>>> GOOD MORNING, JUNE 20th,
2021 COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING
WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:31 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF JUNE 21st WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT
ON THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT THIS
MORNING.
LET'S MOVE RIGHT INTO THE
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING.
WE DO HAVE SIERRA HOWLETT
BROWNE FROM OUR OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
WITH US AS WELL AS LESLIE
POLLNER FROM HOLLAND AND
KNIGHT.
BEFORE I HANDED OVER TO SIERRA
AND LESLIE, JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
SIERRA?
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
EVERYBODY.
LIKE A FEW OF YOU, I HAVE
SEVERAL [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IF
THERE IS ANY SOUND ISSUES.
HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY IS STAYING
COOL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US SOME
TIME THIS MORNING.
I KNOW THIS IS A VERY TIMELY
UPDATE.
WE WERE JUST INTENDING TO DO A
GENERAL UPDATE BUT LATE LAST
WEEK WE HAD A BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE
AGREEMENT.
WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO THAT A
LITTLE BIT AND GIVE A LITTLE
MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
LESLIE IS HERE, SHE'S GOING TO
JOIN US AND TELL US A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
AN UPDATE ON THE SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION.
AN UPDATE ON THE FY 22
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AND A
FEW MORE POLICY UPDATES OF NOTE.
I WOULD JUST LET LESLIE KICK IT
OFF AND PLEASE LET US KNOW IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT, THANKS.
NICE TO SEE EVERYONE AND HOPE
THAT YOUR FAMILIES ARE STAYING
SAFE THROUGH THE HEAT.
I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE IT?
>> WE CAN SEE IT.
>> OKAY, TERRIFIC.
EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU
THIS MORNING.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, REALLY
EXCITING NEWS FOR THE CITY.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE GREAT
NEWS OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THE
CITY IS GOING TO BE RECEIVING
AN $11.2 MILLION GRANT FOR THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE WHICH IS
VERY EXCITING.
HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR DELEGATION
SENATOR MURRAY, SENATOR
CANTWELL, AND OUR CONGRESSMEN.
ALL OF THEM WERE EXTREMELY,
EXTREMELY FOCUSED AND ACTIVE TO
MAKE THIS ALL HAPPEN.
THEN, OF PORKERS A HUGE KUDOS
TO SDOT WHO HAVE PLAYED A HUGE
ROLE IN GETTING THIS OVER THE
FINISH LINE.
REALLY EXCITING NEWS AS WE
START OUR INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
WITH SOME GOOD NEWS FROM HOME.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE ARE
DEFINITELY IN A VERY FLUID
SITUATION, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL
SAW IN THE NEWS.
THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT WAS
ANNOUNCED THE PRESIDENT
IMMEDIATELY HAD TO MAKE SOME
CLARIFYING COMMENTS ABOUT IT.
SO, AS WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS
THIS MORNING, SOME OF THIS IS
DYNAMIC AND CHANGING.
AT THE MOMENT, IT'S REALLY --
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A TON OF
DETAILS.
LET ME SEE IF I'M ABLE TO
HOPEFULLY MOVE THIS ALONG HERE.
OKAY, ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE THAT?
OKAY.
TERRIFIC.
SO, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND A
BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS
HAVE REACHED A DEAL ON A $1.2
TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN IS
REALLY A MODIFIED VERSION OF
THE AMERICAN JOBS PLANS, AND
INCLUDES FUNDING FOR ROADS,
TRANSIT, BRIDGES, BROADBAND,
CLEAN ENERGY AND WATER.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY THINGS
THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE
AMERICAN JOBS PLAN THAT ARE NOT
INCLUDED HERE, NOTABLY FOR
EXAMPLE HOUSING.
IS NOT A PART OF THIS PLAN.
SO, YOU'RE SEEING THE PRESIDENT
AND HIS REMARKS ON FRIDAY SAY
THAT RECONCILIATION, A
RECONCILIATION PACKAGE IS ALSO
GOING TO BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL,
BROADER PRIORITIES.
THE PRESIDENT ON FRIDAY OF
COURSE SAID THAT HE WOULD VETO
LEGISLATION UNLESS HE RECEIVED
BOTH RECONCILIATION AND THE
BIPARTISAN PACKAGE ON HIS DESK.
HE HAS SINCE WALKED THAT BACK.
AT THIS POINT, BIPARTISAN, THE
BIPARTISAN PACKAGE AND
RECONCILIATION ARE GOING TO
WORK IN TANDEM, BUT IT IS NOT
CLEARLY NECESSARILY THAT HE
WON'T SIGN THE BIPARTISAN DEAL
UNLESS HE HAS RECONCILIATION ON
HIS DESK AS WELL.
THE DETAILS ARE REALLY PRETTY
LIGHT AT THE MOMENT.
ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE
FRAMEWORK.
SO, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
APPROXIMATELY $579 BILLION IN
NEW SPENDING OVER FIVE YEARS
FOR A TOTAL OF $1.2 TRILLION
OVER EIGHT YEARS.
SO, A WIDE VARIETY OF KIND OF
VERY TOP LINE NUMBERS.
AS YOU TALK TO EVERYONE FROM
MEMBERS ONTO STAFF, EVERYONE IS
LIKE YOU TELL ME WHAT'S IN THE
PACKAGE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN
IT.
SO, IT'S THIS VERY HIGH LEVEL.
$109 BILLION FOR ROADS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.
WE EXPECT TO SEE LEGISLATIVE
TEXT AROUND THE WEEK OF JULY
12th.
EVEN THE PROCESS FOR HOW THEY
ARE GOING TO DEVELOP IT HAS NOT
BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS POINT.
THE EXPECTATION OF COURSES THAT
THE SENATE PLAYS THE MOST
IMPORTANT ROLE ON ALL OF THIS,
IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
SENATE HEAVY.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT
LEGISLATION THAT HAS RECEIVED
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE PAST,
ON THE SENATE SIDE, THAT WILL
LIKELY BE THE ANCHOR FOR A LOT
OF THIS.
SO, MORE DETAILS TO COME.
INCLUDING OF COURSE IN THE
ELUSIVE HOW WE PAY FOR IT,
REALLY THEY SORT OF IDENTIFIED
KIND OF A MENU OF POTENTIAL
SOURCES OF HOW MUCH THEY ARE
EXPECTING YACKLEY WHAT THEY ARE
TALKING ABOUT WITH SOME OF
THESE HIGH-LEVEL CONCEPTS I
WOULD CALL THEM.
REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
WE WILL BE SHARING DETAILS AS
WE GET THEM.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE HOUSE IS
MOVING ALONG WITH THEIR OWN
COURT" INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
STARTING WITH SERVICE
TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION
WHICH IS GOING TO BE ON THE
FLOOR THIS WEEK WHICH IS ALSO
GETTING COMBINED WITH WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL.
SO, THE HOUSE HAS PUT TOGETHER
A DRINKING WATER AND STORM
WATER AND WASTEWATER BILL.
THOSE ARE BEING COMBINED WITH A
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE VOTED
ON IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.
ONE THING TO NOTE IN THE WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE PIECES A PART OF
THAT IS GOING TO MAKE PERMANENT
THE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT YOU SAW
CREATED IN DECEMBER, AND THEN
AGAIN FUNDED THROUGH THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO PROVIDE
DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS WITH THEIR UTILITY
BILLS.
THAT'S BEING AUTHORIZED TO THE
TUNE OF $8 BILLION PER YEAR.
THE SERVICE TRANSPORTATION BILL
, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE SERVICE
TRANSPORTATION BILL ACTUALLY
EXPIRED LAST YEAR.
IT HAS BEEN CONTINUED FOR
ANOTHER YEAR.
ON THE SENATE SIDE, THEY HAVE
BEEN MOVING ALONG TRYING TO
PROCEED IN A BIPARTISAN
FASHION, AND THEY HAVE MOVED TO
DIVIDE IT AMONG MANY
COMMITTEES.
THE SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE HAS
PASSED THAT ON A BIPARTISAN WAY.
THE SENATE BANKING HOUSING
COMMITTEE, WHICH OVERSEES THE
TRANSIT PORTION, THAT IS
ACTUALLY -- THEY ARE PROBABLY
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
THAT PORTION OF A BIPARTISAN
BASIS, BUT SENATOR TOOMEY, THE
RANKING MEMBER FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, REALLY
CONSERVATIVE MEMBER.
THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO
BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT THROUGH
COMMITTEE AND THAT WILL JUST
GET FOLDED IN AT SOME POINT
WITH THAT BILL WHEN IT COMES TO
THE FLOOR.
IN THE MEANTIME, ON THE HOUSE
SIDE, THEY ARE LARGELY MOVING
THEIR BILL REALLY ON PARTISAN
LINES.
THE HOUSE AND BEST ACT PASSED
TNI COMMITTEE BY A VOTE OF 38
TO 26.
ONLY TWO REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR
IT.
IT WILL BE ON THE FLOOR THIS
WEEK.
IS NOT EXPECTED TO RECEIVE VERY
MUCH REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, IF ANY.
SO, THAT PROGRAM AUTHORIZES
$547 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS
FOR HIGHWAYS, TRANSIT, RAIL AND
SAFETY PROGRAMS.
OF NOTE, IT INCLUDES, IT'S THE
FIRST BILL IN 16 YEARS TO
INCLUDE EARMARKS.
SO, SEATTLE WORKING WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN DIANE PAUL AND
CONGRESSMAN SMITH WAS ABLE TO
SECURE THREE PROJECTS IN THE
BILL.
ONE IMPROVEMENT FOR $2.3
MILLION.
$1.8 MILLION FOR THE GEORGETOWN
TO SOUTH PARK CONNECTION.
THAN $750,000 TO MLK JUNIOR WAY.
AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE
HOUSE AND BEST ACT, THE
CHAIRMAN HAS REALLY SEEN THIS AS
NOT JUST A TRANSPORTATION BILL,
BUT REALLY A CLIMATE BILL.
SO, HAS PUT IN A NUMBER OF
RESILIENCY MEASURES.
RANGING FROM EASY CHARGE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO NEW CARBON
POLLUTION ELIMINATION PROGRAMS.
THEY'VE ALSO TRIED TO ENACT
SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S
PRIORITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, $3 BILLION FOR
RECONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS
DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM.
SO, NUMBER OF PIECES THAT YOU
HAVE SEEN THE PRESIDENT ALSO
HIGHLIGHT IN HIS AMERICAN JOBS
PLAN, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE
HOUSE AND BEST ACT.
JUST GOING BACK AGAIN ON THE
SENATE SIDE JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A
COUPLE ITEMS THAT WERE INCLUDED.
GIVEN THAT THE BILL WAS
BIPARTISAN, I THINK ONE OF THE
REALLY IMPRESSIVE THINGS IS
THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A
NUMBER OF CLIMATE PROVISIONS
INTO THAT BILL.
SO AGAIN, A $6.4 BILLION PROGRAM
, FORMULA PROGRAM TO REDUCE
TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS.
A NEW $250 MILLION CONFECTION
RELIEF COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.
EV CHARGING.
THAT HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
FOR SENATE COMMERCE, SOME
REALLY EXCITING THINGS
INCLUDING $1 BILLION TO
IMPLEMENT VISION ZERO SAFETY
PLANS, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING.
$1.5 BILLION PER YEAR TO
ACTUALLY AUTHORIZE THE, IT'S
NOW CALLED THE RACE PROGRAM,
BUT IT WAS THE BUILD PROGRAM,
AND BEFORE THAT THE TIGER
PROGRAM.
THAT PROGRAM HAS ACTUALLY NEVER
FORMALLY BEEN AUTHORIZED, IT'S
ALWAYS BEEN THROUGH
APPROPRIATIONS.
IT REALLY CREATES A PERMANENT
PLACE FOR IT.
THEN, JUST MOVING ON TO
APPROPRIATIONS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW AND AS WE
TALKED ABOUT, THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME THAT THE HOUSE HAD TRIED
TO REINSTATE EARMARKS.
SO, THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW IS IN
THE MIDDLE OF MARKING UP THEIR
BILLS.
OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE
ADVANCING, AND THAT THE
COMMITTEE ACCEPTED, WE HAVE
$766,000 FOR A HEALTHONE
EXPANSION PROGRAM AND THEN
$400,000 FOR A RENEWABLE ENERGY
HOME HEATING CONVERSION PROGRAM.
THE SENATE IS FURTHER BEHIND.
THEIR PROCESS HAS BEEN EVEN
MORE CONVOLUTED THAN THE
HOUSE'S.
THEY HAVE NOT EVEN ANNOUNCED
THEIR MARKUP SCHEDULE AT THIS
POINT.
UNCLEAR ALSO NOW WITH THE
INFRASTRUCTURE HAPPENING, HOW
THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE
SENATE AND THEIR MARKUP PROCESS.
THEY ARE UNDOUBTEDLY GOING TO
NEED TO DO ANOTHER CONTINUING
RESOLUTION AS THE FISCAL YEAR
EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30th.
I THINK THE ONE TO FLIGHT THAT
IS A POTENTIAL LIGHTNING ROD
SOME OF US ARE WAITING ON HERE
IN DC IS THE DEBT CEILING
EXPIRES IN EARLY AUGUST.
AS YOU ALL MAY RECALL FROM A
DECADE AGO, IT WAS A FIGHT OVER
THE DEBT CEILING THAT GOT US TO
SEQUESTRATION.
I'M NOT SAYING WE ARE GOING TO
SEE THERE AGAIN, BUT THE DEBT
CEILING SEEM TO BE A
CONTROVERSIAL HARD VOTE.
GIVEN ALL THAT IS LOOMING IN
THE BACKGROUND I THINK EVERYONE
SEES THAT AS ONE POTENTIAL
ACTION MECHANISM TO BRING
PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO CONTINUE
NEGOTIATION.
THE DEBT CEILING WILL BE ABLE
TO BE ATTACHED TO SOMETHING TO
MOVE FORWARD.
I LIKE HIM I JUST WANT TO
MENTION ON IMMIGRATION POLICY,
OBVIOUSLY THE PRESIDENT HAS
MADE DACA A HUGE PRIORITY.
WITH DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES IN
THE HOUSE AND SENATE, I THINK
EVERYONE IS ANXIOUS TO TRY TO
GET SOMETHING DONE ON
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
EVERYONE IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT
THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN WILL
RULE ON IMMIGRATION AND WHETHER
OR NOT THERE ARE ASPECTS OF
IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY GO ON A
RECONCILIATION BILL.
IN THE MEANTIME, OF COURSE, THE
HOUSE HAS ALREADY TAKEN UP THE
AMERICAN DREAM OF PROMISE ACT.
THE MODERNIZATION ACT.
YOU'RE NOW SEEING THE SENATE
JUDICIARY HEARING ON THESE BILLS
AND HIM AND TO TAKE ACTION ON
THESE BILLS AS WELL.
PART OF THAT IS VERY MUCH ABOUT
OF COURSE THE ISSUE OF TRYING
TO GET IMMIGRATION REFORM
THROUGH.
IT ALSO KIND OF HELPS TO LAY
THE FOUNDATION FOR WIFE THE
SENATE NEEDS TO GET RID OF THE
FILIBUSTER BECAUSE IT'S GOING
TO BE VERY HARD TO GET THESE
BILLS THROUGH.
SO, KIND OF A TWO PRONGED
STRATEGY THERE IN TRYING TO
PUSH THE THROUGH THE SENATE.
YOU ARE SEEING THE SAME THING
OF COURSE ON VOTING RIGHTS AND
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT.
WE ARE WATCHING THESE THINGS
REALLY CLOSELY AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO STOP THERE BECAUSE
I FEEL LIKE I'VE THROWN A LOT
OUT.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT
ALL AND SIERRA PLEASE JUMP IN
IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WANTED
TO MENTION THAT I HAVE LEFT
OUT.
>> OKAY.
THANKS, LESLIE.
THAT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SOME GOOD NEWS, SOME NOT SO
GREAT NEWS.
BUT, LOOKING FOR ANY HANDS
RAISED. FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE
QUESTIONS.
I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN DOES HAVE HIS HAND
RAISED.
IF OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE
QUESTIONS, PLEASE DON'T
HESITATE TO RAISE YOUR HAND.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
AND LESLIE FOR HER EXPERTISE
THERE ON THE GROUND IN DC.
BECAUSE IT IS VERY CONVOLUTED
PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH
AND IT IS MADE EVEN MORE
CONVOLUTED WITH THE THIN MARGIN.
ONE EXTRA VOTE IN THE U.S.
SENATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS
UPDATE.
WE REALIZE IT IS FLUID AND
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN
BE HELPFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
LESLIE, JUST SORT OF A 30,000
FOOT LEVEL QUESTION ON SOME OF
THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
I SEE THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC
PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE THAT HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AND EARMARKED FOR
RECEIVING FEDERAL DOLLARS.
IN ALL OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES
IN WHICH THERE ISN'T EARMARKING,
BUT JUST CATEGORIES OF
INVESTMENTS, I JUST WANT TO GET
ASSURANCE FROM YOU THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CAN EXPECT TO
RECEIVE DIRECT GRANTS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW
MUCH THAT IS, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT TO KNOW NOW.
I JUST WANT TO GET THE
ASSURANCE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING
TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A STATE
GRANTING PROCESS FOR ANY OF
THESE DOLLARS.
>> SO, I THINK IT DEPENDS.
CANDIDLY IT'S GOING TO DEPEND
ON SOME OF THE FUNDING SOURCES.
SOME OF THEM WILL COME OUT
THROUGH FORMULA.
SOME OF THEM WILL BE THINGS,
PARTICULARLY ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL, THAT YOU
WILL WORK WITH PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL.
SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE
COMPETITIVE.
SOME OF THEM WILL BE
COMPETITIVE GRANTS THAT THE
CITY WILL APPLY FOR DIRECTLY TO
U.S. D.O.T.
IT IS A WIDE VARIETY.
I WOULD SAY THE ONE PIECE JUST
IN TERMS OF MANAGING
EXPECTATIONS THAT I HAVE NOT
HEARD ON THE TABLE, AND DON'T
ANTICIPATE BEING ON THE TABLE
IS POINT.
IT WAS SO HARD TO GET OVER THE
FINISH LINE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL SEE
ANOTHER ROUND OF DIRECT FUNDING
THE WAY THAT WE DID IN THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
YOU ARE ALREADY SEEING
REPUBLICANS TRYING TO MAKE THE
MOVE TO CLAWBACK SOME OF THOSE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I HAVEN'T
SEEN ANYTHING THAT SAYS HERE IS
GOING TO BE THIS DIRECT
ALLOCATION TO THE CITY.
THE WAY THAT WE SAW WITH THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE AMPLE
OPPORTUNITIES HOWEVER FOR THE
CITY TO COMPETE FOR GRANTS, AND
I WOULD ANTICIPATE, GIVEN ALL
THE CITY IS DOING, AROUND
EQUITY, AROUND CLIMATE, THAT WE
WILL BE INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE.
FOR THESE GRANTS.
THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMPETE
VERY, VERY WELL.
>> OKAY.
THAT IS HELPFUL.
INFORMATION.
AS YOU ALL CONTINUE TO
UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT SORT OF
THE PROCESS ASPECTS OF THIS,
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US.
I THINK WE WERE ANTICIPATING
THAT IT WOULD FOLLOW SUIT WITH
THE MODEL RELATED TO THE ARPA
DOLLARS.
SO, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT AS THOUGH
DETAILS BEGIN TO SOLIDIFY, SO I
APPRECIATE THAT, LESLIE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS?
SCANNING THE ROOM HERE.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ON THIS PORTION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
I'LL JUST JUMP INTO SAY WE WILL
BE BACK PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER
TO DO ANOTHER UPDATE FOR Y'ALL.
IN THE INTERIM AS THINGS
PROGRESS AS YOU SAID, WE'LL
DEFINITELY KEEP YOU UPDATED IF
YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.
WE'LL DO THAT.
TO YOUR FUNDING QUESTION AS
WELL, I KNOW THE OIR IS DOING A
LOT OF WORK RIGHT NOW ON
SOLIDIFYING AND STRENGTHENING
OUR GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS
AND HOW THE CITY IS APPLYING
FOR GRANTS AND BEINGS
COMPETITIVE FOR GRANTS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE
FOCUSING ON TOO, JUST KNOWING
THE NEW CLIMATE OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION AND THE INCREASED
FUNDING ACCESSIBILITY THAT
EXISTS.
SO, SOMETHING THAT IS ON OUR
RADAR.
>> THAT'S GREAT, GOOD TO KNOW,
GOOD TO KNOW.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES?
ALL RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION, RIGHT QUESTION
MARK
>> CORRECT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LESLIE
FOR MAKING TIME TO DIAL IN
TODAY, YOU TOO SIERRA.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON AND I'M SURE
FOLKS WILL CONTACT YOU WITH ANY
CONTACT FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO A
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS, COUNCILS AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
THE REGULAR ROLL CALL ROTATION
BEGINS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOLLOWED BY PEDERSEN,
SAWANT, STRAUSS, HERBOLD, --
THEN, I WILL CONCLUDE THIS
AGENDA DISCUSSION.
I DID RECEIVE A NOTE FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES THAT
UNFORTUNATELY SHE HAS AN EARLY
END TIME FOR COUNCIL BRIEFING
DUE TO ANOTHER COMMITMENT, SO
SHE HAS ASKED IF SHE COULD GO
FIRST.
I HAVE CHECKED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WHO HAS
AGREED TO THAT SLIGHT
RESHUFFLING OF THE ORDER.
SO WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FIRST AND
THEN MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN,
SAWANT, STRAUSS, HERBOLD,
JUAREZ, LEWIS, AND THEN I WILL
GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE THIS
PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
SO, THANKS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR YOUR COOPERATION
AND TAKE IT AWAY, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR LETTING ME JUMP IN
HERE.
I WANT TO BEGIN THIS MORNING BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAD
SEVERAL DROWNINGS IN LAKE
WASHINGTON THIS WEEKEND.
THIS RECORD-BREAKING HEAT,
COUPLED WITH THE STILL VERY
FRIGID WATERS MAKE THIS A
REALLY DANGEROUS TIME IN OUR
WATERWAYS.
SO, I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE
PUBLIC TO LEARN AND FOLLOW
WATER SAFETY GUIDELINES.
WEAR A LIFE JACKET.
IF YOU'RE ON A BOAT OR
PADDLEBOARD, TRY TO LIMIT YOUR
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
REMEMBER THAT COLDWATER SHOCK
REALLY LEADS TO PANICKED
BREATHING.
SO, IT IT'S GOOD TO TRY TO
STEADY YOUR BREATHING SO THAT
YOU CAN KEEP A COOL HEAD AND
TRY TO GET TO SAFETY.
I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE
SITUATION ON LAKE WASHINGTON IN
PARTICULAR LATER, BUT I DO WANT
TO JUST REMIND FOLKS THAT THE
WATER IS TO REALLY COLD.
YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL AS YOU
ARE OUT THERE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY'S
AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS NOT UNTIL
TODAY, JULY 20th.
I THINK WE MIGHT BE DONE WITH
APPOINTMENTS, BUT WE'LL SEE.
ANYWAY, THE MEETING FOR THAT
COMMITTEE IS IN A COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
ON FRIDAY, I MET WITH NEIGHBORS
IN THE ART SPACE MT. BAKER
LOFTS.
I'VE BEEN MEETING THEM AS YOU
ALL KNOW FOR THE BETTER PART OF
A YEAR.
COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUES IN THE
AREA.
THESE NEIGHBORS CONVENED A
MEETING ON FRIDAY WITH SOUND
TRANSIT, SDOT, WITH HOMELESS
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
ALONG WITH MYSELF, THE
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE, AND A STATE
SENATOR WHO REPRESENTS SOUTH
END, 37th.
NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE CITY, WE
BEEN HEARING FROM FOLKS THAT
THEY REALLY WANT THEIR ELECTED
OFFICIALS WORKING TOGETHER TO
ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE FACING.
SO, IN THE WAKE OF A SHOOTING
THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK AT THE
MT. BAKER LIGHT RAIL STATION,
AS WELL AS THE ARSON AT THE
NEARBY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT THAT
RESULTED IN TWO OF OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS LOSING THEIR LIVES.
AND THE CALLS WE HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING FROM NEIGHBORS IN
GEORGETOWN, THE CID, BEACON
HILL, PIONEER SQUARE, STATE
SENATOR AND I ARE PLANNING A
FOLLOW-UP COMMUNITY FORUM.
TO IDENTIFY SOME SHORT AND
MEDIUM-TERM ACTION STEPS THAT
WE CAN ALL, AS ELECTEDS, WORK
ON TOGETHER TO TRY TO MOVE
FORWARD AND REALLY ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN
HEARING ABOUT FROM OUR
NEIGHBORS.
SO, WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED
ONCE THAT IS SET.
ON A RELATED NOTE, THERE WERE
SEVERAL SHOOTINGS IN THE SOUTH
END LAST WEEK.
I ATTENDED A RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE TOWNHALL THAT SOME OF
OUR RANIER BEACH NEIGHBORS HAD
ON THURSDAY EVENING.
WE HEARD REALLY CLEARLY FROM
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT THEY WANT MORE INVESTMENT
IN YOUNG PEOPLE.
THEY WANT INVESTMENT IN THEIR
ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE CONFLICT
AND IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER
THAT KIND OF SUPPORT.
SO, MY OFFICE WILL BE MEETING
WITH COMMUNITY-BASED FIRST
RESPONDERS TO DISCUSS WHAT A
FIRST RESPONSE PROTOCOL AND
COORDINATION COULD LOOK LIKE FOR
MAKING THAT SORT OF TRANSITION
TO COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS.
FOR THE LAST YEAR MY OFFICE HAS
ALSO BEEN MEETING WITH
CONSTITUENTS THAT LIVE AROUND
ANDREWS BAY IN LAKE WASHINGTON,
AND THOSE WHO LIKE TO BOAT IN
THE BAY.
AS I MENTIONED THE DROWNINGS
THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND,
THOSE ARE TRAGEDIES THAT ARE
HAPPENING EVERY SUMMER, AND
HAPPENED TOO FREQUENTLY.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS
ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT THESE
TRAGEDIES.
SOME FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN
INCREASE IN HARBOR PATROL TO
PROHIBIT -- AND SOME WOULD LIKE
TO SEE US PROHIBIT BOATS ALL
TOGETHER THE WAY THEY DID AT
ONE THE BAY UP IN COKE WHEN.
THIS WEEKEND I JOINED THE
RECREATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS
THEY WERE ASKING BOATERS ABOUT
THIS ISSUE.
THE ASSOCIATION IS ASKING
BOATERS TO PLEDGE TO BOAT
RESPONSIBLY BY REFRAINING FROM
EXCESSIVE DRINKING AND NOISE.
AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY
ARE ANCHORING IN A NATURAL
HABITAT FOR TURTLES AND EAGLES
AND BEAVERS AND THERE WAS EVEN
A COUGAR RECENTLY.
SO, THE ASSOCIATION HAS ASKED
MY OFFICE TO EXPLORE INCREASING
THE VISIBILITY AND THE NUMBER
OF BUOYS IN THE WATER, AS WELL
AS DECREASING SPEED AND
INCREASING THE SIGNAGE ABOUT
THE NOISE ORDINANCE THAT EXISTS
HERE.
THEY ARE REALLY HOPING THAT
THESE MEASURES WILL MITIGATE
ISSUES AND PREVENT A BAN ON
BOATING IN ANDREWS BAY.
OR, ANCHORING IN ANDREWS BAY I
SHOULD SAY.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL A
HEADS UP.
THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN
GOING ON, AS I SAID SINCE LAST
SUMMER, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST ADDRESS
THE ISSUE.
ON SATURDAY AND THAT WITH AN
AMAZING GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE
IN RANIER BEACH AS THEY
COMPLETED A MURAL AS PART OF
THE RESTORATION PROJECT.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT LAST YEAR
COUNCIL APPROVED $250,000 IN
THE BUDGET TO SUPPORT BRINGING
BEACH BACK TO RANIER BEACH.
OUR SEED FUNDING LED TO AN
ADDITIONAL $750,000 IN GRANTS.
A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM A
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUND FROM THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON AND WAS
APPROVED IN THE ANNUAL CAPITAL
BUDGETS PROJECT.
THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY ALL THE
37 DISTRICTS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
A SENATOR IN SEVERAL
REPRESENTATIVES.
SO, THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE AND
DESPITE THE HEAT, WE HAD A
DOZEN OR SO YOUNG PEOPLE OUT
FINISHING THE MURAL,
CELEBRATING THEIR WORK WITH
GREAT FOOD AND MUSICAL
PERFORMANCES.
REALLY A VERY GRATEFUL
COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO CELEBRATE THEM AGAIN,
AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
BECAUSE THEY OFFER THE SUPPORT
OF THE CELEBRATION WITH HELPING
FUND OR I THINK COMPLETELY
FUNDING THE ENTERTAINMENT AND
THE FOOD.
FOLKS WERE SWEATY AND REALLY
ENJOYING THEMSELVES OUT THERE.
THEN, FINALLY, ALONG WITH
SEVERAL COLLEAGUES, I WAS HAPPY
TO JOIN THE GRAND OPENING OF
THE AIDS MEMORIAL PATHWAY
PROJECT AT THE LIGHT RAIL
STATION AND CAL ANDERSON PARK.
SEE THE ART INSTALLATIONS THAT
ARE THERE.
IT WAS A REALLY MOVING
CELEBRATION AND AN IMPORTANT
REMINDER THAT DURING THE AIDS
PANDEMIC, OUR GOVERNMENT
IGNORED THE DISEASE FOR ALMOST
2 DECADES.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT
HAS BEEN HAPPENING, AND REALLY
IT WAS FOR ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REFLECT ON HOW GRATEFUL I AM
THAT MY FRIENDS WHO ARE LIVING
WITH AIDS NOW HAVE LIFE-SAVING
MEDICATION.
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO LIVE A
NORMAL LIFE, AND REALLY
CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
SO, THAT IS ALL I HAVE
COLLEAGUES.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
LETTING ME HOP IN AND THANKS TO
OUR FEDERAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS TEAM FOR WHAT THEY
DID THIS MORNING.
GLAD TO SEE THE GEORGETOWN TO
SOUTH PARK TRAIL IN THEIR ALONG
WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANKS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' COMMENTS
AROUND INCREASED VIOLENT CRIMES
IN OUR COMMUNITY JUST REMINDED
ME THAT I WANTED TO GIVE FOLKS
A REAL QUICK UPDATE ON HSD'S
RFP PROCESS WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN
WORKING HARD TO FIND WAYS TO
EXPEDITE GETTING THE DOLLARS
OUT THE DOOR.
THEY ARE PLANNING ON HAVING
CONTRACTS START JULY 15th.
I THINK IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE
TO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE
NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT THEY
RECEIVED WAS SO MUCH GREATER
THAN THE FUNDING AVAILABLE.
THIS IS A $10.4 MILLION CAPACITY
VOTING RFP FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY
PROJECTS.
THE RFP RECEIVED OVER 70
APPLICATIONS, REQUESTING MORE
THAN THREE TIMES THE ALLOCATED
$10.4 MILLION.
AGAIN, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A
CONTRACT START DATE OF JULY
15th.
AS I MENTIONED, HSD HAS DONE A
NUMBER OF THINGS TO EXPEDITE A
CONTRACT PROCESS.
BOTH BY CONTACTING APPLICANTS
UPON ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARDS,
COMPLETING ALL THE PRE-WORK OF
SCREENING APPLICANTS WITH
DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO START
CONTRACTS.
IN THE FRONT OF THE PROCESS,
COMPLETING CONTRACT TEMPLATES
IN FRONT OF THE PROCESS.
ALSO HIRING ADDITIONAL
TEMPORARY STAFF TO EXPEDITE THE
CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT AND
COMMUNITY-BASED RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING.
THE STAFF OF COURSE WILL BE
PART OF THE SAFE AND THRIVING
COMMUNITIES POSITION.
I JUST LIT THIS UP BECAUSE OF --
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT
HSD IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE NEED
TO GET THESE FUNDS OUT THE DOOR
TO SUPPORT THE IMPORTANT
COMMUNITY-BASED COMMUNITY
SAFETY WORK THAT IS BEING DONE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THANKS.
>> THANKS FOR THAT REMINDER OF
THOSE ADDITIONAL DETAILS,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
>>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
HANDS RAISED.
AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR LETTING ME KNOW YOU
NEEDED TO GO A LITTLE EARLIER.
I UNDERSTAND YOU WILL BE
LEAVING AT 11:00 A.M.
, BUT HANGING ON UNTIL THEN.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES I
HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE,
HYDRATED AND COOL.
IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND
ESPECIALLY TODAY, FOR OUR
FRIENDS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS
ONLINE, THERE IS A NUMBER OF
COOLING SITES AS WELL THAT WE
ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE IN
THE CITY HAS SHARED.
I DO HOPE FOLKS ARE ABLE TO
ACCESS THOSE VARIOUS SITES
TODAY AS WE SEEK TO GET THROUGH
THIS HEAT WAVE HERE.
IT HAS BEEN FUELED BY GLOBAL
WARMING.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE TALKING
ABOUT TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION
FROM THAT FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING ON TODAY'S --
EXCUSE ME ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR FROM
TODAY.
THERE'S THE SOUTH PARK TRANSFER
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND A COVID
EXTENSION LEGISLATION.
THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY SOME
IMPORTANT WORK BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.
WILL HAVE TWO PIECES IN THE
UPCOMING LANDS.
THIS FIRST ONE IS COVID
SPECIFIC EXTENSION LEGISLATION
THAT WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD
THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE.
MORE FOLLOW-UP WORK TO COME
LATER THIS SUMMER.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS ON THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
FOR TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
BUT, I WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD
A PROCLAMATION IN CONJUNCTION
WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
TO HONOR SOMEONE.
HE DID PASS AWAY ON JUNE 20th
AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER.
HE HAS SPENT HIS LIFE BATTLING
AGAINST CORPORATE GREED AND
MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS HAVE
THEIR RIGHTS AND DIGNITY IN ALL
WORKPLACES.
HE IS THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF
UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL
WORKERS LOCAL 21 HE SPENT HIS
LIFE FIGHTING ALONGSIDE WORKERS
TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS,
COMMUNITIES, AND THE LIVES OF
WORKERS IN SEATTLE AND
WASHINGTON STATE.'S LEADERSHIP
TRULY WENT EVEN BEYOND THE
UNIONS THAT HE HELPED TO
FORM.'S LEADERSHIP FOR $15 FOR
MINIMUM WAGE SET THE NATIONAL
STAGE AND HE HELPED SET THE
STANDARD FOR RACIAL RECKONING
IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE HONORED TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE HIS FAMILY
MEMBERS IN OUR FULL COUNCIL
MEETING TODAY TO RECEIVE THE
PROCLAMATION ALONG WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS FROM THE LOCAL 21 THAT
PROCLAMATION DID GET SENT OUT
ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
EXCUSE ME MIDDAY ON FRIDAY.
I HOPE THAT FOLKS HAVE HAD A
CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT MAYBE I WILL
PAUSE HERE FOR ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
BRINGING THAT FORWARD SO
QUICKLY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH YOU
ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
PROCLAMATION.
I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER SWAN
HAS HER HAND RAISED.
>> I AM OF COURSE GOING TO BE
ADDING MY SIGNATURE TO THIS
PROCLAMATION HONORING THE LIFE
AND LEGACY OF BROTHER DAVE
SCHMITZ.
I WANTED TO OFFER HEARTFELT
CONDOLENCES FROM MY OFFICE AND
FROM SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE TO
HIS LONGTIME PARTNER AND WIFE.
HIS FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.
AND UNION MEMBERS EVERYWHERE
WHO WERE IMPACTED BY HIS LIFE.
THIS IS A LOSS FOR THE WHOLE
LABOR MOVEMENT.
I WANTED TO MENTION THE
IMPORTANT ROLE DAVE PLAYED IN
MILITANT JOB ACTIONS IN 1990s.
FIRST WITH JOBS WITH JUSTICE
AND THEN DURING THE 1999
PROTESTS.
DAVE WAS A PART OF AND INDEED A
LEADER IN THE IMPORTANT WORK OF
BUILDING A MORE MILITANT LABOR
MOVEMENT IN SEATTLE DURING THAT
PERIOD.
HE PARTICIPATED IN ORGANIZING
DIRECT ACTIONS INCLUDING
BUILDING OCCUPATIONS, SITS
DOWN'S AND BOSS'S OFFICE AND
OTHER FORMS OF CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE.
AT A WTO PROTEST, AS MANY KNOW,
DUBBED THE BATTLE IN SEATTLE,
DAVE LED UFC W AND OTHER UNION
MEMBERS IN TAKING THE STREETS
ALONGSIDE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PROTESTERS.
I WASN'T THERE MYSELF BECAUSE I
WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA AT THIS
TIME BUT THIS IS BASED ON
ACCOUNTS FROM LABOR ACTIVISTS
WHO WERE.
THAT INCLUDES JONATHAN
ROSENBERG WAS A RANK-AND-FILE
MEMBER AND WORKS IN MY OFFICE.
HAVE TO THE BIG LABOR AND
COMMUNITY MARCH OF TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, MANY MAY
RECALL SEATTLE MAYOR GREG
NICKELS TRIED TO SHUT DOWN THE
MASS MOVEMENT BY OUTLAWING ALL
PROTESTS DOWNTOWN.
THE MOVEMENT HAD TO DECIDE IN
THE MOMENT WHETHER TO YIELD IN
THE FACE OF MASSIVE STATE
BRUTALITY AND STATE OPPRESSION
OR TO CHALLENGE THIS OUTRAGE.
THERE WAS A SHARP DEBATE WITHIN
THE MOVEMENT AND DAVE WAS ONE
OF THE LABOR ACTIVISTS WHO
ARGUED THAT THE MOVEMENT NEEDED
TO TAKE TO THE STREETS TO CLAIM
OUR RIGHTS AND TO PROTEST THE
ARREST AND JAILING OF HUNDREDS
OF PEACE PROTESTERS.
IN THE END, THE DECISION WAS
MADE TO STAGE A LARGE MUCH FROM
DOWNTOWN, DEFYING THE MAYOR,
THE POLICE, AND THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT IN DECLARING THIS
IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.
DAVE MOBILIZED AND LED A HUGE
UFCW CONTINGENT THAT WAS PART
OF A 6000 PERSON MARCH THROUGH
DOWNTOWN WHICH SET THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND THE
POLICE ON THEIR HEELS.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE
SUCCESSFUL MARCH, HUNDREDS OF
UNION MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS STAGED AN OCCUPATION
OUTSIDE THE KING COUNTY JAIL
AND STAY THERE ILLEGALLY UNDER
THE MAYOR'S ORDER.
IT WAS LEGAL UNDER THE MAYOR'S
ORDER I MEAN AND TELL ALL THE
PROTESTERS WERE RELEASED THAT
WEEKEND.
I RECALL DAVE'S VITAL EARLY
CONDITIONS BECAUSE WE NEED A
REVIVAL OF THAT KIND OF
MILITANT STRUGGLE INSIDE THE
LABOR MOVEMENT.
I'M REMINDED OF THAT AS I THINK
ABOUT DAVE'S LEGACY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE
CALL THE ROLL?
OF COURSE THERE WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS
THIS AFTERNOON DURING THE
PRESENTATION.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOLKS
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL THE
ROLL.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY MORE
QUESTIONS.
OR COMMENTS.
SO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION HONORING DAVE
SCHMITZ.
>> MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> THAT'S A COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR SHE
LEAVES TODAY AT 11:00 OR DURING
TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL JUST TO
MAKE SURE SHE HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD HER
SIGNATURE IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO.
OKAY.
BACK TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR
THAT.
I KNOW THAT THE UFCW FAMILY AND
DAVE SCHMITZ'S FAMILY IS GOING
TO BE VERY APPRECIATIVE AND
LOOKS FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO
HONOR HIS LIFE AND ALL THAT
HE'S ACCOMPLISHED THIS
AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU ALL FOR SIGNING ON.
A FEW UPDATES.
>> I'M SY.
I'M SO SORRY.
CAN I PLEASE ADD MY NAME TOO
PLEASE?
>> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
09 COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ADDED
THEIR SIGNATURE TO THE
PROCLAMATION HONORING DAVE
SCHMITZ, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS AS WELL.
IN TERMS OF UPDATES, I WANTED
TO PROVIDE A FEW UPDATES FROM
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
AS FOLK MAY HAVE HEARD THERE
WAS BREAKING NEWS LAST WEEK.
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
ANNOUNCED A $3.4 MILLION
SETTLEMENT WITH UBER UNDER
SEATTLE'S GIG WORKER PAID SICK
AND WORKTIME ORDINANCE.
15,000 WORKERS.
DURING THE INVESTIGATION, AND
AFTER ITS CONCLUSION, UBER
VOLUNTARILY CORRECTED THE ISSUES
THAT WERE LARGELY DUE TO
TECHNICAL SOFTWARE GLITCHES
THEY SAY THAT IMPACTED WORKERS'
ACCESS TO PAID SICK AND SAFE
TIME.
THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND
INADVERTENT CANCELLATIONS OF
REQUESTS.
THIS IS THE LARGEST SETTLEMENT
IN OLS' HISTORY.
I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF US WHO WERE
ON COUNCE AT THE TIME, MYSELF,
GONZALEZ, NUMBER OF OTHER
FOLKS, WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WORKED
ON STRENGTHENING OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS' FUNDING FOR
THEIR INVESTIGATION OVER THE
PAST FOUR YEARS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE
BOUGHT FOR TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE
WE KNOW HOW FEW INVESTIGATORS
THERE ARE AT THE STATE LEVEL
FOR WORKPLACE VIOLATIONS AT THE
STATE LEVEL.
EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO
HAVE PERSONNEL AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO INDIVIDUAL
INVESTIGATIONS AND COMPANYWIDE
INVESTIGATIONS.
INFECT SECTOR WIDE, DIRECTOR
INITIATED INVESTIGATIONS ARE
REALLY CRITICAL.
BECAUSE IT IS OFTEN WORKERS,
WORKERS OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE WORKERS, WOMEN WORKERS,
WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO
EXPERIENCE WORKPLACE VIOLATIONS.
IN THIS CASE, DRIVERS FOR UBER
ARE OFTEN IMMIGRANT WORKERS WHO
MAY SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECOND
LANGUAGE AS WELL.
MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE
SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE
INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS THAT
GET BROUGHT FORWARD IN THEIR
INDUSTRY IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT.
THE FACT THAT $3.4 MILLION IS
NOW ON THE KITCHEN TABLE OF THE
WORKERS MEANS THAT IS NOT --
MEANS THAT IT IS CIRCULATING IN
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
IT IS HELPING TO FEED AND
CLOTHE FOLKS, IT'S HELPING TO
HOUSE AND CARE FOR PEOPLE.
THIS IS DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE
OTHERWISE GONE TO THE COMPANY
ITSELF.
WHATEVER THE SORT OF
JUSTIFICATION IS FOR HOW IT GOT
OUT TO FOLKS, THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE THIS LAW ON THE BOOKS, IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WORKED ON
IN THE LAST PANDEMIC TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING
FOLKS TO GROCERY STORES AND
DRIVING THEM TO MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS IN THIS TIME OF
THE PANDEMIC THAT THEY HAVE
SICKLY PROTECTIONS AS WELL WAS
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL BE
VERY PROUD OF BECAUSE IT WAS A
NATIONAL STANDARD THAT GOT
UPHELD.
NOW, WHEN WE PASS LAWS OUR
EXPECTATION IS THAT THOSE LAWS
WILL BE ADHERED TO.
WHEN THEY ARE NOT, THERE WILL
BE PENALTIES.
THERE WERE PENALTIES AND
FREQUENT ISSUED TO WORKING
FAMILIES LAST WEEK.
IT MEANS THAT TYPE OF
SETTLEMENT WILL BE A WARNING TO
OTHER COMPANIES THAT THEY TOO
NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO
GLITCHES.
THAT THEY NEED TO BE MAKING
SURE THAT THEIR POLICIES AND
PRACTICES ARE IN LINE WITH THE
CITY ORDINANCE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE KNOW FROM
THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW
PROJECT THAT EVERY TIME THERE
IS A WORKPLACE VIOLATION THAT
IS PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC MORE
COMPANIES COME INTO COMPLIANCE
BECAUSE THEY TOO DON'T WANT TO
BE IN THE SAME SITUATION.
SUCK MY REALLY PROUD OF OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS FOR THIS
HISTORIC INVESTMENT.
I'M PROUD OF THIS COUNCIL AND I
WAS PROUD TO BE THE PRIME
SPONSOR ON THE LEGISLATION LAST
YEAR TO HELP US CREATE PAID
SICK AND SAFE LEAVE FOR THESE
GIG DRIVERS.
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
WORKERS WHO BROUGHT UP THESE
VIOLATIONS TO BEGIN WITH.
AGAIN, $2.4 MILLION.
A HISTORIC DAY.
I KNOW THAT I AND OTHERS HAVE
HAD THE CHANCE TO CONGRATULATE
WORKERS, MYSELF AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ HAD A CHANCE
TO CONGRATULATE WORKERS.
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THIS
NOTE OF CONGRATULATIONS
PUBLICLY TO THEM AS WELL IN THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
ADDITIONALLY, OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS RECENTLY POSTED THE
COMMUTER BENEFITS FACT SHEET ON
ITS WEBSITE.
YOU CAN FIND THAT IN MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS ORDINANCE ALSO ON THEIR
WEBSITE.
IN RELATED NEWS, OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS ANNOUNCED THAT
THE DRIVERS UNION
COLLABORATIVE, WHICH CONSISTS
OF THE DIAPERED UNION AND
TEAMSTERS IS THE RECIPIENT OF
$5 MILLION OF AWARDS TO PROVIDE
DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER
SERVICES FROM JULY FIRST 2021
THROUGH JULY 31st OF 2022.
DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER
SERVICE WILL INCLUDE CULTURALLY
AND LINGUISTICALLY RELEVANT
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ON LABOR
STANDARDS, RIGHTS, AS WELL AS
REPRESENTATION AND DEACTIVATION
OF DISPUTES AS OUTLINED IN THE
TMC DRIVER DEACTIVATION
ORDINANCE.
FOLKS WILL REMEMBER THIS IS
ALSO SOMETHING THAT WAS
NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED FOR THE
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, NOT ONLY
TO PASS LEGISLATION, BUT IT'S
BEING LED BY WORKERS AND WHAT
THEY HAVE POINTED OUT IS
IMPORTANT TO THEM BY MAKING
SURE THERE IS A PLACE FOR
WORKERS TO CONTINUALLY GO TO
RAISE ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND
GET RESOLUTION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DRIVERS
UNION AND TEAMSTERS 117.
FROM FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, WANTED TO LET YOU
KNOW THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING
COMMENTS ON THE SHORT-TERM
RENTAL PLATFORMS.
COMMENTS THAT WERE PROVIDED
DURING THE RECENT PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND HAVE ADVISED
SHORT-TERM RENTAL PLATFORMS
THAT THERE CURRENT RULES ARE
GOING TO REMAIN IN EFFECT.
ADDITIONALLY, THANKS TO THE
CONSUMER PROTECTIONS, CUSTOMER
SERVICE, AND OPERATIONAL STAFF,
THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PLATFORMS
ARE INCREASINGLY BLOCKING
LISTINGS WITHOUT VALID CITY
OPERATOR LICENSE.
ON ONE OF THE PLATFORMS, THE
NUMBER HAS DECLINED FROM OVER
800 UNLICENSED -- ON OPERATOR
LICENSED POSTINGS TO LESS THAN
150.
MORE WORK TO DO, BUT VERY
EXCITING.
WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THE
THINGS THAT ARE ON MY CALENDAR.
LAST WEEK WE DID HAVE THE
CHANCE TO ATTEND THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES ANNUAL CONCERTS.
MYSELF AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO A
PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL
CONFERENCE AND BOARD MEETING.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
PARTICIPATION THAT WE HAD A
MADE MEMBER STATE OF
WASHINGTON'S NEW LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM WHICH IS WITH WOMEN WHO
ARE INTERESTED IN PUBLIC POLICY
AND ADVOCACY.
EVERY YEAR I SPOKE TO THAT GROUP
HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON WOMEN'S CENTER.
I ATTENDED THE AIA CONFERENCE
ON BUILDING AN EQUITABLE 15
MINUTE CITY AND PARTICIPATION
WITH THE SOUTH SEATTLE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.
WE SIGNED THE ARPA LEGISLATION.
THERE WAS A GREAT PRESS
CONFERENCE WITH A NUMBER OF
COLLEAGUES THERE.
AS WE WATCHED THE MAYOR SIGN
THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE OVER
THE LAST TWO MONTHS INTO LAW.
I'M ALREADY GETTING MESSAGES
FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THANKING US FOR THE WORK WE'VE
DONE IN ASKING HOW THEY CAN
HELP -- HOW THEY CAN APPLY FOR
SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE SUPPORT
AND DIRECT CASH.
WORD IS GETTING OUT ABOUT THE
IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THAT.
LASTLY FOLK COME I WANTED TO
NOTE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY
EXCITING THAT'S COMING UP.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, WE ARE
EXCITED THAT THERE WILL BE A
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL FOR
LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE
FORTHCOMING LATER THIS SUMMER,
IN AUGUST.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WHO IS A
COSPONSOR WITH THIS, WE ARE
ANTICIPATING LEGISLATION THIS
FALL THAT COULD SEEK TO CHANGE
THE NAME OF ZONING TO BE MORE
INCLUSIVE IN THE PRELIMINARY
PROPOSAL HELPS TO MOVE OUR
ZONING TITLE TO BE IN LINE WITH
WHAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR
YEARS FROM THE SEATTLE PLANNING
COMMISSION.
THIS LEGISLATION CONSTITUTES A
TECHNICAL CHANGE OF PART OF THE
ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
ENGAGING IN OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS.
IT RECOGNIZES THAT THE TERM
SINGLE-FAMILY IS ACTUALLY A
MISNOMER.
IT'S A LEGACY THAT IS MORE
ROOTED IN OUR EXCLUSIONARY
ZONING POLICIES.
THE REALITY IS THAT SINGLE-
FAMILY OR DETACHED ONLY ZONING
DOESN'T REFLECT THE CURRENT
MAKEUP OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT HAVE DUPLEXES AND DRIVE
FLEXES AND ROWHOUSES AND
CONNECTED HOMES OF COURTYARDS.
MANY PLACES LIKE MY OLD
APARTMENT THAT I LIVED IN IN
QUEEN ANNE WAS A FOUR STORY
BROWNSTONE.
IT WOULD MEAN THAT IF THE
STRUCTURES WERE TAKEN DOWN, THE
ZONING CODE HAS CHANGED AND
SHRUNK OVER THE YEARS.
OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS IT HAS
MADE IT SO THE STRUCTURES WOULD
NO LONGER BE ABLE TO BE THERE,
AND ONLY A DETACHED SINGLE
STRUCTURE COULD BE THERE.
MANY CITIES ARE GOING THROUGH
SIMILAR EFFORTS TO CREATE
TITLES THAT ALLOW FOR MORE
INCLUSIVE ZONING TITLES THAT
CAN HELP MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF
STANDALONE ONLY HOUSING.
AND DETACHED ONLY HOUSING.
THIS LEGISLATION RESPONSE TO
THE SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSION
REQUEST SINCE 2017 TO CHANGE
THE NAME TO NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTIAL ZONING AS LAID OUT
IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL
REPORT.
A REQUEST HAS BEEN SENT AND
REITERATED BY THE PLANNING
COMMISSION AS WELL.
EVERY YEAR, AND HAS ALSO BEEN
CALLED FOR BY THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL IN OUR CONFERENCE A PLAN
DOCKETING RESOLUTION EVERY YEAR
SINCE 2018.
SO, HERE WE ARE IN 2021 AND
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
LISTEN TO THE WAYS IN WHICH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, OUR
PLANNING COMMISSION, THE -- THE
CONVERSATION AT LARGE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY HAS CONTINUED TO
EVOLVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES AND
DEPARTMENTS AND ROWHOUSES AND
COURTYARDS -- COURTYARD HOUSING
LIKE THE ONES I TALKED ABOUT
ALL CAN BE BOTH REPLICATED IN
DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR CITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE MORE
ACCESS TO SCHOOLS, SERVICES,
AND GROCERY STORES.
AND THAT WE CAN HAVE A ZONING
CODE THAT MORE ACCURATELY
REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF
HOUSING ACROSS OUR CITY.
MULTI GENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS,
INCLUSIVE HOUSING, AND
DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN
LIVE TOGETHER IN SEATTLE TO
HOPEFULLY CREATE A MORE LIVABLE
AND AFFORDABLE SEATTLE.
I'M EXCITED THAT WE ARE GOING
TO BE BUILDING OUT THE PLANNING
COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AND
RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORICALLY THE
PREVIOUS TERM HAS BEEN USED TO
FURTHER EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES
AND HAS ROOTS IN DISCRIMINATORY
POLICY.
SO, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
SHOW THAT LANGUAGE MATTERS.
WHILE THIS IS A TECHNICAL
CHANGE, IT COULD HELP LEAD TO A
ZONING DESIGNATION THAT IS MORE
EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE AND
ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE
DIVERSITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND OUR DIVERSE HOUSING
STRUCTURE WE HAVE AS WE SEEK TO
CREATE THE COMPANY HAS A PLAN
CHANGES IN 2023 IN ANTICIPATION
OF THE 2024 ACTIONS.
JUST A FEW NOTES ABOUT
PROCESSING, AGAIN THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE LAND USE
AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
THIS IS JUST A NOTIFICATION
TODAY FOR FUTURE LEGISLATION.
WE PUBLISHED A NOTIFICATION
TODAY FOR A 30 DAY NOTICE FOR A
NOTICE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT IS SET FOR JULY 28th IN
THE LAND USE A NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE.
THIS POLICY WILL ATTRACT THE
ANNUAL PROBABLY PLAN OVER THE
NEXT 2.5 MONTHS.
WE WILL BENEFICIALLY INTRODUCE
LEGISLATION IN EARLY AUGUST AND
THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC
HEARING AND DISCUSSION THE LAND-
USE COMMITTEE.
WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION IN
SEPTEMBER AS EXPECTED.
IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, OR
JANUARY OF 2022, WE WILL THEN
INTRODUCE LEGISLATION AMENDING
THE CODE TO REFLECT A POSSIBLE
NAME CHANGE.
IN ANTICIPATION OF BROADER
CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE
IN 2023 AND 2024.
WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THIS CAN BE
SENT TO MY OFFICE.
AARON HOUSES COLLECTING THOSE.
THANKS TO AARON FOR HER WORK ON
THIS. THEY CAN BE MAILED TO
CITY HALL AS WELL.
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE
PROPOSAL CAN ALSO BE SENT TO
206-615-1567.
THANKS AS WELL TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS' OFFICE AND CENTRAL
STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A
MUCH LONGER CONVERSATION AND IT
STARTS WITH A NOTICE OF A
PUBLIC HEARING TO COME IN 30
DAYS.
SO, EXCITED TO WORK WITH ALL OF
YOU, AND AGAIN THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND HIS
STAFFERS FOR THEIR WORK WITH US
AS WE SEEK TO HAVE A MORE
INCLUSIVE AND REFLECTIVE ZONING
LANGUAGE CHANGE POSSIBLY.
>> THANKS SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
>>> ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT SEEING
ANY HANDS RAISED.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE DOWN THE
LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COLLEAGUES.
REGARDING OUR CITY'S
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE, WE HAVE NO ITEMS ON
THIS AFTERNOONS FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
OUR COMMITTEE MEETS ON THE
FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS EACH
MONTH AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
BE WEDNESDAY, JULY 7th.
OUR COMMITTEE AGENDA ON JULY 7th
WILL INCLUDE OUR FINAL
DISCUSSION OF THE STRATEGIC
PLAN FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND
WE WILL VOTE ON THAT
CORRESPONDING RESOLUTION.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THE CITY
LIGHT REVIEW PANEL AND LEARN
MORE ABOUT WHY THEY FULLY
ENDORSE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT'S
STRATEGIC PLAN.
AS REPORTED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES
, AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER BY
OUR OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS, WE GOT GOOD NEWS FOR
SEATTLE FROM OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WITH THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AWARDING A GRANT
TO HELP OUR EFFORTS TO RESTORE
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
WHILE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS
LESS THAN OUR REQUEST, IT IS
REMARKABLE TO HAVE RECEIVED ANY
OF THESE COMPETITIVE FEDERAL
FUNDS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG AND TO
OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION,
BUT MOST I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR
OWN SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR SEIZING
THIS, AND ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO
COBBLE TOGETHER MONEY TO RESTORE
WEST SEATTLE HYBRID AND TO
STRENGTHEN THE LOWER BRIDGE
THAT HAS BEEN CARRYING MUCH OF
THE BURDEN.
SDOT SUBMITTED AN AWARD-WINNING
APPLICATION WHICH INCLUDED A
LETTER OF SUPPORT SIGNED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL.
THANKS TO ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES
HERE.
I'M HOPEFULLY SDOT WILL PUT
THIS $11 MILLION TO GOOD USE
FOR THE $107 MILLION
RESTORATION PROJECT WHICH
INCLUDES FUNDING FROM THE CITY,
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL,
THANKS TO OUR MEMBERS ON THAT.
AND FROM OTHER SOURCES, AND I'M
SURE COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD MAY
SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.
IF YOU WANT ANY INFORMATION ON
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S BLOG IS
BY FAR THE MOST THOROUGH.
QUICK NOTE FROM DISTRICT 4.
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON I VISITED
WITH THE RESIDENTS OF MADISON
PARK.
IT'S HELPFUL TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
THANKS TO CITY GOVERNMENT
POLICIES AND FUNDING FROM ALL
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, WE OPENED
MADISON PARK TO BECOME HOME TO
MANY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.
WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE
NONPROFIT SOLID GROUNDS SEVERAL
YEARS AGO AND THE MORE RECENT
ELEVATION OF THE HISTORIC NAVAL
BARRACKS.
THERE ARE NOW 850 LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS WHO CALL THE PARK
HOME.
75% OF THOSE RESIDENTS IDENTIFY
AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS, OR PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
WHILE THE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT OWN AND
MANAGE THE BUILDINGS THERE ARE
RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE
TENANTS, THE CITY GOVERNMENT
THAT RUNS ALL OF THE PARK
SHARES AND THIS WAS POSSIBILITY
TO FILL ANY GAPS.
ALSO THE PARK'S POLICIES,
INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPACT THE
PARTS RESIDENTS.
THIS HEAT WAVE IS A STARK
REMINDER THAT OUR CLIMATE AND
ATTENTION STRATEGIES HAS A CITY
GOVERNMENT MUST ALWAYS BE
MINDFUL OF THE RESIDENTS, AS
WELL AS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE
CITY OF COURSE.
CITY HALL DID A QUICK AND
THOROUGH JOB THROUGHOUT SEATTLE
TO RESPOND TO REPORTS OF THE
HEAT WAVE.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO BOTH OF
THE NONPROFITS AND OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE FOR
RESIDENTS OVER THE WEEKEND I
REACHED OUT TO BOTH NONPROFITS
AS WELL AS CITY DEPARTMENTS TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS BEING AS
RESPONSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO THE
NEEDS OF THE LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS THERE.
SEVER OF THE BUILDINGS MADE
AVAILABLE COMMUNITY ROOMS THAT
ARE COOL.
I KNOW RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO
SEE MORE OF THOSE COMMON AREA
ROOMS (WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT
LEAST ONE CITY-OWNED BUILDING
SERVE AS A COOLING ROOM AS WELL.
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MORE
HELPFUL POLICY AS HOW TO COOL
INDIVIDUAL UNITS.
MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO URGE
EVERYONE ON THESE ISSUES.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
AND THE OTHER -- ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED.
SO, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE
DOWN THE LINE.
>>> NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
I WANTED TO START BY OFFERING
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVES IN MY
OFFICE'S DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO
THE RELATIVES AND LOVED ONES OF
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES
IN THE SHOCKING CONDO BUILDING
COLLAPSE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA.
I CAN IMAGINE THE EXTREME
ANXIETY BEING EXPERIENCED BY
THOSE WHO ARE STILL WAITING TO
FIND OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO
THEIR LOVED ONES AS WORKERS
PAINSTAKINGLY GO THROUGH THE
OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF WRECKAGE.
AS THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS,
SUCH A CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE OF
AN BUILDING IS RARE
INVESTIGATORS ARE STRUGGLING TO
SEE HOW IT COULD COME WAS SO
LITTLE URGENT WARNING.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS HAVE ONLY
BEGUN PIECING TOGETHER THE
EVIDENCE.
ONE THING IS THAT A FEW YEARS
AGO A CONSULTANT FOUND ALARMING
EVIDENCE OF MAJOR STRUCTURAL
DAMAGE.
MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE
CONCRETE SLAB BELOW THE POOL
DECK AND AGAIN ABUNDANT
CRACKING AND CRUMBLING OF THE
COLUMNS, BEAMS, AND WALLS OF
THE PARKING GARAGE UNDER THE
BUILDING.
SO, OF COURSE EVIDENCE IS GOING
TO BE FORTHCOMING IN THE COMING
WEEKS AND MONTHS.
I THINK THIS IS ALSO A REMINDER
OF HOW WE -- IT IS ACTUALLY
PART OF HIGH QUALITY
INFRASTRUCTURE.
ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF
BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT'S NOT
ONLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT
HUMAN LIVES THAT HAS BEEN LOST.
ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
THERE WILL BE THE CONFIRMATION
VOTES FOR SEVEN EXECUTIVE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
THE NEXT MEETING FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE WILL BE
SCHEDULED FOR A SPECIAL TIME.
I BELIEVE WE ARE COMING TO
THURSDAY, JULY 15th AT A TIME
THAT I THINK STILL HAS TO BE
DETERMINED.
I APOLOGIZE.
I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE FULLY
APPRISED AND WE HAVE A QUORUM.
WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE
TIME WORKS FOR ALL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING TO
SCHEDULE A SPECIAL TIME, BUT
THERE IS JUST SO MUCH WORK THAT
THE COMMITTEE HAS TO DO THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE
BUDGET.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY OPTIONS.
AT OUR SUSTAINABILITY AND
RENTERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK WE HEARD PRESENTATIONS
FROM CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
FROM THE NEXT TWO BILLS IN THE
RENTERS MOVEMENTS FIGHT FOR A
FULL BILL OF RIGHTS.
THE FIRST BILL REQUIRES
LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE SIX MONTHS
NOTICE FOR RENT INCREASES, AND
THE SECOND REQUIRES LANDLORDS
TO PROVIDE RELOCATION
ASISTANCE WHEN THEY DISPLACE
THEIR TENANTS WITH OUTRAGEOUS
RATE INCREASES.
A PROCESS THAT HAS BECOME KNOWN
AS ECONOMIC EVICTIONS.
I EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE
DISCUSSION AND THEN VOTES IN
COMMITTEE NEXT MONTH ON THESE
URGENTLY NEEDED BILLS.
THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE STRENGTH
AND FIGHTING APPROACH, RANK-AND-
FILE RENTERS, PROGRESSIVE
UNIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF
THE RENTERS' RIGHTS STRUGGLE IN
OUR CITY, TENANT ADVOCATES AND
SOCIALISTS HAD BEATEN BACK THE
CORPORATE LANDLORD LOBBYIST SO
FAR AS THEY HAVE TRIED TO
DEFEAT AND UNDERMINE EVERY
SINGLE VICTORY THAT RENTERS
HAVE WON.
WE HAVE HELPED A LIFELINE FOR
THOSE TO STAY HOW IT DURING
THIS PANDEMIC THOUGH OF COURSE
WE KNOW THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM
OVER.
WE KNOW THE CRISIS FOR RENTERS
IS DEEPENING, NOT LETTING UP.
THAT IS BECAUSE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS ARE WASTING NO TIME
IN JACKING UP RENTS IN 2021
SEATTLE LANDLORDS HAVE RAISED
RENTS AN AVERAGE OF 13.4%
BETWEEN JANUARY AND MAY, 2021,
ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY ANALYSTS.
THAT IS 2.5 TIMES THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE.
THE SAME REPORT BOASTED TWO
LANDLORD CLIENTS THAT QUOTE,
PANDEMIC PRICING IS OFFICIALLY
OVER AND 2021 HAS SEEN SOME OF
THE FASTEST RENT GROWTH ON
RECORD.
THESE SHOCKING 2021 RATE
INCREASES ARE PRECISELY WHAT WE
NEED TO BAN RATE INCREASES
WITHOUT SIX MONTHS NOTICE.
REQUIRE LANDLORDS TO PICK UP
THE COST OF THE TRAUMA AND
DISLOCATION BECAUSE WHEN THEY
EVICT TENANTS TO RATE
INCREASES, AND THAT IS ALSO
PRECISELY WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS A
STRONG RENT CONTROL POLICY
WITHOUT CORPORATE LOOPHOLES.
I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON
SEPTEMBER 13th AT 4:00 P.M.
AT CAL ANDERSON PARK MY OFFICE,
ALONGSIDE TENANT ADVOCATE
ORGANIZATIONS, PROGRESSIVE
UNIONS, AND MANY OTHER
ACTIVISTS, WILL BE ORGANIZING A
RALLY TO DEMAND SUCH A RENT
CONTROL POLICY.
MY OFFICE WILL BE INTRODUCING
THE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD
ENACT RENT CONTROL IN SEATTLE
AS SOON AS THE RESIDENTIAL RENT
CONTROL BAN.
MY COUNCIL OFFICE STAFF AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS,
HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING OUR RENT
CONTROL PETITION AT COMMUNITY
GATHERINGS.
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THE
RESPONSE IS OUTSTANDING.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, RENTERS ARE
FORCED, BUT NOT JUST RENTERS,
ARE OUTRAGED.
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGED
ABOUT WHAT THE PROPHET DURING
CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE DOING
IN SEATTLE.
THERE IS A MUCH BIGGER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHY WE NEED
RENT CONTROL THEM EVEN THREE
YEARS AGO.
THE PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
WITH OUR DEMANDING THAT THE
CITY ESTABLISHMENT ACT.
THEY ARE EXCITED TO SHARE ABOUT
THE PUSH FOR ROUSH CONTROL.
AND A FULL RENTERS' BILL OF
RIGHTS.
I WOULD URGE RENTAL MEMBERS TO
CALL MY OFFICE 206-684-8803.
I URGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT ON
SEPTEMBER 18th.
AT OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING
WE ALSO DISCUSSED WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS INVOLVED
IN THE STOP THE MONEY PIPELINE
CAMPAIGN TO FORCE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO STOP BACKING
FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.
TODAY'S DEADLY TEMPERATURE IN
THE WEEKEND AS WE HAVE SEEN,
ARE CLEARLY A SPECTER OF
CLIMATE DISASTER.
AND ILLUSTRATE THAT THE SHORT-
TERM PROFIT MOTOR THAT IS THE
OFFENSE OF GLOBAL PROPHET
CAPITALISM ON ITS MOST
FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL IS AN
EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO ALL OF
HUMANITY.
WHILE THE BILLIONAIRE CLASS CAN
BE FORCED TO TAKE SOME MEASURES
BOTH FOR THEIR PROFIT AND UNDER
PRESSURE FROM MASS RESISTANCE,
AND WE WILL SEE SOME OF THAT
HAPPENING, IT HAS BEEN AND WILL
BE, A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR
SHORT.
TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF AVERTING A
FULL ON CAPACITY, WE WILL NEED
THE INTERNATIONAL WORKING CLASS
TO TAKE THE FOSSIL FUEL BANKING
AND OTHER SECTORS INTO
DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OWNERSHIP TO
URGENTLY SHIFT INTO A GLOBAL
SOCIALIST ECONOMY POWERED BY
CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY.
ORGANIZING SUCH A TO END THE
KEYSTONE PIPELINE, THE STOP THE
MONEY PIPELINE CAMPAIGN, ALL OF
THESE ARE CRUCIAL STEPS BEING
TAKEN BY ACTIVISTS IN MY
COUNCIL OFFICE IS PROUD TO BE
ORGANIZING WITH THEM.
THIS WILL BE NEEDED ALONGSIDE A
MILITANT MOBILIZATION OF THE
UNION WORKERS IN THE FOSSIL FUEL
SECTOR WITH THE WHOLE LABOR
MOVEMENT IN SOLIDARITY TO
DEMAND JUST TRANSITION AND
RETRAINING FOR WORKERS IN THE
CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY ECONOMY.
WITH THE HELP OF CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, MY OFFICE IS
DEVELOPING LEGISLATION TO GIVE
THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO
RATE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO
BID ON CITY CONTRACT TO ENABLE
THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO JOIN THE
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT PLEDGING
NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT
BACK THE FOSSIL FUEL
CORPORATIONS THAT ARE
ENDANGERING HUMAN LIFE.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE BILL
COMING BEFORE THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON ALLOWING
LARGER AFFORDABLE HOUSING
APARTMENT BUILDINGS TO BE BUILT
ON PROPERTIES OWNED OR
CONTROLLED BY CHURCHES, MOSQUES,
SYNAGOGUES AND OTHER FAITH
COMMUNITIES.
I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY
ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN THE CENTRAL AREA.
A YEAR AGO THIS MONTH I STOOD
AT THE TAX AMAZON PRESS
CONFERENCE OUTSIDE NEW HOPE
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WITH
A DOZEN CLERGY IN MANY
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.
THE LEHIGH AND SOCIALIST DEMAND
THAT THE CITY ESTABLISHMENT
SUPPORT THE CENTRAL AREA
HOUSING PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN
DEVELOPED BY THE REVEREND DR.
ROBERT L JEFFREY SENIOR WHO IS
A SENIOR PASTOR AT THE CHURCH
AND OTHER AREA CLERGY.
THE CLERGY'S HOUSING PLAN
INCLUDING A DEMAND THAT THE
CITY PASS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PLANS.
I'M HAPPY THE BILL IS BEFORE US
TODAY BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE
CLEAR THAT THE ZONING
PROVISIONS THAT ONLY A SMALL
PART OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO
ACTUALLY MAKE THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING COME TO LIFE.
THEY ALSO NEED TO BE FUNDED.
WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
AFFORDABLE SOCIALLY CONTROLLED
HOUSING.
ZONING CHANGES, WHILE ARE
NECESSARY TO FACILITATE
CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT PAY FOR IT.
OVER THE YEARS I'VE SPOKEN WITH
MANY FAITH LEADERS WERE EAGER
TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON
THE PROPERTIES.
AS PART OF THIS MOVEMENT, THEY
UNDERSTAND KEENLY BOTH THE
URGENCY AND THE MORAL MANDATE
FOR MAURA CORDOVA HOUSING.
AT THE TAX AMAZON PRESS
CONFERENCE A YEAR AGO, WE
DEMANDED THAT A PORTION OF THE
AMAZON TAX, WHICH WAS THEN
REBRANDED AS JUMPSTART, BE
DEDICATED TOWARD BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT THROUGH
DIVERSE RACIAL GENTRIFICATION.
THIS ADVOCACY AND THEY PUSH
FROM HUNDREDS OF COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, WE WERE ABLE TO WIN AN
AMENDMENT IN THAT FINAL BILL TO
DEDICATE A PORTION OF THE
AMAZON TAX EACH YEAR TOWARD
CENTRAL DISTRICT HOUSING.
THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT
ACCOMPLISHMENT AND DEFINITELY A
VICTORY FOR THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENT IN THE PROTESTS
AT THAT TIME.
WE ALSO KNOW IS NOT ENOUGH.
REVEREND JEFFREY HAS EXPLAINED
HOW 50 YEARS AGO THE CITY
ESTABLISHMENT AT THAT TIME
ESSENTIALLY FORCED THE CHURCH
TO SELL ITS LAND TO THE CITY.
THE FOURTH SELLING PRICE UNDER
THE CITY ESTABLISHMENT'S THREAT
OF TAKING IT TO IMMINENT DOMAIN
WAS $34,000.
THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTE TRAVESTY
AGAINST SIENNA'S BLACK
COMMUNITY.
THAT LAND TODAY IS WORTH MORE
THAN $2 MILLION.
AT LEAST A PART OF IT NEEDS TO
BE DEVELOPED INTO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THE CHURCH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE, HAS DEVELOPED A PLAN
TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR 87 HOUSEHOLDS.
WORKING-CLASS BLACK HOUSEHOLDS
WITH PREFERENCE, COMMUNITY
PREFERENCE, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN TO PLACED OR ARE
THREATENED WITH DISPLACEMENT IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT ON THE
CITY'S STOLEN PROPERTY.
THIS PROJECT IS URGENTLY
NEEDED.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFFORDABILITY
IS RAGING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
REVEREND JEFFREY HAS SPOKEN
ELOQUENTLY ABOUT HOW THE CITY
NEEDS TO MAKE REPARATIONS FOR
ITS THEFT 50 YEARS AGO BY
GIVING BACK THE LAND TO THE
COMMUNITY AND FUNDING THE $10.7
MILLION THAT IS NEEDED TO
COMPLETE THIS ANTI-
GENTRIFICATION AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECT STRIKING A BLOW
FOR RACIAL AND HOUSING JUSTICE.
AND AGAINST RACIST
GENTRIFICATION.
MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO
STAND WITH THE CLERGY AND OUR
ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN DEMANDING
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE COMMIT TO THESE
INVESTMENTS WITHOUT DELAY.
LAST WEEK MY OFFICE SENT TO THE
CLERK'S OFFICE FOR INTRODUCTION
THE LEGISLATION TO DECRIMINALIZE
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS IN SEATTLE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
ACTIVISTS FROM DECRIMINALIZE
NATURE CAMPAIGN FOR SPEAKING UP
AND URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
AS I EXPLAINED LAST WEEK, AND
BEFORE AS WELL, THE LEGISLATION
USES THE SAME LEGAL APPROACH
THAT SEATTLE USED TO
DECRIMINALIZE CANNABIS SHORTLY
BEFORE IT WAS LEGALIZED
STATEWIDE BY ESSENTIALLY SAYING
THAT THE ENFORCEMENT RELATED TO
PSYCHEDELICS WOULD BE MADE A
LAST PRIORITY BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WHICH WAS THE APPROACH USED FOR
CANNABIS AT THAT TIME.
THAT IS WHAT THIS LEGISLATION
WILL DO WITH PSYCHEDELICS SUCH
AS SHROOMS, LSD, AND -- AS I'VE
MENTIONED IN THE PAST, I
SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZING
PSYCHEDELICS FOR SEVERAL
REASONS.
FIRST, EVIDENCE IS SHOWING THAT
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS
A TERRIBLE RESPONSE.
THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS DID
NOTHING BUT EXPAND MASS
INCARCERATION, DECIMATING POOR
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THE CRIMINALIZATION OF
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS IS ONLY A
SMALL PART OF THAT, BUT IT IS A
PART.
THAT IS A REASON TO DO THIS.
MORE SPECIFICALLY THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH SHOWING
THE PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS ARE VERY
RARELY HARMFUL AND CAN HAVE
SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS.
THEY CAN HAVE A POWERFUL
BENEFIT RESEARCH SHOWS IN SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES TO TREAT
DEPRESSION AND ADDICTION AND
SOME OF THE DRUGS HAVE A LONG
HISTORY OF USE IN RELIGIOUS
CEREMONIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD BE MOST
APPROPRIATELY REFERRED TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
COMMITTEE.
LAST WEEK WE SENT THE
LEGISLATION TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD TO ASK IF THAT
COMMITTEE HAS THE CAPACITY TO
INTRODUCE.
IT DOES NOT WE CAN EITHER
REPORT IT TO THE COMMITTEE THAT
I CHAIR OR SEND IT STRAIGHT TO
THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
YOU MAY NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE
TO REVIEW THE LEGISLATION.
I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOUR OFFICE LATER TODAY AND
TOMORROW.
I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE MEETING
WITH DECRIMINALIZE NATURE LATER
THIS WEEK.
MAYBE WE CAN TALK THEN.
IF YOU DO HAVE A GENERAL SENSE
OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE ABLE
TO SCHEDULE THIS LEGISLATION
YOUR COMMITTEE, I WOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE KNOWING THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DO YOU
HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT NOW?
IF NOT, NO WORRIES.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
HAS ALSO SPOKEN ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS NO LESS
THAN THREE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT
HAVE INTEREST IN THIS AREA.
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I DO
THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO REFER
TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE.
I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN ALL
HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION BEFORE I
HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT
WHERE TO REFER IT TO.
>> THANK YOU, YES.
I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE
TO ADD OTHER THAN WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ALREADY
MENTIONED.
I AM GOING TO BE DISCUSSING
WITH DECRIMINALIZE NATURE. THE
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TIMING OF
LEGISLATION AS IT RELATES TO
THE STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE ALL
DISCUSSED BEFORE.
WHICH IS THE CONSIDERATION OF
THIS WORK AS PART OF THE DRUG
OLICY REFORM WORK THAT THE
OVERDOSE EMERGENCY -- OH, BOY,
I'M FORGETTING THE NAME OF THE
TASK FORCE.
THE NEW TASK FORCE THAT MET FOR
THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK WITH
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF
DECRIMINALIZE NATURE.
SITTING ON THE TASK FORCE
ITSELF.
SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE OBSERVING THE
PROCESS FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS
LEGISLATION.
THAT EVERYBODY THINKS IS MOST
ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS OF THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF.
SO AGAIN, THERE IS A BROADER
CONVERSATION GOING ON AROUND
DRUG POLICY REFORM. SINCE THE
ULTIMATE EFFORTS ARE REALLY
FOCUSED ON STATE GOVERNMENT FOR
THE LEX LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I
WANT TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE
MEMBERS OF DECRIMINALIZE NATURE
ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW
A POTENTIAL SEATTLE ORDINANCE
WOULD FIT WITHIN THAT STRATEGY.
THANKS.
>> OKAY.
I, AND MY OFFICE, WILL FOLLOW
UP WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, ON SORT OF NEXT STEPS
PROCEDURALLY SO THAT WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT WE RUN AS SMOOTH
OF A PROCESS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO, SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS MORE
TO COME HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU'RE
OFF MUTE, SO I IMAGINE YOU HAVE
SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SAY.
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOUR
OFFICE, AS PRESIDENT, AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AS
COMMITTEE CHAIR.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD THAT THIS LEGISLATION
IS NOT BY ITSELF.
DECRIMINALIZE NATURE IS ITSELF,
THE WHOLE IDEA HAS COME ABOUT
AS PART OF THE OVERALL DRUG-
RELATED POLICY. SOMETHING THAT
AT LEAST AS A SEMBLANCE OF
REFLECTION, IS NOT ACTION.
WHAT WE NEED IS MOVING THE DRUG
POLICY TOWARD WHAT SCIENTIST,
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE INDICATES.
I WOULD SAY AS FAR AS THE
LEGISLATION IS CONCERNED, THERE
IS A TASK FORCE.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE CITY'S
HIGHEST LEGISLATIVE BODY.
IT HAS HIGHER AUTHORITY THAN A
TASK FORCE AND WILL BE A FAR
MORE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
I WOULD SAY THAT IN THAT SENSE,
IT WILL BE GOOD AND IMPORTANT.
GOOD IF THE COUNCIL DOES IT END
IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO
SET THE TONE, OR HELP SET THE
TONE ALSO, FOR THE FUTURE
CONVERSATION ON THIS DRUG-
RELATED POLICY.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT? I'M
NOT SEEING ANY.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, DID YOU
HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
>> I DO NOT.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WAS THE END OF EVERYTHING YOU
HAD TO REPORT TODAY.
>>> NEXT UP IS GOING TO BE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES.
I WILL START THIS REPORT -- I
STARTED MY WEEKEND WITH
ASSISTING A SWIMMER IN DISTRESS
FROM MY KAYAK.
I WAS ON THE BEACH AND EVERYONE
ON THE BEACH NOTICED THAT THE
SWIMMER NEEDED ASSISTANCE.
I KAYAKED OUT TO THEM AND PICKED
THEM UP AND WE PADDLED BACK
INTO SURE.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR
EVERYONE LISTENING THAT IF
YOU'RE OUT ON THE WATER, PLEASE
WEAR YOUR PFD AND PLEASE DO NOT
SWIM OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT
ZONE.
IF YOU DO GO INTO ASSIST
SOMEONE IN DISTRESS IN THE
WATER, YOU MUST BRING EQUIPMENT
SUCH AS A PFD OR LIFE RING.
IF YOU GO IN WITH JUST YOUR
MUSCLE STRENGTH, YOU WILL NOT
BE STRONG ENOUGH UNLESS YOU ARE
WELL-TRAINED, TO BE ABLE TO
BRING ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL UP TO
THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT THEN
THERE WILL BE TWO PEOPLE TO
RESCUE, MAKING THE SITUATION
WORSE.
AGAIN, HIGHLIGHTING THAT
HYPOTHERMIA WILL SET IN EVEN ON
110 DEGREE DAYS IF YOU'RE IN
LAKE WASHINGTON OR PUGET SOUND.
15 MINUTES.
THE FIRST THING TO DO IF YOU GO
OVERBOARD IS TO GET YOUR
BREATHING UNDER CONTROL.
TO AVOID SHOCK AND INVOLUNTARY
GASPING AND PANICKED BREATHING.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM
THE TIME YOU'RE IN THE WATER TO
FUNCTIONALLY SELF RESCUE BY
GRABBING A ROPE, PULLING
YOURSELF BACK ONTO THE BOAT OR
AT LEAST STABILIZING YOUR HEAD
ABOVE WATER.
AFTER 10 MINUTES, MOST PEOPLE'S
FINE MOTOR SKILLS HAVE STOPPED
WORKING.
YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL COLD, AND IT
WILL BE HARD TO DO ANY
FUNCTIONAL TASKS.
SO, FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE
THIS LAST WEEKEND, I CAN TELL
YOU AS A VERY STRONG PADDLER,
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING
ANOTHER HUMAN INTO SURE.
FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE ENJOYING
THE WATER, PLEASE WEAR A PFD,
SWIM WITHIN YOUR COMFORT ZONE,
AND IF YOU'RE GOING INTO ASSIST
SOMEONE ELSE, MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT.
THANK YOU.
TO THE LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE, THERE
ARE NO ITEMS FROM THIS
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
THERE ARE SEVEN ITEMS FROM THE
LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S FULL
AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDE FIVE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD.
COUNCIL BILL 1200 -- 120106,
THE LANDMARK ORDINANCE. AND
COUNCIL BILL 120081, WHICH
GRANTS ZONING FLEXIBILITY TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
ON LAND OWNED BY RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTIONS.
THE NEXT MEETING OF OUR
COMMITTEE WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY,
JULY 14th STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
AN OVERVIEW OF MY LAST WEEK.
ON TUESDAY I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND
THE NORTH SEATTLE INDUSTRIAL
ASSOCIATION AND THE HISTORIC
SIGNING OF THE SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO BUDGET CHAIR
MOSQUEDA, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
MAYOR DURKAN FORGETTING THAT
BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AS
QUICKLY AS YOU DID SO THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO GET DOLLARS INTO
PEOPLE'S HANDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
WITH JUMPSTART.
LAST YEAR.
OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO PUT THESE DOLLARS
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ON WEDNESDAY I WAS ABLE TO
ATTEND GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND
PLANNING COUNCIL WHERE WE VOTED
ON UPDATING THE COUNTYWIDE
PLANNING POLICIES.
I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE AWC DIRECTORS ANNUAL
CONFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
ON WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY
SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT
AND CONGRATULATE THE INCOMING
PRESIDENT.
LAST WEEK I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND
THE MOVING AIDS MEMORIAL
PATHWAY DEDICATION ON SATURDAY
MORNING.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
RASMUSSEN AND EVERYONE,
SPECIFICALLY COUNCILMEMBER
RASMUSSEN SPOKE ABOUT HIS WORK
YOUR ON CITY COUNCIL STARTING
IN 2015.
ON THIS PROJECT.
ONE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT REALLY
STUCK WITH ME DURING THE
PRESENTATION WAS NOTING THAT IT
TOOK OVER 15 YEARS FOR THE
FIRST HIV COCKTAIL TO BE
CREATED.
IT DEMONSTRATES THE DISPARITY
WHEN WE SEE THE COVID VACCINE
CREATED WITHIN ONE YEAR.
THIS ART INSTALLATION MEMORIAL
IS EQUAL PARTS REMEMBRANCE,
HISTORY LESSON, AND CALL TO
ACTION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN.
THIS COMING WEEK MY STAFF WILL
BE MEETING WITH THE GREEN LAKE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE
FREMONT NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION.
ON WEDNESDAY I'LL BE JOINING
THE FREMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE HAD TO
RESCHEDULE THE BALLARD AVENUE
DESIGN CHARRETTE TO ENSURE ALL
PARTICIPANTS HAVE THEIR HEALTH
AND SAFETY PROTECTED.
THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON
THURSDAY AND WE WILL BE
RESCHEDULING FOR LATER THIS
MONTH TO ENSURE EVERYONE CAN
PARTICIPATE SAFELY.
LAST WEEK I MET WITH NEIGHBORS
FROM BALLARD, WALLINGFORD, TWO
FROM PHINNEY RIDGE AND FOLKS IN
CROWN HILL.
DISCUSSED CHOOSING IS IN JAIL,
THE HISTORY OF GREEN LAKE.
SPECIFICALLY THE HISTORY OF
WALLINGFORD.
WE DISCUSSED TRANSIT FLOW.
AGAIN TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO HIGHLIGHT MY CALL THAT WE
NEED TO REOPEN WEST GREEN LAKE
WAY NORTH TO 2 WAY TRAFFIC.
I WAS ABLE TO WALK WITH MEMBERS
FROM THE CROWN HILL VILLAGE
ASSOCIATION TO SEE A NUMBER OF
THEIR PROJECTS.
THEY HAVE AN AMAZING COMMUNITY
GARDEN THAT IS NOW AT MULTIPLE
LOCATIONS BRINGING PEOPLE
TOGETHER AND CREATING LEADING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH YOUTH
AND OLDER ADULTS.
THIS IS REALLY AN ALL AGES AND
ABILITY TYPE OF PROJECT AND I
WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE ANYONE
WHO HAS ANY INTEREST TO GO OUT
AND CHECK OUT THE GREAT WORK
THAT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN HAS
BEEN THERE GROUP ALSO APPLIES
FOR GRANTS AND HAS CREATED SOME
SIDEWALKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND A BUILDING PLAN FOR THE
COMMUNITY AS INFILL DEVELOPMENT
OCCURS WITH THE MOST RECENT AND
SOUND.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO
RESIDENTS ON TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS.
I HOPE EVERYONE IS ABLE TO STAY
SAFE, AVOID THE HEAT.
USING THE CITY COOLING CENTERS.
STAYING SAFE ON THE WATER.
LASTLY, I WANTED TO CALL OUT MY
MOM'S BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM.
SHE FINISHED HER 30 YEARS ON
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SOCIAL WORKERS BOARD.
HAVING SPENT 30 YEARS ON THE
BOARD SHE IS NOW FULLY IN
RETIREMENT.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
>>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY, SO WITH
THAT, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE DOWN
THE LINE OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
THAT, AFTER COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING, HELLO.
I'M SORRY.
I COULD HAVE OFFERED THESE
INITIAL COMMENTS AS PART OF
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS' REPORT.
MY APOLOGIES FOR BEING A LITTLE
SLOW ON THE DRAW.
I'M JUST GOING TO START WITH
LETTING FOLKS KNOW THAT I AM
CONSIDERING BRINGING BACK A
COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
DISCUSSED IN THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE.
AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL BILL
120081 ONE AMENDMENT WOULD
LOWER THE AVERAGE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING INCOME THRESHOLD TO 60%
OF AMI FOR RENTAL HOUSEHOLDS.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN AVERAGE AND
NOT ALL UNITS NEED TO BE AT 60%.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT THAT I'M
CONSIDERING BRINGING FORWARD
WOULD INCREASE THE TERM OF
AFFORDABILITY TO 75 YEARS,
CONSISTENT WITH OUR REQUIREMENTS
OF DEVELOPERS AS PART OF THE MHA
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM.
BOTH OF THESE AMENDMENTS WERE
DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE AND DID
NOT RECEIVE A PASS
RECOMMENDATION.
BUT, HAD A TIE VOTE WITH TWO
VOTING IN FAVOR AND TWO OPPOSED.
SO, I THINK THIS WOULD BE A
GOOD TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AT
FULL COUNCIL.
I WANT TO JUST LIFT UP THE FACT
THAT THE CENTRAL AREA LAND-USE
REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS CONTACTED
COUNCILMEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF
THESE AMENDMENTS, AS HAS THE
LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE.
WE JUST REALLY WANT TO AGAIN
UNDERSCORE THAT THIS
LEGISLATION HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO HELP MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS,
BUT COULD DO SO EVEN MORE
EFFECTIVELY AND FAIRLY WITH
THESE KINDS OF CHANGES THAT ARE
AGAIN, VERY SIMILAR TO THE
EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE OF
DEVELOPERS AS PART OF THE MHA
PROGRAM.
SO, JUST WANTED TO START OFF
MENTIONING THAT.
THEN, MOVING ON --
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD --
COUNCIL PRESIDENT MAY I --
>> SINCE IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED
TO A MATTER THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS JUST ADDRESSED AS PART
OF HIS REPORT, WHY DON'T WE GO
AHEAD AND GIVE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND AND THEN WE CAN MOVE
ON.
>> THANK YOU.
I DID SEEK OUT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AN ATTEMPT TO GET
COMMENTS IN ON MINE.
THANK YOU FOR THE FLEXIBILITY
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THE
INTENTION OF YOUR AMENDMENTS IS
WELCOMED, BUT AT THIS TIME THEY
ARE NOT AMENDMENTS THAT I CAN
SUPPORT.
I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAD ROBUST
DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL , AT MY
COUNCIL COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
WHAT IS CENTER TO -- WHAT IS
CENTER TO THE ISSUE HERE IS
THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN
THE WORKS.
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
FRAMEWORK FROM THE STATE THAT
WAS PASSED TO THE CITY.
THAT IS WHY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN , AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
BROUGHT THE AMENDMENT
REQUESTING THE DATA FOR THE
ADDITIONAL, SO WE CAN COME BACK
IN A YEAR TO SEE HOW THESE
PROGRAMS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED
AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AT THAT
TIME.
IF YOU WANTED TO INCLUDE IN
YOUR AMENDMENTS AND
IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF ONE YEAR
OUT FROM HERE, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT I COULD CONSIDER
TALKING TO YOU ABOUT.
THAT MIGHT MOVE MY HAND FROM
BEING IN A POSITION WHERE I
CURRENTLY AM, TO SUPPORT.
BECAUSE AS I SAID TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN IN THE
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, I AM
COMPLETELY OPEN TO THIS
CONVERSATION.
IT'S JUST WE NEED TO -- I'M
OPEN TO HAVING THE
CONVERSATION, I CAN'T SUPPORT
THESE AMENDMENTS.
SO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM
WHAT I'VE HEARD, THAT IT WOULD
BE VERY CONCERNING FOR ME TO
PUT FORWARD THESE AMENDMENTS ON
THIS BILL TODAY.
WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH
BOTH OF YOU ON IS HOW DO WE
SIZE THIS PROPOSAL, THIS
LEGISLATION, FOR THE FUTURE?
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS WANT?
>> I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT
BRIEFLY TO SAY I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS.
>> OKAY.
OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WHO WANT TO GIVE THE
REST OF THE COUNCIL THE BENEFIT
OF THEIR DISCUSSION FROM
COMMITTEE?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN
HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION TO OFFER SOME
COMMENTS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
ESPECIALLY IN OUR REMOTE
NATURE, I THINK THIS HELPS ADD
TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
COMMITTEE MEETING GO WHEN WE
ARE NOT ABLE TO BE THERE.
MAYBE ONE PART OF A COMMITTEE
MEETING.
I'LL JUST OFFER MY COMMENTS
THAT I MADE AT THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING IN ALIGNMENT
WITH THE CHAIR'S POSITION.
I THINK THAT NUMBER ONE, THE
AMENDMENTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN ANNOUNCED,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAD
DISCUSSED, ARE WELL-
INTENTIONED.
I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE MHA PROGRAM AND
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE TYPE
OF HOUSING THAT IS CURRENTLY
BEING CLAIMED, OR UNDER THE
EXISTING MODEL, THERE'S A
NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT CERTAIN PROJECTS
WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THAT KIND OF TIMEFRAME.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS THE
EXTENSION OPPORTUNITY THAT THE
CHAIR HAS NOTED IN THE PAST
THAT MAKE IT VERY LIKELY THAT
EXTENSION WILL BE OFFERED.
JUST OVERALL I THINK THE
BIGGEST DRIVING FORCES WE'VE
HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS THAT IT
WOULD CREATE A HARDSHIP FOR
THEM TO CREATE THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT WE SO DESPERATELY
NEED ON THOSE PROPERTIES IN THE
VERY NEAR FUTURE.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE
CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER
SEATTLE SAID, IN OPPOSITION TO
THE AMENDMENTS, I WILL BE
OPPOSING.
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT
BACKGROUND FOR THOSE WHO
WEREN'T PART OF THE COMMITTEE
MEETING LAST WEEK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WILL JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT I AM
AGAIN OPEN TO THE CONSIDERATION
OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
NOW IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
WE RECEIVED THE POSITION OF
OPPOSITION FROM THE CHURCH
COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE WHO
IS THE ENTITY THAT WOULD BE
UTILIZING THIS BILL. IF THE
ENTITY, AND THE ENTITIES THAT
ARE REPRESENTED WITH THE CHURCH
COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE, ARE
NOT WELCOMING THESE CHANGES AND
WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM
TO UTILIZE THIS BILL, THEN I
ASK WHY ARE WE PASSING THESE
AMENDMENTS AT THESE TIMES?
>> OKAY.
I THINK -- I THINK I -- I DON'T
SEE ANY OTHER HANDS RAISED.
I'M NOT SURE IF COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING
ELSE BUT I THINK WE ARE READY
TO MOVE ALONG.
SO, I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> SURE, I WILL MOVE ALONG.
[ LAUGHTER ] I DO WANT TO JUST
SAY HEARING FROM, AND ADVOCACY
GROUP THAT WILL USE THE
REGULATORY CAPACITY TO DEVELOP
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE A LOWER OBLIGATION
TO HAVE TO FULFILL, IS NOT
UNUSUAL.
SO, I THINK WE REALLY, IN THIS
CASE, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE
CHURCH COUNCIL.
IN OTHER CASES, WHEN WE HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSING LEGISLATION
THAT IMPACTS BY GIVING GREATER
DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY TO A
PRIVATE DEVELOPER AND HAVING
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT OUR
EXPECTATIONS ARE OF THAT
DEVELOPER TO PROVIDE FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'VE ALSO
HEARD FROM THOSE DEVELOPERS
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE A LOWER
OBLIGATION.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS, I
UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF THESE
PROJECTS WILL VERY LIKELY BE
PROJECTS WHERE THE PARTNER OF
THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION WILL
BE A NONPROFIT HOUSING
DEVELOPER.
I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A
SITUATION WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY
INCENTIVIZING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF HIGHER INCOME AFFORDABE
HOUSING BY MAKING IT MORE LIKELY
THAT THE RELIGIOUS FACILITY --
THAT RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION
PARTNERS WITH A FOR PROFIT
DEVELOPER, RATHER THAN ONE OF
OUR LOW INCOME HOUSING PROPERTY
DEVELOPERS.
WHO WOULD BE BUILDING THAT 60%
AMI HOUSING AND FOR A LONGER
AFFORDABILITY TERM.
I'M HAPPY TO TALK,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, ABOUT
WAYS TO ENSURE THAT PROJECTS
THAT ARE SORT OF ALREADY IN A
DEVELOPMENT PHASE ARE NOT
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY AN
AMENDMENT LIKE THIS, BUT I
APPRECIATE YOUR OPENNESS TO
MAYBE STRUCTURING THIS IN A WAY
THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS
ABOUT CREATING THE INCENTIVE
FOR HIGHER INCOME AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THE FUTURE.
SO, MOVING ON TO GO ITEMS THAT
I HAVE FROM MY COMMITTEE, FROM
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY.
I HAVE JUST ONE ITEM.
THAT IS THE APPOINTMENT OF
COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
WE HAVE HEARD HER CONFIRMATION
IN COMMITTEE AND HER
CONFIRMATION WAS PRESENTED BY
PRESIDING JUDGE GREGORY.
SHE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY
THE HIRING PANEL THAT CONDUCTED
THOSE INTERVIEWS.
SO, JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE
HER ON BOARD.
JUST QUICK UPDATE FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON
ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT
THEY HAVE DONE THIS WEEKEND.
TO PROVIDE SURVIVOR SERVICES TO
FOLKS IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED
HEAT WAVE.
AS WE KNOW, FISHER PAVILION
OPERATES AS A 24 HOUR A DAY
SHELTER, OPENING ON SATURDAY.
THE SALVATION OPENS, OR
OPERATES THE SHELTER, AND
CONTINUES TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT
PROVES THEM TO BE AN
EXPERIENCED AND FLEXIBLE PARTNER
IN THE CITY'S EMERGENCY
RESPONSE.
THE SHELTER ALSO INCLUDES A
PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN FOR
THE DAY TO STAY COOL, EVEN IF
THEY DON'T STAY OVERNIGHT.
33 PEOPLE STAYED AT THE SHELTER
ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
THE SHELTER HAS THE CAPACITY TO
SERVE 73 INDIVIDUALS.
TODAY, PUBLIC HEALTH WILL VISIT
THEM TO GIVE GUESTS INFORMATION
ON COVID-19 AND THE VACCINE
AVAILABILITY.
IN ADDITION, SALVATION ARMY
OPENED UP A COOLING CENTER THIS
WEEKEND WHICH SERVED RESIDENTS
IN WEST SEATTLE.
IT SERVED 19 PEOPLE ON SUNDAY.
THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER
EXTENDED ITS DAY CENTER HOURS
ON BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY TO
GIVE PEOPLE A PLACE TO STAY
COOL FOR LONGER.
THE SOUTHEAST SENIOR CENTER
ALSO EXTENDED ITS HOURS ON
SUNDAY TO SERVE OLDER ADULTS
WHO NEEDED A PLACE TO SHELTER
FROM THE HEAT.
THE LAKE CITY COMMUNITY CENTER,
STAFFED BY COMMUNITY --
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS,
EXPANDED THEIR HOURS THIS
WEEKEND UNTIL 6:00 P.M.
TO SERVE AS A COOLING CENTER
FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
IT SERVED 41 PEOPLE ON SUNDAY.
THEN, THE HOPE TEAM NAVIGATORS
WORKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND
UNSHELTERED AND PROVIDE G
TRANSPORT TO COOLING CENTERS AS
REQUESTED.
THERE WERE 140 ENGAGEMENTS FROM
THE HOPE TEAM, WITH PEOPLE
LIVING UNSHELTERED, OVER 350
BOTTLES OF WATER DISTRIBUTED.
40 REFERRALS TO EMERGENCY
COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND 30 BUS
TICKETS DISTRIBUTED FOR FOLKS
TO GET TO THE COOLING CENTERS.
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
ARE AWARE OF OPTIONS FOR
COOLING TODAY IN DISTRICT 1
JUST FOCUSING ON DISTRICT 1, AS
MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE ARE A
LOT OF GOOD CITYWIDE RESOURCES.
ONLINE.
BUT, JUST FOCUSING AGAIN ON
DISTRICT 1 THREE LIBRARIES WILL
BE OPEN TODAY FROM 10:00 TO
6:00 P.M.
THE DELL RIDGE BRANCH, SOUTH
PARK BRANCH, AND THIS WEEKEND
IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE HI
POINTE BRANCH WILL BE OPEN AS
WELL.
THEN, SENIORS AT -- FOR SENIORS,
THE SENIOR CENTER OF WEST
SEATTLE IS OPEN UNTIL 4:30 P.M.
THEN, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE
SALVATION ARMY WHITE CENTER
COMMUNITY CENTER ON 16th AVENUE
IS OPEN UNTIL 7:00 P.M.
KING COUNTY HAS OPENED A
COOLING CENTER IN THE TOP HAT
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THAT'S ALSO
AVAILABLE TO WEST SEATTLE
RESIDENTS.
THE CENTER IS A WAY FOR
RESIDENTS TO ESCAPE THE HEAT,
BUT ALSO WILL WELCOME OVERNIGHT
STAYS AND HAS AN AIR
CONDITIONED AREA WITH WATER AND
REFRESHMENTS FOR SHORTER VISITS.
MANY OF US HEARD THIS MORNING
THAT THERE IS A NEW COOLING
SITE THAT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE AMAZON MEETING CENTER ON
SEVENTH AVENUE.
THE LOCATION HAS A CAPACITY FOR
1000 PEOPLE.
IT WILL BE OPEN FROM 10:00 TO
8:00 P.M.
OF COURSE MASKS ARE REQUIRED
AND ATTENDEES MUST PROVIDE SOME
SORT OF I.D.
UPON ENTRANCE.
NO PETS ARE ALLOWED EXCEPT FOR
SERVICE ANIMALS.
I'M GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF HEAT ON FIRE
IN OUR CITY.
YESTERDAY OF COURSE WE SET AN
ALL-TIME RECORD FOR HIGH
TEMPERATURE IN SEATTLE.
TODAY'S FORECAST CALLS FOR THAT
RECORD TO BE BROKEN.
THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND DRY
WEATHER SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES
THE RISK OF FIRES.
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTED
THAT YESTERDAY THEY RESPONDED TO
SIX BRUSH AND BARK FIRES.
THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO NOT
LIGHT FIREWORKS, DISPOSE OF
SMOKING MATERIALS IN PROPER
RECEPTACLES AND DOUSED IN WATER.
MAKE SURE CHAINS ARE OTHER CAR
PARTS ARE NOT DRAGGING FROM
VEHICLES, AND DO NOT PARK ON
TALLGRASS.
I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE
USE OF FIREWORKS IN THESE
CONDITIONS, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
AND CAN BE DEADLY.
TWO YEARS AGO A FIRE IN WHITE
CENTER JUST SOUTH OF WEST
SEATTLE RESULTED IN A FIRE
BURNING DOWN A HOUSE.
THERE WAS A DEATH FROM SMOKE
INHALATION, AND A DISPLACEMENT
OF 12 RESIDENTS FROM A
NEIGHBORING HOME.
THIS FIRE WAS IDENTIFIED TO
HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY FIREWORKS.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL
SERVICE FOR SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICER ALEXANDRA LEXI HARRIS
ON THURSDAY, JULY 1st THAT T-
MOBILE PARK AT 2:00 P.M.
YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION AT THE
SPD BLOG.
INCLUDING DETAILS ABOUT THE
PROCESSION THAT WILL BE SHARED
IN COMMON DAYS.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON THE
DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK.
THE LESS LETHAL WEAPONS
LEGISLATION.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE
SUBSTANCE OF THE BILL WE ARE
DISCUSSING JUST NOW, BUT I'M
HAPPY TO TALK TO ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE
QUESTIONS.
I DO WANT TO JUST TALK REALLY
ABOUT THE PROCESS MOVING
FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN
SOME DISCUSSION AND SOME
CONFUSION ABOUT THAT DISCUSSION.
SO, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND THE MONITOR HAVE NOT
CONDUCTED A FORMAL REVIEW, BUT
THEY HAVE INFORMALLY BEEN
BILL AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK.
UNDER PARAGRAPH 177 OF THE
CONSENT DECREE, THE DOJ AND THE
MONITOR CONDUCT THEIR FORMAL
REVIEW AFTER THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS PROPOSED POLICY
REVISIONS.
THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE
CONDUCTED WITH THE DOJ AND THE
MONITOR ABOUT THE DRAFT BILL,
IT WAS AN INFORMAL PROCESS FOR
US TO HAVE DIALOGUE BEFORE THE
COUNCIL TAKES LEGISLATIVE
ACTION, AND BEFORE THE FORMAL
CONSENT DECREE REVIEW PROCESS
TAKES PLACE.
IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT IS THEN SPD WOULD
DROP POLICY REVISIONS WITHIN 60
DAYS AS PROVIDED BY SECTION 4
OF THE BILL.
THOSE POLICY REVISIONS WOULD
REFLECT THE CONTENT OF THE
BILL.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND
THE MONITOR WOULD THEN REVIEW
THE POLICY REVISIONS.
THIS IS WHEN THEIR FORMAL
REVIEW UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE
TAKES PLACE.
THIRD, THE COURT WOULD REVIEW
THE POLICY REVISIONS.
IT'S ALSO REQUIRED BY THE
CONSENT DECREE.
BEFORE THE COURT APPROVES THE
POLICY REVISIONS, THE REVISED
BILL AND SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS
WILL TAKE EFFECT.
THAT IS CLARIFIED IN SECTION 5
OF THE BILL ITSELF.
HELD VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS ON
FRIDAY.
WAS GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OF MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
AT THE AIDS MEMORIAL PROJECT
DEDICATION THIS WEEKEND.
REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE
CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND LOVE
AND RECOGNITION OF THE HISTORY
THAT HAS PRECEDED -- WELL,
PRECEDED -- WELL, THE OPPOSITE
OF PRECEDED, THAT HAS COME ACTOR
THE GET OUR GOVERNMENT'S
ATTENTION I WANT TO ALSO ECHO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT HOW
PLEASED I AM TO LEARN ABOUT THE
$11 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO
REPAIR THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THANKS TO OUR FEDERAL
DELEGATION FOR THE WORK ON THIS.
WAS EXCITED TO HEAR THIS
MORNING ABOUT A COUPLE OF OTHER
PROJECTS THAT I KNOW ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO GO DISTRICT 1.
INCLUDING THE SOUTH PARK
GEORGETOWN TRAIL.
AND THE EAST MARGINAL WAY
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
SO, THIS IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD
NEWS TO START THE WEEK.
THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
>>> ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND GO DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, WE ARE SPONSORING
ONE ITEM ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
COUNCIL AGENDA IN REGARDS TO
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT.
AND ITS COUNCIL BILL 120098
WHICH MERGES THE TWO VOLUNTEER
COMMISSIONS, THE BOARD AND
PARK OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I WILL SPEAK MORE ABOUT THAT
THIS AFTERNOON.
IN REGARDS TO THE PUBLIC ASSET
AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES
COMMITTEE, THERE ARE NO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
BE A SPECIAL MEETING ON FRIDAY,
JULY 16th AT 2:00.
THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF OUR THIRD QUARTER
PUBLIC ASSET NATIVE COMMUNITIES
LEGISLATION.
FIRST ON THE CURRENT OPERATIONS
AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO
AND THE CITY IS EXPIRING IN
FEBRUARY 2022.
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO CEO AND
THE SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT WILL
TRANSMIT LEGISLATION IN EARLY
JULY.
I INTEND TO HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING IN AUGUST, FOLLOWED BY
A DISCUSSION OF THE NEW DRAFT
AGREEMENT.
A FINAL VOTE IS SCHEDULED FOR
SEPTEMBER.
SECONDLY, ALSO IN AUGUST, WE
WILL BE JOINED BY NHL SEATTLE
PRESIDENT TO HEAR A
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE ON THE
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA.
THE TEAM AND PRACTICE FACILITY
LOCATED IN DISTRICT 5. GOING
BACK TO METROPOLITAN PARKS
DISTRICT, LAST MONDAY WE HELD
THE FIRST OF THREE METROPOLITAN
PARK DISTRICT MEETINGS FOR THE
YEAR.
WE REVIEWED AND PASSED
RESOLUTION 42 AND 43.
RESOLUTION 42 WAS THE ACTION TO
DELAY THE SIX YEAR PLAN BY ONE
YEAR.
AND RESOLUTION 43 WAS THE
MERGING OF THE TWO VOLUNTEER
PARK ORGANIZATIONS I JUST SPOKE
TO.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND I --
THE NEXT METROPOLITAN PARK
MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 18th
AFTER FULL COUNCIL.
IN REGARDS TO PARKS, A QUICK
UPDATE.
THERE WILL BE 11 WADING POOLS
AND SEVEN SPRAY PARKS AND ATE
SWIMMING BEACHES WILL BE OPENED
THIS WEEKEND JUST IN TIME FOR
THE HOT WEATHER.
FOR A LIST OF THE LOCATIONS AND
HOURS, PLEASE VISIT THE
WEBSITE.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
PARTNERING WITH AXON STATE TO
PRODUCE THIS YEAR'S SUMMER
RECITAL.
SMALL PERFORMANCES WILL HAPPEN
IN PARKS IN AUGUST IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE WELCOME
BACK SEATTLE PROGRAMMING.
IN REGARDS TO LIBRARIES,
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS
REOPENED THREE LEVELS OF THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY, AS WELL AS
COLUMBIA, DELRAY, GREENWOOD,
HIGH POINT, MAGNOLIA, QUEEN
ANNE, SOUTH PARK, AND
UNIVERSITY BRANCHES.
MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED OF
PATRONS AND STAFF AND PHYSICAL
DISTANCING STANDARDS REMAIN IN
PLACE.
OVER THE WEEKEND, SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES REOPENED THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
CHINATOWN BRANCH.
WHICH MEANS 17 OF THE 27
LIBRARIES ARE NOW OPEN.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
ANTICIPATES REOPENING MORE
BRANCHES THE WEEK OF JULY 5th.
IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES, AS I
SAID LAST WEEK, I SERVE AS THE
KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE 20th
ANNUAL NATIVE ACTION NETWORK
LEADERSHIP FORM.
THIS ORGANIZATION HAS EMPOWERING
YOUNG NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN FOR
OVER 20 YEARS.
SOUND TRANSIT, ATTENDED THE
JUNE 24th BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING WHERE THE BOARD
CONSIDERED THE REALIGNMENT
PROPOSAL.
THE SEATTLE-BASED STATIONS IN
THE OTHER STATIONS WERE
PROTECTIVE IN THE TIER 2 OF THE
PROPOSAL.
DEALING WITH FOUR TIERS AND I'M
GUESSING ALL OF THIS WILL BE IN
FRONT OF US AT OUR NEXT MEETING
ON JULY 22nd FOR A VOTE ON
REALIGNMENT AND MOVING FORWARD.
AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE A
FLEXIBLE PLAN, AND NOTHING IS
WRITTEN IN STONE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF
FEDERAL FUNDING COMING IN.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES
WITH FEDERAL ESTATE MONEY.
WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN GET
ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT WERE
PROMISED TO THE VOTERS UNDER ST
TWO AND THREE DONE.
NO PROJECT IS OFF THE TABLE BUT
SOME MAY BE DELAYED.
THIS MEANS THAT INSTEAD OF A 10
YEAR DELAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT
LEAST UP TO A SIX YEAR DELAY.
YOU CAN FIND A LOT OF THE TEARS
AND THE INFORMATION ON THE
SOUND TRANSIT WEBSITE AS WELL
AS OUR OWN.
THE PROJECT WILL PROGRESS
THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEWS AS CLOSE TO THE
ORIGINAL ST SCHEDULE AS
POSSIBLE.
DESIGN OF RIGHT-OF-WAY
ACQUISITION IN PREPARATION FOR
PROJECT BASELINE AND WILL BE
REVIEWED FOR THE AFFORDABILITY
IN THE ANNUAL PROGRAM REVIEW.
KING COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIR HAS
BEEN WORKING HARD TO INCREASE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR UPDATED COST
ESTIMATES.
AND EXPANDING OUR APPROACH TO
HOLISTIC REALIGNMENT SCENARIOS.
MAYOR DURKAN AND I HAVE
PROVIDED SUPPORTING LANGUAGE
AND COUNCILMEMBER AMENDMENT TO
CHAIR THE PROPOSAL TO BETTER
SERVE THE VOTERS OF SOUND
TRANSIT.
AS I SHOULD, THE NEXT BOARD
MEETING WILL BE JULY 22nd. AT
THIS MEETING, THE BOARD IS
EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE
REALIGNMENT PROPOSAL.
A BIG THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES IN GROUPS LIKE THE
SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION AND
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
UPCOMING THIS WEEK I LOOK
FORWARD TO JOINING THE
PRESIDENT OF OUR SEATTLE
COLLEGE.
AT THE REOPENING OF THE LAKE
CITY FARMERS MARKET THIS
THURSDAY, JULY 1st THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
>>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE'LL HEAR NEXT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING MADAME
PRESIDENT.
A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOWER WEEK
FOR ME THAN LAST WEEK, BUT
HAPPY TO JUMP INTO IT AND A LOT
OF MY GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN DONE
BY OTHER MEMBERS GOING LAST
HERE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE
UPDATES.
SO, I CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
BRIEF IN COVERING SOME OF THEM.
THERE IS NOTHING FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE OF
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENTS ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
I APPRECIATE FOLKS ATTENDING
FOR OUR FAIRLY BRIEF MEETING
LAST WEEK WHERE WE DID RECEIVE
SOME PRESCIENT UPDATES FROM THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
REGARDING NOT ONLY THE
ANTICIPATED WILDFIRE SEASON AND
SMOKE SEASON, BUT ALSO PLANS
FOR THIS WEEKEND IN TERMS OF
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT'S ROLE IN RESPONDING
TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT.
AND THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN
THAT PROCESS.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST
TO RECOGNIZE THE NIMBLENESS OF
OUR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS IN
SETTING UP NOW A TOTAL OF 34
COOLING CENTERS.
CENTERS THAT DO NOT ALSO
INCLUDE PARKS AND RECREATION
FACILITIES INCLUDING PUBLIC
BEACHES.
THAT ARE OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR
SEATTLEITES TO TRY AND COOL OFF
DURING THIS INCREDIBLY
UNPRECEDENTED AND DIFFICULT
HEAT WAVE.
THAT SAID, I THINK THAT THERE
IS CERTAINLY MORE THAT WE WILL
BE ABLE TO DO GOING FORWARD
HERE PARTICULARLY AROUND MAKING
SURE THAT WE CAN REDOUBLE OUR
EFFORTS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN
MORE NON-CONGREGATE ENHANCED
SHELTERS TO MITIGATE THE NEED
TO SCRAMBLE SO MUCH WHENEVER
THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS A PLACE TO GO TO
MEET BASIC NEEDS LIKE SHELTER
FROM THE ENVIRONMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THAT WORK AND FOLLOWING UP ON
THE INVESTMENTS THAT THIS
COUNCIL HAS MADE FOR INCREASES
IN HOTEL ROOMS, TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND OTHER FORMS OF NON-
CONGREGATE ENHANCED SHELTER
WHICH CONTINUE TO BE A BIG
PRIORITY OF THIS COUNCIL.
ON A RELATED NOTE, I WILL BE
MEETING WITH KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
CEO TOMORROW ON TUESDAY.
TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE ALIGNMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY'S PRIORITIES
AROUND SHELTER AND HOUSING AND
OUTREACH POLICY AS WE CONTINUE
OUR TRANSITION OF MOVING MORE
OF OUR HOMELESSNESS ASSETS INTO
THE KING COUNTY RELIGIOUSLY
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY AND LOOK
FORWARD TO REPORTING BACK ON
THE NATURE OF THAT CONVERSATION.
I WILL BE ATTENDING THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT BOARD ON THURSDAY AS
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNCIL.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED, ALONG
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS MOSQUEDA
AND HERBOLD, THE OVERDOSE
EMERGENCY AND INVADED RECOVERY
TASK FORCE, WHICH IS BEING
CONVENED BY A NUMBER OF
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THE
MULTIFACETED REPRESENTATION OF
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FROM
KING COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
MEMBERS OF OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
THEN, OF COURSE TWO MEMBERS OF
CITY COUNCIL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUT OF
THAT TASK FORCE TO INFORM THIS
COUNCIL'S WORK ON A PUBLIC
HEALTH INFORMED APPROACH TO
DRUG POLICY INSTEAD OF A CAR
CEREAL AND PUNITIVE ONE THAT
WORK WILL BE CONTINUING I
BELIEVE EVERY TWO WEEKS
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE
SUMMER WITH AN ANTICIPATED
REPORT BACK AS WE GET INTO THE
FALL.
SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN THAT
SCOPE OF WORK, ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD AND
MOSQUEDA, AND APPRECIATE THE
LEADER OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION AMONG OTHER
ENTITIES THAT HAVE CONVENED
THAT IMPORTANT WORK.
FINALLY, AS A MEMBER OF -- A
NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES HAVE
REPORTED THIS MORNING, I WAS
VERY PROUD TO ATTEND THE AIDS
MEMORIAL PATHWAY DEDICATION ON
A VERY, VERY HOT SATURDAY
MORNING.
IN ORDER TO REALLY RECOGNIZE
THE GREAT COMMUNITY WORK AND
VERY IMPACTFUL PLACE MAKING
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE
CAPITOL HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO CERTAINLY GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO FORMER SEATTLE
CITY COUNCILMEMBER TOM RASMUSSEN
WHO REALLY HAS DEDICATED A
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN
HIS POST COUNCIL CAREER MAKING
SURE THAT ALL OF THE -- MAKING
SURE THAT ALL OF THE
PREREQUISITES TO GETTING THAT
PUBLIC ART PROJECT FINALLY
INSTALLED WERE MAKING ALL OF
THEIR GOALS.
AND TO THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE
, PARTICULARLY ONE WHO IS ABLE
TO RAISE SOME OF THE PRIVATE
SUPPORTING FUNDS TO REALLY
BRING THAT IMPACT GOAL FRUITION.
FINALLY, I WAS PROUD TO JOIN
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BUDGET CHAIR
MOSQUEDA, COUNCILMEMBERS
STRAUSS AND HERBOLD AT THE
SIGNING OF THE SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN BY MAYOR DURKAN LAST
TUESDAY.
IT WAS A GOOD MOMENT OF COUNCIL
AND EXECUTIVE UNITY TO GET
MORE ASSETS OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY AS WE START COMING
OUT OF COVID AND WE START OUR
PROCESS TOWARDS A ROBUST AND
IMPACTFUL RECOVERY.
WITH THAT, MADAME PRESIDENT I
DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
UPDATES AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
A WEEK WITH NO COMMITTEE
MEETINGS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR THAT REPORT.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS?
>>> SEEING AND HEARING NONE, I
WILL CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA ITEM
WITH MY OWN REPORT.
I WILL BE QUICK.
I HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION -- ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
FIRST ARE THREE ITEMS THAT I AM
SPONSORING.
AGENDA ITEM 1 IS COUNCIL BILL
120107.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A
PROACTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
WITH THE SEATTLE FIRE CHIEF'S
ASSOCIATION.
LOCAL 2898.
THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT IS A THREE-YEAR
AGREEMENT ON WAGES, BENEFITS,
HOURS AND OTHER WORKING
CONDITIONS FOR JANUARY 1st,
2019 THROUGH DECEMBER 31st, 2021
THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY
34 REGULARLY APPOINTED CITY
EMPLOYEES.
IT PROVIDES FOR WAGE REDUCTIONS
OF 6.6% FOR 2017, 2.7% FOR
2020, 3.7% FOR 2021 THE TERMS
OF THE AGREEMENT MET THE
NEGOTIATION PARAMETERS SET BY
THE MEMBERS POLICY COMMITTEE.
SECOND IS AGENDA ITEM 3, WHICH
IS THE APPOINTMENT 01951 TO THE
SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
COMMISSION.
LESLIE, AGENDA ITEM 4 IS
APPOINTMENT 01871 WHICH IS THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF KIMBERLY WALKER
AS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PROMISE AND
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
MY REGULAR MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE WON'T OCCUR UNTIL
TODAY, JULY 15th.
SO, LOOK FORWARD TO SAYING MORE
ABOUT THAT AS WE GET CLOSER.
LIKE MANY FOLKS WHO HAVE OUR
DIMENSION, I WAS ALSO HONORED
TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AT THE
DEDICATION OF THE AIDS MEMORIAL
PATHWAY.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
CELEBRATION OF PRIDE THIS
SATURDAY.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS SO
MANY OTHERS HAVE SAID ALREADY
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR AND
REMEMBER THOSE LOST TO A
PANDEMIC WHOSE RESPONSE WAS
SLOW.
REALLY APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BE A COMMUNITY WITH OTHER
FOLKS AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
THIS PAST SATURDAY.
LASTLY, JUST WANT TO GIVE A
QUICK SHOUT OUT TO SBU WHO
WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK THE
LAST FEW DAYS TO OPEN MORE THAN
100 WATER FOUNTAINS.
ENTERING RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS
TO DRINKING WATER DURING THE
HEAT WAVE.
AGAIN, I HOPE EVERYONE HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A COOLING
CENTER IF YOU NEED ONE AND I DO
HOPE THAT ALL OF US ARE ABLE TO
STAY COOL AND HEALTHY AS THE
HEAT CONTINUES TO SPITE.
MY PHONE ABOUT ONE HOUR AGO
SAID IT'S ALREADY 90 DEGREES AT
11:30 A.M.
THAT BEING SAID, IF THERE IS
NOTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF
THE ORDER, WE WILL BE ADJOURNED
FOR THIS MORNING.
ANYTHING ELSE?
NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED, SO
COLLEAGUES, SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE
CONCLUDED THIS MORNING'S ITEMS
OF BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.
WE ARE ADJOURNED AND I WILL SEE
YOU ALL AT 2:00.
STAY COOL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BYE.