>> WELL, GOOD MORNING,
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TODAY. IT IS FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 27, 2023. THE TIME IS
10:05 A.M. WE DELAYED START TO
TRY TO GIVE ADDITIONAL TIME TO
THOSE CALLING IN TO PROVIDE
REMOTE TESTIMONY. APOLOGIES FOR
THE NUMBERS SEND OUT. WE NEED
TO SEND A NEW NUMBER . IF YOU
HAVE NOT CHECKED YOUR EMAIL,
PLEASE DO CHECK YOUR EMAIL. YOU
SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A NEW
NUMBER TO DIAL IN ON. WITH THAT,
MADAME CLERK, I WILL CALL THE
MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL .
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> I WILL REMIND -- GO AHEAD.
>> I'M HERE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME BICE CHAIR.
MADAME CLERK.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> I WILL REMIND MY COLLEAGUES
WHETHER YOU ARE IN PRESENT IN
CHAMBERS OR REMOTE IS NOT
IMPORTANT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY FEELS SAFE WHERE THEY
ARE GIVEN THE ONGOING PANDEMIC
AND THE FLU AND MULTIPLE
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. EVERYBODY
HAS THEIR OWN REASONS FOR
PARTICIPATING IN THE WAY WE HAVE
OFFERED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF
THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WE HAVE DIRECTLY WITHIN OUR
FAMILY OR OURSELVES. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE
HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE RECORD
TODAY. I'LL GET TO THAT ONE ITEM
AFTER THE YEAR FROM EVERYBODY
WHO IS OFFERING THEIR PUBLIC
COMMENT HERE THIS MORNING WITH
US DID WE HAVE ALMOST 50 PEOPLE
WHO HAVE OFFERED TO GIVE US
PUBLIC, THIS MORNING. WE WILL
MAKE SURE TO GET THROUGH
EVERYONE. OUR INTENT IS TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO HEAR
FROM YOU. IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
WE GET TO EVERYONE IN THE HOUR
AND A HALF WE WOULD LIKE TO
ALLOCATE TO PUBLIC, THIS
MORNING, EACH PERSON WILL BE
GIVEN ONE MINUTE AND A HALF TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. IF
ANYONE NEEDS INTERPRETATION
SERVICES -- EACH PERSON, THE
INTERPRETER AND THE PERSON WHO
IS TESTIFYING , HAS 1:30 . I
WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
SPEAK TO DIRECT ITEMS YOU MIGHT
SEE ON THE LIST PROVIDED THE
AGENDA HERE TODAY. THE AGENDA
HAS BEEN POSTED AND IS ONLINE.
IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO FOLKS IN
THE ROOM. WE CAN PROBABLY GET
YOU SOME IN PAPER COPIES IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIST OF
AMENDMENTS. FOR FOLKS WATCHING
ONLINE, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIST OF
AMENDMENTS. WE HAVE AN INITIAL
ITEM ON OUR BALANCING PACKAGE
FOR TODAY. THAT INCLUDES ONE
AGENDA ITEM . IT WILL ALLOW FOR
US TO HAVE AN INITIAL
DISCUSSION OF THE AMENDMENT
CONCEPTS. THEN WE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THOSE
CONCEPTS NOVEMBER 13th, 14th,
AND 15th. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA IS
ADOPTED, WHICH INCLUDES THE ONE
AGENDA ITEM AND PUBLIC COMMENT.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE HAVE ONE
INITIAL ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.
THAT IS THE SUMMARY OF THE
CHAIR'S BALANCING PACKAGE. I
WILL LATER PROVIDE YOU WITH THE
VISUAL OF THE SUMMARY DOCUMENT.
WE HAVE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO
DIVE INTO THE BUDGET DETAILS
AND A SHORT FOUR-PAGE SUMMARY
DOCUMENT OUR TEAM PUT TOGETHER.
IT IS ALSO LINKED ON THE
AGENDA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO
PATTY, WHO PUT TOGETHER THE
MATERIALS. IT IS LINKED ON OUR
AGENDA THAT HELPS TO SUMMARIZE
ALL THE GOOD WORK THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE DONE IN DEEP
COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY AND
IN SOME CASES WITH THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICE AS WELL AS WE LOOK TO
ENHANCE THE 2024 BUDGET. THE
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ALREADY
INCLUDED IN LAST FRIDAY'S ROLL
OUT OF THE CHAIR'S BALANCING
PACKAGE INCLUDE VERY MANY
DOZENS OF IDEAS INCLUDED FROM
OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT CAME
DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THOSE TODAY'S CONVERSATION IS
ABOUT ENHANCING, AMENDING, AND
CHANGING THE PROPOSED INITIAL
BALANCING PACKAGE SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION
OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS ABOUT
WHICH AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN
OFFERED TO THE BOUNCING PACKAGE,
THEN GET VOTED ON AND INCLUDED
ON NOVEMBER 13th AND 14th
COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS TO
OFFER THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS
THAT WE HAVE LINKED ON THE
AGENDA HERE TODAY. WE WILL HAVE
A CHANCE FOR EACH OF THOSE
PRIMES ANSWERS TO WALK THROUGH
THEIR AMENDMENTS. FOR THE FOLKS
DIALING IN, I HOPE WE GIVE YOU
ENOUGH TIME TO GET SIGNED IN
WITH THAT NEW NUMBER. WE WILL
START WITH SOME FOLKS IN THE
ROOM FIRST TO ALLOW FOR MORE
PEOPLE DIALING IN REMOTE TO BE
PRESENT WHEN WE CALL THEIR NAME.
WITH THAT, I THINK, MADAME CLERK
EMMA WE'RE GOING TO DO 10
PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND THEN 10
PEOPLE ONLINE. IS THAT HOW WE
WANT TO OPERATE THIS?
>> YES.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND WHO
HAS DIALED AND WANTS TO OFFER
PUBLIC, THIS RUNNING AND IS
WORRIED ABOUT THE NUMBER THEY
HAVE RECEIVED, PLEASE DO REMIND
THEM THERE IS A NEW PHONE NUMBER
THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED VIA
EMAIL. WE WILL MAKE SURE TO GET
THROUGH EVERYONE. WHETHER YOU
ARE IN PERSON OR REMOTE, IT DOES
NOT MATTER. YOUR WORD IS EQUALLY
IMPORTANT. WE APPRECIATE YOU
DIALING IN TODAY. WITH THE
REMOTE OR IN PERSON, YOU WILL
HAVE A CHIME TO WRAP UP YOUR
COMMENTS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS SO YOU
DON'T GET CUT OFF. IF YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS -- I'M SURE
YOU DO -- PLEASE SEND THEM OVER
TO COUNCIL AT SEATTLE.GOV. THE
ENTIRE COUNCIL RECEIVE THOSE
IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU SEND THOSE
OVER. YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO WRAP
UP YOUR COMMENTS. FOR FOLKS
DIALING IN REMOTELY, PLEASE HIT
STAR SIX. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A
PROMPT THAT SAYS YOU ARE
UNMUTED. BUT YOU DO NEED TO HIT
STAR SIX ON YOUR OWN LINE TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF SO THAT YOUR
AUDIO CAN COME THROUGH AND
DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOUR OWN
PHONE IS NOT HIT UNMUTE AS WELL.
WITH THAT, MADAME CLERK, I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR MANAGING AND
CALLING THE NAMES ON TODAY'S
PUBLIC SIGN IN LIST.
>> OUR FIRST IN-PERSON SPEAKER
IS JACLYN CASTILLO. PLEASE
REMEMBER TO SPEAK CLOSE INTO THE
MICROPHONE.
>> IS THIS ONE OKAY? OKAY.
GOOD MORNING , COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF WOMEN DRIVING.
THANK YOU FOR THE WAGE EQUITY.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PUT A
REQUEST FOR THIS YEAR BUT WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR THE INVESTMENT. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING A
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. WE ARE A
NONPROFIT LOCATED IN SEATTLE,
BUT WE ARE SERVING WOMEN AND
MOTHERS FROM SEATTLE THAT ARE
TRAVELING AND COMMUTING MORE
THAN THREE HOURS . WE WANT TO
EXPAND SERVICES TO SEATTLE AREA.
NEXT YEAR WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
YOUR SOUP WART TO SERVE REFUGEE
MOTHERS, LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS
FROM SEATTLE . DRIVER'S LICENSE
IS A HUGE NEED OUT THERE BETWEEN
THOSE COMMUNITIES. WE ARE HERE
TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN TO HAVE A
LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND
TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS IS A VERY BASIC NEED. WE
ARE A UNIQUE PROGRAM. AND WE
ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE MOTHERS.
WE HAVE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE. WE ARE BASED ON
FEDERAL WAY BUT ARE SERVING
SEATTLE WOMEN. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KIMBERLY. KIMBERLY, YOU
MIGHT WANT TO PULL THAT MIKE --
MIC DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
>> YEAH, I AM A SHORTY. MY NAME
IS KIMBERLY WOLF. I AM A
CAMPAIGN LEADER. I'M HERE TO
TALK ABOUT THE $.10 FEE FOR THE
OUTPACED COMPANIES. IN JUST A
COUPLE YEARS OF THE ORIGINAL
EMERGENCY ONE, OLS RECOVERED
ABOUT $14 MILLION FOR WORKERS.
IF THAT IS HOW MUCH THAT CAN BE
RECOVERED FOR ONE ORDINANCE IN
JUST A COUPLE YEARS, JUST
IMAGINE THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE FOR THREE ORDINANCES .
ESPECIALLY THE BEGINNING OF AN
ORDINANCE, WHICH HAS TO BE
ENFORCED A LITTLE MORE STRICTLY
SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS ON
BOARD. IF YOU HAVE TO DECIDE
PRIORITY AND HOW MANY YOU NEED
TO FUND, THE MINIMUM PAY AND
ACTIVATIONS ARE THE MOST
CRUCIAL, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
HONOR THE ORIGINAL COMMITMENT
THAT YOU MADE BYPASSING THESE BY
PROPERLY FUNDING LEGISLATION.
WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT
THIS RIGHT NOW IF BIG BUSINESS
HAD TAKEN CARE OF THIS TO BEGIN
WITH. AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO.
NOT PART OF THEIR BOTTOM LINE
AND THUS THEY ARE MADE TO AND
OLS IS THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO
MAKE THEM DO IT. SARA NELSON.
YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE FOR
BUSINESSES, BUT DON'T FORGET
THAT GIG WORKERS ARE SMALL
BUSINESSES. AND WE NEED YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KAT OGDEN. IS THAT RIGHT ?
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KAT
OGDEN. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE COMMISSION AND I WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BALANCING
PACKAGE AND PROPOSED ONGOING
FUNDING FOR THE SEATTLE FILM
COMMISSION AND SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON FOR
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY OF SEATTLE . IN
SUPPORT OF THIS FUNDING THAT WE
GIVE AN ONGOING BUDGET FOR
THEIR WORK. WE ARE DEVOTED TO
FURTHER DEVELOPING SEATTLE INTO
A VIBRANT DESTINATION. THE
COMMISSION IS IN ITS INAUGURAL
YEAR. IN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE
MET, A MERE SEVEN MEETINGS, WE
HAVE PROVEN OURSELVES A STRONG
COHESIVE BODY THAT WORKS IN
CONCERT WITH EACH OTHER. OUR
MARKETING AND BRANDING COMMITTEE
HAS ALREADY DELIVERED TO THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
PRIORITIES DOCUMENT THAT BEGINS
WITH BRANDING. WE ARE DEEP INTO
DISCUSSIONS WITH HOW TO
REPRESENT SEATTLE. WE
COLLABORATE WITH THE ARTS
COMMISSION TO CREATE A STRONG
SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
BALANCES EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE
MET WITH MUSIC DEVELOPMENT WITH
THE INTENT TO WORKFORCE
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION. I ALSO
WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE
SCALE UP WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CAN
ENCOURAGE TRAINING AND BELOW THE
LINE ONSET WORKERS IN TRADE
POSITIONS. SEATTLE IS A
WORLD-CLASS CITY. I KNOW WE CAN
BUILD AND BRAND OURSELVES INTO A
UNIQUE PRODUCTION DESTINATION.
AFTER SEVEN MONTHS, I HAVE A
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
THIS ENTAILS AND I'M
WHOLEHEARTEDLY DEDICATED. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BETH BARRETT.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BETH
BARRETT. I'M THE ARTISTIC
DIRECTOR. I REPRESENT NUMBER
EIGHT ON THE SEATTLE FILM
COMMISSION. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF THE FUNDING PROPOSED
TO SUPPORT BOTH THE FILM
COMMISSION AND SEATTLE
COMMISSION. THANK YOU TO
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON FOR
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IN SEATTLE
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
INCLUDING FILM IN THIS PACKAGE.
A HEALTHY FILM ECONOMY IN
SEATTLE MEANS JOBS. IT MEANS
COMMUNITY CONNECTION. THAT MEANS
A PATHWAY TO A CAREER IN THE
ARTS. IT MEANS CREATIVITY THAT
IS SO STRONG THAT OUR COMMUNITY
IS ALLOWED TO SHINE. AS A FILM
COMMISSIONER, THIS WILL ALLOW US
TO ATTRACT NATIONAL ATTENTION
TO THE STRENGTHS OF OUR FILM
INDUSTRY IN SEATTLE TO SPEAK TO
YOUTH AND UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES ABOUT CAREERS AND
JOBS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY AND
SUPPORT THE STORY OF SEATTLE
ITSELF. ADDITIONALLY, INVESTING
IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION
IN SEATTLE'S FILM INDUSTRY CAN
LEAD TO ENHANCED STORYTELLING
CAPABILITIES, ATTACKED
INVESTMENTS BY INTEGRATING
TECHNOLOGIES LIKE VAR, VR, AR,
AND AI. ATTRACTING GLOBAL
TALENT AND BOOSTING LOCAL JOB
OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTH THE TECH
AND FILM SECTORS. THIS IS THE
WORK OF THE SEATTLE FILM
COMMISSION TO BRING ALL OF
THESE WORKS TOGETHER. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT IN-PERSON
SPEAKER IS BILL.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
MY NAME IS WILL. THIS IS IN
REGARDS TO THE BUDGET OF THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES HERE IN
KING COUNTY AND ALSO IN OTHER
COUNTIES IN THE AREA. I HAVE
DOCUMENTATION THAT STAFF THERE
ARE ARMED WITH GUNS AND THAT
MANAGEMENT IS AWARE OF THIS .
TWO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, THEY ARE SOME OF
OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS .
FOR THEM TO BE IN THE SITUATION
LIKE THAT IS DEPLORABLE. TO
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES OF
DISTRICT 2, I'M GOOD FRIENDS OF
TOMMY WU AND OUR FAMILIES ARE
BOTH VOTERS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND WE
HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS IN
REGARDS TO THE SAFETY OF SUCH A
VILLAGE COMING IN OUR AREA. THE
FAMILY HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON
STATE AND SEATTLE SINCE THE LATE
1800S. WE HAD A HARDWARE STORE
IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
IN REGARDS TO THE OFFICE OF THE
MAYOR, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH TIM
BURGESS AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH CINDY WONG,
WHO IS THE STRATEGIC MARKETING
MANAGER TO THE OFFICE OF THE
MAYOR. I WANT TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE PART OF
THIS. BEFORE I ENTER THE REALM
OF STAFF REPORTER -- REAL
CHANGE. AND SCOTT GREENSTONE.
AND CBS NEWS RADIO MOTORING HOST
-- MORNING HOST DAVE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT IN-PERSON
SPEAKER IS MELISSA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
CHAIR MOSQUEDA, HERBOLD AND
NELSON. I'M THE BUSINESS AGENT
AT LOCAL 488. WE ARE THE UNION
THAT REPRESENTS CREW BEHIND THE
CAMERA IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. I'M
HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE
INCLUSION OF A BUDGET FOR BOTH
THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION AND
THE MUSIC COMMISSION. THAT HAS
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AS MY
CO-COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID. THIS
IS AN INAUGURAL YEAR FOR THE
FILM COMMISSION. HAVING A BUDGET
PUT FORTH NOT ONLY FOR
OURSELVES BUT THE LONG-STANDING
MUSIC COMMISSION IS GOING TO
GIVE US THE ABILITY TO REALLY
ACHIEVE THE WORK THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ASKING AND PUSHING TO DO. I
ALSO WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THE SCALE UP -- I THINK I HAVE
IT WRONG. SCALE UP BUDGET FOR
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. A REALLY
GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE INCLUDED
IN OED'S BUDGET . REALLY HAPPY
TO SEE THINGS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST IN-PERSON
SPEAKER IS HOWARD ANDERSON.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE --
HOWARD ANDERSON -- CONCERNED
WITH THE STREETCAR PROPOSAL
THAT STILL SEEMS TO BE HANGING
IN THE COUNCIL'S MINE. WHEN YOU
HAVE A $300 MILLION STREETCAR ,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE IDENTIFIED TO
A REAL TRANSIT PROBLEM . THE
STREETCAR DOES NOT ADDRESS A
TRANSIT PROBLEM. ORIGINALLY
WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT IT WAS
TO SAVE THE TWO STREETCAR LINES
UNDERPERFORMING. THEY WALKED
AWAY. NOW IT IS THE CULTURE
CORRECTOR. $300 MILLION AND ALL
THE IMPACTS AND ALL THE
BUSINESS DAMAGE THAT THIS WOULD
DO -- THE FIRST AVENUE. THE
HISTORIC MARKET AND PIONEER
SQUARE . IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE. ANYBODY THAT LOOKS AT
THIS AND STUDIES IT KNOWS THAT
THE NUMBERS ARE NOT THERE. THEY
ARE TRYING TO MOVE ON TO SAVE $7
MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WHAT
WE WANT TO DO FROM OUR ALLIANCE
IS WE WANT TO PUT THE TRANSIT
BACK ON FIRST THAT WAS TAKEN
OFF. WE WANT TO SERVICE THE
LOCALS, THE LOCAL BUSINESS, THE
LOCAL BUSINESSES . BUT THEY ALSO
NEED THE BUSINESS FROM DOWNTOWN.
THAT IS WHAT PIKE PLACE PARKING
NEEDS. WE NEED TO SUPPORT IT 24
SEVEN ALL YEAR LONG. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES
OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. WE WILL
NOW SWITCH TO REMOTE. IT LOOKS
LIKE ALMOST EVERYBODY GOT THE
NEW PHONE NUMBER. SO THAT MAKES
ME VERY HAPPY. WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE SURE TO GET THROUGH
EVERYONE. IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH
THE FIRST COMMENTS WHEN WE FIRST
STARTED EVERYONE HAS 1:30 TO
SPEAK SO WE CAN GET THROUGH
EVERYONE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE THIS MORNING.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ANDY
GERALD SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY ELLA
SEAN. GO AHEAD, ANGIE. DON'T
FORGET TO PRESS STAR SIX PLEASE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANGIE. I AM A
SMALL LANDLORD FROM BALLARD AND
A MEMBER OF SEATTLE GRASSROOTS
LANDLORDS. IN THE BALANCING
PACKAGE I ASK THAT YOU CUT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' $50,000
TENANT WORKGROUP THAT AIMS TO
CREATE AN ENTIRELY NEW CITY
WORKGROUP TO ENFORCE AND
ESTABLISH NEW RENTAL
REQUIREMENTS. NO INPUT FROM
HOUSING PROVIDERS AND NO
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HOUSING OR
HOW THEY ARE ACTUALLY PLAYING
OUT FOR RENTALS AND RENTAL
OPERATORS. OUR CITY HAS LOST
THOUSANDS OF SMALL RENTAL UNITS
, GREATLY WORSENING THE
DIVERSITY, AVAILABILITY, AND
AFFORDABILITY OF LOCALLY OWNED
AND OPERATED RENTAL PROPERTY.
IF YOU HAVE $50,000 TO SPARE,
SET IT ASIDE FOR IMPLEMENTING
PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON
SEATTLE'S RENTAL REGISTRY
PROGRAM. DO A LONG-AWAITED
MID-NOVEMBER REPORT FROM CITY
AUDITORS. I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. VOTE NO
ON 803 A 1 . THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELLA
SEAN. ELLA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
BRIAN TAINTER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ELLA. I LIVE
AND WORK IN NORTH SEATTLE. I AM
CALLING TODAY TO URGE YOU ALL
TO CUT SHOP FODDER FROM THE
SEATTLE CITY BUDGET. MULTIPLE
STUDIES NOT TO HAVE ANY
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON FIRE AND
RELATED HOMICIDES. IT LEADS TO
RACIAL PROFILING AND MORE
CONTACT BETWEEN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR AND THE POLICE. I WOULD
IMAGINE THAT SO MANY TIMES AS
COUNCILMEMBERS YOU ARE ASKED TO
TRY TO ADOPT A NEW IDEA THAT
YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WORKS YET
BUT IN THIS CASE, YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE A REALLY EASY DECISION. WE
KNOW THAT SHOT SPOTTER DOES NOT
WORK. I URGE YOU TO SPEND THAT
1.8 MILLION ELSEWHERE. PROBABLY
TOWARD HOUSING , GUARANTEED
BASIC INCOME , HELP WITH
CHILDCARE. THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN HELP WITH
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT DOESN'T
HAVE TO DO WITH SHOT SPOTTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BRIAN TAINTER. RYAN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY SHAYNA.
>> MY NAME IS BRIAN TAINTER. I'M
ABOUT HER AND PROGRAM MANAGER
WITH THE PARTNERSHIP COALITION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
OF 005 ADDING A ONE-TIME
INVESTMENT OF $300,000 IN 2024
FOR FOOD AND OPERATIONAL COSTS
FOR MEAL PROVIDERS. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. FOOD
INSECURITY INCREASES EVERY YEAR.
CULTURALLY RELEVANT MEALS EACH
YEAR ACROSS EVERY DISTRICT IN
SEATTLE. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES. MORE THAN
150 SITES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
IN 2022, MORE THAN $4 MILLION OF
CITY FUNDS HAVE BEEN CUT FROM
THE SYSTEM. THERE HAS BEEN
ABSOLUTELY NO ACCESS TO FREE
MEALS. BENEFITS WERE
DISCONTINUED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
NEW PROVIDER SOUGHT IMMEDIATE
AND SUSTAINED INCREASES ON THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE RELYING ON MEAL
SERVICES EVERY DAY. MINIMILL
PROVIDERS ARE SERVING MORE MEALS
EVERY MONTH NOW THAN THEY WERE
IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.
THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN STRETCHED TO
THE LIMIT FOR YEARS AS CRITICAL
FUNDING DISAPPEARS. AS LONG AS
THEY CAN PAY THEIR STAFF AND
PAY UTILITY BILLS, THEY CONTINUE
TO SHOW UP FOR COMMUNITIES
FACED WITH FOOD INSECURITY EVERY
SINGLE DAY IN EVERY DISTRICT.
THIS WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE
PRESSURE BY KEEPING FREEZERS
CALLED , VEHICLES RUNNING IN
EVERY DISTRICT IN SEATTLE
THROUGH 2024. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAYNA.
SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ALLISON.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SHAYNA. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF CENTRALIZED SERVICES
AT YOUTH CARE. I SUPPORT
SCHOOLS JUVENILE LEGAL SYSTEM
DOING OUTREACH AND MORE. I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBERS
MOSQUEDA , MORALES, LEWIS,
STRAUSS, AND HERBOLD FOR
PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS AND
STABILIZING SERVICES. WAGE
INCREASES ACROSS ALL CONTRACTS.
MAINTAINED IN THE FINAL BUDGET.
COUNTLESS OF THE PROVIDERS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY KNOW WHAT IT
TAKES TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE
SAFE. AT THE FOREFRONT OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HOUSING AND
GUN VIOLENCE CRISIS IS. AND
NORBERT -- IN ORDER TO
STABILIZE AND REMAIN STABLE HE
HOUSED WELL INTO THE FUTURE. WE
ALL KNOW THAT MORE PROGRAMMING,
MORE STAFF AND MORE HOUSING IS
NEEDED . THE INVESTMENTS IN THE
BUDGET ARE AN IN SITU --
ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP.
CONTINUALLY DO THE WORK NEEDED
TO BUILD STABLE THRIVING
FUTURES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALLISON. ALLISON WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY LATONYA .
>> GOOD MORNING ,
COUNCILMEMBERS. [ INAUDIBLE ]
OFTEN WE HEAR THAT THERE IS A
CRITIQUE OF HOMELESS SERVICES,
INCLUDING HOUSING . IT GOES LIKE
THIS . THIS IS A FRAGMENTED
SYSTEM AND WE HAVE TO
CONSOLIDATE IT. BEFORE YOU
TODAY ARE AMENDMENTS , WHICH WE
STRONGLY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY
SUPPORT , THAT WILL ADDRESS SOME
OF THE FRAGMENTATION . I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THE FRAGMENTATION IS
BECAUSE OF THE PARTIAL
INADEQUATE , AND COBBLED
TOGETHER FUNDING THAT YOUR
AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU TODAY WILL
HELP PARTIALLY ADDRESS . THERE
ARE 17 ORGANIZATIONS THAT --
HOUSING PROGRAMS AND FIVE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE . THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO CONSOLIDATE AND
STREAMLINE THINGS. INSTEAD ,
THOSE AGENCIES , THEIR STAFF,
AND THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE ARE
CURRENTLY BEING PUNISHED BY
BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE 7.5%
MANDATORY AND PLACEMENT --
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT. YOUR
AMENDMENT, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, HERBOLD, STRAUSS ,
AND MORALES CAN CORRECT THAT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LATONYA , FOLLOWED BY EMILY
PEÑA. GO AHEAD, LATONYA.
>> MY NAME IS LATONYA. I AM A
BLACK NON-BINARY RENTER. I'M
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET. I URGE
COUNCIL TO AMEND THE 1.5 MILLION
FOR THE INEFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY
SHOT SPOTTER ALONG WITH THE
CCTV. THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF DATA THAT SHOWS THEY
ARE INEFFECTIVE AND HARMFUL. IT
DOES NOT PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE.
IT DOESN'T EVEN ALERT YOU TO GUN
VIOLENCE. AND NO ONE IS BEEN
PROSECUTED BECAUSE OF SHOT
SPOTTER. IT IS SIMPLY A
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY TO GIVE
POLICE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO
HARASS , VIOLENTLY BRUTALIZE AND
KILL BLACK AND BROWN AND
UNHOUSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS.
IT IS FUCKING COLD TODAY. THE
CITY IS CONDUCTING A VIOLENT,
MULTI-DAY SWEEP OF TWO ENTIRE
BLOCKS OF UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS IN
BALLARD WITH THE BUDGET YOU HAVE
PASSED. YOU ALL HAVE BLOOD ON
YOUR HANDS. PARK AND REC, SPD,
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND S.ARE ALL
BEING PAID TO VIOLENTLY
DISPLACE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. THERE IS NO
HOUSING FOR THEM BECAUSE YOU ALL
HAVE NOT FUNDED ENOUGH OF IT.
THIS VIOLENT DISPLACEMENT OF
FOLKS OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN LEADING TO HIGH NUMBERS
OF PEOPLE DYING ON THE STREET AS
WELL AS MORE MENTAL HEALTH
BREAKDOWNS AND INSTABILITY
ENDING UP IN MORE UNSAFE PLACES
WHERE THEY HAVE NO COMMUNITIES
IS DUE TO YOUR INEFFECTIVE
BUDGETING. PROVIDE PEOPLE THE
HOUSING THAT THEY WANT AND NEED.
ALSO, I WANT TO ADD WE NEED TO
END THE DEADLY EXCHANGE WITH THE
ISRAELI MILITARY SENDING SPD
ABROAD.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS EMILY PEÑA. EMILY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY HEIDI.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS EMILY
PENNA. I WORK IN DISTRICT
SEVEN. I AM THE SENIOR MANAGER
OF THE SECURITY INITIATIVE . I'M
HERE TODAY AS THE CO-CHAIR OF
THE SEATTLE MOVEMENT COALITION
AND IS A MEMBER OF THE MILL
PARTNERSHIP COALITION. I WENT
TO EXPRESS IMMENSE GRATITUDE FOR
THE FULL SPONSORSHIP OF THE
BUDGET PACKET, INCLUDING OUR TWO
MAIN PRIORITIES IS SUSTAINING
CURRENT INVESTMENT IN WELL-BEING
AND RESILIENCE AND INVESTING IN
A 2% WAGE EQUITY INCREASE ON
TOP OF THE 7.5 INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT FOR HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS. I WANT TO EXPRESS HIS
GRATITUDE TOWARD BUDGET CHAIR
MOSQUEDA AND COUNCILMEMBERS
HERBOLD, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ,
MORALES, AND STRAUSS. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL FOR
FUNDING ALL OF THE MEMBER
COALITION RECOMMENDATIONS TO
RESTORE ONE TIME FUNDING FOR
CRITICAL SERVICES, INCLUDING
42,000 SENIOR MEAL DELIVERY ,
250,000 FOR ADVOCACY. FLEXIBLE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND
PARTICULARLY THE SEPARATION OF
THE 650,000 FOR FOOD BANKS AND
EMERGENCY FOOD FUND AND THE
300,000 FOR MEAL PROGRAMS ,
FOOD, AND OPERATING SUPPLIES
WITH PRIMARY SPONSORSHIP .
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
COSPONSORSHIP FROM LEWIS AND
HERBOLD. CRITICAL PIECES IN THE
BROADER ECOSYSTEM.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEIDI.
HEIDI WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CAMILLE. GO AHEAD, HEIDI.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM HEIDI WITH CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY SERVICES , A MEMBER OF
THE COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS
AND SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION. I LIVE AND WORK IN
SEATTLE. AS YOU ARE AWARE FROM
THE STUDY, HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPAID FOR
THE SKILLS AND VITAL WORK THEY
PERFORM IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE
ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET FOR HUMAN SERVICES,
INCLUDING THE REQUIRED 7 1/2%
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT AS WELL AS
THE 2% ADJUSTMENT FOR WAGE
EQUITY. THIS IS A GREAT START,
THOUGH MORE WILL BE NEEDED TO
HELP AGENCIES LIKE CCS TO HIRE
AND RETAIN THE PROFESSIONALS
THAT OUR CLIENTS DESERVE. WE
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE -- THAT
THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE SECTOR TO
PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY. WE
ALSO REQUEST THAT WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDE THE FULL
RANGE OF CONTRACTS THAT SUPPORT
OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS,
REGARDLESS OF THE DEPARTMENT
MANAGING THE CONTRACT . ONE
EXAMPLE IS THE CCS NOEL HOUSE
FUNDED BY COC CONTRACT WITH KC
RHA PROVIDING STABLE HOUSING
FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS TO HELP
THEM TOWARD THEIR LONG-TERM
GOALS. A SECOND EXAMPLE IS THE
CCS PENDANT LAW CENTER FUNDED BY
A CCI TO PROVIDE CRITICAL
SUPPORT FOR NEIGHBORS FACING
EVICTION. IN SUMMARY, PLEASE
PROVIDE ONGOING AND EQUITABLE
FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT
SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS MOST
IMPACTED BY POVERTY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CAMILLE. CAMILLE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MARYLIN. GO AHEAD,
CAMILLE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CAMILLE. I AM THE POLICY
ASSOCIATE AT REAL CHANGE. I'M
CALLING TO SHARE THE SENTIMENTS
IN SUPPORT OF THE SOLIDARITY
BUDGET GUARANTEES WITH WHOM I
HAVE SPOKEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF WEEKS. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT
WE HAVE TO COME HERE AND ASK YOU
TO FUND SUCH ASIC THINGS AS
HOUSING, FOOD, HEALTH, AND
TRANSPORTATION. PEOPLE ARE
LITERALLY DYING. WE AS A CITY
CONTINUE TO POUR MONEY INTO
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT HAVE
BEEN PROVEN NOT TO WORK. WE ARE
APPROACHING 300 PUBLIC HOMELESS
DEATH IN THIS YEAR ALONE WHILE
WE GIVE A THIRD OF OUR ENTIRE
BUDGET TO THE CRIMINALIZATION OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING TO
SURVIVE. THERE ARE DOZENS OF
STUDIES AND REPORTS THAT
HIGHLIGHT THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF
POLICING ON SUBSTANCE USE THIS
IS THE ONLY APPROACH SEATTLE IS
GOING TO TAKE. DEMONSTRATING
JUST HOW LITTLE IMPORTANT THE
LIVES ARE. YOU ARE PRIORITIZING
THE COMFORT OF THE WEALTHY OVER
HUMAN LIVES. WE NEED HARM
REDUCTION. WE NEED SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITES. WE NEED
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR
THOSE CURRENTLY SUFFERING AND WE
NEED SOCIAL HOUSING TO PREVENT
MORE PEOPLE FROM ENTERING
HOMELESSNESS. SIDEWALKS AND
BIKE LANES IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE NEED YOU TO DO
EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO MAKE
THE CITY LIVABLE, WHICH MUST
INCLUDE'S -- INCLUDE JUMPSTART
AND AT THE VERY LEAST CUTTING
BACK ON POLICE SPENDING LIKE
SHOT SPOTTER BECAUSE ARRESTING
AND JAILING PEOPLE WILL NEVER
ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARILYN.
SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ALICE
LOCKHART.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. THANK
YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. MY NAME
IS MARILYN BUT I WANTED TO
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS AN ITEM ON
THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. A $50,000
RENTAL HOUSING STANDARDS. I
WANT TO FLAG THIS BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IT IS DUPLICATING AN
EFFORT ALREADY IN MOTION WITHIN
CITY GOVERNMENT. THE CITY
AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS CURRENTLY
WORKING ON A REPORT RIGHT NOW
THAT IS LOOKING AT THE S.E.C. I
REAL OFFICE, WHICH ALREADY
HANDLES TENANT COMPLAINTS AND
RENTAL HOUSING STANDARDS. THEY
HAVE A REPORT IMMINENTLY COMING
OUT , I BELIEVE NEXT MONTH IN
THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER. WE
ALREADY KNOW THAT THE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE DOES A VERY THOROUGH,
AMAZING JOB OF PUTTING OUT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE AND
FOR IMPROVEMENTS. I EXPECT THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING THAT
FOR THIS OFFICE AS WELL. SO
RATHER THAN DESIGNATING A
SOLUTION , WHICH IS WHAT I SEE
THIS $50,000 DOING, I WOULD ASK
THE CITY COUNCIL TO LEAVE IT
UNDESIGNATED AND INSTEAD HOLD IT
FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS DUE OUT
FROM THIS REPORT. WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE YET, BUT I EXPECT
THEY ARE GOING TO BE NEEDY,
RELEVANT. PROBABLY INTRIGUING.
AND WELL WORTH PURSUING. THEY
MAY NEED BUDGET TO DO IT. I'M
GOING TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO
INSTEAD OF COMMITTING IT TO THIS
ONE SOLUTION THAT IS COMING FROM
AN EXTERNAL GROUP THAT WE LET
THE CITY AUDITOR OFFICE TAKE
THIS MONEY AND APPLY TO THEIR
RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALICE LOCKHART. ALICE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY LAUREL GRAY.
GO AHEAD , ALICE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M
ALICE LOCKHART WITH 350 SEATTLE
IN SUPPORT OF 100% SOLITARY
BUDGET POSITION . HERE IS OUR
THINKING ON JUMPSTART SPENDING.
THANK YOU TO CHAIR MOSQUEDA FOR
A BALANCING PACKAGE THAT FIXES
SEVERAL USES FOR JUMPSTART
OTHER THAN ITS INTENDED PURPOSE
AND OTHER CORE GOVERNMENT
FUNCTIONS SHOULD NOT BE FUNDED
BY JUMPSTART. IN TODAY'S NEW
AMENDMENT, WE OPPOSE ARTS 004 A1
. JUMPSTART SHOULD GO TO MORE
EQUITABLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' D ON. IT GIVES SOME OF
THE SPACE NEEDLE THINKING
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION THINKING
FOR NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THE AMOUNT
SHOULD FOR SURE BE MORE. WE
OPPOSE ARTS 803 A1 , WHICH ADDS
$675,000 FOR JUMPSTART FUNDS
FOR ART AND ACTIVATION .
JUMPSTART SHOULD NOT SUBSIDIZE
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. WE OPPOSE
A1, WHICH IS IS $900,000 FOR
LABOR STANDARDS, WHICH WE
ABSOLUTELY SHOULD FUND , BUT NOT
THROUGH JUMPSTART. THIS IS A
CORE GOVERNMENT FUNCTION.
PLEASE RAID THE GHOST COPS
SLUSH FUND INSTEAD. [ INAUDIBLE
] SUBSIDIZE GOOD BUT CORE
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS . WE LOOK
TO COUNCIL TO FIND PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE TO FUND THIS IN 2025.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LAUREL GRAY. LAUREL WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JESSE FRIEDMAN. GO
AHEAD, LAUREL. LAUREL, YOU MAY
NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX. OKAY,
WE MAY COME BACK TO LAUREL.
LET'S MOVE ON TO JESSE FRIEDMAN.
GO AHEAD, JESSE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JESSE
FRIEDMAN. I'M THE POLICY
DIRECTOR FOR YOUTH CARE CALLING
TO THANK BUDGET CHAIR MOSQUEDA,
HERBOLD, LEWIS, AND MORALES .
FOR SPECIFICALLY AND ESPECIALLY
GRATEFUL -- PROVIDE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENTS AND WAGE INCREASES
ACROSS BOTH COC AND ONE-TIME
FUNDED CONTRACTS BEES --.
THESE WILL HELP PASSIONATE
STAFF TO STAY IN THE FIELD WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE. INVEST IN OUR
TEAM WITHOUT REDUCING CRITICAL,
RELIED UPON PROGRAMS TO OFFSET
THE COST. I WANT TO EXTEND DEEP
APPRECIATION FOR INVESTMENTS IN
ALL HUMAN SERVICES. WE KNOW THAT
HOMELESSNESS DOES NOT EXIST IN A
VACUUM. YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE
EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND FOOD INSECURITY. IT IS
CRITICAL WE MAINTAIN INVESTMENT
IN THIS BUDGET AND DEDICATE
OURSELVES TO CONTINUING TO
PRIORITIZE THEM IN FUTURE BUDGET
CYCLES. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO
HAVE SUCH STRONG CHAMPIONS ON
THIS COUNCIL AS WE COMMIT TO
THIS WORK MOVING FORWARD.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE.
KATIE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY NAOMI.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
KATIE. I'M CODIRECTOR I
CURRENTLY SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE
MUSIC COMMISSION. I'M HERE IN
APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT OF THE
REQUEST FOR 20,000 FOR THE FILM
AND MUSIC COMMISSION. THE WORK
WE HAVE DONE TO THE PANDEMIC IN
SUPPORT OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
DESERVES A BUDGET . IT IS A
REALLY SMALL REQUEST. SUPPORTING
THE FILM AND MUSIC COMMISSION
ALIGNS WITH OUR CITY'S LONG-TERM
GOALS OF DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSIVITY. THE POWER TO
AMPLIFY VOICES AND NARRATIVES
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND
TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND
EXPERIENCES BY INVESTING IN OUR
COMMISSION WE HELP ENSURE OUR
CITY WILL REMAIN AS A WELCOMING
AND INCLUSIVE PLACE FOR ARTISTS
FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS. THE FILM
AND CAN MUSIC COMMISSION --
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS [
INAUDIBLE ] ENTREPRENEURSHIP
IN GROWTH RELATED INDUSTRIES IN
OUR COMMUNITY. I STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE REQUEST FOR THE
MUSIC COMMISSION. IT BENEFITS
GREATLY OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INCREASED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ARTISTS
. I WANT TO THANK FROM THE
BOTTOM OF MY HEART COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, WHO ALWAYS ANSWERS THE
CALL WHENEVER WE ANSWER. I JUST
WANT TO SAY, AS A HOMELESS
PERSON 20 YEARS AGO HE WAS
ADDICTED TO DRUGS IN THE CITY
WITH THE FAMILY, LET'S PLEASE
SUPPORT -- FEED PEOPLE. THIS
COULD BE SOLVED WITH A SMALL [
INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NAOMI.
NAOMI WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JASON
ROTH.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS NAOMI. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT FIVE. CONTRACT
MANAGER. INVESTMENT IN
ES
THE BUDGET GAP GROWS LARGER
EVERY YEAR TO MAINTAIN BASELINE
SERVICES. PUBLIC CONTRACTS
DON'T COVER THE FULL COST OF
STAFFING , OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND
WORKERS ARE CONTINUALLY ASKED TO
DO MORE WITH FEWER RESOURCES.
LOW WAGES LEAD TO TURNOVER IN
ATTRITION -- RESPONDER
COMMUNITIES AND COUNCIL
IDENTIFIED NEEDS. THE WAGE
INCREASE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET
MARKS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP .
THANK YOU. I ASK THAT BOTH
INFLATION AND WAGE ADJUSTMENTS
APPLIED CONSISTENTLY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
HERBOLD'S -- WE ALSO ASKED TO
ADD 350,000 TO ENSURE WORKERS
FUNDED BY THIS CONTRACT AND ARE
NOT LEFT OUT. WE ALSO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, STRAUSS
AND MORALES. PLEASE SUPPORT
THE SERVICES WE ALL RELY ON.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON
ROTH. JASON WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ADAM. GO AHEAD, JASON.
>> MY NAME IS JASON ROSS. I'M
FROM DISTRICT TWO. I WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE TAMMY MORALES
RECONSIDER THE $50,000 FOR THE
OFFICE OF RENTAL STANDARDS. I
OWN A SINGLE HOUSE IN THE
VALLEY AREA. I HAVE HAD A TENANT
IN THERE FOR EIGHT MONTHS.
LIKELY TO BE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS
UNTIL I CAN GET HIM OUT. HE HAS
NOT PAID ANY RENT. I GOT
SCAMMED. SO MANY RESOURCES ARE
GOING TO TENANTS. MY CONCERN IS
THAT THIS IS NOT ADDRESSING ANY
OF THE ROOTS OF THE HOUSING
CRISIS. SMALL LANDLORDS LIKE ME
ARE THE ACTUAL HOUSING
PROVIDERS. I'M NOT ABLE TO
PROVIDE HOUSING WHEN I'M
CURRENTLY DOING WITH TONS OF
LEGAL FEES AND LIVING IN A VAN
MYSELF TRYING TO PAY FOR THIS
WHOLE SITUATION. THE DELAYS IN
EVICTIONS ARE CAUSING HUGE DEBT
FOR THE TENANTS. IT IS NOT
HELPING THE DELINQUENT TENANTS.
IT MIGHT BE RUNNING THEIR LIFE.
IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A YEAR TO
GET A DELINQUENT TENANT OUT SO I
CAN GET BACK TO DOING WHAT I CAN
DO, AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE
HOUSING. THE CURRENT
ENVIRONMENT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE
FROM OPENING THEIR DOORS TO RENT
TO OTHERS. OTHERS HELP THOUSANDS
OF EMPTY ROOMS IN THE CITIES OF
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO RENT
BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED. THERE
IS PLENTY OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE
TO GET PEOPLE HOUSING AND THEY
ARE SCARED TO DO SO. I THINK
THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES. STATES LIKE
CALIFORNIA PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
TO HOUSING PROVIDERS LIKE ME
BUT WASHINGTON HAS NOTHING.
THAT SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED.
THERE SHOULD BE HELP FOR ME SO
THAT I CAN GET BACK TO PROVIDING
HELP AND HOUSING TO TENANTS.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL ACTUALLY BE FANIKA. 26
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ADEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M CALLING BEHALF ON
-- TODAY ON BEHALF OF SOLID
GROUND WANTING TO THINK AND
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
MORALES, STRAUSS , MOSQUEDA,
AND HERBOLD TO ENSURE THAT WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS APPLIED
CONSISTENTLY TO OUR HOMELESSNESS
SERVICE SYSTEM. I KNOW THAT
ALLISON AND OTHERS HAVE TOUCHED
ON THIS A LITTLE BIT BUT WANT
TO SPOTLIGHT THE CONTINUUM OF
CARE CONTRACTS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 28
CONTINUOUS FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT
WOULD EXPERIENCE FUNCTIONAL CUTS
IF THEY NO LONGER RECEIVE THEIR
PLACEMENT -- INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT NEXT YEAR. THIS IS
ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS. IN 2022,
OUR PROGRAM STAFF WAS ABLE TO
WORK ON-SITE FAMILIES AND
PROVIDE THINGS LIKE SHORT-TERM
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HOMELESS MOVE
IN COSTS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS
TO BE ABLE TO VIEW UNITS.
ULTIMATELY ABLE TO CONNECT 350
PEOPLE TO PERMIT HOUSING
PLACEMENTS. I -- THIS IS JUST
AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPES OF
SUCCESS AND WORK THESE PROGRAMS
SUPPORT AND WANT TO JUST
ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
PREVENT CUTS TO THIS GROUP OF
PROGRAMS. AND HELP MAKE SURE
THAT THEY DON'T MISS OUT ON
WAGE INCREASES JUST BECAUSE OF
WHERE THEIR CONTRACT IS LOCATED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AIDAN. AIDAN WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY HALEA.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
AIDAN. I'M A RESIDENT IN
DISTRICT 6. I'M TESTIFYING IN
OPPOSITION TO LINE 52 IN THE
BUDGET BALANCING PACKET. IT IS
ITEM S DCI 803 DASH A. THERE IS
AN AUDITOR'S REPORT DUE SHORTLY.
THEY WILL BE MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE SDCI
DATABASE . WE ALREADY HAVE A
RENTERS COMMISSION. I WOULD BE
SURPRISED TO HEAR THE AUDITORS
WOULD RECOMMEND ANOTHER
COMMISSION COMPRISED OF MORE
CITY SUBSIDIZED ACTIVISTS THAT
WANT TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL
AND CONTINUE TO LAMENT BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO PAY RENT . COME ON,
GUYS. GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
DON'T FUND THIS BUDGET ITEM.
SPEND THE MONEY ON EFFECTIVE
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HALEA . HALEA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CAMILLE BALDWIN
BONNIE . HALEA, YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX. YOU GOT IT.
>> GOOD MORNING. SORRY ABOUT
THAT. MY NAME IS HALEA. THANKS
FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I AM
THE -- WHICH IS A NONPROFIT [
INAUDIBLE ] MUSIC FESTIVAL. OUR
NEWLY CREATED WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. I WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR INVESTMENT
LAST YEAR IN OUR WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. WITH THAT
SUPPORT WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH
OUR VERY FIRST COHORT WITH THE
GOAL OF REMOVING BARRIERS AND
BUILDING A MORE EQUITABLE
CREATIVE ARTS ECOSYSTEM. THANK
YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT. WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF
BUILDING A PIPELINE WITH THIS
FULLY PAID TRAINING PROGRAM. WE
KNOW THAT THE CONCERT AND
FESTIVAL INDUSTRY IS
OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE AND MALE
AND HAS VERY LITTLE
REPRESENTATION FROM THE LGBTQ
IA POPULATION. HOWEVER, OUR
COHORT IN OUR FIRST 2023 YEAR
WE HAD 75% OF OUR COHORT WHO
IDENTIFIED AS BIPOC AND LGBTQ
I A . OVER 60% OF OUR GRADUATES
HAVE ALREADY LANDED POSITIONS
IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY . AUDIO
ENGINEERS. LIGHTING DESIGNERS.
DIGITAL MARKETERS AND MORE. WE
ARE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
BALANCING PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES
$150,000 TO SUPPORT THE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAMILLE
BALDWIN BONNIE BRADY CAMILLE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARGARITA
CARRASCO.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CAMILLE. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I
SUPPORT THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET.
I'M CALLING ON YOU TO REJECT
SHOT SPOTTER IN THE CITY BUDGET.
I'M URGING YOU TO REJECT THE
FALSE SALES PITCH AND AGGRESSIVE
MARKETING CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING
THE COURTING OF OUR OWN PUBLIC
OFFICIALS OF THIS $232 MILLION
COMPANY . SHOT SPOTTER HAS AN
ENORMOUS FALSE POSITIVE RATE .
IN CHICAGO WHERE IT WAS USED IN
CONJUNCTION , IT WOULD SEND OUT
A FALSE POSITIVE RATE OF 97%.
THEIR OWN SERVICE AGREEMENT --
SHOT SPOTTER DOES NOT WARRANT OR
EXPRESS THAT IT IS USEFUL IN
THE PREVENTION OF CRIME,
APPREHENSION, OR CONVICTION OF
ANY PERPETRATOR OF ANY CRIME.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IT CAN
BE INVESTED IN COMMUNITIES THAT
ACTUALLY PREVENT HARM FROM
HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SEATTLE'S FIRST OVERDOSE
PREVENTION CENTER. ROUGHLY
TRIPLE THE -- COMBINED OVER
THOSE PROGRESSIONS, CENTERS ARE
PROVEN TO SAVE LIVES. THERE ARE
SO MANY OTHER THINGS WE CAN FUND
. GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME,
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS,
DECREASED RATES OF VIOLENCE BY
30 TO 60%. IF WE ARE REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OUR SEATTLE RESIDENTS,
WE NEED TO INVEST IN STRATEGIES
THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE
AND SAVE LIVES. MOST OF ALL,
PREVENT HARM FROM HAPPENING IN
THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LILIA
CARRASCO. LILIA WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY G AND ROGERS.
LILIA, YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX. OKAY, WE WILL TRY A
LITTLE WHILE LATER. AFTER
ROGERS, WE WILL TRY HALEY
WILLIS. GO AHEAD.
>> HI. GOOD MORNING , COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND CHAIR MOSQUEDA. I'M
HERE TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT IN
FUNDING THE UNITED WAY [
INAUDIBLE ] MANY OF US
VOLUNTEERS -- MOST VULNERABLE
NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF
FILING A SIMPLE TAX RETURN. THIS
INCLUDES SIGNAL PARENTS , MOST
WHO ARE WOMEN AND GRANDPARENTS
HIM A WIDOWED, UNHOUSED, NEW TO
THE COUNTRY , GIG WORKERS,
STUDENTS . WE NOT ONLY PREPARE
THEIR RETURN, WE HELP EDUCATE
AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM WHEN
POSSIBLE. SORRY. LIKE ON THE
[ INAUDIBLE ] SERVICES HAVE AN
INCOME CAP. MOST OF OUR --
HOURS BEFORE OPENING. [
INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE HALEY WILLIS. HALEY
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN .
HALEY, YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS HALEY
WILLIS. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. ON
THE COMMUNITY POLICY MANAGER
FOR THE COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS. I'M GLAD THAT
MAYOR HAROLD 'S PROPOSED BUDGET
INCLUDES THE REQUIRED 7 1/2%
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT AND 2% WAGE
ADJUSTMENT FOR MANY BUT NOT ALL
HUMAN SERVICES. MORE FUNDING IS
NEEDED TO APPLY INCREASES ACROSS
THE SYSTEM TO AVOID CUTS TO
SERVICES THIS YEAR. AND WE NEED
ADDITIONAL WAGE INCREASES TO
SAVE LIVES. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBERS MOSQUEDA,
HERBOLD, LEWIS , MORALES, AND
STRAUSS TO EXTEND AND
PLACEMENT ADJUSTMENT TO OTHER
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES IN
SEATTLE. PLEASE PASS AMENDMENTS
TO ADD INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS
FOR COC CONTRACTS IN ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR WAGE ADJUSTMENTS. AS
WELL AS HSE 001 AND 002 TO
EXTEND AND COVER INFLATION AND
WAGE ADJUSTMENTS FOR SHELTERS ,
FAITH CENTERS, AND OTHER CRUCIAL
SERVICES FOR THE PAST FOUR
YEARS. A 2% WAGE ADJUSTMENT IS
A GOOD START, BUT WE NEED TO GET
3 1/2% THIS YEAR SO WE CAN GET
THE MINIMUM 7% ADJUSTMENT OVER
TWO YEARS RECOMMENDED BY THE
WAGE EQUITY STUDY. RAISING
WAGES FOR HUMAN SERVICES
WORKERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KAREN. KAREN WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY ANDREW GUILLEN.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIR MOSQUEDA
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE THE LARGEST UNION IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE REPRESENTING
WORKERS AT A MUCH ACROSS ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS. I'M HERE BECAUSE
WE ARE GENERALLY SUPPORTING
AMENDMENTS THAT INCREASE REVENUE
FOR THE CITY AND I'M
SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING IN SUPPORT
OF COUNCILMEMBER SWANSON
ADDING 40 MILLION TO JUMPSTART
FUNDS TO GENERAL FUND PLANNING
RESERVES FOR WORKERS OF THE
CITY. BUT I REALLY WANT TO BE
CLEAR AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO
FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION TO
WORKERS AND FULLY FUND THE
COALITION PROPOSALS RIGHT NOW .
AND THAT THIS ABILITY TO DO
THIS IS NOT CONTINGENT ON THESE
AMENDMENTS. OVER 70% OF
COALITION EMPLOYEE WAGES ARE NOT
PAID FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUT
RATHER COVERED BY OTHER FUNDING
SOURCES UNAFFECTED BY SHORTFALL
GENERAL FUND. SO OUR UNION --
WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL THESE
MEASURES PASS. AND I ALSO WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
FOR ALL OF HER WORK ON HUMAN
SERVICE AMENDMENTS AND OTHERS.
THESE SHOULD NOT BE USED AS AN
EXCUSE TO NOT FUND -- THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREW
GUILLEN. ANDREW WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY BJ LAST.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ANDREW. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6
AND WORK IN DISTRICT 2 IS THE
CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR
SEATTLE HEALTH BOARD, MEMBER OF
THE COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN A CONTRACTED
SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE
HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM
SINCE ITS INCEPTION. WE ARE
THANKFUL TO THE INCLUSIONS OF
WAGE ADJUSTMENTS OF 2% AND THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. WE ARE
CONCERNED THAT PROPOSED
ADJUSTMENTS WOULD NOT APPLY TO
ALL CONTRACTS. SEATTLE HEALTH
BOARD SUPPORTS THE NEED FOR THE
BUDGET TO INCLUDE A 7.5%
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT AND AN
ADDITIONAL 3.5% WAGE INCREASE
FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACT TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE
CONTINUUM OF CARE . THE HOUSING
CRISIS CONTINUES TO SURGE IN
SEATTLE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ENSURE WE DO NOT LOSE CAPACITY
AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES TO
SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES,
INCLUDING EMPLOYEES IMPACTED BY
HIGH COST OF LIVING. WE SHOULD
NOT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE
INDIVIDUAL STAFFING, HEALTH, AND
HUMAN SERVICE CONTRACTS ARE ON
THE VERGE OF NEEDING TO ACCESS
THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.
INCREASES SHOULD APPLY TO ALL
CONTINUUM OF CARE CONTRACTS,
INCLUDING THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN
MOVED TO THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF ESSENTIAL
WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BJ LAST. BJ WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY AMY LEE. GO AHEAD, BJ.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BJ
LAST. I'M A HOMEOWNER. I SUPPORT
THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET AND ALL
NINE OF ITS GUARANTEES. WITH
ALL OF THE AREAS OF THE CITY
THAT NEED SIDEWALKS, THIS LOCK
SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BE
PRIORITIZED. I ALSO OPPOSE 006,
WHICH FURTHER REDUCES FUNDING
FOR SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY IN
ORDER TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS IN
DOWNTOWN BALLARD IN THE BALLARD
BREWERY DISTRICT. FIFTH TEEN --
WEALTHY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE
THIS IS HOW WE END UP IN A
POSITION WHERE EVERY SINGLE YEAR
A MAJORITY OF PEDESTRIAN DEATHS
ARE IN D2. THE ONLY MINORITY
DISTRICT. WE SHOULD NOT BE
PRIORITIZING FUNDING IN THESE
AREAS OF BALLARD WHEN SO MANY
OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY NEED
THINGS MORE. THE SCHOOL TRAFFIC
SAFETY AND PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALREADY BEING
CUT. WE SHOULD NOT BE REDUCING
FUNDING MORE. I OPPOSE 001. 213
GHOST COPS AND THE BUDGET OF
OVER $374 MILLION. THEY CAN
FIND $222,000 -- WITHOUT
GETTING ADDITIONAL MONEY.
GIVING THEM MONEY BLINDLY IS
HOW WE END UP IN A POSITION
WHERE THEY HAVE 213 GHOST COPS.
THESE ARE POSITIONS I HAVE NO
INTENTION OF FILLING BUT STILL
GET BUDGET FOR AND ARE FULLY
FUNDED IN 2025 AND GOING
FORWARD. [ INAUDIBLE ] I ALSO
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS -- 2% WAGE
EQUITY INCREASE FOR HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDERS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AMY LEE DARREN THIEL . EMILY
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER
IVES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AMY LEE. I AM A
CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES COALITION CITY BUDGET
TASK FORCE. I'M ALSO THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SENIOR
CITIZEN OF THE SENIOR CENTER OF
WEST SEATTLE. I'M HERE TO SAY
THANK YOU. MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR
ASKS ARE IN THE BUDGET FOR HUMAN
SERVICES. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE
FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES TO
MAKING SURE HUMAN SERVICES WILL
BE FUNDED BUT I ALSO WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
SPONSORING OUR RECOMMENDATION
FOR SENIOR MAIL DELIVERY FUNDS.
YOU HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING LEADER
IN YOUR SUPPORT OF SENIORS. WE
ALL APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.
WITHOUT THIS FUNDING, WE WOULD
HAVE HAD TO END THE SENIOR MAIL
DELIVERY PROGRAM, WHICH
CONTINUES TO BE THE WAY WE
CONNECT WITH ISOLATED SENIORS
UNABLE TO COME TO OUR SENIOR
CENTERS. WE WILL MISS YOU AND
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JENNIFER IVES. JENNIFER WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY JASON CLACK LEE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JENNIFER. I AM HERE THIS
MORNING IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENT
16 AND TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
OPPOSE FUNDING TO SHOT SPOTTER
PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE LAST TIME
I SPOKE BEFORE YOU I SPOKE AT
LENGTH ON THE SPECIFICS BEHIND
SHOT SPOTTER'S HISTORICAL
INEFFECTIVENESS. THE NATIONALLY
RESPECTED ELECTRONIC
INFORMATION CENTER [ INAUDIBLE
] POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF TITLE
VI. MULTIPLE STUDIES AND
REVIEWS FOUND SHOT SPOTTER TO
HAVE LESS THAN 10% ACCURACY RATE
AT IDENTIFYING GUNSHOTS.
EMPHASIZES HOW SHOT SPOTTER'S
RELIANCE ON BIASED CRIME DATA
REINFORCES PATTERNS OF
UNNECESSARY AND INEFFECTIVE OVER
POLICING AND EXCESSIVE USE OF
FORCE. IT DOES NOT REDUCE GUN
VIOLENCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESPONSE TIME, OR IMPROVE
COMMUNITY SAFETY. IT DIVERTS
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO
RESPONDING TO FALSE POSITIVES
AND REINFORCES EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL BIASES . GUN VIOLENCE
IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. SHOT SPOTTER
IS NOT THE ANSWER. IT DOES NOT
PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
SUSTAINABILITY . VOTE YES ON
AMENDMENT 16 AND DO NOT FUND
SHOT SPOTTER. I YIELD THE REST
OF MY TIME. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON
CLACK LEE. JASON WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ALICIA BAGUETTE.
>> HEY, THIS IS JASON . I'M
THE CO-CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION
AND ALSO THE -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
YES TO SUPPORT 20 K TO GO TO
MUSIC AND FILM COMMISSION TO
SUPPORT THE WORK WE DO FOR
ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH MAKING
SURE OUR INDUSTRIES ARE HEARD
AND THAT WE ARE HEARING -- ALSO
WANT TO CONTINUE TO PUT OUR
SUPPORT BEHIND THE CAREER
PATHWAYS FUNDING , WHICH IS
SUPER VITAL TO THE WORK THAT WE
DO IN CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE
PRODUCTION INDUSTRY. WE HAVE
DONE PROGRAMS WITH THE SUPPORT
OF THE CITY. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
DO OVER 80 UNIQUE NEW YOUTH --
80% OF THEM IN THE PRODUCTION
INDUSTRY. THIS HAS BEEN AN
AMAZING FEAT TO HAVE MORE TIME
AND EFFORT PUT TOWARD
RESOURCES -- TOWARD GETTING
OUR YOUNG FOLKS THE BEST THEY
CAN INTO THE INDUSTRY. THANK
YOU FOR THAT CONTINUED SUPPORT.
CONTINUE TO GIVE US SOME MONEY.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALICIA .
ALICIA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
MICHAEL .
>> HI. MY NAME IS ALICIA. [
INAUDIBLE ] I AM HERE TO THANK
YOU FOR SUPPORT TO THE ART
PROGRAMS IN MY CITY. THIS
PROGRAM HAS GIVEN ME A PLATFORM
TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS.
BLACK WOMAN HAVING SUPPORT IN A
WHITE MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY.
[ INAUDIBLE ] WITH SUPPORT I
HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED AN
INTERNSHIP AND BUILT STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MUSIC
INDUSTRY OFFICIALS. WORKING IN
THE CREATIVE SCENE IS NO LONGER
JUST A DREAM BUT A CONTINUOUS
ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE PROGRAM
SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AND
APPRECIATED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, GUYS. I HOPE YOU GUYS
HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MICHAEL. MICHAEL WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY TORRES .
MICHAEL, IF YOU ARE THERE, PRESS
STAR SIX, PLEASE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHAEL.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
REFERRAL SERVICE. I'M HERE TODAY
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE WAGE
EQUITY FOR HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS ON TOP OF THE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT ALREADY INCLUDED. THE
BUDGET SUPPORTS STAFF TO
DELIVER CRITICAL HUMAN SERVICES.
THEY INCLUDE FOOD SECURITY,
SERVICES FOR YOU THAN OLDER
ADULTS AND IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES. OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS DUE TO THE FINANCIAL
CONSTRAINTS WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THE CITY,
WE ARE CHALLENGED TO ENSURE OUR
STAFF HAVE WAGES AND SALARIES
THAT COMBAT INFLATION . WE ARE
SEEING MORE AND MORE OF OUR
PEOPLE MAKING DIFFICULT
DECISIONS TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT
OUTSIDE AWAY FROM
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
THE CITY LOSES IMPORTANT TAX
BASE. OUR COMMUNITY LOSES
VITALITY, DIVERSITY , AND A
SPECIALIZED WORKFORCE WHO
PROVIDE CULTURAL SPECIFIC
SERVICES. I ASKED THE COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THE WAGE EQUITY ON
TOP OF THE 7.5% INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR HUMAN
SERVICES WORKERS AND TO ENSURE
THEY AND OTHER PROVIDERS CAN
ENSURE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TORRES. SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY JESSICA.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM THE [ INAUDIBLE ] AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. OUR
COALITION WORKED WITH OVER 35
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WORKING TOWARD GENDER-BASED
EQUITY. I'M SPEAKING TO SHARE
APPRECIATION FOR THE BUDGET
AMENDMENT SUPPORTING THE WIDE
RANGE OF EXPERIENCES FOLKS HAVE
WITH GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. WE
ARE SO PLEASED TO SEE SUPPORT
FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES,
ESPECIALLY WITH A FOCUS ON
CULTURE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT
WE KNOW SUPPORT SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE SURVIVORS IN OUR
CITY. ADDITIONALLY WE SUPPORT
THE CONTINUED EFFORT TO BUILD
MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVES TO THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM FOR FOLKS
WHO HAVE CAUSED HARM IN THEIR
RELATIONSHIPS. THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THE
COMMUNITY THAT CALL FOR THESE
RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. I
ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
HERBOLD, AND MORALES FOR THEIR
AWESOME LEADERSHIP IN THIS
AREA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JOIN
OTHERS TO SHARE MY GRATITUDE
FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE
RECOMMENDATION. AND ALL THE
INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORTING HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS, SUCH AS WAGE
EQUITY AND INFLATION
ADJUSTMENTS. I KNOW FOLKS HERE
HAVE ALREADY SPOKE TO THAT SO
ELOQUENTLY. I ECHO THAT SUPPORT
AND REALLY APPRECIATE SO MUCH
ALL OF THE DEDICATION AND
SUPPORT YOU ALL HAVE OFFERED
DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON. WE
URGE COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN
CRITICAL SUPPORT. LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA.
JESSICA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
DANIEL BANNON.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HEARD. MY NAME IS JESSICA
TOONE. I AM A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT SIX. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE RECORDING
ACADEMY'S NORTHWEST CHAPTER. I
WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
PROPOSED OED-805- A-1. $20,000
ANNUAL JUMPSTART FUND TO THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN SUPPORT OF THE SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION. AS CHAIR OF THIS
SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION'S
REVISION COMMUNITY, I'M
RENEWING EFFORTS TO THE WORK
PLAN TO SUPPORT THRIVING COMMIT
ECONOMY WITH ALL OF MY
COMMISSION COLLEAGUES. THIS
REQUIRES INTENTIONAL AND FOCUSED
DIALOGUE AND FEEDBACK WITH OUR
COMMUNITIES. WE NEED TO ELEVATE
OUR PROFILE , EXTEND OUR REACH,
AND PERFORM TARGETED OUTREACH .
DIVERSE VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES
INFORM OUR PRIORITIES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY
ABOUT THE NEEDS. THIS ONGOING
SUPPORT WILL GREATLY IMPROVE
OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL
MUSICIANS AND MAKE RELEVANT AND
INFORMED POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER NELSON FOR
SPONSORING THIS. THANK YOU TO
THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL
BANNON. DANIELLE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY TOM HARRINGTON.
>> HELLO. THIS IS DANIEL BANNON
CALLING IN ON BEHALF OF THE
RENTAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON AND OVER 5000 SMALL
HOUSING NOTICE ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE HAS BEEN A PLETHORA OF
NEW LAWS RELATED TO RENTAL
HOUSING IN THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS. IT WOULD BE WISE FOR THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO
CRITICALLY EVALUATE THESE LAWS
AND REASSESS THE POLICIES HAVING
A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE SUPPLY
AND COST OF HOUSING. THAT BEING
SAID, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
ALREADY HAS AN OFFICE INTENDED
TO OBSERVE AND ENFORCE RENTAL
HOUSING STANDARDS. INSTEAD OF
USING THE CITY BUDGET TO CREATE
AN ENTIRELY NEW DEPARTMENT FROM
THE GROUND UP , IT WOULD BE WISE
FOR THE CITY TO USE THESE FUNDS
TO PROPERLY SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS
THAT ALREADY EXIST . THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS IS EFFECTIVE IN
ENFORCING RENTAL HOUSING
STANDARDS BUT IF IT NEEDS HELP,
WE SHOULD FIX ANY PROBLEMS THERE
BEFORE CREATING NEW ONES. IT IS
CONCERNING THAT THE CITY MAY
TAKE THE LAZY ROUTE OF WASTING
MONEY TO CREATE AN ENTIRELY NEW
BUREAUCRACY INSTEAD OF FOCUSING
ON IDENTIFYING ANY ISSUES AND
ADDRESSING THEM WITH OUR CURRENT
DEPARTMENT. FURTHERMORE, IT IS
CONCERNING AND DISHEARTENING
THAT THE PROPOSED OFFICE OF
RENTAL HOUSING STANDARDS LACKS
EVEN ONE MENTION OF GATHERING
INPUT FROM SEATTLE'S HOUSING
PROVIDERS. SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS ARE CONSISTENTLY SHUT
OUT OF CONVERSATIONS AT THE CITY
LEVEL. THIS PROPOSAL SERVES AS
THE MOST RECENT AND MOST
EGREGIOUS EXAMPLE. THIS
ONE-SIDED POLICY APPROACHES
HARMFUL TO BOTH RENTERS AND
HOUSING PROVIDERS AND HAS
RESULTED IN GREATLY INCREASED
HOUSING COSTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. PLEASE OPPOSE THE
$50,000 TO GO TO THE NEW POLICY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TOM HARRINGTON. TOM WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY.
>> VOTE YES ON OUR 2003 A1
PRESERVING LEGACY OF FORCED
EXPULSION OF CHINESE AMERICANS.
I AM A 73-YEAR-OLD WHITE MALE.
I HAVE -- SINCE 1986. THUS I
HAVE BEEN EDUCATED. I RECOGNIZE
MY WHITE PRIVILEGE. I HAVE
BENEFITED IN EDUCATION, CAREER
ADVANCEMENT , AND JUST EXISTING
AROUND DOWNTOWN. IF WE ARE TO
FIND EQUITY, WE MUST EDUCATE.
START WITH THE MESSAGE ,
EDUCATED. DRAWS ATTENTION --
PEAKS CURIOSITY, DRIVES PEOPLE
TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND. THE
ARTWORK, EXCLUSION AND
EXPLOSION EXPUNGED WILL APPEAL
TO MANY. IT WILL BE A SOURCE OF
PRIDE TO CHINESE AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS WHO
IDENTIFY WITH SIMILAR STRUGGLES.
IT WILL BE A SHOCKING AWARENESS
FOR MANY. I WAS IN MY 50s BEFORE
I WAS AWARE OF THE GROSS
VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS . WE
DID THIS ALSO WITH
JAPANESE-AMERICANS DURING WORLD
WAR II. I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER
EXAMPLES. WE MUST TELL THESE
STORIES OF UNJUST EVENTS IN OUR
HISTORY EVERY CHANCE WE GET.
FOR THE 1886 CHINESE EXPLOSION
WE MUST TAKE OWNERSHIP. WE MUST
ENSURE THE ARTWORK HAPPENS. WE
HAVE THE DESIGN. WE HAVE THE
ARTISTS. WE HAVE THE NEED AND WE
HAVE THE ENTHUSIASM. WE MUST
PROVIDE THE FUNDING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
-- FOLLOWED BY SYLVIA GONZALES.
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM THE PRESENTER
-- I WANT TO THANK MOSQUEDA AND
HERBOLD FOR THE WAGE INCREASES
APPLY TO ALL HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACTS IN THE CITY.
SPONSORING AN AMENDMENT TO ADD
300,000 TO THE BUDGET PROGRAM.
I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
INVESTMENT AND ENSURE THEY END
UP IN THE FINAL PORTION OF THE
BUDGET. LOW WAGES FOR HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS ARE IMPACTING
THE ABILITY -- WORK ALONGSIDE
MY COLLEAGUES WHO DO INCREDIBLE
WORK. HARD WORK. COMPASSION AND
LOVE . WORKERS IN OTHER
INDUSTRIES. THEY DESERVE MORE.
THIS IS NOT RIGHT. FUNDING
CHALLENGES. THE SPEAKER
MENTIONED MORE THAN 4 MILLION
IN CITY FUNDS HAVE BEEN CUT FROM
THE SYSTEMS. FOR A MONTH IN
SEPTEMBER. LET THEM KNOW THAT
WE WILL START THE DELIVERY .
LITERALLY CRYING ON THE PHONE.
[ INAUDIBLE ] WAGE INCREASE .
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SYLVIA GONZALES. SYLVIA WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY PETER WANG. GO
AHEAD , SYLVIA. OKAY, SYLVIA'S
LINE IS UNMUTED, BUT WE ARE NOT
HEARING HER, SO WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE TO PETER WANG. FOLLOWING
PETER WILL BE DENNIS . OKAY.
DOES NOT LOOK LIKE PETER --
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> IS THIS SYLVIA?
>> YEAH, THIS IS SYLVIA. THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS SYLVIA
GONZALES. DOMESTIC WORKERS HERE
IN SEATTLE. TAMMY MORALES. I
AM HERE FOR SUPPORT THE BUDGET
. I NEVER TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TAKE A SICK TIME OFF. THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.
DOMESTIC WORKERS. BENEFITS --
OTHER WORKERS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DENNIS. AFTER DENNIS , WE
WILL GO BACK AND SEE IF LAUREL
GRAY IS ONLINE. GO AHEAD,
DENNIS.
>> CHAIR MOSQUEDA AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS , THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THIS
YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. I WORK
FOR PLYMOUTH HOUSING. MANY OF
OUR RESIDENTS SPEND YEARS OR
DECADES OUTSIDE ON SHELTER FROM
HEAT, RAIN, OR THE COLD WE ALL
FELT THIS MORNING. MANY WERE
UNABLE TO ACCESS BASIC
HEALTHCARE AND HAVE CHALLENGING
HEALTH CONDITIONS . PLYMOUTH'S
FRONTLINE STAFF PROVIDES
WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND GET
STABLY HOUSED. THREE NEW
BUILDINGS THIS YEAR TO HELP
CREATE 300 NEW HOMES. OUR STAFF
ARE ESSENTIAL -- WE ARE
ENCOURAGED THE BUDGET MAKES
MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS IN
HOUSING. THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBERS MOSQUEDA,
HERBOLD, LEWIS, MORALES, AND
STRAUSS. -- SUPPORT THE STAFF
MEMBERS. WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT AMENDMENTS AVERTING
JUMPSTART FUNDING. THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT BUT
ARE NEEDED GIVEN THE ENORMITY OF
OUR CHALLENGE. MORE THAN 13,000
OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE SITTING
OUTSIDE IN THE COLD ON ANY GIVEN
NIGHT. WE CAN AND SHOULD DO
MORE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
ENGAGED IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
THANK YOU. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE
HOUSING LEVY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST TWO
SPEAKERS WILL BE LAUREL GRAY.
LAURA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LILIA.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX WHEN YOU HAVE HEARD THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. GO AHEAD,
LAUREL.
>> APOLOGIES FOR MY TECHNOLOGY
ISSUES EARLIER. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
LAUREL. D5 RESIDENT. LSL. I'M
HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR A
BUDGET AMENDMENT ADDING A
ONE-TIME INVESTMENT OF $300,000
IN 2024 FOR FOOD AND OPERATIONAL
COSTS FOR PROVIDERS. I WANT TO
DEEPLY THINK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR INTRODUCING THIS
AMENDMENT AND CONSUMMATE LEWIS
FOR SUPPORT. $4 MILLION. WE ARE
ASKED TO DO MORE AND MORE WITH
LESS AND LESS. IT IS SIMPLY NOT
SUSTAINABLE. LSL HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO DROP NUTRITIONALLY DENSE
, CULTURALLY RELEVANT MEALS .
THE EMERGENCY MAIL SYSTEM IS
INDEED IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE COME TO
COUNT ON THESE MEALS HAVE ONCE
AGAIN BEEN TOLD THEY ARE NOT
WORTHY OF THE BASIC ESSENTIAL
HUMAN RIGHTS. ONE BURNED-OUT
CHEF WHO CANNOT WORK ANOTHER 70
HOURS A WEEK . ONE BROKEN
FREEZER COMPRESSOR. ONE
ADMINISTRATIVE -- CASE MANAGER.
WHEN OUR DOORS SHUT, NEIGHBORS
EXPERIENCING HUNGER ARE FORCED
TO RESORT TO WHATEVER MEANS
NECESSARY TO GET TO THEIR NEXT
MEAL. FOOD INSECURITY IS A
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. I WANT TO
THINK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ,
LEWIS AND HERBOLD.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE
LILIA CARRASCO.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
LILIA MARGARITA CARRASCO. I AM
HERE ON BEHALF OF UNITED WAY OF
KING COUNTY TO ASK FOR COUNCIL
TO START HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING
FOR OUR PRETAX PREPARATION
CAMPAIGN FOR 2024. MY PASSION
IS TO ASSIST SEATTLE'S LOWEST
INCOME RESIDENTS TO CLAIM
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TAX
CREDITS EACH YEAR BY FILING A
FEDERAL TAX RETURN. TAXPAYERS
USING THESE FUNDS TO BUY FOOD,
PAY RENT, AND BUY OTHER
NECESSITIES RIGHT HERE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. IF WE DO NOT
PROVIDE FREE TAX SERVICE TO OUR
CITIES , THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO
FILE THEIR TAXES BECAUSE THEY
CHARGE MORE THAN THEY CAN
AFFORD. THE RESULT IS THEY WILL
FORGO THEIR REFUNDS. OUR MISSION
IS TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING.
THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY EACH YEAR. WE'VE
GOT 500,000 AND LEVERAGED IT .
WE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DO
THEIR TAXES. WE HELPED GET $42
MILLION IN REFUNDS AND WE HAVE
PROVIDED THIS SERVICE BASED ON
PRIMARILY VOLUNTEER WORK. I
URGE COUNCIL TO PLEASE RESTORE
FUNDING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR
SPEAKERS , CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MADAM
CLERK. THAT IS A LOT OF WORK. I
APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT AND
MANAGING THE CONVERSATION FOR
US. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO
DIALED IN THIS MORNING AND
EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN
PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN CHAMBERS AS
WELL. THAT WILL CONCLUDE PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE
FIRST ITEM OF OUR AGENDA. COULD
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE
CHAIR'S BALANCING PACKAGE FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO REMIND
FOLKS THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THROUGH
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AT THE
BALANCING PACKAGE HERE TODAY.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
HEAR BOTH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
FOR LINE ITEMS IN THE 2024
BUDGET BUT ALSO HERE ANY
LEGISLATION THAT IS ALREADY TEED
UP AND READY FOR DISCUSSION AS
IT RELATES TO IMPACTING 2020
FOR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS IN
THE UPCOMING YEAR. WE WILL HAVE
A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM CENTRAL
STAFF ON SOME INITIAL
LEGISLATION AS WELL AS WALK
THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS. WE WILL
TAKE THAT IN THE FOLLOWING
ORDER. FIRST WE WILL TALK ABOUT
SOME BUDGET RELATED LEGISLATION
AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO
INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS BEING
PROPOSED. COLLEAGUES COME AS A
REMINDER, WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE
TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE
AMENDMENTS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT
THEM WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BETWEEN
NOW AND NOVEMBER 13. WE HAVE
NOVEMBER 13, 14, AND 15 HELD ON
YOUR CALENDARS ALREADY AND
ANTICIPATE HAVING A WALK-THROUGH
AGAIN OF ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS
TO THE BALANCING PACKAGE ON
NOVEMBER 13th. ON NOVEMBER 14th
WE WILL PLAN TO WALK THROUGH THE
AMENDMENTS AND VOTE ON THOSE
AMENDMENTS. AND WE ARE SAVING
NOVEMBER 15th TO TALK MORE ABOUT
BUDGET RELATED LEGISLATION THAT
DOES NOT HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT ON
2024 . ALL OF THOSE POLICIES
NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO CENTRAL
STAFF BY AT LEAST NEXT TUESDAY.
THAT IS OCTOBER 31st . AND THAT
GIVES CENTRAL STAFF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH
POTENTIAL SPONSORS TO GET THOSE
INTRODUCED BY NOVEMBER 7th. THEY
WILL BE PUBLISHED AND AVAILABLE
FOR COLLEAGUES TO SEE. AGAIN, WE
WILL HAVE A BRIEFING ON THOSE ON
NOVEMBER 15th AND AN OPPORTUNITY
TO VOTE ON THOSE NON-2024 BUDGET
RELATED ITEMS ON NOVEMBER 30th.
AGAIN, THIS IS ALL IN THE
INFORMATION THAT WAS CIRCULATED
BY CENTRAL STAFF. WE HAVE PUT IN
INTO OUR TERESA TUESDAY
NEWSLETTER AS WELL. THAT KEEPS
US ON TRACK TO HAVE A FINAL VOTE
ON OUR BUDGET FOR 2024 IN THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE ON NOVEMBER
21st. FULL COUNCIL VOTE ON THE
BUDGET FOR 2024 ON NOVEMBER
21st. THEN WE WILL TAKE UP ANY
BUDGET RELATED LEGISLATION BUT
NOT IMPACTING 2024 IN OUR FINAL
COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE ON NOVEMBER 30th WITH
THE EXPECTATION THAT THAT WOULD
BE IN FRONT OF FULL COUNCIL
THAT FIRST MEETING IN DECEMBER.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
CENTRAL STAFF TO WALK US THROUGH
THE PROCESS FOR TODAY AND TO
HIGHLIGHT ANY OF THE TIMELINE
ITEMS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. I
DO WANT TO NOTE THAT OUR
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IS WORKING
AROUND THE CLOCK TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. THEY HAVE OFFERED A
VERY HELPFUL TOOL THAT WILL HELP
GUIDE OUR DISCUSSION TODAY SO
THAT THERE IS A CLEAR WAY FOR
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SEE THE ITEMS
THEY HAVE SPONSORED AND
COSPONSORED. THAT WILL BE VERY
CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. AND
WE ALSO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON
OUR COUNCIL WEBSITE DEMYSTIFYING
THE BUDGET PROCESS. PLEASE CHECK
THAT OUT FOR THE FULL CALENDAR.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER
TO CENTRAL STAFF. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. EVERY
YEAR WE TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF
WORK THAT CENTRAL STAFF DOES TO
HELP ALIGN ANY AVAILABLE FUNDS
WITH THE COUNCIL PRIORITIES
BEING LIFTED UP . THIS YEAR IS
NO DIFFERENT. WE REALLY INTENDED
TO FOCUS ON 2024 BEING MINOR
CHANGES. THERE IS AN IMMENSE
AMOUNT OF NEED OUT THERE. AND
THAT HAS NECESSITATED US GOING
AND TURNING OVER EVERY ROCK TO
SEE WHERE WE CAN FIND ADDITIONAL
FUNDING. CENTRAL STAFF HAS BEEN
AT THE FOREFRONT OF HELPING
COUNCILMEMBERS IDENTIFY WAYS TO
FINALIZE POLICY IDEAS BUT
REALLY IMPORTANTLY HELPING US
IDENTIFY ANY POSSIBLE FUND
SOURCES FOR THESE EMERGING AND
GROWING NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AS
FEDERAL FUNDING HAS DISSIPATED.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, CENTRAL
STAFF. MANY OF THE ONE-$10 WE
INCLUDED WITH THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN FUNDS OR CORONA
LOCAL RELIEF FUNDS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ALL OF THOSE
ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. AND AS
WE SEE THE ONGOING NEED IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESPOND TO
IS THE ONGOING NEED FOR MANY OF
THESE ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS TO
HAVE EITHER A LONGER EXIT OR A
SOFTER LANDING . AND WE KNOW
THAT THAT IS VERY HARD TO MANAGE
THE INCREASED NEED WITH STAGNANT
REVENUES. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP
COUNCILMEMBERS HONE IN ON THEIR
POLICY IDEAS AND REALLY IDENTIFY
A FUN SOURCE FOR COMMUNITY
NEEDS TO BE SERVED. I WILL TURN
OVER TO DIRECTOR ESTHER HANDY
TO WALK US THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE WILL FOCUS FIRST ON
LEGISLATION THAT HAS A 2024
IMPACT . AND THEN WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS TO THE
2024 BUDGET. THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. ESTHER HANDY. I WANT
TO ECHO APPRECIATION TO BOTH
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND LEGISLATIVE
ASSISTANTS WHO HAVE COLLABORATED
WITH US OVER THE LAST WEEK TO
WORK VERY QUICKLY TO BE ABLE TO
PREVIEW THESE AMENDMENT CONCEPT
IDEAS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR
WORKING SO WELL WITH OUR TEAM.
NEXT SLIDE . AS CHAIR MOSQUEDA .
IN TODAY'S AGENDA WE HAVE TWO
MISSIONS. WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT
THE 53 PROPOSED AMENDMENT
CONCEPT SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS AND PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF BUDGET RELATED
LEGISLATION. NEXT SLIDE. AFTER
TODAY , ALL LEGISLATION NEEDED
TO BALANCE THE 2024 BUDGET MUST
BE INTRODUCED BY TUESDAY,
NOVEMBER 7th. WE WILL BE BACK
IN COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 13 THROUGH
15. CHAIR MENTIONED THE 13th TO
PROVIDE BRIEFING ON AMENDMENTS.
THE 14th FOR VOTES. THE 15th TO
DISCUSS ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION.
FINAL COMMITTEE VOTE ON MONDAY,
THE 20th. AND WE WILL ADOPT
THIS BUDGET BEFORE THE
THANKSGIVING BREAK. TO SAY A
COUPLE WORDS ON WHAT IS BEING
PRESENTED TODAY. BECAUSE THIS IS
NEW AND DIFFERENT STEP THAN IN
PAST YEARS, WHAT WE ARE CALLING
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED TODAY
CONCEPTS. WE WILL PRESENT ALL
AMENDMENT CONCEPTS PRESENTED TO
CENTRAL STAFF BY NOON THIS PAST
TUESDAY FOR INITIAL DISCUSSION
TODAY SO THAT ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
AND THE PUBLIC HAVE AWARENESS
ABOUT THESE CONCEPTS. THESE ARE
UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND WILL BE
REFINED AND PUBLISHED ON
NOVEMBER 9th FOR DISCUSSION
NOVEMBER 13th AND 14th. THIS
REFINEMENT MAY INCLUDE CHANGES
TO A SOURCE USED TO BALANCE .
SCALING A PROPOSAL IF A BETTER
COST ESTIMATE BECOMES AVAILABLE.
YOU MAY RECEIVE $200,000 ON THE
TABLE TODAY. A FINAL CBA MIGHT
SAY 180 OR $250,000 AS THAT GETS
REFINED. THE FULL BUDGET
AMENDMENTS WILL INCLUDE
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND, A FULL
DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT ACTION
IS, ALONG WITH FISCAL
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS. IN THAT
FINAL ROUND, CENTRAL STAFF WILL
BRING ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU,
PATTY. THANK YOU. THAT IS WHERE
I AM HEADED NEXT. TODAY YOU
WILL SEE SEVERAL AMENDMENTS WE
HAVE CALLED LOGONS IN THE PAST.
IS OUR PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY
THE DEADLINE THAT DID NOT
INCLUDE THE REQUIRED THREE
COSPONSORS. SO WE WILL PRESENT
THOSE TODAY WITH THE REQUEST FOR
ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS. THOSE
THAT HAVE THREE COSPONSORS BY
THE END OF COMMITTEE TODAY WILL
ADVANCE. THOSE WITHOUT THEM WILL
NOT MOVE FORWARD. AS WE SAY
HERE, FULLY DRAFTED AMENDMENTS
WILL BE PUBLISHED BY NOVEMBER
9th. FOR DISCUSSION 13 THROUGH
15. AFTER TODAY, WE WILL NOT
ACCEPT FURTHER WALK ON
AMENDMENTS. SO IF NEXT WEEK YOU
HAVE AN IDEA THAT YOU WOULD LIKE
TO ADD FUNDING TO CREATE A NEW
HIPPOPOTAMUS EXHIBIT AT THE ZOO,
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU I'M SORRY.
WE ARE CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. BUT
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO REFINE
THE CONCEPTS THAT ARE PRESENTED
TODAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC AND THE FOLKS WHO
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ANIMALS IN
THE ZOO, THERE IS NO PROPOSAL
FOR HIPPOPOTAMUS EXHIBIT AT THE
ZOO. SAVE THOSE EMAILS. WE
UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS. AND
APPRECIATE THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS
GIVEN. WHILE I HAVE THE
MICROPHONE, THANK YOU FOR
UNDERSCORING THAT IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING ALL OF THOSE ITEMS OUT
HERE TODAY. IT'S REALLY HELPFUL
FOR ESSENTIAL STAFF. I JUST WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU ON BEHALF OF
CENTRAL STAFF FOR GETTING THOSE
AMENDMENT ITEMS IN ON TUESDAY
THIS WEEK SO THAT WE DID NOT
HAVE A SITUATION THAT ENDED UP
IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS OUT OF
BALANCE AS WE TRY TO CONSIDER
ALL AMENDMENTS ON THE 13th AND
14th.
>> GRADE. I JUST WANT TO SAY A
COUPLE WORDS ABOUT LEGISLATION.
NEXT SLIDE PATTY EXPLAINS THE
TWO-TRACK PROCESS WE HAVE FOR
BUDGET LEGISLATION. THE FIRST
TRACK IS LEGISLATION NECESSARY
TO ADOPT A BALANCED BUDGET IN
2024 . AS I MENTIONED, ALL THAT
LEGISLATION MUST BE INTRODUCED
BY NOVEMBER 7th . THE NOVEMBER
9th DATE ON THIS SLIDE IS WHEN
BUDGET AMENDMENTS WILL BE
PUBLISHED. IF ANY LEGISLATION
THAT IS PUBLISHED AFTER
NOVEMBER 7th THAT HAS NOT BEEN
FULLY DISCUSSED TODAY, I WILL
UPDATE THE AMENDMENT DEADLINE
FOR THAT LEGISLATION. BUT IT
WILL MOVE ON THE PAST WE HAVE
DISCUSSED. NOVEMBER 13 THROUGH
15 AND VOTE BEFORE
THANKSGIVING. TRACK TWO IS
BUDGET RELATED LEGISLATION NOT
NECESSARY TO BALANCE THE 2024
BUDGET. WE WILL PUBLISH DRAFTS
OF ALL THAT LEGISLATION FOR
PUBLIC REVIEW AND COUNCILMEMBERS
BY NOVEMBER 9th. WE WILL USE THE
FULL COMMITTEE DISCUSSION OR
MUCH OF IT ON THE 15th FOR
FIRST COMMITTEE BRIEFING. ALL OF
THAT LEGISLATION WILL BE BACK
FOR A SECOND COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION, AMENDMENTS, AND VOTE
ON NOVEMBER 30th FOR COUNCIL
ACTION ON DECEMBER 5th. I WON'T
WALK THROUGH EVERY PIECE OF
LEGISLATION ON SLIDE SIX THROUGH
12, BUT THEY ARE THERE FOR YOUR
REFERENCE. JUST GO TO SLIDE SIX
AND WE WILL SHOW WHAT THAT SORT
OF LOOKS LIKE. ALL OF THIS --
MOST OF THESE BILLS WERE
DESCRIBED IN OUR BUDGET OVERVIEW
MEMO DURING ISSUE I.D. FOR
BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED,
WE HAVE INCLUDED THE COUNCIL
BILL OR CLERK FILE NUMBER ON THE
TABLE ON THE SLIDES FOR YOUR
REFERENCE. AFTER WE COMPLETE
THIS OVERVIEW, CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYST WILL DO A SHORT OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION ON THE NETWORK
FEED ORDINANCE SO WE HAVE THAT
SUBSTITUTE DISCUSSION IN
COMMITTEE. AS YOU'LL SEE FROM
THE SLIDES, THE MAJORITY OF
LEGISLATION IS MOVING ON TRACK
ONE. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO SLIDE
12, THAT WILL PROVIDE
LEGISLATION THAT HAS CURRENTLY
BEEN IDENTIFIED TO MOVE ON TO
TRACK TWO FOR DISCUSSION ON
NOVEMBER 15th AND 30th. ANY
QUESTIONS ON PROCESS FOR
LEGISLATION?
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
>> GREAT. THAT IS MY OVERVIEW.
CHAIR MOSQUEDA, I WILL HAND IT
BACK TO YOU. I THINK NEXT WE
HAVE THE NETWORK COMPANY FEE
PROPOSAL AND OUR DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AND I WILL WALK THROUGH
ON THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT. I'M GOING
TO FLAG FOR FOLKS -- THANK YOU
FOR GETTING US THROUGH ALL OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING.
OUR INTENTION WAS TO HEAR THAT
FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF. WE DID
COMPLETE THAT WITHIN AN HOUR
AND A HALF. WE'RE STILL GOING TO
TAKE A RECESS FROM 1:00 P.M. TO
2:00 P.M. AND I ANTICIPATE WE
WILL NEED ALL OF OUR COMMITTEE
TIME TODAY TO WALK THROUGH THE
AMENDMENTS. SO WE WILL GET YOU
OUT OF HERE BY 5:00 ON FRIDAY.
AND THAT IS THE GOAL FOR TODAY.
WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW FOR
YOUR SCHEDULING AND PLANNING
PURPOSES FROM 1:00 TO 2:00 WE
WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE A RECESS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO OFFER
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD THE CHANCE
TO SAY A FEW WORDS GIVEN THAT
THIS IS A BUDGET RELATED PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN
TEED UP IN HER COMMITTEE AND
DISCUSSED AS WELL. AND YOU ARE
THE LEADER ON THIS CONCEPT IN
TERMS OF POLICY AND NO FUNDING.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO OFFER ANY OPENING
COMMENTS BEFORE I TURN IT OVER
TO CENTRAL STAFF?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. FOR THE
LAST THREE YEARS TO PROTECT A
VULNERABLE AND FAST GROWING
SECTOR OF SEATTLE WORKERS , THE
COUNCIL HAS PASSED SEVERAL
PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS DURING
DISCUSSION OF THE MINIMUM
COMPENSATION BILL LAST YEAR,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PAY UP , I
MADE A COMMITMENT TO BRING
FORWARD POTENTIAL ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTIONS OF FUNDING THE
ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER WORKER
PROTECTIONS. THIS YEAR DURING
DISCUSSION OF THE DEACTIVATION
RIGHTS ORDINANCE, WE DISCUSSED
THIS FEE-BASED APPROACH TO
SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT . AS THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS NOTED
IN THEIR SEPTEMBER ANNUAL
CERTIFICATION, OLS FUNCTIONS
AND RESOURCES MEMO -- THE
OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENFORCING A WIDE WEB WORKER
PROTECTIONS THAT COVER 54,000
EMPLOYERS AND ALMOST 600,000
EMPLOYEES . OLS HAS A TEAM OF 34
FTE . IN THAT MEMO, THEY TOUCH
ON SEATTLE'S LEADERSHIP AND
BUILDING PROTECTIONS FOR
WORKERS. AND THEY GO ON TO SAY
MUCH OF THE POLICY TEAM FOCUSED
HAS BEEN ON ADAPTING AND
ADVANCING LABOR STANDARDS FOR
NONSTANDARD WORKFORCES ,
ESPECIALLY GIG WORKERS, DOMESTIC
WORKERS, AND INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS. THIS WORK IS
TIME-CONSUMING AS FEW
JURISDICTIONS HAVE TACKLED SUCH
INITIATIVES. CONSEQUENTLY, OLS
MUST CREATE A ROAD MAP RATHER
THAN RELYING ON THE EXPERIENCES
OF OTHERS. THE MEMO GOES ON TO
RECOMMEND FUNDING FOR MANY OF
THESE FUNCTIONS . OLS EXISTS TO
CENTER THE NEED OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE WORKERS. EVERY LAW
ENFORCED BY THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS AIMS TO ADDRESS
RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES
AND THOUGHTFUL ADMINISTRATION
OF OUT BASED WORKER PROTECTIONS
THAT SUPPORTS EACH DISABILITY,
JUSTICE , GENDER PARITY, AND
RACIAL EQUITY. $.10 PER
DELIVERY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE
SOME CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON A
WORKING COST FAMILY THAT HAS TO
GET THEIR GROCERIES DELIVERED.
AT ITS CURRENT RATE WE ARE
DISCUSSING, IT WILL COST SOMEONE
WHO GETS A WEEKLY DELIVERY OF
MIXED GROCERIES AND NON-GROCERY
ORDERS A TOTAL OF $5.20 A
YEAR. BUT THE FEE REVENUE WOULD
DEFINITELY HAVE AN IMPACT ON
THE WORKERS WHO BENEFIT. OF
COURSE REMEMBER THE $.10 PER
TRANSACTION FEE DOES NOT HAVE TO
BE PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER.
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO CUSTOMERS
RECEIVED SOME OF THIS
INFORMATION FROM THE COMPANY
ASKING THEM TO CONTACT US. THEY
ASKED CUSTOMERS TO OPPOSE THE
FEE LEGISLATION . CALLED IT AN
ATTACK ON GROCERIES WITH HIS
STRESSING LEE BOLDFACED LIE. THE
LEGISLATION VERY EXPLICITLY
EXEMPTS GROCERY ORDERS , THOUGH
APPS MAY FRAME PUBLIC COMMENT
AS BEING ABOUT PROTECTING
AFFORDABILITY FOR WORKING-CLASS
FAMILIES , I BELIEVE -- DO NOT
WANT -- TO PROTECT WORKER
RIGHTS. IN FACT , AGAIN, THESE
PLATFORMS DON'T HAVE TO PASS
THE FEE ON TO CUSTOMERS AT ALL.
WE HAVE HEARD COMMENTS FROM
WORKERS IN PUBLIC, TODAY AND
OTHER DAYS. AND WE KNOW THAT
THE HELP OF THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS MEANS THAT THERE IS
SOMEBODY ADVOCATING FOR GIG
WORKERS. AND OUR EFFORTS LET
THEM KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT
SUPPORTING THEM AND HELPING THEM
TO HAVE A VOICE. I'M REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF STAFF .
MY OFFICE -- ON THIS EFFORT.
THIS IS REALLY, I THINK, A
CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF WHETHER
OR NOT WE INTEND OUR LAWS AS WE
PASSED THEM TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE
TO BE EQUITABLY AND FAIRLY
ENFORCED. SO WITH THAT, MADAM
CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
PRESENTATION THAT WE ARE ABOUT
TO RECEIVE IN ADVANCE OF IT.
>> WITH THAT, I THINK WE WILL
TURN IT TO KARINA TO WALK
THROUGH HER PRESENTATION.
KARINA, GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M KARINA WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. THANK YOU TO PATTY FOR
MANAGING THE SLIDE DECK FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. THIS PRESENTATION
IS THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE
PRESENTATION THAT I PROVIDED ON
SEPTEMBER 26th TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. AT THE TIME , THIS
PROPOSAL HAD RECENTLY
TRANSITIONED IN CONCEPT FROM A
TAX TO A FEE. AND SO THERE HAS
BEEN SOME EVOLUTIONS IN THE
COMPONENTS AND ASPECTS OF THE
PROPOSAL SINCE THEN. BUT AT ITS
HEART, THE FEE REMAINS THE SAME.
AND I WILL GO OVER THAT IN A
MOMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SINCE THERE ALREADY WAS A
PRESENTATION ON THE CORE
COMPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL,
TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS MEANT TO
BE VERY HIGH-LEVEL. AND I'M
HAPPY TO CHAT OFF-LINE WITH ANY
COUNCILMEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE
MORE INFORMATION. THIS
PRESENTATION WILL GO OVER THE
BACKGROUND , THE KEY COMPONENTS
OF THE PROPOSAL , REVENUE
ESTIMATES FOR REFERENCE .
ACTUALLY THERE WILL NOT BE ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION. I'M SORRY . I
DID NOT REMOVE THAT. RELATED
BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND NEXT UPS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS
BACKGROUND AS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD EXPLAINED AS PART OF
THE CAMPAIGN THERE WERE TWO LAWS
THAT THE CITY PASSED. THE
DEACTIVATION RIGHTS ORDINANCE
COVERING WORKERS. THE
DEACTIVATION ORDINANCE PASSED
EARLIER THIS YEAR DOES APPLY TO
ON-DEMAND MARKETPLACE OF
NETWORK COMPANIES. THE MINIMUM
PAYMENT ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY
TO MARKETPLACE DENVER COMPANIES.
THERE ALSO IS COME AS YOU ARE
AWARE, THE OUTBURST WORKER
ORDINANCE MADE A PERMANENT THIS
YEAR THROUGH YOUR APPROVAL .
THAT ORDINANCE IS NOT CONSIDERED
PART OF THE PAYOUT PACKAGE. BUT
IT DOES APPLY . THE PURPOSE OF
THIS NETWORK COMPANY LICENSE
AND FEE PROPOSAL IS TO GENERATE
FEE REVENUE TO PAY FOR THE COST
OF THESE PAY UP CAMPAIGNS
ORDINANCES. MINIMUM PAYMENT AND
DEACTIVATION RIGHTS. NEXT SLIDE
, PLEASE. SO THE PROPOSAL WOULD
CREATE A NEW CHAPTER IN THE
TITLE SIX BUSINESS REGULATIONS .
THOSE BUSINESS REGULATIONS ARE
ADMINISTERED AND ENFORCED BY THE
CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . I WILL
EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT LATER WHY
THERE NOW IS A LICENSE AS PART
OF THIS PROPOSAL. THE NETWORK
COMPANY LICENSING FEE WOULD
APPLY TO NETWORK COMPANIES THAT
ARE COVERED BY THE MINIMUM
SEATTLE.
THOSE COMPANIES WOULD ALSO BE
REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE TO COVER
THE COST OF ADMINISTERING THE
LICENSE AND THE COST OF
IMPLEMENTING THOSE TWO LABOR
STANDARDS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE NETWORK COMPANY LICENSE --
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS TO
INCLUDE A LICENSE IN THIS
PROPOSAL. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS
HOW THE DIVISION CHARGES FEES
AND COLLECTS FEES . IN THIS
CONTEXT, IT MAKES SENSE TO
LICENSE NETWORK COMPANIES WHO
ARE TREATING OR CONNECTING
BUSINESS IN SUCH A WAY THAT IS
RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL CITY
REGULATIONS. SO THIS NETWORK
COMPANY LICENSE WOULD BE
REQUIRED FOR NETWORK COMPANIES
TO OPERATE IN SEATTLE AND MUST
BE RENEWED ANNUALLY ONE YEAR
FROM THE LAST ISSUE DATE . THERE
WOULD BE CERTAIN INFORMATION
REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THE
LICENSE, SUCH AS NUMBER OF
ONLINE ORDERS EVERY YEAR AND THE
FAS DIRECTORATE WOULD HAVE THE
ABILITY TO DENY, REVOKE, OR
FAIL TO RENEW THEIR LICENSE FOR
CERTAIN REASONS, INCLUDING
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE
LICENSE AND FEE REQUIREMENTS AND
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FINAL
TERMS OF ANY OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS FINAL ORDER RELATED TO
THE MINIMUM PAYMENT AND
DEACTIVATION'S ORDINANCES. NEXT
SLIDE. THE FEE THAT IS RELATED
TO THE LICENSE AND ALSO THAT
WOULD BE GENERATING REVENUE TO
RECOVER THE REGULATORY COSTS
WOULD BE $.10 PER ONLINE ORDER
FOR THE DELIVERY OF GOODS OR
PROVISION OF OTHER SERVICES IN
SEATTLE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT
FOR EVERY NETWORK COMPANY
FACILITATED ORDER THAT RESULTS
IN A DELIVERY OF RESTAURANT FOOD
IN SEATTLE, DELIVERY OF A
RETAIL ITEM IN SEATTLE, OR
PROVISION OF SERVICES, WHETHER
IT BE PET CARE, HOUSECLEANING,
FURNITURE ASSEMBLY , AUTO
MECHANIC REPAIR , THERE IS A
WHOLE RANGE OF THEM OFFERED BY
NETWORK COMPANIES. ALL OF THOSE
ONLINE ORDERS WOULD RESULT IN A
$.10 FEE THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
REMITTED TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE FAS DIRECTOR IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS DIRECTOR WOULD
REVIEW HOW MUCH IT IS BRINGING
IN, THE PROJECTED COSTS AND
NEEDS COMMAND WOULD ADJUSTED
ACCORDINGLY. SOME YEARS THERE
MIGHT NOT NEED TO BE
ADJUSTMENTS. SOME YEARS IT MIGHT
GO UP AND IT MIGHT COME DOWN.
WHAT THE DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO DO THAT BY RULE.
NEXT SLIDE. THERE IS AN
EXEMPTION TO THE FEE AS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
MENTIONED. THE EXEMPTION WOULD
BE FOR ONLINE ORDERS SOLELY FOR
THE DELIVERY OF GROCERY ITEMS.
THIS IS PURSUANT TO A STATE LAW
THAT PROHIBITS LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FROM IMPOSING A TAX
FEE OR OTHER ASSESSMENT ON
GROCERIES. SO THAT IS REFLECTED
IN THIS PROPOSAL . WHAT WOULD BE
EXEMPT OUR ORDERS ONLY FOR
DELIVERIES. SO THAT WOULD BE
FRUIT, MILK, ET CETERA. WHAT
WOULD BE COVERED AND NOT SUBJECT
TO THE EXEMPTION WOULD BE
ORDERS THAT ARE A MIX OF GROCERY
AND NON-GROCERY ITEMS, LIKE
FRUIT AND BATTERIES. WHEN
SOMEONE IS GOING TO THE GROCERY
STORE AND IN THEIR CART THEY
HAVE A MIX OF GROCERY AND
NON-GROCERY ITEMS, THEY ARE
STILL PAYING TAXES ON THOSE
NON-GROCERY ITEMS. THE
DEFINITION OF GROCERY WOULD BE
THE SAME AS WHAT IT IS IN THAT
STATE LAW, WHAT YOU SAY -- SEE
HERE BEFORE YOU.
>> QUESTION ON THE ACCO --
APPLICABILITY OF DISCOVERING
WHICH ITEMS GET ASSESSMENT AND
WHICH DON'T. THERE IS ALREADY
PRECEDENT ESTABLISHING WHICH
ITEMS DO AND DON'T GET
ADDITIONAL TAX. TO BE VERY CLEAR
, GROCERIES -- ACTUAL FOOD IS
NOT TAXED. JUST WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THE MECHANISM AND
HOW THIS WOULD BE
OPERATIONALIZED FOR THOSE ITEMS
THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE TAX
IN OUR STATE AND WOULD NOT HAVE
100 PROPOSAL.
>> THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE
NETWORK COMPANIES TO DECIDE HOW
TO MAKE THAT DISTINGUISH
DISTINCTION. WHAT YOUR
SIGNALING IS ONE WAY THE NETWORK
COMPANIES COULD DECIDE WHETHER
OR NOT A FEE IS OWED. IF THERE
IS AN ORDER FROM A GROCERY STORE
THAT HAS TAX ON IT, THEN THAT
ORDER INCLUDES NON-GROCERY
ITEMS. SO THAT IS ONE WAY COULD
BE DONE. THEY ALSO COULD BE
LOOKING AT WHAT THE ORDER ITEMS
ARE. ALSO IT SEEMS MUCH SIMPLER
TO JUST GO AHEAD AND SEE IF
THERE IS SALES TAX OR NOT. THE
EFFECTIVE DATE AND FILINGS --
THIS LICENSE AND FEE REQUIREMENT
WOULD GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1st
OF 2025. THIS IS LATER THAN
WHAT I BELIEVE I SHARED IN
SEPTEMBER. THE REASON IS THAT
FAS WILL NEED ADDITIONAL TIME
TO DEVELOP THE SOFTWARE SYSTEMS
NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER THE FEE
AND THE LICENSE. SO THE WAY IT
WOULD WORK OUT IS THAT THE
LICENSE APPLICATION AND FIRST
PAYMENT OF THE FEE WOULD BE DUE
DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF
2025. AND IT WOULD BE
RETROACTIVE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025
BY DECEMBER 31st OF THAT YEAR
NETWORK COMPANIES WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR APPLYING FOR
THEIR LICENSE AND PAYING --
REMITTING THE FEE FOR THE ENTIRE
YEAR . THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED BY
DECEMBER 31st 2025. A
SUBSEQUENT FILING FEE WOULD BE
QUARTERLY. NEXT SLIDE. THE
ALLOCATION OF THE FEE REVENUE
WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO RECOVER
THOSE REGULATORY COSTS AND
NOTHING MORE. THIS IS A FEE, SO
IT CANNOT BE USED EXPANSIVELY.
IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR COST
RELATED TO THE REGULATIONS. SO
IN ORDER OF PRIORITY, THAT WOULD
BE FAS' ADMINISTRATION AND
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LICENSING FEE
AND THEN OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS , IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE DEACTIVATION RIGHTS
ORDINANCE, AND MINIMUM PAYMENT
ORDINANCE. IT IS INTENTIONAL TO
HAVE THE DEACTIVATION RIGHTS
EARLIER IN THE LINEUP THAN
MINIMUM PAYMENT. BECAUSE
MINIMUM PAYMENT ALREADY HAS SOME
AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND THE 2024
BUDGET HAS ABOUT $500,000. SO
DEACTIVATION'S DOES NOT HAVE
FUNDING ASIDE FROM THE BUDGET
AMENDMENT AND THE BALANCING
PACKAGE. DEACTIVATION RIGHT,
WHICH IS ONE TIME. DEACTIVATION
RIGHTS WOULD BE FIRST IN THE
LINEUP FOR WORKER FUNDING. AND
THEN IT WOULD LOAD TO MINIMUM
PAYMENT ORDINANCE ANY ADDITIONAL
FUNDING THAT IS NECESSARY FOR
THAT ORDINANCE. THE USE OF THE
FEE REVENUE WOULD SUPPLEMENT
FUNDING LEVELS FOR THE SAME OR
SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN THE 2024
ENDORSED BUDGET. AS I SAID,
THERE'S ABOUT 500,000 FOR
MINIMUM PAYMENT RIGHT NOW. ALL
OF THE FEE REVENUE WOULD
SUPPLEMENT THAT 500,000 UNLESS
THERE IS FEE REVENUE AVAILABLE
AFTER FUNDING PRIORITY ITEMS .
THEN THAT FEE REVENUE COULD GO
TOWARD THE EXISTING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MINIMUM
PAYMENT ORDINANCE. NEXT SLIDE.
ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE DONE BY
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION
DIVISION. A VIOLATION WOULD BE
-- WOULD RESULT IN A NOTICE OF
VIOLATION TO THE NETWORK
COMPANY. THERE WOULD BE
PENALTIES. THERE COULD BE
APPEALED TO A HEARING EXAMINER.
AND IF THERE IS EVIDENCE SHOWING
HABITUAL DISREGARD FOR THE
LICENSING FEE REQUIREMENTS, IT
COULD BE REFERRED FOR
PROSECUTION AS A MISDEMEANOR.
NEXT SLIDE. I JUST WANT TO NOTE
A MISDEMEANOR IS A STANDARD
PROVISION IN THE NEW LICENSE
CODE. IT IS NOT PARTICULAR TO
THIS LEGISLATION. REVENUE
ESTIMATES ARE ESTIMATED BE TWEEN
2.1 TO 3 MILLION PER YEAR.
THERE IS DATA ON THE NUMBER OF
ONLINE ORDERS IN SEATTLE. THESE
ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON A
POSSIBLE ANALOG . ANALYZING TMC
TRIPS AND REGISTERED TMC
DRIVERS. THIS NUMBER IS AN
ESTIMATE. SO IT COULD BE MORE.
IT COULD BE LESS. WE ARE GOING
TO NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE CITY
RECEIVES THE ACTUAL FEE REVENUE
TO KNOW MORE. NEXT SLIDE. THIS
SHOWS THE BACK HAD A MATH FOR
THESE ESTIMATES BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO GO OVER THOSE. HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS SEPARATELY. IF
YOU COULD GO PAST THE NEXT
SLIDE, WHICH IS ALSO FOR
REFERENCE, AND THEN TO THE NEXT
ONE. THERE ARE TWO RELATED
BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO THIS
PROPOSAL. FIRST IS IN THE
CHAIR'S BALANCING PACKAGE. THAT
AMENDMENT WOULD ADD ONE-TIME
FUNDING FROM THE JUMPSTART FUND
TO FAS AND OLS TO HELP SET UP
COST. SO THAT FUNDING FOR FAS ,
$900,000, WOULD PAY FOR THE FULL
COST OF DEVELOPING THE SOFTWARE
AND ALSO FOR A TEMPORARY
PROGRAM MANAGER TO MANAGE THAT
PROJECT. AND THEN THE 500,000
FOR OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
-- IT IS NOT THE FULL AMOUNT
THEY ESTIMATED THEY WOULD NEED,
WHICH IS ABOUT 1.35 MILLION, BUT
IT DOES PROVIDE SOME AMOUNT OF
FUNDING TO HELP WITH SETUP COSTS
AND HIGHER UP TO SEVEN FTES TO
ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. NEXT ,
THERE IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT YOU WILL
LEARN MORE ABOUT IN THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT CONCEPTS
TODAY. THAT WOULD BE A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
FOR OLS AND FAS TO PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON USING THE
NETWORK COMPANY FEE REVENUE TO
ALSO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE ORDINANCE FOR APP-BASED
WORKERS. NEXT SLIDE. AS FAR AS
THE NEXT STEPS IN THE TIMELINE ,
THE LEGISLATION WILL BE
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING ON
NOVEMBER 3rd. IT WILL BE ADDED
TO THE AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL. IT WILL BE
INTRODUCED ON NOVEMBER 7th.
COUNCILMEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE
AMENDMENTS TO PROPOSE FOR THIS
LEGISLATION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW
BY NOVEMBER 8th AT 12:00 P.M.
NOVEMBER 13th THROUGH 15th,
THERE WILL BE COMMUNITY
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS AND A
COMMITTEE VOTE. POTENTIAL
COMMITTEE VOTE. NOVEMBER 21st
WOULD BE THE FULL COUNCIL VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KARINA.
I WILL JUST ECHO APPRECIATION
FROM THE SPONSOR ON THIS. WE
KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY
HARD ON GETTING ALL OF THE
POLICY IDEAS LINED UP HERE AND
ENSURING THAT THE CONCEPTS ARE
REALLY WEALTH FLESHED OUT AND
AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK ON. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK
YOU HAVE DONE ON THIS IN
ADDITION THAT THE CHAIR NOTED.
MADAM VICE CHAIR OF BUDGET,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE
THE NEED FOR COUNCIL TO ACT ON
SECURING ADDITIONAL FUNDING
RESOURCES BY AGAIN REFERENCING
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
FUNCTION AND RESOURCES MEMO.
WITH GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT THE
HEALTH OF THE CITY'S GENERAL
FUND IN THE COMING YEARS, NOW IS
THE TIME TO THINK CREATIVELY
ABOUT DEDICATING FUNDING SOURCES
TO SUPPORT THE INTEGRITY OF
OLS' OPERATIONS.
>> WE HAVE NOTED BEFORE THE
CERTIFICATION LETTER THAT HAS
COME FROM THE OFFICE OF
STANDARDS THAT HAS SUBMITTED
ANNUALLY PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL
RECEIVING THE BUDGET. JUST WANT
TO FLAG THAT AGAIN FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS BOTH THIS YEAR
AND IN FUTURE YEARS. VERY
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT TO CONTINUE
TO ENSURE THAT THE INVESTMENTS
BEING PUT INTO OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS BOTH FOR EDUCATION AND
OUTREACH TO EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS
ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION FOR
EMPLOYEES IS WELL SERVICED. AND
THERE IS CLEARLY A GAP WITH
EXISTING FUNDS. THIS IS PART OF
THE SOLUTION THAT IS BEING
OFFERED HERE FOR CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN , THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THIS
WILL BE OFFERED THROUGH THE
LEGISLATION BEING PUBLISHED ON
NOVEMBER 7th. AND AS KARINA
NOTED, AMENDMENTS TO THAT
LEGISLATION ARE BEING REQUESTED
BY CENTRAL STAFF NOVEMBER 8th.
AND THEN WE WILL DISCUSS IT ON
IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M JUST
TRYING TO GET MY -- I'M TRYING
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ORDINANCES
WOULD HELP OLS ENFORCEMENT. IT
SEEMS THAT IT COVERS SEVEN FTE
AT OLS FOR -- AND IT DOES ALSO
COVER THE COMPANY MINIMUM PAID
ORDINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK COMPANY ORDINANCE .
DEACTIVATION ORDINANCE. BUT
WERE ANY OF THESE ALREADY
PREEMPTED BY THE STATE? AS OF
JANUARY 1st? CAN YOU REMIND ME,
PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
IT WOULD ONLY FOUR MINIMUM
PAYMENT . THE CITY, AS YOU NOTE
IS PRINTED FROM ADMINISTERING
AND ENFORCING LAWS THAT WOULD
COVER TMC DRIVERS. SO THERE WAS
A TEENSY DRIVER DEACTIVATION
ORDINANCE THAT THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS ADMINISTER BUT
THEY ARE NO LONGER
ADMINISTRATING THAT LAW DUE TO
PREEMPTION. STATE PREEMPTION.
>> SO IT WOULD BE TWO LAWS THAT
THIS FEE WOULD HELP OLS ENFORCE?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. [ CAPTIONERS
TRANSITIONING ]
>> I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THE FAS
BUDGET ESTIMATES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL
RIGHT, KARINA. I APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE AND WALKING US
THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU TO
CENTRAL STAFF FOR IDENTIFYING
THE VARIOUS PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT ACCOMPANIES
LEGISLATION FOR THE BUDGET EVERY
YEAR. WE HAVE THOSE IN TRACK
ONE AND TWO FOR THE PRESENTATION
THEY ALREADY WENT THROUGH. AND
THAT IS A USEFUL TOOL. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, CENTRAL
STAFF? OKAY. SEEING NINE, LET'S
MOVE ON OVER TO THE LONG LIST.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE 53 ITEMS
THAT ARE READY FOR DISCUSSION
TODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK WITH CENTRAL STAFF
AND SOME OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE WITH OUR OFFICE TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WAYS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO REPRIORITIZE THE
FUNDING INCLUDED IN THE
BALANCING PACKAGE. AS WE
HEARD, THERE ARE A FEW IDEAS
THAT FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SEE
ADDED OR REMOVED FROM THE
BALANCING PACKAGE BEFORE FINAL
COMPLETION. CENTRAL STAFF WILL
WALK US THROUGH THE 53 PROPOSED
BUDGET AMENDMENT CONCEPTS. IT IS
ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE NUMBER WE
USUALLY HAVE. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. OUR DESIRE TO MOVE MORE
TOWARDS BIANNUAL BUDGETING IS
STILL ON TRACK , AND WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO REFINE THE
PROCESS, IDEALLY YEAR-OVER-YEAR
AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE AND THE EXECUTIVE
AS WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE A
GREATER DESIRE TO PROVIDE
GREATER PROTECT ABILITY FOR
SMALL CONTRACTS, THE RESIDENTS
WE SERVE, AND THE DEPARTMENTS
THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE TO PROVIDE
THOSE SERVICES. SO BIANNUAL
BUDGETING AND GOOD STRONG
TOOLS, AND THIS YEAR, ONE THIRD
OF THE USUAL AMENDMENTS AS WE
TRY TO TREAT 2024 AS A SECOND
PART OF THE BIANNUAL PROCESS.
TAKE YOU TO THE COSPONSORS WHO
PUT FORWARD THESE AMENDMENTS,
AND I WILL BE ASKING EACH OF THE
PRIME SPONSORS TO OFFER SOME
COMMENTS. I REALLY WANT TO GET
THROUGH ALL 53. WE ARE GOING TO
T THAT UP NOW. WE WILL TAKE A
BREAK AT 1:00 P.M. FOR RECESS.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> COULD I -- FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, THE SUMMARY DOCUMENT WE
HAVE PROVIDED FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND THE PRESS? I WANT TO
PROVIDE A MEMBER REMINDER TO
USE THIS TOOL AS A SUMMARY
DOCUMENT. IT IS ONLY ABOUT FOUR
PAGES. THAT SUMMARIZES ALL OF
THE BUDGET INVESTMENTS, THE
VAST MAJORITY OF INVESTMENTS
INCLUDED IN THE CHAIRS BALANCING
PACKAGE. THIS WAS LINKED TO
THE MINUTES FROM LAST WEEK'S
MEETING. WE HAD A REVEAL OF THE
CHAIRS BALANCING PACKAGE ON
FRIDAY LAST WEEKEND WE HAVE NOW
INCLUDED IT AS WELL IN THE
MATERIALS FOR TODAY. SO PLEASE
DO USE THIS AS A HELPFUL TOOL TO
SHARE WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
AREAS THAT YOU ALREADY INCLUDED
INVESTMENTS IN THE BASE
BALANCING PACKAGE THAT IS IN
FRONT OF US. AGAIN, THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT TOOL TO REMIND FOLKS
OF THE ADVOCACY THAT HAS ALREADY
GONE INTO MANY OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER ASKS, AND THEN
TODAY'S DISCUSSION IS ABOUT
ENHANCEMENTS, REDUCTIONS,
CHANGES TO THAT PROPOSAL. THIS
IS ALL ON TOP OF THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION THAT WE RECEIVED
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHICH
INCLUDES THE BASE INVESTMENTS
YEAR-OVER-YEAR AND TO EACH
DEPARTMENT, AND FOR LACK OF
HAVING AN ACTUAL BALANCED BUDGET
BILL , PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
SHOWS YOU THE LINE ITEMS IN THE
STRIKETHROUGH'S AND ADDITIONS,
WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO
PROVIDE YOU WITH SUMMARY
MATERIALS SO THAT EACH COMMUNITY
MEMBER CAN SEE HOW THERE
ADVOCACY HAS RESULTED IN
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS FOR
INTENSE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND █
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN
LISTENING AND TRYING TO ENSURE
THAT THOSE FUNDING REQUESTS ARE
INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING
CALENDAR YEAR. THANK YOU FOR
SHOWING THAT DOCUMENT, AND TO
OUR TEAM, AARON HOUSE IN
ADDITION TO CENTRAL STAFF'S
REVIEW FOR HELPING TO PROVIDE
THAT ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND THE
COUNCILS COMMUNICATION TEAM.
OKAY, WITH THAT -- THANK YOU FOR
SHARING THAT TOOL. FEEL FREE
TO LINK IT ON YOUR NEWSLETTERS.
PLEASE DO TAKE IT AWAY DEPUTY
DIRECTOR ALY PENNUCCI.
>> WE WILL BE WALKING THROUGH
THE AMENDMENTS. WHAT YOU SEE ON
YOUR SCREEN IS THIS AMAZING TOOL
THAT OUR COMMS TEAM AND JOSEPH
HAS DEVELOPED DURING OUR USE
FOR THESE DISCUSSIONS. WE ARE
THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS
TOOL TODAY AND NOT HAVE A LONG
WIDE SPREADSHEET TO PRESENT AND
STRAIN THE EYES. SO AS WE WALK
THROUGH THESE, WHAT YOU WILL SEE
FOR EACH ITEM IS THE NUMBER IN
THE SPREADSHEET THAT IS ATTACHED
TO THE AGENDA. THIS IS ITEM
NUMBER ONE. THE BUDGET
AMENDMENT CODE THAT WE USE, SO
THIS IS 218. AND THEN A BRIEF
DESCRIPTION OF THE AD OR
DESCRIPTION. HE WILL HEAR US
USING THE ACRONYM SLI FOR
ISSUES OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND
EACH OF THE ITEMS SHOW WHAT
TYPE OF ACTION IT IS. IS IT
ADDING NEW SPENDING OR A
PROVISO? IF IT IS A SLI IT
SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY ADDED
AS WELL AS PRESENTING THE
PRIMARY SPONSOR IN THE
COSPONSOR. AT THE BOTTOM IT
DESCRIBES HOW THE PROPOSAL IS
BALANCED. SO THIS FIRST --
>> IS THERE ANY WAY TO ZOOM IN
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE. I AM
STILL STRAINING. I DID BRING MY
GLASSES TODAY. SO IT MIGHT JUST
BE ME, BUT IF THERE IS NOT A WAY
TO ZOOM IN A LITTLE BIT MORE, I
JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK
>> THIS IS PATTY, ANYWAY TO
ZOOM IN WOULD TAKE AWAY MY
ABILITY TO ADVANCE.
>> I WILL PULL OUT MY GLASSES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN TO THE
COMMS TEAM FOR THIS DOCUMENT
AND I WANT TO REMIND COLLEAGUES,
AS WE WALKED THROUGH THESE I
WILL ASK THE SPONSOR TO SPEAK
VERY BRIEFLY TO THE CONCEPT
AFTER THE CENTRAL STAFF DOES A
QUICK OVERVIEW. WE OF COURSE
HAVE THE COSPONSORS LISTED HERE,
BUT MY PREFERENCE IS THAT WE
REALLY KEEP IT LIMITED TO THE
PRIME SPONSOR FOR COMMENTS, AND
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO ADD YOUR
NAME TO SOMETHING, WE WILL MAKE
NOTE OF THAT. THERE IS NOT A
REQUIREMENT TO DO SO BECAUSE ALL
THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE THREE
SPONSORS ARE ALREADY GOING TO BE
IN FRONT OF US ON NOVEMBER 13
AND 14th. IT WILL ALREADY BE
THERE. IF YOU DO FEEL LIKE YOU
HAVE TO ADD YOUR NAME, PLEASE
NOTE THAT. IT WILL NOT SHOW UP
IN REAL TIME, BUT WE WILL NOTE
THAT, BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP US
MOVING FORWARD. BUT AGAIN, ALL
THE ITEMS THAT HAVE THREE
COSPONSORS WILL BE IN FRONT OF
US FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND
VOTE ON THE 13th AND 14th. YOU
DO NOT NEED TO ADD YOUR NAME,
BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WE WILL
MAKE A NOTE OF THAT AS WE
PROCEED. OKAY.
>> SO ITEM ONE SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
PEDERSEN WOULD ADD FROM THE
ARTS AND CULTURE FUND TO THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY GRANT
PROGRAMS. THIS IS BALANCED
USING $143,000 OF THE $900,000
OF ADMISSIONS TAX REVENUE
IDENTIFIED IN THE OCTOBER 2023
REVENUE FORECAST, AND FUND
BALANCE. I WILL NOTE THE FIRST
FOUR ITEMS WE WILL WALK THROUGH
ARE ALL BALANCED USING THIS
SAME STRATEGY AND COLLECTIVELY
THEY CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD, THEY
ARE NOT IN COMPETITION WITH EACH
OTHER.
>> OKAY. QUESTIONS -- EXCUSE ME,
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER
LOCAL ARTISTS. SO THIS CBA
REDUCES FUNDING FROM A
HIGHER-THAN-EXPECTED ADMISSIONS
TAX, AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION IS
REQUESTING THIS CHANGE . THE
IDEA IS TO BETTER SUPPORT
PROGRAMS LIKE THE CENTERING ART
AND RACIAL EQUITY, SEATTLE
ARTIST PROGRAMS, WHICH NOT ONLY
PROMOTE CREATIVITY BUT PLAY A
CRUCIAL ROLE IN ADVANCING
RACIAL EQUITY. THE RELOCATION
ENSURES RESOURCES ARE ALIGNED
WITH PRIORITIES IN THE NEEDS OF
THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS
ABOUT MAKING OUR CITY MORE
VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE, AND ABOUT
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL TALENT AND
REALLY ENSURING THAT ARTS AND
CULTURE ARE ACCESSIBLE TO
EVERYONE. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBERS PEDERSEN AND
LEWIS FOR COSPONSORING AND TO
ADVANCING THE CULTURAL VIBRANCY
OF OUR CITY AND THEIR DEDICATION
TO MAKING THIS CBA A REALITY.
>> THEY DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
THE FUNDING SOURCES PROPOSED,
BUT I WILL HOLD THAT UNTIL WE
GET THROUGH THE ARTS SUMMARY,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO BE
DIRECTED TO ANY SPECIFIC ONE OF
THESE. I WILL COME BACK TO THAT
QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR. REALLY PROUD TO BE
SUPPORTING COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES IN THIS INITIATIVE.
I'M SPEAKING GENERALLY .2 A
POINT THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO
RAISE. I DO THINK THAT LOOKING
AT CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US
AS A COUNCIL TO MAKE THE
HIGHEST POSSIBLE USE OF
UNEXPECTED SURPLUSES IN THIS
REVENUE SOURCE CAN BE GOOD TO
ACCOMMODATE SOME EXIGENT NEEDS
THAT WE FIND IN OUR DISTRICTS
WITH MORALES IN THIS AD. AND
JUST REALLY WANT TO LIFT UP
THAT THIS IS -- I THINK, A GOOD
WAY FOR US TO BE RESPONSIVE TO
THESE EMERGING NEEDS AND
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY,
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> NUMBER TWO, SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES, LEWIS
AND PEDERSEN WOULD ADD $150,000
ONE TIME TO THE ARTS AND
CULTURE FOR A GRANT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS FOR AFRICAN
CULTURAL AND ART CENTER AND
AGAIN BALANCED USING THE SAME
STRATEGY AS THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> SO THIS WOULD IGNITE THE
CREATION OF THE AFRICAN CULTURAL
ARTS CENTER. IT SERVES AS MORE
THAN A PHYSICAL SPACE, IT IS A
TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH AND
RESILIENCE OF OUR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
BEYOND THE FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS
HERE, THE INITIATIVE WOULD
ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED,
WHICH IS TO BRIDGE GENERATIONAL
GAPS, PROVIDE CULTURAL
EDUCATION, SUPPORT OUR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS, AND I
WANT TO THANK AGAIN
COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS AND
PEDERSEN FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND
I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL
JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS
COMMITMENT TO EMBRACING
DIVERSITY AND ENSURING THAT OUR
CULTURAL NARRATIVES ARE
CHERISHED FOR GENERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD?
>> I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION TO THE PRIME
SPONSOR AS WELL AS THE
COSPONSORS. I HAD INDICATED MY
INTEREST IN SPONSORING, BUT I
GOT TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
TOO LATE. SHE HAD ALREADY HAD
HER SPONSORS LINED UP. THIS IS
SUCH AN IMPORTANT NEED AND JUST
WANT TO EXPRESS MY INTEREST IN
BEING ADDED AS A COSPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. SHE IS ADDING HER
NAME TO ARTS 002. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? OKAY.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> THREE A WOULD ADD $300,000
TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE FUND
FOR PUBLIC ARTWORK. THIS WOULD
FUND WORK THAT RECOGNIZES AND
PRESERVES THE LEGACY OF THE
FORCED EXPULSION OF CHINESE
AMERICANS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES,
PEDERSEN .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE
HEARD COMMENT FROM ONE OF THE
CALLERS. I WANT TO THANK THE
DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM , THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR BRINGING
THIS TO US . THIS INITIATIVE
AIMS TO CREATE A LASTING PUBLIC
PIECE OF ART THAT RECOGNIZES
AND PRESERVES THE LEGACY OF THE
FORCED EXPULSION OF CHINESE
AMERICANS FROM SEATTLE,
SPECIFICALLY THE INJUSTICES OF
THE 1886 ANTI-CHINESE RIOTS IN
THE CITY. THE PROJECT IS
DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THESE EVENTS,
ACKNOWLEDGED THE RESILIENCE OF
CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND
PROMOTE RACIAL EQUITY AND CIVIL
RIGHTS FOR ALL OF US. IT IS A
COMMUNITY LED PROJECT AND WOULD
ENSURE ACCURATE REPRESENTATION
OF HISTORY AND THE SENTIMENTS OF
THOSE AFFECTED BY THE EXPULSION
. THIS NOT ONLY ACCOMPLISHES
THESE GOALS BUT PAVES THE WAY
FOR RECOGNIZING SIMILAR PROJECTS
FROM DIFFERENT DIVERSE
NEIGHBORS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN
THE CITY AND FOSTER GREATER
INCLUSIVITY IN OUR
COMMEMORATION EFFORTS. SO I
WANT TO THANK AGAIN MY SPONSOR,
COSPONSORS, AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FOR THEIR PIVOTAL ROLE
IN BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO
LIFE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? SEEN NONE,
LET'S MOVE TO OUR 2004.
>> IT WOULD ADD $100,000 TO THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE FOR
THE PROPER SHOOT WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THIS, WHEN
COMBINED WITH AN ITEM IN THE
CHAIRS PACKAGE WHICH IS 801 A
WOULD BRING THE TOTAL INVESTMENT
IN 2024 FOR THIS PROGRAM UP TO
$250,000. THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS, MORALES .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR. I WANT TO BEGIN BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IN CHAIR
MOSQUEDA'S BASE BUDGET, THIS
PROGRAM IS ALREADY SUPPORTED BY
$150,000. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO
THE CHAIR FOR THAT SUPPORT.
THIS PROGRAM, AS WE HEARD TODAY,
HAS EXPANDED THE SCOPE, SCALE
AND REACH OF THE BUMBERSHOOT
MUSIC FESTIVAL FROM SOMETHING
THAT HAS HISTORICALLY JUST BEEN
A SINGLE LABOR DAY WEEKEND
FESTIVAL TO SOMETHING WITH A
YEAR-ROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
AND CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
PROJECT. THE COHORT FROM THE
INITIAL YEAR WITH CITY SUPPORT
BENEFITED OVER 16 YOUNG PEOPLE
TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, AS WE
HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT, TO
EXPAND THEIR ABILITY TO COMPETE,
TO THRIVE, TO BE A PART OF THE
MUSIC AND EVENT PROMOTION
INDUSTRY IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
AN INDUSTRY THAT IS HISTORICALLY
DOMINATED BY WHITE MEN. AND ONE
THAT INCREASINGLY, THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM, WILL BECOME MORE
DIVERSE AND THERE WILL BE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO
BREAK IN. REALLY EXCITED TO BE
BRINGING THIS TO ENHANCE THE
CAPACITY, INCREASE THE SIZE OF
THE COHORT THAT THEY CAN BRING
INTO THE PROGRAM. AND CONTINUE
TO SUSTAIN AND BUILD THIS INTO
THE FUTURE. I APPRECIATE THE
COSPONSORSHIP OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUED
DELIBERATION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR MOSQUEDA AND
LEWIS FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY
NAME AS A COSPONSOR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I TOO WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY
NAME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ADDING
HER NAME TO ARTS 004. OKAY, I
DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ON THIS. I DO WANT TO
ASK A QUESTION FOR CENTRAL
STAFF ON THE USE OF THE
ADMISSIONS TAX REVENUE FROM THE
OCTOBER 2023 REVENUE FORECAST.
AS NOTED, HIGHER THAN
ANTICIPATED REVENUE IS ALWAYS A
BLESSING AT THIS POINT IN THE
BUDGET PROCESS. WE APPRECIATE
THIS ITEM BEING TEED UP.
THERE IS NO ALLOCATION THAT IS
PROPOSED TO BE REDUCED USING THE
HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED
REVENUE. NONE OF THESE DOLLARS
HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR OTHER
THINGS WITHIN THE ARTS
DEPARTMENT OR RECOMMENDATIONS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CHAIR MOSQUEDA, THANK YOU.
THAT SHOULD BE CORRECT, THE
FORECAST CAME IN IN OCTOBER, SO
THE EXECUTIVE COULD NOT HAVE
ANTICIPATED OR PROGRAMMED MUCH
OF THIS FUNDING. I CAN'T SPEAK
TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE
IDEAS FROM THE ARTS COMMISSION
OR THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE OF WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS
AVAILABLE, BUT THIS IS THE ROLE
OF THE COUNCIL WHEN THE FORECAST
COMES IN TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT
HOW TO PROGRAM THOSE HIGHER
THAN ANTICIPATED REVENUES.
>> BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST
TRANCHE OR CATEGORY OF
AMENDMENTS COMING FORWARD, MANY
OF THE LINE ITEMS HERE ARE STILL
BEING WORDSMITH WITH CENTRAL
STAFF AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE
BEING FINALIZED. NOTING THAT
THERE IS NOT ONE SPECIFIC ITEM
THAT THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY
REDUCE FUNDING FOR, I THINK IT
IS EASIER TO ADJUST IN THIS
CATEGORY, IF I UNDERSTAND THE
FUND SOURCE ACCURATELY. IS THAT
ACCURATE?
>> APOLOGIES, I DID NOT QUITE
CATCH THE QUESTION.
>> JUST THAT , AS THE
COUNCILMEMBERS CONSIDER THESE
AMENDMENTS, THEY WILL BE
FINALIZED IN TERMS OF THE
LANGUAGE IN THE ULTIMATE
LEGISLATION THAT WE SEE FOR
AMENDMENT PURPOSES ON NOVEMBER
13.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA. WE WILL DEVELOP MORE
COMPLETE DESCRIPTIONS AND TITLES
AND YOU WILL SEE THE MORE
FAMILIAR, ALTHOUGH UPDATED THIS
YEAR, SO A NEW AND IMPROVED
VERSION OF THE COUNCIL BUDGET
ACTION FORMS IN THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. EACH
AMENDMENT WILL HAVE ITS OWN SEAT
AND WILL BE PUBLISHED BY
NOVEMBER 9 FOR PUBLIC VIEWING .
>> VERY HELPFUL. GREAT. I
LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO
COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT THESE
ITEMS. WE DID GET A HANDFUL OF
EMAILS WITH FOLKS WONDERING HOW
THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE
PROGRAMMED. WE DO NOT PUT A
SPECIFIC LINE ITEM FORWARD, BUT
MANY ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ASKING
FOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO REFINING
THE LANGUAGE WITH YOU AND I'M
VERY PLEASED THAT THIS WAS ONE
SLIVER OF GOOD NEWS IN OUR
REVENUE FORECAST THAT ALLOWED
FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN
ARTS, LARGELY SUPPORTED BY
PROGRESSIVE PAYROLL TAX USING
THE ECONOMIC RESILIENCE CATEGORY
WHICH REALLY PROMOTES COHESION
AND ARTS AND ACTIVATION. THIS
IS A REALLY GREAT ADDITION TO
THE LANGUAGE WE INCLUDED IN THE
BALANCING PACKAGE LAST WEEK.
THAT GETS US THROUGH OUR FIRST
APARTMENT. LET'S KEEP GOING.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
>> CBO ONE A1, SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS PEDERSEN,
MORALES AND LEWIS WOULD SPEND
$2.2 MILLION INCLUDING $905,000
GENERAL FUND TO THE CITY OF
AUDITOR AND WOULD ADD FIVE FTE
TO INCREASE AUDITING CAPACITY
FOR THE CITY. IT WOULD ADD
$760,000 GENERAL FUND TO THE
I.T. DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT
ITEMS DESCRIBED IN THE INTERNET
FOR ALL SEATTLE ACTION PLAN AS
ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL IN 3.9
.56. AND IT WOULD ADD $300,000
GENERAL FUND TO HST FOR
COMMUNITY SAFETY INVESTMENTS
SUCH AS SUPPORTING THE SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS WORK AND
$300,000, EXCUSE ME, $300 TO
THE SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP
INTO AN A $50,000 TO HST FOR THE
FOOD BANK. THIS IS BALANCED BY
ASSUMING A REDUCTION TO THE
CENTRAL RATE THAT FUNDS THE
INTERNAL CITY SERVICES PROVIDED
BY THE I.T. DEPARTMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
CENTRAL RATES ARE APPLIED IN
CHARGE TO ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS
AND FUNDS BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS
SUPPORTED BY RATES CHARGED TO
ALL CITY FUNDS, GENERATING $2.2
MILLION OF GENERAL FUND SAVINGS
WOULD REQUIRE TAKING A LARGER
REDUCTION TO FUNDING THAT
SUPPORTS THE CENTRAL SERVICES.
OUR INITIAL ESTIMATE IS THAT IT
WOULD REDUCING FUNDING TO THIS
DEPARTMENT BY 4.5 UP TO $6.5
MILLION. WE ARE WORKING, WE
HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS AND ARE
WORKING TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO
SPEND THE IMPLEMENTED AS WELL AS
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO REFINE THE PROPOSAL.
ANOTHER APPROACH WOULD BE TO
IDENTIFY SPECIFIC PROJECTS IN
EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, BUT
THAT IS A CHALLENGE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
TO ALY PENNUCCI AND CENTRAL
STAFF. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
LEWIS. THIS AMENDMENT HAS
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. IT
INCREASES EQUITY, ACCOUNTABILITY
AND FOOD SECURITY . THIS
AMENDMENT EXPANDS DIGITAL EQUITY
SO THAT WE MAY REMAIN TRUE TO
THE PROMISES OF RESOLUTION 39516
TO ACHIEVE INTERNET FOR ALL
SEATTLE. IT ACHIEVES THIS BY
DOING THINGS RECOMMENDED
ORIGINALLY BY OUR I.T.
DEPARTMENT WITH THE ACTION PLAN
THAT WE APPROVED. IT AVOIDS A
CUT IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
CONNECTS PEOPLE TO FEDERAL
SUBSIDIES FOR INTERNET ACCESS
AND IT TARGETS AT LEAST 600
UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED AREAS IN
OUR CITY. IT FINALLY SUPPORTS
DIGITAL NAVIGATORS AT
COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS AND
INCREASES ACCESS TO INTERNET
DEVICES AND HOTSPOTS. THIS
AMENDMENT ALSO INCREASES THE
ACCOUNTABILITY BANDWIDTH OF THE
CITY AUDITOR BY 50%. AS WE
KNOW, THE NUMBERS , PROGRAMS AND
DOLLARS SPENT HAVE INCREASED IN
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OVER THE
YEARS, BUT OUR CITY AUDITOR'S
TEAM HAS REMAINED FLAT AND
THEREFORE LESS ABLE TO HELP US
WITH THE GROWING OVERSIGHT ROLE
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE
UPSIDE IS THAT THE CITY AUDITOR
WILL OFTEN MAKE FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT IMPROVE
PERFORMANCE AND SAVE MONEY FOR
CITY GOVERNMENT. THIS SUPPORTS
A LOCAL, OR A LOCAL COMMITTEE
SAFETY PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS AT
RISK YOUTH. IF THAT IS NOT
ENOUGH, THIS AMENDMENT ALSO
INCREASES FOOD SECURITY BY
BOOSTING SUPPORT FOR THE RAINIER
VALLEY FOOD BANK IN THE SOUTH
SEATTLE. YEAH, AND IN TERMS OF
THE FUNDING SOURCE, RIGHT NOW
THERE IS ABOUT HALF $1 BILLION
THAT GOES TOWARDS CENTRAL
SERVICE OVERHEAD ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS. AND THE EXECUTIVE --
WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY APPROVED THE
ENDORSED BUDGET 11 MONTHS AGO ,
BUT THEY ARE ASKING FOR AN
ADDITIONAL $17 MILLION ON TOP OF
THAT HALF $1 BILLION. SO THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD STILL ALLOW AN
INCREASE OF THOSE CENTRAL
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD COSTS,
BUT MODERATE THAT INCREASE SO
THAT WE CAN FREE UP SOME
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR THE
INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY ,
EQUITY AND FOOD SECURITY ITEMS
THAT WE HAVE JUST DESCRIBED.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER. I'M NOT SEEING
HANDS, SO I WANT TO JUMP IN WITH
QUESTIONS HERE. WHILE THIS MIGHT
HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, I
AM WORRIED ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL
IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE
CITY.CAN I GET A QUICK READ FROM
CENTRAL STAFF ON ANY IMPACTS
THIS MIGHT HAVE , REDUCING THESE
FUND SOURCES. HOW DOES THAT
IMPACT SERVICES ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR
EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS. DOES
IT COME WITH LABOR IMPLICATIONS
HERE THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE
OF?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA. I
WILL PROVIDE AN INITIAL
RESPONSE AND I HAVE MY COLLEAGUE
ON THE LINE WHO MIGHT HAVE MORE
TO ADD. I WILL SAY GENERALLY WE
CANNOT SAY AT THIS POINT
EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THE
CENTRAL RATES ARE INCREASED
COMPARED TO THE 2024 FOR A
COUPLE OF REASONS. ONE OF THE
REASONS IS THAT THE COST TO
PROVIDE THOSE CENTRAL SERVICES,
WHAT WAS ASSUMED HAS INCREASED.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE DISCRETE
PROJECTS THAT ARE ADDED THAT
THOSE DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE AND
THAT IS ALSO PART OF THAT
INCREASE. BUT OVERALL, WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS THAT WE EXPECT THIS
WILL HAVE IMPACTS ON THE
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THESE
DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE AND
SERVICES. AND THAT WILL LIKELY
INCLUDE POSITIONS. BUT WE ARE
REQUESTING ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THOSE IMPACTS MIGHT BE , AND
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENT WAYS IT WOULD IMPACT
THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE
FOR EXAMPLE THE HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT, MORE OF THEIR
FUNDING FROM THIS IS GENERAL
FUND AND I.T. HAS A BLENDING OF
FUNDS. WE ARE WORKING TO GET
MORE INFORMATION AND HELP THE
SPONSOR UNDERSTAND THE
TRADE-OFFS OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS
TO APPLY THIS REDUCTION, AND
TOM, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD
--
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. I -- THE ONLY
THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT THERE
IS ALSO JUST A PURE TECHNICAL
COMPLEXITY COMPONENT TO THIS
CHANGE. THE WAY THESE ARE
ALLOCATED THROUGHOUT THE
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES A CONNECTED
FRAMEWORK OF DIFFERENT RATE
POOLS, WHERE THEY LOOK AT LINES
OF BUSINESS AND THEY ALLOCATE
THOSE COSTS ACROSS CITY
GOVERNMENT OPERATION. AND
RECEIVED BY THE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENT. AND IN SIMPLE
TERMS, YOU CAN GET AN AGGREGATE
CHANGE, BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE
DETAILS ON THIS AND THERE IS A
GREAT DEAL OF COMPLEXITY WITH
REGARDS TO HOW DEPARTMENTS
OPERATE, THEIR INTERNAL CHARGE
MECHANISMS AND HOW ONE WOULD
IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET IN GENERAL
. THAT IS ALSO ADDED TO THE
DISCUSSION IN ADDITION TO THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THAT IS OKAY. I CAN ANSWER
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I
APPRECIATE CENTRAL STAFF
OUTLINING THAT. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. ALWAYS INTERESTED IN
CREATIVE IDEAS FOR REVENUE
THOUGH. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR POINTED TO APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN BRINGING
FORWARD AND ADD THAT
HIGHLIGHTS THE NECESSITY FOR
MORE SUPPORT FOR OFFICE OF THE
AUDITOR. I DO JUST WANT TO -- I
MEAN, I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF GIVEN
HOW MANY ITEMS WE HAVE BUT I DO
WANT TO SAY THAT I DO THINK AT
SOME POINT SOME KIND OF
SACRIFICE SOMEWHERE IS GOING TO
HAVE TO BE MADE TO CARVEOUT THIS
CAPACITY FOR THE AUDITOR. THE
AUDITOR WILL ALWAYS BE PITTED
AGAINST SOME KIND OF PROGRAM ¿
PROGRAMMATIC TRADE-OFF, WHETHER
IT IS SOMETHING ADVOCATED BY AN
OUTSIDE INTEREST GROUP OR
SOMETHING ADVOCATED BY A
DEPARTMENT INSIDE THE CITY. I
THINK IT IS TRICKY FOR THE
AUDITOR, BECAUSE THE GAINS ARE
NOT ALWAYS APPARENT UNTIL THEY
GO THROUGH A PROCESS , BUT IT IS
ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE
HAVING THOSE FEEDBACK LOOPS AND
THE OVERSIGHT AND HAVING THAT
CONSISTENCY AND THAT CULTURE OF
CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT IS
SOMETHING THAT , IN THE LONG
TERM, IS GOING TO MAKE THE CITY
HEALTHIER, GIVE US MORE
RESOURCES TO REINVEST AND CATCH
PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME
EXPENSIVE MISTAKES. SO FOR
THAT REASON, YOU KNOW, I AM OPEN
TO OTHER AREAS WHERE WE MIGHT
FIND THIS MONEY.BUT I DO
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN IDENTIFYING A SOURCE
THAT SEEMS PROMISING AND FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THIS AD AND
OFFERING A TRADE-OFF THAT I
THINK ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO BE
BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY AND
BENEFICIAL TO A CULTURE OF
ONGOING ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I HAD SIGNALED MY SUPPORT
FOR THIS CBA EARLY ON. I WANTED
TO HONOR THAT INCLINATION AND
ALSO ECHOING COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS BECAUSE THE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT FOR THE AUDITOR AND
BECAUSE I MET WITH THE RAINIER
VALLEY FOOD BANK. I DID HEAR
QUESTIONS ABOUT CONCERNS BY
SOME OF OUR LABOR GROUPS AND
ALSO SOME, PERHAPS SOME OTHER
ISSUES . I WILL BE ADDED AS A
SPONSOR NOW AND THEN HOPEFULLY
THESE ISSUES WILL BE -- I WILL
FEEL BETTER WHEN SOME OF THESE
ISSUES ARE WORKED THROUGH PRIOR
TO THE FINAL VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON ADDING HER
NAME TO CBO 001. AND THANKS TO
CENTRAL STAFF FOR TEASING OUT
THE INITIAL ANSWERS. I WILL
LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING A
LITTLE BIT MORE HERE ABOUT SOME
OF THE ISSUES. IT SOUNDS LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON GOT A
SIMILAR FLAG THAT I DID. AND I
WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE SUPPORT
FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. WE
RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR 40,000.
I ASSUME THAT WAS A SCALED-DOWN
REQUEST GIVEN THE GRAVITY OF THE
BUDGET SITUATION. I APPRECIATE
THAT THEY MAY HAVE ALREADY
SCALED-DOWN THERE ASK, BUT WE
DID INCLUDE THE 40,000 IN THE
BALANCING PACKAGE AND I THINK
THAT AS I MENTIONED LAST FRIDAY,
GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK
THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE DOES
AND WE ARE ASKING MORE OF THEM.
I WILL NOTE THAT THE ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFIED AN
ISSUE FOR A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT SO THAT THEY
COULD GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT
WHAT KIND OF FUNDING SUPPORTS
AND NEEDS THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE
HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT THEM
AND I WOULD SAY THAT SIMILARLY
ON THIS CONCEPT IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHERE SOME
OF THE INCREASED COSTS ARE
COMING FROM SO THAT A FUTURE
COUNCIL CAN REALLY HELP IDENTIFY
WHAT IS DRIVING THE INCREASED
COST. SERENA, JUST TO MAKE SURE
THERE ARE NOT REDUCTIONS THAT
WOULD RESULT IN GREATER
INEFFICIENCIES LATER. I WOULD
BE EXCITED OR OPEN TO THINKING
ABOUT HOW WE INCLUDE A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
THAT LOOKS AT THE QUESTION THAT
HAS BEEN RAISED GIVEN THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT REQUESTED FOR THE
MULTIPLE FUNDS FOR THE CENTRAL
SERVICES . IT IS A LARGE NUMBER
AND WE SHOULD GET THEM
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
WHY SO THAT DOES NOT END UP ON
THE CHOPPING CLOCK IN THE
FUTURE IF IT DOES HAVE A
DETRIMENTAL IMPACT.
COUNCILMEMBER CBA, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> JUST TO CLOSE IT OUT, YOU
KNOW, THE MORE WE DUG INTO THIS,
THE MORE INTERESTING IT WAS. IT
IS A VERY OPAQUE ASPECT, THERE
ARE CERTAIN INTERNAL FEEDING OF
THE SYSTEM HERE. BUT SOME OF THE
LINE ITEMS THAT REALLY STUCK
OUT, THIS IS ON TOP OF THE HALF
$1 BILLION WE ALREADY PROVIDE
AND ON TOP OF THE UP TO 15
MILLION WE WOULD BE PROVIDING IF
THIS PASSES. THERE IS ABOUT $2.5
MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL GASOLINE
COSTS . THERE IS $3 MILLION TO
ADDRESS OVERSIGHT ERRORS.
THERE ARE $600,000 JUST
ESTIMATING WHAT LAWSUIT PAYOUTS
WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE
DON'T REALLY KNOW. SO THERE IS
A LOT OF ROOM IN THERE I THINK
SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE MONEY
OUT THE DOOR TO THE FOOD BANK,
DIGITAL EQUITY, AND MAYBE THIS
IS SOMETHING THE AUDITOR COULD
LOOK INTO IF THEY HAD THE
BANDWIDTH. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, LET'S CONTINUE. MORE
DISCUSSION TO COME ON THAT AND
ALL THESE AMENDMENTS AS WE TAKE
THESE UP ON NOVEMBER 13 AND
14th. I DO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON ADDED TO THIS ONE.
MOVING ON TO 0025, NO, THAT IS
002S.
>> CHAIR MOSQUEDA, YOU WILL SEE
IN THE NUMBERING SCHEME THAT S
SIGNALS IT IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, SO THERE IS
INDEED A FINANCIAL COMPONENT TO
THESE AGENDA AMENDMENTS. THIS
SLIDE, SPONSORED BY CHAIR
MOSQUEDA AND COUNCILMEMBERS
HERBOLD AND MORALES WOULD
REQUIRE A REPORT ON THE ISSUES
THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
TO CREATE A SEPARATE BUDGET FOR
THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY. CURRENTLY IT IS
PART OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EXCUSE
ME. DO YOU SEE HOW I HAVE USED
MY GLASSES JUST TO KEEP IN LINE
WITH WHERE WE ARE AT HERE? I
APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH .
COLLEAGUES, I WILL ADD THAT THIS
CBO WOULD ASK THE CITY BUDGETS
OFFICE TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL
BARRIERS OR ADVANTAGES OF THE
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
HAVING THEIR OWN SEPARATE
BUDGET. CURRENTLY IT IS WITHIN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET. ALTHOUGH THE DEPARTMENT
WILL CONTINUE TO BE HOUSED
WITHIN SPD, GIVEN THE UNIQUE
NEXUS THAT THEY HAVE AS IT
RELATES TO INFORMATION FLOW AND
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO ALSO BE ABLE TO
HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW MONEY FLOWS BETWEEN THE
DEPARTMENTS AND SIMILAR TO THE
OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES
THAT HAVE A SEPARATE BUDGET LINE
ITEM, WE ARE INTERESTED TO
CONTINUE TO UNDERSCORE FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THE
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
IS INDEED SEPARATE FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ANYTHING
WE CAN DO TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO
FURTHER SHOW ITS INDEPENDENCE
IS IMPORTANT. I WILL NOTE AS I
AM SURE COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
IS ABOUT TO TEE UP, THE
CONVERSATION IDENTIFIED SOME
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES OF HAVING A
SEPARATE OFFICE , EXCUSE ME, A
SEPARATE BUDGET LINE. THE OFFICE
WOULD REMAIN WITHIN SPD, BUT
HAVING A DIFFERENT BUDGET LINE
ALLOWS FOR GREATER
ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT ON
HOW THEY ARE FUNDED. FOR
EXAMPLE, IDENTIFYING THAT WE
NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION THAT IS
AUTHORIZED WITHIN THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT NOT
FUNDED . THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS DRAWN OUT RECENTLY. SO
AGAIN, JUST A QUESTION TO TEE
UP ABOUT WHETHER A SEPARATE
BUDGET WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO
ADHERE TO OUR GOALS OF
FURTHERING THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
I APPRECIATE THE DIRECTOR FOR
EXPRESSING HIS WILLINGNESS AND
INTEREST IN HAVING THIS ANALYSIS
COMPLETED, AND SIMILARLY, IN MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPUTY
MAYOR, THE INTEREST IN ASKING
THE QUESTION IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT ANYBODY OPPOSES AT THIS
POINT. SO I'M HOPING THAT
STATEMENT PROVIDES FURTHER
OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION FOR
THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS WEST FOR STUDY AND
ANALYSIS. PLEASED TO BE ADDED
OR INCLUDED AS A COSPONSOR FOR
THE SAKE OF THE VIEWING PUBLIC
AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
WERE NOT HERE DURING THE
DISCUSSION OF THE 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY ORNAMENTS. I DO
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT
UNLIKE MOST DEPARTMENT
DIRECTORS , OR ANY DIRECTOR OF
THE OPA , IS EMPOWERED TO
ADVOCATE FOR HIS OWN BUDGET.
SO THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE ONE
STEP TOWARDS THAT INDEPENDENCE
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET
AND JUST WANTS TO LIFT UP
THAT. UNLIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS
THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
MAYOR AND GET THE MAYOR'S
AGREEMENT BEFORE ADVOCATING FOR
ADDS TO THE BUDGET, THE
DIRECTOR IS EMPOWERED TO REACH
OUT TO US DIRECTLY AND TO NAME
THE NEEDS OF HIS DEPARTMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT
FOR FOLKS AWARENESS BUT
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SUPPORT , PERHAPS LOOKING INTO
FURTHER BUDGET INDEPENDENCE
PRACTICES THAT COULD BE
ACCOMPLISHED IN THE FUTURE.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. LET'S GO ON. LEDGE 003
S.
>> NUMBER SEVEN IS A STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBERS
LEWIS, STRAUSS AND MORALES.
THIS WOULD REQUEST COLLABORATION
TO RESOLVE THE PROJECTED GENERAL
FUND DEFICIT AND CREATE THE 2025
/2026 PROPOSED BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO MY
COSPONSORS, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND MORALES. GIVEN THE
SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE DEFICIT
THAT IS ANTICIPATED, MY OFFICE
HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES AND WITH CENTRAL
STAFF TO DISCUSS WAYS THAT WE
MIGHT HAVE A CLOSE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP THROUGHOUT 2024
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO LOOK
SYSTEMICALLY, STRUCTURALLY ,
AND WITH SHARED INFORMATION
BETWEEN THE BRANCHES TO HAVE A
FULLY INFORMED AND ROBUST
PROCESS THAT LOOKS AT ALL THE
DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON THE TABLE
TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE
PROGRESS ON THIS DEFICIT. AT
THIS POINT THIS IS MOSTLY AN
EXERCISE IN FACILITATING A
RELATIONSHIP AROUND MUTUAL
TRUST BETWEEN THE BRANCHES AND
INFORMATION SHARING. AND JUST
SIGNALING OUR INTENT TO SET UP
THAT KIND OF A PROCESS WITH THE
SHARED COMMITMENT BETWEEN THE
BRANCHES AND TO DO WELL BY THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY,
THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THE
SERVICES OF THE CITY PROVIDES,
AND THE NEED TO HAVE A STABLE
PREDICTABLE BUDGET GOING
FORWARD. THAT MEETS OUR NEEDS
AND THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR
VALUES. WITH THAT, I WILL HAND
IT BACK OVER TO YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I DO WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
FOR SPONSORING THIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
COSPONSORING. WE ARE ONE OF THE
FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE
COUNTRY AND WE KNOW WE HAVE
DIFFICULT BUDGETARY DECISIONS TO
MAKE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND
HOW TO ADDRESS OUR REALLY
PRESSING NEEDS IN THE CITY. I
THINK THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO COLLABORATE. I KNOW
THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICES HAVE REALLY
STRONG PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE
DEDICATED TO MAKING OUR CITY
BETTER. AND REALLY IMPROVING
THE TRANSPARENCY OF OUR
BUDGETARY PROCESS SO THAT IT IS
CLEAR WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE
NEED TO BE DOING. SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES AND WITH CBO AND WITH
CENTRAL STAFF TO TRY TO REALLY
BUILD ON THIS COLLABORATION AND
GET THIS MORE TRANSPARENT AND
BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> I WANT TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AS YOU ARE
ENVISIONING THIS STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, IS THE
INTENT TO GET REAL-TIME
INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE
ALIGNMENT COULD BETTER SERVE
THE COMMUNITY, REDUCE COSTS, BUT
ALSO INCLUDE NEW REVENUE
OPTIONS? HOW DOES NEW REVENUE
FOLD INTO THE VISION HERE?
>> NOTHING IN THE SLIDE WOULD
BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE WITH
SEEKING NEW REVENUE. I THINK
THAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SAY
IT. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE
SITUATION THAT IS IN FRONT OF
US IS SO VAST THAT EVERY OPTION
HAS TO BE ON THE TABLE. THIS IS
MORE ABOUT COLLABORATION AND
COOPERATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE
OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR-LONG
PROCESS RATHER THAN HAVING A
MORE TRUNCATED SERIES OF
HEARINGS AND PROCESSES THAT
OCCUR AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND IT WOULD NOT IN ANY RESPECT
PRECLUDE OR PREVENT ANY
DISCUSSION ABOUT ANY VIABLE
STRATEGY, INCLUDING PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE TO CLOSE A BUDGET GAP.
BUT SIMILARLY, IT ALSO WOULD
HOPEFULLY BE A PROCESS THAT
CALLS INTO QUESTION
OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND WAYS TO
BUILD ON THE PROGRESS THIS
COUNCIL DEMONSTRATED IN OUR
PREVIOUS BUDGET, WHERE WE FOUND
$50 MILLION IN ADMINISTRATIVE
REDUCTIONS THAT -- FOR THE
CURRENT BIENNIUM THAT WE ARE
IN. I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF
DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES BUT A
LOT OF IT STARTS WITH HAVING A
CLOSER RELATIONSHIP, AN EMPHASIS
ON DATA SHARING , AND MAKING
SURE WE ARE BRINGING EVERYTHING
TO THE BOARD TO DEAL WITH THIS
CHALLENGE.
>> AND I DO WANT TO APPRECIATE
THAT CENTRAL STAFF AND THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE FOR THE
RESOLUTION THAT WE INCLUDED IN
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET ALREADY
COMPLETED THEIR WORK GROUP THAT
PROVIDED JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM CBO AND CENTRAL STAFF ON
BUDGET TRANSPARENCY. SOME OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT IS BEING TEED
HERE IS GREATER INFORMATION
ABOUT WHERE THERE ARE INCREASES
AND DECREASES AND ALLOWING THE
COUNCIL TO SEE THAT IN REAL TIME
AS WE ARE DOING BUDGETING,
WHETHER FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL OR
THE YEAR END IS A JOINT
INTEREST. WE ARE APPRECIATIVE
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE
COME FORTH. AS I TALKED ABOUT,
IN SEPTEMBER WE HAVE ASKED
CENTRAL STAFF TO TEE UP
LEGISLATION THAT CODIFIES SOME
OF THE JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS
BETWEEN THE CITY'S BUDGET OFFICE
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS. SO
AGAIN, LEGISLATIVE AND
EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMING TOGETHER
ON STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE
STRATEGIES AND MOVING TOWARDS
REAL-TIME BUDGETING SO THAT WE
CAN SEE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS
POSSIBLE AS THESE TOUGH
DECISIONS ARE MADE DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS. AND I THINK
THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WAS HARD
WORK, THAT CBO THAT CENTRAL
STAFF DID AND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE INFORMATIVE
AND WILL BE CODIFIED FOR COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION IN THE SECOND
TIER PROCESS THAT WE WILL TAKE
UP LATER THIS YEAR. I WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK THAT
HAS GONE INTO THIS THROUGH THE
EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH ON GREATER TRANSPARENCY
ON INCREASED NEEDS THROUGHOUT
THE DEPARTMENT. LET'S GO AHEAD
AND MOVE ON.
>> ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, 1S A. IT
WOULD REQUIRE THE SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER PROVIDE A
DETAILED PLAN FOR INCREASING
STAFFING LEVELS AT THE CALL
CENTER BY 30% CONSISTENT WITH
THE 2016 CONSULTANT WIDE
STAFFING THE STUDY AND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. INCREASING
STAFFING COULD REDUCE CALL
WEIGHT AND RESPONSE TIME, AND I
WILL NOTE THAT IF THE COUNCIL
APPROVES THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THE NAME,
THIS SLIDE REQUEST WOULD GO TO
THEN THE RENAMED DEPARTMENT ,
COMMUNITY -ASSISTED RESPONSE
AND ENGAGEMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU DEPUTY DIRECTOR
ALY PENNUCCI AND THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBERS NELSON AND LEWIS
FOR AGREEING TO COSPONSOR THESE
AMENDMENTS. AND NO PUBLIC
SAFETY IS A PRIORITY FOR EVERY
MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL AND THESE
TWO COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE HELPED
TO WORK TO BUILD OUT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CONTINUUM IN OUR PUBLIC
SERVICES COMMITTEE. FIRE,
POLICE, AND OUR NEW COMMUNITY
CRISIS RESPONSE ALL START AT THE
911 DISPATCH CENTER. THE
NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER
ASSOCIATION, THE ASSOCIATION OF
POLICE COMMUNICATION OFFICERS,
AND THE NATIONAL FIRE
PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
RECOMMEND THAT 90% OF 911 CALLS
SHOULD BE ANSWERED WITHIN 15
SECONDS, AND 95% SHOULD BE
ANSWERED WITHIN 20 SECONDS. AS
AN EXAMPLE, FROM WEDNESDAY 2015
THROUGH TUESDAY THE 24th ,
92.5% OF ALL 911 CALLS WERE
ANSWERED WITHIN 15 SECONDS, BUT
THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 40 HOURS
WHERE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO
MEET THESE STANDARDS, INCLUDING
ONE HOUR LAST THURSDAY WHEN
THEY WERE ONLY 32.5% OF CALLS
ANSWERED WITHIN THIS TIME
STANDARD. LAST YEAR THERE WAS A
PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THEY WERE
FOUND TO ACTUALLY NOT BE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH BEST PRACTICES
IN TERMS OF CALL WAIT TIMES.
THIS HAS LARGELY BEEN DUE TO
UNDERSTAFFING. WE HAVE INVESTED
HEAVILY IN TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEM
UPDATES TO MAKE THE 911
DISPATCH CENTER MORE EFFECTIVE
AND MORE EFFICIENT, BUT WE NEED
TO BE DOING MORE TO INVEST IN
PEOPLE. WITHOUT DOING SO , WE
WILL NOT BE MAKING EFFECTIVE USE
OF THE OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT WE
HAVE MADE. SO IT IS INTENDED TO
HELP A FUTURE COUNCIL ADDRESS
THE PEOPLE NEEDS OF THE NEW CARE
DEPARTMENT AND TO WORK NOT ONLY
ON REDUCING CALL TIMES, BUT ALSO
REDUCING MANDATORY OVERTIME,
WHICH THE CALL CENTER RELIES
ON TO MEET MINIMUM STAFFING
REQUIREMENTS, AND IN DOING SO ,
AND RELEASING OR RELIEVING
SOMEWHAT THE RELIANCE ON
MANDATORY OVERTIME , WE CAN
REALLY IMPACT AND IMPROVE
EMPLOYEE MORALE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I AGREED TO SIGN ON TO THIS
SIMPLY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ON
HOLD WHEN I CALLED 911 BEFORE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO
HAVE STAFFING ISSUES. AND THIS
IS NOT -- THIS IS NOT A SIGNAL
TO OUR NEW DIRECTOR CHIEF AMY
SMITH OR HER ABILITY TO SET UP
THIS DEPARTMENT IN A WAY THAT
MEETS THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE
STAFF AND THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE,
IT IS SIMPLY TO SHOW MY SUPPORT
FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE
ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ANSWER CALLS
QUICKLY, BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST
A STAFFING SHORTAGE ON THE FIRST
RESPONDERS SIDE, IT IS ALSO ON
THE CALL TAKERS SIDE. THAT IS MY
MOTIVATION AND I THINK I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK HERBOLD FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER NINE,
DEAL 001.
>> NUMBER NINE, THIS IS
SPONSORED MY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. THIS IS ONE OF THE WALK
ON AMENDMENTS. THIS ITEM WOULD
ADD $20 MILLION OF JUMPSTART
FUND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING TO
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COUNSELORS
AT SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
OTHER EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENTS.
THIS IS BALANCED BY ASSUMING
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 119 950
WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE
JUMPSTART TAX RATES TO INCREASE
REVENUES FROM THAT SOURCE BY AT
LEAST $20 MILLION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU. THIS INCREASES
THE TAX RATE OF THE BIG BUSINESS
, AMAZON ATTACKS BY A TINY
FRACTION TO RAISE AN ADDITIONAL
20 MILLION TO SUPPORT SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE DOING THE PUBLIC HEARING
THAT WE HAD FOR THE BUDGET FROM
SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND STUDENTS
BOTH ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE
SUPPORT FOR SEATTLE STUDENTS.
LAST YEAR AFTER THE TRAGEDY AT
INGRAM HIGH SCHOOL THIS ISSUE
WAS HEAVILY FEATURED IN THE
NEWS, BUT THE LACK OF MENTAL
HEALTH SOCIAL WORKERS IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS, YOU KNOW, IT
IS NOT LIKE THAT ISSUE HAS GONE
AWAY OBVIOUSLY, ALTHOUGH IT
DISAPPEARED FROM THE NEWS CYCLE.
AND I HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
AND HAVE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF
STUDENTS AND COUNSELORS ABOUT
THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FROM NOT
HAVING THIS FUNDING. SO THE
OTHER ISSUE THAT THIS AIMS TO
ADDRESS IS THE ISSUE OF A
BUDGET CRISIS IN THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CLOSING
CLASSROOMS AND SOMETIMES EVEN
THE SCHOOLS IS UNACCEPTABLE, BUT
THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE FACED WITH
EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.
WASHINGTON STATE HAS LEGAL
RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT SCHOOLS CAN
BE FUNDED WITH LOCAL CITY
SCHOOLS BUT THESE ARE INTENDED
TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING THE
LIKES ABILITY TO SUPPORT
STUDENTS WHEN NEEDED HOWEVER
POSSIBLE .2 FUND THIS, IT
INCREASES THE BIG BUSINESS
AMAZON TAX, THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX BY A SMALL AMOUNT. BUT
SEVERAL DIFFERENT TAX RATES
DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE
BUSINESS, AND THE SIZE OF THE
PAYROLL. THE SMALLEST TAX RATE
FOR BUSINESSES WITH A PAYROLL
BETWEEN $7 MILLION AND $100
MILLION WOULD INCREASE FROM 0.7%
UP TO 0.75%. SO THERE IS NO
CONFUSION, THAT IS 0.75% AS IN
LESS THAN 1% , NOT 7%. THE
LARGEST TAX RATE FOR
BUSINESSES WITH A PAYROLL OF
OVER $1 BILLION WOULD INCREASE
FROM 2.4% UP TO 2.55%.
ULTIMATELY, AS I HAVE SAID EVERY
YEAR, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE
BUDGET, THE BUDGET CRISIS FOR
THE CITY AND FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IS NOT AN OBJECTIVE I'M
SORRY, IT IS NOT AN OBJECTIVE
INEVITABILITY. BIG BUSINESS
CONTINUES TO MAKE UNIMAGINABLE
PROFITS, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF
MONEY IF YOU JUST LOOK AT
AMAZON'S PROFITS ALONE, ALTHOUGH
THIS TAX OBVIOUSLY TAXES OTHER
BUSINESSES, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT
THAT CORPORATION ALONE, IT IS
PRETTY INSANE HOW MUCH THEIR
PROFITS HAVE GROWN IN THE LAST
FEW QUARTERS. IT IS A QUESTION
OF PUSH IT OFF ON WORKERS. AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WHO
INDICATED SUPPORT FOR THIS
AMENDMENT. AFTER WE SUBMITTED
THE AMENDMENT FORM, THAT IS WHY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS NOT
LISTED HERE, BUT I WANTED TO
THANK HER. I URGE ALL OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TO COSPONSOR THIS
BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR A TINY
INCREASE IN BIG BUSINESS TAXES
TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THANK
YOU FOR RISING MY WILLINGNESS
TO BE ADDED AS A COSPONSOR. I
ALSO AM SUPPORTIVE OF
ADDRESSING THIS NEED FOR
EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT OUR YOUNG LEARNERS . A
COUPLE YEARS AGO I CHAMPIONED
FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT IN THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND WITH A SMALL DOWN
PAYMENT THAT MADAM CHAIR VERY
SOON DOUBLED DOWN ON AND THE
FOLLOWING BUDGET YEAR. AS WE
KNOW, THE NEEDS AMONG OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE GREAT AND MENTAL
HEALTH IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS. IT WAS NAMED TO BE A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BY THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL , FEDERALLY A
COUPLE YEARS BACK. AND I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. MY UNDERSTANDING,
MAYBE ALY PENNUCCI ADDRESSED
THIS ALREADY, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE TAX RATE
TO RAISE THE TAX RATE INCREASE,
TO RAISE $20 MILLION IS PRETTY
SMALL. IT IS AN INCREASE OF,
DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE
BUSINESS, OF LESS THAN 1% , AND
IN THE GREATEST CASE OF THE
LARGEST EMPLOYERS, JUST 2.5% OF
AN INCREASE. OF A TAX RATE
THAT IS ALREADY ONLY , FOR THAT
LARGEST BUSINESS, 2.4%. SO YOU
DON'T ADD THE 2.5 ON TOP OF THE
2.4, BUT IT IS A TAX EDITION
-- THAT WOULD BE THE NEW TAX
RATE, NOT THE PERCENTAGE
INCREASE. THE PERCENTAGE
INCREASE WOULD BE ANYWHERE FROM
0.5%, MY APOLOGIES, UP TO 0.15%.
IN THE CASE OF THE LARGEST
EMPLOYERS, THAT WOULD MEAN
GOING FROM A TAX RATE OF 2.4% UP
TO 2.55%. SO A VERY SMALL
MODEST INCREASE PROPOSED HERE
BY COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. SHE IS ADDING HER NAME
TO DEAL 001. I TOO WILL BE
ADDING MY NAME TO DEAL 001.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ADDED AS
COSPONSOR HERE. I APPRECIATE
THAT THIS IS NOT TRYING TO
ADJUST THE SPEND PLANNED WITHIN
EXISTING FUNDS, BUT LOOKING TO
ADD AN ADDITIONAL CATEGORY FOR
A CRITICAL NEED HERE AND
APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS A LOT
OF WORK THAT DEAL IS DOING TO
TAKE ON THE ROLE WE ASK THEM TO
TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THIS WAY
AND THEY'RE WORKING AS FAST AS
THEY CAN TO BUILD UP CAPACITY
TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS WITHIN
SCHOOLS AS WELL. JUST A HUGE
AMOUNT OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR
PARTNERS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES. I THINK WE ARE
-- EXCUSE ME, I WANT TO DOUBLE
CHECK WITH THAT ITEM. I THINK
THAT WE ARE ON ITEM NUMBER 10.
IT MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE TO END
HERE AND TAKE A RECESS. IF WE
COULD DO THAT, WOULD LIKE TO
COME BACK AT 2:00 P.M. 2:00
P.M. . HEARING NO OBJECTIONS,
WE WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 2:00
P.M. HAVE A GREAT LUNCH BREAK
AND WE WILL GET THROUGH THE REST
OF THE ITEMS BEFORE 5:00 P.M.,
RIGHT? SOUNDS GOOD.