>>> IT'S 2:03 P.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSCETA?
>> HERE
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER CHALOTTE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HUBBLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> HERE.
>> I AM PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE ISSUED A
CIVIL EMERGENCY
PROCLAMATION DUE TO THE
CORONAVIRUS ON MARCH 23rd,
2020.
SINCE THEN THE GOVERNOR HAS
ISSUED A STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER.
TO COMPLY AND IN THE INTERESTS
OF THE WELFARE OF THE
PUBLIC AND OUR EMPLOYEES, THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
IS MEETING REMOTELY AND
PARTICIPATING
ELECTRONICALLY.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE
THIS PRACTICE FOR
MEETINGS THROUGH MAY 4th OF
2020.
. THE COUNCIL RULES ARE SILENT
ON ELECTRONIC
PARTICIPATION AT REGULAR CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS AND
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
AT THIS TIME, PUBLIC COMMENT IS
NOT BEING PROVIDED
AT MEETINGS FOR THE CITY
MEETING REMOTELY, AND I AM
NOT ANTICIPATING THAT THIS
PRACTICE WILL CONTINUE
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
IN FACT, WE ARE CURRENTLY
REVIEWING OPTIONS TO FIND
A SOLUTION THAT WILL ALLOW US
TO CONDUCT AN
EFFICIENT MEETING AND AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT A SOLUTION
CAN BE PRESENTED AND
IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT COUPLE
OF WEEKS, AND THAT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT
AT OUR APRIL 20th,
2020 FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
HOWEVER, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND
THAT EVEN WHEN PUBLIC
COMMENT IS REINTRODUCED VIA
REMOTE MEANS, THIS CITY
COUNCIL IS STILL BOUND BY THE
GOVERNOR'S
PROCLAMATION PROHIBITING THE
CONSIDERATION OF
LEGISLATION THAT IS UNRELATED
TO THE COVID-19
RESPONSE.
>>> WE WILL SUSPEND THE
REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT THROUGH APRIL 17th OF
2020.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE
ELECTRONICALLY AT CITY COUNCIL
AND COMMITTEE
MEETINGS THROUGH MAY 4th, 2020.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, AND THE COUNCIL WILL
PARTICIPATE
ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH MAY 4th,
2020.
.
>>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE COUNCIL RULES ON
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT AT
CITY COUNCIL AND
COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE
SUSPENDED FOR MEETINGS
HELD THROUGH APRIL 17th, 2020.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, AND PUBLIC COMMENT
WILL NOT BE PROVIDED
AT MEETINGS HELD THROUGH APRIL
17th OF 2020.
. OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP MOVING
THROUGH THIS AGENDA.
WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS COMING UP
NEXT.
I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATIONS.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO THE APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS OF
MARCH 30th, 2020, HAVE BEEN
REVIEWED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE
SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES?
. NEXT IS ADOPTION OF OUR
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
I WANT TO MOVE TO ADOPT THE
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMEMBER
ZALANT HAS SOME
COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES.
I MOVE TO -- BEFORE I MAKE A
MOTION, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE ALL THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WATCHING THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THEY ARE THERE,
YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK, AND TWITCH
ACCOUNTS.
ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY TO THOSE
WHO ARE TUNED IN THAT
THE VOTES TODAY RELATE TO THE
DECISION ON WHICH
COUNCIL COMMITTEE WILL CHAIR
THE DISCUSSION ON THE
AMAZON TAX LEGISLATION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
AND I HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD, NOT
ON THE ACTUAL TAX
ITSELF.
JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
AND THEN I WILL MOVE TO AMEND
THE PROPOSED
IN-PRODUCTION AND FORMAL
CALENDAR BY USING COUNCIL
VOTES 119772, 119773, AND
119774, AND FORWARDING THE
BILLS TO THE COMMITTEE.
THE BILLS' SHORT TITLES ARE AS
FOLLOWS.
COUNCIL BILL 119772, AND
ORDINANCE RELATED TO
TAXATION.
IMPOSING A PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
ON BUSINESSES IN
SEATTLE.
COUNCIL BILL 119770, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
FINANCE OF RESPONSES TO THE
SUMMIT EMERGENCY,
AUTHORIZEING THE LOAN OF FUNDS
FROM THE LOW-INCOME
HOUSING FUND TO THE GENERAL
FUND, AUTHORIZEING THE
LOAN OF FUNDS TO THE GENERAL
FUND, AND COUNCIL BILL
119774, AN ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING A SPENDING PLAN
FOR THE PROCEEDS GENERATED FROM
THE PAYROLL EXPANSE
TAX INTRODUCED BY THE ORDINANCE
BILL INTRODUCED TO
FUND IMMEDIATE CASH ASSISTANCE
FOR LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY THE
COVID-19 CRISIS IN 2019
AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL
HOUSING, THAT IS
CURRENTLY AFFORDABLE, HIGH-
QUALITY AND
ENERGY-EFFICIENT TO FUND
COMPONENT OF SEATTLE'S NEW
DEAL, AS ARTICULATED IN
RESOLUTION 31895, AND TO
FUND OTHER INVESTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEN
SOLANT.
IS THERE A SECOND?
HEARING NO SECOND OF THAT
MOTION, THE MOTION DIES
FOR A LACK OF SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE PROPOSED
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR FOR OUR
CONSIDERATION AT THIS TIME?
>> COUNCILMEMBER, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> YES, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> I MOVE THAT WE RECONSIDER
THE MOTION TO AMEND THE
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AS
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SOLAN.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR
INTENT FOR THAT
RECONSIDERATION?
>> YES.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECONSIDER, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF
REFERRING IT TO A DIFFERENT
COMMITTEE.
>> OKAY.
SO IT'S BEEN -- THERE'S A
MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT
MOTION?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECONSIDER THE
MOTION TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
SO RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE HAVE
BEFORE US IS A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE FIELD MOTION,
AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAS INDICATED THAT HER
INTENT HERE IS TO
HAVE IT REFERRED TO AS A
DIFFERENT COMMITTEE.
SO ALL WE'RE VOTING ON RIGHT
NOW IS WHETHER OR NOT
WE SHOULD RECONSIDER THE
MOTION.
SO IT'S NOT A SUBSTANTIVE VOTE
YET.
ON ADDING IT TO THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IT IS A TECHNICAL VOTE ON
WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD
RECONSIDER THE MOTION FOR
AMENDING THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLAN?
>> AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT FULLY
CLEAR ON WHAT THE
PROCEDURE IS, BUT I WOULD LIKE
TO -- IF
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AGREES,
TO HAVE AN ACTUAL
MOTION THAT WILL SAY THAT WE
INTRODUCE THE THREE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION, AND WE
FORWARD THEM TO A
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF THE
COUNCIL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLAN, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AS
A MEMBER OF SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT
ON THE PREVAILING
SIDE OF THE PREVIOUS MOTION,
THAT MOTION CANNOT BE
BROUGHT FORWARD BY YOU, BUT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
HAS MADE A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER.
SO IN ORDER TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION AT ALL ABOUT
WHERE THIS BILL GOES IN TERMS
OF THE COMMITTEE, WE
HAVE TO BE ABLE GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF PASSING A
MOTION TO RECONSIDER FIRST, AND
THEN WE WILL HAVE A
CONSIDERATION ABOUT ANY
AMENDMENTS TO YOUR
UNDERLYING MOTION?
>> THANK YOU.
JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION
THAT WOULD HELP ME.
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER DOES
NOT INCLUDE THE NAME
OF THE COMMITTEE THAT THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER
RECOMMENDS THE LEGISLATION TO
BE REFERRED TO.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WOULD
BE A SECONDARY
MOTION.
IT WOULD BE TO AMEND THE FAILED
MOTION.
BUT WE NEED TO PUT THE FAILED
MOTON BACK ON THE
TABLE IN ORDER TO AMEND IT BY
PROPOSING A DIFFERENT
COMMITTEE.
>> GOT IT.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
OKAY.
SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THE MOTION FOR
RECONSIDERATION?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECONSIDERATION OF THE -- OF
THE AMENDMENT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSKITA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES?
>> AYE.
>> EACH IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
AMENDMENT TO
INTRODUCE THESE COUNCIL BILLS
AND REFER THEM TO THE
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE IS
BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR
DISCUSSION NOW.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I'M
GOING TO CALL ON YOU FOR
DOOR ANY AMENDED LANGUAGE AS
YOU INDICATED
ORIGINALLY.
>> RIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND
THE MOTION BY AMENDING
THE COMMITTEE REFERRAL FROM
SUSTAINABILITY RENTERS'
RIGHTS TO THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE MOTION
TO REFER THESE THREE BILLS TO
THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AS A
SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ADDRESS IT FIRST?
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL, COLLEAGUES, I DO THINK
THAT IF THIS BILL IS
NOT GOING TO BE HEARD IN A
COMMITTEE THAT IS CHAIRED
BY COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT, THEN I
AGREE THAT A SELECT
BUDGET -- COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE ON WHICH WE BOTH
SIT AND ON WHICH WE CAN BOTH
PARTICIPATE AND VOTE IS
AN APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT SEATTLE HAS
THE MOST PROGRESSIVE
TAX STRUCTURE IN THE COUNTRY.
A FAMILY WITH $25,000 A YEAR IN
INCOME FACES A TAX
RATE 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN A
FAMILY MAKING A QUARTER
MILLION DOLLARS, AND WHAT THIS
MEANS FOR US,
PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT IS,
BECAUSE OF THE
HISTORY OF SEGREGATION IN OUR
CITY, A FAMILY IN
RAINIER BEACH PAYS A TAX RATE
THAT'S 4 TIMES HIGHER
THAN A FAMILY IN LAUREL HURST.
AND SO THE BILLS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT AND I ARE
PROPOSING ARE CRITICAL TO
ADDRESSING BOTH THE
CURRENT ECONOMIC EMERGENCY THAT
IS DEVELOPING IN OUR
CITY AND THE UNDERLYING
EMERGENCY WE HAVE IN THIS
CITY.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS
ELECTED TO ACT WITH
URGENCY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
THE BLACK AND BROWN
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
IN DISTRICT 2 WHO
BEAR THE HIGHEST BURDEN OF OUR
TAX STRUCTURE RIGHT
NOW.
WHEN MY CONSTITUENTS ELECTED
ME, THEY REJECTED A
SCARCITY MENTALITY AT THE
BALLOT BOX.
AND MY CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR
CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT
OUR TAX STRUCTURE HAS CREATED
AN UNJUST SYSTEM, AND
BIG BUSINESS KNOWS IT, TOO.
THAT'S WHY THEY BACKED A
MEASURE AT THE STATE LEVEL
TO ALLOW FOR A TAX TO FUND
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS.
SO WE HAVE TO FIX OUR BROKEN
SYSTEM SO THAT IT
CREATES MORE EGG QUITABLE WAY
TO FINANCE SERVICES,
AND WORKING FAMILIES CAN'T
CONTINUE TO FOOT THE
BILL.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THESE BILLS
HELP CREATE A NEW
SYSTEM THAT'S DESIGNED VERY
INTENTIONALLY TO REDUCE
THE DISPARITIES IN OUR CITY.
TO FIND A WAY TO MORE EQUALLY
FUND GOVERNMENT.
WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE OUR
COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO
MOVE TOWARD A RADICALLY NEW
VISION FOR OUR CITY.
WE'VE HAD A HOMELESSNESS
EMERGENCY AND A HOUSING
SHORTAGE IN THIS CITY FOR
YEARS, AND NOW WE ARE
STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF AN
UNPRECEDENTED
UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS THAT WILL
LEAVE MANY SEATTLE
FAMILIES WITH NO INCOME, NO
FOOD, AND NO ABILITY TO
PAY FOR FOOD.
SO THE LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE
SPONSORING WOULD TAX
THE BIGGEST 2% OF SEATTLE
BUSINESSES, THOSE WITH
ANNUAL PAYROLLS IN EXCESS OF $7
MILLION.
IT WOULD DIRECT THE FIRST 200
MILLION TO FUND CASH
ASSISTANCE FOR UP TO ABOUT
100,000 HOUSEHOLDS,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO WERE
RECENTLY LAID OFF,
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, UNDOCUMENTED
FOLKS, AND THEN, STARTING
IN 2021, WOULD FUND THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SOCIAL
HOUSING AS WELL AS OPERATING
SUPPORT FOR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND IT
WOULD ALSO FUND GREEN NEW
DEAL INVESTMENTS TO BE
DETERMINED BY THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT WE
WILL SEAT THIS YEAR.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN GET
MOVING ON THIS VERY
IMPORTANT PACKAGE OF BILLS SO
THAT WE CAN SERVE OUR
COMMUNITIES AND ADDRESS THE
INEQUITY THAT IS
INHERENT IN OUR EXISTING TAX
STRUCTURE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, FOR THOSE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON THE
AMENDMENT AND ON THE
SUBSTANCE OF THE BILLS.
SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO HEAR ANY
OTHER COMMENTS THAT
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT
HAVE, AGAIN, ON THE
AMENDMENT TO REFER THESE BILLS
TO THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE MOTION
THAT IS BEFORE US
NOW, IS A MOTION TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR TO REFER THE BILLS TO
THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AS THE
COSPONSOR AND ONE OF
THE TWO PRIME SPONSORS OF THE
BILLS.
>> OKAY.
SO WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SOLAN,
AND I SAW
COUNCILMEMBER HERBL'S HAND GO
UP.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THESE THREE DIFFERENT PIECES
OF LEGISLATION
CONSTITUTE THE LEGISLATION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND I ARE SPONSORING TO
TAX AMAZON AND OTHER
BIG BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY TO
PROVIDE EMERGENCY
COVID-19 RELIEF TO WORKING-
CLASS SEATTLEITES
IMMEDIATELY, AND TO FUND A
PUBLIC JOBS PROGRAM IN
SUBSEQUENT YEARS, BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND
FOR A GREEN NEW DEAL TO HELP
WORKERS RECOVER FROM
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WHICH WE
ARE ABOUT TO SEE OFF
COVID-19.
IN THIS CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY,
ELECTED OFFICIALS
HAVE A DUTY TO ACT IMMEDIATELY
AND BOLDLY TO SUPPORT
THE DESPERATE NEEDS OF WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE CREATED
BY THE CRISIS, ESPECIALLY THE
CONTEXT WHERE BIG
BANKS, CORPORATE LANDLORDS, AND
BIG CORPORATIONS AS
A WHOLE ARE STILL MAKING MONEY
WHILE THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THE WORKING CLASS
IS FACING THE BRUNT OF
THE CRISIS.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL FUND
BASIC LIFE SUPPORT IN
THIS YEAR, 2020, BY PROVIDING
$500 A MONTH STIMULUS
CHECKS TO WORKERS, INCLUDING
GIG ECONOMY WORKERS,
LIKE UBER DRIVERS AND INSTACART
SHOPPERS, WHO ARE
OUTRAGEOUSLY CLASSIFIED AS
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS,
AND WHOSE LIVELIHOODS ARE
IMPACTED BY THE SOCIAL
DISTANCING NEEDED TO CONTROL
THE SPREAD OF THE
CORONAVIRUS.
AND THEN, STARTING IN 2021 AND
SUBSEQUENT YEARS, IT
WILL FUND A MASSIVE EXPANSION
OF PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE, RENT-CONTROLLED
SOCIAL HOUSING, WHICH IS
GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT,
GIVEN THAT CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AREND NOW INCREASING
RENT OF THEIR TENANTS
AND AGREEING TO A NEW DEAL.
THIS WORK OF BUILDING RENT
AFFORDABLE HOMES WILL BE
A MAJOR PUBLIC JOBS PROGRAM AS
WELL, WHICH WILL BE A
GOOD-PAYING JOBS, WHICH WILL BE
NEEDED WHEN WE GO
INTO THE MONTHS AHEAD.
THE WORKING-CLASS STIMULUS WILL
BE FUNDED, AS WE
MENTIONED, BY A CORPORATE
PAYROLL TAX ON AMAZON AND
THE LARGEST BUSINESSES IN THE
CITY, NOT ON SMALL AND
MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES, AND IT
WILL RAISE
$500 MILLION PER YEAR, 200
MILLION FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THIS YEAR, AND THE LARGEST
BUSINESSES LIKE AMAZON
HAVE PROFITED OFF THE SUFFERING
BY THIS OR BEEN
BAILED OUT BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND THIS TAX
WOULD REPRESENT A TINY SLIVER
OF THAT REVENUE THAT
IS GOING INTO THE POCKETS OF
THE MAJOR EXECUTIVES,
THE BILLIONAIRES AND THE
SHAREHOLDER. EVEN IF WE PASS
THIS AS A WHOLE WITHOUT
WATERING
DOWN, THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT
SANDERS' PROPOSAL TO
PROVIDE WORKERS ONGOING
STIMULUS CHECKS.
THIS LEGISLATION WAS PRODUCED
BY OUR OFFICES IN
COLLECTION WITH THE GRASSROOTS
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT,
WHICH MY OFFICE HAS BEEN A PART
OF FOR NOW THREE
YEARS.
SO HUNDREDS -- IN FACT, MAYBE
EVEN THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN
RALLIES AND ACTION
CONFERENCES.
BY NOW, OVER5,500 SEATTLEITES
HAVE SIGNED OUR
PETITION, URGING THE COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION.
THIS MORNING, I FORWARDED YOU,
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS,
PRETECHNICIAN RESPONSES,
INCLUDING 370 PAGES OF
COMMENTS FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, AND I HOPE THAT
YOU
AND YOUR STAFF WILL TAKE THE
TIME TO READ THEM.
WE DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
IN THIS MEETING, I
WOULD LIKE TO READ OUT A COUPLE
COMMENTS THAT OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WORKING
PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING, HAVE SHARED ON THE
PETITION.
LANDON FROM QUEEN ANN WROTE, "I
AM A BARTENDER, AND
MY BAR JUST CLOSED DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
I WOULD LIKE TO FILE FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT THIS IS
NOT ENOUGH OF A SAFETY NET FOR
ME OR MY FRIENDS WHO
WORK IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY,
LET ALONE GIG WORKERS,
LIKE UBER AND LYFT.
PLEASE HELP TO PASS A
LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS
THOSE OF US WHOSE PAYCHECK
DEPENDS ON TIPS AND
GRATUITY."
GROOT FROM FIRST HILL WRITES,
"AS A NURSE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, I URGE YOU
TO TAX BIG BUSINESS
TO FREE UP FUNDS TO HELP MANY
INDIVIDUALS ON THE
PRECIPICE OF DISASTER IN MY
COMMUNITY.
I LIVE IN FIRST HILL.
MY APARTMENT COMPLEX CONSISTS
LARGELY OF 350
SQUARE-FOOT STUDIOS WITH
ELDERLY PEOPLE ON FIXED
INCOME, FAMILIES, COUPLES, AND
MULTIPLE ROOMMATE
SITUATIONS.
RENT IS UNAFFORDABLE FOR THE
PRECARIOUSLY EMPLOYED
AND FIXED-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
THESE PEOPLE WILL REQUIRE
SOCIAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL
SUPPORT, AND HEALTH CARE IN THE
MONTHS TO COME.
THE CITY CANNOT MEET THIS
CHALLENGE WITHOUT
ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
AMAZON AND SIMILAR BUSINESSES
ARE SOME OF THE
RICHEST COMPANIES IN HUMAN
HISTORY.
THEY PROVIDE LITTLE REVENUE TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE
SOCIAL GOOD.
IT'S TIME TO CALL ON THEM TO DO
MORE FOR SOCIETY.
TAX THEM, AND FIGHT THE CRISIS
OVERWHELMING OUR
COMMUNITIES.
AND AS I MENTIONED THIS
MORNING, LAST THURSDAY IN MY
OFFICE, I WAS JOINED BY 300
PEOPLE FOR A TOWN HALL
TO TALK ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION,
AND WORKERS IN
DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING
FRONT-LINE
HEALTH-CARE WORKERS, WHO ARE
PROVIDING EMERGENCY
HEALTH-CARE IN THE ICU -- THE
ICUS THROUGHOUT THE
HOSPITALS IN THE REGION.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT IF THE COUNCIL
SAYS THAT THEY SUPPORT THIS
INITIATIVE AND THEY WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LIVES OF
WORKING PEOPLE ARE
EASED DURING THIS CRISIS, I
WOULD URGE NO DELAYS IN
HAVING THE URGENT COMMITTEE
MEETINGS WE WILL NEED TO
DISCUSS THE LEGISLATION, AND TO
PASS THIS BILL
WITHOUT ANY DELAYS AND WITHOUT
ANY MODELING BEING
DONE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLANT.
NEXT ON THE LIST IS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, ONE OF THE SPAN
SPONSORS OF THE BILL.
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, IN
PARTICULAR, THE SPONSORS CAN
PARTICIPATE AND VOTE.
AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, UNDER THE
COUNCIL RULES HERE
HEARING THE LEGISLATION IN A
REGULAR COMMITTEE WOULD
LIMIT THE NUMBER OF
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO COULD
PARTICIPATE IN THE
DELIBERATIONS, AND WHO COULD
VOTE.
AND I -- YOU KNOW, JUST MAYBE
ON A PERSONAL VOTE, I
JUST -- I'M SORT OF BRACE LING
AT THE IDEA THAT THIS
CONCEPT THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT
WE WILL PASS A
STRONG, PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
BILL IS IF IT'S HEARD IN
THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCILMEMBER
SOLANT.
IT IS PROMOTING THE IDEA OF A
DIVIDE COUNCIL THAT
DOESN'T HAVE THE COMMITMENT TO
A PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
TO PASS A STRONG PACKAGE, AND I
-- PARTICULARLY IN
THIS CRISIS, I REALLY -- I
DON'T THINK IT'S HELPFUL
TO REALLY PROMOTE THAT DIVISIVE
APPROACH TO HOW THE
COUNCIL DOES ITS BUSINESS.
I THINK THIS COUNCIL ACTS IN A
WAY THAT'S FAIR AND
RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER.
AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT MEANS
ALL 100% ALIGNED ON A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR NOT, I
THINK WE HAVE PROVEN
THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN A
WAY THAT IS FAIR AND
THAT CONSIDERS THE PUBLIC'S
INTEREST, AND I THINK --
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO
BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER RASKINA?
>> THANK YOU.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
SOLANT FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION.
AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
ON BUDGET, I WELCOME
CONVERSATION ABOUT NEW REVENUE.
I'M SURE THE ENTIRE CITY KNOWS
THERE IS A LONG TRACK
RECORD OF SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL
REVENUE BOTH FROM MY
OFFICE AND, I THINK, FROM THE
COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
IN THE COMMITTEE GIVE THE CITY
THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GET INTO THE DETAILS, WHILE
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A
SMALL STAKE HOLDER GROUP
INVOLVED IN CRAFTING
LEGISLATION AND A LARGER GROUP
WEIGHING IN WITH
SUPPORT, WHICH WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE.
WE DO NEED TO GET THIS CITY A
SENSE OF ENGAGING IN
THE CONVERSATION AS WELL, AND
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I
THINK THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE IS FOR.
MAD UP PRESIDENT, I THINK IT'S
BEEN VERY CLEAR FROM
THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT
I'VE CHAIRED OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS, THAT I INTEND
TO HAVE A ROBUST
DISCUSSION, ONE THAT INVOLVES
STAPLES ACROSS THE
CITY, AND ONE THAT MAKES SURE
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE DISCUSSION.
THAT'S THE WAY THAT I'VE HELD
COUNCIL MEET
INFORMATION THE PAST.
THAT IS HOW I WILL HOLD THEM IN
THE FUTURE, AND I
WILL MAKE SURE THAT WITH DO
THAT WITH URGENCY, GIVEN
THE CRISIS THAT IS PRESENTED IN
OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH
IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
THE FISCAL CRISIS THAT
WE FACE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING GOOD
PARTICIPATION FROM ALL
OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS -- I'M
SORRY -- FROM ALL OF
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, GIVEN THIS
IS A COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE BEING PROPOSED, AND A
CONVERSATION WITH
THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
CALL TO QUESTION --
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO CALL THE
QUESTION, BEGIN THIS IS
A PROCEDURAL MOTION ON WHERE TO
REFER THE BILL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I HAVE A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF
A FEW OTHER FOLKS WHO
HAVE RAISED THEIR HANDS.
EVENING TO IT'S PROCEDURAL
ISSUE THAT'S TECHNICAL,
THE ISSUE BEFORE US NOW IS
WHICH COMMITTEE IS GOING
TO HEAR IT, NOT THE SUBSTANCE
OF THE BILL OR THE
POLICY ISSUE.
SO -- BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE
WHO RAISED THEIR HANDS TO
SPEAK.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS WHO IS
NEXT, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
SOLANT WILL HAVE HER --
HER LAST SHOT HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I'LL BE BRIEF.
I MOSTLY WANT TO ECHO SOME OF
COUNCILMEMBER -- FROM
THE FALL, BEFORE I BECAME A
MOBILE, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES, JUST AROUND THE NEW
SORT OF A STRUCTURE
THAT THE U.S. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
WERE INTENDING TO
IMPOSE IN TERMS OF HAVING THE
SMALLER COMMITTEES
WITH -- WITH SMALLER MEMBERSHIP
AND REALLY DRILLING
DOWN TO ISSUES AT A COMMITTEE
LEVEL.
IT'S PART OF THE REASON.
IT GOES AGAINST THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER.
PART OF THE REASON IS JUST
PROCEDURALLY, I DO THINK,
TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
POINTS, THINGS ARE
GOING TO COME UP WHERE OUR
STUFF IS GOING TO COME UP
WITH OUR COMMITTEES.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT MIGHT COME OUT,
FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE AUDITING
RESOLUTION WE'RE GOING
TO VOTE ON LATER TODAY ARE
GOING TO COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES'S COMMITTEE IF THERE
IS LEGISLATION OF
WHICH I AM NOT A MEMBER.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S THE SYSTEM
THAT I AGREED TO IN
JANUARY WHEN I VOTED AND PUT IT
ON THE CHAIRS.
I DO INTEND TO VOTE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S
MOTION.
I DO THINK THIS IS A FAIR
COMPROMISE TO SEND THIS TO
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE GIVEN THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THE
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THAT SWAN
AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD.
BUT I DO THINK THAT GENERALLY,
KEEPING THINGS WITHIN
THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE, MADAM
PRESIDENT, THAT YOU
HAVE LAID OUT AND WE HAVE VOTED
ON IN JANUARY IS
SOMETHING THAT, I THINK, AS AN
INSTITUTION WILL BE
GOOD FOR THE COUNCIL, AND I
JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT
OUT THERE EARLY, SINCE THIS IS
OUR FIRST OF WHAT
WILL PROBABLY WILL BE MANY
CONVERSATIONS ON THIS
TOPIC, AND JUST WANTED TO THROW
THAT OUT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LOUIS, FOR THOSE
COMMENTS.
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT IS
NEXT, AND THEN I
HAVE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, AND
I HAVE NOW JUST SEEN
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON RAISE
HIS HAND AS WELL.
SO COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALES.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONCE
AGAIN, AS I HAVE DONE
MANY TIMES BEFORE, THAT YES,
THE LEGISLATION OFTEN
CONDITION GO INTO A COMMITTEE
THAT IS CHAIRED BY A
COUNCILMEMBER THAT IS NOT THE
SPONSOR OF THE
LEGISLATION, AND THAT HAPPENS
OFTEN TO MY OWN
LEGISLATION.
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS WILL
REMEMBER THAT IN JANUARY,
MY LEGISLATION TO EXPAND
ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY WENT
THROUGH THE SELECT
COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY HIM, WHICH
WAS FINE BY ME.
OUR MOVEMENT WAS STRONG ENOUGH
TO WIN IT, AND WE WON
A REALLY GOOD VOTE WITHOUT
REALLY WATERING DOWN THE
LEGISLATION, WHICH WAS REALLY A
SIGN OF THE STRENGTH
OF THE MOVEMENT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, IN
RESPONSE TO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SAID, WHO
SAID IN THE SHE
BRISTLES, THAT URGING THAT THE
COUNCIL PUT THIS
LEGISLATION IN A COMMITTEE
CHAIRED BY ME AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORES, THOSE ARE
US WITH THE TWO WITH
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
LEGISLATION, I WOULD JUST
REMIND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
ARE WATCHING THIS THAT
THE REASON I'VE BEEN INSISTENT
ON THIS FOR THIS
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION -- AND
AS I SAID, I DON'T
INSIST ON THIS FOR EVERY
LEGISLATION THAT COMES FROM
MY OFFICE -- IS PRECISELY
BECAUSE MANY
COUNCILMEMBERS, INCLUDING
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
HERSELF, VOTED TO REPOOL THE
AMAZON TAX THAT I HAD
FOUGHT SO HARD FOR IN 2018, AND
THAT WAS DONE BY 7
TO 9 COUNCILMEMBERS TO A BACK-
ROOM DEAL WITH AMAZON
LOBBYISTS AND CORPORATE MAYOR
DERK,N.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU WERE
PART OF THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU WERE
PART OF THAT.
WHILE I WELCOME YOUR POSITIVE
VOICE NOW, AND I WOULD
BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ALL,
I THINK IT IS VERY
CLEAR WHY OUR MOVEMENT WAS
INSISTENT THAT THIS TIME
AROUND, THE CONTACTS BE HEARD
IN MY COMMITTEE.
BUT IT'S FINE IF IT'S NOT.
WE WILL CONTINUE BUILDING OUR
MOVEMENT, AND WE WILL
MAKE SURE THE MOVEMENT HOLDS
ALL POLITICIANS TO
THEIR WORDS.
I'M HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH
YOU ALL, LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MUSKATA IN THE
COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY HER.
MOST URGENTLY, I WILL BE
LOOKING FORWARD TO
DISCUSSING -- AND MY STAFF WILL
BE REACHING OUT TO
YOUR STAFF SOON, TO SCHEDULE A
MEETING AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
AS OF THIS MOMENT, TIMING IS OF
THE URGENCY, BECAUSE
A BIG PUSH FOR THIS BILL IS TO
PROVIDE COVID-19
RELIEF.
SO YOU ALL HAVE AN HISTORIC
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT
THE COUNCIL IS NOT DIVIDE BY
PASSING A UNANIMOUS
BILL THAT IS VERY STRONG, AND
TAXES -- THOSE THAT
WILL HAVE THE MOST, SO THAT THE
WORKING PEOPLE IN
OUR CITY CAN SURVIVE, AND NOT
REPEAL IT.
THANK YOU.
>>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ IS
NEXT, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL NOT OBVIOUSLY SPEAK TO
THE SUBSTANTIVE PIECE
OF WHAT WE'RE -- WHAT WE ARE
PASSING ON TODAY TO
AMEND THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR TO HAVE
THIS PIECE -- THESE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION IN
COUNCILMEMBER MUSCATA'S
COMMITTEE.
BUT THIS IS A GENERAL
OBSERVATION.
IT'S WHAT I SHOWED THIS
MORNING, AND ALSO SUPPORTING
SOME OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD SHARED.
I DO THINK COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT
AND MORALES FOR
THEIR TENACITY IN PUSHING THIS
FORWARD AND THEIR
CONCERNS.
BUT I WANT TO SHARE THIS FROM A
PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT
WE ARE AS A SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
THIS TYPE OF POLITICS IN THE
MIDST OF A LEGAL
PANDEMIC TO ME IS UNACCEPTABLE
AND A WASTE OF TIME.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE TIME
TO PROMOTE ANY TYPE
OF POLITICAL MOVEMENT, AND I
DON'T THINK ANYONE
SHOULD BE ACCUSED OF TRYING TO
UNDERCUT A MOVEMENT.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT THE TIME TO BE
DIVISIVE OR
ACCUSATORIRY.
WE'VE SEEN ENOUGH OF THAT ON
THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE'S
LIVES AND THEIR
LIVELIHOOD.
NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF
THIS WORLD HAVE WE
EXPERIENCED A CRISIS TOGETHER
IN REAL-TIME.
NOT ONLY HAS TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTED US IN ALL KINDS OF
EVENTS, IT HAS CONNECTED OUR
LIVES AND LIVELINESS.
I AM CONCERNED WE ARE GOING TO
GET OFF TRACK, AND WE
ARE NOT GOING TO FOCUS ON WHAT
WE CAN DO AS A
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
I DON'T WANT TO FIND OURSELVES
BEING SIDE-TRACKED OR
GOING DOWN A RABBIT HOLE ABOUT
WHO OR DIDN'T DO WHAT
BACK IN 2017 AND ú18.
I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF US ARE
WORKING HARD WITH
THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AS
ELECTED CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
NOT JUST OUR DISTRICT,
OBVIOUSLY.
YOU PROBABLY THINK THAT'S ODD
COMING FROM ME.
SO I WANT TO SUPPORT AND MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS, AND
HAVE IT GO TO COUNCILMEMBER
M,SCATA'S COMMITTEE,
WHERE EVERY COUNCILMEMBER HAS
AN OPPORTUNITY AND
WILL HAVE COMMENT TO PASS OR
LOOK AT THIS TYPE OF
LEGISLATION.
SO WITH THAT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DO
SUPPORT SENDING IT TO
THIS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE,
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MUSCATA, AND I DO HOPE IT
IS A ROBUST DISCUSSION.
I THINK SUPPORTING SENDING IT
TO THAT COMMITTEE, I
JUST WANT TO SIGNAL THAT DOES
NOT MEAN THAT I
SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION THAT
WAS JUST PUT OUT ON
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M
STILL GOING THROUGH.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
INTRODUCING A NEW TAX AT THE
TIME THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH
THIS PAN EPIDEMIC I
CAN.
THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY
GOING INTO A RECESSION,
PUTTING A TAX ON EMPLOYERS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BRING UP
A LOT OF HEARTY
QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO ANSWER IN THE
COMMITTEE, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO ANSWERING THOSE AND
DIGGING DEEP ON THOSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO HASN'T HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK WHO WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE
COMMENT?
OKAY.
SEEING NONE, WE NOW HAVE A
MOTION IN FRONT OF US TO
CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO REFER
THESE BILLS TO THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE.
IT HAS BEEN DULY SECONDED.
YOU KNOW, I ARTICULATED THIS
MORNING WHY I BELIEVE
IT SHOULD GO TO THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE.
CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BELABOR
THOSE POINT.
I AGREE WITH MANY OF THE
COMMENTS BEING MADE BY MY
COLLEAGUES DURING TODAY'S FULL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR
THIS ISSUE TO BE
CONSIDERED, NOT JUST BY ANY
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE,
BUT BY THE COMMITTEE WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR
SHEPHERDING THROUGH POLICY
ISSUES RELATED TO CITY
FINANCES, AND THESE -- THIS
SUITE OF LEGISLATION IS,
FIRST AND FOREMOST, A SUITE OF
BILLS DESIGNED TO
GENERATE REVENUE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, IN THE FULL
CONTEXT OF THE ENTIRE
CITY'S BUDGET.
I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THE
CHAIR THAT WE ALL
COLLECTIVELY ELECTED AND
APPOINTED TO SERVE AS OUR
BUDGET CHAIR, AND THAT IS
COUNCILMEMBER MUSCATA.
AND I BELIEVE WE WILL SEE IN
THE THIS LEGISLATION
COULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THE
GREAT THINKING OF
ALL OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
WERE ELECTED IN THEIR
OWN RIGHT ACROSS THE CITY.
AND SO LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE US MOVE TOWARD A PATH AND
DIRECTION, WHERE WE
CAN STAND TOGETHER IN THE FACE
OF WHAT WILL BE A
VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD OF TIME
FOR EVERYONE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, PARTICULARLY
FOR WORKING FAMILIES
ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS CONVERSATION IS A SERIOUS
ONE.
WE ARE FACING SERIOUS REVENUE
DEFICITS AT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, AND NOW IS THE TIME
FOR US TO COME
TOGETHER TO TRY TO WORK
TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE IN
A WAY THAT INSPIRES CONFIDENCE
IN THE ABILITY OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO TRULY MEET
THE NEEDS OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AS OPPOSED TO
DRAWING FABRICATED LINES
OF DIVISION AND SEPARATION
AMONGST OURSELVES.
SO I'M HOPEFUL WE WILL RECOMMIT
OURSELVES TO THAT
ENDEAVOR AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS THROUGH AND
APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE
PROCESS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE FLAGGING AND IDENTIFYING OF
CRITICAL IMPORTANCE
AND GETTING THE ANSWERS AND THE
INFORMATION THAT WE
NEED ON THIS SUITE OF
LEGISLATION, AND REALLY WANT
TO THANK AGAIN, LIKE MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE,
THANK COUNCILMEMBERS SOLANT AND
MORALES FOR THEIR
WORK THUS FAR ON THE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THEM AND ALL OF YOU
ON MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THE
RIGHT THING FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH
OAR GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CONCLUDE DEBATE ON THIS
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT, AND
I WILL ASK THAT THE CLERK CALL
THE ROLL ON THE
AMENDMENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MUSCATA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> AYE?
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
MOTION TO INTRO DOES
THE THREE BILLS AND REFER THOSE
BILLS TO THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE IS NOW BEFORE
THE COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE MOTION TO
INTRODUCE THE BILLS AND REFER
THESE BILLS TO THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE?
OKAY. HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL ON THE AMENDMENT TO
INTRODUCE THE BILLS AND
REFER THESE BILLS TO THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MUSCATA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER CITRUS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS AMENDED.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR AS
AMENDED?
OKAY.
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MUSCATA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOL?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBERJEAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT BEGINS?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED
AS AMENDED AT 2:44:00 P.M.
BUT WHO'S WATCHING THE
CLOCK?
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL NOW BE
ADOPTED.
OKAY.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE?
>> BILL 119167, ORDINANCE FOR
URGENT CLAIMS FOR THE
WEEK OF MARCH 23rd, 2020,
THROUGH MARCH 27, 2020,
AND ORDERING PAYMENT THEREOF.
>> OKAY.
I MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
119767.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT THE BILL PASS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLARK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE
OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MUSCATA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOL?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THE BILL PASSES, AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO
COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEM ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> THE CITY COUNCIL, AGENDA
ITEM ONE, RESOLUTION
31941, ESTABLISHING A COMMITTEE
TO DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENHANCE THE
CAPACITY OF THE
OFFICE FOR THE AUDITOR TO
CONDUCT PERFORMANCE
AUDITS.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
31941.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE
RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS, YOU ARE
THE LEAD SPONSOR OF
THIS RESOLUTION, SO I WILL
YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
SO AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK
DURING BRIEFING, I
STARTED WORKING ON PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER WITH
CENTRAL STAFF AND THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IN
JANUARY, GIVEN THAT COVID BROKE
OUT.
WE PUT IT ON HOLD FOR A LITTLE
WHILE.
BUT HAVING CONSULTED WITH THE
CITY AUDITOR AND WITH
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL, THERE WAS A LOT
OF FEELING FROM STAKEHOLDERS
THAT THERE WAS CAPACITY
TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO THIS
WORK REMOTELY, SINCE IT
DIDN'T REALLY INVOLVE MUCH
FIELD WORK OR REQUIRE
PEOPLE TO MEET IN PERSON, AND
THE MEETINGS COULD
PROBABLY BE COME DATED
REMOTELY.
THE IDEA BEHIND THE RESOLUTION
IS ESSENTIALLY TO
HAVE A GROUP OF EXPERTS
COMPOSED FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
PRACTICING THE AUDITING SPACE,
THE OFFICE OF THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE CITY
AUDITOR, BOTH OF WHOM
REPORT TO US AND PERFORM THE
AUDITING FUNCTION FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AS
LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS AND THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, NOT THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
OF GOVERNMENT.
AND FOR A GROUP TO COME
TOGETHER AND MAKE A COUPLE
OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES'
COMMITTEE ON SOMETHING THAT
COULD POSSIBLY ENHANCE
THE OVERSIGHT AND EFFICACY
DRIVING ROLE OF BOTH THE
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
AND THE CITY
AUDITOR, JUST BASED ON REALLY
LOOKING INTO A LOT OF
THE CAPACITY OF THOSE OFFICES
AND WHAT THEY'RE
RUNNING AND CURRENT NEEDS ARE,
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
OVERVIEW, THE OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL, AS IT HAS
BEEN CREATED IN THE POSTCONSENT
DECREE SPACE AND
BEEFED UP, HAS ESSENTIALLY THE
SOLE AUDITING
FUNCTION OF OVERSEEING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND MAKING SURE THE FORMS, ONE
THROUGH COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AND MANDATED BY THIS
COUNCIL ARE BEING
IMPLEMENTED AND THAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS MEETING ITS
GOALS.
AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, THE IT
OFFICE OF THE CITY
AUDITOR, WHICH HAS THAT SAME
ROLE ESSENTIALLY FOR
EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN THE
CITY.
. WE HAVE -- FROM AN INITIAL
ANALYSIS, AND I THINK
THAT LISA KAY IS ON THE CALL.
LISA, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT?
I SAW YOUR NAME EARLIER.
I SEE IT IN FRONT OF ME NOW.
BUT FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
BUT FROM AN ANALYSIS THAT SHE
PUT TOGETHER THAT I
TOOK A LOOK AT RELATIVE -- OH,
THERE YOU ARE.
>> YES, I'M ON THE LINE.
THANK YOU.
>>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A
GOOD IDEA TO CONVENE A
GROUP WITH THE BLESSING AND
SUPPORT OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL AND THE AUDITOR, DAVID
JONES, TO LOOK AT
SOME WAYS THAT MAY BE THE
FUNCTION AND CAPACITY OF
THEIR OFFICES COULD BE
ENHANCED, AND THEN HAVE THAT
REPORT POSSIBLY INFORM SOME
WORK FOR US AS A COUNCIL
IN THE FALL AND BEYOND THAT.
SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE
RESOLUTION DOES.
IT'S PRETTY BARE-BONES, BUT
PART OF MY INSPIRATION
FOR IT WAS VIA RENTAL HOUSING
INSPECTION,
STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE THAT I
WAS APPOINTED TO BY
NICK LACOTTA AND CITY COUNCIL
BACK IN 20011 OR 2012.
AND SORT OF THE WORK THAT THAT
GROUP DID TO BE SORT
OF A SOUNDINGBOARD TO HELP
INFORM COUNCILMEMBER
LACOTT'S OFFICE ON THE EVENTUAL
RENTAL HOUSING
INSPECTION LEGISLATION THAT WAS
PASSED BY THE
COUNCIL.
SO THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE GETTING AT WITH
THE RESOLUTION.
AND I KNOW LISA'S ON THE CALL
TO POSSIBLY ANSWER
SOME QUESTIONS, AND I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LOUIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, ORDINARILY, WE'D
HAVE TO SUSPEND THE
RULES TO ALLOW NONCOUNCIL
MEMBERS TO ADDRESS THE
CITY COUNCIL.
SO BEFORE I SUSPEND THE RULES,
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK
FIRST IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE RESOLUTION THAT ARE
DIRECTED TO COUNCIL'S
CENTRAL STAFF.
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES EXPRESSING AN
INTEREST IN OR A DESIRE TO GET
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION FROM LISA KAY.
SO WE'RE -- I DON'T THINK WE
NEED TO GO -- UNLESS
YOU DISAGREE, COUNCILMEMBER
LOUIS, I DON'T THINK WE
NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
OF HAVING LISA
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
DO YOU HAVE AN OBJECTION TO
THAT?
>> NO, BUT -- I JUST -- I DO
WANT TO THANK MS. KAY
FOR CALLING IN SO WE DID HAVE
THAT OPTION.
IF NOBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR
IAM, I THINK WE'RE
OKAY.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THE
RESOLUTION?
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LOUIS FOR
INTRODUCING THIS.
ANYTHING THAT CAN GIVE OUR CITY
AUDITOR A HIGH
PROFILE IS GREAT.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AN AUDIT
THEY RELEASED LAST
WEEK THAT COUNCILMEMBER ROSCATA
HAD AN ISSUE ABOUT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE CITY
AUDITOR CAN DO A LOT
OF GOOD FOR OUR CITY,
ESPECIALLY AS WE FACE AN
ECONOMIC RECESSION WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO SEE OUR
REVENUE SOURCES DROPPING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HOLE IN
OUR BUDGET.
THE CITY AUDITOR IS WELL POISED
TO FIND SAVINGS, AND
HAS DONE THAT IN THE PAST, AND
I HOPE THIS WILL MAKE
THE OFFICE EVEN MORE ROBUST IN
FINDING SAVINGS,
MAKING THE CITY GOVERNMENT EVEN
MORE EFFICIENT.
SO I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS FOR THAT,
YOU
KNOW.
AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE REALLY
FAMILIAR WITH THE
WORKINGS OF CAPITOL HILL KNOW
THAT THE CONGRESS HAS
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE, THE CONGRESSIONAL
RESEARCH SERVICE, THE GENERAL
ACCOUNTING OFFICE, AND
SO, BY US HAVING A STRONGER
CITY AUDITOR, IT'S GOING
TO BE BETTER FOR ALL OF US.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS FOR
INTRODUCING THIS.
I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, A
CLARIFYING QUESTION
ABOUT ONE OF THE SECTIONS OR
SUBSECTIONS OF THE
RESOLUTION.
SECTION 1-A LISTS THE MEMBERS
OF THE WORKING GROUP,
AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY,
WHEN IT SAYS -- SINCE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITY
GOVERNMENT, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
LABOR UNION, I'M
HOPING THAT WOULD BE A LABOR
UNION THAT IS
REPRESENTING CITY EMPLOYEES,
JUST SO IT'S -- THERE'S
MORE OF A CONNECTION.
>> YEAH.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT.
FIRST, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR -- FOR YOUR
COMMENT ON THE RESOLUTION AS A
WHOLE TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION.
I DO WANT TO STATE, THOUGH,
THAT IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, WHILE
OFTENTIMES,
PERFORMANCE AUDITS DO LEAD TO
PRACTICES THAT ARE
MORE EFFICIENT AND DO SAVE
MONEY AND, IN FACT, KING
COUNTY HAS SAVED OVER$200
MILLION IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS, TO PERFORMANCE AUDITING,
AUDITING IS FIRST
AND FOREMOST EFFICACY.
YOU KNOW, ARE OUR PROGRAMS
WORKING?
ARE THEY DOING THINGS THAT WE
AS A COUNCIL WANT THE
PROGRAMS TO DO?
OFTENTIMES AND NOT UNCOMMONLY,
THAT ACTUALLY LEADS
TO PROGRAMS NEEDING MORE MONEY,
OR FINDING HOLES
WHERE MORE REPAIRS ARE NEEDED
FOR A PROGRAM TO
REALIZE THE FULL EFFECT AND
IMPACT.
SO A FLAG THAT -- YOU KNOW,
WHILE EFFICIENCY IS
SOMETHING THAT TENDS TO COME AS
AN ANCILLARY BENEFIT
TO AN AUDIT, EFFICACY, FIRST
AND FORE MOST, THE
PRIMARY GOAL -- AND IT'S THE
PRIMARY GOAL OF WHAT I
HOPE WOULD COME OUT OF THIS --
THIS RESOLUTION.
SO I DID JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT
TO MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT EFFICIENCY AND EFFICACY,
WHILE THEY SOMETIMES
GO TOGETHER, SOMETIMES AN AUDIT
COMES BACK AND SAYS,
"WE ACTUALLY NEED MORE REVENUE.
WE NEED MORE MONEY, BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT" -- "WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORK."
TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION,
YEAH, MY INTENT -- AND I
DISCUSSED THIS EXTENSIVELY WITH
PROTECH 17.
MY HOPE WOULD BE SOMEONE FROM
PRO TECH 17 WOULD BE
THE LABOR PERSON WHO WOULD
SERVE ON THIS, BECAUSE
THEY REPRESENT A LOT OF FOLKS
ACROSS DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS.
I TALK TO SHAWN VAN IKE, AND
HE'S EXCITED, AND WITH
THE COUNCIL ON THIS, AND TO
REALLY SEE SOME OF THE
CHANGES THAT PROTECH 17 HAS
FLAGGED OVER THE YEARS
AS PLACES WHERE THE CITY COULD
BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE
AND RESPONSIVE AND EFFICACIOUS.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON AND I
WOULD HOPE THAT ONE OF THE
BARGAINING UNITS WITHIN
THE CITY WOULD BE IN THAT
POSITION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS, I HAVE IN
MY NOTES THAT YOU
INTENDED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT
TO THIS COUNCIL BILL.
DO YOU STILL INTEND TO BRING
THAT AMENDMENT FORWARD?
>> YES, I DO, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES.
THANKS FOR FLAGGING THAT.
HERE, I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK UP
THE EXACT LANGUAGE
OF THE AMENDMENT HERE JUST TO
MAKE SURE THAT I GET
THE WORDING RIGHT.
AND I BELIEVE IT WAS CIRCULATED
IN ADVANCE.
>> IT IS -- THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT IS PROPOSED
AMENDMENT 1. IT IS LISTED ON
THE REGULARLY PUBLISHED AGENDA.
SO IT WAS APPROPRIATELY AND
TIMELY CIRCULATED.
SO I JUST NEED YOU TO MAKE THE
MOTION, GET A SECOND,
AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
>> YEAH.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
I DO MOVE PROPOSED AMENDMENT 1
TO BE ADOPTED.
>> SECOND?
>> AS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, YOU SHOULD
FEEL FREE TO SPEAK TO IT,
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS.
>> RIGHT.
I MEAN, MOSTLY IT JUST
CLARIFIED THAT -- IT WENT TO
LISA'S -- SORRY.
IT WAS ON SOMEONE'S SCREEN.
IT'S CHALLENGING.
ALL RIGHT.
SO PROPOSED AMENDMENT 1, IT
PUTS AN AMENDMENT --
SUBSTITUTE SECTION1-A TO JUST
BASICALLY MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES, YOU CAN DESIGNATE
SOMEBODY TO BE THE PRIMARY CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER TO
CHAIR THIS WORK GROUP, AND
THEN, LIKE, REPORT BACK
TO YOUR COMMITTEE, WHEREAS THE
OLD LANGUAGE DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
YOU HAVE THE POWER
AND AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT
DELEGATION.
SO CENTRAL STAFF FELT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT
LANGUAGE IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, I AGREED WITH CENTRAL
STAFF.
SO WE ARE PUTTING THAT
AMENDMENT FORWARD.
>> GREAT.
SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE
RESOLUTION, ASCRIBED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS.
HE'S ALREADY SPOKEN TO IT.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT?
? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE AMENDMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOL?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBERJEAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE RESOLUTION AS
AMENDED?
HEARING NONE, I WILL ASK THE
CLERK TO PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION AS
AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
? I'M SORRY.
COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS?
>> OH, AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MUSCETA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLANT?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOL?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> AYE.
>> 9 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AS
AMENDED, AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
IS ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL?
>> NO.
>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
DID SOMEBODY SAY NO?
>> YEAH.
I WON'T TELL YOU WHO.
>> I SUSPECT I KNOW WHO IT WAS.
OKAY.
YES, I HEAR YOU.
SO THAT CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS
ON OUR AGENDA FOR
TODAY.
THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, AND
WE WILL CONVENE AGAIN ON
MONDAY, APRIL -- I KNOW
WHEN THAT DAY IS, APRIL 13th AT
2 P.M.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND YOUR
ATTENTION.
BYE.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
GOOD JOB, BYE.
>> BYE.