GOOD MORNING THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:30 , OCTOBER 30th,
2024.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE ,
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
>> PRESENT VICE CHAIR RIVERA
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE
>> HERE
>> CHAIR STRAUSS
>> HERE .
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES BEEN HERE ON TIME.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA , WE HAVE
THE INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
OF THE NEXT STEPS WHERE WE ARE
IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AS WELL
AS REVIEWING THE CHAIRS
BALANCING PACKAGE. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. BEFORE I MOVE INTO MY
COMMENTS, WE ARE GOING TO OPEN
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. I
WILL SHARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT
TODAY'S AGENDA IN THE CHAIRS
PACKAGE AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DO HAVE MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE
PRESENT, AND UNFORTUNATELY I AM
NOT SEEING THE SCRIPT BUT I
THINK I KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF
MY HEAD. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL
OPEN THE IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL
PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS UP TO 30 MINUTES .
EVERYONE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE
TO SPEAK. PUBLIC COMMENT MUST
BE ON ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA
AND WE WILL TAKE SPEAKERS AND
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTER. WE WILL START WITH
THE IN PERSON FIRST. DO 10
PUBLIC SPEAKERS, THEN WE WILL
REMOVE TWO REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT. AT THIS TIME, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKERS ON THE LIST.
LET'S ROLL WITH THE FIRST
PEOPLE IN CHAMBERS. I'M GOING
TO CALL EVERYONE ON THE FIRST
LIST JUST SO YOU KNOW WHERE WE
ARE. WE HAVE TWO MICROPHONES
SET UP. PLEASE, IF YOU CAN, BE
READY. LINE UP ONCE YOU HEAR
YOUR NAMES. WE HAVE KATIE
WILSON, MATT AUERBACH . KATIE,
I SEE YOU ARE READY TO GO.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME.
>> THANKS. KATIE WILSON WITH
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION . WE
ARE GLAD TO SEE SOME FUNDS FOR
TENANT SERVICES RESTORED IN THE
BALANCE PACKAGE BUT URGE YOU TO
FULLY RESTORE THESE FUNDS TO
THEIR 2024 LEVELS. SERVICES ARE
ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING PEOPLE
HOUSED. WE ARE A LITTLE
CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN HSD
INSTEAD OF DCI. THERE NEEDS TO
BE CONNECTION SO TENANT
SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS CAN [
INAUDIBLE ] USING RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. WE URGE YOU TO ADD
[ INAUDIBLE ] TO MAKE SURE THE
DAY CENTER DOESN'T RESULT IN A
NET LOSS OF SERVICES FOR
HOMELESS WOMEN. WE ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRECEDENT
THIS SETS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR
THE CITY'S ABILITY TO MAKE
MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON HOUSING
CRISIS AND DISPLACEMENT. IT IS
VITAL THIS COUNSEL BEGINS A
SERIOUS CONVERSATION WITH
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SO WE ARE
NOT PERMANENTLY RELYING ON
JUMPSTART TO PLUG THE DEFICIT
IN THE GENERAL FUND.
>> UP NEXT IS MATT, MARK, AND
AN ALLEY.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
MARK AUERBACH. I HEAR YOU
REPRESENTING UFCW 3004 I AM THE
EDUCATION DIRECTOR. WE WANT TO
THANK CHAIR STRAUSS FOR
INCREASING THE FUNDING IN THE
REBALANCING PACKAGE FOR OOS .
WHILE THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT WE
ARE STILL CONCERNED THAT THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE BUDGET
WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL
STAFFING CUTS AT OLS WHICH IS
ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS IT
BRINGS IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE
WHEN IT'S ABLE TO DO ITS JOB.
WHILE WE HAVE STRONG UNION
CONTRACTS THAT ALLOW US TO HOLD
EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE, NOT ALL
WORKERS HAVE THIS BENEFIT. THEY
NEED A STRONG LABOR ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY TO HELP. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE ALLEY
FOLLOWED BY NATURE FREEMAN AND
SOPHIA ARMSTRONG.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ALLIE BAER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE ELIZABETH GREGORY HOME ,
A NONPROFIT TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING PROGRAM. I WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
$750,000 BEEN ADDED TO THE
BUDGET FOR THE MEALS PROGRAM. I
WANT TO THANK BUDGET CHAIR DAN
STRAUSS FOR INCLUDING THIS
REQUEST IN THE PACKAGE, COUNSEL
FOR SUPPORTING THE REQUEST AND
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE. WE ARE A PROUD MEMBER OF
THE MEALS COALITION. THIS
FUNDING IS BY THE ELLIPSE IS
VITAL TO OUR ORGANIZATION SO WE
CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HOT
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH . IN 2023
WE SERVED OVER 16,000 MEALS AND
WE ARE ON TRACK TO SERVE WELL
OVER THAT NUMBER IN 2024 SO
THIS FUNDING IS EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DAY
CENTERS. HISTORICALLY UNFUNDED,
HOUR DAY CENTERS PROVIDE VITAL
RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> UP NEXT IS ANITRA.
>> 25 YEARS AGO MARY'S PLACE
DAY CENTER WAS FOUNDED
FOLLOWING A REQUEST FROM THE
WHEEL. SINCE THEN, THE
ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN AND
EXPANDED ON THAT FOUNDATION
DOING GREAT WORK FOR HOMELESS
FAMILIES WITH SHELTER HOUSING
AND SERVICES, BUT SINGLE
HOMELESS WOMEN STILL NEED
SAFETY, SHOWERS, LAUNDRY,
MEALS, MAIL SERVICE, NURSING
CARE, ALL THE CRITICAL
RESOURCES THAT MARY'S PLACE
PROVIDES. PLEASE FUND THE
REPLACEMENT FOR MARY'S PLACE
WITH 500,000 FOR THE LAST THREE
QUARTERS OF 2025 AND 750,000
FOR 2026. KEEP MORE PEOPLE FROM
BECOMING HOMELESS BY INCREASING
FUNDS FOR RENTER PROTECTION AND
STOP READING JUMPSTART FUNDS.
PASS MORE PROGRESSIVE TAXES
INSTEAD. THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT TO SOPHIA ARMSTRONG
.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
SOPHIA ARMSTRONG AND I'M
SECURITY COORDINATOR AT FAIR
START. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK
IN FAVOR OF ADDING $750,000 TO
THE CITY BUDGET TO SUSTAIN FOOD
SECURITY PROGRAMS IN SEATTLE. I
WANT TO THANK CHAIR STRAUSS FOR
INCLUDING THIS REQUEST IN THE
BUDGET PACKAGE. WITH FUNDING
ALLOCATED FROM LAST YEAR, FAIR
START WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
OVER 350,000 MEALS TO CONTRACT
MEALS PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES,
AND VULNERABLE ADULTS. THIS
INCREASED INVESTMENT WOULD
GUARANTEE OUR ABILITY TO SERVE
MANY DAY CENTERS WITH THE
HEALTHY FOODS THEY ARE GETTING
TODAY. THIS PROGRAMS ARE
ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDING HEALTHY
FOOD OPTIONS TO EVERYONE IN
SEATTLE. WITH THIS FUNDING,
FAIR START, ALONG WITH MANY
OTHER VALUABLE MEAL
ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO
COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY AT THE
TIME WITH SIMPLY BUYING FOOD
CAN BE A STRENGTH FOR ANY
FAMILY. WE URGE COUNCILMEMBERS
TO CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> UP NEXT IS IRENE HUNG
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA SMITH.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> MY NAME IS IRENE AND I THE
KITCHEN LEAD AT YWCA INTERLINE
CENTER LOCATED IN DISTRICT 7.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF ADDING 750,000 TO THE
BUDGET FOR MEAL PROGRAMS. I
WANT TO THANK BUDGET CHAIR
STRAUSS FOR INCLUDING THIS
REQUEST IN THE BALANCING
PACKAGE. I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS
REQUEST AND THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
INTERLINE CENTER PROVIDES
SAFETY AND SUPPORT TO WOMEN
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WE
SERVE MORE THAN 100 WOMEN EVERY
DAY, WHICH INCLUDES THREE MEALS
A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. OUR
MEAL PROGRAM HELPS US ADDRESS
IMMEDIATE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND
CONNECT PEOPLE WITH CASE
MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES.
ADDRESSING SHORT AND LONG-TERM
NEEDS OF HOMELESS WOMEN FORCES
SUPPORTED COMMUNITY THAT MAKES
THEM SAFER FOR EVERYONE. AGAIN
WE THANK YOU FOR [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU, IRENE. UP NEXT IS
CHRISTINA SMITH .
>> GOOD MORNING. I REPRESENT
LAURA COMMENTS ON THE CORNER OF
90th AND AURORA IN SEATTLE.
CLINIC, A PARTNERSHIP WITH UW
HARBORVIEW BUT OPERATES FOR
WOMEN FEATURING SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE FOR
INCLUDING CLINIC FUNDING IN HER
BUDGET RECOMMENDATION. IN OUR
LAST FISCAL YEAR WE PROVIDED
COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY CARE FOR
OVER 420 WOMEN INCLUDING OR
ALONG WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES
FROM A COMMON STAFF. LET ME
TELL YOU ABOUT ONE OF THESE
WOMEN. SHE IS 57 YEARS OLD AND
A SEATTLE NATIVE WHO IS
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS,
POVERTY AND EXPLOITATION SINCE
FLEEING AN ABUSIVE HOME AS A
CHILD . BUT SHE CLINIC WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST RESOURCES OFFERED
AND THIS SUMMER SHE WILL
CELEBRATE WHEN YOU'RE IN
HOUSING. THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT TO STEPHANIE
FOLLOWED BY HALEY.
>> MORNING. MY NAME IS
STEPHANIE AND I'M THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER OF THE INTERIM
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION. WE PROVIDE HOUSING
ASSISTANCE IN TENANT SERVICES
TO PREDOMINANTLY LOW INCOME,
LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING
RESIDENTS IN THE CHINA
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. WE ARE
CURRENTLY RECISDCI
FUNDING. EAKS IS
MANDARIN. SHE MOVED TO A
COMPLETELY NEW COUNTRY IN HER
70s AND HER DIRECT COUNTRY --
FAMILY LIVED FAR AWAY. WHO ARE
THESE FOLKS SUPPOSED TO TURN TO
WHEN THE DEVELOPER COMES
KNOCKING AT THE DOOR
THREATENING TO PRICE THEM OUT
OF THEIR HOMES? WHO PROTECTS
THEM FROM LANDLORDS OR FOLKS
TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THEIR SITUATIONS? THEY RELY ON
US TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND
THEIR RIGHTS AND RESOURCES. A
REDUCTION IN FUNDING PREVENTS
US FROM PROVIDING HOUSING IN
TENANT SERVICES TO A POPULATION
THAT IS VULNERABLE AND AT RISK
OF LOSING THEIR HOMES.
>> THANK YOU, STEPHANIE. UP
NEXT IS HOLLY.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
HOWIE WILLIS AND I'M THE
MANAGER FOR THE COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS. I'M TESTIFYING
IN SUPPORT OF THE COALITION'S
BUDGET PRIORITIES AS WELL AS
THOSE OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES COALITION. I WANT TO
THANK FOR INCLUDING BENEFITS IN
THE PACKAGE. AS IT STANDS, MANY
SHELTERS AND DAY CENTERS ARE
ROUTINELY FALLEN THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE
NOW ARE SAFE TO GO, DAY OR
NIGHT. THE CITY ALONG WITH THE
COUNTY MUST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
PROGRAMS LIKE THESE THAT HAVE
BEEN FUNDED WITH ONE-TIME FUNDS
FOR MANY YEARS BUT HAVE NO
GUARANTEE OF THAT FUNDING IN
2026, AND TO SUSTAIN A WOMEN'S
DAY CENTER AT RISK OF CLOSING
IN 2025. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE REPRESENT
HOTEL WORKERS, FOOD SERVICE
WORKERS, STADIUM WORKERS HERE
IN SEATTLE AND MOST OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE LOW-WAGE WORKERS
WHO DEPEND ON THEIR JOBS FROM
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. I WANT TO
THANK CHAIR STRAUSS FOR THE
WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON
RESTORING SOME OF THE FUNDING
ON BUSINESS AND WORKER OUTREACH
. HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE STAFFING
CUTS TO OLS. OLS IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR WORKERS IN OUR
INDUSTRY. OLS MAKES SURE THAT
PEOPLE GET THE MONEY THAT THEY
ARE OWED, BASED ON THE LABOR
STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN
SEATTLE. IT MAKE SURE THAT
MONEY STAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY,
HELPS SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE WORKERS AND TO TO US
IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT THAT
THOSE -- THAT THE STAFFING IS
NOT CUT.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
TRANSFER TO ONLINE PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THIS TIME. I'M
GOING TO READ THE NAMES OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PRESENT. IF
YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, YOU ARE NOT
PRESENT. PATRICIA , PAULA,
MICHELLE EASTMAN, JOHN GRANT,
CLARA CANTOR, BJ LAST, TIFFANY
McCOY . IF YOU KNOW THESE
PEOPLE, THEY ARE NOT PRESENT.
PLEASE LET THEM KNOW. THE FIRST
10 SPEAKERS ON THIS LIST ARE
KATE RUBIN, MATTHEW OFFENBACH
OR , [ INAUDIBLE ] PATRICIA
BROWN, CHARISSE, LAURA GIVENS .
TWO PEOPLE ARE NOT PRESENT IN
SO IF THEY DO NOT BECOME
PRESENT, WE WILL THEN ALSO
INCLUDE TERRY ANDERSON AND
ELIZABETH DOLE. WITH THAT WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT. KATE RUBIN, YOU
ARE FIRST. I SEE YOU ARE OFF
MUTE.
>> MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN. I'M
THE CODIRECTOR OF SEATTLE [
INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU FOR
ADDING MORE FUNDS FOR TENANT
SERVICES. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
INCREASE FUNDING TO AT LEAST
2024 LEVELS. ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
THESE ALONG WITH THE TENANT
UNION, TENANT LAW CENTERS AND
OTHERS ARE OVERBURDENED. THIS
COULD LEAD TO JOB LOSSES FOR
PEOPLE MOST INVESTED IN
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY AT A
TIME WHEN HELP IS URGENTLY
NEEDED. WE ARE A SMALL
ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON RENTER
ORGANIZATION AND OUTREACH. WE
PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND
DE-ESCALATE CONFLICTS BEFORE
THEY SPIRAL INTO COSTLY
EVICTIONS. CUTS TO DISK -- THE
SERVICE WOULD DISPROPORTIONATEL
Y FALL ON HOMELESS PEOPLE. THE
CITY IS INVESTING TWICE AS MUCH
IN THE WORLD CUT -- CUP AS IT
IS IN TENANT SERVICES. WE NEED
TO INCREASE FUNDING TO KEEP
PEOPLE HOUSED AND REDUCE STRAIN
ON CITY RESOURCES. THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS MATTHEW. PEDRANA
IS STILL NOT PRESENT. MATTHEW,
I SEE YOU ARE HERE. TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANKS. HI, COUNSEL. MATT
AUSTIN BARKER HERE. I LIVE ON
CAPITOL HILL AND I AM A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER. I'M HERE TODAY
TO EXPRESS MY ENTHUSIASTIC
SUPPORT FOR THE SOLIDARITY
BUDGET GUARANTEE. I WAS LOOKING
OVER THE BALANCING PACKAGE THIS
MORNING WITH MY COFFEE AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO
ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING TO LOW
INCOME HOUSING, SHELTERS, FOOD
SAFETY , WORKERS AND HOMELESS
YOUTH. ALSO, I NOTED THAT YOU
ARE PROPOSING TO DEFUND [
INAUDIBLE ] BY 6.5 MILLION,
WHICH IS GREAT BUT IN ALL
HONESTY, THE AMOUNTS YOU ARE
PROPOSING HERE ARE DROPS IN THE
BUCKET IN RELATION TO COMMUNITY
NEED. I REQUEST THAT YOU PASS
NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
SOURCES, REJECT THE MAYORS
DEFENDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND MAKE DEEPER CUTS TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. 6.5
MILLION [ INAUDIBLE ] BUT THERE
ARE 33 MILLION MORE OUT THERE
THAT YOU CAN RECLAIM. FOR
THINGS THAT ACTUALLY WILL HELP
KEEP SEATTLE SAFE.
>> THANK YOU. PEDRANA IS NOT
PRESENT. WE -- RHEA. I SEE YOUR
THERE. STAR 61 MUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS RHEA
YO AND I SERVE AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR COUNSEL FOR USE IN
CHILDREN. THANK YOU FOR
RESTORING LEGAL COUNSEL FOR
YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S FUNDING
IN THE BALANCING PACKAGE. WE
ARE ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE
RESTORATION OF FUNDING WITH OUR
LEGAL AID PARTNERS, SOLID
GROUND. I WOULD LIKE TO KINDLY
NOTE THERE WAS A CLERICAL ERROR
IN SLIDE 37 AND 54. L CYC IS
THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS LEGAL
PROVIDER IN-LINE 37 AND SOLID
GROUND IS THE BENEFIT LEGAL
SERVICE PROVIDER IN-LINE 54.
SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, MOORE, KENDALL, RIVERA
AND MOREL IS' OFFICES WHO MET
WITH US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. WE
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT AND
INVESTMENT IN CRITICAL LEGAL
SERVICES TO HELP ADDRESS AND
PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS
INVESTMENT REMAIN IN THE FINAL
BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE
PEDRANA PRESENT NOW, SO WE WILL
TAKE HER NEXT FOLLOWED BY [
INAUDIBLE ] AND AND LAURA
GIVENS WILL BE THE LAST SPEAKER
ONLINE.
>> YES, HI, GOOD MORNING. I
APOLOGIZE ABOUT THAT. I WAS ON
BUT FOR SOME REASON THE CALL
DID NOT SHOW HERE. GOOD
MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OFFICER AT [ INAUDIBLE ] ALSO
REPRESENTING SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES COALITION. I'M HERE
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ADDING THE
$750,000 TO THE BUDGET FOR A
MEAL PROGRAM AND I DO WANT TO
THANK BUDGET CHAIR DOWN STRAUSS
FOR INCLUDING THE MEAL PROGRAM
AND THE BALANCING PACKAGE AS
WELL AS COUNSEL FOR SUPPORTING
THIS REQUEST AND PARTICULARLY
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
FOR BEING THE CHAMPION ON THIS
ISSUE. HOWEVER FOOD INSECURITY
IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AMONG
OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITIES
WE SERVE. THIS INVESTMENT WILL
PROVIDE SOME RELIEF HOWEVER
RIGHT NOW WE ARE REALLY SEEING
A HUGE NEED ACROSS OUR SENIORS
AND I ENCOURAGE MORE OF US IN
THE SENIOR PROGRAM AND
INVESTING IN THE CITY'S
INFRASTRUCTURE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> UP NEXT IS SALTZSTEIN BARRY
SMITH. I SEE YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
HOPEFULLY YOU'RE NOT MUTED ON
YOUR OWN PHONE. THERE YOU ARE.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CELESTINE BARRY SMITH AND I
MANAGE SOLID GROUNDS TENANT
SERVICES PROGRAM. I'M
COMMENTING TODAY TO ASK THE
COUNCIL TO FUND CRITICAL TENANT
SERVICES. OUR TENANT SERVICES
PROGRAM OPERATES A BILINGUAL
TENANT VOICE MESSAGE LINE AND
PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS
AND WEBINARS TO HELP RENTERS
UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES, ACCESS LEGAL
AID AND BE REFERRED TO RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. I WANT TO
THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
RECOGNIZING THAT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IS IMPORTANT BUT I
ALSO WANT TO STRESS THAT TENANT
SERVICES PROGRAMS LIKE OURS
HELP PROTECT PEOPLE FROM
NEEDING RENTAL SERVICES IN THE
FIRST PLACE FOR EXAMPLE WE HAD
A CALL FROM A TENANT WHOSE UNIT
FLOODED WHO WAS BEING
DISPLACED, DID WHAT TO PAY FOR
DISPLACED LODGINGS WITHOUT
ISSUING A 100 DAY NOTICE. WE
ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING. HOWEVER THAT AMOUNT IS
NOT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN TENANTS
OF THIS PROGRAM SO WE ASK --
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
MICHELLE FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA.
>> HI, I'M MICHELLE THOMAS .
THANK YOU FOR PARTIALLY
RESTORING TENANT SERVICES BUT
FULL RESTORATION IS CRITICALLY
NEEDED TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS
AND TO STABILIZE PEOPLE IN
THEIR HOMES. TENANT SERVICES
ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT
RENTERS KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS
AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, AND
ARE CRITICAL TO RESOLVING
PROBLEMS. SEATTLE'S [
INAUDIBLE ] ARE MORE LIKELY TO
BE RENTERS AND SUPPORTING
HOUSING STABILITY IS CRITICAL
TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES IN
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
PLEASE ALSO RESTORE FUNDING
FROM MARY'S PLACE.
HOMELESSNESS IS INCREASING IN
SEATTLE. ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE
CRITICAL. THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS PATRICIA FOLLOWED
BY SHARISA. PATRICIA, STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE.
>> HELLO. FOR THE RECORD , MY
NAME IS PATRICIA BOWEN. I'M
THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR
BENEFITS LEGAL ASSISTANCE. IT
IS ONE OF TWO LEGAL SERVICES
PROGRAMS THAT WAS JUST ADDED TO
THE BALANCING BUDGET AND HAD
OUR BUDGET RESTORED AND FOR
THAT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
BLA IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN
WASHINGTON FOR LOW INCOME
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO
ACCESS AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC
STATE BENEFITS. THIS MEANS WE
WORK WITH SENIORS, SINGLE
PARENTS, CHILDREN, VETERANS,
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EVERY
DAY AND MAKE SURE THEY GET
THEIR FUNDING SO THEY CAN STAY
HOUSED AND HAVE FOOD ON THEIR
TABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, BENEFITS
LAW IS VERY CONFUSING. IT'S
NOT ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE
BENEFITS AVAILABLE IF THEY
CANNOT BE ACCESS OR IF IT IS
DENIED UNJUSTLY SO WE THANK YOU
FOR YOUR FUNDING SO WE CAN
CONTINUE THESE NECESSARY
SERVICES. HOWEVER, WE DO ASK
THIS BE MADE A PERMANENT PART
OF THE BUDGET. THIS IS A
NECESSARY SERVICE THAT WE ASK
YOU CONTINUE TO ADD TO YOUR
BUDGET . THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
SHARISA FOLLOWED BY LAUREN
GIBBONS THEN WE WILL TRANSFER
BACK TO IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SHARISA,
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
COFOUNDER OF SHE CLINIC AND
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO SUPPORT
SHE CLINIC FUNDING DUE TO END
IN 2025. WE WOULD LIKE
CONTINUED FUNDING TO SUPPORT
FOR CO-LOCATED CLINICS SERVING
WOMEN [ INAUDIBLE ] WE PROVIDE
TRAUMA-INFORMED, LOW BARRIER,
NONJUDGMENTAL CARE WITHIN AN
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS PROVIDED
SERVICES FOR THESE WOMEN FOR
MANY YEARS. OUR SERVICES
INCLUDE HARM REDUCTION, LOW
BARRIER ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS
FOR OPIATE USE DISORDER, SEXUAL
HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE
SERVICES . IT'S CRITICAL TO
CONTINUE THESE SERVICES. WE
PROVIDE CARE FOR OVER 400 WOMEN
LAST YEAR AND WE HOPE TO
CONTINUE PROVIDING CARE. THESE
FUNDS WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY
ASKED FOR IN RESPONSE TO [
INAUDIBLE ] AS WELL AS OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS .
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS LAURA
GIVENS. LAURA, WELCOME. I SEE
YOU ARE THERE. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. LAURA, YOU ARE OFF
MUTE.
>> HI. I LAURA GIVENS, DISTRICT
TWO RESIDENT. HERE ARE A FEW OF
THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH THIS
PROPOSED BUDGET. I OBJECT USING
JUMPSTART REVENUE FOR ANYTHING
BESIDES ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH WE
DESPERATELY NEED. I CARE ABOUT
THIS PARTICULARLY BECAUSE I
WOULD LIKE MY DAUGHTER TO MOVE
BACK HERE BUT BECAUSE SHE DOES
NOT WORK [ INAUDIBLE ] SHE
CAN'T AFFORD TO. I URGE YOU TO
RESHAPE THE ENTIRE BUDGET ALONG
THE LINES OF THE SEATTLE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET WHICH
GUARANTEES INCOME,
TRANSPORTATION, CLIMATE
RESILIENCE, COMMUNICATION, FAIR
FOOD IN THE LIVING WAGE. WE
WOULD NEW -- NEED NEW REVENUE
SOURCES. YOU HAVE THE REPORT,
SO IMPLEMENT IT. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND THANKS TO MY
REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, WHO I THINK AGREES.
>> WE ARE GOING TO NOW RETURN
TO IN PERSON SPEAKERS FOR THE
ONLINE SPEAKERS . WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH 10 FOLKS . WE HAVE A
TOTAL OF 28 MEMBERS, 26 AND 27,
CLAIRE CANTOR AND BJ LESTER
STILL NOT PRESENT. EVERYONE
ELSE IS PRESENT ONLINE. MOVING
BACK TO THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS
. THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE [
INAUDIBLE ]. AGAIN, WE HAVE TWO
MICROPHONES.
>> GOOD MORNING. I CO-CHAIR OF
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES.
>> JEN, WERE JUST GOING TO
RESTART. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE
MICROPHONE IS ON. IT'S ON?
JUST BE CLOSE TO THE
MICROPHONE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I CO-CHAIR OF
THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD BANK.
THANK YOU FOR RESTORING CERTAIN
INVESTMENTS IN HUMAN SERVICES O
NOURISHING FOOD PROGRAMS AND 25
AND 26. TODAY I AMSPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF COMMENDATIONS INCLUD
FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR
MEMBER COALITIONS. S HSC IS IN
SUPPORT OF THE COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS BUDGET PRIORITIES.
WE KNOW THAT FOR EVERYONE TO
HAVE A SAFE AND THRIVING
COMMUNITY DEEPER INVESTMENT
MUST BE MADE TO PROTECT THE
WELL-BEING OF ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT HELPS KEEP
AGENCIES KEEP UP WITH OPERATING
COSTS. WE NEED TO INVEST IN
WAGE EQUITY. MORE INVESTMENTS
STILL NEED TO BE MADE. AS A
FOOD BANK, I SEE THE INCREASED
NEED. OUR NUMBERS HAVE JUMPED
FROM 32 MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD
VISITS PRE-COVER TO OVER
10,000. PLEASE INVEST MORE IN
FOOD BANKS. I ALSO ASK THAT AS
A CITY WE DO BETTER. WE CANNOT
RELY ONLY ON JUMPSTART.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
MARISSA PEREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
MARISSA PEREZ. I RESIDE IN
DISTRICT ONE AND I SERVE AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION. WE REPRESENT OVER
200 ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING
ESSENTIAL SERVICES ACROSS THE
CITY. WE LISTEN TO FRONTLINE
HUMAN SERVICE STAFF AND CLIENTS
TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS IN
MAINTAINING THE CURRENT
CAPACITY OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICE SYSTEM AND MEETING THE
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
RESTORING MANY OF THE CUTS MADE
BY THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. IT IS
VITAL TO MAINTAIN THESE
SERVICES AND ANY CUTS WOULD BE
DEVASTATING. WE ARE ALSO ASKING
THEM INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS
APPLY TO ALL HUMAN SERVICE
CONTACTS. WE ARE ASKING THAT
YOU HOLD TO THE COMMITMENT MADE
IN 2023 TO RAISE HUMAN SERVICE
WAGES BY 5% TO ADDRESS WAGE
DISPARITIES THAT IMPACT
FRONT-LINE WORKERS. STABILIZING
VITAL SERVICES THESE WORKERS
PROVIDE, ENSURING WHERE
FORTIFYING AND STRENGTHENING
OUR CAPACITY. WE SUPPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS OF MEMBER
COALITIONS INCLUDING COALITION
ON HOMELESSNESS, THE SEATTLE
FOOD --
>> THANK YOU, MARISSA. UP NEXT
IS DANIEL.
>> GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIR,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS DANIEL LUGO. I WORK AT
YOUTH CARE. THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING FUNDING FOR YOUTH
CARES CENTER IN YOUR PROPOSED
BUDGET. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER WOO, FOR SPONSORING OUR
REQUEST AND COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES FOR COSPONSORING IT.
WITH THAT SAID I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT YOUTH CARE IS A
MEMBER OF THE KING COUNTY
HOMELESS YOUTH SERVICE
PROVIDERS COALITION AS WELL AS
THE COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS
AND HUMAN SERVICES COALITION.
WE SUPPORT THE BUDGET
RECOMMENDATIONS AND I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THEIR RECOMMENDATION
TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SERVICES FOR
THE HOMELESSNESS COMMUNITY. OUR
ORION CENTER IS ONE OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THE FUNDING IS
GOING TO THE COUNTY FOR AND IN
2026 THAT FUNDING WILL DRY UP
AND IF THAT HAPPENS AND ORION
CENTER LOSES THAT MONEY [
INAUDIBLE ] WILL BE IMPACTED.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT US
AS WE TRY TO RECEIVE 2026
FUNDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DANIEL. UP NEXT
IS LIANA.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
LIANA CRESCENT, INTERIM
DIRECTOR OF THE STATEWIDE
POVERTY ACTION NETWORK. I'D
LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
INCLUDING FUNDING FOR LEGAL
SERVICES AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO
MAINTAIN THIS INVESTMENT. ONE
OF THE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS
LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION
PLAYS IN SEATTLE IS HELPING
FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING ON THE
LOWEST INCOMES ACCESS OR KEEP
PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS THAT
HELP FAMILIES. WE ARE HELPING
THEM PAY FOR THE MOST BASIC
NEEDS LIKE FOOD, SHELTER,
CLOTHING, MEDICINE. BENEFITS
LEGAL ASSISTANCE HELPS ENSURE
FAMILIES CAN ACCESS LIFE-SAVING
PROGRAMS THAT PUT FEDERAL AND
STATE DOLLARS INTO THE POCKETS
OF SEATTLE FAMILIES FACING
HARDSHIPS. THIS WORK IS A FORM
OF PREVENTION WHICH HELPS
FAMILIES AND OTHER VULNERABLE
ADULTS MAINTAIN ACCESS TO THESE
PROGRAMS. PLEASE SUPPORT
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY
MAINTAINING THIS $180,000
INVESTMENT AND SERVICES
FUNDING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
PHOENICIA FOLLOWED BY JOEY.
>> THANK YOU. I'M THE POLICY
SPECIALIST AT SOLID GROUND FOR
A SERVICE PROVIDER THAT
SUPPORTS FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY
LIVING ON LOW INCOMES. IN
DISTRICT FOUR WE OPERATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN DISTRICT
TWO WE HAVE A SAFE HAVEN FOR
FAMILIES ESCAPING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. IN DISTRICT ONE WE
GROW THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF
ORGANIC PRODUCE IN OUR FIRM FOR
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND
CHAIR STRAUSS FOR RESTORING
LEGAL SERVICES FUNDING. WE HOPE
THAT YOU ALL WILL KEEP THAT IN
THE BUDGET AND ATTEND TO THE
CLERICAL ERROR THAT ANOTHER
COMMENTOR MENTIONED. WE ALSO
HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL FUND
TENANT SERVICES, NOT JUST FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. WHILE WE
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
ADDITIONAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE
DOLLARS, 10 SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE OFTEN THE
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR
FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOUSING
CHALLENGE SO SOLID GROUNDS
PROGRAM CAN HELP FAMILIES
REQUEST PAYMENT PLANS, AND
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH
LANDLORDS OR RESOLVE NEGLECTED
REPAIRS.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS JOEY
FOLLOWED BY CELIA CASTLE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JOEY LOPEZ. I COEXECUTIVE OF
THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER
SEATTLE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT
THREE AND WORK IN DISTRICT TWO
AND WORSHIP IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
FOR 105 YEARS THE CHURCH
COUNCILS WORKED WITH NEARLY 150
FAITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS
SEATTLE. FOR MANY OF THESE
YEARS WE WERE A DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDER OFFERING PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT IF WE STILL
MANAGED TODAY, WOULD BE ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK. FAITH LEADERS
ACROSS THE CITY KNOW BY NAME,
THOSE IN THEIR CONGREGATIONS
WHO WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THESE
CUTS IN SERVICES AND BY
DIVESTMENT FROM JUMPSTART
PRIORITIES. FAITH COMMUNITIES
UNDERSTAND THE GAPS IN
SEATTLE'S HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS
AND HUMAN SERVICES BECAUSE
FAITH COMMUNITIES ARE SOME OF
THOSE EXPECTED TO FILL THOSE
GAPS. THIS EXPERIENCE INFORMS
OUR BELIEF THAT BUDGETS ARE A
MORAL DOCUMENT. THIS EXPERIENCE
IS WHY THE CHURCH COUNCIL AND
FAITH LEADERS HAVE OFFERED [
INAUDIBLE ] DURING THE LAST
FOUR WEEKS OF BUDGET MEETINGS.
WE ARE CALLING ON YOU TO ENSURE
THAT THE JUMPSTART PLAN IS
PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT TO CELIA
CASTLE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CELIA CASTLE. WE ARE HERE
REPRESENTING SOUTH SEATTLE
FRIENDS MEETING. WE WORSHIP IN
THE CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER
WHICH IS IN COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLYWOOD'S DISTRICT. I ALSO
LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND
SALLY LIVES IN DISTRICT TWO.
MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER RELY
ON LOW INCOME AND HOUSING.
FUNDING THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS
FUNDAMENTAL TO A THRIVING
CENTRAL DISTRICT. I STAND
UNITED WITH THE CHURCH COUNCIL'
ROUNDTABLE. AS PEOPLE OF FAITH,
WE BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT BUDGETS
ARE A MORAL DOCUMENT. I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO BE GOOD STEWARDS
OF OUR RESOURCES. PRIORITIZE
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT. TAKE ACTIONS TO
PRESERVE THE JUMPSTART FUNDS
INTO THE FUTURE .
>> THANK YOU. MR. EPSTEIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS MARK EPSTEIN. I RETIRED
AFTER 25 YEARS AT RAINIER
BEACH, LONGTIME EDUCATOR IN THE
COMMUNITY, CURRENTLY A
SUBSTITUTE. MY FORMER STUDENTS
HAVE BEEN ENTREPRENEURS,
CREATIVE ARTISTS, LEADERS OF
BASKETBALL TEAMS AND EVEN CITY
COUNCIL BUDGET CHAIRS. I AM
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF STUDENT
MENTAL HEALTH MONEY. THEY WON
$20 MILLION AND WE ARE WAITING
FOR IT TO BE IMPLEMENTED. MY
WIFE AND I WERE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A SHOOTOUT, 30 SHOTS LAST
YEAR, WHICH WE WERE FORTUNATE
TO SURVIVE, AND I UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS CRISIS IS MORE
PROFOUND THAN MOST ADULTS
REALIZE FOR OUR YOUTH. MENTAL
HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION
ARE INTIMATELY CONNECTED AND
STUDENTS WANT STAFFING. THEY
WANT PEOPLE IN THE BUILDINGS .
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL WE SAW
MANY PARTS OF IT FALL AWAY
RECENTLY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. EPSTEIN AND
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART FOR THE EDUCATION YOU
PROVIDED ME THROUGH SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. UP NEXT IS
LAUREL GRAY FOLLOWED BY ALLISON
ICING OVER.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
LAUREL GRAY . I'M HERE TODAY
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ADDING
$750,000 TO THE BUDGET FOR MEAL
PROGRAMS. I WANT TO THANK
BUDGET CHAIR DAN STRAUSS FOR
INCLUDING THIS REQUEST AND THE
BALANCING PACKAGE THE COUNCILS
ARE SUPPORTING AND SINCERE
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR CHAMPION --
CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE. WE
SERVE 7000 MEALS DAILY TO
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS FROM SHELTERS TO
TINY HOME VILLAGES TO OUR OPEN
MEAL SITE WE HAVE A PRESENCE IN
EVERY DISTRICT. WE HAVE SEEN A
24% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR IN
DEMAND. THE $750,000 STRATEGIC
INVESTMENT WILL HELP BRIDGE
THAT GAP SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO
SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR
NEIGHBORS, WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HUNGER DAILY. FOR 35 YEARS WE
HAVE OPERATED UNDER THE PREMISE
THAT NUTRITIONAL EXCELLENCE IS
A RIGHT WE ARE BORN TO, NOT A
PRIVILEGE THAT WE ARE IN. WHEN
PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER THE
COLLECTIVE MORAL OF THE
COMMUNITY IS AFFECTED. SOME
WILL RESORT TO WHATEVER MEANS
NECESSARY --
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
ALLISON. YOUR NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. GOOD MORNING, BUDGET
CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON. MY NAME IS
ALLISON AZINGER. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE KING
COUNTY COMMISSION ON
HOMELESSNESS. I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR THE VARIOUS
AMENDMENTS YOU'VE BROUGHT
FORWARD AND TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
MAY BE FAIRLY DESCRIBED AS THE
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WHICH IS
WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR NATION AND
IN OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITIES
SIX DAYS FROM NOW. THE BUDGET
THAT YOU WERE WORKING ON IS
SOMETHING THAT MUST INOCULATE
THE CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS FROM
THE WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND
WE WANT TO BOTH APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU HAVE DONE THUS FAR AND ALSO
EXHORT YOU TO DO THE THINGS
THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE WE
DO NOT SEE INCREASES IN
HOMELESSNESS REGARDLESS OF THE
OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION. YOU KNOW AND WE KNOW
-- UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST DO
MORE TO END HOMELESSNESS . WE
ARE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL
$3.5 MILLION TO FULLY RESTORE
TENANT SERVICES AND SUPPORTS .
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS TERRY
ANDERSON ONLINE. ALLISON, WE
ARE MOVING ON . NEXT UP IS
TERRY ANDERSON FOLLOWED BY
ELIZABETH DALL . TERRY, I SEE
YOU ARE HERE. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. TERRY, YOU ARE OFF
MUTE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS TERRY
ANDERSON AND I AM THE INTERIM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON
STATE SPEAKING TODAY TO THANK
YOU FOR ADDING 355,000 TO THE
BUDGET FOR TENANT SERVICES BUT
ALSO TO TELL YOU THAT IS NOT
ENOUGH. WE ASK THAT YOU RESTORE
THE FUNDS TO THE 2024 BUDGET.
THE TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON
STATE RECEIVES FUNDS TO CONDUCT
VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TENANTS
RIGHTS WORKSHOP. WE EDUCATE
RENTERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
DURING THE MOVE IN AND WITHOUT
PROCESS AND EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENS . TENANTS WHO DO NOT
KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND THE LAW
OPERATE OUT OF FEAR AND WILL
MOVE UNNECESSARILY WHEN THEY DO
NOT UNDERSTAND NOTICES THAT ARE
POSTED ON THE DOORS. THIS MEANS
SEATTLE RENTERS WILL BECOME
HOMELESS ON THIS IS AVOIDABLE.
WE ALSO REFER TENANTS TO OTHER
LEGAL RESOURCES. THE RACIAL
DIVIDE AND HOMEOWNERSHIP MEANS
TENANTS ARE BLACK AND BROWN.
PLEASE DO NOT CUT THE FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
ELIZABETH FOLLOWED BY ALICE
LOCKHART. ELIZABETH, YOU ARE
HERE.
>> I AM HERE. IS IT MY TURN?
>> YES, IT IS.
>> OKAY. I WAS [ INAUDIBLE ] IN
2015 AURORA COMMENTS PARTNERED
WITH THE MADISON CLINIC TO
LAUNCH THE SHE CLINIC FOR WOMEN
, FOCUSED ON WOMEN WHO HAVE
BEEN IN THE SEX TRADE. I'M
HERE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
MOORE FOR INCLUDING SHE CLINIC
FUNDING AND FOR CHAIR STRAUSS
FOR INCLUDING IT IN THE
PACKAGE. WE REQUEST COUNCIL
VOTE IN FAVOR OF MAINTAINING
THIS FUNDING. I'M ALSO HERE TO
SPEAK IN FAVOR OF -- I JUST
READ THE PROVISO FOR 2 MILLION
IN GENERAL FUND FOR HSD FOR
SUPPORTS FOR COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION. I THINK THE
LANGUAGE THAT WAS ADOPTED HERE
IS REALLY GREAT AND I'M
GRATEFUL FOR IT. THANK YOU ALL.
>> UP NEXT IS ALICE LOCKHART .
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I AM
ALICE LOCKHART . THANKS TO THE
PACKAGE DROPPING
UNPRECEDENTEDLY LATE AND A
DISABILITY THAT PRECLUDES MY
STAYING UP LATE, I HAVE NOT DUG
INTO IT AS I NORMALLY WOULD. I
DID NOTICE THAT ART REVENUE
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO ARTS
IS RESTORED AND THAT'S GREAT.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE --
BASICALLY WE HAVE HEARD THIS
MORNING ABOUT UNPRECEDENTED
NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AT
THE SAME TIME WE READ IN THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET K, LET'S USE
JUMPSTART FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
JUMPSTART IS THE PREDOMINANT
SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR ALL OF
THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE HEARD SO
ELOQUENTLY ABOUT TODAY. PLEASE,
YOU HAVE THE REVENUE TASK FORCE
REPORT. PLEASE USE IT .
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS SHRI
JEN. MY APOLOGIES TO EVERYONE
IF I HAVE MISSTATED YOUR NAME.
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. GOOD
MORNING.
>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. I SEE [
INAUDIBLE ] I'M HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ADDING THE
750,000 TO THE BUDGET FOR THESE
PROGRAMS. I WANT TO THANK CHAIR
STRAUSS FOR INSERTING THIS IN
THE BALANCE PACKAGE AND THANK
COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS AS
WELL AS SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL
MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. I
UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS
FUNDING IS FOR A SMALL
ORGANIZATION LIKE US , AND THE
PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. WE SERVE
30% MORE MEALS THAN LAST YEAR.
THE DECREASE IN FUNDING IS
UNTENABLE FOR US. [ INAUDIBLE ]
WE HEARD THE DESPERATION IN HER
VOICE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THIS FUNDING IS REALLY NEEDED
FOR PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS JENNY
FOLLOWED BY KRISTIN. JENNY, I
SEE YOU'RE THERE AND YOU ARE
OFF MUTE. MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JENNY McINTOSH. I'M THE
OPERATIONS AND FINANCE MANAGER
AT THE TENANTS UNION OF
WASHINGTON AND RENTER FROM
DISTRICTS THREE. THANK YOU FOR
RESTORING FUNDS FOR TENANT
SERVICES. IT IS CRITICAL TO
RESTORE FUNDING TO AT LEAST
2024 LEVELS. TENANT EDUCATION
AND OUTREACH KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED
AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THESE SERVICES ARE NEEDED NOW
MORE THAN EVER. MORE PEOPLE ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHICH
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS LOW
INCOME, DISABLED, BLACK
BUSINESS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITIES. THE TENANTS
EMITTING IS A SMALL NONPROFIT
THAT HAS BEEN SERVING SINCE
1977 AND WE SERVE 22 SEATTLE
RENTERS EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE
RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY
TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR
DECADES. THERE ARE NINE OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ALSO RECEIVED
FUNDING IN TOGETHER THE
SERVICES WE OFFER CREATES AN
ESSENTIAL SAFETY NET. PLEASE
FULLY RESTORE FUNDING FOR
TENANT SERVICES SO OUR
ORGANIZATIONS CAN CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT RENTERS AND PREVENT
FURTHER DISPLACEMENT AND
HOUSING LOSS.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
KRISTEN FOLLOWED BY PAULA.
KRISTIN, I SEE YOU ARE HERE.
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. I SEE YOU
ARE OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY AT
YOUR CONVENIENCE. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
KRISTEN. I AM A BOARD MEMBER OF
THE AURORA COMMENTS. I AM THE
CHIEF NURSING OFFICER OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
NORTHWEST CAMPUS AND I LIVE IN
DISTRICT FIVE. I WENT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER MORE FOR HER
RECOMMENDATION OF CONTINUATION
OF BUDGET FUNDS FOR THE SHE
CLINIC. THIS FUNDING IS
IMPORTANT WITH THE PASSING OF
THE SOAP LAW WHICH CHANGES THE
LANDSCAPE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
EXPERIENCING COMMERCIAL SEX
EXPLOITATION. THEY NEED LOW
BARRIER HEALTHCARE NOW MORE
THAN EVER. PLEASE CONSIDER THAT
HEALTHCARE AND RETURN TO HEALTH
IS OFTEN THE FIRST STEP ON A
PATH TO FREEDOM, SAFETY AND
RECOVERY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS PAUL
FOLLOWED BY CASEY. MAGGIE GREEN
AND THEN ZAKIA , AT WHICH POINT
WE WILL RETURN TO IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS AND FINISH OFF OUR
ONLINE SPEAKERS. PAUL, I SEE
YOUR HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
YOU'RE OFF MUTE. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM REPRESENTING THE
WASHINGTON BLACK ALLIANCE AND [
INAUDIBLE ] I AM A BOARD
MEMBER. A LOT OF MY MEMBERS
WORK WITHIN SIGHT AND DISTRICT
THREE SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK ON THIS BUDGET. FIRST
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR THE PARTIAL RESTORATION OF
FUNDING FOR TENANT SERVICES. IT
IS A MEANINGFUL STEP AND WE
NEED FULL RESTORATION TO 2024
LEVELS. THIS FUNDING IS CRUCIAL
TO ENSURE TENANTS ACROSS
SEATTLE HAVE THE ESSENTIAL
SERVICES THEY NEED TO
UNDERSTAND RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. WE KNOW
BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR NEED THESE CRITICAL
HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES TO
MAINTAIN THEIR STABILITY AS WE
ASK PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK
IN PERSON. THESE HOUSEHOLDS ARE
FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE RENTERS
AND STABILITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO
ADVANCING EQUITY IN THE CITY.
WITH RISK CONTINUING TO RISE IN
HOMELESSNESS NOW WOULD BE THE
WORST TIME TO REDUCE SUPPORT
FOR TENANTS WITH OVER HALF OF
SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS DEPENDING ON
RENTAL SYSTEM SO WE THANK YOU
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE COUNCIL TO RESTORE
THESE FUNDING MECHANISMS.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS CASEY
FOLLOWED BY MAGGIE. CASEY,
WELCOME.
>> HI THERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME
ALL RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS
CASEY BURTON. I'M A SENIOR
STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE PLYMOUTH
LAW CENTER. I THANK YOU FOR
ENSURING SOME OF THE FUNDING TO
TENANT SERVICES BUT IT'S NOT
ENOUGH AT A TIME ONE
HOMELESSNESS IS GROWING. THERE
IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR CUTTING
FUNDING TO SERVICES THAT KEEP
PEOPLE HOUSED. FURTHER, IF YOU
CUT OUR FUNDING YOU'RE NOT
ONLY HURTING US AND OTHER
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RELY
ON US TO HELP THEIR CLIENTS AND
THOSE THEY SERVE KEEP THEM
PROTECTED AND KEEP THEM HOUSED.
EVERYDAY, I TALKED TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS
AND WITHOUT US THEY WOULD HAVE
NO HELP SO UNLESS YOU ARE READY
TO BE THE PERSON WHO TELLS
SOMEBODY GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR
LANDLORD OR LOSING YOUR HOUSING
SUBSIDY OR CHARGING YOU FOR
DAMAGE FOR A BURST PIPE THAT
WASN'T YOUR FAULT I DON'T
WANT THERE TO BE ANY CUT OF
FUNDING SO I ASK THAT YOU
REINSTATE THE INITIAL FUNDING
AND INCLUDE MORE. THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS MAGGIE FOLLOWED
BY ZAKIA . GOOD MORNING. TAKE
IT AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING. I MAGGIE
GREEN, A PHYSICIAN AT UW
PRACTICING AT UW MEDICAL CENTER
NORTHWEST AND AT HARBORVIEW AND
I'M ONE OF THE PROVIDERS AT
THE SHE CLINIC THAT YOU HAVE
ALREADY HEARD OF THE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN [ INAUDIBLE
] AND HARBORVIEW. WE PROVIDE
LOW BARRIER CARE . THIS CLINIC
HAS BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN
ENGAGING WOMEN WHO WERE
PREVIOUSLY NOT RECEIVING ANY
LONGITUDINAL PREVENTIVE CARE
AND HAD TO RELY ON EXPENSIVE
AND DISJOINTED EMERGENCY
ROOM-BASED CARE. LAST YEAR, WE
SERVED OVER 400 WOMEN AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, AT LEAST ONE EVERY
CLINIC SESSION, MOST OF WHOM
ARE BROUGHT IN BY A TRUSTED
FRIEND IS A SAFE SPACE TO
RECEIVE CARE. I KNOW WORKING IN
OTHER PLACES IN HEALTHCARE THAT
OUR SUCCESS IS COMPLETELY
DEPENDENT ON OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE AURORA COMMENTS. THIS
FUNDING PROVIDES CRITICAL
WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND LOSING
THAT WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING
IMPACT ON GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE FOR INCLUDING YOUR
FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU AND UP NEXT IS
ZAKIA PAYTON. WELCOME. I SEE
YOU ARE THERE. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. NOT POUND. THERE YOU
ARE. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS THE
KEY A PATENT. I AM A MOTHER OF
EIGHT BUT I WEAR MANY HATS AS A
PEER RESOURCE COORDINATOR AT
SOLID GROUND , AN ACTIVE MEMBER
OF THE WASHINGTON TENANTS
RIGHTS MEETING AS WELL AS ABOVE
AND BEYOND IN MY COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, I'M CALLING TO ASK
THAT WE RESTORE THE TENANT
SERVICES BUDGET TO AT LEAST
2024 LEVELS. I'M ALSO CALLING
IN SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES AT
SOLID GROUND . I REFER VARIOUS
FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO THEIR
INTAKE LINE SO THEY CAN BE
REFERRED TO THE RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AS TENANTS AND
I FEEL IT IS VERY CRITICAL,
ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME,
WHEN A LOT OF BLACK AND BROWN
OR BIPOC FAMILIES ARE BEING
DISPLACED DUE TO LACK OF
FUNDING AND SERVICES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
RETURN TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE TWO REMAINING. YOU CAN
STILL SIGN UP UNTIL THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT. OUR LAST TWO
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ARE ADAM
GLICKMAN AND KAT MUNSON.
WELCOME. YOUR FIRST. CAN A
SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS,
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. CRIME
IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN SEATTLE
AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
CORPORATIONS STEAL $15 MILLION
A YEAR FROM WORKERS THROUGH
CORPORATE WAGE THEFT. MORE THAN
ALL OTHER FORMS OF THEFT
COMBINED. THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS HAS RECOVERED $45
MILLION FROM VICTIMS OF WAGE
THEFT IN OUR CITY. WE KNOW THIS
IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, BUT
THIS BALLOTING PACKAGE STILL
CUTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS FROM THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS, ELIMINATING
MULTIPLE POSITIONS DEDICATED TO
INVESTIGATING AND ENFORCING OUR
LAWS AGAINST CORPORATE WAGE
THEFT. WE ENCOURAGE THIS
COUNSEL TO STAND UP FOR THE
THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS OF
CORPORATE WAGE THEFT IN OUR
CITY AND FULLY FUND ENFORCEMENT
AND INVESTIGATION OF THIS
CRIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS KAT
MUNSON THEN WE WILL RETURN TO
ONLINE SPEAKERS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS KAT MUNSON, ADVOCATE AT
REAL CHANGE. TWO WEEKS AGO IN
THESE CHAMBERS HE MET JEREMY.
HE IS CURRENTLY ON HOUSE TO
LIVING IN HIS CAMPER IN WHITE
CENTER. HE IS ALSO A PROUD
FIRST-TIME VOTER IN DISTRICT
ONE. HE SPOKE PASSIONATELY
ABOUT THE NEED FOR FUNDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT ONE
DAY HE CAN HAVE A SAFE AND
PERMANENT HOME. THAT WAS HIS
FIRST TIME GIVING PUBLIC
COMMENT. HE WAS CLEARLY VERY
NERVOUS AND GET THE CONVICTION
AND URGENCY IN HIS VOICE WERE
PALPABLE. THE PHRASE RATE
JUMPSTART TO MEAN ANYTHING TO
HIM AT THE TIME BUT HE
CERTAINLY GOT WHAT IT MEANT FOR
FUNDS DEDICATED TO HELPING HIM
GET INTO A PERMANENT HOME GOING
TO SOMETHING ELSE IN THE
BUDGET. THE PATH TO ADDICTION
AND HOMELESSNESS IS PAVED WITH
BUDGET CUTS TO RENTAL SERVICES.
WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE LIMITED
RESTORATION OF FUNDING AND THE
BOUNCING PACKAGE, IT IS NOT
SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR CITY DON'T
END UP ON THIS PATH.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
RETURN TO ONLINE SPEAKERS. IF
YOU ARE IN PERSON I WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK, PLEASE SIGN UP NOW.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON THE
SPEAKERS WHO ARE NOT PRESENT ,
THEN I WILL RUN THROUGH THE
LIST IN ORDER. NOT PRESENT ARE
OLIVER MR., BJ LAST, RUBY
ROMERO, CARLY MARTIN, DAVID
HAYNES. WE WILL NOW GO IN THE
FOLLOWING ORDER. IAN DAVID
CREEKMORE, OLIVER MR. ,
MICHELLE EATON, JOHN GRANT,
JESSE SIMPSON, CLAIRE CANTOR,
BJ LAST IF THEY ARRIVE, TIFFANY
McCOY, RUBY ROMERO, CARLY MARSH
AND IF THEY ARRIVE, DENNIS
SILLS AND DAVID HAYNES IS NOW
PRESENT. WITH THAT, IAN, YOU'RE
UP NEXT AND I SEE YOU ARE OFF
MUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOU
TAKING MY CALL TODAY. WE WERE
SPONSORING AN ITEM TO SPEND
$1.5 MILLION TO CONVERT THE
BASEBALL INFIELD AT FAIRMONT
PARK FROM GRASS AND ARTIFICIAL
TURF. ON SEPTEMBER 26 THE
SEATTLE PARKS COMMISSION STATED
IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENT
THAT IT IS THE POLICY TO
INSTALL SYNTHETIC TURF AND
FURTHER CLARIFIED THAT SINCE
THE PARK HAS NO LIGHTING THEY
QUOTE, WOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO
EXPAND THE USE BY INSTALLING
SYNTHETIC TURF AT THAT LOCATION
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
CLARIFY AND COMMUNICATE TO YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AS THE PARKS
COMMISSION ASKS FOR TURF TO BE
INSTALLED ARE YOU COORDINATING
WITH THEM ? DO YOU INTEND TO
INSTALL LIGHTING AT FAIRMOUNT
PARK AND DO YOU INTEND TO
INSTALL TURF BEYOND THE INFIELD
AT FAIRMOUNT PARK? AS A
CONSTITUENT I DO NOT WANT TURF
AND LIGHTING INSTALLED THERE.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS ALL
OVER, NOT PRESENT. WE'RE GOING
TO MOVE ON TO MICHELLE EASTMAN
FOLLOWED BY JOHN GRANT AND
JESSE SIMPSON. YOU ARE STILL
MUTED. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
MICHELLE HAS DISAPPEARED. SHE
IS NOT PRESENT. JOHN GRANT. I
SEE YOU ARE HERE. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. I SEE YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
TAKE IT AWAY AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JOHN GRANT WITH THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE. I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
ADDING TWO NEW TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES TO THE BUDGET AND
BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS AND
COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THIS
POSSIBLE. THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE IS STILL
REQUESTING THE CITY COUNCIL
COMMIT JUMPSTART DOLLARS TO BE
AVAILABLE TO THE 2024 OFFICE OF
HOUSING NOVA. THERE IS A NEED
FOR MORE HOUSING ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE PRECEDENT FOR
[ INAUDIBLE ] THIS ENABLES MORE
PROJECTS TO BREAK GROUND AND
BRING HOUSING ONLINE QUICKLY.
PLEASE ALSO INTRODUCE A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
. THE BALANCING PACKAGE DOES
NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDE SET-ASIDE
FUNDS FROM JUMPSTART TO HELP
STABILIZE NONPROFIT PROVIDERS,
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS. WE NEED HELP TO
COVER RENT. PLEASE FORWARD
COMMITTEE JUMPSTART DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. UP NEXT IS
JESSE SIMPSON FOLLOWED BY
CLAIRE CANTOR.
>> I'M JESSE SIMPSON WITH THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT [ INAUDIBLE
] IN THIS BUDGET I URGE YOU TO
DOUBLE DOWN ON YOUR COMMITMENT
TO INCREASING AND SUSTAINING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY RETAINING
THE LONG-TERM JUMPSTART
SPENDING PLAN AND COMMITTING
FUNDS. WE APPRECIATE [
INAUDIBLE ] AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FUNDING . THE PROSPECT OF
LOSING JUMPSTART FUNDING PLAN
RESTRICTIONS FROM THE PLACE.
JUMPSTART WAS CREATED TO
ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS FOR
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT. THESE
FUNDS ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN
EVER. [ INAUDIBLE ] HOUSING
RECEIVED $361 MILLION IN
REQUEST BUT ONLY 112 MILLION IS
AVAILABLE. ANY DIVERSION OF
JUMPSTART FUNDS NEEDS TO BE
TEMPORARY. RETAIN FUNDS FOR
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND
COMMIT TO CLOSE OUR STRUCTURAL
FUND BUDGET DEFICIT. THANK YOU.
>> I SEE MICHELLE EASTMAN IS
NOW PRESENT. WE WILL GO BACK TO
MICHELLE EASTMAN. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE FOLLOWED BY CLERIC
COUNTER. MICHELLE, NOT POUNDS
SIX, BUT STAR SIX. WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU. OUR MISSION IS TO
FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS AND
CAUSES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO IT. I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
RESTORING SOME FUNDS FOR TENANT
SERVICES AND I URGE THE COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER FULLY RESTORING
TENANT SERVICES FUNDING TO
PREVENT HOMELESSNESS. SERVICES
FOR WOMEN AND ALL PEOPLE ARE
VITAL. I VOLUNTEERED FOR
MARY'S PLACE YEARS AGO AND
SEEN FIRSTHAND THE HELP THEY
PROVIDE. I ALSO URGE YOU TO
RECONSIDER TAKING FUNDS FROM
JUMPSTART PERMANENTLY. DO THAT
FOR THE TIME BEING AND TO LOOK
AT THAT GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE. UP NEXT
IS CLAIRE CANTOR FOLLOWED BY BJ
LAST, WHO IS NOT PRESENT, AND
TIFFANY McCOY, WHO IS. STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT ONE
MORE SECOND THEN MOVE ON TO
TIFFANY McCOY AND COME BACK TO
CLARA. TIFFANY IS HERE. STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE. TIFFANY IS OFF
MUTE. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. MY
NAME IS TIFFANY McCOY. I WORK
AT HOUSE OUR NEIGHBOR . WITH
MARY'S PLACE SET FOR CLOSING,
OUR COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD TO
LOSE THIS NEEDED CAPACITY. WE
WORK WITH OTHER PROVIDERS TO
PROPOSE A $500,000 ADDITION TO
THE 2025 BUDGET TO ASSURE WE
HAVE NO NET LOSS OF HOMELESS
SERVICES. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THE SHELTER IS THERE FOR
SURVIVAL, STABILITY AND ACCESS.
WE ALSO NEED TO FULLY RESTORE
TENANT SERVICES. I STRONGLY
OPPOSE THE $2 MILLION COUNCIL
MEMBER SAKA WANTS TO USE FOR A
TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICE. THE
BUDGET DEFICIT THIS MONEY CAN
BE SPENT IN A MYRIAD OF OTHER
WAYS. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> TIFFANY, YOU DISAPPEARED ON
US. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL
COUNSEL WITH ANY FURTHER
STATEMENTS. CLARA, I SEE YOU
ARE STILL HERE. ARE YOU ABLE TO
UNMUTE? STAR SIX, NOT POUND
SIX. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
RUBY , WHO IS PRESENT. CALLING
THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT
PRESENT, OLIVER MISKA, BJ LAST,
CARLY MARTIN, MICHAEL BELL.
RUBY, I SEE YOU ARE HERE. HOLD
ON, RUBY. TURN OFF THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. I CAN HEAR YOU
LISTENING TO IT IN THE
BACKGROUND. YOU GOT BUMPED.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, RUBY.
DENNIS SILLS IS THE NEXT PERSON
AND THEN RUBY, WE WILL COME
RIGHT BACK TO YOU. OH, YOU ARE
HERE. DENNIS, WELCOME. YOU ARE
OFF MUTE.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. I
WORK FOR SUMMIT HOUSING. WE
PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING TO
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. WE
FEAR THAT EACH STAGE OF THE
PROCESS HOW IMPORTANT
PRESERVING THE PLAN IS TO THE
FUTURE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
OUR REGION. OUR READING OF THE
BALANCING PACKAGE DOES NOT SHOW
PRESERVATION OF THE SPENDING
PLAN. FUNDING FOR JUMPSTART IS
THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE OF
HOUSE FUNDING FOR HOUSING IN
OUR REGION. WE URGE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO
PRESERVE THE SPEND PLAN. WE
ALSO WISH TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON FOR HSD-026-
812 CONTINUE RECOVERY SERVICES
INCLUDING [ INAUDIBLE ] THANK
YOU.
>> RUBY, WE ARE GOING TO CALL
ON YOU LAST, JUST GIVE YOU A
MINUTE TO CATCH HER BREATH.
THANK YOU FOR RUNNING. WE STILL
HAVE CLARA CANTOR HERE. IF YOU
ARE ABLE TO UNMUTE WE WILL TAKE
YOU NEXT. WE ARE GOING TO COME
BACK TO YOU AT THE END, CLARA,
SO BE READY. DAVID HAYNES AND
BRETT ARE THE FINAL TWO
REMOTELY PRESENT. DAVID, I SEE
YOU ARE OFF MUTE. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU.
DAVID HAYNES. IT IS MORE
IMPORTANT TO USE TAX DOLLARS TO
SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS FOR
THE INNOCENT HOMELESS THAT ARE
BEING RACIALLY DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST BY THE BOTTOM OF THE
BARREL POLICIES PROGRESSES
CREATED THAT JUDGE SKIN COLOR
AND DON'T JUDGE THE CONTENT OF
A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE REPEAT
OFFENDING CHARACTER CRIMINAL
WHO GETS MORE SERVICES FIRST
YET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS UNDER
THE GUISE OF GENERATIONAL
WEALTH BUILDING FOR CERTAIN
SKIN COLORS ARE REDIRECTED TO
HELP CERTAIN PEOPLE BUY A HOME
WITH TAX DOLLARS FOR THE ONLY
CAPACITY BUILT IS BUYING OFF
NONPROFITS HIDING RACIST GEORGE
FLOYD BIPOC PROTESTERS LINING
THEIR POCKETS PROMISING NOT TO
PROTEST IF THEY GET PAID WHILE
STILL NOT BUILDING ANY
LEGITIMATE AMOUNT OF CAPACITY
FOR SHELTER. THAT IS THE SAME
RACIST WOKE ANTISOCIAL
INJUSTICE PLANS THIS BUDGET
REITERATES WITH THE SAME BAD
POLICIES OF THE PAST FOUR YEARS
THAT THE MAYOR ATTEMPTS TO PULL
THE WOOL OVER THE EYES ABOUT
THE LIES AND REASONS WHY
CREATING A JUSTIFIED REVOKE AND
SHUTDOWN OF SEATTLE DURING THE
WORLD CUP.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS BRETT.
GOOD MORNING. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING. HELLO,
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BRETT.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3 AND I WORK
FOR A HOUSING PROVIDER IN
DISTRICT ONE. I APPRECIATE THIS
PACKAGES INVESTMENT IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I ASK
YOU TO INVEST MORE. SEATTLE
CONTINUES TO FACE A HUGE
DEFICIENCY IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND YOU HAVE A CHANCE
TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE BY
USING JUMPSTART FUNDS AS THEY
ARE INTENDED. IT IS ALSO
CRITICAL TO PERFECT TENANT
SERVICES TO PREVENT
HOMELESSNESS IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
RETURN. CLARA IS OFF MUTE. GOOD
MORNING. WELCOME.
>> HI. MY NAME IS CLERIC
COUNTER. [ INAUDIBLE ]
ENFORCEMENT SHOULD NOT BE A
REVENUE GENERATOR [ INAUDIBLE ]
I ALSO WANT TO RAISE UP THAT
THE BALANCING PACKAGE WAS NOT
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
UNTIL AFTER 8:00 P.M. LAST
NIGHT WHICH MEANS YOU FORCED
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE
PEOPLE COMMENTING HERE TODAY TO
READ THROUGH AND DECIPHER OVER
200 ITEMS FOR PUTTING KIDS TO
BED, INTERRUPTING DINNER AND
OVER BREAKFAST THIS MORNING
WHICH IS AN APPALLING LACK OF
PUBLIC CONCERN THAT I'VE NEVER
SEEN BEFORE. I WOULD STRONGLY
REQUEST THAT COUNSEL ADD
ANOTHER ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THIS
BUDGET FOR LATER THIS WEEK
RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL THE
ONLY OPPORTUNITY WHICH IS
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR
NOVEMBER 12th THE DAY BEFORE
YOU MOVE AN AMENDMENT. THANK
YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS RUBY ROMERO AND
WHILE RUBY IS GIVING HER PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE WILL GIVE ONE LAST
OPPORTUNITY FOR OLIVER MISKA,
BJ LAST, CARLY MARTIN AND
MICHAEL BELL TO CALL IN. ONCE
RUBY IS DONE, IF YOU ARE NOT
PRESENT ON LINE, WE WILL MOVE
PAST PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD
MORNING, RUBY. THANK YOU FOR
RUNNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. I
APPRECIATE IT. I AM HERE TO
SPEAK TO YOU AS THE CONTINUUM
OF CARE BOARD CO-CHAIR FOR THE
WASHINGTON CONTINUUM OF CARE. I
AM HERE TODAY IS A COMMUNITY
MEMBER, SOMEONE WHO IS AN
ADVOCATE FOR KEEPING ARTS AND
KEEPING OUR PARKS ALIVE. ART IS
A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY AND HAS BEEN FOR MY
ENTIRE LIFE THAT I HAVE LIVED
HERE. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN
DISTRICT ONE AND WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE STILL FUNDING
ALL OF THE PROGRAMS FOR
DOWNTOWN AND PIONEER SQUARE
WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC AND THE
CONCIERGES IN THE PARKS. I LOVE
HAVING THOSE TWO THINGS IN THE
PARKS BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES IT
BRING SEATTLE BACK TO WHAT IT
FELT LIKE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP
BUT IT ALSO JUST IS SAFER AND
THE CONCIERGE IS A REALLY GOOD
ASPECT OF SAFETY THAT DOESN'T
INCLUDE THE POLICE, SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, RUBY. LAST CALL
ON LINE. OLIVER, BJ, CARLY,
MICHAEL. DO WE SEE ANY OF THESE
FOLKS PRESENT?
>> NEGATIVE.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE ON. THIS DOES CONCLUDE
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL MOVE ON
TO THE FIRST ITEM. I SEE
CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTOR BEN
NOBLE COMING TO THE TABLE. AS
BEN IS GETTING READY, I USUALLY
SHORT WITH MY COMMENTS. NOT
THIS TIME, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME
AND I'M GOING TO WALK US
THROUGH A NUMBER OF ITEMS, BOTH
WHAT IS IN THE PACKAGE, THE
PROCESS WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND
HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. I
WILL FIRST AT A HIGH LEVEL SAY
THAT OUR CITY IS BEST WHEN WE
ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE
BASIC SERVICES AND WELCOMING
SPACES THAT SEATTLEITES RELY
ON. THAT IS WHAT THIS BUDGET
PROPOSAL IS ALL ABOUT, WHETHER
IT IS INVESTMENTS AND
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY,
INSURED PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR COMBATING
FOOD INSECURITY, THIS BUDGET IS
ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR CITY
IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE THRIVE
IN. THIS WAS A TOUGH BUDGET
YEAR. WE FACED THE STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $250
MILLION AND WE RECEIVED AN
ECONOMIC FORECAST LAST WEEK
THAT SHOWED AN ADDITIONAL $50
MILLION REDUCTION TO THE
CITY'S GENERAL FUND. IT IS
ALSO TRUE THAT THE SAME
INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT
HELPED CAUSE OUR BUDGET
DEFICITS ARE BEING FELT BY
FAMILIES ACROSS SEATTLE RIGHT
NOW AND WE WON'T LEAVE THEM
BEHIND. THIS BUDGET TAKES A BIG
STEP FORWARD TOWARD FISCAL
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE JOB IS
NOT DONE. AFTER A DECADE OF
HIGH GROWTH AND INFLATION WE
ARE TAKING FOCUSED STEPS TO
REFORM OUR BUDGET. THAT IS WHAT
WE DID THIS YEAR AND WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO
NEXT YEAR. WE ARE TAKING A STEP
BY STEP APPROACH SO THAT WE DO
NOT UNNECESSARILY CUT THE BASIC
SERVICES SEATTLEITES DEPEND ON
AND STEP OVER A CLIFF. WE ARE
TAKING A STEP DOWN APPROACH.
COLLEAGUES, THIS HAS BEEN A BIG
WEEK. EIGHT DAYS AGO WE
FINISHED THE LAST SECTION OF
THE BUDGET WITH THE ECONOMIC
FORECAST AND SDOT'S
PRESENTATION. SINCE THEN I HAVE
WATCHED THE SUN RISE AND SET
FROM MY DESK IN THE SAME DAY .
AS YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE ON
THE SOUND TRANSIT REGIONAL
BOARD IPHOTO THE PREFERRED
ALIGNMENT FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION. WE AS A
CITY LAUNCHED OUR NEWEST
SEMIPROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER
TEAM, SALMON BAY FC. WE WATCHED
THE FIRST WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM
IN THE WORLD SERIES . WE, AS A
CITY, OPENED THE GREEN LAKE
BRANCH LIBRARY WHICH IS BOTH A
LANDMARKED BUILDING AND THE
FUTURE OF HOW SEATTLEITES WILL
BUILD AND RENOVATE BUILDINGS.
THAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT. IF
ANYONE GOES IN THERE, THERE IS
WRITING FROM 1908 STILL
PRESERVED THERE. IT WAS ALSO
THE FIRST TIME I OVER FELT
CLIMATE CONTROLLED ANYTHING IN
THAT BUILDING. WE ARE GRATEFUL
TO THAT SYSTEM. ON TOP OF ALL
THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THE CHAIRS
PACKAGE WHICH REQUIRED A
MINIMUM OF THREE MEETINGS WITH
EACH OFFICE IN CENTRAL STAFF
WORKING HARD. WE ALL WORKED
ACROSS THE WEEKEND. THAT IS
JUST THE LAST EIGHT DAYS. THIS
YEAR WAS DIFFERENT THAN YEARS
PAST FOR ANOTHER REASON. I TOOK
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO
OPERATING AS THE CHAIR OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE. THIS IS NOT
MY PACKAGE. THIS IS OUR
PACKAGE. THE DIFFERENT APPROACH
THAT I TOOK WAS BEING EXTREMELY
INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE'S
PRIORITIES. IT IS OKAY FOR
COLLEAGUES TO DISAGREE ABOUT
EACH OTHER'S PRIORITIES AND
CANDIDLY, THIS IS NOT THE
PACKAGE I WOULD HAVE CREATED IF
LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES AND THIS
IS A BETTER PACKAGE BECAUSE OF
EVERYONE'S INPUT. WE ARE
BETTER WHEN WE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER. THIS YEAR WAS
DIFFERENT THAN IN YEARS PAST
BECAUSE OF ADDRESSING THE
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AND AGAIN
BECAUSE OF THE DOWNWARD
FORECAST MID BUDGET. THE ONLY
OTHER TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED
WAS IN 2020 AND OCTOBER OF 2020
AFTER THE DOWNTURN IN MAY OF
2020 AND THE TIME BEFORE THAT
WAS IN 2008. IT TOOK 10 YEARS
TO GET INTO THE UNSUSTAINABLE
BUDGET SPACE AND IT'S GOING TO
TAKE MORE THAN ONE YEAR TO GET
OUT OF IT BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE
NEED TO DO, AND WE ARE DOING
IT. FIRST, THE THINGS THAT WE
DID THIS YEAR UNDER MY
LEADERSHIP, WE STARTED THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE FIVE MONTHS
EARLIER IN APRIL THAN IN
TYPICAL YEARS. WE COMPLETED THE
IN-DEPTH -- CENTRAL STAFF
COMPLETED THE IN-DEPTH
FIVE-YEAR REVIEW OF THE CITY'S
BUDGET. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THIS HAS BEEN DONE AND TAKING
IT ANOTHER STEP FORWARD, THIS
IS THE SAME ANALYSIS THEY ADDED
TO WITH THEIR ANALYSIS ON THIS
BUDGET SO THE FIVE-YEAR LOOK
BACK NOW GOES BACK TO 2020. THE
FIVE-YEAR LOOK BACK THAT THEY
CREATED IN MARCH WENT BACK TO
2019. THIS IS BUDGET REFORM
PRACTICES. THIS IS WHAT HAS
LEFT US WELL POSITIONED TO
ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET
DEFICIT WITH BEST PRACTICES IN
BUDGET REFORM. SECOND, THE
MAYOR MADE TOUGH DECISIONS,
CALLED IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND
SET IMPORTANT STEPS TOWARD
STRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY. IT
IS TRUE THAT TOUGHER DECISIONS
WERE PUT OFF BY USING ONE-TIME
FUNDS AND FOR THE RECORD I
BELIEVE THIS IS A PRUDENT
DECISION. THE PROPOSED BUDGET
WAS A GOOD STARTING PLACE. I
APPRECIATE THIS APPROACH AND WE
STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.
THAT SAID, WE WERE ELECTED AND
ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING
RESULTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THAT IS HOW WE WILL GET INTO A
SUSTAINABLE BUDGET PICTURE AND
WE STILL HAVE MORE TO DO. TO
BUILD ON THE MAYOR'S BUDGET WE
ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING
COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
INVESTMENTS, ENSURING KIDS AND
FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD,
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS,
SHELTER AND DATA-DRIVEN
SOLUTIONS. WE ARE NOT
RUBBERSTAMPING HIS BUDGET, AND
HIS BUDGET WAS A GOOD STARTING
PLACE FOR US TO CONTINUE THE
WORK . IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS HE
JOKED THAT WE COULD MAKE
HISTORY BY NOT MAKING ANY
CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I WILL COUNTER THAT I HOPE WE
CAN RETURN TO HISTORY AND HAVE
A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON THIS BUDGET
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE.
WE KNOW AND SOME OF THE BUDGET
REFORMS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED
AS WELL AS THE MAYOR , LET ME
GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE BECAUSE
WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR BUDGET
REFORM. I WILL BE INCLUDING A
NUMBER OF STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT REPORTS
REQUESTING INFORMATION AND
DIRECTING BUDGET REFORM
PROCESSES FOR THE NEXT YEAR. I
REQUESTED THREE OR FOUR FEWER
SLIDES PER PERSON. I APPRECIATE
THAT WE HAVE MET THIS GOAL. IT
HAS LEFT US WITH A LITTLE BIT
OF BREATHING ROOM AND I WILL BE
INCLUDING A NUMBER OF BUDGET
REFORM SLIDES, SO IF YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL GOOD GOVERNANCE
SLI'S WE WILL BE FINALIZING
THIS LIST FRIDAY AT NOON.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP WE WILL
BE TAKING THIS YEAR IS THE JUMP
ACCOUNT RESERVE ACCOUNTS,
CREATING POLICIES FOR THIS
ACCOUNT. WITHOUT THE RESERVE
THE MAYOR CREATED FOR THE FIRST
TIME, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BALANCE THIS PACKAGE
AFTER RECEIVING THE DOWNTURN
FORECAST. AGAIN, COLLEAGUES,
HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR HERE.
WITHOUT THE MAYOR SETTING UP
THE STRUCTURAL CHANGE OF
CREATING THE JUMPSTART RESERVE
ACCOUNT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BALANCE THIS PACKAGE
AFTER RECEIVING THE DOWNTURN
FORECAST LAST WEEK. WE NEED TO
KNOW THE INFORMATION I WILL BE
GLEANING AND ASKING FOR IN SOME
OF THE STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. I WILL
PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW IF THE
BUDGET ITEMS WE HAVE FUNDED ARE
GETTING THE RESULTS PROMISED SO
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CORRECT
COURSE WHEN NEEDED AND TO
PROVIDE EVERYONE MORE
VISIBILITY INTO WHAT IS WORKING
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE ARE
NOT STOPPING THERE. WE WILL
BEGIN OUR WORK ON THE BUDGET
NEXT YEAR WORKING ON WAYS TO
IMPROVE THE PROCESS. IN THIS
LAST WEEK THERE'VE BEEN MANY
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE USE OF
ONE-TIME FUNDS TO ONE OR
TWO-TIME BASIS. THE QUESTION
BEGS, IS THIS ONE TIME FUNDING
OR IS THIS ONGOING FUNDING? THE
PROGRAMS THAT HAVE RECEIVED
FUNDING IN THIS PACKAGE ARE
FUNDED FROM ONE-TIME FUNDS. FOR
PROGRAMS THAT HAD REDUCED
FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET
THAT WE RECEIVED, WE CANNOT
PROMISE THAT THESE FUNDS WILL
BE AVAILABLE IN FUTURE YEARS .
I NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT
THAT. FOR PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
RECEIVED YEAR-OVER-YEAR FUNDING
DIRECT FUNDING FROM COUNSEL
BUDGET ACTIONS, WE NEED YOU TO
APPLY TO THE RFPs THAT ARE
EXISTING. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
OUR BUDGET REFORM. WE ALSO KNOW
THAT OUR -- AS DISTRICT COUNCIL
MEMBERS, WE KNOW WHAT OUR
DISTRICTS NEED MOST WHICH IS
WHY THE BALANCING PACKAGE
INCLUDES SPECIFIC PLACE-BASED
PROJECTS AND INVESTING IN
CITY-WIDE NEEDS WITH ON THE
GROUND DISTRICT-SPECIFIC
PERSPECTIVE. THIS IS NOT CODE
FOR NOT IN MY DISTRICT. THIS IS
CODE FOR HOW DO WE DO OUR WORK
IN OUR DISTRICTS? HOW DO WE DO
WORK IN OUR CITIES? IT IS A
SIMILAR THING AS I REPRESENT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE ON ORIGINAL
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD, IT IS NOT
FOR ME TO BE PAROCHIAL ABOUT
SEATTLE. IT IS ABOUT ME
PROVIDING PERSPECTIVE TO OUR
REGIONAL BOARD ABOUT HOW TO
WORK IN SEATTLE. WE HAVE FULL
CONFIDENCE THAT OVER THE NEXT
YEARS WE WILL BE BACK IN A
SUSTAINABLE BUDGET POSITION
BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO OVER THE
NEXT FEW YEARS AND ENSURING
THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE THE
PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THEIR
PRIORITIES. THIS BUDGET IS
UTTERLY REASONABLE. IT IS THE
RESPONSIBLE FIRST RESET FROM
PRE-PANDEMIC TO POST-PANDEMIC
SERVICE DELIVERY TO MEETING THE
NEEDS OF SEATTLEITES IN A
DIFFERENT WORLD POST-PANDEMIC
AND TO INCLUDE THESE BUDGET
REFORMS. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT MY
PACKAGE. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE
THANKING ME FOR THE TENANT
SERVICES FUNDING. THAT WAS
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES. THAT
WAS HER NUMBER ONE PRIORITY SO
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE CREDIT
FOR SOMETHING SOMEBODY ELSE DID
AND THAT IS NOT -- WHAT I MEAN
BY THIS IS NOT MY PACKAGE. THIS
IS A OUR PACKAGE. WE HAVE DONE
AWAY WITH BEING DISAGREEABLE
AND TODAY TOGETHER WE ARE
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY BY
EXPANDING SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY
SAFETY PROGRAMS LIKE WE DELIVER
CARE ADDRESSING COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, SPEEDING
OF FIREFIGHTER HIRING,
ADDRESSING GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE AND CONTINUING TO
FULLY FUND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT STAFFING. TOGETHER,
WE ARE MAKING HOUSING MORE
AFFORDABLE BY BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS,
INCREASING HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAMS AND INCREASING RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. TOGETHER WE ARE
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS BY
FUNDING THE CREATION OF TWO NEW
NON-CONGREGATE SHELTERS SUCH AS
TINY HOME VILLAGES, SUPPORTING
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND
HELPING PEOPLE LIVING IN RVs
MOVE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO A
SAFE AND SECURE PLACE TO LIVE.
TOGETHER WE ARE COMBATING FOOD
INSECURITY, INVESTING IN FOOD
BANKS AND MEAL PROGRAMS
CONDUCTING RESEARCH AIMED AT
CONDUCTING FOOD DESERTS IN A
CITY . WE ARE TOGETHER
EXPANDING AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
GETTING KIDS FROM WORKING CLASS
FAMILIES OF THE WAITLIST AND
BACK INTO SEATTLE'S POPULAR
CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
TOGETHER WE ARE BUILDING BACK
OUR ECONOMY, RESTORING FUNDING
FOR THE CITY'S STOREFRONT
REPAIR PROGRAM WHICH WAS A
PANDEMIC ERA CHANGE. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS NEW. THAT IS
WHAT I AM SAYING AS WE ARE
MOVING FROM PRE-PANDEMIC TO
POST-PANDEMIC . WE ARE CREATING
ADDITIONAL OUTREACH TO LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS IN
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS. TOGETHER
WE ARE IMPROVING OUR PARKS
HELPING COMPLETE THE GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK IMPROVING BASEBALL
AND SOFTBALL FIELDS INVESTING
IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR
TEENS AND WORKING TOGETHER ON
THE CREATION OF A NEW PARK IN
BELLTOWN. BUT THERE'S NOT
GOING TO BE A SCHOOL THERE,
RIGHT? TOGETHER WE ARE ALSO
FACING [ INAUDIBLE ] THIS IS
THE HARDEST DECISION HERE IN
THE PUBLIC SECTOR. IF WE WERE
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THIS
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED LONG AGO
EVEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR THIS
WOULD'VE HAPPENED LONG AGO.
DURING THE PANDEMIC
MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS OUR
NATION LAID STAFF OFF AT A TIME
WHEN NEW JOBS WERE NOT
AVAILABLE. THE CITY OF SEATTLE
DELAYED MAKING THOSE TOUGH
CHOICES AND IN THIS PACKAGE,
WHILE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO
RESTORE ALL POSITIONS, WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF THOSE PROPOSED LAYOFFS AND
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE
AGAIN A STEP DOWN WHERE ANYONE
THAT IS SET UP FOR A LAYOFF
RIGHT NOW WILL HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS. THEY
WILL NOT BE LAID OFF DECEMBER
1st 2024 . THAT WILL HAPPEN SIX
MONTHS LATER. THIS IS DIFFERENT
AGAIN DIFFERENT THAN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. HERE, THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, THE PEOPLE WHO DO
WORK FOR SEATTLEITES ARE
SERVICE-ORIENTED. PEOPLE DON'T
COME TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
-- FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN
SERVICE TO OTHERS, SERVICE TO
CITY, SERVICE TO NATION, AND
THAT IS WHY HAVING LAYOFFS IN A
PUBLIC ENTITY IS SO DIFFERENT
THAN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE
AT THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES ,
REACHING THESE EMPLOYEES IN
DIFFERENT POSITIONS IF ABLE.
THEY ARE PART OF EVERYONE
WORKING FOR THE CITY AND
PARTICULARLY THESE FOLKS WE ARE
HAVING TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS
FOR OUR PART OF OUR CITY FAMILY
SO ESPECIALLY WITH THE HIRING
FREEZE ENDING AT THE END OF
THIS YEAR, GIVING AN ADDITIONAL
SIX MONTHS FOR TRANSITION TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES
ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND I
WILL AND ON THE GOOD NEWS IS
SAVING THE SEATTLE CHANNEL NOT
ONLY RESTORING THE FULL FUNDING
TO KEEP AS BRIDGE FUNDING BUT
SETTING UP THE FUTURE FOR
FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL AND
INDEPENDENCE . IT IS FINE FOR
US ON A ONE-TIME BASIS TO USE
GENERAL FUND TO FUND THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL BUT IT IS A
VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT TO SET
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
RETAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE FOR
THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING CABLE FUND FUNDING
WHICH HAS BEEN DECLINING. I DID
ASK THE QUESTION ON THE DAIS IF
ANYONE WAS WATCHING VIA CABLE.
I DID GET ONE RESPONDENT. ONE,
WHOM WE LOVE, BUT IT
DEMONSTRATES THAT WE NEED TO
HAVE A SECURE PATHWAY AND
FUTURE FOR SEATTLE CHANNEL THAT
RETAINS THEIR INDEPENDENCE SO
THAT WE AS THE ELECTED LEADERS
ON THE STATUS WHO ARE BEING
INTERVIEWED AND SCRUTINIZED BY
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL NOT ALSO IN
CONTROL OF THEIR FUNDING. WITH
THAT I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, THIS
BUDGET IS UTTERLY REASONABLE
AND IS THE RESPONSIBLE FIRST
RESET FROM PRE-PANDEMIC TO
POST-PANDEMIC SERVICE DELIVERY
MEETING THE NEEDS OF
SEATTLEITES AND BUDGET REFORMS.
WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE
INTO A PROCESS PRESENTATION
FROM DIRECTOR NOBLE AND DEPUTY
DIRECTOR HOW THAT INCLUDES A
LINE BY LINE REVIEW OF OUR
PACKAGE. THERE IS A TERM USED
IN THE PACKAGE WHERE THE
SPONSOR IS CITED AS BUDGET
COMMITTEE. THERE ARE TWO WAYS
THAT THIS IS BEING USED. WHAT
IS ADMINISTRATIVE. ONE IS
CONSENSUS-BASED. FOR ITEMS THAT
I HEARD WIDE SUPPORT FOR, I
WILL USE THE SEATTLE CHANNEL AS
AN EXAMPLE, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER
OF THIS COUNCIL MADE A POSITIVE
COMMENT ON THE DAY IS ABOUT
SAVING THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
THEREFORE RATHER THAN ASSIGNING
A SINGLE SPONSOR WE ARE
ASSIGNING IT AS A WHOLE. THERE
ARE ALSO SMALL AMENDMENTS HERE.
THESE ARE ALSO CALLED THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT IS
NOT ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR.
IT IS ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE
SO FOR THE ITEMS WHERE THERE
WERE MULTIPLE SPONSORSHIPS I
MADE THE POLICY CHOICE OF
ASSIGNING BUDGET COMMITTEE FROM
HEARING INDIVIDUALS ON THE DAIS
AND HEARING ABOUT WHAT THEIR
PRIORITIES WERE AS WE CONTINUE
TO MEET OVER THE PAST EIGHT
DAYS. I, AS THE CHAIR, REMAINED
THE LEGAL SPONSOR OF THE ENTIRE
BALANCING PACKAGE, AND AGAIN,
THIS IS NOT MY PACKAGE. THIS IS
OUR PACKAGE. AS EACH ITEM IS
ANNOUNCED AS WE GO THROUGH THE
SECOND PRESENTATION WHERE WE
ARE GOING LINE BY LINE, WE HAVE
DONE OUR BEST TO GET
SPONSORSHIPS CORRECT. WE ARE
TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT IF
WE GOT SOMETHING INCORRECT,
PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE ARE
HOPING TO NOT HAVE EVERYONE ADD
THEIR NAME TO EVERY ITEM AND
SO, IF WE GOT SOMETHING IN
ERROR, THIS IS THE TIME TO
CORRECT THAT IN OPEN SESSION
AND AS EACH ITEM IS ANNOUNCED,
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO
SHARE THEIR INTERESTS ON THE
ITEM MAY DO SO. I WILL JUST
FLAG WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE SCHEDULED TODAY BUT IF
EVERYONE SPEAKS ABOUT
EVERYTHING WE ALSO WON'T LEAVE
TODAY AND SO WE WILL PLAN TO
TAKE OUR SCHEDULED RECESS AT
1:00 P.M., WHICH IS IN TWO
HOURS UNLESS WE ALL MAKE A
HISTORICAL MOMENT AND SAY
NOTHING THAN WE ARE OUT BY
1:00. I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO
US. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
PASS IT OVER TO DIRECTOR BEN
NOBLE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR YOLANDA
HO.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE,
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. OVER TO YOU,
DIRECTOR NOBLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. WE
ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN
OVERVIEW FIRST SUPPLIED YOU A
LITTLE BIT INTO PROCESS WHERE
WE THINK WE ARE, NEXT STEPS BUT
ALSO TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL
APPROACH TO BALANCING. YOU SAW
THE FORECAST ALMOST TWO WEEKS
AGO AND THE IMPACT IT HAD AND
WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND
HOW THAT SHOULD FALL --
SHORTFALL WAS ADDRESSED AND HOW
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WERE
IDENTIFIED TO FUND MANY OF THE
PROPOSALS WE WILL WALK THROUGH.
JUST TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE
STARTING POINT, IF YOU WILL,
AND THE CHANGES TO THAT
STARTING POINT, THIS SLIDE
SUMMARIZES THE REVENUE FORECAST
CHANGES WE SAW MID-OCTOBER, IN
PARTICULAR, THE DECREASES
HIGHLIGHT IN THE FIRST SET OF
BOTH AND SHOWN IN RED AND THESE
ARE SOME THREE YEARS ACROSS THE
BIENNIUM. THE OVERALL HIT TO
THE GENERAL FUND REDUCTION OF
ALMOST $49 MILLION , A
REDUCTION OVER THREE YEARS AND
EMISSIONS TAX OF APPROXIMATELY
HALF 1 MILLION A YEAR AND THEN
COMMENSURATE WITH THE REDUCTION
IN THE SALES TAX FORECAST FOR
THE GENERAL FUND THERE WAS A
REDUCTION IN THE SALES TAX
FORECAST FOR THE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT . IF YOU ADD
THOSE ALTOGETHER, SOMEWHAT
NORTH OF $50 MILLION .
POTENTIALLY OFFSETTING THAT WAS
A NUMBER OF FORECAST INCREASES
SUMMED OVER THE BIENNIUM. THE
REAL ESTATE EXCISE TAX FORECAST
INCREASED BY JUST UNDER 10
MILLION. THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX BY OVER 27 AND
SMALLER AMOUNTS OF SHORT-TERM
RENTAL TAX IN THE SCHOOLS ON
CAMERA TAX. IF YOU SUM THE
DECREASES AT ABOUT 50 MILLION.
IF YOU SOME THE INCREASES IT'S
ABOUT 40 MILLION, THE INCREASE,
ABOUT $10 MILLION AND YOU WILL
SEE THAT ENDED UP BEING THE GAP
WE WERE INITIALLY FACED WITH
CLOSING, BUT THAT IN ITSELF
TOOK SOME CREATIVITY, IF YOU
WILL. FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE
RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF REAL
ESTATE EXCISE TAXES GENERALLY
USED FOR CAPITAL SO THAT WAS AN
INCREASE IN POTENTIALLY
CAPITAL-RESTRICTED DOLLARS. WE
WERE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO USE
IT TO OFFSET THE DECREASE IN
GENERAL FUND RESOURCES USING
SOME SWAPPING OF FUNDS AND
REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES BUT
THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY A SUMMARY
OF THE CHANGES IN THE STARTING
POINT, IF YOU WILL. THEN AGAIN
ASSEMBLING RESOURCES TO BALANCE
THE SET OF PROPOSALS THAT WE
WILL WALK THROUGH IN DETAIL ,
THESE BULLETS HIGHLIGHT THE KEY
PLACES THAT WE IF YOU WILL LOOK
FOR AND FOUNDRIES FOR SOURCES.
ONE OR FUND BALANCES
PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE
INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS,
THE FUNDS THAT THEY ADMINISTER
SOAP I GUESS THAT IS NOW POLICE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,
ITD, THE I.T. DEPARTMENT THEN
AS DCI -- SDCI . FUNDS WERE
ADDRESSED TO LAYOFF CITY
EMPLOYEES TO REDUCE
TERMINATION. FOR THE
PRESENTATION GREG DOSS MADE WE
IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL SALARY
SAVINGS IN SPD FOR 25 AND 26.
WE ALSO IDENTIFIED A FUNDING
SHORTFALL RELATED TO OVERTIME
FOR 2026 AND YOU WILL SEE THAT
ADDRESSED IN THE PROPOSED
CHANGES. THIS NEXT ONE MAY BE A
LITTLE BIT OBSCURE BUT WORTH
EXPLAINING. ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT THERE WAS A DROP IN THE
GENERAL FUND FORECAST IS THAT
THE FORECAST INCLUDES OUR
ALLOCATION OF THE COUNTYWIDE
EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
LEVY, AND THE EXECUTIVE HAD
ANTICIPATED THAT WE MIGHT FACE
A DECLINE IN THE REVENUE STREAM
WITH A FORECAST UPDATE.
REVENUES ARE ESTABLISHED BY A
TAX RATE SET AT THE COUNTY
LEVEL AND THEY HAVE REASON TO
THINK THAT OUR ALLOCATION WAS
GOING TO BE SMALLER THAN IT
OTHERWISE HAD BEEN A LIBERAL TO
RESERVE INTO THEIR PROPOSED
FORECAST TO ANTICIPATE THAT
POTENTIAL REDUCTION, SO WE HAVE
DRAWN ON THAT RESERVE BECAUSE
THAT EVENTUALITY DID PLAY OUT
IN THE WAY THEY HAD FEARED, IF
YOU WILL. THROUGH THE Q&A
PROCESS WE IDENTIFIED SOME
UNDER SPEND IN THE OH OF SOME
JUMPSTART REVENUES THAT HAD NOT
BEEN OTHERWISE ANTICIPATED IN
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET ,
IDENTIFIED SOME FUND BALANCE IN
THE PARKS DISTRICT THAT WAS NOT
AVAILABLE TO FUND SOME PARKS
PRIORITIES. SIMILARLY THERE WAS
SOME FUND BALANCE IN THE PARKS
FUND SEPARATE FROM THE
MUNICIPAL PARKS FUND AND AGAIN
BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THOSE
TOWARD SOME PARKS PRIORITIES.
THE EDUCATION LEVY HAD SOME
FUND BALANCE ABLE TO ALLOCATE
THAT TOWARD SOME CHILD CARE AND
EDUCATION -RELATED PRIORITIES.
THE NEXT ONE IS A SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE OF ASSUMPTIONS. THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
ASSUMPTION FOR 2024 IN PART
INFORMED BY THE SALARY FREEZE
AND CONTRACT FREEZE THEY POSTED
EARLIER BUT FOR 2025 THEY ALSO
HAD BUILT A BUDGET AROUND AND
UNDER SPEND ASSUMPTION OF
EXACTLY $10 MILLION FOR 2025.
THEY HAD MADE NO ASSUMPTION
ABOUT 2026 AND IN A PART OF THE
PRESENTATION WE MADE SUBSEQUENT
TO THE REVENUE FORECAST SHOWED
YOU THAT THE CITY HAS A PATTERN
OF UNDER SPENDING THE GENERAL
FUND SO AN ASSUMPTION ON THE
ORDER OF $10 MILLION IS NOT
UNREASONABLE FOR 2025 IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND IT
IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO ASSUME
ONE FOR 2026. I WOULD NOTE THAT
ANTICIPATING THE UNDER SPEND
WOULD LEAVE LESS MARGIN THAT
MIGHT EXIST AT THE END OF 2026
BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE ALREADY
ASSUMED THE FIRST $10 MILLION
OF UNDER SPEND. IT'S ONLY THE
INCREMENT ABOVE 10 MILLION THAT
WOULD BE RESOURCES AVAILABLE
FOR 2027 AND THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF DOLLAR
PLACES IDENTIFIED FOR
REALLOCATION OF FUNDING WAS THE
JUMPSTART RESERVE WHICH AT THE
END OF 2026 REVENUE
STABILIZATION RESERVE FOR
JUMPSTART WAS 33 MILLION ,
ESSENTIALLY FULLY EXPENDED
THROUGH THE SET OF ACTIONS WE
WILL TALK ABOUT IN DETAIL IN A
LITTLE BIT. I WOULD ADD IS PART
OF THE PRESENTATION WE
DISCUSSED THE LIKELY NEED FOR
NEW JUMPSTART-FUND POLICIES AND
ARE CURRENTLY SO WORKING WITH
THE CHAIR ON A FORMAL PACKAGE
OF THOSE POLICIES, A LOT OF
ATTENTION FOCUSED ON THE
BALANCE PACKAGE. I WOULD NOTE
THAT CONSISTENT WITH THE
BALANCING PACKAGE OVERALL , KEY
ELEMENTS THERE ARE GOING TO BE
FLEXIBILITY TO USE JUMPSTART
REVENUES IN SUPPORT OF THE
GENERAL FUND IS THE CITY IS
FACING THIS PERIOD OF SLOW
GROWTH POST-PANDEMIC . THE
BALANCING PACKAGE ASSUMES
SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL TRANSFER
TO THE GENERAL FUND. THE INTENT
IS TO CREATE A SPECIFIC
REQUIREMENT FOR STABILIZATION
ACCOUNTS. WE'RE GOING TO DRAW
DOWN THE ONE THAT IS THERE IN
THE FACE OF THE REVENUE
SITUATION WE ARE IN BUT
RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO BUILD ONE
BACK UP AND HAVE POTENTIAL
PROPOSALS AS AN AUTOMATIC
MECHANISM TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN
THEN LASTLY ALTHOUGH THERE WILL
BE FLEXIBILITY FOR GENERAL
FUND, A RECOGNITION AND
CONTINUED FOCUS ON THE ORIGINAL
JUMPSTART PRIORITIES WILL BE
PART OF THOSE.
>> BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, I WILL
JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT THAT
IN TYPICAL YEARS, THE CHAIR
PUTS TOGETHER THE PACKAGE
WITHOUT AS MUCH COLLABORATION
AS I HAVE SPENT THE TIME DOING
WHICH IS WHY WE DID NOT MAKE
DECISIONS THIS LAST WEEKEND. WE
ARE WORKING ON DRAFT AND WILL
TAKE INPUT . DIRECTOR NOBLE
WILL GET TO THE TIMELINE AS TO
WHEN WE WILL BE SHARING DRAFTS
AND REQUESTING FEEDBACK. I WANT
TO USE THE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE
BUDGET IS CONSTRUCTED THIS YEAR
WHERE THE MAYOR, WHILE THEY
TRANSFERRED LEGISLATION THAT IS
NOT RESTRICTIVE OR
PRESCRIPTIVE, THEY DID MEET THE
INTENT OF JUMPSTART , THE
FUNDING PRIORITIES, WITH THE
PERCENTAGE ALLOCATIONS. WHAT WE
ALSO KNOW IS THAT OVER THE LAST
FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE CONTINUED
TO USE JUMPSTART FOR THE
GENERAL FUND WILL WE HAVE BEEN
IN AN UNSTABLE ECONOMIC
SITUATION. I NEED NO FURTHER
PROOF THAN LAST TUESDAY'S
BUDGET FORECAST TO DEMONSTRATE
THAT WE ARE STILL IN THESE
UNSTABLE ECONOMIC TIMES THAT
ARE RIPPLES FROM THE PANDEMIC
AND SO WE WILL NEED THAT
ABILITY FOR THE TIME BEING TO
BUOY OUR BUDGET SO THAT WE ARE
NOT CUTTING THE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT EVERYDAY
SEATTLEITES ARE RELYING ON, AND
WE NEED TO ALSO MEET THE INTENT
OF THE ORIGINAL GOALS THAT WERE
PUT IN LEGISLATION, SO I JUST
WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT
OVERVIEW. BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET
INTO MORE DETAILS AROUND NEXT
STEPS I HAVE KIND OF WALKED US
THROUGH VERBALLY DESCRIBING THE
CHANGE IN THE REVENUE FORECAST
AND THE TOOLS WE ARE USING TO
HELP BALANCE THESE PROPOSALS
BUT WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IMPLIED
BY THE BALANCING PACKAGE AND
THE USE OF RESOURCES IN THIS
WAY AND THOMAS DONE SOME WORK
ON THAT FRONT.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, THE CHART THAT
IS ON THE SCREEN NOW IS THE
CHART THAT WE BUILT BASED ON
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
INDICATING THAT AFTER 2026, AND
27 AND 28 THERE IS A $26
MILLION PROJECTED DEFICIT.
ESSENTIALLY, REVENUES ARE $76
MILLION SHORT FOR ONGOING
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE FUTURE
BASED ON THIS PROJECTION SO IF
WE CAN LOOK AT THE NEXT GRAPH,
THIS IS THE PERSPECTIVE BASED
ON THE CHAIRS BALANCING PACKAGE
THAT SHOWS THAT THE PROJECTED
DEFICIT HAS GROWN IN FUTURE
YEARS TO $101 MILLION ON
AVERAGE AND 27 AND 28. THE KEY
DRIVERS OF THAT ARE REALLY TWO
THINGS . PROJECTED REVENUES ARE
$10 MILLION LOWER THAN
ORIGINALLY EXPECTED. THAT IS
THE RESULT OF TWO THINGS. ONE,
GENERAL FUND REVENUES WERE $25
MILLION DOWN IN THE MOST RECENT
FORECAST. HOWEVER, BECAUSE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX REVENUES
WERE PROJECTED TO BE HIGHER,
THOSE REVENUES WERE TRANSFERRED
IN THE PACKAGE INTO THE GENERAL
FUND WHICH OFFSET SOME PORTION
OF THE ONGOING REVENUE BRINGING
IN $10 MILLION IN ADDITION,
THERE IS A NET $15 MILLION OF
NEW GENERAL FUND SPENDING IN
THE CHAIRS PACKAGE THAT IS
HIGHER THAN ONGOING REVENUE, SO
THOSE TWO FACTORS THAT $25
MILLION TO THE ORIGINAL 75 , 76
OR SO TO BRING US TO $101
MILLION.
>> THANK YOU, TOM. I WANT TO
JUMP IN A LITTLE BIT TO ASK YOU
A QUESTION TO CLARIFY HERE.
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS
INFORMATION IN A VERY
TRANSPARENT MANNER. I'VE NOT
NECESSARILY SEEN THIS DONE IN
YEARS PAST AT THIS LEVEL. WHEN
I HEARD YOU SAY IS THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN $76 MILLION
PROJECTED DEFICIT AND $101
MILLION PROJECTED DEFICIT AND
ABOUT $10 MILLION OF THAT WAS
DIRECTLY RESULTED FROM LAST
TUESDAY'S FORECAST.
COLLEAGUES, WHAT I WAS SAYING
ABOUT THE ONE-TIME FUNDS VERSUS
ONGOING SPENDING WITHIN THESE
CATEGORIES, WE ARE ABLE TO MEET
THE REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE ALL
MADE THIS LAST WEEK IF IT WAS
JUST THIS YEAR. SOME OF THE
REQUESTS ARE FOR TWO YEARS AND
THERE WAS DISAGREEMENT WITHIN
THE ROOM THIS LAST WEEKEND
ABOUT WHETHER THESE ARE ONGOING
OR ONE TIME OR TWO-TIME FUNDING
OPTIONS. I ASKED AND I
APPRECIATE TOM BEING
CONSERVATIVE IN GIVING US A
REALISTIC PATHWAY THAT IF THE
THINGS THAT ARE FUNDED TWICE
ARE CONTINUED TO BE FUNDED INTO
THE FUTURE THIS WILL BE THE
REALITY AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE
GOING TO BE TAKING THE NEXT
YEAR AND THE NEXT BIENNIUM TO
CONTINUE REVIEWING WHAT WE ARE
AND WHAT WE CAN BE FUNDING AND
THAT IS WHY I WAS SHARING FOR
THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT -- FOR
THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE REDUCED
IN THE PROPOSED PACKAGE THAT
WERE RETURNED IN OUR PACKAGE,
IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
JUMPSTART RESERVE ACCOUNT AND
IF YOU HAD REDUCED FUNDING, WE
CANNOT PROMISE THAT YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE INCREASED
FUNDING IN THE FUTURE FOR THE
REASONS THAT TOM HAS JUST
DESCRIBED. JUST WANTED TO ADD
SOME COLOR TO YOUR COLOR GRAPH.
>> THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD
ADD TO CLARIFY AS WELL IN THE
DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIALLY $10
MILLION REVENUE , 15 ON THE
EXPENDITURE SIDE, THAT IS
ASSUMING THE INCREMENT ON A GO
FORWARD BASIS WILL BE USED TO
OFFSET GENERAL FUND IS NOW 25
MILLION JUMPSTART PAYROLL TAX
WAS UP 15 ON THE DIFFERENCES
THE 10 MILLION AND AGAIN YOU
WILL SEE A SIGNIFICANT
ADDITIONAL TRANSFER TO THE
GENERAL FUND WITHIN THE
BIENNIUM BUT THIS GRAPH ALSO
ASSUMES THAT SOME LEVEL OF THAT
CONTINUES ON AN ONGOING BASIS
AND THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT AS
YOU THINK ABOUT THE POLICIES
AROUND THE USE OF JUMPSTART
REVENUES AND THE FLEXIBILITY TO
SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND.
WITHOUT THAT FLEXIBILITY, THIS
PICTURE WOULD BE THAT MUCH
WORSE, IF YOU WILL.
>> SORRY, DIRECTOR NOBLE. WHAT
YOU JUST SAID WAS POSSIBLY THE
CRUX OF -- CAN YOU SAY THAT
AGAIN?
>> YES, SO AGAIN, LOOKING AT
THESE OUT YEARS, THE GENERAL
FUND REVENUE FORECAST IS OFF BY
25 MILLION FROM THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
WAS UP ABOUT 15. IT IS THE NET
OF THOSE TWO THINGS OF $10
MILLION THAT IS CONTRIBUTING
HERE BUT THAT ASSUMES THAT
ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF JUMPSTART,
THE 15 MILLION, THE INCREASE IN
THE FORECAST, THAT FULL AMOUNT
WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE
GENERAL FUND AND SO IT IS THAT
FLEXIBILITY BETWEEN THE GENERAL
FUND AND JUMPSTART INTO THE
GENERAL FUND THAT IS NEEDED TO
KEEP US AT THIS LEVEL AND IT'S
GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF WHAT
MAKES POSSIBLE THE PACKAGE WE
ARE ABOUT TO DESCRIBE AT SOME
FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL THE RESOURCES
THAT WERE IN THE JUMPSTART
RESERVE ARE BEING TRANSFERRED
TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT
THE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES YOU
INDIVIDUALLY KNOW ABOUT AND
COLLECTIVELY ARE GOING TO HEAR
ABOUT SO AND THAT FLEXIBILITY
IS UNDERLYING ALL OF THIS AND
IT DOES CREATE REAL POLICY
CHALLENGES FOR YOU BUT THOSE
POLICIES ARE IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANTICIPATING YOUR QUESTION I
WANTED TO REVIEW WHAT HAPPENS
TO JUMPSTART RESOURCES HERE AS
WE GO THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL
ITEMS . IT IS VERY EASY TO LOSE
TRACK OF WHAT IS BEING FUNDED
BY WHAT MONEY. WHAT IS
INTERESTING IS THAT THIS IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE ALLOCATIONS
THAT ARE IN THE BALANCING
PACKAGE, SO THIS IS THE
BALANCING PACKAGE NUMBERS AND
THAT THESE PERCENTAGES, THEY
ARE ONLY LISTED FOR THOSE FIVE
CATEGORIES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE
PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY SPENT
ON THOSE FIVE CATEGORIES SO IF
YOU WERE TO SUM UP IN 2025 133,
THE 22, THE 31 AND THE 10, SOME
OF THOSE UP, HUNDRED AND 33 IS
62% OF THAT TOTAL SO OF THE
MONEY GOING TO THE ORIGINAL
JUMPSTART PRIORITIES THOSE ARE
THE PERCENTAGES SO WE HAVE DONE
A FAIR AMOUNT OF SWAPPING OF
FUNDING SOURCES TO MAKE ALL OF
YOUR POTENTIAL ADDITIONS
POSSIBLE BUT WE ENDED UP WITH
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME ALLOCATION
TO THE JUMPSTART PRIORITIES BUT
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN
FUNDING. I WILL GIVE YOU AN
EXAMPLE THAT HARKENS BACK TO
THAT CREATIVITY THAT I
MENTIONED. THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDED
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING
COLLECTIVELY OVER THE BIENNIUM
FOR $4 MILLION OF JUMPSTART
RESOURCES TO IMPROVE WESTLAKE
PARK . WE BACKED OUT THAT
MONEY, SO JUMPSTART IS NOT THE
FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT ANY
LONGER. INSTEAD, REAL ESTATE
EXCISE TAX WILL FUND THOSE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS . THAT
FREED UP $4 MILLION THAT HAD
OTHERWISE BEEN THOUGHT OF AS
ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES AND YOU WILL SEE
THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF FUNDING
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES IN THE PACKAGE AND
WE FREED UP THAT 4 MILLION OF
JUMPSTART BY USING CAPITAL AND
HAD 4 MILLION MORE TO PAY FOR
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE NET
OF THAT IS THE ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION CATEGORY DOES
NOT CHANGE BUT THE THINGS IT
HAS FUNDED HAVE CHANGED. THE
BOTTOM LINE IS OF THE DOLLARS
AVAILABLE FOR JUMPSTART
PRIORITIES, THE PERCENTAGES ARE
ESSENTIALLY EQUAL TO OR CLOSE
TO THE ORIGINAL ALLOCATIONS. I
WOULD NOTE THAT TOTAL USE FOR
THE GENERAL FUND IS VERY
SIGNIFICANT, MORE THAN HALF THE
RESOURCES AND 25 AND 26 OF
JUMPSTART ARE SUPPORTING THE
GENERAL FUND . BEFORE THE
BALANCING PACKAGE IT WAS CLOSER
TO 50, NOW IT IS CLOSER TO 65.
>> JUST BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, I
ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT , THIS
IS NOT THE TOTAL FUNDING WITHIN
EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES. THIS
IS JUST THE JUMPSTART FUNDING
WITHIN THESE CATEGORIES SO
HOUSING , MENTAL HEALTH, YOUTH,
VIOLENCE PREVENTION THESE ARE
ALL FUNDED AT HIGHER LEVELS
THAN WHAT IS DEMONSTRATED ON
THIS GRAPH. THIS IS SIMPLY THE
JUMPSTART ALLOCATION OF THESE
PRIORITIES. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT BECAUSE
AGAIN THEY ALLOCATIONS ARE OF
INTEREST AND THEY DID CHANGE A
LITTLE BIT AS PART OF US
BALANCING THE SOURCES OF MONEY
AND AGAIN SOME CREATIVITY ABOUT
RESTRICTED FUNDS. TO REMIND YOU
OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, TODAY
WE ARE GOING TO WALK YOU
THROUGH EVERYTHING IN THE
CHAIRS BALANCING PACKAGE.
CHANGES TO THAT WHICH AGAIN
NEED TO BE BALANCED THEMSELVES
ARE DUE AT NOON THIS FRIDAY AND
THAT IS REALLY ONE OF OUR MOST
IMPORTANT DEADLINES . WE HAVE
DONE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK TO
GET HERE, RECOGNIZE THAT WE
WILL NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
TIME TO TURN AROUND YOUR
PROPOSALS. THOSE PROPOSALS DO
NOT NEED TO BE FULLY FLUSHED
OUT BUT WE DO WANT TO KNOW BY
NOON ON THURSDAY, THE UNIVERSE
OF THINGS WITH WHICH WE ARE
GOING TO BE DEALING OVER THE
NEXT 10 DAYS AFTER THAT SO IF
YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT
MAKING THAT DEADLINE PLEASE
REACH OUT TO ME, YOLANDA OR ANY
OF THE STAFF SO WE CAN MAKE
SURE WE ARE MEETING WITH YOU TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> THIS IS NOT A SOFT DEADLINE.
THIS IS A HARD DEADLINE. 12:00
P.M. ON FRIDAY, THE FORM CLOSES
AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
SUBMIT ANYMORE. IF YOU ARE
HALFWAY THROUGH TYPING YOUR
SENTENCE AT 11:59, JUST HIT
SUBMIT. I HAVE BEEN IN THAT
POSITION. JUST HIT SUBMIT. YOU
CAN ALSO, IF YOU ARE NOT FULLY
SURE ABOUT WHAT YOUR AMENDMENT
IS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES
IN THE PAST THAT I HAVE
SUBMITTED THREE DIFFERENT
PROPOSALS BECAUSE I DID NOT
NECESSARILY KNOW WHICH
DIRECTION WE WERE GOING TO GO
AND THAT IS OKAY. THAT IS A
HARD DEADLINE IN THE SENSE THAT
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY MORE
IDEAS OR DIRECTIONS AFTER 12:00
NOON ON FRIDAY AND YOU DO NOT
HAVE TO HAVE YOUR IDEA FULLY
FLUSHED OUT. YOU DO NEED TWO
COSPONSORS AND THE FUNDING
SOURCE , BUT THAT IS ABOUT IT.
I CAN TELL YOU FOR MEETING WITH
ALL OF YOU, YOU ARE FURTHER AND
MORE PREPARED THAN COUNCILS OF
THE PAST TO MEET THIS DEADLINE
BECAUSE OF HOW PREPARED YOU
CAME LAST WEEK TO GET THE
CHAIRS PACKAGE DONE . DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, I SEE YOU HAVE
SOMETHING.
>> YES, THANK YOU. I JUST
WANTED TO ECHO THE CHAIRS WORDS
AROUND PLEASE ERR ON THE SIDE
OF ABUNDANCE, SO WE CAN ALWAYS
WORK WITH YOU ALL IN TERMS OF
SIFTING THROUGH WHAT YOU
ACTUALLY WANT TO PUT FORWARD.
NOTHING WILL BE PUBLISHED UNTIL
NOVEMBER 12th ON THOSE
AMENDMENTS, SO WE WILL BE
FRANTICALLY WORKING WITH YOU TO
SORT OUT WHAT IT IS YOU ARE
HOPING TO PROPOSE IF WE HAVE
NOT HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS
PREVIOUSLY BUT PLEASE ERR ON
THE SIDE OF SUBMITTING A FORM
SO THAT OTHERWISE IF THE
DEADLINE IS MISSED, IT JUST
CAUSES A LOT OF PROCEDURAL
CHAOS ON OUR END, SO AGAIN, IF
IT IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, EVEN THOUGH
THOSE DON'T HAVE APPROPRIATION
CHANGES, THAT THOSE ALSO
REQUIRE TWO SPONSORS,
AMENDMENTS TO BUDGET
LEGISLATION AND WE WILL TALK
MORE ABOUT THE SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT PROCESS FOR THE
JUMPSTART POLICY LEGISLATION
BECAUSE THAT IS NOT READY FOR
DISCUSSION YET BUT AS YOU MAY
HAVE NOTED THERE WAS A LOT OF
STUFF -- LEGISLATION ON THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR YESTERDAY
THAT WAS PRIMARILY BUDGET
LEGISLATION THAT IS THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET
LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE
CONSIDERED. WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY
HELD BACK A COUPLE, AWAITING
THE ELECTION LAST WEEK AROUND
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY ON THE
PROPERTY AND TAX BILLS. THERE
WILL BE A FEW OTHER PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE
INTRODUCED, BUT THE NOVEMBER
12th DEADLINE IS THE LAST
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL DEADLINE
FOR ACTION ON LEGISLATION
ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUDGET.
>> THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF THE
NEXT SET OF BULLETS. THAT IS A
NORMALLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL
MEETING IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE
COMMITTEES WE NEED, BILLS
CAN'T BE VOTED ON AT THE SAME
MEETING SO WE ARE GOING TO
REFER TO THE LAST OF THE BUDGET
LEGISLATION SO THE COMMITTEE
CAN TAKE IT UP AND REFER BACK
TO COUNSEL AFTER THAT. MUCH OF
THE BUDGET LEGISLATION HAS
ALREADY BEEN REFERRED BUT NOT
ALL OF IT AND THE KEY PIECE WE
WILL HAVE PREPARED FOR THE 12th
IS THE JUMPSTART POLICIES. WE
WILL WALK THROUGH THAT ON THE
13th ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER
AMENDMENTS, SO RECOGNIZING THAT
DECISION IS PUSHED IN THE
PROCESS, AMENDMENTS FOR THAT
POLICY LEGISLATION WILL BE DUE
ON THE 15th AND WE EXPECT TO BE
ABLE TO SHARE A DRAFT WITH YOU
NEXT WEEK SO THERE WILL BE A
SIGNIFICANT TIME OUT OF THAT
AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK ON
THOSE AMENDMENTS SO IT SHOULD
NOT BE A TIMING CHALLENGE. IN
THE EVENING THE SECOND PUBLIC
HEARING STARTING AT 5:00 SO
JUST REMINDING YOU OF THAT AND
THEN WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS
OF VOTING ON AMENDMENTS IN THE
BUDGET LEGISLATION SO THERE ARE
THREE DAYS SET ASIDE FOR
COMMITTEE VOTES ON AMENDMENTS.
THE FIRST OF THOSE DAYS
NOVEMBER 13th WOULD JUST BE
CENTRAL STUFF WALKING YOU
THROUGH ALL THE DETAIL OF THOSE
IN DISCUSSION OF THEM RATHER
THAN ACTUAL VOTING AND THEN
14th AND 15th RESERVE FOR
VOTING ITSELF SO THAT IS WHAT
IS AHEAD. YOU CAN SEE THEN HOW
THAT FITS . WE ARE IN THE
SECOND TO LAST STAGE HERE IN
THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS PHASE
SHORTLY CURRENTLY PRESENTING IN
THE BALANCING PACKAGE AND AGAIN
THE FINAL VOTE SET FOR THE 19th
AND THE 21st SO THAT IS WHAT WE
HAD IS AN INTRODUCTORY
PRESENTATION AND FROM THERE WE
ARE GOING TO WALK THROUGH
INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS OF THE
BALANCING PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS ON THIS OVERVIEW?
OVER TO YOU, DIRECT OR NOBLE
AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
THE SECOND ITEM INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, CHAIRS
BALANCING PACKAGE FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION. OVER TO YOU,
DIRECTOR NOBLE AGAIN, BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEANS ALL OF US
UNLESS IT IS ADMINISTRATIVE AND
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO
THE ITEMS -- IF YOU ARE LISTED
AS THE SPONSOR GOING TO CALL ON
YOU FIRST. I COLLEAGUES,
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO TALK
ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT THEN WE
WILL ALSO BE HERE UNTIL THE
WORLD SERIES GAME STARTS SO
OVER TO YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> THIS IS AN INITIAL DRAFT OF
ALL OF THE COUNCIL BUDGET
AMENDMENTS, SO THIS IS PRETTY
HIGH LEVEL. IN SOME CASES THERE
MAY BE MORE TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE ON THIS TABLE
BUT FOR THE SAKE OF MANAGING A
TABLE THAT IS READABLE WE KIND
OF TRIMMED THINGS BACK BUT ALSO
THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE WERE
TOLD YESTERDAY OR THE DAY
BEFORE THAT THERE WAS AN IDEA
FOR A STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT FROM THE SPONSOR. WE
HAVE NOT HAD CHANCE TO REALLY
SIT DOWN AND DIG INTO THE
DETAILS SO IN SOME CASES IT IS
JUST SUPER HIGH LEVEL AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU
ON REFINING THE LANGUAGE AROUND
THAT SO JUST WANTED TO NOTE FOR
YOU THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS.
IN SOME CASES IT MAY BE BECAUSE
IT IS JUST A SIMPLE
APPROPRIATION FOR A SPECIFIC
PURPOSE BUT IN OTHER CASES WE
KNOW THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE
DONE SO JUST WANTED TO NOTE
THAT IN CASE ANYONE WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF
INFORMATION HERE. THE FULL
BUDGET AMENDMENTS WILL BE MORE
ROBUST , SO. WITH THAT , I ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THIS IS GOING TO
BE SLIGHTLY CONFUSING. I
APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT WE HAVE
NOTES ABOUT DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
THE TABLES IN THE ONE-TIME
ONGOING, ONE-TIME ONGOING FOR
THE 2025-26 BIENNIUM. THERE ARE
CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT WE
DOUBLE APPROPRIATE TO, SO THERE
WILL BE NUMBERS THAT LOOK
WILDLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS
IN THE DESCRIPTION. THE
DESCRIPTION IS CORRECT. THE
NUMBERS ARE JUST AN ACCOUNTING
PRACTICE OF THE CITIES THAT WE
DOUBLE APPROPRIATE THINGS SO
SOME NUMBERS ARE JUST STRAIGHT
UP DOUBLE BUT THAT DOES NOT
MEAN -- IT BALANCES, I JUST
WANTED TO SAY, IT BALANCES.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
AND I KNOW WE ARE ABOUT TO GET
INTO THE ARTS WANTS TO START
OFF WITH. THESE ARE THE
TECHNICAL TRANSFERS THAT
IMPLEMENT COUNCIL MEMBER WOO'S
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
>> CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THAT UP. ALSO, THERE ARE
, AS I PRODUCE THIS, I WAS LIKE
I AM 100% SURE THERE ARE GOING
TO BE ERRORS IN THIS AND PUBLIC
COMMENT NOTED ONE SO WE WILL
HIGHLIGHT WHERE THAT IS BUT AS
A WHOLE, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE
PRETTY GOOD. BUT YOU WILL LET
US KNOW. FOR THE FIRST FIVE
AMENDMENTS, FOR THE SAKE OF
TIME AND GOING TO JUST ADDRESS
THEM ALL COLLECTIVELY BECAUSE
JUST AS THE CHAIR NOTED, THESE
ARE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO
EFFECTUATE COUNCIL MEMBER
WOO'S INTEREST IN NOT CHANGING
THE POLICIES REGARDING THE
EMISSIONS TAX APPROPRIATION SO
ITEMS ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR,
AND FIVE, ARTS 1A, ARTS 2A,
ARTS 3A AND ARTS 4A, AND ARTS
6A DON'T MIND THAT , ALL WOULD
TRANSFER BACK TO ARTS MONEY
THAT HAD OTHERWISE BEEN
APPROPRIATED TO PARKS AND
RECREATION OR SEATTLE CENTER
FOR PURPOSES OF DOWNTOWN
BUSKERS, TEEN PERFORMING ARTS,
ARTS AND PARKS, AND FOR
FOLKLIFE AND WINTERFEST, ALL
BACK TO THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE TO ENSURE THAT MONEY
FLOWS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE. THERE ALSO
HAS BEEN, AS NOTED, PROJECTED
REVENUE SHORTFALL OF AD TAX
REVENUE SO SOME OF THE FUNDING
HAD TO BE BACKFILLED WITH
GENERAL FUNDS, SO THOSE ARE
THOSE FIVE AND I WILL LEAVE IT
TO THE SPONSOR OR I GUESS IT
SAYS BUDGET COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER WOO, AS
THIS WAS YOUR NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY.
>> THANK YOU. SO, I ADVOCATED
FOR THE EMISSIONS TAX FUNDING
AND THE GRANTMAKING AUTHORITY
TO RETAIN UNDER THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND PRIORITY
ULTIMATELY RETAINING TAX
FUNDING IN OUR ARTS AND CULTURE
LINES OF MY COMMITMENT TO
ENSURING OUR ARTS EXPERTISE IS
LEVERAGED TO CREATE A MORE
VIBRANT SEATTLE BY STREAMLINING
FUNDING AND GRANTMAKING
PROCESSES. THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, CHAIR
STRAUSS, FOR THE GENERAL
CONSENSUS TO THIS AND
EVERYONE'S SUPPORT FOR THE
ARTS.
>> THANK YOU. DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT
NO FUNDING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS
IS CHANGING. IT IS PURELY A
TECHNICAL SHIFT, AND ALSO THE
GENERAL FUND BACKFILLED TO KEEP
THOSE PROGRAMS HOLE, SO JUST A
CLARIFICATION THERE AND WITH
THAT, I WILL MOVE TO ITEM SIX,
ARTS 7A . THIS WOULD INCREASE
ARTS BY 100,000 JUMPSTART FUND
FOR HOPE CORE FOR THE BALLOT
BREWERY DISTRICTS SPONSORED BY
CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD FOR ME
TO TALK ABOUT OUR SHARED
PRIORITIES IN MIND GO FIRST,
JUST TO SAY THIS IS PART OF A
MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON BOTH WITH
BALLARD AVENUE AND THE BREWERY
DISTRICT TO INCREASE VIBRANCY,
DECREASE THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON THERE,
AND INCREASE SAFE CONNECTIONS
IN AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS HAS BEEN A REQUEST THAT
WAS MADE TWO YEARS AGO BY THE
BREWERY DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY UNTIL
TODAY YOU'LL SEE IT IS SIMILAR
TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S REQUEST, AS
WELL. THIS IS FOR A LOWER
DOLLAR FIGURE THAN THAT BECAUSE
THE AREA IS GEOGRAPHICALLY
SMALLER. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, AND ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN, ARTS 9A WOULD ADD
$250,000 OF JUMPSTART FUND FOR
HOPE CORE AND CAPITOL HILL
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO, DID YOU
HAVE A NEW HAND?
>> I CAN GO AFTER COUNCIL
MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> FANTASTIC. COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS SPONSORED THE
ITEM.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A
REQUEST FROM CAPITOL HILL.
CAPITOL HILL IS ONLY AN ECHO OF
WHAT IT USED TO BE FOR THE ARTS
AND THE IDEA IS TO TRANSFORM
CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD INTO VERY SIMILAR
AS THE WHAT WOULD NEIGHBORHOOD
IS IN MIAMI BEAUTIFUL MURALS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED
ARTISTS THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT 3
AND THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO
CREATE THE VIBRANCY TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
ARTS. IT IS A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT
WE WILL BE LOOKING AT TO
CONTINUE TO BEAUTIFY THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH COLOR. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
WOO.
>> AS CHAIR OF THE ARTS AND
CULTURE COMMITTEE, I REQUEST MY
NAME TO BE ADDED AS COSPONSOR
TO ITEMS SIX AND SEVEN,
INCREASING HOPE CORE FUNDING ,
IF THAT IS OKAY.
>> THAT'S FINE BY ME.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WILL ASK THAT
WE LIMIT ADDITIONS UNLESS IT IS
WITHIN YOUR SECTION. COUNCIL
MEMBER WOO HAS DEMONSTRATED
THAT INTERSECTION. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBER WOO, FOR BEING
ON THE GOOD SIDE OF GOOD
GOVERNANCE. COLLEAGUES, ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF
NOT, MOVING ON. DEPUTY
DIRECTOR.
>> WE HAVE LIVING ONTO THE CARE
DEPARTMENT WE HAVE TWO BUDGET
AMENDMENTS, THOSE SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. NUMBER
EIGHT IS CARE 1A, THIS WOULD
INCREASE STAFFING IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDE FUNDING
FOR THOSE POSITIONS TO IMPROVE
NONEMERGENCY CALL ANSWERING
TIMES . SHOULD I DO THEM
TOGETHER?
>> YES.
>> CARE ONE SA IS AN ESTIMATED
SLI ON OPERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN
RIVERA, SPONSOR YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS
PARTICULAR REQUEST WAS TO DEAL
AND MANAGE FOR THE INABILITY TO
ANSWER FOR THE 911 CALL CENTER
TO ANSWER NONEMERGENCY CALLS.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE CAPACITY AND
WOULD DEDICATE STAFF THAT WOULD
BE SOLELY WORKING ON ANSWERING
THE NONEMERGENCY LINE TO
PROVIDE CAPACITY FOR THAT AND
THEN THE SLI REQUEST IS JUST TO
REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT TO GIVE
DATA ON BOTH THE EMERGENCY AND
THE NONEMERGENCY LINE SO THAT
WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT. I ALSO
KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOME
OVERAGE OF FUNDING IN SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT SO I KNEW
THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE
THAT FUNDING TO ALLOCATE TO
THESE FOUR POSITIONS THAT I
DEEM TO BE IMPORTANT SINCE OUR
ABILITY TO ANSWER THE 911 CALLS
BOTH THE EMERGENCY AND
NONEMERGENCY LINE WHICH WE NOW
OFTEN A THIRD OF THOSE CALLS
RESULT IN ACTUAL EMERGENCIES IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO MEET OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU.
>> I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. I
WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. WE HAD DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD. I AS CHAIR
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
SUPPORTED , AND WOULD BE A
COSPONSOR IF SHE WAS SO WILLING
TO DO SO, SO I SUPPORT THE
EFFORT SO. ON BOTH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, IS COSPONSORSHIP OKAY?
>> IS, OF COURSE. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO ECHO
THE COMMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BRINGING BOTH OF THESE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA , AND I
WOULD LOVE TO BE A COSPONSOR.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU , COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE.
>> I'M GOING TO NIP THE
SPONSORSHIPS IN THE BUD BECAUSE
IF WE -- I WILL JUST TELL YOU
FROM PAST PRACTICE, WE WILL BE
HERE ALL DAY JUST ON
SPONSORSHIPS UNLESS IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY VERY
VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU , THE
PROCESS WE ARE ENGAGING IN
RIGHT NOW IS FOR CORRECTIONS,
NOT NECESSARILY ADDITIONS AND
SO WITH THAT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO CONFIRM
THAT THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO
FUND THIS ARE NOT TAKEN -- HAVE
THEY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE
COUNCIL BUDGET ACTIONS.
>> YES, AS DESCRIBED IN THE
LAST PRESENTATION ABOUT WHERE
THE FUNDING SOURCES HAVE COME
FROM, CENTRAL STUFF WAS ABLE TO
IDENTIFY THE MEANS IN WHICH TO
FUND THESE PROGRAMS.
>> I APPRECIATE THE ADDITION OF
THIS BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY A
NEED THE PUBLIC HAS EXPRESSED
CONCERN ABOUT SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR DOING THIS.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO
MAKE AN ON-THE-FLY REVISION TO
THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE
EARLIER. UNLESS -- NO MATTER
WHAT, WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE
SPONSORSHIPS IF THERE WAS AN
ERROR. WERE NOT GOING TO GO TO
THE PROCESS OF ADDING
SPONSORSHIPS TODAY . IF THERE
IS SERIOUS OPPOSITION TO THIS
IT'S OKAY AND YOU CAN LET ME
KNOW RIGHT NOW. SEEING THEM, WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND
JUST MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE
SPONSORSHIP.
>> MAN ASK A QUESTION, CHAIR?
HOW SHOULD WE MAKE OUR DESIRE
TO BE SPONSORS KNOWN?
>> THE WAY THAT YOU CAN SHOW
SUPPORT US BY SPEAKING TO THE
ITEM . IF YOU NEED TO BE
RECORDED, IF WE NEED TO BE
RECORDING EVERYBODY'S NAME ON
EVERYTHING IT WILL CHANGE
EVERYTHING TO BUDGET COMMITTEE.
>> I'M JUST CLARIFYING BECAUSE
YOU DID -- YOUR FIRST COMMENTS
ENCOURAGED US TO TALK ABOUT OUR
SUPPORT AND BEING SPONSORS SO
I'M TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON
WHAT ACTUALLY WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE DOING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOORE. THE CLARIFICATION I'M
TRYING TO MAKE RIGHT NOW
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF AN ITEM,
GOOD TO GO. ADDING NAMES TO
SPONSORSHIPS, PLEASE DON'T DO
THAT. THANK YOU. GOOD QUESTION.
WITH THAT, BACK TO YOU, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR.
>> OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON NOW TO
THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE AND
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL
THINGS IN HERE. THE FIRST BEING
ITEM 10, CVO 1A . THIS IS JUST
ONE THE BUDGET IS TRANSMITTED
TO US OFTEN CVO DISCOVERS
ERRORS, SO THAT IS NOT ONE .
>> THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF AN
ADMINISTRATIVE USE OF BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
>> YES, AND THERE WILL BE
OTHERS FORTHCOMING SO BUT ITEM
11 IS NOT ONE OF THOSE. CBO TO
A IS SPONSORED BY THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE BUT THIS IS THE
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD EFFECTUATE
RESTORING POSITIONS THAT
WOULD'VE OTHERWISE BEEN LAID
OFF AT THE END OF THIS YEAR .
INSPECTIONS IN SEATTLE I CAN
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES AND SEATTLE PARKS AND
REC AND SORRY, THERE ARE SO
MANY DEPARTMENTS. DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS SO I THINK THOSE
ARE ALL OF THE ONES.
>> YES, AND THERE WILL BE
OTHERS FORTHCOMING SO BUT ITEM
11 IS NOT ONE OF THOSE. CBO 2
THEN THERE ARE OTHER BUDGET
ITEMS THAT WOULD FULLY RESTORE
POSITIONS.
>> A FURTHER DETAIL, YOU CAN
SEE THE DOLLAR ITEM HERE
INDICATES THE COST IS
APPROXIMATELY 4.4 MILLION. I
INDICATED WHEN WE WERE GOING
OVER THE RESOURCES TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET, THIS IS PAID FOR
WITH FUND BALANCES,
PARTICULARLY SDCI, I TS. [
INAUDIBLE ] I DID WANT TO CALL
THAT OUT AND IDENTIFY IT.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND
DEPUTY DIRECTOR. THIS WAS
BUDGET COMMITTEE, AS NOTED, BUT
THIS WAS THE FIRST THING THAT
WE LOOKED AT WHEN WE WERE GOING
THROUGH THE BALANCING
EXERCISES. AS I STATED EARLIER
ABOUT LAYOFFS WITHIN PUBLIC
SERVICE, IT IS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND
SO PEOPLE CHOOSE TO WORK FOR
OUR CITY IN SERVICE TO OTHERS,
IN SERVICE TO THE CITY, IN
SERVICE TO THEIR NATION. THE
LAST TIME WE HAD LAYOFFS, I
BELIEVE WE DID HAVE A FEW IN
2020, BUT IT WAS MINIMAL BUT WE
MIGHT NOT HAVE KIND OF LOOKING
AT REAL TIME. IF NOT, THEN THE
LAST TIME WE WOULD'VE HAD
LAYOFFS IS IN 2008. THIS IS ALL
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I HAVE
NO NOTES, SO IF I AM INCORRECT
I GIVE YOU THAT CAVEAT RIGHT
NOW. THIS WAS THE FIRST THING
THAT WE LOOKED AT WHEN CREATING
THE REST OF THE BALANCING
PACKAGE. CAN WE KEEP OUR CITY
FAMILY MEMBERS EMPLOYED. AND,
THE TOUGH DECISIONS WE HAVE
WRESTLED WITH AND WHILE WE
CANNOT KEEP THEM ON FOREVER, WE
ALSO CANNOT LET OUR CITY FAMILY
MEMBERS GO IN THE MIDDLE OF
WINTER DURING THE HOLIDAY
SEASON , AND AT THE SAME TIME
WE HAVE THE HIRING FREEZE
LIFTING JANUARY 1st. SOME DEPAR
ARE REDUCING POSITIONS IN SOME
DEPARTMENTS, WE ARE EXPANDING
POSITIONS IN OTHERS. THIS IS
WHAT I MEANT BY THE
PRE-PANDEMIC TO POST-PANDEMIC
FIRST RESET AND IT'S A
RESPONSIBLE RESET. PROVIDING
THE CITY EMPLOYEES THE TIME TO
TRANSITION OUT OF THEIR ROLES
TO REASSIGN WORK, TO APPLY FOR
OTHER CITY JOBS THAT MAY BECOME
AVAILABLE. IT IS IMPORTANT. IN
ADDITION ONE OF THE STATEMENTS
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT I
WILL HAVE IS REGARDING EARLY
RETIREMENT. IF WE NEED TO BE
REDUCING OUR WORKFORCE, WE ALSO
NEED TO BE USING EARLY
RETIREMENT TO THE FULLEST OF
OUR ABILITY AND SO THIS IS WHAT
THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION
IS, WHICH IS FOR ANYONE WHOSE
POSITION WAS NOT RESTORED ,
THEIR TERM OF SERVICE WILL BE
EXTENDED FOR SIX MONTHS.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU
INCLUDING THIS I WILL SAY IS
THE PERSON WHO OVERSEES THE
DEPARTMENT WITH THE MOST
LAYOFFS BEING PROPOSED, I AM
STILL INTERESTED IN TRYING TO
ACCOMMODATE THE ABILITY TO
STAY. WE NOW THERE'S A LOT OF
LEGISLATION COMING NEXT YEAR
AND DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY IS
GOING TO BE INCREASING AS WE
PASSED LAND-USE LEGISLATION, SO
I WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS
THIS AND HOPE TO GET SOME
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE? SAY NONE, BACK
TO YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> OKAY. ITEM 12 IS AN
ASSOCIATED SLI TO THE PREVIOUS
AMENDMENT. IT IS CBO TO SA . --
CBO 2 LESSON A. -- SA.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THIS ONE WAS FROM ME BUT I'M
GIVING US ALL THE CREDIT JUST
TO SIMPLY SAY WE NEED TO HAVE A
VERY CLEAR AND IN PLAIN
LANGUAGE DESCRIPTION OF HOW
CITY EMPLOYEES WHO NO LONGER
HAVE A JOB WITH THE CITY , THE
PROCESS IN WHICH THEY ARE ABLE
TO APPLY FOR CITY POSITION
SIMPLY STATED.
>> ITEM 13 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. THIS
IS CBO 3 ESSAY. THIS WOULD
REQUEST THAT THE CITY BUDGET
UNDER SPEND ON GRANTS AND
DEVELOP A SEARCHABLE DATABASE
OF CONTRACTS AND GRANTS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS ONE OF
THE STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT THAT CONTINUES OUR
BUDGET REFORM. OVER TO YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> RESOLUTION 32166 ADOPTED
LAST YEAR REQUESTS THAT THE CBO
AND CITY FINANCE REPORT ON
BUDGET ACTUALS AND COMPARE THEM
TO PROJECTED UNDER SPENDS AT
THE BCL LEVEL STARTING IN Q3
2025 SO THAT'S NEXT YEAR Q3
AND THIS, I'M PUTTING THIS
FORWARD JUST HOPING TO BUILD ON
THAT INTENT AND ASK THAT THERE
IS A FOCUS ON UNDER SPEND AND
UNDER SPEND ASSUMPTIONS, WHICH
IS REALLY GETTING AT LOOKING AT
BUDGETING PRACTICES BECAUSE IF
YOU'RE ALWAYS ASSUMING A
PARTICULAR UNDER SPEND BUT IT
ENDS UP BEING MORE THAN THAT,
THAT MEANS THAT POTENTIALLY WE
ARE NOT GETTING REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK OUT THE DOOR OR
WE ARE OVER ANTICIPATING THE
RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO DO
THAT WORK SO EITHER WAY, THIS
IS SIMPLY BUILDING ON THAT PAST
INTENT, AND ALSO REQUESTING
THAT THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE
THERE ACROSS THE BOARD, ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS , THEY TEND TO BE
SILENT BECAUSE THEY ARE
DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT AND IF
WE CAN PRODUCE A DATABASE, WE
HAVE A MUCH BETTER PORTRAIT OF
THE WORK THAT WE ARE ASKING
DEPARTMENTS TO DO IN
COLLABORATION WITH THIRD
PARTIES AND SO THAT ENABLES US
TO HAVE A BETTER PICTURE AND A
SEARCHABLE DATABASE SO THAT WE
KNOW REALLY WHERE WE ARE
PUTTING THE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
OUR VARIOUS POLICY CONCERNS AND
IT IS ALL IN ONE PLACE.
>> VERY WELL SAID, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> ITEM 14 CBO 4 SA WOULD
REQUEST THAT THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AND SEATTLE CITY
EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT SYSTEM
INCENTIVIZE AN EARLY RETIREMENT
SYSTEM FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE SLI I
JUST DESCRIBED TROY WAS TALKING
ABOUT OTHER THINGS OF EARLY
RETIREMENT. BACK TO YOU.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO SEATTLE
CENTER.
>> I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE.
ITEM 15.
>> ITEM 15, CBO 9A THIS IS ONE
OF OUR TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS FOR
MAKING SURE THE BUDGET
BALANCES. THIS IS INCREASING ,
KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE RATE
REVENUE INCREASE AND THAT WAS
PART OF THE OCTOBER REVENUE
FORECAST UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS
ADMINISTRATIVE.
>> CORRECT.
>> ON TO SEATTLE CENTER.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT
THAT LAST ONE? I'M SORRY.
>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THIS IS -- SO, WE JUST
ADDRESSED APPROPRIATIONS. IF
WE'RE REPLACING THAT WITH
GENERAL FUND?
>> THANK YOU. WE USE THE
ADDITIONAL REET REVENUE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCE FOR
SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT
WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN
FUNDED BY JUMPSTART TAX, SO WE
PUT IN REET TO FUND CAPITAL
NEEDS, TOOK OUT THE JUMPSTART
REVENUES, AND THEN THOSE
REVENUES ARE INHERENTLY MORE
FLEXIBLE AND CAN BE USED FOR
OPERATIONS AND OTHER THINGS, SO
THE EXAMPLE OF THE CREATIVITY,
I HAVE TO LOOK BACK AND REMIND
MYSELF ON THE SEATTLE CENTER
SIDE, I THINK THERE IS EITHER A
NEW ASK RELATED TO SEATTLE
CENTER OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE
REET TO FIND SOMETHING THAT HAD
A DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR THE
TECHNICAL STUFF I'M GOING TO
ASK YOU TO CIRCLE UP WITH
CENTRAL STUFF -- STAFF
AFTERWARDS.
>> THIS IS A COMBINATION OF THE
SEATTLE CENTER AND WESTLAKE
PROJECTS?
>> IS DEFINITELY THE WEST LAKE
PROJECT. I WOULD HAVE TO REMIND
MYSELF ABOUT THE SEATTLE CENTER
SIDE.
>> I WILL ASK THAT IF WE ARE
GETTING INTO A BCL /BSL LINE
ITEM LEVEL AFFORDED THE FUNDING
COME FROM, WHERE DID IT GO I
WILL ASK FOR COLLEAGUES TO
CONNECT WITH CENTRAL STUFF
OFF-LINE. JUST MOVING FORWARD
FOR TIME SAKE BECAUSE WE HAVE
130 OF THESE AND WE ARE ON 16.
OVER TO YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> ALL RIGHT AND ALSO JUST
NOTING THAT ONE IS NOT SPECIFIC
TO SEATTLE CENTER. THAT WAS A
CBO -RELATED ONE. I JUMPED HAD
TO SEATTLE CENTER TO QUICKLY SO
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WAS CLEVER THAT WENT TO. BACK
TO SEATTLE CENTER. NUMBER 16 .
CEN 1A WOULD ADD FUNDING TO
SEATTLE CENTER OF $250,000 OF
JUMPSTART FUND IN THOSE YEARS
FOR THE MEMBERSHIP WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
COLIC SOMETHING THIS IS
SOMETHING I HEARD FROM
BASICALLY EVERY SINGLE PERSON,
AND WE HAVE TURNED IT
INTERNALLY AS BUMPER WORKS
BECAUSE WE SAID THIS WORD SO
MANY TIMES. SO, THIS IS SHARED
SUCCESS HERE.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
THE IN TERMS FROM THE 2024
BUMBERSHOOT COHORT TO RHODA'S
ADVOCACY LETTERS TO SAY THEIR
PROGRAM, BECAUSE OF THAT WE
KNOW THIS PROGRAM COMES FROM
EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT. WE KNOW
IN 2023 THE PROGRAM GRADUATED
15 YOUNG PEOPLE, 83% OF WHOM
FOUND WORK IN INDUSTRY. WE ALSO
KNOW 16% OF THE PARTICIPANTS
IDENTIFY AS NON-BINARY. TWO
THIRDS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
TWO THIRDS OF LOW INCOME. WE
BELIEVE THIS IS A FANTASTIC
PROGRAM TO HOST MUSIC PROGRAMS,
FESTIVALS AND THE PERFORMING
ARTS AT THE SCALE OF A TRULY
WORLD-CLASS SCALE. NOT ONLY
WILL WE SPARK LUCRATIVE CAREERS
WITH THESE FUNDS BUT LOCAL
YOUTH COULD BE PRIMED TO THRIVE
IN OUR LOCAL MUSIC INDUSTRY
MAKING THE MOST OF
OPPORTUNITIES GENERATED BY THE
2026 WORLD CUP GAMES AND
BEYOND. THANK YOU, CHAIR
STRAUSS, FOR STEPPING UP TO
SUPPORT THIS FOR LOCAL YOUTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
WOO, FOR YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF
THIS, AS WELL. COLLEAGUES,
OTHER COMMENTS?
>> OKAY, I WILL ADDRESS ITEMS
17 AND 18 TOGETHER AS THEY ARE
SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THE FIRST
FIVE ARTS AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS
SO THESE ARE AGAIN EFFECTUATING
THE DESIRE TO NOT HAVE DIRECT
APPROPRIATIONS OF EMISSIONS TAX
REVENUES TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD TO ADDRESS
THE EMISSIONS TAX REVENUE DOWN
SHORTFALL SO THESE WERE TWO
BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD
MOVE BACK TO ARTS, MONEY, BUT
KEEP THESE PROGRAMS HOLE. THIS
IS FOR FESTIVAL AND CULTURAL
ADMINISTRATION STAFF AT SEATTLE
CENTER.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> ON THIS ONE, INSTEAD OF
USING ADD TAX FOR THIS PURPOSE
AND I NOW ADD TAX HAD NOT BEEN
SUPPORTING FAST ALL IN THE PAST
SO THIS IS USING GENERAL
FUNDING GIVING THE MONEY BACK
TO ARTS FOR -- WERE NOT SURE
WHAT.
>> THERE ARE TWO THINGS
HAPPENING. ONE IS JUST THERE
WILL STILL BE EMISSIONS TAX
MONEY SUPPORTING FAST ALL .
THAT WAS A PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL
MEMBER WOO, RATHER THAN GOING
DIRECTLY TO SEATTLE CENTER,
THOSE DOLLARS WILL GO TO ARTS
AND CULTURE THAN TO SEATTLE
CENTER. YOU SEE THE REFERENCE
TO GENERAL FUND THOUGH BECAUSE
THE OTHER THING HAPPENING IS
BECAUSE THERE WAS A DOWNGRADE
IN THE FORECAST FOR EMISSIONS
TAX REVENUES IN ORDER TO GET
ENOUGH MONEY WE HAD TO ADD SOME
GENERAL FUND SO THIS IS DOING
BOTH THOSE THINGS, IT IS
REDIRECTING EMISSIONS TAX MONEY
TO FLOW THROUGH ARTS AND
CULTURE AND IS ADDING A LITTLE
BIT OF GENERAL FUND TO MAKE UP
FOR THE FACT THAT THE FORECAST
IS DOWN IN OUR ASSUMPTION WAS
THAT THIS AMENDMENT PURPOSELY
PROVIDES FULL FUNDING TO FAST
ALL
>> WE ARE NOW ONTO THE CIVIL
SERVICES COMMISSION, ITEM 19
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, THAT WOULD PROVIDE
FUNDING AND POSITION AUTHORITY
TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO
INCREASE FIREFIGHTER STAFFING.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> I WENT INTO THIS BUDGET WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY IS PERHAPS THE
TOP PRIORITY, AND THAT INCLUDES
ALL PARTS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
ENVIRONMENT ECOSYSTEM,
INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, AND WE
HEARD CHIEF SCOGGINS SAY, WHEN
THE FIREFIGHTING -- WHEN SFD
WAS PRESENTING, THAT STAFFING
IS AN ISSUE. IT IS NOT
NECESSARILY A MATTER OF
ATTRACTING APPLICANTS. IT IS A
MATTER OF PROCESSING THE
APPLICATIONS AND GETTING PEOPLE
THROUGH TRAINING. THIS
PARTICULAR ADDITION OF AN FTE
WILL HELP WITH THE PROCESSING
OF APPLICATIONS BY ADDING AN
FTE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION JUST AS THE COUNCIL
BILLS THAT WE PASSED EARLIER
THIS YEAR ADDED POSITIONS IN HR
FOR THE PROCESSING OF
APPLICATIONS TO A SPEEDY AND SO
HOPEFULLY THIS WILL END UP
ALLEVIATING SOME OF THE
PRESSURES AT THE TOP OF THE
PIPELINE. HOWEVER, I DO NOTE WE
WILL ALSO, I THINK, NEED TO BE
THINKING ABOUT IN THE FUTURE
HOW WE CAN INCREASE TRAINING
CAPACITY DOWN THE LINE SO THAT
WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ONCE WE
ARE BRINGING PEOPLE ON THAT
THEY ARE GETTING TRAINED AND SO
WE HAVE THE WHOLE PIPELINE OF
FIREFIGHTERS IN BETTER SHAPE
THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRESS. I
WANTED TO THANK AS CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICE CHAIR
FOR GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY,
THANK HER FOR THIS AMENDMENT IN
TERMS OF SUPPORTING THE
RECRUITMENT OF FIREFIGHTERS. WE
ARE IN THE OPEN APPLICATION
SEASON SO PLEASE JOIN THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I
WON'T ASK ABOUT BEING A
COSPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE ON TO COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE
THAN WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. PLEASE, WE
ARE USING ROBERTS RULES OF
ORDER TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST
WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>> I NEGLECTED TO ALSO SAY THIS
IS A REQUEST FROM KENNY STEWART
OF LOCAL 27 SO IT IS MANAGEMENT
AND LABOR THE POST THINK THIS
WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE
SYSTEM AND I HAVE TO SAY AT
SOME POINT , WE HAVE A WRITTEN
RECORD SO THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND OUR POLICY
PREFERENCES AND I UNDERSTAND
THAT IDENTIFYING SPONSORSHIPS
DOES SLOW THINGS DOWN , AND AT
THE SAME TIME, IT DOES INDICATE
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RESEARCHING
THESE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE ,
WHO ON COUNSEL WAS ALSO PART OF
THE EFFORT TO BRING FORWARD
THESE POLICY AMENDMENTS, SO I
JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE
RECORD THAT WHILE UNWIELDY, THE
EXPRESSION OF SPONSORSHIP IS A
POSITIVE GESTURE , AND IT IS
FOR TRANSPARENCY GOING FORWARD.
>> HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING THAT UP. I HAD THE
POLICY CHOICE OF MAKING ALL OF
THESE BUDGET COMMITTEE BECAUSE
THE MAJORITY OF THESE REQUESTS
ARE SHARED BY MAJORITY OF
COUNSEL AND SO IF YOU COME TO
AN ITEM SUCH AS THIS, BECAUSE
THIS IS THE ITEM THAT WE WERE
SPEAKING TO RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF
MY TOP PRIORITIES, AND I AM NOT
LISTED THERE.
>> I WOULD BE FINE WITH IT BEEN
BUDGET COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
INDIVIDUALS MUST BE RECOGNIZED
BEFORE THEY SPEAK. I WAS
LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF MY
SENTENCE AND SO WHAT I WAS
SHARING WAS, IF YOU FIND THIS
TO BE IN ERROR THAT YOU ARE
LISTED AS SPONSOR, AND YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE CREDIT, WE
CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE RIGHT NOW
TO BUDGET COMMITTEE OR WE CAN
MAKE THIS AS IS.
>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE ALSO
BUDGET COMMITTEE BECAUSE THIS
IS CLEARLY A SHARED THING.
>> THANK YOU. FANTASTIC.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GOING
TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
REQUEST. THIS IS TO ME A PUBLIC
SAFETY PRIORITY AND SO FOR
THOSE REASONS, I AM SUPPORTIVE
OF THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LET THE RECORD
REFLECT WE WILL BE CHANGING
THIS TO BUDGET COMMITTEE. ONTO
THE NEXT ONE.
>> ITEM 20, WE ARE IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING ALSO KNOWN AS
DEAL. SO DEAL ONE A WOULD
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR $500,000
FOR FAMILIES AND EDUCATION LEVY
FOR THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND THIS IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND I
WILL TRY MY BEST BUT I HAVE
BEEN BITING MY TONGUE AND ONLY
SPEAKING TO THOSE ITEMS BECAUSE
I WANTED A PLUS WANT ON
EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD SO FAR
TO BE HONEST. BUT, I TOTALLY
RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN'T BE
HERE ALL DAY BUT THIS ITEM --
MY NAME IS ON IT , SO THIS IS
THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, REALLY IMPORTANT
INVESTMENT. WE ALL KNOW THAT
INCOME EQUALITY SADLY CONTINUES
TO GROW AND EXPAND IN SEATTLE
AND FRANKLY IT IS EVEN MORE
UNAFFORDABLE THAN EVER, AND
WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEW SUPPORTS
AND INVESTMENTS FOR WORKING
FAMILIES IN THIS DIRECTLY HELPS
US ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, HELPING
KIDS GET INTO PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND DAY CARES. WE KNOW
THE BENEFITS, RESEARCH-BACKED
BENEFITS OF THAT AND WHAT THAT
MEANS FOR DOWN THE ROAD AND
INTO ADULTHOOD BUT ALSO IT
HELPS IN THE NEAR-TERM SUPPORT
WORKING FAMILIES BECAUSE IT
ALLOWS , AS WE KNOW, SOMETIMES
WORKING FAMILIES MUST COMMUTE
LONG DISTANCES TO THEIR VARIOUS
JOBS AND CHILDCARE COSTS ARE
AGAIN EXORBITANTLY HIGH, SO
THIS HELPS PUT MONEY IN THE
HANDS OF WORKING FAMILIES AND
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND HELPS
EASE THE BURDEN A BIT AND I
REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT. WE
KNOW THERE IS A REALLY LONG
WAIT LIST IN THIS INVESTMENT
WILL HELP IS CLEAR THAT BACKLOG
AND SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> Thank you.
>> Back to you, director.
>> ITEM 21 , PROVIDE FUNDING TO
THE DEAL OF $142,000 OF
FAMILIES AND EDUCATION OF A FOR
AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING
PROGRAMS IN THE ETHNIC STUDIES
FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS IS
FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER
LEARNING FOR MOSTLY
FIRST-GENERATION MIDDLE
SCHOOLERS IN THE SOUTH END .
FAMILIES THAT ARE RECIPIENTS OF
FREEDOM REDUCED LUNCH AND IT'S
NOT JUST AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING,
BUT ALSO CASE MANAGEMENT THAT
HELPS FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE
SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ACCESS TO
OTHER BENEFITS , SO I
APPRECIATE YOU INCLUDING IT. MY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SAY
NONE. BACK TO YOU, DIRECTOR.
>> WE ARE ON TO DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, ITEM 22. THIS
WOULD INCREASE FUNDING BY THE
GENERAL FUND IN 2025 AND
228,000 2026 TO RESTORE FUNDING
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD FUND
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> WE ALL KNOW THAT THE FUND IS
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND THERE
IS VERY LITTLE THAT
NEIGHBORHOODS CAN DIRECTLY
APPLY FOR ANYBODY ACROSS THE
CITY . THIS WAS SUCH A FUND AND
IT CAN GO TO FUN THINGS LIKE
ANYWHERE FROM TRAFFIC
MITIGATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
TO SPONSORING A BLOCK PARTY OR
COMMUNITY EVENT , SO I KNOW IT
IS ONE THAT THE DISTRICT VERY
MUCH APPRECIATES AND I HEAR A
LOT ABOUT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS NOT DISTRICT SPECIFIC. I
HAVE HEARD ACROSS THE BOARD
THAT FOLKS SUPPORT THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM .
>> WELL SAID. COLLEAGUES, ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
BACK TO YOU DIRECTOR.
>> ITEM 23, THIS IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
AND THIS WOULD ADD FUNDING OF
$125,000 GENERAL FUND SKEWED
THE BIENNIUM FOR A COMMUNITY
SAFETY COORDINATOR FOR CAPITOL
HILL.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAVE
LISTENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ON
CAPITOL HILL AND THEY HAVE
ASKED FOR A SAFETY COORDINATOR
TO HELP ALL EFFORTS SURROUNDING
THE SMALL BUSINESSES TO THE
PEOPLE THAT WORK, PLAY AND LIVE
IN CAPITOL HILL. THIS WOULD BE
A GREAT ADDITION TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD , BECAUSE WE HAVE
SO MANY RESOURCES AND IT WILL
BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH
COORDINATION EFFORTS AND
AMBASSADORS, AS WELL. THANK YOU
YOUR CONSIDERATION .
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. I
WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S
PUZZLE. IT IS INTERESTING THAT
IN TERMS OF FILLING THE GAPS,
IN SOME I HAVE FILLED THIS ROLE
ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS, BUT I SEE
ACROSS THE CITY THAT THIS COULD
BE A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE TO
PROMOTE COMMUNITY SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. THIS IS A MODEL THAT
WAS DEVELOPED IN THE PILOT
PROGRAM BY A DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP . WE TOOK THE NEXT
MODEL AND PILOT PROGRAM FOR WE
HAVE SAFETY COORDINATOR AND
AMBASSADORS EXIST AND IN SOUTH
PARK. NOW, WE ARE EXPANDING TO
CAPITOL HILL. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, THANK YOU FOR
MEETING MY REQUEST TO HAVE THE
AMBASSADORS START THIS YEAR. WE
WILL GET THE SAFETY COORDINATOR
UP AND RUNNING, THEN BRING THE
AMBASSADORS. COLLEAGUES , I
WILL SPEAK TO A COUPLE ITEMS
DOWN, WHICH HAVE BEEN ENTRY
INCREASED COSTS AND SUPPLIES
AND INCREASED NEEDS. THIS WAS
WHAT DID IN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET, AS WELL, SO WE ARE
MAKING A TRIP AND I WON'T
SPEAK TO IT, BECAUSE I JUST
DID.
>> BACK TO YOU, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR.
>> ADD FUNDING AND PHYSICIAN
AUTHORITY TO COMMAND THE
ORGANIZING, VISUAL AID AND
DE-ESCALATION AND IT IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
COLLEAGUES. I AM EXCITED TO
PRESENT THIS INITIATIVE, WHICH
WE NAMED . A LITTLE HISTORY,
DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE
DISTRICT WITNESSED AND
ADDRESSED HOMELESSNESS , WHICH
PRESENTED ADDICTION AND HATE
CRIMES THAT CREATED A CRISIS
ALL AND WITHOUT ANYTHING CLOSE
TO SUFFICIENT SUPPORT FROM THE
CITY AND YORK COUNTY IN THIS
WORK ENVIRONMENT WHERE
NEIGHBORS TURNED TO EACH OTHER
TO FIND HOW WE CAN HELP OUR
NEIGHBORS. WE CAN MEET THEM
WHERE THEY ARE AT AND HAVE A
HELPING HAND BUT SOME NEED A
BOTTLE OF WATER, CONNECTION OR
SNACK AND SOMETIMES THEY NEED
LIFESAVING SERVICES AND FIND
URGENT HELP. ALL THINGS AT
THEIR CORE ABOUT NEIGHBORS
COMING TOGETHER TO HELP
NEIGHBORS. THE CID ISN'T THE
ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS
FACED THESE UNMET PUBLIC HEALTH
AND SAFETY NEEDS AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD'S COMMUNITY WATCH
WASN'T THE ONLY SUCH GROUPS GO
BY DIFFERENT NAMES, BUT SHARE
OBSTACLES IN ORGANIZING
EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY. THERE
ARE MANY NEIGHBORS ORGANIZING
AND MODELING EFFORTS OF THE
COMMUNITY ALREADY IN THEIR OWN
NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONNECTING
THEM TO EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES
THAT WILL BUILD COLLABORATION
AND TRUST. THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING THIS IN THE PACKAGE.
THESE GROUP PROGRAMS , WHICH
STANDS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
AND DE-ESCALATION WITH FUNDING
AND DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS
CAN BEGIN A PROGRAM WITH
CRITICAL TRAINING AND BEST
PRODUCT THIS IS PROVIDING
MATERIAL SUPPORT TO HOUSE
NEIGHBORS AND ADMINISTER
OVERDOSE INTERVENTION TO
CONNECT PEOPLE TO SERVICES.
FUNDING WILL CULTIVATE TRUSTING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITY STAFF
AND PLACED NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH
INITIATIVES. THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS THE PROGRAM AND
WE NOW HAVE THE TEAM BE A VERY
GREAT SIMILAR PROGRAM IN A
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, SO I
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE
CHAIR AND REQUEST SUPPORT OF MY
COLLEAGUES FOR THIS NEW
INITIATIVE. THANK YOU.
>> VERY WELL SAID. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER WOO FOR BRINGING
THE ORGANIZING PIECE AND THE
VOICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AS
SHE MENTIONED, THA WA
BRING -- MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT
WORK. WE NEED THAT COMBINATION,
WHETHER IT IS THE PUBLIC SECTOR
AND THIS IS A GREAT EXPRESSION
OF THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
>> MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK
AND COUNCILMEMBERS ARE WORKING
TO INFLUENCE ONE BALANCING
PACKAGE, WHICH IS A PRUDENT
BALANCING PACKAGE. BACK TO YOU.
>> FINAL ITEM IN DEPARTMENT
NEIGHBORHOODS IS DEPARTMENT 25
AND THIS WOULD INCREASE FUNDING
BY $100,000 OF GENERAL FUND IN
BOTH YEARS OF BIENNIUM FOR THE
SAFETY COORDINATOR CONTRACT TO
THE CHINATOWN AND DISTRICT.
>> AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE
DID NOT INCLUDE CAPITOL HILL,
BECAUSE THEY FUNDING THIS YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? BACK
TO YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> NOW, IF YOU IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
>> I WAS TRYING TO FIND MY HAND
BUTTON.
>> ARE YOU LOOKING TO BE
RECOGNIZED?
>> YES.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> BACK TO THE SAFETY
COORDINATORS, WHICH I
COMPLETELY SUPPORT AND IT'S
GOOD TO HAVE MORE FEET ON THE
GROUND, ESPECIALLY IN THESE
TIMES WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO
WRAP OUR MINDS AROUND PUBLIC
SAFETY. IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT DO NOT HAVE, WILL THE
SAFETY COORDINATES BECOME
DIRECT EMPLOYEES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS?
>> THAT IS NOT THE INTENT.
RATHER, THE RESOURCE WILL BE
AWARDED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUPS TO ASSIST THEIR EFFORTS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING
NONE . MOVING ON.
>> WE HAVE ASKED TO BE ON ALERT
FOR ANY QUESTIONS, BUT WE ARE
FEELING THEM QUITE WELL. ON TO
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. WE ARE
AT ITEM 26 . THIS WOULD
INCREASE FUNDING OF $495,000 OF
THE FUND TO RESTORE FUNDING TO
PRIORITY HIGHER AND THIS IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> SPONSORED THE AMENDMENT AND
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. WE KNOW THAT
THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS
GOING INTO THE TRADE AND THIS
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ALLOWS
YOUNG PEOPLE ACCESS TO GOOD
PAYING JOBS . AS THE DAUGHTER
OF A WELDER, I HAVE ALWAYS
BELIEVED THAT APPRENTICESHIPS
ARE A GREAT CAREER OPTION FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE . I WAS REQUESTING
RESTORATION OF THESE FUNDS TO
GO TOWARDS THE APPRENTICESHIP
PIECE THAT I KNOW I HAVE HEARD
ACROSS THE BOARD AND FOR MANY
OF US UP HERE SINCE MANY OF US
WERE SWORN BACK IN JANUARY AND
A LOT OF US TALKED ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF APPRENTICESHIPS
AS OPTIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THIS IS WHY I REQUESTED THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS
ONE OF YOUR TOP PRIORITIES AND
IT'S SHARED BY MANY AND YOU
HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT LEXI
>> I WANTED TO REQUEST TO BE A
COSPONSOR.
>> SHALL WE CHANGE THIS TO
BUDGET COMMITTEE OR WOULD YOU
LIKE TO KEEP IT?
>> CHANGE IT TO BUDGET
COMMITTEE AND I THINK MANY HAVE
EXPRESSED INTEREST. AS LONG AS
MY COLLEAGUES ARE FINE WITH
THAT.
>> SEEING NONE. THIS WILL
BECOME BUDGET COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS
SUPPORT. I KNOW THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE DOWN IN THE RAIN OR
BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE REALLY
BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS PROGRAM AND IT HAS BEEN
INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. HAPPY TO
SPONSOR OR JOIN.
>> BACK TO YOU, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR.
>> 27, THIS WOULD ADD $50,000
OF REAL ESTATE EXCISE TAX
DOLLARS FOR A MEMBRANE STUDY
FOR THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE IS FOR
OUR CITY AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY
BEAUTIFUL. IT IS A GREEN SPACE
DOWNTOWN , WHICH DOESN'T HAVE
A LOT OF GREEN SPACE, BUT IT'S
A PLACE TO REFLECT. IT WAS WITH
A GOLD STAR MOTHER MOTHER .
THIS IS TO ASSURE THAT IT
REMAINS . IT IS AN ELEMENT OF
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND WE CAN'T
WAIT UNTIL THIS BECOMES A MAJOR
PROBLEM . WE DO THIS TO SCOPE
THE NEEDS AS I'VE LEARNED.
BETTER TO DO IT EARLY THAN
LATE. BY DOING SO, THAT CAN BE
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF GOOD
GOVERNANCE. FROM A BUDGET
PERSPECTIVE, PROBABLY HELPFUL,
BECAUSE WAITING IS ALWAYS MORE
EXPENSE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AS SOMEONE
WHO HAS PERSONALLY VISITED AND
TOURED THE SITE A FEW TIMES
MYSELF AND MOST RECENTLY AT A
PUBLIC REQUEST OF OUR COLLEAGUE
, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
GRATUITOUSLY AND GRACIOUSLY
OFFERED MY TIME TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS HERE . I TOOK HIM
UP ON IT RECENTLY AND ALSO GOT
THAT SPACE WITH A GOLD STAR
FAMILY . IT IS ALSO AS A FELLOW
VETERAN. WE HAVE TWO ON THE
COUNCIL CURRENTLY AND I AM
PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS. NOT
ASKING FOR SPONSORSHIP, BUT I
APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP AND
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS.
>> TO MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE. SHARE
APOLOGIES, BUT ON THAT LAST
PIECE, I NEGLECTED TO SAY THAT
THIS IS A RESTORATION OF AN
EXISTING PROGRAM AND IT'S NOT
A NEW PROGRAM, SO I THOUGHT IT
WAS IMPORTANT TO MENTION, SO
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO GO
BACK TO THAT ONE ON THAT.
>> VERY WELL SAID, VICE CHAIR.
FOR ENTHUSIASTS , YOU KNOW THAT
WE PASSED POLICY EARLIER THIS
YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> JUST WANT TO VOICE MY
SUPPORT FROM COUNCILMEMBER
CATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> DEPUTY DIRECTOR, BACK TO
YOU.
>> A STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT. THIS WOULD REQUEST THAT
THEY REPORT ON IMPLEMENTING ON
CONTRACTOR POLICY FOR CITY
CONTRACTS AND I WANT TO ADD FOR
THE CHURCH AWARENESS THAT WE
DID DISCOVER THIS MORNING AND
IT APPEARS THAT THIS MAY HAVE
ALREADY BEEN DONE. I WILL
CIRCLE BACK TO YOU. THIS IS
SPONSORED BY YOU, CHAIR
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THIS IS PART OF THE GOOD
GOVERNMENT STEP DOWN AND WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR
CONTRACTS. I THOUGHT THAT IT
MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN DONE. I
HAVE GOT MORE GOOD SLIDES TO
COME . BACK TO YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. BACK TO
YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR. IT FEELS
LIKE AIRPORT CONTROL APPEAR.
>> LAST ONE , ITEM 29 , THIS IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER WOO
AND REQUEST THAT THEY EXPLORE
ESTABLISHING A REAL ESTATE
SOLICITATION CEASE AND DESIST
PROGRAM MODEL ALREADY IN PLACE
IN NEW YORK STATE.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. WE HEARD SO MANY
STORIES FROM BLACK HOMEOWNERS
WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ENJOY PEACE
FROM PREDATORY REAL ESTATE
SPECULATORS, SO MUCH LIKE A DO
NOT CALL LIST, A REGISTRY SUCH
AS THIS COULD BE MAINTAINED IN
THE CITY TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE
AREA IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE FIND
GREATER PEACE IN THEIR HOME.
I'M HOPING THAT THIS
EXPLORATION WILL HELP
FACILITATE A TOOL TO HELP FIGHT
GENTRIFICATION DISPLACEMENT .
HOPING THAT THIS IS THE FIRST
STEP IN A LONG LINE OF OTHER
STEPS, WHICH INCLUDES TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT A
PROGRAM FOR A DO NOT CALL LIST.
THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE'S
SUPPORT.
>> VERY WELL SAID. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> JUST VOICING MY SUPPORT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER WOO'S ASK. THANK
YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BACK TO
YOU, DIRECTOR.
>> I HANDED OVER TO MY
DIRECTOR.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT FEW
ITEMS RELATE TO FINANCE
GENERAL. BY WAY OF EXPLANATION
PARTICULARLY FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS, IT IS
ESSENTIALLY A FINANCIAL
CLEARINGHOUSE FOR THE GENERAL
FUND AND IT IS WHERE THE
GENERAL FUND DOES IT SPANKING.
IT'S NOT A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT
, BUT MOST OF THESE WILL BE
TECHNICAL. THE FIRST ITEM MAKES
TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS TO BOTH
THE EMERGENCY FUND AND THE
RAINY DAY FUND IN THE GENERAL
FUND. THE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE SET
BY FORMULA AND THOSE FORMULAS
ARE INFLUENCED BY THE INFLATION
FORECASTS AND ISSUES AROUND THE
VALUE OF THE CITY , SO THESE
ARE ADJUSTED DOWNWARD BECAUSE
OF THOSE CHANGES, BUT BY SMALL
AMOUNTS.
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS NOT
TECHNICAL , BUT POLICY. IT WILL
PROVIDE A TOTAL OF $5 MILLION
TO $2.5 MILLION .
>> LET'S DO ONE AT A TIME.
FIRST, ITEM 30 OUR TECHNICAL
TRANSFERS TO OUR EMERGENCY AND
RAINY DAY FUNDS.
>> CORRECT. ADJUSTMENTS
DOWNWARD IN THE PER ADOPTION
POLICY.
>> FANTASTIC. I HAVE DISCOVERED
AN ERROR. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
IDENTIFIED THE SPONSOR .
>> WILL MAKE THAT CORRECTION.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE ARE
SENDING MONEY OUT OF THE CITY
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHICH
DEPARTMENT ENGAGE IN WORKING
THE TRANSACTION, IF YOU WILL.
THIS WILL PROVIDE $5 MILLION IN
TWO ALLOCATIONS TO THE SEATTLE
CHINESE GARDEN IN AN EFFORT TO
RAISE CAPITAL FUNDS TO
IMPLEMENT THE MASTER PLAN . THE
CITY WOULD NEED TO NEGOTIATE A
CONTRACT FOR APPROPRIATE PUBLIC
SERVICES AND EXCHANGE ACCESS TO
THE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE
EXCHANGED FOR THE CITY SUPPORT.
>> VERY WELL SAID , DIRECTOR.
THIS IS PART OF A MANY MILLION
DOLLAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT
WILL ALSO HAVE LABOR AND
MATERIALS DONATED . THIS IS A
MULTIYEAR EFFORT . THIS IS THE
FUNDING TO RELEASE THE FUNDING
TO THE SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN ,
WHICH WAS AT ONE TIME A CITY
PROGRAM AND SEPARATED -- WE
WON'T GO INTO THAT, BUT IT IS
NOW A NONPROFIT. IT IS A
PROGRAM THAT IS NOW A
NONPROFIT. FOR THEM TO ACCESS
THESE FUNDS NOT ONLY WILL THERE
BE PUBLIC BENEFITS REQUIRED,
BUT ALSO REQUIRE A MATCH FROM
OTHER ENTITIES AND PRIVATE
PARTIES. I ALREADY BROUGHT IT
UP, BUT COUNCILMEMBER WOO AND
SAKA WERE PRE-IDENTIFIED AS
SPONSORS. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
WOO, THEN WOO -- SAKA.
>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS
PROJECT. THE MASTER PLAN IS
AVAILABLE AND I RECOMMEND
EVERYONE TO SEE THE SPECIFIC
PROJECTS THAT HELP PROMOTE
CHINESE CULTURE AND THIS
FUNDING WILL GO TOWARDS THAT.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
WITH TIMELESS ART, NATURE,
CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND COMMUNITY
BUILDING. MAINTAINING
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINING THE
GROWTH AND COMPLETION OF THE
GARDEN AND NURTURING
GENERATIONS AND I ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO PLAN THEIR VISIT TO
CHECK OUT THE GARDENS AND LEARN
ABOUT IT FOR ITS FUTURE.
>> VERY WELL SAID.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA , SPONSORED
THE AMENDMENT , YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> COSPONSOR OF THIS GREAT
AMENDMENT AND AM HONORED TO DO
THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS FOR A
NUMBER OF REASONS . I'M HAPPY
TO SUPPORT THESE FUNDS TO HELP
INITIATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
CAMPAIGN FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL
GARDEN . IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO
BE IN MY DISTRICT, AS WELL.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE AND A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE
AS A CITY TO INVEST IN THIS
PROJECT. THANK YOU TO YOU, MR.
CHAIR, AS WELL AS TRANSIT TEAM
AND COSPONSOR ALONGSIDE YOU
ALL.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE. DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
BACK TO YOU.
>> THE NEXT ITEM, WE PROVIDE $1
MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
EFFORTS IN CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT . THIS
PROPOSED ACTION REFLECTS
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE DURING
THE BUDGET PROCESS AND
IDENTIFIED A CLEAR NEED AND
HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
FLESH OUT THE BEST AND
RESOURCES WILL BE REQUIRED, SO
THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER HERE, BUT
WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR
TWO TO FLESH IT OUT FURTHER FOR
THE BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THIS
, BUT NEED TO ENSURE THAT
RESOURCES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO
TAKE ON THE SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES THAT DO EXIST.
>> VERY WELL SAID. BEFORE I
CALL ON THE SPONSOR, WOO, I
WILL ECHO THOSE WHILE WE ARE
WORKING OVER THE WEEKEND TO
IDENTIFY THE BEST WAY FORWARD
TO ACCOMPLISH THE OUTCOMES THAT
COUNCILMEMBER WOO HAS BROUGHT
UP AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO
RECEIVE ALL INFORMATION NEEDED,
SO THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER WITH
MORE INFORMATION TO COME.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO , SPONSOR OF
THE AMENDMENT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> TOOK IT TO THE ISSUE OF
SAFETY . WE KNOW THAT AS
CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED IN THE
CORRIDOR, HAS FAILED EVER
INCREASING STRESS FROM
HOMELESSNESS , ADDICTION AND
CRIME. IT IS BECOMING WORSE AND
WE KNOW IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
THIS WAY. THANK YOU, ONCE
AGAIN, PROVIDING A FLEXIBLE
RESERVE OF FUNDS THAT WE
DIRECTED THE AREAS OF GREATEST
NEED WITH THESE QUICKLY
EVOLVING SITUATION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT AS THE REPRESENTATIVE
AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN GOING
ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I
WOULD LOVE TO SPONSOR OR
SUPPORT AND I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER WOO . THIS WAS ON
MY PRIORITY LIST, TOO.
>> THANK YOU. THIS WAS AN ITEM
ON THE PRIORITY LIST.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU VOICING
YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. BACK TO
YOU, DIRECTOR.
>> I WILL DEAL WITH THESE
SEPARATELY. THIS IS AN
ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE CHANGE
REVENUE PODCAST AND PREVIOUS
PRESENTATION. YOU DON'T SEE
ANY DOLLAR AMOUNTS, BECAUSE
THIS IS ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
THESE REFLECT ESSENTIALLY THE
SUMMARY OF REVENUE CHANGES THAT
WE PROVIDED EARLIER , WHICH ARE
THE TECHNICAL CHANGES THAT WE
ACKNOWLEDGE AS APPROVED BY THE
COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES?
>> THIS IS THE TRANSFER OF
JUMPSTART REVENUES INTO THE
GENERAL FUND TRANSACTION DETAIL
. THE ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND
ONE OF THEM IS INCORRECT, IT IS
ACTUALLY 27 MILLION. THE DOLLAR
AMOUNTS WILL NOT BE
PARTICULARLY INSIGHTFUL. WHAT
WE ARE DOING IN SUMMARIZING THE
PREVIOUS PRESENTATION ON
SHIFTING RESOURCES FROM THE
EXPENSE FUNDS TO THE GENERAL
FUND.
>> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? I WILL KEEP MOVING US
ON.
>> WE WILL SHIFT TALK ABOUT
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE
FIRST ITEM WOULD ADD $1.9
MILLION IN EACH YEAR 25 AND 26
FOR A TOTAL OF 3.8 MILLION TO
PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
SERVICES . THIS IS A
SELF-FUNDED ADDITION THROUGH
OUR WORK AND CENTRAL STEPS WORK
. WE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE ARE
INTEREST EARNINGS THAT ARE
GROWING ACCRUING , WHICH COULD
BE TRANSFERRED AND THOSE
ADDITIONAL INTEREST EARNINGS
ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED BY
POLICY TOWARDS SERVICES AND WE
ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE
REVENUES WILL COME AND MAKE
THAT ALLOCATION . THE REASON IT
SHOWS 3.8 MILLION IN 25 AND 26
IS BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE OF
DOUBLE APPROPRIATIONS WITH
MONEY BIG ACKNOWLEDGED . THE
WAY IT WORKS IS TO MAKE IT
APPEAR TWICE . THE ACTUAL
EXPENDITURE IS 1.9 MILLION IN
EACH OF 25 AND 26.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
INCLUDING THIS. I JUST WANT TO
NOTE THAT AS CHAIR OF THE
HOUSING HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE, I DID BRING FORWARD
THIS AMENDMENT TO THE
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE PLAN
OR HOUSING LEVY WITH THE HELP
OF CENTRAL STAFF TO IDENTIFY
UTILIZING THE INTEREST EARNINGS
FROM INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS . AT
THE TIME , WASN'T AVAILABLE TO
BE INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE . I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT IT IS
NOW CURRENTLY REFLECTED IN THE
BALANCING PACKAGE AND I SUPPORT
UNANIMOUS . I WANT TO THANK THE
HOUSING HUMAN SERVICE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR THEIR UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT OF THIS AND ALSO TO
ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES .
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> GIVEN THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER
OF EVICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
HAPPENING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO FOLKS TO
STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT
DIRECTION.
>> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? BACK
TO YOU.
>> NEXT ITEM, MORE SIGNIFICANT
PROPOSALS IN THE BALANCING
PACKAGE AND PROVIDE STARTUP
FUNDING AND OPERATIONAL FUNDING
FOR TWO NEW CONGREGANT SHELTER
SITES AND HOME VILLAGES . THE
FUNDING IS APPROXIMATELY $2
MILLION FOR THE START UP COSTS
AND ONE-TIME START UP COSTS IN
2025 AND HALF A YEARS WORTH OF
OPERATIONS RECOGNIZING THAT IT
COULD TAKE THE OPERATIONAL AND
ON THE GROUND . IT PROVIDES A
FULL YEAR OF OPERATIONS FUNDING
FOR 2026. TWO NONCOMBAT
SHELTERS OPENED BY MIDYEAR AND
OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THE
REMAINDER AND ALL OF 2026.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
HEARD FROM EVERYONE . EVERYONE
IS SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL
NON-CONGREGANT SHELTERS , SUCH
AS TINY HOME VILLAGES. I ALSO
APPRECIATE COUNSEL FOR
KETTLE'S INPUT, WHICH IS IN
LINE WITH ONE OF THE LESSONS
LEARNED FROM OUR HOMELESSNESS
REDUCTION PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE
RAN . I QUOTED THE RESULTS OF
THIS WHILE WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM
WHERE 36 OF 37 INDIVIDUALS ON
NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND WERE ABLE
TO COME INSIDE AND WE COULDN'T
FIND ONE. THE BIGGEST BARRIER
WAS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE
DEDICATED SHELTER FOR THE
INDIVIDUALS WE ARE WORKING
WITH. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I
APPRECIATE -- YOU WERE THE ONLY
ONE. I KNOW THAT COLLEAGUES
AGREE TO BRING FORWARD AND THAT
WE SHOULD HAVE SOME OF THESE
UNITS SET ASIDE FOR FOLKS IN
HIGH IMPACT AREAS . HE LISTED A
FEW, BUT I COULD COME UP WITH
10 MORE. I APPRECIATE THE
HIGH-LEVEL ATTENTION. I SEE
YOUR HAND.
>> THANK YOU. YES, I HAVE BEEN
A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES . WE COULD
ALWAYS HAVE MORE. I APPRECIATE
THE PORTION ABOUT HIGH IMPACT I
WILL MAKE A REQUEST TO INCLUDE
LAKE CITY IN THE DEFINITION OF
A LAKE CITY AND AURORA IN THE
DEFINITION OF HIGH IMPACT
AREAS. THANK YOU.
>> AS FACILITATING THIS, IT
MIGHT BE THAT WE LEAVE IT AS
HIGH IMPACT AREAS AND THE LIST
WILL GET LONG. WE WILL HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
>> I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
AND YOUR TEAM AND CENTRAL STAFF
TEAM. EVEN ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
ALSO WANT TO USE THIS AS AN
EXAMPLE FOR THOSE THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ENGAGED WITH THE ACROSS A
NUMBER OF NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS . I WON'T LIST
THEM ALL, BUT I WILL RESERVE
ONE RECOGNITION , SINCE SHE IS
YOUR FORMER BOSS AND MY
PREDECESSOR. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK WARMER COUNCILMEMBER AND
HER ADVOCACY ALONG THE LINES.
>> AMEN. COUNCILMEMBER?
COUNCILMEMBER WILL.
>> I WANT TO ECHO EVERYONE'S
SUPPORT WHO HAVE SPOKEN SO FAR.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT THAT
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT HAS MADE UP OF THREE
NEIGHBORHOODS. I WASN'T SURE
IF THIS WAS REDUNDANCY OR IF
LITTLE SAIGON WANTED MORE
EMPHASIS BY SINGLING IT OUT
FROM THE ENTIRE TOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT IS FROM THESE THREE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> VERY WELL SAID. THIS ECHOES
MY SENTIMENT THAT I THINK WE
WILL REMOVE THE NAMES OF PLACES
AND KEEP IT HIGHER-LEVEL. VICE
CHAIR RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I SUPPORT
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES. WE HAVE
GOT TO GET OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS INDOORS AND THIS IS A
GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO DO SO. I DO
SEE THE MONEY COMING FROM THE
GENERAL FUND AND I AM CONFUSED
AS TO WHY THIS IS COMING FROM
THE FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDE,
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CRE
DOES THE TEMPORARY SHELTERING
AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THAT. I'M JUST WANTING MORE
INFORMATION. IF YOU CAN'T
ANSWER NOW, WE WILL TAKE IT
OFF-LINE. I HAD SOME CONFUSION
ABOUT THAT.
>> WHERE HAVE WE COME FROM IN
THE PAST AND WHERE ARE WE ARE
TODAY? THIS COUNSEL IS DIGGING
DEEPER THAN I HAVE SEEN IN THE
PAST . I THINK CENTRAL STAFF IS
DOING A GOOD JOB OF ANSWERING
DETAILED QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW .
IN YEARS PAST, THIS HAS BEEN A
BIT HIGHER-LEVEL. I'M JUST
GIVING EVERYONE A COMPLEMENT OF
DIGGING IN DEEP.
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. THE
SOURCE OF THE FUNDING IS THE
CITY GENERAL FUND. THERE ARE
OTHER ELIGIBLES SOURCES OF CITY
FUNDING . WHO ULTIMATELY
IMPLEMENTS IS A DIFFERENT
QUESTION. HST MAY BE
CONTRACTING TO IMPLEMENT , BUT
THE QUESTION IN TERMS OF
ALLOCATION OF WHERE THE MONEY
COMES FROM, IT HAS TO COME FROM
SOME CITY OR SOURCE ON ITS WAY
TO WHOEVER WILL PROVIDE THE
GENERAL FUND . I CAN CLARIFY
THAT PART AT MINIMUM.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT PART, BUT
IT'S MORE THAT WE GIVE THEM
MONEY. THEY ARE SOMEWHERE IN
OUR BUDGET, SO THIS IS ADDITIVE
TO WHAT WE GIVE CASEY RHA IS MY
UNDERSTANDING. ARE YOU SAYING
IT'S NOT AND IT'S PART OF
ALREADY GIVING ? I JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY MY QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS NEIL , SO IT WILL
REPRESENT AN EXPANSION OF
FUNDING FOR SHELTER. THE
OVERALL BUDGET MAINTAINS
EXISTING SHELTER CAPACITY AND
THIS WOULD REPRESENT AN
INCREASE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD QUESTIONS. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> I DO THINK THAT'S A GOOD
QUESTION TO ASK AND I WAS
ASKING MYSELF THE SAME THING .
WHEN WE AMENDED, WE MADE SURE
TO IDENTIFY THE MISSION , WHICH
WAS FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER . I
BELIEVE THAT OUR CONTRIBUTION
IS 104 MILLION THIS COMING YEAR
. I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER
GOING FORWARD HOW WE ALLOCATE
THOSE RESOURCES BETWEEN A
REGIONAL AGENCY AND CONGREGANT
SHELTER WITHIN OUR CITY .
PERHAPS THIS IS AN OFF-LINE
CONVERSATION, BUT THIS NOTES
THAT IT IS FOR STARTUP AND
OPERATIONAL COSTS, BUT IT IS
ONE TIME FUNDING. THAT WILL
CREATE ONGOING EXPENSES THAT WE
NEED TO THINK ABOUT IN 27 AND
BEYOND. THIS IS A POLICY AREA
THAT REQUIRES THINKING. I DO
SUPPORT HOWEVER WE ARE DEFINING
NON-CONGREGANT, WHICH IS
SOMETHING THAT DOES HAVE
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT AMONGST
COUNSEL.
>> THANK YOU. JUST NOTING THAT
IN 2026 IT IS LISTED AS ONGOING
RATHER THAN ONE TIME.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, FUNDING IS
ONE TIME TO GET THINGS SET UP
AND THERE ARE EXPECTATIONS
GOING ON FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS.
>> HERE WE ARE. HERE WE GO.
NEXT, DIRECTOR 37. NICK
INDICATED IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY
HOW WE HAVE MADE SOME
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS . THE
$129,000 IN FUNDING WILL BE IN
THE AMOUNT OF $52,000. THERE IS
A SEPARATE ITEM, NUMBER 54, WE
SIMPLY REVERSED TO MAKE THE
AGENCY NAMES FOR THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF FUNDING GOING TO
RESTORE LEGAL SERVICES IS A
COMBINATION OF THIS ITEM AND
NUMBER 54 AND WE REVERSED THE
DOLLARS , SO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT
ERROR. IT WILL BE GETTING
$52,000 AND IF I GET THE NAME
OF THE AGENCY'S HERE RIGHT.
>> SHALL WE DO THIS TOGETHER?
>> THERE IS $129,000 HERE ON
ITEM 54 . $2000 HERE FOR LEGAL
SERVICES. $52,000 WILL GO TO
SOLID GROUND AND THE 129 FOR
THE EXTENSION OF LEGAL COUNSEL
FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN.
>> SORRY, CHAIR. MAY I GET SOME
CLARIFICATION ON THIS?
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU MIND
SEEING THAT AGAIN?
>> THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, PLEASE
DO NOT MAKE NOISES THAT ARE
INTERRUPTING WHAT WE ARE DOING
HERE. BACK TO YOU.
>> TWO ITEMS THAT ARE FUNDING
THE RESTORATION OF LEGAL
SERVICES . ONE IS FOR $129,000
AND ONE IS FOR $52,000. WE HAVE
SWAMPED THE NAMES OF THE
AGENCIES THAT ARE BEING FUNDED
AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS. THE $52,000
IS FOR SOLID GROUND AND THE
$129,000 IS FOR YOUTH AND
CHILDREN. TECHNICAL ERROR ON
OUR SIDE.
>> FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE
SUBJECT MATTER, WILL SPEAK TO
BOTH ITEM 38 AND 34, WHICH WE
HAVE BEEN DOING. I WILL BE
ASKING IF YOU HAVE HANDS TO
RAISE THEM. I WILL SHARE WITH
YOU THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
INCLUSIVE , THIS PROCESS HAS
BEEN INCLUSIVE AND TRYING TO
GET TO CONSENSUS. IT TOOK MORE
WORK FOR CENTRAL STAFF AND I
HEARD ONE OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS TODAY TALK ABOUT
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. I WILL
SHARE THE REFORMS THAT WE MADE
TO THE POLICY THIS YEAR AND
CONTINUE MAKING THE YEARS
FORWARD HAVE BEEN INTENDED AND
CREATED THE OUTCOME OF
INCREASED TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVE
WORKED THESE LAST EIGHT DAYS
AND PERSONAL APOLOGY TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC THAT WE WERE NOT
ABLE TO GET IT OUT BEFORE 8:00
AND THE REASON WE GOT OUT SO
LATE WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE
WORKING UNTIL 9:00 P.M. LAST
NIGHT. GOOD JOB . THAT WAS A
LITTLE BIT OF ME STALLING TO
SEE IF THERE WERE ANY
QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS ON
THESE TWO ITEMS? 38 AND 54
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE .
>> WHAT IS THE 4.4%
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT AND
WHAT DOES IT COVER? ON BOTH OF
THOSE .
>> AND NEED TO GET BACK INTO
THE DETAILS OF THAT. I WOULD
ANTICIPATE THE LABOR COST AND
POTENTIALLY NONLABOR EXPENSES,
AS WELL. GIVE YOU AN INCREASE
FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO
REFLECT PREVIOUS COST, BUT WE
WILL GET YOU MORE DETAIL.
>> THEY ARE LEGAL COSTS, SO I
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THESE ITEMS ARE 37 AND 54.
NOT 38. WE ARE ON 37 AND 54.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I KNOW
THAT 37 WAS ONE OF YOUR TOP
PRIORITIES AND WE HEARD IT FROM
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON
THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS WHY I
GOT THE PLEASURE. I AM REFLECT
FOR THE RECORD THAT YOU HAD
HUGE AMOUNTS OF SUPPORT.
>> RECORD RISING ? OKAY. THANK
YOU, JERRY STRAUSS. THE
COLLEAGUES WHO WERE SUPPORTIVE
AND RECOGNIZING THE BUDGET 101
PIECES THAT ALWAYS NEED TO BE .
I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND
WORK BY CENTRAL STAFF . I WANT
TO NOTE HOW THIS IS ALSO VERY
MUCH IN MY MIND GOOD GOVERNANCE
IN A SENSE. DOING THINGS
EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER.
DOING VULNERABLE YOUTH AND
CHILDREN. EARLIER IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES CAN AVOID MUCH
MORE LATER ON , SO I THINK
IT'S AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
KIND OF ARGUMENT.
>> WELL SAID. VICE CHAIR
RIVERA?
>> SORRY. THAT WAS AN OLD HAND.
>> I HEARD LARGE AMOUNTS OF
SUPPORT ACROSS FOR L CYC , AS
WELL AS FOR SOLID GROUND.
NOTHING FURTHER. WE WILL MOVE
TO ITEM 38 AND WE WILL NOT COME
BACK TO 54 WHEN WE GET TO IT.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ITEM WOULD ADD $1
MILLION FOR POST-2025 AND 2026
TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR MALE
BANKS AND PROGRAMS. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF REDUCTION IN THE POST
BUDGET FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS SIGNIFICANT, BUT NOT
COMPLETE RESTORATION OF FUNDING
PUT INTO A SINGLE POOL, SO
DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE
WAYS TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS
ITEM WAS FUNDED WITH ONE-TIME
FUNDS , WHICH IS WHY I WAS VERY
CLEAR AT THE START OF THE
COMMITTEE THAT IT IS DIFFICULT
FOR US TO PROJECT THIS. AS YOU
CAN SEE, THEY ARE LISTED IN THE
ONGOING . WHEN I WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE DELTA IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE AND
IN THE AUDIENCE TALKING TO SOME
-- DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD BANK
AND WE CAN'T NECESSARILY
PROMISE THIS FOREVER. THIS IS
SOMETHING WE ARE ABLE TO DO
THIS YEAR. FOOD SECURITY IS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR CITY. I
HEARD WHY TO SUPPORT ACROSS FOR
THIS. I DID RECEIVE DIFFERENT
REQUESTS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS
FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS , WHICH
IS WHY WE HAVE COMBINED FOOD
PROGRAMS AND ADDED MONEY TO IT.
THIS IS A COMBINATION OF FOOD
STAFFING FOR OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES FOR FOOD BANKS. MEAL
PROVIDER PROGRAMS AND
CULTURALLY NOURISHING FOOD
PROGRAM. I WILL FLAG THAT THERE
WILL LIKELY BE AN AMENDMENT
HERE TO CLARIFY. I DON'T
NECESSARILY NEED ONE TODAY ,
BUT I CAN ALREADY SENSE HOW
THERE MIGHT BE SOME
UNDERSTANDING. WHAT I REQUEST
IS THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE
AGREEMENT APPEAR ON THE COUNCIL
ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY GOES INTO
WHICH FUND , THEN WE LEAVE THIS
FOR A PROCESS, BECAUSE WE ARE
INTO AND WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS OUR JOB AS ELECTED
LEADERS. WE ARE IN TUNE WITH
THE COMMUNITIES AND IT CAN
BECOME A BIT ODD IF WE ARE
ACTING AS A SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS, AS WELL. I RAISED THIS
AS A FLAG. THE GOOD NEWS IS
THAT WE ARE FUNDING FOOD.
SHOULD HAVE LEFT IT AT THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I SEE
YOUR HAND. AS OUR FOOD CHAMPION
, COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
I EXPECT YOU TO SAY SOMETHING.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> I DO HAVE A CLARIFYING
QUESTION AND COMMENT. VERY MUCH
SUPPORT FOOD AND I HAVE TALKED
ABOUT FOOD DESERTS AND FAMILIES
LIVING . THERE IS A FOOD
DESERT, SO I KNOW THAT WE SPEND
AND WENT BACK TO LOOK AT THIS
TO MAKE SURE WHAT OUR ACTUAL
INVESTMENT IN WAS, BECAUSE IT
IS NOT 1 MILLION, BUT IT IS
ACTUALLY 36.5 MILLION , WHICH
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR
CONSTITUENTS WITH FOOD IN THAT
WAY . I DID WANT A CLARIFYING
QUESTION, BECAUSE I DIDN'T
KNOW WHERE IT FELL IN WITH OUR
BIGGER INVESTMENT INTO YOUR
POINT ABOUT THE RFP AND WHERE
IT'S GOING. ARE WE FOCUSING ON
AREAS WHERE THERE ARE FOOD
DESERT, LIKE FAMILIES AT
MAGNUSON PARK? I KNOW YOU TALK
ABOUT FOOD DESERTS IN YOUR
DISTRICT, AS WELL. I WANT SOME
CLARITY AROUND THAT.
>> FANTASTIC. YOU ARE CENTERING
IN ON THE EXACT QUESTIONS WE
WERE ASKING OVER THE WEEKEND
WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD
WAS NOT WORKING. NOTING FOR
REFINEMENT AND CIRCLE UP WITH
CENTRAL STAFF. FANTASTIC.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, AS
OUR FOOD SECURITY TRENDS
CHAMPION, I'M CALLING ON YOU
EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T HAVE
YOUR HAND UP.
>> YOU DON'T SEE MY HAND. IT
MIGHT BE ON ALL OF THE FOOD
INVESTMENTS.
>> YOU ARE SUCH A CHAMPION.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND I LOVE FOOD
AND I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE DO AND
I HAVE SOME LINE ITEMS THAT
I'M SPONSORING , BUT I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENTS IN
FOOD. FOOD HAS GONE UP 25% AND
THE AVERAGE COST PER POUND IS
$2.31. BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, IT
WAS $1.69. FOOD IS CONTINUING
TO INCREASE THE MUSCLE AS WE
ARE MAKING OUR INVESTMENT THAT
ARE IMPORTANT, WE UNDERSTAND
THAT FOOD BANKS ARE PURCHASING
FOOD AND HAVE EXTENDED MORE
HOUSEHOLDS. THE Z.I.P. CODES --
THE REQUIREMENT IS NOW DONE AND
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND
THE CITY AND BE ABLE TO GET
FOOD AT DIFFERENT FOOD BANKS
AND LET THE THE INCOME
REQUIREMENTS ARE NO MORE , SO
YOU ARE SEEING HOUSEHOLD ABLE
TO ACCESS THE SERVICE , WHICH
IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I
THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
MAKE MORE INVESTMENTS AND A LOT
OF PROVIDERS THAT CAME HERE
TODAY OR PROVIDE HUMAN SERVICES
RELY ON THESE PROGRAMS AND FOOD
BANKS THE SERVICE A LOT OF THE
CLIENTS, AS WELL. I WILL STOP
THERE IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> VERY WELL SAID. CHAMPION OF
COMBATING FOOD INSECURITY. YOU
HAVE A SLIDE ABOUT FOOD
DESERTS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT YET. WHAT
DID I SAY? THE TWO ROBERTS HAVE
GOT ME CONFUSED . OVER TO YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU. THERE IS A BUDGET
ITEM PERTAINS TO ADDRESSING
FOOD DESERTS, BUT I WANT TO
PILE ON AND SAY HOW I AM PROUD
TO SUPPORT THIS AND I WANT TO
THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
HER BEING A CHAMPION OF THESE
ISSUES. GROWING UP AND AS A
CHILD, RELIED HEAVILY ON FOOD
BANKS AND FOOD PROGRAMS. FOOD
STAMPS, FOOD SHELVES AND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS. ANOTHER BENEFIT
AND IMPACT THAT IT COULD HAVE
AND THE LIVES OF FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN ACROSS OUR GREAT CITY,
SO I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> VERY WELL SAID.
>> AND HONORED TO BE CONFUSED
WITH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA .
>> TWO VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED
OUR NATION.
>> I WANTED TO COMMEND
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S
LEADERSHIP ON FOOD. THIS IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND OUR
FIRST STEP . I LOOK FORWARD TO
EXPANDING ASSISTANCE THAT WE
CAN PROVIDE.
>> I SEE THAT WE ARE AT 12:52
AND WE WILL DO AN HOUR RECESS.
IT IS ANOTHER GOOD NEWS STORY,
THEN WE WILL DO SOME WRAP UP
FROM THIS MORNING, THEN OUTLOOK
FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND BE IN
RECESS.
>> LAST ITEM FOR THE MORNING ,
SO THIS WOULD ADD $100,000 TO
FULLY RESTORE TAX PREPARATION
SERVICES ASSISTANCE TO THE
UNITED WAY KING COUNTY AND THIS
HELPS FOLKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
AND GET CASH IN THEIR POCKET
THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE AWARE
THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR.
>> FANTASTIC. I HEARD IT LOUD
AND CLEAR FROM ACROSS THE
BOARD. WE WERE IN OUR BEST
SITUATION BECAUSE WE HAD
ONE-TIME FUNDS WHERE WE COULD
HELP UNITED WAY OUT. THEY DO
HAVE A REVENUE STREAM
THEMSELVES AND I KNOW THAT THEY
ARE HAVING THEIR OWN BUDGET
CHALLENGES, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER
ONE WHERE IN THE 10 YEARS OF
HIGH GROWTH LOW INFLATION, THIS
IS AN EASY CHOICE. WE HAVE
NEGATIVE REVENUE FORECASTS MID
BUDGET CYCLE AND EVEN THESE
GOOD THINGS ARE HARDER TO FIND.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT
BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT IF WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE FORECASTS LIKE
THIS . COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON THE
LAST ITEM?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU TO
CLARIFY. WHEN I LOOKED BACK TO
SEE THE 1 MILLION, I THOUGHT
HOW WE CAN'T POSSIBLY BE
FUNDING FOOD AT THAT BECAUSE WE
CARE ABOUT THIS SO MUCH, SO
THAT IS WHAT SPARKED ME TO GO
BACK AND LOOK AND SEE HOW MUCH
WE WERE DOING. I'M GLAD THAT
WE ARE. FOR ME, THE FOOD
DESERTS ARE REAL AROUND SEATTLE
, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE GET CLARITY, SO I APPRECIATE
GETTING THE CLARITY LEGAL
LEADER FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON
THAT ONE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS AND I THINK I DID HEAR
THIS FROM EVERYONE ABOUT THE
UNITED WAY FUNDING . WITH THAT,
HEARING NOTHING ELSE . BEFORE
WE MOVE INTO RECESS , THANK YOU
TO CENTRAL STAFF FOR REDUCING
THE TOTAL BUDGET ACTIONS FOR
132 TO 119. WE ARE CURRENTLY ON
ITEM 40, HOWEVER WE HAVE DONE
ONE MORE . WE ARE ESSENTIALLY
ITEM 41. WE ARE LESS THAN
HALFWAY THROUGH. THIS IS WHY I
WAS HAVING THE PROCEDURE ITEMS
AT THE BEGINNING TO KEEP US ON
TRACK . WE ARE LESS THAN
HALFWAY THROUGH, HOWEVER WE
DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT OR
THE GENERAL OVERVIEW ONCE WE
GET BACK FROM LUNCH. IT WILL
REQUIRE US TO STAY ON TRACK AS
WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE WILL
BE STARTING AT 1:00, WHICH
MEANS THAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
AND SAKA HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB
OF BEING ON TIME BUT IF YOU
NEED FIVE MINUTES EARLY, START
TIME IS 1:55. IF YOU ARE SAKA
OR KETTLE, START TIME IS 2:00.
THE SELECTED BUDGET COMMITTEE
WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 2:00.
THE SELECTED BUDGET COMMITTEE
IS IN RECESS UNTIL 2:00. YOU DO
NOT NEED TO LEAVE YOUR RESUME.