>>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING.
>> I'M DAN STRAUSS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM . TODAY IS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021.
COUNCIL BRIEFING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:30 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YEAR.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS?
>> EIGHT RESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE WAS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1, 2021
WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
>> ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE
AGENDA IS PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
TODAY, I HAVE NO REPORT OTHER
THAN TO SAY EITHER HAPPY
BELATED BIRTHDAY OR HAPPY EARLY
BIRTHDAY TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ , WOULD
YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING THERE?
SEEING NO COMMENTS, HAPPY
BELATED ORDERLY BIRTHDAY.
ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE
MORNING'S AGENDA BRIEFING ON
CLERK FILE 314459, THE GRAND
STREET ALLEY VACATION.
TODAY WE HAVE PRESENTERS LISH
WHITSON , BEVERLY BARNETT ,
MICHAEL JENKINS , MATHEW
RICHTER , DAVID TAN , AND PAT
FOLEY . GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL MOVE INTO A
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES .
>> GOOD MORNING, LISH WHITSON,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF . I AM
GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT
OF CONTEXT FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROPOSED
ALLEY VACATION.
WE WILL HANDED OVER TO CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND THE PETITIONERS
. MT. BAKER HOUSING AND LIKE
COMMITTEE PARTNERS HAVE
PETITIONED THE CITY FOR THE
VACATION ALLEY TO FACILITATE
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
IN THE JUDKINS PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD, SOUTH GRAND STREET
AT THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF
COUNCIL DISTRICT 3. UNDER STATE
LAW IS A LEGISLATIVE ACT.
THE COUNCIL IS ABOUT POLICIES
THAT INCLUDE A TWO PART TEST
FOR STREET AND ALLEY VACATIONS.
FIRST, LOOK AT WHETHER THE CITY
IS PROTECTING THE PUBLIC'S
TRUST.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE REASONS WE
HAVE STREETS AND ALLEYS.
SECOND, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE
PUBLIC ACCESS THE PUBLIC WILL
PROVIDE.
FIRST TEST CONSIDERED WHETHER A
ALLEY IS NEEDED FOR ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING REASONS ,
CIRCULATION, ACCESS, UTILITIES,
LIGHT, AIR, OPEN SPACE, PUBLIC
ASSEMBLY, OR FREE-SPEECH
ACTIVITIES.
AND, WHETHER IT IS CONSISTENT
WITH OUR LAND-USE POLICIES AND
URBAN FORM.
SECOND, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER
WHETHER IT IS SUFFICIENT IF IT
TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN
EXCHANGE FOR A PERMANENT LOSS
TO THE PUBLIC OR PUBLIC SPACE.
YOU CAN CONSIDER THE USE OF THE
BUILDING AND BENEFITS PROVIDED
BY THE PROJECT BUT THERE ALSO
NEEDS TO BE A LONG TERM BENEFIT
TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
COUNCILS REVIEW OF THE VACATION
TAKES PLACE IN TWO PHASES.
THE FIRST IS CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL AND THAT IS A
DECISION, WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
THE SECOND, IF CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL IS GRANTED, THE
PROJECT WILL COME BACK TO
COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL
WHEN ALL THE CONDITIONS HAVE
BEEN MET. THERE IS A PUBLIC
HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THIS
PROJECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON
WHICH WILL ALLOW YOU TO VOTE ON
THE VACATION AS EARLY AS NEXT
WEEK.
I WILL HANDED OVER TO BEVERLY
BARNETT TO TALK ABOUT THE
ANALYSIS THE CITY DEPARTMENT'S
ARE UNDERTAKING UNLESS ANYONE
HAS QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE ALL REALLY APPRECIATIVE
OF THE COUNCIL SETTING A
SPECIAL TIME TO HEAR THIS
PROJECT WITH THE WAY HOUSING
FUNDS ARE DISPERSED. THE TIMING
WAS REALLY DIFFICULT.
I THINK WE ALL REALLY GREATLY
APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE LISH 'S OVERVIEW.
I AM GOING TO SPEND A COUPLE OF
MINUTES COVERING WHAT SDOT
LOOKED AT AND I ALSO WANT TO
LET YOU KNOW HOW WE WILL HANDLE
THIS MORNING'S MEETING.
WE HAVE LISH AND THEN ME .
NEXT TO SPEAK IS MICHAEL
JENKINS , THEN MATHEW RICHTER
AND THEN PAT FOLEY AND DAVID
TAN , THE JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS
ARE GOING TO JUST INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES AND THEN WE ARE
GOING TO FOCUS THE BULK OF OUR
TIME ON THE POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION. DAVID IS GOING TO
GO OVER THIS.
NATALIE QUICK, WHO WAS ALSO
PART OF THE TEAM, WILL RUN THE
POWERPOINT.
WE DO HAVE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS
HERE THAT ARE SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS SO IF ANY QUESTIONS
COME UP, WE CAN TEXT THEM AND
GET INFORMATION.
WE HAVE THEIR ARCHITECTURAL TEAM
. WE HAVE JONATHAN WILLIAMS
FROM SDOT WHO WORKED ON THE
STREET IMPROVEMENT PERMIT PLAN.
WE THINK WE HAVE EVERYBODY THAT
IS NEEDED TO RESPOND TO YOUR
QUESTIONS BUT WE DO REALLY WANT
TO FOCUS ON THE PROJECT.
MY JOB IN SDOT -- SDOT
ADMINISTERS THE VACATION
PROGRAM FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT IS OUR JOB TO REVIEW THE
POLICIES AND MAKE SURE THAT THE
PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COUNCIL
WANTS TO SEE.
WITH THIS PROJECT, WE THINK
THIS IS A VERY STRONG PROJECT.
WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO
RECOMMEND IT AND HAPPY TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THEIR SCHEDULE.
THERE IS A COUPLE OF UNUSUAL
THINGS WITH THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM MICHAEL
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM
MATHEW RICHTER ABOUT THE
CULTURAL ART SPACE WHICH MAY
BE THE FIRST ONE THAT COUNCIL
HAS SEEN.
IT IS STEPHANIE THE FIRST SPACE
ASSOCIATED WITH A VACATION.
THEN WHEN WE GO INTO THE
POWERPOINT, YOU WILL SEE THE
PROJECT DESIGN IN THE CONTEXT
OF HOW IT FITS INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND THE REALLY LARGE-
SCALE, WELL-DESIGNED PUBLIC
OPEN SPACES THAT ARE BEING
CREATED.
FOR A PROJECT TO RECEIVE A
RECOMMENDATION, IT NEEDS TO MEET
THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL.
WE THINK THIS IS AN UNUSUAL
PROJECT.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL SEE
WHEN WE GET INTO THE POWERPOINT
IS BY VACATING THE ALLEY AND
CONSOLIDATING THE SITE, MT.
BAKER HOUSING IS ABLE TO DO
MORE UNITS OF HOUSING, LESS
COST PER UNIT, AND ARE ABLE TO
ADD MORE FAMILY SIZE UNITS.
THAT LITTLE ALLEY REALLY HAS A
REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE ON
HOUSING THAT IS BEING CREATED.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POWERPOINT,
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
UNLESS THERE IS QUESTIONS FOR
ME, WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON
THE OTHER BITS AND PIECES AND
GET TO THE POWERPOINT.
WE ARE ALL HERE AND WE ARE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANYTHING NOW OR
LATER BEFORE THIS AFTERNOON.
MICHAEL, I BELIEVE YOU ARE NEXT.
>> PERFECT.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND THANK YOU, BEVERLY.
THANK YOU TO THE MT. BAKER TEAM
AND THEIR PARTNERS FOR THIS
VERY INTERESTING PROJECT THAT
THE COMMISSION EVALUATED.
THE COMMISSION LOOKED AT THE
PROJECT TWICE ON THE ISSUES OF
PUBLIC TRUST AND TWICE ON
PUBLIC BENEFITS. OVERALL, THE
COMMISSION SUPPORTED THE ALLEY
AS NOT HAVING A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THE REMAINING RIGHT-
OF-WAY.
THEY PROVIDED ADEQUATE ACCESS
FOR THE MOTORS, WHICH IS A
PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH.
THE COMMISSION VOICED THEIR
SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR THE
PROJECT AND THE ADDITIONAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS
ACHIEVED FROM THE VACATION.
OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT FEATURES
THAT WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE
PRESENTATION, I THINK THAT THE
COMMISSION WAS MOST EXCITED BY
AND INTERESTED IN HOW EQUITY IS
BEING ELEVATED IN THE PROPOSED
ART AND CULTURAL SPACE AND THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO ELEVATE EQUITY
WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PLAZA
AND RIGHT-OF-WAY.
BEVERLY ELUDED TO THE
RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROJECT
WITH THE CULTURAL SPACE PDA. WE
ARE THRILLED WITH THIS PARTNER.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH
MATHEW RICHTER AND THE CULTURAL
SPACE PDA AND WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED THAT THIS PARTICULAR
PROJECT PROVIDES POTENTIALLY A
BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER STREET AND
ALLEY VACATION , FOCUSING ON
ART AND CULTURE AS WELL AS THAT
REFLECT EVER CHANGING
DEMOGRAPHICS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE, IF THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
OR, AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION, ASK
ME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
COMMISSION'S INTEREST AND
SUPPORT ARE THE PUBLIC AND IF
IT PACKAGE.
I THINK WITH THAT --
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL, THANK YOU
BEVERLY.
I AM PRESENTING THIS MORNING ON
BEHALF OF THE CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCY, THE NEWEST PUBLIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IN
SEATTLE WHICH REPRESENTS, BY
THE SQUARE FEET, THE SMALLEST
PIECE OF THIS WHOLE PROJECT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT ACQUIRING
1500 SQUARE-FOOT STOREFRONT IN
THE MT. BAKER HOUSING PROJECT,
RIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THE
BUILDING ON RAINIER AVENUE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO TURN IT INTO
SOME PERMANENTLY DEDICATED
CULTURAL SPACE ON BEHALF OF
COMMUNITY.
THIS IS SPACE THAT SINCE
MEMORIAL HAS BEEN INDIGENOUS
ULTURAL SPACE AND THAT OVER
THE COURSE OF THE LAST 150
YEARS, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT HAS REALLY ACCEPTED
MULTIPLE WAVES OF IMMIGRATION
FROM ITALIAN FARMING
IMMIGRATION AT THE TURN-OF-THE-
CENTURY THROUGH JAPANESE
COMMUNITIES THAT CAME TO TOWN
THROUGH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,
VIETNAMESE POPULATION HAS
SWELLED IN 1970s.
URBANIZING LATINX POPULATION
AND MOST RECENTLY A BURGEONING
SOMALI COMMUNITY IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.
NOW THAT HOUSING IS EXPANDING
AND SEATTLE IS GROWING, WE ARE
LOOKING AT TRYING TO ENSURE THE
RETENTION OF THESE CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT THE SPACE AGENCY INTENDS
TO DO IS CREATE WHAT WE BELIEVE
TO BE THE FIRST PERMANENTLY
DEDICATED POP UP SPACE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THIS WOULD BE 1500 SQUARE FEET
OF RETAIL SPACE THAT WOULD BE A
SERIES OF CULTURALLY
REPRESENTATIVE POP UP PROJECT'S
WHETHER THOSE ARE MICRO
BUSINESSES OR ARTS PROJECTS
DIRECTLY, SMALL GALLERIES,
PERFORMANCE SPACES IN THIS
STOREFRONT THAT WOULD ROTATE
EVERY THREE MONTHS, EVERY SIX
MONTHS BUT IT WOULD BE
PERMANENTLY DEDICATED AND
CURATED BY THE CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCY.
IT IS A SUPER EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF
IT. I ALSO WILL BE HERE AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PROJECT.
WITH THAT, I BELIEVE I PASS IT
TO DAVID TAN.
>> NEXT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
PAT FOLEY FROM LAKE UNION
PARTNERS AND DAVID TAN
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND THEN
WE WILL MOVE INTO THE POWERPOINT
SO NATALIE CAN START PREPPING
THE POWERPOINT. EITHER PATRICK
OR DAVID, IF YOU WANT TO DO A
QUICK INTRO AND THEN WE WILL
MOVE TO THE POWERPOINT.
>> GO AHEAD FIRST, DAVID.
>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, COUNCIL, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR IN FRONT
OF YOU TODAY.
I AM DAVID TAN.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
MT. BAKER HOUSING . WE ARE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH LAKE UNION
PARTNERS ON GRAND STREET
COMMONS AND I MUST SAY THAT
MATTHEW HAS HIGHLIGHTED, IN
ADDITION TO THE HOUSING, ONE OF
THE MOST EXCITING THINGS FOR US
ABOUT THIS SPACE AND THIS
PROJECT, I HAPPEN TO BE A
MUSICAL ARTIST. I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE POP UP SPACE
THAT THE CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY
IS GOING TO BE PLACING IN OUR
PROJECT.
I AM GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
PAT FOLEY BUT BEFORE I DO THAT,
I WANT TO MENTION THAT LAKE
UNION PARTNERS AND MT. BAKER
HAVE ENTERED INTO A DEPARTMENT
PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAND STREET
COMMONS, WHICH I BELIEVE COULD
POTENTIALLY BE A MODEL FOR THE
FUTURE. THIS IS A REALLY
EXCITING ONE FOR US. I WOULD
LOVE FOR PAT TO EXPAND ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE
TODAY.
THIS IS OUR SECOND PROJECT OF
THIS NATURE.
THIS WAS A CONTAMINATED SITE,
WHERE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS,
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE CLEANED A SITE WHICH NOW IS
ALLOWING US, AS A PRIVATE
DEVELOPER WORKING WITH MT.
BAKER HOUSING, TO DELIVER 775
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALMOST 50% OF WHICH WILL BE
AFFORDABLE. WE ARE SUPER
EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
OUR FIRST PROJECT IN THE
CENTRAL AREA WILL BE PARTNERED
WITH COMMUNITY HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND A VERY
SIMILAR 50% ACROSS THE ENTIRE
BLOCK WILL BE AFFORDABLE. WE
HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON
COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL SHOPS AND
RETAIL THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND
THAT ALLOWS US TO RECRUIT THE
TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WANT. WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO
DELIVER THIS MUCH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AT THIS LOCATION.
>> DAVID, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE
ON MUTE. I THINK NOW WE ARE
READY FOR THE POWERPOINT. IF
NATALIE CAN SHARE HER SCREEN,
WE WILL GO TO THE POWERPOINT
AND OF COURSE RESPOND TO ANY
QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT OR AT THE
END.
>> THANK YOU.
THE FIRST SLIDE HERE IS A
GENERAL RENDITION OF WHAT GRAND
STREET COMMONS WILL LOOK LIKE.
I WANT TO MENTION THIS AGAIN.
IT IS A GROUND FIELD SITE THAT
HAS BEEN CLEANED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY. ONE OF
THE BENEFITS OF THIS KIND OF
CODEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP IS
CREATING A VERY COHERENT AND
BENEFICIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS FIRST SLIDE IS
REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT IT WILL
LOOK LIKE.
THAT CAR YOU SEE THERE IS
MOVING MORE ALONG RANIER. IF
YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS
ONE GIVES US A -- NATALIE, IF
YOU COULD POSSIBLY MOVE TO THE
NEXT SLIDE.
PERHAPS WE ARE HAVING A LITTLE
BIT OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS A GENERAL
OVERVIEW OF THE REGION WITH THE
THREE BLOCKS THAT ARE BEING
DEVELOPED HIGHLIGHTED.
MAYBE WE CAN GET TO THOSE. ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD
POINT OUT IS -- THERE WE GO.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE SITE
LOCATION.
YOU CAN SEE RAINIER AVENUE SOUTH
RUNNING ALONG WOULD BE THE LEFT
OR WEST SIDE OF THIS PIECE OF
PROPERTY.
GRANT STREET RUNS THROUGH THE
MIDDLE.
THERE IS A SLIDE, WHICH I
BELIEVE IS THE NEXT ONE, WHICH
SHOWS -- NOPE, IT IS THE ONE
ACTUALLY BEFORE THIS ONE.
THERE WE GO.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS, IN RED, THE
LITTLE LINE RUNNING THROUGH
GRAND STREET COMMONS SOUTH.
THAT IS THE ALLEY WE ARE
REQUESTING TO BE VACATED. IF WE
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AFTER
THE NEXT SLIDE, THE OVERALL
VISION FOR THIS PROPERTY IS
SHOWN THERE BUT THE HIGHLIGHT
HERE, AS PATRICK MENTIONED, THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS
THAT THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED
TO PROVIDE AND THE NUMBER OF
AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT WILL BE A
PART OF THE PROJECT.
YOU CAN SEE GRAND STREET
COMMONS SOUTH IS MT. BAKER
HOUSING'S PORTION OF THE
PROJECT AND 100% OF OUR UNITS
WILL BE AFFORDALE. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE OVERALL
PROJECT, NEARLY 50% OF THOSE
775 UNITS WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
NATALIE, IF WE COULD MOVE TO
THE NEXT SLIDE.
ú>> THIS IS A GENERAL OVERVIEW
OF THE PROJECT INFORMATION.
RATHER THAN READ EVERYTHING HERE
, I WILL LEAVE THIS SLIDE FOR A
FEW MOMENTS AND GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW IT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I
CAN TRY TO ANSWER THEM.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IF
WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT
SLIDE.
>> SORRY, DAVID.
I SEE A QUESTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I APOLOGIZE.
GO AHEAD.
>> IT IS A BROADER QUESTION NOT
ABOUT THIS SLIDE IN PARTICULAR
AND IT MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR
BEVERLY BUT I AM INTERESTED,
ESPECIALLY IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
SOME OF THE SLIDES A LITTLE
FURTHER IN THE APPENDIX -- IT
LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A BIG
DRIVEWAY THAT WILL BE COMING
IN.
MAYBE THAT IS GRAND STREET.
GIVEN HOW BUSY RAINIER AVENUE
IS AND HOW FAST PEOPLE DRIVE
DOWN THAT ROAD, I AM INTERESTED
TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF RIGHT-OF-
WAY IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE
AND IF THERE WILL BE ANY
CROSSWALKS ADDED. IF YOU ARE
ADDING 700 UNITS HERE FOR
PEOPLE PRESUMABLY TO WALK UP TO
THE LIGHT-RAIL STATION THAT IS
COMING IN, OR TO MOVE DOWN INTO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I AM
WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY PLAN
TO ADD SOME CROSSWALKS NEAR
THIS PROJECT.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
BEVERLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO --
>> YEAH.
COUNCILMEMBER, THAT MIGHT BE A
LITTLE MORE EVIDENT WHEN WE GET
A LITTLE FURTHER INTO THE
PRESENTATION.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE GRAND
STREET CONNECTION TO RAINIER,
IT IS PROPOSED TO BE A ONE-WAY
PEDESTRIAN CHARACTER. E THE
IT WILL BE NARROWER TO SLOW
TRAFFIC DOWN. IT WILL BE A
HERBALISTS STREET. THAT DESIGN
HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY SDOT AND
BY OUR TRAFFIC OPERATIONS AND
BASED ON THE TRAFFIC VOLUMES,
HAVE APPROVED THAT.
IT IS IN THE FINAL, FINAL
DESIGN BUT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING
AT REALLY IS A DIFFERENT VISION
OF GRAND STREET. IT IS NOT A
DRIVEWAY.
>> OKAY.
PLEASE GO ON.
I'M SURE I WILL HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS.
>> NATALIE, IF YOU COULD MOVE
TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS A SLIDE WHICH SHOWS THE
IMPACT OF THE ALLEY VACATION.
IN THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER ,
YOU CAN SEE THE ALLEY AS IT IS
NOW . IF IT WERE NOT VACATED,
ON OUR BLOCK, ON THE MT. BAKER
HOUSING BLOCK, WE WOULD BE
LIMITED TO CREATING A TWO
BUILDING PROJECT. WITH THE
ALLEY GONE, WE CAN CREATE A
ONE BUILDING PROJECT.
THE BENEFIT OF THAT IS TWO
THINGS, REALLY.
FIRST OF ALL, WITHOUT THE ALLEY
VACATION, WE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE 160 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WITH THE ALLEY VACATION AND A
SINGLE BUILDING , WE CAN DO
206, OR 50 MORE APPROXIMATELY.
ANOTHER HUGE BENEFIT HERE OF
THE ALLEY VACATION WOULD BE
THE COST PER UNIT, WHICH WOULD
DROP SIGNIFICANTLY BY ABOUT
$64,000 PER UNIT.
NATALIE, IF WE COULD MOVE TO
THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS PROJECT AND THIS DESIGN,
WITH THE GUIDANCE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
HAS GONE THROUGH SOME
SIGNIFICANT AND REQUIRED
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
STARTED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO
IN 2019.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE
PHOTOGRAPH LITERALLY IS FROM
ONE OF THE EARLY COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
THIS WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WANDERING AROUND IN THAT ROOM
WITH NO MASKS BUT THIS WAS FROM
OCTOBER 2019.
THE ENGAGEMENT PLAN WAS
ACTUALLY QUITE SUCCESSFUL,
HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH WE WENT
THROUGH 2020 AS IT WAS. ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT MT. BAKER AND
LAKE UNION PARTNERS DID WITH
SOME HELP WAS CREATE A WEBSITE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS
SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC ON THE
WEBSITE. WE RECEIVED A LARGE
NUMBER OF THE COMMENTS TO THE
PROJECT, MOST OF WHICH AND MANY
OF WHICH YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, THAT WOULD BE
APPRECIATED.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE
PUBLIC BENEFITS.
I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS
AND READ EVERY WORD BUT I DO
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE
MIDDLE THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE
THING THAT MICHAEL AND MATTHEW
HIGHLIGHTED, THE ART AND
CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THE
COMMUNITIES SPACE, AGENCY USE
OF MT. BAKER HOUSING'S 1500
SQUARE FEET ON OUR COMMERCIAL
SITE FOR THE POP-UP. IF THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS HERE, WE CAN
ALSO RESPOND TO THEM NOW.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
>> IF NOT, NATALIE, WE CAN MOVE
TO THE NEXT AND BEGIN TO LOOK AT
SOME OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
BENEFITS.
YOU CAN SEE GRAND STREET DOES
RUNOFF OF RAINIER AVENUE SOUTH
BUT IT IS QUITE NARROW WHICH
WILL SLOW TRAFFIC A GREAT DEAL.
THESE ARE THE LOCATIONS WHERE
THERE ARE RIGHT-OF-WAY BENEFITS
WITH LANDSCAPING. YOU CAN SEE
IN THE BOTTOM LEFT-HAND CORNER
THE COMMERCIAL SPACE, WHICH THE
COMMUNITY SPACE AGENCY WILL BE
TAKING, IS ON THAT CORNER, SO
FACING RAINIER AVENUE SOUTH.
OUT IN FRONT OF THAT SPACE IS
PUBLIC GATHERING SPACE.
YOU CAN SEE THE PUBLIC PLAZA
AND RIGHT-OF-WAY THERE.
IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER
OF THIS SLIDE, THE GRAND STREET
ONE-WAY STREET WILL BE A VERY
SLOW, HERBALISTS STREET AND IT
IS ALSO WALKABLE.
THIS IS A MORE DETAILED VISION
OF THE PLAZA.
NATALIE, IF YOU COULD POSSIBLY
SHOW WHERE THE WATER FEATURE
WOULD BE JUST ABOVE GRAND
STREET.
THERE WE GO.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WALKING
SPACE.
IN ADDITION, 22nd AVENUE SOUTH
EXTENSION FROM THE TOP -- THERE
WE GO.
IN THE TOP OF THAT SPACE IT
LEADS TO THE JUDKINS PARK LIGHT-
RAIL STATION.
>> I MIGHT POP IN HERE FOR A
MINUTE.
THIS IS BEVERLY AGAIN FROM THE
FDOT PERSPECTIVE.
IN LOOKING AT THIS, THE IDEA TO
HAVE GRAND STREET BE ONE WAY WAS
INTENDED TO STILL PROVIDE FOR
ACCOMMODATION FOR THE THREE
BLOCKS BUT TO SLOW THE TRAFFIC
DOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS
EMPHASIZING THE PEDESTRIAN
CHARACTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE STAFF AND SDOT LOOKED AT --
>> BEVERLY MAY HAVE FROZEN.
>> -- DESIGN FEATURES.
>> BEVERLY, YOU CUT OUT MIDWAY
THROUGH THERE BUT I THINK WE
GOT YOUR POINT.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU
JUST SAID, BEVERLY.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY, ABOUT
THE SPACE THAT IS HERE AND THE
VIBE THAT THIS COULD BRING TO
THE AREA.
I THINK IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT I AM STILL WORRIED ABOUT,
THOUGH, IS NOT NECESSARILY
GRAND STREET BUT RAINIER.
IF THE INTENTION IS TO CREATE A
PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY SPACE HERE,
IT IS LITERALLY ON A VERY
UNFRIENDLY SUITE FOR
PEDESTRIANS.
MY REAL QUESTION IS ABOUT WHAT
IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED
OF THE DEVELOPERS ON THE
SIDEWALK ALONG RAINIER,
CROSWALKS FOR PEOPLE MOVING IN
AND OUT OF THIS SPACE . THERE
IS A LOT HAPPENING HERE. IF THE
INTENTION IS TO BRING PEOPLE
WHO ARE WALKING, THEY MAY BE
VERY SAFE INSIDE THE SPACE BUT
ALL AROUND IT, THEY WON'T BE.
THAT IS MY REAL QUESTION.
WHAT DOES THE PERIMETER AROUND
THIS?
WHAT REQUIREMENTS WILL BE MADE
TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE
AND THE PERIMETER OF THIS SPACE?
>> SDOT IS LOOKING AT
PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS AT 23rd
AND AT RAINIER.
THE PROJECT ITSELF DOES NOT
TRIGGER THE REQUIREMENTS TO DO
A SIGNALIZED CROSSING AT
RAINIER AVENUE SOUTH. WE ARE
LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER KINDS OF
PEDESTRIAN ENHANCEMENTS CAN BE
REQUIRED BUT AROUND THE TWO
BLOCKS TO THE NORTH AND ON THE
MT. BAKER SITE, DEVELOPERS ARE
ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING A
CODE REQUIRED IMPROVEMENT
AROUND THE SITE.
THIS PROJECT JUST DID NOT
TRIGGER A SIGNAL AT RAINIER
AVENUE SOUTH. I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING WE ARE STILL LOOKING
AT, WHAT ENHANCEMENTS CAN BE.
THERE WILL BE CONDUITS PUT IN
PLACE SO WHEN A SIGNAL IS
TRIGGERED, IT CAN BE PUT IN
MORE READILY. I THINK THE
COMMISSION DID LOOK AT THIS.
IT LOOKS LIKE MICHAEL WANTS TO
ADD SOMETHING ON THAT TOO.
>> YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES, THERE WAS
SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSION BY THE
COMMISSION LOOKING AT THE
BALANCE OF -- BECAUSE THERE IS
NOT A REQUIREMENT TRIGGERING
THE IMPROVEMENT, THERE WAS A
LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
RELATIVE COST OF SIGNAL LYSING
AND EVEN IF THEY SIGNALED
INTERSECTION OR CROSSING.
EXCUSE ME, IT COULD BE
PERMITTED BECAUSE OF THE NATURE
OF THE ARTERIAL.
THE RELEVANT COST WEIGHED
AGAINST SOME OF THE OTHER
COMMITMENTS THAT THEY WERE ABLE
TO MAKE TO THE PLAZA, NOW TO
THE CULTURAL SPACE PDA,
CERTAINLY THE COMMISSION
EXPLORED THAT WITH THEM. THANK
YOU FOR REMINDING US THAT THERE
IS A CONDUIT IMPROVEMENT TO THE
NORTH THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A
SIGNALIZED CROSSING WHEN SDOT
APPROVES A WARRANT FOR THAT.
>> THE SIDEWALK ON RAINIER WILL
BE WIDENED TO 8 FEET.
IT DOES CREATE A PEDESTRIAN
ENVIRONMENT, JUST THAT SENSE OF
DIMENSION.
THE ENTIRETY OF THE DESIGN ON
THE SITE IS INTENDED TO CREATE
A PLACE FOR PEDESTRIANS.
THE DESIGN OF THE PLAZA
CERTAINLY NEEDS TO LOOK AT
SOUNDS, NOISE, THE VOLUMES FROM
RAINIER BUT IT IS PART OF
BEING IN AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS VERY HELPFUL
INFORMATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, DO YOU
HAVE A FOLLOW-UP?
THANK YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE FIVE
MINUTES LEFT SCHEDULED FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO
CHECK IN TO SEE IF WE HAVE
OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT PRO
TEM STRAUSS.
EXCITED TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM
TODAY.
ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU TO ALL OF THE PRESENTERS.
I WILL BE FIGHTING AN AMENDMENT
FOR OUR CONSIDERATION THIS
AFTERNOON SO I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT I WAS IN Q FOR WHEN
THE PRESENTATION ROUNDS OUT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OTHER
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PRESENTATION, I JUST WANTED TO
LET COLLEAGUES KNOW.
YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD FROM MY
OFFICE AS WELL MIDWEEK LAST
WEEK ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS.
HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THIS
MORNING AS A PREVIEW FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> JUST AS I AM STEPPING INTO
THE ROLE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING
THIS AFTERNOON.
I THOUGHT WE WERE VOTING NEXT
WEEK? ARE WE VOTING TODAY?
WE ARE VOTING NEXT WEEK.
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND THEN
WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
PRESENTATION.
WE HAD A SIMILAR PRESENTATION
AT OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
IT IS VERY THOROUGH.
JUST BECAUSE IT IS A VACATION
OF AN ALLEYWAY, THEY NORMALLY
GO THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE BUT IN THIS CASE
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SLOW
DOWN THE PRODUCTION OF ANY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I
APPRECIATE THE ACCOMMODATION TO
HAVE THIS BRIEFING TODAY AND
PUBLIC HEARING THIS AFTERNOON.
WE WILL VOTE ON IT NEXT WEEK.
I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS
VACATION OF THE ALLEY . I DON'T
DO THAT LIGHTLY.
I WANT TO MAXIMIZE PUBLIC
BENEFIT WHENEVER WE ARE GIVING
SOMETHING UP THAT IS THE CITY'S
. IN THIS CASE, THE ALLEY.
HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC AND IF
IT'S HERE SEEM VERY THOROUGH.
OBVIOUSLY, ONLY HALF OF THE
UNITS WILL BE LOW INCOME, IT IS
A LOT OF UNITS.
IT IS 360 AFFORDABLE UNITS.
I AM PLEASED TO SEE IT AT 60%
OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME WHICH IS
APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY TO
SUPPORT LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. I
AM HAPPY TO WORK WITH, AS
JUDKINS PARK STATION OPENS IN A
COUPLE OF YEARS A FEW BLOCKS TO
THE NORTH AND THEN WE HAVE MT.
BAKER LIGHT-RAIL STATION TO THE
SOUTH, I AM HAPPY TO WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
SAWANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
GETTING PEOPLE SAFELY TO THOSE
LIGHT-RAIL STATION'S. THEY ARE
WALKING SAFELY THERE. I JUST
WANT TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU.
>> OTHER COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE
TWO MINUTES LEFT.
OTHERWISE I WILL TURN IT BACK
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT
TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO IS ON
THE LINE TODAY FROM ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS.
I AM EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU.
I DO WANT TO FLAG. THANK YOU TO
CHAIR OF THE LAND USE FOR THIS
BRIEFING AND HEARING THIS
AFTERNOON.
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE THAT WE
WILL BE BRINGING BEFORE YOU IS
DISCUSSED ON PAGE 5 OF THE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REMOVE THE
REQUIREMENT THAT GRAND STREET
PARTNERS PAY THE APPRAISED
VALUE FOR THE ALLIE SPACE.
ADOPTING THE AMENDMENT WOULD
REDUCE THE CITY'S COST TO
DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON
SITE BY HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
OUR OVERALL GOAL HERE IS TO
CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
TO MAKE SURE EVERY PENNY GOES
BACK INTO THE PUBLIC GRID AS
WAS JUST DISCUSSED. I BELIEVE
THIS AMENDMENT IS ONE PART OF A
LARGER CONVERSATION THAT WE
WILL SOON BE HAVING ABOUT HOW
WE CAN CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITY
FOR THOE PRECIOUS DOLLARS TO
GO DIRECTLY INTO BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS AMENDMENT TO THIS
INDIVIDUAL STREET VACATION IS A
PRECURSOR TO LEGISLATION MY
OFFICE WILL BE WORKING ON WITH
LISH WHITSON.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR
TRANSPORTATION AS WELL FOR THE
CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR OFFICE
ABOUT HOW TO CREATE AN
ASSUMPTION FOR ALL CITY
AFFORDED HOUSING PROJECTS.
WE WILL REMOVE AN INTERNAL
BARRIER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND ALLOW US TO SAVE RUSSIA'S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONEY THAT
COULD BE USED FOR MORE HOMES
PICK THIS AMENDMENT ALIGNS WITH
LEGISLATION THAT I SPONSORED
BACK IN 2018 THAT PRIORITIZED
CITY-OWNED SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS WAS THE SURPASS PLAN THAT
FOLKS REMEMBER THAT REMOVED --
AND ASKED OUR CITY TO PRESERVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES ON PUBLICLY OWNED
LAND AND WHEN THOSE SURPLUS
PROPERTIES HAVE OFFERED IT TO
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WHEN
THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED, TO
OFFER THOSE WHO DEVELOP
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT WE
CAN PRESERVE PUBLIC GOOD ON
PUBLIC SPACES.
I REMOVING HEFTY FEES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHARGES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEEDING TO
ACQUIRE THE AREA OF THE CITY
OWNED RIGHTS-OF-WAY, THEN WE
ARE ABLE TO ADVANCE OUR GOAL OF
CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE A
MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
WAY TO REMOVE ANY UNNECESSARY
PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH
TRANSFERRING CITY FUNDS RIGHT
BACK TO THE CITY.
APPRECIATE THE ONGOING
CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
REPRESENTED HERE FROM THE
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND CITY
DEPARTMENTS AS WELL TO HELP
REMOVE THE REQUIRED PAY STREET
VACATION FEES MAKING SURE THAT
LIMITED PUBLIC HOUSING DOLLARS
GO RIGHT BACK INTO BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WILL SAVE THE REST OF MY
COMMENTS FOR THIS AFTERNOON BUT
I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
REMOVE SPECIFIC TO THIS
PROPERTY ALLOWING FOR $400,000
TO BE INVESTED RIGHT BACK INTO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WANT TO THANK AARON HOUSE IN
LISH WHITSON FOR THEIR WORK
ALONG WITH THE CHAIR OF
TRANSPORTATION WHO WILL BE
CONSIDERING THE LARGER BILL THAT
ACCOMPANIES THIS CONCEPT IN THE
TRANSPORTATION ON DECEMBER 1
AND THEN I WILL HAVE THE FINAL
PRECISION IN OUR COMMITTEE ON
DECEMBER 7 WITH THE EXPECTED
HOPEFUL VOTE ON DECEMBER 13.
HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS
THAT MIGHT COME UP FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS EITHER THIS
AFTERNOON OR THROUGHOUT THE
WEEK AS YOU CONSIDER AMENDMENT
NUMBER ONE. AGAIN, SUMMARIES ON
PAGE 5 OF THE CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO.
>> THANK YOU.
VERY HELPFUL.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE EARLY
WARNING.
I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
HIGHLIGHT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
'S TO HAVE ANY AGREEMENTS BY
NOVEMBER 30.
SEPARATE TOPIC BUT IN THE
SPIRIT OF EARLY WARNINGS AND
INFORMATION BEING RECEIVED
EARLY ON, I WILL TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO MAKE THAT PLEA AGAIN.
FROM OUR PRESENTATION PANEL
TODAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS OR ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS?
I DO SEE WE ARE NOW TWO MINUTES
OVER THE ALLOTTED TIME.
>> SEEING NONE, I APPRECIATE
YOU ALL COMING OUT.
WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING
THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN TAKE
THE BILL UP NEXT MONDAY, SO A
WEEK FROM TODAY AT FULL
COUNCIL.
THANK YOU PATRICK, DAVID, LISH,
MICHAEL, MATTHEW, BEVERLY ,
REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER
FOUR IN TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE WILL BEGIN OUR NEXT
DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIEW OF
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS.
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
I WILL CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBERS
AS ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATED
ROLL CALL FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS WHICH IS DESIGNATED
AUTOMATICALLY BY LAST NAME.
AND WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
CALLED LAST.
THIS WEEK'S ROLL CALL BEGINS
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
FOLLOWED BY PEDERSEN, SAWANT,
SAWANT , HERBOLD, JUAREZ AND
LEWIS AND THEN I WILL CONCLUDE
THIS DISCUSSION.
WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR.
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
GIVE ME ONE SECOND WHILE I GET
THE SUNSHINE OUT OF MY FACE.
WE ARE VERY EXCITEDTHAT THERE
IS SUN OUT TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, APPRECIATE ALL OF
THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE ON
BUDGET. THIS IS NOW GETTING
INTO WEEK SEVEN OF EIGHT WEEKS
TO COME.
WE HAVE THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS
THE CHAIR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND
THEN WE WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
WEEK TO LOOK AT ANY PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS WITH ANY DESIRE TO
INCLUDE OUR CITY BUDGET
PROPOSED BALLOTS AND PACKAGE
WITH A FINAL VOTE ON NOVEMBER
22.
ALL WEEK THIS WEEK, ALL WEEK
NEXT WEEK AND THEN WE WILL END
WITH A FINAL VOTE ON NOVEMBER
22.
TOMORROW, WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO
COUNCILMEMBERS IN COMMUNITY
ABOUT SOME OF THE PRIORITIES
YOU HAVE FLAGGED IN YOUR BUDGET
AMENDMENT THAT YOU PUT FORWARD.
I WILL BE MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE DOTTED EVERY LETTER I AND
CROSSED EVERY T WITH CENTRAL
STAFF. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT
OF BOTH HOW THE REVENUES
FORECAST THAT WE RECEIVED LAST
WEEK IMPACTS OUR PROPOSED
BUDGET, THE PROPOSED BUDGET WE
HAVE BEEN CRAFTING TO AMEND THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET THE
INTENT IS TO MAKE SURE WE
PUBLISH THIS OPPOSED DRAFT
BUDGET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
AND DISCUSSION.
IN THE INITIAL BRIEFING ON
WEDNESDAY AT 9:00 A.M., PLEASE
DO NOTE THAT THIS STARTS AT
9:00 A.M., NOT 9:30 WE ARE
ACCOMMODATING OTHER MEETINGS
THAT OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
NEED TO ATTEND.
PLEASE DO MAKE SURE TO JOIN US
AT 9:00 A.M.
. WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE
CHAIR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE WILL NOT START WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT.
OUR INTENT TO MAKE SURE ALL
PUBLIC COMMENT IS HEARD BUT AS
A REMINDER WE HAVE THE EVENING
DEDICATED TO JUST COMMENTS.
THAT WILL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING
THAT STARTS AT 5:30 P.M.
IN LIEU OF HAVING PUBLIC
COMMENT 9:00 I AM WE WILL GO
DIRECTLY INTO AN OVERVIEW OF
THE CHAIR'S PROPOSED BUDGET SO
THAT ALL OF YOU, ALL OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PRESS WHO
ARE FOLLOWING THIS AS WELL WILL
HAVE A CHANCE TO DIVE INTO THE
BUDGET, HAVE AN IN DEPTH
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF THAT
PRESENTATION BY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF , HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW ON
WEDNESDAY MORNING GIVES
COLLEAGUES THE OPPORTUNITY
THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO IDENTIFY
ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
CAN REALLY GO INTO THE BUDGETS
SO THAT THEY CAN BE PREPARED
FOR THAT EVENING'S PUBLIC
HEARING.
AGAIN, PUBLIC HEARING STARTS AT
5:30 P.M.
SZYMANSKI OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU
TO SIGN UP AT PUBLIC HEARING
STARTING AT 3:30 P.M.
YOU WILL FIND THE SIGN UP SHEET
ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY
HAVE PROVIDED FOR US TO HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM YOU, FROM EACH OF
OUR SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETINGS OVER THE LAST EIGHT
WEEKS. WE HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PUBLIC
ALMOND AT EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
MUCH OF THAT PUBLIC COMMENT,IN
ADDITION TO THE VARIOUS WAYS
THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ENGAGED
WITH EACH OF OUR COUNCIL
OFFICES, BE IT INDIVIDUAL
MEETINGS AND CALLS, TOWN HALLS,
OFFICE HOURS. THOSE HAVE ALL
HELPED TO INFORM THOSE
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
SUBMITTED.
WE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY
TO INCLUDE THOSE IN OUR CHAIR'S
BUDGET PROPOSAL.
YOU WILL ALSO NOTE FROM THE
REVENUE FORECAST THAT WAS
SHARED LAST WEDNESDAY THAT WE
ARE EXPERIENCING NOW A $20
MILLION NET DROP IN EXPECTED
REVENUE FROM THE REVENUE
FORECAST.
THAT MEANS AT LEAST $20 MILLION
IS BEING REDISTRIBUTED -- HAS
TO BE REDUCED FROM THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET.
IN ADDITION TO WANTING TO MAKE
SURE THAT COUNCIL COLLEAGUES'
PRIORITIES AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS
ARE ACCOMMODATED TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT POSSIBLE.
IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH FEW WEEKS
AND THIS LAST WEEK, THERE HAS
BEEN AROUND-THE-CLOCK WORK FROM
CENTRAL STAFF.
I WANT TO THANK EVERY MEMBER OF
CENTRAL STAFF WHO HAS BEEN
DOING TREMENDOUS WORK TO TRY TO
IDENTIFY REVENUE THAT IS
AVAILABLE FOR COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES FOR US, AS WELL AS
MAKING SURE WE ARE PROTECTING
OUR MOST VULNERABLE, INVESTING
IN WORKERS, INVESTING IN SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OUR MOST
VULNERABLE ACROSS THE CITY IN
THIS TIME AS WE SEEK TO RECOVER
FROM COVID AND TO CREATE A MORE
EQUITABLE LOCAL ECONOMY.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE BUDGET
THAT WE HAVE TO PRESENT TO YOU
ALL ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOUR INVESTMENTS ARE
REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET BEFORE
IT FINALLY PASSES.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE VERY THANKFUL
FOR THE CONVERSATION AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL BOTH ABOUT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL AND THE
BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WHICH IS
SOON TO BE PASSED AS WELL.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL WAS
PASSED AND MUCH MORE TO COME
THROUGH THE BUILD BACK BETTER
ACT.
HAVING THIS SUPPORT FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM OUR
CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERS AS WELL
AS LEADERSHIP OF OUR LOCAL STATE
LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS, ALONG WITH
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY
COUNCIL, I BELIEVE OUR BUDGET
COUPLED WITH THESE OTHER THREE
INVESTMENTS AND RESOURCES WILL
HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE AND
JUST ECONOMY.
>> THERE WILL, I'M SURE, BE
DESIRE FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND SOME QUESTIONS
THAT, SO WE WILL MAKE OURSELVES
AVAILABLE ONCE YOU SEE THAT
PROPOSED BUDGET.
OUR OFFICE AND CENTRAL STAFF
WILL BE WORKING TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
COLLEAGUES, AFTER THE
INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ABOUT
OUR PROPOSED BUDGET ON
WEDNESDAY, WE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN IN DEPTH
DISCUSSION ON FRIDAY MORNING
STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
WERE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY WANT
TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO
CENTRAL STAFF.
WE WILL HAVE A DEPARTMENT BY
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION ON
FRIDAY MORNING WITH A HOPE TO
HEAR FROM ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS
48 HOURS LATER ON THAT FRIDAY,
MIDDAY. IF YOU HAVE DESIRED
AMENDMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SEE, CENTRAL STAFF WOULD LIKE
TO START WORKING WITH YOU. A
REMINDER THAT THOSE AMENDMENTS
THAT YOU WILL BE DISCUSSING, IF
YOU HAVE ANY ON FRIDAY, WILL
NEED TO BE SELF BALANCING.
I HOPE COLLEAGUES, WHAT YOU
WILL SEE FROM US ON WEDNESDAY,
IS EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE
TRY TO ACCOMMODATE EACH COUNCIL
MEMBER'S DESIRED ADDITION IN
THE MIDST OF A BAD NEWS BUDGET
WEEK LAST WEEK WITH THE
DOWNTURN IN THE REVENUE
FORECAST.
AS A REMINDER, WE DID ASK MANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE USE OF
BASELINE FORECASTING VERSUS THE
PESSIMISTIC FORECAST, JUST
NOTING THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEAL
WITH COVID ON THE ECONOMY IN
TERMS OF RETURN TO WORK IF NOT
FULLY BACK HERE IN SEATTLE, NOR
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE WORK TO BE CAUTIOUS
ABOUT THE REVENUE TO COME, EVEN
AFTER THE NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
INVESTING IN WHAT HELPS CREATE
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, VIBRANT
LOCAL ECONOMY, AND THAT WE ARE
PREPARING FOR POTENTIAL
DOWNTURNS IN THE FUTURE, AGAIN,
IN THE TENUOUS NATURE WITH BOTH
THE HELP OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
THE HELP OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
MORE TO COME WEDNESDAY MORNING
AT THE VERY LATEST.
THAT IS IT FOR ME AND I AM
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU BUDGET CHAIR
MOSQUEDA.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS GO FIRST
BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL
INFORMATION. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS FOR CHAIR MOSQUEDA?
SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER IN
ROTATION, COUNCIL NUMBER
PEDERSEN FOLLOWED BY SAWANT
AND HERBOLD.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
COLLEAGUES.
OUR TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE MEETS ON THE FIRST
AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS OF EACH
MONTH AT 9:30 A.M.
EXCEPT DURING OUR FALL BUDGET
SEASON.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
BE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1 AND WE
WILL HAVE ANOTHER
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 15. OUR COMMITTEE HAS
ONE ITEM ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
FULL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
THAT IS THE PUBLIC HEARING
ABOUT THE ALLEY VACATION WE
JUST DISCUSSED, THE MIXED USE ,
MIXED INCOME TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT, GRAND STREET
COMMONS.
IT APPEARS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AS
PUBLIC HEARING ITEM WITH CLERK
FILE 314459. SPEAKING OF
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS,
AND DISTRICT 4, THIS PAST WEEK
I TOURED THE LOW INCOME HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT THAT IS UNDER
CONSTRUCTION CALLED CEDAR
CROSSING.
IT IS RIGHT ON TOP OF THE NEW
ROOSEVELT LIGHT-RAIL STATION.
THIS WELCOMING NEW LOW INCOME
HOUSING PROJECT FOLLOWS IN THE
FOOTSTEPS OF PROJECTS LIKE
GOSSET PLACE AND MARION WEST,
THE SOLID GROUND HOUSING, AND
OTHER PROJECTS. THIS IS CEDAR
CROSSING NEARLY COMPLETE THANKS
TO A JOINT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
NONPROFITS BELLWETHER AND MERCY
. IT WILL HAVE 253 APARTMENT
UNITS ON TOP OF THE ROOSEVELT
LIGHT-RAIL STATION.
100% OF THE UNITS WILL SERVE
VERY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.
IT WILL ALSO HAVE HIGH QUALITY
CHILDCARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR
AS WELL AS RETAIL SUCH AS
RESTAURANTS AND SPACE FOR
NONPROFITS.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS WAS ON
THE ROOF. THERE ARE SOME SOLAR
PANELS WHICH WILLPOWER PART OF
THE BUILDING.
IT IS EVERYTHING WE COULD
REALLY HOPE FOR IN A TRANSIT
ORIENTED OF ELEMENT AT CEDAR
CROSSING.
THEY HOPE TO PRE-LEASE THOUGH
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS EARLY
NEXT YEAR AND OPEN NEXT SUMMER.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
I KNOW BUDGET CHAIR MOSQUEDA
HAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT AN ITEM
OFF OF HER REPORT.
JUST CHECKING IN, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO -- APOLOGIES COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
WE WILL CIRCLE BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
APOLOGIES COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK TO
ME.
I DID JUST WANT TO NOTE ONE
ADDITIONAL THING.
I WANTED TO SEND A HUGE NOTE OF
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF BROADWAY
LEARNING.
THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY LEARNING
THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF
MONICA AND DIRECTOR CHAPELLE
SPENT ALL LAST WEEK WORKING
WITH THE CITY'S CHILDCARE
RECOGNITION PAYMENTS.
THESE ARE THE APPRECIATION
ALLOTMENTS THAT COUNCIL HAD
INCLUDED IN OUR SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN ACT FROM THIS SUMMER.
WE INCLUDED $3 MILLION TO GO
OUT TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AS
AN APPRECIATION OF ONE TIME PAY
FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE
THROUGHOUT THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
IT WAS OPEN TO ANY CHILD CARE
PROVIDER BOTH CENTER-BASED AND
HOME-BASED PROVIDERS THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN PROVIDING PAYMENTS
TO THEIR WORKFORCES. CHILDCARE
RESOURCES SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS
. 78% OF THE ELIGIBLE CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS APPLIED FOR THIS.
ONCE ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS
WERE RECEIVED, A VERY SIMPLE
ONE PAGE APPLICATION HEARING
DIRECTLY, THEY REALLY WANTED TO
REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE
PAPERWORK ASSOCIATED.
IT WAS BASICALLY THAT THEY WERE
INTERESTED IN THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO PASS IT ON TO THE
WORKERS.
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE
CITY WILL BE RECEIVING $835 AND
APPRECIATION PAY FOR THEIR HARD
WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE
SERVICE OF SEATTLE CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES DURING THIS PUBLIC
PANDEMIC.
THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT
THE HARD WORK OF BEING A CHILD
CARE PROVIDER AND TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY HAVE AN APPRECIATION
ESPECIALLY RIGHT BEFORE THE
HOLIDAYS.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ALL OF
THAT PIECE AND SPECIFICALLY
THANK THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE CHILDCARE BUSINESS
COALITION AND THE DIRECT
SERVICE PROVIDES THAT WROTE IN
AND REQUESTED THIS ALLOTMENT
FROM THE BEGINNING.
THIS IS THANK TO THE HARD WORK
AND COORDINATION TO MAKE SURE
IT WAS EASY TO APPLY AND GET
THE DOLLARS OUT. HUGE
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM AND
EVERY CHILD CARE PROVIDER IN
OUR CITY WHO CONTINUES TO DO
THE WORK OF PREPARING OUR
KIDDOS AND MAKING SURE OUR
ECONOMY RUNS. THEY CONTINUE TO
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW MORE
HOME-BASED AND CHILDCARE
CENTERS.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU HAVE DONE.
I JUST WANTED TO FIND HOW
WONDERFUL IT WAS TO RECEIVE
THOSE NEWS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED
FOR NOVEMBER 30 AT 2:00 P.M.
THAT MEETING, I HOPE TO DISCUSS
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION AT MY
OFFICE. I EMAILED BACK IN
SEPTEMBER AND MENTIONED IN
SUCCESSIVE BRIEFINGS WHAT WILL
BE PART OF THE AGENDA FOR THAT
MEETING.
I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT I HAVE
NOT HEARD FROM ANY COUNCIL
MEMBERS YET ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION AND I WOULD URGE
YOU ALL TO TAKE THE TIME TO
LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION AND LET
MY OFFICE KNOW YOUR FEEDBACK ON
THAT.
THIS IS A MASSIVE ISSUE FOR THE
RENTERS OF OUR CITY.
WE KNOW THE RENTERS ARE THE
MAJORITY OF WORKING PEOPLE AT
THIS POINT.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
IS ABSOLUTELY UNPRECEDENTED
EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN GOING
ON FOR DECADES, IT HAS NEVER
BEEN AS BAD AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AT THAT COMMITTEE MEETING WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING THE
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE,
GIVING THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SUPPORT THE STOP THE MONEY
PIPELINE MOVEMENT. WE URGE THE
CITY NOT TO CONTACT THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES BUT ALSO
BACK PART OF YOUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HEARD ME
TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING STRUGGLE
OF RENTERS AT THE RAINIER
APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
THIS IS NEARLY 550 APARTMENTS
AND VERY LIKELY 600 TENANTS,
PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT.
THE RENTERS HAVE ACHIEVED A
MASSIVE VICTORY AS A RESULT OF
THEIR COURAGEOUS ORGANIZING
ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED
ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH LEADERS OF
COLOR AND MY COUNCIL OFFICE .
ON THURSDAY, JUST HOURS AFTER
THE TENANTS IN MY COUNCIL
OFFICE ANNOUNCED A RALLY AND
MARCH TO STATE OFFICES, TENANTS
IN MY OFFICE WERE INFORMED THAT
THE LANDLORD HAD BEEN FORCED TO
MEET THE MOST PROMINENT DEMAND
OF OUR FIGHTING STRUGGLE AND IS
EXPANDING IT FOR ALL OF THE LOW
INCOME TENANTS WHO ARE MOSTLY
BLACK AND BROWN. THEY ARE
MOSTLY SENIORS.
MANY OF THEM FACE DISABILITIES.
THIS STUNNING VICTORY, FORCING
THE LANDLORD TO RETRACT THE
RENT INCREASES ACROSS ALL
APARTMENTS COMES AFTER A LITTLE
OVER 10 DAYS OF SERIOUS
ORGANIZING BY THE TENANTS WITH
MY OFFICE AROUND A FIGHTING
STRATEGY.
IT IS A COMPLEX OF FOUR
BUILDINGS AND IT IS A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT RECEIVES
PUBLIC FUNDS AND IS MANAGED BY
A FOR-PROFIT PROPERTY MANAGER.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF TENANTS IN
THE WORKING-CLASS ARE FIXED
INCOME SENIORS FROM THE BLACK
IMMUNITY.
THEY ARE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
MANY FACE DISABILITIES.
MANY ARE ON SECTION 8 HOUSING
VOUCHERS.
FOR MONTHS AND IN SOME CASES
YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN
CONTACTING THE LANDLORD ABOUT
PROBLEMS IN THE APARTMENT SUCH
AS LACK OF HEATING, MOLD,
BEDBUGS, AND COCKROACH
INFESTATION, ALWAYS WITH
GARBAGE, THE ACCESS OF INTERNET
ACCESS, BROKEN STOVES AND
REFRIGERATORS, NONFUNCTIONING
TOILETS AND LEAKY CEILINGS.
HE HAD THE SHAMELESSNESS TO
INCREASE THEIR RENT BY $100 OR
EVEN MORE IN SOME CASES.
AS I SHARED WITH COUNCIL
MEMBERS LAST TIME I TALKED TO A
TENANT WHO IS FACING A CHRONIC
ILLNESS WHO IS A SECTION 8
VOUCHER HOLDER WHO IS A SENIOR
WHO IS A BLACK COMMUNITY
MEMBER, BORN AND BROUGHT UP IN
SEATTLE AND WHO WAS TOLD THAT
SHE HAD A $240 RENT INCREASE.
MY OFFICE WAS CONTACTED LAST
MONTH BY A NUMBER OF THE TENANTS
. THIS WAS AFTER THEY HAD
STRUGGLED FOR YEARS TO GET THE
LANDLORD TO ADDRESS THEIR
CONCERNS.
I JOINED THE TENANTS AT AN
IMPORTANT RALLY WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 20 WHICH WAS COVERED.
ON OCTOBER 27, MY OFFICE AND
THE TENANTS AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS WHO JOINED US HAD
A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE MANY
TENANTS OFFERED MOVING
TESTIMONY ABOUT THE DEPLORABLE
MOVING CONDITIONS THEY HAVE
FACED FOR MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS
AND THE OUTRAGEOUS AGREE GINS.
THE SAME DAY I SENT A PUBLIC
LETTER DEMANDING THAT THEY
IMMEDIATELY RESEND THE PIECES
AND FIX THE NUMEROUS HOUSING
CODE VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE LED
TO THE DEPLORABLE LIVING
CONDITIONS MY OFFICE HAS ALSO
BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION WHO
ARE FACING A BACKLOG BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC BUT ARE LOOKING
INTO THE HOUSING CODE
VIOLATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT
THE RECORD THEM AND TAKING SURE
THAT THEY HOLD THE LANDLORD
ACCOUNTABLE. MY OFFICE HAS ALSO
CONTACTED THE CITY OF SEATTLE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN
ADDRESSING THE OBSTACLES THAT
THE TENANTS HAVE FACED FOR
HAVING LOW COST, AFFORDABLE
INTERNET ACCESS.
I PARTICULARLY WANT TO ASK THE
TENANTS FOR HAVING THE COURAGE
TO FIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT
SOLIDARITY AMONG TENANTS IS NOT
A POSITIVE THING TO ACHIEVE BUT
THAT SOLIDARITY IS DECISIVE IN
DETERMINING WHETHER THERE
STRUGGLE WILL WIN AND FOR
UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY
FIGHTING APPROACH IS NECESSARY,
WHICH INCLUDES PUBLICLY CALLING
OUT EXPLOITATIVE LANDLORDS AND
BUILDING BROAD COMMUNITY
SOLIDARITY AROUND THE TENANTS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN MY
OFFICE WHO HAVE DOOR KNOCKED
AND TALKED TO LITERALLY
HUNDREDS OF THE TENANTS FOR
WELL OVER A WEEK. WE HAVE HELD
AN ORGANIZING MEETING. ON
FRIDAY WE HAVE TWO ORGANIZING
MEETINGS.
THE MOST RECENT ONE IN THE MOST
ELECTRIC ONE WAS ON FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 29 WITH OVER 75 TENANTS
IN ATTENDANCE.
FOLLOWING THAT, THE TENANTS
SPOKE ELOQUENTLY AT THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
DURING THE MEETING LAST MONDAY.
I ALSO THANK SEATTLE WHO HAVE
BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
TENANTS. THANK YOU TO THE
COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS. IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, ALSO LOCAL
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR THEMSELVES WHO
ARE TENANTS OF S.E.E.D.
THEMSELVES WHO HAVE STRONGLY
SUPPORTED THE TENANT STRUGGLE.
A LANDLORD BEING FORCED TO
RESEND EXPLOITATIVE RENT
INCREASES AND FOR SO MANY
HUNDREDS OF TENANTS IS A HUGE
VICTORY.
IT CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED AND
IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN TENANTS
GET ORGANIZED WITH A FIGHTING
STRATEGY AND COMMUNITY
SOLIDARITY.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE
COMPLACENT. ON FRIDAY, TWO
DOZEN OF THE SENIOR TENANTS AND
MY STAFF AND I MARCHED TO THE
S.E.E.D.
OFFICES TO KEEP THE PRESSURE UP
AND DEMAND THAT S.E.E.D.
FIX THE EGREGIOUS HOUSING CODE
VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE LED TO
YEARS OF DEPLORABLE LIVING
CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEMS HAVE
STILL NOT EVEN BEGUN TO BE FIXED
. THAT IS AN OUTSTANDING DEMAND
THAT THE TENANTS ARE FIGHTING
ON.
THE TENANTS ALSO NEED ALL OF
THE RENT INCREASES THEY HAVE
PAID IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER TO
BE REFUNDED.
THEY NEED S.E.E.D.
TO REFUND THE RENT INCREASES
AND THEY NEED S.E.E.D.
TO PUBLICLY COMMENT NO RENT
INCREASES THROUGH 2022. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF LOW
INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ARE
LOW INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF
COLOR. THE RALLY THAT WE HAD ON
FRIDAY BEGAN OUTSIDE OF THE
RAINIER APARTMENTS AND
CULMINATED ON A STRIP TO THE
S.E.E.D.
OFFICES IN COLUMBIA CITY WHERE
TENANTS HOPE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY
WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
S.E.E.D.
WHICH IS A NONPROFIT THAT OWNS
THIS INCREASINGLY DILAPIDATED
COCKROACH, BEDBUGS, AND WILL
DEVASTATED HOMES.
ANOTHER RALLY AT THE STRAUSS
THREE COURTYARD, TENANTS MADE
IT VERY CLEAR THAT LOW INCOME
PEOPLE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND
THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH
DIGNITY AND RESPECT. WE NEED
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED AFFORDABILITY AND WE
QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
ALL HUMAN BEINGS. WE ARRIVED
AT THE S.E.E.D.
OFFICE AND WE WERE GRACIOUSLY
INVITED INTO THE OFFICE BY THE
RECEPTIONIST . WE ALL WENT IN
AND STOOD PATIENTLY AND
RESPECTABLY WAITING.
WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT NO ONE
HAD COME TO WORK THAT DAY
DESPITE IT BEING A WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON AND S.E.E.D.
EXECUTIVES LIKELY HAVING
RECEIVED PRIOR NOTICE BECAUSE
MY OFFICE HAD SENT OUT A PRESS
RELEASE AND A PRESS ADVISORY
BOTH OF WHICH MENTIONED WE
WOULD BE GOING AT THAT TIME.
INSTEAD, SHOCKINGLY, A MAN FROM
INSIDE THE OFFICE BUILDING
APPROACHED A TENANT AND BEGAN
TO AGGRESSIVELY SHOVE ELDERLY
TENANTS AND THE FAITH LEADERS
OF COLOR ASIDE TO FORCE THE
LOBBY DOORS CLOSED. A SENIOR
TENANT WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH LUPUS WAS INJURED AS A MAN
SHOVED HER NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE,
WITH INCREASING AGGRESSION.
THE SECOND TIME SHE WAS SHOVED
BACK SO FORCEFULLY BY THE MAN,
SHE WAS KNOCKED INTO THE PEOPLE
STANDING BEHIND HER.
THE MAN ALSO GRABBED ANGRILY AS
REVEREND JEFFREY, WHO HELD HIS
HANDS UP EASILY AND SAID, DO
NOT TOUCH ME.
REVEREND JEFFREY, LATER AT THE
RALLY WE HAD OUTSIDE THE
S.E.E.D.
OFFICES SAID, QUOTE, I HAVE
BEEN PROTESTING IN THIS CITY
FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND NOT A
SINGLE PERSON EXCEPT FOR POLICE
HAVE EVER LAID HANDS ON ME LIKE
THAT MAN DID. IT WAS AN
APPALLING DISPLAY OF AGGRESSION
TOWARD SENIOR TENANTS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FAITH
LEADERS OF COLOR WHO HAD COME
ONLY TO MAKE THEIR NEEDS HEARD
IN A PEACEFUL MANNER.
OTHERS WERE HARASSED BY THE MEN
AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO SHIELD THE
ELDERLY TENANTS.
THE MEN ALSO SHOVED ME,
PERSONALLY.
NO ONE IN THE TENANT GROUP LAID
A HAND ON THE MAN DESPITE HIS
REPEATED ATTACKS.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO DE-
ESCALATE THE SITUATION AND SPEAK
CALMLY WITH HIM.
AFTER THE MAN SHOVED THE WOMAN
THE SECOND TIME, I WAS ABLE TO
CALMLY ADDRESS THE GROUP SAYING
THAT THE MAN WAS BEHAVING
EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATELY AND
WAS CLEARLY UNBALANCED.
WE STEPPED OUTSIDE TO HAVE OUR
POLITICAL RALLY.
MY OFFICE STAFF HAVE ALSO
RECENTLY BEEN TOLD BY BUILDING
SECURITY AT RANIER COURT THAT
THEY ARE PROHIBITED FROM
DOORKNOCKING ON THE BUILDING
INCLUDING FACING THREATS OF THE
POLICE BEING CALLED ON THEM.
THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE FACT
THAT MY CITY COUNCIL OFFICE AND
STAFF HAVE BEEN EXPLICITLY
INVITED IN BY DOZENS AND DOZENS
OF THE SENIOR TENANTS TO
CONTINUE HELPING THEM BY
TALKING TO THE NEIGHBORS
ALONGSIDE THEM ABOUT THEIR
ONGOING ISSUES AND DEMANDS AND
ABOUT CONTINUING TO BUILD THE
STRUGGLE.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO GET
ORGANIZED AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT
TO ASK MY OFFICE AND OTHERS IN
THE COMMUNITY FOR HELP IN THEIR
EFFORT.
IT IS JUST ABOMINABLE --
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> -- THEY HAVE INTIMIDATED
TENANTS, TESTING FOR CONDITIONS
AND RENT INCREASES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>>
>> THESE ARE ISSUES THAT AFFECT
TENANTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I AM JUST NOTING THAT WE ARE
TWO PEOPLE THROUGH THIS AGENDA
ITEM AND WE HAVE ONLY 10
MINUTES LEFT.
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE -
OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
>> THIS SECTION IS RESERVED FOR
REGIONAL AND COUNCIL ACTION.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE
STRUGGLE OF HUNDREDS OF LOW
INCOME TENANTS INSIDE THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS NOT CITY
BUSINESS?
PLEASE LET ME FINISH.
>> THIS IS FOR CITY COUNCIL
ACTION.
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES
--
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE -
OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
>> JUST ABOUT 12 DAYS OF
ORGANIZING AND ARE READY TO
KEEP UP THE PRESSURE. WE HAVE A
LONG LIST OF ABUSERS AND WE ARE
MEETING WITH TENANTS THIS
COMING MONDAY.
I CANNOT THANK THE RENTERS
ENOUGH. ON BEHALF OF RENTERS
EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY, MY
OFFICE HAS HEARD FROM MANY
RENTERS OVER THE PAST WEEKS WHO
ARE FACING ENDLESS SIMILAR
PROBLEMS WITH THEIR LANDLORDS.
IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, YOU WOULD CARE
ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THIS IS AFFECTING TENANTS AND
RENTERS IN ALL THE DISTRICTS.
RENTERS ARE CONTACTING MY
OFFICE BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND
THAT MY OFFICE IS FIGHTING FOR
THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN
INSPIRED WITH THEIR OWN RIGHTS
BY THE COURAGEOUS STAND TAKEN
IN THE INCREDIBLE VICTORY WON
BY THE RENTERS AND RAINIER
COURT . MY OFFICE IS FOLLOWING
UP WITH ALL OF THE OTHER TENANTS
WHO ARE IMPACTING MY OFFICE.
AND ALL STRUGGLES, THIS WILL
DEPEND ON ORGANIZATION AND
ACTIVISM OF THEMSELVES AND HOW
THEY BUILD SOLIDARITY ACROSS
THE COMMUNITY.
SEVERAL RENTERS HAVE REACHED
OUT MY OFFICE TO ASK WHEN THE
SIX MONTH NOTICE REQUIREMENT
FOR RENT INCREASES WILL GO INTO
EFFECT.
THIS MAJOR RENTER RIGHTS
VICTORY ALSO WAS WON BY A
RENTER ORGANIZING AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING IT
INCLUDING THE RENTERS
COMMISSION AND ORGANIZATION.
THAT LEGISLATION WAS RETURNED
UNSIGNED BY THE MAYOR ON
OCTOBER 8 ONE MONTH AGO WHICH
MEANS THAT AS OF TODAY, IT
SHOULD BE IN EFFECT. IF I AM
WRONG ABOUT THAT, I HOPE THE
CLERK OR SOMEBODY FROM CENTRAL
STAFF WILL CORRECT ME.
I APPRECIATE ACCURATE
INFORMATION ON THAT BECAUSE
MANY CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE
CITY -- I WANT TO BE ABLE TO
GIVE THEM ACCURATE INFORMATION.
IF THIS LAW HAD GONE INTO
EFFECT, LANDLORDS ARE REQUIRED
BY LAW TO GIVE THEIR TENANTS
SIX MONTHS NOTICE BEFORE
RAISING RENT.
ON TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS A
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE THAT
I BRIEFLY MENTIONED DURING
COUNCIL BRIEFING LAST MONDAY .
MAYOR DURKAN HAS ISSUED AN
EMERGENCY ORDER TO REINSTATE
HIRING BONUSES OF UP TO $25,000
FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
IRONICALLY, HER EXCUSE FOR THIS
EMERGENCY ORDER TO GIVE POLICE
EVEN MORE MONEY IS THE COVID-19
EMERGENCY. HER ARGUMENT IS THAT
BECAUSE MANY POLICE OFFICERS
ARE ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC BY
REFUSING TO BE VACCINATED OR
WEAR MASKS, THEY NEED TO BE
GIVEN MORE MONEY.
ESSENTIALLY THAT IS THE
ARGUMENT.
THE MAYOR IS SHOWING A SHOCKING
DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN SHE
ADVOCATES FOR HIRING BONUSES IN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE POLICE ARE SOME OF THE
HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE, MAKING
MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT IS PAID
TO SOCIAL WORKERS LIKE HOMELESS
SERVICE WORKERS.
THE MAYOR HAS CLAIMED IN THE
PAST THAT SHE WILL NOT OPEN,
SHELTERS AND TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT
ENOUGH HOMELESS SERVICE WORKERS
TO STAFF.
THAT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
BEING PAID NEARLY ENOUGH SO
THAT THEY CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT
THE EXPERIENCE.
FOR YEARS, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS USED THE
CONTRACT AS EXCUSE FOR FAILING
TO HOLD OUR OFFICE IS
ACCOUNTABLE AND YET HERE WE ARE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE POLICE
OFFICERS GUILD AND THE MAYOR IS
OFFERING THE POLICE EXTRA MONEY
WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE
SITUATION.
WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT
THE AMOUNT OF POLICE FUNDING
DOES NOT HAVE ANY STATISTICAL
IMPACT ON THE AMOUNT OF CRIME
IN A COMMUNITY.
IT IS REDUCING INEQUALITY AND
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND LIMITING WAGE JOBS AND
AFFORDABLE SERVICES INCLUDING
CHILDCARE THAT HAS THE GREATEST
STATISTICAL IMPACT.
I SHARE THE CONCERNS THAT
ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THE
RISE IN GUN VIOLENCE. IF YOU
LOOK AT THE DATA, YOU WILL SEE
THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVEN
THOUGH THE POLICE BUDGET HAS
BEEN LOADED FOR MANY YEARS
WHILE THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH WORKING
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE
POOR NEED CONTINUE TO BE GRAVELY
AND UNDERFUNDED WHEN RENTS ARE
BEING SKYROCKETED BY CORPORATE
LANDLORDS.
WE NEED A COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE WITH POWER OVER THE
POLICE. THE LEGISLATION FROM MY
OFFICE THAT IS ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL MORTIFY THE
MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO NOT
IMPLEMENT POLICE HIRING BONUSES
THAT THIS COUNCIL VOTED ON IN
SEPTEMBER AGAINST IMPLEMENTING
TWICE.
WHEN LEGISLATION LEAVES IN
PLACE HIRING BONUSES FOR 911
OPERATORS. IT IS MY HOPE THAT
THIS LEGISLATION WILL BE ACTED
UPON BY THIS COUNCIL AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
AS A RESOLUTION, IT COULD EVEN
BE VOTED ON THE SAME DAY IT IS
INTRODUCED.
UNDER SEATTLE LAW, THE COUNCIL
SHALL ENDEAVOR TO REVIEW
EMERGENCY ORDERS WITHIN 48
HOURS.
IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER A WEEK.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ SAYS
IT WILL BE ON THE 22nd AGENDA
TO BE VOTED ON A LONG SEATTLE
CITY 2022 BUDGET.
I DO NOT SEE A VALUE IN THAT
TWO-WEEK DELAY BUT IT IS ALSO
ONLY TWO WEEKS SO I AM WILLING
TO ACCEPT IT.
IN MY VIEW, THIS EMERGENCY
ORDER IS A TERRIBLE MISUSE OF
CITY RESOURCES THAT SHOULD BE
USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM DONE WITH MY REPORT BUT I
WILL ALSO NOTE, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM STRAUSS,
THAT I FIND IT REALLY
UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU CHOSE TO
INTERRUPT MY COMMENTS WHEN I
WAS REPORTING TO THE ELECTED
LEGISLATIVE BODY OF OUR CITY
HOW SENIOR TENANTS, SENIOR
TENANTS OF COLOR, FAITH LEADERS
OF COLOR AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE STRUGGLING FOR THE VERY
BASIC RIGHTS HAVE BEEN
INTIMIDATED AND FACING
HARASSMENT BY THE LANDLORD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
I DID TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN
YOU PAUSED . WE ARE NOW FIVE
MINUTES AWAY FROM THE
OPPORTUNITY AGENDA ITEM AND
HAVE ONLY GOTTEN THROUGH THREE
COUNCILMEMBERS.
WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, YOU ARE UP NEXT.
COLLEAGUES, THERE WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN ONTO A
PROCLAMATION AT THE END OF
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD 'S
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY SPEAKING POINTS WILL BE
BRIEF TODAY. THERE ARE NO ITEMS
FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ON
TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETINGS SCHEDULED THIS WEEK.
A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES ON
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
FIRST, I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW
AS IT RELATES TO THE SEATTLE
RELIEF FUND, AS OF NOVEMBER 2,
THE SEATTLE RELIEF FUND HAS
RECEIVED A NEARLY 26,000
APPLICATIONS. AS A REMINDER,
THE SEATTLE RELIEF FUND IS
DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE
PANDEMIC CREATED BY THE COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR AND THE SEATTLE
RESCUE PLAN.
THE LAST DAY TO APPLY IS A WEEK
FROM TODAY.
THAT IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15 AT
11:50 9 PM YOU CAN LEARN MORE
AND APPLY ONLINE.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW ABOUT
THE UPCOMING AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CAREGIVERS FORUM ON SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 13. IT IS AN ONLINE,
FREE EVENT.
OPEN TO ALL. THIS IS
COORDINATED BY THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES AND
COSPONSORED BY THE MAYOR'S
COUNCIL ON AFRICAN AMERICAN
ELDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
TO FIND OUT MORE, YOU CAN GO
ONLINE.
THE LAST FROM HSD, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ABOUT
THE FOOD EQUITY FUND.
A GROUP FOCUSED ON INCREASING
ACCESS TO HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE
AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD.
YOU CAN LET FOLKS KNOW WHO FIT
INTO THAT CATEGORY, THE
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE
FOOD EQUITY FUND. THIS FUND
SUPPORTS COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS
WORKING TO ADVANCE FOOD EQUITY
INCLUDING PROJECTS THAT
INCREASE ACCESS TO CULTURALLY
RELEVANT FOOD FOR A MORE
EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL
FOOD SYSTEM, PROMOTE HEALTHY
EATING AND POSITIVE LIFESTYLE
CHANGES AND PARTNER WITH SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE FOOD SECTOR
THAT ARE RIGHT NOW OR IN THE
FUTURE WANT TO ADDRESS FOOD
EQUITY.
THE GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UP
TO $75,000 FOR PROJECTS THAT
LAST A YEAR AND APPLICATIONS
MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 30.
AS FAR AS EVENTS COMING UP THIS
WEEK, I JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW,
THE CALENDAR IS HEAVY ON
WEDNESDAY.
WE HAVE THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
COMMUNITY TASK FORCE MEETING.
WE ALSO HAVE THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION LEADERSHIP GROUP
MEETING THAT OVERLAPS WITH
ANOTHER COUPLE REGIONAL MEETINGS
INCLUDING THE REGIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE AND THE WATERSHED
RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA. I WILL
DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THE
CITY COUNCIL AT THESE THREE
REGIONAL MEETINGS THAT AS I
MENTIONED OUR OVERLAPPING.
I WILL DO MY BEST TO POP IN TO
EACH OF THEM AT THAT TIME WHERE
MY PRESENTATION WILL BE MOST
USEFUL.
I ALSO WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT
ON FRIDAY, I WILL BE JOINING
THE SEATTLE-KING COUNTY
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES TO PRESENT
A PROCLAMATION THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE MAYOR
SIGNED LAST WEEK, DECLARING
NOVEMBER TO BE NATIONAL
CAREGIVER SUPPORT MONTH. ON THE
TOPIC OF PROCLAMATIONS, AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A
PROCLAMATION DAY HONORING MR.
KELLY FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE WILL BE
PROCLAIMING TODAY, NOVEMBER 8,
TO HONOR HIS LIFE. HE WAS A
RESPECTED LEADER IN THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS AN
OUTSTANDING POLICY LEADER IN
WASHINGTON FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.
HE CHAMPION FEDERAL LAWS THAT
HELPED THE DISENFRANCHISED.
THIS INCLUDED FIGHTING FOR THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND INCREASING
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HE ALSO FOUGHT TO TAKE SPECIAL
INTEREST MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
AND HELP RESHAPE A NEW
GENERATION OF LEADERS VIA
POLITICS.
THIS PROCLAMATION WILL BE
PRESENTED TODAY TO HIS WIFE,
WHO AS WE KNOW, THE JUDGE
SERVED AS A KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.
WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO YOU TO WALK US THROUGH THE
NEXT STEPS.
>> SIGNATURES WILL NEED TO BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION IN
ORDER TO PRESENT IT.
I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL
THE ROLL TO CONFIRM WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER SIGNATURES MAY BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO
CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> I WENT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD FOR RECOGNIZING
RICHARD KELLEY . JUDGE TERESA
DOYLE, WE ARE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
TOGETHER IN THE DAY.
A TRAGIC LOSS SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR DOING WHAT YOU ARE
DOING.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> COLLEAGUES, SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL ASK
THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURES
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
HONORING THE LIFE AND
EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE OF
RICHARD KELLEY.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT?
SAWANT?
HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> SEVEN SIGNATURES.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DO YOU
HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
>> THAT IS IT FOR ME.
>> MOVING ON, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ AND THEN LEWIS AND THEN
MORALES.
I WILL WRAP US UP . GOOD
MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD SIR.
I HAVE THREE ISSUES TO SPEAK TO
AND I WILL BE BRIEF.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS OF THE
PUBLIC ASSET AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
ON DECEMBER 7 AT 2:00.
THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER
LEGISLATION TO RENEW THE WITH
AND PARK ZOO OPERATIONS AND
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
GET YOUR AMENDMENTS AND BY
NOVEMBER 30.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ANY
AMENDMENTS, PLEASE SUBMIT THEM
TO MY OFFICE BY OR BEFORE
NOVEMBER 30 FOR CONSIDERATION.
DRAFT AMENDMENTS WILL NEED TO
BE REVIEWED BY PARKS, ZOO, AND
LAW IN DEFENSE OF THE
COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A FIRM DEADLINE AND WE
WILL MOVE ON FROM THAT.
I KNOW I KEEP SAYING THAT BUT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT
DONE.
FROM OCTOBER 27 TO NOVEMBER 2,
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SERVED 104
PEOPLE IN THE SHOWER PROGRAM.
YOU MUST SHOW PROOF OF
VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE COVID
TEST TO ACCESS THIS SERVICE.
THE LAKEWOOD MORTGAGE HAS NEW
CONCRETE FLOATS INSTALLED.
THERE WILL BE NEW CONCRETE
FLOATS INSTALLED OVER THE NEXT
FEW DAYS.
I KNOW THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE
BIG NEWS BUT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THAT FOR QUITE A
WHILE.
THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 25, THE
CLEAN CITY SCREW PICKED UP ABOUT
100 TO -- 102,000 POUNDS OF
TRASH AND 2698 NEEDLES FROM 77
ENCAMPMENTS. CREWS DEEP CLEANED
COBY TERRACE PARK AND DISTRICT
TO.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS PICKED
UP 3.7 MILLION POUNDS OF TRASH
IN OVER 98,000 NEEDLES THIS
YEAR ALONE.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE
GREEN LAKE BRANCH RECEIVED ITS
SEISMIC UPGRADE PERMIT. THE
LIBRARY WILL WORK WITH THE
LANDMARK COMMISSION BOARD FOR
APPROVAL AND DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION PLANS.
AGAIN, PROBABLY NOT A BIG DEAL
FOR YOU GUYS BUT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THAT ONE FOR A
WHILE.
THE LARGE WINDOWS AT THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY BRANCH ON
SPRING STREET HAVE BEEN
REPLACED.
THE LIBRARY IS STILL WAITING ON
THE SPECIALIZED PAINS FOR THE
DIAMOND-SHAPED WINDOWS.
THE FENCING WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE ALONG SPRING STREET UNTIL
THOSE PAINS ARE INSTALLED.
THE HISTORIC RESTORATION OF THE
SOUL POLE AT THE DOUGLAS TROOP
BRANCH WILL BEGIN SHORTLY.
THE LIBRARY ANTICIPATES
FINISHING THE RESTORATION WORK
IN DECEMBER.
THAT IS ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THERE WE GO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
GOOD TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. I
DO SIMILARLY WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO COMMENT ON THE
PROCLAMATION THAT WE JUST
SIGNED.
I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF
GETTING TO KNOW RICHARD KELLEY
DURING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE
STATE LEGISLATURE IN 2006. WHEN
I INTERNED FOR HIS CAMPAIGN DUE
TO A CONNECTION THROUGH MUTUAL
FRIENDS, I REALLY APPRECIATED
RICHARD KELLEY'S LEADERSHIP,
ESPECIALLY ON HOUSING WHICH
TOOK AN EARLY INTEREST IN
HOUSING POLICY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD BRINGING
FORWARD A PROCLAMATION ,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT HE SERVED
AS A DEPUTY MAYOR FOR A LARGE
SEGMENT OF HIS CAREER FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED AS A
COMMUNITY LEADER, POLICY LEADER
, AND A FRIEND. I DO APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO AFFIX MY NAME
TO THAT PROCLAMATION AND LOOK
FORWARD TO FURTHER RECOGNIZING
RICHARD KELLEY AND HIS LEGACY
IN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEMS FROM THE
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS FOR
THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA, NOR IS
MY OFFICE PUTTING ANY
LEGISLATION ON THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
THIS WEEK, I AM MOSTLY IN THE
SAME BOAT AS MY COLLEAGUES,
WAITING FOR THE BALANCING
PACKAGE FROM CHAIR MOSQUEDA TO
COME FORWARD TO CONSIDER OUR
DELIBERATIONS ON BUDGET. I WILL
BE ATTENDING, ON THURSDAY
EVENING, A MASS TO MOURN MAC
THE PASSING OF OUR NEIGHBORS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
DURING THE PAST YEAR AT ST.
JAMES CATHEDRAL. IT IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER AS WE
CONTINUE THROUGH OUR WORK AS A
COUNCIL IN MEETING THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THAT WE
TAKE A MOMENT TO MOURN THE
PASSING OF PEOPLE WHO WE HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADEQUATE THE
CREATE POLICIES TO CENTER THEIR
ABILITY TO LIVE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
I WILL BE ATTENDING THAT MASS
TO STAND IN RECOGNITION OF THE
NEED FOR US TO DO BETTER AS A
COMMUNITY, TO MEET THIS GLARING
NEED THAT WE SEE EVERY DAY. I
DO HOPE THAT IT WILL UNDERLINE
OUR COMMITMENT AS WE CONTINUE
TO SHAPE THE BUDGET, TO MEET
THIS CRISIS HEAD ON, WHICH I
KNOW IS AN AMBITION FOR ALL OF
US ON THIS COUNCIL.
OTHERWISE, GIVEN THAT THIS IS A
HOLIDAY WEEK, THERE ARE NO
REGIONAL COMMITTEES THAT I
SERVE ON THAT HER MEETING ON
THAT THURSDAY.
I WILL REPORT BACK ON ANY OTHER
COMMUNITY GATHERINGS THAT I
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN OVER THE COURSE
OF THIS WEEK AND NEXT MONDAY'S
COUNCIL MEETING.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I HAVE NOTHING ON THE AGENDA
FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC COMMITTEE
WILL BE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
AT 9:30. THAT IS A SPECIAL
MEETING.
WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR SOME
APPOINTMENTS. LET'S SEE.
I MET LAST WEEK WITH THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND I WANT
TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THE ARTS
COMMISSION IS RECRUITING FOUR
COMMISSIONERS.
THERE IS AN OPEN APPLICATION
RIGHT NOW AND I WANTED TO
ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO APPLY.
WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK, THEY DID
RECEIVE 50 APPLICATIONS.
IT IS EXCITING THAT FOLKS ARE
INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US
AND PARTICIPATING IN THAT WAY.
IT WILL BE OPEN FOR A FULL
MONTH AND CURRENT COMMISSIONERS
WILL WEIGH IN ON WHAT THE
SELECTION PANEL LOOKS LIKE.
I DON'T HAVE THE WEBSITE HERE
BUT I WILL POST ABOUT IT LATER.
I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT THE ARTS DEPARTMENT IS
WORKING WITH FAS ON CITY-OWNED
LAND TO CREATE A PUBLIC AND IF
IT WITH THE TINY CULTURAL SPACE
PROJECT. APPLICATIONS WILL BE
REVIEWED BY ARTS AND ONCE THEY
SELECT AN ORGANIZATION THAT
WORKS BEST, THEY WILL ALLOW THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO
SELECT A PLOT OF LAND AND WORK
WITH SAWHORSE REVOLUTION TO
CREATE A BUILDING.
YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE
FIRST PROJECT THAT IS GETTING
STARTED. WE HAVE A SMALL PLOT
OF LAND IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
THAT IS A COMMUNITY SPACE, A
SMALL LIBRARY.
THERE WILL BE A REAL GATHERING
SPACE FOR FOLKS. I DO WANT TO
LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE GRAND
OPENING OF THAT SPACE WILL BE
THIS SATURDAY. PLEASE COME BY.
THERE WILL BE FOOD AND MUSIC, A
CHANCE TO PLAY CHESS. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT FOR
SUPPORTING THESE SMALL PROJECTS
THAT CAN ACTIVATE SPACES FOR
COMMUNITY.
>> LAST WEEK, I ATTENDED A TOWN
HALL REGARDING THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE. WE
DID HEAR FROM THE DIRECTORS OF
THE DIFFERENT SAFETY HUBS IN
WEST SEATTLE, IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE AND CENTRAL DISTRICT.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM
SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND I
THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM
ABOUT THE KIND OF IMPACT THE
PROGRAMS HAVE HAD. THEY WERE
ASKED WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO
SEE CHANGE IN THE WAY THE CITY
OPERATES. SOME OF THE THINGS WE
HEARD FROM THE YOUNG PEOPLE
INCLUDE REPLACING THE POLICE
WITH PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THEIR
OWN COMMUNITY, INVESTING MORE
IN THIS COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE AND THIS ALTERNATIVE
. WHAT WE HEAR OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, PARTICULARLY FROM YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO REENTER THEIR
COMMUNITIES AFTER BEING IN A
SAFE HARBOR FOR A WHILE, IS THE
NEED FOR GREATER INVESTMENT IN
MENTAL HEALTH AND THERAPY AND
COUNSELING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. I
WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THAT TOWN HALL
AND REALLY THANK THE YOUNG
PEOPLE ESPECIALLY FOR BEING
WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THINGS
THAT ARE PRETTY CHALLENGING TO
TALK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY ON A
ZOOM CALL WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY IDEA WHO IS LISTENING.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE
REALLY CANDID ABOUT WHAT THEY
NEED. IT IS OUR JOB NOW TO
LISTEN AND MAKE SURE WE ARE
SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY CONTINUE
ON THEIR JOURNEY TO MOVE IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THEMSELVES
AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
LAST WEEK, MY OFFICE ENGAGED
WITH CITY LIGHT TO REPAIR
SEVERAL STREETLIGHTS THAT HAD
GONE OUT NEAR THE INTERSECTION
OF 12th AND JACKSON IN LITTLE
SAIGON.
I WANT TO THANK THE UTILITY FOR
THEIR RAPID RESPONSE.
WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE
STREETLIGHTS WERE ALL REPAIRED
AND WORKING.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE
HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS AT
THAT INTERSECTION IN PARTICULAR
ABOUT COMMUNIT SAFETY,
ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING SEVERAL
SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT
THAT CORNER.
I WILL BE MEETING WITH
NEIGHBORS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND
MEMBERS OF LEAD TOMORROW IN
LITTLE SAIGON TO TALK ABOUT
SOME FURTHER MEASURES THAT WE
MIGHT TAKE TO ADDRESS SAFETY IN
THE AREA.
THIS WEEK I WILL ALSO BE
MEETING WITH [INDISCERNIBLE]
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR ONGOING
NEEDS AND ISSUES WITH THE CITY
THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT SOME OF
THE OTHER ISSUES THAT FOLKS
HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH
NATIONALLY ON FILM SHOOTS. WE
ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE
THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR
LOCAL FOLKS AS WELL.
LAST WEEK, I WILL BE MEETING
WITH A PROFESSOR FROM SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE OF
PUBLIC SERVICE WHO IS
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
HELPING US THINK THROUGH HOW WE
BUILD OUT A TRUE CITY-OWNED AND
OPERATED SOCIAL HOUSING PROGRAM
HERE IN THE CITY.
FOR ME, THAT WORK DOES NOT STOP
WITH THE BUDGET.
I WILL BE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE
HOW WE CAN START FOLLOWING IN
THE FOOTSTEPS OF CITIES LIKE
VIENNA AND PARIS AND OTHERS WHO
ARE OFFERING HIGH QUALITY
PUBLICLY OWNED HOMES FOR FOLKS
WHO NEED THEM.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS
PURSUIT OF SOCIAL HOUSING IN
SEATTLE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY
OFFICE.
AS WE ARE LEARNING MORE, WE CAN
FILL FOLKS IN ON WHAT WE ARE
DOING.
THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE FOR
THIS MORNING.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
MOVING ON, MY REPORT IS THE
LAST REPORT OF THE MORNING.
MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
HERE IN DISTRICT 6, I WAS ABLE
TO SPEAK LAST WEEK.
IN OFFICE HOURS I MET WITH
PEOPLE -- TWO FOLKS FROM
FREMONT, ONE PERSON FROM
BALLARD AND ONE PERSON FROM
GREENWOOD.
WE DISCUSSED HOMELESSNESS, SAVE
LOTS FOR RVs, POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE SERVICES.
MY STAFF ATTENDED THE LONGFORD
COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND MY TEAM
ALSO ATTENDED THE NORTH
PRECINCT ADVISORY COUNCIL WHERE
WE HEARD FROM OUR NEW CAPTAIN.
I CONTINUE TO HOLD OPERATIONAL
COORDINATION MEETINGS WITH
COMMUNITY LEADERS, GOVERNMENT
ENTITIES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL
ENTITIES TO MAKE MEANINGFUL
INTERVENTIONS AND IMPACTS TO
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN
SPECIFIC PLACES IN DISTRICT 6.
THESE MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE
MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK UNTIL THE
TRANSFER IS COMPLETE. THIS
COMING WEEK I AM HOSTING A
DISTRICT 6 TOWN HALL TOMORROW,
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 FROM 5:30
UNTIL 7:30 P.M.
I WILL PROVIDE UPDATES ABOUT MY
WORK THIS YEAR AND HOST THREE
PRESENTATIONS.
WE WILL HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
2022 BUDGET WHICH FOCUSES ON
HOMELESSNESS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AND PUBLIC SPACES.
WE WILL HEAR FROM KING COUNTY
DEPARTMENT AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND RECOVERY DIVISION
DIRECTOR TO DISCUSS HOW SEATTLE
FITS INTO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SPACE WITH KING COUNTY AND
WASHINGTON STATE.
OUR ROLE IS TO PROVIDE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
A PATHWAY FORWARD.
WE WILL HAVE DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY
SERVICE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DANIEL MALONE FOR DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
RESPONSE TEAM AND WE WILL AND
THE TOWN HALL WITH QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS FROM DISTRICT 6
RESIDENTS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A
QUESTION, PLEASE RSVP ON MY
WEBSITE AND SUBMIT THE QUESTION
THROUGH THERE. UNFORTUNATELY,
SDOT DID NOT SCHEDULE THEIR
NORTH OUTER LOOP OUTREACH
MEETING AT THE SAME TIME AS MY
TOWNHALL. SDOT DID NOT GIVE ME
ADVANCED NOTICE OF THIS
OUTREACH MEETING AND I HAVE
MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT
THIS LACK OF COORDINATION
CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
MY SINCERE APOLOGIES TO
RESIDENTS WHO WILL NOW HAVE TO
CHOOSE WHICH EVENT TO ATTEND.
THE TOWN HALL WILL BE RECORDED
AND KEPT ON MY WEBSITE SO THAT
YOU ARE ABLE TO VIEW IT AT A
LATER DATE AND YOU CAN SUBMIT
YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME SO
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO
HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ASKED. I
CAN'T BE ANYMORE CLEAR TO SDOT,
WHEN ENGAGING IN OUTREACH AND
PROJECTS OF THIS SCOPE IN MY
DISTRICT, YOU NEED TO
COMMUNICATE AND COORDINATE WITH
MY OFFICE SO THAT THIS DOES NOT
HAPPEN AGAIN.
THIS IS UNFORTUNATE WHERE WE
ARE ASKING DISTRICT 6 RESIDENTS
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH
THEIR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO
THAT.
THIS WEEK, MY STAFF WILL BE
MEETING WITH THE PHINNEY
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION,
ATTENDING THE GREEN THE
COMMITTEE COUNCIL AND BALLARD
DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I WILL BE MEETING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT
GREENLAKE COMMUNITY CENTER AND
EVANS POOL AND DISTRICT 6
OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK HAVE
BEEN SHORTENED DUE TO THE TOWN
HALL OCCURRING TOMORROW AND THE
BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS
HAPPENING ON WEDNESDAY.
WE WILL BE HAVING OFFICE HOURS
TOMORROW, TUESDAY, MIDDAY AND
WE WILL HAVE MORE TIMES NEXT
WEEK.
THIS WEEK, WE WILL HAVE A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET
ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10,
WHICH IS WHY I WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO ATTEND THE BALLARD AND
GREENLAKE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT
THE SAME TIME.
THURSDAY I WILL BE OBSERVING
VETERANS DAY AND WILL ATTEND AN
ANNUAL VETERANS DAY DINNER TO
HONOR ALL VETERANS FOR THEIR
SERVICE TO OUR NATION.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
REVIEWING THE CHAIRS BUDGET
PACKAGE AND WHICH OF MY
PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN FUNDED.
I WILL BE WORKING WITH CENTRAL
STAFF ON SOME AMENDMENTS THAT I
HAVE IDENTIFIED OUTSIDE OF THE
PACKAGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH CENTRAL STAFF.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
BUDGET CHAIR ADDRESSED THE FACT
THAT WE HAD A LOWER REVENUE
FORECAST THAN WE HAD
ANTICIPATED.
I WANT TO MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR HERE AS WELL, THE ECONOMY
IS STILL REBOUNDING AND IS
STILL PERFORMING WELL. THE
REASON THAT WE HAD A LOWER
BUDGET REVENUE FORECAST IS
BECAUSE WE USED BASELINE
FORECASTING RATHER THAN
PESSIMISTIC FORECASTING.
THE NEWS IS GOOD. THE ECONOMY
IS REBOUNDING AND RECOVERING.
JUST BECAUSE WE HAD A LOWER
THAN ANTICIPATED FORECAST, IT
WAS THE ALGORITHM IN THE
PROCESS IN WHICH WE USED, NOT
THE UNDERLYING FACTOR OF HOW
THE ECONOMY IS DOING.
HERE AT THE LAND-USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE, THERE
ARE NO USE.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS FROM THE
LAND-USE AND MANY ON THE INTER-
CALENDAR.
THIS FOLLOWS UP ON OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL
COMPREHENSION PLAN AMENDMENT TO
CHANGE THE NAME OF SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES TO NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTIAL ZONES IN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT. LIKE
THE CONFERENCE A PLAN
AMENDMENT, THIS IS IN NAME ONLY
AND ALIGNS OUR CODE WITH THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
FINALLY, COUNCIL THE 120125
WHICH GRANTS THE AUTHORITY TO
WAIVE CERTAIN STANDARDS FOR THE
WEST POINT TREATMENT FACILITY.
THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL MEETING
GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3
FOLLOWED BY A REGULAR MEETING
ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8. THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
I WANT TO CHECK WITH COLLINGS
TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO OUR
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
NOTING WE ARE 20 MINUTES OVER
THE ALLOTTED TIME FOR THIS
SECTION, WHICH IS THE
DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIEW OF
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS.
WE ARE 20 MINUTES OVER AND I
WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION IF THERE ARE
NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, AS
PRESIDING OFFICER, I AM
ANNOUNCING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE SECOND OF
SESSION IS TO DISCUSS PENDING,
POTENTIAL, OR ACTUAL LITIGATION
AND COUNSELS A CLICK OF SESSION
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL
LEGAL MATTERS WITH CITY
ATTORNEYS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
A LEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS
PRESENT TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL
RESERVES QUESTIONS OF POLICY
FOR OPEN SESSION.
I EXPECT THE TIME OF EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO BE ABOUT 60 MINUTES
BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE
EXTENDED FOR 90 MINUTES SO THAT
WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK IF
THAT IS THE CASE.
OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
BE EXTENDED BEYOND 90 MINUTES,
I WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION
AND EXPECTED DURATION.
WE ARE RIGHT NOW IT 11:0 6 AM
SO I AM GOING TO SAY THIS WILL
BE EXTENDED TO 12:30 7 PM.
HEARING OBJECTIONS, WE WILL
MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.