>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY IS
AUGUST 12, 2024 AND THE COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER . THE TIME IS 2:01. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION , THE
MINUTES OF AUGUST 5th, 2024
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE,
THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED. SO,
COLLEAGUES, IT IS WITH PROFOUND
SADNESS THAT I'M SURE MANY OF
YOU SHARE THAT I MUST RECOGNIZE
THE PASSING OF DEAR TAMRA
MURPHY , THE OWNER AND CHEF OF
TERRA PLATA WHO DIED YESTERDAY
OF A MASSIVE STROKE . YOU KNOW,
THE PAPERS LIST HER MANY
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AMONG WHICH ARE
WINNING THE JAMES BEARD AWARD
IN 1995, BEING NAMED BEST NEW
CHEF , COMPETING ON IRON CHEF,
ET CETERA. YOU CAN READ HER
FULL LIST OF TRAILBLAZING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS THERE, BUT MANY
OF US APPRECIATE HER AS JUST A
WARM AND INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGING
HUMAN BEING WHO JUST SEEMED TO
ALWAYS BE READY TO ENCOURAGE
HER COLLEAGUES IN THE WORLD OF
HOSPITALITY AND HER FRIENDS AND
ACQUAINTANCES WHENEVER SHE WAS
OUT AND ABOUT AND AND SHE
WASN'T AT THE RESTAURANTS,
THAT IS WHERE SHE WAS . I WILL
SKIP THE AWKWARD MOMENT OF
SILENCE AND SAY MY HEART GOES
OUT TO HER LIFELONG PARTNER ,
LINDA, AND THEIR EXTENDED
CIRCLE OF REALLY CLOSE FRIENDS
AND EXTENDED FRIENDS AND ALSO
PATRIOTS IN THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY TO SAY I AM REALLY
SORRY FOR ANOTHER LOSS TO OUR
CITY AND TO THEM AND TO US ALL.
ALL RIGHT. TODAY WE HAVE ONE
PRESENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF
THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
CHAIR. WE WILL HAVE A BUDGET
PROCESS PREVIEW FROM PALTROW
CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTOR BEN
NOBLE. THIS ITEM WAS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA AT THE LAST SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING, SO
FOLKS CAN ACCESS THAT
PRESENTATION THERE AS WELL. SO,
THAT WILL BE THE FIRST ITEM ON
OUR AGENDA AND WHEN IT COMES TO
TOMORROW 'S FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA , I WANT TO NOTE THAT --
PAUSE . LET ME BACK UP. AT THE
END OF THIS MEETING, AFTER THE
ROUND ROBIN, WE WILL CONVENE IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION FOLLOWING
LAST WEEK'S 7-1 VOTE AND ONE
ABSTENTION TO PLACE INITIATIVE
137 ON THE BALLOT UNTIL
POTENTIAL LEGAL QUESTIONS CAN
BE ADDRESSED AND ANSWERED .
THAT RESOLUTION HAD BEEN
SCHEDULED FOR AN ACCELERATED
VOTE IN AUGUST 6th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING TO MEET AUGUST 6th
DEADLINE FOR THE NOVEMBER
ELECTION. UNDER CITY CHARTER,
ONCE THESE CERTIFICATE OF
SUFFICIENCY IS FILED, CITY
COUNCIL HAS 45 DAYS TO, ONE,
ADOPT THE MEASURE, TWO, SEND
THE MEASURE TO VOTERS, OR
THREE, SEND THE MEASURE AND AN
ALTERNATIVE AND THAT 45 DAY
CLOCK BEGAN ON AUGUST 7th.
UNTIL THEN THE CITY CHARTER
REQUIRES COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
INITIATIVES EACH CITY COUNCIL
MEETING BEFORE TAKING ACTION ON
OTHER BUSINESS AND ALSO WE HAVE
TO DO THAT UNTIL WE TAKE FINAL
ACTION AND THAT WOULD BE ONE OF
THE THREE THAT I LISTED ABOVE .
THAT IS WHY YOU WILL SEE
INITIATIVE 137 ON TOMORROW'S
AGENDA BEFORE THE CONSENT
CALENDAR AND IT IS LISTED AS A
PLACEHOLDER . THIS IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE PROCESS WE
USED IN 2022 BEFORE SENDING
INITIATIVE 134, APPROVAL OF
VOTING INITIATIVE, ALONG WITH
THE BALLOT AND ALTERNATIVE .
THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE A VOTE
AT ANY TIME . SO, IF YOU
RECALL, IF YOU WERE AROUND OR
WATCHING THE PROCEEDINGS AT
THAT TIME, THE INITIATIVE WAS
LISTED ON THE AGENDA FOR THREE
MEETINGS BEFORE WE FINALLY
VOTED . AND SO, IN CASE THERE
IS NO CONFUSION, I WANT TO NOTE
IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO TAKE
MULTIPLE LEAKS BEFORE ACTING
AND AS PER LAST WEEK, GIVEN THE
TIMING OF WHEN THE SIGNATURES
WERE GATHERED AND VERIFIED , WE
WERE FACED WITH AN
EXTRAORDINARILY EXPEDITED
TIMELINE TO SEND THE INITIATIVE
TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT BUT WE
DID TRY. COUNCIL TOOK THE
UNUSUAL STEP OF SCHEDULING A
VOTE THE DAY IT WAS INTRODUCED
BEFORE THE 45 DAY COUNT ON FOR
COUNCIL ACTION HAD EVEN BEGUN
AND PUBLIC COMMENT WAS OMITTED
SO THE VOTE COULD OCCUR IN TIME
FOR STAFF TO GET THE RESULTS TO
KING COUNTY ELECTIONS BEFORE
CLOSING BUSINESS. BUT WHEN THE
QUESTION OF POTENTIAL LEGAL
ISSUES AROSE DURING THE
MEETING, SEVEN OUT OF NINE OF
US FELT FURTHER CONSIDERATION
WAS NEEDED BEFORE PROCEEDING
AND IT IS OUR DUTY AND OUR JOB
TO PERFORM OUR DUE DILIGENCE
AND AS I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE UPROOTED -- ALLUDED TO .
THAT IS WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE
SESSION AT THE END OF THIS
MEETING AND WHY THE CLERK FILE
IS LISTED BEFORE ANY OTHER
ITEMS OF BUSINESS INSTEAD OF AT
THE TOP OF WHEN WE START VOTING
ON INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. ALL RIGHT,
MOVING ON TO TOMORROW'S CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA, THERE ARE MANY
ITEMS ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR. INCLUDING
THE WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT
ORDINANCE AND I WILL REPEAT --
I THINK -- LET'S SEE. I AM
MISSING THE OTHER ITEMS ON THAT
AGENDA , SO I WILL RETURN TO
THAT. THE CONSENT CALENDAR
INCLUDES WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT
ORDINANCE AND 12 APPOINTMENTS
AND REAPPOINTMENTS INCLUDING 11
TO THE SEATTLE PLANNING
COMMISSION AND ONE TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL REVIEW
DISTRICT BOARD . THERE ARE FIVE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION FROM
INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES .
RESOLUTION 32138 APPROVING CITY
LIGHTS INTEGRATED RESOURCE
PLAN. COUNCIL BILL 120826
ALLOWING SDOT TO ACCEPT GRANTS
. A PACKAGE OF THREE BUDGET
RELATED BILLS. 120811, 120812 ,
120813 INCLUDING THE MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL WE PASSED OUT OF
THIS BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST WEEK
. SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO , I
WILL ASK DIRECTOR NOBLE TO
BEGIN HIS PRESENTATION .
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE
SESSION AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE
10 CONSTRAINTS ON CERTAIN
COUNTIES, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
SURE WE ALLOW HIM TO GET
THROUGH HIS PRESENTATION BEFORE
ASKING QUESTIONS AND IF THERE
ARE MANY QUESTIONS WE NEED
THOSE BE ASKED OFF-LINE. SO,
DIRECTOR NOBLE, PLEASE PROCEED
.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN,
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
THAT THE END OF THIS OR MEET IN
YOUR OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE
DETAILS. AS WE MOVE INTO THE
BUDGET PROCESS, WE WILL BE
REACHING OUT A GOOD DEAL, I
WOULD GUESS. AS DESCRIBED THIS
IS A FIRST ATTEMPT TO GIVE YOU
A SENSE AT THE BUDGET PROCESS
THAT WILL KICK OFF AT THE END
OF SEPTEMBER. IT IS A BIG BODY
OF YOUR WORK AND IT IS WORTH
TAKING A FEW MOMENTS TO GET A
SENSE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE . I
WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF STEPS
BACK AND TALK AT A HIGH LEVEL
ABOUT YOUR ROLE AND LEGAL
CONSTRAINTS. THAT MIGHT SEE
BASIC, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
. AS YOU MOVE TO EXERCISE YOUR
POWER, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELVES
RUBBING UP AGAINST THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND
THE EXECUTIVE AND BETWEEN YOUR
RELATIVE AUTHORITY TO RESPECT
TO THE STATE AND I THINK THOSE
THINGS ARE WORTH NOTING AND
EXPLORING A LITTLE BIT . SORRY,
I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MAKE THIS THING MOVE DOWN. I
APOLOGIZE. SO, OUTLINE THERE
AGAIN, I WILL TALK ABOUT ROLES
AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK, THE BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS REALLY FROM
THE EXECUTIVE AS WELL AS THE
COUNCIL SIDE YOU CAN SEE THE
FULL YEAR LAID OUT TO GIVE YOU
A SENSE OF WHERE YOU ALL FIT IN
AND THE MEAT OF THIS IS TO TALK
ABOUT THE FALL BUDGET PROCESS
FOR COUNCIL ITSELF. IN TERMS OF
LEGAL FRAMEWORK , THE ACTUAL
CALENDAR OF THE CITY'S BUDGET
PROCESS IS SET OUT IN STATE LAW
. RCW RELATES TO CITIES OF MORE
THAN 400,000, IF YOU WILL . IT
SPECIFIES THE MAYOR HAS TO
DELIVER THE BUDGET 90 DAYS
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR
WHICH BY TRADITION HAS BEEN THE
LAST FULL COUNCIL MEETING OF
SEPTEMBER SO THIS YEAR WILL BE
SEPTEMBER 24th. YOU ALL HAVE 60
DAYS TO DELIBERATE AND TO TAKE
FINAL ACTION AND I WILL WALK
YOU THROUGH THE CALENDAR . THE
GOAL IS YOU WILL TAKE FINAL
ACTION -- I HAVE NOT DONE THE
COUNTING. BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
NOT UNTIL THE VERY LAST DAY OF
NOVEMBER BUT THAT IS
ESSENTIALLY THE TIMELINE AND 30
DAYS TO TAKE EFFECT. FROM THE
STATE SIDE A COUPLE OF
CONSTRAINTS FOR THE OVERALL RCW
TO SET OUT THIS PROCESS. THE
BUDGET MUST BE BALANCED. BOTH
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
AND THE BUDGET YOU ADOPT AND
WHEN WE SAY BALANCED , IT IS
BALANCED AGAINST THE REVENUE
FORECAST. NONE OF US KNOW TODAY
HOW MUCH MONEY THE CITY WILL
HAVE IN 2025. WE DO NOT KNOW
HOW MUCH THE CITY WILL END UP
WITH IN 2024 EITHER . YOU ARE
BALANCING THE FORECAST AND THAT
FORECAST BECOMES REALLY
IMPORTANT . THAT IS WHY YOU ALL
GOT BRIEFED AT THE LAST BUDGET
MEETING ABOUT THAT FORECAST AND
WHY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
COUNCIL MADE THE MOVE TO PULL
IT FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE AND
SET IT UP AS AN INDEPENDENT
ENTITY WHICH I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS . IT IS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT PIECE. IF YOU ARE
BALANCING THE FORECAST , IT
MATTERS A LOT. THERE IS ONE
MORE UPDATE THAT WILL IMPACT
THIS PROCESS. ADDITIONAL
CONSTRAINTS ON YOU ALL, THE
REQUIREMENT FOR TWO PUBLIC
MEETINGS AND THOSE ARE ALREADY
ON THE CALENDAR AS EVENING
MEETINGS. BEYOND THAT , THERE
ARE NOT A WHOLE LOT OF
CONSTRAINTS . THERE ARE,
HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL CONSTRAINTS
THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT AND WE
WILL TALK ABOUT HERE . FIRST OF
ALL, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE
POWER OF THE PURSE AND YOUR
POWER TO APPROPRIATE MONEY. NO
MONEY GETS SPENT IN THE CITY IF
YOU HAVE NOT APPROVED IT AND
THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT THE
BUDGET PROCESS IS ALL ABOUT
HERE AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE
CONSTRAINTS ON THAT AUTHORITY
AND PROBABLY THE MOST DIRECT
ONE THAT YOU ALL FACE ON MAYBE
A REGULAR BASIS OR AN
OCCASIONAL BASIS, PERHAPS, YOU
CANNOT COMPELLED TO SPEND
MONEY. YOU CAN'T ALLOT MONEY
FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE BUT IF
IT'S CHOSEN TO NOT BE SPENT ON
THAT PURPOSE, IT GOES UNSPENT.
WE WILL TALK IN A MOMENT ON
PROVISOS THAT CAN FURTHER THAT
RESTRAINT BUT THAT BECOMES --
IN THE END -- A COUPLE OF
DECADES IN THE CITY, I'VE
RARELY SEEN THAT COME TO REAL
CONFLICT, BUT IT CAN AND IT'S
ONE OF THE REASONS HAVING THE
EXECUTIVES WORKING WHENEVER
POSSIBLE IN COLLABORATION MAKE
SENSE . NOT TO PRESS THAT TOO
HARD, IF YOU WILL. IN TERMS OF
CONSTRAINTS THERE ARE THINGS
YOU CAN DO TO PUSH THE
EXECUTIVE AND MAKE THE POWER OF
THE PURSE A LITTLE MORE STRONG.
PROVISOS THAT COME TO MIND,
SOME MORE FORCEFUL TOOLS YOU
HAVE. IN THE EXAMPLE OF JUST
PUTTING UP THE BUDGET AND YOU
HAVE PERHAPS A CONCERN THE
EXECUTIVE MIGHT NOT BE
MOTIVATED TO SPEND IT, THEY
DON'T SHARE THAT POLICY
PREROGATIVE, ONE THING YOU CAN
DO IS PROPOSE A PROVISO THAT
SAYS VERY CLEARLY IF THE MAYOR
DOES NOT SPEND IT ON THIS, HE
OR SHE CAN'T SPEND IT ON
ANYTHING ELSE WHICH MEANS AT
THE END OF THE YEAR IT WILL
REMAIN AVAILABLE TO SPEND THE
FOLLOWING YEAR BUT USING
SOMETHING THEY CAN DEPLOY IN
THE CURRENT YEAR . THAT CREATES
AN EXTRA INCENTIVE TO COMPLY
WITH YOUR REQUEST TO SPEND. I
PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PREVIEWED
THIS BY SAYING IN GENERAL , AND
I WILL FINISH THIS AS I SHOW
YOU THE BUDGET IN CLEARER
DETAIL, WHEN YOU APPROPRIATE
MONEY TO THE CITY DEPARTMENTS
YOU DO SO IN WAYS WITH
SIGNIFICANT FLEXIBILITY. AND
REALLY OUT OF NECESSITY, IF YOU
WILL. THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS
FOR THE CITY ARE VERY HARD TO
FORECAST A FEW YEARS OUT, SO
YOU WILL, FOR INSTANCE, SDOT
HAS A BUDGET DIVIDED INTO
CATEGORIES THAT WE CALL BUDGET
CONTROL LEVELS THAT DESCRIBE A
SET OF ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE
DONE WITH THE MONEY YOU HAVE
APPROPRIATED. THOSE
DESCRIPTIONS ARE CANDIDLY
PRETTY BROAD . THEY ALLOW SDOT
TO DO A LOT OF THINGS WITHIN
THE ALLOCATION OF MONEY BECAUSE
WITHIN A GIVEN YEAR THINGS ARE
MOVING AROUND A GOOD DEAL AND
YOU ALL ARE VERY BUSY AND YOU
COME BACK EVERY TIME TO ASK
PERMISSION FOR SOME SMALL
ADJUSTMENTS. THAT IS NOT
REALISTIC. BUT THE COUNTER TO
THAT IS TO DO THINGS LIKE
PROPOSE THE PROVISO AND DO
THINGS YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT .
WE WILL END UP WORKING WITH YOU
AND EXPLAIN THAT MORE AS WE GO
AS WELL, BUT THAT IS WHERE THE
BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN YOU
AND THE EXECUTIVE GETS EXPLORED
SOME AND YOU RUB AGAINST
PERHAPS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
ANOTHER CONSTRAINT IS ON ACTUAL
REVENUES . THE CITY'S TAXING
AUTHORITY IS LARGELY SET UP IN
STATE LAW . IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN RAISING
ADDITIONAL REVENUES IN
PARTICULAR AREAS WE MAY WELL BE
CONSTRAINING THE ABILITY TO DO
THAT. EXAMPLE, AND I'M NOT
SUGGESTING YOU ALL ARE
INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THESE
THINGS BUT THESE ARE USEFUL
EXAMPLES. YOU CANNOT
UNILATERALLY CHANGE THE SALES
TAX RATE CHARGED IN THE CITY
THAT IS SET . MAXIMUM RATES ARE
SET IN STATE CODE. SIMILARLY
THE BUSINESS OCCUPATION TAX IS
ALSO SET IN STATE CODE AND WE
ARE AT THEM IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, SO THOSE ARE
CONSTRAINTS YOU FACE AS WELL.
WE WILL WORK WITH YOU AND
EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES ON THE
REVENUE SIDE, BUT KNOW THAT IT
IS NOT WITH COMPLETE FREEDOM AS
WE WORK WITHIN THAT SPACE. AND
THIS LAST ONE IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO EMPHASIZE PARTICULARLY IN
CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET. THERE IS
A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL
PROHIBITION ON PUBLIC FUNDS.
THAT CONSTRAINS THE CITY'S
ABILITY TO GIVE MONEY TO
INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
ENTITIES . A COUNTEREXAMPLE TO
MAKE THIS POINT, DURING COVID ,
THE CITY HELPED ADMINISTER A
GOOD DEAL OF MONEY ADMINISTERED
TO SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP
THEM MANAGE THAT PROCESS AND WE
WERE WRITING CHECKS TO
INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES. YOU
MIGHT ASK HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE?
THE ANSWER IS IT WAS WITH
FEDERAL MONEY. WE WERE USING
COVID DOLLARS TO DO THAT
BECAUSE WE FACED THIS
CONSTRAINT . WE COULD NOT USE
ANY MONEY THAT WAS THE CITY'S
MONEY, IF YOU WILL . IT WAS A
STATE PROHIBITION. DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS, YOU WILL
RECEIVE A REQUEST FROM I AM
SUSPECTING INDIVIDUALLY LOTS OF
FOLKS LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FOR
REALLY GOOD CAUSES AND TO
ADDRESS REALLY PENDING AND
DIFFICULT ISSUES BUT YOU DO
FACE THIS CONSTRAINT. THERE ARE
SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO DIRECT
MONEY FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
THAT ARE PERHAPS REALISTICALLY
OWING -- ONLY GOING TO BE
DELIVERED BY CERTAIN ENTITIES .
WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT
BUT UNDERLYING IT IS THIS STATE
PROHIBITION AND YOU WILL SEE
OLD BUDGET DOCUMENTS REFERENCES
TO THE FACT EXECUTIVES
REQUESTED AN AGREEMENT FOR
PUBLIC SERVICES THAT WOULD
ADDRESS WHATEVER PARTICULAR WAS
OF INTEREST . AGAIN, AN
IMPORTANT CONSTRAINT ON YOUR
ACTIVITIES. I WILL JUST TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUDGET
PROCESS AND THIS IS BACKGROUND
FOR YOU THAT YOU ALL
SIGNIFICANTLY ENGAGE THE BUDGET
FOR FULL TIME, IF YOU WILL, FOR
THE BETTER PART OF OCTOBER AND
NOVEMBER. ON THE EXECUTIVE
SIDE, WORK HAS BEEN UNDERWAY
SINCE MARCH AND IN SOME WAYS,
SINCE FEBRUARY. SEVERAL YEARS
PROCESS ON THE SIDE. THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR, DEPARTMENTS RESPOND
TO CBO DIRECTION ABOUT
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE BUDGET
. THIS YEAR CHANGES FOCUSED ON
REDUCTIONS GIVEN THE SCALE OF
THE DEFICIT BUT I CAN ASSURE
YOU DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE
PROPOSALS FOR INCREASES AS WELL
BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE
IDENTIFIED SOME ESSENTIAL NEED
THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. IN
JUNE , JULY, AUGUST, AND
PARTICULARLY JULY AND AUGUST,
THOSE SHARES ARE BROUGHT
FORWARD TO THE MAYOR . FIRST TO
THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, THEN THE
MAYOR TO MAKE DECISIONS. IT IS
USUALLY DONE IN TWO WAVES, ONE
IN JULY AHEAD OF THE FORECAST
WHERE PRELIMINARY DECISIONS ARE
MADE AND THE SECOND WAVE ,
ABOUT NOW, AFTER THE FORECAST
HAS BEEN DELIVERED BECAUSE IT
WILL BE BALANCED TO THE REVENUE
FORECAST YOU SAW LAST WEEK SO
THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO MAKE
FINAL DECISIONS. ALL OF THE
INFORMATION ON THE REVENUE SIDE
THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THEM
IS NOW AVAILABLE. BUDGET IS
THEN SUBMITTED AND TRANSMITTED
TO YOU LATE SEPTEMBER AND YOUR
REVIEW PROCESS BEGINS. THE
REMAINDER OF THAT PRESENTATION
WILL FOCUS ON THE PROCESS. THIS
IS THE CALENDAR. WE CIRCULATED
THIS AND UPDATED SLIGHTLY TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PART OF THE
DAY FOR DEVELOPING POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS , BUT RATHER THAN
FOCUS ON THE CALENDAR, I WANT
TO PROPOSE THIS BY TALKING
THROUGH WHAT'S GOING ON OVER
THE COURSE OF THAT CALENDAR.
KEEP IN MIND I WILL DESCRIBE
SIX STEPS WITHIN THE PROCESS.
STEP ONE IS THE DELIVERY AND
THE BUDGET. STEPS TWO, THREE ,
AND FOUR, YOUR DELIBERATIONS
AND STEP FIVE, YOUR FINAL
ACTION. AGAIN, I WILL SAY
LITTLE MORE ABOUT EACH OF
THESE. STEP ONE, THE MAYOR
DELIVERING HIS PROPOSED BUDGET
, WHICH WILL HAPPEN ON THE
24th. ONE THING I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT, YOU WILL GET A
DOCUMENT. IT IS NOT THE MOST
ENGAGING DOCUMENT. IT IS MUCH
MORE TECHNICAL THAN IT IS
DESCRIPTIVE. THERE ARE SECTIONS
AT THE FRONT END, AN
INTRODUCTION WE DESCRIBED KIND
OF THE OVERALL PERSPECTIVE OF
THE MAYOR ON THE BUDGET AND AT
A HIGH LEVEL, WHAT CHANGES HAVE
BEEN MADE BUT THEN IT GOES
DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT . IT
IS DIFFICULT TO TRACK . WE WILL
HELP YOU DO THAT. THAT IS NOT
THE ONLY THING WE GET.
MATERIALS USED ON THE SIDE TO
DEVELOP THE BUDGET, SO UNTIL
THE 24th, THE WORK THE
EXECUTIVE IS DOING IS A
DELIBERATIVE PROCESS AND
THEREFORE NOT PUBLIC . ONCE
THEY DELIVER THE BUDGET TO YOU,
THAT DELIBERATIVE PROCESS
EXEMPTION AND , SO WE HAVE
ACCESS TO THE MATERIALS THEY
WERE USING A PROCESSING. THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING THIS YEAR,
YOU WILL SEE THE DEPARTMENTS
WILL HAVE SUBMITTED CUTS .
PARTICULARLY HEAVY ON THE CUT
SIDE . ONLY ONE SUBSET OF THOSE
WILL MAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET.
PRESUMABLY FOR GOOD REASON.
SOME OF THOSE CUTS WILL BE
DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY
UNPLEASANT BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE, BOTH
ACCEPTED AND REJECTED. WE WILL
BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU .
THERE IS INTEREST IN EXPLORING
THOSE THAT WERE REJECTED . IT
IS MORE THAN JUST A BUDGET
DOCUMENT THAT WE GET AT THAT
POINT. WE ON THE CENTRAL STAFF
SIDE ACTUALLY THIS WEEK ARE
PREPARING SOME INITIAL
QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL DELIVER
NOW AND THE ANSWERS TO THOSE
WILL COME BACK TO US AS THE
BUDGET IS DELIVERED SINCE YOU
HAVE GIVEN US A JUMPSTART ON
THE PROCESS. WE ARE ALREADY
LINING UP FOR THAT . THERE IS A
FORMALITY IN ORDER TO MANAGE
THAT GIVE AND TAKE BECAUSE YOU
ALL -- WE ARE SENDING OVER LOTS
OF QUESTIONS AND WORKING ON A
PROTOCOL TO TRY TO TURN THEM
AROUND QUICKLY . WE WILL ASK
YOU NOT TO PICK UP THE PHONE OR
DROP INTO YOUR EMAIL AND
QUESTION TO YOUR FAVORITE
DEPARTMENT HEAD, RATHER WORK
THROUGH US EVERY EXTENT
POSSIBLE SO WE ARE ABLE TO
MANAGE THE FLOW OF INFORMATION
TO THE COLLECTIVELY. WITHOUT
THAT THE SYSTEM GETS CLOGGED UP
PRETTY FAST. EFFICIENCY ON BOTH
SIDES BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT.
SO, AND THEN IN THAT SAME TIME
PERIOD, THE INITIAL THINGS
CENTRAL STAFF IS DOING IS
READING A DOCUMENT AND
IDENTIFYING ISSUES, TALKING TO
YOU AND YOUR STAFF THAT YOU SEE
THAT ARE OF CONCERN. AS THE
PROCESS CONTINUES, WE WILL GO
BACK AND DESCRIBE SOME OF THAT
TO YOU. INSTEP TWO, ONE OF THE
FIRST THINGS THAT HAPPENS, THE
CBO DIRECTOR WILL COME GIVE YOU
A HIGH LEVEL OF REVIEW AND WALK
YOU THROUGH HIGHLIGHTS . THEN
WE WILL HAVE A SCHEDULE SET OF
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS . YOU
WILL SEE THEM ON THE CALENDAR.
WE HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHICH
DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT THE
SCHEDULE WILL LOOK LIKE BUT
THAT WILL DEPEND ON WHERE THE
ACTION IS, IF YOU WILL, WHERE
THE BIGGEST CHANGES ARE OR
AREN'T AND WE THINK THERE IS
BIGGEST EMPHASIS DUE, IF YOU
WILL. SO THAT IS A KEY PIECE .
THERE IS A WEEK OFF AND DURING
MID-OCTOBER, CENTRAL STAFF WILL
COME BACK SO THE EXECUTIVE GETS
A CUT OF THE PRESENTATIONS TO
YOU IN THE FIRST WEEK. WE COME
BACK ESSENTIALLY A WEEKEND A
HALF PLUS LATER TO GIVE YOU A
CENTRAL STAFF VIEW OF KEY
ISSUES THAT ARE THERE. THEY
MAKE INCLUDE SOME OF THE
CENTRAL STAFF HAVING REVIEWED
THE BUDGET HAVE IDENTIFIED AND
IT MAY REFLECT CONVERSATIONS
WITH YOU ABOUT THE KEY CONCERNS
OR ISSUES OR OPPORTUNITIES,
WHATEVER THEY MAY BE THAT YOU
HAVE NOTED . I THINK THAT WOULD
BE OF VALUE FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES
TO BE AWARE AS WELL. THAT IS
ESSENTIALLY A DISCUSSION OF THE
ISSUES AND GETTING A LAY OF THE
LAND . I WOULD DESCRIBE MY
EXPERIENCE , I THINK A LOT OF
IT IS -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS
PEELING AN ONION. ON MY SECOND
GRADE REPORT CARD, STUDENT
BENEFITS OF MATERIAL. AS YOU
READ IT ONCE AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN, YOU SLOWLY PICK UP
WHAT'S GOING ON AND THAT IS A
NATURAL PROCESS. OVER THE
COURSE OF THE FIRST COUPLE OF
WEEKS, EVEN THE THIRD WEEK ,
SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, YOU ARE
REALLY STARTING TO GET YOUR
HANDS ON WHAT'S THERE. THAT IS
NATURAL AND TO BE EXPECTED AND
PART OF THAT IS WHEN CENTRAL
STAFF BRINGS YOU THESE
PRESENTATIONS. A CRITICAL THING
THAT HAPPENS IN THAT SAME
MID-OCTOBER TIMEFRAME IS THE
REVENUE FORECAST UPDATE AND IN
SOME WAYS, THAT IS THE SECOND
STEP. THAT MARKS A SHIFT . WE
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH YOU
WHAT IS IN THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET, WHAT CHANGES
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.
THEN WE'VE GOT THIS REVENUE
FORECAST THAT IN SOME WAYS WILL
FORCE YOUR HAND ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER. CREATES OPPORTUNITIES
OR CHALLENGES . THE REVENUE
FORECAST IS AN UPDATE THAT
INCREASES THE REVENUES
AVAILABLE, THAT CREATES
OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE YOU WILL
UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE OR IS NOT
INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
OR CUTS THAT YOU COULD AVOID IF
YOU WANTED TO. ALTERNATIVELY IF
THE REVENUE FORECAST IS A
DOWNGRADE, THERE IS A
REDUCTION, THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
IS OUT OF BALANCE AND NEEDS TO
BE REBALANCED. AND THAT IS
SOMETHING WE WILL LEARN IN THAT
WEEK. AT LEAST THE NEXT BIG
STEP WHICH IS THE CHAIR 'S
BALANCING PACKAGE. DEPENDING ON
WHICH WAY THE FORECAST GOES,
THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESET OR THE
APPLICATION TO RESET , THE BASE
BUDGET FROM WHICH CHANGES WILL
BE MADE THROUGH YOUR PROCESS SO
THE LAST FEW YEARS , WE ARE
PLANNING THIS YEAR, THE IDEA IS
THAT IT WILL BE PRESENTED IN
HERE BASICALLY AT THE END OF
OCTOBER , AGAIN, INFORMED BY
THE REVENUE FORECAST THAT WILL
HAVE ARRIVED 10 TO 12 DAYS
BEFORE . NARROW WINDOW THERE TO
REFLECT THOSE CHANGES AND TO
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT
FRONT. AND THE CHAIR WILL IN
DEVELOPING THAT BALANCING
PACKAGE ISSUE IDENTIFICATION
AND BY CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH
OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL.
THEN WE WILL MOVE QUICKLY INTO
THE ELECTION IN EARLY NOVEMBER
AND THE BALANCING PACKAGE AND
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS FACING
DELIBERATIONS AND POTENTIAL
VOTE IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE
13th AND THE 15th . YOU CAN SEE
THE DETAILS ON YOUR CALENDAR ,
BUT PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENTS
ARE GOING TO BE DUE NOVEMBER
1st AT NOON . AGAIN, THESE ARE
NOT NECESSARILY FULLY FLEDGED
OUT PROPOSALS THAT WE CAN WORK
ON YOU -- WITH YOU TO REFINE.
WE'VE GOT THE 13th THROUGH THE
15th WINDOW TO DO THAT
REFINING. IT IS AN IMPORTANT
DEADLINE BECAUSE THERE WAS A
WHOLE LOT OF WORK GOING ON . I
AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ON THOSE. THEY ARE
DESIGNED TO STREAMLINE AND
FOCUS THIS PROCESS. FIRST ONE
WHO REACHES THAT DEADLINE. THE
SECOND OF WHICH IS SPONSORSHIP
FROM THREE COUNCILMEMBERS AND
PROPOSING FROM TWO OTHERS. THE
GOAL IS NOT TO LIMIT YOUR
OPTIONS BUT RATHER FOCUS ON
REALISTICALLY FOCUS ON ISSUES
THAT REALISTICALLY WILL MOVE
FORWARD AND ULTIMATELY THAT
WOULD REQUIRE AS MANY AS FIVE
VOTES SO THAT IS THE NOTION
THERE. AND THE OTHER THING ,
THEY HAVE TO BE SELF BALANCED .
THE CHAIR'S BALANCING PACKAGE
WILL BE BALANCED, HENCE THE
NAME, THE VARIATIONS WILL NEED
TO HAVE OFFSETTING REVENUES OR
AN OFFSETTING REDUCTION .
AGAIN, CENTRAL STAFF WILL WORK
WITH YOU ON THAT. I'VE
HIGHLIGHTED YOU HAVE PROPOSALS
BUT THERE ARE MEANINGFUL
OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO DEFINE
THE SELF BALANCING PROPOSAL.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, NOT ONLY IN
THIS TRAINING BUT IN TRAININGS
WITH YOUR LEGISLATIVE
ASSISTANCE SO THEY ARE ENGAGED
IN THIS PROCESS HELPING YOU
DEVELOP PROPOSALS AND WORKING
WITH US TO MAKE THEM COME TO
FRUITION IF YOU WILL. AGAIN,
THE IDEA IS YOU WILL THEN VOTE
ON THE BALANCING PACKAGE ON
NOVEMBER 14th AND 15th. PERHAPS
AS A COLLECTIVE YOU HAVE BEEN
THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
WHERE THERE WAS A BALANCING
PACKAGE AND AGAIN, DESCRIBED
HERE THOSE AMENDMENTS GET
ORGANIZED IN A RATIONAL WAY SO
YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH THEM IN
WAYS THAT WILL ANTICIPATE THE
NEXT STEPS AND STEPS TO FOLLOW,
IF YOU WILL. AND FINAL COUNCIL
ACTION IS SCHEDULED FOR
NOVEMBER 19th AND FOLLOWING THE
21st . THE 19th IS THE
COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY
AND THURSDAY, THE 21st WOULD BE
FINAL ACTION BY THE COUNCIL
ITSELF . WE WILL TAKE A BIT OF
TIME BETWEEN THE 15th AND THE
19th TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S
MATH IS RIGHT AND WE HAVE THIS
CORRECTLY . ALSO IF WE STAY ON
THIS TARGET , WE WILL BE DONE
BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND MEET
THE STATE REQUIREMENT OF
PASSING THIS BEFORE NOVEMBER .
SO WITH THAT , I AM OPEN FOR
QUESTIONS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
ATTENTION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? AM I
RECOGNIZED?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO THANK
YOU FOR HAVING THIS BRIEFING AT
THE COUNCIL BRIEFING. AS THE
CHAIR OF THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE I DID REQUEST THIS
WHICH, COLLEAGUES, FOR THE
RECORD, IS DIFFERENT THAN PAST
TIMES DIRECTOR NOBLE HAS COME
UP TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE
BUDGET. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
NOBLE. I WILL GIVE YOU SOME
HIGHLIGHTS AND THEN I WILL STOP
TALKING BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT
OF WORK TO GET TO TODAY. NUMBER
ONE, IF PATTY FROM CENTRAL
STAFF OR FROM A TEAM , IF YOU
REQUEST A MEETING FOR THE
BUDGET PROCESS, THERE IS A HIGH
LIKELIHOOD YOU WON'T TAKE THE
MEETING. MOSTLY FROM PATTY, BUT
ALSO FROM MY TEAM . WE ARE HERE
TO HELP AND IF WE ARE ASKING
FOR TIME THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR
PRIORITIES OR PROVIDE MORE OF A
ROADMAP TO WHERE WE ARE GOING
BECAUSE BEYOND WHAT DIRECTOR
NOBLE HAS PRESENTED WITH THE
CALENDAR , THERE ARE OTHER
INTERNAL DEADLINES WE WILL BE
TALKING THROUGH. I KNOW I
STARTED GETTING ON YOUR
CALENDARS RIGHT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET. VICE
CHAIR RIVERA, I THINK WE HAD
TIME ON THE CALENDAR TOGETHER
SO I WILL BE REQUESTING THAT
TIME. JUST ALSO NOTING LAST
WEEK'S MEETING WAS A DIET
VERSION OF WHAT WILL HAVE TO GO
INTO , SO WHEN WE ARE HAVING
ALL DAY MEETINGS AND THAT MEANS
THE MEETING STARTS AT 9:30 AND
IS SCHEDULED UNTIL 5:00 P.M.,
WE WILL TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO FOR
LUNCH . WITHIN THAT LUNCH, I'M
OFTEN HAVING MEETINGS WITH YOU
ALL OR OTHER PEOPLE, SO JUST
GETTING READY FOR THAT . I
TRADITIONALLY WILL TRY TO
SCHEDULE SOME BUFFER TIME LIKE
AT THE VERY END SO IF WE HAVE
RUN OVER WE HAVE TIME TO
ADDRESS WHAT IS GOING ON IN
THERE. SOMETIMES I DON'T HAVE
ANY SLIPPAGE ROOM , SO I WILL
BE REALLY CLEAR THAT IF WE ARE
RUNNING UP AGAINST A DEADLINE
AND THAT MEANS WE'LL HAVE TO
COME BACK THE NEXT DAY OR
SCHEDULE TIME THAT IS NOT
ALREADY ON YOUR CALENDAR WHICH
MIGHT DISRUPT YOUR CALENDAR OR
YOU MIGHT NOT BE AVAILABLE, WE
WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE
PROCEEDING AS DESIRED. IT IS A
REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
NOW AND BUDGET . RIGHT NOW, WE
HAVE TIME TO DO BRIEFINGS AHEAD
OF TIME SO THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO
GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND
THAT ALLOWS US TO STREAMLINE.
LAST WEEK WE WERE ABLE TO
STREAMLINE ANYWAYS BECAUSE
EVERYONE HAD RECEIVED THEIR
BRIEFINGS . ONCE WE ARE IN THE
FALL BUDGET CYCLE, THERE IS NOT
ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE
PRE-BRIEFINGS. WE WILL BE ALL
LIFE AND IN REAL-TIME . I SHARE
THAT AS A DIFFERENCE. AMENDMENT
IDEAS , ONCE WE START -- AND
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS. WE
START WITH DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATIONS AND MOVE INTO
CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS. THIS IS
YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE
EXECUTIVES AND DEPARTMENTS
DIRECTLY AND THE CBO , CITY
BUDGET OFFICE DIRECTOR ,
DIRECTLY ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE
SUPPORTING, WHAT YOU HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT , OR ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS. WE WILL BE FUNNELING
ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS THROUGH
BUDGET ANALYST FROM CENTRAL
STAFF AND DEPARTMENTS THROUGH A
PROCESS WE HAVE USED FOR MANY
YEARS. IN THE PAST , OUR
SHAREPOINT -- I DON'T KNOW IF
WE ARE CALLING IT TEAMS NOW .
TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED. ALL OF
THAT TO SAY THE INFORMATION
REQUESTS GATHERING ANSWERS ALL
STREAMLINED THROUGH A PROCESS.
WHICH MEANS THAT AS YOU ARE
SEEING THE FIRST ROUND OF
BUDGET PRESENTATIONS FROM
DEPARTMENTS, YOU CAN START
FLAGGING YOUR AMENDMENTS, YOUR
PRIORITIES AT THAT POINT
BECAUSE I KNOW THE DEADLINE IS
DELAYED WITH THE PROCESS BUT I
SUGGEST STARTING THE PROCESS OF
THINKING OF WHAT IS WORKING
WELL, WHAT IS NOT WORKING WELL
AS FAR AS PRIORITIES BECAUSE WE
WILL BE CHECKING IN ALL ALONG
THE WAY. I WILL END WITH I AM
HERE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU
. I SEE MYSELF AS JUST A
STEWARD OF THIS PROCESS. I AM
THE CHAIR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU THROUGH THIS
LONG, LONG PROCESS. DIRECTOR
NOBLE?
>> THE ONE THING I WANTED TO
ADD , I AM WORKING WITH -- YOUR
SCHEDULE IS SET UP AND I END OF
A -- INDIVIDUALLY MEET WITH YOU
ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF
SEPTEMBER. WE WILL TALK ABOUT
WHERE THINGS ARE HEADED,
PERHAPS, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
PROCESS. ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF
OCTOBER ONCE WE HAVE HAD BUDGET
PRESENTATIONS AND CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYSIS AND I GET A FEEL FROM
YOU ON WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES
ARE. AND AGAIN, BETWEEN THE
PROPOSED BALANCING PACKAGE AND
NEEDLESS TO SAY THROUGHOUT I
WILL BE AROUND MEETING WITH YOU
AND I WANT TO GET SOMETHING ON
THE CALENDAR WITH EACH OF YOU
AS WELL, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO
THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> LOOKING AROUND TO SEE IF
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. I WILL
REMIND FOLKS I DID RECEIVE A --
OH, I DO SEE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
. WE DID RECEIVE A HELPFUL TOOL
OF A BUDGET BREAKDOWN AND THAT
GIVES HISTORICAL DATA ON
DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS . DON'T
FORGET THAT RESOURCE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I SUPPOSE MY
QUESTION WOULD BE DIRECTED
TOWARDS YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS . WE
ARE ANTICIPATED TO HAVE A
NUMBER OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
COME GIVE BRIEFINGS ALONGSIDE
CBO . THAT WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO
DOUBLE-CLICK A BIT IF YOU WILL
UNCERTAIN PROGRAMS AND
INVESTMENTS MADE IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET AND ALL OF US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR
SUPPORT, ASK OUR QUESTIONS,
WILL THAT BE AN OPPORTUNITY OF
ALL DEPARTMENTS? LIKE, HOWEVER
MANY DEPARTMENTS THERE ARE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE? WHICH
ONES? WHAT IS THE SELECTION
PROCESS FOR DETERMINING WHICH
ONES WILL BE COMING TO GIVE A
BRIEFING ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. TO EXPAND ON THAT, IN THE
PAST THERE HAVE BEEN MANY
TYPICAL ROTATION OF SIMILAR
DEPARTMENTS. SEATTLE POLICE,
FIRE, TRANSPORTATION. STC I HAS
BEEN THERE. HSD . THIS IS ALL
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BY THE
WAY. WE DO HAVE A LIST. WE HAVE
A LIST FROM HOW IT HAS BEEN
DONE IN THE PAST. WE WILL
LIKELY STICK CLOSER TO THAT
SCHEDULE AND SO WE CAN
DOUBLE-CLICK ON THOSE BUT IF
YOU NEED TO RIGHT-CLICK ON THE
DEPARTMENT THAT IS NOT THERE ,
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO
USE CENTRAL STAFF WORKING WITH
THEIR BUDGET ANALYST BOTH IN
CBO AND IN THAT DEPARTMENT TO
ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. THAT IS
PART OF WHY WE UTILIZE CENTRAL
STAFF IN THAT WAY BECAUSE IF
FIVE OF US UP HERE HAVE THIS IN
QUESTION, IF OUR FIVE OFFICES
REACH OUT TO THAT BUDGET
OFFICER INDIVIDUALLY, IT
CREATES A LOT OF HEADACHE WHICH
IS WHY WE STREAMLINE IT THROUGH
CENTRAL STAFF AND THROUGH THEIR
SHAREPOINT PROGRAM .
>> THANK YOU. THAT MAKES SENSE.
YEAH, BECAUSE IT COULD
POTENTIALLY GET UNWIELDY IF WE
ENDEAVOR TO HAVE ALL 40 PLUS
DEPARTMENTS --
>> REALISTICALLY, THERE IS NO
WAY IT CAN BE ALL OF THEM.
AGAIN, SDOT , SPD , AGAIN
HAVING BEEN ON BOTH SIDES, WE
WILL BE CONSULTING WITH THE
BUDGET DIRECTOR. THIS IS WHAT
WE ARE THINKING OF SCHEDULING.
ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING? IS
THERE A DEPARTMENT THAT IS
WORTH A DISCUSSION? JUST GIVE
THE NEED FOR THE BUDGET
SCHEDULED TO ARISE. IDEALLY WE
WILL BRING YOU THE KEY
DEPARTMENTS BUT AS CHAIR
STRAUSS NOTED, WE WILL BE ABLE
TO ENGAGE YOU AND IF
APPROPRIATE, BRING IN EXECUTIVE
STAFF TO YOUR OFFICES FOR A
DISCUSSION AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE? GO AHEAD. VICE
CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. BEN, WHEN COUNCIL
ASKED FOR, LET'S SAY BRIEFINGS
FROM A DEPARTMENT THAT IS NOT
ON THE REGULAR ROTATION, DOES
THAT INFORMATION THEN GET IT --
I IMAGINE SHARED WITH ALL OF
THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. LET ME IDENTIFY
ONE OF THE CHANGES HERE. JUST
REVIEWING THE LIST THIS
MORNING, WE WILL ASK MOST OF
THE DEPARTMENTS -- WE ARE
WORKING ON A TEMPLATE FOR THE
PRESENTATIONS . IN MY
EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THAT THEY
BECOME NARRATIVES OF A
DIFFERENT FORM ON ANY GIVEN DAY
IF YOU WILL. WE WILL REQUEST
THAT ALMOST ALL DEPARTMENTS
PREPARE A PRESENTATION BECAUSE
WE DON'T KNOW IN ADVANCE WHICH
ONES AND CANDIDLY THAT REASON
TATIAN ITSELF OFFERS A GOOD
LITTLE SUMMARY THAT CENTRAL
STAFF COULD USE SO THOSE WILL
BE AVAILABLE AS WELL. ONE OF
OUR PREBUDGET QUESTIONS IS DID
THIS LIST OF DEPARTMENTS
PREPARE A PRESENTATION? THOSE
WILL ALL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
ONLY A SUBSET WILL BE AVAILABLE
ON SCREEN, IF YOU WILL. AGAIN,
IT IS SHAREPOINT WE WILL USE.
ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AND ALL OF
THE ANSWERS WILL BE AVAILABLE
TO EVERYBODY . I WOULD
HIGHLIGHT THAT IS DELIBERATIVE
PROCESS AS WELL WHILE YOU ARE
CONDUCTING YOUR REVIEWS. THAT
Q&A WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF
YOU BUT NOT AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC UNTIL AFTER THE PROCESS
IS OVER. THAT IS INTENTIONAL
AND ALLOWS YOU TO DO SOME LEVEL
OF DELIBERATION AND ASK
QUESTIONS AS YOU CHOOSE BEFORE
-- YEAH, I WILL LEAVE IT AT
THAT.
>> WE CAN ADD QUESTIONS TO OUR
COLLEAGUES ' QUESTIONS AS WE
ARE ENGAGED IN THIS
DELIBERATIVE PROCESS?
>> YES, AND TO BE CLEAR TOO, WE
ARE TAKING NOTES AS YOU POSE
QUESTIONS IN OPEN SESSION AND
THOSE WILL GET ADDED. THERE IS
A PROTOCOL ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
QUESTIONS THAT ARE POSED DURING
EXECUTIVE PRESENTATIONS, WE
WILL CONFIRM THAT THOSE ARE THE
ONES YOU'VE ASKED AND THOSE
WILL GET ADDED . WHEN WE ARE
MAKING PRESENTATIONS, WE ARE
THE ONES KEEPING TRACK OF THE
QUESTIONS BUT MY MANTRA FOR
CENTRAL STAFF, FULLY INFORMED
DECISION-MAKING ACROSS THE
BOARD FOR ALL OF YOU. THE
CHALLENGE HERE CANDIDLY WILL BE
THE VOLUME OF INFORMATION AND
FOR US TOO, WHERE TO FOCUS .
LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR, THE
EXECUTIVE TAKES A BETTER PART
OF 10 MONTHS TO DEVELOP OR 8
MONTHS TO DEVELOP THE BUDGET
AND YOU TOO HAVE TO PROCESS IT.
IT IS HARD IN THE BUDGET BUT I
WILL ADD IT IS AN INTENSE
PERIOD OF WORK. BUT OBVIOUSLY
IT IS AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF
WORK FOR YOU ALL AS WELL. AT
THE SAME TIME, IT IS OBVIOUSLY
VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS ALSO WHY
YOU HAVE LARGELY SET ASIDE
OTHER WORK DURING THIS PERIOD.
AND ALSO TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE
ARE THROUGH IT, WE CAN DEBRIEF
AND FIND OUT HOW THIS ALL
WORKED FOR YOU. IT IS A PROCESS
THAT HAS BEEN REFINED OVER TIME
BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL DYNAMICS
ARE STILL THERE AND THAT IS
WHAT I REVIEWED AT THE VERY
BEGINNING, ABOUT THE TIME AND
WEALTH AND AUTHORITY AND ALL
THAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
CLOSING WORDS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. ARE WE GOOD TO GO?
>> YES.
>> GREAT. JUST HIGHLIGHTING WE
HAD BUDGET REFORM AND BUDGET
PROCESS REFORM THROUGH THIS --
THROUGH THE DIFFERENT ITERATION
BEFORE WE LEFT THE TABLE. BUT
ONE OF THESE EXAMPLES HAS BEEN
HOW WE HAVE PROCESSED GRANTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER IN
THE YEAR. ALSO HOW -- COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HAS A CONFUSED LOOK.
>> I'M JUST NOTING THE TIMING.
GO ON.
>> THANK YOU. WE'VE GOT THE Q1
GRAND WHILE IN THE PAST WE HAVE
NOT TAKEN GRANTS UNTIL LATER IN
THE YEAR. ANOTHER THING IS THE
TRANSMISSION DATE. WE'RE
HAVING THE BUDGET TRANSMITTED
AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN
GET OUT BY THANKSGIVING. IN THE
PAST WE'VE HAD FINAL VOTES
DURING THE WEEK OF
THANKSGIVING. AS WELL ANOTHER
BUDGET REFORM PROCESS -- BUDGET
PROCESS REFORM IS THAT CENTRAL
STAFF ANALYSTS WILL BE LESS
AVAILABLE THAT FIRST WEEK WHILE
WE ARE ALL HEARING FROM
DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN
DIG INTO THE BUDGET AS IT IS
WRITTEN DEEPER . AND SO THIS IS
A PLAN . THIS IS INTENTIONAL .
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
Y'ALL .
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO NOTE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED US. I
SAW HER THERE FOR SEVERAL
MOMENTS AGO, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING AND I'M SORRY
I DIDN'T CALL YOU SOONER.
WHILE I WAS BEGINNING THE
MEETING, THE IRC CAME OUT ,
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR. I WILL QUICKLY GO
THROUGH THE ITEMS ON THAT
BEFORE CONTINUING WITH THE
ROUND ROBIN. LET'S SEE.
PULLING IT UP, OKAY, WE'VE GOT
THE WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT
ORDINANCE, 10 APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS, FOUR TO THE
DOMESTIC WORKER STANDARDS
BOARD, SIX TO THE SEATTLE
ADVISORY COMMISSION, COUNCIL
BILL 120839 ADOPTING THE
SEATTLE FIRE CODE, COUNCIL BILL
120840 ALLOWING ELECTRIC
VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS TO
SUBMETER ELECTRICITY,
RESOLUTION 32144 ADOPTING THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT 2020 FOR FLOOD
ACTION PLAN. FOOD ACTION PLAN,
EXCUSE ME. SO WITH THAT WE WILL
PROCEED NOW WITH OUR PREVIEW OF
COUNCIL ACTIONS AND THIS
WEEK'S ROLL CALL STARTS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER WOO. PLEASE GO
AHEAD .
>> SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE
LAST WEEK INCLUDE MEETING WITH
THE NATIONAL ASIAN-PACIFIC
ISLANDER AMERICAN HERITAGE
FORUM . THIS FORM IS TAKING
PLACE IN SEPTEMBER WITH
PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL OVER THE
U.S. WITH A FOCUS ON HISTORIC
PRESERVATION. AS WE ALL KNOW ,
THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT WAS RECENTLY LISTED AS
ONE OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR
HISTORIC PRESERVATION 11 MOST
ENDANGERED PLACES SO I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FORUM
AND MAKING MEANINGFUL
CONNECTIONS IN THE NORTHWEST. I
ALSO ATTENDED THE ROLL CALL IN
THE SOUTH PRECINCT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND ENGAGED
WITH THE OFFICERS ON THE KINDS
OF CHALLENGES THEY FACE. AND
ALSO TALKING ABOUT YOUTH
OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILDING
OFFICER CAPACITY BY EXPANDING
SOCIAL SERVICES TO UPLIFT
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HELP THE
OFFICERS FEEL SUPPORTED. LAST
WEEK WAS ALSO NATIONAL NIGHT
OUT. WE WENT TO THREE
LOCATIONS, STARTING WITH THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT. WE GO THROUGH THAT
ONE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. WE WENT
TO THE ROANOKE PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD ON CAPITOL HILL
AND THE ROOSEVELT NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SO MANY
PEOPLE OUT AND CELEBRATING AND
SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE
PRESENT AT THESE NIGHT OUT S.
THURSDAY EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND I ATTENDED THE
CHINESE GARDEN CIRCLE AT THE
CHINESE GARDENS AFTER JOINING
DELEGATION IN OUR SISTER CITY.
IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE A
MEANINGFUL REUNION AND TO LEARN
ABOUT THE EFFORTS ONGOING AND
THE PLAN TO EXPAND THE GARDENS
. AS FOR THE COMMITTEE UPDATES
, THIS WEEK THE SUSTAINABILITY
CITY LIGHTS AND ARTS AND
CULTURE COMMITTEE WILL HEAR
FROM SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ON
THREE ITEMS FOR POSSIBLE VOTE.
THE FIRST IS THE WHOLESALE
ENERGY RISK MANAGEMENT
RESOLUTION . WE HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT THAT FOR A FEW
MONTHS NOW. THEN THE 2025, 2020
-- 2030 PLAN UPDATES AND HAVE A
ROBUST DISCUSSION AND HOPEFULLY
BE ABLE TO MOVE IT THROUGH
BEFORE COUNCIL RECESS . WE ARE
ALSO AMENDING THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO AUTHORIZE EV
CHARGING STATIONS TO SUBMETER
ELECTRICITY. IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL PASS
THIS TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
WOO. HELLO TO MY COLLEAGUES.
I'M SORRY. I WOULD LIKE TO BE
THERE IN PERSON BUT I HAD A
COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WAS
IMPORTANT THAT I WAS HOLDING.
PARKS UTILITIES TECHNOLOGY
MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 14th AT 2:00 P.M. WE
HAVE A VERY HEAVY AGENDA. WE
HAVE OUR CTO CONFIRMATION WITH
DIRECTOR LLOYD . WE HAVE OUR
SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION WITH APPOINTMENTS
AND REAPPOINTMENTS . WE HAVE A
POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION
FOR SPU FOR THEIR STRATEGIC
PLAN . WE HAVE A POSSIBLE VOTE
ON THE DRAINAGE SERVICES
ORDINANCE AND WASTEWATER AS
WELL. AND THE PARKS AND
RECREATION MIRAGE ORDINANCE AS
WELL . WE HAVE A LOT OF HEAVY,
HEAVY AGENDA WORK THIS
WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 14th AT 2:00
P.M. LAST BUT NOT LEAST BEFORE
I PASS IT OFF TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE , I WANT TO SEND MY
DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE
MURPHY FAMILY . TAMARA MURPHY ,
WHO IS ONE OF THE CO-OWNERS OF
TERRA PLATA PASSED AWAY THIS
WEEKEND. PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL
CHEF. SHE AND HER PARTNER , YOU
KNOW, HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE
COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN
CAPITOL HILL FOR THE LGBTQIA
COMMUNITY . JUST THEIR
COMMITMENT TO THE SMALL
BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE AND THEIR
LOVE FOR OUR CITY IS HUGE . IT
IS A BIG LOSS TO LOSE TAMARA .
SHE WAS A JAMES BEARD AWARD
WINNING CHEF AND EVEN A BETTER
PERSON . I DEFINITELY WANT TO
SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THEM . I
KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY ARE HURTING
TODAY. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION
THAT. IF THERE ARE NOT ANY
QUESTIONS, I WILL PASS IT OFF
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I APPRECIATE THE
HANDOFF ONLINE VIRTUALLY. THANK
YOU. THIS WEEK , COLLEAGUES, WE
HAVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW
MORNING AT 9:30 A.M. TWO MAIN
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, THE STAY
OUT OF DRUG AREA BILL AND STAY
OUT OF AREA PROSTITUTION BILL .
THOSE TWO BILLS WILL HAVE THEIR
FIRST HEARINGS TOMORROW. THIS
WEEK AS WELL, TODAY I MET WITH
CPC, COMMISSIONER MERKEL .
THURSDAY WE HAVE TO SEATTLE
FIRE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY WHICH
WILL BE HELD HERE . SEPARATELY
TODAY I MET WITH IVW77, GREAT
MEETING WITH THEM , ALONG WITH
THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR WHICH WAS A VERY
PRODUCTIVE MEETING TO HAVE.
ALSO THIS WEEK I HAVE HOUSING
OUR NEIGHBORS TOMORROW ALONG
WITH THE SEATTLE LGBTQ+
COMMISSION TOMORROW AND
WEDNESDAY , REAL CHANGE. ALSO
WEDNESDAY, THE WASHINGTON YOUTH
ALLIANCE. THURSDAY, PEOPLE
POWER OF WASHINGTON AND UNITED
WAY . AND THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM . FRIDAY
WILL BE THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
SUBSET EVENT GOING ON THIS
WEEK. FOR LAST WEEK , I WAS
REALLY HAPPY TO VISIT FIRE
STATION 5 LAST MONDAY.
FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH THEM AND SEE THE
CAPABILITIES THEY HAVE THERE ON
THE WATERFRONT AND THE MARITIME
SIDE. AND TUESDAY I HAD A
WALK-THROUGH THE REAL-TIME
CENTER AND I PARTICIPATED IN
NIGHT OUT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER WU -- WOO. IT IS
A GREAT WAY FOR NEIGHBORS TO
COME OUT AND LOOK OUT FOR EACH
OTHER. WEDNESDAY I HAD A GREAT
EVENT WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE
FAIR. I WENT OVER TO BREMERTON
UP ON THE BRIDGE AND ON THE WAY
BACK IN THE ENGINE ROOM, IT WAS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
VETERANS TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT
JOB OPPORTUNITIES THEY MAY HAVE
WITH WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES .
BASICALLY AS A RECRUITMENT
PITCH TO BRING VETERANS INTO
THE WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES
SYSTEM. AS YOU KNOW, MUCH LIKE
THE KING COUNTY CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS ALSO HAVING
STAFFING SHORTAGES SO IT WAS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
VETERANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
THIS . THERE WERE A LOT OF
COAST GUARDS, NAVY, AN ARMY GUY
OR TWO. IT WAS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY
INVOLVED. LAST THURSDAY I MET
WITH OIG. INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT. FRIDAY I HAD
A FAMILY MANNER. I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT, THANK YOU TO MY TEAM
FOR SUBBING IN FOR ME . I WILL
BE DOING THAT TORE SEPARATELY
FOR SOUND FOUNDATIONS NORTHWEST
BUT FRIDAY MY TEAM CAME THROUGH
FOR ME AS I WAS -- HAD A FAMILY
MEMBER THAT CANNOT ATTEND THOSE
EVENTS. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO
THANK THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
AGREEING AND ADDING THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE ARE
ABOUT TO GO INTO LATER THIS
MEETING. THANK YOU. NOW OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE . ON TOMORROW'S FULL
AGENDA, THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM
THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. THE NEXT MEETING IS
THIS WEDNESDAY. WE HAVE THREE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA . THE FIRST
IS LEGISLATION TO EXTEND THE
SUNSET DATE FOR THE MULTIFAMILY
TAX EXEMPTION CREDIT BY THREE
MONTHS . OFFICE OF HOUSING IS
STILL ENGAGED IN A DEEP DIVE
AND ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAM AND
NEEDS SOME ADDITIONAL TIME. AND
SO THIS REGISTRATION WILL
EXTEND BY THREE MONTHS IS A
PROPOSAL VOTE . IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO
TRACI WITH CENTRAL STAFF.
SECOND, WE HAVE A BRIEFING FOR
ACTION ON THE LEAD PROGRAM AND
FINALLY, HST AND SEATTLE KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO DISCUSS
OUR JOINT APPROACH TO
ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER. IF THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> OKAY . THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. I WANT
TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS OF
TAMARA MURPHY AND ALSO WAYNE
JOHNSON , ANOTHER IMPORTANT
CHEF HERE IN SEATTLE WHO WORKED
FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SOME OF
YOU MAY NOTE BEFORE BECOMING A
COUNCILMEMBER, I HAD A
CONSULTING BUSINESS FOCUSING ON
FOOD INSECURITY AND THE LOCAL
FOOD ECONOMY, SO I WORKED
CLOSELY WITH A LOT OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FARMERS ,
FARM TO TABLE MOVEMENT , LOCAL
FOOD ECONOMY, AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT THAT PROGRAMS LIKE
FAIR START DATE , SO I AM
REALLY WANTING TO SEND
CONDOLENCES TO BOTH OF THEIR
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
BECAUSE IN THEIR OWN WAYS,
THEIR DIFFERENT WAYS, THEY
CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO
SUSTAINABLE FOOD IN SEATTLE AND
REALLY SUPPORTING PACIFIC
NORTHWEST FARMERS AND FOOD
PRODUCERS , SO CONDOLENCES TO
THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR
COMMUNITIES. BEFORE I GIVE MY
COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT UPDATE
, I DO WANT TO ADDRESS DIRECTLY
SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT REGARDING PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ALL SEND INFORMATION TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION COMING BEFORE
COUNCIL . I WILL SAY THAT AS A
COUNCILMEMBER REPRESENTING
SOUTH SEATTLE , IT IS CRITICAL
I LET MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW
WHAT'S HAPPENING , ESPECIALLY
IF THERE IS LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM. WE
ARE THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT IS
MADE UP WITH THE MAJORITY OF
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND IMMIGRANTS AND IT
IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS THEY ARE
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WHEN
THERE IS LEGISLATION COMING
THAT COULD IMPACT THEM . I WILL
CONTINUE TO SEND MY
CONSTITUENTS EMAILS ON UPCOMING
LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEY
DESERVE TO KNOW AND DESERVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENT
BEFORE CITY COUNCIL. THAT IS
PART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL, TO SERVE YOUR
CONSTITUENTS IN THAT WAY AND
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A VOICE. I
CANNOT CONTROL HOW THEY RESPOND
OR HOW THEY SHOW UP HERE IN
COUNCIL , BUT IT IS MY JOB TO
MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT THERE
IS LEGISLATION COMING SO I WILL
CONTINUE SENDING ACTION ALERTS
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO INFORM
THEM ABOUT LEGISLATION COMING.
AS FAR AS THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE, THERE ARE 12 ITEMS
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON
TOMORROW'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
. COUNCIL PRESIDENT MENTIONED
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
PLANNING COMMISSION. THEY WERE
PASSED OUT OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY WITH
RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL .
THE NEXT LAND-USE COMMITTEE
WOULD NORMALLY BE AUGUST 31st
BUT THAT MEETING HAS BEEN
CANCELED DUE TO COUNCIL RECESS
SO WE WILL MEET AGAIN ON
SEPTEMBER 4th. AT THIS POINT WE
ARE ANTICIPATING FIVE ITEMS. IT
WILL BE A PRETTY FULL AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE FOUR PUBLIC
HEARINGS, SO JUST A WARNING TO
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR PERHAPS
AN EXTRA HALF HOUR, MAYBE EVEN
FULL HOUR MEETING. I AM HOPING
WE CAN NOT HAVE IT THAT LONG,
BUT JUST IN CASE. THE THINGS WE
WILL BE HEARING , POTENTIALLY
HEARING, COUNCIL BILL 120823 ,
OMNIBUS LAND-USE LEGISLATION.
THIS IS A TECHNICAL BILL THAT
UPDATES ERRORS , CORRECTS
INCORRECT REFERENCES TO
SECTIONS, THAT SORT OF THING.
IT NORMALLY DOES COME BEFORE
CITY COUNCIL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
TO MAKE THESE SMALL
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES. WE WILL
HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT
BILL. 120824 IS A DESIGN REVIEW
EXEMPTION . I AM HOPING THAT WE
HAVE THAT SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC
HEARING . THAT ONE IS
POTENTIALLY STILL SLATED FOR A
LATER COMMITTEE MEETING BUT
THAT BILL AMENDS LAND-USE CODE
FOR AN INTERIM THREE-YEAR
PERIOD TO EXEMPT NEW
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FROM THE
DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS IF THEY
CONSIST OF HOUSING, HOTELS, OR
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT USAGE.
THIS IS PART OF THE MAYOR OF
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN.
COUNCIL BILL 120832 IS
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES. WE
ALREADY RECEIVED A BRIEFING IN
A PREVIOUS LAND-USE COMMITTEE
MEETING. MY HOPE IS TO HAVE AT
LEAST TWO MORE BRIEFINGS BEFORE
WE VOTE ON IT . IF WE RUN OUT
OF TIME THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE
JUST A SECOND BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION AND VOTE BEFORE WE
BEGIN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
COUNCIL BILL 120822 THE
CO-LIVING HOUSING CONGREGATE
RESIDENCE BILL . THIS BILL
IMPLEMENTS CHANGES TO CO-LIVING
AS REQUIRED BY WASHINGTON STATE
HOUSE BILL 1998 FROM THE 2020
LEGISLATIVE SESSION . THIS BILL
REQUIRES DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS BE UPDATED TO TAKE
EFFECT NO LATER THAN DECEMBER
31st, 2025. OUR LAND-USE CODE
REGULATES CO-LIVING HOUSING
UNDER CONGREGATE RESIDENCE
LAND-USE ALLEGORY. THIS WILL
MAKE SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE
LAND-USE CODE TO REMOVE
RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS ON
CONGREGATE RESIDENCE IS. AND
FINALLY 120833 , THE LIVING
BUILDING AMENDMENT. THIS
LEGISLATION CLARIFIES AND
IMPROVES THE FUNCTION OF THE
LIVING BUILDING PILOT PROGRAM
AND CLARIFIES PROJECTS IN THE
PROGRAM CAN USE BONUSES TO
EXCEED 145 FEET REGARDLESS OF
THE LOT SIZE IN DOWNTOWN MIXED
RESIDENTIAL -- IN THE MIXED
DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL ZONE .
THERE IS A LOT COMING THROUGH
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE . THERE
ARE SEVERAL STATE BILLS THAT
HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE
CITY LEVEL OVER THE NEXT 12
MONTHS, SO WE ARE ON A TIMELINE
BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NEXT YEAR,
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE
HAVE TO GET COMPLETED TO ABIDE
BY STATE RULES AS WELL, SO A
HEADS UP TO EVERYONE ON THE
LAND-USE COMMITTEE THAT THERE
IS A LOT COMING DOWN. AND
FINALLY LAST WEEK I ATTENDED
SEVERAL EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
. I SPOKE ON A PANEL HOSTED BY
THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUM, CASE 21, PUGET
SOUND AT THE RANIER ART CENTER
IN MY DISTRICT . A LOT OF
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO
SUPPORT PARTICULARLY BLACK
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOMEOWNERS TO
BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
I ALSO -- AND I WANT TO THANK
OPC DEEP FOR SITTING ON THAT
PANEL WITH ME. I HOSTED MY IN
DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS .
SATURDAY WAS PACKED WITH THE
BLOCK PARTY CELEBRATING LITTLE
SAIGON EVENTS . IT WAS ALSO MY
DAY OF THE BUILD THE CITY EVENT
AT THE PLAZA . I WAS REALLY
EXCITED TO ACTIVATE THE PLAZA
WITH LIVE MUSIC BY YOUTH
MUSICIANS . WE WERE ABLE TO
PROVIDE SMALL STIPENDS FOR FOUR
YOUNG ARTISTS TO PERFORM . WE
HAD AT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, SDOT, OPCD, A LEGO
ACTIVITY, AND AN INTERACTIVE
ART ACTIVITY . IT WAS A GREAT
WARM AND SUNNY DAY OUT ON THE
PLAZA. WE HAD THE ANNUAL
FESTIVAL AND THIS WEEK I WILL
BE TOURING THE HOUSING CO-OP IN
SOUTH SEATTLE WITH LEAH MARTIN
. WEDNESDAY I WILL BE AT THE
FARMERS MARKET FOR SOME IN
DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS. AND
FINALLY ON SATURDAY I AM
JOINING A PLAY DATE FOR
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN
PICKLEBALL. I HAVEN'T PLAYED
IT YET BUT I WILL BE AT THE
RANIER BEACH PICKLEBALL AND
TENNIS COURTS, SO WISH ME LUCK.
A FEW YEARS AGO NOW MY OFFICE
WAS ABLE TO SECURE SOME MONEY
FOR PICKLEBALL COURTS ACROSS
THE CITY, SO IT IS EXCITING WE
ARE FINALLY SEEING THIS COME
INTO ACTION. THAT IS ALL I HAVE
. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, I
WILL -- OKAY. I WILL HAND IT
OFF TO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA .
>> THANK YOU. LAST THURSDAY I
CHAIRED THE LIBRARY EDUCATION
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE. WE HAD
A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EARLY
LEARNING PRESENTATION ON THE
LEVY OUTCOMES. SOME TAKEAWAYS
WERE THAT THE LEVY HAD POSITIVE
OUTCOMES FOR THE SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM . THE TAKE
AWAY FOR THE K-12 PROGRAM SPACE
WAS NOT AS POSITIVE. EVALUATION
THAT WAS DONE WAS SHOWING
STUDENTS ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN
MATH BUT NOT THE ELA SPACE,
HOWEVER THE PROGRAM FINDINGS
CANNOT BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE
LEVY INVESTMENTS AS THE
FINDINGS WERE OF NO STATISTICAL
SIGNIFICANCE . I'VE ASKED TO
PLEASE ENGAGE IN FURTHER
RESEARCH ON THOSE K-12
INVESTMENTS TO SEE IF THEY CAN
DIG A LITTLE DEEPER AND SEE IF
THEY CAN HAVE CORRELATIONS WITH
HIGHER SIGNIFICANCE THAN WAS
SHOWN . AND IF NOT , YOU KNOW,
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN THE
K-12 SPACE TO HAVE BETTER
OUTCOMES? LAST WEEK MY STAFF
AND I PARTICIPATED ON NATIONAL
NIGHT OUT EVENTS WITH YOU AND
YOUR DISTRICTS. WAS GREAT TO
CONNECT WITH CONSTITUENTS FROM
DISTRICT 4. PEOPLE WERE VERY
WELCOMING AND APPRECIATIVE OF
OUR PRESENCE. WE HEARD A LOT
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY BOTH CRIME
AS WELL AS GRAFFITI AND THINGS
OF THAT NATURE OF BUSINESSES
THAT HAVE CLOSED, ET CETERA.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I MET
LAST WEEK WITH DIRECTOR FROM
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION ON
OUR REGULAR CHECK-IN AND ONE
THING WE DISCUSSED, HOW DO WE
SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE
TREE CANOPY ACROSS THE CITY
PARTICULARLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND WHERE
WE SEE WE NEED MORE TREE
CANOPY, HOW DO WE ENGAGE IN
EDUCATION FOCUS WHERE WE CAN
LET FOLKS KNOW HOW THEY CAN
REPORT IF THEY SEE A TREE BEING
HARMED FOR INSTANCE A LOT OF
FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO EDUCATE
THE PUBLIC TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SUPPORTING GROWTH IN
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY?
WE ENGAGED IN AN INTERESTING
CONVERSATION ABOUT EXPLORING
CREATIVE WAYS TO EDUCATE FOLKS
ON THAT. I ALSO SIT ON THE LAKE
WASHINGTON SEAT AND WATERSHED
RECOVERY COUNCIL. THE CURRENT
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN 29
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WAS
CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SALMON HABITAT PROTECTION AND
THAT IS UP FOR RENEWAL, SO I AM
ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS. THIS
WEEK I AM HOSTING IN DISTRICT
HOURS ON THURSDAY. I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE CONSTITUENTS TO TAKE
THE TIME TO MEET WITH ME. I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT THIS
WEEK. I WILL HIGHLIGHT I AM
DOING ANOTHER ONE OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY WALKS . IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ON FRIDAY , I
HOSTED A SIMILAR WALK IN MAY ON
THE 55th STREET CORRIDOR WITH
THE SMALL BUSINESSES BEHIND IT
THERE AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO
CONNECT WITH BUSINESS OWNERS
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO HEAR
ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND
EXPERIENCES WITH THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES HAPPENING AND TO
BRING SOME FOCUS AT THE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND SEE HOW WE CAN
HELP THEM AS THEY ARE
STRUGGLING. LOTS MORE BUT I
WILL LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE I
KNOW I HAVE OTHER COLLEAGUES
THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH UNLESS
SOMEONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I
WILL HAND IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COLLEAGUES, I AM HERE
TO REPORT ON THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. WE DO HAVE -- YES,
WE HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING ON
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, BRIGHT
AND EARLY IN THE MORNING, FIRST
DAY AFTER A HOLIDAY AND AFTER
TWO WEEKS OF COUNCIL RECESS ,
SO ENJOY THAT . I KNOW I WILL
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU THERE AND
YOU ARE BRAVE FACES. YOUR
SMILING, ENGAGED FACES THERE
TUESDAY MORNING , AGAIN, AFTER
THE HOLIDAY AND COUNCIL RECESS
. EXCITING STUFF BECAUSE,
COLLEAGUES, WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING AN IMPACTFUL ITEM
INCLUDING FINALLY THE
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE. AS
YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATION WAS
FORMALLY TRANSMITTED SO WE WILL
HAVE A BRIEFING AND
PRESENTATION ON THAT. WE WILL
HAVE SOMETHING CONCRETE
DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US . THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF PENDING BOARD
AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS FOR
VARIOUS ADVISORY BOARD S. WE
WILL START TO TAKE UP SOME OF
THOSE. YOU KNOW, FREIGHT,
TRANSIT, PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE,
THERE ARE NUMBER OF ADVISORY
BOARDS AS YOU KNOW . A LOT OF
EXCITING INTEREST IN THESE
BOARDS AS WELL . I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT AND I KNOW,
COLLEAGUES, YOU ARE ALL TOO.
AND JUST A SIDE NOTE , WE WILL
LIKELY HAVE ONE MORE
TRANSPORTATION MEETING AFTER
THAT ON SEPTEMBER 17th, THE
TUESDAY PRIOR TO BUDGET SEASON
KICKING OFF. AND SO, THAT IS
WHERE WE ARE AT AND WHERE WE
ARE GOING ON THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE FRONT. QUICK DISTRICT
UPDATE, I WANT TO SHARE AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT WORK FROM
OUR COLLEAGUES AND THE WORKERS
AT THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. THERE WAS A
FRONT PAGE STORY IN THE PRINT
EDITION OF THE SEATTLE TIMES
ABOUT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES
ALONG HARBOR AVENUE , WHICH IS
SO FAR WHAT WE ARE HEARING, AND
THIS WAS A FEW WEEKS BACK BUT
SO FAR WHAT THEY'RE HEARING
FROM THE CONSTITUENTS, IT'S
WELL RECEIVED. A NOTICEABLE
IMPACT , AT LEAST
OBSERVATIONALLY AND ANECDOTALLY
, SO WE WILL CONTINUE ROLLING
OUT THESE KIND OF THINGS AND
MONITOR AND TRACK AND MAKE SURE
THEY'RE HAVING THEIR INTENDED
PURPOSE BUT I DO KNOW THIS IS
AMONG OTHER SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
IN THAT AREA , THIS IS
SOMETHING THE RESIDENTS
THEMSELVES DEMANDED LOUD AND
CLEAR . THANK YOU TO THE
RESIDENTS OF HARBOR AVENUE AND
OUR PARTNERS AT SDOT AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR BRINGING
THAT TO LIFE. CHECK OUT THE
ARTICLE, COLLEAGUES, WHEN YOU
HAVE TIME. IF YOU WANT TO DO A
DEEP DIVE ON THE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN TRAFFIC HUMPS OR SPEED
HUMPS AND ALSO SPEED CUSHIONS
VERSUS JUST REGULAR HOMES , IT
DIVES DEEP.
>> DON'T FORGET STREET BOMBS.
>> STREET FARMS ARE MORE
INTENSIVE, ARGUABLY ADDRESSES
-- AGGRESSIVE WAYS TO SLOW
TRAFFIC. THEN THERE ARE THE
CUSHIONS WHICH ARE LIKE HOMES,
BUT THEY HAVE ROUTES FOR
EMERGENCY VEHICLES INCLUDING
FIRE, WHICH I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE IS REALLY
EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT . BUT IN
ANY EVENT , THANK YOU AGAIN TO
ALL OF THOSE THAT I MENTIONED.
NEXT I WILL NOTE LAST WEEK I
ATTENDED THE LAUNCH OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOMEN
ALLIANCE. IT IS AN EMPLOYEE
NETWORK . IT IS AN EMPLOYEE LED
NETWORK AND PROPER FOUNDATION
THEY ARE STANDING UP, SO SHOUT
OUT TO ALL OF THE FOUNDERS AND
KEY LEADERS BEHIND THIS
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE INCLUDING
MY OWN DISTRICT 1 CONSTITUENT
AT SPD. WE ALL KNOW,
COLLEAGUES, WE CAN AND MUST
HAVE LEGISLATION TO GOVERN
IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE POLICE
HIRING , RECRUITMENT,
RETENTION, PROMOTION, GROWTH .
THE DEPARTMENT THEMSELVES, SPD
OR OTHERWISE NEEDS TO STAND UP
AND IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN
INTERNAL POLICIES TO GOVERN
THAT SAME SUBJECT MATTER, BUT
IN THE CASE OF CULTURE IN
PARTICULAR, THAT DOES NOT
NEGATE THE ABILITY OF EMPLOYEES
TO STAND UP THEIR OWN STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS AND
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS, AN
EMPLOYEE LED EFFORT WHICH IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
ALLOWS THEM TO SPEAK FROM THEIR
OWN EXPERIENCES. SO THIS
BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, UNIFORM
SWORN OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS
ALIKE. IT WAS GREAT TO BE THERE
JUST TO BE A CHEERLEADER AND,
YOU KNOW, HELP JUST BE PRESENT
AND ALLOW THEM TO SELF ADVOCATE
. GREAT TO HEAR REMARKS FROM
THE INTERIM CHIEF AS WELL. JUST
HONORED TO BE THERE LAST WEEK.
I GUESS FINALLY I WILL NOTE ME
AND MY OFFICE WERE CLOSELY
TRACKING A FIRE THAT OCCURRED
IN MY DISTRICT EARLIER TODAY,
LATE MORNING , EARLY AFTERNOON.
SPECIFICALLY THE CHURCH IN
NORTH DELLA RED ALONG THE 5000
BLOCK SOUTHWEST, TO BE PRECISE.
IT EXTENDED TO THE MAIN WORSHIP
STRUCTURE AND AN ADJACENT
WORSHIP STRUCTURE ON THE SAME
PROPERTY. THERE WAS A ROOF
COLLAPSE AND REPORTS FROM
CONSTITUENTS IS THAT IT
OCCURRED -- THE ROOF COLLAPSE
OCCURRED IN THE ADJACENT
STRUCTURE BUT AS WE UNDERSTAND
IT , THE FIRE IS CURRENTLY
UNDER CONTROL AND FIREFIGHTERS
ARE ON SCENE . IMPORTANTLY
THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT I
HAVE SPOKEN, ME AND MY OFFICE
HAVE BEEN SPEAKING DIRECTLY
WITH FOLKS FROM FIRE AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. AS I
UNDERSTAND THIS WAS A TWO-ALARM
FIRE . THE GOSPEL PENTECOSTAL
CHURCH IS A HISTORICALLY BLACK
CHURCH SO WE ARE CLOSELY
MONITORING AND TRACKING
DEVELOPMENTS HERE AND HERE TO
BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
IN ANY EVENT, COLLEAGUES, THAT
IS ALL FROM ME . I WILL WELCOME
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, GRIPES
HERE OR OFF-LINE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> YES, GO AHEAD.
>> SINCE I SERVE ON THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AS
YOU NOTED , COMING OFF RECESS
AND LABOR DAY, I'M WONDERING
SHOULD WE START WITH THE CITY
GRIND, SMALL BUSINESS, AND
MIGRATE UP TO CHAMBERS? JUST
THROWING THAT OUT THERE AS AN
OPTION . YOU KNOW, KICKSTART
YOUR DAY WITH A SHOT OF
CAFFEINE FROM CITY GRIND
DOWNSTAIRS.
>> THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.
COLLEAGUES, SEND ME ALL OF YOUR
COFFEE ORDERS . I WOULD LOVE TO
-- ME, PERSONALLY -- MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE YOUR JOLT OF CAFFEINE
TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY AND
ENGAGED AND NOT HAVE LOST OVER
EYES FOR THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
STUFF. SEND ME YOUR COFFEE
ORDERS. ALL RIGHT? COOL.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
>> YOU MENTIONED DOING A DEEP
DIVE . IF YOU WANT TO DO A DEEP
DIVE, GO TO SEACREST PARK .
THERE IS THAT BEAUTIFUL PARK
AND NOTHING SAYS LOVE LIKE
ANOTHER MEETING. COMING
STRAIGHT FROM MYSELF, THAT IS
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SEATTLE
STAFFERS THAT SAID THAT
INITIALLY. COLLEAGUES, I HAVE
TWO ITEMS IN SEPTEMBER TO TAKE
UP IN MY COMMITTEE, WHICH ARE
THE PRIORITY HIGHER BILL WE
HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON, 120815 .
WE HAVE THAT SCHEDULED FOR
SEPTEMBER 4th, THAT WEDNESDAY.
HEARING ABOUT EVERYONE'S
MEETING CONGESTION, I MAY
CHANGE THAT TO THE SEPTEMBER
18th MEETING , WHERE WE ALREADY
HAVE THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY
COUNCIL LIAISON AND OUR TRIBAL
RELATIONS DIRECTOR COMING IN TO
PROVIDE OUR TRIBAL NATIONS ONE
YEAR REPORT OUT. SO JUST NOTING
I MIGHT TRY TO MAKE SOME
ACCOMMODATIONS IN SEPTEMBER.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO ITEMS IN
MY COMMITTEE UNTIL WE GET THE
BUDGET TRANSMITTED ON THE 24th.
COMING TOMORROW AT FULL COUNCIL
IS OUR MIDYEAR BUDGET PACKAGE ,
THE SUPPLEMENTAL PACKAGE.
AGAIN, COUNCIL BILL 820811
ANNUAL WAGE INCREASE . COUNCIL
BILL 120812 , THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET. AND 813, MIDYEAR GRANT
ACCEPTANCE. I UNDERSTAND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WILL BE
BRINGING BACK HER AMENDMENT
REGARDING THE FULL $20 MILLION
OF MENTAL HEALTH MONEY . I WILL
LET YOU KNOW , COLLEAGUES, I
HAVE MY AMENDMENT POSTED TO THE
AGENDA RIGHT NOW AS WELL . I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE SAME
THING BUT FOR $2.25 MILLION.
THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE
THE MAYOR'S INVESTMENT IN GUN
VIOLENCE PREVENTION .
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
COSPONSORED THIS AMENDMENT WITH
ME AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO EARN
YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT AMENDMENT
FOR $2.25 MILLION. A COUPLE
OTHER THINGS IN MY CAPACITY AS
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD MEMBER, I
AM SUPER EXCITED TO LET YOU
KNOW WHEN WE COME BACK FROM
RECESS THE ONE LINE WILL BE
HEADING ALL THE WAY TO LYNNWOOD
. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
JOINING THE PREVIEW RIGHT ARM
-- I BELIEVE THE 22nd OR THE
RIBBON-CUTTING ON THE 22nd, YOU
ARE ALL INVITED. WE WOULD LOVE
TO HAVE YOU THERE. IN DISTRICT
6, I HOST OFFICE HOURS THIS
WEEK, LIKE EVERY WEEK. I DID
HAVE TO CHANGE MY OFFICE HOURS
THIS WEEK TO ATTEND A FUNERAL
THIS UPCOMING THURSDAY, SO
THANK YOU TO DISTRICT 6
RESIDENTS FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY
. WITHOUT SHARING MORE , I WANT
TO CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
STAFFERS, MARIA. MARIA HAS BEEN
A LONG TIME LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT STAFFER. I CANNOT
EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY
COUNCILMEMBERS, COUNCIL
PRESIDENTS SHE HAS WORKED UNDER
AND WITH. SHE IS A REALLY
AWESOME PERSON AND A REALLY
DILIGENT STAFFER . I CAN TELL
YOU WE ALL GET PAID BECAUSE OF
MARIA ROSA'S. MARIA , IF
YOU'RE LISTENING OR YOU'RE
VERY SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN ARE
LISTENING, WE AT THE CITY
COUNCIL CELEBRATE YOU. WITH
THAT, COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> CAN YOU JUST REPEAT WHAT YOU
SAID ABOUT THE AMENDMENT ON GUN
VIOLENCE ?
>> ABSOLUTELY. IT IS CURRENTLY
ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA AS
AMENDMENT BE. I CAN SHARE MORE
TOMORROW. I HAVE -- YOU HEARD
WHAT I SAID LAST WEEK WITH
BEING VERY FRUSTRATED WITH HOW
THE GOALPOSTS KEEP MOVING ON
MONEY ASSOCIATED WITH THE $20
MILLION MENTAL HEALTH MONEY
FROM LAST YEAR. THAT
FRUSTRATION REMAINS AND WHAT WE
HAVE RIGHT NOW , THERE IS A
REAL NEED TO ADDRESS THE GUN
VIOLENCE THAT IS OCCURRING SO
WITHIN THIS AMENDMENT I WOULD
BE DOUBLING WHAT THE MAYOR HAS
PROPOSED FOR GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION WORK. FOR ME, IT IS
REALLY UNCLEAR -- I HAVE ASKED
SINCE THEN HOW MUCH MORE COULD
YOU IMPLEMENT WITH AN
ADDITIONAL $10 MILLION AND THE
ANSWER IS UNCLEAR . WE HAVE
SEEN THE EXECUTIVE WORK REALLY
HARD IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS
TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN ON HOW TO
IMPLEMENT A WHOLE NEW PROGRAM,
RIGHT? THEY HAVE DONE A VERY
GOOD JOB . WHAT WAS CLEAR TO
ME, ANOTHER $10 MILLION MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED. WHEN
I PUSHED HIM REALLY HARD AND
SAID CAN WE DOUBLE THIS GUN
VIOLENCE PREVENTION MONEY FROM
$2 MILLION-$4 MILLION, THE
ANSWER WAS I THINK WE CAN DO
SOMETHING SO THERE IS MORE -- I
AM A BIT SKEPTICAL, JUST REALLY
HONESTLY HERE, THAT EVERYTHING
CAN BE USED PERFECTLY BUT WE
HAVE TO ACT. THE SHOOTINGS THAT
HAPPENED LAST YEAR, LAST WEEK,
WE CANNOT WAIT ANOTHER DAY. WE
CAN DOUBLE THE BUDGET WITHIN
THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
WORK , BUT DOING A FULL $10
MILLION ON TOP OF THAT? I STILL
HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ACTUALLY , I HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT THAT. SO WE ARE JUST
HEARING ABOUT THIS TODAY ,
OBVIOUSLY. WILL WE GET BRIEFED
ON WHAT THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY
WOULD DO AND WHAT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE COULD ACTUALLY DO WITH
THAT MONEY? I JUST DON'T HAVE
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AND
IT WAS CLEAR TO ME FROM OUR
LAST MEETING THAT THERE WAS
APPREHENSION AS TO WHETHER OR
NOT AND ACTUALLY MORE ON IT IS
UNLIKELY THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO
DO MORE . I GUESS ANY
INFORMATION BEFORE TOMORROW
THAT I CAN RECEIVE WOULD BE
WELCOME SINCE I WASN'T
CONFIDENT ABOUT THEIR ABILITY
AND THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY
TO ACTUALLY GET THE MONEY OUT
THE DOOR THIS YEAR.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA , A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN WE
WOULD HAVE COUNCIL BRIEFING
MONDAY MORNING AND AGAIN MONDAY
AFTERNOON, THERE WAS NO TIME
BECAUSE HERE WE ARE, WE JUST
FINISHED THIS AMENDMENT THIS
MORNING, SO NOW I AM PRESENTING
IT AND NOW I HAVE TIME TO GET
MORE INFORMATION. REACHING OUT
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR
DIRECT COMMUNICATION WILL BE
THE BEST BET . I CHATTED WITH
THEM THIS WEEKEND AND THEY ARE
HAPPY TO CHAT WITH ANYONE WHO
WANTS TO TALK TO THEM BUT WE
WILL NOT RECEIVE NECESSARILY A
FORMAL BRIEFING AT FULL COUNCIL
TOMORROW IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
IS THAT CORRECT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> RIGHT. THE THING THAT I CARE
THE MOST ABOUT IS NOT TO BE
PERFORMATIVE ABOUT SOMETHING WE
ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
IMPLEMENT WHAT WE SAY WE ARE
GOING TO DO BECAUSE AS I SAID
LAST WEEK , I AM TIRED OF
PEOPLE PROMISING THINGS BECAUSE
-- MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHILDREN
WHEN WE CANNOT DELIVER. I WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ACTUALLY
DELIVER ON THE PROMISE WE MAKE
VERSUS SOME PERFORMATIVE ACTION
, YOU KNOW, TO SHOW THAT WE
CARE BECAUSE IT IS CLEAR WE ALL
CARE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
ACTUALLY CAN IMPLEMENT THE
MONEY WE SET ASIDE FOR THESE
PURPOSES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. IT IS IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE
COMPLICATING HERE, THERE ARE
EXISTING CONTRACTS THAT HAVE
BEEN CANCELED . THERE ARE
PROGRAMS CURRENTLY PROVIDING
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMMING
TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO
HAVE HAD THEIR CONTRACTS
CANCELED AND WHO WILL CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE THESE REALLY
IMPORTANT SERVICES AND WHEN
THEY ARE HAVING TO CONTEMPLATE
LAYING OFF STAFF AND WE HAVE
TECHNICALLY -- $10 MILLION WE
COULD BE EXPANDING CONTRACTS
WITH IT REALLY RAISES QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
WE WILL TRY TO RESPOND DIRECTLY
TO YOUR QUESTIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA , BUT WE
HAVE EXISTING CONTRACTS THAT
COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR , RATHER
THAN WAITING UNTIL THE LAST BIT
OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR OR THE
BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SCHOOL
YEAR. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT
OF QUESTIONS ON WHY THIS MONEY
TOOK, YOU KNOW, SOME TIME TO
COME OUT. NEVERTHELESS THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RATHER THAN
CANCEL CONTRACTS TO CONTINUE TO
PAY THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
PROVIDING THE KIND OF SERVICES
THAT WE HAVE ALL INDICATED ARE
IMPORTANT TO US AND THAT IS
PART OF THE INTENT BEHIND THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HAVE
NO AWARENESS ANY CONTRACTS HAVE
BEEN CANCELED AND I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THIS MONEY HAD NOT
BEEN ALLOCATED . THERE HAD BEEN
NO PROCESS FOR THIS MONEY. NO
AWARDS HAVE BEEN MADE. WITH
THIS PARTICULAR MONEY, NOTHING
HAS BEEN CANCELED AND NO AWARDS
HAVE BEEN MADE . I THINK YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT NONE OF US HAVE ANY
AWARENESS OF . AGAIN, NO ONE
HAS SAID TO ME FROM CENTRAL
BUDGET OFFICE OR THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE OR FROM ANY OTHER
DEPARTMENT THAT ANY CURRENT
PROGRAM THAT HAS FUNDING HAS
GOTTEN CUT THIS YEAR. IF THAT
IS THE CASE, WE NEED THAT
INFORMATION AND I DOUBT WHETHER
SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED THAT WE
HAVE NO AWARENESS OF BECAUSE WE
HAD A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION
ABOUT THAT . I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THAT FROM THE DEPARTMENT
AND FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND FROM THE CENTRAL BUDGET
OFFICE VERY SPECIFICALLY IF
THINGS HAVE BEEN CUT BECAUSE WE
HAVE NO AWARENESS OF THAT.
>> MAYBE HSD OR THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE CAN CLEAR UP THAT
CONFUSION?
>> IF THAT IS THE CASE , THEN
WE DO NEED THAT INFORMATION BUT
I THINK THAT THESE ARE CLAIMS
BEING MADE THAT ARE
UNSUBSTANTIATED AND , AGAIN, IT
PROVIDES CONFUSION TO THE
PUBLIC AND IT IS NOT OKAY. I
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE
CENTRAL BUDGET OFFICE AND FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS TO THESE
ALLEGATIONS THAT WE SOMEHOW --
THAT THE CITY HAS CUT FUNDING
TO ANY PROGRAMS PROVIDING THE
SERVICES BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT
HAD ANY INFORMATION TO DATE AND
WE HAD CENTRAL BUDGET OFFICE
PRESENTING LAST WEEK . THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT .
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MAY I?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE
CENTRAL STAFF HERE TOMORROW TO
BRIEF US ON THAT ISSUE? THIS IS
NEWS TO ME AS WELL. I AM NOT
DOUBTING THAT INFORMATION, PER
SE. IT IS CATCHING ME BY
SURPRISE. I CERTAINLY WOULD
HAVE THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY IF I
HAD KNOWN THESE PROGRAMS HAD
BEEN CUT. WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
HAVE CENTRAL STAFF PRESENT TO
US OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHO
WAS HERE, BY THE WAY, WHEN WE
HAD THAT VERY LONG AND INVOLVED
CONVERSATION AND MADE NO
MENTION OF THIS . YOU KNOW, WE
CERTAINLY ALL UP HERE SUPPORT
MAKING SURE THERE IS SUFFICIENT
MONEY FOR GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.
WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD
GET THAT INFORMATION SO WE
COULD TAKE AN EDUCATED VOTE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT ?
>> IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GOING
TO ASK ?
>> IN THE PAST, IN PAST YEARS,
BEST PRACTICE HAS BEEN BETWEEN
COUNCIL BRIEFING AND FULL
COUNCILS. INDIVIDUALS WITH
QUESTIONS WOULD REACH OUT TO
THE RESPECTIVE PLACES TO HAVE
THE PRESENTATION. THIS IS THE
FIRST YEAR I'VE SEEN ANYONE
COME TO FULL COUNCIL TO CREATE
PRESENTATIONS. I WILL JUST
LEAVE IT AT THAT .
>> WELL, I WOULD NOTE THAT
THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO
BE ON ANY OF OUR RADAR TO
REQUEST TO HAVE A SEPARATE
BRIEFING. CERTAINLY IF IT HAD
BEEN ON MY RADAR, I WOULD HAVE
ASKED FOR A SEPARATE BRIEFING.
AND AN OPPORTUNITY HERE WHERE
QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AND
NOTHING WAS FLAGGED ON THIS
PRESENTATION FOR ME TO FOLLOW
UP WITH BETWEEN WEDNESDAY AND
TOMORROW, SO WHILE THAT MAY BE
THE PROCESS, THERE HAS TO BE
SOME WAY TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS
AN ISSUE YOU NEED A BRIEFING
ABOUT. AND I WOULD ASK IF
COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE OF THAT,
AWARE OF FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN
CUT, HEY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW .
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT AND I
WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THAT DISCUSSION AND BE
SUPPORTIVE OF EFFORTS TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE
FUNDING THEY NEED . I WOULD
APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION IN
BRIEFING, SO THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE AS WELL. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE . THIS
ASSIGNMENT WE NEED TO KNOW
AHEAD OF TIME, NOT THE DAY WE
ARE BEING INFORMED WE ARE TO
TAKE A VOTE THE NEXT DAY. THESE
ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND WE
NEED TO HAVE THE INFORMATION
BEFORE WE TAKE THESE VOTES. I
DO AGREE WITH THAT. AND TO YOUR
POINT, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ,
THERE HAVE BEEN PRESENTATIONS
FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT HAVE GONE
STRAIGHT TO FULL COUNCIL AND
ALSO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN
PROCESSED BY COMMITTEE, SO I AM
HAPPY TO PROVIDE EXAMPLES IF
YOU WOULD LIKE BUT ON THIS
PARTICULAR CASE BECAUSE THESE
TWO AMENDMENTS ARE COMING ON
THE DAY THIS LEGISLATION WILL
BE VOTED ON I DO ENDORSE WE DO
HAVE SOME FOLKS FROM THE
EXECUTIVE TO ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS AND ALSO CENTRAL
STAFF. ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY .
ALL RIGHT . THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ,
FOR ACKNOWLEDGING MARIA ROSA'S
, A DEVELOPMENTAL TREASURE .
SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED AND
I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED
HER RETIREMENT. MUCH-DESERVED .
CLEARLY SHE DOES A LOT MORE
THAN JUST MAKE SURE WE ARE
PAID. I MEAN, SHE IS A
THOUGHTFUL AND SHE HAS PRETTY
MUCH EVERYTHING ABOUT
EVERYONE'S FAMILIES , ABOUT
THEIR KIDS , AND ABOUT WHAT WE
ARE ALL GOING THROUGH, SO I
WILL REALLY MISS HER. ALL
RIGHT, THE GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MET LAST
WEEKEND WE WERE GOING TO MEET
THIS MORNING. IT WAS CANCELED
BUT I'VE ADDED A COUPLE
SPECIAL MEETINGS THAT WILL BE
HELD ON -- LET'S SEE, MONDAY,
SEPTEMBER 16th AND SEPTEMBER
23rd BOTH TO CATCH UP ON
LEGISLATION BEFORE WE BREAK FOR
BUDGET. AND I -- I WILL JUST
GET TO SOME IMPORTANT OTHER
BUSINESS BEFORE WE BREAK INTO
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT THEM LEGISLATION
BEFORE US THAT MAY BE
CONSIDERED CONTROVERSIAL, I
WANT TO EXPLAIN OUR PROCEDURES
GOING FORWARD IN CASE OF
DISRUPTIONS WE DO NOT REPEAT
THE CHAOS OF LAST WEEK. SO, PER
COUNCIL RULE 11D, THIS INCLUDES
OUTBURSTS OF MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC NOT PERMITTED TO SPEAK,
NOT WITHIN THE AGENDA OR WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE,
BEHAVIOR SUCH AS THREATS,
PERSONAL ATTACKS, USE OF
RACIST, MISOGYNISTIC SLURS, OR
OTHER DISORDERLY CONDUCT THAT
INTENTIONALLY DISRUPTS ,
DISTURBS, OR OTHERWISE IMPEDES
THE CONDUCT OR ATTENDANCE OR
PARTICIPATION AT THE MEETING
AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE
DIRECTION OF THE OFFICER OR
SECURITY OFFICER. THOSE ARE THE
MOST COMMON BUT THERE IS A
WHOLE LIST AND YOU CAN READ
RULE 11D FOR THE REST OF THEM .
IF DISRUPTION IS OCCURRING,
WHAT I WILL DO IS FIRST GIVE A
VERBAL WARNING TO TRY TO STOP
THE DISRUPTION AND IF THE
DISRUPTION CONTINUES AND IT IS
INFEASIBLE TO PROCEED WITH OUR
BUSINESS, WE WILL TAKE A 10
MINUTE RECESS IN HOPES SECURITY
CAN ASSIST TO CALM THINGS DOWN
. IF AFTER RECONVENING AN ORDER
IS NOT RESTORED AND IT'S NOT
FEASIBLE TO REMOVE INDIVIDUALS
CAUSING THE DISRUPTION, WE WILL
AGAIN RECESS FOR 10 MINUTES SO
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE CLERK
CAN GO TO THEIR OFFICE AND JOIN
THE MEETING AND JOIN THE
MEETING REMOTELY. COUNCIL MAY
NEED TO DIRECT SECURITY TO
CLEAR CHAMBERS. IN WHICH CASE
STAFF WILL PREPARE THE MEDIA AS
REQUIRED. HERE IS THE DEAL.
WHAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO
UNDERSTAND IS WHEN PEOPLE IN
THE AUDIENCE ARE YELLING AT
COUNCILMEMBERS OR CHANTING OR
WHATEVER, IT IS REALLY
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR US
TO HEAR EACH OTHER . IF YOU'RE
LISTENING ON SEATTLE CHANNEL ,
YOU CAN HEAR WHAT WE ARE SAYING
BETTER THAN WE CAN BECAUSE THE
MICROPHONES PICK UP OUR VOICES
AND NOT NECESSARILY THE NOISE
IN THE ROOM. YOU COULDN'T HEAR
ME, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. SO
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DO, TO ENSURE WE CAN HEAR EACH
OTHER AND SO WE CAN CONTINUE
WITH THE MEETING. IN THESE
CASES , THAT IS WHAT TO EXPECT
IN CASES OF DISRUPTION. I JUST
WANT TO BE CLEAR SO WE ARE NOT
WONDERING WHAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN PROCEED AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE
REMAINING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT TO EXPECT
FROM CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS BUT
CHAIRS CAN RUN THINGS AT THEIR
DISCRETION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE
YOU WHAT WE DO SO PEOPLE KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THEY ARE
WATCHING OR ATTENDING COUNCIL
MEETINGS BUT I JUST WANTED TO
GIVE THAT LITTLE PREVIEW BEFORE
THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS. ALL
RIGHT . ANY OTHER BUSINESS? GO
AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS .
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU
FOR CLARIFYING. AS YOU SAID, I
COULD NOT HEAR YOU FROM HALFWAY
DOWN THE DAIS SO I APPRECIATE
THAT CLARIFICATION. THIS WILL
BE SHARED WITH US IN THAT
FORMAT, CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> FANTASTIC . FOR THE RECORD,
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE -- I DO
NOT THINK IT MEETS OUR
EXPECTATIONS TO MEET ON ZOOM. I
THINK MEETING TOGETHER IN
PERSON IS IMPORTANT. I DON'T
NEED TO MICROMANAGE OR GET INTO
THAT . I AM JUST STATING MY
PREFERENCES .
>> IF WE DO NOT MEET IN ZOOM,
IT NEEDS TO BE A VOICE VOTE
FROM AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION
AND THE PROBLEM FROM LAST WEEK,
WE COULD NOT EVEN HEAR OUR
VOICES. THAT IS WHY I SAID, YOU
KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE
SITUATION, WE MAY NEED TO CLEAR
THE ROOM . HOWEVER, SOMETIMES
IT IS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE TO DO
THAT AND ARRANGING ANOTHER
LOCATION AND GETTING THAT VOICE
VOTE IS DIFFICULT. I HEAR YOU.
I AM A CHAMPION OF BEING HERE
AT THE DAIS IN PERSON SO THAT
IS ALWAYS MY FIRST PREFERENCE
AS WELL. ANY OTHER BUSINESS?
ALL RIGHT . SO, IF THERE IS NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, WE WILL MOVE
INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION . WE
WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION .