>>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE . TODAY IS MAY 20th ,
2024 AND THE COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. THE
TIME IS 2:04. STRAUSS AND WOO
ARE EXCUSED AND I BELIEVE
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WILL JOIN
US A LITTLE LATER. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL .
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
COUNCIL MORALES? FIVE ARE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. FOR THOSE
OF YOU OUT THERE IN TV LAND OR
STREAMING THIS LIVE TODAY, YOU
MIGHT WONDER WHAT WE ARE DOING
AT THE TABLE AND I HAVE TO SAY
WE ARE TEST DRIVING A PRACTICE
THAT WAS IN PLACE BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC FOR BRIEFINGS AND FOR
COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THAT WAS
BRIEFINGS HELD -- THOSE
MEETINGS WERE HELD AT THIS
TABLE INSTEAD OF THE DAIS AND
THAT ALLOWED FOR A LESS FORMAL
VENUE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF A MORE INTIMATE CONVERSATION
AND THAT CHANGE DURING THE
PANDEMIC -- THERE WAS -- AT THE
STATE LEVEL, THERE WAS A
PANDEMIC POLICY THAT REQUIRED A
MEETING FORMAT THAT WOULD ALLOW
FOR A HYBRID OPTION AND THERE
WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN TRYING
OUT THIS FORMAT TODAY AND
GETTING BACK TO THAT FORM OF
PRACTICE, SO WE ARE GIVING IT A
TRY TODAY. THERE PERHAPS WAS
MORE DEPENDENCE ON -- I WILL
SPEAK FOR MYSELF THAT HAVING
INTERNET CONNECTION PROBABLY
INCREASE THE PAST FEW YEARS . I
AM TRYING TO SAY WE ARE TRYING
THIS OUT TODAY BECAUSE WE DO
NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION WITH
PEOPLE WHO MUST JOIN REMOTELY,
SO THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT
EASIER AND AS WE GO FORWARD, I
WILL BE ASKING FOR YOUR
FEEDBACK TO SEE IF WE WANT TO
CONTINUE WITH THIS, BUT AGAIN,
THIS IS A PILOT AND IF WE WERE
TO GO FORWARD , CHAIRS WOULD
HAVE THE DISCRETION AS TO
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD HAVE
TO HAVE THEIR MEETINGS AT THE
TABLE OR DAIS. I WANT TO SAY
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU
TO OUR I.T. AND OUR CLERK STAFF
WHO REALLY , REALLY PUT A LOT
INTO MAKING THIS HAPPEN TODAY
BECAUSE IT SEEMS EASY AND WE
ARE JUST SITTING AROUND THE
TABLE AND THANK YOU TO IAN OVER
THERE BUT WE DO NOT HAVE
COMPUTERS IN FRONT OF US AND A
LOT OF THINGS WENT ON BEHIND
THE SCENES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN
TODAY. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON ,
LET'S SEE, WE HAVE TWO
PROCLAMATIONS AND ONE EXECUTIVE
SESSION. ON TOMORROW'S CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA THERE
ARE 25 ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR . THEY ARE THE WEEKLY
BILL PAYMENT ORDINANCE , 11
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE ARD
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION, 4
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSING
AND PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY GOVERNING COUNCIL, A
BILL AUTHORIZING SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TO EXECUTE A LOCAL
AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY
RELATED TO MATERIAL WASTE
DISPOSAL, AND 4 REAPPOINTMENTS
TO THE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
REVIEW PANEL. THAT IS ON THE
IRC AND THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL
INCLUDE THE WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT
ORDINANCE AND FIVE APPOINTMENTS
TO THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE
ADVISORY BOARD. THE REGULAR
AGENDA INCLUDES ONE ITEM,
COUNCIL BILL 120766 RELATING TO
SPD STAFFING AND RECRUITMENT.
NOTE THAT NEXT MONDAY IS
MEMORIAL DAY, OF COURSE. WE
WILL NOT HAVE COUNCIL BRIEFING
NEXT WEEK.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE
WE SKIPPED APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES. CAN WE GO BACK AND
APPROVE THOSE MINUTES FROM LAST
WEEK?
>> WITH NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED .
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE APPROVED. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THAT. OKAY,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY
25th, 2024 TO BE INDEPENDENCE
DAY IN SEATTLE. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, PLEASE READ THE
PROCLAMATION AND EDITION FROM
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK BEFORE I
REQUEST SIGNATURES BE AFFIXED
TO IT.
>> S, MAY 24th IS THE DAY THE
STATE FORMALLY ACHIEVED
INDEPENDENCE IN 1991. TODAY
SEATTLE IS HOME TO 10% OF THE
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES
WITH MANY IMMIGRANTS SEEKING
POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE U.S.
DURING THE '80s AND '90s
DURING THE WAR FOR
INDEPENDENCE. THE COMMUNITY AND
OUR CITY IS KNOWN FOR THEIR
RICH CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, AND
UNWAVERING SPIRIT OF
DETERMINATION THROUGH THEIR
STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS SINCE
THEIR INDEPENDENCE THEY HAVE
MADE STRIDES IN HEALTHCARE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I AM
PROUD TO HONOR DISTRICT TO AND
HOPE YOU WILL ALL JOIN IN
CELEBRATING THE 33rd
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
INDEPENDENCE. I WILL BE
PRESENTING THE PROCLAMATION
THIS SATURDAY AT THEIR ANNUAL
CELEBRATION IN SOUTH SEATTLE .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>> NO QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I WISH I
COULD ATTEND THE CELEBRATION.
>> IT IS GOING TO BE GREAT .
>> I CAN IMAGINE. SEEING THERE
ARE NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS,
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURES
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
RECOGNIZING MAY 25th, 2024 TO
BE AIRTRAN INDEPENDENCE DAY IN
SEATTLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> FIVE SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON,
COUNCILMEMBER -- LET'S SEE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE'S PROCLAMATION,
RECOGNIZING MEMORIAL DAY, 2024.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, PLEASE
LEAD THE CONVERSATION BEFORE I
ASK FOR SIGNATURES.
>> I SHOULD SAY AS IT TURNS OUT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS SITTING
NEXT TO ME AND IT IS REALLY
OURS . IT IS ABOUT MEMORIAL
DAY. IT REALLY STARTED BEFORE
WORLD WAR I, SINCE BEFORE THEN
IT WAS ON DIFFERENT DAYS AND
SOMETIMES CALLED DECLARATION
DAY . AS AN AMERICAN AND A
CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, I AM QUITE PROUD
OUR COUNTRY , STATE, AND CITY
WILL HONOR THIS DAY ACROSS THE
BOARD. PARADES, CEREMONIES IN
KEEPING WITH GENERAL ORDER 11
OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
OF THE REPUBLIC SIGNED IN 1868.
THE ORDER STATED NO FORMER
CEREMONY IS PRESCRIBED BUT
FITTING SERVICES AND
TESTIMONIALS OF RESPECT AS
CIRCUMSTANCES MAY PERMIT. THE
INTENT OF THE ORDER WAS TO
INAUGURATE THE OBSERVANCE WITH
THE HOPE IT WILL BE KEPT UP
FROM YEAR TO YEAR WHILE
SURVIVORS OF THE WAR HONOR
THEIR COMRADES. SINCE THE CIVIL
WAR, WE HAVE HAD OTHER WORLD .
WORLD WAR I WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT IN CREATING THE
NATIONAL HOLIDAY THAT WE HAVE
TODAY ON THE LAST FOURTH MONDAY
OF MAY. AND SO, I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO PUT THIS FORWARD AS A
RECOMMENDATION AND WHAT IS
IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS, THIS IS
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR
LIVES FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION,
AS LINCOLN SAID. IT'S NOT
ABOUT VETERANS OR PEOPLE
CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE ARMED
SERVICES. THESE ARE THOSE THAT
HAVE KILLED -- WERE KILLED IN
ACTION AND HAVE DIED FOR OUR
COUNTRY AND WITH THAT I WOULD
LIKE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE
PROCLAMATION FOR OUR MEMORIAL
DAY PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> YES, I THINK COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE SAID IT SO ELOQUENTLY
ALREADY . PLUS ONE TO ALL OF
THOSE COMMENTS. I'VE GOT MORE
COMMENTS TO SHARE TOMORROW
DURING THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION
TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES BUT THIS
IS -- I ALSO ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE , FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD WITH ME
AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON
THIS, COLLEAGUES. IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT WE HONOR AND
RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE
MEMORIAL DAY, WHICH IS
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED UNDER
CONGRESS CONGRESSIONAL STATUTES
TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WAR, THE
WAR TO END ALL WARS, WHICH WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE WORLD WAR I. YOU
KNOW, COME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE
WHO HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE IN SERVICE OF OUR
GREAT NATION, AND OUR FALLEN
HEROES . REALLY IMPORTANT
PROCLAMATION. I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT CEREMONIAL
PRESENTATION TOMORROW . THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AS I WAS
SAYING , WE WILL HAVE GUESTS IN
THE AUDIENCE TO ACCEPT .
>> YES, WE WILL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL
SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR THEN .
SEEING THERE IS NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION ON THE PROCLAMATION,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
MEMORIAL DAY, 2024?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> FIVE SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
EVERYBODY. WE WILL MOVE TO THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM. WE USED TO
CALL THIS SECTION BLUE SKY , SO
JUST FOR KICKS, WE WILL BEGIN
OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ON THE
PREVIEW OF COUNCIL ACTIONS LAST
WEEKEND GOING FORWARD, FORMERLY
KNOWN AS BLUE SKIES . TODAY'S
ROLL CALL BEGINS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
WHO IS NOT HERE, SO LET'S BEGIN
WITH COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. GO
AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THERE IS NO PUBLIC
SAFETY MEETING THIS WEEK. THAT
WILL BE NEXT WEEK FOLLOWING
MEMORIAL DAY. UPCOMING THIS
WEEK, IT IS A RELATIVELY SHORT
WEEK. I WILL BE ATTENDING THE
MILITARY BREAKFAST ON WEDNESDAY
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THIS SUMMER 'S FLEET
WEEK AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SEE WHAT THE PREPARATIONS
ARE AND I WILL DO THIS EARLY
INVITATION TO ALL OF MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN IN AND GET
SOME TIME UNDERWAY. I DON'T
WANT TO PROMISE EVERYTHING BUT
DEFINITELY GET ON A SHIP AND IT
WILL BE A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, I WILL BE
MEETING WITH THE SEATTLE CENTER
FOUNDATION. THAT IS A LOT WORK
. I WAS AT THE PACIFIC SCIENCE
CENTER LAST WEEK. DIFFERENT
THINGS RELATED TO PUGET SOUND.
OBVIOUSLY ON THE SPORTING
ARENA, A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENING WITH THE KRAKEN AND
THE STORM STARTING UP THEIR
SEASON, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO
GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON
IN SEATTLE CENTER. NOT TO
MENTION MEMORIAL STADIUM AND
THE MEMORIAL WALL . THURSDAY I
WILL BE VISITING FIRE STATION
10 ON THURSDAY EVENING SO I
WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT. LAST WEEK --
>> WHERE IS THAT? THANK YOU.
>> LAST WEEK , WE HAVE BEEN
MEETING WITH A LOT OF
CONSTITUENTS TO INCLUDE A LOT
OF DISCUSSIONS ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES THAT EACH OF
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MEETING
AND I MET WITH CONSTITUENTS TO
DISCUSS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES,
PARTICULARLY IN THE SECOND AREA
BUT REALLY BROADER THAN THAT
AND I HAVE KING COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER JOINING , SO IT
WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
BOTH OF US TO SEE , YOU KNOW,
THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING IN
OUR CITY, PARTICULARLY IN
BELLTOWN. I MENTIONED PACIFIC
CENTER. I WENT TO THEIR
LUNCHEON AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR
EDUCATION PROGRAMS. IT IS
UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THEY DO IN
TERMS OF THEIR CENTER BUT ALSO
THEIR ESSENTIALLY MOBILE
TRAINING TEAM THAT GOES OUT TO
THE SCHOOLS. AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT THEY ARE DOING. THEY
WILL GO TO EVEN MORE AS WE MOVE
FORWARD. I MENTIONED THE STORM
. BY THE WAY, LAST WEEK WAS THE
KICKOFF OF THEIR SEASON AND
TOMORROW NIGHT -- OR TWO NIGHTS
FROM NOW, CAITLIN CLARK AND THE
INDIANA FEVER ARE COMING TO
TOWN SO THAT SHOULD BE
INTERESTING AT CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA. THE NATIONAL PEACE
OFFICERS OR POLICE OFFICERS
MEMORIAL DAY WAS LAST WEDNESDAY
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE AND PAY
RESPECT TO THOSE FALLEN POLICE
OFFICERS TO INCLUDE OFFICER
BARBER , A COUSIN OF A FRIEND
OF MINE. IT WAS POIGNANT TO BE
THERE THAT DAY. ALSO LATE LAST
WEEK , I VISITED EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS CENTER WITH DIRECTOR
MEYER AND IT WAS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT MISSION. THE WORK
THEY DO IS RELATED TO
ESSENTIALLY EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS . IT COULD BE AN
EARTHQUAKE, TSUNAMI, BUT OTHER
THINGS RELATED TO PEOPLE. THERE
ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
MLB ALL-STAR WEEK TWO YEARS
FROM NOW, NO DOUBT THEY WILL BE
STOOD UP FOR DIFFERENT THINGS,
SO VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF
CITY GOVERNMENT AND IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE THE
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, THE WEST
POINT TREATMENT FACILITY FOR
OUR RAW SEWAGE TO TRANSITION TO
ANOTHER AREA . I WENT THERE
WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH TO SEE THE
CHALLENGES THEY HAVE IN TERMS
OF, YOU KNOW, ENSURING THE, YOU
KNOW, DEALING WITH THE
WASTEWATER BUT ALSO PROTECTING
OUR ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY
PUGET SOUND . THEY ARE PUTTING
A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER AND THEY
ARE BEING INNOVATIVE, SO IT IS
FANTASTIC TO GET THAT BRIEFING.
I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR LEE
FOR SHOWING UP AND DISSIPATING
WITH THE KING COUNTY OFFICIALS
THAT WERE THERE. AFTER THAT --
THAT WAS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH AND THAT
AFTERNOON I WAS JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AT THE
VETERAN CENTER . BASICALLY IT
IS THE JAPANESE AMERICAN
ESSENTIALLY DFW POST AT 12th
AND KING. THAT WAS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY . THAT LOCATION IS
NOT JUST A MILITARY LOCATION
FOR THE JAPANESE AMERICANS, BUT
IT IS A CULTURAL CENTER AND
COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE
SOUTHEAST ASIAN IMMUNITY,
CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY .
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT EVENTS
THERE AND IT IS A GREAT
LOCATION, GREAT BUILDING . WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE TO IT AND WHAT
THEY CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY ,
SO I REALLY ENJOYED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA VISITING
THERE ON FRIDAY. I SHOULD KNOW
THAT MY STAFF VISITED THE NEW
CELEBRITY SHIP, THE ECHO . IT
WILL BE SAILING OUT OF SEATTLE
AND ALASKA. SO IMPORTANT, OUR
CRUISE LINES. I'VE ATTENDED
MULTIPLE MEETINGS RECENTLY
ABOUT CELEBRITY CRUISES . THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR
CITY AND OUR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. IT IS SOMETHING WE
NEED TO PROMOTE AND ALSO
CELEBRATE -- IMPORTANTLY TOO,
HIGHLIGHT PARTS OF THE CITY
THAT TOURISTS MAY COME IN AND
GET ON A CRUISE SHIP AND COME
BACK AND STAY IN THE CITY AFTER
TO VISIT MORE THAN JUST PIKE
PLACE MARKET , TO SEE OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY AS WELL.
SOUTH LAKE UNION OR, YOU KNOW,
OTHER AREAS IN THE DISTRICTS 1
THROUGH 7 . THAT IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY. AND THE LAST TWO
YEARS, PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, I
WAS AN EVENT LEAD FOR ONE DAY
OF SEATTLE , ONE DAY OF
SERVICE. TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS.
THIS YEAR AS THE NEW DISTRICT
SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE I WAS AT
THE PARK FOR THE KICKOFF AND I
WENT THROUGH THE DISTRICT WITH
ALL OF THE GREAT WORK BEING
DONE ON THE ONE DAY OF SERVICE
AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
TO THE FREEWAY PARK RIGHT
THERE, LIKE 6 AND SENECA, I
THINK . IN THAT AREA NEAR FIRST
HILL. FANTASTIC WORK THEY ARE
DOING IN THE FREEWAY PARK
THERE. I RECOMMEND VISITING
THERE. I ALSO STOPPED AT SOUTH
LAKE UNION AT THEIR CASCADE
PARK. THAT WAS QUITE THE
OPERATION AT CASCADE PARK AND I
HAVE A PHOTO YOU WILL SEE IN
SOCIAL MEDIA. I'VE GOT FOLKS
BEHIND ME WITH PITCHFORKS DOING
SOME SERIOUS COMPOSTING AND SO
FORTH FOR THE PARK AT CASCADE
AND SOUTH LAKE UNION. MORE
GREAT WORK IN BELLTOWN AND
OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT. I
ENDED AT THE WEST QUEEN ANNE
GREENBELT WHERE WE HEART
SEATTLE AND A TEAM OF
VOLUNTEERS WENT INTO THAT
LOCATION THERE NEAR THE GAYLOR
FLYOVER NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE
AND THEY TOOK OUT LIKE 1000
POUNDS OF TRASH. INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF WORK BEING DONE. THAT
WAS DEFINITELY ONE BIG DAY OF
SERVICE FOR DISTRICT 7 .
>> 100 VOLUNTEERS.
>> I MET WITH MOST OF THEM, BUT
YES, I THINK IT IS AROUND 100.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SINCE WE ARE NOT SITTING IN
A NECESSARILY THE CORRECT
ORDER, NEXT UP, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, PLEASE .
>> THANK YOU. AFTERNOON,
COLLEAGUES . I WILL START WITH
COMMITTEE. MY NEXT LAND-USE
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE JUNE
5th. I ANTICIPATE THREE ITEMS
TO BE HEARD, THE FIRST IS
120761, THE OFFICE TO
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS. PART
OF THE MAYOR'S DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD REMOVE
REGULATORY BARRIERS BY
PROVIDING BROAD EXEMPTIONS FROM
DIMENSIONAL AND DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS WHEN AN
EXISTING STRUCTURE IS CONVERTED
FROM HOUSING -- TO HOUSING FROM
OTHER USES. SO THE INTENT HERE
IS REALLY TO BRING MORE HOUSING
ONLINE BY ALLOWING DEVELOPERS
TO RETROFIT EXISTING OFFICE
BUILDINGS, PARTICULARLY THE
ONES VACANT DOWN HERE IN
DOWNTOWN THAT AREN'T BEING
USED OR THAT ARE UNDERUTILIZED
TO BRING MORE HOUSING INTO THE
DOWNTOWN CORE. I DID TAKE A
TOUR LAST WEEK WITH MY STAFF
AND WITH THE STAFF FROM OP CD ,
SO WANT TO THANK THEM AND LAKE
UNION PARTNERS . WE TOOK A TOUR
OF A POTENTIAL FIGHT TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE LEGISLATION.
THE OWNERS ARE LOOKING TO
CONVERT THEIR OFFICE SPACE
WHICH WOULD BRING ABOUT 200
UNITS OF HOUSING . SOME OF
WHICH WOULD BE AFFORDABLE, SO
IT IS AN INTERESTING
OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO INCREASE
HOUSING DOWNTOWN AND TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT -- OR TO
MITIGATE, I GUESS, THE ISSUE OF
HAVING VACANT OFFICE SPACE
DOWNTOWN. THE OTHER BILL,
COUNCIL BILL 120-0771 ,
DOWNTOWN STREET LEVEL USES.
EXCUSE ME. ANYBODY ELSE HAVING
ALLERGIES? I FEEL LIKE I AM
HAVING SOME ALLERGY ISSUES .
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
TEMPORARILY ADD MORE
FLEXIBILITY AND VARIETY TO THE
USES REQUIRED TO OCCUPY
STREET-LEVEL SPACE , ALONG WITH
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FLEXIBLE
DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF THESE USES
IN THE FIRST TWO FLOORS OF
BUILDINGS . THE LEGISLATION
WOULD ENCOURAGE FILLING VACANT
SPACES BY ENABLING A LARGER
POOL OF POTENTIAL TENANTS. I
WILL SAY MY OFFICE IS WORKING
RIGHT NOW WITH CENTRAL STAFF TO
TRY TO GET A TOUR SCHEDULED FOR
THIS AS WELL . I WILL BE
HONEST, I DON'T HAVE A GREAT
SENSE OF HOW THIS WILL IMPACT
OUR STREETSCAPE, SO I AM HOPING
TO GET A TOUR AND LEARN A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT . THIS
IS ALSO PART OF THE MAYOR'S
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. THE
FINAL ITEM, PERMITTING AUDIT ,
AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM . THIS IS
AN AUDIT CONDUCTED LAST YEAR AT
THE REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WHO WAS LAND-USE CHAIR
AT THAT TIME. THE AUDIT
REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
THE PERMITTING PROCESSES CAN BE
REMOVED AND IT WILL BE AN
UPDATE ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS
IDENTIFIED IN THE AUDIT SO WE
CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT MIGHT BE
CONTRIBUTING TO DELAYED HOUSING
PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR.
IMPROVING THE PERMITTING
PROCESS AND CUTTING RED TAPE IS
ONE OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT
THAT WE CAN START TO EMPLOY TO
GET MORE HOUSING ACROSS THE
CITY. FINALLY, DISTRICT UPDATES
. ON SATURDAY, I PARTICIPATED
IN THE WOMEN BUILD EVENT WITH
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY . I HELPED
FRAME DOORWAYS IN TWO HOUSING
UNITS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP SOON AND I
WILL SAY, I WAS EXCITED TO
INCREASE MY POWER SAW CHOPS.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THIS WEEK I HAVE MY REGULAR
CHECK IN WITH TRANSIT REGARDING
UPDATES ON SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
IN DISTRICT 2 AS WELL AS
UPDATES ON THE CID STATION
LOCATION . THAT IS STILL BEING
CONTEMPLATED, SO IT WAS GOOD TO
GET UPDATES FROM THEM. ON
WEDNESDAY, I AM PROUD TO
SPONSOR FOR THE SECOND YEAR THE
CITYWIDE ASIAN AMERICAN AND
PACIFIC ISLANDER CELEBRATION .
I WILL BE PROVIDING A FEW
REMARKS AND EXCITED TO SHARE IN
THEIR LIGHT REFRESHMENT THAT IS
BEING CATERED BY CHEF MELISSA,
ONE OF THE SEMIFINALISTS FOR
THE JAMES BEARD AWARD. AND A
BELOVED D2 STABLE IN BEACON
HILL . THIS WEEKEND I ALSO --
RIGHT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I
ATTENDED AN EMERGENCY HUB KIOSK
THAT WAS PROVIDING INFORMATION
TO NEIGHBORS WHO WERE GOING ,
JUST PASSING BY AROUND
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS . THIS
IS SOMETHING THEY DO EVERY YEAR
ABOUT THIS TIME. EVERY DISTRICT
HAS THESE EMERGENCY HUBS AND
HAVE A FOLKS WHO ARE PROVIDING
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS HUBS
AND INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ,
SO I WILL ONCE AGAIN GIVE MY
PSA THAT THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO
GET YOUR WATER STORAGE, YOUR
FOOD STORAGE, YOUR BACKPACKS
READY IN CASE YOU NEED TO BUG
OUT IN AN EARTHQUAKE AND MAKE
SURE YOU'VE GOT THE SUPPLIES
YOU NEED TO BE READY FOR --
ESTIMATES ARE A TWO WEEK
SHELTER IN PLACE . IT USED TO
BE THREE DAYS , BUT NOW FOLKS
ARE SAYING BE PREPARED TO
SHELTER IN PLACE FOR TWO WEEKS.
IF YOU HAVE A COSTCO
MEMBERSHIP, THAT MIGHT COME IN
HANDY. WEDNESDAY I WILL BE
GOING TO THE STORM GAME TO SEE
CAITLIN CLARK, BUT ALSO TO SEE
OUR OWN SUPERSTARS. THE GAME IS
SOLD OUT 18,000 SEATS, SO IF
YOU PLAN TO GO, I SUGGEST
GETTING THERE EARLY. THURSDAY I
HAVE A CLASS OF FIFTH GRADERS
COMING FROM MAPLE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL . THEY COME EVERY YEAR
AND IT IS VERY EXCITING. THEY
WILL JOIN US THURSDAY MORNING
AT THE LIBRARY AND WE WILL TAKE
THEM UPSTAIRS TO SEE THE CITY
ARCHIVE . THIS IS GREAT IF YOU
HAVE KIDS COMING, STUDENTS
COMING BECAUSE THE ARCHIVIST
WILL PULL MATERIALS FROM THE
'60s, '80s TO SHOW
THE STUDENTS WHAT ARCHIVING IS
. WHEN WE TOOK THE STUDENTS
LAST TIME, SHE ACTUALLY PULLED
LETTERS FROM MAPLE ELEMENTARY
STUDENTS FROM 30 YEARS AGO AND
MANY OF THE STUDENTS THEN WERE
WRITING TO CITY COUNCIL ASKING
TO FIX THINGS THAT THE STUDENTS
NOW ARE STILL ASKING CITY
COUNCIL TO FIX, SO INTERESTING
THAT THEY MOSTLY SAY GIVE US
PARKS AND BIKE LANES. LATER ON
THURSDAY, I WILL TAKE A TOUR
FROM LEHIGH AT THEIR TINY HOUSE
THE VILLAGE AND ON FRIDAY I
WILL HAVE IN DISTRICT OFFICE
HOURS AT THE COLUMBIA CITY --
COLUMBIA BRANCH OF THE PUBLIC
LIBRARY , SO WE HAVE A FULL
AFTERNOON OF CONSTITUENT
MEETINGS SCHEDULED. AND THAT'S
ALL I HAVE.
>> CAN I -- YOUR MENTION OF THE
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. BACK IN
THE DAY, THE DEPARTMENT USED TO
GET A PRESENTATION OR SEMINAR
FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE WEEDS ON
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND ONE
THING I ALWAYS REMEMBERED THAT
WE WERE TOLD IS ALWAYS HAVE A
PAIR OF SHOES UNDER THE BED.
WHEN GLASS BREAKS , YOU KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE AND YOU CAN GET
AROUND .
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY.
>> I HAVE TO SAY ONE THING I
REMEMBER THAT I STILL DO.
ANYWAY. OKAY, NEXT,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? WELL, LET
ME MAKE SURE THAT IS THE
ALPHABET HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. LET ME MAKE
SURE PEOPLE CAN HEAR ME. LAST
WEEK I ATTENDED THE MAPLE LEAF
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE . WE
PARTICIPATED IN A PANEL
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DRAFT
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND I SHARE
A SMALL PART OF MAPLE LEAF WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, WHICH IS
WHY WE WERE THERE TOGETHER.
THERE WERE A MIX OF NEIGHBORS ,
BOTH FOLKS CONCERNED DENSITY
WILL HAVE A DIFFICULT IMPACT IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL AS
NEIGHBORS CONCERNED THAT
WITHOUT THE ADDED DENSITY, THEY
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN
SEATTLE WITH ONE NEIGHBOR IN
PARTICULAR THAT STOOD OUT
LIVING ALREADY HAVING MOVED
FROM THE D4 TO THE D5 BECAUSE
THEY WERE ALREADY PRICED OUT OF
THE D5, SO THIS IS REAL TO
FOLKS AND IT IS ON EVERYONE'S
MIND. I BELIEVE THERE IS STILL
A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT HAS TO
HAPPEN, BOTH REGARDING THE
STATE LAW PASSED, HB 1110
ALLOWING FOR DENSITY ACROSS
SEATTLE AS WELL AS GENERAL
EDUCATION ABOUT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WHAT THE
PROPOSAL IS FOR THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN TERMS OF
DENSITY AND REALLY SHOWING
FOLKS BY ZONE WHAT IT COULD
LOOK LIKE IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND I THINK THE
EDUCATION WILL BE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO , YOU KNOW, HELP
WITH PEOPLE'S FEARS AROUND
DENSITY AND ADDRESS OF FOLKS
THAT ARE LOOKING FOR MORE
DENSITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS,
SO THE EDUCATION IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. I WAS GLAD TO SEE
THEM EXTEND THAT PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD TO TODAY, ACTUALLY. I
WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AND
ALSO I KNOW OPCD WAS AT THE
MAPLE LEAF MEETING TALKING
ABOUT THE PLAN AND THE NEXT
ITERATION OF THE UPDATES TO THE
PROPOSAL AND THERE WILL BE
OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENT COMING DOWN THE LINE AS
THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS
PLAN TOWARD THE LATTER PART --
OR TOWARD FALL OF THIS YEAR. ON
THURSDAY I SPOKE ON A VIRTUAL
PANEL HOSTED BY THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION. MY
COLLEAGUES COUNCILMEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH AND WOO WERE IN
ATTENDANCE. WE DID NOT DISCUSS
ANYTHING RELATED IT TO THE
COMMITTEE WE ALL SERVE ON
TOGETHER . WE WERE THERE TO
TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES OF
IMPORTANCE TO THE DOWNTOWN
SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHER
DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS. WE
CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES CONCERN
DOWNTOWN AND ALSO WAYS THAT WE
CAN INCREASE RESIDENTS FROM THE
CITY COMING DOWNTOWN TO ENJOY
THE AMENITIES AS WE CONTINUE,
YOU KNOW, TO SUPPORT A POST
COVID RECOVERY EFFORT . LAST
WEEK I ALSO ATTENDED MY
BIMONTHLY MEETING OF THE LATE
WASHINGTON CEDAR AND THE SALMON
RECOVERY COUNCIL , ONE OF THE
MOST FUN COUNCILS I SIT ON . IT
IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT WE
TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
SALMON RECOVERY AND ALL OF THE
EFFORTS WE ARE DOING IN THE
REGION TOWARDS SALMON RECOVERY.
ON SATURDAY, AS I'M SURE MANY
OF YOU DID, I VOLUNTEERED FOR
THE ONE SEATTLE DAY OF SERVICE.
MY STAFF AND I VOLUNTEERED AT
THE YMCA COMMUNITY OUTREACH
EVENT IN THE DISTRICT. WE'VE
GOT A YMCA THAT SERVICES NOT
JUST THE HUMAN DISTRICT BUT
ACROSS THE D4 AND INTO MADISON
PARK AS WELL . A LOT OF YOUNG
PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO OBVIOUSLY
YOU CAN WORK OUT AND THEY HAVE
SENIORS PROGRAMS AS WELL , SO
IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE IN THE
DISTRICT . I GOT TO MEET WITH
MANY OF THE KIDS AND FAMILIES
ATTENDING THE U DISTRICT
FESTIVAL THAT OCCURRED THERE
THIS WEEKEND AND EVEN MAYOR
HARRELL STOPPED BY . IN THE
SPIRIT OF ONE SEATTLE, ANOTHER
MEMBER OF MY STAFF VOLUNTEERED
TO CLEAN UP AT ANDERSON PARK IN
A COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'
S DISTRICT , SO WE WERE ALL
OVER THE CITY THIS WEEKEND AND
IT WAS GREAT TO PARTICIPATE IN
THOSE ACTIVITIES. I WILL BE
CHAIRING THE LIBRARY EDUCATION
AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE,
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING WILL BE THERE TO
PRESENT ABOUT THE FAMILIES
EDUCATION , PRESCHOOL, AND A
PROMISE LEVY FOR YOUR REPORT ,
SO IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO
HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THE
LEVY HAS HELPED FUND THESE PAST
FOUR YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN
PREPARATION FOR A POTENTIAL
RENEWAL OF THE LEVY NEXT YEAR
AND I WILL BE ATTENDING THE LAW
DAY EVENT AS A PANELIST WHERE I
HOPE TO ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE
USE AN ART IN THE COMMUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM
AND GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SO WHY DON'T WE
GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE WITH THIS
ORDER, THEN WHEN YOU'RE
FINISHED, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
WILL GO ON TO MOORE AND
HOLLINGSWORTH. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. TOMORROW WE HAVE A VERY
STACKED TRANSPORTATION AGENDA .
RIGHT HERE IN THESE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS -- IN THIS COUNCIL
CHAMBER, I APPRECIATE THE
PATIENCE AND EQUAL ENERGY AND
ENTHUSIASM FOR ALL TOPICS
TRANSPORTATION RELATED FOR MY
COLLEAGUES THAT ACTUALLY SET ON
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
WITH ME , VICE CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH, OF COURSE, AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. WE WILL
KICK OFF THE DAY AT 9:30 A.M.
SHARP TOMORROW WITH SOME ITEMS
THAT -- THAT SOME WOULD
CONSIDER MORE ROUTINE. REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK. THAT IS GOING
TO BE UP TO ONE HOUR FOR OUR
REGULAR TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW AT
9:30, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY
OUR SELECT COMMITTEE AT 10:30
A.M. I DO NOTE THAT TOMORROW'S
9:30 A.M. TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE OUR
VERY LAST ONE OF THE LEVY
CONVERSATIONS, SO AFTER
TOMORROW, WE ARE GOING TO SHIFT
TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON THIS
BILLION-DOLLAR PLUS LEVY
PACKAGE AND PROPOSAL AND WE
WILL PICK UP REGULAR
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETING AND AGENDA ITEMS AT THE
CONCLUSION OF OUR PROCESS . SO,
THAT IS TOMORROW, 9:30 A.M. AND
10:30 A.M. AT THE SELECT
COMMITTEE AT 10:30 , THE AGENDA
WILL BE OUR OWN CENTRAL
STAFF'S ANALYSIS AND
PRESENTATION AND ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION ON THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED LEVY , RENEWAL
PACKAGE, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE,
AND AGAIN, TOMORROW WILL BE
VERY STACKED FROM THE LEVY
PERSPECTIVE. AT 4:30 P.M. , WE
WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING,
OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT
HERE IN THIS CHAMBER. BY LAW,
WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AT
LEAST ONE PUBLIC HEARING . WE
HAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR
ACCOMMODATION, BUT TOMORROW IS
THE FIRST ONE . REALLY EXCITED
FOR THAT. COLLEAGUES, YOU MAY
HAVE SEEN IN THE MEDIA THAT ME
AND MY OFFICE SENT ACROSS
EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THAT LEVY.
THE FINAL THING I WILL NOTE ON
TRANSPORTATION, I APPRECIATE
THE ENGAGEMENT FROM EVERYONE
AND YOUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES IN
MEETING WITH ME ONE-ON-ONE TO
DISCUSS THE LEVY STRATEGY AND
JUST GENERALLY CHECK IN ABOUT
THAT . REALLY IMPORTANT WORK
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THAT WORK ALONGSIDE
YOU ALL TOMORROW, SO -- AND I
GUESS THAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS
THAT I WANTED TO SHARE ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION TOPICS. ON THE
SIDE, I WILL SHARE LAST WEEK I
AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT LAST
WEEK, I RODE MY BIKE TO WORK
TWICE LAST WEEK . ONE WAS WITH
S. DIRECTOR -- SDOT AND MEMBERS
OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM . AND
THE OTHER TIME WAS BY MYSELF.
SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE TO ENTER
ABLE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES TO
WORK BUT WITH AN IN COURT AND
-- IMPORTANT , OF COURSE,
PITSTOP . ON FRIDAY, SPONSORED
BY THE WEST SEATTLE BANK GROUP
, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
ENGAGEMENT WAS THOSE
CONSTITUENTS AND THOSE
IMPORTANT CONSTITUENTS IN
DISTRICT 1 BUT AS PART OF THE
BROADER TRANSPORTATION
CONVERSATION . REALLY
ENLIGHTENING FOR ME.
COINCIDENTALLY I BIKED TO MY
MEETING THIS MORNING , WHICH
MEANS I AM EXHAUSTED. BUT , YOU
KNOW, HERE I AM . AND, YES, ON
SATURDAY, COLLEAGUES, I THINK
MANY OF YOU ALL PARTICIPATED IN
THE MAYOR'S WONDERFUL SEATTLE
DAY OF SERVICE. VARIOUS EVENTS
AROUND THE CITY . I WAS HONORED
TO PARTICIPATE ALONGSIDE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AT THE
PIONEER SQUARE EVENT. THAT
EVENT FEATURED FOLKS FROM ALL
OVER THE CITY AND THE SEAHAWKS
AND AMAZON WAS THERE. THEY
BROUGHT A BUNCH OF THEIR
WORKERS . OF COURSE, YOU KNOW,
THE MAYOR . I WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR AND HIS GREAT LEADERSHIP
FOR KICKING IT OFF AND GETTING
US ALL TO RALLY AROUND A COMMON
GOAL OF CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH
COMMUNITIES AND SERVICE, SO
REALLY AWESOME EVENT .
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT , ME AND
THE MAYOR , WE HEADED BACK TO
WEST SEATTLE AND DID A
RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE
BEL-RIDGE FARMERS MARKET .
REALLY AWESOME EVENT. THE
AFRICAN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT GROUP KICKS OFF
THAT EVENT . IT IS A FARMERS
MARKET THAT IS HELD EVERY
SATURDAY IN WEST SEATTLE .
REALLY, REALLY COOL EVENT.
REALLY FUN EVENT. ME AND THE
MAYOR HANDED OUT KIDS BOX TO
THE LITTLE ONES OUT THERE SO
THEY CAN ENGAGE AND I ,
PERSONALLY, WAS ABLE TO
PURCHASE SOME WONDERFUL FLOWERS
THAT MY WIFE REALLY ENJOYED. I
DIDN'T GET IN ON THE FRESH
FRUITS BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE
FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
COVERED, BUT I GOT SOMETHING
REALLY AWESOME AND TASTY. RICE
FROM WEST AFRICA. SADLY IT
WASN'T NIGERIAN RICE, THE MOST
SUPERIOR BETWEEN SENEGAL,
GHANA, AND NIGERIA BUT IT WAS
STILL KING. AND THEN AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ALLUDED
TO, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF
JOINING HIM AND OTHERS LAST
FRIDAY AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL
WALL AND MUSEUM . AWESOME EVENT
WITH SOME FOLKS FROM THE
BALLARD , POST 3063 , IF I AM
UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, AND
FOR MY OWN POST IN WEST
SEATTLE, 2713, BOB LEMKE , AND
WE WERE ALSO JOINED BY OUR
MUTUAL FRIEND . SPECIAL THANKS
TO THE FOLKS THAT JOINED US ,
MY OWN STAFF MEMBER AND
TEAMMATE WHO WAS ABLE TO JOIN
US AS WELL. GREAT EVENT . THANK
YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED,
INCLUDING DALE . I HOPE I
PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT, THEY'LL.
THE POST COMMANDER FOR THAT
FACILITY THERE. WAS A GREAT,
GREAT ENGAGING AND ENLIGHTENING
EVENT. FINALLY, COLLEAGUES,
LATER THIS WEEK I WILL BE
HOSTING OFFICE HOURS REGULARLY
AS YOU ALL DO. I DO THEM ALL
OVER MY DISTRICT BUT I AM
EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON
FRIDAY I WILL BE DOING OFFICE
HOURS IN SOTO FOR THE FIRST
TIME, SO IN ANY EVENT , I
WELCOME ANY COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS, OR FEEDBACK FROM YOU
ALL. IF NOT, I WILL KICK IT OFF
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO FIGURE
OUT WHICH ONE OF YOU ALL ARE
GOING NEXT.
>> ASK MOM, RIGHT?
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE
A SCHEDULE OF TOPICS DISCUSSED
IN EACH OF THE TRANSPORTATION ,
YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE MEETINGS
GOING FORWARD?
>> YEAH. YEAH, SO WE ARE STILL
FINALIZING SOME OF THAT, BUT
TOMORROW'S AGENDA IS SET AND
MORE INFORMATION WILL BE
FORTHCOMING .
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. TODAY'S
ROLL CALL DIDN'T START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, SO
WE BEGIN WITH YOU, BUT HOLD ON
A SECOND. BEFORE YOU GOT HERE ,
WE DID VOTE -- WELL, WE DIDN'T
VOTE BUT WE SIGNALED BY VOICE
THAT WE WOULD SIGN TWO
PROCLAMATIONS TODAY, SO I WILL
JUST SAY THOSE TITLES AND YOU
CAN CONFIRM VERBALLY WHETHER OR
NOT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN
THOSE. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
HAS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
MAY 25th, 2024 TO BE AIRTRAN
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN SEATTLE.
AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HAS A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
MEMORIAL DAY, 2024 . SO,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
MOORE, DO YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR
SIGNATURES AFFIXED?
>> YES. ON BOTH .
>> YES. ON BOTH.
>> OKAY. TAKE IT AWAY,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH .
>> OH, THIS MOVES. GREAT. I
LIKE BEING AT THIS TABLE
BECAUSE I GET TO LOOK AT Y'ALL
. THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO
WITH MY LIFE, LOOK AT EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU., MAY 22nd,
2:00 P.M. ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE
AN AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY
ABOUT GARBAGE AND WASTE, SPU ,
A SHORT MEETING. THEY WILL GIVE
A PRESENTATION AND WE WILL ASK
QUESTIONS, SO IT SHOULD BE
FAIRLY SHORT. REGIONAL
COMMITTEES -- I AM PRETTY SURE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE PROBABLY
MENTIONED THE BOARD OF HEALTH .
LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING
SOLUTIONS WITH THE FENTANYL
CRISIS IN OUR CITY AND I ALSO
HAD THE REGIONAL TRANSIT
COMMITTEE, WHERE I JOINED
COUNSIL MEMBER SAKA AND WE
TALKED ABOUT THE RAPID LINE
THAT WAS DONE IN 2024, SO THE
OPEN-HEART SURGERY ON MADISON
IS GOING TO BE STITCHED AND
COMPLETED, WHICH I AM HAPPY
ABOUT. AND TO RESTORE MADISON
AS A BIG ARTERY AND PIPELINE IN
SEATTLE AND THE G LINE WILL BE
PHENOMENAL, SO I AM EXCITED
ABOUT THAT. I HAVEN'T
MENTIONED THIS TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES BUT I KNOW THE OUR LINE
IS COMING DOWN RANIER AND A LOT
OF PEOPLE ARE EXCITED AND HAVE
REACHED OUT ABOUT THAT, SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOUR OFFICE ABOUT THE R DOWN
RANIER AND THE CONTRACT IS OUT
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE EAST LAKE
BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ALL ALONG THERE WITH
CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION. LAST
WEEK IN THE COMMUNITY, I JOINED
COUNCILMEMBER WOO AND RIVERA
FOR A CONVERSATION ABOUT
DOWNTOWN AND PUBLIC SAFETY. I
HAD A TOUR OF THE SEATTLE
CONVENTION CENTER, THE SUMMIT.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN
IT. IT WAS PHENOMENAL. WEST
POINTE TREATMENT SUNBIRD --
CENTER WITH COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE , WHERE WE GOT TO SMELL
WHAT WASTEWATER SMELLS LIKE,
WHICH WAS FUN. I MET WITH
BUSINESS OWNERS, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, PUBLIC SAFETY. ONE
THING THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT
PCC , 90% OF THEIR ISSUES THAT
THEY HAVE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY
COME FROM THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
STORE LOCATION ON 23rd AND
UNION, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
ENGAGE WITH THEM AS WELL .
WOODLAND PARK ZOO, I'VE GOT TO
MOVE THAT TO THIS WEEK. I GOT
TO FEED THE RED PANDA AND I
ALREADY FORGOT THE RED PANDA'S
NAME, BUT IT STARTS WITH A C.
JUST THE CUTEST THING EVER. I
SAID IT -- FED IT CARROTS AND
BISCUITS. THEY DO A GREAT JOB
CREATING ACCESS FOR FAMILIES,
BUT ALSO BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE
ZOO OUTSIDE OF JUST SEEING
ANIMALS. LAST YEAR THEY HAD
CHAKA KHAN. THEY HAVE SO MANY
GREAT, AMAZING PROGRAMS THERE.
THIS WEEKEND , I DID TWO
THINGS. I WENT TO CHURCH AND WE
DID A STREET RENOVATION PROJECT
THERE ON 14th , IN BETWEEN PIKE
PINE AND MADISON, SO THAT WAS
FUN. ONE THING I WANTED TO
MENTION THAT I HAVE BEEN
BECOMING INCREASINGLY ALARMED
ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY IS THE
GRAFFITI ON CHURCHES. TO SEE
THAT CHURCH -- IT IS MY CHURCH,
BUT TO SEE THEIR AGING
POPULATION OF TO CLIMB UP TO
THE OLD BELLTOWER THAT IS A
HISTORIC LANDMARK TO BE ABLE TO
SCRUB GRAFFITI OFF OF THEIR
BUILDING, OFF SOMETHING THAT IS
AS HISTORIC AS THAT WAS REALLY
UNFORTUNATE AND CHALLENGING AND
THEY DEAL WITH THAT A LOT. YOU
KNOW, A LOT OF BLACK CHURCHES
IN THE CITY HAVE TO EXPERIENCE
THAT. TO ME, THAT IS ANTI-BLACK
TO DO THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, SO
I JUST WANTED TO TAG THAT
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A
LOT OF FEEDBACK OF CHURCHES
HAVING TO CLEAN UP GRAFFITI
ALONG THEIR CHURCHES, SO I
WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
I ALSO HAD A HEALTH SCARE. I
WAS UP IN BEACON HILL , NEAR
THE BORDER JUST A BIT. DON'T
KILL ME.
>> YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
>> OKAY, COOL. I PLAY GOLF AT
JEFFERSON AND WE WERE PICKING
UP TRASH AND THERE WERE 20
VENDORS AT THE URBAN LEAGUE .
IT WAS PHENOMENAL. IT WAS
REALLY, REALLY GREAT . WE ATE
CORN AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST , I WANTED
TO SEND A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR
-- AND I WANT TO SAY THIS, I
KNOW PEOPLE COME TO CHAMBERS
AND LAST WEEK, REALLY
ENCOURAGED PEOPLE WERE SPEAKING
UP AND PROTESTING, ALL OF THE
STUFF IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. I
WANT TO THANK OUR SECURITY TEAM
BECAUSE I SAW HOW A GENTLEMAN
BELITTLED OUR SECURITY GUARD
WHO HAD BEEN HERE FOR 12 YEARS
AND THE IMPACT THAT HAD ON THAT
MAN. IT WAS JUST UNFORTUNATE ,
THE WAY THAT HE WAS TALKED TO .
I KNOW WHEN PEOPLE COME, THEY
HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS BUT OUR
SECURITY TEAM ARE DOING THEIR
JOB ESPECIALLY FOR THE
GENTLEMAN WHO HAD BEEN HERE FOR
12 YEARS, THE WAY HE WAS
BELITTLED I THOUGHT WAS
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I
APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUES
BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE SAID
SOMETHING AND STOOD UP FOR HIM
AFTER SEEING THE WAY THAT
IMPACTED HIM. THAT WON'T
HAPPEN AGAIN AND I WILL SAY
SOMETHING. I WILL BE NICE AND
KIND BUT I WANTED TO FLAG THAT
BECAUSE THEY ENDURE A LOT AND
HE HAD BEEN HERE FOR 12 YEARS
AND TO BE BELITTLED LIKE THAT
WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO RESPOND,
YOU KNOW, IN A WAY THAT WAS
VERY PROFESSIONAL WAS JUST
UNACCEPTABLE SO I WANTED TO
THROW THAT OUT THERE. AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR MENTIONING
THAT. I DID LEAVE THE CAMERAS
ROLLING DURING RECESS AND THAT
WAS A DECISION SO PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN A RECESS
IS CALLED , THAT IS WHY AND
THERE IS BEHAVIOR THAT IS
UNACCEPTABLE IN CHAMBERS WHEN
WE ARE TRYING TO CONDUCT
BUSINESS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF
THAT ENCOUNTER, SO THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. OH, I'VE GOT TWO
MICROPHONES HERE. DOUBLE
AMPLIFIED. THANK YOU.
>> I AM SORRY.
>> THAT IS OKAY .
>> I APOLOGIZE.
>> THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE IS WEDNESDAY AND WE
HAVE A VERY PACKED AGENDA . WE
HAVE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS FOR
POSSIBLE VOTE, A PRESENTATION
FROM LEAD AND CO-EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR , WE HAVE A
PRESENTATION ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FINANCING FROM THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, AND WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE THE UTC QUARTERLY
REPORT . I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE
PASSED 11:30, SO JUST A HEADS
UP . ANYONE WHO WANTS TO
ATTEND, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ,
YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME. AN
OPEN INVITATION TO ALL . WE
HAVE DONE OUR PRE-BRIEFING AND
IT IS INTERESTING INFORMATION
SO I THINK IT WILL BE AN
INFORMATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
FOR EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, LAST
WEEK I ATTENDED THE REGIONAL
POLICY COMMITTEE FOR THE VOTE
ON THE CRISIS CARE LEVY
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WHICH I AM
PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. I HAD TWO
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
SUCCESSFULLY ADOPTED, SO THAT
WAS EXCITING. THE PLAN IS NOW
GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE HOUSING
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AND
ONCE IT IS VOTED ON THERE, IT
WILL MOVE ONTO THE FULL COUNTY
COUNCIL FOR A FINAL VOTE SO I
AM HAPPY TO KEEP EVERYONE
POSTED ON THAT. I ATTENDED THE
PINEHURST -- WE HAD A PINEHURST
COMMUNITY MEETING WITH CITY
LIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS A
PARTICULAR SECTION OF PINEHURST
THAT HAS -- BASICALLY THEIR
CABLES WERE INSTALLED, THEIR
UNDERGROUND CABLES, IN THE 1967
AND WE HAVE ONGOING POWER
OUTAGES AND PINEHURST SO THIS
WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
RESIDENTS TO SHARE THAT
INFORMATION AND TALK ABOUT
BETTER WAYS BASICALLY TO
ADVOCATE FOR MOVING THEM UP THE
LIST ON CABLE REPLACEMENT AND
TO TALK IN GENERAL ABOUT HOW TO
DO A BETTER JOB OF
COMMUNICATING FOR OUTAGES . I
ALSO ATTENDED THE MAPLE LEAF
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING AND
THERE WERE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ,
PARTICULARLY HOW IT IS GOING TO
AFFECT THE MAPLE LEAF COMMUNITY
AND ON SUNDAY, I ATTENDED THE
NORTHGATE LIBRARY CONNECTIONS
CAFE, WHERE THERE WERE THREE
PEOPLE. TWO OF THEM WE
RECRUITED FROM THE BOB FERGUSON
SHRIMP FEED.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE OFFERED TO HAVE DESSERT
IF THEY CAME TO MY EVENT, SO WE
DID GET TWO PEOPLE. I ATTENDED
THE ONE DAY OF SERVICE AT THE
RESERVOIR AND MY STAFF ATTENDED
LAKE CITY, SO WE HAD A PRETTY
GOOD SHOWING AT INDUSTRIAL
FRIDAY. AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.
THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. I HAVE TO
SAY I DO LEARN SO MUCH WHAT'S
GOING ON IN THE CITY LISTENING
TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR GETTING
OUT AND ABOUT AND DOING THINGS
AND ENGAGING . AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, THERE IS ONE ITEM ON
TOMORROW'S AGENDA FROM THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE,
COUNCIL BILL 120766 WHICH WOULD
STRENGTHEN EFFORTS TO RECRUIT
AND RETAIN POLICE OFFICERS IN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT .
THE COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE
BILL AT OUR MAY 9th MEETING.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE, MY COMMITTEE, IS
THIS THURSDAY, MAY 23rd AT 2:00
P.M. AND ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
ARE A PRESENTATION FROM THE
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE
FILM COMMISSION'S WORK THIS
PAST YEAR , WHAT THEIR
PRIORITIES ARE, HOW THEY HAVE
ORGANIZED THEIR WORK GOING
FORWARD, AND ALSO AT THE --
PIGGYBACKING ON THAT, FOUR
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE FILM
COMMISSION. THE FILM COMMISSION
HAS STAGGERED TENURES FOR
PEOPLE, SO SOME PEOPLE SURF ONE
YEAR, TWO YEARS, AND THREE
YEARS . THE FOLKS THAT HAVE
SERVED ONE YEAR ARE EAGER TO
RE-UP THEIR APPOINTMENT FOR
ANOTHER YEAR, SO COME TO THAT
OR LISTEN AND IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT'S
ON DECK FOR THE FILM COMMISSION
OR LEARN ABOUT THE
COMMISSIONERS. ALL RIGHT. LAST
WEDNESDAY I WAS PLEASED TO SEE
A GREAT SHOWING FROM COUNCIL AT
THE SPD'S HEADQUARTERS FOR THE
ANNUAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL
SERVICE MENTIONED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I LEARNED
THAT THIS SERVICE BEGAN UNDER
PRESIDENT KENNEDY TO HONOR
OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF
DUTY. AT THURSDAY'S KING
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING,
WE HAD THE SECOND OF TWO
BRIEFINGS ON THE COUNTY'S
RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID CRISIS
AND THIS ONE FEATURED A
PRESENTATION FROM A UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON RESEARCHER ON
EXISTING HARM REDUCTION
STRATEGIES AND SOME OF THE
THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND
SOME BEST PRACTICES. TO BE
BLUNT , I REMAIN CONCERNED THE
REGION'S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
MAY NOT BE MEETING URGENCY AT
THE MOMENT BUT THE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA , DID
SAY THE BRIEFING WAS TO INFORM
FUTURE NEXT STEPS SO I REMAIN
ENGAGED AND EAGER TO SEE
WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPE,
WHAT COULD BE ADDED TO THE WORK
PLAN THIS YEAR AND GOING
FORWARD ON THAT. LET'S SEE .
THERE WAS ALSO AT THAT SAME
MEETING A PRESENTATION ON STEPS
BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS GUN
VIOLENCE AS WELL. ON FRIDAY I
JOINED THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
POLICY COMMITTEE , WHICH
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE CRISIS
CARE LEVY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT FEELS
LIKE JOINING JUST FOR DESSERT ,
A WHOLE PROCESS THAT STARTED
WITH THE SEWING OF THE FIELD
FOR HARVESTING TO BE SERVED AT
THAT MEAL, SO I HAVE TO SAY
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF THE
PEOPLE, THE PARTICIPANTS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
STRENGTHENING THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, SO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT . I
JOINED BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER
WOO'S COMMITTEE WAS BEING HELD
AT THE SAME TIME. SATURDAY , I
WAS AT THE DAY OF SERVICE AS
WELL. I JOINED THE KICKOFF IN
PIONEER AND I JOINED A GROUP
THAT WAS STENCILING ABOVE THE
STORM DRAINS ON MAIN STREET .
BASICALLY SIGNALING DON'T
THROW ANYTHING DOWN THE STORM
DRAIN BECAUSE IT ALL GOES OUT
INTO THE SOUND. THE STENCILS
THAT DON'T SEEM VERY WELL DONE
THAT ARE A BIT BLURRY, THOSE
WERE DONE BY ME. I JOINED THE
GROUP DOING THE STREET THAT
WOULD SOON BE TORN UP FOR
RECONSTRUCTION, SO THERE WE
HAVE IT. THE DAMAGE WILL NOT
LAST LONG. IN ANY CASE, I AM
NEW TO GRAFFITI. SO, LAST WEEK
-- OH, YES. LAST WEEK I WAS
PLEASED TO GET TO KNOW OUR
INTERIM CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR A
LITTLE BIT BETTER , JAMIE
CARNELL . SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE
CITY FOR A LONG TIME IN THAT
POSITION AND IN A SEPARATE
MEETING, I MET OUR NEW
DIRECTOR. YOU WILL HEAR MORE
ABOUT HER AS THE CONFIRMATION
PROCESS GOES FORWARD BUT I
SHARED WITH THE DIRECTOR THAT
ONE OF MY PRIORITIES IS TO
REVISE OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
SO THAT IT IS A MORE USEFUL
TOOL FOR LEGISLATURES AND THEIR
STAFF DURING SESSION. OUR
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS 16 PAGES
. IT IS BASICALLY A LIST OF
POLICIES WE SUPPORT AND THAT IS
GOOD BUT IT DOESN'T SERVE AS A
-- IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN
WITHOUT WHEN YOU'RE RUSHING
INTO MEETING TO KNOW WHERE
SEATTLE IS ON XY OR Z, SO
HOPEFULLY THAT WORK WILL START
SOON AND I THINK THEY WILL SOON
BE MEMBERS OF HER STAFF WILL BE
DOING THE ROUNDS OF
COUNCILMEMBERS TO FIND OUT WHAT
YOUR PRIORITIES ARE WELL IN
ADVANCE OF HAVING TO FINALIZE
THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR NEXT
YEAR'S SESSION, SO BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR THAT. I GOT THE
IMPRESSION THE EXECUTIVE IS
ALSO VERY -- IS LOOKING FORWARD
TO REDOING THE LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA AS WELL, SO THERE IS
PARTNERSHIP ON DECK. LET'S SEE
. I LOOK FORWARD TO -- WELL,
NEVERMIND. COMING UP THIS WEEK
, ONE OF MY MEMBERS OF STAFF
WILL BE MEETING WITH CASCADE
BICYCLE CLUB . I'M SURE WE ARE
ALL GETTING A LOT OF
INVITATIONS FOR MEETINGS AS WE
ARE ALL LOOKING AT THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY PLAN
PROPOSAL AND WE WILL BE
SWITCHING OFF MEETING WITH
CONSTITUENCIES GOING FORWARD.
ON WEDNESDAY I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE 2024 SEAFAIR
MILITARY BREAKFAST . I WILL SEE
YOU THERE. GET THERE EARLY!
YES, INDEED . ON THURSDAY I
WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN
INTERVIEWS WITH THE FINALISTS
IN A SEARCH FOR THE NEW CEO FOR
KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY. I THINK
IT'S 45 MINUTES EACH FOR EACH
OF THE FINALISTS . AND THEN
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST --
WELL, NOT THE BEST, BUT THE
MOST INTERNAL PIECE OF NEWS.
TOMORROW CENTENNIAL WILL BE
JOINING THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT AS OUR NEW HR
MANAGER. IF YOU RECALL, WHEN
OUR LONGTIME FINANCE AND HR
DIVISION DIRECTOR KAREN JACKSON
RETIRED, JUSTIN, THE HEAD OF
FINANCE, ASSUMED THE HEAD OF
THAT DIVISION AND THE SEARCH
WAS CONDUCTED FOR SOMEBODY TO
THEN PROVIDE THE HR SPECIALTY
FUNCTIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT
AND SHE -- THAT WAS A LONG ,
EXHAUSTING PROCESS. SHE WILL BE
JOINING US -- WELL, TOMORROW.
SAY HELLO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE
IN OFFICE WHEN SHE COMES ON BY.
SHE COMES FROM THE MUNICIPAL
COURT, WHERE SHE SERVED AS THE
HR DIRECTOR AND WE ARE EXCITED
TO WELCOME HER TO OUR TEAM
HERE. AND FINALLY , A REMINDER
WE WILL NOT HAVE COUNCIL
BRIEFING NEXT WEEK BECAUSE IT
IS MEMORIAL DAY SO I HOPE
EVERYONE HAS A HAPPY AND SOLEMN
HOLIDAY. WITH THAT , IS THERE
ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US?
GO AHEAD .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. I JUST -- YOU ASKED A GREAT
QUESTION OF ME EARLIER AND I
PROVIDED AN INITIAL COMMENT AND
IT SPARKED IN ME TWO ADDITIONAL
FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS ABOUT THE
SCHEDULE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY, OUR DELIBERATIONS , AND
DISCUSSIONS THERE. I MENTIONED
WE HAVE -- WHICH IS TRUE -- WE
ARE STILL FINALIZING THE
SCHEDULE, BUT MY COMMITMENT TO
YOU ALL AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC IS, YOU KNOW, LATER THIS
WEEK, WE WILL FORMERLY RELEASE
AND FINALIZE THE RELEASE OF THE
REMAINING HIGH LEVEL WHAT WE
EXPECT TO HAPPEN AT EACH OF
THOSE SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS. THE
FIRST TWO OBVIOUSLY ARE ALREADY
SET ON THE CALENDAR AND IN THE
SCHEDULE, SO JUST OUT OF
TRANSPARENCY, WE WANT TO SHARE
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. IF YOU
KNOW ME, WORKING WITH ME
OFF-LINE, THERE IS NOTHING
ABOUT ME OR WHAT WE ARE DOING
THAT IS SHOOTING FROM THE HIP.
BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT WE BE
TRANSPARENT AS WELL, SO GREAT
QUESTION AND MY COMMITMENT TO
YOU IS WE WILL FINALIZE THAT AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE THIS WEEK. ALL
RIGHT? SO STAY TUNED. ALSO , A
GOOD , FRIENDLY REMINDER AND
PLUG . IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY,
I KNOW WE ALL HAVE A GAZILLION
THINGS GOING ON, BUT PLEASE ,
COLLEAGUES, REACH OUT AND
COORDINATE AND CONNECT WITH AND
ENGAGE WITH OUR CENTRAL STAFF
EXPERTS ON THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY AND IF YOU HAVEN'T
ALREADY, GET BRIEFINGS FROM
THEM, WORK WITH THEM. START
DOING SO NOW, RATHER THAN, YOU
KNOW, THE NEXT MEETING WHEN IT
IS MORE SUBSTANCE. ACTIONS AND
DECISIONS ON OUR END. START
TEEING OFF THAT PROCESS NOW IF
YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY BECAUSE
THIS NEXT SIX WEEKS -- THE
DEADLINE, BY THE WAY, IS A KING
COUNTY IMPOSED DEADLINE, NOT
OUR OWN INTERNAL THING. IF WE
WANT TO RENEW THIS AND GET IT
BEFORE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER UNDER
THE COUNTY'S DEADLINE AND
PLAN, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT .
WHENEVER THE LAST MEETING IS,
THAT IS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY.
THE NEXT SIX WEEKS WILL COME UP
QUICK . I APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP OFF-LINE IN THESE
ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS AND
SHARING YOUR FEEDBACK AND
PRIORITIES, STAYING ENGAGED.
PLEASE DO CONNECT AND CONTINUE
TO CONNECT WITH OUR CENTRAL
STAFF EXPERTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU HOLDING US TO
THE TASK AT HAND. OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. IF
THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
WE WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, AS PRESIDING OFFICER,
I AM ANNOUNCING THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS
PENDING, POTENTIAL, OR ACTUAL
LITIGATION. THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS WITH
THE CITY ATTORNEY AS AUTHORIZED
BY LAW AND A LEGAL MONITOR FROM
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS
PRESENT TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL
RESERVES QUESTIONS OF POLICY
FOR OPEN SESSION. I EXPECT THE
TIME OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
TO END BY -- LET'S SEE . 3:45
. IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS
TO BE EXTENDED BEYOND THAT
TIME, I WILL ANNOUNCE THE
EXTENSION AND THE EXPECTED
DURATION AT THE CONCLUSION OF
THIS MEETING AND WE WILL
ADJOURN. THE NEXT REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING IS ON JUNE
3rd, 2024 AT 2:00 P.M. THE
COUNCIL IS NOW IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION. COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE
LOG ON . THANK YOU SO MUCH,
EVERYBODY.