>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WELCOME BACK.
VIA FROM 19, 2021 COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETING WILL NOW COME
TO ORDER.
>>> HERBOLD?
JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE MINUTES WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE NOW ADOPTED.
I'M GOING TO DISPENSE WITH THE
PRESIDENT'S REPORT SO WE CAN
DIG RIGHT INTO THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE.
WE ARE AS USUAL, JOINED BY
MEMBERS OF OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
AS A REMINDER COLLEAGUES, THIS
WILL BE THE LAST SESSION UPDATE
FROM OIR PRIOR TO SIGN OR DIED.
WE DO PLAN FOR THE OIR TEAM TO
COME BACK ON MONDAY.
SITE, MY DATE IS WRONG.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
Y'ALL BACK IN MAY.
FOR THE FULL SIGN OR DIE REPORT.
FOR NOW, I'M GOING TO HANDED
OVER TO LILY.
PAYMENT GOOD MORNING,
>> LILY WILSON-CODEGA DIRECTOR
OF OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS.
>> ROBIN KOSKEY , DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AT THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
>> QUINN MAJESKI, STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR.
>> HANNAH SMITH, GOVERNMENT
AFFAIR PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
>>> AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
MENTIONED, WE ARE BEFORE YOU
WITH THE LAST STATE LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE.
AS WE NEAR THE CONCLUSION OF
THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON
APRIL 25th.
YOU HAVE ALL SURVIVED THE FIRST
SESSION IS WASHINGTON STATE
HISTORY TO BE HELD PRIMARILY
ONLINE.
MUST'VE THIS PLAST WEEK.
INTRODUCED CORRESPONDING
LEGISLATION TO INCREASE FUNDING
FOR TREATMENT AND DIVERSION.
ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO LOOK
AT WAY TO EXAMINE ISSUES WITH
OUR CURRENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SYSTEMS AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO
TREATMENT. ROBIN CAN SPEAK MORE
AT LENGTH TO THIS BILL.
REALLY, TIED INTO A LOT OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS AROUND MANY THINGS
THE CITY CARES ABOUT.
THIS WEEK, EACH CHAMBER WILL BE
FINALIZING OPERATING CAPITAL
AND TRANSPORTATION BUDGETS.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO SEE PROGRESS
ON TOP PRIORITIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS QUINN WILL
REPORT IN MORE DEPTH, THESE ARE
NOT FARING AS WELL IN THE
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE SPACE.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS WEEK,
LEGISLATORS WILL BE VOTING ON
THE FLOOR ASKING CLIENTS AND
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE.
WE EXPECT TO SEE BUDGETS THIS
WEEK.
THE LATEST WE ARE HEARING IS
WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY
POTENTIALLY, THE TEAM CAN
CORRECT ME IF WE'VE HEARD
ANYTHING DIFFERENT SINCE THEN.
AGAIN, THANKS TO COUNCIL FOR
MANY MEETINGS OVER THE LAST
WEEKS WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED
INVESTMENT IN RAPID ACQUISITION
FUNDING, GIVEN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING'S SUCCESS WITH THE CLAY
APARTMENTS.
WITH ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING
IN THIS VERY UNIQUE WINDOW IN
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET, WE
REALLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
REPLICATE THIS MODEL AND
QUICKLY HOUSE MANY SEATTLE
RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
WORK CONTINUES IN THAT SPACE.
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
AND FOR THE LETTER THAT COUNCIL
SENT AS WELL.
FINALLY, WE ARE ESPECIALLY
GRATEFUL TO SENATORS AND THE
SPEAKER FOR THEIR MAC
PARTNERSHIP AND ASSISTANCE BOTH
ON THE CAPITAL FUNDING AND
SUPPORT FOR OPERATING TO
FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE
DOCUMENT RECORDING FEED. I WILL
NOW TURN IT OVER TO QUINN
MAJESKI.
OUR STATE RELATIONS DIRECTOR.
>> THANK YOU, LILY.
AS LILY MENTIONED IN THE BUDGET
AND REVENUE SPACE, THE FINAL
DETAILS OF THE BUDGET
AGREEMENTS FOR OPERATING
CAPITAL AND TRANSPORTATION ARE
STILL BEING IRONED OUT.
I THINK THERE HAD BEEN A
POTENTIAL NOTION THAT WE MIGHT
SEE THOSE COMING OUT TODAY OR
TOMORROW, BUT THE LATEST WE
HAVE HEARD IS THEY ARE LIKELY
TO BE OUT SOMETIME IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.
POTENTIALLY WEDNESDAY OR
THURSDAY.
STILL ON TRACK TO BE COMPLETED
BY THE END OF REGULAR SESSION
ON SUNDAY, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD
BEING A TIGHTER MARGIN THAN
PREVIOUSLY ANTICIPATED.
THE ONLY OTHER UPDATE ON THE
BUDGET AND REVENUE SPACE, ASIDE
FROM ITS ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON
HOUSING IN BLAKE, BUT I THINK
ROBIN IS GOING TO GET INTO.
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE PASSED
THE SENATE CAPITAL GAINS TAX
OUT OF COMMITTEE.
THE BILL WAS AMENDED, ASIDE
FROM SOME TECHNICAL
CLARIFICATION, TO CHANGE THE
DISTRIBUTION OF THE REVENUES.
THAT PREVIOUSLY THOSE HAD GONE
FIRST TO THE EDUCATION LEGACY
TRUST FUND, WITH THE INTENTION
OF FUNDING CHILD CARE AND EARLY
LEARNING INVESTMENTS.
A PORTION WOULD HAVE BEEN
DEDICATED TO THAT.
THEN, APPORTIONED TO THE NEWLY
CREATED TAXPAYER RELIEF ACCOUNT.
THE REMAINDER DEDICATED TO THE
GENERAL FUND.
THE HOUSE HAS AMENDED IT SO
THAT ALL OF THE PROTEINS WOULD
GO TOWARD THE EDUCATION LEGACY
TRUST FUND, WITH THE INTENTION
OF FUNDING INVESTMENTS IN
CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING.
THAT WAS PULLED THROUGH THE
SECOND READINGS CALENDAR.
FOR ACTION IS LIKELY TO BE
COMING UP EITHER LATER TODAY OR
IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, IN
TANDEM WITH ACTION ON THE
BUDGET.
THEN, IT WILL GO BACK OVER TO
THE SENATE FOR COPING SENSE.
WITH THAT, I WILL PAUSE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS ON BUDGET AND REVENUE.
>> JUST LOOKING FOR ANY HANDS
RAISED HERE.
NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED.
I THINK WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JUST ONE QUICK UPDATE IN THE
EDUCATION SPACE.
52-37, FAIR STARTS FOR KIDS ACT,
NEEDS CONCURRENCE IN THE SENATE.
AMENDMENT IN THE HOUSE ADDED
LANGUAGE RECOGNIZING THE
FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDING
FOR CHILD CARE.
AND CHANGING SOME ELIGIBILITY
AND COPAYMENT MODELS FOR SOME
OF THE PROGRAMS.
WE WILL EXPECT THAT CONCURRENCE
LATER THIS WEEK.
OTHER EDUCATION BILLS THAT
PASSED, ARE WORKING THROUGH
CONCURRENCE AS WELL.
SENATE BILL 5401, COMPUTER
SCIENCE DEGREES IS HEADED TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON EDUCATION.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS --
>> ANY QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO I THINK WE CAN KEEP
GOING.
>> MOVING ON TO ENVIRONMENT.
TWO BILLS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWING ARE AWAITING
CONCURRENCE.
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THEY ARE
LIKELY TO RECEIVE THAT THIS
WEEK AS THE LEGISLATURE MOVES
TOWARDS THE END OF SESSION.
5022, CONCERNING RECYCLING
WASTE AND LITTER.
5141, MOST COMMONLY KNOWN AS
THE HEEL ACT.
WITH A BIT MORE, I SUPPOSE
DRAMA AROUND CONCURRENCE IS
HOUSE BILL 1091, WHICH IS THE
CLEAN FUEL STANDARD.
EXCUSE ME.
TO GET THE BILL OUT OF THE
SENATE, THERE WERE A VARIETY OF
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED THAT WATERED
THAT BILL DOWN.
REDUCED SOME OF THE
EFFECTIVENESS WHEN IT COMES TO
IMPLEMENTATION DATES, TARGETS,
CARBON INTENSITY REDUCTION.
I THINK THERE IS SOME BACK-AND-
FORTH NOW BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE ABOUT WHETHER THOSE WILL
BE ACCEPTED.
OR NOT.
SO, I THINK THAT'S A DISCUSSION
THAT IS HAPPENING BETWEEN THE
PRIME SPONSOR IN THE HOUSE AND
SOME OF THE LEADERS IN THE
SENATE.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.
FINALLY, THE CLIMATE COMMITMENT
ACT, WHICH IS THE CAP AND
INVEST LEGISLATION, GOVERNOR
REQUESTED AND SPONSORED BY
SENATOR CARLISLE, HAS CONTINUED
TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT WAS PASSED BY THE SENATE AND
LAST WEEK HAD A HEARING AND
COMMITTEE VOTE.
IN THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE, AND THEN THIS WEEK,
ACTION IS BEING TAKEN BY THE
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
THERE WAS, VERY RECENTLY, A NEW
PROVISION THAT WAS ADDED THAT
INCREASES THE SCOPE OF THE
PREEMPTION AND POTENTIALLY
TROUBLING WAYS.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS THE CITY'S
ABILITY TO OPERATE PROGRAMS
THAT WOULD REDUCE GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS.
WE ARE STILL DIGGING INTO SOME
OF THE DETAILS.
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT,
AND KNOW THAT IT IS SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON
AND ENGAGED ON.
WITH THAT, I THINK I WILL PAUSE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON
ENVIRONMENT.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON
ENVIRONMENT?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO I THINK WE CAN KEEP
GOING.
>> IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT, JUST
A FEW UPDATES.
THE LEGISLATIVE BODIES HAVE
CONCURRED ON SEVERAL BILLS THAT
WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING AND
FOLLOWING AND SUPPORTING,
INCLUDING 1443.
THAT CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND THIS
TREE.
LOCAL REDISTRICTING DEADLINES
AND ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC WORKS
CONTRACTING.
A FEW BILLS ARE STILL REMAINING
ON THE CONCURRENCE CALENDAR,
BUT THERE'S BEEN NO INDICATION
FOR THESE PARTICULAR BILLS THAT
THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY
PROBLEMS WITH CONCURRENCE.
SO, I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS,
SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
>> A LOT OF GOOD NEWS.
ONE BILL TO FLAG OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH DISTRICTS
BILL.
THIS BILL HAS TAKEN A LOT OF
FORMS THROUGHOUT THE SESSION.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE FINAL VERSION
WILL IMPACT THE MAKEUP OF LOCAL
BOARDS OF HEALTH, SO THERE IS
LARGER REPRESENTATION FROM NON-
ELECTED OFFICIALS.
INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH
PRACTITIONERS, CONSUMERS, AND
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
WE ARE STILL UNCLEAR WHAT THAT
WILL LOOK LIKE FOR OUR BOARD OF
HEALTH BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT
IMPLEMENTATION.
HOUSE BILL 1477, THE NATIONAL
988 SYSTEM BILL, RECEIVED
EXECUTIVE ACTION IN WAYS AND
MEANS LAST WEEK AND IS IN
RULES.
IT IS NTIB, THOUGH IT HAS
ADDITIONAL TIME, EVEN THOUGH
THAT TIME IS QUICKLY RUNNING
OUT.
SENDING BILL 5068, THE
POSTPARTUM MEDICAID BILL WAS
DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR.
YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT THIS BILL
PASSED LAST YEAR BUT WAS VETOED
IN THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO
THE COVID BUDGET IMPACTS.
SO, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THIS BILL
PASS IN THIS LARGER FORM.
THOSE OF THE UPDATES IN
HEALTHCARE IF THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO I THINK WE CAN
CONTINUE.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
AS FAR AS HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS GOES, HANNAH, I'M
PROBABLY GOING TO BE SKIPPING
AROUND A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF
THE BILL NUMBERS, JUST TO LET
YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE SOME OF THE BILLS HAVE
BEEN CONCURRED ON AND OTHERS
HAVE NOT.
SO, AS FAR AS CONCURRENCE GOES,
HOUSE BILL 1220, THAT WAS THE
BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE
PLANNING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND EMERGENCY SHELTER NEEDS,
AND ESTABLISHES ZONING
REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING,
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, EMERGENCY
SHELTER, WAS CONCURRED UPON BY
THE HOUSE.
NOW, WILL MOVE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
SIMILARLY, SAME THING FOR HOUSE
BILL 1108 ON FORECLOSURE
ASSISTANCE.
HOUSE BILL 1236, THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION BILL.
THERE ARE A COUPLE BILLS THAT
ARE VERY IMPORTANT THAT HAVE NOT
BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVED YET.
HOUSE BILL 1277, THE DOCUMENT
RECORDING FEES BILL THAT WOULD
GENERATE WELL OVER $100 MILLION
STATEWIDE FOR HOMELESSNESS AND
RENT ASSISTANCE IS STILL
AWAITING PASSAGE IN THE SENATE.
WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET
THAT BILL MOVING BEFORE THE END
OF THE SESSION.
LAST MONDAY, THE BILL WAS
AMENDED TO INCLUDE 20% OF THE
FUNDS WOULD BE DEVOTED TO
OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND
SERVICES FOR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
SO, REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE SINCE WE DO
HAVE SO MUCH PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND
CONTINUE TO ADD MORE ALL OF THE
TIME.
SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP
YOU UPDATED AND WORK ON THAT
BILL.
SENATE BILL 5160, THE BILL THAT
PROVIDES TENANT PROTECTIONS
FOLLOWING THE END OF THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM, INCLUDING
RIGHT TO COUNSEL AND A PAYMENT
PLAN FRAMEWORK.
WAS AMENDED, AS I MENTIONED,
LAST WEEK TO INCLUDE THAT THE
GOVERNOR MAY NOT EXTEND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM ANY FURTHER.
THERE IS SOME REAL CONCERN THAT
THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH TIME TO
SET UP THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION
ASPECT OF THAT BILL AROUND THE
STATE.
SO, ADVOCATES ARE WORKING VERY
HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS
SOME WAY TO EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM, OR DO SOMETHING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH
TIME TO HAVE THOSE RIGHT TO
COUNSEL SET UP TO AVOID SORT
OF A BUBBLE OF EVICTIONS BEFORE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL GETS SET UP.
WE'LL ALSO KEEP YOU POSTED
THERE.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE ON HOUSING,
AND I'M HAPPY TO PAUSE TO SEE
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON
THESE VERY IMPORTANT BILLS.
>> THANKS, ROBIN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THOSE BILLS, COLLEGE?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED.
THOUGHT, SPOKE TOO SOON.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
ROBIN, YOU JUST ELUDED TO THIS
POINT ABOUT THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
AS YOU NOTED IN THE FINAL
STAGES OF APPROVING THE
LEGISLATION, REALLY TERRIBLE OF
THE DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE
HOUSE AGREED TO AN AMENDMENT TO
THE SENATE BILL 5160, THAT
REQUIRES THE GOVERNOR'S
EVICTION MORATORIUM TO END AT
THE END OF JUNE.
THIS LAST-MINUTE AMENDMENT
INTRODUCED AND VOTED ON IN A
RASH MANNER LATE IN THE EVENING
OF APRIL 8, DENYING COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WEIGH IN IS A SHAMEFUL BETRAYAL
OF TENANTS EVERYWHERE.
NOW, TENANTS ARE FIGHTING A
DEFENSIVE BATTLE TO STRIP THIS
AMENDMENT OUT BEFORE THE BILL
HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT ANY LAST-
DITCH EFFORT THAT CAN BE MADE
HERE TO REMOVE THIS SUNSET
CLAUSE.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE FOR THE
RECORD THAT IT IS JUST
ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL THAT THE
DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING SELF-
DESCRIBED PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT
HAVE GONE ON THE RECORD CALLING
FOR AN END TO THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
AT A TIME OF SUCH UNPRECEDENTED
CRISIS.
WE KNOW IF THIS GETS SIGNED
INTO LAW AS IS, IT WILL BE
ABSOLUTELY CATASTROPHIC FOR
TENANTS.
WE NEED A FULL COVERAGE ON
RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
I WOULD JUST NOTICE THE RIGHT
TO COUNSEL PASSED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL IS FAR STRONGER THAN
THE SENATE BILL.
I THINK THE PARAMOUNT
CONSIDERATION HERE IS WHAT THEY
HAVE DECIDED TO DO WITH THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
SO, COULD YOU JUST SAY A FEW
MORE WORDS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE
CHANCES OF ROLLING BACK THIS
INSIDIOUS AGREEMENT?
ALSO, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU
KNOW IN ADVANCE, THAT IF THERE
ARE ANY EFFORTS THAT MY OFFICE
CAN BE A PART OF TO HELP STRIP
THIS AMENDMENT, THEN PLEASE
REACH OUT TO MY STAFF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
I'M REALLY NOT SURE EXACTLY
WHAT THE CHANCES ARE OF
SOMETHING HAPPENING TO CHANGE.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT, I KNOW THAT
THE WASHINGTON LOW INCOME
HOUSING ALLIANCE IS DOING A
VERY BIG SIGN ON LETTER.
JUST SO EVERYONE REALIZES, THAT
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.
THAT THERE IS QUITE A CONCERN
OVER.
SO, I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT SOME
RESOLUTION OF THIS WILL OCCUR
IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I WILL CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW
IF THERE IS ANY THING THAT WE
CAN DO AT THE CITY TO TRY AND
MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS ON HOUSING, THEN I
CAN MOVE ON TO POLICE REFORM,
WHERE THERE ARE ALSO SOME
EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, ROBIN.
>> SO, SIMILARLY HERE, THERE
ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT STATEWIDE
POLICIES THAT HAVE MOVED TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
HOUSE BILL 1267 ON INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION.
THE HOUSE CONCURRED WITH THE
SENATE AMENDMENTS.
THAT IS THE BILL THAT WOULD
ESTABLISH THE STATEWIDE
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS OF
USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE.
WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT
POLICY FOR THE IMPACTED
FAMILIES TO SEE.
I THINK IT WAS SORT OF THE
TOUCHTONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT MOVE
FORWARD.
HOUSE BILL 1089, THAT REQUIRES
AUDITS OF DEADLY FORCE
INCIDENTS, AND ALSO OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE
COMPLIANCE WITH TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS WAS ALSO CONCURRED
UPON BY THE HOUSE AND SENT TO
THE GOVERNOR.
THE SAME THING WITH SENATE BILL
5259 ON DATA COLLECTION. THE
SENATE CONCURRED WITH
AMENDMENTS AND SENT THE BILL TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
HOUSE BILL 1054, ON TACTICS
THAT BANS CHOKEHOLD, NO-KNOCK
WARRANTS, MISUSE OF TEARGAS,
FIRING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND
USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT, AS
WELL AS HOUSE BILL 1310, ON USE
OF FORCE.
IN BOTH CASES, THE HOUSE REFUSED
TO CONCUR WITH THE SENATE
AMENDMENTS TO THOSE BILLS, SO
THEY HAVE BEEN SENT TO
CONFERENCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT CONVERSATIONS
ARE ONGOING, AND THERE IS ALSO
GREAT HOPE THAT THE RESOLUTION
THAT IS AMENABLE TO ALL PARTIES
INVOLVED WILL BE REACHED.
THAT THOSE WILL IN FACT MOVE
FORWARD BY THE END OF THIS
SESSION.
ON SUNDAY.
THEN, THERE ARE TWO OTHER BILLS
WHERE CONCURRENCE HAS NOT
HAPPENED.
THAT ARE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
POLICE REFORM BILLS.
THAT IS SENATE BILL 5051,
SENATOR PEDERSEN'S OVERSIGHT
AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF PEACE
OFFICERS BILL.
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
DECERTIFICATION.
IT IS STILL WAITING FOR HOUSE
CONCURRENCE.
SENATE BILL 5066, THE DUTY TO
INTERVENE BILL, IS SIMILARLY
WAITING FOR CONCURRENCE.
SO, THAT IS THE UPDATE ON
POLICE REFORM.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE.
>> WELL, TERRIFIC.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC
SAFETY WHERE THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INTRIGUE
THAT IS OCCURRING IN THE LAST
DAYS WITH REGARD TO THE BLIGHT
DECISION.
IN THE SENATE, HAS STRIKING
AMENDMENT WAS ADVANCED THAT
SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THE
CONTENT OF SENATOR DINGESS' BILL
THAT WOULD HAVE LEGALIZED A
PERSONAL USE AMOUNT OF
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
WHERE IT ENDED UP WAS THAT IT
WOULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE
THE PERSONAL USE AMOUNT
LANGUAGE WAS STRIPPED, AND
REPLACED WITH ADDING KNOWINGLY
BACK INTO THE DRUG POSSESSION
LAWS.
THEN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH
PROSECUTION IS THAT THE FIRST
TWO CASES THAT WERE LEGALLY
SUFFICIENT FOR PROSECUTION
WOULD BE DIVERTED FOR THE
TREATMENT.
WOULD BE DIVERTED TO TREATMENT,
EXCUSE ME.
THEN, A THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT
VIOLATION, IT WOULD BE UP TO
THE PROSECUTOR TO DECIDE WHEN TO
REFER THAT CASE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES QUITE A LARGE
STUDY PORTION TO LOOK AT THINGS
LIKE THE AVAILABILITY OF
TREATMENT AND DIVERSION
SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE.
WHAT BARRIERS THERE ARE, WHAT
THE WORKFORCE NEEDS ARE.
ACROSS THE STATE, IN TERMS OF
PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE
DISORDER.
WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS THAT
IT REQUIRED VOTES, BOTH
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TO
GET IT OUT OF THE SENATE.
SENATOR DINGESS ACTUALLY ENDED
UP NOT VOTING FOR HER OWN BILL.
ALL AGREED THAT THEY WANTED TO
MOVE THE POLICY FORWARD TO
CONTINUE WORKING ON THE ISSUE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, OF THE
CHAMBER, THE HOUSE INTRODUCED A
BILL AS WELL.
REPRESENTATIVE GOODMAN AND
REPRESENTATIVE SIMMONS, THAT
WOULD AGAIN ESTABLISH A
PERSONAL USE AMOUNT, VERY
SIMILAR TO SENATOR DINGESS'
BILL.
THAT, MAKE POSSESSION OF A
PERSONAL USE AMOUNT A CIVIL
INFRACTION.
LILY ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THIS IN
HER INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, BUT
ALSO PROVIDES FOR A STUDY TO
LOOK AT WHAT THE LANDSCAPE OF
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE
COMMUNITY NOW.
AND WOULD PROVIDE A GRANT
PROGRAM THAT, AT THIS POINT,
SEEMS TO BE LARGELY UNFUNDED.
I WOULD SAY WITH BOTH OF THESE
THINGS, WE ARE JUST KEEPING AN
EYE OUT.
THE BILLS THAT CREATE NEW
MISDEMEANORS WOULD CREATE
ADDITIONAL POTENTIALLY,
ADDITIONAL CASELOAD FOR
MUNICIPAL COURTS.
SO, WE ARE JUST WATCHING THAT
TO SEE HOW THINGS DEVELOP.
THIS IS VERY MUCH STILL A WORK
IN PROGRESS.
IT IS AN EXTREMELY COMPLICATED
POLICY TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT
QUICKLY.
AT THE END OF A LEGISLATIVE
SESSION WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY
DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT
THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE AMONG A
CAST OF LEGISLATORS ACROSS BOTH
THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
SO, I WILL CERTAINLY UPDATE YOU
ON WHERE THIS ALL ENDS UP KEEP
YOU POSTED.
DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT POLICY
THAT IS BEING DECIDED IN THESE
LAST DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR
TODAY OTHERWISE.
>> THANKS, ROBIN FOR THAT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
I SEE YOUR HAND IS UP.
THEN, IF SOMEBODY FROM I.T.
CAN REACH OUT TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS HAVING
SOME TECHNOLOGY DIFFICULTIES.
COUNCILMEMBER, HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VOTE ON
THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL
IS THIS MORNING.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I NEGLECTED TO PROVIDE ANY
OTHER PROCEDURE UPDATE.
THERE IS A HEARING ON THE
SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL IN
THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE TODAY.
THE HOUSE BILL ACTUALLY HAS NOT
BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING YET.
I SUSPECT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE
OF ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS.
I THINK IT CERTAINLY IS AN
IMPORTANT POLICY TO PUT OUT
THERE AS PART OF THE OVERALL
LANDSCAPE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW.
>> I HAVE A NOTE THAT THERE WAS
A -- THAT THE HEARING IS ON A
VARIATION OF THE BILL IN THE
FORM OF A STRIKING AMENDMENT.
WHICH INCLUDED A BAD REPUBLICAN
AMENDMENT THAT APPARENTLY PASSED
WITH ONLY ONE OF OUR OWN
DELEGATION VOTING IN FAVOR OF
IT.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THAT
AMENDMENT WAS?
>> THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE
AMENDMENT THAT I WAS DESCRIBING
THAT CHANGES --
>> GOT IT.
>> YES.
I CAN PROVIDE YOU -- THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON CITY
STAFF DID A LITTLE BIT OF A
SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENT.
I'M HAPPY TO SEND THAT TO YOUR.
I CAN ALSO SEND YOU SORT OF A
LINE BY LINE QUICK DOCUMENT
COMPARISON WHERE YOU CAN SEE
WHAT THE AMENDMENTS DID.
>> THAT WOULD BE REALLY
HELPFUL.
I'M JUST WONDERING AS IT
RELATES TO THE HOUSE VERSION OF
THE BILL, IF THAT IS MOVING
FORWARD, WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE CONVERSATIONS
AROUND WHATEVER VEHICLE PASSES,
IS REALLY CENTERED ON RACIAL
JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR HEALTH.
WOULD REALLY LIKE TO NOTE THERE
IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CAN DO TO JUST REALLY
SEND A STRONG MESSAGE THAT
THOSE NEED TO BE SORT OF THE
CENTERING PRINCIPLES OF THE
LEGISLATION IN THE FACE OF THE
BLAKE DECISION.
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY COMMUNICATE
THAT TO THE LEGISLATORS THAT WE
KNOW ARE INVOLVED IN THE
NEGOTIATIONS, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I'M HAPPY TO CONTACT THEM ON
YOUR BEHALF AND JUST LET THEM
KNOW AND MAKE CONNECTIONS FOR
YOU AS WELL.
I KNOW RIGHT NOW OF COURSE THEY
ARE REALLY TRYING TO GET THIS
DONE.
I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY NOT TOO
LATE TO SAY THAT WE ARE
INTERESTED IN THE OUTCOME, AND
THAT WE REALLY WANT TO BE PART
OF THE SOLUTION, AND WE WANT TO
CENTER RACIAL EQUITY IN ALL OF
THE DISCUSSIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK, UNLESS THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE INTRIGUE
AROUND THE BLAKE DECISION, I
CAN PASS IT BACK TO QUINN FOR
THE FINAL TRANSPORTATION.
UPDATE.
>> GO AHEAD, QUINN.
I'M GOING TO JUMP IN QUICKLY
SAFELY
>> I'M SORRY.
IT'S THE LAST WEEKEND I CAN'T
GET A RIGHT.
APOLOGIES, HANNAH.
>> NO QUESTION.
NO PROBLEM.
A COUPLE QUICK UPDATES.
MOSTLY ABOUT CONCURRENCE.
THEY CONCURRED ON HOUSE BILL
1297, THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX
CREDIT.
1140, JUVENILE ACCESS TO
ATTORNEYS.
PAID FAMILY LEAVE, AND 1399,
WHICH REDUCES BARRIERS FOR
LICENSES FOR THOSE WITH
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS.
SO, ALL THOSE BILLS NOW MOVE TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
GREAT NEWS THERE AND THOSE ARE
MY UPDATES IF THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
I THINK WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> GREAT, NOW IT IS TIME FOR
QUINN.
TRANSPORTATION.
>> THANK YOU, HANNAH.
ROUNDING THINGS OUT IN
TRANSPORTATION.
I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT IT
APPEARS QUITE UNLIKELY AT THIS
POINT THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL
TAKE ACTION ON A POTENTIAL
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE PACKAGE
THIS SESSION.
WITH UNDER A WEEK LEFT, BOTH
THE HOUSE AND SENATE APPEAR TO
STILL BE QUITE FAR APART IN
THEIR PROPOSALS.
THE SENATE LAST WEEK ADVANCED
THEIR PROPOSAL OUT OF
COMMITTEE.
I THINK TELLINGLY, DESPITE MANY
OVERTURES MADE TO THE RANKING
MEMBER, AND SORT OF THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, RECEIVED NO
VOTES.
FROM REPUBLICANS, IT WAS PASSED
ON A PARTYLINE VOTE.
THAT IS NOTABLE BECAUSE THE
BOND BILL IN THE TRANSPORTATION
REVENUE PACKAGE REQUIRES A 60%
THRESHOLD.
IT IS LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD
NEED AT LEAST A FEW
REPUBLICANS.
SO, THE SENATE HAS ADVANCED THE
BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE, BUT IT
HAS NOT GONE TO THE FLOOR YET.
THE HOUSE HAS NEITHER PASSED
THE BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE NOR
GONE TO THE FLOOR.
COMBINED WITH ALL OF THE FACTORS
, INTERCONNECTIONS WITH THE
CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT, WHICH
SERVES AS A PARTIAL FUNDING
SOURCE, AS WELL AS THE LOW
CARBONS FUEL STANDARD, IT DOES
APPEAR UNLIKELY THEY WILL REACH
ANY SORT OF AGREEMENT THERE
WERE JUST SIX DAYS LEFT.
SO, THAT IS THE TRANSPORTATION
UPDATE.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IN
THIS SPACE.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO I THINK WE CAN
CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU
ALL. THIS SESSION HAS BEEN --
HAS PRESENTED SOME PRETTY
INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES FOR OUR
TEAM.
YOU HAVE JUST BEEN AMAZING
PARTNERS WITH THIS OFFICE.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE REQUESTED --
I KNOW YOU CAN ALL CHUCKLE
ABOUT THE LATE-NIGHT CALLS AND
WEEKEND CALLS.
WE HAVE MADE TO YOUR OFFICES
DESPERATELY ASKING FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT WITH SPECIFIC
LEGISLATORS.
YOU HAVE ALL BENT OVER
BACKWARDS TO SUPPORT THE WORK
OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU AND
JUST APPRECIATIVE. IT MADE A
CHALLENGING SESSION THAT MUCH
BETTER.
I KNOW WE WILL HAVE MANY
SUCCESSES TO REPORT DURING OUR
SIGN OR DIE REPORT ON THE 17th.
LASTLY, GIVEN THIS IS OUR LAST
LEGISLATIVE REPORT, I'D LIKE TO
THANK OUR EXCELLENT AND
EXHAUSTIVE STATE LOBBY TEAM.
SO, ROBIN, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
QUINN, STATE RELATIONS, AND
HANNAH SMITH, GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR
THEIR MAC AMAZING WORK THIS
SESSION.
IT IS QUITE A SACRIFICE FOR
THEM WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY
ALL HOLIDAYS, WEEKENDS FOR SO
LONG.
WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH
SMART, CREATIVE AND HARD-
WORKING GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
PROFESSIONALS HERE AT THE CITY.
I CANNOT ADEQUATELY EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THEM.
SO, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, LILY, FOR THAT.
COLLEAGUES, AND ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE
SAY GOODBYE TO MEMBERS OF THE
OIR TEAM UNTIL MAY?
ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT SEEING ANY
OTHER HANDS RAISED I ALSO WANT
TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND
GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU FOR
ALL OF YOUR GOOD WORK,
IMPORTANT WORK.
LOOK FORWARD TO, I'M SURE
STAYING CONNECTED BETWEEN NOW
AND MAY 17th, BUT OTHERWISE WE
WILL SEE YOU BACK YOUR ON MAY
17th.
GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> COLLEAGUES, WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE INTO OTHER ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.
NEXT UP IS PRETTY OF TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS, COUNCIL
AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
THIS WEEK'S ROLL CALL ROTATION
BEGINS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN, THE WANT,
AND THEN I WILL CONCLUDE THE IS
DISCUSSION.
FIRST UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
STARTING OFF ITEMS ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE A FEW APPOINTMENTS FROM
THE CITY COUNCIL BEING THE
APPOINTED AUTHORITY TO THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
THEN, WHEN COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN DISCUSSES TWO OF THE
BILLS COMING FROM HIS COMMITTEE
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A
COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS COMING UP
ON TWO OF HIS BILLS.
ALSO, UPDATES FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC
HEALTH THIS WEEK.
WANTED TO JUST GIVE THE SHOUT
OUT TO ALL THE WORK THAT HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THEIR
EMPLOYEES ARE DOING TO CONTINUE
TO ASSIST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
WITH VACCINATIONS AT SENIOR
HOUSING SITES.
THIS PASSED WEEK, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT ASSISTED
WITH SECOND THOSE CLINICS AT
SEVEN SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
BUILDINGS.
THIS COMING WEEK, HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL
AGAIN BE BUSY WITH 11 SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY BUILDINGS
SCHEDULED FOR THEIR SECOND
THOSE CLINICS.
THE CITY ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK
THAT IT WOULD STOP COVID
TESTING AT TWO SITES.
ONE OF THOSE SITES BEING IN
RAINIER BEACH, AND THE OTHER IN
WEST SEATTLE.
SATURDAY WAS THE FINAL DAY OF
TESTING THERE.
I HAVE ADVOCATED WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO KEEP COVID
TESTING AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY
GIVEN THE INCREASING NUMBER OF
COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
SPECIFICALLY, FOR WEST SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, GIVEN THE DIFFICULTY
OF LEAVING THE PENINSULA FOR
HEALTHCARE.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAD
PREVIOUSLY ASSURED ME THAT IF
THE SOUTHWEST SITE WERE TO STOP
TESTING, THAT THEY WOULD PLACE
A CURATIVE TESTING KIOSK IN THE
NEAR VICINITY, SIMILAR TO THE
ONE AT AT DON OUR MONEY.
WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT TESTING
REPLACEMENT PLANS ON FRIDAY, I
WAS TOLD THEY ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF ADDING A LONGER-TERM,
MORE SUSTAINABLE, NOT RUN BY
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TESTING
CAPACITY IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
THROUGH A NEW PROVIDER.
THEY ARE PROMISING AN UPDATE IN
EARLY MAY.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
UPDATE.
I REMAIN CONCERNED THAT A FOURTH
WAVE OF COVID AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS IS UPON US.
THIS IS THE TIME TO ENCOURAGE
MORE TESTING AND MAKE IT EASIER
TO GET TESTED.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE
COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEAST AND
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE, WHERE
VACCINATION RATES ARE LAGGING
THE REST OF THE CITY.
WHERE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES LIVE.
MEANWHILE, YOU CAN GET FREE
TESTING LOCATIONS, YOU CAN FIND
THEM AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
WEBSITE.
CLICK ON WHERE CAN I GET A
COVID TEST.
AS ALWAYS, EVEN AS THE WEATHER
IMPROVES, PLEASE KEEP UP OUR
PRECAUTIONS.
WEAR A MASK WITH A SNUG FIT
ANYTIME YOU'RE IN PUBLIC OR
AROUND UNVACCINATED FOLKS.
EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.
AVOID CROWDS, INSIDE OR OUT.
CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
FROM OTHERS OUTSIDE OF YOUR
HOUSEHOLD.
ITEMS THAT I HAVE COMING UP
THIS WEEK.
THURSDAY I WILL BE ATTENDING
THE REGIONAL LAW AND SAFETY AND
JUSTICE COMMITTEE.
LET'S SEE, WE ALSO HAVE THE
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUMS.
13th ANNUAL CELEBRATION COMING
UP.
THAT IS ON WEDNESDAY.
LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THAT.
THE OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT I WANTED
TO SHARE IS THAT I WILL BE
CIRCULATING A LETTER TODAY AT
FULL COUNCIL. THIS IS REALLY
GREAT NEWS.
AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS,
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ARE
ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT $60
MILLION IN JAIL OPERATIONS
FUNDING WILL BE REPURPOSED
TOWARDS COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH
AND HOUSING PROGRAMS.
THE THREE COMMITMENTS CONTAINED
IN THE LETTER REFERRED TO A
DIVESTMENT, AS I SAID, OF $16
MILLION OVER 2021 AND 2022 FROM
JAIL OPERATIONS.
AND AN INVESTMENT OF THOSE
DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED
HEALTH AND HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND
INCARCERATION.
AND A COMMITMENT TO ONGOING
COLLABORATION AND TRANSPARENCY
MOVING FORWARD.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JAIL
ADVISORY GROUP.
AGAIN, THE JOINT LETTER OF
INTENT DOCUMENT THESE
COMMITMENTS.
IT WILL INFORM THE ACTIONS OF
THE KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S.
THE SEATTLE MAYOR, THE KING
COUNTY COUNCIL, AND SEATTLE'S
COUNCIL IN 2021 AND 2022, TO
MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM.
AND A SYSTEM THAT IMPOVERISHES
LIZA AND CRIMINALIZES THE
POVERTY OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
SO, YES.
WE WILL HAVE THAT FOR SIGNATURE
AT FULL COUNCIL TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE
NEGOTIATIONS, BOTH ON THE CITY
SIDE AND ON THE COUNTY SITE.
A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT AS ALWAYS,
TO THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND HER
WORK ON THIS ISSUE IN PRIOR
YEARS AND THIS YEAR AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, NEXT
UP IS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
LET'S SEE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS OF THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE NEXT MEETING OF OUR
COMMITTEE WILL BE TUESDAY, MAY
4th.
SO, I WANT TO START WITH PARKS,
WHICH I DO EVERY MONDAY
MORNING.
THE CLEAN CITY INITIATIVE.
FROM APRIL 5th TO APRIL 11th,
PARKS PICKED UP 117 POUNDS OF
TRASH FROM 59 ENCAMPMENT
LOCATIONS.
PARKS ALSO REMOVED 10,000
NEEDLES ACROSS THESE PARK
LOCATIONS.
TWO PARKS RECEIVED EXTRA
MAINTENANCE DURING THIS PERIOD.
THREE WAY PARK AND QUEEN ANNE'S
PARSONS GARDENS.
AS FAR AS CHILDCARE, LAST WEEK
PARKS SERVED 300 TO CHILDREN AT
17 CHILDCARE SITES THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
RIGHT NOW, PARKS IS MOVING
FORWARD WITH THEIR VOLUNTEER
EFFORTS.
SO, PARKS HAS SCHEDULED FOUR
VOLUNTEER CLEANUP EVENTS THIS
MONTH.
THIS WILL BE POSTED ON OUR
WEBSITE.
WE WILL GET THIS COPY AS WELL.
APRIL 17th AT VOLUNTEER PARK.
APRIL 20th AT CAL ANDERSON PARK.
APRIL 24th AT NORTH ACRES.
APRIL 24th AT ASIAN PARK.
THESE EVENTS ARE LIMITED TO 10
VOLUNTEERS PER SITE, AND THEY
FILL UP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
PARKS IS TRYING TO SCHEDULE
MORE EVENTS FOR THIS MONTH, AND
I'LL GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE IF
THEY DO THAT.
REOPENING PLANS.
PARTS HAS PUBLISHED ITS
TENTATIVE REOPENING PLANS FOR
SUMMER PROGRAMMING.
YOU CAN READ THE PLAN ON THE
SEATTLE PARKS BLOG PATHWAYS
THAT SEATTLE.GOV.
NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS VERY EXCITING FOR I
THINK EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE
NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
OUR OWN UNCLE BILLY FRANK JR.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A STATUE
IN HIS HONOR.
A STATUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
LEADER AND TREATY RIGHTS
ACTIVIST BILLY FRANK JR., WILL
REPLACE THE MARCUS WHITMAN
STATUE IN THE NATIONAL STATUE
HALL LOCATED IN DC.
THE HALL IS A CHAMBER IN THE
UNITED STATES CAPITOL DEVOTED
TO SCULPTURES OF PROMINENT
AMERICANS.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE
EVER BEEN THERE, BUT THERE IS
NO NATIVE AMERICANS THERE.
SO, THAT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING.
WITHOUT ME SAY MUCH MORE ABOUT
BILLY FRANK, WHO IS ACTUALLY MY
UNCLE BILLY FRANK, JR. UNCLE
BILLY AS YOU KNOW WAS
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE 1960s AND
70s IN THE FISHING WARS.
ALONG WITH HIS SISTER, MY
GRANDMA, MEISEL BRIDGES, HER
HUSBAND AL BRIDGES, THEIR
DAUGHTERS SUZETTE AND ALLISON.
ALLISON WE LOST ABOUT TWO YEARS
AGO.
ALL OF THEM COME FROM THE
INDIAN COMMUNITY AND NOW, UNCLE
BILLY'S SON, WILLIE, CONTINUES
HIS UNCLE'S LEGACY OF TREATING
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY.
THIS THE BIG ISSUE FOR US, THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON AND
NATIONALLY, TO HONOR AND SET
SOMEONE LIKE BILLY FRANK JR. IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. BECAUSE AS YOU
KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE MARKERS IN
HISTORY, WE HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT
MOST OF US HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT
ABOUT WHO OUR HEROES ARE.
THESE SYMBOLS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT.
WE WERE PART OF MAKING OF THIS
COUNTRY.
DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY.
THOSE OF YOU WHO DO YOUR
INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
THAT IS WHAT THAT SHOULD BE
ABOUT.
I'M REALLY PROUD TO READ AND
HEAR ABOUT THIS.
I WAS INVOLVED BEHIND THE
SCENES.
TO SEE IT HAPPEN ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL IS A DAY I NEVER
THOUGHT I WOULD SEE HAPPEN.
IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR US.
ANYWAY, UNCLE BILLY WAS ALSO
AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL
OF FREEDOM.
THE NATION'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN
HONOR IN 2015.
MOVING ON, BIG THANK YOU TO
STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND OUR
FRIEND DEB LAKIN OFF FOR
SPEARHEADING THE BILL, HB 1372
TO ENSURE THE LEGACY OF THE
LIVE'S WORK IS REMEMBERED.
THAT HIS WORK IS REMEMBERED.
IT ALSO, THE REPRESENTATIVE
SPONSORED A BILL TO REMOVE
NATIVE AMERICANS FROM A
WASHINGTON STATE MAP SCHOOL
MASCOTS.
THIS BILL BUT THE INAPPROPRIATE
USE OF NATIVE AMERICAN NAMES,
SYMBOLS, IMAGES.
HB 1356 PASSED BOTH THE
CHAMBERS AND IS ON ITS WAY TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON
SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M 61.
IT'S KIND OF SAD WE HAVE HAD TO
PASS A LAW TO SAY YOU CAN'T
NAME A SCHOOL AFTER TRIBAL
FOLK, BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHERE
WE ARE AT THESE DAYS.
ANYWAY, IT'S HAPPENING, SO
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
SOUND TRANSIT, I HAVE A BOARD
MEETING THIS WEEK.
WE ARE CONTINUING OUR
DISCUSSIONS ON REALIGNMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING SOME
DECISIONS COMING UP IN JULY.
LAST WEEK I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO MEET WITH THE WASHINGTON
STATE RETAIL ASSOCIATION
REGARDING ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
JOBS.
THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
OKAY, I DON'T SEE ANY COMMENTS
ON THAT.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
AFTER THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENTS ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR KORMA OR
ON THIS AFTERNOONS COUNCIL
AGENDA.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LAST WEEK,
ALONG WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, I DID HAVE THE
PLEASURE TO MEET WITH THE
GOVERNING BOARD MEETING AT THE
KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY.
JUST CHECKING THE CALENDAR, I
BELIEVE MARK'S OFFICIAL FIRST
DAY WILL BE TOMORROW, APRIL
20th.
THEY WERE VERY GRACIOUS TO COME
AND TALK TO THE GOVERNING BOARD
IN ANTICIPATION OF TAKING ON
THIS NEW AND HIGHLY ANTICIPATED
ROLE.
THE PRESUMPTIVE EXECUTIVE CEO,
GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THEIR
STAFFING PLAN.
THE NEEDS OF THE AUTHORITY IN
THE NEAR TERM TO BEGIN
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
NECESSARY TO STITCH TOGETHER
THE DIVERSE COALITION THAT IS
KING COUNTY TO CONFRONT THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS ON A
REGIONAL LEVEL.
WE SET A SPECIAL MEETING FOR MAY
OF THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
GOVERNING BOARD TO CONFIRM AND
RATIFY THAT STAFFING PLAN ONCE
IT IS BAKED IN.
ONCE MARK HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SETTLE IN FORMALLY STARTING
THIS WEEK, I WISH THEM THE BEST
OF LUCK.
I ENCOURAGE ANYONE CURIOUS
ABOUT THE WORK OF THE AUTHORITY
TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY
TO CONNECT AND MEET WITH THE
CEO.
I'M SURE THEY WILL BE VERY
ACCESSIBLE AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO THAT COLLABORATION.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
I ATTENDED THE BOARD OF HEALTH
LAST WEEK, ALONG WITH MY
COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
JUST A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS
THAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT
MEETING.
CERTAINLY NOT EVERYTHING WE
DISCUSSED, BUT A COUPLE OF THE
THINGS THAT I THINK STOOD OUT.
WE CAN ALL TAKE GREAT PRIDE AS
KING COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT 50%
OF KING COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE
RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE VACCINE
DOSE IN THE COVID-19 FIGHT.
THAT IS A STATISTIC THAT IS
ALREADY OUT OF DATE.
FROM LOOKING AT THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE'S TWITTER THIS
MORNING, IT APPEARS WE ARE UP
TO 52% OF FOLKS WHO HAVE HAD AT
LEAST ONE DOSE.
WHICH IS GREAT PROGRESS.
PEOPLE STILL DO NEED TO OBSERVE
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASK
WEARING.
THERE ARE STILL PARTICULARLY
POTENT VARIANTS THAT ARE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF
THIS FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, SO
EVERYONE SHOULD MAINTAIN THEIR
VIGILANCE THAT WE HAVE
MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC.
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE
PROGRESS THAT IS BEING MADE ON
VACCINATIONS.
THAT WAS A GOOD UPDATE TO HEAR.
WE ALSO RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM
DIRECTOR PATTY HAYES INDICATING
THAT CORE ACCESS TO RUNNING
WATER IN AND KAMPMANN'S FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE REMAINS
A MATTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERN.
PARTICULARLY THE VULNERABILITY
IT POSES TO PEOPLE CONTRACTING
AND SPREADING HEPATITIS A.
HEPATITIS A, WHICH CAN BE
EFFECTIVELY AND EASILY COMBATED
BY WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO RUNNING
WATER AND SOAP.
THIS WAS A PARTICULAR TAKE AWAY,
I KNOW FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND I, GIVEN THIS
COUNCILS LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'
LEADERSHIP IN FUNDING
INNOVATIVE STREET SYNCS TO BE
DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
RECENT COVERAGE IN PUBLIC HAS
INDICATED THAT THAT EFFORT
REMAINS SOMEWHAT STALLED.
SOMEWHAT THAT WE NEED TO BE
ATTAINED ATTENTION TO.
I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE TODAY,
THAT I'M GOING TO BE REQUESTING
AN UPDATE FROM THE RELEVANT
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS ON THE
STREET SINK SITUATION.
GIVEN THE BRIEFING WE RECEIVED
AT PUBLIC HEALTH TO BE
PRESENTED AT THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS ON
MAY 8th.
ON POTENTIAL HURDLES, OR WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STAND UP
THAT PROGRAM, AND STAND UP
THOSE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS.
IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE PUBLIC
HEALTH LEADERSHIP, THAT WHILE
HAND SANITIZER IS BETTER THAN
NOTHING, IT IS STILL NOT NEARLY
AS DESIRABLE AS RUNNING WATER
AND SOAP TO COMBAT A HAND BORN
AND FECAL MATTER BORNE
ILLNESSES LIKE HEPATITIS A. I
LOOK FORWARD TO THAT UPDATE ON
MAY 8th.
I DO WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR HER
LEADERSHIP ON THIS AREA.
FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO
FIND THAT INVESTMENT,
RESPONDING TO THIS REALLY
CHALLENGING PUBLIC HEALTH
SITUATION THROUGH THE SPREAD OF
HEPATITIS A. WE HAVE TO REMIND
OURSELVES, COVID-19 IS NOT THE
ONLY CHALLENGE WE ARE FACING IN
THE COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, I WILL BE ATTENDING
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
THIS WEEK.
OTHERWISE, I HAVE NO ADDITIONAL
UPDATES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED.
SO, WE WILL CONTINUE DOWN THE
LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
TOMORROW.
WE GOT TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION TO DISCUSS, AND
HOPEFULLY VOTE ON.
SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS, AGAIN
FROM ARTS AND FROM EDI.
THEN, WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION
ABOUT NEXT STEPS FOR
IMPLEMENTING -- IMPLEMENTATION
OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
SO, MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENT AND
REGIONAL UPDATES.
A COUPLE OF QUICK DEPARTMENT
UPDATES.
I DID MEET WITH INTERIM
DIRECTOR BANKS FROM THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAST
WEEK.
TO DISCUSS HOW THE DEPARTMENT
WILL BE SHIFTING THEIR FOCUS TO
AN EQUITABLE RECOVERY.
I NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER
WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS FOR
STAFFING, AND FOR DELIVERY OF
SERVICES THAT ARE ALREADY
PLANNED, OR HAD ALREADY BEEN
PLANNED FOR 2021.
SO, WE DID DISCUSS AN
ORGANIZATIONAL SHIFT, BUT I'VE
ASKED FOR A FOLLOW-UP MEETING
TO DISCUSS, IN MORE DETAIL,
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS.
WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN?
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
HOW MANY FTEs WILL BE SHIFTED
AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS CHANGE
IN STRUCTURE ACTUALLY LOOKS
LIKE.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING
UP AND FILLING IN THE REST OF
COUNCIL AS I LEARN MORE.
LAST WEEK, I PARTICIPATED IN
THE MONTHLY BOARD OF HEALTH
MEETING, AS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
NOTED.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM DIRECTOR
HAYES, AND FROM OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICER THE IMPORTANCE OF
HANDWASHING AND SO.
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE, AS YOU
MENTIONED, THERE'S AN OUTBREAK
AGAIN OF HEPATITIS A. WE HAVE
RETURNED TO THE PRE-PANDEMIC
LEVELS, AGAIN, FOR HEPATITIS A.
IN THE SAME POPULATION, WE ARE
ALSO EXPERIENCING, THEY ARE
ALSO EXPERIENCING 142 CASES.
ANOTHER 47 CASES OF ANOTHER ONE
SINCE OCTOBER.
WHICH, AS YOU MAY RECALL, THESE
ARE ILLNESSES THAT ARE
TRANSMITTED OFTEN THROUGH FECAL
MATTER.
SO, HANDWASHING IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO PREVENT THESE OTHER
ILLNESSES FROM BREAKING OUT.
ALSO, MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE
HAD AN 84% -- THAT 84% OF THE
FOLKS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS
ARE IN FACT HOMELESS.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING
PEOPLE.
WITH REGARD TO COVID, THE OTHER
THING WE LEARNED IS THAT WE ARE
BACK ABOVE THE COVID OUTBREAKS
FROM LAST SUMMER.
SO, WE'VE HAD FEWER
HOSPITALIZATIONS IN ADULTS DUE
TO COVID-19, BUT THE NUMBER OF
HOSPITALIZATIONS IN YOUNGER
ADULTS IS ACTUALLY INCREASING.
IF I'M RECALLING CORRECTLY, WE
ARE HAVING ONE KING COUNTY
RESIDENT HOSPITALIZED EVERY 45
MINUTES.
SO, IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING
RIGHT NOW.
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WE ARE
GETTING SORT OF MIXED MESSAGES
THAT WE ARE MOVING INTO PHASE
THREE.
WE ARE OPENING UP AGAIN, AND AT
THE SAME TIME OUTBREAKS ARE
INCREASING.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO WEAR
MASKS, NOT HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE
WHO DON'T LIVE IN YOUR
HOUSEHOLD.
BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY CLOSING
KING COUNTY TO GOING BACK TO
PHASE TWO.
WE NEED TO ALL REMEMBER TO
PRACTICE GOOD PROTOCOL.
THE LAST REGIONAL COMMITTEE,
WELL, OTHER OUTSIDE COMMITTEE I
PARTICIPATED IN THE SEATTLE
INVESTMENT FUNDS MEETING LAST
WEEK.
ON FRIDAY.
I WAS EXCITED TO APPROVE AN
INVESTMENT OF $89,000 IN NEW
MARKET TAX CREDITS.
TO A CAFE.
FIRST BRANCHES IN RAINIER
VALLEY, BUT THEY ARE OPENING
ANOTHER BRANCH IN THE LIBERTY
BANK BUILDING IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
SO, REALLY EXCITED TO OFFER
THIS TENANT IMPROVEMENT GRANT
FOR THEM.
I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS
TO SOLOMON AND HIS CREW.
ALSO THANKS TO THE FOLKS AT OED,
FOR THEY'RE UNDERWRITING
ANALYSIS.
REALLY CONFIRMS THE DEVELOPMENT
AND OPERATION OF THE SALABILITY
OF THIS PROJECT LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING ANOTHER LACK OWN
BUSINESS BACK IN THE LIBERTY
BANK BUILDING.
SOME QUICK DISTRICT UPDATES.
LAST WEEK MY SON AND I JOINED
THE FOLKS AT FOOD LIFELINE AND
THE RAINIER VALLEY FOOD BANK TO
DISTRIBUTE FOOD BOXES TO
FAMILIES IN THE REGION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AND THE FOLKS AT THE
RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY CENTER
FOR HOSTING WHAT WAS A DRIVE-
THROUGH EVENT.
THERE WAS ALSO A WALK-UP
FACILITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD
BOXES TO ALMOST 1400
HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH IS SHOCKING.
THAT WAS JUST IN ABOUT TWO
HOURS TIME.
THERE IS A LOT OF MEAT AND WE
KNOW A LOT OF FOOD INSECURITY
IN THE REGION IS STILL AROUND.
I PERSONALLY SPOKE TO ABOUT A
DOZEN FAMILIES WHO REQUESTED
DIAPERS.
ON FORESIGHT, WE DID NOT HAVE
ANY TO DISTRIBUTE.
SOMETIMES THERE IS A LOAD THAT
IS AVAILABLE.
IF ANYBODY LISTENING HAS A LEAD
ON SOME POSSIBLE DIAPER
DONATIONS FOR THE FOOD BANK,
PLEASE LET MY OFFICE KNOW AND
WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP MAKE THAT
CONNECTION FOR YOU.
LAST WEDNESDAY, WE WERE JOINED
BY A MEMBER FROM THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT AND OTHER
PEOPLE.
TO ANNOUNCE OUR FIRST PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IN THE TENANT BILL
OF RIGHTS WE ARE WORKING ON.
THAT LEGISLATION, WHICH WOULD
CLOSE THE END OF LEASE
TERMINATION LOOPHOLE THAT
EXISTS CURRENTLY, IS ONE OF
SEVERAL PIECES OF TENANT'S
RIGHTS AND EVICTION DEFENSE
LEGISLATION THAT MY OFFICE WILL
BE BRINGING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL
TIMES ALREADY IN BRIEFING.
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE WILL
UNVEIL THE NEXT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE BEEN
DEVELOPING WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
WHICH IS AND EVICTION DEFENSE
FOR TENANTS THAT ARE FACING
HARDSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THEN, LATER THIS YEAR, WE WILL
LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT AN OVERHAUL
OF JUST CAUSE, AND THAT
PROVIDING EVICTION DEFENSES
THAT INTO STEER LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS TO OTHER FORMS OF
RESOLUTION.
ALL OF THESE TOGETHER WILL
ESTABLISH A TENANT BILL OF
RIGHTS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE
STATE HAS A STAY HEALTHY
CAMPAIGN WHICH REPRESENTS 42
ORGANIZATIONS AND THOUSANDS OF
TENANTS ACROSS THE CITY, ASKED
MY OFFICE TO WORK ON ALL OF
THESE POLICIES THAT CAN HAPPEN.
THAT WAS BACK IN DECEMBER.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE THEN
WITH THESE ADVOCATES AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO DRAFT EACH OF
THESE BILLS SINCE JANUARY.
IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH MY OFFICE
MET WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND WITH
LAW, AND WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE
BEEN DRAFTING THE FIRST TWO
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS
ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY AND THROUGH
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
THIS HAS REALLY BEEN DONE WITH
COMMUNITY IN A VERY THOROUGH
WAY.
GETTING REGULAR FEEDBACK FROM
FOLKS.
THIS HASN'T BEEN IN A VACUUM.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES AS
THESE PIECE OF LEGISLATION'S
COME TOGETHER AND COME BEFORE
ALL OF YOU.
JUST A COUPLE MORE THINGS.
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO I TOURED
AROUND THE I-90 AREA WITH
LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND
OTHER PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE
INFRASTRUCTURE ADVOCATES.
WE WALKED AROUND -- WE WALKED
AROUND THE AREA SURROUNDING THE
COMING JENKINS PART LIGHT RAIL
STATION.
THAT IS RIGHT ON THE I-90 RAMP,
OR OVERPASS.
OVER RAY NEAR.
WE SAW JUST HOW SCARY IT IS TO
TRY TO NAVIGATE AROUND THOSE
RAMPS IF YOU ARE A PEDESTRIAN.
SO, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH STATE
SENATORS AND OTHERS TO TRY TO
WORK ON THIS TRANSPORTATION
PACKAGE.
I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED, I CAN'T
IMAGINE HOW QUINN IS FEELING,
THAT THIS IS A MOVING THE WAY
WE HAD HOPED.
I AM HOPEFUL WE WILL BEGIN TO
SEE SOME SERIOUS COMMITMENTS TO
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE SO
THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THIS I-90
ISSUE AND HAVE SOME MITIGATION
FOR THE RAMPS THAT ARE REALLY
IMPEDING THE SAFETY OF FOLKS
WHO ARE DISABLED.
FOLKS WERE TRYING TO MOVE
THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION IN A
SAFE WAY.
I DO WANT TO THANK LAKISHA
PHARMA ON MY STAFF FOR
CONVENING THOSE DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE DIFFERENT
TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATIONS,
AND KEEPING THIS ISSUE FRONT
AND CENTER.
FINALLY, I'M EXCITED TO BE
OFFERING TWO WORKSHOPS ON
THURSDAY AT THE ANNUAL BLOCK
PARTY.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT
WORKS DEEPLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY AT RAINIER BEACH
HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN
SOME CAPACITY IN THIS EVENT FOR
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO SPEND SOME
TIME WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
MY STAFF MEMBER WILL BE LEADING
A WORKSHOP ENTITLED VISIONING
FOR THE FUTURE TO OPEN UP AND I
LEAGUE BETWEEN RAINIER BEACH
STUDENTS ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY
WANT TO SEE IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND -- I DON'T
HAVE TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY
NEED TO BE AT THE DECISION-
MAKING TABLE.
THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT.
THIS IS A CHANCE FOR US TO
REALLY ENGAGE WITH THEM AND
SHARE SOME OF THE WORK WE ARE
DOING.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE THIS
MORNING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT SEEING ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, SO WE
WILL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE DOWN
THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, AND AFTER THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ON
CAMERA THIS MORNING.
WE ARE ALL IN OUR HOUSEHOLD
DEALING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF
SICKNESS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING
THERE, BUT I AM WATCHING YOU
ALL AND WILL PROVIDE MY REPORT
BY AUDIO.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY AUDIO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO BRING
FORWARD THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY DIRECTOR PROCLAMATION
THAT I SENT AROUND LAST FRIDAY.
COLLEAGUES, THIS WOULD BE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HONOR THE
DIRECTOR FOR HIS WORK AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR
THE PASSED NINE YEARS.
HE WILL BE RETIRING IN EARLY
MAY AND WE HOPE THAT WITH YOUR
SIGNATURE TODAY WE CAN SEND HIM
OFF WITH A PROCLAMATION THAT
ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SERVICE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE UNDER MULTIPLE
MAYORS AND WORKING WITH VARIOUS
COUNCIL . THIS IS REALLY A HARD
JOB AND I KNOW THAT A LOT HAS
BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE BOTH
COMMUNITY PREFERENCE AND
AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING UNDER HIS
LEADERSHIP, AND MAKING SURE
THOSE WHO ARE FACING A RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN THE
CITY.
AS WE ENHANCE AND BUILD
ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS.
MORE HOUSING.
THIS WILL BE A CHANCE AS WELL
FOR US TO HONOR HIM BEFORE OUR
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
MEETING, WHICH IS TOMORROW, AND
WILL BE HIS LAST OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT IN OUR COMMITTEE.
THE PROCLAMATION WAS CIRCULATED
LAST FRIDAY AT 12:30 P.M.
I HOPE YOU WILL SIGN ON.
I WILL PAUSE HERE FOR THE
APPROPRIATE ROLL CALL FROM THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
THOSE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
COLLEAGUES, AS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA JUST MENTIONED, THERE
WILL BE A PROCLAMATION
PRESENTED THIS AFTERNOON AT
2:00 P.M.
BEFORE I ASKED THE CLERK TO
CALL THE ROLL ON THE SIGNATURES
TO THE PROCLAMATION, WANT TO
OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY
QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE
PROCLAMATION.
I WILL NOT BE SIGNING THIS
PROCLAMATION.
AT THIS PROCLAMATION ITSELF
CLOSE ANDREW LOFTON LED THE
NATIONWIDE FEDERAL PROGRAM
CALLED MOVING TO WORK.
MOVING TO WORK AS BEEN A FEDERAL
ASSAULT ON THE LITTLE REMAINING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE PLAN WAS TO CARRY OUT
MASSIVE INCREASES IN PUBLIC
HOUSING RENT WITH THE IDEA THAT
THE TENANTS WOULD BE MORE
MOTIVATED TO GET BETTER PAYING
JOBS.
THIS IS GARDEN-VARIETY
CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY, WHICH
CLAIMS THAT PEOPLE ARE POOR
BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO LAZY TO
SEEK BETTER PAYING JOB, WHICH
SERVES AS AN EXCUSE.
THERE'S ALSO A RACIAL DIMENSION
GIVING THAT A LARGE PROPORTION
OF PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS ARE
LOW INCOME FAMILIES OF COLOR.
MANY FROM THE IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY, AND MANY COMPRISING
SINGLE MOM HOUSEHOLDS.
IN AN ALREADY MOVE, THIS
INCARNATION WAS CALLED STEPPING
FORWARD.
IF STEPPING FORWARD HAVE BEEN
ALLOWED TO SUCCEED, IT WOULD
HAVE DISMANTLED THE
AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLD, WHICH
IS THAT THE RENT BEING NO
GREATER THAN 30% OF THE TENANT
AND COMPANY UNDER STEPPING
FORWARD, RENTS WOULD BE
INCREASED BY AN EYE-POPPING
400% OVER SIX YEARS.
AS A SINGLE MOTHER, A TENANT IN
NORTH SEATTLE AT THE TIME TOLD
US, WHEN I GOT THAT LETTER, I
COULD BARELY GET OUT OF BED FOR
ABOUT A WEEK.
BECAUSE IT ALMOST FELT LIKE A
DEATH SENTENCE IN A WAY.
IT FELT LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A
CHANCE.
REBECCA AND HER FELLOW TENANTS
UNDERSTOOD WHAT IS BORNE OUT BY
THOSE STATISTICS.
THIS DRAMATIC RATE INCREASE
WOULD HAVE MEANT MASSIVE
ACTIONS.
NEARLY 9 OUT OF 10 EVICTIONS
RESULT IN HOMELESSNESS.
FROM THE MOMENT ANNOUNCED,
THERE WAS POWERFUL OPPOSITION
BY FHA TENANTS TO STEPPING
FORWARD.
THE SECOND FHA PUBLIC MEETING
ORGANIZED BY ANDREW LOFTON AND
HIS STAFF, A COUNCILMEMBER AND I
, JOINED THE TENANTS RALLY
OUTSIDE.
THE TENANT UNIT, AND OTHER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ALSO
STOOD WITH WHAT EVOLVED INTO A
SERIOUS COMMUNITY STRUGGLE, LED
MAINLY BY COURAGEOUS EAST
AFRICAN SINGLE MOM TENANTS.
EAST AFRICAN LEADERS.
AND SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVES.
ARE MOVEMENT ORGANIZED HUNDREDS
OF RESIDENTS TO PROTEST THAT
PUBLIC MEETING AFTER PUBLIC
MEETING, ENDING WITH AN
INCREDIBLE WALKOUT OF HUNDREDS
FROM THE LAST PUBLIC MEETING AT
THE HIGH POINT COMMUNITY CENTER
IN WEST SEATTLE.
FOLLOWING THE WALKOUT, WE HELD
A PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY IN THE
BASKETBALL COURT.
WE BUILT UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM
WITH HUNDREDS OF EAST AFRICAN
AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF
COLOR WHO HAD NEVER BEFORE
PARTICIPATED IN A POLITICAL
MOVEMENT.
ARE MOVEMENT COMPLETELY UPENDED
THE PLANS OF SHA, THE SEATTLE
DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT, AND
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, WHICH
WAS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE GUTTING OF PUBLIC HOUSING
FUNDING THAT WAS HAPPENING AT
THE TIME.
THEY ORGANIZED THE PUBLIC
MEETINGS EXPECTING THAT TENANTS
WOULD BE EITHER GULLIBLE
ENOUGH, OR NOT COMPETENT ENOUGH
TO POST UP AND FORWARD.
UNDER PRESSURE FROM ARE
MOVEMENT, THEN MAYOR AND THE
COUNCILMEMBER, WERE PUBLICLY
OPPOSING STEPPING FORWARD.
AND A HISTORIC VICTORY, SHA AND
ANDREW LOFTON WERE FORCED TO
REFER A STEPPING FORWARD AND
ALLOW PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS TO
STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, SEATTLE WAS
THE ONLY CITY IN WHICH THIS
INITIATIVE WAS DEFEATED.
THIS WAS NEARLY 7 YEARS AGO,
BUT I STILL REMEMBER VIVIDLY
THE CANDOR OF A GYMNASIUM FULL
OF IMMIGRANT TENANTS CHANTING
STEPPING BACKWARD, AND
EMPOWERED CALL AND RESPONSE.
AS A DAY AND THIS MAN SAID THEY
WOULD -- BY THE KING COUNTY
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL,
WHICH RUNS THE EMPLOYMENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WORKS IS.
AS ONE OF THE TENANTS REPORTED,
WORK SOURCE DID NOT HELP HIM
LEARN ENGLISH OR OBTAIN
EMPLOYMENT.
HE CHALLENGED PUBLICLY SAYING
QUOTE, YOU SAY WE CAN ALL GET
JOBS AND AFFORD HIGHER RENTS,
WHY DON'T YOU LEARN SOMALI OR
CHINESE IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND
THEN WE WILL BELIEVE YOU.
THAT GOT A HUGE ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD WHO
CHANTED, WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
SHOW ME THE JOBS.
THIS BRUTAL ATTACK ON HOT WAS
ATTEMPTED IN 2014, EVEN THOUGH
A 2013 AUDIT OF MOVING TO WORK
BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
OWN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
FOUND THAT QUOTE, HE WAS UNABLE
TO DEMONSTRATE PROGRAM RESULTS.
ALSO THEY HAD LIMITED ABILITY
TO ASSESS AGENCIES COMPLIANCE
WITH STATUTORY PROGRAM GOALS AND
LACK ASSURANCE THAT AGENCIES
MET KEY STATUTORY RETIREMENTS.
OF COURSE, IN THE LONG LINE OF
POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
CARRIED OUT SUCH DISGUSTING
EFFORTS TO GET PUBLIC PROGRAMS,
ANDREW LOFTON IS NOT AT THE TOP
OF THE LIST.
THE CAPITALIST CLASS OF
BILLIONAIRES AND MILLIONAIRES
AND THEIR POLITICAL
REPRESENTATIVES, BEAR THE
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS THEIR SYSTEM THAT IS THE
REASON FOR AN ACUTE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS IN SO MANY
CITIES, AND FOR THE ASSAULT ON
THE PUBLIC RESOURCES THAT WERE
HARD WON THROUGH PASSED STUDIES
LED BY POWERFUL LABIAL AND
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS.
STEPPING FORWARD FOR EXAMPLE,
WAS JUSTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF
IMPENDING $12 MILLION CUTS TO
PUBLIC HOUSING.
DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
AND BOTH DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON STATE
AND THE U.S. CONGRESS THERE
BLAME FOR THIS.
HOWEVER, ANDREW LOFTON WAS NOT
AN INNOCENT LOWER RUNG EMPLOYEE.
HE COULD HAVE USED HIS
PROMINENT POSITION TO HELP
BUILD A FIGHT TO TAX THE RICH
AND INCREASE FUNDING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND REJECT
THE CUTS.
IN FACT THOUGH, HE WAS THE
BUREAUCRAT WHO LED THE MOVING
TO WORK PROGRAM NATIONALLY AND
CHAMPIONED STEPPING FORWARD IN
SEATTLE.
THIS IS THE SAME LOGIC THAT LED
HIM AND THE CITIES DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT TO SELL OFF HALF
OF [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IN 2012 TO
RAISE THE FUNDS TO RENOVATE THE
OTHER HALF.
AGAIN, HE AND THE LOCAL
DEMOCRATIC POLITICIAN SHOULD
HAVE USED THEIR POSITIONS TO TAX
FURTHER CITYWIDE AND TO DEMAND
ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR FUNDING
FOR HOUSING FROM THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION AND FROM THE
STATE LEGISLATURE RATHER THAN
CHEERLEADING THE PROCESS OF
ABANDONING HOUSING AUTHORITY
LAND. LOFTON SEEMS TO BE EVIDENT
FROM A INTERVIEW HE RECENTLY
GAVE TO PUGET SOUND BUSINESS
JOURNAL.
IT IS EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE
THAT THE REST DEMOCRATS HAVE
BROUGHT THIS DEMOCRAT FORWARD.
INSTEAD OF MONITORING ANDREW
LOFTON, THEY SHOULD BE HONORED
DURING THE EAST AFRICAN
IMMIGRANT HEROES OF THAT
MOVEMENT THAT DEFEATED STEPPING
FORWARD.
AND PROUD TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY
UNFORTUNATE THAT THESE COMMENTS
AND CONCERNS RAISED ON FRIDAY.
I SENT THE PROCLAMATION TO
EVERY OFFICE ON FRIDAY LAST
WEEK.
I WASN'T HERE SEVEN YEARS AGO.
THE TENURE THAT I'VE HAD WITH
DIRECTOR LOFTON OVER THE LAST
FOUR YEARS HAS ALLOWED FOR AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SEE HOW
POTENTIALLY THESE POLICIES THAT
YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT WERE
CHAMPIONED BY COMMUNITY HAVE
BEEN STUCK TO.
I AM NOT HERE TO DEFEND ANY
POLICY THAT WAS ADVANCED BY A
NATIONAL OR LOCAL
ADMINISTRATION.
OBVIOUSLY I THINK THAT MUCH OF
WHAT YOU JUST STATED REGARDING
THE POLICY ARE THINGS I OBJECT
TO AS WELL.
I ABSOLUTELY HAVE STOOD AGAINST
ANY SORT OF REQUIREMENT TO WORK.
I HAVE STOOD AGAINST POLICIES
THAT YOU DESCRIBE IN STEPPING
FORWARD AS UNFORTUNATE THAT I
WASN'T AWARE OF THIS HISTORY.
FOR THAT, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO
SOME RESEARCH.
HOWEVER, I THINK THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
MULTIPLE WAYS THAT THE 40 YEAR
HISTORIC LOW BOTH IN TERMS OF
FEDERAL FUNDING HAS CONTRIBUTED
TO LACK OF HOUSING IN THIS AREA.
OBVIOUSLY I DON'T BELIEVE THIS
IS ON ONE INDIVIDUAL.
I DO HOPE TO CELEBRATE I THINK
WHAT HAS BEEN A TENURE THAT I
HAVE SEEN AT LEAST IN OUR
COMMITTEE, ON HOUSING, THAT HAS
FOCUSED ON AFFIRMATIVE
MARKETING POLICIES TO MAKE SURE
THAT 100% OF THOSE WHO WANTED
TO COME BACK WERE ADMITTED.
COMMUNITY PREFERENCE, WHICH HAS
BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT LOCATION
AS WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I THINK
THE POLICY CONCERNS AND
OBJECTIONS THAT YOU RAISED ARE
THINGS I AGREE WITH.
I DO HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL
CONTINUE TO SIGN ONTO THIS
PROCLAMATION TO HONOR THE
PUBLIC SERVICE FROM A PUBLIC
SERVANT.
THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL
SUPPORT FOR THOSE POLICIES.
OBVIOUSLY MY CASE SPECIFICALLY,
DOES NOT SUPPORT FOR THE
STEPPING FORWARD POLICY, BUT IN
THE INTEREST OF MIND, TO MAKE
SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE
TENURE, THAT THE WORK TO THE
CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE
POLICIES THAT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AS YOU NOTED, HAD
CALLED FOR, WERE ULTIMATELY
IMPLEMENTED.
THIS IS PART OF THAT EFFORT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WORK AND I STILL
HOPE FOLKS WILL SIGN ON.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
I SEE THAT YOUR HAND IS RAISED
AS WELL.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES AND
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR RAISING THE HISTORY OF THE
PROGRAM.
I'M STILL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS
PROCLAMATION BECAUSE THE WAY IT
TALKS ABOUT THAT MOVING WORK.
IT IS JUST NOTING WHAT HE IS
DOING.
ONE OF THE THINGS HE IS WORKING
ON NOW.
I DON'T THINK THE PROCLAMATION
NEEDS TO GO INTO THE DETAILS OF
THE FIRST ITERATION OF THAT,
WHICH DID RAISE QUESTIONS AND
PEOPLE APPROPRIATELY RAISED A
BUNCH OF QUESTIONS WHEN IT
FIRST CAME OUT YEARS AGO.
SO, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS
PROCLAMATION.
I THINK THE THEME HERE IS THAT
ANDREW LOFTON HAS BEEN A PUBLIC
SERVANT THAT HAS SERVED THE
CITY AND THE REGION FOR
DECADES.
IS RETIRING, SO IT IS
CELEBRATING THE MULTIPLE
CHALLENGING ISSUES THAT HE HAS
WORKED ON IN DIFFERENT
POSITIONS.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE
PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT
THE STATEMENTS THAT ANDREW
LOFTON MADE WHERE HE IS CLEARLY
UNREPENTANT ABOUT WHAT HE WAS
TRYING TO CHAMPION, WERE MADE
ONLY LAST -- I BELIEVE THIS IS
A QUOTE FROM FEBRUARY.
SO, IT IS VERY RECENT.
ALSO, IF COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT SUPPORTING
SOMEBODY WHO CHAMPIONS, EVEN
THOUGH AS I SAID, IT'S NOT --
HE WAS NOT AN INNOCENT
BYSTANDER.
HE CHAMPIONS THE PROGRAM.
HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE MOVING
TO WORK INITIATIVE.
YOU CAN LOOK ALL OF THIS UP.
I WOULD SUPPORT HOLDING THE
PROCLAMATION IF YOU ALL SAY
THAT YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF THIS.
THEN, WHAT IS STOPPING YOU FROM
HOLDING THE PROCLAMATION?
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
THE RIGHT THING TO DO WOULD BE
TO HONOR THE EAST AFRICAN
COMMUNITY MEMBER TENANTS THAT
FOUGHT AGAINST THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS
PROCLAMATION?
OKAY.
I AM NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND MOVE FORWARD BASED ON
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
COMMENTS THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE PROCLAMATION BASED ON ITS
CONTENT.
SO, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
HONORING ANDREW LOFTON.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
THAT IS SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER
TO.
I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME
ADDITIONAL PORTIONS OF YOUR
REPORT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE.
>> I SURE DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR THERE ARE
THREE ITEMS FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.
COUNCIL BILL 1200 -- 0041, IS
THE EXTENSION OF THE
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND.
THIS APPROPRIATION BILL WILL
ALLOW US TO ALLOCATE $18
MILLION THAT WE WERE INITIALLY
HOLDING BACK FOR POSSIBLE NEED
TO USE WITH FEDERAL
REIMBURSEMENT.
WE NOW KNOW THAT WE NO LONGER
NEED TO DO THAT SO THERE IS
REAL URGENCY TO GET THESE FUNDS
OUT THE DOOR.
FOR PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE
EXPIRING AS WE WORK TOWARD
FINALIZING THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY PLAN ACT BILL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GET
THESE DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR.
I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE
MORE DETAIL WHEN I GET TO MY
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
COUNCIL BILL 120039 COMING
COUNCIL BILL 120040, ARE THE
CARRYFORWARD AND BUDGET
ACCEPTANCE ORDINANCES THAT ARE
PLANNED FOR A MEETING ON MAY
5th AT OUR SPECIAL MEETING.
IN TERMS OF FINANCE AND
HOUSING, COMMITTEE REPORT, JUST
A REMINDER THAT ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO
ATTEND THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE TO LISTEN AND PROVIDE
FEEDBACK.
AND ENGAGE IN THE DISCUSSION ON
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
PLEASE DO LET MY OFFICE KNOW IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND AND
HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE LOGIN
INFORMATION.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO GET THAT
INFORMATION TO YOU AND YOU CAN
GET UPDATES ABOUT THE COMMITTEE
THAT WAY.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS TOMORROW,
APRIL 20th, AT 9:30 A.M.
WE WILL START AS WE USUALLY DO
WITH 20 MINS THE PUBLIC,, AND
THEN MOVE INTO ADAMS OF
BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA AT 10:00
A.M.
AT 10:00 A.M.
WE WILL HAVE AND AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT COMMUNITY PANEL
THAT WILL INCLUDE FOLKS FROM
HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES,
HEALTH, AND SMALL BUSINESS.
CHILDCARE AND WORKER RIGHTS
ADVOCATES, AND IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES.
WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GO
LONGER THAN ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON
THIS.
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL
BASICALLY PROVIDE AN UPDATE
FROM THEIR PURVIEW ON ISSUES OF
MOST IMPORTANCE DURING THIS
LAST YEAR.
THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY
CONSIDER AS WE PLAN THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
DOLLARS.
THE NEXT ITEM AT 10:45 A.M.
WILL BE THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
FUND EXTENSION BILL THAT I JUST
MENTIONED.
ALLIE WILL BE PRESENTING ON
THIS BILL.
AGAIN, THE BILL NUMBER IS
COUNCIL BILL 120041.
THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT
PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO
POTENTIALLY GO AWAY IN THE NEAR
FUTURE THAT WERE FUNDED IN OUR
2020 BUDGET AND ORIGINAL CRF
FUND ALLEGATION.
WE DO HAVE A MEMO THAT WAS SENT
AROUND TO ALL FOLKS ON THE
FLOOR ON THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT FLOOR, THAT WAS SENT
ABOUT 9:30 A.M.
ON FRIDAY.
AS A REMINDER TO REITERATE SOME
OF THE POINTS IN THAT MEMO,
THIS CRF EXTENSION IS ABOUT $18
MILLION OF THE 2020 CORONAVIRUS
RELIEF FUNDS THAT WERE NOT
EXPENDED IN 2020.
THIS IS SCHEDULE FOR DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE IN TOMORROW'S
MEETING.
IF NOT VOTED OUT, WE WILL ALSO
HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE THE
DISCUSSION ON MAY 5th DURING
OUR SPECIAL MEETING.
THE CRF RESOURCES MUST BE
EXPENDED BY THE END OF 2021, SO
THE PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THESE ITEMS INCLUDE ITEMS THAT
HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF CERTAINTY
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BE
EXPENDED RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
EARLY THIS YEAR TO MAKE A
MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN COMMUNITY.
SOME EXAMPLES OF THE EXPECTED
ALLOCATION INCLUDE INCREASING
SERVICE LEVELS PROVIDED IN THE
FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR FOR FOOD
BIRDS PROVIDED CENTRAL BANKS.
INCREASING EDUCATION AND EARLY
LEARNING TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO APPLY FOR
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO JUMPSTART
COVID RELIEF FUNDS FOR CHILD
CARE THAT IS.
DUE TO THE NUMBER OF LIMITED
NUMBER OF RESOURCES AND RECEIVE
ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES FUNDING FOR
OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE
POTENTIALLY GOING TO GO AWAY IN
APRIL.
INCLUDING CLEANING THE CITY
ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF.
INCREASING FUNDING FOR VACCINE
OUTREACH AND OTHER EFFORTS THAT
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS DOLLARS
THAT CAN BE AVAILABLE TO SPEND
RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE FROM THE
CENTRAL STAFF'S PRESENTATION
DURING THE MEETING AS A
REMINDER THAT THIS $18 MILLION
IS BEING PAIRED WITH $190
MILLION TO COME.
SO, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN
INITIAL BILL FOR US TO IDENTIFY
ANY SHORT-TERM -- PROBLEMS,
CONSEQUENCES THAT WE MIGHT SEE
FOR PROGRAMS THAT ARE
POTENTIALLY GOING TO EXPIRE.
REMEMBER THAT THIS WILL BE
MARRIED WITH THE LARGER
INVESTMENT OF ALMOST $120
MILLION TO COME VERY SOON.
IN THE MEMO, YOU WILL ALSO SEE
ACTION OVER THE NEXT 6 TO 8
WEEKS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION OF THE
FIRST TRANCHE OF THE DIRECTED
WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT,
CORONAVIRUS, LOCAL RELIEF
RECOVERY BILL.
AS A REMINDER, THIS SOUNDS LIKE
AN ACRONYM, BUT IT IS THE ARPA
FUNDS FOR LOCAL USE.
THE CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL
RECOVERY IS CL RF.
YOU WILL SEE THAT MENTIONED IN
THE MEMO.
THIS IS A $119 MILLION THAT
ALLOWS FOR TARGETED A TO GO TO
OUR CITY.
BASED ON PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS
AND PRIORITIES LISTED IN
RESOLUTION 31999, WHICH YOU ALL
PARTICIPATED IN PROVIDING
FEEDBACK AND VOTED ON, WE WILL
BASE EXPENDITURES ON THAT
RESOLUTION. WE WILL ALSO
INCLUDE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE
IN SEVERAL AREAS, INCLUDING
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
SERVICES, ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
REOPENING EFFORTS, AND
INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES SUCH
AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE SERVICES, AND
RESPONSES AND MANY OTHER
SERVICES.
ALLIE SENT AN UPDATE AS WELL IN
THAT MEMO TO OUTLINE THE
UPCOMING MEETING SO THAT YOU
ALL HAVE THE MOST RECENT
CALENDAR IN FRONT OF US.
JUST AS A REMINDER, TOMORROW
AGAIN WE WILL HAVE THE INITIAL
PART OF OUR MEETING ON APRIL
20th FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY
RESOURCE PANEL AND DISCUSSION OF
POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE COVID
RESPONSE EFFORTS.
FOR EXTENDING THE CLRF FUNDS
INTO 2021.
WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON
TUESDAY, MAY 24th AT 5:30 P.M.
WE WILL BE EXPECTING TO HEAR
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
CALLING IN TO PROVIDE UPDATES
ON WHAT THEY LIKE US TO
CONSIDER.
THAT WILL INFORM OUR NEXT TWO
MEETINGS IN MAY.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE ON MAY 5th AND
MAY 18th.
THE MAY 5th MEETING STARTS AT
2:00 P.M.
MAY 18th IS AT 9:30 A.M.
WE WILL WRAP UP OUR DISCUSSION
ON AMENDMENTS AND HAVE A
POSSIBLE VOTE ON JUNE 2nd AND
JUNE 15.
SO, WE ARE EXPECTED TO WRAP UP
THIS DISCUSSION ON THE COVID
ARPA FUNDS FOR LOCAL RELIEF BY
JUNE 15th IN THE HOUSING AND
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
ALSO WANT TO NOTE, YOU WILL BE
RECEIVING AN EMAIL FROM DIRECTOR
BEN NOBLE VERY SOON.
HE WILL BE PROVIDING US WITH AN
UPDATE ON THE REVENUE FORECAST
DURING TOMORROW'S MEETING.
YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE THAT IN
THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO.
I JUST GOT A NOTE THAT HE IS
PLANNING TO SEND THAT OUT THIS
MORNING.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE DETAILS,
BUT I THINK THAT IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A
SLIGHT UPTICK IN REVENUE GIVEN
WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE REPORTED
AT THE STATE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
CENTRAL STAFF WILL ALSO BE ABLE
TO WALK THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION, AND IDENTIFY
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS AND GIVE US
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR OUR
DISCUSSION TOMORROW.
THEN, THE LAST TWO ITEMS ON OUR
AGENDA DURING THE FINEST AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING AS WE
WRAP UP TOWARD THE END OF THAT
MEETING WILL BE THE NORTHGATE
COMMENTS PRESENTATION AND A
CONTINUATION OF TRANSPARENCY
REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACT
WORKERS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR CONTINUING TO
SHEPHERD THAT THROUGH OUR
COMMITTEE.
AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP
TO.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK
SECOND TO SAY THANKS AND
CONGRATULATIONS TO RAY MORALES.
HE IS A FRIEND OF MINE.
HE IS NOW THE CHIEF SEATTLE
INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL OF
THE WORK.
RAY MORALES IS A SEATTLE NATIVE
WHO VALUES EDUCATION, SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND SERVICE.
HIS ENTIRE FAMILY HAS BEEN A
TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO THIS
COMMUNITY.
FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS AND
DIGNITY OF MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN OUR AREA.
RAY EARNED HIS PA AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
HIS MASTERS AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY.
HIS PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATION AT
THE SEATTLE UNIVERSITY PROGRAM
HERE LOCALLY.
VERY EXCITED FOR HIS NEW TENURE
STARTING IN JULY.
LAST WEEK I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE
MAKING AND URBANISM -- MAKING
URBANISM ANTI-RACIST SERIES.
AN ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH
THE NATIONAL ADVOCATES LOOKING
AT HOUSING AND TRANSIT.
HOW TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY
THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
THIS WEEK WE WILL CONTINUE TO
MEET WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS TO HEAR THEIR
IDEAS FOR ARPA FUNDS.
VERY BRIEFLY, UPDATES FROM SOME
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SY, SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS
WITHIN OUR COMMITTEE.
AN UPDATE FROM OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS, THE DRIVER MINIMUM
COMPENSATION ANNOUNCEMENT WILL
GO OUT FROM OLS VIA EMAIL.
THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000
TMC DRIVERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
UNDER THE TMC MINIMUM
COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE
IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO DRIVERS ABOUT
WAGE CALCULATIONS AND RIGHTS,
NEW RECORDED WEBINARS AVAILABLE
AT OLS AND INFORMATION ABOUT
COVID VACCINES FROM FAS, THEY
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO
THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE
COMMUNITY VACCINE SITE AT LUMEN
FIELD.
REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ALL THE
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FROM VARIOUS
PEOPLE THAT FINALLY GOT THERE
VACCINES THAT THE EVENT AT
LUMEN FIELD.
THEY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION, NOT JUST
INFORMATION, AND SERVICES
RELATED TO COVID, BUT ALSO A
NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS
INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS A PROPOSED DIRECTORS
RULE.
THAT WAS ISSUED JUST THIS MONTH
ON REDUCING THE ESTIMATED
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE SERVICES
SURCHARGED BY 80%.
FOR THE 2022 LICENSING YEAR,
REFLECTING A DECLINE IN THE
NUMBER OF TRIPS FROM 2019 AND
2020.
THEY ARE ALSO DOING OUTREACH ON
MARIJUANA, RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT OUTREACH.
THAT BEGAN THIS MONTH AS WELL.
THEY ARE WORKING SPECIFICALLY
WITH SUDANESE AMERICAN AND EAST
AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
COLLECT FEEDBACK REGARDING
LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO FORMERLY OWNED
MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.
THEY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
NATIONAL SKILLS COALITION, A
NATIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
ADVISER COALITION, WORKING ON
LABOR EQUITY.
WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR
MEETING WITH A NUMBER OF
WASHINGTON CONGRESSIONAL METALS
IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS TO
DISCUSS THE CITY'S PRIOR TO
PROGRAM.
THE COALITION IS DEVELOPING
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY A
PRIORITY HIGHER AS BEST
PRACTICES.
THIS AS MANY EFFORTS AS YOU
HAVE HEARD ME REPORT ON BEFORE.
WITH THAT I WILL CONCLUDE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR WORK TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
SEEING THEN, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND HEAR NOW FROM COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
THE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS FIVE
ITEMS ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE COUNCIL
ADOPTED THE SURVEILLANCE IMPACT
REPORT ON THE EXISTING
TECHNOLOGIES ALREADY BEING USED
BY SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ON APRIL 7th, OUR COMMITTEE
ALSO APPROVED FIVE SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS ON ASSISTING SPD
PROBABLY'S.
THOSE ARE BEFORE THE FULL
COUNCIL TODAY FOR FINAL
ADOPTION.
THESE FIVE EXISTING
TECHNOLOGIES ARE THE 911
RECORDING INFO, THE LICENSE
PLATE READERS FOR PATROL,
LICENSE PLATE READERS FOR
PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH
TECHNOLOGY AND ONLINE REPORTING
TECHNOLOGY.
THE COMMITTEE AMENDED EACH
ORDINANCE, AND THEN APPROVED
THEM UNANIMOUSLY ON APRIL 7th.
BASED ON SOME FEEDBACK AFTER
COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
IS FURTHER REFINING TWO OF HER
AMENDMENTS TODAY BY FURTHER
REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPD
CAN RETAIN EFFORTS.
I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S AMENDMENTS AND LOOK
FORWARD TO VOTING FOR THEM
TODAY.
OUR CENTRAL STAFF ANALYST WILL
BE AVAILABLE BEFORE FULL
COUNCIL TODAY IN CASE THERE ARE
ANY LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS.
WE DID HAVE THIS ON THE -- WE
SKIPPED A WEEK BEFORE BRINGING
THESE BILLS TO FULL COUNCIL TO
GET MORE PEOPLE MORE TIME TO
REVIEW THEM.
IN ADDITION TO THE ITEMS FROM
OUR COMMITTEE, TODAY'S AGENDA
HAS TWO STRAIGHTFORWARD
REFINEMENTS TO KEY COVID RELIEF
MEASURES FOR MOST CITY LIGHT
AND PUBLIC UTILITIES.
COUNCIL BILLS 120035 AND 120036
WERE POSTED ON OUR INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR OVER A
YEAR AGO.
THEY SIMPLY EXPAND THE UTILITY
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
FOR STRUGGLING RATEPAYERS FOR
2021 OUR CENTRAL STAFF ANALYST
CIRCULATED A BRIEF MEMO ABOUT
BOTH BILLS ON FRIDAY.
HE IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS TODAY BETWEEN THIS
COUNCIL BRIEFING AND ARE FULL
COUNCIL MEETING.
IN SHORT, BOTH BILLS ARE A
HELPFUL EXPANSION OF THE
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
DURING THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC
TIMES.
THESE ORDINANCES ARE REQUIRED
FOR THESE SIMPLE MODIFICATIONS
FOR 2021.
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE MEETS ON THE FIRST
AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS OF EACH
MONTH AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING.
WE PUBLISHED OUR AGENDA THIS
PASSED FRIDAY AND I WILL GO
AHEAD AND HIGHLIGHT SOME ITEMS
COMING TO OUR COMMITTEE THIS
WEEK.
AT OUR LAST MEETING ON APRIL
7th, WE RECEIVED AN IMPORTANT
BRIEFING FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ON THE PROPOSED
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH
WILL IMPACT SPU UTILITY RATES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
SPU'S STRATEGIC PLAN HAS BEEN
ENDORSED BY THE CUSTOMER REVIEW
PANEL, AND WE WILL HEAR FROM
THE HEAD OF THAT PANEL THIS
WEDNESDAY I COMMITTEE.
WE WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE
ANALYSIS OF THE PLAN, AND A
PROPOSED RATE PASSED FROM OUR
CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
FORTUNATELY, THE AVERAGE SPU
RATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE LOWER
THAN WHAT WAS PROMISED BACK IN
2017.
KEEPING RATES LOW IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE RATES ARE TECHNICALLY
REGRESSIVE, WITH LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS PAYING A LARGER
PERCENTAGE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD
INCOME FOR UTILITY BILLS.
SPU IS EAGER TO HAVE US PLAN
OUT OF COMMITTEE ON THE THIRD
COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE
SUBJECT WHICH WILL BE ON
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5. INTERNET FOR
ALL.
IN OUR COMMITTEE WE WILL
RECEIVE A FOLLOW-UP REPORT FROM
OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT ON THEIR
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR INTERNET
FOR ALL ACTION PLAN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
ADOPTED SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO THANK SEATTLE I.T.
FOR THEIR WORK THUS FAR, AND
ALSO THINK THIS COUNCIL,
INCLUDING COSPONSORS GONZALEZ
AND JUAREZ FOR UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPTING THE INTERNET FOR ALL
RESOLUTION LAST SUMMER.
AS WE DECIDE HOW BEST TO INVEST
FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN ACT, I HOPE WE CAN KEEP
FRONT AND CENTER THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE AND THE URGENT NEED FOR
DIGITAL EQUITY.
SPECIFICALLY WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO USE ARPA DOLLARS TO
ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE INTERNET FOR ALL ACTION
PLAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, AWARDING MORE
DOLLARS RIGHT AWAY TO EXPAND
THE TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUNDS
THAT WERE AWARDED EARLIER THIS
YEAR.
THERE WERE SEVERAL FABRICATIONS
THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE FUNDED
DUE TO THE LIMITATION OF FUNDS.
BRIDGES.
OUR COMMITTEE WILL ALSO RECEIVE
AN UPDATE ON SDOT'S
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUDIT
CONCERNING SEATTLE'S BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE BACKLOG.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL
RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON A SEPARATE
BUT RELATED CHALLENGE OF
KEEPING OUR BRIDGES SAFE FROM
EARTHQUAKES.
SEISMIC RETROFITTING THAT IS
NEEDED FOR MANY OF OUR OLD
BRIDGES.
THIS WEDNESDAY, OUR COMMITTEE
WILL ALSO HEAR SDOT'S
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO
INVEST $7 MILLION FROM THE $20
INCREASE IN VEHICLE LICENSE
FEES THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPTED.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE DID NOT
REACH CONSENSUS ON HOW TO SPEND
THOSE DOLLARS LAST NOVEMBER.
THE, A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL
ASKED SDOT TO CONVENE SOME
STAKEHOLDERS FOR TRANSPORTATION
, COME BACK WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS IN APRIL.
HERE WE ARE.
COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD, LEWIS,
MOSQUEDA AND I, ARE EXCITED TO
ANNOUNCE WE COME UP WITH A WAY
TO HONOR THAT STAKEHOLDER WORK
THIS YEAR.
AND TO GO BIGGER AND BOLDER TO
BUILD BACK BETTER WITH BONDS
TOTALING $100 MILLION FOR 2022.
THIS APPROACH WILL CREATE JOBS
WHEN WE NEED THEM, RIGHT NOW,
AS WE STRUGGLE OUT OF THE
ECONOMIC RECESSION.
BONDS WILL ENABLE US TO FUND
BIGGER PROJECTS, RATHER THAN
PIECE MAILING SMALLER AMOUNTS
OF MONEY OVER SEVERAL YEARS.
YES, THE BIGGER PROJECTS WOULD
INCLUDE MAJOR REPAIRS TO
BRIDGES, BUT THE BOND DOLLARS
CAN ALSO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE
LOCAL MATCHING DOLLARS FOR
LARGER PROJECTS.
FUND SOME OF THE CAPITATION
PRIORITIES CALLED FOR BY THE
STAKEHOLDER GROUP, SUCH AS
BUILDING THE SIDEWALKS FASTER.
AND THE FUNDING WE NEED FOR
MORE STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR
LONGER-TERM INVESTMENTS.
FINALLY, BONDS SHOULD PROTECT
THE FUNDS AGAINST ATTACK FROM
THOSE WHO MIGHT SEEK TO
OVERTURN THESE FEES NEEDED FOR
OUR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
LEWIS, MOSQUEDA AND I HAVE
CRAFTED AN AMENDMENT THAT WE
ARE CIRCULATING THIS MORNING.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD INVEST THE
FUNDS THIS YEAR AS SUGGESTED BY
SDOT AND THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP,
BUT HAVE SDOT RETURN BEFORE THE
FALL BUDGET PROCESS WITH A
BIGGER, BOLDER PLAN TO HAVE THE
CITY ISSUED AT LEAST $100
MILLION IN BONDS, SUPPORTED BY
THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEES.
WE WILL DISCUSS THIS AMENDMENT
THIS WEDNESDAY I COMMITTEE, AND
PROBABLY WAIT TO VOTE ON THE
BILL UNTIL THE COMMITTEE ON
WEDNESDAY MAY 5th.
I KNOW YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS, BUT I'LL KEEP
ROLLING AND FINISH MY REPORT.
SPEAKING OF CRATING JOBS, LAST
WEEK I VISITED THE
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR THE
IRON WORKERS LOCAL 86.
I MET WITH APPRENTICES IN EACH
OF THE FOUR YEARS OF THEIR
PROGRAM.
WITH THE HELP OF SPONSORS SUCH
AS THE URBAN LEAGUE, THE IRON
WORKERS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
AND OTHER APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION
TRADE UNIONS ARE A POWERFUL
PATH TO LIVING WAGE JOBS IN
SEATTLE, AND CAN BOOST THE
PROSPECTS OF MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH OTHER ISSUES IN
THEIR LIVES.
IT WAS MOVING TO SEE THIS
PROGRAM IN ACTION AND TO KNOW
THAT BY GETTING DOLLARS OUT THE
DOOR FASTER, WE CAN HAVE JOBS
READY FOR THEM WHEN THEY BECOME
FULL-FLEDGED IRON WORKERS.
A BRIEF REPORT FROM DISTRICT 4.
LAST WEEK MY STAFF ATTENDED THE
MONTHLY MEETINGS OF EASTLAKE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL, AND A
DISCUSSION ABOUT CRIME
PREVENTION AT MAGNUSON PARK.
ON THURSDAY EVENING I
PARTICIPATED IN A COMMUNITY
OUTREACH MEETING WITH THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE ABOUT
THE NEW TINY HOME VILLAGE THAT
WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION NEXT
MONTH AND OPEN AROUND JULY 4th.
I POSTED THE PRESENTATION ON MY
CITY COUNCIL BLOG.
THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO
VOLUNTEER AND HELP BUILD THE
TIDY HOMES.
JUST SEND AN EMAIL. I'D LIKE TO
THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED AND
ASKED QUESTIONS.
AS WELL AS THE NEARLY 75 PEOPLE
FROM OUR DISTRICT TO ROPE TO
SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
THIS IS A CARING COMMUNITY THAT
WANTS THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR THE
CITY REALLY WANT TO THANK SOUND
TRANSIT FOR PROVIDING THIS LAND
FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS.
SPECIFICALLY JACOB PACHECO, WHO
CONTINUES TO SUPPORT OUR
DISTRICT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY
EMPLOYEES THAT HUMAN SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
DEPUTY MAYOR, MY LEGISLATIVE
STAFF, AND THE NONPROFIT DOING
THE REAL WORK HERE, THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING A NUMBER OF
DISTURBING INCIDENTS AND
UNAUTHORIZED ENCAMPMENTS IN AND
AROUND THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
INCLUDING DANGEROUS FIRES.
WE ARE EAGER TO HAVE THIS TINY
HOME DISTRICT OPEN SOON SO WE
CAN GET THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS INSIDE WHERE THEY
CAN GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
I DO SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS HAS HIS HAND UP.
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
HIM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I WANT
TO START BY THANKING YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT TINY
HOUSE BILL.
>> I THINK IT IS NO COINCIDENCE
THAT OF THE THREE VILLAGES THAT
HAVE BEEN FUNDED, THIS IS THE
VILLAGE THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE
OPENED SOONEST.
I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE
ELBOW GREASE THAT YOUR OFFICE
HAS PUT INTO MAKING SURE THAT
ALL OF THE DEADLINES ARE BEING
MET, AND THAT THAT IS BEING
DRIVEN THROUGH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND WE
ARE TRYING TO EMULATE THAT
EFFORT IN SEVERAL ADDITIONAL
VILLAGES.
SO, I WANTED TO START BY SAYING
MY OFFICE REALLY APPRECIATES
THAT, AND I'M SURE THAT THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT WILL APPRECIATE THAT
IN SHORT ORDER.
I WANT TO ALSO SPEAK TO THE
STRIKER AMENDMENT THAT I AM
COSPONSORING, ALONG WITH YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THAT YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER IN YOUR
REPORT.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
FRONTLOADING AND GETTING A LOT
OF INVESTMENT OUT THE DOOR
EARLIER AND SOONER BY REALLY
LEVERAGING THAT VEHICLE LICENSE
FEE.
TO DRIVE THIS NATIONAL
CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE SEEING
AROUND GREEN NEW DEAL, AROUND
MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENTS, TO LEVERAGE THE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE SEEING
THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COME
FROM THE STATE.
GODSPEED TO DIRECTOR MAJEWSKI,
AS WE'VE ALL BEEN MENTIONING
EARLIER, AND MAKING SURE THAT
SEATTLE GETS A DECENT CHUNK OF
THAT INVESTMENT OUT OF THE
STATE LEGISLATURE.
WE HAVE A MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
BILL ON THE HORIZON FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEPS ME
UP AT NIGHT, AND THINK ABOUT
ALL OF THESE BIG INVESTMENTS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING TO
HELP SEATTLE WITH OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES, IS
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IN A
POSITION TO HAVE RESOURCES
ONLINE, READY TO GO, SO THAT WE
CAN LEVERAGE THOSE COOPERATIONS
AND PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
TO COBBLE TOGETHER THE FUNDING
PACKAGES NEEDED TO DO BIG THINGS
TO REPAIR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
TO CREATE UNION JOBS.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING
NECESSARILY IMPROVEMENTS TO
BRIDGES THAT WERE MADE FOR A
DIFFERENT TIME AND PLACE.
TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD THE
UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE OF
WALKING ACROSS THE BALLARD
BRIDGE AS A PEDESTRIAN, WHICH I
DON'T THINK I HAD DONE SINCE
HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT IS NOT A BRIDGE THAT WAS
DESIGNED FOR BIKE AND
PEDESTRIAN COMMUTING.
IN MIND, WHEN IT WAS PUT IN.
THAT WAS A DESPERATE BACKLOG OF
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN
WALK, CAN BITE, PEOPLE WITH
MOBILITY CHALLENGES CAN GET
AROUND THE CITY.
IN A WAY WHERE YOU DO NOT PUT
YOUR LIFE AT RISK EVERY TIME
YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND COMMUTE
VIA A BIKE RIDE.
THESE INVESTMENTS WILL HELP US
DO THAT.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THIS CONVERSATION.
I'LL HAVE TO WAIT I GUESS UNTIL
AFTER MAY 5th BECAUSE I'M NOT
ON THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE
MOVING FORWARD THE FULL
PROPOSAL THAT CAN LEVERAGE
REGIONAL RESOURCES AND MAKE
MUCH-NEEDED PROGRESS ON A LOT
OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE
FACING.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THE
POINTS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
MANY THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR BRINGING THIS
AMENDMENT FORWARD.
AS THE CITY AUDITOR'S REPORT
RELEASED LAST SUMMER NOTED, THE
INADEQUACY OF MAINTENANCE
FUNDING FOR OUR LONG-TERM HEALTH
OF OUR BRIDGES.
REALLY IS CRITICAL SINCE WE
DEPEND ON BRIDGES IN SEATTLE
WITH OUR MANY WATERWAYS AND
HILLS.
BRINGING FORWARD THIS
DISCUSSION NOW IS SO IMPORTANT
FOR 2 REASONS.
THE FIRST IS THAT THE MOVE LEVY
APPROVED BY SEATTLE VOTERS IN
2016 RUNS THROUGH 2024.
THERE WILL NOT BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE
AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR BRIDGES
AND A NEW LEVEL FOR SEVERAL
YEARS.
THAT'S ONE REASON WHY IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL
TO TALK ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THIS URGENT
NEED.
THE OTHER REASON WHY IT IS SO
IMPORTANT IS SINCE THE
AUDITOR'S REPORT WAS RELEASED,
SDOT ANNOUNCED IN MID-NOVEMBER
THAT THE ESTIMATED COST FOR
RETROFITTING 16 BRIDGES HAS
INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN SDOT
DECIDING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
JUST 11 OF THE 16 BRIDGE
SEISMIC IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED
IN THE MOVE LEVY.
THE ESTIMATES FOR THE 16
BRIDGES INCREASED FROM $67
MILLION-$730 MILLION.
AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER REASON
WHY WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO SORT
OF KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
ON THESE DECISIONS.
NOT JUST WHAT BRIDGES ARE
CRITICAL FOR OUR ATTENTION, BUT
WHAT FUNDING SOURCES ARE GOING
TO BE IN ORDER TO BUILD BACK
BETTER.
I THINK BONDING IS A GOOD
SOLUTION THAT WE SHOULD BE
CONSIDERING.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST REAL
QUICKLY MENTIONED THE TWO
AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGISLATION
THAT COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN IS
BRINGING FORWARD TODAY IN FULL
COUNCIL.
THAT CAME OUT OF HIS COMMITTEE
LAST WEEK.
I MENTIONED THESE EARLIER AS
DID COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
ONE IS AN AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL
BILL 120024.
IT SIMPLY ADDS A RECITAL TO THE
COUNCIL BILL RECOGNIZING THE
UPCOMING TRANSFER OF SBD'S 911
DISPATCH TO THE NEW COMMUNITY
SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
THEN, WHEN THAT TRANSFER OCCURS,
WE WILL NEED TO UPDATE THE
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORT TO
ALIGN WITH THE NEW
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT, MORE
SUBSTANTIVE, AND IS INTENDED TO
RESPOND TO INPUT THAT WE
RECEIVED FROM THE ACLU.
MY ORIGINAL AMENDMENT RELATED TO
THE HOLDING ON OF DATA RECEIVED
FROM THE AUTOMATED LICENSE
PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY.
THE AMENDMENT THAT CAME OUT OF
COMMITTEE REQUESTS THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO GET BACK TO US ON
THE FEASIBILITY OF RETAINING
RECORDS ON NON-CASE SPECIFIC
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER
DATA FOR OH NO MORE THAN SEVEN
DAYS.
AFTER THAT PASSED, WE HEARD
BACK FROM THE ACLU SAYING THAT
THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR NO
MORE THAN 48 HOURS.
THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO
CONTAINED WITHIN THE WORKGROUPS
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORT.
SO, THE AMENDMENT I WILL BRING
FORWARD TODAY WILL MAKE --
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO MY SUPPORT
AND THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSHAM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AS
WE THINK ABOUT WAYS TO NOT ONLY
MAKE SURE THAT OUR ECONOMY
REBOUNDS, BUT THAT WE ARE DOING
SO IN AN EQUITABLE WAY THAT
ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO GET BACK
TO WORK IN GOOD, UNION LIVING
WAGE JOBS.
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE IS
A REALLY CRITICAL THING FOR US
TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
DOING SO IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS
FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND THE
CITY IN MORE EQUITABLE WAYS, BY
MAKING SURE THAT OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IS A SOLID
INCLUDES BRIDGE AND BIKE AND
PEDESTRIAN -- IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
DO.
I THINK THAT THIS OFFERS A
REALLY GREAT WIN/WIN APPROACH.
I ALSO THINK THAT BY EXPANDING
THE UNIVERSAL DOLLARS, WE CAN
HAVE PLANNING DOLLARS AVAILABLE
AND IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL AS
WE TALK ABOUT THE NEXT
EVOLUTION OF FUTURE TRANSFER
FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
DOING THAT IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.
I KNOW THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORKING ON ALL OF
THIS WITH ALL OF YOU.
VERY STRONGLY SUPPORT BONDING
AGAINST THE DOLLARS SO THAT WE
CANNOT PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK
IN A REALLY GREAT WAY.
ALSO BILLED THE CITY OF THE
FUTURE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET
AROUND AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE A
CAR AND KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE
SAFE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ON THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, DID
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
COMPLETE YOUR REPORT?
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
LET'S CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER SO
WANT AND THEN I WILL CONCLUDE
THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEM ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED
FOR ITS REGULAR TIME, TUESDAY
APRIL 27th AT 9:30 A.M.
AT THAT MEETING WE WILL HEAR
FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ABOUT
THE GREEN NEW DEAL.
WE NEED TO RAPIDLY ELECTRIFY
OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND
ULTIMATELY BREAK THE POWER
FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES HAVE ON
OUR SOCIETY.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE AT THAT
COMMITTEE MEETING THE INITIAL
DISCUSSION ON THE LEGISLATION
FROM MY OFFICE TO PROHIBIT THE
EVICTION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN,
THEIR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS WILL BE AN INITIAL
DISCUSSION OF WITH THE HOPE OF
HAVING A VOTE IN MAY.
THIS MORNING, MY OFFICE HOSTED
A PRESS CONFERENCE TO UNVEIL
THIS BILL AND WE WERE HAPPY TO
BE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT.
AND BY A SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR.
THE BILL IS ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
THE BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD
PREVENT THE EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS, DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT IS COMMON SENSE, THE BILL IS
FOR ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF
RESOURCE THAT SHOWED THAT WHEN
CHILDREN ARE EVICTED IT HAS A
BETTER -- DEVASTATING IMPACT ON
THEIR ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT.
IMAGINE TRYING TO FOCUS ON YOUR
SCHOOLWORK WHILE LOSING YOUR
HOME.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LOSING HOME
REPORT FOUND THAT QUOTE, OF
EVICTED RESPONDENTS WITH SCHOOL-
AGE CHILDREN, 85.7% SAID THEIR
CHILDREN HAD TO MOVE SCHOOLS
AFTER THE EVICTION AND 87.5%
REPORTED THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT
THE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SUFFERED
VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF THE
EVICTION.
END QUOTE.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THE
IMPACT ON THE ACADEMICS.
TO A RELOCATION THAT REQUIRES A
LONG COMMUTE.
NOT TO MENTION HOW AS A CHILD
CAN YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK WHEN
YOU'RE LOSING YOUR HOUSING
STABILITY.
HOW CAN YOU EVEN CONCENTRATE IN
SCHOOL WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING?
IN 2018, THE STATE FOUND THAT
NEARLY 4200 SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS CHILDREN WERE
HOMELESS AT SOME POINT IN THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT IS A STAGGERING 7% OF ALL
PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.
IN TACTICAL TERMS, THAT MEANS
IN AN AVERAGE CLASS OF 40
STUDENTS, TWO GRUDEN'S WILL BE
HOMELESS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
JUST AS SEATTLE LANDLORDS EVICT
BLACK TENANTS AT A MUCH HIGHER
RATE, WE ALSO SEE THAT BLACK
STUDENTS AND OTHER STUDENTS OF
COLOR DISPROPORTIONALLY FACE
HOMELESSNESS.
THE 2018 STATE DATA FOUND THAT
FULLY 40% OF HOMELESS STUDENTS
WERE BLACK, AND 23% WERE LATINX.
EVEN THOUGH BLACK AND LATINX
PEOPLE CONSTITUTE MUCH SMALLER
PROPORTIONS OF SEATTLE'S
OVERALL POPULATION.
FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
GRADUATING THAT YEAR, THE
SEATTLE PI FOUND QUOTE, FOR THE
CLASS OF 2018, 55.2% OF
STUDENTS GRADUATED ON TIME
COMPARED TO 84.5% OF STUDENTS
WHO WERE HOUSED.
THESE ARE STAGGERING DATA AND
THEY UNDERSCORE WHY WE NEED TO
PASS THIS LEGISLATION.
PREVENTING SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTIONS WILL REDUCE AT LEAST
THIS ONE FORM OF SYSTEMIC
RACISM IMPACTING STUDENTS.
I CONTINUE TO THINK THAT THE
FACT THAT THE CHILDREN ARE
EVICTED IN ONE OF THE RICHEST
CITIES IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD IS A DAMNING
CONDEMNATION. AT THE VERY LEAST
THE CITY HAS THE POWER TO STOP
EVICTIONS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
DISCUSSION IN THE COMMITTEE
NEXT WEEKEND I HOPE
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL SUPPORT
THIS IMPORTANT RENTER RIGHTS
AND CHILDREN'S RIGHTS BILL.
LAST WEEK MY OFFICE ALSO SENT
TO THE CLERK FOR INTRODUCTION
LEGISLATION CLOSING THE END OF
LOOP THE SOUL IN THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCE.
IT HAS CREATED A SITUATION
WHERE LANDLORDS CAN REFUSE TO
RENEW A LEASE WITHOUT ANY CAUSE.
THE BILL PUTTING FORWARD
FOLLOWS THE MODEL OF THE
LEGISLATION PASSED BY A
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IN FEBRUARY
WHICH GATHERED SIGNATURES AND
EVENTUALLY PASSED THE STABLE
HOMES INITIATIVE WHICH CREATED
JUST CAUSE EVICTION PROTECTIONS
IN FEDERAL WAY AND INCLUDED
RENTERS ON X TERM LEASES.
WE INTEND THIS BILL TO BE ON
THE CALENDAR NEXT WEEK.
AS MANY MORE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE
OUR OFFICE FOR THE LAST YEARS,
MY COUNCIL OFFICE HAS BEEN AT
BORING OPPORTUNITIES TO CLOSE
THIS LOOPHOLE.
WE ARE IN SPECIALLY INSPIRED BY
THE CONCRETE VICTORY IN THE
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY.
WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' OFFICE,
AND WELCOME THE LEGISLATION
THEY HAVE DRAFTED WHICH I
UNDERSTAND ADDRESSES THE PUPIL.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ALLOWS SOMEBODY AND
WITH THE STATE HOUSED STAY
HEALTHY. TO DEVELOP THE
STRONGEST BILL THAT PROTECTS
ALL TENANTS FROM NO CAUSE
EVICTIONS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT AT OUR
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
LAST WEEK, MY OFFICE CIRCULATED
A PETITION URGING MAYOR DURKAN
AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
STOP PLANS TO RESUME HARASSING
HOMELESS NADIRS WITHOUT THE
LUXURY OF A DRIVEWAY WITH THE
72 HOUR PARKING FINES.
OVER 1000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION AND I
BELIEVE HUNDREDS OF EMAIL HAVE
BEEN SENT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL.
THE 72 HOUR PARKING RULE, WHICH
IS TICKETING OR TOWING CARS
PARKED FOR 72 HOURS,
CRIMINALIZES PEOPLE FOR BEING
POOR AND ALSO ANYONE WITHOUT A
DRIVEWAY OR A GARAGE FOR PEOPLE
LIVING IN THEIR CARS, IT COULD
BE CATASTROPHIC, COSTING THEM
THEIR VEHICLE BUT ALSO THEIR
ONLY SHELTER AND ALL THEIR
POSSESSIONS.
WE NEED AFFORDABLE SOCIAL
HOUSING, NOT HARASSMENT OF
NEIGHBORS STRUGGLING TO
SURVIVE.
I CONTINUE TO URGE MAYOR DURKAN
TO IMMEDIATELY EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM IN ADDITION TO
EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM, WHICH
IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL, I ALSO
SUPPORT THE DEMAND FROM REAL
CHANGE MEMBERS WHO ARE URGING
MAYOR DURKAN AND THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL TO USE FUNDS FROM
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF
2021, TO OPEN SAFE LOTS WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THESE
VEHICULAR RESIDENTS.
THAT WON'T BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR
RESTORING THE MORATORIUM AND
EXTENDING THE BILL IS
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL.
THE IMPACT THAT RESUMING THE 72
HOUR PARKING WOULD HAVE ON OUR
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS LIVING IN
VEHICLES FORCED TO LIVE IN
VEHICLES, WAS POWERFULLY LAID
OUT BY REAL CHANGE AND OTHERS
IN A RECENT ARTICLE.
I URGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WE
HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET TO READ
IT.
RAPID DISSEMINATION OF
VACCINATIONS IS A DISSENTER OF
THE STRATEGY THAT PUBLIC HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS TO STOP THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19 VIRUS.
THERE ARE SHOCKINGLY DEEP
INEQUITIES IN THE ACCESS TO THE
VACCINE.
THIS IS PUTTING COUNTLESS LIVES
AT RISK.
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WITH
THE BLESSING OF THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION ARE BLOCKING
INTELLECTUAL-PROPERTY WAIVERS.
THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THESE POOR
COUNTRIES, FORMERLY COLONIZED
COUNTRIES TO PRODUCE THE COVID-
19 VACCINE.
BIG PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
ARE MAKING OBSCENE PROFITS
SELLING 87% OF PROFITS TO RICH
COMPANIES WITH ONE OUT OF EVERY
FOUR RECEIVING THE VACCINATION
TODAY.
IN POOR COUNTRIES, ONLY ONE OUT
OF EVERY 500 PEOPLE HAVE
RECEIVED THE COVID-19 VACCINE.
THIS IS PUTTING AT RISK THE
LIVES OF MILLIONS.
IT COULD LEAD TO A PREACHER
REEMERGENCE OF THE CORONAVIRUS,
INCLUDING NEW STRAINS AND RICH
COUNTRIES.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN
HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEM
IMMEDIATELY BY WAVING
INTELLECTUAL-PROPERTY
RESTRICTIONS FOR VACCINES THIS
SCHOOL IS SUPPORTED BY HUNDREDS
OF ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS AND
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH.
ONE PERSON SAID A COVID-19
VACCINE MUST BE SEEN AS A GOOD
REPUBLIC GOOD OF PEOPLE'S
VACCINE.
ARGUMENTS THAT PHARMACEUTICAL
COMPANIES DESERVE SUCH OR NEED
SUCH MASSIVE PROFITS AS A
REWARDS FOR INNOVATION OR THAT
THEY ARE NECESSARY TO DEVELOP
FUTURE VACCINES AND TREATMENTS
HAVE NO BASIS IN REALITY.
THESE SELF-SERVING LIES FROM
THE CAPITALIST ELITE IGNORE
OTHER THINGS.
THE OVERWHELMING ALLIANCE OF
FOR-PROFIT PHARMACEUTICAL
CORPORATIONS ON PUBLICLY FUNDED
ACKNOWLEDGING DEVELOPMENT.
FOR INSTANCE, THE NEW YORK
TIMES RECENTLY REPORTED ONE OF
THE HEROES IN THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE MRNA ACKNOWLEDGING FOR
THE VACCINE, SPENT HER CAREER
GOING FROM LAB TO LAB SUPPORTED
BY GOVERNMENT GRANT, NEVER
MAKING MORE THAN $60,000 A YEAR.
THAT IS Y ON MONDAY, APRIL 26,
MY OFFICE WILL BRING FORWARD A
RESOLUTION FOR A VOTE FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN THE 400+
ORGANIZATIONS ON -- CALLING ON
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO PUT
PEOPLE ABOUT PROFIT AND TO STOP
BLOCKING THE INTELLECTUAL-
PROPERTY FOR THE COVID-19
VACCINE.
MY OFFICE IS CURRENTLY DRAFTING
THE RESOLUTION ALONGSIDE
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND WE WILL
SHARE THE DRAFT WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS AND WITH MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC AS SOON AS IT IS
READY, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
YOU TO HAVE YOUR HAND RAISED.
I THINK THAT MAY BE FROM A TIME
PRIOR.
ALL RIGHT SO, WE ARE GOING TO
KEEP GOING.
I WILL GIVE MY REPORT AND WE
WILL BE AS QUICK AS I CAN.
THERE IS NOTHING FOR MY
COMMITTEE ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS OF
LEGISLATION FOR CONSIDERATION
AT THIS AFTERNOON'S CITY
COUNCIL MEETING FIRST ITEM IS
ITEM 1, COUNCIL BILL 120034.
THIS BILL AUTHORIZES THE CITY
TO EXECUTE A COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH
PROTECTS 17 LEGISLATIVE ANALYST
UNITS.
WE WILL SAY MORE ABOUT THAT
THIS AFTERNOON.
IN SUM, THE CBA IS A THREE-YEAR
AGREEMENT ON WAGES, BENEFITS,
HOURS AND OTHER WORKING
CONDITIONS FROM JANUARY 1st,
2019, THROUGH DECEMBER 31st,
2021.
IT PROVIDES OF WAGE ADJUSTMENTS
UP TO 4% IN 2019, 3.4% IN 2020,
AND 2.9% AND 2121.
I ALSO HAVE AN IMPORTED, WHICH
IS RESOLUTION 32002.
THIS IS A LEVY, I'M SORRY THIS
IS A RESOLUTION STATING THE
COUNCIL'S ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE
BEST STARTS FOR KIDS LEVY AND
ITS RENEWAL.
WE WILL CONSIDER THAT AT THIS
AFTERNOON'S MEETING.
LAST WEEK, MY GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MET.
WE HEARD TWO NOMINEES TO THE
ETHICS AND COMMISSION.
THEIR APPOINTMENTS WILL ALSO BE
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
AS I MENTIONED, RESOLUTION 32002
WAS ALSO DISCUSSED IN MY
COMMITTEE MEETING.
HAPPY TO SAY MORE ABOUT THAT
THIS AFTERNOON.
LAST WEEK, AS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS ALREADY MENTIONED, THE
KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY'S
GOVERNING COMMITTEE MET AND
RECEIVED A BRIEFING FROM THE
INCOMING CEO.
MARK MADE INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
AT THEIR FIRST MEETING OF THE
GOVERNING COMMITTEE AND ALSO
MADE A REQUEST FOR THE
AUTHORITY TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL
EMPLOYEE BEYOND THE FIVE THAT
WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.
BECAUSE HIS ADDITIONAL
POSITIONS WERE NOT INITIALLY
BUDGETED FOR, THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEE HAS ASKED THAT THE
SEO WORK WITH CITY AND COUNTY
STAFF TO ANALYZE A BUDGETING
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PROPOSAL
AND COME BACK TO THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEE WITHIN MORE DETAILED
BUDGET THAN PLANNED RAISED
POSITIONS THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEE ALSO DECIDED TO
SCHEDULE A SPECIAL MEETING AT
NEXT MONTH'S END MAY IN ORDER
TO EVALUATE THIS PLAN AND
ADDITIONALLY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
HIRES.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE CEO MAY
BEGIN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS
AND RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FOR
THESE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS
HOWEVER, THE CEO IS NOT YET
AUTHORIZED TO EXTEND ADDITIONAL
JOB OFFERS UNTIL THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEE GRANTS OFFICIAL
APPROVAL.
SPECIAL MEETING AGAIN IS SET
FOR THURSDAY, MAY 20th OF NEXT
MONTH.
THIS THURSDAY, THERE IS A
MEETING OF THE PS RC EXECUTIVE
BOARD.
AMONG OTHER ITEMS ON THIS
AGENDA, THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
WILL TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE
DISTRIBUTION OF $580 MILLION IN
CURRENT CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
AND REALLY SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE
MEETING THAT IS ALL I HAVE. TO
REPORT.
ON THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES.
I DID WANT TO MENTION
COLLEAGUES, THAT I PLAN TO
BRING A PROCLAMATION FORWARD
THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL AT 2:00.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A ROLL
CALL ON THIS PARTICULAR
PROCLAMATION.
THIS IS IN HONOR OF -- THEY
PASSED AWAY LAST MONTH AT THE
AGE OF 35 FROM HEART DISEASE.
THIS PROCLAMATION WOODMARK
APRIL 21st, HIS BIRTHDAY, AS
HIS VERY OWN DAY.
I WILL HAVE MORE ROBUST
COMMENTS TO MAKE AT THIS
AFTERNOON'S MEETING.
I KNOW THAT THE LAWS AND TWO
VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY, AND THE
BROADER ASIAN-AMERICAN
COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FELT VERY
DEEPLY AND WIDELY.
DO APPRECIATE YOUR ALL'S
SUPPORT OF ACKNOWLEDGING ALL OF
THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HE MADE
TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN
SEATTLE AND BEYOND.
BOTH AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AND
ALSO AS JUST SOMEONE WHO WAS
BELOVED AND SO MANY DIFFERENT
CIRCLES.
SO, THAT BEING SAID, I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE PROCLAMATION, IF ANYONE HAS
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROCLAMATION BEFORE WE CALL THE
ROLL.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
I SEE YOUR HAND IS UP I DON'T
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROCLAMATION.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE MORE
THING FOLLOWING YOUR
PRESENTATION.
OKAY, LET ME CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN WE
CAN HEAR FROM YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION.
>> HERBOLD QUESTION MARK
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS QUESTION MARK
>> S.
>> MORALES QUESTION MARK
>> YES.
>> MORALES QUESTION MARK
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SO WANT?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN
DOLLARS?
>> YES.
>> EIGHT COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU HAD AN
ADDITIONAL COMMENT AFTER MY
REPORT.
PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
JUST A SLIGHT CORRECTION FOR MY
REPORT EARLIER THIS MORNING.
MY STAFF INFORMS ME I SAID THE
GROUP SELECT COMMITTEE WOULD BE
MAY 8th.
IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ON
MAY 6th.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE PUBLIC AND
THE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IF
EVERYONE RAPIDLY CHANGED THEIR
CALENDARS.
YOU CAN NOW CHANGE IT BACK.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT
CORRECTION BEFORE THE END.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
WE DON'T WANT TO NEEDLESSLY
CREATE ANY SORT OF SCHEDULING
FLURRIES.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ON MY REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE ARE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND GO TO OTHER ITEMS
OF BUSINESS HERE.
WE DO HAVE ONE EXECUTIVE
SESSION SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THAT
MATTER.
AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I'M
ANNOUNCING THAT THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IT IS TO DISCUSS PENDING,
ESSENTIAL OR ACTIVE LITIGATION.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
COUNCIL TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENTIALLY THE MATTERS WITH
CITY ATTORNEYS AS AUTHORIZED BY
LAW.
ILLEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY OFFICE IS ALWAYS
PRESENT. I EXPECT THE TIME OF
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END BY
12:00 P.M.
IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
BE EXTENDED BEYOND 12:00 P.M.,
TODAY, I WILL RETURN TO OPEN
SESSION AND ANNOUNCED THE
EXTENSION AND THE EXPECTED
DURATION.
THANK YOU.