TODAY IS JULY 22nd, 2020.
THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 2:03 P.M.
I'M TERESA MOSQUEDA, CHAIR OF THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ?
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
CHAIR MOSQUEDA?
HERE.
NINE PRESENT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MADAM CLERK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE.
TODAY WE WILL BE REVIEWING MEMBERS' PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON ALL TOPICS OTHER THAN THOSE
THAT WOULD AFFECT THE SPD BUDGET.
WE WILL START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC COMMENT IS WELCOME ON ANY TOPIC THAT RELATES
TO SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S REBALANCING CITY BUDGET DISCUSSION.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DEPARTMENTALIZE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK TO ANY ASPECT OF THE 2020 REBALANCING BUDGET DISCUSSION.
WE WILL THEN HAVE CENTRAL STAFF READ THROUGH EACH AMENDMENT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT AND SUMMARIZE
THE EFFECTS OF THE AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF US.
AMENDMENT SPONSORS WILL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THOSE AMENDMENTS AND IF INDIVIDUALS
WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAMES AS CO-SPONSORS, YOU WILL BE WELCOME TO DO SO BEFORE WE TALK
ABOUT THE NEXT AMENDMENT.
THERE ARE ABOUT 18 AMENDMENTS FOR OUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
WE'LL DO OUR WORK TO GET THROUGH AS MANY AS POSSIBLE WITH A HARD STOP AT 5 P.M.
WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND SIGNUP PERIOD FOR TOMORROW MORNING.
YOU CAN SIGN UP STARTING AT 8 A.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE AT 10 A.M.
WHATEVER WE DON'T FINISH TODAY WE WILL CONCLUDE ON OUR CALENDAR FOR TOMORROW.
REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY AMENDMENTS WE GET THROUGH TODAY WE WILL STILL PLAN TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
TOMORROW.
SO IF YOU DON'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TOMORROW AT PUBLIC COMMENT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, MY INTENT IS WE WOULD VOTE JULY 29th, NEXT WEDNESDAY, ON ALL OF
OUR AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF US AT THAT POINT AND WE WILL ALSO REVIEW THE SPD AMENDMENTS
AT THAT POINT.
IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME, WE WILL, OF COURSE, ASK FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND WITH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S GUIDANCE WE WILL CONSIDER IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME, BUT THANKS TO OUR INCREDIBLE
TEAM AT CENTRAL STAFF, I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD PATH LAID OUT FOR US OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
THAT'S OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY, TOMORROW AND NEXT WEDNESDAY.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION TODAY'S AGENDA IS APPROVED AND ADOPTED.
NOW AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
OUR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT WE'RE ASKING FOLKS TO BE PATIENT AS WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN
THIS NEW SYSTEM IN REALTIME.
WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FINE TUNE AND OPERATE THE PROGRAM, OPERATE PUBLIC
COMMENT AS WE GO THROUGH.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US TODAY TO HAVE 30 MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'RE
TRYING TO GET THROUGH AS MANY FOLKS AS WE CAN.
I WILL KEEP PUBLIC COMMENT TO ONE MINUTE.
WE NEED TO EXTEND, WE WILL.
JUST A REMINDER FOR FOLKS GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE WILL ALSO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TOMORROW MORNING AT 10 A.M.
SIGNUP BEGINS AT 8 A.M.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON THREE SPEAKERS AT A TIME IN THE ORDER WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON TODAY'S
SIGNUP.
I'LL BE GIVING PREFERENCE TO SEATTLE RESIDENTS FIRST AND IF TIME PERMITS GOING TO THE OTHER
REMAINING SPEAKERS.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AT SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS ALSO ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL THE SPEAKER'S NAME YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE PROMPT TO UNMUTE YOURSELF OR THAT
YOU WERE ALSO UNMUTED BY US AND PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
YOU WILL HAVE A MINUTE AND HEAR A CHIME AT 50 SECONDS WHICH GIVES YOU TEN SECONDS TO
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENT.
PLEASE DO SEND IN YOUR REMAINING COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL AT COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV IF YOU
DON'T GET A CHANCE TO GET YOUR COMMENTS IN.
WE ASK YOU TO DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE ONCE YOU FINISH YOUR COMMENT AND PLEASE CONTINUE
TO OPTION VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE OTHER LISTENING OPTIONS ON THE AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN.
WE WILL START WITH OUR FIRST THREE SPEAKERS THAT ARE PRESENT.
TODAY I SEE WITH US CARLY GARY, MAYA GARFINKLE AND PETER SHALEET.
CARLY, WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS CARLY GRAY.
I'M A RENTER IN THE EASTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD IN ALEX PEDERSEN'S DISTRICT 4.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY REGARDING DEFUNDING IN THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 50%.
IT'S MEANT TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY OF THE WEALTHY OWNING CLASS.
POLICE ARE NOT HERE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
THEY INTRODUCE VIOLENCE BY RIOTING ARMED WITH GUNS AND IMPUNITY.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN SPD'S ABHORRENT RESPONSE TO PROTESTERS OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
REFORM DOES NOT WORK.
IT'S LONG PAST TIME TO DISMANTLE THE RACIST VIOLENT POLICING SYSTEM.
WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT OUR CITY THAT THE POLICE BUDGET IS BIGGER THAN OUR SCHOOL BUDGET, THAN
OUR HOUSING BUDGET?
THE REMAINDER OF THE 2020 SPD BUDGET MUST BE CUT BY 50% AND THE 2021 BUDGET MUST BE
DETERMINED BY PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
I SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW'S 4 POINT PLAN TO REALLOCATE INTO
COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ESPECIALLY ALEX PEDERSEN, I URGE YOU TO VOTE TO DEFUND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
MAYA, WELCOME.
I'M MAYA GARFINKLE, A TENANT ORGANIZER WITH BE SEATTLE CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE DEMAND
OUTLINED BY KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW IN DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE TO REALLOCATE 50% OF SPD'S REMAINING
2020 BUDGET AND REINVEST IN COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO FIGHT FOR A MORE JUST SEATTLE.
WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE VISIONARY WORK THESE GROUPS ARE DOING BY INVESTING IN PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REPLACING 911 OPERATORS WITH CIVILIAN-LED DISPATCH AND GIVING THE
NECESSARY FUNDS FOR THOSE MOST AFFECTED TO LEAD THE SOLUTION.
PLEASE FUND HOUSING AND TENANT ORGANIZING.
DEFUND SPD.
I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE WHO COMMITTED TO DEFUNDING SPD.
WE'LL BE HERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU.
PETER, WELCOME.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS PETER SHALETO AND I LIVE IN WALLINGFORD DISTRICT 4.
ALEX PEDERSEN IS MY DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE ADVANTAGE THAT RED LINING GAVE TO NORTH SIDE RESIDENTS
HERE IN SEATTLE.
THE EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICE ALLOWED WEALTH TO ACCUMULATE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ONLY FOR WHITE
SEATTLITES.
DEFUNDING BY THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 50% IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR POLICY AND ANTI-RACIST
IN ITSELF BUT ALSO INVESTING THAT MONEY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES BEGINS THE LONG
PROCESS OF ADDRESSING AND RECTIFYING ASSOCIATED RACIST PROCESSES, PRACTICES IN OUR CITY SUCH
AS RED LINING.
I WOULD LIKE MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AS THE BEST WAY TO
REINVEST THE 85 MILLION WE WILL DIVEST FROM SPD THIS YEAR.
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING EXPLICITLY WORKS TO RESTORE EQUITY AND JUSTICE TO OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, WELCOME, DON.
WELCOME, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M DON BLAKLEY FROM THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION.
WE WANT TO REINVEST IN SAFETY AND WORK TOGETHER TO ENVISION A SAFE COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL
PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND INCOME LEVELS CAN WORK TO
PURSUE THEIR LIVES AND VISIT OUR CITY.
I'M ALSO HERE TO EXPRESS CONCERNS FROM OUR RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN ABOUT GROWING
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL AS THE SPEED WITH THE COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD TO DISMANTLE
CORE FUNCTIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENT THAT PERTAIN TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
HOWEVER, ANY SERIOUS PROCESS THAT IS GOING TO DO THIS AND ACHIEVE THE GOALS WE OUTLINED
WILL NEED TO BE MORE THAN BUDGETING EXERCISE AND MUCH INVOLVED PROCESS THAT ENGAGES ALL
COMMUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS TO ARTICULATE AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO CHRONIC
PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOCIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN ESCALATING AND THAT AS WE WORK TO RECOVER
FROM COVID-19 PUBLIC SAFETY MUST BE FRONT AND CENTER.
SO WE HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DON.
JOSEPH, WELCOME.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS JOE ROBINSON.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7 AND I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE FOLKS IN KING COUNTY EQUITY
NOW IN DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE IN SUPPORT OF THE DEFUNDING OF SPD.
I ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE SEVEN OF NINE OF YOU WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO DEFUNDING
SPD BY 50%.
HOWE, I MUST EXEMPLIFY THIS IS JUST THE FIRST START IT. IS VERY IMPORTANT WE AMPLIFY VOICES
OF BLACK FOLKS WITHIN SEATTLE AND MAKE SURE THESE FUNDS ARE GOING BACK INTO BLACK COMMUNITIES.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THAT IS BEING THE MAIN FOCUS OF THESE FUNDS.
THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR EQUITY WORK TO HAPPEN.
THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR REPARATIONS TO HAPPEN AND THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR US
TO ACTUALLY REACH TRUE EQUALITY WITHIN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
WELCOME FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER RASMUSSEN.
I'M TOM RASMUSSEN, A VOLUNTEER WORKING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CREATE THE ACE
MEMORIAL PATHWAY.
WE HAVE RECORDED OVER 80 HOURS OF STORIES OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY INCLUDING LGBTQ,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LATINO, NATIVE AMERICAN AND ASIAN AMERICANS WHO HAVE SHOWN GREAT LOVE
AND COURAGE, HAVE EXPERIENCED GREAT LOSSES AND WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND SOME ARE STILL FIGHTING
THE AIDS EPIDEMIC AND STIGMA AND DISCREPANCY.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO RESTORE $65,000 FOR THE AIDS
MEMORIAL PATH WAY INTO THE REVISED 2020 BUDGET OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
PLEASE HELP US MAKE SURE THESE PROFOUND STORIES OF SEATTLE'S RICH POLITICAL AND DIVERSE CULTURAL
HISTORY ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE TO INFORM AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, AND YOUR PAST SERVICE AS WELL.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS.
MONECIA, WELCOME.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS MONECIA SINGH AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE COUNCIL TO TAKE COMMUNITY INPUT REGARDING
DEFUNDING SHERIFF'S DEPUTY.
CHINATOWN A.D.
HAS A UNIQUE FRAUGHT AND COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH POLICING OVER SEVERAL DECADES BUT ONCE
AGAIN HAVE NOT BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS HOW THESE CHANGES WILL AFFECT THE COMMUNITY.
MANY IN THE CAD ENCOURAGE SYSTEMIC CHANGES BUT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE NEED DETAILED AND THOUGHTFUL INFORMATION HOW COUNCIL WILL DESIGN ALTERNATIVES TO EXISTING
SYSTEMS AND HOW THESE CHANGES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
OUR RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN INCLUDES AN HONEST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND
DETAILED PROPOSAL TO CREATE OR ENHANCE SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES THAT CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF CRITICAL
DUTIES CURRENTLY PERFORMED BY THE SPD.
THIS IS THE TIME FOR COUNCIL TO BE CLEAR AND CONCISE ON HOW BUDGET CHANGES WILL AFFECT
THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE CAD AND SEATTLE AS A WHOLE.
THANK YOU.
JOHN, WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS JOHN THOREP HERE IN SUPPORT OF DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BY 50%.
THERE IS A CULTURE OF LYING AND PHOBIA THAT HAS PERPETUATED ITSELF WITHIN THE SPD AND
CIVILIAN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE A CORRUPT ORGANIZATION.
SPD IS ARMED TO DEFENDING AGAINST AN ARM AND TRAINED TO COMMIT VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN MISUSE OF THIS FIREPOWER AND MASSIVE DAMAGE IT'S HAD
ESPECIALLY ON OUR BLACK AND INDIGENOUS NEIGHBORS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AND ARE DYING AT THE HANDS OF THE POLICE.
DEFUNDING SPD AND INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL SAVE BLACK AND INDIGENOUS LIVES AND MAKE
SEATTLE SAFER.
WE HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN FEAR AND LOVE.
THE POLICE WANT YOU TO CHOOSE FEAR.
PLEASE CHOOSE LOVE.
THANK YOU.
BRENT, WELCOME.
>> HELLO.
THIS IS BRENT HAVERMAN, A RESIDENT OF THE 7th AND I AM ADAMANTLY AGAINST THIS COUNCIL'S
PLAN FOR A 50% REDUCTION OF SPD.
THE MAYOR AND CHIEF OF POLICE CAME FORWARD WITH A MORE REASONABLE PLAN TO EXAMINE 10%
OF SPD CUTS IMMEDIATELY WHILE SANDWICHING A FORMAL PROCESS WHILE EXPLORING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
TO RESTRUCTURE THE DEPARTMENT AND SERVICES ALONG WITH KEY PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS.
THIS COUNCIL HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE TO CONTROLLING VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN
AND CAPITOL HILL.
I FEEL LIKE YOU'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALLOWING ANARCHISTS TO DESTROY AND RIOT AROUND
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THE POLICE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE AND BY YOUR INACTION,
LACK OF STATEMENTS AGAINST THESE ANARCHISTS YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESTRUCTION.
WE ASK AND WE WANT YOU TO IMMEDIATELY GIVE BACK THE AUTHORITY OF OUR POLICE TO PROTECT
US DOWNTOWN, OURSELVES, OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND THE NEXT THREE DANIELLE SIMS, UMA RAVENA AND TERRY COLE.
DANIELLE, WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS DANIELLE SIMS.
I'M IN THE 8th DISTRICT.
I GREW UP IN THE POPULATION OF WEST SEATTLE.
YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK SO LOUDLY.
I CANNOT HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
DEFUND POLICE, DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
YOU DID A ROLL CALL THE BEGINNING OF YOUR MEETING.
THE FOLLOWING THINGS YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO ANSWER AGAIN, AHMAUD ARBERY, MIKE BROWN,
PHILANDO CASTILE, GEORGE FLOYD, ERIC GARNER, BOTHAM JEAN, TRAYVON MARTIN, BREONNA TAYLOR,
THEY DON'T HAVE BREATH TO ANSWER, WALTON STERLING, ELIJAH McLEAN, KAREN FRANKLIN, SHAWN REED,
WILLIAM GREEN.
I CONCEDE MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THEIR NAMES.
UMA, WELCOME.
>> HELLO.
YES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS UMA I'M A TECH PERSON IN THE BOARD TO THE COMPANY EDGEWISE AND ATTENDING STARTING
TOMORROW IN DISTRICT 7.
I'M FOLLOWING THE LEADERSHIP OF LIBERTY NOW IN MAKING THIS COUNTY.
I WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO DEFUND THE SPD BY 50% BY JULY 15th.
"THE CITY MUST TAKE A 180- DEGREE TURN AWAY FROM ITS LONGSTANDING PATTERN OF INCREASING
THE POLICE BUDGET AND NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY CUT THE BUDGET TO GENERATE REAL PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HEALTH."
ADDITIONALLY HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS SIGNED AT DECRIMINALIZESEATTLE.COM
TO DEFUND SEATTLE SPD.
I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO CUT THE REMAINDER OF THE BUDGET BY AT LEAST 50% AND REMOVE $80
MILLION FROM THE POLICE BUDGET AND INVEST IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
PLEASE FUND EVICTION DEFENSE AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DEEPER CUTS TO SPD'S BUDGETS IN THE 2021
BUDGET CYCLE AND BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THANK YOU.
TERRY, WELCOME.
YOU ARE UNMUTED.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS TERRY COLE AND I'M CALLING ON BEHALF OF WALLINGFORD INDIVIDUAL WITH MEMBERS FROM
ACROSS NORTH SEATTLE.
WE BELIEVE IN EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OF US DESERVE THE SAME PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES.
SEATTLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RACIST POLICIES FROM RED LINING TO NEIGHBORHOOD COVENANTS.
WE HAVE A TAXPAYER-FUNDED SYSTEM THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED AS DOCUMENTED RECENTLY BY THE DOJ FUNDINGS.
WALLINGFORD SUPPORTS THE KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW COALITION FOUR-POINT PHASE PLAN AND REALLOCATION
OF AT LEAST 50% OF SPD BUDGET TOWARDS COMMUNITY- BASED SOLUTIONS THAT ACTUALLY RESULT IN PUBLIC
SAFETY.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WILL BE A HARD FIGHT AGAINST POWER AND THE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN ESPECIALLY
FROM OUR MAYOR WHO HAS SHOWN SHE DOES NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE COUNCIL'S
BUDGET AS APPROVED.
STAND STRONG.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE AARON MENDLE, ROSEMARY KIM AND NAOMI TRUE.
AARON, WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS AARON MEMDEL, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6 AND A MEMBER OF THE SUNRISE
MOVEMENT SEATTLE.
I'M CALLING IN TO SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT TO DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50% THIS BUDGETARY
SESSION AND I WANT TO AMPLIFY THE AMAZING WORK THAT KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE HAS DONE AND WANT TO ENCOURAGE, ACTUALLY DEMAND, THAT ALL CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE GO AHEAD
ALONG WITH THEIR FOUR-POINT PLAN THAT THEY INTRODUCED LAST WEEK AT THE MEETING.
I THINK IT'S -- THE CONVERSATION DOES NOT END AT 50%.
IT STARTS AT CUTTING THE BUDGET BY 50%.
THANK YOU.
ROSEMARY, WELCOME.
STANDING WITH DECRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND THEIR
PLAN TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY-LED PUBLIC SAFETY RESEARCH, SCALE UP COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
REPLACE ALL 911 OPERATIONS WITH CIVILIAN-LED DISPATCH AND INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR ALL AND ACCESS TO CRISIS SOLUTIONS WITHOUT REFERRAL BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AS A YOUNG PERSON, THIS MATTERS TO ME A LOT AND I WANT MY COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE RATHER
THAN THREATENED BY THE VIOLENT ARMED FORCES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS PLACED UPON
OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
I SEE MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
NAOMI, WELCOME.
MY NAME IS NAOMI TRUE.
I'M A HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AND A GARFIELD HIGH ALUM.
TO THE MAJORITY WHO PLEDGED TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%, THANK YOU FOR TAKING STEP ONE.
NEXT I URGE YOU TO IMPLEMENT A PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS AND TO SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW'S FOUR-POINT PLAN FOR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT.
THE FIRST POINT IS TO TAKE 911 OUT OF SHERIFF'S DEPUTY'S HANDS SO THAT POLICE ARE NO LONGER
THE DEFAULT.
THE SECOND POINT IS TO SCALE UP COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION AND PREVENTION.
WE MUST NOT SHIFT FUNDS BETWEEN DYSFUNCTIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ALSO REPRODUCE WHITE SUPREMACY.
THE THIRD POINT IS TO FUND A COMMUNITY-LED RESEARCH PROCESS TO GIVE THOSE MOST IMPACTED
BY POLICING THE TIME TO ROADMAP LIFE WITHOUT POLICING.
THE FOURTH IS TO INVEST IN HOUSING FOR ALL BECAUSE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS NEED IMMEDIATE
ASSISTANCE.
YESTERDAY RAPPER JAREL DAVIS ASKED WHO DO YOU DO IT FOR?
I DO IT FOR THE YOUTH.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, LAUREN, WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS LAUREN OWEN.
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN, AND A SEATTLE DISTINCT 7 RESIDENT.
OUR MISSION IS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.
AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE STEP IS FOR OUR CITY.
WHILE WE ARE NOT HERE TO COMMENT ON THE NATURE OF ANY POTENTIAL WE AND OUR 6,000 SUPPORTERS
IN SEATTLE ARE HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING SEVERAL CRITICAL EFFORTS INCLUDING
FUNDING VIOLENCE INTERVENTION VIP PROGRAMS INCLUDING SCALING UP COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSES
TO CRISIS THAT WOULD BUILD HEALTH AND SAFETY, FUNDING A COMMUNITY- LED RESEARCH PROCESS
TO DEVELOP THE ROADMAP FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, MAKING INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING NEEDS, DEVELOPMENT
OF A CIVILIAN CONTROLLED 911 SYSTEM THAT WOULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE RESPONDERS AND BUILD A
MODERN DISPATCH SYSTEM PUTTING CLINICIANS AND CREDIBLE MESSENGERS ON THE FRONT LINES
WHEN AN ARREST IS NOT REQUIRED.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE SEND THE REMAINDER OF YOUR COMMENTS IN VIA E-MAIL, IF YOU COULD.
MARK, WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS MARC CRAWFORD.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE U DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP.
I SHARE THE SENSE OF URGENCY TO RESPOND TO CALLS FOR CHANGES AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL
LEVEL.
HOWEVER, I WORRY WE'RE MOVING TOO FAR FORWARD BEFORE CLEARLY SHARING WITH THE COMMUNITY
WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE AND MORE SPECIFICITY ABOUT THE PLANS YOU HAVE
PUT IN PLACE TO ASSURE COMMUNITY SAFETY AS THE MODEL CHANGES.
I HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE SPEED WITH WHICH YOU ARE MOVING TO DISMANTLE CORE FUNCTIONS
OF CITY GOVERNMENT WITHOUT HAVING BUILT REPLACEMENT STRATEGIES.
WE WANT CLARITY ON HOW THE COUNCIL WILL DESIGN ALTERNATIVES TO THE EXISTING SYSTEMS AND HOW
YOU WOULD HOLD THE SYSTEM ACCOUNTABLE.
SO YES, TAKE INITIAL, APPROPRIATE STEPS WITHIN THIS REBALANCING PROCESS TO BEGIN, STEPS THAT
WILL CLEARLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HAVE MECHANISMS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS.
WORK WITH THE MAYOR.
WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND COMMIT TO CLEARLY ARTICULATING
A VISION AND PROCESS OF REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY THAT CAN DRIVE YOUR FALL BUDGETING
PROCESS CONSTRUCTIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY.
THANK YOU.
ENRIQUE, WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE LAST SIX DECADES, YOU'LL SEE THAT WHENEVER THE POLICE MESS UP,
THEY ALWAYS PROMISE REFORM, BUT NOTHING EVER IMPROVES BECAUSE THE UNIONS WALK BACK AND
CHANGE IT.
WE STILL SEE THEM ABUSE POWER WHETHER IT'S BEATING PEOPLE OR VIOLATING RIGHTS OF PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS WHOSE MESSAGE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH, WHICH IS WHAT THE SEATTLE POLICE HAVE
RECENTLY DONE.
DON'T LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY PROMISES FOR REFORM.
REFORM IS NO LONGER THE RIGHT ANSWER.
THE RIGHT ANSWER IS TO BE BOLD.
THE RIGHT ANSWER IS TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
DEFUNDING FORCES REFORM.
WITH FEWER RESOURCES THEY WILL BE FORCED TO PRIORITIZE THE REAL CRIMES AND NOT THE ABUSE
OF PRACTICES.
THE FAIREST WAY IS TO LAY OFF OFFICERS WITH THE MOST COMPLAINTS.
OTHER THAN THIS, DON'T WADE TOO MUCH INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT TO CUT.
IT'S THE CHIEF'S JOB TO DECIDE HOW BEST TO DISTRIBUTE WHATEVER MONEY THAT YOU ALLOCATE
TO HER. IS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CUT YOURSELF SHORT BECAUSE YOU HEARD THE CHIME, BUT DO SEND IN THE REST
OF YOUR COMMENTS IF.
SO THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE, KELSEY, WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS KELSEY McGRATH.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3.
I'M A TEACHER.
I'M URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO STAY FIRM IN THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO VOTING ON DEFUNDING SPD
BY 50% AND EXECUTING THE FOUR- POINT PLAN PUT FORTH BY DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW.
POLICE PROTECT PROPERTY AND THE RULING CLASS.
POLICE DO NOT PREVENT CRIMES, DO NOT KEEP US SAFE AND ACTIVELY COMMIT LARGE AGAINST
CITIZENS FULL STOP.
I SUPPORT THE FOUR-POINT PLAN BECAUSE IT HAS BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM GOALS.
THE PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED RACIAL INEQUITIES AND DIVERSITY AND WE MUST INSURE HOUSING FOR
ALL AND REAL REALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO TRULY SUPPORT COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELLNESS.
WE MUST ALSO INVEST IN A SUSTAINED AND COMMUNITY CENTERED PROCESS TO WORK TOWARD TOTAL ABOLITION
OF THE POLICE STATE.
THE FOUR-POINT PLAN IN THE IMAGINATION OF SYSTEMS BEYOND POLICING THAT DISMANTLE WHITE
SUPREMACY AND CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
INGRID, WELCOME.
HI, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS INGRID ARCHIBALD.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6.
ITCH 6 I TRUST YOU ALL TO STICK TO YOUR WORD AND VOTE TO DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY
50% AND INSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE MOVING FORWARD.
OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN WHITE SUPREMACY AS A FACT WHITE COLONIZERS ARE STILL
STEALING FROM THE DUWAMISH PEOPLE AS THE BASIS FROM WHERE ALL THIS COMES FROM AND WE NEED
TO THINK BIGGER THAN JUST TAKING MONEY FROM SOME PROGRAMS AND MOVING THEM TO OTHERS, BUT
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IS LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF BLACK LIVES ORGANIZATIONS
AND INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR LED ORGANIZATIONS AND FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE FOUR POINT
PLAN AS PROPOSED BY KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WONDERFUL, THANK YOU.
INDU, WELCOME.
HI.
MY NAME IS INDU NYER WITH THE COALITION OF SEATTLE INDIAN AMERICANS.
I DEMAND THE COUNCIL DEFUND THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 50% AND REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS
TO COMMUNITY LED HEALTH AND SAFETY SYSTEMS.
THE ANARCHISTS THAT WREAK HAVOC IN THE STREETS OF SEATTLE WERE THE OFFICERS OF SPD.
THESE WHITE SUPREMACISTS ATTACKED THE CITIZENS THAT THEY HAD SWORN TO PROTECT.
I DEMAND THE COUNCIL INITIATE WHATEVER STEPS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE WRONGS COMMITTED BY
THE SPD AND RELEASE THE PROTESTERS ARRESTED DURING THE SURPRISING WITHOUT CHARGES.
FINALLY I DEMAND THE RESIGNATION OF MAYOR DURKAN AND CHIEF WEST.
THEY HAVE FAILED ABYSMALLY.
THEY SHOULD STEP DOWN.
THANK YOU.
MADISON FOLLOWED BY TIARA DEARBORN AND BARBARA LARIMER.
MADISON, WELCOME.
HI.
MY NAME IS MADISON WALKER.
I'M A RESIDENT AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A LOT OF THEM
ARE FELLOW RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.
WE HAVE SPOKEN MANY TIMES ABOUT THE FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEIR DISREGARD
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE POLICE WANT TO HELP ME AND WANT THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL SAFE BUT THEY FEEL THEIR HANDS ARE
TIED.
THESE POLICIES ARE REWARDING AND ENABLING NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IT'S THE CITY COUNCIL'S FAULT AND NOT THE POLICE.
SPD HAS SERVED THE CITY WELL IN MY OPINION.
WE ARE IN NEED OF MORE POLICE AND MORE FUNDING TO HELP THEM HELP US AND BRING ON SOCIAL WORKERS
TO HELP THEM IN THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE SUFFERING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MOVEMENT.
IT'S ABOUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT'S ABOUT FINDING REAL SOLUTIONS TO OUR CITY'S PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF BEING RECKLESS AND REACTIONARY
IN A TIME OF CHAOS.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE REAL REPERCUSSIONS OF THIS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM POLICE, LOOK AT THE SPIKE IN GUN VIOLENCE.
IF YOU PASS THIS BILL, ENCAMPMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.
PUBLIC SAFETY WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE.
GOOD POLICE OFFICERS WILL LEAVE AND RESIDENTS WILL LEAVE DOWNTOWN.
THANK YOU.
TIARA, WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS TIARA DEARBORN HERE TO ADDRESS THE LEAD POLICE GATE AS PROJECT MANAGER FOR
THE LEAD PROGRAM IN SEATTLE'S WEST AND SOUTH PRECINCTS, I HAVE SPENT THE PAST TWO MONTHS
MEETING WITH SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS THE CITY
ABOUT THEIR DESIRE FOR PUBLIC ORDER RESPONSE TO LOW LEVEL CRIME RELATED TO POVERTY AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THAT IS NOT TRADITIONAL ENFORCEMENT.
LEAD HAS BEEN AND CAN PROVIDE AN EVIDENCE-BASED RESPONSE TO THESE PROBLEMS AND THESE GROUPS
SUPPORT THIS APPROACH.
HOWEVER, NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN LEFT WAITING WHILE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS UNAVAILABLE TO APPROVE
REFERRALS INTO THE PROGRAM.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE PROVISO OFFERED THAT REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT THAT SPD APPROVE ALL REFERRALS
INTO LEADS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT PERSON IS BARBARA.
WELCOME.
HI.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME'S BARB LARIMER.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE NEARLY 40 YEARS HAVE, WORKED DOWNTOWN NEARLY ALL MY CAREER AND HAVE
BEEN A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT OVER TEN YEAR.
WE ARE KEENLY AWARE THIS IS A PIVOTAL TIME IN THE STABILITY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY IN
THE LARGEST CITY OF OUR REGIONAL CENTER.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE HASTE AND SPEED
WITH WHICH YOU MAY BE MOVING TO DISMANTLE CORE FUNCTIONS OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
WE RECOGNIZE AND SHARE THE URGENCY TO RESPOND TO ALL THE IMPASSIONED CALLS FOR CHANGE AT
LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
HOWEVER, WE WORRY THE COUNCIL IS MOVING FORWARD BEFORE SHARING WITH THE COMMUNITY IMPORTANT
OUTCOMES THAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE OR PLAN TO PUT INTO PLACE TO INSURE OUR SAFETY.
MANY OF HAVE US PARTICIPATED IN PEACEFUL PROTESTS, BUT WE AREN'T THE CROWD PROTESTING EVERY NIGHT
OR DAMAGING PROPERTY OR LOUDLY SPEAKING TO YOU ON YOUR DOOR STEPS OR SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN SEATTLE THAT WANT TO TACKLE THE WORK TOGETHER
WITH THE MAYOR AND CHIEF.
WE AGREE WE NEED TO RETHINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND APPRECIATE CALLS TO REDUCE THE BUDGET
BUT HOPE YOU'LL DO SO SAFELY AND CALMLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BARB.
PLEASE SEND IN THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE, EVELYN CALDWELL, BRANDY FLOOD AND JESSICA SCOTTSWELL.
EVELYN, WELCOME.
HI.
MY NAME'S EVELYN CALDWELL, HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 5.
I WOULD LIKE TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO REALLOCATE SEATTLE'S PD'S REMAINING 2020 BUDGET BY 50%
OR MORE AS OUTLINED BY DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND INSTEAD LOOK
AT FUNDS FOR HOUSING AND SCALE UP ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE
TEAMS SUCH AS CAHOOTS IN PORTLAND TO HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MENTAL CRISES AND THE
LEAD PROGRAM WHICH HELPS PEOPLE WITH LOW LEVEL DRUG OR PROPERTY CHARGES GET HOUSING, COUNSELING
AND JOBS SOMEBODY SPOKE ABOUT.
GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY MAKES US ALL SAFER.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
BRANDY, WELCOME.
HELLO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR HAVING US, GIVING US A SPACE TO TESTIFY.
MY NAME'S BRANDY FLOOD.
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT, BLACK RESIDENT FROM DISTRICT 2, HOMEOWNER AND RAINIER BEACH ALUM
AND UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ALUM.
I'M ALSO THE PROGRAM MANAGER IN THE REACH PROGRAM FOR THE CASE MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE LEAD PROGRAM.
I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL SUPPORT THE PLATFORM TO DEFUND SPD BY 50% AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND EQUITY NOW IN THEIR EFFORTS.
I ALSO WANT TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MORALES AND HERBOLD'S PROVISO TO STOP LAW
ENFORCEMENT AS THE GATEKEEPERS INTO THE LEAD PROGRAM.
IT WILL PROVIDE US WITH COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES TO REALLY SERVE THE COMMUNITY THE WAY IT SHOULD
BE.
WE SUPPORT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, HAVE A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHO ARE
DRUG USERS, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
AS LONG AS DRUGS ARE A CRIME AND POVERTY IS A CRIME --
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
COLLEAGUES, THAT HAS BEEN 30 MINUTES OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST GET THE FIRST 50 PEOPLE IN.
SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL CONTINUE.
I'LL EXTEND IT FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, LET'S TRY AND GET AS MANY FOLKS IN AS POSSIBLE.
FOR THE FOLKS ON THE LINE, IF YOU HAVE A NUMBER THAT IS HIGHER THAN 50, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
WE WILL NOT GET TO YOU TODAY ON.
WE DO HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AGAIN TOMORROW STARTING SIGNUP AT 8 A.M., 10 A.M.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND WE WILL TRY TO GO TWICE AS LONG TOMORROW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE JESSICA SCOTTSLOW, SUSAN SCHIZEL AND TUSICA BLESSING.
JESSICA, WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS JESSICA SCALZO IN DISTRICT 3.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M CALLING AGAIN TO SAY I FULLY SUPPORT DEFUNDING SPD BY 50% AND INVESTING IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITY LED SOLUTIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE FOUR-POINT MAN PUT FORTH TO YOU BY KING COUNTY
EQUITY NOW AND DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US THAT THE POLICE ARE HERE TO PROTECT
WEALTH AND PROPERTY AND ALSO I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT ONE OF THE EARLIER CALLERS SAID ABOUT
THE INEQUITY THAT RED LINING CREATED AND THE EQUITY AND WEALTH IT CREATED IN NORTH SEATTLE
AND THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDO SOME OF THAT.
SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND UNDO SOME OF THAT AND CREATE EQUITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
THANK YOU.
SUSAN, WELCOME.
JUST CHECKING.
SEWAGE DO, CHECK --SUSAN, JUST CHECKING.
DO WE GOT YOU ON THE LINE?
YES.
MY NAME'S SUSAN SCHULTZ.
I'M IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
I AGREE WE NEED TO ASK FOR LESS FOR POLICE TO DO.
THEY DO WAY TOO MUCH.
WE NEED THEM TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM BAD ACTORS.
SO AT SOME POINT YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THAT PIECE THERE.
I DON'T AGREE WITH DEFUNDING POLICE IMMEDIATELY BY 50%.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON HOW WE MOVE THINGS AROUND, BUT DON'T ASK THE
POLICE TO JUST NOT BE THERE FOR US.
THERE'S VIOLENT PEOPLE OUT THERE.
THERE'S VIOLENT CRIMES AND WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THAT.
POLICE WEREN'T UP IN SHOP, SHOOTINGS, PEOPLE DIED.
WE NEED THE POLICE FOR THAT AND RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T DEFUND THEM IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU.
TUSCINA, WELCOME.
HI.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 AND I'M A 50 YEAR PLUS RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE TOPIC OF SWEEPS AND CONGREGANT SHELTERS WHICH SPREAD CORONAVIRUS
INDISCRIMINATELY.
SO WE MUST STOP SWEEPS AND DEFUND THE NAVIGATION TEAM.
FUND STREET OUTREACH.
CONTINUE AND INCREASE FUNDING FOR COVID HOTELS.
ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FREE THE LEAD PROGRAM FROM POLICE CONTROL AND INCREASE THEIR
FUNDS, THAT WE FUND THE CAHOOTS STYLE PROGRAM.
WE'VE HAD PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IN SEATTLE FUNDED BEFORE.
SO WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN.
ALSO I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT LESS THAN 5% OF THE TIME OF A POLICE OFFICER IS SPENT
ON VIOLENT CRIME THIS.
HAS BEEN PROVEN THROUGH THE NEW YORK TIMES STUDY RECENTLY.
WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE GETTING VIOLENT ON OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE, OUR BROWN AND BLACK YOUTH,
YOU KNOW.
THIS IS ABOUT CLASS AS MUCH AS IT IS ABOUT RACE.
THANK YOU.
BRIAN DANE FOLLOWED BY TERINA JAMES AND MOLICA LaMONT.
BRIAN, WELCOME.
HI.
MY NAME'S BRIAN.
I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE 50% COUNT TO THE REST OF SPD'S BUDGET THIS
YEAR IN ADDITION TO CUTTING 50% NEXT YEAR WITH ACCOMPANYING REINVESTMENT IN REAL COMMUNITY
SAFETY WITH THE FOUR POINT PLAN CREATED BY DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY EQUITY
NOW.
I'M ONLY 22 AND I HAVE SEEN SEATTLE DECLARE HOMELESSNESS A CRISIS INSTEAD OF HOUSING OR
GENTRIFICATION, CONTINUE TO DISPLACE COMMUNITIES THROUGH POLICY, OVERPOLICE AND PUNISH COMMUNITIES
AND CONTINUE TO OVERFUND SPD WAY BEYOND CITY PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY ENRICH US.
THE BUDGET REFLECTS THE CITY'S VALUES.
MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WANT A FUTURE IN THIS CITY.
NOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY AND ADDRESS THE ACTUAL ISSUES AT THE ROOT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE SHOULD DEPOLICE THE NAVIGATION TEAM, STOP HOMELESS SWEEPS ESPECIALLY DURING
THE PANDEMIC AND INVEST IN HOUSING.
AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO GET WORSE IT IS CLEAR WE DO NOT NEED BETTER METHODS OF POLICING
PUNISHMENT.
WE NEED COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU.
TERINA, WELCOME.
HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TERINA GAINES, LEAD ALUMNI AND MEMBER OF LOCAL WASHINGTON.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU PASS THE LEAD GATE POLICING PROVISION.
IT ALLOWS TO US DO THE WORK EVEN WHEN POLICE CAPACITY IS REDUCED.
REFERRALS ARE ABOUT ONE-TENTH OR LESS OF WHAT THEY WERE PROJECTED.
WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON TODAY REALISTICALLY WE CANNOT HAVE MUCH IMPACT IF WE CONTINUE
TO RELY ON THE HANDFUL OF POLICE APPROVALS WE ARE RECEIVING.
REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT OF THE POLICE APPROVAL IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT
AND MOVE AWAY FROM INAPPROPRIATE POLICE RESPONSE TO WHAT ARE ACTUAL ISSUES OF HEALTH AND POVERTY.
IF THE PERSON REFERRED IS GOOD FIT FOR LEAD SERVICES, IT IS BELIEVED TO BE ENGAGED IN
LAW VIOLATIONS RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES OR POVERTY, WE HAVE CAPACITY AND THE
REFERRAL IS CONSISTENT WITH RACIAL EQUITY.
WE CAN STILL TAKE ANY POLICE REFERRALS OR SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRALS THAT COME --
APOLOGIES FOR THE TIMING.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND IN THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS, THAT WOULD BE VERY MUCH WELCOME.
MALICA, WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS MALICA LaMONT, DIRECTOR OF VOCAL WASHINGTON BASED IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND WE'RE
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW DEMANDS AND DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE DEMANDS
AND WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU PASS THE LEAD GAIT KEEPING PROVISO LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD NOT
BE THE ONLY WAY THAT PEOPLE OR THE PREDOMINANT WAY THAT PEOPLE WITH PROFOUND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUES ARE ABLE TO BUILD POWER, RECOVER FROM THEIR TRAUMA AND ENGAGE IN TRAUMA RESPONSE
AND SERVICES IN ORDER TO BUILD THEIR LIVES BACK AND MOVE INTO SELF-DETERMINATION.
WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU REMOVE THE GATE KEEPING, POLICE GATE KEEPING REQUIREMENT, SO THAT PEOPLE
CAN ENGAGE IN TREATMENT AND IN THE SERVICES RELEVANT TO THEM AND BE RESTORED BACK TO THEIR
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
ETHAN MANNS.
THANK YOU.
I AM A DISTRICT 2 RESIDENT.
I WANTED TO ECHO SOME OF THE CONCERNS OTHER CALLERS HAVE HAD ON VIOLENT CRIME.
IMALSO WOULD LOVE FOR US TO RETHINK VIOLENT CRIME UP TO PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO
REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME AND TO ME THAT MEANS DEFUNDING SPD WHO ARE CONSTANT PERPETRATORS
OF VIOLENT CRIME ON BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AS WE DEFUND SPD CREATING OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT OFFLOAD THE WORK THAT
SPD'S CURRENTLY ASKED TO BE DOING.
THAT'S WHY I ALSO ENDORSE KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE'S FOUR- POINT
PLAN.
THE SECOND PLAN TALKS ABOUT SCALING UP TO FUND COMMUNITY LED SOLUTIONS.
THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS DOING THIS WORK.
THE CITY MUST INVEST IN COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO KEEP US SAFE.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY INPUT AND THE THIRD POINT OF THE PLAN INVOLVES FUNDING
AND PROCESS TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT.
THANK YOU.
IHASSAN, WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS KHAN HASSAN.
I'M CALLING TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50% AND REDIRECT
THE MONEY TO COMMUNITY-LED HEALTH AND SAFETY SYSTEMS.
IMPEACH MAYOR DURKAN AND FIRE POLICE CHIEF BEST.
CITY OF SEATTLE WILL NOT NOTICE PROGRESS UNTIL THEY ARE PREVENTED FROM LYING TO THE PEOPLE
WHO THEY WERE LYING TO SERVE AND TERRORIZE OUR CITIZENS ON A DAILY BASIS.
FINALLY, NO MORE SPD TRAINING IN ISRAEL.
THANK YOU.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
THANK YOU.
BENJAMIN, WELCOME.
MY NAME IS BENJAMIN LAAS.
POLICE REFORMS ARE FAILED.
THE DEESCALATION TRAINING, BODY CAMERAS, THEY'VE ALL FAILED.
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS ALONE SPD HAS PEPPER SPRAYED AN 8-YEAR- OLD, SHOT A PROTESTER IN
THE CHEST WITH A BLAST BALL, REPEATEDLY TEAR GAS PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, ARRESTED A JOURNALIST,
LIED TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT PROTESTERS SETTING UP ARMED CHECKPOINTS IN CAPITOL HILL, THEN
SET UP ARMED SPD CHECKPOINTS IN CAPITOL HILL, BUT THEIR KNEES ON PEOPLE'S NECKS AND THOSE
ARE JUST A FEW ITEMS I CAN NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
WE NEED TO DEFUND SPD BECAUSE WE CANNOT FIX AN INSTITUTION THAT IS SO FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN
AND PERPETUATING SO MUCH VIOLENCE ON THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD MY TIME.
IS.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE HOWARD GAIL, RICHARD DUBY AND AARON ETTINGER.
HOWARD, WELCOME.
HI.
THIS IS HOWARD GALE FROM LOWER QUEEN ANNE, DISTRICT 7.
YES, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DEFUND THE POLICE BUT OBVIOUSLY MAKE CLEAR THIS IS NOT ABOUT
DEFUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT RATHER ABOUT FINDING NEW WAYS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT JUST THE POLICE THAT HAVE CREATED A DYSFUNCTIONAL
SYSTEM.
WE ALSO NEED TO DEFUND OUR CURRENT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
REAL CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AS THEY HAVE IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND NASHVILLE,
TENNESSEE.
WE HAVE SPENT OVER $9 MILLION LAST YEAR ON OUR CURRENT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND
IT FAILED TO HOLD OUR POLICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR 28 MURDERS IN THE LAST NINE YEARS.
THAT $9 MILLION NOT INCLUDING MANY MORE MILLIONS SPENT ON THE FEDERAL COURT CONSENT DECREE
HAS WITNESSED HORRIFYING POLICE ABUSE OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
SO AGAIN, NOT JUST DEFUND THE POLICE, BUT TOTALLY DEFUND AND REORGANIZE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS RACHEL DUBAIS, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN SEATTLE AND VOLUNTEER WITH THE COALITION
OF SEATTLE INDIAN AMERICANS.
OUR GROUP FOLLOWS LEADERSHIP OF KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE.
I ASK THE COUNCIL DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST $85 MILLION AND REALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO FOOD
SECURITY FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
SPD IS PLANS TO SPEND 176,000 PLUS DOLLARS ON LATE NIGHT RECREATION ALONE IN 2020.
AT $2.03 THIS IS EQUAL TO 76,526 SCHOOL LUNCHES.
CURRENTLY 2.2 MILLION WASHINGTONIANS FACE THE PROSPECT OF FOOD INSECURITY AS UNEMPLOYMENT
FIGURES RISE.
HOW MANY OF THEM ARE IN SEATTLE?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO FEED THEM?
THIS IS JUST ONE ASPECT OF THE BUDGET AND THE UNFAIRNESS OF MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING
TO BARE ESSENTIALS LIKE HOUSING, FOOD AND HEALTH.
INSTEAD FUNDING THE OPPRESSION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
ERIN, WELCOME.
HI COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ERIN ETTINGER, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6.
I'M ATTENDING TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING IN SUPPORT OF DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 50% AND REINVESTING IN COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS.
IN ADDITION TO DEFUNDING SPD BY 50%, I URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY EQUITY'S NOW FOUR POINT PLAN FOR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT OF THOSE FUNDS
TO REPLACE CURRENT 911 OPERATIONS WITH A CIVILIAN CONTROLLED SYSTEM, SCALE UP COMMUNITY LED
SOLUTIONS, FUND THE COMMUNITY CREATED ROADMAP TO LIFE WITHOUT POLICING AND INVEST IN HOUSING
FOR ALL.
POLICE SUPPORT DEFUNDING SPD AND THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT IN TODAY'S MEETING.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE EMMA HELTHERN, SUE MARY ING AND RODOLFO CRUZ.
EMMA, WELCOME.
HI.
MY NAME IS EMMA HEALTHHALLER, RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER IN DISTRICT 7 AND I'M IN SUPPORT
OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE IF IT ENDS THE MILITARIZATION AND VIOLENCE THEY EXERT.
IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THERE IS STILL ERRONEOUS STEREOTYPING TAKING PLACE AMONG POLICE.
THERE'S NO INFORMATION ON HOW THEY ARE DETERMINED OR THE NUMBER OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND I SUGGEST THE HIGH BARRIER INDIVIDUAL WORKING TO END THE STEREOTYPING AMONG LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
POINTS OF FOCUS ARE HANDLED BETTER WITHOUT GUNS OR JAIL TIME EVEN IN YOUR EXCLUSIVE WEST
WING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I DO BELIEVE THE 1.6 MILLION ORIGINALLY PROPOSED TO RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS SHOULD GO TO SOCIAL
WORKERS.
WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M SORRY YOU GOT CUT OFF.
THANKS FOR SENDING IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
SUE MAY, WELCOME.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SUE MAY ING OF THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
I'M SPEAKING ON PROPOSED DEFUNDING OF SPD BY 50%.
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE UNIQUE.
A MAJORITY OF THE CID RESIDENTS ARE ELDERLY AND THEIR ENGLISH IS LIMITED.
THEY ARE LESS ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES OR SPEAK UP FOR HELP AGAINST DANGER AND CRIME.
PUBLIC SAFETYWISE THE CID HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED TRAGICALLY LOSING DONNIE CHIN IN
2015 LEAVING MORE GAPS.
SINCE THEN WE'VE WORKED WITH ACTION PLANS INCLUDING SPD COMMUNICATION, NEW PROGRAMS,
INCREASED OFFICER PRESENCE, DIVERSE CULTURALLY COMPETENT OFFICER NEW HIRES AND MORE IN THE
WORKS.
SURVEYS INDICATE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FEEL THE CID IS SAFER NOW.
PROPOSING A 50% BUDGET CUT, WHAT WILL THIS CUT DO TO ALL THE PROGRESS?
I URGE YOU TO SLOW DOWN.
CONSULT NEIGHBORHOODS.
SERIOUSLY UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE NEEDS, WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S IN THE WORKS AND DETERMINE
WHAT WILL BE LOST WITH THE RANDOM 50% CUT.
PLEASE PROVIDE PROVEN ALTERNATE PLANS AND WORK TO PREVENT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
RODOLFO, WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS RODOLFO CRUZ.
I LIVE AT CHERRYVILLE'S TENT CITY 3 FOR TWO YEARS.
IT SAVED MY LIFE.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE COVID PANDEMIC, I'D HAVE LEFT CAMP BY NOW, BUT THE SHUTDOWN OF EVERYTHING
HAS SET ME BACK.
I WANT TO MAKE SOME POINTS ABOUT THE BUDGET CHANGES YOU ARE LOOKING AT.
FOR SURE OFFICER SWEEPS OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, SWEEPS ARE CRUEL.
SECOND SECONDARILY, WE SUPPORT PLACES TO GO.
COVID MAKES PLACES TO SLEEP DEADLY.
TENT CITY 3 HAS BEEN TESTED TWICE FOR COVID NO.
ONE HERE HAS GOT IT YET.
COMPARE THAT TO ALL THE CASES OF COVID PEOPLE GOT IN MASS.
THEY NEED SUPPORT TO KEEP TENT 3 CITY OPEN, BUT TENT CITY HAS NEVER SUPPORTED TENT CITY
3.
IT NEEDS SUPPORT TO KEEP SMALL COMMUNITY SHELTERS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THE REMAINDER OF YOUR COMMENTS, WE WOULD WELCOME THAT.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN FROM TENT CITY.
MICAH FOLLOWED BY ERICA AND BARBARA.
HI THERE . I'M
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME?
YEAH.
THERE'S A LITTLE BACKGROUND NOISE, BUT WE'LL RESTART YOUR TIME.
APPRECIATE IT.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF DEFUNDING SPD BY 50%.
SORRY.
I'M NOT REALLY PREPARED TO SPEAK AT THE MOMENT, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
OUR CURRENT POLICE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT US IN THE WAY THAT OUR SOCIETY FUNCTIONS AT
THE MOMENT.
IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO PROTECT EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN LIVING IN OUR CITY AND I BELIEVE
THAT BE HAS TURNED SOCIALISM INTO WHAT OUR CURRENT POLICE SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE AND HOW TO
REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY IN A WAY THAT PREVENTS CRIME INSTEAD OF HAVING AN OUTDATED CORRUPT
SYSTEM THAT SIMPLY LOOKS FOR CRIME.
I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT PUBLICLY SUPPORTED TO DEFUND SPD.
I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE IS FOR IT.
SO PLEASE HOLD THAT PLEDGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ERICA, WELCOME.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS ERICA JACOBSON.
I'M A HAIR DRESSER AND RENTER THAT LIVES IN DISTRICT 2.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50% AND INVEST THE MONEY IN PROGRAMS
TO HELP THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND ORGANIZE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW
TO HELP BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY POLICE VIOLENCE AND DISPLACEMENT AND I
URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND PLEASE STOP THE ENCAMPMENT SWEEPS WINDCHILL
THE MONEY REDISTRIBUTED FROM SPD COULD BE USED IN BUILDING LOW RENTAL HOUSING, DRUG
ADDICTION COUNSELING AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS MEANT TO PROVIDE HEALING AND NOT VIOLENCE.
COVID-19 IS STILL RAGING AND TENANTS AND RENTERS NEED HELP WITH ORGANIZING DEFENSE AGAINST
EVICTIONS.
I PERSONALLY HAVE FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS FACING THIS REALITY.
PLEASE CONTINUE THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC TO SUPPORT THE WORKING CLASSES.
I HAIR STORIES FROM MY CLIENTS FROM THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND BLACK AND BROWN WORKING CLASS.
NONE OF THEIR STORIES OF POLICING ARE POSITIVE OR HELPFUL.
WE MUST LISTEN TO THEIR SITUATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
BARBARA, WELCOME.
HELLO.
I'M BARBARA SHI DNEY FROM DISTRICT 5, MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT.
FIRST, COUNCIL, DEFUND SPD BUDGET FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020 BY AT LEAST 50%.
A MONTH AGO MLK LABOR'S AFFILIATED UNIONS VOTED TO EXPEL SPOG FROM THE COUNTY LABOR
FEDERATION.
COUNCIL, IT'S TIME YOU TAKE BACK CRITICALLY NEEDED RESOURCES FROM THE OVERFUNDED SPD BUDGET.
REMOVE 85 MILLION FROM THE REMAINING 2020 POLICE BUDGET AND INVEST IN BLACK AND BROWN
WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES.
PLEASE STOP SWEEPS OF OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS THAT ARE CONTRA INDICATED BY THE CDC AND WORSEN
THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN SEATTLE.
FINALLY FUND THE INDIGENT DEFENSE AND THAT SUPPORTS RENTERS DURING THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE SAMUEL LA BLANK, L.E.
LUNDY AND MONIQUE MACIEL, AND, COLLEAGUES, I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE THE END OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY
TODAY.
I WANT TO FLAG THOSE NEXT THREE AND, FOLKS, IF YOU HAVE NOT GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY,
AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TOMORROW MORNING AT 10 A.M.
THANK YOU.
SAMUEL, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HI.
MY NAME IS SAM LA BLANK, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO COMMITTED TO DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
THE WHOLE CITY THANKS YOU.
TO MEMBERS IF OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR DURKAN, I URGE YOU TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND NOT DISCOUNT
VIEWPOINTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NEW TO YOU.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE ESSENTIAL WORK BY KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE
AND URGE YOU TO IMPLEMENT THE FOUR POINT PLAN PUT FORTH BY KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW WHICH
IS TO REPLACE 911 OPERATIONS WITH CIVILIAN CONTROLLED SYSTEMS, TWO, SCALE UP COMMUNITY
LED SOLUTIONS, THREE, FUND THE COMMUNITY ROADMAP TO LIFE BEYOND POLICING AND FOUR, INVEST IN
HOUSING FOR ALL.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO REALLOCATING POLICE
FUNDS TOWARDS SERVICES.
THE CITY IS WATCHING YOU.
SO PLEASE DO NOT GO BACK ON YOUR WORD.
THANK YOU.
ELLY, WELCOME.
FIRST I CANNOT BELIEVE IN THE YEAR 2020 A PERSON HAS TO ASK FOR HELP IN LIVING AT A
SAFE AND SECURE PLACE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US EMPLOYED YET UNABLE TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HAVE A FEELING THIS IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AS THE MONTHS GO ON DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I RESIDE AT NICHOLSVILLE NORTH LAKE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE AND FEEL SAFE.
THIS IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR ME DURING A PANDEMIC THAT SEEMS TO CONTINUE AND RISE.
WE HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT COVID TESTS DONE HERE, BOTH NEGATIVE.
IF YOU CONTINUE THIS DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT, MAY CHANGE.
MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONSIDERED VULNERABLE BEYOND THE NORMAL HOMELESS VULNERABILITIES.
WE ARE EASILY TARGETED FOR CRIMES AGAINST US.
HERE WE ARE SAFE.
WE CONSISTENTLY ASKED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR SUPPORT ON OUR AUGUST 1st EVICTION DATE.
IT SEEMS THE RULES CHANGE EVERY TIME WE RESPOND.
I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE PROVISO DISALLOWING THE SWEEP OF MY VILLAGE AND TO
CONSIDER NICHOLSVILLE IN PLANNING THE BUDGET.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MONIQUE.
WELCOME, MONIQUE.
THANK YOU.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS MONIQUE MARSHALL.
I LEV AND WORK IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE IN DISTRICT 7 AND HAVE MANY YEARS.
WE KNOW DOWNTOWN SEATTLE HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT WITH EXPLOSION OF CRIME, DRUGS, VIOLENCE,
SANITATION AND PROPERTY DESTRUCTION AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
THIS SITUATION FEELS DIRE FOR RESIDENTS.
WE DON'T FEEL SAFE LIVING HERE, GOING OUT ON THE STREETS.
BUSINESSES DON'T FEEL SAFE OPERATING.
WE'RE LIVING IN FEAR AND FEELING INCREDIBLY HELPLESS.
I ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROPOSE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BALANCING EQUITY IN DEFUNDING
THE SPD'S BUDGET WITH TAKING A STRONG STANCE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND SANITATION TO CREATE
A SPACE PEOPLE LOVE TO LIVE AND HAVE THE.
THE HEALTH AND RECOVERY OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE IS DEPENDENT ON IT.
WE NEED TO INVIGORATE DOWNTOWN TO REVITALIZE BUSINESSES AND SURVIVE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
FOLKS WHO DIDN'T GET TO COMMENT, PLEASE SEND IN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT TO COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV
OR FEEL FREE TO COMMENT PUBLICLY AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING.
PUBLIC COMMENT SIGNUP STARTS AT 8 A.M.
FOR COMMENT AT 10 A.M.
WE HAVE AT LEAST AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET THROUGH MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT HAVE
GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY OR IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
WE HOME THAT IS A HELPFUL TIME FOR US TO RECONVENE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
AGAIN, CENTRAL STAFF, THANK YOU SO FOR ALL THE MATERIALS YOU'VE MADE AVAILABLE IS ALL
THE MATERIALS YOU MADE FOR US.
OUR MEETINGS ARE OFTEN DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS ONE AND TWO.
WE TRY TO HAVE IT AT BOTH, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAD IT AT SESSION ONE IN EVERY MEETING AND
WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
AS A REMINDER, LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM FOLKS TOMORROW AT 10 A.M.
MOVING ON THAT CONCLUDED OUR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
FOR THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM ONE, REVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2020 PROPOSED REBALANCING PACKAGE AND
DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CLERK.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WITH US FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
AS WE TEE UP THE DISCUSSION TODAY, I'D ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET THEIR MATERIALS READY, SO WE'RE
READY TO GO.
I SEE YOU, LISA, THANK YOU AND TRACY.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME.
WE KNOW YOU HAVE WORKED DAY AND THE NIGHT IN ANTICIPATION OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND
ARE EAGERLY AWAITING THE MAYOR'S 2020 REBALANCING PACKAGE.
I KNOW YOU'VE HELPED US DISSECT WHAT IS IN THE PACKAGE AND INTEND TO BOTH COMMUNITY AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS IN OUR QUESTIONS AND TEEING UP POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS TO THAT REBALANCING
PACKAGE.
JUST A QUICK NOTE OF APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
WE KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALSO OUR COUNCIL OFFICE, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS, OUR STAFF
IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND I.T., MANY OF YOU HAVE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE ALL THE MATERIALS WE NEED.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
WE KNOW THIS PROCESS IS UNIQUE.
WE DO NOT OFTEN GO THROUGH A REBALANCING PROCESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, PARTICULARLY
IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEADLY PANDEMIC WHILE WE WORK FROM HOME.
IT'S ALL A UNIQUE AND NEW SITUATION.
IT MAKES THESE MOVING TARGETS ON OUR NUMBERS WE'RE TRYING TO ADJUST FOR THE REBALANCING
PACKAGE EVEN HARDER.
SO ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO HELP IDENTIFY POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS
AND TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE INFORMATION WE'VE BEEN GIVEN FROM THE EXECUTIVE WHICH WE'LL
TALK ABOUT IN A BIT.
WE KNOW THIS IS QUITE A CHALLENGE.
COLLEAGUES, JUST A REMINDER FOR THE PROCESS TODAY.
IN TERMS OF THE PRESENTATION, WE WILL REVIEW MEMBERS' PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON ALL TOPICS
OTHER THAN THOSE THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE AN AMPLE AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY TO SPD AMENDMENTS NEXT WEDNESDAY.
SO TODAY CENTRAL STAFF WILL REACH EACH AMENDMENT INTO THE RECORD THAT WILL SUMMARIZE THE EFFECT
OF THE AMENDMENTS AND THE SPONSORS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THOSE AMENDMENTS AND
GIVE US YOUR PITCH, IF YOU WILL.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO EXPLAIN THE WHY.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE BRIEF GIVEN WE HAVE 18 AMENDMENTS TO GO THROUGH AND COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SIGN ONTO AMENDMENTS IF YOU LIKE.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT REQUIRED.
I KNOW FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE EITHER AS STAFF OR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TRIED
TO ADD OUR NAMES TO AMENDMENTS IN COUNCIL CLAIM HERS WHICH I THINK IS A CHALLENGING
PROCESS FOR CLERKS AND THE CENTRAL STAFF TO SEE.
TODAY WE'LL ASK FOLKS AT THE END OF THE SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS AND DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
DEBATE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT I'M GOING TO UNMUTE, SAY YOUR NAME AND I WILL
REPEAT IT SO WE HAVE A BETTER SENSE WHO THE SIGNING ON.
I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THIS IS NOT A SIGNAL OF FINAL SUPPORT FOR ALL AMENDMENTS.
SO IF A COUNCIL MEMBER DECIDES NOT TO SIGN ON, THAT SHOULD NOT SIGNAL THERE IS NOT SUPPORT.
IT'S JUST CO-SPONSORSHIP.
I WANT THAT TO BE EXPLICITLY CLEAR AS WE TALK ABOUT CO- SPONSORSHIP.
AGAIN, MY INTENT IS WE WOULD VOTE ON AMENDMENTS ON THE 29.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION TODAY.
THANKS TO CENTRAL STAFF.
YOU HAVE THREE PACKETS THAT HAVE BEEN LUMPED TOGETHER BY DEPARTMENT.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO LISA TO WALK US THROUGH OUR FIRST PACKET AND POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS FOR
CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
WE CAN.
FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS, TODAY YOU WILL SHARE AMENDMENTS ON ITEMS THAT DO NOT AFFECT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETS.
THOSE AMENDMENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED NEXT WEDNESDAY AND ARE DUE TO CENTRAL STAFF BY 10:00 FRIDAY.
TODAY'S AMENDMENTS ADDRESS THREE COUNCIL BILLS TRANSMITTED AS PART OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
2020 REBALANCING MEASURES.
THE SECOND QUARTER SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET ORDINANCE, CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND ORDINANCE AND 2020
REVISIONS ORDINANCE.
THE AMENDMENTS TO EACH BILL WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE ORDER SHOWN IN YOUR AGENDA MATERIALS
AND WILL BE PROJECTED ON THE SCREEN.
EACH OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IS BALANCED AGAINST CURRENT APPROPRIATIONS THROUGH THE
END OF THE YEAR.
I WILL NOTE FOUR OF TODAY'S AMENDMENTS MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SALARY SAVINGS THROUGH THE
END OF THE YEAR WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FORMALLY PRESENTED AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BATTLE PACKAGE.
CVO ADVISED US THEY ARE LOOKING AT THESE SAVINGS AS ONE WAY TO ADDRESS FUTURE SHORTFALLS OR
UNANTICIPATED EXPENSES BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PROPOSALS OR LEGISLATION TO THIS EFFECT.
SO WE ARE CONSIDERING THESE AMENDMENTS SELF-BALANCING.
WITH THAT I MOVE TO THE FIRST BILL.
TURNING FIRST TO COUNCIL BILL 119818, THE SECOND QUARTER SUPPLEMENTAL ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE RECEIVED THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND CALVIN SHAW FROM CENTRAL STAFF WILL SPEAK
TO THE FIRST TWO.
CAL, CAN YOU GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
NUMBER ONE IS SUMMON SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
THIS WOULD ESTABLISH THE SORT OF BUDGET AND ACCOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR THE PROJECT.
THE PROJECT'S COSTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY KNOWN.
THIS IS A PLACE HOLDER IN THE CIP.
THANKS, CALVIN.
I JUST HAD A BIRTHDAY, HAVING TO SQUINT HERE.
COULD YOU PLEASE ZOOM IN A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THE MARGINS ARE CLOSER TO THE EDGE?
OKAY.
THAT'S GREAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS A PLACE HOLDER CIP PAGE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT SIGNAL TO THE WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY THE PROJECT IS INCORPORATED INTO
THE SDOT CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS EVEN THOUGH THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE
THE BRIDGE HAS NOT BEEN MADE HAD.
WE UNDERSTAND SDOT WILL BE MAKING A PROPOSAL FOR THE 2021 BUDGET THAT WILL INCLUDE SOME
RECOMMENDED FUNDING, BUT I WANT TO AGAIN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PLACE HOLDER AMENDMENT AND
JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
THE BRIDGE IN WEST SEATTLE'S REFERRED TO AS WE ALL KNOW THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE AND SDOT
WEBSITE SAYS THE WEST SEATTLE HIGH RISE BRIDGE SAFETY PROJECT.
THE OTHER BRIDGE IS USUALLY REFERRED TO AS THE LOWER BRIDGE OR THE SPOKANE STREET BRIDGE.
IS THERE ANY ISSUE, CALVIN, WITH THE NEED TO SORT OF STANDARDIZE THE TERMINOLOGY THAT
WE USE FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY?
I WILL CONFIRM WITH PROJECT STAFF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CORRECT TERM OF ART SHOULD BE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS AMENDMENT, JUST FOR DISCUSSION TODAY?
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, PLEASE.
I WANT TO ADD MY SUPPORT TO THIS AMENDMENT AS TRANSPORTATION CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN AS A CO-SPONSOR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRACK
THE PROGRESS OF THIS AMIDST A LOT OF OVER COMPETING INTERESTS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THIS PARTICULAR ADDITION.
THANK YOU.
WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
NOT SEEING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, THANK YOU FOR THAT
SUMMARY.
I WILL ALSO BE ADDING MY NAME AS A CO-SPONSOR TO THIS AMENDMENT, ESPECIALLY THE IMPACTS
ON BUDGET IN THE LONG TERM, VERY INTERESTED TO WORK WITH YOU AND TRANSPORTATION CHAIR
AND COLLEAGUES AS WE CONTINUE TO TRACK THIS.
MADAM CLERK, I HEARD IN ADDITION TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, COUNCIL
MEMBER GONZALEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
LISA, LET'S MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
IT WOULD ADD 2.45 MILLION OF TRANSPORTATION FUND BALANCE TO RESTORE FUNDING IN 2020 FOR
THREE SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOLS PROJECTS ALONG SAND POINT WAY NEAR NORTHEAST 70th STREET
AND NORTHEAST 77th STREET.
THE PROJECTS INCLUDE SIDEWALKS ON SAND POINT WAY, INTERSECTION RECONFIGURATION AT SAND
POINT WAY AND NORTHEAST74th AND CROSS IMPROVEMENTS AT NORTHEAST 70th.
THE FUNDING WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN USE SIDEWALKS PROJECT AND PEDESTRIAN
MASTER PLAN SCHOOL SAFETY PROJECT.
THANK YOU, CALVIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
THANK YOU.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REJECT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO PAUSE VITAL WORK ON THESE SORELY NEEDED
SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS THAT SAFELY CONNECT 1,000 LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF MAGNUSON PARK
TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES ALONG SAND POINT WAY NORTHEAST.
THESE SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS ARE NEEDED NOW TO MEET THE GOALS OF THREE CITY GOVERNMENT
INITIATIVED, VISION ZERO, OUR PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN AND OUR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
HELPING SAFELY CONNECT DOZENS OF CHILDREN TO SAND POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IT WOULD ALSO HELP CONNECT THE SCORES OF CYCLISTS BIKING FROM THE GILLMAN TRAIL TO OUR REGIONAL
ASSET OF MAGNUSON PARK.
FUNDS TO UNPAUSE THIS PROJECT AS CALVIN SAID WOULD COME FROM THE UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE
AND SDOT'S TRANSPORTATION FUND.
CONSISTENT WITH THE METHOD USED BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, I WILL HAVE CENTRAL STAFF ADD
A BUDGET PROESTRUSES PROVISO TO MAKE THIS AMENDMENT EVEN STRONGER.
THIS IS ABOUT CONNECTING PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, LOW INCOME RESIDENTS TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND
ENHANCING THIS MAGNUSON PARK.
THESE PROJECTS ARE COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR YEARS.
IT WAS FINALLY GOING TO HAPPEN AND A PLUG WAS PULLED ON IT.
I WANT TO UNPAUSE THAT WITH THIS AMENDMENT AND TO HELP THESE GROUPS THAT HAVE PUSHED
FOR THESE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS?
THIS YEAR TO THE COVID RESPONSE AND SCHOOLS NOT BEING IN SESSION SO, THAT FUND IS NOT
EXPECTED TO HAVE SUFFICIENT UNSPENT REVENUE FOR THIS EXPENDITURE.
THE 2020 BUDGET WOULD HAVE APPROXIMATELY 20.5 MILLION REMAINING AFTER THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER , I'M
WONDERING ABOUT THE EQUITY ANALYSIS HERE.
HAVE WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS ABOUT HOW THIS FITS IN WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PEDESTRIAN
MASTER PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDING FUNDING TO RESTORE PROJECTS AND DOING SO IN
AN EQUITABLE WAY, ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY NOT HAD
SIDEWALKS OR AS MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE AS SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS, SO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
OVERALL EFFORT TO INSURE THERE ARE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS BUT JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT EQUITY
ANALYSIS.
YES.
MADAM CHAIR, I'M SORRY.
>> GO AHEAD.
I APOLOGIZE . COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND THEN
I'LL TURN TO CONGRESSMAN JUAREZ.
THERE IS ALREADY STRONG HOUSING THERE AND THANKS TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT WE HAVE PUT
IN THE MERCY MAGNUSON PROJECT.
SO THROUGH CITY POLICY WE BASICALLY HAVE CREATED A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY THERE AT MAGNUSON PARK.
SO THAT'S A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF FOLKS WHO ARE LOW INCOME AND IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO
CROSS THE STREET THERE, TRIED TO GET AROUND THERE, IT'S VERY UNSAFE.
THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS THERE ON THAT SECTION.
THERE'S NO WAY TO GET ACROSS THE STREET SAFELY EXCEPT DOWN AT 65th.
SO IT ALSO IS SAND POINT WAY ELEMENT RIP SCHOOL ALSO IS RIGHT THERE ON THE EAST SIDE.
SO THIS IS A SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.
IT'S PART OF THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM AND IT'S PART OF THE PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
YES.
I APOLOGIZE.
I'M TRYING TO MANAGE THE PHONE AND TEXT YOU.
I THINK MY STAFF SENT YOU A LIST WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR INSTEAD OF ME JUST
INTERRUPTING.
I WANT TO GO BACK QUICKLY.
I DO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD'S NEW WEST SEATTLE BRING PROJECT AS A CO-SPONSOR
AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN IN THE SAND POINT WAY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 2014 AND '15 AND BESIDES WHAT COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN JUST SHARED, THIS HAS BEEN A REAL AREA WHERE WE HAVE A FOOD DESERT.
THERE ARE NO GROCERY STORES.
THIS IS JUST A 7-ELEVEN AND THERE'S NO SIDEWALK.
THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITH THE MAGNUSON PARK FOLKS, WITH THE PEOPLE
WE WORK WITH AT SEATTLE SCHOOL ON THEIR BOARD ABOUT THE SAFE ROUTES FOR THE CHILDREN AND
WE HAVE THAT ONE TRANSIT SPINE COMING UP SAND POINT GOING UP NORTH.
WITH THE CUTS WE'RE HAVING TO THE SCHOOL WHICH IS ANOTHER SEPARATE ISSUE, I CAN ONLY SAY
THAT I FULLY SUPPORT AND WOULD LIKE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
ON THE STANDPOINT WAY PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT.
THANK YOU.
OH, MADAM CHAIR, THE LIST IS COMING TO YOU NOW.
YOU SHOULD BE GETTING IT ANY MINUTE.
THANK YOU.
I RECEIVED IT.
THANK YOU AND THANKS TO YOUR STAFF.
I'M LISTENING.
I JUST WON'T INTERRUPT.
NO PROBLEM.
FOR OUR CLERKS, WE DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSOR TO AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD'S HAND GO UP.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE FUNDING TO RESTORE THIS PROJECT WOULD CHANGE SDOT'S UNRESERVED FUND
BALANCE TO GO FROM ABOUT $23 MILLION, WHICH IS WHERE IT IS NOW, TO ABOUT 20,500,000 MORE
OR LESS IF WE DECIDED TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THIS PROJECT.
I WOULD LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSE OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR SDOT TO HAVE THAT SORT OF
A REDUCTION TO THEIR FUND BALANCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN IDEAL NUMBER THAT IS DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS
LIKE TO MAINTAIN AS UNRESERVED FUND BALANCES YEAR TO YEAR, WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ANY
PARTICULAR POLICIES THAT HELP GUIDE US ON KNOWING HOW FAR DOWN WE CAN DRAW THOSE FUND
BALANCES.
I AM INCLINED TO WANT TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT THAT'S SORT OF A CONTEXTUAL QUESTION THAT
I HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I TRIED TO GET AN UPDATE FROM CBO ON WHAT THE CONDITION OF THE TRANSPORTATION
FUND BALANCE IS CURRENTLY, BUT THEY ARE UPDATING NUMBERS NOW AS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL FOR THE 2021 BUDGET.
ANY FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN FUND BALANCE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO HELP SUPPORT A BUDGET
PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR.
SO TO SOME EXTENT, THIS IS BASED ON WHAT'S THE 2020 ADOPTED BUDGET ANTICIPATED AT THE
END OF THIS YEAR AND THEN INCORPORATED THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL REBALANCING PACKAGE AND SPENDING
CUTS THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED AND REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDED IN THAT PACKAGE.
THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS TO WHAT THAT FINANCIAL POSITION LOOKS LIKE BASED ON
CBO AND SDOT'S WORK ON THE 2021 BUDGET I'M NOT PRIVY TO.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE RESERVED FUNDING HERE FOR LARGE ITEMS WE KNOW WE HAVE TO PRESERVE MONEY
FOR.
WE ACTUALLY TEND TO HOLD MONEY IN RESERVE.
IT CAN BE COMPLICATED BY THE PARTICULAR SOURCE OF FUNDS THAT GOES INTO THE TRANSPORTATION
FUND WHICH IS A CUMULATION OF MANY DIFFERENT FUND BUILDINGS, BUT I CAN PERHAPS COULD GO
BACK AND GET A HISTORY OF HOW MUCH UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE WE CARRIED IN PAST YEARS TO HELP
GIVE CONTEXT FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
THANK YOU.
WAS THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ PROVIDED.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THIS DOVETAILS
WITH OTHER PRIORITIES THAT MAY BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK ACROSS THE CITY.
AS WE LOOK AT AREAS LIKE SOUTH PARK AND GEORGETOWN WE KNOW ARE ALSO IN FOOD DESERTS WITH LIMITED
SAFE AREAS FOR EXERCISE AND WALKING JUST AS PEDESTRIANS TRYING TO GET TO THE BUS STOP
OR TO LOCAL VENDORS.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN US DOING MORE A LITTLE BIT OF ANALYSIS BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEDNESDAY
ABOUT HOW THIS IMPAIRS TO OTHER AREAS WE'VE SEEN REDUCED IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED 2020
REBALANCING.
JUST FLAGGING THAT FOR YOU.
PERHAPS I CAN WORK WITH VAL STAFF OFFLINE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT
MIGHT BE SIMILARLY LOCATED NEXT TO SCHOOLS AS COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN CALLED OUT.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL PARALLELS WE
CAN DRAW THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
AS I UNDERSTAND, I THINK THIS WAS THE ONLY PROJECT LIKE THIS THAT WAS CUT.
SO IT WASN'T AS IF THERE WERE OTHERS CUT AND THIS IS THE ON ONE BEING RESTORED.
I THINK SDOT AND CBO, FRANKLY, DIDN'T DO THAT RACIAL SOCIAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS WHEN THEY WERE
MAKING THESE CUTS.
THEY USED OTHER PRINCIPLES LIKE SIMPLE BUDGETING PRINCIPLES AND NOT ACTUALLY KNOWING WHAT'S
GOING ON ON THE GROUND THERE AND CUT A PROJECT THAT ACTUALLY HAS RACIAL SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPLICATIONS.
I DON'T THINK THEY CUT OTHER SIDEWALK PROJECTS LIKE THIS.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
CALVIN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
TO GIVE MORE CONTEXT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS CBO AND SDOT, WHEN THEY IDENTIFIED CUTS IN
SPENDING, THEY REALLY LOOKED FOR WHAT PROJECTS HAD NOT YET ENTERED CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THAT
OFFERED THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY TO FOREGO SPENDING.
IF THEY HAD TO STOP A PROJECT THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN LET OUT FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ALREADY
MOBILIZED, YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF SAVINGS.
SO I THINK THEY WENT MOSTLY FROM WHAT PROJECTS COULD BE PUT ON PAUSE THAT COULD CREATE THE
GREATEST SAVINGS AND NOT NECESSARILY FROM ANY BROADER POLICY SCREEN.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT HERE BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD MORE PRECISELY
AND WE'RE TRYING TO RESTORE THAT EQUITY.
VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, FOR THAT CONTEXT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO REINTEGRATE A RACIAL EQUITY LENS HERE.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I AM LOOKING FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAS SUGGESTED THAT SHE'D LIKE TO CO- SPONSOR ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS ALREADY.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR, OKAY.
GOT YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
WE HAVE STRAUSS, JUAREZ AND HERBOLD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MOVING ON LET'S GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE IN THIS FIRST PACKET SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD AFTERNOON, TRACY RATCLIFFE, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT
WOULD AMEND THE SECOND QUARTER SUPPLEMENTAL IN THE 2020 AND 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
TO ADD $250,000 IN GENERAL FUND FOR A SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT AT BEERSHEBA PARK IN RAINIER
BEACH.
THIS PROPOSED ADD WOULD BE FUNDED WITH A $250,000 GENERAL FUND CUT FROM DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATION'S LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION BUDGET SUMMARY LEVEL AND SUPPORTED BY THE
ANTICIPATED SALARY SAVINGS FROM VACANT POSITIONS THAT LISA KAY ALLUDED TO EARLIER IN OUR SESSION
TODAY.
THIS PROJECT THE COMMUNITY DOES ESTIMATE WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $634,000 AND REPORTEDLY
SECURED A $213,000 GRANT FROM KING COUNTY WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND IS FUNDRAISING
TO SECURE THE REST NEEDED TO FULLY FUND THIS PROJECT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES IS THE SPONSOR OF THIS AMENDMENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT?
SURE, THANK YOU.
FIRST I DO WANT TO THANK TRACY FOR HELPING US AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND GUIDING OUR
OFFICE THROUGH WHAT CAN BE A PRETTY COMPLEX SYSTEM OF PARKS FUNDING.
AS I'VE MENTIONED MANY TIMES BEFORE, THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY UNDERINVESTED IN BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES AND THIS UNDERINVESTMENT IS EVIDENT IN OUR LACK OF SIDEWALKS, GREEN
SPACE, URBAN CONSERVATION AND IT'S REALLY BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WATCH THE RAINIER BEACH
COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO PULL THIS PROJECT TOGETHER, GET THE GRANT FUNDING THEY NEEDED
TO DO THE DESIGN WORK AND REALLY FUNDRAISE TO RESTORE THE SHORELINE AT BEERSHEBA PARK.
THIS IS A PHASED PROJECT.
THERE IS A PLAN FOR RESTORING HABITAT AND PARK BEAUTIFICATION, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO
GET FUNDING TO FINISH FIRST THE FIRST PHASE OF SHORELINE RESTORATION.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE.
BECAUSE OF THE COVID EMERGENCY, THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CITY'S INVESTMENT THROUGH THE PARKS
DISTRICT IS STALLED FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS AND THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE MATCHING OUR INVESTMENT WITH
THE GRANT FROM KING COUNTY AND IT WILL REALLY HELP US PARTNER WITH KING COUNTY FOR THE WATERFRONT
RESTORATION PROJECT.
SO WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR SUPPORTING IS THE WORK SO THAT THEY CAN FINISH THAT FIRST PHASE
AND HONESTLY JUST TO HAVE SOME MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES FOR THE KIND OF
PARK BEAUTIFICATION AND PARK ACCESS, BEACH ACCESS, THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN LOOKING
FOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS AS WE OPEN UP FOR QUESTION AND COMMENTS.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES AS SPONSOR.
YOU MENTIONED THE PHASING.
COULD YOU DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE RESTORATION PROJECT AND WHAT, IF ANY,
IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE IF THERE WAS A DELAY IN FUNDING?
I'LL ASK THE QUESTION OF CENTRAL STAFF, TOO.
SO YOU CAN TEE IT UP AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT PROPOSE TO DRAW FROM FAS SALARY SAVINGS.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO HEAR A DESCRIPTION OF THE TOTAL EFFECT OF THESE AMENDMENTS ON
THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE FUNDS TO THIS SOURCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE A COUPLE PHASES OF THIS PROJECT.
THE FIRST PHASE, IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO BEERSHEBA PARK, IT IS THE BEACH PART OF RAINIER BEACH.
IT IS ABUTTING A MARINA.
THE ACTUAL BEACH ACCESS IS REALLY LIMITED.
THIS FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE TO RESTORE BEACH ACCESS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES LIKE GOING KAYAKING, LEARNING
HOW, WATER SAFETY.
THERE HAD BEEN A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT A COUPLE SUMMERS AGO AS THE DESIGN ELEMENT WAS COMPLETED
ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE IS ACTUALLY A BEACH THERE IF WE COULD GET BETTER ACCESS
TO IT.
SO PHASE ONE WOULD BE COMPLETING THAT PIECE OF THE PROJECT.
PHASE TWO IS MORE INLAND, PARTS OF THE PARK.
THERE'S A CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH IT.
THAT IS WHERE SOME SALMON HAS BEEN THAT WANT RESTORATION WORK NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND THE REST
IS SORT OF PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AND THE BATHROOM AND DOING SOME OTHER KIND OF PROVIDING
SOME FURNITURE, PARK FURNITURE IN THE FACILITY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN USE IT AS A REAL COMMUNITY
GATHERING SPACE.
SO THE FIRST FACE OF THE WORK WOULD BE TO GET THIS BEACH ACCESS COMPLETED.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, ANY COMMENTS ON THE FAS FUNDING QUESTION I ASKED?
KETIL IS ON THE LINE.
HE IS THE FAS STAFFER.
I BELIEVE THE AMOUNT THEY ARE BALLPARKING IS AROUND $450,000 FROM THE SALARY SAVINGS
AND I, FRANKLY, DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AT THIS POINT WOULD UTILIZE ALL
OF THAT $450,000.
MY SENSE IS IT MIGHT GET PRETTY CLOSE.
I THINK YOU'LL START TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER POTENTIAL ACCESS TO THIS FUNDING SOURCE MIGHT
BE.
THE FOUR AMENDMENTS TOTAL $462,000.
LISA, CAN YOU SPEAK UP A LITTLE.
I'M SORRY.
THE FOUR AMENDMENTS WOULD USE $462,000.
SO THAT IS CLOSE TO THE 450,000.
I WOULDN'T BE TOO CONCERNED YET ABOUT IT BEING AN OVERSPEND BECAUSE THE DELTA IS NOT KNOWN
YET.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW.
FRANKLY, $12,000 ISN'T GOING TO BE A HUGE ISSUE, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE EXACT
NUMBERS YET, BUT I WOULD SEE WHETHER KETIL HAS ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THAT.
KETIL FREEMAN HERE.
MY ONE REMARK WOULD BE THE AMOUNT OF SALARY SAVINGS THAT MAY REMAIN AT FAS FOR THE DURATION
OF THE YEAR IS A LITTLE UNCERTAIN AT THIS POINT.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGETS ASSUMES APPROXIMATELY $475,000 IN GENERAL FUND SALARY SAVINGS FROM
MARCH THROUGH OCTOBER.
WE HAVE A QUESTION TO FAS THAT WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT MAY REMAIN THERE.
SO THAT IS JUST ONE NOTE OF CAUTION ABOUT THE FAS FUNDED AS PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS AMENDMENT?
OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEMSELF OFF OF MUTE TO IDENTIFY
CO- SPONSORSHIP?
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, FEEL FREE TO SAY YOUR NAME AND RAISE YOUR HAND SO I CAN SEE IT AND PERHAPS
THE FOLKS ONLINE ARE NOT QUESTIONING IF I CAN'T SEE IT.
THEN WE'LL KNOW IT'S YOU OF COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, I SAW YOUR HAND GO UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I SAW YOUR HAND GO UP.
THANK YOU CONGRESS MEMBER MORALES.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN AND SAWANT AS CO-SPONSORS.
I THINK THAT HAS CONCLUDED OUR FIRST PACKAGE.
LISA, TRACY, CALVIN, KETIL, THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT.
THAT MOVES US ON TO PACKAGE NUMBER TWO.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL BILL 119824, THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE WOULD ACCEPT $131.5 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND TO
SUPPORT THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD PULLED AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.
SO WE HAVE THREE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO THIS ORDINANCE NOW.
NOT ALL OF THESE CAN BE ADOPTED.
EACH OF THESE THREE AMENDMENTS WOULD USE ALL OR SOME OF THE UNDERSPEND FROM THE FUNDS IN
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUDGET DESIGNATED FOR THE HOTEL FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THE FIRST TWO OF THEM, NUMBER ONE AND TWO, WOULD USE ALL OR SOME OF THE UNDERSPEND FROM
THE FUNDS AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO THEY'RE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, BUT IF EITHER ONE OF THOSE PASSES, THEN AMENDMENT NUMBER
FOUR CAN'T PASS BECAUSE THAT WOULD USE A SMALL PORTION OF THAT MONEY.
SO I WOULD TURN TO JEFF SIMS WHO IS STAFFING THE FIRST TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND AMY
WILL SPEAK TO AMENDMENT FOUR.
THANK YOU.
JEFF SIMS, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT AMENDMENTS ONE AND TWO AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY,
VERY SIMILAR AND AS I CONCLUDE I'LL HIGHLIGHT HOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT.
COUNCIL WILL REMEMBER IN THE SPRING THE MAYOR ACQUIRED THE LEASE OF THE EXECUTIVE PACIFIC
HOTEL, ALL 155 ROOMS FOR 90 DAYS.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO NEEDED
A PLACE TO ISOLATE AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO EXPOSURE TO COVID-19.
THAT PROJECTED COSTS NOT ONLY INCLUDED THE COST TO THE HOTEL BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE UTILIZING
THE HOTEL ROOMS.
THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE ROOMS WAS VERY LOW.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, ALL OF THE COSTS FOR THE HOTEL WERE ESTABLISHED FROM THE GET-GO
WILL HUNDRED 55 ROOMS FOR 90 -GO , ALL 155.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY A $1.1 MILLION UNDERSPEND.
AT THE TIME THAT THE EXECUTIVE OR MAYOR TRANSMITTED THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND ORDINANCE TO THE
COUNCIL, THAT AMOUNT OF UNDERSPEND WAS NOT FINALIZED OR KNOWN WHICH IS WHY IT WAS PROVIDED
AS THE FULL 3.2 MILLION RATHER THAN THE REDUCED AMOUNT.
LOOKING FIRST AT AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, THE PROPOSAL WOULD
BE TO TAKE THE $1.1 MILLION IN UNDERSPEND AND USE IT FOR NONCONGREGATE SHELTER THAT
IS UTILIZING HOTEL ROOMS.
I'LL NOTE THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT WHEREAS THE EXECUTIVE PACIFIC HOTEL WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE
TO EVERYONE THAT WAS POTENTIALLY AT HIGH RISK FOR EXPERIENCING COVID-19, THE PROPOSAL HERE
WOULD BE TO DO PRECISELY THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CONGREGATE HOMELESS SHELTERS AND IS ARE AT HIGH RISK
FOR COVID-19 AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING A PLACE THEY COULD BE MORE ISOLATED IN ORDER
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS AGAIN TAKES THE SAME FUNDING SOURCE, BUT IN
THIS CASE IT WOULD PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS FOR NONCONGREGANT SHELTER THAT IS EITHER TINY
HOME VILLAGES OR SHELTER.
I KNOW HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE POTENTIAL USES THAT ARE ENVISIONED WITHIN HIS AMENDMENT.
IS.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA.
AS HE ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED THE AMENDMENT TO REALLOCATE THE UNSPENT FUNDS FROM THE HOTEL
FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS SIMILAR TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
MY GOAL WAS TO SHIFT THE DOLLARS TO NONCONGREGANT SHELTERS AND WHILE I CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY
TINY VILLAGES OR YEAR-ROUND ENHANCED SHELTERS, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN WORKING IN A COLLABORATIVE
FASHION WITH YOU TO INSURE THE PROPER LANGUAGE THAT THESE DOLLARS ARE USED MOST EFFECTIVELY.
I WOULD LIKE TO PULL MY AMENDMENT AND WORK WITH YOU MAYBE TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE
FROM MY AMENDMENT INTO YOURS AND CO-SPONSOR YOUR AMENDMENT.
THAT WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, FOR FLAGGING THAT.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS HERE ON THAT EFFORT.
JEFF, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SUMMARIZE FOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE OR TWO BEFORE WE
OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION?
NO.
GREAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I'LL SPEAK TO THIS ONE REALLY QUICKLY.
I THINK WE HAVE ALL EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR GETTING MORE OF OUR FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING OUTSIDE
AND ALSO THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN CONGREGANT SHELTER SETTINGS INTO NONCONGREGANT SHELTER
OPTIONS IN LIGHT OF COVID.
WE HAVE HEARD REPORT AFTER REPORT ABOUT HOW COVID LINGERS IN THE AIR INSIDE AND WHILE
THERE ARE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO DEINTENSIFY CONGREGANT SHELTER SETTINGS, PUTTING FOLKS
SIX FEET APART TO SLEEP DOES NOT PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID.
WE'VE HEARD FROM HOTEL OPERATORS THAT THEY HAVE SPACE AND THEY ARE READY TO LEASE OUT
THAT SPACE NOW.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE HEARD FROM HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT IF THEY HAD ACCESS
TO DOLLARS TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL HOTEL ROOMS, THEY COULD PUT PEOPLE INTO HOTEL ROOMS TONIGHT.
WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE REGION'S EFFORT TO MOVE FOLKS INTO HOTEL SENTINGS THAT THERE IS MORE
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THAT SHELTER OPTION IF IT'S A SINGLE ROOM SUCH AS A HOTEL OR MOTEL
SETTING AND THAT FOLKS CAN GET STABILIZED AND OUT OF HARM'S WAY FOR COVID.
SO I HAD HEARD CONVERSATIONS LEADING UP TO THIS WEEK IN BALLARD THAT IF THEY HAD JUST
HAD AN EXTRA WEEK AND HAD THE AUTHORITY TO PAY FOR THOSE HOTEL ROOMS THAT MORE FOLKS
WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THERE.
I HEARD FROM FOLKS WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE SLEEPING UNSHELTERED IN THE CID PRIOR
TO THAT SWEEP THAT IF THE CITY HAD AUTHORIZED ADDITIONAL USE OF DOLLARS FOR HOTEL ROOMS
AND WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP TO GET INTO THE HOTEL ROOMS THAT MORE OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN
THE CID IN THAT ENCAMPMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE MOVED.
SO WE ARE REALLY A STRONG COUNCIL ON WANTING TO HELP MAKE SURE THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SHELTER
OPTIONS INCLUDING THE TINY VILLAGES.
THE $3.6 MILLION WE JUST PASSED IN THE JUMP START COVID EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING IS ALLOCATED
SPECIFICALLY FOR TINY HOUSES THERE.
THIS WOULD BE OUR ATTEMPT TO PUT THE 1.1 INTO HANDS OF HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ALLOW
THEM TO GET FOLKS OUT OF CONGREGANT SETTINGS INTO SAFER, HEALTHIER INDIVIDUAL ROOMS IN
HOTELS AND MOTELS.
I KNOW AS COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AS PROBABLY TALKED ABOUT, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THE
MONEY IS SPENT THE WAY WE'RE DIRECTING.
THAT'S ALL CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR FOUR MONTHS AS WE'VE BEEN TRYING
TO GET FOLKS INTO HOTELS AND MOTELS.
THAT'S THE BACKGROUND ON THIS AMENDMENT HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND HERBOLD.
A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
SO FIRST OFF, THIS IS A REALLY APPEALING IDEA.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, I HAVE BEEN A VERY AVID SUPPORTER OF HOTELING
AS A STRATEGY FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS AND SEEN HOW KING
COUNTY HAS USED THAT STRATEGY TO GREAT EFFECT TO GET FOLKS OFF THE STREET AND INSIDE.
OUR PARTNERS OVER AT COLEAD HAVE USED THE STRATEGY, GREAT EFFECT.
I WONDER BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE WORDING HERE THAT THE STAFF CHANDA PREPARED AND I'M
WONDERING, MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION OR JEFF OR THE SPONSOR, HOW BROAD THE APPLICATION
WOULD BE?
COULD THIS BE MONEY COLEAD COULD POTENTIALLY ACCESS AS WELL FOR SOME OF THEIR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE DIVERSION STRATEGIES OR WOULD IT EXCLUSIVELY BE FOR FOLKS IDENTIFIED IN CONGREGANT OR SEMI
CONGREGANT SHELTERS WHO ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS OR TESTED POSITIVELY FOR COVID TO GET THEM
IMMEDIATELY INTO A HOTEL TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T SPREAD FURTHER IN THAT CONGREGANT SETTING?
JUST WANT A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON THE SCOPE.
OF COURSE, I SIMILAR HAVE THE QUESTION ABOUT THE APPETITE WITHIN HSD TO ENGAGE IN A HOTEL
STRATEGY BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RESISTANCE FROM THE EXECUTIVE ON USING
HOTELING AS A BROADER STRATEGY AND WE'D JUST BE CURIOUS IF YOU'VE HAD ANY OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
IS?
PERHAPS I CAN SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT HERE.
JEFF, YOU CAN TELL ME IF I GOT IT RIGHT.
I'VE TALKED WITH COLEAD, REACH, DESC, CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES.
SO IT WOULD BE THE FORMER.
WE KNOW KING COUNTY HAS ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR HOTELS RIGHT
NOW AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE INQ.
THIS WOULD BE SORT OF THE FORMER TO THE QUESTION YOU ASKED ABOUT REALLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY
PEOPLE PROACTIVELY THAT WOULD BE AT POTENTIALLY HIGHER RISKS.
SO OUR ELDERLY POPULATION, PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
IN CONGREGANT SETTINGS AND REALLY TRYING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH INDIVIDUAL ROOMS PRIOR TO
SYMPTOMS OCCURRING.
SO IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A COMPLEMENTARY EFFORT TO THE
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE ROOMS THAT KING COUNTY IS CURRENTLY OFFERING AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS
IS ON THE PREVENTIVE OR PROACTIVE SIDE WITH THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE SEEKING
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS BEFORE PEOPLE GET EXPOSED AND POTENTIALLY SICK.
JEFF, DID I GET THE LANGUAGE RIGHT IF THAT'S THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT?
YOU DID.
A LOT OF HOTELS WOULD NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE SITE FOR SOMEONE
WITH AN ACTIVE SYMPTOMATIC COVID CASE.
IF YOU HAD A CLOSED HALLWAY, PASSING DOWN THE HALLWAY, AEROSOLIZED PARTICLES COULD STILL
BE PRESENT IN THE HALLWAY.
FOR THE COUNTY WHERE IT'S UTILIZED HOTEL ROOMS WHERE THAT TYPE OF APPROACH HAS USED ONLY
HOTELS OUT WHERE THE EXTERIOR HALLWAYS WHERE THE DOORS DID NOT ADJOIN EACH OTHER, THINGS
LIKE THAT.
THIS WOULD BE AS COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA DESCRIBED, A PROACTIVE STRATEGY SIMILAR TO WHAT'S BEEN
DONE IN OTHER LOCATIONS LIKE THE RED LION INN OR LAKEFRONT HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AT RISK FOR COVID-19, ESPECIALLY HIGH RISK, WOULD BE ABLE TO PROACTIVELY
ISOLATE THEMSELVES OR IT'S A TERM OF ART AS WELL BUT MOVE TO A PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE LOWER
RISK AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO CONTRACT COVID-19.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT PER YOUR COMMENTS COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS THIS IS THE CORONAVIRUS
RELIEF FUND.
SO ALL THE COLEAD COULD CERTAINLY TO THE DEGREE IT IS CONNECTING PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID-19
TO THESE HOTEL ROOMS AS COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA DISCUSSED, ALL OF THESE EXPENSES MUST BE NECESSARY
TO RESPOND TO COVID- 19.
SO IT COULD NOT BE A GENERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGY.
IT HAS TO BE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN NEED OF THAT TYPE OF AN INTERVENTION
IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELF.
JUST 1 FOLLOW UP, MADAM CHAIR, JUST, JEFF, ON THAT LAST POINT DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING
WE DO WITH THIS PIECE OF MONEY WOULD HAVE TO NEXUS BACK TO A CONNECTION WITH IMMEDIATE
COVID RELIEF?
YES, IT DOES.
HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS' WITHDRAWN AMENDMENT NOW ON
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, BUT IF THAT VILLAGE HAD --IF A VILLAGE FUNDED BY THIS WAS INTENDED
TO PERPETUATE ITSELF IN OPERATION, WOULD IT VIOLATE THE USE OF THE MONEY ?
NOT TO MY UNDERSTANDING AT LEAST.
IF YOU LOOK AT SPIRIT VILLAGE, EXPANSION OF LAKE UNION VILLAGE AND LAKEFRONT HOUSE WHICH
ARE NONCONGREGANT SHELTER DEFINED BY FEMA, THOSE, AGAIN AND YOU SAW THE INTERVENTION
WITH THOSE EXPANSIONS --WE REFER TO THEM AS EMERGENCY SHELTERS --BUT, IN FACT, WHEN THOSE
WERE OPEN, THEY WERE GIVEN PRIORITY ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALS AT ESPECIALLY HIGH RISK FOR
COVID-19.
SO TAKING A SIMILAR APPROACH WITH OTHER NEW SHELTER BEDS OR OTHER NEW TINY HOME VILLAGE
SPACE WOULD ALSO PRESUMABLY ALLOW FOR THE SAME USE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND JEFF.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
THANK YOU.
SO FIRST OF ALL, FOR SORT OF BIG PICTURE CLARITY SAKE I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN --AND PLEASE
DON'T INTERPRET WHAT I'M SAYING TO SUGGEST THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE DOING ENOUGH, BUT
THERE IS THIS NARRATIVE OUT THERE THAT THE CITY ISN'T PARTICIPATING IN SUPPORTING HOTELING
AND THE COUNTY IS.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT LANES.
THE COUNTY IS BUYING THE ROOMS AND THE CITY IS PROVIDING THE SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE IN
THOSE ROOMS THAT THE COUNTY PURCHASED.
SO FROM MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DIRECTOR THAT IS THE SORT OF ARRANGEMENT THEY WANT TO DO
MOVING FORWARD.
SO FIRST QUESTION, I HAVE TWO, ONE, I BELIEVE IN THE JUMP START
2020 FUNDING PLAN WE INCLUDED FUNDING FOR THIS PURPOSE AND SO IT WOULD HELP TO KNOW
HOW MUCH WE JUST VOTED TO SUPPORT FOR THIS PURPOSE SO WE CAN GET A SENSE OF ADDING THERE
ADDITIONAL 1.1 MILLION, HOW MUCH THAT ALL COMES TO FOR 2020 ALONE AND THEN SECONDLY
I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE GIVEN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY
THESE DOLLARS CAN BE USED FOR THE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
STAYING IN HOTEL ROOMS THAT MAYBE WE AREN'T BUYING, BUT PERHAPS THE COUNTY'S BUYING.
I'LL DEFER YOU TO ALEC WHO I THINK WILL TURN ON HER CAMERA IN A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE
BORROWING OF FUNDS FOR COVID IN 2020.
THIS WAS PART OF THE JUMP START OF THE DISCUSSION.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR
THE EXECUTIVE AND WHAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEND THESE FUNDS ON OR THE NATURE THEY
WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TYPE OF PURPOSE.
IF YOU LOOKED AT UTILIZING THESE FUNDS FOR HOTEL ROOMS, YOU COULD SUPPORT APPROXIMATELY
75 HOTEL ROOMS FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULD HOME SOMEONE WOULDN'T REQUIRE IT FOR THAT WHOLE PERIOD OF TIME BUT
POTENTIALLY AND SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE EXACT NATURE OF HOW THAT WOULD OCCUR.
I'M NOT AWARE OF FACILITIES RIGHT NOW OTHER THAN THE RED LION INN WHERE A HOTEL HAS BEEN
ACQUIRED.
I COULD BE MISTAKEN NOT BY THE COUNTY.
I'M NOT TRACKING ALL OF THEIR SPENDING EXCEPTIONALLY CLOSELY.
LET'S ASSUME FOR ARGUMENT SAKE, I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE GET AHEAD OF THE EXECUTIVES TO SEE WHAT
THEY'RE WILLING TO DO OR NOT WILLING TO DO, BUT IF FOR SAKE OF ARGUMENT THEY DON'T WANT
TO PURCHASE HOTELS, WOULD THIS OR LEASE HOTELS OR ROOMS IN HOTELS FOR THIS PURPOSE, DOES
THIS FUNDING AS PROPOSED ALLOW TO US PAY FOR THE SERVICE ELEMENT IF, FOR INSTANCE, SOMEBODY
ELSE LIKE THE COUNTY WAS PURCHASING OR LEASING THOSE ROOMS?
SURE.
SO BOTH OF THE PROPOSALS, BUT I'LL FOCUS ON COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA'S PROPOSAL SINCE THAT
APPEARS TO BE THE ONE FOR THE BASE FOR WHATEVER MOVES FORWARD, IT TALKS ABOUT THE USE OF HOTEL
ROOMS, TO LEASE AND ACQUIRE THOSE, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF BEING NONCONGREGANT SHELTER.
THAT TERM I WOULD ASSUME WOULD ENTAIL SERVICE DOLLARS WITH IT.
IT WOULD BE PERMISSIBLE TO ASSUME SHELTER WOULD ENTAIL SOME KIND OF CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES.
THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROVISO LANGUAGE.
THAT'S HELP.
, THANK YOU.
ALLIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF TOTAL UNIVERSE OF DOLLARS?
YES, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, THE QUESTION ABOUT THE FUNDING RELIEF BILL THE COUNCIL PASSED
ON MONDAY, THERE WAS $10.8 MILLION IN TOTAL AUTHORIZED FOR SHELTER ACTIVITIES.
OF THAT 3.6 IS FOR TINY HOMES.
THAT LEAVES ABOUT 7.2 MILLION FOR SHELTER DEINTENTIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
THAT INCLUDES HOTEL ROOMS.
IT'S NOT SPECIFIC.
IT ALSO INCLUDES SERVICES.
THAT IS A LITTLE BIT BROADER.
IT COULD INCLUDE TINY HOMES AS WELL.
YES.
THE 3.6 IS SPECIFICALLY FOR TINY HOMES AND THE REMAINDER COULD BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE
AND THE ENTIRETY COULD BE USED FOR TINY HOMES OR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, FOR THAT QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE LANGUAGE COULD BE USED FOR SERVICES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL
ROOMS.
ONE PIECE I WANTED TO OFFER FOR CLARIFICATION FROM AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS
CURRENTLY BEING PURCHASED BY KING COUNTY IN TERMS OF ROOMS, BASED ON YOUR CONVERSATION
WITH THE DIRECTOR YES, KING COUNTY IS PURCHASING ROOMS AND YES, THE CITY IS OFFERING THE ELEMENTS
WITH IT.
WHERE I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO FILL A GAP NOW IS WHAT PROVIDERS HAVE SAID IS A NEED FOR
THAT PROACTIVE ROOM.
KING COUNTY IS FOCUSED ON TRULY THE ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE SITES, WE'RE TRYING TO ALSO
OFFER INDIVIDUAL ROOMS TO DO THE PREVENTIVE DEINTENSIFICATION ON THE FRONT END SO PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE TO END UP IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE.
ONE OTHER PIECE I WOULD OFFER AS I'M TRYING TO PITCH YOU ALL ON THIS IDEA IS WE HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING FROM MANY OF THE FOLKS WORKING WITH UNSHELTERED POPULATION THAT THEY HAVE
ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT COULD BE USED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CORRESPOND WITH THE ROOMS.
I THINK WE DID A LOT OF REALLY GOOD WORK EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH THE SPEND PLAN, THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY ALLIE JUST MENTIONED COULD GO TO STAFFING, CLEANING, MEALS, ET CETERA, BUT
WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S A HANDFUL OF NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO REALLY JUST NEED ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE FOR GETTING THE ROOMS AND THEY HAVE
THE FUNDS FOR THE OTHER PARTS OF IT.
WHAT THEY REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW IS THE PREVENTIVE ROOMS.
MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ WOULD LIKE TO ADD HER NAME AS A CO-SPONSOR
TO THIS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, FOR SIGNALING THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THEIR NAMES AS A CO-SPONSOR RIGHT NOW
IN ADDITION TO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER?
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
COSPONSORS, MORALES, STRAUSS, JUAREZ AND SAWANT.
THANK YOU.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO IN PACKET NUMBER TWO.
ITEM NUMBER TWO WOULD HAVE BEEN COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS' AMENDMENT.
I'LL SEND IT TO AMY AND SHE'LL DISCUSS AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE PACKET.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION AS WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR IN FACT NUMBER TWO.
I'M AMY GORE WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF TO COUNCIL BILL 119824.
THIS AMENDMENT IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
IT WOULD DECREASE FUNDING FOR THE HOTEL FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BY $100,000.
AS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY BY JEFF, THE COST OF PROVIDING THIS SERVICE IS 1.1 MILLION LOWER
THAN ANTICIPATED WHEN DEVELOPING THE BALANCING PACKAGE.
THIS AMENDMENT WITH THE 1 MILLION OF THE UNDERSPEND IN THE FAS BUDGET.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD INCREASE FUNDING TO HSD BY $100,000 TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO RESPOND
TO SENIOR ISOLATION BUT IS OCCURRING DUE TO THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.
IT INCLUDES $50,000 TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO SAFELY REOPEN SENIOR CENTERS IN 2021 AND $50,000
TO PROVIDE WI-FI AT 30 SENIOR HOUSING COMMUNITIES AND SENIOR CENTERS.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO IMPOSES A PROVISO STATING THAT $100,000 MAY BE USED SOLELY FOR THESE
PURPOSES.
WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE SPONSOR FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND THEN I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AMY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, AS PRIME SPONSOR, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO AS THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIR, I'VE BEEN REALLY KEENLY AWARE THAT THE IMPACTS
OF COVID-19 ARE REALLY SEVERELY FELT BY SEATTLE SENIORS.
SENIORS ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE
TO BE ESPECIALLY ISOLATED.
EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES, SENIOR ISOLATION IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.
NOW IT'S A QUIET EMERGENCY.
I'M SURE ALL OF US WITH BELOVED ELDERS IN OUR LIVES UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR LIVES ARE FUNDAMENTALLY
ALTERED BY COVID AND THE IMPACT TO THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCY.
I THINK I MENTIONED LAST WEEK MY REGRETS I DID NOT MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
TO THE JUMP START 2020 SPENDING PLAN BECAUSE I FELT THAT SERVICES SPECIFICALLY TO SENIOR
POPULATIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS REACTED WITH A LOT OF CREATIVITY AND COMMITMENT TO
ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS ABOUT THESE UNMET NEEDS.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEM IN THE PAST.
FOR INSTANCE, THEY'VE CALLED 14,000 SENIORS IN APRIL TO CHECK ON THEIR HEALTH AND WELL
PAPER AND TRIAGE SPECIAL NEEDS.
THEY'RE BROADCASTING MONTHLY CIVIC COFFEE HOURS, SPECIAL SEATTLE CHANNEL PROGRAMMING
AND WEBINARS FOR SENIORS IN CAPTIONING IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGE AND PUTTING ON A NATIONAL
VOLUNTEER HOTLINE FOR SENIORS AND DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL TABLETS TO FOSTER CONNECTIVITY AND
TELEHEALTH.
THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US WOULD PROPOSE A MODEST AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR TWO ADDITIONAL EFFORTS.
THE FIRST RELATES TO CONVENING SENIOR CENTERS, POOLING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP A
PLAN TO SAFELY REOPEN.
WE KNOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE CONVENING STAKEHOLDER DISCUSSIONS AROUND HOW SCHOOLS CAN UNIFORMLY
ADOPT PRACTICES.
WE KNOW OUR PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTER FACILITIES ARE HAVING A PLANNING APPROACH THAT IS APPLIED
EQUALLY ACROSS LOCATIONS.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING FOR SENIOR CENTERS RIGHT NOW.
THEIR CLOSURES HAVE BEEN KEENLY FELT AND REOPENING IS REALLY UNCERTAIN.
THESE FUNDS WOULD ALLOW FOR A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN THAT KEEPS SENIORS AND EMPLOYEES
SAFE WHILE ALSO BALANCING THE NEED FOR SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THESE CENTERS UNIQUELY
PROVIDE.
THE SECOND PART OF THE AMENDMENT WOULD PROVIDE WI-FI HOTSPOTS AT 30 LOCATIONS AROUND THE
CITY WHERE SENIORS CAN MAKE USE OF WI-FI SAFELY TO ACCESS ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIALIZING,
READING, GATHERING INFORMATION AND USING TELEHEALTH.
AS AMY EXPLAINED, THE AMENDMENT IS FUNDED USING A MODEST $100,000 IN SAVINGS FROM THE
EXECUTIVE PACIFIC HOTEL CONTRACT AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER INTERESTS
IN USING THAT FUNDING, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THESE SPONSORS OF THE INTENSIFICATION
SHELTER PROPOSAL SHELTER TO SEE IF WE CAN DO BOTH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO BE DOING A LOT MORE FOR
VULNERABLE SENIORS DURING COVID.
I AM PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY THE RELATIVELY MODEST ASK IN THIS ADD AND I JUST WANT TO
ECHO YOUR COMMENTS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY IN THIS LINE ITEM TO HAVE
A ROBUST DEINTENSIFICATION BILL.
I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL MY SUPPORT FOR AN APPROACH
WHICH IS ACTUALLY WHY I WITHHELD OVERTLY CO-SPONSORING THE PREVIOUS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY SPONSORING BOTH OF THESE AMENDMENTS WITH THIS INCORPORATED
INTO THIS PARTICULAR FUND.
I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL MY SUPPORT FOR AN APPROACH LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
YES.
I THINK THAT CONVERSATION WILL BE WELCOME.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, ESPECIALLY FOR THE REFERENCE TO THE WI-FI HOT SHOTS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING INTERNET ACCESS AND ADOPTION.
THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION AT FULL COUNCIL MONDAY.
ONE OF THE BIG RESOLUTIONS IS TO GET OUR SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO COME
TO US AND TELL US WHAT THEY CAN DO, HOW WE CAN WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE
REGION TO INCREASE INTERNET ACCESS AND ADOPTION, THE SO- CALLED INTERNET FOR ALL APPROACH.
SO IN THE LONG TERM WE DON'T NEED TO BE DOING A PATCHWORK LIKE THIS.
THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING MORE SUSTAINABLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR SEEING THE NEED RIGHT NOW TO DO THIS, APPRECIATE IT.
B
OKAY.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAS INDICATED SHE'D LIKE TO CO- SPONSOR THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
OKAY.
I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT.
CO-SPONSORS INCLUDE COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
EXCELLENT.
SEEING OR HEAR NOTHING ADDITIONAL, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CENTRAL STAFF.
THAT BRINGS US THROUGH PACKET NUMBER TWO, I BELIEVE, AND WE ARE ON TO THE MORE LENGTHY
ONE WHICH IS PACKET NUMBER THREE.
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO JUST PROVIDED FEEDBACK, JEFF, AMY, ALLIE AND IF I MISSED
ANYBODY, KETIL, I THINK YOU CLIMBED IN, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON PACKET NUMBER TWO.
PACKET NUMBER THREE IS IN FRONT OF US, LISA.
DO YOU WANT TO DO A QUICK INTRO.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THIS LAST SEVEN AMENDMENTS WOULD ADDRESS THE 2020 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO OFFSET DECREASED
REVENUES TO THE CITY FROM THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
MEMBERS HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO MODIFY THIS ORDINANCE.
WE WILL HAND OFF AS WE GO DOWN THE NEXT 11 WITH TIME PERMITTING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, I DO WANT US TO HAVE A HARD STOP AT 5:30 WITH THE INTENT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
HAVE TIME TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILY OR TAKE A BREATHER AS WE TRY TO TAKE LIFE BALANCE
AND RECOGNIZE WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING AT 10 A.M.
AS WELL.
WE WILL TRY TO GET THROUGH AS MANY AS WE CAN AND STILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TOMORROW.
LET'S GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
ASHA, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WOULD ADD $65,000 TO THE BUDGET
OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE TO SUPPORT THE AIDS MEMORIAL PATHWAY PROJECT, SPECIFICALLY
THE ARTS PROJECT.
THE COMES WOULD COME FROM THE SALARY SAVING, THE SAME POT OF MONEY.
ORIGINALLY THIS WAS $65,000 IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WAS PROPOSED FOR A CUT
TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL FUND SHORTFALL.
INSTEAD THESE FUNDS WOULD BE REDIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES AND SAWANT.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THEM FOR FURTHER COMMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT AND MORALES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
SO WAY BACK IN FEBRUARY WHICH FEELS LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS AGO NOW COLLEAGUES WILL REMEMBER
THAT WE PASSED COUNCIL BILL 119739 TO ALLOW THE CITY TO ACCEPT $750,000 FOR THE DESIGN
AND INSTALLATION OF AN AIDS MEMORIAL AT CAL ANDERSON PARK.
THE CITY PORTION IS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.
WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECTS ARE CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE THIS TO REMIND US
OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF REALLY LAYERS OF OPPRESSION.
HISTORY AND ART ARE IMPORTANT TO REMIND US THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE MARGINALIZED, DENIED
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND THEN FACE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE RESULTS ARE DEVASTATING.
WHEN WE PASSED THIS BILL IN FEBRUARY, WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW PREVALENT THESE ISSUES WOULD
BECOME, BUT HERE WE ARE AND ONCE AGAIN WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP TELLING
THE STORIES OF ACCESS TO THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
I THINK WE NEED ART TO REMIND US THERE ARE STORIES LIKE THIS WE NEED TO KEEP TELLING
AND I THINK THIS ART HONORS PEOPLE WHO DIED DURING THE AIDS CRISIS AND DOES SO BY TELLING
SOME REALLY IMPORTANT STORIES WE NEED TO KEEP HEARING.
SO I AM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THIS PROJECT STAYS ON TRACK WITH THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
THANK YOU.
IT'S SO APT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC WHICH IS
PROBABLY THE FIRST PANDEMIC MOST OF US HAVE LIVED THROUGH.
THE AIDS MEMORIAL PATHWAY IS AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PROJECT THAT WILL COMMEMORATE THE
SACRIFICES AND THE COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT HAPPENED AT THAT TIME IN SUCH A CRUCIAL PERIOD.
IT'S A PROJECT STRETCHING FROM CAL ANDERSON PARK TO THE CAPITOL HILL LIGHT RAIL STATION
IN DISTRICT 3 AND COMMEMORATES THE VALIANT LGBTQ ACTIVISTS WHO BATTLED THIS DOMINATION
AND PERSECUTION AND ILL HEALTH TO FIGHT FOR THE BASIC RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE
AND THEY REALLY SPEARHEADED A MOVEMENT THAT CONTINUES TO GUIDE US TO THIS DAY.
MANY ORGANIZERS WE KNOW AND MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SO MANY OF THEM SILENTLY UNKNOWN
TRAGICALLY LOST THEIR LIVES TO AIDS WHILE CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES
BY TERMS OF THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMPACT OF AIDS NEED TO BE HONORED NOT
ONLY FOR THEIR SACRIFICES BUT ALSO FOR WHAT THEY ACHIEVED JUST LIKE WE HAVE SEEN WITH
COVID-19.
IT'S A POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC ISSUE AND IS
SOCIETY DEDICATED TO HEALTH, SAFETY AND GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING OR DEDICATED TO INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND OTHER CORPORATIONS THAT ACTUALLY DO NOT BENEFIT SOCIETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, COMMENT?
IS.
THANK YOU.
AS THE PRIME SPONSOR FOR THIS VERY FUNDING IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES AND SAWANT FOR CHAMPIONING THE RESTORATION OF THE FUNDING WE WON IN THE
BUDGET IN COUNCIL'S BUDGET LAST YEAR.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HEARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES, SAWANT AND HERBOLD.
ALSO HEARD FROM FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER TOM RASMUSSEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE
TO SIGN ON AS A CO-SPONSOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN SCOOPED MY COMMENTS.
I WAS GOING TO SAY ALMOST THE EXACT SAME THING, BUT I WOULD JUST COMMENT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
DURING THE CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR TO HAVE A SITDOWN WITH FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER TOM RASMUSSEN AND
REALLY GET THE FIRST PRESENTATION OF THE MEMORIAL PROJECT AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE A SIMILAR
PRESENTATION EARLIER THIS YEAR IN COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES' COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF POWERFUL PUBLIC ART THAT REALLY ENHANCES THE PUBLIC
SPACES IN OUR CITY.
I REALLY WILL BE PROUD TO VOTE FOR THIS AND WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO THANK FORMER COUNCIL
MEMBER RASMUSSEN WHO TESTIFIED TODAY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS AS WELL AND WOULD LIKE
TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THE FOLKS I HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP TO BE POTENTIAL
CO-SPONSORS INCLUDE COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ WHO INDICATED HER CO-SPONSORSHIP TO ME ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IN PACKET THREE, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
ANYBODY ELSE?
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
HEARING AND SEE NOTHING ADDITIONAL ADDS, THANK YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, GOT YOU THIS THERE.
SORRY.
THAT'S OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, STRAUSS, PEDERSEN AND JUAREZ AS CO-SPONSORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVING ON LET'S LOOK AT AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IN PACKET THREE HERE.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO LISA.
MY APOLOGIES.
THIS IS LISA KAY ON CENTRAL STAFF AND AMENDMENT TWO TO COUNCIL BILL 119825 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT AND WOULD ENACT A $150,000 CAP ON SALARIES FOR NONREPRESENTED EXECUTIVE
AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.
IT APPLIED TO ALL DEPARTMENTS SAVINGS FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF 2020, COULD TOTAL
ABOUT $2.5 MILLION.
MUCH OF THIS TOTAL WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO SPECIFIC USES CORRESPONDING TO THE FUND OUT
OF WHICH THE SALARIES ARE PAID.
IF RESTRICTED JUST TO GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS, SAVINGS THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF 2020 COULD
TOTAL ABOUT $687,000.
THE FUNDS WOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED.
RESEARCH IS ONGOING.
STAFF IS LOOKING INTO WHETHER THE CITY HAS LEGAL ABILITY TO MAKE THESE SALARY CHANGES
AS PROPOSED.
THE AMENDMENT COULD PROVIDE INCENTIVE FOR NONREPRESENTED STAFF EARNING OVER $150,000
TO FORM OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS.
THAT COMPLETES MY SUMMARY.
I WOULD TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LISA.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, AS PRIME SPONSOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS?
THANK YOU.
THIS IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT MY OFFICE AND THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET CAMPAIGN HAS PROPOSED
EVERY YEAR DURING BUDGET DELIBERATIONS AND EVERY YEAR WE DO THE DELIBERATIONS IN AUTUMN,
BUT THIS YEAR WE ARE ALSO DOING A SUMMER BUDGET VOTE.
IT CAPS THE SALARIES OF SEATTLE CITY EXECUTIVES AT NO MORE THAN $250,000 A YEAR AS LISA MENTIONED
WHICH IS A GOOD SALARY PEOPLE CAN LIVE COMFORTABLY ON AND WE KNOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS HERE ARE NOT
ABLE TO LIVE ON AND DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANYTHING LIKE THAT KIND OF INCOME AND THAT
SALARY ALSO FAR MORE THAN MOST WORKERS MAKE.
SOME ARGUE IF THE CITY OF SEATTLE DOES NOT PAY EXECUTIVES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
A YEAR AND WE HAVE HEARD THIS ARGUMENT AGAIN AND AGAIN WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL WAS VOTING
ON APPOINTMENT FOR DIRECTORS OR EXECUTIVES FOR ANY APPOINTMENTS, THE ARGUMENT IS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE DOES NOT PAY ITS EXECUTIVES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR, THE
CITY WILL NOT ATTRACT THE BEST TALENT, BUT THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY BORNE OUT BY STATISTICS.
IN REALITY THE BEST CITY LEADERSHIP COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO SERVE THE
PUBLIC, HAVE A LOT OF CREATABILITY AND ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THE WORK THEY'RE DOING
AND PEOPLE THEY'RE SERVING, NOT FOR PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.
WE BELIEVE EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN ADEQUATE SALARY, BUT IT'S A QUESTION HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE THE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED FAIRLY AND HOW CAN WE FIGHT FOR A ZERO CUT BUDGET
AND THAT NEEDS TO INCLUDE THIS TYPE OF MEASURE AS WELL.
IT'S NOT GOING TO RAISE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY, $2.5 MILLION ESTIMATE.
THERE ARE ALSO RESTRICTION S WHAT IT CAN BE USED FOR, BUT THERE ARE VERY SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTIVE
USES.
THIS MONEY, FOR EXAMPLE, COULD BE USED TO EXPAND UNITY CALL SERVICE TO MAKE SURE THE
FUNDS THE CITY HAS ARE USED FOR THE MOST MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OTHER THAN
FOR BLOATED SALARIES, PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME WHEN THE MAYOR IS FREEZING HIRING OF
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, ESPECIALLY FOR VERY IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS LIKE LABOR STANDARDS AND CIVIL
RIGHTS AND THREATENING LAYOFFS.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR CONTINUING TO DEDICATE RESOURCES TO BLOATED SALARIES AMONG CITY EXECUTIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AND LISA TO SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT.
I DIDN'T HEAR EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON APPEAREDMENT TWO, THE EXECUTIVE
PAY CUT BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, QUESTION, PLEASE.
GO AHEAD.
YES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THIS IS MY FIRST CHANCE TO SORT OF LOOK AT THIS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I DO WANT TO SIGNAL MY SUPPORT FOR LOOKING AT SALARIES AS PART OF A 2021 BUDGET DISCUSSION
IN THE FALL AND LOOKING PARTICULARLY AT SALARY INCREASES THAT MIGHT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED
FOR 2021.
THIS ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HERE.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HERE IS A LOT STRONGER AND I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL MY INTEREST IN DISCUSSING
SALARY, SALARY INCREASES, THAT TYPE OF THING IN 2021 BUDGET.
SO THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT, COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
OKAY THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED AS WELL IN PARTICULAR LOOKING AT HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE PROVIDING
INCENTIVE FOR GREATER UNIONIZATION ACROSS OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS WHEN WE LOOK AT TRYING
TO ADDRESS THIS PAY GAP.
I KNOW THIS IS AN AREA WE LOOKED INTO QUITE A BIT AS WELL ON THE MACRO LEVEL AT THE CITY
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT VARIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING INCOME INEQUALITY.
I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON SOME POTENTIAL QUESTIONS JUST ON POLICY, MAYBE IMPACTS GOING
FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
THANK YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST BEING ON THE VANGUARD OF PUBLIC POLICY IS A BAD THING.
AND THIS INFORMATION I'M ABOUT TO ASK FOR I DON'T THINK IS A DETERMINING FACTOR, BUT
I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHETHER ANY OTHER MUNICIPAL, COUNTY OR STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE A CAP ON EXECUTIVE
PAY.
SO I DON'T KNOW, LISA, IF THAT RESEARCH IS SOMETHING THAT'S EASILY ATTAINABLE, BUT IT
WOULD BE WELCOMED BY ME AND I THINK WOULD HELP ME MAKE A DECISION ON MY SUPPORT FOR
THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, AS SHE MENTIONED, BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP IN THE PAST.
I LARGELY AGREE WITH HER SENTIMENTS ABOUT WHAT MOST ATTRACTS GOOD LEADERS IN PUBLIC
SERVICE AND IT IS THE DESIRE TO DO THE WORK, NOT THE REMUNERATION.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE THAT $150,000 IS THE TARGET I'D WANT TO SET.
I DON'T DISAGREE THAT IS A LIVABLE WAGE HERE IN SEATTLE, BUT I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW A
LITTLE BIT MORE IF OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYERS HAVE CREATED THIS SORT OF A CAP ON EXECUTIVE
PAY.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, GOOD QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON ANY OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO ADD THEIR NAME AS ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS?
OKAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, JAIL SERVICES PROVISO.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
THANKS, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA.
AMENDMENT 3 SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
WHAT THIS PROVISO WOULD DO IS RESTRICTS THE ABILITY OF THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES IN SPENDING ANY MORE FUNDS ON OUR JAIL CONTRACT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN AN INTRALOCAL AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY FOR KING COUNTY TO PROVIDE
JAIL SERVICES TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS COMING OUT OF MUNICIPAL COURT AND THIS WOULD PROVISO
THOSE FUNDS UNTIL KING COUNTY AND THE CITY AGREED TO REENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS -- EXCUSE
ME, ENTER INTO RENEGOTIATIONS OF THE CONTRACT AND THE PROVISO WOULD BE LIFTED WHEN CBO SPLITTED
A CERTIFICATION TO CITY CLERK STATING AS MUCH.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CITY COUNCIL FOR COMMENTS.
I WANT TO LET ME COLLEAGUES KNOW THIS AMENDMENT IS OFFERED IN THE SPIRIT OF KIND OF HEEDING
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE BY THE CITY'S REENTRY WORK GROUP.
THE CITY CURRENTLY IS IN CONTRACT AND SPENDS ABOUT $18.6 MILLION A YEAR THROUGH A CONTRACT
WITH KING COUNTY JAIL AND THE CONTRACTS DON'T INCLUDE ANY MEANS TO INSURE THAT THE FOLKS
WHERE INCARCERATED HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET.
THERE'S NO STANDARD OF CARE REQUIREMENTS BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT, NO MEASURES FOR PERFORMANCE
IN THAT WAY PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE THERE, NOR THAT THEY
RECEIVE ANY RESOURCES FOR SUCCESSFUL REENTRY INTO THE COMMUNITY UPON EXITING THE JAIL.
REALLY THE CONTRACT INCLUDES A MINIMUM BED NUMBER.
SO THE NUMBER OF BEDS WHERE PEOPLE ARE DETAINED AND IT REQUIRES THE CITY TO PAY A MINIMUM
AMOUNT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THOSE BED ARE USED.
SO THERE'S REALLY NO FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR THE CITY TO EXAMINE ITS USE OF INCARCERATION
FOR LOW LEVEL CRIMES OR TRY TO REDUCE INCARCERATION RATES.
THIS PROVISO WOULD INSURE THE MAYOR AND KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE COME TOGETHER TO RENEGOTIATE
A MORE HUMANE CONTRACT.
THE LANGUAGE AS WE HAVE IT NOW DOESN'T FULLY REFLECT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THERE.
SO I WILL SAY WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
WE MAY HAVE SOME REVISED LANGUAGE READY NEXT WEEK, BUT WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT
MORE BACKGROUND ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU, YES.
A QUESTION FOR OSHA.
I REMEMBER IN RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REENTRY TO WORK GROUP THE COUNCIL DID
A DURING BUDGET PROCESS DID A SLIDE ON THE JAIL CONTRACT AND I REMEMBER RECEIVING A RESPONSE
TO THE SLIDE ON THE JAIL CONTRACT THAT SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF WE CAN'T REDUCE
FUNDING NOW, BUT WE ARE WITH YOU AND ALIGNED THAT WE NEED TO RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT FOR
FEWER BEDS.
WAS THAT PRETTY MUCH THE CONTOURS OF THAT SLIDE RESPONSE TO YOUR RECOLLECTION, A COMMITMENT
TO THE CONCEPT OF RENEGOTIATING THE JAIL CONTRACT FOR FEWER BEDS?
I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE GENERAL INTENT THAT THE CITY WAS IN AGREEMENT THAT WE SHOULD READJUST
THE PARAMETERS OF THE CONTRACT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ANY COMMITMENT NECESSARILY TO RENEGOTIATE AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS
ON THE PART OF THE CITY OR KING COUNTY, BUT IT WAS ALSO I THINK EITHER LAST YEAR OR THE
YEAR BEFORE IN A DIFFERENT POLITICAL CLIMATE.
SO THAT MAY BE A POTENTIAL CHANGE AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU.
THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR CENTRAL STAFF AS WELL.
OSHA, DO YOU KNOW HOW RECENTLY THE CONTRACT WAS RENEGOTIATED WITH THE JAIL OR DO YOU HAVE
ANY INFORMATION ON IF IT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE UP SOON?
THIS INTRALOCAL AGREEMENT GOES THROUGH 2030.
SO EVERY COUPLE YEARS THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO ASK FOR A REDUCED NUMBER OF BEDS AND THE
CITY HAS BEEN DOING THAT AS THAT REOPENER HAS WORKED.
THE ISSUE I THINK NOW IS THAT 187 BEDS, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IS THE ABSOLUTE
MINIMUM BED FLOOR, AND WE AREN'T ALLOWED TO GO UNDER THAT.
SO THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REQUEST THAT EVEN FEWER --THAT THE FLOOR BE LOWERED
EVEN FURTHER.
I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME THAT WAS RENEGOTIATED, I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK AND GET BACK TO YOU,
BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
YEAH.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY PRESSING PROJECT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES IS BRINGING FORWARD
BASED ON A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE, LOST IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE YOUTH JAIL BEING CLOSED WITH A DATE OF 2025 IS THAT THERE'S
GOING TO BE A CONSIDERABLE SCALING DOWN AND REPURPOSING OF THE KING COUNTY JAIL THAT DIDN'T
MAKE THE TIMES ARTICLE FOR SOME REASON, BUT THAT DEFINITELY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.
SO I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF SCOPE HERE FOR KING COUNTY TO REVISE THE INTRALOCAL
AGREEMENT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME BROADER PROJECT OF SCALING DOWN THE KING COUNTY JAIL.
SO ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT WE ONLY USE IT TO HOUSE --TO JAIL MISDEMEANOR OFFENDERS, LOW
LEVEL OFFENDERS, IT WOULD SEEM IF KING COUNTY IS GOING TO BE SCALING IT DOWN FOR, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE HELD ON FELONIES THAT WE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF SCOPE TO REVISE THAT AGREEMENT ON
OUR END.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT LEVER WOULD BE, IF IT WOULD BE THIS PROVISO OR SOMETHING
ELSE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL TO MY COLLEAGUES I'M VERY INTERESTED IN LOCKING IN A LOT OF
THE SAVINGS WE'VE REALIZED FROM THE JAIL DEINTENSIFICATION FROM COVID AND ALSO LEADING TO COLEAD BEING
ABLE TO HAVE BETTER WAYS TO HOUSE PEOPLE IN A PRETRIAL STATUS THROUGH HOTELING AND THROUGH
OTHER MECHANISMS THAT HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE HUMANE, MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE AND LED TO BETTER
OUTCOMES.
I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY AN AREA I'M INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING AND WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA, AND WANTED TO JUST GO IN THE WAY WAY BACK MACHINE TO LAST
BUDGET PROCESS WHICH LITERALLY FEELS LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS AGO AT THIS POINT, BUT THIS
PARTICULAR AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE JAIL CONTRACT BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
REALLY DOES BUILD ON THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL'S BUDGET WORK REPEATED TO THE PROVISO THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME SUPPORTED IN ORDER TO HAVE AN EVALUATION OF AND PUT PRESSURE
ON THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE TO TRIGGER THE PROVISION RELATED TO RENEGOTIATING THE JAIL CONTRACT.
IN DOING SO, WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE JAIL CONTRACT AND HOW WE CONTRACT FOR JAIL SERVICES.
IF YOU ALL RECALL, THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER CONTRACT THAT WE IDENTIFIED WHERE WE WERE
BUYING JAIL BEDS FOR A JUST IN CASE MOMENT ON IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY AS WELL.
PART OF THE SLIDE WORK THAT WE DID RESULTED IN ENDING THE CONTRACT WITH SNOHOMISH COUNTY,
WHICH WAS GREAT NEWS HAD.
UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT HAVE AS GOOD NEWS AS TO RELATES TO HOW WE CONTRACT JAIL SERVICES
WITH KING COUNTY AND IN LARGE PART THAT IS TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE BUTTERING THE BREAD
OF KING COUNTY BY BUYING WAY MORE JAIL SERVICES, IE BEDS, THAN THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS ACTUALLY
EVER USED AND THE CONTRACT IS SUCH THAT IT CREATES A PERVERSE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR
KING COUNTY TO NOT RENEGOTIATE THAT CONTRACT AND TO CONTINUE TO HOLD US UNDER THE BINDING
TERMS OF THAT CONTRACT BECAUSE WE ARE EFFECTIVELY SUBSIDIZING THEIR JAIL BED SERVICES LINE OF
BUSINESS.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY BLUNT ABOUT THAT REALITY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE ON THE
FENCE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
I APPRECIATE THE LAW DEPARTMENT BRINGING FORWARD POTENTIAL LEGAL RISKS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR PROVISO, BUT FRANKLY, I'M NOT SURE WHAT OTHER TOOL IS AVAILABLE TO US AND I AM
VERY DISPLEASED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THESE JAIL SERVICES AT ANY LEVEL,
BUT IN PARTICULAR AT THE LEVEL THAT WE'RE PAYING AND HONESTLY, THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
NOT USING MONTH OF THESE SERVICES.
SO WE ARE LITERALLY CUTTING KING COUNTY A CHECK FOR SERVICES THAT WE JUST AREN'T USING
AS A CITY.
SO THERE'S A QUESTION TO ME ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS
AND A RESPONSIBLE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS AND I THINK THAT THIS MAY BE OUR ONLY LEVER AVAILABLE TO US
TO SCALE DOWN THE COMMITMENTS THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS MADE BY VIRTUE OF ENTERING
INTO THIS CONTRACT WHICH I UNDERSTAND WAS ENTERED INTO DURING THE McGINN ADMINISTRATION.
THAT'S HOW FAR BACK THIS GOES.
MY RECOLLECTION IS IT'S ABOUT A 30 TO 35 YEAR LONG CONTRACT WHICH IS ATROCIOUS IN MY MIND
CONSIDERING THAT AT THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME THIS CONTRACT WAS BEING NEGOTIATED, THE COUNCIL
AT THE TIME WAS ALSO PASSING A RESOLUTION COMMITTING ITSELF TO ZERO YOUTH DETENTION.
SO I GUESS WHAT THE LEFT HAND DOES THE RIGHT HAND DOESN'T KNOW AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT PHENOMENON PLAYING OUT IN TERMS OF HOW WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND HOW WE ADVANCE THESE
ISSUES WHILE PASSING RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE CONTRARY.
SO I SAIL THAT AS SORT OF A HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS
WHO ARE NEWER TO THIS BODY OF WORK AND WHO MAY HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO READ THE SLIDE
RESPONSE FROM LAST YEAR'S BODY OF WORK AND ALSO JUST TO SIGNAL MY SUPPORT FOR THIS PROVISO
IS AND, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERNS REALLY THE LAW DEPARTMENT HAS RAISED ARE CONCERNS THAT
I TAKE SERIOUSLY, BUT I THINK THEY ARE APPRECIABLE CALCULATED RISKS THAT WE SHOULD BE WILLING
TO TAKE GIVEN WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME AND SOME OF THAT HISTORICAL WORK I
JUST DESCRIBED.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'LL ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF THE SPONSOR OF THE PROVISOS
JUST MENTIONED REGARDING SNOHOMISH COUNTY AND HERE IN KING COUNTY.
I APPRECIATE OUR PARSE COUNCIL'S EFFORT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ADDITIONAL BLACK
BOX THAT WAS PRESENTING ITSELF AND AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAID, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT
AND THAT INFORMATION I THINK FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE SHOWS THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE TO KEEP PAYING FOR SERVICES THAT WERE ACTIVELY DISINVESTING FROM.
WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH A DIVERSION WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE CITY, THROUGH THE
CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OUR CITY'S PARTNERS ARE DOING, WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING
INTO KING COUNTY JAMES HAVE BEEN MUCH LOWER THAN WE'RE PAYING FOR AND FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
PERSPECTIVE WE KNOW INCARCERATION JUST DOESN'T WORK.
IT DOESN'T WORK OUTSIDE OF COVID AND ESPECIALLY DOESN'T WORK INSIDE OF COVID.
I APPRECIATE THIS PROVISION BEING PUT FORWARD AND WILL BE ADDING MY NAME AS A CO-SPONSOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
THANK YOU.
I DID GO BACK AND FIND THOSE OLD SLIDE REPORTS AND SEE IN 2020 WE APPARENTLY AS I THINK ASHA
EXPLAINED, WE GOT THE COUNTY TO ACCEPT SORT OF THE NEW LOWEST FLOOR THAT WE'RE ALLOWED
TO UNDER THE CONTRACT AND HOW MANY MORE BEDS ARE WE PAYING FOR THAN WE'RE USING EVEN UNDER
THIS NEW FLOOR?
DO WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION?
I HAVE TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE CHECK WHAT THE AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION HAS BEEN FOR THE
PAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT I KNOW AT LEAST FOR THIS YEAR THERE'S A GRAPH IN THE KING COUNTY
JAIL ISSUE PAPER THAT SPECIFICALLY POINTS OUT HOW MANY BEDS AND I THINK IT'S CLOSER
TO 60ISH IF I HAD TO GUESS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?
I ALSO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS' HAND?
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PIECE OF INFORMATION.
I ALSO THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DEINTENSIFICATION EFFORTS RELATED TO THE KING COUNTY JAIL THAT
WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE NUMBER OF BEDS THAT WE ARE USING EVEN FURTHER.
IS I THINK THAT DELTA BETWEEN WHAT IS ACTUALLY UTILIZED AND FOR WHAT PERIOD OF TIME IS PROBABLY
EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT NOW IN THIS PERIOD OF COVID, THOUGH I WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON ASHA
TO CONFIRM IF THE DATA BEARS THAT THEORY OUT AND APPRECIATE THAT.
WE GET INTO THIS DEBATE ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE PAYING FOR MORE BEDS THAN WHAT WE NEED
AND IS THAT'S SORT OF, I GUESS, A FISCAL REASON OR JUSTIFICATION FOR MOVING THE PROVISO FORWARD,
BUT IT'S A BIT OF A DISTRACTION FROM THE OVERALL ISSUE, WHICH IS DO WE WANT TO BE INVESTING
IN JAIL SERVICES AT ALL FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE GIVEN THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE HOPING TO
GO IN WHICH IS MUCH MORE ROOTED IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION.
I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO READ THOSE ARGUMENTS AS THOUGH WE ARE NOT --AS THOUGH IT'S A DISTRACTION
OR A DESIRE TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN OUR STATED INTENT TO PURSUE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND DIVERSION FROM JAIL AND THEREFORE, NOT NEED JAIL SERVICES AT ALL
AND FUNNEL THESE DOLLARS INTO COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHICH I THINK ARE A BETTER USE
OF OUR DOLLARS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
I WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE MOMENT HERE TO LOOK BECAUSE I REQUESTED THIS INFORMATION
RECENTLY ACTUALLY FROM THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
MY RECOLLECTION IS SIMILAR TO ASHA, THAT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT'S BEEN IN THE
60s.
TO YOUR COMMENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, I BELIEVE THAT THE COVID ERA DEINTENSIFIED
NUMBER HAS BEEN IN THE MID-20s OF FOLKS THAT THE COURT AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAVE
OPTED TO SEEK TO MAINTAIN BAIL ON.
I AM TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE BASED ON MY PAST WORKING EXPERIENCE AND INTERACTING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR IN HOW LOW BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF A LOT OF DIVERSION ALTERNATIVES
OUR UTILIZATION OF THE JAIL SPACE HAS BEEN AND HOW WE REALLY ARE PAYING FOR A LOT MORE
SPOTS.
I DO THINK THAT WE WILL NEED TO BE COGNIZANT IN DOING THIS WORK GOING FORWARD THAT THERE
ARE CERTAIN OFFENSES THAT EVEN IN THE LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC DEFENSE WE RECEIVED
A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT THEY STIPULATE TO THERE BEG A POLICY BASIS TO POTENTIALLY NEED TO
HAVE SOME LEVEL OF THAT SERVICE.
THERE ARE ALSO CERTAIN STATE LAWS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT IN THE CASE OF CERTAIN MANDATORY
MINIMUMS AS RELATES TO DUIs, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FUND SOME KIND
OF SERVICE.
SO IF IT'S NOT WITH KING COUNTY, WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO FIND SOME OTHER WAY TO DO
IT, BUT I'M JUST FLAGGING THOSE AS SOME POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL HURDLES JUST BASED ON MY ANECDOTAL
EXPERIENCE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN'T STRATEGIZE OUR WAY AROUND AND FIGURE SOMETHING
OUT THAT IS FAR DIFFERENT FROM THIS CURRENT HUGE MISATTACH AND I THINK THERE IS A HUGE
OPENING IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A LITTLE MORE AND I THINK WE'LL KNOW MORE TOMORROW WHEN
THE EXECUTIVE GETS HIS UPDATE, THE SCOPE AND EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTY'S CHANGES IN THE
JAIL COULD INFORM OUR NEXT STEP, TOO, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'LL BE QUITE DRAMATIC.
ANYWAY THIS IS CERTAINLY A VERY RIPE AREA FOR HOW WE COULD MAKE MUCH BETTER USE OF NEARLY
$20 MILLION A YEAR.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
YEAH.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PUT THIS FORWARD, WE
HAD NO IDEA THE KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT HE MADE YESTERDAY, BUT
I THINK IT POINTS EVEN MORE TO THE FACT WE NEED TO REALLY REEVALUATE WHAT'S GOING ON
HERE AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, NOT JUST FOR FISCAL REASONS, BUT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME
MUCH BROADER COMMUNITY GOALS AND NEW COMMUNITY STANDARDS WE WANT TO SET ABOUT HOW WE ARE
SHIFTING TOWARD MORE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES.
AS I SAID, THERE'S A LITTLE MORE WORK TO DO HERE CLEARLY AND AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW
WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION.
SO I WILL BE WORKING WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND IF OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING ME ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR
ASSISTANCE.
THANK YOU.
EXCELLENT.
GOOD SEGWAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
SEEING NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES, I'D IN VOTE FOLKS WHO WANT TO
CO- SPONSOR THIS TO PLEASE UNMUTE, RAISE YOUR NAME, SAY YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, THANK YOU.
I WILL BE ALSO ADDING MY NAME, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I HAVE HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THIS IS JEFF SIMS AGAIN, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
THIS AMENDMENT UTILIZES A FUNDING SOURCE THAT TAKES US BACK 15 MONTHS TO WHEN THERE WAS
A TELEVISION EPISODE DECRYING HOW SEATTLE WAS HANDLING ITS HOMELESSNESS CRISIS AND THERE
WAS A REPORT FOCUSED ON A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO AS HIGH RATE INDIVIDUALS AND IN
THE 2020 BUDGET A PACKET OF INVESTMENTS, SOME OF WHICH WAS DISCUSSED IN YOUR EARLIER CONVERSATION,
BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS TO OPEN A SECOND SHELTER.
THERE WAS A SHELTER ALREADY IN THE KING COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THAT WAS NOT USED THERE.
WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE.
IT PROVIDED $2 MILLION TO START UP OR OPEN OPERATIONS, DO THE RENOVATIONS NECESSARY TO
CREATE THE NEW SHELTER AND ALSO $400,000 FOR OPERATIONS THAT WERE ABOUT SIX MONTHS WAS
THE INTENTION ASSUMING RENOVATIONS COULD BE COMPLETED IN THAT TIME.
THIS WAS A PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS GOING TO BE DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH KING COUNTY.
SO THE OTHER PART OF OPERATIONAL COSTS AND CORRESPONDING AMOUNT OF STARTUP OR RENOVATION
DOLLARS WERE GOING TO BE PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY.
AT THIS TIME NONE OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ACCESSED OR THAT'S THE LATEST INFORMATION
I'VE BEEN GIVEN IS NONE OF THE FUNDS ON THE SEATTLE SIDE HAVE BEEN UTILIZED.
INSTEAD THE INFORMATION I'VE BEEN GIVEN, WE ARE STILL WAITING MORE CONFIRMATION FROM THE
COUNTY AND FROM CBO AND HSD IS THAT THE COUNTY INSTEAD OF UTILIZING THAT SPACE FOR AN EMERGENCY
ENHANCED SHELTER, INSTEAD OF UTILIZING IT FOR COVID RESPONSE OR MAKING CHANGES TO BE
ABLE TO USE IT FOR A COVID RESPONSE, SO IT'S NOT CERTAIN THOSE FUNDS WILL EVER BE NECESSARY
FOR RENOVATE THERE FACILITY OR IN SHORT TERM USING IT AS OPERATIONS FOR AN ENHANCED SHELTER.
THAT IS THE FUNDING SOURCE THIS AMENDMENT LOOKS AT AND IT PROPOSES TO IF THIS FACILITY
IS NOT VIABLE FOR WHATEVER REASON OR THESE FUND ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR WHATEVER REASON
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL, UTILIZING THE FUNDS FOR A SIMILAR PURPOSE, TINY VILLAGES
OR ENHANCED SHELTER AT AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA, AND THANK YOU, JEFF, AGAIN FOR SOME AMAZING BRIEFING ON THIS.
I WILL BRIEFLY SAY I'M NOT GOING TO BRING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD AND WANT TO DISCUSS
IT STILL.
THE BUDGET THAT CURRENTLY ALLOCATES $2.4 MILLION TO HSD FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SHELTER
IN THE WEST WING WAS PROJECTED TO OPEN JULY 1st.
IT IS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN UPDATE ABOUT WHEN IT WILL COME ONLINE.
MY INTENTION WAS TO PROVIDE THAT 2.4 MILLION PROVISO SUCH THAT IF HSD DOESN'T OPEN THE
SHELTER IN A TIMELY MANNER, THE FUNDS WOULD BE REDIRECTED TO TINY VILLAGES OR ENHANCED
SHELTERS INSTEAD.
THIS CHANGE WOULD SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE WE NEED TO OPEN THE SHELTER NOW AND IF IT CAN'T
HAPPEN, WE NEED TO FUND SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAN WORK.
BECAUSE THIS PROVISO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXTEND INTO 2021 AND NEW TINY HOME VILLAGES
OR ENHANCED SHELTER WOULD TAKE MONTHS TO START UP, I WILL NOT BE MOVING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD
AT THIS TIME AND I'LL BE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY AND MAY BRING A SIMILAR PROPOSAL WHEN WE BEGIN
2021 OPERATIONS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, JEFF.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, AND SHARING YOUR INTENT TO POTENTIALLY WITHDRAW THIS AT
THIS POINT.
I BELIEVE IF YOU WERE TO BRING THIS FORWARD IN 2021 DELIBERATIONS, THERE WOULD BE A LOT
OF SUPPORT BECAUSE THERE'S SIMILAR FRUSTRATION YOU'VE JUST EXPRESSED.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING IT FOR PURPOSES ABOUT OF OUR DISCUSSION TODAY AND, JEFF, FOR
WALKING US THROUGH THIS POSSIBLY PROVISO.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS BEFORE WE MOVE ON, THEN?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE LET'S MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.
HELLO.
I WORK FOR YOU ALL ON THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
I'M JUST WAIT FOR A QUICK NOD TECH IS WORKING.
TECH IS WORKING.
ERIC, THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
WE DON'T GET TO SEE YOUR FACE ENOUGH.
APPRECIATE SEEING YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOU WORKING FOR THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AS WELL.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
OKAY, EXCELLENT.
POLICE GO AHEAD.
THIS AMENDMENT IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERBOLD OR MORALES.
THE EFFECT OF THIS AMENDMENT WOULD PUT A PROVISO ON SPENDING OF FUNDS OF THE 2020 BUDGET, ON
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVERSION AND ALSO KNOWN BY THE ACRONYM LEAD,
A PREARREST DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN LOW LEVEL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
THE CITY HAS CONTRACTED WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR LEAD SERVICES.
THAT CONTRACT FOR LEAD SERVICES REQUIRES PRIOR APPROVAL OF CLIENTS TO THE PROGRAM BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND IT EXPIRES THE END OF DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
THE PROVISO ITSELF WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE SERVICE PROVIDER CONTRACTED FOR LEAD COMMIT
IN WRITING TO ACCEPT REFERRALS OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE SERVICES FROM COMMUNITY
SOURCES AND NONLAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.
THE SERVICES SO FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE REFERRED IN THAT FASHION WOULD BE PAID FOR
WITH SOURCES THAT ARE OTHER THAN CITY OF SEATTLE SOURCES AND WE KNOW THE PDA, PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION, HAS PREVIOUSLY DECLARED TO ACCEPT PROPOSALS WITHOUT REFERRAL FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
PERSONNEL.
WITH THAT I'LL LET THE SPONSORS TAKE IT AWAY.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES AS LEAD SPONSORS ON THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
YOU HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE.
I'LL RECAP THE AMENDMENT SPONSORED BY MYSELF AND COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES WILL REMOVE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM ITS GATE KEEPING FUNCTION TO HAVE TO APPROVE REFERRALS TO LEAD.
CURRENTLY ALL REFERRALS MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY SPD.
THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM SPD'S CURRENT LACK OF CAPACITY TO PROVIDE THIS FUNCTION.
THE RESULT IS COLEAD IS ESSENTIALLY UNABLE TO ACT ON REFERRALS AND THEIR UNIQUE AND SCARCE
RESOURCES INCLUDING SPECIALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOTEL ROOMS ARE GOING UNUSED EVEN THOUGH
WE ALL KNOW THEY ARE CLEARLY AND DESPERATELY NEEDED.
KING COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED THEIR VERSION OF THIS SAME PROVISO YESTERDAY AND CHIEF CARMEN
BEST INDICATED HER SUPPORT FOR THIS PROVISO IN EMAIL TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WE RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR THIS MOVE FROM A BROAD GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING
REAL CHANGE, THE ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE, DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION, THE BALLARD
COMMUNITY TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER, THE INNER TATE FORCE ON HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS,
REACH AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS ASSOCIATION.
I THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES FOR JOINING ME AND CO- SPONSORING THIS PROVISO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING?
SURE.
WELL, I JUST DO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
I'M EXCITED TO BE CO-SPONSORING THIS WITH HER AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WE ALL RECEIVED
THIS EMAIL TODAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO READ AN EMAIL WE GOT FROM A LEAD OUTREACH COORDINATOR
THIS AFTERNOON WHO SAYS THAT YESTERDAY AN INDIVIDUAL HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO
LEAD, CAME TO OUR OFFICE SEEKING SERVICES.
THEIR LEAD REFERRAL HAD EXPIRED AND SINCE LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE CURRENTLY THE GATEKEEPERS
FOR ALL REFERRALS, OUR STAFF WAS FORCED TO SEEK OUT A REFERRAL EXTENSION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
INSTEAD OF JUST ENROLLING THEM IN THE PROGRAM RIGHT THEN.
SO THIS SORT OF POLICE GATE KEEPING CAN INTERRUPT OUR ABILITY TO CLINICALLY ENGAGE WITH FOLKS
AND ADDRESS THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
WE'VE SEEN IN SOUTH KING COUNTY THAT THIS PROGRAM WORKS WELL.
WE KNOW THAT THE COVID RESPONSE THERE, IS THE COLEAD PROGRAM IN SOUTH KING COUNTY WAS
A REALLY NIMBLE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO KEEP UNSHELTERED PEOPLE SAFE AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED
AND WHEN WE CONTRAST THAT WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT THE COLEAD PROBLEM HAS HAD HERE WAITING
WEEKS FOR APPROVAL FROM SPD AND CONSEQUENTLY PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK, WE JUST KNOW THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO TAKE SO THE OUTREACH WORKERS CAN DO THEIR IMPORTANTLY CRITICAL
WORK KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE CAN DO THAT WELL.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD FOR ALLOWING ME TO CO- SPONSOR THIS AND LOOK FORWARD
TO MAKING SOME CHANGE.
AGREED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND MORALES AMENDMENT
NUMBER FIVE, THE LEAD APPROPRIATIONS PROVISO?
OKAY.
SEEING NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS I WILL ADD MY NAME AS A CO- SPONSOR.
I'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF REMOVING BARRIERS TO LEAD AND IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THAT LEAD
SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE CLIENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH SPD.
AGAIN, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER THIS WEEK, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE DO NOT
NEED POLICE OFFICERS MAKING THESE TYPES OF REFERRALS AND THIS IS I THINK A GREAT WAY
FOR US TO STREAMLINE THIS DIRECT SERVICE.
I'LL BE ADDING MY NAME ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I SEE YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
OKAY.
GREAT.
PAUSING, WONDERFUL.
CHAIR MOSQUEDA?
YES.
YOU'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
THANK YOU.
FOR AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAWANT, LEWIS, STRAUSS, MOSQUEDA AND
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
MOVING ON AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AGAIN, I'M AMY GORE WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, COUNCIL BILL 119825 AMENDMENT SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD TO REDUCE 2020 FUNDING TO THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT BY $120,000.
THESE FUNDS WERE APPROPRIATED FOR A CONSULTANT CONTRACT FOR A STUDY OF THE LEAD PROGRAM WHICH
HAS NOT YET BEEN EXECUTED.
THE CONSULTING STUDY WAS FUNDED THROUGH COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION LEDGE 7A1 AND WAS INTENDED TO
EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEATTLE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSISTED DIVERSION PROGRAM WHICH YOU JUST DISCUSSED WITH ERIC.
THE CONTRACT WAS DELAYED INITIALLY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE LEAD STUDY BY
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THE GOAL WAS THE COUNCIL'S STUDY BE ADDITIVE TO THE WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE MAYOR.
SO WE WERE WAITING UNTIL THAT SCOPE WAS FINALIZED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COUNCIL LED
STUDY.
WHEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BEGAN, THE STUDY WAS DEPRIORITIZED AS LEAD STAFF WAS FOCUSED
ON REVAMPING THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ABILITY
FOR A CONSULTANT TO FULLY ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN A REMOTE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD INCREASE FUNDING TO HSD WITH THE INTENT THAT HSD WOULD PARTNER WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ALACRITY CENTER TO EXPAND THE GET CONNECTED PILOT PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 TEACHES SENIOR HOUSING AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
TO BETTER IDENTIFY SENIORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING INCREASED STRESS, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DUE
TO SOCIAL ISOLATION AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO THOSE SENIORS.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO IMPOSES A PROVISO STATING THAT $120,000 WOULD BE USED SOLELY FOR THIS
SERVICE.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU.
LET'S TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
THIS IS THE THIRD LEG IN THE SENIOR SERVICES STOOL.
I DID NOT PRESENT IT ALONG WITH THE OTHER TWO PROGRAM ATTIC PROPOSALS BECAUSE AS AMY
EXPLAINS, THIS IS A DIFFERENT FUND SOURCE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, BUT IN SHORT, THIS IS
A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.
THE OTHER ONE WAS THE WI-FI PROJECT AS MENTIONED EARLIER AND THE OTHER WAS FUNDING HSD TO PULL
TOGETHER ALL THE SENIOR CENTERS TO COME UP WITH A STANDARD SET OF PROTOCOLS FOR REOPENING.
THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS TO BUILD OFF OF SOMETHING CALLED THE STATE CONNECTED PILOT
WHICH IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND IT BUILDS ON ESTABLISHED
EVIDENCE FOR THIS KIND OF APPROACH AND SPECIFICALLY CASE MANAGERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO ASSESS SENIORS
ON WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SOCIAL ISOLATION AND PROVIDING TARGETED INTERVENTION THAT CAN
ADDRESS SYMPTOMS OF MILD DEPRESSION.
THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDEREMOTE OUTREACH TO SENIORS DURING THE COVID ERA.
IT ALLOWS TRAINING THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE PERFORMING CHECK-INS TO DO TWO THINGS, IDENTIFY SENIORS
AT INCREASED RISK OF DEPRESSION OR ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING MILD DEPRESSION, ESTIMATED TO
BE ABOUT 20% OF SENIORS AND DELIVER EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS DEPRESSION.
THE SECOND INTERVENTION IS TO IDENTIFY SENIORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MORE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS
OF DEPRESSION OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER AND LINK THEM WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE
THEY NEED.
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD EXPAND THE PILOT TO ASSESS AND SERVE A LARGER NUMBER OF SENIORS
WHILE PROVIDING TRAINING AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO THE SENIOR CENTERS.
THE APPROACH GETS CREDIT CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SENIORS IN A COST EFFECTIVE WAY.
WE HAVE FOUR SENIOR BASED CENTERS, WEST SEATTLE, PIKE MARKET, GREENWOOD, NORTH SEATTLE AND
ALSO GEN PRIDE IS PARTICIPATING IN A STATE CONNECTED PILOT PROGRAM AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU AND PERHAPS FEEL FREE TO DIVERT THERE
TO CENTRAL STAFF IF YOU PREFER.
AM I READ THIS CORRECT?
OBVIOUSLY I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE EFFORTS YOU'RE TRYING TO FUND HERE.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AM I READING THIS CORRECT THIS WOULD BE A REDUCTION TO THE LEAD
FUNDS?
IT WOULD BE A REDUCTION TO LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT FUNDS FOR A LEAD CONSULTANT SURVEY -- I'M
SORRY, A LEAD CONSULTANT TO DO AN EVALUATION OF LEAD.
THERE IS ANOTHER EVALUATION THAT IS PENDING THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE.
THE INTEREST IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE SURVEY OR THE EVALUATION THAT THE COUNCIL
WAS GOING TO FUND WOULD BE DUPLICATIVE OF WHAT THE EXECUTIVE WAS INTENDING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY
NOBODY WANTS THAT.
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND I CHECKED WITH LEAD
AS WELL TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE EXECUTIVE EVALUATION, THOUGH
STALLED IS STILL MOVING FORWARD.
THE NEEDS IN 2020 FOR THIS COUNCIL FUNDED EVALUATION WAS NECESSARY AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION
BOTH FROM TALKING TO LEAD AND SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
IT WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR THIS YEAR.
CHAIR MOSQUEDA?
YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
AMY, CAN I ASK YOU TO EXPAND THE SCREEN A LITTLE.
I SEE THE 120,000.
IS THERE A SECOND?
IT SAYS ALSO 120,000, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL LINE ITEM OR
THAT IS THE CONTRACT AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHIFTING.
NO.
THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WAS FOR $120,000.
THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY REDUCED BY THIS AMENDMENT AND ALL OF THOSE FUNDS, THE $120,000, WOULD
GO TOWARDS THE STAY CONNECTED PILOT PROGRAM.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY RFP OR Q UNDERWAY FOR THIS YET?
NO.
RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE U-DUB, THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, INTERNALLY AND THOUGH THEY
ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO IDENTIFY SITES FOR THE PROGRAM,
THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN APPLICATION TO GET FEDERAL FUNDING FOR AN EXPANDED PROGRAM,
BUT THAT WON'T --IF THEY GET THAT, WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL.
SO THIS FUNDING WOULD BE FOR THIS TIME PERIOD BETWEEN WHAT THEY HAVE FUNDED NOW AND WHAT
COULD BE AN EXPANDED PROGRAM NEXT YEAR IN APRIL.
CAN I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT, CHAIR?
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM.
SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE TROUBLED ABOUT WHY WE NEED REPEATED STUDIES TO DEMONSTRATE
ITS EFFECTIVENESS ANYWAY AND SO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING WE MIGHT BE PUTTING A CONSULTANT
CONTRACT AT RISK AND OF THEIR WORK IN JEOPARDY, I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SENIORS WHO ARE
ISOLATED AND PROBABLY VERY SCARED ABOUT COVID THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM.
SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THIS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES?
PLEASE, AMY, GO AHEAD.
I WAS GOING TO EXPAND VERY QUICKLY ON YOUR COMMENTS.
WE WERE AT THE POINT THAT THE SCOPE OF THIS STUDY WAS FINALIZED.
NO ONE HAD BEEN SELECTED YET.
SO THERE ISN'T A CONSULTANT OUT THERE WHO WAS EXPECTING TO DO THIS WORK NECESSARILY
AND THIS WOULD CHANGE THAT FACT JUST TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF
THIS STUDY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AMY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD, ANY CONVERSATIONS
WITH FOLKS AT LEAD THAT WOULD BE ILLUMINATING FOR THIS?
WHOOPS, YOU'RE ON MUTE, SORRY.
LIKE I SAID, I HAVE CONSULTINGED WITH LEAD AND I'M ACTUALLY TEXTING WITH LISA RIGHT NOW
WHO SAID SHE'S GLAD THEY'RE ABLE TO CREATE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THIS PURPOSE BY RELINQUISHING
THEIR FEELINGS AROUND THE NEED FOR THIS CONSULTANT CONTRACT.
APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, ARE THERE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
ADD THEIR NAME AS A CO-SPONSOR?
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
WONDERFUL.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE US ON TO AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN WHICH IS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT IT'S 5:02.
I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL I THINK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING WE WERE GOING
TO HAVE A HARD STOP AT 5 I SAID AND THEN I SAID AT 5:30.
LET'S TRY TO KEEP THAT AT 5:00.
WE WILL GO THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT'S AMENDMENT HERE AND HOLD ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH
12 FOR TOMORROW'S DISCUSSION.
AS A REMINDER TO ANYBODY VIEWING AND WANTING TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH US THROUGH
PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WE WILL HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND GET THROUGH
THE REMAINING AMENDMENTS INCLUDED HERE ON PACKET NUMBER THREE.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF PLANNING LATER, I WANTED TO APPLY THAT FOR CENTRAL STAFF AS WELL.
LET'S TURN IT OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
JEFF SIMS, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD IMPOSE A PROVISO FOR INHIBITING USE OF FUND TO REMOVE TINY HOMES
FROM NORTH LAKE VILLAGE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RECALL LAST DECEMBER OF 2019 NORTH LAKE VILLAGE WAS
FACING HAVING BEING REMOVED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THAT REMOVAL WAS DELAYED UNTIL
MARCH, AT WHICH POINT IN TIME SEATTLE WAS FACING THE OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 AND A LETTER
WAS SENT TO NORTH LAKE VILLAGE RESIDENTS WHERE THEY WERE OFFERED TO STAY UNTIL JUNE FIRST
AS LONG AS THEY AGREED TO CONDITIONS, ONE OF WHICH INCLUDED A WRITTEN AFFIRMATION THEY
WOULD VACATE THE PROPERTY JUNE 1st.
AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NOT AN EXPECTATION THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC WOULD BE EXTENDING
TO THAT LENGTH OF TIME.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AS JUNE 1st APPROACHED IT HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY EXPENDED BUT NOT ON
A PERMANENT OR LONG TERM BASIS, CLOSER TO A FEW MONTHS AT A TIME.
AT THIS TIME THEY ARE PERMITTED TO BE THERE BUT ARE STILL GOING TO BE EXPECTED TO MOVE.
THIS PROVISO WOULD LIMIT FUNDS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND FAS AND HSD AND
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NAVIGATION TEAM
FROM UTILIZING ANY FUNDS TO REMOVE NORTH LAKE VILLAGE.
IT'S NOT ONLY FUNDS THAT ARE THE NAVIGATION TEAM FUNDS, BUT ALSO THE PROVISO'S IMPOSED
ON THE BSO, THE ACCOUNT THAT CONTAINS THE FUNDS FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES.
IF YOU LOOKED, FOR EXAMPLE, AT LSD, IT WOULD BE ANY INTERVENTION THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH
HOMELESSNESS.
ALL OF THOSE FUNDS ARE PROHIBITED ON THE CONTROL OPERATIONS LINE IN SPD AND SO ON, SO FORTH.
WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT FOR COMMENTS.
EXCELLENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>>.
THANK YOU, THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD IMPOSE A PROVISO TO SAY NO FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO
KNOCK DOWN NORTH LAKE TINY VILLAGE.
I REALLY THANK JEFF FOR GOING OVER A VERY GOOD SUMMARY OF ALL OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
JUST TO REITERATE, THEY ARE UNDER THREAT OF BEING SWEPT BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PERHAPS
THE FOURTH TIME THIS YEAR.
AFTER MASSIVE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE AND DESPITE THE DANGERS AND
ABSURDITY OF ELIMINATING THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE DURING COVID AND HOMELESS EMERGENCIES, THE
MAYOR CONTINUES TO ONLY GIVE THEM EXTENSIONS OF A COUPLE MONTHS AT A TIME, AS WAS MENTIONED.
IMAGINE SPENDING YEARS BEING TOLD YOU WOULD BE EVICTED IN A MONTH OR TWO.
THEIR LATEST EVICTION DATE IS AUGUST 1st AND THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IN
THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD PROHIBIT ANY FUNDS BEING USED TO MOVE THE VILLAGE UNLESS THEY DEMOCRATICALLY
VOTE THEY WOULD THE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER LOCATION AND THIS TINY BILL IS PART OF NICHOLSVILLE
WHICH MEANS THE DEMOCRATIC SOUTH MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE TINY HOUSES
TO SUCCESSFUL.
YOU TALK TO THE RESIDENTS OF THESE VILLAGE'S HOMELESS NEIGHBORS, THEY WILL TELL YOU WITH
BRIDE HOW MUCH IT HAS PRIDE HOW WELL IT HAS WORKED FOR THEM AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK DONE
FOR ENABLING TINY VILLAGES FOR OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE TINY VILLAGES TODAY BECAUSE IN PART OF THESE ACTIVISTS SPENDING YEARS FIGHTING
FOR THE RIGHT OF ENCAMPMENTS THEMSELVES, FIRST OF ALL, NOTHING MORE THAN TENTS AT ONE TIME,
BUT NOW WITH TINY HOUSES PRIVACY, HYGIENE, RUNNING WATER, KITCHEN FACILITIES AND OTHER
SERVICES.
ENCAMPMENTS WERE INITIALLY NAMED AFTER FORMER MAYOR NICHOLS, NOT AS AN HONOR BUT TO DRAW
ATTENTION TO HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
EVEN IF THE HOMELESS MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS OF NICHOLSVILLE HAD NOT PLAYED AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN FIGHTING FOR ESTABLISHING TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, IT WOULD STILL FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT
BE FOOLISH AND CRUEL TO EVICT THE VILLAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EMERGENCY OF COVID, UNAFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
AGAIN, WE'RE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN.
OKAY.
I WILL MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR EFFORTS IN THE PAST AND I SAY YOUR BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE
BEEN THE PRIME SPONSOR ON THESE EFFORTS IN PAST BUDGET YEARS AS WELL.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING WE'RE STILL IN A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO ASK THE FOLKS STILL
RESIDING IN THESE TINY HOMES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE THERE.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS WHERE, IN A CONGREGANT SETTING AGAIN WITH GREATER EXPOSURE TO COVID
IF THEY'RE LUCKY TO GET INSIDE GIVEN HOW MANY SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY RIGHT NOW?
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AS WELL ALL OF THE COMMENTS WE HAVE BEEN MAKING AS A COUNCIL IN THIS TIME
OF COVID THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE REMOVING FOLKS WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PUT THEM
INTO APPROPRIATE CDC OR PUBLIC HEALTH APPROVED SETTINGS WHICH WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE FREE
FROM EXPOSURE TO COVID AND TINY HOMES OFFER THAT TYPE OF NONCONGREGANT SHELTERS THAT WE'VE
ALL LIFTED UP AND USED AS EXAMPLES OF WHERE WE SHOULD BE HOUSING FOLKS INSTEAD OF INSIDE
THESE DENSE SHELTER FACILITIES EVEN THOUGH I WILL THANK OUR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN RUNNING
THESE SHELTER FACILITIES FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE FOLKS ON THE FRONT LINE AND THEM DOING EVERYTHING THEY
CAN WITH VERY LIMITED FUNDING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO FEW COVID CASES AND VERY FEW INFECTIONS,
BUT VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS FORWARD AND EMPHASIZE OR UNDERSCORE YOUR FRUSTRATION
WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE THE SAME REQUEST AGAIN.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES?
OKAY.
I WILL ASK IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP AS A CO- SPONSOR.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS AND I'M GOING
TO ADD MYSELF, MOSQUEDA.
CO-SPONSORS ON AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN INCLUDE MORALES, HERBOLD, STRAUSS, MOSQUEDA, COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES DID WANT TO
BE A CO-SPONSOR OF AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX THAT WAS PUT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
FOR THE EXPANDED EXPANDING THE EXPAND THE STAY PILOT PROJECT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
WE WILL GET YOU AS A CO- SPONSOR.
THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE WRAP UP WE AGAIN WILL CONTINUE WITH THE AMENDMENT DISCUSSION TOMORROW.
WE WILL HAVE AN HOUR AND A HALF OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY TOMORROW.
SO DO NOTE THAT FOR YOUR PLANNING PURPOSES.
WE WILL BEGIN AGAIN AT 11:30 FOR OUR DISCUSSION AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT WHICH AGAIN BEGINS AT
10 A.M.
ONCE WE RECONVENE WE WILL START WITH AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT AND GET THROUGH THE REMAINING
AMENDMENTS HERE.
THE LISA, THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THIS ROBUST PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL OF THE
FOLKS WHO PRESENTED TODAY.
IF I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SAY YOUR NAME, THANK YOU.
I KNOW WE HEARD FROM AMY AND ASHA AND JEFF THIS LAST GO ROUND.
IF THERE'S ANYONE I'M MISSING, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
ALSO PATTY FROM CENTRAL STAFF, YOU HAVE ONCE AGAIN PROVIDED US WITH COMPREHENSIVE PACKETS
OF INFORMATION WE WERE ABLE TO TOGGLE THROUGH WHICH MAKES THESE REMOTE BUDGET MEETINGS VERY
MUCH EASY TO FOLLOW ALONG.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS PRESENTATION
FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
WITH THAT, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, WE ARE AT OUR ENDING POINT FOR TODAY AND WE WILL RECONVENE
TOMORROW, THURSDAY, JULY 23rd, AT 10 A.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN AT THE BEGINNING FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND THEN WE WILL GO THROUGH
THE REMAINING AMENDMENTS AND IDENTIFY CO- SPONSORSHIP.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING FURTHER, A GREAT EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
YOU ALL MISSED OUR SINGING TO HER THIS MORNING FROM COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
IT WAS AMAZING.
IT WAS A GREAT SING-ALONG.
THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
GOOD NIGHT. 2571 03:08:56,324 BYE.