>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE,
TODAY IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19,
2021, THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
MY NAME IS TERESA MOSQUEDA AND
I'M CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MME.
KIRK AND WHEN OUR OTHER
COLLEAGUES JOIN US WE WILL MAKE
SURE TO ANNOUNCE THEM.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY
THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR THE
MEETING, USUALLY MEET ON
TUESDAYS THE FIRST AND THIRD
WEEK OF THE MONTH AND WE HAD A
HOLIDAY WHICH WAS JUST A
FRIDAY, I'M HAPPY TO SEE
EVERYONE, GLAD IT'S SUNNY
OUTSIDE AND I HOPE EVERYONE IS
HEALTHY STAYING AT HOME IF THEY
CAN AND SOCIALLY DISTANCING.
WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA AND I'LL
READ IT VERY QUICKLY.
FIRST WE HAVE THE APPOINTMENT
OF RITA HOWARD TO THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY AND I SEE
RITA ON THE LINE THANKS FOR
BEING WITH US.
WE HAVE THE APPOINTMENTS OF
JAMIE MARSH, MINERA MOHAMMED
AND -- AND THE APPOINTMENTS OF
STEPHEN MARQUEZ SEE AS DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS AND THE LAST TWO
ITEMS ARE RESOLUTION ON -- MY
UNDERSTANDING IS WE WILL JUST
BE DISCUSSING THAT TODAY TO
GIVE OUR COLLEAGUES OUTSIDE OF
THIS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW IT
SINCE WE WANT TO CONSIDER ANY
AMENDMENTS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
LASTLY WE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING
FROM DIRECTOR NOBLE AND OUR
TEAM FROM THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, OUR
FEDERAL LOBBYING PARTIES AND
CENTRAL STAFF ON THE FUNDING
FOR COVID RELIEF.
THAT'S THE AGENDA, IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION TODAY'S AGENDA
WILL BE -- LET'S MOVE ON TO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DO HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING.
WE'RE GOING TO ENDEAVOR TO GET
TO EVERYONE ON THE LIST AND TWO
MINUTES WILL BE THE TIME.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF WHEN YOU HEAR THE
NOTICE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE BEEN
UN-MUTED, THAT IS YOUR CUE TO
HIT STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN IN MUTED
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
THE ITEM YOU'RE SPEAKING TO AND
PLEASE KEEP THE REMARKS FOCUSED
ON THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA IN
FRONT OF US OR OUR COMMITTEE
WORK PLAN.
WHEN YOU ARE DONE SPEAKING
PLEASE HANG UP ON THE LINE AND
LISTEN IN ON THE OTHER OPTIONS
PROVIDED ON TODAY'S AGENDA
INCLUDING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT
SEATTLE CHANNEL, THANK YOU FOR
STREAMING THIS LIFE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO EVERYONE
ON THE LIST IDEALLY TWO MINUTES
AND I HAVE A CLOCK IN FRONT OF
ME SO I WILL CALL THE FIRST
THREE NAMES AND WE WILL BEGIN.
THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS ARE
VICTOR LOU, CHRIS WOODWARD AND
JESSE RAWLINS.
GOOD MORNING VICTOR.
YOU ARE UP.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
VICTOR LOU AND I AM FROM THE
ASIAN CULTURE, THE ITEM I WOULD
LIKE TO ADDRESS WITH COUNCIL
MEMBERS TODAY IS -- AS SOME OF
YOU HAVE MET OR HEARD IT IS A
PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON
ASSISTING ON SHELTERED
INDIVIDUALS AND HELP WITH THEIR
SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.
THEY FOCUS ON -- THE MAJORITY
OF OUR CLIENTS -- IN EARLY
NOVEMBER WE HAD 66 UNDUPLICATED
INDIVIDUALS OF WHICH I
MENTIONED, 100% OF THE CLIENTS
HAVE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
ISSUES AND I ASK THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN THE FUNDING
AND SAFETY NET BECAUSE IT HAS
PROVEN IT IS IMPORTANT THEY
SMACKED WITH THIS PROGRAM I
WOULD SHARE VERY QUICKLY THAT --
WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE CLIENTS
WITH MEDICAL CARE -- AND THE
COST SAVINGS ON AVERAGE, WE ARE
SAVING AT LEAST $22,600 PER
CLIENT PER YEAR AND I'M SHARING
THAT INFORMATION WITH COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I'M HAPPY TO EMAIL
THAT TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IF
IT'S HELPFUL AND I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS
NOT MAINTAINED, THE CLIENTS
THAT WE HAVE ASSISTED WITH OUR
PARTNERS WOULD ALL END UP BEING
TRAUMATIZED GOING BACK TO
HOSPITALS AND POSSIBLY GOING TO
JAIL AND THEN -- WILL ONLY
INCREASE. -- I HOPE YOU WILL
CONSIDER THIS REQUEST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VICTOR, PERFECT
TIMING AND PLEASE DO SEND THAT
TO ALL COUNSEL NUMBERS AND THAT
WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
THE NEXT PERSON IS CHRIS, GOOD
MORNING CHRIS.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS,
MY NAME IS CHRIS WOODWARD AND I
AM THE DIRECTOR FOR THE
ALLIANCE FOR -- SQUARE, THE
NONPROFIT SERVES THE PIONEER
NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH --
ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP AND OUR
STAKEHOLDERS ARE ALL WHO WORK,
LIVE AND DO BUSINESS IN PIONEER
SQUARE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO LEND SUPPORT
TO THE JUST CARE PROGRAM, THE
JUST CARE PROGRAM HAS MADE A
PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE PIONEER
SQUARE COMMUNITY DURING THE
ONGOING PANDEMIC AND DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC SOME SHELTERS IN
PIONEER SQUARE TO CLOSE DOOR D
INTENSIFIED CAUSING MANY WHO
SHELTERED THEIR TO SPILL OUT
INTO NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.
WITHOUT CONGREGANT SHELTERS
THESE FOLKS ARE SURVIVING ON
THE STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND
PUBLIC SPACES, THE JUST CARE
PROGRAM OFFERS ONE TOOL AMONG
MANY IN THE CITY'S TOOLKIT TO
TRANSITION AT RISK FOLKS TO A
HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT.
THE JUST CARE PROGRAM IS NOT
ONLY BENEFICIAL FOR INDIVIDUALS
BUT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OVERALL.
INCLUDING RESIDENTS, VISITORS
AND BUSINESS OWNERS, AS PIONEER
SQUARE REELS FROM THE IMPACT OF
THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN DUE TO
THE PANDEMIC IT IS VITAL THAT
THE JUST CARE PROGRAM CONTINUES
TO OPERATE TO ENSURE OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRESSES TOWARD
RECOVERY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING.
THE NEXT PERSON IS JESSE
RAWLINS AND JESSE IT WOULD BE
GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND WE
ALWAYS APPRECIATE HEARING A
FRIENDLY VOICE, BUT IT DOESN'T
LOOK LIKE YOU ARE WITH US SO IF
YOU COME BACK IN WE WILL BE
HAPPY TO GET BACK TO YOU.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE
LILLIAN NGUYEN, MARTIN LAWSON
AND DOMINIC DAVIS.
GOOD MORNING LILY.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS LILLIAN NGUYEN AND I
USE SHE HER HER PRONOUNS, I
WORK FOR THE JUST CARE PROGRAM
AND I AM THE PROGRAM
COORDINATOR.
WE STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC
AND ENROLLED OUR FIRST CLIENT
ON NOVEMBER 4. NOW WE SERVE 66
UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS THAT HAVE
CHRONIC MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE
USE ILLNESSES.
OUR CLIENTS WE SERVE ARE MOSTLY
BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND THEY ARE LOCATED AT THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
PIONEER SQUARE.
SINCE THE START OF OUR PROGRAM
WE HAVE IMPACTED THE LIVES OF
EVERY INDIVIDUAL WE'VE TAKEN IN.
CLIENTS HERE HAVE ENGAGED IN
COUNSELING, TREATMENT, REPORT
USING DRUGS LESS, IMPROVED
MENTAL HEALTH, RECONNECTING
WITH FAMILY, GOT BASIC NEEDS
MET, WORKED ON ID REPLACEMENT,
EMPLOYMENT AND THERE HAVE BEEN
0911 CALLS.
I WOULD LIKE THE CITY AND MAYOR
TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR JUST
CARE OTHERWISE THE CLIENTS WE
SERVE NOW WILL END UP BACK AT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY CAME
FROM AND IF THEY GO BACK THERE
WILL BE MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT
INVOLVEMENT, HOSPITAL VISITS,
POTENTIAL COVID OUTBREAKS AND
EVEN DEATH.
IT WOULD CONTINUE A
PERPETUATING CYCLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING.
THE NEXT PERSON IS MARTIN, GOOD
MORNING MARTIN.
AND MARTIN IF YOU ARE THERE
JUST STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
>> HELLO CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, GREAT THANK YOU VERY
MUCH MARTIN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MARTIN LAWSON AND I
AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE AND IN MY YOUTH I
STRUGGLED PERSONALLY WITH
HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION.
FOR 10 YEARS.
IN THE 90s.
LIKE I SAID I PERSONALLY KNOW
HOW ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS
CAN AFFECT EVERY PART OF YOUR
BEING.
I CURRENTLY SUPPORT THE JUST
CARE EFFORT AS A MEMBER OF THE
WBC SAFETY TEAM AND IN THIS
ROLE I'M ABLE TO SUPPORT
NONPOLICE SAFETY ENGAGEMENT
MODELS AS INDIVIDUALS ARE GIVEN
HOUSING AND SUPPORT IN THEIR
EFFORT TO GET OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION.
THE JUST CARE PROGRAM REDUCES
INCARCERATION RATES AND ISSUES
OF COVID EXPOSURE AND OTHER
HEALTH RISKS THAT THREATEN THIS
POPULATION AND THE LARGER
SEATTLE POPULATION INDIRECTLY.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR
THE JUST CARE PROGRAM BECAUSE
IT IS DOING A WONDERFUL WORK
AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
QUANTIFY THE POSITIVE THINGS
THAT THIS PROGRAM IS DOING
BEHIND THE SCENES.
WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE IN MY ROLE
AT THE WCC SAFETY TEAM, HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CLIENTS
OF THIS PROGRAM DAILY AND THEM
JUST SHARING HOW HELPFUL THIS
PROGRAM HAS BEEN TO THEM ON A
PERSONAL NOTE.
SO LIKE I SAID I STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT
OF THE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DOMINIQUE,
GOOD MORNING DOMINIQUE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS DOMINIC
AND I AM ONE OF THE COFOUNDERS
OF WBC COMMUNITIES SAFETY -- I
DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT
EVERYONE HAS ALREADY HEARD BUT
I WANT TO SAY THAT WBC HAS BEEN
PROVIDING SAFETY IN THE
COMMUNITY OF THE HOTELS THAT
ARE PARTICIPANTS, WE HAVE BUILT
RELTIONSHIPS WITH THE
PARTICIPANTS AND BUILT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE HOTEL
STAFF AND BUILT RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THE CARE STAFF AND THAT IS
WHAT COMMUNITY SAFETY IS ALL
ABOUT.
COMMUNITY SAFETY IS ABOUT
RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING
PROACTIVE AND PREVENTIVE AND
NOT REACTIVE IS WHEN YOU BUILD
A RELATIONSHIP YOU ARE ABLE TO
STEP IN AND USE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS TO LEVERAGE THOSE
CONNECTIONS WE'VE ALREADY MADE.
TO DE-ESCALATE THINGS.
THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING
AND THAT'S WHY THE POLICE HAVE
NOT HAD TO BE CALLED, THEY
HAVEN'T HAD TO COME GET ANYONE
SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK
AND THAT'S ONE THING.
ANOTHER THING IS I FEEL LIKE
IT'S KIND OF CRAZY THAT WE HAVE
TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TO
TRY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO PUT
RESOURCES BEHIND HOUSING PEOPLE
IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE'S MENTAL
HEALTH AND HAVING CASE
MANAGEMENT TO DEAL WITH DRUG
ADDICTION OR ANY KIND OF THING
THAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH
AND LITERALLY IF THIS MONEY
DOES NOT COME DOWN THE PIKE
THEY WILL BE BACK ON THE STREET
AND WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER BIGGER
PROBLEM.
WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHAT
COMMUNITY SAFETY LOOKS LIKE,
JUST CARES HAS PROVIDED A MODEL
FOR US TO EMULATE AND GROW.
THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD NOT BE
AROUND WHETHER WE PUT RESOURCES
BEHIND IT, IT SHOULD BE AROUND
HOW DO WE GET MORE RESOURCES
AND GROW THIS PROGRAM TO BE
BIGGER AND EXPANDED BECAUSE IT
HAS ANSWERS IN IT AND WE'RE
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.
WE HAVE THE BUCKET OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND THE BUCKET OF
HOUSING IN THE BUCKET OF DRUG
ADDICTION AND MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS GET PORTED TO THE
DIFFERENT BUCKETS BUT HERE YOU
HAVE AN ANSWER WHERE ALL THE
BUCKETS ARE ANSWERED AT ONE
TIME.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO THINK
BIGGER AND THINK OUTSIDE THE
BOX AND START PUTTING RESOURCES
INTO THE ANSWERS THAT ALREADY
EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUIT
TRYING TO COME UP WITH NEW
STUFF.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WORKS AND
WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT AND
SUPPORT IT AND THE PUTS THE
FINANCES BEHIND IT AND PUT MORE
PEOPLE BEHIND IT AND ONE MORE
THING I WANT TO SAY IS
EVERYBODY THAT IS RELYING ON
WDC STAFF ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WE HAVE 13 EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED
THROUGH WDC AND WE WANT TO
ALLOW THAT TO 50 OR 100
EMPLOYEES AND HAVE A BUNCH OF
HOTELS GOING AND GET EVERYBODY
OFF THE STREETS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME THIS MORNING AND FOR THOSE
EXAMPLES.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE AND
JOHNSON, LISA -- AND KIRBY
VASCO'S.
GOOD MORNING AND.
>>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
JUST CARE PROGRAM AS WE ARE IN
SUPPORT OF IT.
I DO REPRESENT A SMALL HOTEL IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE THAT MANY OF
YOU KNOW HAS FACED TREMENDOUS
CHALLENGES DURING THE PANDEMIC,
JUST TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT
THIS PAST YEAR OUR HOTEL CLOSED
FOR 65 DAYS LAST SPRING AND OUR
RESTAURANT HAS BEEN CLOSED
THREE TIMES.
DURING THIS PANDEMIC WE HAVE
LAID OFF OR FURLOUGHED OVER 50
EMPLOYEES WHO WERE NOT ONLY OUR
COLLEAGUES BUT OUR CLOSE
FRIENDS.
AS A LEADER IN HOSPITALITY FOR
OVER 17 YEARS I HAVE NEVER
EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE WHAT
THE PANDEMIC HAS DONE TO OUR
FIELD.
WHEN PDAS FIRST APPROACHED US
WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY THERE WAS
HESITANCY ON OUR PART BECAUSE
IT IS TRULY A PIVOT FROM THE
DAY-TO-DAY HOSPITALITY
BUSINESSES WE ARE USED TO DOING
BUT AS WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT
THE PROGRAM AND THE SUPPORT
THAT PDA AND A CRs WOULD
PROVIDE WE KNEW WE HAD TO
ANSWER THE CALLING TO SUPPORT
THE CRISIS HAPPENING IN OUR
CITY.
WE HAVE NOW BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP
FOR FIVE MONTHS AND WE WOULD
ABSOLUTELY MAKE THE SAME
DECISION AGAIN IF PRESENTED
WITH IT.
THERE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN
CHALLENGES BUT WITH THE SUPPORT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK THROUGH
THEM.
ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING BACK 16 ADDITIONAL STAFF
MEMBERS TO HELP SUPPORT DAY-TO-
DAY OPERATIONS AND AS OF TODAY
WE NOW HAVE 25 STAFF MEMBERS
WORKING AT THE HOTEL.
WE PROVIDE HOUSING, SECURITY,
MEALS, MAINTENANCE AND
HOUSEKEEPING AND SO MUCH MORE.
WHAT IS BEEN AMAZING TO WATCH
IS THE BOND THAT OUR TEAM HAS
CREATED WITH SOME PARTICIPANTS
ON PROPERTY.
THESE TYPE OF INTERACTIONS HAVE
BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY WITH
ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND IT
GIVES US THE MOTIVATION TO
CONTINUE THE WORK.
I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW VALUABLE
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH PDA AND A
CRs IS TO OUR SUCCESSOR AT THE
HOTEL AND WITH OUR BUSINESS.
IT IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP AND
ONE WE HOPE TO CONTINUE IN
2021.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
MORNING LISA.
YOU ARE UP NEXT.
>> HI, I'M LISA NITZE WITH
NITZE AS DAY IN AND WE ARE A
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND HAVE
PROPERTIES IN MANY PARTS OF THE
CITY INCLUDING PIONEER SQUARE
AND HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE
JUST CARE TEAM AND PROGRAM WELL.
BECAUSE OF THIS WORK IN PIONEER
SQUARE AND PID.
JUST CARE HAS MADE A
DEMONSTRABLE DIFFERENCE
IN PIONEER SQUARE.
I'M PART OF A GROUP THAT WE
STARTED CALLED THE SECOND
AVENUE EXTENSION SAFETY AND
SECURITY GROUP OF PROPERTY
OWNERS AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE
OPERATING IN PIONEER SQUARE DUE
TO COVID, THE AMOUNT OF SAFETY
AND SECURITY CONCERNS AND
ISSUES JUST ESCALATED
ENORMOUSLY.
AS WELL AS THE TRAGIC SITUATION
OF MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT
WERE LIVING ON SHELTERED IN
TENTS ON THE SIDEWALK.
OUR GROUP IS MADE UP OF
BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS,
GOVERNMENT, BOTH CITY AND
COUNTY AND SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER
WITH JUST CARE ON HOW TOGETHER
WE CAN BE NOT ONLY GETTING
PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON
SHELTERED INTO TEMPORARY LODGING
AND GETTING THE SERVICES THEY
NEED BUT ALSO REALIZING THE
OTHER ELEMENTS NECESSARY FOR A
THRIVING COMMUNITY WHICH IS
SMALL BUSINESSES BEING ABLE TO
OPERATE BECAUSE THERE IS ACCESS
TO THEM ON THE SIDEWALKS OR IN
PUBLIC SPACES.
AND AN INCREASE IN PERCEPTION
AND A FEELING OF SAFETY AND
SECURITY AMONGST RESIDENTS,
EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND
VISITORS.
JUST CARE IS VERY IMPRESSIVE IN
THAT IT HAS A SOCIAL IMPACT
FRAMEWORK AND IS LOOKING TO
SOCIAL IMPACT METRICS AND
INTENDED OUTCOMES.
IT IS REPORTING OUT ON THOSE
THINGS SO THE MONEY IS VERY
WELL SPENT AND THE METRICS SHOW
THAT THE RESULTS ARE THERE.
SO I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU
PLEASE CONSIDER CONTINUING.
>> THANK YOU LISA AND I THINK
WE GOT MOST OF IT.
IF THERE
WAS ANYTHING ELSE PLEASE EMAIL
US.
THE LAST PERSON ON THIS LIST IS
KIRBY AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT
FIVE MORE FOLKS.
KIRBY GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS KIRBY AND
I'M AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE REACH
LEAP PROGRAM AND I WORK CLOSELY
WITH JUST CARES BY SCREENING
AND HELPING THE HOMELESS
COMMUNITY MOVE INTO ADEQUATE
SHELTER.
JUST CARE PARTICIPANTS ARE
EXTREMELY VULNERABLE WITH ABOUT
70% BEING -- AND DUE TO
SHOULDERS CLOSING THE COMMUNITY
IS LIVING IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
ADDITIONALLY IT MEANS THAT THEY
ARE AT A HEIGHTENED RISK TO
CONTRACT AND SPREAD COVID-19.
BUT WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO THEY
HAVE?
THEY ARE UNABLE TO GO TO
SHELTERS AND THE JUST CARES
PROGRAM HAS PLACED A MAJORITY
OF THEM IN HOTELS AND I VISITED
THEM IN THE HOTELS AND CAN
ATTEST TO THE STABILITY AND
BASIC NEEDS THIS IS PROVIDING
AS A FIRST STEP.
MANY HAVE JOINED OUR INTENSIVE
CASE MANAGEMENT AND ONCE THEY
ARE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SAVE A LIFE THEY ARE ON IN --
THIS PROGRAM ENDS MARCH 15 AND
WE NEED A CONTINUATION PLAN TO
HELP THE COMMUNITY RECOVER.
ABOVE ALL THE HOMELESS
COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT
SEATTLE IS NOT TURNING THEIR
BACKS ON THEM, SHELTERING IS A
BASIC NEED AND ESPECIALLY
ESSENTIAL DURING A WORLD HEALTH
CRISIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE LAST FIVE PEOPLE WE HAVE
SIGNED UP ARE ADAM HESSEN, TIA
PETROVICH, GIGI HUM, DEREK LUM
AND ELEANOR HAMAKER.
GOOD MORNING ADAM.
IT IS YOUR TURN.
ADAM AS I LOOK FOR YOU ON THE
SCREEN JUST REMEMBERáSIX TO
UNMUTE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE
STILL MUTED AND THERE YOU GO.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS ADAM AND I AM A
DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE
FOR -- COMPANY AND THE --
FOUNDATION AND WE OWN 11
BUILDINGS IN PIONEER SQUARE.
I'M CALLING IN TO SUPPORT
BRIDGE FUNDING FOR THE JUST
CARES PROGRAM, WE'VE SEEN A
TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN ABOUT 130
PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING ON
SHELTERED AND HAD EXTREME
EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 BUT THEY
ARE NOW IN A SAFE, CLEAN, WARM
PLACE WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AND BECAUSE CONJUGATE SHELTER
WAS NOT AVAILABLE IF THEY
DIDN'T HAVE THIS OPTION THEY
WOULD BE FORCED BACK ON THE
STREETS OF CHINATOWN, ID IN
PIONEER SQUARE.
THE IMPACT FOR RETAILERS IS
REALLY PROFOUND, PRIOR TO COVID
WE HAD 32 RETAILERS OPERATING
IN PIONEER SQUARE IN OUR
BUILDINGS AND MOST OF THEM WERE
SMALL BUSINESSES.
RIGHT NOW OVER HALF OF THEM ARE
NOT GOING TO REOPEN.
THE ONES THAT ARE STILL THERE
ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AND
HAVING A HEALTHY AND SAFE
SIDEWALK ATMOSPHERE IS THEIR
NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
SO WE REALLY HOPE THAT FINANCE
AND HOUSING APPROVES A BRIDGE
FUNDING FOR JUST CARES AND
KEEPS FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NEXT PERSON IS TIA, GOOD
MORNING TO YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY EVERYONE.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS
MY COMMENTARY TOWARD SUPPORT
FROM PIONEER SQUARE FOR THE
JUST CARE PROGRAM AND I WOULD
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS AND
FINANCES.
I'VE LIVED IN PIONEER SQUARE
FOR 30 YEARS, -- IN MAJOR CITIES
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LIST
ANYONE WANTS TO BE ON.
THE GOOD NEWS IS SEATTLE RANKS
NUMBER ONE FOR HOW WE
COMPASSIONATELY CARE FOR UN-
HOUSED AND KEEP TO FOCUS THE
SITUATION IN DIGNIFIED WAYS.
MORE NUMBERS AND COST AND I
TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE
PEOPLE SAY JUST CARE HAS AN
EXPENSIVE PRICE TAG.
FOR YOU AND ME LET'S SAY WE
HAVE TO GO TO REHAB AND WE
DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
THE MONTHLY COST OF INPATIENT
STAYS, DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT, ACCESS TO A DOCTOR,
IS BETWEEN 14,020 $7000 A MONTH
PER PERSON.
THESE ARE COSTS WE PAY TO HELP
LOVED ONES RECOVER AND COME
BACK TO US IF WE DON'T HAVE
INSURANCE AND THAT'S JUST YOU
AND ME.
JUST CARES IS AVERAGING $10,000
A MONTH PER INDIVIDUAL.
I BELIEVE SEATTLE IS GETTING A
BARGAIN HERE.
JUST CARE IS WORKING.
WE ARE SEEING UNHOUSED PIONEER
SQUARE PEOPLE ACCEPTING HELP
WITH COMPASSIONATE AND DIGNIFIED
WAYS AND I AM WATCHING THIS
DAILY ON THE STREET.
THIS IS THE FIRST PROGRAM I'VE
SEEN IN 30 YEARS THAT IS
SHOWING HOPE.
SO PLEASE FIND A WAY TO KEEP
THIS FUNDED WHETHER IT IS
THROUGH FEMA DOLLARS OR ANOTHER
WAY, THIS IS A BELOW-MARKET
PRICE TAG, IT CAN SAVE LIVES
AND IT IS SAVING LIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NEXT PERSON IS GIGI.
GOOD MORNING GIGI.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS GIGI CALLING ABOUT THE
JUST CARE PROGRAM.
PRIOR TO THIS I WORKED IN A
HOMELESS SHELTER FOR A FEW
YEARS AND I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY
THAT JUST CARE IS THE FIRST TIME
I FEEL IT IS HOPEFUL.
AT A REGULAR SHELTER MOST
PEOPLE DETERIORATE DAY BY DAY,
FIGHTING FOR BABSON FOR A SPACE
TO BREATHE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR
ANYTHING BEYOND SURVIVAL.
JUST CARE IS THE OPPOSITE.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO MAKE IT A
REQUIREMENT FOR RESIDENTS TO
BE WITH US FOR MENTAL HEALTH
AND COUNSELING, OR THAN HALF
OUR RESIDENTS ARE ENGAGING IN A
LEVEL WE'VE NEVER SEEN.
SO MANY PEOPLE SAW IMPROVEMENTS
DRASTICALLY AND ARE READY
CONTRIBUTE BACK TO SOCIETY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING
SOMEONE'S LIFE FOR THE BETTER
ON A PERMANENT LEVEL IS LIKE
PROVIDING HEALTH -- MOST
IMPORTANTLY WE'VE REDUCED
PEOPLE DYING FROM HOMELESSNESS.
I URGE THE CITY TO MAINTAIN
FUNDING AS WE KNOW, IT IS NOT
ONLY SAFER FOR OUR HOUSEKEEPERS
BUT IT IS ULTIMATELY SAFER FOR
EVERYONE IN THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND DEREK, GOOD MORNING DEREK.
>> HI THERE EVERYONE.
MY
NAME IS DEREK LUM AND I'M
CALLING REPRESENTING INTERIM
CDA, I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF THE JUST CARES
PROGRAM.
AND THE POSITIVE EFFECT IT HAD
ON THE CHINATOWN DISTRICT.
AS YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE OUR
CHINATOWN COMMUNITY WAS HIT
PARTICULARLY HARD BY THE COVID-
19 VIRUS AND THE RELATED
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND THAT HAS
BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED.
THE PROGRAM CAME TO OUR AID AND
ENGAGED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND
LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AND FOUND
HOTEL SHELTER FOR MORE THAN
HALF OF THE HOMELESS CAMP THAT
WAS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THAT.
WE WERE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE
OUR ELDERS, OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES, ABOUT THESE
ENCAMPMENTS AND THE SERVICE
THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS
TREMENDOUSLY BENEFICIAL.
WE SUPPORT
FEMA DOLLARS OR ANY OTHER
DOLLARS THAT CAN BE HAD FOR
JUST CARES TO CONTINUE AND
MAYBE EVEN EXPAND.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THE
LAST PERSON PRESENT IS ELEANOR
HAMAKER, GOOD MORNING ELEANOR.
>> GOOD MORNING
,
I'M ELEANOR HAMAKER AND I'M
SPEAKING TODAY TO THE
APPOINTMENT OF STEPHEN R CASEY
TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF LABOR AND I JUST WANTED TO
EXPRESS MY EXCITEMENT AND
WELCOME TO STEVE
TO JOIN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINKHE'S GOING TO BE A
GREAT ADDITION AT THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS, I'VE KNOWN HIM
FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE WATCHED
HIS CAREER DEDICATED TO PUBLIC
SERVICE AND TO JUSTICE AND I
THINK HE WILL BRING TO THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS A
STRONG SET OF SKILLS, COMMUNITY
BUILDING SKILLS AND TREMENDOUS
EXPERIENCE.
SO I WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT
AND EXCITEMENT
THAT HE WILL BE JOINING OUR
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT'S
GREAT TO HEAR A VOICE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU CALLING IN.
FOLKS THAT'S EVERYONE WE HAVE
LISTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY
SO WITH THAT WE WILL CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MORNING
FEBRUARY 19 AND MOVE ON TO THE
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
BEFORE WE DO I WANT TO WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD FOR
JOINING US AND LET'S CONTINUE.
AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ICU AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, GOOD
COMPANY HERE TODAY THANKS
EVERYONE.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1 APPOINTMENT
1785, APPOINTMENT OF RITA
HOWARD AS -- MARCH 20, 2023,
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
MORNING, -- IS WITH US
FROM THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY, THE DIRECTOR OF
HOUSING OPERATIONS, GREAT TO
SEE YOU THIS MORNING.
WE ALSO SAW A RITA AND THANK
YOU FOR WAITING, IT'S BEEN
GREAT TO SEE YOU ON THE SCREEN
AND WE WISH WE COULD BE IN
PERSON, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
APPOINTMENT AND ALL OF THE WORK
THAT SHA CONTINUES TO DO NOT
ONLY TO HOUSE FOLKS BUT I KNOW
YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK TO
HELP VACCINATE YOUR MEMBERS.
SO ROD I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU
IF YOU WANT TO OFFER OPENING
COMMENTS EITHER ABOUT WHAT SAH
HAS BEEN UP TO OR IF YOU HAVE
COMMENTS ABOUT RITA, THEN WE
WILL TURN IT OVER TO RITA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
DOING THIS, VERY BRIEFLY WE'VE
JUST BEEN VERY VERY BUSY WITH
THE VACCINATION AND THE COVID
RESPONSE, WE ARE MAKING IT
POSSIBLE WITH PARTNERSHIP FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN GETTING
ON-SITE VACCINATIONS DONE FOR
OUR RESIDENTS AND IT HAS BEEN
TREMENDOUS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST KEEP
PUSHING AS FAR AND FAST AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN GO SO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COOPERATIVE HELP AND
YOUR GREAT TEAM IS WORKING
REALLY REALLY WELL FOR OUR
RESIDENTS.
IN PARTICULAR RESIDENTS OF
COLOR AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE
AGING.
THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
COME AND INTRODUCE RITA HOWARD
TO YOU.
YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE.
FOR CONSIDERATION AS A RESIDENT
BOARD COMMISSIONER FOR --
HOUSING AUTHORITY AND AGAIN MY
NAME IS ROD BRANDON THE
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY, RITA
CAME TO US ORIGINALLY FROM
CLEVELAND OHIO, VIA RHODE
ISLAND AND LANDED HERE IN
SEATTLE WHERE SHE HAS BEEN A
RESIDENT FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS.
RITA, WHAT BROUGHT HER HERE WAS
A CONTINUATION OF HER
PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
SHE WANTED TO BE AND IS A
PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL WRITER
AND RESEARCHER AND SHE WANTED
TO CONTINUE THAT HERE IN THE
NORTHWEST SO WE'RE VERY
FORTUNATE.
RITA IS ALSO A MOTHER OF A
DAUGHTER AND SHE HAS VERY
STRONG TIES TO HER IMMEDIATE
COMMUNITY WHERE SHE RESIDES AS
WELL AS TO THE EXTENDED
COMMUNITY.
SHE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE ISSUES
DEALING WITH THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY THAT WE CONTINUE TO
FACE IN THIS REGION, ONE OF
MANY REASONS WHY WE WOULD LIKE
FOR HER TO SERVE ON OUR BOARD
AS THE COMMISSIONER, AS A
RESIDENT COMMISSIONER HERE AT
THE SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, I WOULD
LIKE TO INTRODUCE HER TO YOU
AND I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
TODAY MS. HOWARD, IT'S
WONDERFUL TO HEAR YOUR
BACKGROUND AND I ALSO SEE FROM
THE MATERIALS THAT THE OFFICE
SENT TO US THAT YOU HAVE
EXTENSIVE WORK IN VOTER
REGISTRATION AND SERVICE ACROSS
AS A LIAISON OF SEATTLE PARK SO
A KEY COMPONENT OF
OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEPING FOLKS
HEALTHY AND CONNECTED.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
YOU AND WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN ACCOMPLISHING DURING YOUR
TENURE.
OH RITA, IF YOU CAN UNMUTE
YOURSELF FOR US, THE CHALLENGES
OF ZOOM ARE ALWAYS SOMETHING.
>> WE GO.
I'M UNMUTE IT NOW.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND THANK
YOU FOR CONSIDERING ME FOR THIS
POSITION.
AS ROD HAS SAID I HAVE LIVED IN
SEATTLE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS AND
AM DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE
GREATER SEATTLE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT WHAT I BRING TO
THE COMMISSIONER POSITION IS AN
ABILITY TO LISTEN
AND THEN ALSO AN ABILITY TO
SPEAK CLEARLY, CONCISELY, FROM
A PLACE OF WISDOM AND CARING
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO
FORWARD THE ABILITY OF SEATTLE
TO WELCOME AND HOUSE SAFELY AND
COMFORTABLY A WIDE RANGE OF
PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS INCOME
LEVELS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO
ARE LOW INCOME.
I AM A RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE
SEATTLE SENIOR RESIDENCIES SO I
AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
HOW PEOPLE AGE IN PLACE AND HOW
IT IS THAT WE KEEP SENIOR PEOPLE
IN ADEQUATE HOUSING THAT IS BOTH
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
DOING THIS WORK AND I HOPE
YOU'LL CONSIDER ME.
>> WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
YOU WANTING TO DO THE WORK AND
OFFICIALLY SERVE ON THE BOARD.
LOOKING AT OUR TITLES HERE,
DOES ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION FOR
MS. HOWARD?
I
THINK YOU HAVE IMPRESSED
EVERYONE ALREADY WITH YOUR
COMMENTS THIS MORNING, WITH
RODS INTRODUCTION AND WITH THE
MATERIALS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED,
SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
I GUESS ONE THING THAT I WOULD
BE INTERESTED IN IS HAVING THE
EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE
BUILDINGS, ARE THERE CERTAIN
THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE US
THINK ABOUT AS CREATIVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET FOLKS TO
GAIN ENGAGEMENT IN THE
COMMUNITY?
ARE THERE STRATEGIES YOU WOULD
LIKE US TO
THINK ABOUT ACROSS THE CITIES
THAT WOULD INVOLVE PARKS IN
SMALL BUSINESSES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT?
WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY ADVICE
FROM YOU AT THIS POINT.
>> YOU KNOW I'M HAPPY TO THINK
ABOUT THOSE QUESTIONS FOR SOME
TIME AND ALSO LOOK AT THEM IN
THE CONTEXT OF WHAT SHA IS
DOING AND WHAT THEY HAVE
PLANNED BUT OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD I CAN'T OFFER ANYTHING.
BUT I'M SURE THAT THERE WILL BE
OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO
SUBSTANTIVE CONSTRUCTIVE ANSWERS
TO THAT QUESTION, ONE OF THE
THINGS I THINK I BRING TO ANY
ORGANIZATION IS AN ABILITY TO
THINK CREATIVELY.
AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN
EXECUTING THE DUTIES THAT ARE
ASSIGNED TO ME IN TERMS OF
MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
>> I LOVE IT.
THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO THOSE CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
AND IDS TO COME.
AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF THE
APPOINTMENT.
OF RITA HOWARD TO THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
DRS.
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMONS OR
QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE MDM.
CLERK WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL ON
PASSAGE OF THE APPOINTMENT?
>> YES.
[ ROLL CALL ]
FIVE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> IT IS UNANIMOUS MS. HOWARD,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
INTEREST.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION WILL
BE SENT TO THE MARCH 1 FULL
COUNCIL MEETING FOR A FINAL
VOTE.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE
THERE, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY SING
YOUR PRAISES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
YOUR APPOINTMENT AND OUR
RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL
COUNCIL AND ONCE AGAIN THANK
YOU AND THANK YOU MR. BRANDON
FOR YOUR TIME AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> MDM.
CLERK LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEMS
TWO AND THREE, CAN YOU PLEASE
READ INTO THE RECORD ITEMS TWO
AND THREE?
>> ITEMS TWO AND THREE
APPOINTMENT 1786 AND 1787,
APPOINTMENTS OF JAMIE MARSH AS
MEMBER SWEETEN BEVERAGE TAX
THROUGH AUGUST 2021 AND THE
APPOINTMENT OF MARINA MOHAMMED
TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
THROUGH AUGUST 2023 BOTH FOR
RAISING DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
MORNING EVERYONE.
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE ALYSSA
PATRICK FROM THE SEATTLE OFFICE
OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT WITH US AND ALSO TO
HAVE JAMIE MARSH AS ONE OF THE
APPOINTEES, AND THE OTHER
APPOINTEE MARINA MOHAMMED IS
NOT WITH US TODAY BUT WE WILL
BE TALKING ABOUT HER INCREDIBLE
RESUME AS WE CONSIDER HER
APPOINTMENT.
SO AT THIS TIME I WANT TO GO
AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO
ALYSSA IF YOU WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
HAS BEEN UP TO AND THE
APPOINTMENTS IN FRONT OF US.
>> THANK YOU, I'M HAPPY TO BE
HERE TODAY AND MY NAME IS ALYSSA
AND I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS AND
I WORK AROUND THE -- TEAM AT
THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT AND I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUE BRIDGET
WHO IS THE STAFF LIAISON FOR
THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
THE ADVISORY BOARD WAS
ESTABLISHED BY THE SAME
ORDINANCE THAT CREATED THE
BEVERAGE TAX AND THE ROLE IS TO
DEVELOP NATIONS FOR THE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL ON THE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO
SUPPORT WITH BEVERAGE TAX
REVENUE THAT ALIGN WITH
ORDINANCE PRIORITIES OF FOOD
ACCESS, CHILD HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENT AND PRENATAL TO
THRIVE SERVICES.
THE BOARD CONSISTS OF 11
MEMBERS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE OR WORK
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND TO GIVE YOU
A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA OF THE
WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING LATELY,
THE FIRST BODY OF WORK HAS BEEN
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE INPUT TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
AND EDUCATION AND EARLY
LEARNING ON THE DESIGN OF TWO
NEW GRANT PROGRAMS FUNDED BY
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND
THESE PROGRAMS WERE ESTABLISHED
BY THE CITY IN RESPONSE TO THE
BOARDS RECOMMENDATION FOR MORE
INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY LED AND
COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES
AND PROJECTS.
THE RFPs ARE GOING TO BE
RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR AND
THE BOARD IS PROVIDING
RECOMMENDATIONS ON EQUITABLE
GRANTMAKING PROCESSES.
THE BOARD'S SECOND BODY OF WORK
IS TO ORGANIZE ITSELF TO MAKE
ANNUAL BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEIR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP AND
TRANSMIT BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE MAYOR BY THE END OF JUNE
OR EARLY JULY IN ADVANCE OF
WHEN THE MAYOR RELEASES THE
PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE BOARD WILL DEVELOP ITS
APPROACH TO BUDGET
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS.
AND TODAY I'M VERY HAPPY TO
INTRODUCE THE TWO APPOINTEES,
ONE WHO IS HERE, JIM A MARSH AND
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
JIM A WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM
SPOKANE WHO SPECIALIZES IN
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING,
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ASSESSMENT AND POLICY ADVOCACY
FOR OVER 15 YEARS THEY APPLIED
THE SKILL SET TO PROVIDE
COMMUNITY, SHIFT POWER AND THEY
SMACKED PARTICULARLY WITH TRANS
PEOPLE AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
-- WHERE THEY DEEPENED THEIR
PASSION FOR CULTIVATING
CREATIVE SPACES THAT CENTER
AROUND RADICAL OIL AND HEALING
AS WELL AS SUSTAINING
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOL
SYSTEMS IN THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE.
CURRENTLY SHE SERVES AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FEAST A
NONPROFIT THAT DOES GREAT WORK
SINTERING YOUTH AS LEADERS
WORKING TOWARD SCHOOL FOOD
SYSTEM CHANGE IN SEATTLE AND
SOUTH KING
COUNTY.
OUR OFFICE HAS HAD THE PLEASURE
OF WORKING WITH FEAST IN MANY
CAPACITIES AND THEY REALLY DO
REMARKABLE WORK, AND SHE ALSO
CENTERS USE POWER AND RACIAL
JUSTICE VIA REPRESENTATION ON
THE CITY AND MENTAL JUSTICE
COMMITTEE, THE KING COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD IN THE SEATTLE
ART MUSEUM'S -- BEFORE I TURN
IT OVER I WANT TO INTRODUCE
ARENA WHOSE NAVAL TO TO BE WITH
US TODAY, NOT ABLE TO BE WITH
US TODAY, SHE BRINGS TO THIS
EXECUTIVE ROLE MORE THAN 17
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR WITH SPECIFIC
EXPERTISE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD,
EQUITY CENTERED ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT.
SHE LIKES TO SAY THAT SHE HAILS
FROM SMALLEY BY WAY OF NORTH
DAKOTA AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY
EMBRACES HER REFUGEE AND
IMMIGRANT ROOTS.
SHE NOTES THAT HER UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO ISSUES OF
ANTIRACISM, AND ECONOMIC
JUSTICE FOR REFUGEE COMMUNITIES
THEY SMACKED IN ADDITION TO HER
EXPERTISE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
SHE HAS ALSO BEEN PASSIONATE
ABOUT FOOD JUSTICE AND HEALTH
EQUITY FOR EXAMPLE DRAWING
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE LACK OF
HEALTHY QUALITY FOOD IN BLACK
NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHRONIC
DISEASE AND HEALTH ISSUES IN
BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT
COMPELLED HER TO LAUNCH HEALTHY
NOW IN FITNESS FOR LIFE, TO
PROGRAMS AIMED TO EDUCATE YOUTH
ON THE DANGERS OF SUGARY
BEVERAGES AND LACK OF EXERCISE.
-- TO HER ROLE ON THE BOARD.
WITH THAT I TURN IT OVER TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION AND TO
DO MAY I BELIEVE.
>> GOOD MORNING, IT'S WONDERFUL
TO SEE YOU IN PERSON VIA THIS
ZOOM TILE IN FRONT OF ME BUT I
WISH WE COULD SEE YOU IN REAL
LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE FROM YOU ABOUT THE WORK
YOU'VE DONE AND YOUR INTEREST
IN SERVING ON THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
INTRODUCTION AND AGAIN MY NAME
IS JIM A MARSH AND I USE THEY
THEM PRONOUNS AND GENERALLY I
HAVE A BROAD BACKGROUND IN
HIGHER EDUCATION AND DOING
HEALTH EQUITY WORK OVER THE
PAST 15 YEARS AS YOU HEARD
PARTICULARLY IN DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER MY
PRIORITY IS ALWAYS AMPLIFYING
YOUTH VOICES AND EXPERIENCES.
PARTICULARLY USE OF COLOR AND
USE WHO IDENTIFY IN THE AND
TRANS SPECTRUM.
I BRING THE EQUITY AND JUSTICE
LENS TO STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY
HEALTH SYSTEMS AND POLICY
ANALYSIS AND I INTEND TO BRING
PERSPECTIVES ON HOW TO BEST
SERVE AND ENGAGE LOW INCOME
YOUTH AND FAMILIES THROUGH THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX FUNDED
PROGRAMS.
I AM REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT
CHANGING SYSTEMS AND POLICIES
THAT HAVE INTENTIONAL OR
UNINTENTIONAL NEGATIVE IMPACT,
FOR EXAMPLE HOW CAN WE LOOK AT
USING SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
FUNDS FOR PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT
LOW INCOME PEOPLE IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO ARE
MOST IMPACTED BY THE TAX?
I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT COMMUNITIES
THAT EXPERIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL
RACISM AND FOOD APART TIED
AND I SAY FOOD APART TIED AND
NOT FOOD DESERT BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE SEED OF
RACISM IS EMBEDDED IN THE
FOUNDATION OF OUR INSTITUTIONS
AND COMMUNITY DESIGNS AND LACK
OF RESOURCES IS NOT ACCIDENTAL
OR
A NATURAL OCCURRENCE AS THE
WORD DESERT MIGHT SUGGEST.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE
ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SHOULD
HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FRESH
AFFORDABLE AND CULTURALLY
RELEVANT FOOD AND I THINK THAT
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD IS ONE
STRONG AVENUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
PUTTING RESOURCES BACK INTO
THESE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY TAXED
AND THIS INVESTED IN.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A NOTE TO
CONTINUE TO SAY FOOD APART TIED
BECAUSE THAT IS A FABULOUS AND
EXCELLENT FRAME AND I WANT TO
ADD THAT TO THE LANGUAGE WE USE
AS WELL.
YOU'VE ALREADY BROUGHT IN
HORIZONS IN JUST YOUR
NOMINATION DISCUSSION TODAY.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
YOUR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGE
ADVISORY BOARD.
I'M GOING TO PASTA SEE IF THERE
ARE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
OUR COLLEAGUES.
AND I AM NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS AND ALSO IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS THAT FOLKS HAVE
ABOUT MINERA YOU ARE WELCOME TO
ALSO ASK THOSE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IS
THE POTENTIAL, I'M GOING TO SAY
OPPORTUNITY, AND THINK ABOUT
WHEN WE REBUILD THE LOCAL
ECONOMY AND HOW WE REBUILD IT
IN THE SHAPE AND VISION OF OUR
COMMUNITY TO SEE A MORE
EQUITABLE ECONOMY.
ARE THERE IDEAS OR STRATEGIES
YOU ARE INTERESTED IN USING
WHEN WE OPEN UP MORE ACCESS TO
HEALTHY FOOD SITES IN THE WAKE
OF THE CRISIS AND HARDSHIP THAT
THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED AND
ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU THINK THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD
POTENTIALLY BE LOOKING AT AS
YOU EMBARK ON THIS RECOVERY
EFFORT THAT SHOULD NEVER GO
BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX
ANSWER BUT I THINK IT
DEFINITELY STARTS WITH
LISTENING TO COMMUNITIES AND
TRYING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
TO HEAR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN
MARGINALIZED OR MAYBE DON'T
HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS TO SHOW UP
IN SPACES LIKE THIS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO CONSIDER MYSELF AS A
BRIDGE TO BRINGING IN THOSE
VOICES AND THROUGH MY WORK WITH
MY ORGANIZATION DOING FOOD
DISTRIBUTION WE'VE LEARNED THAT
ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN RESPONSE TO COVID
ARE NEW AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING
THEIR BEST BUT SOMETIMES THE
ACCESS IS STILL NOT THERE OR
IT'S NOT ALWAYS MEETING
EVERYONE'S NEED.
SO TO GET A REALLY COMPLEX AND
NUANCED PICTURE OF WHAT THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS ACTUALLY ARE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT THERE
IS GREATER NEED FOR LIKE
DELIVERING FOOD TO PEOPLE'S
HOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND
THAT PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS JUST
SHOW UP SOMEWHERE AT A SPECIFIC
TIME FOR ALL SORTS OF FACTORS.
ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK IS
IMPORTANT IS REALLY
PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS AND
ENGAGING THE VOICES OF THE
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, POC
BUSINESS OWNERS, A LOT OF THE
THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH
FOOD IS LIKE A LOT
OF THESE BIG COMPANIES AND
CORPORATIONS ARE BENEFITING
FROM THE PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LIMITED IN
WHERE THEY CAN SHOP.
AND I REMEMBER BACK WHEN THERE
WAS A LOT OF SHORTAGES IT KIND
OF PUSHED PEOPLE TO GO TO SOME
OF THESE LARGER STORES SO
THROUGH MY ORGANIZATION WE'VE
BEEN TRYING TO PUT MONEY BACK
INTO COMMUNITIES HANDS TO
PURCHASE FOOD OR DELIVER FOOD
THAT COMES FROM SOME OF THESE
SMALLER GROCERS.
AND SOME OF THESE MOM AND POPS.
HELPING TO KEEP PUTTING MONEY
BACK INTO THESE COMMUNITIES SO
THAT WE ARE NOT ALWAYS HAVING
TO GO OUTSIDE OF OUR
COMMUNITIES TO FIND THE
RESOURCES.
BUT I THINK THAT ANY PROCESS
SHOULD BEGIN WITH A SOLID
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND SOME
DEEP LISTENING AND FINDING WAYS
TO TRANSCEND SOME OF THE
BARRIERS THAT WE KNOW EXIST IN
TERMS OF PEOPLE HAVING ACCESS
TO SPACES WHERE THEY CAN BE
HEARD AND BE HEARD BY PEOPLE IN
POSITIONS OF POWER.
>> THAT'S A FANTASTIC ANSWER
AND I KNOW WE WILL VERY MUCH
LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING FROM
YOU, ESPECIALLY AS WE CONSIDER
THESE VARIOUS ISSUES AND THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIAL FOR
FEDERAL DOLLARS WHICH WE WILL
BE TALKING ABOUT SOON.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
PHOENIX HAS INITIATED A
PARTNERSHIP WITH FOLKS ON THE
GROUND FOR GETTING MORE LOCAL
FARMS, RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
ENTREPRENEURS DOLLARS RIGHT NOW
TO INVEST DIRECTLY INTO THE
FOOD APARTHEID AREAS AND THAT
MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING THING
FOR US TO QUICKLY FOLLOW UP ON
AS WELL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU IN
YOUR SERVICE THERE AND ALSO I
REALLY APPRECIATE MINERA'S
INTEREST IN SERVING, PLEASE
PASS ALONG OUR APPRECIATION FOR
MINERA'S INTEREST IN SERVING ON
THE BOARD AS WELL.
AND REALLY WE APPRECIATE THE
UNAPOLOGETICALLY EMBRACING HER
ROOTS AS A REFUGEE AND
IMMIGRANT ESPECIALLY SINCE
THOSE ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE
CRISIS THAT COVID IS ONLY
MAKING WORSE IN MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
SO WITH THAT, I SEE NO MORE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I MOVE
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSAGE OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
JIMMY MARSH AND MINERA MOHAMMED
TO THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
DO I HAVE A SECOND?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD, ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
HEARING NONE LET ME ACTUALLY
TAKE A VOTE.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, MDM.
CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX COMMUNITY ADVISORY
BOARD?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FIVE IN FAVOR
NONE OPPOSED.
>> EXCELLENT, NOW IT'S AN
ANIMUS, THE APPOINTMENTS ARE
CONFIRMED AND WE WILL MAKE SURE
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION IS
SENT TO THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING FOR A FINAL VOTE
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE
IN PERSON BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE
TO TALK ABOUT YOUR GREAT
ANSWERS HERE TODAY AND ALL
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE
THE MATERIALS THAT WERE
SUBMITTED TO THIS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK
YOU ALYSSA FOR YOUR TIME TODAY
AND PLEASE PASS ON OUR
APPRECIATION FOR THE EXTENSIVE
AND AMAZING WORK OVER THE PAST
FEW YEARS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES AND WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM
NUMBER FOUR, OUR LAST
APPOINTMENT OF THE DAY.
MDM.
CLERK WILL YOU READ ITEM NUMBER
FOUR INTO RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM FOR APPOINTMENT
1779 APPOINTMENT OF STEPHEN
MARCHESE AS DIR.
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS FOR
BRIEFING DESTRUCTION,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE .
>> WONDERFUL AND WELCOME DEPUTY
MAYOR SIX KILLER, THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US, WE ARE HAPPY TO
HAVE YOU HERE.
ACTING DIRECTOR STEVE MARK
CASEY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
THIS MORNING AND I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO DEPUTY MAYOR FOR A
SHORT INTRODUCTION BUT I WANTED
TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH YOU.
I KNOW YOU WILL BE MAKING THE
ROUNDS AND MEETING WITH OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU MAY
NOT HAVE MET YET AND I'VE GOT
TO SAY IT WAS GREAT FROM HERE
-- TO HEAR FROM --, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMENTS
THAT YOU'VE PUT IN THE EXTENSIVE
QUESTION AND ANSWER DOCUMENT
THAT WE SENT AROUND, OUR
COUNSEL QUESTIONNAIRE IS VERY
INFORMATIVE TO OUR DISCUSSIONS
AND ESPECIALLY YOUR ANSWERS
AROUND YOUR CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCE AND HOW THAT WORK
HAS REFLECTED BACK IN YOUR
CAREER AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO
SOCIAL JUSTICE WORKERS RIGHTS.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
YOU HAVE LED THE EFFORTS TO SEE
LABOR STANDARDS IN YOUR ANSWER
SHEET, YOU'VE LED WITH AN
EFFORT TO SEE LABOR STANDARDS
IMPLEMENTATION IN A POST COVID
WORLD AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT AND WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THAT.
AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE
YOUR QUESTIONS WERE GREATLY
APPRECIATED WE HAVE NOT YET
SEEN THE QUESTION AND ANSWER
PACKET YET, I BELIEVE THE
LONGEST ONE CAME FROM THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SO WE'RE NOT FIRST BUT WE
APPRECIATE YOUR EXTENSIVE
ANSWERS BECAUSE IT WAS PROBABLY
TIME-CONSUMING AND VERY
APPRECIATED.
TO DEPUTY MAYOR SIX KILLER I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, I'M DELIGHTED TO
BE ABLE TO ZOOM IN TODAY AND
INTRODUCE STEVE MARK CASEY, OUR
MAYOR DIRECTOR WAS SO EXCITED
TO NOMINATE THE CITY'S NEXT
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS AND HE WILL BE
JOINING US FOR OVER 20 YEARS OF
PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE WHICH
WE THINK WILL BE SUCH A
TREMENDOUS VALUE ADD AND HELP
HIM IN HIS TRANSITION TO THE
CITY.
DIRECTOR MARQUISE HE MOVED TO
SEATTLE RECENTLY FROM ST. PAUL
SO I FEEL LIKE
HE BROUGHT THE SNOW WITH HIM
THIS WEEKEND BUT WE'RE GOING TO
TRY TO SEE PAST THAT.
AS HE MOVES INTO HIS NEW ROLE.
MOST RECENTLY STEVE WAS SERVING
AS A PUBLIC SERVICE DIRECTOR
FOR THE MINNESOTA STATE BAR
ASSOCIATION LEADING EFFORTS TO
MAKE PRO BONO SERVICES TO
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THE
PUBLIC.
HE ALSO SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF
THE ST. PAUL SCHOOL BOARD AND
IN THAT ROLE DEVELOPED AND
SUSTAINED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND PLOYS,
LEADERSHIP AND LABOR
REPRESENTATIVES AND OF COURSE
ELECTED OFFICIALS ALL IN
SERVICE TO BRING HIGH-QUALITY
EDUCATION AND ENSURING A
RESPECTABLE AND EQUITABLE WORK
ENVIRONMENT AFFORDED STRICT
STAFF AND STUDENTS.
AS AN ATTORNEY STEVE HAS
REPRESENTED BOTH EMPLOYEES AND
EMPLOYERS IN EMPLOYMENT
DISCRIMINATION AND LABOR CIVIL
LITIGATIONS AND AS AN ATTORNEY
COMMISSIONER ON THE MINNEAPOLIS
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS
FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE
DEVELOPING POLICY AND CIVIL
RIGHTS AND COMPLAINTS.
HIS LEGAL BACKGROUND AND
EXTENSIVE LEADERSHIP IN
COALITION BUILDING AND
EXPERTISE MAKES HIM AN
EXCELLENT CHOICE TO BUILD A
LONG OUR CITY'S WORK TO CREATE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR
WORKERS IN BUSINESS ALIGNMENT.
AS YOU ALL KNOW WE PUT OUR
APPLICANTS THROUGH A PRETTY
ROBUST SELECTION PROCESS.
STEVE WENT THROUGH THAT WITH
FLYING COLORS, THAT INCLUDES
ENGAGEMENT FROM OTHER CABINET
MEMBERS AS WELL AS OUR STAFF,
OUR CHANGE TEAM AND
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THE
ADVISORY
BOARDS, THE NEW YORK SMALL
BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND
OF COURSE OUR LOCAL LABOR
PARTNERS.
STEVE IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE
BUSINESS AND LABOR COMMUNITY
AND WORKING WITH CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND DECK STERNAL
PARTNERS AND COUNSEL TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE SEATTLE A
PLACE FOR WORKING PEOPLE TO
GROW AND THRIVE AND WE ARE VERY
EXCITED HE IS WILLING TO JOIN
US HERE AND WE WELCOME HIM TO
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND
APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE
COUNCIL SCHEDULING TIME TODAY
TO ALLOW THEM TO BE BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR AND I
WILL ALSO ECHO MY APPRECIATION
FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
ROBUST PROCESS SHE WENT THROUGH
FOR ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS IN
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
PULLING TOGETHER FOLKS TO DO A
LOT OF RECRUITMENT OF CANDIDATES
SO I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO
THE NOMINATION IN FRONT OF US
THAT MR. MARQUEZ WAS SELECTED
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
FOLKS WHO PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON
THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT I NOTED,
MY CHIEF OF STAFF WHO HELPED
COORDINATE VARIOUS QUESTIONS
AND RESPONSES, SHE REQUESTED
FEEDBACK FROM VARIOUS BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS AS WELL AS
LABOR AND BUSINESS PARTNERS AND
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS
FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND MINNESOTA
AS WELL SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK THAT WENT INTO THE
BACKGROUND TO GET YOU HERE IN
FRONT OF US.
SO PLEASE GO AHEAD WITHOUT
FURTHER ADO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNSELOR
TERESA MOSQUEDA AND THANK YOU
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU
VIRTUALLY.
I WISH WE COULD DO THIS IN
PERSON BUT IT'S GREAT TO BE
HERE.
THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR SIX
KILLER FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU TODAY.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU
AND I'M EXCITED TO BE IN
SEATTLE WITH OUR NEW HOME AND
TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS AND
MY INTEREST IN BEING THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT
OF THE MAYOR AND TO HAVE GONE
TO THIS PROCESS WITH YOU AND
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT MY
BACKGROUND, MY INTEREST IN ANY
OF THE ISSUES YOU SEE RAISED IN
THE QUESTIONNAIRE.
>> OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
BACKGROUND MATERIAL FOR US.
I THINK I'LL START WITH
QUESTIONNAIRE JUST TO GET US
STARTED.
SO I MENTIONED THAT WE DID OUR
OWN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO
VARIOUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
NO SURPRISE, YOU KNOW OUR
OFFICE, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CONNECT
WITH VARIOUS LABOR UNIONS IN
MINNESOTA TO SEE WHAT THEY
THOUGHT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
APPOINTMENT AND TO ASK
QUESTIONS OF THEM AND THEY
ACTUALLY TURNED IT BACK AROUND
AND OFFERED TO ASK A QUESTION
OF YOU THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY
INFORMATIVE.
THEY ASKED US TO CONSIDER, THEY
WANTED US TO PASS ALONG HOW DO
YOU SEE THE ROLE CHANGING FROM
YOUR PREVIOUS JOB AND HOW DO
YOU SEE NEW CHALLENGES IN FRONT
OF US AT THIS POINT IN THE POST
COVID WORLD GIVEN THAT YOU WILL
HAVE THIS POSITION, WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE MORE IMMEDIATE
THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO?
>> THANK YOU.
AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU
WERE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO MY
COMRADES IN THE TWIN CITIES IN
MINNESOTA.
I HAD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH
FOLKS THERE FOR MANY YEARS AND
I'VE BEEN PLEASED TO HAVE MANY
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT AS
AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND
ENDORSEMENTS FROM LABOR
COUNCILS AND UNION MEMBERS IN
ST. PAUL.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT ROLE THAN
WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING IN ST.
PAUL, AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
I AM ONE OF THE SEVEN OFFICIAL
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DISTRICT
AND SO MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
REPRESENT THE DISTRICT AND THE
COMMUNITY IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
BUT ALSO IN POLICYMAKING.
SO I'VE HAD A GOVERNANCE ROLE
AND THAT INCLUDES OVERSIGHT OF
POLICIES AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH
BARGAINING UNITS AND THAT'S A
VERY DIFFERENT ROLE THAT I HAVE
HERE.
ALTHOUGH I SEE HOW I'VE BEEN
ABLE TO, IN ST. PAUL,
INCORPORATE SOME OF THE
PRINCIPLES AROUND LABOR
STANDARDS AND TO MY WORKFARE
ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED
ABOUT IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE
RESPONSE WAS OUR DECISION PRIOR
TO ST. PAUL HAVING A MINIMUM
WAGE WAS TO DECIDE TO MAKE SURE
THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND
MARKETING UNITS WERE ABLE TO
MAKE AND GET TO A $15 AN HOUR
MINIMUM AND DID THAT
AS PART OF DISTRICT POLICY AND
PART OF OUR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT
WITH SOME OF THE LOWEST PAID
MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF COMMUNITY.
AND I'M EXCITED WE WERE ABLE TO
DO THAT AS PART OF OUR DISTRICT
BOARD POLICY AND AS A
COLLECTIVE.
IN THIS ROLE AS LABOR STANDARDS
DIRECTOR WE KNOW THAT THE
COMMUNITY OF WORKERS IS
STRUGGLING.
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING, TO
BE ABLE TO WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO SECURE
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE
GOOD BENEFITS AND GOOD WAGES,
TO ORGANIZE COLLECTIVELY, WORK
NOW IS DONE IN A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS THAN THEY WERE
BEFORE AND IN OTHER WORDS
PEOPLE ARE AT HOME AND IN CARS
AND IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND
SPACES THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR
ORGANIZING.
THAT REALLY MEANS THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A REGULATOR
IN THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS TO REALLY STEP IN AND
HELP WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
COUNSEL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
BASELINE PROTECTIONS FOR OUR
WORKERS, UNLIKE BEING A BOARD
MEMBER WHERE I CAN SAY AS ONE
OF SEVEN WE ARE GOING TO DO
THIS AS A COLLECTIVE
, AS A BOARD AND AN ENTITY FOR
ALL OF OUR WORKERS FOR ST. PAUL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THIS OFFICE IS DEALING WITH
THOUSANDS OF WORKERS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY AND IT'S ALSO DEALING
WITH EMPLOYERS WHO ARE COMING
FROM MANY DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES, MANY OF THEM
STRUGGLING AT THIS TIME WITH
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AS A RESULT
OF COVID AND THEY ARE TRYING
VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THEIR
BUSINESSES AND PARTICULARLY
WITH -- AND WOMEN-OWNED
BUSINESSES, THAT DO NOT HAVE
THE KINDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AS
A SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH THE
GENERAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE AND
PEOPLE AVAILABLE.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE
CAN EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WERE IN BUSINESS
>>> EXCELLENT.
I AM NOT SEEING HANDS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
DO TELL ME IF I AM PRONOUNCING
YOUR LAST NAME CORRECTLY.
>> THANK YOU, YEAH.
IT IS ITALIAN.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.
PLEASE, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SERVE THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THIS IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT, AND
I THINK IT IS CRITICAL TO THE
ABILITY OF SEATTLE TO LIVE ITS
VALUES AND STAND UP FOR
COWORKERS AND WORK TO BE A
LEADER AMONG OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY, AND LIFT THE STANDARDS
FOR EVERYONE, ONE DAY AT A
TIME.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
IN THAT AREA, I HAVE BEEN VERY
CONCERNED, ABOUT AS WE HAVE
WORKED REALLY HARD IN
CONJUNCTION WITH WORKERS, WITH
THE TRADITIONAL WORKFORCE, TO
RAISE THE STANDARDS, WE HAVE
SEEN A PROLIFERATION OF JOBS
THAT DO NOT BENEFIT FROM THOSE
STANDARDS AND THERE HAS BEEN A
STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL
GROWTH OF GOOD WORKERS, AND
CONTRACT WORKERS, GENERALLY
SPEAKING, SO AS WE PASS LAWS
LIKE SECURE SCHEDULING AND
INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE, YOU
SEE THIS INCREASE IN
UNREGULATED WORKFORCE AND I
THINK IT IS INCUMBENT ON US AS
A CITY TO ADDRESS THAT.
MADAM CHAIR HAS DONE GREAT WORK
WITH SOME SEGMENTS OF THAT
WORKFORCE, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS
DOMESTIC WORKERS OR
TRANSPORTATION, DRIVERS, AND I
APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP AND
DOING THAT WORK SEGMENT BY
SEGMENT, AND I AM ALSO REALLY
INTERESTED IN DOING SOME
OVERARCHING WORK FOR FOLKS WHO
ARE POTENTIALLY NOT IN A
TRADITIONAL EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE
RELATIONSHIP, SO SOME BASIC
REQUIREMENTS BE REGULATED
ACROSS DIFFERENT WORK SECTORS,
AND LABOR STANDARDS, ADVISORY
COUNCILS, THEY HAVE MADE SOME
REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS AND
I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN THEM.
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON
TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURE
CLIMATES DURING THE CONTRACTING
PROCESS OR THE HIRING PROCESS
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU WANT TO
CALL IT.
IT REALLY IS A HIRING PROCESS.
I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE SOME
THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT MINIMUM IT
SHOULD BE DISCLOSED WHEN
SOMEBODY IS ENTERING INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS
ESSENTIALLY AN EMPLOYER WHO
FULFILLS A WORKPLACE
OBLIGATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER, FOR THE
QUESTION.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY TIMELY,
PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK AT
RECOVERY AND THE EXPERIENCES WE
HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR AND
IT GOES BACK TO CHANGES WITH
THE LABOR MARKET OVER A LONG
TIME.
THEY ARE WORKING, AND THE FACT
THERE ARE NOT FORMER, EMPLOYEE
RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AND
GROWING SECTION OF THE LABOR
MARKET AND THE LABOR SECTION OF
THE MARKET, BY THE WAY, IS MADE
UP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
ARRIVALS, AND FOLKS LOOKING TO
MAKE A LIVING AND THESE ARE
ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE BEING
CREATED AND THE LAW TREATS THEM
AS IF THEY WERE EQUALLY
POSITIONED GARDENERS WHO CAN
COME UP WITH A CONTRACT FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THE SERVICES AS A
WORKER.
THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE
CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO
TO THAT.
CORPORATIONS HAVE A LOT MORE
POWER AND AUTHORITY AND ABILITY
TO SET STANDARDS AND PUT THEM
INTO THE CONTRACT AND
ARRANGEMENT AND AVOID
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KIND OF
PROTECTIONS WE WANT TO SEE
WORKERS HAVE UNDER STATE AND
LOCAL LAW.
I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT,
IF WE WILL RELY ON THE FACT AND
ACKNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT
STOP IT, THAT A SIGNIFICANT
PART OF THE POPULATION IS
COMING INTO RELATIONSHIPS
CONSTRUCTED BY CONTRACTS, THAT
THE CONTRACT NEED TO APPLY.
WE NEED TO THINK HOW CLEAR THAT
INFORMATION IS MADE AVAILABLE
TO THE EMPLOYEE, FOR THE WORKER
ALSO, HOW THE WORKER WHO IS
GOING TO BE GETTING THOSE
SERVICES AND SELLING THEIR
SERVICES TO OTHER CONTRACTING
ENTITIES, AND WHAT THEY SHOULD
KNOW.
THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE RATE
OF PAY AND HOW IT IS CALCULATED
AND ABOUT SCHEDULING AND ABOUT
EXPENSES AND THE WAY THOSE
EXPENSES ARE GOING TO BE BORN
AND HAVING THE ABILITY TO
UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT IS
GOING TO BE IN AND NOT IN THAT
CONTRACT AND WHAT THEY MUST BE
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE.
THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
SCHEDULING AND THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE OR ALTER THE CONTRACT
AND THEY SHOULD KNOW THESE
THINGS IN WAYS THAT ARE DONE SO
THAT THE PERSPECTIVE -- THEY
CAN UNDERSTAND, SO THE LANGUAGE
, THE WORKERS UNDERSTAND THE
LANGUAGE AND THAT THIS IS
DIFFERENT COMPARED TO OTHER
KIND OF EMPLOYER OPPORTUNITIES,
SO THEY CAN EVALUATE THAT AND
THEY CAN UNDERSTAND IF THEY ARE
GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR
CHANGES.
THERE ARE THE PRINCIPLES THAT
THE ADVISORY CONDITION CANNOT
THAT ARE HELPFUL, AND I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT WE DO NOT
NECESSARILY HIDE BEHIND THE
CONTRACTING RELATIONSHIP AS A
WAY TO AVOID MAKING SURE THAT
THE STANDARDS THAT WE HOPE TO
SEE AS A COLLECTIVE, THAT WE,
THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE
FOR OUR WORK ARE ARE SOMEHOW
AVOIDED BECAUSE THAT LEGALLY
DOES NOT SIT WITH THE
TRADITIONAL PARAMETERS OF
EMPLOYMENT AND YOU LOOK AT THE
STANDARDS OF CONTRACTS AND
CLARITY AND INTENTIONALITY AND
MAKING SURE WE MAKE THAT
POSSIBLE FOR CONTRACTING
ARRANGEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
ANSWER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
RESPONSE AND BECOMING
FAMILIARIZED WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LABOR
STANDARD ADVISORY COUNCIL AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ON ADVANCING THIS POLICY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU TOO.
>> OKAY, WONDERFUL.
I AM NOT SEEING A HAND.
I DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION
THAT IS RELATED.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TOPIC THAT
THEY HAVE REFERRED TO IN
QUESTIONS FIVE AND SEVEN, AND I
THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
THINGS WE ARE INTERESTED IN IS
MAKING SURE THE APPROACH TO
BUSINESSES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES, INCLUDING WORKPLACES
THAT ARE HARD TO REACH WORKERS,
I SAY THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
CARS ARE WORKPLACES FOR MANY OF
THESE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING IN
GIG WORK OR INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR WORK.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
DOING OUTREACH TO EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES OR HIRE ENTITIES AND
INDIVIDUALS DOING THE WORK, BUT
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IN
RESPONSE TO QUESTION SEVEN,
YOUR APPROACH WOULD BE WITH
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS, AS
OPPOSED TO EITHER OR.
I THINK THIS IS GOOD.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT WAYS TO
FIND WHEN WINDS AND WONDERING
IF YOU BELIEVE THIS IS AN
ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT WITH SMALL
BUSINESSES BECAUSE
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE TIMES
WHERE WE CANNOT NECESSARILY DO
BOTH.
WE DO NEED TO PICK A LANE TO
MAKE SURE THERE IS REALLY
ADHERENCE TO THE STANDARDS AND
I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE WE HAVE
SOME EARLY SITUATIONS WHERE
THEY ARE RELYING HEAVILY ON
EDUCATION, EDUCATION,
EDUCATION, AND THERE ARE LARGER
CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY HAVE
DONE AND RECOGNIZING THE NEED
TO BE IN THE ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE?
>> THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY
MIND THAT THE WHOLE PROCESS IS
TO BENEFIT STANDARDS FOR
WORKERS.
WE START WITH THE PRESUMPTION
THAT WE ARE HERE TO ENSURE
STANDARDS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE
ENFORCING THOSE STANDARDS ON
BEHALF OF THE WORKERS.
THESE ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL
PURPOSE FOR THE ORDINANCES THAT
YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE
PASSED AND THE PURPOSE OF OUR
WORK, AS A BASELINE.
I COMPLETELY SEE THERE IS
OBVIOUSLY A NEED TO DO THE
EDUCATION WORK, TO HELP
EMPLOYERS, TO MAKE SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND THE OBLIGATIONS THAT
THEY HAVE, THAT THEY ARE
LANGUAGE APPROPRIATE AND
CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE BUT THE
ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ENFORCING ADHERENCE IS TO HAVE
A SOLID OFFICE AND IT NEEDS TO
BE CLEAR AND EFFECTIVE AND SEEN
AS AN HONEST BROKER AND IT
NEEDS TO START THE PRESUMPTION
THAT WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WORKERS ARE PROTECTED, AND
EDUCATION EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE
ARE ENSURING THAT IS HAPPENING
BECAUSE WE CANNOT HAVE OUR
STAFF EVERYWHERE AROUND THE
CITY.
WE ALSO NEED TO BE RELIANCE ON
GIVEN RELATIONSHIPS, THAT WILL
GET THINGS DONE. WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THEY WORK CLOSELY
WITH COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE WORK OF
THE COMMUNITY AND LABOR UNIONS.
MEMBERS WITH DOMESTIC WORKER
STANDARDS BOARDS WHO PROVIDE
INFORMATION, I THINK THOSE ARE
THE KEY RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE
SHOULD USE IT TO GET
INFORMATION OUT TO THE WORKER
COMMUNITY BUT ALSO USE THAT
FEEDBACK INFORMATION TO THE
STAFF.
THAT ALSO PUTS US TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE BEST
OUTSIDE OF JUST THE SOUL
COMPLAINT BASED METHOD.
WE ARE LOOKING AT PLACES WHERE
WE CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE NOT
AS MANY FORMAL COMPLAINTS BUT
WE KNOW THAT COMPLIANCE IS NOT
REALLY WHAT WE WANTED TO BE AND
THAT ALLOWS OUR OFFICE TO MOVE
MORE INVESTMENT TOOLS, TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT.
THOSE ARE REMEDIES, THOSE ARE
TECHNIQUES THAT WE CAN USE TO
ADVANCE THIS WORK THAT IS PART
OF THE MISSION OF THIS OFFICE.
THAT IS NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH
EMPLOYERS.
WE HAVE A DESIRE TO SEE
EMPLOYERS DO GOOD WORK WITH
THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL THING
WE WANT TO SEE.
WE DO NOT NEED TO GET INVOLVED.
IF WE HAPPEN TO DO, WE KNOW
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE
TIME.
THAT IS WHY WE EXIST.
>> I DIAL LOVE HEARING THAT.
THAT IS AN EFFICIENT WAY FOR
THE DEPARTMENT AND FOR VARIANT
SECTORS TO HAVE THAT
ENFORCEMENT AND FOCUS THAT WE
NEED.
COUNCILMEMBER, DO YOU HAVE
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD?
>> YOUR LINE OF QUESTIONING,
MADAM CHAIR, REMINDED ME OF
ANOTHER QUESTION I WANTED TO
ASK RELATED TO A RECENT REPORT
ON SECURE SCHEDULING.
I DO NOT KNOW DIRECTOR IF YOU
HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT YET
BUT IT IS A SECOND-YEAR REPORT
OUT OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S
OFFICE.
IT SHOWS SOME INCREASED GAINS
OVER THE FIRST YEAR REPORT AND
IT STILL DOES HAVE A PRETTY, I
THINK, HIGH RATE OF
NONCOMPLIANCE, IT BEING
EXPERIENCED BY WORKERS.
WE STILL SEE ABOUT 50% OF THOSE
EMPLOYEES SURVEYED EXPERIENCING
LAST-MINUTE SHIFT CHANGES
WITHOUT PAY, AND WORKERS
EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT SHIPS
WITHOUT PAY AND SUPERIOR THING
CANCELED -- I WONDER IF YOU HAD
A CHANCE TO REVIEW THIS YET, IF
YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE
CAN USE STRATEGIC INVESTIGATION
PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING DIRECT
INVESTIGATION TO SEE WE HAVE
MORE GAINS FOR WORKERS IN THIS
AREA.
>> THANK YOU.
I DID SEE IT ACROSS THIS EMAIL
A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
I HAVE NOT HAD CHANCE TO FULLY
DIGEST THE FINDINGS.
I HAVE SET UP NEXT WEEK WITH
STAFF TO DO THAT MORE FULLY BUT
I THINK ON THE QUESTION, ON A
HIGHER LEVEL, MY THOUGHTS, IT
IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT
THIS, THAT THE ORDINANCES ARE
DOING SECURE SCHEDULING AND IT
IS ONE OF THE ONES WE'RE
LOOKING AT CLOSELY.
THIS IS CULTURE CHANGE WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY
THIS.
úWHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS
SHIFT THE NORM AND THAT TAKES
TIME.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
PUBLIC EDUCATION SHIFTS THE
NORMS AND EDUCATES PEOPLE
AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT AND
EDUCATE THE WORKERS ABOUT WHAT
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR.
PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE KINDS
OF WORK THAT AND THAT BEING
HIGH NONCOMPLIANCE INDUSTRIES,
THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY
ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT LAST-MINUTE CHANGES.
IF WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE
NORMS, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
GET THAT INFORMATION OUT
CLEARLY TO THE COMMUNITY OF
WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS AND WE
ALSO NEED TO GET THAT FEEDBACK,
TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT
SEEING AND WE HAVE ISSUES.
I THINK THE AUDIT IS REALLY
HELPFUL AND IT WILL HELP US
THINK ABOUT WHERE ARE SOME
SPECIFIC KINDS OF INDUSTRIES
WHERE WE NEED TO THINK MORE
ABOUT TEST DRIVING TO SEE THE
BEGINNING, WHAT WE NEED, AND IF
NOT, HOW CAN WE TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN
EDUCATION AND TO SOLICIT
INFORMATION.
ARE THERE EMPLOYERS WHO
REPEATEDLY USE NONCOMPLIANCE
AND THEREFORE WE ARE HEARING
MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE
WORKERS FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS.
MAYBE THEY DO NOT KNOW AND DO
NOT WANT TO LET US KNOW.
WE ALSO SHOULD LOOK AT THE
KINDS OF INDUSTRIES AND THE
PLACES WHERE THAT HAPPENS MORE
FREQUENTLY THAN OTHERS, SO WE
CAN USE AUDIT FINDINGS LIKE
THIS TO HELP GUIDE THE WAY THAT
OUR ENFORCEMENT TEAM CAN USE
ITS EFFORTS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN
UP INVESTIGATIONS AND SEE WHAT
IS GOING ON AND HOW IT IS GOING
TO BE HANDLED.
I THINK IT IS HARD TO THINK
ABOUT 100% COMPLIANCE.
I THINK WE HAVE 100% IN A LOT
OF THINGS BUT I THINK WHAT WE
OUGHT TO SEE OVER THE COURSE OF
TIME IS A HIGHER RATE OF
COMPLIANCE AND LESS CONCERNED
THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING BUMPED
OFF OF THEIR SCHEDULES AND
NEEDING TO SEEK REDRESS.
>> EXCELLENT, GREAT QUESTION.
>> I AM NOT SEEING ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
I KNOW THAT YOU DO HAVE OTHER
MEETINGS TO HAVE WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS AND PERHAPS WE
CAN GO BACK INTO THIS
COMMITTEE, PENDING ANY FINAL
CONFIRMATION.
WE CAN HEAR MORE ABOUT
DIFFERENT QUESTIONS, AS WE
THINK ABOUT HOW THE WORLD
EVOLVES IN THIS WORLD.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT
TO ADD?
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AS
WELL.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE
CONSIDER YOUR NOMINATION?
>> SURE, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR A SELECTED ME FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I AM EXCITED TO START. I'M
LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THE OFFICE
AND THERE IS TERRIFIC STAFF
THAT HAS BEEN WORKING HARD.
I WANT TO HELP THEM DO THEIR
BEST WORK AND WANT TO BE PART
OF THE WORK TO REALLY
STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR OUR
LOW WORKERS AND TO WORK WITH
YOU AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY
TO MAKE THIS A PLACE THAT WORKS
FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE THE MORE ROBUST
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT THE
COUNCIL HAD REQUESTED I THINK
THAT IS WHY THERE WAS A LITTLE
BIT, MAKING SURE YOU CAN START
YOUR POSITIONS SOON AND I KNOW
THAT I AM IMPRESSED AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERS AND
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
CONVERSATION AS THE WORLD
CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO THE
CHANGES DYNAMICS ACROSS THE
ECONOMY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR
BEING WITH US AND FOR YOUR
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO PASS THAT
ALONG TO ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES
AND IF THEY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS WE WILL MAKE SURE TO
LET YOU KNOW.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE THE COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE TO THE APPOINTMENT OF
THIS PERSON AS THE DIRECTOR.
>> I SECOND IT.
>> WONDERFUL, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
I AM HEARING NINE.
WE WILL CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER?
>> COUNCILMEMBER AND JEALOUS?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
FIVE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SET TO
MARCH 1 FOR A FINAL VOTE AND
DIRECTOR, YOU DO NOT -- YOU ARE
WELCOME IF YOU WANT TO COME TO
MAKE A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE.
WE WILL WELCOME YOU BACK.
WE WILL DOUBLE CHECK THE
PROCESS.
I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE STRANGE.
>> WE USUALLY DO REQUIRE A
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TO MAKE AN
APPEARANCE, SO WE WILL PUT YOU
ON THE AGENDA AND WE WILL
SUSPEND THE RULES AND ALLOW YOU
TO ADDRESS MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND THE FULL COUNSEL FOR
A FEW MINUTES IN FOLLOW-UP TO A
VOTE OF HER CONFIRMATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> EVEN BETTER, WE WILL LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON MARCH
1 AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE
VOTE FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE WILL SEE YOU SOON, THANK
YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES AND INTERIM
DIRECTOR, I WANTED TO SEE IF
YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SWITCH TO
THE AGENDA TODAY TO HAVE ITEM
NUMBER SIX AND FIVE NEXT, WOULD
YOU HAVE SOME GUESTS WITH US
FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. THERE IS
A SHORT TIMELINE TO HAVE THEM
WITH US UNTIL 11:30, SO IF IT
IS OKAY, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
GO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE WAS THE BUDGET
SELECTION FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
THERE IS NO VOTE, IF I AM
CORRECT.
WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON MARCH 2
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING
AMENDMENTS IF THEY ARE ANY.
I CAN GET TO THAT ITEM BEFORE
WE ADJOURN AND WE CAN DO THAT
BUT I SEEING NODS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR.
WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX
FIRST.
MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE
READ IT?
>> FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COVID
RELIEF FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M EXCITED FOR THIS
CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THIS IS A POINT IN TIME
ASSESSMENT OF WHAT YOU COULD
POTENTIALLY EXPECT.
WE WILL HAVE FOLKS INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES BRIEFLY BUT I
BELIEVE WE HAVE DIRECTOR BEN
NOBLE HERE, AND SIERRA BROWN
AND WESLEY WITH US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US, OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST
AND PARTNERS IN D.C., WHO
REPRESENT THE CITY IN THE HALLS
OF CONGRESS AND VIRTUALLY NOW.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE I MISSED
IN TERMS OF TODAY'S MEETING?
OKAY, WONDERFUL.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER, I
BELIEVE, TO DIRECTOR NOBLE.
YOU ARE GOING FIRST, WONDERFUL.
I AM SEEING NODS FROM FOLKS ON
THE LINE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS
POOL PULL TOGETHER THIS
COMMITTEE, KNOWING WHAT IS IN
PLAY.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MULTIPLE
FUNDING STREAMS THAT MANY HAVE
ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WITH
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOMELESS
ASSISTANCE, AND THERE IS FOOD
ASSISTANCE FUNDS WE ARE HEARING
ABOUT, AND THERE IS THE ONGOING
CARES ACT FUNDING AND FEMA
DOLLARS, THAT LOOK TO BE
SHAPING UP, WHICH WE WILL HAVE
A ROBUST PRESENTATION FROM
TODAY, AND WE KNOW THERE IS
CONTINUING COVID RELIEF DOLLARS
AS WELL.
THERE IS LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT POTENTIAL DOLLARS BUT
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS
ADDITIONAL MONEY COMING AND IF
THERE IS CARRYOVER DOLLARS AND
WHAT WE COULD EXPECT IN TERMS
OF A TIMELINE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN, FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, YOU HAVE SAID
MUCH OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO
SAY.
THE GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU AN
UPDATE ON THE GOINGS ON IN
D.C..
SIERRA WILL HAVE GOOD
PRESENTATIONS TO GIVE YOU ON
THE PROPOSED $1.9 TRILLION
RELIEF PACKAGE THAT IS BEING
DEBATED IN CONGRESS NOW AND
PROMISES TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT
NEW RESOURCES TO THE CITY.
I WILL FOLLOW ON TO TALK MORE
ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT WE
HAVE AVAILABLE TO US NOW,
INCLUDING THE RESOURCES THAT
ARE ALLOCATED TO US FROM LAST
YEAR, AND WHAT REMAINS IN OUR
PROCESS AND ALSO AROUND
REIMBURSEMENTS.
SO, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
ONCE YOU PUT UP THE POWERPOINT,
PEOPLES' FACES WILL DISAPPEAR.
I WILL SHARE MY SCREEN AND PUT
UP THE POWERPOINT THAT PROVIDES
THE NARRATIVE.
>> THIS IS SIERRA BROWN.
I AM THE DIRECTOR FOR THE
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
IN THE CITY AND GO AHEAD AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU, I AM WESLEY.
I AM PART OF THE LABOR
GOVERNMENT GROUP AND I HAVE THE
HONOR OF REPRESENTING THE
CENTER OF SEATTLE AND
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- NIGHT TO
SEE YOU.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL GRAB THE
SCREEN HERE AND BEGIN THE
PRESENTATION.
LET'S SEE IF THIS WORKS.
AND YOU WILL SEE THAT NOW?
>> YES, WE CAN, THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
GIVE ME ONE SECOND.
SO, AGAIN, JUST QUICKLY ON THE
OUTLINE, WE WILL START WITH
LESLIE PALMER AND SOME
RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND WITH
SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL DOLLARS
THAT WE WERE AWARDED LAST YEAR
AND THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS
AND SOME ONGOING FUNDING
DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE ON
THE EXECUTIVE SIDE TO SUSTAIN
SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES AND THEN
TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO LESLIE.
IF I MISSED ANYTHING, GIVE ME A
VERBAL CLUE AND I WILL CHANGE
THE SLIDE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAD
PROPOSED A NINE -- A PLAN AND
AS YOU KNOW, FROM UPDATES BEFORE
, BEFORE CONGRESS, THEY HAVE
DECIDED TO USE A PROCESS KNOWN
AS BUDGET RESET CONCILIATION TO
GET THIS PLAN THROUGH, GIVEN
THE POLITICAL REALITIES OF THE
SIMPLE MAJORITY THEY HAVE IN
THE HOUSE AND BASICALLY THE TIE
IN THE SENATE.
SO, ON FEBRUARY 5, THE HOUSE
AND SENATE STARTED THE BUDGET
RECONCILIATION PROCESS AND TOOK
THE FIRST STEP AND THEY PASSED
THE BUZZARD RESOLUTION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND SO, THE BUDGET RESOLUTION
PROVIDED INSTRUCTIONS TO THE 12
DIFFERENT HOUSE COMMITTEES TO
DRAFT AND REPORT LEGISLATION,
LARGELY STICKING WITH THE $1.9
TRILLION PLAN THAT PRESIDENT
JOE BIDEN HAS PROPOSED, AND
AGAIN, THE PROCESS IS THIS
REALLY ARCANE PROCESS BUT IT
ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS CONGRESS TO
BYPASS THE 60 VOTE THRESHOLD
THAT IS NEEDED TO GET ANYTHING
PASSED IN THE SENATE.
SO, IT HAS CERTAIN PARAMETERS
THAT ARE VERY NARROW THAT I
WILL NOT BORE YOU WITH THE
DETAILS OF, BUT WHEN THE BILL
GETS TO THE SENATE, THERE IS
SOMETHING CALLED A RULE THAT
ALLOWS SENATORS TO BLOCK PART
OF THE RECONCILIATION BILL THAT
ARE DEEMED EXTRANEOUS TO THE
MEASURE AND THAT IS MY FAVORITE
TERM.
IT IS CALLED GIVING THE BILL A
BIRDBATH, AND SO CERTAIN PIECES
THAT I WILL TALK ABOUT IN A
MOMENT, THAT THE HOUSE HAS
PASSED MAY FALL OUT WHEN THIS
BILL GETS TO THE SENATE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS I MENTIONED, THE HOUSE AND
SENATE ADOPTED A BUDGET
RESOLUTION KICKING OFF THIS
PROCESS LAST WEEK.
HOUSE COMMITTEES --
F0
THEY WERE ALL REJECTED, AND SO
NEXT WEEK ON MONDAY, THE HOUSE
BUDGET COMMITTEE IS GOING TO
MEET,
AND THEY WILL REASSEMBLE THE
BILL, PUT ALL THE PIECES
TOGETHER AND ON FEBRUARY 26,
THE HOUSE IS SLATED TO PUT
FORTH THE PACKAGE AND THEN MOVE
THROUGH THE SENATE, AND THEY
DECIDED TO MOVE WITH A LOT OF
SPEED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
BYPASS THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.
SO ANY CHANGES TO THE BILL WILL
COME THROUGH AMENDMENTS ON THE
HOUSE FLOOR.
THAT IS THEN TO GO BACK TO THE
HOUSE FOR A FINAL VOTE.
THEY ARE TARGETING MARCH 14th
BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THE
PANDEMIC BENEFITS WILL EXPIRE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
TO OUTLINE THE PROCESS AS I
SAID BEFORE THE TENTATIVE DATE
FOR FINAL PROCESS IN THE HOUSE
IS FEBRUARY 26, AND THEN,
LOOKING TO PASS THE BILL BEFORE
MARCH 14.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BILL.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY --
THIS BILL IS REALLY TREMENDOUS.
IN DECEMBER, AS I THINK WE HAD
HIGHLIGHTED BEFORE, YOU KNOW,
$900 BILLION PACKAGE, WHILE
VERY IMPORTANT AND PROVIDING
SOME VERY IMPORTANT BENEFITS
FOR INDIVIDUALS WAS NOT
PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO THE
CITY AND CITY PROGRAMS.
IT WAS FUNDING, OF COURSE, FOR
HOUSING, SOME ADDITIONAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE BUT
REALLY, YOU KNOW, NO DIRECT
FUNDING FOR LOCAL, AND YOU
KNOW, LIMITED AMOUNTS IN
REIMBURSEMENT, ET CETERA.
THIS BILL IS REALLY THE BILL WE
HAD HOPED FOR.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT BILL AND I
WILL PUT A HUGE CAVEAT WITH
THIS LEGISLATION.
THIS IS VERY LIKELY THE LAST
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL.
THEY MAY HAVE ONE OTHER BITE AT
THE APPLE THIS YEAR THEY WILL
USE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT YOU WILL NOT SEE A BILL
LIKE THIS AGAIN.
SO THESE DOLLARS ARE SACRED
DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING TO THE
CITY AND REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE
SPEND THEM IF WE WILL SEE THEM
AGAIN.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE
PIECES OF THIS LEGISLATION IS
IT INCLUDES $350 BILLION FOR
DIRECT FUNDING FOR STATE AND
LOCAL DEPOSITS.
THE FUNDING GOING FOR CITIES
AND COUNTIES $130 BILLION WHICH
IS DIVIDED EVENLY AND USING A
MODERN FORMULA.
AND THOSE ARE NOT THE DOLLARS
BUT THE FORMULA, AND THE HOUSE
IS TRYING TO MAKE THE DOLLARS
FLEXIBLE.
THEY CAN BE USED TO REPLACE
LOST REVENUE DEATH BACK TO
JANUARY 27, 2020.
AGAIN,S THIS MONEY THAT WILL
COME DIRECTLY TO THE CITY.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND THIS IS ALSO A WIDE RANGE
OF MEANS THEY ARE COVERING
THROUGH THE BILL.
$25 BILLION IN EMERGENCY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, $10 BILLION FOR
HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE, AND
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PPE.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND THEN THE $1400 FOR
QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS.
THEY ARE WORKING TO INCREASE
THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE TO $15
BY 2025.
THIS IS LIKELY A PROVISION THAT
WILL COME OUT IN THE QUOTE,
UNQUOTE BIRD BATH THAT THE
SENATE HAS GIVEN THE BILL.
YOU HAVE HAD TWO MODERATE
DEMOCRATS SAY THEY ARE
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH INCLUDING
THIS IN THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
BILL AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS
RAISED IF THIS FITS IN THE
RECONCILIATION PROCESS.
SO THIS MAY COME OUT.
IT EXTENDS THE TEMPORARY FULLY
REFUNDABLE BENEFITS THROUGH
AUGUST 29, 2021 AND INCREASES
THE BENEFITS FROM THE $300 TO
$400.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND THEN AGAIN, $46 BILL I ION
FOR TESTING AND $14 BILLION FOR
VACCINES AND AN ADDITIONAL $500
MILLION TO HELP THOSE DURING
THE PANDEMIC FOR DRINK WATER
AND $130 BILLION FOR K THROUGH
12 SCHOOLS TO HELP WITH
REOPENING, $40 BILLION FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION, AND $5
BILLION FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE.
NEXT SLIDE.
IT STAYS WITH A 15 PERCENT
INCREASE IN STAT BENEFIT
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th.
THE NEXT SLIDE.
THERE IS $7.25 BILLION FOR THE
PAY CHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM
AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS SHUTTERED ON THE
SAVE OUR STAGES PROGRAM.
THERE IS A NEW PROGRAM CREATED,
$25 BILLION PROGRAM
SPECIFICALLY FOR RESTAURANT
GRANTS.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE FDA.
AN ADDITIONAL $30 BILLION FOR
TRANSIT, $8 BILLION FOR
AIRPORTS.
THERE IS ALSO $3 BILLION THAT'S
GOING TO BE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION OF
WHICH $450 MILLION IS
SPECIFICALLY RESERVED FOR
COMMUNITIES FOR TRAVEL TOURISM
AND OUTDOOR RECREATION AND $50
BILLION FOR FEMA.
AND, THEN, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER
OF PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT VETERANS
AS WELL.
NEXT SLIDE.
GREAT?
>> I KNOW TIME IS LIMITED SO I
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT
TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
QUESTIONS IN THIS PORTION OF
THE PRESENTATION BEFORE MOVING
ON.
AND I WILL DEFER TO YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THIS
PORTION?
OKAY.
WONDERFUL.
WE ARE INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE
YOU IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS,
AND I KNOW YOU ARE DOING
EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO WORK
REMOTELY DURING THESE TIMES AND
WE ARE VERY LUCKILY IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE FOR YOUR TIME AND
PRESENTATION.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS FOR THIS
PRESENTATION?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> LESLIE, A COUPLE OF SLIDES
BACK, 14, I THINK, YEAH, THIS
ONE, 14.
SO ON THE $25 BILLION IN
RESTAURANT GRANTS AND THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
PROGRAM, CAN YOU TALK MORE
ABOUT THAT AND IN PARTICULAR,
I'M INTERESTED IN GETTING AN
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THOSE
DOLLARS GETTING DIRECTLY INTO
CITIES?
WHAT IS THE CONNECTIVITY THERE,
AND WHAT IS THE GRANT DOLLAR --
WHAT ARE THEY DESIGNED TO DO IN
TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR
RESTAURANTS AND WHICH
RESTAURANTS ARE THE FUNDS BEING
FOCUSED AND TARGETED TOWARDS?
>> AT THE RISK OF BEING A
LITTLE -- I WILL ACTUALLY HAVE
A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM.
LET ME IF IT'S OKAY, I WILL
LEAVE THAT AND ANSWER A
DIFFERENT QUESTION.
IT'S $25 BILLION FOR A NEW
PROGRAM AT THE FDA OFFERING
ASSISTANCE TO RESTAURANTS AND
OTHER FOOD AND DRINKING
ESTABLISHMENTS.
$5 BILLION IS SET ASIDE FOR
BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN
$500,000 IN 2019 REVENUE.
AND THEN GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE
FOR UP TO $10 MILLION PER
ENTITY WITH A LIMITATION OF $5
MILLION PER VISIBLE LOCATION
AND ENTITIES ARE LIMITED TO 20
LOCATIONS.
THEY ARE TRYING TO AVOID THE
CHEESECAKE FACTORIES OF THE
WORLD GETTING GRANTS FROM THIS.
IT TALKS ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD
POPULATE REVENUE AND IT
MENTIONS THAT DURING THE FIRST
21 DAYS, APPLICATIONS FROM
RESTAURANTS OPENED AND OPERATED
AND CONTROLLED BY WOMEN,
VETERANS OR SOCIALLY AND
ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED
INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE PRIORITY.
SO, AGAIN, TRYING TO AVOID THE
LARGEST CHAINS, THE LARGEST AND
MOST ESTABLISHED RESTAURANTS
AND GRANTS MAY BE USED FOR A
WIDE VARIETY OF VENTURES.
>> AND IN TERMS OF
CONNECTIVITY, LIKE HOW DO THE
FUND IT'S EYE UNDERSTAND IT'S
THROUGH THE FDA SO I ASSUME
IT'S THROUGH THE REGIONAL FDA?
DO PEOPLE NEED TO GO THROUGH AN
APPLICATION PROCESS?
>> THERE WILL BE -- MY
UNDERSTANDING, AND AGAIN, SOME
OF THIS WILL GET FLUSHED OUT,
AND THIS MAY END UP BEING A LOT
LIKE THE P PP PROGRAM, SO A
SIMILAR PROCESS FOR APPLYING.
>> OKAY.
THAT -- THE PPP PROGRAM DIDN'T
INSPIRE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE
PARTICULARLY AMONGST OUR
RESTAURANT GROUPS, AND I HEARD
CONCERNS FROM THE CHEF OWNERS
FROM RESTAURANTS THAT THEY ARE
SO DEPENDENT ON LARGE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS, AND THEY WERE, A
LOT OF FOLKS THAT I TALKED TO,
YOU KNOW, EXPRESSED CONCERNS
ABOUT THIS BEING OUTRIGHT
DENIED AND HAVING TO SCRAMBLE
TO FIND AN INSTITUTION THAT
WOULD BE WILLING TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET A BETTER
IDEA OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO
AVOID SOME OF THOSE ADVANTAGES
AND BARRIERS IF THEY ARE
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO AVOID
THOSE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS.
AND IF NOT, THERE IS AN
úOPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO
THINK ABOUT HOW TO DO GAP
FUNDING OR SUPPORT THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND OTHER, JUST SORT OF MAKE
SURE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO
MISS OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ACCESS THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR
FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY.
>> LET US GET MORE INFORMATION
ON THAT ON THE DISTRIBUION
MECHANISM AND CIRCLE BACK ON
THAT.
HAPPY TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> AND I INCLUDED IN THE CHAT,
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, THE ACTUAL
SECTION RIGHT NOW AND AS LESLIE
SAID, WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE
PACKAGE AND AMENDMENT.
>> FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, 6003
IN THE REVITALIZATION FUND.
SO IT'S ALL AVAILABLE
PUBLICALLY AND PEOPLE CAN LOOK
THAT UP AS WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE
SLIDE -- I'M SORRY, I DON'T
HAVE THE SLIDE NUMBER.
BUT THE SLIDE THAT DESCRIBES
THE ALLOCATION FOR FUNDS IN THE
STATE AS COMPARED TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND WHAT THE
FORMULA IS, AND SPECIFICALLY T
LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A BUCKET OF
FUNDING OF UPWARDS OF $45
BILLION FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND
POPULATIONS OF AT LEAST 50,000
AND APPARENTLY, THERE'S A --
THEY'RE USING A MODIFIED CBDC
FORMULA TO DETERMINE OF THAT
$46 BILLION FOR THOSE CITIES OF
POPULATIONS OF 50,000 OR MORE,
AND THEY WILL PRIME THAT
FORMULA.
DO WE HAVE -- IF YOU COVERED
THIS, I APOLOGIZE -- DO YOU
HAVE A GUESSTIMATE OF THE
CITIES FOR OUR SIZE?
DO WE HAVE A GUESSTIMATE OF
WHAT SEATTLE MIGHT BE SEEING?
>> YEAH.
SO THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE WILL HAVE THE
ESTIMATED ALLOCATIONS, AND THIS
IS REALLY PRELIMINARY AND
SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE.
THEY WILL BE ESTIMATED TO
RECEIVE $221 MILLION.
>> THANK YOU.
AND ONE OTHER QUESTION.
THE FUNDING FOR TESTING AND
VACCINE, I'M WONDERING, DOES
THE $26 BILLION FOR TESTING AND
$14 BILLION FOR VACCINES
INCLUDE ANY SIGN TO ALLOW THE
CITY TO COVER OUR OWN COST OF
ADMINISTERING TESTS AND
VACCINES?
OR WOULD REIMBURSING OURSELVES
FOR THE COSTS COME OUT OF THE
EFFORTS OR --
>> AT THIS POINT, THE DOLLARS
ARE LARGELY DISTRIBUTED IN THE
SAME WAY AND COMING THROUGHOUT
STATE AND COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS AT
KING COUNTY WHO HAVE REALLY
STEPPED UP AND PROVIDED KEY
SERVICES, YOU KNOW.
AND FOLKS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
JUST HARKEN BACK TO THE CARES
PRESENTATION AND KING COUNTY
STEPPED UP TO FOOT THE BILL AND
LAST TIME I CHECKED PI NEAR
SQUARE WAS IN SEATTLE.
SO THERE IS TREMENDOUS WORK
THAT OUR COUNTY PARTNERS HAVE
BEEN HELPING OUT IN IN SEATTLE
AND I WONDER IF YOU HAVE AN
IDEA OF HOW MUCH THEY MIGHT BE
RECEIVING AND WE WILL HAVE
COMMENTS ON THE PACKAGE AND THE
HOPED-FOR PROCESS BEFORE WE
WRAP UP, BUT LESLIE, ANY SENSE
FOR THE REGION WHO THE AMOUNT
MIGHT BE FOR THE KING COUNTY
PARTNERS AS WELL?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT AT
MY FINGERTIPS.
BUT THAT IS EASY TO TRACK DOWN
AND CIRCLE BACK ON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE
APPRECIATE THE VACCINES AND
TESTING AND, YOU KNOW, THE WAY
THAT WE HAVE ALL HAD TO STEP
UP.
I THINK THAT WILL BE PART OF
THE CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD.
IS THERE A CHANCE WE MIGHT BE
ABLE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE
OF THE CITY AND OTHERS ACROSS
THE NATION STEPPING UP TO
PROVIDE RELIEF?
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO HAVE
ACTED,
AND THERE ARE MANY AREAS WE
STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE.
ARE ANY OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE
MADE AVAILABLE, IS THERE A WAY
FOR US TO RECOGNIZE WITH
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL SUPPORT THAT
PERHAPS ALLOWS THE CITY, IF
IT'S COVID RELIEF DIRECTED, TO
USE THE FEDERAL FUNDS SO THAT
THE CITY RESOURCES CAN GO FOR
THINGS THAT THEY WERE
ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR?
>> ONE OF THE USES THAT
SPECIFIED NEAR THE HOUSE ARE
BROAD USES SPECIFIED FOR THAT
DIRECT LOCAL FUNDING.
ONE OF THEM IS TO REPLACE LOST
REVENUE.
AND THE DEADLINE, THE TIMELINE
FOR THAT IS THEY GAVE IT TO
JANUARY 27, 2020.
>> WOW.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> I'LL JUST THROW OUT THE
OTHER PIECE ON THAT IS THEY
HAVE NOT SPECIFIED AN ENDING TO
WHAT THE FUNDS NEED TO BE
EXTENDED BY.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN
EASILY SEE THE SENATE CHANGING
TO PUT GUARDRAILS ON THE
FUNDING.
SIMILARLY, THE DATE FOR LOST
REVENUE COULD CHANGE BUT LOST
REVENUE IS ONE OF THE EXPLICIT
USES THEY IDENTIFIED FOR
LEGISLATION.
>> GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
THANK YOU.
AND DO WE KNOW WHAT RESOURCES
ARE AVAILABLE BY FUNDS TO
SUPPORT ANY LONG-TERM -- LIKE
DO WE HAVE TO HAVE ANY DOLLAR
AMOUNTS ALREADY SPECIFIED TO
THEN BE ABLE AND USE THIS?
NO MATCHING REQUIREMENTS?
>> NO.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS?
I DO HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS,
DIRECTOR NOBLE, AND THEY MIGHT
BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR
HALF OF THE PRESENT AS THEY
RELATE TO THE CITY RESOURCES
AND WHAT WE EXPECT TO DO WITH
SOME OF THE EXPENSES WE HAVE
ALREADY PUT FORWARD.
SO JUST THAT I'M CLEAR, LESLIE,
YOU MENTIONED INITIAL FUNDING
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
HOMELESS ASSISTANCE AND FOOD
ASSISTANCE.
AND WE SEE MUCH OF THAT SIMILAR
CONCEPT IN THE $1.NINE TRILLION
PACKAGE.
AND THERE IS NO RESTRICTIONS ON
LAYERING ON THE NEW PACKAGE TO
GET OUT THE DOOR?
>> NO.
WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK ONCE
THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN
FINALIZED THAT YOU MUST EXPEND
SO MUCH FUNDS.
>> THE ONLY PLACE FOR IT TO BE
AN ISSUE IN THE FEMA DOLLARS.
THEY WOULD GENERAL ANTICIPATE
US USING OTHER FEDERAL RESOURCE
AHEAD OF THAT, AND THAT'S OUR
APPROACH TODAY BUT, AGAIN, THAT
WOULD BE THE VERY LEAST, AND
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES
HEADED OUR WAY, AND DETAILS ON
THE TIMELINE WOULD BE THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.
>> CAN I ASK ABOUT THAT IN
LIGHT OF THE CHANGES WE HAVE
SEEN?
DO WE HAVE THE GREATER
UNDERSTANDING, AND IS THAT THE
CONVERSATION YOU ARE HEARING?
>> YEAH I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MAKING
AN EFFORT TO MAKE PEOPLE TO
MORE USEFUL.
LET ME SAY I WORK WITH A NUMBER
OF CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
AND EVERYONE IS EXPERIENCING
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH
FEMA.
IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLY
CONFUSING CUMBERSOME PROCESS
THAT QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T
THINK ANYBODY EVER CONTEMPLATED
THE USE FOR A NATIONAL DISASTER
OF THIS SCALE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLY CONFUSING
PROCESS, AND IT'S JUST REALLY
DIFFICULT.
I DO KNOW THAT EVEN SOME
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE FORGONE
GOING AFTER FEMA BECAUSE THEY
ARE SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE
PROCESS AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A
HEAVY DRAIN ON LOCAL RESOURCES.
BUT I WANT TO UNDERSCORE IT'S A
CHALLENGING PROCESS AND THE
ADMINISTRATION IS DOING WHAT
THEY CAN TO MAKE THE PROCESS
EASIER.
BUT EVEN THAT IS SLOW GOING.
>> OKAY.
WONDERFUL.
I THINK THIS IS PRETTY SPECIFIC
TO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND I
HOPE IT'S OKAY IF I TAG THIS
PERSON ON.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LAST
WEEK I THINK SIGNED THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT INCREASED
FEMA ASSISTANCE MAKING THEM 100
PERCENT REIMBURSABLE.
AND I'M WONDERING IF WE KNOW IF
ANY OF THE FUNDING -- WHEN THE
FUNDING MIGHT BE ABLE TO
DISBURSE OR HAS ITSELF ALREADY
BEGUN, ANY UPDATES THAT WE
MIGHT PASS ON FOR FOLKS
WORKING, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROGRAM AND
WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL FOOD
BANKS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT FOOD
ASSISTANCE.
>> SO I DON'T HAVE UPDATES
ABOUT THAT, BUT I KNOW BEN WILL
BE TALKING ABOUT THE FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT PROJECT.
>> WE WILL HAVE MORE
INFORMATION TO FOLLOW BUT THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS VERY HIGH
LEVEL.
SO WE ARE AWAITING, IF YOU
WILL, BUREAUCRATIC FUNCTION
FROM FEMA BUT ONE THING THAT
WAS CLARIFIED CLEARLY WAS THE
PAPERWORK FILED UNDER THE 75
PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT RATE.
IT WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY
CONVERTED.
WE DON'T HAVE TO RESUBMIT, AND
THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL
PAPERWORK REQUIRED.
ONCE THEY START TO CUT CHECKS
THEY WILL CUT IT AT A 100
PERCENT RATE AND FOR FOLKS THEY
ALREADY CUT CHECKS THEY WILL
PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE.
THE TIMING IS ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES IN DEALING WITH
FEMA.
BUT I WILL SPEAK IN A FEW
MOMENTS.
THE CASH FLOW IS NOT A
SIGNIFICANT ONE AND HE WE
WOULD LIKE TO BE REPAID SOONER
THAN LATER BUT IT'S NOT
CRITICAL FOR US.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
I AM GLAD YOU WON'T HAVE TO
APPLY AGAIN FOR THE 100 PERCENT
AND A STRONG INDICATION THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING
QUICKLY AND WITH COMMON SENSE
AS WE TRY AND RESPOND TO THIS
CRISIS.
OKAY.
SO MORE TO COME ON THE
EXPECTATION FOR THE TIMELINE
FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
I DO WANT TO MAKE LIKE A
GENERAL STATEMENT AND ASK IF
THIS IS ACCURATE.
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HEARD THAT
THE PEOPLE TO REIMBURSEMENT WAS
THREE YEARS WHICH IS INCREDIBLY
CUMBERSOME, AND WE MET WITH THE
KING COUNTY DIRECTOR, AND THEY
RECEIVED FUNDING FOR THE FIRST
HALF OF 2020.
SO SIX MONTHS COMPARED TO THREE
YEARS.
ANY OTHER INDICATION THAT THE
FEMA REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE
COMING IN AS QUICKLY AS SIX
MONTHS OR HINTS HOW QUICKLY
JURISDICTIONS MIGHT EXPECT
REIMBURSE!
>> I CAN SAY THAT I THINK THAT
THE THREE YEARS WAS THE WORST
CASE.
AND I THINK IT WAS BUILD AROUND
MORE STORMS AND EARTHQUAKES F
YOU WILL.
I DID FOLLOW UP WITH THE
COUNTY, AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO RECEIVE
THE CHECK WHEN THEY DID.
THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE AS
PAYMENT AS QUICKLY AS THEY HAD
THEY HAD ORIGINALLY FILED IN
AUGUST.
CLASSICALLY, YOU SIGNED YOUR
SUBMITTAL WHEN THE WORK WAS
COMPLETED.
THAT IS NOT THE SCENARIO WE ARE
IN.
AND WE MADE SOME SUBMITTALS IN
OCTOBER, AND KING COUNTY MADE
SOME SUBMISSIONS IN AUGUST AND
SO IF WE WERE ON SIX MONTHS, WE
WOULD GET A CHECK IN A COUPLE
OF MONTHS.
THEY HAVE EXPEDITED PAYMENTS.
AND I THINK ONE THING TO
CONSIDER IS BOTH IN TERMS OF
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND, AND
THE DOLLARS LAST YEAR THAT ARE
MADE AVAILABLE IN THE NEW
PACKAGE, PART OF THAT IS
THROUGH THE MANAGE THE CASH
FLOW WITH THE FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT.
AGAIN, NOT AN ISSUE FOR US, BUT
WE DID GET A $130 MILLION CHECK
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN
MARCH OF LAST YEAR, AND
DEPENDING ON HOW THIS BILL
PROCEEDS IN DC, WE MIGHT BE
GETTING A CHECK IN EXCESS OF
THAT IN THE RELATIVE NEAR
FUTURE AND IT WOULD QUICKLY
ADDRESS CASH FLOW NEEDS.
AGAIN, THE LEVEL OF FEMA
DOLLARS IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR US
IN PARTICULAR ANYWAY.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT MAY
CAUSE US CASH FLOW CHALLENGES
THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
BUT THAT, I THINK, IS PART OF
WHY THE DOLLARS ARE SO CRITICAL
TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, TO
SUPPORT THE EXPENDITURE ON AN
INITIAL BASIS WHILE THEY WAIT
FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO, IN
TERMS OF AWARENESS TO AND A
HOPEFULNESS HERE, PART OF THIS
IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT I MENTIONED
BEFORE, FEMA WAS NEVER
PARTICIPATED FOR A CRISIS OF
THIS MAGNITUDE, AND ALSO, WE
HAVE THE DOUBLE WHAMMY OF HARD
TO BELIEVE IN THE CORONAVIRUS
IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
FEMA ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT
CONFIRMED YET BUT THE
HOPEFULNESS IS THAT PRESIDENT
BIDEN HAS NOMINATED THE NEW
YORK CITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DIRECTOR THERE, AND THE CITY
OF SEATTLE THROUGH
PARTICIPATION WITH THE
EMERGENCY MANAGER'S CONNECTION
MEANS I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL
HAVE SOMEONE IN PLACE TO
UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DID YOU
HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> ARE WE STARTING TO GO INTO
THIS LINE OF DISCUSSION AROUND
FEMA REIMBURSEMENT?
OR -- I THINK THERE ARE SLIDES
THAT GIVE DETAIL.
I AM WONDERING WHETHER I SHOULD
ASK QUESTIONS NOW OR WAIT UNTIL
WE GET TO THE SLIDES AND THE
PRESENTATION.
>> LESLIE HAS FOUR MORE
MINUTES, SO IF YOU WANT TO ASK
--
>> NO, NO.
THESE ARE FEMA REIMBURSEMENT
QUESTION FOR THE CITY IN FUTURE
SLIDES.
>> OKAY.
OKAY.
AND LESLIE, WITH THAT, I DON'T
THINK THERE ARE ANY MORE
QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
I AM NOT SEEING ADDITIONAL
HANDS.
ANY LAST COMMENTS FROM YOUR END
OR THINGS TO BE LOOKING FOR
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS HERE?
>> NO.
BUT IT'S SO DELIGHTFUL TO BE IN
FRONT OF YOU VERSUS THREE
MONTHS AGO AND I HOPE WE ARE ON
THE RIGHT PATH AND WE WILL
PIVOT TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND
APPROPRIATIONS AND HOPEFULLY I
WILL BE BACK WITH MORE GOOD
NEWS.
>> EXCELLENT.
WE APPRECIATE GOOD NEWS AFTER A
FEW YEARS OF REALLY TOUGH TIMES
FROM THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, AND IT MAKES
WORK LIFE MUCH BETTER AND THANK
YOU FOR THE WORK THERE, AND
SIERRA, WILL YOU KNOW WITH US?
>> I WILL GO DARK BUT I'LL BE
ON.
>> LESLIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, BEN,
LET'S GET TO THE SLIDE.
>> I'M GOOD.
I WANTED TO UPDATE MORE ON THE
EXISTING FEDERAL FUNDING AND
HOW TO USE IT AND THEN I'LL
TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS GIVEN
THE INFORMATION THAT WE JUST
ALL HEARD FROM LESLIE.
SEE ONE BIG SOURCE OF FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT WE GOT LAST YEAR
WAS THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
FUND, A TOTAL OF $130 MILLION
THERE AND JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT WHERE WE STOOD AND
SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES NOW.
AND AS INDICATED HERE WE SPENT
$103.4 MILLION LAST YEAR, SO
$28 MILLION, AND WE WILL --
WHEN YOU APPROVE THE
REALLOCATION OF THE RESOURCES,
IT APPROVED THE LANGUAGE TO
HAVE IT CARRIED FORWARD IN 2021
BECAUSE THE DOLLARS WERE NOT
FULLY SPENT, THEY WOULD BE
AVAILABLE TO ACCESS THIS YEAR.
SO THERE IS ABOUT $10 MILLION
LEFT AND A VARIETY OF PURPOSES
THERE ACROSS THE BOARD, FOOD,
SHELTER, SOME PPE FOR CITY
EMPLOYEES, AND ELEMENTS OF
THAT THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT
TERRITORY.
THERE WERE PURPOSELY RESERVES
OF JUST OVER $17 MILLION THAT
WERE HELD.
AGAIN, THAT WAS PART OF THE
OVERALL ALLOCATION PROCESS AND
THEY WERE HELD TO COVER THE
FEMA MASKS MAX.
25 PERCENT LOCAL MASK AND
HOLDING IN RESERVE, I'LL
HIGHLIGHT THAT IN A MOMENT, TO
COVER THE RISK THAT FEMA MIGHT
REJECT SOME SHARE OF WHAT WE
SUBMITTED AS REIMBURSABLE
COSTS.
SO TWO RISKS, ONE THEY REDEEM
AN EXPENSE NOT BEING
CATEGORICALLY ELIGIBLE.
BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT WOULD
HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
CAREFUL TO SEEK GUIDANCE, AND
DOCUMENTATION IN THE WAY THAT
THE RESOURCES WERE PREPARED.
THE BOTTOM LINE IT'S LIKELY TO
HOLD SOME RESERVE FOR THE RISK
BUT NOT A RESERVE AS LARGE AS
THIS.
SO A SHARE OF THESE RESOURCES
ARE AVAILABLE, AND THE RULES ON
THE CRF CHANGED LATE LAST YEAR
AND HAD TO BE FULLY EXTENDED
THROUGH 2020 AND NOW THROUGH
2021.
SO THE RESOURCES WILL BE
AVAILABLE FOR US AS WE THINK
ABOUT ALLOCATING BOTH THE
EXISTING RESOURCES AND NEW
RESOURCES THAT MAY BE COMING.
SO THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE CRF
RESOURCE.
>> AND JUST SO I'M CLEAR ON THE
LAST SLIDE THAT'S ABOUT $27
MILLION THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE
TO BE CARRIED OVER INTO 2021
FOR THE END OF YEAR.
>> 28 MILLION FOR --
APPROXIMATELY 11 ALLOCATED FOR
SPECIFIC RELIEF EFFORTS, AND
JUST OVER 17 MILLION WE HAD
BEEN HOLDING IN RESERVE GIVEN
THE CHANGING RULES ON FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT.
>> AND IF OTHERS ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THIS, WE WANT A LITTLE
MORE CLARITY.
11 ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY FOR
RELIEF AND WHAT CATEGORIES?
>> I HAVE NO -- YEAH.
SORRY.
ONE MOMENT.
TRYING TO DO TOO MANY THINGS
HERE AT THE AT THE SAME TIME.
ONE SECOND.
I WILL TRY AND SHARE THE RIGHT
PIECES AGAIN.
SO IT'S A VARIETY OF USES
INCLUDING FOOD, SOME ASPECT OF
SHELTER, PPE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES
AND A VARIETY OF THINGS.
WE HAD RESOURCES IN DIFFERENT
WAYS AS PART OF THE ALLOCATION
PLAN.
I CAN GET YOU THE DETAILS.
I HAVE THEM ON A DIFFERENT
SCREEN.
I AM TRYING TO SHARE SCREENS
AND MY NOTES, AND IT'S NOT
POSSIBLE.
>> THE $28 MILLION, 17 IN
RESERVE AND 11 DEDICATED RIGHT
NOW, THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE
23 MILLION FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YES.
SORRY.
NOW I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
>> IT WAS A SEPARATE QUESTION,
BUT THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO DIG IN ON THE 17
MILLION TOTAL RESERVE.
JUST TO CLARIFY IS IT BECAUSE
WE RECEIVED SOME FEMA
REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WE WILL BE
COMFORTABLE GOING INTO THAT NOW
OR BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW GUIDANCE
GETTING MORE CONFIDENCE.
>> SORRY.
GOOD QUESTION.
AND PRIMARILY THE SHIFT FROM
75 PERCENT TO 100 PERCENT
REIMBURSEMENT.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF
FEMA FUNDING WE WOULD TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF.
IT'S SOMEWHAT SMALLER THAN WE
ANTICIPATED BECAUSE OTHER
GOVERNMENTS WHO, THE STATE AND
COUNTY, STEPPED UP IN AREAS
WHERE WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE
DIRECT PLAYERS.
UNDER THE FEMA RULES, IF YOU
WILL, OUR AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE
AN ALLOCATED OR DELEGATED
AUTHORITY FROM THE ENTITIES.
IF YOU HAVE GONE FROM 75
PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT TO 100
PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT, AND WE
DON'T NEED THAT 25 PERCENT
SHARE BUT MY ONLY CAVEAT IS
THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK.
SO WE MAY WANT TO HOLD SOME
RESERVE AND YOU WILL WANT THE
FULL $17 MILLION, BUT THE ONLY
RISK IS IT'S NOT A RISK.
WE DON'T HAVE THE LOCAL MAX
ISSUE.
THE ONLY ISSUE IS THE RISK OF
DENIAL, AND AGAIN, WE ARE
BEING CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A
SIGNIFICANT RISK.
>> SURE BUT TO FOLLOW UP ON
THAT, THEN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
POTENTIALLY REDUCING THE
RESERVE LEVEL, LIKE HOW MUCH
BLACK IS THAT NEW INFORMATION
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PUTTING INTO THAT?
LIKE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
DRAWING IT DOWN, YOU KNOW, BY
25 PERCENT OR BY HALF OR --
>> NO.
I -- AGAIN WE HAVEN'T --
>> I AM JUST TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND.
>> TO YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T
HAVE A PRECISE ANSWER FOR YOU.
BUT AGAIN, WHAT WE KNOW IS THE
SHIFT FROM 75 TO 100 PERCENT IS
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AT A VERY
HIGH LEVEL WITHOUT THE DETAILS
TO FOLLOW UP.
IT SPECIFICALLY REFERENCES
RETRO ACTIVE, AND IT WILL IN
THEORY APPLY TO THE
EXPENDITURES LAST YEAR.
SO MY GUESS IS A RESERVE OF $5
MILLION OR A LITTLE BIT LESS
WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT
LOOKING FORWARD AS WELL AND
ONCE WE GET ADDITIONAL CLARITY
ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESOURCES IN
THE NEW BILL, WE WILL HAVE A
BETTER CHANCE OF WHAT DOLLARS
WILL GET SPENT FROM THOSE
RESOURCES BASED ON WHAT WE DRAW
FROM FEMA GOING FORWARD.
YOU CAN TELL IT'S A COMPLICATED
STORY.
>> SO YOU ARE SAYING WE WANT
WANT TO HANG ON TO AT LEAST
FIVE OF THE 17 MILLION AS A
RESERVE TO HEDGE AGAINST
POSSIBLY NOT GETTING FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT?
>> THAT IS MY BEST GUESS.
I HADN'T THOUGHT THROUGH IT
BEFORE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION
BUT AS I FIGURE TODAY, YES.
>> OKAY.
GOOD TO KNOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS UP
NEXT, AND $5 MILLION OUT OF
THE FEMA REIMBURSABLE DOLLARS
BUT THERE IS 40 MILLION IN THE
GENERAL RESERVE OF THE CITY.
CORRECT?
>> LET ME BE CLEAR.
THIS CORRECT WILL NOT BE OUT OF
THE EMERGENCY RESERVE ACCOUNT
OR THE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT.
THESE WERE DOLLARS WE CHOSE NOT
TO SPEND AND APPROPRIATE TO
SPECIFIC COVID RELIEF BECAUSE
WE WANTED TO HOLD THEM,
ANTICIPATING THAT WE MIGHT NEED
THEM AGAIN TO ADDRESS FEMA
ISSUES ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
AND TO HEDGE OUR BETS FOR OTHER
NEEDS WE HADN'T FULLY
ANTICIPATED.
SO THIS IS A RESERVE WITHIN THE
C RF SPENDING, AND IT'S
ENTIRELY SEPARATE FROM THE
FORMAL EMERGENCY FUND AND
REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT,
THE RAINY DAY FUND.
>> THANK YOU.
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE FOCUS OF THE
QUESTION IS WHAT'S REMAINING.
BUT I WANT TO GO TO THE TOP
PART OF THE SLIDE WHICH IS A
FOCUS ON WHAT HAS BEEN SPENT ON
2020, ABOUT $103 MILLION.
AND OF THE $103 MILLION, WHAT
PERCENTAGE ARE WE GOING TO BE
SEEKING FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR?
>> NONE.
THIS IS FEDERAL MONEY.
YOU CAN'T JUST -- IN SOME WAYS,
IT'S THE OPPOSITE.
>> GOT IT.
>> WE NEED TO BE SPENDING THESE
DOLLARS BEFORE WE DIP INTO
FEMA.
>> I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE
SOURCE WAS FOR THIS FUND.
YOU HAD REFERENCED EARLIER THAT
IT WAS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
SOURCES SO IT WASN'T CLEAR THIS
IS ALL FEDERAL DOLLARS.
WE CAN'T ASK THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO REIMBURSE US FOR
MONEY THEY HAVE GIVEN US.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CLARIFY.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
APPRECIATE THE QUESTION,
AND DIRECTOR NOBLE, I KNOW YOU
HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES BUT THIS
SLIDE IS VERY HELPFUL AS IT
RELATES TO CFR.
AND FORGIVE ME IF THIS QUESTION
AND YOU ARE GOING TO GET TO IT
LATER BUT DO WE HAVE A SIMILAR
SLIDE WHERE WE CAN SEE WHAT THE
CITY'S -- WHAT RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE BY SOMEONE IN THE
CITY RELATED TO EXISTING FEMA
DOLLARS?
>> CHAIR MOSQUEDA, I DID HAVE A
FOLLOW UP I THINK IN THE SAME
LINE OF QUESTIONING.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YEAH.
>> SO WHAT I AM SEEKING HERE,
AND I THINK PERHAPS, MADAM
CHAIR, YOU ARE AS WELL, IT'S AN
UNDERSTANDING OF FOR 2020, WHAT
IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOLLARS
THAT WE ARE SEEKING
REIMBURSEMENT FOR TO FEMA?
I -- I SEEMS TO RECALL FROM A
BUDGET PRESENTATION DURING THE
REBALANCING DISCUSSIONS IN
JUNE, AND THE NUMBER THAT WAS
WE DISCUSSED AT THE TIME WAS
$35 MILLION.
BUT I LOOKED.
I CAN'T FIND SORT OF AN -- YOU
KNOW, THAT WAS JUNE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT
ASSUMPTIONS WERE MADE AFTER
JUNE.
SO JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE
OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOLLARS
FOR 2020.
>> AND THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES
LEAD TO THOSE EXACT ANSWERS.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BEN.
THE THREE MEMBERS ARE WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ASKS, THE
REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES THAT HAVE
INOCCURRED AND THE CURRENT
AMOUNT FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT
AND THE TIMELINE FOR THE
REIMBURSEMENT.
I JUST DELINEATED THE QUESTION.
>> YES.
I WILL STICK TO MY SLIDE A BIT
BUT JUST A DETOUR.
THE NEXT SLIDE WILL TALK ABOUT
WHERE WE THINK WE ARE HEADED.
JUST ONE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE
BEFORE OUR ACTUAL REIMBURSEMENT
PROCESS AND ONE THAT I MADE
EARLIER, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
THAT WE, THE CITY, ARE UNDER
THE FEMA PROCESS, WE ARE NOT
THE DESIGNATED LEAD FOR
FUNDAMENTALLY A PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
IT IS, IN FACT, THE PUBLIC
HEALTH ENTITY, AND IT HASN'T
PRECLUDED US FROM BEING
ACTIVELY INVOLVED BUT NEEDING
TO WORK CLOSELY WITH KING
COUNTY AND KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH ALSO WITH THE STATE TO
BE DESIGNATED AS AN ENTITY THAT
IS WORKING, SOMETIMES, FOR THEM
OR IN CLOSE COORDINATION AT A
MINIMUM FOR THE EMERGENCY AND
WE HAVE OUR ROLE ON SHELTER AND
VACCINATIONS AND TESTING, AND
JUST AN EXAMPLE OF FOOD SO
THAT'S WHAT ALLOWED US TO USE
FEMA RESOURCES IN THE
ACTIVITIES.
IN TERMS OF THE PPE FOR SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE
OFFICERS AND THE LIKE, SOME OF
THE DIRECT STUFF WE ARE DOING,
WE ARE THE LEAD ENTITY BUT FOR
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FORMS OF
RELIEF, WE ARE NOT AND HAVE
BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
OTHERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S RELEVANT
BECAUSE WHEN WE REPORTED TO YOU
IN JUNE AND I WENT BACK TO LOOK
AT THE SAME PRESENTATION,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WE WERE
PROTECTING THE COSTS TO COME AS
MUCH AS $45 MILLION WHICH,
AGAIN, 75 PERCENT RATE WOULD
HAVE HAD NEEDING -- SEEK
REIMBURSEMENT IN THE ORDER OF
$30 TO $35 MILLION.
AS IT TURNS OUT, OTHER ENTITIES
HAVE STEPPED UP TO BE THE
NATURAL LEAD ENTITY, EITHER
KING COUNTY OR THE STRAIGHT,
AND OUR FEMA SPENDING HASN'T
BEEN SMALLER SO IN TOTAL, WE
ARE EXPECTING A SIGNIFICANT
FEMA REIMBURSEMENT OF $16
MILLION FOR 2020 EXPENDITURES.
THAT'S THE TOTE A NOW, MIND
YOU, THE EXPENDITURES ARE
CONTINUING TO 2021 AND THAT
THEANT BE THE -- WON'T BE THE
FINAL TOTAL.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED $5 MILLION
AND PREPARING DOCUMENTATION FOR
THE REMAINDER.
AND IN TERMS OF WHEN WE EXPECT
TO BE PAID, YOU KNOW, OUR
INITIAL SUBMITTING IN OCTOBER,
CERTAINLY DON'T EXPECT THIS
BEFORE SIX MONTHS.
HARD TO KNOW, AND THEY ARE
TALKING EXPEDITED.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A BASES TO
BASE -- BASIS TO GIVE YOU AN
ESTIMATE, AND SOME CASES, THE
FEMA REIMBURSEMENT HAS TAKEN
MORE THAN A YEAR.
THAT'S ON THE TIMING WHAT WE
KNOW.
AS I MENTIONED, I AM NOT
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS GIVEN AGAIN THE ORDER, NOT
SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY BUT THE
SCALE OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.
IT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGE FROM THE TIMING ON
SOME OTHER REVENUES THAT MAY
RAISE ISSUES TO BRING TO YOU
LATER BUT THESE EXPENDITURES
ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT, AND
AGAIN, THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE
FORTHCOMING TO GO A LANGUAGE
WAY TO ADDRESS ANY CASH FLOW
CONCERNS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND
GETTING BACK TO THE MORE PRO-
ACTIVE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
IN CONFRONTING THIS EMERGENCY
IN THE PARTNERSHIP THROUGH
CITIES, WE HAVE A VISIBLE NEED
FOR THINGS
THAT ARE FEMA REIMBURSABLE.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CRF
MONEY RESERVE THAT HAS BEEN OUR
HEDGE AGAINST THE NON-
REINFORCEMENT, IS THAT MONEY
LIMITED IN TALKING ABOUT THE
TIME FRAMES IN THE FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT TIMELINES?
I MEAN TO SAY IF THE CITY WERE
TO FRONT THE MONEY THROUGH SOME
OTHER MECHANISM TO PAY FOR
THINGS THAT WE THINK UNDER THE
NEW GUIDANCE OF FEMA
REIMBURSABLE, DO WE HOLD THE
MONEY FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES
TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT OR
DOES THE MONEY TURN INTO A
PUMPKIN AT SOME POINT AND WE
CAN'T USE IT IF WE HAVEN'T
SPENT IT?
>> I WILL USE THE PUMPKIN
REFERENCE MYSELF AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE END OF
2021 WHICH IS A CHALLENGE TO
THE FEMA TIMELINE.
I WILL SAY -- I'M GOING TO BE
CAREFUL HERE BUT WE CAN
PROBABLY GET CREATIVE ENOUGH TO
FIND A WAY TO HOLD THE RESERVE
OF MORE FLEXIBLE DOLLARS TO
CARRY BEYOND THE END OF 2021.
THE POINT IS THE CRF DOLLARS
COULD SOME POINT OTHER
ACTIVITIES AND FREEING UP
RESOURCES THAT COULD BECOME THE
RESERVE AND IF YOU WILL, A TIME
LEFT RESERVE.
SO NO PUMPKIN.
>> RIGHT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE
TIMELINE AND HANGING ON TO THE
CRF MONEY AND MORE DESIGNED FOR
THE REIMBURSEMENT --
>> LET ME -- ON THE BUDGETING
SIDE, IT'S -- IF THE TIME
CONSTRAINT ON 2020 WAS NOT
LIFTED, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO FULLY EXPEND THE CRF AND A
GOOD DEAL OF FLEXIBLIBILITY,
AND THE CRF WAS NOT -- IT DID
ALLOW FLEXIBLE USES.
WE UNDERSTAND HAVE FOUND A WAY
TO SPEND IT, AND WE WOULD HAVE
USED IT TO PAY FOR SOME OTHER
COSTS AND HELD THE RESERVE AS A
DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCE, IF
YOU WILL.
AND WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN IF
THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT
STRATEGICALLY MAKES SENSE.
I WOULDN'T-- THE TIME BOUNDS
ON THE CRF, I DON'T SEE A
SIGNIFICANT CONSTRAINT.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO TIME
BOUNDS AS DESCRIBED ON THE NEW
FEDERAL DOLLARS WHICH WILL BE
AN OPPORTUNITY I THINK, AND I
MENTIONED THIS IN THE BULLETS
GOING FORWARD THAT WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR
THE USE OF THOSE RESOURCES.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A HUGE NEED
IMMEDIATELY BUT TITLE IF WE ARE
SETTING UP ASSISTANCE OVERTIME
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
WILL BE PHASED OUT IN THEIR OWN
TIME FRAME.
>> SO YOU CAN BE SUPER NIMBLE.
APPRECIATE THAT, AND THAT'S
GREAT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION, AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
AND THE VICE CHAIR, ANY
ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UPS?
>> I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS LOOKING FORWARD.
I AM STILL HAVING A BIT OF
TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING 2020 AND
THAT WE ARE ONLY ANTICIPATING
$15 MILLION IN FEMA
REIMBURSEMENTS.
I AM PUTTING TOGETHER A COUPLE
OF PIECES OF INFORMATION, AND
IN DOING SO, IT MAKES ME FEEL
LIKE YES, IT'S TRUE.
WE DON'T HAVE A CASH FLOW
PROBLEM BUT IS THAT -- IS THAT
BECAUSE -- I MEAN, NOT THAT I
WANT -- THAT I WANT A PROBLEM
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE -- BECAUSE
WE'VE NOT BEEN AGGRESSIVE IN
DOING THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
THAT WE COULD GET FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THE
BELIEF IT WOULD TAKE THREE
YEARS AND WE HAVE GONE TO A
SITUATION -- I APPRECIATE THERE
ARE OTHER PARTNERS THAT HAVE
STEPPED FORWARD TO TAKE THE
LEAD AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SAY OKAY.
THEY WILL DO THAT.
WHAT'S THE OTHER THING WE CAN
DO?
I THINK ONE THING THAT MIGHT
HELP ME GET PERSPECTIVE THAT
MIGHT -- THAT I MIGHT BE
LACKING RIGHT NOW IS SOME SORT
OF A -- IS THERE A MATERIAL
THAT FEMA IS PUTTING OUT ABOUT
THE REIMBURSEMENT TO OTHER
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY JUST
FOR A REALITY CHECK TO SEE WHAT
REIMBURSEMENT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE GETTING?
>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO FIND OUT
WHAT WE CAN ABOUT THAT.
AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE CONCERNS
THAT CASH FLOW IS -- I
CERTAINLY HAVE NOT PUT ANY
CONSTRAINTS ON THE USE OF FEMA
DOLLARS OVER A CASH FLOW
CONCERN.
THAT'S NOT A CONSIDERATION.
IT INSTEAD HAS TO DO WITH
ELIGIBILITY AND CAPACITY
OVERALL TO DELIVER SERVICES,
AND HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I AM KIND OF CURIOUS MYSELF.
BUT, YEAH.
WE'LL GET THAT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE HAVE 10 MORE MINUTES,
AND I KNOW PEOPLE TO LOOK
FORWARD.
>> I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST --
>> REALTY QUICK.
WE ALREADY SUBMITTED FOR FIVE
MILLION AND WILL SUBMIT FOR 10
MILLION MORE AND SUBMITTED THE
INITIAL REIMBURSEMENT IN
OCTOBER.
WHEN WILL WE SUBMIT FOR THE
REMAINING $10 MILLION?
>> I DON'T HAVE A DATE BUT ONE
OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO
MENTION, AND PROBABLY THE LAST
SLIDE, WE HAVE BEEN STEPPING UP
IN THE VACCINATION SPACE OF
LATE, AND THAT IS PROVING TO
BE VERY COMPLEX FOR THE
CONTRACTING, AND AGAIN, I WANT
TO MENTION, FEMA -- RECEIVING
REIMBURSEMENT IS PROCURING AND
DOCUMENTING VERY CAREFULLY.
THE TEAM THAT WAS WORKING TO
SUBMIT ON 2020 TO DO THE
VACCINE WORK, YOU KNOW, THE
MASS VACCINATION SITES, THE
BOTTOM LINE, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE DO THAT RIGHT.
FOR THE BOTTOM LINE WE NEED
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO WORK ON
THE FEMA PROCESSING AND USE
AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY
EMPLOYEES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
BEING SMART ABOUT THIS.
AND THAT WAS A DECISION MADE
RECENTLY, AND ARE FINDING OUT A
WAY TO MAKE THAN.
SEE, JUST AGAIN, LOOKING
FORWARD AS WE ARE DISCUSSING
FEMA'S REIMBURSEMENT 100
PERCENT AND RETROACTIVELY.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT TOO MUCH
EMPHASIS ON THIS BUT WE ARE
WAITING FOR THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
FROM A HIGH LEVEL, AND THAT'S
WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL SIGN,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKE
SURE WE FULLY UNDERSTAND IT.
AS I MENTIONED BECAUSE WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS, TOO, WE
WILL HAVE SOME RESERVE FOR JUST
THE RISK OF DENIAL.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE VERY
CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T END UP
SPENDING ON THINGS THAT WERE
NOT ELIGIBLE OR AREN'T IN A
POSITION TO DOCUMENT SPENDING
AND WE WANT TO BE SURE WE HAVE
DONE THE PROCUREMENT
APPROPRIATELY.
SO ANOTHER BIG POINT THAT ONLY
HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
AND IT'S A GAME CHANGER WORKING
FORWARD IS THAT THEY -- FEMA
HAS ANNOUNCED THE REIMBURSEMENT
ELIGIBILITY WILL EXTEND THROUGH
SEPTEMBER.
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN GOING
THREE MONTHS AT A TIME.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
TAKE A WHILE TO DO AND SEPARATE
FOR SOME TIME, AND WE NOW HAVE
TIME FOR LONGER-TERM PLANNING
ONCE WE GET THE INFORMATION FOR
OTHER FEDERAL MONEY, AND THEN
WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MIX
THE TWO SCREENS, IF YOU WILL,
OR MULTIPLE SCREENS.
SO THOSE ARE BIG PIECES THAT
ARE DIFFERENT AND THAT WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO SO AT THE
SAME TIME, KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW
ABOUT -- WELL, IF THE VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION CONTINUES AT THE
PACE, IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TO
THINK THAT THE FEMA ELIGIBILITY
MIGHT BE AT THE END OF
SEPTEMBER AS WELL.
BUT THROUGH SEPTEMBER A HUGE
ADVANTAGE IN THE SENSE OF
PLANNING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE.
>> OKAY.
CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION
ABOUT THAT?
I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS A
SINCERE INTEREST IN MAKING SURE
WE GET 100 PERCENT OF THE
REIMBURSEMENT, EVEN 75 PERCENT
WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT BUT 100
PERCENT IS FANTASTIC.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DELAYS.
ARE LOS ANGELES AND SAN
FRANCISCO WAITING FOR IT OR ARE
THEY MOVING FORWARD LIKE THE
HEADLINES SAY WITH 100 PERCENT
OF FEDERAL FUNDS WITH THE
ARTICLES OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO
AND LOS ANGELES?
>> I KNOW, AGAIN -- YEAH.
NO.
THAT -- THAT IS HOLDING US
BACK.
I EXPECT GOING FORWARD 100
PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT.
THERE ARE DETAILS THAT WE DON'T
HAVE.
THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE HOLDING US
BACK IN IMPORTANT WAYS.
THE OVER ALL STRATEGY IS
WHETHER ALL EXPENSES THAT ARE
100 PERCENT OR IF THERE ARE
LIMITATIONS.
>> I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE
BUT MY CONCERN WHEN I HEAR
THAT, I AM HOPING THAT WE ARE
ASSUMING 100 PERCENT OF THE
FUNDS WILL COME, AND IT SEEMS
LIKE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE
ACTING NOW WITH BROAD
ASSUMPTIONS THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO GET REIMBURSED.
SO ARE YOU ALSO MOVING FORWARD
WITH IMPLEMENTING VARIOUS
STRATEGIES?
ARE YOU -- HOW MUCH OF THIS
WAITING FOR THE FEDERAL
GUIDANCE IS HOLDING BACK
PLANNING?
>> IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANTLY
HOLDING BACK PLANNING.
I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE GOING
FORWARD WILL BE HOW TO DIRECT A
-- NEXT SLIDE.
SO I'LL MOVE ON.
AND IT'S TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO
DIRECT -- YOU'LL SEE HOW BIG IT
IS.
IN THE NEXT FEDERAL RELIEF
PACKAGE, WE'LL SEE HOW THE
FUNDING INTERACTS WITH THE FEMA
RESOURCES.
BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THERE WILL
BE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO US
AND EXPECT TO BE RESOLVED FOR
THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.
AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR US
TO BE WAITING.
BUT PERFECT WE MAKE A FINAL
DECISION, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW
MUCH WILL BE FUNDED VIA FEMA OR
SOME OTHER SOURCE.
SO WE ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO
EXTEND AND RECOGNIZE THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND
FLEXIBLE ONES HEADED OUR WAY.
SO JUST HIGHLIGHTING THERE ARE
SPECIFICS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE
IN HAND YET.
AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE
DETAILS OF THE BILL.
>> LET'S GO TO THE LAST SLIDE,
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
DONE ON TIME.
>> REAL QUICK.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD, WHAT WE SEE
HERE IS NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND
THANKFULLY SO.
AND IF WE GET NEW ARE YOU
SOURCES AS DESCRIBED, SOME OF
IT IN A GRANT FOR FLEXIBLE
PURPOSES.
BUT NOTABLY, ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES TARGETING FOOD AND
HOMELESSNESS AND VARIOUS OTHER
ASPECTS.
SO WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH
MONEY THOSE ARE AND WHO THEY
ARE GOING TO.
IN THE PAST, MORE TARGETED
FUNDING PROVIDED AT THE STATE
OR COUNTY LEVEL, AND THAT'S THE
CASE.
SO WE WANT TO SEE WHERE WE CAN
FILL IN AND ARE NEEDED TO FILL
IN THE SERVICE GAPS.
A LITTLE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
FROM FEMA WOULD BE HOPEFUL.
AND REVENUE REPLACEMENT IS ONE
OF THE ELIGIBLE USES OF THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE
ANTICIPATE.
WE WILL BE DEVELOPING A REVENUE
FORECAST OVER THE COURSE OF
MARCH TO BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY
APRIL THAT COULD REVEAL THAT WE
MIGHT HAVE REVENUE REPLACEMENT
FROM LAST YEAR OR WE HAVEN'T
DONE THE FORECAST AND DON'T
KNOW WHICH WAY IT'S GOING.
AND MY PESSIMISTIC NATURE, I
WOULD NOTE THAT THE REVENUE UP
AT THE WE GIVE YOU IN NOVEMBER
WAS CLOSER TO THE HIGH
WATERMARK IN THINKING ABOUT THE
ECONOMY AND THE RESURGENCE OF
COVID OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD
HAS HAD ECONOMIC IMPACT BUT
WE'LL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE
REVENUE FORECAST SHOWS AND LAST
NOTED, THERE ARE SMALL SCALE
GRANTS WORKING ON FOR PART OF
THE OVERALL STRATEGY.
THE BOTTOM LINE WE ARE WORKING
TO LEARN A GOOD DEAL MORE AND
MOVE QUICKLY TO DEVELOP AN
OVERALL AND COMPREHENSIVE
PROPOSAL TO HOW TO USE THE NEW
RESOURCES AND REMAINING
RESOURCES WE HIGHLIGHTED AS
WELL.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON THE
LAST SLIDE?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I AM HAVING A HARD TIME.
I AM SO SORRY.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION, TOO.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> ARE YOU SURE?
OKAY.
>> JUST BRIEFLY ON THE LAST
BULLET OF YOUR LAST SLIDE
THERE, WHERE DID IT GO, RELATED
TO THE 23 MILLION.
>> OH, YEAH.
SORRY.
>> FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, IT'S
COMING SOON.
WE GOT THIS BUDGET IN DECEMBER
2020.
ARE THERE DELAYS, AND HOW SOON
FIRST BEING A CRITICAL DATE FOR
WHEN RENTAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD
BE IN HAND GIVEN ALL OF THE
CONCERNS WE HAVE ABOUT EVICTION
PREVENTION AND MORATORIUM.
CAN WE ANTICIPATE SEEING
SOMETHING BEFORE APRIL 1?
>> YES.
THE LEGISLATION, I DON'T KNOW
WHERE IT IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT
SCHEDULE BUT I THINK NEXT WEEK
IS TOO SOON TO COMMIT BUT THE
WEEK FOLLOWING.
I SHARE YOUR URGENCY.
I APOLOGIZE.
I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE
SLIDE.
THERE IS UNFORTUNATE ON THE
FUNDING SIDE, AND JUST ON YOUR
OBSERVATION ON WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN LOS ANGELES, WE
ARE NOT HOLDING BACK.
HSD WAS LOOKING AT RESOURCES
RUNNING OUT FOR THE EXTENDED
FOOD BANKS AND FOOD DELIVERY
CONTRACTS.
WE WILL USE THE EXISTING BUDGET
AUTHORITY FOR 2021 AND THEY
WILL CONTINUE THE WORK, ABOUT
HALF A MILLION A MONTH TO
EXTEND THE CONTRACTS.
ULTIMATELY, WE WILL NEED
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SEE WHERE
IT WILL COME FROM NOW, AND SO,
THAT -- SO THAT IS AN EXISTING
PROGRAM THAT WE WILL CONTINUE.
OSE LOOKING AT A COUPLE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ADDITIONAL
COST-RELATED -- THE GROCERY
INTJ USED
USE -- BUDGET IS USED AT A
HIGHER RATE THAN EARLY ON.
THE HOTELING WORK AND THE
EXPECTED ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE
PROGRESS NEXT WEEK WILL COST US
MORE THAN ANTICIPATED.
THE BUDGET AUTHORITY WILL COVER
THAT EXPENSE.
SO, AGAIN, THAT MASS
VACCINATION IS GOING FORWARD AS
WELL, AND YES, $23 MILLION AND
PART OF THE $900 MILLION
PACKAGE PASSED LAST YEAR FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A
DIRECT $23 MILLION FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND LEGISLATION TO
FOLLOW UP SHORTLY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
FOLLOW UP?
>> YEAH.
SO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR
NOT WE'RE LEAVING FEMA DOLLARS
ON THE TABLE IS A QUESTION THAT
LOOMS LARGE IN MY MIND, AND
DIRECTOR NOBLE, I AM NOT IN ANY
WAY SUGGESTING THAT YOU ARE
PUTTING UP ANY BUREAUCRATIC
TOTALS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS
ABOUT CASH FLOW.
I JUST FEEL LIKE, FOR INSTANCE,
IN JUNE, WE ANTICIPATED
SPENDING THAT WOULD REQUIRE US
TO SEEK $35 MILLION IN FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT, AND WE HAD
OTHER PARTNERS WHO TOOK THE
LEAD, AND NOW IT'S LIKE $15
MILLION.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED
OF THE CHANGE WHEN IT WAS LIKE
WE WERE THINKING OF SEEKING $35
MILLION IN FEMA REIMBURSEMENT
BUT WE DON'T NEED TO BASED ON
OTHER JURISDICTIONS COMING
FORWARD FULFILLING THE NEED.
THERE IS GREAT NEED IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE DO TO
MEET THOSE NEEDS?
I AM HOPING MOVING FORWARD WE
CAN BE MORE NIMBLE WHEN THE
FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS AREN'T
REALIZED AND SPECIFIC TO THIS
MOMENT IN TIME, I APPRECIATE
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
THINK ABOUT SORT OF AN OVERALL
PLAN FOR ADDRESSING COMMUNITY
NEEDS AND WHICH OF THE NEEDS WE
MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS WILL BE
REIMBURSABLE BUT WE, IN THIS
MOMENT IN TIME, WE HEARD FROM
FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY THAT A PROGRAM THAT
OPERATES IN TWO SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS WILL STOP
OPERATING ON THE 15th OF MARCH
OPERATING TO THE TUNE OF $6.5
MILLION IN KING COUNTY.
SOME DESCRIBE IT AS A KING
COUNTY PROGRAM.
I DON'T SEE IT AS A KING COUNTY
PROGRAM.
WE AGREED THAT HOMELESSNESS IS
A REGIONAL CHALLENGE.
KING COUNTY, THOSE ARE TWO
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THEY
HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUPPORT
OF THE PROGRAM THROUGH C.A.R.
E.S.
ACT FUNDING AND THE COUNTY
DOESN'T FEEL IT CAN HELP
BECAUSE THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL
C.A.R.E.S.
ACT FUNDING, AND FOR THEIR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE
RESTRICTIONS AROUND FEMA SINCE
THE LOCATIONS IN SEATTLE,
THEY'LL NOT BE ABLE TO GET FEMA
REIMBURSEMENTS THROUGH KING
COUNTY FOR THOSE LOCATIONS.
SO I JUST FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO
BE ACTING IN A WAY THAT IS --
THAT IS MORE NIMBLE AND MORE
CREATIVE AND, YOU KNOW, AND
AGAIN, I AM NOT SUGGESTING YOU
ARE PUTTING UP BUREAUCRATIC
HURDLES BUT THAT WE ARE, AS A
CITY RESPONDING
BUREAUCRATICALLY TO THE NEED
OUT THERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE
THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY FROM THIS
MORNING.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT YOUR
POINTS ARE VERY WELL TAKEN AND
I THINK THAT THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY AS WE LOOK AT 2021,
THE FUNDING ON THE HORIZON,
AND THE POTENTIAL FOR VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION AND ALL THE FOLKS
WHO ARE LOOKING AT US BOTH AS A
CITY AND A COUNTY TO COME UP
WITH A SOLUTION SO PEOPLE CAN
OPEN UP AND OPEN UP SAFELY, AND
WE KNOW THAT THE FUNDING HAS
BEEN PROVIDED FOR FOLKS FOR
FOOD SECURITY AND HOUSING
ASSISTANCE AND THE $1.9
TRILLION PACKAGE THAT WE HEARD
ABOUT WILL BE A HUGE
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME
TOGETHER.
IF THERE IS THE ABILITY FOR US
TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE $221
MILLION THAT WAS NOTED AND
RECOGNIZING THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE ONGOING
OPERATIONAL COSTS AND FUNDING
PUT FORWARD AND REDIRECTED TO
COVID RELIEF, I THINK THERE IS
A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
COUNCIL TO DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE
BEFORE, AND WE HAVE IN VARIOUS
BUDGET PROCESSES OVER THE YEARS
COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND WHAT I
AM INTERESTED IN DOING WITH ALL
OF YOU IS TO HAVE A RESOLUTION
THAT BRINGS UP THE DISCUSSION
OF THE POTENTIAL DOLLARS AND
THE AVAILABLE FUNDS IN FRONT OF
US AND THE 80 -- THE ABILITY
TO SEE WHERE THE FUNDS GO AND
HOW QUICKLY INTO THE PROGRAMS,
SUPPORTING THE HOMELESS
POPULATION AND SMALL BUSINESSES
AND FROM THE DIA AND OUR MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO FLAG THAT I
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
DIRECTOR NOBLE'S ANSWER AND I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS A
QUESTION, AND I THINK IN THE
NEXT TWO WEEKS WE NEED TO PUT
SUGGESTIONS ON THE DETAILS FOR
HOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS SHOULD
BE USED AND STRATEGIES AND THE
VALUES THAT THE MAYOR AND KING
COUNTY PARTNERS HAVE BEGUN TO
LOOK AT AND WE WANT TO MOVE
FAST AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL DELAYS AND GET A
DRAFT TOGETHER FOR ALL OF US TO
PROVIDE FEED BACK FOR
ADDITIONAL COVID RELIEF AND
MAKE SURE THAT IS IN HAND FOR
DISCUSSION WITH ALL OF THE
INPUT BY THE MARCH 2 MEETING.
I THINK THIS WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW WE CAN
BE A GOOD PARTNER WITH KING
COUNTY ESPECIALLY AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, AND YOU
COMMENTED THAT THEY STEPPED UP
AND STOOD IN TO PROVIDE
DIRECTIVES, BUT THIS IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO MORE
AS A PARTNER IN THAT AREA AS
WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND THEN
DIRECTOR NOBLE, I DIDN'T MEAN
TO CUT YOU OFF.
I KNOW WE ARE OVERTIME, AND WE
KNOW IT TO WRAP UP.
>> JUST A TECHNICAL
CLARIFICATION, AND IT BUILDS
OFF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
SAID.
THIS IS RELATED TO KING
COUNTY'S AUTHORITY AND WHAT
THEY CAN AND CAN'T PAY FOR.
SO RELATED TO THE FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT, WHAT ARE THOSE
GUARDRAILS?
LIKE CAN KING COUNTY ONLY DO
FEMA REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES IN
THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE
POLICING POWERS LIKE SO
UNINCORPORATED KING COUNTY?
IS THAT THE HURDLE AND WHY THEY
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PURSUE
CERTAIN FEMA REIMBURSEMENT
AVENUES.
CAN WE MAYBE COVER THAT?
>> I DO NOT EXPECT TO BE A FEMA
EXPERT BY ANY MEANS, BUT PUBLIC
HEALTH IN MANY ASPECTS, AND
THEY WORK WITH THE COUNTY OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SIMILARLY,
FOR VACCINATIONS, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S MORE OF A
STATE LEVEL AND THE DELEGATION
HAS CONSIDERED WHERE WE ARE
DIRECTLY INVOLVED AS WELL.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
RESPONSES -- SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> DIRECTOR NOBLE, FOR
HOMELESSNESS, IS THAT A
FUNCTION THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
HAS DESIGNATED FOR CONSTITUENT
CITIES?
>> THE KEY ISSUE IS PUBLIC
HEALTH WITH CONGREGATE AND NON-
CONGREGATE HOUSING.
THEY HAVE SEEMED THAT THE NON-
CONGREGATE ARRANGEMENT IS THE
APPROPRIATE ONE, AND WE HAVE
PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY TO
GIVE THE DIRECTION, AND IN
PUBLIC HEALTH, WE ARE IN A
POSITION TO SUBMIT THE COST OF
MOVING THE EXISTING SHELTERS TO
-- TO NON-CONGREGATE SETTINGS.
AND THOSE EXPENSES ARE FEMA
ELIGIBLE, IF YOU WILL, TO WAIVE
THE PUBLIC HEALTH LETTER AS
PART OF THE COMMISSION AND
SIMILARLY IN TERMS OF
ESTABLISHING NEW CONGREGATE
SHELTERS, THAT'S THE IDEA.
AND I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF
THE PROGRAM, SO I CAN'T SPEAK
TO THAT, AND IN TERMS OF THE
FEMA RESOURCE TO HIGHLIGHT THE
POINT THAT I MADE EARLIER,
HAVING A PLANNING WINDOW
THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER
GIVES US MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO
SUPPORT THE DOLLARS
STRATEGICALLY.
WHAT KIND OF EXPENSES ARE
ELIGIBLE, IT'S THE PROCUREMENT
PROCESS WHICH IS A CRITICAL ONE
AND ALSO, THE INFUSION OF
FEDERAL DOLLARS WE ARE
ANTICIPATING, WHETHER FEMA OR
SOME OTHER MONEY, AND THAT'S
THE BEST ONE TO APPLY DIFFERENT
FUNDING NEEDS, AND WE WILL
HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPLORE, IF YOU WILL.
WE WILL HAVE NEW AND
POTENTIALLY MORE FLEXIBLE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE AS WELL.
>> I A POLOGIZE TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
SHE HAS HAD HER HAND RAISED.
I APOLOGIZE FOR KEEPING YOU
WAITING.
>> OH, NO WORRIES.
THIS DUCKTAILS OFF WHAT
DIRECTOR NOBLE JUST SAID WHICH
IS PROVIDING A RESPONSE OF
SORTS TO DIRECTOR HERBOLD.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE OF FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE ARE
TAKING IN SORT OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE
WHOLE SYSTEM.
AND SYSTEMICALLY, WHAT DO WE
WANT TO FUND WITH THE FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT DOLLARS OR HOPE
TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT NOW AND
PLAN AND IMPLEMENT FOR NOW THAT
WE THINK WILL ALLOW US TO GET
MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT FROM
THESE FEMA DOLLARS.
SO, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I HEARD
A LOT OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY THIS
MORNING.
YES, THIS MORNING?
IT WAS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC
PROGRAM AND -- AND I WANT TO
MAKE SUE WE ARE NOT BASING
DECISIONS ON ONE SINGLE PROGRAM
AND LOOKING AT A SPECTRUM OF
INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL BE
NECESSARY OF WHICH THIS PROGRAM
IS PART OF THAT -- THAT
SPECTRUM, AND THAT IN THE
STREAM OF INTERVENTION, AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING
A STEP BACK AND LOOK FROM THE
30,000 FOOT LEVEL AND MAKING
SURE THAT WITH THIS UNIQUE AND
HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO GET UP
TO
100 PERCENT FEMA REIMBURSEMENT,
FOR THIS PANDEMICS AND FOR SO
LONG AS PUBLIC HEALTH IS
DIRECTING US, FRANKLY, TO STAND
UP NON-CONGREGATE SHELTER AND
THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
DIRECTOR NOBLE, ANY COMMENT?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME.
>> AND WE ARE ASSUMING 100
PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT AND
MAKING SURE THERE IS AN
UNDERSTANDING
>>> WE WERE EXPECTING -- ONLY
15 HAS BEEN SPENT.
AND WE WANT TO BE A GOOD
PARTNER WITH KING COUNTY.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF,
THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ON MY
ATTENDANT WE'RE NOT MOVING AS
FAST AND IF YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS, WE'LL HAVE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT MORE
HOMELESSNESS.
>> OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WRAPPING
UP?
>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT GOING
FORWARD.
WE'LL HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT
RESOURCES.
>> TO BE OPTIMISTIC.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU.
THANKS TO OUR COLLEAGUES.
WE'RE ABOUT 20 MINUTES OVER, SO
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTRA TIME
TODAY.
IF FOLKS ARE ABLE TO JOIN PUS
AGAIN ON MARCH 2nd AT 9:30
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION THAT
WAS DELAYED TO ON THE CAPITAL
PROJECTS WATCH LIST AND THANK
YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH
THAT.
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
ADDITIONS YOU MAY ALL HAVE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT
PIECE?
OKAY.
GREAT.
WE'LL GET A CHANCE TO HEAR NEXT
TIME AS WELL.
SO IF YOU DO HAVE ANY EDITS OR
ITEMS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE
ADDED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND
WE WILL CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION AROUND FEDERAL
RELIEF MAKE SURE WE GET THE
DOLLARS IN HAND AND WORKING
WITH OUR ORIGINAL PARTNERS AS
WELL.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND STAY
SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
STEPPING IN.
>> BYE, EVERYONE.