GOOD MORNING. THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:30 1 AM, OCTOBER 18,
2024. I AM DAN STRAUSS, CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> PRESENT.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH? KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES? NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> RIVERA? SAKA? TRAN 21?
>> PRESENT.
>> SIX PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA , SHE IS RUNNING A FEW
MINUTES LATE. ALL ARE EXCUSED
UNTIL THEY ARRIVE. WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, THIS DOES BRING UP
OUR THIRD DAY IN A ROW OF
BUDGET COMMITTEE DURING THE
CENTRAL STAFF PRESENTATION
SECTION. JUST FOR REFERENCE,
THIS SAME PROCEDURE WILL HAPPEN
WHEN WE ARE DOING AMENDMENTS.
IT IS THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME
THAT IT WILL BE. WHEN WE DO
AMENDMENTS TO THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE, WE WILL HAVE AN
OVERVIEW AND THEN WE WILL VOTE
ON AMENDMENTS THAT EVERYONE
AGREES ON. AMENDMENTS THAT
MIGHT NOT HAVE TOTAL AGREEMENT
AND THEN AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IN
CONTRADICTION TO EACH OTHER.
THOSE ARE THE THREE STEPS.
WHERE WE ARE SITTING TODAY AS
FAR AS THE TIMELINE GOES, THAT
WILL BE THE THIRD DAY. WE ARE
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CENTRAL
STEP VISITATION SO I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE THAT NOTE SO
THAT FOLKS KNOW HOW TO SPEND
THEIR ENERGY IS WE ARE GETTING
INTO THOSE LONG DAYS AT THE END
OF THE BUDGET SESSION.
>>> AS AN OVERVIEW, WE WILL
COME BACK ON MONDAY TO RECEIVE
CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS ON THE
SCALE -- ON THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S BUDGET.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES AND
SAKA -- HOLLINGSWORTH ARE ALSO
PRESENT. ON TUESDAY, WE WILL
HAVE THE JOINT SELECT COUNCIL
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. COLLEAGUES,
TODAY, WE ARE HAVING THE REVIEW
OF THE BUDGETING, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO
THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE
FIRST ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. TODAY WE HAVE
TAMASO JOHNSON FROM CENTRAL
STAFF AND DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE.
WE WILL HAVE THE DIRECTOR BACK
WITH US ON MONDAY. GENTLEMEN, I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU AS YOU
ARE ALREADY AT THE TABLE.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. TAMASO
JOHNSON, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
HERE TO TALK ABOUT
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
IMPLEMENTATION LEGISLATION BY
WAY OF BACKGROUND. THIS
LEGISLATION WAS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR IN AUGUST, I BELIEVE.
PART OF THE REASON WE ARE HERE
TODAY TALKING ABOUT THIS IS
THAT IT CONCERNS THE ALLOCATION
OF FUNDING, ALTHOUGH IT IS A
STAND-ALONE BILL OUTSIDE OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS DUE TO THE
APPROPRIATION NATURE OF THE
LEGISLATION AND THE TIMING OF
THE TRANSMITTAL. IT WAS NOT
HEARD PRIOR TO BUDGET SO THIS
PRESENTATION AND THE ISSUE
PAPER THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR
POSSESSION IS, IN SOME SENSE,
IN LIEU OF NORMAL CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE
TRADITIONAL PROCESS OF
LEGISLATION.
>> WE ARE NOT SHARING IT. GIVE
ME ONE MOMENT.
>> AS BACKGROUND, THE 2021
ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDED ROUGHLY
-- THE GOAL OF THIS
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROJECT
WERE TO DIRECTLY -- TWO FOLD,
ONE FOR BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES
WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND TWO, TO
INCREASE THE OWNERSHIP AND
PARTICIPATION OF CITY RESIDENTS
IN SOLUTIONS TO THE CITY'S
PRESSING NEEDS. THE SEATTLE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
ADMINISTERED THE PROCESS
OVERALL. THEY ENTERED INTO A
ONE MILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACT
WITH THE CONSULTANTS, A
NATIONAL LEADER ON THESE KINDS
OF PROCESSES. OF THAT BUDGET,
27.3 WAS HELD IN RESERVES AND
FINANCE GENERAL FOR THE
EVENTUAL IMPLANTATION OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. THE
CONTRACTOR ENGAGED IN THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS
IN 2022 AND 2023. VOTING
CONCLUDED AND THE RESULTS OF
THAT VOTE WERE PUBLISHED IN
LATE 2023. FOLLOWING THAT, THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE AND VARIOUS
CITY DEPARTMENTS ENGAGED IN THE
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM ALONG
WITH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION TO
FINALIZE THOSE PROJECTS THAT
WERE VOTED ON TO BE IMPLEMENTED
BY THE CITY BE AT THE
LEGISLATION.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, THIS IS A
DIFFERENT PRESENTATION AND ALL
OTHER PRESENTATIONS WE ARE
RECEIVING TODAY. WHEN WE GET TO
NOVEMBER 21, WE WILL VOTE ON
THE BUDGET AND WE WILL BE
VOTING ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
BILLS. SOME ARE ACTUALLY
BUDGETING BILLS TO PUT THE
BUDGET FUNDS FOR THEIR USE AND
OTHER BILLS WILL BE TO
IMPLEMENT THAT FUNDING. SORRY,
I JUST MISSED THE ACTUAL WORD
HERE BUT THIS IS AN
IMPLEMENTATION BILL AS OPPOSED
TO A BUDGETING BILL. THE MONEY
HAS BEEN BUDGETED. IT HAS BEEN
PUT INTO THE DSL. THIS IS JUST
THE SECOND STEP OF IMPLEMENTING
THE FUNDING. DID I GET THAT
CORRECT, TAMASO?
>> S. THE ONLY THING THAT I
WOULD ADD IS, AS I WOULD ADD,
DURING THE MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL, THESE FUNDS WERE
INCLUDED TO CARRY FORWARD IN
ORDER FOR THEM TO BE SPENT AND
ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENTS
BEGINNING IN 2024.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL ADD ON TO
THAT BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A
HELPFUL EXAMPLE. LAST YEAR,
THESE FUNDS WERE CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN IN THE BUDGET. WE HAD
TO CARRY IT FORWARD IN THE
SUPPLEMENTAL.
>> DID I GET THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> WITH THAT, ANY SECTION WITH
QUESTIONS? I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE .
>> I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT
THAT. I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO
ARE NOT HAPPY WITH HOW THE
MONEY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED
AMONGST THE WAY IT IS BEING SET
UP AND FEEL THAT THE MONEY
SHOULD BE GOING MORE DIRECTLY
TO BIPOC COMMUNITIES. IT HAS
BEEN A REQUEST TO MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL TO REALLOCATE THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING MONEY.
I AM WANTING TO KNOW
PROCEDURALLY, IS THAT EVEN A
POSSIBILITY TO BE DONE? WHERE
ARE WE AT?
>> IF WE COULD HOLD THAT
QUESTION TO THE END JUST TO GET
THROUGH WHAT COULD GET DONE AND
THEN IF WE WANT TO MAKE
CHANGES, WE CAN COME BACK TO
THAT.
>> YOU WERE RAISING A QUESTION
ABOUT THIS IS A DONE DEAL AND I
AM TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION
ON THAT.
>> THEY ARE. I WAS TALKING MORE
ABOUT THE BUREAUCRACY STEPS
THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE. I DON'T
WANT TO SAY BUREAUCRATIC STEPS
BUT JUST CONTINUING MOVING THE
MONEY FORWARD IN OUR BUDGET. WE
WILL COME BACK TO THAT.
>> HAPPY TO ADDRESS THAT
PROCEDURAL OPTION AT THE END.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING BACK TO YOU, TAMASO.
>> THANK YOU. SO, AS I
MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THIS
FUNDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING WAS
INCLUDED IN THE CARRYFORWARD
THAT WAS APPROVED EARLIER THIS
SUMMER. THE LEGISLATION WOULD
BE TO APPROPRIATE A TOTAL OF
27.3 , ROUGHLY, EXACTLY 27.25
IN 110 FUNDS TO VARIOUS CITY
DEPARTMENTS. THOSE DEPARTMENTS
ARE THE CARE DEPARTMENT,
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT AND THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
>> THIS SLIDE CONTAINS AN
OVERVIEW OF THE SIX PROJECT'S
TO BE ADMINISTERED BY FIVE
DEPARTMENTS. THE ONLY THING
THAT I WOULD NOTE HERE IS THAT
VARIOUS PROJECTS INCLUDE
DIFFERENT DURATIONS . AS I TALK
ABOUT THE PROJECTS, I AM NOT
GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY ONE
TIME OVER AND OVER AGAIN BUT
THESE ARE ONE-TIME FUNDS. YOU
CAN SEE THE SCOPE OF THE
PROJECT, THE DURATION OF THE
PROJECT THE VERY END MOST OF
THEM ARE MORE THAN ONE YEAR
PROJECTS, RELATIVE TO A
ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
THE PROJECTS ARE SET TO LAST
FOR MULTIPLE YEARS IN BOTH
CASES AND THE VARIOUS PROJECTS
INCLUDE A MIX OF OPERATING AND
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
>> TAMASO, I KNOW I AM GOING
OUT OF ORDER, AS PER TYPICAL.
APOLOGIES. I WANT TO CENTER IN
ON THIS. WITH EACH OF THESE
DIFFERENT LINES, THERE ARE
DIFFERENT YEARS ASSOCIATED WITH
EACH PROJECT. WE HAVE ONE-TIME
FUNDS. ARE THESE TIME-LIMITED
PROJECTS? I GUESS THE QUESTIONS
I AM LOOKING TO HAVE ANSWERED,
ARE THEY TIME-LIMITED PROJECTS
TO THESE SEVEN YEARS OR FIVE
YEARS OR COMPLETELY ONGOING? DO
THESE ONE-TIME FUNDS COVER ALL
OF THOSE YEARS OR ARE WE GOING
TO HAVE TO COME BACK EACH YEAR,
JUST AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH
THE CONVERSATION, THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
>> HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN
A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL WHERE
IT IS APPROPRIATE, PROJECT BY
PROJECT BUT TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, BROADLY SPEAKING, THE
FUNDS THAT ARE IN THIS
LEGISLATION TO BE APPROPRIATED
ARE INTENDED TO COVER THE FULL
DURATION OF THE PROJECT,
WHETHER THAT BE REGARDLESS OF
THE LENGTH. THE ONLY THING I
WOULD SAY THERE THAT IS A
POTENTIAL CAVEAT IS THAT THE
CARE TEAM EXPANSION, OF COURSE,
EXPANDING THE CARE TEAM TO A
BROADER SCOPE CITYWIDE. THAT IS
INTENDED TO BE AN ONGOING
PROJECT WITHOUT ANY FIXED
ENDPOINT. THE USE OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING FUNDS
IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE 2025
EXPANSION AND THOSE FUNDS ARE
INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS
IDENTIFIED THAT THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO BUDGET IN THE OUT
YEARS TO CONTINUE THAT
INDEFINITELY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THIS IS A POINT FOLLOWING
YOUR POINT ON ONGOING VERSUS
ONE-TIME. WOULD YOU PREFER THAT
I TAKE THAT POINT UP AFTER THE
PRESENTATION?
>> LET TAMASO GET A LITTLE BIT
FURTHER. I KNOW, EVEN IN THE
LAST SLIDE, I WAS ASKING
QUESTIONS HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO
GET TO. THANK YOU, TAMASO.
>> THE FIRST PROJECT WOULD BE
EXPANSION OF CARE'S CRISIS
RESPONSE PROGRAM. THIS IS A $2
MILLION EXPENDITURE OVER ONE
YEAR THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE
EXPANSION OF THE CARE TEAM TO
ADD 21 FTE, INCREASE THE
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF THIS
RESPONSE. THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT YOU HAVE HEARD DESCRIBED
BEFORE, IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL
PLAN FOR THIS AND I AM SURE WE
WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR
DESCRIPTIONS OF. AS I SAID
PREVIOUSLY, THIS PROJECT IS
INTENDED TO BE ONE YEAR AND
ONGOING COSTS BEYOND THAT YEAR
WILL BE SUPPORTED BY GENERAL
FUND REVENUE IN 2026.
>> OKAY.
>> THE NEXT PROJECT IS IN PARKS
AND RECREATION TO EXPAND PUBLIC
RESTROOM ACCESS . THIS WOULD BE
A PROJECT THAT WOULD CONSIST OF
THE PURCHASE OF THREE MOVABLE
BATHROOM NSYNC TRAILERS. IT
WOULD INCLUDE MAINTENANCE,
PERMITTING AND UTILITY AND
OTHER VARIOUS COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE ACQUISITION AND
OPERATION OF THESE TRAILERS.
THE SECOND COMPONENT WOULD BE
THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO
PROVIDE ATTENDANCE AND SECURITY
FOR BOTH THE MOBILE TRAILERS
THAT WILL BE PURCHASED AS WELL
AS TWO EXISTING PARK BATHROOMS.
THIS PROJECT WOULD BE $7.2
MILLION OVER A FIVE-YEAR PILOT
IMPLEMENTATION. THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES THAT
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. AFTER THE
END OF THOSE FIVE YEARS BEYOND
2029, THE INTENT IS THAT THE
DATA AND EXPERIENCE OF THE
PILOT WILL INFORM FUTURE
POTENTIAL GRANT PARTNERSHIPS OR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING IF
THE DECISION IS MADE TO
CONTINUE THIS BEYOND 2029.
>> THE NEXT PROJECT HAS TO DO
WITH URBAN FARMING AND FOOD
EQUITY AND THIS WOULD BE AN
ALLOCATION OF FUNDING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS WOULD SUPPORT FIVE NEW
COMMUNITY LED AGRICULTURAL
SITES INCLUDING ASSESSING AND
CITING FARMING PROJECTS ON LAND
ALREADY OWNED BY THE CITY. IT
WOULD ALSO INCLUDE RFP REQUESTS
FOR A PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY
FOR COMMUNITY ORCS TO LEAD AND
STEWARD THOSE IDENTIFIED SITES.
ANOTHER COMPONENT WOULD BE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE
BUILDINGS FOR SMALL-SCALE URBAN
FOOD PRODUCERS AND THERE WOULD
ALSO BE AN RFP THERE FOR THIS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITY. THIRDLY, IT WOULD
SUPPORT MAINTENANCE NEEDS
AROUND THE CITY, PROVIDING
DIRECT FUNDING FOR THESE SITES
WITH A FOCUS ON RACIAL AND
SOCIAL EQUITY IN THE
IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE SITES.
THIS WOULD BE A $7 MILLION
PROJECT OVER SIX YEARS. NO
ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES HAVE
BEEN IDENTIFIED BEYOND THAT
TIMESCALE BUT THE DEPARTMENT
HAS IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF
POTENTIAL CITY, COUNTY, AND
FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS TO
CONTINUE THAT AS IT SO DESIRES.
I SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THIS
PROJECT, THOUGH THE MONEY IS
BEING APPROPRIATED TO THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT, IT WOULD BE A
PROJECT PARTNER ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION.
>> THE NEXT PROJECT FOR THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE
A NATIVE YOUTH CENTER, LARGELY
A CAPITAL PROJECT CONSISTING OF
THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY
OWNED AND OPERATED CENTER FOR
NATIVE YOUTH. IT WOULD BE AN
RFP OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN,
IMPLEMENT, AND BUILD A CULTURAL
AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR
SEATTLE YOUTH. ADDITIONAL
STAFFING CAPACITY WOULD BE
ADDED TO SUPPORT THE N REAL
ESTATE NEEDS OF THE PARTNER .
THIS WOULD BE $7.2 MILLION FOR
A PROJECT TIMELINE THAT IS UP
TO SEVEN YEARS AND THERE IS
SOME VARIABILITY ON THE TIME IT
WOULD TAKE TO COMPLETE THAT AND
THAT WOULD BE BASED ON THE
SCOPE OF THE PROPOSAL AND THE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS'
CAPABILITIES. IF THIS FUNDING
IS INSUFFICIENT, THEY WOULD BE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES RAISED.
>> FINALLY, THERE ARE TWO
PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT THROUGH A
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY. THE FIRST WOULD BE
ENHANCED HOMELESSNESS
NAVIGATION SERVICES. THAT WOULD
CONSIST OF AN RF P WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO
PROVIDE ENHANCED MOBILE HOUSING
AND SHELTER NAVIGATION SUPPORT
TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WITH THE GOAL TO
IMPROVE SHELTER TO HOUSING EXIT
RATES. THIS WOULD BE $2 MILLION
OVER 2.5 YEARS . NO ADDITIONAL
FUNDING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN
THE CONTRACT WILL INCLUDE A SIX
MONTH RAMP DOWN. THE SECOND HSD
PROJECT IS YOUTH AND YOUNG
ADULT SHELTER CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS. AN RFP WOULD BE
CONDUCTED TOWARD CAPITAL FUNDS
FOR REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT OF
EXISTING SHELTERS SERVING YOUTH
AND YOUNG ADULTS. THIS WOULD BE
ROUGHLY $1.9 MILLION OVER ONE
YEAR FOR ONE-TIME IMPROVEMENTS.
>> FINALLY, AS WE WERE
BEGINNING TO DISCUSS EARLIER,
THE OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL
WITH THIS REGISTRATION ARE
THREEFOLD, TO PASS THE
ORDINANCE AS IT WAS TRANSMITTED
WHICH WOULD FUND THE PROJECT
THAT I JUST DESCRIBED. OF
COURSE, AS WITH ANY OTHER PIECE
OF LEGISLATION, THE COUNCIL CAN
PROPOSE AMENDMENTS AND PASS
THIS AS AMENDED. I WILL NOTE,
BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS HAVE
BEEN DEVELOPED OVER A LENGTHY
PERIOD OF TIME WITH INVOLVEMENT
FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND
COMMUNITY, IT IS NOT CERTAIN
THAT IF FUNDING LEVELS ARE
REDUCED FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS,
THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE
IMPLEMENTED IN THE WAY THAT I
DESCRIBED, OR AT ALL BECAUSE
THE PROJECTS ARE BASED ON THE
ASSUMPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC
FUNDING THAT ARE IN THE
LEGISLATION. FINALLY, THE
COUNCIL DOES NOT PASS THIS
ORDINANCE, THEN THESE FUNDS
WOULD LAPSE AT THE END OF THE
YEAR BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND
AND ESSENTIALLY MAKE THAT
MONEY, $27.3 MILLION AVAILABLE
FOR OTHER USES. I WILL NOTE, AS
I MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT WITH
RESPECT, SPECIFICALLY TO THE
CARE DEPARTMENT PROPOSAL, THE
USE OF THE PB FUNDS HAVE BEEN
ASSUMED IN 2025. THE $25
MILLION WITHIN THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET AND, IF COUNCIL DOES NOT
PASS THIS ORDINANCE AND WISHES
TO PROCEED WITH THE CARE
DEPARTMENT EXPANSION IN 2025,
THOSE MONIES WOULD NEED TO BE
IDENTIFIED FROM ELSEWHERE IN
ORDER TO FACILITATE THAT.
>> THAT IS IT AND I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I AM JUST
GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PROJECT
OVERVIEW.
>> THANK YOU. THIS BILL CAME TO
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE DID
MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO BRING
IT IN SEPTEMBER. THERE WERE A
COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON
IN SEPTEMBER. WE DECIDED TO
SAVE IT FOR THIS BUDGET
PROCESS. THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THIS BILL,
I WILL JUST GO THROUGH MY
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WITH YOU
HERE. I WILL START ON SLIDE
FIVE AND THEN I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE IS NEXT IN
THE QUEUE. ACTUALLY, ON SLIDE
FOUR, WE HAVE DISCUSSED CARE.
CARE IS THE ONE OUTLIER HERE
THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ASSUMED IN
SOME OTHER BUDGET PRIORITIES
AND HAS ONGOING COSTS ASSUMED.
MOVING ONTO SLIDE FIVE, I WANT
TO CONFIRM WITH YOU HERE THAT
THE ONGOING COSTS -- LET ME
SPEAK IN MORE PLAIN LANGUAGE.
THE IDEA IS TO BUY SOME OF
THESE SHOWER AND BATHROOM
TRAILERS , MUCH I LIKE WHAT WAS
IN SOUTHPARK DURING THE
FLOODING. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE
SHOWER CAPABILITIES. I THINK
THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE
PRIMARILY RESTROOMS WITH A
SINK.
>> PROBABLY THE SAME MODEL,
RESTROOMS ON A TRAILER.
>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, YES.
>> THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THOSE
TRAILERS HAVE STORAGE CAPACITY
AND THEY ARE NOT TIED TO THE
SEWER SYSTEM. IS THAT CORRECT?
YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME ON THAT.
YOU ARE HEARING ME DRILLING
INTO PORTABLE RESTROOMS BECAUSE
WE TRIED TO GET RESTROOMS ALL
ACROSS THE CITY. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT I HAVE DUG INTO
DEEPLY AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE IS PROHIBITING COSTS AND
REASONS THAT ARE USUALLY
DIGGING INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM
AND GETTING POTABLE WATER. THAT
IS WHY I AM ASKING THOSE
QUESTIONS, IF THEY ARE IN FACT
MOVABLE SO WE ARE NOT INCURRING
THOSE COSTS FROM KING COUNTY OR
SO THAT WE CAN PULL IT UP TO AN
RV PUMP STATION AND PUMP IT
OUT.
>> THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE
MOBILE.
>> THE MOBILITY WILL COMPLY
WITH THE EXACT MILEAGE YOU ARE
DESCRIBING.
>> EXACTLY.
>> THE RISK I AM LOOKING TO
AVOID IS THAT EVERY TIME WE
MOVE THEM, WE HAVE TO PAY THE
COUNTY MORE MONEY TO TAP INTO
THE SEWER SYSTEM. THE IDEA HERE
IS THAT WE BUY THESE TRAILERS
SO THAT THE ONGOING COST WOULD
BE THAT MAINTENANCE AND UTILITY
AND IT IS THE ACTUAL USE OF
THEM THAT REQUIRES THE
ATTENDANCE -- ATTENDANT FOR
SECURITY.
>> IF WE WERE TO PURCHASE THESE
TRAILERS AND USE THIS MONEY UP
UNTIL IT IS DONE, WE COULD
DECIDE TO STORE THE TRAILERS
UNTIL THEY ARE NEEDED AGAIN?
>> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING,
YES.
>> THE TRAILER PURCHASE ELEMENT
OF THIS WOULD BE MORE PERMANENT
. IT WOULD ENABLE US TO USE
THOSE INTO THE FUTURE, PROVIDED
THAT THERE ARE MAINTENANCE AND
ATTENDANT'S IF WE CHOOSE TO DO
THAT.
>> FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW THAT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES RUN
THE SHOWER AND RESTROOM
TRAILERS FOR EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS AND THEN USES THEM
FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHILE THEY
ARE NOT BEING USED FOR
EMERGENCIES. IT COULD BE
FORESEEABLE THAT AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS BUDGET LINE
ITEM, SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
COULD BUY THESE TRAILERS FROM
THE SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT
AND CONTINUE TO DEPLOY THEM IN
A SIMILAR FASHION. I AM MAKING
UP A LOT OF HYPOTHETICALS DOWN
INTO THE FUTURE --
>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE A
LOST ASSET IN THE WAY THAT YOU
DESCRIBE. THEY CAN, DEPENDING
ON THE LOCATIONS, THEY CAN TAP
INTO A SEWER SYSTEM. THE IDEA
IS NOT THAT THEY WOULD BE
RAPIDLY MOBILE BUT ONE OF THEM
MIGHT RELOCATE EACH YEAR. THEY
WOULD GET SET INTO A RELATIVELY
STEADY LOCATION WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A SEWER TIE AND
WOULD MAKE SENSE IN THAT
CONTEXT. I AM IMAGINING A PIPE
OR A HOSE RATHER THAN DIGGING
UP CONCRETE AND THE LIKE FOR
PERMANENT INSTALLATION.
>> THAT IS VERY HELPFUL. IF WE
WERE TO SET UP A TINY HOME
VILLAGE THAT DID NOT HAVE
ACCESS INTO A SEWER LINE, WE
COULD USE THESE TO SUPPORT THAT
WORK, GENERALLY SPEAKING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF WE COULD MOVE ON TO SLIDE
SIX.
>> SOMETHING JUST CAUGHT MY EAR
WHEN YOU WERE DOING YOUR
PRESENTATION, TAMASO, REGARDING
USING EXISTING LAND THAT THE
CITY OWNED . IF WE ARE GOING TO
USE PARKLAND, ARE WE RUNNING
INTO INITIATIVE 42 CONSTRAINTS?
INITIATIVE 42, AS A GENERAL
REMINDER, SAYS WE CANNOT REMOVE
PARKLAND WITHOUT REPLACING IT
WITH A SIMILAR TYPE AND
LOCATION OF PARKLAND. PUTTING A
PATCH IN A PARK, ARE WE RUNNING
INTO ANY INITIATIVE 42 ISSUES
HERE?
>> THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
HAS COME UP IN CONVERSATIONS. I
CAN'T SAY THAT DEFINITIVELY
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THE DEPARTMENT HAS THAT THROUGH
AND IT IS INTENDING TO LEVERAGE
EXISTING CITY ASSETS, CITY
PROPERTY THAT WOULD INTO THOSE
CONCERNS, WHETHER IT WOULD BE
LAND THAT IS OWNED BY THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT BUT NOT A PARK, PER
SE, OR LAND THAT IS OWNED BY A
CITY DEPARTMENT.
>> THANKS. WE RUN INTO THIS
MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OF US
REALIZE. I HAVE USED PORTAL
PARK IN DISTRICT 7 AS AN
EXAMPLE, WHICH IS NOT A PARK.
IT IS A HYDRO-SEEDED SLOPE THAT
WASHED OUT. IT IS CURRENTLY
OWNED BY FAS WITH CITY LIGHT
HAVING A SMALL PORTION. THAT
PIECE OF PARTY DOES NOT RUN
INTO INITIATIVE 42. LET'S SAY
THE FENCE IS DOWN AND IT LOOKS
LIKE A PARK BUT IT WAS STILL
OWNED BY FAS. WE WOULD NOT RUN
INTO INITIATIVE 42 ISSUES
THERE. HOWEVER, IF WE
TRANSFERRED THAT PARK TO THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD THEN
RUN INTO INITIATIVE 42 ISSUES.
>> I THINK IT COULD VERY WELL
BE THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE PARK
USE.
>> THAT IS THE QUESTION.
EXACTLY.
>> I SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE
INTENT OF THE PROJECT, TO MY
UNDERSTANDING, IS NOT TO JUST
RFP OUT TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO
PUT A PARK ANYWHERE BUT THERE
WILL BE RESOURCES DEVOTED AS
WELL TO APPROPRIATE SITING SO
THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ONTO SLIDE
SEVEN. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM
THAT THIS IS CAPITAL FUNDING,
ONE-TIME FUNDING.
>> YES, IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS
INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE
PURCHASE AND THE CONSTRUCTION
OF A PERMANENT FACILITY. THERE
WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE
RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO THIS
PROJECT TO CONSIST OF SOME
ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO ENSURE
THAT THE BUDGET PROJECT PARTNER
HAS THE EXPERTISE IN THE
DEPARTMENT IF THEY NEED AROUND
N REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION
ISSUES.
>> THANK YOU. IF I RECALL FROM
THE PROCESS, THERE WAS ONE
ORGANIZATION NOT CLEARLY
IDENTIFIED. THIS PRESENTATION
SHOWS AN RFP. ARE WE GOING TO
HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE APPLYING
FOR THIS OR, CAN YOU HELP ME
UNDERSTAND THIS DISCONNECT FROM
THE PROCESS THAT I UNDERSTAND
THAT WAS LOADING TO WHAT IS
BEING PRESENTED TODAY?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS PROJECT PROPOSAL , THERE
WAS DISCUSSED VARIOUS
CONTRACTING OPTIONS, AND THE
INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IS
THAT IT WILL BE A COMPETITIVE
SECUREMENT. I DON'T KNOW THAT
-- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT
EXPRESSES ANY INTENT TO DIFFER
FROM THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF
THE PROJECT. I DON'T WANT TO
SPEAK ON WHY THAT WOULD BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS NOT THAT IT
WAS INTENDED TO DIFFER FROM THE
INITIAL FOCUS OF THE PROJECT
BUT POTENTIALLY FOR
PROCUREMENT, COMPLIANCE
REGIONS.
>> THESE QUESTIONS ARE FOR THE
NEXT SLIDE BUT I AM PREFACING
IT WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS IS
WHAT I KNOW MORE ABOUT. LET ME
ASK THE QUESTION A DIFFERENT
WAY. IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT
YOU JUST SHARED, THEY ARE
TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BUILD THE
BUILDING. THE QUESTION I AM
MORE INTERESTED IN IS, IF WE
HAVE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH
REQUESTING THE FUNDING, IS THAT
WHERE WE WILL RUN INTO
INITIATIVE 42?
>> I WOULD DEFER TO THE
DEPARTMENT ON THIS AND WE ARE
HAPPY TO FOLLOW-UP AND GET MORE
INFORMATION BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE INTENT IS,
AS IT HAS BEEN, TO AWARD
FUNDING TO ONE PARTNER FOR ONE
PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING AS WELL. WE WILL
MOVE INTO THE NEXT SLIDE WHERE
I WILL ASK THE SAME SET OF
QUESTIONS. IS THERE A SPECIFIC
PROPOSAL THAT WAS VOTED ON
DURING PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
FOR THESE HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN DOING TINY HOME
VILLAGES OR SAFE LOTS OR DO WE
NEED TO DO SPECIFICALLY
OUTREACH? CAN YOU HELP US
UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE CONTRACTS
-- THE OUTCOMES THESE WERE
INTENDED FOR RATHER THAN THE
PROFITS?
>> YES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT THESE SPECIFIC PROJECTS
WERE THE ONES THAT WERE
IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE PROCESS.
INTENT TO SUPPORT HOUSING NEEDS
AND SERVICES NEEDS BOTH THROUGH
THE ENHANCED NAVIGATION
FUNCTION AS WELL AS THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT FOR EXISTING
SHELTERS.
>> LET ME DIG INTO THESE
INDIVIDUALLY, THEN. FOR THE
ENHANCED HOMELESSNESS
NAVIGATION SERVICES, THAT
LANGUAGE IS BROAD ENOUGH FOR ME
TO THINK IT COULD BE NAVIGATING
HOMELESSNESS BY HAVING A TINY
HOME, OR IT COULD BE THE
OUTREACH TEAM THAT IS WORKING
WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TO GET THEM
INTO THE SHELTERS. DO WE HAVE A
SENSE OF WHAT WAS INTENDED OR
DO WE HAVE DISCRETION TO MAKE
THOSE CHOICES?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT THE
SCOPE OF THIS WOULD ENCOMPASS A
TINY HOME VILLAGE OR OTHER
SHELTER CONSTRUCTION INTENDED
TO BE SERVICES DELIVERY TO HELP
FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
MOVE THROUGH THAT PROCESS MORE
SMOOTHLY. NAVIGATION IS A TERM
OF HOURS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES
FIELD THAT HAS TO DO WITH
HELPING FOLKS MOVE THROUGH THE
SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENTLY , BE
ABLE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES WITH
THE VARIOUS SERVICES AND
RESOURCES THAT THE CITY AND
COUNTY OFFER, IN THAT REGARD.
>> IN A FEW WORDS, IT SOUNDS
LIKE THAT MEANS OUTREACH.
>> OUTREACH, ONE-ON-ONE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOLKS. I
WOULD SAY IT IS A LITTLE BIT
MORE IN-DEPTH AND HANDS-ON THAN
OUTREACH BUT BUILDING AND
MAINTAINING ONGOING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO
HELP THEM BETTER MOVE THROUGH
THAT PROCESS TO GET THE
SERVICES AND CARE THAT THEY
NEED.
>> WE WILL COME BACK AND DIG IN
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER . WITH THIS
NEXT ONE, THE YOUNG ADULT
EMERGENCY SHELTER CAPITAL,
REALLY FOCUSING ON THE CAPITAL
REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT. WE ARE
NOT BUILDING ANOTHER BUILDING
THAT WE WILL THEN NEED TO
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE. WE ARE
FIXING WHAT IS NOT WORKING.
>> YES, IMPROVING THE
CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
WITHIN EXISTING SHELTERS,
TARGETING YOUTH AND WORKING FOR
YOUNG ADULTS.
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT TO
MOVE ONTO SLIDE NINE AND THEN
AT THAT POINT I WILL TURN IT
BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND
AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. I
GUESS SHE ALREADY ASKED HER
QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WANT TO RE-ASK IT OR IF YOU
WANT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS
THAT SHE BROUGHT UP.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS
IT IF YOU WANT TO SAY A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR OTHER
QUESTION.
>> I THINK MAYBE IT HAS BEEN
ANSWERED BY THE COUNCIL
OPTIONS. I AM JUST CURIOUS
ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING
BOARD, BASICALLY. THE REQUEST
MADE TO THE COUNCIL WAS
BASICALLY TO PUT THIS MONEY
BACK INTO THE POT AND REDIRECT
IT.
>> WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT
IS, PROCEDURALLY, THE CHOICE
THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU NOW IS
TO FUND THE PROJECTS THAT ARE
IDENTIFIED IN THE LEGISLATION,
IN PART, OR IN WHOLE, WITH THE
CAVEAT I MENTIONED ABOUT
REDUCTION TO INDIVIDUAL
PROJECTS, MAY NOT MAKE THEM
VIABLE BECAUSE OF THE
ASSUMPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING AVAILABLE. OR, IF THE
COUNCIL CHOOSES TO NOT MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS LEGISLATION,
THE BALANCE OF THAT FUND WOULD
REVERT TO THE GENERAL FUND AND
THE COUNCIL WOULD MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT THAT ANY NUMBER
OF WAYS. IN TERMS OF THE
PROCESS, I WILL SAY, AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, IT HAS BEEN A
FAIRLY LENGTHY PROCESS, DATING
BACK FROM THE ORIGINAL
APPROPRIATION OF MONEY IN 2021
THROUGH THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE
PROCESS FROM THAT POINT FORWARD
TO WHERE WE ARE NOW. THE
FUNDING IDENTIFICATION AND
FUNDING OF THE CONTRACTOR TO
CONDUCT THE PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS THAT LASTED
FROM 2022 TO THE END OF 2023.
THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A LOT OF
PROCESS AND QUITE A LOT OF
INPUT BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WELL AS
THE WORK THAT HAS COME INTO IT
FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. SO, I
JUST SAY THAT TO SAY THAT
COUNCIL HAS THE OPTION TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION OR NOT BUT
THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A
SUBSTANTIAL PROCESS ALREADY
AROUND INVOLVING COMMUNITIES.
>> I AM AWARE OF THAT. LET ME
JUST CLARIFY. WITH THE COUNCIL
HAVE THE OPTION TO FUND ONE OR
TWO OR THREE OF THESE
PARTICULAR TOPICS AND PUT THE
REMAINING BALANCE BACK INTO THE
GENERAL FUND OR REDIRECT THAT
FOR DIFFERENT FUNDING LIKE
HOMEOWNERSHIP, LEGACY?
>> THE COUNCIL COULD MAKE
AMENDMENTS TO THIS LEGISLATION
THAT REMOVES SPECIFIC
APPROPRIATIONS TO DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS WHICH WOULD HAVE
THE EFFECT OF FUNDING WERE NOT
FUNDING SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
>> OKAY.
>> I JUST HAD ANOTHER QUESTION
THAT WAS NOT PROCEDURAL. UNDER
THE NATIVE YOUTH CENTER, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT THAT BEING --
>> WE HAVE NOT CHOSEN A
PARTICULAR PROVIDER BUT IT IS
FOR THE DUWAMISH COMMUNITY.
>> CORRECT. THAT HAS BEEN THE
INTENT THROUGHOUT THE DURATION
OF THE PROPOSAL.
>> WHEN YOU SAY THERE IS
ADDITIONAL STAFFING, ARE WE
CREATING A NEW FTE?
>> I THINK THE INTENT IS TO
FUND A TEMPORARY POSITION FOR
THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT TO
PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
TO THE PARTNER AROUND TECHNICAL
CAPITAL ACQUISITION AND
IMPROVEMENT CAPABILITIES.
>> OKAY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER SAKA .
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS
PRESENT.
>> THE REASON IT TOOK A WHILE
BETWEEN TRANSMISSION OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND WHEN IT ENDED
UP BEING REFERRED TO THE
FINANCE BUDGET COMMITTEE IS
BECAUSE CENTRAL STAFF HAD
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT
ONGOING FUNDING THAT WAS NOT
LISTED ON THE FISCAL NOTE AND
THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO DIG INTO
MORE DETAIL ABOUT, HOW CAN YOU
SAY THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL
BUDGET IMPACT WHEN IT SEEMS AS
THOUGH THERE COULD BE
PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING THAT WOULD
BE POTENTIALLY ONGOING? THIS
HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE FROM
THE GET GO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO
HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THIS GOES. WE
SAY THE FUNDING IS FOR A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THAT
IS IT AND THEN WE ARE PREVAILED
UPON TO CONTINUE THAT FUNDING
AND WE ARE EXPERTS IN USING
ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR YOU -- FOR
ONGOING EXPENSES. WHEN THE
PROJECT LIST CAME BEFORE AND
WAS SENT DOWN IN OCTOBER 2023,
THE PROJECT FOR CONTENTION,
THERE WAS A BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THIS WAS ON OCTOBER 26. I HAVE
BEEN GIVEN REPEATED ASSURANCES
BY LEADERSHIP THAT THE 27
MILLION INVESTMENT IS ONE-TIME
FUNDING. HOWEVER, LOOKING AT
THE MENU OF ITEMS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY ON THE LIST, IT LOOKS
LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY WILL
REQUIRE ONGOING FUNDING. I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT COUNCIL BEING
PUT INTO THE POSITION OF HAVING
TO CUT THE EXPENDITURES IN THE
FOLLOWING BUDGET CYCLE. IT IS A
LONG EXCHANGE BUT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT SURFACED IN THIS
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS
CONDITIONING THE RFP WHEN IT IS
PUT OUT THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE APPLYING HAVE TO HAVE
A WIND DOWN PLAN THAT IS
CREDIBLE SO THAT THAT WILL
MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR US
BEING PREVAILED UPON TO COME UP
WITH THESE ONGOING FUNDING
PLANS OURSELVES. ANOTHER WAS
WRITING THAT LANGUAGE DIRECTLY
INTO THE LEGISLATION ITSELF,
THAT A CONDITION OF BEING
AWARDED FUNDING WILL BE THAT
APPLICANTS HAVE TO HAVE -- WAS
THERE ARE OTHER CONDITIONS
LISTED. I ENDED UP SAYING AFTER
A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT I WILL
DEFINITELY WANT SOME LANGUAGE
TO THAT IN THE EFFECT OF THE
BILL THAT IS REFERRED TO
COUNCIL. ONE OPTION THAT IS NOT
IDENTIFIED IN THE OPTIONS IN
THE PRESENTATION IS THAT WE CAN
MODIFY THE LANGUAGE TO TRY TO
RIGHT SIDE THE EXPECTATIONS
WHEN WE ARE GOING FORWARD WITH
THESE PROJECTS. PERSONALLY, I
THINK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE IS
REFERRING TO SOME OF THE NEEDS
WE HAVE HAD WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. I HAVE ALWAYS
PREFERRED THAT WE FUND CAPITAL
PROJECTS ONLY BECAUSE IT IS
MORE CONCRETELY ONE-TIME
FUNDING AND NOT EVEN ENTERING
INTO A CONTRACT WITH AN
ORGANIZATION THAT WILL THEN
REAPPLY FOR FUNDING.
REGARDLESS, I DO THINK THAT NOW
IS A TIME IF WE DO WANT SOME
CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE IN THE
LEGISLATION, TO TRY TO MAKE
SURE EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME
PAGE ABOUT WHAT THIS IS FUNDING
GOING FORWARD. NOW IS THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU. THE ONLY THING
THAT I WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE TO
THAT IS, CERTAINLY THE
LEGISLATION THING WHICH COULD
BE ADDED TO MAKE THAT CLEARER.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ALL OF
THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE
PROJECT HAVE CLARITY AROUND
THIS AND WOULD DESIGN, TO THE
EXTENT THAT SOME OF THESE FUNDS
WOULD BE PROCURED TO
NONGOVERNMENTAL WORKS THAT THEY
WOULD DESIGN THE PROCUREMENTS
TO BE VERY CLEAR BOTH IN THE
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS
IN THE CONTRACTS AROUND THAT.
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STEPS THE
COUNCIL COULD TAKE IN THE
LEGISLATION, I AM SURE, AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I
HAPPEN TO LIKE MOST, IF NOT ALL
OF THE PROJECTS HERE IN THIS
INITIAL PROPOSAL BUT, I GUESS
FOLLOWING ALONG A SIMILAR LINE
OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HEARD
INCLUDING FROM YOU, MR. CHAIR,
I WANT TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS
AND I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL.
CENTRAL TO MY APPROACH,
PERSONALLY, ON ISSUES LIKE
THIS, IS TO THE BEST WE CAN
RESPECT THE PROCESS AND HONOR
OUR PRIOR DECISIONS AND
COMMITMENT THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
PREVIOUSLY, INCLUDING BY
OTHERS, BUT BY THE CITY. IN
THIS CASE, THERE CLEARLY HAS
BEEN AN INCLUSIVE PROCESS .
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT IS
THAT THESE FUNDS WERE COMMITTED
BACK IN 2021 AND 2022 AND
CONTINUE TO BE CARRIED OVER
NOW. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT
HAS TAKEN THIS LONG FOR THE
LEGISLATION TO COME BEFORE US
FOR WHATEVER REASON. CENTRAL TO
MY APPROACH IN GUIDING MY
DECISION-MAKING ON ISSUES LIKE
THIS, FACTORS THAT I PERSONALLY
USE ARE THE CURRENCY AND
RECENCY OF THE COMMITMENT MADE
LAST YEAR OR FIVE YEARS AGO OR
10 YEARS AGO. THE CITY'S
EFFORTS TO DELIVER UPON THIS
COMMITMENT IN GOOD FAITH, OR
NOT. WHETHER THAT COMMITMENT
HAS BEEN MADE TO A SPECIFIC
ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY GROUP,
SPECIFIC GROUP TO FUND A
SPECIFIC PROJECT OR PROGRAM OR
WAS IT MADE FOR A HIGH LEVEL
COMMITMENT TO FUND SOMETHING
NOT MORE BROAD AND VAGUE AND
OPAQUE. THE VIABILITY OF A
CURRENT PROJECT, OR THE
STALENESS OF A PROJECT. THINGS
CHANGE OVER TIME. WE HAVE TO BE
NIMBLE IN ASSESSING THESE
SITUATIONS ON A CASE-BY-CASE
BASIS BUT WE DO, AS A CITY,
NEED TO LEAVE -- LIVE UP TO
PRIOR COMMITMENTS AND THAT IS
HOW I GENERALLY APPROACH THE
ISSUES. THE SAME FACTORS I USE
AND THAT I'M GOING TO USE IN
PARALLEL PROCESSES, WHEN WE
EXPLORE THE PROPOSAL, FOR
EXAMPLE, TO ALLOCATE THE
JUMPSTART FUNDS, PET , AND
BREAKING DOWN OF THE
PERCENTAGES. WE HAVEN'T EVEN
LIVED UP TO OUR OWN COMMITMENTS
ON THAT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. COMPELLING ARGUMENT
COULD BE MADE, WHY NOT JUST
ADOPT LEGISLATION THAT
RECOGNIZES THAT WE NEED
FLEXIBILITY IN ANY EVENT . WE
NEED TO HONOR OUR PAST
COMMITMENTS TO BE MADE AND I
DON'T SEE A COMPELLING
ARGUMENT OR RATIONALE HERE TO
WALK BACK FROM THESE
COMMITMENTS. WHILE I AM SAYING
THIS, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE HAVE THE DUWAMISH
TRAVEL SERVICES HERE PRESENT,
MEMBERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION
WHO HAVE HAD A COMMITMENT MADE
TO THEM IN THE PAST. SHOUT OUT
TO DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES,
CHRISTINA, JAKE, OTHERS ,
WELCOME. AS AN ASIDE, HAD I
KNOWN YOU GUYS HAD COME HERE
DIRECTLY FROM THE LONGHOUSE,
MAYBE WE COULD HAVE CARPOOLED
OR TAKEN THE SAME BUS BUT MAYBE
NEXT TIME. IN ANY EVENT, MY
QUESTION ALONG THIS SAME
TIMELINE IS, THERE IS THIS
PROJECT IN MY DISTRICT, AGAIN,
THE DUWAMISH CULTURAL EDUCATION
AND RECREATIONAL YOUTH
COMMUNITY CENTER. WHILE I
UNDERSTAND IT IS PREFERRED TO
DO A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, RFP,
FOR PUBLIC DOLLARS, ALSO
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE LIKELY
WAS A COMMITMENT MADE TO THE
RECIPIENT, IN THIS CASE THE
DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES,
THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY REVIEW
AND INPUT PROCESS. IS THIS
TRUE? CAN YOU CONFIRM THIS?
>> WHAT I CAN CONFIRM IS THAT
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTENT
OF THE PROJECT ALL ALONG, IT
HAS BEEN, AS YOU SAID, TO HAVE
A COMMUNITY CENTER FOCUSED ON
DUWAMISH YOUTH. I DON'T KNOW
-- I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO
SPEAK TO COMMITMENTS, PER SE
BUT IT IS ON MY KNOWLEDGE OF
THE PROCESS. I COULD NOT SAY
THAT BUT I KNOW IT HAS BEEN THE
INTENT THROUGHOUT THE DURATION
OF THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THEN, JUST
ANOTHER COMMENT PERTAINING TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD
FOOD PRODUCERS PROJECT IN THIS
PROPOSAL, WHICH I FULLY
SUPPORT. PROJECTS IN UNDER
RESOURCED COMMUNITIES AND IN MY
DISTRICT, THERE ARE MANY SMALL
PRODUCERS SUCH AS THE GROWERS
AT SOUTH PARK'S MORROW FARMS.
GREAT, FRESH PRODUCE. MY KIDS
EVEN LOVED THEIR VEGETABLES.
OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT WEST
SEATTLE, WE SUPPORT
ENTREPRENEURS WHILE AT THE SAME
TIME GETTING FRESH FOODS TO
THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE
LIMITED ACCESS. COLLEAGUES, YOU
HAVE ALL HEARD ME TALK ABOUT
OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW WE NEED
TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE
CITY IN ADDRESSING FOOD DESERTS
AND YOU KNOW MY APPROACH IS
THAT IT IS NEITHER EITHER/OR. I
VICIOUSLY CLAPPED BACK AGAINST
THE FALSE CHOICE OF IT IS
EITHER THIS OR THAT. YES, WE
NEED TO HAVE GROCERY STORES AND
AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THAT IS
PROVIDING FRESH FOOD ACCESS AND
FOOD DESERTS, MAKING RE
HAVE LOCALLY SOURCED FOODS LIKE
THIS WITH PROVIDERS LIKE THIS.
IN ANY EVENT, I JUST WANTED TO
SHARE MY THOUGHTS. I DO LIKE A
LOT OF THE PROJECTS IN HERE AND
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. MOREOVER, I WANT
TO ENSURE THAT PROPER TECHNICAL
SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO PROJECT
RECIPIENTS, WHEREVER THEY ARE
SO THAT THEY CAN BE SET UP FOR
SUCCESS. ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS
I HAVE SPOKEN TO, THEY DON'T
JUST WANT TO CHECK. YES, THEY
WANT THE CHECK AS A
PRECONDITION TO BUILD THE
PROJECT BUT THEY WANT
EMPOWERMENT TO ACTUALLY DO IT .
THE CITY NEEDS TO KEEP LIVING
UP TO ITS COMMITMENT. IT CAN'T
JUST BE IN THE COMMITMENT OF
WRITING CHECKS. WE NEED TO
EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO BRING
THAT PROJECT TO LIFE . IN ANY
EVENT, THANK YOU. NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, MR.
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. TAMASO, ANYTHING ELSE
THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE?
>> I THINK YOU ANSWERED HIS
QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.
>> TO YOUR LAST POINT, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE INTENT FOR
THE DEPARTMENT , NOT JUST TO
WRITE A CHECK AS YOU SAID, BUT
TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACT
REGIMENT IN AN ONGOING WAY
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE PROVIDING
SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO THE SELECTED
PROVIDERS.
>> THANK YOU. WE'VE GOT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
RIVERA AND I DID MISS A NOTE ON
THE STAND HERE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS BEEN
PRESENT WITH US SINCE 9:45.
TYPOLOGIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION, TAMASO, AND FOR
DIVING IN ON THESE PARTICULAR
PROJECTS. I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE
COMMENT THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
MADE ABOUT WHEREVER WE LAND IN
MAKING SURE THAT THE CONTRACTS
ARE WELL MANAGED, WELL
MONITORED, THAT THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS
THAT ARE PARTICIPATING AND
IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THIS ARE
ADMINISTERED WELL . THAT IS
INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US,
WHETHER IT IS PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING FUNDING OR OTHER
BUDGET FUNDING. IT IS IMPORTANT
TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND FOR MY COLLEAGUES
WHO WERE NOT HERE. I KNOW YOU
ARE AWARE OF SOME OF IT ANYWAY
BUT I STILL THINK IT BEARS
REPEATING . THE ORIGINAL INTENT
IS TO SHARE POWER WITH THE
COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT IS
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY OR
IN THE WORLD , TO GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECTLY PROVIDE
INPUT ON HOW CITY RESOURCES ARE
ALLOCATED. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS
ABOUT. AND, TO RUN THIS
PARTICULAR PROCESS TO SUPPORT
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
HISTORY OF THIS INVESTMENT IN
THE COMMUNITIES AND IN THE
HISTORY OF THE CONTEXT OF THE
RACIAL RECKONING THAT WAS
HAPPENING IN 2020. IT IS VERY
PARTICULAR TO THAT YEAR AND
THAT CONTEXT. I WILL
ACKNOWLEDGE, UNFORTUNATELY, THE
PROCESS WAS DELAYED
EXTENSIVELY. THE PREVIOUS MAYOR
WAS NOT ON BOARD WITH THIS AND
SO, DELAYED THE PROCESS. IF
THAT CONTRACTING DID NOT
PROCEED UNTIL MAYOR HAROLD WAS
ELECTED TWO YEARS LATER. IT WAS
ALREADY TWO YEARS AFTER THE
COMMUNITY REQUESTED THAT WE
ACTUALLY BEGAN THE WORK OF
IMPLEMENTING IT. PRIORITIES
THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN 2020
AND 2021, INCLUDING HOUSING,
MENTAL HEALTH, YOUTH AND
CHILDREN, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTS, CRISIS RESPONSE
AND WELLNESS. AGAIN, ALL OF
THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF LOOKING
FOR ALTERNATIVES FOR BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT
FOCUSED ON THEIR WELLNESS AND
THAT FOCUSED ON CITY INVESTMENT
IN THINGS THAT WERE NOT THE
TYPICAL KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT
THEY GET WHICH IS AROUND
POLICING AND GIVEN THE CONTEXT
OF 2020, THAT WAS CLEAR WHY
THAT WAS THE CASE. ALL OF THAT
TO SAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR
INVESTMENT OF $28 MILLION IS
THE ONLY REMAINING
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN 2020 IN BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITY THAT HAS NOT
BEEN ROLLED BACK. THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TOO. THIS
IS THE BIGGEST PORTION OF MONEY
THAT CANNOT OF COMMUNITY DEMAND
AFTER THE 2020 RECKONING AND
THIS IS OUR CITY GOVERNMENT'S
RESPONSE TO ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT
OUR NEIGHBORS WERE EXPERIENCING
AT THAT TIME. THE COMMUNITY
REQUEST WAS THAT WE CHANGE THE
CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO
VIOLENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND
THAT WE BUILD UP A REGIONAL
APPROACH TO SHARING POWER.
WHILE WE WERE DEALING WITH
WHETHER WE WOULD START THIS
PROCESS OR NOT IN THE CITY,
KING COUNTY IS ON ROUND THREE
OF OUR EQUITABLE PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS. IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL DO THIS
TO SHARE POWER WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS, TO HAVE OUR
NEIGHBORS HAVE A SAY IN HOW
THEIR TAX DOLLARS GET SPENT,
AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA THAT IT WOULD BE A REAL
DISSERVICE AND A REAL
DISINGENUOUS FOR THIS
INSTITUTION, WHETHER YOU WERE
HERE WHEN THIS DECISION WAS
MADE OR NOT TO GO BACK ON THE
PROMISES THAT WE MADE TO OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I WILL STOP
THERE. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THERE IS A
LOT OF HISTORY. I WOULD BE
NEGLECTFUL IF I DID NOT SAY
THAT THE MAYOR DURKAN PROMISED
100 MILLION TO BIPOC FOR AN
INEQUITY OF AND A THIRD OF THAT
WENT TO THE AND EQUITABLE
COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE. THIS
MONEY WAS CONTRACTED AND OUT
THE DOOR. ONE THIRD OF THAT
WENT TO THE PROCESS THAT WE
WERE DISCUSSING AND A THIRD OF
IT WENT TO THE STRATEGIC
INVESTMENT FUND. IT WAS
ALLOCATED OUT OF OP CD. THAT IS
THE ORIGINAL HISTORY OF THE 30
MILLION OR SO OR 27.3 MILLION
NOW AFTER 1 MILLION WAS TAKEN
OUT FOR CONSULTANTS TO HELP
COMMUNITY WITH THE PROCESS OF
IDENTIFYING HOW THE MONEY
SHOULD BE SPENT. WE NEED TO BE
TRUTHFUL AND THERE IS A SEATTLE
TIMES ARTICLE THAT TALKED ABOUT
MAYOR DURKAN'S COMMITMENT TO
COMMUNITY BACK WHEN THAT WAS
DONE AND IT WAS POST THE RACIAL
AWAKENING. I WILL SAY THAT. I
WILL SAY THAT, I AGREE.
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE AND IS SUPPOSED
TO BE ABOUT COMMUNITY HAVING A
SAY IN HOW THE INVESTMENT IS
MADE. WE NEED TO BE TRUE TO
THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THAT IS
THE INITIAL INVESTMENT. THAT IS
WHAT WAS INTENDED, FOR
COMMUNITY TO BE PARTICIPATORY.
IT IS IN THE NAME. I WILL SAY
THAT I AGREE WITH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON. I HAVE SAID,
I SHARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT ITEMS
THAT NEED ONGOING FUNDING. ALL
OF THESE PROJECTS ARE REALLY
GREAT AND NEEDED PROJECTS. SOME
OF THEM, THE CAPITAL ONE IS
EASIER BECAUSE IT IS REALLY ONE
TIME FUNDING . THE ONES THAT
HAVE OPERATING EXPENSES AND THE
TRICKIER ONES, THOSE ARE THE
ONES THAT WOULD NEED ONGOING
FUNDING AND THIS MONEY WAS ALSO
INTENDED TO BE ONE TIME. THAT
JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE
TRICKIER. I DO THINK THAT
CLARITY AROUND THIS INVESTMENT
AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE, TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA 'S POINT,
WE CAN'T BE MAKING PROMISES TO
COMMUNITIES WE CAN'T KEEP.
THAT IS NOT FAIR. TO FURTHER
THE PROJECTS THAT WOULD NEED
ONGOING FUNDING, WITHOUT
CLARITY, IS NOT FAIR . WE
EITHER HAVE TO RIGHT SIDE THE
LEGISLATION TO MAKE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT THIS IS ONGOING
FUNDING AND THERE HAS TO BE A
RAMP DOWN, WOULD BE CRITICAL TO
THE PROCESS. WE ARE VERY CLEAR
WITH COMMUNITIES BECAUSE
OTHERWISE IT IS JUST NOT A TRUE
PROCESS. IT IS NOT FAIR. IT IS
JUST NOT RIGHT. OTHERWISE, WE
NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE
WOULD DO IN THE ABSENCE OF
THAT. THE CLARITY IS VERY MUCH
NEEDED BECAUSE WE WANT TO HONOR
THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE MAKE TO
THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF
COMMENTS. I HAVE MET WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET . I WAS ON
THE OPPOSITE SIDE, BEING ONE OF
THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND
I KNOW THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT
OUT OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020 BUT
OBVIOUSLY THE RATION -- RACIAL
AWAKENING FOR SOME PEOPLE, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT IS
CONCERNING TO ME IS -- I HAVE
HEARD FROM COMMUNITY FOLKS.
PARTICULARLY FOR THIS BUDGET,
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I DON'T
SEE HOW IT IMPACTS BLACK
COMMUNITIES AND CORRECT ME IF I
AM WRONG AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT
SAY DIFFERENTLY BUT I THINK
THAT IS THE CONCERN THAT PEOPLE
HAVE, THAT IT DOES NOT DIRECTLY
-- THERE IS NO LANGUAGE IN THIS
THAT SAYS IT WILL NOT DIRECTLY
BENEFIT THE BLACK COMMUNITY OR
BLACK PEOPLE OR BE ABLE TO MOVE
THE NEEDLE ON THE AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF A BLACK
FAMILY, 50% OF THE BLACK PEOPLE
IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE 0% NET
WORTH. I WILL CONTINUE TO
REPEAT THOSE STATISTICS BECAUSE
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
AS WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT, WHEN
WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THESE
DECISIONS ON CLOSING THE WEALTH
GAP, IT IS ECONOMIC MOBILITY,
IT IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, IT
IS HEALTHCARE AS WELL AND I
KNOW I RECOGNIZE THAT AND I
HAVE TALKED TO OUR DUWAMISH
TRIBE AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL
BEING HERE AS WELL AND I
EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS. I AM
PULLING THAT NUMBER FOUR APPLE
WHEN I LOOK AT NUMBER ONE,
NUMBER TWO, NUMBER FIVE AND
NUMBER SIX, WANTING TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WILL
BENEFIT OUR BLACK COMMUNITY,
SPECIFICALLY, THIS WAS BROUGHT
OUT OF GEORGE FLOYD, A BLACK
MAN WHO WAS UNFORTUNATELY
KILLED AND WE HAD ALL OF THESE
THINGS MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THAT.
WE HAD A LOT OF THINGS COME OUT
OF THAT BUT I WANT TO REMIND
PEOPLE 70% OF THE POSITIONS
THAT EDI PEOPLE HOLD OUR WHITE
WOMEN. THEY ARE NOT BLACK
FOLKS. THESE ISSUES TO ME ARE
CONCERNING BECAUSE I KNOW WE
HAD PARTICIPATORY BUDGET AND
PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND SAY,
THIS IS WHERE WE WANT MONEY TO
GO BUT I GUARANTEE YOU, IF I
WENT TO ANY BLACK COMMUNITY AND
SAID, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE $7
MILLION TO PUBLIC RESTROOMS FOR
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, I
THINK THEY WOULD BE VERY
SURPRISED ABOUT THAT AND
UNDERSTANDING, HOW DOES THAT
IMPACT US? THEY WANT TO SEE
STUFF THAT IMPACTS THEM BECAUSE
THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT
HAPPEN WHEN YOU EXPLOIT
COMMUNITIES. YOU EITHER TAKE
PAIN AND SUFFERING OR RESOURCES
OR LABOR. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY
THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO A
BLACK COMMUNITY AND IT IS NOT
IMPACTING THEM BECAUSE WE ARE
USING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. AS
I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE
SIX PHENOMENAL WAYS IN WHICH WE
ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE
THE NEEDLE ON THE COMMUNITY AND
INVESTMENT, I AM ADVOCATING FOR
BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE REALLY RAISED CONCERN
ABOUT HOW IT WILL IMPACT THEM.
I WILL STOP THERE AND THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU. AS A WHITE MAN, I
DON'T THINK I CAN FOLLOW THAT
EXCEPT TO SAY DITTO AND I
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S POINT. I AM
WELL AWARE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ASPECT OF THE LAST NUMBER OF
YEARS. I AM NOT AN EXPERT IN
TERMS OF THE PROCESS OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND THE
OVERALL PROCESS BUT I DO KNOW
THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH IS SPEAKING A
TRUTH THAT SEEMS TO BE MISSING.
AS THE DISTRICT 7
REPRESENTATIVE -- OBVIOUSLY,
THIS IS NOT A PROGRAM AND I
RECOGNIZE IT MUCH AS SIDEWALKS
AND TRANSPORTATION, THERE ARE
OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY THAT
NEED TO HAVE THIS
PRIORITIZATION IN TERMS OF THE
INTENT. AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR AND AS COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH 'S POINT, WHY IS
THERE $2 MILLION GOING TO THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET? THAT DOES
NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. IT
SHOULD BE PART OF THE REGULAR
PROCESS, NOT A PART OF THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, UNLESS
IT IS TO SAY WE CAN EXPAND TO
THE EAST PRECINCT BUT THAT IS
NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING. THERE IS
OBVIOUSLY A DISCONNECT.
FOLLOWING COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S COMMENTS, I
DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND, TO BE
BLUNT . I AM NOT SURE HOW WE
CAN FIX THAT OR SQUARE THAT
CIRCLE. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH ALSO PARCHED OUT
THE NATIVE YOUTH PEACE AND THAT
IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE THAT
NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. AS
SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS DOWNTOWN
AND THE WATERFRONT, I HAVE
OFTEN TALKED ABOUT HOW WE NEED
TO ENHANCE AND CELEBRATE OUR
NATIVE COMMUNITIES. IT IS ONE
THING THAT SEPARATES SEATTLE
FROM CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE IT,
THERE'S GOT TO BE AN
UNDERSTANDING OF BUILDING THE
BASE OF IT. OTHERWISE IT IS A
BIT OF A FRAUD. I DEFINITELY
SUPPORT THE ITEMS AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THE
TRIBAL SERVICES GROUP IS HERE
AND SHOWING UP IS IMPORTANT,
PARTICULARLY ON THIS TOPIC. I
WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND
THANK YOU FOR COMING. MY LAST
THING THAT I WILL SAY, I HAD
REORDERING FOLLOWING
HOLLINGSWORTH 'S POINTS. WE
NEED TO ENSURE WE'VE GOT THE
RIGHT COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT CAN SOMETIMES BE A
THROWAWAY LINE OR ARBITRARY. WE
NEED TO ENSURE WE ARE ENGAGING
WITH THE RIGHT COMMUNITIES
BASED ON WHATEVER TOPIC IT IS.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY SHOWS THAT THAT CAN BE A
SHORTCOMING. WE NEED TO ENSURE
MOVING FORWARD THAT WE DO HAVE
A BROAD APPROACH TO COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT. THERE DOES SEEM TO
BE A DISCONNECT IN PUBLIC
SAFETY BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A
DISCONNECT HERE AS WELL. I
CAN'T SPEAK TO MORE THAN THAT
OTHER THAN REFLECTING ON WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
SAID AND LOOKING AT THE LIST.
AGAIN, AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR, I FEEL LIKE I AM
PARTICIPATORY IN THE
UNDERMINING OF THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET BY LOOKING
AT THE CARE TEAM EXPANSION AS
PART OF THIS AS OPPOSED TO THE
REGULAR PROCESS.
>> TAMASO ?
>> IF I MIGHT JUST SPEAK FIRST
TO THE LAST POINT YOU MADE
ABOUT THAT CARE TEAM. THE
PROJECT PRIORITY THAT WAS
IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE PROCESS
VOTE WAS PEOPLE, NOT POLICE.
CRISIS RESPONSE WAS THE
HEADLINE ON THE PRIORITY THAT
WAS VOTED ON THERE, THE IDEA
BEING THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR
CRISIS RESPONSE OTHER THAN SPD
OFFICERS . ARGUABLY, THERE IS A
VARIETY OF FORMS THAT COULD
TAKE AS THE PROJECT PROPOSAL
WAS BEING DEVELOPED IN
COLLABORATION WITH COMMITTEE
MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS
AND THE SUBSEQUENT
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM. IT WAS
IDENTIFIED AS A WAY TO
FACILITATE THE GOALS OF THAT
PRIORITY WERE BY LOOKING AT THE
SYNERGY, IF YOU WILL, THAT
EXISTS ALREADY HAS THE CARE
TEAM WAS BEING STOOD UP. PART
OF THE REASON WHY E THAT
HAS TO DO WITH THE DESIRE TO
AVOID DUPLICATION OF SERVICES,
IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN FUNDING A
NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO DO
THAT NONPOLICE CRISIS RESPONSE
WORK AND LOOKING AT THE WORK
THAT WAS ALREADY BEING DONE BY
THE CARE TEAM. THAT IS A LITTLE
BIT OF BACKGROUND THAT
HOPEFULLY CAN GO TOWARD
ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTION
THAT YOU HAVE. THAT IS WHAT I
WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT. ON THE
POINTS THAT WERE RAISED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AS
WELL AS YOURSELF, I WOULD SAY
THAT THERE ARE SOME LEGAL
CHALLENGES IN A STATE WITH
SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFYING OR
ATTEMPTING TO EARMARK PROJECTS
AND FUNDING FOR RACIAL AND
ETHNIC GROUPS. THAT WAS A
FACTOR IN THIS. I WOULD ALSO
SAY THAT THROUGHOUT THE
CONSULTANT PROCESS AND THE
PROCESS AROUND PPD, I DO
BELIEVE THERE WAS EXTENSIVE
EFFORT MADE TO MAKE THAT
PROCESS BOTH INCLUSIVE AND
FOCUSED ON OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT WITH BLACK AND OTHER
PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES IN
SEATTLE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR
VOICES WERE HEARD IN THE
PROCESS AND I DON'T KNOW,
DEMOGRAPHICALLY, THE
DEMOGRAPHICS OF THOSE THAT
ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS BUT WE
CAN FOLLOW UP AND GET MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I RECOGNIZE THE
STATE LAW PIECE. THAT IS A VERY
IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE. I
UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT THERE AND
I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS STILL
A DISCONNECT. THAT IS SOMETHING
WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON. THIS IS
FOR ONE TIME AT LEAST BECAUSE I
DON'T THINK. WE CAN FOLLOW UP
ON THAT.
>> I AM GOING TO ADD A LITTLE
MORE CONTEXT ABOUT CARE, WHICH
IS THAT WHEN THE VOTING WAS
OCCURRING, THE SUCCESS OF THE
FUTURE IS NOT YET SET. THAT IS
THE WAY THAT WE HEARD. THE
CHIEF THIS YEAR HAS SAID THAT
WE HAD NOT REALLY GOTTEN THE
HIGHLIGHTS GOING. BEFORE WE
WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE YOU
WITH THE FULL SUPPORT , I THINK
THAT THERE WAS SOME CONCERN IN
THE CITY, WHETHER OR NOT IT
WOULD FUND CARE. THIS IS
INTENDED TO GIVE US WIND IN OUR
SALE, RATHER THAN WAVES TO
BATTLE. THAT IS WHERE IT IS
COMING FROM.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE
MARITIME REFERENCES ALTHOUGH I
THINK YOU SHOULD STICK TO
PADDLEBOARDS.
>> I DON'T PADDLEBOARD,
ACTUALLY. I AM AN AVID KAYAKER.
>> SORRY, KAYAKING.
>> OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
THEN WOO THEN SAKA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
YOUR INSIGHTFUL AND EDUCATIONAL
AND GROUNDING COMMENTS AND
ALSO, DITTO TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE . I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE
LIVE IN A REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY AND WHILE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IS
IMPORTANT , THIS IDEA OF
SHARING POWER, WE SHARE POWER
THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY BUT IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
'S POINT, WE HAVE TO HONOR OUR
COMMITMENTS TO DIRECT PARTIES
AND CLEARLY ONE OF THE GOALS IS
TO DIRECTLY INVEST IN BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY A
DUWAMISH YOUTH CENTER IS
INVESTING . I AM VERY MUCH
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. WE ALSO
NEED FLEXIBILITY AND I THINK
THE CARE TEAM, AS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF WHERE IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY AS THE ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO EXERCISE APPROPRIATE
JUDGMENT WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT
HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE PEOPLE'S
MONEY, WE NEED TO EXERCISE
JUDGMENT IN HOW WE DO THAT AND
TO BE MINDFUL OF CHANGING
CONDITIONS AND TO THE POINT OF
THE CARE TEAM, REALLY BEING A
PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE AND GOING
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND
THINKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE
REALLY, TRULY DELIVER ON THE
PROMISES THAT WERE MADE WHEN WE
PUT OUT THE PARTICIPATORY
BUDGET WHICH WAS TO CREATE
INTERGENERATIONAL WEALTH,
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, MENTAL,
PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING IN BLACK, BROWN, AND
INDIGENOUS OPPORTUNITIES. THE
WAY WE SET THIS UP HERE, ASIDE
FROM WHAT WE HAVE IN THE
INDIGENOUS YOUTH CENTER, I DO
NOT BELIEVE IT ADDRESSES THE
PROMISES THAT WERE MADE AND IT
IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO DELIVER
AND TO DO THAT WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF A REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
WOO, SAKA AND MORALES.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENT OF COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH , KETTLE . THE
ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO INVEST
IN PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES
AND LOOKING AT THESE LINE
ITEMS, IT IS VERY OBVIOUS. WITH
ONE OF THEM, IT IS GOING TO
DIRECT TO INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES BUT THE OTHER ONES
ARE NOT VERY CLEAR ON HOW THEY
DIRECTLY INVEST IN BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO
LOOK AT WHAT THE ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS LOOKED LIKE AND ALSO
THE DECISION THAT IS CENTERED
AROUND WHY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THESE LINE ITEMS ARE PICKED AND
THE DECISION-MAKING AROUND HOW
THEY DIRECTLY INVESTED IN BLACK
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITIES. I WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR MORE FROM THIS GROUP OF
WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE AND
ENGAGING WITH THESE COMMUNITIES
AS WELL AS TO DEPICT THESE
CERTAIN GROUPS AND HOW THAT
DIRECT INVESTMENT IS TO GO BACK
TO THE ORIGINAL INTENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
WOO. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND
THEN MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
QUICKLY SHARE THAT I LOVE THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
GOING ON RIGHT NOW. EVERY LAST
ONE OF YOU COLLEAGUES HAS
CONTRIBUTED SOMETHING
MEANINGFUL TO THIS BROADER
CONVERSATION HERE AND I
PARTICULARLY WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND CALL OUT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
HER VERY INSIGHTFUL AND
POIGNANT COMMENTS AND IN MY
EARLIER COMMENTS, I SHARED THE
SPECIFIC ELEMENTS AND FEATURES
OF THIS PROPOSAL THAT I LIKE
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO CALL OUT
AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
THAT IT ALSO LEAVES SOME MORE
TO BE DESIRED, PARTICULARLY
WITH RESPECT TO THE BLACK
COMMUNITY. I AM NOT SEEING, FOR
EXAMPLE, A DIRECT NEXUS OR TIE
OR EXPANSION OF THE CARE
DEPARTMENT. THAT SOMEHOW
BENEFITS THE BLACK COMMUNITY. I
HAVE TALKED WITH MANY, IF NOT
ALL OF THE CARE DEPARTMENT
WORKERS FROM THE CHIEF TO THE
FRONT-LINE SOCIAL WORKERS TO
THE NEW TRAINING STAFF AND
SUPPORT AND I DID A RIDE ALONG
WITH THEM AND I READ ALL OF
THEIR DOCUMENTATION AND I AM
FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAM. I AM
JUST NOT CONVINCED THAT THAT
PROGRAM IN AND OF ITSELF IS A
GREAT ONE. LET'S CONTINUE IT
AND EXPAND IT AND THERE IS A
DIRECT NEXUS THERE AND A
BENEFIT THAT CAN TIES
SPECIFICALLY TO BLACK
COMMUNITIES. IF THE CARE
DEPARTMENT NEEDS 2 MILLION MORE
DOLLARS, WHICH I WOULD BE
INCLINED TO SUPPORT, WHY NOT
JUST JUMPSTART ANOTHER $2
MILLION INSTEAD OF TRYING TO
MAKE AN ARGUMENT WITH A
STRAIGHT FACE, WHICH IS
DIFFICULT TO DO THAT THE CARE
DEPARTMENT SOMEHOW BENEFITS
BLACK PEOPLE. IN ANY EVENT, I
DO THINK THERE ARE SOME GREAT
PROJECTS IN HERE AND I ALSO
THINK THAT THERE IS MORE TO BE
DESIRED. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
AND RESPECT AND APPRECIATE ALL
OF THE THOUGHTFUL
CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS IS A VERY
INSIGHTFUL CONVERSATION. ALSO,
SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. HE SET A LOT . THE
FIRST TWO MINUTES OF HIS
RESPONSE WAS EXCELLENT . HE
ACKNOWLEDGED HIS PRIVILEGE. HE
ACKNOWLEDGED HIS BLIND SPOTS,
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WE NEED TO DO
MORE. THAT IS HOW WE NEED TO
SHOW UP AND BE ALLIES
REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER YOUR
BACKGROUND OR ETHNICITY OR
WHATEVER IT IS. THAT IS HOW WE
SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND HOW WE
LEARN. SHOUT OUT TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
PUTTING ON A CLINIC FOR ALL OF
US ON HOW WE SHOW UP AND
SUPPORT EACH OTHER. ANYWAY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. TWO THINGS
QUICKLY. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY
THAT WHEN I AM TALKING ABOUT
THE EVENTS OF 2020, I AM SAYING
RACIAL RECKONING, NOT RACIAL
AWAKENING. I HAVE HEARD A
COUPLE OF FOLKS I THINK REFER
TO WHAT I SAID AND I WANT TO BE
VERY CLEAR THAT I FULLY
UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A
RECKONING AND THAT THAT WAS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LONG HISTORY OF
DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE AND
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT OUR
BLACK COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES AND
HAS FOR 400 YEARS.
>> THE OTHER THING I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IS THE FRUSTRATION
ABOUT HOW THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED.
I SHARE THAT FRUSTRATION. THE
FACT THAT IT HAD NOT EVEN BEGUN
UNTIL TWO YEARS AFTER THE
COMMUNITY ASKED FOR IT, REALLY
DID CONTRIBUTE TO AN
IMPLEMENTATION THAT WAS
INCONSISTENT, TO SAY THE LEAST
AND ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO A LACK
OF CLARITY FOR ALL OF US ABOUT
HOW THESE CITY DEPARTMENT
ALLOCATIONS BENEFIT OUR BLACK
AND BROWN NEIGHBORS. THE
PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO HELP
DEPARTMENTS IDENTIFY HOW THEY
WILL SPEND RESOURCES TO BENEFIT
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE VOTED ON. I
SHARE THE FRUSTRATION WITH NOT
HAVING THE ABILITY TO MAKE A
DIRECT CONNECTION WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF A COUPLE OF
THINGS, THE DUWAMISH TRIBAL
SERVICES INCLUDED. ALL OF THAT
TO SAY, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE HOLD TRUE TO THE
PROCESS AND THE COMMITMENT THAT
WE MADE TO COMMUNITY TO ALLOW
THEM TO WEIGH IN ON HOW FUNDING
GETS ALLOCATED AND I
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS COULD
HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU. JUST BY WAY OF
BACKGROUND, BECAUSE I WAS HERE
AT THE ONSET OF THIS, I WILL
SAY THAT TO THE QUESTION OF
INVOLVEMENT, WHEN I SAY THERE
WAS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT TO
OP CD, THAT GOT ALLOCATED
FAIRLY QUICKLY. THAT CREATED A
TASK FORCE. IT WAS MADE UP OF
FOLKS FROM COMMUNITIES LED BY
THAT TASK FORCE. THE CITY
STAFFERS TOOK A SUPPORTING
ROLL. I PARTICIPATED AS PART OF
THAT IN A SUPPORTING ROLL BUT
IT WAS INTENDED TO BE LED BY
COMMUNITY. I CAN SPEAK TO THAT
PARTICULAR TASK FORCE AND THAT
MONEY DID GET ALLOCATED BY THE
TASK FORCE AND LIKE I SAID
EARLIER, IT WENT OUT THE DOOR.
THAT TRUE PROCESS, I CAN'T
SPEAK TO IT BECAUSE IT HAS
TAKEN LONGER. IT DID START WHEN
THE EQUITABLE COMMUNITY'S
INITIATIVE AND THE FUND STARTED
, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY IT HAS
TAKEN THAT LONG. THERE WAS A
CONSULTANT THAT GOT HIRED BY
COMMUNITY AT THE TIME. I HAVE
SINCE LOST TRACK SO I CANNOT
SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL BUT I WILL
SAY ALL OF THAT STARTED AROUND
THE SAME TIME AND THAT ECI DID
INVOLVE COMMUNITY LEADING WITH
THE CITY STAFF TAKING AN
IMPORTANT ROLL THAT WAS
WELCOMED BY THAT PARTICULAR
TASK FORCE AT THE TIME. IF THAT
HELPS, WITH CONTEXT, I JUST
WANT TO PROVIDE THIS. AS I FEEL
LIKE SOMEONE WHO IS HERE WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AT THE
TIME, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO
YOU ALL. THIS IS HOW WE WERE AT
THE INCEPTION CREATED. THIS
PARTICULAR PROCESS HAS TAKEN
LONGER AND I DON'T HAVE
PARTICULAR INFORMATION AS TO
WHY. AS I SAID EARLIER, I AGREE
THAT WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE
KEEPING OUR COMMITMENTS TO
COMMUNITY. THAT IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY THERE IS NO TRUST.
WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO DO
THINGS AND THEN WE DON'T DO
THEM AND THAT IS WHY I FEEL
REALLY STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO
HAVE CLARITY AND ALWAYS BE UP
FRONT WITH COMMUNITY END IF WE
SAID WE ARE GOING TO DO IT,
THEN WE NEED TO DO IT BECAUSE,
OTHERWISE, THAT GOES TO
BUILDING THE TRUST. ANYWAY,
JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> I WILL BE VERY QUICK. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE I APOLOGIZE
TO MORALES. I DID NOT WANT TO
MISQUOTE YOU ON THE RECKONING
AND THE AWAKENING. I APOLOGIZE.
IT WAS NO KNOCK ON YOU OR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. I KNOW
YOU HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE SOME LAST STATEMENTS
AND QUESTIONS BUT ONCE I START
TALKING, THAT WILL BE THE LAST
WORD. SO, GETTING EVERYONE DO
OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THEIR
HAND. I AM GOING TO GO PRETTY
HIGH LEVEL AND THEN I AM GOING
TO COME BACK TO THIS ISSUE.
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE IS WHERE
WE WILL GO. REAL HIGH-LEVEL
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IS A
STYLE OF ALLOCATING, A PROCESS
OF ALLOCATING BUDGETING FOR
PROJECTS. IT IS NOT --
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING DOES
NOT MEAN VOTING ON MONEY ASSETS
STEMMED FROM THE AFTERMATH OF
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD FOR
CERTAIN THINGS. PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING IS A TYPE OF PROCESS.
IT IS ALSO USED IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN TRANSPORTATION, FOR
INSTANCE, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS. YOUR VOICE,
YOUR CHOICE. I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING
FUNDS BUT YOUR VOICE, YOUR
CHOICE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE
CITY DOES USE THE PROCESS OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING TO MAKE
DECISIONS WHERE RESOURCES ARE
ALLOCATED. I JUST WANT TO
GROUND US IN THAT FACT.
REGARDING THIS PROCESS, THE
VOTING ON THESE PROJECTS, I
WILL SAY THAT I HAVE DEEP
CONCERN ABOUT THAT VOTING AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT PROCESS
IS DONE. IT IS COMPLETE,
WHETHER I LIKED IT OR NOT AND
THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ARE
BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED. EITHER
WAY, IT IS DONE. NOW I AM
GROUNDING US IN THE PRESENT. IF
WE COULD GO BACK TO SLIDE --
THE LAST SLIDE WITH OUR
OPTIONS. SLIDE NINE. THE
OPTIONS BEFORE US TODAY ARE TO
PASS THIS, TO CHANGE IT, OR I
AM GOING TO ADD ANOTHER OPTION
WHICH IS TO PASS IT OR ADD
FUNDING FOR THE THINGS THAT I
HAVE HEARD DESCRIBED ON THE
SITE. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS
ADDING FUNDING TO BLACK
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIGENOUS
ORGANIZATIONS, ALLOCATING MONEY
AND FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO
THESE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS
SHOULD NOT BE A ONE-TIME ACTION
OR A MOMENT IN TIME. SEPARATE
FROM THE PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING PROCESS -- NOW I AM
GOING TO THE FUTURE. THIS WAS A
PRODUCT OF TRYING TO RESPOND TO
A SOCIETAL RACIAL RECKONING
WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED.
WE, CALLINGS, SEPARATE FROM
THIS PROCESS THAT IS BEFORE US
RIGHT NOW, NEED TO CONTINUE THE
WORK TO MOVE THE NEEDOUR BLACK
COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHERE I WILL
END THIS ACT AND WE WILL MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO
ADD.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. IF
YOU COULD READ THE NEXT ITEM
INTO THE AGENDA.
>> AGENDA ITEM TO DIG, HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FOR
BREATHING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE OUR HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION. WE HAVE JEN
LABRECQUE AND ANN GORMAN. ANN
GORMAN, SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HERE . AS THEY ARE GETTING SET
UP BEFORE THEY DO
INTRODUCTIONS, I WILL SAY
WELCOME TO BUDGET. WE ARE
FINALLY IN IT. WE JUST HAD A
PRESENTATION THAT LASTED AN
HOUR AND HALF AND THAT FELT
NORMAL TO ME. WELCOME TO A
THREE, PRESENTATION NUMBER TWO
FOR THE MORNING. AS YOU ALL ARE
READY, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. THERE WE GO. I
AM JENNIFER LABRECQUE, A
CENTRAL STAFF ANALYST YOU WITH
MY COLLEAGUE, ANN GORMAN AND WE
ARE HERE TODAY TO WALK YOU
THROUGH EIGHT DIFFERENT POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
>> AS YOU ARE STARTING UP AFTER
YOU GIVE YOUR HIGH LEVEL, I
WILL PASS IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND THEN WE
WILL GO OVER TO THE
PRESENTATION. WE ARE NOW BACK
TO A STANDARD PRESENTATION
RATHER THAN AN IMPLEMENTATION
ITEM. WE WILL DO HIGH-LEVEL
THEN BACK TO YOU FOR ALL OF THE
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS AND THEN
WE WILL PASS IT BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND THEN
HAVE DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THERE WE GO. WE WILL START
FIRST WITH TWO SLIDES WITH A
HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE
BUDGET. OVERALL, WE WOULD SEE A
NET INCREASE OF -- THE 2025
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT WOULD
INCREASE BY 23 MILLION OR
ALMOST 7%, RELATIVE TO THE 2024
ADOPTED BUDGET AND THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD INCREASE
BY 13 MILLION OR 3.4% RELATIVE
TO THE 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET.
THAT NET INCREASE REALLY
OBSCURE'S QUITE A BIT OF
ACTIVITY HAPPENING WITHIN THE
BUDGET. THAT INCLUDES
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR
PROGRAMS AND MANDATORY
INCREASES FOR WAGES AND
CONTRACTS ALONG WITH REDUCTIONS
AND FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS AND
ELIMINATION OF FUNDING FOR
VACANT STAFF POSITIONS. THE
MAJOR APPROPRIATIONS INCREASES
ARE DUE TO NEW, ONGOING FUNDING
TO EXPAND, CREATE, OR SUSTAIN
INVESTMENTS IN HOMELESSNESS,
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING INTERVENTION. YOU
WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT SOME
OF THOSE TODAY WHEN WE DISCUSS
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. THERE
WAS AN ANNUAL WAGE INCREASE
UNDER THE CITY CODE. HUMAN
SERVICES CONTRACT ARE
ADMINISTERED AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ARE REQUIRED TO
RECEIVE AN INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENT EACH YEAR. THAT WAS
4.4% IN 2025 AND 3% IN 2026.
THAT LED TO SOME OF THE
INCREASE AND THERE WAS ALSO NEW
GRANT REVENUE. THE MAJOR
APPROPRIATION REDUCTIONS ARE
DUE TO THE REDUCTION OR
ELIMINATION OF FUNDING FOR
PROGRAMS ABOUT 1.8 MILLION IN
2025 AND 2.1 MILLION IN 2026.
THE ELIMINATION OF FUNDING FOR
THREE VACANT FTE ALTHOUGH TWO
OF THOSE FTE FUNDING WAS
ELIMINATED AND THE POSITIONS
WERE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER
PSL'S AND THERE WAS REMOVAL OF
10.7 MILLION OF ONE TIME
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE 2024
BUDGET AND AGAIN, WE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE IN
MORE DETAIL TODAY.
>> AS A REFERENCE, THERE IS A
BUDGET OVERVIEW THAT HAS MORE
DETAIL. I JUST COVERED THAT AT
THE HIGH LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
>> HSD WOULD SEE A NET INCREASE
OF 32 FTE IN THE 25 PROPOSED
BUDGET, AN INCREASE OF 7%
COMPARED TO THE 2024 ADOPTED
BUDGET. MOST OF THIS GROWTH IS
WITHIN THE HOMELESSNESS
DIVISION AND IT OCCURRED WITH
THE PASSAGE OF THE 2024 MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL WHICH ADDED 19
POSITIONS FOR THE UNIFIED CARE
TEAM AND TWO OTHERS RELATED TO
SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION OF
OUTREACH AND HOMELESSNESS
CONTRACTS BACK TO HSD. WE WILL
BE TALKING ABOUT THE UNIFIED
CARE TEAM AFTER THE
PRESENTATION IF COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. OTHER
NOTABLE ADDITIONS IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDE TWO NEW
FTE TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER
SERVICE, FIVE NEW POSITIONS TO
SUPPORT PROPOSAL TO INVESTMENTS
WHICH WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
MORE IN A BIT AND ONE NEW FTE
FOR NEW SCHOOL-BASED
ENVIRONMENT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
WHICH WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
IN JUST A MOMENT.
>> JUST AS A GENERAL NOTE ABOUT
SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS
YOU CAN SEE, THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE REVENUE DOES COME FROM
THE GENERAL FUND. THE HUMAN
SERVICES FUND IS COMPRISED BY
RESTRICTIVE GRANT REVENUE,
THINGS LIKE THE GRANT THEY GET
AND OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS THE
COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT FUNDING.
WITH THAT, I WILL STOP AND LET
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T REALLY
HAVE MUCH TO ADD OTHER THAN
JUST TO SAY THAT HSD IS A HUGE
BUDGET AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE
ADDING 32 FTE. I THINK THIS ALL
BEGAN WITH, AS OUR RESIDENT
HISTORIAN CAN SHARE, WITH
COUNCILMEMBER JIM STREET , WHO
WAS THE ONE THAT DECIDED OR
BROUGHT FORTH THE IDEA THAT THE
CITY SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN
PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICE
FUNDING. IT HAD NOT REALLY BEEN
SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAD
TAKEN UPON ITSELF BEFORE. THAT
BEGAN UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AND
NOW, HERE WE FIND OURSELVES
WITH AN EVER-GROWING COMMITMENT
TO ADDRESSING THE VARIOUS
ASPECTS OF HUMAN NEED AND
SERVICES AND THAT IS WHAT WE
SEE WITH HSD.
>> THANK YOU. BACK TO YOU,
JENNIFER AND ANN, IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO WALK US THROUGH ALL OF
THE CONSIDERATIONS. COLLEAGUES,
TAKE NOTE IF THERE ARE THINGS
YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO.
WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE
ENTIRE VISITATION AND THEN OPEN
IT UP.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, THE FIRST POLICY
CONSIDERATION THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED FOR YOU TODAY IS A
PROPOSAL ON THE 2025 PROPOSED
BUDGET FOR AN ONGOING TO
MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT FOR
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
INTERVENTION. IN BROAD STROKES,
THIS PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT
WITH ORDINANCE 127086 WHICH WAS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AND PASSED BY THE COUNCIL
IN SEPTEMBER. THAT ORDINANCE
INCLUDED A NEW APPROACH TO
ENFORCEMENT FOR VICTIMS OF
EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING,
EMPHASIZING THE PREFERRED
POSITION WHERE THESE ARE HAVING
DIVERSION REFERRALS TO SAY PASS
REPLACEMENT AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO BOOKING. THE
PROPOSAL THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
RIGHT NOW PROVIDES AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INTENTIONS
ARE REFLECTED IN ONGOING
PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES. THIS
PROPOSAL INCLUDES FIVE FTE IN
THE VICTIM ADVOCATE FUNCTION TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CSE
SURVIVORS AND SEX WORKER
INTERVENTION INCLUDING
COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES. THE
TOTAL COST FOR THOSE POSITIONS
WOULD BE $706,000 IN 2025 AND
HSC'S INTENT IS TO UP THE
REMAINING $2 MILLION, ABOUT
HALF OF IT WOULD BE ALLOCATED
TO COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING DIRECT
SERVICES AND HALF WOULD REMAIN
WITH THE DEPARTMENT WITH THOSE
NEW FTE TO ALLOCATE PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES AT HSD'S
DISCRETION. ONE THING TO NOTE,
WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY KINDS
OF ASSESSMENT THAT HSD
COMPLETED THAT CAUSED THEM TO
LAND ON FIVE FTE AS THE VICTIM
ADVOCATE FUNCTION. I DON'T
HAVE ANY INFORMATION RIGHT NOW
ABOUT WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 13 FTE IN
THE VICTIM ADVOCATE FUNCTION.
THERE ARE NINE IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THERE ARE
FOUR ON THE CRIME SURVIVORS
SUPPORT TEAM AND THAT SUPPORT
TEAM, THOSE VICTIM ADVOCATES
ARE IN THE BUDGET. THEY ARE
EMPLOYEES BUT THEY ARE
CO-LOCATED WITH SPD
INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE
INVESTIGATING THE CRIME FOR
WHICH VICTIM ADVOCATES ARE
NEEDED. UNTIL 2021, THOSE STAFF
WERE SPD EMPLOYEES. THEY WERE
MOVED TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT
THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A LAW
ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION. THEY WERE
HUMAN SERVICES. THEY WERE
ALONGSIDE SPD EMPLOYEES.
>> THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
COUNCIL TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF
POSITIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED
WITH THIS PROPOSAL. THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO
EXPRESS THE PREFERENCE ABOUT
THE SPECIFIC USE OF THE
NONPERSONNEL COSTS INCLUDED
WITHIN THIS PROPOSAL AND ONE
THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS
WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS BEFORE
COUNCIL, A LOT OF COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES MADE THE CASE THAT AN
EMERGENCY RECEIVING CENTER WAS
A HIGH PRIORITY FOR INVESTMENTS
THAT ACCOMPANIED THE
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES IN THE
PROPOSAL. THE COST FOR AN ERC
ARE ESTIMATED AT $700,000 A
YEAR ONGOING, UNDER THE
FRAMEWORK OF THIS PROPOSAL. THE
CITY GETS HALF AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS GET HALF OF THE
REST. THERE WILL BE NOT QUITE
ENOUGH FOR AN ERC OUT OF THAT
REMAINING 1.3 AND THE COUNCIL
ADDED A RECITAL TO THAT
ORDINANCE WHEREAS THE PROVISION
OF SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE EMERGENCY
RECEIVING CENTER IS CRITICAL TO
A FUNCTIONAL PROCESS. THE
CONCEPT OF THE FUNDING WITH ANY
EXECUTIVE PROPOSAL DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN
RECEIVING CENTER BUT IT IS NOT
AS EXPLICIT ABOUT THAT CENTER
AS COUNCIL WAS WHEN THAT
ORDINANCE WAS WITH YOU ALL.
>> OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED WOULD BE, DO NOT
AUTHORIZE SOME OR ALL OF THE
CONDITIONS. THIS OPTION COULD
INCLUDE FUNDING OTHER THAN
POSITION COSTS, SOMETHING THAT
IS DEVELOPED WITH STAKEHOLDERS
THAT SPOKE AS THIS ORDINANCE
WAS TAKING SHAPE. ONE THING
THAT I DO WANT TO NOTE IS THAT
THE VICTIM ADVOCATES THAT
CURRENTLY WORK AT HSD, THEY DO
NOT WORK NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS,
AS WOULD PRESUMABLY BE REQUIRED
OF THE VICTIM ADVOCATES WHO ARE
DOING DIRECT OUTREACH TO WOMEN
WHO ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN
PROSTITUTION AND SEX WORK. THEY
ARE REPRESENTED AND UNDER THE
CONTRACT, THERE ARE PROVISIONS
FOR OVERTIME, SHIFT
DIFFERENTIALS BUT THE ACTUAL
OPERATIONS AISHA AND OF WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE WOULD HAVE TO
BE BARGAINED BECAUSE IT HAS NOT
BEEN THE PRACTICE SO FAR WITH
VICTIM ADVOCATES. WE CAN NEVER
PREDICT HOW LONG THE BARGAINING
PROCESS WILL TAKE BUT THERE
COULD BE A DELAY, PERHAPS, IN
HSD'S ABILITY TO PUT CITY
STAFF AND THAT OUTREACH ROLL.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO
ADOPT A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE ATTEMPT THAT
INVOLVES POLICY GUIDANCE FOR
THE AWARD OF FUNDING INCLUDING
CONTRACT FUNDING. ALSO, ADOPT A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE AT THE
END TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ERC FUNDED
BY THE BUDGET ALLOCATION.
>> THE CHAIR IS NOT HERE TO
RECOGNIZE ME.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED . I CAN
RECOGNIZE YOU. SORRY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES
AROUND THE FIVE FTE E'S AND
THE ISSUES AROUND THE EMERGENCY
RECEIVING CENTER. I APPRECIATE
THAT ANALYSIS AND ALSO JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU DID ON
THE LEGISLATION. I HAVE A
COUPLE OF STATEMENTS AND
QUESTIONS AS WELL. IN TERMS OF
THE FIVE FTE'S, I WOULD SAY
THAT WE REALLY SUPPORT THE
CONCLUSIONS THAT YOU HAVE DRAWN
IN THAT ANALYSIS WHICH IS,
RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE MANY OTHER
GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING WITH
THIS COMMUNITY. THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO BE
AVAILABLE TO COLLABORATE AND
PROVIDE THAT SERVICE ON A 24/7
BASIS . THEY ARE ALREADY DOING
THAT WORK AND IT WOULD BE VERY
HELPFUL IF THEY COULD HAVE
THOSE HOURS AND THAT WORK
SUPPLEMENTED. I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK AT IS
WHETHER WE TAKE THE FUNDING FOR
ALL MY POSITIONS AND WE
ALLOCATE IT OR WE HAVE MAYBE
ONE POSITION BUT I THINK THAT
IS SOMETHING TO GIVE FURTHER
CONSIDERATION. I WOULD ALSO SAY
THAT I ATTENDED A FUNDRAISER
LAST NIGHT AND THE MESSAGE WAS
VERY CLEAR THAT WHAT IS NEEDED
IS NOT NECESSARILY A NEW
RECEIVING CENTER BUT ADDITIONAL
BED SPACE IN THE CURRENT
EMERGENCY RECEIVING CENTER AND
ALSO THE TRADITIONAL
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER OPTION HERE
THAT DIRECTS MONEY TO EITHER
EXPANSION OF CURRENT RECEIVING
CENTER BEDS AND/OR CREATION OF
A NEW EMERGENCY RECEIVING
CENTER. I GUESS I AM ASKING, IS
THAT ANOTHER OPTION THAT COULD
BE PROVIDED?
>> ABSOLUTELY. WHEN WE HAVE
OPTIONS ON A SLIDE, THESE ARE
JUST OPTIONS THAT WE IDENTIFIED
IN OUR REVIEW. IT IS PART OF
WHAT WE ARE DESIGNED TO DO, FOR
FURTHER DISCUSSION AMONG
COUNCILMEMBERS. THESE ARE IN NO
WAY LIMITING.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THAT. THAT WAS BASICALLY MY
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR FOR
COVERING WHILE I STEPPED OUT OF
THE ROOM FOR A MOMENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ON THIS POLICY CONSIDERATION? I
AM SEEING COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
AND RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS RELATED
TO THIS DISCUSSION BUT IT DOES
NOT HAVE TO DO SPECIFICALLY
WITH THIS ALLOCATION FOR THIS
NEW PROGRAM THAT THE CITY IS
DOING. CENTRAL STAFF JUST NOTED
THAT THE VICTIM ADVOCATES THAT
LIVE IN HSD ARE THERE BECAUSE
THERE IS NO DIRECT LAW
ENFORCEMENT NEXUS. THERE IS
ALSO FUNDING IN THESE
SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES THAT GO
TO THE PURPOSE DIGNITY ACTION
FOR TWO ATTORNEYS AND ONE
PARALEGAL TO SUPPORT THE WORK
ON CASES OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL
VIOLENCE. IN THAT CASE, WHAT
HAPPENS IS WE TAKE THE MONEY
AND CONTRACT DIRECTLY WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR
THOSE TWO LAWYERS AND ONE
PARALEGAL AND I JUST THINK THAT
NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR ME
TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE
FACT THAT I THINK THAT MOVING
THAT MONEY, WHICH WOULD BE
500,212 GENERAL FUND DOLLARS IN
2025 AND THEN 527,000 IN 2026,
MOVE THAT FROM HSD TO DIRECTLY
THE LAW DEPARTMENT, CRIMINAL
LEGAL SERVICES COULD BE
ADVANTAGEOUS BECAUSE WE HAVE
SEEN THE CRIMINAL DIVISION IS
VERY SHORTSTAFFED AND THEY DO
HAVE TIMELINES AND POLICIES
AROUND DEADLINES FOR CLOSING
CASES AND THEY ARE SO
CONSTRICTED IN THE STAFF THEY
HAVE RIGHT THERE THAT THERE IS
NO FLEXIBILITY TO DEPLOY
ANYBODY TO WORK ON ANY OTHER
CASES BECAUSE THESE TWO
ATTORNEYS ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE
LEAD CLIENTS . I JUST THOUGHT
THAT I SHOULD MENTION THAT THIS
IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH TAMASO ON. HE IS
THE STOPPER WORKING WITH CAO
ISSUES. I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD
MENTION THAT BECAUSE WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL LOOK AT
THIS PARTICULAR ADDITIONAL
SERVICE. WE DO SOME OF THIS
WORK, MAYBE NOT WHAT I HAVE
PROPOSED HERE. OBVIOUSLY I
SUPPORT THIS. THERE IS A BIG
NEED FOR THIS. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF
LOOKING AT A PROVISO TO LOOK AT
EITHER ADDITIONAL BEDS OR AN
ADDITIONAL RECEIVING CENTER AS
WELL AS, DOES IT MAKE MORE
SENSE FOR US TO FUND THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
TO DO THIS WORK VERSUS IN-HOUSE
ALTHOUGH I THINK SOMETIMES
HAVING ONE PERSON IN HOUSE THAT
CAN HELP COORDINATE ALL OF IT
IS ADVANTAGEOUS BECAUSE OFTEN,
WHEN WE ARE JUST RELYING ON --
WE OUTSOURCE THESE THINGS AND
IT MAKES SENSE AND THEN
SOMETIMES IT IS HARD FOR US TO
KNOW, FOR A LACK OF A BETTER
WORD, KEEP TRACK OF WHAT IS
GOING ON AND I THINK IT IS
HELPFUL FOR US TO BE PLUGGED IN
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
PIECES TO IT. I DON'T THINK
THAT THE GROUPS ARE DOING THE
GREAT WORK THEY ARE BUT THEN
THERE IS A LEGAL COMPONENT.
THERE ARE OTHER COMPONENTS TO
IT AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL INCLUDING THE VICTIM
ADVOCATES THAT WE OURSELVES,
OUT OF THE CITY. HAVING A
PERSON MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO HELP
COORDINATE ALL OF THAT BECAUSE
AS A BIG CITY GOVERNMENT , WE
DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS
TRACKING ALL THE PIECES AND I
THINK LONG-TERM IS ADVANTAGEOUS
TOO AS WE LOOK AT FUTURE
INVESTMENTS IN THIS AREA. I
WOULD JUST PUT IN A PLUG FOR
THAT.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> GREAT.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE TO SAY? COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY?
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT POLICY
CONSIDERATION IS A PROPOSED NEW
AND ONGOING $4.2 MILLION
INVESTMENT FOR GUN VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION. HSD CAME TO THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE IN JULY AND JUST TO
GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF ADJUSTMENTS
IN THE THRIVING COMMUNITIES
PROGRAM, IN THAT PRESENTATION,
THEY NOTICED THAT GUN VIOLENCE
HAD LED TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH AND
HAS REQUIRED AN INVESTMENT
SHIFT. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS
THE REFERENCE STRATEGY BUT THIS
IS A NEW INVESTMENT STRATEGY
RELATED TO GUN VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION. I AM GOING TO
PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND FOR THIS INVESTMENT
FROM ANOTHER ONE IN HSD THAT IS
ONGOING. IF YOU WILL PERMIT ME
TO TALK FOR A COUPLE OF
MINUTES, I APPRECIATED. THANK
YOU.
>> HSD CURRENTLY HAS A PROGRAM
CALLED SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE THAT WAS FIRST
FUNDED IN 2020 AT THE SAME TIME
OF THE ORIGINAL RECKONING. IT
WAS FUNDED AT THE $4 MILLION
LEVEL AT THAT TIME AND IT
BECAME ONGOING IN 2023. IT IS A
BLACK AND BROWN LED PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS,
URBAN FAMILY, BOYS AND GIRLS
CLUB OF SOUTHEAST SEATTLE AND
THE YMCA. IT PARTNERS WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
RESPOND TO AND DE-ESCALATE
SHOOTING INCIDENTS. IT ALSO
PROVIDES SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES DIRECTLY IMPACTED
BY VIOLENCE. IT HAS THREE HUBS
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, IN
RAINIER VALLEY IN WEST SEATTLE.
THESE HUBS ARE NOT PHYSICAL
LOCATIONS. THEY ARE SORT OF
CONCEPTS FOR THE RECEIPTS OF
SERVICE REQUEST AND THE
DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICE THROUGH
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. AS IT
HAPPENS, THESE HUBS ENCOMPASS
THREE HIGH SCHOOLS. THESE
COMMUNITIES WERE SELECTED FOR
INVESTMENT UNDER THE SC SI.
BECAUSE THEY ARE COMMUNITIES IN
WHICH THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORIC
LEVEL OF DISINVESTMENT AND
THERE WAS A RECOGNITION IN 2020
THAT WE NEEDED TO DO BETTER,
THAT WE OWED THESE COMMUNITIES
MORE. HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT
THESE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE
THERE, IT JUST HAS TO DO WITH
THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. IT WAS
NOT AN ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM THAT
TARGETED SCHOOLS. WHEN WE SAY
COMMUNITY, AS IN THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE, IT
IMPLIES A NEIGHBORHOOD OR A
GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THIS IS
NEIGHBORHOOD BASED. SEEKS TO
REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN THOSE
THREE DISCRETE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
IT IS BASED ON A PUBLIC HEALTH
INFORMED FRAMEWORK CALLED THE
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION
OR CDI APPROACH. IT HAS BEEN
TESTED NATIONALLY, PERHAPS
INTERNATIONALLY. IT HAS BEEN
WIDELY USED IN OTHER CITIES
THAT ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS
RISING GUN VIOLENCE. IT USES
EVIDENCE INFORMED STRATEGIES TO
REDUCE VIOLENCE FOR COMMUNITY
CENTERED INITIATIVES. THERE IS
EVIDENCE THAT IT WORKS. A 2016
STUDY FOUND A 35 TO 60%
REDUCTION IN HOMICIDE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED FRAMEWORK
WAS PUT INTO PRACTICE. IT WORKS
BY CHANGING THE COMMUNITY
CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO
VIOLENCE AND THESE CONDITIONS
ARE DIFFERENT FOR EVERY
COMMUNITY. WHOEVER IS SEEKING
TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT AND
CHANGE PATTERNS OF GUN VIOLENCE
DOES NOT AFFECT WHAT THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND PUTS THE
MONEY THERE. OFTEN, THESE ARE
SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT, TUTORING, AFTERSCHOOL
ACTIVITIES, WHATEVER THE
COMMUNITY DECIDES.
>> THE NEW PROPOSED INVESTMENT
WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE
APPROACH BUT INSTEAD OF
ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO
IDENTIFY NEIGHBORHOODS, IT
WOULD ALLOCATE THEM TO IDENTIFY
SCHOOLS. IT WOULD TAKE THE EGOS
OF THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE AND WEAVE IT INTO A
NEW, MORE SURGICAL INVESTMENT
THAT IS SCHOOL-BASED AND IS
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO REACH
YOU BECAUSE THAT IS ONE PLACE
WHERE THE GUN VIOLENCE HAS BEEN
MOST CONCERNING OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> HSD WORKED WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE OFFICE
OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
EDUCATION -- PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, EXCUSE ME, TO
IDENTIFY 11 FOCUS SCHOOLS FOR
NEW INVESTMENT BASED ON IN
SCHOOL INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE
AND/OR INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE
AROUND SCHOOL CAMPUSES. THIS IS
THE EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY
THAT IS A CRITICAL POINT OF THE
CDI APPROACH. THE THEORY OF THE
INVESTMENT IN SCHOOLS IS THAT
THE EARLY INVESTMENTS WILL PAY
OFF IN THE FUTURE. RESEARCH HAS
SHOWN THAT FIREARM VIOLENCE IS
INTENSELY CONCENTRATED WITHIN
THE SMALL, IDENTIFIABLE SOCIAL
NETWORKS AND IT IS CONTAGIOUS
WITHIN THOSE NETWORKS.
SOMETIMES, THE NETWORK CAN BE A
SCHOOL. THE CLOSER THE VICTIM
IS, THE MORE LIKELY THAT PERSON
IS TO BE A VICTIM OF FIREARM
VIOLENCE THEMSELVES AND WITH
THIS INVESTMENT SEEKS TO DO IS
TO ENSURE THAT FEWER PEOPLE ARE
VICTIMS OF FIREARM VIOLENCE AND
WHEN WE REDUCE THAT VIOLENCE,
THERE WILL BE LESS VIOLENCE IN
THE FUTURE.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF
THE PROPOSED INTERVENTION AS
PART OF THIS PROPOSAL. THERE
FOUR ELEMENTS. AGAIN, 11
SCHOOLS, FOUR ELEMENTS. THE
ELEMENTS ARE SCHOOL-BASED,
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION
SPECIALISTS AND CASE MANAGERS,
EXPANSION OF THE SAFE PASSAGE
PROGRAMMING, CURRENTLY FUNDED
UNDER THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY
SAFETY INITIATIVE . I AM SORRY.
THE SCHOOL-BASED VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION SPECIALIST ,
NUMBER ONE. CASE MANAGERS,
NUMBER TWO. EXPANSION OF THE
SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAMMING,
NUMBER THREE. NUMBER FOUR,
FAMILY RESOURCE FUNDS FOR THOSE
RECEIVING CASE MANAGEMENT.
UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF THE
PROPOSAL, ON AVERAGE, EACH
SCHOOL COULD RECEIVE ABOUT
$375,000. THESE ARE THE THINGS
THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING
WITH THAT MONEY BUT THE
SPECIFIC PARAMETERS FOR THE
PROGRAM, FOR THE INVESTMENTS,
ARE STILL TAKING SHAPE. THE
AGENCY DOES NOT YET HAVE A
FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE NEW
FUNDING. THERE IS NO ALLOCATION
METHODOLOGY ACROSS FOUR
INVESTMENT AREAS, OR, THE
FINALIZED SET OF THE DATA IT
WILL COLLECT AND ANALYZE. BY
SAYING THIS, THIS IS NOT AN
INDICTMENT IN ANY WAY. THIS IS
A NEW PROPOSAL. SOMETIMES,
MONEY CAN BE RESERVED IN THE
BUDGET WITHOUT A SUPER CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF SPECIFICALLY
HOW IT WILL BE USED, WHO WILL
BENEFIT IT, HOW IT WILL BE
ALLOCATED BUT THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COUNCIL
TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROPOSED NEW
INVESTMENT AS IT BECOMES
AVAILABLE. SOME OF THOSE THAT
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, THE COUNCIL
COULD ADOPT A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT REQUESTING
THAT HSD PROVIDE AN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, FINANCIAL
PLAN AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FOR THE PROPOSED INVESTMENT.
THERE IS NOT A TIMEFRAME FOR
THIS INFORMATION TO BE
AVAILABLE BUT IT WILL BE
AVAILABLE. THE COUNCIL COULD
ADOPT A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT , REQUESTING
THAT HSD CLARIFY THE
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF THIS
INVESTMENT AND THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE IN
THE BASIS OF PROPOSED
INVESTMENT IN ANY CURRENTLY
FUNDED PROGRAM AREA. THERE IS
SOME OVERLAP BETWEEN WHAT IT
CURRENTLY FUNDS OR WHAT IS
PROPOSED TO BE FUNDED IN THE
NEW INVESTMENT. IN A BROAD
SENSE, THEY TARGET
NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROPOSE NEW
INVESTMENT, WOULD TARGET
SCHOOLS BUT THINK IT WOULD BE
REASONABLE FOR COUNCIL TO ASK
FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION JUST
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO
DOUBLE INVESTMENT IN ANY AREA.
THIS IS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS
IS FOR SCHOOLS, THIS IS HOW WE
KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE ONGOING.
THEORETICALLY, COUNCIL COULD
IMPOSE A PROVISO ON SOME OF THE
FUNDING UNTIL INFORMATION
REFERENCED ABOVE IS PROVIDED
ALTHOUGH HSD POINTS OUT THAT A
PROVISO MAY IMPEDE ITS ABILITY
TO GET THE WORK STARTED. THAT
IS A FAIR CONCERN ON THEIR
PART.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING US
THROUGH THAT AND I HAVE SPOKEN
WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ENSURING WHAT IS
GOING ON WITH THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SOME OF THIS
GUN VIOLENCE COULD BE -- I
SUPPORT THIS APPROACH. I WANT
TO DISCLOSE MY INTENT TO CREATE
A COMMUNITY SAFETY HUB ON THE
NORTH END WE HAVE DONE NORTH
END VIOLENCE ESCALATING WITH
THE SHOOTING AT INGRAM HIGH
SCHOOL AND THEN A LOT OF
ACTIVITY IN OTHER AREAS OF THE
NORTH. I AM HAVING CONVERSATION
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FROM
OUR CENTRAL STAFF TO INCLUDE AN
INVESTMENT TO START. THIS IS
NOT AN ACTUAL PLACE. IT IS IN
THE NORTH AND WHO CAN PROVIDE
THAT SERVICE AND CAN PARTNER
WITH THE CITY IN ENSURING WE
ARE ADDRESSING THE YOUTH ON THE
NORTH END. IN FULL
TRANSPARENCY, I WANTED TO SAY
THAT. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
ALL OF THE OPTIONS. I DO THINK
THAT A SLIDE REQUESTING MORE
INFORMATION, SINCE WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, IS
PRUDENT AND I WOULD SUPPORT
THAT, CHAIR MOORE.
>> YOU REFERENCED IN YOUR
REMARKS RESPONSE TO GUN
VIOLENCE. THIS POLICY IS
DESIGNED TO STOP IT BEFORE IT
STARTS. IT IS ABOUT
INTERVENTION, IDENTIFYING
STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED
TO GUN VIOLENCE OR WHO ARE
POTENTIALLY AT RISK OF GUN
VIOLENCE. SCS I IS MORE
RESPONSE BASED BUT THIS IS
ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH THE NEW
PROPOSAL KIND OF TAKES OFF FROM
THE SCS I AND IT GOES FURTHER.
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT EARLY
INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IN
CREATING MORE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS
IN SCHOOLS SO THIS IS NOT A
PLACE WHERE GUN VIOLENCE
HAPPENS.
>> EXACTLY. IT IS PREVENTION
AND WE KNOW THAT HELPS WHEN YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUTH GUN
VIOLENCE. I MEANT RESPONSE IN
TERMS OF THIS PARTICULAR
EXPANSION.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I
WAS BEING CLEAR.
>> THESE THREE HUBS HAVE BEEN
HERE SINCE 2020. THIS MOST
RECENT EXPANSION, I BELIEVE, IN
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND FOLKS
WORKING, WE HAVE SEEN AN
INCREASE SO WE NEED MORE
INVESTMENT. I DID NOT MEAN TO
SAY THIS WAS ONLY IN RESPONSE
TO BUT IT IS THE APPROACH TO BE
PREVENTION AND THAT IS WHAT WE
NEED ON THE NORTH END.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS WHAT
WE NEED, THIS TYPE OF
PREVENTION FOR THE YOUTH THERE
AS WELL. WE NEED MORE OF IT AND
WE KNOW IT WORKS AS YOU SO
APTLY POINTED OUT IN YOUR
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
THEN NELSON.
>> THANK YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU DOING A DEEP
DIVE BECAUSE I WILL ADMIT, WHEN
I FIRST READ THIS, IT SOUNDED
LIKE THE PROPOSAL WAS TO SHIFT
FROM NEIGHBORHOODS TO
SCHOOL-BASED AND I THINK WHAT
YOU ARE SAYING IS THAT IS NOT
THE CASE.
>> THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THERE
IS NO REDUCTION CONTEMPLATED TO
THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE. THERE ARE
CONCENTRATED SERVICES.
>> THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW. THE
SERVICE PROVIDERS MAY BE A
DIFFERENT SET OF THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS THAN WE ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING WITH. OR, THERE COULD
BE OVERLAP. THAT PROCESS
HASN'T BEEN IDENTIFIED.
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT IS STILL BEING WORKED OUT.
PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN IN HSD AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEY
ARE AWARE THAT WORKING WITH
STUDENTS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM
TAKING A BROAD COMMUNITY SAFETY
APPROACH. I THINK WE CAN ASSUME
THAT THE INVESTMENTS WILL BE
MADE IN ORGANIZATION AND WITH
INDIVIDUAL STAFF WHO HAS
EXPERIENCE DOING SCHOOL-BASED
WORK BUT, AGAIN, LET'S MAKE
SURE THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND WHAT
IS FUNDED.
>> I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE
IDEA BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH
THERE YET. IT IS HARD TO KNOW
WHAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO FUND
BUT I AM INTERESTED IN MAKING
SURE THAT IT IS CLEAR, WHETHER
THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN WHO
PROVIDES INTERVENTION SERVICES
IN THE CSI PROGRAM AS IT EXISTS
NOW , AND, BECAUSE IT IS
IMPORTANT NOT TO DELAY FUNDS TO
THE EXISTING PROGRAM. AS WE ALL
KNOW, DOUG GUN VIOLENCE, THERE
CONTINUES TO BE ISSUES IN THE
THREE HUBS THAT ARE PART OF
WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY. THERE WAS
JUST A SHOOTING AT GARFIELD
LAST WEEK AND, IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT THE EXISTING CONTRACT
DON'T GET DELAYED AS WE ARE
FIGURING OUT WHAT THIS NEW
PROCESS WILL BE. THEN, I AM
JUST GOING TO ASK MY QUESTION
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS YET.
I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW, BOTH
-- IF WE HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHO
THE SERVICE PROVIDERS MIGHT BE
END IF THEY GET CHOSEN. I'M
ASSUMING AN RFT PROCESS BUT WE
DON'T KNOW. THERE ARE 11
SCHOOLS IDENTIFIED. I WOULD BE
INTERESTED TO KNOW, YOU SAID
ABOUT $375,000 PER SCHOOL .
WITH HOW MUCH CERTAINTY DO WE
KNOW THAT EACH SCHOOL WILL GET
AN ALLOCATION? I GUESS THE
BOTTOM LINE IS, WELL, I WON'T
SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL BUT
THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD BE
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF AND I FEEL
LIKE WE NEED A LOT MORE
INFORMATION BEFORE WE CAN MAKE
A DECISION ABOUT IT.
>> HSD HAS COMMITTED TO EACH
ONE OF THE IDENTIFIED SCHOOLS
WOULD RECEIVE SOME INVESTMENT
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL. AS FOR THE
OTHER PARAMETERS AND PROCESS
THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR, MY
SENSE IS THAT IT IS STILL
TAKING SHAPE . I DO KNOW THAT
PEOPLE IN THE OTHER BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING REALLY
HARD ON THIS. WE WILL ASK SOME
QUESTIONS AND FIND OUT WHAT IS
AVAILABLE NOW AND OF THE
INFORMATION THAT IS NOT
AVAILABLE NOW, WHEN WILL IT BE
AVAILABLE?
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU
ALREADY SPOKE, RIGHT?
>> I DID BUT I HAVE ANOTHER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, DID YOU
RAISE YOUR HAND IN RESPONSE TO
THIS? GREAT. I WILL CALL ON
U.S. CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
OVERSEEING THIS DEPARTMENT.
WERE YOU TRYING TO ADD TO THIS
CONVERSATION?
>> I ASSUME, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
YOU HAVE A NEW LINE OF
QUESTIONING?
>> YES.
>> GREAT. SORRY. I AM
DISCOMBOBULATED HERE. TO THE
POINT ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO BE
PROVIDING THE SERVICES AND
BECAUSE THIS IS SCHOOL-BASED
VERSUS NEIGHBORHOOD BASED, I
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING A
PRIVIES OH THAT REQUIRES THAT
PROVIDERS BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SCHOOL-BASED EXPERIENCE I WOULD
LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
WHAT SAFE PASSAGES PROGRAMS ARE
AND ESTABLISHING A FAMILY
RESOURCE FUND. WE DO NEED A LOT
MORE INFORMATION BUT, CLEARLY,
A PROVISO ABOUT THE LEVEL OF
EXPERTISE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
WILL BE PROVIDING THOSE
INTERVENTIONS.
>> THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM
THEY PLAN TO MAKE THE PATHS TO
AND FROM SCHOOL THAT YOUTH
TRAVEL EVERY SCHOOL DAY. STAFF
AND ADULTS ARE WILLING TO
INTERVENE IF THERE IS A FIGHT,
IF THEY GET WORD THAT THERE
MIGHT BE A FIGHT AFTER SCHOOL?
SAFE PASSAGES PROGRAMS WORK ON
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MODELS AND
THEY HAVE ALSO TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT THAT THE FRAMEWORK THAT
IS -- IT MAKES SENSE TO STOP
INCIDENTS OF MINOR VIOLENCE, A
FIGHT, AN ARGUMENT BEFORE IT
TURNS INTO A SITUATION WHERE
PEOPLE GO GET GUNS. THE SAFE
PASSAGE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
AROUND THOSE THREE SCHOOLS. IT
IS UNDER THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY
SAFETY INITIATIVE. THE SCS I,
MAKING THE COMMUNITY SAFER
INCLUDES AREAS AROUND THE
SCHOOLS TO PUT INTO THE SAFE
PASSAGE PROGRAM. UNDER THIS
PROPOSAL, THE SAFE PASSAGE
PROGRAMS COULD EXPAND UP TO THE
ADDITIONAL EIGHT SCHOOLS THAT
ARE ON THE LIST. IN TERMS OF
THE FAMILY RESOURCE FUND, THE
CONCEPT HERE IS THAT THESE ARE
FUNDS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO A
SCHOOL. I NEED TO GET MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AND
FORCE STUDENTS WHO ARE
RECEIVING CASE MANAGEMENT IN
ANY ONE OF THE 11 SCHOOLS, THEY
WILL BE RECEIVING CASE
MANAGEMENT EITHER BECAUSE THEY
HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF GUN
VIOLENCE OR HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED OF BEING AT RISK OF
BECOMING VICTIMS OF GUN
VIOLENCE, THEY, AND THEIR
FAMILY COULD HAVE ACCESS TO
THAT FUND FOR BASIC NEEDS. FOR
INSTANCE, SOMEBODY WANTS TO GO
OUT FOR FOOTBALL AND DOESN'T
HAVE ANY FOR AFRICA QUITMAN.
FOR AN ACTIVITY, IN AND OF
ITSELF COULD DETER SOMEBODY
FROM VIOLENCE, RATHER THAN
POTENTIALLY SETTING THE
INDIVIDUAL UP TO TRY TO OBTAIN
THE ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT BY
ILLEGAL MEANS. LET'S JUST GIVE
PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED IN THE
MOMENT SO THAT THEY CAN DO THE
THINGS THEY WANT AND NOT HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT CONSTRAINTS OR
VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS VERY HELPFUL, THAT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I ALSO
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THAT
WILL OVERLAP WITH PROVIDING THE
SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELING IN THE CASE
MANAGEMENT. IS THAT ALL GOING
TO WORK TOGETHER?
>> I HAVE SOME INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS. MY COMPUTER HAS
JUST BLOCKED .
>> WHILE YOU ARE DOING THAT,
I'M GOING TO ADD TO THE
EXAMPLE THAT YOU JUST PROVIDED
ABOUT FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT,
WHETHER OR NOT HOW THE YOUTH
HAS, PLAYING AN AFTER SCHOOL
SPORTS GIVES THEM SOMETHING
VERY IMPORTANT TO DO THAT IS
STRUCTURED. IT IS JUST -- AS
YOU ARE PULLING UP YOUR
COMPUTER, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE
YOU THAT MOMENT OF TIME. BACK
TO YOU, ANN.
>> REGARDING THE STUDENT MENTAL
HEALTH INVESTMENT, THE
INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE TEAM
REPORTED IN JUNE AND IDENTIFIED
PRIORITY INVESTMENT AREAS FOR
THAT FUNDING. THEY ARE
IMPROVING AWARENESS IN ACCESS,
EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH'S
TRAINING AND EXPANDING
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THAT
ADDRESSED THE NATURE DEFICIT,
IMPLEMENTING SCREENING AND
REFERRAL IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND
EXPANDING ACCESS TO THERAPY.
THESE ARE CLINICALLY PROVEN
INVESTMENTS TO MAKE IN TERMS OF
GENERATING MENTAL HEALTH
OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH BUT THIS
INVESTMENT IS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE
AND PROVIDE GUN VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION. THERE IS CLEARLY
A LINK BETWEEN INCREASED GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS AND
STUDENTS POOR MENTAL HEALTH
OUTCOMES. IT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE TO HAVE ONE APPEAL FOR
TWO DIFFERENT CONDITIONS. THIS
IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE
INVESTMENT FROM THE STUDENT
MENTAL HEALTH.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF THERE WILL BE
SOME COORDINATION WITHIN THE
SCHOOL? I AM ASSUMING THEY ARE
WORKING WITH THE CASE MANAGER.
>> WE WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH HSD.
>> THANK YOU. BACK TO YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU. JUST FOLLOWING UP
ON THAT, IS THIS FUNDING COMING
FROM THE 20 MILLION MENTAL
HEALTH MONEY FOR STUDENT MENTAL
HEALTH THAT THE JUMPSTART
FUNDED? THEN I HAVE OTHER
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
>> THAT IS NOT MY UNDERSTANDING
BUT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS
DEFINITIVE YET.
>> LIKE I SAID, I HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS THAT ARE
NOT VERY COHERENTLY ORDERED BUT
IT DOES SOUND LIKE WE DO NEED A
LOT MORE INFORMATION. MY FIRST
ONE IS, DO WE KNOW WHEN WE
COULD BE GETTING MORE
INFORMATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ABOUT THIS? I UNDERSTAND THAT
THEY DON'T WANT A PROVISO
BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE
HAMPERED AND WHEN THEY CAN
START THE WORK
>> IN MY EARLY CONVERSATIONS,
THERE WAS NOT A SENSE THAT THEY
COULD PROVIDE DELIVERABLE DATES
YET. THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE
JUST LAST WEEK. WE WILL NEED TO
LAND ON A POTENTIAL DATE RANGE.
>> I AM ASKING BECAUSE I WANT
MORE INFORMATION. I DON'T KNOW
WHAT FORM THAT SHOULD COME IN.
WE WILL BE SPENDING $4.2 IT MAY
ORGANIZATION ON SCHOOLS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE REALLY ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTH IN THE
SCHOOLS AND THEN NEIGHBORHOODS
THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTINCTION DOES
NOT MAKE THAT MUCH SENSE TO ME
BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT
ARE THE ACTUAL PROGRAMS THAT
ARE BEING OFFERED. I HAVE ASKED
THAT ABOUT THE EXISTING
PROGRAM, THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE FOR YEARS. EVERY
TIME THERE IS ANOTHER SHOOTING,
I AM WONDERING WHAT KIND OF
RELATIONSHIP THERE IS BETWEEN
THE BODY OF WORK WE ARE FUNDING
ALREADY AND THE VIOLENCE
REDUCTION GOALS THAT WE HAVE. I
WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
BETTER. SIMPLY FUNDING THE SAME
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE SAME
WORK WITH DOUBLE THE MONEY, I
THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALSO
CONSIDER DIVERSIFYING OUR
FUNDING BECAUSE PREVENTION WAS
ALREADY NOTED AND IS ONE OF MY
BUDGET PRIORITIES. WHEN WE ARE
TALKING VIOLENCE PREVENTION,
HERE YOU'VE GOT THE LAST
REMAINING TEAM OF THE LEAGUE I
USED TO HAVE TEAMS IN RAINIER
BEACH AND THAT WAS WEST
SEATTLE. THIS IS VIOLENCE
PREVENTION. IT IS SELF-ESTEEM.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WITH ALL OF THE EXISTING
COMMUNITY SAFETY ADVANTAGES. IT
SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE WILL BE
TRYING TO DO IN THIS NEW
INITIATIVE IS VIOLENCE
PREVENTION . I HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY
COULD USE SUPPORT ON THE GYM
FEES, THE LEAGUE FEES, THE
FIELD FEES, THE YOUTH CAMP
FEES. WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT
FORWARD IN THE AMOUNT THEY HAVE
MOST RECENTLY GIVEN, 43,000 BUT
I WILL NEED TO DIG INTO THAT A
LITTLE BIT MORE AND I HAVE
HEARD OTHER PEOPLE SUGGEST THEY
MIGHT BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS
WELL. AND SPEAKING OF
PROGRAMMING ITSELF, AFTERSCHOOL
PROGRAMMING IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. I WOULD LIKE SOME
FOLLOW UP ABOUT WHAT THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE FOR
PROGRAMMING AFTER SCHOOLS OR TO
ENGAGE IN THEIR CURRICULUM FOR
THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
CURRICULUM. WHAT KIND OF
PROGRAM IS BEING PROVIDED AND
ARE THERE OTHER IDEAS FOR OTHER
PROGRAMMING THAT COULD FIT INTO
THE SPIRIT OF THIS $4.2 MILLION
EXPENDITURE.
>> WE WILL FOLLOW-UP. WE WILL
TRY TO GET THAT INFORMATION.
ONE THING THAT I WANT TO ADD,
ONE DISTINCTION ABOUT THIS
INVESTMENT AS COMPARED TO THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE IS THAT THE VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS AND
THE CASE MANAGEMENT THAT IS
PROPOSED WOULD BE IN THE
SCHOOL. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE INTERACTING WITH THE
STUDENTS AS THEY GO ABOUT THAT
DAY. GAINING TRUST, THE
ORGANIZATION THAT CURRENTLY
PARTICIPATE IN THE SCS I, THEY
ARE NOT EMBEDDED IN THE
INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS IN THE SAME
WAY.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THE
INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THIS POST
INVESTMENT . THERE IS A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF
EVERYTHING BEING BASED AT THESE
11 SCHOOLS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. THAT DOES MAKE
SENSE. I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I
LEARNED SOMETHING AT A RECENT
PANTHERS GAME WHEN I WAS
TALKING TO A COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS STAFFER AND I ASKED
HIM, TELL ME SOMETHING YOU
THINK I DON'T UNDERSTAND
ALREADY ABOUT YOUTH VIOLENCE
AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN SCHOOLS
AND HE SAID, WHAT CAN APPEAR TO
BE AS TROUBLEMAKING BEHAVIOR IS
OFTEN TIMES -- KIDS ARE SHOWING
UP AT SCHOOL HUNGRY. THAT WAS
NEWS. IT WAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF
UNDERSTANDING HOW STUDENTS SHOW
UP AT SCHOOL WITH DIFFERENT
NEEDS NOT BEING MET. AND, ONE
LAST THING FOR FOLLOW-UP. OVER
THE SUMMER OR SPRING, HSD DID
NOTE THAT THEY ARE ISSUING
PORTIONS OF A PROGRAM. I DON'T
THINK WE HAVE THE CHANGE FOR
THAT OR, DO YOU KNOW THE
TIMELINE FOR LETTING THOSE?
>> I DO NOT. I KNOW THAT A
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR VARIOUS
COMMUNITY SAFETY PROJECTS WILL
OPEN LATER THIS YEAR. I DON'T
BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY IS SPECIFICALLY
PART OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE BUT, IN ANY CASE, I
WILL CLARIFY THAT AND GET SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TIMELINE
FOR A CONTRACTING PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN REGARDS TO A QUESTION OR
COMMENT YOU HAD MADE EARLIER,
THIS 4.25 MILLION, IT COMBINES
15 MILLION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
AND DISADVANTAGES IN THE EDGE,
COMBINING NOT QUITE THE $20
MILLION DEFICIT AROUND THE
MENTAL HEALTH.
>> THE COUNCILS INITIATIVE IN
THE 2023 BUDGET DELIBERATION.
>> TWO DAYS AGO, THAT FUNDING
BE ULTIMATELY PUT TOWARD
FAMILIES WITH THE RENEWAL.
ANYWAY, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, THEN .
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT
WILL BE DOING THAT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL TO KNOW. THANK YOU FOR
SHARING THAT. I -- +12 COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PIECE. AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE KNOW THESE PROGRAMS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY WORK AND IT IS
HELPFUL TO HAVE THE INFORMATION
NOW AS WE ARE MAKING THESE
INVESTMENTS. IS IT WORKING HERE
? WE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT MAKING
THE INVESTMENT BUT IF IT IS NOT
ACTUALLY HAVING THE INTENDED
CONSEQUENCE, THEN I AM VERY
MUCH, LET'S FEEL GOOD THAT WE
ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, NOT
JUST PATTING OURSELVES ON THE
BACK. WE KNOW THAT THIS
INVESTMENT HAS BEEN GOING ON AT
THE CITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME
BUT THE SITUATION SEEMS TO BE
GETTING WORSE, NOT BETTER. I AM
NOT GOING TO ATTRIBUTE IT TO
THIS INVESTMENT. I UNDERSTAND
AND I SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF
THE INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE NEED
TO ADDRESS -- THERE IS MORE OF
A NEED AND THIS IS WHY THE
VIOLENCE IS INCREASING. I WANT
TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. I ALSO WANT
TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE
NOT TAKING ANYTHING FROM THE
SOUTH END TO HELP THE NORTH
END. IT IS ADDITIVE, NOT IN
LIEU OF. MY POINT, AND THOUGH I
REPRESENT A DISTRICT AS CHAIR
OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, I
CARE ABOUT KIDS ACROSS THE
CITY. THIS IS NOT TAKING
SOMETHING FROM ONE CHILD IN ONE
AREA OF THE CITY TO FUND A
DIFFERENT CHILD IN A DIFFERENT
AREA OF THE CITY. WE NEED TO
HELP ALL CHILDREN IN THE CITY.
I NEED TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR
FOR MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES . YOU ASKED THAT
QUESTION EARLIER, SO I WANTED
TO ADDRESS THAT. ON THE 4.5, I
THOUGHT WE ARE DOING THIS WORK
AT THE THREE SCHOOLS ALREADY
CURRENTLY AND MY UNDERSTANDING
WAS THAT WE ARE EXPANDING IT TO
INCLUDE THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS
IN THE CITY AND SOME OF THE
MIDDLE SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE KNOW
MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
PREVENTION. AS WE GO INTO THE
HIGH SCHOOL, IF YOU REALLY WANT
TO DO THOSE PREVENTION EFFORTS,
WE CAN REALLY FOCUS ON THE
MIDDLE SCHOOLS AS YOUR POINT OF
REALLY GETTING AT AVOIDING A
FUTURE ISSUE FOR THESE KIDS. MY
UNDERSTANDING FROM HSD, IS THAT
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND
FROM MY CONVERSATIONS, IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO
PREVENTION STARTING IN THE
MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND THAT IS WHY
THEY WERE ADDING THE MIDDLE
SCHOOLS. THE INTENT IS TO ADD
ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND
START ADDING THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS
AND CONTINUING TO ADD THE
MIDDLE SCHOOLS SO THAT ALL OF
THESE KIDS HAVE THE SERVICES
THEY NEED TO DO ROBUST
PREVENTION. IF YOU COULD
CONFIRM THAT, THAT WOULD BE
REALLY GREAT. I DON'T WANT TO
BE THINKING SOMETHING THAT
ISN'T BUT THAT WAS MY
UNDERSTANDING.
>> WITH RESPECT TO THE THREE
HIGH SCHOOLS IN RESPECT TO THE
SEATTLE SAFETY INITIATIVE
INVESTMENT AREAS, THEY ARE NOT
CURRENTLY RECEIVING THE SAME
LEVEL. THEY DON'T HAVE A
SCHOOL BASED CASE MANAGEMENT.
THAT COULD BE FUNDED. TWO
POINTS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, A
PART OF THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ADD
A SENIOR PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST TO
COORDINATE ALL WORK WITH THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL TO TRACK
OUR EXPENDITURES AND MAKE SURE
THAT THEY ARE BEING USED
CONSISTENTLY AND IN LINE WITH
ANY POLICY GUIDANCE. ALSO, ONE
AREA THAT HSD AND THE CITY
INNOVATIONS SUPPORT TEAM ARE
WORKING ON IS ENSURING THAT THE
SAME DIMENSIONS OF DATA WILL BE
TRACKED ACROSS ALL OF THESE 11
SCHOOLS AND THAT EVERYBODY HAS
THE SAME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
THE DATA MEANS. FOR INSTANCE,
IF THERE IS A SLIDING SCALE OF
1 TO 10, HOW EFFECTIVE IS
SOMETHING? EVERYBODY HAS TO
UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE PUT
SIX, THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN. THIS
IS A REAL COMMITMENT TO
ACCOUNTABILITY AND MEASURING
THE EFFECTIVENESS BAKED INTO
THIS PROGRAM, AS I UNDERSTAND
IT.
>> THAT IS GREAT. WOULD YOU
CONFIRM THOSE THREE SCHOOLS ARE
ALSO -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT THEY WERE. THIS IS NEWS TO
ME THAT THESE THREE ARE NOT
GETTING THE SAME LEVEL OF
SUPPORT WITH THE FUNDING.
>> I AM SO SORRY FOR ANY
MISUNDERSTANDING. THE 11
SCHOOLS ON THE LIST ARE ALL
ELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT IN THESE NEW AREAS
UNDER THE PROPOSAL.
>> COLLEAGUES, I AM GOING TO
ASK YOU TO TAKE THIS CONTINUOUS
CONVERSATION OFF-LINE. WE ARE
THREE HOURS INTO OUR MORNING
SESSION. WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH
ONE PRESENTATION AND TWO OF THE
EIGHT POLICY CONSIDERATIONS IN
THIS SECTION. WE THEN HAVE
ANOTHER PRESENTATION BEFORE OUR
1:00 P.M. LUNCH WHICH IS IN ONE
HOUR. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO POLICY
NUMBER THREE. I WILL ASK, I
WILL OFFER YOU THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MAKE STATEMENTS ONCE. YOU
CAN STILL ASK QUESTIONS AS MANY
TIMES AS YOU WANT BUT I WILL
JUST ASK THAT THEY ARE NOT
STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO
CONTINUOUS MOVING ALONG. I AM
REALLY GLAD THAT WE HAVE
FINALLY GOT INTO THE BUDGET
WHERE WE ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
BEEN BEHIND SCHEDULE. BACK TO
YOU, ANN.
>> THE NEXT POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED, I WILL STEP THROUGH
WITH HASTE IS THE PROPOSED
INCLUSION OF $1.9 MILLION IN
FUNDING FOR THE THIRD AVENUE
PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED
IN THE BUDGET AND THE THIRD
AVENUE PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED IN
FALL OF 2022 IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION
CALLED WE DELIVER CARE TO
ADDRESS AND IMPROVE PUBLIC
ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY ON
THIRD AVENUE AND THE ADJACENT
LOCKS. PRIOR TO THAT TIME --
CONDITIONS ON THIS BLOCKS WERE
IMPEDING PEOPLE FROM WALKING
THROUGH THEM, IMPEDING PEOPLE
FROM MAKING DOWNTOWN A BUSINESS
AREA A LESS PLEASANT PLACE TO
BE FOR MANY PEOPLE. THE THIRD
AVENUE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS THAT AND TO CONNECT
THOSE CONGREGATING IN THE AREA
WITH SERVICES AND IMMEDIATE
NEEDS AND WHAT EVER THEY MIGHT
NEED IN ORDER TO MOVE ON AND
START LIVING THEIR LIVES IN
SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WERE NOT
RAISING THOSE CONCERNS ON THIRD
AVENUE. WHAT WDC DOES IS THEY
ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH
PEOPLE WHO CONGREGATE IN THE
AREA AND THEY GET THEM WHAT
THEY NEED IN THE MOMENT,
CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES AND
ANOTHER ASPECT , THEY WILL STEP
IN AND REDUCE THE NEED FOR
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
NEED TO BE CALLED TO COME AND
ADDRESS SOMETHING.
>> WDC CAME TO THE HOUSING
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE IN
JUNE AND IDENTIFY THE CURRENT
YEAR BUDGET SHORTFALL OF
$603,000, SO WHEN WE SAW THAT
THE 2025 BUDGET INCLUDING
FUNDING AT THE SAME LEVEL , WE
REACHED OUT TO WDC TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ENDPOINT --
IMPACTS OF FUNDING AT THE $1.9
MILLION FUNDING LEVEL WOULD BE
ON THEY ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A
PROPOSAL TO TO HST FOR FULL
YEAR OPERATIONS IN 2025 , AT
ITS IDENTIFIED NEED LEVEL OF
$2.8 MILLION SO WHAT IS
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS A 32%
REDUCTION BASED ON WHAT WDC
BELIEVES IT NEEDS TO BE
EFFECTIVE AND IF THE PROJECT IS
FUNDED AT $1.9 MILLION, WDC
WILL NEED TO REDUCE STAFFING
AND WILL NEED TO REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF HOURS IT IS OUT THERE
. RIGHT NOW, HOURS OF OPERATION
FOR THE THIRD AVENUE PROJECT
ARE 6:00 IN THE MORNING TO 9:30
AT NIGHT. ANOTHER FUNCTION WDC
PERFORMS HIS NARCAN
ADMINISTRATION. ALL OF OUR
OUTREACH WORKERS ARE TRYING TO
NARCAN ADMINISTRATION AND THIS
YEAR TO DATE THEY HAVE DONE
THAT I BELIEVE 94 TIMES, SO IF
THERE IS A REDUCTION IN WDC
STAFF BEING AVAILABLE, THERE
MAY BE FEWER RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO ADMINISTER NARCAN
IN THE MOMENT. WDC BELIEVES
THAT ITS PROGRAM IS STILL ON
THE UPTAKE, STILL GAINING
ACCEPTANCE BY BUSINESS OWNERS
AND MANAGERS IN THE AREA .
EVERY MONTH, THEY ARE RECEIVING
MORE CALLS FROM BUSINESSES TO
THEIR PHONE LINE WHERE BUSINESS
OWNERS AND MANAGERS CAN REQUEST
HELP AT A PLACE WITH A SPECIFIC
INCIDENT , AND WDC IS CONCERNED
ABOUT POSSIBLE IMPACTS TO
PUBLIC ORDER, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
PUBLIC HEALTH OF THIS FUNDING
REDUCTION. OPTIONS FOR COUNSEL
INCLUDE INCREASING FUNDING FOR
THE 2025 CONTRACT BY AN AMOUNT
UP TO $900,000, WHICH IS THE
AMOUNT ORIGINALLY REQUESTED,
ADOPT A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT TO
REQUESTING THAT THE EXECUTIVE
INCLUDE SUCH FUNDING IN THE
MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL ORDINANCE
LAST YEAR, AND OR IN THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS TO
SUPPORT THIRD AVENUE PROJECT
OPERATIONS, OR ADOPT A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
REQUESTING THAT THE EXECUTIVE
DETAIL, THE REDUCTIONS IT
RECOMMENDS FOR MAINTENANCE OF
THE PROGRAM AT THE PROPOSED
FUNDING LEVEL INCLUDING
IMPACTS.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION
AND A STATEMENT THAT I WILL
PHRASE AS A QUESTION.
>> YOU ARE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THIS
DEPARTMENT. TAKE AS MUCH TIME
AS YOU NEED.
>> SO, MY QUESTION IS, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS
A FUNDING GAP OF 640,000. DO
YOU KNOW IF THAT REMAINS ON
ALLOTTED OR UNFILLED, I GUESS
IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY?
>> I LAST SPOKE WITH WDC
EXECUTIVE STAFF ABOUT TWO WEEKS
AGO AND AT THAT TIME , THE
FUNDING GAP REMAINS, AND THEY
WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
RUNNING OUT OF CASH FOR 2024
OPERATIONS. THE BUDGET SEASON
IS VERY BUSY. I HAVE NOT
CHECKED BACK IN. PERHAPS THE
PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN
THE MEANTIME. I WILL FOLLOW UP.
>> THANK YOU, AND JUST TO SAY ,
I THINK THAT WE DELIVER CARE
DOES EXCELLENT WORK. THEY
REALLY EARN THE MONEY. AND , WE
NEED TO FIND THAT 640,000 , AND
THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE,
THIS IS A BIPOC-RUN GROUP, IS
IT NOT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. IT IS THE
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT ARE BIPOC
AND MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE
OUTREACH WORKERS ARE, AS WELL,
AND THEY HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE
WITH HOMELESSNESS, ECONOMIC
INSTABILITY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO FORM THESE
CONNECTIONS WITH THE PEOPLE
THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO.
>> I THINK MANY OF THE MAJORITY
OF PEOPLE THEY ARE INTERACTING
WITH ON THE THIRD AVENUE
PROJECT ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR,
UNFORTUNATELY.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE
DEMOGRAPHICS IN FRONT OF ME BUT
YES. THAT IS THE CASE.
>> I JUST RAISE THAT BECAUSE TO
ME, THIS IS A GROUP WHERE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING DOLLARS
WOULD PERHAPS BE A REALLY GOOD
PLACE TO PUT SOME OF THOSE
DOLLARS. ANYWAY, JUST
EXPRESSING THAT, THEN I THINK I
HAVE EXPRESSED MY INTENT THAT
WE NEED TO FULLY FUND THIS
GROUP, SO THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANYONE ELSE?
COVERED IT WELL. LET'S MOVE ON
TO NUMBER FOUR.
>> ALL RIGHT. I THINK I GOT
AHEAD OF MYSELF THERE. ALL
RIGHT, POLICY CONSIDERATION
NUMBER FOUR IS REGARDING THE
REPURCHASING OF $1 MILLION
INTENDED FOR A NEW SAFE LOT . A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND HERE,
THE LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE RECEIVES -- AND WHEN
TO START WITH SOME BACKGROUND
AROUND TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
WHICH I PROMISES RELATED TO THE
SAFE LOT SO I WENT TO TAKE A
STEP BACK TO PROVIDE THE BIG
PICTURE OVERVIEW. THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE
RECEIVES ABOUT $12 MILLION
ANNUALLY IN ONGOING OPERATING
SUPPORT FOR ITS 11 TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, AND ONE
NON-CONGREGATE SHELTER. LEHIGH,
I BELIEVE STARTING IN 2023,
IDENTIFIED THAT THEY HAD
ESSENTIALLY A $2.5 MILLION
OPERATING GAP ABOVE AND BEYOND
THE $12 MILLION THAT THEY WERE
RECEIVING . THAT GAP WAS DUE TO
HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED
OPERATING COSTS ALONG WITH THE
NEED TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SERVICES FOR MANY OF ITS
RESIDENTS. THE 2024 ADOPTED
BUDGET -- SORRY, THE 2023
ADOPTED BUDGET PROVIDED $2.5
MILLION OF ONE-TIME FUNDING TO
FILL THAT OPERATING GAP. THE
2024 ADOPTED BUDGET PROVIDED
$500,000 OF ONGOING FUNDING TO
FILL THAT GAP ALONG WITH
$500,000 OF ONE-TIME FUNDING
AND THEN [ INAUDIBLE ] IT WAS
ABLE TO FILL THE OPERATING GAP
THROUGH RELATED MECHANISMS. THE
2025 AND 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET
-- THE 2025-26 BUDGET PROVIDES
ANOTHER $1 MILLION OF ONGOING
OPERATING FUNDING SPECIFICALLY
FOR LEHIGH TO CLOSE THAT GAP SO
THAT BRINGS IT UP TO 1.5
MILLION IN ONGOING FUNDING. THE
EXECUTIVE THEN ALSO DIRECTED
LEHIGH TO USE $1 MILLION FROM
ITS 2023 SAFE LOT AWARD TO
SUPPORT ITS EXISTING TH VISA
INSTEAD, BRINGING THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF ONGOING SUPPORT TO
FILL ITS TINY HOUSE VILLAGE GAP
TO 2.5 MILLION BUT AGAIN IN
ORDER TO DO THAT, THEY DIRECTED
LIHI TO TAKE $1 MILLION IT HAD
USED FOR SAFE LOTS AND USE IT
INSTEAD FOR TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES. LIHI RECEIVES THAT
SAFE LOT AWARD IN 2023. THE LOT
IS NOT YET OPERATIONAL. THERE
STILL WORKING ON IDENTIFYING A
SITE. THEY HAVE ESTIMATED THERE
IS STILL SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR
LIHI TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE A
LOT WITH ABOUT 30 SPOTS RATHER
THAN THE 60 THEY HAD ORIGINALLY
INTENDED. JUST ANOTHER
ADDITIONAL PIECE OF INFORMATION
IS THAT LIHI'S LEASE FOR THE
SALMON-BASED SAFE LOT FOR
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES WILL END
IN MAY 2025 AND LESS, THE
PROGRAM WILL CLOSE AT THAT
TIME. THAT WOULD FREE UP
ADDITIONAL OPERATING FUNDS
UNTIL OR IF LIHI FINDS ANOTHER
LOCATION FOR THE SALMON BAY
PROGRAM. THE OPTIONS HERE ARE
TO REALLOCATE A DIFFERENT
ONGOING SOURCE OF $1 MILLION
FOR LIHI'S TH PLEASE -- THV'S
.
>> WE WERE QUITE CLOSELY TO
GATHER ON THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SAFE STORAGE OF
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES OR
VEHICLES PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN
WHICH WAS INTENDED TO BE THE
STORAGE LOT THAT WAS NOT MAYBE
PHYSICALLY BUT DIRECTLY
CONNECTED TO A TINY HOME OR
VILLAGE, CONFIRMING THIS IS
DIFFERENT. THIS IS THE SECOND
SAFE LOT EXPANSION.
>> THIS IS DIFFERENT. THIS WAS
MONEY SPECIFICALLY TO SET UP
ANOTHER SAFE LOT.
>> GREAT. REPEATING BACK WHAT I
THINK I HEARD YOU SAY IS
BECAUSE THAT SECOND SAFE LOT IS
DELAYED IN OPENING, THESE ARE
DOLLARS SAVED THAT COULD BE
REPURPOSED. DID I HEAR THAT
CORRECTLY?
>> THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY
CORRECT. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING BUT THERE ARE SOME MAYBE
ONE TIME SAVINGS THAT WOULD
OCCUR BECAUSE THE FUNDING WAS
ALLOCATED IN 2023 OR 2024 THAT
IS NOT YET BEEN SPENT SO THERE
IS SOME MAYBE ONE TIME SAVINGS
THERE, BUT WHAT THE EXECUTIVE
IS PROPOSING IS TO TAKE THAT $1
MILLION OF OPERATING COST ON AN
ONGOING BASIS YEAR AFTER YEAR
AND USE IT INSTEAD TO FILL THE
OPERATING GAP AT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES SO THIS IS TAKING
THINGS ON A ONE-TIME BASIS AND
APPLYING IT TO RESOLVE THE
PROBLEM FOR ONE YEAR. THIS IS
TAKING IT ON AN ONGOING BASIS
AND ESSENTIALLY REDUCING THE
AMOUNT FOR SAFE LOTS BY $1
MILLION.
>> VERY HELPFUL CLARIFICATION
AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT IT
TOOK I THINK TWO YEARS TO FIND
THE LOCATION FOR [ INAUDIBLE ]
VILLAGE ON 15th. I KNOW THERE
WERE MANY SITES WE LOOKED AT.
WE HAD ATTEMPTED THAT PROVED
UNSUCCESSFUL. WITH THE LEASE
ENDING IN MAY OF 25, I STARTED
EARLIER THIS YEAR ALREADY
LOOKING FOR NEW LOCATIONS
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT TAKES TIME,
SO I HEAR YOU RAISING THE FLAG
OF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN MAY 2025, AND AM ALSO
JUST SHARING , THERE HAVE BEEN
PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT
THIS $1 MILLION IS NOT COMING
FROM THE SALMON BAY AWARD. THIS
IS FROM AN ADDITIONAL AWARD
THAT WAS MADE TO LIHI FROM A
DIFFERENT SAFE LOT SO THIS
WOULD NOT IMPACT SALMON BAY
FUNDING.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
>> YES, CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY
WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT KCRHA
SAYING THEY HAD THE MONEY TO
COVER THIS. IS THAT GOING
FORWARD?
>> IT IS MORE THAT ALL THE
MINING FOR -- MONEY FOR KCRHA
IS TRANSFERRED SO WHEN THERE
WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WOULD
BE THE IMPACTS, THAT IS TO
KCRHA TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
IMPACTS WOULD BE SO THAT'S THE
ONLY THING I'M ATTEMPTING TO
CONVEY HERE IS THAT THEY
COMMUNICATED THAT THEIR
ANALYSIS IS THAT LIHI WOULD
STILL HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING
TO DO A SAFE LOT WITH 30 UNITS
RATHER THAN 60.
>> AM DEFINITELY GOING FORWARD
THEY CAN -- THAT HAVE THE
CAPACITY?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO
NUMBER FIVE. WE CERTAINLY HAVE
BEEN MAKING GOOD TIME.
>> THESE ARE A DIFFERENT NATURE
SOME MAYBE THEY WILL MOVE A
LITTLE FASTER. THIS IS ANOTHER
POLICY CONSIDERATION THAT JUST
TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND AND KIND OF STEPPING
BACK IN HISTORY TO FULLY
UNDERSTAND. THIS IS REGARDING
THE END OF ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR
HOMELESSNESS SERVICE PROGRAMS.
BEGINNING IN 2020, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDED
5.1 MILLION AND ONE TIME
COVERED FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDING
FOR 16 DIFFERENT HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDED 11
SHELTERS, THREE-DAY CENTERS AND
ONE DIVERSION PROGRAM AND ONE
RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM. THAT
FUNDING HAS BEEN RENEWED EACH
YEAR SINCE 2020 ON A ONE-TIME
BASIS WITH A VARIETY OF FUNDING
SOURCES. IN 2024, HSD PROVIDED
2.5 MILLION IN KING COUNTY FOR
THE FIRST TIME CONTRIBUTED 2.7
MILLION BY A GRANT AND IF YOU
WANT TO SEE THE IMPACTED
PROGRAMS YOU CAN LOOK AT THE
ATTACHMENT WITH THE POLICY
CONSIDERATION MEMO TO SEE WHICH
PROGRAMS WE ARE DISCUSSING
HERE. IN THE 2025 PROPOSED
BUDGET, HSD WOULD NOT PROVIDE
ANY MORE ONE-TIME FUNDING WHILE
KING COUNTY'S ONE-TIME FUNDING
WOULD CONTINUE FOR ONE MORE
YEAR AT 2.7 MILLION. THIS WOULD
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ONE-TIME
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE 16
PROGRAMS BY JUST ABOUT HALF IN
2025. THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET,
HSD WOULD PROVIDE NO MORE
ONE-TIME FUNDING AND NEITHER
WOULD THE COUNTY, SO THIS WOULD
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ONE-TIME
FUNDS IN 2026 TO ZERO. NONE OF
THE SHELTERS WILL CLOSE IN 2025
AS A RESULT OF THE FUNDING BEEN
REDUCED BY HALF. HOWEVER, THE
DIVERSION PROGRAM WILL END, AND
FUNDING FOR DAY CENTERS WOULD
BE REDUCED BY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
EIGHT TO 61%. IN 2026, THE
IMPACT OF THE ONE-TIME FUNDING
ILLUMINATION IS UNCERTAIN, AND
WOULD REALLY DEPEND ON A NUMBER
OF FACTORS INCLUDING WHEN THE
KING COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY IMPLEMENTS A
SYSTEMWIDE REPROCUREMENT
PROCESS, THE AVAILABILITY OF
OTHER FUND SOURCES AND HOW THE
EXECUTIVE WOULD DECIDE TO
DISTRIBUTE AVAILABLE RESOURCES
AMONG PROGRAMS . AS A NOTE, HSD
IS CONTRIBUTING $6.8 MILLION OF
ONGOING FUNDING TO THE SHELTERS
IN ADDITION TO THE ONE-TIME
FUNDS. POTENTIAL OUTCOMES COULD
BE THE CONTINUATION OF SOME
SHELTERS WITH THE SAME NUMBER
OF AVAILABLE BEDS, SOME SHELTER
CLOSURES, SHELTERS MOVING FROM
AN ENHANCED MODEL TO A BASIC
MODEL, ESSENTIALLY A LOSS OF
SERVICES, LOSS OF SOME BEDSORE
HOTEL VOUCHERS, A CONVERSION OF
SHELTER TO A DAY CENTER OR
FEWER HOUSEHOLDS SERVED WITH
RAPID REHOUSING. HSD HAS STATED
THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH KCRHA IN 2025 TO
UNDERSTAND IMPACTS TO SERVICES
AND DETERMINE OPTIONS. ONE
POTENTIAL ONE-TIME OPTION WOULD
BE TO UTILIZE KCRHA UNDER
SPEND ANOTHER TO COVER 2026
EXPENSES AND THIS IS A STRATEGY
THAT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED BEFORE.
THE OPTIONS HERE ARE TO ADD
FUNDING TO REPLACE SOME OR ALL
OF THE ONE-TIME FUNDING ENDING
IN 2025 OR 2026, ADOPT A SLI
THAT PROVIDES UPDATES ON THE
ANTICIPATED SERVICE IMPACTS
RELATED TO LOSS OF ONE-TIME
FUNDING AND THE PLAN TO
MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, DID YOU
HAVE A STATEMENT AS CHAIR?
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE DIVERSION
PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE TO
ELIMINATED?
>> YES, A DIVERSION PROGRAM IS
A PROGRAM INTENDED ESSENTIALLY
TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT IS FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
HOUSING AND IT IS INTENDED TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES TO
IMMEDIATELY DIVERT THEM FROM
SHELTER, SO THEY LOSE THEIR
HOUSING. THEY'RE ABLE TO GET
SOMETHING QUICKLY SO THEY
CALMLY HOUSED AND NEVER HAVE TO
ENTER THE SHELTER SYSTEM AND
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING AS
SIMPLE AS A BUS TICKET OR TRAIN
TICKET TO GO STAY WITH A FAMILY
MEMBER, OR JUST HELPING THEM
OUT FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE
SECURITY DEPOSIT OR MOVING
EXPENSES SO THEY CAN RELOCATE.
>> SO YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE. IS
THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
ENCOMPASSED BY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE? I MEAN THAT IS A
BROADER DEFINITION OF THAT.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE
COULD LOOK INTO THAT. I DON'T
HAVE THE ANSWER IMMEDIATELY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. DO
YOU WANT TO TAKE BACK OVER OR
--
>> THANK YOU. I THINK IT IS
UNCLEAR TO ME, AND MAYBE TO OUR
VIEWING PUBLIC WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT HOMELESS SERVICES
IN GENERAL, WHAT IS THE CITY'S
RESPONSIBILITY, AND WHAT IS
KCRHA'S RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME
KIND OF HOUSING FOR BOTH. WE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT PERMANENT
SUPPORTING HOUSING WHICH WAS IN
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING SO HOW
MUCH ARE WE, IN 2025, GOING TO
BE -- WHAT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO
KCRHA IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW,
DO YOU KNOW?
>> I DO NOT HAVE THAT NUMBER
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT WAS
ABOUT $100 MILLION IN 2024.
HOLD ON ONE MOMENT.
>> 4 MILLION RINGS A BELL, BUT
I DON'T KNOW --
>> GIVE ME ONE MOMENT. HERE WE
GO. SO, IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE
2025 PROPOSED BUDGET IS $104
MILLION TO KCRHA SO THE CITY IS
PROVIDING KCRHA IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET, PROPOSED TO PROVIDE
THEM WITH $104 MILLION, WHICH
THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH KCRHA
TO ADMINISTER AND THEN KCRHA
ADMINISTERS THAT FUNDING ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY AND REALLY,
THAT MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
THEY SIGNED AS DETAILED IN SO
KCRHA IS NEGOTIATING WITH THE
CITY AND EXACTLY WHAT PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES THERE SUPPORTING
WITH CITY FUNDING.
>> THIS BODY OF MONEY AND WORK
IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM
THAT?
>> IT IS BECAUSE THIS 5.1
MILLION -- HALF OF IT IS NOW
COMING FROM THE COUNTY AND THE
OTHER HALF IS COMING FROM MONEY
THAT WAS CARRIED FORWARD
ADMINISTRATIVELY SO IT IS NOT
IN EITHER THE 2024 OR THE 2025
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THAT
REASON, SORT OF HAPPENING
OUTSIDE OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION, WHICH STILL, TO
ME, IT IS STILL A LITTLE BIT
MUDDY WHO IS PAYING FOR WHAT IN
TERMS OF JURISDICTION, BUT YOU
MENTIONED UNDER SPEND AND I DO
WANT TO NOTE THAT FOR THE PAST
TWO YEARS I'VE GONE THROUGH
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, IT SEEMS
AS THOUGH THERE IS A PANIC FROM
KCRHA SAYING THAT ONE-TIME
FUNDING IS GOING TO END AND SO
THEREFORE THE SHELTER CAPACITY
IS GOING TO END AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBERS STEP UP AND MAKE
A CBA TO FILL THAT GAP AND THEN
ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT MONEY HAS
BEEN FOUND BECAUSE THERE WAS AN
UNDER SPEND AND I REALLY THINK
THAT THE NEW CEO AND SOME OF
THE THINGS SHE HAS SAID ABOUT
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CONSOLE
FOR THAT THIS YEAR, THAT WE
WON'T BE AT THAT POINT AGAIN,
BUT IN THE MEETINGS THAT I AND
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE AND DEPUTY
MAYOR WASHINGTON HAVE BEEN AND
AS MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING
BOARD, I HAVE HEARD HER SAY
THAT ONE-TIME FUNDING WAS
ONE-TIME FUNDING AND PLEASE DO
NOT COME BACK TO US ASKING US
FOR THAT AGAIN BECAUSE THAT WAS
COVID ERA FUNDING. MY
UNDERSTANDING WAS, SO, JUST
WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT WHEN
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
CITY'S CONTRIBUTION, OR MAYBE
EVEN THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION
TO KCRHA.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. WHEN IT WAS
GIVEN, IT WAS COVID FEDERAL
REALLY FUNDING. IT WAS ONE-TIME
FUNDING. IT HAS BEEN USED
ULTIMATELY TO SUSTAIN
OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS
INCLUDING SHELTERS, SO THE
IMPACT OF LOSS OF FUNDING COULD
BE BUT I WANT TO SAY COULD BE
IS NOT A CERTAINTY.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SHELTER
UNITS, NOT STAFF MEMBERS THAT
ARE GETTING PEOPLE INTO THOSE
UNITS?
>> I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
IT IN SOME CASES JUST NO LONGER
BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE
SHELTER SO HAVING TO CLOSE IT
OR CONVERT A SHELTER TO A DAY
CENTER SODA STILL OFFERING
SERVICES BUT NO LONGER OFFERING
SHELTER BEDS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. CAN YOU
JUST CONFIRM, SO THIS TYPE OF
DIVERSION PROGRAM, IS THIS THE
ONLY ONE AT THE CITY, OR IS
THERE --
>> THERE'S AT LEAST ONE OTHER
DIVERSION PROGRAM AND I CAN GET
YOU INFORMATION ON THAT. IT IS
NOT THE ONLY ONE.
>> OKAY, SO PRESUMABLY SOME OF
THIS WORK COULD TRANSFER TO
THAT PROGRAM?
>> I THINK THERE HAVE JUST BEEN
PEOPLED WHO SERVE SO IF YOU
HAVE LESS MONEY YOU CONSERVE
LESS PEOPLE. YOU CAN'T
NECESSARILY JUST TRANSFER THOSE
FOLKS BECAUSE THERE MAY NOT BE
ENOUGH RESOURCES TO SERVE THEM.
>> EXCEPT FOR KCRHA WILL BE
DOING SOME OF THIS WORK FOR US.
>> 15 ONLY HAS THE MONEY THE
CITY GIVES THEM TO OPERATE
PROGRAM SO THERE ADMINISTERING
THE CITY'S FUNDING ON THE
CITY'S BEHALF FOR THESE
PROGRAMS. THERE IS NO EXTRA POT
OF MONEY THAT EXISTS KCRHA
OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE CITY IS
PROVIDING. THE COUNTY IS
PROVIDING FUNDING AS WELL,
RIGHT? SO I APPRECIATE THAT
POINT, BUT I THINK IT IS --
THESE ONE-TIME PROJECTS ARE AN
EXAMPLE FOR THE COUNTY DID COME
IN AND CONTRIBUTE IN ORDER TO
BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAMS
FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR.
>> BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING THIS
REGIONAL APPROACH, SO THAT
MAKES SENSE. SO, I DON'T THINK
I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY. IS
THERE A DIVERSION PROGRAM
SEPARATE FROM KCRHA?
>> KCRHA IS RECEIVING FUNDING
FROM THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
USING THAT TO CONTRACT WITH THE
PROVIDER. IN THIS CASE, AFRICA
TOWN, TO ADMINISTER THE
DIVERSION PROGRAM. KCRHA IS
ALSO CONTRACTING WITH ANOTHER
PROVIDER TO OFFER ANOTHER
DIVERSION PROGRAM , SO THEY
COULD HAVE MULTIPLE CONTRACTS
FOR DIVERSION PROGRAMS WITH
DIFFERENT PROVIDERS.
>> SO, THERE WILL BE SOME
DIVERSION PROGRAM CAPACITY.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE ENDING
THEM.
>> I WILL CONFIRM THAT TO BE
SURE BUT NOT THAT I'M AWARE
OF.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THANK
YOU AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT THERE IS SOME OF THE
FUNDING THAT FUNDED -- THERE
WERE TWO DAY CENTERS PER YOUTH
CARE, AND SO, WAS THAT WITH
ONE-TIME FUNDING, THOSE DAY
CENTERS? BECAUSE I KNOW U CARE,
DO THEY GET FUNDING OUTSIDE OF
THIS?
>> THEY DO. MOST OF THESE
PROGRAMS OF NOT ALL OF THEM ARE
SO -- ALSO ARE RECEIVING
ONE-TIME FUNDING FROM THE CITY
SO THOSE DAY CENTERS ARE ALSO
RECEIVING ONGOING FUNDING FROM
HSD.
>> THEY ARE, THE TWO THAT WERE
GETTING THE ONE TIME?
>> I WILL GO BACK IN AND TELL
IT TO YOU AFTERWARDS BUT I
THINK SO.
>> I HOPE SO. IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO KNOW REALLY WHAT IS
BEING LOST HERE, AND WHAT
THEY'RE GETTING. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
>> THERE IS ALMOST SO MUCH TO
TRY TO UNRAVEL AS WE ARE HAVING
THESE CONVERSATIONS. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT ON SHELTER AVAILABILITY
, AND I SEE YOUR LITTLE
FOOTNOTE THAT SAYS GO TO THE
OTHER REVIEW THAT YOU WROTE,
AND I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT
OF ME SO I'M GOING TO ASK MAY
BE A BROADER QUESTION ABOUT THE
NINE SHELTERS. HE SAID TWO WILL
BE CLOSED FOR REASONS UNRELATED
TO THE ONE-TIME FUNDING,
LEAVING NINE SHELTERS ON THE
LIST. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY BEDS
ARE HOW MUCH SPACE IS AVAILABLE
IN THOSE FACILITIES?
>> KCRHA HAD PROVIDED AN
ESTIMATE THAT INCLUDED THE TWO
THAT HAVE SINCE CLOSED. IF YOU
GO TO THE ATTACHMENT, THAT IS
MAYBE WHAT YOU HAD SAID -- GIVE
ME ONE MOMENT HERE. THEY SEEMED
WELL-ORGANIZED WHEN THEY
STARTED. ATTACHMENT A DOES
INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF ATTACHED
TO BEDS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF
THESE. I DID NOT TOTAL THEM AND
AM NOT ABLE TO QUICKLY DO THE
MATH IN MY HEAD BUT THAT
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN
ATTACHMENT A TO THE HSD POLICY
CONSIDERATION PAPER.
>> OKAY, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION
IS, IF THESE ARE THE NINE THAT
ARE GOING TO REDUCE -- FOR WHOM
WE ARE REDUCING SERVICES, DO WE
KNOW IF THE IMPACT WILL BE THAT
THEY WILL JUST NOT BE AVAILABLE
AT ALL ANYMORE, OR ARE THEY
GOING TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE
SERVICE?
>> FOR 2025, ALL OF THE
SHELTERS WILL BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN THEMSELVES AS IS. IN
2026 WE JUST DON'T KNOW AND I
THINK THAT IS BECAUSE KCRHA IS
STILL PLANNING TO DO A
SYSTEM-WIDE REPROCUREMENT. WE
DON'T KNOW THE TIMING ON THAT
BUT THAT COULD IMPACT YOU KNOW,
THAT COULD CHANGE FUNDING
LEVELS OR SERVICES FOR MANY
SHELTERS, NOT JUST THESE, SO
THAT IS ONE UNKNOWN. THERE
COULD BE OTHER FUNDERS THAT
STEP IN. HSD COULD DECIDE TO
WORK WITH KCRHA TO SAY WE WANT
TO ALLOCATE OUR EXISTING
RESOURCES IN SUCH A WAY AS WE
CAN MAINTAIN SOME OF THE
SHELTERS WHILE OTHERS CLOSE SO
WE REALLY DON'T YET KNOW WHAT
THE IMPACT WOULD BE FOR 2026.
>> OKAY. I THINK ONE IMPACT WE
COULD ANTICIPATE IS THAT PEOPLE
COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE NO PLACE
TO GO AND GIVEN THE CRISIS THAT
WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, IT IS
REALLY TROUBLING THAT THIS IS
ONE OF THE THINGS BEING
CONTEMPLATED, SO I WILL HAVE
MORE QUESTIONS AS WE START TO
TALK ABOUT THE WORK AND
AVAILABILITY OF REFERRALS WHEN
WE GET TO THE UNIFIED CARE
TEAM, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED
THAT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT REDUCE
SERVICES, SO.
>> I WILL ALSO ADD THAT THE
EXECUTIVE HAS COMMUNICATED TO
ME THAT THEY ARE ACTIVELY
WORKING ON THIS. THEY
A CLIFF COMING AS IT
HAS REALLY BEEN COMING EACH
YEAR THAT THEY CONTINUE TO
ACTIVELY WORK WITH KCRHA TO
UNDERSTAND OPTIONS SO I DO
THINK THAT THEY FELT LIKE THEY
HAD A PLAN FOR 2025 TO KEEP IT
OPEN AND THEY HAVE BOUGHT
THEMSELVES SOME TIME TO
CONTINUE TO WORK THE PROBLEM
AND FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS FOR
2026.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON POLICY
CONSIDERATION FIVE? HEARING
NONE , LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER
SIX.
>> RIGHT, SO THIS IS AROUND THE
PROPOSED REDUCTION AND FOOD
INVESTMENT PROGRAMS. THE
2025-26 PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD
REDUCE DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN
FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS BY ABOUT
1.4 MILLION. OF THAT AMOUNT,
ABOUT $1 MILLION IS DUE TO THE
REMOVAL OF ONE-TIME
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE 2024
ADOPTED BUDGET FOR MEAL
PROVIDERS IN FOOD BANKS, ABOUT
650,000 OF THAT WAS FOR FOOD
BANKS AND THE REMAINING AMOUNT
WAS FOR MEAL PROVIDERS. THE
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD ALSO
REDUCE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
FUNDING FOR ANOTHER FOOD
PROGRAM, THE CULTURALLY
NOURISHING FOOD PROGRAM AND
THAT REDUCTION WOULD BE
$350,000. THAT REDUCTION WOULD
START IN 2026 AND WOULD REDUCE
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING BY
ABOUT HALF. THEY HAVE STATED
THAT THEY ARE NOT YET SURE HOW
THEY WOULD DISTRIBUTE OR HANDLE
THIS REDUCTION OF 350,000. IT
COULD ELIMINATE SOME EXISTING
CONTRACTS. IT COULD REDUCE ALL
CONTRACTS BY A CERTAIN LEVEL,
OR ELIMINATE THE CULTURALLY
NOURISHING FOOD PROGRAM
ALTOGETHER AND REALLOCATE THE
FUNDS TO A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2024 IN
ITS FIRST YEAR. THERE ARE NO
PAST OUTCOMES TO LOOK TO, BUT
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE
PROVIDING ALMOST 30,000
CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE MALES,
AND DELIVERING 20,000
CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE GROCERY
BAGS TO SENIORS. THE PROPOSED
BUDGET ELIMINATES $80,000 OF SB
THREE FUNDS FOR PRODUCE BAGS
FOR IN-HOME FAMILY CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
FARM TO CHILDCARE PILOT. THIS
WOULD RESULT IN THE
DISCONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM,
WHICH SERVED 84 SITES LAST
YEAR. HSD HAS STATED THAT WHILE
THE PILOT PRODUCE BAG PROGRAM
IS A BEST PRACTICE, IT IS AN
ADDITIONAL VALUE ADD THAT
AUGMENTS EXISTING PROGRAMS. HSD
HAS OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE
PROVIDING FOOD IN CHILD CARE
SETTINGS. OPTIONS ARE TO ADD
FUNDING FOR SOME OR ALL OF THE
2024 ONE-TIME FOOD INVESTMENTS
OR TO RESTORE FUNDING IN 2026
FOR THE CULTURALLY NOURISHING
FOOD PROGRAM OR THE FARM TO
CHILDCARE PILOT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
MOORE, ANYTHING HERE? I THINK
WE WERE BOTH CAUGHT OFF GUARD
BY HOW QUICKLY WE WERE ABLE TO
GET THROUGH THAT ONE.
>> I ACTUALLY WANT TO DEFER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
BUT I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD
THAT I AM LOOKING AT RESTORING
ALL OF THE FOOD FUNDING CUTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOORE. COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I DON'T
HAVE ANY COMMENTS BUT WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR THAT.
>> AMEN. I WILL ADD MY NAME TO
THAT .
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
LANGUAGE USED IN THE MEMO FOR
THESE ITEMS IN THE REDUCTIONS
OF THE FOOD PROGRAM. REDUCES
CULTURALLY NOURISHED FOOD ,
REDUCES 80,000 AND SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX FUNDS. IS THAT
BECAUSE THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE
TAX FUND IS DECREASING ON ITS
OWN, OR IS THAT SBT FUNDING
THAT IS GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE?
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS A GOOD
QUESTION AND YES, OVERALL SBT
FUNDING HAS DECREASED. THESE
REDUCTIONS AND FUNDINGS ARE A
RESULT OF THAT.
>> THAT WAS THE POLICY GOAL OF
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX,
WHICH WAS TO REDUCE THE
CONSUMPTION OF SWEETENED
BEVERAGES AND OVER THE YEARS,
THAT FUNDING SOURCES GUN DOWN
PRESUMABLY BECAUSE IT IS
WORKING, OR PEOPLE ARE GOING
OUTSIDE OF TOWN AND GETTING
THERE CONCENTRATE AND USING IT
IN THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES BUT
MY POINT IS THAT WE NEED TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THIS IS A FUNDING SOURCE THAT
WILL BE DECREASING BECAUSE IT
IS PRESUMABLY HAVING THE
DESIRED EFFECT, AND SO EVERY
SINGLE YEAR WHEN WE ARE
APPROACHED WITH REDUCTIONS IN
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY , THERE IS
ALWAYS THIS PANIC ABOUT WHERE
IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME
FROM, SO FOLLOW UP WITH THE
EXECUTIVE IF THERE IS ANY
THINKING ABOUT GOING FORWARD,
HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THIS AND
IS THERE A RUN DOWN OF SOME OF
THESE PROGRAMS OR ANY THINKING
ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET
OUT OF THIS REDUCTION PANIC
CYCLE GOING FORWARD?
>> I AM LOOKING AT THE REVENUE
FORECAST RIGHT NOW FOR THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX. IT IS
ESSENTIALLY FLAT AND IT MAY BE
A QUESTION OF INCREASING COSTS
SUCH THAT IT HAS THE NET EFFECT
YOU'RE DESCRIBING BUT IT'S NOT
AS DRAMATIC DROP OFF SO I THINK
IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF A
SEPARATE FUND, A SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX FUND, SAME THING
AS THE AD FUND, SAME THING AS
THE JUMPSTART FUND. ALL OF
THESE GENERAL FUND-ADJACENT
FUNDING SOURCES MEANS THAT THE
PROGRAMS WE ARE FUNDING WITH
THE SPECIFIC MONEY, WE
OFTENTIMES DON'T HEAR ABOUT
THEM UNTIL BUDGET TIME BECAUSE
THEY DON'T COMPETE IN THE SAME
WAY AS OTHER GENERAL FUND
PROGRAMS DO, SO THAT IS ALSO
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
>> JUST A HIGH-LEVEL
OBSERVATION, AS WELL, THEY ARE
USUALLY SET UP TO PROTECT THEM
FROM THE BUDGET PROCESS
OTHERWISE SO THEY BECOME A
PRIORITY . SOMETHING HAS ITS
OWN DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.
IN MY EXPERIENCE THAT WORKS
WELL AS LONG AS REVENUES ARE
GROWING. AS SOON AS THEY START
GOING THE OTHER WAY, THE
CONVERSATION SHIFTS TO HELP
WITH THE GENERAL FUND HELP
SUBSIDIZE IT. THAT'S A
NATIONAL CONVERSATION BUT LEADS
ONE TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER
WALLING THINGS OFTEN THAT WAY
MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS YOU
MIGHT THINK IT WOULD INITIALLY.
THAT IS AN OBSERVATION.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THIS
GIVES US AS A COUNCIL AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THINK OF MORE
CREATIVE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN
STRETCH A DOLLAR A LOT FARTHER
FOR OUR FOOD PROGRAMS BECAUSE
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE
A DIP IN THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE
TAX REVENUE AND WE ARE GOING TO
SEE FOOD COST CONTINUE TO GO UP
AND A LOT OF THE CULTURALLY
CURATED FOODS AMONGST A LOT OF
CULTURES ARE RICE, BEANS,
GRAINS, FLOUR, PROTEIN, FRESH
VEGGIES AND SOME TYPE OF BULK
PURCHASING PROGRAM THAT OUR
CITY COULD BE ABLE TO HELP
CRAFT AND WORK WITH POTENTIALLY
A FOOD DISTRIBUTOR, NONPROFIT,
OR WHATEVER IT IS TO HELP
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN STRETCH
YOUR DOLLARS JUST A LITTLE BIT
MORE, COLLECTIVE BUYING PROGRAM
FOR A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE
DOING INDIVIDUAL PURCHASES AND
IF WE CAN STREAMLINE THAT AND
HELP IDENTIFY AN ORGANIZATION
THAT COULD DO THAT, WE COULD
STRETCH THESE DOLLARS A LOT
FURTHER THAN A LOT OF THE
PROGRAMS GOING OUT ,
INDIVIDUALLY PURCHASING A LOT
OF THE SAME GOODS. ANYWAYS, IT
GIVES US AN IDEA OF LIKE THIS
IS DIPPING, BUT WE CAN COME UP
WITH SOME CREATIVE IDEAS TO
SUSTAIN IT AND MAKE SURE THAT
THE DOLLAR STRETCHES BECAUSE
FOOD COSTS ARE ONLY GOING TO
CONTINUE TO GO UP SO ANYWAYS, I
WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT POINT
--
>> QUESTION OR STATEMENT?
>> IT WILL BE A QUESTION.
>> IS IT A QUESTION STATEMENT?
>> I COULD'VE SAID IT ALREADY
BY NOW. THAT KIND OF CREATIVE
THINKING AROUND BULK PURCHASING
IS ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT I WAS
TRYING TO GET OUT BEFORE, IS
HOW ARE WE DOING WITH FLAT OR
DECREASING FUNDS THAT ARE
SUPPOSED TO GO FOR THIS
PURPOSE, SO I ENDORSE WHAT
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS
SAYING. THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. WITH 21 MINUTES
LEFT AND AN ENTIRE OTHER
PRESENTATION BEFORE LUNCH,
LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER SEVEN.
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS AROUND
PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF FUNDING
FOR LEGAL SERVICES, SO THE
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD ELIMINATE
FUNDING AND HSD FOR TWO LEGAL
SERVICES PROGRAMS. THE FIRST
ONE ELIMINATE $50,000 OF
FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH
PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION,
ADVICE AND COUNSEL TO ADULTS
WHO HAVE RECEIVED AN ADVERSE
DECISION REGARDING BENEFITS.
HSD FUNDS ONLY 9% OF THIS
PROGRAM AND AN ESTIMATED 25
FEWER PEOPLE WOULD RECEIVE
SERVICES DUE TO FUNDING
ELIMINATION. THE BUDGET , THE
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD ALSO
ELIMINATE $124,000 OF FUNDING
FOR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR YOUTH AND
CHILDREN WHICH PROVIDES
HOMELESS YOUTH FREE LEGAL
ASSISTANCE. HSD FUNDS ABOUT
HALF OF THIS PROGRAM . IN 2023,
1500 HOURS OF ATTORNEY TIME WAS
USED TO SERVE YOUTH EXPERIENCE
IN HOMELESSNESS AND 60 YOUTH
HAVE PIECES CLOSED AS A RESULT.
OPTIONS HERE ARE TO RESTORE
FUNDING FOR SOLID GROUNDS
PUBLIC BENEFITS LEGAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND/OR LEGAL
COUNSEL FOR YOUTH.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WAS TOP OF MIND
FOR MANY EARLIER ON THE FIRST
DAY OF PRESENTATIONS. COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS HERE? I'M GOING TO
KEEP THIS MOVING.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE LAST ONE HERE
IS REGARDING REMOVAL OF
$100,000 AND A ONE-TIME
APPROPRIATION FOR THE UNITED
WAY OF KING COUNTY'S TAX
PREPARATION PROGRAM. THE
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD REMOVE
THIS 100,000 DOLLARS . LOOKING
AT THE HISTORY HERE IT LOOKS
LIKE THIS WAS AN ONGOING
FUNDING FOR UNITED WAY IN 2024
BUDGET. THE EXECUTIVE REMOVED
THE ONGOING FUNDING AND COUNSEL
ADDED IT BACK AS THE ONE-TIME
APPROPRIATION . THIS FUND IS
ABOUT 10% OF THE UNITED WAY
BUDGET, AND OTHER FUNDERS
INCLUDE DONORS AND THE IRS, AND
SERVE ABOUT 5000 HOUSEHOLDS A
YEAR. OPTIONS HERE ARE ADDED
FUNDING FOR THE UNITED WAY KING
COUNTY TAX PREPARATION SERVICES
IN THE 2025-26 BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
MOORE, ANYTHING HERE?
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK
ABOUT THIS IS DO YOU KNOW IF
THE TAX PREPARATION IS HELPFUL
TO THOSE LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS FOR CLAIMING THE
EARNED CHILD INCOME TAX?
>> YES. I THINK IF I REMEMBER
THE STATS CORRECTLY IT
GENERATED $1.4 MILLION IN
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW WHEN THIS CAME UP
PREVIOUSLY AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS WEEK, WHENEVER WE STARTED
THIS SECTION OF THE BUDGET, I
HAD MADE MENTION OF LOOKING
INTO ANOTHER WAY TO HELP SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM . I LOOKED INTO
IT. MY IDEA DOESN'T WORK. JUST
WANTED TO FLAG THAT BACK TO
EVERYONE. I HAVE DONE THE
RESEARCH. DOES NOT WORK.
>> ONE QUICK COMMENT. I AGREE
THIS IS A SEVERELY SMALL AMOUNT
OF MONEY FOR A REALLY IMPORTANT
SERVICE THAT UNITED WAY
PROVIDES . YOU KNOW, I DID
SPEAK TO THEM TO SEE WHAT KIND
OF IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE AND
WHAT IT ALLOWS THEM TO DO IS TO
PREPARE ABOUT 4800 TAX RETURNS
FOR 9800 SEATTLE RESIDENTS, AND
IT HELPS THEM CLAIM OVER $6
MILLION IN TAX REFUNDS, SO THAT
IS MONEY THAT WE GET BACK THAT
STARTS TO CIRCULATE IN THE
ECONOMY THAT AS YOU MENTIONED,
SUPPORTS LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS
INTERESTING IS THAT IF THESE
FAMILIES ARE GOING TO TURBOTAX
OR ONE OF THE OTHER TAX
PREPARATION SERVICES, THEY
DON'T CONNECT THEM TO THE
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT. SO,
THAT IS JUST SORT OF AN ADDED
BENEFIT OF SUPPORTING THIS
LOCAL TAX PREPARATION SERVICE,
IS THAT IT HELPS FAMILIES
CONNECT TO THAT ADDITIONAL
FAMILY SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE?
OTHERWISE, I'M GOING TO SEND
THIS TO RECESS NOW AND BRING US
BACK AT 1:45, NOT 2:00 P.M. AND
DO UNIFIED CARE TEAM . IF WE
COULD GET DONE BEFORE 12:45 WE
COULD DO THIS. WHERE 12:44. ANY
OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE, WE
WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:45
P.M. SHARP. THANK YOU.