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>>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYONE, GOOD
AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE APRIL
30th, 2024 MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
-- I AM SARA NELSON, PRESIDENT
OF THE COUNCIL. WILL THE CLERK
READ THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMEBER MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMEBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMEBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMEBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMEBER WOO?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMEBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM
NOT AWARE OF ANY PRESENTATION
TODAY, SO WE WILL OPEN INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAME CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25
REMOTE SPEAKERS AND 30 IN
PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY, WE WILL GIVE FOLKS ONE
MINUTE. WE WILL GIVE THE
SPEAKERS IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS --
FIRST, LET'S DO 10. PLEASE, GO
AHEAD AND READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
UP TO 20 MINUTES, AND MAYBE A
LITTLE MORE THAN 20 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON IN
THE ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED.
WE WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS
OF ONLINE AND IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FOR APPROXIMATELY SETS
OF 10, EACH. PLEASE BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU ARE ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS,
YOU WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF YOUR TIME,
THAT MEANS YOUR MIC WILL BE
MUTED IN 10 SECONDS. SO, WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS. THE FIRST -- AND WE
CAN ALSO USE BOTH MICROPHONES,
IF THAT HELPS MOVE PEOPLE
ALONG. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOE
COX. JOE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
LEAH MARTIN. WELL, WELCOME.
>> HELLO? MY WIFE AND I HAVE
LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE IN WEST
SEATTLE FOR THE LAST 45 YEARS.
WE RAISED OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN THERE, WHO STILL
LIVE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. I AM AN
AVID BASEBALL FAN, I GO TO MOST
MARINER GAMES. EVERY TIME I GO
TO THE BALLPARK, I AM BLASTED
WITH HIGH-VOLUME MESSAGES
GENERATED BY MEN WITH
ELECTRONIC MEGAPHONES. WHEN THE
BULLHORNS ARE NOT ACTIVE,
NOISEMAKERS BETWEEN HOME PLATE
IS BETWEEN 65 AND 80 DECIBELS.
YESTERDAY, I RECORDED SOUND
LEVELS BETWEEN 95 AND 106 WHEN
THE LOUDSPEAKERS ARE ACTIVE AT
THE SAME LOCATION. THIS IS WELL
BEYOND THE POINT AT WHICH
PERMANENT HEARING LOSS CAN
OCCUR. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
WERE WALKING IN BETWEEN ME AND
THE BULLHORNS AND WERE EXPOSED
TO EVEN HIGHER LEVELS OF SOUND.
THIS IS NOT FAIR, IT IS NOT
RIGHT, IT CAN'T BE LEGAL. I
SPOKE WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS
IN THE AREA, WHO SAID THERE WAS
NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE
IT WAS A FREE SPEECH ISSUE.
THAT IS NOT CORRECT. I HAVE NO
PROBLEM WITH THEIR MESSAGE, IT
IS JUST THE VOLUME OF WHICH IT
IS PLAYED OUT TO ME. PLEASE SEE
IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN
DO TO HELP WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LEAH MARTIN, AND LEAH WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN TAYLOR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LEAH MARTIN.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES PILOT. I
HAVE BEEN PRACTICING
ARCHITECTURE IN SEATTLE FOR 30
YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE ZONING
CODE AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THAT ENTIRE TIME, I WANT CITY
COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT OUR
HOUSING CRISIS IS FAR OUTPACING
THE TRAJECTORY OF THE
FORTHCOMING PLAN AND SODA
CONING UPDATES, EVEN TAKING
INTO CONSIDERATION THE MOST
AGGRESSIVE ALTERNATE. BYPASSING
THE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
PILOT, IT HELPS US COURSE
CORRECT AND GIVES CITY PLANNERS
AND ARCHITECTS, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THE CHANCE TO
INNOVATE, JUST LIKE THE PILOT,
THE LIVING BUILDING PILOT, THE
RESIDENTIAL PILOT. THE POINT OF
THIS PILOT IS TO PILOT. A WAY
TO TEST HOW WE CAN BETTER THE
CITY . BY NOT PASSING THIS
PILOT, CITY COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW
THAT BLACK OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS
WILL DIE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
YOU WILL BE VOTING DOWN 60
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST UNITS IN
THE CENTRAL AREA, 10 AFFORDABLE
CO-OP UNITS IN BRIGHTON, FELT
30 AFFORDABLE CO-OP UNITS, ALL
SERVING HOUSEHOLDS WITH LESS
THAN 30% AMI.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JUSTIN TAYLOR, JUSTIN WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY NATHAN BECKWITH.
GO AHEAD, JUSTIN.
>> HI. MY NAME IS JUSTIN. I AM
SPEAKING AGAINST THE PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE AB WORKER PAY
AND LABOR STANDARDS. THE ISSUES
I WANT TO BRING FORWARD ARE NOT
THE 24% REDUCTION IN THE PAY
RATE THAT IS PROPOSED, OR THE
OVER 53% REDUCTION IN MILEAGE
REIMBURSEMENT. TODAY, IT IS THE
REDUCTION AND THE TIME WE HAVE
TO ACCEPT AN OFFER. CURRENTLY,
IT IS 120 SECONDS, PROPOSED TO
BE REDUCED TO 45 SECONDS. SO, A
63% REDUCTION IN THE TIME WE
HAVE TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO
PULL OVER TO THE ROAD OR GET
OFF OUR BICYCLES AND ACTUALLY
REVIEW AN OFFER AND ACCEPT IT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE 20 PROPOSED
CHANGES BEFORE THE GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE. I WOULD JUST ASK
YOU, HOW DOES THAT REDUCE FEES?
HOW DOES THAT MAKE THIS SAFER?
HOW DOES IT MAKE IT BETTER FOR
WORKERS, RESTAURANTS, FOR
CUSTOMERS?
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NATHAN BECKWITH, AND NATHAN
WILL BE CALLED -- FOLLOWED BY
ETHAN ROBINSON. GO AHEAD,
NATHAN.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS NATHAN. I
DO INSTACART AND DOOR DASH. I
AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE
SARA NELSON'S PROPOSAL TO CUT
OUR PAY. BEFORE RUNOFF, I WAS
RUNNING FROM 9:00 IN THE
MORNING UNTIL 3:00 THE NEXT
MORNING FIVE OR SIX DAYS A WEEK
AND I WAS BARELY TO PAY RENT,
CAR INSURANCGAS, PHONE BILL,
AND PUT FOOD IN THE
REFRIGERATOR. YOU GAVE US
MINIMUM WAGE AND REPLACE THAT
WITH $19 AN HOUR, WHICH
DOESN'T TAKE OUR REAL COST AND
TIME INTO ACCOUNT. IT MEANS
PUTTING A SUB MINIMUM WAGE INTO
LAW. MEASURING BUSINESS FROM
JANUARY THROUGH APRIL IS
SHORTSIGHTED, AT BEST. MORE
LIKELY, DISINGENUOUS. THESE
APPS ARE INTENTIONALLY DRIVING
DOWN DEMAND IN OUR AREA.
FINALLY, GETTING PAID MINIMUM
WAGE IS GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO
ENGAGE IN PERSONAL HEALTH GOALS
AND HIGHER EDUCATION. SARA
NELSON, YOU SAID THIS DECISION
HAS NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS. YOU
ARE RIGHT. IF YOU DO WHAT DOOR
DASH ASKS AND PASS A SUB
MINIMUM WAGE FOR GIG WORKERS,
THESE CORPORATIONS IN OTHER
CITIES WILL DO THE SAME. THIS
IS DANGEROUS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ETHAN ROBINSON, AND ETHAN
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN BOYD.
GO AHEAD, ETHAN.
>> AT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM ETHAN ROBINSON, I
AM HERE TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT
FOR THE PROPOSED CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES PILOT PROGRAM. FOR
NEARLY 40 YEARS, OUR AFFILIATE
HAS DILIGENTLY SERVED THIS
REGION IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT
HOMES AND BUILD COMMUNITIES.
THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO EMPOWER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO
FUNCTION AS DEVELOPERS,
ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS,
ADDRESSING COMMUNITY AMENITIES
AND COLLABORATING WITH GROUPS
LIKE OURS TO CREATE BOTH
AFFORDABLE RENTAL AND HOME
OWNERSHIP UNITS. THE
HOMEOWNERSHIP SOLUTION
SPONSORED BY THIS PILOT PROGRAM
WILL UNLOCK THE DREAM OF HOME
OWNERSHIP FROM MANY WHO WERE
PREVIOUSLY EXCLUDED FROM THIS
OPPORTUNITY. THE AUTHORITY OF
SEATTLE HAS ALREADY TAKEN
COMMENDABLE STEPS TO ADDRESSING
THE HOUSING CRISIS AND THIS
PILOT PROGRAM BUILDS ON THESE
EXEMPLARY WORK BY PROVIDING
MORE INDIVIDUALS WITH SAFE,
DECENT, AND AFFORDABLE HOMES.
THIS INITIATIVE WILL CONTRIBUTE
TO BUILDING STRONGER, MORE
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SUSAN BOYD, AND SUSAN WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY LILLIAN RENTALS.
>> HOLD ON A SECOND. I
APPRECIATE PEOPLE'S
ENGAGEMENTS IN FELLOW
COMMENTERS' COMMENTS, BUT I
WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE NOT
MAKE AUDIBLE SOUNDS OF
APPRECIATION WHILE PEOPLE ARE
GETTING READY TO SPEAK. AGAIN,
IT DOES MARGINALLY SLOW THINGS
DOWN AS ME HAVING TO SAY THIS.
SO, THANK YOU. SORRY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSEL. THANKS
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I
JUST WANT TO SUPPORT FOR THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES HIGHLIFE
PROGRAM. I WAS VERY EXCITED TO
SEE THIS COMMUNITY TO
INCENTIVIZE AND SUPPORT THE
CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AT VIRTUALLY NO COST TO THE
CITY. DENSITY IS WHAT WE NEED
IN THIS CITY TO CREATE MORE
AFFORDABILITY. IT IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR MY
ORGANIZATION, THE WEATHER
HOUSING, THE LARGEST ON --
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE
CITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND
DEVELOPMENT ON THE
REDEVELOPMENT SITE THAT WE
HAVE. THAT WOULD MAKE IT MUCH
MORE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE. AND
I KNOW THIS IS TRUE FOR
PROJECTS AROUND CITIES. SO,
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, AND
PLEASE SUPPORT THE CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LILLIAN RAMBO'S, WHO WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN STEARNS
THAT. WILLIAM?
>> HI, MY NAME IS LILLIAN
RAMBO, AND I'M ALSO AN
ASPIRING DEVELOPER IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. THROUGH MY
ORGANIZATION, LEGACY RESTORER,
IN WHICH WE ARE HELPING TO --
HELPING OUR COMMUNITY TO GAIN
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS BUT ALSO
HELP THEM HAVE A PLACE OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
WE FEEL LIKE THIS PILOT PROGRAM
WILL HELP TO TAKE DOWN SOME OF
THE BARRIERS THAT SMALL
DEVELOPERS AND PEOPLE TRYING TO
GET INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
HOUSING UNITS IN SEATTLE. I
KNOW OED HAD A PILOT PROGRAM
FOR BUSINESSES DURING COVID.
THAT REALLY HELPED STREAMLINE
AND GIVE ACCESS AND PRIORITY TO
SMALLER BUSINESSES, AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES ACT AND I
HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JOHN. JOHN WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY GARY.
>> THE PAY OF BILL PROMISED A
GUARANTEED MINIMUM WAGE, BUT I
AM MAKING ONLY $2.18 MORE PER
DELIVERY THEN BEFORE THE BILL
AND MY DELIVERIES ARE DOWN 65%.
MONEY COMES ONLY FROM ORDERS.
THERE IS NO WAY TO SPEND --
SPIN THAT POSITIVELY. WORKERS
ARE MAKING WAY LESS NOW THAN
BEFORE THE BILL. ONLY INSTACART
AND SHOPPING ORDERS ARE PAYING
BETTER BUT THOSE ARE ONLY ABOUT
10% TO 15% OF THE MARKET.
DESPITE BEING ALMOST 100% OF
THE PRO PAY UP SPEAKERS HERE AT
COUNSEL. THIS WEEKEND, I WAS
ATTACKED ONLINE AND AND FALSELY
ACCUSED OF BEING A WEALTHY PAID
LOBBYIST FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS
IS A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO
ATTACK US PERSONALLY AND
ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE US.
INSTEAD OF ARGUING FACTS AND
DATA BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ARGUE
THE DATA. IT IS AN ADMISSION OF
FAILURE. ATTACKING GIG WORKERS
WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR GIG
WORKERS IS DEPLORABLE. YOU ARE
ALL TELLING ON YOURSELVES.
RESTAURANTS ARE NOW DOWN 30%.
IF THE RESTAURANTS ARE MAKING
MONEY, GIG WORKERS MAKE MONEY.
THE PAY OF BILL IS NOT SOME
MONEY MAGIC TREE. WE ONLY GET
PAID FOR ORDERS WE DELIVER. IT
IS REALLY THAT SIMPLE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS GARY. AND THEN, WE WILL
FINISH WITH OUR LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER FOR NOW, JASON.
>> AT AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT
BILL OF LOCATION, MATTER
WHAT THE FORM, IS THE LOWEST
FORM OF ARGUMENT. IT HAS NO
PLACE IN THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT MATH AND I WOULD
LIKE TO ABOUT PERSONAL STORIES
OF RESTAURANTS. THE MATH IS,
CALCULUS WAS NOT DONE. SOLVING
FOR X WAS NOT DONE IN 2022.
$5.44 -- WHATEVER. BUT,
WHATEVER THE GIG COMPANIES DO,
IF THEY RAISE THEIR RATES, THAT
IS UP TO THEM. ARE YOU KIDDING
ME? ANDY LEWIS WENT TO BERKELEY
AND HE DOESN'T KNOW CALCULUS?
IS THAT BILL OF LOCATION? NO,
IT IS NOT. HE DIDN'T DO
CALCULUS. HE DIDN'T SOLVE FOR
X. $5.44 PER MINUTE, AND X IS
THE QUOTE. THEY COULD RAISE THE
RATES. THEY DIDN'T SOLVE FOR X
POINT THEY DIDN'T SEE THE $35
COMING. THE MATH IS SIMPLE.
SARA NELSON, YOU HAVE DONE THE
CALCULUS. THE PRICES WILL BE
LOWER. LOWER PRICES MEAN MORE
ORDERS, HIGHER PRICES MEAN LESS
ORDERS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST IN
PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS SECTION
WILL BE JASON. THEN, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> THE AVERAGE PAY FOR THE
PREVIOUS SEVEN DAYS IS $10.56
PER HOUR, THAT IS HALF OF THE
CITY'S MINIMUM WAGE. MY 50%
DROP IN INCOME DIRECTLY
CORRELATES WITH THE LOSS OF
REVENUE. SEATTLE'S RESTAURANTS
ARE FISHING FROM THIRD-PARTY
APPS. 97% OF RESTAURANTS, I
HAVE TOLD YOU, THEY ARE
HURTING. THEY NEED A CHANGE. A
REVIVAL NEEDS TO BE
IMPLEMENTED. IT IS URGENT.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. I NEED TO
FIND THEM ON MY COMPUTER. I
HAVE IT -- MEGAN, DO YOU HAVE A
LIST OF THE REMOTE SPEAKERS? I
DON'T HAVE THEM UP ANYMORE.
>> YES. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE McCOY.
STEPHANIE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
RICHARD KORESH. STEPHANIE, GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
STEPHANIE McCORD, I AM AN
ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHY NEIGHBORS.
I AM CALLING IN SUPPORT FOR
COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES'S
COMMUNITY PLAYLIST. WELL IT
DOESN'T SEEM THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IN THE PAST, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES AND HER
OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR THE PAST
TWO YEARS ON THIS LEGISLATION.
IT IS INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE
THAT THIS LAND-USE LEGISLATION
WILL DIE TODAY. WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AND
COMMEND ITS INCLUSION IN THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. I CAN'T COMPREHEND
WHY MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE PRICES,
WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE WHEN
SOME COUNCILMEMBERS MENTIONED
IT FOR WHY THEY VOTED AGAINST
IT TO FIX REGULATORY ISSUES
THAT POSE PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW.
FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME, I
WANT TO REMIND THE COUNSEL OF
THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT
THIS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
BENEFIT FROM THIS. THE COMPLETE
COMMUNITIES COALITION, CHIEF
SEATTLE FUND, MASTER BUILDER,
UPLIFTING NORTHWEST, SEEK
BUSINESS ALLIANCE, THE CRESCENT
COLLABORATIVE, THE CULTURAL --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RICHARD DORIS. RICHARD WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY JOE KINSLER.
REMEMBER TO PRESS *6 TO HEAR
THE MESSAGE IF YOU HAVE BEEN
MUTED. GO AHEAD, RICHARD.
RICHARD, HAVE YOU PRESS *6?
OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON, FOR NOW,
TO JOE, AND THEN WE WILL TRY
BACK WITH RICHARD. GO AHEAD,
JOE, PLEASE.
>> OKAY, THANKS. JOE HERE. I
JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS
THE COUNSEL NUMBER ONE ON THE
PARKS PLAN. I THINK THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT NOT DOING
ANYTHING IN THE PARKS TO CLEAR
OUT THESE INVADERS HE HAS ALSO
BEEN STOCKED AND HARASSED BY
JULIO HERNANDEZ WHO ALSO --
SENT FRIENDS DOWN THERE TO GIVE
A HARD TIME. OUR DEAR ENEMY,
THAT RACIST PIG ALEX ZIMMERMAN,
DO YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN STOP
HIM COMPLETELY? JUST BAN
GREETINGS. THAT IS WHAT JOEY
CASTLE IS CERTAIN TO DO AND I
THINK YOU SHOULD EXPEL HIM FOR
AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AT A TIME.
HE IS JUST A HORRIBLE PERSON
AND HE DESERVES TO BE DISBURSED
FOR TREATING THE WAY HE TREATS
YOU. IT IS ABOMINABLE, AND
DISGUSTING, AND YOU SHOULD BAN
HIM FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN FOR
THESE DISGUSTING SO-CALLED
GREETINGS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER WILL BE NICK HATE AND
NICK WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JORDAN
SULLIVAN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NICK AND I AM
AN AID WORKER FOR SEVEN YEARS
WITH WELL OVER 16,000 ORDERS
OVER ALL MAJOR APPS. I AM UP
OPPOSED TO SARA NELSON'S
PROPOSAL THAT WOULD INCLUDE --
LEAD TO SUBPAR PAID NECESSARY
FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THIS
IS THE ONLY INDUSTRY I KNOW
WHERE THE LONGER YOU WORK FOR
THEM, THE LESS YOU GET PAID.
THEY HAVE CHANGED THAT AND FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, I HAVE
HAD A RAISE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO MEET FINANCIAL TARGETS IN A
FIVE DAY WORK WEEK. LAST WEEK,
I AVERAGED $47 PER HOUR OVER
THREE HOURS. THESE CUTS ARE
SEVERE AND DO NOTHING TO
ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE
OF WHY THERE ARE THESE
OUTRAGEOUS FEES, AND PUNISH
WORKERS FOR TIPPING OPTIONS.
MINIMUM WAGE DOESN'T APPLY TO
CONTRACTORS BECAUSE WE DON'T
WORK PER HOUR, WE WORK PER
ORDER. WE PAY OUR OWN EXPENSES,
TAXES MUCH HIGHER. CALIFORNIA
IMPLEMENTED A 120% MINIMUM WAGE
TO COMPENSATE. IF NOTHING ELSE,
TRANSPARENCY OPTIONS ARE THE
MOST EGREGIOUS, AND MAKE
DELIVERY WORK ON PENETRABLE FOR
DRIVERS AND CUSTOMERS ALIKE. I
IMPLORE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A
DEEPER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE JORDAN SULLIVAN AND
JORDAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ALICE LOCKHART. GO AHEAD,
JORDAN.
>> HEY, YEAH. I AM JUST CALLING
IN TODAY TO REALLY KIND OF ASK
FOR THE CITY TO OPEN COMMUNITY
CENTERS AND REALLY PLACES
AVAILABLE FOR SHELTERS FOR
THOSE 430 ASYLUM-SEEKERS THAT
ARE ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR SHELTER
OVER THE NEXT WEEK. THESE
FOLKS, 300 OF WHICH, ARE
CURRENTLY FORCED TO CAMP AROUND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BECAUSE THE
CITY HAS NOT PROVIDED THEM
ADEQUATE HOUSING. THESE PEOPLE
ARE SCARED, UNDER LAW, TO ASK
FOR THIS IN OUR COUNTRY. BUT,
THEY ARE BEING FORCED TO SLEEP
ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW SO I
AM ASKING YOU TO WORK WITH KING
COUNTY TO EXPEDITE STATE
FUNDING AND PROVIDE SHELTER.
ESPECIALLY FOR THE OVER 80
CHILDREN WHO ARE NOW SHELTERING
OUTSIDE. THAT'S ALL I GOT. I
YIELD MY TIME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. I
AM ALICE LOCKHART. I'M WITH
360 SEATTLE, WE SUPPORT THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES PILOT. IN
A MOMENT WHERE THE CITY FACES A
DIFFICULT CLIP, SEATTLE
DESPERATELY NEEDS TO CREATE
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FORTUNATELY FOR THE NEW
COUNSEL, THIS WELL RESEARCHED
PILOT DOES EXACTLY THAT. THIS
MODEL POLICY IS BACKED BY TWO
YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
IT WOULD ENSURE THAT AT LEAST 1
IN 3 UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AND
UNITS ARE IN WALKING DISTANCE
OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS
ALLOWS FOR HOMEOWNERS TO BUILD
GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WILL WE
INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
STRATEGIES, OUR COMMUNITIES CAN
LIVE WHERE WE WORK, STUDY, AND
PRAY, WE DRIVE LESS, LESS
CLIMATE POLLUTION. WE ARE MORE
CONNECTED, MORE CLIMATE
RESILIENCE. WE CAN BUILD A
FUTURE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR
FAMILIES BY INVESTING IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHO ARE
AFFECTED BY THIS CLIMATE CHAOS,
AND WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
RESPOND TO THESE COMMUNITIES.
CLIMATE IS FOR JUSTICE. VOTE
YES FOR THIS PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
-- EXCUSE ME -- OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS DANIEL HEFNER.
DANIEL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JADE
WEISS. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD,
DANIEL.
>> HELLO. I AM A CAPITOL HILL
RESIDENT CALLING ABOUT SECTOR
HOUSING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES'
COMMUNITY PILOT BILL. I SEE
THIS BILL AS AN EASY WIN FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDING
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH NO
COST TO THE CITY. THIS BILL
SHOULDN'T BE CONTROVERSIAL.
THERE IS NO WAY TO ALIGN AN
ADDITION SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WITH A VOTE AGAINST THE
THOUGHTFUL BALANCE AND COSTLY
PILOT PROGRAM WHICH, BY THE
WAY, IS SUPPORTED BY LOW INCOME
HOUSING PROVIDERS AND OTHER
COMMUNITY GROUPS, SUCH AS
OURSELVES. EVERYONE, I THINK,
AGREES THAT WE ARE IN A CRISIS
SITUATION WITH HOUSING IN THE
CITY, AND SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE
IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO VOTE FOR
IN NONCONTROVERSIAL BILL. THAT
IS ALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JADE WEISS AND JADE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY LOIS MARTIN.
>> MY NAME IS JADE, I AM WITH
HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE COUNSEL.
I SAY TELL YOU TO DROP THE
NEOLIBERAL THEATRICS AND FOCUS
ON SOLUTIONS LIKE HOUSING FIRST
TO ADDRESS THE GOVERNMENT
-INDUCED HUMAN RIGHTS CRISES IN
SEATTLE INCLUDING NUMBERS OF
SUICIDAL SEEKING PEOPLE,
INCLUDING FAMILIES WITH ELDERS
NOW HAVE ZERO FAMILY OPTIONS.
THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND BY
KING COUNTY, WHO FUNDED
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE
POCKETS OF PREDATORY
NONPROFITS. THIS IS A SANCTUARY
CITY, YET YOU MAKE A MOCKERY OF
THAT TITLE. NUMBER TWO, STOP
WASTING MONEY ON THIS. NUMBER
THREE, LOW INCOME HOUSING HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BAD
ACTOR, TITUTIONAL
RIGHTS. THIS CANNOT BE IGNORED.
LOOK AT THE HOUSING THAT WE
HAVE. UNINHABITABLE, WHILE THE
EMERGENCY SHELTER INTAKE
INCLUDES PREDATORY LANGUAGE
THAT INFRINGES ON FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS. INSTEAD OF
WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR "
UNAUTHORIZED" YOU NEED TO
DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO
PROVIDERS. WE HAD CONTACTED
STARTING WITH THE CITY AND IT
NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER FOR THIS GROUP WILL BE
LOIS MARTIN.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS LOIS MARTIN. I AM A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE DISTRICT 3.
I ASKED THAT YOU NOT PASS THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITY LEGISLATION
USING THE LANGUAGE OF JUSTICE
TO GET US AWAY FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY IS
PROBLEMATIC. OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
COULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED
WITH CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO THIS HAS
INCREASED TAXES FOR MANY OF US.
THIS IS IMPACTING -- IN MY
COMMUNITY. THIS WAS
COMMENDABLE, BUT WAS LOST IN
THE PAST TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND
IS NO DIFFERENT THAN CURRENT
NONPROFIT HOUSING MODELS. AT
LEAST WITH THE OWNERSHIP MODEL,
EVEN IF THERE WERE NO
GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO PROTECT
THE PERSON THERE. PLEASE VOTE
NO ON ALL VERSIONS OF THIS LAW
WITHOUT SUSPICION.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
BACK TO IN PERSON SPEAKERS. OUR
FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE STEVE.
STEVE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
KIMBERLY WOLF.
>> I LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
PROPOSAL OF LAND-USE FOR YOUR
35 PILOT PROJECT. BUT FIRST, I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU REALLY
BELIEVE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE. WE
HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS. PEOPLE
CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING. LET'S
LOWER THEIR WAGES, THAT'S
REALLY GOING TO HELP! NO.
LET'S GO TO WHAT I REALLY CAME
FOR, THE IMPACT OF HOUSING. WE
HAVE BEEN ON THIS TRACK FOR A
VERY LONG TIME. WE HAVE GIVEN
DEVELOPERS AND ALL SORTS OF
PEOPLE SUBSIDIES, AND YOU KNOW
WHAT? IT IS GETTING WORSE. IF
YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE
SUBSIDIES, IT OUGHT TO BE TO
THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE IF YOU GIVE
YOUR SUBSIDIES TO DEVELOPERS,
THEY ONLY PUT IT IN THEIR
POCKETS! IT IS ADDED. THEY
STILL SELL AT MARKET RATE. I
HAVE BEEN IN FREMONT FOR QUITE
A WILD, AND WE USED TO HAVE A
LOT OF HOUSING THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE LOW MARKET. YOU
DON'T SEE MUCH OF IT ANYMORE.
THEY GOT NICE PERMITS AND STUFF
FOR IT. THIS IS THE SAME LINE.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KIMBERLY WOLF. KIMBERLY
REALLY -- WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA SCHROEDER.
>> I CAN USE THE SHORTER ONE,
IF YOU LIKE.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
KIMBERLY WOLF, GIG WORKER. THE
COMMITTEE FOR PAY UP AND THE
REVISIONS THAT ARE COMING
THROUGH, I THINK THEIR JOB
SHOULD BE TO THOROUGHLY VET AND
HAVE A FULL STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS, AND THAT HAS NOT
HAPPENED. IT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE
BUM'S RUSH, AND WHEN IT COMES
TO YOU, I AM HOPING THAT YOU
ARE GOING TO SEND IT RIGHT BACK
AND TELL THEM TO ACTUALLY DO
THE WORK, BECAUSE THE WORK HAS
NOT BEEN DONE. AND THE DATA IS
NOT THERE. I HEAR A LOT OF
COMPANIES SAYING A LOT OF
THINGS AND THROWING OUT
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NUMBERS,
BUT NO ONE IS ACTUALLY GIVING
THE DATA, AND THAT IS WHAT WE
NEED. OLS IS SUPPOSED TO BE
GETTING THIS. THEY HAVE SIX
MONTHS TO DO IT, BUT IT'S --
THIS IS SUCH A PUSH TO
COMPLETELY REVERSE THIS,
INCLUDING LOWERING THE DATA
BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GIVE IT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TO SHARE OUR SCHROEDER.
FOLLOWING HER WILL BE FREDDIE
McAFEE.
>> SO, HELLO. I AM HERE TODAY
AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF SHARE.
TO SHARE ITS A GROUP OF
FORMERLY HOMELESS AND HOMELESS
MEN AND WOMEN. WE ARE HERE
TODAY TO DECLARE SUPPORT FOR
THE CONNECTED COMMUNITY PILOT
PROGRAM. I AM CURRENTLY
HOMELESS. HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A
CHOICE! IT IS A SIGN OF FAILURE
OF OUR SYSTEM AND WE KNOW WHAT
THE CURE IS. THE CURE IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE KNOW
LOCATIONS THAT HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING HAVE LOWER RATES OF
HOMELESSNESS. THE HOMELESS
PEOPLE YOU SEE ON THE STREET
RIGHT NOW ARE REFUGEES OF THIS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
EVERY STEP WE TAKE TOWARD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT IS A
STEP TOWARD ENDING
HOMELESSNESS. PLEASE DO THE
RIGHT THING TODAY. PLEASE VOTE
FOR THIS PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TEDDY McAFEE, AND FOLLOWING
TEDDY WILL BE JJ WELNER.
>> AT AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. AND
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CENTRAL AREA ASSOCIATION. WE
HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 60
YEARS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF
THE DISTRICT. WE WERE AWARDED
$2.5 MILLION FOR THE CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES PILOT AND THAT
CONTRACT WAS SIGNED, AND WE
WERE EXPECTING TO BUILD 60
UNITS FOR BLACK FAMILIES, FOR
HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND IT WAS
TAKEN. WE WERE DISMAYED ABOUT
THAT. AND STILL ARE. A LOT OF
WORK WAS PUT INTO THAT. AND SO,
I AM DISHEARTENED. WE ARE
DISHEARTENED, AS AN
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN
AROUND FOR SO LONG AND HAVE HAD
SO MANY GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES
COME THROUGH OUR DOORS. SO, WE
URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. WHAT
HAS HAPPENED, THIS IS ABOUT
HOMEOWNERSHIP. NOT JUST
SEATTLE, BUT ALL OVER. IT IS
JUST DIFFICULT. SO, AGAIN, I
ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER.
HOMEOWNERSHIP IS VERY
IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK
FAMILIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JJ, FOLLOWED BY SHARON.
>> JJ HERE. I HAVE BEEN WITH
THE CA Y FOR ABOUT 22 YEARS,
LONGEST BOARD MEMBER AND
VOLUNTEER THERE, ALONG WITH THE
HOUSING ASSOCIATION. WE SERVE
FAMILIES. THE MAJORITY OF THEM
DO NOT OWN HOMES AND DO NOT
THINK THEY EVER CAN OWN A HOME,
THEY DO NOT THINK IT IS A
POSSIBILITY. THE PROJECT WE
HAVE GOING IS PROBABLY THE
LARGEST EVENT FOR US IN OUR
HISTORY. WE HAVE BEEN AROUND
FOR OVER 62 YEARS. IF YOU CHECK
WITH YOUR FAMILIES, YOU WILL
FIND OUT SOMEBODY IN YOUR
FAMILY WENT THROUGH THE DOOR OF
CA Y FOR ATHLETICS, OR
SOMETHING. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A
VERY POWERFUL AFTERSCHOOL
PROGRAM. FOR A PROVIDER FOR THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND OUR SUMMER CAMP IS OFF THE
CHAIN. KIDS GO TO OUR SUMMER
CAMP, THEY SOAR IN SCHOOL IN
THE FALL, THEY ARE ON THE HONOR
ROLL. THEY HAVE TALENT SHOWS,
MY DAUGHTER IS A PROFESSIONAL
ACTOR AND PRODUCER. SO, THEY
ARE READY FOR THE WORLD. SO,
CUTTING THAT IS THE WRONG THING
TO DO. PLEASE RECONSIDER. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SHARON. FOLLOWING SHARON
WILL BE MICHAELL WOLFF.
>> HI, THERE. MY NAME IS
SHARON. I AM AN ARCHITECT AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. I WORK WITH
MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
AND AROUND THE SOUTH END AND
CENTRAL AREA. ALL OF THEM ARE
BLACK LEAD. I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW MANY TIMES THIS PILOT HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED IN OUR
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST
YEAR. THERE ARE SO MANY
ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT
ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY REALLY
NEED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE VERY
OFTEN LEANING TOWARD AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP BECAUSE THIS IS
THE WAY TO BRING PEOPLE BACK
WHO ARE DISPLACED OR TO PREVENT
PEOPLE FROM BEING DISPLACED.
OUR LAND-USE CODE AND PERMIT
PROCESS IS OVERLY ONEROUS AND
THE PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO
EXPLORE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF WE
ALLOW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS A
PATH TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN
SOLUTIONS. THIS IS CALLED A
PILOT PROJECT FOR A REASON, SO
YOU CAN TRY AND SEE WHAT WORKS.
A BOLD MOVE LIKE THIS IS NEEDED
TO MOVE THESE BLACK LEAD
PROJECTS ALONG. IF IT FAILS,
THEN THESE BLACK-LED PROJECTS
WILL CONTINUE THE TRAJECTORY OF
THE 20 YOUR PATH THAT THEY
USUALLY --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MICHAEL WOLF. FOLLOWING
MICHAEL WILL BE, I BELIEVE, IT
IS MADISON WAGNER.
>> AT AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.
MICHAEL WOLF, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT DRIVE FORWARD. THIS
REVISION ON PAY UP IS NEEDED.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS ALREADY OF LOST
ORDERS. AS THE COMMENT SAID
EARLIER, WORKERS EARNING $10 AN
HOUR, THAT IS HALF OF MINIMUM
WAGE. THIS IS NOT WORKING. WHEN
THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED THE
REVISIONS TALK ABOUT "WE NEED
DATA," IN THE ORIGINAL
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, THERE WAS
NO DATA! THEY PROPOST ANY DATA'
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO
WITH THAT, BUT IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY
GERMANE. IF THE LOCK TO GET
ADOPTED AS THEY WANTED IT
WITHOUT DATA AND THEN FAIL,
HERE WE ARE WITH A FAILED LAW.
LEADERSHIP IS FIXING WHAT IS
BROKEN AND ADMITTING THAT THERE
WAS A MISTAKE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS -- I BELIEVE IT IS MADISON,
FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE.
>> MY NAME IS MADISON, I AM A
FORMER GIG WORKER, CUSTOMER,
AND SUPPORT PAYOUT. LAST WEEK,
SARA NELSON TRIED TO DEFLECT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ROLLING BACK
THE PAYOUT POLICY. "YES, I DID
ADVANCE THIS LEGISLATION, BUT
THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS
FORGED BETWEEN DRIVE FORWARD IN
THE NETWORK COMPANIES." WHILE
UBER'S OWN REPORT SHOWS THAT
THE FUND DRIVE FORWARD. IN
FACT, ALL FIVE OF DRIVE FORWARD
BOARD MEMBERS ARE UBER OR LIFT
EXPERT ALSO DRIVE FORWARD BOARD
SECRETARY IS THE BMW POLICY
MANAGER AT UBER AND WHILE SHE
IS ACTIVELY LOBBYING CITY
COUNCIL TO CUT WORKER PAY, SHE
IS SITTING ON DRIVE AWARDS
BOARD. ACTUAL GIG WORKERS
FOUGHT TO KEEP THESE CORPORATE
POSITIONS OUT OF THAT POLICY.
NO REAL DRIVER ACCURACY GROUP
WITH AGREE TO A POLICY THAT
REMOVES DRIVERS RATES' OF
IMPORTS IN AND REMOVE
TRANSPARENCY. I GUESS WE COULD
HAVE JUST APPOINTED NELSON TO
UBER TO FILL YOUR COUNCIL SEAT
TO SAVE SOME TIME, BUT THE
DECISION TO ACCEPT AND
INTRODUCE THE BILL IS ALL
YOURS, SO ON THAT. SIDE NOTE,
PLEASE PASS THE COMMUNITIES
ACT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CATHERINE, AND CATHERINE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR LAST
SPEAKER IN THIS IN PERSON GROUP
OF ALEX ZIMMERMAN. GO AHEAD,
CATHERINE.
>> MY NAME IS KAT MUNSON, I AM
THE POLICY AND CAMPAIGN
ASSOCIATE FOR REAL CHANGE IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES'
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
LEGISLATION. AS THIS COUNCIL
KNOWS ALL TOO WELL, OUR CITIES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
REQUIRES A PORTFOLIO OF
EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY
SOLUTIONS. FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW,
THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE HAS BEEN A KEY PART
OF THAT PORTFOLIO, BRINGING LOW
INCOME HOUSING AND GROUND
RESOURCES TO LIFE, INCLUDING
THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB, JUST
BLOCKS FROM THE REAL CHANGE
OFFICE. THESE INTENTIONAL
DEVELOPMENTS ARE TRANSFORMING
LIVES AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
TRANSFORM OUR HOUSING LANDSCAPE
TO CREATE THRIVING HOUSING
COMMUNITIES WITH CRUCIAL THIRD
PLACES. COUNCILMEMEBER
MORALES' CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
LEGISLATION WILL ALLOW MORE OF
THESE DEVELOPMENTS INTO MORE
NEIGHBORHOODS UNDER A PILOT
PROGRAM TO ENSURE THEY ARE
WORKING AS DESIGNED. SEATTLE
CANNOT WASTE ANYMORE TIME
FAILING TO PROVIDE MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE ADD
COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES'
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
LEGISLATION TO THE URGENTLY
NEEDED PORTFOLIO POLICY
SOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
BACK TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS FOR
AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF TIME.
OUR FIRST -- OH, EXCUSE ME --
ALEX ZIMMERMAN, THEN THE REMOTE
SPEAKERS. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
YES, PLEASE.
>> HI. HI. HI. HI, HI. HI. MY
NAME IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN. I WANT
TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING I AM
INTERESTED IN. FOR MANY YEARS,
I HEAR AT COUNCIL CHAMBER
SOMETHING OF CITY LIFE
PROFESSIONAL CONVERSATION. IT
IS VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE THIS FOR MANY
YEARS. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING,
AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 20
YEARS, APPROXIMATELY, WHAT DO
YOU DO? SO, MAYBE RIGHT NOW,
THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE SKIN TO
THE BUNS, YOU KNOW? AND WE COME
BACK 40, 30 YEARS AGO. THIS IS
EXACTLY WHY I WANTED TO SPEAK
ABOUT IT. I LIVE FOR FOUR YEARS
AND THE BELLEVUE POLICE
DEPARTMENT -- WELL, NOT THAT
DEPARTMENT AS I HAVE. SO, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS
WILL BE REMOTE. REMEMBER TO
PLEASE PRESS *6 IF YOU HEAR A
MESSAGE IF YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED ON THE CALL. OUR FIRST
REMOTE SPEAKER IS JULIA BUCK.
JULIA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SANDY
SHEPLER. GO AHEAD, JULIA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS JULIA BUCK. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX. I AM
CALLING IN TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR COUNCILMEMEBER
MORALES' CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
PILOT PROGRAM. I REALLY HAVE
BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE EXTENSIVE
FEEDBACK THAT SHE GOT NOT ONLY
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT
FROM CITY HALL AND OUTSIDE
ORGANIZATIONS. I BELIEVE THAT
ALLOWING DEVELOPMENT THAT IS
NOT CONTROLLED BY CORE PROFIT
THAT LOWERS WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN ADDING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IF IT IS ACTUALLY
AFFORDABLE AS OPPOSED TO $100
SHORT OF MARKET RATE, WHICH
REQUIRES AN INCOME OF OVER
$75,000 A YEAR IN ORDER TO
ACTUALLY BE AFFORDABLE WITHIN
THE PARAMETERS OF 30% INCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS MATTER.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SANDY SHEPLER, AND FOLLOWING
SANDY WILL BE LEONARD JEROME.
GO AHEAD, SANDY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS SANDPLEASE VOTE NO
ON CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.
NATIONWIDE, THERE IS A
STRAIGHT-LINE CORRELATION
BETWEEN HEALTH, WEALTH, AND
TREES. BUT, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T
HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HOUSING
AND LIVING NEAR TREES, WHICH
PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH. THE
DEVELOPMENTS ENVISIONED BY THIS
BILL HAVE NO ROOM FOR TREES.
WHY ARE WE TARGETING FRONT-LINE
COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH COST
HOUSING? THESE ARE COMMUNITIES
WHERE WE SHOULD BE ADDING TREES
RIGHT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, NOT
JUST IN THE PARKS. TREE EQUITY
MEANS EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS
TO TREES. IN CONTRAST, THIS
BILL TELLS MARGINALIZED
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IF THEY WANT
HOUSING, THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP
TREES AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS
THEY PROVIDE. PLEASE VOTE "NO"
ON THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LEONARD JEROME. FOLLOWING
LEONARD WILL BE AREA ON
O'REILLY.
>> HI, AM I READY? HI, I AM A
RENTER AND LIVE IN THE RAVENNA
NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THE CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES BILL. WE ARE IN A
HOUSING SHORTAGE AND WE MUST
PUT AN END TO THE ARBITRARY
HOUSING RULES THAT RESTRICT
HOUSING TO ONLY NEW FAMILIES.
EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, RAN ON
AFFORDABLE, GREEN, HOUSING.
HERE IS THE BILL. IN FACT, IT
IS NOT EVEN A CITYWIDE RULE
CHANGE. THE COUNCIL DOESN'T
EVEN WANT TO DO A PILOT THAT
DOES EXACTLY WHAT THEY PROMISED
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THE
REASON WHY PEOPLE SAY MEMBERS
ON THE COUNCIL DON'T SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BECAUSE
WHEN A SMART PROGRAM LIKE THIS
IS PUT UP TO YOU, YOUR YES VOTE
IS COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE.
WITH THIS NO VOTE TODAY, WE
CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THE PATH
WHERE IN MY CITY AND CHILDREN
BORN THERE CAN NEVER AFFORD TO
LIVE THERE. PLEASE, PUT YOUR
VOTE WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND
VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MARIANA RILEY AND FOLLOWING,
ML H. YOU MAY NEED TO --
>> IT AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
I DRIVE A SMALL CAR THAT GETS
MORE MILES PER GALLON THEN MORE
THAN ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE
ROAD AND BEFORE THIS BILL
PASSED I SPENT MORE THAN 20% OF
MY DAILY INCOME ON GAS. THE
MORE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD, YOU
ARE AT RISK FOR NAILS IN TIRES,
ACCIDENTS, ROCKS IN WINDSHIELD
AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE. THE
EXPENSES FOR JUST KEEPING MY
CAR RUNNING INCLUDING INSURANCE
AND MAINTENANCE AMOUNT TO
$1450, AROUND ONE THIRD OF MY
GROSS INCOME. THESE COSTS ARE
NOT PERSONAL COSTS. THE IRS
CONSIDERS THEM BUSINESS COSTS
FOR US. MOST OF US WITH LITTLE
CARS SPEND EIGHT DOLLARS FOR
DELIVERY HOURS JUST ON KEEPING
OUR CARS OPERATING. $26.50 -8
WALL $19.97 EQUALS EIGHT,
$11.97, WHICH WOULD PUT US
BELOW EARNING EVEN THE STATE
MINIMUM WAGE. $.79 BARELY
COVERS BUSINESS COSTS, $.35
BARELY COVERS MY GAS. PLEASE
KEEP THE BILL IN PLACE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS EMMA H. FOLLOWING EMMA, WILL
BE MATT HUTCHINS. GO AHEAD,
EMMA.
>> PAIN DELIVERY CRISP PER
ORDER UNDER PS IS CRITICAL FOR
THE MINIMUM WAGE TO OPERATE AS
A TRUE MINIMUM WAGE, RATHER
THAN A MAXIMUM. LOOKING THROUGH
THE RECEIPTS FROM THIS WEEKEND,
IT WAS FULL OF BUSY RESTAURANTS
AND STACKED ORDERS, AND I SAW
THAT DOOR DASH ACTUALLY CHOSE
TO CHARGE MORE THAN THE
REQUIRED AMOUNT ON MY ORDERS. I
EARNED $26 PER HOUR BEFORE TIPS
EVEN WITH WAIT TIMES. IN MY
DOWNTIME, I WATCHED BIKERS IN
NEW YORK CITY AND CALIFORNIA ON
YOUTUBE AS THEY RECORD THEIR
DELIVERIES. THEY SHARE WHAT
THEY ARE PAID PER SHIFT WITH
THE SCREENSHOTS AND IN CONTRAST
TO SEATTLE, THEIR HOURLY WAGES
ARE TYPICALLY JUST BELOW THE
RESPECTIVE MINIMUM WAGES,
OFTEN, INCLUDING TIPS.
SWITCHING TO THIS MODEL,
PROPOSING THE REVISION, ALLOWS
THE CORPORATION TO ALLOW THE
SAME PRACTICES THEY USE IN NEW
YORK AND CALIFORNIA WITH A
POSTED MINIMUM WAGE IS INSTEAD
USED AT THE MAXIMUM AND BECAUSE
THE LOWER MINIMUM FAILS TO
ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THE
NECESSARY EXPENSES TO CARS,
DRIVERS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE
WORKING FOR A BASE PAY WELL
BELOW MINIMUM WAGE. THERE MAY
BE A REVISION OUT THERE THAT
CAN IMPROVE THE SYSTEM FOR ALL
STAKEHOLDERS, BUT THE NELSON
REVISION IS --
>> YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT
HUTCHINS, AND FOLLOWING MATT
HUTCHINS IS BJ LAST. GO AHEAD,
MATT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS MATT
HUTCHINS. I AM AN ARCHITECT
WORKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND DEVELOPMENT. TOO MANY
CITIES STRUGGLE WITH
HOMELESSNESS, HIGH RENT,
HOUSING INSTABILITY, PROGRAMS
LIKE THE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
PILOT GIVE US FLEXIBILITY
AROUND ZONING TO UNLOCK A
GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO
THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE
BETTER, MORE INCLUSIVE,
HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE, AND
EMPOWERING LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
THEMSELVES. IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED IT THE
MOST, NOW. HOUSING PRICES HAVE
SKYROCKETED IN THE LAST DECADE
AND THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY. TO
TACKLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE
NEED AS MANY TOOLS AND IN OUR
TOOLBOX, NOW. PLEASE SUPPORT
THE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES ACT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BJ LAST, AND FOLLOWING BJ
WILL BE RUBY HOLLAND. GO AHEAD,
BJ.
>> MY NAME IS BJ LAST. I AM A
HOMEOWNER AND I SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES'
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES PILOT
PROGRAM WITHOUT COUNCILMEMEBER
STRAUSS' AMENDMENT WATERING IT
DOWN. SEATTLE KING COUNTY HAS
BEEN IN A HOMELESSNESS STATE OF
EMERGENCY SINCE 2015. WHAT IS
THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IF THE
COUNCIL IS GOING TO REJECT
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE IT
EASIER TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING? IF YOU ARE ON THE
COUNCIL CAMPAIGNING ON
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS,
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES IS A WAY
TO DO THAT. ALSO, COUNCIL TALKS
A WHOLE LOT ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY. WELL, GUESS WHAT?
INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
HAS PROVEN TO INCREASE PUBLIC
SAFETY. ONE STUDY OF THIS BY
MATTHEW FRIEDMAN AND EMILY
OWENS -- IN THE JOURNAL OF
ECONOMICS -- FOUND THAT
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
"BRINGS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION
IN VIOLENT CRIME." SO, VOTING
FOR CONNECTED COMMUNITIES IS
VOTING FOR IMPROVED PUBLIC
SAFETY. ALSO, I VOTE FOR APPEAL
PAY UP. PRESIDENT NELSON
ADMITTED SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY
THE LEGISLATION DOESN'T TAP
FEES DELIVERIES ARE CHARGING
INSTEAD OF LOWERING WORKER PAY.
FOR THE BEST EXPLANATION --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RUBY HOLLAND, AND FOLLOWING
RUBY WILL BE DAVE BROKER. RUBY,
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS *6.
OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO DAVE.
FOLLOWING DAVE, WILL BE DAVID
HAYNES. GO AHEAD, DAVE.
>> YOU MAY ALSO NEED TO PRESS
-- THERE YOU GO.
>> MY NAME IS DAVE, AND I LIVE
IN DISTRICT FIVE. THERE ARE
MANY REASONS THAT THIS WAS
SILENTLY REJECTED BY THE
LAND-USE COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW
WE NEED MORE HOUSING. IF THAT
LEGISLATION PUSHES AHEAD, IT IS
STILL BAD LEGISLATION.
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES STILL HAS
WAY TOO MANY EXEMPTIONS TO
EXISTING CITY REGULATIONS.
HELPING OUT WITH THE AFFORDABLE
GUIDELINES, WHICH THIS DOES NOT
FOLLOW. PEOPLE KEEP TALKING
ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD CREATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. LOOK IN THE
DETAILS. IT CREATES VERY LITTLE
HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND EVEN DURING A MEETING,
COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES SAID,
THIS IS NOT ABOUT LOW INCOME
HOUSING. COUNCILMEMEBER MORALES
IS STILL PUSHING FOR THIS
LEGISLATION WITH MISLEADING
STATEMENTS LIKE, "IT WON'T
COST THE CITY." THE LAST THING,
THESE COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE
COSTS FOR YEARS TO COME, NOT
JUST DURING THE FIVE YEARS OF
THE PILOT. AGAIN, PLEASE VOTE
NO ON THIS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES. FOLLOWING DAVID, WILL
BE ALBERTO ALVAREZ. GO AHEAD,
DAVID HAYNES.
>> THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES. IT
DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY
YOU OFFER PEOPLE TO BE A COP.
IF YOU ARE IGNORING THE FACT
THAT THE POLICE CHIEF IS
FOLLOWING GEORGE SOROS' POLICE
REFORMS AND RACIST "POLICY,"
THAT KEEPS LOW-LEVEL DRUG
PUSHERS FROM JAIL UNDER 3.5
GRAMS, WHILE POLICIES ARE
PRIORITIZING REPEAT OFFENDERS
FOR HOUSING AND SERVICES FIRST
WITHOUT EVER QUESTIONING THEM
TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY GOT THE
DRUGS, WHILE ALLOWING
DISCRIMINATION OF INNOCENT
HOMELESS AS THE CHIEF BLAMES
THE POOR FOR AN EASIER PAYDAY
-- IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THE COPS
ARE GETTING RICH ON OVERTIME,
NOT FIGHTING CRIME. THEN, WE
NEED COPS TO BE PAID OVERTIME
TO SWEEP UP THESE JUNKIE
THIEVES, TO SEND THEM INTO
TREATMENT, TO QUESTION THEM AND
FIND OUT WHERE THEY GOT IT TO
SHUT DOWN THE DRUGS, BECAUSE
POLICIES HAVE EXACERBATED
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE HOMELESS
CRISIS, AND THE NEXT IS JUST A
LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALBERTO
ALVAREZ, AND THEN WE WILL TRY
AGAIN WITH RICHARD. GO AHEAD,
ALBERTO.
>> HELLO? MY NAME IS ALBERTO. I
AM A DRIVER HERE IN SEATTLE.
WHAT WE NEED IS LIVING WAGES,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND A
POLICE FORCE THAT IS
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF
THIS CITY. WHAT WE DON'T NEED,
IS SARA NELSON TELLING THE LINE
THAT OVERSEEING A FORM OF
ETHNIC CLEANSING AND ECONOMIC
WARFARE. SARA NELSON IS
ENSURING THAT BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WITH FEW
FINANCIAL OPTIONS ARE ALLOWED
THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FOR
SUB MINIMUM PAY WITH THOSE
RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS REMOVED.
SHE SAID THAT 500 WORKERS WERE
POLLED BY GRIND FORWARD, WHICH
IS FUNDED BY UBER. 500 OUT OF
THOUSANDS -- LITERAL THOUSANDS
OF DRIVERS -- 500 ON THE POLL.
LAST MEETING WITH THE ANALYSTS,
THEY GOT BOGGED AND LOST IN THE
SAUCE TALKING ABOUT AMENDMENTS,
REVISIONS, AND REDUCTIONS. THIS
IS A REPEAL. NO REPEAL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST TWO
REMOTE SPEAKERS WILL BE
RICHARD, FOLLOWED BY RUBY
HOLLAND. GO AHEAD, RICHARD, AND
PLEASE PRESS *6 WHEN YOU HEAR
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. OKAY.
HIS PHONE IS NOT WORKING. WE
WILL -- OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER
IS RUBY HOLLAND.
>> HELLO? HELLO? HI, MY NAME IS
RICHARD. I AM A RESIDENT OF
LAKE CITY. I HAVE BEEN A DOOR
DASH DRIVER FOR SIX YEARS,
12,000 TRIPS. FIRST OF ALL,
THIS LAW WAS DESIGNED BY ALL
THE PARTIES INVOLVED. YOUR NEW
PLAN IS OUT OF THE DEAL -- DOOR
DASH, UBER PLAYBOOK. WHY ARE
YOU TRYING TO FIX ANYTHING? WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA. YOU
HAVE NOT GIVEN IT ENOUGH TIME
TO PROVE ITSELF. THAT COMPANY
HAS WANTED TO MAKE A BIG STINK.
IF YOU CALL BACK NOW, THERE IS
NO GUARANTEE THAT ANY COMPANY,
APPLE IS GOING TO DROP THE
FEES. THE FEES SHOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN IN THERE FIVE YEARS AGO.
NONE OF THEM, SARA NELSON
THINGS, ORDERS WILL COME BACK.
THEY REALLY WON'T COME BACK.
IT IS LIKE BOEING SAYING, THEIR
AIRPLANES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE.
SO, THEY DON'T ASK WHY DOOR
DASH CHARGES 30% TO THE
RESTAURANT, AND THEY ARE DOING
IT IN THE PUBLIC ARENA. WHAT
RESPECTFUL COMPANY WOULD DO
THIS? THEY ARE A SLIMY
MIDDLEMAN COMPANY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS RUBY HOLLAND, AND
THEN WE WILL MOVE BACK TO IN
PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> BROKE -- RUBY, PLEASE PRESS
*6. OKAY, WE ARE HAVING
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. SORRY,
RUBY. WE ARE MOVING ON TO IN
PERSON SPEAKERS. OUR NEXT TWO
IN PERSON SPEAKERS ARE JAMES,
FOLLOWED BY ADRIANA.
>> HI. JANE'S. GREETINGS,
COUNCIL. I CAME HERE TO STAND
IN SUPPORT OF GIG WORKERS AND
TO TALK ABOUT NOT ROLLING THOSE
PROTECTIONS BACK. BUT THEN, I
SAW THERE WERE OTHER THINGS ON
THE AGENDA, TOO, THAT REALLY
STRIKE HOME FOR ME. AND I THINK
WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING IN
THIS CITY IS A CRISIS OF
AFFORDABILITY. WHAT IS BEFORE
YOU ISN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW,
HOW DO WE KEEP SEATTLE
AFFORDABLE? BECAUSE SEATTLE IS
NO LONGER AFFORDABLE. HOW DO WE
MAKE SEATTLE AFFORDABLE? WE
MAKE SEATTLE AFFORDABLE BY
HOLDING THE LINE ON LIVING
WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS,
AND NOT DIMINISHING THOSE.
CERTAINLY NOT FOR THE FOLKS AT
THE BOTTOM. AND WE ALSO DO THAT
BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE
HOUSING POLICIES THAT SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES, AND EMBRACE
DIVERSITY AND SUPPORT PEOPLE
STAYING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SO, I URGE YOU TO NOT ROLLBACK
THE GIG WORKER. AND I URGE YOU
--
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ADRIANA FOLLOWED BY
JONATHAN.
>> COUNCIL, SHE WILL HAVE
INTERPRETATION, CAN WE HAVE TWO
MINUTES TO INCLUDE
INTERPRETATION?
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, IT
HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I
HAVE SEEN YOU. HOW ARE YOU?
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> I AM TALKING TO --
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ] TO EXPLAIN THE
POSITION WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.
>> I KNOW YOU HAVE TO TALK TO
THE COUNTY. YET, FOR THAT --
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> THERE WERE TWO ORGANIZATIONS
FOR HOUSING.
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> BUT, WE HAVE TO WAIT TWO
MONTHS FOR THOSE RESOURCES TO
COME.
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> WELL, NOW --
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> 330 PEOPLE --
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ] --
>> ADULTS, KIDS, AND TEENAGERS
--
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ] -- WERE CAMPING --
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> CLOSE TO GARFIELD PARK.
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> SINCE YESTERDAY.
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> WE ARE ASKING YOU --
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> AGAIN --
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> EXCUSE ME. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JONATHAN, FOLLOWED BY
MARCUS.
>> HI, AND I JUST WANT TO LET
EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A
SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE
INTERPRETER AVAILABLE. SO --
>> JONATHAN AND MARCOS AREN'T
HERE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER WILL BE SAMUEL,
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA. IS SAMUEL
HERE? AND GO AHEAD AND MOVE
THAT MIC CLOSE TO YOUR --
>> TAKE THOSE TWO SPOTS, IF
POSSIBLE.
>> NO, THEY WANT TO --
>> OKAY, I CAN SPEAK. I AM
JESSICA. I CAN GO TO ONE
MINUTE. GREAT. HI, I AM
JESSICA. I HAVE BEEN HERE
BEFORE. I AM A RESIDENT HERE IN
SEATTLE AND I'M WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS
ALLIANCE. I JUST WANTED TO ECHO
WHAT ADRIANA IS SAYING. I KNOW
THAT SINCE THE MIGRANTS HAVE
BEEN HERE, THE ASYLUMS HAVE
BEEN HERE MANY, MANY TIMES,
ASKING FOR SUPPORT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUNDING THAT
CAME FROM KING COUNTY, THE $2
MILLION, THERE IS ONLY GOING TO
BE 60 HOTEL ROOMS FOR ONLY
IMMEDIATE FAMILIES, WHICH HAS
RESULTED IN OVER 300 PEOPLE
SLEEPING OUTSIDE LAST NIGHT. IT
WAS FREEZING. THERE WASN'T
ENOUGH BLANKETS. THERE WAS
BARELY ENOUGH TENTS. THERE ARE
CHILDREN THAT ARE MISSING
SCHOOL TODAY. LITERALLY, THIS
IS NOW ON CITY OF SEATTLE
PROPERTY BECAUSE THERE IS
NOWHERE ELSE FOR THE MIGRANTS
TO GO, NOWHERE ELSE FOR THE
ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO GO. WHAT I
DEMAND IS THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING
AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION
THAT ACTUALLY SOLVES THE
PROBLEM LONG-TERM, BECAUSE THE
MIGRANTS ARE JUST OUTSIDE,
CHILDREN HAVING TO SLEEP WHO AR
AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE AND WE
WILL BE HERE -- YOU CAN COME TO
THE PARK AND SEE IT YOURSELF.
>> ROSLYN, ARE YOU STILL HERE?
CURTIS BROWN, GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU. ROSLYN IS? LOOKS LIKE WE
WILL NEED TO MINUTES FOR AN
INTERPRETER FOR ROSLYN.
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> WE ARE SAD TO BE HERE AGAIN
WITH THE SAME CONCERNS THAT WE
HAD FOUR MONTHS AGO.
>> I KNOW THAT IS HARD FOR YOU
BUT IT'S ALSO HARD FOR US FOR
THE FAMILIES, WE ARE CAMPING IN
THAT PARK. WE CAN'T HANDLE
THIS SADNESS ANY MORE FOR OUR
KIDS. EVERY TIME YOU HELP US
WITH SOME DAYS AND A COUPLE OF
WEEKS, IT'S BETTER. SO I ALSO
THANK ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND
TO ALL OF THE VENEZUELAN
PEOPLE. KIDS ARE THE ONES THAT
ARE SUFFERING. YESTERDAY WAS
COLD AND RAINY. WE HAVE A LOT
OF KIDS WITH FEVER AND THEY ARE
SICK RIGHT NOW. IN TWO MONTHS ,
THE RESOURCES WILL COME BUT
RIGHT NOW IT'S REALLY HARD FOR
US. WE ARE ALL ASKING JUST FOR
A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR HELP FOR
US, FOR EVERYONE IN THE CAMP.
PEOPLE WITH KIDS AND EVEN
DISABLED PEOPLE. SO WE THANK
YOU, EVERYONE. YOU KNOW WHAT WE
ARE GOING THROUGH AND WE EXPECT
AN ANSWER FROM YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CURTIS BROWN AND FOLLOWING
CURTIS WILL BE -- BUT GO AHEAD,
CURTIS?
>> CURTIS BROWN, BRIGHTON
COMMUNITIES. 1995, 2709 3rd
AVE. A LONG TIME AGO, FOR A
HOMELESS AGENCY , BROUGHT THE
COMMUNITY TOGETHER. $1.2
MILLION. JUMP FORWARD TO 2021
IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE. BUT THE
ARCHES APARTMENTS. $6.4
MILLION, NO MONEY. BROUGHT THE
COMMUNITY TOGETHER. NICK GOODY
IT SHOULD -- NEGOTIATED
SUCCESSFULLY WITH AMAZON TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I AM HERE IN
SUPPORT OF CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT OFFERS
THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE LIKE ME
AND ALL OF MY COMRADES OUT HERE
WHO ARE INNOVATORS TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR OUR CITY. I AM
ASKING THAT WE PASS THIS.
INNOVATION IS THE VERY TOOLS
THAT WE NEED AND THIS IS WHAT
OFFERS US THAT OPPORTUNITY. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO KNOW WHAT A
PILOT PROJECT IS AND WHAT YOU
NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE
SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF WHAT
MIGHT HAPPEN. WE SHOULD BE
EXCITED OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU. HELLO. I AM HERE
IN SUPPORT OF THE CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES PILOT LEGISLATION.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S A
HOUSING CRISIS WE ARE TRYING TO
ADDRESS, AFFORDABLE, RENTAL,
AND HOMEOWNERSHIP. THIS PILOT ,
WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T ADDRESS
IT WITH JUST ONE EFFORT THAT'S
GOING TO ELIMINATE THIS CRISIS.
WE HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE STEP AT
A TIME AND CHIP AWAY AT IT ONE
EFFORT AT A TIME. ONE
LEGISLATION AT A TIME AND
CONNECTED COMMUNITY LEGISLATION
IS ONE OF THOSE EFFORTS. IT
ALLOWS THE FLEXIBILITY TO HELP
A PROJECT . SOMETIMES IT'S NOT
ALWAYS ABOUT GOING HIGHER.
SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT SPREADING
OUT THE HOME. GOING HIGHER HAS
ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT COMES
WITH IT. AND, A LOT OF CONCERNS
ABOUT BEING EXEMPT BUT WE SEE
THAT IN ORDINANCE 126854
ALREADY ALLOWS THE EXEMPTION
WHEN YOU ALLOW, HAVE ON-SITE
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS .
>> THANK YOU. LYNN READ AND
FOLLOWING -- COULD YOU PLEASE
WAIT ONE MOMENT? I JUST WANT TO
NOTE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT HAS
BEEN EXTENDED TWICE. IT WENT
FROM ABOUT 2:03 TO 20 MINUTES
AND THEN ANOTHER 20 MINUTES AND
IT HAS NOW BEEN AN HOUR. WE DO
HAVE SOME BILLS AND AMENDMENTS
ON THE AGENDA, HOWEVER SEVERAL
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK SINCE WE BEGAN THE
MEETING AND IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION I WOULD JUST EXTEND
THE PUBLIC COMMENT SO THAT
EVERYONE CAN SPEAK. I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WITH THE
BILLS AND AMENDMENT SPONSORS
HERE IF THAT IS OKAY. SEEING NO
OBJECTION, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM HERE TO
COMMENT TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR
MEMBERS OF DRIVE FORWARD.
DRIVERS NEED AND WANT THE
PROTECTIONS OF A MINIMUM
EARNINGS STANDARD. WE KNOW THIS
BECAUSE 550 OF OUR MEMBERS
COMPLETED A SURVEY IN FEBRUARY
AND SAID EXACTLY THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, TWO YEARS AGO
WHEN PAY APP WAS PUSHED THROUGH
, WITH NO DOUBT -- DATA
CONSIDERED, IT WAS
OVERREACHING. THE RAMIFICATIONS
INCLUDE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
OF LONGER WAIT TIMES, LOWER PAY
, AND FEWER ORDERS. RESTAURANTS
ARE HURTING. THEY ARE DOWN 30%
- 50%. DRIVERS ARE DOWN 50% IN
OFFERS. OUR MEMBERS ARE CALLING
US LOOKING FOR RESOURCES,
EMERGENCY RESOURCES. WE NEED TO
REFORM THIS LEGISLATION NOW. IT
CANNOT WAIT . PLEASE CONSIDER
THIS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
-- FOLLOWED BY NUMBER 34. I AM
GOING TO MOVE ON TO ANGELICA
ALBERT O. SAN .
HE'S GOING TO SPEAK IN FRENCH
AND THEN I WILL TRANSLATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME
IS FAMOZO AND I COME FROM
ANGOLA . WE ARE VERY
DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT WE ARE
SEEING IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE
BEEN IN KING COUNTY SINCE
BEFORE THEY GAVE THE MONEY TO
HELP US. AND WHEN THEY AWARDED
THE MONEY WE WERE TOLD THAT
THEY WOULD HELP US BUT SINCE
THEY HAVE AWARDED MONEY,
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND NO ONE
HAS COME TO OUR AID. ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN
MONEY HAVE NOT COME TO US TO
GIVE US ANY AID OR SOLUTIONS.
WE ARE LIVING IN CONDITIONS
THAT ARE NOT HUMANE OR LIVABLE
. ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
CONDITIONS IN CAMPS, ET CETERA
. AND SO WE ARE COMING AGAIN TO
YOU TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE YOU
HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP US BUT
SOMEHOW SOMETHING IS KEEPING
THAT FROM HAPPENING. WE ARE
VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW THIS
HAS GONE SO FAR. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
. GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN. IT IS A PLEASURE. IT
IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH
YOU BECAUSE WE ARE HERE
FIGHTING FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS
AND FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE TO
HAVE A HOUSE. WE RECEIVED THE
INFORMATION THAT KING COUNTY
RELEASED ALREADY $2 MILLION TO
HELP US, THE HOMELESS. SO THIS
MONEY IS GOING TO BE SHARED
BETWEEN SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE HELPING US. UNFORTUNATELY,
THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT
HELPING THE IMMIGRANTS. WELL,
MOST OF THE PEOPLE , THEY HAVE
TO SLEEP OUTSIDE UNDER THE
STARS OR UNDER THE RAIN AND
SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO LEAVE
THE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE BEFORE
11:00 A.M. A.M. SO THERE ARE
SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
CAPABLE TO HELP BUT THEY ARE
NOT HELPING. BUT, WE DON'T KNOW
WHY. WE DON'T KNOW WHY THERE
IS THE MONEY BUT THEY CAN HELP
US WHEN WE ARE THE IMMIGRANTS.
THIS IS A SHAME FOR THE COUNTRY
LIKE UNITED STATES.
>> THANK YOU, WE ARE DOWN TO A
FEW MORE SPEAKERS. FREDERICK
MIGUEL FOLLOWED BY ANGELICA
ALBERT O -- ALBERTO . DO WE
HAVE A FREDERICK MIGUEL ?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL. WE
ARE HERE ONLY TO SAY A FEW
THINGS THAT ARE BOTHERING
EVERYBODY. THE FIRST THING IS
WHAT BROTHER JUST SAID. SO, WE
SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT OPEN UP
ITS HEART AND GAVE SOME MONEY
TO HELP THE IMMIGRANTS. SO, WE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
HELP. BUT THE PROBLEM IS , THE
PROBLEM IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED TO
HELP THE IMMIGRANTS , THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE ELECTED
, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE USING
THE MONEY THE WAY THEY WANT.
BUT THEY ARE NOT USING THE
MONEY OBTAINING THE RULES BY
WHICH THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED
THAT MONEY. WE HAVE 45 PEOPLE
THAT TODAY IS THE LAST DAY .
TOMORROW, 11:00 A.M. THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO HAVE A PLACE TO
LIVE. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT
RELEASED THE MONEY TO HELP THE
PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ANGELICA FOLLOWED BY KATE
RUBIN. ANGELICA?
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON. WHAT
I'M GOING TO SAY IS WHAT
EVERYBODY ALREADY SAID. I AM
JUST GOING TO COMPLIMENT A FEW
THINGS. WE ARE HERE , A CRYING,
BEGGING FOR A PLACE FOR THE
IMMIGRANTS TO LIVE. THE COUNTY
PROMISED TO HELP THE IMMIGRANTS
WITH SOME FUNDING SO WE COULD
HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE. THE FUND
WAS RELEASED, BUT WHERE IS THE
PLACE SO THE IMMIGRANTS CAN
LIVE IN? ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS,
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONCRETE
ANSWERS WHILE ALL THE KIDS, THE
CHILDREN AND THE PREGNANT WOMEN
ARE LIVING. THE ONLY THING I
ASK IS FOR YOU TO HELP THESE
PEOPLE THAT IS GOING THROUGH
THIS STRUGGLE. BECAUSE THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE
DESIGNED TO DO THIS ARE NOT
FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES. WE
JUST WANT THEM TO START WORKING
AND DO THEIR JOB SO THE
IMMIGRANTS , THEY HAVE A SAFE
PLACE TO LIVE. EITHER THEY PAY
THE IMMIGRANTS TO HAVE A PLACE
TO LIVE, OR THE COUNTY SHOULD
FIND ANOTHER SOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KATE RUBIN AND FOLLOWING
KATE IS DAVID . GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, I'M THE ORGANIZING
DIRECTOR AND I AM A RENTER
LIVING IN BEACON HILL. I AM
HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S CONNECT COMMUNITIES
PILOT. THIS PROGRAM IS A TINY
STEP IN ADDRESSING OUR
MASSIVELY GROWING HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS WHICH WE
ARE SEEING TODAY IN REAL TIME.
BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN AREAS WITH HIGH
DISPLACEMENT WILL HELP TO KEEP
SEATTLE AND SEATTLEITES ROOTED
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND HELP TO
WELCOME THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO BECOME PART OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. ENABLING SMALL
COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PARTNER
WITH DEVELOPERS WILL BRING
RESOURCES AND CULTURAL
PRESERVATION TOGETHER. THIS
MAKE SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE ,
WHICH MEANS A STRONGER
COMMUNITY WITH LESS IMPACT ON
OUR ENVIRONMENTS. THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS MISS THE POINT ABOUT
HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT
EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST TWO
SPEAKERS ARE DAVID FOLLOWED BY
LUCINDA .
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I
LIKE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND
SOMETHING. WHILE ALL OF OUR
LOVED ONES HAVE SAID, WE ARE IN
AGREEMENT WITH THEM . I'M
GOING TO TAKE MY PERSONAL
EXAMPLE. I COME FROM THE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT'S
HAPPENING THERE. THERE IS A WAR
THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A
LONG TIME. AND WE HAD BETTER
CONDITIONS THERE. BUT BECAUSE
OF THE WAR WE LOST EVERYTHING.
AND WE CHOSE TO COME HERE TO
THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE IT IS
A POWERFUL COUNTRY AND HAS THE
CAPACITY TO PROTECT US BUT WHEN
WE ARRIVED HERE WE FELL INTO
CONDITIONS THAT ARE VERY
DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED.
FIRST OF ALL, TO WORK , IT
TAKES A LOT OF TIME. IT TAKES
SIX MONTHS. AND IF WE COULD
WORK WE WOULD PAY FOR OUR OWN
HOUSING. SO YOU ARE NOT LETTING
PEOPLE WORK ON TIME AND YOU ARE
ALSO LETTING US LIVE IN
CONDITIONS THAT ARE VERY
DIFFICULT. LIKE ME. MY DAUGHTER
IS AT THE HOSPITAL. BECAUSE WE
SPENT THE NIGHT -- .
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
. LOUISIANA -- LUCIENA .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
LUCIANA AND I AM HERE TO
REPRESENT MY PEOPLE FROM
ANGOLA. I AM FROM ANGOLA. WE
ARE HERE, I'M HERE
REPRESENTING MY PEOPLE AND WE
LEFT OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE
CRISIS OVER THERE. WE CAME HERE
BECAUSE UNITED STATES IS A
WELCOMING COUNTRY. BUT SINCE WE
GOT HERE , WE HAVE MORE THAN 50
PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS.
PREGNANT WOMEN , SICK PEOPLE ,
CHILDREN THAT ARE SICK. FOR
MORE THAN TWO MONTHS WE ARE
MOVING AROUND, WE ARE AT THE
CHURCH BUT THEY KICK US OUT
OVER THERE SO WE ARE NOW ON THE
STREETS. WE ARE HERE BEGGING
FOR HELP. WE NEED A PLACE TO
SLEEP. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. IN
THE NAME OF ALL OF THE ANGOLANS
, WE ARE HERE BEGGING FOR YOUR
ATTENTION AND ASKING FOR HELP.
THIS IS ALL WE NEED. A PLACE TO
SAY STAY, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE
VLIET REACH OF THE END OF THE
LIST OF REGULAR SPEAKERS SO THE
COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSE. THANK
YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR
COMMENTS TODAY AND WE WILL MOVE
ON WITH OUR AGENDA. PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO ALSO SEND YOUR COMMENTS
TO CITY COUNCIL BY EMAIL. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPT DID.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION THE
REFERRAL COUNCIL -- CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED AND IF THERE'S NO A
OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. SEEING NONE, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR. ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR INCLUDE THE MINUTES OF
APRIL 23, 2024. COUNCIL BILL
120776 WHICH IS THE PAYMENT OF
BILLS, 11 APPOINTMENTS FROM THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S IT. ARE
THERE ANY ITEMS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? SEEING NONE, WILL THE
CLERK-- NO. I MOVED TO ADOPT
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLLCALL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORE? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS? COUNCILMEMBER
WOO? YES. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I. 8 IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED, ONE
ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ITEMS ARE ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM 1,
COUNCIL BILL 120750. AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE LAND
USE AND ZONING ESTABLISHING THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP BONUS PILOT PROGRAM
AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS, 23.40
AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS, 23.402
23.40 POINT 23.4 0.097 TO THE N
CITY COUNCIL DO NOT PASS THE
COUNCIL BILL WITH THREE IN
FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED, AND ONE
ABSTENTION, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY
FOLKS, IT IS A DIVIDED REPORT.
THE QUESTION IS, IF THE BILL
SHOULD PASS. FIRST WE WILL HEAR
PRESENTATIONS ON THE DIVIDED
REPORT AND THEN OPEN THE FLOOR
TO COMMENTS. THE REPORT WILL BE
PRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING
ORDER. THE MAJORITY POSITION,
MINORITY POSITION AND THEN THE
ONE ABSTENTION. SO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO PRESENT THE
MAJORITY POSITION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. IN RESPONSE TO THE
DIVIDED REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES PILOT,
COUNCILMEMBERS MOORE, WOO AND I
OUTLINED OUR CONCERNS WITH THE
BILL AND THE REASONS WHY WE
ULTIMATELY VOTED AGAINST ITS
PASSAGE. THERE IS NO QUESTION
THAT WE NEED AND SHOULD SUPPORT
HOUSING OF ALL TYPES ACROSS
SEATTLE FROM AFFORDABLE TO
MARKET RATE. OUR EFFORTS,
HOWEVER, MUST BE PART OF A
COHESIVE PLAN THAT LEVERAGES
ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS OF THE
CITY , AND STRATEGIES. THIS IS
BEST ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE
20 YEAR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT
THE CITY AND WE ARE ALL
CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN, WHICH IS
DUE LATER THIS YEAR. THIS PLAN
WILL HELP GUIDE CHANGES TO LAND
USE AND ZONING LAWS TO
ACCOMPLISH HOUSING GOALS ACROSS
THE CITY. THE PROPOSED
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES PILOT
BYPASSES THIS PROCESS AND
CREATES A DIVIDED SYSTEM. AFTER
THE COMP PLAN PROCESS IS
FINALIZED WE CAN DETERMINE IF
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION IS
NEEDED TO ACHIEVE OUR HOUSING
GOALS. COUNCILMEMBERS WOO MOORE
AND I SUPPORT GENERATIONAL
WEALTH BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE COMMUNITIES SO
SUFFERING THE IMPACTS OF
REDLINING. FAMILIES ARE BEST
SERVED WHEN THEY CAN KEEP THEIR
PROPERTY TO PASS DOWN TO FUTURE
GENERATIONS. THIS BILL DOES NOT
ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO MAINTAIN
OWNERSHIP OF THEIR PROPERTY. IN
ADDITION, THE CITY JUST PASSED
A NEARLY $1 BILLION HOUSING
LEVY AND WE DO NOT YET KNOW HOW
THESE FUNDS WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED. ANY LAND USE
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS HOUSING
SHOULD CONSIDER HOW THESE FUNDS
WILL BE INVEST IN. FINALLY,
GIVEN OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE AND
THE SLOWING DOWN OF RECENT
DEVELOPMENT, WE NEED TO
CONSIDER HOW TO INCENTIVIZE ALL
DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE CITY
RATHER THAN SINGLING OUT SOME
INVESTMENTS OVER OTHERS. FOR
THESE REASONS WE DO NOT
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120750 BY FULL COUNCIL.
THANK YOU , COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> WE WILL NOW HEAR THE
MINORITY POSITION.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, I
WANT TO START WITH A SUMMARY OF
THE BILL AND THEN I WILL GO
THROUGH THE DIVIDED REPORT
ITSELF. SORRY. LET ME GET TO MY
PLACE IN MY NOTES. THIS
LEGISLATION IS SUPPORTED BY
HOUSING POLICY EXPERTS, BY
HOUSING PROVIDERS, BY MAJOR
NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS
ACROSS THE CITY AND CRUISING
INCLUDING THE CONSORTIUM,
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY,
BELLWETHER, THE CHIEF SEATTLE
CLUB, INTERIM COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, THE
REFUGEE COMMUNITY, AND MANY
MORE. ON TOP OF THAT, THIS
LEGISLATION IS SUPPORTED BY
ARCHITECTS, THE MASTER BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION WHO HAVE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THOUGH THIS
WILL NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT
MEMBERS IT IS A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. AND WE ALL
RECEIVED OVER 1200 EMAILS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION. WE
ALSO DID RECEIVE JUST THIS
AFTERNOON , AND UP DATE FROM
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO
INDICATED THAT SINCE THIS MEMO,
THE ORIGINAL LEGAL MEMO WAS
DRAFTED IN 2023 MANY CHANGES
HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES BILL THAT WILL TRY
TO ADDRESS LEGAL CONCERNS
RAISED IN THAT ORIGINAL MEMO .
WE NOW THINK THE CHANCES OF A
SUCCESSFUL LEGAL CHALLENGE ARE
LOW. CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO
THE BILL WILL PARTIALLY
MITIGATE LEGAL RISKS. NEIGHBORS
WHO OPPOSE A PROJECT PERMITTED
UNDER LEGISLATION WOULD FACE
SIGNIFICANT PROCEDURAL HURDLES
AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT SOMEONE
WHO IS ACTUALLY APPLYING TO
PARTICIPATE WOULD CHALLENGE THE
LEGISLATION. I DID WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS
WEIGHED IN THAT THIS BILL NO
LONGER POSES THE KIND OF LEGAL
CHALLENGE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY
CONSIDERED. AS FAR AS THE
DIVIDED REPORT ITSELF GOES, I
WANT TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED AND
THAT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA JUST
ADDRESSED ONE OF THE CLAIMS IS
THAT IT WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH THE
INTENDED GOAL OF CREATING
GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING
OPPORTUNITIES. THE BASE BILL
HAD AN INCENTIVE THAT ALLOWED
THE OWNER TO SELL A PROPERTY
AND GET AN OWNER UNIT BUILT ON
THE NEW PROPERTY BUT REMAIN
ON-SITE FOR A MINIMUM OF 10
YEARS AND THAT WAS INCLUDED IN
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION. THAT
INCENTIVE WAS REMOVED BECAUSE
AFTER MEETING WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND HEARING
CONCERNS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR
ELEMENT FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE LAND USE COMMITTEE WE
REALIZED IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT
TO LEGISLATE SO WE REMOVED THAT
SECTION OF THE BILL. THAT BEING
SAID THE BILL WOULD CREATE
GENERATIONAL WEALTH
OPPORTUNITIES . IT DOES ALLOW
FOR CREATION OF HOMEOWNERSHIP
UNITS AT 100% AMI AND REQUIRES
AT LEAST 33% OF ON-SITE
PERFORMANCE FOR AFFORDABLE
UNITS ITSELF. A SECOND CLAIM IS
THAT THE BILL WOULD NOT
ACCOMPLISH THE INTENDED GOAL OF
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT.
AMENDMENT ONE ITCH I HOPE TO
DISCUSS TODAY DOES, AGAIN,
REQUIRE 33% OF RENTAL UNITS
THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO FOLKS AT
60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME IF
THEY ARE IN STUDIOS OR
ONE-BEDROOM. IT SETS OF THAT AT
80% FOR A TWO-BEDROOM UP
APARTMENT OR FAMILY SIZE UNITS.
THIS IS HOW WE ADDRESS
DISPLACEMENT. WE DON'T HAVE
NEARLY ENOUGH HOUSING, SO WE
NEED MORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE
AND THIS ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE
AS FOLKS HAVE SAID, ONE TOOL
FOR INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT IS HOW
WE PREVENT DISPLACEMENT, BY
GIVING RESIDENCE MORE OPTIONS.
A THIRD CLAIM IS THAT WE SHOULD
WAIT UNTIL THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN TO ADDRESS LACK OF
HOUSING. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
IS A POLICY GUIDELINE AND IS
NOT ITSELF LEGISLATION. IT IS
THE WAY WE IMPLEMENT
LEGISLATION. WE ALSO ARE
CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ALREADY
WHICH DOES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS IN THE CITY. IT DOES NOT
DO NEARLY ENOUGH TO ADDRESS IT
NOR DOES IT DO ENOUGH TO STEM
THE DISPLACEMENT CAUSED BY THE
POLICIES THAT HAVE LONG EXISTED
IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BUT
WE ARE OPERATING UNDER
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT
ACKNOWLEDGES THE NEED FOR MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN ADDITION
WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GET THE
NEW UPDATE UNTIL THE END OF THE
YEAR, AT THE EARLIEST. WE WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT UNTIL
NEXT YEAR, AND THIS IS A
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY THAT
EXISTS NOW. IT IS ALSO A TOOL
TO BUILD THE MISSING MIDDLE
HOUSING THAT WE ARE ACQUIRED --
REQUIRED TO START ADDRESSING AT
HER HOUSE BILL NUMBER 10. IT IS
DESIGNED TO HELP US MEET THE
HOUSING SHORTAGE WHICH WE ALL
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE. A
FOURTH CLAIM IS ELIGIBILITY
BASED ON FUTURE CRITERIA
DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED BY
CITY DEPARTMENTS. THERE IS
NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS PART OF THE LEGISLATION
MAKING PROCESS . ONCE
LEGISLATION IS PASSED THERE IS
OFTEN RULEMAKING, WORK THAT
HAPPENS AT THE CITY DEPARTMENT
LEVEL, DIRECTORS RULES ARE A
NORMAL PART OF LEGISLATION. AND
ALLOWS DEPARTMENTS TO CLARIFY
CRITERIA AND PROVIDE A WAY TO
IMPLEMENT THE LEGISLATION THAT
IS PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL. I'M
NOT SURE WHY THIS IS SEEN AS A
NEGATIVE WHEN IT'S A NORMAL
PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS. A FIFTH CLAIM IS THAT
A MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACH WOULD
BE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY AVAILABLE
CITYWIDE. THIS BILL IS FOCUSED
ON HELPING COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOP AND
CREATE CULTURAL SERVICES,
HOUSING, AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL
SPACE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
PREVIOUSLY HAD A RESTRICT OF
COVENANTS. AND UNFORTUNATELY
THEY WERE IN FACT SPREAD ACROSS
THE CITY SO AGAIN I CANNOT
STRESS ENOUGH THAT THIS IS A
PILOT PROJECT THAT WOULD BE
INTENDED TO TEST OUT HOW BEST
TO ALLOW THIS KIND OF
DEVELOPMENT IN PARTS OF THE
CITY THAT DID NOT USE TO ALLOW
MULTI FAMILY HOUSING. WE CAN
STILL SEE THAT PATTERN OF
EXCLUSION TODAY. THIS IS PART
OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
ADDRESS. AND THEN FINALLY, THE
COMMENT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER
THAT VOTERS RECENTLY PASSED A
BILLION-DOLLAR HOUSING LEVY, WE
HAVE YET TO DETERMINE HOW THIS
INVESTMENT WILL CREATE MORE
HOUSING. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT
TRUE. WE KNOW THE HOUSING LEVY
WILL CREATE ABOUT 3100 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALMOST 3000
RENTAL AND 3000 HOMEOWNERSHIP
UNITS. WE HAVE A HOUSING
DEFICIT IN THIS CITY AND WE
KNOW THAT ALREADY. THIS PILOT
DOES NOT SEEK TO USE FUNDING
FROM THE HOUSING LEVY SO
THERE'S NO ISSUE AROUND
COMPETITION FOR THOSE FUNDS. IN
ADDITION, THE HOUSING LEVY AND
MY LEGISLATION ARE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE. THEY ARE BOTH TOOLS
THAT CAN INCREASE -- ADDRESS
OUR NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN THE CITY. SO YOU KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD NOT
CONTEMPLATE EXPANDING THE
NUMBER OF TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO
INCREASE HOUSING STOCK ACROSS
THE CITY AND I HOPE THAT MY
COLLEAGUES WILL CONSIDER
SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION SO
THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE NEEDS
OF OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
WHO ABSTAINED. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT,
COLLEAGUES. LAST TIME I SAID
EVERYTHING ON THE RECORD THAT
I'M ABOUT TO SAY TO YOU NOW,
WHICH IS, I INTENDED TO PROPOSE
AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL IN
COMMITTEE. HOWEVER I IS A
COUNCILMEMBER DID NOT PROVIDE
CENTRAL STAFF THE CORRECT
DIRECTION TO FULLY WRITE OUT MY
AMENDMENT. AND THIS IS WHY I
ASKED CHAIR MORALES FOR
ADDITIONAL TIME IN COMMITTEE,
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE. TODAY
I HAVE THE AMENDMENT FULLY
WRITTEN AND IT IS BEFORE US. I
PASSED IT OUT TO ALL OF YOU AND
IT IS ATTACHED. I BELIEVED AND
STILL BELIEVE THIS BILL COULD
HAVE USED MORE TIME IN
COMMITTEE AND THAT IS WHY I DID
NOT SECOND THE BILL WHILE WE
WERE IN COMMITTEE BECAUSE I
THOUGHT WE NEEDED MORE TIME,
CLEARLY, FROM THE DISCUSSION I
THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
INTEREST IN THE NUANCE. AFTER
FOUR YEARS OF CHAIRING THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE, I CAN TELL YOU
IT IS A VERY DENSE SET OF
CHAPTERS IN OUR LAND USE CODE
AND IT TAKES A MINUTE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEFORE US.
THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW WE WILL
CONSIDER COUNSEL BILL 120750
AND MY STAFF WENT TO EACH
OFFICE AND EXPLAIN HOW THIS
PROCEDURE WILL GO. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT THE
BILL NOT PASS. THE QUESTION NOW
IS, IF THE BILL SHOULD PASS. SO
WE HAVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION WHICH YOU'VE
JUST HEARD BESIDES -- AND NOW
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE BILL
ITSELF. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON THE ACTUAL BILL? I BELIEVE
THIS IS --
>> I MOVE THAT WE PASS.
>> YES.
>> I MOVE WE PASS COUNSEL BILL
120750.
>> SECOND. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO PASS THE BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PROVIDE OPENING
REMARKS?
>> I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO
MOVE THE AMENDMENT . WE'VE HAD
THE DISCUSSION SO I'M READY TO
MOVE AMENDMENT A.
>> SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WANT TO START BY
SAYING THAT I APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED
IN THIS PROCESS. I WANT TO
THINK CENTRAL STAFF WHO SPENT A
COUPLE OF YEARS NOW WORKING ON
THIS LEGISLATION NOT JUST WITH
MY OFFICE BUT WITH ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE
SHOWN UP TO EXPRESS THEIR
SUPPORT. I WANT TO ALSO SAY TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S POINT
ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH TIME --
WE HEAR SOMETHING TWICE AND
THEN WE VOTE ON IT AND THEN
IT'S DONE. WE DID TALK ABOUT
THIS BILL FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF TIME. I ALSO WANTED
TO SAY THAT I HEARD THE
CONCERNS RAISED BY MY
COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THESE
DISCUSSIONS. THERE WERE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE
AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLD FOR
RENTERS BEING SET AT 80% SO
AMENDMENT A CHANGES THAT TO 60%
AMI FOR STUDIOS AND RETAINS 80%
FOR FAMILY SIZE DEPARTMENTS AND
100% AMI FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP
UNITS THAT WOULD BE CREATED BY
DEVELOPMENT. THERE WAS A
CONCERN ABOUT LEGISLATION
ALIGNING WITH GOALS SET OUT IN
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THIS
NOT ONLY MEETS THE GOALS LISTED
IN THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN BUT ALSO HOUSE BILL 1110
GOALS FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE AND
WORKFORCE HOUSING NEEDED IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE WAS ALSO
CONCERN FROM COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ON THE COMPLEXITY
OF THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PIECE
WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. THIS
AMENDMENT REMOVES RESIDENTIAL
HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS. I HEARD
THE CALL FROM INDIVIDUAL
PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THEY WANT
TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THEIR
LAND AND STAY ON IT IN ORDER TO
STEM DISPLACEMENT. I SUPPORT
THAT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT
INCENTIVE ZONING TOOLS ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THEM BUT WE NEED
TO FIGURE OUT THAT ELEMENT
DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE CITY
COUNCIL IS NOT IN A POSITION OF
STRUCTURING DEALS BETWEEN
INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS AND
DEVELOPERS SO IT WAS
COMPLICATING LEGISLATION. WE'VE
PULLED THAT OUT AND WE WILL
WORK ON THAT AS A SEPARATE
INITIATIVE. THAT IS ALSO IN
RESPONSE TO CONCERNS RAISED BY
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE. AS I SAID, I WOULD
LIKE TO CONVENE A WORKGROUP IN
THE NEXT YEAR TO WORK ON THAT
PARTICULAR ISSUE. FINALLY THIS
AMENDMENT SIMPLIFIES THE
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING
WHETHER A PROJECT IS A
QUALIFYING DEVELOPMENT. THE
QUALIFYING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION EITHER
HAS TO OWN 51% OF THE PROPERTY
OR HAVE A CONTROLLING AND
ACTIVE MANAGEMENT ROLE IN THE
PROPERTY WHICH IS A TERM OF ART
THAT IS USED IN DEALMAKING AND
REAL ESTATE DEALS. SO THAT
PHRASE CONTROLLING AND ACTIVE
MANAGEMENT ROLE IS JUST THE WAY
THAT THESE PARTNERSHIP DEALS,
THE LANGUAGE USED IN THOSE
DEALS. I WILL SAY THAT IN THE
LAST FEW MONTHS OF
DELIBERATIONS, I HAVE WORKED IN
GOOD FAITH TO HEAR THE CONCERNS
OF MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE
INCORPORATED CHANGES TO ADDRESS
THOSE CONCERNS IN THIS
AMENDMENT, AND I WILL SAY THAT
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A BETTER
BILL BECAUSE OF THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND THE CHANGES
THAT WERE MADE AS A RESULT OF
THOSE DELIBERATIONS. I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS
POINT I WILL ASK IF THERE ARE
ANY COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT A.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? I WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND AS
PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT THE
WHICH IS A SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT
TO AMENDMENT A.
>> SECOND. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED AS PRESENTED IN
AMENDMENT BE. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. I AM ONE OF THE
PEOPLE THAT YOU BROUGHT ALONG
BECAUSE WHEN YOU ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED THE BILL I SAID WE
JUST PASSED THE RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTIONS BONUS BILL, WHY
DID WE NEED ANOTHER? I HAVE
COME TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
ACCESS TO THOSE SAME BONUSES. I
WILL SPEAK ABOUT RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTIONS BONUS BILL FIRST,
BECAUSE THE FRAMEWORK OF MY
AMENDMENT BRINGS THIS BILL IN
LINE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION BONUS
BILL. IT IS A PILOT , IN THE
SENSE OF THAT IN BALLARD WE
HAVE ST. LUKE'S REDEVELOPMENT
PROPERTY OR PROGRAM GOING ON
WHERE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN ONE TOWER AND MARKET
RATE AND AN FTE UNITS IN THE
OTHER. HAVING THE ABILITY TO
FIRSTHAND SEE, GRANTED THE
BUILDINGS ARE NOT BUILT, BUT
HAVING THE ABILITY TO SEE THE
DIFFERENCE IN DENSITY BONUS
GIVES US AS POLICYMAKERS THE
ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND IF THESE
ARE CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO
MAKE CITYWIDE BECAUSE THEY ARE
ON A LIMITED GEOGRAPHIC-- THEY
ARE LIMITED IN THEIR SCOPE
WHERE THEY CAN BE BUILT. THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES BILL
MIRRORED THE RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTION BONUS BILL IN
INTENT AND EXPANDED TO
QUALIFYING COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS. MY AMENDMENT
BRINGS THE CONTENT OF CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES IN LINE WITH THE
CONTENT OF THE RELIGIOUS
INSTITUTION BONUS BILL. THAT
HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED
SUCCESS ACROSS OUR CITY AND I
DID INCORPORATE THE
AFFORDABILITY LEVELS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES JUST
MENTIONED THE UNDERLYING BILL
IN THE AMENDMENT RATHER THAN
USING THE RELIGIOUS BONUS BILL
LEVEL OF 80% AMI. WE'VE SEEN
THE BONUS BILL WORK FOR
SEATTLEITES AND I BELIEVE WE
SHOULD EXTEND THIS TO
QUALIFYING COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHOSE HAND WAS
RAISED.
>> I DO STILL HAVE SERIOUS
CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF
THIS BILL AND WITH MY OWN RISK
TOLERANCE I AM UNCOMFORTABLE
AND I SAW THE MEMO THAT WAS
SENT TWO HOURS 43 MINUTES AGO
BUT NEITHER ONE OF US CAN
DISCUSS THE LEGALITY OF IT MY
COMMENT STILL STANDS. I DON'T
WANT TO REPEAT WHAT I SAID IN
COMMITTEE BUT I WILL SUM IT UP.
I STILL THINK WE NEED TO GET
THE AMI DOWN AND ROLL THIS OUT
TO THE ENTIRE CITY. WE NEED TO
BUILD MORE HOUSING. THIS BILL
IS NOT READY YET SO I THINK YOU
ALL KNOW I AM AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPER. THE AMIS IN
MY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ARE AS
LOW AS 40% YET OUR DEVELOPMENT
COST WAS RE-TIMES MORE BECAUSE
WE WERE HISTORIC BUILDING AND
THAT'S WHY IT'S THREE TIMES
MORE THAN BUILT NEW. WE WERE
ABLE TO GET NEEDED
AFFORDABILITY AND I BELIEVE
SEATTLE CAN DO IT AS WELL. WE
DEDICATED TO AN A HALF MONTHS
LOOKING AT THIS LEGISLATION BUT
IT CHANGED DAYS BEFORE THE
VOTE. WE PIVOTED FROM 40% TO
60% AND 80% AMI BLEND , DAYS
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE VOTE. WE
ARE PUSHING THIS AMENDMENT
FORWARD WITHOUT THE THOUGHTFUL
, MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE NECESSARY
TO ENSURE LEGISLATION STRIKES A
DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN
INCENTIVES AND COMMUNITY
BENEFITS. SO FOR ONCE, CONSIDER
IT A MULTI FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
PROGRAM. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
AN EMPLOYEE'S FORMULA,
ENSURING THAT DEVELOPMENTS ARE
40% AMI UNITS ARE ABLE TO
REMAIN FINANCIALLY VIABLE.
NUMEROUS DEVELOPERS ACTIVELY
ENGAGED THIS PROGRAM TESTING TO
ITS EFFICIENCY. I TALKED WITH
DEVELOPERS PREPARING TO FILE
PERMITS FOR 80% HOMEOWNERSHIP
UNITS AND WE HAVE EVIDENCE HERE
THAT 40% AND 80% HOMEOWNERSHIP
MODELS WILL WORK. SO WHY ARE WE
FIXATED ON 80%, 60% ON 100%
WHEN WE KNOW THAT 40 AND 80
WILL WORK? THESE NUMBERS ARE
ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR THIS
LEGISLATION. IT CHANGES SO FAST
SO I WANT TO SEE WHERE IS THE
DATA AT 60, 80, AND 100? ARE WE
JUST THROWING NUMBERS OUT
THERE? I WANT TO SEE THE
EVIDENCE AND AS A MEMBER OF THE
CITY COUNCIL I TAKE PRIDE IN
OUR COMMITMENT TO REFRAIN FROM
HASTILY PUSHING THROUGH
LEGISLATION AND I DON'T WANT
TO EXPERIENCE-- EXPERIMENT
RISKING UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. SO WHILE I LIKE
THE INTENT AND THE GOAL OF
THEIR IDEAS I BELIEVE IT IS
ALMOST THERE BUT NOT THERE YET
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE
TIME. I COMES IN PLATED A WALK
ON THE AMENDMENT BUT ENDED UP
HEARING FROM OTHERS THAT IT'S
NOT FAIR, IT'S TOO LATE. WHAT
IF WE TOOK THE AFFORDABLE 40%
DEVELOPMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND APPLY IT TO THIS?
BUT INSTEAD OF A TAX EXEMPTION
TURN IT INTO A DENSITY BONUS.
MAKE THIS A BILL FOR THE ENTIRE
CITY SO WE CAN TRULY BUILD MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I WOULD
BE VERY INTERESTED IN PURSUING
THAT. AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPER I BELIEVE THE DEVIL
RESIDES IN THE DETAILS AND I
URGE EVERYONE TO READ THE
LEGISLATION FIRSTHAND AND ALSO
SEEK INSIGHTS FROM THOSE
ENTRENCHED IN THE BATTLE, WHICH
I HAVE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE
FIGHTING. IT SEEMS LIKE SOME
PEOPLE ARE ALSO CONFUSED ABOUT
THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PORTION THAT
HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS
BILL. SO FOR MANY OF US WHO
ALSO MANAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
YOU KNOW THE CHALLENGES OF
MARKET RATE UNITS COMPARED TO
THE DEMAND OF A 40% - 60% 80%
UNITS. MARKET RATE UNITS ARE
HARD TO MOVE AND WE HAVE
WAITING LIST FOR THE 40 - 60%
UNITS. IN TWO YEARS WHEN WE
MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND WE ARE BUILDING
UNITS AT 8200% ? AND HOUSING
ONLY ALLOWS FIRST COME FIRST
SERVE AND WE SEE ONLY PEOPLE
WHO MAKE 90 - 120,000 A YEAR
WHEN THE AVERAGE FAMILY MAKES
ONLY 45,000 A YEAR WILL WE HAVE
SUCCEEDED IN DIVERTING
PLACEMENT OR EXASPERATING IT?
TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT COMBATING
GENTRIFICATION. SOME COMMUNITY
MEMBERS SAY THAT THIS WILL HELP
GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT
AND OTHERS SAY THAT IT MAKES IT
WORSE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO CONSIDER A HUGE RANGE OF
STRATEGIES THAT MITIGATE
NEGATIVE EFFECTS AND MOST OF
ALL TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES AND
PEOPLE BY HELPING THEM RETAIN
AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN LAND. I
REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN FOCUS
ON AFFORDABILITY. I KNOW WE CAN
MAKE 40% WORK AND I'VE DONE
IT. WE CAN REALLY HAVE HOUSING
FOR THOSE WHO MAKE 40 K WHICH
WE REALLY NEED AND I THINK WE
NEED TO WORK HARDER TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE PASS LEGISLATION
THAT DOES THAT I REALLY WOULD
PREFER NOT TO GAMBLE WITH THE
FATE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S
DELIBERATE ANALYZE AND ENSURE
OUR ACTIONS TRULY SERVE THE
NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR
AMENDMENT. I WILL SEE THE
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS BILL IS
AN APPROPRIATE TOOL FOR
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES BILL IS
APPROPRIATE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO GET ENGAGED.
AS I'VE SAID, THE REASON FOR
MY AMENDMENT IS THAT I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUES RAISED
BY THIS COMMITTEE, BY THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE ABOUT CREATING
HOUSING FOR FOLKS AT 60% BELOW.
I'VE HEARD FROM DEVELOPERS
THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
SEGMENT OF THE MARKET THAT
NEEDS TO BE SERVED WHICH IS WHY
I ADJUSTED IT. WHILE I
APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS TRYING TO DO IN
ALIGNING THIS LEGISLATION WITH
WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED,
THERE ARE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAT
OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. THE
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES PILOT IS
INTENDED TO STUDY WHAT MIX OF
INCENTIVES MAY BETTER
FACILITATE THE PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN TRADITIONAL DEVELOPERS
AND COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO LEARN
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
TO SERVE CONSTITUENCIES. THIS
BILL REQUIRES PERFORMANCE AT
33% WHICH IS GREATER THEN MHA
REQUIRED PERFORMANCE AND
REQUIRING COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP
ON-SITE AND PAY INTO MHA'S
WHICH SEEMS LIKE A DISINCENTIVE
THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW PROJECTS
TO PENCIL. AMENDMENT B REMOVES
OR REDUCES OTHER INCENTIVES AND
IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS. I WILL REMIND
COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS A PILOT
THAT SUNSETS BY 2029 OR AFTER
35 PROJECTS, WHICHEVER COMES
FIRST. SO I WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> REMEMBER WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT AMENDMENT B PLEASE HERE .
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND FIRST OFF I WANT
TO STATE THAT I BELIEVE IN--
AND I KNOW THAT EVERYONE
SITTING AT THIS DESK
UNDERSTANDS THE URGENT NEED FOR
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MORE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES
ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF OUR
CITY AT GREATEST NEED AND
HIGHEST RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
SHARED GOAL, SHARED
UNDERSTANDING. PERSONALLY EVERY
DAY I SEE YOUNG FAMILIES
STRUGGLING, SENIORS, WORKING
FOLKS WHO ARE JUST SQUEAKING BY
AND I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN WEST
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ON
THE LIST OF HIGH RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT AND OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR IN ALL OF WEST SEATTLE. I
KNOW THAT WE ELECTED OFFICIALS
UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE HERE FOR
A REASON AND ELECTED TO MAKE
HARD DECISIONS. PROPOSED POLICY
OR PROPOSED BILLS OR A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION COME BEFORE US THAT
HAS EVERY CONCEIVABLE QUESTION
ANSWERED AND ADDRESSED AND
EVERY CORNER UNCOVERED . A TRUE
NO-BRAINER, IF YOU WILL. YET,
THAT IS WHY THERE WILL BE TOUGH
DECISIONS LIKE THIS ONE TODAY
AND MANY MORE, SURELY, TO COME
NO DOUBT . FOR ME TODAY, I HAVE
A HOST OF BIG TEACHER CONCERNS
ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION RANGING
FROM BASIC FEASIBILITY TO HOW
IT ACTUALLY BUILDS GENERATIONAL
WEALTH AND OWNERSHIP FOR LOW
INCOME NEIGHBORS , OR HOW IT
CAN ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE WITH TREE CANOPY,
AIR-QUALITY BALANCING,
INCREASED DENSITY, WHERE BLACK
AND BROWN AND OTHER RESIDENTS
OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME FOLKS
ALREADY GET CONCENTRATED IN THE
HIGHEST TRAFFIC AREAS AND THE
HIGHEST POPULATION AREAS AS
WELL. THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF
MY INITIAL CONCERNS. AS A
MATTER OF FACT AS A BRAND-NEW
COUNCILMEMBER AND SOMEONE WHO
DID NOT SIT ON THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE I WAS NOT PRETTY TO
THE PRIOR TWO YEARS OF THE
PROCESS THAT WENT ON HERE NOR
DID I SIT ON THE COMMITTEE THIS
YEAR. IF ALLOWED MORE TIME I
PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD MY OWN
HOST OF AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE
THIS AND MAKE IT BETTER AND
HOPEFULLY ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THE
INTENDED GOALS. IN SHORT, I AM
NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION WILL WORK AS
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AND
PRACTICED , TO BE HONEST.
PROBABLY WON'T. I AM FAR FROM
SANGUINE ABOUT THE LIKELY
IMPACT AND LONG-TERM EFFICACY
OF THIS BILL, IF PASSED. BUT I
AM ALSO CURIOUSLY INTRIGUED, AS
WELL. WHAT IF, WHAT IF IT
ACTUALLY DOES WORK? I DON'T
KNOW. THAT'S WHY TODAY I AM
PREPARED TO VOTE YES ON THIS
BILL. CONSIDER THIS A GRUMBLING
ACCEPTANCE . BETWEEN THE TWO
VERSIONS OF THE UNDERLYING
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES, I
GENERALLY FAVOR COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS'S VERSION OF THE BILL
WHICH IS MODELED ON AN EXISTING
ORDINANCE AS YOU DESCRIBED ,
THAT SEEMS TO BE YIELDING
INITIAL DEVELOPMENTAL RESULTS.
MORE TO BE SEEN, BUT OUR CITY
DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE HOUSING
AND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE
ARE AT A POINT WHERE TRYING NEW
THINGS MAKES SENSE, ESPECIALLY
IF THE COST OF THE CITY IS DE
MINIMIS . THESE TWO BILLS ARE
THE ONLY LEGISLATIVE MECHANISM
THAT I SEE THAT HAVE THE
POTENTIAL, THE POTENTIAL TO
DIRECTLY ADVANCE THE IMPERATIVE
TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I THINK IT IS
WORTHWHILE TO EXPLORE NO COST
OR VIRTUALLY NO COST PILOT
PROJECTS LIKE THIS THAT USES AN
INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO TEST
WHICH SPECIFIC INCENTIVES TEND
TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING . HOPEFULLY WE CAN
GATHER SOME LEARNINGS WITHIN
THIS SHORT , FIVE-YEAR DURATION
OF THIS PILOT AND TO BETTER
TEST AND EXPLORE IF IT MAY BE
AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO BUILD MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT REDUCES
DISPLACEMENT WITHOUT CREATING A
COMPLICATED NEW INCENTIVE
STRUCTURE . AGAIN, MIGHT WORK,
MIGHT NOT. BUT FOR ME THE MOST
ALLURING AND COMPELLING FEATURE
OF THIS SPECIFIC BILL IS THE
PURPORTED 0 AND NO COST NATURE
OF THE PILOT PROGRAM AS FURTHER
DESCRIBED IN OUR CENTRAL STAFF
SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE MEMO.
THAT IS WHY I PERSONALLY DON'T
WANT TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS OR
DEVELOPERS COMING BACK TO THE
CITY DURING THE BUDGET SEASON
TO SEEK NEW FUNDING FOR ANY OF
THESE PROJECTS FROM COUNCIL.
THEY BELIEVE THAT PARTIAL--
FUNDING AT THE CITY LEVEL IS
DESIRABLE FOR A SPECIFIC
PROJECT DOWN THE ROAD AND THAT
IS SOMETHING THEY WILL NEED TO
SEEK OUT AND PURSUE THROUGH
EXISTING FUNDING CHANNELS AND
PROGRAMS AT THE CITY LEVEL .
ALONG THE SAME LINES IT IS MY
FULL EXPECTATION THAT
DEVELOPERS PARTICIPATING IN
THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT LOOK TO
CITY COUNCIL FOR ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR PROJECTS BUILT
PURSUANT TO THIS PILOT PROGRAM.
THESE PROJECTS SHOULD BE
PRIVATELY FUNDED, EXCEPT WHEN
THEY QUALIFY FOR EXISTING
OFFICE OF HOUSING PROGRAMS. SO
COLLEAGUES I WOULD HOPE THAT MY
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
DEFINITELY SHARED BY MANY OF
YOU ALL WOULD GET ADDRESSED ON
A GOING FORWARD BASIS BUT I
THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
NOW AND THAT IS WHY I
PERSONALLY SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WAS AWARE THAT
CONNECT THE COMMUNITIES
LEGISLATION MEETING. I HEARD
ABOUT IT AS IT WAS HAPPENING ON
THE FLOOR OF THE OFFICES AND I
WATCHED IT LATER ON SEATTLE
CHANNEL. INTERESTINGLY THE
REPORTING THAT I HEARD AND READ
AFTERWARDS WAS SEEMINGLY
FOCUSED SOLELY ON THE GOAL, NOT
ASKED AT ALL WAS WHY FOUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD NOT GET
TO YES WHICH I CONSIDER A MAJOR
POINT TO THINK ABOUT AND
CONSIDER. PARTICULAR WHEN ONE
COMMITTEE MEMBER IS THE FORMER
LAND-USE CHAIR. ANOTHER HAS
DIRECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE. ONE IS
A COMMITTED PUBLIC SERVANT WITH
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE
EXECUTIVE SIDE, AND ONE IS THE
HOUSING COMMITTEE CHAIR AND A
JUDGE WHO LOOKS AT THE DETAILS
-- TRUST ME-- AND MAKES SURE
THAT T'S ARE CROSSED AND EYES
ARE DOTTED. GIVEN THE
BACKGROUND, THE QUESTION OF WHY
FOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD
NOT GET TO YES WAS NOT LOOKED
AT AND NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. THAT
IS TROUBLING IN ITS OWN SENSE.
I SUPPORT THE GOALS AND
ASPIRATIONS RELATED TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT I AM
MINDFUL OF THE EFFORTS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY OVER THE YEARS
THAT HAD GOOD GOALS. BUT THE
PATH FROM A TO B WAS BASED ON A
HOPE OR WISH STRATEGY AND NOT
REALITY. THE LACK OF A
COMMITTEE MAJORITY YES VOTE
INDICATES ANOTHER EXAMPLE
BEFORE US AND SO PARTICULARLY
TODAY AS THIS COUNCIL MEETING
HAS TURNED INTO A COMMITTEE
MEETING, I BELIEVE THAT IT
SHOULD BE SENT BACK TO
COMMITTEE FOR REFLECTION, BOTH
B AND A FOR REFLECTION. ONE
LAST POINT. THERE WAS A
REFERENCE TO ATTORNEY-CLIENT
PRIVILEGE COMMUNICATION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT I WOULD LIKE
TO NOTE THAT I DON'T THINK IT
IS A GOOD PRACTICE TO REFER TO
ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED
COMMUNICATIONS AND MY SENSE OF
THIS WAS RELATED TO THE PILOT
ITSELF. THE UNDERLINED CONCERNS
PREVIOUSLY, IF A PILOT WAS TO
TURN INTO AN ONGOING
LEGISLATION A PROGRAM, THAT
THAT COULD COME BACK. UNLESS WE
ARE DOING PILOT FOR THE SAKE OF
PILOT, WE SHOULD NOT REALLY
CONSIDER THE QUOTE UNQUOTE
ATTORNEY-CLIENT GLITCH
COMMUNICATION THAT CAME FROM
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THAT IS MY POSITION WITH
CONSIDERATIONS TO MY
REPRESENTATIVE COLLEAGUE AND
ALSO TO LET IT -- NUMBER TWO,
SEND THIS BACK AND LET'S GET A
YES TAKING ACCOUNT ALL THAT
I'VE REFERRED TO AND GIVES US
AN ANSWER WE CAN ALL MOVE
FORWARD ON.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> I WAS WANTING A POINT OF
CLARITY. WE ARE COMMENTING ON
THE AMENDMENT PUT FORTH BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> NOT THE OVERALL BILL WHICH
WE WILL HAVE TIME TO COMMENT
ON? UNDERSTOOD. I JUST WANTED
TO CLARIFY. I WAS A LITTLE
LOST, I APOLOGIZE. FOR THE
AMENDMENT I REALLY WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
PUTTING FORTH THE AMENDMENT
LAST MINUTE. I HAD THE CHANCE
TO READ IT. MY CONCERNS WITH
THE AMENDMENT IS THAT IT MAKES
HOUSING SMALLER AND A LITTLE
BIT MORE EXPENSIVE WITH ALL OF
THE ADDITIONS. SO UNFORTUNATELY
I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO ON
THE AMENDMENT BUT I APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME AND ENERGY INTO
PUTTING FORTH THE AMENDMENT FOR
THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT B?
>> THIS IS HOW THIS IS GOING TO
GO. OVER I CALL FOR THE VOTE,
THE QUESTION IS ON WHETHER OR
NOT AMENDMENT A SHOULD BE
AMENDED AS PRESENTED IN THE
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE IN
AMENDMENT B SO IF AMENDMENT B
IS ADOPTED, AMENDMENT A
LANGUAGE WILL BE SUBSTITUTED OR
REPLACED WITH THE LANGUAGE OF
AMENDMENT B AND IF AMENDMENT B
IS NOT ADOPTED COUNCIL WILL
CONSIDER AMENDMENT A AS
PRESENTED MOMENTS AGO. WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THIS ADOPTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORE? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
NO. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? NO.
COUNSEL PRESIDENT -- COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? NAY.'S DMACC
SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> SO THE AMENDMENT FAILS AND
NOW WE WILL GO ON TO CONSIDER
OR COMMENT MORE ON AMENDMENT A
WHICH IS ALREADY BEEN MOVED SO
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT
AGAIN.
>> CORRECT.
>> ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT A ? AND
THIS IS NOT THE VOTE ON THE
FINAL BILL. JUST AMENDMENT A.
IF THIS FAILS IT GOES BACK TO
THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT A.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO? NO. COUNCIL
MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? NO.
>> THE ORIGINAL COUNSEL BILL
BEFORE US?
>> YES. BECAUSE THAT MOTION
FAILED, NOW WE HAVE THE
ORIGINAL BILL BEFORE US. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
ORIGINAL BILL? PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COLLEAGUES, I SAID EARLIER THAT
I THINK THIS BILL NEEDED MORE
TIME IN COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES I HEAR
YOU ABOUT THE TIMELINE . THE
TIMELINE IS NOT WHAT DRIVES
DECISION-MAKING. IT IS
DIGESTION AND UNDERSTANDING AND
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S POINT
OF US GETTING INTO THE WEEDS
AND UNDERSTANDING IT AND COMING
TO AN AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT
IN COMMITTEE , COLLEAGUES, I
DON'T THINK THAT BRINGING
AMENDMENTS TO FULL COUNCIL IS
THE RIGHT MOVE AND I APOLOGIZE
TO YOU YESTERDAY DURING
BRIEFING FOR DOING SO AND I
APOLOGIZE TO YOU AGAIN. I THINK
THIS BILL NEEDED MORE TIME IN
COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. I WILL GO AHEAD
AND MAKE MY FINAL COMMENTS.
AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL BILL
CONTINUES TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CULTURAL
SPACES, COMMERCIAL SPACES IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A RACIALLY
RESTRICT OF COVENANTS. THIS IS
AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT TOOL THAT
REMOVES DESIGN REVIEW, 33 %
ON-SITE PERFORMANCE AND A FLOOR
AREA RATIO THAT CAN HELP
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
DEVELOP ON THEIR PROPERTY AND
PARTNER WITH DEVELOPERS. IT
DOES NOT COST THE CITY MONEY.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP
HOUSING THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A
HOUSING LEVY OR OTHER
SUBSIDIZED FUNDING. WE ALL
ACKNOWLEDGE SEATTLE IS IN A
HOUSING CRISIS. AS A CITY AND A
LEGISLATIVE BODY WE HAVE A
STATED GOAL TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSING SHORTAGE. WE HAVE A
STATED GOAL TO STOP THE
DISPLACEMENT THAT'S HAPPENING
PARTICULARLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR. I AM THE 1st TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THIS
BILL IS NOT A PANACEA. IT WILL
TAKE MUCH MORE THAN A PILOT
PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING
SHORTAGE AND THE NEED FOR
GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING
OPPORTUNITIES AND THE NEED FOR
MORE COMMERCIAL AFFORDABILITY
TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND
CULTURAL SPACES. AND, THIS
PILOT PROGRAM WOULD DO ALL OF
THOSE THINGS IN SOME
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR SOME
PROJECTS, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO, I AM NOT IMPUTING ANYONE'S
MOTIVES FOR HOW YOU VOTE. I AM
POINTING OUT THAT WE CANNOT
SAY-- WE CAN'T JUST SAY THEY
ARE IMPORTANT. AS POLICYMAKERS
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN
WORDS. I ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES FOR MORE
HOUSING, MORE COMMERCIAL
AFFORDABILITY AND MORE
ANTIDISPLACEMENT MEASURES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I SEE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS A HAND UP .
>> I WANT TO APPRECIATE MY
COLLEAGUE'S WORK TO LISTEN TO
OTHER MEMBERS TAKE THE BILL
BETTER, THAT'S WHY I VOTED YES
ON THE AMENDMENTS. I KNOW THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES ,
PROBABLY TOOK A LOT OF HOURS
AND COMMUNITY TIME AND
CONNECTION. I SINCERELY BELIEVE
THE TENT OF THE BILL. I'VE
LIVED IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
FOR 40 YEARS AND I HAVE SEEN
HOW DIFFERENT WELL INTENDED
BILLS COME IN BUT THERE HAVE
BEEN CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE .
ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS
THAT THE BILL CONCENTRATES AND
ENCOURAGES GROWTH IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALREADY
DIVERSE AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
ARE HISTORICALLY 70%-- EXCUSE
ME. THE BILL CONCENTRATES
GROWTH IN NEIGHBORHOODS GIVING
THEM BONUSES IN NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT WERE REDLINED. 70% OUR
MARKET RATE AND THEREFORE THOSE
ARE EXPENSIVE. THIS WILL LIKELY
HAVE AN EFFECT ON MAKING
EXISTING DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS
WIDER AND WEALTHIER. AS I LOOK
AT THE BILL I SUPPORT HOUSING
UPZONING IN PRINCIPLE BUT
UNFORTUNATELY I AM VOTING NO
TODAY. THERE WERE TWO BLACK
BUSINESSES THAT CAME TO SPEAK
TODAY. LILLIAN LIVES IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND MISS JJ AS
WELL WHO USED TO BE MY
BABYSITTER. THEY CAME AND
SUPPORTED THE BILL AND I TALKED
WITH THEM OVER THE WEEKEND AND
TOLD THEM MY POSITION, THAT I
WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE TRULY
UNDERLINING ISSUES OF REDLINING
GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND BLACK
LEGACY HOMEOWNERSHIP. FOR THEM
TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP
PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT , ESPECIALLY BLACK
LEGACY ONES, I CAN'T WAIT TO
WORK FOR YOU WAS ONE OF MY
TALKING POINTS TO GET ELECTED.
BUT I TRULY WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE OUTCOMES ARE WHAT THEY
WANT AND DESERVE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THE
COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE THAT
THIS BILL WAS AIMED AT
INCREASING SEATTLE'S HOUSING
STOCK AND INCENTIVES.
DEVELOPMENT WHICH I SUPPORT ,
MY COLLEAGUES, LAND-USE
COMMITTEE, WE ALL WORK REALLY
HARD ON ADDRESSING THOSE AND
WORK ON AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS
LEGISLATION TO GET THE SAME
AMOUNT OF HOUSING BUT ADDRESS
THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE AND
THAT I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER
PEOPLE AS WELL. I WILL BE
VOTING NO ON THE BILL.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR,
IT IS CONFUSING TO ME AND A LOT
OF PEOPLE POTENTIALLY WATCHING,
NOW THAT BOTH OF THOSE
AMENDMENTS , BOTH COMPETING
PORTIONS OF THE BILL ARE OFF
THE TABLE, I CERTAINLY DO NOT
SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION WHICH I THINK WE
ARE VOTING ON NOW JUST FOR THE
RECORD. THANK YOU.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE WHO
WISHES TO SPEAK.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? NO .
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? SURE.
>> EXCUSE ME?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO? NO.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
NO. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? NO.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? NO.
TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
DOES NOT PASS.
>> YES, I AM JUST GATHERING MY
THOUGHTS.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL NOT PASS . I WAS REALLY
GOING BACK AND FORTH FOR A
WHILE SO THE MOTION FAILS AND
THE BILL DOES NOT PASS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE HOUSING
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM 2 COUNCIL BILL
120772 , AND ORDINANCE RELATING
TO THE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
POVERTY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM
AMENDING SECTION 5.7 3.090 AND
SECTION 5.73120 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO ALLOW
EXTENSION OF TAX EXEMPTIONS
SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER
31, TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31,
2024. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE YOUR RECOGNIZED TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT .
>> IS THIS THE TIME I WOULD
MOVE TO ADOPT OR SHOULD I SPEAK
FIRST?
>> THANK YOU . I MOVED TO ADOPT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO
PASS COUNCIL BILL 120722.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. [ LAUGHTER ] SO
COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL BILL 120722
EXTENDS THE MULTI FAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION FOR ABOUT A DOZEN
PROJECTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR
FROM THE OFFICE OF HOUSING MEMO
ATTACHED TO THE COUNCIL BILL,
FTE PROVIDES A 12 YEAR TAX
EXEMPTION ON THE RESIDENTIAL
PORTION OF THE BUILDING. IT
BASICALLY CAPS THE RENT AT THIS
RATE. CITY COUNCIL HAS
REAUTHORIZED THE PROGRAM SIX
TIMES EVERY 4 TO 5 YEARS. THE
PROGRAM IN THE CURRENT
ITERATION SUNSETS -- AND IN
2021 A STATE LAW WAS UP DATED
TO ALLOW JURISDICTIONS TO OFFER
OWNERS OR PROPERTIES WITH
EXPIRING EXEMPTIONS THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND THOSE
FOR AN ADDITIONAL 12 YEARS.
COUNCIL HAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
LEGISLATION TO APPROVE AN
EXTENSION PROPERTY EXPIRING IN
2021 , 2022, AND 2023. THE
COMMITTEE AFTER BRIEFING BOTH
FROM CENTRAL STAFF OR THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND WITH MANY
QUESTIONS ASKED BY COLLEAGUES
AND -- THE COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED PASSAGE
OF THE COUNCIL BILL. THANK YOU.
>> MAY I CONFIRM IT IS COUNCIL
BILL 120772?
>> THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON THE BILL? SEEING NO
COMMENTS WILL THE CLERK HE'S
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE? I.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE?
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER -- COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? I.
>> WITH THE COURT PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW
ON ITEM 3. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE TITLE OF ITEM 3
INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE PARKS
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM 3,
RESOLUTION 32135. A RESOLUTION
ATTLE PARKS ANON RECREATI
PARKS DEVELOPMENT PLAN
AUTHORIZING THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION TO SUBMIT THE PLANT
TO THE WASHINGTON STATE
RECREATION AND CONSERVATION
OFFICE HAD SUPERSEDING THE 2017
PARKS DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS COUNCIL
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AS
CHAIR YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO
PROVIDE THE REPORT. YOUR
RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MY APOLOGIES. WE
PASSED THIS LEGISLATION, THE
OPEN SPACE PLAN OUT OF OUR LAST
COMMITTEE. IT WAS 4 IN FAVOR
AND UNOPPOSED IF I REMEMBER
CORRECTLY AND I KNOW THE CLERK
WILL REMIND ME IF I AM
INCORRECT. THIS WAS
SPECIFICALLY , COLLEAGUES, A
RESOLUTION FOR SEATTLE PARKS
DEPARTMENT TO GO AHEAD AND
IDENTIFY, BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR
FUNDING FROM OUR STATE . SO
EVERY SIX YEARS THEY PREPARE A
PLAN, THEY IDENTIFY DIFFERENT
PROJECTS AND I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS
THIS IS NOT THE FINAL PLAN.
THIS IS JUST FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING
AND THEN THEY WILL COME BACK TO
OUR COMMITTEE AND PRESENT THE
PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN
FOR CAPITAL BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS
FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS AROUND
THE CITY. THAT IS PRETTY SIMPLE
AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
THE RESOLUTION? SEEING NONE
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCIL NUMBER MOORE? I.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA? I.
CANCEL MEMBER SAKA? I. COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS? YES. COUNCIL
MEMO WOO? YES. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> I.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
AND CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? THERE WERE NO ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, THERE'S NOT A
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND
ADOPTION TODAY, SO NOW I WILL
ASK IF THERE'S ANY FOR THE
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
COUNCIL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? I AM
ASKING TO BE EXCUSED ON MONDAY,
MAY 20. NOT TUESDAY, MAY 21.
THANK YOU.
>> NOTED. I DON'T BELIEVE
ANYBODY HAS ANY OBJECTIONS SO
WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DON'T BELIEVE -- THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US KNOW.
WE'VE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA AND THE NEXT
MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MAY 7
AT 2:00 P.M. IT IS NOW--
>> NEVERMIND, SORRY.
>> IT IS FOR:15 AND HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.