GOOD MORNING. THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 9:31 A.M. IT IS
NOVEMBER 19, 2024. I AM DAN
STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> CAN YOU PLEASE CALL
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THINK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED UNTIL
NOW BECAUSE SHE IS HERE. CAN
YOU CALL COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
FRIENDS. WE COME TO THE FINAL
MEETING OF THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR. WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE ON THE AGENDA
TODAY -- SEE WHY I SAID THE
WRONG THING EARLIER. I HAD THE
WRONG SCRIPT UP. AS I AM
PULLING UP THE CORRECT SCRIPT,
HERE WE ARE, WE HAVE ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, WE ARE
CONSIDERING THE REMAINING
BUDGET LEGISLATION TO ADOPT A
BALANCED BUDGET. WE HAVE
COUNCIL BILL 120908 AND 120909,
WHICH ARE THE CAPITAL GAINS
PROPOSALS. COUNCIL BILL 1209
11, RELATED TO THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL , AS WELL AS HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT . FOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS TODAY WHO HAVE
CALLED IN ONLINE, WE SENT IN
ERROR. WE SENT THE WRONG PHONE
NUMBER FOR YOU TO CALL INTO.
YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL
RIGHT NOW AS THE I.T.
DEPARTMENT IS SENDING YOU THE
NEW CALL IN LIST. WE ARE
STALLING A LITTLE BIT HERE TO
MAKE SURE THAT ALL HAPPENS WE
DO HAVE MORE THAN 30 PUBLIC
COMMENTERS. IT HAS BEEN THE
PRACTICE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
WHEN WE HAVE MORE THAN 30 THAT
WE HAVE ONE MINUTE PER PERSON.
IF WE HAVE MORE THAN 120, WE DO
ONE MINUTE PER PERSON UNTIL THE
121st PERSON, AND THEN WE GO TO
30 SECONDS AFTER THAT. WE HAVE
FEWER THAN 120 PEOPLE, SO
DON'T WORRY, WE WON'T DO
THAT. I DID GET OUT OF ORDER
HERE. I READ -- WE HAVE THE
BUDGET LEGISLATION, WHICH
INCLUDES THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX. WE HAVE PROPERTY TAX. WE
HAVE COUNCIL BILL 120905, THE
BUDGET DOCUMENT WITH ATTACHMENT
A , B AND THE CLERK FILE WITH
CAPITAL GAINS AND SEATTLE
CHANNEL. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION ,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL SHARE MORE
REMARKS REGARDING WHAT WE ARE
DOING TODAY AND WHERE WE ARE
GOING AND WHERE WE HAVE BEEN.
BUT FIRST, LET'S HEAR FROM THE
PUBLIC. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE
TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW
MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED
UP?
>> 16.
>> 16 PLUS 16. WE WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE PER PERSON. WE WILL
START WITH THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE
TECHNICAL ERROR WE HAD WE WILL
GO THROUGH ALL THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST MALL WE RESOLVE
THE CALL IN NUMBER. WITH THAT,
I WILL TELL EVERYONE WHERE THEY
ARE AT. I WILL READ THROUGH THE
WHOLE LIST SO WE CAN CLICK
THROUGH. I THINK EVERYONE HAS
BEEN HERE BEFORE AND DONE THIS
BEFORE. AS A REMINDER, IF YOU
ARE IN FAVOR, JAZZ HANDS. WE
ARE GOING TO ASK BUT THE ROOM
REMAIN IN GOOD DECORUM. HERE WE
ARE . [ READING LIST OF NAMES ]
WITH THAT, THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
>> HANG TIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO
START YOU OVER. CAN YOU DO A
MIC CHECK?
>> HELLO.
>> THERE WE GO. AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE. WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM HERE AS A MEMBER
OF SOUTH SEATTLE FRIENDS
MEETING LOCATED IN
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S
DISTRICT. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT
OF THE SAME DISTRICT AND HAVE
LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 51 YEARS.
I STAND UNITED WITH THE CHURCH
COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE AND
THE COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. MY
FAITH TRADITION SAYS BUDGETS
ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS. WE MUST
PRESERVE AND EXPAND JUMPSTART
FUNDING FOR ITS INTENDED
PURPOSES. I STRONGLY URGE THE
COUNCIL TO AVOID MAKING
PERMANENT POLICY DECISIONS
ABOUT THE JUMPSTART SPENDING
PLAN DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON.
SEATTLE NEEDS NEW PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE. THE CITY MUST CONTINUE
THE WORK BEGUN LAST YEAR BY THE
SEATTLE REVENUE STABILIZATION
WORKGROUP. I URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO CONVENE THE
JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
THIS MAJOR REVENUE STREAM
REQUIRES PUBLIC OVERSIGHT TO
ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. THE STRUCTURAL
GENERAL FUND SHORTFALL --
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS THE TIME.
IF YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS,
EMAIL THEM TO US. WITH THAT,
REVEREND, FOLLOWED BY. THANK
YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 4. I SERVE UNIVERSITY
CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST ALSO IN DISTRICT 4 BUT I
STAND HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH
THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER
SEATTLE AND OTHER GROUPS
ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF JUMPSTART FUNDS. WE KNOW
THAT ALL FAITH TRADITIONS AND
PEOPLE OF GOODWILL ALL BELIEVE
IN THE GOLDEN RULE . BUT IT
SEEMS LIKE THIS COUNCIL IS MORE
INTERESTED IN THE GOLDMAN SACHS
RULE. ONE THAT IS INTERESTED
IN, NOT RAISING PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE FROM THOSE WHO CAN
AFFORD IT , TO SUPPORT THOSE
WHO ARE MOST MEMORABLE. BUDGETS
ARE NOT ONLY A MORAL DOCUMENT,
THEY ARE A LOVE LETTER TO THE
THINGS THAT WE PRIORITIZE. THE
THINGS THAT THIS COUNCIL IS
SAYING THAT THEY LOVE IS NOT
THOSE WHO ARE MOST HURT AND
HARMED IN OUR CITY. LET US RISE
TO THIS OCCASION AND EMBODY OUR
CALLING TO DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE
WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO US. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM ONE OF
THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF
THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER
SEATTLE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, BUDGETS ARE
THE MORAL DOCUMENT. THEY SHOULD
REFLECT THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY
CARE. WE HAVE BEEN URGING CITY
COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT
JUMPSTART SPENDING PLAN AND
REVENUE ARE PROTECTED INTO
PERPETUITY FOR INTENDED
PURPOSES. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
HAS PROPOSED SEVERAL AMENDMENT
THAT PRESERVE AN OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
WERE ASKING COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
THESE AMENDMENT TO DO ITS PART
TO CONVENE THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. IT IS BEYOND TIME
FOR SUSTAINABLE POLICY
SOLUTIONS THAT INVEST IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, ADDRESSING
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND
LONG-STANDING INEQUITIES. WE
NEED COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE NEW
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE STREAMS TO
FILL THE CURRENT GAPS , SUCH AS
THE PROPOSED CAPITAL GAINS TAX.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> -- I NEED YOU TO BEGIN YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT . THAT IS HOW
YOU ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TODAY.
>> YES, SIR.
>> WELCOME.
>> HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO
DISCOVERY PARK ? YOU SHOULD
VISIT. A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
NICE BATHROOMS AND STUFF. UNDER
THE BUDGET, IT WILL BE CLOSED.
I AM A VOLUNTEER. I WORK FOR
THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAM. THERE IS 100 OF US.
THIS IS THE MOST EFFICIENT CITY
PROGRAM WE HAVE GOT. LIKE $1
MILLION TOTAL BUDGET, FIVE
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND SOME
PART-TIME. WE CONDUCTED 570
FIELD TRIPS WITH SEATTLE
SCHOOLCHILDREN LAST YEAR. ALL
VOLUNTEERS. THERE IS 100 OF US.
WE WORK FOR FREE. IT IS GREAT.
WE LEAD THE KIDS ON THE
SEASHORE IN THE FOREST AND THE
BIRDS. IT IS SO APPRECIATED. A
WONDERFUL PROGRAM. THERE IS
SOME FUNDING. THERE IS ONE THAT
IS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO
CONNECT TEENS WITH ENRICHMENT
PROGRAMS. THIS IS ONE OF THE
BEST ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THE
CITY HAS. LET'S USE IT FOR
THAT INSTEAD. AND GO TO --
>> THANK YOU. COMMENTS WELL
RECEIVED. GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU. CHAIR STRAUSS,
MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, I AM HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING THE OVER 2500
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE . FIRST, WE WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR BALANCING THE
25-26 BUDGET WITHOUT NEW
REVENUE, INCREASING INVESTMENTS
FOR TOP PRIORITIES, AND
FOCUSING ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY. TAXPAYERS AGREE
THAT OUR INDEX SURVEY RESULTS
FROM OCTOBER 2024 SHOW THAT
SEATTLE VOTERS , BY A 37 POINT
MARGIN, THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO
REPRIORITIZE SPENDING WITHIN
ITS EXISTING MEANS RATHER THAN
RAISING TAXES TO MAINTAIN
CURRENT SPENDING. LASTLY, WE
ALSO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED
FLEXIBLE USE OF THE JUMPSTART
PAYROLL TAX REVENUES, WHICH
MEANS NO REQUIREMENTS TO USE A
CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS ON
ANY ONE PRIORITY. NO
PROHIBITION, NOW OR IN THE
FUTURE. ON USING JUMPSTART
FUNDS FOR GENERAL FUND
PRIORITIES, AND NO CONSTRAINTS
OF FUTURE COUNSEL'S --
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO CONTINUE, SEND IN ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO COUNSEL
THAT SEATTLE.GOV. --
COUNCILMAC@SEATTLE.GOV.
>> GOOD MORNING. I HAVE BEEN A
VOLUNTEER NATURALIST IN THE
CITY PARKS FOR 12 YEARS. I'M
HERE TO URGE YOU TO AMEND THE
PROPOSED BUDGET TO SAVE THE
CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMS, THE DEDICATED STAFF
THAT RUN THEM, AND TO KEEP
DISCOVERY PARK ENVIRONMENTAL
CENTERS OPEN AND CITY RUN. I
BELIEVE THESE PROGRAMS ARE
VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY AS
NATURALIST OBVIOUSLY WE CARE
ABOUT PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN THE
ECOSYSTEM, BUT WHAT WE REALLY,
TRULY, DEEPLY CARE ABOUT IS
PEOPLE. WE SERVE THE PEOPLE OF
THE CITY. WE SHARE OUR WONDER
AND JOY AND EXCITEMENT WITH
THEM. WE OPEN UP NEW SPACES AND
WAYS TO CONNECT WITH THE EARTH
IN THE COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HEALING
POWER OF NATURE. OUR OUTREACH
BRINGS IN THOSE WHO HAVE
OTHERWISE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY
UNDERSERVED. SO MANY OF OUR
GOALS ALIGN WITH THE CITY AND
COUNCIL 'S GOALS. FOR
EDUCATION WE SUPPORT CLAVICLES,
THE CITY USED MENTAL HEALTH
GOALS --
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
WHAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> GOOD MORNING. -- TAKE IT
AWAY. WELCOME.
>> I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS
STRIKE BACK. WE NEED MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING URGENTLY.
AND KING COUNTY PEOPLE FACED
HOMELESSNESS WITH OVER 1700
BEING CHILDREN BUT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSER SAID
THAT AMAZON TAXES SEND THE
GENERAL FUND THE AMOUNT NEEDED
TO SUSTAIN CRITICAL SERVICES
AND ATTEND EMERGING THESE.
CLEARLY THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS
DOES THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF
A CRITICAL SERVICE. THE MAYOR
AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE
WANT TO DIVERT FUNDING AWAY
FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MAKE
UP A FURTHER BUDGET SHORTFALL.
TO FUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND OTHER BUDGET ITEMS. THEY
WANT TO TAKE THE BUDGET AWAY
FROM THE AMAZON TAXES MAKES UP
OVER HALF OF THE CITY UP AS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPENDING,
WHICH IS SUFFICIENT FOR ONLY
HALF OF THE NECESSARY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDED TO
MEET SEATTLE'S HOUSING CRISIS.
IT IS NO WONDER THAT WORKING
HOSPITALS HAVE NO FAITH IN THE
DEMOCRATS DELIVERING ON LOCAL
-- WORKING-CLASS DEMANDS. ONLY
VICTORIES ONE COME FROM
REPRESENTATIVES INDEPENDENT OF
CORPORATE FUNDING SUCH AS
SOCIALIST.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
FRIENDS, WE USE JAZZ HANDS THIS
MORNING. APPRECIATE THE
EXCITEMENT. GOOD MORNING.
>> I AM WITH WORKERS STRIKE
BACK IN DISTRICT 4. I WILL KEEP
THIS BRIEF. WE NEED MORE, NOT
LESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DON'T DIVERT THE FAILED -- THE
FUNDS TO THE POLICE. YOU'RE
UNDERMINING YOUR LEGITIMACY AS
A PARTY THAT IS LEFT OF THE
REPUGNANCE . -- REPUBLICANS. WE
ARE ONE OF THE RICHEST LOCALES
IN THE WORLD. THE IDEA WE ARE
PURSUING IN AUSTERITY AGENDA IS
ABSURD AND SHAMEFUL. THE ANSWER
IS SIMPLE. TAX THE RICH. DON'T
SQUEEZE THE PEOPLE TO DEATH.
TAX THE RICH. MEMBER, YOU
REPRESENT PEOPLE AND WHATEVER
CITIZENS UNITED THANKS,
CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE AND
MONEY DOES NOT FREE SPEECH.
THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, YOUR
TIME IS NOW. JACK JORDAN. GOING
ONCE, GOING TWICE. MOVING ON.
FRIENDS, I CALLED EVERYONE'S
NAMES FROM JUMP SHOW WE COULD
BE -- SO WE COULD BE READY TO
GO. IF YOU ALL CAN START LINING
UP FOR THE ONLINE CALLERS, THE
ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. GOOD
MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M A MEMBER
OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. I AM
HERE TO OPPOSE THE MAYOR AND
THIS DEMOCRAT COUNCIL SHAMEFUL
ATTACK ON THE AMAZON TAX THAT
OUR MOVEMENT WON. MY SISTER
JUST GOT PUSHED OUT OF SEATTLE
THIS YEAR BECAUSE, AFTER LIVING
HERE FOR THE BETTER PART OF A
DECADE AS A SINGLE MOTHER AND
PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, SHE CAN
NO LONGER AFFORD IT. ONE OF MY
CLOSEST FRIENDS TOO. AND
SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN BRIEFLY
HOMELESS IN THE CITY AND LIVING
A MINIMUM WAGE, I CAN ASSURE
YOU THAT IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT
WORKING PEOPLE BEING PUSHED OUT
IN DROVES IN THE FACE OF IT
SERVED RENTS. THE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE
IS ONLY INCREASING, NOT
DECREASING. WE WON THE AMAZON
TAX ON THE BASIS OF OVER 30,000
PEOPLE SUNNY ONTO A BALLOT
INITIATIVE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE
GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT BECAUSE
THEY RECOGNIZED WORKING AND
YOUNG PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT
BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE CITY
MEANS TAXING THE BIGGEST AMAZON
-- YOU CAN'T BE TAMED THAT'S
TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. I THINK
IT'S BEYOND SHAMEFUL THAT
AFTER OUR MOVEMENT FORCE THIS
COUNCIL TO ABANDON THEIR ATTACK
ON THE MINIMUM WAGE, THEY ARE
NOW RESORTING TO THIS.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC, PLEASE , WE'RE
TRYING TO CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT HERE. WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM FROM DISTRICT 6
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CRITICIZE
IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS
TO AWAY FROM THE DUMPSTER
AMAZON TAX AND AWAY FROM SOCIAL
PROGRAMS IN THE NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET. THIS IS A BLATANT AND
UNJUSTIFIED ATTACK AGAINST
WORKING PEOPLE FACING AN
UNPRECEDENTED COST-OF-LIVING
CRISIS. WE NEED MORE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, NOT AN
ATTACK ON WHAT LITTLE THERE IS.
IT IS EVEN MORE SHAMEFUL THIS
COUNCIL WOULD PROPOSE
INCREASING THE POLICE BUT BY
OVER 50% WHEN THE SPD HAS COME
UNDER REPEATED READY FOR
DISSEMINATION, BOTH INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT. INSTEAD
OF INCREASING THE AMAZON TAX
MAKE IN SEATTLE'S BIGGEST
CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE FOR ONCE, YOU PREFER TO
TAKE THAT OUT FROM UNDER THE
WORKING CLASS. TO ANYONE WHO
TREAT SOCIAL PROGRAMS AS A
SLUSH FUND FOR YOU TO RATE,
SHAME ON YOU. YOU HAVE A
MANDATE TO THE WORKING PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE. I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER WOO KNOWS WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU BETRAY IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME.
>> IN SEATTLE I AM A TEACHER
AND WORK IN A SHELTER FOR
HOMELESS YOUNG ADULTS. TODAY
I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO
MAINTAIN THE JUMPSTART TAX
LEGISLATION AS THE VOTERS
COUNCIL AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ATTENDED IT IN 2020. IN
THE FACE OF THE RECENT NATIONAL
ELECTION, I AM URGING YOU,
BEGGING YOU NOT TO ACT LIKE
TRUMP AND HIS VOTERS. DO NOT
RESPOND TO THE POVERTY CRISIS
IN AMERICA WITH FEAR, AS A
CHILD MIGHT, AND AS THIS
PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE TAX
LEGISLATION CLEARLY DOES.
INSTEAD, SIT IN YOUR DULL CHAIR
AND LOOK AT THE DATA AND LISTEN
TO YOUR VOTERS, BE ABLE TO LOOK
YOUR FAMILY IN THE EYES , ACT
LIKE A GOOD COMMUNITY MEMBER
WOULD. PLEASE USE OUR JUMPSTART
REVENUE AS IT WAS WRITTEN FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN
SOLIDARITY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FRIENDS, IF FOLKS
AREN'T UP HERE, THEY CAN'T
HEAR WHO I'M CALLING IF YOU
ARE CLAPPING. THAT IS WHY I'M
ASKING FOR THE JAZZ HANDS. IF
YOU CAN ALL START GETTING
READY. GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I HAVE HAD THE
HONOR OF DOING COMMUNITY
SERVICE WORK IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY FOR
OVER 15 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY
IN SUPPORT OF THE DILL RIDGE
ROAD SAFETY PROJECT THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE HAS DONE WELL
WHEN ALL STAKEHOLDERS CAN WALK
AWAY FROM A CONVERSATION
KNOWING REPRIORITIZE THE SAFETY
OF OUR MOST HONORABLE CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY
THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES THAT
REFLECT THAT PRIORITY. WE KNOW
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS
COMMITTED TO WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY TO FIND
SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE
SAFETY FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING
DRIVERS, CYCLISTS, AND
PEDESTRIANS ALIKE. I'M HERE
TODAY TO BE A VOICE THAT
REMINDS US OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PRIORITY, AND THAT IS
THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. I
AM CONFIDENT THAT CAN FIGURE
THE REST OUT. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
>> I AM A MEMBER OF WORKERS
STRIKE BACK IN A DISTRICT 3
LOADER. I'M HERE DEFENDING THE
AMAZON TAX . IT IS NOW THE
SINGLE BIGGEST SOURCE OF
FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
GENERATING OVER 400 MILLION IN
2024. ANYONE WHO REMEMBERS THE
BATTLE FOR RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION IN SEATTLE
REMEMBERS WHEN THE DEMOCRATS
VOTED THAT BILL DOWN, THEY
PROMISED THEY WANTED TO FIGHT
THE HOUSING CRISIS IN SEATTLE
BY BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
. NOW WE SEE HOW EMPTY THOSE
PROMISES ALWAYS ARE IT IS NO
SURPRISE THE SAME CORPORATE
PARTY THAT HAS LOST THE EAR OF
WORKING PEOPLE IN THE NATIONAL
ELECTION WOULD LAUNCH THIS
DEFENSIVE AMAZON AT A HISTORIC
HIGH OF WEALTH INEQUALITY IN
THIS COUNTRY. MEANWHILE,
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PROPOSING A
15.7 INCREASE TO THE POLICE
BUT, SHOWING THEIR TRUE
SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS
IN THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I
AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE SEATTLE . I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 2 AND A SUPPORTER OF
THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET. I'M
HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU ALL TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
'S LIMITS TO PRESERVE 80% OF
THE JUMPSTART FUNDING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I
ALSO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S PROPOSAL
FOR CAPITAL GAINS TAX. RENTERS
IN THE CITY ARE STRUGGLING.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING
SO MUCH MORE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE
YOU ALREADY VOTED TO DEFUND
TENANT SERVICES BY NEARLY $1
MILLION. SPENDING MORE MONEY TO
REMOVE A CURB IN WEST SEATTLE
THAN ON HELPING RENTERS. WE ARE
EXPECTING PEOPLE TO COME HERE
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FLEEING
FOR THEIR BODY ECONOMY , AND WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT
THEM. WE NEED ENOUGH HOUSING
FOR EVERYONE . PLEASE TAKE
THESE AMENDMENTS INTO
CONSIDERATION. PLEASE DON'T
LET THIS BE LIPSERVICE IF YOU
CARE ABOUT TENANTS, YOU WILL
SUPPORT THESE THINGS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM DIRECTOR
OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS POLICY
WITH THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUM. I'M HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX AND HOW
IT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE
OF REVENUE FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AS YOU CONSIDER
AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL BILL
120912, I URGE YOU TO AVOID
MAKING ANY PERMANENT POLICY
DECISIONS ABOUT THIS TAX ,
WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL TO OUR
EFFORTS TO SCALE UP INVESTMENTS
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE
GREEN NEW DEAL. WE KNOW THAT
THIS IS A DIFFICULT BUDGET
BIENNIUM, BUT AS WE LOOK AHEAD
TO 2027 AND BEYOND, WE KNOW
THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT THAT IS ONLY SET TO
GROW. WE NEED TO FILL THIS GAP
WITH ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE, WE CANNOT TAP THE ONE
TAX, WHICH IS DELIVERING MAJOR
RESULTS IN TERMS OF SCALING UP
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ,
INVESTMENTS AND ONLY DEDICATED
FUNDING FOR EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
RESIDENT OF D 6. I'M HERE TO
OBJECT TO THE LONG-TERM RATING
OF THE -- RATING OF THE
JUMPSTART TAX TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET. THE JUMPSTART TAXES
BEEN EFFECTIVE. IT IS A
SOLUTION. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE
SOLUTION, WHAT DO YOU BECOME?
PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE
COUNCIL IS BECOMING PART OF THE
PROBLEM. THE QUESTION IS, ARE
YOU GOING TO BE PART OF THE
PROBLEM IN PERPETUITY OR JUST
BRIEFLY? I THINK THE CORRECT
ANSWER IS BRIEFLY FOR A YEAR TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET, BUT DO NOT
RAID JUMPSTART. DEVELOP
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. WASHINGTON
STATE IS A TAX HAVEN. WE ALL
KNOW THAT. THE IDEA THAT WE ARE
OVERTAXED IS JUST WRONG. WILL
PEOPLE IN THE CITY WANT IS
ORDER. TAKING PEOPLE OUT OF
HOUSING PUTS PEOPLE ON THE
STREET AND CREATES DISORDER.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THAT COURSE
IN THE LONG RUN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JIM. GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING,
CITY COUNCIL. I AM A MEMBER OF
THE PARKING BRIDGE PRESERVATION
SOCIETY. I'M HERE TODAY
BECAUSE OF THE RECENT THEFT
THAT OCCURRED AT THE PARK BACK
IN OCTOBER. THE PARK IS A PARK
THAT WAS DONATED TO THE
FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE 1970S
AND 1980S. A GROUP OF ADVOCATES
HELP NAME THE PARK. RECENTLY
THERE WAS A SOFT. ANYWAY, THE
PARK HAS BEEN -- HAS HAD SOME
VERY INCREASED GANG ACTIVITY
AND CRIMINAL THINGS GOING ON.
IT HAS HAD AN ONGOING HOMELESS
ISSUE . SO I AM HERE TO URGE
THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY
ACT QUICKLY AND PROVIDE SUPPORT
AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO
MAINTAIN THIS PARK THAT WE LOVE
SO MUCH . THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC JOINING
US. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN
UP, NOW IS THE TIME.
>> I WORK FOR PLYMOUTH HOUSING.
WE ARE A MEMBER OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM IN THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY COALITION
ON HOMELESSNESS. I ECHO ALL THE
MEMBERS MESSAGES ABOUT
PRESERVING JUMPSTART. THE 1400
RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM
JUMPSTART EVERY DAY. WHAT THAT
MEANS IS THAT THEY GET
ADDITIONAL STAFFING , THEY CAN
GET HELP WITH GOING TO
APPOINTMENTS, THEY CAN GET
CONNECTED WITH SERVICES, AND
WITHOUT JUMPSTART SPENDING, WE
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE. IT IS
VITALLY IMPORTANT. WE ASK THAT
YOU PROTECT IT IN PERPETUITY
AND ENSURE THAT 62% OF IT GOES
TOWARDS HOUSING. IT IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON FOR
SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES .
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PLYMOUTH
IS VERY INTERESTED IN APPLYING
FOR IN THE FUTURE, AND IT IS
VITAL TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS
RECOVER AND FIND A PATHWAY TO
SUCCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DENNIS. WELCOME.
>> IN 2018 AND WORKING PEOPLE
FIRST ORGANIZE TO WIN THE TAX
ON AMAZON, DEMOCRATS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL FOUGHT TOOTH AND
NAIL AGAINST THE PERVASIVELY
COLLUDED IN ORDER TO GET
REPEALED A MONTH LATER. AFTER
FIGHTING TO WIN IT AGAIN
THROUGH BALLOT MEASURE THAT
RECEIVED 30,000 SIGNATURES,
THEY HAVE CONTINUED DIVERTING
MONEY FROM IT, AND THIS WOULD
BE THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT YET.
THIS COMES AFTER WORKERS STRIKE
BACK AT WORK PEOPLE FORCE THE
CITY COUNCIL TO WITHDRAW THEIR
DESPICABLE ATTACKS ON THE
HISTORIC $50 PER HOUR MINIMUM
WAGE VICTORY. ALSO LED BY. THEY
IMMEDIATELY PIVOTED TO HER
OTHER SIGNATURE VICTORY FOR
WORKING PEOPLE. THE AMAZON TAX
ON BIG BUSINESS. I PERSONALLY
CAN'T AFFORD MY OWN
ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT ON THE
PRESCHOOL TEACHERS WAGE. THE
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS ONLY
GETTING WORSE. WE URGENTLY NEED
MORE MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, NOT LESS. IT IS
ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL THAT IN
THIS CONTEXT THE DEMOCRAT MAYOR
AND ALL DEMOCRAT COUNCIL ARE
LOOKING TO DIVERT FUNDS FROM
THE AMAZON TOWARD THE ALREADY
PUT A POLICE BUDGET. THIS IS A
SLAP IN THE FACE TO WORKING
PEOPLE. WE NEED TO FIGHT TO
INCREASE THE AMAZON TAX.
WORKING PEOPLE NEED TO FIGHT
HER OWN PRO-WORKER PARTY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> -- FEEL FREE TO SEND IN THE
REMAINDER OF YOUR COMMENTS.
WELCOME.
>> -- GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4 AND A
WORKERS STRIKE BACK ACTIVIST. I
WILL START BY SAYING HOW
SHAMEFUL IT IS THAT AFTER BEING
FORCED TO WITHDRAW THEIR ATTACK
ON HISTORIC $50 MINIMUM WAGE
VICTORY JUST MONTHS AGO, THE
CITY COUNCIL HAS PIVOTED TO
ATTACK THE OTHER SIGNATURE
VICTORY OF OUR WORKING-CLASS
MOVEMENT. THE AMAZON TAX
FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOUSING COSTS IN SEATTLE ARE
ONLY GOING OUT. THE COST OF
LIVING CRISIS IS ONLY GETTING
WORSE. WE URGENTLY NEED MORE
MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
NOT LESS. THIS SORT OF THING IS
EXACTLY WHAT IS ALLOWING TRUMP
AND HIS DANGEROUS IDEOLOGY TO
GAIN THE SUPPORT IT HAS AMONG
MARGINALIZED AND LOW INCOME
VOTERS. AS DEMOCRATS ATTACKING
WORKING PEOPLES LIVING
STANDARDS ON BEHALF OF BIG
BUSINESS. AMAZON TAX WAS PASSED
IN 2020 BECAUSE THE MOVEMENT OF
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKING
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. THAT IS THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU ARE
ALIENATING WITH THIS SORT OF
ATTACK. THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
THE BACK OF -- BECAUSE WORKING
PEOPLE. IF YOU THINK BECAUSE IT
IS THE END OF THE YEAR THAT
WORKING PEOPLE AREN'T WATCHING
THIS AND WON'T RECOGNIZE AND
REMEMBER THIS, WE ARE HERE, WE
ARE WATCHING, AND WE WILL
RECOGNIZE THIS.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE ON TO ONLINE PUBLIC
CALLERS. I'M HAVING TO REPEAT
MYSELF BECAUSE OF THE
DISTURBANCES IN CHAMBERS. WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ONLINE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. I READ READ
-- I WILL READ EVERYONE'S NAME
IN ORDER SO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU
ARE. [ READING LIST OF NAMES ]
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
IT AWAY. WELCOME.
>> HELLO. I AM A SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY EMPLOYEE . THE VIEWS
EXPRESSED TODAY BY ME DON'T
REPRESENT MY EMPLOYER. I WOULD
LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
AGAIN ON THE BUDGET. IT IS
CRUCIAL THAT THE PUBLIC CAN
COME OUT HERE AND VOICE
GRIEVANCES WITH YOU GUYS
BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEEM TO
LISTEN TO US. I THINK TO URGE
THE JUMPSTART TAX FUND TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S AMENDMENT. IT WOULD
BE A FOOLISH AND SHORTSIGHTED
DECISION ONLY MAKE OUR CITY UP
IS VERY VISIBLE PROBLEMS WORSE.
WORKING IN THE LIBRARY, I SEE
THESE PROBLEMS DAILY. WHERE
PATRONS IN THE LIBRARY WHO HAS
STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION OR ARE
HOMELESS AND VICTIMS OF CRIME
OR PERPETRATORS OF CRIME. MORE
MORE PRESENT IN OUR LIBRARIES
AS WE REFUSE TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES AS A CITY. WHILE THE SPD
SLEEPS ON THE JOB, THEY TAKE
HOURS TO RESPOND, LIBRARY
WORKERS HAVE TO DE-ESCALATE AND
KEEP OURSELVES SAFE. THE
SOLUTION IS NOT . BUILD
HOUSING, KEEP JUMPSTART. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME.
>> YES. I AM A HOST AND
PRODUCER FOR SEATTLE CHANNEL
WHERE I WORK AS AN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON,
BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS IN THE
ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR
CONTINUING TO WORK OF FINDING
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL NOW AND
INTO THE FUTURE. I WANTED TO
SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT
AT THE END OF THE AGENDA TODAY.
SEVERAL IMPORTANT THINGS. IT
RESTORES THE CABLE FUNDS
DOLLARS THAT WERE DIVERTED AWAY
FROM THE SEATTLE CHANNEL IN THE
MAYOR UP IN SEPTEMBER BUDGET.
THE CABLE STATION SHOULD BE
GETTING THE MAJORITY OF THE
MONEY, THAT IS WHAT THE COUNCIL
ATTENDED MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO
WHEN THE CHANNEL TOOK ITS
CURRENT FORM. IT ALSO
RECOMMENDS COST ALLOCATIONS TO
CITY DEPARTMENTS SUPPORTED BY
THE CHANNEL AND PLEDGES GENERAL
FUND MONEY TO COVER COSTS OF
THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND OTHER
PUBLIC EVENTS ON SEATTLE
CHANNEL. LOOKING AHEAD, THE
ORDINANCE ASKED THE MAYOR TO
GREATER LONG-TERM FUNDING PLAN
BY SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR WITH
THE HELP OF A WORKGROUP LOOKING
AT ALL FUNDING SOURCES. I'M
PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO AT
SEATTLE CHANNEL. I BELIEVE THIS
ORDINANCE PROVIDES A GOOD PATH
FORWARD FOR THAT WORK TO
CONTINUE AND FLOURISH. NICU.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
WELCOME. ALL
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR STRAUSS AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TODAY
ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN
EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL BILL
120912 ON THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX AND JUMPSTART SPENDING
PLAN. ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN
WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER SINCE
LAST WEEK ORGANIZING AND
SPREADING OUR MESSAGE, HOPING
YOU WOULD HEAR THAT. WHILE WE
UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT BUDGET
DYNAMIC, JUMPSTART MUST BE
PRIORITIZED IN THE FUTURE AN
ONGOING FOR INTENDED USE AS.
YOUR COLLECTIVE ACTION TO
PRODUCE A VARIETY OF AMENDMENTS
ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS SHOW
THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO COME
TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT
WILL WORK FOR THE STABILITY OF
THIS VITAL RESOURCE. I URGE YOU
ALL TO VOTE YES ON THESE FOUR
CRITICAL AMENDMENTS, AMENDMENT
FIVE PROPOSED BY BUDGET CHAIR
STRAUSS WAS COSPONSORS MOORE
AND KHARKIV PARK CAN ALSO
AMENDMENT ONE AND TWO, PROPOSED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , AND
AMENDMENT SIX, ALSO PROPOSED BY
BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS. PLEASE DO
NOT REINSTATE THE LANGUAGE FOR
SUNSETTING. THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME.
>> DISTRICT 5. COUNCIL, YOU ARE
BEEN ON THE JOB FOR OVER 10
MONTHS. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE
WHERE WE ARE TODAY. EVEN THOUGH
WE ARE HERE, YOU KNOW YOU
DON'T NEED TO GRAB JUMPSTART
TO USE AS A SLUSH FUND FOR THE
EXECUTIVES. THE REVENUE
STABILIZATION WORKGROUP
PRODUCED ITS FINAL REPORT AND
CONCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE THAT COULD
GET YOU OUT OF THIS FIX IN
AUGUST 2023. YOU COULD AVOID
THE 2025 MASSIVE BUDGET
SHORTFALL WITHOUT SACRIFICING
JUMPSTART 'S DEDICATION TO
HOUSING, AND GREEN NEW DEAL
PROGRAMS , UPON WHICH REAL
COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPENDS. WE
ARE HERE NOW, AND YOU STILL
HAVE A CHOICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY
DECENCY, PLEASE REJECT
PROPOSALS TO END JUMPSTART AS
WE KNOW IT AND GET TO WORK
PASSING PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
ONE LAST THING, EARLIER CALLER
MENTIONED WAS TERRIBLY SLANTED.
I HUNG UP ON IT, AND SO DID
OTHERS. THAT IS WHAT THE
PERCENTAGES ENDED UP AS THEY
DID.
>> WELCOME. I SEE YOU ARE
ALREADY OFF MUTE.
>> THERE I AM. I AM HOST OF ART
ZONE ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEATTLE
LEADERSHIP, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS
AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR
THE QUICK, CLEAR AND DIRECT
RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET
OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. YOUR
VISION ACTION SHOWCASES AN
IMPRESSIVE FUNCTIONALITY AMONG
A GOVERNMENTAL BODY TO OPERATE,
WHICH I PRESLEY FIND
ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRING.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON'S
MEASURE GIVES THE CHANNEL A
REPRIEVE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO
CREATE EXCELLENT CONTENT, SERVE
EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE CITY ,
AND ALSO PUT ON THE FRONT
BURNER A STATED INTENTTO FIND
A STABLE, LONG-TERM REVENUE
STREAM FOR THE CHANNEL, WHICH
IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TOP
OF MIND A NUMBER OF YEARS.
CERTAINLY WITH THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL MANAGEMENT TEAM LED BY
STATION MANAGER. THE STRUCTURE
AND MUSCLE THIS BILL GETS TO
FINDING A SOLID VIABLE FUNDING
SOLUTION BY SEPTEMBER 2025
PROVIDES A REAL POSSIBILITY OF
SUCCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A
TRANSGENDER MAN TALK ABOUT
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. THE CITY
HAS BUDGET CHALLENGES. WELCOME
TO BEING LOWER INCOME IN
SEATTLE. RIGHT NOW TRANCE FOLKS
ARE REACHING OUT FROM STATES
WHERE THEY ARE DISPLAYS. MANY
ARE BY KOK -- BIPOC. DO KNOW
WHAT IS LIKE SAYING IT IS SO
EXPENSIVE THEY SHOULDN'T COME
HERE. THE CITY LIKES TO PRESENT
ITSELF AS A SANCTUARY, BUT IT
IS NOT. JUMPSTART HAS AN
ABUNDANCE OF FUNDS, GRAY. POUR
EVERY LAST DOLLAR TO HOUSING.
STOP PRETENDING YOU CARE ABOUT
LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE HERE
CAN'T FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT
WORK, YOU DON'T. I AM BEGGING
YOU, PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME. YOU ARE
OFF MUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING. IF I HAD TO
PICK A WORD TO DESCRIBE
ATTITUDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE, IT WOULD BE
CONTEMPT. NOW YOU ARE ONCE
AGAIN GOING TO SUBVERT WHAT HAD
BEEN A QUALIFYING BALLOT
INITIATIVE TO FUND HOUSING, AND
GREEN NEW DEAL AND FLOW
DISPLACING NONWHITE RESIDENTS,
WHICH THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL
MODIFIED RATHER THAN COMPLETELY
KILLED. THE CONSISTENT MESSAGES
THAT OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM
OFFERS NO MECHANISMS FOR MOST
PEOPLE TO MEANINGFULLY
INFLUENCE THE STATE'S ACTIONS.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE GET ,
WHEN WE ELECT PROGRESSIVE AND
GET MASS INCARCERATION AND
HOUSING DEFUNDED, AND THEN
ELECT CENTRISTS AND GET MASS
INCARCERATION AND HOUSES
DEFUNDED WHILE OUR CITY BECOMES
MORE UNLIVABLE, HAVE LEARNED
THAT DEMOCRACY IS JUST A
PRETEXT TO CHOOSE WHO WILL
ENACT THE WILL OF CONGRESS. THE
NEXT PRESIDENT HAS PROMISED TO
AND THE PRETENSE OF U.S.
DEMOCRACY. HE IS ALSO HAD TWO
SHOTS TAKEN AT HIM ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL. BEFORE YOU VOTE
TODAY AGAINST THE --
>> THANK YOU. OLIVER, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
YOUR TESTIMONIES TODAY. I AM A
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR.
I AM AN LGBTQ SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER IS TAX EDUCATE --
ADVOCATE OF THE LEGISLATURE.
THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH
CONVERSATION TODAY THAT I HAVE
APPRECIATED. INEQUALITY HAS
NEVER BEEN GREATER IN SEATTLE.
STATEWIDE VOTERS JUST APPROVED
THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX . THEY
WANT THAT STATEWIDE. MEANWHILE,
THERE IS KIND OF AN OPPOSITE
ROBIN HOOD SITUATION GOING ON
HERE. THE OPPOSITE OF ROBIN
HOOD IS THE ROBIN BARRIERS OF
THE GILDED AGE. VOTERS APPROVED
FOUR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TAXES
ON THE RICH TO FIGHT TO AFFORD
TO LIVE IN THE CITY. NOT FOR
THOSE QUOTE UNQUOTE STRUGGLING
TO BUILD THEIR PROPERTY
PORTFOLIOS. I AM CALLING TODAY
TO SUPPORT MORALES'S
AMENDMENTS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR JUMPSTART FUNDS. FOLKS NEED
TO LISTEN TO STUDENTS ARE
CALLING FOR A STUDENT CITY
COUNCIL, JUST LIKE AUBURN IS
DOING.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
SORRY FOR GETTING YOUR NAME SO
WRONG.
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL. I WORK WITH THE UNION
OF WATCHED AS THEY. I'M ALSO A
SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND CERTIFIED TV ADVOCATE. YOU
HAVE A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD OF YOU,
HOWEVER, ON HOUSE. JUMP START
FINDING HAS BEEN A LIFELINE FOR
SO MANY PROGRAMS. IT IS CRUCIAL
THAT WE NOT ONLY PRESERVE THE
FUND, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO
EXPAND IT. I SOMEONE WHO HAS
FELT TRAPPED AND HELPLESS OVER
THE YEARS, I WANT TO SHARE HOW
MUCH MORE EMPOWERED I WOULD
HAVE BEEN HAD I BEEN ABLE TO
LEAVE MY ABUSIVE MARRIAGE HAD I
KNOW MY RIGHTS AS A MENTOR.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. WHEN RIGHTS
COME WITH FREEDOM, THE WORK
THAT MUCH HARDER TO KEEP THEM.
INVESTING IN THE SERVICES
ALIGNED WITH THE CITY UP IS
COMMITTED TO ENSURE SAFETY AND
EQUITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS. WAS
CONTINUED TO BE A CITY THAT
STANDS UP TO FOR THOSE WHO NEED
IT MOST. THINK YOU IN ADVANCE
FOR CONTINUING TO FUND
SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. ERICA IS SHOWING
NOT PRESENT. WE WILL COME BACK
TO HER AT THE END. CALL IN NOW
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
EMILY IS UP NEXT. EMILY, YOU
ARE HERE. YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. I
AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2.
>> HANG ON, REAL QUICK. EMILY,
I WILL RESTART YOUR TIME.
YOU'RE COMING IN A LITTLE
SOFT. HARD TO HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER
NOW?
>> A LITTLE BIT BETTER. WE ALSO
TURNED UP THE VOLUME HERE IN
CHAMBERS. TAKE IT AWAY.
>> OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I
WILL TRY TO SPEAK UP. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 BUT I'M
HERE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING ON
BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION
STRONGLY URGES COUNCIL TO VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S
JUMPSTART AMENDMENT TO ALLOCATE
80% OF JUMPSTART FUNDS FOR
COMMUNITY FUNDING PRIORITIES
OUTLINED IN THE JUMPSTART
FUNDING PLAN STARTING IN 2027
AND PRESERVED THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. JUMPSTART FUNDS
SHOULD BE AS THEY WERE
ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO SUPPORT
HEALTHY, SAFE AND THRIVING
NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEATTLE. AS A
VOLUNTEER GROUP OF WOMEN LIVING
AND WORKING THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION CARES DEEPLY ABOUT
OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE. WE
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
HAVE JUMPSTART EARNINGS SPENT
ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE NEW
DEAL PROJECTS AND EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT. INVESTING IN
HOUSING, OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE
SERVICES AND CAPITAL, FOR
EXAMPLE, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
AND GREEN JOBS, AS WELL TO KEEP
OUR COMMUNITIES GROWING
STRONGER TOGETHER. WE SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES 'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENT .
>> THANK YOU. FEEL FREE TO SEND
IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. FOR
THE FOLKS WHO CALLED -- YOU
SIGNED UP ARE NOT YET PRESIDENT
, I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A BALLARD
HOMEOWNER. THE BUDGET WAS A
SINGING NATIONAL GENERAL FUND.
THE COUNCIL HAD A CHOICE. IS
THERE PURSUE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE AND GET RID OF THE SPD
SLUSH FUND 30 AUSTERITY BUDGET.
THE COUNCIL CHOSE AUSTERITY,
DOING A MASSIVE THE FUNDING OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TENANT
SERVICES, AND OTHER ITEMS, ALL
WHILE GIVING COPS MUCH MORE
MONEY. COUNCIL LIKES TO TALK
ABOUT CRIME A LOT. GUESS WHAT,
WHEN EMPLOYERS STEAL FROM
WORKERS, THAT IS CRIME. NOW
THAT YOU HAVE DEFENDED , THERE
IS REALLY NO ENFORCEMENT ON
THAT ONE. GREAT JOB, GUYS. WHEN
LANDLORDS STEAL FROM TENANTS
AND GIVE THEM BOGUS FEES, THAT
IS ALSO A CRIME. THAT IS NOW
REALLY, YOU JUST ROBBED ALL
TENANTS OF PROTECTIONS BY
GETTING RID OF TENANT SERVICES
AND PUTTING AN ABSURD INCOME
REQUIREMENT FOR LEGAL
ASSISTANCE, WHICH AMAZINGLY
LEFT, THERE ARE NO INCOME
REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESSES TO
GET STOREFRONT OR FUNDS. IT
REALLY SHOWS YOU DON'T CARE
ABOUT CRIME WHEN THE CHAIN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DOES IT. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> WELCOME. FRIENDLY REMINDER
FOR THE PUBLIC, I COULDN'T
HEAR MYSELF TALKING THEY ARE
WHEN -- WELCOME. YOU ARE OFF
MUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M CALLING
TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET DEMANDS. IT
IS MY GUARANTEE I WANT TO --
JUMPSTART PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
FUND. AS MANY HAVE SAID BEFORE
ME, JUMPSTART HIS SOCIAL
PROGRAMS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED
TO DO VITAL WORK IN PROVIDING
LICENSING AND SERVICES TO THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY AT LARGE,
ESPECIALLY THOSE EXPENSING THE
EFFECTS OF THE HOUSING CRISIS.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I AM A TECH
WORKER AND RENTER IN DISTRICT 3
BUT I JUST WANTED TO HELP SET
THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE
AMAZON TAX. THE AMAZON TAX IS
NOT JUST SOME NICE GIFT FROM
COUNSEL DEMOCRATS. RATHER, IT
IS SOMETHING WE WENT THROUGH
JAMPACKED MEETINGS OF HUNDREDS
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT
WASHINGTON HALL AND A VOLUNTEER
ARMY UNDER THE TAX AMAZON
CAMPAIGN THAT COLLECTED OVER
30,000 SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT
INITIATIVE IN A MATTER OF
WEEKS. FORCED THE CITY COUNCIL
TO TAKE ACTION. I COLLECTED
DOZENS OF SIGNATURE SHEETS
MYSELF. I WOULD TELL YOU IT WAS
THE EASIEST THING EVER. PEOPLE
ARE SO FURIOUS AT AMAZON AND
THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING. THESE
ARE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ONLY
GOTTEN WORSE. WHAT IS BEING
PROPOSED NOW IS NOT JUST A
MONDAY MOVING AROUND OF FUNDS.
IT IS A BETRAYAL TO THE 30,000
SEATTLEITES AND HUNDREDS OF
VOLUNTEERS LIKE ME WHO
ORGANIZE, FOUGHT AND WON THESE
FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
INSTEAD OF AUSTERITY, WE SHOULD
BE INCREASING THE TAXES COVERED
IN THE DEFICIT. IF YOU TAKE
THIS AWAY FROM US, YOU SHOULD
KNOW WE ARE WATCHING AND WILL
HOLD YOU TO ACCOUNT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING. I
WANT TO ECHO THE RESOUNDING
MAJORITY IN CALLING FOR
JUMPSTART TRANSPARENCY. THIS
MEASURE WAS NOT PASSED FOR
BALANCING A CITY BUDGET. IT WAS
MEANT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE
GREEN NEW DEAL. AS EVERYBODY
ELSE HAS POINTED OUT,
PROGRESSIVE TAX, BIG HIT. NOT
SUCH A BIG HIT? GIVING THIS
MONEY TO THE COPS AND
BUSINESSES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO PROTEST SAKA'S EARMARKED
FOR TURF IN HIS FIELD THAT HE
COACHES ON IN WEST SEATTLE.
THAT IS 1.$5 MILLION FROM THE
SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT
COULD GO TO FUNDING THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AT
DISCOVERY AND KHARKIV PARK THAT
ARE BEING CUT THIS YEAR. I FIND
THAT DISGUSTING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CHRISTOPHER,
YOU'RE NOT UP YET. ALBERTO IS
. YOU CAN COME OFF MUTE. --
ALBERTO? WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL, OVER
200,000 SEATTLE VOTERS
DELIVERED A MANDATE TO YOU .
THE DEMAND IS TO BUILD, BUILD,
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UPHOLD WORKER PROTECTIONS AND
WAGES, TO BUILD A SEATTLE THAT
WORKS FOR ALL. IT MUST BE MADE
CLEAR THAT SHOWING UP IS NEVER
ENOUGH. A PLAN HAS TO BE PUT
FORWARD AND REAL ACTION HAS TO
TAKE PLACE . A GREAT EXAMPLE IS
THE AMENDMENT FOR A PROGRESSIVE
TAX ON THE WEALTHIEST GROUPS TO
FUND RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND FIGHT FOOD
INSECURITY. I WANT TO COMMEND
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND ALL
MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED THE PLAN.
IT MAY JUST BE A FIRST STEP ,
BUT THIS IS THE WORK AND
PARTNERSHIP WE WANT TO SEE. OUR
WORK AND OUR SPENDING IS A
BEDROCK OF CITY REVENUE. IT IS
TIME THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
WORKER PRODUCTIONS, PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE. THANK YOU AND HAVE A
GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU, ALBERTA. WE HAVE
TO PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKERS
LEFT. I'VE SEEN A COUPLE MORE
PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC JOIN US
AND CHAMBERS. THIS IS LAST CALL
TO SIGN UP. YOU CAN SIGN UP ON
THE SHEET RIGHT HERE IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO. UP NEXT IS
CHRISTOPHER BURKE FOLLOWED BY
DAVID.
>> GOOD MORNING, BUDGET CHAIR
STRAUSS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I AM
THE CEO OF A 50-YEAR-OLD
DEVELOPER, MANAGER OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY IS
FACING A FISCAL CRISIS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE
PERMANENT DIVERSION OF PAYROLL
EXCISE TAX FUNDING TO THE
GENERAL FUND. THE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS NOT
ABATED, AS YOU HAVE HEARD OVER
AND OVER THIS MORNING FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. THESE DEDICATED
FUNDS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED TO
MEET THAT NEED. THANK YOU.
>> THE JUMPSTART TAX NEVER
REALLY SOLVE THE HOMELESS
CRISIS, WHICH IS STILL A
PRIORITY. THE MHA FEES, WHICH
HAVE $1 BILLION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, HAVE CHANGE A COUPLE
YEARS AGO WERE ONLY NONPROFITS
WERE ALLOWED ACCESS, EVEN
THOUGH THOSE NONPROFITS HAVE TO
HIRE A FOR-PROFIT , IT IS
DELAYING QUALITATIVE HOMES.
NOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE
CAN FOCUS MORE ON SOLVING THE
HOMELESS CRISIS FOR INNOCENT
PEOPLE INSTEAD OF CREATING DEBT
IN THE BUDGET WHERE WE STILL
CONTINUE TO PAY THE SPENDING
PRIORITIES AND THE BAD POLICIES
THAT ARE BASED ON LOOKING
THROUGH THE LENS OF RACISM
WHERE YOU JUDGE PEOPLE UP A
SKIN COLOR AND IGNORE THE
CONTENT OF THE CHARACTER, AND
YOU SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS BUYING OFF PROTESTERS
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE
HOMELESS CRISIS AND STOP THE
DRUG PUSHERS FROM JAIL.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID. FEEL FREE
TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT. WE
HAVE ONE LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER
HERE. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING
IN. I MIGHT HAVE NAILED IT. I
MIGHT HAVE ONE THAT BET.
>> HOW DOES IT WORK?
>> WE'RE ALREADY TO GO. ONCE
YOU START TALKING, WE START THE
CLOCK. YOU HAVE A MINUTE. THIS
IS MY FIRST TIME HERE. THIS
ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO ME
BECAUSE I THINK TAXING PEOPLE
WHO CAN AFFORD TO BE TAXED
MAKES SENSE. HONESTLY , THE
OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION
IS YOU GUYS KIND OF LOOK
DISENGAGE. I DON'T KNOW. MY
FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT , SO
FAR NOT A GOOD FEELING IN THE
WAY THIS MEETING COMES ABOUT. I
DON'T LIKE THAT EITHER. LAST
MINUTE KIND OF SEEMS SHADY. DO
BETTER. THAT'S IT. [ APPLAUSE
]
>> WITH THAT, THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE
ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. I KNOW
THAT WE'VE GOT DIRECTOR NOBLE
APPEAR. JUST BEFORE YOU JUMP
IN, DIRECTOR NOBLE, I WILL
SHARE SOME REMARKS GENERALLY
ABOUT THE CONTENT OF WHAT WE
ARE WORKING ON TODAY . AS A
REMINDER, WE WILL TAKE UP THE
BUDGET LEGISLATION, THE PAYROLL
TAX WITH SIX AMENDMENTS, THE
PROPERTY TAX VOTES, CB ONE
2905. WE NEED TO ATTACH A, B,
AND THE COURT FILE. MANY OF
THESE ITEMS WILL BE BLANK
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE FILLED
IN BETWEEN THE POINT OF PASSING
OUT OF COMMITTEE BEFORE
REACHING FULL COUNCIL AS A WAY
TO CERTIFY WE HAVE COMPLETED
OUR PROCESS IN COMMITTEE. AND
SO, TODAY'S THE LAST DAY OF
SELECT COMMITTEE SINCE APRIL.
FROM THERE, WE WOULD TAKE ON
THE TWO REGARDING CAPITAL
GAINS, AND THEN THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL . THEN WE ARE DONE.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE TO THE SEVENTH
MONTH OF THE PROCESS IS STARTED
BACK IN APRIL TO GET US IN A
PLACE WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO
ADDRESS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICITS IN
RECENT MEMORY. WHILE
SAFEGUARDING THE VAST MAJORITY
OF PUBLIC FACING SERVICES THAT
ARE COMMUNITY RELIES ON. WHEN
THE MAYOR MADE HIS BUDGET
PROPOSAL, WE FACED A BUDGET
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF MORE THAN
250 MILLION. LESS THAN A MONTH
AGO, A REVENUE FORECAST SHOWED
WE WOULD EXPECT NEARLY $50
MILLION LESS IN OUR GENERAL
FUND. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT
THE MAYOR HAS TO TRANSMIT A
PROPOSED BUDGET THAT IS
BALANCED. ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT
FORECAST, THAT PROPOSAL WAS NO
LONGER BALANCED. THIS IS ONLY
-- THIS IS ONLY HAPPEN IN
OCTOBER 2020 AND 2008. WE
CONTINUE TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF
THE DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC IMPACTS
FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THAT
MEANT THAT EVEN THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL BEING OUT OF BALANCE,
IT WAS UP TO US TO COME UP WITH
A SOLUTION . A HARD JOB GOT
EVEN HARDER. IT WAS NO EASY
FEAT. AND WE HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CITY UP
HIS BUDGET. TODAY IS JUST ONE
STEP IN THAT LONG-TERM BUDGET
REFORM. BY TAKING THE GRADUAL
STEP DOWN APPROACH TO DOING
THAT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE
CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN
SEATTLE'S SOCIAL NET, SAY
BASIC SERVICES THAT ARE CITY
DEPENDS ON , AND SAVE PEOPLE'S
JOBS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION
DURING THIS PROCESS. THE BUDGET
REFLECTS PRIORITIES FROM EVERY
SINGLE COUNCILMEMBER ON THIS
DAIS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR
MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD. WE'VE
HAD FIVE VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS, TWO VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIODS, 25 PLUS OUR
HEARINGS THAT NO ONE WAS CUT
OFF FROM, AND I WANT TO THANK
-- TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOU
FOR MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD,
AND FOR THOSE WATCHING, I'M
SURE MANY OF YOUR PRIORITIES
ARE REFLECTED HERE JUST CALLING
OUT ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
COORDINATORS. WE HEAR YOU LOUD
AND CLEAR. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE
A YEAR TO COME UP WITH A
SOLUTION. SOME PROBLEMS WE FACE
TO THIS YEAR, WE DID NOT HAVE
THAT ADDITIONAL RUNWAY. AT
LEAST I PERSONALLY AM VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WORK
YOU DO. WE ARE USING JUMPSTART
THIS YEAR TO PREVENT AUSTERITY
BUDGETING. AS WE HAVE DONE
EVERY YEAR SINCE THE TAX HAS
BEEN IN PLACE. WHILE WE THOUGHT
WE WOULD BE OUT OF THE
DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC IMPACTS
FROM THE PANDEMIC BY NOW WILL
BE PAST THIS TAX, WHAT WE'RE
FINDING IS THAT WE ARE IN THE
EYE OF THE STORM. IF THE PAST
IS ANY INDICATOR OF THE FUTURE,
I PREDICT WE WILL BE IN THE
STORM FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS,
AND LIKELY, UP TO FOUR. THE
REASON I SHARE THAT INFORMATION
IS BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTURN
FORECAST AMID BUDGET CYCLE.
AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO PREVENT
AUSTERITY BUDGETING THIS YEAR,
AND WHILE WE MADE HARD CHOICES,
INCLUDING LAYOFFS, WE ARE STILL
FUNDING CRITICAL PROGRAMS
SEATTLEITES RELY ON. WHERE
INCREASING FUNDING FOR OUR FOOD
BANKS, MEAL PROVIDERS AND MEAL
PROGRAMS. WERE INCREASING THE
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
TO GET WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES
OFF THE WAITLIST INTO THE
POPULAR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. WE ARE INVESTING IN
OUR WORKERS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES BY RESTORING FUNDING
FOR THE STOREFRONT REPAIR
PROGRAM , STRENGTHENING OUR
LABOR PROJECTIONS THROUGH
ADDITIONAL OUTREACH AND
INCREASING FUNDING FOR
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS. WE'RE
DOING RIGHT BY OUR OWN CITY
WORKERS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER
OF LAYOFFS IN THE CITY. FOR THE
WORKERS THAT WE CAN'T KEEP ON
LONG TERM, I'VE MADE SURE THEY
HAVE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS TO
CREATE CONTINUITY WITHIN THEIR
JOB PLACEMENT TO ENSURE THEY
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND
OTHER JOBS, HOPEFULLY, HERE
WITHIN THE CITY, SO WE CAN HAVE
A SMOOTH TRANSITION, BOTH FOR
THEM PERSONALLY AND FOR THE
PUBLIC INSTITUTION. WE ARE
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-BASED
SAFETY PROGRAMS. WE DELIVER
CARE, INVESTING AND HIRING
FIREFIGHTERS FASTER AND
ANSWERING 911 CALLS FASTER. AND
WE ARE INCREASING INVESTMENTS
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO CREATE
NEW NON-CONGREGATE SHELTERS
LIKE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, AND
TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS
INSIDE. WE HAVE ADDED MORE THAN
$7 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL RENTAL
ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE STAY
IN THEIR HOMES, 4 MILLION TO
HELP BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS AND JOB TRAINING
CENTER FOR HOMELESS YOUTH IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTH CARE.
WE'VE ADDED FUNDING TO HELP
PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR RVS
TRANSITION OUT OF THOSE AND
INTO SHELTER AND HOUSING. AND
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
BETWEEN THESE INVESTMENTS AND
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL,
SEATTLE WILL HAVE MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THIS YEAR
THAN ANY TIME IN HISTORY. AT
THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THERE'S
MORE WORK TO BE DONE. WE HAVE
TO CONTINUE WORKING TO BRING
HOUSING PRICES -- UNTIL HOUSING
PRICES COME DOWN, WE HAVE TO BE
PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR
ZONING LAWS TO ALLOW FOR MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT,
AND WE NEED TO DO MORE TO
FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ADDRESSING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IS
GOING TO TAKE MULTIFACETED
SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS WHY I AM
PROPOSING A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT ASKING FOR
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO
EXPLORE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR
SEATTLE TO IMPLEMENT A SIMILAR
PROGRAM TO THE BILLION-DOLLAR
BOND PROPOSED BY KING COUNTY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FINANCE A
REGIONAL WORKFORCE HOUSING
INITIATIVE. I WILL BE THE FIRST
ONE TO SAY IT, WE HAVE A LOT
MORE WORK TO DO. ESPECIALLY AS
WE FACE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
ACROSS-THE-BOARD. FUNDING FOR
SO MANY CRUCIAL GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS COMES INTO QUESTION.
WE HAVE RELIED ON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR A LOT OF FEDERAL
FUNDING OVER THE LAST FOUR
YEARS. THAT IS NOT TO BE
COUNTED ON. WE HAVE REQUESTED
MORE INFORMATION THROUGH THIS
BUDGET PROCESS TO CONTINUE OUR
STEP DOWN APPROACH TO
STRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
BECAUSE WE CAN'T GROW OUR WAY
OUT OF THIS DEFICIT, WE CAN'T
CUT OUR WAY OUT OF THIS
DEFICIT, AND IF WE TRY TO
ATTEND TO 10 YEARS OF THIS
STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT BEING
CREATED OVER 10 YEARS THROUGH
HIGH GROWTH, LOW INFLATION
ATMOSPHERE, IF WE TRY TO ATTEND
TO ALL THAT DECADE OF PROBLEM
IN THE MAKING IN ONE YEAR, WE
WOULD BE CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT
WE WOULD NOT NEED TO CUT. WE
WOULD BE CUTTING STAFF AND
SEATTLEITES WOULD NOT BE
RECEIVING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE
THAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT. WITHIN
THESE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE
REQUESTED, WE REQUESTED MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CARE
DEPARTMENT ON 911 CALL-CENTER
STAFFING AND OPERATIONS. WE
HAVE REQUESTED THE CITY BUDGET
ANALYZE EARLY RETIREMENT
INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYEES. WE
HAVE REQUESTED REPORTS ON PAST
BUDGET UNDER SPENT AND GRANTS.
WE HAVE REQUESTED REPORTS FROM
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO CREATE
THE SHIP, AS IT IS NOW CALLED,
THE SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT
PLAN. AND SO MUCH MORE. WE ARE
TAKING A FIRST BIG STEP TODAY
IN PASSING THIS BUDGET OUT OF
THE SLICK BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND
WE HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO.
WITH THAT, DIRECTOR NOBLE,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR , I WILL PASS
IT OVER TO YOU TO GIVE US AN
OVERVIEW OF THE DAY AND WALK US
THROUGH EACH OF THESE VOTES.
AND THEN, WE WILL PASS IT TO
THE CITY COUNCIL AND BE DONE
WITH SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL
QUICKLY TURN THIS OVER TO GIVE
YOU A PLAN FOR THE DAY.
>> OKAY . GOOD MORNING. JUST TO
REINFORCE WITH THE CHAIR
DESCRIBED AS THE AGENDA FOR
TODAY, THE FIRST BATCH OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION
TODAY IS LEGISLATION THAT IS
NECESSARY TO ADOPT THE
2025-2026 BUDGET. THOSE WILL BE
THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU STARTING
OFF WITH THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX POLICIES. AND THEN,
A COUPLE OF PROPERTY TAX
ORDINANCES THAT WOULD HAVE
LIKELY BEEN IN THE CONSENT
CALENDAR LAST WEEK, BUT BECAUSE
THEY WERE -- WE WERE WAITING ON
RESULTS FROM THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY VOTE AND DECIDED TO HAVE
THEM FOR TODAY. OTHERWISE, THE
BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE, AND
THEN THERE IS A CLERK FILE WITH
THE COUNCIL CHANGES TO THE
PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WILL
CONTAIN ALL THE BUDGET
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ADOPTED
LAST WEEK, AND THEN A
RESOLUTION. AND THEN WE WILL
MOVE ON TO OTHER BUDGET RELATED
LEGISLATION, AS NOTED
PREVIOUSLY, THE CAPITAL GAINS
TAX , USE OF PROCEEDS, AS WELL
AS THE TAX ITSELF, AND THEN THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL FUNDING PLAN
ORDINANCE. WITH THAT, WE CAN
MOVE ON TO THE FIRST ITEM ON
THE AGENDA.
>> WILL THE CLERK READ THE
FIRST ITEM INTO THE AGENDA?
>> [ ORDINANCE READ ]
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED IS THERE
A SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO
APPROVE COUNCIL BILL 120912.
CENTRAL STAFF, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO GIVE US A BREATHING ?
COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, THE WAY THIS
IS WORKING TODAY, SIMILAR AS
LAST WEEK, WE HAVE CENTRAL
STAFF, THE SPONSOR . IF I'M
NOT THE SPONSOR, I WILL MAKE A
BUDGET COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION. WE WILL HAVE
DISCUSSION. THE SPONSOR WILL
SPEAK TO IT . AND THEN WE PASS
IT. THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO
DO THIS. OVER TO YOU, DIRECTOR
NOBLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. TO
BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE BILL. YOU
WILL SEE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN
THESE LIES BEFORE. I HAVE A
THIRD SLIDE THAT COVERS THE
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
PREPARED AHEAD OF TODAY . IN
ADDITION, THERE IS A LAST WALK
ON AMENDMENT CIRCULATED TO YOU
NOW THAT WE CAN ALSO DISCUSS.
JUST TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS A
BILL THAT ESTABLISHES
ESSENTIALLY THE SPENDING
PRIORITIES AND ELIGIBLE USES OF
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX , AS
INDICATED ON THE SLIDE HERE.
ESTABLISHES EIGHT ELIGIBLE
SPENDING CATEGORIES. YOU CAN
SEE THE LIST. THEY ARE FAMILIAR
TO YOU. I WOULD NOTE THE
FOOTNOTE REGARDING YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
IT IS AND ELIGIBLE FOR THIS
ORDINANCE UNTIL AN ALTERNATIVE
FUNDING SOURCE IS IDENTIFIED.
THE EXECUTIVE -- HAD IDENTIFIED
THAT AS AN ELIGIBLE USE THROUGH
THE CURRENT BUDGETING AND NOT
BEYOND, PRESUMABLY WITH THE
INTENT TO FUND THOSE ACTIVITIES
WITH THE RENEWAL OF THE
FAMILIES AND EDUCATION LEVY.
THIS ORDINANCE TAKES A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT APPROACH, MORE
AGNOSTIC ABOUT THAT, BUT
ESTABLISHING THAT IT IS UNTIL
THERE IS A DEDICATED FUNDING
STORES AS AN ALTERNATIVE --
SOURCE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY
ALLOCATED TO THE ORIGINAL
JUMPSTART PRIORITIES, THE ITEMS
LISTED IN THE SECOND TABLE, THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY DEDICATED
TO THOSE, AND THAT AMOUNT OF
MONEY IS UP TO YOU. IT CAN
CHANGE. BUT OF THE MONEY
DEDICATED TO THAT COMBINED SET
OF THINGS, THESE PERCENTAGES
ARE DESIGNED TO GUIDE, BUT NOT
CONSTRAINED, THE ALLOCATIONS. I
WOULD NOTE THAT THOSE
PERCENTAGES ESSENTIALLY PLY FOR
25 AND 26 IN TERMS OF THE
RESOURCES, AT LEAST
APPROXIMATELY, PLUS OR -1%. IN
ADDITION , THIS ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHES A FORMAL REVENUE
STABILIZATION ACCOUNT WITHIN
THE JUMPSTART FIND. ASSESSING
TARGET FOR THAT ACCOUNT AT 10%,
INDICATES IT SHOULD BE REACHED
WITHIN FOUR YEARS. THEN BUILDS
-- COUNCIL A CHOOSE TO MAKE
DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT
ACCOUNT . IN ADDITION, THERE
WOULD BE THIS AUTOMATIC
TRANSFER OF ANY, OF HALF OF ANY
UNANTICIPATED YEAR END FUND
BALANCE IN THE JUMPSTART FUND.
AGAIN, THIS APPROACH IS
CONSISTENT WITH AN APPROACH
USED ON THE GENERAL FUND
REVENUE STABILIZATION OR RAINY
DAY FUND ACCOUNT . AND THEN,
WITHDRAWALS CAN ONLY BE ALLOWED
IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE REVENUE
FORECAST FELL , EITHER AFTER
THE MAYOR PROPOSED HIS BUDGET
FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, OR FOR
THE -- IF IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR
YOU GET EITHER THE APRIL OR
AUGUST FORECAST TO DECLINE AS
WELL. YOU CAN TAP IN.
ELIMINATES THE JUMPSTART
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS
NOT YET MET. IT REMOVES THE
2040 SUNSET DATE ON THE
JUMPSTART PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX.
THE LAST BULLET WAS WHEN I
ADDED SINCE THE FIRST TIME. A
POINT THAT CAME UP. IT DOES
STATE INTENT TO REVIEW THESE
POLICIES AHEAD OF THE 2029-2030
BIENNIUM. ESSENTIALLY, THESE
POLICIES WOULD DEFINITELY BE IN
EFFECT FOR THE CURRENT BIENNIUM
AND THE NEXT, BUT EXCITATION
THAT THEY BE REVIEWED AHEAD OF
THE 2029-2030 BIENNIUM. THAT IS
THE BASE LEGISLATION . I DON'T
SEE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR NOBLE, I
WILL QUICKLY SPEAK TO THIS. WE
CAN HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE BASE
LEGISLATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE,
BUT WE CAN ALSO JUST JUMP RIGHT
INTO IT. I WILL MENTION, AS ONE
OF THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS OF
JUMPSTART, I KNOW HOW CRITICAL
IT IS THAT WE INVEST MORE INTO
THE JUMPSTART PRIORITIES.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GREEN NEW
DEAL, ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. WE CAN,
AND MUST, DO MORE IN THESE
AREAS. I WAS QUOTED IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES SAYING PRIORITIES
CHANGE. THAT WAS IN REFERENCE
TO ADDING MENTAL HEALTH TO THIS
BUCKET. OVER THE COURSE OF
JUMPSTART BEING ON THE BOOKS,
PRIORITIES HAVE CHANGED. AS
DOCUMENTED BY THE COUNCIL
ADDING A PRIORITY LAST YEAR. I
WILL ALSO NOTE THAT, AS WE LOOK
TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS,
PRIORITIES MAY ALSO CHANGE WITH
INCREDIBLE NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITY THAT WERE NOT
FORESEEN IN 2020. THIS YEAR WE
STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS BY
FACING THAT $250 MILLION BUDGET
DEFICIT , AND THE MAYOR SENT
HIS COUNCIL THE PROPOSED BUDGET
TOO MUCH AGO. LESS THAN A MONTH
AGO WE GOT EVEN WORSE NEWS,
WHICH I ALREADY DISCUSSED
TODAY. EACH AND EVERY YEAR WE
HAVE SPENT, SINCE HE PASSED
JUMPSTART, WE HAVE USED A
PORTION TO HELP SUPPORT THINGS
IN THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS
THE MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR
MANY IMPORTANT THINGS WE WORK
TO DO TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS,
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, AND
TO FUND PUBLIC SAFETY. IF WE
WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
NOT TO USE THE HIGHER-THAN-EXPE
CTED REVENUES TO OFFSET
LOWER-THAN-EXPECTED REVENUES OF
THE GENERAL FUND, WE WOULD BE
LOOKING AT DEEP CUTS TO
CRITICAL SERVICES. FUNDING FOR
THINGS LIKE FOOD BANKS TO
HOMELESS HIS SERVICES WOULD BE
HIT HARD. WE WOULD BE HAVING TO
CUT OUR BUDGET WITH , NOT A
SCALPEL, WHICH WOULD BE
UNACCEPTABLE, IN MY BOOK. OF
THE SAME TIME, THE SUPPORT WE
LOOK TOWARD STABILIZING OUR
GENERAL FUND BE FOCUSING
JUMPSTART ON ITS INTENDED
PURPOSES. THAT IS THE
LEGISLATION I HAVE PROPOSED
HERE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE GONE
A STEP FURTHER TO PROTECT
JUMPSTART. THE TAX CURRENTLY
WOULD SUNSET OR COMPLETELY GO
AWAY BY 2040. IF THAT HAPPENS,
IT WOULD LEAVE SEATTLE IN ONE
OF THE BIGGEST STRUCTURAL
BUDGET DEFICITS IN ITS HISTORY.
IF THE TAX WAS ACTUALLY TO BE
OFF THE BOOKS, IT WOULD BE A
FISCAL DEFICIT, NOT STRUCTURAL.
SOMEWHERE NORTH OF HALF $1
BILLION. THAT CAN'T HAPPEN. IT
WOULD COMPLETELY DECIMATE THE
BASIC SERVICES AND THE
PRIORITIES OUTLINED ORIGINALLY.
WE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT
THAT MOMENTARILY. BUT WE NEED
TO HAVE A BILL THAT GUIDES US
TOWARDS LONG-TERM FINANCIAL
STABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.
AGAIN, WITHIN THE BILL I HAVE
PROPOSED, I'VE ADDED THE
PRIORITIES BACK IN WITH THEIR
PERCENTAGES. WE HAVE CREATED A
REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT
FOR JUMPSTART PRIORITIES. IT
REVIEWS EVERY TWO YEARS WITH A
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW IN FOUR
YEARS. AS ONE OF DIRECTOR
NOBLE'S FAMOUS BUDGET SLIDES
THAT HAD AND ASKED REX AT THE
BOTTOM STATES, FIVE VOTES
CHANGES POLICY IN A YEAR. ANY
YEAR. AND IN A YEAR. THE LAST
THING I WILL SAY, IF WE
MAINTAIN A SUNSET AND DO NOT
WEAN OURSELVES OFF OF FUNDING
THE GENERAL FUND WITH JUMPSTART
, WE WILL BE FACING A REALLY
BIG CLIFF COMING UP. WITH THAT,
SHALL WE START MOVING INTO
AMENDMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
HAVE YOU BEEN PROMOTED YET?
>> NOT YET. CAN I BE PROMOTED,
PLEASE.
>> SORRY. THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T
SEE YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WOO. THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I AM SO SORRY. THAT WAS A
HAND TO GET PROMOTED.
>> COPY THAT. I SEE WHAT IS
GOING ON UPPER COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE WILL
START MOVING INTO AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. THE INTENT HERE
WAS JUST TO GIVE YOU THE
BRIEFEST SUMMARY OF THE PACKAGE
OF AMENDMENT AVAILABLE SO AS
YOU TAKE THEM UP, THEY WILL BE
TAKEN UP IN THIS ORDER, YOU
KNOW IT IS COMING. THE FIRST
AMENDMENT IS A STANDALONE ITEM
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES THAT WOULD SIMPLY
RESTORE THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. THE SECOND AMENDMENT
ALSO SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES WOULD LIMIT THE USE OF
JUMPSTART FOR THE FEDERAL --
GENERAL FUND STARTING IN 2027.
-- TO 20% OF THE TOTAL
RESOURCES. YOU SEE THE
REMAINDER DEDICATED TO THE
ORIGINAL PURPOSES. THE THIRD
AMENDMENT HAS TWO KEY
COMPONENTS. ONE IS TO LIMIT THE
USE OF JUMPSTART PROCEEDS TO
45% OF THE GENERAL FUND AND
DEDICATE THE REMAINDER
EXCLUSIVELY TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. IT WOULD ALSO RESTORE
THE 2040 SUNSET OF THE TAX. WE
WILL DESCRIBE THESE IN DETAIL
ONCE YOU TAKE EACH OF THEM UP.
THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IS A
STANDALONE TO SIMPLY RESTORE
THE SUNSET. THE PREVIOUS ONE
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER 20,
THE SUNSET SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THE LAST
TWO , SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS , THE
FIFTH ONE -- AND I WILL
DESCRIBE THE LEGAL EFFECT OF
THIS. DESIGNED TO MORE CLEARLY
EXPRESS COUNCIL 'S A -- INTENT
REGARDING THE USE OF
PRIORITIES. AND THEN, THE NEXT
WOULD PRECLUDE THE USE OF
JUMPSTART REVENUES FOR THE
GENERAL FUND STARTING IN 2029.
THIS BIENNIUM, AND NOT THE
NEXT, BUT AFTER THAT. AND THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, IN
ADDITION, HAS A POTENTIAL WALK
ON AMENDMENT AS WELL.
>> TO HER OWN AMENDMENT?
>> IT IS -- UNCLEAR TO ME
WHETHER IT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
NUMBER THREE OR A STANDALONE.
>> CAN I RESPOND?
>> WE WILL GET TO IT. WITH
THAT, LET'S ROLL RIGHT INTO
NUMBER ONE . IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE . ARE WE
DOING DEEPER DIVE SOME
PRESENTATIONS? OR WAS THAT THE
PRESENTATION?
>> THE DEEPER DIVE, WHEN
APPROPRIATE. THIS IS RELATIVELY
SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT WOULD BE
STORE THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, THE ACTUAL TEXT IS
RATHER LONG BECAUSE IT WOULD --
IT SHOWS ALL THE TEXT THAT
WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN
ELIMINATED, WHICH DESCRIBES THE
DETAILS OF THE COMMITTEE
ITSELF. BUT IT IS A VERY SIMPLE
TO OVER STASH RESTORE THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> TO MOVE AMENDMENT ONE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING A
SEASONED PROFESSIONAL.
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND AMENDMENT ONE,
VERSION 12 COUNCIL BILL 1209 12
. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WE'VE
HEARD A LOT THIS YEAR ABOUT THE
NEED FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY
AND THE NEED FOR MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY. WHEN WE HAVE A
FUND THAT IS GENERATING TWICE
AS MUCH AS WE EXPECTED, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE EYES ON
THAT FUND TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC
DOLLARS ARE BEING DEPLOYED
APPROPRIATELY FOR THIS
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS TASKED
WITH PROVIDING OVERSIGHT ON THE
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS SUPPORTED
BY THE TAX, ITS IMPACTS ON THE
NUMBER OF JOBS AND BUSINESSES
IN THE CITY , AND OTHER DATA
THAT DIRECTLY RELATES TO
MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THE TAX
ON THE CITY'S ECONOMY. THE
COMMITTEE IS REQUIRED TO
CONSULT WITH A COALITION OF
CITY UNIONS, WITH THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE
HOUSING LIVVIE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD, AND OTHER
OVERSIGHT BODIES THAT MONITOR
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES SIMILAR
TO THOSE SUPPORTED BY THIS TAX.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT THIS YEAR
ABOUT THE NEED TO COLLECT DATA
AND UNDERSTAND HOW OUR
GOVERNMENT IS PERFORMING. I
THINK THE SAME HOLDS TRUE WITH
THIS FUND. WE NEED TO COLLECT
THE DATA AND UNDERSTAND HOW
WELL ALLOCATION PERCENTAGES ARE
SUITED TO THE CAPACITY TO
DELIVER. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK
THIS TASK FORCE SHOULD HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS YEAR . SO FOR
THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, I'M HOPING TO
HAVE MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT TO
RESTORE THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. DISCUSSION?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES --
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
FOR SPONSORING THIS AMENDMENT .
YOU KNOW, I WAS HONORED TO
COSPONSOR IT FOR PURPOSES OF
ELEVATING THE CONVERSATION .
THIS IS SOMETHING I DON'T
PERSONALLY SUPPORT, BUT I DO
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS .
ULTIMATELY, I THINK
REESTABLISHING THE OVERSIGHT
BOARD WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF
LIMITING THE USE OF JUMPSTART
FUNDS. THE BOARD WOULD ALSO BE
ACTING WITHOUT A HOLISTIC
PICTURE OF THE BROADER BUDGET.
THEREFORE, I WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST IT, BUT AGAIN, REALLY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US
TO HAVE. MY WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
BRINGING INFO OR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
LAST CALL FOR DISCUSSION. FINAL
CALL FOR DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AS
SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK IS
CALLED THE ROLE -- ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THREE IN FAVOR, FIVE
OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION.
>> THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS.
AMENDMENT ONE VERSION 1 IS NOT
ATTACHED TO COUNCIL BILL
120912. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT
AMENDMENT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE
YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT TWO.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AS
SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD DO A FEW
THINGS. IT WOULD ESTABLISH THE
SPENDING PRIORITIES FOR
JUMPSTART STARTING IN 2027 . IT
WAS SET ASIDE 20% FOR THE
GENERAL FUND , REQUIRE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REVENUE
STABILIZATION ACCOUNT, AND THEN
ALLOW REMAINING PROCEEDS TO BE
ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE CURRENT
JUMPSTART PRIORITIES, INCLUDING
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH
VIOLENCE PREVENTION. WE HAVE,
AS I SAID, A LOT OF CALLS FOR
MORE DATA BEFORE WE MAKE
IMPORTANT DECISIONS, BUT I
THINK WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
CITY IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
WE CAN JUST LOOK AT THE 16,000
PEOPLE LIVING ON OUR STREETS TO
KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING
ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY TO
SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THEM. WE
HAVE DATA THAT OVER 90,000
SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENT
BURDENS. 49% OF PEOPLE PAY MORE
THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON
RENT. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT OUR
PRIORITIES WILL CHANGE GIVEN
THERE IS SO MUCH NEED, SO MUCH
ATTENTION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS TO THE EFFECTS OF OUR
INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF HOUSING
IN THE CITY, AND GIVEN THE TIME
WE KNOW IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY
BUILD THE HOUSING WE NEED TO
HELP MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE
STREETS. THAT SAID, LET ME
PROVIDE MY COLLEAGUES WITH A
SHORT HISTORY OF SIMILAR DATA
THAT SEATTLE HAS BEEN TALKING
ABOUT FOR YEARS. IN 2017 WE HAD
A STUDY THAT FOUND SEATTLE HAD
THE FOURTH HIGHEST TAX BURDEN
AMONG 51 CITIES. IN JUNE OF
THIS YEAR, SEATTLE --
WASHINGTON WAS RANKED FIFTH
MOST UNAFFORDABLE STATE IN THE
OUT OF REACH REPORT. THE
SEATTLE TIMES HAS REPORTED THAT
LOW EARNERS IN SEATTLE RANK
AMONG THE HARDEST HIT BY TAXES
IN THE U.S. FOR THE RECORD, 60%
OF AMI IN THE CITY IS $73,000
FOR A FAMILY OF THREE. LAST
YEAR THERE WERE OVER 40,000
HOUSEHOLDS AT THAT POINT. OVER
86,000 HOUSEHOLDS MADE LESS
THAN $50,000 LAST YEAR. WE KNOW
THAT THOSE FOLKS CANNOT PAY THE
RENT THAT WE HAVE TO PAY IN THE
CITY. IN 2018 AN ANALYSIS FOUND
THAT SEATTLE'S TAXES THEM IS
AMONG THE MOST REGRESSIVE IN
THE STATE. IN 2021 ANOTHER
REPORT FROM THE RACIAL WEALTH
DIVIDE IN SEATTLE MEANS THAT
LOWER MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
EXIST IN BLACK, LATINO, NATIVE
AMERICAN AND ASIAN HOUSEHOLDS
COMPARED TO WHITE HOUSEHOLDS.
WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT BEING
DATA-DRIVEN AND FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE. WE HAVE TO ACT .
THAT MEANS PROTECTING
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING THAT CAN
ADDRESS THE OVERLAPPING CRISES
WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF
INSUFFICIENT HOUSING, INCOME
INEQUALITY, AND RACIAL
DISPARITIES. FINANCING PUBLIC
SERVICES MEANS MEETING THE
NEEDS OF THE MOST HONORABLE .
OUR CHARTER REQUIRES WE PROTECT
THE HEALTH AND GENERAL WELFARE
OF THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. WE DO THAT
BY ASKING SOME OF THE
WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS IN THE
WORLD TO SUPPORT THE BASIC
SERVICES THAT THEIR COMMUNITY
REQUIRES . SO I AM ASKING MY
COLLEAGUES TO ALLOW FOR THE
TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND FOR
THE NEXT BIENNIUM, BUT TO
COMMIT TO THE PROMISE WE MADE
TO THE MOST HONORABLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE
ALLOCATING THE BULK OF THE
JUMPSTART FUNDING TO SERVE THE
PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING AND
NEED COMMUNITY SERVICES THE
MOST. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AS
COSPONSOR, I DID WANT TO -- I
WAS PLEASED TO COSPONSOR THIS
BECAUSE I WANTED TO START THIS
DISCUSSION . BUT I AM NOT GOING
TO VOTE FOR HIM. THE REASON IS
THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, I SUPPORT
DESIGNATING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND, AS
YOU WILL SEE IN MY AMENDMENT
THAT FOLLOWS HERE, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T BELIEVE
20% IS ACTUALLY ENOUGH MONEY TO
GO TO THE GENERAL FUND. WHEN WE
LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX WAS DIVERTED TO THE
GENERAL FUND FOR 2025, THAT IS
67% . IN 2026, IT WILL BE 45%.
WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT
THE FACT THAT WE NEED
SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TO MAINTAIN
OUR GENERAL FUND , BECAUSE WE
HAVE THE DRIVING FORCES ARE
PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS , LIBRARIES AND
OTHER CHARTER OBLIGATIONS. AND
PENSIONS AND THOSE ARE A HUGE
DRIVER OF OUR GENERAL FUND
DEFICIT. I THINK WE NEED TO
HAVE OUR EYES WIDE OPEN ABOUT
HOW MUCH WE NEED TO HAVE IN OUR
GENERAL FUND . THAT IS WHY,
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK
20% QUITE GETS US THEY ARE. BUT
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. FURTHER DISCUSSION?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T FEEL,
FOR ME, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO
LOCK IN SPENDING PRIORITIES
WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT CHALLENGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES THE FUTURE
MAY BRING. THE INCOMING COUNCIL
DELIVERY, DISCUSS AND SIT
SPENDING PARITIES AND ENSURE IT
IS INFORMED BY THE REALITIES OF
THE MOMENT. IN THE MEANTIME, I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD FOCUS ON
MAKING CRITICAL INSTITUTIONAL
CHANGES. I WILL NOT BE VOTING
FOR ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT
SET PERCENTAGES ASIDE FOR
CERTAIN FUNDING ASPECTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
WOO. LAST CALL FOR DISCUSSION.
I WILL MAKE SOME REMARKS .
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL MY
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR AMENDMENT
FOR PAYROLL EXPENSES. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR
BRINGING THIS. I KNOW THE
BUDGET SEASON WAS INCREDIBLY
HARD, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH
CHOICES REGARDING PAYROLL
EXPENSES . MOST OF THE
AMENDMENTS, FOR ME, CAME WITHIN
THE LAST 24 HOURS. NOT ENOUGH
TIME FOR ME TO PERSONALLY BE
ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION EITHER
WAY FIRMLY. I'M SPEAKING FOR
MYSELF. THESE WILL BE
LONG-LASTING IMPACTS ON OUR
COMMUNITY. SO I DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TIME TO ANALYZE SOME OF
THOSE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I
WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM
LITERALLY EVERYONE'S AMENDMENT
JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW IT IS NOT
A YES OR NO FOR ME. I JUST NEED
MORE TIME TO HAVE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
IMPACTS. THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. I WANTED TO LET
YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT MY
ABSTENTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. LAST CALL FOR
DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL FOR
DISCUSSION. WHAT THEY START
SPEAKING, WE WILL CONTINUE
MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. I'M
SEEING NO FURTHER HANDS.
COLLEAGUES, MUCH LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, I
WILL BE ADDRESSING MANY OF
THESE AMENDMENT IN THE FIRST
SET . WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED
IN THE LAST WEEK WORKING ON
THESE AMENDMENTS AND WORKING ON
THIS BILL IS THAT THERE IS AN
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION,
AND THE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
ARE VERY SMALL. THEY ARE PRETTY
DETAILED, IN THE DETAILS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, TO YOUR
BILL BEFORE US, IF WE HAVE NOT
RECEIVED A DOWNTURN BUDGET
FORECAST MIDCYCLE IN THIS
BUDGET, I WOULD BE CLOSE TO
SUPPORTING YOU HERE. BECAUSE
WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR IS NOT
ALL THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS
IN THE UNDERLYING BILL. IT IS
JUST WITH A DIFFERENT TOOL.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOUR
COMMENTS OF WORKING OUT THE
FINER DETAILS BETWEEN YOUR
PROPOSAL AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S PROPOSAL, AND YOU
AND I WERE ON THE PHONE LAST
NIGHT ABOUT VERY SMALL CHANGES
THAT WOULD BRING US INTO
ALIGNMENT. I APPRECIATE YOUR
ENGAGEMENT ON THESE ISSUES. TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
YOUR POINT IS VERY WELL TAKEN,
BECAUSE THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING OF THE CONTINUATION
OF THIS CONVERSATION . THIS IS
A CONTINUATION OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT IS BEEN GOING
ON FOR FOUR YEARS. I DON'T
FORESEE IT COMING TO AN END
THIS YEAR, WHICH IS WHY WE
HAVE, IN THE UNDERLYING BILL,
THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO COME
BACK TO THIS IN TWO YEARS AND
TO HAVE A FULL COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW IN FOUR YEARS. WITH
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I
UNFORTUNATELY WON'T BE
SUPPORTING THIS, BUT I DO
SUPPORT THE ENDEAVOR , THE
INTENT. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT TO TO COUNCIL BILL
9201 --
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> SAME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> NO.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> ONE IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED,
AND TWO ABSTENTIONS.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, I BELIEVE. SIX
OPPOSED, SORRY. DIDN'T NEED TO
GET YOUR HOPES UP. SIX OPPOSED,
TWO ABSTENTIONS, ONE IN FAVOR.
THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT DOES
NOT PASS. MOVING ONTO AMENDMENT
THREE. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO MOVE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AT THIS
TIME I MOVE AMENDMENT THREE
VERSION 1 TO COUNCIL BILL
120912.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120912 WITH
AMENDMENT THREE AS PRESENTED ON
THE AGENDA. CENTRAL STAFF ,
LET'S BRIEF THE AMENDMENT, AND
THEN I WILL COUNTS THAT PASS IT
OVER TO COUNSEL NUMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS . I
DESCRIBED IT. THIS DIRECTS 45%,
STARTING IN 2027, DIRECT 45% OF
THE JUMPSTART RESOURCES TO THE
GENERAL FUND . SPECIFICALLY,
THAT 45% DIVIDED AS 2.5% TO THE
RENT STABILIZATION ACCOUNT, THE
RAINY DAY FUND, AND 42 8.5%
GENERALLY TO THE GENERAL FUND ,
BUT WITH THE NOTE THAT THE
CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE SET
OF JUMPSTART SPENDING PRIORITY
SHOULD BE NOTED AN GUIDE THE
ALLOCATION OF THOSE DOLLARS. IT
WOULD THEN ALLOCATE 55% FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS I NOTED
IN THE DESCRIPTION HERE, THAT
WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE
DEFICIT . YOU CAN READ THE
DETAILS. AS METAPHOR, IT WOULD
INCREASE THE DEFICIT IN 2027
UNPROTECTED BASIS -- ON A
PROJECT BASIS BY $16 MILLION.
AND ALSO ILLUMINATE THE
AUTOMATIC TRANSFER OF
UNANTICIPATED YEAR AND
JUMPSTART FUND BALANCE TO THE
JUMPSTART REVENUE STABILIZATION
ACCOUNT . AS CONSTRUCTED,
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE JUMPSTART
REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT
WOULD THEN NOT BE AN ELIGIBLE
USE OF JUMPSTART ITSELF. THE
JUMP START STABILIZATION
ACCOUNT WITH THE TO BE FUNDED
FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR FROM
SOME OTHER SOURCE, SUCH AS
THAT.. THIS WOULD RESTORE THE
SUNSET OF DECEMBER 31, 2040 OF
DECEMBER 31, 2042 THE
UNDERLYING TAX.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS
SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS IS
REALLY JUST MY ATTEMPT TO
THREAD THE NEEDLE BETWEEN WHAT
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS
REQUESTING, WITH THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE PUTS FORTH, AND WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS PUT
FORTH. AS I SAID IN MY COMMENTS
IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S AMENDMENT, WE HAVE
TO BE CLEAR EYED THAT WE ARE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND
SOME MAGICAL PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE SOURCE THAT IS GOING TO
SOLVE THE NEED TO USE JUMPSTART
FOR DOLLARS FOR GENERAL FUND
SPENDING. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE BE REALISTIC
ABOUT THAT. I ALSO THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE
OURSELVES THE FLEXIBILITY. WE
HAVE , SINCE THE BEGINNING, AS
CHAIR STRAUSS HAS INDICATED,
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
JUMPSTART DOLLARS, WE HAVE
DIVERTED JUMPSTART MONEY TO
GENERAL FUND. THAT IS NOTHING
NEW. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
IT IS REALLY JUST A QUESTION
ABOUT, ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO SAY , TO GIVE OURSELVES A
SORT OF ARBITRARY DEADLINES? OR
ARE WE JUST GOING TO MAKE THAT
HARD CALL NOW? AND ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO USE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS?
THAT SAID, I DO THINK THAT IT
HAS BEEN ARTICULATED CONCERN
THAT THE REASON WE NEED TO
CONTINUE THIS ARTIFICE OF
JUMPSTART IS THAT PEOPLE ARE
CONCERNED THAT PRIOR TO
JUMPSTART WE WERE NOT
ADEQUATELY FUNDING THESE
CRITICAL AREAS . FROM LOOKING
AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, I WOULD
SAY THAT IS TRUE. I THINK,
HOWEVER, NOW THE COMMITMENT IS
FIRMLY ESTABLISHED , AND I AM
COMFORTABLE THAT, INPUTTING
45%, ARE ACTUALLY 42.5% INTO
THE GENERAL FUND, WITH THE
STATEMENT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
ALLOCATE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS
TO THE JUMP FUND SPENDING
CATEGORIES, BUT THAT WILL
HAPPEN. HOWEVER, AS I HAVE SAID
PREVIOUSLY, I AM NOT ENTIRELY
CONVINCED THAT WE WILL CONTINUE
TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT
THE LEVEL WE NEED. AND THAT IS
WHY I THINK WE DO HAVE TO GIVE
OURSELVES A DESIGNATED AMOUNT.
I HAVE PICKED 55% . IT IS 7%
LESS THAN 62, BECAUSE I KNOW
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND
MYSELF HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED SOME
CONCERN ABOUT, DO WE ACTUALLY
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY? ARE WE NOT
ADEQUATELY SPENDING THE MONEY
THAT WE HAVE OR EFFICIENTLY
SPENDING THE MONEY WE HAVE IN
OUR OFFICE OF HOUSING BUDGET?
AND SO, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT 55%
BOTH ADDRESSES THOSE CONCERNS.
IT GIVES US TIME TO RESOLVE THE
ISSUE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO
CONTINUE TO GROW OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FUNDING. ADDITIONALLY,
IT IS THE ONE AREA OUTSIDE OF
OUR CHARTER OBLIGATIONS IN
WHICH WE DO HAVE A LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO DELIVER UNDER THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT, AND WE
HAVE A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO
BUILD 112,000 UNITS IN THE NEXT
20 YEARS. PROBABLY MORE THAN
THAT. AND SO, WE HAVE TO GIVE
OURSELVES THAT DISCIPLINE OF A
DESIGNATED AMOUNT , AND THAT IS
WHY I HAVE SAID IT -- SET IT AT
55%. I WOULD ALSO NOTE UNDER
THE MAYOR'S PLAN AND THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE, THAT THERE IS
NO REQUIREMENT. THESE ARE
GUIDELINES TO CONTINUE TO FUND
THE IMPORTANT, CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT, CATEGORIES OF
JUMPSTART. BUT THEY REALLY
WAIVER. AS I SAID BEFORE, UNDER
THE MAYOR'S PLAN IN 2025, 67%
OF GENERAL FUND -- EXCUSE ME,
67% PAYROLL EXPENSE DOLLARS ARE
GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND. 33%
ARE GOING TO THE TRADITIONAL
JUMPSTART. AND 45% OF PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING
TO GO TO THE GENERAL FUND. 55%
ARE GOING TO STAY IN JUMPSTART.
AGAIN, THAT IS THE OVERALL
JUMPSTART, NOT A SPECIFIC
CATEGORY. IF YOU ADOPT THIS
AMENDMENT, OBVIOUSLY, THE MONEY
GOING TO HOUSING WILL BE HIGHER
THAN WHAT IT IS PROVIDED FOR IN
EITHER OF THE MAYOR'S PLANS,
AND IT WILL BE CONSISTENT.
EVERY YEAR WE WILL START AT THE
BASELINE, THE 55% THAT GOES TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND
ASSOCIATED SERVICES. I THINK
THAT WE NEED THAT CONSISTENCY
IN OUR BUDGETING. FOR THOSE
REASONS, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND HARD
WORK AND THINKING THROUGH SO
MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS . I AM
HONORED TO COSPONSOR THIS WITH
YOU. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE WHERE
I DID COSPONSOR IT TO ELEVATE
THE CONVERSATION. I'M GLAD WE
ARE HAVING IT. YOU KNOW, THIS
IS A CRUCIAL REVENUE STREAM.
THERE IS NO MAGICAL PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE LURKING AROUND THE
CORNER. I THINK THE LIGHTEST
WEIGHT OPPORTUNITY, THE LOWEST
HANGING FRUIT, SO TO SPEAK, IS
GOING TO BE THE CAPITAL GAINS
TAX, BUT YOU KNOW, AS I
INDICATED BEFORE, I WOULD LIKE
TO EXPLORE THAT. ON A GO
FORWARD BASIS. AND PERIODICALLY
REVISIT THAT ISSUE, ESPECIALLY
IF WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE BETTER
PROGRESS ON OUTCOMES AND
RESULTS. BUT IRRESPECTIVE OF
THAT, PUTTING THAT ASIDE FOR A
MOMENT, THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL
REVENUE STREAM. I ACKNOWLEDGE
IT IS DEFINITELY MORE FLEXIBLE
THAN ONE OF THE PRIOR
AMENDMENTS. I APPRECIATE THE
EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE
FLEXIBILITY, BUT IT IS STILL A
BIT TOO PRESCRIPTIVE FOR ME. I
WOULD GENERALLY NOT BE
SUPPORTIVE OF CONSTRUCTS AND
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE VERY
LIMITING AND VERY PRESCRIPTIVE
. INSTEAD, I GENERALLY WOULD
SUPPORT IDEAS THAT WOULD
PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM TO OPERATE
AND PRESERVE FULL FLEXIBILITY
ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. I THINK
THE MAYOR'S ORIGINAL BASE BILL
DOES EXACTLY THAT. FOR THOSE
REASONS, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING
THIS, ALTHOUGH I DO APPRECIATE
THE GOOD FAITH AND EARNEST
EFFORTS BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
TO MAKE IT, TO STRIVE TO MAKE
IT AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I DO WANT
TO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I WILL SAY THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF THINGS I DON'T
SUPPORT IN THE DETAILS HERE,
WHICH IS WHY I WON'T BE
SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT. THE
FIRST OF WHICH IS THE SUNSET
DATE. I THINK IT IS PRETTY
CLEAR THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE
RELYING ON THIS FUNDING SOURCE
FOR SOME TIME . BUT I ALSO
REALLY DON'T AGREE THAT WE CAN
RELY ON THE EXECUTIVE TO FUND
BASED ON THE CURRENT
ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE IN THE
EXISTING LEGISLATION. IF THAT
WERE THE CASE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE
HALF OF THE REVENUE FOR THIS
YEAR GOING INTO THE GENERAL
FUND. I DON'T THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING WE CAN RELY ON. I
WORRY THAT THE PROGRAMMING THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY CREATED , THAT
IS ALREADY ESTABLISHED TO
SUPPORT, NOT JUST HOUSING, BUT
THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
PROJECTS, ARE REALLY AT RISK IF
WE DON'T ALLOCATE THAT FUND I
WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I TOO
APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT,
HONESTLY, WE ARE ALL GRAPPLING
WITH. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE
CITY HAS SHOWN A STRONG
COMMITMENT TO HOUSING. I KNOW
THAT THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING IN 2019 WAS
69.4 MILLION . IN THIS PROPOSED
BUDGET IN 2025, IT IS 342.4
MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE
OF FIVE TIMES. I SAY THAT NOT
TO SAY THAT THIS IS SUFFICIENT.
I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE
DEMONSTRATED OUR STRONG
COMMITMENT TO HOUSING
THROUGHOUT EVERY BUDGET,
INCLUDING THIS BUDGET. I THINK
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I
ALSO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
CATTLE BRINGING A SLI,
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT, REQUESTING FROM THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING A HOUSING
PLAN SO WE CAN BETTER MAKE
DECISIONS INTO THE FUTURE ABOUT
OUR HOUSING, OUR CONTINUED
HOUSING INVESTMENTS. ALL THAT
SAID, I FEEL THAT PUTTING ANY
LIMIT OF THIS KIND AT THIS TIME
OF THESE JUMPSTART DOLLARS THAT
, IN ALL HONESTY, IT IS THE
ONLY REASON WHY TODAY WE DON'T
HAVE TO CUT ANY OTHER SERVICES
IN THE BUDGET. IT IS BECAUSE WE
HAVE THESE FUNDS AND WERE ABLE
TO USE SOME OF THE FUNDS TO
BACKFILL, IF YOU WILL. IT IS
NOT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO BE
LIMITING THE USE OF JUMPSTART
DOLLARS BECAUSE I TOO BELIEVE
THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WILL ONLY
HAVE TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS
FUND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT
OTHER SERVICES, BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT HOUSING IS AN IMPORTANT
SERVICE, AND IT IS ONE OF THE
SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO FUND
IN THE CITY. FOR THAT REASON, I
WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE
LIMITS, BUT I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE AND RESPECT MY
COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THEIR
AMENDMENTS FORWARD , AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
CONVERSATION . UNDERSCORING
THAT I DON'T KNOW ANYONE OF US
WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN THAT AREA. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>> A COUPLE OF ADDITIONS TO
THIS DISCUSSION. IT ALSO
APPLIES A BIT TOO THE AMENDMENT
TWO. I WILL BE VOTING NO FOR
THIS MEASURE. BECAUSE THE WAY
THAT THE -- HOW WE ARE GOING TO
BE SPENDING THESE RESOURCES IS
TOO VAGUE FOR MY LIKING. I
UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO FLESH OUT THE
DETAILS AT A LATER DATE, BUT I
DO THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO
HAVE A FIRMER UNDERSTANDING OF
WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO AND HOW
WE WILL BE PRIORITIZING WHAT WE
ARE SPENDING ON, BECAUSE THAT
WILL DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO
WHICH THE PUBLIC AND OUR VOTERS
AND DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCY
GROUPS WILL SUPPORT OUR
ACTIONS. I AM CONCERNED THAT
THE REDUCTIONS IN SOME OF THE
-- IN THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE
CURRENTLY PAID FOR BY THE
JUMPSTART TAX, WILL REALLY DO
SOME HARM TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN BENEFITING FROM THOSE
INVESTMENTS AND HAVE BEEN
HOPING FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.
I NOTICED THAT THE REDUCTION ,
NOT USING JUMPSTART FOR THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WILL RESULT IN A 20 MILLION ,
OR 65%, DECREASE IN THAT
BUDGET. MANY OF US HAVE SPOKEN
POSITIVELY ABOUT THE WORK THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TO SUPPORT
BLACK AND BROWN ENTREPRENEURS
AND GENERATE A MORE VITAL
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS. THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC
REASONS I AM TALKING ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL . I THINK
THE BIGGER PICTURE IS THAT WE
MUST REMEMBER THAT THE FLEXIBLE
USE OF PET REVENUES FOR GENERAL
FUND PURPOSES, HOWEVER IT IS
DEFINED AS SLICED UP, IS WHAT
IS ALLOWING US TO AVOID THE
LAYOFFS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DO
IN THE SERVICE CUTS TO ACTUALLY
ADDRESS ERROR $250 MILLION
DEFICIT THAT WE WENT INTO THIS
WHOLE PROCESS WITH. RECEIVED A
BUDGET WITH $76 MILLION DEFICIT
IN 2027 , AND THE BALANCING
PACKAGE, WHICH REPRESENTED THE
PRIORITIES OF NINE MEMBERS ON
THIS COUNCIL, AND THAT COMBINED
WITH A DECREASED REVENUE IN THE
OCTOBER FORECAST, INCREASE THE
DEFICIT BY AS MUCH AS 23
MILLION, WHICH THEN ADDED UP TO
OUR 27 MILLION DEFICIT , IF YOU
INCLUDE THIS REDUCTION IN THE
ALLOCATION TO THE GENERAL FUND.
ALL I AM TRYING TO SAY IS, EVEN
IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT IN
AMENDMENT THREE, OR IN
AMENDMENT TWO, EVEN IF WE WERE
TO SEEK AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF
REVENUE, THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX
BEING THE MOST ROBUST AND
FETID, IT WOULD GENERATE ONLY
51%, LEAVING US $51 MILLION,
LEAVING US WITH AN OPERATING
DEFICIT OF 185. NOW WE'RE BACK
TO SQUARE ONE. WE ARE BACK TO
SQUARE ONE BETWEEN HAVING TO
MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN TAKING
MONEY AWAY FROM AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND OTHER NEEDS THAT
THE PET HAS TRADITIONALLY SPENT
MONEY ON, OR I THINK A MUCH
MORE TRAUMATIC AND INHUMANE
CHOICE OF LAYING OFF CITY
WORKERS AND DIMINISHING THE
CITY SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
LEADING ME AWAY FROM SUPPORTING
THESE TWO AMENDMENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LAST
CALL ON DISCUSSION. I WILL
START SPEAKING, AND WAS WE GO
THAT ROUTE, I WILL PASS IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. LAST
CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL
ON DISCUSSION. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, MY COMMENTS ARE PRETTY
SIMILAR TO WHAT I SHARED FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. THE
AMOUNT OF SPACE WE ARE
DIFFERENT ON THIS ONE IS
SMALLER THAN WHERE WE ALIGN.
THIS WILL BE PART OF OUR
CONTINUED CONVERSATION. BACK TO
DIRECTOR NOBLES , FIVE VOTES
CHANGES POLICY ANY DAY, ANY
TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL BE
SUPPORTING YOU ON THIS
AMENDMENT. I THINK THAT ,
AGAIN, IF WE HAD NOT HAD THE
DOWNTURN FORECAST MIDCYCLE, WE
WOULD HAVE MORE -- WE WOULD NOT
BE AS DEEP STILL IN THE STORM
AS WE ARE. I COULD HAVE MORE
FOLKS ABILITY ON SUPPORTING
SUCH AMENDMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I
APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUGHTFUL
COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. I
KNOW WE ARE ALL TRYING TO -- I
KNOW WE ARE GENUINELY GRAPPLING
IN WRESTLING WITH THE STRUGGLES
IN FRONT OF US. LIKE I SAID, IT
IS A CHOICE BETWEEN PUTTING
SOME GUARDRAILS ON THE
EXECUTIVE OR NOT. AND SO, I
HAVE CHOSEN TO TRY TO FIND THE
MIDDLE GROUND IN TERMS OF THOSE
GUARDRAILS. AND WHERE I COME
DOWN ON ME AND DIDN'T
GUARDRAILS IS WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THAT IS WHY I HAVE
CHOSEN THE 55%, AND ALSO TO
ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT -- I
DO APPRECIATE THE SLI THE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HAS
BROUGHT. WE DO HAVE A DEEP DIVE
TO DO AND HOW EFFICIENTLY WE
ARE SPENDING OUR HOUSING, BUT
AGAIN, AS I THINK WE HAVE
LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS,
MORE KNOWLEDGE DOESN'T
NECESSARILY SOLVE THE
UNDERLYING ISSUE OF WHETHER WE
HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING. I THINK,
ULTIMATELY, THAT IS WHAT WE
WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING. PERHAPS WE NEED TO
UTILIZE DIFFERENT FUNDING
METHODOLOGIES. BUT THE NEED IS
GOING TO REMAIN. AND SO, AGAIN,
I'VE COME DOWN ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING . THAT IS WHERE I DRAW
THE LINE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE MORALES ON AMENDMENT
THREE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> SAME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER .
>> NO.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> ONE IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED,
-- SORRY, SIX OPPOSED, TWO
ABSTENTION
>> THANK YOU. DEPUTY CLERK ,
THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS.
AMENDMENT THREE IS NOT ATTACHED
. MOVING ONTO AMENDMENT FOUR.
OVER TO YOU, CENTRAL STAFF.
THEN COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WILL
BE FIRST.
>> I BELIEVE IT IS
SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT WOULD
RESTORE THE SUNSET THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE REMOVED BY COUNCIL
BILL 120912.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
COLLEAGUES, ON THE TOPIC OF THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, I BELIEVE
DROPPING THE SUNSET CLAUSE NOW
IS LIKE DECLARING MISSION
ACCOMPLISHED ON THE FLIGHT DECK
OF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER. WE NEED
BUDGET REFORM. I WOULD LIKE TO
THINK CHAIR STRAUSS FOR THE
EFFORTS THAT OF BEEN ONGOING
THIS YEAR, BUT WE NEED MORE. WE
NEED TO COMPLETE THE MISSION,
IF YOU WILL, OF BUDGET REFORM.
IN ADDITION TO THE REVENUE
STABILIZATION WORKGROUP, WE
NEED AN EXPENSES STABILIZATION
WORKGROUP AND REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL THE DIFFERENT DATA
REQUESTING SLIDES -- SLI WE
HAVE TO INCLUDE THE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN . BUT OUR
EFFORTS NEED TO BE
COMPREHENSIVE. ACROSS THE
BOARD. WE NEED BUDGET ACTIONS
BACKSTOPPED BY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ACTION . TOO OFTEN IN
THIS BUDGET EFFORT , WHICH HAS
BEEN MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH,
WE HAVE HAD CPAS THAT COULD
HAVE BENEFITED BY HAVING THAT
TOPIC WORKED IN COMMITTEE TO
INCLUDE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE,
TO INCLUDE THIS PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX. SIMPLY, THAT IS MY
POSITION ON THIS IN GENERAL.
AND MY POINT REGARDING THE
SUNSET CLAUSES THAT I THINK IT
NEEDS TO BE DONE , IF NEEDED,
AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE
ANSWER TO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING
AT. COLLEAGUES, I ASKED FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I FORGOT MY PRIMARY
DUTY IN THIS ONE. COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO MOVE THE AMENDMENT?
>> YES. I OF COURSE WANT TO
MOVE AMENDMENT FOUR VERSION 12
COUNCIL BILL 120912, PAYROLL
SPENDS TAX, 2024 MODIFICATIONS.
THINK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. CENTRAL STAFF IS
BRIEF THE BILL. THE SPONSOR HAS
SPOKEN TO IT. COLLEAGUES,
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I AGREED
TO COSPONSOR SO WE CAN HAVE THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. I ALSO
BELIEVE THAT IT IS PRUDENT THAT
EVERY SO OFTEN WE DO NEED TO
LOOK AT THESE FUNDING SOURCES
AND FIGURE OUT, AT THAT TIME,
THAT PARTICULAR COUNCIL 15
YEARS FROM NOW WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THIS AND
DETERMINE IF ANY CHANGES NEED
TO BE MADE. WHAT , IF SO, IN
ANY CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THIS
PARTICULAR FUNDING SOURCE. IT
IS PRUDENT AND FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THINGS
EVERY SO MANY YEARS. THAT IS
WHY I AGREED TO , LIKE I SAID,
COSPONSOR , AND WHY I WILL BE
SUPPORTING TO PUT THE SUNSET
BACK ON. I AM AWARE, VERY WELL
AWARE, THAT IT IS UNLIKELY WE
WOULD NOT NEED FURTHER FUNDING
INTO THE FUTURE , BUT I SEE
THIS MORE AS A GOOD GOVERNANCE
AND AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELOOK
AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THE
FUTURE COUNCIL HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND
DETERMINE WHAT NEXT STEPS
SHOULD BE WITH THIS PARTICULAR
FUNDING SOURCE. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
HISTORY. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT
IN 2020 COUNCILMEMBER PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX PROPOSAL HAD A
SUNSET DATE OF AROUND 2030. IT
WAS DELIBERATED IN THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE ENTERING DECEMBER
2020. COUNCILMEMBER PUT FORTH
AN AMENDMENT THAT ELIMINATED
THE SUNSET ALTOGETHER. THAT IS
WHAT PASSED OUT OF THAT
COMMITTEE. THEN WHEN IT GOT TO
FULL COUNCIL, THERE WAS A
COMPROMISE , AND THE SUNSET WAS
SET AT 2040. I SAY THIS BECAUSE
IT SHOWS THERE IS NOTHING
MAGICAL ABOUT 2040. BUT IT DOES
REFLECT THAT THERE WAS A DESIRE
TO PUT A DATE IN THE GROUND.
SOME OF THE COMMENTS DURING
THAT MEETING WAS THAT ALL OF
OUR PROPERTY TAX, ALL OF OUR
VOTER APPROVED PROPERTY TAX
MEASURES AND SALES TAX MEASURES
DO HAVE A SUNSET. USUALLY WHAT
HAPPENS IS THAT THE RENEWAL
PROCESS DOES PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY, IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY, TO TAKE A LOOK AT
HOW THE FUNDING SOURCE IS
GOING, WHAT ADJUSTMENTS SHOULD
BE MADE GOING FORWARD. AND SO,
THAT IS BENEFICIAL. THAT WOULD
BE BENEFICIAL IN THIS CASE AS
WELL. I SUPPORT PUTTING BACK
THE 2040 DEADLINE FOR THE
REASON THAT IT FORCES AN
EXAMINATION UPON US. WOULDN'T
IT BE GREAT IF WE DON'T NEED
THAT MUCH MORE DOLLARS
ALLOCATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BECAUSE SO MUCH HAD BEEN BUILT
AND MAYBE FIND OTHER NEEDS. BUT
THAT IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
ANYWAY, I THINK IT SERVES A
PURPOSE. THE SECOND REASON IS
THAT I BELIEVE THAT A DEADLINE
DOES PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL
GUARDRAILS. IT HEDGES AGAINST A
TENDENCY TO BECOME OVER
DEPENDENT ON A SOURCE OF
FUNDING AND NOT DASHING PUT TOO
MUCH INTO THE BASKET WITHOUT
TAKING ENOUGH OUT. SO I DO
THINK IT SERVES AS DASHING SETS
THE FLOOR FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT IS AN EXPECTATION SETTING
MECHANISM, WHICH I THINK IS
VALUABLE FOR ALL OF US PROBABLY
MISSING MAKERS. --
POLICYMAKERS. FOR THOSE TWO
REASONS, I WILL OF COURSE
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. I WANT
FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THIS SUNSET
PUTTING BACK THE SUNSET OF 2040
DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WILL HAVE
TO BE DEALING WITH IT THE NEXT
BIENNIUM OR THE NEXT ONE OR THE
NEXT ONE. WE ARE BUYING
OURSELVES SOME TIME. PERHAPS
TOO MUCH, BUT IT DOES GIVE US
SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE
ARE GOING TO DO SOME
RESTRUCTURING OF OUR BUDGETS SO
WE DON'T RELY ON THAT SOURCE
OF FUNDING FOR PAYING FOR
REALLY BASIC GOVERNMENT
EXPENSES AND SERVICES . THAT IS
WHY. THINKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. ANY FURTHER
DISCUSSION? ONCE I START
CALLING, LAST CALL, AND I START
SPEAKING, ONLY COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE WILL SPEAK AFTER ME.
LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. LAST
CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL
ON DISCUSSION. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, IS THAT A NEW HAND?
>> TAKING IT DOWN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
ANYONE IS CLAIMING MISSION
ACCOMPLISHED. FOR ME,
PERSONALLY, IT IS THE EXACT
OPPOSITE. I'M SEEING RED
LIGHTS FLASHING IN THE CONTROL
ROOM. THAT IS WHY WE NEED
ADDITIONAL STEPS INTO
STRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY. TO
PUT THIS VERY PLAINLY, IF
GENERAL FUND ISN'T ALLOWED USE
OF JUMPSTART, THE JUMPSTART
NEEDS TO CONTINUE IN
PERPETUITY. IF JUMPSTART IS NOT
CONTINUED IN PERPETUITY, WE
NEED TO BE MUCH MORE REFINED
ABOUT HOW WE USE JUMPSTART TO
PLUG OUR BUDGET, WHICH PREVENTS
AUSTERITY BUDGETING, AND WE
NEED TO BE EVEN MORE EGO LIED
ON NOT ALLOWING JUMPSTART TO
FUND OUR BASIC SERVICES. THOSE
ARE THE CHOICES BEFORE US. AND
SO, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING
THIS, BECAUSE AGAIN, IF GENERAL
FUND ISN'T ALLOWED USE, THIS
TAX NEEDS TO BE ONGOING. IF THE
TAX IS NOT ONGOING, THERE NEED
TO BE STRONGER LIMITS ON
GENERAL FUND. USE OF JUMPSTART.
YOU WILL SEE IN THE NEXT
AMENDMENT AFTER THIS , ME
SPEAKING TO THAT A LITTLE BIT
MORE CLEARLY. I WOULD NOT BE
YOUR BUDGET CHAIR IF I DID NOT
BRING UP THE FACT THAT THE
DOWNTURN FORECAST LAST MONTH IS
WHAT HAS MOTIVATED A LOT OF THE
FLEXIBILITY IN THIS
LEGISLATION. WE ARE -- WE ARE
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS. WE ARE SO
FAR IN THE WOODS IT IS A
THICKET SOME FOLKS ARE HAVING
TROUBLE SEEING THE TREES..
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I
ALSO APPRECIATE VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON FOR YOUR
COMMENTS AS WELL. VERY GERMANE,
VERY ON-TOPIC. AGAIN,
COLLEAGUES, I ASKED FOR YOUR
SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
CAROL. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON AMENDMENT FOUR VERSION
1.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOREL IS.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA .
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> NO.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSE,
ONE ABSTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT
CARRIES. AMENDMENT FOUR VERSION
1 IS ATTACHED TO COUNCIL BILL
120912. MOVING ONTO THE NEXT
AMENDMENT . IF YOU COULD
ACTUALLY BRIEF BOTH AMENDMENTS,
AND THEN I WILL SPEAK TO THEM
SEPARATELY.
>> CERTAINLY. HAPPY TO DO THAT.
AMENDMENT FIVE, THE FIRST OF
THESE TWO, AS DESCRIBED IN THE
STATEMENT, DESIGNED TO WERE
CLEARLY EXPRESSING LEGISLATIVE
INTENT REGARDING THE USE OF
JUMPSTART PROCEEDS. THAT MAKES
PLANE A MORE DETAILED THE
EFFECT OF CHANGING. THIS
SENTENCE THAT APPEARS HERE,
PAYROLL EXPENSES, PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX PROCEEDS ON THE
CURRENT VERSION MAYBE ALLOCATED
, CONSISTENT WITH RCW TO
SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CITY
ACTIVITIES. WHAT FOLLOWS IS A
LIST OF THE ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES. UNDER THE ORIGINAL
CONSTRUCTION, THAT EFFECTIVELY
SHOULD BE READ AS MAY ONLY BE
USED. THE ORIGINAL VERSION
DEFINED THE SET OF ACTIVITIES
THAT MONEY COULD BE
APPROPRIATED TO. THE
IMPLICATION IS THAT YOU
WEREN'T OBLIGATED AND WOULD
NOT BE OBLIGATE IT APPROPRIATE
TO EVERYTHING ON THAT LIST, BUT
ONLY THINGS ON THAT LIST COULD
BE PAID FOR, IF YOU WILL. USING
, THE OBLIGATION BECOMES
AFFIRMATIVE IN THAT EVERYTHING
ON THE LIST HAS TO RECEIVE SOME
AMOUNT OF MONEY . THAT SAID,
THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD BE
AS LITTLE AS ONE DOLLAR.
SWITCHING , IT DOESN'T HAVE TO
HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LEGAL IMPACT
ON THE FLEXIBILITY YOU HAVE TO
APPROPRIATE MONEY , AND THAT IS
NOT THE INTENT, THE INTENT IS
TO EXPRESS MORE AFFIRMATIVELY
THE COMMITMENT AT THE LISTED
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES. IT IS NOT
MEANT TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
LEGAL EFFECT, BUT RATHER AN
EXPRESSIVE ONE, IF YOU WILL.
THAT IS AMENDMENT FIVE.
AMENDMENT SIX WOULD , STARTING
IN JANUARY 2029, PRECLUDE THE
USE OF JUMPSTART TO SUPPORT THE
GENERAL FUND. SO AGAIN, FREE,
UNFETTERED USE OF THE GENERAL
FUND FOR THE CURRENT BIENNIUM ,
25 -- RATHER, THE UPCOMING BY A
MAN, 25 HEAVEN 26, AND
SUBSEQUENT BIENNIUM, BUT BEYOND
THAT, NO MORE GENERAL FUND, IF
YOU WILL. AS I NOTE HERE. UNDER
THE CURRENT FINANCIAL PLAN FOR
THE GENERAL FUND, THERE IS AN
ASSUMPTION THAT 204 -- $234
MILLION OF JUMPSTART WE GO TO
THE GENERAL FUND IN 2029. BY
DEFINITION, PRECLUDING THAT
TRANSFER WOULD , BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS INCREASE THE
DEFICIT IN 2029 BY THAT AMOUNT
OF 234 MILLION. THAT IS THE
EFFECT .
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
THE REASON I ASKED FOR A BRIEF
-- IS THAT A NEW HAND?
>> I HAD A QUESTION OF
CLARIFICATION FOR SOME OF THESE
.
>> CAN WE WAIT FOR DISCUSSION?
THANK YOU. THE REASON I ASKED
FOR BOTH TO BE BRIEF TOGETHER,
AND THEN I WILL MOVE THEM ONE
BY ONE, IS BECAUSE THIS
AMENDMENT WAS ORIGINALLY
WRITTEN AS A SINGLE AMENDMENT.
I CAN READ A ROOM. I AM GETTING
THE SENSE THAT MY SECOND
AMENDMENT WON'T PASS. BUT I
SEPARATED THEM BECAUSE THE
FIRST SECTION OF THIS AMENDMENT
, IT WAS INTERESTING . I ALWAYS
APPRECIATE THE LEGAL ADVICE
FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY UP HIS
OFFICE. THIS ONE WAS NEW TO ME.
BUT THIS FIRST ONE OF CHANGING
MAY TO XIAO UNDER SECTION A
WOULD SIMPLY GIVE US MORE
DIRECTIVE -- IT WOULD BE MORE
DIRECTIVE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
BODY THAT SAYS THESE ARE THE
THINGS IN WHICH JUMPSTART CAN
BE USED FOR. WITHIN THIS LIST
CURRENTLY IS GENERAL FUND. IT
GOES BACK TO THE POINTS I WAS
MAKING JUST A MINUTE AGO, AND
THAT IS WHY IT WAS ORIGINALLY
WRITTEN AS ONE. IF WE RETAIN A
SUNSET ON JUMPSTART, WE ARE
SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR HALF A
1 BILLION DEFICIT IN 2040. IF
WE DON'T BEGIN WEANING
OURSELVES OFF OF USING
JUMPSTART FOR GENERAL FUND, IN
FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, BUT IS
GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. WHAT IS
CLEAR TO ME IS THAT, AGAIN, IT
WOULDN'T -- I WOULDN'T BE
YOUR BUDGET CHAIR, WE HAVE A
NEGATIVE REVENUE FORECAST. WE
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY MORE
THINGS COMING OUR WAY IN THE
NEXT FOUR YEARS THAN WE
EXPECTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
THAT IS WHY I SET UP FOR YEARS
UNTIL THE NEXT COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW. WITH THESE COMBINED,
YOU WOULD ALLOW FOR , YOU WOULD
BE DIRECTIVE, AND WE WOULD
ALLOW FOR THAT TRANSITION TIME
AND FLEXIBILITY. AND CERTAINTY
IN THE FUTURE. BUT IF YOU
DON'T SUPPORT BOTH OF THEM
TOGETHER, THIS ONE AT LEAST
MAKES OUR DIRECTIVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE CLEAR. THAT IS MY
SUMMARY. I'M GOING TO MOVE
AMENDMENT FIVE VERSION 1 TO
COUNCIL BILL 120912. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED. CENTRAL
STAFF HAS BRIEFED THE BILL. THE
SPONSOR HAS SPOKEN. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> SOMETHING THAT WAS COMBINED
WITH YOUR LAST COMMENTS IN YOUR
EXPLANATION. IT WAS SAID THAT
IF THE GENERAL FUND IS AN
ACCEPTABLE USE , THE TAX HAS TO
GO ON IN PERPETUITY . AND SO,
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE AT SOME
POINT -- I AM WANTING TO MAKE
SURE I UNDERSTAND . IF IT FUNDS
GENERAL-PURPOSE EXPENSES RIGHT
NOW, THEN THAT DOES NOT -- I'M
STRUGGLING TO SEE WHY IT WOULD
HAVE TO GO ON IN PERPETUITY AT
SOME POINT. WE COULD ELIMINATE
THAT USE AS THOSE EXPENSES AS A
RECIPIENT OF THAT SOURCE.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY OR
IMPLY THAT.
>> IT WAS CHAIR STRAUSS, AND
THEN IT SEEMED AS THOUGH --
>> DIRECTOR NOBLE. THERE IS
NOTHING IN THIS THAT WOULD
IMPLY THE TAX COULDN'T SUNSET
IN 2040 OR COULD IT BE
RESCINDED AHEAD OF THAT .
AGAIN, THE USES HERE, SHALL BE
USED FOR THESE THINGS, BUT
AGAIN, IT COULD BE FOR AS
LITTLE AS A DOLLAR. I WILL
INVOKE MY FAMOUS SLIDE. DEFAME
THE COULD RESEND THE TAX COULD
ILLUMINATE THE GENERAL FUND ,
AND THAT WOULD LOGICALLY BE
CONSISTENT. THERE IS NOTHING
HERE THAT RELATES TO THE SUNSET
OR THE TERM OF THE TAX, IF YOU
WILL.
>> OKAY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU STILL
HAVE THE FOUR.
>> I HAVE HAD MY QUESTION
ANSWERED.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU.
FURTHER DISCUSSION. LAST CALL
ON DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> FOR CLARITY, ARE WE SPEAKING
TO AMENDMENT FIVE AND SIX ? OR
DOES AMENDMENT FIVE FOR NOW?
>> WE ARE JUST ON AMENDMENT
FIVE. ONLY AMENDMENT FIVE HAS
BEEN MOVED. WE WILL TAKE THEM
UP ONE BY ONE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I
CAME INTO TODAY'S MEETING
PREPARING TO VOTE AGAINST
AMENDMENT FIVE. AFTER SOME OF
THIS CONVERSATION , SO FAR, AND
THEN ESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S LAST COMMENTS ON HER
OTHER AMENDMENT, I ACTUALLY AM
GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ONE .
HERE IS WHY. COUNCILMEMBER MORE
APPROPRIATELY NOTED THAT
WITHOUT -- IN HER EARLIER
AMENDMENT, IT WAS HER ATTEMPT
TO REIN IN AND MAKE CRYSTAL
CLEAR COUNSEL AND LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES AND PUT SOME SORT OF
GUARDRAILS AROUND THE SPENDING
. AGAIN, AND ULTIMATELY THOUGHT
ABOUT VOTING , SUPPORTING THAT
ONE. ULTIMATELY DECLINED
BECAUSE I STILL THINK THE
DOWNSTREAM FLEXIBILITY AND
FREEDOM TO OPERATE IS , I WILL
WEIGH SOME OF THE EARLIER
CONSIDERATIONS, BUT SHE IS
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT, WE NEED
TO SET SOME SORT OF COUNCIL
DIRECTION AROUND PERMISSIBLE
USES OF THAT. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS . FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ,
IN THE ABSENCE OF DOING
ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE
EXECUTIVE WOULD BE FREE TO
SPEND OR NOT SPEND AS THEY SEE
FIT. EVEN WITH THIS, AS
DIRECTOR NOBLE INDICATED, THERE
WOULD BE NO FIRM REQUIREMENTS
OR ALLOCATION AMOUNTS . WHICH I
SUPPORT. BUT THIS IS THE ONLY
THING THAT REQUIRES SOME LEVEL
OF SPENDING , UNSPECIFIED LEVEL
OF SPENDING ON THOSE ENUMERATED
THINGS . A NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST,
AS I UNDERSTAND IT. BUT THIS IS
ALL WE HAVE REMAINING TO SHARE
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES . AGAIN,
EVERYTHING WE CAN OVER RIDE. WE
HAVE DONE EVERY YEAR SINCE THIS
THING HAS STARTED. WE HAVE
OVERRIDE IT EVERY YEAR THROUGH
LEGISLATION . BUT THIS IS ALL
WE HAVE FOR PURPOSES OF SHAPING
THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR. I AM
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT
IT. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. ANY
FURTHER DISCUSSION. LAST CALL
ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> -- JUST DOUBLE CHECKING.
THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME
SPEAKING FOR ANYONE ELSE?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT
USING JUMPSTART WITHIN ABOUT
TWO BIENNIUM SPIRIT --
BIENNIUM. I WANT TO DO A GUT
CHECK ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS
REALISTIC THAT WE CAN TAKE
JUMPSTART OUT OF FUNDING , AS A
FUNDING RESOURCE FOR GENERAL
FUND EXPENSES. LIKE I SAID
BEFORE, WE INHERITED A BUDGET
THAT HAD A $76 MILLION DEFICIT
IN 2027. THE BALANCING PACKAGE
INCREASE THAT BY ABOUT 23
MILLION. AND THEN WE CONTINUE
TO ADD ONTO THAT THROUGH THE
LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THIS
PROCESS. JUST REALIZING THAT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS DIFFICULT
TO MANAGE THE PRIORITIES OF
NINE MEMBERS. AND SO, IF WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO TRIM OUR EXPENSES
SIGNIFICANTLY, WE ARE
POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT LAYOFFS
WITHIN FOUR YEARS. AS MUCH AS I
ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WE NEED TO
LOOK AT HER SPENDING AND REALLY
EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE
GETTING THE VALUE ADDED OF OUR
INVESTMENTS, I ALSO DON'T WANT
TO SET US UP FOR A SITUATION
WHERE WE HAVE TO MAYBE MAKE
VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS AT THE
LAST MINUTE THAT COULD ACTUALLY
HURT PEOPLE. AND THEIR
PROSPECTS FOR THEIR FUTURES AND
FAMILIES, ET CETERA. I GUESS I
AM SAYING I APPLIED THE
BOLDNESS OF THE NOTION. I'M
ALSO CONCERNED THAT WITHIN THAT
SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE COULD
BE FACING PRETTY SEVERE CUTS
UNLESS WE MAKE SOME REALLY
DIFFERENT POLICY DECISIONS
RIGHT NOW.
>> I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST
THIS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION,
BECAUSE I THINK WHAT IT HAS
HELPED MAKE CLEAR IS THAT , IF
WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS
SOURCE OF REVENUE TO FUND
GENERAL FUND BASIC CITY
SERVICES FOR THE NEXT TWO
YEARS, THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
UNTIL 2040, WHENEVER IT IS, AND
THEN WE DECIDE TO ELIMINATE THE
TAX, WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO FILL THAT HOLE . JUST
PRECISELY THE PROBLEM WITH NOT
HAVING A DIVERSE REVENUE STREAM
FOR BASIC CITY SERVICES. IF WE
DECIDE TO ELIMINATE THE GENERAL
FUND AS AN ALLOWABLE EXPENSE,
AND WE DON'T FIGURE OUT HOW
WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THE
THINGS WE HAVE NOW SAID GENERAL
FUND WILL PAY FOR, WE'RE BACK
TO SQUARE ONE WITH HAVING TO
RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I THINK
IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BEGIN THE
CONVERSATION THAT SHOULD HAVE
HAPPENED THIS YEAR ABOUT HOW WE
FIX THAT HOLE BECAUSE IT HAS
BECOME REALLY CLEAR THAT WE
HAVE A WHOLE, AND THIS CAN'T
BE THE LONG-TERM FIX. I DO NOT
BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE
IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING
ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWED COMPARED
TO THE BASE BUDGET, SORRY, THE
BASE BILL. BUT I THINK IT HAS
RAISED THE BROADER ISSUE THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT DISCUSSES,
WHICH IS THAT IF WE ARE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO USE GENERAL
FUND, AND THEN WE SAY THAT THIS
SOURCE CAN'T BE USED FOR THAT
IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WE
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL
THE HOLE WITH OTHER REVENUE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ACCOUNT -- THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. FINAL
CALL. IS THAT A NEW HAND?
>> NO.
>> OKAY. FINAL CALL ON
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR YOUR
CLARIFICATION THAT THIS
DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT IS WITHIN
THE SPEND PLAN. AGAIN, THAT IS
BECAUSE I SPLIT MY AMENDMENT
INTO TWO BECAUSE I CAN READ THE
ROOM. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON AMENDMENT FIVE
VERSION 12 COUNCIL BILL 120912?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED,
ONE ABSTENTION.
>> MOTION FAILS. AMENDMENT FIVE
VERSION 1 DOES NOT HANG TO
COUNCIL BILL 910 -- MOVING ONTO
AMENDMENT SIX. IT HAS BEEN
BRIEFED. AGAIN, I WILL MOVE
AMENDMENT SIX VERSION 1 TO
COUNCIL BILL 120912. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED. AGAIN, I
DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY.
I'VE ARTIE SET IT. THIS PAIRED
WITH THE LAST ONE -- I HAVE
ALREADY SAID IT. THIS PAIRED
WITH THE LAST ONE PUTS A
DEADLINE OF WHEN WE CAN USE
GENERAL FUND FROM JUMPSTART.
BECAUSE WITH A SUNSET ON THIS
TAX, WE HAVE A LOOMING DEFICIT
16 YEARS FROM NOW I NEED TO
PLAN FOR A. I DON'T HAVE ANY
FURTHER -- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> -- WE ARE IN DISCUSSION NOW.
I SEE YOU HAVE A HAND.
>> IN MY THE ONLY ONE THAT
DOESN'T TURN THEIR THING OFF
IMMEDIATELY? EXCUSE ME.
>> I THINK SO. THE FLOOR IS
YOURS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. IS
THAT A NO? OKAY. FURTHER
DISCUSSION. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
FINAL DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION. CLERK, PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON AMENDMENT SIX
VERSION 1.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> NO.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> TWO IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED,
ONE ABSTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. AMENDMENT SIX
VERSION 1 DOES NOT CARRY AND
WILL NOT BE ATTACHED TO COUNCIL
BILL 120912. WE ARE MOVING BACK
TO THE BASE BILL. WE HAVE
NUMBER SEVEN. THIS IS THE WALK
ON AMENDMENT. IS THAT CORRECT?
TAKE A NICE DEEP BREATH AS WE
CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS SPONSOR
OF THIS AMENDMENT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAVE A
VERBAL AMENDMENT TO THE
UNDERLYING COUNCIL BILL 120912,
NOW CALLED AMENDMENT SEVEN. I
WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD
THIS AMENDMENT THAT WAS
CIRCULATED TO THE FLOOR VIA
EMAIL AT 10:25 A.M. TODAY.
EVERYONE WAS PROVIDED A HARD
COPY. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH AN ORAL AMENDMENT
. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, I
MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO
ALLOW FOR A VERBAL AMENDMENT TO
BE HEARD FOR COUNCIL BILL
120912.
>> COLLEAGUES, IT HAS BEEN
REQUESTED TO SUSPEND THE RULES
. I WILL ASK FOR A VOTE ON THE
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. AT
THIS TIME, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
SUSPENDING THE RULES REGARDING
WALK ON AMENDMENT ? COLLEAGUES,
I WILL BE VOTING NO SIMPLY OUT
OF A PROCEDURAL STEP. THE SAME
COMMENTS I MADE LAST WEEK APPLY
TO TODAY. I SUPPORT YOUR WORK,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. TO SUPPORT
WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON HERE,
JUST PROCEDURALLY, I'M SAYING
NO. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> NO.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED.
>> I AM SEEING NOW THAT IT
FEELS BECAUSE SUSPENDING THE
RULES REQUIRES TWO THIRDS
MAJORITY. ANYONE ON THE
PREVAILING SIDE WANT TO RECALL
THEIR VOTE? PROVIDING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO RECALL THE VOTE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> I DIDN'T FEEL TOO STRONGLY
ABOUT MY KNOW. I AM FINE
SWITCHING IT TO ALLOW FOR THIS
TO GO FORWARD.
>> THINK IT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE MOTION YOU WOULD MAKE HIS
POINT OF ORDER. I WOULD LIKE TO
-- I WILL ACTUALLY TURN IT OVER
TO THE CLERK.
>> IF THERE IS UNANIMOUS
CONSENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON MAY CHANGE HER VOTE .
>> IF THERE IS UNANIMOUS
CONSENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT MAY
CHANGE HER VOTE. ANY
OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO
OBJECTIONS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HAS CHANGED HER VOTE. THE
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES PASSES.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I NOW MOVE
AMENDMENT SEVEN TO COUNCIL BILL
120912.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. CENTRAL STAFF, CAN
YOU PLEASE BRIEF US? I WILL SAY
THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
REVIEW THIS BILL BECAUSE I HAVE
BEEN FACILITATING THIS
CONVERSATION. I WILL BE VOTING
NO. BUT OVER TO YOU, CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> THE MEAT OF THE AMENDMENT IS
IN SECTION D ON THE ALLOCATION
OF RESOURCES. IT WOULD DEDICATE
55 -- STARTING IN 20 SUNDAY
SEVEN -- 2027, 55% FOR
AFFORDABLE HAZING AND THE
REMAINING -- HOUSING AND THE
REMAINING ALLOCATED TO THE
OTHER ELIGIBLE USES WITH THESE
PERCENTAGES AS GUYS, BUT NOT
CONSTRAINTS. -- GUIDES, BUT NOT
CONSTRAINTS. 55% DEDICATED TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING . WITH
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON THE
GENERAL FUND UNLESS THE
RESOURCES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY,
THE 45% WERE DIRECTED
SIGNIFICANTLY THAT WAY.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. I TOO CAN READ
THE ROOM A LITTLE BIT LATE. I
WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON
THIS, BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST,
AGAIN, ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO GIVE
THE GUARDRAIL OF 55% TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT ALSO TO
MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE
PERCENTAGES, I THINK AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT EXPRESSED SOME
CONCERN, THAT WE MIGHT LOSE
TRACK OF THOSE ADDITIONAL
JUMPSTART FUNDING PRIORITIES .
THIS IS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT
THOSE PERCENTAGES REMAIN, AND
THAT ANY DECISION SHOULD BE
GUIDED BY THOSE PERCENTAGES SO
WE MAINTAIN THOSE COMMITMENTS
TO THE EXTENT WE CAN WITH THE
OVERALL FLEXIBILITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COLLEAGUES, FURTHER
DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION.
QUESTION FOR CENTRAL STAFF AND
THE AMENDMENT SPONSOR,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I WOULD BE
CURIOUS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE DELTA DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN
A PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE THAT WE JUST VOTED ON
FROM EACH OF YOUR PERSPECTIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER -- THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I WILL ASK
CENTRAL STAFF AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TO DESCRIBE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE US TODAY.
>> AMENDMENT THREE WAS CLEAR
THAT THE REMAINING SHARE , 55%
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND 45% OF
THE GENERAL FUND, THAT WAS THE
SPECIFIC USE , THEREFORE,
MINIMIZING THE IMPACT ON THE
OVERALL DEFICIT. AS WRITTEN,
THIS WOULD NOT -- THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD NOT PRECLUDE
THE USE OF THE ADDITIONAL 45%
FOR GENERAL FUND IT IS WRITTEN
IN SUCH A WAY WOULD NOT
PRECLUDE THAT. THE 55% GOES TO
HOUSING. THE 45% IS AVAILABLE
FOR OTHER USES. THE LANGUAGE
HERE IS PERMISSIVE IN GUIDING,
BUT NOT CONSTRAINING, THE USE
BACK TOWARDS THE ORIGINAL
JUMPSTART PRIORITIES. IT
NEEDN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THE OVERALL DEFICIT .
CERTAINLY NOT MORE THAN IN
AMENDMENT THREE, BUT IT COULD,
DEPENDING ON HOW THAT RESOURCES
ACTUALLY ALLOCATED.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> I CAN'T SAY IT BETTER THAN
HIM. THANK YOU.
>> AMEN TO THAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU
STILL HAVE THE FOUR.
>> THANK YOU, MISSED A. THAT IS
WHAT I SUSPECTED BASED OFF MY
QUICK READ. I TOO , LIKE YOU,
MR. CHAIR, I WASN'T
FACILITATED A MEETING, BUT WE
ARE LIVE ON THE SPOT. I
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO A
DEEP DIVE REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
OF THE AMENDMENT. THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH EVERYTHING I
HEARD, CONSISTENT WITH MY QUICK
GLANCE AND STUDY OF THE
PROPOSAL. FOR THOSE REASONS, I
AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ONE .
I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
COUNCIL TO INSERT SOME SORT OF
GUARDRAILS OVER THE PROCESS .
YOU CAN'T BE SUPERDUPER
PRESCRIPTIVE ON EVERYTHING, BUT
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRAW THE
LINE SOMEWHERE, I WOULD AGREE
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOORE THAT
IT SHOULD BE ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
HAS SHOWN HERSELF TO BE A TRUE
CHAMPION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND TENANTS RIGHTS AND
SERVICES, AND I APPRECIATE YOU.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THE FRAMING
HERE. I THINK THIS STRIKES A
BETTER BALANCE BASED OFF
EVERYTHING THAT I AM SEEING
BETWEEN PRESERVING FLEXIBILITY
DOWN THE ROAD, PRESERVING OUR
CITY UP HIS FREEDOM TO OPERATE
GOING FORWARD, AND ALSO MAKING
SURE THAT WE MUST FUND AT A
CERTAIN THRESHOLD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND THEN IMPOSING
GUIDELINES ON THOSE OTHER
CATEGORIES OF AUTHORIZED
SPENDING, THOSE OTHER
AUTHORIZED SPENDING CATEGORIES.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS
GOT ME OVER THE HUMP ON THE
OTHER ISSUE. I APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> SO WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS
THAT WE CAN STILL FUND THE
OTHER PRIORITIES, WE JUST
DON'T KNOW BY HOW MUCH OR
WHICH ONES . AM I CORRECT IN
UNDERSTANDING THAT ?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL
ASK DIRECTOR NOBLE TO RESPOND.
>> I THINK THAT IS CORRECT,
YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU STILL
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> OKAY, AND THIS WOULD GO INTO
EFFECT IN 2027?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY. MY EDUCATION WORKING
THROUGH A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING , MANY OF
THESE PROJECTS TAKE MANY YEARS
TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THERE IS A HALF $1 BILLION CASH
RESERVE IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS
TAKE SO LONG TO GET OUT THE
DOOR. I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR
NOT A DECISION TO DECREASE THE
, TO MIX THE FORMULA WILL
IMPACT THE GETTING OUT THE DOOR
OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, AND
ALSO DO THE SAME IN THE SAME
SPIRIT THE EDI PROJECTS THAT
HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE MONEY
ALLOCATED FOR THEM , AND THAT
COULD CREATE SOME PROBLEMS IN
THEIR EFFORTS TO ACCESS
FINANCING AND FISCAL --
PHYSICAL LOCATIONS. THE SAME
THING WITH SOME OF THE GREEN
NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS, WHICH
TAKE A WHILE TO GET OFF THE
GROUND AS WELL WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT GREEN TECHNOLOGY
INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOME OF OUR
PUBLIC PLACES, LIKE COMMUNITY
CENTERS. I HAVE LEARNED FROM
OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT THESE
THINGS TAKE TIME. WONDERING
WHAT A CHANGE IN ALLOCATION OF
FUNDING FOR THOSE EXPENSES OR
THOSE EXPENSE AREAS WILL THEN
CREATE MORE CONFUSION ABOUT THE
ABILITY OF AWARDS BEING SEEN
THROUGH FRUITION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. DID YOU NEED A
RESPONSE FROM CENTRAL STAFF? ON
THE LAST PART OF THAT?
>> NOPE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE I UNDERSTOOD SO I CAN MAKE
THAT POINT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I WILL
RECOGNIZE YOU TO RESPOND TO ANY
OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE SPONSOR.
>> OKAY. PART OF THE OBJECTION
, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING IS THAT THEY
HAVE A LOT OF MONEY SITTING,
AND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT
MONEY IS NOT GOING OUT FAST
ENOUGH. AND SO, PART OF THIS
SLI IS TO LOOK AT HOW, YOU
KNOW, TO COME UP WITH A FIVE
YEAR PLAN . SO I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT SETTING IT AT 55%, WHICH
IS A LITTLE BIT , 7% LOWER THAN
WHAT IT IS NOW, IS GOING TO
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE
ABILITY TO GET THE MONEY THAT
IS SITTING THERE OUT THE DOOR,
OR SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT ONGOING
FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN,
THAT IS THE BASELINE. WE CAN
ALWAYS BUMP IT UP IF WE NEED
TO. WE ARE JUST SAYING YOU
CAN'T GO BELOW 55%. IN TERMS
OF THE OTHER ISSUES, THE REASON
I THINK THIS IS A BETTER BILL
THAN THE BASE BILL SENT TO US
BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE
BASE BILL SETS NO PERCENTAGES.
IT SETS NO GUIDELINES. THE BASE
BILL SAYS PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
PROCEEDS MAY BE ALLOCATED
CONSISTENT WITH RCW 3532 TO
SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CITY
ACTIVITIES. IT GOES THROUGH THE
JUMPSTART SPENDING PARTIES.
ADMINISTRATION, HOUSING AND
SERVICES, EDI, INVESTMENTS IN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY
PLANNING EFFORTS. IT KEEPS THE
CATEGORIES, SETS ABSOLUTELY NO
GUIDELINES ABOUT WHAT THE
PERCENTAGES SHOULD BE . UNLIKE
THIS BILL, WHICH IS AN
AMENDMENT TO THE BILL THAT
ACTUALLY SETS FORTH GUIDELINES
THAT ARE CONSISTENT REMAIN ,
THEY ARE THE SAME GAVE --
GUIDELINES WE HAVE CURRENTLY
SET THAT ARE MANDATORY. YOU
HAVE MORE CERTAINTY ABOUT HOW
MUCH MONEY SHOULD BE GOING IN
THIS BILL THAN WE WOULD WITH
THE UNDERLYING BASE BILL. ALL
THE GUIDELINES ARE REMOVED. IF
THAT IS A CONCERN, I FEEL LIKE
THIS GIVES YOU A BETTER SENSE
OF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE GOAL
WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN. THAT WOULD
BE MY
>> JUST GOING TO POINT OF ORDER
FOR CLARIFICATION THAT THE
MAYOR'S BILL WAS TRANSMITTED
TO US. THE BILL BEFORE US IS
TECHNICALLY THE BASE BILL,
WHICH HAS PERCENTAGES INCLUDED
IN IT, BECAUSE THE BASE WILL BE
FOR US IS THE CHAIR'S VERSION.
THE BILL TRANSMITTED WAS THE
MAYOR'S VERSION, JUST
CLARIFYING THAT FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE
FLOOR IS ALL YOURS.
>> MAY BE ANOTHER QUESTION WILL
HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT
BETTER, SO GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY. WELL, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, YOU'RE NO DONE FOR
THE MOMENT. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
RAISED HER HAND TO SPEAK TO THE
ITEMS THAT YOU HAD RAISED,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THEREFORE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU ARE
NEXT. WOULD YOU LIKE THE FLOOR?
>> YES, FANTASTIC. FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHAT THIS
IS DOING IS STARTING IN 27 WE
ARE SEEING 55% OF JUMPSTART
FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PIECE.
COUNCILMEMBER MAURA, YOU ARE
SHAKING YOUR HEAD YES SO THANK
YOU FOR CLARIFYING. I WILL SAY,
FOR THE REASONS I STATED
EARLIER, AS MUCH AS YOU KNOW,
AND YOU AND I HAVE HAD MANY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEED
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
CITY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
HAMSTRINGING US BY PUTTING THIS
PERCENTAGE DOWN, KNOWING THAT
WE WILL HAVE TWO, IN TWO YEARS,
LOOK AT JUMPSTART AGAIN, AND WE
DON'T KNOW TO WHAT LEVEL TO
FUND OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE
IMPORTANT ALSO IN OUR BUDGET,
THAT WE WON'T KNOW WHERE TO
FIND FUNDING FROM. SO YOU KNOW
IT'S A MATTER OF IF WE CAN
FUND THE OTHER SERVICES AND
DEDICATE 55% TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, OF COURSE, BUT I JUST
CAN'T SAY THAT TODAY,
DEFINITIVELY. WE DEFINITELY
SHOULD DO 55% TOWARD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IF WE KNOW WE HAVE
OTHER IMPORTANT HUMAN SERVICE
NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO PAY FOR,
AS WELL, AND FOR THOSE REASONS,
I'LL BE VOTING NO FOR THIS
BILL, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
AND RESPECT YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. WE GO LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION, LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION. ONCE I START
SPEAKING I WILL PASS IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND THERE
WILL BE NO -- I'M SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, IS THAT A
NEW HAND? NO WORRIES, JUST
TRYING TO MAKE SURE I DON'T
MISS ANYONE. LAST CALL. LAST
CALL POINT FINAL CALL AND
DISCUSSION . FINAL CALL ON
DISCUSSION. I WILL JUST SAY
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I
APPRECIATE THE CONTINUATION OF
THE CONVERSATION, AND SOMETHING
THAT I SHARED WITH YOU
YESTERDAY, I'M GOING TO SHARE
ON THE RECORD, IS THAT YOU ARE
A HOUSING CHAMPION AND WITHOUT
HAVING A HOUSING CHAMPION ON
OUR COUNCIL, IT DOES NOT
RECEIVE THE ATTENTION THAT IT
ABSOLUTELY NEEDS BECAUSE OF THE
DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT. AND
JUST FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART, THE DEEPEST APPRECIATION
FOR YOU. WE WOULD BE IN A WORSE
PLACE WITHOUT HAVING YOU HERE.
WITH THAT, I AM FROM A
PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, EVEN
THOUGH AS I VOTED TO ABSTAIN ON
THE LAST ONE, I WILL BE VOTING
NO TODAY BECAUSE OF MY COMMENTS
LAST WEEK ABOUT WALK ON
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ITEMS SEVEN,
COUNCIL BILL --
>> COUNCILMEMBER WE?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER DIBELLA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE, AND CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> NO .
>> TWO IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED,
AND ONE ABSTENTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
AMENDMENT DOES NOT PASS AND
WILL NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE
COUNCIL BILL. COLLEAGUES, WE
HAVE BEFORE US THE UNDERLYING
COUNCIL BILL 129012 AS AMENDED.
THIS IS FINAL DISCUSSION ON THE
BILL BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE
ALL SAID A LOT SO I DON'T HAVE
ANY ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION,
OTHER THAN TO SAY THIS WORK IS
NOT DONE. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO. WE WILL BE TAKING THIS WORK
UP, BOTH WITH THE REVIEW AT THE
BIENNIUM AND THE COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW FOR YOURS, AND SHOULD
COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE TO CONTINUE
THIS WORK DURING THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,
I WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST HAD
A QUICK CLARIFICATION. SO OF
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
SUBMITTED TO YOUR BASE BILL,
ONLY FOUR REINSTATING THE
SUNSET DATE PASTED, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING,
CORRECT. ONLY AMENDMENT NUMBER
FOUR, WHICH REINSTATED THE
SUNSET PASSED, SEE AN
ACROSS-THE-BOARD AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE
DISCUSSION. I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT WE CAN WAIT UNTIL 2029 TO
SOLVE OUR STRUCTURAL ISSUE. AS
I'VE SAID, WE SHOULD OF BEEN
REVIEWING OPTIONS ALL YEAR AND
ANY FINANCIAL PLANNER WILL TELL
YOU THAT YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON
ONE REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE BULK
OF YOUR EXPENSES. THAT'S
DANGEROUS. SO GIVEN THAT WE DID
ELIMINATE THE GUARD RAILS, WE
DID ELIMINATE THE OVERSIGHT OF
THIS FUND AND NOW WE ARE ALSO
SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO
SUNSET IT WHILE WE ARE
INCREASING OUR RELIANCE ON IT.
I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
DISCUSSION? LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION. ONCE I START
TALKING, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE.
LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL
CALL ON DISCUSSION. WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE TO A VOTE. ALL I
WILL SAY IS THAT THERE IS MORE
WORK TO DO. WE CANNOT FOREVER
RELY ON THE JUMPSTART TEXT FOR
GENERAL FUND USE. I THOUGHT
THAT I HAD PROPOSED A SOLUTION
TO THIS AND I CAN SEE THAT IT
HAS BEEN CHANGED BY THE WILL OF
THE COUNCIL. SO THIS TIME WITH
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON COUNCIL BILL 120912 AS
AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WE WILL.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES AND COUNCIL BILL
120912 WILL BE SENT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR FINAL ACTION.
COLLEAGUES, FIRST I'M GOING TO
TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE. WE'VE GOT RITA
HOLTZMAN IN THE AUDIENCE AS
WELL AS CHRIS AURILIA. YOU ARE
SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER. YOU
MIGHT BE NEW BEST FRIENDS. I AM
HERE TO SAY THAT RITA IS
PROBABLY MVP OF PUBLIC
COMMENTERS THIS YEAR, BOTH WITH
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY AND
WITH OUR BUDGET AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I KNOW THAT
YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH RITA HAS
BEEN EXTENSIVE SO I'M JUST
HERE SHOWING MY APPRECIATION. I
KNOW YOU DIDN'T SPEAK TODAY
BUT YOU ARE HERE AND CHRIS
AURILIA, WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, IS ALSO A
GREAT HUMAN BEING. THE TWO OF
YOU MIGHT JUST BE FRIENDS SO I
THOUGHT I'D MAKE THAT MENTION.
COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO MOVE
US ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. WE ARE
NOT TAKING LUNCH TODAY. WE ARE
GOING TO KEEP MOVING THROUGH IT
SO IF YOU NEED TO USE THE
RESTROOM OR GRAB A SNACK,
PLEASE DO SO AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE. WE HAVE TO HAVE
FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS APPEAR AT
ALL TIMES SO IF YOU NOTICE THAT
FOUR OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE
GONE, DON'T BE THE ONE TO
LEAVE, PLEASE . WITH THAT, WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT ITEM. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120916 RELATING
TO THE LEVY PROPERTY TAXES
AND/OR AMOUNTS OF TEXAS TO BE
LEVIED AND LEVIED THE SAME UPON
ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY PLUS REAL
AND PERSONAL FOR BREATHING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTES.
>> THANK YOU. CLERK, CAN I READ
BOTH ITEMS INTO THE RECORD
SIMULTANEOUSLY OR DO I NEED TO
READ THEM SEPARATELY?
>> SEPARATE VOTES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO I WILL REMOVE COUNCIL
BILL 120916 AND 120917. IS
THERE A SECOND? IT HAS MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL BILL 120906
AND 907. COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRIEF THE
BILL? AND IF WE COULD DO SO,
151 AND THEN THAT'S PRETTY
MUCH THIS -- YES, OVER TO YOU
BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SIMILAR.
>> OKAY. SO COUNCIL BILL 120906
IS THE ALSO KNOWN AS THE LONG
PROPERTY TAX ORDINANCE PER WHO
WOULD SET THE CITY'S PROPERTY
TAX RATE FOR 2025 TO PAY FOR
CITY GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES AND
TO PAY DEBT SERVICE ON VOTER
APPROVED BOND MEASURES.
INCREASES THE PROPERTY TAX BY
1% AS ALLOWED BY STATE STATUTE
AND AS ALLOWANCES FOR NEW
CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER
ALLOWABLE AMOUNTS AND SPECIFIES
DOLLAR AMOUNTS TO BE COLLECTED
FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES OF VOTER
APPROVED PEPPER DETECTS
MEASURES SUCH AS THE RECENTLY
PASSED 2024 SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, AND THIS
BILL ASSUMES $187 MILLION FOR
THAT FIRST YEAR OF COLLECTIONS,
AND THIS TRANSPORTATION LEVY IS
REPLACING THE EXPIRING MOVE
SEATTLE LEVY.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS
IS A PRETTY STANDARD PIECE OF
ACTION THAT IS DONE EVERY YEAR,
THAT IS ADJUSTED BASED UPON 1%
INCREASE OF ALLOWABLE USES AND
ANY CHANGES TO OUR LEVEES. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL
STAFF AT THIS TIME? SEE NONE,
I'M ALSO GOING TO MOVE SLOWLY
BECAUSE I GAVE EVERYONE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE RESTROOM
AND HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE TAKE ME
UP ON THAT OFFER. SO ACTUALLY I
THINK WHAT WE WILL DO IS ONCE
WE TAKE THIS VOTE I'M GOING TO
TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO BE
HUMAN AND THEN WE ARE JUST
GOING TO COME BACK. I'M
ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THAT NOW,
IF THAT WORKS.
>> WOULD LIKE TO WAIT FOR THE
TWO MEMBERS TO RETURN, TAKE A
RECESS, OR WE CAN ALL LEAVE THE
DAIS AND COME BACK AT THE SAME
TIME.
>> WE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
WILL NOW BE AT EASE AND WE WILL
LIKELY BE OUT OF EASE IN ABOUT
3 TO 5 MINUTES. WE ARE JUST IN
EASE.
>> TO BE AT EASE WOULD BE TO
REFRAIN, TO STAY IN CHAMBERS
FOR TWO RECESS WOULD MEAN THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY LEAVE CHAMBERS
IF WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
>> SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE IS
NOW AT EASE FOR COLLEAGUES FOR
ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
>> [ MUSIC ]
[ MUSIC ]
>> [ MUSIC ]
>> COMMITTEE, WHAT IS THE
ACTUAL PROPER TERM FOR BEING
OUT OF EASE? THERE'S AN ORDER
AT EASE AND WHAT'S THE OTHER
IN RESPONSE, TO BE OUT OF EASE?
ATTENTION. JUST ATTENTION.
>> 10 HUT.
>> ATTENTION ON THE DAIS. WITH
THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
BRIEFED BOTH COUNCIL BILLS.
I'M GOING TO MOVE -- BOTH HAVE
BEEN MOVED. I PUT US AT EASE,
HOPING TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS
RETURNED BEFORE THE VOTE. THAT
HAS NOT HAPPENED AT THIS TIME.
YOU ARE WATCHING ME SPEAK VERY
SLOWLY. WE HAVE ONE MORE. DO
YOU KNOW HOW FAR BEHIND YOUR
COMPANION IS? I AM GOING TO
SLOW -- COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE TAX
BILLS? SEE NONE, I AM SLOWLY
GOING TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> YES. COULD I JUST HAVE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE ARE
VOTING ON?
>> SURE. BACK TO CENTRAL STAFF,
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US ANOTHER
BRIEFING, JUST TO BRING US
BACK.
>> THE WAY PROPERTY TAXES WORK
IS THAT -- AND THIS APPLIES TO
PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE GENERAL
FUND AND LEVEES, THAT EACH YEAR
THE CITY TELLS THE ASSESSOR,
HOW MUCH REVENUE DO WE WANT TO
COLLECT AND THAT AMOUNT IS
CONSTRAINED BY STATE LAW TO BE
NO MORE THAN 1% THAN THE AMOUNT
BEFORE, AND IN GENERAL THE
LEVEES ARE WRITTEN SO THEY ARE
OFTEN QUOTED AS BEING
EX-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OVER
A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS THEY
ACTUALLY SET THIS PRECISE
AMOUNT EACH YEAR SO THE TWO
ORDINANCES ESSENTIALLY DO THE
SAME THING, WHICH IS TO SET
THOSE AMOUNTS. SO YOU ARE
DETERMINING THE EXACT PROPERTY
TAX AMOUNTS COLLECTED FOR THE
GENERAL FUND AND FOR THE
LEVEES. THESE REVENUES AT THE
LEVELS THESE ORDINANCES ARE IN
THE BUDGET. THERE ARE TWO
ORDINANCES THAT DO THIS, WHICH
IS PART OF STATE LAW,
APPARENTLY, AND YOU ARE
REQUIRED TO DO THE SECOND ONE,
THE SHORT ONE, AS WELL. IT IS
NOT IN SUBSTANCE. TO PICK THE
AMENDMENT MAY NOT HAVE THE
DETAIL BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S
HAPPENING. THAT'S WHAT'S
GOING ON.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS? WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL
BILL 120906 ?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WE?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. CHAIR
STRAUSS. NINE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED
>> THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES.
COUNCIL BILL 120906 IS
RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE
CITY COUNCIL. COLLEAGUES, I
HAVE ALREADY MOVED, IT IS
ALREADY MOVED AND SECONDED FOR
COUNCIL BILL 12007. I WILL ASK
THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120907.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WE WILL.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> 12007 WILL BE SENT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR. CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM FOUR
INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM NUMBER 412-0905
ADOPTING A BUDGET INCLUDING A
CAPITAL PROGRAM AND POSITION
MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR 2025 AND CREATING
POSITIONS EXEMPT FROM CIVIL
SERVICE, LIKE TWO THIRDS VOTE
OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE AND QUICK
CORRECTION, CHAIR, THIS WAS
MOVED AND SECONDED AND AMENDED
AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS AT THIS
POINT. THE FINAL ACTION WOULD
BE JUST TO TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON
THE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, I
WILL ASK CENTRAL STAFF TO BRIEF
US ON WHAT IS BEFORE US BECAUSE
IT IS, FOR SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T
SEEN THIS BEFORE, MIGHT NOT
SEEM LIKE IT MAKES SENSE BUT IT
IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND
CRUCIAL TO PASSING A BUDGET.
WHEN WE GET TO THURSDAY, THIS
WILL BE THE TIME YOU WANT TO
SPEAK TO THE BUDGET. JUST NOW
BEING PREPARED IN SPEAKING AT
THIS POINT. WITH THAT, DIRECTOR
AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COULD YOU
WALK US THROUGH AT THE MOMENT,
I'LL TAKE DISCUSSION AND THEN
WE'LL TAKE A VOTE?
>> YES, HAPPY TO DO THAT.
COUNCIL BILL 120905 IS THE 2025
BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE. THE
KEY ASPECTS OF THIS ORDINANCE
ARE ATTACHMENTS LETTER A AND B,
WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED
YET, PENDING THE VOTE OF THIS
COMMITTEE. SO JUST NOTING FOR
THE PUBLIC. ATTACHMENT LETTER A
SHOWS THE CHANGES TO
APPROPRIATIONS BY A BUDGET
CONTROL LEVEL FOR THE ENTIRE
CITY AND NOTES THE MAYOR HAS
PROPOSED AND THEN THE COUNCIL
CHANGES AND EVERYONE CAN SEE
WHAT WAS TRANSMITTED, WHAT THE
COUNCIL MADE CHANGES TO AND
WHAT SOME OF THOSE CHANGES ARE.
ATTACHMENT B JUST SHOWS ANY
CHANGES TO POSITION, SO
ADDITIONS, REMOVALS OF
PERMANENT POSITIONS. SO THAT IS
ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. SO SAID IN
ANOTHER WAY, THIS IS FOR
POSTERITY TO SEE THE TRACK
CHANGES, SO THAT WE HAVE THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IN THE CLERK
FILE. WE HAVE THE COUNCIL
CHANGES TO THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL AND THEN WE HAVE THE
FINAL ACTION THAT'S ADOPTED.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ? LET
ME ASK THE QUESTION. I'VE
HEARD YOU SAY THESE THINGS SO
MANY TIMES. I CAN'T REMEMBER.
DID YOU GET TO THE CIP, THE
CLERK FILE ON THAT RESOLUTION?
>> I DID NOT SAY. DID YOU WANT
ME TO TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE
ITEMS?
>> IF YOU COULD GIVE EVERYONE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW. I'VE GOT IT IN
MY HEAD.
>> HAPPY TO DO THAT. SO A
SEPARATE PIECE OF ITEM ON THE
AGENDA IS THE CLERK FILES
314539. SO THIS ACTUALLY
CONTAINS ALL OF THE COUNCIL
BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, THAT WERE
ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE, AND
THAT IS -- THAT WILL BE 151
SEPARATE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, SO
THAT WILL BE THE WRITEUPS THAT
YOU ALL WORKED WITH CENTRAL
STAFF ON DEVELOPING AND THAT
WERE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, AND
WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE VOTE
TALLIES FOR EACH. SO AGAIN, FOR
POSTERITY. SO THE PUBLIC CAN
SEE WHO VOTED, HOW, ON EACH OF
THE AMENDMENTS, AS WELL AS THE
FULL DESCRIPTION AND THE
TRANSACTIONS IN EACH OF THOSE
BUDGET AMENDMENTS. SO THAT'S
CLARIFIED 314539. THAT IS
CURRENTLY EMPTY BEFORE YOU
BECAUSE IT IS ALSO PENDING A
VOTE OF THIS COMMITTEE, AND
ONCE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY
THE COMMITTEE, IT WILL BE
POPULATED BY ALL THE ITEMS, AS
I DISCUSSED, AND THEN FINALLY
THERE IS A -- BECAUSE IT IS A
BIENNIAL BUDGET, WE HAVE A 2026
BUDGET ENDORSEMENT RESOLUTION,
AND AGAIN, IT'S A RESOLUTION
SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT
FROM AN ORDINANCE BUT IT WILL
BE -- IT REPRESENTS THE
BASELINE OF WHAT WILL BE
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR NEXT
YEAR, AND THIS ENDORSEMENT
RESOLUTION HAS TWO ATTACHMENTS
SIMILAR TO THE BUDGET ADOPTION
ORDINANCE, AND ATTACHMENT A AND
ATTACHMENT B , SAME GENERAL
IDEA BUT FOR 2026 INSTEAD OF
2025.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THIS IS, COLLEAGUES, WHERE --
WHY WE CANNOT AMEND THE BUDGET
ANYMORE AFTER TODAY. WE DO,
WE'LL BE BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.
IT'S NOT SORRY, THAT'S NOT A
THREAT. THAT'S JUST A REALITY.
LIKE HERE WE ARE. SO WHEN WE
PASS THIS, WHEN WE FINISH OUR
ACTIONS TODAY, THESE DOCUMENTS
WILL BE FILLED IN BECAUSE ONLY
ONCE WE PASS THESE BILLS OUT OF
COMMITTEE, IS OUR ACTIONS
FINALIZED, SO IT'S JUST WHERE
WE ARE TODAY. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS? THIS IS THE
DISCUSSION PERIOD OF COUNCIL
BILL 120905. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA 2
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHAT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA FOR
TODAY IS NOT -- I DON'T SEE
THE LIST OF THE CHANGES THAT WE
MADE. SO WAS THAT INCLUDED IN
OUR AGENDA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN
THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT CAN ONLY
BE POPULATED ONCE IT IS PASSED
OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE.
>> SO NOT EVEN FOR SHOW, JUST
TO SHOW?
>> OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THE LIST OF ITEMS YOU VOTED
ON PREVIOUSLY THIS WEEK, ALL
THE ONES THAT WERE APPROVED
WOULD BE INSERTED INTO THE
CLERK FILE TAKE ON THURSDAY.
>> YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> COLLEAGUES, OTHER
DISCUSSION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> JUST TO CLARIFY ATTACHMENT
LETTER A THAT ONLY SHOWS ONE
COLUMN WITH COSTS, AND THAT IS
THE BILL THAT WE RECEIVED FROM
THE MAYOR, IS THAT THE POINT?
>> CENTRAL STAFF?
>> YES, WE RECEIVED WITH THE
MAYOR PROPOSED AND THE BUDGET
ATTACHMENT A FLEX THE BUDGET
THAT THE MAYOR PROPOSED. SO
ONCE YOU ALL VOTE ON APPROVING
COUNCIL BILL 120 905 AS
AMENDED, THEN IT WILL REFLECT
THE COUNCIL'S CHANGES. SO
AGAIN, ON THURSDAY THAT WILL
APPEAR WITH THE CHANGES.
>> THANK YOU. FURTHER
DISCUSSION?
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I KNOW
THIS IS ALL A LOT. THIS IS
ALWAYS A REALLY QUICK PROCESS.
WE HAVE SIX-EIGHT WEEKS, 10
WEEKS MAYBE TO DO SOMETHING
THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS ALL YEAR
TO DO. THAT SAID, BECAUSE WE
HAVE HAD SO MUCH CHANGE IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF COMMITTEE
MEETINGS, I DO NEED A COUPLE
DAYS TO UNDERSTAND THIS, SO I
WILL BE ABSTAINING ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COLLEAGUES? FURTHER
DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION
FINAL. FINAL DISCUSSION? THIS
IS A PROCEDURAL VOTE THIS TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER?
>> SORRY, JUST ONE QUESTION. SO
WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT
THE LOBBY FOR OUR VOTE ON
THURSDAY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS,
UNLIKELY TO BE THE SAME MODEL
BEADED.
>> WE WILL TALK TO CENTRAL
STAFF. AND THIS IS AGAIN FROM A
PROCESS STANDPOINT WHY THERE
ARE PARAMETERS ON WHAT WE CAN
BE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IS ENSURING
ACCURACY. SO IF THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ACCURATE
FOR THURSDAY, WE WILL MAKE THAT
CHANGE, AND THAT IS PART OF WHY
WE HAVE TO VOTE IT OUT OF
COMMITTEE TODAY. THERE IS TIME
IN BETWEEN AND THEN WE TAKE
FINAL ACTION. SO TODAY'S
MEETING WILL FEEL MUCH LIKE
THURSDAY'S MEETING. BUT IT'S
KIND OF DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, IF YOU FIND
A FORK IN THE ROAD, TAKE IT.
WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, ANY
FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER
DISCUSSION, FINAL DISCUSSION,
LAST CALL AND WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL
120905 AS ADOPTED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MAC.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO
ABSTENTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION PASSES
AND COUNCIL BILL 12005 WILL BE
SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER FIVE INTO THE RECORD.
>> 314 539, COUNCIL CHANGES TO
BE 2025-2026 PROPOSED BUDGET IN
THE 2025-2030 PROPOSED CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND
DEPUTY DIRECTOR. THIS IS WHERE
I DIDN'T READ MY SCRIPT WHEN I
WAS GOING OVER YOUR POWERPOINT.
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN BRIEFED. 31
4549, IS THERE FURTHER
DISCUSSION ON THIS CLERK FILE?
ALL RIGHT, THEN I AM GOING TO
MOVE. I NEED A SECOND END I'M
JUST GOING TO ASK US TO GO
STRAIGHT INTO THE VOTING. I
MOVE CLERK FILE 41 4539. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS SECONDED. COLLEAGUES,
LAST CHANCE ON DISCUSSION. LAST
CALL. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION.
FINAL CALL. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON CLERK
FILE 314539?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WILL ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> WE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM
NUMBER SIX. ITEM NUMBER SIX HAS
BEEN BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE,
READ ITEM NUMBER SIX INTO THE
RECORD?
>> FILE WAS APPROVED.
>> THE CLERK FILE WAS APPROVED
AND WILL BE SENT TO CITY
COUNCIL. THANK YOU AMELIA
SANCHEZ. MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER SIX, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER SIX?
>> AGENDA ITEM 6, RESOLUTION
32153 ENDORSING A BUDGET AND
POSITION MODIFICATIONS FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR 2026, FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL MOVE
RESOLUTION 32153. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
32153. I HAVE TOM MIKE SO
COMING UP HERE. JUST BRIEFLY
I'LL ASK FOR THE SLIGHTLY
DEEPER DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD
BEFORE. COLLEAGUES, THIS
RESOLUTION IS ESSENTIALLY THE
SECOND. IT LAYS OUT THE SECOND
YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM. DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD
AT THIS TIME? SEEN NOTHING FROM
YOU, COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, DISCUSSION.
COLLEAGUES, DISCUSSION?
COLLEAGUES, DISCUSSION. LAST
CALL ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL
ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL ON
DISCUSSION. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
RESOLUTION 32153.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HI.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS. NINE IN
FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE RESOLUTION
PASSES AND WILL BE SENT TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. MOVING ON
TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WE WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 7, COUNCIL BILL
120908 IMPOSING EXCISE TAX ON
THE SALE OR EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN
CAPITAL ASSETS IN SEATTLE,
ADDING NEW CHAPTER 5 POINT 66
TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
BREATHING, DISCUSSION IT IS
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE
YOUR BILL? IF YOU ARE NOT READY
TO I'LL GET YOU FOR IT. I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSAGE FOR COUNCIL BILL
120908. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED TO BE SECONDED, I'M
GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF FOR A
BRIEFING AND THEN TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AS THE
SPONSOR, AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK
FOR A PROCEDURAL QUESTION RIGHT
NOW. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO BRIEF
BOTH HILLS AT ONCE OR ONE BY
ONE?
>> BOTH I THINK IS FINE.
>> OKAY, THEN I WILL ALSO MOVE
COUNCIL BILL 120909. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> BOTH BILLS HAVE BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. WE WILL VOTE ON
THEM EVENTUALLY. OVER TO
CENTRAL STAFF AND BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS AND
GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. TOM MIKE CELL WITH
CENTRAL STAFF. WE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT TWO BILLS RELATED TO THE
SAME, SIMILAR TOPIC GO FIRST IS
COUNCIL BILL 120908, WHICH
WOULD IMPOSE A LOCAL CAPITAL
GAINS EXCISE TAX. SO THE
PRESENTATION I HAVE THIS
MORNING'S ABBREVIATED VERSION
OF WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK.
ESSENTIALLY THIS TAX MIRRORS
THE STATE'S TAX THAT WAS
PASSED IN 2021, THOUGH IT DOES
HAVE A DIFFERENT RATE OF 2%
VERSUS THE STATE'S RATE OF 7%.
THE EXCISE TAX WOULD APPLY TO
LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAINS AND THE
SALE OF NONEXEMPT CAPITAL
ASSETS AFTER A $262 STANDARD
DEDUCTION IS APPLIED SO THE
STANDARD DEDUCTION WAS
ORIGINALLY $250,000 IN THE
STATE'S BILL AND IT HAS SINCE
BEEN INFLATED. THE CITIES
PROPOSED EXCISE TAX WOULD HAVE
A SIMILAR INFLATION PROCESS TO
KEEP IN PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH
THE STATE'S BILL FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCIES.
SOME FORMS OF CAPITAL GAINS
WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THIS TAX.
MOST IMPORTANT, REAL ESTATE
SALES AND SALES WITHIN
RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS WOULD BE
EXEMPT. ALSO, EXEMPTIONS WOULD
INCLUDE CONDEMNATIONS,
LIVESTOCK SALES, FISH AND
TIMBER AND AUCTION SALES. THIS
TAX WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY
1st OF 2026. THE FIRST DOLLARS
IN THE DOOR WOULD BE APRIL OF
2027. SO IN TERMS OF THE
REVENUE THAT WOULD BE GAINED
FROM THIS TAX, THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC AND REVENUE FORECASTS
OF THE CITY ESTIMATED A RANGE
OF ANYWHERE FROM $16
MILLION-$51 MILLION FROM THIS
TAX IN 2027. THE OFFICE DID
NOTE THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF
UNCERTAINTY IN THIS TAX BECAUSE
IT IS GENERATED FROM A VERY
SMALL BASE OF TAXPAYERS,
APPROXIMATELY 163 TAXPAYERS IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE PAID THE
TAX, PAID 2023 OBLIGATIONS FOR
THE TAX, 85% FROM THAT BASE AND
THAT THEY -- BECAUSE OF THAT
UNCERTAINTY, THE ANNUAL REVENUE
OF THE TAX COULD IN FACT
FLUCTUATE BEYOND THE RANGE THAT
WAS PROVIDED IN THAT $16
MILLION-$51 MILLION A YEAR. IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THIS
WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, LIKE
ALL OTHER CITY TAXES. THE FAS
ESTIMATES THE ONE TIME STARTUP
COST WOULD BE $1 MILLION AND
THAT ONGOING COST OF
IMPLEMENTATION WOULD BE $1.2
MILLION PER YEAR. THEY DID
INDICATE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN
18 TO 24 MONTH TIMELINE TO
IMPLEMENT THE TAX, WHICH IS
CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CITY
TAXES. AND FINALLY THAT IS JUST
A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF THE COST
WOULD BE REFINED THROUGH BUDGET
REQUESTS AND I WOULD JUST MOVE
INTO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH
IS THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THAT
WOULD BE GENERATED FROM THE TAX
US COUNCIL
BILL 120909 WOULD EARMARK
REVENUE FROM THE CAPITAL GAINS
EXCISE TAX TO RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, TO RENT BURDENED
HOUSEHOLDS, DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS AND
FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FOOD
INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS. AND IT
ALSO STATES COUNCIL'S INTENT
TO FURTHER DETAIL THE
CELEBRATIONS THROUGH EITHER
SEPARATE LEGISLATION OR FUTURE
BUDGET PROCESSES. AND THAT IN A
NUTSHELL, THOSE TWO BILLS, I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ON THE
SPONSOR OF THE BILLS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, TOM, FOR THE
PRESENTATION. SO I GUESS THE
FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO SAY
IS BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED
FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS WITH SORT
OF BEING BROKEN UP INTO TWO
GROUPS, ONE, THE GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO BASICALLY
DON'T BELIEVE IN ADDITIONAL
TAXING OR REVENUE. I BELIEVE
THAT WE SHOULD LIVE WITHIN OUR
MEANS AND DO A BETTER JOB WITH
THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US? TO
THAT I WOULD SAY I RESPECT THAT
POINT OF VIEW BUT I DISAGREE
WITH IT. I ALSO WOULD SAY THAT
ALL OF US UP HERE MADE A
COMMITMENT TO TAKE A VERY HARD
LOOK AT THE BUDGET THAT WAS
GOING TO BE SUBMITTED TO US,
AND REALLY LOOK AT WAYS TO FIND
EFFICIENCIES, WAYS TO MAKE
CUTS, AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
OF CHAIR STRAUSS, AND WITH THE
INCREDIBLE WORK OF OUR CENTRAL
STAFF, AND ALSO WITH EACH OF US
IN OUR CAPACITY AS CHAIR FOR
THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS,
WE, I THINK, HAVE TAKEN AN
UNPRECEDENTED DEEP LOOK AND DIE
THAT THE CITY'S BUDGET, AND I
FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE
PROCESS WE HAVE ENGAGED IN, IN
DOING SO. I THINK ONE THING
THAT WAS REVEALED THROUGH THAT
DEEP ANALYSIS IS TWO THINGS.
ONE, THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT
TO BE CUT. THERE IS DEFINITELY
ROOM FOR EFFICIENCY AND
IMPROVEMENTS AND I THINK THIS
COUNCIL HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF
BRINGING FORWARD SLIDES AND
OTHER AMENDMENTS TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. I THINK WE FOUND THAT
THERE'S NOT A LOT TO CUT AND
WE ARE ALSO -- THERE'S NOT A
LOT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY
PREPARED TO CUT, AND I THINK
THAT THAT COMES DOWN TO THE
FACT THAT WE ARE -- ALL OF US
UP HERE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN
A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND
AMENITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN
THE CITY. AND WE ARE NOT SLASH
AND BURN, BY ANY MEANS, SO THAT
DOES LEAVE US AT THE POINT
WHERE WE NEED ADDITIONAL
REVENUE. I THINK THAT'S ALSO
BECOME VERY CLEAR IN OUR
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT UTILIZING
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX TO ADDRESS
GENERAL FUND DEFICITS. THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT
-- SORRY, AND THEN TO THE OTHER
PIECE, THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO
HAVE REACHED OUT WITH CONCERNS
AND SAY IF YOU PASS THIS TAX,
I'M GOING -- THIS EXCISE TAX,
I'M GOING TO LOSE MY HOME, OR
IN GOING TO LOSE MY BUSINESS,
OR I'M GOING TO BE RUN OUT OF
THE CITY. AND TO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS, I WANT TO BE VERY,
VERY CLEAR, THAT THIS IS NOT AN
INCOME TAX. WE ARE NOT TAXING
WAGES. WE ARE NOT TAXING
EARNINGS. THIS IS A FEE. IT'S
AN EXCISE FEE THAT WILL BE PAID
ONCE SOMEBODY HAD SOLD THEIR
STOCKS OR BONDS AND THEY HAVE
RECEIVED OVER $262,000 IN
PROFIT. THIS TAX, IF PASSED,
WOULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT, AT
MAXIMUM, 860 SEATTLE RESIDENTS
OUT OF OVER ALMOST 800,000
RESIDENTS. SO -- AND THERE'S
NO HIDDEN AGENDA TO SUDDENLY
MAKE THIS APPLICABLE TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE SELLING STOCKS AND
BONDS AND EARNING $100,000 ON A
PROFIT. THIS IS TO REMAIN
MARRIED TO THE STATE AND IF IT
PASSES IT WILL ALWAYS BE
MARRIED TO THE STATE BECAUSE IT
PROVIDES AN EASIER WAY FOR US
ADMINISTRATIVELY TO IMPLEMENT
THE TAX MONITOR TO COLLECT IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO TRY TO PUT TO
REST ANY PARTICULAR FEARS
REGARDING WE ARE COMING AFTER
THE SMALL POCKETBOOK. WE ARE
ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE ARE LOOKING
AT THE TOP 860 SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WHO MANAGED TO EARN
OVER $262,000 IN PROFIT ON THE
SALE OF A STOCK OR BOND, OR
OTHER FINANCIAL INVESTMENT,
EXCLUDING RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
EXCLUDING SALES OF HOMES AND
BUSINESSES, AND EVEN AUTO
DEALERSHIPS. SO THEN THE
QUESTION BECOMES, WELL, THIS IS
NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING A
TAX AND I GUESS I WOULD
STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT. I
THINK THE FACT THAT WE WERE
ENGAGED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO FILL
OUR GENERAL FUND DEFICITS, HOW
ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THE
STRUCTURAL CONCERNS OF OUR
BUDGET, IS AN APPROPRIATE TIME
FOR US TO BEGIN TO DISCUSS
LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL REVENUE
SOURCES, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT
OF PEOPLE COME AND TESTIFY
ABOUT THE NEED TO LOOK FOR
ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I WOULD
SAY THE INCOME TAX IS NOT
COMING. THE STATE LEGISLATURE,
LAST YEAR ONE OF THEM ADOPTED
INITIATIVE 21 -- LET ME LOOK AT
THE NUMBER HERE. ANYWAY, THEY
ADOPTED INITIATIVE THAT
PROHIBITS THE STATE AND THE
CITY AND MUNICIPALITIES FROM
IMPLEMENTING AN INCOME TAX.
THAT'S GOOD FOR TWO YEARS.
THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO COME
BACK AND REVIEW THAT. UNLIKELY
THAT THAT'S GOING TO GET
ADOPTED BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND UNLIKELY, THAT
IF IT WERE, THAT IT WOULDN'T
BE CHALLENGED. SO I THINK WE
CAN SAY THAT THAT WISHFUL
THINKING FOR THAT PARTICULAR
SOURCE OF REVENUE, EVEN IF WE
WOULD WANT TO PURSUE IT, IS NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN. SO WHERE DO WE
LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL SOURCES?
NOT NECESSARILY CERTAINLY AS A
SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE, NOT
NECESSARILY AS THE FULL SOURCE,
AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES MADE
COMMENTS, IT'S NOT WISE TO
LOOK AT ONLY ONE SOURCE TO FILL
ALL OF OUR VARIOUS BUDGETARY
NEEDS. WELL, WE HAD THE REVENUE
STABILIZATION WORK GROUP AND
THEY CAME UP WITH A LOT OF GOOD
IDEAS. BUT THEN IT TURNED OUT
THAT UPON CLOSER ANALYSIS, MANY
OF THOSE IDEAS HAD SERIOUS
LEGAL INSUFFICIENCIES AND
PROBLEMS . WE HAVE TWO IDEAS
THAT WERE PUT FORTH BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WHICH I
WAS HAPPY TO COSPONSOR, LOOKING
AT PROFESSIONAL TAXES AND
DIGITAL ADVERTISING TAX . IF
THOSE HAD BEEN PASSED, THEY
ALSO, TOO WOULD'VE BEEN
POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO LEGAL
CHALLENGE. SO THAT I THINK
EFFECTIVELY LEAVES US AT THE
CAPITAL GAINS EXCISE TAX. THIS
HAS BEEN -- IT WITHSTOOD LEGAL
CHALLENGE. IT'S BEEN UPHELD BY
THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME
COURT, AND AFTER THAT, IT
WITHSTOOD AN INITIATIVE
CHALLENGE, AND I WOULD NOTE
THAT 64% OF THE STATE VOTE
REAFFIRMED UPHOLDING THE
CAPITAL GAINS TAX. 85% OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE VOTE REAFFIRMED
UPHOLDING THE CAPITAL GAINS
TAX. THIS IS A TAX THAT'S
POPULAR IN THE EXCISE TAX
THAT'S POPULAR AND HAS
WITHSTOOD LEGAL AND POPULAR
CHALLENGE. AND SO I THINK THAT
THIS IS THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT
THIS DISCUSSION. THIS IS THE
EXCISE TAX THAT WE SHOULD BE
PURSUING, AND TO THE POINT THAT
IT WILL TAKE US UNTIL 2027 TWO
ACTUALLY HAVE ANY INCOME TO
ALLOCATE. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT
IT IS -- THERE'S CONCERN THAT
WE ARE GOING TO PUSH PEOPLE OUT
OF THE CITY IF WE IMPLEMENT
THIS. THAT WE MAY LOSE A FEW
PEOPLE. IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT
PEOPLE WILL ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE
IN TAX PLANNING STRATEGIES THAT
MAKE IT SO THAT THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE TO PAY THIS
EXCISE TAX ON EXCESSIVE
PROFITS, AND THAT'S KIND OF
WHAT WE SAW AT THE STATE LEVEL,
THAT MAY HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK
THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
SUFFICIENTLY TO DRY UP THE
MONEY, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE
AT A BASE $15 MILLION $.15
MILLION TO $61 MILLION $.15
MILLION CAN GET US A LOT OF
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. $50 MILLION
CAN GET US A LOT OF DOWN
PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. $15 MILLION
CAN HELP US KEEP A LOTS OF THE
9.7% HOUSEHOLDS IN KING COUNTY
WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, FED. SO
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT
WHAT'S THE BASE AMOUNT, AND
WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT, AND WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT AS A
SOCIAL SAFETY NET IN THE CITY
BUT WE CONTINUE TO SEE GLARING
INCOME INEQUALITY, WHICH IS
ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, GIVEN
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL. AND THE OTHER
THING I'LL POINT OUT IS WHERE
THIS RELATES TO OFTEN RELIES ON
THE SALE OF STOCKS AND BONDS.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT. THE ONE THING I CAN SAY
FOR SURE, THAT TRUMP IS GOING
TO PROTECT THE STOCKS AND BONDS
PROFIT. HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE
TANK THE STOCK MARKET, AND SO I
THINK WE CAN BE RELIANT UPON NO
MATTER WHAT SORT OF CRAZY
THINGS HE CHOOSES TO DO, HE'S
GOING TO LISTEN TO THE BANKERS.
HE'S GOING TO LISTEN TO THE
PEOPLE ON WALL STREET AND THE
STOCK MARKET IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO REMAIN STRONG, AND
SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT
BEING SO VOLATILE THAT WE
CAN'T RELY UPON IT. SO WE NEED
TO GET STARTED. WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE A SIGNIFICANT COUNCIL
CHAIR, STRAUSS CONTINUES TO
POINT OUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT TO DEAL
WITH IN 2027. LET US AT LEAST
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING UP
AND COLLECTING SOME MONEY SO WE
HAVE OTHER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
IN 2027 TO WORK FROM WHEN WE
ARE EVALUATING JUMPSTART, WHEN
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL
FUND. I ANTICIPATE WE WILL
PROBABLY GET A GOOD SHOT IN THE
ARM IN 2026 WITH FIFA. THAT'S
ONE TIME. THAT'S A SHOT IN THE
ARM. WE REALLY NEED TO BE
EXPANDING OUR REVENUE BASE, AND
THIS IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN
PROVEN TO WORK AND TO BE
VIABLE. AND SO FOR THOSE
REASONS I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE VERY
WELL SAID . COLLEAGUES, THIS IS
THE PERIOD OF DISCUSSION ON
BOTH BILLS BEFORE US AND SO IF
YOU HAVE THINGS TO DISCUSS,
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I WILL
HAVE THE LAST WORD AMONGST THE
GROUP AND THEN I WILL PASS IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
ONCE I START SPEAKING, THERE IS
NOT ANOTHER CHANCE TO SPEAK. SO
WITH THAT, I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER SECOND, COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. BEFORE WE GET IT, ALL
MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK BEFORE A MEMBER SPEAKS
TWICE SO YOU WANT TO SPEAK
TODAY, I'D ASK THAT YOU RAISE
YOUR HAND SO WE CAN MOVE
THROUGH THIS. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. I'LL SPEAK TO
BOTH.
>> PLEASE
>> THIS WILL BE QUICK AND I DO
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOR, AS I SAID BEFORE,
CALLING THE QUESTION ON THE
NEED FOR NEW AND BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL
YEAR THAT WE DO NEED TO
IDENTIFY NEW REVENUE SOURCES,
SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
TODAY AS WELL AS THE OTHER
PIECE OF LEGISLATION. THAT
SAID, I DO REGRET THAT TENANT
SERVICES ALONGSIDE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IS NOT INCLUDED AS A
PRIORITY FOR THE USE OF THESE
NEW FUNDS AND SO MY HOPE IS
THAT THIS PASSES, BUT ALSO THAT
WE CAN USE OUR POWER TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS TO HOW THOSE
RESOURCES WILL BE ALLOCATED.
HEARD FIVE VOTES MAKES POLICY
CHANGE SO MY HOPE IS THAT THERE
IS AN ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY NEXT
YEAR FOR THE LIBERATION. I LOOK
FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL
ADVANCING LEGISLATION TO BEGIN
THOSE DELIBERATIONS NEXT YEAR
SO THAT WE CAN FIND NEW REVENUE
SOURCES, AND SO THAT WE CAN GET
VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE
MEAN WHEN WE SAY THAT THERE ARE
CUTS THAT SHOULD BE MADE, AND
VERY SPECIFIC WHEN WE SAY WE
HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM, THAT
WE IDENTIFY WHAT WE BELIEVE --
WHERE THE EFFICIENCIES ARE AND
WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO CUTS,
BECAUSE WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
THAT THIS YEAR, BUT VERY LITTLE
IN TERMS OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES
ACTUALLY THINK SHOULD BE CUT,
SO I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IF WE
WANT TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVEL OF
SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, THE WAY FOR US TO MOVE
FORWARD IS TO LOOK FOR
DEFENDANT DIFFERENT REVENUE
SOURCES. I WILL BE SUPPORTING
THESE BILLS AND I THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR RINGING
THEM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND AS A
COSPONSOR OF THESE AMENDMENTS
ARE THESE BILLS, I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
LEADERSHIP FOR BRINGING THEM
FORWARD. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE
WITH THE ESSENCE OF EVERYTHING
SHE JUST SO ELOQUENTLY STATED A
MOMENT AGO. YOU KNOW, AS I'VE
INDICATED BEFORE, I WOULD JUST
SAY THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TAX
AT THE WRONG TIME. IRRESPECTIVE
OF WHETHER ONE AGREES OR THINKS
THAT WE HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM
OR A SPENDING PROBLEM, I HAPPEN
TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BOTH. I
THINK WHAT THERE IS MORE
CONSENSUS AROUND IS NOT EVEN
CONSENSUS, POTENTIALLY
UNANIMITY AROUND, IS WE HAVE A
RESULTS PROBLEM AND WE HAVE AN
OUTCOMES PROBLEM. AND UNLESS
AND UNTIL WE CAN START MAKING
BETTER PROGRESS ON SOME OF OUR
AMBITIOUS GOALS, UNLESS AND
UNTIL WE CAN START ACHIEVING
BETTER RESULTS, WHATEVER IT IS,
ACROSS THE BOARD, I JUST CAN'T
VOTE TO -- TODAY, TO DO THAT,
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE
THERE YET. GOOD NEWS, GLIMMER
OF HOPE IS, AS FAR AS I'M
AWARE, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, BY THE
DATA THAT I'M AWARE OF, AT
LEAST, AND ALL OF THE MAJOR
AREAS, I THINK WE ARE, STARTING
THIS YEAR, STARTING TO TRENDING
THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN TERMS OF
CRIME DATA, IN TERMS OF
HOMELESSNESS DATA, NUMBER OF
ENCAMPMENTS, OVERDOSES, WITH
RESPECT TO CRIME, ONE GLARING
EXCEPTION, HOMICIDE RATE IS
THROUGH THE ROOF. UNACCEPTABLE.
BUT DON'T CALL ME YET BUT AS
FAR AS I'M AWARE, I THINK THIS
YEAR IN PARTICULAR WE ARE
STARTING TO SEE BETTER RESULTS.
SO IT'S GREAT BODY OF WORK
FROM WHICH TO BUILD UPON BUT
WE'RE NOT THERE YET SO THAT'S
WHY, LET US REVISIT THIS
CONVERSATION EVERY YEAR, AND I
DO THINK THAT OUT OF ALL OF THE
OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED IN TERMS OF NEW
REVENUE OPTIONS, THIS IS THE
LOWEST HANGING FRUIT. AS
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE NOTED A
MOMENT AGO, SOME OF THE OTHER
PROPOSALS PRESENT VARYING
DEGREES OF LEGAL RISK. THIS
ALSO PRESENTS LEGAL RISK BUT AS
POLICYMAKERS, NOT LAWYERS, AND
I'M WEARING MY POLICYMAKER HAT
HERE, BECAUSE I USED TO BE A
LAWYER ADVISING INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS HOW TO MITIGATE
THAT LEGAL RISK. BUT AS
POLICYMAKERS, I THINK WE NEED
TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, BE
MINDFUL OF THAT LEGAL RISK OR
WHATEVER THE RISK IS, LEGAL,
OPERATIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE,
WHATEVER IT IS, AND JUST MAKING
SURE THAT WE -- BECAUSE
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
LEGAL RISKS. THERE'S ALWAYS
GOING TO BE RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH WHATEVER IT IS. SO IF WE
JUST -- WE ARE SCARED AND
AFRAID TO MAKE THE BEST POLICY
DECISION, TO DO THE BEST THING
FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF
PEOPLE, THEN WE WOULDN'T GET
ANYTHING DONE. SO THERE'S
ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF LEGAL RISK. QUESTION
BECOMES WHETHER IT'S
JUSTIFIABLE AND WHETHER THE
OUTWEIGHING, COUNTERVAILING
POLICY OBJECTIVE AND IMPERATIVE
OVERRIDES SOME OF THOSE, AND
THEN YOU JUST HAND IT, TRUST
YOUR SMART LAWYERS. WE HAVE
GREAT LAWYERS HERE IN OUR CITY
LED BY CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON.
SO IN ANY EVENT, I THINK THIS
IS JUST TO RESTATE, I THINK
IT'S THE RIGHT IDEA, WRONG
TIME. WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE
THE CONVERSATION, REVISIT THE
ISSUE, AND THEN WITH RESPECT TO
THE SECOND ORDINANCE ON THE
SPENDING ALLOCATIONS, LET ME
EMPHASIZE MY POINT EARLIER. I
WOULDN'T DISAGREE WITH ANY OF
THESE IDEAS BUT I AM AN
UNAPOLOGETIC INFRASTRUCTURE
CHAMPION AND SOMEONE WHO JUST
EKES OUT OVER NITTY-GRITTY
INFRASTRUCTURE DETAILS,
POTHOLES AND STOP SIGNS AND
BRIDGES AND THE LIKE, AND I
WANT TO THANK THE GENEROUS
VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR RECENT APPROVING A $1.55
BILLION TRANSPORTATION LEVY,
WHICH IS GOING TO HELP US GO A
LONG WAY IN BUILDING A A LOT OF
COOL THINGS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY
GOING TO SAVE LIVES. BUT THE
TRUTH IS EVEN IF IT WAS A THREE
BILLION-DOLLAR LEVY OR A $4
BILLION LEVY, STILL NOT GOING
TO ADEQUATELY MEET THE NEEDS OF
-- WE NEED TO REBUILD A NUMBER
OF BRIDGES. WE NEED TO CLOSE
THE 27% MISSING SIDEWALK GAP IN
THE CITY. OUR STATE OF OUR
ROADS AND PAVEMENT CONDITION
IS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AT AN
UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL, AND WE NEED
TO PUT OURSELVES ON A BETTER
PATH, WHICH IS WHY A LEVY, WE
AUTHORIZE A TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING TASK FORCE, BUT JUST TO
PREVIEW SOME OF THAT WORK, SOME
OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE
LIKELY TO COME, EVERY NEW
REVENUE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU
GET, YOU SHOULD ALLOCATE A
CERTAIN AMOUNT TOWARDS
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. SO
I WOULD ADD ANY -- WHETHER
IT'S THIS OR ANYTHING ELSE,
THAT I WOULD ULTIMATELY
SUPPORT, IS A GENERIC CATEGORY
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, LOVE THE
IDEA, LET'S REVISIT IT BUT
TODAY I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING
THIS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMAN
PROSECCO. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER WE
WILL.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AGREE
WITH MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. WE HAVE AN
OUTCOMES PROBLEM. WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES, WE
HAVE NOT DONE THE DEEP DIVE
WITH THE PROGRAMS. WE LOOKED AT
A LIST OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN
THIS BUDGET, THAT THE CITY IS
FUNDING, BUT NOT THE OUTCOMES
FOR THESE PROGRAMS. I DO THINK
THAT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE
PROGRAMS WE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE
DECREASING WITHOUT THE PROPER
DATA AND INFORMATION BY WHICH
TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. I DO
BELIEVE WE STARTED REQUESTING
THIS INFORMATION IN THIS BUDGET
PROCESS VIA THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT WE
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON THE CHAIRS OF
EACH OF THE COMMITTEES THAT WE
SHARE TO ENSURE WE RECEIVE THIS
INFORMATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT WE NEED
OUR COLLEAGUES IN AN ANALYSIS
OF THAT INFORMATION BY WHICH TO
MAKE DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE. I
WILL SAY, AS I SAID LAST WEEK,
I'M NOT MORALLY OPPOSED TO A
CAPITAL GAINS TAX TO MEET THE
CITY'S NEEDS IN THE FUTURE, SO
LONG AS WE DO OUR HOMEWORK, AND
I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE
ENGAGED IN THAT FULL ASSESSMENT
OF OUR PROGRAMS. LIKE I SAID,
WE ARE BEGINNING TO DO THIS
WORK IN THIS BUDGET AND WILL BE
IN A BETTER POSITION TO
DETERMINE OUR NEEDS, AND
WHETHER THERE ARE ANY PROGRAMS
WE NEED TO DECREASE OR END IN
THE FUTURE. AND I THINK THE
FUTURE WILL BE A BETTER TIME,
ONCE WE'VE DONE THIS HOMEWORK,
TO DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO
BRING A CAPITAL GAINS OR OTHER
TAX SOURCE, REVENUE SOURCE. FOR
THESE REASONS, I APPRECIATE MY
COLLEAGUES WORK AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING, ALL OF US
TOGETHER, TO DO THIS WORK IN
THE FUTURE, AND AS WE MOVE
FORWARD HERE, AND YOU KNOW I DO
THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE
TIME TO DO THE WORK IF WE ARE
GOING TO BRING SOMETHING OF
THIS NATURE, AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO DO
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU. FOR FULL
DISCLOSURE, MY HUSBAND IS A
STOCK TRADER AND I JUST SPOKE
TO LEGAL COUNCIL . I'M GOING
TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE I WANT TO
HAVE TIME TO TALK TO ETHICS
FIRST BEFORE I MAKE MY VOTES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
BRINGING THIS TO TABLE FOR
DISCUSSION. I KNOW YOU DO YOUR
RESEARCH, INFORMATION,
STAKEHOLDER AND, THINKING ABOUT
THE BIG PICTURE. YOU ARE A
FORMER JUDGE. YOU WERE
PROGRAMMED TO LISTEN TO ALL
SIDES, MAKING JUDGMENT CALLS
AND DECISIONS, SO I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
TO THE TABLE BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
THERE'S ALSO NO DOUBT IN MY
MIND THAT WE DO NEED
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I ALSO
KNOW, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS
STATED, WANTING TO SEE MEASURED
GOALS AND IMPACT REPORTS
REGARDING HOW WE ARE MOVING THE
NEEDLE ON HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS. AND PEOPLE ARE
REHOUSING? TIMELINE REPORTS.
YES THESE EXIST BUT WE NEED
MORE DETAILS IN THAT EXTENT TO
ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S
WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT
WORKING. I DO BELIEVE WE ARE
GIVING CITY LOVING CITY AND
SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, PEOPLE
HAVE GIVEN THE SHIRTS OFF THEIR
BACK. ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE DIRECTLY IMPACTING
PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES WITH OUR
TAX DOLLARS. NOT JUST THE
MIDDLE PEOPLE. SOMETIMES
GOVERNMENT DOES GET IN THE WAY
AND TALKING TO YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO
DIRECTLY IMPACT COMMUNITIES,
WITH LESS BEING TAKEN AWAY OFF
THE TOP AND THOSE DOLLARS BEING
REALLY REDIRECTED INTO THOSE
COMMUNITIES. I DO KNOW THAT I
WANT TO ALSO CONSIDER, WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED MORE
REVENUE IN OUR CITY, IT'S NOT
JUST BY TAXING PEOPLE BUT ALSO
EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE, OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, GROWING OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, MAKING IT
EASIER TO OPERATE IN SEATTLE,
EXPANDING HOUSING SO PEOPLE CAN
POUR INTO OUR ECONOMY. THAT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S
NOT ONE OR THE OTHER. OFTEN
TIMES WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND TAXING
FOLKS, AND NOT TALKING ABOUT
EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE. IT HAS
TO BE BOTH. PEOPLE OWNING
HOMES, SPENDING FUNDS, ALL
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. I WANT TO
APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IN YOUR
WORKFORCE HOUSING. WE FORGET
ABOUT THE BUS DRIVERS, THE
FIRST RESPONDERS, THE TEACHERS,
THE DAYCARE PROVIDERS, THE
CAREGIVERS, THE ARTIST, THE
CLEANERS, THE PEOPLE DOING THE
EVERYDAY, DAY TO DAY WORK. WE
FORGET ABOUT THEIR HOUSING,
TOO. MORE OFTEN I TALKED TO
FOLKS WHO ARE EVERYDAY PEOPLE,
EITHER ON THE BUS OR JUST
WALKING AROUND, LIVE IN CANS
AND FEDERAL WAY. THEY CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE IN OUR CITY AND
THEY ARE THE WORKFORCE THAT WE
NEED FOR OUR CITY TO CONTINUE
TO THRIVE. SEATTLE HAS A LONG
HISTORY OF SUCCESSFUL SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ON
THE GLOBAL SCENE FOR DECADES
AND THAT'S WHY OUR CITY IS IN
A POSITION THAT IT HAS BEEN FOR
THE LAST 10-15 YEARS, BECAUSE
OF THE MONEY THAT HAS COME INTO
OUR CITY, BECAUSE OF THE
INCREDIBLE ECONOMY THAT WE
BENEFIT FROM DIRECTLY TO OUR
COMMUNITY. CONSIDERING ALL OF
THIS AND KNOWING THE TIMELINE
REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION, AND
ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I
KNEW YOU THREW FOOD IN THERE,
FOOD AND SECURITY IN THERE,
WHICH OBVIOUSLY MADE ME REALLY
HAPPY. I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE
VOTING YES ON THIS TODAY. I
KNOW THIS WAS SOMETHING
LAST-MINUTE AND I KIND OF
CHANGED MY VOTE BUT HEARING
YOUR ARGUMENTS TODAY AND YOUR
SUPPORT OF IT, I DO FEEL
COMFORTABLE VOTING YES SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET ME
SEE WHERE I'M AT HERE. WE HAD
A BRIEFING THAT DREW ON THE
FORECAST OFFICE'S ANALYSIS OF
CAPITAL GAINS TAX. WE LEARNED
SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MADE
ME CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS A
POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCE. THE
MEMO THAT WE RECEIVED SAID
LOOKING AT THE STATE CAPITAL
GAINS TAX COLLECTIONS FROM
SEATTLE FORECAST OFFICE, SAID
THAT THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS
EXTREMELY HIGHLY CONCENTRATED
AND STRONGLY AFFECTED BY THE
DECISIONS OF A LIMITED NUMBER
OF INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS. THAT
ADDS TO VOLATILITY. IT SAID
THAT THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS
EXTREMELY VOLATILE IN THE RANGE
OF REVENUE IT'S EXPECTED TO
GENERATE IS VERY WIDE, FROM $16
MILLION-$51 MILLION, AND THAT
MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PLAN
INVESTMENTS. AND I ALSO THINK
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE. THIS IS
SORT OF BUILDING ON
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S POINT
THAT TO ADOPT A NEW TAX WITHOUT
DOING THE ANALYSIS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHY RENTAL ARREARS
IS SO HIGH RIGHT NOW, AROUND
10%, I MEAN 10 MILLION. WE'VE
HEARD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
STORIES IN THE TIMES THAT NOTE
THAT EVEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS DISAGREE OVER WHY
THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY
COLLECTING RENT, SO THERE IS A
LOT MORE ANALYSIS THAT NEEDED
TO BE DONE TO GET A BETTER
PICTURE OF THE PROBLEMS OF RENT
BURDENS AND ALSO FOOD
SHORTAGES, BEFORE WE CAN MAKE
SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT
PATH TO GO. SO THOSE ARE SOME
OF THE THINGS I WOULD NOTE ON
THE WORK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
DONE TO PUT FORWARD A VIABLE
TAX AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FORECAST
REVENUE ALSO SAID THAT THE
LONG-TERM EFFECT OF THE TAX ON
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE CITY
WILL LIKELY BE NEGATIVE. BUT
HERE IS THE BIGGER PICTURE THAT
I FEEL MORE STRONGLY ABOUT. IT
HAS TO DO WITH SOME LONG-TERM
PATTERNS THAT WE'VE EXHIBITED.
SO GOING BACK TO THE PAYROLL
EXCISE TAX, THAT IS THE LARGEST
COUNCIL APPROVED TAX IN
SEATTLE'S HISTORY, AS OPPOSED
TO VOTER APPROVED TEXAS, AND IS
GENERATING DOUBLE THE REVENUES
THAT WERE ANTICIPATED WHEN IT
WAS INSTITUTED IN 2020, FOUR
YEARS AGO. BUT EVEN BEFORE THE
CHECKS BEGAN ROLLING IN, ONCE
THE TAX HAD BEEN APPROVED AND
IMPLEMENTED, COUNCIL PASSED A
SLIDE IN THE FALL OF 2021,
STATING ITS INTENT TO FORM A
STABILIZATION WORK GROUP TO
COME UP WITH YET ANOTHER SOURCE
OF REVENUE TO PAY FOR ONGOING
EXPENSES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED
USING ONE-TIME FEDERAL COVID
RELIEF ASSISTANCE AND ALSO FUND
NEWER EXPANDED PROGRAMS. AND
THE WORK GROUP MET FOR MUCH OF
LAST YEAR, AND COMPILED A
REPORT. THE REPORT DID NOT
RECOMMEND THAT A NEW TAX BE
ADOPTED. INSTEAD IT WOULD FORTH
A LIST OF POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TAX AND
MANY OF THEM REQUIRE STATE
AUTHORITY OR WOULDN'T GENERATE
VERY MUCH MONEY ANYWAY. SO WE
-- THE BEST, MOST ROBUST TAX
WAS THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX. WE
GAVE THAT A CURSORY LOOK LAST
YEAR AND DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE
IT. SO WITH THIS BUDGET WE ARE
INVESTING MORE THAN -- MORE IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN WE EVER
HAVE BEFORE, AND THAT'S
DESPITE USING $233 MILLION OF
OUR JUMPSTART REVENUE FOR
GENERAL FUND PURPOSES. WE ALSO
DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF
ASSISTANCE TO RENTERS IN THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET FROM $5 MILLION
TO ABOUT $10 MILLION, INCLUDING
LOSING THE VERY LAST DREGS OF
OUR RESERVES IN ALLOCATING $3.3
MILLION IN DIRECT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND THAT WILL BE
COMING OUT NEXT YEAR. SO I'M
MAKING THE POINT THAT WE ARE
SHOWING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
MEET THESE NEEDS, AND ALSO IT
WILL LIKELY NEVER BE ENOUGH, AS
I SAID BEFORE, BECAUSE WE ARE A
COMPASSIONATE CITY AND WE WANT
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR
VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS. BUT WE
CAN'T DO SO WITHOUT MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO
DELIVERING RESULTS AND OUTCOMES
THAT ARE HELPING THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING, GET
BETTER OVER TIME, AND THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC
TO SEE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU READ
SOME OF THESE REPORTS, 30% OF
VOTERS -- ONLY 30% OF VOTERS
TRUST THE CITY TO SPEND THEIR
TAX DOLLARS EFFECTIVELY. BASED
ON THE LATEST INDEX POLL, 6 IN
10 VOTERS THINK TAXES IN
SEATTLE ARE TOO HIGH FOR THE
LEVEL OF SERVICES THE CITY
PROVIDES. MOST VOTERS CONTINUE
TO BELIEVE THE CITY HAS ENOUGH
MONEY TO ADDRESS IMPORTANT
PRIORITIES AND MUST NOT -- AND
DO NOT TRUST THE CITY ON
ADDITIONAL SPENDING MORE
PLANNING. THE POINT IS THAT --
AND THIS IS ACROSS ALL
DEMOGRAPHICS, FOR EXAMPLE. WE
NEED TO SHOW OUR CONSTITUENTS
THAT WE ARE USING THEIR TAX
DOLLARS WISELY TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR GREATEST
CHALLENGES YEAR OVER YEAR, AND
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THAT WE
ARE SPENDING MORE AND THE
PROBLEMS DON'T SEEM TO BE
IMPROVING FAST ENOUGH, AND SO I
AM NOT SAYING THAT WE WILL NOT
CONSIDER ADDITIONAL REVENUE
SOURCES IN THE FUTURE, BUT I AM
FOCUSED ON HOPING THAT WE WILL
FOCUS, DRILL DOWN ON BUILDING
BACK THE TRUST COME OF THE
PUBLIC'S TRUST TO DELIVER THE
RESULTS. THIS BUDGET WE DID SET
OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS NEXT
YEAR. ALL OF THE SLIDES THAT WE
REQUESTED, THE INFORMATION THAT
WE'LL BE GETTING, WE'D BETTER
USE IT IN OUR COMMITTEES TO
REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE COULD
POTENTIALLY GET RID OF PROGRAMS
THAT AREN'T PRODUCING AND FREE
UP SOME MONEY TO DO THE THINGS
WE REALLY WANT TO HELP THE
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT
ARE SUFFERING. THAT IS WHY I
WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS BUT
I DO APPRECIATE THE
HUMANITARIAN AND THE COMPASSION
AND THE CARING THAT BROUGHT
THIS PROPOSAL FORWARD, SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KELLY.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS.
FOLLOWING THAT POINT AT THE
BEGINNING, YES, I REALLY
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S WORK IN THIS AREA, AND
THE EFFORT THAT SHE'S PUT IN,
NOT JUST IN THIS BUT ALSO IN
THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
WORLD, AS WELL. GENERALLY
REGARDING THIS, AND TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I SAID
REGARDING THE PAYROLL
EXPENDITURE TAX, I'M BASICALLY
NEUTRAL IN THE SENSE THAT AS I
SAID EARLIER, WE DO NEED THAT
BUDGET REFORM . YOU KNOW, AS I
SAID, IN ADDITION TO THE
REVENUE STABILIZATION WORK,
WHERE WE DO NEED EXPENSES
STABILIZATION WORK GROUP, WHICH
IS KIND OF BEING FORMED OUT OF
THE SLIDES AND THE WORK THAT IS
BEING DONE BY EACH OF US IN
COMMITTEE AND IN GENERAL, AND
AS I STATED, THESE EFFORTS TO
BE COMPREHENSIVE. AND I REALLY
DO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD
BENEFIT WORKING ISSUES LIKE
THIS NOT AS A COUNCIL BUDGET
ACTION BUT AS A COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ACTION, AS I SAID.
THAT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHOW THIS TAX RELATIVE TO THE
OTHER TAXES AND THE LIKE AND I
THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
COULD BE DONE. I HAVE GREAT
RESPECT FOR ONE OF OUR
PREDECESSORS, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, WHO HAD A SIMILAR
RECOMMENDATION BROUGHT FORWARD
IN A SIMILAR BILL THAT HE HAD
DONE IN JUNE OF 23, AND THIS IS
AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
BROUGHT UP THROUGH THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE. AND IN THEIR WE
COULD FIND OUT HOW CAPITAL
GAINS, HOW IT IS IN CONTEXT TO
ALL THE OTHER TAXES, NOT
COUNTING NECESSARILY
COUNCILMEMBER PETERS'S WATER
TAX BUT WE SHOULD HAVE THAT
ACTUALLY, MAYBE AS PART OF THE
REVIEW, AS WELL, IN TERMS OF
BEING COMPREHENSIVE. AND I
THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. HERE
IS ANOTHER THING THAT SHOULD BE
PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, TOO,
IS I SEE THIS TREND OF
EVERYTHING HAS A SILO,
EVERYTHING IS ALREADY MARKED
FOR. THERE IS NO FLEXIBILITY
AND IT'S LIKE WE ARE
PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM
OURSELVES, WHICH IS REALLY A
REFLECTION OF FAILURE OF BOTH
THE EXECUTIVE ABOVE US, ACROSS
THE DEPARTMENTS, AND OURSELVES,
TO DO OUR JOB . IF WE HAVE TO
BUILD IN THESE SILOS ALL THE
TIME, THESE BUCKETS, IT'S LIKE
WE DON'T TRUST OURSELVES TO DO
THE RIGHT THING IN ITSELF. I
THINK THAT WE CAN DO SO AND I
THINK THAT WE CAN DO SO IN
COMMITTEE. SO THIS WOULD GO A
LONG WAY BECAUSE IN LOOKING UP
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
ANNOUNCEMENT, HE NOTED THAT
THIS IS AGAIN ALMOST A YEAR AND
A HALF AGO, THAT TWO THIRDS
DON'T TRUST CITY HALL TO SPEND
RESPONSIBLY BUT IF WE DO ALL
THESE PIECES LIKE THE SEATTLE
HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IF WE
DO ALL THESE PIECES IN TERMS OF
OUR AREA'S RESPONSIBILITY, AND
I WILL STAND UP FOR LOOK SAFETY
WORK IN THOSE PIECES, IF WE
EACH DO OUR JOB AND SHOW THAT
WE ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE, AND
CAN LOOK FOR THE BIG PICTURE, I
THINK THAT TWO THIRDS NUMBERS
WILL DROP SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT
WOULD ALSO CREATE CONDITIONS TO
LOOK AT THESE TAXES AGAIN IN A
HOLISTIC WAY, AND TO
POTENTIALLY MOVE FORWARD SO
AGAIN, I'M NEUTRAL AT THIS
POINT ON CAPITAL GAINS BUT WE
HAVE TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE
AND DARE I SAY IT, THE GOOD
GOVERNANCE IN TERMS OF THE
OVERALL PIECE. SO THAT'S MY
POSITION. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND CHAIR
STRAUSS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. THE WISEST WORDS THAT
WE MAY HAVE RECEIVED THIS
ENTIRE BUDGET SESSION IS ABOUT
TRUST , AND TRUST IN EACH
OTHER, THRUSTING OURSELVES.
VERY WISE WORDS, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, IS THAT A NEW HAND?
>> NO.
>> YOU HAVE SPOKEN -- I'M
GOING TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK. I
THINK EVERYONE HAS SPOKEN ONCE.
IS THAT CORRECT? EVERYONE IS
GOOD, GREAT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
YOU REQUEST TO SPEAK A SECOND
TIME?
>> NOPE.
>> I'M SORRY, I'M JUST
CONFUSED SO DO YOU WANT -- THE
FLOOR IS YOURS IF YOU WANT TO
SPEAK.
>> I DON'T. IT WAS AN OLD
HAND. JUST SLOW ON THE --
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE
SURE EVERYONE GETS THEIR TIME.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
SPEAK AND THEN I'M GOING TO
MOVE IT ONTO COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
A VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. THE ORDINANCE, I STILL
NEED TO LOOK AT IT MORE. YOU
ALREADY QUELLED SOME OF THE
INITIAL CONCERNS. JUST FOR THE
RECORD, I HAVE SUPPORTED, BEEN
ON THE RECORD SUPPORTING
CAPITAL GAINS TAX AT THE CITY
LEVEL IN THE PAST. EVERY TIME
THAT I SUPPORTED IT I WAS VERY
WORRIED ABOUT SUBSTITUTION
EFFECT. BOTH OF THOSE THINGS
ARE STILL TRUE TODAY. THERE
WERE MANY OF US WAITING TO
START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT
CAPITAL GAINS UNTIL WE SAW THE
OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION. YOU
HAPPENED TO BE THE FASTEST
PERSON IN SEATTLE TO BRING THIS
FORWARD FOR A DISCUSSION. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I
WILL SHARE, REGARDING THE
SPENDING PLAN, I AM AT THIS
POINT WORRIED ABOUT ADDITIONAL
REVENUE WITH SPECIFIED USES
WHEN WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT WITH THE GENERAL FUND,
BECAUSE -- AND UNLESS WE ARE
SUBSTITUTING WITHIN THE GENERAL
FUND, THAT FOR INSTANCE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IS A SPECIFIED USE,
IF WE ARE SAYING THAT NO MORE
GENERAL FUND WILL BE USED FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND THIS IS
NOW THAT FUND, THEN THAT'S
SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT, BUT IF
WE ARE NOT HELPING TO PATCH THE
STRUCTURAL HOLE, THAT'S WHERE
I GET NERVOUS. SO I AM MORE
THAN HAPPY TO CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION IN COMMITTEE THIS
YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
THE FASTEST ONE IN SEATTLE TO
PUT THE BILL INTO LEDGER START.
WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
I'M NEVER FAST SO THIS IS
SURPRISING BUT THANK YOU TO ALL
MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR VERY
KIND COMMENTS AND YOUR
THOUGHTFUL REMARKS. I GUESS
I'M RELIEVED TO HEAR CHAIR
STRAUSS SAY THAT YOU ARE
WILLING TO PURSUE THIS IN
COMMITTEE, BECAUSE THIS HAS
BEEN BROUGHT FORTH IN '21 AND
'23, NO '24, AND THE TIME IS
NOW, AND I AGREE THAT WE DON'T
WANT THE PERFECT TO BE THE
ENEMY OF THE GOOD, WHICH I
THINK CAN SOMETIMES HAPPEN IN
THESE DISCUSSIONS. SO I WOULD
LOVE IT IF THIS PASSED TODAY SO
WE COULD UTILIZE THE TIME IN
YEAR 2025, WHILE WE ARE
TRACKING THIS, TO WORK OUT THE
DETAILS, AND THEN IN 2026 WE
HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME WHERE WE
ARE COLLECTING THE REVENUE, SO
THAT WE HAVE THESE QUESTIONS
AND CONCERNS ADDRESSED WHEN WE
GET READY TO ALLOCATE IN '27.
BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DO THAT.
SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE MORE TO
SAY. THANK YOU ANYWAY FOR BEING
RESET EVENT THOUGHTFUL ABOUT
THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE
TAX ORDINANCE FIRST AND THEN
THE SPENDING PLAN, SO ITEM 7'S
COUNCIL BILL 120908, WHICH IS
IMPOSING AN EXCISE TAX. CLERK ,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON COUNCIL BILL 120908?
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO .
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLANDSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES .
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> NO.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR .4 OPPOSED.
ONE ABSTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR MOTION DOES
NOT PASS. COUNCIL BILL 120908
WILL NOT CONTINUE ON TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL. MOVING ON TO
ITEM EIGHT, THIS IS THE
SPENDING PLAN THAT WE HAVE
DISCUSSED , AND IF THE CLERK
COULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
COUNCIL BILL 120909.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> NO.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ].
>> THREE IN FAVOR, FIVE
OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL DOES NOT
PASS AND WILL NOT MOVE ON TO
CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE ON TO THE LAST ITEM OF
BUSINESS IN THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR . WE
HAVE ONE MR. BRIAN GOOD NIGHT
JOINING US. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER NINE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> 120911 RELATING TO THE SALE
OF CHANNEL STATING THE CITY
COUNCIL'S INTENT TO DEDICATE
AN ONGOING FUNDING SOURCES FOR
THE OPERATING COST OF THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL AND REQUESTING
THE EXECUTIVE SUBMIT A FUNDING
PLAN BY SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2025 .
FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
MOVE? I KNOW THAT I DIDN'T SET
THIS UP FOR YOU SO IF YOU
DON'T HAVE IT ALREADY I CAN
MOVE IT FOR YOU BUT OFFERING
YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THE
BILL.
>> I MOVED COUNCIL BILL 120911.
>> SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO APPROVE COUNCIL
BILL 120911. WITH THAT WE HAVE
OUR FAMOUS BRIAN GOOD NIGHT. I
DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE BECOME
-- I KNOW HOW TRACY BECAME
FAMOUS. YOU'RE FAMOUS TODAY,
THOUGH. IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE
YOU SHARE AN OFFICE WITH THE
FAMOUS TRACY . WOULD YOU LIKE
TO BRIEF US ON THE BILL?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS IS THE
SAME SLIDE AND INFORMATION THAT
YOU SAW LAST WEEK SO I'LL JUST
BRIEFLY RUN OVER IT ONE MORE
TIME. COUNCIL BILL 120911
STATES THE COUNCIL'S INTENT TO
ESTABLISH A DEDICATED AND
ONGOING FUNDING PLAN DEFICIENT
TO MEET THE OPERATING AND
CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. SUCH THAT THEY
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE
GOVERNMENTAL AND
NONGOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMMING
THAT THEY CURRENTLY REDUCE. THE
BILL SPECIFIES THAT WHEN
ESTABLISHED, THE FUNDING PLAN
SHOULD INCLUDE BUT NOT BE
LIMITED TO THESE THREE ITEMS,
WHICH IS AT LEAST 50% BUT NO
LESS THAN $1.7 MILLION OF THE
CABLE FRANCHISE FEE REVENUES
EACH YEAR, SEATTLE I.T.S SHOULD
ALSO INCORPORATE A PORTION OF
SEATTLE CHANNEL'S EXPENSES
INTO ITS COST ALLOCATION MODEL,
SO ABOUT EXPENDITURES THAT ARE
IN SUPPORT OF THE SERVICES AND
PRIORITIES OF OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS ARE APPROPRIATELY
ALLOCATED TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS
, AND THEN FINALLY THE GENERAL
FUND SHOULD BE USED EXCLUSIVELY
FOR THE COVERAGE OF MEETINGS,
PRESS CONFERENCES, AND OTHER
PUBLIC EVENTS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, AND OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE
BILL REQUEST THE EXECUTIVE
PRESENT A FUNDING PLAN TO THE
COUNCIL WITH THE ELEMENTS
DESCRIBED IN THIS BILL AND ANY
NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO
IMPLEMENT THE PLAN BY SEPTEMBER
3rd OF NEXT YEAR. AND THEN
LASTLY THE BILL STATES THE
COUNCIL'S EXPECTATION THAT IN
CREATING THE FUNDING PLAN, THE
EXECUTIVE WILL UTILIZE THE
RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF
ANY ADVISORY WORK GROUP THAT
ARE ESTABLISHED TO STUDY THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL'S OPERATIONS
AND FINANCE AND, IN THIS
REFERENCE IS IN RECOGNITION OF
THE STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT THAT COUNCIL DISCUSSED
AND APPROVED LAST WEEK TO
ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY WORK
GROUP IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
EXECUTIVE.
>> THANK YOU MR. GOOD NIGHT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SPONSOR OF
THE BILL, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU. WHEN I THINK
ABOUT HOW I WILL TALK ABOUT
THIS BILL, WHAT KEEPS COMING
INTO MIND IS THE JONI MITCHELL
SONG, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU
GOT UNTIL IT'S GONE. IN THIS
CASE, ALMOST GONE, BECAUSE IT
TOOK ME AND PROBABLY SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE SOME SURPRISE TO SEE THE
PUBLIC REACTION TO THE PROPOSAL
OF REDUCING FUNDING AND FTES
AND PROGRAMMING AT SEATTLE
CHANNEL. THAT WAS AN EDUCATION
FOR ME AND IT REALLY HELPED ME
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THIS
PUBLIC SERVICE, BEYOND WHAT
I'VE ALWAYS USED IT ON, WHICH
IS TO WATCH COUNCIL MEETINGS IN
CHAMBERS. SO I AM PLEASED TO
PRESENT THIS AS A WAY OF
OFFERING A PATH TOWARD A
LONG-TERM FUNDING PLAN THAT
WON'T PUT US IN THIS LIMBO
LAND IN THE FUTURE. AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ON
MELDING SOME OF OUR THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO GET TO A
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE
TOGETHER. SO AS WAS SO ADROITLY
EXPLAINED ALREADY, THIS DOES
DIRECT THE EXECUTIVE TO COME UP
WITH THE FUNDING PLAN, HAVE IT
READY BY SEPTEMBER 3rd,
INCORPORATING THE INPUT FROM
THE WORK GROUP THAT IS SET UP
BY THE SLIDE THAT IS PUT
FORWARD BY CHAIR STRAUSS. AND
THEN IT DOES SUGGEST -- THIS
LEGISLATION DOES SUGGEST THREE
POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES BUT
IT COULD BE OTHERS. BUT THE
POINT IS THAT IT HAS TO STABLE N
TO OTHER IDEAS FOR REVENUE. SO
THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES AND THE
REASON WHY I THINK THIS IS SO
IMPORTANT, IT ESTABLISHES A
DEADLINE SO WE WILL GO INTO
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS WITH A PLAN, A
LONG-TERM PLAN. SO THAT IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT THE
STATION NEEDS, WHAT THE
EMPLOYEES NEED TO, WHAT THE
TALENT NEEDS IS CERTAINTY. WE
DON'T WANT THEM THINKING THAT
THEY'LL BE IN CONSTANT
UNCERTAINTY AND ENTERTAIN IDEAS
OF GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND
BAILING ON THE SMALL AND MIGHTY
SEATTLE CHANNEL, SO I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE ALTHOUGH THE
BALANCING PACKAGE DOES
ESTABLISH TWO YEARS OF SUPPORT,
THAT WE ARE WORKING ON A
LONG-TERM PLAN, AND THAT IS
WHAT THIS LEGISLATION AIMS TO
DO. AND IT HAS THE FULL SUPPORT
OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
EXECUTIVE, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN
WORKING THROUGH THIS WITH ME.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD BE
COSPONSORS OF THE BILL LIKE TO
BE RECOGNIZED? COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND
DOING IT IN SUCH A THOUGHTFUL
WAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WANT TO
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND
YEAH, IT'S A VERY HELPFUL
PROPOSAL THAT BUILDS UPON
EARLIER ITEMS THAT WE
CONSIDERED AND VOTED FOR IN THE
BUDGET, AND I THINK IT MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE, AND YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT THE
EMPLOYEES AND THE WORKERS AND
THE TALENT ULTIMATELY BEHIND
THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING OF
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, THEY
DESERVE CERTAINTY, ABSOLUTELY,
AND I THINK THIS HELPS GET US
THERE. I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT SO
DO THE TAXPAYING PUBLIC AND SO
DO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
RELY ON THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING
PROGRAMMING OF THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. THEY DESERVE
CERTAINTY, AS WELL, SO THAT'S
WHAT I THINK THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION BRINGS, SO I THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU . COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR, THANK
YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. FULLY
SUPPORT IT. I THINK OUR SEATTLE
CHANNEL IS AN INCREDIBLE GIFT
TO OUR CITY AND WE COULD
TOTALLY EXPAND SO MUCH
POTENTIAL TO BE RELEASED FROM
OUR SEATTLE CHANNEL, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WATCHING THE CHANNEL
GROW AND BE SUSTAINABLE, SO
JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION? LAST:
DISCUSSION? LAST CALL ON
DISCUSSION. I WILL --
COUNCILMEMBER WE WERE, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY,
JUST GETTING READY. I'M JUST
SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. I HAVE BEEN A LONG
TIME VIEWER. I DO IN MY FREE
TIME. LEARN A LOT OF
INTERESTING TIDBITS ABOUT
SEATTLE. COLLEAGUES, IF YOU
WONDERED WHY OR HOW I HAVE SO
MANY FUN FACTS, IT IS THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL. I DO GET
TEASED FOR WATCHING IT IN MY
FREE TIME, AND AFTER THAT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FINAL WORDS?
>> THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION
IS THAT MORE AND MORE WE ARE
REMINDED HOW IMPORTANT LOCAL
PUBLICLY FUNDED MEDIA IS,
ESPECIALLY THAT THAT DRILLS
INTO THE VERY LOCAL ART SCENE,
POLITICAL SCENE, ET CETERA. SO
IT'S NOT JUST THAT IT'S
AWARD-WINNING , AND GREAT WHEN
IT DOES, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE BROADER CONTEXT OF SOME OF
THESE REALLY IMPORTANT ASSETS
DISAPPEARING, THAT'S WHY I
FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT THIS WILL REMAIN.
THANK YOU.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON COUNCIL WILL --
>> COUNCILMEMBER WE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND WILL BE
SENT TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO THE
ORDER FOR SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE. I SEE DIRECTOR NOBLE
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE MENTION
OF SOMETHING HERE. RATHER THAN
GO THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE, ALL
OF THE THANK YOU'S ON
THURSDAY, WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO
GET OUT OF HERE, I'M GOING TO
DO SOME OF THEM TODAY AND SOME
OF THEM ON THURSDAY. SO FIRST
OFF, I COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN
THROUGH THIS BUDGET CYCLE
WITHOUT MY TEAM, WITHOUT JESSE
AND MEGAN, AND WITHOUT ANTHONY
AND JOEL. OUR TEAM WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN HERE AND COLLEAGUES,
Y'ALL WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTED WITHOUT KATE HOFFMAN
RUNNING SUCH A GOOD PROGRAM
WITH ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ EARLIER
THIS YEAR. ANY, FROM MY TEAM,
IS HOW I HAVE CLEAR DISTRICT
PRIORITIES AND WHILE NAOMI
MOVED OFFICES THIS YEAR, WE
STILL USE HER BEST PRACTICES IN
OUR WORK AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT
TO DO IN OUR OFFICE. I'D BE
REMISS TO NOT THINK CENTRAL
STAFF, DIRECTOR NOBLE, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR HALL AND EVERY SINGLE
MEMBER OF CENTRAL STAFF,
INCLUDING ANN GORMAN, WHO IS NO
LONGER WITH US. THAT SAME
APPRECIATION GOES OUT TO THE
ENTIRE CITY BUDGET OFFICE,
DIRECTOR EATER, FORMER DIRECTOR
JULIE BINKLEY, ADAM SCHAFFER.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS
WORK WITHOUT COLLABORATION AND
PARTNERSHIP. FOR THE GOOD OF
THE ORDER, COLLEAGUES, I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS
CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A
MEETING ON THURSDAY AT 10:00
A.M. WE HAVE A MEETING ON
THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M. I'M
GOING TO SAY IT TWO MORE TIMES
TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN EVERY
OFFICE IS LISTENING. WE HAVE A
MEETING THIS COMING THURSDAY AT
10:00 A.M. IT IS THE
METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT
MEETING. IT WAS, IN PREVIOUS
RESOLUTIONS, SCHEDULED FOR THIS
COMING MONDAY, WHICH WOULD HAVE
BEEN CONSISTENT WITH PASSING
THE BUDGET IN THE WEEK OF
THANKSGIVING. SO IT SEEMS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS
NOT OF DATE OF THE WEBSITE. NEW
INFORMATION RIGHT NOW SO
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE A MEETING
THIS THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M., IN
HERE, METROPOLITAN PARKS
DISTRICT BOARD IS NOT THE CITY
COUNCIL. WE WILL THEN MOVE INTO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL
ACTION AND WE ARE ALSO BRINGING
BACK A NEW VERSION OF THE
CELEBRATION THAT WE USED TO
HAVE, PRE-PANDEMIC. COLLEAGUES,
THERE'S BEEN INTENSE
CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST TWO
MONTHS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS
TENSE THAN IN YEARS PAST.
NONETHELESS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REBUILD ANY BRIDGES THAT MIGHT
HAVE FALLEN APART, AND
THEREFORE, WITHOUT CREATING A
QUORUM, WE WILL BE GETTING
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ALL IN A GOOD PLACE. WITH
THAT, OVER TO YOU, DIRECTOR
NOBLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. WE
WON'T BE BACK FOR YOUR FULL
COUNCIL MEETING. I DID WANT TO
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FIRST TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE THINGS YOU HAVE
GIVEN CENTRAL STAFF THAT WE
TRULY APPRECIATE IT. I ALSO
WANT TO EXTEND MY OWN THANKS TO
THE WHOLE TEAM OF TAKING ON THE
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, DOWN
A COUPLE PEOPLE FOR MUCH OF IT.
THEY'VE BEEN TREMENDOUS.
GRATIFYING TO SEE THEM PULLED
TOGETHER IN THESE KINDS OF
TIMES AND THEY HAVE DONE JUST
THAT. OCCASIONALLY WE REPRESENT
MUCH OF THEIR WORK BUT MANY OF
THEM ALSO MADE IT TO THE TABLE.
I WANT TO THANK THEM. ALSO MOST
SPECIFICALLY THANKED MY
COLLEAGUE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OR
HOW. A PROMOTION IN AUGUST, THE
FIRST AND LARGEST TASK IS GOING
TO BE COORDINATING THIS
PROCESS, A PROCESS THAT
INVOLVES ULTIMATELY 160
DIFFERENT COUNCIL ACTIONS. THEY
HAVE BEEN QUALITY CONTROL,
ORGANIZATION, HE DID ALL OF
THIS AND I PERSONALLY AM IN
YOUR DEBT, AND YOU ARE, AS
WELL. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS
JUST TO YOU ALL COLLECTIVELY
HOW GRATIFYING IT HAS BEEN FOR
ME OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS TO
SEE ALL OF YOU DEVELOP EVER
BETTER CONNECTIONS AND I
SUSPECT EVERY STAFF MEMBER,
THAT'S WORK THAT WAS GOING ON
BEFORE THE BUDGET PROCESS BUT
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT
TRIAL BY FIRE AND ABOUT REALLY
CONNECTING WITH ALL OF THEM,
AND ALSO YOUR STAFF CONNECTING
WITH THEM. MY EXPERIENCE OVER
TIME HAS BEEN THAT THOSE
ULTIMATELY PERSONAL CONNECTIONS
ARE REALLY WHAT MAKE OUR WORK
ALL THE MORE VALUABLE TO YOU SO
I GET RATIFIED TO SEE THAT
HAPPEN. IT MAKES ME LOOK
FORWARD ALL THE MORE TO THE
REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR AND ON
TO NEXT AS WELL FOR THE WORK TO
COME SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU.
THANK YOU TO MY TEAM AND AGAIN,
LOOKING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, AND I WOULD BE
REMISS NOT TO MENTION THAT
ALLIE CANOOCHEE SET US UP SO
DANG WELL, THAT THE BRIEFING
THAT SHE GAVE ME BEFORE SHE
LEFT, I TOOK NOTES. THAT'S
HOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
BUDGET CYCLE, I MET WITH EACH
OF YOU JUST TO GET OVER
PROCESS. THAT MEETING WAS BASED
OFF OF HER NOTES, AND AS I
REFLECTED ON HER NOTES IN THE
BUDGET CYCLE, EACH DAY SHE WAS
CORRECT ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD BE
DOING. SO THANK YOU, ALLIE, IF
YOU ARE WATCHING, DEPUTY
EXECUTIVE. I CANNOT REFRAIN ANY
LONGER. AMELIA, THIS IS THE
FIFTH REQUEST. HAPPY BELATED
BIRTHDAY. AND DANAE WILL BE
WITH US AS WELL. AND WITH THAT,
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE?
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME I HAVE
A WALK ON AMENDMENT TO SOON? WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. THIS
IS THE LAST REGULARLY SCHEDULED
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
FOR 2024 POINT SEE NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.