>>> GOOD AFTERNOON , EVERYONE.
THE MARCH 19th, 2024 CITY OF
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
HAS COME TO ORDER. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL AND I WOULD LIKE TO
NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
HAS BEEN EXCUSED FROM THE
MEETING.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATION FOR TODAY. I AM
NOW EXCUSING COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AGAIN, I ALREADY
MENTIONED THAT. WE WILL MOVE
RIGHT INTO THE HYBRID COMMON
PERIOD. HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP?
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] SEVEN
IN PERSON.
>> EIGHT REMOTE, AND SEVEN IN
PERSON. I AM DOING THE MATH.
WE WILL GIVE 90 SECONDS FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. AND WE
WILL START WITH THE IN-PERSON
PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY.
>> JODY?
>> IN PERSON?
>> CORRECT. I AM JUST WAITING.
>> OKAY.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE
JOHN.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND
I AM HERE TO COMMENT ON THE
CLEANUP BILL. I WORKED 54
HOURS AND I MADE $346. I HAVE
NEVER MADE LESS THAN $800 IN A
FULL WEEK. MY JOB HAS BEEN
DESTROYED. IT FEELS LIKE A
FOLD UP. CUSTOMERS NEED TO FEEL
GOOD . THE PROGRAM WAS POORLY
CONCEIVED. WE WORKERS ALL
JUST KNEW IT WOULD FAIL. THE
SITUATION WAS NO SURPRISE. THE
DELIVERY FEES REMAIN TOO HIGH.
RIGHT NOW, ONLY RICH PEOPLE
CAN AFFORD TO ORDER. THAT IS
RARE ON SOMEBODY LEVELS. I HAD
A CUSTOMER WHO IS VISUALLY
IMPAIRED AND WAS ALWAYS THERE
WAITING FOR ME, AS I ARRIVED. I
HAVE NOT DELIVERED SINCE THE
WINDOW WENT INTO EFFECT.
REGULAR PEOPLE CAN NO LONGER
AFFORD TO HAVE FOOD DELIVERED.
SOME WORKERS DO NOT HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK TO YOU
TODAY. THINK ABOUT A WORKER WHO
HAS TO GO HOME TO A SPOUSE
AFTER WORKING 10 HOURS AND TELL
THEM THEY MADE $50. THAT IS A
STRESSFUL AND PAINFUL
CONVERSATION. MANY PEOPLE ARE
HAVING SERIOUS LIFE CHANGES
BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION.
EVERY MONTH, MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WAYLON,
FOLLOWED BY AMY.
>> WAYLON? W, E , I? LEE
HOLLAND?
>> CAN WE INCREASE THE TIME TO
THREE MINUTES?
>> PLEASE INCREASE THE TIME TO
THREE MINUTES, THANK YOU.
>> SHALL WE GO ON TO OUR NEXT
SPEAKER?
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT
SPEAKER. JASON , YOU ARE THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
GIG WORKER ORDINANCE AND I
WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS MY WEEKLY
INCOME FROM MARCH 11th THROUGH
THE 17th. I TYPICALLY WORK 10
HOURS PER DAY ACROSS THREE
DIFFERENT APPS. I AVERAGED
$14.59 PER HOUR, FOR TUESDAY
THE 12th, $12.62 PER HOUR WAS
MY AVERAGE. WEDNESDAY THE 13th,
THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DROP
OFF, I AVERAGED $5.29 .
THURSDAY THE 14th, $6.98 PER
HOUR. FRIDAY THE 15th, $4.77
PER HOUR. SATURDAY THE 16th,
$4.04 PER HOUR. SUNDAY I TOOK A
MUCH-NEEDED DAY OFF TO TAKE
CARE OF PERSONAL MATTERS. MY
WEEKLY INCOME FOR WORKING 60
HOURS WAS $482.79. THAT IS AN
AVERAGE OF $8.05 PER HOUR. THAT
IS ALL, THANK YOU.
>> I BELIEVE MR. LELAND?
>> OKAY. GIVE ME A SECOND. I
WAS WALKING. I DID NOT KNOW I
WAS THE NEXT ONE. LET ME FIND
MY SPEECH. WHERE IS MY SPEECH?
OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY, I WILL
START NOW, HELLO MY NAME IS
WAYLON. I AM AN MEMBER OF [
INDISCERNIBLE ] I AM HERE TO
SHARE MY VOICE ABOUT THE
PAYMENT MINIMUMS THAT WENT
INTO EFFECT. THE REASON I AM
HERE, THE REASON I ARE
SUPPORTING THIS, THE LAST TIME
BEFORE THE SEATTLE ORDINANCE
WAS IN EFFECT WAS A DESPERATE
SITUATION. I WAS BARELY MAKING
LESS THAN SEVEN DOLLARS PER
HOUR, THERE IS NO GUARANTEED
PAY. THERE IS NO MINIMUM TAPE
ATTRACTION FOR US AS A DRIVER.
THIS KIND OF JOB, I CAN
MAINTAIN MY FLEXIBILITY WORKED
ON, AND I CAN WORK MY WAY TO
SURVIVE IN SEATTLE. AND THAT IS
A LOSS, BECAUSE I HAVE NO
CHOICE , BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED
AT THE SAME JOB FOR THE SAME
$100, ONLY MAKING ONE QUARTER
OF WHAT I USED TOO. THAT
STRESSED ME OUT DEEPLY. THE
COMPANY WAS CUTTING OUT OUR
BASE PAY AND BENEFITS FOR NO
REASON BEFORE THE SEATTLE
ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT, AND
WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH
CUSTOMERS , NOW, GETTING BLAMED
, FOR THE INCREASES ON THE
FEE, THE SEATTLE ORDINANCE
NEVER DEMANDED ANY FEE, FOR
THE COMPANY TO BE ANNOUNCING
LIKE THAT. DRIVER IS THE
REASON THAT THEY RAISED UP
THE FEES. DRIVERS NEVER HAD
THE POWER OR VOICE INSIDE THE
COMPANY TO MAKE THAT --
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL
WOLF, FOLLOWED BY GARY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF DRIVE FOBERT. A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION . DRIVE
FORWARD WAS PART OF THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS , AT THE
TIME, IT WAS A MINIMUM PAYMENT
STANDARD , AND THE WALL WAS
PUSHED BY THE PREVIOUS
CATHOLIC. AT-BASE WORKERS
WOULD HAVE HAPPEN, GIVEN WHAT
WAS PASSED IN SINCE THE
EFFECTIVE DATE, DRIVE FOBERT
HAS CONDUCTED A SURVEY WITH
OVER 550 RESPONDENTS. IT FOUND
80% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY
WERE RECEIVING FEWER OFFERS.
THEY SAID THAT THE TIPS HAD
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED, AND
THEY SAID THAT THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT OF THE TIPS WERE
SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASING. AND
TIPS -BASED WORKERS, THEY HAVE
FALLEN UP TO 36% AND UP TO 37%
BELOW MINIMUM WAGE . AND ,
THAT IS SINCE THIS LAW TOOK
EFFECT. IN OUR 2021 SURVEY,
PRE-TIP EARNINGS WERE ONLY
ABOUT 5% TO 8% [
INDISCERNIBLE - BACKGROUND
NOISE ] FOR A SUBSET OF
WORKERS. THIS LAW NEEDS TO BE
FIXED.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
GARY , FOLLOWED BY KEVIN, AND
THAT WILL BE THE LAST IN-PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL, AND
MAYOR HARRELL. ESPECIALLY LAST
WEEK , IT WAS GREAT. I WILL
BEGIN WITH MY FAVORITE QUOTE,
KNOW THE OUTCOME, AND YOU WILL
SEE THE JOURNEY, NOW THAT THE
NUMBERS FROM SPEAKERS BEFORE
HAVE SPOKEN VOLUMES. WE HAVE
TO ASK OURSELVES AT THIS POINT,
WHAT DO DRIVERS WANT?
RESTAURANTS , HIGHER PROFITS ,
CUSTOMERS, LOWER PRICES,
CUSTOMERS, LOWER PRICES. GIG
COMPANIES, PROBABLY , ALL OF
THE ABOVE. THE DICTIONARY SAYS
PERCEPTION IS HOW YOU SEE,
HEAR, FEEL AND TASTE.
PERSPECTIVE IS AN ATTITUDE OR A
WAY OF REGARDING SOMETHING, IT
IS A POINT OF VIEW. THE CIA
FOUND THAT 98% OF PEOPLE FOUND
THAT -- ARE TRAPPED IN THEIR
OWN PERSPECTIVE. THEY CAN
MANIPULATE EVERY PERSPECTIVE,
INCLUDING SALESMAN AND SPIES.
THE KEY CONCEPT BETWEEN THE
TWO IS EMPATHY. ASK YOURSELVES,
WHAT DO YOU WANT, DO YOU WANT
THAT PERSPECTIVE, I ASK YOU
TO BE HANDS-ON . TAKE THAT
JOURNEY, GAIN PERSPECTIVE, I
HOPE THAT YOUR JOURNEY WILL BE
MADE WITH EMPATHY.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS KEVIN
SULLIVAN.
>> AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I WAS
EXCITED YESTERDAY. I STARTED A
NEW PART-TIME JOB AT A BIKE
SHOP. I WAS SCHEDULED [
INDISCERNIBLE ] 4:00 ROLLED
AROUND . I SAID, HEY, I WILL
STAY FOR ANOTHER HOUR. HE
LOOKED AT ME, OH, GOOD
INITIATIVE. 5:00 ROLLED AROUND.
WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AGAIN,
ARE YOU IN POSITION? I AM NOT.
I NEED GUARANTEED MONEY WHEN I
WORK HERE. I DID MY $20
ORIENTED, TIMES TWO, THAT IS
$40 EXTRA. LASTLY, I WAS
TRACKING MY MILEAGE ON MY
CYCLING COMPUTER, I RODE AROUND
FOR ABOUT 20 MILES DOWNTOWN,
WITHOUT RECEIVING A SINGLE
ORDER. AND THAT IS KIND OF THE
GAME WE PLAYED. WE HAVE GOT TO
GO AROUND, WE HAVE GOT TO GET
THINGS FROM DIFFERENT
RESTAURANTS, TAKE UP THE WORK,
DO THE ORDER, ET CETERA, ET
CETERA , AND WE MAKE MONEY. BUT
AGAIN, NONE OF US IS
GUARANTEED. WE WORK A LOT.
AND, BUT , ULTIMATELY, IT IS
ALL SCARY. BECAUSE WE DO NOT
KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE ARE
GOING TO GET. I DID SOME MATH,
BECAUSE THIS BILL WENT INTO
EFFECT. I ENDED UP MAKING
$20.99. THAT IS PRETTY GOOD,
THAT IS NOT AS GOOD AS I USED
TO MAKE, I USED TO DO $34.
BETWEEN TWO AND THREE WEEKS,
THESE ARE STATISTICS BASED UPON
UBER, WEEK FOUR, FIVE, $11.54.
ADD WEEK SIX AND SEVEN, $13.
SO, THAT [ INDISCERNIBLE ] --
>> WE NOW WILL TRANSITION TO
REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
AMY SCOTT. FOLLOWED BY JORDAN
GREEN. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 ,
WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT, AND
YOU WILL BE UNMUTED. AMY SCOTT
WILL BE THE FIRST SPEAKER. GO
AHEAD.
>> I AM AMY SCOTT. I AM
SPEAKING OUT ABOUT MINIMUM PAY.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
INSTACART SINCE BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, I UTILIZED THE
SERVICE FOR MYSELF AND MY
CHILD. ESPECIALLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC BIWEEKLY PANDEMIC WAS
ROUGHLY 1000 DOLLARS . THEY
HAVE LOWERED THE BASE PAY TO
FIVE DOLLARS , EASILY FOR ONE
TO TWO HOURS OF WORK. I
INCREASED MY EARNINGS TO 600
OR MAYBE $700. WHEN THE
ORDINANCE TOOK EFFECT, IT WAS
WHERE I WENT TO WORK. WITH THE
BENEFIT OF GREATER PAY IN
SEATTLE, I CAN NOW WORK THREE
TO FOUR HOURS , AND THAT IS
FIVE TO SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR MY
FAMILY TO WORKING IN SEATTLE
HAS ALLOWED ME TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT HEALTHY WORK LIFESTYLE
THIS IS, I AM ABLE TO HAVE
$1400 . THAT ALLOWS ME A RAINY
DAY FUND , AND SPEAKER
EDUCATIONS . I CAN BE
AVAILABLE FOR MY CHILD MORE
THAN BEFORE. AND, I AM ONE OF
THE MANY INDIVIDUAL TO USE OF
THIS PLATFORM, THAT NOT
TRAVELED FROM OVER ONE HOUR
BECAUSE ONE OF THE MORE
SUBSTANTIAL WORKDAYS. I AM
FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THEY ARE
MAKING ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR
THEIR LOVED ONES. OVER ANY
OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES IN
WASHINGTON STATE, I WOULD SAY
THAT IT SAVES ME TIME. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JORDAN
GREEN. JORDAN WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY MICHELLE. GO AHEAD, JORDAN.
>> I AM JORDAN GREEN. I WORK
PRIMARILY WITH INSTACART [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. SIX IN
TOTAL. RECENTLY, I AM FROM
ALASKA. I BEGAN GIG WORK AND I
BEGAN WORKING IN 2021. DOING
INSTACART HAS SUPPLIED A FORM
OF FLEXIBLE FLEXIBILITY ,
ESPECIALLY DURING COVID, WHEN
TIMES WERE UNCERTAIN. BEING
ABLE TO REWARD MYSELF FOR MY
HARD WORK , WHILE BEING ABLE TO
POP IN AND MY FAMILY. DUE FOR
CHILDCARE CAUSE, IT MADE IT
EASIER FOR ME AND MY WIFE TO
CONTINUE HAVING OPPOSITE
SCHEDULES WHILE CONTINUING TO
WORK AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS
NEEDED ONCE THINGS STARTED TO
SETTLE DOWN. I AM IN SUPPORT OF
THE MINIMUM PAYMENTS THAT WENT
INTO EFFECT JANUARY 30, 2024.
BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE
COMPANIES BEING HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND TO HAVE
LIVABLE PAY WITH TRANSPARENCY.
BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE FULL
DETAILS OF MY FAVORITE IT'S A
GAME CHANGER AND I AM NO LONGER
WONDERING IF I AM BEING SHORTED
AND HOW. I FEEL LIKE, THAT IT
MAY PAY BETTER, BUT THERE IS A
HUGE FEATURE FOR MANY. THEY
HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR
CUSTOMERS TO TIP. AND I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND WHY. GETTING ORDERS
IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS NOT WHAT
IT USED TO BE IN ANY WAY,
SHAPE, OR FORM. THEY ARE
TELLING PEOPLE THAT WE MAKE $26
PER HOUR WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
THESE ARE ALL FORMS OF
RETALIATION. WE ARE THE ONES
PUTTING IN ALL OF THE WORK
USING OUR VEHICLES --
>> ON TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER. IT
IS MICHELLE, FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
GO AHEAD, MICHELLE.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. I WAS NOT
GOING TO TALK TODAY BUT I
DECIDED TO, BECAUSE I HAVE
NUMEROUS MESSAGES THAT I HAVE
LEFT FOR OUR COUNCILMEMBERS. I
HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK
FROM AN AIDE OR AN ASSISTANT.
THIS IS A BIG TOPIC.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, I KNOW
THAT YOU WERE VERY MUCH IN
OPPOSITION OF THIS LAW. I
DON'T KNOW IF IT IS BECAUSE OF
YOUR , YOU KNOW, BEING A
BUSINESS OWNER, YOU ALIGN MORE
WITH CUSTOMERS -- COMPANIES .
THERE IS SOME BIAS HERE. THIS
LAW IS TOTALLY WORKING. PEOPLE
ARE MAKING MORE MONEY. THE
ORDERS ARE STILL COMING IN.
DOORDASH , NEW BREED , YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE THAT.
THEY ARE SPENDING TIME WITH
OTHERS. THEY ARE NOT ORDERING
ON PLATFORMS. THE COMPANIES
ARE RETALIATING BY PURPOSELY
MAKING THINGS UNCOMFORTABLE
FOR THE WORKERS WHO COMPLAIN
ABOUT NOT MAKING MONEY. AND
HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL BE
REVEALED. THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
PEOPLE ARE MAKING MONEY, ORDERS
ARE STILL COMING IN. I HAVE 20
ORDERS ON MY BOARD AT ANY GIVEN
TIME. IT IS WORKING. AND IT IS
A BENEFIT FOR PEOPLE. WE KNOW
THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A
CERTAIN AMOUNT, WE ARE NO
LONGER RELYING ON TIPS. AND THE
CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT EVEN HAVE
TO TIP. WE ARE DOING A JOB, WE
ARE GETTING PAID ADEQUATELY.
THE PROTECTIONS, THEY ARE
ESSENTIAL. LASTLY, I HAD HELP
FOUR PEOPLE, BEFORE I WAS
FULLY DEACTIVATED. I DID NOT
EVEN GET TO WORK POSSIBLY. BUT
I DID STILL MAKE MY GOAL. THAT
IS AMAZING, AND I WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT --
>> ON TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
DAVID, FOLLOWED BY RUTH. GO
AHEAD, DAVID. DAVID, YOU MAY
NEED TO PRESS STAR 6. IF NOT,
WE WILL COME BACK. LET'S GO ON
TO RUTH. GO AHEAD, RUTH .
>> MY NAME IS RUTH. I HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH INSTACART THE
LAST FOUR YEARS. I ONLY DO
INSTACART. I AM IN SUPPORT OF
THE PAY UP ORDINANCE . IT
PROVIDES. I HAVE BEEN
WRONGFULLY DEACTIVATED . MOST
RECENTLY LAST WEEK AFTER
ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST ME
THAT WERE ALL FALSE. THIS WAS
ACTUALLY DUE TO A GLITCH. IT
WAS A COMPUTER THAT FIRED ME.
EVERY INSTANCE OF
COMMUNICATION THAT FOLLOWED WAS
AUTOMATED. I EITHER DID NOT GET
A RESPONSE OR I GOT FED THE
EXACT SAME EMAIL THAT ALL THE
OTHER 10,000 PEOPLE GOT. THIS
IS NOT OKAY AND IT WILL NEVER
BE OKAY. AND I STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE THAT THIS LAW
CONTINUED TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN
OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE BOYS.
NOT HAVING INCOME FOR DAYS AT A
TIME IS A HUGE LOSS FOR ME
AND FOR THEM TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, THAT WOULD BE A
HUGE WIN FOR ALL OF US. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE NICK. THEN WE WILL TRY
DAVID AGAIN, AFTER NICK. GO
AHEAD, NICK, YOU WILL NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> MY NAME IS NICK AND I AM
HERE ABOUT THE PAYUP CAMPAIGN
AND FOR SEATTLE. I THINK IT
HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL. THERE
HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS. ORDER
VOLUME IS ABSOLUTELY LOWER BUT
THE PAY IS HIGHER. I'VE BEEN
WITH INSTACART SINCE 2017 AND
THIS IS MY FULL-TIME JOB. I DO
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE
IS A WORLD OF DISTANCE ,
INSTACART IS MORE WORK. SO , I
FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE
ALLOWANCES MADE, BASED UPON [
INDISCERNIBLE ], BECAUSE THEY
ARE ALL DIFFERENT. I CAN GO
HOURS WITH ORDERS. AND THE
FEES CHARGED ARE NOT IN LINE
WITH THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
BEFORE, THEY WOULD PAY TWO
DOLLARS NOW THEY PLAY -- PAY
FIVE DOLLARS. THE FEES FOR THE
CUSTOMERS ARE ABSURD AND OUT OF
LINE. THEY ARE REALLY TRYING TO
MANIPULATE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
REVERT TO IT. MY PAY HAS GONE
UP AND I HAVE BEEN AN OUTLIER,
744 HOURS , I AVERAGE ABOUT
$50 PER HOUR DOING INSTACART.
THAT IS ONE THING I WILL
NOTE, I DO BELIEVE THAT
HOWEVER , WE DO NEED TO MENTION
THIS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
DAVID HAYNES, FOLLOWED BY OUR
LAST SPEAKER, DJ. GO AHEAD,
DAVID. I SEE YOU , BUT IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU MAY NEED TO
UNMUTE STILL. STAR 6. OKAY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO DJ, LAST. GO
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS BJ , I WANT TO
SPEAK TO RESOLUTION 32129, THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT FOR THE
BUDGET. FROM THE THINGS NOT
ADOPTED, THEY ARE QUIETLY
GETTING KILLED BY THIS
RESOLUTION. IN PARTICULAR, HSB
-016 AS A DASH , A REPORT ON
CITY PROGRAMMING, NOT GETTING
ADOPTED, EFFECTIVELY GETTING
QUIETLY KILLED , BY THIS
RESOLUTION, AT A TIME WHEN THE
CITY LEADERSHIP IS REALLY
GETTING TO TALK TO DON
VIOLENCE WE NEED TO ADDRESS
THIS PROBLEM, ALL THE TIME, IT
IS REALLY DISAPPOINTING. THE
CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO TELL
HIM REPORT WELL, IT WAS
REPORTED ON CITY PROGRAMMING
I'M ACTUALLY REDUCING GUN
VIOLENCE. IT IS REALLY ON THE
LINE WITH OTHER ABUSES BY THE
CITY COUNCIL. THIS ENTIRE CITY
LEADERSHIP IS TRYING TO DO IT.
THIS IS GETTING A DRAFT AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
RESOLUTION AMENDED TO ACTUALLY
ADOPT THIS. I YIELD MY TIME.
>> 12 PUBLIC COMMENTERS
REMOTELY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO ?
OKAY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR
ALLOTTED TIME. HELLO? OKAY.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF OUR LIST OF
REGISTERED SPEAKERS. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSE.
I MUST NOTE, IF I WERE SITTING
IN YOUR SEATS , WEEK AFTER
WEEK, TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE,
I WOULD BE IMPATIENT WITH THE
LACK OF ACTION. THAT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE. WHAT MATTERS IS
THAT, IT HAS BECOME MORE
AFFORDABLE. AND THAT WOULD
DRIVE CUSTOMER DEMAND OF MORE ,
SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE ,
RESTAURANTS AND OTHER
BUSINESSES, CAN WE GENERATE
REVENUE. AND PEOPLE CAN ALSO
GET THEIR , THEIR NEEDS MET ,
WHEN THEY ORDER. EITHER
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET OUT. OR
THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY HAVE
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES OF SOME
NATURE. I AM FLUSTERED,
BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS
IS TAKING A LONG TIME EVEN TO
ADDRESS LEGISLATIVELY, AND I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE
WILL BE PROGRESS SOON, AND IT
IS TAKING A LONG TIME TO GET
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING
ON, WITH AN EYE TOWARD WHAT IS
HAPPENING TO THE DRIVERS, AS
THE PRIORITY. AND YOU HAVE JUST
GOTTEN THOSE FINAL SURVEY
RESULTS. SO, MOVING RIGHT
ALONG WITH OUR AGENDA, IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS , THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. AND IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. WE NOW
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR. ITEMS INCLUDE THE
MINUTES OF MARCH 12th, 2024,
TELLS ABOUT 12751 , AND CLERK
FILE , WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT
OF NICHOLAS RAMIREZ TO THE
PRESERVATION AUTHORITY , CLERK
FILE , REAPPOINTMENT OF
ANTHONY SALAZAR, THE BALLARD
LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD. CLERK
FILE , THE APPOINTMENT OF SARAH
BAKER, AS MEMBER OF THE PIKE
PLACE HISTORICAL MARKETPLACE,
THE REEMPLOYMENT OF MARK CHILDS
AS A MEMBER, LIKE PLACE
HISTORICAL COMMISSION. 50275,
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE LANDS
WAGONER, AS A MEMBER OF THE
PIKE PLACE HISTORICAL MARKET
CONDITION -- COMMISSION. ARE
THERE ANY ITEMS THAT PEOPLE
WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR? BEFORE
MOVING ON, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO SERVE ON
OUR COMMISSION. I MOVED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS
THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED. WILL THE
POLICE -- CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
LOCATIONALITY -- COUNCILMEMBER
WOO ? COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
? EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
ARE ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IN MY BEHALF. PLEASE
READ THE TITLE OF ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECTOR A RESOLUTION
ADOPTING THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT FOR THE 2024
ADOPTED BUDGET AND 2024-2029
ADOPTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
32129, IS THERE A SECOND? IT
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
AND AS A SPONSOR, I WILL
ADDRESS THIS ITEM 1st AND THEN
OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENT. SO,
THIS IS A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING
AND MAKING UPDATES TO THE LIST
OF STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
ATTEND, PART OF THE THING LAST
FALL, AND PASSED BY CITY
COUNCIL, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW,
IT IS ONE TYPE OF BUDGET
COUNCIL ACTION, IT ALLOWS THAT
COUNCIL TO PUT FORWARD VARIOUS
PRIORITIES, THE COUNCIL
CONTINUES TO CONSIDER THEM, AND
ADOPT THEM WITH THE BUDGET,
AMONG THE PURPOSES THEY SERVE,
MOST PURPOSELY, THEY ARE TO
REQUEST ADDITIONAL STUDIES,
AND THE REPORTING FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, OR LAY
THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE
LEGISLATIVE ACTION. OR THEY
CALL FOR NON-LEGISLATIVE WORK,
OR THE COLLECTED FORMATION OF
A TAX FORCE OR EXAMINING OUR
NUANCES, AND EACH ONE , EVERY
YEAR, IT IDENTIFIES THE COVER
THE STANDING, WITH OVERSIGHT.
AND EACH ONE IN PARTICULAR
THAT WE VOTE ON IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS DOES HAVE A DUE DATE
AND DOES HAVE IN ADDRESSING OF
THE STANDING COMMITTEE WITH
OVERSIGHT OF THE PERSONAL THE
FOLLOWING YEAR BECAUSE OF THE
UPDATES AND READ THE UPDATES
THEM WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE
DOING RIGHT NOW. TYPICALLY THAT
INCLUDES ANY NEEDED
CLARIFICATION , AS WELL AS
UPDATES TO DUE DATES, AND
UPDATES TO COMMITTEES. WE HAVE
A LOT OF NEW MINIS THIS YEAR,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT
IS, IT IS A NEW TERM FOR
COUNCIL, SO, THIS RESOLUTION
UPDATES, UPDATES DUE DATES AND
COMMITTEE JURISDICTION, AND IT
REMOVES SOME REQUESTS FOR
SLIs FOR A HANDFUL OF REASONS.
SOME OF THE SLIs ARE
ESTABLISHING A GLIDE PATH,
LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A
POLICY PRIORITY OF
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE NO LONGER
HERE TO EVENTUALLY ADVANCE THAT
INITIATIVE IN THE FUTURE. AND
SECOND, THE SLIs TAKE A LOT OF
STAFF TIME. ESPECIALLY TO DO
THEM RIGHT. AND THE MAYOR HAS
ENACTED A HIRING FREEZE, DUE TO
THE GENERAL BUDGET DEFICIT ,
AND THAT HAS CAUSED STAFF AND
CONSTRAINTS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY
BE ONGOING FOR THE REST OF THE
YEAR. AND, THIS BODY OF WORK,
IT DOES CREATE A SIGNIFICANT --
IT, IT ADDS HOURS TO THE
STAFF'S WORKPLAN AND IMPACTS
THE ABILITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT
TO GET REGULAR WORK DONE. IN
THE SPIRIT OF ONE SEATTLE, I
AM TRYING TO REMOVE SOME OF THE
UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON OUR
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS. AND
FINALLY , SOME WERE REMOVED ,
BECAUSE THEY HAD CONTEMPLATED
FUTURE BUDGET , FUTURE
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS, THAT
WOULD HAVE A FAIRLY BROAD
BUDGET APPLICATION, THESE WERE
REMOVED, AND THEN, FINALLY,
SOME OF THE SLIs THAT WERE
REMOVED ASKED THEM TO DO WORK
THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE, ONE
ASKS FOR THE SUPPORT TO TURN
NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN THE
HOUSING. BUT THE OFFICE OF THE
MAYOR TRANSMITTED LEGISLATION
ON THAT EXACT SUBJECT THIS PAST
WEEK. SO, A COMMENTOR EARLIER,
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WAS
ASKING ABOUT A RESOLUTION THAT
REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ON
GUN VIOLENCE PROGRAMS. IN
FACT, THERE IS AN AUDIT THAT
IS DOING THAT SAME WORK. LONG
STORY SHORT, WE CALLED, I WAS
IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS, TO SEE WHICH
OTHER ONES YOU WOULD AGREE TO
REMOVE, STARTING WITH THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE LAST YEAR
. AND EVERYBODY HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE INPUT,
SO, ORIGINALLY, THERE WERE 36
SLIs. THIS RESOLUTION REDUCES
THE NUMBER TO 16. WITHOUT
FURTHER ADO, THIS LIST OF SLIs
IS BEFORE US RIGHT NOW, FOR
APPROVAL, AND THEY COULD MOVE
FORWARD, I BELIEVE IT WAS
FORWARDED ON MARCH 8th. THIS
IS ATTACHMENT A, THAT IS WHAT
WE ARE TRYING TO DO. THAT IS
THE NEW UNITY OF WHAT WE ARE
DOING AND I INVITE ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. WELL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER ? COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCILMEMBER TELLER?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? EIGHT IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
RESOLUTION WILL PASS. PLEASE ,
CLERK, AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE RESOLUTION ON MY BEHALF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
WORKING ON THIS. THERE WERE NO
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR AND THERE IS NO
MOVEMENT FOR RESOLUTION OR
ADOPTION TODAY. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, IF THERE WAS NO
OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTED
RESOLUTIONS 32124, AND 32127,
REPRESENTING THE CITY'S WORK
PROGRAM FOR 2024-2025, FOR
PURPOSES OF DEFINING THE WORK
PROGRAM IN THE COUNCIL RULES.
I SAID THAT I WAS GOING TO DO
THIS YESTERDAY. IT IS AN
OFFICIAL ITEM OF BUSINESS. LET
ME EXPLAIN. IN THE PAST,
COUNCIL HAS SPENT THE FIRST
THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF A NEW
TERM. AND EACH TERM, THE
MEMBERS HAVE BUILT A WORK
PROGRAM. USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS,
THEY CONTINUE WHAT WAS THERE,
THEY CONTINUE IN THE PREVIOUS,
THE PREVIOUS YEAR, OR THE
PREVIOUS TERM. AND THEN, THEY
ADD A LOT OF ITEMS THAT
SOMETIMES DO NOT GET WORKED ON
THAT YEAR, OR PEOPLE END UP
SPENDING A LOT OF TIME DOING
SOME KIND OF EMERGING ISSUE.
AND , WORKING WITH CENTRAL
STAFF THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED
THAT IT WAS AN EXERCISE THAT
DID NOT REALLY REFLECT WHAT
COUNCIL WAS ACTUALLY DOING. SO,
THAT IS WHY I AM , I AM PUTTING
FORWARD A MOTION TO ADOPT THE
RESOLUTIONS THAT WE, THAT WE
PASSED. ON THE FIRST MEETING,
THE FIRST, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS
THE SECOND MEETING , WHICH
OUTLINES WHAT OUR COMMITMENT TO
THE STRUCTURE IS AND WHAT EACH
MIDI, THE WORK PLAN. I MEAN,
NOT THE WORKPLAN, BUT THE BODY
OF WORK THAT EACH COMMITTEE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT REPORT TO THE
DEALS -- THESE COMMITTEES.
THAT IS THE MOTION BEFORE US,
TO APPROVE THIS, SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO
REFER TO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE
ARE OPENING UP PUBLIC COMMENT,
THE COMMENT MUST PERTAIN TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR IN THE
WORKPLAN, THIS ESTABLISHES
OFFICIALLY OUR WORKPLAN. ARE
THERE ANY OBJECTIONS?
>> I DO NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER
BRIEFING ON THIS, BEFORE I
BECOME COMFORTABLE TAKING A
VOTE ON THE DAIS.
>> LET'S HOLD IT UNTIL WE CAN
RETURN TO THIS AND YOU WILL
FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT THEN.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I THINK THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS TO THAT.
>> PARDON?
>> ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO
POSTPONING THAT?
>> ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO
POSTPONING THAT? OKAY, IT IS
POSTPONED.
>> I AM REQUESTING TO BE
EXCUSED ON APRIL 9th AND JULY
9th FROM FULL CONTRADICTED
>> OKAY, THERE IS A REQUEST TO
BE EXCUSED FROM COUNCIL ON
APRIL 9th AND JULY 9th. SEEING
NO OBJECTION, YOU ARE EXCUSED.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT.
>> FINALLY, I WANT TO NOTE,
THERE WAS A PUBLIC SPEAKER WHO,
WHO NEEDED AN INTERPRETER.
AND WE TRIED TO SECURE AN ASA
INTERPRETER AND WE DID NOT
SUCCEED. STAFF TRIED REACHING
OUT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS
WELL AND SO, I DO WANT TO
EXTEND AN APOLOGY AND
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT , THAT WE HAD
A SPEAKER HERE WHO WANTED TO
SPEAK AND WAS UNABLE TO, FOR
THAT REASON. ALL RIGHT? OKAY.
SO WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
THE AGENDA TODAY. OUR NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
MARCH 26 AT TWO WAS -- 2:00
P.M. NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE
US, WE ARE ADJOURNED, AT 2:40
P.M. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.