>>> IT IS 2:00 P.M. I AM DAN
STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> PRESENT.
>> CAN YOU CALL COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH ONE MORE TIME?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> MOVING RIGHT IN, THIS IS OUR
FINAL PRESENTATION OF A
STANDARD APPROACH, WHICH IS
CENTRAL STAFF PROVIDING
PRESENTATIONS. TOMORROW WE WILL
MOVE INTO THE FORECAST COUNCIL
AND HAVE A JOINT SDOT MEETING
AND CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS.
WITH NO FURTHER ADO, PLEASE
READ THE FOURTH ITEM INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 4, CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED BY
TAMASO JOHNSON, DIRECTOR NOBLE?
TAKE IT AWAY. AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA IS PRESENT
>> TAMASO JOHNSON, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF TO DISCUSS POLICY
RELATED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE OR L.A.W. DEPARTMENT. DO
I NEED SOMETHING WITH THE
SLIDES?
AS I MENTIONED, I WILL PROVIDE
A BRIEF BUDGET SUMMARY FOR THE
LAW DEPARTMENT BEFORE MOVING
INTO SELECTED POLICY DECISIONS.
AS YOU CAN SEE THE OVERALL
BUDGET AS PROPOSED TO INCREASE
IN 2025 AND 2026. THE 2025
INCREASE WILL BE AN INCREASE OF
JUST UNDER $5 MILLION
REPRESENTING AN 11.7% INCREASE
AND A SUBSEQUENT 5.2% INCREASE
IN 2026. WITHOUT CHANGES TO
FTEs . POLICY CONSIDERATION
NUMBER ONE IS RELATED TO THE
PROPOSED REDUCTION AND
NON-AGGREGATION OF TWO
POSITIONS IN THE CIVIL DIVISION
OF THE L.A.W. DEPARTMENT.
CONTRACTS AND UTILITIES SECTION
OF THE DIVISION RESPECTIVELY.
THIS PROPOSED STAFFING
REDUCTION WOULD RESULT IN A
SAVINGS OF $434,000 IN 2025 .
AND $229,000 AND 2026. THE
STAFFING REDUCTION WOULD RESULT
IN SHORT-TERM SAVINGS TO THE
CITY GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT
I JUST DESCRIBED. THE L.A.W.
DEPARTMENT IS PROJECTING THE
REDUCTION IN THOSE POSITIONS
COULD RESULT IN INCREASED COST
TO THE CITY BY WAY OF THE FACT
THAT THE CASELOADS FOR THOSE
DIVISIONS WHICH PROVIDE LEGAL
ADVICE AND COUNCIL TO CITY
DEPARTMENTS IS NOT EXPECTED TO
GO DOWN AND IN THE EVENT THAT
IN SITUATIONS CURRENTLY WHERE
THE L.A.W. DEPARTMENT STAFFING
IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE
CASELOADS THAT THEY MANAGE, THE
CITY OBTAINS OUTSIDE COUNCIL AT
A COST THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE
EFFECTIVE RATE PAID TO L.A.W.
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SO THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS
ESTIMATED THAT THE SHORT-TERM
REDUCTION -- SHORT-TERM COST
SAVINGS FOR THESE -- EXCUSE ME.
ON FUNDING THESE POSITIONS MAY
ACTUALLY RESULT IN COSTS
RELATED TO OUTSIDE COUNCIL OF
UP TO $1.8 MILLION A YEAR. THAT
IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE AND ONE
THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, NOT AN
ESTIMATE CENTRAL STAFF HAS
DEVELOPED INTERNALLY. RELATED
OPTIONS TO THIS POLICY
CONSIDERATION ARE, A, TO FULLY
RESTORE CIVIL DIVISION STAFFING
TO LEVELS BY 2025 AND 2026
WHICH WOULD REQUIRE AN INCREASE
OF $434,000 IN 2025 AND
$450,000 IN 2026. OPTION B,
RESTORING FUNDING FOR ONE
POSITION BUT NOT BOTH. OPTION
C, NO CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED,
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT -- THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CRIMINAL
DIVISION, CLEARLY PUBLIC
SAFETY. IT PROVIDE THIS
INFORMATION AND LEGAL ADVICE ON
THE BILLS THAT WE WRITE. IT IS
NOT NECESSARILY PUBLIC SAFETY ,
BUT WE WILL JUST DO THIS TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, DO YOU
HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY NOW?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. IT IS
PROPER TO HIGHLIGHT THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIVIL
DIVISION AND CRIMINAL DIVISION,
BUT THE POINTS MR. JOHNSON --
THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, FOR
BEING HERE. I KNOW THIS TO BE
TRUE. THAT IF YOU GO TO OUTSIDE
COUNCIL, IT COSTS MORE AND ,
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE
FLEXIBLE FOR THIS IS SOMETHING
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. I LIKE
TO WORK WITH EVERYONE INVOLVED,
YOURSELF INCLUDED. IN TERMS OF
THE OPTIONS BUT, YES, THIS IS
DEFINITELY TRUE. PARTICULARLY
ALSO IT IS WORTH REMEMBERING
TOO THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE -- AND WE HAVE IT IN OUR
OWN LEGISLATIVE APARTMENT, IF
YOU WILL, POSITIONS AND PEOPLE
TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW,
DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE TOO,
SO THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WHERE
THE CITY ATTORNEY DOESN'T HAVE
THE KIND OF OVERSIGHT AND
CONTROL OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT
WORK IN THE L.A.W. DEPARTMENT
SO THESE ARE THINGS WE SHOULD
BE DOING THOUGHTFULLY AND EVERY
NOW AND AGAIN HAVING A REVIEW
AND SAYING, YES, THIS MAKES
SENSE STILL. THESE ARE THE
KINDS OF THINGS WE COULD LOOK
AT IN TERMS OF STAFFING
REDUCTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
REGARDING POLICY CONSIDERATION
NUMBER ONE ? COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S CRIMINAL
OR CIVIL, THESE CASES END UP IN
COURT AND WE GET -- YOU KNOW,
WE ARE EXPOSED AND WE GET SUED
AND THAT COSTS US MONEY . YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO NOTE WHEN WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT WE DON'T HAVE
THESE ATTORNEYS IN HOUSE, WE
MAY NEED TO RELY ON EXTERNAL
COUNCIL. THAT IS THE CASE BOTH
FOR ANY LAWSUIT REPRESENTING
THE CITY IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST
US AND UTILITY CASES CAN BE
VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT ALSO THERE
GO TWO PEOPLE, DEPARTMENTS AND
COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF CAN
CALL WHEN THINKING ABOUT POLICY
AND THAT IS ADVICE WE CAN'T
GET EVERY DAY. WE CAN'T JUST
CALL SOMEONE UP, OUR EXTERNAL
COUNSEL AND ASK A QUESTION SO A
SUPPORT LEVEL WILL BE LOWERED
IF WE LOSE THESE TWO POSITIONS
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
DEPARTMENTS -- DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS CITYWIDE ARE HIRING
INTERNAL COUNSEL, INCLUDING OUR
OWN, AND AT THE SAME TIME WE
RELY ON THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
SIDE TO DEFEND US IN COURT WHEN
SOMETHING GOES WRONG SO I AM
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS
REDUCTION. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. SO,
RECENTLY OVER THE SPRING AND
SUMMER, WE PASSED LEGISLATION
AS A COUNCIL THAT AMONG OTHER
THINGS -- WELL, TO ADDRESS
SPEED RACING IN THE CITY AND
AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT
PARTICULAR BILL, IT IMPOSES A
CIVIL VIOLATION OR PENALTY FOR
SPECTATORS. PEOPLE SPECTATING
CAN NOW GET A TICKET. IT WAS AN
INTENTIONAL POLICY CHOICE BY
THIS COUNCIL TO NOT MAKE THIS A
PUNISHABLE OFFENSE UNDER OUR
CRIMINAL CODE WHICH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS HAVE SPECIFICALLY
CHOSEN TO DO BUT INSTEAD IT IS
A CIVIL INFRACTION. REMAINS TO
BE SEEN HOW MUCH THAT IS BEING
ENFORCED. HOW MANY TICKETS SPD
HAS WRITTEN FOR THE SPECTATOR
PIECE. BUT I'M WONDERING IF --
BECAUSE THESE CIVIL DIVISION
ATTORNEY POSITIONS REPORTS TO
IMPACT EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRACTS
UTILITY SECTIONS OF THE CIVIL
DIVISION I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT
EXTENT IF AT ALL BASED ON THE
TITLE ALONE PROBABLY NO IMPACT
OR THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE LAWYERS
WOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENFORCING THE CIVIL INFRACTION
PIECE FOR SPECTATORS, BUT I'M
WONDERING ALOUD IF THAT'S JUST
ONE PROMINENT EXAMPLE RECENTLY,
COLLEAGUES, WHERE WE HAVE ADDED
NEW CIVIL INFRACTIONS TO OUR
CODE HERE. JUST WONDERING ALOUD
IF MAYBE WE NEED TO RESTORE
SOME OF THAT IN PART TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THAT, SO THE
ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF OUR NEW
CODE -- MAYBE IT IS NOT A FULL
TWO FTEs. HALF, OR ONE. BETTER
UNDERSTAND ENFORCEMENT BY SPD
WHICH WILL DRIVE AND INFORM THE
PROSECUTORIAL PEACE, BUT I
DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE
SLOTTED WITHIN THE CIVIL
DIVISION OR ANYWAYS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THAT IS
A GOOD QUESTION. I DO NOT
BELIEVE THESE POSITIONS WOULD
IMPACT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE
LAW YOU MENTIONED. AS YOU
STATED, THESE POSITIONS ARE IN
THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND
UTILITY DIVISION WHICH
EFFECTIVELY IS THE LEGAL
COUNSEL FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
SO THESE ROLES ARE CONCERNED
WITH PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE TO
DEPARTMENTS, CITY DEPARTMENTS
ON ISSUES RELATED TO LAW, LABOR
NEGOTIATIONS, MATTER OF
CONTRACTS, UTILITY PAYMENTS.
THESE DEDUCTIONS I DO NOT
BELIEVE WOULD IMPACT WHAT YOU
ARE DISCUSSING, HOWEVER THERE
ARE ADDITIONAL POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS LATER IN MY
PRESENTATION THAT DO GET TO THE
CONCERN YOU ARE EXPRESSING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
THEN COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
THESE PARTICULAR POSITIONS, SO,
BECAUSE I MENTIONED A COUPLE OF
TIMES ALREADY, WE DO SPEND A
LOT ON EMPLOYMENT ,
DISCRIMINATION SETTLEMENTS,
WHISTLEBLOWER SETTLEMENTS, USE
OF FORCE CASES. I'M WONDERING
IF THESE THE DEPARTMENT -- HOW
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WORKS WITH OCR, OLS , OPA WHEN
THESE CASES COME UP AND WHAT
THE PROACTIVE MEASURES ARE THAT
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS
TAKING TO TRY TO REDUCE THE
COST OF LAWSUITS FROM OUR OWN
EMPLOYEES. I AM ASSUMING THERE
IS WORK HAPPENING TO EDUCATE
OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ABOUT
THE PROACTIVE WORK THEY NEED TO
DO FOR DISCRIMINATION, ET
CETERA, SO COULD YOU TALK ABOUT
THE RELATIONSHIP THE DEPARTMENT
IS DOING?
>> YEAH. I CAN'T SPEAK TO
PROACTIVE WORK THE LAW
DEPARTMENT IS DOING. NOT TO SAY
THEY AREN'T DOING IT BUT THAT
IS NOT INFORMATION I HAVE. I AM
HAPPY TO INQUIRE MORE AND LET
YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT. I WILL SAY
SEVERAL OF THE MATTERS YOU
DISCUSSED WHEN THERE IS
LITIGATION, WHEN THERE IS THE
ANTICIPATION OF LITIGATION,
ATTORNEYS RELATED TO
EMPLOYMENT, CONTRACT UTILITY
ISSUES, THEY WILL WORK DIRECTLY
WITH THE DEPARTMENT IF
LITIGATION MATERIALIZES, THEY
WILL REPRESENT THE CITY'S
INTEREST IN THE LITIGATION
PROCESS, SO YES, THOSE ARE
FUNCTIONS ATTORNEYS IN THE
CIVIL DIVISION IN THESE
SECTIONS PERFORM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU. TAMASO, DO YOU
HAVE THE NUMBER OF CASES WE ARE
DEFENDING EVERY YEAR? I AM
TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF
WITHOUT THESE TWO, HOW MANY
CASES DO THESE TWO HAVE ON A
YEARLY BASIS? THAT DON'T HAVE
TO GET FARMED OUT TO OTHER
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY'S. AND
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T
WANT TO DIMINISH THE CAPACITY
ESPECIALLY ON THE CONTRACT SIDE
BECAUSE MOST OF THE DEPARTMENTS
UTILIZE CAO FOR THEIR EXPERTISE
AND WHEN THEY ARE CONTRACTING
OUT ALL OF THE GRANTING WORK
THAT THEY DO WHICH THE MAJORITY
OF THE WORK CITY DEPARTMENTS DO
OUR CONTRACTS WITH OUTSIDE
PARTIES FOR THOSE SERVICES THAT
WE -- THAT WE -- YOU KNOW, HAVE
OTHER EXTERNAL PARTNERS DUE ON
OUR BEHALF. WE DEFINITELY -- I
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DIMINISHING
CAPACITY ESPECIALLY ON THE
CONTRACT SIDE BECAUSE THERE ARE
SO MANY CONTRACTS WE DO ON A
YEARLY BASIS. EVERY DEPARTMENT
DOES ON A YEARLY BASIS.
>> YEAH, THE SPECIFIC NUMBER OF
CASES , THAT IS NOT A NUMBER I
HAVE BUT ONCE AGAIN, HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP AND TRY TO PROVIDE
YOU THAT INFORMATION. WHEN I
SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THIS
REDUCTION, THEY WERE -- THE
SPECIFIC NUMBER WASN'T
MENTIONED. THEY WERE FAIRLY
CLEAR THEY DID NOT ANTICIPATE
THE CURRENT WORKLOAD TO GO DOWN
IN THESE SECTIONS AND THAT IS
IN PART WHAT THE ESTIMATES FOR
COST OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL WAS
BASED UPON, BASED ON PAST
CASELOAD FOR THESE ATTORNEYS.
>> YEAH, AND ON THE CONTRACT
SIDE, CITY DEPARTMENTS RELY SO
HEAVILY, AS THEY SHOULD,
BECAUSE OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE
THE CONTRACT IS DONE
APPROPRIATELY AND WELL WHEN WE
ARE CONTRACTING THESE SERVICES
OUT TO EXTERNAL PARTNERS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT
MITIGATES FOR ISSUES ON THE
BACKEND IF DEPARTMENTS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE SENDING ALL OF
THEIR CONTRACTS TO CAO FOR
REVIEW BEFORE SIGNING ANY
CONTRACT. BEFORE ANY DIRECTOR
SIGNED ANY CONTRACT WITH AN
OUTSIDE PARTY. WE DEFINITELY
DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH THAT
CAPACITY AT CAO. THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? TAMASO, SEEING NONE
AT THIS TIME, ARE THESE
POSITIONS FILLED OR UNFILLED AT
THE MOMENT?
>> I BELIEVE AT LEAST ONE OF
THE POSITIONS IS UNFILLED. BEN?
>> WE WILL GO THROUGH THIS LINE
BY LINE.
>> TWO UNFILLED POSITIONS ON
THE CIVIL SIDE. I DON'T THINK
-- I THINK THERE ARE AT LEAST
TWO UNFILLED POSITIONS ON THE
CIVIL SIDE, SO THIS -- THEY
WEREN'T OTHERWISE FACING A
LAYOFF.
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T KNOW
THAT EITHER OFFHAND.
>> NOTING THIS IS
FEW DEPAARE
SEPARATELY ELECTED OFFICIALS
WHICH TAKES A DIFFERENT.
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT IS
ANOTHER. LET'S DRILL DOWN ON
THAT BECAUSE, TAMASO, YOUR
POINT ABOUT OUTSIDE COUNSEL
BEING MORE EXPENSIVE IS A POINT
WELL TAKEN. GENERALLY WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS A
WHOLE, THEY ARE ONE OF THE
HARDEST WORKING DEPARTMENTS
WE'VE GOT IN OUR CITY RIGHT
NOW. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE
THAT. SEEING AS WE HAVE NO
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THIS, ANYTHING ELSE,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> CHAIR, TO THE LAST POINT YOU
MADE, THERE WERE REDUCTIONS IN
2023 WHICH REQUIRE THEM TO HOLD
VACANCIES OF CIVIL POSITIONS
AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT BLED
INTO 2024? BASICALLY PROBABLY A
POSITION UNFILLED AND THEREFORE
THE WORK IS NOT BEING DONE.
THAT MAY HAVE SPARKED A MEMORY.
>> YOU HAVE DONE EXACTLY THAT.
I DO RECALL NOW THAT THEY'VE
GOT MULTIPLE UNFUNDED, UNFILLED
POSITIONS. AGAIN, IT'S MORE
ABOUT RESTORING FUNDING FOR
POSITIONS. WE WILL CONFIRM.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO POLICY
CONSIDERATION NUMBER TWO.
TAMASO?
>> POLICY CONSIDERATION NUMBER
TWO HAS TO DO WITH A PROPOSED
REDUCTION IN THE CRIMINAL
DIVISION, AS OPPOSED TO THE
CIVIL DIVISION WHICH I
DISCUSSED EARLIER. THE CRIMINAL
DIVISION IS THE WORK PEOPLE
TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATE WITH
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
THE PROSECUTION OF CRIMINAL
CASES. THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL
FUND ONE PROSECUTOR IN THE
SPECIALTY COURT UNIT OF THE
CRIMINAL DIVISION. THIS
PROPOSED STAFFING REDUCTION
WOULD SAVE $182,000 IN 2025,
AND $192,000 IN 2026. STAFF
REDUCTIONS IN THE CRIMINAL
DIVISION MAY HAVE THE IMPACT OF
REDUCING TIMELY RESPONSE TO
CRIMINAL REFERRALS AND THE
URGENCY FOR PAST TERMINAL
JUSTICE LEGISLATION
PARTICULARLY TO THE EXTENT IT
MAY INVOLVE POTENTIAL DIVERSION
OPPORTUNITIES WHICH IS THE
PRIMARY PURVIEW OF THE
SPECIALTY COURT AT SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT. THE IDENTIFIED
OPTIONS ARE TO, A, RESTORE
FUNDING TO THIS POSITION, OR B,
NO CHANGE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY GOES TO A
BIGGER PICTURE QUESTION THAT WE
HAVE, AND THAT IS THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. I AM DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
HERE IN SEATTLE AND AT THE
COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL. I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT OLYMPIA
MAY OR MAY NOT DO AND WE HAVE
TO HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONING
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SO --
OTHERWISE THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN
DOING OVER THE COURSE OF THIS
YEAR WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ONE
STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK
KIND OF SITUATION. IF WE WORK
TO ADDRESS THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY, WORK
THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK PLAN AND
SO FORTH, IT IS LIKE THE KING
COUNTY JAIL. I HAD A COMMUNITY
MEETING A WEEK AGO AND SOME
OFFICERS WERE THERE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN THE
KING COUNTY JAIL AGREEMENT
MAKES FOR THEM. IT IS MASSIVE.
AND ONCE YOU TAKE THE NEXT STEP
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
AND THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT, WE NEED TO HAVE A FULLY
FUNCTIONING CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. WITH THAT SAID,
DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS
POSITION. IN TERMS OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY -- I MEAN THE
PROSECUTOR POSITION. AND, BY
THE WAY, THIS IS NOT ONE WAY.
IN FACT, I HAVE A MEMO FROM THE
CITY ATTORNEY TALKING ABOUT HOW
THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT IN
TERMS OF DRUG ALTERNATIVE COURT
BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE IN TERMS
OF DIVERSION AND SOME OF THE
OTHER OPTIONS TO DEAL WITH
OTHER THAN INCARCERATION, THIS
IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, BUT
AS ALWAYS, IF WE NEED TO GO
THAT STEP, THAT STEP NEEDS TO
BE TAKEN AND THAT STEP CANNOT
BE TAKEN IF THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT ARE NOT FULLY
FUNCTIONING. YOU KNOW, IT IS
NOT IN HERE BUT THE MARSHALS AT
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT, THAT
IS ANOTHER INTEREST TO ME AND
THE COMMUNITY AS WE LOOK IN '25
AT THE VIABILITY AND HEALTH OF
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
CHAIR, THAT IS A LONG WAY OF
SAYING I AM SUPPORTIVE THE
CRIMINAL DIVISION IS UP AND UP.
>> WELL SAID. COLLEAGUES,
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THE
IMPACT ON DIVERSION SERVICES IN
THE COURT MIGHT BE IF WE MAKE
THIS REDUCTION?
>> WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT IS
THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT CASES
ARE DIVERTED THROUGH ONE OF THE
SPECIALTY COURTS RATHER THAN
RUNNING THROUGH THE MAINSTREAM
COURT PROSECUTION SYSTEM,
REDUCTIONS IN STAFFING TO THAT
DIVISION MAY CREATE SOME DELAYS
IN TERMS OF THE CASES SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF THE LEVELS OF
CASELOAD REMAINING ATTORNEYS
WILL HAVE TO ASSUME. ONE THING
I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER
AS WELL IN THE MEMO, THOUGH NOT
ON THIS SLIDE, MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THE SPECIALTY COURT AND
PROSECUTORS IN ADDITION TO
PROSECUTING CASES AND WORKING
WITH CASES IN SPECIALTY COURTS
ALSO HAVE JOB DUTIES THAT
INVOLVE WORKING ON NONCRIMINAL
INFRACTIONS, FINES, SO TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S POINT, TO
THE EXTENT RECENTLY PASSED LAWS
OR EXISTING LAWS LEVY
POTENTIALLY CIVIL INFRACTION
FINDS THAT ARE NOT GRANTS, THAT
IS ALSO PART OF THE WORKLOAD OF
THIS DIVISION AND REDUCTIONS TO
THE AVAILABLE WORKLOAD OR
STAFFING IN THAT DIVISION MAY
ALSO IMPACT THE EFFECTIVE
ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE FINDS.
-- FINES.
>> IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME IF THE
FLOATING PROSECUTOR POSITION
MENTIONED IN THE NEXT ISSUE
WOULD COVER THE SPECIALTY
COURT. WAS THAT THE INTENTION?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I CAN
TALK ABOUT THAT MORE ON THE
NEXT SLIDE BUT MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT WOULD BE A POSITION
THAT COULD ASSUME PROSECUTORIAL
WORK AS NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE
CRIMINAL DIVISION, NOT
NECESSARILY A DEDICATED
POSITION BUT COULD POTENTIALLY
CONTRIBUTE TO THAT WORKLOAD.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON POLICY
CONSIDERATION NUMBER TWO?
>> HOW MANY SPECIAL PROSECUTORS
ARE THE -- THERE IN THIS UNIT?
>> IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF HALF
A DOZEN BUT DON'T QUOTE ME ON
THAT EXACT NUMBER.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SEEING WE HAVE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
REGARDING POLICY CONSIDERATION
NUMBER TWO, WE WILL MOVE TO
NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS FOUR
PAGES LONG IN THIS PRESENTATION
SO WE WILL GO THROUGH THE WHOLE
THING AND COME BACK TO THE
START IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS. WITH THAT, MR.
JOHNSON, OVER TO YOU.
>> POLICY CONSIDERATION NUMBER
THREE IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
POLICIES ENACTED OR IN PROCESS
THIS YEAR WHICH INCLUDES, YOU
KNOW, SEVERAL PIECES OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE LEGISLATION
THIS COUNCIL HAS PASSED.
S.O.D.A., ILLEGAL RACING
ORDINANCE MENTIONED EARLIER.
THIS POLICY CONSIDERATION
EXPLORES THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS
OF EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THOSE POLICY CHOICES IN 2025
AND 2026. AND THAT IS SORT OF
THE DELTA OR THE ABSENCE OF
ADDITIONAL FUNDING,
SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT
IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CURRENT
BUDGET. I WILL SAY THAT A GREAT
DEAL OF THAT LIKELY HAS TO DO
WITH THE UNKNOWNS RELATED TO
IMPLEMENTATION AND SO RATHER
THAN PROACTIVELY BUDGET FOR
COSTS WE MAY NOT HAVE A CLEAR
UNTIME, THERE IS THE POSSIBILIT
OF COMING BACK WHICH HAPPENS IN
CASES WITH MIDYEAR OR
SUPPLEMENTAL S IN THE ONGOING
YEARS AS THE COSTS BECOME
BETTER KNOWN. JUST WITH THAT
CAVEAT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
YOU HAD THE INFORMATION THAT WE
HAVE NOW AHEAD OF YOU AS WE ARE
GOING INTO THE BUDGET FOR 2025
AND 2026 . L.A.W. STATED
REDUCTIONS TO PROSECUTORS AS I
SAID BEFORE MAY IMPACT TIMELY
RESPONSE TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFERRALS AND REDUCE THE
ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT RECENTLY
PASSED LEGISLATION TO THE
EXTENT DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES
AND ALSO THE WORKLOAD OF THE
PROSECUTORS IN GENERAL WHICH IS
DEPENDENT ON THE RATE OF
REFERRALS FROM SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT. POLICY
CONSIDERATION THREE A RELATES
TO STAFFING IN THE CRIMINAL
DIVISION. GENERALLY SPEAKING AS
I SAID BEFORE LEGISLATION
CREATING NEW CRIMES AND
EXPANDING PROSECUTORIAL
AUTHORITY IS LIKELY TO INCREASE
REFERRALS TO THE CRIMINAL
DIVISION FROM SPD WITHOUT
ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT MAY
RESULT IN INCREASED CASELOADS.
THIS MAY CREATE DELAYS AND
PROSECUTION OR REDUCED
RESOURCES FOR OTHER TYPES OF
CASES HANDLED BY THE DIVISION.
IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER
REDUCTIONS ALREADY IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET, L.A.W. STATED
THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER FT IN
2025 , THAT COMBINED WITH THE
RESTORATION OF THE SPECIALTY
COURT PROSECUTOR WOULD IMPROVE
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES RELATED TO
POLICY CHANGES. I WILL MOVE ON
TO B. ADDITIONALLY, CENTRAL
STAFF WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
FOR THE COUNCIL AN ISSUE THAT
IS ALSO RELATED TO
IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSED
CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES IN
2025 AND 2026. THOUGH THIS IS
NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE L.A.W.
DEPARTMENT AND TOUCHES ON THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT ,
BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A
PRESENTATION SPECIFICALLY ON
ISSUE CONSIDERATIONS OR THE
COURT THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HIGHLIGHT THE ANTICIPATED
COSTS. THE COURT HAS STATED
IMPLEMENTATION OF BOTH THE
SCORE JAIL AGREEMENT AND
EXPANDED THE JAIL CAPACITY AT
KING COUNTY MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL
COSTS NOT INCLUDED CURRENTLY IN
THE 2025 - 2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET. THE COURT HAS
ELIMINATOR HE BUT SOMEWHAT
DETAILED COST ESTIMATES RELATED
TO S.C.O.R.E. JAIL
IMPLEMENTATION BASED ON TWO
POTENTIAL SCENARIOS. SCENARIO
ONE WOULD INVOLVE TRANSPORT OF
DEFENDANTS FROM S.C.O.R.E.
SOUTH COUNTY CORRECTIONAL
ENTITY TO THE COURT FOR
HEARINGS OF THE COURT. THAT IS
ESTIMATED TO COST POTENTIALLY
$196,000 IN 2025 AND $520,000
IN 2026 ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE
2026 IS EXPECTED TO BE ONGOING
THROUGHOUT THE CONTRACT WITH
S.C.O.R.E. THIS WOULD PRIMARILY
BE ADDITIONAL STAFFING COSTS
RELATED TO THE TRANSPORT AND
CARE OF DEFENDANTS FROM
S.C.O.R.E. HEARINGS. COST
ESTIMATE TWO RELATES TO THE
CREATION OF A NEW JUDICIAL
DEPARTMENT. I SHOULD BE CLEAR
THAT ONE AND TWO ARE POTENTIAL
OPTIONS THAT EXIST INDEPENDENT
OF EACH OTHER. IF INSTEAD OF
TRANSPORTING DEFENDANTS FROM
S.C.O.R.E. TO SMC, SMC WANTED
TO CREATE A NEW JUDICIAL
DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT VIRTUAL
HEARINGS WITH IN CUSTODY
DEFENDANTS AT S.C.O.R.E. THAT
WOULD CREATE ADDITIONAL COSTS
FOR THE ESTIMATE IS $584,000 IN
2025 AND APPROXIMATELY $1.7
MILLION IN 2026, ALSO ONGOING
THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE
CONTRACT WITH S.C.O.R.E.. THE
BULL COULD BE ADDITIONAL STAFF
COSTS AND OTHER MEASURES TO
HANDLE VIRTUAL HEARINGS WITH IN
CUSTODY DEFENDANTS. I WILL NOTE
THE COURT HAS HIGHLIGHTED THIS
OPTION WOULD ALSO REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZING
LEGISLATION TO CREATE THE NEW
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT AND CURRENT
LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH SMC STAFF
WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE
RENEGOTIATED AS WELL, SO THAT
IS A MORE LOGISTICALLY
INTENSIVE OPTION. SO, THE
OPTIONS HERE ARE TO POTENTIALLY
INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SMC
IN THE 2025 -2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET, OR OPTION B, TO NOT
ANTICIPATE THESE COSTS IN THE
2025, 2026 BUDGET AT THIS STAGE
BUT TO ADDRESS THE COSTS WHEN
THEY ARE MORE FULLY REALIZED
AND WE HAVE BETTER INFORMATION
TO PREDICT THE REALITY OF THE
COSTS IN A FUTURE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET REQUEST.
>> THANK YOU, TAMASO.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY LOVE
THIS. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF
QUESTIONS AND ISSUES THAT NEED
TO BE RAISED AND UNDER
CONSIDERATION. FIRST THING I
WILL SAY IS IT LINES UP WITH
WHAT WILL BE A THEME OF THE
2025, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE HERE.
YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO
ENSURE THE PIECES ARE WORKING
WITH THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN
MADE. S.C.O.R.E. JAIL , FOR
EXAMPLE, A LOT OF WORK BEING
DONE. IT IS VERY COMPLEX. I
MENTIONED THE MARSHALS EARLIER.
YOU ARE HIGHLIGHTING THESE
THINGS. WHERE WE ARE NOW, I AM
NOT EXACTLY SURE. IT MIGHT BE
THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE BUT
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE LOOKING
AT THIS PROCESS IN TERMS OF,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE DOING
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT -- WE HAVE
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS AND FOR
THOSE ASKING ABOUT IT, WE WILL
COME THROUGH COMMITTEE AND WORK
THAT ONE. AGAIN, THE SHIFT TO
'25. 2025. THIS IS AN AREA WE
NEED TO BE LOOKING BOTH WITH
THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND SMC. I
SHOULD SAY TOO THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE
DIVERSION PIECE. I TALKED ABOUT
THE DRUG ALTERNATIVE COURT
PEACE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT BUT OVERALL THE
DIVERSION PIECE AS WELL. I HAVE
BEEN TO THE LEAD POLICY
COORDINATING GROUP MEETING ON
LOITERING. WHAT THEY DO IS SO
IMPORTANT. THOSE THAT SHOULD BE
DIVERTED INTO, YOU KNOW, TO GET
A BETTER OUTCOME AND TO GET
THEM INTO SERVICES BUT ALSO AS
IT RELATES TO THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, ALLOW THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO
ADJUDICATE THOSE, YOU KNOW,
THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THAT
RESPECT AND THOSE WHO DON'T
JUST HAVE THE ADDICTION PIECE
IN THIS CASE. I THINK, YOU
KNOW, WORKING THROUGH THIS
PROCESS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT
AND I ANTICIPATE WORKING WITH
THE EXECUTIVE ON THE S.C.O.R.E.
JAIL IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW IT
IMPACTS BOTH LAW AND SMC AND --
BUT ALSO NOTED IN THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S MEMOS, OR IN YOUR
MEMO HERE IN TERMS OF S.O.D.A.
AND STREET RACING, ALL OF THE
ABOVE. AND JUST THE IDEA THAT
WE NEED TO HAVE THIS FULLY
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM WHERE WE ARE WORKING THE
PROCESSES BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT
THEY ARE ENGAGED IN TERMS OF
ACCOMPLISHING A SAFE BASE IN
THE CITY WHICH, THEN GOES TO
THE ISSUE OF A PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT OR LAWLESSNESS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS UP AND THE WAY YOU DID.
COLLEAGUES, I THINK WE SHOULD
WORK THROUGH -- I WOULD
RECOMMEND WORKING WITH CENTRAL
STAFF BUDGET DIRECTOR AND THE
EXECUTIVE ON THIS. SOME OF THIS
MAY BE A LITTLE BIT EARLY, BUT
I THINK HAVING THIS DISCUSSION
NOW, MAYBE WE CAN ACT ON A
PIECE OR TWO. HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION I WILL SET US UP
POSITIVELY FOR MIDYEAR OR END
OF YEAR NEXT YEAR. OR WHEN WE
GO TO THE SECOND HALF.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WAS LARGELY
OUR INTENT. RAISING AWARENESS.
THE EXECUTIVE ARE CERTAINLY
AWARE OF IT. IT COULD BE
ADDRESSED WITH SUPPLEMENTAL OR
IF SOMETHING SOONER, THAT COULD
ALSO BE A POSSIBILITY.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS DETAILED
PRESENTATION. I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS. ONE IS ON
S.C.O.R.E.. WHEN WE PASSED
S.C.O.R.E., KING COUNTY JAIL
WAS NOT LETTING US UTILIZE THE
JAIL BEDS WE WERE PAYING FOR,
SO IT FORCED US TO FIND A
DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE.
SUBSEQUENTLY I KNOW KING COUNTY
JAIL HAS SAID THEY CAN
ACCOMMODATE BEDS AND I'M NOT
CLEAR HOW MUCH WE WILL NEED TO
UTILIZE S.C.O.R.E. I BELIEVE
THERE IS STILL A NEED TO
UTILIZE S.C.O.R.E., BUT I'M
NOT SURE TO WHAT EXTENT, SO
THAT IS MY FIRST QUESTION. MY
SECOND QUESTION IS RELATED TO
LET ME ASK IT WHILE I'M AT IT.
I'M NOT CLEAR WHY WE WOULD
NEED A NEW JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT I THINK IS
JUST -- WE NEEDED SOME BED
SPACE CAPACITY AND, YOU KNOW,
WENT TO S.C.O.R.E. TO DO THAT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULD NEED
A WHOLE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT TO
MANAGE THE FEW BEDS WE WOULD BE
UTILIZING AT S.C.O.R.E., SO
MORE INFORMATION ON THAT WOULD
BE HELPFUL BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
I MUST BE MISSING SOMETHING.
>> I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH
THE COURT TO GET MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NECESSITY
OF THAT OPTION. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS, YOU KNOW,
THESE WERE TWO POTENTIAL
OPTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED. I
THINK THERE ARE PHYSICAL AND
OTHER REASONS WHY OPTION ONE
MAY BE MORE PREFERABLE, BUT WE
MAY STILL BE IN TOO EARLY OF AN
IMPLEMENTATION STAGE WITH
S.C.O.R.E. JAIL CONTRACT TO
MAKE DEFINITIVE STATEMENTS
ABOUT THAT. I'M HAPPY TO GET
MORE INFORMATION FROM THE COURT
AND I WOULD DEFER TO THE
EXECUTIVE IN TERMS OF THE
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE
S.C.O.R.E. JAIL AGREEMENT AND
THE MORE RECENT AGREEMENT IN
TERMS OF WHAT THAT WILL LOOK
LIKE IN TERMS OF SPACE
UTILIZATION FOR BOTH
FACILITIES.
>> CHAIR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? YOUR
RESPONSE?
>> ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE,
THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO US
BEFORE THEY GO FINAL SO THERE
IS A LOT OF COORDINATION AND
THE S.C.O.R.E. JAIL AGREEMENT
IS DIFFERENT THAN IN KING
COUNTY WHERE YOU ARE KIND OF
PAYING UP FRONT. THIS IS AN AS
NEEDED BASIS. WE ARE ABLE TO DO
SO IF NEEDED FOR WHATEVER
REASON AND THE S.C.O.R.E. JAIL
AGREEMENT IS IMPORTANT FROM
THAT PERSPECTIVE AND THAT IS
WHY IT IS BEING WORKED AND IT
IS COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE
MULTIPLE MOVING PIECES AND
YOU'VE GOT THE BUDGET ASPECT
TO IT. THIS IS GOOD WE ARE
WORKING THROUGH THIS. IT'S
ALSO GOOD TO REMEMBER TOO THAT
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
WENT THROUGH MAJOR REDUCTIONS
JUST A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THAT
IMPACTED IT AND WHOLE SECTIONS
WERE SHUT DOWN AND THAT MAY
HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR, YOU KNOW,
THE BASIS OF YOUR QUESTION. IF
WE ARE BRINGING PIECES BACK, WE
HAVE TO BRING BACK THE ELEMENTS
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
THAT WERE THERE BEFORE , BEFORE
THEY WERE TRUNCATED A NUMBER OF
YEARS AGO.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, CHAIR.
>> KEEP GOING.
>> SORRY. I WANTED TO ADDRESS
WHAT TAMASO SAID. IT IS THIS
DEPARTMENT HERE SPECIFICALLY TO
ADDRESS S.C.O.R.E. AND I WOULD
LIKE MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE
MY UNDERSTANDING IS EXACTLY AS
CHAIR KETTLE DELINEATED. IT WAS
GIVING US ADDITIONAL BED SPACE,
IF WE NEEDED IT. MY QUESTION
GOES TO DO WE NEED IT NOW THAT
KING COUNTY HAS CHANGED IN
POLICY ON THE BED SPACE AT THE
KING COUNTY JAIL? DO WE NEED
IT? AND SEPARATELY, WHY WOULD
WE NEED A WHOLE NEW JUDICIAL
DEPARTMENT TO DEAL WITH ANY
OVERFLOW WE WOULD BE USING AT
S.C.O.R.E.? AND TAMASO, I
UNDERSTAND THE TRANSPORT PIECE.
THAT MAKE SENSE TO ME SINCE WE
HAVE TO TRANSPORT FOLKS TO
S.C.O.R.E., SO THAT PIECE, I
UNDERSTAND. IT IS THE CREATING
A WHOLE NEW JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
JUST TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER
OVERFLOW WE MAY BE HAVING AT
S.C.O.R.E. I AM UNCLEAR ABOUT,
SO GETTING MORE INFORMATION, I
WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THANK
YOU.
>> I WILL REITERATE THAT THESE
WERE, YOU KNOW, INITIAL --
INITIAL PROJECTIONS BASED ON
THE RATHER LIMITED INFORMATION
WE HAVE AT THIS TIME. I THINK
TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE
COURT FOR THEIR THOROUGHNESS
PROVIDING THESE ESTIMATES AT A
TIME WE DON'T HAVE THAT
INFORMATION ACCURATELY --
>> AGREED. I APPRECIATE PUTTING
THIS TOGETHER. JUST WANTED MORE
INFORMATION. AND , DIRECTOR, IF
YOU HAD ANYTHING TO ADD ABOUT
KING COUNTY JAIL AND THE
CONTRACT THERE, THAT WOULD BE
APPRECIATED.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
ADD. I CAN CONFIRM WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WAS SAYING
, THEY WERE INTENDED TO ADDRESS
DIFFERENT PURPOSES AND WE ARE
STILL FINALIZING THE CONTRACT
WITH S.C.O.R.E. AND IF WE
DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT,
THERE WOULD BE SOME NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO BE
DETERMINED WHAT THE DOLLAR
AMOUNTS WOULD BE AND WE HAVE
ANTICIPATED THAT IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER,
VICE CHAIR?
>> SO SORRY. JUST TO CLARIFY,
KING COUNTY JAIL HAS SPACE BUT
NOT NECESSARILY FOR SEATTLE'S
NEEDS , SO WE STILL NEED TO GO
TO S.C.O.R.E. IS THAT WHAT I
HEARD YOU JUST SAY?
>> WHEN WE INITIALLY PROPOSED
THE S.C.O.R.E. DEAL, THAT WAS
BEFORE THE KING COUNTY DEAL WAS
PROPOSED. NOW THAT THE KING
COUNTY DEAL HAS BEEN SOLIDIFIED
AND INCREASES THE NUMBER OF
BEDS WE HAVE ACCESS TO, THE
S.C.O.R.E. DEAL WOULD BE IN
EXCESS OF THAT INCREASED AMOUNT
IF WE NEEDED MORE THAN WHAT
KING COUNTY CAN ACCOMMODATE. AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE SAID, THAT
WOULD BE ON A FLEXIBLE BASIS.
WE COULD USE UP TO THE MAXIMUM
NUMBER ANTICIPATED IN THE
S.C.O.R.E. CONTRACT. WE WOULD
NOT HAVE TO COMMIT TO PAYING
FOR ANY NUMBER OF JAIL BEDS.
>> SO, HOW MANY JAIL BEDS DO WE
HAVE AT KING COUNTY NOW AS
OPPOSED TO IN OUR PRIOR
CONTRACT WITH THEM?
>> I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER TO
THAT.
>> WE CAN TAKE THAT OFF-LINE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, OVER TO
YOU, THEN COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU, TAMASO, FOR THIS ANALYSIS
HERE AND FOR THESE OPTIONS.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
MADE BY MY COLLEAGUES. MOST
RECENTLY BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR THE POINT ABOUT THE
COURT AND THE POTENTIAL NEED OR
NOT FOR STANDING UP A NEW
JUDICIAL DIVISION OR DEPARTMENT
TO SUPPORT A S.C.O.R.E. JAIL
CONTRACT WHERE WE NEED AND WE
HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL, BUT GIVEN
A REVISED CONTRACT , OUR
DEPENDENCE ON THAT -- WE HAVE
LESS OF A DEPENDENCE ON THAT.
MAYBE WE DO. MAYBE WE DON'T. I
THINK MORE INFORMATION IS
NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
APPROPRIATE DATA TO SUPPORT
THAT. YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUES,
PART OF WHAT I BELIEVE ARE
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
ESPECIALLY DURING THESE BUDGET
TIMES IS TO FIGURE OUT, YOU
KNOW, WHAT ARE SORT OF MISSION
CRITICAL ITEMS, MUST HAVES,
VERSUS NICE TO HAVE S. IN THE
CONTEXT OF A $250 MILLION
BUDGET DEFICIT WE NEED TO BE AS
BEST AS WE CAN WHEN ADDRESSING
-- WELL, STARTING BY ADDRESSING
THOSE MISSION CRITICAL MUST
HAVES VERSUS NICE TO HAVE S.
THE BELT AND SUSPENDERS
APPROACH IS GREAT BUT MAYBE WE
ONLY NEED THE BELT, OR THE
SUSPENDERS. NOT NECESSARILY
BOTH. IN ANY EVENT, MORE --
MORE IS NEEDED THERE. MORE
INFORMATION IS NEEDED THERE. I
ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SETTING OUR PARTNERS UP AT
THESE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS,
WHETHER IT IS THE L.A.W.
DEPARTMENT, CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, THE COURTS, WE ARE
SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS AS
WELL AND NOT JUST PASSING THESE
VERY EXCELLENT , THOUGHTFUL
LAWS , BUT WE ARE ALSO MAKING
SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL. THAT DOES NOT MEAN
RUBBERSTAMPING EVERY IDEA OR
PROPOSAL THAT COMES THROUGH. WE
NEED TO PUT SOME RIGOR AROUND
IT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM BUT I
SUPPORT MAKING SURE THEY HAVE
WHAT THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL. ON SLIDE FIVE, THIS
PROSECUTORIAL STAFFING, THIS
BULLET THERE, THE FLOATING
PROSECUTOR PROPOSAL THERE SAYS
IT WOULD -- THE LAST BLURB SAID
IT WILL IMPROVE WORKLOAD
ANTICIPATED RELATED TO RECENT
POLICY CHANGES. I AM SURE THAT
IS -- I WOULDN'T DISAGREE WITH
THAT JUST ON ITS SURFACE AND --
BUT I GUESS WE NEED MORE DATA
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
CURRENT IMPACT OR THE CURRENT
LAWS ON THE SPEED RACING BILL,
FOR EXAMPLE. I UNDERSTAND AND
HAVING CONVERSATIONS RECENTLY
WITH SOUTHWEST PRECINCT
COMMANDER AND SOME LPS THERE AT
THE PRECINCT, THE DEPARTMENT
HAS BEGUN ISSUING CITATIONS FOR
SPECTATORS. I DON'T KNOW THE
VOLUME. I DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AS IT
RELATES TO THIS CONVERSATION, I
DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL VOLUME
ACROSS THE CITY AND WHAT TYPE
OF IMPACT THAT HAS OR NOT ON
THE CASELOAD HERE FOR OUR
PROSECUTORS. BUT BOTTOM LINE,
WE NEED A COORDINATED APPROACH
THAT IS INFORMED BY DATA AND
SOME OF THESE LAWS THAT WE HAVE
ALREADY PASSED , I'M SURE
THERE IS AN INITIAL SET OF DATA
AVAILABLE, INCLUDING HOW THESE
VARIOUS LAWS ARE BEING
ENFORCED, THE TOTAL INITIAL
IMPACT IT IS HAVING ON HIS
VOLUME, ET CETERA, BUT WE NEED
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SOME OF
THESE SORT OF FLOATING
VARIABLES BEFORE MAKING FIRM
DECISIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. DIRECTOR?
>> I SOME REAL-TIME
INFORMATION. THE CONTRACT WITH
KING COUNTY IS UP TO 135 BEDS.
IT IS ACTUALLY A COMMITMENT OF
135 BEDS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. HOW
MANY WAS IT BEFORE?
>> I WILL KEEP FACILITATING. I
KNOW YOU SHARED INFORMATION OUT
OF ORDER BUT I WILL KEEP US ON
TOPIC AND COME BACK TO THIS.
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD OR SHARE
TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S
COMMENTS? I WILL GO TO MORALES
AND RIVERA, WE WILL COME BACK
AT THE END. COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAINTAINING THE SERVICES THAT
WE ARE UNDER TO RECEIVE FROM
S.C.O.R.E. I WAS ABOUT TO
MENTION THAT 135 IS THE NUMBER
OF BEDS FROM KING COUNTY THAT
WAS RECENTLY NEGOTIATED. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS PRIOR TO
BOOKING RESTRICTIONS, I THINK
OUR CONTRACT STATED SOMETHING
LIKE 190 OR SO, SO THERE IS A
DECREASE FROM 190 TO 135. WITH
S.C.O.R.E., WE HAVE AGREED TO
20 OR 40? I'M NOT QUITE SURE.
BUT NUMBERS ASIDE, HERE'S WHAT
WE NEED TO KEEP S.C.O.R.E.
S.C.O.R.E. HAS MEDICATED
ASSISTANT PROGRAM FOR USE
DISORDERS. KING COUNTY DOES
NOT. THEY ARE SENT BY THE KING
COUNTY JAIL TO A MEDICAL
FACILITY, JAMMING UP EMERGENCY
ROOMS. IN ADDITION, WHEN WE
WERE BEING BRIEFED ON
S.C.O.R.E., WE WERE TOLD THE
REENTRY SERVICES WHEN PEOPLE
ARE GETTING OUT ARE SUPERIOR,
HELPING HOOK UP WITH CASE
MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA. I DON'T
HAVE THE FACTS AND FIGURES
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME BUT THOSE
ARE TWO GOOD REASONS IN
ADDITION TO THE SHEER MATH
WHICH I AM NOT AS FOCUSED ON
THAT I BELIEVE STRONGLY WE
COULD KEEP S.C.O.R.E. AMONGST
OUR OPTIONS. NOW MY QUESTION IS
FOR CENTRAL STAFF, DID THE --
IS THERE MORE INFORMATION IN
THE ANSWER TRACKER , OR ANY OF
THE BUDGET CHANGE REQUESTS
ABOUT THIS ADDITIONAL
DEPARTMENT? I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT. OR IS
THIS MORE OF A RECENT IDEA? I
HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN I WAS FIRST
READING IT I WAS THINKING OF
THE TECHNOLOGY TO INTERACT WITH
SOMEBODY INSTEAD OF
TRANSPORTING THEM HERE AND
THERE WAS A TECHNOLOGICAL LINK
TO FOLKS AT S.C.O.R.E. I DON'T
KNOW WHY A WHOLE NEW DEPARTMENT
AND WHY THAT NOMENCLATURE.
>> SO, THERE WAS A SHORT MEMO
IN RESPONSE TO OUR CENTRAL
STAFF'S PRE-BUDGET QUESTIONS
RELATED TO POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL
COSTS FOR IMPLEMENTING
S.C.O.R.E. JUST TO RESTATE IT
AGAIN, THEY PROVIDED TWO
OPTIONS THAT ARE EXCLUSIVE OF
EACH OTHER FOR IMPLEMENTATION
OF S.C.O.R.E. AT SMC OPTION ONE
IS THE TRANSPORT OF DEFENDANTS
PHYSICALLY TO THE COURT FOR
HEARINGS. AND OPTION TWO
RELATED TO THE VIRTUAL HEARINGS
AND THAT IS THE OPTION THAT
THEY IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIALLY
NEEDING A NEW JUDICIAL
DEPARTMENT. I AM HAPPY TO SHARE
THEIR MEMO WITH YOU ALL IN
ADDITION TO FOLLOWING UP AND
GETTING MORE INFORMATION AS TO
THE REASONS FOR THAT. I THINK
OPTION TWO IN ADDITION TO
ASSUMING NO TRANSPORTATION MAY
ALSO ASSUME A HIGHER CASELOAD.
I KNOW SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS
AND THE WORKING AGREEMENTS AND
THE MECHANISMS THE COURT IS
ACCUSTOMED TO WITH REGARD TO
WORKING WITH KING COUNTY JAIL,
THERE ARE DIFFERENT
CONSIDERATIONS THERE WITH
WORKING WITH S.C.O.R.E. AND
THAT MAY BE THE REASON FOR THE
BELIEF THERE MAY -- IT MAY BE
NECESSARY TO CREATE A NEW
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT IF THE
HEARINGS ARE VIRTUAL RATHER
THAN TRANSPORTATION. I WILL SAY
IN MY AND OTHER CENTRAL
STAFF'S CONVERSATIONS
THROUGHOUT CONTEMPLATION OF
S.C.O.R.E., IT HAS ALWAYS
INVOLVED THE ASSUMPTION THERE
WOULD BE TRANSPORTATION. I
DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT HAS CHANGED. BUT I
AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP TO GET
MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE POTENTIAL
OPTION AROUND CREATING A NEW
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON,
ANYTHING ELSE?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM
UNDERSTANDING THE TOTAL
POTENTIAL COST TO THE COURT FOR
S.O.A.P., S.O.D.A. LEGISLATION,
AND S.C.O.R.E. SO IF I AM
UNDERSTANDING THIS SECTION
RIGHT, THE TOTALS -- IT'S THE
POTENTIAL COST FOR BOTH THINGS?
>> THE COURT AT THIS TIME HAS
NOT PUT A COST ON S.O.A.P. AND
S.O.D.A. IMPLEMENTATION. THEY
-- MY RECOLLECTION IS THEY
STATED THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL
STAFFING COSTS BUT THEY WOULD
BE MINOR IF THEY DO
MATERIALIZE, SO THE COST
ESTIMATES THAT I AM CONVEYING
VIA THIS PRESENTATION AND MEMO
FOR THE COURT HAVE TO DO
EXCLUSIVELY WITH S.C.O.R.E.
JAIL IMPLEMENTATION.
>> TO THE FLOATING PROSECUTOR
AND SPECIAL PROSECUTOR COSTS
GET INCLUDED IN THAT?
>> THOSE ARE SEPARATE COSTS THE
L.A.W. DEPARTMENT -- IN L.A.W.,
NOT THE COURTS.
>> OKAY, SO OPTION ONE JUST FOR
THE S.C.O.R.E. WOULD BE
$196,000 THIS YEAR, JUST IN
2026?
>> YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT COST?
>> YES, SORRY.
>> YES, JUST UNDER $200,000 IN
2025 AND $520,000 IN 2026.
THESE ARE PRETTY PRELIMINARY
COST ESTIMATES. THE DELTA
BETWEEN -- THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN 2025 AND 2026 HAS A LOT
TO DO WITH THE ASSUMPTION BUILT
INTO THE COURT'S ESTIMATES
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
WOULDN'T COMMENCE UNTIL
SOMETIME IN Q3 2025.
>> THAT IS HELPFUL. I WAS
WONDERING WHY THERE WAS SUCH A
HUGE DISPARITY. OKAY. I THINK
THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION. WELL,
EXCEPT TO SAY I WOULD BE
INTERESTED TO KNOW IF AND WHEN
WE COULD GET SOME IDEA FROM THE
COURT ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT OF
IMPLEMENTING S.O.A.P. AND
S.O.D.A. LEGISLATION WOULD BE.
>> I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THEM ON
THAT. MY RECOLLECTION FROM
THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS THAT
THEY LARGELY BELIEVE THE
IMPLEMENTATION COULD BE
ABSORBED WITHIN THEIR EXISTING
COST AND STAFFING MODEL, BUT
ONCE AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE
LEVEL OF REFERRAL AND LEVEL OF
UTILIZATION.
>> THE LAST THING, JUST TO BE
CLEAR, NONE OF THESE COSTS FOR
THE S.C.O.R.E. JAIL ARE
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET?
>> $2.8 MILLION, I BELIEVE, WAS
INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. IN FINANCE IN GENERAL
FOR THE S.C.O.R.E. I DO NOT
KNOW WHAT, IF ANY WOULD BE
AVAILABLE FOR SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS
APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION OF
NONCONTRACT COSTS OR
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS BY THE
CITY THAT WOULD BE MONIES PAID
TO S.C.O.R.E. , BUT ONCE AGAIN,
OF THAT IMPLEMENTATION, I
DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON
WHEN HE -- WHETHER OR NOT THAT
WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE
COURT, SPD, OR ANY OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENT INVOLVED IN
IMPLEMENTATION.
>> IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET A
BREAKDOWN OF THAT TO GET A
SENSE ON WHETHER THE COURT HAS
ANY FUNDING FOR IT -- IF THEY
WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS.
>> THE DIRECTOR MAY BE ABLE TO
SPEAK TO THAT, BUT I DON'T --
BY RAISING THIS POLICY
CONSIDERATION AT THIS STAGE AS
DIRECTOR NOBLE SAID BEFORE, OUR
INTENT IS TO BE LIKE THIS NOW
SO IF AND WHEN THERE IS A
SUPPLEMENTAL, YOU HAVE THAT
INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME AND
YOU ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT
IT.
>> OKAY.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF
AND WHEN THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
COSTS DEPENDING ON WHAT
IMPLEMENTATION OPTION IS
SELECTED TO BE PREFERABLE, THAT
EXECUTIVE WOULD BE IN FULL
SUPPORT OF BRINGING THAT AND
MAKING A SUPPLEMENTAL. I DON'T
WANT TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION
TO SOUND LIKE THE EXECUTIVE IS
PLANNING TO LEAVE . THESE ARE
JUST INITIAL COST PROJECTS WE
WANTED TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE GIST OF THIS IS THERE
ARE COSTS COMING TO BOTH
POTENTIALLY THE CAO SIDE BUT
NOBODY KNOWS QUITE WHAT THEY
ARE. OR HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION
WILL FOLLOW SUIT. WE ARE
FLAGGING THAT THESE COSTS ARE
LIKELY TO BE APPROPRIATED
TOWARD NEXT YEAR. AGAIN, THERE
WILL BE RESOURCES SUFFICIENT TO
DO THAT AT THAT TIME BUT I
DIDN'T WANT YOU TO BE
SURPRISED BY THAT AND IN THE
CONTEXT OF CHOICES THAT COUNCIL
HAS MADE TO THIS DATE THIS YEAR
IN TERMS OF AMENDING THE SMC
AND APPROVING ENTERING INTO THE
S.C.O.R.E. CONTRACT, I JUST
WANTED YOU TO KNOW WE ARE
TRACKING THE IMPLEMENTATIONS OF
THAT. AGAIN, ANTICIPATED
MIDYEAR NEXT YEAR IN SOME FORM.
>> I AGREE WITH CENTRAL
STAFF'S DESCRIPTION OF THE
SITUATION. NOTHING FURTHER TO
ADD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, DO
YOU HAVE MORE?
>> NO, THANK YOU.
>> IF WE COULD GO BACK TO
GIVING SPACE TO THAT
CONVERSATION?
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. 135 FOR
BED SPACE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, YOU INDICATED IT HAD
BEEN 190 SOMETHING BEFORE, SO I
UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS
S.C.O.R.E. PIECE. I'M NOT
SUGGESTING YOU SHOULDN'T USE
S.C.O.R.E., IT'S JUST WHEN WE
TALKED ABOUT S.C.O.R.E., WE
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT BED CAPACITY
IF ANY WE HAD AT KING COUNTY
JAIL. SINCE COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
YOU BROUGHT UP THE PIECE ABOUT
S.C.O.R.E. HAVING A MEDICAL
COMPONENT TO IT, YOU KNOW, I
OFTEN THOUGHT THAT WAS NEEDED
AT KING COUNTY JAIL AND IT
CONTINUES TO BE NEEDED AT KING
COUNTY JAIL AND TOWARDS THAT
END, I WILL ALSO SAY, YOU KNOW,
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND I
HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND AGREED,
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A NEED FOR
LIKE A SOBERING CENTER. I
UNDERSTAND THAT WAS SOMETHING
KING COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE HAS HAD IN THE PAST. ON
THEIR WEBSITE, THEY SAY THEY
ARE PARTNERING TO REOPEN POST
COVID, BUT I CONTINUE TO ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS WITHOUT AN
ACTUAL RESPONSE ABOUT WHEN AND
WHERE OR HOW THIS WILL BE
REOPENED. THERE IS A CONTINUED
NEED FOR IT BECAUSE WE KNOW
WHAT THE LAWS WE PASSED, TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S POINT AND
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
BROUGHT UP AS WELL, IN TERMS OF
DIVERSION WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, IF FOLKS AREN'T
SOBER, THEY CAN'T CONSENT TO
DIVERSION. IF FOLKS ARE FLAGGED
AS ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSION, THEY
ARE BEING LED OUT AND PUT BACK
ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T ACTUALLY CONSENT BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT SOBER. THEREBY THE
CONTINUED NEED FOR FOLKS TO
SOBER UP SO THEY CAN GET -- WE
CAN GET THE CONSENT TO GET THEM
THE HELP THAT THEY NEED SO I
WILL RAISE THAT NOW SINCE YOU
RAISED THE TREATMENT PIECE
BECAUSE THAT CONTINUES TO BE
SOMETHING THAT MANY OF US CARE
ABOUT AND SOMETHING I WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERS TO. STAFF,
HELP TRACK THAT DOWN, I WOULD
APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY KING
COUNTY WOULD HAVE THIS ON THEIR
WEBSITE AND NO INFORMATION AS
TO WHEN OR WHERE ARE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. DIRECTOR, ANYTHING ELSE
TO SHARE?
>> NO, THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, ANYTHING ELSE
TO SHARE?
>> CHAIR STRAUSS, I APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING THIS UP. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
WHAT MR. JOHNSON SAID READY
MUCH ALL OF THE ABOVE, YES,
APPLIED TO YOUR QUESTIONS. TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , TO
ANSWER THAT, RELATED TO
S.O.D.A. AND S.O.A.P., IT IS A
VOLUME QUESTION AND IT SHOULD
BE ABSORBED IN SOME RESPECT BUT
IT COULD AT SOME POINT
CONCEDEDLY REACH A POINT NO
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE MADE
BUT THAT'S TIED TO THE JAIL
BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCES TO
THE KING COUNTY JAIL. THE
LOGISTICS, THE OPERATIONAL
CHALLENGES, THE DIFFERENCES
THAT EXIST BETWEEN KING COUNTY
JAIL AND S.C.O.R.E. JAIL. AND I
WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT, YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF
PRESSURES OUT THERE. WE HAVE
PRESSURES AT THE CITY LEVEL.
THE COUNTY HAS PRESSURES IN
TERMS OF BUDGET PRESSURES WHICH
WILL IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PUBLIC SAFETY SO I THINK IT IS
FROM THE, YOU KNOW, BE PREPARED
STATUS. DUE DILIGENCE AND GOOD
GOVERNANCE FOR US TO BE
POSITIONED IN A WAY WE CAN
RESPOND EITHER HERE IN KING
COUNTY OR IN OLYMPIA WITH THE
STATE. IT IS NOT JUST WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER SYSTEM -- AGAIN, THIS
MORNING, I TALKED ABOUT BEING
FRUSTRATED. THIS AFTERNOON, I
AM WORRIED AS IT RELATES TO THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND
THAT WILL BE A BIG THEME OF THE
2025 YEAR IN THE COMMITTEE THAT
WE WILL BE STEPPING THROUGH
THESE THINGS EARLY AND OFTEN.
THE THINGS WE ARE RAISING THIS
AFTERNOON WITH THE L.A.W.
DEPARTMENT, AND AGAIN, I
APPRECIATE THIS DIALOGUE
BECAUSE IT SETS IT UP SO WE
SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED NEXT
YEAR WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, HEALTH
OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,
THE VARIOUS PIECES -- OH, BY
THE WAY, AND WE ARE ENGAGING
WITH THE EXECUTIVE BECAUSE WHEN
WE ARE GETTING PUBLIC SAFETY,
WE GO TO OLYMPIA IN TERMS OF
OUR PRIORITIES. OUR PRIORITIES,
ONE OF THEM HAS GOT TO BE THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE
HEALTH OF IT. AGAIN, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS UP
BECAUSE IT IS A CHANCE TO
DAYLIGHT IF YOU WILL THESE
DIFFERENT PIECES. OH, ONE LAST
THING, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
THE DAY CENTERS ARE SO
IMPORTANT SO THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THAT. IT IS ALL
RELATED. IF WE HAVE A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. TO MY
POINT EARLIER THIS MORNING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IS
PUSHING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ASPECT BUT THE HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC
HEALTH ASPECT ALSO NEED TO BE
PUSHED AND IF WE CAN DO THAT IN
A CONCERTED WAY WE CAN FIND
SUCCESS WITH THE S.O.D.A. OR
THE SOBERING CENTERS. THIS IS
GOOD. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. TAMASO, I AM RESERVING
MY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WILL
SPEND A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME
WITH YOU AS WE GO THROUGH THE
CHAIR'S BUDGET PACKAGE. IF WE
COULD RESERVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF
TIME FOR POLICY CONSIDERATION
NUMBER THREE. I'VE GOT A GOOD
HANDLE ON ONE END TWO. TAMASO,
THIS IS WHERE I WILL INSERT A
JOKE ABOUT US GOING TO RIVAL
HIGH SCHOOLS. ALL OF THAT SAID,
JOB WELL DONE. COLLEAGUES, ANY
OTHER ASPECT TO COME BEFORE
THIS SECTION? I WILL TAKE A
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AT
THIS MOMENT, COLLEAGUES,
SOMETHING I'VE EXPERIENCED
OVER THE LAST YEAR, HAVING TWO
DEATHS IN THE FAMILY AND I
CHOSE TO COME TO WORK INSTEAD
OF BEING WITH FAMILY AND I
STRONGLY SUGGEST NOT DOING
THAT. THEY WERE THE WRONG
CHOICES. THIS WEEK I WILL BE
SPENDING TIME HERE IN THE CITY
WORKING ON BEHALF OF YOU
INSTEAD OF ATTENDING ONE OF MY
FAVORITE COLLEGE PROFESSOR'S
FINAL LECTURE. COLLEAGUES, IF
YOU PERMIT ME A MOMENT TO SAY A
BIT ABOUT DOC BECAUSE I WILL
NOT BE ATTENDING HIS FINAL
LECTURE. THUMBS-UP. DOC, YOU
HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON MY LIFE.
WORDS ARE TOO SHORT TO DESCRIBE
THE WAYS YOU HAVE MADE ME A
BETTER PERSON IN BOTH MY
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
IN YOUR CLASS IT WAS CLEAR IT
IS THE WHOLE PERSON THAT IS
MOST IMPORTANT, BEYOND LEARNING
THE MATERIALS. I WISH I COULD
BE WITH YOU FOR YOUR LAST
LECTURE FOR NOW. MY COLLEAGUES
HERE ARE RELYING ON ME TO
BALANCE OUR COLLECTIVE
PRIORITIES TO PASS A BUDGET FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WHILE YOU
ARE LECTURING, I WILL BE VOTING
ON BUILDING THE NEXT LEG OF OUR
LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM HERE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. WHAT STUNS ME
IS IN THESE MOMENTS, YOU ARE
TEACHING MORE STUDENTS . I HAD
THE HUMBLE HONOR OF BEING A
PRACTITIONER OF YOUR TEACHINGS
WHILE STEWARDING THE WILL AND
DESIRE OF OUR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS. COLLEAGUES, DR. MIKE
McBRIDE IS RETIRING AT THE END
OF AN ACADEMIC TERM AFTER 56
YEARS, THE LONGEST ANY
INSTITUTION'S HISTORY. HE HAS
PUBLISHED ARTICLES ON
MIGRATION, SIMULATION A SMALL,
PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND HAS SERVED
AS A CONSULTANT FOR THE OFFICE
OF UNITED NATIONS HIGH
COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SINCE
1993 AND SERVES ON THE
SECRETARY AT THE ANNUAL
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SESSION
EACH OCTOBER. HE IS ALSO THE
ADVISOR FOR THE UNITED NATIONS
PROGRAM AND ON THE CORPORATE
BOARD FOR THE UNITED NATIONS OF
THE FARR WEST, ONE OF THE
OLDEST AND BEST MODEL UNITED
NATIONS PROGRAMS IN THE
COUNTRY. HE WAS THE ADVISOR FOR
THE LANCER FOR 42 YEARS AND
ADVISOR SINCE 1977. HE SERVED
AS THE ASSISTANT COACH FOR
WOMEN'S SOFTBALL SINCE THE
FOUNDING OF THE PROGRAM IN 1979
AND SERVED AS THE ASSISTANT
DEAN FOR ADVISEMENT FROM 1981
TO 1985. DOC, YOU ARE A LIVING
LEGEND. HOW DEEPLY YOU HAVE
IMPACTED THIS WORLD THROUGH
BEING A PRACTITIONER AND THE
RIPPLING IMPACTS YOU HAVE MADE
THROUGH YOUR STUDENTS, SUCH AS
MYSELF. AND, YES, ON RATE MY
PROFESSOR, YOU HAVE A 100%
RATING . QUOTING FROM THE LEFT
TWO , WRITTEN IN 1877, SO SHALL
THE STREAM OF TIME FLOW BY AND
LEAVE EACH YEAR A RICHER GOOD
AND THE WORLD SHALL WINK YOUR
NAMES WITH GRACIOUS LIVES AND
MANNERS FINE, THE TEACHERS
ALWAYS SERVE THEIR CLAIMS AND
PROUDLY WHISPER, THESE WERE
MINE. DOC, I AM PROUD TO BE ONE
OF YOURS. WITH THAT, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF THE MEETING.
THE NEXT BUDGET MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER ON TUESDAY, THE
22nd. THIS MEETING WILL ONLY
ACCEPT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY
CONTINUE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN
PUBLIC COMMENT ON
COUCIL.SEATTLE.GOV. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? SEEING NONE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES.