AT THE BRIEFING IF
ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN LOOKING
INTO THIS WITH ME.
MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW YORK
UNDER THE RIGHT TO SHELTER LAWS
ALLOW IN TIMES OF CRISIS OR
RATHER AS A TACTIC, THE BOOKINGS
OF SURPLUS HOTEL ROOMS IN ORDER
TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET
AND GET THEM INSIDE QUICKLY ON
A TEMPORARY BASIS.
I WANT TO POTENTIALLY EXPLORE
WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE
LOCALLY AS A POTENTIAL STRATEGY
TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET
AND TO GET THEM INSIDE AND TO
DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND A POSSIBLE WAY
TO GIVE BOON TO A STRUGGLING
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT HAS
SUFFERED FROM THE MASSIVE DROP-
OFF AND TOURISM.
IT MAY BE A WAY TO USE THE
SURPLUS HOTEL DEMAND IN THE
CITY AS PART OF THE RESPONSE.
THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO LOOK
INTO AND THERE ARE SOME STATES
THAT OFFER AN EXAMPLE OF HOW
THEY CAN BE DONE.
I THINK THAT COULD BE SOMETHING
TO DIG INTO.
FINALLY I WILL CLOSE SIMILAR TO
THESE REMARKS THAT MY
COLLEAGUES HAD SHARED THAT OUR
OFFICE HOURS CONTINUE UNABATED.
IT GETS MORE CRITICAL NOW THAN
EVER THAT WE MAKE OURSELVES
AVAILABLE IN THESE CONFUSING
TIMES.
TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE PUBLIC'S
RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO COVID-19.
AND ALSO JUST TO CONTINUE TO
FOCUS ON THE MORE BREAD-AND-
BUTTER CONSTITUENT ISSUES THAT
CAME UP PRE-COVID-19 AND STILL
CONTINUE TO COME UP . JUST A
FLAG A COUPLE OF INTERESTING
ONES.
THERE IS A DISCUSSION OF
FRIENDS AT DISCOVERY PARK ABOUT
THE CITY ACQUIRING SOME OF THE
FEDERAL LAND THAT STILL REMAINS
IN FEDERAL POSSESSION AND THERE
IS A PROPOSAL TO SLIM WHAT
DISCOVERY PARK IS BRINGING TO
FLYNN WITH A QUICK TURNAROUND
AND OTHER PUBLIC PART AND THEY
WILL STILL ALLOW THE POWER TO
REMAIN OPERATIONAL BUT THEY
WOULD RECLAIM MORE LAND FOR THE
PUBLIC.
TO AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THEM TO SEE IF WE CAN REALIZE
THAT VISION.
AND ALSO HAVING BEEN RAISED BY
COUPLE OF CONSTITUENTS AS THIS
BECOMES INCREASINGLY MORE URBAN
ENVIRONMENT WITH A GREATER
DENSITY OF RESIDENTS AND
PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
BAY WILL BE INCREASINGLY A
CRITICAL CONVERSATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
FOLKS TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE
COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY ARE
WALKABLE AND LIKABLE AND IN
KEEPING WITH OUR VISION OF ZERO
GOALS.
THOSE ARE MY UPDATE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO ANOTHER WEEK TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE
DISTRICT.>> THANKS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND ANY
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS OR ANY COMMENTS?
>> GO FOR IT. YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK
ESPECIALLY IN YOUR DISTRICT AND
SMALL BUSINESSES WE APPRECIATE
YOU HIGHLIGHTING THE ONLINE
SERVICES THAT THEY ARE BRINGING
US TO PUSH THAT OUT IN ANY WAY
ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
DIDN'T WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
COMMENTS AROUND HOTELS AND THIS
IS SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE IN A
MINUTE AS WELL.
WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH
KING COUNTY THAT DOES HAVE
HOTEL VOUCHERS AND THE HAVE A
NUMBER OF HOTELS THEY'RE
WORKING WITH WITH MOSTLY MOTELS
AT THIS POINT TO TRY TO GET
PEOPLE OUT OF PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WERE STABLE
AND WHO ARE HEALTHIER AND
THEY'RE NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF
COVID-19 BUT THEY'RE ALSO
ELDERS AND HAVE A COMPROMISE
SYSTEM.
IT ALSO FREES UP PLACES AND
PERMANENT SUPPORTIV HOUSING
AND SHELTERS AND THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOTELS
THAT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.
WE DO WANT TO THANK SOME OF THE
HOTEL OWNERS WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING TO ESPECIALLY THE
DOWNTOWN HOTEL OWNERS ALONG
WITH THE HOTEL ASSOCIATION BUT
THERE ARE MOTEL VOUCHERS THAT
CAN HELP TO KEEP OUR HOTELS
AFLOAT WHILE WE FIND STABLE
HOUSING THAT IS MORE ISOLATED IN
NATURE ESPECIALLY FOR SOME OF
OUR ELDERS AND FOLKS WITH
COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS TO
GET OUT OF THE MORE CROWDED
LIVING SITUATION AND GET INTO
HOTELS WITH A LOT OF LOGISTICS
INCLUDING FOOD DELIVERY AND
CLEANINGS THAT WILL BE TALKING
WITH HER FRIENDS HERE AS WELL.
AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT THEY
HAD BEEN ABLE TO FUND WITH
HOTEL VOUCHERS AND THE PROCESS
OF ENGAGING WITH THE OWNERS TO
SCALE UP SO WE WILL ANNOUNCE
THAT COMING UP SOON.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
WHERE THE PARTNERSHIP IS NEEDED
FOR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS TO
KEEP LOCAL BUSINESSES AFLOAT
FOR NEEDED SERVICES TO HER
FRIENDS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND
KING COUNTY.
WANT TO FLAG SOME OF THE
CONVERSATIONS ARE UNDERWAY
ALONG THE HOTEL VOUCHER PROGRAM
THAT HAS BEEN A GODSEND TO THE
PEOPLE THAT NEED SPACE AND ALSO
A FINANCIAL BOON TO THOSE HOTELS
WITH SO MANY VACANT ROOMS.
IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND GOOD
MINDS THINK ALIKE AND MORE TO
COME ON THAT MY PARTNERS I
COUNTY ALONG THE DOWNTOWN
STRATEGIC LOCATIONS THAT PEOPLE
CAN BE CLOSE TO ADDITIONAL
SERVICES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
ANDREW LEWIS ? OKAY, HEARING
NONE LET'S MOVE TO DISTRICT 8
WITH COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA.
>> HELLO COLLEAGUES AND I WANT
TO JOIN IN THE WELCOME TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LORENA
GONZALEZ AND I'M REALLY HAPPY
THAT YOU ARE BACK.
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH
DECISION FOR YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY TO COME BACK PRIOR TO
THE 12 WEEKS OF FAMILY LEAVE
THAT YOU HAD INTENDED TO TAKE.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND
THINGS FOR YOUR WORK IN THE
SHORT ORDER TO GET CAUGHT UP TO
SPEED BE ON THE SAME PAGE IN
TERMS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO THE
SERVICE COUNSEL I WANT TO THINK
THE COLLEAGUES ON THE PHONE TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS WITH
OFFICIALLY YOU TO BE AVAILABLE
PRIOR TO COMING BACK. AND I
WANT TO THANK THE CENTRAL STAFF
AND THE IT STAFF AND HUMAN
RESOURCES AND THE CLERK'S
OFFICE AND THE PATIENTS AS YOU
SET UP THIS NEW PROTOCOL.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY YOU ARE AT
THE HOME SO THANKS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND THINGS FOR BEING
A PRESIDENT IN THIS TIME.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
ON THE AGENDA TODAY BUT I DO
WANT TO PROVIDE SOME UPDATES
AND I DO THINK THAT SOME OF
THESE WE SPOKE TO TODAY EARLIER
WITH BRIEFINGS TODAY.
AND WE WANT TO HAVE REGULAR
BRIEFINGS THE CBO DIRECTOR AND
THE CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTOR AS
WELL.
BOTH IN TERMS OF HOW OPERATIONS
AFFECT THE CURRENT BUDGET AND
PROJECTED REVENUE IN THE NEAR
TERM.
ONCE THEY BEGIN THE DECISION
FOR THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
OFFICE THERE WILL BE A CHANCE
FOR US TO HAVE A BRIEFING ON
THE IMPACT OF OUR CURRENT
BUDGET AND ALSO TO HEAR FROM
THE LOCAL ECONOMISTS WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE EXPECTED
DOWNFALL AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT
OUR ALREADY URGENT NEEDS FOR
HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE
SERVICES.
WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING THIS
INFORMATION IN A FORMAT
AVAILABLE FOR YOU OUTSIDE AND
ANY BRIEFINGS WE WILL BE ABLE
TO SHARE THE REPORTS TO THE
EXTENT THAT WE DO HAVE ANY
URGENT MATTERS THAT WILL BE
ABLE TO PRESENT IN COMMITTEES
WITH INFORMATION UP FOR YOUR
REVIEW AS WELL. WANT TO THANK
THE DIRECTOR AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ALSO FOR THE REGULAR
ANALYSIS OF HER CURRENT FUNDING
SHORTFALL.
WITH THE PENDING STATE AND
FEDERAL FUNDS AND A HUGE THANKS
TO THE FOLKS AT PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE KING COUNTY AND THE
PARTNERS IN THE COUNCIL AND THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR THE
ONGOING WORK TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
WHERE REVENUE NEEDS ARE AND
SPENDING NEEDS AS WE LOOK TO
QUICKLY STAND UP ADDITIONAL
SITES FOR ASSESSMENTS AND CARE.
AND ALSO TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR
THOSE WHO ARE NEED OF CRITICAL
HOUSING NOW.
AND TO GET MORE SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND OUR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPERATIONS
AND NONPROFITS PARTNERS.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN
IN WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM
ONLINE AS WELL WITH THE
PERMANENT HOUSING PROVIDERS.
HAVE A BRIEF UP ON SOME OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE THEY ARE IN DIRE
NEED AND ASKING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR SUPPORT TO GET
THE TEST IN HAND ESPECIALLY FOR
THE FRONT-LINE HOUSING PROVIDERS
ARE WORKING EVERY DAY WITH
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND
THOSE WHO ARE ELDERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHO NEED SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING AND WHO ARE IN A
SHELTER.
IN THE ABSENCE OF ADDITIONAL
TESTS WE ARE WORKING QUICKLY TO
TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN
GET MORE SITES STOOD UP
ESPECIALLY WITH L.A.
THEIR STANDING UP SITES FOR
TEMPORARY USE. SO THE
ASSESSMENT CAN BE DONE.
AS WE MENTIONED PRIOR, THE WORK
THAT WE ARE DOING WITH KING
COUNTY AND THE LEAD TO BE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND THE HOTEL, I'M
HOPING THAT WILL QUICKLY EXPAND
AND I WANT TO THANK KING COUNTY
FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK TO GET
HOTEL VOUCHERS OUT THE DOOR.
AND ALSO WANT TO THINK THE
HOTELIERS WHO ARE STANDING UP
SOME OF OUR LOCAL DOWNTOWN
BOUTIQUE HOTELS WERE LOOKING
FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFER
THEIR SPACE AND MAKE IT HOTEL
ROOMS TO SHELTER THOSE WHO ARE
WELL BUT EXTREMELY VULNERABLE
AND THOSE WERE ELDERLY.
WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO
SHARE SHOOTING ABOUT THE
LOGISTICS IN TERMS OF MEALS AND
STAFFING.
SO THAT LOCATIONS ARE CLEAN ON
A REGULAR BASIS BUT THIS IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE LOCAL
BUSINESSES CAN PARTNER WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE
WE RESPOND TO THE CRISIS AS WE
WAIT FOR THE FEDS TO SEND
ADDITIONAL TESTING SUPPLIES OR
ADDITIONAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND
PERSONNEL AS WELL.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF
PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL HELP TO
SAVE LIVES.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
FOR PARTNERS AND KING COUNTY.
AND THOSE WORKING IN HOTELS
CONVERSATIONS TO COME.
AND ESPECIALLY HERE AT UNITED.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
WE HAVE PUT IN ABOUT HOW THIS
CRISIS IS AFFECTING THE WORK
FORCE AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE
OF MAKING SURE GROCERY WORKERS
AND THE GIG ECONOMY WORKERS A
DETECTIVE WITH A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS PUT INTO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND WE KNOW THEY ARE
WORKING VERY FAST TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE GETTING SUPPLIES AND
GUIDANCE OUT TO THOSE WORKERS
WHO ARE ALREADY SHOWING HOW
ESSENTIAL THEY ARE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
DIALOGUE ONLINE THAT MANY OF
THE WORKERS THAT WE DEEM
ESSENTIAL RIGHT NOW IN A CRISIS
LIKE THIS ARE ALSO THE WORKERS
MAKING MINIMUM WAGE AND THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO LONGER
LEAD BENEFITS.
AND I THINK THERE'S A REALLY
IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR US TO
PAUSE AND RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THEIR WORK AND
ESPECIALLY GROCERY WORKERS AND
HOTEL WORKERS AND FRONT-LINE
CNA'S AND MEDICAL STAFF WORKERS.
THOSE WHO ARE ALSO TAKING THE
TRASH OUT IN HIS MEDICAL
FACILITIES ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT FOR US IN ORDER TO
THE SYSTEM TO KEEP OPERATING.
THANKS IN ADVANCE TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THE
QUESTIONS WE HAVE PUT IN AND WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH SOME OF
THE TALK ONLINE AS FOLKS HAVE
SEEN THIS WEEKEND WITH ONE OF
THE LOCAL RETAILERS PUTTING N95
MASKS OUT FOR SALE AND I WANT
TO THANK TARGET FOR THEIR FAST
RESPONSE TO THAT AND ESPECIALLY
ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND CALLING IT
TO THEIR ATTENTION THAT THOSE
MASKS WERE BEING SOLD AND THE
EXECUTIVE IN KING COUNTY IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE DEPUTY
MAYOR AND GOVERNOR ENSLEY TO
GET THOSE OFF THE SHELF AND
INTO THE HANDS OF DEPARTMEN OF
HEALTH PERSONNEL SO THAT THOSE
COULD BE DEPLOYED TO OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS AND TO THE MEDICAL
STAFF ACROSS THE STATE.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE MAKE
SURE ALL OF THE MASKS AND
GLOVES AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
GEAR GET INTO THE HANDS OF
MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO HAD
CALLED ATTENTION TO THAT ONLINE
AND TO THE FAST.
OF EVERYONE INVOLVED TO GET
THOSE OFF THE SHELF AND INTO
THE GOVERNMENT HANDS.
WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE KNOW
THAT TARGET REACHED OUT TO
EXPRESS THEIR APOLOGIES FOR
THAT SITUATION.
AS WE SAID EVERYONE IS WORKING
AS FAST AS THEY CAN AND WE
APPRECIATE THE QUICK WORK TO
CORRECT THAT.
ALSO WE WANT TO PILE ONTO WHAT
THEY HAD STARTED WITH THAT WE
CONTINUE TOGETHER IN PUBLIC
GATHERINGS.
ARE VERY CLEAR IN CHOOSING
WORDS OVER THE WEEKEND AND ON
FRIDAY.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO HONOR THE
SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS
OR IS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF
ADDITIONAL DIRECT IS COMING
DOWN.
THIS IS FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE HEALTH OF
INDIVIDUALS WILL EVEN FEEL
HEALTHY AND ESPECIALLY NOW
THERE IS MORE INFORMATION
COMING OUT ABOUT THOSE 20 TO 40
AND 20-50 WHO THOUGHT THE MAYBE
NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS DISEASE
BUT ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS AND
ARE ALSO NOW BEING
HOSPITALIZED.
EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT SHOWING
SYMPTOMS THEN THERE IS A HIGH
POSSIBILITY THAT YOU ARE
CARRYING IT AND YOU'RE
CONTAGIOUS AND YOU'RE SHUTTING
THE VIRUS.
SO FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT YET
HEARD THAT MAYBE THEY HAD NOT
SEEN THE PRESS CONFERENCES FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND I WILL
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
THAT WALKING IS FINE AND
RUNNING IS FINE.
BUT PLAYING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL IN
GROUP ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZED
ACTIVITIES AND SITTING CLOSE TO
EACH OTHER IS REALLY RISKY AND
IS INCREASING THE SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS.
IT IS FINE TO GO AND HAVE A
PICNIC WITH THOSE WHOM YOU LIVE
WITH OR TO GO FOR A WALK OR RUN
WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU LIVE WITH
BUT IF YOU DO NOT LIVE WITH
SOMEBODY, KEEPING A DISTANCE OF
SIX FEET AND AVOIDING SOCIAL
GATHERINGS LIKE THE ONE THAT WE
SAW THE WEEKEND AND SOME OF OUR
BEAUTIFUL PARKS IS GOING TO
HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE
DISEASE AND SAVE LIVES.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO PRACTICE GOOD
MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES DURING
THIS TIME WERE SOCIAL ISOLATION
CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION.
YOU WANT PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN
SOCIAL INTERACTION OVER VIDEO
STREAMS AND PHONE CALLS AND
TEXT MESSAGING.
BUT PLEASE KEEP HER SOCIAL
INTERACTION LIMITED AND DO NOT
DO GROUP GATHERINGS OR BONFIRES
OR LARGE PICNICS.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE HEALTHY
AND TO GET OUTSIDE IF THEY NEED
TO TAKE A WALK BUT DID NOT
ENGAGE IN THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY
SO I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT
COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL
GUIDANCE AND THAT IT WILL LEAD
TO THE SPREAD OF DISEASES AND I
WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE FOR HIS THOUGHT FULL
APPROACH FOR GETTING MESSAGES
OUT TO THE PUBLIC WE KNOW WE
NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND HOW
WE WAS ON AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO
NOT PANIC BUT HE PREPARED.
I THINK HIS STAFF LEADERSHIP
HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS IN HELPING
TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT
ALONG WITH OUR MAYOR AND THE
KING COUNTY EXECUTIVES AND
COUNCIL.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS ALL FOR
ME.
WE DO APPRECIATE THESE COUNSEL
BRIEFINGS AND SO THANK YOU FOR
ORGANIZING THESE AND YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO BRING THIS BACK
AND IT HAS BEEN HOPE HELPFUL TO
SHARE WHAT FOLKS ARE UP TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE NOT JUST
DUPLICATING REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH OR TO OUR PARTNERS WITH
THE BUSINESS AND OTHER ENTITIES
OF GOVERNMENT TO BE COORDINATED
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN
A VERY PRODUCTIVE CALL.
SO THINGS COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
TO ALL OF YOU AND EACH OF YOUR
DISTRICTS.
AND OUR TEAMS FOR MAKING THIS
POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE THESE
REMOTE MEETINGS.
THAT IS IT ON MY END.
>> THANKS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THIS REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE.
BEFORE I DO MY REPORT I WILL
CIRCLE BACK TO THE
COUNCILMEMBER TO ADDRESS THE
ITEM ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATED.
I HAD NEGLECTED TO SHARE WITH
THE COUNCIL THE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
FOUR OF THESE POSITIONS ARE
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED AND ONE
OF THOSE FOUR DESIGNATED
POSITIONS IS ONE FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION APPOINTMENT AS THE
COMMISSION'S CHOICE WHO TO SEND
FORWARD.
AND ALSO AS THE APPOINTMENT FOR
THE SEATTLE POLICE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION AND THE MEMBERS HAD
VOTED TO APPOINT HIM AND HE HAS
BEEN SERVING UNOFFICIALLY FOR
SOME TIME AND THIS WILL NOW
MAKE HIS APPOINTMENT OFFICIAL.
MY OFFICE HAD CHECKED TO
CONFIRM THAT THEY ARE OKAY WITH
THIS APPROACH IN THE ABSENCE OF
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AS THEY ARE
DIRECTLY AHEAD WITH COMMITTEE
MEETINGS AND THEY DO SUPPORT
THIS.
JUST AS A REMINDER, THEY HAVE
SEVEN TOTAL APPOINTMENTS AND
FOUR ARE SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNATED.
ONE FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
SKILLS AND ONE FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
AND THREE OR FOUR I'M SORRY IT
ONE FOR POLICE AND TWO FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION AND FOUR FOR PUBLIC
DEFENSE AND CIVIL RIGHT.
>> GREAT AND THANKS
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I WILL GO AHEAD
AND GIVE MY REPORT.
THE GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE ANY
LEGISLATION ON TODAY'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA THAT IS SUBJECT
TO A VOTE IN THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED COMMUNITY MEETINGS
WERE CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE.
I DO WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE
DIRECTOR OVER THE WEEKEND AND
LAST WEEK WITH A NOTICE OF AN
EMERGENCY CHILDCARE PILOT
PROGRAM.
HE SENT OUT THIS LETTER TO
MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AT 728 P.M.
ON FRIDAY, 20 MARCH NOTIFYING
US OF THE EXECUTIVE'S INTENT TO
STAND UP IN THE COMING WEEKS AT
THE EMERGENCY CHILDCAE PILOT
PROGRAM THAT WILL PRIORITIZE
CHILDCARE SLOTS FOR FIRST
RESPONDERS.
WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE CITY
THAT WITH THE CLOSURE OF
SCHOOLS THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS
ARE SUFFERING THE FRONT OF THE
LACK OF VIABLE CHILDCARE
OPTIONS.
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE OF
COURSE NOT IMMUNE FROM THE LACK
OF SAFE AND VIABLE CHILDCARE
OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
CERTAINLY THE CLOSURES RELATED
TO CORONAVIRUS ARE HAVING AN
EVEN CREATING AN EVEN DEEPER
IMPACT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ALL
KNOW TO BE CHILDCARE SHORTAGES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I HAVE ASKED COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF IN PARTICULAR AND THOSE
FROM MY OFFICE TO TAKE A CLOSER
LOOK AT THE PROPOSED CHILDCARE
PILOT PROGRAM AND TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE NOT ROLLING BACK ON
OUR COMMITMENTS AS REQUIRED BY
STATUTORY ORDINANCE TO THE
FAMILIES AND EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY.
AND WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE MEETING THE IDENTIFIED
NEEDS BY DEAL AND EXECUTIVE AS
IT RELATES TO CHILDCARE NEEDS
FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE FOLKS AWARE
THAT THAT IS AN EFFORT THAT IS
BEING PROPOSED BY THE EXECUTIVE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN
ON THE COUNCIL FOR A WHILE, YOU
HAVE HEARD ME SORT OF
FEROCIOUSLY PROTECT THE REVENUE
SOURCE FROM THE LEVY TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING
FIDELITY TO THE ORDINANCE THAT
WAS PASSED BY VOTERS.
ALONG WITH THE DUTY AND THE
LEGAL DUTY AND OBLIGATION TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLYING WITH
THE PARAMETERS OF THAT
ORDINANCE.
AND IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME HOW THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY IMPACT THAT
REQUIREMENT IF AT ALL.
AND SO WE HAVE COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF TAKING CLOSER LOOK AT
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT
GOING TO STEP ON ANY TOES AS IT
RELATES TO OR GETS INTO ANY
LEGAL ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO
USING THE REVENUE SOURCE.
IN THE MANNER PROPOSED BY DEAL
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ANNOUNCING
JUST RECENTLY THAT THEY WILL BE
STANDING UP 12 CHILDCARE SITES
THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OF COURSE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
HAVE CHILDCARE ISSUES YOU KNOW
THAT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
IS A GREAT PARTNER TO US HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN TERMS
OF CO-LOCATING CHILDCARE
CENTERS AND FACILITIES WITH THE
SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND
THROUGHOUT ITS SCHOOLS AND
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I REALLY WANT TO THEM FOR
STEPPING UP AND FOR PULLING
TOGETHER A PLAN AND RELEASING A
PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES 12
CHILDCARE SITES THROUGHOUT THE
CITY THAT WILL BE READY TO GO I
BELIEVE THIS WEEK.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
FOCUS ON THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
AT PLAY WHICH IS TO MEET THE
CHILDCARE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THAT WE CAN STAY FOCUSED ON
THAT AS OPPOSED TO WHO HAS AN
OBLIGATION TO DO WHAT FIRST.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MADE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT AND I'M EXTREMELY
GRATEFUL TO THEM WITH MORE TO
COME ON THIS EMERGENCY
CHILDCARE PILOT PROGRAM IN THE
COMING DAYS.
LASTLY WE HAVE TWO BILLS ON
THIS AFTERNOON'S INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR AND
APPEAR ON TODAY'S INSTRUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
THESE EMERGENCY PIECES OF
LEGISLATION AND RESPONSE TO THE
CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 CRISIS.
WE KNOW THAT JUST 24 DAYS AGO
THAT THE FIRST PERSON IN
WASHINGTON SUCCUMB TO COVID-19.
AS OF 3 PM YESTERDAY OUR STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTED
95 DEATHS AND NEARLY 2000
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. OUR STATE
AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS
BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO
IMPLEMENT HEALTH MEASURES TO
FLATTEN THE CURVE AND STOP THE
SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS
THROUGHOUT HER COMMUNITIES.
WE JUST HEARD DURING THIS
REPORT THAT MANY OF THESE
REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN
úUNDERTAKEN BY THE STATE AND
REGIONAL PARTNERS FOR PURPOSES
OF KEEPING US ALL SAFE AND STOP
THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
THROUGHOUT HER COMMUNITIES AND
IN LESS THAN A MONTH THIS
CRISIS HAS UPENDED OUR NORMAL
LIFE AND CHANGE THE WAY MANY OF
US ARE ABLE TO LIVE OUR LIVES
OR TO EARN OUR LIVELIHOOD.
WE KNOW THAT THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS AND THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE
BEEN LAID OFF AS A RESULT OF
THESE EMERGENCY ORDERS.
WHICH IS AN ORDER THAT I
SUPPORT AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY FOR THE GREATER
PUBLIC GOOD THAT THIS ORDER
EFFECTIVELY CLOSED ALL SCHOOLS
AND RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND
FITNESS CENTERS AND BEAUTY
SALONS AND OTHER NONESSENTIAL
BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCATED
THROUGHOUT HER CITY INTERSTATE.
THOSE BUSINESS CLOSURES ARE
MANDATED THROUGH AT LEAST MARCH
31 WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING IS
THE CURRENT AND BEST DEFENSE
AGAINST PUTTING THE CORONAVIRUS.
EVEN FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT
ARE ABLE TO GO ONLINE OR TO DO
TAKE-OUT OR THIS ONLINE ORDERING
THE MANY OF THEM HAVE HAD TO
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THEIR
STAFFING IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR
DOORS OPEN.
EVEN THOUGH MANY OF OUR
BUSINESSES ARE NONESSENTIAL
BUSINESSES HAVE MODIFIED THE
BUSINESS MODEL IN ORDER TO KEEP
THEIR DOORS OPEN TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
IT IS OF COURSE WITH A LOT LESS
STAFF THAN THEY HAD BEFORE THE
EXECUTIVE EMERGENCY ORDER THAT
WAS ISSUED BY GOVERNOR ENSLEY.
NOT SURPRISINGLY THAT DURING
THE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS IT
SHOWS A DRAMATIC INCREASE.
AND THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING
IN THE SERVICE AND EDUCATION
INDUSTRY ALONE AND UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS HAVE GONE UP NEARLY 600%
IN A SINGLE WEEK.
I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN TRYING
TO FIND WAYS TO RESPOND TO THIS
CRISIS AND I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE MAYOR FOR
THEIR LEADERSHIP AND
COMMITMENT.
AND SERVING THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE AND BEYOND ALONG WITH
THE GOVERNOR ALSO TAKING STEPS
IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
TRIAGE THIS CRISIS SPECIFICALLY
FOR RENTERS WHO ARE OFTENTIMES
DEPENDENT ON THE SERVICE
INDUSTRY JOBS AND ARE LIVING
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE WE KNOW
THAT MORE THAN 50% OF THE CITY
RENTS AS OPPOSED TO OWNS A
PROPERTY OR HOMES.
THIS IS REALLY WHY WE ARE
SPONSORING THE TWO BILLS FOR
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
ONE ADDRESSES THE LONG-TERM
IMPACTS THAT MANY RENTERS WILL
LIKELY BE EXPERIENCING AFTER
THE MAYOR DECLARES THE STATE
EMERGENCY TO BE OVER.
THE LEGISLATION HAVE ADOPTED TO
AT A SPECIFIC TIME LIMITED POOL
FOR TENANTS TO USE IN EVICTION
DEFENSE.
THE BILL DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE
UNLAWFUL DETAINER'S AND IT DOES
NOT HAVE IT THE ISSUANCE OF THE
20 DAY NOTICE TO VACATE AND IT
DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE
RESTITUTION.
IT IS NOT THE RENT OR EVICTION
FREEZER MORATORIUM BUT AGAIN IT
IS A TOOL THAT HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED THAT HAVE HELPED OUT
MORE TIME FOR IMPACTED RENTERS
TO GET RIGHT SIZED FINANCIALLY
WITH THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY.
AND WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
IF PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PAY RENT
THAT THEY SHOULD BE PAYING
THEIR RENT ON TIME.
AND TO DO THAT ACCORDING TO
WHATEVER AGREEMENT THEY HAVE
WITH THEIR LANDLORD AND FOR
EVERYONE ELSE THERE ARE FOLKS
AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT
WHO ARE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR
HOMES TO MAKE SURE THEY
CONTINUE TO BE SECURE IN THEIR
HOUSING AND THE REALITY IS SOME
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR JOBS AND WHO ARE
WAITING TO GET TO THE BACKLOG
AND IN SOME CASES AS THEY
MENTION THEY CANNOT EVEN GET
INTO THE BACKLOGS OF THE CANNOT
ACCESS THE SYSTEM.
THEY WILL GET THE BENEFITS MADE
AVAILABLE BY THE STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THE
MEANTIME WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THESE RENTERS THAT HAD
BEEN ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT BUT
FOR THIS RECENT LAYOFF WITH
THIS OPPORTUNITY AND TIME TO
CATCH UP AND TO CATCH THEIR
BREATH AND TO BE ABLE TO FIND A
MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TERMS WITH
THEIR LANDLORDS TO BE ABLE TO
DEAL WITH THE RENT THAT THEY
MAY HAVE AS A RESULT OF THESE
SIMILAR EMERGENCIES.
IT DOES PROVIDE MORE TIME TO
RENTERS TO PAY THEIR RENT IN
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
IN ESSENCE THIS ALLOWS RENTERS
THAT MAY FIND THEMSELVES
BETWEEN PAYCHECKS AND SAFETY
NET BENEFITS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE TO ENTER INTO A
MONTHLY RENT PAYMENT PLAN.
WITH THEIR LANDLORDS AS LONG AS
THEY CAN BECOME CURRENT ON
THEIR FULL RENT BALANCE WITHIN
A YEAR OF THE END OF THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
IT WILL SUSPEND LATE FEES AND
INTEREST OR OTHER CHARGES
RELATED LATE PAYMENTS DURING
THE CIVIL EMERGENCY AND SIX
MONTHS AFTER THEY DECLARE THE
EMERGENCY TO BE OVER.
HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF FOLKS
THAT FOUND THEMSELVES AGAIN
ABRUPTLY UNEMPLOYED IN THE LAST
TWO WEEKS.
AND THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
BACKLOG IN GETTING THERE AND
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
APPLICATIONS APPROVED.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE BACKLOG IS
STARTING TO TURN AROUND AND
SOME PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET
NOTICES THAT THEY WERE FALSELY
DENIED.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, PEOPLE
HAVE A REAL FOR YOUR AND THAT
IS A REALITY OF BECOMING
HOUSING INSECURE.
OR UNFORTUNATELY UN-HOUSED AND
WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT OCCUR
BECAUSE THAT WOULD EXACERBATE
THE CITY'S HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
THIS PAYMENT PLAN AS NEEDED
WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL TIME TO ALLOW PEOPLE
TO GET THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
AND RENTAL INSISTENCE TO CATCH
UP ON THEIR RENTS AND ENOUGH
EFFECT THIS IS WHAT THIS BILL
WILL DO IT TOGETHER I THINK
THESE BILLS WILL HELP TO SERVE
THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR LOCAL
HOUSING ECOSYSTEM WITH STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE
RELIEF.
ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF
HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY
ECONOMICALLY IMPACTED BY THE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU AND WITH THE PUBLIC
ON THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES AND
AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
DOING THE MOST THAT WE CAN TO
KEEP PEOPLE IN PLACE DURING
THIS CRISIS THAT HAS HAD
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACTS
AND NOT JUST TO BUSINESS OWNERS
BUT TO WORKERS AND OF COURSE
THAT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT OF
ALSO CREAING THE DANGER OF
CREATING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF HOUSING AND SECURITY
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES AND
EXACERBATING THE UN-HOUSED
CRISIS WHICH IS OF COURSE
SOMETHING WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE
OCCUR IS THE RESULTS OF THIS
CRISIS.
IS ARE TWO EASY TOOLS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING
RENTERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS
IT DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE
CORONAVIRUS ECONOMIC IMPACT
THAT ARE BEING CAUSED
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO WANT TO SAY I HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING SOME VERY DISTURBING
COMMUNICATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS
. RENTERS WHO HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING NOTICES FROM THEIR
LANDLORDS FOR EXAM THAT PROVIDE
A LIST OF PLACES THAT ARE
HIRING AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO
GET A JOB AND REMINDING THEM
THAT THE RENT IS DUE AT THE END
OF THE MONTH.
THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS
EXACTLY WHY I BELIEVE THESE
ORDINANCES ARE NEEDED AND THAT
WE WILL SERVE THE BETTER
PURPOSE OF PROTECTING TENANTS
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND WITH
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
UNCERTAINTY FOR THEM.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS OR INTERESTING
COMMENTS.
>> WE WILL MOVE ALONG WITH THE
LAST REPORT IF THERE IS NO
OTHER BUSINESS WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND CONCLUDE TODAY'S AGENDA.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS?
HEARING NONE, THE COUNCIL
BRIEFING IS NOW A GIANT.
THINGS EVERYONE AND WE WILL SEE
YOU AT 2:00.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS AND GOODBYE.