>> I FORGOT MY GLASSES TODAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THE FAVORITE 20th, 20 MEETING
OF THE SEATTLE THE COUNCIL
COME TO ORDER AT 2:01 . I AM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO?
COUNCILMEMBER JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER CATHY MOORE?
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J. MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MARITZA
RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER CATHY MOORE WILL
BE EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
MEETING. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER CATHY MOORE IS
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
OKAY. WE HAVE TWO
PRESENTATIONS TODAY AND I WOULD
LIKE TO INVITE DEPUTY MAYOR
TIFFANY WASHINGTON TO PROVIDE
REMARKS AND OFFICIALLY DELIVER
THE MAYOR'S 2024 STATE OF THE
CITY ADDRESS.
>> TESTING, TESTING, CAN YOU
HEAR ME? GOOD. ALL RIGHT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED
COUNCILMEMBERS. IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO FORMALLY PRESENT
THE MAYOR'S 2024 STATE OF THE
CITY ADDRESS. THE MAYOR
APPRECIATES MANY OF YOU BEING
AT THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND
INDUSTRY EARLIER TODAY, WHERE
HE REFLECTED ON SOME OF THE
WORK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND
SET A VISION FOR THE YEAR
AHEAD. EACH OF YOU COURAGEOUSLY
RAN FOR OFFICE , FULLY AWARE OF
THE CHALLENGES THE CITY FACES.
THOSE CHALLENGES CAN BE
OVERWHELMING FOR ANY ONE PERSON
TO ADDRESS ALONE, BUT
FORTUNATELY, NONE OF US ARE
ALONE. WE HAVE CREATIVE AND
RESOURCEFUL MIND HERE IN THIS
ROOM ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT AND
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS YOU ARE
READY AND EAGER TO PARTNER TO
IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES. I WAS
STRUCK BY THE MAYOR'S REMARKS
EARLIER TODAY WHEN HE SAID "WE
DON'T RUN AWAY FROM HIGH
EXPECTATIONS . IN FACT, WE DRAW
ENERGY FROM THEM ." AS A NEWLY
ELECTED BODY, EACH COUNCIL
MEMBER WILL PUSH THEIR OWN
AGENDA. POWERFUL RIVERS ARE
FORMED BY MANY STREAMS. THAT
IS HOW WE WILL OVERCOME
OBSTACLES. WE HAVE A SUPER
MAJORITY OF NEW COUNCILMEMBERS
BRINGING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
TO THE COUNCIL DAIS. THAT NEW
ENERGY, COUPLED WITH THE
VALUABLE EXPERIENCE OF OUR
RETURNING COUNCILMEMBERS SETS
THE STAGE FOR A FRUITFUL AND
GAME CHANGING YEAR AHEAD. I CAN
PERSONALLY ATTEST THAT THE
MAYOR, HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM,
DEPARTMENT LEADERS ACROSS THE
CITY ARE EXCITED TO PARTNER
WITH YOU TO SOLVE OUR GREATEST
CHALLENGES AND MOVE SEATTLE
INTO THE FUTURE TOGETHER. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR
WASHINGTON. THANK YOU, MAYOR
HAROLD FOR INVITING US ALL TO
HEAR HIS SPEECH AND I REALLY
LOVE THE LINES YOU JUST READ .
THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN
AND DELIVERED. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. MOVING ON,
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO AND
COUNCILMEMBER ROB SAKA HAD A
PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING
FEBRUARY 19, 2024 TO BE THE DAY
OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE JAPANESE
AMERICAN INCARCERATION AND I
BELIEVE IS JOINING AS A SPONSOR
, CORRECT?
>> IF I COULD.
>> WE NORMALLY SIGN
PROCLAMATIONS DURING COUNCIL
BRIEFINGS ON MONDAYS AND
PRESENT RECIPIENTS, IN THE
AUDIENCE ON TUESDAYS, BUT
BECAUSE YESTERDAY WAS A HOLIDAY
, WE ARE GOING TO COMBINE BOTH
DAYS TOGETHER. HERE IS WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO DO. THIS WILL BE
SIGNED, INTRODUCED, AND
PRESENTED TODAY AND I WILL ASK
FOR BRIEF REMARKS TO SEEK
FEEDBACK BEFORE I REQUEST THE
ROLL CALL FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO FIX THEIR SIGNATURE TO IT.
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO WILL
THEN SHARE COMMENTS . AFTER
THAT, WE WILL SUSPEND THE RULES
TO ALLOW SPONSORS TO PRESENT
THE PUBLICATION --
PROCLAMATION AND ALLOW GUEST TO
PROVIDE BRIEF COMMENTS. YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE BRIEF
COMMENTS ON THE PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE
TO INTRODUCE THIS PROCLAMATION
WITH THE MAYOR'S CONCURRENCE.
THIS RECOGNIZES THAT TO A 19th
AS THE DAY OF REVERENCE FOR THE
SO MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES AND
RESIDENTS TODAY HAVE FAMILY
MEMBERS OF THE OVER 7000
SEATTLE RESIDENTS WHO WERE
INCARCERATED DURING THIS DARK
TIME IN OUR HISTORY. IN OUR
NATIONS HISTORY AND OUR LOCAL
HISTORY. I WOULD LIKE TO READ
A FEW PORTIONS OF THIS
PROCLAMATION , WHEREAS FEBRUARY
19th MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D
ROOSEVELT'S ISSUANCE OF
EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 IN 1942 ,
WHICH AUTHORIZED MILITARY ROLE
OVER CIVILIAN LAW AND LIVES
AND STRIPPED JAPANESE-AMERICAN
S OF THEIR CIVIL AND
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. AND,
WHEREAS THIS ORDER LED TO
NOTICES OF EXCLUSION OF MORE
THAN 120,000 JAPANESE-AMERICANS
, TWO THIRDS OF WHOM WERE
AMERICAN CITIZENS BORN IN THIS
COUNTRY , WHERE THEY WERE
FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM THEIR
HOMES AND RELOCATED TO
INCARCERATION CAMPS SURROUNDED
BY BARBED WIRE, AND
WATCHTOWERS, WITH RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE SENT TO THE
FAIRGROUNDS BEFORE TRANSFERRING
TO IDAHO OR CALIFORNIA, AND,
WHEREAS THESE ACTIONS TARGETED
JAPANESE-AMERICANS ON
UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS OF
ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE ,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THOUSANDS
OF RAVE JAPANESE AMERICAN
YOUNG MAN ENLISTED IN THE 42nd
REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM AND
SERVED THE U.S. AT GREAT COST
OF LIVES AND BECAME ONE OF THE
MOST DECORATED UNITS IN U.S.
MILITARY HISTORY, AND , WHEREAS
TODAY, AND THROUGHOUT THE
MONTH , COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS
HELD THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND
WASHINGTON DATE PAY TRIBUTE TO
THOSE WHO SACRIFICED THEIR
LIVES , RECOGNIZE THE
TREMENDOUS VALUE AND
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE JAPANESE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND FIGHT
AGAINST TODAY'S ANTI-ASIAN
HATE AND ALL FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION AND HATE
DIRECTED AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE
BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE,
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND GENDER ,
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HONORS THE SACRIFICES OF OUR
RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS THAT
HAVE BEEN HARMED BY THE
REPREHENSIBLE ACTIONS OF
EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 , BY
COMMEMORATING A DAY OF
REMEMBRANCE FOR THE JAPANESE
AMERICAN INCARCERATION ,
SERVING AS A REMINDER OF OUR
COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO
BUILDING A JUST AND INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITY FOR ALL . I AM
HONORED TO WELCOME ESTEEMED
LEADERS TODAY WHO ARE PRESENT
FOR THIS PROCLAMATION . FIRST,
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE
CONSUL GENERAL OF JAPAN, THE
HONORABLE MAKOTO YOUR HE AND
THE DEPUTY COUNCIL GENERAL .
WELCOME. ALONG WITH DR.
KINOSHITA, IRENE YAMAMOTO ,
THE ORGANIZATION HAS DOCUMENTED
STORIES OF INCARCERATION
SURVIVORS, EILEEN LANPHIER,
PRESIDENT OF PUYALLUP VALLEY
JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS
LEAGUE, THE VICE COMMANDER OF
THE VETERANS COMMITTEE, AND
THEIR COLOR GUARD . WELCOME .
I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER
TO MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO, FOR
HER COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A SOLEMN
OCCASION, ONE WHERE WE REFLECT
ON A DARK CHAPTER IN OUR
NATIONS HISTORY . OVER 120,000
AMERICANS OF JAPANESE DESCENT,
AMONG THEM, MORE THAN HALF
WERE INNOCENT CHILDREN,
UNJUSTLY IMPRISONED PAID
FAMILIES WERE TORN APART,
COMMUNITY SHATTERED, LEAVING
BEHIND GENERATIONAL TRAUMA WE
STILL EXPERIENCE. YOU CAN WALK
THROUGH THE DISTRICT TO SEE
AND FEEL IT, SEE THE REMNANTS
OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED. EVEN IN
THE FACE OF SUCH INJUSTICE ,
OVER 32,000 JAPANESE-AMERICANS
BRAVELY SERVED IN THE UNITED
STATES MILITARY AS MY
COLLEAGUE AND SAID,
DEMONSTRATING UNWAVERING
LOYALTY AND PLAGIARISM. WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEGACY OF
JAPANESE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS
WHOSE COURAGE AND RESILIENCE
CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US. AS WE
COMMEMORATE THIS TRAGIC LEGACY,
LET US REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT
TO ENSURE THAT SUCH GRAVE
INJUSTICES NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN ,
AND TOGETHER, LET US STRIVE FOR
A FUTURE WHERE EVERY AMERICAN
IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY,
RESPECT, AND EQUALITY UNDER THE
LAW. I WILL PASS THIS OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS FOR
FURTHER COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A RARE
MOMENT WHERE I SIGN ONTO A
PROCLAMATION, AND THE REASON I
AM SIGNING ON IS BECAUSE MY
FAMILY, YOU ALL HEARD MY
FAMILIES EXPERIENCE IN GERMANY
, AS OUR FAMILY WAS JEWISH IN
THE 1930S AND WHILE THERE WERE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT
HAPPENED IN GERMANY AND HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE
SO MANY SIMILARITIES.
UNPARALLELED TRACKS. THE
STRIPPING OF CIVIL AND
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS CREATES
GENERATIONAL IMPACTS. THE
OTHER HALF OF MY FAMILY WAS
ALREADY HERE IN THE NORTHWEST ,
AND SO AS WE PASS BY PARKS OR
SCHOOLS OR PARCELS PRIVATELY
OWNED, MY MOM CAN POINT OUT ,
THAT WAS OWNED BY A FAMILY
INTERRED AND NEVER RETURNED.
FOR ME, THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, IS
THAT WE DO NOT FORGET, BECAUSE
ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED
UNITS IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY, THAT IS WHAT THE
PATRIOTISM OF
JAPANESE-AMERICANS IS. I THINK
IT IS EMBODIED . I HAVE THIS
PERSONAL CONNECTION TO YOU ALL
IN THIS MOMENT AND THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD MY
NAME .
>> IS THERE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK
BEFORE I REQUEST SIGNATURES TO
BE AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION? THERE WILL BE
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK.
OKAY. NOW, WE WILL, SEEING
THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION
AT THIS MOMENT ON THE
PROCLAMATION, WILL OCCUR --
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL TO
DETERMINE WHICH COMES MEMBERS
WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURES
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
DECLARING FEBRUARY 19, 2024,
TO BE THE DAY OF REVERENCE FOR
JAPANESE INCARCERATION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO?
COUNCILMEMBER JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER
ROBERT KETTLE? COUNCILMEMBER
CATHY MOORE? COUNCILMEMBER
MARITZA RIVERA? COUNCILMEMBER
ROB SAKA? COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS? COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> EIGHT SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE MOVING ON
TO THE MORE FORMAL PART OF THIS
PROCESS . COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU
ARE NOW RECOGNIZED TO FORMALLY
INTRODUCE THE PROCLAMATION
FOR CLAIMING FEBRUARY 19th,
2024, TO BE THE DAY OF HER
MEMORIES FOR THE JAPANESE
AMERICAN INCARCERATION. DO YOU
HAVE ANY FURTHER REMARKS TO ADD
, ANY OF YOU IN THE ORDER THAT
YOU SPOKE? OKAY. NOW, WE WILL
CONSIDER THE PROCLAMATION
FORMALLY INTRODUCED AND NOW,
IF THERE ARE ANY COUNCIL MEMBER
COMMENTS, YOU ARE WELCOME TO
SPEAK NOW.
>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO PRESENT
THE PROCLAMATION AND ALLOW OUR
GUEST TO ACCEPT IT AND PROVIDE
THEIR OWN COMMENTS AND REMARKS.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
THE PROCLAMATION WILL NOW BE
PRESENTED. AFTER IT IS
PRESENTED, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE SEATTLE JAPANESE AMERICAN
CITIZENS LEAGUE AND THE
VETERANS COMMITTEE WILL PROVIDE
BRIEF REMARKS TO THE COUNCIL
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND
OF COURSE, ANYONE ELSE CAN
SPEAK, AS WELL. GO AHEAD. NOW
IS THE MOMENT FOR A PHOTO
OPPORTUNITY AND THE
PRESENTATION AND THEN OUR
ESTEEMED GUEST CAN SPEAK. GO
AHEAD.
>> IS THIS ON? HELLO. I WANT
TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
INVITING US HERE, TODAY. MY
COLLEAGUES THE VIETNAM VETERAN
AND DANNY IS IN IRAQ HE FREEDOM
VETERAN AND WE REPRESENT THE
VETERANS COMMITTEE HERE IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS OUR SECOND
GENERATION JAPANESE-AMERICANS ,
MANY OF THEM WERE VOLUNTEERED
OUT OF THE INCARCERATION CAMPS
TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY AND IN
SOME CASES, DIED FOR THIS
COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR II. OVER
800 JAPANESE-AMERICANS DID DIE
IN BATTLE IN WORLD WAR II AND
THEY WERE PART OF TWO
SEGREGATED UNITS IN THE UNITED
STATES ARMY. THE FIRST WAS A
JAPANESE AMERICAN REGIMENTAL
COMBAT TEAM AND THE OTHER WAS
AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN INFANTRY .
WHEN THESE VETERANS CAME BACK
FROM EUROPE , THEY WERE NOT
ALLOWED TO JOIN ANY VETERANS
GROUPS HERE IN SEATTLE BECAUSE
OF THEIR RACE. WE STARTED THIS
VETERANS GROUP IN SEATTLE IN
1946. ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS
ABOUT IT IS THEY WERE NEVER
BITTER ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES,
BUT THEY WENT ON WITH THEIR
CAREERS, RAISE THEIR FAMILIES,
AND MADE THIS A BETTER
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, TODAY,
FOR HONORING THE VETERANS WHO
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS . AS WAS SAID ,
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SEATTLE CHAPTER OF THE JAPANESE
AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE HERE
IN SEATTLE. I WOULD LIKE TO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR
TODAY'S RESOLUTION . IS VERY
PERSONAL TO THE DESCENDENTS OF
THE 7000 SEATTLE AREA
JAPANESE-AMERICANS
INCARCERATED BECAUSE OF
EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066. FIVE OF
15 FAMILY MEMBERS OF MINE WHO
WERE INCARCERATED CAME FROM
SEATTLE . AS WELL, THERE WERE
FOUR CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES
WHO WERE SUMMARILY DISMISSED
IN 1942 BEFORE THEY WERE
INCARCERATED . ALL OF THEM WERE
DEPRIVED OF THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL, CIVIL, AND
HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THIS IS
ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR ORDEAL. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF A FEW
OTHER SEATTLEITES , INCLUDING
MY MOTHER, AND NUMEROUS OTHERS
WHO DID NOT LET THE PAST BE
BURIED, AND WHO WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESSFUL
EFFORT FOR THE NATIONAL
APOLOGY AND COMPENSATION TO
SURVIVORS OF THE
INCARCERATION. I SHOULD ALSO
NOTE IN THAT DECADE, THEY ALSO
ADDRESSED THE CITY OF SEATTLE
EMPLOYEES. THIS WAS A SMALL,
BUT IMPORTANT MEASURE OF
JUSTICE. TODAY'S RESOLUTION
IS ANOTHER MEASURE OF JUSTICE
FOR ALL I HAVE MENTIONED. WE
HOPE THAT TODAY'S EVENT WILL
BE CONTINUING THAT TRADITION
TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LESSONS
OF THIS TRAGIC PERIOD OF
HISTORY, AND ALWAYS SEEK
JUSTICE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING AND
SPEAKING AND TEACHING US MORE
OF HIS HISTORY OF OUR PAST. WE
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER FINAL REMARKS?
GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ONE
MOMENT. I JUST WANTED TO, ON MY
OWN, THANK YOU IS A FIRST
GENERATION AMERICAN . MY
GRANDFATHER FOUGHT IN ITALY
WITH THE BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY ,
AND DURING MY SERVICE IN THE
MILITARY, I SERVED IN ITALY. I
HAVE BEEN TO THOSE AREAS WHERE
THE FOUR FOR SECOND SERVED AND
FOUGHT SO WELL AND TO BE THERE
AND TO SEE THOSE BATTLE
SITES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THE VETERANS CEMETERIES THAT
EXIST IN ITALY REALLY GOES TO
THE WORK THAT WAS DONE , THE
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE MISSION,
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU. AS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL
VFW POST, TOUR MARK ON AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN YOU DID
COME HOME, YOU DID NOT GET THE
WELCOME YOU DESERVED. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY, IN MY OWN WAY,
AS A VETERAN, A MEMBER OF THE
VFW POST, WELCOME HOME .
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, AT THIS TIME, WE WILL
OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
MADAM CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP, TODAY?
>> WE HAVE 15 IN PERSON AND
THREE REMOTE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. TODAY,
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK AND WE WILL
START WITH IN PERSON, PEOPLE
HERE IN CHAMBERS, FIRST. I
WILL NOW HANDED TO YOU, MADAM
CLERK, TO PRESENT THE
INSTRUCTIONS AND CALL ON THE
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20
MINUTES AND SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY ARE REGISTERED. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS . SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR TIME AND SPEAKERS
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT AND THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS
NOW OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH
OUR FIRST IN-PERSON SPEAKER ON
THE LIST.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOHN
.
>> I STARTED FOOD DELIVERY WORK
EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC AND NOW
HAVE 10,000 HOURS OF DELIVERY
EXPERIENCE. DURING THAT TIME,
I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON MAKING
$20 AN HOUR. UNDER THE NEW
POLICY, MY PAY HAS BEEN CUT BY
MORE THAN HALF . SINCE JANUARY
13th, I'VE MADE $7.46 AN HOUR
. THE WEEK PRECEDING
PRESIDENTS' DAY 2023, I MADE
$737 IN 40 HOURS. THAT'S $18
AN HOUR. THIS YEAR, THAT SAME
WEEK, I MADE $391 AND 79 HOURS,
$4.95 HOUR. BEFORE JANUARY
13th, 60% OF MY INCOME WAS
TIPS AND NOW IT'S UNDER 20%.
PEOPLE ARE NOT TIPPING BECAUSE
OF HIGHER FEES. THE NETWORK
COMPANIES WANTED THIS BILL TO
FAIL. THEY SENT OUT PRESS
RELEASES SAYING THAT THEY HAD
TO INCREASE FEES BECAUSE THE
CITY MANDATE , WHICH PLEASES
$26 AN HOUR MINIMUM BEFORE
TIPS AND MILEAGE. THAT'S
TOTALLY FALSE. IT STUCK WITH
CUSTOMERS IN THE PRESS BECAUSE
THE PRESS FAILED TO READ THE
ACTUAL .
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M SORRY, WE HAD AN
UNEXPECTED AMOUNT OF SPEAKERS
TODAY AND OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS 20 MINUTES. I DO ASK
THAT YOU PLEASE SEND YOUR
COMPLETE COMMENTS TO US .
THANK YOU.
>> EXCUSE ME, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MY A BIT
>> WHEN YOU HEAR THAT CHIME,
THAT MEANS YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT TO SPEAK. GO AHEAD.
>> MEYER, FOLLOWED BY GARY.
>> I WAS EXPECTING TWO MINUTES,
I APOLOGIZE THAT THIS WILL NOT
BE COMPLETED. BUSINESSES
THRIVE OR FAIL UNDER RULE OF
SUPPLY AND DEMAND. DOOR DASH IS
ARE THEIR OWN BUSINESS, SOME
THRIVE AND SOME FAIL. ONE
ORDINANCE REGULATIONS AS ANY
AND ALL CAN LOG INTO DASH
WITHOUT RESTRICTION ANYTIME .
PRIOR TO THIS, IT WAS LIMITED
HOW MANY COULD BE LOGGED IN
BASED ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND TO
PROTECT FROM OVERSATURATION OF
THE MARKET. WE WOULD NOT
IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS THAT SAY
ANY COMPANY CAN ALLOW ANY AND
ALL EMPLOYEE TO LOG IN FOR WORK
ANYTIME BUT THAT'S WHEN THIS
REGULATION IS DOING, ALLOWING
OVERSATURATION OF THE MARKET.
WE NEED TO ASK WHY SOME CAN'T
LOGIN, PRIOR TO THE ORDINANCE
PEOPLE QUALIFIED WERE ABLE TO
REGARDLESS OF HOW BUSY OR SLOW
IT WAS BUT IF THEY CAN'T
LOGIN IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T
LIVE UP TO STANDARD AND A
CONTROLS OVERSATURATION AND
ENSURES ONLY THE BEST DRIVERS
ARE REPRESENTING THE COMPANY AS
OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. THEN THERE
IS PRIORITY ACCESS. IF A
DASHER, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS GARY
FOLLOWED BY JASON.
>> IN AFTERNOON , AND GIVING
THESE COMMENTS ABOUT REPEALING
THE GIG ORDINANCE AND I HAVE
VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS , AND
CONFIDENT YOU CAN REACH THEM.
DOOR DASH IS DOWN 30,000
ORDERS , I'M GUESSING, SO
60,000 ORDERS . THAT'S
TREMENDOUS. HERE IS THE
PROBLEM TO SOLVE. THEY SAY
THAT IF YOU WRITE SOMETHING
DOWN , HALF THE PROBLEM IS
SOLVED, SO PLEASE WRITE THIS
DOWN. RESTAURANTS ARE DOWN 30
TO 50%. KING 5 JUST HAD A
REPORT ABOUT A RESTAURANT IN
MAGNOLIA DOWN 50%. DRIVERS
ORDERS ARE DOWN, DRIVERS ARE
MAKING $50 FOR THE ENTIRE DAY,
SOME $12, DOOR DASH, LIBERTIES,
DOWN $60,000. THEY ARE
CHARGING OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE AND
SPREADING. IF YOU WRITE A
PROBLEM THEN YOU CAN SOLVE IT.
PLEASE REPEAL THIS ORDINANCE.
WE DON'T WANT ANYMORE BLIGHT
IN THE CITY AND WE DO NOT NEED
RESTAURANTS CLOSING. THANK YOU.
>> JASON, FOLLOWED BY JANEL
AND COURTNEY.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS JASON. I
AM A BIKE MESSENGER BUT
FURTHERMORE, I AM A CAREER AND
REPRESENT ALL OTHER DRIVERS OUT
HERE DELIVERING FOOD . IT'S
BEEN REALLY GOOD AND IT'S BEEN
REALLY GOOD MONEY . IT SAYS
IT'S GOING TO BE SIX DOLLARS
BUT AFTER THE PAYOUT, IT'S
$16-$25 AND THAT THE SUCCESS.
MY SUGGESTION FOR YOU IS TO
PRIORITIZE THE BIKES , AND IF
YOU ARE ON A BIKE, YOU ARE OUT
THERE AND STRUGGLING AND IT'S
TOUGH AND IT'S COLD. IF YOU
HAD THE POSSIBILITY TO
PRIORITIZE BIKES AND ELECTRIC
VEHICLES , LIKE TESLAS FOR
SUSTAINABILITY, THAT WOULD BE A
FANTASTIC STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION . I'M ASKING YOU TO
PLEASE KEEP THE ORDINANCE AS IT
IS. IT PAYS REALLY WELL. THANK
YOU.
>> WE NOW HAVE JANEL AND
COURTNEY .
>> JUST SO YOU KNOW, THESE
MICROPHONES ALSO WORK.
>> HELLO. I AM A LEARNING
COORDINATOR AT WOODLAND PARK
ZOO WHERE I WORKED FOR 25
YEARS. I AM HERE ALONG WITH A
GROUP OF COLLEAGUES TO PRESENT
THE PETITION TO YOU REGARDING
THE SITUATION WE ARE IN DUE TO
THE SLIGHTLY OVER 20 YEARS OF
MANAGEMENT OF THE SALE BY THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO SOCIETY.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED, WE WERE
PAID ON THE CITY PAY SCALE AND
WE WERE NOT GETTING RICH BUT WE
WERE EARNING A LIVING WAGE
THAT ALLOWED US TO LIVE A
DIGNIFIED LIFE. OVER THE PAST
20 YEARS OF SEPARATION FROM THE
CITY PAY SCALE, OUR RAISES
HAVE BEEN KEPT DOWN TO THE
POINT WE HAVE NOW TURNED INTO A
REVOLVING DOOR DUE TO THE PAY
GAP BETWEEN OURSELVES AND CITY
EMPLOYEES. WE ARE LOSING
DECADES OF IMPORTANT KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERIENCE AND WE WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO REPLACE THEM AS OUR
NEWER COLLEAGUES LEAVE. THANK
YOU.
>> COURTNEY AND THEN ALLISON
AND MOLLY .
>> HELLO. I AM COURTNEY. I AM
AN ANIMAL KEEPER AT WOODLAND
PARK ZOO AND THE TEAMSTERS
LOCAL SHOP STEWARD. WE HAVE
REACHED A POINT IN OUR CURRENT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ZEAL
WHERE WE ARE STALLED AND MILES
APART ON STAFF WAGES. THE OFFER
AS IT STANDS IS A SINGLE-DIGIT
PERCENTAGE LESS THAN THE RATE
OF INFLATION FOR THE NEXT THREE
YEARS EACH. MANY POSITIONS
OUTSIDE OF THE UNION HAVE SEEN
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PAY
BUMPS, BUT THE BULK OF THE
UNION STAFF HAS NOT. AT THE
UNION EMPLOYEE LEVEL, QUALIFIED
APPLICANTS OFTEN TURN DOWN JOBS
OR FALL OUT OF THE PROCESS DUE
TO LOW PAY AND HIGH COST OF
LIVING. I'VE SEEN THIS
MULTIPLE TIMES AND EXISTING
STAFF AT AND WHAT JOBS THEY
LOVE, UNDERSTAFFED. I CAN SEE
THE FRUSTRATION, AND PAIN IN MY
COMMUNITY FROM THE CONSEQUENCES
OF LOW WAGES. I'VE SEEN MANY
LEAVE OVER WAGES AND TIME FOR
THE ZOO TO COME TO THE TABLE
WITH A REAL OFFER TO GIVE STAFF
THE DIGNITY TO LIVE. IF THIS
HE WANTS TO BE AN INDUSTRY
LEADER, THIS IS REALLY NEED TO
START.
>> ALLISON, FOLLOWED BY MOLLY.
>> HELLO. I AM ALLISON AND I
AM A ZOOKEEPER AT WOODLAND PARK
ZOO. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A
BACHELORS DEGREE AND TWO YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE SOMEWHERE ELSE TO
GET JOBS AT WOODLAND SO FIRST
WE DID A SIX MONTH UNPAID
INTERNSHIP WHERE WE WERE
REQUIRED TO PAY FOR OUR OWN
HOUSING AND THEN WE GOT JOBS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE ONLY
JOBS WE COULD GET, AND ALABAMA,
AND AFTER THE MOSQUITOES, WE
FINALLY GOT JOBS IN WOODLAND
BUT OUR PAY, RENT TRIPLED,
THAT CARE QUADRUPLED,
GROCERIES INCREASED, PLUS THE
COST OF GAS. I'VE NEVER WORKED
SO HARD A JOB AS THEY DO AS A
ZOOKEEPER. I BROKEN AND ANKLE,
INJURED HER SHOULDER
PERMANENTLY, MY DEPARTMENT HAS
LOST 13 ANIMALS, COMPASSION
FATIGUE , AND WE'VE HAD 50%
TURNOVER. THIS REQUIRES OUR
HEARTS, OUR BODIES, AND OUR
MINDS AND IT SHOULD NOT STEAL
OUR FUTURES. I URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT US.
>> MOLLY AND LINDSAY.
>> MY NAME IS MOLLY AND I AM AN
ANIMAL KEEPER AT WOODLAND PARK
ZOO. I GREW UP WITH WOODLAND
PARK ZOO, THIS IS MY DREAM ZOO.
MOST KEEPERS HAVE ONE AND THIS
ONE IS MINE. NOT LONG AFTER
STARTING, IT BECAME APPARENT
THIS IS HE NO LONGER LIVES UP
TO ITS REPUTATION. I WATCHED MY
NEW COWORKERS LEAVE, TAKING
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH
THEM SO THEY CAN PAY BILLS,
MAINTAIN HOMES, AND SUPPORT
THEIR FAMILIES. THINGS THEY
CANNOT DO HERE. I HEAR ABOUT
KEEPERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE UP
TO 30 YEARS ARE MAKING THE SAME
DECISIONS I AM, NOT ABLE TO
SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN OR PAY
THEIR RENT. MY FELLOW KEEPERS
COMMUTE THREE HOURS TWICE A DAY
TO BE HERE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE SAME CITY
AS THEIR ZOO, WHO DO NOT HAVE
AMBITIONS FOR OWNING A HOME OR
STARTING A FAMILY AS LONG AS
THEY WORK AT THE ZOO. I WORK
FOR THOSE PEOPLE, AND SIT AT
NEGOTIATION TABLES. I URGE YOU
TO ASK THEM TO COME TO THE
TABLE WITH THE REAL OFFER.
>> LINDSAY , MICHELLE,
FOLLOWED BY JEWEL. --
FOLLOWED BY JEWEL.
>> I HAVE WORKED AS AN ANIMAL
KEEPER AT WOODLAND PARK FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND I HAVE
BEEN IN THE ZOOLOGICAL FIELD
FOR 15 POINT I RECEIVED MY
MASTERS IN ZOOLOGY IN 2015. MY
COWORKERS AND I HAVE A HIGHLY
SPECIALIZED SKILL SET AND
KNOWLEDGE THAT ENABLES US TO
PROVIDE OUR ANIMALS WITH
WORLD-CLASS CARE. I'M PROUD
OF HOW I CARE FOR MY ANIMALS
AND AND DISAPPOINTED THAT HE
DOES NOT TAKE THE SAME PRIDE IN
PROVIDING FOR ITS EMPLOYEES. WE
PLACE EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY , AND
OVERLOOK ECONOMIC EQUALITY.
IT REQUIRES PRIVILEGE TO WORK
FOR THESE WAGES AND EXCLUDES
PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS
OR THOSE WHO CANNOT RELY ON
EXTERNAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO
MAKE ENDS MEET. I LOVE MY JOB
AND I LOVE MY ANIMALS BUT I
FEEL MY PASSION IS BEING
EXPLOITED. NO ONE GOES INTO
THIS HOPING TO GET RICH . THE
WAGES DO NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT
THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THIS
JOB WELL. WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS
NOT UNREASONABLE AND MY TEAM
AND I WANT A FAIR WAGE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU . I AM SHOP
STEWARD FOR LABORERS LOCAL 242
FOR WOODLAND PARK ZOO AND WE
REPRESENT GROUNDS MAINTENANCE,
HORTICULTURE, SECURITY,
POSITIONS UNIQUE TO THE ZOO
SUSTAINABILITY AND
LIFE-SUPPORT. TOGETHER WE
ENSURE THE SAFE, SECURE, AND
SOUND DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE
ZOO THAT ARE NOT REPLACEABLE,
NOR CAN BE REPLICATED. WE'RE
NOT JANITORS, HANDYMEN,
LANDSCAPERS, AND GUARDS. WE ARE
SPECIALIST IN OUR FIELD AND
HELP ONE ANOTHER FROM THE BACK
BONE OF GREAT DESTINATION. WE
ARE INDISPENSABLE TO THE
ANIMALS TO EACH OTHER, AND TO
THE MISSION TO THE PUBLIC BUT
OUR EMPLOYER VIEWS US AS
EXPENDABLE AND REPLACEABLE.
OUR MORALE SUFFERS AS WE SEE
WAGES FALLING BELOW MARKET
LEVEL. WE ARE INCREASINGLY
UNABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND
MUST CONSIDER OTHER JOBS IF
THINGS DO NOT IMPROVE. AS ONE
OF OUR LONGEST TENURED
GARDENERS TOLD ME UPON LEAVING
, "I CANNOT DO IT ANYMORE."
THANK YOU.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO
REMOTE COMMENTERS?
>> WE WILL BE SWITCHING TO
REMOTE COMMENTERS. THERE ARE
THREE ON THE FIRST IS JOE.
JOE?
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD. I WANTED
TO CALL IN A COUPLE OF THINGS
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
REMOVING ALEX FROM YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT. IT'S GREAT THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS
CONTINUING THE WORK OF FORMER
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES,
DEEPLY APPRECIATED. SADLY, THE
CITY GOVERNMENT OF REDMOND HAS
A CORRUPT MAYOR WHO IS
APPEASING ALEX ZIMMERMAN AND
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL RESOLVE
THIS SOON. MOVING ALONG, I
UNDERSTAND THAT BELIEVES
WESTLAKE AVENUE SHOULD NOT HAVE
BUS LANES . I REGULARLY USE
TRANSIT AND RIDE THE
STREETCAR. I CANNOT DRIVE. I
REALLY APPRECIATE IF WESTLAKE
AVENUE WAS RENAMED WITH
AUTOMATIC PHONE CAMERAS TO PAY
TRIBUTE .
>> THE NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
DAVID HAYNES.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU. THE
MAYOR BRAGGED ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL. HE HAS FRIENDS IN THE
UNDERWORLD AND SUGGESTED THAT
ALL WE NEED IS A PEACE SUMMIT ,
WITH ESCALATING VIOLENCE AND
TRAFFICKING, OR DESTROYING
LIVES, LOW-LEVEL, NONVIOLENT
MISDEMEANORS THAT ARE STILL
EXEMPTED FROM THE NEED FOR
BAIL, AS THE ANSWER. MAKING IT
ONE SEATTLE THAT CONTINUES TO
IMPLODE, SOCIETY CAUSED BY
RACIST WOKE PROGRESSIVE BOTTOM
OF THE BARREL POLICIES THAT
DEFEND THE POLICE, REDIRECT THE
MONEY TO PRIORITIZE REPEAT
OFFENDERS AND LOW-LEVEL DRUG
PUSHERS FOR HOUSING AND
SERVICES FIRST BEFORE INNOCENT
HOMELESS PEOPLE DUE TO BAD
POLICIES WITH ALTERNATIVE
POLICING COMMUNITY SAFETY ,
LEAD, AND OTHER NONPROFIT TO
RUN INTERFERENCE FOR LOW-LEVEL
DRUG PUSHERS AND PREACHING
OFFENDERS CONNECTING UNCIVIL
WAR ON THE COMMUNITY, CREATING
JUNKIES RUINING THE PURSUITS
OF HAPPINESS .
>> WE WILL NOW REVERT BACK TO
IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
WE HAVE FOUR MORE PEOPLE
REMAINING . THE FIRST IS KELLY
, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT .
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU. I WORK
AT THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO AS A
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN. I'VE
ONLY BEEN THERE EIGHT MONTHS
BUT I CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE
GREAT REPUTATION , THE GREAT
MISSION, THE CONSERVATION
PROJECT, IT'S ALL A WONDERFUL
ASPECT OF THIS IS YOU AND I
APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY
SUPPORT AND I SEE FIVE-STAR
REVIEWS ALL THE TIME, PEOPLE
LOVE THIS ZOO AND I WANT YOU TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON
THEY LOVE IT IS BECAUSE OF THE
SKILL AND EXPERTISE IN THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE. THEY ARE
BRINGING FORTH THEIR BEST WORK,
PROVIDING FOR THESE ANIMALS AND
CREATING A BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT
THAT THE COMMUNITY ENJOYS AND
THAT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT FOR
US. WE'VE GIVEN UP A LOT TO
HAVE THAT AND UNFORTUNATELY,
I'M LOOKING AT THIS NOW AND
THINKING I MAY HAVE MADE A
MISTAKE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD
TO PROVIDE MYSELF WITH A HOME
HERE , WHERE I WORK. I AM
LIVING IN BASEMENTS AND WITH
PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO JUST AFFORD TO LIVE
HERE AND I FIND MYSELF
CONTRADICTING WHAT I AM TELLING
MY CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST
GRADUATING COLLEGE ON WHAT THEY
SHOULD DO FOR THEIR CAREER. I
CAN'T HONOR THEM .
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE SCOTT AND ALEXANDER
SANCHEZ.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
SCOTT, A UNION REPRESENTATIVE
WITH TEAMSTERS LOCAL 117 AND
CHAIR OF THE JOINT CRAFT
COUNCIL UNIONS AT THE WOODLAND
PARK ZOO. I RISE TO ASK FOR
YOUR HELP IN CALLING ON
WOODLAND PARK ZOO'S CEO TO
EXPEDITIOUSLY SETTLE A FAIR
CONTRACT WITH THE JOINT
COUNCIL. THE PRIVATIZATION OF
THE ZOO OVER TWO DECADES AGO
HAS RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT
COST SAVINGS FOR THE CITY, NOT
JUST BY VIRTUE OF THE ZOO'S
FUNDRAISING EFFORT BUT THROUGH
THE SYSTEMATIC EROSION OF
WAGES AND BENEFITS, WHILE
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AT THE
ZOO HAS SKYROCKETED. WE NOW
LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THE
AVERAGE ZOO EMPLOYEE, THAT IS
A MEMBER OF THE UNION, MAKES
LESS THAN TWO THIRDS THE HOURLY
WAGE OF THEIR PEER WITH THE
CITY. EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT AT
THE ZOO MAKE SOMETIMES THREE
TIMES MORE THAN DIRECTORS OF
CITY DEPARTMENTS. PLEASE USE
YOUR MORAL AND CONTRACTUAL
AUTHORITY TO CALL ON THE ZOO
TO DO BETTER. THANK YOU.
>> ALEXANDER IS FOLLOWED BY
JUST AND -- BY JUSTIN.
>> I WON'T SPEAK ABOUT THE
PAY, IT'S OBVIOUS WE DON'T
GET PAID MUCH AT GIG WORKER.
WHEN I WANT -- WHAT I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT IS BUSINESS OWNERS.
THIS IS CATEGORIZED AS I AM AN
EMPLOYEE. I'M NO LONGER A
BUSINESS OWNER BECAUSE NOW I'M
AT A WAGE WHERE I AM FLYING BY
THE SEAT OF MY PANTS AS A
BUSINESS OWNER, ITS SUCCESS OR
FAILURE IS BASED BY HARD WORK
AND WHAT YOU DO. THIS IS KIND
OF, THAT'S MY BIGGEST THING
BECAUSE NOW , I WANT TO BE MY
OWN MAN. I WANT TO MAKE IT.
THIS ORDINANCE TOOK THAT AWAY
FROM ME. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO
SAY.
>> JUSTIN , FOLLOWED BY STEVE.
>> WASHINGTON DID NOT PASS THIS
LAW OR GET THE NUMBERS. UBER
PROVIDED THIS. THEY DID NOT
CREATE THEM. IT IS ASSUMED THAT
EACH WORKER WOULD BE ON 100%
OF THE TIME , JUSTIFYING THE
HOURLY WAGE, WHICH IS NOT EVEN
CLOSE TO WHAT WE WILL BE
GETTING PAID THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SOME OF THE STUFF FROM
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR TO THIS
YEAR IN JANUARY , WE ARE
PUSHING OVER $1000 IN MONEY
AND $124,000 IN ORDERS
THEMSELVES . THIS TIME, IT 16
ORDERS WITH ONLY HUNDRED AND
$69. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION
. THE NUMBERS PROVIDED ARE
BASICALLY FALSIFIED , AS THEY
ARE NOT EVEN REPRESENTING ANY
KIND WORKING WAGE WE NEED TO
HAVE TO MAKE THOSE NUMBERS .
THE BILL MUST BE REPEALED AND
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT IT.
SURE, WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE
LOVE IT NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS STEVE, SPEAKING
FOR FRIENDS OF SEATTLE'S
STATE OF THE CITY. WE SUPPORT
THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPENDING
LOSS OF MUCH OF SEATTLE'S
INFRASTRUCTURE. NATURE IN OUR
CITIES IS IMPORTANT FOR CLIMATE
RESILIENCY, ENVIRONMENTAL
EQUITY, WATER AND POLLUTION
RUNOFF, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AIR
POLLUTION REDUCTION, ETHICAL
AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF THOSE
WHO WORK IN THE CITY. PLEASE
CONSIDER THESE CONCERNS AS YOU
ADOPT THE NEXT CONFERENCE OF
PLAN. GOOD WORK IS BEEN DONE BY
THE CITY TO INCREASE PROTECTION
BUT TAKE TIME TO EVALUATE THE
IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES AND
TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION WHEN
NECESSARY TO PROTECT MORE
EXISTING TREES DURING
DEVELOPMENT . WHEN YOU ARE
PLANTING TREES, CONSIDER CANOPY
VOLUME, NOT JUST AREA , MATURE
SIZE OF TREES AND GROWTH RATE.
PLEASE ADOPT TRANSPORTATION
IMPACTS THEY CAN BE USED TO
CREATE SIDEWALKS SO PEOPLE CAN
WALK TO TRANSIT STOPS WITHOUT
COMPETING . ADOPT A PARKS
IMPACT SEE ALSO, CREATE A
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
DEPARTMENT FROM INDEPENDENT
URBAN FOREST DIVISION ACROSS
THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU . I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO NOTE TO THOSE THAT CAME
TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATION,
I WANTED TO NOTE THAT I DID SAY
BACK WHEN THIS WAS FIRST
ADDRESSED IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ON
FEBRUARY 8th , 2022, I SAID I
SUPPORT RAISING DRIVER WAGES
AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ON
BUSINESSES, CUSTOMERS AND
DRIVERS AND THAT IS WHAT YOU
ARE EKING TO YOU COME HERE
BEFORE AND WE , WE HEARD YOU
AND I DON'T KNOW THE PATH
FORWARD YET THANK YOU. WE'VE
REACHED THE END OF PUBLIC
SPEAKERS AND PUBLIC, DISCLOSED,
THANK YOU. WE WILL PROCEED WITH
THE NEXT ITEM. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AND IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION , THE AGENDA IS
NOW ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR , ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR INCLUDE THE MINUTES
OF FEBRUARY 13th, 2024 AND
COUNCIL THE 120744, PAYMENT TO
THE BILLS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? SEEING AND HEARING
NONE, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THIS
CONSENT CALENDAR IT WILL LOOK
LIKE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO?
COUNCILMEMBER JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER
ROBERT KETTLE? ?
COUNCILMEMBER MARITZA RIVERA?
? COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED IT WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE MINUTE AND LEGISLATION ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY
BEHALF?
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. ONTO
COMMITTEE REPORTS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE STATE OF THE CITY
ADDRESS 20 24-BIT
>> I MOVED TO ACCEPT THE CLERK
FILE 314532. IS THERE A
SECOND? THANK YOU BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ACCEPT AND FILE
A SPONSOR, I WILL PROVIDE
COMMENTS AND THEN OPEN UP TO
THE FLOOR. I HAVE ALREADY MADE
MY COMMENTS BEFORE , WHICH WERE
THAT I APPRECIATE , NUMBER ONE,
THAT WE WERE INVITED TO LISTEN
TO THE SPEECH TODAY AND THAT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS
NOW THE THIRD STATE OF THE CITY
ADDRESS THAT I HAVE HEARD AND
MAYOR HAROLD MAKES A POINT OF
CALLING OUT INDIVIDUAL
COUNCILMEMBERS IN THE SPIRIT
OF ONE SEATTLE AND SO I HAVE TO
SAY THAT IT'S MY IMPRESSION
THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME
PAGE, WHICH IS GETTING STUFF
DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? OKAY.
SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON ACCEPTING AND FILING THE
CLERK FILE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO.
COUNCILMEMBER JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
ROBERT KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER
CATHY MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER
MARITZA RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER
ROB SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>> A IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES
IN THE CLERK FILE IS EXCEPTED
AND PLACED ON FILE. ALL RIGHT.
THERE WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED
FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR SO
THERE ARE NO RESOLUTIONS FOR
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION TODAY
AND NOW, TURNING TO OTHER
BUSINESS , I NOTE THAT LAST
WEEK WE EXCLUDED AN INDIVIDUAL
FROM COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE
MEETINGS FOR 28 DAYS. I
UNDERSTAND THE INDIVIDUAL HAS
FILED AN APPEAL OF HIS
EXCLUSION, HOWEVER IT APPEARS
THAT THE APPEAL HAS NOT YET AND
CIRCULATED TO MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL , WHICH IS THE GENERAL
PRACTICE, SO IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION WE WILL SUSPEND THE
RULES REGARDING CONSIDERATION
OF THE APPEAL FROM EXCLUSION
AND WE WILL SET OUT
CONSIDERATION OF THE APPEAL TO
COUNT THOSE NEXT REGULAR
SESSION ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
27th . HEARING NO OBJECTION,
WE WILL CONSIDER THE APPEAL OF
THE NEXT FEBRUARY 27th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. ALL RIGHT. I
HEAR NO OBJECTION AND THAT IS
WHAT WE WILL DO. IS THERE ANY
OTHER BUSINESS GOING ONCE,
GOING TWICE? JUST MAKING SURE
I DON'T MISS THIS PART.
MAKING SURE THAT I ASK IF
THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE
TO BE OMITTED FROM ANY FUTURE
COUNCIL MEETINGS BEFORE WE GO
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. OKAY.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION. AS PRESIDING OFFICER,
I AM ANNOUNCING THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE PURPOSE
OF WHICH IS TO DISCUSS PENDING
POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL LITIGATION
. THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE
SESSION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS
WITH CITY ATTORNEYS AS
AUTHORIZED BY LAW . ILLEGAL
MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS
PRESENT TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL
RESERVES QUESTIONS OF POLICY
FOR OPEN SESSION. WE HAVE
DECIDED THAT WE , IT MIGHT NOT
TAKE AS MUCH TIME, BUT WE HAVE
DECIDED THAT WE WILL EXPECT
THE TIME OF THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO END BY 3:49. IF
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
EXTEND BEYOND THAT TIME I WILL
ANNOUNCE THAT EXPECTED
DURATION AND AT THE CONCLUSION
OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL
AUTOMATICALLY ADJOURN. THE
NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY
COUNCIL MEETING IS FEBRUARY 27,
2024. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
WE WILL NOW RETIRED TO OUR
OFFICES FOR THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION.