>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE
WELCOME TO THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE.
TODAY IS MARCH 16, 2021.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE WILL
MAKE SURE TO ANNOUNCER, WE HAVE
A FULL AGENDA TODAY AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ON
THE CALENDAR TODAY WE HAVE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY ACT PLAN FROM CENTRAL
STAFF, WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION
ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE
DISCUSSED IN THE LAST MEETING
AND HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, THIS
IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
AMENDMENTS, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE
COUNCIL BILL FOR FEDERAL
APPROPRIATIONS, SORRY, WE WILL
HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE BILL
THAT ALLOCATE $12 MILLION FOR
NONCOGNITIVE SHELTER FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
FINALLY THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
BILL THAT WE DISCUSSED
YESTERDAY WHICH WE WERE
ANTICIPATING GIVEN THE PASSAGE
IN DECEMBER ALLOWING FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND EXPAND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THOSE ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION.
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WONDERFUL, WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HEARS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, I
ONLY SEE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
SIGNING UP PLEASE GO AHEAD AND
DIAL IN, I WILL MAKE SURE TO
GIVE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW
TO CALL IN RIGHT NOW.
AS I DO THAT YOU WILL HAVE TIME
TO SIGN UP.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED WE
ARE OFFERING TWO MINUTES PLEASE
MAKE SURE TO SAY YOUR NAME AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING
MAKE SURE TO NOTE THE ENEMY ARE
HERE TO SPEAK TOWARD AND YOU
WILL HEAR A 10 SECOND TIME AT
THE END OF YOUR TIME WHICH IS
YOUR INDICATION TO WRAP UP.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND WRAP-UP
YOUR COMMENTS.
AT THE END OF TWO MINUTES THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF SO
WE DON'T WANT TO MISS YOUR LAST
CLOSING COMMENTS AND IF YOU DO
GET CAUGHT OFF YOU CAN CALL
BACK IN TO LISTEN ON THE LISTEN
IN LINE AND WATCH ON SEATTLE
CHANNEL YOU CAN EMAIL PUBLIC
COMMENTS IF YOU DO NOT GET
THROUGH THEM ALL.
WITH THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN.
THERE IS ONE PERSON SIGNED UP,
GOOD MORNING ALISHA, THE FIRST
PERSON TO SIGN UP AND THE ONLY
PERSON LISTED SO, THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US AND PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY I AM
WITH THE COALITION AGAINST
VIOLENCE, I AM SPEAKING TO SAY
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR PROPOSING THE
AMENDMENT. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WE APPRECIATE YOUR
SWIFT ACTION AND CONTINUED
CHAMPIONSHIP FOR SURVIVOR AND
SURVIVOR SERVICES.
THE AMENDMENT IS A RESPONSE TO
ANTICIPATED 25% REDUCTION IN
FEDERAL VICTIM CRIME ACT FUNDING
ALLOCATED FOR SERVICES IN 2021
AND 22 92, WE ANTICIPATE A LOSS
ACROSS THE STATE AND MANY
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING
SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSING,
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, MOBILE
HOUSING, BILINGUAL ADVOCACY
SERVICES, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE WILL ALL BE AFFECTED
IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE HEARING ABOUT FEDERAL
LIFT IN THE SPRING BUT THAT
WILL BE TOO LATE FOR THE
ANTICIPATED GAP YEAR AS THE
FUNDING PROCESS GEARS UP.
AS LOCAL LEADERS WE KNOW YOU'RE
WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO
TACKLE PRESSING ISSUES,
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENT ARE
THE ROOT OF MANY PROBLEMS LIKE
HOMELESSNESS WHICH WE IDENTIFY
SAFETY GAPS WITHIN THE REGION
RESPONSE TO THESE ISSUES.
AS YOU KNOW, COVID HAS CREATED
úCOMPLEX NEEDS FOR SURVIVORS AN
THEIR FAMILIES SO THIS COMES AT
A TIME WHEN DEMAND HAS NEVER
BEEN GREATER.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE
AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE SERVICES
WITHIN YOUR PRIORITY FOR
FEDERAL FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WELL
SAID.
ALISHA WAS OUR ONLY PERSON
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
AND I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT
THERE'S NOBODY WE'RE MISSING
RIGHT NOW.
>> THERE ARE NO MORE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGISTRANTS.
>> WONDERFUL.
COLLEAGUES THAT BRINGS US TO
THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WANT TO WELCOME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ WHO IS WITH
US, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING, SHE WAS HERE AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD AS WELL.
AM GOING TO MOVE US INTO THE
NEXT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
MY COMPUTER IS NOT COOPERATING
SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN GO BACK
TO THE PAPER.
MADAM CLERK COULD YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM NUMBER ONE RESOLUTION
31999 A RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING
THE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY TO
MAXIMIZE USE OF FUTURE FEDERAL
FUNDING TO SUPPORT COVID-19
RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF,
THERE HAVE BEEN NO LESS THAN
SIX PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS
RESOLUTION OVER THE LAST TWO
WEEKS AND WORKING WITH A SENSE
OF URGENCY AS WE TRY TO
ANTICIPATE THE PASSAGE OF THE
PLAN AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
REVIEWED MATERIALS FROM THE
PASSAGE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ACT
TO GET READY FOR TODAY.
THIS IS GREAT TIMING WE ARE
HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
RESOLUTION AS WE JUMP INTO THE
MEAT OF THE ACTUAL FEDERAL BILL
THAT WILL DIRECT HOW WE AS A
CITY WANT TO RESPOND AND DEPLOY
DOLLARS WITH URGENCY.
I WILL TURN TO YOUR FIRST BUT
INSTEAD OF JUMPING INTO THE
PRESENTATION WE CAN HAVE FOLKS
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES FOR THE
RECORD.
>> THANK YOU GOOD MORNING I AM
ALY PENNUCCI WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF AND I WILL TURN
IT OVER.
>> GOOD MORNING, YOLANDA
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> TRACI RATZLIFF .
>> EMILY ALVARADO.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY
SCREEN AND THEN WE WILL TURN IT
BACK TO YOLANDA TO WALK YOU
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT SO WE'RE GOING TO
JUST DO A QUICK RECAP AS WE
DISCUSSED A DRAFT OF THE
RESOLUTION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
KNOW WE HAVE THE INTRODUCED
VERSION THAT INCORPORATES
FEEDBACK FROM A NUMBER OF
COUNCILMEMBERS.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
TO DISCUSS THE OVERARCHING
GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT FRAME
EVERYTHING THAT IS CONTAINED
WITHIN THIS RESOLUTION.
FIRST AND FOREMOST BEING
EQUITY, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE
LATINX AND COMMUNITIES HAVE
BEEN PARTICULARLY HARD HIT BY
THE PANDEMIC AND THESE ARE
REPRESENTED IN THE FRONT-LINE
WORKFORCE AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO
BE EXPOSED TO COVERT.
THIS ABOUT ENSURING INVESTMENTS
IN THESE COMMUNITIES IS A TOP
PRIORITY FOR THIS FUNDING.
THE NEXT PRINCIPAL WOULD BE
COORDINATION AND THE PRINCIPAL
ACKNOWLEDGES THE CITY IS ONE OF
MANY ENTITIES ADDRESSING THIS
CRISIS AND IT SHOULD USE THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO FILL IN ANY
SERVICE GAPS.
FLEXIBILITY THAT THE CITY
SHOULD BE NIMBLE AND PREPARED
TO ADJUST ITS STRATEGY AS
NECESSARY TO MAXIMIZE ITS
RESPONSE TO ANY EMERGENT NEEDS
AND FINALLY RESILIENCE, THE
FEDERAL FUNDS SHOULD BE USED
WHERE POSSIBLE TO HELP BAR
AGAINST FUTURE UNCERTAINTY TO
MAKE SURE CITIES MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES AND THE GREEN NEW
DEAL FOR SEATTLE AS DESCRIBED
IN THE JUMPSTART SPENDING PLAN.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE WILL NOT DESCRIBE ALL 33
SPENDING PRIORITIES INCLUDED IN
THE RESOLUTION BUT WE WILL NOTE
THEY ARE GROUPED UNDER THE
GENERAL CATEGORIES AS LISTED ON
THE SLIDE.
STARTING WITH BACKGROUND FROM
THE COUNCILMEMBERS WE HAVE
ADDED TWO NEW CATEGORIES TO THE
DRAFT SO ALL THE SAME EXCEPT
THE NEW CATEGORIES ARE
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY
WELL-BEING.
SINCE WE DISCUSSED THE DRAFT
TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE PRIORITIES INVOLVE THE
NATURE OF THE CITY RESPONSE TO
THE PANAMA, MANY INCLUDED
PRIORITIES WOULD CONTINUE THE
EXISTING RELIEF EFFORTS SUCH AS
FOOD AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS AND OTHERS FOCUS ON
MADE OR LONG-TERM EFFORTS TO
HELP SEATTLE RECOVER AND GROW
IN A MORE EQUITABLE WAY SUCH AS
INVESTING IN MULTIMODAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE OPTIONS
FOR CHILDCARE AND EMPLOYMENT
INFORMATION WITH APPRENTICESHIP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO
ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS,
OTHERWISE I CAN HAND IT OVER TO
AMY WHO HAS ONE AMENDMENT TO
REPRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS.
A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE WE
DISCUSS THE AMENDMENT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU
COLLEAGUES FOR THE BASE BILL
SUMMARIZED.
THIS IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE
CURRENTLY UNDERSTAND ARE SOME
OF THE PRIORITY INVESTMENTS
THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE
CATEGORIES AS WE LOOK AT THE
DRAFT AND THE FINAL VERSION
THAT CAME OUT OF CONGRESS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON
THIS BEHIND THE SCENES WITH ALL
OF YOU AND PUBLICLY TO MAKE
SURE FOLKS KNEW WHAT THE DRAFT
WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND HERE
WE HAVE THE INTRODUCED
RESOLUTION THAT INCORPORATES
VARIOUS ITEMS TO MAKE SURE THE
FULL COUNCIL HAD A CHANCE TO
PROVIDE COMMENTS AND PRIORITIES
IN THIS DRAFT.
AS A REMINDER THIS IS ABOUT
MAKING SURE WE HAVE BOTH NEAR-
TERM AND LONG-TERM GOALS AS WE
LOOK AT SEATTLE WORKERS,
RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
THE MOST VULNERABLE GETTING
SUPPORT THEY NEED NOW TO
RECOVER FROM COVID AND IN
COMING UP YEARS.
MY HOPE AND THE GOAL WITH THE
RESOLUTION IS THAT WE BEGIN THE
PROCESS OF WORKING ON A MORE
DETAILED APPROPRIATIONS BILL
THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
SOON.
FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION FROM
ITEM NUMBER TWO AND WE WILL
HAVE MORE TO SAY IN TERMS OF
THE SCOPE OF THE PROCESS AND
THE TIMELINE ON AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER TWO.
I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR CENTRAL
STAFF'S WORK ON THIS.
YOLANDA, YOUR PRESENTATION AND
THE EMAIL YOU SENT AROUND ON
MARCH 1 REALLY HIGHLIGHTED HOW
THESE PRIORITIES CAME FROM
ROBUST CONVERSATIONS THAT WE
HAVE HAD DIRECTLY WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS OVER THE
YEARS.
AS WE CREATED THE 2020 BUDGET
REVISIONS, THE JUMPSTART COVID
RELIEF PLAN AND AS WE CREATED
THE 2021 ADOPTED BUDGET.
ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH
VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND
DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
HAVE HELPED INFORM THE
PRINCIPALS IN THE RESOLUTION
TODAY.
KEEPING IN MIND THOSE
PRINCIPLES YOU TALKED ABOUT AND
PRIORITIES FOR HAVING LONG-TERM
RECOVERY EFFORTS COUPLED WITH
ACUTE EMERGENCY RELIEF IS
CRITICAL, THE POTENTIAL TO
LEVERAGE OTHER LOCAL STATE AND
FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND PARTNERS
TRYING TO RESPOND TO COVID IS
BAKED INTO THIS RESOLUTION.
THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE WE
WERE LOOKING AT AND COGNIZANT
OF CITY CAPACITY AND ADDRESSING
RESTRAINTS THAT ARE IMPOSED AS
WE TRY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEED TO SHRINK CERTAIN SERVICES
AND EXPAND OTHERS.
WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WAYS
TO EXPAND VARIOUS SERVICES IF
WE'RE GOING TO REACH THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION AND DO
THAT EQUITABLY.
SO TO ME THE PRINCIPLES YOU
OUTLINED IN THIS PRESENTATION
OF EQUITY, COORDINATION,
RESILIENE, FLEXIBILITY THEY
ALL HELP TO ENSURE WE ARE
COUPLING THIS VISIONARY DOCUMENT
WITH PAST EFFORTS THAT THE
COUNCIL HAS PUT TOGETHER AND
PREPARES US FOR THE
CONVERSATIONS WE WILL HAVE SOON
ABOUT THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
AND HOPEFULLY A STRONG
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE
TO DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES
QUICKLY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
I KNOW THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF
THE ICEBERG AS WE WORK ON THE
BILLS THAT ARE COMING IN, AND
THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL
PORTIONING OF THE VARIOUS
TRANCHES.
ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY I KNOW WE HAVE AN
AMENDMENT, AMY BACK OVER TO YOU
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TRYING
TO FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO
DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT OR MOVE
THE RESOLUTION FIRST?
>> WHY DON'T YOU DESCRIBE THE
AMENDMENT AND THEN I WILL MOVE
THE RESOLUTION?
>> THERE IS ONE AMENDMENT
PROPOSED TO THE RESOLUTION
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, THE AMENDMENT WOULD
ADD A NEW SUBSECTION UNDER
HEADING GET YOU WHICH IS
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND THE
SUBSECTION WOULD SPECIFY
INVESTMENT IN GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE RESPONSE SERVICES ARE
PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL AND WITH
THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD TO
DESCRIBE MORE FULLY.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> MY OFFICE DISTRIBUTED THE
AMENDMENT YESTERDAY MORNING.
IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA
YESTERDAY, DRAFTED IN RESPONSE
TO CONCERNS RAISED BY ADVOCATES
ABOUT A POSSIBLE FUTURE FUNDING
GAP FOR SURVIVOR SERVICES
USUALLY SUPPORTED TO THE
FEDERAL VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT.
I LEARNED ABOUT THIS UPCOMING
AND LIKELY FUNDING GAP ON THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNCIL WHICH
I AM A MEMBER OF.
WE KNOW THAT THE IMPACT OF
COVID ON VICTIMS OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT HAS SHOWN THAT
SURVIVORS ARE STRUGGLING WITH
INCREASED ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH
PROBLEMS, FINANCIAL LOSSES,
HOUSING INSTABILITY AND LACK OF
ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES
ASSOCIATED WITH COVID.
THOSE FINDINGS ARE DEMONSTRATED
IN A RECENT STATEWIDE SURVEY
THAT I KNOW WE ALL RECEIVED.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ARE MORE
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED AND OF
COURSE THERE ARE TECHNICAL
BARRIERS INCLUDING FEAR SEEKING
FOR AN EXAM IN EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENTS DURING COVID, LACK
OF PRIVACY TO PARTICIPATE IN
TELEHEALTH OR TO SEEK CRISIS
CARE.
TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS TO
SECURING PROTECTION ORDERS
ONLINE AND THE INABILITY OF
CHILDREN TO REPORT ABUSE TO A
TRUSTED ADULT OUTSIDE THE HOME.
ADVOCATES REPORT CONGRESS MAY
TAKE ACTION IN THE SPRING
NEVERTHELESS IT MIGHT BE TOO
LATE TO PREVENT A FUNDING GAP
FOR CORPORAL SERVICES AND I
WANT TO THANK THE COALITION FOR
ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
AND THE RESOURCE CENTER FOR
BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION
AND THEIR WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR
SURVIVORS THROUGH THIS VERY
DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT AND THANK
YOU FOR THE TESTIMONY THIS
MORNING IN FAVOR OF THE
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TRYING
TO.
COLLEAGUES ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT?
I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS
LEGISLATION SO WE CAN HAVE IT
IN FRONT OF US AND IF THERE IS
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR
QUESTIONS WE CAN TAKE THOSE AS
FOLKS THINK ABOUT THE GREAT
SUMMARY.
FROM AMY AND COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW.
I'M GOING TO MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION
31 999.
IS THERE A SECOND?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVED AND SECONDED.
LET'S HAVE TRYING TO MOVE
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
ONE. THE AMENDMENT WAS DESCRIBED
BUT IT WILL WORK TO ADDRESS A
POSSIBLE FUNDING GAP FOR
SURVIVOR SERVICES.
>> OF A SECOND.
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS IN
FRONT OF US.
I WANT TO SAY BRIEFLY THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD ON
THE COALITION FOR ENDING GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS
INEQUITIES PRIOR TO COVID AND
GIVEN THE STAGGERING REPORTS
THAT WE SEE OF BOTH ABUSE AND
NEGLECT AMONG VARIOUS
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE
WAKE OF COVID WE ARE HAPPY TO
SEE THIS INCLUDED.
WE KNOW THIS IS A GENERAL
RESOLUTION, SPECIFICS WILL COME
BUT IT IS A GOOD INDICATION OF
THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO
MAKING SURE WE CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN, WHO ARE
SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE OVERALL.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ANYTHING
ELSE?
OKAY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
AMENDMENT ONE TO RESOLUTION
31999 PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> DON'T WE NEED TO DO A ROLL
CALL?
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I JUST CAME FROM RECENTLY
CHAIRING THE BOARD WHERE THEY
DO ROLL CALL.
MADAM CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE.
>> CHAIR MOSQUEADA AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD YES.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ YES.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS YES .
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YES.
FIVE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE AMENDMENT IS IN FRONT OF
US, THE AMENDED RESOLUTION.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDED RESOLUTION? HEARING ON.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK
ON THIS AND I WANT TO THANK THE
FOLKS WHO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS TO THIS, DO YOU MIND
SHARING A FEW OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO PROVIDED
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO YOU SO
WE CAN THANK THEM PRIOR TO
PASSAGE OF THIS?
>> IT WOULD BE HAPPY TO AND
PLEASE CHIME IN IF I
INADVERTENTLY OVERLOOK ANYONE.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS A JOINT
EFFORT LED BY THE CHAIR'S
OFFICE WITH INPUT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON.
I THINK THAT COVERS WHO WE HAD
SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS FROM AND IT
WAS SHARED AND REVIEWED BY ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS AND I WILL SAY
IN DEVELOPING THE BASE
RESOLUTION IN COORDINATION WITH
THE CHAIR WE WERE USING
INFORMATION THAT HAS COME UP IN
DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST YEAR
RELATED TO THE COVID RESPONSE
AND I HOPE IT REFLECTS THE
INTEREST OF MANY COUNCIL
MATTERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WANTED TO GIVE THEM RECOGNITION
AND I APPRECIATE YOU CALLING
THAT OUT.
LET'S DO FINAL PASSAGE.
COLLEAGUES IN FRONT OF US WE
HAVE AMENDED RESOLUTION 31 999
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
FIVE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES THAT THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED WILL BE
SENT TO THE MARCH 22 SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL FOR A FINAL VOTE.
OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO THE CENTRAL STAFF TEAM WHO
HELPED DRAFT THAT AND I'M SURE
YOU WILL HAVE VARIOUS PARTS IF
NOT TODAY BUT ALSO BEHIND THE
SCENES AS WE CONSIDER THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL IN FRONT OF
US.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
TWO.
>> ITEM NUMBER TWO, OVERVIEW OF
AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> I SEE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE
ALY PENNUCCI, JEFF SIMMS AND
OTHER FOLKS FROM CENTRAL STAFF,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WHY DON'T I GO AHEAD AND TURN
IT OVER TO YOU AND SAVE SOME OF
MY COMMENTS FOR THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION OR THROUGHOUT.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU ARE
ENCOURAGED TO USE YOUR HAND
FEATURE OR SEND ME A MESSAGE
AND I WILL LOOK FOR YOUR ACTUAL
HAND ON THE SCREEN.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS AN
INTERACTIVE CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF TIME
TODAY SO I WANT TO GO THROUGH
THIS WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION.
WE HAVE ABOUT 45 MINUTES SO
LET'S WALK THROUGH THIS.
PLEASE CENTRAL STAFF FEEL FREE
TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND HELP
ANSWER QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.
>> OKAY THANK YOU CHAIR
MOSQUEADA.
GOOD MORNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ALY PENNUCCI OF YOUR CENTRAL
STAFF.
TODAY WE WILL PROVIDE A HIGH-
LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT RECENTLY
ADOPTED BY CONGRESS AND SIGNED
BY THE PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTING
SOME OF THE AID DIRECTLY COMING
TO THE CITY OR IT WILL BE
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH OTHER
AGENCIES.
YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE.
WE WILL WALK THROUGH A
DISCUSSION OF SOME OF THE
TARGETED AID PART OF THE
FEDERAL PACKAGE AND WHERE THERE
IS OVERLAP WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PRIORITIES AND THEN DISCUSS
NEXT STEPS.
BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THAT
DISCUSSION I WANT TO DEFINE
CERTAIN TERMS WE WILL USE TO
DESCRIBE THE FEDERAL PACKAGE
TODAY AND MOVING FORWARD AS THE
COMMITTEE CONTINUES THE
DISCUSSION. FOR PURPOSES OF
THESE DISCUSSIONS WE'RE USING
THE FOLLOWING TERMS TO DESCRIBE
THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF
FUNDING INCLUDED.
THIS INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS,
THINGS DISTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO
INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS STIMULUS
CHECKS OR EXTENDED TAX CREDITS,
DIRECT AID, GRANTED DIRECTLY TO
THE CITY TO SUPPORT THE COVID
RESPONSE WITH GREATER
FLEXIBILITY AND MANY OF THE
TARGETED AID BUCKETS.
AND THEN TARGETED AID WHICH IS
FOR SPECIFIC YEARS THAT WILL
ULTIMATELY BE DISTRIBUTED BY
STATE, COUNTY OR MAY FLOW
THROUGH THE CITY IN SOME CASES.
NEXT SLIDE.
LAST WEEK, CONGRESS APPROVED A
$1.9 TRILLION APPROPRIATION
BILL FOR ADDITIONAL RELIEF AS
THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO WORK
TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF COVID-
19 ON THE ECONOMY, PUBLIC
HEALTH, STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, INDIVIDUALS AND
BUSINESSES.
THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES OR SECTIONS OF THE
BILL BUT WE WILL NOT BE GOING
INTO DETAIL.
HAVE INCLUDED IT FOR THE NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE.
WILL NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME
TALKING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL OR
HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT PROVIDED
THROUGH THE BILL THAT WE DID
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE
PIECES OF THE PACKAGE THAT
PROVIDE RELIEF TO THOSE
HOUSEHOLDS SO THINGS LIKE
DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE,
EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS THROUGH EARLY SEPTEMBER
OR INCREASING THE EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDIT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> I THINK THAT THE EXCITING
PART THAT THIS BILL OFFERS IS
THE WAYS IN WHICH THE DIRECT AID
IS COUPLED WITH ADDITIONAL
SERVICES THAT WILL HAVE A
DIRECT IMPACT AND WE'LL TALK
MORE ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS HOW
THIS DOES HAVE CASH ASSISTANCE
AS YOU HAVE OUTLINED BUT I
WANTED TO LIFT UP THE LAST
LINE, THE FUNDING FOR VACCINES.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A
TREMENDOUS STRESSOR FOR
FAMILIES FIGURING OUT HOW TO
ACCESS QUICK AND ACCESSIBLE CARE
AND FUNDING DIRECTLY TO THOSE
HEALTH CLINICS AND SERVICES
THROUGH STATE PROGRAMS LIKE
APPLE HEALTH.
THIS WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS
IMPACT ON FAMILIES DEALING WITH
STRESS AND I THINK THAT IS A
DIRECT INDIVIDUAL IMPACT.
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, WE
FEATURED CHILD ASSISTANCE AND
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
FAMILIES POTENTIALLY LIFTED OUT
OF POVERTY WITH NEW LEGISLATION
EXPECTED TO SEE 14 MILLION
AMERICANS LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY
INCLUDING 5.7 MILLION CHILDREN.
SO THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF WHAT
THE BILL COULD DO IS IMPRESSIVE.
WHEN I WAS WORKING ON APPLE
HEALTH FOR KIDS WHICH IS THE
MEDICAID EXPANSION AT THE TIME
IT WAS HAILED AS ONE OF THE
LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS BILLS AT
THE TIME IN CONGRESS AND THIS
IS PARALLEL IF NOT BIGGER GIVEN
THE MAGNITUDE OF HOW THIS CAN
HELP ADDRESS THE NEAR-TERM
PRICES BUT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
SET THE GROUND TO LEVEL THE
PLAYING FIELD TO GET FOLKS OUT
OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY IF WE
CAN CONTINUE AND SUSTAIN THESE
INVESTMENTS.
EXCITED ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL
HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT AND THE WAY
OTHER PROGRAMS ARE TRULY GOING
TO PROVIDE THE ONGOING
WRAPAROUND CARE TO HOPEFULLY
PROVIDE LESS STRESS FOR THOSE
IN POVERTY AND FROM THE STRESS
OF HAVING LACK OF ACCESS TO
CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICES THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT CATEGORY DESCRIBES THE
DIRECT AID TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.
$130 BILLION TO SUPPORT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
SEATTLE IS ANTICIPATING $239
MILLION OF DIRECT AID
DISTRIBUTED IN TWO TRANCHES,
ONE QUICKLY WITHIN 60 DAYS
AFTER SIGNING SO BY MAY 10 WE
SHOULD BE RECEIVING A CHECK IN
THE SECOND TRANCHE NO SOONER
THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST
IS DISTRIBUTED AT EARLIEST
LIKELY APRIL OR MAY OF 2022 FOR
THE SECOND HALF OF THE DIRECT
AID.
AND THEN THERE IS FLEXIBILITY
TO USE THESE FUNDS FOR THE
ELIGIBLE USE THROUGH 2024.
I WILL NOTE BECAUSE THIS CAME
UP IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS ON
ANTICIPATED FEDERAL AID RELATED
TO THE COUNTY, THE ESTIMATE FOR
THE COUNTY IS 430, $437 MILLION
OF DIRECT AID.
I NOTE THAT IN PART AS YOLANDA
HIGHLIGHTED THE PRINCIPLES
DESCRIBED IN THE RESOLUTION
REGARDING FEDERAL FUNDING, ONE
PIECE HIGHLIGHTED IS
COORDINATION WITH PARTNER
AGENCIES LOOKING OUT TO BEST
LEVERAGE AND MAXIMIZE CITY
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OTHER
EFFORTS GOING ON IN THE REGION.
SO, THEY USE FOR THE DIRECT AID
IS FAIRLY FLEXIBLE, IT CAN BE
USED IN COVID RESPONSE EFFORTS
INCLUDING RESPONDING TO THE
HEALTH EMERGENCY, THAT INCLUDES
ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS,
SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
WERE IMPACTED INDUSTRIES.
IT CAN BE USED TO PROVIDE
PREMIUM PAY TO CITY WORKERS OR
PROVIDE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE
EMPLOYERS WHO PERFORM ESSENTIAL
WORK.
AND TO SUPPORT GENERAL
GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE
AMOUNT RELATIVE TO THE EXTENT
OF PANDEMIC INDUCED REVENUE
LOSS.
ESSENTIALLY THAT MEANS LOOKING
AT WHAT THE REVENUES WERE PRE-
PANDEMIC SO 2019 REVENUES AND
WHAT THE CURRENT REVENUES LOOK
LIKE NOW AND BACKFILLING TO
SUPPORT CERTAIN SERVICES TO
ENSURE WE HAVE CONTINUITY OF
SERVICE.
AND FINALLY TO MAKE THE
NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN WATER,
SEWER OR BROADBAND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THE REMAINDER OF THE
PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON THE
SPENDING PRIORITIES BY
CATEGORIES AND HOW THAT RELATES
TO THE TARGETED AID INCLUDED IN
THE PACKAGE.
THIS LIGHT IS A REMINDER FOR
THE PRIORITY SPENDING CATEGORIES
THAT WERE DESCRIBED AND
APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE IN
RESOLUTION 31 999.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THIS IS MEANT TO SERVE AS A
GUIDE FOR HOW TO READ SLIDES
NINE THROUGH 19.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE TRY TO
IDENTIFY WHERE THERE IS
TARGETED AID INCLUDING IN THE
PACKAGE IN THE FEDERAL PACKAGE
SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS IN THE
SAME OR SIMILAR PRIORITIES
CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED BY THE
COUNCIL IN RESOLUTION 31999.
THE PURPOSES OF THIS EXERCISE
IS TO HELP YOU BALANCE HOW TO
PRIORITIZE THE USE OF THE
DIRECT AID AND WHERE THERE MAY
BE TARGETED FOR THE SAME
SPENDING PRIORITIES.
THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS,
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME
BEFORE THERE IS ADDITIONAL
GUIDANCE ON HOW AND WHEN THIS
WILL FLOW AND WHERE THERE MAY
BE GAPS. I WILL NOT GO INTO
GREAT DETAIL ON SOME OF THE
CATEGORIES BUT WE WILL
HIGHLIGHT WHERE WE THINK THERE
MAY BE OVERLAP BETWEEN THE
COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND SOME OF
THE TARGETED AID FUNDING
BUCKETS.
THOSE PRIORITIES WHERE WE HAVE
NOT IDENTIFIED TARGETED EIGHT
THAT CAN SUPPORT THE SAME OR
SIMILAR EFFORTS IN THE CITY IS
ONE CONSIDERATION FOR HOW YOU
MAY PRIORITIZE THE USE OF SOME
DIRECT AID FUNDS BUT WE WILL
NEED TO DO ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS
TO ENSURE ANY SPECIFIC SPENDING
PRIORITY IS ELIGIBLE USE FOR
THAT DIRECT AID.
AS THE CONVERSATIONS EVOLVE WE
WILL CONTINUE TO NARROW AND
FINE-TUNE THE PROCESS.
>> ALL OF CENTRAL STUFF, YOU
WILL HAVE PUT THIS PRESENTATION
TOGETHER IN A VERY FAST TIMELINE
AND HAVE MADE A VERY DIGESTIBLE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE OUTLINE
COUPLING THE PRIORITIES WITH
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR IN THE
AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT MAKING IT
EASY FOR US AND THE TEAM TO
UNDERSTAND BUT ALSO FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
HELPFUL WALK-THROUGH AND THE
LAYOUT OF THE PRESENTATION
TODAY.
VERY IMPRESSIVE.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT.
WE'RE TRYING TO COMB THROUGH
BUT WE MAY HAVE MISSED SOME
THINGS.
THE FIRST SPENDING CATEGORIES
WE WILL TALK ABOUT ANDY'S TRACK
IN ORDER OF THE SPENDING
PRIORITY CATEGORIES IN
RESOLUTION ARE VACCINES AND
TESTING.
THERE ARE A COUPLE BUCKETS OF
TARGETED AID TARGETING THOSE
EFFORTS BUT IT IS NOT ENTIRELY
CLEAR HOW THE MONEY WILL FLOW
AND IF THERE ARE FUNDING GAPS
TO MAKE SURE THE PRINCIPLES AND
ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THE
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY COUNCIL
THE HIGHLIGHTED PRINCIPLES AND
PRIORITIES FOR HOW VACCINE
SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED ARE
ADEQUATELY FUNDED.
AS MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
WE WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
RESOURCES CAN SUPPORT THOSE
EFFORTS LIKE WHICH ACCESS,
TRANSPORTATION, TESTING,
INFORMATION AND THAT SORT OF
THING BUT THERE ARE SPECIFIC
RESOURCES FOR VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION AND CONTINUE
TESTING, CONTACT TRACING AND
DATA SOLUTIONS.
>> HAS YOU COVERED ON SLIDE
FIVE THE CITY PORTION OF THE
EXPECTED SUPPORT FROM THE
FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE IS
EXPECTED TO BE $239 MILLION.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO EXTRAPOLATE
WHAT THAT PORTION OF THE
NATIONAL FIGURES WILL MEAN
SPECIFIC FOR THE CITY OR IS
THAT INFORMATION TO BE
DETERMINED?
>> THAT IS INFORMATION TO BE
DETERMINED.
WITH MUCH OF THE TARGETED AID
IT WILL NOT FLOW DIRECTLY
THROUGH THE CITY.
A LOT OF IT WILL END UP BEING
DISTRIBUTED DIRECTLY THROUGH
STATE OR COUNTY AGENCIES.
SO THAT IS SOME OF WHAT WE NEED
TO SORT OUT AND BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHICH IS WHAT YOU
WILL HEAR US CONTINUE TO SAY
PROVIDING SOME FLEXIBILITY AS
YOU CONSIDER APPROPRIATIONS IS
LIKELY NECESSARY SO WE CAN
ADJUST, THE CITY CAN ADJUST ITS
RESPONSE AS WE LEARN MORE IF
THERE IS FOR EXAMPLE COUNTY
FUNDING TO SUPPORT A SPECIFIC
STRATEGY.
WE MAY BETTER LEVERAGE CITY
RESOURCES IN SOME OTHER NEEDED
SPACE GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF
THE NEED IS SO GREAT, WE WILL
NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND AGILE
AS WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW
TO SPEND THE DIRECT AID.
NEXT SLIDE. IN THE FOOD SPACE
THERE IS NO TARGETED AID
IDENTIFIED FOR PROGRAMS LIKE
THE EMERGENCY GROCERY VOUCHER
PROGRAM THAT WAS STOOD UP EARLY
IN THE CITY COVID RESPONSE OR
NEW PROGRAMS THAT WOULD, AS
DESCRIBED IN THE RESOLUTION
THOSE THAT WOULD PARTNER WITH
LOCAL FARMS AND FOOD
ENTREPRENEURS TO PROVIDE MEALS.
THE 2021 ADOPTED BUDGET ONLY
FUNDED THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM
THROUGH APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT IS RAMPING THE
PROGRAM DOWN AND THE PROGRAM
HAS RUN ON A BIT OF A
SHOESTRING WITH EXISTING STAFF
AND NO ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES.
CONTINUING WOULD REQUIRE WHAT
THE RESOURCES WOULD NEED TO
RELAUNCH THE PROGRAM AND THIS
IS ONE AREA WHERE THE COUNCIL
MAY WANT TO CONSIDER HOW THE
CITY IS PROVIDING FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS
WHO MAY NEED MORE FLEXIBILITY
IN USE OF THE FUNDS GOING FROM
GROCERIES TO GAS FOR THEIR CAR
TO GET TO WORK AND THOSE SORTS
OF THINGS.
SO THAT IS A PIECE WE WILL BE
LOOKING INTO FURTHER.
UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS I
WILL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SWEAT ACTUALLY CAN I MAKE A
STATEMENT?
IS PART OF THE ASSUMPTION
POTENTIALLY THAT WENT INTO THE
CONGRESSIONAL BILL THE EFFORT
TO SAY IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL
CASH SUPPORT FAMILIES ARE IN A
POSITION TO MAKE DECISIONS
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS
MONEY THEY NEED FOR FOOD
ASSISTANCE OR IF IT IS MONEY
THEY ARE NEEDING FOR PARENTAL
SUPPORT, IS THE PART OF THE
CALCULUS?
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT?
>> I HAVE NOT HEARD SPECIFIC
THINGS FOR THE FEDERAL LEVEL BY
GETTING AT WHAT WE WERE
DESCRIBING, IT IS SORT OF BOTH
AND LIKE THE CITY IS CURRENTLY
PROVIDING EMERGENCY VOUCHER
PROGRAM AND PROVIDES FUNDING
FOR FOOD BANKS AND OTHER FOOD
SERVICE INDUSTRIES MOVING
FORWARD.
SUING THE FEDERAL SPACE THEY ARE
DOING THINGS LIKE INCREASING
FUNDING FOR SNAP BENEFITS,
EXTENDING THE EBT PROGRAM AND
INCREASING FUNDING FOR AND THE
DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE FOR
FAMILIES TO DETERMINE WHAT
THEIR NEEDS ARE.
SO I THINK WE ARE GETTING AT
THE SAME THING.
ALL RIGHT.
IN THE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
SERVICES SPENDING PRIORITY,
THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS WHERE
THERE ARE TARGETED FUNDS FOR
THINGS LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
INCLUDING UTILITIES, EVICTION
PRODUCTION AND FORECLOSURE
PREVENTION AS WELL AS INTERNET
SERVICE COSTS.
IT IS NOT YET CLEAR IF THE
TARGETED AID FOR EXAMPLE FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
TO BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE
INTERNET SERVICE COST, THE
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL IS A
LITTLE VAGUE SO AS ADDITIONAL
GUIDANCE IS RELEASED WE WILL
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FUNDS CAN
BE USED FOR AND WHETHER OR NOT
THERE ARE GAPS IN THE TYPES OF
SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS MIGHT NEED.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SIMILARLY, THERE IS FUNDING IN
THE BILL WOULD TARGETED AID FOR
SHELTER AND HOUSING SERVICES
WHICH INCLUDES THE POTENTIAL
FOR BUILDING ACQUISITION
HOWEVER WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED
ANYTHING THAT WOULD
SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT HYGIENE
SERVICES.
THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE EXPENSING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY.
>> THAT REMINDS ME THAT AT SOME
POINT WE SHOULD FOLLOW UP ABOUT
THE LACK OF SPENDING THE
DOLLARS THAT THE COUNCIL
APPROPRIATED ALREADY FOR
FACILITIES, I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ IS
HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT THIS
WEEK.
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S NOT CALLED
OUT IN THE FEDERAL BILL, WE
HAVE ALREADY FUNDED HANDWASHING
FACILITIES AND GETTING THOSE
DEPLOYED WITH URGENCY IS NEEDED
GIVEN THAT IT WAS FIVE MONTHS
AGO THE COUNCIL PASSED THAT
SPENDING AUTHORIZATION.
APPRECIATE YOU HIGHLIGHTING THAT
AND I THINK THAT UNDERSCORES
THE ONGOING NEED TO MAKE SURE
THE DOLLARS THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL AUTHORIZED ARE BEING
USED, I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO AN
UPDATE AND SHARING IT AND I'M
SURE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WILL
úSHARE AS WELL BUT WE WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT GOES
FORWARD.
>> OKAY, NEXT SLIDE.
IN THE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
SUPPORT CATEGORY WE HAVE NOT
IDENTIFIED ANY SPECIFIC
TARGETED AID TO SUPPORT
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RESIDENTS
AS RECENTLY PRESENTED BY THE
IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS THE MONEY
AUTHORIZED FOR THE JUMPSTART
COVID RELIEF PLAN TO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME
IMMIGRANT REFUGEES WAS QUICKLY
DISTRIBUTED WAS ONLY FOR
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 20% OF
THE APPLICANTS SO THIS IS AN
AREA WE WANTED TO FLAG AS THE
CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING HOW
TO USE THE DIRECT AID.
TO ENSURE ACCESS TO THE VARIOUS
WAYS TARGETED AID WILL BE
DISTRIBUTED, ENSURING SUPPORT
FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES
MAY BE A SIGNIFICANT NEED TO
HELP CONNECT SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS TO THE RESOURCES THAT
MAY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE
SMALL BUSINESS SBA AND THAT
SORT OF THING.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION TO
CLARIFY A FINER POINT.
THERE MAY NOT BE TARGETED DATES,
I'M SORRY, I KNOW WE HAVE ONLY
BEEN SITTING WITH THE BILL FOR
A FEW DAYS SO PLEASE DON'T FEEL
LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT
BUT I WILL SAY I THINK IN SOME
OF THE COMMENTS I HAVE HEARD
FROM CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS,
THEY WERE PROUD THAT THERE WERE
NOT PROHIBITIONS ON HOW THE
AIDE COULD BE USED.
SO MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR MANY
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE NEIGHBORS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE
RECIPIENTS OF FUNDS.
ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE
ACCESS TO THE FUNDS THAT WERE
NOT PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE LAST
YEAR IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?
>> I HAVE HEARD THE SAME THING
SO I WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SAY THIS IS THE INITIAL
REACH AND HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED
SPECIFIC BUCKETS OF MONEY FOR
THAT BUT NOT TO SAY THAT
INDIVIDUAL TARGETED PROGRAMS
WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR USE OF FUNDS
TO ENSURE ACCESS AND GREATER
AVAILABILITY OF THE FUNDS TO
SUPPORT A BROAD POPULATION OF
PEOPLE WHO NEED SUPPORT SO THAT
IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
SORTING OUT.
OKAY.
MOVING ON.
THERE IS FUNDING IN THE FEDERAL
PACKAGE TO THE CHILDCARE AND
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK CARE GRANT
PROGRAM AND STABILIZATION GRANT
THAT APPEARS TO BE FAIRLY
FLEXIBLE FOR CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS INCLUDING FUNDING
THAT CAN BE USED TO BRING NEW
PEOPLE IN TO THE CHILD CARE
INDUSTRY, NEW WORKERS BUT THERE
DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE TARGETED
DATES TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF
NEW CHILDCARE CENTERS.
IT IS NOT CLEAR TO US YET IF
THE DIRECT AID COULD BE USED
FOR THAT PURPOSE BUT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THAT TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THE FEDERAL
MONEY MAY SUPPORT THIS PRIORITY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
IN THE SMALL BUSINESS WORKER
ASSISTANCE AND WORKFORCE
RECOVERY SPENDING CATEGORY
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT A
SMALL BUSINESS WILL BE
SUPPORTED THROUGH TARGETED AID
BUT AGAIN IT IS NOT CLEAR THERE
ARE RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY TO
ENSURE THERE WILL BE TECHNICAL
IN LANGUAGE SUPPORT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS TO ACCESS THOSE
RESOURCES.
OVER THE LAST YEAR THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS
DEPLOYED RESOURCES FOR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO
SUPPORT LANGUAGE ACCESS AND
THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES WHICH
MAY BE A GAP THAT THE CITY MAY
CONTINUE TO NEED TO FILL IN ON
BUT THAT IS NOT YET TOTALLY
CLEAR TO US.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
IN ADDITION THIS IS THE SECOND
OF TWO SLIDES IN THIS CATEGORY.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPENDING
PRIORITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
TO SUPPORT WORKERS, WHEN I SAY
SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT INCLUDES
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND
THERE IS SOME FOCUS ON CERTAIN
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES,
RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND OTHER
SPECIFIC EMPLOYERS.
IN THIS SPACE AROUND SUPPORTING
WORKERS DIRECTLY OR WORKFORCE
RECOVERY EFFORTS WE HAVE NOT
YET IDENTIFIED ANY SPECIFIC
TARGETED AID FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
OKAY.
NEXT SLIDE.
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, THIS IS A
CATCHALL CATEGORY WHERE WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED TARGETED AID FOR
THINGS LIKE WHERE WE HAVE NOT
IDENTIFIED TARGETED AID FOR
ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD NEEDS OR
HATE VIOLENCE RESPONSE.
I WILL NOTE, NOT CALLED OUT
SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED SOME TARGETED AID
FOCUSING ON INTERNET ACCESS,
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE SERVICES AND FUNDING FOR
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WOULD NOTE NOT LISTED THERE
ARE FUNDS IN THE FEDERAL
PACKAGE WITHIN THE MEDICAID
SECTION GIVING THE STATE THE
OPTION TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY-
BASED MOBILE INTERVENTION
SERVICES.
WE ARE NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THAT
MEANS OR HOW THE MONEY WILL
FLOW BUT I WANTED TO NOTE IN
RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION I HAD
ON THE PRESENTATION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
IN THE TRANSPORTATION CATEGORY,
THERE IS TARGETED AID TO SUPPORT
TRANSIT SERVICE AND
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT IS NOT CLEAR THERE ARE
SPECIFIC FUNDS TARGETED AID TO
ENCOURAGE WALKING ROLLING AND
LIKING SO THAT'S ONE AREA WE
WILL BE LOOKING INTO FURTHER.
AND THEN.
>> SORRY, A QUICK QUESTION.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE TARGETED AID AND
TRANSPORTATION?
SOME FOLKS MIGHT ASK HOW DOES
THIS FIT INTO IMMEDIATE COVID
RECOVERY EFFORT AND THERE IS
SPECIFIC LANGUAGE SO CAN YOU
TELL US MORE ABOUT THE
SIDEBOARDS ON THAT?
>> I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
DETAILS BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH MORE INFORMATION.
IN GENERAL ONE OF THE RECOVERY
RESPONSES IS ENSURING ESSENTIAL
WORKERS CAN CONTINUE TO GET TO
AND FROM WORK.
AS WE LOOK TO REOPENING,
PROVIDING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE
TRANSIT IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL
TO THE CITY RESPONSE EFFORTS
INCLUDING AS PEOPLE ARE
DISCUSSING USE OF RIGHT AWAY
THAT HAS BEEN MORE CREATIVELY
CONSIDERED DURING THE PANDEMIC
I THINK DISCUSSIONS AROUND
TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WILL BECOME
EVERMORE CRITICAL.
WE WILL FOLLOW UP WHEN WE KNOW
MORE.
>> THAT IS HELPFUL, THANK YOU.
>> THE FINAL CATEGORY IN THE
RESOLUTION IS RELATED TO
REVENUE REPLACEMENT AND
FINANCIAL RESILIENCY.
WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THERE IS NO
SPECIFIC TARGETED AID FOR THIS
CATEGORY BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL
ELIGIBLE USE OF DIRECT AID.
WE HAVE ADDED SOME INFORMATION
RELATED TO THE 2020 REVISED AND
2021 ADOPTED BUDGET ABOUT THE
USE OF CITY RESERVES TO
REBALANCE 2020 AND A BALANCE
THE 2021 ADOPTED BUDGET THAT
WAS NEEDED TO SUPPORT GENERAL
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND
SPECIFIC COVID RESPONSE EFFORTS.
THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE
PROJECTED TO BE DOWN COMPARED
TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS SO THIS
INFORMATION WILL HOPEFULLY BE
USEFUL AS YOU CONSIDER SHORT
AND LONG-TERM DECISIONS RELATED
TO THE USE OF DIRECT AID THIS
YEAR AND CONSIDERATION OF NEXT
YEAR'S BUDGET AND FUTURE YEARS.
>> AGAIN POINTING BACK TO SLIDE
SIX THE THIRD BULLET FOR FOLKS
THAT ARE FOLLOWING.
NOTING THAT ELIGIBLE USE
INCLUDES DIRECT AID FOR THE
PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES
TO THE EXTENT OF THE REDUCTION
IN REVENUE RELATIVE TO THE
REVENUE COLLECTED IN THE MOST
RECENT FULL FISCAL YEAR PRIOR
TO THE EMERGENCY.
SO NOT APPLICABLE IS THERE IN
TERMS OF THE TARGETED CALLED OUT
TO FIND A LIST BUT IT IS A
ELIGIBLE USE AS WE THINK ABOUT
THE IMPACT IN DECLINING REVENUE
AS A RESULT OF THE CONSEQUENCES
OF COVID ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY, AND FINALLY, MOVING ON
TO THE NEXT STEPS WE, CENTRAL
STAFF WILL BE WORKING WITH ALL
OF YOU AND WITH THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO SEEK
CLARITY ON HOW AND WHEN
TARGETED AID WILL BE
DISTRIBUTED.
WHAT RESOURCES MAY BE PROVIDED
BY THE STATE AND WHERE THERE
MAY BE GAPS IN SERVICES
SUPPORTED BY DIRECTED.
WILL BE PUTTING INFORMATION
TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND IF
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE NEEDED
TO SUPPORT REOPENING COST
INCLUDING REVISITING ASSUMPTIONS
IN THE 2021 ADOPTED BUDGET
ABOUT THE TIMING ON REOPENING.
IN SOME CASES AND PARKS FOR
EXAMPLE WE WERE NOT SURE WHEN
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FULLY
REOPEN THOSE SORTS OF THINGS,
AS WE LEARN MORE WITH
VACCINATIONS BECOMING MORE
DISTRIBUTED THERE MAY BE A NEED
TO REVISIT THOSE ASSUMPTIONS
AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
TO SUPPORT REOPENING.
AS WELL AS HOW THE DIRECT AID
MAY BE NEEDED TO ENSURE
CONTINUITY OF SERVICE IN FUTURE
YEARS THAT OTHERWISE MAY BE
REDUCED DUE TO THE PROJECTED
ONGOING PANDEMIC INDUCED BASED
REVENUE LOSSES.
IT IS LIKELY INFORMATION AND
CLARIFICATION ON HOW AND WHEN
THE TARGETED DATE WILL BE
DISTRIBUTED AND WHAT IT CAN BE
USED FOR THAT WILL EVOLVE OVER
TIME, THE COUNCIL MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER PROVIDING SOME
FLEXIBILITY TO DEPARTMENTS ON
SPENDING TO ALLOW FOR
PROGRAMMATIC ADJUSTMENTS IN
RESPONSE TO NEW INFORMATION
ABOUT THE TARGETED AID AND TO
SUPPORT LOCAL NEEDS AND
CHANGING PROGRAM RESPONSE NEEDS.
IN TERMS OF TIMING WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE BUDGET CHAIR AS
DESCRIBED IN THE BRIEFING
YESTERDAY TO PUT TOGETHER A
MORE DETAILED SCHEDULE THAT WE
WILL BE DISTRIBUTING WHEN WE
HAVE THE DETAILS BUT GENERALLY
SPEAKING FOLLOWING TODAY'S
DISCUSSION WE WILL BE WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU, WITH YOUR
OTHER COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND
WITH THE EXECUTIVES TO DEVELOP
A SPENDING PLAN WITH THE GOAL
OF INTRODUCING LEGISLATION IN
APRIL AND TAKING ACTION BY
EARLY TO MID MAY, THIS TIMELINE
COULD INCLUDE TAKING UP ONE
APPROPRIATION BILL FOR EACH
TRANCHE OF THE AID TO ENSURE
THAT SERVICES THAT MAY NEED
IMMEDIATE FUNDING ARE SUPPORTED
QUICKLY AND THEN TAKING MORE
TIME TO MAKE OTHER DECISIONS
ABOUT THE DIRECT AID THAT WILL
BE PROVIDED IN 2021.
AGAIN WE WILL PROVIDE MORE
DETAILS AND LIKELY REQUEST
PROPOSALS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
BY A DATE AS WE SORT OUT THOSE
DETAILS WITH THE BUDGET CHAIR.
WITH THAT, THAT IS THE END OF
MY PRESENTATION.
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF
INFORMATION.
THIS IS ALSO THE BEGINNING OF
OUR CONVERSATION.
TO REITERATE SOME OF THE TIME
WHEN PEACE IS MENTIONED OVER
THE NEXT 6 TO 8 WEEKS WE ARE
GOING TO BE BUILDING A PLAN FOR
ALLOCATING DIRECT AID THAT THE
CITY WILL RECEIVE FROM THE
AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT PLAN TO
SUPPORT COVID RESPONSE,
PROVIDING TIME TO WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSIDER BEST
USE OF RESOURCES SO THE CITY
CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE
CRITICAL SERVICES THAT WE HAVE
ALREADY LIFTED UP AND INVESTED
IN AS WE RESPOND TO COVID AND
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO BEST BE POSITIONED
AND PREPARE TO WHETHER THE
FUTURE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
THAT COVID HAS EXACERBATED AS
WE THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM
RECOVERY EFFORTS.
CENTRAL STAFF, AS YOU HEARD IS
WORKING REALLY FAST AND VERY
HARD AND I WANT TO THANK
MEMBERS OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AS WELL WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO COMPARE NOTES.
WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OFF THE
RESOLUTION THAT YOU ALL
APPROVED MOMENTS AGO WITH
RESOLUTION 31999 AND FOLDING
SPENDING PRIORITIES INTO A
APPROPRIATION SUBORDINATE'S.
TODAY'S DISCUSSION IS NOT OVER
SO HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR MORE
QUESTIONS OR IDENTIFY AREAS YOU
WOULD LIKE CENTRAL STAFF TO
LOOK INTO.
FOLLOWING TODAY'S DISCUSSION WE
WILL BE DEVELOPING THIS
SPENDING PROPOSAL WITH THE GOAL
OF INTRODUCTION I AM HOPING TO
HAVE IN THE COMMITTEE APRIL 6.
EARLY APRIL WOULD BE THE NEXT
MEETING SO THAT'S THREE WEEKS
FROM NOW TO GET INTO THE
DETAILS AND IDENTIFY STRATEGIES
TO ALLOCATE FUNDING VERY
QUICKLY.
THERE ARE TWO TRANCHES, ONE
COMES NOW AND ANOTHER COMING IN
12 MONTHS.
THE WAY I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT
THIS IS PUTTING JUST TRANCHE
ONE IN FRONT OF US AND
IDENTIFYING IF WE NEED TO
BIFURCATE CERTAIN DOLLARS WE
CAN DO THAT NOW GIVEN THE
IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK AND
DIRECTION WE HAVE FROM OUR
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND FROM
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.
IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO
MOVE QUICKER ON A SET OF
DOLLARS WITHIN TRANCHE ONE WE
WILL BRING THAT TO YOU.
IF WE CAN MOVE ALL OF IT THEN
GREAT I THINK THERE IS A
LIKELIHOOD YOU WANT TO THINK
ABOUT MAYBE TWO WAVES OF
ALLOCATING TRANCHE ONE.
AND THEN I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE
INFORMATION AS WE RECEIVE IT
FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
ULTIMATELY ALL OF US ARE GOING
TO BE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION
OVER THE TWO MEETINGS IN APRIL
AND EITHER ONE OR TWO MEETINGS
IN MAY WITH THE GOAL OF PASSING
THIS BEFORE JUNE BECAUSE SOME
OF THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE
PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR USING
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HAVE A SHELF
LIFE THAT ENDS IN JUNE SO WE
WANT TO ACT PRIOR TO JUNE
IDEALLY WITH AS MUCH ADVANCED
NOTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT SO
THERE IS NO GAPS IN SERVICES
AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS
SUFFICIENT TIME TO ADDRESS
PROGRAMS TO MAKE NECESSARY
CHANGES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THE
PRIORITIES WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
IN THE RESOLUTION ARE REFLECTED
IN THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
I KNOW WE JUST CAME OFF A YEAR
OF ONGOING BUDGET DELIBERATION
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN
ADVANCE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AND CENTRAL
STAFF TO DEVELOP MORE OF A
RETAIL DETAILED SCHEDULE AND WE
WILL BE WORKING IN COORDINATION
WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
OFFICE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
KNOWS WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS AND
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PULL IN
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE NOT ON THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE SO THERE ARE
CONVERSATIONS WE WILL HAVE WITH
YOU OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THAT
POSSIBLE.
WANT TO REITERATE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS INCLUDING THOSE
NOT ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
SORRY NOT ON THE HOUSING AND
FINANCE COMMITTEE WHICH IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE, ALL COLLEAGUES
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK TO THE RESOLUTION IN
FRONT OF US AND WE ARE WORKING
ON A PLAN NOW AND WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH THE CENTRAL STAFF
TO TALK ABOUT HOW ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS CAN PROVIDE
FEEDBACK INTO THE ORDINANCE
COMING FORWARD.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT I OWE YOU A
CALL.
IF WE WERE IN PERSON OBVIOUSLY
WE WOULD ALL HAVE MORE UPDATES
IN REAL-TIME BUT I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE CONNECT WELL ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY GOING FORWARD.
ANY QUESTIONS ON CENTRAL
STAFF'S PRESENTATION?
THE OVERVIEW?
I WANT TO NOTE HOW IMPRESSIVE
THIS IS.
YOU PULLED IN INFORMATION FROM
THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, FROM
PROVIDING INFORMATION DIRECTLY
FROM THE FEDERAL SUMMARY
DOCUMENTS ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE
BILL, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU
CONDENSING THE INFORMATION AND
MAKING IT DIGESTIBLE AND
RELATING BACK TO THE COUNCIL
PRIORITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY
BEEN OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION.
SO THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS WHICH MEANS YOU DID A
TREMENDOUS JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION.
COLLEAGUES IF THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THANK YOU
FOR STAYING TUNED AND WILL
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU IN TERMS OF
NEXT STEPS AND A LOT OF ACTION
IS ANTICIPATED OVER THE NEXT 3
TO 4 MEETINGS SO THANK YOU AGAIN
IN ADVANCE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD ITEM
OF BUSINESS.
MADAM CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 3
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE,
COUNCIL BILL 120019 ORDINANCE
AMENDING ORDINANCE 126 237
ADOPTING THE 2021 BUDGET
INCLUDING THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CHANGING
THE APPROPRIATIONS TO VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET CONTROL
LEVELS AND FOR VARIOUS FUNDS IN
THE BUDGET FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WITH US WE HAVE JEFF SIMMS FROM
CENTRAL STAFF.
DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD?
>> JEFF SIMMS CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OPENING
REMARKS ON THE ITEM AND THEN
I'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS AS WELL
JUST TO GIVE US A SENSE OF WHY
THIS IS IN FRONT OF US AND THE
URGENCY OF THIS LEGISLATION.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS DID YOU
HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THIS?
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND
THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS
BILL.
FOR THOSE WATCHING AND THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, THIS BILL IS A
CULMINATION OF SEVERAL WEEKS OF
DISCUSSION BOTH WITHIN THE
COUNCIL AMONGST OURSELVES AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE, CENTRAL STAFF,
EXTERNAL PARTNERS AND THE
PUBLIC DISCOURSE IN THE MEDIA
AROUND HOW TO PURSUE A
SHELTERING STRATEGY FOR THOSE
MOST VULNERABLE IN THE PANDEMIC.
AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POTENTIAL
REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA.
I THINK JEFF IS BETTER
POSITIONED TO TALK TO THE
SPECIFICS BUT I WOULD SAY I
APPRECIATED SEEING IN THE PUBLIC
MEDIA YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS THE
STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE MOVING
FORWARD WITH THIS STRATEGY AND
LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THIS
TODAY ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS
AND THEN SEEING WHAT THE PATH
FORWARD WILL BE TO GET THIS
MUCH-NEEDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCE
OUT THE DOOR AND TRY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF SOME OPPORTUNITIES
HERE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SCALING UP THE ESSENTIAL
SERVICES.
SO WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO JEFF.
>> THANK YOU, BEFORE YOU DO,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANYTHING
ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER IN
TERMS OF CONTEXT?
>> I THINK I DID WANT TO SORT
OF GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO JEFF
SIMS AND ALY PENNUCCI FOR
ATTENDING THE MEETING WITH FEMA
ADMINISTRATORS WITH MY OFFICE
LAST WEEK AND A HUGE THANK YOU
TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
GETTING US TO THE POINT WHERE
WE CAN HAVE AN ACTIONABLE PIECE
OF LEGISLATION TO CONTINUE TO
ADVANCE COUNCIL PRIORITY IN
THIS SPACE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION AND TO HOPEFULLY
HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD MY
NAME IS A COSPONSOR TO THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT BILL IF A
SPONSOR IS WILLING TO TAKE
ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JEFF, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD MANY
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE APPRECIATIVE
OF YOUR WORK.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR HIS SPONSOR ON THIS,
THANKFUL FOR THE DIRECT
ENGAGEMENT WITH FEMA TO GET TO
THE BOTTOM OF THE ISSUES WE
HAD BEEN HEARING ABOUT OR
BARRIERS TO USING FEDERAL
DOLLARS BUT ALSO SAY THIS IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE SINCE MARCH IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH A HANDFUL OF
HOTELS WHO AT THE TIME ONE YEAR
AGO WANTED TO OPEN THEIR DOORS
WITH APPROPRIATE SERVICES
PROVIDED.
AND OFFER ROOMS, KNOWING THE
CRISIS WE SAW HAS ONLY GOTTEN
WORSE SINCE LAST MARCH THE
URGENCY OF THE BILL CANNOT BE
OVERSTATED.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
ONGOING WORK TO GET TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE
AND ALSO TO HELP US UNDERSTAND
HOW DOLLARS IN THE CITY HAVE
BEEN APPROPRIATED TO CITY
COUNCIL AND EITHER ARE OR
NEURON NOT BEING DEPLOYED SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US AS
WE KNOW THAT THE CRISIS IS
GROWING WORSE AND THE C TEST WE
WANT PEOPLE TO SEE RELIEF IN
THE STREET AND I THINK THIS IS
A VERY POSITIVE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW
PEOPLE TO SEE A CHANGE AND
EXPERIENCE A CHANGE.
SO, JEFF WITH THAT WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU AND THEN WE WILL
SEE IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
>> NAKED.
I WILL GO INTO SPECIFICS AS
HIGHLIGHTED.
THIS BILL ADDRESSES THE URGENT
NEED TO PROVIDE NON-CONGREGANTS
SHELTER FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE AT HIGH
RISK FOR COVID-19, PREVENTING
FURTHER COMMUNITY SPREAD WHILE
PROVIDING A WAY FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS TO PRACTICE SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND GIVES THOSE
PEOPLE THE OPTION TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES.
THE BILL PROVIDES $12 MILLION
FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESPONDING
TO THE URGENT NEED AND INCLUDES
THE FLEXIBILITY FOR NONCOMPANY
SHELTER EITHER AS SHELTER BEDS
OR UTILIZING A TINY HOME VILLAGE
WHERE VILLAGES OR USING
ENHANCED SHELTERS LIKE BRICK-
AND-MORTAR SHELTERS.
SECOND, IT FOCUSES ON PEOPLE
WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK WHICH IS
THE POINT OF THE CRITICAL NEED.
WE ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE
OUTCOMES AND THEY ARE HOMELESS.
30 CALLS FOR USING A
PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND FINALLY
IF NECESSARY IT CALLS ON
RECEIVING OR OBTAINING THE
APPROVAL OR PREAPPROVAL FROM
FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PURSUE THE
ACTIVITIES AND MAKE
EXPENDITURES THAT ARE NECESSARY.
AS YOU ARE AWARE THERE HAS BEEN
DISCUSSION ABOUT FEMA AND
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING.
THIS DOES NOT IDENTIFY FEMA AS
THE FUNDING SOURCE SO IF THE
STEPS OUTLINED WERE FOLLOWED IT
WOULD HOPEFULLY MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO
BE ONE OF THE POTENTIAL FUNDING
SOURCES TO PAY FOR THE COST OF
THE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
APPROPRIATION.
WITH THAT I DO NOT HAVE FURTHER
TECHNICAL PIECES SO I AM HAPPY
TO TURN OVER TO THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE,
$12 MILLION IS THE POSSIBILITY
WE ARE FREEING UP WITH
LEGISLATION.
$12 MILLION NOT JUST FOR HOTELS
BUT FOR VARIOUS NON-CONGREGANTS
SHELTER OPTIONS INCLUDING TINY
HOSE VILLAGES AND HOTEL AND
STRATEGIES ALONG WITH ENHANCED
SHELTERS.
AS FOLKS KNOW SHELTERS HAVE HAD
TO DE-INTENSIFY, MOVE MORE
FOLKS ACROSS DIFFERENT SPACES
BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO SOCIALLY
DISTANCE AND THEY ARE OLDER AND
INSUFFICIENT WITH MATS ON THE
FLOOR, THE STRATEGY WE LINE
PEOPLE UP AND HAVE THEM SLEEP
NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND KICK
THEM OUT IN THE MORNING.
IT WAS NOT WORKING DURING COVID
AND NOW IT IS DEATHLY SO THIS
IS FUNDING WE'RE TRYING TO GET
FOR NON-CONGREGANTS SHELTER
OPTIONS AND ENHANCED OPTIONS
ACROSS THE CITY.
A LOT OF FOLKS ASKED WHY DO WE
SEE MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE?
IT IS BECAUSE SHELTERS ARE AT
CAPACITY, THEY WERE AT CAPACITY
PRIOR TO COVID AND WE HAVE NOT
OPENED ENOUGH SHELTER
ESPECIALLY IN THE RESPONSE TO
HAVE NON-CONGREGANTS SHELTER
OPTIONS WITHIN THE CITY.
KING COUNTY HAS BEEN DOING A
TREMENDOUS JOB WITH HELPING TO
HOTEL FOLKS AND PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND THE
DATA HAS SHOWN WHEN PEOPLE GET
THE INDIVIDUAL NON-CONGREGANTS
SHELTER OPTIONS COUPLED WITH
SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED,
TESTIMONIALS HAVE BEEN PEOPLE
SAYING I WAS ABLE TO KEEP MY
JOB, IF FOLKS HAVE BEEN USING
SUBSTANCES THEY WERE ABLE TO
GET SOBER BECAUSE THEY HAD A
PLACE TO STAY SAFE AND NOT HAVE
TO SELF MEDICATE.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS, THEY FELT
LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING TO
LIVE FOR.
THIS IS HOW WE WILL RESPOND TO
THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS IN
THE FIVE YEAR DECLARED STATE OF
EMERGENCY AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
EXCITED ABOUT THE OPTIONS LISTED
AND IF THERE IS FEDERAL FUNDING
THEN GREAT THAT IS THE CHERRY
ON TOP.
WONDERFUL NEWS BUT THIS IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO AND I THINK
THIS IS SHOWING THE CITY IS
READY TO MOVE FORWARD FINALLY
WITH MAKING SURE THERE IS
SUFFICIENT NON-CONGREGANTS
SHELTER OPTIONS.
THIS MUST BE DONE IN ADDITION
TO OPENING UP ADDITIONAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS, AS
A REMINDER THE JUMPSTART PASSED
LAST YEAR AND OF THE $214
MILLION, $135 MILLION WILL GO
TO HOMELESS AND HOUSING
SERVICES.
SO THAT IS THE LIGHT AT THE END
OF THE TUNNEL, THE EXIT PLAN.
THE ANSWER IS NOT JUST SHELTERS
THE ANSWER IS HOUSING SO THIS
CREATES THE OPTION FOR FOLKS TO
GET INTO SHELTERS AND THEN GET
INTO HOUSING.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS,
I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR AND
I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS BECAUSE
THIS LEGISLATION WILL BE
AMENDING THE BUDGET WE PASSED
THE APPROVAL WILL REQUIRE A 3/4
VOTE BY THE FULL COUNCIL
ULTIMATELY.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR JEFF OR
COMMENTS?
OKAY JEFF.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY WHICH MEANS
YOU DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE WRAP
THIS UP?
>> NO, I WOULD JUST SAY I
REALLY APPRECIATE CENTRAL
STAFF'S DILIGENT EFFORTS IN
STITCHING THIS TOGETHER.
IT DID GO THROUGH QUITE THE
ITERATIVE PROCESS TO TRY TO GET
THE WORDING RIGHT AND PUT
TOGETHER A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM
A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES
WHICH IS WHY THE FINISHED
PRODUCT IS NEATLY PREPARED.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
ADD TO THIS, I WANT TO THANK
TOM MIKESELL AND ALY PENNUCCI
FOR THEIR WORK IN GETTING THIS
TOGETHER.
HOPING TO GET IT OUT THE DOOR
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO
AGAIN LIFT UP THE WORDS OF MY
PREDECESSOR SALLY BACK SHAW,
MAKE SURE WE HAVE A VERY
VISIBLE SEE TEST ON A LOT OF
THESE SHELTERING INITIATIVES
THAT WE ARE PURSUING TO MEET
THE SCALE OF THE CRISIS.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
WITH THAT I MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120019.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVED AND SECONDED, ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
HEARING ON MEADOW CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL
>> CHAIR MOSQUEADA YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD YES.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ YES.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR NON-OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE
MOTION CARRIES IN THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BILL
PASSED WILL BE SENT TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FOR FINAL BOW, CONGRATULATIONS
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE
TEAM, VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS
MOVE FORWARD.
WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG,
LET'S GO ON TO THE FOURTH ITEM
OF BUSINESS.
MADAM CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER FOUR TO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120018
ORDINANCE RELATING TO GRANT
FUNDS FROM NON-CITY SOURCES,
AMENDING ORDINANCE 126237 WHICH
ADOPTED THE 2021 BUDGET FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM
CLERK.
I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE ENTIRE
TEAM.
FROM OFFICE OF HOUSING JOINING
US TODAY HELLO DIRECTOR EMILY
ALVARADO, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE, KELLY LARSON VERY EXCITED
TO SEE YOU IN THIS ROLE AND
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
ROBERT, KAREN AND TRACY FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU.
DID I MISS ANYBODY WHO IS HERE
TO PRESENT?
OKAY.
WONDERFUL.
IT IS A FULL TEAM TO TALK WITH
US ABOUT THE BILL WHICH WOULD
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF
THE COMMITTEE KNOW THAT WE WERE
VERY MUCH EXCITED ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION TO COME DOWN.
WE HAVE NOT HAD AMPLE TIME TO
SUIT WITH IT AND TRACY I WANT
TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WE
RESPECT AND APPRECIATE YOU AND
WE THINK YOU ARE A HERO BUT
COMING THROUGH THIS AND HAVING
A CONVERSATION WITH VARIOUS
COUNCILMEMBERS WITHIN THE
TIMEFRAME WE RECEIVED IT WAS
PROBABLY NOT POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE THIS LISTED TODAY AS
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
IF THERE IS INTEREST IN A VOTE
WE CAN DO THAT BUT WE HAVE NOT
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
BEEN BRIEFED ON THIS YET FROM
CENTRAL STAFF BECAUSE IT IS
IMPORTANT WE GET THIS RIGHT I
WILL MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FULL
CONVERSATION AND I THINK IN
RECOGNITION OF THE CONVERSATION
WE HAD YESTERDAY WITH THE
EXTENSION OF THE MORATORIUM WE
POTENTIALLY HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME
TO CONSIDER THE LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US.
PRIOR, IT WAS REALLY URGENT FOR
US TO CONSIDER AND MOVE IT OUT
BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH TO
MAKE SURE FOLKS WERE GETTING
THAT TYPE OF RELIEF.
AGAIN, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US AND
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE FROM
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING
TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
ASPECTS OF THE BILL ALONG WITH
LEADERSHIP TODAY ALONG WITH
EMILY ALVARADO WHEN.
I WILL ASK THAT YOU HOLD
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END AND WE
WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM THOSE WHO HAVE HAD A CHANCE
TO WRITE THE LEGISLATION OVER
THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
IF THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO IDENTIFY CONCERNS OR RED
FLAGS OR QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL
HAVE, WE HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU
KNEW AND THE COLLEAGUES ON THIS
COMMITTEE THAT THERE'S STILL A
CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND IF
YOU DO SEE ANY AMENDMENTS, YOU
CAN WORK WITH CENTRAL STAFF TO
MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
WITH THAT, TRACI AM I TURNING
IT OVER TO YOU FIRST?
MAYBE DIRECTOR?
>> WE WILL LET EMILY GO FORTH
WITH HER PRESENTATION.
>> OKAY GREAT, DIRECTOR ALVARADO
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING DURING THIS CRISIS AND
BEFORE THAT TO HELP HOUSE
FOLKS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP AT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING MORE FROM YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR MOSQUEADA
AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I'M EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE INVESTMENTS
IN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I'M GOING TO NOW SHARE MY
CREEN TO PROMPT THE POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION.
CAN EVERYONE SEE MY SCREEN?
OKAY.
TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR
PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS FOR
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY
HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING
WHO HAVE BEEN ECONOMICALLY
IMPACTED BY COVID AND ARE
UNABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT.
THERE ARE MANY HOUSEHOLDS WHO
ALREADY HAVE ACCUMULATED THAT
AND THEY OWE THEIR LANDLORDS
RESOURCES AND EVEN THOUGH THERE
NOW HAS BEEN AN EXTENSION IN
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THROUGH
JUNE 30th WE KNOW THAT FAMILIES
ARE NERVOUS AND THEY ARE
STRUGGLING SO WE ARE EAGER TO
GET RENTAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES
OUT INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO
NEED IT.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS BILL IS
FEDERAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT
WAS PASSED IN DECEMBER.
THIS IS A DIRECT TREASURY
ALLOCATION OF $22.7 MILLION FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THIS IS
NOT THE ARP RESOURCES THAT WERE
DISCUSSED EARLIER WHICH WILL
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DIRECT
ALLOCATION FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IN AN AMOUNT I AM
NOT CLEAR YET WHAT THE NUMBER
IS BUT THAT IS FORTHCOMING.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION BEFORE
YOU ACCEPT THE FUNDS AND MAKES
ALLOCATIONS FOR A RANGE OF
APPROACHES TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE
DELIVERY AS WELL AS TO UTILITY
ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS REALLY BUILDING ON THE
FRAMEWORK ESTABLISHED TO DATE
FOR OUR APPROACH TO PROVIDING
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND YOU WILL HEAR
MORE, THE MAJORITY OF THE
RESOURCE WE ARE PROPOSING TO
INVEST IN DIRECT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE BUT THERE IS SOME
UTILITY ASSISTANCE AS WELL MY
COLLEAGUES FROM SPU AND CITY
LIGHT CAN TALK ABOUT LATER.
I MENTIONED WE'RE BUILDING ON
RECENT WORK, AS WE WORKED
QUICKLY TO STAND UP PROGRAMS
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE LAST YEAR
WHICH ARE THREE PRIMARY
APPROACHES.
THE FIRST WAS TO WORK WITH
UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY AS
THEY EXPANDED THE HOMEBASE
PROGRAM, THEY WERE THE FIRST
ENTITY TO CREATE A PORTAL AND
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR DIRECT
ASSISTANCE AND HAS BEEN
SUCCESSFUL.
SECOND WE WERE PROBABLY THE
FIRST IN THE NATION TO CREATE A
PUBLIC, A SPECIAL RESOURCE FOR
PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND I REALLY HAS
MULTIPLE JUSTIFICATIONS BEHIND
IT.
ONE IS THE APPROACH TO TARGET
THOSE WITH THE LOWEST INCOME
AND A HISTORY OF HOUSING
INSTABILITY.
WE DID PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZE
INVESTMENTS TO STABILIZE
BUILDINGS, ENTIRE BUILDING
COMMUNITIES AND TO SUPPORT
NONPROFIT OPERATORS.
AND WE USED COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
IN 2020 WE LEVERAGED OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH EXISTING
CONTRACTED HOMELESSNESS
PREVENTION PROVIDERS AND YOU
WILL SEE WE RECOMMEND SCALING
THE INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS EVEN MORE.
THERE HAS BEEN A FLURRY OF
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT ABOUT ONE
OF THE BEST APPROACHES AND
PRACTICES IN DELIVERING RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
I WANT TO CALL OUT TWO PAPERS.
ONE DONE BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE
AND ONE DONE BY THE FURMAN
CENTER.
BOTH LOOKING AT HOW TO NOT ONLY
OFFICIALLY INVEST RESOURCES BUT
HOW TO DO SO EQUITABLY.
FROM THE URBAN INSTITUTE THEY
RECOMMEND THREE PRIORITIES,
FURMAN REPRESENTS FIVE KEY
PRIORITIES AND I WILL SUMMARIZE
THE WITH THREE WITCHES LEVERAGE
EXISTING SYSTEMS TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE.
PRIORITIZE FUNDING BASED ON
NEED AND VULNERABILITY.
THE ROLL CALL FROM BOTH
INSTITUTES IS TO LOOK AT HOW WE
SUPPORT THE LOWEST INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS AND HOW WE ARE
SUPPORTING POPULATIONS HARDEST
HIT BY BOTH COVID AND HOUSING
INSTABILITY.
AND THEN BOTH INSTITUTES ARE
PUSHING US TO INVEST IN
STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE
RACIAL EQUITY.
IN THIS CASE IT IS CLEAR TO SAY
ACHIEVING RACIAL EQUITY IS NOT
ONLY ABOUT LOOKING AT THE
DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHO IS SERVED
BUT ALSO ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
WHO WE ARE WORKING WITH AND
ENSURING THAT THERE IS
APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE ACCESS,
OUTREACH AND TARGETING FOR
THOSE STRATEGIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE NEED FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS REALLY
SIGNIFICANT.
I AM PUTTING OUT A NUMBER THAT
THERE ARE SOME DEMOGRAPHERS AND
STATISTICIANS WHO MIGHT NOT
LIKE THE WAY I EXTRAPOLATED
THIS FIGURE BUT IT IS IN ORDER
OF MAGNITUDE OF HOW MUCH NEED
THERE IS.
ESTIMATED 13,000 LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE DEFICIENT
ON THEIR RENT AND FOR THOSE
HOUSEHOLDS WE CAN USE NATIONAL
SOURCES CORROBORATED BY SOME
LOCAL INFORMATION TO SHOW THE
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD IS BETWEEN
3000 AND $5000 ON THEIR RENT.
IN THIS ISSUE WE SEE VERY
CLEARLY THAT THERE ARE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS OF
RENTAL, THE NEED FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE BASED ON RACE WHILE
THE SURVEY SHOWS 11% OF WHITE
HOUSEHOLDS REPORT THEY ARE NOT
CURRENT ON RENT, 21% OF LATINO
HOUSEHOLDS AND 18% OF BLACK
HOUSEHOLDS REPORT THEY ARE NOT
CURRENT ON RENT SO THE
JUSTIFICATION TO ENSURE WE ARE
FOCUSING ON HAVING TARGETED
RACIAL EQUITY STRATEGIES TO
ENSURE WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS
OF BLACK, LATINO AND OTHER
PEOPLE OF COLOR HOUSEHOLDS.
I WILL SAY IF YOU DO THE QUICK
MATH WITH A 13,000 MULTIPLIED
BY $4000 WHAT IT CONCLUDES IS
EVEN WITH THIS ASSISTANCE WE
ARE NOT GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS
SO THE NEED OUTPACES THE
AVAILABLE RESOURCES EVEN WITH
THIS ALLOCATION.
SO HERE IS THE SUMMARY SLIDE
THAT SHOWS OUR PROPOSED FUNDING
AMOUNTS.
FIRST, WE ARE RECOMMENDING $8
MILLION TO UNITED WAY OF KING
COUNTY.
IT WOULD BE A SUB AWARD TO
THEM.
KELLY WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY BUT
THAT IS REALLY THE PRIMARY WAY
TO DIRECT INDIVIDUALS TO
CENTRALIZED TENANT POOL.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING $7 MILLION
TO CONTINUED INVESTMENTS OF
PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
CONSISTENT WITH NATIONAL BEST
PRACTICES THIS IS ONE WAY TO
ENSURE WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE LOWEST
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
RECOMMENDING $6.2 MILLION TO
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
TO ACHIEVE TARGETED RACIAL
EQUITY OUTCOMES.
LOOKING FOR THESE AGENCIES TO BE
TRYING A LEAD PUB ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SERVING
THOSE WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
COVID AND BY HOUSING INSTABILITY
AND THE APPROACH WOULD BE NOT
ONLY TO INVEST IN RENTAL
ASSISTANCE BUT A THAT WITH
SUPPORT SERVICES AS IS NEEDED
BY THE FOLKS WHO APPROACH THESE
AGENCIES.
$1.5 MILLION PROPOSED FOR
ALLOCATION FOR CITY LIGHT AND
SPU AND THEY CAN TALK MORE
LATER ABOUT THEIR BILL PAYING
ASSISTANCE PROPOSAL.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
KELLY.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU DIRECTOR
ALVARADO.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY WE ARE EXCITED TO TALK
ABOUT THIS WORK AND WE WANT TO
THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF AND
COLLEAGUES TO MAKE THIS WORK
REALITY.
WE WILL START BY SHARING MORE
ABOUT THE ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS
AND FOLLOW WITH MORE DETAIL
ABOUT THE PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS
AND STRATEGIES.
THESE FUNDS ARE ISSUED AND
REGULATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE TREASURY SO YOU CAN SEE THE
FUNDING IS INTENDED TO SERVE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO COVID-
19, FOLKS AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING
INSTABILITY AND THOSE AT OR
BELOW 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME.
THE ELIGIBLE COST CATEGORIES
ARE NARROW, THE SINGULAR GOAL
IS KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES
SO 90% OF FUNDS MUST BE USED
FOR DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
INCLUDING RENT AND BACK RENT,
UTILITIES AND UTILITY BACK
PAYMENTS AND OTHER DIRECT
EXPENSES RELATED TO HOUSING.
10% MAY BE USED FOR HOUSING
STABILITY SERVICES AND ADMIN.
MOVING TO THE FIRST ALLOCATION
PROPOSAL.
THIS PROPOSAL PROVIDES $8
MILLION TO THE UNITED WAY OF
KING COUNTY.
AS YOU HEARD THIS IS THE
INDIVIDUAL TENANT POOL WHERE WE
WOULD BE DRIVING THE GENERAL
PUBLIC TO APPLY.
KING COUNTY EXPECTS TO DELIVER
$145 MILLION TOTAL FOR ALL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THEY WILL
BE INVESTING IN THE STRATEGY.
THIS IS COORDINATED EFFORTS TO
SERVE TENANTS AND SMALL
LANDLORDS.
THE CITY DIRECTED FUNDS THROUGH
THIS JOINT EFFORT LAST YEAR
DEMONSTRATING STRONG OUTCOMES,
UNITED WAY WORKED WITH A NUMBER
OF GROUPS INCLUDING THE URBAN
LEAGUE, SOLID GROUND AND
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE TO DELIVER
FUNDS AND SERVICES TO THE
COMMUNITY.
THEY DID GREAT WORK SERVING THE
PRIORITY POPULATIONS WE TALKED
ABOUT AND OVER 70% OF THE
HOUSEHOLDS IN 2020 WERE HEADED
BY A PERSON WHO WAS BLACK,
INDIGENOUS OR A PERSON OF COLOR.
WITH THE FUNDING FROM THE
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS WE ARE PLANNING TO
SUPPORT SMALLER COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO NAVIGATE FOLKS
TO WEAR THESE PROGRAMS WITH
TRANSLATION SERVICES AND WE
HAVE HAD PRELIMINARY
CONVERSATION WITH GROUPS THAT
ARE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING
THIS SUPPORT.
WE HAVE ALSO HEARD UNITED WAY
REPORTS THERE ARE OVER 2000
HOUSEHOLDS ON THE WAITLIST FOR
THE NEXT ROUND OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
ALL INDICATING THEY ARE BEHIND
ON RENT WHICH IS ANOTHER
INDICATION OF THE NEED.
STAFF AT THE CITY, COUNTY AND
UNITED WAY ARE DOING PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT WORK TO ENSURE
ALIGNMENT AND MAKE SURE TENANTS
CAN EASILY NAVIGATE THIS
PROGRAM.
THE SECOND ALLOCATION.
PROVIDING $7 MILLION FOR TENANTS
LIVING IN PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED
BUILDINGS.
'S STRATEGY PRIORITIZES THE
LOWEST INCOME HOUSEHOLDS MOSTLY
UNDER 30% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THESE ARE CONSISTENTLY HOUSING
FOLKS WITH LOWEST INCOMES AND
CHALLENGING HOUSING 10 YEARS
AND WE FEEL IT IS CRITICAL TO
ENSURE THESE TENANTS, BUILDINGS
AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE AS STABLE
AS POSSIBLE DURING THIS
UNCERTAIN TIME.
IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
ACCUMULATION UP BACK RENT CAN
QUICKLY BECOME A CONCERNING
FINANCIAL SITUATION SO THAT IS
PART OF THE STRATEGY.
WE BELIEVE A LOT OF THESE
BUILDINGS SERVE AS LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES AND
STABILIZING THEM AT THE
BUILDING LEVEL IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A
WHOLE.
WE EXPECT THE STRATEGY TO SERVE
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING PORTFOLIO AS WELL AS
ALIGNING WITH THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY THIS TIME
AROUND.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE
FUNDING AND OVERALL WE SERVE 23
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND WE
TYPICALLY SAW AGENCY
PARTICIPATION THAT WAS
REFLECTIVE OF THE SIZE OF EACH
ORGANIZATION'S PORTFOLIO.
PART OF THE STRATEGY WILL ALSO
BE DIRECTED TOWARD A NEW
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION FOR THE
STREAMLINED GRANT AND DATA
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
AND THE 1.0 FTE TERM LIMITED
SENIOR GRANDSON CONTRACT
SPECIALIST FOR THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING TO ADMINISTER THESE
FUNDS.
ONTO ALLOCATION THREE, THIS
DIRECTS $6.2 MILLION TO
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
A STRATEGY FOCUSED ON BLACK,
INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITIES, AWARDED THROUGH A
COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR
ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERIENCE
IN HOMELESS PREVENTION FUNDS,
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING IS
PLANNING TO ISSUE A NOTICE OF
FUNDING AND AVAILABILITY, THE
GOAL IS FOR THIS TO BE AS LOW
BARRIER AS POSSIBLE AND TO
IDENTIFY AGENCIES THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE QUICKLY IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE SEEK TO ACHIEVE EQUITABLE
OUTCOMES THROUGH EQUITABLE
PROCESSES AND LEARNING FROM THE
NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES WHICH
DIRECTOR ALVARADO MENTIONED
EARLIER THAT HAVE BEEN
PUBLISHED ALREADY TO MAKE THIS
STRATEGY SUCCESSFUL WHICH IS
REDUCING DOCUMENTATION,
SIMPLIFYING DOCUMENTATION AND
STRIVING TO GET FUNDS INTO THE
HANDS OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
WHO KNOW HOW TO BEST MEET THE
NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
FOR ALLOCATION NUMBER FOUR I
WILL HAND IT OVER TO OUR
COLLEAGUES AT CITY LIGHT AND
SPU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO TAKE A
MOMENT.
I KNOW THIS COMMITTEE DOES NOT
TYPICALLY DEAL WITH UTILITY
ISSUES.
WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS ON THE
COMMITTEE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE
SO I WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO
EXPLAIN FROM THE UTILITY
PERSPECTIVE HOW AND WHY WE SEE
USING A PORTION OF THE FEDERAL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITY
DELINQUENCY TO BE CRUCIAL FOR
KEEPING RENTERS IN THEIR HOMES.
FIRST OF ALL, SINCE MARCH OF
LAST YEAR THE UTILITIES HAVE
NOT IMPOSED ANY PENALTIES FOR
NONPAYMENT SO THERE HAVE BEEN
NO SHUTOFFS, NO LATE FEES, NO
PENALTIES FOR BREAKING PAYMENT
PLANS, NO PENALTIES FOR
NONPAYMENT AND WHILE THIS HAS
PROVIDED RELIEF TO LOW INCOME
FAMILIES UNABLE TO PAY THEIR
BILLS IT IS ALSO RESULTING IN
THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS
COMMITTING VERY LARGE BALANCES.
WE KNOW THAT UNPAID UTILITY
BILLS CAN BE GROUNDS FOR
EVICTION WHEN EVICTION
MORATORIUM LIVES SO EVEN IF
UTILITIES ARE NOT IMPOSING
PENALTIES LANDLORDS CAN EVICT
RENTERS FOR UNPAID UTILITY
BILLS.
THE UTILITIES HAVE KEY PROGRAMS
FOR PROVIDING LOW INCOME
ASSISTANCE.
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
WHICH IS PROBABLY THE ONE YOU
ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH.
úIT HAS 42,000 HOUSEHOLDS
ENROLLED, IT OFFERS 50 TO 60%
OFF THE CUSTOMER UTILITY BILLS
BUT IT ONLY APPLIES TO CHARGES
RECEIVED AFTER ENROLLING IN THE
PROGRAM.
REALLY THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHING
TO HELP PEOPLE WITH BALANCES
THAT THEY OWE TODAY.
THE OTHER KEY PROGRAM THAT WE
HAVE IS THE EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
SO UTILITIES EACH OPERATE THEIR
OWN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
BUT THEY ARE SIMILAR TO ONE
ANOTHER, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE
TWO IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES FROM
THE UDP THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO
HIGHLIGHT.
THE FIRST IS THE UDP IS A
PROSPECTIVE OR FORWARD-LOOKING
RATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THE
EMERGENCY PROGRAMS ARE
RETROSPECTIVE PROVIDING ONE-
TIME ASSISTANCE TOWARD THE
CUSTOMER'S OUTSTANDING BALANCE
THAT THEY OWE TODAY TO WHATEVER
CHARGES HAVE ACCUMULATED IN THE
PAST SO IT IS THE BEST PROGRAM
TO RESPOND TO THIS COVID
DELINQUENCY CRISIS.
THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING TO
HIGHLIGHT IS THE EMERGENCY
PROGRAM HAS A HIGHER INCOME
THRESHOLD THAN UDP SO THE
EMERGENCY PROGRAMS HAVE A 10%
HIGHER THRESHOLD AND THEY CAN
HELP HOUSEHOLDS WHO DO NOT
BENEFIT FROM THE UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAMS, THEY ARE
PAYING FULL PRICE FOR THEIR
BILLS, THEY ARE STILL LOW
INCOME JUST OVER THE UDP
THRESHOLD SO THEY HAVE
ACCUMULATED LARGER DELINQUENT
BALANCES.
SO WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AS
PART OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO
FUNNEL A PORTION OF THE FEDERAL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE DOLLARS
THROUGH THE UTILITY EMERGENCY
PROGRAMS AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE
ASSISTANCE THAT WE ALREADY
PROVIDE THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS.
AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE CORE ISSUE
THAT UNPAID UTILITY BILLS CAN
BE GROUNDS FOR EVICTION.
SO THE MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE WE
CAN PROVIDE TO A HOUSEHOLD
THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY PROGRAM
IS $922 PER YEAR AND CITYWIDE
IS $400.
ONLY HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN
QUALIFY FOR THIS AMOUNT, WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE TO
DEVELOP LEGISLATION SO WE CAN
EXTEND THE MAXIMUM DOLLAR
AMOUNT TO ALL INCOME QUALIFIED
HOUSEHOLDS IN RESPONSE TO COVID
BUT EVEN IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO
THAT THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS
PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS OWING THE UTILITIES
SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS BEYOND WHAT THE
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CAN COVER
EVEN AT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
THE UTILITIES CANNOT LEGALLY
WRITE OFF CUSTOMER DEBT OR
BALANCES, THERE ARE STATE
STATUTORY PROHIBITIONS AGAINST
WRITING OFF DEBT AND WOULD
BREAK THE BOND COVENANTS.
'S WE ARE LIMITED TO WHAT WE
CAN PROVIDE IN THESE EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND AGAIN
EVEN IF WE ARE ABLE TO EXTEND
THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE TO ALL INCOME
QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS THIS YEAR
THERE WILL BE THOUSANDS OF LOW-
INCOME CUSTOMERS WITH UNPAID
UTILITY BILLS AT RISK OF
EVICTION BECAUSE OF THOSE
UNPAID UTILITY BILLS.
WITH THAT I WILL ASK MY
COLLEAGUE ROBERT IF HE HAS
ANYTHING TO ADD.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK YOU COVERED IT REALLY
WELL.
I WILL ADD FOR CONSIDERATION
ONE THING WE NEED TO BE HUMBLE
ABOUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IN OUR
CUSTOMERS, THEY ARE MAKING
THEIR OWN CHOICES IN THE FACE
OF SOME CHALLENGING
CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO WE KNOW THOUSANDS OR TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS ARE IN
CRISIS, YOU KNOW WE KNOW MANY
OF THEM ARE NOT ASKING FOR
SUPPORT AND WE NEED TO FIND A
WAY TO PROVIDE THEM SERVICES
THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.
NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.
THANK YOU.
>> SO THAT IS OUR PRESENTATION.
OUR NEXT STEPS AFTER RECEIVING
DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL,
HEARING YOUR QUESTIONS AND
RESPONDING TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU
HAVE IS TO SECURE OUR
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
úKING COUNTY AND THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WHO IS
ALSO SEEKING TO ACQUIRE
TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE TENANT
ACCESS AND LANDLORD ACCESS IS
EASY FOR APPLYING FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE WHICH WILL ALSO HELP
US TO NOT ONLY DELIVER THE
RESOURCES MORE QUICKLY BUT THEN
HAVE STRONG DATA AT THE BACK END
FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOR
CONSISTENT EVALUATION OF OUR
APPROACH.
WE ARE ESTABLISHING PROCESSES
FOR QUICK CONTRACTING AS YOU
HEARD KELLY MENTION ONE OF THE
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT WE
REDUCE BARRIERS TO THE
APPLICATION PROCESS BECAUSE WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE
QUICKLY INCLUDING WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WHO WOULD HAVE THE SECONDARY
STEP OF STAFFING UP THEIR OWN
AGENCIES TO DELIVER THESE
SOURCES.
I WILL STOP THERE.
CHAIR MOSQUEADA, I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION AND
QUESTIONS AND I WILL STOP
SHARING MY SCREEN AT THIS TIME
UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO
KEEP IT UP.
>> KEEP IT UP FOR A SECOND TO
SEE REAL QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO
ANY SLIDES.
COLLEAGUES ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE SPECIFIC TO
ANY SLIDE OR COMMENTS THAT YOU
HEARD? I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
TRYING TO COME VICE CHAIR DO
YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?
>> NOT SPECIFIC TO A PARTICULAR
SLIDE.
I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY DO WE NEED THE
SLIDES UP TO ORIENT THE
QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
MY QUESTIONS RELATE SPECIFICALLY
TO THE CONCEPT OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FUNDS THAT IS
TARGETED IN SUCH A WAY THAT NOT
ONLY IDENTIFIES AT RISK TENANTS
BUT ALSO PROPERTY OWNERS WHO
MIGHT BE AT RISK OF LOSING
THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE OF
UNPAID MORTGAGE ASSOCIATED WITH
UNPAID RENT.
AND SO, JUST WONDERING WHETHER
OR NOT SOME PORTION OF THE
FUNDING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE
CAN BE USED TO ALSO ADDRESS
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION IN
RENTAL HOUSING TO PRESERVE
NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, YOU KNOW DURING THE
JUMPSTART DELIBERATIONS LAST
YEAR, WE PASSED AN AMENDMENT
ASKING THAT THE EXECUTIVE MAKE
RECOMMENDATION FOR A PROGRAM
LIKE THAT AND I THINK WE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING AN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN JUNE
THIS YEAR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN
HIGHLIGHT THIS QUESTION.
THERE ARE SOME EARLY THOUGHTS
ABOUT IT BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE
A GOAL OF TARGETING RESOURCES
TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE
TENANTS BUT WHEN THEY LIVE IN
HOUSING THAT IS ALSO VULNERABLE
TO FORECLOSURE BECAUSE THE
LANDLORD HAS AN UNPAID MORTGAGE
AS OPPOSED TO LANDLORDS WHOSE
MORTGAGES ARE PAID BUT MIGHT
HAVE TENANTS WHO ARE ALSO
BEHIND IN THEIR RENT WE ARE
WONDERING WHAT THE THOUGHTS ARE
ABOUT THAT ITEM AND AFTER THAT
I HAVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I THINK YOUR QUESTION BRINGS UP
TWO ISSUES FOR ME.
ONE IS WHAT IS THE BEST PROGRAM
DESIGN TO REACH THOSE TARGETED
BUILDINGS AND THEN TWO IS WHAT
IS THE BEST OUTREACH AND
ADVERTISING STRATEGY TO REACH
THOSE BUILDINGS AS WELL.
I THINK THERE IS A BALANCE THAT
CAN HELP ACCOMPLISH THAT
OUTCOME.
FIRST ON THE PROGRAM DESIGN
LOOKING AT THE KING COUNTY
PROGRAMS AND ASSESS WHAT THEY
WERE ABLE TO DO THROUGH COVID-
19, THEIR DATA DEMONSTRATES
THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF SMALL
LANDLORDS WHICH IS A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT POPULATION THAN THE
AT RISK PROPERTY BUT SMALL
LANDLORDS WERE BEST REPRESENTED
IN THE TENANT POOL. SO THE
APPROACH TO THE INDIVIDUALIZED
TENANT POOL HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
BEST WAYS TO REACH TENANTS WHO
LIVE IN PROPERTIES WITH SMALL
LANDLORDS AND PART OF THAT THE
NEW TREASURY RESOURCE IS FOR
THE FIRST TIME, I GUESS NOT FOR
THE FIRST TIME BUT THROUGH THE
TREASURY THERE IS EXPLICIT
ALLOWANCE FOR LANDLORDS TO BE
HAVE APPLY FOR THEIR TENANTS SO
THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE TENANT
POOL AS WELL AND PART OF THE
TECHNOLOGY WE ARE SEEKING TO
PURCHASE WOULD HAVE AN ENTRY
POINT FOR A LANDLORD AND FOR A
TENANT TO MAKE THE ACCESS TO
APPLICATION MORE EASY.
SO I THINK THAT PROGRAM IS WELL-
DESIGNED AND HAS SHOWN STRONG
RESULTS TO DATE THAT TARGETING
THAT POPULATION BUT ALSO ON THE
QUESTION ABOUT AT RISK
BUILDINGS, I THINK THERE IS A
WAY WE CAN USE SOME OF OUR
RESOURCE TOWARD ADVERTISING AND
MARKETING TO ALSO SEEK OUT,
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH RHA
OR OTHER LANDLORD ASSOCIATIONS,
WE CAN FIND AND MAKE SURE WE
ARE DELIVERING MORE INFORMATION
TO THOSE FOLKS SO THAT THEY ARE
AWARE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE
OUT THERE.
I WILL SAY AT THIS POINT WE ARE
BETWEEN THE $145 MILLION THAT
IS GOING THROUGH THE COUNTY AND
THE NEXT ROUND OF ANTICIPATED
RESOURCE OUR VISION HAS BEEN TO
KEEP THE RESOURCES FLOWING AND
THEN USE THE ADVERTISING AND
MARKETING STRATEGIES TO DIRECT
FOLKS THERE.
>> THAT IS HELPFUL.
I DID ASK AT A RECENT RPC
MEETING WHERE THE BUDGET
DIRECTOR PRESENTED ON THE
PROGRAM ABOUT THEIR SMALL
LANDLORD PROGRAM AND THEY WERE
AFFECTED AND THAT SMALL
LANDLORD PROGRAM ENRICHING THE
TENANT POPULATION SO THAT WAS
THE TENANTS BELOW 50% AMI WHO
WERE ADVERSELY IMPACTED DUE TO
COVERT AND AT HIGH RISK OF
EVICTION BUT THEY DID NOT
TARGET THE SMALL LANDLORD
ASSISTANCE TO LANDLORDS WHO HAD
MORTGAGE DEBT OR PARTICULARLY
UNPAID MORTGAGE DEBT THAT WAS
ACCUMULATING A RISK FOR THE
PROPERTY OWNER.
I AM INTERESTED IN EXPLORING
THIS FURTHER I HAVE REACHED OUT
TO ADVOCATES AT THE HOUSING
ALLIANCE TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT
THEY ARE AWARE OF ANY PILOT
PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT BE WORKING
ON THE SCHOOL AND LOOK FORWARD
TO CONSIDERING THAT SORT OF
ADDITIVE APPROACH AS WELL WITH
YOU, DIRECTOR ALVARADO.
AS A FOLLOW-UP AND THANK YOU,
YOU GIVE ME A GREAT SEGUE WHEN
YOU REFERENCED THE FACT THAT
THE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS FOR THE
PORTAL TO BE THE ENTRY PORTAL,
THE APPLICATION PORTAL TO BE
THERE FROM THE TENANT OR FROM
THE LANDLORD AND I UNDERSTAND
WHEN A LANDLORD APPLIES THEY
HAVE TO AS WE WOULD WANT THEM TO
DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY. I HAVE
HEARD OF SOME CASES AND YOU
KNOW I AM TAKING PEOPLE AT
THEIR WORD WHEN THEY WRITE TO
ME.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A
WIDESPREAD PROBLEM BUT I DO
HAVE SOME SMALL LANDLORDS
CONTACTING ME, TELLING ME THAT
THEIR TENANTS ARE NOT PROVIDING
THE INCOME, THEY ARE NOT
COOPERATING WITH THE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS AND SOME OF THOSE
LANDLORDS REALLY FEEL LIKE
THEY'RE IN BETWEEN A ROCK AND A
HARD PLACE, DESIRING TO ACCESS
THE RESOURCES, BELIEVING THAT
YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE
AND JUST WONDERING WHAT WE CAN
DO TO HELP.
I'M SURE IT IS A RELATIVELY
SMALL POPULATION OF LANDLORDS,
BUT AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION
NONETHELESS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS WE HAVE
WITH THIS RESOURCE IS THAT THE
TREASURY GUIDANCE HAS MADE SOME
EFFICIENCIES IN TERMS OF
ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE MORE
HELPFUL TO OVERCOMING SOME OF
THE BARRIERS YOU MENTIONED.
FOR EXAMPLE, INCOME
CERTIFICATION CAN BE SATISFIED
BY SELF CERTIFICATION RATHER
THAN A MORE ONEROUS PROCESS OF
REVIEWING MANY INCOME DOCUMENTS.
OR FOR EXAMPLE TREASURY DOES
NOT REQUIRE THAT THERE IS
REGULAR POSTING AND
COMMUNICATION WITH TENANTS IN A
WAY THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY
REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY FUNDS
FOR EXAMPLE.
LASTLY, THERE IS A PIECE UNDER
THE TREASURY GUIDANCE WHICH
DOES ALLOW FOR DIRECT PAYMENT
TO TENANTS WHEN THERE IS NOT
RESPONSIVENESS BY THE TYPICAL
PROCESS WHICH I THINK PROVIDES
ANOTHER WAY WE CAN ENSURE MONEY
STARTS FLOWING AND GETTING OUT
THE DOOR.
SO, TAKEN TOGETHER I THINK WE
HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE
WAY IN WHICH WE ADMINISTER THE
FUNDS TO HELP MAKE SURE IT IS
NOT AN OVERLY BURDENSOME POLICY
THAT IS STOPPING LANDLORDS WHO
SHOULD RECEIVE THE MONEY FROM
GETTING IT.
>> CAN I TROUBLE YOU TO SEND ME
A DESCRIPTION OF THOSE THREE
COMPONENTS THAT YOU MENTIONED?
SO I CAN USE THAT FOR MY
CONSTITUENT RESPONSE, THANK YOU.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> I WILL USE IT FOR MINE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> INC.
YOU SO MUCH I WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO BORROW FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS CORRESPONDENCE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US FREELY
PLAY DRIVES ACCURATE
INFORMATION.
REALLY QUICKLY AROUND THE SAME
CONCEPT BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN
THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE AND MAYBE
THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE
QUESTION FOR THIS VENUE BUT I'M
WONDERING FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR RELIEF
ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF ISSUES
RELATED TO THIS FUNDING, IS
THAT SOMETHING THAT IS INCLUDED
AS PART OF THIS PASS-THROUGH OR
NOT?
>> THIS IS SPECIFIC TO
RESIDENTIAL TENANTS SO IT DOES
NOT ALLOW FOR THAT USE.
>> OKAY GREAT.
>> THE ONLY THING I WILL
EXTRAPOLATE IS FOR THE PUBLICLY
SUBSIDIZED PORTION WE KNOW THAT
A LOT OF THOSE PROVIDERS ARE
CARRYING COMMERCIAL SPACES IN
WHICH THERE HAS NOT BEEN
REGULAR RENT PAID AND HAVING
FULL AND COMPLETE PAYMENT OF
THE RESIDENTIAL RENT HELPS
THEIR OVERALL BALANCE OF THE
PROPERTY BUT IT CANNOT
SPECIFICALLY BE USED FOR
COMMERCIAL SUPPORT.
>> GOT IT.
IN THOSE SORT OF PROJECTS THAT
HAVE MIXED-USE, THERE WILL BE
SOME SORT OF POTENTIAL BENEFIT
BUT IT IS PRIMARILY ROOTED IN
RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE?
>> EXACTLY.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
PRESENTATION, I THINK IT WAS
SLIDE SIX AND HE TALKED ABOUT
THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY, CAN YOU
TAKE TALK MORE ABOUT WHICH
ORGANIZATIONS YOU ARE LOOKING AT
AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE FOLKS
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS.
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO
ESPECIALLY AS WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO KNOW
BEST ABOUT HOW TO MEET THE
NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY COME
FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY
DISPLACEMENT, BY HOUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY AND NOW BY COVID.
SO ANY FLAVOR OR ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT ON WHO MIGHT BE
ADMINISTERING THOSE DOLLARS?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
I WILL SAY OBVIOUSLY WE WILL
HAVE A PROCESS BY WHICH WE
SELECT FOLKS BUT TO GIVE A
GENERAL SENSE WE ARE SEEKING
ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERIENCE
ADMINISTERING RENTAL ASSISTANCE
SO THAT NARROWS THE POOL
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY
TO GET THE FUNDS SPENT IN 2021.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR BIPOC
AGENCIES WHO HAVE HISTORY AND
EXPERTISE SERVING COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR HAVE BEEN DULY HIT BY
COVID AND HOUSING INSTABILITY.
FOR EXAMPLE THAT MIGHT MEAN
LEVERAGING SOME OF THE EXISTING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH HOMELESSNESS
PREVENTION PROVIDERS WHO INCLUDE
-- OR SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH
BOARD, UNITED INDIANS OF ALL
TRIBES OR IT MIGHT BE MORE
BROAD AGENCIES WHO DELIVER
RENTAL ASSISTANCE BUT HAVE NOT
PARTICIPATED IN CITY PROGRAMS.
FOR EXAMPLE, BIRD BAR PLACE WHO
USES A STATE RENT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM OR MUSLIM HOUSING
SERVICES WHO HAVE BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE COUNTY
PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE
AGENCIES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ON THAT REAL QUICK, THE
ORGANIZATIONS YOU MENTIONED,
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE INCREDIBLE
TENURE WORKING WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY AND OFTEN TIMES HAVE
A CENTURY OR DECADES WORTH OF
SUPPORT.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE
NOTED SOME OF THOSE IN THE
PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE
DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED.
TRACI I AM HAPPY TO HEAR MORE
FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY
CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS OR THINGS
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING
INTO.
THERE WAS A SENSE OF URGENCY,
IF YOU CAN GIVE US A SENSE OF
HOW YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT
REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF THE
MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS, HOW
THAT PLAYS INTO THIS AND WHAT
THE TIMELINE LOOKS LIKE FOR US.
>> I HAVE REVIEWED THE
LEGISLATION, I DO NOT HAVE
CONCERNS OR UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO
THE EXECUTIVE AGENCIES PRETTY
QUICKLY TO GET QUESTIONS AND
CONCERNS ANSWERED AND IT IS A
QUESTION ABOUT HOW COMFORTABLE
YOU ALL ARE WITH WHAT'S
PROPOSED BY THE EXECUTIVE IN
TERMS OF THE ALLOCATION OF
FUNDING.
AGAIN TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT
THAT THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE
RESOURCES THE CITY WILL GET WE
EXPECT WE WILL GET SOME OF THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE
LEGISLATION FROM LAST YEAR THAT
PASSED.
WE MAY GET FUNDS ALTHOUGH I
DON'T THINK DIRECTLY TO THE
CITY FROM THE STATE RELIEF ACT
THAT ALLOCATED UPWARDS OF $300
MILLION OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
IT SEEMS TO BE TARGETED TO
LOCAL HOUSING PROVIDERS, THAT'S
THE LANGUAGE USED BUT I'M
TRYING TO CLARITY FROM OIR TO
CONFIRM THE CITY WILL NOT SEE
THOSE RESOURCES BUT ANOTHER
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND
THEN THE COUNTY WILL BE GETTING
$145 MILLION IN CONFIRMATION OF
THAT TO FUND EXISTING PROGRAMS
WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER
TO ADD.
I FEEL LIKE MY QUESTIONS HAVE
MOSTLY BEEN ANSWERED BUT I LOOK
FOR DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL IN
TERMS OF HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO
PROCEED WITH THE LEGISLATION.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS ASKED AND I STILL
HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AROUND THE
DOLLARS WE ARE INCLUDING FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, I
APPRECIATE THE OVERVIEW AND I
UNDERSTAND SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
WAS POISED TO IMPOSE COLLECTIONS
AND ADDITIONAL FEE ON VOTES
PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL
COORDINATION AND PLEA TO NOT DO
THAT PRIOR TO COVID IN OCTOBER
OF 2019.
VERY HAPPY THAT DID NOT MOVE
FORWARD ESPECIALLY IN
ANTICIPATION OF WHAT WAS TO
COME.
AND PLEASED THAT THE POLICY
CONTINUES TO REMAIN IN PLACE.
I THINK HAS MADE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN PEOPLE PUTTING FOOD ON
THE TABLE OR HAVING TO WORRY
ABOUT KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON.
I APPRECIATE IT BUT I'M ALSO
NOT SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHY
THE 1.5, I'M NOT SURE I FULLY
UNDERSTAND WHY THE 1.5 FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND PUBLIC
UTILITY NEEDS TO COME FROM THIS
ALLOCATION THAT'S COVERED IN
SLIDE 11 FUNDING FOR UTILITY
ASSISTANCE FOR ELIGIBLE RENTERS
AND BUILDS ON ADMINISTRATIVE
INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE JUST HEARD FROM THE
PREVIOUS PRESENTATION THAT THE
ELIGIBLE USES OF THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY ACT PLAN NOW SAY WE
CAN MAKE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS
IN WATER, SEWER AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY
DOLLAR THAT IS AVAILABLE
SPECIFIC FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE
IS GETTING DIRECTLY INTO THE
HANDS OF THE RENTERS AND VIA
RENTERS INTO THE HANDS OF SMALL
LANDLORDS TO ADDRESS ISSUES
THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF
RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
CAN YOU REMIND ME?
FOR EACH RECIPIENT WHAT THEY
USUALLY GET CURRENTLY?
>> IT IS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 3000
AND $5000.
BOTH THE TYPICAL NEED AND WHAT
HAS BEEN TYPICALLY PROVIDED
THROUGH THE VARIOUS ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS.
>> CONSERVATIVELY IF EVERY
RENTER WERE TO RECEIVE THE $5000
ALLOTMENT IF WE WERE ABLE TO
FIND A DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCE
FOR THIS $1.5 MILLION THAT
WOULD MEAN AT LEAST 300
FAMILIES IN THE CITY WOULD BE
ABLE TO HAVE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
STABLE AT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY
THIS NEED IS GREATER THAN THIS
NEED, WE HAVE SPENT TREMENDOUS
TIME OVER THE LAST YEAR
PREVENTING AGAINST AUSTERITY IS
BUDGETING. I WANT TO SAY IT IS
IMPORTANT NOW THAT WE HAVE
GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND WITH
THE CLARIFICATION THAT THERE IS
THE ABILITY TO USE DIRECT AID
FOR NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN
INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING WATER
AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
THAT WE LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT
THAT IS BETTER USE OF THOSE
SOURCES AND WHETHER ALL THE
ALLOCATION AVAILABLE FROM THE
DECEMBER CONGRESSIONAL ACT
COULD BE USED TOWARD RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
TRACI I WILL LEAVE US AT
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION TODAY
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU TO HELP ANSWER
THOSE QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS IN
RESPONSE TO THAT, FEEL FREE.
I DO NOT WANT TO CUT YOU OFF.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THERE ARE
SOME QUESTIONS I WOULD LOOK
INTO THERE.
ONLY SEEN TRACI.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
>> THE ONLY THING I WILL ADD IS
WOULD YOU DESIRE TO BRING THIS
BACK ON APRIL 6 FOR MORE
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND VOTE
AND IF SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT ANY
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OR
QUESTIONS THAT YOU NEED
ANSWERED PRIOR TO THAT DATE.
>> EXCELLENT, YES.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS APRIL 6. AS
NOTED IT WILL BE INTENSELY
FOCUSED OVER THE NEXT FEW
MEETINGS AS WE TALK ABOUT COVID
RELIEF PROVIDED, WE HAVE SOME
ITEMS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
KEEP IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE
IT IS A QUICK CONVERSATION
BECAUSE WE WANT TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL INSURANCE TO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT MONEY IS
COMING BUT GIVEN THE EXTENSION
OF THE MORATORIUM YESTERDAY I
THINK WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
FLEXIBILITY HERE.
TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO
SEE IF THERE IS ANY NEED FOR
AMENDMENTS.
OKAY.
>> I THINK THAT IS RIGHT AND
TRACI I MAY HAVE MISSED IT BUT
BY WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO
RECEIVE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS
FROM US?
>> PROBABLY THE WEEK BEFORE WE
WALK INTO COMMITTEE SO THAT
WOULD BE THE WEEK OF THE 29th
OF MARCH.
SO CAN WE GET THE DISTRIBUTED
TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AS WELL FOR
THEIR REVIEW PRIOR TO COMMITTEE
ACTION ON THE SIX.
>> LET'S SAY A HARD DEADLINE OF
NOON NEXT FRIDAY TO PUT A FINE
POINT ON IT.
GREAT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
ASKING THE QUESTION.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE THOSE HARD
DEADLINES, IT HELPS CENTRAL
STAFF AND US AS WELL.
I AM HEARING BY NOON MARCH 26
WE SHOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED
AMENDMENTS TO TRACI.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WILL GIVE TIME FOR ALL OF
YOU ON THE LINE TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE TIME TO RUN THOSE
AMENDMENTS BY YOU.
VICE CHAIR DID YOU HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> I DO, BUT I WILL RAISE IT
WITH YOU CHAIR MOSQUEADA OFF-
LINE.
IT IS RELATED TO THE TIMING OF
AMENDMENTS.
APPRECIATE IT.
IF THE TIMELINE WORKS WE WILL
KEEP IT AND HAPPY TO CHAT MORE
OFF-LINE.
OKAY I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
TREMENDOUS RELIEF TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM,
PREVENTING EVICTION NOTICES
FROM GOING OUT OR WATERSHED
SHUT OFF OR LIGHT SHUT OFF, YOUR
PROVIDING A TREMENDOUS SERVICE
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE LESS
STRESS IN THEIR LIFE SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK
AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU
CONSIDERING POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS
BUT MOSTLY INTERESTED IN MAKING
SURE THOSE QUESTIONS GET
ANSWERED BEFORE MOVING ON.
OKAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR
YOUR REVIEW, I HOPE WE GET A
CHANCE TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU AS
YOU GET A CHANCE TO DIG INTO
ANY QUESTIONS.
COLLEAGUES I HAVE ONE MORE ITEM
FOR YOU BEFORE WE GET INTO
WRAPPING UP TODAY'S AGENDA.
IF YOU DON'T MIND WE HAVE A FEW
MORE MINUTES LEFT IN TODAY'S
MEETING.
I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION
TO THE POSSIBILITY FOR SIGNING
ON TO A LETTER THAT IS
CIRCULATED TO THE MEMBERS OF
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE HERE TODAY.
AS IS OUR REQUIREMENTS AND PER
CODE WE ARE REQUIRED TO COLLECT
SIGNATURES ON ANY ITEMS WITH
MORE THAN A QUORUM BUT IF WE
BRING IT FORWARD TO PUBLIC FORUM
ALL PUBLIC MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED
TO SIGN ONTO STATEMENTS ONE OF
THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO
CONSIDER ASKING FOR SIGNATURE
TODAY IS A LETTER WE HAVE
DRAFTED WITH THE HELP OF THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS.
THANK YOU AS WELL COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AS YOU HAVE PROVIDED
FEEDBACK ON THE LETTER.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEND A LETTER
TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR A BILL
THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE AND
MAJORITY LEADER IS WORKING ON,
HOUSE BILL 1220.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS LETTER
IS TO MAKE SURE MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE HOUSING AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE CAN
RECEIVE COMMENTS SUPPORTING THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF THEM
PRIOR TO THURSDAY.
WHAT BETTER TIMING THAN TO HAVE
A MEETING SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED
ON HOUSING FOR COLLEAGUES OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER SIGNING ON TO.
HOUSE BILL 1220 PROVIDES AN
UPDATE TO THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
ACT TO INCLUDE PLANNING FOR AND
ACCOMMODATING FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
REQUIRES JURISDICTIONS TO
ADDRESS RACIALLY DISPARATE
IMPACTS AND DISPLACEMENT
PROHIBITING CITIES FROM NOT
ALLOWING EMERGENCY HOUSING,
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OR
INDOOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR
MULTIFAMILY COMMERCIAL OR MIXED-
USE ZONES WHERE SHORT-TERM
RENTALS ARE ALLOWED. THIS BILL
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
WE SHOW SUPPORT FOR ALL THE
CITIES WORKING ON PLANNING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS SO ALL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A SAFE,
STABLE AND ACCESSIBLE PLACE TO
CALL HOME.
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD ABOUT
HOW COVID HAS EXACERBATED
UNSTABLE HOUSING SITUATIONS AND
WE HAVE SEEN MANY MORE PEOPLE
FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS.
THIS IS THE EFFORT AS A STATE
TO SHOW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
STATE TO ENSURE JURISDICTIONS
ARE OFFERING SAFE PLACES FOR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS
LETTER SENT TO OUR MEMBERS AND
COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE
TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FROM SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL FOR HOUSE BILL
1220 SO THAT THE SENATE HOUSING
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
CAN HAVE THAT IN HAND AS WE
CONSIDER THE BILL IN THE
THURSDAY MEETING.
SO IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE BILL? ABOUT THE BILL
SUMMARY FOR THE DRAFT LETTER
THAT I SENT FOR CONSIDERATION
OF POSSIBLE SIGN-ON TODAY?
HOPING TO USE THIS FORM TO GET
AS MANY SIGNATURES AS POSSIBLE.
COUNCILMEMBER IS THE CHAIR OF
LAND USE WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
MORE FROM YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR MOSQUEADA
AND THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING
THIS LETTER.
HAPPY TO SIGN ON AND ALSO WANT
TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO ALL
THE COLLEAGUES.
THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION
TODAY, I KEEP GOING TO ASK A
QUESTION AND YOU HAVE ALREADY
ASKED IT SO I WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND
THANK YOU CHAIR MOSQUEADA FOR
SHEPHERDING THIS SIGN-ON LETTER
AS WELL.
HAPPY TO SIGN-ON TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT MEANS
A LOT COMING FROM THE CHAIR OF
LAND-USE.
APPRECIATE THAT EXPRESSION OF
SUPPORT.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ABOUT THE LETTER IN
FRONT OF US FOR CONSIDERATION?
>> HAPPY TO SIGN.
HAPPY TO SIGN, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT FOR THE PURPOSES
OF RECORD AND TRANSPARENCY AS
REQUIRED BY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
FOR US TO CONSIDER SIGNING ON
TO THE LETTER EXPRESSING
SUPPORT TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE FOR HOUSE BILL 1220
COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
OF THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
>> CHAIR MOSQUEADA AYE ,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AYE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES,
AYE, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YES,
MADAM CHAIR FIVE IN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WITH
EXPRESSION OF YOUR YES VOTES WE
WILL ADD YOU TO THIS LETTER AND
WE WILL FINALIZE IT AND SEND
YOU A COPY AS WE SEND IT OFF TO
REPRESENTATIVE AND MAJORITY
LEADER AND APPRECIATE THE WORK
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
SO THANK YOU TO THE
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE FOR
HELPING TO DRAFT THE LETTER AND
ROBIN AND LILY FROM THE OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
APPRECIATE YOU SIGNING ONTO THE
LETTER TODAY IN PUBLIC FORUM
HELPING US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
DOING EVERYTHING OUT IN PUBLIC
AND HAPPY TO SEE THAT LEVEL OF
EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL.
INC.
IS SO MUCH, IF THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE
ORDER WE ARE AT THE END OF THE
AGENDA, NEXT MEETING WILL BE
APRIL 6 AS WE DISCUSSED AT 9:30,
AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA
FINALIZING THE VOTE FOR THE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE BILL TO
QUICKLY MOVE OUT OUT
INTERESTING QUESTIONS IN THE
MEANTIME. APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THAT UP AND
TO SWIFTLY MOVE IT OUT WITH ANY
ADJUSTMENTS FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
WE WILL HAVE THE TRANSPARENCY
REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTORS I
DON'T ON HERE, FIVE APPOINTMENTS
FOR THE LABOR STANDARDS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND SOUND
TRANSIT PROPERTY TRANSFER
ORDINANCE, REALLY EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY IN THE NORTH AREA
AND WE WILL HAVE ON THE AGENDA
AND THIS WILL BE INCLUDED IN
THE MEMO, AMPLE TIME TO
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON THE
AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT PLAN
SPENDING ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU INTO THE INCREDIBLE
TEAM AT CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALL
THEIR PRESENTATIONS AND AS A
REMINDER PLEASE DO PROVIDE YOUR
AMENDMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR
REGARDING THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
BILL BY NOON ON FRIDAY, MARCH
26.
WE WILL ADJOURN AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE.
HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.
THANK YOU.