>> WELL, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYBODY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR
JOINING THE TREND TO FINANCE AN
HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
14th, 2023. I AM TERESA
MOSQUEDA, THE CHAIR OF THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
>> CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE?
>> VICE CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MADAM CHAIR MOSQUEDA?
>> MADAM CHAIR, WE ARE ALL
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COLLEAGUES, I KNOW YOU HAD
OTHER COMMITMENTS TODAY, THIS I
BECAUSE I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY T
JOIN THE LOCAL COMMERCE LAST
THURSDAY, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO
HOST OUR COMMITTEE MEETING.
EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU
TODAY. WE DO HAVE A PACKED
AGENDA, I WANT TO THANK YOU,
ALL, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS
HYBRID EATING. WE HAVE ALL THE
PRESENTERS ON THE SCREEN, AND W
DO TAKE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
AS WELL AS IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE ARE CONTINUING TO
MONITOR COVID CASES AND FLEW
RATES IN OUR REGION. GET YOUR
FLU VACCINE AND GET YOUR COVID
VACCINE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THAT. CURRENTLY, THE
KING COUNTY STATISTICS WE LOOKE
AT YESTERDAY WERE STILL IN THE
LOW CATEGORY IN TERMS OF
CONCERN, BUT COVID TRANSMISSION
RATES ARE TRACKING UP, SO WE
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT
AND DO OUR BEST TO ENCOURAGE
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND BEST
PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES. TODAY,
WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA THAT
INCLUDES A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE
ON THE YESLER TERRACE PROCESS
LEGISLATION, THANKS TO OUR
FRIENDS AT SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY FOR BEING WITH US HER
TODAY AND PUTTING TOGETHER THIS
LEGISLATION FOR OUR
CONSIDERATION. THAT IS THE ONL
ITEM WE HAVE FOR A VOTE TODAY.
ALL THE OTHER ITEMS ARE LISTED
AS BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION, THI
INCLUDES THREE ITEMS FOR THE
TMC FOR HIGHER LEGISLATION.
THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THA
UPDATE AND MODERNIZE THE CITY O
SEATTLE'S GREAT CONDITION FOR
TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS. SOM
IN ONLINE AND IN THE AUDIENCE
HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THIS
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS OVER A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME. I WANT TO THAN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR BEING TH
LEAD ON THAT LEGISLATION AND
WORKING SO DILIGENTLY WITH
ESTATE HOLDERS, AND THANK YOU,
ALL, FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THOS
THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WIL
BE BRIEFED, THEN WE WILL HAVE
THE FINAL CONSIDERATION FOR
THOSE NEXT WEEK, ON SEPTEMBER
20th. LASTLY, WE HAVE A BRIEFIN
AND DISCUSSION ON A STAGGERED
ELECTIONS BILL. THIS IS A
SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT WOULD B
A VOTE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLI
FOR NEXT NOVEMBER, 2024, TO
CONSIDER STAGGERING OUR SEATS
ON THE CITY COUNCIL, TO ENSURE
THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE SEATS AR
UP AT ONE TIME, AND HALF ARE UP
AT ANOTHER TIME, TO TRY TO
CREATE GREATER STABILITY AND
LESS TURNOVER ON COUNCIL SEATS,
AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD LONGE
INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR STABILITY FOR
OUR CITY. AGAIN, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON THAT WITH THE
HOPES FOR A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSIO
NEXT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE DO HAVE A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL CONDUCT
PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE FOLLOWING
WAY. EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY, YOU WILL HEAR A
TIME WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS T
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. W
ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND IN YOUR
WRITTEN COMMENTS IF YOU ARE
READING FROM SOMETHING, THAT WA
WE GET TO READ IT ALL IN DETAIL
MAKE SURE TO WRAP UP YOUR
COMMENTS AS YOU HEAR THAT 10
SECONDS TRYING, BECAUSE YOUR
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED,
WHETHER YOU ARE IN PERSON OR
ONLINE. I WILL MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY GETS THE CHANCE TO
SPEAK TODAY. THANKS, AGAIN, FOR
DIALING IN OR COMING TO PRESENT
WE HAVE TWO MICROPHONES IN
PERSON, SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO STAND BEHIND EACH OTHER,
GIVEN THE ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS. WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING
TO MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE FIRST PERSON THAT IS LISTED
FOR ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT IS
YOLANDA. YOLANDA, HERE TO
SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I SEE
YOU LISTED AS NOT PRESENT, SO W
WILL COME BACK TO YOU AS SOON A
WE SEE YOU POP IN. EXCUSE ME, I
JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK WITH
THE CLERKS, IS YOLANDA PRESENT?
>> YES.
>> I SEE A PHONE -- YOLANDA,
HELLO. I SEE YOU ONLINE. WE WIL
GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU THE FULL
TWO MINUTES, AND IF YOU CAN HIT
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR LINE,
YOU WILL BE OUR FIRST PUBLIC
SPEAKER. YOLANDA, AND WE ARE
TEEING UP THE TWO MINUTE TIMER
FOR YOU HERE. WELCOME. GOOD
MORNING. YOLANDA, YOU HAVE TO
HIT STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. I STIL
SEE YOUR LINE AS MUTED. OKAY,
GREAT. LET'S TEST YOUR
MICROPHONE, YOLANDA.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> YES, THANK YOU. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME I
YOLANDA, AND I WORK FOR AFTER
TOWN NATIONAL, AS THE FINANCIAL
OPERATION DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
I AM REALLY ADDRESSING THE
COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY THOSE
MEMBERS THAT ALSO SIT ON KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH BOARD
AUTHORITY. OR, ONE OF THE
CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE MADE A
COMMITMENT TO US A YEAR AGO FOR
THREE YEARS OF SUPPORT, TO HELP
US WITH HOMELESSNESS BY
PROVIDING FLEXIBLE FUNDS FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET OU
OF THEIR CAR INTO HOUSING,
FLEEING VIOLENCE, OR TRYING TO
AVOID HOMELESSNESS BY PAYING
THAT PAST DUE RENT. ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS THAT WAS HAD, THAT
COMMITMENT HAS NOT BEEN HONORED
EACH YEAR, WE HAVE HAD TO
STRUGGLE TO FIND THAT FUNDING
THAT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM
SEATTLE TO KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESS AUTHORITY. OUR
ORGANIZATION, SINCE 2018, HAS
ADMINISTERED THE CENTRALIZED
DIVERSION FUND. I DON'T KNOW IF
MEMBERS HAVE HEARD OF IT, BUT W
ARE A CRITICAL PARTNER IN THE
FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS. OVE
THE 75%, CLOSE TO 80% OF PEOPL
ASKING US FOR HELP EACH AND
EVERY DAY, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A
WAITLIST OF OVER 400 PEOPLE
BECAUSE WE HAVE RAN OUT OF
FUNDING AND CANNOT MEET THE NEE
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW
HAVE HAVE COME TO US FOR
ASSISTANCE, AND RIGHT NOW, THE
FUNDING IS IN JEOPARDY. FOR
WHATEVER REASON, WE ARE NOT
SURE, BECAUSE WE HAVE
ADMINISTERED THE FUNDS HERE,
AND WE THOUGHT BECAUSE THERE WA
A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT TO
SEATTLE MADE, THAT COMMITMENT
WOULD BE HONORED BY KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY. BU
RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE TOLD US
THAT THEY WILL NOT BE FUNDING U
FOR ANOTHER YEAR, SO IT IS THE
LAST YEAR OF THAT THREE-YEAR
COMMITMENT. AND SO, THE REASON
AM ADDRESSING YOU ALL TODAY, FO
ONE, BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS
-- IS MY TIME UP?
>> YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO
CONTINUE.
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I AM ASKING IN PARTICULAR,
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD IN HER
SUPPORT, TO BE ABLE TO BRIEF HE
ON EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THAT
INFORMATION TO ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS, I THINK WE WOUL
ALL BE INTERESTED, AS WELL.
OKAY. THAT WAS OUR LAST PERSON
FOR ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE
ARE GOING TO GO TO THE FOLKS IN
THE ROOM. FIRST UP, IS KRISTA
VAN , FOLLOWED BY HABEL, AND
GOOD MORNING, CHRIS.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CHRIS VAN . I HAVE BEEN INVOLVE
WITH HIGHER MANAGEMENT
REGULATION IN THIS REGION SINCE
2007. I THINK THAT IS 17 YEARS.
THIS ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN FOR
AN INDUSTRY THAT EXISTED PRIOR
TO 2014. AFTER THE UNREGULATED
UNLEASHING OF GOOBER AND TREND
13 INTO THESE MARKETPLACE IN
2012 AND 2014, THIS INDUSTRY HA
SURVIVED ON HOPE LEAGUE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, PORT OF SEATTLE
AIRPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, UNTIL THE
PANDEMIC. FOR A FEW OF US,
POST-PANDEMIC, SOME OF THAT
BUSINESS REMAINS. BUT, THIS
ORDINANCE WILL BE -- IT IS MY
CONSIDERED OPINION -- BUT, IT
WILL BE THE LAST NAIL NEEDED
BEFORE THE CITY, THE COUNTY, IN
THE PORT BURY THIS ALTOGETHER.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE DISPARITY
IN LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
BETWEEN TAXES FOR HIRE, IS
ANTICIPATED, AND UBER, LYFT
DRIVERS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
GET THEM DRIVERS, THEY WILL GO
TO UBER. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
MOST OF THEM GO THERE NOW. WIT
A SPECTER OF ENFORCEMNT OF
THESE REGULATIONS, ALMOST PETT
REGULATION, OUR CURRENT
OWNER/OPERATORS WILL CONTINUE
DOING WHAT THEY DO NOW, THEY
WILL LEAVE US OVER UBER AND
LYFT. WE CANNOT GET DRIVERS
TAXI FOR HIGHER LICENSES. THE
REMAINING TO DO SO SERVICE THE
AIRPORT ONLY. MANY WILL BE
ACTIVE FOR A FEW MONTHS A YEAR,
ONLY, AS THEY ARE NOW.
SERVICING THE AIRPORT AND CRUIS
SHIP TERMINAL TIMES. WRAPPING
UP. YOU ASKED DISPATCH
ASSOCIATIONS TO BE THE BAD GUYS
AND OF COURSE, ALL OF THESE
PETTY RULES, YOU HAVE NO MEANS
FOR US TO ENFORCE DRIVERS
ACTUALLY PAYING US. WE DON'T
WANT THE ASSOCIATION
REQUIREMENT, IF THAT IS WHAT I
INVOLVED IN YOUR --
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU, CHRIS. CHRIS? MR.
VAN ? I JUST WANT TO ASK, IF
YOU COULD SEND US THIS
INFORMATION, BECAUSE THE WHOLE
COUNSEL WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT
YOU HAVE TO SAY. OKAY. THANK
YOU. PLEASE SEND US THE
EXAMPLES. OKAY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. SEND US YOUR COMMENTS IN
WRITING, AND WE WILL LOOK AT
THOSE COMMENTS THAT YOU
MENTIONED. NEXT UP IS HABEL JO
Mc FOLLOWED BY WILL PITTS. GOO
MORNING, HABEL.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> HOLD ON, ONE SECOND, MISTER.
I CAN'T QUITE HEAR YOU. IF YOU
DON'T MIND GOING TO THE OTHER
MICROPHONE? IT'S OKAY, SURE,
YEAH. OKAY. WE WILL WAIT TO
START YOUR TIME. LET'S TRY THE
MICROPHONE ONE MORE TIME TO MAK
SURE IT IS ON. OKAY.
>> OKAY, MY NAME IS HABEL. MY
COLLEAGUES CALL ME JAMAAL. I
HAVE BEEN DRIVING A TAXI FOR A
VERY LONG TIME. I AM A GUY WHO
SERVES THE PUBLIC DAY IN, DAY
OUT. I DON'T WANT A DISPATCH
COMPANY, TO TELL US WHAT TO DO
OR SET UP A REGULATION FOR US.
THEY NEED TO TALK TO THE
PEOPLE, THEY NEED TO TALK TO TH
UNIONS, DRIVERS, THAT WE ARE TH
ONE WHO TALKS AND DRIVE THE CAR
PAY FOR INSURANCE, AND THESE
GUYS JUST WANT TO MAKE MONEY
FROM US. IT WOULD BE LIKE
PICKPOCKETING, LEGALLY, BECAUSE
THEY HAVE REGULATIONS SUPPORTE
BY THE CITY. SO, WE WOULD LIKE
A CAP ON THE EXCESSIVE FEES.
LIKE ALREADY, WE DO OUR OWN
SQUARE. SOME COMPANIES, ALREAD
WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY ARE
FORCING DRIVERS TO USE THEIR
OWN SQUARES. RIGHT NOW, IT IS
UNKNOWN HOW MUCH THE PERCENTAGE
IS, BUT IF THE REGULATION IS
PAST, THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY
WANT. SO, EVERYTHING WE DO, WE
NEED TO HAVE A CUT. IF I TAKE
CALL, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE $20
FROM A $50 FARE, BECAUSE I WOR
FOR A DISPATCH COMPANY. THE WA
REGULATIONS ARE GOING, WE NEED
TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE AND HAV
A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY.
ALSO, WE DON'T WANT OUR CARDS T
BE DOUBLE PLAYED, TAKEN AWAY.
THERE IS ONE CAR THAT YOU CAN
HAVE. I DON'T NEED TWO CARS, I
ONLY NEED ONE. THE INSURANCE O
PAYING FOR THAT CAR IS TOO
EXPENSIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEX
PERSON IS WILL PITTS FOLLOWED B
SAMSULA.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY
NAME IS WILL PITTS, I AM WITH
TEAMSTERS 117. TEAMSTERS LOCAL
117 HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR
FAIRNESS IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR
MUCH MORE THAN A DECADE. AS CIT
COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY PURSUE
THIS OVERALL REGULATIONS, YOU
CAN EXPECT TO HEAR A LOT OF
DIFFERENT OPINIONS FROM
DRIVERS. ONE THING DRIVERS ARE
UNITED AROUND, AS YOU HEARD FRO
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER AND AS YOU
SEE ON THE SIGN, THE NEED TO CA
EXCESSIVE FEES. AND WE ARE ABLE
TO SUPPORT THIS SET OF
ORDINANCES BECAUSE OF
COUNCILMEMBERS DATA AND THIS
COMMUNITY'S WILLINGNESS TO
ADDRESS THE CORE ISSUE.
EXPLOITATION HAPPENS IN THIS
INDUSTRY WHEN DISPATCH COMPANIE
ARE GIVEN FREE REIGN TO SQUEEZE
AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF PASSENGERS
AS THEY CAN, WHILE PAYING
DRIVERS AS LITTLE AS THEY CAN.
ELSEWHERE IN THE FOR HIGHER
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, THIS TYP
OF EXPLOITATION HAS BEEN ENABLE
BY TECHNOLOGY AND DYNAMIC
PRICING, LEADING TO WIDESPREAD
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND WORKER
UNREST. BUT, THIS ORDINANCE
REQUIRES THE TAX INSTITUTE TO
ADOPT A SIMILAR PRICING, BUT
ALSO PLACES CRITICAL GUARDRAIL
ON DISPATCH COMPANY FEES. SO, W
SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE
OF THOSE GUARDRAILS, WHICH WILL
PROTECT DRIVERS, CURRENT AND
FUTURE ABILITY, TO EARN THE
MONEY THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK
YOU.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, WELL. WELCOME, SAMSULA,
FOLLOWED BY ANAYA.
>> THIS IS AN ALIAS, RIGHT? MY
NAME IS ALIAS, I HAVE BEEN IN
THE TAXI INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT SIX
YEARS NOW. MY OPINION, AS A
DRIVER OR AN OWNER OF A TAXI, I
DO NOT HAVE A VOICE. YOU SIGN
PAPER. ONCE YOU SIGN A PAPER,
THE DISPATCH COMPANY CAN TELL
YOU WHATEVER THEY WANT. I READ
THE REGULATION, WHAT A TAXI
ORGANIZATION IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
BUT, AS OWNERS, WE NEED TO HAVE
A VOICE ON THE TABLE, WHEN THEY
NEGOTIATE THE DEALS WITH THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHEN THEY
NEGOTIATE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THEY NEED TO DISCLOSE THOSE
DEALS. BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IT
TAKES -- YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH
THEY ARE GETTING PAID, HOW MUCH
WE ARE GETTING PAID. THE OTHER
THING IS, WE ALSO USE A SQUARE,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
COMPANIES AND THEY ARE TRYING
TO MONITOR EVERY SINGLE THING.
EVERY ONE OF US, EVERY OWNER IS
REGULATED BY THE CITY.
EVERYTHING WE DO IS REGULATED.
IF WE ARE REGULATED BY THE
CITY, WE DON'T NEED TO BE
REGULATED AGAIN BY THE TAXI
COMPANY. LET ALONE, IF WE CAN
FIND THE DATA LINE OUT, YOU
HAVE TO BEAT THE COMPANY. WHEN
YOU SUPPORT THE FAMILY, AND THA
IS THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE, THA
IS HARD TO DO. THE INSURANCE FO
TAXI COVERS -- THERE IS TWO
COMPANIES. I DON'T KNOW WHY
THERE ARE ONLY TWO COMPANIES
THAT PROVIDE COMMERCIAL
INSURANCE FOR HIRE. THE FEES
THEY CHARGE ARE EXCESSIVE. IF
THE CITY COULD LOOK, THERE ARE
OTHER PROVIDERS THAT ARE ALLOWE
TO THE STATE TO PROVIDE THOSE
THINGS, CURRENTLY, THERE ARE TW
COMPANIES, THEY ARE ASKING FOR
LOT OF MONEY. WE ARE PAYING
THOSE, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE
INSURED, OF COURSE, TO HAVE TH
CUSTOMERS SAFE AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS, BUT IF THOSE THINGS, IF
THEY CAN BE LOOKED AT. ALSO, IF
WE GET THE INFORMATION, WHATEVE
IS PASSED IN THE CITY, THE CITY
HAS THE INFORMATION OF EVERY
DRIVER. IF WE GET THIS
INFORMATION DIRECTLY, THAT WILL
BE A GOOD THING FOR US.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH
I AM GOING TO GO BACK TO
SAMSULA. SAMSULA, FOLLOWED BY
-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN YO
SPEAK CLOSER TO THE MIKE?
>> OH, OKAY. MY NAME IS SAMSON.
I HAVE DRIVEN A TAXI FOR 18
YEARS. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT O
THE CITY COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW
DRIVERS. 19% OF INDIVIDUAL
DRIVERS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN
THIS LEGISLATION AGENDA. WE AR
TAXI INDUSTRY. WE ARE AN ON
DEMAND SERVICE. WE LOST WITH
THE COMPETITOR, THE DISPATCH
SERVICE. AND WE ARE ALSO UNDE
DEMAND SERVICE. WE ALWAYS
WORRIED THAT WE ARE GOING TO
LOSE REGULATION. WOULD LIKE T
PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR DEMAND
SERVICE WITH YOUR LAW. IF WE
LOST, THE DEMAND SERVICE -- AN
THE SECOND POINT I WANT TO
ADDRESS THIS WE ARE
DISADVANTAGED WITH THE
COMPETITOR BECAUSE OF THE
INSURANCE POLICY. WE DEMAND
SIMILAR AUTO POLICIES WITH OUR
COMPETITORS, LIKE COOPER AND
LYFT. WE NEED AN EQUAL PLAYING
FIELD FOR COMPETITORS. THE
REGULATOR MAKE US
DISADVANTAGED, NOT TO COMPETE
WITH THE COMPETITOR. THE STATE
REGULATOR IN OLYMPIA GIVES
THAT TO UBER AND LYFT. BUT, WE
DEMAND THAT FROM THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU, I WOULD
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SAMSON.
ALL AZAR, FOLLOWED BY --.
GOOD MORNING.
>> IN MORNING. MY NAME IS ALL
AZAR. THE REASON I AM HERE, I
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR
WORKERS. BECAUSE OF REGULATION
WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE
REGULATIONS. SO, THE DRIVER
ASSOCIATION IS SUPPOSED TO
RELATE TO US AS WORKERS. WE ARE
THE ONES WORKING. SO, THE FAIR
WILL HAVE TO PRICE UP OR DOWN.
WE ARE THE ONES SUPPOSED TO PUT
OUR EFFORT ON THAT. THE NEXT
THING IS ABOUT THE DISPATCH
COMPANY. THE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS
WHAT WE HAVE, THE PERSON WHAT
THEY DO ON THE YELLOW CABS, THE
CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT
PERCENTAGE. THE OTHER THING IS
WITH COVID, WE WERE STRUGGLING
TO WORK A TAXI. AFTER THAT, WE
ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY ANYTHING
FROM THE CITY. SO, THAT IS WHY
I WANT TO RAISE THAT, TOO.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WE HAVE THREE MORE PEOPLE
IN PERSON TO SIGN UP. I DO WANT
TO NOTE THAT THERE IS ONE MORE
PERSON ONLINE LISTED AS NOT
PRESENT. SO, IF YOU ARE
LISTENING, PLEASE DO DIAL IN AN
WE WILL BE SURE TO COME BACK TO
YOU. AND IF THE CLERKS CAN LOOK
FOR ONE MORE PHONE NUMBER
DIALING IN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT
THE LAST THREE SPEAKERS -- AND
THE LAST PERSON IS JOSEPH. GOO
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. I HAVE BEEN
DRIVING TAXI SINCE 2010. THE
ISSUE I HAVE IS HOW DRIVERS
DON'T HAVE ANY SAY ON THE
DECISION TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO
OUR COMPANIES MAKING THESE
CONTRACT DEALS. ANY FEES, WE
ARE GOING TO CHARGE THIS. BUT,
TO ASK US TO MAKE THAT DECISION
THEY MAKE THE DECISION FOR US,
AND THEN THEY TAKE THAT. BUT,
ALL THE PENALTIES THAT COME
AFTER THIS, HEY, IF YOU DON'T D
THIS, YOU HAVE TO PAY THIS. WE
DO ALL OF THE WORK, WE DO
EVERYTHING. BUT HOW COME WE
DON'T HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE?
80% OF THE THING IS COMPLETED
BY THE DRIVERS, AND THE
DISPATCH COMPANIES HAVE
DIFFERENT RULES . WHEN IT COMES
TO OUR COMPANY, YOU HAVE
AIRPORT TAXES PAY DIFFERENT
FEES. AND THEN THE CITY CAB
COMPANY, TAXES, BECAUSE WE ALL
TAKE DISPATCH FROM THE SAME
COMPANY. HOW COME THESE
TAXICABS, THEY PAY DIFFERENT
FEES? WE DON'T KNOW THAT. WE
KNOW THIS IS HOW MUCH THEY PAY,
BUT THEY SIT AT THE HOTEL, THEY
TAKE DISPATCHING. WHERE DOES
THIS PRICE DIFFERENCE COME
FROM? THE COMPANIES MAKE THE
DECISION, THEY DON'T TELL US.
AND IT IS JUST -- OKAY. THESE
PENALTIES ARE MADE, WE NEED TO
KNOW. I SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO
SIGN PAPERS. IF YOU DON'T SIGN
THIS, YOU CAN'T WORK. IT IS JUS
NOT FAIR. WE HAVE TO BE
DISCUSSING ALL WHAT IS MEANT
FOR US. THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING. EITHER ONE.
>> BEFORE I START, AS THE WHOL
COUNCIL MEMBERS LISTENING, ARE
THEY ONLINE?
>> THEY ARE ONLINE, AS WELL.
YOU CAN'T SEE THEM UP THERE, BU
THEY ARE ON THE SCREEN, AS WELL
>> GOOD, SO I WILL START. I HAV
BEEN DRIVING TAXI FOR A VERY
LONG TIME.
>> SO SORRY. I WAS JUST GOING
TO SAY TO OUR CLERKS, COULD YOU
SHRINK THE SCREEN SOME MORE OF
THE FACES ARE --
>> DID YOU STOP MY TIME?
>> YES, WE WILL RESTART IT.
OKAY, GREAT. WE CAN SEE MORE
COUNCILMEMBERS NOW. LET'S START
YOUR TIME AGAIN. OKAY, GO AHEAD
>> YEAH, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING
TAXI FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
CURRENTLY, I AM OPERATING A
DUAL LICENSE TAXI. THIS
PROPOSAL IS PROPOSING TO MAKE
CITY ONLY TAXI TO KING COUNTY
IN SEATTLE, AND THE COUNTY WIL
ONLY OPERATE CITY AND COUNTY.
THE CARS WOULD BE CONVERTED INT
A DULY LICENSED TAXI MEDALLION.
SO, EVERYBODY WOULD BE A
MEDALLION. SO FOR US, CURRENTLY
DUAL LICENSING TAXIS, WE HAVE
INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY TO
BECOME A DUAL TO FOLLOW THE
RULES. SO, WE WOULD NOT GAIN
ANYTHING FROM IT, WE WOULD LOSE
WERE TOLD THAT TO THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY WHEN THEY WERE DOING
THE OUTREACH. WE BLUNTLY TOLD
THEM, WE WILL NOT GAIN
ANYTHING, WE WILL LOSE. THEY
TOLD US, WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT
BUT NOW, THEIR PROPOSAL, THEY
SAY, WE GIVE YOU ANOTHER
MEDALLION, WHICH HAS NO VALUE.
THEY AGREE, WE AGREE, THEY LOSE
WE KNOW, WE ASKED THEM, FUTURE
ECONOMIC LOSS, AND THE BEST
INVESTMENT LOSS. WE NEED
REIMBURSEMENT. BUT, EVENTUALLY
THEY DID NOT DO IT, BECAUSE THI
IS OWNED BY A MINORITY AND AN
IMMIGRANT. IF THESE WERE OWNED
BY OTHERWISE SOME OTHER PEOPLE,
THEY WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO
SAY, OH, THESE PEOPLE, THEY LOS
THEIR FUTURE, THEY ARE NOT
GAINING ANYTHING, THEY WOULD
HAVE PROPOSED SOMETHING TO
REIMBURSE, BUT THERE IS NOT. W
DISAGREE WITH WHAT THEY PROPOSE
WE NEED AN ACTUAL
REIMBURSEMENT. THEY KNOW WHAT W
LOST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND OU
LAST SPEAKER PRESENT, IN CASE
ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SIGN UP I
THE ROOM, IS GOING TO BE JOSEPH
BLANCO. IF YOU ARE LISTENING
ONLINE, MALACHI, YOU ARE STILL
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT, BUT WE
ARE HAPPY TO COME BACK TO YOU.
GOOD MORNING, JOSEPH.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME
IS JOSEPH BLANCO. I WAS ONCE TH
CHAIRMAN OF THE KING COUNTY --
SEATTLE KING COUNTY TAXI
ADVISORY COMMISSION. I ALSO WAS
AT ONE POINT, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE ALLIANCE OF TAXIS
ASSOCIATION. SO, WHEN I STARTED
DRIVING IN 1987, GUYS -- SO, I
KNOW THIS BUSINESS -- BUT, I AM
HERE BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT THE PROVISIONS ABOUT
TRAINING. YOU NEED TO HAVE
TRAINING, NOT ONLY FOR -- IF YO
ARE GOING TO HAVE TRAINING, NOT
ONLY FOR THE CABDRIVERS, BUT FO
GRUBER AND LYFT DRIVERS, THAT I
ESSENTIAL. AND ALSO, WHEN
SPEAKING OF THE ECONOMIC, THIS
IS ONE THAT JIM WAS JUST TALKIN
ABOUT, THE ISSUES AROUND DUAL
LICENSING TABS. WELL, THERE IS
LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THE
ECONOMICS. I WILL TELL YOU THIS
FOR A CAB DRIVER, WHEN YOU
START OFF IN A GIVEN YEAR, YOU
HAVE TO MAKE APPROXIMATELY
$18,000 BEFORE YOU HAVE EARNED
A PENNY AS A CAB DRIVER. UBER
AND LYFT, YOU HAVE INSURANCE
ABOUT $1300, THAT IS IT.
NOTHING. SO, THERE IS REAL
DISPARITIES. ALSO, PEOPLE WERE
TALKING ABOUT HAVING A SEAT AT
THE TABLE. I WILL TELL YOU, IF
I HAD BEEN WRITING THESE
PROVISIONS, THIS ORDINANCE, IT
WOULD BE DIFFERENT. THE REASON
IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE
I AM A CAB DRIVER. I AM SOMEBOD
WHO KNOWS THIS BUSINESS, AND I
SUGGEST TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND
ALSO TO KING COUNTY COUNCIL,
THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE ME
CONSULTING AND TALKING TO YOU
SO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT
THIS BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT. I
KNOW IT ALL TOO WELL, AND THAT
IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
GOING TO GO BACK TO MALACHI
KANE. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO IS
TRYING TO DIAL IN TO OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT VIRTUALLY, CLERKS AND
I.T.?
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MALACHI, I
YOU COULD SEND IN YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU, ALL, FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION TODAY. JUST DOUBLE
CHECKING, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT
WANTED TO OFFER PUBLIC TESTIMON
THAT DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO?
OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOING
ONCE, TWICE -- IS THAT A YES?
OKAY. PLEASE, GO AHEAD, SIR, AN
WE WILL GET YOUR NAME AFTER
THIS. EXACTLY. DON'T BE SHY.
IT'S OKAY. I KNOW. IT IS JUST
US. WELCOME.
>> YEAH, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME
IS --
>> OH, SORRY, LET'S JUST START
HIS TIME. OKAY, SIR, PLEASE GO
AHEAD, AND STATE YOUR NAME.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
DOUG. I DROVE A TAXI, STILL AM
DRIVING TAXI FOR A LONG TIME,
AND THIS TAXI INDUSTRY SINCE I
AM HERE, THE LAST 20 YEARS, W
HAVE A BIG PROBLEM ON INSURANCE
WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW,
DISCRIMINATION ON COMMISSION.
ESPECIALLY ON WHAT DRIVERS CAN
MAKE AS A TAXI. THEY DON'T HAV
US FOR COVERAGE. IF WE BUY A CA
RIGHT NOW, IF I WANT TO BUY A
NEW CAR, IT WOULD COST ABOUT
85,000 PLUS. IF I GET IN AN
ACCIDENT, WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN? BANKRUPT, OR WHAT? I
WANT TO ASK CITY COUNCIL,
PLEASE, WE HAVE PROBLEMS ON
INSURANCE. WITHOUT INSURANCE,
WE CANNOT DRIVE. THAT IS ONE
THING. THE OTHER THING ABOUT
SELF-EMPLOYED AND INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND ALL OF THAT,
WE, TAXI DRIVERS, ARE
INDEPENDENT. BUT, SOME DISPATCH
COMPANIES, THEY TREAT US AS
EMPLOYEES. SO, WE WANT CITY
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THIS AND
ACT PROPERLY. I HAVE TO CONTRO
MY INCOME. IF THERE IS A
CUSTOMER WITH ME, OR SOMETHING,
YOU KNOW, THAT IS MY PROBLEM,
NOT THE DISPATCH COMPANIES
PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE A
AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR,
PLEASE TELL THE DISPATCH
COMPANIES NOT TO PROCESS THE
CREDIT CARD OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT. THAT IS IT.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GLAD WE GO
YOU IN. IF YOU COULD WRITE YOUR
NAME ON THE SIGN IN SHEETS
THERE, SIR, JUST TO MAKE SURE W
GET YOUR NAME RECORDED FOR THE
RECORD, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AN
THANK YOU, ALL, FOR YOUR
PRESENTATIONS HERE TODAY. THAT
WILL CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE ROBUST
DISCUSSION WE HAVE HAD SO FAR
TODAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
IN TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
MADAME CLARK, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ INTO THE NUMBER ONE?
>> RESOLUTION 32109, A
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SEATTL
HOUSING AUTHORITY'S USE OF
CERTAIN EXCESS REVENUE FROM THE
SALE, LEASE, OR OTHER
DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY IN THE
YESLER TERRACE REDEVELOPMENT
AREA FOR THE PROVISION OF
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CLERK. I WANT TO WELCOME TO TH
VIRTUAL TABLE HERE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FROM THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY, ROD BRANDON,
AND ANNE FISKE ZUNIGA .
RACHAEL STEWARD FROM THE HOUSIN
AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS TRACY BRA
SMITH. COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF,
WHO IS OUR LEAD ON ALL THINGS
HOUSING -- WELCOME, EVERYONE,
AND PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU
ARE READY TO GET KICKED OFF. WE
ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU
HERE TODAY. FRIENDS FROM THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAVE
BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO BRIN
SOME LEGISLATION TO US FOR
CONSIDERATION. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THI
LEGISLATION. AND ALSO, FOR THE
LEGISLATION THAT YOU HELPED
CRAFT FOR THE HOUSING LEVY. TH
HOUSING LEVY WAS DONE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH S AJ, WHO
OFFERED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
MORE HOUSING VOUCHERS TO MAKE
SURE MORE FOLKS COULD STAY
SAFELY HOUSE AND GET SAFELY
HOUSED, AND THE COUNCIL
CONSIDERED THAT LEGISLATION IN
JUNE. SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT
PARTNERSHIP, AS WELL. WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBE
OF LEVY FUNDED PROJECTS FROM 30
TO 400 WITH THE SAJ DOCTORS
THAT THEY OFFERED, AND THAT
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF
VOUCHERS IS GOING TO BOLSTER
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DELIVER THROUGH THE SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY, AND GREATLY
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND
PARTNERSHIP. GLAD TO HAVE YOU
HERE TODAY FOR THIS PRESENTATIO
ON THIS LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZ
THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AT
GESSLER TERRACE. SO, THANK YOU
FOR WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR
OFFICE. OUR CHIEF OF STAFF ON
ALL THINGS HOUSING AND LAND, AN
OFFICE OF HOUSING ALONG WITH
CENTRAL STAFF. WE HAVE HEARD
ABOUT INCREASING SERVICE NEEDS
WITH ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING COMMITTEE. WE HAVE HEAR
THAT THE BUILDINGS LOOK THE SAM
ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT THE NEEDS O
THE INSIDE HAVE CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN
THE COMPOUNDED CRISES OF THE
PANDEMIC, AND APPRECIATE THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING TO NOT
ONLY HOUSE FOLKS, BUT ALSO SERV
PEOPLE INSIDE THE BUILDINGS AN
ASSIST WITH THOSE NEEDS OVER TH
LAST FEW YEARS. I THINK THIS
THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP US
ENABLE THE USE OF EXISTING
REVENUE FOR HIGHER THAN
ANTICIPATED NEEDS, GIVEN THE
HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED --
EXCUSE ME -- GIVEN THAT THERE I
EXISTING REVENUE THAT IS HIGHE
THAN ANTICIPATED FROM THE SALE
OR LEASE OF PROPERTY IN YESLER
TERRACE REDEVELOPMENT AREA. THI
FUNDING CAN GO TO ASSIST WITH
MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
WITHIN THOSE BUILDINGS FOR THE
RESIDENCE. SO THANK YOU, AGAIN
FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. TRACY
RADCLIFFE FROM CENTRAL STAFF,
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE
BEFORE WE SEND IT OVER TO
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY?
>> I GUESS, JUST TO REMIND
COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME WHO HAVE
BEEN WITH US AS LONG AS THEY
HAVE, THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF
REVISION THAT WAS INCLUDED IN
THE CONFORMITY OF AGREEMENT,
THAT WAS BETWEEN THE CITY AND
SHA, ORDINANCE 123691 WAY BACK
IN 2000 SOMETHING, THAT REQUIR
THEM TO COME BACK TO US, SHOUL
THEY HAVE EXCESS PROCEEDS FROM
THE SALES OF PROPERTY, WHICH
NOBODY KNEW AT THE TIME WHETHER
THERE WOULD BE OR NOT, BUT THEN
HAVING THEM COME BACK TO GIVE
COUNCIL APPROVAL TO USE THOSE
EXCESS PROCEEDS. SO, THEY HEAR
TODAY IN RESPONSE TO THAT
ORIGINAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM. I WILL TUR
IT OVER TO DIRECTOR BRANDON FOR
SOME OPENING COMMENTS.
>> GREAT. GOOD MORNING. THANK
YOU, TRACI, FOR THAT BACKGROUND
AND CONTEXT FOR THAT, AND THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR INVITING
US TO COME SPEAK TO YOU ON THES
TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES. WE WANT T
TAKE SOME TIME TO SHARE WITH
YOU THE IMPORTANCE IS OF SHARIN
AT YESLER TERRACE. THIS
RESOLUTION WILL ALLOW US TO
CONTINUE THOSE MUCH-NEEDED
SERVICES FOR ALL AGES, FOLKS AT
YESLER TERRACE. WE ALSO JUST
WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK
UPDATE AND BRIEFING ON THE
DEVELOPMENT AND PEOPLE SIDE OF
YESLER SO WE ARE GOING TO
SQUEEZE BOTH OF THOSE IN TODAY
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SQUEEZING
US IN TODAY ON THE AGENDA. WE
KNOW YOU ARE PACKED THIS TIME O
YEAR, SO WE WILL JUST DIVE RIGH
IN. FIRST, STARTING OFF, A
DEPUTY OF THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY, FOLLOWED BY RACHAEL
STEWARD, A DEPUTY OF THE HOUSE
COOPERATIONS COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU. I AM HAVING SOME
TROUBLE ADVANCING THE SLIDE, SO
I THINK I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND
COME BACK IN, AND SEE IF IT
WORKS WHEN I DO THAT. LET'S SEE
>> IF IT IS NOT WORKING ON YOUR
END, WE COULD TRY TO DO IT ON
OUR END, AS WELL.
>> WE MIGHT NEED TO DO THAT. I
TESTED IT EARLIER WITH YOUR
FOLKS WHEN I GOT ON, BUT --
>> DO YOU WANT TO JUST GO AHEAD
AND TRY TO RESET IT NOW?
>> I DID GO OUT AND COME BACK
IN, AND I AM HAVING THE SAME
EXPERIENCE WITH IT NOT
ADVANCING.
>> WITH C. I'M LOOKING FOR
ANYBODY FROM I.T. TO ALSO HELP
US.
>> AND WHILE WE ARE WAITING,
JUST ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I
JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR OU
PARTNERSHIP ON THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY. WE ARE JUST
GLAD TO BE A PARTNER WITH YOU O
THAT, GLAD WE CAN FIGURE OUT
WAYS TO SERVE MORE INDIVIDUALS,
AND WE CONTINUE TO SERVE FROM
THE PREVIOUS LEVY. SO, LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT LONG, LONG
PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> SHOULD I GO BACK?
>> WE CAN GO TO THAT GOALS FOR
TODAY SLIDE , THAT IS FINE.
>> OKAY, WELL, I WILL BE THE
FACILITATOR HERE OF THE SLIDES
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
OKAY.
>> YOU JUST TELL ME WHEN TO
ADVANCE.
>> OKAY. SO, THANKS, AGAIN. W
WANTED TO COME BACK, AND FOR
SOME OF YOU, YESLER, YOU HAVE
BEEN AROUND FOR THE EVOLUTION O
YESLER. WE WANTED TO COME BACK
AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE
SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES WE
HAVE, BUT ALSO TO CHECK IN AND
LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED WITH YESLER. A LO
OF THOSE GOALS WERE LAID OUT IN
THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THAT
TRACI REFERENCED, SO WE WANT TO
TALK ABOUT GOALS SET AND MET,
AND THEN TALK ABOUT SERVICES.
SO, NEXT SLIDE. SO, SHA
APPLIED TO HUD FOR SOMETHING
CALLED A CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS
GRANT. THAT WAS BACK IN THE
EARLY 2010s. THAT WAS THE FIRS
TIME THAT HUD HAD CREATED THIS
PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGED KIND O
A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO
REDEVELOPING COMMUNITIES. WE
WERE SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING $3
MILLION FROM HODA TO
RE-JUMPSTART THE REDEVELOPMENTS
A KEY PIECE OF THIS, IS THAT I
ALLOWED RECIPIENTS TO USE 15%
OF THE GRANT PROCEEDS FOR
SERVICES, WHICH WAS UNIQUE. TH
PRIOR HOPE SIX PROGRAM THAT WE
DEVELOPED IN NEW HOLLY AT HIGH
POINT, DID NOT THE INCLUDE THAT
PREPARATION. WE MAXIMIZE THAT
OPPORTUNITY AND TOOK 15%, WHICH
IS $4.5 MILLION, AND SPENT THAT
OVER THE SEVEN YEARS ON
SERVICES TO BENEFIT RESIDENTS
WHILE THEY WENT THROUGH
REDEVELOPMENT AT THE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER KEY PIECE IN THE
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS THAT W
COULD MAINTAIN RESIDENT
ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT. SO, WE
FORMED A CITIZEN REVIEW
COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED
RESIDENCE, AND ALSO
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THOSE
MEETINGS WERE INTERPRETED, THE
SAME INTERPRETERS WERE WITH US
FOR YEARS, SO THEY CAME TO LEAR
A LOT ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT
PROCESS AS THEY INTERPRETED FOR
THOSE MEETINGS. WE ALSO WERE
COMPELLED TO DELIVER BY HEAD,
AND COMMITTED TO DO SO, FOR
ONE, REPLACEMENT HOUSING. THAT
IS A BIG PART OF WHAT YESLER IS
DELIVERING. AND THEN, A PIECE
OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH HUD
WAS THAT WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CONTINUE
SERVICES IN THE FUTURE, ONCE TH
GRANT WAS OVER. SO, THAT IS
PART OF WHY WE ARE HERE WITH YO
TODAY. NEXT SLIDE. SO, HOW ARE
WE DOING? SO, WE HAVE MET OUR
ONE FOR ONE REPLACEMENT UNIT ON
SITE. WE WILL EXCEED THE 60%
MEDIAN INCOME UNITS BY 100. WE
WILL MEET THE 80% AREA MEDIAN
INCOME UNIT TARGETS. WE
PROVIDED THE RESIDENCE WITH A
GUARANTEED RIGHT TO RETURN, WIT
POSSIBLE RELOCATION SERVICES,
AND OTHER RELOCATION
COMMITMENTS. SUCH AS PAYING FO
THEIR MOVE AWAY AND THERE MOVE
BACK TO YESLER IF THEY TRY TO
MOVE BACK. RESIDENT INTERACTIO
IN THAT PROCESS. THE CRC HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED IN US MEETING
REGULARLY WITH THE EXISTING
YESLER COMMUNITY COUNCIL. NEXT
SLIDE. SO HERE IS A SUMMARY,
SAME INFORMATION ABOUT THE
HOUSING PIECE. SO, I GUESS THE
MAIN TAKE AWAY IS THAT WE
STARTED AT YESLER WITH 561
UNITS, AND WHEN ALL IS SAID AN
DONE, WE WILL HAVE TRIPLE THE
NUMBER OF INCOME RESTRICTED
UNITS AT YESLER. ALL OF THE
MOST DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS
WILL BE COMPLETE IN THE SUMMER
OF 2025, AND ALL OF THE DOLLARS
NECESSARY TO DELIVER THESE ARE
EITHER SPENT OR HAVE ALREADY
BEEN ALLOCATED IN PROJECTS,
CLOSED ON PROJECTS, SO THOSE
DOLLARS ARE COMMITTED FOR THAT
CONSTRUCTION. NEXT SLIDE. I
WANTED TO TOUCH BRIEFLY --
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUE, RACHAEL -- ON
RECONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE THERE
WAS A STRONG COUNCIL FOCUS ON
HOW WE WERE GOING TO WORK WITH
THE RESIDENCE, ALL THROUGH
REDEVELOPMENT, AND MAKE SURE
THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS AS
GOOD AS IT COULD BE, RECOGNIZIN
THAT CHANGES VERY DIFFICULT, AN
UPROOTING IS VERY DIFFICULT. SO
THE RELOCATION EFFORT WAS VERY
ROBUST. WE HAVE NOW, FROM THE
ORIGINAL 493 HOUSEHOLDS, AND
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 493 AND
561 -- WHICH IS THE ONE FOR ON
REPLACEMENT -- IS THAT WE HAD
THAT DELTA NUMBER OF UNITS
RELEASED FOR TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT WEREN'T
IN OPERATION AT THE TIME, WHEN
REDEVELOPMENT STARTED. SO, THE
ORIGINAL 493 HOUSEHOLDS, 264 OF
THEM ARE NOW BACK TO YESLER IN
NEW BUILDINGS. WE HAVE 109 OF
THOSE HOUSEHOLDS LIVING OFF-SIT
IN OTHER YESLER HOUSING. WITH
87 OF THEM LIVING OFF-SITE IN
NON-SHA HOUSING. IN THE VERY
BEGINNING OF DEVELOPMENT, WE DI
HAVE SOME VOUCHERS THAT HUD
GAVE US THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
AWARD TO ABOUT 50 FAMILIES, SO
ABOUT 50 OF THOSE ARE VOUCHERS
SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY. LAST,
BUT NOT LEAST, 33 FOR
ATTRITION. SO, THAT IS KIND OF
THE BIG PICTURE ON RELOCATION.
TO THIS DAY, AS THE NEW
BUILDING OPENS, WE GO BACK TO
PEOPLE LIVING OFF-SITE, JUST TO
DOUBLE CHECK WHETHER THEY WANT
TO COME BACK TO YESLER. SO, LE
ME TRANSITION THIS TO MY
COLLEAGUE, RACHAEL STEWART, THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING
OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. FORMALLY
COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATO
FOR SHA. RACHAEL?
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. I AM EXCITED TO SHAR
WITH YOU A BIT ABOUT THE
RESIDENT SERVICES AND
PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING AT THE YESLER CAMPUS
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WITH TH
INITIAL DEVELOPMENTS DESCRIBED
PREVIOUSLY OVER THE LAST 10
YEARS OR SO. IF WE COULD GO TO
THE NEXT SLIDE?
>> OH, THIS SLIDE, OR THE NEXT
SLIDE? THERE WE GO.
>> YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SO, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE
CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT
TACKLED, THAT HAS NOT BEEN
APPROACHED BY OTHER FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES FROM HUD, WAS TO
ENSURE THAT SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT, AND
FOLLOWING REDEVELOPMENT AT
YESLER. THAT IS PERFECT AND ON
TARGET FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AS WE DO REALLY BELIEVE THAT
SERVICES ARE CENTRAL TO
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. MUCH OF THAT LOOK
LIKE? HOW CAN WE GO ABOUT
DELIVERING IT? SEATTLE OF
HOUSING AUTHORITY THE STANDOUT
IN BEING ABLE TO OPERATE IN A
BIT OF FLEXIBILITY, AND PROVIDE
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO OUR
RESIDENTS IN A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. WE HAVE A
COUPLE OF THOSE EXAMPLES LISTED
HERE. I WILL SPEND A BIT MORE
TIME GOING INTO A BIT MORE DEPT
ON CERTAIN ONES OF THESE AS WE
ADVANCE. SO, WE WILL TALK ABOU
EDUCATION IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT,
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLD
AT YESLER THAT HAVE CHILDREN O
EVERY SINGLE AGE, AS WELL AS
ELDERS AND WORKING AGE ADULTS.
SOME FAMILIES ARE IN OUR HOUSIN
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, SUCH THAT
IT BENEFITS THEM AND US, AND TH
LARGER COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE NUMEROUS DIFFERENT
WAYS THAT THEY ARE BEING
SUPPORTED IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT,
BOTH ACADEMICALLY, BUT ALSO
WITHIN THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP, AN
SELF-ACTUALIZATION. COMMUNITY
BUILDING IS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF
OUR WORK THAT HAS CONTINUED TO
SUPPORT THE YESLER COMMUNITY BY
FINDING WAYS TO ESSENTIALLY
REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE
SELF-DETERMINATION THAT OUR
RESIDENTS HAVE, SUCH THAT THEY
ARE ABLE TO LIVE INTO THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND CREATE COMMUNITY
COHESION IN A WAY THAT BEST
REPRESENTS WHO THEY ARE AND WHO
THEY ASPIRE TO BE. WE ALSO HAV
BEEN ABLE TO CREATE INVESTMENTS
WITHIN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, SO
THAT RESIDENTS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUST AND ADAP
TO OUR CHANGING AND EVER
EVOLVING ECONOMIC AND JOB
MARKET. THIS INCLUDED SKILL
SUPPORT, AS WELL AS SYSTEMS
NAVIGATION. HEALTH AND WELLNES
IS KEY. OF COURSE, WITH
YESTERDAY BEING NEXT TO WRITE
OUR MEDICAL CENTERS, IT SEEMS
THAT RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE SOM
OF THE BEST HEALTH EVER AND BE
ABLE TO TAP INTO HEALTH
SERVICES, BUT WE KNOW LIFE
ISN'T JUST THAT SIMPLE. SO, WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
WERE ADDITIONAL NAVIGATION
SUPPORTS THAT MET THE NEEDS AND
INTERESTS OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO
ARE THERE, AND WE OFFERED
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO HEL
BRIDGE THAT GAP, SOME OF THE
FIRST COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
IN OUR AREA. THEY WERE QUITE
SUCCESSFUL. WE DID THAT WORK I
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEIGHBOR
CARE HEALTH. YOU CAN SEE
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF PUBLIC
ART THAT IS THERE, AND THAT
PUBLIC ART WAS NOT JUST BROUGH
ABOUT BY SOMEONE WITH A CREATIV
EYE OR AN ARCHITECT, BUT RATHER
THROUGH DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH
RESIDENTS. BUT ALSO, IN THE
BROADER AND SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ADJACENT
TO YESLER. SO, VERY EXCITED TO
SHARE MORE ABOUT THIS WITH YOU.
WE ARE ALSO VERY MUCH INDEBTED
TO THE NUMEROUS PARTNERS THAT
HAVE HELPED US TO BE ABLE TO
DELIVER THESE SERVICES. IN FACT
WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS, THESE
THINGS ARE NOW POSSIBLE WITH TH
SKILL THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE
SUSTAINABLE, AND EFFECTIVE, AND
RESPONSIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS. I
WILL NOW GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
EDUCATION IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
IS ONE OF THE SERVICE AREAS THA
PEOPLE THINK OF SO OFTEN, AND
OUR EFFORTS THERE HAVE ALLOWED
US TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUN
PEOPLE FROM PRE-K ALL THE WAY
THROUGH POSTSECONDARY. PARTNER
SUCH AS SEATTLE UNIVERSITY,
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, ARCS
YIELD HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE
SUCCESS FOUNDATION, CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY SERVICES YOUTH
TUTORING PROGRAM, ON AND ON.
THROUGH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT
CHILDREN IN PREPARING FOR
KINDERGARTEN, WORKING ALONGSIDE
AND WALKING ALONGSIDE THEIR
PARENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE
READY FOR KINDERGARTEN, AND KNO
HOW TO GET THROUGH ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL WITH A JOYOUS INTERES IN
CONTINUING TO LEARN. WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO BRING FULFILLMENT
AND USEFULNESS TO THEIR OUT OF
SCHOOL TIME, THROUGH TUTORING
PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO THROUGH YOUT
DEVELOPMENT THAT ENCOURAGES
THEIR LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS
THEIR CREATIVITY. INTERNSHIPS
AND MENTORSHIP IS AVAILABLE
THERE AT YESLER, PULLING IN
MANY OF THE ADULTS THAT ARE IN
THE COMMUNITY, BOTH NEAR AND
FAR, TO TAP IN, EVEN IN THE
MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE
FOUND WAYS TO DO THIS WORK IN A
VIRTUAL SETTING. OUR
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS
CATEGORIZED BY THIS WORK HERE
WITH THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT HAS HAD IMPACTS ON BOTH OF
OUR INSTITUTIONS. NEXT SLIDE.
AS I MENTIONED, COMMUNITY
BUILDING IS A UNIQUE ELEMENT OF
THE WORK THAT WE DO AT SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY. YOU CANNOT
SEE ALL OF THE TEXT THAT IS ON
THAT DIAGRAM, BUT THEY ARE
THERE JUST TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I
IS INTENTIONAL, OUR COMMUNITY
BUILDING IS INTENTIONAL, AND
THAT DIAGRAM LEAVES A LITTLE
BIT OF THE LANDSCAPE THAT WE
HAVE PUT TOGETHER WITH RESIDENT
LEADERSHIPS AND PARTNERS THAT
SURROUNDS THE YESLER CAMPUS.
RESIDENT LEADERSHIP IS AT THE
VERY TOP FOR US. THE YESLER
COMMUNITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY
LEADER. NOT ONLY FOR THE ELDER
AND THE ADULTS AT YESLER, BUT
ALSO FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
INDIVIDUALS IN THE YESLER
COMMUNITY COUNCIL ARE SUPPORTED
BY OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STAFF, WHO PROVIDE THEM WITH
WHATEVER ACCESS TO THE SPACE AN
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE REAL, THE INTEREST
THAT THEY HAVE. A YOUTH ADVISOR
COUNCIL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED T
BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE
INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN A
MORE FORMALIZED FASHION. SO,
OFTEN, IN OUR SCHOOLS, YOUNG
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO
PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT
GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
BECAUSE THEY MIGHT JUST BE ONE,
IN A LARGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN
IN THE BUILDING. BUT, AT HOME,
MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE IT A TRY. SO
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT
TO HAPPEN. YESLER IS A VERY
DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AND BEING
ABLE TO PRESERVE THE ASSETS AN
THE STRENGTH THAT PEOPLE ARE
BRINGING TO THE CAMPUS AND TO
OUR CITY AT LARGE IS ALSO A KE
ELEMENT OF BEING ABLE TO DO
COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT LEADS T
COHESION. SO, WE ARE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL COFFEE
HOURS, AS WELL AS OVERALL
LANGUAGE PRESERVATION CLASS,
JUST AS A FEW EXAMPLES. THOSE
EVENTS, AS WELL AS THOSE
PROGRAMS, ARE INITIATED BY
RESIDENTS, AND ARE SUPPORTED BY
PARTNERS, AS WELL AS SHA STAFF
AGAIN, THERE IS A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE
HAVE LISTED THERE FOR YOUR
REFERENCE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS PROVIDE
THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT IS WIT
HOUSING AUTHORITY AS JOB LENGTH
JOB LENGTH OFFERS PERSON
CENTERED SUPPORT TO RESIDENTS
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ADVANCING
THEIR EDUCATION AND/OR THEIR
CAREERS. THAT LOOKS LIKE A MAN
DIFFERENT THINGS, AND AGAIN, IS
RESPONSIVE TO THE INTERESTS AND
NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THEY
ARE A PARENT WITH A CAREER COAC
WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN PARTNERED
WITH ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER WHO I
AN EMPLOYEE OR BROKER, AND HE
BEGINS AND SHE BEGINS TO DO
OUTREACH TO DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE TO MAKE SUR
WE ARE LEARNING MORE AND MORE
ABOUT WHAT WE NEED IN THE JOB
MARKET, SO THAT SHA RESIDENCE
ARE COMPETITIVE. PART OF WHAT
THAT MEANS FOR US IS ENSURING
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR CLOSEST
PARTNERS, SO THAT RESIDENTS ARE
ABLE TO BE GIVING INTO THE
ORGANIZATIONS, THAT SOME OTHER
FAMILIES HAVE ALSO BEEN
BENEFITING FROM. THAT WAY, YOU
HAVE PROVIDERS THAT ARE
REFLECTIVE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO ARE ALWAYS VERY PLEASED
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS
WITHIN OUR OWN HOUSING AUTHORIT
DEPARTMENTS. MANY OF THEM ARE
SHAPING, THE WAY OUR
ORGANIZATION SHOWS OF EACH AND
EVERY DAY, IS JUST SUCH A
POSITIVE WAY. FINALLY, COLLEGE
ENROLLMENT IN SUPPORT IS ALSO
OFFERED THROUGH THE JOB LINK
PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE FOLKS WHO
ARE ACTUALLY ON THE CAMPUSES O
THE SEATTLE COLLEGES SYSTEM WHO
ARE SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AS
THEY PROGRESS THROUGH. NEXT
SLIDE. SO, WHY WOULD WE WANT I
TO END? OUR FRIENDS AT YESLER
HAVE BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED AN
THEY ARE NEEDED. OVER THE YEAR
I HAVE WILL BEEN WORKING AT
YESLER, SINCE 2010, THERE HAS
NEVER BEEN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE
SAID, NO, WE DON'T NEED THAT
ANYMORE, PLEASE TAKE THAT AWAY,
RACHAEL. SO, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY
FOLLOWING WHAT RESIDENTS ARE
SAYING, BUT ARE KEEPING OUR
FUNDERS HAPPY, AND OUR CHOICE
NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT DID
ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE OUR
SERVICES BEYOND REDEVELOPMENT,
SO WE ARE INSPIRED TO DO SO. YO
MAY ALSO NOTICE, AS MENTIONED B
STAFF MEMBER TRACI RATZLIFF
THAT THERE IS PART OF THE
AGREEMENT THAT REQUIRES US TO
COME BACK HERE, TO YOU ALL, AND
TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE ADDITIONA
REVENUES THAT ARE AVAILABLE,
POST REDEVELOPMENT, TO BE ABLE
TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH
THEM. OUR INTEREST IS TO BE
ABLE TO REINVEST THEM AT YESLER
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS
AND SUSTAIN THESE SERVICES. IN
OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF
FROM HOUSING, THEY HAVE
INDICATED THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE O
THIS PROPOSAL, TO BE ABLE TO
BRING THESE SERVICES THE FUND T
RESIDENTS AT YESLER. LOOKS
ABOUT RIGHT NOW ABOUT $600,000
YEAR TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THESE
SERVICES GOING. AND THAT IS
JUST RIGHT NOW. WE KNOW THAT
THESE THINGS ARE ALWAYS GROWING
IN COST. EVERYTHING IS GROWING
IN CAST COST. SO, WE ARE HAPPY
TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH
YOU, AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MIGHT HAVE, SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO BUILD AND SUPPORT A
STRONG SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL
-- DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS, FOLKS FROM SHA?
>> NO.
>> OKAY. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU
FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE
PRESENTATION HERE. COLLEAGUES,
AGAIN, IN FRONT OF US IS THE
LEGISLATION TO CONSIDER THE
YESLER TERRACE PROCESS
LEGISLATION, RESOLUTION 32109.
TO MOVE INTO FURTHER
CONVERSATION, I WOULDLIKE TO
GET THE LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF
US. WHOOPS. I BETTER STOP
SHARING MY SCREEN. OKAY. WE GOT
THROUGH THOSE TECHNICAL ISSUES,
GREAT. I MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF RESOLUTIO
32109. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS
LEGISLATION? I DO SEE ONE HAND
ON MINE. PLEASE GO AHEAD, VICE
CHAIR HERBOLD.
>> YES, I JUST WANT TO FIRST
SAY, HOW AMAZING THE WORK SHA
HAS DONE ON YESLER TERRACE --
SPECIFICALLY THE RIGHT OF RETUR
OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSEHOLDS
DISMISSED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT.
MORE THAN HALF ARE PART OF
YESLER, AND THE NUMBER WE SAW
WAS 76% OPTED TO RETURN TO SOM
FORM OF SHA HOUSING, YESLER OR
ELSEWHERE. THIS IS JUST, YOU
KNOW, CONSIDERING HOW MOBILE
HOUSEHOLDS CAN BE, ESPECIALLY
AFTER A CRISIS, THIS IS A REALL
ORDINARY DEEPENED. I HAVE THIS
-- THIS IS DIRECTED TO OUR
FRIENDS FROM SHA -- YOU MAY
HAVE SEEN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ,
AN EDITORIAL IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES. YOU KNOW, THE PERSON WH
WROTE THE EDITORIAL HAPPENS TO
BE SOMEBODY WHO WRITES THE
COUNCIL A BIT. SO, I HAD THE
PERSON'S EMAIL ADDRESS, AND I
WAS THINKING ABOUT WRITING TO
HIM TO DISPUTE SOME OF HIS
CONCERNS AROUND YESLER TERRACE.
IT JUST MAKES ME WONDER HOW
MUCH YOU ARE GETTING THE WORD
OUT. THIS PERSON WRITES THAT
THE MAJORITY OF THE HOMES ARE
MARKET-RATE WITH THE REMAINDER
PRODUCING SOME RENT. HOW WAS
THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHETHER OR
NOT THE PROJECT HAS BEEN
MAXIMIZING AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
YOU KNOW, THERE IS LOTS OF GOO
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON YOUR
WEBSITE ABOUT HOW MANY UNITS
ARE BEING -- YOU KNOW, NOT JUS
THE RIGHT TO RETURN, BUT HOW
MANY TOTAL AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE
NOW AVAILABLE AT YESLER
TERRACE. THAT IS THE SUCCESS O
THE PROGRAM, THAT PEOPLE DON'T
THINK OF YESLER TERRACE AS A
LOCATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
ANYMORE. BUT, YOU HAVE ACTUALLY
DRASTICALLY AND VERY HELPFULLY
INCREASED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, ABOVE
AND BEYOND WHAT WAS THERE
BEFORE THE REDEVELOPMENT. YOU
BOTH KNOW MY SKEPTICISM ON A
LOT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF TH
SHA GARDEN PROJECTS. SO, THIS
IS JUST SUCH AN AMAZING THING T
CELEBRATE, AND I WOULD JUST BE
REALLY INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT
YOU ARE DOING TO COUNTER THIS
UNFORTUNATE NARRATIVE THAT THE
YESLER TERRACE REDEVELOPMENT IS
SOMEHOW A WINDFALL FOR
MARKET-RATE DEVELOPERS.
>> YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR HERBOLD, FOR THOSE WORDS
AND RECOGNITION. YOU ARE RIGHT.
WE JUST DON'T DO ENOUGH,
PERTAINING TO SHARE ALL THE
SUCCESS STORIES, AND THE
PROCESS, AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED
AT YESLER. WE FEEL WE ARE DOING
THAT. WE ARE GETTING SO MUCH
NATIONAL ATTENTION AND LOCAL
ATTENTION THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON ON THAT
REDEVELOPMENT. WE NEED TO DO A
BETTER JOB AND JUST DO MORE, AN
CONTINUE THAT STORY AND
NARRATIVE. APPRECIATE YOU
STARING THAT INFORMATION BACK T
THE INDIVIDUAL. WE WILL CONTINU
TO DO THE SAME. SO, WE WILL STE
OVER OUR EFFORT IN THAT SPACE.
WE SOMETIMES THINK PEOPLE ARE
JUST GETTING TIRED OF HEARING
ABOUT YESLER. BUT, YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE NEED TO D
A BETTER JOB AND IT WILL BE
DONE.
>> AND JUST A FOLLOW-UP QUESTIO
-- MAYBE NOT A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION -- A QUESTION ON
LEGISLATION ITSELF. I WAS
WONDERING, CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW
YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE FACT
THAT THE LEGISLATION GIVES YOU
LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR
DETERMINING WHAT THE
CONTINUATION OF SERVICES TO TO
RESIDENTS SHOULD BE? AND
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS OVER A
15 YEAR SPAN, AND WE CAN'T
DETERMINE TODAY WHAT SERVICES
WILL BE MOST NEEDED IN THE
FUTURE. BUT, I AM WONDERING,
GIVEN THAT THE LEGISLATION
INHERENTLY CREATES SOME
FLEXIBILITY TO DO SO, HOW WILL
YOU ENSURE THAT THE VOICES AND
DESIRES OF RESIDENTS ARE
CONSIDERED, IN DETERMINING HOW
TO SPEND SERVICE EACH YEAR?
>> GOOD QUESTION. I WILL LET
RACHAEL GO INTO MORE DETAIL, BU
I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT
RESIDENTS WILL BE THE CENTER O
OUR DESIRE TO BRING THOSE
SERVICES TO THEM. SO, THEY KNOW
WHAT WE KNOW, BUT WILL CONTINU
TO BE RESIDENT CENTERED.
>> I AM HAPPY TO. SOME OF THE
BUILDING BLOCKS THAT ARE
NECESSARY TO CARRY THIS FORWARD
ARE A PART OF WHAT WE ARE DOING
AND HAVE BEEN DOING, AND JUST
MENTIONED THERE ON THAT
COMMUNITY BUILDING SLIDE, THE
YESLER COMMUNITY COUNCIL, YOUTH
ADVISORY COUNCIL WILL BE
CENTRAL TO FINDING EXACTLY THE
PROCESSES THAT RESIDENTS WILL
BE ABLE TO BELIEVE IN AND
PARTICIPATE IN REGULARLY, TO
MONITOR AND DETERMINE THE
SERVICES AND THE FOCUS FOR THOS
SERVICE DOLLARS. IT IS
IMPERATIVE FOR US TO RECALL --
OUR COLLEAGUE, JC, SAYS PEOPLE
VOTE WITH THEIR FEET. SO, WHEN
RESIDENTS ARE SHOWING UP, WE
KNOW WE HAVE RESPONDED IN A WAY
THAT IS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY
FOR THEM, AND THEY WILL ALSO
CONTACT US. OUR RESIDENTS ARE
NOT BUYING IT. DO LET US KNOW
WHAT IT IS THAT THEY LIKE AND
WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE, AND THAT
CAN ALSO BE AFTER THEY BELIEVE
THAT A SERVICE PROVIDER IS JUST
RIGHT, AND THEN IT TURNS OUT,
THEY WEREN'T DOING EXACTLY WHAT
THEY WERE EXPECTING OR LOOKING
FOR. WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. SO,
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE
CENTER. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A
CHOICE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
ANYTHING ELSE? GREAT, THANKS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, GO
AHEAD.
>> SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION
I REALLY APPRECIATED
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW SHE
WAS HERE WHEN THIS CHOICE
NEIGHBORHOOD WAS GRANTED, AND
THE STRUCTURE WAS APPROVED,
THERE WERE APPROVALS NEEDED BY
THE CITY GOVERNMENT, AND THERE
WAS CONTROVERSY AT THE TIME
ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION OF
MARKET-RATE UNITS INTO WHAT IS
NORMALLY HOUSING FOR EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, 100%.
BUT, SO, THANK YOU FOR ASKING
THOSE QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, ABOUT RESIDENTS
RETURNING, BECAUSE I KNOW WE
ENABLED THE DEMOLITION OF
EXISTING HOUSING THAT IS A
MAJOR CONCERN. WHERE ARE THOSE
PEOPLE GOING TO GO? WILL THEY
BE ABLE TO FIND HOUSING
TEMPORARILY? WILL THEY BE ABLE
TO RETURN TO THE PERMANENT
HOUSING BEING BUILT? BECAUSE
THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS THERE
ARE TO ENABLE THAT. SO, I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY IS ONE OF TH
5% OF 3000 HOUSING AUTHORITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A
WAIVER FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, TO WHAT IS CALLED
A MOVE TO WORK FRAMEWORK, WHICH
ENABLES YOU ADDITIONAL
FLEXIBILITY, ENABLES YOU TO TRY
AND TRANSITION PEOPLE FROM
PUBLIC HOUSING TO OTHER TYPES O
HOUSING. THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL
BUT IT IS A LONG-TERM PILOT
PROGRAM, I THINK IT GOES UNTIL
2028. YOUR DESIGNATION AS A
MOVE TO WORK EXEMPTION FROM
REGULAR PUBLIC HOUSING, WHICH
WOULD REQUIRE ALL OF THE UNITS
TO BE EXTREMELY LOW INCOME. AND
OF COURSE, THE CHOICE
NEIGHBORHOOD'S GRANT, ALSO
ENABLED THE MIXING OF INCOME.
SO, SOME FUTURE DISCUSSION AS
WE APPROACH 2028, WHETHER
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY REALL
WANT TO RETAIN THAT DESIGNATION
OR GO BACK TO SERVING 100%
EXTREMELY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.
REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION, I
HAD ASKED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
BUT YOU HAD ALREADY ANSWERED,
THANK YOU TO CENTRAL STAFF, AS
WELL, FOR HELPING THIS REPUBLIC
YOU KNOW, I HAD ASKED TO DO TO
OUR DECLARED HOMELESSNESS
EMERGENCY, WHY NOT USE THE
ADDITIONAL PROCEEDS FOR VOUCHER
FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, WHO MAY BE HOUSIN
READY? AND I UNDERSTAND YOU AR
PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ALREAD
TO EXISTING RESIDENTS AND YOU
ARE TRYING TO EXTEND THAT FOR
SEVERAL MORE YEARS. SO, THERE
WAS THAT JUSTIFICATION THERE.
ALSO, I ASKED, WOULD THERE BE A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS DONE? AS
UNDERSTAND IT, YOU ARE
CONTINUING THE SERVICES THAT AR
ALREADY IN PLACE, RATHER THAN
DOING A REQUEST FOR NEW
SERVICES, FOR A COMPETITION TO
PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE
PROGRAMS. YOU ALREADY HAVE
THOSE IN PLACE AND ARE EXTENDIN
THOSE. I JUST WANT TO PUT ON TH
RECORD, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HA
ASKED, THE QUESTIONS I HAVE,
THAT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE
RESOLUTION TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR
THAT BACKGROUND. ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FROM SHA? OKAY.
>> WELL, JUST -- BE NEXT GO
AHEAD, DIRECTOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS, AND YOUR
THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
STEADY INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE PROCESS. YOU DID HOL
OUR FEET TO THE FIRE, AND WE
THINK WE DELIVERED ON THAT IN
ALL ACCOUNTS. SO, THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES
I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL HAND
AND THE RESOLUTION IS IN FRONT
OF US. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO
AHEAD. MADAME CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF 32109?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MADAME CHAIR MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> MADAME CHAIR, THAT IS FIVE I
FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR FRIENDS AT SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE
RESOLUTION PASSED, AND IT WILL
BE SENT TO THE SEPTEMBER 19th
-- YES -- THE SEPTEMBER 19th
CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR A FINA
VOTE. I HAD TO LOOK AT THE
CLOCK TO MAKE SURE WE COULD
STILL GET IT IN NEXT WEEK, AND
WE CAN BECAUSE IT IS BEFORE NOO
ON THURSDAY. SO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
TODAY. I ECHO ALL OF THE
APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE ON THE ESSO TERRACE,
ESPECIALLY WITH COMMUNITY
PREFERENCE AND AFFIRMATIVE
MARKETING TO YIELD THE SUCCESS
RATES THAT YOU HAVE HAD. ALL
RIGHT. LET'S CONTINUE.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN, FOR YOUR EXTENDED TIME
TODAY. WE DO PUT AN EXTENDED
HOLD ON YOUR CALENDARS, SO WE
ARE HOPING WE CAN GET THROUGH
THE NEXT FOUR PIECES OF
LEGISLATION, WHICH ARE COUPLED
INTO TWO ITEMS. MADAME CLERK,
LET'S GO AHEAD AND READ ITEMS
TWO, THREE, AND FOUR INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
012-0652, AGENDA ITEM THREE,
COUNCIL BILL 120653. AND AGEND
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, COUNTABLE
120656. THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
SERVICES. FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE
THIS FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION, THERE WILL NOT BE A
VOTE TODAY, THIS IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE
POLICY AND HEAR MORE OF THE
DETAILS, AND WE WILL CONSIDER
THE LEGISLATION NEXT WEEK ON
WEDNESDAY. I WANT TO THANK THE
TEAM FROM FINANCE ADMINISTERED
OF SERVICES. PEOPLE ARE PROBABL
WONDERING, WHY IS THIS BILL IN
OUR COMMUNITY HERE? IT IS
BECAUSE WE COME IN FINANCE
COMMITTEE, HAVE PURVIEW OVER
SAS, AND THIS IS A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT THE FINANCE
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
DEPARTMENT WORKED HEAVILY ON
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
STAKEHOLDERS, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WE HAVE WITH US, BETH
DEFORD AND MATTHEW ING FROM
FINANCIAL SERVICES, ALONG WITH
KARINA BOLL, OUR CENTRAL STAFF
WHO HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD
ON THIS LEGISLATION. SO, THANK
YOU, ALL, FOR BEING HERE WITH U
TODAY. BEFORE WE GET INTO MY
COMMENTS, I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE
CHECK THAT THE SCREEN IS
WORKING. I AM NOT THE BEST
SCREEN SHARE. SO, IF WHOEVER IS
GOING TO BE SHARING THEIR
SCREEN, IF WE COULD JUST DOUBLE
CHECK THAT IS WORKING WHILE I
MAKE SOME COMMENTS, THAT WOULD
BE FANTASTIC. WHOEVER THAT IS,
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT A
SHOT WHILE I MAKE SOME COMMENTS
AGAIN, AS WE ARE DOING THAT, I
WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. I NOTED IN MY OPENING
COMMENTS THAT THE FINANCIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OFFICE
HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND HAS BEE
ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION WITH
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OVER
THE LAST, I THINK, FEW YEARS.
SO, YOU CAN CORRECT ME ON THAT
TIMEFRAME, BUT IT HAS BEEN A
LONG TIME IN THE MAKING FOR THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US.
THANKS TO CENTRAL SPLIT STAFF,
ESPECIALLY KARINA BOLL, AND A
LOT OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH US AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON DEVELOPIN
SOME ENHANCEMENTS TO THE
LEGISLATION AS WE INTRODUCED IT
THESE THREE BILLS MODERNIZE AND
UPDATE THE CITIES POLICIES
RELATED TO FOR HIRE AND TAXICAB
INDUSTRY. IT ALLOWS FOR DRIVERS
TO BE MORE -- TO MORE
SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE AND
INCREASE THEIR EARNINGS. I'M
GOING TO REITERATE THAT THE KIN
COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ARE CONSECUTIVELY GOIN
TO BE PASSING LEGISLATION
RELATED TO THESE LEGISLATIONS,
SO THERE IS HARMONY, AND OUR
HOPE IS THAT THIS LEGISLATION
ACCOMPLISHES THAT GOAL. BEFORE
MOVE ON, I JUST REMEMBERED THER
IS ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON WHO
WANTED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND I AM GOING TO
ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT. WE ARE
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP
PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN, JUST TO
MAKE SURE WE GET A CHANCE TO
HEAR FROM EVERYONE. THERE WAS
SOME CONFUSION OVER THE AGENDA
TIME SIGN IN, I KNOW WE HAD A
NUMBER OF ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA,
SO WE ARE GOING TO ACCOMMODATE
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT
NOW. WELCOME, MR. TO THE
PODIUM, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE T
GET ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION.
AGAIN, IF THERE IS ANYBODY ELSE
WHO WANTS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE, OF COURSE, PROVIDE
THAT, AS WELL. YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU
COMING.
>> THANK YOU, TERESA. I'M KIND
OF SURPRISED, WE HAVE THE TAXI
AGENDA TODAY. I MEAN, THIS IS
-- TIMES HAVE CHANGED, I GUESS.
MY NAME IS AMINE. I AM THE
GENERAL MANAGER OF DISPATCH,
KNOWN AS SEATTLE YELLOW CAB. I
DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING M
THE TIME. NOW, THE INDUSTRY HA
SURVIVED THE BIGGEST DISRUPTIO
FROM THE TMC, LOSING A MARKET
SHARE OF MORE THAN 70%. WE ALL
KNOW THAT WE HAVE SURVIVED THE
PANDEMIC FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS
HOWEVER, THE ONE POINT THAT I
WANT TO ADDRESS IS, REALLY, IT
LOOKS LIKE THIS LEGISLATION MAY
ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT
EITHER IS A DISRUPTION FROM THE
TMC, OR THE PANDEMIC COULD DO
TO OUR INDUSTRY, AS DISPATCH
COMPANIES. WHICH IS FINALLY
PUTTING US OUT OF BUSINESS. I
DON'T SEE THE POINT OF CAPPING
A DISPATCH, WHEN WHOEVER IS
PUSHING THAT ITEM ON THAT AGEND
IS REALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW
OUR BUSINESS OPERATES. WE DO
NOT CHARGE PER TRIP. THE
COMPETITION, TMC, IS NOT BEING
CAPPED AT 10%. I JUST DON'T SE
WHY. SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR OBJECTION TO THIS ITEM
IS NOTED. YOU KNOW, WE DO
APPRECIATE THE REST OF THE
LEGISLATION, TRYING TO ADDRESS
ALL OF THE ISSUES. AND WE HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS AND
YEARS. WE DO APPRECIATE THAT,
BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT OBJECTION BE NOTED, AND O
THE CABIN, WHETHER IT IS A
MISUNDERSTANDING, OR WHETHER IT
IS SOMETHING ELSE I DON'T
UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S
MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR THE RECORD, AS
WELL. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE?
GOING ONCE, TWICE? PLEASE, GO
AHEAD. OH, DID YOU ALREADY
SPEAK? DID YOU ALREADY SPEAK
EARLIER? NO, PROBABLY. I CAN'T
DO YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU,
THOUGH, FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM. W
WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT
PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY, I AM GOIN
TO COME BACK TO MY SCRIPT HERE
AND TURN IT BACK TO ON TAXI DI
SERVICES. IT IS ATTEMPTING TO
PROVIDE GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT
CONSUMERS AND DRIVERS THROUGH
THOSE TRANSITIONS IN
TECHNOLOGY, AND IT HELPS TO
INCLUDE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
REGULATION AND EXCESSIVE FEES.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A PIECE OF
THE LEGISLATION THAT IS SMALL
BUT SIGNIFICANT FOR THE
WORKERS. THE LEGISLATION ALIGNS
AROUND VEHICLE AGE LIMITS, FOR
AGE 15, AND IT EXTENDS THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT DRIVERS CAN
OPERATE THEIR OTHERWISE SAFE
VEHICLES, WHICH MAY STILL PASS
INSPECTIONS. THIS IS A POSITIVE
AND PRACTICAL UPDATES THAT WILL
BENEFIT DRIVERS, AS MUCH OF
THESE VEHICLES THAT ARE PAST
AGE 15 ARE STILL OPERABLE AND
SAFE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS, TO FINE-TUNE SOME OF
THE PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGES ON
THIS LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THOSE
CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN
ONGOING, AND THAT IS WHY THERE
IS AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR
YOU TO CONSIDER THE LEGISLATION
THAT IS ADDED TO THE AGENDA FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY, A
SUPPLEMENTAL VERSION OF THE
BILL IS INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA
THAT HAS BEEN REVISED, AND
CENTRAL STAFF WILL SPEAK TO
THAT, AS WELL. MANY OF THE
REQUESTS IN THE ADDITIONAL
EDITS THAT WERE MADE CAME FROM
CONVERSATIONS EVEN AS LATE AS
THE LAST FEW WEEKS WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND FINANCIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OFFICE.
THIS CAME THROUGH AFTER WE
INTRODUCED THE LEGISLATION AND
WE ARE HAPPY THAT THERE HAS
BEEN A COMING TOGETHER ON THE
LANGUAGE THAT THEY HAVE
SUGGESTED, ALONG WITH
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION OR
LANGUAGE TO SHOW THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE -- EXCUSE ME --
ALONG WITH LANGUAGE TO SHOW --
OH, TO SHOW HOW WE CAN CONTINUE
TO SPORT THE ECONOMIC
LIVELIHOOD AND STABILITY FOR
DRIVERS. THIS IS SOME LATE
BREAKING CHANGES, AND THANK
YOU, AGAIN, TO FAS AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH
US IN INCLUDING THOSE, SO THEY
CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
TODAY. WELL, WE WERE NOT ABLE
TO HAVE A MEETING YESTERDAY.
MY HOPE IS THAT FOLKS GET A
CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH THIS
LEGISLATION, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY
-- EXCUSE ME -- WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO HAVE THIS AGENDA ON LAST
WEEK'S, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU
WILL STILL LOOK THROUGH THE
LEGISLATION HERE TODAY. IF YOU
DO HAVE ANY EDITS AND SUGGESTED
AMENDMENTS, I BELIEVE THE
DEADLINE FOR CONSIDERING THOSE
IS THE END OF THIS WEEK WITH
CENTRAL STAFF, AND ENCOURAGE
YOU TO GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN
TO THE PRESENTATION, AND THAT
WE WILL GO INTO SOME QUESTIONS.
KARINA BOLL, I AM GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO YOU, OR WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GO TO FAS, FIRST? IT
IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU, ALL.
>> THANK YOU. I ADVISE WITH
STARTING WITH FAS, BECAUSE THEY
HAVE A VERY DETAILED,
INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
>> LET'S DO THIS, OKAY. AND
THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO MATTHEW,
AND BETH, FROM FINANCE
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH. SO, YES,
HERE IN THE ROOM IS THE
DIVISION DIRECTOR, AND I WILL
BE DOING THE MAJORITY OF THE
SPEAKING. TO GIVE YOU AN
OVERVIEW OF THE SUITE OF BILLS
THAT WE HAVE TRANSMITTED TO THE
COUNCIL. WE WILL TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT BACKGROUND. I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT TO FAMILIARIZE
OR RE-FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES
WITH WHAT IS INVOLVED WITH THE
CORE HIGHER TRANSPORTATION
INDUSTRY. A LITTLE TIME WITH
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS AND THE
WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WITH
COUNTY. SO IN TERMS OF
BACKGROUND, THE CITY PARTNERS
THROUGH A LOCAL AGREEMENT, ON
HIGHER TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT
CONSISTS OF THREE MAJOR
VEHICLE TYPES, TAXICABS, WHICH
OPERATE ON METERED RATES, FOR
HIRE VEHICLES, WHICH OPERATE ON
FLAT RATES, AND THEN VEHICLES
AFFILIATED WITH TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK COMPANIES, WHICH IS THE
TERM WE USE TO DESCRIBE
COMPANIES LIKE GUBER AND LYFT.
THE WORK THAT THE CITY AND
COUNTY DO TOGETHER INVOLVED
LICENSE VEHICLES, AND COUNTIES,
EACH YEAR, AND THEN WE DO CODE
ENFORCEMENT WORK THROUGH
INSPECTIONS, AUDIENCE, AND
RELATED ACTIVITIES. SOME OF
THE INDUSTRY CHANGES -- SO,
THE BIG, LAST ACTION,
REGULATORY ACTION INVOLVING FOR
HIGHER TRANSPORTATION WAS DONE
IN 2014, AND THAT IS WHEN THE
CITY BEGAN REGULATING
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
COMPANIES. A LOT HAS CHANGED
SINCE THEN, AND I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS HERE.
TMC'S REMAIN CONVENIENT AND
POPULAR OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE
NEEDING FOR HIGHER
TRANSPORTATION. TAXICABS AND
FOR HIRE VEHICLES ARE
AFFORDABLE, AND AS WAS POINTED
OUT IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS
FROM THOSE TESTIFYING TODAY,
THEY SERVE A NICHE CUSTOMER
BASIS. THE STATE ACTUALLY TOOK
SOME ACTION IN 2022 BY ADOPTING
A SERIES OF TMC LAWS, AND THOSE
INCLUDED MINIMUM COMPENSATION
STANDARD FOR DRIVERS, AND THE
AVAILABILITY OF VARIOUS
BENEFITS TO THOSE DRIVERS. WE
ACKNOWLEDGED -- I WOULD SAFELY
SAY, BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY
-- THAT TAXICABS AND FOR HIRE
VEHICLES FACED REGULATIONS, AND
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS
LEGISLATION. AT LEAST, IN
PROPOSING IT. I COULD GO ON
ABOUT THE VARIOUS PURPOSES OF
THIS LEGISLATION, BUT I WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW KEY
POINTS HERE. ONE, WE ARE
COORDINATING WITH KING COUNTY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE
DIFFERENCES IN THE COUNTY AND
CITY CODES WITH REGARD TO
REGULATION. THAT CAN FRUSTRATE
DRIVERS AND THOSE INVOLVED IN
THE INDUSTRY. SO, THIS EFFORT
IS TO TRY TO ALIGN THE CODES.
THERE WILL STILL BE SOME
DIFFERENCES, IN THE PAST, AS
PROPOSED. BUT, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE WORKING IN THE
INDUSTRY ARE FACING A COMMON
SET OF REGULATIONS. WE ALSO
WANT TO PROMOTE REGULATORY
FLEXIBILITY FOR TAXI AND FOR
HIRE MEDALLION OWNERS AND
DRIVERS. WE WANT TO ALIGN WITH
THE RECENTLY ADOPTED STATE LAW,
CONCERNING TMC, SO THAT THERE
ARE NO GAPS BETWEEN THE STATE
LAW AND WHAT WE HAVE ON THE
BOOKS HERE IN SEATTLE. I ALSO
WANT TO POINT OUT TO YOU --
AND I KNOW THIS EFFORT HAS
TAKEN MANY YEARS TO
MATERIALIZE -- SO, INCLUDE
INPUT FROM THE INDUSTRY, AND
ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO
MODERNIZE REGULATION. LOOK
TOWARD THE FUTURE, THE FUTURE
THAT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE
INDUSTRY. NOW, WE APPRECIATE
THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THOSE IN
THE INDUSTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT
THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT
CAN BE MADE, AND THAT CAN BE
MADE IN THESE BILLS, TO HELP
THE INDUSTRY SUCCEED. I WANTED
TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME JUST TO
HIGHLIGHT OUR RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE ANALYSIS AND
IMPLICATIONS. WE RECOGNIZE
THAT MOST MEDALLION OWNERS AND
DRIVERS ARE IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES, AND SPEAK ENGLISH AS
ANOTHER LANGUAGE, AND ARE
PERSONS OF COLOR. WE ALSO KNOW
THAT DRIVERS FACE EXTENSIVE
REGULATION, AND WE, AS I HINTED
AT EARLIER, WE ARE PROPOSING
THESE CHANGES TO CREATE
EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN
THE INDUSTRY, AND TO POSITION
TAXIS, FOR HIGHER VEHICLES, TO
SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE.
REGARDING THE OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT AROUND THIS WORK,
SO, WE PARTNERED WITH THE
CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IT IS ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY LIAISON PROGRAM
TO ENGAGE THE FOR HIGHER
VEHICLE OWNERS AND DRIVERS OVER
MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. PRIMARILY,
STARTING IN 2021, WITH A
SURVEY, MULTIPLE FOCUS GROUPS,
PROJECT UPDATES, SERVICE VISITS
TO PLACES FREQUENTLY VISIT BY
TAXI AND FOR HIGHER OWNERS AND
DRIVERS. WE SPOKE WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM TAXI
ASSOCIATIONS AND FOR HIRE
VEHICLE COMPANIES, WE MET WITH
ORGANIZED LABOR, WE MET WITH
ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN
ADVANCING DRIVER CONCERNS. A
LOT OF THIS WORK HAS OCCURRED
RECENTLY, AS WE HAVE HAD A MORE
DEVELOPED LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL
TO SHARE, AND WE HAVE ALSO
SPOKEN WITH REPRESENTATIVES
FROM TMC THIS YEAR TO LET THEM
KNOW OUR PLANS FOR THIS
PROPOSAL. OKAY. SO, IN TERMS
OF THE BILLS -- AND THERE ARE
THREE OF THEM -- I WANT TO
START WITH COUNTABLE 120652.
THIS IS A BUILD TO AN EXISTING
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER, SIX
310. THIS WORK HAS BEEN
PROMPTED BY THE TMC LAWS THAT
WERE PASSED IN 2022 BY THE
STATES. THE IDEA IS THAT THE
CITY WOULD MAKE CHAPTER 6 310
EIGHT TNC CHAPTER, SO WE WOULD
LOOK AT THAT BY REMOVING
LANGUAGE, SPECIFICALLY
ADDRESSING TAXICABS AND FOR
HIRE VEHICLES. AND THEN THE
LANGUAGE THAT REMAINS, WE ALIGN
WITH STATE LAW. THAT INCLUDES
THE MAXIMUM MODEL AGE FOR A
VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD BE 15
YEARS, THAT CHANGED FROM THE
CURRENT 10 YEARS. WE WOULD SET
THE MINIMUM AGE FOR A DRIVER
VEHICLE ENDORSEMENT HOLDER, TO
A TNC DRIVER AND TNC VEHICLE
HOLDER TO 20 YEARS. WE WOULD
BE ADJUSTING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER
OF DRIVING HOURS IN A 24 HOUR
SPAN, FROM 12 TO 14 HOURS. WE
WOULD ALSO UPDATE LANGUAGE
AROUND THE STATE CODE CITATION
FOR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND
THE LANGUAGE THAT IS NOW IN
THIS NEW TNC CHAPTER IN STATE
CODES, REGARDING THE
NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY, IN
TERMS OF PROVIDING SERVICE TO
TAX YEARS. SO, THIS IS THE
FIRST -- THE FIRST OF THE
THREE BILLS IS ADDRESSING AN
EXISTING CHAPTER. THE SECOND
BILL, 120653, IS REALLY THE
CENTERPIECE OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PACKAGE, AND IT INCLUDES
CREATING A NEW, MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER, WHICH WE ARE CALLING
6.311, TO REGULATE TAXES AND
FOR HIGHER VEHICLES. IT DOES A
LOT OF WORK, BUT I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF ITS KEY
FEATURES. ONE, IT CREATES
OPERATING RECIPROCITY FOR
MEDALLION OWNERS. LET ME
EXPLAIN THAT. SO, IF I AM AN
OWNER OF A MEDALLION THAT CAN
ONLY WORK IN A CITY OF SEATTLE,
WE WILL NOW HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN WHAT THEY
ARE CALLING A RECIPROCITY
ENDORSEMENT THIS IS NOT
CREATING NEW MEDALLIONS, BUT
CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITY AND
FLEX ABILITY FOR DRIVERS TO
SERVE THE REGION.
AND DRIVE BACK TO WHERE EVER IT
IS A DRIVER NEEDS TO GO. AND
SO, REMOVING THIS BARRIER. THIS
WOULD MAKE TAXICABS
IMPORTANT, FOR HIRE VEHICLES ,
TMC VEHICLES ENJOYED NOW AND
THAT IS THE ABILITY TO SERVE
THE REGION. WE ARE ALSO
TRANSITIONING THE FOR HIRE
VEHICLES, THESE ARE THE
VEHICLES THAT OPERATE ON FLAT
RATES. THAT OCCURS OVER THE
PERIOD OF A FEW YEARS. THIS IS
A DIVISION THAT, IN THE PAST,
HAS KIND OF CAUSED FRACTURES
WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. AND SO WE
ARE PROPOSING TO TRANSITION ALL
OF THOSE FLAT RATE FOR HIRE
VEHICLES TO TAXICABS. WE ARE
ALSO CREATING A TEMPORARY
DEACTIVATION PROCESS FOR
MEDALLIONS. THIS IS A PROCESS
THAT WOULD BE INITIATED BY HIM
ITALIAN OWNER WHO WANTED TO
STEP AWAY FROM THE BUSINESS
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND ARE
ALLOWING UP TO 12 MONTHS TO DO
THAT. TO DO WHATEVER. IF IT IS
TO TRAVEL, I AM PURSUING
SOMETHING ELSE, THEY HAVE THEM
-- THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT.
THE MEDALLION VEHICLE IS NOT
IN SERVICE. ONE OF THE BIG
REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ARE
PROPOSING IS THE ADOPTION OF
NEW TECHNOLOGY. THAT COMES IN
THE FORM OF SMART TAX METERS.
SMART TAXI METERS IS THE NEWEST
GENERATION OF TAXI METERS. IT
GIVES TAXICABS THE ABILITY TO
METER TRIPS BUT TO DYNAMICALLY
PRICE THOSE TRIPS AND SET FLAT
RATES FOR CERTAIN .2 POINT
TRIPS TO PRICE TRIPS AROUND
SPECIAL EVENTS WHERE DEMAND
MIGHT BE HIGHER, THEY MIGHT BE
ABLE TO PRICE THOSE TRIPS
HIGHER . AS OF THIS ADOPTION OF
NEW TECHNOLOGY, WE BELIEVE, IS
NEEDED TO HELP INDUSTRY
SUCCEED AND DO WELL INTO THE
FUTURE . AND THEN THAT GOES
INTO THIS NEXT LIT AROUND THE
DYNAMIC PRICING OF TRIPS. WE
KNOW ABOUT THINGS LIKE LIFT
-- LYFT SURGE PRICING. THIS
CAN BE SIMILAR BUT THIS IS AT
THE DISCRETION OF THE TAXI
ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR
CONSULTATION WITH DRIVERS AND
OWNERS AND WHAT SHOULD INFORM
THE PRICING OF TRIPS AND
SPECIAL EVENTS, TIME OF DAY,
DEMAND AND OTHER
CHARACTERISTICS. AND FINALLY,
WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO SIMPLIFY
OUR ENFORCEMENT PROCESS
INCLUDING THE PENALTIES THAT
CAN BE IMPOSED ON DRIVERS AND
COMPANIES AND OTHER LICENSEES.
ONE OF THE BIG WINS IN THE
APPEALS PROCESS IS THE APPEALS
PROCESS WHICH NOW, IF A DRIVER
HAS AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION
TAKEN AGAINST HIM AND HE WANTS
TO APPEAL IT, HE NEEDS TO GO
THROUGH BOTH THE CITY APPEALS
PROCESS AND A COUNTY APPEALS
PROCESS. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO
MERGE THE APPEALS PROCESS INTO
ONE UNIFIED PROCESS . AND SO,
WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL BE A
REDUCED BURDEN IF SOMEONE IS
MAKING AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION
AND WANTS TO APPEAL THAT
ACTION. AND FINALLY, COUNSEL
BILL 120656 WOULD BE ACCEPTING
AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT THE
CITY IN THE COUNTY HAVE
MAINTAINED. THIS IS LONG
OVERDUE, THE LOCAL AGREEMENT
THAT WE OPERATE WITH RIGHT NOW
IS FROM 1995. AND SO A LOT HAS
CHANGED, OF COURSE, SINCE THEN
. AND WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT AGREEMENT
REFLECTS THE CURRENT STATE OF
OUR WORK AND BETTER REFLECTS
THE CHANGES THAT HAVE MERGED
OR HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS. I WILL POINT OUT TO
YOU THAT THIS NEW INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT DOES NOT IMPOSE NEW
COSTS ON THE CITY .
ADMINISTERING REGULATORY
PROGRAM. IF YOU BUDGET
CONSIDERATIONS. IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME
ANTICIPATED COSTS FOR
MODIFYING THE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM
THAT IS FAS USES OR FOR HIRE
REGULATION CALLED THE SELLECK
AND OUR ESTIMATE IS ABOUT
$600,000 TO ACCOMMODATE THE
CHANGES NEEDED AND PROPOSED
COUNSEL BILL 120653 . THAT IS
THE WORD CREATING THE NEW
CHAPTER FOR TAXICABS AND FOR
HIRE VEHICLES. THAT REQUEST
WILL COME IN ON 2024 REQUEST .
I WILL ALSO POINT OUT TO YOU
THAT FAS HAS SUFFICIENT
STAFFING TO UNDERTAKE THE WORK
ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING
THESE ORDINANCES AND SO WE ARE
NOT SEEKING NEW FUNDS FOR THAT
PART OF IMPLEMENTATION. AND
THEN, FINALLY, ON THIS LAST
SLIDE, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO KNOW THAT THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY ARE UNDERTAKING THIS
WORK JOINTLY AND THE COUNTY
COUNCEL IS CONSIDERING A
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR
LEGISLATION ON WHAT WE HOPE TO
BE A PHILLY SYNCHRONIZED
TIMELINE . AND REALLY, FOR THIS
TO WORK WELL, THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY NEED TO BE ALIGNED BOTH
IN THIS LEGISLATIVE PHASE AS
WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION
PHASE AND IT IS OUR HOPE TO
HAVE THE CITY IN THE COUNTY
THAT ALL OF THE BILLS ARE
PASSED BY DECEMBER OF THIS
YEAR AND THAT WE ARE READY TO
COORDINATE IMPLEMENTATION
STARTING NEXT YEAR. SO THAT
CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED
. I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING
TO TAKE QUESTIONS, KARINA ? OR
IF YOU ARE GOING TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
>> I AM HAPPY TO TURN IT OVER
TO KARINA AND MAYBE WE CAN WALK
THROUGH SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL
CONTACT FROM CENTRAL STAFF AND
TAKE QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL
STAFF IF THAT WORKS FOR THE
TEAM AND FAS . GREAT. LET'S GO
AHEAD AND DO THAT. THANK YOU
MATTHEW AND WE WILL TURN IT
OVER TO KARINA. MATTHEW,
REMIND ME AS WE ARE
TRANSITIONING, HOW MANY YEARS
HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THIS?
HAS IT BEEN YEARS?
>> IT HAS BEEN YEARS. IT
STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
AND I WILL ADMIT THAT THE
PANDEMIC CAUSED A DELAY AS TO
THE LEGISLATION IN 2022 BUT
WE ARE STICKING WITH IT . FOR
HIRE ISSUES ARE ALWAYS
CONTROVERSIAL. REGARDLESS OF
THE ERA. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I
APPRECIATED HEARING THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY TODAY AND WE REALIZE
THAT ANY TIME WE WAIT -- WADE
INTO THESE WATERS, THEY MIGHT
GET A LITTLE CHOPPY. EXPECT
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL
OF THAT WORK. LET'S CHANGE THE
PIN ON THE SCREEN AND WE WILL
SEND IT OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THERE
WAS A QUESTION ABOUT TIMEFRAME.
WAS IT TO CALLOUT THE LENGTH
OF TIME BUT TO SAY HOW MUCH
WORK YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING ON
THIS SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
TURNING IT OVER TO KARINA, NOW.
>> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. NOW MY FORWARD IS NOT
WORKING. HERE WE GO, OKAY. I
HAVE A PRESENTATION THIS
MORNING THAT REVIEWS THE
PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGES TO ONE
OF THESE THREE BILLS AS MATT
CALLED IT THE CENTERPIECE OF
THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE, IT IS
THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
ESTABLISH TAXICABS AND FOR
HIRE VEHICLES REGULATION PLANS
AND NEW CHAPTER , COUNSEL BILL
120653 AND THE PRESENTATION
AND INTEREST OF TIME WILL
LIKELY GO OVER THE
PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGES THAT
ARE REFLECTED IN THE
INTRODUCED VERSION AND IDENTIFY
ONE ISSUE WHERE THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS CONSIDERATION ON THAT
AND THE TIMING PIECE VOTING ON
THE LEGISLATION IN
CONSIDERATION OF THE COUNTY
ALSO HAVING THEIR
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE. SO THERE
ARE ABOUT EIGHT
PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGES
SELECTED IN THE LEGISLATION.
MOST OF THEM RELATE TO
SUPPORTING THE ECONOMIC
LIVELIHOOD OF DRIVERS AND THE
FIRST ONE IS REQUIRING THE
DIRECTOR TO CONSIDER THE
IMPACT OF ADDING NEW
MEDALLIONS WHICH WOULD BE DONE
BY RULE ON A DRIVER'S ABILITY
TO EARN A LIVING WAGE. THIS
WOULD BE A REQUIRED FACTOR .
FOR CONSIDERATION, THE DIRECTOR
WOULD NEED TO GO AHEAD AND
DEVELOP A CRITERIA AND
FRAMEWORK FOR DETERMINING
LIVING WAGE AND WHAT IT IS AND
HOW THAT WOULD BE MEASURED BUT
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
NEED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE
DIRECTOR. THIS NEXT ONE IS A
TECHNICAL TO CLARIFY
DISPATCHED AGENCIES FULL FARE
PAID BY THE PASSENGER , IT'S
LANGUAGE USED IN THE NEXT
PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGE AROUND
CAPPING THE FEES THAT DISPATCH
AGENCIES CAN CHARGE TWO
DRIVERS FOR DISPATCH SERVICES .
THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE AND
LEGISLATION WOULD RESTRICT
THE DISPATCH AGENCIES FROM
DEDUCTING MORE THAN 10% FROM
FARES OR TRIPS THAT ARE
DISPATCHED TWO DRIVERS. THE
NEXT PIECE IS ABOUT WRITTEN
POLICIES THAT DISPATCH
AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO
DEVELOP. THESE ARE INTERNAL
POLICIES THAT WOULD AFFECT
OWNERS AND DRIVERS. THIS CHANGE
WOULD ADD TWO NEW SUBJECT
MATTERS TO THE POLICIES WHICH
WOULD BE THE DRIVER'S ABILITY
TO WORK ON ANY CONTRACT, ANY
CONTRACT ACCOUNT AND TO CLARIFY
THE ABILITY WITH THE DISPATCH
AGENCY AND NOT MENTIONED ON THE
SLIDE BUT MENTION IN DETAIL ON
A CHART THE COMPANY'S CENTRAL
STAFF MEMO ARE SOME NEW TOPICS
FOR THE EXISTING REQUIREMENT TO
DEVELOP DEACTIVATION POLICY,
AS WELL. THE TRANSMITTED
LEGISLATION REQUIRES THE
COMPANIES TO DEVELOP THE
DEACTIVATION POLICY FOR DRIVERS
AND PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGE AS
MORE COMPONENTS TO IT. A
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR FOR THE
DIRECTOR TO CONSIDER WOULD BE
THE IMPACT OF ADJUSTING TAXI
METER RATES ON A DRIVER'S
ABILITY TO EARN A LIVING WAGE.
A LIVING WAGE WOULD NEED TO BE
A CRITERIA , FRAMEWORK
DEVELOPED BY THE DIRECTOR AND
IN THIS INSTANCE, IT WOULD BE A
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR TO
CONSIDER THOSE RATES . THIS
NEXT PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGE IS
RELATED TO THE DIRECTOR'S
ABILITY TO ISSUE ROLES THAT
WOULD ALLOW EMERGING FOR HIRE
TRANSPORTATION OF MODELS. AND
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT COULD BE
FOR HIRE TRANSPORTATION MODEL
THAT DOESN'T USE A NAP TO
CONNECT DRIVERS AND THE
TAXICAB OPERATOR . I THINK A
LOT OF THIS IS TBD AND EXAMPLES
OF THE DUE -- DO NOT READILY
COME TO MIND BECAUSE WHO KNOWS
WHAT THE FUTURE WILL WILL
BRING BUT THIS ALLOWS THE
DIRECTOR TO ISSUE ROLES, TO
ALLOW NEW TYPES OF INDUSTRIES
TO OPERATE IN THE DIRECTOR CAN
ALSO ATTACH NEW CONDITIONS FOR
LICENSING. THESE NEW TYPES OF
TRANSPORTATION MODELS IN
CONSIDERATION OF THE WRIST --
RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY AND WELFARE, THIS WOULD
ADD CONSIDERATION OF RISK TO
LABOR HARMONY BY PERMITTING
THESE NEW TYPES OF
TRANSPORTATION MODELS AND IT
WOULD ALLOW THE DIRECTOR TO
CONSIDER NEW CONDITIONS FOR
OPERATING IN CONSIDERATION OF
LABOR HARMONY RISKS . THE NEXT
COUPLE OF CHANGES ARE ABOUT THE
DATES THAT ARE IN THE
LEGISLATION. THIS LEGISLATION
WAS TRANSMITTED IN THE SUMMER .
RIGHT NOW, IT IS BEING
CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCEL .
THE COUNTY PACKAGE IS STILL
AWAITING SPONSORSHIP . SO IT
COULD BE A WHILE BEFORE BOTH
JURISDICTIONS HAVE THE FINAL
APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PACKAGE. THERE ARE SOME
PUSHING OUT EXTENSIONS OF DATES
TO ADDRESS THIS. THIS FIRST SET
OF CHANGES WOULD AFFECT THE
DATES , MILESTONES ALL YEAR
FROM THE END OF MARCH 2025 TO
THE END OF MARCH ON 2026, THIS
WOULD ALLOW MORE TIME FOR
COMPANY AND DRIVERS TO CHANGE
THEIR SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES IN
THE MEMO, THERE IS A FULL LIST
OF WHAT THE EXACT DATES ARE. AN
EXAMPLE, IT IS THE DATE FOR
TRANSITIONING TO TAXICAB
DRIVERS , FOR HIRE VEHICLES
DRIVERS, THE DATES THAT THERE
WOULD BE SINGLE MEDALLIONS, THE
DATES THAT THERE WOULD BE
TRANSITIONAL TO DISPATCH AGENCY
. THE LAST CHANGE IS EXTENDING
BY ABOUT NINE MONTHS, SOME OF
THE PROVISIONS TO REFLECT THE
TIME THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO
DEVELOP THE SOFTWARE THAT MATT
MENTIONED EARLIER TO MAKE SURE
THAT IS UP AND RUNNING.
CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS GO INTO
PLACE. THAT IS ALL FOR THE
PRE-INTRODUCTION CHANGES. NOW
FOR A BRIEF MENTION , AN ISSUE
REGARDING COORDINATION WITH
THE COUNTY COUNSELS PROCESS.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY HAVE DEVELOPED
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR PACKAGES
FOR UPDATING THESE FOR HIRE
TRANSPORTATION REGULATIONS.
BOTH JURISDICTIONS MUST HAVE
REGULATIONS THAT ARE NEARLY
IDENTICAL ONE POINT BECAUSE
BOTH JURISDICTIONS PLAN TO
CONTINUE JOINTLY ADMINISTERING
THESE REGULATIONS. SO WITH ONE
JURISDICTION A MAN'S THE
PROPOSED REGULATIONS, THE OTHER
SHOULD CONSIDER APPROVING THE
SAME OR SIMILAR AMENDMENTS. THE
COUNTIES PACKAGE IS AWAITING
SPONSORSHIP. THE REVIEW
TIMELINE AT THE COUNTY IS STILL
TO BE DETERMINED. IT COULD BE
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER WITH THIS
IN MIND, THE CITY COUNCEL HAS A
COUPLE OF OPTION . IF THE CITY
APPROVES LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE
BEFORE THE COUNTY COUNCEL ,
THEN THE COUNTY -- CITY
COUNCEL WOULD NEED TO INTRODUCE
NEW LEGISLATION TO CONSIDER
ANY OF THOSE COUNTY
AMENDMENTS. SO WE WOULD NEED
TO GO THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL , ALL OF THAT. THAT
WOULD EXTEND THE TIMELINE FOR
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR PACKAGE.
THE CITY COUNCEL COULD WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE COUNTY
COUNCEL'S DELIBERATIONS TO
VOTE ON THE PACKAGE ALLOWING
TIME TO CONSIDER ANY NECESSARY
AMENDMENTS BEFORE A FINAL VOTE
. WHETHER THAT WOULD BE FULL
COUNSEL OR IF NECESSARY, AT A
COMMITTEE MEETING. IF IT IS
EXTENDED UNTIL AFTER COUNTY
COUNCEL'S DELIBERATIONS, THAT
COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS
DECEMBER. THEY WOULD NEED TO
BE TIME BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND
THE NEXT FULL COUNCEL MEETING
OR WHATEVER OTHER COUNCEL
MEETING IT WOULD BE FOR CENTRAL
STAFF TO DEVELOP ANY NECESSARY
OR CONSIDERED AMENDMENTS. SO,
FOR NEXT STEPS, IF THERE ARE
ANY INTEREST IN AMENDMENTS,
PLEASE CONTACT ME BY NOON
TOMORROW. WE ARE ON A TIGHT
TIMELINE . NEXT WEEK ON THE
20th, THE COMMITTEE WILL
DISCUSSION DOUG CONTINUED
DISCUSSION AND CONSIDER ANY --
THAT IS IT FOR THIS PART OF MY
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU TO
CENTRAL STAFF FOR THAT
PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO
FLAG MY INTEREST IN THE
TIMELINE ALIGNS WITH THE
FOLLOWING . A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION TODAY, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
NEXT WEDNESDAY AND WITH THE
ABILITY TO INTENTIONALLY HOLD A
VOTE UNTIL WE SEE THE FULL
KING COUNTY PACKAGE PAST TO
ENSURE ALIGNMENT THAT WE DON'T
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
AGAIN AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS
A LOT OF SYNERGY ALREADY BUT
THAT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO BE
TEED UP AND READY FOR A FINAL
PASSAGE WHEN THE COUNTY
PASSES, AS WELL. SO THAT IS THE
TENTATIVE TIMELINE, RIGHT NOW.
AND I APPRECIATE HAVING THOSE
DETAILS PRIOR TO BUDGET. I AM
GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS. IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES
ABOUT THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF
US AND ONE MORE THING TO FAS
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THOMAS
JUST POPPED HER HEAD IN EARLIER
AND I WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THEIR
DELIVERED WORK WITH OUR OFFICE
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS ON THE
AMENDMENT. I WANT TO THANK
CENTRAL STAFF ARE FLAGGING THE
TIMELINE CONCERNS THAT FAS HAD
ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION TO MAKE
SURE THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT
ROOM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
POLICY. SO WE ARE FEEL REALLY
COMFORTABLE WITH GIVING THE
DEPARTMENT THE TIME FOR RURAL
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNSELOR PETERS. PLEASE GO
AHEAD. -- COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. PLEASE GO AHEAD .
>> THANK YOU . AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION. AS TRANSPORTATION
CHAIR, I WANTED TO PROVIDE
INPUT ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE
LEGISLATION BUT REGARDING
COUNSEL BILL 120653 , IT IS A
REFERENCE TO AUTONOMOUS
VEHICLES OR FUTURE AUTONOMOUS
VEHICLES. AND SO, OF THAT ,
FROM THAT COUNSEL BILL 120653,
THERE IS A SECTION 6.311
.470 SUBSECTION C AND THAT
ADDRESSES FUTURE RULEMAKING FOR
THE EXECUTIVE WORKOUTS AND
DETAILS AFTER A LAW PASSES AND
IT STATES UNLESS GRANTED SUCH
AUTHORITY BY THE DIRECTOR BY
RULE , AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE
PROVIDING FOR HIRE
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IS
PROHIBITED FROM AUTONOMOUS
OPERATION . THIS BUSINESS TO
PROHIBIT AUTONOMOUS OPERATION
UNTIL THERE IS EXPLICIT
APPROVAL IS A GOOD START AND I
WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE MAKING IT
A LITTLE BIT STRONGER FOR
PROTECTING SAFETY AND IT IS
ALSO A LABOR ISSUE, AS WELL.
THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE
TECHNOLOGY BEING DEVELOPED BY
VARIOUS CORPORATIONS
EXPERIMENTING AND TESTING AT
VARIOUS LEVELS ON PUBLIC
STREETS IN DIFFERENT CITIES IS
NOT READY TO DEPLOY AUTONOMOUS
VEHICLES SAFELY AT SKILL
ESPECIALLY HERE IN SEATTLE.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS
INSTANCES AROUND THE COUNTRY
WHERE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES STALL
OR BLOCK STREETS OR COLLIDE
WITH EMERGENCY VEHICLES. IN
ADDITION TO THE SAFETY
CONCERNS, HAVING GOVERNMENT
PROACTIVELY ALLOWING AUTONOMOUS
SEASON FOR OUR VEHICLES WOULD
TAKE AWAY THE JOBS AND
LIVELIHOODS OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY
OPERATING THOSE VEHICLES. IN
THE CASE OF THE LEGISLATION FOR
US TODAY, THE TERM DIRECTOR IS
REFERRING TO THE DIRECTOR OF
THE CITY'S FINANCIAL
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. AND TO ADDRESS THE
SAFETY CONCERNS, I WOULD LIKE
TO EXPLORE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE
SURE THERE ARE SPECIFIC
COORDINATION ALIGNMENT WITH
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AS
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. SDOT HAS
DONE A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL WORK
ON CERTIFICATIONS, LIABILITY
INSURANCE, --, ADVANCE NOTICE
TO CITY DEPARTMENTS, OUTREACH
TO IMPACTED RESIDENCE,
TRANSPARENCY FOR EMERGING
TECHNOLOGY LIKE THAT . I JUST
WANT TO SIGNAL THAT I WILL
WORK WITH CENTRAL STAFF ON
THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT DOES
RAISING THAT CONCERN. I JUST
WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO FAS TO
SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
CONVERSATION TO ADD TO THIS
ABOUT WHY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
ARE PART OF THIS LEGISLATION
AND I KNOW PART OF THE
FRAMEWORK FOR THIS SUITE OF
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US WAS
TO PREPARE FOR CHANGES IN
TECHNOLOGY IN THE FUTURE.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS ONE OF THEM
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO TURNING IT
OVER TO YOU AND HEARING MORE
ABOUT WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON
THIS CONCEPT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCEL MEMBER . I
THINK YOU COUNCEL MEMBER
PEDERSEN . WE ARE NOT
MEETING THE CONVERSATION IN
SEATTLE. THAT IS DEFINITELY
OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE
DO. THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF
THE CODE IS ANTICIPATING IF
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED
TO OPERATE ON THE CITY OF
SEATTLE STREETS AND IF THEY ARE
ALLOWED TO BE A FOR HIRE
INDUSTRY, A FOR HIRE
TRANSPORTATION COMPANY LIKE
TAXIS AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO REGULATE THEM WITH THOSE
OTHER INDUSTRIES. THAT WAS OUR
ANTICIPATION ON THIS. THERE'S
A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH
. OUTSIDE OF FAS BEFORE THEY
ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE BUT ONCE
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE, IF
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE,
THEY ARE REGULATED JUST LIKE
WE DO TAXIS . SO, THANK YOU .
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
PLEASE GO AHEAD .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BACK
IN THE DARK AGES, I REMEMBER
WHEN THIS WAS A VERY HUGE DOSE
THIS AND OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS
WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TOOK
UP A LOT OF COUNSELS TIME . I
AM JUST NOW GETTING MY MIND
AROUND THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SOME OF MY
QUESTIONS ABOUT TIMING AND SOME
OF THE INTRICACIES ABOUT THE
TWO JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE TO
SORT OF BE IN ALIGNMENT . THE
FIRST QUESTION, THE CENTRAL
STAFF MEMO INCLUDES AN
ATTACHMENT WHICH IDENTIFIES A
HOST OF PRE-INTRODUCTION
CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO
THE LEGISLATION THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SENT DOWN. WHO
IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WILL
BE SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THESE
CHANGES AND WHAT DID THEY HAVE
TO SAY? SO WE HEARD FAS MAKE
COMMON TODAY SO I AM ASSUMING
AND WE JUST REFERENCED BREANNA
BUT BECAUSE THESE ARE
PRE-INTRODUCTORY CHANGES, I
JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH
COORDINATION WENT INTO , WENT
ON WITH THE EXECUTIVE ON THESE
.
>> SURE. THANKS. I CAN COMMENT
ON THAT AND MAYBE SEE IF
CENTRAL STAFF HAS ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS AND FAS. AS YOU SEE
ON THE AGENDA, THERE WAS ONE
VERSION OF PRE-INTRODUCTORY
LEGISLATION AND THERE WAS A
SECOND ONE AT. ON THE SECOND
ONE AT, THOSE ARE REFLECTED OF
CHANGES WE HAD AND FAS TO TRY
TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL
FEEDBACK . AGAIN, I APPRECIATE
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR COMMENTS
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BUT
ALSO FAS DIRECTLY FOR THEIR
PARTICIPATION IN FINDING THAT
SWEET SPOT WITH CENTRAL STAFF
AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, AS
WELL. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO
WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY
FEEDBACK THEY HAVE PROVIDED ON
THE SECOND ITERATION OF
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO
THE LEGISLATION THAT I ADDED TO
THE AGENDA, YESTERDAY, TO
REFLECT SOME OF THE CHANGES
THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION
ABOUT OVER THE LAST WEEK? I
SEE TWO PEOPLE OFF MUTE.
>> I CAN FILL THIS SPACE. I
FEEL LIKE THIS IS A QUESTION
DIRECTED TO FAS, FIRST, BEING
ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE? SURE.
SO WE HAVE BEEN OBVIOUSLY IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER
ENTITIES WITH KING COUNTY,
WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND WITH
COUNCEL MEMBER DIRECTLY IN
TERMS OF THESE AMENDMENTS. I
HAVE VOTED AND WORKED OUT
AMONGST A VARIETY OF GROUPS SO
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> AND I JUST GOT A MESSAGE
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THERE
RULE AS WELL AND KIND OF
CONTINUING TO REVIEW THINGS.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A SWEET
SPOT . I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
FEEDBACK.
>> DOES THAT ANSWER MY
QUESTION? AND I KIND OF KNOW
THAT PAUSE BETWEEN KARINA AND
YOU TALKING MADE ME WONDER
WHETHER OR NOT, I JUST WANT TO
KNOW IF THERE IS COMPLETE
AGREEMENT. I DON'T WANT TO
HAVE TO PARSE OUT AND SORT OF
READ BETWEEN THE LINES. WE
DON'T HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS HERE
BUT I AM JUST CONFUSED AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNSEL
AND FAS , THERE IS ONE POSITION
HERE.
>> YES, I WILL TAKE THAT. THE
LEGISLATION THAT WAS INTRODUCED
LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IS IN
ALIGNMENT WITH FAS AND CITY
COUNCEL .
>> OKAY, THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING FOR
CLARIFICATION AND THANK YOU TO
FAS FOR ALL OF THAT HARD WORK.
KARINA, FOR SHEPHERDING AND
CRAFTING SOME FINAL LANGUAGE
FOR US. COUNCEL MEMBER
HERBOLD .
>> I WANT TO SAY HEARING SOME
PUBLIC COMMENT AND GOING OVER
SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT THIS
BILL CREATES , I JUST LIKE
THERE IS A REAL DISCONNECT .
WE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT OVER REGULATING
OR COMPLEX REGULATIONS AND IT
SEEMS TO ME THAT THE
LEGISLATION REMOVES BUREAUCRACY
SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO
DEAL WITH BOTH THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY FOR EVERY MEDALLION
, DEALING WITH EVERY PENALTY,
THE LICENSING, ALL OF THAT. IT
SEEMS LIKE COMBINING THAT
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES
REGULATION. ALSO, STREAMLINED
APPEALS PROCESSES FOR
ENFORCEMENT SO THAT A DRIVER
CAN MORE EASILY COMPLETE
THEIR HEARING PROCESS AND
RETURN TO WORK . THE
PRE-INTRODUCTORY CHANGES, AS
WELL. BUT, AGAIN, SINCE WE
ARE HEARING THE NARRATIVE
FROM SOME DRIVERS THAT THERE
IS CONCERN ABOUT OVER
REGULATING, I AM WONDERING,
THE MATERIAL, THERE'S LIKE 100
PAGES OF MATERIAL AND I
APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GETTING
THROUGH THEM BUT IS THERE
SOMEWHERE THAT WE IDENTIFY ONE
PAGE, ALL OF THE REGULATORY
PROCESSES THAT THIS BILL WOULD
SIMPLIFY IN ONE PLACE?
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO CREATE
THEM. WE WOULD HAVE TO CREATE
SOMETHING. BUT THAT IS DOABLE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE CITY'S
MOST COMPLEX REGULATORY
PROGRAMS. AND I WILL POINT OUT
AT LEAST AS I WAS HEARING THE
COMMENTS FROM THOSE PROVIDING
PUBLIC TESTIMONY, THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A DISPATCH
AGENCY AND THE DRIVER IS ONE
THAT THE CITY HAS TRADITIONALLY
NOT INSERTED ITSELF IN. AT SO
I THINK WHEN FOLKS TALK ABOUT
NEW POLICIES OR FEES THAT A
DISPATCH AGENCY , A TAXI
ASSOCIATION OR FOR HYO VEHICLE
COMPANY MAY IMPOSE ON A GROUP
OF DRIVERS THAT ARE AFFILIATED
WITH THEM, THAT IS A DIFFERENT
QUESTION AND MAYBE NOT ONE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS IN
OUR BUSINESS REGULATIONS AT THE
CITY.
>> GREAT. I WILL ALSO SAY,
PART OF THE PROCESS, IF THIS
LEGISLATION IS ENACTED, WE
HAVE ALL THE INTENT OF GOING
OUT AND TALKING TO THE
ORGANIZATIONS, THE DRIVERS, THE
OPERATORS AND OWNERS TO HELP
FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH THE
CHANGES THEY ARE MAKING SO THAT
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS
IMPACTS.
>> I AM SUGGESTING IT BE DONE
ON THE FRONT END. AS PART OF
OUR PROCESS. SO THAT WE CAN
KIND OF BRING DOWN THE
TEMPERATURE A LITTLE BIT. THAT
WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> THANK YOU I LOVE ONE PAGER
. SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING
THAT. IF POSSIBLE TO HAVE THAT
BEFORE NEXT WEDNESDAY, THAT
WOULD BE FANTASTIC. ANOTHER
HAND? YES COUNSELOR --
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON ?
>> IT SEEMS TO REGULATE A NEW
AREA OF REGULATION, THIS IS
BRAND-NEW? ANYWAY, THAT IS NOT
WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT.
IT IS MORE ABOUT TIMING AND
WHAT THE COUNTY IS DOING. YOU
STATED A PREFERENCE AND I WANT
TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT
YOUR PREFERENCE IS WHAT I THINK
IT IS. IT SAYS THAT THE
COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE
AWAITING SPONSORSHIP AND MAY
NOT BE REVIEWED UNTIL OCTOBER
OR NOVEMBER. TO SYNCHRONIZE
THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGES, IT IS
LIKELY THAT COUNSEL WILL NEED
TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
AFTER THE COMPANY HAS ADOPTED,
THE COUNTY COUNCEL HAS ADOPTED
ITS REVIEW THIS FALL. AND IF
THE COUNCEL APPROVES THE CITY'S
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE BEFORE THE
COUNTY COMPLETES THEIR
LEGISLATION, THE COUNTY WOULD
NEED TO INTRODUCE ANY NEW
LEGISLATION RATHER THAN
AMENDING THE CURRENT PACKAGE.
ON PAGE 10 OF THE SLIDE
PRESENTATION, OPTION TWO, I
BELIEVE WAS THAT YOUR
PREFERENCE? CHAIR MOSQUEDA
THAT WE ACT LATER RATHER THAN
SOONER?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CLARIFICATION. THE PROCESS
THAT I AM OUTLINING AND THAT I
WOULD LOVE TO STICK WITH, THE
BRIEFING TODAY, A BRIEFING
CONSIDERATION , THE LAST TIME
TO GO BEFORE WE GET INTO BUDGET
AND WE HOLD THE BILL UNTIL
AFTER BUDGET. THAT GIVES US
UNTIL COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF
NOTED , DECEMBER 5th IS THE
EARLIEST DATE WE WOULD CONSIDER
THE LEGISLATION AND FULL
COUNSEL. THAT GIVES THE SORT OF
BLUEPRINT TO THE COUNTY OF WHAT
THE CITY IS ALSO THINKING.
THEY HAVE THE SAME LEGISLATION
IN FRONT OF THEM. IF THERE IS
ANY CHANGES TO THE COUNTY
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 5th, -- 25th,
IT GIVES US A CHANCE BEFORE WE
GO TO A FINAL VOTE. AND THAT
RELIEVES US OF HAVING TO
INTRODUCE LEGISLATION. THE
GOAL IS TO GET IT OUT OF
COMMITTEE AND THEN WE ARE READY
FOR A FINAL PASSAGE IN
DECEMBER.
>> SO THERE WOULD BE ONE
COUNCEL MEETING, A FULL
COUNCEL MEETING TO MAKE CHANGES
? ARE WE KIND OF SURE THAT
THEY ARE BASICALLY IN LINE SO
THEY WON'T BE SUPER DIFFERENT?
>> THESE ARE SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR BECAUSE THERE ARE
DIFFERENT REGULATIONS
CURRENTLY AT THE COUNTY AND THE
CITY SO WE ARE TRYING TO
HARMONIZE THOSE AND END UP WITH
THE SAME OUTCOME. SO I WOULD
TURN IT OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF
TO COMMENT BUT THAT IS THE
PLAN. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR
LEGISLATION PASSED THROUGH
BOTH CHAMBERS OF GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE SAME
OUTCOME ACROSS THE COUNTY AND
THE CITY. ANYTHING TO ADD TO
THAT, MATTHEW?
>> THE COUNTY AND CITY BILLS
ARE NOT CARBON COPIES OF ONE
ANOTHER. THERE WILL BE
JURISDICTION KIND OF SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE . THE KEY IS HAVING
THE SUBSTANCE AROUND THE
REGULATORY LANGUAGE THE SAME
SO THAT WE CAN AS EFFICIENTLY
AS POSSIBLE ADMINISTER
REGULATORY PROGRAM.
>> AND THEN, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON , WE REMAIN FLEXIBLE
AS WELL IF WE HEAR ANY
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK BETWEEN
NOW AND COUNSEL. I KEEP LOOKING
PAST DUE AT THE COUNTY
CHAMBERS. IF OUR COUNTY
COLLEAGUES MAKE ANY
SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THEIR
DELIBERATIONS, WE WILL STILL
HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO ACT
BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE. THAT IS
MY INTENDED.
>> ONE OF THE COMMENTERS SAID
SOMETHING ABOUT DAD HEADING TO
THE AIRPORT SO THAT MADE ME
THINK OF THE PORT EUROPE THEY
ARE NOT INVOLVED AT ALL, ARE
THEY? ANY COMMENTS ABOUT PORT
REGULATIONS?
>> WE HAVE INVOLVED SUPPORT
STAFF IN OUR DISCUSSIONS.
SEATTLE RELIES ON THE
REGULATORY WORK THAT THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY DO FOR ITS
CONTRACTS FOR OWNER OPERATORS
AND SO THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THAT . IN A SEPARATE PROCESS,
WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THEIR
WORK TO PROVIDE TAXI AND FOR
HIGHER VEHICLE OPTIONS. THERE
IS IN THE COUNTY ORDINANCE ,
WITHIN THE COUNTY'S
JURISDICTION , A MINIMUM RATE
FOR SHORT TRIPS THAT ORIGINATE
AT SEA-TAC AND THAT HAS BEEN
AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN HIGH ON
A LOT OF FOLKS LISTS TO TACKLE
FOR A LONG TIME BUT THAT IS A
FEATURE OF THE COUNTY'S
ORDINANCE.
>> WE WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH
FOLKS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO
WORK. WITH THE COUNTY PARTNERS
AND AGAIN, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY
SUGGESTED LANGUAGE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN IS HAPPY
TO WORK WITH YOU ON THE
SUGGESTED QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS ON AUTONOMOUS
VEHICLES. IF YOU HAVE ANY
IDEAS, PLEASE DO SHARE THOSE
WITH CENTRAL STAFF. IS THAT
WHAT WE SEE , KARINA? FRIDAY AT
NOON. WITH THAT, THANK YOU TO
THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IN CENTRAL STAFF
FOR YOUR CONTINUED
PARTICIPATION IN HELPING TO
FINALIZE THE LANGUAGE AND
THANKS TO AARON HOUSE FOR
HELPING TO TRACK THIS AS WE GET
THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. WE WILL
GO AHEAD AND SEE YOU AT NEXT
WEEK'S MEETING. WE WILL TAKE
THIS UP ON SEPTEMBER 20th.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE LAST ITEM
ON OUR AGENDA FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION. ADAM CLARK, COULD
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM 5 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE,
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> WE WELCOME LISH WHITSON .
THERE HAS BEEN NO INTRODUCTION.
WE ARE STILL AWAITING THE
FINAL TRANSFER OF THAT. WE DID
AS I NOTED ON COUNSEL BRIEFING
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH
LAW AND ALL OF THE TEAM FROM
CENTRAL STAFF IN DRAFTING THE
LEGISLATION THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER, LATE SPRING AND
RECEIVED INITIAL FEEDBACK FROM
LAW IN EARLY AUGUST THAT WENT
BACK TO LAW. THEY WANTED TO
TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT THE
LEGISLATION AND IT WAS
TRANSMITTED BACK TO THE CITY
CHAMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 5th.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE AWAITING THE
FINAL TRANSMISSION TO OUR
COMMITTEE SO WE CAN OFFICIALLY
HEAR IT IN THE COMMITTEE. UNTIL
THEN, WE HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE
LEGISLATION AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO HAVING THAT FOR FULL
DISCUSSION AND PARTICIPATION IN
OUR UPCOMING COUNCEL MEETING
NEXT WEEK. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON THIS LEGISLATION AS I NOTED
WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
INCLUDING FOLKS WHO WERE THE
ORIGINAL AUTHORS OF THE
SELECTION INITIATIVE . IN 2015,
YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT
LEGISLATION PASSED AND I WANT
TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE
COALITION FOR ENGAGING WITH US.
AS WE LOOK AT WAYS TO CONTINUE
WITH ACCOMPLISH WITH WHAT THE
VOTERS IN TEMPLE GIBBS --
INTENT WAS, THERE IS ALWAYS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WE WOULD ENHANCE OR
TWEAK OR MODIFY THE LEGISLATION
TO ENSURE GREATER
EFFECTIVENESS. FOR ME, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT CAME UP AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR WAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE GREATER
STABILITY AND REDUCE LARGE
TURNOVER ON COUNSEL BY TRYING
TO STAGGERED ELECTIONS IN A
MORE EVEN WAY BETWEEN THE
SEATS THAT THE CONSUL
REPRESENTS AND ENSURE THAT WE
DID HAVE GREATER INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY CARRY OVER
THROUGHOUT THE COUNSEL AS WE
LOOK TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF
THE CITY. THIS RESOLUTION
WOULD PLACE A MEASURE IN FRONT
OF THE CITY VOTERS TO VOTE ON
FOR NEXT NOVEMBER AND CHANGE
SOME OF THE COUNCEL SEATS TO
ENSURE THAT THERE ARE
STAGGERED ELECTIONS , AUTHORIZE
THE CITY TO CONSIDER THE
ABILITY FOR US TO HAVE SEATS
TWO, FOUR, SIX AND EIGHT.
ESSAYS ONE, THREE, FIVE, SEVEN
AND NINE IN ANOTHER GEAR. I
MENTIONED TO MEMBERS OF THE
PRESS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
YEAR THAT THIS WOULD BE A
REALLY POSITIVE WAY FOR US TO
ASSURE GREATER STABILITY AND
CONTINUITY AS WE LOOK TO SERVE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND
HELP REDUCE LARGE NUMBERS OF
SEATS TURNING OVER ALL AT ONCE.
THIS LEGISLATION HAS HAD
EXTENSIVE REVIEW BY LAW AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED
IN THIS. I ALSO MENTIONED
THIS LEGISLATION TO OUR
COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD
AUTHORIZE THE VOTE FOR THE
ELECTORATE NEXT NOVEMBER,
2024. NO IMMEDIATE CHANGES
RECOGNIZING THERE ARE SEVEN
COUNCEL SEATS UP FOR ELECTION,
RIGHT NOW. I ALSO WANT TO STATE
FOR THE RECORD AS WELL THAT I
AM NOT WEDDED TO THE
TRANSITION PERIOD FOR CERTAIN
SEEDS. ESSENTIALLY FOR SEAT
NUMBER NINE. LOOKING FORWARD TO
OUR COLLEAGUES AS WE LOOK TO
CREATE A BLUEPRINT OR A
TIMEFRAME THAT ALLOWS FOR THE
STAGGERED ELECTIONS TO BE FULLY
IN EFFECT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE GETTING THOSE
INTERIM TERMS CORRECT, AS WELL.
THANKS TO THE STAKEHOLDERS
THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS
PROCESS AND REVIEWING VARIOUS
ITERATIONS OF THE LEGISLATION .
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE
COALITION WHO WAS THE IMPETUS
OF THE SELECTIONS INITIATIVE IN
2025. A MEMBER OF THE
COALITION WROTE THE FOLLOWING
FOR THE COMMITTEE'S
CONSIDERATION. I ENCOURAGE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO ALLOW
VOTERS TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO
STAGGER DISTRICT CITY COUNCEL
ELECTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. SUCH
REFORM WOULD BENEFIT THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE IN A
VARIETY OF WAYS. CONSISTENT AND
WORKFLOW WOULD BE LESS IMPACT
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
DRAMATIC TURNOVER AND
LEADERSHIP. CURRENTLY, COUNSEL
CREATES TERMS POTENTIAL OF
NINE COUNCILMEMBERS CYCLING
OUT AT THE SAME TIME. SUCH A
SCENARIO COULD MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN ANY SORT
OF CONSISTENCY IN THE
TRAJECTORY OF THE CITY.
MULTIYEAR PROJECTS WOULD BE
MORE LIKELY TO STALL. CRITICAL
PROGRAMS WOULD BE MORE LIKELY
TO GO UNFUNDED AND COUNSELOR
LEADERSHIP WOULD BE MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO SHORT-TERM AND
PUBLIC REACTION TO STORIES IN
THE PRESS. WHAT WE NEED IS A
CITY COUNCEL THAT IS STABLE,
FORWARD THINKING AND PROACTIVE.
WE CAN PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY
OF LOSING THE LARGE MAJORITY
OF OUR COUNSEL EVERY FOUR
YEARS. IN ADDITION TO
STAGGERING THE TERMS, THIS
WOULD HELP INCREASE VOTER
ATTENTION AND INVESTMENTS IN
EVERY CYCLE. EACH MUNICIPAL
ELECTION WOULD INCLUDE ONE
CITYWIDE RACE. STAGGERING OUR
DISTRICT COUNSEL RACES IS A
GOOD THING FOR DEMOCRACY AND I
HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS
LEGISLATION FOR YOUR
CONSTITUENTS TO ALLOW THE
PEOPLE TO DECIDE. I WILL SEND
THAT LETTER FROM STEPHAN MUNOZ
TO OUR COLLEAGUES . HE WAS ONE
OF THE AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS
TO THE HONEST ELECTIONS
INITIATIVE THAT PASSED WITH A
VOTE OF THE PEOPLE IN 2015. AND
IF MY TEAM IS LISTENING, YOU'RE
FREE TO SEND THAT LETTER AROUND
AS WE ARE HEADING INTO THE
DISCUSSION OF THIS LEGISLATION.
APOLOGIES THAT I DID NOT GET A
CHANCE TO SEND THAT AROUND
EARLIER. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
CENTRAL STAFF TO WALK US
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION HERE,
TODAY.
>> THIS WILL BE VERY SHORT. IT
IS A SHORT RESOLUTION. AND I
THINK YOU HAVE COVERED MOST OF
THE ITEMS. BUT JUST TO PULL UP
THE LAST ATTACHMENT TO MY MEMO
. SO THE RESOLUTION WOULD
PLACE ITEMS ON THE BALLOT
FOR NOVEMBER OF 2024 FOR
MEMBERS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR
NOT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OR TO
CHANGE HOW COUNSEL TERMS ARE
ELECTED. AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE,
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE FOUR-YEAR
TERMS . THE SEVENTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ALL ELECTED
IN THE SAME YEAR . WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
2023 ELECTION. FOR THOSE SEVEN
TERMS, SEVEN POSITIONS AND THE
TWO CITYWIDE COUNCEL SEATS ARE
ELECTED TWO YEARS LATER. IF
THE CHARTER AMENDMENT WERE TO
BE APPROVED , THERE WOULD BE
AN INTERIM CONDITION WHERE
FOUR OF THOSE COUNCEL SEATS
WOULD HAVE TWO YEAR TERMS
WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR A SHIFT
TO HAVE SEATS UP FOR ELECTION
IN ONE YEAR AND ARE EVEN YEAR
UP FOR ELECTION TWO YEARS
LATER. THAT WOULD BE IN EFFECT
BY 2029 , BY THE ELECTION OF
2029. THE RESOLUTION ALSO
INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT WOULD
ALLOW FUTURE COUNSEL TO SHIFT
THESE TERMS TO ALLOW FOR EVEN
YEAR ELECTIONS IF THE STATE
CHANGES STATE LAW TO ALLOW
CITIES TO HAVE ELECTIONS. AND
AS COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED, IT WOULD GO ON THE
BALLOT IF APPROVED BY THE
COUNCEL IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> JUST DIGESTING THIS
PROPOSED RESOLUTION . I JUST
WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK . IN TERMS
OF THE STAKEHOLDER THAT WAS
DONE, I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS
WHO PUT TOGETHER THE DISTRICTS
GOING FROM CITYWIDE TO THE
DISTRICT POSITION, THAT WAS
NOT HONEST ELECTIONS. I THINK
HONEST ELECTIONS WAS A
DEMOCRACY . SO THE PEOPLE ,
HAS THERE BEEN TIME YET TO ASK
THEM WHY IT WAS SET UP THE
ORIGINAL WAY? THAT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HEAR. I
THOUGHT THERE WAS A REASON WHY
THEY HAD BOTH CITYWIDE
POSITIONS HAPPENING AT THE
SAME TIME. THERE WAS A DESIRE
TO EMPHASIZE DISTRICTS AND
DISTRICT REPRESENTATION AND
FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO GO
CITYWIDE, HAVING THEM MAKE THE
CHOICE. WITH A STICK WITH
CITY COUNCEL OR GO FOR THE
MAYOR'S POSITION? I THINK WHAT
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT , INSTEAD
OF CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE
STATEWIDE POSITION , SOMEBODY
MIGHT BE CITYWIDE .
COUNCILMEMBER , LEAVING OFFICE
TO RUN FOR MAYOR OR SOMETHING.
ALSO, A REASON TO PICK THE
SORT OF ON VERSUS EVEN NUMBER
SEATS. WHY NOT JUST DO THE
TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT INSTEAD
OF THE ONE, THREE, FIVE, SEVEN,
NINE. I GUESS THAT IS THE
QUESTION. THE FOUNDER, THE
AUTHORS. AND IS THE RAY
FLEXIBILITIES TO SWITCHING.
THOSE ARE MY INITIAL THOUGHTS.
THANK YOU.
>> LET ME TRY TO ADDRESS ONE OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED.
IN TERMS OF WHY , TWO, FOUR,
SIX, EIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT
WOULD BE EASIER TO REMEMBER
THIS IS THE YEAR THAT EVEN
SEATS ARE UP AND THIS IS THE
YEAR THAT ON SEATS ARE UP AND
TO ALIGN THE EVEN NUMBERS WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SO THAT
THERE IS AN EVEN NUMBER OF
SEATS AT THE SAME TIME. AT
LEAST WITHIN CITY HALL. I
ADMIT THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE
STILL PART OF THE HONEST
ELECTIONS COALITION ARE STILL
ACTIVE. THE NAME OF THE
COALITION IS PEOPLE POWERED
ELECTIONS WASHINGTON AND THEY
ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON VARIOUS
DEMOCRATIC REFORM TO INCREASE
CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND
ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES SO IT
IS THE COALITION I KNOW THAT IS
STILL ACTIVE OUT THERE AND
REACH OUT TO THEM EARLY ON AND
I AM NOT SURE IF THE OTHER
COALITION IS STILL ACTIVE BUT
I AM HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO
ENGAGE WITH THEM AGAIN. THIS IS
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ALIGN
THE GOAL OF HAVING MORE
CONTINUITY ON COUNSEL. SO
WHETHER YOU DID THE FIRST
FOUR SEEDS AND THEN THE OTHER
FIVE SEATS, I DON'T REALLY
HAVE A PREFERENCE ON THAT. IT
IS JUST A REALLY KIND OF DIVIDE
THE NUMBER OF SEATS RELATIVELY
EVENLY. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU
MIGHT'VE HAD A COMMENT RELATED
TO ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS, AS
WELL. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
YOU .
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEARSON --
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN I THINK
CAPTURE THE INTENT FOR THE
CURRENT SYSTEM REALLY WELL IN
TERMS OF WHAT WAS ARGUED IN
2013 BY DISTRICTS AND THEY WERE
PROPOSING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT
THAT SET UP OUR CURRENT
SYSTEM. THE IDEA WAS THAT THE
SEVEN DISTRICT SEATS , BECAUSE
THEY ARE SORT OF EACH
INDIVIDUAL OCCURRING AT ONE
TIME, EACH SERVE THE DISTRICT
WOULD BE FOCUSED ON THEIR
LOCAL DISTRICT RACE AND THE
TWO CITYWIDE SEATS WHICH
WOULD HAVE -- WOULD HVE HAD
A SHOW OF CITYWIDE SUPPORT
NEED TO SORT OF STEP DOWN IF
THEY WANT TO RUN AGAINST THE
MAYOR OR RUN FOR THE MAYOR .
EXPECT THAT DOESN'T MAKE A TON
OF SENSE TO ME. I DON'T SEE A
HUGE DIFFERENCE ON HOW WE ARE
SERVING WHETHER IT IS CITYWIDE
OR DISTRICT AND WHETHER SOMEONE
IS INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY
RUNNING FOR MAYOR. THAT SORT OF
LOGIC DOESN'T REALLY CARRY
FORWARD TO HOW THE DISTRICT
AND CITYWIDE SEATS HAVE PLAYED
OUT. IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE
CHART THAT WAS PROVIDED AS AN
ADDENDUM AND I SAY THIS TO MY
DISTRICT FRIEND AND CITYWIDE
FRIENDS, YOU CAN EASILY MOVE
THOSE LINES AND YOU CAN HAVE
POSITION 8B4 YEARS AND TWO
YEARS AND FOUR YEARS AND YOU
CAN SHIFT ALL OF THE LINES UP
AND CHANGE THE ORDER IN WHICH
EACH OF THOSE WERE EXPERIENCING
THE INTERIM SHORTER YEAR
TERM. THERE IS ALSO THE
POSSIBILITY THAT ONE COULD
COMBINE THOSE TWO COLUMNS AND
GET US TO THE SAME TIMEFRAME
AFTER 2031 BUT I WILL NOTE THAT
KING COUNTY FOR EXAMPLE JUST
CHANGED THE TERMS OF THEIR
SERVICE DUE TO THE FACT THAT
THEY ARE MOVING TO EVEN THE
ELECTION INSTEAD OF CREATING A
FIVE-YEAR TERM, FOR EXAMPLE,
THEY WENT TO THREE YEARS AND
THEN THEY ARE GOING TO GO BACK
TO THE FOUR YEAR TERMS, AGAIN .
SO WE WENT WITH THE SHORTER
TIMEFRAME FOR TRANSITION BUT
THOSE DOUG -- BUT COULD
COMBINE -- I AM GOING TO GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION, IS
THERE A WAY TO STRUCTURE THIS
SO THAT THE TWO AT-LARGE
COUNCILMEMBERS CONTINUED TO RUN
THE SAME YEAR AS THE MAYOR .
CAN WE STILL ACCOMPLISH THE
GOAL WHILE MAINTAINING
POSITIONS EIGHT AND NINE ?
>> THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO DO
THAT BUT ONE WAY WOULD BE TO
PICK TWO OF THE DISTRICT SEATS
TO RUN IN THE SAME YEAR THAT
THE CITYWIDE POSITIONS ARE
BEING ELECTED FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS UP ONE YEAR FIVE
THE OTHERS . EXPECT THANK YOU,
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
EXPLORING THAT.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT. IT DOES
SEEM LIKE I HAVE GOTTEN A FEW
QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE TWO.
CITYWIDE SEATS AND I KNOW
THERE WAS ANOTHER QUESTION
EARLIER AS WE TRANSMITTED THE
LEGISLATION. I AM HAPPY TO
CONSIDER THAT AS A POSSIBLE
AMENDMENT, AS WELL. ADDITIONAL
HAND? PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> SO YOU'RE CALLING FOR A
BALLOT MEASURE FOR A CHARTER
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD CHANGE THE
STRUCTURE OF DISTRICT ELECTIONS
WHICH WAS THE CITIZENS
INITIATIVE IN 2013. I JUST WANT
TO BE CLEAR ON THAT BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT OF, WE ARE
TALKING, WE HAVE MENTIONED
DISTRICT ELECTIONS AND HONEST
ELECTIONS AND JUST FOR THE
PUBLIC, THOSE WERE TWO
SEPARATE CAMPAIGNS AND IN
BRIEFINGS ON MONDAY, YOU
INDICATED THAT THE SWITCH TO
DISTRICTWIDE ELECTIONS WAS
RELATED TO THE HONEST ELECTIONS
GROUP IN 2015 BUT THAT IS NOT
CORRECT. HONEST ELECTIONS
PUSHED THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS .
I AM GATHERING THAT MAYBE YOU
HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH ANYBODY
FROM THE SEATTLE DISTRICTS NOW
WHICH COULD PUT THE DISTRICT
ELECTIONS BEFORE US, CORRECT ME
IF I AM WRONG BUT WE HAVE
RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM EUGENE
WATSON WHO WANTED ME TO READ IT
INTO THE RECORD. HE SAYS, I AM
WRITING TO YOU AS THE FORMER
CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE DISTRICTS
NOW CAMPAIGN, THE PEOPLE WHO
WROTE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT
SEEK CHANGE. HE WROTE THE
CHARTER AMENDMENT AND RAN THE
CAMPAIGN WHICH PASSED WITH 66%
OF THE VOTE. THE CURRENT SYSTEM
CITY COUNCEL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL. A DIVERSE GROUP OF
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS WAS
ELECTED. THE CURRENT SYSTEM
HAS BEEN CONTROVERSY FREE.
WHEN THE REDISTRICTING
COMMITTEE HELD PUBLIC MEETINGS,
THERE WAS NO CALL TO CHANGE IN
THE COUNCILMEMBERS WERE TO BE
ELECTED. I DO NOT REMEMBER YOU
RAISING THIS AS AN ISSUE WHEN
IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE
APPROPRIATE AND THAT HE SAYS
SOMETHING LIKE, TO DO THIS
WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING IS NOT
CORRECT AND THEN THE LAST
SENTENCE IS, I WOULD ASK THAT
YOU REMOVE YOUR CHARTER
AMENDMENT FROM CONSIDERATION.
SO THAT IS SOMEBODY WHO PUT
THE CITIZENS INITIATIVE ON THE
BALLOT IN 2013, THAT IS WHAT HE
HAS TO SAY. FOR MY PART, I
HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
CONCERNS. AND THE FIRST ONE IS,
I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD
BE MESSING WITH OUR ELECTION
SYSTEM ESPECIALLY NOT ONE SET
UP A CITIZENS INITIATIVE
WITHOUT A REALLY GOOD REASON
FOR DOING SO AND I'M NOT
SEEING EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM
THAT THIS IS TRYING TO FIX. I
HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY EMAILS
ABOUT THIS, FOR EXAMPLE. AND IF
WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE
DISRUPTION OF HAVING SEVEN
SEATS UP AT ONCE AND THE
TURNOVER THAT MY CAR IS, WHY
WOULD WE DELIBERATELY SET
THINGS UP SO THAT EIGHT SEATS
ARE ON THE BALLOT IN 2027
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ALL SEVEN
DISTRICT ELECTIONS IN ONE
CITYWIDE WHICH IS RIGHT NOW
POSITION NINE . AND THIS WILL
ALSO BE PILING ONTO THE
CHANGES THAT WILL LIKELY BE
IMPLEMENTED IN 2027 WHEN WE
IMPLEMENT CHOICE VOTING. THAT
WILL BE A BIG CHANGE IN
POTENTIALLY CONFUSING TO
VOTERS, AS WELL. AND ALSO, WE
HAD DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS. SO WE
ARE MAKING A LOT OF CHANGES TO
OUR ELECTION SYSTEM. I AM NOT
WEIGHING IN ON THE PROS OR CONS
OF ANY OF THEM BUT THIS WOULD
BE ANOTHER BIG CHANGE. AND TO
THE POINT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN WAS BRINGING UP, I
HAVE THIS TO SAY. SEATTLE
DISTRICTS NOW HAVE A VERY WELL
RESEARCHED REASON FOR KEEPING
ALL CITYWIDE RACES, THE MAYORS,
THE ATTORNEY AND THE TWO
AT-LARGE CITY COUNCEL SEATS ON
A SEPARATE BALLOT AND
ALTOGETHER . AND ONE OF THESE
WAS TO FORCE A CHOICE UPON
AT-LARGE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO MAY
WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR . AND I
KNOW THIS BECAUSE I ENDED UP
HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH
EUGENE. BASICALLY, HE SAID THEY
CAN RUN FOR MAYOR OR THEY CAN
RUN FOR REELECTION BUT IF THEY
MOUNT AND FOR MAYOR, IT IS
NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THEM
REMAIN AS COUNSEL BECAUSE THAT
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A TOXIC
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BRANCH
AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IS
DYSFUNCTIONAL AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR IS
TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH ONE
SEATTLE. AND SO THAT IS THE
MAIN REASON WHY THEY WANTED TO
HAVE THE CITYWIDE'S AND THE
DISTRICT SEATS SEPARATE AND
THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FACT
THAT CITYWIDE ARE DEALING WITH
ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE WHOLE
CITY SO THOSE ISSUES THAT COME
UP DURING THE CANDIDATE
FORUMS AND ET CETERA CAN BE
REALLY FLESHED OUT AT THAT
LEVEL. I SEE THE LOGIC OF
STAGGERING THE SEVEN DISTRICT
RACES BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY
WHEN EVERY COUNCILMEMBER WAS
ELECTED CITYWIDE, THEY WERE
SPLIT UP EVERY OTHER OFF YEAR
WITH FIVE OF ONE YEAR AND
FOUR, THE NEXT. BUT , TO DO
THIS IN ONE MEETING AS WE
WERE DISCUSSING IT NOW AND
POTENTIALLY VOTING ABOUT NEXT
TIME, WITHOUT CONFERRING WITH
THE SEATTLE DISTRICTS NOW FOLKS
AND DOING EXTENSIVE PUBLIC
OUTREACH AND SOLICITATION OF
THEIR OPINIONS OF WHAT THE
PROBLEMS ARE RIGHT NOW, I THINK
IT IS DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE
INTENT OF THAT CITIZENS
INITIATIVE . AND FINALLY, THIS
IS A TRIGGER LOCK ALLOWING
COUNSEL TO CHANGE ELECTIONS TO
EVEN YEARS AND IT WON'T HAPPEN
UNLESS THE STATE LEGISLATURE
APPROVED THAT SOMEDAY AND WE
ALL KNOW THAT TRIGGER LAWS CAN
GENERALLY BE PROBLEMATIC. AND,
SO, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I
WANT ON THE TABLE. BUT,
SPECIFICALLY, TO ALLOWING
LOCAL GOVERNMENT RACIST TO
MOVE, I HAVE REALLY STRONG
OPINIONS ABOUT THIS. IT IS TRUE
THAT ALTHOUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
IS PERHAPS NOT THAT SEXY, IT
IS THE DECISIONS MADE BY LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ELECTED OFFICIALS
THAT REALLY IMPACT PEOPLE'S %
LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM
PUBLIC SAFETY TO POTHOLES AND
EVERYTHING ELSE. AND MOVING
THOSE RACES TO EVEN YEARS
WHEN THEY ARE COMPETING ON THE
BALLOT AND FOR PUBLIC
ATTENTION AND MEDIA AIRWAVES
WHEN THEY ARE COMPETING AGAINST
RACES FOR STATE AND FEDERAL
POSITIONS WOULD REALLY DROWN
OUT THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT
POLICY POSITIONS. ESPECIALLY
IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS
. SO I THINK THAT IS A
CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE,
THAT CANNOT PROCEED SORT OF
CAVALIERLY AND INCLUDED IN A
BALLOT MEASURE , THIS
RESOLUTION, A VALID TITLE THAT
THIS RESOLUTION INCLUDES. SO I
HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
RESOLUTION AND I WILL BE
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE
INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND
FROM MY COLLEAGUES PERHAPS IN
THE WEEKS TO COME.
>> OKAY. I GUESS WE WILL
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION NEXT
WEDNESDAY. I WOULD POINT TO A
NUMBER OF ARTICLES THROUGHOUT
THE SPRING AND EARLY PART OF
THE YEAR. THEY HAD LIVES
INCLUDING FROM THE SEATTLE
TIMES, SEATTLE CITY COUNCEL
TURNOVER RAISES TROUBLING
QUESTIONS FROM FEBRUARY,
ANOTHER NUMBER OF ARTICLES
ABOUT POLICY. I WOULD NOTE THAT
MR. WASSERMAN'S EMAIL START
WITH I AM WRITING AS A CITIZEN
NOT REPRESENTING ANYONE . IF
THE COALITION IS STILL IN
EXISTENCE, I AM HAPPY TO DO
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION WITH A
BROAD SET OF STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCING
THE LEGISLATION. AGAIN, THE
COALITION I WENT TO FOR
FEEDBACK IS THE ONE CONTINUING
TO OPERATE AND HAS ADDITIONAL
ONGOING MEETINGS, TALKING ABOUT
SPECIFIC ENGAGEMENT, PREPARING
FOR UPCOMING STRATEGIES
CONTINUING TO DRIVE TOWARD
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT . IF THERE IS
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK THAT FOLKS
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER, I WOULD
SAY PRE-SEPTEMBER 20th
MEETING, PLEASE DO. AT THOSE
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO
CENTRAL STAFF UNLESS Y'ALL USE
THE SAME DEADLINE AS KARINA
HAS, BY NOON ON FRIDAY. I AM
HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WASTE,
STABILIZE THE COUNCEL. IT IS
NOT LIKE WHEN PUBLIC POLICY
PASSES, YOU NEVER GO BACK AND
UPDATE IT. IMPLEMENTATION AND
ANALYSIS, REVIEW AND
ENHANCEMENT. THAT IS WHAT
PUBLIC POLICYMAKING IS AND
INITIATIVES ARE NO DIFFERENT.
THERE HAS BEEN AMPLE TIME FOR
US TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF
HAVING DISTRICTS. I AGREE WITH
THE COMMENTS THAT THERE HAVE
BEEN A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY
BOTH AS SERVING AS
COUNCILMEMBERS IN THE VOTING
PUBLIC KNOWING WHO THEIR
DISTRICT COUNSEL IS,
ABSOLUTELY BENEFITS. AND HAVING
GREATER STABILITY AND LESS
TURNOVER IS A GOOD THING FOR
DEMOCRACY. WHAT THE COUNCEL
DECIDES TO DO IN TERMS OF WHEN,
THIS GETS IN FRONT OF VOTERS
AND THIS IS THE EARLIEST
POSSIBLE TIME WE DO GET IT EVEN
ON OUR AGENDA AND IT IS STILL
BEING REVIEWED BY THE COUNCEL
PRESIDENT . SO THERE IS
ADDITIONAL TIME ON FEEDBACK
BUT THERE IS NOTHING NEFARIOUS
ABOUT TRYING TO CREATE
STABILITY FOR OUR LOCAL
DEMOCRACY. THERE IS NOTHING
UNDERMINING ABOUT TRYING TO
ASSURE THAT THE PEOPLE SERVING
OUR CITY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
HAVE CONTINUITY AND
INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY. IF
ANYTHING, IT ALLOWS FOR THE
TEMPERATURE TO BE TAKEN DOWN
ON HOW LOCAL ELECTIONS IMPACT
DECISION-MAKING AND PUBLIC
POLICY AND MY HOPE IS THAT
THIS INITIATES THE CONVERSATION
THAT WILL POTENTIALLY CONTINUE
ON COUNSEL AND ALLOW FOR
GREATER STABILITY. IT IS NOT
IMPUGNING THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS
OF THE 2013 INITIATIVE . THANK
YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON
THAT. IT IS IN FACT TRYING TO
ENHANCE AND FURTHER THE GOALS
OF CREATING GREATER
REPRESENTATION. WITH THAT BEING
THE UNDERLYING POINT OF THIS
LEGISLATION TO ALLOW FOR
VOTERS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT
TO DIVIDE UP THE COUNCEL
DISTRICT SEATS, I AM VERY
EXCITED THAT WE INITIATE THIS
CONVERSATION TODAY. I WILL LET
MY COLLEAGUES KNOW. I AM IN
SUPPORT OF ALLOWING FOR THE TWO
AT-LARGE SEATS TO CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN ON THE SAME CYCLE. IT
LOOKS LIKE THERE IS GENERAL
INTEREST IN THAT AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON
THAT PARTICULAR AMENDMENT TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE
IT IS RELATIVELY EASY TO DRAFT
UP AND THIS WILL BE THE
BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION
THAT FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE
WITH VOTERS THROUGHOUT THE
COURSE OF NEXT YEAR PRIOR TO
THE ELECTION FOR PEOPLE'S
CONSIDERATION . I WANT TO THANK
THE COALITION WHO PROVIDED
FEEDBACK ON THE VARIOUS
ITERATIONS OF THE DRAFT THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITH LAW
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
CONVERSATION TODAY BECAUSE
HOPEFULLY, IT WILL INITIATE THE
CONVERSATION THAT WILL CONTINUE
ABOUT HOW WE CREATE BETTER
STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON
DELIVERING PUBLIC POLICIES THAT
ARE NOT INTERRUPTED BY TURNOVER
IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SEATS.
WITH THAT, OUR NEXT MEETING IS
GOING TO BE ON SEPTEMBER 20th
AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING. WE
WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THAT
STARTS THE INITIAL DISCUSSION
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING
BACK AND HAVING A VOTE ON THE
THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION .
IF YOU HAVE AMENDMENTS, PLEASE
LET CENTRAL STAFF KNOW BY
FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK AT NOON.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT WE
JUST DESCRIBED VIA RESOLUTION
TO VOTERS OF SEATTLE REGARDING
STAGGERED ELECTIONS, PLEASE
ALSO LET THEM KNOW. THIS IS
NOT A TRIGGER LOCK, IT DOES NOT
IMMEDIATELY DEFAULT TO EVEN
YEAR ELECTIONS. IT IS SIMPLY
SAYING THAT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE WERE TO ALLOW FOR
THE COUNCEL TO CONSIDER
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO DO
THAT THAT IS NOT A TRIGGER. IT
GIVES THEM AN AUTHORITY TO
CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WANT TO DO THAT . ON NEXT
WEEK'S AGENDA, WE WILL ALSO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER
LEGISLATION FROM THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING. I BELIEVE THERE ARE
TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION UP
FOR THAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. COLLEAGUES, WE WILL
SEE YOU AT 9:30 NEXT WEDNESDAY.
HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR
AFTERNOON. BYE-BYE.