>>> FOR MAY 24th, 2021 COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
I AM LISA HERBOLD, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
THE TIME IS 9:30 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK IS CALL THE
ROLL?
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> LEWIS?
MORALES.
MOSQUEDA?
SHE'S COMING IN RIGHT NOW.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
COUNCIL PRO TEM, HERBOLD.
HERE.
>> SIX PRESENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THERE ARE NO MINUTES FOR
APPROVAL TODAY.
NEXT WE HAVE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
I'M GOING TO DISPENSE WITH
PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND HOLD MY
COMMENTS TO THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING.
WE'LL MOVE INTO THE PREVIEW OF
COUNCIL ACTIONS AND THE ORDER
FOR -- LET ME JUST SAY HERE.
THE ORDER FOR ROLL CALL IS
GOING TO BE THE ORDER FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
OF COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS TODAY.
THE REPORTS INCLUDE A PREVIEW
OF COUNCIL ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND
REGIONAL COMMITTEES . I WILL
CALL ON COUNCILMEMBERS AS
ESTABLISHED BY THE ROLL CALL.
TODAY, THAT WILL BE SAWANT,
STRAUSS, LEWIS, MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN AND THEN I
WILL CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA
DISCUSSION.
SO, WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE RIGHT
INTO IT AND START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM HERBOLD.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTER'S
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE AT ITS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIME
TOMORROW, TUESDAY, MAY 25th AT
2:00 P.M.
TOMORROW'S COMMITTEE WILL
DISCUSS THREE RENTAL RIGHTS
BILL AND WE HOPE TO VOTE ON ALL
THREE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ARE WILLING TO DO SO.
THERE WILL BE FOUR POTENTIAL
VOTES TO BAN THE SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTIONS OF CHILDREN, THEIR
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS, WHICH
THE COMMITTEE HAS DISCUSSED FOR
THE PASSED TWO MEETINGS.
I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE TO LET MY
OFFICE KNOW OF ANY CONCERNS OR
AMENDMENTS, AND I HAVE NOT
HEARD ANY SO FAR.
I'LL AGAIN APPEAL TO ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE
COMMITTEE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS OR AMENDMENTS TO
PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH MY
OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON
THOSE.
AS I REPORTED EARLIER, THE
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S
REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY PASSED
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION BY AN OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY VOTE.
I HAVE HAD COMMUNICATION WITH
THE SEATTLE EDUCATION PRESIDENT
WHO HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR
THE BILL ON BEHALF OF THE
MEMBERSHIP.
THERE WILL ALSO BE FOUR
POTENTIAL VOTE LEGISLATION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT' OFFICE
CREATING A FURTHER DEFENSE FOR
EFFICIENT FOR RENTAL DEBTS
DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY.
I SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE AND I AM
A COSPONSOR.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WHO IS
ITS PRIME SPONSOR WILL BE
DESCRIBING IT IN MORE DETAIL.
FINALLY, THERE WILL BE FOR
POTENTIAL VOTE LEGISLATION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' OFFICE
IN MY OFFICE ARE JOINTLY
SPONSORED UP TO CREATE A RIGHT
OF FIRST REFUSAL FOR RENTERS ON
FIXED TERM LEASES.
BOTH OUR OFFICES HAD PREVIOUSLY
INTRODUCED DRAFT LEGISLATION TO
ADDRESS WHAT I HAVE CALLED THE
FIXED TERM LEASE LOOPHOLE IN
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE, WHICH EFFECTIVELY
ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO REFUSE TO
RENEW A RENTER'S LEASE FOR NO
REASON WHATSOEVER.
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
FOR THE PASSED THREE COMMITTEE
MEETINGS.
TO THESE DISCUSSIONS, AND
TECHNICAL FEEDBACK, IT HAS
BECOME CLEAR WHAT RENTERS
REALLY NEED IN THESE SITUATIONS
IS THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.
WHERE A LANDLORD IS REQUIRED TO
GIVE THE CURRENT TENANT THE
FIRST CHANCE TO SIGN A NEW
LEASE BEFORE OFFERING THAT LEASE
TO ANY OTHER POTENTIAL TENANTS,
UNLESS THERE IS A JUST CAUSE.
OUR NEW UNITED BUILD TAKES THAT
APPROACH.
WHAT RENTERS REALLY NEED IS A
NEW LEASE LONG BEFORE THERE IS
ANY QUESTION OF EVICTION.
FUEL RENTERS IN REALITY ARE
TOLD BY THEIR LANDLORD WILL NOT
HAVE THEIR LEASE REFUSED WILL
REFUSE TO LEAVE JUST BECAUSE
SEATTLE LOSSES THEY CANNOT BE
EVICTED IN THAT SITUATION.
IN REAL LIFE, ORDINARY PEOPLE,
WORKING PEOPLE, RENTERS AND
ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN WHO HAVE MANY OTHER
URGENT RESPONSIBILITIES, WILL
START LOOKING FOR A NEW PLACE
TO LIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY
KNOW OR BE AWARE THAT IT IS
UNJUST AND THEY CANNOT BE
EVICTED BECAUSE THEY
UNDERSTANDABLY DON'T FEEL
CONFIDENT TO HAVE TO
POTENTIALLY FIGHT IT OUT IN
COURT.
OUR NEW BILL PUTS THE RIGHT OF
FIRST REFUSAL INTO THE PART OF
SEATTLE'S LAW FOR THE MUNICIPAL
COURT, THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION HAS
THE POWER TO ENFORCE.
IF THE LANDLORD DOES NOT OFFER
A NEW LEASE, AND DOES NOT ALSO
HAVE A JUST CAUSE, 60 TO 90
DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE
LEASE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION HAS
THE POWER TO FOLLOW-UP,
INVESTIGATE, TELL THE LANDLORD
THAT THEY EITHER NEED TO OFFER
A NEW LEASE OR PRESENT A JUST
CAUSE NOT TO.
THE DEPARTMENT CAN ISSUE A
CITATION ON A NOTICE OF
VIOLATION AND START ISSUING
FINES IF A LANDLORD REFUSES TO
FOLLOW THE LAW.
ALL THIS CAN HAPPEN BEFORE THE
LEASE ENDS, SO IDEALLY THESE
ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED OF THE
RENTER CAN GET A NEW LEASE
WITHOUT ANYONE GOING TO
EVICTION COURT.
A FEW OTHER DETAILS, THE BILL
ALSO INCLUDES A PRIVATE RIGHT
OF ACTION SO THAT RENTERS HAVE
THE OPTION OF DOING THAT AND
NOT RELYING SOLELY ON THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION TO HELP ENFORCE
THEIR RIGHTS.
IT INCLUDES A PROVISION IN
SEATTLE'S JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE THAT STATES -- AND
THIS IS A PROBLEM CURRENTLY IN
THE LAW -- THAT STATES THAT
LANDLORD MAY NOT TAKE THE
TENANT TO EVICTION COURT IF THE
LANDLORD HAS FAILED TO FOLLOW
THIS RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
LAW.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE LANDLORD
DOES NOT FOLLOW THIS NEW LAW,
THEY CANNOT THEN ALSO BENEFIT
FROM THAT LAW BY EVICTING
SOMEONE.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER
PARTS OF SEATTLE'S JUST CAUSE
LAW THAT ENFORCES THE DUTIES OF
LANDLORDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, A LANDLORD MAY NOT
EVICT A RENTER FROM A UNIT THAT
IS NOT REGISTERED AS A RENTAL
HOUSING UNIT IN SEATTLE.
THE BILL WILL ALSO CREATE
STRUCTURES FOR RENT AND HOW A
MUTUAL TERMINATION AGREEMENT
CAN BE RESCINDED, AND THE BILL
AMENDS SEATTLE'S FIRST IN-KIND
LAW TO CLARIFY THAT THE FIRST
IN-KIND PROVISIONS ONLY RELATE
TO CERTAIN CURRENT NEW TENANTS.
THE EFFECT ONLY AFTER SOMEONE --
THE CURRENT TENANT DOES NOT
AGREE TO RENEW THEIR CURRENT
LEASE.
THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN
DISCUSSING THESE BILLS WITH THE
HOPE TO VOTE AT TOMORROW'S
COMMITTEE MEETING TO ALLOW US
TO STAY ON SCHEDULE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND I
HOPE TO WALK ONTO TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR THIS NEW DOCUMENT.
WE NEED TO WALK ON A NEW DRAFT
OTHER THAN SIMPLY BRING A
AMENDMENT BECAUSE THERE IS A
TITLE CHANGE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK
FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF,
AND MY OFFICE AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' OFFICE FOR WORKING TO
GET THIS LEGISLATION READY FOR
INTRODUCTION OVER THE WEEKEND.
BECAUSE THIS DRAFT WAS NOT
READY IN TIME TO SENT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL OFFICES BY THE
FRIDAY AT 5:00 P.M.
DEADLINE, WE WILL NEED TO
REQUEST TO SUSPEND THE RULES
BEFORE MAKING THE MOTION TO
AMEND THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR FOR OUR
COUNCIL RULES.
I INTEND TO MAKE THAT MOTION AT
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY
T 2:00 P.M., AND I HOPE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL SUPPORT
INTRODUCING THIS NEW DRAFT SO
THAT WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE FOR
THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
TOMORROW.
THIS NEW DRAFT OF THE
LEGISLATION WILL BE SENT TO ALL
COUNCIL OFFICES THIS MORNING.
THIS MORNING I'M ALSO
CIRCULATING A CITY COUNCIL
LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND
THE U.S. CONGRESS FOR
SIGNATURES.
THE LETTER CALLS ON PRESIDENT
BIDEN AND THE U.S. CONGRESS TO
PUT AN END TO WEAPONS SALES
CENTER DIPLOMATIC COVER FOR THE
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IN THEIR
ATTACKS ON THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE IN GAZA.
EVICTIONS OF PALESTINIANS FROM
THEIR HOMES IN EAST JERUSALEM,
AND THE ORGANIZED VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS BY THE
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND BY
SETTLERS.
AFTER ISSUING OUR INITIAL DRAFT
FOR MY OFFICE LAST WEEK, AND
FOLLOWING OUR DISCUSSION LAST
MONDAY, AT THE CITY COUNCIL
BRIEFING, AS MANY OF YOU
ALREADY KNOW, MY OFFICE WENT
AHEAD AND SET THE ORIGINAL
VERSION OF THE LETTER TO
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND CONGRESS
MEMBERS LAST WEEK.
AS I MENTIONED, THAT LETTER HAD
RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM MANY
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY AS I SAID IT
BRIEFING LAST WEEK, I WAS
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO GET A
VERSION OF THE LETTER READY
THAT INCORPORATED EDITS FROM
YOU ALL AS LONG AS THE
ESSENTIAL MESSAGE OF THE LETTER
WAS NOT WATERED DOWN.
MY OFFICE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL
FEEDBACK FROM SEVERAL
COUNCILMEMBERS, WHICH I GREATLY
APPRECIATE.
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS WE'VE
SHARED THE EVOLVING DRAFT WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THOUGH I
DON'T NECESSARILY PREFER ALL OF
THE EDITS, MY OFFICE HAS
INCORPORATED ALL OF THE INPUT
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS INTO THE
FINAL VERSION AS THE ESSENTIAL
MESSAGE IS STILL CARRYING
THROUGH.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.
MY STAFF SENT YOU THE FINAL
VERSION JUST BEFORE 9:00 A.M.
TODAY BECAUSE THE EDITS WERE
STILL EVOLVING.
I HOPE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS SIGN
ON TO IT.
OVER THE PASSED WEEK, I HAVE
HEARD FROM HUNDREDS OF SEATTLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEMANDING
THAT WE AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY
OF THE CITY, TAKE THE STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE, AND DENOUNCE THE U.S.
FUNDED STATE VIOLENCE
PERPETRATED BY THE GOVERNMENT
úOF IS REAL.
THIS LETTER, THIS LAST VERSION
OF THE LETTER DOES THAT AND I
REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
SUPPORT.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT NEARLY 700
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE WRITTEN
TO THE COUNCIL URGING THAT WE
SEND THIS LETTER TO PRESIDENT
BIDEN.
THE LETTER PROPERLY NOTES THE
TRAGIC LOSS OF BOTH ISRAELI AND
PALESTINIAN LIFE IN THE
FIGHTING IN THE LAST WEEK. ONE
CONGRESSWOMAN SAID NO CHILD,
PALESTINIAN OR ISRAELI, WHOEVER
THEY ARE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO
WORRY THAT DEATH WILL RAIN FROM
THE SKY.
WE ALSO KNOW THIS IS NOT ABOUT
BOTH SIDES BEARING EQUAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
AS THE ORGANIZATION JEWISH
VOICE FOR PEACE HAS POINTED OUT,
THE VIOLENCE BETWEEN ISRAELIS
AND PANELISTS THAT MAN'S IS
OFTEN FALSELY PRESENTED AS A
CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO EQUAL
SIDES WITH IRRECONCILABLE
CLAIMS TO ONE PIECE OF LAND.
IN REALITY, THIS IS A CONFLICT
OVER TERRITORY, ISRAEL, WITH
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND
WELL-FUNDED MILITARIES.
INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF
PALESTINIANS THAT HAS BEEN
OCCUPIED, DISGRACED AND EXILED
FOR DECADES.
TO BE CLEAR, THE ISRAELI
GOVERNMENT BEARS RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS
THAT LED TO THE CURRENT
CONFLICT.
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S
ONGOING EVICTIONS OF
PALESTINIAN FAMILIES IN EAST
JERUSALEM.
SECOND, THE GOVERNMENTS ARMED
ASSAULT AT A MOSQUE, AND THIRD
WITH ORGANIZED VIOLENCE AGAINST
THE PALESTINIANS BY THE ISRAELI
GOVERNMENT. ALL OF THIS IS
NOTED IN THE LETTER, ALONGSIDE
AS I SAID, WITH ALL YOUR EDITS
INCORPORATED.
WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR ALSO THAT
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS PLAYED
AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUPPORTING
THESE POLICIES WITH NEARLY $4
BILLION IN ANNUAL AID TO THE
ISRAELI MILITARY AND THE
POLITICAL COVER OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S DECADES LONG
BRUTALITY AGAINST THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
IT HAS BEEN PART OF A LONG-TERM
POLICY OF SUCCESSFUL U.S.
GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE
APARTHEID AGAINST THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, AND
SUCCESSIVE U.S. ADMINISTRATIONS
HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PORTRAY
THEMSELVES AS HONEST BROKERS OF
PEACE BUT IN HASS LOST PEACE.
MILITARY AID TO THE MILITARY
GOVERNMENT FINALLY, I THINK
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO STATE
WHICH SEEMS OBVIOUS BUT ALSO
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, THAT IT IS
NOT, ANTI-SEMITIC TO BE PRO-
PALESTINIAN AND AGAINST
OPPRESSION.
AND RATION TO THE ISRAELI STATE
VIOLENCE, WE'VE SEEN AN
INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITIC
ACTIVITIES IN THIS COUNTRY AND
WORLDWIDE.
WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY CONDEMNED
THOSE ACTIVITIES.
AS I STATED OVER THE WEEKEND ON
MY COUNCIL OFFICE SOCIAL MEDIA,
MY OFFICE JOINS WITH
PALESTINIANS, SOCIALISTS,
JEWISH COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
PROGRESSIVES AND OTHERS, AND
DENOUNCING ANTI-SEMITIC HATRED
IN ALL ITS FORMS.
AS THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN
SPENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE HAS
NOTED, ANTI-SEMITES ARE NEVER
WELCOME IN THE MOVEMENT FOR
JUSTICE AND PEACE IN PALESTINE.
THIS MORNING I JOIN YOU ALL IN
WELCOMING THE CONTINUED CEASE-
FIRE, BUT EVEN THOUGH LAST
WEEK'S BOMBINGS ARE FOR NOW
HALTED, WE KNOW THIS LETTER IS
A VITAL AND TIMELY STATEMENT
FOR US AS ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE.
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS
CONTINUING MASS ARRESTS AND
OPPRESSION OF PALESTINIANS.
GAZA IS IN RUINS, AND THE
BRUTUS INJUSTICE OF THE
OCCUPATION CONTINUES UNABATED.
A PALESTINIAN WRITER AND
ACTIVIST SAID COLONIAL VIOLENCE
IS STILL BUSINESS AS USUAL IN
OCCUPIED PALESTINE AT LARGE.
THAT IS WHY I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO STAND WITH
THE PALESTINIANS, STAND WITH
THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND THE
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY IN OUR
CITY AND REGION, FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS AND ADD YOUR SIGNATURES
TO THE LETTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
JUST WANT TO MEND THEIR WE HAVE
THE LETTER AS WELL AS A
PROCLAMATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND A PROCLAMATION
FROM MYSELF.
WE'LL DEAL WITH COLLECTING
SIGNATURES FOR ALL THREE AT THE
END OF THE MEETING.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S REPORT TODAY?
JUST CHECKING THE PARTICIPANT
PANEL TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
VIRTUAL HANDS UP.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN THE ROLL
CALL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN THE ROLL
CALL IS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
COLLEAGUES AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM HERBOLD.
I'LL START OFF WITH THE LAND-
USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
GET TO WHAT I DID LAST WEEK,
REPORT OUT ON COMING THIS WEEK,
AND THEN DISTRICT 6. FROM THE
LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEES, TWO WEEKS AGO I
SHARED THAT COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ AND I ARE PROPOSING
LEGISLATION TO PRESERVE THE
LAST TWO REMAINING MANUFACTURED
HOME PARKS IN SEATTLE.
ON PARTIALLY DUE TO A APPEAL
FILED LAST WEEK, THAT
LEGISLATION IS NOW ON HOLD
TEMPORARILY.
WE ARE INTRODUCING THE
LEGISLATION TODAY STILL, AND WE
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT
UNTIL THE CURRENT APPEAL IS
RESOLVED.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'M
INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO
EXTEND THE CURRENT MORATORIUM
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS FROM
THE ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS TO
ALLOW TIME TO COMPLETE THE WORK
NEEDED FOR THE LONG-TERM
SOLUTION.
WE HAVE PASSED THE SIX MONTH
MORATORIUM DURING OUR EFFORTS TO
CREATE THIS LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST ONE,
SINCE WE HAVE THE APPEAL
ALREADY IN PROCESS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, I THINK
THAT WE HAVE A GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
TIMELINE IS.
THE MORATORIUM LEGISLATION WILL
RECEIVE A FULL PUBLIC HEARING
AT THE FULL COUNCIL NEXT WEEK
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 1st.
THERE WILL BE A FULL COUNCIL
VOTE ON MONDAY, JUNE 7th, IN
ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE
EXTENSION BEFORE THE CURRENT
MORATORIUM EXPIRES ON JUNE 10th.
THERE ARE 11 ITEMS FROM THE
LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
COUNCIL.
THE MANUFACTURED HOME PARK
REDEVELOPMENT -- EXTENSION.
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT COMMISSION.
AN APPOINTMENT TO THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION, AND AN
APPOINTMENT TO THE SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION.
PIKE PLACE MARKET PDA GOVERNING
COUNCIL.
COUNCIL BILL 120079, LONG-TERM
MOBILE HOME PARK LEGISLATION.
COUNCIL BILL 120081, WHICH
PROVIDES LAND-USE FLEXIBILITY
TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
CONSTRUCTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN VERY
EXCITED TO RECEIVE.
COUNCIL BILL 120083, WHICH
MAKES MINOR FIXES TO THE
CONSTRUCTION CODE.
COUNCIL BILL 120084, WHICH
UPDATES THE GRADING CODE,
COUNCIL BILL 120085, WHICH
UPDATES THE BOILER AND STEAM
ENGINE OPERATOR CODES AND
COUNCIL BILL 120086, A
MUTUALLY OFFSETTING BENEFIT
TRANSFER OF THE GREENWOOD
SENIOR CENTER TO THE PHINNEY
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
DOESN'T EVERYONE LOVE THE LAND-
USE COMMITTEE?
IT IS CHOCK-FULL OF VERY
EXCITING POLICY.
THERE ARE FIVE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION
ON THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
TODAY.
IN THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LAND-
USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
IS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 26th
STARTING AT 9:30.
THERE ARE SEVEN ITEMS ON THIS
WEEK'S AGENDA, AND SO I WILL
KEEP MY THANK YOU'S SHORT AS WE
MOVE URGENTLY FORWARD THROUGH
THIS LEGISLATION.
ON THIS WEDNESDAYS COMMITTEE
AGENDA WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING
ON COUNCIL BILL 120079.
THE MOBILE HOME PARK
PRESERVATION LEGISLATION.
A VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF A
PIKES PEAK MARKET PDA GOVERNING
COUNCIL.
EVERYTHING AND VOTE ON COUNCIL
BILL 120086, THE PROPERTY
TRANSFER OF THE GREENWOOD
SENIOR CENTER, WHICH HAS BEEN
LONG AWAITED.
EVERYTHING AND DISCUSSION OF
COUNCIL BILL 120081, THE
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION
AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEGISLATION.
AND A BRIEFING AND VOTE ON
THREE TECHNICAL CODE BILLS FROM
STC I. ONE, AS I JUST MENTIONED,
THE FIXES TO THE CONSTRUCTION
CODE, GRADING CODE, BOILER AND
STEAM OPERATOR CODE.
WE KNEW THAT THE TIMING WAS
GOING TO BE TIGHT ON THESE
BILLS, WHICH IS WHY WE HAD AN
INITIAL BRIEFING LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING, EVEN THOUGH THE
LEGISLATION HAD NOT YET BEEN
INTRODUCED.
SO, I WANT TO THANK GONZALEZ
-- SDCI FOR GETTING YOU ALL
BRIEFED ON THAT WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO THIS WEDNESDAY.
LOOKING BACK ON LAST WEEK IT
FELT SO LONG AGO.
WE WERE IN BALLARD WITH A CAR
PARADE AND WALKING PARADE.
I WAS HAPPY AND EXCITED TO JOIN
SO MANY NEIGHBORS IN A WAY THAT
PROTECTS PUBLIC HEALTH AND
CELEBRATES NORWEGIAN
CONSTITUTION DAY.
WE, IN BALLARD, HAVE THE
LARGEST CONSTITUTION DAY PARADE
IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE OF NORWAY.
IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT TIME TO SEE
OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
LAST WEEK I ALSO ANNOUNCED AND
WE PASSED HERE AT COUNCIL, THE
CAFE STREET EXTENSION AND
PATHWAY TO PERMANENCY, WHICH WE
GOT TO CELEBRATE ON BALLARD
AVENUE AS WELL.
LAST WEEK I ALSO ATTENDED THE
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE.
I TOURED YES TERRACE WITH THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I GOT TO MEET WITH A NUMBER OF
DISSIDENT RESIDENTS DURING
OFFICE HOURS WHICH WE HELD FROM
11:00 A.M.
TO 5:00 P.M.
ON THURSDAY.
I ALSO DID A WALKING TOUR OF
GREEN LAKE WAY, WALLINGFORD
MOBILITY PROJECT WITH AN SDOT
TEAM.
EVERY SINGLE TIME MY FRIENDS.
I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR
ALL OF YOUR WORK.
THAT PROJECT IS SO CLOSE TO
BEING COMPLETE.
YOU'VE JUST DONE AMAZING WORK.
THIS COMING WEEK, MY STAFF WILL
ATTEND THE FREMONT NEIGHBORHOOD
COUNCIL.
TOMORROW I'LL ATTEND THE NORTH
SEATTLE INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION
MEETING.
I'LL BE CHECKING IN WITH THE
DIRECTOR FROM SDCI AND A
SUPERINTENDENT FROM PARKS.
I WILL BE RECEIVING COMP PLAN
UPDATES AND AN UPDATE ABOUT THE
TECHNICAL CODE FROM SDCI.
ON WEDNESDAY, AFTER LAND-USE
AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE, I
WILL BE JOINING THE KINGS
COUNTY GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND
PLANNING COUNCIL BEFORE WE HAVE
-- BEFORE MY STAFF WILL BE
ATTENDING THE WALLINGFORD
COMMUNITY COUNCIL ANNUAL
MEETING ON THAT EVENING.
ON THURSDAY, I WILL ATTEND
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL
AND THE MARITIME AND INDUSTRIAL
LANDS MEETING, WHICH SHOULD BE
THE LAST ONE.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL BE EXCITED TO
UPDATE YOU ON THE GREAT WORK.
I'LL BE HOSTING OFFICE HOURS
FROM 3:00 P.M.
TO 7:00 P.M.
THIS THURSDAY.
EVERY FRIDAY I RECEIVED
BRIEFING FROM DEPARTMENT TO
PREPARE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD,
WHICH IS HOW I WILL BE SPENDING
FRIDAY.
HERE IN DISTRICT 6, LAST WEEK I
MET WITH MEMBERS FROM SUNSET
HILL, ROYAL HEIGHTS, TWO PEOPLE
FROM DOWNTOWN BALLARD, PHINNEY
RIDGE, WEST GREEN LAKE AND
CROWN HELP WE TALK ABOUT GOLDEN
GARDENS.
THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS TO
HAVING A REGIONAL ATTRACTION
THERE IN THE SUMMERTIME.
I MET WITH ONE PERSON WHO IS
INTERESTED IN HOW THEY CAN
PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVATING THE
LITERARY TRIANGLE AND THE
FREMONT INDUSTRIAL AREA.
ONE PERSON'S MAIN INTENTION FOR
THE CALL WAS TO FIND OUT WHAT
DO THEY DO, AND WHO DO THEY CALL
WHEN THEY SEE SOMEONE IN CRISIS?
WE ALSO TALKED TO SOMEBODY ELSE
WHO WAS INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW
TO REPORT AND HOW TO GET THE
CITY TO RESPOND TO GRAFFITI AND
TRASH REMOVAL.
IN SHORT, FOR THE LISTENING
PUBLIC, PLEASE FILL OUT A FIND
IT, FIX IT.
IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE, REACH OUT TO MY
DISTRICT DIRECTOR.
I HAD MANY PEOPLE REACH OUT TO
ME ABOUT WEST GREEN LAKE WAY
NORTH, WHICH WAS CLOSED.
I SPOKE TO IT AT LAST WEEK'S
COUNCIL BRIEFING WHICH WAS THAT
I'VE LONG ADVOCATED FOR BOTH
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME
CAR TRAFFIC ON THERE, AND TO
HAVE ONE LANE STILL RESERVED
FOR PEOPLE WRITING, BIKING AND
WALKING.
THAT CLOSURE DID -- IT WAS
COMPLETELY CLOSED BECAUSE THERE
WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE DISOBEYING
THE SIGNS AND DRIVING THE WRONG
WAY ON THE STREETS, WHICH IS A
SAFETY HAZARD.
SDOT AND PARKS CONTINUE TO LOOK
FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE BOTH
CARS AND PEOPLE IN THAT SPACE.
UNTIL THAT PLAN IS FINALIZED,
IT WILL REMAIN CLOSED TO
TRAFFIC.
IF YOU KNOW ONE OF YOUR
NEIGHBORS WHO IS DRIVING THE
WRONG WAY, PLEASE MAKE SURE
THEY DON'T DO IT AGAIN SO WE
CAN KEEP IT OPEN TO BOTH CARS
AND PEOPLE MOVING.
LONG-TERM SUCCESS HE WILL BE
HAVING BOTH A PLACE FOR PEOPLE
TO RUN AND BIKE AROUND THE LAKE
, AND TO HAVE CARS HAVING TWO
WAY MOVEMENT.
LAST WEEK I ALSO MET WITH A
NEIGHBOR EXPERIENCING SOME
DRAINAGE ISSUES HERE IN THE
NORTHWEST.
IT WAS NOT SURPRISING.
I GOT TO SPEAK TO A SMALL GROUP
OF SMALL LANDLORDS FROM
DISTRICT 6. I'LL BE TALKING TO
RESIDENTS DURING OFFICE HOURS
THIS THURSDAY FROM 3:00 P.M.
TO 7:00 P.M.
IT'S ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT OF MY
WEEKEND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CHATTING WITH YOU.
IF YOU'RE EVER INTERESTED IN
SIGNING UP FOR OFFICE HOURS, I
MEET WITH ABOUT EIGHT PEOPLE
PER WEEK.
YOU CAN SIGN UP ON MY WEBSITE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO
TEM, THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
TO COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS' REPORT?
OR COMMENTS?
SING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT COUNCILMEMBER IN THE ROLL
CALL, AND THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, ARE YOU
WITH US AND ARE READY TO GIVE
YOUR REPORT?
MIKE YES, THANK YOU MADAM
PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
>> I DO HAVE ONE THAT IS ON THE
AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
THAT IS RESOLUTION 3200 SIX.
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE FAA,
THE FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION, TO TRANSFER
EXCESS PROPERTY TO SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION FROM THEIR
SITE LOCATED IN DISCOVERY PARK.
AS ALL OF YOU HERE, WHO I'M
SURE HAVE ENDURED ONE OF OUR
CITY'S PREMIER PARKS, LOCATED
IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF
DISTRICT 7 IN THE MAGNOLIA
NEIGHBORHOOD, DISCOVERY PARK,
THERE IS A PROMINENT FAA TOWER.
IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD, LEFT
OVER FROM THE OLD MILITARY BASE
DAYS A DISCOVERY PARK.
THIS FAA SITE HAS CONSIDERABLE
AMOUNTS OF SURPLUS FENCED LAND
AROUND IT THAT IS SUPERFLUOUS
TO THE NEEDED LAND TO OPERATE
THE FAA SITE SUCCESSFULLY.
THIS REQUEST IS BROUGHT ON
BEHALF OF THE FRIENDS OF
DISCOVERY PARK, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THEM BRINGING THIS
TO OUR ATTENTION I BELIEVE
FRIENDS OF DISCOVERY PARK AND
THE MAN HAVE DISTRIBUTED A
LETTER TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THIS
RESOLUTION.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF SPACE
IN DISCOVERY PARK FOR THE
ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC.
THE AREA THAT IS CURRENTLY
FENCED IN IS CURRENTLY
PROTECTING AND OBSCURING WHAT
WILL BE A REALLY, REALLY GREAT
VIEW OF THE PUGET SOUND FROM UP
THERE ON THE BLUFF.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION ON
FOLLOWING EVERY CITIES, MAINLY
ST. LOUIS AND MISSOURI AND
REDUCING THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF
THE FAA SITE TO ACCOMMODATE
MORE PUBLIC USE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, CHAIR OF THE RELEVANT
COMMITTEE FOR HER ASSISTANCE
AND COOPERATION IN CRAFTING THE
RESOLUTION AND THE ABILITY TO
CONSULT WITH HER OFFICE AND
STAFF ON THE BEST WAY TO
APPROACH THIS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
OFFICES OF ONE OF OUR
CONGRESSWOMEN AND ONE SENATOR,
WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US
ON THE EARLY SIDE OF SCOPING
OUT WHAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO
BRING THIS TO PASS.
I WANT TO THANK THE SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION FOR GIVING
US THE GO-AHEAD TO PROCEED WITH
THIS AND FOR INFORMING US THAT
TAKING OVER THE -- THIS PARCEL
OF LAND FROM THE FAA WOULD NOT
RESULT IN ANY ADDED COST OR
EXPENSE FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND
COULD BE ABSORBED WITHIN
EXISTING RESOURCES.
SO, WITH THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO
PASSING THIS RESOLUTION THIS
AFTERNOON.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING
ALONG ON THIS PROJECT TO
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT
AT DISCOVERY PARK.
JUST AS A REMINDER, WE DO HAVE
A COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENTS COMING UP ON
WEDNESDAY.
OF THIS WEEK.
WE WILL BE HEARING ABOUT THE
JUST CARE PROGRAM, AND HAVING
AN EXTENSIVE BRIEFING ON THE
WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING
IN THE PIONEER SQUARE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
JUST HAS A LITTLE BIT OF
GETTING IN THE MOOD FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, AND FOR COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES, THROUGH THE
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION DID
RECENTLY SUBMIT A VIDEO
FEATURING THE COAL LEAD PROGRAM
WHICH DOES SERVE AS PART OF THE
NUCLEUS OF JUST CARE.
THIS VIDEO FEATURES A NUMBER OF
PROVIDERS, MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS, PEOPLE WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO HAVE BEEN
CLIENTS OF JUST CARE, AS WELL
AS A BRIEF APPEARANCE FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, CITY
ATTORNEY PETE HOLMES AND
MYSELF.
I DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TRACK
THAT VIDEO DOWN, SHARE IT ON
YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO SPREAD THE
WORD ABOUT THE MODEL THAT IS
BEING DEVELOPED IN THE CITY.
TO REALLY PROVIDE A RAPID
RESPONSE AND WELL RESOURCED
SYSTEM OF CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME PUBLIC
HEALTH BARRIERS TO ACCESSING
SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
REALLY SEE THE GREAT WORK THAT
COAL LEAD, JUST CARE, AND THE
ASSOCIATED PROVIDERS ARE DOING.
WE WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT
THAT AT OUR COMMITTEE LATER
THIS WEEK.
WITH THAT, MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
WE WILL PASS IT BACK OVER TO
YOU.
MADAM PRESIDENT PRO TEM THAT IS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES ON THE
COUNCIL BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' REPORT?
SEEING NONE, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, YOU ARE UP.
GOOD MORNING.
>> OH, YOU ARE ON MUTE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> OF COURSE I AM.
HAPPY MONDAY EVERYBODY.
GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS COUNCIL BILL
120000.
WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
THIS WOULD EXTEND THE TERM OF
THE DIRECTOR THROUGH THE END OF
NEXT YEAR.
IT WOULD ALSO UPDATE A SECTION
REQUIRED RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT
IN THE DEPARTMENT WHICH HAS
ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.
THIS WAS VOTED OUT OF MY
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK WITH THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT IT PASS.
THE OTHER IS COUNCIL BILL
120071 , WHICH RELATES TO
COMMERCIAL TENANCY.
THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
BILL THAT CLARIFIES RULES
AROUND PAYMENT PLANS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
I'M ASSUMING SHE WILL SPEAK TO
IT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
ALSO PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT IT
PASS.
I HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR FOR TODAY.
THIS IS COUNCIL BILL 120087 ,
AND THIS IS THE LEGISLATION
LIFTING THE PROVISO FOR THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS.
LAST WEEK, IN COMMITTEE, IN MY
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE, WE HEARD THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION TO LIFT THIS
PROVISO.
AS A REMINDER, THE 2021 ADOPTED
BUDGET INCLUDED JUST OVER $28
MILLION, $28.3 MILLION FOR
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND
DIFFERENT COUNCIL BUDGET
ACTIONS.
THAT MONEY IS SITTING IN
FINANCE GENERAL UNDER PROVISO.
THIS BILL WOULD LIFT ONE
PROVISO, AND WOULD APPROPRIATE
$1.05 MILLION TO THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS FOR PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING.
AND IMPOSED TWO NEW PROVISOS.
THE FUNDS ARE INTENDED TO STAFF
THREE POSITIONS AT OCR.
THROUGH DECEMBER, 2023.
AND TO CARRY FORWARD
AUTOMATICALLY.
THE STAFF ROLES FOR THIS
PROCESS WOULD BE TO DEVELOP, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, TO DEVELOP AN RFP
PROCESS TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY
VENDOR WHO WOULD THEN LEAD THE
PROCESS OUT IN COMMUNITY.
THE THREE STAFF MEMBERS WOULD
PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE,
TECHNICAL, AND LOGISTICAL
SUPPORT AND THE THIRD-PARTY
ADMINISTRATOR WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING AND
MANAGING THE STEERING COMMITTEE
FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, AS
WELL AS OTHER STAFF THAT IS
KIND OF MANAGING THE VOLUNTEER
PROCESS.
PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND
EXPERTISE.
THE THIRD-PARTY VENDOR WOULD
ALSO MANAGE FUNDS TO REDUCE
BARRIERS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE
TALKED ABOUT DIGITAL ACCURACY,
AND NEW FELLOWSHIPS.
THE THIRD-PARTY VENDOR WOULD
MANAGE THOSE PROCESSES AS WELL.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO INCLUDES
$15,000 TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IN THEIR PARTICIPATION
IN HELPING CRAFT THE RFP, AND
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION
PROCESS ITSELF.
SO, WE HEARD THE BILL IN
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
I AM REQUESTING THAT RATHER
THAN DELAY TO HEAR THE FINAL
BILL, WE DO HAVE THE BILL
NUMBER NOW.
RATHER THAN DELAY THAT TO HERE
IN COMMITTEE AGAIN, THAT WE ADD
IT TO THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR, AND THAT MY
COLLEAGUES BE PREPARED TO VOTE
ON IT IN FULL COUNCIL ON JUNE
1st.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO STEP THE
PROCESS UP BY A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AND FINALLY START TO GET THIS
MONEY OUT THE DOOR.
SO, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE -- WHAT
IS ON THE CALENDAR.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE
AMENDMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT BE
CONSIDERING, TO REACH OUT TO ME
OR TO MY STAFF MEMBER LAKISHA
FARMER, WHO I JUST WANT TO SAY
HAS BEEN DOING A FANTASTIC JOB
OF COLLABORATING, COORDINATING,
CENTRAL STAFF AND OCR AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
HAS REALLY HELPED SHEPHERD THIS
PROCESS THROUGH.
THANK YOU TO HER.
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
OKAY, MOVING ON.
MY OFFICE HAS, AS YOU KNOW,
ALSO BEEN WORKING ON TENANT
BILL OF RIGHTS AS COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT MENTIONED.
WE BEEN WORKING WITH A
COALITION OF COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD A
TENANT'S BILL OF RIGHTS THIS
YEAR.
THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IS INTENDED TO CLOSE THE NO
CAUSE TERMINATION GAP IN
EXISTING LEGISLATION AND TO
PROVIDE ALL TENANTS WITH
PROTECTIONS UNDER THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER,
AS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
OUTLINES, OUR TWO OFFICES HAVE
COME TOGETHER AND AGREED TO
TAKE SORT OF THE BEST ELEMENTS
OF BOTH, AND MOVE FORWARD ON A
JOINTLY SPONSORED NEW BILL.
THAT COULD CLOSE THE GAP AND
OFFER A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
TO SEEK NEW TENANCY IN THEIR
CURRENT HOME, AND END THE
SPECIFIED TENNESSEE LANGUAGE.
THIS WOULD ALLOW TENANTS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN THEIR
HOMES.
IT WAS STILL REQUIRE THAT
LANDLORDS HAVE A JUST CAUSE
REASON TO HAVE A TENANT
INVOLUNTARILY REMOVED BUT
WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
PERFECTIONS TO FOLKS.
I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF ARE
DOING THE COORDINATION ON THAT
SIDE OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE
ADVOCATING AND ADVANCING.
AND ALSO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE FOR AGREEING
TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS REALLY
CRUCIAL PROTECTION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THIS
EFFORT TO CLOSE THE GAP.
I WANT TO INVITE HIM TO
COSPONSOR THE NEW BILL AS WELL.
ARE TWO OFFICES PLAN TO WALK
THIS ON THIS AFTERNOON SO IT
CAN BE REFERRED TO THE
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE FOR
DISCUSSION.
THE SECOND PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IN THIS TENANTS BILL OF RIGHTS
IS THE SOUND AT HOME EVICTION
DEFENSE.
WE WILL BE HEARING THAT IN THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE TOMORROW.
COLLEAGUES WILL RECALL THIS
DEFENSE WILL PROTECT RENTERS
FROM FACING EVICTION IF THEY
SUFFERED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT RENTERS
MOST AFFECTED BY PANDEMIC
RELATED RENT ARE PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
REALLY KEPT OUR COMMUNITY
RUNNING FOR THE LAST YEAR.
SO, IT'S REALLY CRUCIAL THAT WE
PASS BOTH OF THESE PROTECTIONS
BEFORE THE END OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM IN JUNE.
SO, I DO WANT TO CALL ON OUR
MAYOR TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM
AT LEAST THROUGH THE SUMMER, IF
NOT THE END OF THE YEAR SO WE
CAN BE SURE FOLKS HAVE
PROTECTIONS, AND THAT THEY
AREN'T CAUGHT IN THIS TRAP OF
MOUNTING DEBT AND AN INABILITY
TO TAKE CARE OF THAT BEFORE THE
LEGISLATION PASSES.
I WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IN MY COLLEAGUES WHO
HAVE SUPPORTED THE TENANTS
RIGHTS WORK THAT WE HAVE
UNDERTAKEN THIS YEAR, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR SUPPORT
ON THIS LEGISLATION.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE BOARD
OF HEALTH MEETING.
THE KING COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH.
I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS BY NOW
THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER
ISSUED A DIRECTIVE THIS WEEK
ASKING -- LAST WEEK AXING FOR
PEOPLE TO CONTINUE WEARING
MASKS IF THEY ARE IN INDOOR
SPACES.
WE KNOW THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW
IF SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT WEARING
A MASK IS VACCINATED, OR JUST
CHOOSES NOT TO WEAR A MASK.
BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE ELEVATED
HOSPITALIZATION RATES, AND CASE
COUNTS, AND BECAUSE LESS THAN
HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN KING
COUNTY ARE ELIGIBLE, ARE FULLY
VACCINATED.
INCLUDING MY CHILDREN WHO ARE
UNDER 12 YEARS OLD.
AND ALL OF OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE
UNDER 12 YEARS OLD.
PEOPLE WHO ARE
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
THESE FOLKS STILL NEED ALL OF
US TO BE VERY CAREFUL SO THAT
THEY CAN HAVE SOME ASSURANCE
THAT THEY WILL BE PROTECTED.
AT THE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
WE ALSO PASSED A RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING JUNE 4th AS
REGIONAL COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
WELL-BEING DAY IN KING COUNTY.
THIS IS DONE IN COOPERATION AND
ALLIANCE WITH NATIONAL GUN
VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY.
SO, DON'T FORGET TO WEAR ORANGE
ON JUNE 4th.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE REASON
THAT COLOR WAS CHOSEN FOR GUN
VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, IT'S
BECAUSE THAT'S THE COLOR
HUNTERS WEAR WHEN THEY ARE OUT
IN THE WOODS TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE SEE THEM.
SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE ELEVATING THIS, AND
THERE ARE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
WORKS HAPPENING WITH A PUBLIC
HEALTH PLANS AS IT RELATES TO
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND GUN
VIOLENCE.
SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT
THIS WORK IS CONTINUING TO
HAPPEN AT KING COUNTY.
THEN, OH, SORRY, I JUST LOST MY
NOTES.
THEN, ALSO, WE HAVE BEGUN WORK
AS A BOARD OF HEALTH ON
UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF EQUITY.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, BUT
DETERMINANTS OF EQUITY IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
THAT WE ARE STARTING TO BRING A
PUBLIC HEALTH PLANS TO THE
QUESTION OF HOW ARE POLICIES,
HOW AS POLICYMAKERS, WE ARE
IMPACTING WHAT OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS EXPERIENCE.
WHETHER IT IS THROUGH LAND USE
OR PARKS, OR TRANSPORTATION, OR
ANY OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT
REALLY CREATE THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT, AND MAKING SURE
THAT AS POLICYMAKERS, WE ARE
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT THAT
WE HAVE AS WE MAKE DECISIONS.
SO, WE HAVE THE FIRST OF WHAT
IS GOING TO BE A SERIES OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING WORK
FORWARD AS WELL.
LAST WEEK, STAFF FROM MY OFFICE
MET WITH STAFF FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
THEY JOINED A PANEL ALONG WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM
DEPARTMENTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
AND SBU, TO FINALLY AWARD
STREET SINK CONTACTS.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO HELPED
GET THAT MOVING.
THE CLEAN HANDS COLLECTIVE WILL
RECEIVE AN INITIAL $60,000 OF
FUNDING.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN NONPROFIT
MAKERS WILL RECEIVE $40,000.
SO, AS PART OF THIS FUNDING
AGREEMENT, SPU HAS AGREED TO
WORK WITH COUNCIL TO REQUEST
ANOTHER $40,000 FOR THE CLEAN
HANDS COLLECTIVE, AND 25 FOR
MAKERS, SO THAT THEY CAN FULLY
FUND BOTH PROPOSALS THAT CAME
IN.
THAT WOULD BRING POTENTIALLY UP
TO 90 SINKS ACROSS THE CITY ,
WHICH AS WE KNOW, WHICH WILL BE
REALLY CRUCIAL IN FIGHTING NOT
JUST COVID, OF THE DISEASES
THAT ARE TRANSMITTED WHEN
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
GOOD HANDWASHING FACILITIES.
LASTLY, I HELD MY FIRST IN-
PERSON OFFICE HOURS AT THE
FARMERS MARKET LAST WEEK.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOON
AND I HAD THE DISTINCT PLEASURE
OF RINGING THE BELL IN FOR THE
FARMERS MARKET, WHICH WAS
REALLY FUN.
TALK BY TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HOMELESSNESS AND
IDENTIFICATION AND SMALL
BUSINESS RECOVERY.
SO, I'M EXCITED TO BE OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY.
SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND MAST OF
COURSE.
MY NEXT IN-PERSON OFFICE HOURS
WILL BE AT THE MARKET ON JUNE
9th, AND YOU CAN SIGN UP TO
MEET ON THAT DAY, OR THROUGH
OUR VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS WHICH
ARE ALSO ON THURSDAY.
YOU CAN DO THAT THROUGH MY
COUNCIL WEBSITES.
THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE THIS
MORNING.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' HAND
IS RAISED.
IF YOU HAD A COUNCILMEMBER
ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'
REPORT.
>> I JUST WANT TO START BY
VOUCHING THAT RING THE BELL TO
BRING IN A FARMERS MARKET IS AN
AWESOME FEELING.
I GOT TO DO THAT LAST YEAR I
QUEEN ANNE SPIT SO, I
APPRECIATED SEEING THAT VIDEO
OF COUNCILMEMBER MORALES DOING
THAT AT COLUMBIA CITY.
MORE IMPORTANTLY I DO WANT TO
ALSO ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO
COSPONSOR THE LEGISLATION FOR
THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.
THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TODAY,
WHICH IS IN KEEPING WITH THE
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION I
COSPONSORED WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
JUST ACCOMPLISHING THE SAME
GOAL IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
JUST WANTED TO INDICATE THAT IN
OPEN SESSION THAT IF THAT
INVITATION IS STILL OPEN FROM
THE SPONSORS, I AM HAPPY TO HAVE
MY COSPONSOR SIT SO AFFIXED TO
THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
I APPRECIATE YOU NOTING YOUR
SPONSORSHIP FOR THE RECORD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I SEE
YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRO TEM
HERBOLD.
I WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS OFFERING TO
COSPONSOR THIS NEW BILL.
AS ONE OF THE PRIME SPONSORS OF
THE BILL I REALLY WELCOME THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
ONE I WAS WE MISSED IN NOT
MENTIONING, WHICH I HAD
MENTIONED AT LAST WEEK'S
BRIEFING, BUT I WANTED TO JUST
SAY IT AGAIN TODAY.
I THINK THEY ARE COMING UP ON
IT.
THREE MONTHS AGO, MY OFFICE HAD
BROUGHT A RESOLUTION FORWARD TO
THE CITY COUNCIL URGING THE
MAYOR THAT THE CITYWIDE
MORATORIUM, EVICTION MORATORIUM,
BE EXTENDED TO THE END OF THIS
YEAR.
WE BUILT A LOT OF COMMUNITY
PRESSURE AT THAT TIME WITH
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SIGNING A
COMMUNITY PETITION.
JUST BEFORE THE RESOLUTION WAS
GOING TO COME UP FOR A VOTE,
THE MAYOR EXTENDED THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM AT THAT TIME TO JUNE
30th.
IF COUNCILMEMBERS REMEMBER, WE
HELD A VOTE ON THAT BILL TO A
FUTURE DATE.
THAT FUTURE DATE IS COMING UP,
WHICH IS JUNE 7th.
JUNE 7th IS A MONDAY, AND AT
THAT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA, THAT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA,
THIS RESOLUTION IS SLATED TO
COME UP FOR A VOTE.
THE RESOLUTION BASICALLY SAYS
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM SHOULD
BE EXTENDED TO THE END OF THIS
YEAR.
I MENTIONED THIS LAST WEEK, BUT
I WANTED TO SAY IT AGAIN.
I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
EXPRESS MY THANK YOU TO THE
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK, WHO JUST SENT OUT A
COMMUNITY EMAIL LAST WEEK ABOUT
HOW THAT THEY ALSO ARE
OBSERVING FROM THEIR
CONVERSATIONS WITH RENTERS, AND
THE CRISIS THAT RENTERS ARE
UNDER, THAT THE CRISIS IS FAR
FROM GOING TO BE GONE.
EVEN THOUGH THE ECONOMY IS
PICKING UP A LITTLE BIT.
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM BEING
EXTENDED TO THE END OF THIS
YEAR IS A BARE MINIMUM
NECESSITY GIVEN THE DEBT
UNFORTUNATELY THAT SO MANY
WORKING PEOPLE, RENTERS HAVE
ACCUMULATED FROM THE PASSED
MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO, I REALLY WANTED TO THANK
THE WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK AGAIN AND ALSO JUST
REMIND COUNCILMEMBERS THAT THAT
IS COMING UP FOR A VOTE.
THANK YOU.
ON JUNE 7th, NOT NEXT WEEK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, RELATED
TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'
REPORT, I DO JUST HAVE A COUPLE
WORDS.
AS MENTIONED, BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ON THE COUNCILMEMBER
AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON, VOTE ON
COUNTS OF THE 120071.
THIS BILL STRENGTHENS THE
EXISTING COMMERCIAL RENT CONTROL
AND EXISTING PROTECTIONS, RENT
PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT
RENTERS.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT ORDINANCE
126066 WAS PASSED BY THE
COUNCIL IN APRIL OF 2020 IN
RESPONSE TO CONCERNS FOR THE
FINANCIAL HEALTH AND STABILITY
OF OUR CITY'S BELOVED SMALL
BUSINESS AND NONPROFITS DURING
COVID.
THE BILL ITSELF PROVIDED THEM
WITH ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS
DURING THE EXISTENCE OF THIS
PANDEMIC CIVIL EMERGENCY
DECLARED ON MARCH 3rd.
ITS MAIN PROVISIONS ARE PUTTING
IN PLACE COMMERCIAL RENT
CONTROL.
BY WAY OF A MORATORIUM ON RENT
INCREASES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
AND NONPROFITS, AS LONG AS THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY PERSISTS.
IT ALSO REQUIRES LATE RENT PAID
IN INSTALLMENTS, ACCORDING TO A
PAYMENT PLAN DURING THE TERM OF
THE CIVIL EMERGENCY AND FOR SIX
MONTHS FOLLOWING THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
AND IT SETS PARAMETERS FOR AN
ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT PLAN.
FOR INSTANCE, THE PAYMENT PLAN
CAN'T REQUIRE SMALL BUSINESSES
OR NONPROFITS TO PAY MORE THAN
ONE THIRD OF LATE RENT WITHIN
ANY GIVEN MONTH.
ALL LATE RENT MUST BE REPAID
WITHIN A YEAR OF THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
NO LATE FEES, INTEREST, OR
OTHER CHARGES CAN BE ADDED.
THESE ALL ARE PROTECTIONS THAT
ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN
PLACE UNTIL THE END OF THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY.
IN THE CASE OF RENT CONTROL,
AND FOR SIX MONTHS BEYOND THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY, IN THE CASE OF
PAYMENT PLANS.
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US
AMENDS THIS LEGISLATION TO
ENSURE THAT FIRST RENT
INSTALLMENTS PAID ACCORDING TO
A PAYMENT PLAN NEGOTIATED UNDER
THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, 126066,
CANNOT BE CONSIDERED LATE.
THIS PARTICULAR CLARIFICATION
COMES AT THE REQUEST OF A
COMMERCIAL TENANT, WHOSE
LANDLORD IS ATTEMPTING TO
EXERCISE A NONRENEWABLE CLAUSE
IN THEIR LEASE REGARDING LATE
RENT, EVEN THOUGH THAT RENT IS
BEING PAID ACCORDING TO A
PAYMENT PLAN AS AUTHORIZED.
US MAKING THIS CHANGE IS NOT
GOING TO HELP THIS PARTICULAR
TENANT, BUT IT SHOWS A GAP IN
THE SYSTEM LEGISLATION.
THAT IS A GAP THAT EXISTS FOR
OTHER TENANTS THAT ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THE PAYMENT PLAN
OPTION PROVIDED BY THE BILL
PASSED BY COUNCIL LAST YEAR.
SO, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT
TAKING ACTION THIS TIME WILL
ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES,
NONPROFITS, AND THEIR LESSORS
TO ENTER INTO CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE FOR
TENANTS TO RECOVER AND ADDRESS
THEIR ARREARS TO THE GOOD OF
ALL PARTIES, AND THE
COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
IN DEVELOPING THIS LEGISLATION,
MY OFFICE REACHED OUT TO THE
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WHO
HELPED US WITH THE FIRST BILL.
TO CHECK IN WITH THEIR THOUGHTS.
ONE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE
OF GIVING LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
A REASON TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER
AND TALK ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE
PLANS, POSITIONS, AND
PERSPECTIVES.
HE IS BOTH A COMMERCIAL TENANT
AND THE LANDLORD, AND FROM HIS
PERSPECTIVE, HIS EXPERIENCE WAS
THAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE
DIFFICULT, BUT HE HAS FOUND THAT
HE WAS ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH IN
ALL CASES.
NEGOTIATE PLANS THAT WORK FOR
EVERYONE.
AGAIN, THIS LEGISLATION GIVES
AS A FOUNDATION TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
WE ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE
WASHINGTON HOSPITALITY
ASSOCIATION REVIEW THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION AND GIVE THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SUGGEST
ADDITIONAL CHANGES.
THEY SHARED IT WITH THE MEMBERS
WHO GAVE IT THE GREEN LIGHT.
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR ALLOWING THIS AT
LAST WEEK'S COMMUNITY ECONOMIC
-- COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, SO THAT
IF APPROVED IT CAN POTENTIALLY
BE IN EFFECT BEFORE THE END OF
THE COMMERCIAL EVICTION
MORATORIUM ON JUNE 30th.
THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
FOR ADDING HIS SPONSORSHIP TO
THIS LEGISLATION IN THE
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.
THANK YOU.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT ITEM, FILIBUSTERING HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER ALICE, YES.
>> I WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED
IN COSPONSORING THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
MOVING ON IN THE ROLL CALL TO
THE NEXT PRESENTER.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOUR
NEXT.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING
COLLEAGUES.
I AM REPORTING THAT THERE ARE
NO FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE ITEMS ON TODAY'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
HOWEVER, AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM NOTED I WILL BE
BRINGING FORWARD A PROCLAMATION
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY
AND WORK OF PUBLIC HEALTH
DIRECTOR PATTY HAYES.
AS FOLKS KNOW FROM LAST WEEK'S
ANNOUNCEMENT SHE WILL BE
RETIRING ON MAY 28 FROM THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENT AFTER SERVING
THE DEPARTMENT OF OVER 1500
EMPLOYEES, SERVING 2 MILLION
RESIDENTS IN KING COUNTY, OVER
THE PASSED SEVEN YEARS.
SHE'S ALSO BEEN PART OF A TEAM
LEADING US THROUGH THE HISTORIC
CRISIS WE'VE FACED BOTH IN
COMBATING THE IMPACTS OF COVID,
AND SHE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN
BRINGING FORWARD ADDITIONAL
PRIORITIES RELATED TO THE OTHER
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES OF GUN
VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH DIRECTOR HAYES GOING
BACK TO ABOUT 2005.
SHE WAS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
HONORING HER WORK AND LEGACY,
AND WISHING HER WELL IN HER
NEXT ENDEAVOR AND IN RETIREMENT.
SO, COLLEAGUES, THAT IS A
PROCLAMATION THAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM THAT I WAS
MENTIONING THAT I HOPE TO BRING
FORWARD THIS AFTERNOON.
I BELIEVE DIRECTOR HAYES WILL
BE WITH US TO RECEIVE THAT.
THE NEXT FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON
FRIDAY, JUNE 4th AT 9:30 A.M.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
THIS IS ON A FRIDAY, NOT A
TUESDAY, DUE TO THE HOLIDAY
WEEKEND.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE INCLUDE A BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND ALL THE DETAILS
YOU MAY NEED ON THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR ON JUNE 1st FOR YOU TO
REVIEW PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
MY OFFICE IS GOING TO BE
REACHING OUT TO SCHEDULE SOME
TIME WITH EACH OF YOU TO
DISCUSS THE PROCESS AROUND THE
ARPA FUNDS IT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
CONTINUING TO SHARE INFORMATION
IN THAT COMMITTEE MEETING AND
HIGHLIGHT VARIOUS PRIORITIES
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOTH
COLLEAGUES AND FOLKS FROM THE
PUBLIC.
EXCITED TO ACTUALLY WALK
THROUGH A FIRST DRAFT OF THE
LEGISLATION WITH YOU.
WE ARE ALSO ANTICIPATING THAT
KING COUNTY WILL BE PASSING
THEIR ARPA ON TUESDAY THIS
WEEK.
THIS WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO
WALK THROUGH THE LEGISLATION
WITH ALL OF YOU AND IDENTIFY
WHERE THEIR PRIORITIES
INTERSECT WITH OURS.
WHERE WE WERE UNABLE TO BRING
SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TO SCARE.
WHERE YOU MIGHT NOT BEING SOME
INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY'S
PROPOSED PLAN, HOW THAT
COMPLEMENTS WHAT THIS COUNTY IS
DOING TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE
NOT GAPS IN SERVICES.
WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALSO
WALK THROUGH THE TRANSPARENCY
REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACT
WORKERS ORDINANCE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS BEEN
BEEN LEADING WE WILL HAVE THE
HOUSING LEVY ADMINISTRATION
FINANCE PLAN AND HOUSING
FUNDING POLICIES FOR BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
THAT IS FRIDAY FROM 9:30 TO
APPROXIMATELY 1:00.
APPRECIATE YOUR EXTENDED TIME
ON THAT.
AS ALWAYS, COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
WELCOME TO ATTEND THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS,
EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT MEMBERS OF
THAT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THE -- ARPA
FUNDS WOULD BENEFIT FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS OPINIONS.
IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER OF THAT
COMMITTEE AND ARE INTERESTED IN
A POSSIBLE AMENDMENT, I'VE
OFFERED TO ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON
THE COMMITTEE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OFFER A SPONSORSHIP OF YOUR
AMENDMENT SO THAT THOSE ISSUES
CAN BE HEARD.
AND OTHER UPDATES, I ATTENDED
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY BOARD
OF HEALTH MEETING WHERE WE HAD
OUR ANNUAL RETREAT ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
LEWIS.
WE FOCUSED ON RACISM AS A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND HOW WE
AIM TO ADDRESS IT BY LOOKING AT
THE ROOT CAUSE OF INEQUITIES.
LED BY A BOARD MEMBER.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING COMMITTEE WHERE THE
COUNTY DEBUTED ITS REGIONAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DASHBOARD.
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THAT ON OUR TWITTER FEED
THAT WE PUT OUT LATE LAST WEEK.
ALSO A KING COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER WROTE AN OP ED
ABOUT THIS.
IS REALLY INTERESTING IF YOU
WORK WITHIN THE DETAILS, YOU
CAN SEE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
COMMITTEE SET OUT A GOAL
CREATING 44,000 PERMANENT
AFFORDABLE HOMES BETWEEN 2019
AND 2024.
JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
WHAT THE NEW DASHBOARD SHOWS US
IS TO DATE WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE
TO BUILD 1595 AFFORDABLE UNITS,
OR TO PUT IT MORE PLAINLY,
THAT'S JUST 3.6% OF WHAT OUR
GOAL HAS BEEN.
WE ARE LEAVING A GAP OF ABOUT
42,000 UNITS, AND THAT'S WHY
IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO
SECURE REVENUE FOR BUILDING
HOUSING FOR US TO CONTINUE
STRATEGIC ACQUISITION EFFORTS
THAT HELP MAKE SURE THAT
AFFORDABLE UNITS REMAIN
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE AND THAT
WE CONVERT THOSE POTENTIAL
DERELICT STRUCTURES INTO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT WE KEEP OUR PROMISE TO
ALLOCATE THE JUMPSTART FUNDS TO
THE SPEND PLAN THAT WAS
DETAILED BY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE DASHBOARD AT THE
WEBSITE.
THIS WEEK, I'LL ALSO BE
SPEAKING AT AN EVENT COHOSTED
BY IN PUBLIC INTERESTS, SOCIAL
ECONOMIC JUSTICE LEADERS, AND
FOR FOUNDATION ABOUT GOOD
GOVERNANCE, REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO
BE POLICYMAKING AND
IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN AND
OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
TEAMSTERS 117, HUNDREDS JOINT
THE MEETING IN THE UNION HALL
DOWN IN TUKWILA OVER THE
WEEKEND.
THESE ARE MEMBERS FROM THE
SOLID WASTE INDUSTRY WHO WERE
JOINING TOGETHER TO TAKE A VOTE
TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE ON
REPUBLIC SERVICE.
THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.
IF NEGOTIATIONS WITH PUBLIC
SERVICE DON'T PROGRESS, THEY
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED THAT THEY
WILL GO ON STRIKE.
FOLKS FROM TEAMSTERS 117 ARE
HEADED BACK TO THE BARGAINING
TABLE TODAY.
WHAT THEY WANT IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYONE WHO DRIVES FOR
REPUBLIC, WHETHER THEY DRIVE A
SOLID WASTE TRUCK, OR PICKUP
YARD WASTE OR RECYCLING,
EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE
ACCESS TO THE SAME PAY AND
BENEFITS.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING EVERY
DAY SINCE THEY HAVE THE
PANDEMIC.
REPUBLIC IS A MAJOR NATIONAL
COMPANY AND WE THINK THEY CAN
DO THE RIGHT THING BY HONORING
WHAT THESE WORKERS ARE TRYING
TO SEEK AT THE BARGAINING
TABLE.
AGAIN, SENDING A MESSAGE OF
SOLIDARITY TO THE TEAMSTER
DRIVERS, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT
THE COMPANY AND THE TEAMSTERS
ARE ABLE TO FIND A BARGAIN --
EXCUSE ME BARGAIN A FAIR
EQUITABLE CONTRACT FOR THOSE
FRONT-LINE WORKERS.
GOOD LUCK.
I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A FEW
MINUTES TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY
TEAM.
FIRST, THANKS TO ANDREW BENNETT
HOUSTON.
THIS IS HIS LAST WEEK WITH US.
HE IS FINISHING UP HIS
TEMPORARY CONTRACT THAT HE HAS
BEEN DOING SINCE DECEMBER.
AND HIS TENURE HERE, AND IN THE
TIME THAT HE HAS BEEN IN OUR
OFFICE, HE HAS LED ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ZONING
CHANGES, COVENANT ZONE CHANGES,
GREEN NEW DEAL PARTIES, AND
HELPING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
MORE EFFICIENT BUILDING PERMIT
PROCESSES.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS
WORK AND REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE HIM STEPPING IN
WHILE AARON HOUSE WAS ON LEAVE.
WILL ALSO BE WELCOMING AARON
HOUSE BACK FROM HER FAMILY
LEAVE STARTING NEXT WEEK AND
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HER AND
HER BABY.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND
IT.
ALSO WANT TO SAY THANKS TO AND
CONGRATULATIONS.
SHE HAVE THE PARTICIPATION IN A
FORUM ON SATURDAY TO CELEBRATE
AAPI HERITAGE MONTH.
THIS WAS PUT ON BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ETHNIC
STUDIES AND WOMEN CENTER.
THE WINGLESS MUSEUM.
SO MANY MORE ORGANIZATIONS AND
DEPARTMENTS WITHIN UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON.
IT WAS CALLED NOT THE MODEL
MINORITY, ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN
RISING.
THAT SHE IS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN AMAZING
PANEL AND REPRESENTATION OF
ENGAGEMENT AND ACTIVISM.
COLLEAGUES, I DO WANT TO NOTE
IN RELATION TO THE LETTER THAT
WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER IN
REFERENCE TO THE ONGOING
CONFLICT IN ISRAEL AND
PALESTINE.
I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED BY THE
MANY WAYS IN WHICH THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND
LOCAL COMMUNITY ARE SHOWING UP
TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF
PALESTINE.
ALSO SPEAK OUT UNEQUIVOCALLY
ABOUT ANTI-SEMITISM AND
SPEAKING UP FOR AN END TO THE
ONGOING ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
CONFLICT I UNDERSTAND THIS
LETTER IS JUST ONE WAY TO
EXPRESS CONCERN AND CALL FOR
SUPPORT FOR HOUSE RESOLUTION
2590 AND TO CONTINUE TO CALL
FOR AN END TO MILITARY AID IN
THE BLOCKADE.
I RECOGNIZE THAT SIGNING THIS
IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO ENCOURAGE
ALL THE AVENUES AS WELL AS THIS
LETTER AND MAKE SURE THAT THE
MESSAGE CONTINUE TO GET SENT TO
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND TO CONGRESS.
ONE EXAMPLE OF THE PLATFORMS
THAT I'LL ALSO BE SIGNING ONTO
IS SUPPORT FOR PEACE.
I'LL BE SIGNING ONTO THE LETTER
TODAY AND HOPE FOLKS CONTINUE
TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO COMMUNICATE
THAT WE NEED TO BOTH WELCOME
THE CEASE-FIRE AND CONTINUE TO
SAY THAT THE CEASE-FIRE ALONE
IS NOT ENOUGH.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE JEWISH
VOICE REPEAT STATEMENT IT SAYS
WE GRIEVE FOR THESE UNTHINKABLE
PALESTINIAN LOST LIVES.
AND THE LOST LIVES OF ISRAELIS.
THE CEASE-FIRE MAY END THIS
CURRENT CONFLICT, BUT IT WILL
NOT CREATE SAFETY.
WE NEED TO GET TO THE ROOT OF
THIS VIOLENCE.
CONGRESS MEMBER COREY BUSH
NOTED A CEASE-FIRE ENDS THIS
CURRENT BUT BLOCKADES CONTINUE.
OUR GOVERNMENT MUST STOP
FUNDING THE STATUS QUO, AND
CONGRESS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
INCREDIBLY BRAVE AND OUTSPOKEN
ON THIS.
INCLUDING OUR OWN CONGRESSWOMAN.
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER
INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP AS ALWAYS.
IN ADDITION TO MAINTAINING THE
CEASE-FIRE, THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY IS CALLING FOR AN END
TO THE BLOCKADE.
MAKING SURE THAT MATERIALS CAN
GET INTO REBUILD AND TO OPEN UP
THE GAZA CROSSING WHICH
RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTS SO THAT
THE COMMUNITY CAN REBUILD
NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOLKS CAN
HAVE MORE THAN SIX HOURS OF
ELECTRICITY IN GAZA.
THERE IS INTERNATIONAL CONCERN
FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PALESTINIANS THAT HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED WITH 14,000 UNITS OF
HOUSING DAMAGE.
TO REITERATE A CRITICAL AND
ESSENTIAL POINT, MADE ACROSS
THIS NATION AND ACROSS THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
THE CRITIQUE OF ISRAEL'S
GOVERNMENT AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES IS NOT A CRITIQUE OF
ISRAELI PEOPLE AND IS NOT AN
EXCUSE FOR ANTI-SEMITIC HATE
CRIMES OR HARASSMENT.
THIS SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT WORKS
IN COALITION WITH JEWISH HUMAN
RIGHTS GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS
SEEKING JUSTICE AND THERE IS NO
REAL ROOM FOR ANTI-SEMITISM.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ANTI-
SEMITISM IN THIS MOVEMENT AND
THAT TYPE OF VIOLENCE AND HATE
MUST BE UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMNED.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS HERE, OS, OLS IS
PRODUCING TRANSLATED VERSIONS
OF MANY FLYERS.
FOR THE RIGHT TO USE PAID SICK
AND SAFE TIME TO GET COVID
VACCINES.
THIS SMALL FLYER SHOWS HOW
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN
ENGLISH, CHINESE, SOMALI,
SPANISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES.
IT CAN BE DOWNLOADED AT THE
RESOURCE AND LANGUAGE ACCESSES
PAGES ON THE OLS WEBSITE.
FROM THE FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, JUST TO REPORT FAS
REACHED OUT TO SHORT-TERM
RENTAL PLATFORM TO LET THEM
KNOW ABOUT IMMINENT PROPOSED
DIRECTORS ROLE CHANGES
REGARDING DATA REPORTING TO
OFFER THE PLATFORM
REPRESENTATIVES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MEET WITH THE CONSUMER
PROTECTIONS DIRECTOR AND TO
SHARE THEIR COMMENTS.
FOLKS SHOULD KNOW IF YOU'RE A
SHORT-TERM RENTAL PLATFORM OR
WORK IN THAT AREA, THOSE
CHANGES WERE PUBLISHED ON MAY
19th.
FINALLY, THANKS SO MUCH TO FAS'
WHO TESTIFIED AT THE COMMISSION
MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY
PORT AND SOUND TRANSIT $1.75
MILLION INVESTMENT IN
CONSTRUCTION TRAINING AND
RETENTION SERVICES.
THE COMMISSION PRESIDENT THANKS
THE CITY FOR OUR PARTICIPATION.
I KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S . WITH
AKAMAI WILL END AND SAY THANKS
SO MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR
WORK IN JUNE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A MARATHON,
BUT WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH
IT AND GET SOME FUNDING OFF TO
FOLKS WHO ARE MUCH IN NEED OF
ARPA ASSISTANCE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, OR IS THIS
A HOLDOVER?
>> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
I SIMILARLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE
A MOMENT IN RESPONSE TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S REPORT
TO EXPRESS MY GREAT
APPRECIATION FOR ANDREW GRANT
PETERSONS LEADERSHIP AS A
LEGISLATIVE AIDE ON THIS
VIRTUAL SECOND FLOOR.
DURING A REALLY TRYING HISTORIC
PERIOD IN THE LIFE OF THIS
COUNCIL WORKING ON REMOTE
PUTTING AND TACKLING THE
ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN TACKLING.
MYSELF AND MY STAFF HAVE
GREATLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH
ANDREW GRANT HOUSTON ON A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AND
PRIORITIES THAT HAVE LED TO
GREAT PROGRESS DURING HIS TIME
HERE.
ALSO PLANTED SEEDS FOR LAND-USE
POLICIES, HOUSING POLICIES,
PROGRESSIVE TAXATION POLICIES.
DOWN THE ROAD.
FROM HIS TIME WITH US.
I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
ON THE SECOND FLOOR FOR ALWAYS
BEING A DILIGENT AND CHEERFUL
COLLABORATOR ON A LOT OF
IMPORTANT PROJECTS WITH OUR
OFFICE.
REPRESENTING THE MOSQUEDA
OFFICE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL, AND
APPRECIATE THAT HE WILL
CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR
COMMUNITY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HIM ON
THESE SHARED ISSUES OF PUBLIC
POLICY THAT WE ALL HOLD DEAR.
SO, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO
EXPRESS THAT APPRECIATION GIVEN
THAT HIS TIME WITH US IS NO
ENDING.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
PRESIDENT PRO TEM IF I CAN JUST
SAY, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
IT IS SO HARD TO HAVE A
COUNCILMEMBER LEAVE WHEN WE
CAN'T GET TOGETHER.
THE SEEDS THAT YOU MENTIONED
THAT HE PLANTED, YOU WILL SOON
BE SEEING THOSE GROW OVER THE
LAST SIX MONTHS.
HE HAS SPENT THEM PLANTING MANY
A SEED AND WE HAVE A LOT IN THE
HOPPER.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THOSE KIND
WORDS AND WE'LL MAKE SURE HE
GETS A CHANCE TO SEE THIS IF
HE'S NOT ALREADY WATCHIN.
I HOPE HE IS.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> I'M SURE IT'S ON TWITTER
ALREADY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
YOUR REPORT.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM HERBOLD.
I ALSO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ'S REMARKS.
I'LL READ THOSE FIRST.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS OF THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PUBLIC
ASSETS AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES
COMMITTEE IS FRIDAY, JUNE 4th,
AT 2:00 P.M.
REGARDING PARTS, THERE NO
UPDATES FROM THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK.
THAT CONCLUDES COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ'S REMARKS.
NOW, FOR MIND.
GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
THE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS NINE
ITEMS ON THIS AFTERNOONS FULL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE FIRST ITEM IS A
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE SCHOOL
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
THE SECOND ITEM, COUNCIL BILL
120052, ENABLES SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT TO ACCEPT A SMALL PIECE
OF PROPERTY AS PART OF ITS
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION EFFORTS.
THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA WHICH ARE
CERTAINLY RENEWING TIME-LIMITED
TERM PERMITS THAT ALLOW THE
CONTINUED USE OF A SKY BRIDGE
AND THREE PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS.
OUR COMMITTEE APPROVED THESE
UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA REGARDING
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS
THAT ARE COMMITTEE AMENDED AND
REFUSED UNANIMOUSLY.
WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH
SEVERAL GROUPS OF SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS AS REQUIRED BY
OUR CITY'S THOROUGH
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE.
WE RECENTLY AMENDED AND ADOPTED
THE SO-CALLED GROUP 2
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS FOR
SOME OF THE EXISTING
TECHNOLOGIES ALREADY USED BY
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
TODAY, WE VOTE ON THE SO-CALLED
GROUP 3 SURVEILLANCE IMPACT
REPORTS, WHICH ARE THREE
EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES FROM SPD.
TANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR YOUR THOROUGH AMENDMENTS,
WHICH ARE COMMITTEE APPROVED
UNANIMOUSLY LAST WEEK SO THESE
THREE COUNCIL BILLS ARE IN GOOD
SHAPE FOR OUR VOTE THIS
AFTERNOON.
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONSULT CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF BEFORE
OUR MEETING TODAY.
ARE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEETS ON
THE FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS
OF EACH MONTH AT 9:30 IN THE
MORNING.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2nd.
IN DISTRICT 4, MY OFFICE
ATTENDED LAST WEEK'S MEETING OF
THE RAVENNA BRYANT COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION.
IN ADDITION, I HAVE MY WEEKLY
IN DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS
VIRTUALLY AGAIN FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN
PERSON OFFICE HOURS LATER THIS
YEAR.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHETHER OR
NOT I HAVE ANY VIRTUAL RAISED
HANDS OR RAISED HANDS ON THE
VIDEO.
I SEE NONE.
APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT AND I
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO MINE.
SO, THE CITY COUNCIL, FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON
HAS ONE ITEM -- WELL, ACTUALLY
IT HAS TWO ITEMS.
ONE ITEM FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE,
AND ONE ITEM GOING DIRECTLY
THAT WAS REFERRED ON LAST WEEK'S
IRC COMMITTEE RELATED TO THE
ITEM.
THAT IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA
COMING FROM COMMITTEE.
SO JUST STEPPING BACK A LITTLE
BIT, THE ITEM THAT IS ON THE
FULL COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA
THAT CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE IS
CALLED COUNCIL BILL 120065.
THIS BILL IS INTENDED TO
TRANSFER BOTH 911 DISPATCH AND
THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT UNITS
FROM SPD TO THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
THE NEW COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, AS
CONTEMPLATED AND DIRECTED BY
THE COUNCIL DURING THE BUDGET --
I'M SORRY, YES, THE FALL BUDGET
LEGISLATION.
I WILL BE BRINGING AN AMENDMENT
TO THIS BILL THAT WAS POSTED ON
THE AGENDA, AND THE AMENDMENT
IS INTENDED TO REMOVE THE
TRANSFER OF THE PEO'S FROM SPD
TO THE NEW COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER FROM THE
LEGISLATION SO THEY WILL NOT BE
TRANSFERRED WITH THE PASSAGE OF
THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
ONCE THE PEO'S ARE REMOVED FROM
THE BILL, I INTEND ON MOVING
THE BILL AS AMENDED TO TRANSFER
THE 911 DISPATCH TO THE NEW
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
WITH THE AMENDMENT, IT WILL
ALLOW MORE TIME FOR
CONSIDERATION AROUND THE PEO
TRANSFER, BUT IT WILL AUTHORIZE
THE TRANSFER OF THE 911
DISPATCH TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT.
ALSO ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 13,
THAT'S COUNCIL BILL 120078.
THE INTENTION OF THAT BILL IS
TO EXTEND THE PROVISO THAT WAS
ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL DURING
THE FALL BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
AND ALLOW THE PEO UNIT TO
CONTINUE TO GET PAID UNTIL
SEPTEMBER.
THE REASON WHY THIS IS
NECESSARY IS THAT THE COUNCIL,
WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS,
ENACTED A PROVISO.
THAT PROVISO WAS INTENDED TO
ENSURE THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION
TO MOVE 911 DISPATCH, AND PEO'S
INTO THE NEW DIVISION.
INTO THE NEW COMMUNITY SAFETY
AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
THE PROVISO THAT BASICALLY SAYS
THAT BOTH UNITS WOULD ONLY GET
PAID THROUGH SEPTEMBER IF THEY
WEREN'T TRANSFERRED.
WE NEED TO AMEND THAT
LEGISLATION IF WE ARE NOT GOING
TO TRANSFER THE PEO'S AT THAT
TIME, AT THIS TIME.
AND ALLOW US A LITTLE BIT MORE
TIME TO CONTINUE THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
SO, I WILL BE AMENDING THE
AGENDA TO SWITCH UP THE ORDER
AND MOVE CONSIDERATION OF
COUNCIL BILL 120078 TO
DIRECTLY FOLLOW CONSIDERATION
OF COUNCIL BILL 120065,
BECAUSE BOTH ISSUES GO TOGETHER.
JUST SOME BACKGROUND FOR FOLKS
WHO AREN'T WATCHING WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN MY COMMITTEE
MEETING, THE REASON WE ARE
DOING THIS IS BECAUSE COUNCIL
BILL 120065 WAS VOTED OUT WITH
A DIVIDED REPORT.
IN MY ESTIMATION, TODAY'S
ACTIONS WITH THESE AMENDMENTS
ARE INTENDED TO GIVE COUNCIL
ADDITIONAL TIME BEFORE
FINALIZING THE TRANSFER OF THE
PEO'S AS PREVIOUSLY PLANNED AND
REQUESTED BY THE PEO RANK AND
FILE.
JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND DURING
THE BUDGET, WE PASSED ORDINANCE
126633, THAT ESTABLISHED THE
NEW COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AND
INCLUDED BOTH 911 DISPATCH AND
PEO'S AND THAT NEW CENTER.
THE CREATION OF THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND COMMUNICATIONS
CENTER IS INTENDED TO HELP
REFRAME HOW THE CITY PROVIDES
FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND
RESPONSE TO THE COUNCIL'S
INTEREST IN EXPLORING EXPANDED
DUTY FOR THE PEO'S.
THE CENTER, THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND COMMUNICATIONS
CENTER WAS INTENDED TO BEGAN
PERFORMING THE 911 CALL CENTER
AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT
FUNCTIONS BY JUNE 1st.
ESSENTIALLY BEFORE WE INCLUDED
A PROVISO IN THAT COUNCIL
ACTION DURING BUDGET IN ORDER
TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ACTUALLY
HAPPENED BY JUNE 1st IT IS
OUTLINED IN THE CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO.
THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME TOOK A
DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN THE ONE
THAT THE MAYOR WAS PROPOSING IN
THE BUDGET TO HAVE THE PEO'S
TRANSFERRED TO SDOT.
THIS DIFFERENT APPROACH WAS
INITIATED BY -- WHEN I SAY THE
DIFFERENT APPROACH, THE
APPROACH THAT THE COUNCIL TOOK
WAS INITIATED BY THE PEO RANK
AND FILE THEMSELVES, WHO
REACHED OUT TO THE COUNCIL WITH
THEIR VISION OF BEING A PART OF
THE NEW CIVILIAN PUBLIC SAFETY
RESPONSE TEAM.
SO, TO FULFILL THAT VISION, THE
ORDINANCE 126233 ALSO REQUIRED
THAT THE EXECUTIVE REPORT ON
THE POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF PEO
RESPONSIBILITIES TO INCLUDE
MANAGING TRAFFIC AT LIGHTED
INTERSECTIONS.
REPORTING ON MINOR THEFTS.
RESPONSE TO NONINJURY
COLLISIONS, AND A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. SOME OF
THEM RELATED TO RIGHT-OF-WAY
MANAGEMENT, AND SOME OF THEM
NOT.
IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL PASSED
TWO SLIDES, ONE ON THE COST OF
USING THE PEO'S FOR TRAFFIC
CONTROL DURING SPECIAL EVENTS.
ONE ON MERGING OR CO-LOCATING
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT CALL CENTERS.
THESE REPORTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED.
THEN, ALSO JUST FOR CONTEXT, OF
WHO THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
IMPACT, THERE ARE ROUGHLY 106
RANK AND FILE PEO'S, AND 12
SUPERVISORS.
BEFORE I MOVE ON, JUST WANT TO
TAKE A PAUSE.
CENTRAL STAFF ARE ON THE CALL
THIS MORNING TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
BOTH THE PROCESS AND THE CONTENT
OF THE BILLS BEFORE US.
IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO
TAKE A PAUSE BEFORE I MOVE ON
TO THE REST OF MY REPORT.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOUR
HAND IS UP.
>> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
I JUST WANTED TO VOICE SUPPORT
FOR THE WAY THAT YOU'RE
PROPOSING AND GOING FORWARD
WITH THIS ISSUE.
FOR ME, AND MAYBE I'M GETTING
AHEAD OF IT BECAUSE I THINK
YOU'RE INVITING CENTRAL STAFF
QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL JUST GET IT
ALL OUT THERE NOW.
I APPRECIATE THE REPORTS THAT
YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD.
AS A POLICYMAKER I FEEL PRETTY
CONFIDENT NAVIGATING THE
BUREAUCRATIC ISSUES AROUND THIS.
I SUPPORT THE VISION OF HAVING
THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS BE A BIG PART OF THE
NEW PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM THAT
WE ARE CREATING.
THAT HAS A ROLE FOR -- A BIGGER
ROLE FOR THEM IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN DONE BY
UNIFORMED ARMED POLICE.
THE THING THAT ME THAT MAKES ME
WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE
TIME IS THAT WE DO HAVE SOME
LABOR DIVISION.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING
TO NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE THE
EXPERTISE OF THE RANK-AND-FILE
OFFICERS, BUT ALSO THE UNIONIZED
SUPERVISORS WHO DO HAVE SOME
DISAGREEMENTS.
SEEKING SOME LABOR UNITY ON AN
ISSUE LIKE THIS I DO THINK
WARRANTS ARE ATTENTION TO TAKE
A FEW MORE MONTHS TO REALLY
INTENTIONALLY LISTEN TO BOTH OF
THESE UNIONS TO TRY TO
RECONCILE THEIR CONCERNS AND
RECONCILE IT WITH THE VISION WE
ALL WANT TO SEE.
I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL TO THE
PUBLIC, IT'S NOT SO MUCH
CONCESSIONS FOR SOME OF THE
MORE BUREAUCRATIC REASONS, OR
COMPETITION OF DIFFERENT
BUREAUCRATIC UNITS, BUT IT
REALLY IS FOR ME AN INTEREST IN
SEEKING A HARMONY BETWEEN THE
DIFFERENT LABOR GROUPS HERE.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE CENTER
THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SENT TO
THEIR CONCERNS AND TAKE IT
SERIOUSLY WHEN WE DO HAVE A
WORKFORCE THAT REPRESENTS THE
SUPERVISORS COMING FORWARD AND
SAYING NO, NO, LIKE WE HAVE A
COUPLE THINGS WE WANT TO HAVE
WORKED OUT.
I THINK THAT ONCE US TAKING
SOME TIME TO RESPECT THAT
PROCESS, RESPECT THEIR
LEADERSHIP.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ULTIMATELY
WON'T PUT THE PARKING
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INTO THIS
NEW UNIT, BUT IT JUST MEANS WE
WILL DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS
INTENTIONAL AND DOES NOT CREATE
DIVISION WITHIN THOSE
WORKFORCE.
BETWEEN THE SUPERVISORS AND
RANK-AND-FILE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE MADAM
PRESIDENT PRO TEM YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN SETTING OUT THIS
COURSE TO GIVE SPACE TO THOSE
DISCUSSIONS.
I THINK IT WILL LEAD TO A
BETTER LONGER-TERM POLICY AND
PEACE BETWEEN THOSE TWO
BARGAINING UNITS.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE
ACTIONS AS YOU HAVE LAID THEM
OUT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER RAISED
HANDS, BUT I AM GOING TO ASK
MS. K WHETHER OR NOT THERE ANY
GAPS IN MY DESCRIPTION OR ANY
OTHER POINTS THAT YOU MIGHT
MAKE TO MAKE THIS AFTERNOON'S
DISCUSSION ON THE PARLIAMENTARY
PIECES GO A LITTLE BIT MORE
SMOOTHLY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, I DON'T REALLY HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD.
I THINK AT ONE POINT YOU
MNTIONED, I JUST WANTED TO
CLARIFY THE ORIGINAL BUDGET
PROVISO WOULD HAVE TRANSFERRED
THE EMPLOYEES JUNE 1st.
THE EXTENSION WOULD EXTENDED TO
SEPTEMBER 1. I THINK THERE WAS
A SMALL GLITCH IN THAT SPIRIT
OTHER THAN THAT, OTHER THAN
THAT YOU SAID ANYTHING I WOULD
HAVE SAID.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
NOT SEEING ANY OTHER RAISED
HANDS I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE ON
TO THE REST OF MY REPORT.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO PICK UP THE
PACE HERE.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE IS MEETING
THIS WEEK.
WE ARE MEETING TOMORROW AT 9:30.
THERE IS ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY 2020 REPORT.
I WOULD LIKE AT THIS TIME TO
INVITE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
ATTEND THAT COMMITTEE MEETING.
IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU
HAVE TIME AND INTEREST IN
ATTENDING, I SAY SO BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE
OPA IN RESPONSE TO POLICE
ACTIONS, RESPONDING TO PROTESTS
OVER THE LAST YEAR ARE ISSUES
OF HIGH INTEREST ON THIS
COUNCIL.
I DID LET THE DIRECTOR KNOW
THAT I WOULD BE EXTENDING AN
INVITATION TO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ATTEND
TOMORROW'S MEETING.
JUST A QUICK PUBLIC HEALTH
UPDATE.
ON THURSDAY, KING COUNTY HEALTH
OFFICER ISSUED A NEW DIRECTIVE
TEMPORARILY REQUIRING MASKS FOR
EVERYONE 5 AND OLDER IN PLACES
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SUCH AS
GROCERY STORES AND RESTAURANTS.
REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION
STATUS.
MASKS ARE ALSO REQUIRED INSIDE
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES,
HOMELESS SHELTERS, SCHOOLS,
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND MANY
HEALTHCARE SETTINGS.
WHEN AT LEAST 70% OF KING
COUNTY RESIDENTS AGE 16 AND
OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED, THE
MASK GUIDANCE WILL BE LIFTED.
AS OF MAY 19th, 54% OF KING
COUNTY RESIDENTS WERE FULLY
VACCINATED.
HE ESTIMATES THAT WE WILL REACH
THE 70% MARK IN LATE JUNE.
LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR INSLEE
ANNOUNCED WE ARE WORKING TOWARD
A JUNE 30th STATEWIDE REOPENING
DATE.
IT COULD BE EARLIER IF 70% OR
MORE WASHINGTONIANS START
VACCINATING BEFORE THEN.
WHILE IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO NOT
BE ABLE TO LEAVE OUR MASKS AND
HOME, THE END IS TRULY INSIGHT.
LES MATTOX UP AND VACCINATE.
I WANT TO THANK THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS OFFERING
VACCINATION CLINICS FOR
SCHOOLKIDS WITH A GOAL OF
VACCINATING ALL STUDENTS 12 AND
OLDER BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR
ENDS.
THEY ARE OFFERING AN IN SCHOOL
VACCINATION CLINIC FOR PUBLIC
HIGH SCHOOLS, AND POP UP
VACCINATION CLINICS FOR PRIVATE
SCHOOL STUDENTS.
FAMILIES CAN DROP BY OR MAKE AN
APPOINTMENT AT THE CITY'S FOUR
VACCINATION SITES IN WEST
SEATTLE, RANIER BEACH, LUMEN
FIELD AND NORTH SEATTLE.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT
SEATTLE.GOV/VACCINE.
OR, YOU CAN CALL 206-684-2489.
LAST WEEK, JUST WANT TO TOUCH --
GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A STATUS
UPDATE ON SOME MEETINGS I
MENTIONED THIS TIME LAST WEEK
THAT WERE COMING UP THIS WEEK.
I DID ATTEND THE SPD AFRICAN-
AMERICAN COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY.
I'M MENTIONING THIS TO YOU
TODAY BECAUSE THEIR MEMBERSHIP
IN ATTENDANCE WITH THAT MEETING
ASKED THAT I SHARE WITH EACH OF
YOU THEIR DESIRE TO BE
CONSULTED BY COUNCILMEMBERS ON
ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
I COMMITTED TO BRING YOU THAT
MESSAGE AND I'M DOING SO TODAY.
ALSO LAST WEEK I HOSTED AN ALL
SEATTLE COHORT FOR FOR THE WHAT
WORKS CITY SPRINT.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, WHAT
WORKS CITY'S LAUNCH WAS CALLED
THE WHAT WORKS CITY SPRINT.
IT'S AN EIGHT WEEK LONG VIRTUAL
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY TO HELP CITIES
ADVANCE DATABASE PRACTICES THAT
ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO A WELL-
MANAGED CITY.
DOING SO IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.
THE EFFORTS THAT WE ARE ENGAGED
IN NOW IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED
ON LEARNING FROM PIERCE CITY IS
COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING
PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PUBLIC
SAFETY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR BRINGING TOGETHER THE WHAT
WORKS CITY SPRINT TO SEATTLE.
WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY
PARTICIPATING.
THERE ARE I THINK -- THERE ARE
SEVERAL DOZEN, LET'S JUST SAY
THAT, CITIES PARTICIPATING IN
THE SPRINT.
CITIES ARE SHARING THEIR OWN
EXPERIENCES, AND HEARING FROM
FOLKS WHO ARE CONSIDERED EXPERT
PRACTITIONERS IN THE FIELD OF
EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
SO, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE
CAHOOTS PROGRAM.
WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PORTLAND
STREET RESPONSE IN PORTLAND,
OREGON.
WE'VE HEARD FROM STAR IN DENVER.
THE SUPPORT TEAM ASSISTED
RESPONSE PROGRAM.
AGAIN, LAST WEEK I HOSTED A
MEETING OF OUR ALL SEATTLE CITY
COHORT.
WE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM BOTH
INNER-CITY STAKEHOLDERS AND
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS ON THESE
ISSUES.
SO, THE ALL SEATTLE COHORT
MEETING ON FRIDAY WAS ATTENDED
BY NEARLY ALL OF THE
PARTICIPANTS TOTALING OVER 30
CITY AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SORT OF
OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF TOUCHED
BASE AS WE ALL PARTICIPATE WITH
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I
THOUGHT GIVEN WE WERE AT THE
HALFWAY POINT, IT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR
MAIN TAKEAWAYS HAVE BEEN SO FAR
IN PARTICIPATING.
TRACKING SORT OF OUR REACTIONS
AND ALTERNATIVES THAT THE CITY
SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.
THIS NEXT UPCOMING MONTH DURING
THE WHAT WORKS CITY SPRINT, THE
EXECUTIVE WILL BE PRESENTING
DATA ON THE TYPE OF 911 CALLS
THAT THE CITY RECEIVES.
DURING OUR INTERNAL MEETING WE
DISCUSSED WHY THAT MIGHT BE AN
INADEQUATE DATA SET BECAUSE
PEOPLE USE ALTERNATIVE METHODS
OF REPORTING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
RELATED ISSUES.
IF THE POINT OF GETTING DATA IS
TO BRIDGE THE GAPS, WE SHOULD
NOT JUST RELY ON THE DATA
ASSOCIATED WITH 911.
THE REASON WHY I'M SHARING THIS
INTERNAL MEETING IS JUST
BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED THAT WE
SEEM TO BE MOVING IN, IF NOT
EXACTLY ALIGNED DIRECTION,
PRETTY CLOSE TO IT.
I THINK REPRESENTATIVES FROM
EACH THE EXECUTIVE AND THE
COUNCIL AND THE EXTERNAL
PARTNERS ALL SEEM TO BE IN
AGREEMENT ON WHAT THE -- SORT
OF THE CHALLENGES ARE WITH
DESIGNING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
THAT FILLS THE GAPS OF WHAT WE
HAVE CURRENTLY.
IT JUST WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ALL SORT OF GROWING IN THE SAME
DIRECTION.
REALLY WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN
TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
HELPING GETTING THIS STARTED.
FOR BEING PRESENT, AND HIS
STAFF BEING PRESENT IN THE
MEETING ON FRIDAY.
I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, WHO
HAVE MOSTLY ALL BEEN ENGAGED IN
THIS EFFORT.
TO VARYING DEGREES, DEPENDING ON
THEIR ASSIGNMENTS. WANT TO
THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS
WELL AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
WHO SENT FOLKS TO MEET WITH US
AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO
JOINED US AS WELL AND HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS A REALLY ENCOURAGING
MEETING.
LAST ITEMS I JUST WANT TO
MENTION BEFORE MOVING INTO THE
SIGNING OF THE PROCLAMATIONS.
FOR REGIONAL COMMITTEE COMING
UP THIS WEEK, I DO HAVE THE
REGIONAL LOSS SAFETY AND JUSTICE
COMMITTEE MEETING COMING UP ON
THURSDAY.
I HAVE OFFICE HOURS ON FRIDAY
BETWEEN 2:00 AND 6:00 P.M.
THIS COMING FRIDAY.
SO, WITH THAT, LET'S -- UNLESS
THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ABOUT MY REPORT --
SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE INTO
THE SIGNING OF THE
PROCLAMATIONS.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING
SIGNATURES FOR EACH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
PROCLAMATION, MY PROCLAMATION,
AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LETTER.
LET'S START, AS LONG AS THERE
ARE NO OBJECTIONS, LET'S START
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
PROCLAMATION.
SIGNATURES WILL NEED TO BE
AFFIXED TO A PROCLAMATION
BEFORE IT IS PRESENTED.
I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL
THE ROLL TO CONFIRM WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS SIGNATURES MAY
BE AFFIXED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE
I REQUEST THE ROLL CALL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE
LETTER.
I'M STILL REVIEWING IT SINCE WE
ONLY RECEIVED IT ABOUT AN HOUR
AND HALF AGO.
>> WE ARE ON COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S PROCLAMATION.
WE'LL GET COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S LETTER IN A MOMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO DO THE TWO
PROCLAMATIONS FIRST.
>> YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT TIMING
OF THESE AS A GROUP.
>> I MOVED THEM ALL DOWN TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA TOGETHER.
WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
PROCLAMATION FIRST.
MY PROCLAMATION SECOND.
THEN, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LETTER LAST . WE'LL DO THE ROLL
CALL FOR EACH OF THE THREE, AND
DISCUSS ANY COMMENTS OR
CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ON EACH
OF THE THREE SEPARATELY AS WE
GO THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
PROCLAMATION HONORING PUBLIC
HEALTH DIRECTOR PATTY HAYES?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT PRO
TEM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
THANKS SO MUCH.
AS A REMINDER, THIS A
PROCLAMATION HONORING DR. PATTY
HAYES'S LIFE AND LEGACY.
A REMINDER THAT PATTY HAYES HAS
BEEN ACTIVE ADVOCATE FOR RECENT
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH HAS WORKED AT SEATTLE
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
HAS PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AT THE
STATE LEVEL WHERE I GOT THE
CHANCE TO KNOW WHERE FIRST.
CONTINUING TO BE ABLE TO WORK
AT HER WITHIN REACH.
THAT ENTITY WAS PREVIOUSLY
CALLED HEALTHY MOTHERS, HEALTHY
BABIES.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE HER
SINCE THIS IS HER LAST WEEK AT
WORK.
I KNOW THAT SHE IS OFF TO VISIT
SOME FAMILY.
SINCE EVERYONE IS NOW FULLY
VACCINATED AND IT'S BEEN OVER A
YEAR.
WE WERE SURE A LOT OF LUCK BUT
I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL
OF YOU FOR CONSIDERING SIGNING
THIS PROCLAMATION IN RELATIVELY
SHORT TIME.
I WANT TO THANK MY OFFICE FOR
DRAFTING THIS IN A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME AND TURNING IT
AROUND FOR ALL OF YOU TO SEE.
IT SHOWED UP MIDDAY ON FRIDAY.
I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO
REVIEW IT AND APPRECIATE YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF THE
PROCLAMATION FOR DIRECTOR HAYES
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I BELIEVE DIRECTOR HAYES WILL
BE WITH US TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION.
EXCELLENT, VERY GOOD, LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
ENTITLED HONORING SEATTLE, AND
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
DIRECTOR PATTY HAYES?
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERBOLD
QUESTION MARK
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE NEXT PROCLAMATION IS ONE MY
OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON
RECOGNIZING MAY 25th TO BE
EDUCATION FOR ALL DAY IN
SEATTLE.
MY OFFICE CIRCULATED THE
PROCLAMATION ON THURSDAY.
IT MARKS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY
FOR THE PASSAGE OF STATE HOUSE
BILL 90, WHICH MANDATED FREE
AND APPROPRIATE SPECIAL-
EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES IN WASHINGTON
STATE IN 1971.
THE PROCLAMATION WILL BE
ACCEPTED THIS AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO THANK MY OFFICE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ABOUT THIS
PROCLAMATION?
OKAY.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
AGAIN, THE SIGNATURES WILL NEED
TO BE AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION BEFORE IT IS
PRESENTED.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION AND ENTITLED
RECOGNIZING THE 50th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF
THE WASHINGTON STATE HOUSE BILL
90, EDUCATION FOR ALL.
>> SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO, NOW WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S LETTER.
AGAIN, SIGNATURES WILL NEED TO
BE AFFIXED TO THE LETTER BEFORE
IT'S PRESENTED.
I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROLL TO CONFIRM WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS MAY BE AFFIXED
TO THE LETTER.
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I'LL
HAND IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO ADD ANY COMMENTS TO
THOSE THAT SHE HAD ALREADY
MENTIONED IN HER REPORT.
BEFORE I TAKE OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, ANYTHING
TO ADD?
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT PRO TEM
HERBOLD.
I JUST QUICKLY WANTED TO SHARE
SOME THINGS THAT JUST CAME IN
IN RELATION TO THIS.
ALSO, I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WAS STARTING TO SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MORNING.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE,
MY OFFICE OBVIOUSLY CIRCULATED
THE FIRST VERSION OF THE LETTER
LAST MONDAY.
THEN, SENT OUT THE DRAFT ON
TUESDAY MORNING.
SENT AN UPDATED VERSION LAST
FRIDAY.
ANOTHER ONE WITH FURTHER UPDATES
ON SUNDAY EVENING, AND THE
FINAL VERSION THIS MORNING.
SOME OF THIS TIMING WAS JUST
BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE
EDIT IN WHICH WE WERE RECEIVING.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE COULD
HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT.
SO, A LOT OF THE EDITS CAME IN
DURING THOSE ITERATIONS.
I'VE INCORPORATED EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF THE EDITS THAT CAME FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS.
WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY EDITS
FROM COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AT
ANY POINT IN THIS DRAFTING AND
SHARING.
ALSO, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT,
WHILE WE WERE HAVING OUR
BRIEFING THIS MORNING, AN
IMPORTANT LETTER ARRIVED TO THE
WHOLE COUNCIL.
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE THIS IN
THEIR EMAIL BOX.
I REALLY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE
THIS PUBLICLY BECAUSE IT'S SUCH
AN IMPORTANT LETTER FROM A
RABBI.
I JUST READ AN EXTRACT FROM THE
LETTER.
IN THE LETTER, THE RABBI SAYS
THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE WHO I
HAVE DIRECTLY DEDICATED MY LIFE
AND FAMILY.
TODAY I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
THE JEWISH LEADERSHIP OF THE
STATE OF ISRAEL NEEDS OUTSIDE
INTERVENTION TO END ITS
HEARTBREAKINGLY BRUTAL AND
ONGOING OCCUPATION OF THE WEST
BANK IN EAST JERUSALEM.
ITS SEIZURE OF THE GAZA STRIP
AND ITS MILITARY BACKED
CONTINUED SUPPLEMENT PROJECT.
PLEASE HELP US SAY NOT IN OUR
NAME.
THIS LETTER COULD BE A HISTORIC
STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF
HOLDING MY PEOPLE LOVINGLY
ACCOUNTABLE.
A STEP WE SADLY NEED FOR OUR
OWN SAKE AS MUCH AS FOR THE
SAKE OF THE MILLIONS OF
PALESTINIANS WHOSE LIVES --
SORRY, MILLIONS OF PALESTINIAN
LIVES YOU HAVE BEEN ENDED,
LIMITED, AND TRAUMATIZED ON
BEHALF OF CYNICAL RIGHT-WING
WESTERN IDEOLOGIES. PLEASE SIGN
THE LETTER BROUGHT FORWARD BY
REPRESENTATIVE SAWANT.
AS AN ACT THAT REPRESENT YOUR
LOCAL CONSTITUENTS.
REALLY WANTED TO THANK THE
RABBI FOR THIS ABSOLUTELY
MOVING LETTER AND I THINK THIS
IS -- I THINK PART OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD OF PEOPLE IN
OUR CITY WHO ARE TAKING A
CORRECT POSITION ON A VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
JUST TO ALSO UPDATE WHAT I SAID
IN THE BRIEFING, I THINK THE
CITY COUNCIL HAS NOW RECEIVED
773 EMAILS IN FAVOR OF OUR
PALESTINE LETTER.
THEIR 197 LETTERS AGAINST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED EDITS
FROM ME BECAUSE I WAS WAITING --
I THOUGHT WE HAD UNTIL TODAY AT
2:00 P.M.
TO REVIEW ANY CHANGES THAT YOU
HAD MADE AND THEN SUBMIT MY
EDITS TO YOU COUNCILMEMBER.
IN PART BECAUSE THE LETTER WE
RECEIVED LAST WEEK WAS NOT
WORKABLE IN MY OPINION.
GLAD TO SEE THAT THE LETTER HAS
MADE MOVEMENT FORWARD.
I STILL HAVE EDITS BEFORE I
WILL BE COMFORTABLE SIGNING MY
NAME.
COUNCILMEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, I
URGED US TO EACH INDIVIDUALLY
SEND A LETTER IF THE CHOICE IS
BETWEEN SIGNING THE LETTER
TODAY RIGHT NOW, AND SIGNING IT
OR NOT, I WOULD URGE US ALL TO
EACH SEND OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL
LETTERS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
DISCUSSION OF THIS LETTER AS
OTHER BUSINESS ON LAST WEEK'S
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA WAS UNUSUAL.
THE NORMAL PRACTICE OF COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ IS TO DO
LETTER AND PROCLAMATION SIGNING
IN THE MORNING.
THAT'S WHY, I'M SORRY IF YOU
WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT
WE WERE GOING TO BE HEARING THIS
AT FULL COUNCIL AT 2:00.
I'M REVERTING TO THE CUSTOMARY
PROCESS OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ TO COLLECT SIGNATURES
FOR BOTH PROCLAMATIONS AND
LETTERS IN THE MORNING.
AGAIN, MY APOLOGIES IF THAT
INFORMATION DID NOT MAKE IT TO
YOU.
I DO WANT TO JUST SAY A COUPLE
úWORDS ABOUT MY APPRECIATION
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
ACCEPTED EDITS THAT HAVE BEEN
OFFERED.
SO THAT THE LETTER CAN REFLECT
THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BROADER
SEGMENT OF THE COUNCIL.
IN PARTICULAR, I REALLY
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S EDITS THAT WERE
ACCEPTED.
THAT REALLY FOCUSED THE LETTER
TOWARD SUPPORT OF HR 2590.
OF WHICH OUR OWN CONGRESSWOMAN
IS A COSPONSOR.
THE GOAL OF HR 2590 IS TO
PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE HUMAN
RIGHTS OF PALESTINIANS LIVING
UNDER ISRAELI MILITARY
OCCUPATION.
AND TO ENSURE THAT THE UNITED
STATES TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE NOT
USED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF IS
REAL TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY
DETENTION OF PALESTINIAN
CHILDREN.
THE UNLAWFUL SEIZURE
APPROPRIATION AND DESTRUCTION
OF PALESTINIAN PROPERTY AND
FORCEFUL TRANSFER OF CIVILIANS
IN THE WEST BANK FOR FURTHER
ANNEXATION OF PALESTINIAN LAND
IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL
LAW.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT THIS --
THAT THE LETTER IS REALLY
FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING AN ACTION
THAT IS BEFORE CONGRESS AND SEE
THAT WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS' HANDS BOTH VIRTUALLY
RAISED AGAIN.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> MAYBE IT MAKES SENSE FOR ME
TO GO AFTER COMMENTS HAVE BEEN
MADE.
>> I ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
I DO SEE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'
HAND UP AGAIN.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
I UNDERSTAND THE CUSTOMARY
NATURE.
>> RECORDING STOPPED.
>> I NOTICED THAT THE RECORDING
JUST STOPPED.
IS THAT INTENTIONAL?
>> WE HAVE A TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTY THAT JUST OCCURRED.
LET ME JUST BEGIN RECORDING
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RECORDING IN PROGRESS.
>> ARE WE STILL THERE?
>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
FOR THE RECORD, THERE WAS
NOTHING. I STOPPED MY COMMENTS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM, I
RECOGNIZE YOUR DESIRE TO KEEP
US ON TRACK WITH THE CUSTOMARY
NATURE OF HAVING RESOLUTIONS
AND LETTERS IN THE MORNING.
THE ISSUE THAT I'M HAVING HERE
IS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUE THAT
YOU EXPLAINED LAST WEEK WITH
THE LACK OF TIME TO RESPOND, TO
REVIEW, AND TO SHARE IMPORTANT
EDITS.
I GUESS I HAD ALSO NOT
UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS LETTER THIS WEEK,
SINCE THE CEASE-FIRE HADN'T
OCCURRED BETWEEN THE LETTER
CONVERSATION LAST WEEK AND
TODAY.
I SIT IN A UNIQUE POSITION
HERE.
AS A JEWISH-AMERICAN WHO IS ON
THIS COUNCIL.
I HAVE A VERY NUANCED
UNDERSTANDING, AND I CONDEMNED
THE ISRAELI ATTACKS ON GAZA.
IT IS NOT WITHIN MY FRAME, MY
WORLD FRAME VIEW OF HOW WE
SHOULD BE CONDUCTING BUSINESS
IN THIS WORLD.
IT'S A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND
SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SUCH.
THAT SAID, I ALSO AM NOT AT A
COMFORTABLE POINT SIGNING ONTO
THIS LETTER WITHOUT BEING ABLE
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT I SIT
PERSONALLY.
IN THIS MOMENT.
ON THIS COUNCIL.
I KNOW I HAVE URGED MANY TIMES
FOR US ON COUNCIL NOT TO ENGAGE
OURSELVES IN INTERNATIONAL
POLITICS, YET HERE WE ARE.
THAT'S MY PERSONAL REQUEST AS
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ
MENTIONED THIS MORNING DOES
MANY WAYS FOR MANY OF US TO
ENGAGE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
THAT'S WHY TODAY I KINDLY ASKED
COLLEAGUES FOR IF YOU HAVE A --
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY,
PLEASE DO SAY IT.
MY REQUEST IS FOR EACH OF US,
IF WE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ON
THIS, TO WRITE OUR OWN LETTERS,
OR TO TAKE THE TIME THAT IS
NEEDED TO GET THIS LETTER
RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
I WANT TO SUPPORT THE COMMENTS
MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
THE VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
IS HORRIBLE, AND I BELIEVE ALL
OF US WANT TO SEE SUSTAINABLE
PEACE, JUSTICE, AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY THERE, AND
THROUGHOUT OUR PLANET.
REGARDING THE LETTER PROPOSED
AND REVISED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, THANK YOU FOR
EVERYBODY WHO DID PUT IN
REVISIONS.
MANY PEOPLE WROTE TO OUR OFFICES
SUPPORTING THE LETTER, AND MANY
WROTE OPPOSING THE LETTER.
I WILL BE DECLINING TO SIGN
THIS LETTER FOR THE FOLLOWING
REASONS.
DESPITE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE
ISSUES, I BELIEVE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY
UNDER OUR CITY CHARTER TO FOCUS
ON ADDRESSING THE MANY LOCAL
CHALLENGES HERE, RATHER THAN
SPENDING INORDINATE AMOUNTS OF
TIMES ASSESSING FLUID AND
COMPLEX INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
JUST AS I WOULD NOT EXPECT THE
U.S. CONGRESS TO SPEND ITS
TIME, IT'S LIMITED TIME,
PASSING RESOLUTIONS ABOUT
COMPLEX SEATTLE PROBLEMS, I
GENERALLY DO NOT THINK CITY
COUNCILMEMBER SHOULD BE
CRAFTING AND SENDING LETTERS
FOR ALL OF US TO DEBATE ON
COMPLEX INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
WITH OVER 300 LARGE CITIES IN
THE U.S., AND SO MANY OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS TO CONSIDER, I
ALSO DON'T THINK THOSE TASKS
WITH CONDUCTING INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS ARE LOOKING TO SEE
WHAT A PARTICULAR CITY COUNCIL
THANKS.
THEREFORE, I FEEL OUR EFFORTS
WOULD NOT HAVE A MEANINGFUL
IMPACT.
WITH SO MANY INTERNATIONAL
CONFLICTS AND INJUSTICES
LAYERED WITH COMPLEX HISTORIES,
I GENERALLY HAVE FAITH IN THE
DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES OF
EXPERIENCE OF OUR SEATTLE
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
AS WELL AS THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION TO REPRESENT US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
I AM NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED.
I DO SEE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S.
>> SO SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I DIDN'T HAVE MY VIRTUAL HAND
UP.
>> OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, I ALREADY
MADE SOME COMMENTS.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS' POINT AS
WELL.
I KNOW THERE'S MANY WAYS TO
CONTINUE TO SEND MESSAGES TO
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
I MENTIONED ONE OF THOSE WAYS,
WHICH I'VE ALSO SIGNED UP FOR,
THE ACTION ALERT THAT JEWISH
VOICE FOR PEACE HAS SENT OUT.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO
DIRECT CALLS AS WELL.
I HEAR TODAY'S DISCUSSION MORE
ABOUT PROCESS, AND NOT
NECESSARILY DEBATING THE ISSUE.
I KNOW ALL OF US WANT TO
CONTINUE TO SEND MESSAGES OF
SOLIDARITY TO PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE.
CALL FOR AN END TO BOMBARDMENT
AND MAKE SURE THERE IS LASTING
PEACE IN THE AREA.
I WILL APPRECIATE THAT FOLKS ARE
USING VARIOUS VEHICLES TO GET
THAT MESSAGE IN.
I THINK THAT ONE IMPORTANT
THING FOR FOLKS TO REMEMBER WHO
MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS ONLINE,
IS THAT OUR COUNCIL HAS A
REQUIREMENT THAT IF WE ARE
GOING TO DO SIGN ON LETTERS, IT
DOES HAVE TO HAPPEN IN PUBLIC.
WE RAN INTO THAT ISSUE A FEW
YEARS AGO SO WE HAVE TO PROCESS
THAT IS SOMEWHAT UNIQUE.
AND CONGRESS THEY DON'T DO SIGN
ON LETTERS BY BRINGING
SOMETHING TO THE FLOOR.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT TOO UNIQUE TO
ASK FOR SIGN ON LETTERS THROUGH
THIS VEHICLE.
I WILL BE SIGNING ON TODAY.
I DO APPRECIATE THE OTHERS,
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THOSE
AND TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR HER EDITS ON THE LETTER.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT
THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH
MESSAGES ARE BEING SHARED WITH
CONGRESS AND WITH THE PRESIDENT
TO CONTINUE TO THANK OUR
CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER COUNCIL --
CONGRESSWOMAN FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
AGAIN SHE IS A COSPONSOR OF
HOUSE RESOLUTION 2590.
IS CONTINUING TO BE PART OF I
THINK THE COURAGEOUS AND
GROWING VOICE AROUND THE NEED
TO END ADDITIONAL MILITARY AIDS
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SEE
LASTING SPECIE IN THE AREA.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN
ABOUT THE FRAGILITY OF THE
CEASE-FIRE.
REALLY GETTING AT THOSE ROOT
CAUSES OF THE ONGOING CONFLICT
IN FINDING SUSTAINABLE PEACE
AND SOLUTIONS TO THE TRUE
CRISIS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE
LAST FEW DECADES.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I
APPRECIATE THE VARIOUS MESSAGES
THAT ARE BEING SENT.
THE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING AND TO
APPRECIATE THE LETTER BEING
EDITED IN THE WAY IT WAS.
I WILL BE SIGNING ON TODAY AND
I KNOW AGAIN THIS IS NOT A
USUAL PROCESS FOR HOW LETTERS
GET SIGNED ONTO, BUT WANTED TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS
AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO SEE LETTERS SENT TO THE
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ACCEPTING THE
EDITS I SUBMITTED AND I'LL STOP
HERE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I SEE
YOUR HAND UP.
OKAY, IT'S DOWN.
>> IT WAS NOT A HOLDOVER.
>> I'M COMING BACK TO YOU
BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
HAS ASKED TO SPEAK LAST.
>> CORRECT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN SUPPORTED THE WORDS I
HAD TO SAY.
THAT IS NOT A TWO WAY
DIRECTION.
OUR COMMENTS ARE SEPARATE.
I DON'T -- HE MAY AGREE WHAT I
HAD TO SAY, I'M LEAVING HIS
COMMENTS SEPARATE AND ASIDE.
THEY DO NOT REFLECT MY VIEWS.
JUST INDICATING FOR THE
COLLEAGUES AND FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC I'LL BE SENDING MY OWN
LETTER ON MY OWN REGARDING THIS
TOPIC.
THE CHOICES ARE EITHER SIGN ON
TO WHAT IS WRITTEN NOW, OR SIGN
ONTO -- OR WRITE OUR OWN
LETTER, I WILL BE TAKING THE
LATTER OPTION AND WRITING MY
OWN LETTER.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
I APPRECIATE HOW DIFFICULT THIS
IS.
IF IT'S POSSIBLE [ LAUGHTER ]
GIVEN YOUR LAST COMMENT, I
REALLY WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT
THE CONCEPT OF COUNCILMEMBERS
SENDING THEIR INDIVIDUAL
LETTERS.
I ALSO THINK -- IT IS MY DESIRE
TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF TIME
THAT WE SPEND ON THIS ISSUE.
SO, THAT IS WHY I ACTUALLY
AGREE WITH THE PART OF WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN SAID
RELATED TO THE NEED TO SORT OF
TRY TO CREATE SOME -- SOME --
BUFFERS ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME
THAT WE SPEND.
THAT'S WHY I WOULD NOT SUPPORT
CONTINUING TO HOLD OVER THE
LETTER, BUT REALLY, I AGREE
WITH BOTH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, DID YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, IN THAT
I REALLY THINK THERE ARE A LOT
OF DIFFERENT WAYS FOR FOLKS,
INCLUDING COUNCILMEMBERS, TO
EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ON THIS
REALLY CRITICAL ISSUE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM HERBOLD.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS I WAS GOING
TO MAKE EARLIER WAS JUST I
THINK YOU COVERED IT REALLY
WELL.
JUST ABOUT THE FACT THAT THOUGH
IT WAS IN A BRIEFING, THAT HAS
BEEN THE PRACTICE.
I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT YOU
AS OUR PRESIDENT PRO TEM,
DECIDED THAT.
I DIDN'T DECIDE THAT.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE EITHER
WAY.
AS YOU CORRECTLY STATED, THAT
HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE.
SO, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THE
BRIEFING.
I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY TO SAY
IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME AT ALL --
I MEAN THE POLITICAL OPINIONS
OF COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THOSE
ARE HIS OPINIONS.
I HAVE MY OWN OPINION.
WHAT I DID WANT TO CLARIFY
THOUGH, IS I DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'
OFFICE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
AWARE THAT WE WERE MOVING
FORWARD WITH THIS OFFICE.
PRESIDENT PRO TEM HERBOLD WAS
VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT LAST WEEK
ABOUT WHEN THIS WOULD BE TAKEN
UP.
WE, MEANING MY OFFICE WITH
EMAILS, WITH THURSDAY AS THE
DEADLINE.
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
PROVIDED SUBSTANTIAL EDITS AS I
SAID, AND WE HAVE INCORPORATED
EVERY SINGLE EDIT
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ADDED.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT YOU
SAID, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
HERBOLD, IS THAT I DON'T THINK
IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO POSTPONE
THIS LETTER ANY FURTHER.
I WANTED TO JUST END BY THANKING
THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE
SPOKEN UP ABOUT THE LETTER
ITSELF, INSISTING THAT THE
COUNCIL TAKE A POSITION ON
THIS.
AND THE THOUSANDS OF SEATTLEITES
AND PEOPLE IN THE REGION WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THE PROTEST
ACTIONS, INCLUDING THE VIGIL
AND ALSO THANK ESPECIALLY THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND
THE RABBIS WHO WROTE IN TO
SUPPORT OF THIS LETTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
OKAY.
HEARING NO MORE IN THE WAY OF
DEBATE, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
I AM JUST REMINDING FOLKS THAT
WE ARE DOING THIS AGAIN IN OPEN
PUBLIC SESSION BECAUSE THE OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT REQUIRES IT.
WHEN WE ARE SEEKING TO GET THE
SIGNATURES OF A NUMBER OF
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT MIGHT BE
CONSIDERED A QUORUM.
SO AGAIN, I WILL ASK THE CLERK
TO CALL THE ROLL TO CONFIRM
WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS SIGNATURES
WILL BE AFFIXED.
WITH THAT, I WILL DO SO NOW.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO THE LETTER
REGARDING ISRAELI STATE IN
GAZA, U.S. MILITARY AID?
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS QUESTION MARK
>> I'LL SEND MY OWN, THANK YOU.
>> IS THAT A DEFINITIVE NO,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> I'LL BE SENDING MY OWN
LETTER, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> LEWIS?
>> DECLINED TO SIGN.
>> MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> YES PLEASE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> DECLINED TO SIGN.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERBOLD?
>> YES.
THAT IS THREE SIGNATURES ADDED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOUR HELP, CLERK.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE LAST
ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THE LAST ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA
IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON
PENDING, POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL
LITIGATION.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, AS
PRESIDING OFFICER, I WILL
ANNOUNCE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL
CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION IS TO DISCUSS PENDING,
POTENTIAL, OR ACTUAL LITIGATION.
THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE
OPPORTUNITY IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS
WITH CITY ATTORNEYS AS
AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
A LEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS
PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE
COUNCIL RESERVES QUESTIONS OF
POLICY FOR OPEN SESSION.
I EXPECT THE TIME OF THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END BY,
LET'S SEE, END BY, IT IS 11:24.
END BY 11:54 A.M.
IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
BE EXTENDED BEYOND THAT TIME, I
WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND
THE EXPECTED DURATION.