>>> GOOD MORNING. THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT'S 9:30 A.M. OCTOBER
2nd. 2024. I'M DAN STRAUSS
CHAIR OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL? [ ROLL CALL ] EIGHT
PRESENT.
>> WONDERFUL. AND Y'ALL --
ALSO IF YOU WANT TO JUST COMET
UP WHILE WE'RE -- COME UP
WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE
EARLY MOTIONS. THIS MORNING, WE
HAVE -- TODAY'S THE LAST DAY
OF DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS.
WE'LL MOVE INTO CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTATIONS ON OCTOBER 16th
WHEN THE NEXT VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
ACCEPTED. DURING A -- PUBLIC
HEARING, WHERE EVERYONE WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES NO MATTER HOW
MANY PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN UP AND
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ON
THE DAIS WITH US NOW IN
CHAMBERS. SO TODAY, E OF HOUSIN
AND THEN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. ALSO
WANT TO SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR
TONIGHT BEGINS ROSH HASHANAH.
AND -- ALREADY MENTIONED THAT
WE'RE ON THE LAST DAY OF
DEPARTMENTS. IF -- AS A
REMINDER, IF THERE ARE PRIORITY
AREAS WITHIN THE BUDGET WHICH
YOU WOULD LIKE CENTRAL STAFF TO
FOCUS ON DURING THEIR MEMOS AND
PRESENTATIONS BEGINNING THE
16th, PLEASE START LETTING THEM
KNOW THIS WEEK.
WE HAD ORIGINALLY SET THE
DEADLINE OF THIS EVENING. AND
THIS WEEK IS GOING TO WORK. MY
STAFF WILL BE WALKING THE FLOOR
AS WELL JESSE FROM MY TEAM TO
SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT
WE CAN DO TO HELP BECAUSE WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR NEEDS
ARE BEING MET EARLY AND
QUESTIONS ARE BEING ANSWERED SO
YOU HAVE GOT THE INFORMATION
YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL THIS
YEAR. ALSO AT THE END OF THE
MEETING TODAY, I WILL BE ASKING
FOR SIGNATURES ON A
PROCLAMATION FOR DAVID
BREWSTER. AND -- IT'S NOT --
IT IS AT TIMES THE PRACTICE TO
BRING PROCLAMATIONS AND LETTERS
TO A MEETING OF THE FULL
COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN DO SO
RIGHT -- SIGN THESE LETTERS IN
OPEN SESSION. THIS WEEK, I
WOULD HAVE HAD IT AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING BUT DUE TO THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE WE DIDN'T
HAVE COUNCIL BRIEFING. THAT'S
WHAT STANDS. IT WAS SENT OUT
YESTERDAY. I WILL CALL FOR
SIGNATURES AT THE END OF THIS
MEETING. SO IF YOU HAVE NOT
GOTTEN TIME TO REVIEW THAT
INFORMATION, IT'S IN YOUR
INBOX.
WITH THAT, CLERK IF YOU COULD
READ THE SHORT TITLE OF THE
FIRST ITEM INTO THE RECORD AND
THEN WE'LL TAKE IT AWAY.
>> ITEM ONE. OFFICE OF HOUSING
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. AND SO WE HAVE
MICAH WINKLER CHIN AND WE HAVE
BECKY GUERRERO AND KELLY
HARRISON HERE, JUST READING OFF
THE SCRIPT. MAYBE BECKY IS IN
THE BACKGROUND. I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU. TAKE IT THROUGH
THE PRESENTATION AND WE'LL
PASS IT OVER TO THE CHAIR OF
YOUR COMMITTEE. OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS. AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
MENTIONED, JOINING US VIRTUALLY
IS BECKY GARA, SHE IS THE -- I
THINK SHE'S ON VIRTUALLY. SHE
IS OUR -- THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE BEEN WITH
THE OFFICE FOR 11 YEARS. BEEN
WITH THE CITY FOR 17 AND THEN
THE PERSON IMMEDIATELY SITTING
NEXT TO ME IS KELLY LARSON. SHE
IS OUR DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND
PLANNING FOR THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING. AND WE ARE VERY
PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS
MORNING. MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL'S
BUDGET PRIORITIZES AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
IN 2025, AND 2026, HIS
PRIORITIES ARE SUPPORTED BY
RESOURCES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY UNIT
PRODUCTION GOALS, SUPPORT A
STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SECTOR AND WORK FORCE, AND
AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER
FAIRHOUSING AND ADVANCE OUR
CITY'S EQUITY GOALS. THE CITY
IS MAKING RECORD INVESTMENTS IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AS SHOWN
IN THE CHART OF ADOPTED AND
PROPOSED REVENUES FROM 2014 TO
2026.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN A
PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR A LONG TIME. OVER
THE LAST DECADE, THERE'S BEEN A
550% INCREASE IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING'S BUDGET WITH THE
GREATEST ESCALATION OCCURRING
IN THE LAST THREE YEARS DUE IN
LARGE PART TO THE DEDICATED
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, REVENUE
AND THE RECENT RENEWAL OF THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY. WHICH HAS
ENABLED THE CITY TO USE THESE
RESOURCES FOR BOLD, EFFECTIVE
AND PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO MEET
THE SCALE AND URGENCY OF OUR
HOUSING NEEDS. MAYOR HARRELL'S
PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES
INVESTMENTS OF MORE THAN $342
MILLION ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT
BIENNIUM.
IN THE TABLE, YOU CAN SEE THAT
THE -- A. T. FUNDS HAVE
DECREASED MODESTLESS.
REDUCTIONS IN P. E. T. ARE MORE
THAN OFFSET IN ORDER TO KEEP
TRUE TO HIS GOAL OF ALREADY
KEEPING THE RECORD-SETTING
HOUSING INVESTMENTS. THIS
BUDGET INSURE THAT IS THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING MAINTAINS
CORE SERVICES WHICH I'LL
DESCRIBE ON THE NEXT SLIDE. THE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF HOUSING'S
VISION IS THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE
A SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOME.
INCREASES TO THE BIANNUAL
BUDGET WILL ALLOW US TO
CONTINUE CORE FUNCTIONS AND
SERVICES TO ACHIEVE THIS
VISION. FIRST, YOU CAN SEE THE
MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING
PROGRAM WHICH IS THE LARGEST
PART OF OUR BUDGET.
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING SUPPORTS
THE PRESERVATION AND PRODUCTION
OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING
THROUGH LONG-TERM LOANS TO
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPERS IN
SEATTLE.
ALL BUILDINGS THAT RECEIVE
FUNDING THROUGH O. H. ARE
INSPECTED BY THE ASSET
MANAGEMENT TEAM TO ENSURE
ONGOING QUALITY, HEALTH, AND
SAFETY OF THOSE INVESTMENTS FOR
55 PLUS YEARS. NEXT, HOME
OWNERSHIP AND HOME IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAMS. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
ASSISTS FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS
IN ACHIEVING THEIR DREAM
THROUGH OUR HOME OWNERSHIP
PROGRAM. AND FOR EXISTING
INCOME QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS WE
PROVIDE LOANS AND GRANTS TO
IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN THEIR
HOMES THROUGH THE HOME WISE
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM AND HOME
REPAIR LOAN PROGRAM. 2026
FUNDING IS LESS THAN 2025
BECAUSE OF HOW WE ACCOUNT FOR
THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM
FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM
STATE AND FEDERAL SOURCES. TO
MAKE AVAILABLE FOR HOMEOWNERS.
IN 2025, WE'VE INCLUDED THE
FUNDS WE WILL RECEIVE TO OUR
PROGRAM SERVICES. BUT FOR 2026,
WE HAVE NOT INCLUDED THEM BUT
PLEASE REST ASSURED THOSE WILL
BE ADDED AS PART OF THE 2026
MID BIANNUAL BUDGET UPDATE NEXT
YEAR. FINALLY, WE HAVE O. H.'S
LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION
SERVICES WHICH INCLUDES
PLANNING AND POLICY, FINANCE,
AND CONTRACTING UNITS. THESE
STAFF AND OPERATING COSTS ARE
NEEDED FOR MANAGING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
MHA AND THE MULTIFAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION MFTE AND FOR THE
AFFORDABLE POLICY WORK THAT O.
H. LEADS IN COORDINATION WITH
CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
ADDRESS QUESTIONS THAT MY
OFFICE HAS RECEIVED FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS AND CENTRAL
STAFF ABOUT OUR CASH BALANCES.
I'M SHARING THIS ILLUSTRATION
THAT WE USED IN RECENT
BRIEFINGS WITH THE COUNCIL'S
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. THIS HOPEFULLY HELPS
TO EXPLAIN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING'S PROCESS FOR
PROJECTS. FROM THE TIME WE MAKE
A FUNDING AWARD TO WHEN WE
LEGALLY COMMIT FUNDING IN LOAN
CLOSINGS.
AND ON TO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION
AND THE DRAWING DOWN OF FUNDS.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS
THAT IT CAN TAKE THREE YEARS OR
MORE FROM THE TIME A PROJECT
RECEIVES A FUNDING AWARD TO THE
TIME IT STARTS CONSTRUCTION AND
BILLING. O. H. TRACKS PROJECTS
IN THEIR FUNDING ASSOCIATED
WITH THEM. NOT JUST THE CITY
FUNDING, BUT OTHER PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE FINANCING AS PROJECTS
MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON'S
REQUEST, WE PROVIDED A LIST OF
THE CURRENT O. H. FUNDED
PROJECTS ALONG WITH DATA POINTS
FOR EACH OF THEM INCLUDING
PROJECT NAME AND LOCATION,
NUMBER OF APARTMENT HOMES TO BE
BUILT, THE AMOUNT OF CITY
COMMITMENT, AND THE TOTAL
PROJECT COST AND ANTICIPATED
TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE PROJECT
WILL DRAW ON AND EXPEND CITY
FUNDS, AND ANTICIPATED
COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE
DEVELOPMENT AND UNITS AWARDED
FUNDING THROUGH RECENT
COMPETITIVE PROCESSES.
THESE PROJECTS ARE AT INITIAL
AWARD PHASE AND THEY ARE NOW
SECURING FUNDING FROM OTHER
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES
BEFORE O. H. LEGALLY OBLIGATES
THESE FUNDS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT O. H. HAS
AWARDED FUNDING THAT WILL
CREATE MORE THAN 800 RENTAL
APARTMENT HOMES AND 73
PERMANENT AFFORDABLE FOR SALE
HOMES. O. H. HAS AWARDED THESE
FUNDS, BUT THE DEVELOPERS ARE
NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THESE CITY
FUNDS ATTHIS STAGE OF OUR
PROCESS. THIS MEANS OUR
NONPROFIT AND FORPROFIT PROJECT
SPONSORS ARE CARRYING ALL THE
INITIAL RISK. PREDEVELOPMENT
COSTS SUCH AS EARNEST MONEY
DEPOSITS, ARCHITECTURAL AND
ENGINEERING FEES, SURVEYS,
APPRAISALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW.
O. H. IS GENERALLY THE FIRST
INVESTOR IN THE PROJECT.
DEVELOPMENTS CAN MOVE TO THE
NEXT STEP OF DESIGN AND
PERMITTING WITH CONFIDENCE ONCE
CITY FINANCING IS SECURED. O.
H.'S STAFF ARE TENACIOUS IN
WORKING WITH OTHER PUBLIC
FUNDERS TO PRIORITIZE
SEATTLE'S PROJECTS. AS THERE
ARE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE
FROM OTHER SOURCES WHICH WE
DON'T CONTROL.
IF THE CITY TOOK BACK ANY
FUNDING AWARDS, PROJECTS WOULD
NOT BE AS VIABLE IN THE EYES OF
OTHER FUNDERS AND INVESTORS.
REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS ARE PUT AT
RISK AND MAKE ORGANIZATIONS
VULNERABLE. SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS
PROJECTS WITH AWARDS AND CITY
FUNDING THAT HAVE ENCUMBERED OR
LEGALLY OBLIGATED FUNDS. THIS
MARKS THE TIME WHEN PROJECT
DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS RECEIVE
ALL OF THEIR FUNDING
COMMITMENTS AND AT THIS POINT,
ALL OF THOSE PREDEVELOPMENT
COSTS ARE RECOGNIZED AS
ELIGIBLE PROJECT EXPENSES AND
CAN BE REIMBURSED.
THE ORGANIZATIONS SHOWN ON THIS
SLIDE ARE DELIVERING PROJECTS
ACROSS THE CITY CREATING MORE
THAN 4,600 RENTAL APARTMENT
HOMES AND 317 PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE FOR SALE VELOPMENTSS
PERMITTING TO CONSTRUCTION AS
WELL AS LEASE UP AND RESIDENT
MOVING AND THE RESIDENTS MOVING
IN BEFORE THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT
PHASE THAT WE CALL PROJECT
CLOSEOUT.
DRAWING DOWN ALL CITY FUNDS IS
DIFFICULT. ESPECIALLY WITH
MULTIPLE FUNDERS AND INVESTORS
INVOLVED. O. H. STAFF PROVIDE
ONGOING SUPPORT TO OUR
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS ENSURING
THAT ALL EXPENDITURES ARE
DOCUMENTED AND MEET FUNDING
REQUIREMENTS. WITH THE MAYOR'S
PRIORITY INHOUSING AND
CORRESPONDING GROWTH IN THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING'S BUDGET,
OUR SERVICES ARE MAINTAINED.
AND THE BUDGET CHANGES ARE
TECHNICAL IN NATURE WITH
MINIMAL IMPACT TO EXTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS.
THERE ARE NO BUDGET CHANGES OF
NOTE.
I'M NOW GOING TO HIGHLIGHT O.
H.'S PLANS FOR THE NEXT
BIENNIUM. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK AS
WE HAVE SINCE OUR INCEPTION
OVER 40 YEARS AGO. FOR ABOUT 40
YEARS AGO. BUT IT JUST SEEMED
TO THE NEEDS OF THE TIMES TO
MEET THE MOMENT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO
AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR
HOUSING AND ADVANCE THE CITY'S
EQUITY GOALS THROUGH PROJECTS
LIKE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CENTER, FORT
LAWTON, MOUNT BAKER TRANSIT
STATION, AND SOUTH PARK
PROPERTIES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
ACHIEVE SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY
UNIT PRODUCTION GOALS WITH
COMMITMENTS TO PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP
PROJECTS LIKE SOUTHWEST HOLDEN
AND WEST SEATTLE, THE FORMER
DUE MAR SUBSTATION. CLOVER DALE
SOUTH PARK HOMES. AND THE
RAINIER VALLEY AFFORDABLE HOME
OWNERSHIP INITIATIVE SITES.
AND WE'LL PRODUCE UNITS
THROUGH ACQUISITION
PRESERVATION AND NEW
CONSTRUCTION COMMITMENTS FOR
RENTAL APARTMENTS, SELECTED
THROUGH OPEN COMPETITIVE
PROCESSES. IN OUR CURRENT
ANNUAL RENTAL HOUSING FUND
ROUND, O. H. RECEIVED MORE THAN
20 PROJECT REQUESTS TOTALLING
OVER $336 MILLION FROM THE
CITY.
CREATING NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES
IS CENTRAL TO OUR CITY'S
SUCCESS. AND AT THE SAME TIME,
WE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO
MAINTAINING OUR ASSETS.
WE'LL SUPPORT OUR HOUSING
SECTOR AND WORK FORCE,
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS
APPROVED WITH THE LEVY,
PROVIDING INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS FOR PROVIDERS
RECEIVING OPERATING,
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES
FUNDING. AND WE CANNOT IGNORE
THE SERIOUS CHALLENGES THAT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS
ARE FACING IN OPERATING AND
MAINTAINING STABLE PROPERTIES
AND PROMOTING A HEALTHY AND
SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE
RESIDENTS AND THEIR WORK FORCE.
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING NEVER
DOES THIS WORK IN ISOLATION. I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, OUR
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
O. H. AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO SEEK SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.
THIS IS THE END OF OUR
PRESENTATION. AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INTEREST IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING. HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHIN.
DIRECTOR EATER, DIRECTOR NOBLE,
KELLY, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD AT
THIS TIME?
>> NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.
THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. FAIR ENOUGH.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE OVERSEEING
THIS DEPARTMENT THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> OKAY. EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, CHAIR. GOOD MORNING.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE DIRECTOR AND KELLY
AND BECKY. AND DAN. BEN THE
WHOLE CREW. SO I REALLY DO WANT
TO SAY I VERY MUCH HAVE
APPRECIATED YOUR PARTNERSHIP
THESE NINE MONTHS. WORKING TO
CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. WORKING ON THE LEVY
AND TRYING TO UP THE LEVY
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE PLAN
AND GETTING THAT IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER. SO THAT WE CAN
DELIVER ON THE LEVY PROMISES.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE IN
A TOUGH SPOT HERE GIVEN THE
BUDGET DEFICIT. SO I DO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE ALL THE HARD WORK AND
THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO
EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING
AND YOUR VERY DAILY
DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO
MAKING SURE WE HAVE -- WE'RE
MEETING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF
OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY. AND
LOOKING AT THE BUDGET THOUGH I
DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, IFIRST
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
ADMINISTRATIVE FUND BALANCE?
BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE -- OF
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE
USED TO FILL HOLES WHEN WE TAKE
THE P. E. T. MONEY AWAY.
>> I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.
THE CURRENT BALANCE IS $21
MILLION. WE ARE PLANNING TO USE
$7 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR
AND $5 MILLION IN THE SECOND
YEAR TO FILL HOLES. WE ARE
PLANNING TO USE $2 MILLION FOR
OUR NEW DATABASE SOLUTION. AND
THEN OF COURSE WE USE
APPROXIMATELY DEPENDING ON THE
YEAR, BUT APPROXIMATELY $3
MILLION A YEAR FOR STAFFING AND
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. SO WE ARE
-- CONTINUING TO LEAVE THAT FOR
EACH YEAR. AND KNOWING THAT THE
MHA REVENUES ARE UNPREDICTABLE.
WE DO TRY TO LEAVE A YEAR OR
TWO FURTHER. AND THE WE ALSO DO
IS WHENEVER THE AMOUNT GETS TO
A THRESHOLD, WHERE WE FEEL LIKE
IT MAKES SENSE, WE THEN DO
SHIFT IT OVER TO CAPITAL. WE
HAVE DONE THAT TWICE SO FAR AND
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN
THROUGH THE -- BUDGET.
>> YES. SO I -- I MEAN, JUST IN
LOOKING AT YOUR FIGURES, SO YOU
HAVE THE HOME OWNERSHIP AND
SUSTAINABILITY. SO -- THE
BUDGET IN 2024 WAS $8,788,000.
AND THEN FOR 2025, IT'S
REDUCED BY ABOUT $1 MILLION.
'26 A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN
THAT. ACTUALLY GOES UP JUST A
TINY BIT.
AND THEN FOR MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING, THE SAME THING. YOUR
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX $130
MILLION PLUS FOR '25 IT GOES
DOWN TO $121 MILLION AND IN '26
IT GOES UP A LITTLE BIT. IN --
I'M JUST -- CURIOUS THAT IT
SOUND LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO
FILL THOSE HOLES WITH THE --
MHA ADMINISTRATIVE FUND
BALANCES. BUT THEN ALSO
SHIFTING SOME MONEY BACK TO --
HOME OWNERSHIP CAPITAL FOR
MULTIFAMILY CAPITAL. FEELS LIKE
KIND OF A SHELL GAME FRANKLY.
JUST TO BE REALLY BLUNT ABOUT
IT.
SO -- I -- WE -- WHY ARE WE
DOING THIS? WHY ARE WE -- WHY
ARE WE TAKING THIS P. E. T.
MONEY AWAY FROM AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT? AND ARE WE
REALLY GOING TO BE IN A
POSITION IN '27 TO PUT THAT
MONEY BACK?
>> I'M NOT SURE I WAS
FOLLOWING THE QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER. ARE YOU ASKING
BIG PICTURE WHY ARE WE --
>> YEAHING MINE I THINK BOTTOM
LINE IS THAT WE'VE TAKEN MONEY
FROM P. E. T. THAT'S
DESIGNATED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND WE'RE PUTTING IT
INTO THE GENERAL FUND WITH THIS
REPRESENTATION THAT WE ARE ABLE
TO FILL THE GAP WITH THE MHA
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS OR IN '27,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND
TAKE -- WE'LL TAKE BACK SOME
OF THE P. E. T. MONEY.
>> YEAH. THE -- THE DIFFICULT
CHOICE BEFORE THE MAYOR WAS
SHOULD WE MOVE MONEY FROM WHAT
-- SHOULD WE PROPOSE TO MOVE
MONEY FROM THE P. E. T. TO
SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND? OR
SHOULD WE TAKE YET MORE
REDUCTIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND,
REDUCING THINGS LIKE PARKS AND
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES AND
COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THE
LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THAT THE
GENERAL FUND IS USED FOR.
COUNCIL HAS RIGHTLY NOTED THAT
THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES THAT
ARE CHALLENGING ALREADY THAT WE
ARE TAKING REDUCTIONS ON THE
GENERAL FUND.
THAT WOULD BE DONE IN
MULTIPLES. MANY, MANY, MANY
TIMES OVER. IF WE DIDN'T
SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND WITH
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE
PROPOSED TO MOVE FROM THE P. E.
T. TO THIS PURPOSE.
THAT'S BIG PICTURE WHY THE
BUDGET LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES.
IT'S -- IT'S NOT PLEASANT TO
HAVE TO TAKE REDUCTIONS
ANYWHERE. IT'S NOT PLEASANT TO
HAVE TO REDUCE STAFFING
ANYWHERE. AND THE SERVICES THAT
THOSE STAFF PROVIDE BOTH
INTERNALLY IN THE CITY AND
EXTERNALLY. BUT IT IS -- IT IS
A LIGHT TOUCH COMPARED TO WHAT
WOULD BE THE CASE WITHOUT
MOVING THE P. E. T. INTO THE
GENERAL FUND.
>> OKAY. AND SO THE
REPRESENTATION IS THAT I THINK
FOR THE HOME OWNERSHIP, THAT
YOU ARE SAYING THAT FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS, YOU DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH PROVIDERS THAT COULD
ACTUALLY DELIVER ON THE HOME
OWNERSHIP AND SO IT'S OKAY TO
SHIFT THAT MONEY? IS THAT --
THE POSITION?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING
TO BUILD THE PIPELINE THOUGH?
FOR -- BECAUSE ONE OF MY
PRIORITIES AND I THINK I HAVE
BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THIS, IS HOME
OWNERSHIP. AND TRYING TO LOOK
AT WAYS THAT WE CAN GET MORE
PEOPLE IN -- YOU KNOW, LOWER
INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND
HOUSEHOLDS INTO HOME OWNERSHIP
RATHER THAN JUST TRYING TO -- I
MEAN, WE NEED RENTAL HOUSING,
BUT ULTIMATELY WE NEED -- THE
ULTIMATE CHALLENGE BEFORE US I
THINK IS TO BUILD A STABLE AND
SECURE CITY AND ALSO GROW OUR
TAX BASE IN THE WAY TO DO THAT
IS THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND WE ALREADY IN THIS BUDGET
THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE
PRIORITIZED RENTAL HOUSING OVER
HOME OWNERSHIP. AND AGAIN,
WE'RE CUTTING MONEY TO HOME
OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. SO
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO GROW THE
HOME OWNERSHIP OF THE --
PIPELINE I GUESS?
>> I'LL TAKE THAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
O. H. STAFF AND OUR HOME
OWNERSHIP WORK GROUP IS HELPING
BUILD THE CAPACITY OF DIFFERENT
ENTITIES TO COME INTO THE HOME
OWNERSHIP SPACE. AND THAT
OFTENTIMES TAKES TIME. SO WE
HAVE SOME NEW ENTITIES THAT ARE
PARTICIPATING WITH O. H. AND
NEW STRUCTURES SUCH AS
COOPERATIVE HOUSING, THAT'S
BEING INVOLVED IN THAT. THAT --
AS I SAID, TAKES TIME. AND WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S
OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR
THEM FROM OTHER ENTITIES SUCH
AS OTHER PUBLIC SOURCES THAT
CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT. WE DO
AGREE THAT HOME OWNERSHIP IS A
GREAT TOOL FOR A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. PREVENTING
DISPLACEMENT, BUT WE NEED --
AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES. WE JUST NEETHOSE
SPACE.
>> YOU THINK IN THE NEXT TWO
YEARS YOU CAN BEGIN TO DO THAT
THEN COME BACK IN '27 AND CLAW
BACK SOME OF THE P. E. T. MONEY
FOR HOME OWNERSHIP? IS THAT THE
PLAN?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT -- I THINK
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW IN
SOME OF OUR SLIDES AND ALL
THAT, IS THAT THERE'S A
PIPELINE THAT TAKES PLACE. SO
PEOPLE NEED TO BUILD THE
CAPACITY AND THE KNOWLEDGE IN
ORDER TO MOVE INTO THIS SPACE.
AND SO -- THAT IS OUR INTENT
THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS
IMPROVING AND INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES
THAT DO PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF
O OUR PROGRAMS.
>> EXCELLENT. AND THEN I HAVE A
QUESTION ABOUT THE ASSET
MANAGEMENT. THAT IS A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM THIS
YEAR TO '25 AND THEN TO '26.
CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH ASSET MANAGEMENT AND WHY
THERE'S SUCH -- IT'S ALMOST A
DOUBLING, I MEAN.
>> THERE ARE TWO THINGS --
OKAY. THERE ARE TWO THINGS
GOING ON. ONE IS A PURELY
TECHNICAL THING AND ONE IS A
POLICY THING. THE PURELY
TECHNICAL THING IS THAT OUR
WORK FORCE STABILIZATION
PROGRAM WITH YOU ADDED MID YEAR
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND IT
WAS PLACED INTO THE MULTIFAMILY
LENDING PROGRAM. WHICH WAS NOT
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT. SO ONE
OF THE CHANGES HAPPENING IS WE
ARE MOVING -- WE ARE RECODING
THE WORK FORCE STABILIZATION
PROGRAM TO WHERE IT BELONGS
WHICH IS THE ASSET MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM. IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE
FUNCTION OF THE PROGRAM IN AN
WAY. THE OTHER THING THAT'S
HAPPENING IS THE INCREASE THAT
YOU SEE REFLECTS INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR AGENCIES IN
THE ASSET MANAGEMENT WHICH IS
UNDER THE ASSET MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM THAT INCLUDE RESIDENT
SERVICES, OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE SUBSIDIES, BOTH
FUNDED BY PAYROLL TAX AND BY
THE LEVY. SO IT IS -- AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR
AGENCY PARTNERS.
>> OKAY. SO SOME OF THAT IS THE
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AND
SERVICES, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> YEAH. AND DOES THAT INCLUDE
THE -- THE LIKE PROVIDING
SUBSIDIES OR HELPING THE -- THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS
WHO ARE CURRENTLY STRUGGLING TO
STAY AFLOAT WITH SOME
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES?
>> YES, AND I'LL LET KELLY
SPEAK TO THAT.
>> OKAY. WELL, I'LL SPEAK TO
IT. SOME OF THE --
>> OR YOU.
>> SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE
IN THERE IS THE RESIDENT
SERVICES PROGRAM. THAT IS NEW.
THAT GETS ADDED IN IN THERE.
AND THERE'S SOME NEW PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPERATIONS
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE DOLLARS
THAT ARE ANTICIPATED FOR THE
NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING THAT'S OPENING. SO
THAT IS ALSO WHY YOU ARE SEEING
THAT. THOSE FUNDS AS BECKY
MENTIONED HAVE HISTORICALLY
BEEN PUT INTO THE CAPITAL SIDE
I THINK. BUT IT DOES FIRMLY
BELONG IN THE ASSET MANAGEMENT
PORTION WHICH IS WHEN PROJECTS
ARE ON THE GROUND AND OPERATING
AND FUNCTIONING.
>> YEP. AND SO THAT'S TO
BASICALLY HELP STABILIZE THEM
AND GIVE THEM THE MONEY AND
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO
REMAIN VIABLE.
>> YES. BECAUSE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COLLECTS
VERY LITTLE IN RENT AND SO THEY
DO NEED OPERATING SUPPORTS TO
KEEP -- INSURED AND THEY'RE
STAFFING AND ALL OF THAT. YEAH.
>> YEAH. AND AS SOME OF THAT
ALSO ENCOMPASSING RENT ARREARS?
>> NO. OUR 2024 BUDGET
INCORPORATED THE OPERATING
STABILIZATION FUNDS THE $14
MILLION THAT WAS RELEASED THIS
YEAR. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO
ALLOCATIONS FOR RENT ARREARS IN
THE 2025 BUDGET.
>> OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND
THEN JUST MY LAST THING IS THAT
I DO WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR
KEEPING THE FULLY AND ACTUALLY
EXPANDING THE FUNDING FOR HOME
REPAIR WEATHERIZATION, THOSE
PROGRAMS ARE VERY CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT AS WELL TO KEEPING
PEOPLE PARTICULARLY LOWER
INCOME HOUSE HOLDS IN THEIR
HOMES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU CHAIR. I HAVE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AND I WILL ALSO HAVE LAST
WORD DURING THIS PRESENTATION.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I SEE YOU
HAVE YOUR HAND RAISED.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS.
WELCOME. GOOD MORNING DIRECTOR
WINKLERCHEN AND MISS LARSON AND
MISS GREER. AND OF COURSE OUR
OWN DIRECTOR NOBLE. FIRST CAN I
SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
O. H. TEAM WEARING FIRE
DEPARTMENT RED THIS MORNING.
REALLY I LOVE THE TRANSITION.
THE LEADUP FOR OUR NEXT
BRIEFING. SO THANK YOU. NO
PRESSURE ON YOU LIKE, YOU KNOW,
FUTURE, DRESS CODES. BUT YOU --
YOU HIT THAT ONE RIGHT ON THE
HEAD. I JUST WANTED TO START
WITH THE BIG THING UP FRONT.
PAGE THREE -- SLIDE THREE, I
UNDERSTAND HOW THE TOP LINE
NUMBER CAME ABOUT. IN TERMS OF
THE -- DIRECTOR EATER WITH YOU
TALKING ABOUT AND BELIEVE THAT
IT'S A VIABLE WAY AHEAD, YOU
KNOW, WHEN WE'RE THINKING BIG
PICTURE OF THE BUDGET AND ALL
THAT. I RECOGNIZE THE
ARGUMENTS. RELATED TO P. E. T..
BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, FROM A
VIABLE PRUDENT WAY AHEAD, I
UNDERSTAND AND I ALSO --
APPRECIATE THE NEXT SLIDE
TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S DONE
ACROSS CORE SERVICES. AND AS I
MENTIONED YESTERDAY, IN A
BRIEFING, YOU KNOW, THE
IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WE'RE
HEARING IN A LOT OF PEOPLE AND
AS IT TURNS OUT YESTERDAY, A --
AN EMAIL CAME IN ON A TOPIC.
GERMANE TO THAT BRIEFING. SO
I'M LIKE OKAY. HERE WE GO.
HSD. SO THIS MORNING, I GOT ONE
FROM PLYMOUTH HOUSING. AND IT
NOTED IN ITS THIRD PARAGRAPH
SAID MAYOR HARRELL'S PROPOSED
BUDGET SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF
INVESTING IN HOUSING. WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR THE PROPOSED
RECORD INVESTMENT IN HOUSING
HOWEVER, THE '25 PROPOSAL FOR
MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING IS
LOWER THAN THE 2024 ADOPTED
BUDGET. WE ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT IN MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING AND ASK THE CITY
COUNCIL FRONT PAGE CONTRACTS TO
ENCOURAGE RAPID DEVELOPMENT TO
ADDRESS THE ONGOING
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. THIS GOES
TO SLIDE FOUR. AND SPEAK TO
THAT IN TERMS OF THE
MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING.
BASICALLY THE -- POINT
REGARDING THE BUDGET COMING
DOWN A BIT BUT AS WE ALL KNOW
INFLATION AND SEATTLE INFLATION
IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN
NATIONAL INFLATION. AND, YOU
KNOW, THAT KIND OF PIECE. CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THAT TOPIC?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING'S BUDGET IS
AT A HISTORIC LEVEL. AS WE'VE
TRIED TO ILLUSTRATE EARLIER AND
-- IT'S AT A HISTORIC LEVEL. I
NEVER IMAGINED WORKING AT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING BEFORE AND
HAVING THE ABILITY TO HELP
INFLUENCE SO MANY DIFFERENT
PROJECTS. OUR CORE SERVICES ARE
AN EXISTING OBLIGATIONS ARE
SUPPORTED IN THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET. AND ALL OF OUR
PROJECTS THAT WE'VE INVESTED
IN, EITHER ON THE CAPITAL SIDE
AND OPERATING MAINTENANCE
SERVICES, ARE PRESERVED AND
PROTECTED AND THAT'S FOREMOST
OF IMPORTANCE TO US. AS WE MOVE
FORWARD.
>> OKAY. IN MORE BROAD AREA I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
CHAIR OF YOUR COMMITTEES, ON
TERMS OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP
POINT SHE MAKES AND ALSO THE
ONM. MAINTENANCE IS HUGE AND IN
TERMS OF LONG-TERM. SO I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ON THAT
FRONT. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS IS -- THERE'S A MULTIPLE
MANY MOVING PARTS TO THIS. AND
WHICH GOES TO THE REASON WHY
YOU -- IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF
AREA -- THE FUNDING TIMELINE
AND THE AWARDING OF FUNDING AND
PROJECTS AND THE PROCESS SO
THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT
BECAUSE THAT'S CLEARLY HOT
TOPIC FOR US AND FOR THE CITY.
AND ALSO SHOWS THE COMPLEXITY
AND THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND
THANGLES THAT WE,
YOU KNOW, HAVE HERE. WHICH GOES
ALSO TO THE DIFFERENT FUNDING
SOURCES WHICH YOU ALLUDED TO IN
THIS BEING YOU KNOW, OVERALL
MUCH LARGER. BUT WE HAVE P. E.
T. WE HAVE THE LEVY AND WE HAVE
MHA, WE HAVE MFTE. THERE'S
OTHER SMALLER ONES. GRANTS AND
SO FORTH. IT'S COMPLEX. AND WE
HAVE TO SHOW EFFING COMING
TOGETHER -- ON -- ON MHA, JUST
THE FOLLOW-UP ON THAT. HOW MANY
MHA EUROPES WERE BUILT? YOU
KNOW, LIKE WHATEVER TIMELINE
GOING BACK. KIND OF --
>> HOW MANY WERE BUILT? I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO GET BACK WITH
YOU ABOUT THAT ONE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AS PART OF THE PROCESS TO
YOU LOOK AT FUNDING SOURCES? I
MEAN, MHA IS MORE ESTABLISHED
AS OPPOSED TO THE LEVY KIND OF
COMING ONLINE NOW AND THEN
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE PETs
BEEN HERE AND THAT'S BEEN
FLEXING A BENEFIT YOU KNOW IN
TERMS OF LOOKING AT THOSE
FUNDING PROGRAMS AND SAYING
HEY, IS IT WORKING? RELATIVE TO
WHAT OUR GOALS ARE? OR YOM
KIPPUR, DO WE ASK THESE KIND OF
BIG QUESTIONS OF EACH OF THESE
FUNDING SOURCES?
>> DO THEY NEEDED TO MODIFIES.
>> WE DO ACTUALLY. SO --
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AND
SERVICES COMMITTEE MAY KNOW, WE
ARE GOING THROUGH A -- I GUESS
WE'RE CALLING IT AN
EXAMINATION AND A REVIEW. OF
THE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. AND WE
HAVE OUR ANNUAL REPORTS I THINK
TIED TO THE MHA PROGRAM IN
TERMS OF PRODUCTION. BUT WE ARE
GOING THROUGH A REVIEW OF THE
PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. AND HOW --
HOW MANY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AND
HOW MANY DOLLARS HAVE BEEN
GENERATED WHEN THE DOLLARS ARE
GENERATED AND THEY COME TO O.
H., WE PUT THEM OUT THROUGH OUR
NOFA PROJECTS AND I WOULD SAY
AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. THE
PROJECTS THAT WE INVEST IN
MIGHT BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN
THOSE THAT ARE PRODUCED.
BECAUSE WE TEND TO FUND MORE
LARGER FAMILY UNITS. RIGHT?
THAT THE MARKET GENERALLY DOES
NOT CREATE. SO AS PART OF OUR
REVIEW, THAT I BELIEVE IS DUE
LATER ON THIS YEAR, WE ARE
LOOKING AT THAT JUST TO --
FIGURE OUT HOW HAS THE PROGRAM
BEEN ALUATED? IT'S BASICALLY
A PROGRAM EVALUATION TIME. JUST
TO SEE WHAT THAT -- HOW HAS IT
BEEN WORKING AND WHAT IS IT
DOING? WHO'S BENEFITING FROM
THOSE PROGRAMS?
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S --
THAT'S DUE DILIGENCE. AND
CHAIR STRAUSS KNOWS THAT'S GOOD
GOVERNANCE. SO THANK YOU ON
THAT. AND ADDING TO THE
COMPLEXITY THAT WE HAVE, WE
HAVE SOCIAL HOUSING, WE HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU KNOW,
WE MAY HAVE ZERO TO 30 AMI AND
WE HAVE 80 TO 120 AMI AND WE
HAVE 40, 60, 80 IN-BETWEEN.
THAT IS ANOTHER COMPLEX THING
AND I'M LEADING TO A POINT
HERE AND A QUESTION. AND I
THINK THERE'S -- THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AND OTHERS THAT ARE IN
THIS WORLD ARE, YOU KNOW,
FRUSTRATED AND I THINK OUT OF
THAT FRUSTRATION COMES OUT LIKE
INITIATIVES LIKE 137.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE NOW HAVE
THE ALTERNATIVE TO THAT. AND SO
WITH PLAN COMING UP NEXT YEAR
YOU KNOW DESIGN REVIEW CHANGES.
THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO BRING
ALL THE VARYING COMPLEX ANGLES
TO THE HOUSING QUESTIONS THAT
FALL UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND
I APPRECIABLE ALL THE HARD WORK
THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE
DONE. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE
ALSO HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO
SEE A SEATTLE HOUSING PLAN
SIMILAR TO THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN. AND IN
TERMS OF GOING THROUGH THE
PROCESS, THE COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT, LAYING THINGS OUT,
YOU KNOW, THE PROS AND CONS
THAT VERY -- TRANSPARENT, YOU
KNOW, TRADE-OFFS THAT YOU GO
THROUGH. AND THEN PRESENTING IT
TO US JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW,
DIRECTOR SPOTS DID YOU KNOW,
DIRECTOR SPOTS SHOULDN'T BE
THE ONLY ONE TO GO THROUGH SUCH
A RIGOROUS AND, YOU KNOW,
PROCESS. I THINK IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT KIND OF
LEVEL SET FOR OUR CITY. TO HAVE
THAT UNDERSTANDING. AND I THINK
IT COULD PRECLUDE, YOU KNOW,
THE FRUSTRATION THAT LEADS TO
LIKE AN INITIATIVE 137. AND YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE
WHY THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE AND I
RECOGNIZE INSIDE THIS IS BEING
DONE AND I RECOGNIZE WITHIN THE
COMMITTEE. IT'S JUST A -- AN
OBSERVATION OF MINE THAT, YOU
KNOW, OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF
MONTHS, THAT WE REALLY COULD
USE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN
TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, A PROCESS
AND A PRODUCT AT THE END. YOU
KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
ASSET MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE ASSET
MANAGEMENT PLANS AND REALLY
TALKED ABILITY IN A WAY IN FULL
COUNCIL AND IN TERMS OF BRIDGES
AND SO FORTH. BUT THE SAME
THING IN TERMS OF THE VARYING
TYPES OF HOUSING THAT ARE
INCLUDED IN THE BRIEFING. YOU
DON'T HAVE TO ASK BUT IF YOU
HAVE AN OPINION ON THE ADD OF A
SEATTLE HOUSING PLAN AKIN TO A
TRANSPORTATION PLAN, PLEASE
OFFER IT.
>> I I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. AND
-- WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF MHA
UNITS THAT WERE PRODUCED. IT IS
-- 404 MHA UNITS WITH
AFFORDABLE RESTRICTIONS THAT
ARE PERFORMANCE AND ON THE
PAINT OPTION WE HAVE AWARDED
$252.2 MILLION TO 4,498
AFFORDABLE HOMES INCLUDING 105
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES.
WHICH ARE ON THE HOME OWNERSHIP
SIDE. AND AS FOR THE SEATTLE
HOUSING PLAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO
DISS CUSSING THAT FURTHER WITH
I THINK -- COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
YEAH.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. UP NEXT WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. AND --
JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE
UNIT COUNT OF MHA UNITS IN THE
PIPELINE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
DIRECTOR KELLY AND BECKY FOR
BEING HERE TO ANSWER OUR
QUESTIONS. SO -- I'M GOING TO
ASK SOME QUESTIONS BECAUSE I
WANT TO BETTER ORIENT MYSELF
AND MAYBE MY COLLEAGUES KNOW
THE ANSWERS TO THIS. BUT I'M
JUST -- I'M TRACKING ALL OF
THESE PIECES TO HOUSING. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M
UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY. ON THE
HOME OWNERSHIP SIDE, ARE YOU
SAYING THAT THE HOUSING
PROVIDERS THE CITY DO NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE THE EXPERTISE
TO DO THE HOME OWNERSHIP PIECE
AND SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT
YOU ARE HELPING THEM WITH IN
ORDER THEN TO GET THEM TO A
PLACE WHERE THEY CAN EXPAND IN
THIS AREA?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE
THREE PRIMARY ORGANIZATIONS
THAT DO HOME OWNERSHIP WITHIN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THOSE THREE ARE THE THREE Hs.
THAT WE TALK ABOUT. AND I
ALWAYS GET THEM WRONG. IT'S
HABITAT, HOMESTEAD, AND
HOMESITE.
WITH THOSE THREE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE VERY WELL EXPERIENCED
IN THAT FIELD, THEY'RE WORKING
WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO
HELP THOSE ORGANIZATIONS BUILD
THEIR CAPACITY SO THEY CAN DO
IT ONE DAY ON THEIR OWN. RIGHT.
AND IT'S NOT -- PART OF IT IS
EXPERIENCE. PART OF IT IS --
IT'S NOT JUST KNOWLEDGE. IT'S
ACTUALLY HAVING DONE IT A FEW
TIMES.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE
CONFIDENCE AND INVESTING
DOLLARS IN THEM. YEP.
>> SO SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MORE WE
HAVE A LIMITED SET OF -- OF
PROVIDERS WHO ARE DOING THIS
AND THEN THEY'RE TRAINING
OTHERS TO DO IT AS WELL.
AND SO THAT TAKES TIME.
>> YES. SO WE ALSO -- SO OF
THOSE, WE HAVE THE NEHIMIAM
INITIATIVE. THEY ARE FINDING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN WORKING ONLY THAT
LAND. WE HAVE -- ON THAT LAND.
WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT'S
ACTIVE IN THE RAINIER VALLEY.
WE ALSO STARTED A --
COOPERATIVE A CO-OP. IS THAT
RIGHT? WITH THE RAINIER VALLEY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND
THE BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP
INITIATIVE. SO THERE'S A LOT
OF AGENCIES THAT ARE INTERESTED
IN THAT BECAUSE IT'S A BIG
NEED AND TRYING TO GET THEM
ABLE TO SECURE THE LAND, FIND
THE RESOURCES AND GET THE
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
NECESSARY TO DO THAT, IT'S
GROWING.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND I
PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SAID
MENTORING, NOT TRAINING IT.
MEAN THESE FOLKS HAVE SOME
EXPERIENCE DOING HOUSING, NOT
NECESSARILY THE HOME OWNERSHIP
SIDE TO THIS LEVEL. THAT MAKES
SENSE. THIS IS WHY -- IT'S
MORE OF -- WE DON'T HAVE THE
CAPACITY AT THIS MOMENT SO
WE'RE -- IT'S OKAY AT THIS
MOMENT TO REPURPOSE THE FUNDS
FOR -- YEAH. OKAY. I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTOOD THAT CORRECTLY AND
THANK YOU FOR FURTHER EXPANDING
ON THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS REALLY
HELPFUL AT LEAST TO ME.
HOPEFULLY IT WAS TO OTHERS AND
THEN I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT --
SO THE CITY PUTS THE FIRST
DOLLAR IN. IS THIS -- IS THIS
COMMON PRACTICE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY? DO YOU KNOW? AND I ASK
BECAUSE I KNOW IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. THEY TEND TO PUT --
MAYBE EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL
-- FOR PROJECTS IN GENERAL,
LAST DOLLAR OUT. BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS
ARE AT A PLACE WHERE THEN
THEY'RE GOING TO GET BUILT
QUICKLY OR FINISHED QUICKLY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
SEATTLE IS TAKING A DIFFERENT
APPROACH. I HAVE NO IDEA SO
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING IN
TERMS OF OTHER CITIES OR --
OTHER STATES. DO YOU HAPPEN TO
KNOW THAT?
>> I DO HAPPEN TO KNOW. I ALSO
WANTED TO TAP BACK ON THE HOME
OWNERSHIP PIECE IF I COULD. I O
AWARDED DOLLARS, PEOPLE THINK
OF -- STRICTLY FROM THE
MULTIFAMILY RENTAL. WE DO HAVE
$43 MILLION I THINK ENCUMBERED
IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP AS WELL
AS $11 MILLION AWARDED IN NOT
YET ENCUMBERED. PROJECTS THAT
ARE MOVING THROUGH THE
PIPELINE. WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE
A PIPELINE OF PROJECTS ALONG
THE WAY. AS TO WHETHER OTHER --
JURISDICTIONS DO THE SAME
PRACTICE THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE DOES, I WILL HAVE TO
GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. AND
THAT'S A COMMON QUESTION AS TO
WHY WE DO THIS. WHY ARE WE THE
FIRST DOLLARS IN? AND I KIND OF
TOUCHED OWN THAT I THINK IN OUR
DISCUSSION ON SLIDE -- IS THAT
SLIDE SIX MAYBE? THE REASON WHY
WE DO THAT IS IT'S REALLY
EXPENSIVE HONESTLY TO BUILD
HOUSING. AND SO WE -- ARE OFTEN
TIMES THE FIRST DOLLARS IN
BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE
WAITING AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT
WE DO. WHETHER WE'RE WILLING
TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
BY THE TIME THE DOLLARS COME
INTO US, AND BY THE TIME
PROJECTS CAN GET TO AWARD, I
MENTIONED THE THREE YEARS FROM
AWARD TO CONSTRUCTION AND THE
BILLING. I KNOW OF PROJECTS
THAT HAVE -- I HAVE WORKED ON
PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FIVE TO
SIX YEARS OUT. AND PROBABLY
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN. AND
SO IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO
SHOW THAT SUPPORT PROJECTS WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AT
A LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO SECURE
THOSE STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND AS A DEVELOPER I TYPICALLY
ONLY THINK OF STATE FUNDS AND
NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT
FEDERAL FUND BECAUSE THERE
AREN'T THAT MANY. SO -- IT --
THAT'S HOW WE SHOW OUR
COMMITMENTS. THOSE ARE THE
PROJECTS THAT WE SELECT THAT WE
THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
AND HELP MEET OUR GOALS.
WHETHER THEY'RE THE EQUITY
GOALS OR WHETHER THEY'RE GOALS
THAT ARE STATED IN THE COMP
PLAN AND HOW WE FURTHER -- MAKE
INVESTMENTS THAT REALLY CAN
HELP CAPITALIZE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. AND THAT'S WHY
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE
THE FIRST IN. IF WE'RE NOT THE
FIRST ONES IN, WHY WOULD
ANYBODY SUPPORT OUR PROJECTS?
AND THEN WE CANNOT ACTUALLY GET
OTHER PEOPLE TO JOIN US IN THE
FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
DIRECTOR AND THEN I JUST HAVE
ONE LAST QUESTION ABOUT ON THE
MAINTENANCE SIDE. THE CITY
PROVIDES FUND TO NONPROFITS TO
BUILD HOUSING AND THE NONPROFIT
PROVIDERS, DO THEY OWN THE
BUILDINGS? AND THE UNITS? SO
THE CITY DOES -- DOES NOT HAVE
OWNERSHIP?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> BUT WE MONITOR WHETHER THOSE
ASSETS ARE WELL-MAINTAINED
BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT
IN THAT.
>> YES.
>> IN THE BUILDINGS, CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. SO ON THE MAINTENANCE
SIDE, THE PROVIDERS GET
MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE FROM
OTHER OUTSIDE ENTITIES, OTHER
-- .
>> IT DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF
HOUSING. SO -- SOME OF OUR
AFFORDABLE PROVIDERS RECEIVE NO
MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FROM THE
CITY. IT -- THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU COLLECT THE
RENTS. RIGHT? YOU DO YOUR
RENTAL COLLECTION AND THAT'S
WHAT PAYS FOR THE MAINTENANCE
AS WELL AS THE UTILITIES AND
THE INSURANCE AND ALL THAT. FOR
OTHER PROVIDERS, WE DO PROVIDE
THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
AND WE TYPICALLY THINK OF THAT
IN THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING SPACE. LET'S SEE.
OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT HELP
PAY FOR THE OPERATIONS SIDE, SO
WE THINK OF THE CAPITAL AND
THEN WE THINK OF ONGOING
OPERATIONS SIDE. THERE ARE
FEDERAL SOURCES. THERE ARE SOME
STATE SOURCES. AND SOME COUNTY
SOURCES.
>> SO WE'RE ONLY PROVIDING
MAINTENANCE OPERATION --
OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE
SUPPORT FOR THE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS. NOT
THE OTHER UNITS?
>> GENERALLY, YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THERE IS A RESIDENT SERVICES
DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE STARTED TO
DO AND SOME OF THAT GOES
TOWARDS SUPPORTING RESIDENTS
AND A PART OF THAT COULD BE
SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE NEEDS
IN THEIR UNITS.
>> THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE
PERSON THAT IS EITHER RENTING
OR OWNING THE UNIT?
>> NO. IT GOES TO THE PROVIDER
AND THEY SOMETIMES WILL NEED
SERVICES THAT HELP WITH --
MAINTENANCE, PERHAPS THE PERSON
IS UNABLE TO MANAGE SOME OF THE
MAINTENANCE THEMSELVES BECAUSE
OF -- THEY ARE BECOMING ELDERLY
AND GETS HARDER TO DO CERTAIN
THINGS. OR PERHAPS THERE'S
OTHER NEEDS IN THE UNIT THAT
THE RESIDENT SERVICES PROGRAM
DOES SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF SPILLOVER BUT I WOULD NOT
CONSIDER THOSE DOLLARS REALLY
TO BE FOR ONGOING MAINTENANCE
OF THE PROPERTY ITSELF.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN I
HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS I
COULD PUT IN OUR TRACKER FOR
CENTRAL STAFF. ABOUT
MAINTENANCE. BECAUSE WE'RE
HEARING FROM PROVIDERS ABOUT
DIFFICULTIES WITH PARTICULARLY
IN THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING SPACE AND BEING ABLE TO
MAINTAIN UNITS AND THINGS THEY
NEED HELP WITH ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE SIDE AND
I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IN TERMS
OF SUPPORTING THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR RIVERA.
FOLLOWING YOU IS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
EVERYBODY. FIRST, I WANTED TO
-- JUST MAKE A NOTE ABOUT HOME
OWNERSHIP. IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY
COUPLE OF PEOPLE HERE. SO THE
HOUSING LEVY ONLY ALLOCATES $50
MILLION TO HOME OWNERSHIP AND
IT'S WORK FORCE LEVEL HOME
OWNERSHIP. AND SO IT SEEMS AS
THOUGH IT'S A POLICY CHOICE,
OUT OF A $970 MILLION SOMETHING
LEVY. A VERY SMALL AMOUNT GOES
FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. IT SEEMS
THOUGH THAT'S A POLICY CHOICE
BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE
ONLY THREE PROVIDERS OF HOME
OWNERSHIP PROJECTS, THE NEED IS
MUCH GREATER THAN -- I'M SURE
THEY CAN TAKE UP ALL OF THE $50
MILLION. SO DO WANT TO PLUG FOR
-- RETHINKING THAT GOING
FORWARD. AND ALSO FOR --
BECAUSE AFTER ALL, HOME
OWNERSHIP IS AS COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE SAID, VERY IMPORTANT TO
THE STABILITY OF PARTICULARLY
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
UNDERGOING GENTRIFICATION AND
ANOTHER WAY TO PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT COULD BE ALSO
FORECLOSURE ASSISTANCE AND I
DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EVER
BEEN CONSIDERED. BUT JUST
WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE
TABLE. REGARDING ASSET
MANAGEMENT, I WILL SAY JUST FOR
-- SOME CONTEXT, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON WAS ALWAYS VERY -- HE
WAS ALWAYS ON THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING ABOUT BECAUSE HE WAS
ALWAYS ASKING WHAT IS THE
VACANCY RATE AND WHY ARE THERE
SO MANY VACANCIES IN THESE
FACILITIES? AND SO I DO APPLAUD
THE EFFORT TO -- INCREASE ASSET
MANAGEMENT BECAUSE I DO THINK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
VISIBILITY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING
ON WITH EXISTING -- EXISTING
PROJECTS AND UNITS. SO I DON'T
HAVE MUCH HEART BURN ABOUT
THAT. I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE -- ABOUT THE CASH
BALANCE BECAUSE WITH $477
MILLION IN O. H.'S CASH
BALANCE, WHEN THE LEVY ITSELF
IS $1 BILLION, SO THAT'S HALF
OF THE LEVY, AND THAT'S NOT
EVEN SPEAKING TO THE OTHER
SOURCES, IT'S A BIG NUMBER AND
I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOU HAVE DONE TO BREAK IT DOWN.
AND I WILL BE DIGGING INTO
WHERE PROJECTS ARE IN THAT
TIMELINE THAT YOU PROVIDED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
BECAUSE I KNOW -- LAST THING I
WANT TO DO IS IT WAS NEVER MY
INTENTION TO SUGGEST REMOVING
PROMISED FUNDING FROM PROJECTS
AND STOPPING THEIR ABILITY TO
MOVE FORWARD AND GAIN THE TRUST
OF LENDORS TO BE ABLE TO
COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS. AND I
WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT WHY,
WHERE, WHY IS THAT BALANCE SO
BIG? I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE
SLIDE THREE. WHAT IS THE
BREAKDOWN IN THE LINE --
BETWEEN MHA AND HOUSING LEVY
WHEN IT SAYS OTHER FUNDS?
>> BECKY? COULD YOU ANSWER THAT
PLEASE?
>> YES. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO
PULL UP SLIDE THREE? I'M NOT
SURE -- IF THE COMMITTEE TABLE
WANTS TO RETAIN PRESENTATION AS
SHARED, SEATTLE CHANNEL IS
DOING A GOOD JOB TOGGLING
BETWEEN SO YOU CAN LEAVE IT
SHARED IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANT TO
JUST UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
IN THE OTHER FUNDS ROW?
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU ARE ASKING --
>> $209 MILLION, ROUGH
BREAKDOWN, IS THAT -- YOU KNOW,
BETWEEN MHA AND HOUSING LEVY?
BECAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE THE
TWO OTHER FUNDS.
>> THAT IS RIGHT. YEAH, THERE
ARE ALSO GRANTS. SO LEVY IS BY
FAR THE LARGEST HERE. MHA I
BELIEVE WE'RE BUDGETING $25
MILLION IN 2025. SO WHAT --
AFTER THE $25 MILLION OF MHA,
THE REST IS A LEVY AND THERE'S
A SMALL AMOUNT OF GRANTS
PARTICULARLY FOR THE
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. I
BELIEVE THAT'S AROUND $8
MILLION. BUT YES, BY AND LARGE,
THIS IS LEVY.
>> OKAY. AND THE INCREASE FROM
2024 LOOKS LIKE IT'S PRETTY
COMMENSURATE WITH THE REDUCTION
IN PAYROLL TAX. SO -- I HAVE
JUST -- TRYING TO TRACK ALL
THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
INFORMATION. GOING BACK TO --
AND I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
IN -- LET'S SEE. IT'S SLIDE I
THINK IT'S FOUR MAYBE. IN THE
-- IN FOR 2025 YOU HAVE GOT
$300 MILLION ALLOCATED TO
MULTIFAMILY AND I UNDERSTAND
THAT THE -- THAT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING HAS ANNOUNCED THAT FOR
THE 2024 NOFA, THERE WILL BE
$112 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR NEW
PROJECTS. SO THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN $300 MILLION AND $112
MILLION, I'M ASSUMING IS BASED
ON WHERE THAT -- WHERE THOSE
NEW PROJECTS FALL IN THAT
CONTINUUM OF PROMISED MONEY AND
AWARDED MONEY ET CETERA. CAN
YOU JUST BASICALLY VALIDATE
THAT THINKING? BECAUSE I AIM
WONDERING.
>> HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT.
>> OKAY.
>> YEAH. SO COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WHAT YOU SEE THE -- $112
MILLION IN THE NOFA, THAT IS
FOR 2024 ALLOCATION OF LEVY.
LARGELY. AND OUR 2024
ALLOCATION OF PAYROLL TAX OR
MULTIFAMILY. SO WITH YOU SEE
AND THEN A VARIETY OF OTHER
PROGRAMMING DOLLARS THAT HAVE
COME IN MHA THAT'S IN HAND,
WHAT YOU SEE FOR 2025 PROPOSED
IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
BUCKET OF -- EXPECTED PROPOSED
FUNDS. FOR 2025.
>> OKAY. BUT THE -- BUT THE
BROADLY SPEAKING, THE BIG
NUMBER IN THE -- ON THE SLIDES
VERSUS THE SMALLER NUMBER OF
AWARDS BASICALLY IS DUE TO THE
FACT THAT OVER TIME, THOSE
PROJECTS WILL RECEIVE MORE
MONEY FROM OTHER SOURCES AND
THAT'S REPRESENTED IN THE CASH
BALANCE. CORRECT? I'M JUST
TRYING TO --
>> THAT'S CORRECT. AND ALSO
JUST TO CLARIFY THE MULTIFAMILY
RENTAL HOUSING BUDGET CONTROL
LEVEL THAT YOU SEE HERE.
INCLUDES MULTIFAMILY LENDING AS
WELL AS THE ASSET MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM.
>> OKAY.
>> THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS
REPRESENTED HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS
FOR NOW.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. AND
FIRST, SO -- THANK YOU DIRECTOR
WINKLER CHIN AND THE O. H. TEAM
FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION.
AND ALSO APPRECIATE THE INITIAL
PARTNERSHIP OR LAST NINE MONTHS
SERVING ON CHAIR MOORE'S
COMMITTEE. LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO DO MORE TOGETHER.
FIRST OFF, I HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS BUT FIRST OFF, WANT
TO PILE OWN FEW THINGS THAT I
HAVE HEARD. I GUESS FIRST, I
WANT TO SAY -- I -- AGREE WITH
MY GUY FURTHER DOWN THE DAIS
THERE. OR EXCUSE ME, THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
QUEEN ANNE. I AGREE WITH WHAT
HE SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE
WE NEED TO EXPLORE THE
POSSIBILITY OF A PLAN. BECAUSE
IF WE DON'T HAVE A FORMALIZED
DOCUMENTED OFFICIAL PLAN, YOU
KNOW, THERE'S -- OUR OUTCOMES
AND RESULTS AND POTENTIAL
IMPACT IS LIKELY TO BE
SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED. AND, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST SHOOTING
FROM THE HIP HERE. IN HOUSING
AND PLANNING. YOU ALL KNOW WHAT
YOU ARE DOING. YOU ALL ARE THE
EXPERTS DOING THIS WORK. NO
DOUBT THERE'S A PLAN. THERE'S
A STRATEGY. ALREADY YOU HAVE
BUT THERE'S NO FORMAL
DOCUMENTED PLAN THAT'S OPEN,
AVAILABLE AND TRANSPARENT TO
THE PUBLIC. THAT'S GONE
THROUGH THE RIGOR OF REVIEW AND
FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL AND
THE PUBLIC. AND SIMILAR TO THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, ET
CETERA, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW,
HAVING A FORMAL PLAN DOCUMENTED
PLAN, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WILL
HELP DRIVE CLARITY AND
STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND JUST
MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL SORT OF
READING FROM THE SAME SHEET OF
MUSIC. I WAS THINKING OF
CALLING FOR PLANS OR SUB PLANS
AND OTHER COMPLEX TOPICS
RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION. BUT,
YOU KNOW, NOTHING TO SHARE AT
THIS POINT. STILL TOYING WITH
TO A FEW CONCEPTS IN MY HEAD.
BUT THE -- JUST AT A HIGH
LEVEL, IT DOES MAKE SENSE FOR
ANY NUMBER OF REASONS TO HAVE A
FORMAL DOCUMENTED PLAN. THAT IS
SUBJECT TO THIS KIND OF RIGOR
AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I ALSO WANT
TO -- PLUS ONE THE COMMENTS
FROM CHAIR MOORE. ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR LOWER INCOME
FOLKS, AND WORK FORCE, YOU
KNOW, MIDDLE INCOME-TYPE HOME
OWNERSHIP. FOR THE REASONS
ALREADY MENTIONED.
ANTIDISPLACEMENT, HELPS
FACILITATE WELL, IT'S A
STRATEGY TO ADDRESS
DISPLACEMENT. IT ALSO HELPS I
THINK BUILD GENERATIONAL
WEALTH. WHICH IS A POWERFUL
TOOL AND ECONOMIC DRIVER AND
HELPING PEOPLE AND FAMILIES AND
GENERATIONS UNLOCK REALLY
IMPORTANT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S --
PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE REALIZE
AND YES, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND,
YOU KNOW, RENTAL OPTIONS GREAT
AND WE NEED MORE OF IT. BUT
ULTIMATELY I THINK THE GOAL IS
TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO BE
HOMEOWNERS. SO AND -- THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON FOR
NOTING THAT OF THE LAST LEVY,
$900 MILLION SOMETHING, ONLY
$50 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED FOR
HOME OWNERSHIP. BASED OFF WHAT
I'M HEARING TODAY SO FAR, MY
SENSE IS THAT IF THIS COUNCIL
TWO-THIRDS NEW COMPOSITION HAD
ANY HAND IN CRAFTING THAT,
THOSE RESOURCE ALLOCATION
DECISIONS AND ULTIMATELY POLICY
CHOICES WITH RESPECT TO HOME
OWNERSHIP, THAT WOULD HAVE
LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT. AT A
BARE MINIMUM. BUT -- HERE WE
ARE TODAY. HOME OWNERSHIP IS A
PRIORITY OF MINE. AND -- AND I
KNOW NOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
AS WELL. AND SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO HOME
OWNERSHIP THAT I HAD ALREADY
HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. BUT JUST
BE CURIOUS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
WHAT SPECIFIC TYPES OF SUPPORTS
FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS DOES
FOR AND WHO OWNS THIS WORK?
>> CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING
QUESTION, PLEASE?
>> YEAH.
>> WHAT IS -- WHEN YOU ASK WHO
OWNS THIS WORK, COULD YOU TELL
ME A LITTLE BIT MORE? I'M NOT
SURE IF I UNDERSTAND THAT PART
OF THE QUESTION.
>> YEAH. WELL, DUNE THE FIRST
PART OF -- DO YOU UNDERSTAND
THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION?
>> PLEASE WILL BE RATE PLEASE.
>> YEAH. SO HOME OWNERSHIP IS A
PRIORITY OF MINE. AND -- ALSO
LIKE FIRST TIME SUPPORTING
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS. SO WHAT
TYPE OF PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS
FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS DOES
THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROVIDE FOR
AND ENABLE AND THEN WHO OWNS
THIS WORK AT THE CITY? LIKE IS
IT SOLELY O. H.? IF IT'S O.
H., I GUESS -- WHO WITHIN YOUR
TEAM?
>> SO I WILL START WITH THE
LATTER PART OF THAT QUESTION.
IS WHO OWNS THIS WORK. IT IS
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING'S WORK.
AND IT IS OUR HOME OWNERSHIP
DIVISION OF -- WE HAVE THREE
MEMBERS OF THAT DIVISION AND
THEY WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT
ENTITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
SEVERAL PROGRAMS. SO ONE THAT
WE'VE SPENT SOME TIME
DISCUSSING TODAY IS THE
CREATION OF NEW PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR PERMANENT
HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND THE THREE AGENCIES THAT WE
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN. THE
OTHER AREA OF WORK THAT WE DO
IS ALSO PROVIDE DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE PEOPLE
THAT ARE INCOME QUALIFIED. AND
WE ALSO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES WHO
ALSO PROVIDE DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE RIGHT? AND THERE'S
A WHOLE -- WITHIN THE CONTINUUM
OF HOUSING WHICH WE PROVIDE
WHICH IS FROM THE -- PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO THE
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE,
THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF
HOUSING TYPES AND NEEDS AND
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THAT.
AND THEY ARE INVOLVED IN IT FOR
A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
MOST OF THEM BEING MISSION
ORIENTED ORGANIZATIONS AND THIS
IS HOW THEY LIVE OUT THEIR
MISSION . SO THAT'S WHO
ACTUALLY OWNS THE WORK FOR THE
CITY. WE DO AS I MENTIONED,
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND WE
DO PERMANENT SUBSIDY FOR
HUNDREDS OF NEW PERFECT
INNOCENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES. A
LOT OF THIS IS DETAILED IN THE
HOUSING LEVY ADMINISTRATION AND
FINANCE PLAN. AND AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
YOURSELF COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSING PLAN,
THERE WAS -- I THINK IF YOU --
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY ADMINISTRATIVE AND
FINANCE PLAN, DETAILS SOME OF
THE ACCOUNTING OF THE HOUSING
LEVY INVESTMENTS OVER THE SEVEN
YEAR LEVY PERIOD IT TALKS ABOUT
THE DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO
THE DIFFERENT POTS OF --
PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE. AND
SOME OF THE PROJECTS I THINK. I
THINK ONE OF THE BIG
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING'S LEVY
INVESTMENTS IS THERE ARE SOME
PROJECTS THAT WE OURSELVES ARE
INVOLVED IN NOW WHICH IS A
RELATIVELY NEW THING FOR US. I
WOULD SAY THOSE PROJECTS ARE
THE MOUNT BAKER TRANSIT STATION
WHERE WE ACTUALLY OWN THE LAND
AND WE ARE -- RF PING IT OUT OR
WORKING WITH ANOTHER ENTITY
LIKE SOUND TRANSIT. THAT'S A
LITTLE BIT NEWER PROCESS FOR US
AND COULD BE ACTUALLY A GROWING
AREA AS WE TALK ABOUT FORT
LAWTON AND THE WORK THAT WE
WILL DO WITH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AT LAKE CITY. BUT WE
HAVE TRADITIONALLY DONE IS BEEN
AN INVESTOR. FOR US TO TELL YOU
SPECIFICALLY IN THE NEXT 10 TO
15 YEARS I'M GOING TO SUPPORT
THE FIVE PROJECT IN THE THIS
YEAR. THIS TRADITIONALDY THAT
WE'VE DONE IS WAIT FOR
PROPOSALS TO COME AND N AND WE
ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
MEET OUR OBLIGATION OF
AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR
HOUSING AS WE LOOK AT HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHOULD BE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO
THERE'S A -- SOME LEVEL OF
HOUSING PLAN THAT HAS BEEN DOE
TAILED OUT IN THE HOUSING LEVY
PLAN. AND AS WE GET INTO THE
MFTE AND THE MHA PROGRAM
DISCUSSION, AS QUESTION
REEVALUATE THOSE, I THINK THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE THINGS. IT IS
ONE OF THE -- TOP THREE THINGS
THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN WE ARE
TRYING TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET
AND ALL THAT IS REALLY MEETING
OUR AFFIRMATIVELY -- HOW DO WE
FURTHER FAIR HOUSING WHICH IS
PANEL OBLIGATION THAT WE HAVE
HAD FOR OVER 50 YEARS BUT ALSO
MEETING OUR CITY'S EQUITY
GOALS?
>> THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION
SORT OF A TWO PART QUESTION I
SUPPOSE, P TAPES TO THE TOPIC
OF COMPLETING PROJECTS FASTER.
SO -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- I
NOTICED THAT THERE'S SOME
OVERLAPPING PROJECTS WITH
RESPECT TO O. H. AND EDI
PROJECTS. AND TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT KIND OFFED
FUNDING SOURCES AND VARIOUS
REQUIREMENTS AT PLAY AND OTHER
OPERATIONAL, YOU KNOW,
CHALLENGES. BUT I GUESS AT A
HIGH LEVEL, HOW ARE YOU WORKING
SEAMLESSLY TO HELP COMMUNITY
GROUPS TO COMPLETE THESE
PROJECTS, THESE SPECIFIC JOINT
PROJECTS IF YOU WILL, FASTER?
AND I JUST NOTE THAT WE HAVE A
DECENT AMOUNT OF EDI PROJECTS
IN MY DISTRICT 1. WE WANT MORE.
AND -- SO -- IN ANY EVENT.
YEAH, HOW ARE YOU WORKING TO
SEAMLESSLY HELP GROUPS COMPLETE
THESE PROJECTS FASTER?
>> SO -- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
THE EDI INVESTMENT THAT GO INTO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS ARE
REALLY NECESSARY AS WELL AS
HOUSING INVESTMENTS -- THEY
WORK VERY MUCH IN CONCERT WITH
EACH OTHER AND THEY'RE
DEFINITELY NECESSARY. A BULK OF
THE EDI PROJECTS NOT ALL, BUT
MANY OF THEM, FUND THE GROUND
FLOOR COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR IN
THESE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. AND
THERE ARE SPACES LIKE SMALL
BUSINESSES OR COMMUNITY SPACES,
CHILD CARE OFTENTIMES. AND
THERE ARE MULTIPLE CITY
RESOURCES THAT GO INTO THESE
DEPENDING. BUT THE EDI IS
PROBABLY THE ONE THAT'S MOST
WELL-KNOWN. WHEN THEY ARE GOING
INTO THE GROUND FLOOR SPACE,
THE HOUSING -- BUILDING HAS TO
BE DONE. AND OFTENTIMES, THOSE
GROUND FLOOR SPACES ARE
DEVELOPED AFTER THE HOUSING
RECEIVES THE -- ITS ABILITY --
IT'S CALLED THE TCO THE
TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF
OCCUPANCY. BECAUSE THOSE --
THAT -- THOSE DOLLARS ARE
COMING INTO FINISH OFF SPACE
THAT IS -- THAT NEEDS TO BE
FINISHED WITH THE HOUSING.
RIGHT? AND IT'S COMING IN
LATER. AND IT IS ONE OF THE
INTERESTING QUIRKS OF THE TAX
CREDIT SYSTEM THAT WE UTILIZE
FOR OUR HOUSING. THAT THE
INVESTORS DO LIKE SOME
SEPARATION. WE THINK ABOUT THE
WHOLE PROJECT DELIVERY AS ONE.
BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY OUR
OBLIGATION TO THE COMMUNITY
THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS
PROJECT AND AS WE MIGHT HAVE
SAID IN THE PAST, THE
INVESTMENT IN THE HOUSING SIDE
IS LARGE. BUT ACTUALLY THE
INVESTMENT OF HAVING A BUILDING
WITH THESE CHILD CARE SPACES OR
THESE SMALL BUSINESSES IS
ACTUALLY A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE
GREATER COMMUNITY AND FOR US
THAT IS IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TO DELIVER THOSE ON
TIME. SO THE -- THE HOW DO WE
GET IT DONE FASTER I THINK WAS
YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION AND I
THINK IT'S REALLY TRYING TO
KEEP THE DOLLARS MOVING FOR US
TO DO OUR WORK IN ATTRACTING
ALL THE OTHER FUNDING NECESSARY
TO GET THE HOUSING BUILT
FASTER. TO WORK THROUGH WITH
OUR PARTNERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT
SPACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE
PERMITTING AND ALL THIS WORKS
IS SEAMLESSLY AS POSSIBLE SO
THEN THE EDI SPACE CAN THEN BE
FINISHED OFF AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. AND YEAH. THAT'S
-- THAT'S HELPFUL. AND THAT
WAS -- THAT QUESTION RELATED TO
THE KIND OF SPECIAL INSTANCE OF
-- AND ADDITIONAL HEIGHTENED
LAYER OF COMPLEXITY WITH
RESPECT TO THE KIND OF OVERLAY
OVERLAPPING EDI AND O. H.. SO
-- BUT PUTTING EDI PROJECTS
ASIDE FOR JUST A MOMENT. SO
JUST O. H.. AT LEAST ON THE
CITY END. AND YOU -- THANK YOU
FOR PROVIDING THAT VERY HELPFUL
GRAPH HERE. ON SLIDE FIVE. THAT
SHOWS THE TIMELINE. NOTING IT
TAKES AN AVERAGE OF THREE YEARS
FROM THE TIME A FUNDING AWARD
DECISION IS MADE TO
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS. AND
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S -- THAT'S AS
A RESULT OF ANY NUMBER OF, YOU
KNOW, AGAIN, OPERATIONAL
CHALLENGES, REQUIREMENTS.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING ON THE
DEPENDENCIES IN EXTERNAL
FACTORS KIND OF -- BEYOND OUR
DIRECT, IMMEDIATE CONTROL.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS -- AN
OPPORTUNITY TO -- FOR THOSE
THING WE CAN DIRECTLY CONTROL
AND THOSE THINGS THAT WE CANNOT
DIRECTLY CONTROL BUT OTHERWISE
INFLUENCE STILL SIMPLIFY
STREAMLINE AND SHORTEN THE
TIMELINE BUT ANYWAYS JUST BE
CURIOUS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
HOW O. H.'S APPROACHING THAT
EFFORT TO, YOU KNOW, SHORTEN
THIS TIMELINE. HOW DOES THE
THREE YEAR AVERAGE COMPARE TO
OTHER CITIES, BIGGER CITIES, I
GUESS, IN WASHINGTON STATE?
THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST
DIRECT COMPARER ALTHOUGH
THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE A
DIRECT ONE FOR ONE COMPARER WE
KNOW. AND THEN ALSO LIKE HOW
DOES THAT COMPARE NATIONALLY OR
YOU KNOW EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE
STATE WHICH UNDERSTANDING IT'S
GOING TO BE LESS RELEVANT. BUT
JUST -- JUST CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND KIND OF HOW THAT
TIMELINE IN AND OF ITSELF.
BENCHMARKS AGAINST -- I GUESS
FOR STARTERS, OTHER CITIES IN
WASHINGTON .
>> ONE OF THE UNDERLYING
ASSUMPTIONS IN OUR -- I'LL SAY
THE LEVY PROJECTION, THE AYUBI
COUNT FOR THAT. RELIED ON OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES TO HELP COME IN
AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
HOUSING. SO YOU HEAR IN THE
CONVERSATION A LOT ABOUT
LEVERAGE. AND WE HAVE ALWAYS
ANTICIPATED IN THE HOUSING THAT
IS BUILT OFTENTIMES THAT THERE
IS SOMETHING CALLED THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT THAT
IS UTILIZED. THAT THERE ARE
OTHER PUBLIC FUNDS COMING INTO
THE PROJECT.
THERE'S ALSO THE NEED FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT TO SECURE SOMETHING
CALLED A CONSTRUCTION LOAN.
WHICH THEY GO TO A REGULAR BANK
AND TRY TO SECURE THAT. AND TO
DEVELOP APPLICATIONS FOR THAT.
SO AS I SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE
THE FIRST DOLLAR IN AND WE SHOW
THAT COMMITMENT. OFTENTIMES
WHEN DEVELOPMENTS ARE APPLYING
TO US, AT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, THEY ARE ALSO APPLYING
TO THE OTHER PUBLIC FUNDERS. WE
IN THE STATE HAVE A JOINT
FUNDING APPLICATION. SO THAT
HELPS IN THE CLARITY OF WHO
ELSE THEY'RE APPLYING TO. AND
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE
DON'T CONTROL HOW THE OTHER
PUBLIC ENTITIES, OR THE PRIVATE
ENTITIES INVEST. BUT WE --
STRAY TO STATE OUR PRIORITIES.
THAT THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT
TO US. AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE
IF YOU WERE FUNDING ALONG WITH
US. AND I MENTIONED THAT
EARLIER. THAT CAN TAKE A WHILE.
RIGHT? AND WHAT WE ARE LUCKY
WITH THE SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY
IN PARTICULAR, IS THE ONGOING
CONSISTENCY IN DOLLARS. SO WE
HAVE THE PREDICTABILITY.
DEVELOPERS WHETHER THEY'RE
NONPROFITS, WHETHER THEY'RE
FOR PROFITS, LIKE
PREDICTABILITY AND RELIABILITY.
AND THAT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. BECAUSE YOU NEED TO
KNOW THAT THERE'S DOLLARS
BEFORE YOU ARE MAKING THE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS INVESTMENT IN TRYING TO
MOVE THIS PROJECT ALONG.
AND THAT ALL TAKES TIME. YOU
HAVE TO GET A TAX CREDIT
INVESTOR INVOLVED IN THAT ALSO
TAKES TIME. AND THAT GETS
ALLOCATED BY A DIFFERENT ENTITY
LATER ON. AND AS THESE PROJECTS
MOVE ALONG, THEY'RE ALSO
DEALING WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE OR WORKING WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE I WOULD SAY,
PARDON ME. SORRY NATHAN.
WORKING WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN PARTICULAR ABOUT
GETTING ALL THE NECESSARY
PERMITS THAT ARE NEEDED BOTH
HERE AT THE CITY AND WITH KING
COUNTY IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH
PLUMBING. WHICH ALL OF THE
HOUSING IS. AND WHAT'S
INTERESTING IS THE PROJECT --S
THAT ARE EDI FOCUSED YOU ARE
HAVING TO FACTOR IN WHETHER THE
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE
PROJECTS AS WELL. THE EDI IS A
MAJOR COMPONENT BUT MANY OF
THOSE PROJECTS ARE EITHER
LOOKING FOR GRANTS OR OTHER
FUNDS FROM STATE. AND SO THE
LAYERING IN OF ALL THE FUNDS,
THEGATERING OF ALL THESE FUNDS,
TO MAKE IT AS FINANCIALLY
EFFICIENT CAN TAKE TIME.
AND SO IT IS REALLY TRYING TO
BE COORDINATED AND SO FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT OUR DOLLARS GO
IN. BECAUSE THEN WE CAN SAY NO,
WE'RE -- THIS IS THE PROJECT
THAT WE WANT. HELP US GET THIS
PROJECT BUILT. AND IT SHOWS OUR
LEADERSHIP FRANKLY. AND WHAT WE
WANT TO SEE. WE ARE ALL TRYING
TO WORK ON TRYING TO MAKE
HOUSING BE BUILT FASTER.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A HOUSING
CRISIS. BUT -- EVEN WITHIN
THAT, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON
TIME.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR WINKLER
CHIN AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND
THE -- EFFORTS OF YOU AND YOUR
OFFICE FOR -- AND YOUR WORK TO
CONTINUE TO DRIVE PROJECT
VELOCITY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO PARTNER TOGETHER
ALONGSIDE OF MY COLLEAGUES
HERE. AND THE MAYOR TO HELP
DRIVE THAT PROJECT VELOCITY
EVEN FURTHER. SO -- I SUPPOSE
I'LL JUST PASS IT BACK TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
BALLARD.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, MR.
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. AND UP NEXT IS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I DON'T
SEE ANY OTHER HANDS AFTER
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES -- I HAVE
ANOTHER HAND. FANTASTIC.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND THEN
VICE CHAIR ALTHOUGH AGAIN VICE
CHAIR JUST DOUBLE CHECKING,
ANYBODY WHO'S NOT SPOKEN STILL
GETS TO SPEAK ONCE BEFORE WE
COME BACK TO FOLKS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. BRING THIS
CLOSER. GOOD MORNING. IT'S
STILL MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. BEFORE I GET TO MY
QUESTIONS, I DO WANT TO JUST
CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS. AND
FORGIVE ME IF SOMEBODY
CLARIFIED THAT WHILE I WAS OUT
FOR A MOMENT BUT I HAVE HEARD A
COUPLE OF TIMES. IN REALITY WE
PASSED THAT IN 1986 AND WE HAVE
RENEWED IT SEVERAL TIMES. AND
COUNCIL DOES GO THROUGH A -- A
ROBUST AS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WOULD HAVE SAID
PROMISE OF WORKING WITH THE
EXECUTIVE AND WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE WHAT
IS -- WHAT WE WANT TO FUND WITH
THAT LEVY. AND HOW BIG A LEVY
WE WANT TO REQUEST. SO I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S
CLEAR. I WILL ALSO SAY TO THE
POINT ABOUT NEEDING A HOUSING
PLAN. WE DO HAVE A HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT THAT IS PART OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO READ
IT. IT IS -- DENSE AND ANSWERS
A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I
FEEL LIKE I HEAR COMING OUT
ABOUT WHAT ARE WE FUNDING? WHY
ARE REFUNDING AND IT WHERE'S IT
GOING TO GO? AND IT'S REALLY A
USEFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR
STRATEGIES ARE GOING TO BE ONCE
WE GET TO THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLANNING CONVERSATION. WE ALSO
DO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FINANCE POLICIES THAT HELP US
THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO
DO THIS SO ALL THAT TO SAY
THERE ARE LOTS OF DOCUMENTS
THAT WE WORK ON IN ORDER TO GET
TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT KIND OF
HOUSING WE'RE GOING TO BUILD
AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD
IT AND THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY
HELPFUL. SO THANK YOU OFFICE
AFTER HOUSING FOR WORKING ON
ALL OF THAT. TO THE POINT ABOUTC
TO REALLY HELP DEVELOPERS SORT
OF SCALE UP THEIR ABILITY TO
BUILD MIXED INCOME TO BUILD
COMMERCIAL, TO BUILD OWNERSHIP.
THAT IS PRECISELY THE KIND OF
CAPACITY BUILDING THAT WE WOULD
HAVE ALREADY BEGUN IF THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES'
LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE PASSED
AND I GIST HAVE TO SAY THAT
BECAUSE WE KEEP COMING BACK TO
THIS POINT.
AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A
FREEWAY TO TRY TO GET
JUMP-START ON THAT CAPACITY
BUILDING. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
-- I DON'T SEE THE SLIDE
NUMBER. BUT THE RECORD
INVESTMENT IN HOUSING. I KNOW
THAT THAT IS ONE INTERPRETATION
OF THE CHART. IT'S -- SLIDE
TWO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, IS THAT IT?
>> YEAH. I HAVE TO BE HONEST
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS CHART, WHAT
I SEE IS THAT IT DEMONSTRATES A
HISTORY OF UNDERINVESTMENT IN
HOUSING. ACROSS TWO DECADES
WHEN WE HAD UNPRECEDENTED
GROWTH IN THE CITY. SO -- I
WILL SAY TO YOU WHAT I HAVE
SAID TO EVERY OTHER DIRECTOR
THE IS NOT FRUSTRATION DIRECTED
AT YOU. YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT WE
KNOW THAT AS A CITY, WE HAVE
HAD A HOUSING CRISIS FOR A VERY
LONG TIME. AND SO YES, THESE
ARE REALLY HIGH LEVELS OF
INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING
WITH THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
AND THERE'S A REASON WE HAD TO
INCREASE THE HOUSING LEVY
BECAUSE IT'S BECOME SO
EXPENSIVE TO BUILD HOUSING IN
THE CITY.
AND IN THIS COUNTRY. SO --
WHILE THIS MIGHT BE A HISTORIC
INVESTMENT, WHAT I SEE ON THIS
SLIDE IS THAT IT IS CATCHING UP
FOR DECADES OF UNDERINVESTING
IN HOUSING. AND I WILL SAY, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS NOT A TIME TO
MAINTAIN SERVICES. IT'S A TIME
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE A NEW REVENUE
SOURCE, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
BE CREATIVE AND BOLD AND THINK
ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING
HOUSING BECAUSE AS SHE HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT FOR AN HOUR,
IT'S A BYZANTINE SYSTEM THAT
WE HAVE FOR HOW WE FINANCE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT NOW
AND IT'S CRAZY MAKING FOR THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND THE
DEVELOPERS AND FOR THE PEOPLE
WAITING FOR HOUSING AND IF WE
CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND
EASIER AND SUPPORT FASTER
ACQUISITIONS, SUPPORT SOCIAL
HOUSING, SUPPORT MIXED INCOME
HOUSING, I THINK WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY WITH THE NEW
REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE HAVE TO
REALLY THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
FOR HOW WE DO THIS WORK. SO --
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND
I'M GOING TO TRY TO BOIL IT
DOWN TO JUST A FEW. AND I'LL
PUT THE REST IN THE SHARE
POINT. SO -- I WANT TO -- MAKE
SURE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
READING ALL THE BIPS AND SOME
HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND SOME
HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED SO I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M --
OPERATING UNDER THE SAME
UNDERSTANDING. SO -- IN TERMS
OF THE REDUCING MULTIFAMILY
LENDING -- AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
THIS ITEM DECREASES
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY BY $35
MILLION. IN THE -- BUDGET
CONTROL LEVEL. THE MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING. AND REFLECTS AN
ONGOING REDUCTION OF AVAILABLE
P. E. T..
>> SO I DON'T KNOW --
>> DAN, IF THAT'S YOU?
>> I BELIEVE THAT IS A -- A
CHANGE REQUEST THAT WAS
CONSIDERED BUT NOT ACCEPTED AS
PART OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET.
WE'VE PROVIDED COUNCIL --
>> AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAVE
RECEIVED SORT OF THE ANNOTATED
LIST AND WHAT WAY HAD BEFORE
WERE ALL THE CHANGE REQUESTS
BOTH THE ACCEPTED AND REJECTED
AND THEY HAD NOT BEEN SORTED
AND -- REQUIRED MANUAL SORTING
AND WE HAVE NOW GOT THE
ELECTRONIC SORT AND THAT FILE
HAS BEEN UPLOADED AND YOUR
STAFF ALL HAS ACCESS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD TO KNOW. IN
MY DEFENSE I DO HAVE THREE
GINORMOUS BINDERS SITTING ON MY
DESK THAT I'M TRYING TO WORK
THROUGH.
>> ONLY OFFERED AS ASSISTANCE.
NOT -- I SAW THAT SAME LIST AND
DIDN'T EVEN START. CREDIT TO
YOU FOR HAVING GONE DOWN THAT
PATH.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION RELATED TO
THAT THEN. CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT
THE APPROPRIATION AMOUNT FOR
THE HOME OWNERSHIP AND
SUSTAINABILITY IS REDUCED BY
$1.7 MILLION?
>> YES. THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY.
BECAUSE THERE'S -- I THINK
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAVE
THE RIGHT ONE. SO -- LOTS OF
QUESTIONS THERE. I'LL JUST PUT
THEM IN THE FORM. OKAY. SO THE
2023 HOUSING LEVY MODELING FOR
HOME OWNERSHIP OUTCOMES AND
DEVELOPMENT ASSUMED A $10
MILLION PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
OVER THE SEVEN YEAR LEVY FOR
SITE ACQUISITION. HOW DOES THIS
ALIGN WITH THE COMMUNITY'S ASK
TO CREATE MORE ACCESS TO HOME
OWNERSHIP?
>> I MAY HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED.
>> DAN?
>> O. H. FOLKS.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME.
>> YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION. [
LAUGHTER ]
>> SHOULD I ASK THE QUESTION
AGAIN?
>> HOLD ON. SO WE DID MODEL
ASSUMING $10 MILLION OF PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX FOR LAND
ACQUISITION. STILL POSSIBLE
THAT WILL COME THROUGH OVER THE
COURSE OF THE SEVEN YEAR LEVY
PERIOD. SO WE ARE CURRENTLY
ADDRESSING 2025 AND 2026. WE'RE
ALSO HOPING TO CAPITALIZE ON
POSSIBILITIES OF NO COST OR LOW
COST LAND TRANSFERS FOR THE
HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAM.
>> OKAY. SO -- GOING DOWN TO --
OH. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T KNOW
SHE WAS HERE. SO -- DO YOU -- I
WANT TO GET TO THE QUESTION
ABOUT -- ASSET MANAGEMENT. SO
CAN YOU TELL US IF YOU AUDIT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS
FOR HOW THEY RUN THEIR
PROPERTIES IF THEY ARE CITY
FUNDED? AND THE SECOND QUESTION
IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT -- SO I
OVERSEE SDCI AND I'M
INTERESTED IN HOW CITY FUNDED
PROJECTS, HOW AND WHETHER OUR
COMPLIANT WITH WARRANTY OF
HABITABILITY BECAUSE TENANT
SERVICES, FUNDING IS BEING
PROPOSED TO BE REDUCED.
COMPLIANCE, MONITORING AND SDCI
IS PROPOSING TO BE REDUCED AND
I SAY AS FREE AGENTFUL AS I AM
FOR THE MANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY, WE ALSO
HEAR REGULAR COMPLAINTS FROM
CERTAIN PROPERTIES I CERTAINLY
HEAR IN MY DISTRICT. THAT ARE
MANAGED BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS AND THEY ARE
UNINHASN'TABLE AND THIS IS NOT
BECAUSE OF DAMAGE. IT'S
BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, ROOFS
LEAKING OR HEATING THAT'S OUT
OR COCKROACH INFESTATION. SO I
WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING
AS A CITY IF WE'RE PUTTING
PUBLIC DOLLARS INTO THESE
BUILDINGS, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN
ACTUALLY LIVE IN THEM.
>> THANKS COUNCILMEMBER. THE --
HOW WE MONITOR I THINK WAS THE
-- YOU HAD ASKED HOW IS IT THAT
WE'RE MONITORING? THERE ARE
TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. RIGHT? SO
WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL REPORTS SO
THERE'S A PAPER
MONITORING-TYPE PROCESS.
THERE'S ACTUAL PHYSICAL
INSPECTIONS THAT OUR STAFF GO
OUT AND DO. AND DEPENDING ON
HOW WELL THE PROJECT DID AT
THEIR LAST INSPECTION, YOU MAY
NOT BE INSPECTED THE NEXT YEAR.
RIGHT? SO THERE'S A REGULAR
PATTERN OF UNITS THAT GET
INSPECTED. OUR STAFF SHOW UP ON
SITE. THEY RANDOMLY TELL YOU
THAT YOU WANT TO SEE THESE
UNITS. THEY -- GO AND VISIT
THEM. THEY'LL DO THE PAPERWORK
REVIEW ALL OF THAT. WE ARE ONE
OF THE PUBLIC FUNDERS AND IF
THERE'S MULTIPLE PUBLIC
FUNDERS INVOLVED IN A PROJECT,
THEY ALL DO THEIR MONITORING.
AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE DID
NOT GO OUT AND MONITOR MOST OF
THOSE UNITS. PARTLY BECAUSE IT
WAS -- OH. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE
CAPACITY IT WAS SEEN AS NOT
GREAT FOR HEALTH. FOR OUR STAFF
TO BE ENTERING PEOPLE'S UNITS
AND ENTERING MULTIPLE UNITS.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE
CAUGHT UP ON ALL OF THOSE
INSPECTIONS. AND ARE KIND OF
GETTING BACK INTO THE SYNC OF
DOING THAT. I WOULD SAY THAT
THERE'S A VERY CHALLENGING
TIME FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS. AS
I REFERENCED. THERE IS A --
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AT THE
HOUSING COMMITTEE. THAT YOU ARE
AWARE OF. BEING THE VICE CHAIR
OF THAT COMMITTEE. AND I'M
SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALSO HEARD
OF THE MAINTENANCE CONCERNS AS
WELL AS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS
AT THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.
AND ONGOING DELAYS TO SECURING
THE SUPPLIES AND THE
CONTRACTORS TO ACTUALLY
PHYSICALLY DO THE WORK.
AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE I THINK
THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH ACROSS
THE INDUSTRIES. IN ORDER TO FIX
THAT REPAIR, THAT LEAKY ROOF.
YOU HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY
THAT'S WILLING TO REPAIR IT
FOR YOU. AND HAVING THE STAFF
THAT ARE ABLE TO GET THE BIDS
AND DO THAT AND THEN FINDING
THE CONTRACTOR TO DO THAT HAS
PROVEN CHALLENGING FROM WHAT
WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR PEOPLE.
LET'S SEE. WE'RE EXAMINING
OUR POLICIES AND OUR
INVESTMENTS TO CONSIDER WAYS TO
PREVERVE AND EXIST -- SORRY, TO
PRESERVE AND INVEST IN THE
PORTFOLIO. I THINK IT'S
REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND
ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT
SOME OF OUR INVESTMENTS ARE --
FROM THE EARLY 1980s AND HOW DO
WE KEEP THOSE GOING WHEN OTHER
-- PUBLIC ENTITIES MAY NOT BE
AS INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN
THOSE? SO WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING
THAT.
>> IT'S NOT EASY. I UNDERSTAND
TRYING TO INSPECT ON A REGULAR
BASIS AND TRYING TO RENEW IS
CHALLENGING AND YOU KNOW, I
MEAN, I HAVE BEEN IN SOME OF
THESE UNITS AND IT'S -- REALLY
SAD THAT THERE'S -- YOU KNOW,
FAMILIES WITH SMALL KIDS LIVING
WITH NO HEAT.
OR YOU KNOW BLACK MOLD BECAUSE
THE ROOF WON'T BE REPAIRED AND
THE LEAK WON'T BE REPAIRED. SO
I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US IN WHATEVER
CAPACITY, WHATEVER DEPARTMENT,
THAT WE INCREASE OUR SUPPORT
AND INCREASE THE RESOURCES FOR
INSPECTION FOR -- YOU KNOW, IF
-- IF A -- PROJECT IS GOING TO
GET RENEWAL, THAT THERE ARE
SOME -- THERE'S SOME
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MAKING SURE
THAT THOSE PROVIDERS ARE
PROVIDING SAFE HOUSING.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ALSO INCUMBENT
ON THE CITY TO MAKE SURE WHEN
ONE OF THE CITY IS HEARING
SOMETHING, THAT -- IT IS A ONE
SEATTLE APPROACH WHERE -- THAT
THE SILOS, THERE SHOULD BE NO
SILOS IN THAT SORT OF
INFORMATION AND INFORMATION
SHOULD FLOW.
>> LAST QUESTION AND YOU SORT
OF TOUCHED ON THIS ALREADY.
DIRECTOR. BUT CAN YOU TALK
ABOUT HOW -- WHAT OR WHETHER
RESOURCES HAVE BEEN ADDED
SPECIFICALLY FOR AFFIRMATIVELY
FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING? I
DIDN'T SEE A BIP ON THIS THIS
PARTICULAR AND I DON'T SEE IN
THE BIG BUDGET AND WE KNOW THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
RECEIVED A RECOMMENDATION TO
ADDRESS WHERE HOUSING IS
LOCATED. PARTICULARLY FOR, YOU
KNOW, AREAS OF HIGH OPPORTUNITY
AND LOW RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
WHICH AGAIN, WILL BE TALKING
ABOUT IN THE COMP PLAN. BUT
>> SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING SOME
THINKING AT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING REALLY ABOUT HOW IT IS
THAT WE HAVE AFFIRMATIVELY WITH
PRIORITIES FOR US. WHERE WE
START TALKING ABOUT AREAS OF
HIGH OPPORTUNITY. WE LOOK TO
SUPPORT THE WORK AND THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH HELPS
HIGHLIGHTS THE OPPORTUNITIES
WHERE HISTORICALLY, THE AREAS
OF DISPLACEMENT. HOW DO WE
SUPPORT THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO
PROVIDE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
THROUGHOUT? SO IT IS EMBEDDED
IN SOME OF OUR WORK. YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO SEE A SPECIFIC
LINE ITEM THAT SAYS WE ARE
AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING BUT A
BODY OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN,
KELLY HAS BEEN TOLD TO DO THAT
THROUGH THE PLANNING OF POLICY
WORK RIGHT? JUST TRYING TO BE
INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT ARE THE
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE
OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. WHAT ARE THE
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHETHER IT
IS MHS, MFTE, OUR DIRECTIVE
VESTMENT IN THOSE AREAS.
>> THANK YOU. I'LL PUT THE
REST IN THE SHARE POINT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO
SPEAK? SEEING NONE AT THIS
TIME, WE WILL GO TO VICE CHAIR
RIVERA. WE ARE ABOUT AN
HOUR-AND-A-HALF MARK OF TWO
HOUR WINDOW AND I KNOW I HAVE
SOME COMMENTS AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER, I ASSUME DOES
HAVE AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. I WILL TRY
TO MAKE THIS BRIEF. ON THE
HOMEOWNER SHIP SIDE. I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUES. WE READ AND HEAR IN
THE PAPERS YOUNG PEOPLE'S
ABILITY TO OWN A HOME IS PRETTY
MUCH NIL TO NONE AT THIS POINT.
SO THIS IS IMPORTANT. DIRECTOR,
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA FOR RAISING THE PIECE
ABOUT WHAT SUPPORTS EXIST FOR
FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS. WOULD
LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY'S
INVESTMENT IS IN THE DOWN
PAYMENT AND OTHER SUPPORTS WE
PROVIDE. WHAT IS THE INCOME
ELIGIBILITY FOR THAT. AND YOU
DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME NOW. YOU
CAN JUST SEND THAT. THAT WOULD
BE GREAT. AND THEN, MY OTHER
PIECE IS ON THE, I'M GOING TO
RAISE AGAIN THE FIRST DOLLAR IN
PUTS ONUS ON THE CITY TO ASSIST
AND GET THE PROJECTS TO
COMPLETION. BECAUSE I HAVE SAID
THIS MANY TIMES UP HERE.
PROJECTS, HOUSING OR OTHERWISE,
ARE NOT GOING TO HELP IF THEY
ARE NOT ACTUALLY COMPLETED. SO
I WHAT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR AND I
HAVEN'T HEARD AND I THINK MY
COLLEAGUE ASKED THIS BUT I
DIDN'T ACTUALLY HEAR AN
ANSWER. WAS WHAT IS OH GOING TO
ENSURE THOSE PROJECTS GET TO
COMPLETION AND I THINK WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT OR AT LEAST
IN PART IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND I KNOW THE CITY IS LIMITED
WITH WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO.
BUT ARE WE DOING ALL THE THINGS
WITHIN OUR LEGAL BOUNDS TO BE
ABLE TO GET THESE PROJECTS TO
COMPLETION? WHAT IS THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WE ARE
PROVIDING THESE PROJECTS
BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THESE
PROVIDERS, THEY DO HAVE TO GO
TO OTHER SOURCES TO COMPLETE
THEIR PROJECTS AND THEN OUR
MONEY IS JUST SITTING, WAITING
AROUND, WE CAN'T USE IT FOR
OTHER THINGS AND THESE PROJECTS
ARE NOT GETTING COMPLETED SO
THEY ARE ACTUALLY NOT HELPING
AND TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
POINT, YOU ARE WHEN
IS THIS HOUSING GETTING
COMPLETED AND WE THINK IT IS
BECAUSE WE NEED MORE MONEY. BUT
WE DO HAVE A LARGE PART OF
MONEY SITTING SOMEWHERE
COMMITTED AND I GET THAT PART.
AND I WANT TO SEE THESE
PROJECTS COMPLETED SO THEY ARE
ACTUALLY DOING THE MOST GOOD.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IF NOT
RIGHT NOW, DIRECTOR, PUTTING IT
INTO THE QUESTION AND ANSWER
SPREAD SHEET, WHAT IS OH DOING
TO HELP THESE PROJECTS GET TO
COMPLETION? THANK YOU. THANK
YOU CHAIR.
>> SO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS IN WHICH
OH HELPS. MOVE PROJECTS
FORWARD. FIRST, IN THE FUNDING
REALM, WE WORK WITH THE OTHER
PUBLIC FUNDERS TO TRY TO FUND
THEM UP FRONT AND ALL AT THE
SAME TIME. HAVING SAT ON
PROJECTS THAT DIDN'T GET STATE
DOLLARS UNTIL A YEAR OR TWO
AFTERWARDS PROVES TO BE PAINFUL
SO WE TRY TO ADVOCATE TO MOVE
THIS FORWARD AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE. OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES
WILL WORK ON A BIANNUAL BUDGET
AND THEIR DOLLARS ARE NOT AS
CONSISTENT AS OURS, THAT CAN BE
A CHALLENGE. BUT WHAT THAT MEAN
IS OUR PROJECTS ARE READY TO
GO. SOMETIMES WHEN THE OTHER
FUNDERS ARE READY TO GO. THE
OTHER FUNDERS OFTENTIMES WORK
ON AN ANNUAL BUDGING SYSTEM.
AND AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION SYSTEM
SO IT CAN TAKE SOME TIME. AS WE
ARE LEARNING UP OUR PROJECTS
AND MAKING THEM AS GOOD AS
POSSIBLE, SO THE OTHER FUNDERS
WILL FUND THEM AND THE OTHER
INVESTORS WILL FUND THEM WHEN
THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
ENTITIES, THAT'S WHAT WE WORK
WITH THEM ON AND MAKING SURE
THAT THEY LOOK AND THEY KNOW
THE RULES OF THOSE OTHER
ENTITIES AS WELL AS POSSIBLE SO
THEY CAN BEST PROVIDE FOR THOSE
MEASURE THAT'S ARE IMPORTANT
TO THEM. WITHIN THE CITY WORK
ITSELF, WE ADVOCATE FOR OUR
PROJECTS WITH THE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE A PRIORITY
AND TRY TO WORK AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE TO GET THE INFORMATION
TO THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS
SO THEY CAN THEN ISSUE THEIR
PERMITS AND WE CAN MOVE THINGS
FORWARD. WE DON'T LIKE
SURPRISES EITHER AT THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING SO WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THE PERMITTING AND THE
OTHER OBLIGATIONS THAT THE
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS PUT ON
ARE KNOWN UP FRONT SO WE CAN
TRY TO ACCESS FUNDS FROM
EVERYONE ELSE TO SUPPORT THOSE
EXPENSES. IT IS GREAT FOR US TO
KNOW WHEN IN A LOT OF OUR
BUILDINGS, THEIR INZONES
REQUIRE COMMERCIAL SPACE SO IT
IS GOOD FOR US TO KNOW IF THERE
ARE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS
INVESTING IN THE PROJECTS
THEMSELVES. WE CAN COORDINATE.
OFTENTIMES THE HOUSING IS THE
BIGGEST PART IN GETTING THE
OTHER RESOURCES ATTRACTED IS
REALLY IT.
I DO NOT KNOW IF LEGALLY, THERE
IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO. AND
THAT MORE THAT WE CAN DO COMES
AT A RISK. AND COMES AT
SPENDING MORE PER PROJECT THAT
WOULD THEN MINIMIZE OUR ABILITY
TO CREATE MORE HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR
WINKLER-CHIN. WE NOW HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL
THE WORK YOU DO. I KNOW IT'S
HARD, ESPECIALLY IN THIS MARKET
AND HOW WE ARE PUTTING STUFF ON
THE LINE. ONE OF THE THINGS AND
I WILL PUT THIS IN THE QUEUE. I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HOW WE
REALLY NEED TO CUT THE RED TAPE
ONTO THE FOUR BEDROOMS I'M
PRETTY SURE YOU KNOW THAT.
ONE-THIRD OF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN
SEATTLE ARE OCCUPIED BY ONE
PERSON. THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE
REALLY INVESTED IN A LOT OF
STUDIOS. AND 50% OF PEOPLE
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 25
FELT LONELY. I USED TO HAVE
ROOMMATES SO JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE THAT
LEADS TO DEPRESSION AND ALL
THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS. WE KNOW
HOW IMPORTANT HOUSING IS TO OUR
COMMUNITY. SO I'LL BE
FOLLOWING UP. I AM PASSIONATE
ABOUT THAT. THE OTHER PIECE AND
I KNOW THIS IS THE COUNTY AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE I REACH OUT TO .
THE RELIEF TO 84,000. PROBABLY
WANT TO DO THIS ABOUT THE
OUTREACH OF THAT. I KNOW IT IS
A LOW REDEMPTION RATE FOR A LOT
OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THAT. THEY ARE NOT
LOSING THOSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE,
IT TAKES ABOUT A YEAR IF YOU
MAIL IN YOUR STUFF. AND THEN
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THOSE
OLDER PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TOT
FOCUS ON THAT PIECE. KEEPING
PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES IS
CRUCIAL ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT
3 AND THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE
THINGS. I WILL FOLLOW THEM UP
OFFLINE. BUT REALLY WANTED TO
JUST ECHO WHAT THE LEAGUES HAVE
TALKED ABOUT. IN THE HOMEOWNER
SHIP PIECE AS WELL. THANK YOU
DIRECTOR.
>> ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD?
>> NO THANK YOU.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. COUNCILMEMBER.
AND, AT THE END OF THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS.
ABSOLUTELY. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES WILL GO AFTER. IF YOU
WANT TO SPEAK DURING THIS
PRESENTATION, I NEED YOUR HAND
RAISED NOW. BECAUSE AFTER
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I'M
GOING TO SHARE MY PIECE AND
I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND WE WILL
BE COMPLETE. SO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND IF YOU WANT TO
RAISE YOUR HAND, NOW IS THE
TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
WANTED TO REINFORCE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' POINT
ABOUT MIXED INCOME HOUSING. WE
HAVE A TOOL TO PRODUCE THAT.
WHICH IS THE MULTIFAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION PROGRAM WHICH
PROVIDES A TAX BREAK TO PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS FOR IF THEY MAKE
UNITS AVAILABLE IN THEIR
BUILDINGS FOR LOW INCOME
PEOPLE. SO THAT WILL BE RENEWED
NEXT YEAR. THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO INCREASE
PARTICIPATION IN THAT PROGRAM.
MY QUESTION, I DO HAVE A
QUESTION. RECOVERY HOUSING. IF
THE PERCENTAGE OF HOMEOWNERS IS
SMALL, 970 MILLION, THERE IS NO
MONEY DESIGNATED FOR RECOVERY
HOUSING AND I SAT AROUND THE
TABLE OF HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
SOME FOLKS FROM PLYMOUTH. THERE
IS A RECOGNITION WITH THE
FENTANYL EPIDEMIC AND PEOPLE
CHOOSING RECOVERY, THERE NEEDS
TO BE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO
ONCE THEY GET OUT. WHERE THEY
CAN CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEY
OF RECOVERY. SO I WAS ABLE TO
GET THIS INTO THE POLICIES THAT
WE RECENTLY PASSED THAT WILL
GUIDE THE ALLOCATION OF HOUSING
DOLLARS BUT I'M JUST WONDERING
IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHETHER OR
NOT THERE IS ANY FUNDING WITHIN
THIS BUDGET THAT YOU ARE
PRESENTING THAT WILL PERHAPS GO
TOWARD RECOVERY HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE ARE HEARING FROM SEVERAL
PROVIDERS ABOUT WHAT RECOVERY
HOUSING COULD LOOK LIKE AND
WHAT IT SHOULD BE AS PART OF
OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING AND HOUSING WITH
SERVICES CONTINUUM. PART OF
THAT CONTINUUM. THOSE FUNDING
FOR THOSE PROJECTS WOULD COME
OUT OF THE MULTIFAMILY RENTAL
HOUSING POT. THERE IS NONE
SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED FOR
PSH. BUT THAT IS JUST PART OF
OUR OPEN NOTIFICATION OF
FUNDING AVAILABILITY PROCESSES.
>> WOULD NOT FUND PROJECTS THAT
WERE NOT HOUSING FIRST BUT THEY
CHANGE THAT POLICY RECENTLY
WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. THAT
OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR
THESE PROJECTS TO BE VIABLE
NOW. A FINAL NOTE OF SUPPORT
FOR WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
IS TRYING TO GET AT WITH THE
HOUSING PLAN. AND THAT IS
BASICALLY, I THINK COUNCIL
MEMBERS WANT TO KNOW THE VISION
OF WHAT KIND OF HOUSING WE ARE
BUILDING ACROSS THE POTS OF
MONEY AND TO BUILD IN SOME
ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THE
HOUSING LEVY IS DESIGNED BY A
20 MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THAT IS ALL THE PROVIDERS. SO
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE
SITTING AT THE TABLE. THAT IS
ONLY, THAT ONLY SPEAKS TO THE
HOUSING LEVY DOLLARS. AND THERE
ARE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
AND SO, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ITSELF THAT LOOKS AT THE
SPENDING ALLOCATIONS OF THE
HOUSING LEVY OVER TIME. SOME OF
THOSE MEMBERS ARE PEOPLE THAT
WILL GET THE FUNDING IN. SO I
THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE HEARING
AND THAT WAS NOTED IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES EDITORIAL
EARLIER, I THINK THAT HOWEVER
THIS SHAKES OUT, THANK YOU FOR
IDENTIFYING ANOTHER SOURCE OF
INFORMATION IN THE COMP PLAN.
WE ARE AN ENGAGED COUNCIL AND
ALLIES GOING FORWARD MAKING
SURE THAT THE VARIETY OF NEEDS
OF HOUSING ARE MET GOING
FORWARD. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. I
THINK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
TOUCHED ON THIS AT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN KIND OF SETS
THAT VISION. AND WE ARE THE
IMPLEMENTERS OF WHAT THAT IS.
SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY WORK IN
CONCERT TO BETTER ILLUMINATE
HOW OUR DOLLARS MAY BE UTILIZED
IN MEETING SOME OF THAT. SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, YEAH.
FOR THE RECORD, THEN, I JUST
WANT TO STATE THAT
SEVEN-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR
DECREASE IN 25. 1.6 IN 26. THE
SUMMARY FOR THE ITEM, IS IT
DECREASES APPROPRIATION BY 45
MILLION.
THIS CUT WOULD RESULT IN 160
FEWER ISSUES CREATED EVERY
YEAR. AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL
IMPACT OF A THOUSAND FEWER
UNITS. DAN I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE YOU KNEW WHAT WE WERE
REFERRING TO. BECAUSE THIS IS A
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CUT. THANK
YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, I'M NOT GOING
TO BE SHORT. SO. FAIR WARNING.
>> I'M GOING TO GO GRAB MY
COFFEE.
>> EXACTLY. SO I JUST WANTED TO
STATE FOR THE RECORD, WE WANT
TO BUILD MORE HOUSING THAN EVER
BEFORE. AND WE WANT TO FUND
BUILDING HOUSING MORE THAN EVER
BEFORE. SOMETHING I HAVE LIVED
THE LAST FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS
ON COUNCIL. IF YOU LOOK AT
SLIDE THREE THAT WE KEEP
TALKING ABOUT, YOU CAN
LITERALLY SEE THE TIME I HAVE
BEEN HERE ON COUNCIL HAS BEEN
OTHER THAN 2021 RECORD AMOUNTS
EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
IN 2014 IN THE HEIGHT OF THE
CONSTRUCTION BOOM HERE, WE ARE
FUNDING 50, $50 MILLION IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
THIS IS PAST THE POINT THAT THE
NEIGHBORS AND THE PEOPLE I GREW
UP WITH HAD ALREADY LEFT.
I AM PROUD OF THE FACT I WAS
BORN AND RAISED IN BALLARD.
BALLARD HAS CHANGED AND THERE
ARE AMAZING NEW AMENITIES.
TODAY, BUSINESSES ARE CLAMOR
ING. THE DENSITY OF PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS
CONTRIBUTING TO A MORE VIBRANT
COMMUNITY. HOUSING IS PART OF
THAT. I WENT PAST COPPER PINES.
I PASSED BY IT TWO DAYS AGO. I
DIDN'T BOTHER ANYONE. I SAW
PEOPLE WALKING IN THE DOOR. AND
IT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE IT IS
NOT JUST FOR THE FIRST OWNER OF
IT. THE ONES I GREW UP. THE
FAMILY I GREW UP IN CAN AFFORD
TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I
GOT TO GROW UP IN. WE TALK
ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME IT
CREATES TO CREATE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN
WHEN FUNDS ARE PROMISED AND
ENCUMBERED AND STILL SITTING IN
THE POT. I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU
ON A TIME LINE OF AN EXPERIENCE
THAT I HAD MYSELF AS A
COUNCILMEMBER. WHICH AND SO I
WILL TAKE, THIS IS MY THIRD, MY
SECOND WEEK IN OFFICE. 2020,
PRE-PANDEMIC. SO IMAGINE
COLLEAGUES FOR THOSE OF YOU,
YOUR THIRD WEEK IN JANUARY.
WE SET THEM UP WITH THE
PROSPECT TO DO SO. THEIR EMAIL
WAS THE FIRST WEEK I GOT BACK
ON THE THIRD WEEK.
IT WASN'T UNTIL 2021 THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM
FUNDS. IF I GET ANY OF THIS
WRONG, JUST CORRECT ME, KELLY.
AT THAT POINT, WE HAD ONLY BEEN
DOING ONE. ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
FEDERAL FUNDING WE WERE ABLE TO
START DOING TWO A YEAR. IF YOU
COULD GET BACK TO SLIDE THREE
BECAUSE I WANT TO SHOW HOW THIS
WORK WITHS THE MONEY. WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT PIPELINES OF
ORGANIZATIONS BEING READY,
WHETHER IT IS HOMEOWNER SHIP OR
ANY OTHER, THERE HAS TO BE A
SERIES OF YEARS OF THAT FUNDING
TO BE AVAILABLE. SO IN 2021, WE
HAD A SECOND NOFA THAT SAINT
LUKE'S WAS CHOSEN FOR. IN THAT
TIME, WE PASSED LEGISLATION TO
STREAMLINE PERMITS FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I
PASSED LEGISLATION THAT I
SPONSORED TO CREATE A BONUS
DENSITY FOR RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTIONS. IF YOU, EVEN WITH
THOSE ADDITIONAL BILLS PASSED,
WE ONLY HAD THE GROUND BREAKING
FOR THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THIS YEAR. THOSE UNITS ARE
BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW. THAT IS
WHY I PROMPTED YOU AND WANTED
TO GIVE YOU THAT FAIR WARNING I
WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE MHA
UNIT IN THE PIPELINE. THE
NUMBER YOU SHARED FELT LOW TO
ME. AND WHEN I WAS THINKING
ABOUT IT, IT IS BECAUSE IN MY
FIRST WEEK OF OFFICE, IN MY
FIRST TERM, I STARTED WORKING
ON THIS PROJECT AND THOSE UNITS
ARE NOT ONLINE IN MY SECOND
TERM. AFTER WE PASSED
STREAMLINE PERMITTING, THIS
PROJECT WENT AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE. AND SO, I JUST PUT
THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF IT FEELS
LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY
OUT THERE. THAT IS SITTING IN
THIS POT THAT HAS BEEN EITHER
PROMISED OR ENCUMBERED. AND,
I'M GOING TO RAISE UP
SOMETHING THAT DIRECTOR
WINKLER-CHIN MENTIONED THAT WE
HAVE TO ACT AS THE SEED FUNDING
FOR THE FOUNDATION FUNDING. IF
WE ARE PROVIDING THIS PUBLIC
GOOD OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE
MUST ACT AND THIS FUND IS
ACTING LIKE A PUBLIC BANK
SAYING HERE IS YOUR MONEY WE
WILL GUARANTEE TO YOU. IF WE
WANT TO LOOK AT THE BANKING
SYSTEM, I'M NOT GOING TO GO
THERE. I RAISE THIS STORY
BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME
IT IS TAKING TO HAVE THESE TWO
AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS IN
BALLARD. WE STILL HAVEN'T
BUILT THAT. FOR THE SAME
PROPERTY, NEIGHBORING PROJECT
THAT IS MFTC, THAT BUILDING
HASN'T EVEN GONE INTO
CONSTRUCTION. AND THIS IS A
STLINING EFFORTMENT OF THE
HAVE GONE THROUGH FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YET,
STILL, FOUR YEARS LATER IT
HASN'T BEEN BUILT OR COMPLETED
AND THAT IS NOT ANYONE'S FAULT.
WE ARE NOW CATCHING BACK UP.
THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT RECORD
LEVELS.
I AM TAKING A LOOK AT ALL OF
THESE CHANGES WE HAVE TO TAKE
THIS YEAR. IT IS ALSO NOTABLE,
IMPORTANT TO NOTE AND I SAID
THIS DURING THE CBO
PRESENTATION THAT THE TANNISH
SALMON COLORED LINE IN THERE,
THE MHA DOLLARS, THOSE DOLLARS
ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING
BECAUSE WE SAW IN 2023, WE WERE
STILL GETTING A LOT OF MHA
DOLLARS. 22. IT SLOWED IN 2020.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN 2024,
THAT THIS NUMBER IS SMALLER
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE FEWER
CRANES IN OUR CITY. EVERYBODY
KNOCK ON WOOD THAT THE INTEREST
RATE DROP IS GOING TO PROVIDE
PREDICTABILITY TO THE DRY
CAPITAL THAT IS SITTING ON THE
SIDELINES FOR ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPMENT. THAT WILL
INCREASE. THAT TAKES US BACK IN
THE WAY BACK TIME MACHINE.
IN 2020, ALL WE HAD WAS THE
LEVY AND MHA. AND MHA WAS STILL
SO NEW IN 2020, WE HAD NOT
REALIZED THE BENEFIT. DID YOU
SAY IT WAS 400, HOW MANY UNIT?
HOW MANY UNITS HAVE WE PRODUCED
WITH MHA SO FAR?
>> SO THERE IS PERFORMANCE MHA.
AND THAT WAS THE 400. SO THOSE
ARE THE PROJECTS THAT PERFORM
THE AFFORDABLE UNITS ON SITE.
FOR MHA PAYMENTS, IT IS CLOSER
TO 4500 APARTMENTS. AND WHEN WE
PIPELINE, WE DON'T ATTACH FUND
SOURCES TO PARTICULAR UNITS
NECESSARILY GOING FORWARD. WE
HAVE $36 MILLION REQUESTS.
>> WE HAVE 4,500 UNITS
PRODUCED. THAT TAKES US BACK IN
THE WAY BACK TIME MACHINE OF
2020. TO REMEMBER THAT IF WE
TODAY HAVE 4,500, HOW MANY DID
WE HAVE THEN? VERY FEW. I'M
NOT EVEN GOING TO ASK YOU TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
AND THAT WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING JUMP START FUND HOUSING
AT THIS LEVEL. BECAUSE IN 2020,
I WAS SURPRISED, AGAIN, WHEN I
WAS READING THE 2019 TO 2024
BUDGET SUMMARY. I'M GOING TO
JUST READ FROM IT RIGHT NOW.
BETWEEN 2019 AND 24, THE BUDGET
FOR THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
INCREASED BY $270 MILLION. THE
MAIN DRIVERS OF GROWTH INCLUDE
BEGINNING IN 22. CITY
INVESTMENTS FROM JUMP START
PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT TO
THE MULTIFAMILY AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS. JUMP
START FUNDING IS USING CONCERT
WITH FUNDING FROM THE HOUSING
LEVY MHA AND OTHER FUND SOURCES
TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND
ONGOING OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE. HOMEOWNER SHIP
HOUSING AFFORDABLE TO LOW
INCOME HOUSING.
IT PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY $139
MILLION ANNUALLY. I REMEMBER
THAT IN 2014, WE SPENT ONLY $50
MILLION. I WAS TAKEN ABACK
ABOUT THAT. I HAD FORGOTTEN
THAT IN 2019, WE HAD ONLY SPENT
$69 MILLION. I PROVIDE THIS
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. THIS WAS A
CRISIS THAT HAD GONE
UNADDRESSED 15 YEARS OR MORE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. 20 YEARS.
HAD GONE UNADDRESSED 20 YEARS
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND IT
WAS PAST TIME TO TAKE ACTION.
THIS IS IN PART OF HOW WE GOT
TO TODAY. DO I WISH THAT I
COULD FUND HOUSING AT A HIGHER
LEVEL THIS YEAR? 100%.
ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE SINCE 2014,
EVEN WITH THE INCREASES, THE
COST OF BUILDING THESE UNITS
HAS INCREASED. THE INFLATION IS
INCREASED.
WE NEED TWO, THREE. SEEING FOUR
FROM DOWN D 3. THIS IS PART OF
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SAINT
LUKE'S. THEY ARE NOT ONE
BEDROOM UNIT AND IT IS DESIGNED
TO BE FOR FAMILIES. AND, IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US WITH THE CHART
ON SLIDE THREE TO KEEP IN MIND
WE WILL HAVE MORE OPTIONS AS WE
MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR.
THE 26 PROPOSED BUDGET WE DO
HAVE ANOTHER CRACK AT NEXT YEAR
THOUGH WE ARE DOING A BIANNUAL
BUDGET. NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET
WILL ATTEMPT TO JUST MAKE SMALL
CHANGES TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND THIS IS AN AREA I THINK WE
ARE ALL KEENLY AWARE OF. THAT
WE NEED TO DO MORE IN. AND
HAVING IT RAISED BY .5, I
DON'T THINK IS GOING TO WORK
FOR FOLKS FOR NEXT YEAR. AND WE
NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE
THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR MHA
DOLLARS. HOW HAVE WE MADE
SUSTAINABLE CHOICES FOR THE
REST OF THE BUDGET. WHAT WE ARE
BALANCING HERE IS CONTINUING TO
MAKE A HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN
HOUSING WHILE BALANCING THE
NEEDS OF THE REST OF OUR CITY.
WE COULD HAVE TAKEN THE CHOICE
TO LAY FOR PEOPLE OFF. AND I
DON'T THINK WE WANTED TO DO
THAT. AND WHILE THIS IS NOT A
PERFECT SITUATION, IT IS MUCH
BETTER THAN I EXPECTED. BECAUSE
AGAIN, WITH ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT FUND SOURCES IT IS A
RECORD INVESTMENT. BUT I COME
BACK TO WHAT DOES THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING DO? YOU BUILD
BINNEDDINGS WITH LAND BANK
SITES. YOU KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED
WITH RENT ASSISTANCE. YOU DO
WEATHER AND HOME REPAIR SO THAT
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE
HOME THEY ARE IN. AND THEN IT
WAS LIGHTLY TOUCHED ON BY
RESIDENT SERVICES. I RAISE THE
POINT THAT FOR UNITS THAT ARE
60% AMI, OCCUPIED BY A
INDIVIDUAL AT 30% AMI USING A
HOUSING VOUCHER TO ACCESS THAT
UNIT. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SAME
SUPPORTS AS THE PERSON LIVING
IN AN AMI LEVEL. AND THAT IS
NOT YOUR FAULT. I'M SAYING
HERE THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING
THAT WE ARE GOING ABOVE AND
BEYOND TO DO RESIDENT SERVICES.
IT IS PROBABLY A DROP IN THE
BUCKET COMPARED TO WHAT WE NEED
AND THAT IS NOT ON YOU. IT IS
MORE THANK YOU FOR DOING MORE
THAN I THINK IS ASKED. THE
IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE AROUND THE
COMMUNITY IS WELL KNOWN. I TOLD
YOU I WASN'T GOING TO BE
SHORT. WHEN I'M HEARING THE
QUESTION ABOUT THE HOUSING
PLAN, WHAT STRIKES ME IS MORE
SIMILAR TO THE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN IN THE SENSE WE HAD THE
FREIGHT PLAN, THE PEDESTRIAN
PLAN. WE HAD, I DON'T THINK WE
HAD A CAR PLAN. ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT PLANS WE HAD. AND
WHAT I'M HEARING FROM EVERYONE
IN THE COMMITTEE TABLE AS WELL
IS WE DO HAVE THE PLANS. IT IS
JUST THAT THEY ARE NOT ALL IN
ONE PLACE. AND IF I'M HEARING
MY COLLEAGUES CORRECTLY, I
THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M
HEARING. WE KNOW THIS
INFORMATION IS OUT THERE. AND
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE IT
ALL IN ONE PLACE. SO FROM WHAT
I'M HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES
IS WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
AND, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS
EASY AND DIGESTIBLE SO THAT WE
CAN SUPPORT YOU IN IN THIS WAY.
COLLEAGUING, IF I'M WRONG, YOU
CAN CORRECT ME. I GUESS COMING
BACK TO QUOTING ONE OF YOUR NAT
STAY ON SLIDE THREE IF YOU
WOULD LIKE. JUST BECAUSE IT
STRUCK ME WHEN READING THE
TEXTS. THIS IS PAGE 345 OF THE
BUDGET. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
BUDGET HAS GROWN BY 550% IN THE
LAST DECADE. HOWEVER, THE
INDIANAPOLIS UNIT HAS NOT
EXPANDED SINCE 2013. 2013 IS
NOT EVEN ON SLIDE 3 WHEN WE HAD
$50 MILLION OF FUNDING SO IT IS
CLEARLY MORE THAN NEEDED AND
DEMONSTRATES HOW MUCH THE
DEPARTMENT HAS GROAN AND THAT
WE HAVE BEEN TWO DECADES LATE.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS TO BE
TRUE, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO
ME IS WE CONTINUE FUNDING
HOUSING AT A RECORD LEVEL. WHAT
WE ARE DOING HERE, WHEN I LOOK
AT THE BUDGETS, THE 2019 TO
2024 BUDGET SUMMARY, IT WAS $69
MILLION. TODAY, IT, 24, IT WAS
339 WHICH IS A 380% INCREASE.
FIVE YEAR GROWTH WAS $270
MILLION. THIS WAS US TRYING TO
BITE AT THE APPLE THAT THE
ISSUE HAD BEEN DELAYED SO WE
ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS TODAY
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OVER
20 YEARS AGO. SO, THIS IS TRUE.
20 YEARS BACK. AND THAT'S THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS LEVEL OF
FUNDING. AND SO, DIRECTOR, I
HAVE COME TO THE END OF MY
COMMENTS AND REALIZE I DON'T
HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. I'M
JUST UP HERE TALKING. BUT THERE
IT IS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD, RESPOND,
OR CORRECT ON MY COMMENTS
TODAY? FANTASTIC. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE? I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO
YOU TO CLOSE US OUT. AND THEN
WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM. REALLY GREAT TO
SEE YOU ALL. BECKY, THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR MEANS AND AGAIN,
PROVIDING HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE. TO THE COMMENTS OF
ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE
WHO I THINK WE HAVE ALL CLEARLY
VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO
ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS
IN OUR CITY. AND JUST LOOKING
AT WHAT THE REALITIES ARE IN
TERMS OF OUR BUDGET, BUT WE DO
NEED TO DO BETTER. AND I LIKE
THE IDEA THAT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE HAS PROPOSED. AND I
UNDERSTAND THE COMPLETIONTY OF
THE FUNDING. IT SEEMS SO
DIFFICULT TO WRAP OUR MINDS
AROUND WHAT EXACTLY IS
HAPPENING OUT THERE. SO TO
THETIC TENT WE CAN STREAMLINE
THAT AND MAKE THAT EASIER TO
UNDERSTAND AND KEEP TRACK OF
THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING, THE
BETTER OFF WE ARE.
I JUST, IN SOME WAYS I THINK WE
WERE AT A MOMENT BECAUSE WE ARE
HAVING TO LOOK AT HOW WE
FINANCE THIS. WE ARE KIND OF AT
A MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK HOW WE
DO HOUSING IN THE CITY. AND THE
OTHER MODELS THAT WOULD SUPPORT
AND ENCOURAGE HOMEOWNER SHIP.
LIKE CO-OP MODELS ARE NOT
REALLY USED HERE LIKE THEY ARE
IN THE EAST COAST AND THEY ARE
VERY MUCH A VIABLE MODEL. I
REALLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF
GOING AND TOURING AND I
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO
SO. LAND TRUST, YEAH. WE JUST
NEED TO GET MORE CREATIVE
REALLY I THINK. AND I DO
APPRECIATE AGAIN AS I SAID THE
PASSION AND DEDICATION THAT
EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING BRINGS TO THIS AND THE
ABILITY TO KEEP ALL OF THIS
COMPLEX INFORMATION IN YOUR
MINDS AND COMMUNICATING IT TO
US. I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT. SO
ANYWAY. JUST THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE ONTO OUR NEXT
ITEM ON THE AGENDA. SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. PLEASE Y'ALL,
COME ON UP.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2. SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> FANTASTIC. WELCOME TO CHIEF
SCOGGINS, ASSISTANT CHIEF. AND
CHRIS SANTOS. WHEN YOU ARE
READY, TAKE IT AWAY AND WE WILL
PASS IT TO THE CHAIR OF YOUR
COMMITTEE AND WE WILL TAKE
QUESTIONS. I WILL ALSO SAY FOR
THE RECORD, THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT WAS ON TIME, EARLY.
THEY WERE THE FIRST ONES HERE.
THEY EVEN BEAT ME TO CHAMBERS
TODAY. APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR
OUR CITY.
AND THE MICROPHONES YOU HAVE TO
HAVE REAL CLOSE TO YOUR FACE.
GREEN LIGHT IS ON.
>> GOT IT.
>> CHRIS, YOU WANT TO DRIVE?
OKAY, PERFECT. FIRST I WILL
START OFF BY SAYING GOOD
MORNING. WE STILL HAVE A BIT OF
MORNING LIFT AND I WANT TO
THANK THE COUNCIL FOR ALL OF
YOUR SUPPORT. IT IS CLEAR IT IS
VISIBLE AND OUR PEOPLE FEEL IT.
BEFORE I GET INTO THE
PRESENTATION, I ALSO WANT TO
THANK MAYOR HARRELL,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND THE
ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR PASSING THE
VACANT BUILDING LEGISLATION
EARLIER IN THE YEAR. AND IT HAS
BEEN A VERY FOTHE SEATTLE FIRE E
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. AND IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT I REPORT OUT
SINCE THAT PERIOD OF TIME WE
HAVE BEEN A PART OF TAKING DOWN
17 BUILDINGS IN THE COMMUNITY
BUT HAVEN'T HAD TO USE THE
LEGISLATION. 17 BUILDINGS IS
REALLY SIGNIFICANT. AND THIS IS
TRULY THE ONE SEATTLE APPROACH
WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WITH SDCI,
WITH THE UTILITIES, CITY LIGHT
TRYING TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY
SAFER. THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO NOTE. I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE
THE BUDGET DIRECTOR. CHRIS
SANTOS AND OUR FIRE MARSHAL
ASSISTANT CHIEF TIM. SO WE HAVE
A NUMBER OF SLIDES TO GO
THROUGH AND I WILL TRY TO COVER
THEM. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF
INFORMATION TO COVER AND I WANT
TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE I'M AS
THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE. BUT FOR
US, IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO
START OFF WITH OUR MISSION. THE
MISSION OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS SAVING LIVES AND
PROTECTING PROPERTY. THAT'S
WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR. AND WE
ARE RESPONDING IN A
COMPASSIONATE AND EFFECTIVE
MANNER TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT
IS IMPORTANT FOR US EACH AND
EVERY DAY. AND STAYING GROUNDED
AS A VISION IN THE ORGANIZATION
IS ALSO IMPORTANT. AND WE CAN
LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS WE
HAVE DONE IN OUR HISTORY, WITH
THE MEDIC ONE PROGRAM THAT IS
OVER 50 YEARS OLD AND SET A
NATIONAL STANDARD OF HOW EMS
AND PARA MEDICINE IS PRACTICED
A.ENED A WE HAVE MANY VISITORS
AROUND THE WORLD. OUR ENERGY
RESPONSE TEAM AT FIRE STATION
25 ON CAPITOL HILL. SO STAYING
TRUE TO OUR VISION BEING A
NATIONAL LEAD L IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AS AN ORGANIZATION.
NOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
SLIDE, WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE
BULLETS AND I WILL EXPLAIN THEM
THIS WAY. WE FOCUS ON
MITIGATION, PREVENTION, AND
EDUCATION. THAT IS REALLY WHAT
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
DOES. MITIGATION. WHEN THE
PROBLEMS HAPPEN, SOMEONE CALLS
911. WE SEND A UNIT OUT TO
PROBLEM SOLVE. IT COULD BE A
MEDICAL EMERGENCY, A FIRE,
TECHNICAL RESCUE. FIRE BOATS.
ENERGY RESPONSE TEAM. WHATEVER
IT IS. AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN
BY ACCIDENT. THERE'S A LOT HA
GOES INTO IT. OUR FIREFIGHTERS
TRAIN ABOUT 15,000 HOURS A
MONTH. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T THINK THE FAS TEAM FOR
TAKING CARE OF THE VEHICLES WE
HAVE MOVING AROUND THE CITY ON
THE DAILY BASIS. THAT
MITIGATION PIECE BECOMES VERY
IMPORTANT. HOW THE CITY IS
TAKEN CARE OF AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS. WHEN WE LOOK AT
PREVENTION, THAT'S A BIG PART
OF WHAT WE DO. LAST YEAR IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WE WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 25,000
INSPECTIONS. ABOUT 14,000 ON
THE OPERATIONS SIDE OF THE
HOUSE. THE FIRE COMPANIES AND
11,000 IN THE FIRE PREVENTION
BUREAU. BUT THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO NOTE. NEW
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS. ALL
TYPES OF INSPECTIONS. ABOUT
25,000. THAT IS REALLY
SIGNIFICANT ON THE PREVENTION
SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO REALLY TRY
TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS TO
MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS
SAFE. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME
EDUCATING AND WE HAVE TAUGHT
CPR IN OVER 2400 PEOPLE JUST IN
THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS. THAT'S
REALLY SIGNIFICANT. WE ARE
TEACHING PEOPLE LIFE SAVING
SKILLS THAT COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND WE HAVE GONE OUT
TO 19 HOUSING PROVIDERS AND
DONE PRESENTATIONS. THAT'S
KIND OF SOME OF THE EDUCATION
AND THESE ARE JUST SNAPSHOTS OF
WHAT WE DO BUT I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE
GROUNDED IN THIS PLACE IN THE
BEGINNING. YOU CAN GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE, CHRIS. AND AS WE
JUST HEARD FROM THE LAST
PRESENTATION. THE COMMUNITY IS
GROWING. SO THE CALLS INTO THE
FIRE ALARM CENTER AND CALLS OUT
TO THE FIELD. THIS SLIDE GIVES
YOU A QUICK VISUAL OF THE
NUMBER OF CALLS COMING INTO OUR
DISPATCH CENTER. WE HAD
THOUSANDS OF CALLS AND THIS
SLIDE STOPS IT I BELIEVE, 2018.
>> : BUT ONE YEAR BEFORE, WE
WERE AT 163,000 CALLS SO JUST
IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,
OUR CALLS INTO OUR ALARM CENTER
HAS INCREASED BY 25%. SO WE
SHOULD EXPECT THE NUMBERS TO
CONTINUE TO RISE. AND WHEN YOU
LOOK AT OUR RESPONSES IN THE
FIELD, WHICH IS THE NEXT SLIDE,
LAST YEAR, WE HAD A RECORD
YEAR. 111,000 RESPONSES.
THAT'S THE MOST WE HAVE EVER
RUN IN OUR HISTORY. WE CLOSED
OUT THE THIRD QUARTER AND WE
WERE ALREADY AT 84,000. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE IN
2010, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS WEBSITE,
THEY HAVE A LINK ON HOW WE
GROW. AND WHAT IT SHOWS IS THE
CITY HAS GROWN BY 189,000
SINCE 2010. OUR CALL
LOAD HAS GROWN BY 45%. SINCE
77,000 CALLS
AGAIN. AND AT 2023, WE ARE AT
111,000 CALLS A YEAR. SO IT IS
GETTING REALLY BUSY OUT THERE.
NOW WE WILL GET INTO THE BUDGET
SLIDES.
I WANT TO BREAK DOWN WHAT THAT
REPRESENTS FOR THE BUDGET. 74%
OF THAT BUDGET IS SALARIES AND
BENEFITS SO THAT IS ALL THE
STUFF THAT IS JUST GONE FROM
THE TOP. 9% GOES TO MAINTAINING
OUR DAILY STAFFING LEVELS SO
SOMEONE IS ON VACATION, SOMEONE
IS SICK. MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATIONS, FLEET AND
FACILITIES. IT, SO, ALL THAT IS
GONE. THEN FOR EQUIPMENT AND
SUPPLIES AND STAFF ARE 35 FIRE
FACILITIES. THAT IS LESS THAN
4%. THAT IS EVERYTHING FROM
NOTE PADS TO FIRE HOSE TO
LADDERS TO PAPER CLIPS, TO, YOU
PICK IT WHAT IT TAKES THE
STAFF. AND WE HAVE 38 OF THEM
AROUND THE CITY. SO THAT IS
LESS THAN 4% AND THAT REALLY
LEADS JUST LESS THAN 2% FOR ALL
OF OUR MANDATORY AND DEPARTMENT
WIDE TRAINING THAT WE HAVE TO
DO. NOW, THE 296305 LAYS OUT A
NUMBER OF REQUIREMENTS THAT
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH
ANNUALLY. AND NFPA, THE FIRE
PROTECTION ASSOCIATION LAYS OUT
STANDARDS FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS
ON HOW WE RESPOND. HOW MANY
FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD BE THERE IN
SUCH A PERIOD OF TIME. THE
NUMBER IS BIG. AND ALL OF IT IS
BEING USED VERY WISELY. THERE
IS VERY LITTLE FUNDING TO DO DO
ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE
ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. GO AHEAD.
YOU CAN MOVE. NOW NOTABLE
REDUCTIONS. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT SLIDE. WE HAVE
COMMITTED THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS TO REDUCING OUR OVERTIME
BUDGET BY A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT IS TIED TO OUR VACANCY
COUNT WE HAVE NOW. SO IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
1,110 POSITIONS ARE ACTUALLY
SWORN FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS AS
OF YESTERDAY. WE HAVE 119
VACANCIES. I'LL PUT A PLUG IN
NOW. APPLICATIONS OPEN FRIDAY.
BETWEEN OCTOBER 4th AND
NOVEMBER 29, OUR APPLICATIONS
WILL BE OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE MAY OF 2022 BUT OF THE
1,111 POSITIONS, WE HAVE 119
VACANCIES. ABOUT 11%. AT ANY
GIVEN TIME WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
FOLKS OFF ON INJURY FOR A
VARIETY OF REASONS. WE HAVE A
VERY PHYSICALLY INTENSE JOB. A
LOT OF MANUAL LABOR TIED TO IT.
LIFTING, PULLING, CARRYING AND
FULL PULLING PEOPLE IS HARD
WORK. WE HAVE 6% TO 8% OFF ON
DISABILITY. WE HAD 72% OFF. THE
6.5%. OFF ON DISABILITY. THEN
ALL THOSE'RE THINGS. WE ARE
GETTING 23 TO 25% OF THE
DEPARTMENT IS REALLY NOT
AVAILABLE TO WORK. SO WHAT
HAPPENS IS THIS CREATES, THIS
PUTS US IN A PLACE WHERE WE
HAVE TO PUT UNITS OUT OF
SERVICE. WHAT WE NEVER TRY TO
DO IS CLOSE THE STATION. IF WE
HAVE TO REDUCE AN ENGINE, WE
WILL PUT AN AID CAR IN THE
STATION. SO THERE IS A UNIT
RESPONDING TO THE EMERGENCY.
BUT WE NEVER CLOSE A STATION.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
NOTE. AND THEN, ON TOP OF WHAT
HAPPENS OUT IN OPERATIONS, IN
2023 LAST YEAR, WE WORKED
ALMOST 600 SPECIAL EVENTS SO
THAT IS SEAHAWKS, MARINERS, THE
KRAKEN, THE CONCERTS, AND ON
SOME OF THOSE DAYS, LIKE I
THINK THE SEAHAWKS ARE HOME
THIS WEEKEND. WE'LL PROBABLY
HAVE 40 TO 50 FIREFIGHTERS ON
SITE AT LUMEN FIELD WORKING
FIRE GUARD. AND EMS. AND HAZMAT
AND MEDICS ON THE FIELD. SO
THIS CREATES QUITE A CHALLENGE.
SO THE 11% VACANCY RATE IS A
PART OF THE CHALLENGE BUT I
WANTED TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT
HOW WE WOULD ACCOMPLISH THIS
THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. YOU
CAN GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE
CHRIS.
THE OTHER REDUCTION WE HAVE
OFFERED IS A $400,000 PROJECT
REDUCTION. IN ORDER TO GET A
LOT OF THINGS DONE IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT GROUPS WORKING ON A
LOT OF THINGS. WE TAKE A LOOK
AT FIRES. WE HAVE A POST
INCIDENT ANALYSIS COMMITTEE
THAT REVIEWS MAJOR FIRES. WE
HAVE OUR AWARDS COMMITTEE. WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES IN
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALL OF THOSE BUDGETS WILL BE
REDUCED BY 7% IN 25 AND 26.
THAT MAY MEAN ONE LESS METING
OR PROJECT OR PROGRAM OR
TRAINING OR CONFERENCE. BUT
ACROSS ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS,
THAT IS HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE
THIS REDUCTION. BUT THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO.
WE DO A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS
SO WE JUST WON'T DO AS MUCH.
THAT'S OKAY. NOW WE WILL TALK
ABOUT OUR NOTABLE ADDITIONS. IN
ORDER TO CONTINUE TO TACKLE THE
VACANCY RATE, WHAT IS IN THIS
IS THE HIRING OF 20 ADDITIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS. GENERALLY WE ARE
ABLE TO HIRE UP TO 60FTEs
ANNUALLY BUT THAT IS NOT
KEEPING UP SO OUR GOAL IS TO
HIRE 80 PER YEAR. SO 80
FIREFIGHTERS A YEAR. AND WHAT
WE ARE SEEING NOW IS WE THINK
WE ARE GETTING READY TO PLATO.
TEN YEARS AGO, WE WERE A PRETTY
SENIOR DEPARTMENT. OVER THE
LAST NINE OR TEN YEARS WE HIRED
WELL OVER 500 FIREFIGHTERS AND
WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE DATA A
LITTLE BIT FURTHER, I LOOK BACK
TO 2001. JUST UNDER 800 OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN
HIRES. WE WILL CATCH UP OP
THIS. I THINK THERE IS A SLIDE
THAT WILL SHOW THIS ON THE NEXT
SLIDE. SO THIS GIVES A LITTLE
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. WE HAD
OUR LARGEST NUMBERS IN THE
COVID YEARS OF RETIREMENTS AND
NON-RECRUITS OPERATIONS FROM
THE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS BASED
ON WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE
SHOWING. IF YOU LOOK AT 25 AND
26 AND THE SIMPLE MATH IS IF WE
ARE ABLE TO HIRE 80 AND 50 OR
LESS RETIRE, WE WILL BE PLUS 3%
AGAIN AND WE BRING DOWN THE
VACANCY RATE. SO IT WILL TAKE A
NUMBER OF YEARS TO CLIMB OUT OF
THIS BUT WE HAVE A PATHWAY
FORWARD WHICH IS IMPORTANT. THE
REASON WE ARE LOOKING AT 80 A
YEAR, WE DO TWO RECRUIT
TRAINING CLASSES A YEAR AND WE
COULD DO 40 PER CLASS AND STILL
PROVIDE THAT GREAT TRAINING
THAT WE DO OVER THE COURSE OF
50-AND-A-HALF WEEKS SO WE WILL
DO A CLASS IN FEBRUARY, AND
WE'LL DO A CLASS IN AUGUST.
AND ANY OF YOU ARE MORE THAN
WELCOME TO COME DOWN AND TOUR
OUR TRAINING IF YOU WANT TO SEE
THE RECRUITS IN ACTION AND WHAT
THEY ARE LEARNING AND DOING.
BUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS, WE THINK WE ARE GOING TO
BE AT A MUCH BETTER PLACE. THE
OTHER AREA THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US IS OUR
PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAM. WE
NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
STUDENTS GOING INTO PAR METIC
TRAINING. WE ARE FUNDED TO HAVE
89 AND WE ARE 33 SHORT. I WANT
TO THANK THE COUNCIL. IN A
SUPPLEMENTAL EARLIER THIS YEAR,
YOU HAD STUDENTS WHO STARTED IN
SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR AND THE
WAY THAT PROGRAM WORKS IS THEY
START IN SEPTEMBER AND THEY
WILL FINISH NEXT JULY. A
10-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM. WHEN
THEY COME BACKSEAT NEXT YEAR,
THEY WILL BE ALL READY TO GO.
BUT THEY ARE NOT REALLY GONE
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE PROGRAM
WORKS IS THEY ARE DOING
CLASSROOM TRAINING BUT THEY ARE
ALSO RIDING ON OUR PARAMEDIC
UNITS SO WE HAVE A HIGHER
NUMBER THAN FIVE IN TRAINING
THIS YEAR. BUT OUR GOAL FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS IS 12 AND 12.
WHAT IS TYPICALLY FUNDED IS
FIVE PARAMEDIC STUDENTS
ANNUALLY. THIS BUMPS IT UP TO
12 BY ADDING SEVEN ADDITIONAL
STUDENTS AND THAT WILL BE
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
CATCH UP. WE WANT TO GET AS
CLOSE AS WE CAN TO FULL
STAFFING BEFORE FIFA LANDS IN
2026. THAT WILL BE A BIG GOAL
FOR US. AND OUR MOBILE
INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM. YOU
HAVE GOTTEN TO LEARN AND SEE
THE AMAZING WORK THAT WE HAVE
DONE SERVING COMMUNITY. SO OVER
THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH. $450,000
AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR, 1.2
MILLION. AND THE WAY WE ARE
GOING TO UNFOLD THIS, IF YOU
CAN HELP THE NEXT SLIDE, IN
2025, WE ARE GOING TO ADD A
FOLLOW UP. WHAT IT TAKES TO
REALLY GET SOMEONE INTO
TREATMENT IS A LOT OF FOLLOW-UP
CARE IN CASE MANAGEMENT. AND
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
OVER TIME AND WHAT WE HAVE
LEARNED BY TALKING TO OTHER
COMMUNITIES. IN 2025, WE WILL
PUT THAT FOLLOW UP UNIT IN PLAY
AND THEIR SOLE JOB IS TO WHEN
FOLKS ARE HAVING AN OVERDOSE IS
TO DO THE FOLLOW-UP TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE GETTING THE
CARE THAT THEY NEED SO THAT
UNIT WILL GO INTO SERVICE IN
2025. SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER,
THE WAY WE PUT HEALTH 99 IN
SERVICE IS WE HAD HEALTH ONE,
TWO, AND THREE SO WE CONVERTED
HEALTH 3 INTO HEALTH 99.
BECAUSE WE SAW THAT AS SUCH A
NEED IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT
IS HOW WE PUT HEALTH 99 IN
SERVICE. SO IN 2025, HEALTH 3
WOULD GO BACK IN SERVICE. JUST
SPEAKING TO THE OVERDOSES
BECAUSE IN 2026, A SECOND
HEALTH 99 UNIT WOULD GO IN
SERVICE AND WE HAVE BEEN
WATCHING THE WORK OUR TEAM HAS
BEEN DOING AND WE KNOW THEY ARE
HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE
COMMUNITY. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS
THE OVERDOSES ARE DOWN FROM THE
YEAR BEFORE. THE YEAR BEFORE,
WE WERE 28 OR 2900 OVERDOSES,
SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE ARE AT 22.
IT IS STILL HIGH, NOT AS HIGH
AS LAST YEAR, STILL, WE ARE
SEEING THE NUMBERS GO DOWN
WHICH IS A GOOD THING. SO THIS
IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO DEPLOY
THAT FUNDING. AND ALSO, IT WILL
SUSTAIN OUR NURSE PRACTITIONER.
WE WERE ABLE TO BRING A NURSE
PRACTITIONER ON BOARD THIS
YEAR. GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT
SLIDE AND I WILL EXPLAIN IT A
LITTLE BIT MORE. SO THE WAY IT
WORKS, YOU CAN SEE ON THIS
SLIDE. THEY RESPONDED TO OVER A
THOUSAND EMERGENCIES THIS YEAR,
THOSE ARE DIRECT DISPATCHES
FROM THE FIRE ALARM CENTER BUT
IF YOU LOOK TO THE FAR RIGHT OF
THE SCREEN, IT WILL SAY
REFERRALS. 2700 REFERRALS. SO
FIREFIGHTER ALL OVER THE CITY
GO ON A CALL . THE FIREFIGHTER
INS THE STATION, WHAT THEY WILL
DO IS FILL OUT A FORM. HEALTH
ONE WILL GET IT AND OUR CASE
MANAGERS WILL THEN GO TO THE
PERSON'S HOME TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS
A LITTLE BIT MORE AND GET THEM
CARE. 2700 TIMES THAT HAS
HAPPENED. BUT WE SAW WE HAD A
GAP. BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITED.
BUT THE NURSE PRACTITIONER HAS
BROUGHT A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF
SKILLS AND WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF
THAT. SO THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. WHAT YOU SEE IS THE
NUMBER OF RESPONSES, HEALTH 99
HAS HAD HERE TO DATE. AND I
THINK THAT NUMBER IS ABOUT 350.
DIRECT RESPONSES TO PEOPLE
HAVING OVERDOSES AND SINCE WE
HAVE LAUNCHED OUR BUPRENORPHINE
PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
GIVEN THAT 39 TIMES TO 39
PATIENTS. AND NOW HELPING
INDIVIDUALS. WE WILL HAVE NEWS
IN THE COMING WEEKS. THIS SLIDE
HAS BROKEN UP BY COUNCIL
DISTRICTS SO IF YOU GO BACK
ONE, SO THE DARKER COLOR ARE
MORE RESPONSES IN THE AREA. AND
THE LIGHTER COLOR ARE LESS
RESPONSES IN THE AREA. AND THE
NEXT SLIDE IS JUST BROKEN UP BY
FIRE STATION DISTRICTS AROUND
THE COMMUNITY.
>> MY REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR
AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL
DEFIBRILLATORS JUST LIKE ALL
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, IT HITS
AND END-OF-LIFE AT SOME POINT
IN TIME AND NEEDS TO BE
REPLACED AND LIKE MOST THINGS,
THE SERVICE LEVEL FROM THE
MANUFACTURER AND THIS IS A
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PURCHASE TO
REPLACE ALL THIS EQUIPMENT AT
ONCE BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO DO THAT ONCE BECAUSE YOU
REALLY NEED THE SAME MODEL OF
EQUIPMENT OF THE BECAUSE OUR
FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS
WERE TRIP THE CITY SO WE
SHOULDN'T HAVE DIFFERENT
EQUIPMENT ON DIFFERENT VEHICLES
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
EQUIPMENT AND PLACEMENT IN ALL
OF THOSE IS REALLY JUST LESS
THAN 4%. PURCHASES LIKE THIS
WOULD PROBABLY TAKE 25 TO 30%
OF THAT EQUIPMENT BUDGET, WHICH
IS WHY WE ARE BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I THINK THAT WAS THE
LAST SLIDE AND I'M GOING TO
PAUSE THERE AND SEE IF THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANYONE
ELSE ON THE PANEL WANT TO SHARE
ANYTHING BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ?
SEEING NONE AT THIS TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, ALL
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, CHIEF AND ASSISTANT
CHIEF LEWIS AND AND MR. SANTOS,
AS WELL. I THOUGHT MISS
FITZPATRICK HERE AT ONE POINT.
THANK HER FOR JOINING IN, AS
WELL. TWO THINGS FOR US. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE ON
THE THE ABATEMENT BILL AND ITS
IMPACT. 17 IS A BIG NUMBER AND
THIS SHOWS THE INTENT IN ITS
ADDRESSING THE ISSUES BOTH FROM
A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE ,
PERMISSIVE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
BUT ALSO AS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES IS A COSPONSOR , ALL
THE IMPACTS. IT IS REALLY KEY
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
UPDATE. ALSO , THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR . SO WE CAN HAVE THE
BIG FOUR, I RECKON I CAN'T
HAVE THE -- AND ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS DON'T FIT BUT PLEASE
-- POLICE, FIRE, AND CARE WOULD
BE A GREAT -- IT'S IMPORTANT
TO TELL THE STORY, BOTTOM LINE
IN THE STORY THAT YOU JUST TOLD
IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY
HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS, TOO,
ON THAT IS, GOING BACK TO THIS
IS THIS SHOWS YOUR PLACE AND
YOUR IMPORTANCE IN THIS PUBLIC
SAFETY ECOSYSTEM AND IT
HIGHLIGHTS THAT IT'S NOT JUST
FIRE. YOU HAVE THESE OTHER
PIECES AS WELL AND I'M REALLY
HAPPY THAT THE FIRE PREVENTION
PIECE WAS KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED
BECAUSE THAT'S ONE AREA THAT
IS NOT OFTEN TALKED ABOUT
BECAUSE THOSE GET A LOT OF
ATTENTION. BURNING BUILDING
GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION AND
THESE OTHER EFFORTS DON'T
NECESSARILY, IT'S THE
NEGATIVE, PROVING THE NEGATIVE
IN TERMS OF THE AVOIDING FIRES
IN THE FIRST PLACE. I ALSO
WANTED TO THANK THE ACADEMY GRA,
THAT HAVE BEEN ATTENDED, SO WE
APPRECIATE FAS OH, NOT TO
MENTION THE FIRE ALARMS AND
THEN ON FRIDAY, OBVIOUSLY, THE
FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL. IT'S
GIVING ME GREAT INSIGHT SO I
APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT
OPENING ITSELF UP FOR THESE
VISITS, NOT JUST FOR MYSELF.
OTHERS, AS WELL. IN FACT, MY
NEIGHBOR HERE, MY GREAT
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WAS RECENTLY AT
FIRE STATION 25 AND I WILL NOTE
THAT SHE HAS BEEN, HOW DO I SAY
THIS , HIGHLIGHTING THAT SHE
GOT A PATCH SO SHE'S QUITE
PROUD OF THAT PATCH. THEN I
INTRODUCED HER TO MY COIN
COLLECTION, SO . ONTO THE
BRIEFING IT'S INTERESTING
BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH
FOCUS FROM THE SPD STAFFING
CHALLENGES IN THE OVERTIME AND
THE, AND THOSE PIECES AND USING
SALARY SAVINGS FOR THAT. TO
WHAT EXTENT , I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU HAVE THIS NUMBER, MAYBE,
MR. SANTOS DOES, DOES UNIFORM
SALARY SAVINGS COVER THIS
OVERTIME REQUIREMENT ? IS IT
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING?
>> WELL, I CAN'T COMMENT ON
SPD BUT I CAN COMMENT ON WHAT
WE DO IS WE STAFF MINIMUM
STAFFING LEVELS TO ALL OF OUR
ENGINES, STAFF AT A DEFINED
LEVEL SO MORE PER ENGINE, FOUR
PER LADDER . WE HAVE ASSIGNED
STRENGTH NUMBERS FOR EACH SHIFT
AND THEN, AS THE CHIEF WAS
TALKING ABOUT IT, WHEN MEMBERS
ARE OFF ON LEAVE, WE BACKFILL
TO MEET OUR MINIMUM STAFFING
LEVEL. WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE
THESE MAKING CAN -- VACANT
POSITIONS AND THEN WE WOULD
INCUR OVER TIME IN LIEU OF THE
SALARIES AND BENEFITS. SO, WHEN
WE GO THROUGH EACH BIENNIUM, WE
WOULD UPDATE THAT WITH OUR
CURRENT VACANCIES AND THEN MOVE
THE BUDGET OVERTIME FOR THAT.
SO $35 MILLION. THE BULK OF
THAT IS TO COVER THE OVERTIME
BACKFILL. WHAT WE HAVE NOTED
HERE, THE SAVING IS REALLY COST
AVOIDANCE BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE MANDATORY OVERTIME HIRING.
WHAT WE ARE RELYING UPON IS OUR
MEMBERS TO SIGN UP FOR OVERTIME
TO STAFF THE ENGINES AND
LADDERS. WHEN THAT LIST TO GETS
EXHAUSTED, THEN THAT IS WHEN WE
HAVE UNIT OUTAGES. SO THEN WE
HAVE TO SAY OKAY, WE ARE TAKING
THIS OUT OF SERVICE OR AS THE
CHIEF MENTIONED, WE REPLACE IT
WITH -- UNIT. THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE PROJECTING TO SAY OKAY, WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE $1 MILLION
UNTIL WE GET OUR STAFFING
LEVELS BACK AT A HIGH LEVEL TO
WHERE WE HAVE MORE ASSIGNED
MEMBERS, LESS OVERTIME NEED.
>> THANK YOU, IN EFFECT, EACH
TIME I VISITED THE FIRE
STATION, THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME
FIREFIGHTER FROM A DIFFERENT
STATION THAT WAS COMING IN TO
THAT STATION THAT I WAS
VISITING, TO YOUR POINT. AND A
SEPARATE AREA AND BECAUSE I'VE
BEEN TO THE FIRE ALARM CENTER,
BUT ALSO THE 911 CALL CENTER,
TOO . I SEE SOME SIMILARITIES
TO THE CHALLENGES THAT THE CARE
DEPARTMENT HAS AN IN TERMS OF
AID -- A, THE CALL VOLUME BUT
ALSO THE AGE OF THE EQUIPMENT
AND WHERE WE ARE , IS THERE
ANYTHING OUT THERE REGARDING
KIND OF UPDATING THE FIRE ALARM
CENTER IN TERMS OF SYSTEMS AND
THOSE KINDS OF , YOU KNOW.
BASIC UPDATES?
>> SURE. OUR TEAM AT THE FIRE
ALARM CENTER, ASSISTANT CHIEF
LUMBAR, THEY WORK WITH OUR
PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE OUR
SYSTEMS ARE STAYING UPDATED AND
WE NEED TO RECOMMEND A CHANGE,
WE DO THAT, THE LAST MAJOR
CHANGE I HAD, I BELIEVE IT WAS
IN 2018 OR 19 IS WHEN WE
TRANSITION OUR PROTOCOL SYSTEM
WAS A BIG ONE, BUT OUR SYSTEM
REQUIRES PERIODIC UPDATES AND
WE STAY IN LINE WITH THE
MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE NEED TO ADD THINGS ON THE
SYSTEM OR WE NEEDED TO DO
DIFFERENT THINGS, I.T. WORKS
WITH US TO MAKE SURE WE GET
THAT DONE.
>> I SEE SOME SIMILARITIES WITH
THE CALL CENTER IN TERMS OF THE
WORK RATE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS.
AND ALSO IN TERMS OF CALLS.
ALSO, THE , JUST UPDATES MAYBE
A NEW EXTENSION CORD, I DON'T
KNOW. TO THAT POINT, I THINK
IT'S HELPFUL FOR EVERYBODY TO
KNOW, IN TERMS OF CALL VOLUME
THE APPROXIMATE, 207,000, THEN
THE RESPONSES, I SAW IT WHEN I
WAS THERE, BASED WHEN I WAS
LISTENING IN. CAN YOU EXPLAIN
THAT DIFFERENCE AND WHAT THE
NONRESPONSE, WHAT HAPPENS TO
THEM ?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION. ONE OF THE THINGS
I SHOULD MENTION IS OUR
DISPATCHERS ARE SWORN
FIREFIGHTERS . THERE
FIREFIGHTER EMTs THAT CAME IN
AS FIREFIGHTERS AND JUST LIKE
THEY WOULD BECOME A FIRE
INSPECTOR, SOME BECOME
DISPATCHERS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A
POOL OF FIREFIGHTERS OUT THERE
IN THE RANKS THAT CAN COME BACK
TO BACK FILL ALSO. WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE 911 CALL COMES IN AND
IS FIRST HE GOESTO AND
THAT HE WILL ASK , IF THIS IS
AN EMERGENCY AND IF IT IS, THEY
WILL TRANSFER IT TO FIRE AND WE
HAVE A SERIES OF THINGS THAT WE
WILL DO. IT'S A PROTOCOL
SYSTEM WITH EMS CALLS, THERE'S
A PROTOCOL SYSTEM FOR FIRE
CALLS AND WE DO A LOT OF QA ON
ALL THOSE CALLS THAT COME IN.
THE REASON WHY THERE'S SOME
206,000 CALLS IN 2023 AND ONLY
111,000 DISPATCHES IS OFTEN
TIMES, WHEN THERE IS A BIG
EVENT, THERE'S MULTIPLE CALLS.
SOMETIMES, 10 OR DOZENS OR MORE
AND EVEN THE SMALLER CALLS WILL
BRING OUT MULTIPLE CALLS. WE
ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS THAT WE SEND CALLS
INTO ALSO. WE HAVE A NURSE
LINE. WE LAUNCH THE NURSE LINE
IN FEBRUARY OF 2022 AND IT'S
BEEN GOING GREAT. ABOUT 6000
CALLS A YEAR WILL GO TO THE
NURSE LINE. WE HAVE HELPED ONE.
-- HEALTHONE SOME OF THOSE ARE
PROTOCOLS, WHETHER IT'S FIRE
OR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. WE WILL
SEND THE CALL BACK TO CARE. WE
ARE VERY STRUCTURED AND THE WAY
WE ORGANIZE IN THE QA REALLY
ALLOWS US TO ZERO IN AND IF WE
ARE DOING IT RIGHT. WITH THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY
211,000 PHONE CALLS MAY NOT
EQUAL 211,000 INCIDENT
RESPONSES. TRUST ME. WE CAN
HANDLE 211,000 RESPONSES .
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU
KNOW, THE NEXT AREA OF
INTEREST, AND I'LL BE FRANK,
THIS ONE WORRIES ME, IS THE
PARAMEDICS IT'S ONE THING TO
BE DOWN IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL
NUMBERS, BUT THE PARAMEDIC,
WHICH IS SUCH A VITAL SKILL SET
AND RESPONSE. THAT IS A BIG
DELTA IN TERMS OF THE
SHORTNESS. I APPRECIATE THE
SUPPORT AND THE EFFORTS ARE
GOING BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE
CHALLENGES THAT THE PARAMEDICS
ARE FACING .
>> ARE PARAMEDICS WORK A LOT OF
HOURS RIGHT NOW. THAT'S JUST
WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW. ARE
PARAMEDICS ARE COMMITTED TO
SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE
COMMITTED TO THE SKILL SET AND
TO THE PROFESSION AND THEY ARE
WORKING A LOT OF HOURS RIGHT
NOW WHICH IS WHY WE ARE TRYING
TO GET THE CURRENT GROUP
THROUGH AND IT WON'T BE DONE
INTO -- UNTIL JULY. AND THE
NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE
VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. BUT THE
NEED FOR PARAMEDICS IS GROWING
SIGNIFICANTLY OUT DURING THE
COMMUNITY. I WILL JUST TALK
ABOUT CARDIAC EVENTS AS AN
EXAMPLE. FIVE YEARS AGO, IN
2019, WE HAD ABOUT 450, 460
CARDIAC EVENTS IN THE
COMMUNITY. WELL COMING IN 2023,
WE HAVE 666 AND IT'S THE SAME
FOR STROKES AND SEIZURES. ALL
OF THOSE CRITICAL ADVANCED LIFE
SUPPORT SKILL SETS, BUT IT'S A
CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW AND I TRY
TO THINK OUR MEDICS IS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM
ARE COMMITTED TO THE
ORGANIZATION, TO THE COMMUNITY,
AND THEY WORK A LOT OF HOURS.
THE QUICKER WE CAN GET OUT THE
OTHER SIDE , IT'S GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT FOR US. THE TRAINING
IS IMPORTANT, TOO. CUTTING
CORNERS ON THE TRAINING, IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY GO
THROUGH ALL THE RIGORS AND ALL
THE STEPS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON FROM THE DOCTORS AND
THE E.R.s TO THE LABS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE READY TO GO
WHEN THEY HIT THE STREETS
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE JUST
THEM AND ONE OTHER PERSON
MAKING A LIFE-SAVING DECISION.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
WORK IT THROUGH AND WE ARE
WORKING ON SOME OTHER OPTIONS
TO HELP THEM IN THE NEXT COMING
WEEKS, SO HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE
ABLE TO GET THAT ACROSS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, THE MOBILE
INTEGRATED HEALTH ASPECTS, I
SEE THE FOLLOW-UPS. THE
INCREASES. IS THIS A COMPLETE
SET? IS IT JUST PEOPLE OR IS IT
ALSO VEHICLES. WHEN YOU SAY
HEALTH 99, WHAT IS INCLUDED? IS
IT JUST THE INDIVIDUALS OR IS
IT THE WHOLE COMBINATION?
>> IT'S THE COMBINATION.
MOSTLY THE COST ARE EQUAL
COSTS. THE COST COMES FROM BUT
THERE IS ANOTHER VEHICLE NEEDED
AND MORE EQUIPMENT NEEDED AND
ALL OF THOSE AREN'T JUST THE
PEOPLE COST. THE PEOPLE IS
REALLY THE BULK OF THESE COSTS.
OUR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH
MANAGER HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB
PLANNING ON HOW WE EXPAND THE
TEAM. THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE
NEED, THE FACILITIES, SOME OF
YOU MAY KNOW THIS BUT 31 IS
BUILT AND I THINK IT'S ON
TRACK TO BE FINISHED BY THE END
OF 2025. TO BE HOUSED AT THAT
UNIT. AT THAT STATION. SO , BUT
MOST OF THE COST ARE PEOPLE
COST. THERE ARE SOME -- AND
EQUIPMENT BUT PEOPLE IS THE
BULK OF THE COST.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE FIRE
STATION 31 UPDATE AND POINT
BECAUSE THAT KIND OF LEADS AS
WELL TO MY QUESTION, WITH
HEALTHONE. YESTERDAY, OR TWO
DAYS AGO , I WAS MENTIONING
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES, YOU
KNOW, AND SOME OF THE SLIDES,
IT'S HST BUT THE CARE, 911,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE RESPONDERS,
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU SEE THEM
WORKING LIKE IN THE FUTURE,
COULD THEY BE AT FIRE STATION
31? OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE
LIKE JUST THE OTHER DAY, IN
TERMS OF THE EXPANSION OF CARE.
>> IT JUST DEPENDS ON SPACE AND
ROOM. WHEN WE DESIGN FIRE
STATION 31, WE DESIGN THE
RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO PUT
IN THERE BUT AS WE LOOK TO THE
FUTURE, YOU KNOW, MORE STATIONS
WILL BE REDESIGNED IN THE
FUTURE. THESE ARE THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE CAN ALL
KIND OF HAVE TOGETHER AND
FIGURE THIS OUT. BUT 31 WAS
DESIGNED AND EVERYTHING IS
DEDICATED. WHEN YOU BEEN IN
FIRE STATIONS, YOU TRY TO BE
REALLY ORGANIZE THE WAY THIS
GOES, WHERE THAT GOES, YOU
KNOW, EVERYTHING IS ORGANIZED
AND WE ARE USING ALL THE SPACE
WE HAVE. BUT IN THE FUTURE,
THAT COULD BE AN OPTION AND I
KNOW THEY ARE HAVING
CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT
CO-LOCATING AT THE SITES THAT
WE HAVE. I BELIEVE IN RAINIER.
SO THAT'S THE SITES THERE.
>> THAT'S IMPORTANT AND, TO
DIRECTOR EDER, THAT GOES TO MY
ECOSYSTEM POINT. AND FIRE
STATION 31, THIS DISCUSSION
LEAST MY FINAL QUESTION. CAN
YOU BRING UP THE SLIDE, 13 ?
THE ONE THAT SHOWS, NOT BY
COUNCIL DISTRICT, BUT BY
STATIONS . YOU KNOW , WE ARE
GETTING BIGGER AND WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE MORE RESPONSES, ALL THE
ABOVE. YOU TALK ABOUT THE
CARDIAC EVENTS. AND WE NEED TO
PLAN THIS OUT. IT'S A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT HAS TO
HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT.
WE HAVE TO BE UNDERSTANDING OF
OUR FIRE PREVENTION, THE
RESPONSE, THE MEDIC ONE, 91 ,
NOT TO MENTION, SUBSTATIONS FOR
PRE-SINKS, AND THEN WE HAVE
CARE. THIS HAS TO BE ALL FOLDED
INTO AN WE NEED TO HAVE THIS
AND I RECOGNIZE THIS PLAN, WE
DIDN'T HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY
ELEMENT AND I DO THINK BUT THIS
CONVERSATION -- THE NEED TO
HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT
THAT'S GOING TO ENSURE THE
VIABILITY OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT OF CARE, OF -- AND
OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR THAT
LEADING IS MY LAST POINT.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME.
>> CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF,
ASSISTANT CHIEF. MR. SANTOS FOR
BEING HERE. WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES .
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU
DO AND ALL THE HELP AND SAFETY
THAT YOU BRING COMMUNITIES.
SOME OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT I
HAVE TWO. MY FIRST QUESTION IS,
IN TERMS OF THE REDUCTIONS, ARE
THERE ANY VISIBLE OR FELT
REDUCTIONS TOWARDS COMMUNITY
THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE?
>> YES AND NO. WE HAVE A UNIT
OUTAGE OR WE HAVE ANOTHER UNIT
IS COMING FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT
TO RUN THE CALL IN THAT
DISTRICT, THERE COULD BE A
DELAY IN RESPONSE AND THE WAY
WE OPERATE IS OUR GOAL IS THIS.
WE TRIED TO GET OUT THE DOOR IN
60 SECONDS ON MEDICAL CALLS AND
80 SECONDS ON FIRE CALLS
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PUT ON ALL
OF OUR GEAR. WE TRY TO GET ON
SCENE IN FOUR MINUTES OR LESS.
THAT'S FIVE MINUTES FOR AN EMS
CALL, FIVE MINUTES AND 20
SECONDS FOR A FIRE CALL, BUT IF
WE ARE DOWN A UNIT IN THE
DISTRICT AND WE HAVE OTHER
UNITS RESPONDING INTO THOSE
DISTRICTS, THEN THAT COULD BE A
DELAY. BUT WITH THE COMMUNITY
VISIBLY FEEL IT OR SEE IT?
IT'S HARD TO PUT MY FINGER ON
IT. THERE COULD BE DAYS WHEN I
AM FULLY SAT -- SAP. THOSE
THINGS GENERALLY HAPPEN ON
THOSE DAYS AND THE OTHER IMPACT
IS THE FIREFIGHTERS RUN A LOT
MORE CALLS. THAT'S THE OTHER
IMPACT , WITH THE STAFFING AND
WHEN WE HAVE A UNIT DOWN. THAT
300 TO 320 CALLS IS PROBABLY
GOING TO COME IN EVERY DAY AND
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, IF YOU
ARE DOWN ONE UNIT, TWO UNITS,
OR THREE UNITS, ESPECIALLY IF
IT'S IN A CAR BECAUSE AN AID
CAR WILL RUN 16 TO 20 RUNS
EVERY DAY SO IF YOU HAVE AN AID
CAR THEN THE SURROUNDING UNITS
-- THOSE CALLS. IT'S HARD TO
PUT MY FINGER ON HOW BUT IT
COULD HAPPEN.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. YOU NEVER
KNOW WHEN THE NEXT EVENT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN, WHEN SOMEONE
IS GOING TO NEED HELP. IT'S
HARD TO TELL. MY NEXT QUESTION
IS REGARDING SENTINEL --
FENTANYL. THE IMPACTS TO YOUR
DEPARTMENTS, I CONSTANTLY SEE,
YOU KNOW FIRE ENGINE 10, 12 AND
JACKSON, AND LOOKING AT THE
BREAKDOWN IN TERMS OF BY
DISTRICT, AND BY DIFFERENT
CALLS THAT YOU GO TO, DO YOU
FEEL LIKE FENTANYL HAS MADE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN TERMS OF
TAKING UNITS TO GO TO THESE
CALLS, HEALTH 99 I'M SURE IS
ALSO, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THESE
DIFFERENT ZONES ARE MORE
IMPACTED THAN OTHERS. DO YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU COULD ALWAYS USE
MORE RESOURCES OR DO YOU THINK
WHAT WE HAVE NOW HAS WORKED ?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I -- BUT
WHAT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR AT THE
TABLE . WE ARE OKAY. BUT TO THE
FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION, IS
IT HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE
DEPARTMENT? ABSOLUTELY. CAN YOU
IMAGINE IF YOU WORKED AT FIRE
STATION 10 OR FOURTH IN
WASHINGTON AND THERE IS A HIGH
PROBABILITY YOU ARE GOING TO GO
ON AN OVERDOSE WHERE SOMEONE IS
NOT BREATHING, THE HEARTS NOT
BREATHING EVERY SHIFT YOU COME
TO WORK? YEAH. THAT HAS A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR
PERSONNEL. OUR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH COORDINATOR KRISTIN COX
HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND WE
HAVE BEEN TEACHING AND TRAINING
A LOT OF RESILIENCE WORK AND --
DID I LOSE IT THERE?
>> [ NO AUDIO ]
>> TESTING, ONE, TWO.
>> WE ARE BACK. IF YOU WANT TO
JUST PUT SOMETHING IN THE CHAT.
>> SEATTLE CHANNEL HAS THIS ,
AWARD-WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL.
BACK OVER TO YOU. ALSO
AWARD-WINNING SEATAB. PACT ON O
BECAUSE THESE ARE HARD CALLS.
-- THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF TRAGEDY
IN A LOT OF DEPTH IN OUR
FIREFIGHTERS REALLY CARRY THAT.
THEY TAKE THAT HOME. THOSE
AREAS ARE SO DARK AROUND THOSE
AREAS. AND IT PUTS OUR FOLKS A
LITTLE BIT ON EDGE FROM TIME TO
TIME. IF YOU CAN IMAGINE,
SOMETIMES WE ARE GOING INTO
ENCAMPMENTS OR WE ARE GOING
INTO VERY REMOTE PLACES, WITH
THERE'S TOO MANY AFTERNOON OR
TWO IN THE MORNING. WHEN YOU
CALL 911, WE GO. WHATEVER YOU
TELL US WE ARE, WE GO. AND SO
THESE PLACES MAY NOT BE THE
SAFEST PLACES AND SOMETIMES, WE
GET INTO COMPROMISING
SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THAT. SO
IT HAS A TOLL ON THE
FIREFIGHTERS, ON MANY FRONTS.
SO THE MORE WE DO TO REEL THIS
SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, ISSUE
IN, FOR OUR FOLKS. IT'S A
CHALLENGE.
>> THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR
EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND I
MEAN, IT'S , WE HAVE A LOT OF
CHALLENGES WITH OUR BUDGET ,
BUT THIS IS ONE DEPARTMENT I
WOULD PREFER NOT TO SEE
REDUCTIONS IN BUT I KNOW WE
HAVE TWO MONTHS TO DISCUSS THIS
BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING
THAT YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WOO
. COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT. SO, DID
I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY, THAT YOU
HAVE 1204 POSITIONS THAT ARE
FUNDED? IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. SO JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS
THE OPTIMAL NUMBER FOR FULLY, A
FULLY FIT AND READY
FIREFIGHTERS TO MEET MINIMUM
STAFFING REQUIREMENTS AND USING
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS BECAUSE
THE NUMBER OF FUNDED POSITIONS
DOESN'T NECESSARILY , IT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY RELATE TO
WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF A GROWING
POPULATION. I CAN GET THAT
INFORMATION OFF-LINE . BUT I AM
LOOKING AT THE 19 AT LEAST 119
VACANCIES THAT MAKE UP 11% OF
THE VACANCY RATE AND I'M
ASSUMING THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF
ANY KIND OF REPUTATIONAL ISSUES
THAT SFD HAS. YOU HAVE A
STELLAR REPUTATION AND I'M
SURE WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF A
CAREER IN FIREFIGHTING, THEY
THINK OF SFD FIRST. SO IF THERE
ARE CHANGES TO THE HIRING
PROCESSES , TO APPLICATIONS ,
THAT IS WHEN I WAS DIGGING INTO
POLICE OFFICER HIRING AND
RECRUITMENT THAT, AND
ADDITIONAL STAFF ARE WITHIN THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
PROCESS AND STREAMLINE AND GET
PEOPLE THROUGH THE HIRING
PROCESS, THE PIPELINE FASTER,
BEFORE THEY EVEN LAND IN THE
TRAINING COHORTS. SO I'M
WONDERING IF THAT IS A NEED.
>> IT IS. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. SO SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS
AGO, WE HIRED AN OUTSIDE
CONSULTANT AND WE LOOKED AT OUR
ENTIRE HIRING PROCESS AND I
THINK WE HAVE 28 OR 29 TOUCH
POINTS ALONG THE WAY. AFTER
THAT CONSULTANT CAME THROUGH,
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE AND
WE ACTUALLY TOOK THE STEPS TO
REMOVE A LOT OF THE UNNECESSARY
SPEED BUMPS, HURDLES, OR
ROADBLOCKS AND I WILL JUST
FRAME IT THAT WAY. SO WE DID
THAT WORK AND THE REPUTATIONAL
ISSUE, I GUESS WE WILL FIND OUT
ON OCTOBER 4th, LAST TIME WE
OPEN OUR APPLICATIONS IN MARCH
OF 2022 TO APRIL 19th FOR JUST
OVER SIX WEEKS. WE GOT 3000
APPLICATIONS IN JUST UNDER
SEVEN WEEKS. WE WILL FIND OUT
BUT WE ARE ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY
TRYING TO LOOK AT OUR HIRING
PROCESS, OUR TRAINING PROGRAM,
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DEPLOYING
BEST PRACTICES. IN THE LAST
YEAR, WE MET WITH OUR MEDICAL
PHYSICIAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
PHYSICALS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH
-- WE MET WITH OUR PSYCH BOX TO
MAKE SURE WHAT THEY ARE DOING
AND WHAT THEY ARE ASKING IS IN
ALIGNMENT TO THE BEST PRACTICES
THERE. WE HAVE A WELLNESS,
FITNESS COORDINATOR AND FOUR
MONTHS OUT FROM RECRUITMENT
TRAINING, WE HAVE WHAT IS
CALLED THE FIRE PREP SO THEY
CAN COME IN ON WEEKENDS AND
DURING THE WEEK AND LEARN AND
TOUCH THE EQUIPMENT AND THEN,
TWO MONTHS OUT, WHAT WE HAVE IS
CALLED -- PREP. SO TWO MONTHS
OUT , THEY CAN COME IN ON
WEEKENDS, THEY CAN USE THE
EQUIPMENT, SHOW THEM THE
EXERCISES THEY NEED TO DO. WE
DO A FITNESS ASSESSMENT. WE
HAVE HIRED A NUTRITIONIST. YOU
MAY NOT BE USED TO EARNING 3 TO
5000 CALORIES A DAY BUT THAT'S
WHAT YOU WOULD BURN IN YOUR
TRAINING AND IF YOU DON'T GO
IN, EYES WIDE OPEN , YOUR BODY
STARTS TO LOSE ALL THESE
CALORIES IMMEDIATELY. YOUR
PERFORMANCE STARTS TO BE
IMPACTED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE
CONSISTENTLY BEEN LOOKING AT
ALL OF THE STEPS OF OUR HIRING
PROCESS AND IT IS A LONG ONE.
AND THE APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN.
THIS WEEK, THE FIRST CLASS
HIRED OFF OF THAT LIST WON'T
BE UNTIL AUGUST OF 2025. IT
TAKES A LOT TO GET THROUGH
THAT. IF WE GET 3000 APPLICANTS
IN 2000 PASS THE WRITTEN TEST,
YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 30
BUSINESS DAYS OF INTERVIEWS
SCHEDULED AND THAT'S WORKING
WITH 8 TO 10 PANELS A DATE TO
GIVE US THE LIST. SOME THINGS
JUST TAKE A BIT OF TIME ONCE WE
HAVE THE LIST, WE ARE ABLE TO
WORK IT THROUGH, BUT THE FIRST
PART OF THE PROCESS AND GETTING
A NEW LIST DURING -- MOST TIME.
THAT WAS A LONG ANSWER BUT I
JUST NEEDED YOU TO UNDERSTAND
THE PROCESS.
>> I THINK THEN THAT THE ANSWER
IS YES , THAT IF THAT IS, IF
THAT TAKES A LONG TIME, THAT
PROCESS THEN, PERHAPS,
ADDITIONAL STAFFING OR
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT JUST ,
GETTING THROUGH THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL. AND I DO APPRECIATE
THAT YOU ARE ADDING TO YOUR
TRAINING COHORTS BUT GETTING
THEM TO THAT POINT IS -- OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
THEN, AS TO EQUIPMENT, ONE OF
THE CHANGE REQUESTS THAT THEY
NAMED IN THEIR BUDGET PROCESS.
300 MILLION IN 2025 FOR ADVANCE
LIFE SUPPORT, AND BASIC LIFE
SUPPORT . -- DEFIBRILLATOR, AND
THEN ALSO, 4 MILLION FOR
SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING
APPARATUS, BUT ONLY THE 3
MILLION IS INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET SO WHAT IS THE THINKING
RIGHT NOW FOR HOW THE NEED FOR
2026 WILL BE MET, OR IS IT JUST
A LOWER PRIORITY IN SOMETHING
TO CONSIDER IN OUT YEARS?
>> SO THE 2025 REQUEST, THE
AEDS , THE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL
DEFIBRILLATORS AND THE LIFE
PACKS, WHICH ARE THE
DEFIBRILLATORS THE PARAMEDICS
USE. THEY HAVEN'T HIT
END-OF-LIFE YET SO THAT'S WHY
THEY ARE NOT IN THERE FOR 2026.
>> OKAY. GREAT. GOOD TO KNOW
AND THEN FINALLY, I MADE NOTE
OF YOUR STATEMENT. YOU SAID
THAT MAP A PATHWAY OFF OF
DICTION AND THAT REALLY -- OFF
ADDICTION AND THAT REALLY HIT
ME. GETTING OUT OF THE CYCLE OF
CONTINUAL OVERDOSES, RIGHT? AND
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT LAST
YEAR, I DID PUT FORWARD A
BUDGET ITEM THAT WAS APPROVED
FOR $300,000 WORTH OF ON-DEMAND
INPATIENT OR INTENSIVE
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT AND IT'S
TAKING A WILD TO GET THAT OFF
THE GROUND AND AVAILABLE BUT
IT'S JUST WORKING WITH
CONTRACTING FOR THREE PROVIDERS
AND JUST INVITING SFD TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS WHEN PEOPLE
HAVE GONE THROUGH DETOX. THERE
IS A PLACE, THERE ARE SOME
OPTIONS TO GET PEOPLE INTO A
TREATMENT PLAN THAT CAN LEAD
TOWARDS A MAP OFF OF ADDICTION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT, I'M HAPPY TO HELP, OR WE
CAN TALK TO HST ABOUT THE
PATHWAY TO GETTING FOLKS INTO
THAT TREATMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
INFORMATION. AND JOHN EHRENFELD
COORDINATES WITH HST . IF NOT
DAILY, SO PROBABLY SOMETIMES
MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY AND ALL
THE LOCATIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE
INDIVIDUALS TO AND THE REASON
WHY I MADE THAT STATEMENT IS,
YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL PROBABLY
KNOW, IT GIVES YOU A WINDOW OF
TIME AND THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE
NEED SOMETIMES. THEY DON'T
WANT TO GO INTO IT WITH --
WITHDRAWALS AND IT PREVENTS
THAT FOR 28 TO 48 HOURS WHICH
IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND EVEN IF
THEY DO , USE DRUGS AGAIN, IT
SOMEHOW DISCONNECTS THE BRAIN
RECEPTORS AND IT WON'T LET
THEM GET HIGH AGAIN. SO THAT
GIVES US A WINDOW OF TIME TO
GIVE PEOPLE -- GET THEM
SOMEWHERE AND OUR INTEGRATED
HEALTH TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED A
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN TAKING PEOPLE TO AND
DIFFERENT GROUPS AROUND THE
CITY AND HAVE BEEN HELPING US.
PATHWAYS CLINIC HAS BEEN GREAT.
BUT YES, WE NEED MORE SPACES
PASS THAT ONE TIME. ABSOLUTELY.
THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED. YOU NEED
TO GET THAT 30 DAY -- THAT
BECOMES THE LARGER WINDOW OF
TIME.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL
MY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON. COUNCILMEMBER ALICE,
AND THEN --
>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYBODY. I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU, A PERSONAL THANK YOU TO
THE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I HAVE
BENEFITED FROM YOUR MEDICS.
THEY RESPONDED , WHEN I HAD A
STROKE AT MY HOME SEVERAL YEARS
AGO AND TRANSPORTED ME TO
SWEDISH, AND I'M THANKFUL
EVERY DAY THAT THERE WEREN'T
LONG-LASTING IMPACTS BECAUSE I
HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD VERY
SEVERE IMPACTS. SO THANK YOU. I
WANT TO START BY TALKING, OR
ASKING ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL
DIRECTIVE FUNDING THAT YOU HAVE
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR
PROPOSAL OF THE HEALTH 99 . IS
IT HEALTH 99?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT IS THE
CONTINGENCY PLAN IF THAT
FUNDING DOESN'T COME THROUGH,
OR ARE YOU FEELING PRETTY
CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL GET
THAT?
>> IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT IS
GOING TO COME OUT OF
WASHINGTON, D.C. BUT WE TALK
ABOUT THE DIRECT , HOW WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE THINGS AROUND,
BUT WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUDGET
IS WHAT I SHOW ON THAT SLIDE.
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO EVEN
MORE. SO DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH
ON THAT?
>> YEAH. SO , IS MY MICROPHONE
-- OKAY. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE
LOOKING AT APPLYING FOR
CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FOR 2025,
WHICH WOULD THEN, -- IF THAT
FUNDING DOESN'T COME , THEN
THIS BUDGET PROPOSES ADDING
THAT UNIT IN 2026. WE WILL HAVE
THE UNIT, 2026, REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THEY GET THE DIRECTIVE
FUNDING BUT IF WE GET THE
DIRECTOR FUNDING --
>> WE GET IT A LITTLE EARLIER.
>> ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
WE SUBMITTED THAT FUNDING THIS
YEAR SO IF THE FUNDING COMES
THROUGH , THEY ALREADY HAVE, WE
WILL BE SUBMITTING IT NEXT YEAR
BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY
SUBMITTED IT. WE ARE WAITING TO
HEAR, HOPEFULLY THAT WORKS OUT.
>> OKAY. WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE
A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL OF US.
YOU TALKED A LOT ALREADY ABOUT
HOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
COORDINATES WITH CARE. I WONDER
IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW YOU THINK THAT HAS
IMPROVED RESPONSE FOR FOLKS WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS OR A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE COORDINATE WITH CARE. WE
COORDINATE WITH -- WE
COORDINATE WITH REACH. ALL OF
THE TEAMS OUT THERE. WE
COORDINATE WITH. I THINK IT
HELPS IMPROVE RESPONSE TO
COMMUNITY BECAUSE NOW THIS
NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS, WHO
THESE RESPONDERS HAVE
RELATIONSHIPS AND IF THEY HAVE
A PATIENT THAT THEY KNOW
REACHES , THEY WILL JUST PICK
UP THE PHONE AND THEY WILL CALL
AND THEY WILL COME OR IF CARE
NEEDS SOMETHING FROM OUR TEAM,
WE WILL GO AND WE WILL HELP IF
WE NEED THEM. AND THEY WILL
HELP US. THE COORDINATION IS
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.
THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN AT. THAT'S THE BOOTS ON
THE GROUND. WE ARE DOING THE
WORK. TREATING PEOPLE, LEARNING
THE STORIES, AND THEY CAN
FIGURE OUT WHERE TO POINT
PEOPLE IN THE BEST DIRECTION. I
THINK ANDY SMITH HAS DONE AN
AMAZING JOB IN STANDING UP THAT
PROGRAM AND THEIR TEAM AND THEY
ARE WORKING VERY WELL WITH OUR
TEAM. REALLY PROUD OF WHAT THE
CITY HAS DONE AND IT SPEAKS TO
THE ONE SEATTLE THAT WE ARE
STRIVING FOR.
>> IF THERE IS ONE THING
COUNCIL COULD DO TO EASE THE
BURDEN, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT
WOULD BE?
SERVICES? WELL, PROBABLY
NOT MORE RESOURCES. I THINK
FIRST RESPONDERS AND PUBLIC
SAFETY HAS DONE SUCH AN AMAZING
JOB OVER THE LAST 40 OR 50
YEARS ADVERTISING CALL 911 WHEN
YOU NEED HELP . WELL, PEOPLE
CALL 911 OFTEN TIMES IS NOT A
TRUE EMERGENCY. IF THERE'S A
PUBLIC CAMPAIGN ON WHEN TO CALL
911, THAT COULD BE VERY
HELPFUL. LAST YEAR, WE WERE IN
-- BASIC LIFE SUPPORT. THEY
DIDN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF
MEDICAL, BUT THEY NEEDED
SOMEONE TO GO, BASED ON WHAT
THEY SAID. 41,000 OF THOSE
CALLS WERE TRANSPORTED. SOME
WEREN'T. THAT MEANS THERE IS A
DELTA OF 20,000 CALLS THAT WE
WENT ON, WE ASSESSED AND THEY
TOOK ANOTHER ROUTE. IF WE ARE
GOING TO DO ONE THING AS A
CITY, AS A COMMUNITY, IT WOULD
BE EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON
WHEN TO CALL 911 BECAUSE WE GET
A LOT OF CALLS AND WE GET THERE
AND IT'S IS NOT A TRUE 911
EMERGENCY. THAT TAKES THAT
RESOURCE OFF-LINE, IF THAT
CARDIAC EVENT DOES COME .
>> INTERESTING. THAT'S A
REALLY INTERESTING POINT. THANK
YOU. I THINK YESTERDAY WE
TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT,
TOO. SOMETHING LIKE 49, 50% OF
THE CALLS THAT COME IN ARE FOR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. NOT FOR
FIRE, NOT FOR POLICE, THAT
SOUNDS LIKE SOME EXTRA DIGGING
WE NEED TO DO. WE TALKED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON
GOING ON THESE CALLS TO YOUR
FIREFIGHTERS AND I KNOW IN THE
PAST, WE PUT FUNDING IN THE
BUDGET FOR MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELING AND FOR RESOURCES. I
HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO IS A
FIREFIGHTER AND I HEARD
SIMILARLY HARD STORIES ABOUT
THE THINGS HE SEEMS. WHAT HE
SEES. FROM A FIREFIGHTERS
PERSPECTIVE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
WHAT IS WORKING? FOR EXAMPLE,
WE JUST PASSED THESE ZONES THAT
ARE EXPENSING LOTS OF THINGS IN
THOSE AREAS FROM A FIREFIGHTERS
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS WORKING IN
TERMS OF HELPING GET FOLKS
ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES AND
SERVICES AND WHAT DO YOU THINK
IS BROKEN WITH THE DEPLOYMENT
OF THE CURRENT SERVICES?
>> TALKING INSIDE THE
DEPARTMENT OR OUTSIDE?
>> JUST THE SORT OF ECOSYSTEM
OF HOW YOUR INTERSECTING.
>> WITH HER FIREFIGHTERS, WHAT
IS WORKING IS WE ARE MOVING THE
STIGMA THAT IS OKAY TO TALK
ABOUT IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
SOMETHING . WHATEVER THE
SOMETHING IS. MY 35 YEAR
ANNIVERSARY , NOVEMBER 1st, AND
WHEN I CAME IN 35 YEARS AGO,
FIREFIGHTERS DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
WHAT WAS EATING THEM UP INSIDE.
YOU JUST HELD IT INSIDE AND
THAT LED TO A NUMBER OF OTHER
THINGS THAT WOULD GO SIDEWAYS,
WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IS TO
KIND OF PULL BACK THE CURTAIN
AND SAY NO, WE WANT YOU TO BE
OKAY. WHEN YOU GO HOME AT THE
END OF THE SHIFT TO YOUR FAMILY
AT THE END OF YOUR CAREER, WE
WANT YOU TO BE OKAY AS A WHOLE
PERSON. A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
COORDINATOR, HAS BEEN A GAME
CHANGER FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN
DEPLOYED OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS HAVE REALLY OPENED UP
THE MIND-SET OF SO MANY OF OUR
FIREFIGHTERS. WE HAVE SENT
FOLKS TO SO MANY DIFFERENT --
NOW THEY ARE TRAINED , OUR
PEERS SUPPORT TEAM, OUR CIS
TEAM , THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING
AT THAT CRITICAL CALL. WHEN OUR
UNITS GO ON THE CRITICAL CALL,
WE WILL PROBABLY TAKE THAT IN
AND OUT OF SERVICE AND WILL GO
AND DO A MINI DEBRIEF AS A
START AND THEN YOU CAN FOLLOW
UP WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE OKAY. SO WE HAVE CHANGED
OUR MIND-SET IN THE FIRE
SERVICE. THIS IS IMPORTANT.
KIND OF LIKE WE DID TWO OR
THREE DECADES AGO, MANY
FIREFIGHTERS WERE PASSING AWAY
OF HEART ATTACKS. AND THEN WE
SAY HEY, WE'VE GOT TO GET IN
BETTER SHAPE, WE HAVE TO EAT
RIGHT, WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR
HABITS. NOW, HEART ATTACKS ARE
NOT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST
ANYMORE. CANCER IS BECAUSE OF
ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE
FACE BUT WE ARE TAKING THAT
APPROACH WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH
AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A
GENERATION FOR IT TO SET IN BUT
WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. MY
LAST QUESTION IS WELL, I HAVE
TWO MORE QUESTIONS. YOU
REFERENCED HARBORVIEW AND I
KNOW IN THE 90s, THEY HAD LIKE
A REAL DETOX CENTER THERE. NOW,
THEY ARE SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING,
I THINK IT'S SORT OF -- SO CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO IF THEY
WERE ARRESTED OR IF YOU HAD
SOMEBODY WHO NEEDED TO DETOX, I
KNOW WE HAVE SOBERING CENTERS.
IT'S THAT, IS THAT SORT OF THE
REPLACEMENT FOR WHAT USED TO BE
--
>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE 90s. I
WAS IN HERE IN THE 90s BUT WHEN
I DID GET HERE, WE HAD -- WAS
WAS DOWNTOWN AND THEY -- THE
LAST PERSON IN WAS THE FIRST
PERSON OUT AND THAT WAS VERY
USEFUL. I'M NOT SURE OF ALL
THE LOCATIONS TO TAKE SOMEONE
IF THEY NEEDED TO SOBER UP, IF
THAT'S THE QUESTION YOU'RE
ASKING .
>> WELL, YOU MENTIONED, YOU
TAKE SOME FOLKS TO HOBSON, YOU
TAKE SOME FOLKS TO PATHWAYS.
>> THAT'S FOR AN OVERDOSE. IF
THE PERSON HAS AN OVERDOSE, WE
CAN TAKE SOMEONE TO HARBORVIEW,
WE CAN TAKE SOMEONE TO THE
HOBSON CLINIC IF IT'S OPEN. WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS THAT
ARE TEAMS KNOW THEY CAN TAKE
PEOPLE TO IF THEY HAVE AN
OVERDOSE. I THOUGHT YOUR
QUESTION WAS REFERRING TO IF
THEY WERE INEBRIATED
>> THANK YOU. AND SO MY LAST
QUESTION IS KIND OF TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S POINT
ABOUT SERVICE PLANNING. I THINK
THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOUR POINT
WAS ABOUT THE PLAN. SO AFTER
VISITING OUR SISTER CITY, WHICH
IS ABOUT THE SAME POPULATION,
OUR SISTER CITY IS ABOUT THE
SAME POPULATION AS HERE, I
NOTICED THAT THE FIRE TRUCKS
THERE ARE MUCH SMALLER. AND SO
I'M WONDERING, GIVEN THE --
THAT WE WILL BE DOING, GIVEN
SOME OF OUR CLIMATE GOALS, CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES
EQUIPMENT PLANNING, IF THERE'S
ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT , YOU
KNOW, HOW TRUCKS ARE BUILT IN
THE CITY, ELECTRIFICATION , AND
THEN YOU ALSO MENTION THE SPEED
BUMPS AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S
A LITTLE BIT OF A TENSION
BETWEEN VISION ZERO AND
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND WHETHER
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN MANAGE
AROUND SPEED BUMPS. CAN YOU
JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
SOME OF THAT LAND-USE , HOW
THAT INTERSECTS WITH THE WORK
THAT YOU DO?
>> SURE . THERE WAS A LOT THERE
BUT I WILL START OFF WITH THE
FIRE ENGINES. THE MANUFACTURERS
HERE, STARTING TO MANUFACTURE
ELECTRIC FIRE ENGINES. IT'S
EARLY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
THEM OUT THERE AND THE PRICES
ARE , WE PAY APPROXIMATELY $1.2
MILLION FOR A FIRE ENGINE.
THESE ARE OVER $2 MILLION FOR
AN ELECTRIC FIRE ENGINE. NOW
OVER THE LIFE OF THAT FIRE
ENGINE, WE PAY OFF, AND THE
FIRE ENGINES, WE GET THEM ABOUT
FOR 20 YEARS, 13 TO 15 YEARS
FRONTLINE USE AND GENERALLY,
THEY WILL GO ON RESERVE FOR
ANOTHER FIVE YEARS BEHIND THAT.
SO, FOR THE LIFE OF IT, IT MAY
PAY OFF. THE TECHNOLOGIES, THE
PRICES ARE A LOT HIGHER. THERE
ARE SOME GRANTS AND WE WILL
APPLY FOR GRANTS IN THE FUTURE
TO TRY AND SOLVE THAT BUT I'VE
HEARD ABOUT THE REAL --
EUROPEAN SMALLER FIRE ENGINES
IN DIFFERENT VEHICLES LIKE THAT
BUT FOR US, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE A UNIFIED FLEET FOR ALL
THE MANUFACTURERS, THAT BECOMES
VERY IMPORTANT FOR MAINTENANCE
AND OUR MECHANICS AND HOW THEY
MAINTAIN. ALL THESE FIRE
ENGINES THAT MAKE IT A LITTLE
MORE EFFICIENT FOR AN
ORGANIZATION BUT YES, WE SHOULD
BE LOOKING TOWARD THAT NEW
TECHNOLOGY. I THINK A COUPLE OF
OUR NEIGHBORS WILL BE GETTING
ELECTRIC ENGINES IN THE FUTURE
AND FIRE STATION 31 ACTUALLY,
IT'S ACTUALLY BEING BUILT TO
BE PLUMBED FOR ELECTRIC
EVERYTHING IN THE FUTURE.
WHENEVER WE GET ONE, THAT WILL
BE THE PLACE THAT IT GOES
FIRST.
>> OKAY. THAT'S EXCITING. I
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, UP NEXT IS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. JUST A
NOTE FROM FACILITATION
STANDPOINT. WE ARE AT 12:46
P.M. I'M JUST GOING TO LET US
FINISH OFF THIS PRESENTATION
AND THEN WE TAKE LUNCH AT 1:00
P.M. AND COME BACK AT 2:00 P.M.
OVER TO YOU, VICE CHAIR RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU
CHIEF, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. CHIEF AND I JUST
FEEL SO HONORED TO HAVE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE WORKED WITH YOU ALL THESE
PAST FEW YEARS. YOU KNOW I'M
SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND YOUR AMAZING
TEAM. I CAN'T, SING YOUR
PRAISES ENOUGH AS A COLLECTIVE
TEAM. I THINK THE INNER CHILD
IN ME REALLY WANTED TO BE A
FIREFIGHTER SO THAT SHIP HAS
SAILED . I AM JUST SO
APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOUR
EFFORTS AND THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR
ASKING ABOUT THAT HEALTH 99
SECOND TEAM AND CLARIFYING IT
WOULD START IN 25 IF YOU GET
THE FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT '26
IF NOT. SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF
DOING THE SECOND HEALTH 99. I
KNOW THAT HEALTHONE AND HEALTH
99 PROVIDE AN AMAZING SERVICE.
THEY DO GREAT WORK PARTNERING
THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND NOW,
THE NURSE PRACTITIONER SERVICE
WITH THE EMERGENCY SERVICE. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT . I HAVE
TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU. I KNOW,
CHIEF, THAT YOU SHOWED GREAT
LEADERSHIP IN PUTTING TOGETHER,
HELPING THE SEATTLE COLLEGES
PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM, A
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM TO TRY TO,
ON THE RECRUITMENT SIDE,
RECRUIT MORE FIREFIGHTERS AND I
BELIEVE THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST
GRADUATING COHORT OF THAT
CERTIFICATE BUT YOU CAN CORRECT
ME IF I'M WRONG AND THEN I'M
WONDERING WHAT THAT WOULD
YIELD. I BELIEVE THESE FOLKS
WILL HAVE TO GO ON TO THE
ACADEMY, HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU
THINK THAT INITIAL, YOU KNOW,
JUIT.
YOU KNOW , IS THERE AN
OPPORTUNITY THERE?
>> YES, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
YES, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO
GIVE SOME CREDIT TO DR.
CHAPELLE, WE WORKED WITH DEAL
TO PUT TOGETHER THE NORTH
SEATTLE COLLEGE FIRESIDE
ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM AND
THE FIRST GRADUATES ACTUALLY
HAPPENED LAST JUNE AND, YOU
KNOW, WHAT WE KNOW IS, WHEN YOU
GET DEGREES IN FINANCE AND ALL
THESE OTHER THINGS , IT'S THE
SAME WITH FIRE, I HAVE AN
ASSOCIATE IN FIRE SCIENCE AND A
BACHELORS IN FIRE
ADMINISTRATION. WHAT WE KNOW IS
THAT IT EDUCATES THE CANDIDATES
A LITTLE MORE SO THEY ARE
BETTER PREPARED FOR THE PROCESS
, THEY ARE GETTING READY TO
ENGAGE IN. IT DOESN'T GET THEM
TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE IN THE
PROCESS, THEY STILL HAVE TO
APPLY BUT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU
HAVE A SITUATIONAL AWARENESS,
YOU KNOW THE LANGUAGE IS BEING
SPOKEN TO. SOMETIMES FOLKS SAY
YOU FOLKS SPEAK A WHOLE
DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WELL, THEY COME INTO IT
UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE. WE
THINK IT'S GOING TO YIELD SOME
RESULTS, NOT JUST FOR SEATTLE,
BUT FOR ANY OF THE 3000
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS HERE
IN KING COUNTY. THE PROGRAM IS
GOING WELL AND WE ARE REALLY
PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM AND A LOT
OF OUR CURRENT FIREFIGHTERS
HAVE JOINED THE PROGRAM TO GET
THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
>> THAT'S GREAT. I LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE AS THE
PROGRAM GETS GOING. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND TO
CHAPELLE, AS WELL. AND CHIEF,
MY SECOND QUESTION IS ABOUT ,
WELL, REALLY, IT'S A COMMENT
ABOUT THE 911 AND EDUCATING THE
PUBLIC ABOUT 911. WE KNOW WHEN
WE HEARD HIM I THINK IT WAS
YESTERDAY FROM CHIEF SMITH
ABOUT THE INABILITY OR HOW LONG
IT TAKES FOR FOLKS FOR CALLS
FOR NONEMERGENCY CALLS TO GET
ANSWERED, WHICH IS 2.5 HOURS,
CURRENTLY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAKING SURE THAT, AND REALLY,
TO BE HONEST, THE CITY HAS BEEN
TELLING IT'S CONSTITUENTS,
IT'S RESIDENCE, TO CALL 911
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH
ON THE NONEMERGENCY LINE. TO
YOUR POINT, I AGREE THAT WE
NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
ABOUT NOT CALLING 911 IF IT'S
NOT AN EMERGENCY AND WE ALSO
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
NONEMERGENCY NUMBER THAT'S
BEING ANSWERED BECAUSE IN THE
ABSENCE OF THAT, THEY ARE GOING
TO GO BACK TO CALLING 911. I
THINK IT IS AN AND YES
EDUCATION AND WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO ANSWER NONEMERGENCY
CALLS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT 30%
OF THE NONEMERGENCY CALLS ARE
ACTUALLY EMERGENCY CALLS. I'M
REFERRING TO THE RESPONSE THAT
THE -- SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL
PRIOR. SO WE KNOW THAT THAT IS
HAPPENING AND I, FOR ONE, WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT, AS ESSENTIAL
SERVICE, BUT THE 911 CALL
CENTER IS STAFFED BOTH TO
RECEIVE THE 911 EMERGENCY CALLS
IN THE NONEMERGENCY CALLS AND
THAT IS WORKING FULL FOR --
WELL FOR THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU
FOR RAISING THE EDUCATION
PIECE. ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S
IMPORTANT, AND I THINK WHY YOU
ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE
UTILIZING 911 BECAUSE THE CITY
ITSELF HAS TOLD PEOPLE TO DO
THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER
PLACE FOR THEM TO CALL AND GET
AN ACTUAL QUICK RESPONSE. SO
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND WE
HAVE -- WE ARE AWARE THAT.
MAKING SURE WE ARE RIGHTSIZING
THAT FOR FOLKS. AND OTHER THAN
THAT, ALL THE WORK THAT YOUR
TEAM DOES , THE BUILDING
ABATEMENT IS WORKING WELL AND I
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE
PASSED THAT LEGISLATION, IT
REALLY HELPED YOU REGARDLESS OF
NOT ACTUALLY HAVING TO USE IT
YET HAS WORKED WITH THE
PROCESS. REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT AND JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING TO ADD
OR RESPOND TO?
>> JUST REALLY QUICKLY. WE
HAVEN'T HAD TO USE IT BUT
WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY HONEST
CONVERSATIONS WITH PROPERTY
OWNERS AS WE MENTIONED , WHAT
WE WOULD DO IS WE HAVE BEEN ,
WE HAVE GOTTEN A PROPERTY --
BUT WE'VE GOTTEN INTO YES
ALSO. ON THE SCENE OF THE
PROPERTY. AND THERE HAS BEEN
SOME BUILDINGS THAT WE HAD A
TEAM, THEY CALLED THE
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND
ARCHITECTS AND WE MADE A
DECISION NOT TO BUILD AROUND
BECAUSE -- AND DANGER. IT'S
FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS ,
FRANKLY, WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO HAVE. SO IT'S WORKING.
>>
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND YOUR
ENTIRE DEDICATED TEAM OF
PROFESSIONALS AT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT , I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND
COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO THE
CITY. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO , MY THEN
FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON SUFFERED FROM
A SEIZURE. AND AS A PARENT , IT
WAS THE FIRST TIME IT EVER
HAPPENED FOR ME FOR MY FAMILY,
AND AS A PARENT, I WAS FEELING
ALL THE FEELINGS. GUILT AND
ANXIETY AND JUST TERROR, NOT
KNOWING WHAT THIS MEANS FOR HIM
AND HIS HEALTH AND OUR FAMILY
AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
NEXT AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD A
GROUP OF GREAT FIREFIGHTERS ,
QUICKLY, QUICKLY, QUICKLY
RESPOND TO MY HOME AND
DIAGNOSED AND ASSESSED HIM AND
HIS SITUATION, COMFORTED,
PROVIDED THE COMFORT AND RELIEF
THAT ME AND MY WIFE NEEDED AT
THE TIME. YOU KNOW, HELP
CONSOLE US AND TURNS OUT MY SON
WAS A FAIRLY MINOR THING, A --
ON THE SCALE OF SEIZURES,
FAIRLY MINOR, AND HE'S GREAT
NOW. HE'S BACK TALKING TO HIS
PARENTS LIKE ANY OTHER
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD KID. BUT, IN ANY
EVENT, I LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL
HAVE MY OWN HEARTFELT
EXPERIENCE WITH THE FIREFIGHTER
-- IN THIS CITY THAT YOU LEAD
AND SO I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY
, YOU KNOW, SINCERE GRATITUDE
FOR, BECAUSE I KNOW FIRSTHAND
THE IMPACT OF THE WORK. I'M
GRATEFUL FOR IT AGAIN. YOUR
DEDICATION, YOUR SERVICE, THAT
YOU ALL PROVIDE TO OUR CITY AND
I'M GLAD YOU ALL ARE READY AND
AVAILABLE IN ON WATCH IF NEEDED
TO HELP RESPOND. I MENTIONED
THAT PREVIOUSLY TO THE MAYOR I
MENTIONED IT PREVIOUSLY TO YOU.
I'M SHARING THAT TO , WITH MY
COLLEAGUES AND TO MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOU. FIRSTHAND. SO,
GOOD NEWS ABOUT GOING LAST IS,
OR LATER IS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF
MY QUESTIONS WERE ALREADY ASKED
BY MY THOUGHTFUL CALLINGS HERE,
WHICH IS GREAT. I MAY OR MAY
NOT HAVE A FOLLOW-UP THAT, IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL
PUT IT IN THE SHAREPOINT SITE
BUT, REGARDLESS, SO, MY
QUESTION, IT'S NOT REALLY
GEARED TOWARDS THE SUBSTANTIVE
BUDGET ITEMS. I DID WANT TO
FOLLOW UP FOR A MOMENT ON WHAT
I HEARD ABOUT THE , WHAT YOU
REPORTED AT THE VERY OUTSET,
AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT IN
THE TRANSITION HERE, BUT I JUST
WANT TO BE CLEAR, I HEARD THAT
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY ABATE 17 BUILDING
SINCE THE LEGISLATION WAS
PASSED AND IF THAT'S TRUE ,
JUST WOULD LOVE TO UNDERSTAND
THE BASELINE , THE BASELINE
LIKE, WHAT WAS, OR A
COMPARATOR, IF YOU WILL.
>> YOU KNOW, FROM YEARS PAST?
>> YES.
>> CHIEF, DO WE HAVE ONE?
>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE
BEAUTY OF THE LEGISLATION, AND
AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ASKED US
TO DO IS GO BACK AND SEE THE
ENTITIES WERE TOGETHER ,
TRACKING AND DOING ALL OF THAT.
WHEN I TELL THE STORY OF THE
LEGISLATION, THE LEGISLATION
ITSELF WAS A GREAT DOCUMENT . A
LOT OF THOUGHTFUL THINGS PUT
INTO IT. WHAT WE DID HAVE
FIGURED OUT IS THE LEGISLATION,
HOW DO WE SEE THE ENTITIES
ACTUALLY DO IT . HOW DOES IT
ACTUALLY GET DONE ? SO, TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK ,
YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE
EXACT NUMBER BUT WE DEFINITELY
HAVE DONE IT THIS YEAR.
>> WE CAN FIND OUT.
>> YES, IT'S DEFINITELY MORE,
I DO THINK LIKE WE'VE ALL SAID
, THE WORD IS OUT AND THE
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE STARTING TO
TAKE NOTICE, THEY ARE CALLING
MORE, BEING MORE RESPONSIVE,
NOT ONLY TO US, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO
COMPLIANCE. IT'S BEEN A REALLY
GOOD THING AND AT SOME POINT,
IT'S USEFUL.
>> YEAH, WELL, HOPEFULLY, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE YOU DON'T NEED,
THAT'S A GOOD THING, TOO, BUT
IF YOU DO, IT'S A GOOD THING
TO KNOW. FOLLOW OFF-LINE ABOUT
HOW MANY ARE DONE LAST YEAR,
FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THAT IS A
GOOD KIND OF, JUST
UNDERSTANDING THE BASELINE. BUT
REGARDLESS, I'M HEARING THAT
NUMBER AND CERTAINLY, YOUR
REACTION TO IT SEEMS LIKE THIS
IS A GREAT INITIAL RESULT. SO,
YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO MY
COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND CATTLE FOR
SPONSORING -- KETTLE . TO
LEVERAGE THE, YOU KNOW, THE
AUTHORITY TO INITIATE THAT AND
WE'VE HAD 17 BILLION NEED TO
BE TAKEN DOWN WORK OKAY, YOU
ARE RIGHT. I DON'T WANT NO
SMOKE. MAYBE NOT THE BEST
ANALOGY IN THIS CASE. BUT MY
POINT IS, MY POINT IS, THIS
ILLUSTRATES COLLEAGUES , THE
CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF CREATING
NEW TOOLS AND WE HAVE BEEN
CREATING NEW TOOLS YEAR ROUND.
VERY ACTIVE ON THE FRONT IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CONTEXT AND JUST
BECAUSE WE HAVE A TOOL DOESN'T
MEAN WE HAVE TO WIELD IT. IT
DOES CREATE A POWERFUL ,
POWERFUL OPTION THAT CAN
ENCOURAGE BETTER BEHAVIOR AND
IT'S A TOOL , NOT ONE OF A
BLUNT FORCE INSTRUMENT, IT'S A
THOUGHTFUL, PRECISE TOOL, ACE
HELPFUL, IF YOU WILL, NOT A
BLUDGEON. HIGHLIGHTS, AGAIN,
COLLEAGUES, THE IMPORTANCE OF,
YOU KNOW, CREATING ADDITIONAL
TOOLS. SOMETIMES, BY THE WAY,
SOME OF THESE TOOLS ARE GOING
TO WORK OR SHOW STRONG SIGNS OF
EARLY SUCCESS LIKE NOW AND
SOMETIMES NOT. GREAT INITIAL,
LET'S KEEP JAMMING DOWN THESE
TOOLS FOR GETTING THESE TOOLS
GOING AND THEN JUST AS AN
ASIDE, GREAT TO KNOW ABOUT ,
HEAR ABOUT THE SFD APPLICATION
OPENING AND HIRING PROCESS. IF
YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO SHARE
ACE SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT OR
BLURB, I WOULD LOVE TO INCLUDE
THAT IN ONE OF MY NEXT
NEWSLETTERS THAT I SENT OUT TO
MY CONSTITUENTS AND MIKE SENSE
IS PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE
THERE BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
ALL YOU ALL DO FOR OUR CITY
EVERY DAY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SOCCER -- COUNCILMEMBER SECA .
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I SENT AN
EMAIL TO HELEN -- AND I WAS
ABLE TO SAY GOOD MORNING. THANK
YOU FOR BEING WITH US HERE
TODAY. BRIEFLY, ANY OTHER
COLLEAGUES WANT TO SHARE
ANYTHING? AND I ALSO WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU TO HELEN
FITZPATRICK AND JOHN EHRENFELD
WHO HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE I GET
INTO SOME OF MY COMMENTS, I
WILL SHARE -- WE WILL HAVE A
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE
HOSTING A CEREMONY HONORING ALL
55 FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE PASSED
AWAY IN THE LINE OF DUTY SINCE
1891 AT THE ANNUAL FIREFIGHTER
MEMORIAL THIS FRIDAY AT 9:30 .
IT'S A SOLEMN MEETING, IT'S
ONE THAT BRINGS US BACK TO OUR
ROOTS OF WHY WE ARE HERE. SO
JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC
BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS,
ASSISTANT CHIEF, I CAN HAVE A
FAVORITE, BUT I CAN HAVE MANY
FAVORITES. YOU ARE ONE OF MY
FAVORITES BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT HATS THAT YOU
WEAR. SO OUR FIRE MARSHALS
WITHIN THE FIRE MARSHAL'S
OFFICE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING,
THIS IS WHERE I ASK YOU TO
ELABORATE, YOU REVIEW PERMITS,
YOU PROVIDE A CERTIFICATE OF
OCCUPANCY IS, WE DO
INSPECTIONS, WHO VIOLATIONS AND
TOP OF INVESTIGATIVE FIRES IN
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. CAN YOU SHARE
WITH THE COUNCIL A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. IF I MISSED
ANYTHING OR IF I INADVERTENTLY
ADDED ANYTHING TO YOUR
DESCRIPTION?
>> YOU PRETTY MUCH HIT
EVERYTHING. -- OCCUPANCY THAT
SAYS -- BUT PRETTY MUCH
EVERYTHING ELSE. EVERYTHING
THEY JUST TALKED ABOUT, WHETHER
IT'S -- OR PROCESSING PERMITS,
IT'S ALL VERY RELEVANT TO
EVERYBODY THAT'S SITTING AT
THIS TABLE. AND SO , I
APPRECIATE YOUR KIND WORDS.
VERY HARD-WORKING STAFF DOWN
THERE, FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
THAT THE CHIEF SPEAKS OF THAT I
RUN, 60 -ISH EMPLOYEES WHEN WE
ARE SPLIT RIGHT DOWN THE
MIDDLE, UNIFORM BUT THE
PROFESSIONAL STAFF , LIKE MR.
SANTOS HERE AND WE ALL WORK
TOGETHER FOR ALL THOSE THINGS
FOR PLAN REVIEW. FOR ALL THE
THINGS WE DO DOWN THERE AND ALL
THE -- BUT WE REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW FOR THE
PAST, WE'VE TRIED TO PROVIDE
YOU, I HAVE MADE THE ATTEMPT TO
MAKE YOUR UNIT ABLE TO ACCESS
THE CONTINGENCY FUNDS WITHIN
THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
COLLEAGUES, WE SPOKE ABOUT IT
BUT A BIT ABOUT CONTINGENCY
FUNDS WAS PRESENTED BECAUSE THE
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT HATS THAT
YOU WEAR AND THE NUMBER OF
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS THAT YOU
HAVE TO RESPOND TO MAKES IT
DIFFICULT AND IT'S NOT YOUR
FAULT, AND THAT'S WHY I RAISE
THIS UP, YOU DO THE BEST AND
MORE THAN MANY OF OTHERS HAVE
DONE IN THE CITY AND THERE'S A
STRUCTURAL ISSUE IN THAT
PROCESS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO
RESPOND BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE
GOT A BUDGET DIRECTOR SITTING
RIGHT NEXT TO YOU BUT I WILL,
FOR THE RECORD, I SEE IT AND
I'M AWARE OF THIS AND I WANTED
TO TAKE THE MOMENT TO THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO .
>> THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ALSO, CHIEF, I
WILL GIVE YOU KUDOS FOR TRULY
REPRESENTING THE ONE SEATTLE
FACTION. THERE'S ONLY ONE
SEATTLE IN THIS WORLD AND WE
ARE ONE SEATTLE. IT'S CORNY AS
ALL CAN BE AND I THINK IT IS SO
TRUE. YOU GET THIS KUDOS FOR
NOT ONLY REFERENCING ANOTHER
DEPARTMENT AND THE DATA THAT
THEY PROVIDED, THEN AGAIN, WITH
DEAL DEPARTMENT , KUDOS, MY
FRIEND. YOU ARE LIVING
REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE LOOK
TO DO IN THE CITY. I SEE THAT,
WITHIN, AS I GO BACK TO THE
2018 TO 2024 REVIEW, IT LOOKS
LIKE YOUR CODE COMPLIANCE
BUDGET HAD A 51% INCREASE, BUT
COLLEAGUES, I JUST RAISE THIS.
IT'S BECAUSE THE BUDGETS
PROGRAM BASIS IS SO SMALL, A
ONE-TIME CORRECTION MADE BY THE
OFFICE IN '21 HAD AN OUTSIZED
IMPACT ON THE CHANGE FROM 2019
TO 2024. BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE
ARE DEALING WITH HALF $1
MILLION BUDGET AND CODE
COMPLIANCE AND THEN WITHIN THE
REGULATED CONSTRUCTION, WHICH
IS SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT. IT
WENT FROM 3.5 MILLION TO 4.4
MILLION, OVER THE COURSE OF
THOSE FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS ONLY
$900,000 INCREASE. THIS JUST
COMES BACK TO THE POINT THAT I
WAS TRYING TO ILLUMINATE WITH
MY QUESTIONS ABOUT PERMITTING
REVIEW, ET CETERA. I WOULD LIKE
TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE HERE TO READ FROM OUR
BUDGET DOCTRINE THAT WAS
PRESENTED, THAT WAS TRANSMITTED
BECAUSE THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS A STRONG RECORD
OF PREVENTION RESULTING IN
FEWER FIRES IN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE SIMILAR POPULATIONS.
THE AVERAGE IS 1.5 FIRES IN
NEARLY PER 1000 RESIDENTS,
WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER
THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF
4.5%. ONLY TO RAISE THAT UP AND
THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES
OF RESPONSES THAT YOU DO, WE
ARE THE LARGEST CITY IN THE
UNITED STATES WITHIN THIS
REGION , COLLEAGUES ARE
PROBABLY TIRED OF ME SAYING
THIS. ALSO CITY OF OUR SIZE IS
SO LAKE CITY OR DENVER. SAN
FRANCISCO AND IT PUTS A
DIFFERENT BURDEN ON YOU. NOT
ONLY DO YOU HAVE HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS, A TUNNEL AND
CONFINED TUNNEL RISK, YOU HAVE
A -- DIVISION WITH 201 MILES OF
COASTLINE IN THE CITY. I WANT
TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION OF THE WATERWAY
SAFETY STUDY AND ANALYSIS,
HAVING RECEIVED -- IS EXCITING.
I'M STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO A
RIDE ALONG BUT I MIGHT WAIT
UNTIL SUMMER AT THIS POINT.
ALSO, IN THAT REPORT, IT CALLED
OUT THE NEED FOR ANOTHER FIRE
STATION ON LAKE UNION. I KNOW
WITH CAPITAL, WE WILL HAVE A
STATE SIZE TAX COMING IN BUT I
JUST FLAGGED THAT FOR THE
RECORD AS SOMETHING THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO DO. AND THEN, ON
THE BUDGET OVERVIEW, JUST, YOU
SAID BUT READING FROM THE
BUDGET ON PAGE 316 THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, HIGHER THAN
NORMAL , IT INDICATES IT WILL
BE DIFFICULT FOR SFD TO MEET ON
A DAILY STAFFING LEVEL OVER THE
BIENNIUM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
EXPECTS SOME LEVEL OF UNIT
OUTAGES TO CONTINUE , UNLESS,
AND THIS IS WHERE I
EDITORIALIZE . UNLESS WE MAKE
SOME CHANGES. I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
IF YOU IDENTIFY CHANGES THAT
NEED TO OCCUR PLEASE DON'T
WAIT. JUST BRING THEM TO US.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE IS THE
CHAIR. PLEASE BRING IT TO ME. I
DO WANT TO TOUCH ON, THERE'S A
HIGH NUMBER OF FOLKS OUT ON
DISABILITY AT THE MOMENT. TWO
THINGS I KNOW ABOUT BEING
INJURED, I AM ALSO A RECIPIENT
OF YOUR SERVICES, THANK YOU FOR
KEEPING ME ALIVE IS THAT YOU
ONLY HEAL ONCE AND YOU NEED TO
BE CAREFUL AND QUICK. WHAT
PROGRAMS AND METHODOLOGIES DO
YOU HAVE ON GETTING
FIREFIGHTERS THE HEALTHCARE
THEY NEED IN A TIMELY FASHION
AT THIS POINT? WHEN THEY GO ON
DISABILITY OR WHEN THEY ARE
INJURED IN THE WORKPLACE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE A DISABILITY OFFICER
THAT TRIES TO COORDINATE WITH
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OFF
INJURED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
GETTING TO THE MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS, MRIs, PHYSICAL
THERAPY IN A TIMELY MANNER .
THE WORK COMP DIVISION AND
HUMAN RESOURCES HELPS US
ADVOCATE TO GET TIMELY
APPOINTMENTS, THERE ALSO. SO WE
ARE USING ALL THE RESOURCES AT
OUR DISPOSAL AND SOMETIMES, IT
CAN JUST BE CHALLENGING BUT
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON. MOST FIRE
DEPARTMENTS GENERALLY HAVE
ABOUT SEVEN TO 9% DISABILITY
RATE. OURS ARE WHAT YOU WOULD
EXPECT. BACKS AND SHOULDERS AND
SPRAINS AND STRAINS. NOW -- OF
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, PTSD.
>> I KNOW , LOOKING AT THE
LEDGER STAR PROGRAM HERE THAT
OPERATES THE LUSTRATION
TRACKER, IT TOOK ME YEARS TO
FIGURE OUT EVEN BEING A PERSON
THAT USES THE TOOL PRETTY
OFTEN. LIKE YOU SAID WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, EARLY
LEARNING, TEACHING PEOPLE HOW
TO SPEAK FIREFIGHTER BEFORE
THEY BECOME IT. THE MEDICAL
FIELD IS ONE THAT I THINK, EVEN
FEWER PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS THE
PERSON IN THIS DISABILITY
OFFICER POSITION SOMEBODY THAT
, I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THEIR TRAINING OR
THEIR EXPERTISE IN THE PAST I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
POSITION IS WELL SUPPORTED TO
BE HERE FOR THE LONG RUN
BECAUSE THE LONGER WE HAVE THIS
SEAT, THE BETTER THEY ARE GOING
TO GET AT THAT JOB.
>> IT'S CURRENTLY A SWORN
POSITION A COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> WELL I WILL FOLLOW-UP IF I
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT. I
JUST KNOW THAT GETTING FOLKS TO
HEALTHCARE THEY NEED RAPIDLY
HELPS THEM GET BACK ON THE JOB
AND WITH OVER TIME AS IT IS
RIGHT NOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE GET EVERYONE AS HEALTHY
AS POSSIBLE OUT THERE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. JUST
CHECKING MY NOTES. THOSE OR ALL
OF MY NOTES. I JUST AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO
IN THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE OUR
CITY IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE
HEALTHONE STAFF SO WELL AND
GETTING BACK TO, KUDOS TO
COUNCILMEMBER -- AND KENNY
STEWART FOR HELPING MAKE THAT
HAPPEN ON TOP OF FOLLOWING
EVERYONE AT ABLE THANK YOU. AND
REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION,
OCTOBER 17th IS THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENTS 135th
ANNIVERSARY. INCORPORATING
OCTOBER 17th, 1889, AFTER THE
GREAT SEATTLE FIRE IN JUNE OF
1889.
>> THERE WE GO. IF THAT HAD
HAPPENED, THE FIRE HAD HAPPENEDT
BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE , AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THE
SEATTLE FIRE TO PARMA, I WILL
TURN IT TO YOU FOR CLOSING
REMARKS AND THEN I WILL TAKE US
BACK TO CLOSE US OUT FOR THE
DAY.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS.
COUNCIL HISTORIAN, I APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU, CHIEF,
ASSISTANT CHIEF AND MR. SANTOS
FOR COMING TODAY, ALSO, THANK
YOU FOR THE EXCHANGE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES. I THINK IT WAS VERY
HELPFUL. I ENJOYED LEARNING
THINGS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA WANTED TO BE A
FIREFIGHTER AT ONE POINT ,
WHICH ADMITTEDLY, WHEN I WAS IN
SECOND GRADE, I DID, TOO.
SOMEWHAT PROBABLY DUE TO THE
FACT THAT MY FATHER WAS A
VOLUNTEER FIREMAN . IN OUR
SMALL RURAL HOMETOWN, WHICH
GIVES YOU INSIGHT AND ANOTHER
THING THAT GIVES ME, SPEAKING
OF, INSIGHT WAS THE DIFFICULT
SITUATIONS I HAVE BEEN IN
MOVING TO BAGHDAD AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. IT LEADS ME TO WHAT
I SAID YESTERDAY , RELATED TO
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT, YOU
KNOW, I THINK YOU TO NOT JUST
BEING HERE BUT THANK YOU TO THE
ENTIRE DEPARTMENT ,
FIREFIGHTERS AND CIVILIANS
ALIKE FOR THEIR SERVICE BUT
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU
TO THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS, THE
FAMILY, THE FRIENDS, AND
WHEREVER IT MAY BE BECAUSE
IT'S HUGE. TO THE POINT THAT
YOU WERE TALKING JUST OF PTS ,
MILITARY FOLKS TO USE THE D ,
JUST THE S. IT'S SO KEY . SO
PLEASE PASS THAT TO EVERYONE IN
THE DEPARTMENT AND WE WILL SEE
YOU , UNLESS YOU ARE ON THE
GARAGE TOMORROW, I WILL SEE YOU
FRIDAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY. I'M GOING TO CLOSE US
OUT. COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR
THE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS AND
TACTICS PROMOTING GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND CREATING A
PATHWAY TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE
BUDGET FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR
CITY. IT DELIVERS WORLD-CLASS
SERVICES, A WORLD-CLASS CITY,
EXPECTS AND DESERVES. IF THAT
DID NOT GET BUDGET -- I DON'T
KNOW WHAT WILL. OUR NEXT SET OF
PRESENTATIONS WILL BE OUR
CENTRAL STAFF PRESENTATIONS ON
OCTOBER 16th. WE WILL HAVE AN
INTRO PERIOD IN THE MORNING.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO GIVE US
TIME IN THE AFTERNOON BECAUSE
WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS
STARTING AT 5:00 P.M. ON
OCTOBER 16th. THAT WILL LAST AS
LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET THROUGH
WHOEVER SIGNS UP. EVERYONE WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. PLEASE,
AGAIN, HAVE YOUR PRIORITIES TO
CENTRAL STAFF THIS WEEK.
THEY'RE GOING TO START
DRAFTING THE AMENDMENT. A FULL
METAL WRITING THIS WEEK. SO DO
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE
HERE?
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE ARE GOING
TO BE INFORMED BY THE
DISCUSSION THAT WAS HERE. THE
Q&A THAT'S BEEN GOING BACK AND
FORTH. THE GOAL IS TO REALLY
GIVE YOU A SENSE OF A HIGH
LEVEL BUDGET ISSUES. WE DO WANT
TO HEAR WHAT YOU JUST DID, BUT
ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT CENTRAL
STAFF ITSELF WILL BE RAISING
ISSUES AND REALLY LOOKING FOR
THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE
CROSSCUTTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DISCUSSION OF OTHER THINGS, AS
WELL. TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF
WHAT THE DESIGN IS. AND AS YOU
WERE DESCRIBING, WE HAVEN'T
YET FIGURED OUT HOW MANY
PRESENTATIONS YOU NEED TO MAKE
SORTING THROUGH THE Q&A. THE
GOAL IS TO KEEP THINGS LIGHT ON
THAT FIRST DAY. SO YOU CAN BE
WELL RESTED IN THE PUBLIC
HEARING
>> TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY.
PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE ANYTHING
AFTER 3:00 P.M. ON THE 16th SO
THAT YOU CAN I'M REFRESHED,
READY, AND RELAXED. THANK YOU,
THROUGHOUT THIS SECTION OF THE
BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING
OUT AND FOR KEEPING COMMENTS ON
THE MATTERS BEFORE US. THIS HAS
ALLOWED US TO BASICALLY STAY ON
TIME 15 MINUTES PAST, WHICH IS
IN ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES ,
REALLY GOOD WORK. THANK YOU FOR
LETTING ME FACILITATE THESE
MEETINGS AND FOR MAKING
EXCEPTIONS YESTERDAY TO SPEAK
OUT OF TURN BEFORE WE ADJOURN
TODAY, AGAIN, DUE TO THE
CANCELLATION OF COUNCIL
BRIEFING THIS WEEK AND I WOULD
LIKE TO THWE HAVE THIS
PROCLAMATION DISTRIBUTED
YESTERDAY, SIGN HERE AT THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE AND SO
IS THERE ANY FEEDBACK BEFORE A
REQUEST SIGNATURES TO BE
AFFIXED ON THE PROPERTY , C9,
CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE ROLL
CALL TO SEE WHO WOULD LIKE --
CLIMBING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 --
DAVID BREWSTER DAY.
>> YES, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> OH, YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA?
>> YES.
>> -- CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AND EMPHATIC I.
>> NINE SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU TO THE CLERK. WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. THE
NEXT SELECT BUDGET MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16th, WHERE
BRITAIN PUBLIC PUBLIC, WILL BE
ACCEPTED IN THE MORNING AS WELL
AS THE VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT
WILL BE ACCEPTED IN THE EVENING
AT THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL
HAVE CHILDCARE AVAILABLE FOR
YOU AT THE CITY AND WE WILL
ALSO REVIEW THAT , WE WILL
REVIEW THAT POLICY AS WE NOW
HAVE VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE? COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA ?
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION BEFORE
, PROBABLY FOR DIRECTOR NOBLE
HERE. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT, AND
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US
UNDERSTAND KIND OF HOW THESE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMOS ARE GOING
TO BE FRAMED AND ORIENTED
AROUND. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO
SEE THOSE?
>> ROUGHLY, YEAH, THEY WILL BE
PUBLISHED TO THE AGENDAS ,
WHATEVER, 24 TO 48 HOURS IN
ADVANCE, THE TRANSPORTATION
MEMO MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT
WITH ALL MEMBERS BUT I DON'T
WANT TO COMMIT TO WHEN WE END
UP SETTING THE SCHEDULE FOR
WHEN THIS WILL BE PRESENTED
BECAUSE TO SELF-IMPOSED
DEADLINES, IF YOU WILL AND THE
DEADLINES SO A FEW , LATE LAST
WEEK, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK, THAT
WILL BE THE SHORT ANSWER. THAT
IS VERY GRACIOUS TO YOU. I WILL
PUT A LITTLE MORE MORAL
BOUNDARIES AROUND THAT, WHICH
IS THAT COLLEAGUES, YOU CAN
EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE PUBLISHED
WITH THE AGENDAS AND, AS BEST
OF THEIR ABILITIES, THEY WILL
GET IT TO YOU BEFOREHAND, THE
REASON WE HAVE SO MANY DAYS SET
ASIDE FOR THE CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTATIONS IN THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE IS FOR YOU TO HAVE
THAT INTERACTION . AND THAT IS
ALSO WHY I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR
SINCE DAY ONE THAT THIS IS WHY
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR
PRIORITIES TO CENTRAL STAFF NOW
SO THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE GETTING EVERYTHING
INCORPORATED THERE. CENTRAL
STAFF DIRECTOR IS GOING TO DO
TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY ,
GET YOU EARLY DRAFT ACCESS AND
I ALSO JUST WANT TO MANAGE
EXPECTATIONS AND ALSO IN THE
PAST, COLLEAGUE AND MYSELF
INCLUDED, WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT
UNTIL JUST ABOUT PUBLISHED
TIME. THIS IS NOT ANYTHING NEW.
THE CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTORY,
>> THANK YOU.
>> FANTASTIC. HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE , WE ARE NOW
ADJOURNED. IT IS 1:19, OCTOBER
2nd, 2024.