>>> I'M DAN STRAUSS, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> NELSON? COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, WE HAVE ONE ITEM
ON THE AGENDA TODAY, SO THIS
WILL BE A QUICK MEETING, WHICH
IS PUBLIC -- A DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON APPOINTMENT
02433 TO THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. AT
THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA. PLEASE ONLY SPEAK TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN.
CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLAY THE
VIDEO.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE, WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY. THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND FOR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
OF THE PEOPLE. THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND IS EAGER TO HEAR
FROM RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPEAKER
AND PROVIDE A VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT, YOU MAY REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING VIA
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE. HERE IS SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS
ARE CALLED UPON AN ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. EACH SPEAKER
MUST CALL IN FROM THE PHONE
NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN THEY
REGISTER ONLINE AND USE THE
MEETING I.D. AND PASS CODE THAT
WAS E-MAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN
E-MAIL CONFIRMATION, PLEASE
CHECK YOUR SPAM OR JUNK MAIL
FOLDERS. A REMINDER THE SPEAKER
MEETING I.D. IS DIFFERENT FROM
THE GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING
I.D. PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE THE SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE UNMUTED AND
THE HOST WOULD LIKE YOU TO
UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE. THAT IS
YOUR CUE THAT IT IS YOUR TURN
TO SPEAK. AT THAT TIME YOU MUST
PRESS STAR SIX. YOU WILL THEN
HEAR A PROMPT OF YOU ARE
UNMUTED. BE SURE YOUR PHONE IS
UNMUTED ON YOUR END, SO THAT
YOU WILL BE HEARD. AS A
SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING. A
CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED AND THE NEXT
SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE PUBLIC
COMMENT LINE AND JOIN US BY
FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST OR
THROUGH THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR
IF THE PROCESS IMPEASES THE
COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT
ITS BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. ANY
OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
OR THAT IS NOT FOCUSED ON THE
APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS SPECIFIED
AND COUNCIL RULES MAY LEAD TO
THE SPEAKER BEING MUTED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICER. OUR HOPE IS
TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS THAT
WILL ASSIST OUR ORDERLY
CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. PLEASE REMEMBER TO
PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HEAR
THE PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED. THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE TWO
PEOPLE SIGNED UP. ONE IN PERSON
AND ONE VIRTUAL. WHERE SHE ALEX
ZIMMERMAN PRESENT IN PERSON AND
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON HAS
JOINED US. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON. WE HAVE DAVID PRESENT
VIRTUALLY. WITH PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD NOW OPEN, WE'LL BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. MR. ZIMMERMAN? AND I WILL
REMIND YOU, YOU MUST SPEAK TO
AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND YOUR
ENTIRETY OF THE COMMENTS MUST
BE TO THAT AGENDA ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
DEMOCRACY FASCIST -- MY NAME IS
ALEX ZIMMERMAN. NOW I WANT TO
SPEAK ABOUT YOUR CHURCH
COMMUNITY. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, IS THIS ON
THE TOPIC OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
DAVID BAKER?
>> YES, EXACTLY. THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT, APPOINTING PEOPLE WHO
YOU APPOINT. YOU APPOINT
PEOPLE, AND I HAVE NO
EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I COME TO
THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY TIMES IN
THE PAST 10, 15 YEARS. VERY
SPECIFIC PEOPLE WHO YOU
APPOINT. THEY LOOK LIKE A BABY
SLAVE, YOU KNOW WHAT IT I MEAN?
EVERYBODY IS QUIET AND NOBODY
IS DOING NOTHING. THEY ARE
TALKING AND TALKING ABOUT, BUT
I NEVER SEE ONE HERE FOR
EXAMPLE OR HERE --
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, IS THIS ON
THE AGENDA ITEM?
>> YES, EXACTLY. ABOUT THIS
GUY. THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT
THAN ANOTHER HUNDRED AS YOU
APPOINT FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS
BECAUSE THEY COME AND SPEAK
ABOUT THIS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THEY'RE VERY QUIET. THEY'RE
SCARED TO OPEN THEIR MOUTHS.
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, THIS IS NOT
ON TOPIC.
>> NO, I TALK ABOUT THIS GUY
WHO YOU WANT TO APPROVE TODAY,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND SHE
THE SAME LIKE EVERYBODY. THERE
IS A PROBLEM. THIS IS WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT. THIS GUY IS
NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN THE
OTHERS YOU APPOINT. THEY ARE
ALL IDENTICAL. THEY ARE ALL
QUIET. THEY LOOK TO ME LIKE A
BABY, YOU KNOW, LIKE A BABY.
AND NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE
REAL PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. SO
MANY IN THIS COMMUNITY, A
HUNDRED PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY IS
IDENTICAL. HOW IS THIS
POSSIBLE? STAND UP, AMERICA.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER REMOTELY
PRESENT IS DAVID. WELCOME,
DAVID.
>> HELLO, THIS IS DAVID, THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION. I
WANT TO SAY CHIEF SEATTLE WAS
QUOTED TO SAY THEY SHARE THE
SAME -- [ INAUDIBLE ] TREES AND
OUR NATURAL CREATURES ARE TO GO
ELSEWHERE IS WHAT WE HEAR.
OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE CITY AND
OUTSIDE OF THIS LAND WHERE THEY
CLAIM TO HONOR HIS NAME AND TO
HONOR HIS PEOPLE WHO RUNS THIS
CITY. TO VOLUNTEER
COMMISSIONERS LIKE MYSELF NEED
TO BE REGULATED BY BUILDING
BUILDERS UNION. AS A
COMMISSIONER WHO ACTIVELY
PROMOTES BOTH DENSITY AND
NATURE, I LACK AN EXPLANATION
FOR BEING REMOVED FROM THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION AFTER
15 MONTHS OF A SIX-YEAR TERM.
THE MAYOR REAPPOINTED ME ON MAY
2022 FOLLOWED BY SEVEN MONTHS
OF NO ACTION BY THIS COMMITTEE
WHO RUNS THIS CITY. AFTER THE
MAYOR'S CEO REQUESTED MY
REMOVAL TO THE UNION HE
REPRESENTS. SECTION SIX OF THE
URBAN FORESTRY BYLAWS STATES
THE MAYOR MAY REMOVE ANY
APPOINTED MEMBER SUBJECT TO
CONFIRMATION BY THE MAJORITY OF
THE CITY COUNCIL. THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS NOT MET AND HAS NOT
REMOVED ME, SO PLEASE FOLLOW
OUR BYLAWS, FOLLOW THE RULES. I
SUPPORT DAVID BAKER AS A FUTURE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSIONER. HE
HAS JUST MOVED HERE SINCE 2020,
AND I'M SURE HE'LL BE READY IN
2025 TO TAKE OVER WHEN MY TERM
IS COMPLETE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SEEING WE HAVE NO
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS REMOTELY OR
PHYSICALLY PRESENT, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM. OUR FIRST AND ONLY ITEM
ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS A BRIEF
AND DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE ON APPOINTMENT 02433,
APPOINTMENT OF DAVID BAKER TO
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION
FOR A TERM TO MARCH 31, 2025.
CLERK, PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 02433,
APPOINTMENT OF DAVID A. BAKER
AS MEMBER URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO MARCH
31, 2025. FOR BRIEF AND
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>>THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE
PATTI BAKKER HERE FOR THIS
DISCUSSION. PATTI, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF
BACKGROUND ON THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION? I DO
UNDERSTAND DAVID ISN'T ABLE TO
ATTEND TODAY, AND HE DID SEND A
STATEMENT TO YOU? SO MAYBE JUST
A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION AND A BRIEF
STATEMENT OF DAVID BAKER'S
QUALIFICATIONS.
>> I CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU,
CHAIR STRAUSS. YEAH, AS NOTED
THIS ITEM CONCERNS THE
APPOINTMENT OF DAVID BAKER TO
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION.
MR. BAKER IS BEING APPOINTED BY
THE MAYOR TO SERVE THE
REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT TERM
IN THIS POSITION EIGHT, WHICH
ENDS MARCH 31, 2025. AND YES,
THE BACKGROUND ON THE
COMMISSION, THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED BY
ORDINANCE IN AUGUST OF 2009
WITH THE PURPOSE OF ADVISING
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL,
CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
POLICY AND REGULATIONS,
GOVERNING THE PROTECTION,
MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION OF
TREES AND VEGETATION IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THE COMMISSION
IS MADE UP OF 13 MEMBERS WHO
REPRESENT VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS
AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE. THE
POSITION IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF
EITHER THE DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY INCLUDING DEVELOPERS,
BUILDERS, ARCHITECTS, OR
REALTORS WITH EXPERIENCE IN
PROJECTS DEVELOPED UNDER LEADER
AND ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN OR LEAD OR TO
REPRESENTATIVE FROM A NON-CITY
UTILITY. AND IN SIX OF THE
COMMISSION POSITIONS ARE
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND SIX
ARE APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
ONE POSITION IS ELECTED BY THE
COMMISSION. THIS IS A MAYORAL
POSITION AND HE WAS APPOINTED
LAST MONTH. AND TO SHARE SOME
BACKGROUND ON MR. BAKER. DAVID
BAKER IS AN EXPERIENCED REAL
ESTATE AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL WITH
OVER FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE IN
THE PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT
SECTORS. HE HAS BEEN LIVING AND
WORKING IN SEATTLE FOR OVER TWO
YEARS AS A DEVELOPER WITH
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
PRIOR TO JOINING HOMESTEAD, HE
RECEIVED HIS MASTERS OF URBAN
PLANNING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN. THERE HE STUDIED THE
REAL ESTATE PROCESS AND ITS
SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND EQUITY
IMPACT. HIS CAREER AND
DEVELOPMENT BEGAN WITH THE
DETROIT LAND BANK AUTHORITY
WHERE HE WORKED AND RETURNED
VACANT PROPERTY TO PRODUCTIVE
USE BY PARTNERING WITH
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND FAITH
BASED ORGANIZATIONS. AS YOU
NOTED, MR. BAKER IS NOT ABLE TO
JOIN THE MEETING TODAY, BUT HE
DOES LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING
THE COMMISSION AND
COLLABORATING ON SOLUTIONS THAT
BALANCE THE NEED FOR HOUSING,
THE NEEDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT,
AND THE NEEDS FOR EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU, PATTI. THAT'S
VERY HELPFUL. YOU KNOW, ONE OF
THE REASONS THAT WE ARE HAVING
COMMITTEE TODAY JUST FOR ONE
APPOINTMENT IS SO THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION CAN HAVE
THIS POSITION APPOINTED AHEAD
OF NEXT MONTH AS WE ARE GOING
TO BE SPENDING THE MONTHS OF
FEBRUARY AND MARCH REALLY
DRILLING INTO THE TREE ISSUE
WITH THE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO
PASS THE TREE ORDINANCE IN A
FEW MONTHS. SO IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE TAKE THIS TIME TO GET
THE COMMISSION SETTLED. THE
COMMISSION RECENTLY SENT ME A
LETTER REGARDING THE
REGISTRATION IN THE POSSIBLE
CHANGES BEING MADE TO THAT
LEGISLATION. I GOT TO SAY, IT
WAS REALLY HELPFUL. THEY DO A
REALLY GOOD JOB OF PROVIDING US
FEEDBACK ON LEGISLATION AND
DIFFERENT ISSUES IN OUR CITY.
AND SO I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE
TO PUT THIS APPOINTMENT
FORWARD. I WANT TO TAKE THE
TIME TO THANK DAVID FOR HIS
SERVICE TO OUR CITY. HE HAS
SAT, CONTINUED TO SIT IN THIS
POSITION EVEN THOUGH HIS TERM
EXPIRED, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE HE COULD RETAIN THAT
APPOINTMENT UNTIL THIS POSITION
WAS MADE. AND DAVID, JUST A
DIRECT MESSAGE TO YOU. I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR
SERVICE BECAUSE ALL OF THESE
COMMISSIONS ARE VOLUNTEER
BASED, SPENDING THEIR OWN TIME
AND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO
SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND
EXPERTISE WITH OUR CITY. THANK
YOU, PATTI, THANK YOU DAVID
BAKER, AND COLLEAGUES, DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS
TIME? COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
YES, I ALSO WANT TO THANK DAVID
FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION. I
HOPE HE WILL STILL STAY
ENGAGED. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE
RESPECT HIS OPINIONS ON THESE
MATTERS. I WAS HOPING MR. BAKER
WOULD BE HERE TODAY. IT'S AN
IMPRESSIVE RESUME. I WANTED TO
ASK HIS VIEWS ON THE RECENT
LOSS OF THE TREE CANOPY BASED
ON THE RECENT DATA. I'LL BE
SUPPORTING THIS AT FULL
COUNCIL. I'LL ABSTAIN TODAY.
BUT WE KNOW THE URBAN FORESTRY
IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY
EACH HAVE SPECIFIC EXPERTISE
SLOTS, POSITION NUMBER EIGHT I
UNDERSTAND. SO IT'S A
REPRESENTATIVE OF EITHER THE
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY INCLUDING
THE DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS,
ARCHITECTS, REALTORS, WITH THEM
DEVELOPING THE LEADERSHIP AND
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, LEAD,
OR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
NON-CITY UTILITY. SO DAVID FITS
THAT POSITION, MR. BAKER FITS
THAT POSITION. SO WANT TO
RESPECT WHO THEY WANT TO
APPOINT HERE. BUT LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING HIS ENGAGEMENT,
AND THEN I'LL TALK TO PATTY
ABOUT HOW TO GET ANY SORT OF
QUESTIONS MR. BAKER BEFORE FULL
COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
>> WELL SAID. THANK YOU COUNCIL
MEMBER. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I'M
SEEING NONE. WELL WITH THAT,
SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I
MOVE TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION
OF 04233, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
02433. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> ABSTAIN.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. APPOINTMENT 04233
PASSES, THE MOTION PASSES. I
JUST WANT TO THANK DAVID BAKER
FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON
THE ADVISORY BOARD. I THANK
DAVID MOHRING TO OUR CITY.
PLEASE STAY ENGAGED. AND THIS
APPOINTMENT AND THE COMMITTEE'S
RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SENT TO
THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR A
FINAL VOTE ON -- JANUARY 17.
DAVID BAKER, YOU DON'T NEED TO
ATTEND THE MEETING, BUT YOU ARE
ALWAYS WELCOME TO. AND BEFORE I
CONCLUDE THIS COMMITTEE HEARING
JUST FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER,
I KNOW I MENTIONED IT AT
COUNCIL BRIEFING JUST A MOMENT
AGO AS WELL. WE WILL BE
SPENDING THE NEXT MEETING OF
THE LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL BE CANCELED FOR JANUARY
25, SO WE ARE PROVIDING STAFF
ADEQUATE TIME TO PREPARE FOR
OUR MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY, WHERE
WE WILL BE SOLELY FOCUSED ON
TREE ISSUES AS WELL AS LIKELY
SCHEDULING SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY AND
POTENTIALLY MARCH TO ADDRESS
THE TREE ORDINANCE AND OTHER
ISSUES. WHAT I WANT TO BE ABLE
TO DO IS IF NECESSARY CHUNK UP
THE LEGISLATION, SO THAT WE
FOCUS ON ONE SECTION OF THE
LEGISLATION AT A TIME. HAVE A
ROBUST DISCUSSION ANALYSIS, THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS TO THAT
SPECIFIC SECTION. WE WILL THEN
CLOSE THAT SECTION AND MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT SECTION. ONCE WE
MOVE ON TO THE OTHER SECTION,
WE WILL NOT BE COMING BACK, SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE A FLUID
PROCESS OF BEING ABLE TO FOCUS
ON EACH SECTION OF THE
LEGISLATION AT A TIME. PROVIDE
ENOUGH TIME FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE
ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK AND
THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SECTION. COLLEAGUES, DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROCESS?
SOUNDS GOOD. SO THE NEXT
MEETING, THE JANUARY 25 WILL BE
CANCELED. WE WILL BE SCHEDULING
SOME SPECIAL MEETINGS IN
FEBRUARY WITH EXACT DATE TO BE
DETERMINED. THIS OFFICIALLY
CONCLUDES THE WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 11, 2023 MEETING OF THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE. WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.