>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 5th 2024. THE
COUNCIL MEETING MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER. I WILL NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS
EXCUSED FOR TODAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER WILL.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON. EIGHT
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. THE MINUTES OF
JANUARY 29th 2024 WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED. OKAY.
TODAY WE HAVE GOT ONE BRIEFING,
TWO PROCLAMATIONS TO SIGN OUR
USUAL PREVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES
AND AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS
A FAIRLY FULL AGENDA TODAY. I
WILL MOVE ON TO MY PRESIDENTS
REPORT. TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE
ONE ITEM ON THE IRC. WE WILL
ALSO BE PRESENTING A PAIR OF
PROCLAMATIONS UP FOR SIGNATURE
LATER TODAY WHICH MY COLLEAGUES
WILL INTRODUCE. THAT IS IT FOR
TOMORROW'S MEETING. IT IS
EXCITING BECAUSE THIS WEEK'S
COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE THE FIRST
HAVING GOTTEN THE VACANCY
PROCESS BEHIND US. WE CAN GET
DOWN TO NORMAL COUNSEL
BUSINESS. I WILL AT THE CHAIRS
TALK ABOUT WHAT IS ON THEIR
COMMITTEES RUN, BUT JUST TO
NOTE, WE WILL HAVE FOR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS THIS WEEK
WITH TRANSPORTATION TOMORROW
MORNING LAND-USE ON WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON, LIBRARIES EDUCATION
AND NEIGHBORHOODS ON THURSDAY
MORNING AND GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ON THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. NOW WE BEGIN THE
WORK. WITH THAT, I WILL JUST
NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN
VERY FOCUSED ON THE VACANCY
PROCESS, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT
IS THE ONLY THING WE HAVE BEEN
DOING. IN ADDITION TO THE NEW
MEMBERS GETTING ON BOARD IT,
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SPENT
THE LAST WEEKS MEETING WITH
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND
FINDING OUT WHAT LEGISLATION IS
IN THE PIPELINE. THEY HAVE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEIR TOP
PRIORITIES ARE AND WHICH ONES
THEY MIGHT BE ADVANCING ON
THEIR OWN INITIATIVES. TAMMY
THIS WEEK FEELS LIKE THE TRUE
BEGINNING OF THE NEW TERM AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE
MEETINGS ON THE LADIES ON WHICH
I SIT. MOVING ON, NORMALLY WE
HAVE AN OIR LEGISLATIVE SESSION
UPDATES, BUT WE CANCELED IT
THIS WEEK AT THE REQUEST OF OUR
TEAM IN OLYMPIA BECAUSE THEY
HAVE GOT A TIME SENSITIVE
MEETING WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW,
TODAY IS THE FISCAL COMMITTEE
CUT OFF, WHICH IS THE LAST DAY
TO PASS BILLS OUT OF THE HOUSE
FISCAL COMMITTEE AND THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES IN
ORDER TO GET THOSE BILLS TO THE
SENATE FLOOR OR A VOTE. GIVEN
THAT THE CLIENT AND THE FACT
THAT TIME IN OLYMPIA IS OF THE
ESSENCE, OUR TEAM WILL BE
SENDING ALONG UPDATED MATERIALS
TOMORROW REFLECTING WHAT BILLS
ARE STILL VIABLE IN CASE YOU
ARE WONDERING WHY YOU HAVE NOT
GOTTEN THAT YET. NOW WE WILL
MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS
A PRESENTATION ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2025, 2026
BIANNUAL BUDGET FROM OUR NEW
DIRECTOR OF COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF. AS AN INTRODUCTION, I
ASKED FOR THIS BRIEFING
FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON
JANUARY 22nd OF A HIRING FREEZE
FOR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS WHICH
I FULLY SUPPORT, AS I HAVE SAID
BEFORE IN DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES, DEALING WITH OUR
$229 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET
DEFICIT WILL BE A MONUMENTAL
TASK ALL YEAR, SO WE CANNOT
JUST WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER WHICH
IS WHEN WE NORMALLY START THE
COUNCIL'S BUDGET PROCESS AFTER
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS
TRANSMITTED. AS THE LEGISLATIVE
BODY, COUNSEL PLAYS A ROLE AND
THAT IS UNDERSTANDING THE WORK
THAT DEPARTMENTS WILL UNDERTAKE
TO ALIGN BUDGETS WITH THIS
REALITY AS WELL AS BRINGING NEW
MEMBERS UP TO SPEED ON OUR
GENERAL BUDGET PROCESS AND THE
RANGE OF OPTIONS AT OUR
DISPOSAL TO FULFILL OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO ADOPT A
BALANCED BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
WELCOME, BEN. PLEASE PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD, I AM SORRY.
>> THANK YOU. AS CHAIR OF THE
TRIBAL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, I
AM EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
MEETING. COLLEAGUES, THIS WEEK
I WILL BE IN OLYMPIA FILLING MY
ROLE ON AWC'S BOARD AS
REGIONAL COMMITTEE. THAT IS
WHY THIS WEEK'S COMMITTEE IS
CANCELED. OUR FIRST MEETING
WILL BE ON THE 21st OF THIS
MONTH WHERE WE WILL BE TAKING
THE NEXT LEVEL OF DEPTH BEYOND
WHAT BEN IS ABLE TO PRESENT.
YOU MAY KNOW THAT ALLIE IS OUR
CENTRAL STAFF LEAD ON THE
BUDGET, AND TOM. SO WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE THE CEO PRESENT
AS WELL AS THREE OF OUR CENTRAL
STAFF AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT
IRONED OUT THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE OCCURRING COMPARED TO
A FINANCE COMMITTEE. I AM
INVITING ALL OF YOU TO THE
FEBRUARY 21st MEETING. IF YOUR
QUESTIONS CANNOT BE ANSWERED
TODAY, THEY WILL BE ANSWERED ON
THE 21st. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE US
TO HOLD QUESTIONS TODAY UNTIL
AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION, OR DO
YOU MIND IF THEY ANSWER?
>> I AM FINE QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION. IN MY
MIND THERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS
TO BE DOING THIS THIS TIME OF
YEAR, WHICH IS RELATIVELY
EARLY. ONE IS, YOU BOTH
HIGHLIGHTED THIS, THAT THE
BUDGET IS GOING TO BE IF NOT
AMONG THE CRITICAL ISSUES YOU
FACE THIS YEAR WITH SIGNIFICANT
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES WHICH I
WILL TOUCH ON TODAY. THAT WILL
BE THE SUBJECT OF MORE DETAILED
DISCUSSIONS. THE OTHER REASON
IT IS TIMELY TO DO THIS IS THE
BUDGET PROCESS IS UNDERWAY,
PARTICULARLY ON THE EXECUTIVE
SIDE. ALTHOUGH YOU WILL NOT SAY
THE BUDGET UNTIL THE END OF
SEPTEMBER, THE PROCESS HAS
BEGUN AND THE GOAL IS TO GIVE
YOU A SENSE OF THAT PROCESS AND
I WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO TALK
ABOUT THE STEPS ON THE
EXECUTIVE SIDE. I WANT TO ECHO
SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS SAID, ALTHOUGH I AM
HERE TODAY, I AM HERE ALONE
BECAUSE ALLIE HAD A
PRESCHEDULED TRAINING. ALLIE IS
OUR LEAD ON BUDGET. I HAVE SOME
EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL BRING,
BUT SHE LEAVES THE TEAM THAT
INCLUDES EDEN AND TOM. IT HAS
BEEN A DECADE SINCE I HAVE BEEN
HERE AND AMONG THE MANY
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
MADE IS ESSENTIAL STAFF HAS
BEEN REORGANIZED AND STAFFING
INCREASED SO YOU HAVE A TEAM
DEDICATED TO BUDGET YEAR
AROUND, PARTICULARLY TOM AND HE
DIDN'T UNDER ALLIE'S
LEADERSHIP. AS YOU WILL SEE
TODAY, I WILL TALK ABOUT SOME
WORK UNDERWAY ON OUR SIDE AND
IN PAST YEARS I PROBABLY WOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE, WE
WOULD HAVE BEEN BUSIER WITH THE
THINGS. I APPRECIATE THE WAY
THE TEAM IS ORGANIZED AND
STOPPED.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE
YOU ON OUR TEAM BECAUSE HE USED
TO BE HEDGE OF THE BUDGET
OFFICE.
>> THAT WILL BE EVIDENT AS I
TALKED ABOUT SOME OF IT. I WILL
DIVE INTO A POWERPOINT. I AM
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AS WE
GO. AWESOME. IN TERMS OF A
QUICK OUTLINE OF THE MAJOR
THING TO DO IS TALK ABOUT HOW
THE CITY'S BUDGET HAS
DEVELOPED AND SHOW YOU THE
TIMELINES ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE
AND ON THE COUNCILS INSIDE AND
TALK ABOUT WORK THAT IS
UNDERWAY AND TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT THE
COUNCILS ROLE. YOU WILL SEE
BOTH IN EVALUATING AND
ASSESSING AND APPROVING THE
BUDGET FOR 2025 AND 2026, AND
IN MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET, THERE IS A
PROCESS ABOUT THAT AS WELL AND
I WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT. AND THE
BALANCE BETWEEN THE FINANCE AND
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEES, AND I
PULLED TOGETHER AN OUTLINE THAT
HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLES OF YOUR
STANDING COMMITTEES AND ALSO
THE FORECAST COUNSEL. AGAIN, TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME WORK THAT THE
ESSENTIAL STAFF SITE HAS
UNDERWAY ALREADY. JUST TO LAY
THE GROUNDWORK, WE FOLLOW WHAT
IS CALLED A MODIFIED BINARY
ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS. I WILL
DESCRIBE BY IT IS MODIFIED AS I
GO THROUGH THIS. AND OF ALL OF
THE EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS, THIS
YEAR, 2024, YOU ULTIMATELY WILL
VOTE TO ADOPT A BUDGET FOR YEAR
ONE, WHICH WILL BE 2025 AND YOU
WILL DO THAT BY ORDINANCE, YOU
WILL LEGALLY APPROPRIATE THE
BETTER PART OF THE $7 BILLION.
HE WILL ALSO ENDORSE A BUDGET
FOR THE SECOND YEAR FOR 2026
AND HE WILL DO THAT BY
RESOLUTION. THAT WILL NOT HAVE
THE FORCE OF LAW AND YOU WILL
NEED TO COME BACK AND IN THE
FALL OF NEXT YEAR YOU WILL
REAFFIRM AND MAKE THE LEGAL
APPROPRIATIONS. AGAIN ,
HOPEFULLY I WILL NOT SAY THIS
MUCH, BUT SINCE I WAS HERE LAST
SOME IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS
HAVE BEEN MADE ON THAT FRONT.
IN THE PAST WE TALKED ABOUT A
BIANNUAL BUDGET, BUT THE SECOND
YEAR WAS JUST LIKE A NEW BUDGET
PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. THERE
WAS NOT MUCH WEIGHT ON THE
ENDORSED BUDGET. THROUGH SOME
WORK DONE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS
WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND
CENTRAL STAFF WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY, THE PROCESS IS
DESIGNED TO BE MUCH MORE OF A
BIANNUAL PROCESS. THAT ENDORSED
BUDGET IS THE BASELINE FOR THE
DEPARTMENTS AND IT IS THE GOAL
OF THE EXECUTIVE TO HOLD FAST
TO THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND
ULTIMATELY IT SHOULD BE YOUR
GOAL AS WELL AND I THINK THERE
IS GOOD REASON FOR THAT. IT
ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE
A TWO-YEAR PLANNING WINDOW,
WHICH IS NOT THAT LONG AND THAT
KIND OF CONSISTENCY IS
IMPORTANT. IT ALSO FREES YOU UP
AND THE EXECUTIVE TO DO MORE
WORK OVER THE COURSE OF THE
YEAR, PARTICULARLY IN THE FALL.
I DON'T MIND SAYING THIS WITH
SOME SELF-CRITICISM, THE BUDGET
PROCESS IS NOT PARTICULARLY
EFFICIENT AND IF YOU THINK
ABOUT AN ENGINE, IT GENERATES A
LOT OF HEAT AND IS NOT MOVED
THINGS AS FORWARD AS MUCH AS
EVERYONE WOULD LIKE. NOT FIRING
THAT ENGINE UP EVERY YEAR IS
NOT A BAD IDEA BECAUSE IT
ALLOWS YOU TO FOCUS ON OTHER
THINGS. THAT IS THE MODIFIED BY
ANNUAL PROCESS. A TRUE PROCESS,
YOU WOULD ADOPT A TWO-YEAR
BUDGET AND REVISIT AS
NECESSARY. THERE ARE REASONS
WHY THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WERE
DOING INCLUDING SOME LEGAL
IMPEDIMENTS. THE PROCESS IS SET
OUT IN STATE LAW UNIQUE TO THE
CITY, UNIQUE TO ANY CITY WITH
MORE THAN 400,000 RESIDENTS.
MORE OR LESS THE SAME THING. SO
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE I
MOVE ON TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BASIC
SETUP.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS IT
CONTEMPLATED THAT IN THE ODD
YEARS THAT THERE IS ALSO A
BALANCING PACKAGE?
>> THE SECOND YEAR, EVERYBODY
AND THE EXECUTIVE NEEDS TO
RESPOND TO CHANGING CONDITIONS
AND I JUST RECENTLY LEFT THE
WORLD OF REVENUE FORECASTING
AND AS GOOD AS I WAS IN THE
TEAM WAS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO
GET THAT RIGHT. THERE WILL BE
CHANGES ON THE REVENUE SIDE AND
THERE WILL BE CHANGES ON THE
EXPENDITURE SIDE FOR GOOD
REASON. PRIORITIES WILL EVOLVE
AND THINGS WILL HAPPEN. THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE WILL BE
FORCED TO CLOSE. YOU GET THE
IDEA. THERE ARE THINGS YOU
DON'T ANTICIPATE. THAT IS ALL
I HAVE TO SAY.
>> JUST A POINT OF
CLARIFICATION, IT IS
CONTEMPLATED THAT YOU PASSED
THE FIRST YEAR AND ON THE
SECOND YEAR, IT IS ENDORSED,
BUT STILL, YOU SHOULD BE
CONTEMPLATING UNFORESEEABLE
THINGS BEFORE THE MOST PART AS
MUCH AS HE CAN. YOU SHOULD
STICK WITH WHAT GOT ENDORSED AS
A PART OF THE PROCESS. IS MY
UNDERSTANDING CORRECT?
>> THAT IS THE WAY THE SYSTEMS
HAVE BEEN SET UP AND THAT IS
THE GOAL. I WANT TO BE CAREFUL.
I SUPPORT THAT AND ENCOURAGE
YOU. IT IS COUNSEL PREROGATIVE
UNTIL YOU MAKE THE
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE SECOND
YEAR THERE IS NO LEGAL BUDGET.
THE SYSTEMS CAN WORK BETTER, I
THINK FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE
PROVIDING THAT PREDICTABLE
APPROACH. THE FINANCIAL
PLANNING SITE IS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS NEXT GRAPH THAT I WILL
SPEND TIME ON BECAUSE IT IS
BUSY AND IT TELLS A WHOLE
STORY. THIS IS COLOR-CODED AS
WELL, SO THE EXECUTIVES PHASE
OF THINGS IS IN SHADES OF GRAY,
NO UNDERLYING MEANING TO THAT,
THAT IS THE COLOR AND COUNSEL
IS MORE IN BLUE AND I AM GOING
TO START HERE AT THE LEFT AND
MOVED TO THE RIGHT. I'M GOING
TO START BY TALKING ABOUT THE
EXECUTIVE PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS
WHAT IS UNDERWAY NOW. COUNSEL
CAN BE DOING THIS NOW AND WE
CAN TALK ABOUT REVENUES BECAUSE
THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
TOPICS. RIGHT NOW THE PROCESS
INITIATES WITH THE EXECUTIVE
DRIVEN BUDGET GUIDANCE AND THAT
HAS HAPPENED AND I WILL TALK
ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT. THE
IDEA IS THE EXECUTIVE HAS A
SENSE OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND WHAT RESOURCES
ARE LIKELY TO BE. WE ARE FACING
A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT AND THEY
BEGIN BY GETTING FEEDBACK FROM
THE DEPARTMENTS ABOUT HOW ARE
GOING TO REACT TO THE SITUATION
WE ARE IN. SOMETIMES IN BETTER
YEARS THERE IS A SENSE THERE
WILL BE ADDITIONAL RESOURCE AND
THIS GUIDANCE COULD COME ALONG
THE LINES OF IF YOU HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE, WHAT IS
THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING YOU
COULD DO. THANKFULLY THAT IS
NOT THE SITUATION WE ARE IN.
THE GUIDANCE THAT WAS DELIVERED
WAS ABOUT ALIGNING THEM TOWARDS
A SMALLER BUDGET. A FEW TERMS
OF ART I WANT TO EXPLAIN, AS
DEPARTMENTS CONTEMPLATE THAT
AND EAT THINGS BACK, THEY START
FROM A BASE IT, WHICH IS A
MEANINGFUL TERM OF ART. IT
TAKES YOUR CURRENT YEAR BUDGET
IN 2024 AND ADJUSTED FOR LIKELY
INCREASES IN COST AND THINGS
LIKE INFLATION AND LABOR COST,
WHATEVER THOSE MIGHT BE, IT IS
A QUESTION OF IF YOU WERE TO DO
ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO
DO THIS YEAR NEXT YEAR, WHAT
WOULD THAT COST AND THAT SETS
THE BASE BUDGET. I WOULD ADD
THAT SOMETIMES THERE ARE
ONE-TIME THINGS IN A BUDGET AND
THOSE COME OUT OF A BASE BUDGET
PROCESS. IF THE DEPARTMENT HAD
BEEN GIVEN HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS TO BUILD SOMETHING,
THERE IS NO EXPECTATION THAT
WOULD BE AN ONGOING
EXPENDITURE, SO THAT IS NOT IN
THE BASE BUDGET. THERE IS AN
ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLACEMENT AND
THEN IT COULD GO DOWNWARD FOR
ONE-TIME THINGS. GIVEN THOSE
BASE BUDGETS TO BRING FORWARD
POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS, IN
PAST YEARS IN THE EIGHT YEARS I
WAS BUDGET DIRECTOR, THAT TOOK
THE FORM OF HERE IS A
PERCENTAGE REDUCTION ON YOUR
ALLOCATION OF HUNTING. I WILL
TALK ABOUT WHICH FUNDING. IT
WAS STATED AS HOW MUCH CAN YOU
CUT. THE GUIDANCE THIS YEAR
WENT OUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. IT
IS A MEANINGFULLY DIFFERENT SET
OF GUIDANCE. IT SAYS THIS IS
THE MAXIMUM. IT GETS A RANGE
FOR EACH DEPARTMENT, BUT THIS
IS THE MAXIMUM RESOURCE YOU
WILL HAVE REALISTICALLY. SO
GIVEN THAT MAXIMUM LEVEL OF
FUNDING, WHAT WOULD YOU PUT
INTO YOUR BUDGET? THAT IS THE
GUIDANCE THAT HAS GONE OUT TO
DEPARTMENTS AND THE FIRST ROUND
IS COMING BACK MARCH 6th. THAT
FRAMING AND THOSE MAXIMUM
TARGETS HAVE BEEN FRAMED
SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE
COMBINATION OF THE GENERAL FUND
AND THE JUMPSTART REVENUES,
WHICH ARE ABOUT TO BILLION
DOLLARS, SO IT IS BIGGER THAN
1.7 BILLION IN THE GENERAL
FUND. THAT IS A POLICY CHOICE
ON THE EXECUTIVE ART,
RECOGNIZING THERE IS AT LEAST
LEGALLY AND IN THE BROADER
SENSE SOME FLEX ABILITY BETWEEN
THOSE FUNDING SOURCES. I THINK
IN THE BROADEST SENSE BECAUSE
THERE IS ADOPTED CITY ORDINANCE
THAT CURRENTLY SETS PRIORITIES
FOR THE JUMPSTART REVENUES THAT
HAVE EVOLVED UPTIME. THE
EXECUTIVE SHOULD AT LEAST
CONSIDER MODIFICATIONS TO THOSE
GOING FORWARD WITH THE DEFICIT
THAT I'M ABOUT TO HIGHLIGHT, I
THINK THAT MAKES SENSE AND THEY
ARE FUNDAMENTALLY COMPLETELY
FUNGIBLE DOLLARS THAT CAN BE
USED FOR ANY GENERAL GOVERNMENT
EXPENSE. A DISTINCTION FROM
SOMETHING LIKE THE COMMERCIAL
PARKING TAX, WHICH IS
SPECIFICALLY LIMITED TO
TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES. THE
GUIDANCE HAS BEEN ABOUT A
MAXIMUM BUDGET TARGET OVER
THEIR EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED
WITH EXISTING FUNDING FROM
JUMPSTART AND FROM THE GENERAL
FUND, AND THE TARGETS ARE ALL
LESS THAN 100% BECAUSE AGAIN WE
ARE FACING A DEFICIT. THERE IS
NOT ANY TO BE INCREASING
DEPARTMENT BUDGETS. THE RANGES
HAVE VARIED ACROSS DEPARTMENTS,
SO IN PARTICULAR PUBLIC SAFETY,
CARE, THOSE DIRECTED THINGS
HAVE A RANGE OF 95 TO 90% OF
THEIR PROJECTED BASELINES. SO
RELATIVELY NARROW TO GIVE YOU A
SENSE OF THE LOW END. SOME OF
THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE MUCH LOWER
TARGETS. SOME OF THOSE,
PARTICULARLY DEPARTMENTS THAT
HAVE IN RECENT YEARS AND BY
RECENT I MEAN THE LAST THREE OR
FOUR YEARS HAVE SEEN THEIR
BUDGETS GROW SIGNIFICANTLY
LARGELY WITH INFUSIONS OF THE
JUMPSTART PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
TAX AND AGAIN, ONE THING I WANT
TO EMPHASIZE ABOUT THE
DIRECTION AND RESPONSES FROM
THE DEPARTMENTS IS THAT THEY
ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION AT
THIS POINT AND IF THE MAYOR AND
HIS TEAM ARE GOING TO HAVE
MEANINGFUL CHOICES TO CLOSE A
VERY LARGE DEFICIT THAT THEY
NEED A SET OF OPTIONS THAT
EXTENDS BEYOND WHAT IS
PREDICTED. THEY WOULD SEND OUT
TARGETS THAT WOULD NOT LEAVE
THEM ANY CHOICE BETWEEN A GOOD
IDEA AND THAT IDEA. IT IS A
STANDARD THING TO ASK FOR
CHOICES OR OPPORTUNITIES OR
PROPOSALS. THERE ARE LARGER IN
TOTAL THAN THE DEFICIT AMOUNT.
THERE IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS,
SO I AM WORKING TO THE SECOND
PHASE OF THIS WHERE DEPARTMENTS
PREPARE SUBMITTALS. THERE IS AN
ITERATIVE PROCESS ABOUT THAT.
THE FIRST SET OF RESPONSES IS
DUE A MONTH FROM NOW, MARCH
6th. THE BUDGET OFFICE IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL PROCESS
THOSE AND THEY ARE HIGH-LEVEL
SO THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN
VERY MUCH TIME TO RESPOND. WHEN
YOU ARE BRINGING FORTH A
DETAILED BUDGET PROPOSAL, YOU
HAVE TO GET DOWN TO THE
SPECIFIC FUNDING AMOUNTS M
POSITIONS. IT IS A TECHNICAL
EXERCISE. THAT'S GET THE IDEAS
ON THE TABLE. THE EXECUTIVE IS
IN A POSITION TO SAY THESE ARE
WORTH PURSUING, BRING US BACK
IN APRIL, BRING US A MORE
DETAILED PROPOSAL ALONG THOSE
LINES. THAT ONE, WE WILL TAKE
THAT OFF THE TABLE. IT COULD BE
TAKEN OFF THE TABLE. WHY DON'T
YOU WORK ON A PROPOSAL LIKE
THIS AND THOSE COME BACK TO THE
EXECUTIVE IN THE APRIL OR MAY
TIMEFRAME AND REVIEWED WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEN THEY
SHIFT USING THIS DIAGRAM TO
JUNE, JULY, AUGUST. THAT IS
WHEN THEY START TO MAKE
DECISIONS. THEY HAVE HAD A
SECOND ROUND OF INFORMATION AND
THEY BEGIN DECISIONS IN THE
JULY AND AUGUST TIMEFRAME. THE
MAYOR WRAPS UP DECISION-MAKING
. IDEALLY IN AUGUST, IT BECOMES
A BIT OF A SCRAMBLE AS YOU MOVE
INTO SEPTEMBER, THE LONGER THAT
TAKES, THE MORE THE SCRAMBLE.
THEY GOT TO MAKE DECISIONS NO
LATER THAN EARLY SEPTEMBER IN
ORDER TO BRING YOU A BUDGET
TOWARDS THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK AND
GETTING ALL THOSE DETAILS
RIGHT. SO THAT IS THE TIMEFRAME
THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON. I
SHOULD ADD, AND IT WILL COME UP
AS WE TALK ABOUT VACATIONS TO
THE 2024 BUDGET, AT THE SAME
TIME THEY ISSUED THE GUIDANCE
TO THE DEPARTMENTS ON THE
TARGETS FOR 2025 AND 2026, ALSO
AS YOU ARE AWARE, THEY
ANNOUNCED A HIRING FREEZE FOR
THIS YEAR WITH MEANINGFUL
EXCEPTIONS, WHICH I WILL
HIGHLIGHT, AND A REVIEW OF
SIGNIFICANT LABOR CONTRACTS. I
THINK THE REASONS FOR THAT
ADDITIONAL DIRECTION IS
TWOFOLD, ONE IS RECOGNITION
THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES IN
2024 THAT WE FACE IN TERMS OF
BALANCING THE BUDGET AND THEN
ALSO KNOWING HOW SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES ARE, BRINGING ON NEW
STAFF IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
WE MIGHT BE FORCED TO LET STUFF
GO DOES NOT FEEL IDEAL. SO THE
HIRING FREEZE IS ANNOUNCED
ACROSS THE CITY WITH EXCEPTIONS
FOR POLICE, FIRE, CARE, OTHER
FIRST RESPONDERS, ALSO TO BACK
FUEL FOR FOLKS ON PARENTAL
LEAVE COVERING CRITICAL
FUNCTIONS. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE
AN EXCEPTION PROCESS OR REVIEW
PROCESS THAT APARTMENT CAN
BRING FORTH POSITIONS AND SAY
WE CAN'T FUNCTION WITHOUT THIS
AND YOU WOULD NOT WANT US TO.
THAT IS ALL ON THE EXECUTIVE
SIDE, AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH
EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY. THE
MAYOR AND THE EXECUTIVE HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO SPIN THE BUDGET OR
NOT. THIS IS THE MAYOR CHOOSING
TO BACK OFF ON SPENDING AT
RELATIVELY APPROPRIATE LEVELS
RECOGNIZING THE FINANCIAL
SITUATION. THESE ARE UNILATERAL
DECISIONS, BUT I THINK THEY
WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED AS THEY
GO. THEY HAVE ALSO IMPOSED A
REVIEW ON SIGNIFICANT
CONTRACTS. I DON'T WANT TO
APOLOGIZE. IN A DIFFERENT
CONTEXT AS THE PANDEMIC HIT, I
DID THE SAME THING, A HIRING
FREEZE AND THEN SAID NO NEW
CONTRACTS AT THE DOOR. A VERY
DIFFERENT SITUATION. WE WERE
THINKING ABOUT HOARDING CASH.
WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN. THE FINANCIAL
CHALLENGES THE CITY FACES NOW,
IT IS INTERESTING. WE DID NOT
KNOW WHAT THEY WERE AND WE WERE
WORRIED ABOUT HOW SEVERE THEY
COULD BE AND WE THOUGHT YOU
WERE MORE SEVERE. THE
DIFFERENCE IS MAYBE NOT AS BAD
AS IT COULD HAVE DONE, BUT
AGAIN, I CAN SEE WHY THEY WOULD
DO IT FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH. SO
THAT IS THE EXECUTIVE PROCESS.
LET ME TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ON
THAT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT
COUNSEL WORK DURING THE
PROCESS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I MIGHT
HAVE MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
DEPARTMENTS, BUT DID YOU SAY
WHEN YOU ARE MENTIONING PUBLIC
SAFETY TALKING ABOUT THE
BUILDING BUDGET, DID YOU SAY
THE 98% OR SO APPLIED TO POLICE
FIRE CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES.
DID YOU SAY HUMAN SERVICES?
>> I DID. I WANT TO CONFIRM
SOME NOTES. ALLOW ME.
>> CORRECT. HST AND
HOMELESSNESS, THAT REALM. 95 TO
90% OF CURRENT FUNDING IS THE
ANTICIPATION OF THAT DIRECTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS
COMING UP. OVER THE COURSE OF
NOW TO SEPTEMBER WHEN HE
RECEIVED THE BUDGET, AND MY
NEXT SLIDE GOES INTO GREATER
DETAIL, SO WE WILL TALK ABOUT
THE COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS IN
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. THERE IS
ONGOING WORK WITH THE BUDGET IN
TERMS OF LOOKING AHEAD AND ALSO
MAKING VACATIONS TO THE CURRENT
BUDGET AND ALSO JUST IN BASIC
ACCOUNTABILITY AND YOU WILL
ASKING DEPARTMENTS ABOUT HOW
THEY ARE USING RESOURCES. THEY
REQUESTED FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC
INITIATIVES AND WHAT IS THE
STATUS OF THOSE INITIATIVES.
THAT IS WORK YOU CAN BE DOING
IN YOUR NORMAL STANDING
COMMITTEES OR IN THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE AND IN THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE. SO THAT IS TO SAY
THE EXECUTIVE IS UNDERWAY. NOW
I SEE SOME QUESTIONS.
>> THE QUESTION, THERE ARE
CERTAIN CONSTRAINTS AND THERE
ARE ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE MAKING
AND ONE BIG CHANGE IS OBVIOUSLY
WE HAVE A VERY NEW COUNSEL THAT
COMES AT THIS IN A DIFFERENT
WAY. IS THIS GOING TO BE PART
OF THEIR PRINTING PROCESS AND
THE TERMS OF RECOGNIZING WE
HAVE TWO THIRDS SWAPOUT AND WE
COME FROM A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE TO MAC
>> YES. I WILL GET THERE. WE
HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH
THEM ABOUT A DIFFERENT
APPROACH, A MORE COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH. I HAD SOME
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE
WORK THEY HAVE DONE AND GETTING
READY TO LEAD THE EXECUTIVE
DECISION MAKING. WE CAN DO THE
SAME FOR YOU. WE ARE PLANNING
TO BUILD SOME THINGS FOR YOU.
WE CAN COOPERATE WITH THEM AND
THEY HAVE DONE SOME OF THIS
WORK. WE HAVE GOT DEDICATED
STAFF. THEY ARE DOING A LOT
MORE WORK, BUT THERE IS
EXPERTISE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
>> THANK YOU. COLLABORATION
DOES NOT JUST RESIDE HERE, IT
IS WITH US THROUGH YOU AND THE
EXECUTIVE POINT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF I MAY.
THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT I HAVE BEEN
SAYING IN OUR PRECINCT THE PAST
COUPLE WEEKS ABOUT USING SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENTLY AND MORE OFTEN
BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT, WHICH
IS ALSO WHY I AM INVITING
EVERYONE TO THE 21st MEETING
EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT A BUDGET
COMMITTEE BECAUSE I SEE A REAL
NEED TO WALK THROUGH THE
PROCESS THAT THE EXECUTIVE IS
GOING THROUGH SO THAT WE
UNDERSTAND WHAT DEFICIENCIES
AND WHERE ARE THEY FINDING THEM
SO IT DOES NOT GET TO SEPTEMBER
BEFORE WE ARE HAVING OUR FIRST
LOOK AT THIS PROCESS.
>> UNDERSTAND. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE
YOU JUST RAISED AND THE STATUS
OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WERE
INCLUDED IN THE 2024 BUDGET,
GIVEN MOST OF US WERE NOT HERE
FOR WHEN THAT BUDGET PASSED,
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE
CAN GET A READ INTO WHAT THOSE
INITIATIVES WERE THAT GOT
INCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT, IF YOU WILL.
>> CENTRAL STAFF IS THE SHORT
ANSWER. TALK TO YOUR COMMITTEE
COORDINATOR, THEY CAN LINK BACK
TO ME, TO ALLIE, TO OTHERS AND
WE CAN BRING THAT FORWARD FOR
YOU. GOOD QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET ME TALK ABOUT MY
FAVORITE TOPIC, REVENUE
FORECAST. IT IS RELEVANT TO
THIS. PER THE ARROWS AT THE
BOTTOM, THERE ARE THREE REVENUE
FORECAST REPAIRED. ONE, TO BE
DELIVERED AT THE BEGINNING OF
APRIL. WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT
THE FORECAST COUNSEL AS WELL.
THAT SETS, THAT WILL BE THE
FIRST FORECAST THAT WE HAVE
DONE SINCE OCTOBER, SO IT IS
THE BIGGEST SPAN IN THE YEAR IN
WHICH WE WAIT FOR AN UPDATE.
THE TRUTH IS THERE OUR FORECAST
RADIOS WILL FORECAST ELEMENTS.
THE APRIL ONE SETS THE TONE FOR
THE EXECUTIVE DECISION-MAKING
UP INTO AUGUST. AS IT IS
LOOKING AT THE SUBMITTALS FROM
THE DEPARTMENTS, AS IT IS
MAKING DECISIONS IN JUNE AND
JULY, IT IS WITH THAT APRIL
FORECAST AND THAT FORECAST
COULD POTENTIALLY PUT MORE
RESOURCE ON THE TABLE IN THE
GENERAL FUND OR TAKE SOME OFF,
IT DEPENDS ON THE ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS. AS OF TWO YEARS AGO
THE FORECAST OFFICE IS
INDEPENDENT OF BOTH COUNSEL AND
EXECUTIVE, IDEALLY DELIVERING
THAT NEWS WITHOUT AN INCENTIVE
TO DO ANYTHING BUT. I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT WAS THE CASE
AND I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IT
WILL BE GOING FORWARD. THE
UPDATE IN AUGUST IS DUE AUGUST
10th, THERE ARE STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS FOR AN APRIL
FORECAST TO APRIL 10th. WE
WILL LIKELY TIMED OUT. THE
AUGUST FORECAST IS EARLY IN
AUGUST AND BECOMES THE
TECHNICAL BASIS FOR THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET WILL BE
BALANCED TO OUR FORECAST
BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT CITY
REVENUES WILL BE. WE DON'T
EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY WILL BE IN
2024 AT THAT LINKED AND IT IS
BALANCED TO THAT LEVEL AND MUST
BE. THERE HAS BEEN ONE MORE
BITE THE APPLE IN OCTOBER,
PROBABLY THE SECOND OR THIRD
WEEK IN OCTOBER, WHICH IS A
LAST CHECK IN BEFORE YOU WILL
ACT. IT IS A RELATIVELY SHORT
TIME. THE REVENUE FORECAST IS
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF
JULY. THE OCTOBER FORECAST
BEGINS IN MID SEPTEMBER. WE
HAVE A NATIONAL FORECAST FIRM
THAT GIVES US THEIR PERSPECTIVE
ON WHERE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
IS GOING. OVER TIME WE HAVE A
MODEL THAT TAKES THAT NATIONAL
FORECAST AND TURNS IT INTO A
REGIONAL OR CAST. OUR ECONOMY
IS DIFFERENT THAN THE NATION.
FOR A LONG TIME WE WERE DOING
BETTER BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY WAS
BOOMING. NOW THE MODEL MIGHT
SUGGEST WE ARE GOING TO GROW
SLOWER AS A WHOLE. WE DO A
REGIONAL ECONOMIC MODEL AND
THAT MODEL IS FED INTO A
ANOTHER SET OF MODELS THAT TAKE
VARIABLES AND TIE THEM TO CITY
REVENUES. ULTIMATELY NATIONAL
FORECAST BECOMES REGIONAL
FORECAST AND REGIONAL FORECAST
BECOMES HOW MUCH SALES TAX.
THAT HAPPENS THREE TIMES A YEAR
IN AUGUST FOR THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL AND YOU WILL GET AN
UPDATE IN OCTOBER. GENERALLY
THE OCTOBER UPDATE DOES NOT
MOVE A LOT, BUT IT MOVES SOME
AND PICK UP AT THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET OUT OF BALANCE EITHER TO
THE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
>> IT SEEMED LIKE THAT HAPPENED
TWO YEARS AGO, THIS OCTOBER
FORECAST. MAYBE IT WAS IN 2021
DURING THAT BUDGET
DELIBERATION. AND IT SEEMED
LIKE LAST YEAR THERE WAS NOT
GOING TO BE A BALANCING PACKAGE
IN RESPONSE TO OCTOBER PACKAGE
AND THEN THERE WAS AND THE
WHOLE SCHEDULE CHANGED. THE
NATIONAL FIRM, YOU BOIL IT
DOWN, DOES THE TIMING ALWAYS
HAVE TO BE IN OCTOBER? CANOPY
EARLIER?
>> IT IS HARD TO DO IT MUCH
EARLIER. IN GENERAL OUR
PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN, TO ONLY
MAKE SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS
IN THE OCTOBER FRAMEWORK IF
THERE ARE MODIFICATIONS TO
MAKE. THE TEAM IS FORECASTING,
CBO DOES THE FORECASTING FOR
MINOR STREAMS. BETWEEN JULY
AND SEPTEMBER IN TERMS OF DATA,
THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH OF A
DIFFERENCE FOR MOST OF THEM,
BUT THERE COULD BE SIGNIFICANT
ECONOMIC CHANGES. I AM GOING TO
FORGET, IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
THEY WERE JUST STARTING TO RAMP
UP INTEREST RATES AND THEY MADE
SOME MOVES IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
THAT CHANGED THE FORECAST.
INFLATION SPIKED THE WAY THEY
HAD NOT ANTICIPATED. THOSE
CHANGES WE THINK WE NEED TO
INCORPORATE. I DON'T THINK IT
BENEFITS ANYBODY IN PART
BECAUSE THE WEATHER FORECAST
WORKS IS IT IS NOT ACCURATE,
BUT THE REASON IT IS NOT
ACCURATE IS REVENUES GO UP AND
DOWN AND THAT NOISE SETTLES OUT
TO BE ACCURATE, BUT IF YOU
FOCUS ON EVERY UP POSITIVE AND
SPEND IT, YOU ARE MISSING THE
BIG PICTURE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING
ON AND THE INHERENT
UNCERTAINTY. MATERIAL CHANGES
SHOULD REFLECT IT.
>> IT USED TO BE THAT FORECAST
RETURNS FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND
THEN IT SWITCHED OVER THREE
TIMES A YEAR.
>> IN TERMS OF REVENUE THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN DONE THREE TIMES
A YEAR. THE OCTOBER FORECAST
WAS PREVIOUSLY DELIVERED IN
EARLY NOVEMBER, BUT WORKING
WITH COUNSEL THE LAST COUPLE
YEARS, WE REALIZE FOR YOU ALL
TO BE MAKING INFORMED
DECISIONS, HAVING IT COME LATE
IN THE PROCESS AT CHAOS AND
AGAIN IF YOU WAIT LONGER THERE
IS MORE INFORMATION, BUT AT
SOME POINT, THERE IS NOT THAT
MUCH MORE TO BE GAINED BY
WAITING AND THERE IS A LOT TO
BE GAINED FOR YOU TO BEING ABLE
TO RESPOND TO IT. THERE IS WHAT
WE HAVE BEEN DOING CAN WE DO AN
UPDATE TO HELP INFORM
DEPARTMENTS ABOUT THE INFLATION
FORECAST, WHICH IS SOMETHING
PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AS THEY WORRY
ABOUT SETTING RATES. WE DON'T
DO A FULL-BLOWN REVENUE
FORECAST, WE RUN THE ECONOMIC
MODEL AND WE CAN BE THAT. THE
UTILITIES RELY ON THE FORECAST
TO FEED THEIR OWN CONSUMPTION
AND THE LIKE. THAT IS ANOTHER
PIECE THAT IS DONE. I WOULD BE
REMISS IF I DID NOT OFFER KUDOS
TO THE BUDGET OFFICE DOING
REALLY GREAT WORK. LET ME TALK
SOME MORE ABOUT THE COUNSEL
PROCESS. THIS IS THE PROCESS
THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS, THIS IS NOT ALL
WRITTEN IN STONE AND WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH STRAUSS TO WORK
OUT DETAILS. THAT GIVES YOU A
FRAME FOR WHAT IS GOING ON. YOU
HAVE EIGHT WEEKS FROM BEGINNING
TO END, SO END OF SEPTEMBER TO
THANKSGIVING, GIVE OR TAKE AND
WE NEED SOME TIME TO BE SURE
THAT EVERYTHING ADDS UP SO
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF TIME
AT THE END, A COUPLE DAYS WHERE
WE CAN BE SURE THAT COMMITTEES
WORK DID BALANCE. THERE WERE A
LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. IT
STARTS WITH THE MAYOR
TRANSMITTING THE BUDGET. AND
THEN THERE IS. WHERE YOU ALL
AND CENTRAL STAFF ARE LEARNING
WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET. EVEN AT
COLLABORATIVE LEVEL WE WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO SHARE ALL THE
DETAILS IN ANY CASE, SO THAT
WORKS IN A COUPLE WAYS. ONE IS
DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT
INTO PRESENTATIONS WHERE THEY
CAN EXPLAIN WHAT IS IN THEIR
BUDGET AND WHAT IS NOT IN THEIR
BUDGET AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
HOW THOSE DECISIONS WERE MADE.
CENTRAL STAFF IS AT THE SAME
TIME REVIEWING THE BUDGET AND
IDENTIFYING ISSUES THAT WE
THINK ARE MATERIAL TO YOU.
DEPARTMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE
HIGHLIGHTING THOSE. THEY HAVE
THEIR OWN STORY TO SHARE AND WE
CAN PROVIDE YOU SOME ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AS WELL. IT
PROVIDES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY AS
HE STARTED TO LEARN WHAT IS IN
THE BUDGET, THERE IS THIS THING
THAT I CAN'T LIVE WITH AND YOU
CAN COME TELL THE BUDGET CHAIR
THAT YOU COULD BE TALKING ABOUT
THAT IN PUBLIC DEPENDING ON
WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND WHAT THE
STRATEGIES ARE. YOU ARE
LEARNING AS WELL AND I DON'T
MEAN THAT IN A PEJORATIVE WAY.
IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET
THROUGH. THEN THERE IS THE
REVENUE FORECAST. WE ARE
SCHEDULED FOR THE THIRD WEEK OF
OCTOBER AND THAT CAN SET
OFFKILTER EITHER TO GOOD OR BAD
AND ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL BY A
LITTLE BIT IN A LITTLE BIT IN
THIS WORLD IS A FEW MILLION
DOLLARS. THE GENERAL FUND IS
THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE
REVENUE DATE. IT WILL JUMPSTART
AGAINST $2 MILLION. 20 MILLION
OF THAT IS 1%, SO THAT SEEMS
LIKE A BIG NUMBER, BUT IT IS
NOT. THE LAST FEW YEARS WE
ALLOWED THE CHAIR TO TAKE A
SHOT AT EITHER FINDING WAYS TO
ALLOCATE NEW MONEY OR IF THERE
IS A REDUCTION TO FIGURE OUT
THE INITIAL CUTS. THIS IS
RELATIVE TO THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET BECAUSE THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET ON THE
AUGUST FORECAST, WE NOW HAVE
THE OCTOBER FORECAST AND IT IS
DIFFERENT. IN A STANDARD SET OF
WAY, IT IS THE MARKED UP
COUNSEL BUDGET THAT IS PUT INTO
PLAY BY THE CHAIR. WITH THAT
MARKED UP BUDGET, THERE IS THEN
THREE WEEKS, A FULL THREE WEEKS
FOR THE COUNSEL TO FULLY DEBATE
WHAT IT IS YOU MIGHT WANT TO.
THERE IS AN INTERNAL TIMELINE,
SO WE TRY TO DO THAT IN AN
ORDERLY WAY. YOU CAN IMAGINE
THE SIMPLE IDEA THAT THERE ARE
TWO OR MORE OF YOU SEPARATELY
WANTING TO ADD SOME FUNDING TO
SOMETHING AND HAVE IDENTIFIED
THE SAME SOURCE, SO SOMETHING
YOU WILL REDUCE TO ADD AND IF
YOU ARE BOTH TARGETING THE SAME
REDUCTION IT CANNOT BE USED TO
FIND THE SAME ACT. PART OF THE
HEARING THAT ORCHESTRATION, IS
THERE AN ORDER OF
DECISION-MAKING OR A POTENTIAL
TO HAVE COMPROMISE. ALL OF THAT
IS WORK THAT IS GOING ON IN
THAT TIMEFRAME. AND THEN
ULTIMATELY AND BUDGET COMMITTEE
YOU BRING FORWARD AMENDMENTS
AND THEM ACCORDINGLY. WITHOUT
GOING INTO DETAIL WE WILL HAVE
MORE OPPORTUNITY. IN ADDITION
TO CHANGES IN FUNDING, THERE
ARE OTHER TOOLS YOU TAKE ON,
TAKING LETTUCE AND INTEND, SO
THE STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT. THE MAYOR IS FUNDING
SOMETHING, YOU ARE ON BOARD,
BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME
REPORTING BACK, SO IT IS A
STATEMENT THAT SAYS IS OUR
EXPECTATION THAT THIS
DEPARTMENT WILL COME BACK TO
LET US KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING,
WE WILL GIVE YOU THE MONEY, LET
YOU GO, BUT WE WANT AFFIRMATIVE
FEEDBACK ON THE TIMEFRAME.
ANOTHER ONE MIGHT BE WHERE YOU
ARE LIKE THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD
IDEA, BUT BEFORE WE FULLY
ALLOCATE IT APPROPRIATENESS, WE
WANT MORE INFORMATION, SO THAT
MIGHT BE A MILLION-DOLLAR
PROPOSAL WHERE YOU SAY OF THAT
MILLION, HALF OF IT WE ARE
GOING TO HOLD BACK AND SAY YOU
CAN'T SPEND THIS MONEY UNTIL
WE RELEASE IT. AND THEN THAT
MIGHT FURTHER SAY WHY DON'T
YOU COME IN FEBRUARY WITH A
MORE DETAILED PLAN SO WE CAN
RELEASE THE MONEY. IT IS NOT
JUST AMENDMENTS. I THINK OF
THOSE AS OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. THOSE ARE
EQUAL STEPS DEPENDING ON
FUNDING SHIFTS. IT IS SUPER
HIGH-LEVEL AND ENDS WITH YOUR
PASSING THE BUDGET AND THE
MAYOR SIGNING IT AND GENERALLY
BY THANKSGIVING, THINGS ENDED
LATER THAN USUAL, SO WE HAVE
EVERY HOPE THAT WILL BE THE
CASE.
>> SO WHERE IS THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET IN ALL OF
THIS?
>> I NEED TO REVIEW WHERE WE
ARE, BUT THERE WERE $30 MILLION
SET ASIDE FOR THAT AND IT WAS
WAITING TO BE FULLY
APPROPRIATED. THERE WOULD BE
ABLE TO COME BACK, ASSUMING IT
HAD NOT BEEN ALREADY
APPROPRIATED. IT SITS IN THE
HANDS OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND
WAS THE FUNDING DECISIONS ARE
MADE, THEY WILL ALLOCATE IT
DIRECTLY. I WILL GET BACK TO
YOU WITH WHERE THAT STANDS.
>> IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A
BUDGET ACTION LAST YEAR AND
THEN IT WASN'T. NOTHING HAS
BEEN TRANSMITTED.
>> WE WILL KNOW SPECIFICALLY
WHEN I FIND OUT.
>> COUNSEL DOES NOT HAVE ANY
ROLE IN THAT.
>> THE MONEY HAS NOT BEEN
APPROPRIATED, IT WOULD NEED TO
COME BACK TO YOU FOR THAT FINAL
APPROPRIATION AND THAT WOULD
GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REVIEW THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT
HAS BEEN FUNDED. I THINK THAT
IS THE CASE, BUT I DON'T WANT
TO SPREAD THINGS FOR THERE.
>> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS
WELL.
>> IS THIS PART OF THE INITIAL
100 MILLION IN THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION THAT HAD BEEN IN
THE BUDGETING EFFORTS?
>> WE ARE GIVING $30 MILLION
FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND
THE PROCESS TO ALLOCATE IT, TO
ENGAGE THE BUDGET AND HAVE THEM
PARTICIPATE WAS THE POINT. THAT
HAS TAKEN A COUPLE YEARS TO
PLAY OUT AND WE NOW REACH A
STAGE WHERE WE ARE READY TO DO
APPROPRIATIONS.
>> THAT IS LEFT OVER FROM THE
LAST PENETRATION. THANK YOU.
>> TO ADD MORE CONTEXT, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS BEEN DOING
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. THAT
IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPE
OF PROGRAM AND A SHORTHAND FOR
WHAT THE COUNCILMEMBER WAS
REFERRING TO, THE $100 MILLION
IN 2020. PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING HAS BEEN USED BY THE
CITY FOR MANY YEARS AND A
PROGRAM CALLED YOUR VOICE, YOUR
CHOICE, WHERE LOCAL COMMUNITIES
COULD CHOOSE WHICH PROGRAM THEY
WANTED FUNDED IN THEIR
COMMUNITY. THEY WERE MOSTLY
AROUND TRANSPORTATION
INITIATIVES. I ADD THAT
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT THAT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING, THERE IS A TECHNICAL
TERM, WHICH THE CITY IS GOOD AT
AND THEN THERE IS THIS LONGER
PROCESS AND IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THERE WILL BE A
BILL THAT HAS TO COME BACK TO
COUNSEL AND I WILL MAKE SURE TO
ADD THIS AS PART OF THE
BRIEFINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> THAT IS ONE-TIME FUNDING AND
ONE OF THE PICS I HAVE
COMMUNICATED IS THAT WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THE
PACKAGES DOES NOT OBLIGATE US
TO ONGOING FUNDING BECAUSE IT
IS A FINITE PART OF MONEY.
>> ALSO, YOUR VOICE YOUR
CHOICE WAS OUT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN
THAT IT WAS A MUCH SMALLER
ALLOCATION THAT HAS BEEN
ONGOING. THE 30 MILLION WAS
PART OF A BIGGER ONE-TIME AD OF
WHICH THERE WERE THREE OF HER
AND THIS IS PART OF THE THIRD
EFFORT THAT DID NOT YET MOVE
FORWARD.
>> PARTICULARLY YOUR CHOICE
YOUR VOICE HAS BEEN SMALLER
SCALE IN THE TO ME AND I'LL
ARRANGE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BUT
AN ONGOING ONE FOCUSED ON
SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS, A LOT OF
THEM AROUND TRANSPORTATION, BUT
NOT EXCLUSIVELY.
>> MUCH SMALLER THAN 30
MILLION.
>> THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE
DIVIDED. IT WAS DIVIDED AMONG A
RANGE OF PRIORITIES. I AM GOING
TO MOVE FORWARD SO WE CAN KEEP
TRACK OF TIME. WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT 2025 AND 2026. I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT 2020 AND
FOCUS ON THIS YEAR. THIS NOTION
IS ONE THAT APPLIES ONCE ANY
BUDGET IS ADOPTED. THE BUDGET
DOES NOT REMAIN STATIC. IF YOU
THINK ABOUT IT, THE DEPARTMENTS
LAST MADE SUBMITTALS TO SEE
P.O. IN JULY OF THE PREVIOUS
YEAR IN TERMS OF THEIR BUDGET.
HAS BECOME AROUND TO JANUARY IT
HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE THEY
HAD RAISED THE FLAG ABOUT THEIR
OWN BUDGETS. THAT WAS A
NATIONAL TIMING THING. IN
ADDITION TO THE GOOD, THE CITY
RECEIVES A LOT OF GRANTS FROM
FEDERAL AGENCIES, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MEANINGFULLY SPENDS
ITS MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL
AGENCIES, BUT ALSO FROM
PHILANTHROPIC ENTITIES AND
OTHER PRIVATE PARTIES AS WELL.
THOSE THINGS WE CAN'T KNOW
ABOUT AHEAD OF TIME. WE CAN
ABOUT SOME, BUT NOT ALL. GRANT
ACCEPTANCES ARE A REGULAR
THING. DEPARTMENTS, EVEN IF
THEY WIN A GRANT, THEY CANNOT
SPEND THE MONEY UNTIL YOU
APPROPRIATED IT. GRANTS ARE NOT
SELF-EXECUTING IN THAT WAY. NO
CITY DELEGATES SPENT UNLESS YOU
APPROPRIATED IT. SO JUST GRANTS
IS ONE THING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN
AND THE SYSTEM IS SET UP TO
DEAL WITH THOSE TWO OR THREE
TIMES IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. WE TRY
TO BE TIMELY IN ACCEPTING THE
GRANTS SO WE WILL GET THEM
AGAIN AND BE ABLE TO MOVE ON.
THROUGH A REVIEW ON THE CENTRAL
STAFF SIDE, A CLASSIC QUESTION
IS TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS
SOMETHING IMPLIED. WE GET THE
MONEY FROM SOMEBODY FOR THE
FIRST YEAR BUT THAT THE CITY
WOULD PICK UP. TO ASK LESSONS
ABOUT GRANTS AS WELL AND WE
WILL DO THAT. ANOTHER PIECE
THAT YOU WILL SEE ON A REGULAR
BASIS IS TO CARRY FORWARD
ORDINANCE. WHAT IS THAT? WE
MAKE THESE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATIONS AND THEY ARE
BASED UPON DEPARTMENT PETITIONS
ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN SPEND AND
THEY ARE REAL EFFORTS TO
DELIVER. AT THE END OF THE YEAR
THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SPEND ALL THAT MONEY, NOT
THAT THE GOAL IS TO SPEND THE
MONEY, BUT TO DELIVER SERVICES.
THE WAY YOUR APPROPRIATIONS
WORK IN THE BUDGET WORKS IS FOR
EMINEM EXPENSES, THOSE
APPROPRIATIONS EXPIRE ON
DECEMBER 31st AT MIDNIGHT. THE
DEPARTMENT MIGHT NOT HAVE GOT
THAT WORKED ON, BUT THEY NO
LONGER HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
SPEND THE MONEY FROM THE
PREVIOUS YEAR, SO THEY CARRY
FORWARD ORDINANCE IS THEM
COMING FORWARD TO SAY WE DID
NOT GET THAT THING DONE, BUT
YOU WANT US TO DO IT AND WE
WANT TO DO IT, SO LET'S KEEP
THIS MONEY AND THAT GETS
REVIEWED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE
AND GETS REVIEWED BY CENTRAL
STAFF AND HAS TO BE APPROVED BY
YOU. YOU CAN APPRECIATE WE ARE
FACING A BIG DEFICIT. THERE IS
A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THOSE,
MORE THAN USUAL. SOME CAN BE
ABOUT DEPARTMENT CAPACITY, SO
IF THERE ARE $20 MILLION HE
DID NOT SPEND, IF WE CARRY THAT
FORWARD, THEN IMPLIES HE WILL
SPEND $40 MILLION MORE THIS
YEAR THAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE HE
DID NOT SPEND THE 20 SO YOU
HAVE TO RIP UP ACTIVITIES TO
SPEND 20 MORE AND SPEND LAST
YEAR'S 20. IS THAT REALLY
POSSIBLE? AGAIN, THERE ARE
OTHER THINGS MONEY CAN GET USED
FOR THAT MIGHT BE PRESSING. IT
MIGHT NOT BE A PUNISHMENT TO
THE DEPARTMENT TO SAY WE WANT
YOU TO DO THAT THING, BUT THAT
WILL DISTRACT YOU FROM OTHER
THINGS YOU PROMISED US. SO JUST
USE YOUR EXISTING MONEY. THEY
CAN USE CURRENT MONEY. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT COMES FORWARD ON
A REGULAR BASIS. AND THEN THERE
ARE SUPPLEMENT BUDGETS. JUST TO
ORDINANCES AND AGAIN THAT HAS
BEEN STREAMLINED TO GOOD EFFECT
BY WORK BETWEEN CBO AND CENTRAL
STAFF. WAYS TO SEND DOWN MAYBE
ONE TOO MANY, IF YOU WILL
BECAUSE IT IS NOT PARTICULARLY
TRANSPARENT AND IT MAKES IT
HARD TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON,
BUT SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGETS ARE
DEPARTMENTS IDENTIFYING NEW
NEEDS, SO WE TALKED ABOUT
UNANTICIPATED THINGS AND IT
COULD BE THEY ARE REQUESTING
NEW MONEY IF SOMEHOW WE HAD IT.
SOME YEARS WE WOULD. THEY MAY
BE JUST ASKING TO SHIFT MONEY.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE WAY YOU
APPROPRIATE MONEY, BUT IF IT
HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR ONE
PURPOSE, IT CAN BE USED FOR
ANOTHER, BUT IF THE PRIORITY OF
MEAT HAS SHIFTED, THEY COULD BE
COMING HERE TO SAY YOU DON'T
WANT MORE MONEY, BUT WE COULD
PUT THE MONEY IN THE POCKET AND
WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT
THING BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE
DOING THIS OTHER THING, BUT
THEY HAVE GOT TO COME TO YOU.
THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A METEOR
SUPPLEMENTAL ACTION. THERE
COULD BE OTHERS. AND THEN WE
DO IT IN THE JUNE OR JULY
TIMEFRAME AND DO IT AGAIN AT
YEAR-END. THESE ARE THINGS THAT
WILL BE HAPPENING OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR AND I'M
ABOUT TO FLIP.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, THIS SLIDE IS
VERY DESCRIPTIVE OF WHAT I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BECAUSE
THERE HAVE BEEN TO WAYS OF
DOING THIS IN THE PAST WHERE
ALL OF THESE BILLS COULD JUST
GO TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OR
THEY COULD GO TO THE SELECT
COMMITTEE AND TO
COUNCILMEMBER'S POINT EARLIER,
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE
IS PARTICIPATING ALONG THE WAY
SO THAT WE ARE NOT CAUGHT IN
SEPTEMBER WITH INFORMATION FOR
THE FIRST TIME. TO ADD SOME
CONTEXT TO IT DIRECTOR NOBLE
SHARED ABOUT THE CARRYFORWARD
IS THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF
BILLING ITEMS IN A PROJECT. I
WORKED ON THE PROJECT LAST YEAR
WHERE THEY COULD NOT BILL FOR A
PROJECT UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETED
AND DELIVERED EVEN THOUGH THE
MAJORITY OF THE WORK OCCURRED
LAST YEAR. SO THERE WERE
FINANCIAL DECISIONS ABOUT
WHETHER TO DO THAT PROJECT OR
NOT BECAUSE CARRYFORWARD WAS
NOT GUARANTEED BECAUSE THE
BILLING, EVEN THOUGH THE
MAJORITY OF THE WORK HAPPENED
LAST YEAR, THE BILLING WOULD
HAVE BEEN BILLED THIS YEAR.
ANOTHER PIECE OF CONTEXT WITH
THE SUPPLEMENTAL IS I KNOW WE
ARE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES
AND WHERE THE MONEY IS HIDDEN
IN THE COUCH CUSHIONS AND THERE
ARE GOING TO BE SOME PROGRAMS
THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND AND WE
MIGHT NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL
THE FULL BUDGET TO DO THIS. ONE
THING I KEEP ADVOCATING OR IS
SEVEN-DAY COVERAGE FOR OUR
UNIFIED CARE TEAM BECAUSE WE
KNOW FOLKS ARE WORKING MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY RIGHT NOW, AND I
THINK EVERYONE IN OUR CITY
WOULD BENEFIT IF THAT WAS A
SEVEN-DAY PROGRAM. FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN OR JANUARY 1st OF NEXT
YEAR WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE THAT
UP IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL. THAT IS
ALL FROM ME RIGHT NOW.
>> THE QUESTION TO FOLLOW THAT
UP FOR COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
WE TALKED ABOUT, WE TALKED
ABOUT REFORMS AND NOT BEING
EFFICIENT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THIS PROCESS AS SEEN HERE ON
OUR SCREEN. IS THIS ALSO, LIKE
IF WE HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS, IS
THIS ALSO A WAY TO LOOK AT THE
BUDGET ITSELF, NOT JUST THE
PROJECT, BUT THE STRUCTURE AND
HOW WE ARE DOING THINGS? THIS
IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
A BIG REVIEW. WE COULD SAY THE
BUDGET IS STRUCTURED THIS WAY
IN TERMS OF SILOS. WHATEVER
ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF. IS THE
TIME IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMS
THEMSELVES, ALSO THE BUDGET
VERSUS JUST A PROGRAM OR
WHATEVER.
>> WE HAVE HAD THAT
CONVERSATION, ENGAGING YOU IN
THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROCESS
CANDIDLY. PREVIOUS COUNCILS
MIGHT HAVE ONLY BEEN A FEW
COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT IT WOULD BE
GREAT FOR THOSE OF YOU LESS
FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS TO
SEE IT. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE
DOING. HE WILL START TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCESS
WORKS TANGIBLY BY SEEING WHAT
IS BEING SHIFTED AND WE CAN
DESCRIBE IT TO YOU, BUT THERE
IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING IT AND
DOING IT.
>> AND ALSO SHOULD BE JUST BE
DOING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE
WAY WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT?
SINCE WE BOTH SHARE THE
MARITIME WORLD, THIS IS A
CHANCE TO MEND THE NETS, IF YOU
WILL. I JUST THROW THAT OUT AS
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PART OF
THE PROCESS INSTEAD OF JUST
LOOKING AT DOLLARS PER
PROGRAMS.
>> YOU WILL SEE THAT IS AN AREA
WHERE WE WANT TO BE PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT I
WORRY AS WE TRY TO BRING YOU UP
TO SPEED, IT WILL BE DRY AND
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE DIVING IN
AND DOING IT. IT IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO
SIGNAL REAL THINGS ACTUAL
DECISIONS WHERE YOU ARE COMING
FROM AND HOW THINGS MIGHT BE
DIFFERENT. WE HAVE TAKEN CUES
FROM YOU ABOUT EXACTLY THAT.
THIS IS NOT TO BE DEFENSIVE,
BUT AS I CAME INTO CENTRAL
STAFF I SAID I AM NOT HERE FOR
CHANGE, BUT NOR AM I AFRAID OF
IT. THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN
MEANINGFULLY STREAMLINED OVER
THE PAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE IT
WAS NOT EFFICIENT AND IT WAS
NONTRANSPARENT AND IT DID NOT
HELP THE EXECUTIVE MAKE
DECISIONS COMPREHENSIVELY. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE
THE BIG PICTURE AS OFTEN AS YOU
CAN.
>> I THINK IT BEARS MENTIONING
THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL IS
GENERALLY TO LOOK BACK AT THE
BUDGET WE DID PASS AND IF WE
NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO IT
VERSUS THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR
THE FOLLOWING BIENNIUM. BOTH
RECIPES HAVE A DIFFERENT REASON
FOR DOING IT, BUT YOU MEAN
IDEALLY YOU WOULD LOOK AT BOTH
PROCESSES IN CONJUNCTION
BECAUSE ONE HAS AN IMPACT ON
THE OTHER. THE SUGGESTION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS MADE
ABOUT THE CARE TEAM WILL HAVE
AN IMPACT ON NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET IF WE DECIDE TO TAKE IT
UP IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROCESS.
SO SOMETIMES IT IS IMPORTANT TO
DO THE SUPPLEMENTAL BECAUSE YOU
HAVE TO SIZE WHAT GOT PAST THIS
YEAR VERSUS WHAT YOU ARE GOING
TO DO NEXT YEAR, BUT TO
COUNCILMEMBER KENDALL'S POINT,
THINGS CAN'T OCCUR IN A
VACUUM, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO
LOOK AT BOTH AND TO HAVE
TRANSPARENCY. IN YEARS PAST
ONLY THE FOLKS THAT WERE ON THE
COMMITTEE THAT SERVED ON THE
COMMITTEE REALLY HAD THE FULL
TRANSPARENCY.
>> NOT EVEN ALL THE PEOPLE ON
THAT COMMITTEE
>> YEAH.
>> AS VICE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE
AND BUDGET MIDI, WE HAVE HAD A
LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WORKING
TOGETHER SO THAT WE HAVE BETTER
TRANSPARENCY AND UTTER
COMMUNICATION AMONGST CHAIR AND
VICE CHAIR FOR THIS VERY
REASON.
>> THAT IS RIGHT. I WAS GOING
TO JUST TAG ONTO YOUR POINTS.
AND THEN TO RESPOND, SOMETHING
THAT IS INTERESTING TO ME, AND
I HOPE WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TO
BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR BUSINESS
LINES OF SERVICE. DO WE HAVE
OVERLAP BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS? TO
BE HAVE A BUSINESS LINE OF
SERVICE THAT WAS DESIGNED
PRE-PANDEMIC AND ONE THAT IS
POST-PANDEMIC? DO WE HAVE
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS PROVIDING
THE SAME SERVICE IN DIFFERENT
WAYS? DO WE HAVE DIFFERENT
COLORS OF MONEY FROM THESE
DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCES
PROVIDING SOMETHING SIMILAR OR
DIFFERENT? WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO
LOOK AT 24% OF OUR GENERAL
FUND, IT IS PROPERTY TAX. THERE
HAVE BEEN NO NEW REVENUE
SOURCES IN THE LAST DECADE. WE
ARE CAPPED AT INCREASES ON
PROPERTY TAX. WHEN WE HOLD THAT
MONEY TO THE SIDE AND LOOK AT
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO PROVIDE
FOR SEATTLE, AGNOSTIC TO THE
COLOR OF MONEY, I THINK WE ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME TO
BETTER DECISIONS AND FRANKLY
FIND DEFICIENCIES THAT ARE
EXISTING TODAY EMMA WE JUST
HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE LINES OF
SERVICE.
>> WE ALSO HAVE NOT LOOKED AT
ALL THE MONEY THAT WE GET.
THERE ARE RESTRICTED FUNDS THAT
DO NOT HAVE THE SAME
TRANSPARENCY AS OTHER FUNDS
LIKE THE GENERAL FUND IN OUR
BUDGET PROCESS. SO WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THAT LATER AS WELL. JUST
FOR THE RECORD, WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THIS ON THE NEXT PAGE, I
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, AND THE
BUDGET ALL THE TIME IS
PROCEEDING FORWARD. I AM ALL
ABOUT SELECT MEETINGS ON THE
BUDGET WHENEVER, AND I SUPPOSE
I AM SUPPOSED TO APPROVE
THOSE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE NEXT STEPS ARE. I GUESS
THEY ARE DATES OR WHATEVER, BUT
WE HAVE GOT TO GET THAT ON THE
CALENDAR. IF WE TRULY WANT
EVERYBODY PRESENT, LET'S GET
THAT ON THE CALENDAR.
>> I AM GOING TO MOVE FORWARD
TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMITTEE.
THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE. IT IS
NOTED THAT THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE IS SET OUT IN THE
CITY CHARTER AND IT HAS
GENERALLY BEEN USED TO PROVIDE
OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY FINANCES
AND THERE ARE A RANGE OF THINGS
THAT FALL UNDER THAT. OR
INSTANCE, RELATIVELY ROUTINE
BOND EDUCATION THAT NEEDS TO BE
APPROVED, SOME ISSUES RELATED
TO THE CITY'S RETIREMENT
SYSTEM. A VARIETY OF THINGS
OUTSIDE THE BUDGET THAT ARE
STILL ALL ABOUT FINANCE. JUST
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE THERE IS NO
SHORTAGE OF WORK THE COMMITTEE
POTENTIALLY, BUT AS WE HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSING, ONE OF THE
THINGS THE COMMITTEE COULD DO
IS TO REVIEW OTHER DECISION I
JUST HAD ALL THE PREVIOUS
SLIDE, OR THAT BE DONE BY THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE OR THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND I THINK
STRAUSS HAS MADE IT CLEAR HIS
INTENT IS TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
THE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION IS
YOU ARE ALL HOURS OF THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE. SO WE WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON
THOSE THINGS. IT IS A SELECT
COMMITTEE ALL OF YOU ARE
MEMBERS AND THAT HAS BEEN THE
TRADITION ESTABLISHED BY THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AS IS BEING
DISCUSSED, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO
WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER. I THINK
IT IS GOING TO BE SOONER RATHER
THAN LATER. I JUST HAD A
MEETING TODAY WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TO THINK
ABOUT SPECIFIC DATES AND LOOK
TO BUILD OUT A CALENDAR FOR YOU
ALL. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
MEETING ON OUR CALENDARS. I
TRIED TO IDENTIFY SOME DATES
FOR LABOR POLICY COMMITTEES.
YOUR CALENDARS ARE QUITE OLD,
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT WORK. YOU
WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. I
THINK WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW WE
CAN FOCUS WORK ON THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE. I WANT TO ADD
A COUPLE OTHER COMMITTEES THAT
ARE RELEVANT, ALL OF YOU ARE
STANDING COMMITTEES AND COULD
BE PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO BRING
IN THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN YOUR
PURVIEW'S TO HEAR ABOUT HOW
THEY ARE EXECUTING CURRENT
BUDGETS, MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY
ARE THINKING 425 AND 26. I
WOULD NOTE YOU CAN APPRECIATE
OR NOT THAT THEY WILL NOT BE IN
A POSITION TO SHARE WHAT THEY
HAVE PROVIDED WITH THE NEXT
BUDGET. WHAT WE DESCRIBE TO YOU
IS ONGOING. ONCE THEY DELIVER
THE BUDGET TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER,
ALL OF THEIR IMAGINATIONS ARE
PUBLIC, SO WE HAVE A BIG DAY TO
REQUEST A STANDING THAT GETS
DELIVERED TO US WITH THE BUDGET
BECAUSE ONCE THE MAYOR DELIVERS
A POLICY PROPOSAL, THE
EXEMPTION ENDS IN THE MATERIALS
THAT WE USED TO HELP FACILITATE
THE DECISION-MAKING BECOME
PUBLIC AND YOURS AS WELL. THAT
JUST HELPS US UNDERSTAND HOW
THEY ARE THINKING. MY POINT
ABOUT THIS WAS IF YOU BRING IN
THE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM
WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING, THEY
WILL NOT BE IN A POSITION TO
SAY, BUT THEY WILL BE IN A
POSITION TO TALK ABOUT THEIR
PRIORITIES. I AM ENCOURAGING
IT, NOT DISCOURAGING IT, JUST
ACKNOWLEDGING LIMITATIONS. THE
OTHER COMMITTEE IS NOT A
COMMITTEE, IT IS THE FORECAST
COUNSEL. IT IS A JOINT
COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES TWO
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES AND
EXECUTIVE REPRESENTATIVES. I AM
FAMILIAR WITH THIS COUNSEL. IT
IS THE ONE I HAVE BEEN
REPORTING TO FOR THE PAST TWO
YEARS. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THE ROLE WHICH INCLUDES
APPROVING THE FORECAST, SO THE
FORECAST OFFICE ACTUALLY
DEVELOPS THREE FORECAST
DESIGNED TO COVER A RANGE OF
POTENTIAL OUTLINES, A
PESSIMISTIC AND OPTIMISTIC, AND
ALMOST ALWAYS WE HAVE
RECOMMENDED THE BASELINE
FORECAST, BUT FOR CONTEXT, AS
THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE FUNCTION
WAS STILL IN THE BUDGET OFFICE.
THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO USE
THE PESSIMISTIC FORECAST
BECAUSE OUR EXPECTATION OR
CONCERN WAS THAT THIS REGION
COULD GET HIT HARDER THAN AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL. WE HAVE
BEEN THE EPICENTER OF COVID,
AND WE ARE DEPENDENT ECONOMY IT
WAS A GOOD REASON TO THINK WE
COULD GET HIT HARDER. WE STICK
TO OUR BASELINE. THE BOTTOM
LINE IS THAT DECISION IS
ENDORSED BY THE FORECAST
COUNSEL. I JUST WANTED YOU TO
BE AWARE OF THAT FUNCTION AS
WELL. SO WHAT I HAVE SHOWN YOU
TO DATE HAS BEEN ABOUT THE
NORMAL PROCESS. OBVIOUSLY THIS
IS NOT A NORMAL YEAR. I HAVE
ONLY HAD THE SLIDE HERE TO
HIGHLIGHT EFFECT YOU ALREADY
KNOW, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A
SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT. THIS
GRAPHIC DATES TO THE FALL, SO
IT IS LARGER THAN THIS. DID NOT
WANT TO PUT UP A SPECIFIC
NUMBER BECAUSE AT THIS MOMENT
IT IS A DYNAMIC SPACE BECAUSE
WE ARE JUST REACHING THE END
FROM THE ACCOUNTING
PERSPECTIVE, OF 2020, WHICH MAY
SOUND STRANGE SINCE IT IS
FEBRUARY, BUT TAX PAYMENTS,
PAYMENTS FOR TAX OBLIGATIONS
FOR THE END OF DECEMBER ARE NOT
ALL DALE UNTIL THE END OF
JANUARY OR THE FIRST PART OF
FEBRUARY, SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW
MUCH REVENUE WE COLLECT FOR
LAST YEAR. SIMILARLY ON THE
ACCOUNTING SIDE, THERE IS THE
13th MONTH, SO THE ACCOUNTANTS
ARE SPENDING JANUARY
DETERMINING THE DETAIL OF WHAT
ACTUALLY GOT SPENT OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR. IT IS ONLY
AT THE END OF THIS MONTH WE
WILL HAVE CLOSED OUT 2023 TO
KNOW WHERE WE STAND AND THAT
WILL INFORM A GOOD DEAL ABOUT
WHERE THE BUDGET IS LOOKING
FORWARD BECAUSE WE WILL
UNDERSTAND THINGS ABOUT OTHER
SPENDING THE EXPENDITURES.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING
TO ASK TO CARRY FORWARD. ON THE
REVENUE SIDE, WE ARE NOT ALWAYS
RIGHT. IN PARTICULAR THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX AND
JUMPSTART TAX IS VERY UNCERTAIN
AND HARD TO FORECAST. ALTHOUGH
WE RECEIVE PAYMENTS OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR, THE LAST
PAYMENT, THOSE ARE ESTIMATED
TAX PAYMENTS. AND UNTIL THEY GO
UP AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE
GETTING, SO WE HAVE TO USE A
STATISTICS TERM. WE HAVE SOME
DATA BUT IT IS NOT A SIGNAL
ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN UNTIL WE
GET THE FINAL PAYMENT. THERE IS
A LOT TO BE RESOLVED. ANOTHER
REASON IS THAT SIX OF YOU HAVE
NOT BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS
BEFORE AND IN RELATIVELY SHORT
ORDER, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO
MAKE MONUMENTAL DECISIONS. SO
WE ARE IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE BUDGET OFFICE AND DEDICATED
TO CONTINUE AT A PLACE WHERE
THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE AND YOU
WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE, AS
COMFORTABLE AS YOU CAN. I DID
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME WORK
THAT IS UNDERWAY.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK THE SLIDE?
ONE POINT IS YOU JUST MENTIONED
THE PAYROLL EXCISE TAX PAYMENTS
ARE MAYBE WEAKER, BUT JUST TO
CLARIFY, THIS GRAPH DOES NOT
SHOW ANY OF THOSE REVENUES, OR
THAT SOURCE OF REVENUE DOES NOT
APPEAR IN THE BLUE LINE. IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> IT DOES AND IT WAS THROUGH
2023 BUT NOT BEYOND. THERE HAS
BEEN AN AUTHORIZED TRANSFER OF
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX INTO THE
GENERAL FUND AND THAT HAS
HAPPENED TO THE TUNE OF $85
MILLION FOR 2020. THAT IS ONE
OF THE REASONS REVENUE DROPPED.
THERE IS THIS $85 MILLION USED
IN AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THERE
WILL BE NO MONEY TRANSFERRED IN
2025. GIVEN THAT LEGAL
CONSTRAINT, THAT DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TASKS. THIS PAYROLL EXPENSE
TASKS IS IN THE $300 MILLION
BASIS ON A FORECAST BASIS, AND
IT ACTUALLY DROPPED FROM ITS
FIRST YEAR TO ITS SECOND YEAR
IN TERMS OF REVENUE COLLECTED.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE
FORECASTING AT ANOTHER POINT.
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO USE
SOME OF THOSE REVENUES TO HELP
CLOSE THE GAP AND THAT IS NOT
SHOWN HERE.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS I
STARTED OUT BY SAYING WE ARE
BOUND TO PASS A BALANCED
BUDGET, SO HOW IS IT THAT WE
HAVE A GAP FOR 2023 OF 117
MILLION AND 145 MILLION FOR
2024?
>> A QUESTION. THE SHORT ANSWER
IS THESE ARE REVENUES AND THEY
DON'T GET COUNTED AS USE OF
FUND. ONE TIME MONIES THAT HAVE
ACCUMULATED OVER TIME, AND SOME
YEARS THAT HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED
FROM THE EMERGENCY ONES, SO WE
DIPPED INTO THE BANK, IF YOU
WILL. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
I WANT TO SPEND SOME MORE TIME
EXPLAINING HOW IT IS WE COULD
HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET IN 2024
AND FACE A DEFICIT NORTH OF
$250 MILLION IN 2025. PART OF
THE ANSWER IS THAT WE ARE
RELYING ON THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX AND 24 PRECLUDED IN 2025,
BUT THERE ARE 100+ MILLION
DOLLARS OF OTHER REVENUES
SUPPORTING THE EXPENDITURES AS
WELL.
>> I AM LOOKING BACKWARDS.
>> WE WERE GOING TO GO FURTHER
BACK AS WELL. LET ME TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE TRANSITION.
THESE ARE SOME THINGS WE ARE
WORKING ON NOW TO BRING YOU
ALL. ONE IS AN ACCESSIBLE
SUMMARY OF THE BASE BUDGET. IF
YOU OPEN UP THE BUDGET DOCUMENT
FROM LAST YEAR AND TRY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY WAS
SPENDING MONEY ON, YOU WOULD BE
HARD-PRESSED TO EXTRACT THAT
FROM THE BUDGET. YOU CAN. SHOWS
FUNDING BY DEPARTMENTS, BUT NOT
MORE THAN THAT. YOU NEED TO
KNOW THAT. WE WANT TO FIND A
WAY TO BRING THAT INFORMATION
TO YOU IN A WAY THAT IS USEFUL
THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES BEING PROVIDED IN
EACH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IT
WILL COST TO PROVIDE THEM.
WITHOUT GETTING INTO
TECHNICALITIES, THE LEGAL
BUDGET IS ALL ABOUT
APPROPRIATING DOLLARS. THERE IS
NOT A ONE-TO-ONE MATCH TO THAT
KIND OF INFORMATION. SOME
INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
BUDGET OFFICE INDICATES THEY
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOMETHING
SIMILAR BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR
OWN DECISION-MAKING TO DO AND
THEY APPRECIATE THE NEED THIS
INFORMATION. THAT IS SOMETHING
WE ARE WORKING ON QUICKLY.
THESE ARE THINGS WE COULD TRY
TO BRING YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE
MONTHS AS WE START HAVING
MEETINGS OF THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE. ANOTHER ONE IS
LOOKING AT, THIS IS A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THAT, WHAT HAS
CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
INCREASED EXPENDITURE. SOME OF
IT RELATED TO COMPANY RESPONSE
AND SOME RELATED TO DEPLOYING
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. SO WE
ARE LOOKING AT 2019 AS THE
BASE, 2019 OR 2020. WE ARE
FIGHTING WITH THE FINANCIAL
SYSTEM. WE ARE LOOKING AT 2019
AS A BASE AND LOOKING AT WHAT
HAS BEEN ADDED. ANY YEAR AS A
BASE, BUT IF YOU GO TOO FAR
BACK CAN YOU GET LOST. THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS. WE
WERE FACING A DEFICIT IN 2019
ON A PROJECT BASIS, THAT IT WAS
ON A DIFFERENT SCALE, SO THERE
IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED.
SPECIFICALLY , COMBINING ONE
AND TO AND SOME ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, WE WENT TO
DOCUMENT HOW DID WE GET HERE,
HOW IS IT WE CAN HAVE A
BALANCED BUDGET AND THEN NOT,
UNDERSTAND HOW DID THOSE FUND
BALANCES THAT ARE PROPPING US
UP, HOW TO THOSE DEVELOPED AND
WHY DO YOU NOT THINK THEY WILL
BE EDITABLE GOING FORWARD? I
THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
PIECE FOR YOU ALL AS WELL AND
IT IS A COMBINATION AND IT IS
ALSO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
ANOTHER PIECE WE ARE EXPLORING
IS THE IDEA OF BENCHMARKING
DEPARTMENTAL SPENDING. THEY
HAVE IDENTIFIED A GROUP, A
CONSULTANT GROUP THAT HAS
INFORMATION FOR CITIES A LITTLE
BIT SMALLER THAN SEATTLE AND
THEY HIGHLIGHT IN THEIR OVERALL
BUDGETS PERCENTAGE OF RESOURCES
THEY ALLOCATE TO CERTAIN
FUNCTIONS AND THERE MIGHT BE
SOME VALUE IN UNDERSTANDING
THAT ENTERING SOME COMPARISONS.
I WORRY THAT WILL BE
SIMPLISTIC, SO I AM STILL
EVALUATING THAT IS AN APPROACH,
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THINKING
ABOUT WAYS TO BRING YOU
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. AND THEN
THE LAST POINT WE TALKED ABOUT
AND CHAIR STRAUSS HAS
MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN IN SOME
INITIAL DIALOGUE, I HAVE HAD
MEETINGS WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE
AND MAYORS OFFICE STAFF ABOUT
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE.
POTENTIALLY INFORMAL WAYS
ABOUT YOUR RELATIVE PRIORITIES
AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THINGS
NEED TO BE PROTECTED., WHAT
THINGS, THESE WILL BE PEOPLE
CHOICES, BUT WHAT COULD PERHAPS
WE SACRIFICE AND SOME
PRINCIPLES AND GUIDANCE ABOUT
THAT SO THAT IT NOTHING ELSE,
THE BUDGET WILL ARISE IN
SEPTEMBER AND YOU ARE NOT
ENTIRELY SURPRISED. WE ARE
STILL WORKING. YOU THINK THERE
IS SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE AND
SOME VALUE IN PROVIDING
FEEDBACK FROM YOU, WHETHER
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR
FORMALLY WEIGHING IN IS TO BE
DETERMINED. THAT IS WORK THAT
WE HAVE GOT UNDERWAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. IQ DIRECTOR
NOBLE. A COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS
AND A QUESTION. FIRST OFF, ON
THIS SLIDE, I WILL CALL THAT
NUMBER FOUR, I DO LIKE
BENCHMARKING AS A VALUABLE
TOOL TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE
RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES, WHAT
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING.
I STRONGLY PREFER IT. IN THE
POLICYMAKING CONTEXT IN TERMS
OF WRITING NEW LAWS, IT IS ONE
DATA POINT, NOT THE ONLY DATA
POINT, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT
ONE. WE ARE HARD-PRESSED. FOR
EXAMPLE, HOUSTON, THEIR
PERMITTING PROCESS IS IN A
GREAT WAY, STREAMLINED. THERE
ARE THINGS I AM SURE THAT WE
CAN CONSIDER FROM A POLICY
STANDPOINT TO POTENTIALLY
IMPLEMENT HERE IN SEATTLE. IT
IS NOT A DIRECT COMPARISON, BUT
I AM SUPPORTIVE OF BENCHMARKING
AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THE
BROADER MARKET IS DOING, WHAT
OTHER CITIES ARE DOING FROM A
POLICY STANDPOINT. I THINK THE
UTILITY OF THAT IS PROBABLY
LESS HELPFUL IN THE BUDGETING
PROCESS. JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE
SO MANY FACTORS, YOU KNOW, LIKE
YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY ACCOUNT
AND IF YOU DO IT IS LIKE OKAY,
WHAT PORTION IS A PARTICULAR
CITY SPENDING ON THIS RATHER
THAN LIKE OKAY, WELL, SO, IN
ANY EVENT I THINK WE ARE ON THE
RIGHT TRACK. FROM JUST A
BENCHMARKING STANDPOINT, AT
LEAST AS I SEE IT, IT IS
PROBABLY LESS RELEVANT THERE IS
LESS VALUE THEREFORE ALL OF US
AS WE THINK ABOUT BUDGETING.
THE OTHER COMMENT, AND I AM
JUST OBSERVING THIS DIALOGUE
AMONGST MY COLLEAGUES. IT HAS
BEEN INSIGHTFUL AND
UNDERSTANDING HOW ALL OF YOU
THINK. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
KIND OF HOW I AM THINKING ABOUT
BUDGET RIGHT NOW AS WELL. YOU
KNOW. FIRST OFF THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE GREATER
EFFICIENCIES AND CONSOLIDATE
CERTAIN FUNCTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THIS MAY
OR MAY NOT BE WHAT I HEARD YOU
SAY A MOMENT AGO ABOUT THE
LINES OF THIS MESS, AND KIND OF
GETTING A SURVEY OF WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE. FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, IF
MULTIPLE AGENCIES ACROSS THE
CITY ARE PERFORMING LIKE
SIMILAR OR SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR ACTIVITIES, MAYBE THERE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSOLIDATE THAT ANSWER LIKE
THAT AND GET IT DOWN TO ONE OR
TWO, SO I AM THINKING ABOUT
CONSOLIDATIONS AND
EFFICIENCIES. I AM ALSO
THINKING THERE IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO ALIGN OUR
SPENDING AND OUR BUDGET WITH
THE PRIORITIES OF THE COUNCIL
TODAY, AS COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
POINTED OUT, WE HAVE A TWO
THIRDS NET NEW COUNSEL. WE ALL
THINK ABOUT AND APPROACH THINGS
DIFFERENTLY, AND POTENTIALLY TO
FAMILY THAN THE LAST FEW
ITERATIONS OF THE COUNCIL. I
THINK WE NEED TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND AND ALIGN OUR BUDGET
PRIORITIES WITH THE PRIORITIES
THAT EVERYONE HERE AT THE DAIS
TODAY, NOT THAT OF PREVIOUS
COUNCILS. THE FINAL THING I
WILL NOTE AND FLAG HOW I AM
THINKING ABOUT THIS IS, I THINK
A LOT OF TAXPAYERS ARE AS WELL
CONCERNING MY DISTRICT,
WHATEVER WE ARE SPENDING, WE
NEED TO SEE SOME GOOD RETURN ON
INVESTMENTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, MANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC ARE NOT SEEING THAT
TODAY, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE SEEING BETTER ROI
FOR WHATEVER SPENDING DOLLARS
WE HAVE AND WE ARE INVESTING.
PART OF THAT IS CONTINUING TO
MONITOR PROGRESS OF SPENDING
AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THAT
KIND OF LOOKS LIKE. I THINK WE
NEED TO STOP THAT UP AND TO
BETTER SET EXPECTATIONS ABOUT
THAT AND AUDITING, YES, I THINK
WE NEED TO CONSIDER HOW WE CAN
AUDIT VARIOUS AGENCIES AND
CERTAIN SPENDING. I THINK
IDEALLY I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN
ACROSS-THE-BOARD AUDITING OF
THE ENTIRE CITY BUDGET. I AM
MINDFUL THAT THAT IS VERY
COSTLY AND A VERY TIME
INTENSIVE ACTIVITY, IT IS NOT
PRACTICAL OR FEASIBLE THIS
YEAR. YOU KNOW. IN TERMS OF
WHAT MIGHT BE DOABLE, I THINK
THE NUMBER ONE AREA WHERE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
SEEING LACK OF ROI IS IN
HOMELESSNESS SPENDING. THAT IS
AN AREA I AM INTERESTED IN
MAKING SURE WE DO A BETTER JOB
OF. SO THAT IS THE COMMENT.
QUESTION? THIS LAST SLIDE, I
NOTE THAT THIS SLIDE HAS NO
SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO ANY
ANALYZING OF ANY POTENTIAL NET
REVENUE SOURCES, SO I WOULD BE
CURIOUS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
WILL THESE INITIAL STEPS THAT
WE ARE TAKING HERE ALSO INCLUDE
AN ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL NEW
REVENUE SOURCES AND FOR SOME
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, AT THIS
STAGE FOR CLARITY, AT THIS
STAGE, I AM NOT ENDORSING ANY
NET REVENUE, BUT I DO THINK WE
NEED TO TAKE A VERY THOUGHTFUL
AND MEASURED APPROACH TO HOW WE
SOLVE THIS BUDGET DEFICIT,
INCLUDING CONSIDERING NEW
REVENUE OPTIONS IF NEEDED. I
ALSO SAY THAT I AM AWARE OF THE
CITIES REVENUE STABILIZATION
WORKER THAT THEY COMPLETED AN
ANALYSIS OF REVENUE OPTIONS
LAST YEAR AND OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE AGGRESSIVE REVENUE TASK
FORCE, UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE
LEARNED THAT SOME OF THEIR WORK
DID NOT HAVE A FULL, LET'S
JUST SAY THEY HAD A LESS THAN
COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS
ACTUALLY DOABLE OR IMPLEMENT
BOTH FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE,
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, THERE WERE NO CITY
ATTORNEYS INVOLVED IN THEIR
ANALYSIS AND I DON'T THINK
THAT WAS SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR
FROM THAT SPECIFIC REPORT, TO
BE HONEST. YOU KNOW THAT IT'S
IRONIC BECAUSE ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL MANY OF US WERE
CONFRONTED WITH THE QUESTION IN
A LITMUS TEST FORM OF LIKE DO
YOU SUPPORT XYZ IN THIS REPORT
AND COME TO FIND OUT THE
ANALYSIS FROM A LEGAL
PERSPECTIVE WAS LESS THAN
COMPLETE, AND CERTAIN OF THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE CITY, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT HAS ZERO
AUTHORITY, LEGAL AUTHORITY TO
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT. ONE
POTENTIAL EXAMPLE IS THE
VACANCY TAX AND SO I THINK WE
DO NEED SOME FOLLOW-UP ON THE
REPORTING OPTIONS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS TRULY
PRACTICAL AND IMPLEMENT FROM A
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MY
APOLOGIES. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT
THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY COMING
INTO THIS YEAR. WITH THE
VACANCY TAX, WHEN I RAN IN
2019, THAT WAS SOMETHING I SAID
I WANTED TO INVESTIGATE. IT IS
LEGAL AND OTHER MINCED POLITIES
AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP GET
UNITS FILLED BOTH COMMERCIAL ON
THE FIRST FLOOR AND RESIDENTIAL
UPSTAIRS. I THEN CAME ONTO CITY
COUNCIL, DID MY RESEARCH, WAS
TOLD IT WAS A LEGAL AND THEN
FOUND IT ON THEIR REVENUE
STABILIZATION TAX FORCE A LIST
OF OPTIONS AND THOUGHT DID
SOMETHING CHANGE, ONLY TO FIND
OUT IT HAD NOT. SO WE ARE IN A
SIMILAR BOAT. WE ARE IN THE
SAME BOAT. SO YES, I JUST TOOK
A NOTE TO ADD REVENUE
STABILIZATION TASK FORCE TO
SOME OF THE BRIEFINGS WE ARE
HAVING SO WE CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS DONE IN THE
PAST, WHAT IS ACTUALLY
ACTIONABLE SO THAT WE MAY MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER.
>> WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND AND
WASTE CYCLES AND WASTE TIME ON
THINGS WE HAVE NO BUSINESS OR
ARE NOT CAPABLE OF
IMPLEMENTING. SO YEAH. I THINK
THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN. GOING
BACK TO THE QUESTION, IS THAT
PART OF THE PLAN TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE A MORE ROBUST LEGAL
ANALYSIS PERFORMED ON WHAT IS
ACTUALLY DOABLE AND IMPLEMENT
DOUBLE AND PRACTICABLE FROM A
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE?
>> FIRST OFF FOR CLARIFICATION,
A VACANCY TAX MIGHT BE LEGAL
AND SOME OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
NONE OF THEM WILL BE IN THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON WITHOUT
GETTING INTO LEGAL ANALYSIS.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. THAT
WORK UNDERWAY HIS WORK WE HAD
NOT DONE BEFORE. A LOT OF THE
REVENUE REVIEW, I AM NOT SAYING
WE WOULD NOT GO BACK AND TAKE A
LOOK HIM UP BUT A LOT OF TIMES
THE PREVIOUS COUNSEL WAS
INTERESTED IN REVENUE. A LOT OF
WORK DONE ON THAT FRONT. IN MY
MOST RECENT PREVIOUS ROLES IT
WAS IN THE SAME SPACE. WE HAVE
SOME OF THAT IN THE CAN, BUT
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSIDER NEW THINGS AS WELL.
AGAIN, RECOGNIZING YOU ALL WILL
BE MAKING THESE DECISIONS GIVEN
THE SCALE OF THAT GAP ON THE
BUDGET SIDE AND AGAIN, BASED ON
THE FEEDBACK WE ARE HEARING
TODAY, HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT REVENUE OPTIONS ARE
DOES FEEL IMPORTANT TO ME AS
WELL AND FULLY INFORMED
DECISION-MAKING IS WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT AND THAT IS LIKE PART OF
THE INFORMATION.
>> MAY I HAD?
>> WE ARE RUNNING ABOUT HALF AN
HOUR LATE AND WE CAN JUST POSIT
A SECOND. I WILL MOVE ON, BUT
DO WE NEED TO, FOR THE RECORD
NOTE THAT OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION
WILL NOT BE MEETING AT 3:30?
>> WE DO NOT. WE WILL JUST LET
PEOPLE KNOW.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE GOT A
GREAT EXAMPLE FOR YOU ABOUT
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. THE
EXAMPLE STEMS OUT OF WEST
SEATTLE WHERE I BELIEVE IT WAS
AN EMPLOYEE WHO TRIMMED A PARK
STREET OR VICE VERSA, I CAN'T
REMEMBER EXACTLY, BUT THIS JUST
SHOWS WE HAVE MULTIPLE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE
ARBORISTS, AND IT ALMOST MAKES
MORE SENSE TO HAVE THEM,
ACTUALLY I THINK IT MAKES MORE
SENSE TO HAVE THEM ALL IN ONE
DEPARTMENT. IN ARBORISTS
WORKING FOR PARKS CAN WORK ON
ANY TREE RATHER THAN HAVING ONE
TRUCK JUST FOR STREET TREES AND
ONE FOR PARK TREES. I THINK
THAT IS AN EASY EXAMPLE. I HAVE
SOMETHING ELSE THAT FLEW OUT OF
MY HEAD. I THINK WE WILL GET TO
IT IN THE CITY COMMITTEE'S
REPORT.
>> THAT IS ONLY HALF OF THE
PRESENTATION. LOOKING FORWARD
TO DIVING IN.
>> OKAY.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION AND YOU
PROBABLY CAN'T ANSWER THIS
NOW, BUT I AM INTERESTED TO
FIND OUT HOW WE ARE GOING ABOUT
PRIORITIZING WHERE WE CAN FIND
THOSE EFFICIENCIES AS WE LOOK
AT THE BUDGET BECAUSE TO
COUNCILMEMBER'S POINT, IT
WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO
AUDIT THE FULL BUDGET THAT IS
NOT PRACTICAL FOR SO HOW ARE WE
GOING TO TACKLE HOW WE
PRIORITIZE, FOR INSTANCE IN MY
MIND ANYTHING THAT WAS ONE-TIME
FUNDING IS A PLACE WHERE WE
SHOULD BE LOOKING AT RIGHT
AWAY. BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY
THING WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
AND WE NEED TO HAVE A STRATEGY
FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE
THIS. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF
THERE ARE THINGS BEING PROPOSED
ON THE STRATEGY BECAUSE I THINK
MANY OF US WILL WANT TO BE ON
THE FRONT END OF THOSE
CONVERSATIONS VERSUS THE BACK
END.
>> EARLY THINKING, BUT WE WILL
RETURN TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK SO FAR GETTING US
TO THIS POINT THAT WE CAN START
THE REAL WORK AND THANK YOU FOR
LEADING US ON THAT. I DON'T
PERHAPS QUITE UNDERSTAND THE
BATTLE BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020 AS
BASELINE, BUT I DO SEE THE
LOGIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START
LOOKING AT WHERE THE NEW
EXPENSES STARTED. IN ANY CASE,
SEE YOU NEXT TIME IS WHAT I AM
TRYING TO SAY. IT IS GREAT TO
SEE SO MANY PEOPLE SO
INTERESTED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON. LET ME GET TO MY
SPOT. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS
ITEM NUMBER FIVE. THIS IS THE
SIGNING OF PROCLAMATIONS. WE
HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS FOR
SIGNATURE
THE COUNCILMEMBERS CIRCULATED
PUBLIC AND FIELD ANY
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM YOUR
COLLEAGUES. BEFORE I REQUEST
SIGNATURES.
>> WE HAVE ACTUALLY SHARED AND
SOCIALIZED VERSION OF THIS
WITH ALL OF YOU COLLEAGUES AND,
I AM DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT
WE ARE HONORING THE
PROCLAMATION AND CELEBRATING
BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THIS
MONTH OUR THEME IS AFRICAN
AMERICANS IN THE ARTS. AND
TOMORROW, DURING THE BIG
SPLASHY ANNOUNCEMENT WE ARE
INVITING SEVERAL LEADERS FROM
OUR LOCAL BLACK AND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
IN THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SPACE.
AND TO RECEIVE THIS
PROCLAMATION DIRECTLY AND
HONORED TO COSPONSOR AND LAUNCH
THIS WITH COUNCILMEMBER JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH. THE MAYOR HAS
CONCURRED ON THIS PARTICULAR
PROCLAMATION, SO IT'S A TRULY
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. MORE TO
COME TOMORROW. COUNCILMEMBER
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD RATHER ?
>> I DO NOT I'M REALLY EXCITED
TO BE WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS.
AND EXCITED FOR BLACK HISTORY
MONTH AS WELL. AND ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE WITH
US TOMORROW TO CELEBRATE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL BOTH
SPEAK TO THE PROCLAMATION AND
MAYBE READ A FEW LINES AND
PRESENTED THEN. OKAY. SO ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
ALREADY. SEEING THERE IS NO
FURTHER DISCUSSION. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURES
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
RECORD RISING FEBRUARY 2024 TO
BE BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN
SEATTLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> I. .
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WILL?
>> I.
>> I AM.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> I.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> I.
>> EIGHT PREGNANT SIGNATURES
WILL BE FIXED.
>> THANK YOU MUCH, TODAY WE
HAVE THE SIGNATURE AND A
PROCLAMATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
LOU AND MIRELES RECOGNIZING
FEBRUARY 10th 2024 TO BE THE
COMMENCING DATE OF LUNAR NEW
YEAR OF LUNAR NEW YEAR OF THE
DRAGON. AS I AND NOTED,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS
EXCUSED, SO COUNCILMEMBER WOO
THE FLOOR IS YOUR DISPUTE TO
THE PROCLAMATION AND FIELD ANY
AT DAY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK OR
QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD, THANKS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THIS WAS A SUGGESTION,
ESPECIALLY FROM LYNN TIE, SO
THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZES
LUNAR NEW YEAR, A FESTIVAL FOR
MANY PACIFIC ISLANDER AND
ASIAN COMMUNITIES, SO WE ARE
CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR
TOMORROW AROUND 1:30 P.M. OUT
IN THE LOBBY, THERE WILL BE
SOME DANCING AND LINE DANCING
AS WELL. AND A PRESENTATION
FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SO THE
START OF THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON
IS FEBRUARY 10th. THE DRAGON
SYMBOLIZES GOOD FORTUNE,
JUSTICE PROSPERITY AND
STRENGTH, IT IS A 15 DAY
CELEBRATION. SO, BIDDING
FAREWELL TO THE YEAR OF THE
RABBIT AND WELCOME THE
MAJESTIC DRAGON INTO OUR LIVES,
SO I THINK IT IS REALLY A
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT WE
FIND OURSELVES CELEBRATING
LUNAR NEW YEAR AND BLACK
HISTORY MONTH. AND IT'S A
POWERFUL MOMENT TO EXPRESS
SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR BOTH
THE BLACK AND ASIAN
COMMUNITIES. AND ESPECIALLY
RECOGNIZING THE CULTURAL
DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR CITY AS
WE STRENGTHEN THE FABRIC OF OUR
COLLECTIVE IDENTITY. AND SO,
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS I HOPE WE CAN VOTE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THIS,
AND I LOOK OVER TO THE
FESTIVITIES TOMORROW VERY MUCH.
SO SEEING THERE IS NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION OF THE PROCLAMATION,
WHILE THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
FEBRUARY 10th 2024 TO BE THE
COMMENCING DATE OF THE LUNAR
NEW YEAR OF THE DRAGON?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
>> I.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? COUNCIL
MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> I. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
>> I. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
>> I.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
>> I.
>> EIGHT SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM. A PREVIEW OF
ACTIONS BEFORE REGIONAL
COMMITTEES. SO WE WILL BEGIN
OUR DISCUSSION WITH A PREVIEW,
AND THE ROLL CALL ORDER WILL BE
SOCCER, STRAUSS, RIVERA, AND
THAT ME, SO COUNCILMEMBER
SOCCER, PLEASE BEGIN AND AND
WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED, PASS IT
ON TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IF
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU MADAME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, SO FIRST AND
FOREMOST, A REPORT ON THE
STUDENT DEATHS THAT OCCURRED IN
MY DISTRICT. A 15-YEAR-OLD
FROM CHIEF SOUTH INTERNATIONAL
GO. WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED.
ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO NOW. AND
SO, I HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH
WITH THE FAMILY. I HAVE
PERSONALLY BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH
WITH THE FAMILY AND I HAVE
ASSIGNED A MEMBER OF MY STAFF
TO SERVE AS A LIAISON TO THE
VICTIMS FAMILY. AND DIRECT
SERVICE PROVIDERS ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY AND MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THEM ALL TO MAKE SURE THE
FAMILY HAS WHAT THEY NEED.
I'VE ALSO BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH
WITH THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE
CHIEF AND PARK SUPERINTENDENT
APD HAS. BECAUSE THERE WAS AND
IS AND REMAINS A CAMERA ISSUE
WITH A NONFUNCTIONING CAMERA IN
THE PARKS FACILITY. AND
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ IS
INDICATED THAT TO ME, THAT THE
NONWORKING SECURITY CAMERAS IN
THE TEEN CENTER BUILDING ARE
UNDERGOING A REVIEW RIGHT NOW.
AND WILL LIKELY BE REPAIRED
AND REPLACED AND I EXPRESS MY
HOPE THAT IT IS A PRIORITY OF
RAIN, AND MY OFFICE AND THIS
FAMILY THAT WE COMPLETE THE
REVIEW, AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AND AS
EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. TO MAKE
SURE THE END RESULT IS A NEW
FUNCTIONING CAMERA IN THIS
PARTICULAR FACILITY. AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN TOUCH
WITH THIS FAMILY, COLLEAGUES I
SHARE WITH YOU NOW THE WEST
SEATTLE BLOG IS REPORTING THAT
THERE WILL BE A STUDENT
PROTEST RALLY AT CITY HALL THIS
COMING FRIDAY. AS A HEADS UP.
NOW ONTO THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. ON A LIGHTER NOTE
AND TOPIC. WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT TOMORROW OUR
VERY FIRST MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE THIS
YEAR, AND OF THIS NEW COUNSEL.
IT WILL BE TOMORROW MORNING, AT
9:30 A.M. I AM REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT, WE HAVE SOME
GREAT BRIEFINGS PLANT. AN
OVERVIEW OF THE START AND SOME
OF THE MORE ROUTINE PERMITTING
AND VACATIONS PROCESS, THAT THE
COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AND SO MORE TO COME AND
COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE
LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ALL JOINING
TOMORROW. SO OTHER THAN THAT --
I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM YOU ALL AND IF
NOT I WILL PASS IT ON TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> CAN I SAY I JUST WANT TO
RECOGNIZE AS SOMEONE WHO'S
WORK IN WEST SEATTLE, AND WITH
THE FAMILY, MY HEART MY HEART
GOES OUT TO THIS FAMILY. AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED MY
FAMILY AND MY CHILDREN AS
PEOPLE WHERE THERE WAS A
SCHOOL SHOOTING. AND, I VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOU ARE DOING TO TRY TO
INSTALL A CAMERA. THERE IS A
LOT MORE THAT WE NEED TO BE
DOING AND I KNOW THAT WE WILL
ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER AS A
COUNSEL TO FIND WAYS TO
ADDRESS THE GUN SAFETY ISSUE,
AND THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.
ACROSS THE CITY, MOVING
FORWARD. BUT I WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU FOR
THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING
THERE AND FOR THE OUTREACH TO
THE FAMILY, SO THANK YOU.
>> I WILL SECOND THAT. I ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES IT'S
HARD TO TALK ABOUT REALLY DEEP
AND PAINFUL ISSUES AND
TRANSITION INTO EVERY DAY
BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL. SO,
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER
FOR DEDICATING ONE OF YOUR
STAFF, THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND ON THE FINANCE
CHAIR, SO DOMINIC AND THAT
TRANSITION FROM A TOUGH TOPIC
BACK TO ROUTINE, AND THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR PROVIDING
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BIT OF
A DEFECTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE JUST SPENT AN HOUR AND A
HALF TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET
AND -- SO NOW WE DON'T HAVE
TO DO THAT. WE GET TO GO TO THE
NEXT LEVEL OF DETAIL NEXT TIME
AND AS WE PROCEED THROUGH THESE
CONVERSATIONS I WILL BE
BRINGING AS MUCH INFORMATION TO
YOU AS POSSIBLE VIA THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEES AND AS OFTEN
AS POSSIBLE IN THE ABSENCE OF
THE SELECT COMMITTEE WE WILL
HAVE IT AT THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE AND I WILL ASK FOR
PRESENTATIONS THAT OCCUR AT THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO BE
PROVIDED TO MEMBERS WERE NOT
DIRECTLY BUT THEN ALSO DIRECTLY
PROVIDING YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
COME TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
FOR EXAMPLE OUR MEETING ON THE
21st I WOULD LIKE TO DO BRIEF
MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE BEFORE THE MEETING
AND AGAIN EVERYONE IS WELCOME ,
FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T GET THE
BREATHING TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU AFTERWARDS. DURING COVID,
I TOOK A COUPLE OF NOTES, THAT
ESCAPED MY BRAIN AS WE WERE
TALKING. DURING COVID THE
MAJORITY OF VENUES APOLOGIES
RELIED ON LAYOFFS AND CUTS TO
SERVICE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET
HOLE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. AND
IN SEATTLE, WE PATCHED THE
BUDGET HOLE THAT WE KNEW
WHAT'S HAPPENING BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. WE PATCHED IT WITH
THE ONE-TIME FUNDS, SO THAT WE
CAN KEEP DEPLOYING SERVICES,
THAT WE COULD RESPOND TO THE
EMERGENCY AND KEEP EMPLOYEES
WORKING FOR SEATTLE RESPONDED
TO THAT EMERGENCY. NOW, WE HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE
THOSE HARD CHOICES. AND I WILL
TELL YOU AS BEING SOMEBODY WHO
WAS HERE, IN THE CITY COUNCIL
DURING THE PANDEMIC COMPARED
FROM THEN TO TODAY, I'M REALLY
GLAD THAT WE ARE MAKING THOSE
TOUGH CHOICES TODAY. WHEN WE
ARE NOT IN THE MIDST OF AN
EMERGENCY. MAKING RASH
DECISIONS, WHEN WE HAVE MORE
RUNWAY AND TIME TO BE
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE DECISIONS
THAT WE ARE MAKING. AND TO
ANSWER ANOTHER QUESTION THAT
WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE
DEFICIT BEING YEARS IN THE
MAKING WE AS COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH SAYS OUR CITY
HAS RESOLVED THESE ISSUES
ANNUALLY WITH ONE-TIME
STRATEGIES OR FUNDING. SO WHEN
YOU LOOK AT BEING ABLE TO MOVE
THAT FORWARD INTO A NEW BUCKET
WHEN YOU GET THOSE RESERVES, WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TIGHTENED UP
THE UNDER SPEND, SO MUCH SO,
THAT I AM NOT REALLY, I DON'T
KNOW THAT WE CAN RELY ON THAT
ANYMORE AND WE DON'T HAVE
THOSE ONE-TIME FEDERAL FUNDS,
WHICH IS WHY WE ALSO HAVE TO
LIKE AS A SHORT-TERM AND
LONG-TERM STABILITY OF OUR
BUDGET. I'M GOING TO USE AN
EXAMPLE OF A LONG-TERM WHICH
ARE LEASES, NOT ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS ARE IN SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL TOWER, SOME HAVE
LEASES IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS, TO
END THAT LEASE AT THE END OF
ITS LIFETIME NOW, INCURS
ONE-TIME COSTS TODAY OF MOVING
EXPENSES, TENANT IMPROVEMENTS
AND ET CETERA. SO WHILE IT
WILL GIVE US SAVINGS IN A
DECADE IT IS A COST INCREASE
TODAY. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE TO FIX IN THE LONG RUN AND
WE HAVE TO MAKE THE SHORT-TERM
EFFICIENCIES . WITH THE LINE
ITEMS OF SERVICE. AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. AND I
LOOKED AT THE DEFINITION OF
AUDIT, WHICH SAYS A METHODICAL
EXAMINATION AND REVIEW OF
FINANCIAL SITUATIONS, I CAN
TELL YOU THAT IN MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
EXECUTIVE THERE ARE PROCESSES
IN PLACE AND I'M NOT GOING TO
REPRESENT THEM TODAY, I WILL
LET THEM DO THAT FOR
THEMSELVES. AND ONE OF THOSE
EXAMPLES IS THE BASE BUDGETING
THAT DIRECTOR NOBLE WAS
TALKING ABOUT. I WILL JUST SAY
AT LARGE THIS IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY. OUR COLLECTIVE
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE OLD
WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS ARE NOT
SERVING US TODAY. AND WE NEED
TO REVIEW THE BUDGET
HOLISTICALLY. BECAUSE WE NEED
TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND IT AND
PLOT A MORE STABLE PATHWAY FOR
OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD. THAT
IS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
REPORT, AND AT OUR NEXT
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT, YOU
WILL HAVE THE CENTRAL STAFF
DISCUSSING OUR WORK PLAN FOR
THE YEAR. AND I HAD ORIGINALLY
TRIED TO PUT BUDGET AND
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS, OVERVIEWING THE
FIRST MEETING, CLEARLY AN HOUR
AND A HALF AND, TO THIS, WE
WILL HAVE COMMUNITIES AND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS PRESENT
THEIR WORK PLAN ON MARCH 6th ,
SO WE WILL HAVE THE 21st
DEDICATED TO BUDGET. AND --
AND THEN REGIONAL COMMITTEES
STARTING TOMORROW I WILL BE IN
OLYMPIA FOR THE ASSOCIATION ON
THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAYS,
WORKING WITH THE
INTER-GOVERNMENT TO ADVOCATE
ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, TO
REPRESENT SEATTLE AT
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES AND BRING AWARENESS OF
CITY ISSUES TO THE LEGISLATURE,
I HAD SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT
24% OF OUR GENERAL FUND IS
PROPERTY TAX, WHICH WE ARE
LIMITED TO WITH 1% INCREASES,
WE DO HAVE A BILL IN OLYMPIA,
THAT AWC AND SEATTLE ARE FOURTH
WHICH IS A COUNCIL MADDOCK
ALLOWANCE, TO RAISE THAT 1% OR
CAPITAL TO 3%, I'M NOT HEARING
MUCH LIKE NOT HEARING
ENDORSING OR SAYING THAT THIS
IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. I
AM SAYING THAT TO GET OUT OF
THIS HOLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE
EVERY OPTION ON THE TABLE. SO
I'M EXCITED TO BE DOWN THERE.
AND SO I'M SORRY TO ALSO MISS
YOUR COMMITTEE. I WILL BE BACK
ON FRIDAY. AND THAT IS MY
REPORT, I WILL JUST NOTE, THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER WOO FOR
BRINGING THE PROCLAMATION OF
THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON AND I
BELIEVE ONE OF THE LAST TIMES
WE HAD A YEAR OF THE DRAGON WAS
IN 1988 AND I'M ALSO VERY
EXCITED FOR THE APRIL RELEASE.
I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> THANK YOU BUT THE BUDGET IS
IMPORTANT AND I PLAN TO GO TO
YOUR BUDGET MEETING AND I HAVE
A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I LOOK
FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT
THE PROCESS AND LEARNING ABOUT
REVENUE EXPENDITURES AND GOING
FORWARD FROM THERE. SO, THE
ARTS AND CULTURES
SUSTAINABILITY AND CITY LIGHTS
COMMITTEE MEETS ON FEBRUARY
16th AT 9:30, THAT IS GOING TO
BE AN OVERVIEW. OF SEVERAL OF
THOSE AGENCIES. THIS PAST WEEK,
I WENT TO THE FIRST THURSDAY
AT KING STREET STATION, A
BEAUTIFUL FACILITY AND I HIGHLY
RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE CHECK IT
OUT THERE IS AN ART WALK AND
THERE ARE TWO ARTISTS, THAT
WERE A PART OF THE 1% ARTS
PROGRAM, WHO WAS SHOWCASING
THEIR VISUAL ARTS AND, IT WAS
REALLY FUN TO GO DOWN THERE AND
LEARN ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM AND
I'M GOING TO PASS THIS TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
SO, I RENAMED OUR COMMITTEE, A
LITTLE BIT , IT IS CALLED
PART, PARKS UTILITIES AND
TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE I'M A
GOLFER, SO I THOUGHT THAT WOULD
BE PERFECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY
COMMITTEE NAME. FEBRUARY 14th
2:00 P.M., THAT IS A WEDNESDAY,
VALENTINE'S DAY, WE ARE GOING
OVER SOME OF THE PROJECTS WITH
SEATTLE PARKS, VERY NEAR AND
DEAR TO MY HEART, THEY HAVE
BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF A LOT
OF THE SOCIAL STUFF GOING ON
IN OUR CITY AND OUR CITY
WORKERS, SO WE WERE GOING TO
HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS
ON THE FRONTLINE AND WHAT THEY
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, UTILITY
IS OBVIOUSLY PHENOMENAL WITH
THEIR FRONTLINES OF
INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WE WILL GO
OVER THAT BUT WE WILL HAVE TWO
PRESENTATIONS FROM PARKS AND
UTILITIES ON THAT DATE. AND I
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR
THE COMMITTEE. ONE THING I WANT
TO BRING TO ATTENTION, FOR MY
OTHER COLLEAGUES, IN THE NEXT
6 TO 8 WEEKS I WILL BE DOING
THIS VERY AGGRESSIVELY IN OUR
DISTRICT, HOSTING PUBLIC SAFETY
MEETINGS. I DID ONE LAST WEEK
WITH OVER 150 PEOPLE THERE, I
THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT IS GOING
ON IN OUR DISTRICT THAT ALL OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS HEAR FROM US,
SO WE WILL BE DOING ONE EVERY
COUPLE OF WEEKS, ROTATING THEM
IN OUR DISTRICT, TO ENSURE THAT
WE ARE GETTING INFORMATION,
AND WE ARE GETTING THAT OUT
THERE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE, THROUGHOUT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE WILL BE
VERY AGGRESSIVE ON THAT, JUST A
HEADS UP. AND BE AN ENTRY
LEVEL TO CONNECTING PEOPLE TO
CITY RESOURCES FOR THEM TO HEAR
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WE
ARE DOING ON THE FRONTLINES OF
SOME OF THE ACTIVITY THAT IS
GOING ON IN OUR CITY.
ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICT, SO
I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR.
THANK YOU. AND I WILL PASS IT
OFF TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HIM A QUICK
UPDATE, OUR FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE NEXT
TUESDAY IN THE MORNING, AND WE
WILL HAVE THREE CHIEFS JOINING
US. CHIEF DIAZ, CHIEF
SCOGGINS, AND CHIEF SMITH. IT
IS GOING TO BE CENTERED ON
WHAT WE ARE DEVELOPING IN TERMS
TO ADDRESS THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT AND THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT THAT UNDERLIES SO
MANY PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
THAT WE FACE, AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAKAI, WHAT YOU MENTIONED LAST
WEEK PREVIOUSLY, WITH WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA WAS
SPEAKING TO, THESE ARE THE
THINGS THAT WILL COME OUT OF
THE PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT AND
SO, WE HAVE A STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK LOOKING TO DO THAT
AND WE WILL KICK IT OFF NEXT
WEEK SO BY THE WAY, ALL ARE
WELCOME. AND COUNCILMEMBER WOO,
YOU'RE DEFINITELY WELCOME TO
JOIN US. SEPARATELY, I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE I ATTENDED THE
GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE FIRE
STATION 31 IN NORTH SEATTLE,
AND I WILL NEED DETAILS, AND
THE NORTH SEATTLE
REPRESENTATIVE THAT I DID WANT
TO NOTE, PROBABLY THE BEST LINE
THAT CAME OUT OF TODAY, WAS
FROM BATTALION CHIEF MURRAY,
WHO SAID YOU KNOW, SEATTLE IS
ABOUT LOOKING OUT FOR ONE
ANOTHER, AND YOU ARE GOING TO
PROBABLY HEAR THIS IN THE
FUTURE AS WELL. BUT I JUST
THOUGHT I WOULD THAT OUT THERE.
HAS A LITTLE DEBRIEF. BUT ALSO
A DEBRIEFING OVER THE PAST WEEK
I MET WITH CHIEF SMITH OF
CARE, VERY INFORMATIVE. AND
THEN SEPARATELY, IN A DIFFERENT
REALM, I MET WITH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY COALITION FOR A GREAT
MEETING ALONG WITH A COMPLETE
COMMUNITIES COALITION REGARDING
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND
LASTLY ON FRIDAY I WENT OUT TO
THE GREAT PLAYS, AND A GREAT
MUSEUM, AND I LOVED IT. ALSO,
THE SOUTHLAKE UNION PARK AND
LOTS OF GREAT DISCUSSION THERE
AND POSSIBLY A DISTRICT OFFICE
LOCATION. AND DISTRICT HOURS
LOCATION, SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT. AND THE PARK
QUESTION TWO WILL COME UP
REGARDING OUR NEW DISTRICT
SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY
COUNCIL. AND IT'S A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING THE
COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND THE
SOUTHLAKE UNION PARK IS A GREAT
PLACE TO DO IT. WITH THAT SAID,
I WILL PASS OFF TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOU DID
STEAL THE BEST LINES. AND
ANYWAY -- LET'S SEE, THE NEXT
MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES WILL BE NEXT
WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, AT 9:30 .
AND WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION
FROM THE THREE DEPARTMENTS
THAT THE COMMITTEE OVERSEES,
THAT WILL BE THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AND WE WILL AT
SOME POINT DID A BREEZING, AS
WELL. RELATING TO
LANDLORD-TENANT REGULATIONS. IN
TERMS OF WORK THAT I HAVE BEEN
DOING, I'M VERY PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE THAT I'M OPENING A
DISTRICT OFFICE THIS WEEK AT
THE LAKE CITY SERVICE CENTER.
SO I WILL BE MEETING PEOPLE
THERE ON THURSDAYS FROM 1 TO
430 AND ALSO REMOTELY, SO THAT
IS A BIG STEP I FEEL. AND
FOLLOWING THROUGH ON MY
COMMITMENT TO TRY TO BE MORE
DISTRICT AVAILABLE AND FOCUSED.
AND IT WAS VERY EXCITING AND
THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE FIRE
STATION THAT WAS MY FIRST
GOLDEN SHOVEL EVENT. SO I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING FORTH A
LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY. AND
I WANT TO JUST SAY, TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKAI. THAT I
AGAIN WANTED TO THANK YOUR
EFFORTS ON WRITING THE LETTER
IN SUPPORT OF THE FREE SCHOOL
MEALS LEGISLATION , AND I WAS
REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR
THAT IT DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH
THE COMMITTEE. AND I APPRECIATE
THE OFFER OF SUPPORT FROM THE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS AND I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO THROW OUT
THERE, THAT I THINK IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON US IN THE CITY
TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT
WE CAN FILL THE VOID, FOR FREE
SCHOOL MEALS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SO, HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE THIS
FORWARD IF THE STATE IS UNABLE
TO DO SO. BUT THANK YOU FOR
LEADING ON THAT. AND I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, OR
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> IT MIGHT NEED TO BE ORDERED
TODAY CAREFULLY.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELL,
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE
LIBRARY'S EDUCATION AND IS
THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8th, WE
WILL BE GETTING AN OVERVIEW
FROM THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE ARE
GOING TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH
ALL OF THE FOUR DEPARTMENTS
THAT ARE UNDER THIS COMMITTEE
WHICH INCLUDES THE ONES THAT I
MENTIONED, PLUS THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRATION RIGHTS AND
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AFFAIRS,
EXCUSE ME. AND I WILL SAY THAT
A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
AND, I HAVE MET WITH CHIEF
DIAZ, TO TALK ABOUT THE MORE
RECENT INCREASE IN BREAK-INS
IN OUR DISTRICT, BOTH PRIVATE
PROPERTY AS WELL AS BUSINESSES
AND HE HAS BEEN A VERY
AMENABLE TO MEETING, SO I WILL
BE SCHEDULING HOPEFULLY SOME
MEETINGS, OR EVEN OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SPD AND
THE DISTRICT BUSINESSES. AND
HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
AS WELL, SO MORE TO COME ON ALL
OF THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
I AM PRIORITIZING, AND I AM
ALSO MEETING WITH THE NORTH
PRECINCT , CAPTAIN A GERD,
HOPEFULLY LATER THIS WEEK IF
NOT EARLY NEXT WEEK, TO TALK
ABOUT THIS, AND OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES, FOR HAVING THEM
HAVE MORE TOUCH POINTS WITH THE
DISTRICT AS WE MOVE FORWARD
HERE. ADDITIONALLY, I VISITED
THE CARE TEAM THIS WEEK AND
THE 911 CALL CENTER AND I GOT
TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THOSE
CALLS. I AM VERY IMPRESSED. IN
BOTH THE CARE TEAM. AND
SEPARATELY WITH THE 911
RESPONDERS. AND BOTH OF THE
FOLKS, TAKING THE INITIAL
CALLS, AS WELL AS THE
DISPATCHERS, THEY WILL SAY I'M
VERY IMPRESSED WITH THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM AND
PROFICIENCY AND HOW QUICKLY
THEY GET TO THOSE CALLS. OR
WAS IT A GOOD REMINDER THAT WE
ARE REALLY EXPERIENCING THE
SPD SHORTING STAFFING, THE
STAFFING SHORTAGE, IS REALLY
THE ISSUE. AND THE INABILITY
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE OTHER
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, YOU CAN
SEE AS CALLS COME IN THE
PRIORITY ONE CALLS, WHICH ARE
A SAFETY TO A PERSON. OUR
PRIORITY CALLS. YOU MIGHT HAVE
A PRIORITY TO RECALL, WHERE A
CRIME IS NO LONGER IN PROGRESS.
AND YOU CAN SEE AS A PRIORITY
ONES COME IN, THE PRIORITY
THREE HAVE TO BE DELAYED ON
THE LIST, AND THEY SAY I CALL.
AND SPD IS NOT ABLE TO SHOW UP
RIGHT AWAY. AND IT WAS A GOOD
REMINDER, AND JUST EVIDENCE.
AND OF THE STAFFING SHORTAGE
ISSUE, IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE
THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND TO HAVE
IN PERSON TO SERVICE OF THE
CITY, SO THAT WAS REALLY GREAT.
I'M INSTITUTING OFFICE HOURS.
MORE TO COME, I'M HOPING TO
HAVE TWO LOCATIONS. AND I HOPE
TO HAVE THE GOOD SHEPHERD
CENTER TWO. WEST OF I-5 AND
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR LOCATION
EAST OF I-5, SO WE CAN START
DOING SIGN OFFS FOR FOLKS WHO
WANT TO MEET IN THE DISTRICT
AND THAT IS OUR REPORT, OR MY
REPORT FOR THIS WEEK. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUST A
FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT YOU SAID,
I'M REALLY GLAD, I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
SAME BUSINESSES AND JUST A
SHADOW TO COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON WHO IS REALLY FOCUSED
ON THAT, I'M REALLY GLAD YOU
ARE PAYING ATTENTION, TO DAVID
MILLER AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
THEY ARE FOR ATTENTION TO THAT
AS WELL.
>> AS WELL AS THE BUSINESSES IN
THE U DISTRICT, WITH DOWN LAKE
MEAD, AND THEN JUST BUSINESSES
IN WALLINGFORD AS WELL AND MOST
RECENTLY IN THE SAME POINT
DISTRICT I WILL BE MEETING
WITH THE OWNER OF STEED, WHO
SAID MULTIPLE BREAK-INS IN THE
LAST MONTH. SO --
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT
PRETTY WIDESPREAD ATTENTION ON
PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE WILL BE
LOOKING MORE DEEPLY AT THE
POLICE STAFFING ISSUE AS WELL
AND WHY IS IT SO HARD TO STAFF
UP. SO THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE WILL BE ON THURSDAY,
THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8th,
AT 2:00 P.M., AND JUST LET ME
SAY MY ACRONYM IS PRONOUNCED
GATE, WHICH IS A LOT BETTER
THAN ED TCL, BECAUSE THERE
WAS NO WAY TO SAY ANYTHING.
SO, FEBRUARY 8th, AND 2:00
P.M., WE WILL HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOING OVER
THERE 2024 WORK PLANS
SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE
FUTURE OF SEATTLE ECONOMY
INVESTMENT AGENDA WHICH IS
UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED BY COUNCIL
AND RESOLUTION 32099 IN
SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. AND WE
WILL ALSO HAVE A BRIEFING BY
WAYNE BARNETT, DIRECTOR OF THE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
COMMISSION, THE SPEC HAS BEEN
UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE FOREVER.
BUT NOW, THE COMMITTEE HAS
ACCOUNTABILITY AS AN EXPLICIT
FUNCTION. OF ITS PURVIEW, IT
IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT TO HEAR
ABOUT THE OFFICES LINES OF
BUSINESS AND BEYOND. WORKING
WITH CANDIDATES DURING AN
ELECTION. I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THAT. I WILL VERY QUICKLY GO
THROUGH THE MEETINGS THAT
ENTER DATA DIRECTLY RELATED TO
MY CITY AND EXTERNAL COMMITTEE
MEETINGS. WELL, LET ME SEE. I
WILL PARROT DOWN TO ONE,
BECAUSE IT IS TIMELY. I DID
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
DARRELL POWELL, WHO IS WHO THE
MAYOR NOMINATED TO BE THE
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
AS THEY SEARCH FOR A NEW CEO
TO REPLACE THEM, AND THERE WILL
BE A SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
ON FEBRUARY 9th. THIS WEEK ,
TWO OF THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEES ON WHAT I SAY, TO
CONFIRM MR. POWELL AT A SPECIAL
MEETING. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT WAS ON THE
RECORD, YOU FOLKS KNOW ABOUT
THAT. I WILL SKIP THE OTHER
THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY
ABOUT MY MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY
WILL RELATE TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT I WILL INCLUDE
THOSE IN MY NOTES BEGINNING
NEXT THURSDAY. AND I WILL THEN
MOVE ON TO THE LAST ITEM HERE,
WHICH IS, UNLESS THERE'S ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS.
>> LET ME JUST SAY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT I JUST WANT TO
APOLOGIZE, I HAD IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS AND HAD A CONVERSATION
EARLIER TODAY, AND I MISSPOKE
WHEN I SAID IT WAS THE OFFICES
OF IMMIGRANT AND THAT IS ON MY
COMMITTEE, AND THEY WILL BE
PRESENTING AT SOME POINT SOON,
TOO BUT APOLOGIES FOR GETTING
THE NAME OF THAT COMMITTEE
WRONG. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT NOTE.
OKAY, WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION, HEARING A
FURTHER BUSINESS WE WILL NOW
MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, AS
PRESIDING OFFICER OF ANNOUNCING
THAT THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WILL CONVENE, AND THE PURPOSE
OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
DISCUSS PENDING POTENTIAL OR
ACTUAL LITIGATION. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL
MATTERS WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S AS AUTHORIZED BY
LAW, A LEGAL MONITOR WILL BE
PRESENT FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO ENSURE
THE COUNCIL RESERVES QUESTIONS
OF POLICY IN THE OPEN SESSION.
I EXPECT THE TIME OF THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END, AT
ABOUT 430, ALLOCATED 25 MINUTES
OR SO ON THE AGENDA, AND I AM
BUILDING IN FIVE MINUTES OF THE
WALK TO YOUR OFFICE GOING ON
ZOOM TIME. AND IF THEY HAVE TO
EXTEND THAT TIME, AND WE WILL
ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION, THIS COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETING WILL AUTOMATICALLY
ADDRESS. THE NEXT REGULAR
SCHEDULE A COUNCIL MEETING AS
ON FEBRUARY 12, 2024 AT 2:00
P.M., AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE,
THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE A
COUNCIL BRIEFING THE FOLLOWING
WEEK ON FEBRUARY 19th IN LIGHT
OF THE PRESIDENTS' DAY
HOLIDAY. ALL RIGHT THE COUNCIL
IS NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION,
COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEASE LOG ONTO
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ZOOM
MEETING.
>> ♪ ♪