>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THE JANUARY 24, 2023
MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:30
2 AM. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD .
>> HERE.
>> ON TODAY'S AGENDA WE WILL
HEAR ONE APPOINTMENT IN TWO
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE PACIFIC
HOSPITAL PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
GOVERNING COUNCIL. WE WILL
HEAR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
ANDREA SCHEELE IS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL COMMISSION AND OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
CONFIRMATION JANUARY 21, 2026.
AND FINALLY WE WILL DO A
LITTLE BIT OF A DEEPER DIVE
INTO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IN
VIEW OF THE INTEREST IN SOME
OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE
COMMISSION . WE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK MORE ABOUT
WHAT THEY DO , BOTH FOR OUR OWN
INTEREST AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC
INTEREST. WITH THAT WE WILL NOW
APPROVE OUR AGENDA . IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. SEEING
NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA
IS IN FACT ADOPTED. THIS TIME
WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT. I WILL MODERATE PUBLIC
COMMENT IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. I WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND
IN PERSON COMMENTERS. I WILL
CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY NAME IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE IN THE SIGN INFORMED.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED
TO SPEAK WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE
TO, YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE
END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
SESSION. ONCE I CALL A
SPEAKER'S NAME, THE REQUEST IS
THAT YOU LISTEN FOR THE
PROMPT, IF YOU ARE USING THE
VIRTUAL OPTION, AND WHEN YOU
HEAR THAT PROMPT YOU NEED TO
HIT STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. AGAIN THIS IS ONLY
FOR PEOPLE USING THE VIRTUAL
OPTION. PLEASE BEGIN BY
SPEAKING YOUR NAME AND NAMING
THE ITEM WHICH YOU ARE
ADDRESSING ON THE AGENDA. AND
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME. ONCE THE SPEAKER
HERE'S THAT TIME WE ASK THAT
YOU WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT. THE SPEAKERS DO NOT
AND THEIR COMMENTS AT THE END
OF THE ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED ,
THE MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED
AFTER 10 SECONDS TO ALLOW US TO
HEAR FROM THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE. IF
YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING
THE MEETING, WE ENCOURAGE THAT
YOU DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL WERE LISTENING OPTIONS
ON THE AGENDA. THERE ARE THREE
PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. TWO VIRTUALLY AND ONE
IN PERSON. WE WILL START WITH
OUR IN PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKER.
THAT IS CAROLYN MALONE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I
AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUE AND SEATTLE POLICE
BEING OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH
THE FEDERAL DECREE
CONTINUOUSLY. IN JUNE 2017
MY DRIVERS LICENSE WAS
CANCELED . I DON'T HAVE A
CRIMINAL RECORD. NOR A TRAFFIC
RECORD. BUT BECAUSE I HAD THE
AUDACITY TO ASK POLICE OVER A
PERIOD OF TIME WHY THEY STOP
ME, MY LICENSE WAS CANCELED.
ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER MY CAR
WAS DISABLED. SO MUCH SO IT HAD
TO BE TOWED INTO LINCOLN
TOWING. MORE THAN ONE YEAR
LATER FILED A LAWSUIT THROUGH
U.S. DISTRICT COURT. AND
JUDGE MARSHA PECHMAN WAS THE
ASSIGNED TO JUDGE. ABOUT ONE
YEAR LATER AS THE CASE WAS
BEING WORKED THROUGH, MY
LAWSUIT WAS CANCELED. AND WHEN
I CALLED TO ASK ABOUT IT, I WAS
TOLD, THE JUDGE JUST CANCELED
IT . NO ONE WAS IN THE COURT.
THAT IS WRONG. AT WORST THAT
IS ILLEGAL. AND THE
CONTINUANCE , CONTINUATION OF
CANCELLATIONS OF MY PROPERTY,
MY ABILITY TO CONDUCT MY
AFFAIRS GOES ON AND ON.
SEATTLE POLICE NEED TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. MY HOUSING IS IN
LIMBO BECAUSE OF COMPLICITY
BY SEATTLE POLICE. AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT ON
STREET CORNERS AND PROTEST,
THIS IS WHY POLICE CIRCULATE
AROUND ME , I HAVE OTHERS
SURVEILLING ME, HARASSING ME,
BECAUSE OF MY OUTSPOKENNESS.
IF MY ANCESTORS HADN'T BEEN
OUTSPOKEN, I WOULD STILL BE IN
SLAVERY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT CLICK SPEAKER IS
HOWARD . HOWARD?
>> GOOD MORNING. HOWARD WITH
SEATTLE STOP.ORG. THESE ARE
SOME OF THE SEATTLE TIMES
STORIES RELATING TO SPD
FAILURES AND CONCERNS FROM JUST
THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF 2022.
CHIEF DIAZ WANTED TO END THE
FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE. THE DAY
AFTER THE INGRAM HEIGHTS SCHOOL
SHOOTING SPD CONDUCTS A
TRAUMATIZING SWOT EXERCISE
THEREBY. IS PRETTY OFFICERS
CONTINUING THEIR SIX YEAR
LAWSUIT AND VENDETTA AGAINST A
COUNCILMEMBER. AND SPD OFFICER
ON LEAVE ADMITTED A PROBE INTO
THE ALLEGED STOCKING. SPD
ARRESTING GRAFFITI ARTIST.
REVELATION THAT OUR STATE
POLICE ACADEMY WAS GRADUATING
RECRUITS WITH PROPENSITY FOR
VIOLENCE. THE CONTINUING STORY
OF SPD'S WARNING OF SEX
TRAFFICKER INVESTIGATIONS THAT
THEN LEAD TO FURTHER ABUSE. THE
SPD EMISSARY ARREST OF A MAN
IN BEHAVIORAL CRISIS LEADING TO
JAIL. THE REVELATION THAT A
911 DISPATCH WHISTLEBLOWER WAS
REPEATEDLY IGNORED LEADING TO
THE RECENT DEATH. SPD
LEADERSHIP RETALIATING AGAINST
AN SPD SERGEANT FOR REVEALING
FAILURES AND SEX ASSAULT
INVESTIGATIONS. ON AND ON.
THIS WOULD SUGGEST MORE THAN
ENOUGH TOPICS DIRECTLY RELATED
TO POLICE HUMAN CONSENT DECREE
FOR THIS COMMITTEE WITH A $2
MILLION BUDGET TO FOCUS ON. BUT
WHAT DOES THE SPD SPEND THE
FIRST TWO MEETINGS OF 2023
DISCUSSING? SMALL BUSNESSES
AND CRIME ALONG WITH EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS TO DISCUSS STEPS
FAILURES. TOPICS IRRELEVANT TO
CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING AND THE
PURPOSE OF CPC WAS CREATED
UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE AND
SEATTLE UP. IF THIS DOESN'T
INDICATE HOW DETACHED AND ANY
LIMITED THE CBC HAS BECOME THE
SHOULD. CPC CONTINUING DEFENSE
OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND
INABILITY TO START THE NEAR
SIX YEAR OVER THE PROCESS OF
HAVING A COMPLAINT APPEALS
PROCESS. WE NEED TO START OVER
AND BUILD A POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WITH FULL
STABILITY CONTROL OVER POLICY
MISCONDUCT AND POLICE
DISCIPLINE. AS MANY CITIES HAVE
DONE SINCE GEORGE FLOYD. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER LINEUP IS
SO RITA. SHE IS SHOWING IS NOT
PRESENT. UNLESS THAT CHANGES
IN THE NEXT FEW SECONDS, , THAT
IS OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. I AM NOT SEEING ANY
CHANGE IN THE NOT PRESENT
STATUS. WITH THAT, WE WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK
YOU. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
IN AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
THREE?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE
APPOINTMENT 02437. APPOINTMENT
OF MARTINE PIERRE-LOUIS AS
MEMBER, PACIFIC HOSPITAL
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY GOVERNING COUNCIL,
FOR A TERM TO DECEMBER 31,
2025. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
02438, REAPPOINTMENT OF AYENAY
A. ABYE AS MEMBER, PACIFIC
HOSPITAL PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY GOVERNING
COUNCIL, FOR A TERM TO DECEMBER
31, 2025. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
THREE IS 02439, REAPPOINTMENT
OF SUSAN TAOKA AS MEMBER,
PACIFIC HOSPITAL PRESERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
GOVERNING COUNCIL, FOR A TERM
TO DECEMBER 31, 2025.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED
TODAY BY JOHN KIM, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE PACIFIC
HOSPITAL PRESERVATION AND
MOMENT AUTHORITY. WE ARE ALSO
JOINED BY GAEL TARELTON,
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
INTRA-MEDICAL INTO GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS. OUR FIRST TWO
APPOINTMENTS ARE FROM THE PDA
GOVERNING BOARD. EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR KIM CAN PRESENT THOSE.
DIRECTOR GAEL TARELTON IS
HERE TO PRESENT THE THIRD
APPOINTMENT WHICH IS A MAYORAL
APPOINTMENT. TO KICK US OFF,
DIRECTOR KIM, CAN YOU PLEASE
PROCEED? FOLLOWED BY RICHTER
GAEL TARELTON.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS ALWAYS A
PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE THIS
GROUP, WITH NOMINEES FOR OUR
GOVERNING COUNCIL. AND IT IS
MY HONOR TO OFFER THE
FOLLOWING TWO, MARTINE
PIERRE-LOUIS IS CURRENTLY THE
DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION AT HARBORVIEW
MEDICAL CENTER. SHE HAS BEEN
SERVING AS A STRATEGIC ADVISOR
TO THE PH PDA PROGRAM
COMMITTEE AND HAS SERVED WITH
DISTINCTION AND BRINGS TO OUR
CONVERSATIONS AND INCREDIBLE
PERSPECTIVE, ONE THAT REALLY
MAKES US A STRONGER AND BETTER
ORGANIZATION, WE COULDN'T THINK
OF A BETTER PERSON TO BRING IN
AS A FULL-FLEDGED GOVERNING
COUNCIL MEMBER. I AM ALSO
OFFERING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
AYENAY A. ABYE, WHO IS
CURRENTLY THE CEO OF THE TUBMAN
CENTER. SHE ALSO HAS BEEN
SERVING WITH DISTINCTION , IS
OUTSPOKEN IN OUR MEETINGS AND
HELPS US TO BE A BETTER
ORGANIZATION. JUST A SIDE
NOTE, IT IS WITH EXTREME
PLEASURE THAT WE WERE IN
ATTENDANCE AT THE GROUND
BREAKING CEREMONY ON THE NORTH
LOT OF THE PHDPA GROUNDS WHERE
THE DEVELOPMENT OF 160
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IS
BEING UNDERTAKEN BY A SISTER
PDA, THE SCID PDA. WE ARE SO
HAPPY THIS IS FINALLY TAKING
PLACE AFTER MANY YEARS OF
DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR
KIM. BEFORE WE PASS IT ON,
COULD YOU JUST SAY A FEW WORDS
FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE ABOUT
THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL PDA. YOUR
FUNCTION AND MISSION, ORIENT US
ALL ON THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU
DO. THANK YOU.
>> PACIFIC HOSPITAL
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY IS THE STEWARD OF A
LANDMARK HISTORIC PROPERTY ON
THE NORTHERN PROWL OF BEACON
HILL. FORMERLY THE MARINE
HOSPITAL AND PRIOR TO THAT ,
AND AFTER THAT , PUBLIC SERVICE
HOSPITAL . CURRENTLY WE
STEWARD THE PROPERTY TO
GENERATE REVENUE THAT IS
GRANTED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY
TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SEEKING
TO ELIMINATE DISPARITIES AND
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY. WE ARE A HEALTH EQUITY
OR YOUR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR
KIM. APPRECIATE IT. I MADE A
MISTAKE, I DO NOT SEE DIRECTOR
TARELTON HERE WITH US TO
PRESENT THE MAYOR'S
APPOINTMENT.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT
AS WELL , SUSAN TAOKA , ONCE A
LONG SERVING GC MEMBER, AND
FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE GC,
SHE HAS A LONG AND
DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND IS
KNOWN WELL THROUGHOUT THE CITY
AND THE REGION. I AM PROUD TO
OFFER HER AS WELL AS THE
MAYOR'S APPOINTEE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS OF
FOLKS WITH US HERE TO SERVE.
PERHAPS WE COULD HEAR A FEW
WORDS ABOUT YOUR INTEREST IN
SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE PDA
COUNCIL, STARTING WITH
MARTINE PIERRE-LOUIS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
HAVE TO SAY THAT I FIRST HEARD
ABOUT THE PHDPA AS A GRANTEE.
AND, IN MY PREVIOUS POSITION
AT HARBORVIEW I WAS DIRECTOR
OF INTERPRETER SERVICES. AND
ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
STARTED WAS ONE WHERE WE
ACTUALLY WEREN'T SURE IT WAS
GOING TO BE A GOOD IDEA. IT WAS
GOING TO BE TAKING A RISK. AND,
WE SELECTED , AS A PARTNER FOR
THAT RISK, THE PHDPA GRANT
PROGRAM AND THEY TOOK THE RISK
WITH US. THIS WAS A PROGRAM
WHERE WE DISCOVERED THAT OUR
PATIENTS WHO SPOKE SPANISH AND
SOMALI AND WHO HAD DIABETES
WERE ACTUALLY HAVING A HARDER
TIME MANAGING THEIR DIABETES.
AND WE WONDERED WHETHER ADDING
A CASEWORKER WHO WAS FROM
THEIR COMMUNITY TO ASSIST
BOTH THE PATIENT'S AS WELL AS
THE HEALTHCARE TEAM MIGHT
ACTUALLY REALLY SUPPORT
PATIENT'S AS WELL AS THE
HEALTHCARE TEAM IN A WAY THAT
HAD BEEN TRIED BEFORE. WHAT WE
FOUND IS THAT WITHIN ABOUT SIX
MONTHS, THESE COMMUNITY HEALTH
WORKERS HAD HELP , OVER 85%
OF THOSE PATIENTS ,
TREMENDOUSLY REDUCED THE RISK
FOR COMPLICATIONS . AND THE
PROGRAM WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT
IT ACTUALLY HAS BECOME AN
ONGOING PART OF HOW WE WORK
WITH PATIENTS WITH DIABETES,
THOSE THAT ARE RATED ENGLISH
PROFICIENT AT HARBORVIEW. FOR
US, PHDPA REALLY DEMONSTRATED
HOW WE CAN HAVE AN IDEA THAT
WE WANT TO TEST OUT, AND FIND
A PARTNER TO HELP US REALLY
FIND OUT WHAT CAN WORK AND
WHAT CAN WORK WELL. AND I WANT
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH
OTHERS. REALLY DISCOVER THE
INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL AND THAT WORK WELL
FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
THAT ARE THE MOST AT RISK. AND
SO, I AM -- HAVE EXPERIENCED
THE POWER OF THE PHDPA AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
CONTINUED AND IT'S AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, VERY WELL
SAID. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
UNDERSTANDING AND COMMITMENT
TO THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE
IN DELIVERING SUPERIOR
HEALTHCARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES
, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THAT AREA.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE , FOR
FOLKS THAT DON'T KNOW, I AM
IMPRESSED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
WORKING AT HARBORVIEW SINCE
2002. 21 YEARS. THAT IS A
REALLY LONG TRACK RECORD IN
THAT ONE PARTICULAR MEDICAL
SETTING. YOU CLEARLY KNOW THAT
ROLE, AND , AS ILLUSTRATED BY
YOUR OTHER WORK AND INTEREST IN
THE PDA, YOU STARTED OUT AS
INTERESTED IN SOCIOLOGY AND
GOT EIGHT BA, DID SOME
GRADUATE STUDY. THAT IS EXACTLY
THE MIX OF SKILLS THAT I THINK
IS NEEDED AND WILL BE AN ASSET
HERE . I WANT TO NOTE THAT
YOUR RESUME INCLUDES TWO
SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS
INCLUDING HARBORVIEW MANAGER
OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 2005.
WHAT I PARTICULARLY LIKE ABOUT
THE BIO 'S THAT YOU ARE
DESCRIBED , IT SAYS HER
PERSONAL STYLE IS
COLLABORATIVE, BUT ULTIMATELY
TACTICAL AND DOGGED. THAT
ARE PRECISELY THE QUALITIES
THAT I THINK ARE NEEDED ON OUR
COMMISSION. THANK YOU MUCH
FOR PUTTING YOURSELF FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THAT DEEP DIVE INTO THE
ABUNDANT QUALIFICATIONS, ON
MARTINE PIERRE-LOUIS'S RESUME.
SO, LET'S MOVE INTO THE NEXT
STAGE. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE CONFIRMATION OF
ALL THREE APPOINTMENTS UNLESS
THERE'S ANY OBJECTION. I'M
GOING TO MOVE ALL THREE
TOGETHER. THAT HIS APPOINTMENTS
02437. 02'S 348 AND 02349. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 02437. 02 438.
02439. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
THEN, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> TRAN60 IN.
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD .
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE
AND USERS OF YOUR HEALTH
SERVICES. AND PLEASE ALSO
EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS AS
WELL TO THE REAPPOINTMENTS .
THESE WILL BE MOVING ONTO THE
FULL COUNCIL MEETING ON
JANUARY 31. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN. IT IS AN
HONOR.
>> ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READING AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER FOUR.
>> APPOINTMENT 02436.
REAPPOINTMENT OF ANDREA SCHEELE
AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION, FOR A TERM TO
JANUARY 21, 2026.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE
JOINED TODAY BY PRESENTERS ,
CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION, STACY
CONNOLE. CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION, ALSO MARY
WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS. ANOTHER CHAIR
OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION. EXCUSE ME. AND THEY
WILL PRESENT THE REAPPOINTMENT
OF DIRECTOR ANDREA SCHEELE.
ANDREA SCHEELE'S POSITION IS
DIRECTOR OF BOTH COMMISSIONS,
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
AND PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION. I OPEN THE
FLOOR TO , WHICH OF THE TWO OF
YOU THAT WOULD LIKE TO FIRST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME
IS STACY CONNOLE. GOOD MORNING
AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US
HERE. I AM, AS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD SAID, CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION AND I WILL START BY
INTRODUCING MYSELF AND THEN
ANDREA SCHEELE, OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR. AND THEN I WILL TURN
OVER TO THE CHAIR OF THE CIVIL
SERVICE DEPARTMENT , MARY
WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS. WE ARE HERE
TO SUPPORT DIRECTOR SCHEELE'S
REAPPOINTMENT AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, THE TWO COMMISSIONS
MET JOINTLY IN NOVEMBER OF 2022
AND OVERWHELMINGLY AND
RESOUNDINGLY SUPPORTED HER
DESIRE TO SEEK REAPPOINTMENT AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. I WILL
ALSO NOTE , AS YOU KNOW FROM
YOUR AGENDA, MS. SCHEELE WILL
BE GIVING A PRESENTATION ABOUT
THE WORK OF MY COMMISSION, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION AFTER THE
REAPPOINTMENT CONSIDERATION
INCLUDING OUR ROLE IN
ADDRESSING THE POLICE HIRING
CRISIS. I DO PLAN TO REMAIN
AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND
DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME. BEFORE
I LAUNCH INTO INTRODUCTIONS,
HAVING NEVER APPEARED BEFORE
THIS COMMITTEE OR THE CITY
COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER
MY THANKS AND DEEP APPRECIATION
FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. I
HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
FOR 24 YEARS. MOST OF THAT I
LIVED IN COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD 'S DISTRICT, AN AREA I
LOVE. I JOINED THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
IN 2019 AND I SERVED AS CHAIR
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. I AM
THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEE. I WOULD
NOTE THAT WE RECENTLY LOST OUR
CITY COUNCIL COMMISSIONER, AND
COMMITTEE. SO WE ARE CERTAINLY
EXCITED ABOUT GETTING SOMEONE
PUT IN IN THAT POSITION AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE. I WAS INITIALLY
APPROACHED ABOUT JOINING THIS
COMMISSION BECAUSE I AM AN
EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY AND HAVE
PROFESSIONAL EXPENSE WORKING
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. AFTER
WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT
FOSTER PEPPER, NOW FOSTER
GARVEY, AS A LITIGATOR, I WENT
TO THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTR'S
OFFICE AND WORKED PRIMARILY ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRIALS
WORKING MOSTLY WITH SPD AND OF
COURSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT
THE TIME. I THEN RETURNED TO
MIGHT CIVIL ROUTES AND BECAME
AN IN-HOUSE EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY
FOR KING COUNTY WORKING WITH
THE EXECUTIVE , THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE AND THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT AT THAT POINT. THEN
SPENT 10 YEARS AS AN IN-HOUSE
EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY FOR
NORDSTROM AND BECAME THEIR
CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY
DIRECTOR FOR THE CORPORATION.
I ADVISED SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE
LOCAL COMPANIES THROUGH
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES AND CRISIS
MANAGEMENT. WITH THAT
BACKGROUND, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE ANDREA SCHEELE WE
ARE HERE TO DISCUSS. I FIRST
MET HER IN 2019 WHEN SHE SOUGHT
THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
DEPARTMENTS , WHICH AGAIN
HOUSES BOTH THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND
MARY WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS'S CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION. SHE WAS
IMMEDIATELY AND OBVIOUSLY WELL
QUALIFIED FOR THAT, AS YOU CAN
TELL FROM HER RESUME, WHICH IS
IN YOUR PACKET. AND I SAY THAT
BECAUSE OF HER DEEP EXPERIENCE
IN BOTH EMPLOYMENT LAW AND
HUMAN RESOURCES. AND SHE HAS
WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR SOME
TIME. OF COURSE THE CITY HAS
ITS OWN LANGUAGE AND ITS OWN
RULES AND PROCEDURES, AND
ANDREA, KNOWING THE PEOPLE AND
LANGUAGE AND HOW TO OPEN DOORS
IN THE POSITION SHE IS IN,
WHICH OF COURSE NATURALLY CAN
BRING TO IT DIFFERING
PRIORITIES AND CONCERNS, SHE
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WHAT WE
DIDN'T KNOW AND COULDN'T HAVE
KNOWN IN 2019 WAS THAT ANDREA
WOULD HAVE TO LEAD US THROUGH A
PANDEMIC, WHICH CHANGED THE
WORK THAT IS DONE , BECAUSE AS
YOU WELL KNOW, OUR COMMISSION
DOES SUPPORT THE HIRING,
PROMOTION AND APPEALS OF
ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTION OF
BOTH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THE
PANDEMIC CHANGE THAT WORK.
ANDREA HAD TO LEAD US THROUGH
THAT. BUT OF COURSE ANDREA ALSO
LED US THROUGH THE UPHEAVAL
THAT THE 2020 PROTEST BROUGHT
TO THE CITY AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ITSELF. AND SHE HAS
SUCH A COMMITMENT AND
UNDERSTANDING OF RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE. AND SHE LIVES
AND BREATHES THAT WORK. SHE IS
COMMITTED TO BEING A LIFELONG
STUDENT AND PROPONENT OF
ANTIRACISM. AND, IT IS
SOMETHING THAT SHE TAKES VERY
SERIOUSLY, AND SHE BRINGS TO
THE WORK SHE DOES ON BEHALF OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION. AND AT A TIME WHEN
WE KNOW THAT FOCUS NEEDS TO BE
A PRIORITY, IT ALWAYS SHOULD
HAVE BEEN AND CERTAINLY IS NOW,
WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE
SOMEONE WITH ANDREA'S
COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND
BACKGROUND IN THIS ROLE. SO,
ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, I
STRONGLY URGE YOU TO REAPPOINT
HER TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN
OVER NOW TO CHAIR MARY
WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR FIT STACY
CONNOLE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STACY
CONNOLE AND THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER CHAIR HERBOLD .
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. MY
NAME IS MARY WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS.
I AM THE MAYORAL APPOINTEE AND
CURRENT CHAIR OF THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION. AND, AS
STACY CONNOLE HAS ALREADY
DETAILED, IT IS A PLEASURE TO
KIND OF EMPHASIZE WHAT
DIRECTOR SCHEELE BRINGS TO THIS
ROLE. I BEGAN MY APPOINTMENT AS
A COMMISSIONER THREE YEARS AGO,
SHORTLY AFTER DIRECTOR SCHEELE
WAS APPOINTED AND BEGAN HER
WORK. AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE
HAVE GROWN AND LEARNED TOGETHER
IN THIS PROCESS. AND I HAVE
BEEN PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY
DIRECTOR SCHEELE'S GROWTH
INTO THE ROLE OF DEPARTMENTAL
LEADER. I WORKED FOR 20 YEARS
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE, IN
THREE DIFFERENT CITY
DEPARTMENTS. MANY HUMAN
RESOURCES ROLES, AND IN MY
LAST ROLE AS THE CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER AND DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AT SEATTLE CENTER,
AND SO MY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A
DEPARTMENT LEADER , AND A HUMAN
RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT, COUPLED WITH
ANDREA'S BACKGROUND, LEGAL
BACKGROUND, WAS REALLY
CONVINCING TO ME THAT SHE IS
THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS WORK
. AND CONTINUES TO BE. SHE HAS
GROWN AS SHE HAS DEVELOPED
RELATIONSHIPS ON BEHALF OF THE
DEPARTMENT ACROSS ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS. SHE HAS BEEN A
TIRELESS ADVOCATE OF THE WORK
OF BOTH COMMISSIONS .
PARTICULARLY WITH THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION, IT HAS
BEEN OUR CHARGE TO ENSURE THAT
THERE IS ACCESS FOR ALL CIVIL
SERVICE EMPLOYEES TO THE RIGHTS
THAT THEY ARE GIVEN. AND THAT
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT
ONLY ACCESS THE SERVICES, BUT
TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR
RIGHTS ARE. AND SO DIRECTOR
SCHEELE AND HER STAFF HAVE DONE
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO
SHORE UP THAT SERVICE AREA OF
THAT DEPARTMENT , WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME HELPING US NAVIGATE
OUR WAY THROUGH THE CHALLENGES
OF THE PANDEMIC. MAKING SURE
THAT WE AS COMMISSIONERS STAY
ABREAST OF ALL OF THE KINDS OF
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES AND
UNDERSTANDING OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES AS IT RELATES
TO HEARING THE APPEALS THAT
COME FORWARD. AND SO, I CAN'T
SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HER
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE AND
HOW THAT HAS PREPARED HER. BUT
ALSO HER COMMITMENT TO THE
WORK. AND IT IS HER DEDICATION
TO MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK
SHE DOES , AS CHAIR STACY
CONNOLE ALREADY EXPRESSED, IS
DONE FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF
CONTINUAL LEARNER. SHE HAS
BEEN REALLY VERY HUMBLE IN
ACCEPTING FEEDBACK AND
DIRECTION , AND IN LEARNING
WHAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW AND
DOESN'T KNOW. AND HER
COLLEAGUES HAVE EXPRESSED
TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR NOT
ONLY THE WORK SHE DOES, BUT HOW
SHE SHOWS UP AS A COLLEAGUE,
PARTNER AND PEER. IT IS MY
PLEASURE TO SHARE ON BEHALF OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
OUR SUPPORT OF DIRECTOR
SCHEELE AS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. AND
WE URGE HER REAPPOINTMENT
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
MARY WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS AND THANK
YOU BOTH FOR YOUR SERVICE. ON
BOTH OF YOUR RESPECTIVE
COMMISSIONS. NOT JUST SERVICE
BUT LEADERSHIP AS WELL. AT THIS
TIME I LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO
DIRECTOR SCHEELE TO SEE WHAT
THOUGHTS SHE WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE WITH US ABOUT HER TIME
DIRECTING THE COMMISSIONS AND
WHY SHE'S INTERESTED IN
CONTINUING IN THIS ROLE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR
HERBOLD AND OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE AND THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERING THIS
CONFIRMATION OF MY
REAPPOINTMENT TODAY. I AM
ANDREA SCHEELE, EXECT DIRECTOR
OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION AND CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION DEPARTMENT. WITH
THESE TWO AT MY BACK, THERE'S
REALLY NOT MUCH LEFT FOR ME TO
SAY. I AM HONORED, I AM
HUMBLED BY THEIR WORDS. I'M
GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE. AND
, DOING THIS JOB IS ONE OF THE
HONORS OF MY LIFE. I HAVE
ALWAYS ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF
EMPLOYEES IN THE VARIOUS ROLES
I HAVE HELD. THAT IS WHERE MY
HEART AND DEDICATION RESIDES.
I LOVE BEING ABLE TO ADVOCATE
FOR AND WORK TO ENSURE A FAIR
SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION OF OUR
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEMS. AND FOR
FAIR TREATMENT FOR EMPLOYEES.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE IN
PUBLIC SERVICE, NOT JUST FOR
ME, BUT FOR ALL OF US. AND I AM
HAPPY AND GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE IN THIS
ROLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES. BUT FIRST, JUST A
COUPLE OF THINGS, I'D LOVE TO
GET ON THE RECORD. I WANT YOU
TO KNOW HOW MUCH I SUPPORT HER
REAPPOINTMENT AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO
WITH A SMALL STAFF. WE HAVE
HEARD ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO
THE WORK FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES.
YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN
ATTORNEY, A HUMAN RESOURCES
PROFESSIONAL, AND A PEOPLE
MANAGER WHO LEADS WITH YOUR
CORE VALUES OF COMPASSION,
INTEGRITY, AND EQUITY. QUOTING
FROM THE APPOINTMENT PACKET .
AND REALLY SHOW THOSE
OBSERVATIONS OF YOUR WORK AND
YOUR COMMITMENT. IN ADDITION
TO THE EXCELLENT
QUALIFICATIONS, WHAT THE
COMMISSION CHAIRS ARE SAYING
TODAY ARE A TESTAMENT TO YOUR
WORK AND HOW YOU GO ABOUT IT. I
REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
VERY, VERY HELPFUL ROLE YOU
PLAY DURING DISCUSSIONS
REGARDING THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL
FOR HIRING ADDITIONAL POLICE
OFFICERS. WORKING WITH MYSELF
AND STAFF, GOING OVER THE
NUANCES AND PROCESSES. AND I
ALSO WANT TO JUST CALL OUT,
THERE IS A LOT YOU HAVE DONE,
BUT I ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I THINK ONE
OF THE VALUES THAT I THINK IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE IS TENACITY. YOU HAVE
REALLY BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER
OF THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS TO
PUT INTO PLACE VARIOUS TYPES OF
PREFERENCE POINTS IN
RECRUITMENT OF OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS, BOTH ON THE
FIRESIDE AND POLICE SIDE. AS A
WAY TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
ATTRACTING TALENT WITH A WIDE
VARIETY OF SKILLS AND
ABILITIES. I KNOW THAT YOU
ASSISTED IN SHEPHERDING THOSE
CHANGES AS WELL AS HAVE THE
ASSISTANCE OF COURSE OF THE
COMMISSION MEMBERS THEMSELVES
WHO ULTIMATELY APPROVED THOSE
CHANGES. SO I REALLY WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE ARE
GOING TO DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION AFTER THE
APPOINTMENT. IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMISSION
ITSELF, MAYBE HOLD THEM UNTIL
WE GET TO THE NEXT ITEM. IF
THERE ARE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ABOUT
DIRECTOR SCHEELE'S
REAPPOINTMENT, THIS IS A GREAT
TIME TO HEAR THEM. I AM NOT
SEEING ANY VIRTUAL RAISED
HANDS. NOR MY COLLEAGUES
PRESENT HERE WITH ME,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. I'M
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
02436.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
ANDREA SCHEELE AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION. I'M JUST GOING TO
CHECK AGAIN WHETHER OR NOT
THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS. NOT SEEING ANY. WILL
THE CLERK 'S CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> PFISTER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD .
>> YES.
>> FOUR YES.
>> THE APPOINTMENT WILL MOVE TO
THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 31. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE TIME OF THE TWO
CHAIRS TO COME TODAY AND
PRESENT. THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
DIRECTOR SHEALY. AND AGAIN, I
WANT TO TELL EACH OF YOU HOW
MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE
AND IF YOU COULD SEND ON MY
APPRECIATION , IN YOUR CASE
CHAIR STACY CONNOLE, THE OTHER
MEMBER OF YOUR COMMISSION AND
TO CHAIR MARY
WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS, TO YOUR
CO-COMMISSIONERS AS WELL. WE
ARE WORKING ON FILLING THAT
THEY CAN SEE , SO THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THAT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ IN AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER FIVE.
>> AGENDA ITEM FIVE. PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
OVERVIEW AND UPDATE.
>> ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR SCHEELE FOR APPEARING
HERE . THIS COMMISSION ISN'T
NECESSARILY VERY WELL-KNOWN
IN THE PUBLIC EYE, BUT IT
PLAYS A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE
IN BOTH HIRING AND TESTING FOR
THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
AS WELL AS WE HEARD EARLIER
TODAY IN THE PROCESS OF
ADDRESSING EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS
TOWARDS THE END OF THAT
PROCESS. SO, I JUST WANT TO
HAND IT OVER TO YOU. I KNOW YOU
HAVE A LITTLE PRESENTATION TO
RUN THROUGH. I WILL ALSO KEEP
AN EYE ON MY SCREEN AND AT THE
TABLE , THE DAIS, TO SEE IF WE
HAVE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
PRESENTATION. BUT, OTHER THAN
THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
YOU, DIRECTOR SCHEELE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD .
I'M GOING TO PUT MY
PRESENTATION ON THE SCREEN, I
MAY NOT SEE IF THERE QUESTIONS
BUT I WELCOME QUESTIONS. IT'S
NOT NECESSARILY A LONG
PRESENTATION AND AM GRATEFUL
AND EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU
MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION -- THE STAFF
AS WELL. I WILL NOW CAN EFFORT
TO PUT THIS UP ON THE SCREEN.
>> WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT I'M
GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON
THE SIDE OF THE RECRUITMENT
AND HIRING PROCESS , SORT OF
WHAT IS BEING DONE , BACK OF
THE HOUSE , BEFORE APPLICANTS
GET TO YOU. WE RECENTLY
RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM THE
MAYOR'S DEPARTMENT , MAYOR'S
OFFICE ABOUT THEIR WORK
ADDRESSING STRUCTURAL AND
PROCESSING PREVENTS TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR NEW RECRUITS AND
LATERALS TO HIRE SOME OF
THOSE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE
TRANSITIONING TO A DIGITAL
BACK GROUNDING SYSTEM.
ALREADY, IT IS PROVING TO BE
MORE EFFICIENT AND A BETTER
EXPERIENCE FOR POTENTIAL
CANDIDATES. PREVIOUSLY
CANDIDATES FILLED OUT ACTUAL
PAPER AND THAT OF COURSE
EXTENDED WAIT TIME AND CREATED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEG. THEY'RE
WORKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER
OF ENTRY AND LATERAL EXAM
ADMINISTRATIONS AND OF COURSE,
DIRECTOR SCHEELE, I KNOW YOU
HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THAT. YOU
WILL PROBABLY TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT. INCREASE FROM 14
ANNUALLY, FROM 11, JUST FOR THE
SPD SIDE, PHYSICAL AGILITY
TESTS, STARTING THIS YEAR,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
OFFER THREE LOCAL TESTING
LOCATIONS AND A VIRTUAL
TESTING OPTION FOR THE
CANDIDATES. THERE ALSO WORKING
ON ESTABLISHING MORE ACCESSIBLE
AND TIMELY MEDICAL SCREENINGS
THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR POSITIONS
IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND
AS MENTIONED EARLIER,
EXPANDING THE PREFERENCE
POINTS PROGRAM TO ALSO INCLUDE
COMMUNITY SERVICE. THERE HAVE
BEEN SOME ADDITIONAL HIRES ,
CONSISTENT WITH COUNCIL
ACTIONS, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL
EMPLOYEES AT SPD TO HELP WITH
CANDIDATE THROUGHPUT ,
PROCESSING AND RECRUITMENT. AND
THEY ARE GOING TO BE HIRING TWO
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUDERS TO
PROCESS APPLICANTS. AND THEN
FINALLY THEY ARE WORKING ON
HIRING A RECRUITING MANAGER AND
TWO ADDITIONAL RECRUITER
POSITIONS. SO THIS IS ALL
REALLY IMPORTANT WORK TO
IMPLEMENT THE FUNDING THAT
THE COUNCIL PROVIDED AS PART OF
THE RECRUITMENT PLAN . WE KNOW
THAT APPLICANTS OFTEN WILL
SELECT SEVERAL DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS TO SEND THEIR
SCORES. AND SO ADDRESSING THIS
BACKLOG IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM
CAN MAKE SEATTLE MORE
COMPETITIVE. THERE IS SOME
MARKETING WORK THAT IS BEING
DONE AS WELL, AND THEY ARE
WORKING IN THE INTERIM TO DO A
TEMPORARY ADVERTISING PLAN
HIGHLIGHTING THE BENEFITS OF
WORKING IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHILE THEY ARE DEVELOPING NEW
OUTREACH EFFORTS IN INNOVATIVE
AND MODERN MARKETING
MATERIALS. SO WITH THAT, I WILL
HAND IT BACK OVER TO DIRECTOR
SCHEELE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD .
I'M HAPPY YOU BROUGHT UP A LOT
OF THESE POINTS. WE ARE PART OF
A MULTIDEPARTMENTAL ,
MULTI-OFFICE TEAM THAT IS
WORKING TOGETHER TO STRATEGIZE
. THOSE ARE A LOT OF THE IDEAS
THAT MOSTLY WILL BE LAMENTED
BY SPD BUT IT'S REALLY AS I
SAY, A TEAM EFFORT, A LOT OF
ENERGY AND CREATIVE THOUGHT
INTO SOLVING AND WORKING
TOWARDS THE SOLVING OF THIS
PROBLEM. AND WITH THAT, SO AS
I SAID, FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN
WITH QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE
THEM. OR IT WILL HOLD THEM
UNTIL THE END, WHICHEVER YOU
PREFER, ALTHOUGH I MIGHT NEED
SOME AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S
A QUESTION. BUT I AM HAPPY TO
PAUSE AND EXPLAIN. I'VE BEEN
ASKED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK
ABOUT THE PUBLIC CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION AND ITS WORK. TO DO
THAT I WANT TO GIVE YOU AND THE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL
CONTEXT. AND THEY WILL SPEAK
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT ARE
COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT'S
EFFORTS ARE TOWARDS RESOLVING
THE POLICE HIRING CRISIS IN
SEATTLE THAT WE ARE DEALING
WITH RIGHT NOW. BUT I'M GOING
TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING ,
WHICH IS SOMETHING I REALLY
LOVE TO DO. IF YOU CAN'T FIND
ME GO LOOKING TO THE ARCHIVES.
SEATTLE IS A CIVIL SERVICE
CITY. IT IS PART OF THE FABRIC
OF HOW WE EMPLOY PEOPLE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. AND I THINK IT
IS SO IMPORTANT THAT I TALK
ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. IT HAS
BEEN PART OF THE SEATTLE CITY
CHARTER SINCE 1896. FIRST IT
WAS JUST THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION AND CIVIL SERVICE
DEPARTMENT, WHICH MANY OF THE
FUNCTIONS WERE MOVED IN 1979 TO
THE NEWLY DEVELOPED PERSONNEL
DEPARTMENT THAT WE CALL TODAY
SEATTLE HUMAN RESOURCES. BUT
USED TO JUST BE CIVIL SERVICE.
THIS WAS WELL BEFORE PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING PUBLIC
SAFETY EMPLOYEES, WERE ALLOWED
TO UNIONIZE IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. SO THE ONLY
PROTECTIONS THAT EMPLOYEES
WERE GUARANTEED WHEN THEY WORK
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE WAS
THERE CIVIL-SERVICE RIGHTS AND
THOSE RIGHTS WERE SO CRUCIAL,
THEY ARE MAINTAINED IN THE CITY
CHARTER. WE STILL HAVE THEM
TODAY. IN 1979, A LOT OF
THINGS TO CHANGE, PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES WERE ALLOWED TO
UNIONIZE IN THE CITY DECIDED TO
REORGANIZE. THERE WAS ALSO
SEVERAL LAWS PASSED AT THE
STATE LEVEL REQUIRING
CIVIL-SERVICE FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING THE
FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT'S.
CIVIL-SERVICE IN SEATTLE FOR
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IS PURELY A
CREATURE OF CITY CODE IN THE
CITY CHARTER. WE DO NOT HAVE TO
HAVE IT. BUT OUR ORIGINAL
LEGISLATORS DECIDED WE WOULD.
AND SO WE DO. BUT, ALL STATE
AGENCIES THAT EMPLOY FIRE AND
POLICE EMPLOYEES DO HAVE TO
HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL-SERVICE. THEY CAN CALL IT
SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
BUT IT'S GUARANTEED FOR THOSE
EMPLOYEES IN STATE LAW. AND OUR
CITY CODE AND CHARTER PUT THAT
TO WORK FOR US HERE IN THE
CITY. SO, THERE ARE SEPARATE
COMMISSIONS THAT OVERSEE THE
WORK OF THESE TWO CIVIL-SERVICE
SYSTEMS. ONE IS THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSIONAND WHAT IS
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION. IN 2012 OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT COMBINED -- THE USED
TO BE TWO SEPARATE CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND THEY WERE
COMBINED IN 2012 ALTHOUGH THEY
RETAIN THEIR SEPARATE LEGAL
AUTHORITY. AND UNDER A SINGLE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. IT WAS NOT
ME IN 2012 BUT IT IS ME NOW. I
USE THIS SLIDE TO HIGHLIGHT THE
INDEPENDENCE OF THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION'S
DEPARTMENT, THE TWO COMMISSIONS
THEMSELVES, ALTHOUGH IT IS ,
TWO THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS ARE
APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OR MAYOR, THESE COMMISSIONS ARE
INDEPENDENT , MY APPOINTING
AUTHORITY IS ACTUALLY, ALTHOUGH
CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL,
THESE TWO WOMEN ARE PRESENT MY
APPOINTING AUTHORITIES. THE
CHAIRS OF THE COMMISSIONS. I
THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY FOR EMPLOYEE MEMBERS
TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN THE
COMMISSIONS MAKE A DECISION OR
HAVE AUTHORIZED ME, EMPOWERED
ME TO MAKE A DECISION ON THEIR
BEHALF, THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT
DECISION THAT IS NOT CANNOT BE
OVERTURNED BY THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH OR CITY COUNCIL OR
PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE COURT.
I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO
UNDERSTAND THE DEMOGRAPHICS
OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. THIS
BLUE, SORRY, THE BRIGHTER BLUE,
THE MEDIUM BLUE, ARE EMPLOYEES
IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. THIS DATA
IS GOOD AS OF THE 19th OF THIS
MONTH, VERY RECENT. MOST OF OUR
CITY EMPLOYEES, MORE THAN HALF
OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE
NUMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE,
THAT MEANS THEY HAVE
CIVIL-SERVICE RIGHTS TO THEIR
EMPLOYMENT. THAT IS AFTER
PROBATIONARY YEAR. ARE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL-SERVICE IS A MUCH
SMALLER SECTION OF EMPLOYMENT
BODY. THAT IS MORE THAN 2000
EMPLOYEES IN THOSE RANKS IN
THE FIRE AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S. THE BRIGHTEST
BLUE REPRESENTS ARE EXEMPT
EMPLOYEES, THE TYPES OF
EMPLOYEES IN THIS CATEGORY ARE
ALL OVER TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES,
ALL OF OUR ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEYS, ELECTED OFFICIALS,
EXECUTIVES, AND SOME
CLASSIFICATIONS OF MANAGER AND
STRATEGIC ADVISOR. MOST
EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN THE
CIVIL-SERVICE OR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL-SERVICE. THE
DARKEST BLUE REPRESENTS THE
LIBRARY SYSTEM. THE LIBRARY
SYSTEM, AS I KNOW YOU WILL
KNOW IS SORT OF A DIFFERENT
CREATURE. NONE OF THE
EMPLOYEES ARE IN THE
CIVIL-SERVICE SYSTEM. THIS
CHART DOES NOT SPEAK TO
EMPLOYEE MEMBERSHIP IN A
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT,
THAT IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
SYSTEM WITH SOME SIMILAR
RIGHTS, ALTHOUGH THE RIGHTS ARE
NOT THE SAME, AND I ALWAYS
ADVISE EMPLOYERS AND LEADERS IN
OUR CITY IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS
ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
RIGHTS TO TALK TO THEIR
APPROPRIATE CONTACT ON THE
ISSUE, WHO IS NOT ME. I WILL
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
AUTHORITY AND SCOPE OF THE
COMMISSION. AND I'M GOING TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE BUILDING
SAFETY. I WILL TALK ACTUALLY IN
THIS LIGHT ABOUT CIVIL-SERVICE
GENERALLY. THIS IS FROM THE
CITY CHARTER. IT SAYS THAT ALL
CITY EMPLOYEES SHALL BE MEMBERS
OF THE CIVIL-SERVICE. IT IS A
PRESUMPTION THAT AN EMPLOYEE
WOULD BE IN CIVIL-SERVICE
EXCEPT FOR THE SEVERAL
EXEMPTIONS, ELECTED OFFICIALS,
APPOINTED OFFICIALS, CITY
ATTORNEYS, HEADS OF
DEPARTMENTS, MEMBERS OF BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS, AND THEN THERE
IS A ADDITIONAL STATUTE, SMC
, IT'S ESCAPING ME RIGHT NOW,
404.13 THAT LISTS ALL THE
ACCENTED POSITIONS. THOSE AS
YOU KNOW ARE EXEMPTED
SPECIFICALLY BY THE CITY
COUNCIL UNDER CERTAIN CRITERIA.
FINALLY, IN 1977 WE ADDED TO
THE MOTION OF THE CHARTER THAT
THERE SHALL BE A SEPARATE
CIVIL-SERVICE SYSTEM
ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE FOR
FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE
OFFICERS. THIS WAS AS A RESULT
OF THE 1977 STATE LAW. SIU
ESTABLISHED THE IN 1978.
>> DO YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR
SCHEELE, ASIDE FROM THE
MECHANISM THE CREATED THE
SEPARATE SYSTEM, WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT WAS , WHAT
PROMPTED THE SEPARATE SYSTEM?
>> IT WAS REQUIRED BY STATE,
THERE IS NO RECORD I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO FIND THAT STATES THE
SPECIFIC LEGISLATION INTENT. I
CAN GUESS IT WAS ESTABLISHED
SEPARATELY BECAUSE IT IS NOT
UNDER THE PERSONAL ORDINANCE
WHICH COVERS ALL THINGS
INCLUDING PERSONNEL RULES
WHICH DO NOT APPLY TO THE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL-SERVICE SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH,
THOSE TWO PUBLIC SAFETY
EMPLOYEES HAVE MEMBERS IN EACH
OF THOSE SYSTEMS, BECAUSE I
HAVE MANY CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AS
WELL. I THINK IT IS JUST TOO ,
TO MAKE CLEAR THEIR DIFFERENT
RULES THAT GOVERN EACH SYSTEMS
OPERATIONS. AND, YOU KNOW,
PERHAPS TO MAKE THEM SEPARATE,
IF THE CITY EVER DECIDED TO
ELIMINATE ITS CIVIL-SERVICE
SYSTEM, I CHARTER AMENDMENT,
THE STATE LAW WOULD STILL
REQUIRE US TO HAVE A PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL-SERVICE SYSTEM.
THIS IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF
AN EASIER WAY THE ME JUST
EXPLAINING WHAT THE SCOPE OF
DUTIES OF THESE TWO PUBLIC
SAFETY EXCUSE ME TWO
CIVIL-SERVICE SYSTEMS ARE. THE
CIVIL-SERVICE SYSTEM, SYSTEMS,
DISCIPLINARY APPEALS BY THEIR
MEMBERS, SERIOUS DISCIPLINE.
ANYTHING THE APPLICANTS
IMPLICATES A PROPERTY RIGHT,
THAT'S -- WRITTEN WARNINGS
ARE NOT APPEALABLE FOR INSTANCE
TO EITHER OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION'S. THE CSC ALSO HAS
THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE
POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF HIRING.
CIVIL-SERVICE CLASSIFIED
POSITION. THAT IS THE BODY
THAT WOULD INVESTIGATE THAT AND
MAKE DECISIONS ON THAT. THE
CSC ALSO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE
CITY PERSONNEL SYSTEM TO THE
CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR OFFICE.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL-SERVICE
SYSTEM HAS A BROADER SCOPE. WE
ARE ALSO CHARGED WITH THE
DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
OF ALL OF THE CITY'S
ENTRY-LEVEL AND PROMOTIONAL
EXAMS. THOSE ARE THE ONLY JOBS
WE ACTUALLY DO CIVIL-SERVICE
EXAMS FOR THESE DAYS. BACK IN
THE OLDEN DAYS , I THINK
PROBABLY IN THE 1970S WE WERE
DOING CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMS FOR
MOST OF THE POSITIONS OF THE
CIVIL-SERVICE. YOU TAKE A TEST
TO BE A JANITOR, , AND MANY
JURISDICTIONS STILL DO THAT,
BUT WE DON'T DO THAT HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AT LEAST
NOT IN A CIVIL-SERVICE SETTING.
BUT WE DO IT FOR A VERY
IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY
POSITIONS. INCLUDING ALL OF
THE RANKS IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT UP THROUGH
LIEUTENANT AND ALL OF THE
RANKS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT UP
THROUGH BATTALION CHIEF ,
COMMAND STAFF POSITIONS, THERE
ARE SPECIFIC EXAMS FOR THOSE.
SO I OVERSEE THAT WORK AND THE
COMMISSION OVERSEES THAT WORK,
IT IS ACTUALLY PERFORMED BY
STAFF IN THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN RESOURCES. WE WORK
VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER AND
CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO
ENSURE THAT THOSE NEEDS ARE
BEING MET , THE DEPARTMENT
NEEDS ARE BEING MET AND THAT WE
ARE TESTING THE RELEVANT
INFORMATION THAT A CANDIDATE
NEEDS TO KNOW TO EITHER BE
HIRED OR PROMOTED TO THE RANK
THEY ARE SEEKING. I ALSO ,
WITH HELP, OVERSEE THE ENTIRE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL-SERVICE
SYSTEM TO ENSURE ITS CORRECT
OPERATION. AND I AM THE FINAL
SIGNER IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR CLASSIFICATION
DECISIONS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL-SERVICE. I DO THAT WORK
WITH GRATEFUL ASSISTANCE OF
STAFF AT THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RESOURCES AS WELL. I HAVE SAID
A LOT OF THIS ALREADY, SO I
WON'T READ IT TO YOU, BUT THIS
IS THE AUTHORIZING ORDINANCE,
THE PEBBLE PUBLIC CIVIL SAFETY,
ESTABLISHED AN INDEPENDENT
COMMISSION TO RULE MAKE,
OVERSEE THIS WORK, ENSURE
COMPLIANCE WITH IT IN
CORONATION WITH THOSE FOR WHOM
WE PERFORM THIS WORK IN THE
DEPARTMENT'S WE WORK WITH. AND
THESE ARE OUR PRIMARY BUCKETS
OF WORK. WHICH I'VE ALREADY
MENTIONED. WE DO MERIT-BASED
ENTRY AND PROMOTIONAL
CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMS FOR THE
RANKS I MENTIONED. THE
COMMISSION IS REALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING
QUASIJUDICIAL HEARINGS ON
APPEALS FOR SUSPENSION,
DEMOTION AND TERMINATION. THOSE
ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WHICH IS
A DISTINCTION , THERE ARE MANY
DISTINCTIONS, BUT I THINK AN
IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN
OUR HEARING PROCESS AND
ARBITRATION UNDER BARGAINING
AGREEMENT. WHICH ARE CHILLY
DONE IN PRIVATE.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF POSITION.
WE DO THIS WORK NOT IN A VACUUM
, INDEPENDENTLY BUT NOT IN A
SILO, I AM IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, CITY COUNCIL, AND OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AS
WELL AS SEATTLE HUMAN RESOURCES
TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING THE
GOALS AND NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES , MEETING OUR
PUBLIC POLICY GOALS, AND DOING
THIS WORK AS RACIALLY
EQUITABLE MANNER AS POSSIBLE .
>> QUESTIONS? ONE QUESTION IS
JUST ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
TESTING AND HOW COVID AFFECTED
YOUR ABILITY TO CARRY OUT EXAMS
AND WHAT CHANGES YOU MIGHT
HAVE MADE AND WHETHER OR NOT
CHANGES MADE DURING COVID ARE
CHANGES YOU ARE KEEPING IN
PLACE NOW THAT WE ARE MOVING
OUT OF THE PANDEMIC , THAT IS
ONE QUESTION. THE OTHER
QUESTION I HAVE LEADS TO THE
RECENT SEATTLE POLICE
MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION CONTRACT
AUTHORIZED SOME REALLY
IMPORTANT REFORMS TO THE
ARBITRATION PROCESS, I AM
WONDERING , IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU ARE OBSERVING ON THE
APPEALS SIDE THAT MIGHT BE
RESULTING FROM THE CHANGES IN
THE ARBITRATION PROCESS?
>> THOSE ARE TWO RELATED
QUESTIONS. THE FIRST IS
CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE
DURING COVID, WE DID PRIOR TO
THE PANDEMIC, WE DID ALL OF OUR
TESTING IN PERSON. AND SO, THAT
ALSO COINCIDED WITH A HIRING
FREEZE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
INCLUDING EMPLOYEES OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO, I WILL
SPEAK FIRST TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. DID NOT IMPACT
ENTRY-LEVEL TESTING FOR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME.
WE CONDUCT THOSE EXAMS, A
HUMONGOUS, THOUSANDS OF
APPLICANTS, EVERY TWO YEARS.
WE HAD JUST COMPLETED AND
PUBLISHED A HIRING REGISTER FOR
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE
EARLY PART OF 2000, MARCH 2000.
WE GOT LUCKY, NONE OF US GOT
LUCKY, BUT THAT WAS RATHER FOR
TOURIST TIMING FOR THE FIRE.
FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
HOWEVER, AND ALL OTHER EXAMS,
WE HAD TO PAUSE. IT WAS ONE OF
THE FIRST DECISIONS I HAD TO
MAKE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE COMMISSION. WE HAD TO PUT A
PAUSE ON ALL TESTING, IN PERSON
TESTING, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE
WERE GOING TO DO AND HOW WE
WERE GOING TO TEST SAFELY.
DURING THAT VERY INTENSE TIME
PERIOD, THE CITY ALSO STARTED
TALKING ABOUT STAFFING AT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LAYOFFS
WERE ACTUALLY NOT ON THE TABLE,
THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
LAYOFFS. AND SO, WE PAUSED
ENTRY-LEVEL POLICE TESTING
ENTIRELY FOR I THINK IT WAS
FOUR QUARTERS WHILE WE
REALIZED THAT THIS PANDEMIC
WAS NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON
AND THAT WE COULD NOT TEST
SAFELY, WE USED THE TEST IN
KING HALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, BRINGING HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE TOGETHER ORDERLY OR
FREQUENTLY, WE TRANSITIONED
BEGINNING IN 2022 AN ENTIRELY
REMOTE ENTRY-LEVEL TESTING
PROCESS . CANDIDATES COULD
APPLY REMOTELY , COULD TEST
REMOTELY, EXAMS ARE PROCTORED
AND SO THEY ARE STILL SECURE ,
WE DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY
INCREASE OF CHEATING OR
DIFFICULTY. THERE WAS CERTAINLY
A LEARNING CURVE WE ALL HAD TO
GET USED TO, BUT ONCE WE WERE
ABLE TO START THAT UP, IT HAS
BEEN WORKING QUITE WELL
PROCEDURALLY AND FUNCTIONALLY
. SO WE HAVE CONTINUED IN THAT
VEIN , ALTHOUGH WE ARE
CONSTANTLY TWEAKING THAT
PROCESS AND HOW WE TALK TO
CANDIDATES AND HOW WE MOVE
THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO TRY TO
IMPROVE THAT. IN THE FUTURE WE
MAY CONSIDER A RETURN TO IN
PERSON TESTING . WE NEED TO
JUST SEE HOW THIS IS GOING
BUT, WE ARE SORT OF THROWING
EVERYTHING AT THE WALL AT THIS
POINT TO SEE WHAT STICKS.
EMOTIONAL TESTING, WE DID
PAUSES WELL BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE
DEPOSITS LONG. WE HAVE FULLY
RAMPED UP ON PROMOTIONAL
TESTING, TO DO AS MANY
PROMOTIONAL EXAMS AS WE WERE
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AND THEY
ARE ENTIRELY IN PERSON. EXPECT
A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION
BEFORE YOU MOVE ON TO MY SECOND
QUESTION, YOU REFERRED TO
PAUSING TESTING AS SOMETHING
YOU DID IN RESPONSE TO THE
PANDEMIC , BUT YOU ALSO
MENTIONED THE MAYORS 2020
HIRING FREEZE. SO, WHEN YOU
SAY IN RESPONSE TO THE
PANDEMIC, DO YOU MEAN IN
RESPONSE TO THE HIRING FREEZE,
NOT BECAUSE OF THE
COMMUNICABLE NATURE OF NOT
ALLOWING YOURSELVES TO GET
TOGETHER IN A ROOM AND TEST,
YOU HAD ALREADY MADE THE
DECISION TO PAUSE BECAUSE , AM
I RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO BE TESTING DURING
HIRING FREEZE?
>> IT WAS BOTH. IN THE PANDEMIC
, FORGIVE ME IF I'M GETTING THE
ORDER OF EVENTS WRONG, IN THE
PANDEMIC BEGAN BEFORE THE
HIRING FREEZE?
>> IT MAY VERY WILL HAVE.
>> I THINK IT DID. THE FREEZE
MAY HAVE BEEN IN JUNE AND THE
PANDEMIC MORE IN MARCH.
>> FIRST WE PAUSED IN PERSON
TESTING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE
TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A
ROOM. THAT. AND THEN WE
CONTINUED THE PAUSE BECAUSE WE
COULD NOT HIRE ANY POLICE
OFFICERS , AND SO TO TEST THEM
, TO HAVE THEM APPLY AND TEST
FOR A JOB FOR WHICH THEY COULD
NOT BE HIRED WAS NOT FAIR. AND
WHILE WE WERE DOING THAT, WE
WERE PLANNING, WE WERE SPEAKING
WITH CONSULTANT COMPANIES, WE
WERE ENSURING THE TESTS WERE
THE TYPE OF TEST, THE QUALITY
OF TEST THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WANTED TO USE AND THE METHODS
OF TESTING WERE GOING TO WORK
FOR CANDIDATES IN OUR CITY.
THEN WE WERE ABLE TO RETOOL AND
LAUNCH THE ONLINE TESTING
FUNCTION WHICH WE CONTINUE TO
USE. FORGIVE ME IF THAT WAS
CONFUSING. THERE WAS A SECOND
QUESTION.
>> THERE IS A SECOND QUESTION
AND THEN I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON IN THE QUEUE.
>> THE SECOND QUESTION?
>> ABOUT THE CONTRACT CHANGES
TO THE ARBITRATION PROCESS
WHICH OF COURSE A SEPARATE
FROM THE PSCSC APPEALS
PROCESS. JUST WONDERING
WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE ABLE TO
OBSERVE ANY CHANGES ON YOUR
SIDE OF THE PROCESS THAT
MIGHT BE EMERGING BECAUSE OF
CHANGES TO ARBITRATION.
>> THANK YOU. YES. SO THE
PSCSC APPLIES THE SAME
STANDARD OF REVIEW AND BURDEN
OF PROOF THAT IS SET FORTH IN
THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENTS. WHEN REVIEWING
DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS. AND SO,
THAT NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT AND THE CHANGES THEY
MADE TO THAT PROCESS,
ESPECIALLY TO THE STANDARD OF
REVIEW AND BURDEN OF PROOF, DID
IMPACT ANY APPEALS THAT WOULD
BE FILED BY MEMBERS OF AS PMA
BEFORE THE PSCSC. NONE HAVE
BEEN SINCE THAT TIME. BUT IN
ORDER TO BRING OURSELVES INTO
ALIGNMENT WITH THAT COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT, WHICH WE
ALWAYS DO, THE LINKAGE OF QUICK
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT PREEMPTS ANY RULE
WE HAVE, SO, WE RECENTLY
CONDUCTED A RULEMAKING IN
NOVEMBER, AND EXTENSIVE
RULEMAKING OF OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
RULES PROCESS AND PROCEDURE.
WE BROUGHT OUR RULE UP TO DATE
WITH THE AS PMA CONTRACT. SO
EMPLOYEES WHO OPTED TO FILE
THEIR APPEAL WITH THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION, RATHER THAN UNDER
THE UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT , WE WOULD APPLY, THE
COMMISSIONERS WOULD APPLY THE
SAME STANDARDS THAT ARE SET
FORTH IN THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT. ON THE
QUESTION OF WHETHER I HAVE SEEN
ANY CHANGES BECAUSE OF THAT ,
NOT YET. I KNOW THE CHANGE I
WOULD SEE IS THAT THE
COMMISSION WOULD APPLY THOSE
SAME STANDARDS. BUT, WE GET
VERY FEW APPEALS BY SPMA
MEMBERS. THEY HAPPEN, BUT NOT
FREQUENTLY. AND I HAVE SEEN
NONE SINCE THOSE UPDATES HAVE
BEEN MADE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMAN NELSON.
>> SORT OF ALONG THE LINES OF
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IT CAUGHT
MY EAR WHEN IT WAS MENTIONED
THAT TESTING WAS PAUSED FOR
FOUR QUARTERS. AND I THINK YOU
GOT THE CAUSALITY, IT STARTED
OUT AS THE PANDEMIC, CORRECT,
AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE HIRING
FREEZE, THAT IS THE SEQUENCE
OF EVENTS I'M UNDERSTANDING.
DID THAT AND? WINDED TESTING
RESUME, CAN YOU REMIND ME?
>> FIRST QUARTER OF 2020.
>> YES.
>> SO THE TESTING ENDED BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC?
>> I AM SORRY, FORGIVE ME, I
MISSTATED THAT. IT STOPPED
AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2020
AND RESUMED IN THE FIRST
QUARTER OF 2021.
>> GOT IT. MIGHT RUDIMENTARY
UNDERSTANDING OF THE
APPLICATION AND HIRING PROCESS
IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
THAT THERE IS A LOT THE COMES
BEFORE THE TESTING, SO I'M JUST
WONDERING, THIS IS AN OFF-LINE
CONVERSATION, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE
THAT COULD BE A POOL OF
APPLICANTS THAT COULD BE
OUTRAGED BACK TO ONCE THE
TESTING RESUMED.
>> WE DID HAVE A LARGE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO TESTED IN THAT
FIRST QUARTER OF 2021. IT WAS
THE LARGEST GROUP OF APPLICANTS
WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THAT TIME
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THERE WAS
QUITE A BACKLOG. YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, I WILL JUST QUICKLY
INTRODUCE, THESE ARE THE
COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE STACY
CONNOLE WHO IS HERE WITH US.
THE ELECTED MEMBER IS JOAL, A
POLICE OFFICER. AND ONE OF THE
MEMBERS IS ALWAYS ELECTED BY
THE MEMBERSHIP , ELECTIONS ARE
EVERY THREE YEARS. AND THIS IS
COMMISSIONER DORSEY, SHE IS
COMMITTED BY LAW AND BY HER
GRACIOUSNESS HAS AGREED TO
PARTICIPATE AS A COMMISSIONER
UNTIL A REPLACEMENT IS
CONFIRMED. THIS IS OUR CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSIONERS. ARE
ELECTED MEMBERS , COMMISSIONER
JOSHUA, EMPLOYEE OF SPU. AND
YOU HAVE MET COMMISSIONER
MARY WIDEMAN-WILLIAMS, MAYORAL
APPOINTEE. WE HAVE A VACANCY
AT THIS MOMENT AS WELL BECAUSE
OUR CITY COUNCIL COMMISSIONER
WHO WAS JUST APPOINTED LAST
YEAR GOT ANOTHER JOB , WHICH
WE ARE HAPPY FOR HIM BUT IT
DOES CREATE A CLIENT CONFLICT
FOR HIM SO WE ARE LOOKING AT
TWO OPPONENTS IS HERE. WE WILL
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EXAM
DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS THE WORK THAT I
OVERSEE AND WORK CLOSELY WITH
THIS TEAM, THEIR POSITIONS
RESIDE IN THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
THEY DO THEIR WORK UNDER THE
AUTHORITY OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. THIS TEAM
DEVELOPS AND ADMINISTERS DATA
ACTUALLY -- ACTUALLY THEY ARE
A TEAM OF THREE STAFF MEMBERS
AND ONE PART-TIME MANAGER.
THANKS TO WORKING WITH THE
CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S OFFICE
THEY HAVE FUNDED ADDITIONAL
POSITION AND WE ARE CLOSE TO
HIRING THE FOURTH EXAM
ADMINISTRATOR. AND ANALYST.
SO, THEY DO THEIR WORK OVER
THERE AND THEY DEVELOP AND
ADMINISTER ART BASED AN
ENTRY-LEVEL BASED EXAM FOR THE
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION. THESE ARE THEIR
VALUES AND OURS AS WELL. THEY
ADMINISTER EXAMS THAT ARE
EQUITABLE, COMPLIANT AND
TRANSPARENT. CIVIL SERVICE
SUPPOSE WE APPLY AND THAT ARE
CENTRAL TO OUR WORK IS THAT
HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL RANKINGS
ARE BASED ON EXAM SCORES, THE
EXAMS ARE BASED ON THE
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES
NECESSARY TO ACTUALLY PERFORM
THE WORK OF THE POSITION FOR
WHICH THERE TESTING. THE
INDEPENDENCE OF THIS PROCESS IS
CRUCIAL AND INSULATES RANKINGS
AND HIRING , QUALIFICATION FOR
HIRING FROM POLITICAL
INFLUENCE. BUT, UNDER OUR
SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATELY SO,
THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY HAS
THE DISCRETION AND FINAL HIRING
AND PROMOTIONAL POINTED
DECISION-MAKING. SO, THE CHIEF
MAKES A HIRING DECISION. THE
CHIEF MAKES THE PROMOTIONAL
DECISION FROM A SET OF
QUALIFIED, A LIST OF QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES THAT WE PRODUCE TO
THOSE APPOINTING AUTHORITIES.
SORRY. THIS SLIDE, THESE ARE
LINKS AVAILABLE IN YOUR
MATERIALS. THESE ARE LINKS TO
HEADLINES FOR OTHER
JURISDICTIONS WHO HAVE HAD
PROBLEMS IN THEIR CIVIL SERVICE
SYSTEM WHERE THINGS HAVE GONE
WRONG . AND, IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, I THINK, TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT NO NEWS IS GOOD
NEWS REALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
CIVIL SERVICE TESTING PROCESS
AND PROMOTIONAL PROCESSES.
SEATTLE HAS BEEN REALLY LUCKY
AND I WILL KNOCK ON THIS WOODEN
DESK IN FRONT OF ME, TO STAY
OUT OF THE NEWS FOR A VERY LONG
TIME. ON AIR PROMOTIONAL
TESTS, ARE ENTRY-LEVEL EXAMS,
THIS GROUP TAKES THEIR WORK
EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY AND THEY
ARE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
PROFESSIONAL . THEY ARE VERY
SKILLED AND I'M VERY PROUD TO
WORK WITH THEM. THIS GIVES YOU
AN IDEA OF THE OVERVIEW, WHERE
THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS COME IN
AND THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESS,
RECRUITING OBVIOUSLY FIRST. WE
NEED TO GET CANDIDATE INDUSTRY
IN WORKING FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
BEFORE WE CAN GET THEM TO APPLY
AND TAKE ARE ENTRY-LEVEL EXAMS.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS. IN AN
IDEAL WORLD. RECRUITING IS
HANDLED BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND NEWLY SOME
WORK IS BEING PERFORMED BY THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES. EXAMS ARE OUR SCOPE
AND WE DO DRAW SOME PRETTY
BRIGHT LINES AROUND NETWORK TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE ORDINANCE
AND THE TENANTS OF CIVIL
SERVICE. THAN SBD DOES THE
PRE-IMPLANT ASSESSMENTS,
COUNCILMEMBER WAS SPEAKING
EARLIER ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS MAKING IN THEIR PRE-HIRING
ASSESSMENTS, THE PHYSICAL
ABILITY TEST, THERE IS A
PSYCHIATRIC EXAM. A BACKGROUND
PROCESS. THERE OTHER PROCESSES
INVOLVED TOO. AND THEN AN
EMPLOYEE BEGINS EMPLOYMENT FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT IS
THE ACADEMY. AND FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT THAT IS THE SCHOOL
WHICH IS THE NEXT PIECE IN THE
PUZZLE. THIS IS JUST WHERE ARE
WE IN THE PROCESS. WE ARE HERE.
>> AND SO, GIVEN THAT WE ARE
MOVING FROM 11 TO 14 EXAMS
PER YEAR FOR THE POLICE SIDE
OF THINGS, I WOULD IMAGINE
YOU MAYBE ALREADY HAD AN EXAM
SO FAR THIS YEAR?
>> WE HAVE. WE'VE ALREADY HAD
-- CANDIDATES FOR ENTRY-LEVEL
POLICE, THAT IS A UNIQUE EXAM.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT
USE THAT BUT ALL OF OUR
CANDIDATES ACTUALLY ARE ABLE TO
APPLY AND TAKE THE TEST BECAUSE
THEY'RE DOING IT REMOTELY, THEY
CAN SCHEDULE AN EXAM AND TAKE
IT ON ALMOST ANY DAY OF THE
YEAR. WE DO HAVE TO CLOSE FOR
A DAY OR TWO BETWEEN CYCLES TO
DO PROCESSING, BUT ALMOST ANY
DAY OF THE YEAR THAT IS
AVAILABLE TO CANDIDATES, WE
KEEP OUR CYCLES OPEN. SO, WE
DO CLOSE THEM AT A CERTAIN
POINT . WE HAVE TO APPLY
PREFERENCE POINTS, VETERANS
PREFERENCE POINTS. WE ARE
DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE
PREFERENCE POINTS, THAT DOESN'T
GO LIVE UNTIL JUNE, BUT THERE
OTHER PREFERENCE POINTS
CANDIDATES APPLY FOR AND ARE
QUALIFIED FOR. THAT HAS TO BE
A MANUAL PROCESS HERE BECAUSE
WE NEED TO GET THE PAPERWORK
VERIFIED, ET CETERA. SO WE
CLOSE DOWN FOR A DAY OR TWO IN
BETWEEN CYCLES BUT WE HAVE
COMPLETED ONE CYCLE AND ARE
INTO THE SECOND CYCLE OF
TESTING THIS YEAR. THOSE ARE
REQUESTED SPECIFICALLY BY
CHIEF DIAZ AND WE ARE HAPPY TO
SAY WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT
REQUEST. THIS SLIDE IS TO
ILLUSTRATE ENTRY-LEVEL TESTING
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. IT IS
CRUCIAL. THIS TEAM HAS A PRETTY
HEAVY, A PRETTY FULL PLATE.
THEY ALSO DEVELOP AND
ADMINISTER IT ALL OF OUR
PROMOTIONAL TESTING. FOR ALL OF
THESE RANKS. THOSE ARE ALSO
REQUIRED, ACTUALLY THOSE ARE
THE ONLY ONES REQUIRED BY LAW.
ENTRY-LEVEL IS BASED ON NEED
WHICH OF COURSE IS VERY GREAT
RIGHT NOW SO WE ARE MAKING THAT
OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. WHILE
STILL MEETING ALL OF OUR LEGAL
OBLIGATIONS AND THE NEEDS OF
THE DEPARTMENTS.
>> THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTER
ENTRY-LEVEL EXAMS ARE FEWER
JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TEST FOR
FIRE IS MUCH HIGHER . THE
CHIEF OFTEN REFERS TO THE LIST
AS BEING ONE THAT IS STALE OR
NOT STALE, I DON'T KNOW IF
THOSE ARE THE ADJECTIVES HE
USES, BUT THE VERY LONG LIST
IS STILL POPULATED BY PEOPLE
WHO HALF A YEAR LATER ARE
STILL INTERESTED IN SERVING.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT THOSE
LISTS STAY GOOD FOR A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME, PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
SO MUCH WITH FIRE SUBMITTING
THEIR TEST SCORES A BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND GOING
ELSEWHERE, OTHER THAN SEATTLE,
IT SEEMS LIKE THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE ON FIRES LIST IS
ABUNDANT, AND IT'S NOT AS MUCH
OF A PROBLEM.
>> THEY RECEIVED A VERY LONG
LIST LAST YEAR, THEY HAD A
LIST OF OVER 1600 CANDIDATES.
NOT ALL THOSE PEOPLE REMAIN
AVAILABLE, THEY GET OTHER JOBS,
THEIR LIVES CHANGE, MAYBE THEY
DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES IN THEIR LIVES
ARE, BUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WOULD BE OVER THE MOON TO HAVE
A LIST OF 1600 CANDIDATES ON
IT. THE TESTING PROCESS FOR
ENTRY-LEVEL FIRE IS ALSO MANY
MORE CANDIDATES , IT ALSO
REGULARLY , WHEN IT'S NOT AN
OFF CYCLE EXAM WHICH IS WHAT WE
NEEDED TO DO LAST YEAR BECAUSE
OF THE GREAT NEED, INCLUDES A
HUMONGOUS ORAL PROCESS WE DO
LIVE IN PERSON IN SEATTLE THAT
LASTS MULTIPLE WEEKS. AND
INVOLVES A CHANGE TEAM MEMBER,
CHANGE TEAM MEMBERS FROM
ACROSS THE CITY, UNION MEMBERS,
IT IS A VERY LARGE PROCESS.
FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POLICE OFFICER,
IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
UNIVERSE. RIGHT NOW JUST THE
APPLICANT POOL IS SO SMALL. WE
HAVE ALWAYS DONE THEM
DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE WE'VE
ALWAYS NEEDED TO SUIT THE NEED
OF THE DEPARTMENT, BUT I DON'T
REMEMBER WHAT YOUR ORIGINAL
QUESTION WAS BUT HOPEFULLY HAVE
ANSWERED IT. THE FIRE ED GETS
A VERY LONG LIST, THEY HAVE A
TEST EVERY TWO YEARS. THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT GETS A SHORT
LIST UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT NOW
AND WE ARE DOING VERY FREQUENT
TESTING CYCLES.
>> IT WASN'T SO MUCH A
QUESTION AS AN OBSERVATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THESE ARE THE THINGS WE DO
NOT DO, THESE ARE DONE MOSTLY
BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
WE WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO
FACILITATE THOSE PROCESSES AND
DOVETAIL THEM SEAMLESSLY WITH
OUR PROCESS. ITERATIVE WORK.
FOCUSING ON VERY HARD WITH LOTS
OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS, THAT IS
THEIR SCOPE AND IT'S JUST NICE
TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHO HAS
WHAT AND WHAT BUCKET. I WILL
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
POLICE HIRING PROCESS AND WHAT
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE IS
TRYING TO HELP THE CITY
RESOLVE THAT BIG CONUNDRUM. I
DON'T NEED TO TELL ANY OF YOU
THAT WE ARE WAY DOWN ON POLICE
OFFICER STAFFING RIGHT NOW. AND
THESE TWO ARE REALLY WORKING
HARD TO ADDRESS THAT . THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION , I MENTIONED JUST A
FEW MOMENTS AGO, THE
APPLICATION AND CIVIL SERVICE
EXAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SBD
ENTRY-LEVEL OFFICER CANDIDATES
CAN ACCESS THOSE ALMOST EVERY
DAY THE YEAR. FROM THEIR HOMES,
REMOTE PROCTORED EXAMS
REDUCED PRODUCE PATIENT
BARRIERS. PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO
TRAVEL INTO THE CITY OR EVEN
OUR STATE TO TAKE THESE EXAMS.
YOU CAN COME UP WITH A LONG
LIST AS WELL AS I CAN, WHAT
BARRIERS CAN COME IN FRONT OF
CANDIDATES AND HOPEFULLY
ALLOWING THEM TO ACCESS THIS
FROM THEIR LOCATION WILL HELP
PEOPLE APPLY TO BE A SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICER. TO PRODUCE
THOSE LISTS TO SBD FREQUENCY.
HOPEFULLY REDUCING CANDIDATE
WAIT TIMES. ALSO REDUCING THE
BACKGROUND WAIT TIMES,
INDUCING AND TOWARDS THE GOAL
OF HIRING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
WERE QUICKLY. WE DID IN
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR PASS A
RULE CALLED COMMUNITY SERVICE
PREFERENCE POINTS, FOR
ENTRY-LEVEL POLICE OFFICER, WE
HAVE AS I MENTIONED SEVERAL
TYPES OF PREFERENCE POINTS
AVAILABLE.ONE FOR SERVICE, IN
ANOTHER ROLE LIKE PARKING
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER , WE HAVE
PREFERENCE POINTS BY FEDERAL
AND STATE LAW FOR MEMBERS OF
THE MILITARY SERVICE, VETERANS,
AND NOW WE WILL HAVE COMMUNITY
SERVICE PREFERENCE POINTS. THIS
IS A LONG TIME COMING. AS PART
OF THE 2017 POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE.
ANOTHER PART IS MULTI- LINGUAL
PREFERENCE POINTS, WE HAVE HAD
THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND
PEOPLE EARN THESE POINTS. WHAT
IT DOES IS IT INCREASES THEIR
SCORE ON THE ENTRY-LEVEL EXAM.
THE EXPERIENCE NEEDS TO BE
VERIFIABLE, BUT, THAT IS ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY WE NEED THE
ADDITIONAL STAFFING ACTUALLY TO
HELP VERIFY COMMUNITY SERVICE.
BECAUSE YOUR VERIFICATION CAN
LOOK DIFFERENT THAN SOMEONE
ELSE'S. WHEN YOU HAVE DONE
MILITARY SERVICE YOU GET A
FORM TO TURN IN AND THAT'S EASY
TO EVALUATE. BUT COMMUNITY
SERVICE PREFERENCE COULD LOOK,
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW, OR
DEVELOPING IT RIGHT NOW. WE
ARE EXCITED TO BE IN THIS
PROGRAM, WE ARE EXCITED TO
HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
CITY GET THE WORD OUT THAT
HOPEFULLY ATTRACTS AND HIRES
COMMUNITY CENTER , COMMUNITY
CENTERED CANDIDATES WITH REAL
EXPERIENCE SERVING COMMUNITIES.
NOT THAT WE DON'T ALREADY, BUT
TO GIVE THEM AN EXTRA BOOST IN
THE HIRING PROCESS. I'M SORRY.
WE PARTNER WITH HH UP SHR,
SPD, TO ENSURE COMMUNICATIONS
ARE CLEAR, FREQUENT AND
CONSISTENT. WE ARE REACHING OUT
TO CANDIDATES IN NEW WAYS.
IMPLEMENTING TEXT MESSAGING
AND TRYING TO REACH CANDIDATES
WHERE THEY ARE AT. AND AS
ALWAYS, MAINTAINING SEATTLE'S
HIGH STANDARDS FOR INTEGRITY,
SAFETY AND RACIAL EQUITY IN OUR
PROCESSES AND OUTCOMES. AND
THAT DOES CONCLUDE MY
PRESENTATION. I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OVERVIEW.
JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHETHER OR
NOT COUNCILMEMBERS REMOTELY
OR COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I SORT OF HAVE A QUESTION, I
ADMIT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR
WORK. THIS IS BEEN VERY
EDUCATIONAL FOR ME, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THIS. YOU
PROBABLY GO TO A LOT OF
OFFICIAL CONFERENCES AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHER POLICE
DEPARTMENTS DO ACROSS THE
COUNTRY FOR THEIR HIRING
PROCESSES THEMSELVES. AND SO,
DID YOU WEIGH IN AT ALL ON ANY
OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS OR DO
YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL ADVICE THAT
COULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP
BUILD BACK UP THE NUMBERS OF
OFFICERS WE HAVE?
>> I AM INVOLVED IN THOSE
DISCUSSIONS, I HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE
OF THE HIRING AND RETENTION
ORDINANCE LAST FALL. I DO
PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL
CONFERENCES, AND I WISH THAT
THEY HAD BETTER ADVICE FOR US ,
THAT THE EXPERTS HAD BETTER
ADVICE FOR US AT THESE
CONFERENCES. I ALSO KNOW CHIEF
DIAZ, BETTY MAYOR HARRELL
ATTEND A LOT OF CONFERENCES AND
HAVE SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO,
MY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT
SPECIFIC. BUT WE ARE ALL IN
THIS . WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS
THAT THESE CHALLENGES ARE
UNIVERSAL AT THIS POINT.
>> I DID NOT MEAN TO UNDERMINE
THE ON THE GROUND
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING
ON FROM OUR CHIEF AND OUR
MAYOR. I JUST WAS BECOMING
AWARE THAT YOU HAVE A NETWORK
OF FOLKS THE DEAL WITH THIS
ALL THE TIME TOO. I'M SORRY TO
INTERRUPT.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT AT ALL.
>> PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, --
I THINK WE ARE ALL PUTTING
EFFORT -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
YOUNG PEOPLE AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO MAKE POLICING SOUND
LIKE A CAREER THAT MIGHT WANT
TO HAVE OTHER THAN TO TALK
ABOUT THIS GREAT CITY, TO TALK
ABOUT THE HIGH STANDARDS WE
HAVE FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS
AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE, PUBLIC SAFETY . SO I
THINK WE NEED TO TOUT THE GOOD
WORK WE HAVE DONE AND SHOW
PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN COME AND
DO IT WITH US AND MAKE THEIR
OWN COMMUNITY SAFER. THANKS.
>> ON THAT NOTE, I'M
WONDERING, COULD YOU SPEAK A
LITTLE TO HOW THE NEW POSITIONS
CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES LAST YEAR TO
ASSIST WITH POLICE OFFICER
HIRING, HOW THEY INTERACT WITH
THE PSCSC?
>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION. ONE OF THE POSITIONS
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY TESTING TEAM.
THAT WILL BE A SECOND EXAMS
ANALYST WHO WE HAVEN'T MADE A
FINAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
ACCEPTED YET SO THAT PERSON IS
NOT STARTED YET., THEY WILL
INCREASE THE DATA ANALYSIS AND
REPORTING ABILITIES OF THAT
TEAM, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ALSO
JUMP IN AND WORK ON THE ACTUAL
EXAMS. THIS IS SORT OF AN ALL
HANDS ON DECK TEAM. WE SIMPLY
NEED TO, NOT SIMPLY, ALSO WE
NEED TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY
OF THIS TEAM , SINCE WE HAVE
INCREASED OUR COMMITMENT TO
TEST MORE FREQUENTLY WE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO UP OUR MANPOWER.
AND THEN, THERE IS A LOT OF
OTHER WORK THAT PERSON WILL DO.
THE OTHER POSITIONS ARE REALLY
UNDER THE SHR UMBRELLA SO I
DON'T OVERSEE OR MANAGE THEIR
WORK. BUT I KNOW THAT THEY WILL
BE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH
OUR TEAM TO FACILITATE
MEDICATIONS, TO ACTUALLY I
THINK YOU DO RECRUITING,
ALTHOUGH KIMBERLY LOVING MIGHT
BE A BETTER PERSON TO SPEAK TO
THE ACTUAL DUTIES. DON'T QUOTE
ME ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE
HIRED TO ADD ADDITIONAL
CAPACITY TO THE RECRUITING
FUNCTION. RECRUIT IN NEW WAYS.
WE WILL BE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND
WITH THOSE PEOPLE TO NOT JUST
SUPPORT THEM AND GET THEM
ONBOARDED, BUT TO EDUCATE THEM
ABOUT OUR WORK AND THE
BOUNDARIES AROUND OUR WORK AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE
TIME TO SHARE WITH US AND THE
VIEWING PUBLIC ELEMENTS OF
YOUR IMPORTANT WORK. IT HAS
GIVEN US ALL I THINK A GREATER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITY
OF JUST ONE SMALL PIECE OF
THE HIRING PROCESS. THERE ARE
MANY MORE PIECES . BUT WE
APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE ALL
ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
TO INCREASE HIRING. THERE IS A
LOT OF FOCUS ON THE VACANCIES
AT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT , THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO LOST
HISTORIC NUMBERS OF
FIREFIGHTERS AND EVEN THOUGH
THEY HAVE A BIGGER IS TO WORK
WITH, THERE ARE A LOT OF
VACANCIES THAT THEY NEED TO
FILL ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREAT
RESIGNATION. SO WITH THAT, IF
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
JOINING US HERE TODAY. AND
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR
REAPPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE Y'ALL HAVE
A GOOD DAY.
>> SO THE NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 24, 2023. BEFORE WE
ADJOURN OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES? NOT SEEING ANY. THE
TIME IS 10:58 AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.