>>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
THE SEPTEMBER 13 2021 MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME TO ORDER.
--
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
PRESENTATIONS WE DO NOT HAVE
ANY PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING
SO WE WILL MOVE TO APPROVAL OF
THE MINUTES THE MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST
16, 2021 HAVE BEEN APPROVED IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION -- THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES?
WE WILL MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, THERE ARE THREE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR THAT I CAN SEE IN MY
SCRIPT FOR TODAY, SO HERE IS
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, I HAVE
TO FIRST MOVED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
THEN THERE HAS TO BE A SECOND
AND WE CAN CONSIDER EACH OF THE
AMENDMENTS INDIVIDUALLY, SO I
KNOW WHO HAS AMENDMENTS BASED
ON YOUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, SO I WILL
JUST CALL ON YOU AS WE GO
THROUGH THIS JUST TO EXPEDITE
AND MEET THE PROCESS AS
UNDERSTANDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN.
THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO DID MISS THE
DEADLINES TO REFERRING ITEMS OF
LEGISLATION THROUGH OUR
ORDINARY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
OFFICE THIS IS THEIR
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AMENDMENTS
TO THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR FOR THOSE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AGAIN THERE
ARE THREE COUNCILMEMBERS
INCLUDING MYSELF WHO HAVE
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR I AM
GOING TO SWITCH THE ORDER HERE
A LITTLE BIT TO ALLOW US TO
CONSIDER THE PERHAPS LESS
CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENTS FIRST
AND THEN SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST
SO IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO
THAT I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
DO THAT, I WILL START WITH MY
AMENDMENT TO THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR, IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION ITEM 8 203.4
WILL BE AMENDED BY CHANGING THE
COMMITTEE REFERRAL FROM THE
GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> SECOND.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
IS AMENDED TO REFLECT THE ITEM
8 APPOINTMENT 2034 IS REFERRED
TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THE
AMENDMENTS?
TO THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR?
I HEARD YOU ASK IF THERE WERE
ANY OBJECTIONS WHICH SUGGESTS
HAT THERE IS A NEED FOR
SECOND --
>> MADAM CLERK, I AM GOING TO
CALL UPON YOU TO THE AUTHOR OF
MY SCRIPT AND PARLIAMENTARIAN,
IT INDICATES HERE THAT I JUST
NEED TO CALL FOR AN OBJECTION,
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT BECAUSE THE
AMENDMENT IS WITHIN THE
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WE ARE
SEEKING AND IF THERE ARE NO
CONCESSIONS YOU WOULD --
>> WE DO NOT NEED A SECOND, BUT
IF WE WANT TO VOTE ON IT WE DO
EED TO OBJECT.
>> RIGHT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I THINK IT IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF
THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATION --
OKAY SO THIS IS JUST AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A UNANIMOUS
CONSENT ON THIS ITEM SO IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION ITEM 8
WILL BE AMENDED BY CHANGING THE
COMMITTEE REFERRAL FROM -- TO
THE CITY COUNCIL.
HEARING NO OBJECTION
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
IS AMENDED TO REFLECT THAT --
IS REFERRED TO THE CITY
COUNCIL.
THERE IS ALSO A REQUEST FOR A
SUSPENSION OF RULES,
COUNCILMEMBER -- I AM GOING TO
GO THROUGH THE STEPS NEEDED TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL
MAKE A MOTION THAT WILL REQUIRE
A SECOND AND THEN WE WILL GO
TO THE ROLLCALL.
SO BASED ON THIS AGAIN, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
COUNSEL RULE RELATING TO
CIRCULATION OF LEGISLATION AND
INTRODUCTION NOT ON THE
PUBLISHED -- ON THE PRECEDING
BUSINESS DAY WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW CONSIDERATION OF
AMENDMENT TO ALLOW ONE COUNCIL
BILL TO THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE
COUNSEL WILL BE SUSPENDED AND
WE WILL PROCEED WITH
CONSIDERATION TO THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO MOVE
YOUR AMENDMENT TO TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I AM
MOVE --
>> IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO MOVE AND AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE
INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMAN
AMENDMENT --
>> THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED --
WAS DISCUSSED IN MY COMMITTEE
LAST FRIDAY -- AND HOPEFULLY
VOTE IT OUT COMMUNITY PARTNERS
HAVE BEEN -- WE JUST DID NOT
GET IT INTO THE -- WE CONSIDER
--
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS TO THE -- HEARING NONE
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE --
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> -- SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO
BACK TO THE TOP OF MY SCRIPT
HERE AND WE WILL CONSIDER
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT SO I WILL GO AHEAD
AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO MAKE HIS MOTION TO
MAKE THE INTRODUCTION A
REFERRAL CALENDAR FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> AS IT WAS CIRCULATED LAST
FRIDAY I MOVED TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR BY INTRODUCING --
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WAREZ
TO AMEND THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR I WILL HAND
IT BACK OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO ADDRESS THIS
AMENDMENT AND THEN WE WILL OPEN
IT UP TO COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE SIMILAR
REMARKS -- I SHOULD SUMMARIZE
IT HERE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
PUBLIC -- CIRCULATED AN
AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL BILL
120112.
THAT PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
AUGUST 17 I AM NOT A MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE -- AND GET IT
APPROVED BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT
AND THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS TO
THIS AMENDMENT WHICH I WILL
DISCUSS LATER -- BY USING THE
FUNDS -- I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET
THAT ONTO -- ASKING THAT WE ADD
IT TO THE IRC, YOUR VOTE WOULD
NOT BE TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION AT THIS
TIME -- WE DO NOT NEED TO ADOPT
THE AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION
RIGHT AWAY BUT I WANTED
EVERYBODY TO HAVE IT IN FRONT
OF THEM TO READ ALONG WITH --
AS PART OF ITEM 3, THAT IS --
TO EFFECTUATE THOSE FINANCIAL
CHANGES -- I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY WHO HAVE
WRITTEN WITH CONCERNS ABOUT HOW
WE FUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS
AND OTHER PROGRAMS.
I BELIEVE WE CAN AND SHOULD DO
MORE ON MULTIPLE FRONTS WITH --
WE HAVE THE FRONTLINE STAFFING
NECESSARY -- SO I ASKED MY
COLLEAGUES ALLOW THIS -- THANK
YOU.
>> I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS HER HAND RAISED.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
COMMENTS YOU CAN --
>> I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN GETTING THIS BILL IN
FRONT OF US IT IS IN FRONT OF
US WE DO NOT NEED IT ON THE IRC
YET BECAUSE I STILL THINK
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
RIPENESS ISSUE -- TO SEE HOW
THIS DISCUSSION LATER IN
TODAY'S MEETING GOES AROUND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO FUND A
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT
PROGRAM AND IF COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN IS SUCCESSFUL WITH
THAT VOTE AND THAT AMENDMENT WE
COULD LOOK AT NEXT WEEK'S IRC
--
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS ON THE INTRODUCTION
--
>> --
>> THANK YOU, I WILL BE VOTING
NO ON THIS AMENDMENT BUT I WANT
TO BE CLEAR MY OBJECTION IS NOT
ABOUT PROCESS, IT IS ABOUT THE
CONTENT OF THE BILL, MY OFFICE
IS TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THE
CONTENT OF THE BILL, AND AS HAS
BEEN REFERENCED EARLIER, THERE
WILL BE AMENDMENTS -- AND I
WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE
SUBSTANCE OF MY OPPOSITION TO
THOSE AMENDMENTS WHICH WILL BE
SIMILAR ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
TO THIS BILL SO I WILL NOT --
ORDINARILY I VIRTUALLY NEVER
HAVE PROCESS ARGUMENTS AGAINST
DISCUSSION, I BELIEVE IN THE
BROADEST POSSIBLE DEMOCRATIC
DISCUSSION AVAILABLE AND --
CONSISTENT WITH THAT I WILL BE
VOTING NO ON THIS MOTION.
>> FOR THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
MAY NOT BE TRACKING THIS
CLOSELY, I KNOW THAT I JUST HAD
A CONVERSATION WITH MY STAFF
ABOUT SOME OF THE STAGING
ISSUES, I WILL DESCRIBE THEM AS,
THAT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED, TO PUT IT SIMPLY,
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF
SOME OR ALL OF COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENTS TO THE
BILL AS PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
ARE SUCCESSFUL, THEN THAT
OBVIATES THE NEED FOR US TO
CONSIDER THE LEGISLATION THAT
HE IS SEEKING TO PLACE ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
IF THOSE AMENDMENTS FAIL, IT
WOULD REQUIRE CONSIDERATION OF
THE COUNCIL BILL THAT HE IS
SEEKING TO ADD TO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, SO I THINK SOME OF
THE ARGUMENTS THAT ARE BEING
MADE RIGHT NOW IS LET'S SEE HOW
THE AMENDMENTS FAIR ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER BEFORE WE AGREE TO ADD
A COUNCIL BILL RELATED TO THOSE
SUBJECT MATTERS TO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT
BE FOLLOWING THAT PROCESS AND
PROCEDURE THAT IS EFFECTIVELY
WHAT THE CONVERSATION IS RIGHT
NOW AS IT RELATES TO THIS
PROCEDURAL ISSUE RELATED TO
WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD AMEND
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
NOW THAT THE MOTION HAS BEEN
MADE AND SECONDED, AND I AM NOT
SURE IF COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
IS , LET ME REPHRASE THAT, IT
IS UNCLEAR TO ME NOW THAT WE
ARE DISCUSSING THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THAT
THE MOTIONS AND SECONDS HAVE
BEEN MADE AS IT HAS BEEN
AMENDED MY UNDERSTANDING BASED
ON THE CITY COUNCIL RULES IS
THAT WE NOW HAVE TO VOTE ON
THIS PARTICULAR MOTION THAT IS
BEFORE US SINCE IT IS ON THE
TABLE BUT I WILL CALL ON OUR
CITY CLERK TO EITHER CONFIRM OR
CLARIFY THE CITY COUNCIL RULES
RELATED TO THAT PROCEDURE.
>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
OPTIONS THAT CAN OCCUR, A
MOTION CAN BE HELD AFTER
CONSIDERATION THE BILL ITSELF
ON AGENDA ITEM 2 AND 3 IF I AM
NOT MISTAKEN AND THE MOTION CAN
BE WITHDRAWN COMPLETELY AND THE
IRC CAN BE -- AND THE COUNCIL
CAN DECIDE AT THIS POINT -- OR
NOT.
>> AND MADAME CLERK IF WE WERE
TO CALL THIS MATTER TO A VOTE
NOW, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO
RECONSIDER THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR LATER ON IN
THE AGENDA?
>> YOU COULD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I THINK WE ARE AS CLEAR AS MUD
NOW AS THEY SAY.
SO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN MY
SUBJECTION SUGGESTION IS THAT
WE GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS TO A
VOTE AND SEE HOW THE VOTING ON
-- GOES AND AFTER THAT
CONSIDERATION IF YOU WISH TO RE-
INTRODUCE OR HAVE US RECONSIDER
-- THAT IS CERTAINLY A MOTION
THAT YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TO
MAKE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
COUNCILMEMBERS PETERSON'S --
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S MOTION
TO AMEND --
HEARING NONE --
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
THREE IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS, AND THE
BILL IS NOT INTRODUCED.
AGAIN, DEPENDING ON HOW THE
CONVERSATION GOES -- THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY -- ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR?
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AS AMENDED?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA I MOVED
TO ADOPT THE AGENDA IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD TO ADOPT THE AGENDA ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
AGENDA AND I NOTICED THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAS ONE
AMENDMENT HERE SO I WILL CALL
ON COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO
MAKE HER AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAME
PRESIDENT, I MOVED TO AMEND THE
AGENDA ON ITEM NUMBER 1 WHICH IS
COUNCIL BILL 120119 AND I HOPE
TO HOLD THIS BILL INDEFINITELY,
I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT WHY IF
THERE IS A SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED THAT COUNCIL BILL
120119 BE HELD INDEFINITELY.
>> THE BILL THAT WE HAD IN
FRONT OF US ON TODAY'S AGENDA
WAS ACTUALLY AN AMENDMENT TO
LEGISLATION THAT WE HAD PASSED
EARLIER THIS YEAR PROVIDING FOR
DOLLAR HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY
WORKERS.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO -- AS YOU
WILL RECALL THE COMMITTEE PAST
THE AMENDMENT EARLIER THIS
SUMMER WHEN COVID-19 AND
VACCINATION RATES WERE AT A
VERY DIFFERENT PLACE THAN THEY
ARE NOW, OUR COMMITTEE HAD
CONSIDERED -- AS A NARROW
AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED, WE
HAVE CONTINUED TO MOVE TO DELAY
THE AMENDMENT TO THIS
REQUIREMENT IN FULL COUNSEL
BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT THE
MOST RECENT PUBLIC HEALTH DATA
AND WE WANTED TO DO THIS DURING
FULL COUNSEL SO THAT -- I AM
STILL -- AND OF COURSE I AM
ALWAYS INTERESTED IN MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE STRENGTHENING
LABOR PROTECTION, BUT THIS BILL
WAS NARROW, IT IS NOT WHAT
OVERALL WORKER PAY WAS ABOUT,
TODAY'S MOTION TO DELAY THE
VOTE INDEFINITELY MOVES THIS
AMENDMENT INTO A LONGER PERIOD
SO THAT WE HAVE MORE TIME TO
CONSIDER ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
HEALTH INFORMATION AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW
TO ADDRESS -- THE INFORMATION
THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW SIGNALS
TO ME THAT THIS IS NOT THE TIME
TO LIFT THE HAZARD PAY
REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS
ABOUT THE INCREASED RATES OF
HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THIS REGION
AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I WANT TO THANK -- WHO HAVE
CONTINUED TO SHARE WITH US THE
NEWS ON VACCINATIONS AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE NUMBER
OF CASES INCREASING, AND WE
WILL SOON BE ABLE TO SEE THE
IMPACTS OF THE NEW VACCINE
REQUIREMENT WHICH WE ARE VERY
HOPEFUL WILL HELP TO DECREASE
THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF SCALE ON
AUGUST 3 JUST A MONTH AGO THE
CASELOAD WAS 344 PEOPLE WITH
SEVERAL AREA HOSPITALS
REPORTING SHORTAGES AND -- OVER
95%.
WE HAVE THE NEW MANDATORY
INDOOR AND IN SOME CASES
OUTDOOR MASK REQUIREMENTS WE
ARE VERY HOPEFUL THAT IF FOLKS
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THESE MASK
REQUIREMENTS ESPECIALLY FOR
EXPOSURE TO GROCERY STORE
WORKERS THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE
DECREASES IN TRANSMISSION.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ADDRESSING TRANSMISSION AND
HOSPITALIZATION RATES BEFORE --
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO TO DELAY THIS
BILL INDEFINITELY AND THEN WE
WILL TAKE IT UP AGAIN ONCE WE
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT PUBLIC
HEALTH DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT
E ARE MOVING FORWAR
MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE GREATER
STABILITY IN OUR REGION.
THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ARE THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON --
COUNCIL BILL 120119
INDEFINITELY?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, I KNOW WE HAVE
HAD THIS COME BACK A COUPLE OF
TIMES SO I APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO PUT IT ON THE
AGENDA FOR US TO DISCUSS, AND
THOSE GROCERS WHO MAY BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE HAZARD PAY
TO KNOW THAT JUST BECAUSE THE
MOTION IS TO HOLD IT
INDEFINITELY DOES NOT MEAN THAT
IT WILL NOT COME BACK, IT IS
JUST THAT IT IS NOT PRACTICAL
TO HAVE IT COME BACK EVERY 2 OR
3 WEEKS WHEN WE ARE IN THE
MIDST OF THE DELTA VARIANT
CRISIS AND THERE ARE SO MANY
UNKNOWNS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
STANDPOINT, SO WE DO KNOW THAT,
I AM HEARING THE CONCERNS FROM
GROCERS, I ALSO SUPPORT WHAT
THE WORKERS ARE GOING THROUGH,
AND SO THIS WILL BE BROUGHT
BACK EVENTUALLY, IT IS JUST
THAT IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR IT
TO COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FOR
THE FOLKS HERE AND THE OFFICIAL
MOTION IS INDEFINITE, BUT IT
WILL COME BACK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR --
THAT REQUIRE THIS TO EXPIRE
AFTER THE END OF SIX MONTHS
AFTER THE STATE OF EMERGENCY,
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
RECOGNITION THAT HAVING SOME
CONSISTENCY AROUND OUR COVID-19
RESPONSE, THAT THE CITY IS
LEADING ON FOR WORKERS, FOR
TENANTS, AND FOR WORKERS AND
LANDLORDS IS USEFUL FOR THE
DISCUSSION AROUND -- THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I THINK I DID THAT
ACCIDENTALLY, BUT SINCE I HAVE
THE FLOOR, SORRY, I THINK THIS
REALLY JUST POINTS TO THE FACT
THAT WHEN WE CREATED THE STATE
OF EMERGENCY, WE HAD NO IDEA
WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO.
OR THE STATE THAT WE WOULD BE
IN.
I READ OVER THE WEEKEND THAT
SOME OF THE MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS ARE THINKING THAT
WE MIGHT BE IN THIS SITUATION
FOR ANOTHER 2 OR 3 YEARS.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR US
TO JUST START THINKING ABOUT
NOT COVID-19 AS A STATE OF
EMERGENCY BUT A STATE OF THINGS
FOR US, AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT
THAT MEANS NECESSARILY IN TERMS
OF HOW WE CHANGE THE LANGUAGE,
BUT IT IS JUST MAKING ME REALIZE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE HERE
FOR A WHILE AND PERHAPS THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY IS NOT QUITE
THE RIGHT WAY TO DEAL WITH IT,
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT ON
THE TABLE.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO AT THE VERY LEAST
HOLD THIS INDEFINITELY, SO I
WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS, BUT
I ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND
WORKING PEOPLE AND ACTIVISTS
WHO ARE WATCHING THIS THAT AS I
SAID BEFORE, I WOULD NOT WANT
TO SUPPORT THE ARGUMENTS TO
REMOVE THE HAZARD PAY IN THE
FIRST PLACE, I DO NOT AGREE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
PRESENTING THE FALSE ARGUMENTS
OF THE GROCERY CORPORATIONS AS
EQUIVALENT TO THE PROBLEMS
FACED BY THE GROCERY WORKERS
AND THE SACRIFICES THEY HAVE
MADE ESPECIALLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC, BUT OVERALL THE FACT
THAT WORKERS UNDER CAPITALISM
ARE PAID A FRACTION OF THE
VALUE OF THEIR LABOR AND ALSO
KEEPING IN MIND THAT OF COURSE
RIGHT NOW THEY ARE FACING THE
CONTINUED THREAT OF THE DELTA
VARIANT AND THE NUMBER OF CASES
GOING UP, ALL OF THAT IS STILL
THERE AND IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO KNOW, AND IN
ADDITION TO THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE
EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE
ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL, AND OTHER
EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE
GOING TO BE FACED BY THE WORKERS
FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, LET'S
NOT FORGET THAT THERE IS
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF RENTAL
DEBT THAT HAS BEEN ACCUMULATED
BY WORKERS, MANY OF THEM
UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE AT THIS
POINT WHERE MANY OF THEM ARE
ACTUALLY UNION WORKERS, OF
COURSE NONUNION WORKERS ARE IN
A WORSE SITUATION BUT THERE ARE
MANY UNION WORKERS WHO ARE NOT
ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE
HOUSING CRISIS SIMPLY BECAUSE
THE RENTS ARE SKYROCKETING AT
SUCH A RATE -- KEEPING UP WITH
THE KIND OF RENT INCREASES THAT
PEOPLE ARE FACING NOT JUST IN
SEATTLE BUT NATIONWIDE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER
WORKERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIN
IN THE EXAMPLE OF HAZARD PAY IN
THIS CASE -- I WOULD NOT BE IN
A POSITION TO VOTE TO REMOVE
THAT PAY AT ANY TIME WHETHER IT
IS NOW OR A YEAR FROM NOW, AND
IN FACT I WOULD URGE WORKERS
WHO ARE WATCHING THIS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY BUILD ON
WHATEVER LITTLE THAT THEY WON
DURING THE PANDEMIC IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THAT ALL WORKERS HAVE A
LIVING WAGE WHETHER IT IS A
PANDEMIC OR NOT -- I THINK IT
IS CRUCIAL THAT WE DO NOT DRAW
FALSE EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN
CORPORATIONS, CORPORATE
EXECUTIVES, MULTIMILLIONAIRES
AND BILLIONAIRES ON ONE HAND AND
ORDINARY PEOPLE AND WORKERS ON
THE OTHER, LET'S NOT FORGET
THAT THE LATEST STATISTICS SHOW
THAT SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN,
BILLIONAIRES IN THE UNITED
STATES HAVE BECOME NEARLY $2
TRILLION RED WEALTHIER THAN
THEY WERE BEFORE.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THIS MOTION TO HOLD?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IF YOU
COULD CLOSEOUT DEBATE, I DO
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS TO:
33 P.M.
AND WE ARE STILL ON PROCEDURAL
MATTERS SO IF WE COULD SPEEDED
UP THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BECAUSE
WE DO HAVE ALMOST 60 PEOPLE
WAITING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
>> I DID NOT HEAR A FALSE
EQUIVALENCY BEING MADE AND --
APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION --
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL TO HOLD IT INDEFINITELY
COUNCIL BILL 120119?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
90 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
BILL IS HELD INDEFINITELY.
I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER
AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA, SO
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE AMENDED AGENDA BEFORE WE
CALL IT A ROLLCALL?
HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE AMENDED AGENDA.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED,
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE OVER
TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR -- AND THE
COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR ONGOING PATIENCE AND
COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO --
IT DOES REMAIN OUR STRONG
INTENT TO CONTINUE HAVING
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT INCLUDED
ON OUR MANY AGENDAS BUT THE
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO -- [ INDISCERNIBLE -- LOW
VOLUME ] I WILL MODERATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WAS ORIGINALLY
NOTED TO BE A TOTAL OF 20
MINUTES WITH EACH SPEAKER GIVEN
2 MINUTES TO SPEAK HOWEVER WE
DO HAVE A LARGE VOLUME OF
PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO PROVIDE US
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT PRIMARILY
ON THE BUDGET ORDINANCE RELATED
TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND -- SO GIVEN THE
IMPORTANCE OF THAT ISSUE AND
THE FACT THAT MANY OF THESE
AMENDMENTS NOT ALL OF THEM WERE
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
VERY LATE AND HAVE NOT GONE
THROUGH THE COMMITTEE --
PROCESS I AM GOING TO ALLOW
EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
TODAY BUT I WILL REDUCE THE
TIME FROM 2 MINUTES TO A TOTAL
OF ONE MINUTE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ADDRESS
YOUR COMMENTS ACCORDINGLY FROM
2 MINUTES TO ONE MINUTE AND IF
YOU HAVE PREREGISTERED AND IF
YOU ARE ON THE LIST YOU WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TODAY.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED TO A TOTAL OF 60
MINUTES WITH EACH SPEAKER BEING
ALLOTTED ONE MINUTE TO ADDRESS
THE COUNCIL.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
EXTENDED TO A TOTAL OF 60
MINUTES.
-- ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER USED FOR THIS
REGISTRATION AND USING THE NAME
PHONE NUMBER AND PASSCODE THAT
WAS EMAILED TO THEM ON
CONFIRMATION.
THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE --
CONFIRMATION.
DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOU ARE
CALLING INTO THE RIGHT NUMBER
WITH THE RIGHT NUMBER.
AS YOU WAIT FOR US TO CALL ON
YOUR NAME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL CALL ON YOU EVEN IF YOU
SHOW UP AS NOT PRESENT ON MY
SIDE.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME
IDENTIFIED AS SOMEONE WHO IS
NOT PRESENT YOU MIGHT WANT TO
DOUBLE CHECK THAT DATA AND CALL
IN ACCORDINGLY.
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL YOUR
COMMENTS TO US. IF YOU ARE
UNABLE TO WAIT TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT OR IF YOU NEED TO MOVE
ON TO OTHER THINGS, WE WANT TO
LOOK AT THOSE COMMENTS.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU
CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SIGN
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE
THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS ALSO
LISTED ON TODAY'S PUBLIC AGENDA.
WHEN I CALL ON YOUR NAME, STAFF
WILL UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND
YOU WILL HEAR A PROMPT, THAT IS
YOUR CUE TO PRESS á6 BEFORE YOU
BEGIN SPEAKING.
I ASK THAT YOU START YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT OF REMINDING US
OF YOUR NAME TELLING US WHAT
ITEM YOU ARE CALLING IN ABOUT
AND AS A REMINDER YOUR COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR OR -- YOU
ARE GOING TO HEAR A CHIME AT
ABOUT 10 SECONDS, THIS CHIME
MEANS THAT YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT OF YOUR TOTAL ONE MINUTE
ALLOTTED TIME, ONCE YOU HEAR
THE CHIME PLEASE BEGIN TO WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU DO NOT, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE SO WE
CAN CALL ON THE NEXT PERSON.
ONCE YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT AND THAT YOU FINISH
WATCHING TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL OR ONE OF --
SINCE I AM NOW GOING TO OPEN UP
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND
BEGIN CALLING ON SPEAKERS ONCE
YOU HEAR YOUR NAME PRESS á6
AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT YOU
HAVE BEEN ON MUTED, SO IT IS
ABOUT 2:40 P.M.
, WE WILL GO UNTIL ABOUT 3:40
PM.
SO THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS ARE
PETER AND HOWARD.
PETER, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON THIS IS --
THE LEGISLATION LISTS THREE
PROVIDERS ON -- COUNSEL IS
UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE
THIS ACTION FOR TWO PROVIDERS
WHICH -- THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES
A $5 MILLION CUT TO THE POLICE
AND -- STILL A AN INCREASE OF
$2.5 MILLION.
THIS PROCOMP BILL RE-FUNDS SPD
AND SHOULD BE -- IT DOES COMMIT
SOME MONEY TO COMMUNITY BUT
THAT FUNDING WILL NOT BE
RECEIVED BY -- FOR 18 MONTHS.
THOSE SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF
SPD'S 2022 BUDGET WHICH HAS YET
TO BE WRITTEN.
I SUPPORT -- THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING, DEFUND SPD.
>> NEXT IS HOWARD, FOLLOWED BY
CODY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
DURING COUNSEL BREAK -- RELEASED
A STUNNINGLY INCOMPETENT AND
CRUEL INVESTIGATION INTO LAST
YEAR'S -- HE WAS THE 10th OF 11
PEOPLE ALL SUFFERING A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS THAT THE SPD HAS
KILLED IN JUST THE NINE YEARS
SINCE THE START OF THE CONSENT
DECREE.
-- AGGRESSIVELY CHASED AND
YELLED AT BY SIX OFFICERS WAS
SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN
DEATH, FALSELY CLAIMING THAT --
THE COUNCIL MUST IMMEDIATELY
HOLD A PUBLIC FORUM --
CONCERNING THE ABDICATION OF
PROPER INVESTIGATION AND
OVERSIGHT -- AND CONSIDER
REMOVING --
>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP IS CODY,
FOLLOWED BY --
>> HELLO, I AM ONE OF THE
CODIRECTORS OF -- WE WANT TO
THANK --
>> NEXT UP IS -- FOLLOWED BY AN
MARINE.
--
>> I AM CALLING ABOUT COUNCIL
BILL 120112 --
[ INAUDIBLE -- STATIC ]
TOPS DO NOT STOP VIOLENCE --
>> NEXT UP IS M, FOLLOWED BY
CATHERINE DAWSON.
>> I AM CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BILL -- THESE TRAININGS
-- SPD IS ALREADY UNDER
INVESTIGATION FOR
UNCONSTITUTIONAL USE OF
EXCESSIVE FORCE -- WE NEED SAFE
-- WE MUST DEFUND SPD RATHER
THAN RE-FUND.
>> NEXT UP IS CATHERINE,
FOLLOWED BY --
>> I AM CALLING TO VOICE MY
OPPOSITION TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT TO FURTHER
FUND SPD.
-- WE ALL KNOW THE POLICE DO
NOT KEEP US SAFE THE MAJORITY
OF THIS COUNSEL PLEDGED TO
DEFUND SPD -- AS PD CONTINUES TO
COMMIT -- THEY CONTINUE TO
RESIST VACCINATIONS AND MASKS
AS HOSPITALS FILL UP WITH --
ANOTHER STEP IN THAT HARMFUL
LEGACY ON THE OTHER HAND --
>> MY NAME IS ANGELICA, AND I
AM CALLING ABOUT -- I ASK YOU TO
DIAL BACK -- COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT TO
REDIRECT FUNDING AWAY FROM
STABILIZING LONG-TERM GRANTS --
DOES NOT EVEN MERIT BEING
BROUGHT UP FOR DISCUSSION, IT
IS AN INSULT TO GIVE HIRING
BONUSES AND RETENTION BONUSES
TO A DEPARTMENT THAT CANNOT --
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THE
AMENDMENT TO MOVE FUNDS FROM
THE SALARIES -- THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS ALICE FOLLOWED BY
--
>> MY NAME IS ALICE, I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4. I AM
CALLING TO REMIND YOU OF YOUR
COMMITMENT TO DEFUND SPD -- WE
DESPERATELY NEED INVESTMENT AND
-- WE DO NOT NEED BONUSES FOR
COPS.
-- THE STUDY FOUND THAT OUT OF
100,000 PEOPLE, EVERY 10
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS -- INVESTMENT IN
COMMUNITIES DOES MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, WE CANNOT GET THERE
IF YOU CONTINUE TO RE-FUND SPD.
-- THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
7, I AM CALLING TO SUPPORT
LEGISLATION THAT STOPS SEATTLE
PD FROM BEING TRAINED BY
FOREIGN MILITARIES SUCH AS
ISRAEL.
-- WE JUST CANNOT FREE FUND SPD.
-- SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED INTO
COMMUNITY HANDS WITH --
RECEIVING EXTRA FUNDING.
PLEASE LISTEN AND -- INVEST IN
THE COMMUNITY AND NOT SPD,
THANK YOU.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF THE SIXTH
DISTRICT AND I AM CALLING TO
VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL
BILL 120142.
-- AND RIGHT NOW A PALESTINIAN
PRISONER IS BEING TRANSFERRED
TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE SECOND
TIME BECAUSE OF THE TORTURE HE
HAS ENDURED, THIS INCLUDES
ELECTROCUTION DEPRIVATION OF
SLEEP AND HAVING BOTH OF HIS
LEGS BROKEN.
SO -- THESE TRIPS ARE DANGEROUS
AND UNNECESSARY.
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL
120142.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS MADISON AND THEN
SUSAN.
SUSAN YOU ARE SHOWING UP AS NOT
PRESENT ON MY END, IF YOU CALL
IN AND WE CAN MATCH YOU, YOU
WILL GET YOUR ONE MINUTE
OTHERWISE WE WILL HEAR FROM
ALEXA FAY.
>> MY NAME IS MADISON AND I AM
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5 AND --
VOTE NO ON COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT, FUNDING
SPD HIRING BONUSES -- WOULD BE
A BETRAYAL OF THE COUNCIL'S
COMMITMENT TO STOP FUNDING
POLICE OVER COMMUNITY NEEDS.
LAST THURSDAY OVER 10 POLICE
VEHICLES AND DOZENS OF OFFICERS
RUSHED TO AN INCIDENT IN
CAPITOL HILL INVOLVING A BLACK
MAN FALLING ASLEEP IN HIS CAR,
SPD ESCALATED THE SITUATION AND
WHEN -- THE DEEMED THE GROUP
HOSTILE AND ACTIVATED THEIR
ANTI-PROTEST UNIT.
-- THIS INCIDENT ALONG WITH SO
MANY OTHERS SHOWS THAT SPD DOES
NOT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE,
THEY DO NOT DESERVE MORE MONEY.
>> SUSAN YOU ARE SHOWING UP AS
NOT PRESENT, AND ALEXA IS NOW
SHOWING UP AS NOT PRESENT ON MY
END, SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO
JULIE AND THEN SHELBY.
>> NEXT UP IS SHELBY FOLLOWED
BY COCO.
>> I AM A JEWISH RENTER CALLING
FROM DISTRICT 2, AND I AM
CALLING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THE BILL PROPOSED TO ENTER --
THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
TOMORROW AND I AM CALLING ON
COUNSEL -- COMMITTING ONGOING
GRIEVOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
AND I KNOW -- INVESTING IN
COMMUNITY MAKES ALL OF US MORE
SAFE, NOT RACIST AND
MILITARIZED POLICING, SO PLEASE
REJECT COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT -- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT UP IS COCO WEBER AND WE
WILL CIRCLE BACK TO SUSAN.
>> I AM A D4 RESIDENT AND -- I
IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE NO FOR
BONUSES WHO ARE ALREADY -- LET
US REMEMBER THAT POLICING IS
REACTING -- FURTHER I IMPLORE
YOU TO --
>> NEXT UP IS SUSAN, FOLLOWED
BY KEVIN.
>> THIS IS SUSAN.
58 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
SIGNED ONTO THE CALL TO END THE
DEADLY EXCHANGE AND PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120142.
THIS INCLUDES --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, AND NEXT UP IS KEVIN
FOLLOWED BY IZZY.
>> I AM AN EDUCATOR FROM
DISTRICT 6 -- TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO REJECT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT AND
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT.
-- IS PD'S CONTEMPT FOR
DEMOCRACY IS AN ONGOING PATTERN
-- IT COMES FROM THE ROLE OF
BRUTALIZING PROTESTERS IN THIS
COMMUNITY -- ULTIMATELY POLICE
ARE CALLED TO ENFORCE EVICTION
-- TO EXTRACT PROFIT FROM --
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT UP IS IZZY, FOLLOWED BY
WALKER.
>> MY NAME IS ISABEL, AND I AM
-- THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS --
>> NEXT UP IS WALKER THOMAS
FOLLOWED BY ALICE ROTHCHILD.
>> MY NAME IS WALKER THOMAS, I
LIVE IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, I AM
CALLING TO --
>> NEXT UP IS ALICE ROTHCHILD
FOLLOWED BY DANTE.
JUST PRESS á6 SO WE CAN HEAR
YOU.
PRESS á6 AND THEN MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR ACTUAL PHONE IS ALSO
NOT MUTED.
OKAY, ONE MORE TIME, á6.
OKAY.
WE ARE STILL UNABLE TO HEAR
YOU, I SEE YOU ON THE SCREEN,
THERE WE GO.
TRY TALKING NOW.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
THIS IS ALICE ROTHCHILD FROM
DISTRICT TO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT
OF COUNCIL BILL 120142, I AM A
JEWISH CITIZEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ACTIVIST ADVOCATE -- THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SHOWN --
AND SUCH EXCHANGES ONLY
REINFORCE AND DEEPEN THESE
HARMFUL PRACTICES.
-- TRAININGS WITH ISRAEL ARE
THE MOST FREQUENT DESTINATION --
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT UP IS DANTE FOLLOWED BY
LEAH.
>> MY NAME IS DANTE, AND I WILL
BE READING A LETTER ON BEHALF OF
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL 120142.
DEAR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, WE
MEMBERS OF SEATTLE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION SUBMIT THIS LETTER
TO YOU IN SUPPORT OF ENDING THE
DEADLY EXCHANGE.
WE ARE ANTIRACIST K-12
EDUCATORS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT --
IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT.
IN JUNE 2021, OUR
REPRESENTATIVES ASSEMBLY VOTED
90% IN FAVOR OF ENDORSING THE
DEADLY EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
-- AND MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR SPD
TO TRAIN WITH ANY COUNTRY THAT
PERSISTENTLY VIOLATES -- WE
URGE YOU TO STAND IN SUPPORT,
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS LEAH, FOLLOWED BY%
MATTHEW.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
5. VOTE NO ON PETERSON'S PRO-
POLICE AMENDMENT.
VOTE YES ON COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S AMENDMENT -- THAT
CREATE ACTUAL PUBLIC SAFETY.
SPD IS A RACIST AND VIOLENT
ORGANIZATION THAT DOES NOT
DESERVE MORE MONEY.
SPD IS ANTI-VACCINATION AND
DOES NOT CARE ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY.
THE CONTINUED UNCHECKED
VIOLENCE OF SPD DOES NOT SERVE
THE COMMUNITY.
VOTE TO END THE DEADLY EXCHANGE.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT IS MATTHEW --
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
7, -- I AM REALLY NOT SURE HOW
TO VOCALIZE THE RAGE THAT IS
INSIDE MY BODY WHEN I HEAR
POLITICIANS DEBATING WHETHER OR
NOT TO FUND A VIOLENT OCCUPYING
FORCE INSIDE MY CITY.
PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT AND DO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT IS ALICE LOCKHART
FOLLOWED BY SADIE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, -- WE ARE A
MAJORITY WHITE ORGANIZATION, I
JUST HEARD A BEEP, AM I JUST
STARTING TO TALK?
>> GO AHEAD.
THE TIME IS YOURS.
>> WE ARE A MAJORITY WHITE
ORGANIZATION AND OUR CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE IS CONSISTENTLY
MET WITH RELATIVELY CIVILIZED
ENFORCEMENT BUT IT WAS VARIES
VERY DIFFERENT LAST YEAR WHEN
BLM PROTESTS WERE MET WITH --
AND WE HAVE SEEN ABSOLUTELY NO
VOLUNTARY OR SIGNIFICANT
MOVEMENT WITHIN SPD MANAGEMENT
OR THE POLICE UNION TO DO
ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE
SITUATION.
WE MUST OPPOSE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR WITHIN SPD
, AND WE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S AMENDMENT AS WELL AS
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
AMENDMENT, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS SADIE, FOLLOWED
BY ROBERT.
>> MY NAME IS SADIE, AND I AM
FROM DISTRICT 5. PLEASE REJECT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT TO TAKE FUNDING FROM
HUMAN SERVICES AND REALLOCATE
IT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
-- PLEASE ALSO VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S PROPOSAL
TO REALLOCATE FUNDS AWAY FROM
-- THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS ROBERT STEPHENS
JUNIOR FOLLOWED BY ALICIA
FOSTER.
>> -- AFTER CITY COUNCIL PASSED
THE NEIGHBORHOOD --
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THERE WAS A
POLICY PUT IN PLACE THAT ANY
TIME AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN
ORGANIZATION MAKES AN
APPLICATION FOR CITY FUNDING
THEY HAVE TO SHOW A SECTION OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN THEY ARE
GOING TO IMPLEMENT.
THE SUPERBLOCK PROPOSAL
CONSISTS OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE
OF THE -- THERE ARE EXCERPTS
THROUGHOUT THAT THAT SUPPORT
THAT PROJECT, AND I WANT TO
PERSONALLY THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK
THAT SHE HAS DONE TO HELP US
MOVE FORWARD, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS ALICIA FOSTER
FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE INGRAM.
>> MY NAME IS ALICIA FOSTER.
I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE NO ON
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT AND VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT.
SEATTLE HAS ALREADY --
CURRENTLY SHARING ONLY $10
MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE
CITY.
FUNDING THE CREATION OF
INFRASTRUCTURE AND NETWORKS THAT
PREVENT THE CAUSES OF CRIME --
AND CREATES A BETTER SEATTLE IN
THE PROCESS, I HAVE ALSO URGE
YOU TO VOTE TO END THE DEADLY
EXCHANGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS STEPHANIE
INGRAM FOLLOWED BY ERIN
O'CONNELL.
>> I AM A MEMBER OF THE
GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK COALITION.
-- THIS PROJECT IS A LONG-
RUNNING PROJECT -- TODAY'S
EFFORT BY COUNSEL -- WE ARE
THANKFUL FOR COUNSEL'S
ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY
GROUP AND WORKING TO MOVE THIS
PROJECT FORWARD.
-- AND MOVE FORWARD WITH DESIGN
WITHOUT DELAY.
-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT UP IS ERIN O'CONNELL
FOLLOWED BY A NET.
>> -- I AM CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
RESOLUTION 32016 . --
>> I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I AM
APPALLED BY YOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENT.
I HAVE LIVED HERE IN THE LAST
50 YEARS AND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN BRUTAL AND
RACIST.
THE -- AND NOW COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN WANTS TO TAKE MONEY
AWAY FROM UNDERFUNDED
COMMUNITY PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS
AND GIVE IT TO THE ALREADY
BLOATED SPD BUDGET.
THAT IS A COMPLETE BETRAYAL OF
COUNSEL'S COMMITMENT -- THE
COUNCIL MUST VOTE NO ON
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT AND YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INTENTION OF --
ALL MONEY FROM THE PROVISOS
LIFTED SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO
THE COMMUNITY.
SPD HAS A RIDICULOUSLY ENORMOUS
BUDGET AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE
FOR GIVING THEM ONE SINGLE
PENNY MORE.
>> NEXT UP IS BJ, FOLLOWED BY
CLAIRE.
>> -- I AM CALLING TO ASK
COUNSEL TO REJECT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT TO THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
-- TO FUND BONUSES FOR SPD.
THIS IS A DILUTION OF -- WE
HAVE DECADES OF EVIDENCE SHOWING
-- THESE AMENDMENTS SHOULD NOT
EVEN RECEIVE -- I ALSO
ENCOURAGE COUNSEL TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT.
-- THIS AMENDMENT CLOSES THE GAP
-- THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT UP IS CLAIRE, FOLLOWED
BY RENEE.
>> I AM CALLING ABOUT COUNCIL
BILL 120142.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL
TO VOTE NO ON COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT AND YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT AND ALSO TO VOTE YES
ON COUNCIL BILL 120142.
THE OFFICE OF SO-CALLED POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY IS SUPPOSED TO
BE -- OPA RECOMMENDED A 20 DAY
SUSPENSION FOR -- WHO WAS
INVOLVED IN -- COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN I WOULD URGE YOU TO
WATCH THAT VIDEO, IT IS NOT
EASY TO WATCH, BUT I THINK YOU
NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU
ADVOCATE FOR HIRING BONUSES AND
RETENTION BONUSES FOR SPD, YOU
ARE ADVOCATING FOR MORE OF
THESE INCIDENTS.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT.
>> NEXT UP IS -- AND I AM
SHOWING THAT RACHEL IS SHOWING
UP AS NOT PRESENT, SO WE WILL
HEAR FROM LEE AFTER WE HEAR
FROM RENEE.
>> JUST MAKE SURE YOU PRESS á6
SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
ONE MORE TIME, WE HAD YOU AND
THEN WE LOST YOU.
á6.
OKAY, JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
ACTUAL PHONE IS OFF MUTE AS WELL
, BECAUSE I SHOW THAT YOU ARE
UN-MUTED ON OUR END.
THE EGO, NOW YOU ARE MUTED
AGAIN.
PRESS á6.
ONE MORE TIME, RENEE.
THERE YOU GO.
YOU SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
I STILL CANNOT HEAR YOU, JUST
MAKE SURE YOUR ACTUAL DEVICE IS
OFF MUTE, THERE WE GO.
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS
RENEE AND I AM A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 2, I AM CALLING IN
REGARDS TO -- TO ASK YOU TO
VOTE NO ON COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT AND TO
VOTE YES ON COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S PROVISO AMENDMENT.
LAST YEAR YOU UNANIMOUSLY PASSED
-- AND YOU COMMITTED TO
REDUCING SPD'S BUDGET.
SINCE THEN SPD COMMISSIONED A
REPORT -- WHY ARE YOU NOW
CONSIDERING FUNDING POLICE
BONUSES FOR NEW HIRES INSTEAD
OF BUILDING UP COMMUNITY
ALTERNATIVES THAT CREATE TRUE
PUBLIC SAFETY?
DO NOT RE-FUND SPD, VOTE YES
TOMORROW -- THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS LEE, FOLLOWED BY
DIANE MATHERS WHO IS CURRENTLY
SHOWING UP IS NOT PRESENT ON MY
END.
AND THEN AFTER LEE WILL BE BEEN.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
5, I AM CALLING IN OPPOSITION
TO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET -- TO THAT END WE MUST
-- BUILDING NONPOLICE
ALTERNATIVES THAT CURRENTLY
SHARE ONLY $10 MILLION -- BY
APPROVING COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S AMENDMENT.
-- TRAINING EXCHANGES BETWEEN
SPD AND COUNTRIES THAT VIOLATE
HUMAN RIGHTS, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS BEEN FOLLOWED BY
ERIN.
>> IM AND ORGANIZER WITH -- YOU
HAVE HEARD COUNTLESS TIMES THE
TESTIMONIALS -- WE WERE ABLE TO
GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM --
SUPPORTING THE ORDINANCE -- WE
BELIEVE THAT THE TIME IS NOW TO
DECRIMINALIZE -- WE URGE YOU TO
PASS OUR ORDINANCE BEFORE THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE STARTS AT THE
END OF THE MONTH.
IT WOULD BE AN EXTRA ORDINARY
VICTORY FOR THE CITY IN SEATTLE.
-- LET'S ACT NOW FOR A CAUSE
THAT IS SO WIDELY SUPPORTED,
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS ERIC, AND AFTER
ERIC WILL BE -- IF YOU ARE
LISTENING YOU ARE SHOWING AS
NOT PRESENT ON MY END.
GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS ERIC SALINGER I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 7 AND I AM
CALLING ABOUT THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
FUNDING BILL, I ENCOURAGE YOU
NOT TO APPROVE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT AND TO
APPROVE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT.
WE HAVE SEEN NO WILLINGNESS
FROM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
ANYTHING THAT THEY DID WAS
WRONG OR UPSET PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND THAT OUR ANGER
WAS JUSTIFIED.
AND NOW -- YOU CANNOT SAY YOU
CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC IF YOU
REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED
AGAINST THE PLAGUE AND YOU
INTERACT WITH PEOPLE ALL THE
TIME.
IT SEEMS THAT THE ONLY REAL WAY
THESE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE
GOING TO CHANGE IF THERE ARE
CONSEQUENCES AND THAT MEANS NOT
GIVING THEM MONEY, THAT IS ALL
I HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS TAYLOR CASE
FOLLOWED BY JIMMY McNAMARA.
>> I AM FROM DISTRICT 4 AND I
AM CALLING ABOUT COUNCIL BILL
120112.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
NO ON THIS AMENDMENT.
-- $2.2 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE
TO FINISH A DATA ANALYTICS
PLATFORM -- WHILE I AM
CONVINCED THAT THEY DO NEED
CAPACITY PLANNING CONSIDERING --
JUST TO ARREST ONE PERSON LAST
WEEK I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT
THIS WOULD IT HELP CONSIDERING
THEY HAVE A CHANCE A HABIT OF
LYING AND CHEATING -- WHICH WAS
70 -- 7% OF THEIR BUDGET.
-- GOT HACKED LAST MONTH,
CONSIDERING HOW STINGY THEY ARE
WITH FOIA REQUESTS I --
>> I AM JIMMY McNAMARA FROM
DISTRICT 4, I AM URGING COUNSEL
-- AND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF -- I
THINK IF WE RECOGNIZE THE
CHANGE NEEDED TO HAPPEN, THEN
WE NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON IT
AND COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON'S
AMENDMENTS ARE NOT FOLLOWING
THROUGH ON THAT.
I DO NOT THINK WE ARE SENDING
THE RIGHT MESSAGE IF WE
CONTINUE TO FUND SPD LIKE THIS,
WE WOULD BE REWARDING THEIR
BEHAVIOR THAT DOES NOT REFLECT
ON OR -- I ALSO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES TO PASS --
>> NEXT UP IS IZZY, FOLLOWED BY
MICHAEL.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF D4.
I AM CALLING TO URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO REJECT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CONTINUE
TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM
COMMUNITIES AND FUND RACIST
POLICE OFFICERS WHO DO NOT EVEN
LIVE IN OUR CITY AND TO VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
PROVISO AMENDMENT TO MOVE
FUNDING FROM -- WHICH IS THE
FUNDING THAT BOTH VERSIONS OF
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT -- PLEASE VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT.
ADDITIONALLY I DO NOT KNOW WHY
ANYONE THINKS WE SHOULD BE
COMPARING TOP HIRING BONUSES IN
THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC AND HOW
MANY MORE BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS
NEED TO DIE FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT
IS GOING ON, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> NEXT UP IS MICHAEL, FOLLOWED
BY TESSA.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL, JUST
CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO VOTE
DOWN COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT AND -- AND TO VOTE
YES ON THE BILL THAT -- THANK
YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
BEFORE I CALL ON INDIVIDUAL
SPEAKERS I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE
OF FOLKS WHO ARE STILL NOT
SHOWING UP AS PRESENT ON MY
END.
I HAVE ALEXA, FAY, RACHEL, --
DIANE, LEFT, -- JULIA BUCK,
DAVID HAYNES, AND ROB JOHANSEN,
ALL OF YOU ARE PREREGISTERED BUT
SHOWING UP AS NOT PRESENT ON MY
END.
IF YOU CALL IN IN THE NEXT 5
MINUTES OR SO, YOU WILL GET
YOUR ONE MINUTE OF PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT UP IS TESSA, FOLLOWED BY
ALEXANDER.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS TESSA, I
AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOR.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO
DEFUNDING THE SPD AND THE
AMENDMENT THAT ARE TRYING TO
GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE SPD --
THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS --
THE INFORMATION HE PUTS ON
THERE, WHICH SAYS THAT -- IT IS
NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO GO BACK ON
THOSE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE
TO GIVE MONEY TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND I DO NOT SEE
HOW -- IS EFFECTIVE --
>> NEXT UP IS ALEXANDER,
FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE.
>> -- I STRONGLY URGE THE
COUNCIL TO REJECT BOTH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENTS AND INSTEAD SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT -- AS A HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER I WANT TO STRESS THAT
THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FUNDING
WE PROVIDE SPD --
>> NEXT UP IS DEBORAH HARRISON
FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE.
>> -- COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD
FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE INDICATED BY
RESEARCH -- AND THE FACT THAT
COMMUNITIES SUCH AS -- THIS
BILL SHOULD BE REJECTED, I
YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT UP IS DEBORAH HARRISON
AND THEN EQUINOX EQUINOX.
DEBORAH WE HAD YOU AND LOST
YOU, PRESS á6.
>> MY MISTAKE I APOLOGIZE.
MY NAME IS DEBORAH HARRISON,
AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
5 I AM CALLING TO SUPPORT THE
COUNCIL IN REJECTING
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT AND ASKING THEM TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
AMENDMENT TO TRANSFER --
FERVENTLY WISHED I HAD OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO ME THAT DID NOT --
EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE TIME TO
FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THIS
BEGINS WITH REJECTING THE
PROCESSES THAT WE KNOW ARE
INEFFECTIVE.
-- I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE
COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE
CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER AND
THAT WE CAN FUND SOLUTIONS --
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS EQUINOX
EQUINOX AND THEN WE WILL CIRCLE
BACK TO QUAN.
>> IM ASHAMED TO ADMIT I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOR.
-- COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON THIS
MESSAGE IS DIRECTED AT YOU.
-- YET HERE YOU ARE TRYING TO
REALLOCATE $3 MILLION FROM THEM
TO PROVIDE SPD WITH HIRING AND
RETENTION BONUSES, THE IRONY OF
THAT DECISION IS NOT LOST ON
US, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF
YOURSELF.
I AM DUMBFOUNDED HOW YOU THINK
THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE OF
FUNDS WHEN YOUR CONSTITUENTS
HAVE TOLD YOU TIME AND TIME
AGAIN -- HOW DOES IT FEEL TO
SIT HERE FOR AN HOUR AS EVERY
SINGLE CALLER HAS BEEN OPPOSED
TO YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS QUAN,
FOLLOWED BY SANDERS.
QUAN, IF YOU ARE ON THE LINE
MAKE SURE YOU PRESS á6 SO THAT
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
STILL SHOWING AS MUTED SO TRY
ONE MORE TIME, á6.
OKAY, YOU ARE UN-MUTED NOW.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR
REMINDING ME.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7, AND I AM
TOTALLY FOR -- COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S PLAN IS A DISASTER
AND I URGE YOU NOT TO PASS IT.
-- IT WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS
SINCE --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING BACK
IN.
WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS ON
OUR LIST WHO ARE SHOWING UP AS
PRESENT, SO NEXT UP IS SANDERS,
FOLLOWED BY SYLVIE REYNOLDS.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7, PLEASE
VOTE NO ON COUNCIL BILL 120112.
-- MOVING THIS MONEY BACK TO SPD
--
>> LAST SPEAKER SHOWING UP ON
MY END IS SYLVIE REYNOLDS.
>> THIS IS SYLVIE, I LIVE IN
GREEN LAKE, I AM CALLING TO
ADVOCATE FOR SUPPORTING
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL BILL
120112, THIS PLACE IS LAWLESS,
-- WE HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FREEWAY ON
AURORA CAUSING GREAT HAZARD TO
MANY DRIVERS, AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ I HEARD YOU
SAY THAT -- AND YOU WOULD NOT
BRING YOUR INFANT INTO GREEN
LAKE, SO I SUPPORT THAT WE ALL
SUPPORT THIS BILL, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, I AM NOT SEEING ANY
OTHER FOLKS WHO PREREGISTERED
LISTED ON MY END.
JUST LOOKING TO I.T.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NOT
ANYBODY IN THE WAITING ROOM WHO
IS PREREGISTERED.
>> THERE ARE NO MORE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGISTRANTS.
>> WITH THAT BEING SAID WE ARE
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT
THE PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT
AND MOVE ON TO OTHER ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA, NEXT UP
IS GETTING TO THE BILLS.
WE DO HAVE FOUR BILLS TO
CONSIDER HERE SO I AM GOING TO
ASK THE CLERK, PLEASE READ ALL
OF THE TITLES OF THOSE BILL.
>> I WILL MOVE ON ALL FOUR
BILLS AND ASK FOR A SECOND ON
ALL FOUR BILLS, HOWEVER WE WILL
BE VOTING ON EACH BILL
INDIVIDUALLY SO IT WILL BE AN
INDIVIDUAL ROLL CALL ON EACH OF
THE FOUR BILLS THAT THE CLERK
JUST READ INTO THE RECORD.
SO I MOVED TO PASS -- IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED THAT ALL FOUR BILLS
PASS, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMNT ON THE BILLS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120166?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> -- WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 120167?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT -- WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF --
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> -- OKAY, LAST ONE, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF --
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
WE WILL MOVE AHEAD TO ITEM 2.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE --
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASS.
>> -- TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON
THIS BILL.
>> I AM EXCITED THAT WE FINALLY
HAVE IN FRONT OF US THE MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET -- WHICH
ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO,
I THINK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE
JOINED OUR COMMITTEE MEETING IN
PREPARED AMENDMENTS THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO DISCUSSING THAT
COMMITTEE AND IN FRONT OF YOU I
THINK WE HAVE A BILL THAT
REFLECTS MANY OF THE AMENDMENTS
FROM COUNSEL AND AGAIN
ACCOMPLISHES SOME INVESTMENTS
IN NEW EMERGING AREAS THAT WE
DID NOT ANTICIPATE WHEN WE HAD
CONSIDERED OUR 2021 BUDGET.
AS A REMINDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET AND AMENDMENTS THAT WE
CONSIDER ARE INTENDED TO BE
FOCUSED ON EMERGING AND
NECESSARY ITEMS FOR THIS
CALENDAR YEAR WE ONLY HAVE TWO
MORE WEEKS UNTIL WE BEGIN
DISCUSSING THE FALL BUDGET
WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN THE 2022
CALENDAR YEAR.
COUNCIL BILL 120112 --
>> I AM GOING TO PUT UP THE
FLAG HERE, I THOUGHT YOU WERE
AHEAD OF US, BUT WE ARE ON ITEM
2. WHICH IS COUNCIL BILL 120111
WHICH IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF
FUNDING FROM NON-CITY SOURCES,
SO I WILL -- BEFORE WE BEGIN THE
CONVERSATION OF THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
>> IT IS A GOOD THING THESE
ITEMS GO TOGETHER, BUT MY
APOLOGIES.
COUNCIL BILL 120111 IS THE
GRANT ACCEPTANCE FOR ORDINANCE
-- WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
ALONG WITH DISCUSSING THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET -- HOPE TO
HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL WHICH IS A
GRANT ACCEPTANCE BILL?
NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED OR
ANYONE WANTING TO MAKE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL
SO I WILL ASK THAT THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE BILL ON MY BEHALF?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM 3
INTO THE RECORD?
>>COUNCIL BILL 120112, AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE
126237, WHICH ADOPTED THE 2021
BUDGET, INCLUDING THE 2021-2026
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ,
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE BILL PASS AS AMENDED.
>> NOW WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET OR EVENTS --
>> APOLOGIES, COLLEAGUES, LET'S
TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
3, THIS IS COUNCIL BILL 120112.
AS I WAS BEGINNING TO SAY, THIS
IS THE SECOND COMPREHENSIVE --
TO THE COUNCIL IN 2021 THIS
PROPOSED MIDYEAR APPROPRIATION
INCLUDED -- NECESSARY TO MEET
THE NEEDS THAT WERE
UNFORESEEABLE AT THE TIME OF
THE 2021 BUDGET ADOPTION IN
NOVEMBER 2020.
-- INCLUDE NECESSARY
INVESTMENTS IN KEY CATEGORIES
LIKE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
WHICH HE IS RECEIVING $1.8
MILLION, WHICH IS TO GO TO THE
DRIVER'S RESOLUTION CENTER,
THIS WAS A KEY PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT THE COUNCIL
PASSED TO MAKE SURE THAT UBER
AND LYFT HAD A DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY HAD THEIR NEEDS MET
AND -- $2.5 MILLION THAT GOES
INTO SEVERAL PROGRAMS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
THIS INCLUDES $1.6 MILLION FROM
A MUNICIPAL ARTS FUND FOR ART
PROGRAMS -- AS WE CONTINUE TO
GET FOLKS OUT AND ACTIVELY
ENGAGED IN OUR COMMUNITY ALONG
THE WATERFRONT.
I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
-- THAT THE CITY WORKED SO
DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE WERE
AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND
WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING THE FUNDING NECESSARY
FOR THOSE PREVIOUS OPERATIONS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD LARGE VISION
ZERO PROJECT IS ALSO INCLUDED,
-- A $2 MILLION INCREASE FROM
THE MOVE SEATTLE -- IS GOING TO
IMPLEMENT CHANGES -- AND
ACCELERATE IN DEMAND
NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT A FEW
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS THAT
MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE -- AND
IF I MAY I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT -- SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCUSSION.
THIS INCLUDES -- FOR A CRISIS
COUNSELOR, THIS WILL ASSIST
WITH TRAINING AND FACILITATING
CONVERSATIONS WITH FIRE
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE --
FOR THOSE WHO ARE FOCUSED ON
SEEING SAFETY AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE ARE KEEPING
FIREFIGHTERS SAFE AND INCREASING
-- WITH THIS FUNDING WE WILL
NOW HAVE TWO CRISIS COUNSELORS,
ONE WITHIN SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND ONE AGAIN WITHIN
THE LOCAL 27th TRUST SO THAT WE
CAN REDUCE THE BARRIERS -- I AM
ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE $200,000
WE INCLUDED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
HELPING PROVIDE FUNDING -- AND
FINALLY I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF
AS WE HAVE WORKED ON A LARGE
AMENDMENT WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
AS WE WERE ON THE CUSP OF
PASSING THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
WE DID GET WORD FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND -- AND SO
WHAT WE DID WAS WITH THE
SUPPORT OF THE COLLEAGUES ON
THE COMMITTEE WAS WORK TO BRING
FORWARD AN AMENDMENT THAT
INCLUDED MANY STRATEGIES TO
ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO
COUPLE THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY
INVESTMENTS WITH COMMUNITY
EFFORTS TO SCALE UP
ALTERNATIVES TO OUR TRADITIONAL
POLICE RESPONSE BY MAKING SURE
WE HAD INVESTMENTS DIRECTLY
INTO COMMUNITY.
I THINK OF THE PACKAGE IN FRONT
OF US INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT
THAT WE WORKED ON WAS AN
IMPORTANT BALANCE OF INVESTING
AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, CIVIL
SERVICE POSITIONS, --
REPRESENTS AN EFFORT TO ENSURE
THAT WE ARE MEETING COUNSEL AND
EXECUTIVE PRIORITIES AND -- AND
MOVING FORWARD WITH THINGS LIKE
MAKING SURE THAT THE MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE AVAILABLE
FOR FRONTLINE RESPONDERS OR
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PAIRING
PAYING FOR PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
AND -- RECOGNIZING THAT
OVERTIME IS PROBABLY LARGER
THAN WHAT WAS NEEDED GIVEN THAT
WE ARE DEALING WITH COVID-19
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
INVESTED IN KING COUNTY REGIONAL
PEACEKEEPERS AND THE FUNDING
THAT WAS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE
FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TO
RESPOND TO THESE CRISES, AND I
AM MOST EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT
THE $3 MILLION THAT WE HAVE
INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL AS
WELL TO INVEST IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT -- THAT ARE
NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE STABILITY
SO THAT THERE IS TRULY A
LANDING ZONE OR LANDING PLACE
AS THE FIRE FIGHTERS HAVE
TALKED ABOUT SO THAT -- NOT
JUST 18 MONTHS BUT FOR TWO
YEARS, AND WE HAVE RECEIVED
SUPPORT THAT IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE STABILITY FOR
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS SO THAT
WHEN 911 IS CALLED THEY HAVE
SOMEONE TO REFER THOSE CALLS
TO.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THEY LAST
AT LEAST -- I AM PROUD OF THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE IN FRONT
OF US I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW
AMENDMENTS TO DISCUSS TODAY,
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR WORK ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL,
IT WAS THREE MONTHS IN OUR
COMMITTEE INTENTIONALLY SO THAT
WE COULD ADDRESS THIS UNDER
SPEND AND RESPOND TO THE NEED
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS
AS WELL AS COMMUNITY
INVESTMENTS SO THAT -- COULD BE
FUNDED AS WELL AS INVESTMENTS
IN OUR -- APARTMENTS.
>> WE DO HAVE SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS, MY SUGGESTION
CONSISTENT WITH HOW WE USUALLY
STRUCTURE THESE CONVERSATIONS
IS TO GO THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS
AND BEFORE OPENING UP DEBATE ON
THE SUBSTANCE OF THE BILL, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION I WOULD
LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED IN
THAT MANNER SO CONSIDERATION OF
AMENDMENTS FIRST, DEBATE ON
AMENDMENTS AND WE CAN MAKE
CLOSING WRAP UP COMMENTS ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED, IS THERE ANY
OBJECTION?
IT SEEMS TO MAKE THE MOST SENSE
TO ME.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH
THE AMENDMENTS, I DO HAVE A
LIST OF ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS
IN FRONT OF ME -- I WILL KEEP
US MOVING THROUGH THIS AND CALL
ON EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AS
LISTED IN MY SCRIPT HERE, SO WE
HEARD FROM COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WHO I UNDERSTAND IS
INTENDING TO MOVE AMENDMENT
ONE
>> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120112 AS PRESENTED AS
AMENDMENT ONE ON THE AGENDA.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT ONE
AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA.
I WILL SEND IT BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD TO
ADDRESS THE AMENDMENT.
>> IT IS A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT,
IT MOVES -- TO EFFECTUATE THE
SPENDING OF SALARY SAVINGS
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 20 OF
COUNCIL BILL 120012.
INCLUDING THE TECHNOLOGY UPDATES
-- THE SPD MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDER PROGRAM, CONTRACT
BACKGROUND SERVICES -- DEFERRED
COMPENSATION SHORTFALL AND PAID
PARENTAL LEAVE, THIS IS
CONSISTENT WITH -- FOR THE
OVERSIGHT OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WHERE WE WORK TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY IS IN
PLACE IN ADVANCE OF THE
SPENDING -- WHERE SPD IN ESSENCE
GOES FORWARD WITH THE SPENDING
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR
OBJECTIVES AND COMES BACK TO
COUNSEL AFTER THE FACT AND ASKS
US --
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
AMENDMENT ONE?
I KNOW WE HAD -- THANKS SO MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE
ON THAT.
SEEING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
WE WILL -- WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE OVER TO
--
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO ADOPT AMENDMENT TO
AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA.
I WILL MOVE IT OVER TO HIM TO
PRESENT HIS AMENDMENT.
>> THIS AMENDMENT WAS
RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE TO MOVE SOME MONEY THAT
I AMENDED AT COMMITTEE INTO THIS
BILL FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT INTO THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
-- FOR THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB
WHICH HAS -- IT IS MERELY A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT EXISTING
CONTRACT AND MORE EFFICIENTLY
GET THAT INVESTMENT OUT --
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON AMENDMENT TWO?
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
TWO?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE
AMENDED BILL IS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL, SO WE WILL MOVE NOW TO
AMENDMENT THREE A, AND I WILL
MOVE IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO MAKE HIS MOTION.
>> JUST FOR CONTEXT THERE ARE
TWO OPTIONS HERE, BUT I WILL
READ THE FIRST OPTION, I MOVED
TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 120112
AS REPRESENTED AS AMENDMENT 3A
ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND -- I WILL
SEND IT BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN TO WALK
US THROUGH HIS AMENDMENT.
>> THIS WOULD ALLOCATE FUNDS
THAT ARE ALREADY IN SPD'S
ALLOCATED BUDGET -- THERE ARE
TWO OPTIONS FOR THE AMENDMENT,
OPTION A, WE KEEP $3 MILLION --
OPTION B WOULD TAKE AN
UNALLOCATED $1.1 MILLION AND
DEDICATE IT FOR RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION.
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT IS ON
OPTION ONE, THE LARGER AMOUNT.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE VIEWED IN
THE BIGGER PICTURE OF THE
SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS AND
ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO TAKE TO BOOST HUMAN
SERVICES PROGRAMS AND REIMAGINE
PUBLIC SAFETY.
AS WE AWAIT VARIOUS
ALTERNATIVES TO PUT IN PLACE WE
MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE TITLE
WAVE IN ATTRITION -- THE
BENEFITS OF HAVING COMMUNITY
POLICING OFFICERS AND
DETECTIVES AND AS NOTED BY THE
-- THE NEED TO HAVE CONSISTENT
STAFFING -- WE ALSO HAVE AN
OBLIGATION IN THE CITY CHARTER
-- I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE --
I ALSO HEAR YOU.
IT IS IMPORTAT TO NOTE THAT
THESE FUNDS WERE ALREADY FUNDED
TO SPD'S -- SO LABELING THE
PROPOSALS AS A REFUNDING I DO
NOT THINK IS ACCURATE.
IT WOULD HOWEVER FOCUS SOME OF
THOSE OPTIONS FOR RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION.
-- FUNDED ALL THROUGH NEXT YEAR
2022 AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND AND
EXPAND -- WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF AN SPD STAFFING CRISIS NOW.
SPECIFICALLY OPTION A WOULD
KEEP THE $3 MILLION IN SPD WITH
$233,000 FOR HIRING INCENTIVES
DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF
THIS YEAR PLUS THE REMAINDER,
THE $2.7 MILLION AS AN
IMMEDIATE DOWN PAYMENT FOR
FLEXIBLE RETENTION STRATEGIES
WHICH COULD INCLUDE -- BUT DOES
NOT HAVE TO.
IF AUTHORIZED BY A SEPARATE
BILL THAT I INTRODUCED EARLIER.
THESE MODEST AMOUNTS WOULD GO
BEYOND MERE WORDS TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT WE RECOGNIZE
THE IMPACT OF THE STAFFING
CRISIS AND THAT WE WANT OUR
REMAINING OFFICERS AND
DETECTIVES TO STAY IN SEATTLE
SO RATHER THAN DELAYING UNTIL
THE END OF NOVEMBER TO VOTE ON
THIS FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WE
CAN TAKE THIS SWIFTER ACTION
THIS WEEK TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT
OF TIME SEATTLE RESIDENTS WAIT
FOR AN OFFICER AFTER CALLING
911 THANK YOU.
>> -- I HAVE THREE FOLKS IN THE
QUEUE, FIRST UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THEN
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE THAT HIRING
AND RETENTION IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I AGREE
WITH IT IN NOT JUST WORDS BUT IN
ACTION, THE LEGISLATION BEFORE
US AS AMENDED BY THE FINANCE
AND BUDGET COMMITTEE AND WITHOUT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT -- BY FUNDING HIRING
PROCESS ACCELERATORS.
THE TOPIC MERITS ADDITIONAL
ATTENTION AND I BELIEVE IT
MERITS ADDITIONAL ATTENTION
THROUGH THE ANNUAL BUDGET
PROCESS WHICH BEGINS IN A
COUPLE WEEKS.
I BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE I WANT
TO LOOK AT THE VACANCY RATE OF
ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND LOOK
AT THIS QUESTION OF HOW WE
INCENTIVIZE FOLKS TAKING THESE
GOOD FAMILY WAGE JOBS ACROSS
ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING VACANCIES RIGHT
NOW, CENTRAL STAFF HAS
DETERMINED THAT THE EXECUTIVE
HAS DOCUMENTED STAFFING
SHORTAGES AND ACCOMPANYING
SERVICE DELIVERY ISSUES IN A
FEW DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
IT IS WELL-KNOWN THAT THE
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON
EMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN
UNPRECEDENTED BOTH FOR THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL AS THE
PUBLIC SECTOR WITH PEOPLE
LEAVING THEIR JOBS AND WITH
SUSTAINED VACANCIES ACROSS MOST
EMPLOYMENT SECTORS AS WELL.
IF WE NEED TO DISCUSS
RECRUITMENT I THINK WE NEED TO
CONSIDER VACANCIES ACROSS ALL
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WHETHER WE
NEED TO CONSIDER HIRING BONUSES
AND -- FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS
WELL.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT CONSIDERING
-- THE PROPOSAL FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN WOULD
AUTHORIZE UP TO $15,000 PER SPD
HIRE, IF WE ARE CONSIDERING
HIRING BONUSES -- IF WE ARE
ALLOWING FOR ONE PARTICULAR
DEPARTMENT UP TO $15,000 PER
HIGHER.
JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND ON THIS TOPIC
GENERALLY BACK IN JULY I
REQUEST THAT SPD SEND A MEMO TOS
WITHIN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET IN THE SALARY
SAVINGS CATEGORY THAT SPD WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND UNLESS WE
AUTHORIZE REALLOCATION OF THOSE
FUNDS. IN THAT MEMO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT REQUESTED FUNDING
FOR HIRING BONUSES INCLUDING AS
I MENTIONED BEFORE THE
ACCELERATORS. THERE WAS NO
BROADER REQUEST AT THE TIME FOR
FUNDING AND RETENTION.
THESE ARE MY COMMENTS AS IT
RELATES TO THE TENSION PIECE.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
PROPOSAL, I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO RETENTION AS I
MENTIONED DURING BUDGET, OR
DURING BRIEFINGS THIS MORNING.
I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF A 2019
HIRING AND RETENTION REPORT
THAT CALLED FOR WELLNESS
SCHEDULES. THESE ARE 4 10-HOUR
SHIFTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE
OFFICERS THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS
OF REST RATHER THAN JUST TWO.
THIS HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST RATED
PRIORITY FOR OFFICERS AND I AM
CONCERNED THAT ALTHOUGH THE
AMENDMENT INCLUDES SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE, $230,000 FOR THE
HIRING BONUS, THE DESCRIPTION
BY THE SPONSOR EXPRESSES VAGUE
INTENT.
BECAUSE $3000 IS VERY SPECIFIC
FOR HIRING BONUSES AND THE
LARGER AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS
ISN'T SPECIFIED FOR ANY
PARTICULAR USE, THAT WOULD MEAN
IT WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE
REAUTHORIZED IN ANY EVENT.
AGAIN, THE BUDGET PACKAGE GOT
TO THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE AND INCLUDES
TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES THAT WILL
SUPPORT OFFICER WELLNESS AND
SUPERVISION, $120,000 THAT WAS
INCLUDED.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT MANY FRONT-
LINE WORKERS HAVE RECEIVED
APPRECIATION PAY FOR THEIR
SERVICE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND
I AM SUPPORTIVE OF CONTINUING
DISCUSSIONS ON HOW BEST TO
AUTHORIZE APPRECIATION PAY FOR
POLICE OFFICERS.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE NOT LEFT
SPD AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
SPECIFICALLY TO COMMUNITY
SAFETY IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
GERBERT. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL SAY AT THE TOP I WILL
NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS AMENDMENT
, BUT I WANT TO EXPAND ON THE
REASONS WHY. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS DEBATE.
THAT IS WHY THIS COUNCIL IS
HERE TO ADDRESS ISSUES. I
AGREE WITH THE SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT AND WITH CHAIR
HERBOLD AND HER COMMENTS JUST
NOW THAT WE DO HAVE A POLICE
CRISIS. I THINK A LOT OF US ON
THE COUNCIL AGREE BROADLY WITH
THAT, WHICH IS WHY WE FULLY
FUNDED A POLICE HIRING CLASS
FOR 2021 AND IS OFTEN NOT
MENTIONED IN THE MEDIA OR THE
STORIES ABOUT POLICE HIRING
THAT THE COUNCIL DID FIND A
HIRING CLASS.
I DON'T DISAGREE THAT A PARTIAL
STRATEGY TO MITIGATE THIS
CRISIS CAN BE THROUGH THE
HIRING AND RETENTION INCENTIVES
THAT ARE BEING OFFERED TODAY BY
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. WHAT I
DISAGREE WITH IS THE RE-
PRIORITIZATION OF THE MONEY
COMPONENT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
MONEY EARMARKED FOR CRITICAL
CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
DISCOURSE A LITTLE MORE BROADLY
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS
IN THE CITY AND HOW ALTERNATE
INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED AND HOW
THEY CAN MAKE AN IMPACT.
I WANT TO FOCUS PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A BIG
CRISIS IN MY DISTRICT AND I
KNOW IT HAS ACROSS MANY OTHER
DISTRICTS.
IT HAS TOUCHED EVERY DISTRICT
IN THE CITY THROUGHOUT THIS
YEAR.
I WANT TO START BY STRONGLY
ACKNOWLEDGING THE CRITICAL ROLE
THAT THE POLICE PLAY IN
RESPONDING TO AND PREVENTING
THAT VIOLENCE. AS OF AUGUST
31st, SEATTLE POLICE HAVE
RECOVERED 700 GUNS THIS YEAR
TAKEN OFF THE STREET.
THEY PHYSICALLY REMOVED 700 GUNS
AND SECURED THEM.
SEATTLE POLICE CONTINUE TO HAVE
SERVING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION
ORDERS TO SEIZE FIREARMS FROM
FOLKS WHO POSE A SAFETY RISK TO
THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
THESE EFFORTS UNDOUBTABLY
PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR
COMMUNITY, SAVE LIVES, AND MAKE
THE COMMUNITY SAFER.
THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT POLICE
ALONE CAN ACHIEVE AND WE NEED
TO KEEP LEANING INTO THE
INVESTMENTS THIS COUNCIL HAS
ADVOCATED FOR . THEY CAN HAVE A
POFOUND IMPACT ON GUN VIOLENCE
PERFECTION.
I THINK THIS BECOMES MORE
EVIDENT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA
ON THE SHOOTINGS WE ARE SEEING
AND EXPERIENCING IN SEATTLE
THIS YEAR TO REALLY DETERMINE
WHAT CAN WE DO TO INTERVENE AND
PREVENT THESE SHOOTINGS BEFORE
THEY OCCUR THAT ARE HAVING SUCH
A HORRIBLE IMPACT ON OUR
COMMUNITY.
THIS LAST FRIDAY, I LISTENED TO
KRYSTAL NICOLE FINCHER'S
PODCAST.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. IF FOLKS
HAVEN'T LISTENED, I RECOMMEND
YOU GIVE IT A SHOT.
IT'S GREAT.
CRYSTAL AND THE FORMER MAYOR
HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE CURRENT DISCOURSE OUR CITY
HAS HAD AROUND GUN VIOLENCE.
THEY NOTED -- AND I CAN'T SAY I
DISAGREE FROM THEIR DISCUSSION,
BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF
CRITICAL ANALYSIS BY MANY IN
THE MEDIA TO DELVE INTO OUR
INCREASE IN SHOOTINGS AND WHAT
THE DATA IS INDICATING SO WE
CAN HAVE A REAL RESPONSE AS A
COMMUNITY ON WHAT WE ARE GOING
TO DO TO DEAL WITH THIS
EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT
IS CRIPPLING OUR CITY AND
KILLING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO SEE WHO ARE THE
VICTIMS?
WHO IS DOING THE SHOOTING?
WE NEED TO LOOK HOLISTICALLY AT
HOW WE CAN RESPOND. I WANT TO
BRIEFLY ILLUSTRATE BY SHARING A
LITTLE BIT OF ANALYSIS I DID
BECAUSE I WAS CURIOUS ON
GETTING THE DATA FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OVERWHELMINGLY IN 2021, OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS HAVE VASTLY AND
DISPROPORTIONATELY BEEN THE
VICTIMS OF THE INCREASE IN GUN
CRIME.
ACCORDING TO DATA, IT WAS
PROVIDED TO ME BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ON SEPTEMBER 1st.
IT HAS BEEN OVER A WEEK AGO.
WE HAVE HAD 64 SHOTS FIRED
INCIDENTS. THAT IS UP 120% FROM
2020.
THAT IS A HUGE PART OF THE
INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE WE ARE
SEEING ON THE STREET.
IT IS NEARLY ONE-FIFTH OF ALL
OF THE SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE
OCCURRED IN 2020. TRAGICALLY I
HAVE NO DOUBT EVER THE LAST 12
DAYS AFTER I GOT THE DATA THAT
THAT DATA IS PROBABLY OUT OF
DATE. IN ALMOST ALL OF THESE
CASES, THE VICTIM OF THE
SHOOTING IS A NEIGHBOR
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
IN MOST CASES THE SHOOTING
OCCURS IN AN UNSANCTIONED
ENCAMPMENT SETTING. I RAISE
THIS BECAUSE POLICE ALONE CAN'T
PREVENT THESE SHOOTINGS.
I HAVE INCREDIBLE GRATITUDE FOR
THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN
RESPONDING TO THESE ENCAMPMENTS
AND RESPONDING TO THE SHOOTINGS
AND IN MANY CASES APPREHENDING
A SUSPECT, RECOVERING GUNS AND
GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET.
I APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE AND
I KNOW IT MAKES THE COMMUNITY
SAFER. UNTIL PEOPLE ARE
PROVIDED WITH DESIRABLE
ALTERNATIVE PLACES TO LIVE WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, ALL WE'RE
DOING IS RESPONDING TO
ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE PROVIDING
IN MANY CASES A HUB OF
CONTINUED NONVIOLENT. WE ARE
NOT PROACTIVELY SOLVING THE
UNDERLYING PROBLEMS. WE ARE
FRANKLY PUTTING MORE WORK AND
EXPOSURE ON OUR OFFICERS TO
CONTINUE TO RESPOND IN MANY
CASES TO VERY DANGEROUS
SITUATIONS BY NOT SOLVING FOR
THESE UNDERLYING CAUSES.
I KNOW I AM A BROKEN RECORD AND
I KNOW I HAVE AGREEMENT FROM MY
COLLEAGUES NEARLY UNANIMOUSLY,
BUT JUST CARE HAS UNDENIABLY
PREVENTED SHOOTINGS THAT WOULD
HAVE OCCURRED, BUT FOR THEIR
INTERVENTION.
THEY OFFER HIGHLY DESIRABLE
WELL SUPPORTED HOTEL ROOM
SHELTER SPACES WHICH ARE
OVERWHELMINGLY INSPECTED BY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BY OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON STUDY SHOWED A 38%
REDUCTION IN 911 CALL VOLUME
AFTER THEIR OUTREACH
OPERATIONS.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE
JUSTCARE OUTREACH AT THE
FORMER ENCAMPMENT DOWNTOWN, AT
THE SECOND AVENUE AT PIONEER
SQUARE PREVENTED SHOOTINGS FROM
OCCURRING THAT WOULD HAVE
OTHERWISE OCCURRED. THERE IS A
CLEAR CORRELATION BETWEEN
HAVING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS
EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND
THEIR TRAGIC LIKELIHOOD OF
BEING A VICTIM OF GUN VIOLENCE.
BRINGING IT BACK TO THE
AMENDMENT, I THINK IT IS
CRITICAL THAT WE CENTER THESE
HUMAN SERVICES INVESTMENTS AS A
LARGE PORTION OF THESE SALARY
SAVINGS TO INVEST IN THESE
PROACTIVE COMMUNITY SAFETY
STRATEGIES. WE NEED TO LOOK NO
FURTHER THAN THE MENTOR SHIP
AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORT
FOR PASSAGEWAYS TO KNOW THAT IS
TRUE AND THAT IS POSSIBLE.
KNOWN GANG-RELATED SHOOTINGS
THIS YEAR HAVE ACTUALLY
DECREASED IN 2021.
THE CITY, THE COUNCIL, AND THE
MAYOR WORKING TOGETHER HAD
EXPANDED THESE SUPPORT
PROGRAMS.
THEY ARE BUILDING STRONG
COMMUNITIES. THESE INNOVATIVE
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS CAN GET TO
SCALE. THEY CAN GET US
RESOURCES TO BUILD STRONG,
SUPPORTIVE, AND SAFE
COMMUNITIES.
WE SHOULD NOT BE PITTING
INVESTMENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER
AND I STAND BY DEDICATING THIS
MONEY TO THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
FOR THAT REASON, I WILL VOTE
AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR THE COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER SWOT?
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS
AMENDMENT NEEDLESS TO SAY. FOR
MEMBERS OF PUBLIC THAT ARE
LISTENING, THIS SHOULD BE A
CLEAR ILLUSTRATION OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE MOVEMENT.
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE JUSTICE
FOR GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT, THE
MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL VOTED
TO DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50% AND
INSTEAD TO PUT THOSE FUNDS INTO
SOCIAL NEEDS. NOW THAT THE
STREET MOVEMENT HAS WANED EVERY
MARGINAL VICTORY THAT THE
MOVEMENT WON LAST YEAR IS UNDER
ATTACK. WE SAW EARLIER THIS YEAR
HOW THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY
COUNCIL DROVE NEW POLLS INTO
THE HISTORIC BAN ON THE MOVEMENT
WE WON THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF
HUNDREDS OF ACTIVISTS AND ON MY
COUNCIL OFFICE . THIS IS WHY
OUR MOVEMENT CANNOT TRUST THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND WHY
WE MUST BUILD OUR OWN POLITICAL
POWER OUTSIDE THE REPUBLICAN
AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES. A PARTY
FOR WORKING PEOPLE.
KEEP IN MIND HERE IN SEATTLE
EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER EXCEPT FOR
MY OFFICE IS A DEMOCRAT. THIS
IS WHY I AM A SOCIALIST. ON
THIS ISSUE, FIRST LET'S BE
CLEAR ABOUT THE DOUBLE STANDARD
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
COUNCILMEMBERS , LIKE PEDERSEN,
ADVOCATE FOR HIRING BONUSES IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT
FRANKLY IT IS NOT JUST
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN THAT HAS
TALKED ABOUT THIS TODAY OR IN
THE PAST.
THE POLICE ARE SOME OF THE
HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE AMONG CITY
OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES, MAKING
MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT IS PAID
TO MANY SOCIAL WORKERS LIKE
HOMELESS SERVICE WORKERS. THE
MAYOR HAS CLAIMED SHE CANNOT
USE THE FUNDING FOR SHELTER AND
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES. THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT AND
OTHER ACTIVISTS WANTED THIS IN
THE LAST BUDGET BECAUSE THERE
ARE NOT ENOUGH HOMELESS SERVICE
WORKERS TO STAFF NEW SPACES.
HIRING BONUSES ARE JUST A RAISE
FOR THE IMPOVERISHED HOMELESS
SERVICE WORKERS THAT ACTUALLY
HELP PEOPLE TURN THEIR LIVES
AROUND.
I HAVE HEARD COUNCILMEMBERS
AND WOULD ASK THEM HAVE THEY
LOOKED AT THE TURNOVER AMONG
SOCIAL WORKERS AND HOW LOW
THEIR PAY IS COMPARED TO THE
SERVICES THEY PROVIDE? IT
SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE THERE
IS LOW MORALE AMONG POLICE
OFFICERS.
WE SAW THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD. WE SAW POLICE FILLING
THE COMMUNITIES WITH TEAR GAS,
PEPPER SPRING CHILDREN IN THE
FACE, RUNNING OVER PROTESTERS
WITH BICYCLES.
ALL OF THAT IS IN ADDITION TO
THE USUAL LEVEL OF VIOLENCE
FROM THE POLICE TO COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR, WORKING-CLASS
COMMUNITIES, AND FOR PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY LIKE OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS.
WE SHOULD OF COURSE NOTE THE
POLICE DO THIS WITH THE CONSENT
OF THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.
OF COURSE THERE IS LOW MORALE
AMONG POLICE OFFICERS WHEN SO
MANY ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE OPEN
THEIR EYES AND ARE TOTALLY
OUTRAGED I THE HARM THE POLICE
DO. THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO
PRETEND THOSE PROBLEMS AND THE
JUSTIFIABLE OUTRAGE DOESN'T
EXIST. THE SOLUTION IS TO HOLD
POLICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
VIOLENCE THEY DO AND TO FIND
THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I DO NOT SUPPORT HIRING BONUSES
FOR POLICE. THE HIGHEST PAID
PEOPLE IN THE CITY. I DO NOT
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH
WOULD/FUNDS TO THE COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS. REMEMBER, THE AMOUNT
OF POLICE FUNDING DOES NOT HAVE
ANY STATISTICAL IMPACT ON THE
AMOUNT OF CRIME IN A COMMUNITY.
IT IS INEQUALITY THAT HAS THE
GREATEST STATISTICAL IMPACT. I
ABSOLUTELY SHARE THE CONCERNS
THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT
THE RISE IN GUN VIOLENCE. I
HAVE THAT CONCERN AS WELL.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE
NEED TO ADDRESS THIS, BUT IF
YOU LOOK AT THIS STATISTICALLY,
YOU WOULD SEE THIS IS HAPPENING
EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE BUDGET
HAS BEEN LOADED FOR MANY YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THAT DEMAND WAS NEVER
FULFILLED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE
DATA, THE POLICE BUDGET HAS
BEEN FOR MANY YEARS WHILE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORKING
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES AND
THE POOR NEED THIS AND CONTINUE
TO BE GREATLY UNDERFUNDED. THEY
ARE UNDERFUNDED AT THE STATE
LEVEL AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
ALSO.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE SEEING
RENT SKYROCKET, EVEN IN THE
MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC. STUDIES
SHOW THAT THE BEST AND ONLY
SOLUTION TO PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES IS TO FUND THE NEEDS OF
OUR SOCIETY, TO ADDRESS CRIME
AND STOP CRIMES BEFORE THEY
EVEN HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO FIND AFFORDABLE
SOCIAL HOUSING EXPANSION, LIKE
WE DID WITH THE AMAZON TAX.
THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND
HISTORIC, BUT IT WAS NOT
ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO RAISE WAGES EVEN
FURTHER.
WE NEED TO HAVE RENT CONTROL
AND RENTERS RIGHTS.
WE NEED TO END EXPLOITATION. IN
ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS, WE
NEED AN ELECTED COMMUNITY
OVERSIGHT COMMUNITY TO HOLD THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT . ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT THREE A? OKAY. I AM
NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED ON AMENDMENT THREE A. I
DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE LAST
WORD, SINCE THIS IS HIS
AMENDMENT. I WILL HAND IT BACK
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
TO CLOSE OUT DEBATE ON AMENDMENT
3A.
>> I AM HAPPY TO VOTE ON 3A AND
WE MAY BE GETTING TO 3B SOONER
THAN WE THOUGHT.
>> THAT WILL CONCLUDE DEBATE ON
AMENDMENT 3A . I WILL ASK THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 3A .
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> NO.
>> HERBOLD?
>> NO.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> NO.
>> MORALES?
>> NO.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> NO.
>> TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, THE MOTION FAILS AND
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT 3B . I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL THE
120112 AS PRESENTED AS
AMENDMENT 3B ON TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
BY COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ . I
WILL HEAD OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO WALK US THROUGH
THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS OPTION IS A MORE MODEST
VERSION OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING
TO DO IN OPTION A. IT WOULD TAKE
TRUST $1.1 MILLION, WHICH WAS
PREVIOUSLY UNALLOCATED BY THE
COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IT WAS NOT PART OF THE 2020 TO
2023 HST PROGRAM. I SUPPORT
THOSE PROGRAMS AND WILL SUPPORT
THEM IN 2023.
THIS HOWEVER IS JUST $1 MILLION
AND IT IS FROM AN UNALLOCATED
PORTION. IT WOULD BE DEDICATED
TO RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT.
IT WOULD BE THE SAME AMOUNT FOR
RECRUITMENT, 433,000. FOR THE
LAST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
A REMAINING AMOUNT AS A DOWN
PAYMENT TOWARD EFFORTS TO
RETAIN EXISTING OFFICERS AND
DETECTIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DO SEE A COUPLE PEOPLE WITH
THEIR HANDS RAISED.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND START
CALLING ON FOLKS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS UP
FIRST.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL OF MY COMMENTS THAT I HAVE
MADE ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION STRATEGIES AND MY
BELIEF THAT IN ADDITION TO THE
FUNDING IN THIS LEGISLATION FOR
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
STRATEGIES, WHICH AGAIN, THERE
IS SOME FUNDING IN THIS BILL
DEDICATED TO THOSE PURPOSES.
ALL OF MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE
FUNDING OBJECTIVES THAT I MADE
IN THE PREVIOUS AMENDMENT STILL
STAND FOR THIS.
I WANT TO JUST SAY VERY QUICKLY
, THE PROPOSAL AND IMPACTS OF
PROPOSAL. AS I UNDERSTAND IT
AND FROM THE SIMPLE STAFF MEMO
THIS AMENDMENT IS PASSED AND
ITS SALARY SAVINGS ARE
CONSISTENT. SPD WOULD NOT HAVE
REMAINING SALARY SAVINGS TO
SPEND ON SOME ITEMS THAT THE
COUNCIL HAS IDENTIFIED AS A
PRIORITY AND INCLUDED SUPPORT.
IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE SUPPORT
FOR IT IN THIS BILL, BUT THEY
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY SPD AS
HIGH PRIORITY.
ONE OF THOSE IS FUNDING FOR A
NEW CSO SQUAD AT THE RATE OF
$120,000 FOR 2021. POTENTIAL
COVID RELATED COMPENSATION,
$0.5 MILLION. THE
IDENTIFICATION OF $3 MILLION TO
FUND OVERTIME COST.
WE DID THIS WITH $1.5 MILLION
OF THE REQUESTED $3 MILLION
OVER TIME AND THAT IS
AUTHORIZED IN COUNCIL BILL 1201
12 AS AMENDED. WE SPECIFICALLY
REFERENCED THE $1.5 MILLION IN
THE BILL CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE
AS POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR THESE
OTHER HIGH-PRIORITY ONES FROM
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF WE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS
SECOND OPTION, WE ARE PRETTY
CLOSE TO ZEROING OUT SPD'S
BUDGET. WE CAN'T LOOK AT FUNDING
-- OR SPD CANNOT LOOK AT
FUNDING FOR THE OTHER PRIORITIES
. IN PARTICULAR AS IT RELATES
TO OVERTIME, I AM GLAD WE KIND
OF HELD THE LINE AT ADDING $1.5
MILLION TO OVERTIME IN THE BILL
BEFORE US.
I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL THAT MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT AS IT
RELATES TO SPECIFIC TRENDING
PRIORITIES AND SPECIFICALLY USE
OF FORCE TRAINING, DE-
ESCALATION TRAINING, CRISIS
RESPONSE TRAINING AS WELL AS
PARTICULAR REVIEWS THAT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO DO,
THEIR INTERVENTION, REVIEWS,
REVIEW BOARD REVIEWS, THESE
REVIEWS ARE REQUIRED FOR SPD TO
DO IN ADVANCE OF AN OPA
INVESTIGATION. WHEN THERE IS AN
OPA INVESTIGATION WITH USE OF
FORCE, THEY HAVE A BIG BACKLOG
ON DOING THESE REVIEWS, WHICH
THEN AFFECTS THE INVESTIGATIONS
. FINALLY SUPERVISION RATIOS
AND SERGEANT TO OFFICER RATIOS,
WE THINK OF OVERTIME AS, YOU
KNOW, OVERTIME FOR EMPHASIS
PATROL OR OVERTIME FOR PROTEST
RESPONSE. THIS IS A REALLY
CRITICAL USE OF OVERTIME
PARTICULARLY WHEN THE DEPARTMENT
DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF VACANCIES
. THEY RELY MORE ON OVERTIME SO
OFFICERS CAN BE PAID TO, AGAIN,
COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING.
THESE REVIEWS, THE FRB REVIEWS
AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISION
RATIOS. FOR THIS REASON, I
APOLOGIZE BUT I CANNOT SUPPORT
THE AMENDMENT. MODIFY THE
AMENDMENT WITH A DIFFERENT
SOURCE OF FUNDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOUR NEXT.
THEN COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
WHILE I OPPOSED COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT A, I WANT
TO EXPAND ON SOME OF THE
REASONS WHY.
AS I SAID BEFORE I AGREED THAT
THE POLICE STAFFING CRISIS IS
REAL AND I AGREE WE NEED TO
TRANSITION TO A RIGHT -SIZED
FIRST RESPONSE WHERE POLICE ARE
ONE OF SEVERAL SERVICES THAT
CAN BE DISPATCHED.
WE HAVE A REPORT NOW FROM THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM BY SPD AND
FUNDED BY THE COUNCIL
INDICATING THAT 75% OF CALLS
FOR SERVICE COULD ULTIMATELY BE
HANDLED BY CIVILIAN RESPONSE.
WE KNOW THAT NUMBER IS
CONTESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT
THERE IS A CONSENSUS ON THE
SIZABLE PERCENTAGE. WE KNOW
SOME OF THOSE SERVICES ARE
BEING STOOD UP.
THOSE SERVICES HAVE NOT BEEN
COMPLETELY BUILT NOR SCALED.
THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN THOSE
INITIAL STEPS BY BUILDING AN
INDEPENDENT DISPATCH SERVICE,
WHICH IS CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL
. WE HAVE EXTENDED THE
HEALTHONE PROGRAM. WE ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING
TRIAGE ONE, WHICH WOULD TAKE ON
A LARGE RANGE FOR CALLS FOR
SERVICE.
MY HOPE IS THAT TRIAGE ONE
WOULD BE NEAR EUGENE, OREGON OR
SOMETHING CLOSE TO THOSE LOW
ACUITY RESPONSE PROGRAMS. THIS
IS STILL IN THE FUTURE.
IT IS STILL BEING DISCUSSED.
WE DON'T COMPLETELY KNOW WHAT
ROLE THOSE PROGRAMS WILL FILL
LET ALONE WHEN THEY WILL BE AT
SCALE TO TAKE CALLS FOR SERVICE.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE BASED ON
ANALYZING THE WHOLE NATIONAL
SITUATION ON POLICING AND
PUBLIC SAFETY THAT THE AMERICAN
CITIES IN THE FUTURE ARE GOING
TO BE THE CITIES THAT ENGAGE IN
THIS DIVERSIFICATION OF
RESPONSE SERVICES.
NOT ONLY FOR THE BENEFIT TO
HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF GETTING
A BETTER TAILORED FIRST
RESPONSE FOR CALLS FOR SERVICE,
BUT BECAUSE RESPONDING TO
HISTORIC LEVELS FOR POLICE TO
CONTINUE TO FILL THE SAME
FOOTPRINT POLICE HAVE ALWAYS
FILLED IN THE UNITED STATES IS
NOT GOING TO BE LOGISTICALLY
POSSIBLE.
POLICE HIRING IS DOWN 5%
NATIONALLY.
RESIGNATIONS FROM POLICE
SERVICES HAVE RISEN 18% AND
RETIREMENT HAVE RISEN 45%. IT
IS A CRISIS THAT IS NOT UNIQUE
TO SEATTLE.
NEW YORK CITY ALONE LOST 5346
POLICE OFFICERS IN 2020. 75%
INCREASE IN THE RATE.
SUCH LARGE ATTRITION PRIOR TO
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SCALE OF
ALTERNATIVE SERVICES GREATLY
HAMPERS OUR ABILITY AS A CITY
TO PROVIDE FIRST RESPONSE.
THE ONLY SERVICE THAT IS TO
SCALE THAT CAN FILL THE ROLE OF
THAT FIRST RESPONSE IS OF OUR
DELIBERATION RIGHT NOW TODAY,
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I DIDN'T SUPPORT AMENDMENT A
BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE WILL
REALIZE THE FUTURE VISION THAT
ALL OF US ON THE COUNCIL SHARE
IS GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO
MAKE STEADY AND CONSISTENT
INVESTMENTS IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP
-- AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS -- TO
DEVELOP AND CREATE THESE
SERVICES.
CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS
EVALUATED AND SCALED AND TAKE
ON BIGGER DUTIES. UNTIL THAT
TIME, WE NEED A VIABLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT CAPABLE OF
RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.
FOR THAT REASON, I AM VOTING IN
FAVOR OF TAKING A CURRENTLY
UNDEDICATED PORTION OF SALARY
SAVINGS FOR HIRING AND
RETENTION SERVICES AND
STRATEGIES AND WILL VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT , YOU ARE
NEXT IN LINE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT WHAT
I SAID FOR THE PREVIOUS VOTE.
THIS HAS ALL OF THE SAME
PROBLEMS.
I DO NOT SUPPORT INCREASING
POLICING.
WE SHOULD INSTEAD INVEST IN
EQUALITY.
ONE YEAR AGO COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD SAY THEY WOULD NOT DEFUND
THE POLICE AS PROMISED BECAUSE
IT WOULD REQUIRE SEVERAL MONTHS
TO LAY OFF OFFICERS, POLICE
OFFICERS. THEY SAID DON'T
WORRY, THEY WOULD DO SO IN
2021.
THEN IN 2021 RATHER THAN
CUTTING THE BUDGET, THEY HAD
PROVISOS TO STUDY OUT OF ORDER
LAYOFFS.
THIS BUDGET WILL END THOSE
PROVISOS AND THEY ARE TALKING
ABOUT HIRING BONUSES TO
INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE POLICE
FORCE.
THE THING THAT CHANGED IS THE
MOVEMENT IN 2020 WHERE WE HAD
THOUSANDS ON THE STREET IN
SEATTLE PROTESTING POLICE
VIOLENCE. I DO NOT SUPPORT
REINSTITUTING HIRING BONUSES
FOR THE POLICE. I WILL BE
VOTING NO ON THIS AMENDMENT.
TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT FROM MY
OFFICE TO ACTUALLY PUT SOME OF
THE MONEY INTO THE SUPPORTING
COMMUNITIES FUNDING THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT . ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT 3B ? COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I TOO WANTED TO GIVE YOU MY
RATIONALE FOR VOTING NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
I WANT TO START WITH REMINDING
OURSELVES ABOUT WHAT IS IN THIS
AMENDMENT.
WHAT IS AND IS AMENDMENT
LARGELY REFAX CONVERSATIONS WE
HAVE HAD WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH
MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ABOUT IDEAS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ADDRESSING SOME OF THE PRESSING
STRESSORS THAT WE SEE IN SPD.
THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THERE
IS FULL FUNDING AS REQUESTED
FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER,
FULL FUNDING FOR PAID PARENTAL
LEAVE. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
TAKING PARENTAL LEAVE AND SICK
LEAVE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC,
WHICH IS SOMETHING WE WANT THEM
TO BE DOING.
THIS INCLUDES THE $1.047 MILLION
TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO CAN
RESPOND TO CRISES SO IT DOESN'T
HAVE TO BE AN ARMED OFFICER
WITH A BADGE.
IT INCLUDES $0.5 MILLION
FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING GUN
VIOLENCE IN KING COUNTY.
THAT IS A PROVEN PUBLIC HEALTH
STRATEGY.
AGAIN, AS REQUESTED TO HELP
RELIEVE OFFICERS WITH A GUN
FROM HAVING TO SHOW UP HERE GET
INCLUDES THE REQUESTED $700,000
FOR TRIAGE ONE WITH THE
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT WE WILL BE
MAKING TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AN
APPROPRIATE AND WELL THOUGHT OUT
PROTOCOL SYSTEM SO WE HAVE
COMMUNITY PLACES WHERE PEOPLE
CAN GO WHEN 911 IS CALLED. WE
HAVE INCLUDED THESE THINGS IN
ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THE NEW
DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE STANDING
UP HAS THE SUPPORT THAT HE
NEEDS TO INVEST IN THE PROTOCOL
SYSTEM THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD LED ON LAST YEAR.
GET INCLUDES THE TWO POSITIONS
FOR PUBLIC RECORDS DISCLOSURE
AND I.T.
TO ALLEVIATE THE PRESSURE THAT
SPD IS CURRENTLY FACING
APPARENTLY FOR THEIR LACK OF
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUESTS. WE HAVE INCLUDED THESE
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING
THE LONG BACKLOG OF PDR REQUEST.
IN THE WAKE OF LAST YEAR'S
UPRISING, THERE HAS BEEN
RIGHTFULLY A CALL TO INCREASE
THE DEMAND FOR TRANSPARENCY AND
WORKER'S REQUEST WE WANT TO DO
THIS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF
WHAT COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING AND
THAT IS THE INVESTMENTS WE ARE
MAKING IN THE HUMAN SERVICE
DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
PROGRAMS. WE HAVE INCLUDED IN
THIS PROPOSAL $3 MILLION, AS WE
TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, TO
MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SHOWING
UP AS ALTERNATIVE TO POLICING
ARE ABLE TO HAVE FUNDING AND A
STABILITY FOR TWO YEARS.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE PUT
HERE FOR FRONTLINE FIRE
RESPONDERS. IT IS CRITICAL FOR
THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL
HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUES.
I BRING THAT UP TO UNDERSCORE
THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IS IN
THE'S BILL TO ADDRESS THE
PRESSURE WE HAVE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO
PUT THAT INFORMATION INTO
CONTEXT OF WHAT THE DATA SAYS.
THE DATA HAS BEEN MENTIONED.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT WE SEE
FROM OUR PROJECT THAT LED WITH
THE HEADLINE POLICE SAY LABOR
DAY DATA SAYS NO. OTHER
INDUSTRIES WERE DEVASTATED BY
THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR, POLICE
DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
INCLUDING IN SEATTLE SAW A MUCH
SMALLER IMPACT.
ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DATA, THE
U.S. ECONOMY SHED 6% OF WORKERS
AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS
LOST UNDER 1% OF EMPLOYEES.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE ALL
WORKING ON ADDRESSING BY THE
INVESTMENTS WE ARE MAKING
TODAY, BY WAY OF THE $3 MILLION
PLUS $10 MILLION WE HAVE
INVESTED IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
WE ARE NOT ACTING TODAY.
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE
ARE ACTING IN THE WAY WE ARE.
WE ARE ACTING THE WAY WE ARE
WITH THIS HYBRID APPROACH TO
INVEST IN COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE WE KNOW
FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CALLS
FOR SERVICES BETWEEN 2017 2019
FOUND THAT OF THE 1.2 MILLION
CALLS FOR SERVICES COVERING THE
PERIOD, NEARLY 80% OF THE CALLS
WERE FOR NONCRIMINAL EVENTS.
TO ME THAT MEANS IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO BE SCALING UP THE
NONCRIMINAL RESPONSE SIDE. THAT
IS WHY I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO HAVE A BALANCED APPROACH AND
WE WORK ON THE AMENDMENT.
IF ONLY 6% OF CALLS WERE
ASSOCIATED WITH FELONIES, THAT
REALLY UNDERSCORES THE
IMPORTANCE FOR STRATEGIES AND
COMMUNITY ORIENTED SOLUTIONS TO
CREATING STABILITY FOR
COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES FOR
POLICING.
THAT IS WHAT I THINK THE
PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US
REFLECTED HERE I WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING THE
STABILITY OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS NEED.
LASTLY, I THINK THIS POLICY IS
A POLICY DECISION THAT SHOULD
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN MORE
DETAIL EITHER IN COMMITTEE OR
IN A FUTURE COMMITTEE FOR THE
PURPOSES OF REALLY ANSWERING
THE QUESTIONS OF HOW THIS
STRATEGY WOULD WORK TODAY.
I WOULD OFFER TO YOU,
COLLEAGUES, THAT THE
INVESTMENTS WE ARE MAKING HELP
RELIEVE SOME OF THE PRESSURE WE
ARE HEARING ABOUT AND ALSO
APPROPRIATELY INVESTING IN
COMMUNITY ORIENTED SOLUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT 3B ? OKAY. I AM NOT
HEARING ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS.
AMENDMENT 3B . I WILL GO AHEAD
AND CALL ON PEDERSEN FOR
CLOSING REMARKS ON HIS
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR THE
DISCUSSION TODAY.
I REMAIN COMMITTED TO
REIMAGINING POLICING AND
REVAMPING POLICE CONTRACTS TO
PROVIDE THE MOST EFFECTIVE
PATHWAY TO COMMUNITY SAFETY. I
BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY
OUR INCREASED INVESTMENTS FOR
HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS AND
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES, BUT ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGING THE STAFFING
CRISIS.
WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE
STAFFING CRISIS FOR MONTHS. I
AGREE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSED EARLIER. I BELIEVE WE
HAVE GOT AN OBLIGATION TO
PROVIDE ADEQUATE POLICE
PROTECTION IN ALL DISTRICTS. WE
NEED TO DO BOTH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE VOTE ON
THIS AND FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN
THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> NO.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> NO.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> NO.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS AND THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
IBELIEVE WE HAVE ANOTHER
AMENDMENT AND THIS ONE IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, SO I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR MOTION
.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AS
WELL.
I MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL THE
120112 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR ON THE
AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I WILL HEAD OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, WE ARE BRINGING
THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD AFTER IT
BEING DRAWN TO OUR ATTENTION
FROM FIRST RESPONDERS AT THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO WERE ON
THE FRONT LINE OF THE TRIAGE
RESPONSE PROPOSAL. IT WAS A
STEP FORWARD, BUT THE BEST USE
OF OUR LIMITED RESOURCES
RESPONDED TO NONCRIMINAL 911
CALLS IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
PLACE TO SEND FOLKS.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE A
TRIAGE AND NOT TO HAVE A
LANDING PLACE FOR FOLKS.
WE KNOW THERE IS MUCH WORK IN
THE PIPELINE THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
LEADERSHIP TO CREATE A PROTOCOL
SYSTEM THAT IS PERMANENTLY
BEING DESIGNED AS WELL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PROTOCOL SYSTEM IS TRULY
FLUSHED OUT SO WE DON'T HAVE A
SYSTEM THAT ENDS UP REFERRING
FOLKS TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM, OR
SEEKS HOUSING AND SHELTER OR
MEDICAL SERVICES WHEN THERE IS
AN CAPACITY TO RECEIVE THEM.
WE KNOW MUCH OF OUR SHELTER
SERVICES INCLUDING THE MOST
RECENT DATA WE GOT LAST THURSDAY
SHOWED THERE WAS ONLY FIVE BEDS
AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE NIGHT,
FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS EXPRESSING
HOMELESSNESS OUT THERE.
THE INTENT OF THE TRIAGE SYSTEM
, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
PROTOCOL SYSTEM IS ALIGNED AND
MAKING SURE THERE IS A PLACE TO
GO FOR THOSE THAT GET VISITED
BY THE TRIAGE TEAM.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK ON THIS
AND AGAIN, THANKS TO IFF LOCAL
27 FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL
APPROACH AND FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR HER COSPONSORSHIP
ON THIS AND TO CENTRAL STAFF
AND THE TEAM THAT HAS HELPED
CREATE THIS PROPOSAL IN FRONT
OF US. WE ALL WANT A COMPLETE
RESPONSE PROTOCOL THAT AT A
MINIMUM HELPS MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS
TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE GETTING
THE CARE THAT THEY NEED AFTER
THAT CALL IS MADE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE
FROM THE COMPLETE PROTOCOL
SYSTEM AND THE PROBE IS A UNDER
THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE LIFTED
WHEN THAT REPORT IS RELEASED TO
COUNCIL . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> REALLY QUICKLY I JUST WANT
TO FLAG THAT THIS AMENDMENT AND
PROVISO IS NOT IN ANY WAY
INTENDED TO SLOW DOWN THE LAUNCH
OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM. AS
SOON AS AUTHORIZATION AND AFTER
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
PROTOCOL SYSTEM THAT WILL MAKE
IT POSSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION CENTER
TO DISPATCH A RESPONSE AND
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SENDING
THE RIGHT PERSON TO EITHER THE
WELLNESS CHECK OR THE PERSON BY
THE TRIAGE ONE PROGRAM.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO FLAGS ANOTHER
DISCUSSION THAT WE ARE HAVING.
IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW, THERE IS
INTEREST IN HAVING HOUSING OUT
OF THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL
THAT THE VISION FOR THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATION CENTER IS BROADER
THAN THE DEPARTMENT TO HOUSE
DISPATCH FUNCTIONS.
WE RECENTLY MADE THE DECISION
THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HOUSE
PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
WITHIN THE NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER DESPITE
OUR STATE INTENTION TO DO SO
LEGISLATIVELY. LAST YEAR WE
MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION. I
WANT TO FLAG THAT THIS AMENDMENT
PARKS THESE DOLLARS, THE
DOLLARS THAT ARE FOR STAFF IN
FINANCE GENERAL WHILE WE
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON
WHETHER OR NOT THESE BODIES
SHOULD BE HOUSED IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. IF WE MAKE THE
DECISION TO NOT HAVE THE TRIAGE
ONE PILOT PROGRAM BE STAFF, WE
WOULD NORMALLY BE DECIDING TO
MINIMIZE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE
FCC TO MORE THAN DISPATCH
FUNCTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT.
WE HAVE ASKED SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND THE FCC FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PILOT
STARTUP SIGNS UNDER BOTH
SCENARIOS.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM BUDGET OFFICE
AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
LEAVING TRIAGE ONE WOULD LIKE
IMPLEMENTATION.
IT COULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING WITH
THE REST OF THE COUNCIL THE
INFORMATION I RECEIVE FROM THE
CHIEF AND DIRECTOR LOMBARD
ABOUT THE STARTUP TIME FOR
TRIAGE ONE UNDER BOTH SEPARATE
SCENARIOS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT FOUR?
ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
THERE IS A DANCE PARTY
UNFOLDING IN MY LIVING ROOM, SO
SORRY ABOUT THE MUSIC.
I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THE "RIO"
SOUNDTRACK.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION
CARRIES.
THE BILL IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENT TO CONSIDER AND THAT
IS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT 'S.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
I MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120112 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT FIVE, WHICH WAS
RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED WHICH GOT
$2.41 MILLION FROM THE SPD AND
AT $2.4 MILLION TO THE
SUPPORTING SAFE COMMUNITIES
FUND.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE AMENDMENT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. I WILL HAND IT
BACK OVER TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE
AMENDMENT.
>> MANY OF THE COMMENTS I MADE
EARLIER, THEY REMAIN VALID FOR
THIS ONE AS WELL AS IN TERMS OF
WHY THIS AMENDMENT IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
ME KNOW LAST YEAR THE CITY
COUNCIL PLACED PROVISOS IN THE
SPV BUDGET IN RESPONSE TO THE
DEMAND FROM THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT LAST YEAR
TO REDUCE THE SPENDING ON
MILITARY POLICING AND TO
INSTEAD INVEST ON BUILDING AND
SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS THE LEAST THE CITY
COUNCIL SHOULD BE DOING.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET WOULD
REMOVE SUPERVISORS ESSENTIALLY
FREEING UP AN ADDITIONAL $7.5
MILLION IN THE POLICE BUDGET.
IT'S ONLY TRANSFERRING PART OF
THOSE FUNDS, $2.41 MILLION.
THAT IS THE REMAINDER AND THE
BALANCE THIS AMENDMENT
ADDRESSES.
AS I INFORMED THE CITY COUNCIL
THIS MORNING, THIS BUDGET
AMENDMENT IS IN RESPONSE TO THE
REQUEST FROM THE ACTIVISTS FOR
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE TO
TRANSPORT THE SAVINGS INTO
COMMUNITY FUNDING, AS
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE COMMITTED
TO DOING LAST NOVEMBER.
KEEP IN MIND THE POWERFUL
PUBLIC TESTIMONIALS THAT WERE
PROVIDED BY ACTIVISTS, ORDINARY
PEOPLE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ASKED WHY
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT . ARE
THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS HER
HAND RAISED CLEAR-CUT. PLEASE,
GO AHEAD.
>> I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT.
AS WE HAVE ALL BEEN SAYING, FOR
ME IT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
DURING OUR DELIBERATIONS LAST
YEAR, THE COUNCIL WORKED VERY
HARD WITH COMMUNITY TO BEGIN
INVESTING IN A NEW ECOSYSTEM, A
COMMUNITY SAFETY ECOSYSTEM THAT
REALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE
HUMANITY OF OUR RESIDENTS.
PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE.
I THINK WE MADE A LOT OF
STRIDES.
WE ARE LOOKING AT PARTICULARLY
HOW WE INVEST IN COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR WHAT
COMMUNITY SAFETY COULD BE.
WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. I AM
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NEED BY
SETTING UP SYSTEMS AND CREATING
INITIAL INVESTMENTS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE
OUTCOMES WE SEEK, WE NEED TO
COMMIT TO THE KIND OF
INVESTMENTS THAT IT'LL TAKE TO
CHANGE THE COMMUNITY CONDITIONS
THAT LEAD TO COMMUNITY SAFETY
CHALLENGES.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS EARLIER
LAID OUT I GOT PROGRAMS WE HAVE
BEGUN. WE ARE NEARLY DONE WITH
THAT WORK.
AS SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE SAID, THE
INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE OUR
SHORT-TERM.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW TO
INVEST IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY SO
ORGANIZATIONS CAN SCALE UP AND
REALLY HAVE THE OUTCOMES WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
THAT IS ONE THING I'M REALLY
INTERESTED IN.
THE OTHER THOUGH, AS THE
PHYSICAL BODY FOR THE CITY, OUR
BUDGETARY AND POLICY DECISIONS
ARE JUST THAT, DECISIONS. THESE
ARE PERMISSIVE.
THEY ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
THE APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY
THAT IS GIVEN TO THE
DEPARTMENTS OUR GUARDRAILS.
WE HAVE A CHECK AND BALANCE
SYSTEM WITH THE EXECUTIVE
AUTHORITY.
THIS IS A THEORETICAL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE
ARE IN THIS POSITION IN PART
BECAUSE OF AN INTENTIONAL
OVERSPEND ON OVERTIME LAST YEAR
AND ON OTHER THINGS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED
TO WILLFULLY OVERSPEND THEIR
BUDGET.
THE STATE VALUES FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, SUCH THAT OVER
EXPENDITURE CAN RESULT IN A
MISDEMEANOR.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
AS WE CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION AND PARTICULARLY
AS WE MOVE INTO BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS IN THE FALL THAT
AS A DELIBERATIVE BODY, WE MAKE
THE DECISION ON THE
APPROPRIATION. THIS ISN'T
SOMETHING THAT SHOULD JUST BE
CURED.
OVERSPENDING SHOULDN'T BE CURED
BY EXCEPTIONS LATER.
I HOPE AS WE MOVE INTO THE FALL
DISCUSSION AND NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET THAT WE CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT LAWFUL PROCESS FOR
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND WE
REALLY COMMIT TO HOLDING SPD
ACCOUNTABLE IN THE FUTURE.
THEY HAVE TO PERFORM WITHIN
THEIR AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO
SERVE THE CITY BEST AND I JUST
WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO
KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE
CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION AND
BEGIN THE NEXT DISCUSSIONS OVER
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
IWILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS I
UNDERSTAND THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
CUT $4.1 MILLION FROM SPD'S
2021 BUDGET AND ADDING $2.41
MILLION TO THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IN ADDITION
TO THE $3 MILLION THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE ADDED TO
THE BUDGET FROM SPD. $2.4
MILLION IN DECISIONS THAT THE
COMMITTEE MADE. IN OUR CLOSING
REMARKS, WE WILL GET INTO ALL
OF THAT AND HOW THOSE
INVESTMENTS SUPPORT COMMUNITY
SAFETY.
I SIMPLY CAN'T SUPPORT MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN WORK WHEN YOU
HAVE PAINSTAKINGLY PUT IN THE
FINANCE AND BUDGET COMMITTEE
WITHOUT KNOWING SPECIFICALLY
OF, YOU KNOW, APPROXIMATELY $15
MILLION OF INVESTMENTS. WHERE
ARE THOSE DOLLARS COMING FROM?
IN ADDITION, IF THE AMENDMENT
WERE TO PASS IT IS VERY LIKELY
THAT SPD WILL REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FROM THE
COUNCIL LATER IN 2021 TO PAY
FOR SOME OF THE EXPENSES THAT
WE HAVE AGREED IN THE BILL
COMING OUT OF COMMITTEE. AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, IT IS A HIGH
PRIORITY OF MINE TO WORK WITH
THE EXECUTIVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT
SPENDING PRIORITIES ARE SHARED
BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE
COUNCIL AND TO GRANT THAT
AUTHORITY. A SCENARIO WHERE
THEY FUND THEIR PRIORITIES AND
ASK US FOR PERMISSION TO
BACKFILL THOSE EXPENSES AFTER
THE FACT.
FINALLY IT IS UNCLEAR, YOU
KNOW, ONE OF THE PROVISOS
LIFTED IS A $550,000 PROVISO
THAT RESTRICTS FUNDS FOR SPD.
THEY REPORT WAS SENT IN JUNE.
IT LETS THE PROVISO AS A MATTER
AND I'M NOT SURE THIS WAS
CONSIDERED BY THE AMENDMENT
SPONSOR IN THE CALCULATIONS
THAT THE AMOUNT BE CUT FOR SPD.
AGAIN, TO ME THERE IS A LOT OF
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW THAT
WOULD INTERSECT WITH THE
DECISIONS WE ALREADY MADE IN
COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT
FIVE?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
HANDS RAISED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT , YOU ARE
THE SPONSOR SO YOU GET THE LAST
WORD.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WAS SAYING
. FORGIVE ME IF I AM MISTAKEN
WHAT WAS SAID, BUT JUST TO BE
CLEAR, THE AMENDMENT THAT I PUT
FORWARD IS NOT TOUCH THE HARBOR
PATROL PROVISO FRONT AND I
BELIEVE ALSO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD SAID SOMETHING TO THE
EFFECT -- AND I AM
PARAPHRASING, BUT IF THE
COUNCIL DOES NOT PASS THIS
AMENDMENT, SPD WILL COME BACK
ANYWAY TO ASK FOR MORE.
WELL, OF COURSE THEY WILL DO SO
ANYWAY. THAT HAS BEEN THE
PRACTICE.
THIS AMENDMENT COMES FROM
PRECINCT BUDGETS.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT SURE
THAT SHOULD BE A PROBLEM, REALLY
. IT SHOULD BE COMPLETELY
POSSIBLE FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO DO THEIR WORK
WITHOUT THIS $2.41 MILLION. I
WOULD REALLY URGE THE COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THIS.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT . I DID
MAKE A CALL FOR LAST COMMENTS,
BUT I THINK I HEARD SAWANT
ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO RESPOND . OF COURSE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WILL HAVE
THE FINAL, FINAL WORD.
>> I AM READING FROM THE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO.
THANKS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ,
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD BEFORE WE
CLOSE THIS OUT?
>> NO.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
COLLEAGUES, I'M NOT SEEING ANY
ADDITIONAL HANDS RAISED OR
ANYONE MEETING. WE WILL GO
AHEAD AND CONCLUDE DEBATE AND
CALL THE ROLL ON THIS.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT FIVE?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> NO.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> NO.
>> HERBOLD?
>> NO.
>> JUAREZ?
>> NO.
>> LEWIS?
>> NO.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> NO.
>> TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE MOTION PASSES. SORRY, THE
MOTION FAILS. I AM LOOKING
THROUGH THE LANGUAGE.
THE MOTION FAILS AND THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU HAVE
YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME
COMMENTS ON THE OVERALL BILL
THAT I HAVE BEEN HOLDING
THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS.
I WANT TO REALLY THANK OUR
HOUSING AND FINANCE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR HER
VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION.
THE AMENDMENTS REGARDING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
, THE COMMITTEE SHOWS A STRONG
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE
OFFICER SHORTAGE BY REDUCING
THE WORKLOAD ON SWORN OFFICERS
WHO HAVE STAYED WITH SEATTLE AS
WELL AS IMPLEMENTING OR
SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION AND
SUPPORTING SPD FOR COMMUNITY
SERVICE OFFICERS AND CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATORS. THERE
IS FUNDING FOR SPD AS HIRING
PROCESS ACCELERATORS FOR BOTH
SWORN OFFICERS. THERE IS FUNDING
FOR THE 911 CALL DATA ANALYSIS.
WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM. WE SUPPORT
REIMAGINING POLICING.
THERE IS FUNDING FOR THE WORK
SCHEDULING AND TIMEKEEPING
PROJECT.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR
MODERNIZING SPD'S MANAGEMENT OF
TIME AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT OF
OFF-DUTY WORK AND ADDRESSING
THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE CITY
AUDITOR IN 2016 AND
RECOMMENDATIONS RECENTLY MADE
BY THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
$1.5 MILLION FOR OVERTIME. SPD
REQUESTED $3 MILLION. COUNCIL
PROPOSED REDUCTIONS IN THE
OVERTIME BUDGET. WELL, I SHOULD
PROBABLY NOT MENTION THE $1.5
MILLION FOR OVERTIME BECAUSE I
THINK WE MADE THAT AN AMENDMENT.
SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL MONEY OF
THE $1.5 MILLION IN OVERTIME
SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE
BUDGET. THAT IS AN ISSUE WE
MIGHT NEED TO TAKE UP AGAIN
SINCE EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE
MORE OVERTIME AND THEY MAY BE
NEEDED.
WE HAVE SCOOPED THAT EXTRA
FUNDING FOR THE EVENTUAL
DISCUSSION AROUND RECRUITMENT
SERVICES.
NON-SPD FUNDING THAT IS
INCLUDED IN THIS BILL BUT IS
STILL SO IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY
SAFETY IS TRIAGE ONE, BOTH
FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, THE
BODIES THEMSELVES TO DO THE
RESPONSE, BUT ALSO AS WE TALKED
ABOUT THE PROTOCOLS. THIS IS SO
IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW WITH
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION
PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE REGIONAL
PEACEKEEPERS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO
REDUCE VIOLENCE BY AS MUCH AS
60%.
THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED FUNDING
IN THE 2022 BUDGET AND I AM
REALLY GLAD WE ARE TODAY MAKING
A DOWN PAYMENT ON IT IN 2021.
AND THEN FINALLY TWO OTHER ITEMS
. ONE RELATED TO THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
THAT IS PENDING FOR EVIDENCE
STORAGE SPACE. WE ARE AT
CAPACITY FOR THE STORAGE OF
CRITICAL EVIDENCE THAT IS
NECESSARY TO PURSUE. I MEAN,
THAT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM CARS
TO ACTUAL OTHER TYPES OF
EVIDENCE.
FINALLY FUNDING ARKOE
ADDITIONAL CLOSURE WORK AS
RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY AUDITOR
. MANY OF THESE ITEMS, NOT ALL
OF THEM BUT MANY OF THEM ARE
PRIORITIES THAT I HAD IN THE
SPRING. I PROPOSED FUNDING IN AN
SPD BUDGET I AM GRATEFUL THAT
CHAIR MOSQUEDA HAS PROVIDED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
PRIORITIES AND INVESTMENTS
AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. I DO SEE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
HER HAND RAISED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS
THE TIME TO MAKE GENERAL
COMMENTS?
>> YEP.
THIS IS TIME FOR GENERAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL. WE DON'T
HAVE ANY MORE AMENDMENTS SO
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE COMMENTS ON THE BILL
BEFORE WE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET. AS WE SAW,
IT HAS BEEN USED BY THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AS A
VEHICLE TO INCREASE THE FUNDING
AVAILABLE IN THE POLICE BUDGET
BY $2.4 MILLION BY REVERSING
SOME IMPORTANT FIVE MILLION-
DOLLAR PROVISOS WON BY THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT
LAST YEAR.
THE BUDGET VOTE FOR THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS NOW, A BUDGET IS A
MORAL DOCUMENT AND THIS BUDGET
CONTINUES TO BETRAY THE
VICTORIES OF THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENT.
AS SOME PEOPLE MENTIONED IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, SPD WASTES
PUBLIC RESOURCES. YOU KNOW,
THIS IS ON TOP OF THE FACT WE
HAVE AN ALREADY LOADED POLICE
BUDGET.
LOOK AT THEIR SPENDING ON OVER
$2 MILLION. IN ADDITION TO OTHER
VARIOUS SUITS AND FRAUD CASES
HAS BEEN LIFTED. THE FEDERAL
CONTRACT DATABASE NINE TIMES
SINCE 1995 WITH $124.2 MILLION
IN PENALTIES.
THAT CONTRACT ALONE IS ALMOST
ENOUGH TO FUND TWO TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES FOR A YEAR.
THAT IS JUST A SMALL FACTOID IN
THE OVERALL STORY OF HOW MUCH
WRONGDOING THERE IS IN RELATIO
TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LIKE IN PREVIOUS BUDGET VOTES,
EVEN THOUGH I HAVE VOTED NO ON
THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE BECAUSE
IT HAS NOT LIVED UP TO BEING A
GENUINE MORAL DOCUMENT STANDING
UP FOR THE NEEDS OF WORKING
PEOPLE, OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES,
AND THE POOR, I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS BEING WON BY
ORGANIZING THE WORK OF MY OFFICE
IN THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT
. PARTICULARLY I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE WORK BY
ACTIVISTS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH
MY OFFICE TO SUCCESSFULLY WIN
FUNDING TO MAKE THE GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK SHELTER READY AFTER
A DECADE OF DELAYS.
THE CAMPUS COMPRISES THE
GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER,
POOL, TENNIS COURTS, AND
GARFIELD PARK AND BALL FIELD,
THE QUINCY JONES PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER, AND GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL TO. THE $500,000 IN
FUNDING INCLUDED IN THE
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET BILL WILL
COMPLETE THE ALLOTMENT WORK AND
ALLOW US TO BE READY IN 2022.
THE GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK IS A
GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO CREATE A
VITAL CIVIC SPACE THAT HONORS
AND TELLS THE STORY FOR
CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED HERE
OVER THE MILLENNIA.
THE GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK WORKING
WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT AIMS TO ENHANCE THE
AREA AROUND THE GARDEN AND
COMMUNITY CENTER WITH ART THAT
CELEBRATES HISTORY, NEW TREES
AND WALKWAYS TO ENSURE ACCESS
FOR ALL, NEW PUBLIC BATHROOM
FACILITIES AND OTHER URGENTLY
NEEDED COMMUNITY PRODUCTS. IT
SHOULD BE FUNDED IN
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
WHEN COMPLETED, THIS WILL BE A
COMMUNITY JAM AND WILL BE
GREATLY VALUED.
UNFORTUNATELY LIKE MANY SUCH
PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, IT HAS BEEN UNFUNDED FOR
OVER 15 YEARS.
THIS IS EXCITING THAT IT IS
STARTING TO COME TO FRUITION.
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MY
OFFICE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH
ACTIVISTS TO ORGANIZE WORKING
PEOPLE'S SUPPORT FOR THIS
DEMAND.
600 COMMUNITY MEMBERS FIND OUR
PETITION AND WROTE LETTERS TO
COUNCILMEMBERS . DOZENS OF
PEOPLE SPOKE UP IN PUBLIC
TESTIMONY.
WE HAVE ORGANIZED A PUBLIC
EVENT AT GARFIELD COMMUNITY
CENTER WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
CAN LEARN MUCH MORE ABOUT THE
PROJECT. I WAS THERE MYSELF.
IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THE
COMMUNITY TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY
IN A TIME OF ISOLATION BECAUSE
OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT VICTORY
AND INHERENTLY THE RESULT OF
ACTIVISM OF ORDINARY PEOPLE. IN
TWO WEEKS, THE CITY COUNCIL
WILL BEGIN DISCUSSING THE
BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
LESSONS FROM THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET WILL TRANSFORM INTO
VICTORIES IF WE HAVE OUR BUDGET
MOVEMENT WORK WHICH WE ARE
SEEING YEAR AFTER YEAR YIELD
MANY VICTORIES FOR WORKING
PEOPLE. WE CAN HAVE OUR
COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO FALL
FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND IF
WE DO NOT HAVE A MOVEMENT.
IT WILL ALL DEPEND ON
ORGANIZING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL
AS AMENDED?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
CLOSEOUT DEBATE BY HAVING
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA MAKE
CLOSING REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO THE
VICE CHAIR FOR AN ACCURATE
SUMMARY AND ALSO TO NOTE IT IS
ACTUALLY A REDUCTION OF $5
MILLION TO SPD, NOT AN INCREASE
OF $2 MILLION. NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS FROM ME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT DOES CONCLUDE DEBATE ON
THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL BILL .
I WILL ASK THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE AMENDED BILL.
>> GO AHEAD, MADAM CLERK.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
FOUR INTO THE RECORD.
>> 120165.
>> THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD AUTHORIZE A NEW VACANT
LAND, AND FOR CONTINUED USE AND
FOR TINY HOUSE VILLAGE SITE.
THIS WOULD ADD 30 ADDITIONAL
UNITS. THIS IS NEEDED TO ALLOW
FOR THE LEASE OF EXPANDED
PROPERTY THAT IS A SPEC 44,000
SQUARE FEET.
THIS WILL PASS THE DIRECTORS
LEASING AUTHORITY.
WE HAVE WORKED REALLY QUICKLY
TO GET THIS TO THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE SO WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD ON THE TINY
VILLAGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
AND THEY GET TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING TO
MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO FURTHER
DELAYS ON EMERGENCY HOUSING
OPTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF
FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I APPRECIATE THE QUICK MOVEMENT
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
GETTING THIS THROUGH.
WE WOULD HAVE PASSED THIS
EARLIER BUT WE HAD TO WAIT
UNTIL THE REVIEW WAS DONE
BEFORE WE COULD PASS THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY TO MOVE US
CLOSER TO GETTING THIS EXTENDED
IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT 7 I
JUST WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF
SHUDDER TO SEATTLE AND
COMMISSIONER BOWMAN WHO HAS
BEEN A REALLY, REALLY BIG
BOOSTER AND ADVOCATE FOR THE
INITIAL SIGNING OF THIS.
WE HAVE NOW DOUBLED IN SIZE. I
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
PARTNERSHIP POTENTIALLY WITH
OTHER BOARD OF SEATTLE SITES AS
WE LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
TO EXPAND.
MORE TINY HOUSE SHELTERS IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND
BUILD ON THIS GREAT WORK.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING ON
THIS AND GETTING ANOTHER ONE OF
THESE VILLAGES UP AND RUNNING.
>> WELL SAID.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF.
PLEASE READ ITEMS FIVE THROUGH
SEVEN INTO THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENTS 1936 THROUGH
1938, REAPPOINTMENT OF FRANK F.
ALVARADO , BARBARA NABORS-GLASS
, AND DREW PORTER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE IN FRONT OF
US THREE APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE
VERY IMPORTANT.
THE FIRST IS FRANK F. ALVARADO .
HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS VICE
PRINCIPAL. HE RESIDES ON
CAPITOL HILL AND WORKS IN THE
BANKING INDUSTRY AND AS PART OF
THE COMMUNITY LAUNCH ON CAPITOL
HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND
GREATER SEATTLE BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION.
WE ALSO HAVE BARBARA NABORS-
GLASS.
SHE CURRENTLY WORKS WITH
SEATTLE GOODWILL AND SHE IN
HER CURRENT ROLE HAS
CONSISTENTLY INCREASED THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED BY
SEATTLE GOODWILL AS DEVELOPED
PROJECTS UNDER THE JOB TRAINING
AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND IS A
MEMBER OF THE NATURAL
ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS.
FINALLY DREW PORTER SERVES AS
THE FOUNDATION.
HE WORKS ACROSS PROGRAM AREAS
ON ISSUES RELATING TO ADVOCACY,
GOVERNANCE, AND COMPLIANCE.
HE SERVES AS THE TAX COUNCIL TO
SENIOR MEMBERS OF WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE ON THE U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND
CONGRESS.
THESE APPOINTMENTS WERE
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE
FULL COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION
TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE APPOINTMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
1936 THROUGH 1938?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED.
PLEASE READ THE SHORT TITLE OF
ITEM 8 INTO THE RECORD.
>> THIS IS PART OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE, COUNCIL BILL 120138
RELATING TO THE TERMINAL 5
QUIET ZONE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
UNDER THE FREIGHT SPOT
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I
WILL HANDED OVER TO YOU TO WALK
US THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. AS I MENTIONED IN COUNCIL
BREATHING THIS MORNING, ALL 11
ITEMS ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA
FROM THE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE WERE
RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY BY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THIS FIRST ITEM, 120138, IS
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND WILL PROVIDE
LIMITED CONDEMNATION AND
AUTHORITY TO SECURE PORTIONS OF
PROPERTY NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT
A QUIET ZONE THAT WILL SUPPORT
FREIGHT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
TERMINAL 5 FACILITY AND
BENEFITING SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORS CONCERNED ABOUT THE
NOISE OF THE FREIGHT TRAINS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THIS BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO REFERENCE THIS
IS A REALLY HIGH-PRIORITY ISSUE
FOR FOLKS IN DISTRICT 1. MANY
CONSTITUENTS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT
THE NOISE FROM TRAINS ENTERING
AND LEAVING THE INTERSECTION.
THIS GOES BACK AND PREDATES THE
REDEVELOPMENT AND MANY HAVE
SUGGESTED THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
THIS AREA A QUIET ZONE.
THIS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A STATEMENT LEGISLATIVE INTENT
SPONSORED BY MYSELF IN 2016 AND
THAT STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT FROM NEARLY 5 YEARS AGO
REQUESTED THAT I START WITH THE
FEDERAL WEAR AWAY
ADMINISTRATION AND RAILWAY
COMPANIS DOING BUSINESS AT
TERMINAL FIVE TO EXTEND THE
EXISTING QUIET ZONE FROM
TERMINAL FIVE TO WEST
MARGINALLY INTERSECTION. AS WE
ALL KNOW, TERMINAL FIVE HAS
BEEN UNDERGOING A MODERNIZATION
PROJECT WHICH IS JUST NEARLY
COMPLETE AND THE PORT EXPECTS
FULL RAIL OPERATIONS BEGINNING
IN 2022. THE TIMELINE
ORIGINALLY SLATED FOR THE QUIET
ZONE TO BE COMPLETED WAS
ORIGINALLY IN DECEMBER OF 2020,
IN ADVANCE OF THE COMPLETION OF
THE TERMINAL FIVE PROJECT.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN PLAGUED
WITH DELAYS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
TOPIC OF THE LEGISLATION TODAY.
BUSINESS TENANTS APPEAL, THE
DESIGN OF THE QUIET ZONE
RESULTING IN THE CITY IN POOR
CONDUCTING EXTENSIVE OUTREACH
FOR OUTSTANDING CONCERNS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE JOINT
EFFORTS OF THE CITY AND THE PORT
IN DOING SO, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT GIVEN THE FACT THOSE
EFFORTS HAVE NOT THUS FAR BEEN
SUCCESS WILL, THIS LEGISLATION
IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO MOVE
THE QUIET ZONE FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN IS
LETTING ME KNOW HE IS DONE WITH
HIS COMMENTS, SO WE WILL
CONSIDER HIS FIRST WERE TO BE
THE LAST WORD ON THIS BILL.
THAT BEING SAID, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM NINE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 9, COUNCIL BILL
120159 RELATING TO THE GRANT
FUNDS FROM THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AND OTHER NON-CITY SOURCES.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE
BILL PASS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, BACK
TO YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL THE
120159 AUTHORIZES THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO
ACCEPT VARIOUS GRANTS INCLUDING
FEDERAL, STATE, AND REGIONAL
GRANTS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE.
15th AVENUE SOUTH AND A
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY RAMP FOR
AURORA AVENUE NORTH.
$1.5 MILLION STATE GRANT FOR
AURORA IS VITAL. THAT STATE
HIGHWAY HAS BEEN A DANGEROUS
AREA THAT WE MUST ADDRESS FOR
THE CITY TO MEET THE ZERO
EMISSION TRANSPORTATION GOALS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL?
GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
INCLUDING FROM THE SPONSOR,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE BILL PASSES.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
PLEASE READ THE SHORT TITLE OF
ITEM 10 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 10, COUNCIL BILL
120128 RELATING TO DRAINAGE
SERVICES OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ADJUSTING DRAINAGE
RATES TO PASS THROUGH CHANGES
TO TREATMENT RATES CHARGED BY
KING COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WILL HAND IT BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER
TODAY, WE ARE FINALLY VOTING ON
THREE UTILITY RATE ORDINANCES
FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES TO
IMPLEMENT A STRATEGIC BUSINESS
PLAN AND GREAT PASS ENDORSED.
RESOLUTION 32000, AS YOU MAY
RECALL WE HAD GOOD NEWS COMING
IN LOWER AND WHAT WAS PROMISED
IN THE PREVIOUS STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE CHAIR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AS WELL
AS THE GENERAL MANAGERAND HER
TEAM TO KEEP RATES LOW. KEEPING
RATES LOW IS IMPORTANT FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. RATES ARE
ESSENTIALLY REGRESSIVE WITH
LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HANGING
A LARGER PORTION OF THEIR
HOUSEHOLD INCOME ON UTILITY
BILLS. RATE ORDINANCES ARE FOR
DRAINAGE, WASTEWATER, AND
FRESHWATER.
THIS IS THE FIRST DRAINAGE
120128. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU HAVE
YOUR HAND RAISED.
>> THIS AGENDA ITEM IN THE
FOLLOWING TWO ITEMS WILL
INCREASE UTILITY RATES. I WILL
BE VOTING NO ON ALL OF THESE
THREE BILLS BECAUSE INCREASING
UTILITY RATES ON REGULAR
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE IS SIMPLY
NOT ACCEPTABLE.
IN FACT, SINCE THE COVID
EMERGENCY BEGAN I HAVE
SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY AND
INCREASING UTILITY RATES FOR
THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
FACING THE BRUNT OF THE COVID
CRISIS IS GOING IN THE WRONG
AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
THE REALITY IS IT IS NEGLIGIBLE
FOR THE RICH AND BIG BUSINESS
BUT CAN BE A REAL BURDEN FOR
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE.
IF THESE BILLS RAISE UTILITY
RATES ON BIG BUSINESS BUT NOT
ON WORKING PEOPLE, I WOULD
CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT.
IN FACT, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN
I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE CITY
COUNCIL COMMITTEE MET SEATTLE
CITY LIGHTS REPORTED TO AND
MOVE LEGISLATION TO REDISTRIBUTE
THE UTILITY COST TO THE
LOWERING BILLS OF WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE BUT THE COUNCIL OPPOSED
IT.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THESE
THREE BILLS INCREASING RATES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. ARE THERE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
HEARING NONE, WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
SORRY, I WAS ON MUTE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, THE BILL PASSES. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF.
PLEASE READ THE SHORT TITLE OF
ITEM 11 INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120129
RELATING TO WASTEWATER SERVICES
OF SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
ADJUSTING WASTEWATER RATES TO
PASS THROUGH CHANGES TO
TREATMENT RATES CHARGED BY KING
COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, BACK TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, THE RATES ARE LOWER THAN
WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.
THESE ARE THE WASTEWATER RATES
AND MAINLY PASSED THROUGH KING
COUNTY. THAT IS IMPORTANT TO
NOTE.
THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION OF MY
BEHALF?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
12 INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL THE 120130 RELATING
TO RATES AND CHARGES FOR WATER
SERVICES OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES REVISING WATER RATES
AND CHARGES, AND CREDITS TO LOW-
INCOME CUSTOMERS; AND AMENDING
SECTIONS 21.04.430 ,
21.04.440, AND 21.76.040 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> I WILL HAND IT BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> COLLEAGUES, MY PREVIOUS
COMMENTS APPLY TO THIS BILL AS
WELL. THIS IS FOR FRESHWATER
AND I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO THANK COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
AND BRIAN GOOD NIGHT FOR HIS
HARD WORK ON THESE BILLS WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
AGAIN, THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> NO.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, AND ONE
OPPOSED.
>> PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 13 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 13, RESOLUTION
32016 RELATING TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON HUSKY
STADIUM TRANSPORTATION
MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED AS
AMENDED.
>> BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> COLLEAGUES, THEY JUST
APPROVED THEIR UPDATED
TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR MAJOR
EVENTS IN AND AROUND HUSKY
STADIUM INCLUDING HOW THE
UNIVERSITY INTENDS TO ENCOURAGE
THE USE OF TRANSIT DURING BIG
SPORTING EVENTS.
THE COMMITTEE ADDED LANGUAGE TO
RESOLUTION 32016 TO INCREASE
TRANSIT TO REDUCE TRAFFIC
úCONGESTION AND IMPROVE THE
ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO TO ENSURE
THE UNIVERSITY COVERS THE FULL
COST OF THEIR IMPACT INCLUDING
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COSTS. I
APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
AND THEIR CRAFTING AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN AS
WELL AS THE GENEROUS WE
RECEIVED FROM IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
THE RESOLUTION?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE CHAIR WILL FIND IT.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
14 INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 2027,
REAPPOINTMENT OF WARREN
AAKERVIK JR. AS MEMBER OF
SEATTLE FREIGHT ADVISORY BOARD
FOR TERM MAY 31st, 2022. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND APPOINTMENT
BE AFFIRMED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I
WILL HANDED OVER TO YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THESE ARE
FIVE REAPPOINTMENTS . I WILL BE
VERY BRIEF. YOU HAVE ALREADY
SEEN THEIR APPOINTMENT PACKETS.
THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THIS IS WARREN'S REAPPOINTMENT.
I WANT TO THANK WARREN FOR HIS
WORK ON THE BOARD AND
WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE SERVING
OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
THE APPOINTMENT? HEARING NONE,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 2027?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANKS SO MUCH. THE
APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED.
PLEASE READ ITEMS 15 AND 16
INTO THE RECORD.
>> 15 AND 16, APPOINTMENT 2028
AND 2029, REAPPOINTMENT OF
YASIR ALFARAG AND ANDREA LAI
AS MEMBER, SEATTLE BICYCLE
ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 31, 2023.
>> I WILL HANDED BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. THESE
ARE APPOINTMENTS FROM HIS
COMMITTEE AS WELL.
>> THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THESE TWO
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR
WORK ON THE BOARD SO FAR AND
THEIR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE
SERVING OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE APPOINTMENTS?
ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, I WILL
ASK THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS.
DEPUTY CLERK SCHWINN, JUST FOR
THE RECORD COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAD ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT
TO GET TO SO SHE IS NO LONGER
WITH US, BUT IF YOU WOULD GO
AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL ON
APPOINTMENT OF 2028 AND 2029.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED
.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE
APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
17 AND 18 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 17 AND 18,
APPOINTMENTS 2030 AND 2031,
REAPPOINTMENTS OF ERIN TIGHE
AND MICHELLE ZEIDMAN AS MEMBERS
SEATTLE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD
FOR A TERM TO AUGUST 2nd, 2023.
>> THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THESE
TWO REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK ERIN AND
MICHELLE FOR THEIR WORK ON THE
BOARD AND THEIR WILLINGNES TO
CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
2030 AND 2031?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED.
>>> OKAY, OTHER BUSINESS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
THAT DOES INCLUDE THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS
SEPTEMBER 20th, 2021 AT 2:00
P.M.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL --
MY SCRIPT SAYS AFTERNOON, BUT
EVENING. HAVE A WONDERFUL
EVENING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.