>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE,
THE JUNE 4th 2024 MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:01.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? THANK YOU.
CRG MORALES? COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
LOCATIONALITY HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT. I AM SURE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WILL
BE JOINING US AND I WILL
ANNOUNCE HER PRESENCE WHEN SHE
ARRIVES. OKAY, EVERYONE, THERE
IS NO PRESENTATION TODAY. WE
WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT. AS NOTED IN THE
BRIEFING YESTERDAY, AT THE
REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
CHAIR OF TRANSPORTATION, I WILL
BE LIMITING PUBLIC COMMENT TO
40 MINUTES AND I WILL BREAK
THAT INTO TWO SEGMENTS OF 20
MINUTES EACH AND THAT IS SO WE
CAN START OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY,
PROMPTLY AT 4:30. THE GOAL IS
TO END AT 4:30, AND GIVE THE
PEOPLE WHO CARE A LOT ABOUT THE
TRANSPORTATION MONEY A CHANCE
TO SPEAK. SO, THAT IS WHAT WE
WILL BE DOING TODAY. AND I
APOLOGIZE IF THERE ARE A LOT
MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE THAN
WHO HAVE HAD TIME TO SPEAK. BUT
WE HAVE DIVIDED IT INTO A
SYSTEM TODAY THAT HOPEFULLY
WILL HELP US MOVE THROUGH
PUBLIC COMMENTERS MORE QUICKLY.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A CARD
SYSTEM. WE HAVE A CARD SYSTEM,
PEOPLE WILL BE CALLED UP
ACCORDING TO MEMBER, AND THE
INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MADE MORE
CLEAR WHEN WE GET THERE. AGAIN,
I ASK THAT YOU NOT CLAP OR MAKE
ANY OTHER NOISES IN BETWEEN
SPEAKERS, BECAUSE THAT DOES ADD
TIME. IT IS NOT RESPECTFUL TO
THE PERSON COMING TO SPEAK
RIGHT AFTERWARDS. IN ADDITION,
IT IS CONSIDERED A REAL
DISRUPTION BY THE COUNCIL RULES
AND I HAVE TO APPLY THE COUNCIL
RULES EVENLY AND FAIRLY ACROSS
THE BOARD, OUT OF RESPECT FOR
EACH OTHER, AND IN THE INTEREST
OF TIME, WHICH IS LIMITED
TODAY, I ASK THAT WE CAN FOLLOW
THOSE RULES. SO, I WILL THEN ,
WE CAN THEN OPEN UP THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. MADAM CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED
UP?
>> 31 IN PERSON AND 17 REMOTE.
>> EVERYBODY WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE AND WE WILL START WITH
10 IN PERSON AND GO TO 10
REMOTELY, AND I WILL LET YOU
PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, SORRY, I WAS
MUTED. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
UPON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
ARE REGISTERED. WE WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF
IN-PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS
UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
HAS ENDED. AND SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS
ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME, AND
MIKE'S WILL BE MUTED IF
SPEAKERS DO NOT END WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME, TO CALL UPON THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO
ENSURE THAT WE CAN HAVE AS MANY
SPEAKERS ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
TO HELP FACILITATE, I WILL CALL
THE GROUP IN NUMBERS , IN
INCREMENTS, OF 10. IF YOUR
SPEAKER NUMBER IS IN THE GROUP
OF NUMBERS CALLED, PLEASE STAND
BY THE PODIUM. WE WILL TRY TO
GET AS MANY SPEAKERS IN, WITHIN
THE 40 MINUTES. I WILL START
WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT
WE HAVE IN PERSON. I AM GOING
TO START WITH KEN WORKMAN AND
TONYA TREAT. AND COUNCILMEMBER
GRIFFIN.
>> HELLO ? HELLO? I AM WORKMAN
WITH THE DUWAMISH TRIBE. I AM
HERE TO OPPOSE CB 12077 AS I
HOPE THAT THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL ALSO OPPOSE THIS
PROPOSAL AND THAT IT WILL
PREVENT THE FREE DISTRIBUTION,
NOT FREE, BUT EASES THE
DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS INTO THE
PROPRIETARY BUDGETING CHANNEL.
SO, WITH THAT, I WILL YIELD MY
TIME. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
TONYA TREAT, I AM ALSO A
DUWAMISH COUNCILPERSON. I AM A
RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
AS WELL AND I HAVE BEEN IN
SEATTLE FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. I
AM HERE TO DISCUSS AMENDMENT
ONE TO THE COUNCIL BILL
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. THIS AMENDMENT IS
UNNECESSARY AND IT WAS PROVEN
LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK, THE
SHOWING OF PUBLIC OPPOSITION,
IT IS NECESSARY , IT NEEDLESSLY
IS INFLAMMATORY TO THE
COMMUNITY RECEIVING MONEY.
THERE HAS BEEN A BENEFIT FOR
THE PROJECTS THAT WOULD HAVE
NOT OTHERWISE BEEN AVAILABLE TO
US. [ INDISCERNIBLE -
BACKGROUND NOISE ] IT HAS BEEN
AN EXTRAORDINARY ONLY
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. THE
AMENDMENT WILL ONLY MARGINALLY
OF -- IMPROVE AMENDMENT A. DO
BETTER. FULLY FUND THIS
PROGRAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, NAME IS
YVONNE GRIFFIN AND I AM A
COUNCILMEMBER WITH THE DUWAMISH
TRIBE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN PART
OF THE PROCESS THROUGHOUT ONE
YEAR. I HAVE SEEN THE DUWAMISH
TRIBE ACTIVE EVERY STEP OF THE
WAY. WE URGE THE CITY COUNCIL
TO FOLLOW THROUGH. THE PUBLIC
VOTED IN NOVEMBER TO FUND $7.2
MILLION FOR THE DUWAMISH
COMMUNITY CENTER FOR SHARED
RECREATIONAL SPACE WITH THE
URBAN NATIVE INDIAN COMMUNITY.
I AM HERE IN ACCORDANCE TO HOW
EDI HAS SUPPORTED THE DUWAMISH
TRIBE AND URBAN NATIVES. DO NOT
DISREGARD THE COMMITMENT MADE
BY THIS COUNCIL. IT IS TIME TO
HONOR YOUR WORDS. PLEASE FOLLOW
THROUGH. THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL GO TO SPEAKERS ONE
THROUGH 11, IF YOUR SPEAKER
CARD IS ONE THROUGH 11, PLEASE
STAND UP AT THE PODIUM, SO THAT
OUR SPEAKERS CAN BE SEEN. IT
WILL BE BAILEY, FOLLOWED BY
JASMINE SMITH.
>> MY NAME IS BAILEY , I AM THE
DIGITAL AND COMMUNICATIONS
ORGANIZER FOR THE WASHINGTON
BUS AND YOU ADD THE ZIGGY
COMMUNICATION -- ADVOCACY ,
WHEN COUNCILMEMBERS PROPOSE TO
CUT OFF EDI FUNDING WHICH IS
THEN OSTENSIBLY TABLED. I WAS
TOLD ABOUT THIS THREAT,
ACTUALLY, FOR MY COUSIN, YOU
HEARD THAT ORGANIZATIONS WERE
UNDER THREAT OF FUNDINGS BEING
CUT BY THE CITY THAT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE HER
WORK AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, HER
FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY IS SHARED
BY MANY IN THE COMMUNITY. BY
INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, YOU ARE PLANTING SEEDS
THAT WILL GROW INTO SEATTLE.
THIS TAKES TIME. HAVING UNEVEN
SCRUTINY FOR BIPOC ACTIVITIES
WILL CAUSE HARM, DEFENDING THE
INVESTED REVENUE IS ESSENTIALLY
FOR OUR CITY TO SURVIVE. [
INDISCERNIBLE - BACKGROUND
NOISE ] PROBLEMS FOR THE
FUTURE, IF YOU REFUSE TO
EQUITABLY AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY
INVEST , YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOOK
LIKE US WILL NOT BE YOUR
FUTURE, BUT --
>> MY NAME IS JASMINE . I , WE
HAVE SEEN THESE CALLS
SCRUTINIZING EDI, DUE TO THE
BUDGETARY ISSUES, AND AGAIN,
THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS
TO BE SOLVED . THIS AMENDMENT
IS A MASSIVE STEP BACK AND A
SPIT IN THE FACE FOR OUR MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. TIME
AND TIME AGAIN, WE HAVE SEEN
THESE MEASURES BACKFIRE, THIS
INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE WHO
NEED SUPPORT IS ALWAYS MORE
COSTLY FOR ALL OF US TAXPAYERS
IN THE LONG RUN, IT IS TAKING
MONEY AWAY FROM BLACK AND
BROWN, WORKING-CLASS
COMMUNITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE AND
THE PROJECTS THAT IT FIGHTS
FOR, AND [ INDISCERNIBLE -
BACKGROUND NOISE ] -- PLACEMENT
INVESTING IN YOUNG PEOPLE, AND
USING IT TO PROMOTE
FLOURISHING, THAT IS PROMOTING
COMMON SENSE.
>> WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO
SPEAKERS EIGHT, NINE, 10, 11,
LESLIE, KAREN, RIHANNA, AND
ANOTHER.
>> I AM WITH THE INTERIM
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION. TOGETHER, WITH SO
MANY OTHERS, WE FOUGHT DEARLY
FOR EDI AND JUMPSTART TO
SUSTAIN THE EDI PROGRAM WHICH
HAS PROVEN TO BE A POWERFUL
ANTIDOTE. IT PROVIDES A UNIQUE
SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR
NON-HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE
NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO FIND
HOUSING FOR AND YET ARE
ESSENTIAL FOR BIPOC COMMUNITIES
TO CREATE CULTURALLY-RELEVANT
LACES AND SPACES THAT WE KNOW
WE NEED TO THRIVE. WITH OUR
COMMUNITIES FACING
UNPRECEDENTED DISPLACEMENT, WE
NEED EDI TO BE SUSTAINED. WE
HAVE BEEN FIGHTING
GENTRIFICATION FOR OVER 55
YEARS, WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY,
WE STAND TOGETHER WITH OUR
BROTHER AND SISTER EDI
ORGANIZATIONS [ INDISCERNIBLE -
BACKGROUND NOISE ] -- THAT YOU
DID NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET ON
THE BACKS OF OUR BIPOC
COMMUNITIES BUT RATHER STAND
BEHIND YOUR COMMITMENT TO
INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS KAREN AND I
REPRESENT DISTRICT TO -- 2. I
HAVE A FEW VERY SIMPLE THINGS
TO ASK , NUMBER ONE, PLEASE
DON'T CHARACTERIZE US AS
MISINFORMED, BECAUSE WE ARE
VERY INFORMED ABOUT THE WORK
THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH OUR
PROJECTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
REMIND YOU THAT THE EXECUTIVE
ALREADY FROZE THE 25 MILLION,
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE, AND
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO REPORT
ANYWAY, WHILE WE DOING THIS
ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON TOP OF
THE REPORTING THAT ALREADY HAS
TO HAPPEN, IN ORDER FOR THE
BUDGET TO BE RESOLVED
EFFECTIVELY? WHAT YOU COULD DO
IS BUILD MORE CAPACITY FOR EDI
TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU ARE
ASKING THEM TO DO. REMEMBER,
EDI PROJECTS ARE PART OF PUBLIC
SAFETY.
>> PLEASE , HOLD YOUR CLAPPING,
ET CETERA. GO ON, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON , MY NAME IS
MARIANA RILEY. I AM HERE TO
ADDRESS THE RACIST PROPOSAL TO
LOWER DELIVERY DRIVER WAGES,
AND ENSURE THAT A MOSTLY INFANT
WORKFORCE WILL NO LONGER BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FAMILIES. SINCE PAYUP WENT INTO
EFFECT, SERVICE QUALITY HAS
BEEN MASSIVELY IMPROVED, BEFORE
THIS LAWSUIT, WE WOULD SIT AT
RESTAURANTS FOR UP TO AN HOUR
FOR ORDERS BEEN CANCELED AND
RESTAURANTS HAD TO REFUND THE
ORDER, BECAUSE DOORDASH WAS NOT
PAYING ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO
PICK UP THE ORDER. NOW IT GETS
TICKED UP AND DELIVERED
PROMPTLY. WE WANT FOOD OR
SUNDRIES DELIVERED AT 11:00
P.M. ON A MONDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN
HAVE THIS DONE IN 30 MINUTES.
REFUNDS ARE DOWN, BECAUSE
SERVICE QUALITY IS UP. JOIN ME
IN SAYING THAT THE WAY TO
INCREASE VOLUME IS TO INCREASE
SERVICE QUALITY. WE HAVE SEEN
DELIVERY VOLUMES GOING BACK UP,
KEEP UP WITH 21 IN PLACE , AS
IS. SPORT --
>> SPEAKER NUMBER 11.
>> LET ME START WITH A JOKE BY
AN ECONOMIST. A STUDY OF
MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING INTO A
BAR WHERE THERE WAS A FIGHT
GOING ON. THE TRUE STORY OF THE
MINIMUM WAGE FIGHT. THE
PROFESSOR TALKED ABOUT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE
FROM $9.50 IN 20 $14-$13 IN
2016. THE MAJOR FINDINGS ARE,
NUMBER ONE, THE EMPLOYERS CUT
WORKERS HOURS IN RESPONSE,
NUMBER TWO, THEN THE MONTHLY
WAGE INCREASED BY ONLY 9%, AT
MOST, DESPITE THE 37% INCREASE.
LOW-SKILLED WORKERS, SUCH AS
TEENAGERS AND MINORITIES ARE
LIKELY PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING
THE LABOR MARKET. WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HISTORIC
STUDIES AND PAYUP? PAYOUT WAS
30% OVER MINIMUM WAGE
OVERNIGHT, -- [ INDISCERNIBLE -
LOW VOLUME ] -- CAN WE PLEASE ?
[ INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST REGISTERED
REMOTE SPEAKER, COURTNEY CASEY,
IS NOT RESIN. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO MS. MITCHELL, FOLLOWED BY
STRAWBERRY. GO AHEAD. AND
REMEMBER, REMOTE CALLERS,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX, ONCE YOU
HEAR THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED, STAR SIX.
>> I AM THE OWNER OF [
INDISCERNIBLE ] ADVOCACY I WAS
BORN AND RAISED IN SEATTLE AND
HAVE SEEN CHANGES OVER TIME.
THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY IT
IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY OVER YOUR
POSITIONS OF POWER, GIVING
POWER BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
MEANINGS THAT MEANS HAVING THE
CAPACITY TO SERVE YOUR
COMMUNITY THAT IS DEPENDENT ON
BLACK AND BROWN COMMITTEES. WE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
RIGHT OR WRONG. LET US NOT
PERPETUATE INEQUALITY THAT HAS
BEEN CAUSED IN OUR LIVED
EXPERIENCE. FINALLY, I AM NOT
HERE TO BE A VICTIM OF
INEQUALITY BUT A CHANGE MAKER
WHO IS CREATING SOLUTIONS.
WORKING DIRECTLY WITH BLACK AND
BROWN IMMUNITIES IS NECESSARY,
NOT OPTIONAL. WE ARE HERE TO BE
BETTER TOGETHER. THIS IS WHAT
IT LOOKS LIKE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS STRAWBERRY S , FOLLOWED BY A
LEXUS MERCEDES BRINK. GO AHEAD,
STRAWBERRY. STRAWBERRY, YOU MAY
NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I AM A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
ALLIANCE AGAINST OPPRESSION. I
AM VOICING MY VOICE , I WANT TO
SAY THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY
RIDICULOUS WE ARE HERE IT AGAIN
-- HERE AGAIN. I FIND IT
COWARDLY AND DISGUSTING THAT
RIVERA IS SAYING THAT THE
ORIGINAL AMENDMENT WAS
MISCHARACTERIZED, THAT IS
LAUGHABLE. THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE SOUGHT RIVERA 'S
AMENDMENT FOR WHAT IT WAS, A
DESPITE HER SELF-RIGHTEOUS
CLAIMS. WE ARE NOT FOOLED AND
WE WILL NOT STAND FOR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BEING USED
AS SACRIFICIAL LAMBS FOR THE
BUDGET SHORTFALL. IF THIS IS
THE ONLY SO-CALLED SOLUTION
THAT OUR CITY CAN THINK OF,
THEY ARE EVEN WORSE AT THEIR
JOB THAN I THOUGHT. DO BETTER.
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE DESERVE
MORE THAN THIS DISGUSTING
BEHAVIOR.
>> FOLLOWING ALEXIS WILL BE
FREEMAN. GO AHEAD, ALEXIS.
>> MY NAME IS ALEXIS MERCEDES
BRINK AND I AM ADVOCATING FOR
SEATTLE'S FRONTLINE COMMUNITY.
I JOINED MEETINGS AFTER SHORT
NOTICE, AND THEY SHARED THEIR
STORY. AND THAT DELAYED THE
VOTE, DESPITE THE REVISION, THE
AMENDMENT LEAVES EDI ON THE
TABLE. IT IS OFFENSIVE FOR A
PROGRAM TO BE SCRUTINIZED MUCH
MORE HEAVILY THAN ANY OTHER
ITEM DURING BUDGET EVALUATION.
FURTHER, THE DEVELOPMENT TAKES
STAFF AWAY FROM THE EXECUTION
OF THESE IMPORTANT PROJECTS.
ACCOUNTABILITY , WE MUST BE
ACCOUNTABLE, THIS IS
INEQUITABLE. I URGE YOU TO VOTE
NO, THIS IS A CRITICAL PROGRAM
AND SERVICE. AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DEMETRA , AND FOLLOWING HER
WILL BE KITTY BLUE. GO AHEAD.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX. OKAY, WE MAY
NEED TO COME BACK TO. LET'S
MOVE ON TO KITTY WU . AND AFTER
THAT, IT WILL BE SANCHEZ. GO
AHEAD, KITTY. ARE YOU THERE?
CAN YOU PRESS STAR SIX, PLEASE?
>> I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR 120774,
AND THANK YOU TO HOLLINGSWORTH
AND MORALES , FOR UNDERSTANDING
THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
COUNCILMEMBER BETA 51, LAST
TIME YOU SAID IT WAS A LONG
TIME FOR A PROJECT. IT CAN TAKE
SIX OR SEVEN YEARS TO COMPLETE
. I WORK FOR NATIONAL HEALTH,
WE ALREADY HAVE THE BUILDING.
AND WE ALSO ALREADY HAVE
SOMEONE MANAGING THE PROJECT.
MY QUESTION TODAY IS , DO YOU
HAVE THE STAFFING AND SUPPORT,
AND WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS
ADDITIONAL DETAIL TO WORK WITH?
HOW WILL THE COUNCIL UPHOLD
PROMISES TO THE BIPOC
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SPENT
PRECIOUS TIME AND ENERGY ?
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SANCHEZ,
AND AFTER HER WILL BE SUSANNA
SURFACE. GO AHEAD .
>> I AM CALLING TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THE EDI
AMENDMENT. I AM A RESIDENT OF
COMMUNITY HOUSING AND I AM PART
OF THE PDA BOARD AND WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF MANY
PROJECTS, IF WE ARE NOT
HINDERED BY UNREALISTIC
DEADLINES. PROJECTS TAKE YEARS
TO DEVELOP. I HAVE BEEN IN
MEETINGS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS
SINCE I JOINED THE BOARD ABOUT
PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL IN THE
PROCESS OF BEING DEVELOPED. WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY
THE COURSE IN SUPPORTING OUR
NEIGHBORS AND LISTEN TO OUR
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND
EXPLAINED HOW THIS PROJECT IS
ESSENTIAL FOR MAKING SURE, THAT
OUR DUWAMISH PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN TENDING TO THE LINE SINCE
TIME IN MEMORIAM ARE SPOKEN
FOR.
>> NEXT IS SUSANNA SURFACE. GO
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS -- MY NAME IS
SUSANNA SURFACE , A FORMER CITY
OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEE WITH THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. I
AM HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR
THE EQUITABLE INITIATIVE. I
SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS
IN THE PUBLIC FORUM, AND I AM
GLAD TO SEE THIS BEING
RETRACTED, THE CURRENT
AMENDMENT REQUIRING SENSITIVE
REPORTING BY SEPTEMBER, IT PUTS
THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
POTENTIAL , CURRENTLY
HARNESSING THE TRANSPARENCY
THAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS, IT HAS
BEEN WIDELY INTERPRETED ,
HAVING TO SET ASIDE WORK OVER
THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND BEYOND.
TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS, THEY
MUST ADVOCATE NUMEROUS TIMES,
THIS IS GUARANTEED IN THE
FUTURE. NEXT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALISA .
GO AHEAD
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> AWESOME. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCY. AND WE ASK THAT YOU NOT
ASK FOR THESE RECORDINGS, YOU
WILL GET THE INFORMATION YOU
NEED WITH TIME, WE KNOW THAT IT
TAKES TIME. WE ARE AN EQUAL
SYSTEM. AS YOU HEARD , IN THE
STATEMENT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT
IS NOT WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE
LINES BUT BETWEEN THE LINES.
JUMPSTART, THE AD TAX , WE CAN
SEE A PATTERN EMERGING. THERE
ARE OTHER WAYS , AND WE CAN
HELP YOU FIND THEM, WE WANT TO
GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS NEEDED.
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE -
OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
>> JODY, EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF OUR 20
MINUTES. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, I WILL EXTEND PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR 20 MINUTES.
>> NO OBJECTION, MADAME DOMINIC
PRESIDENT, I DO SUPPORT THE
ADDITIONAL ONE-TIME EXTENSION.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP, SO THAT WE CAN
ACCOMMODATE THE EXISTING
LONG-STANDING OVERSIGHT, EXCUSE
ME, THE LEVY, THE PUBLIC
HEARING THAT WE HAVE ON THE
CALENDAR, AT 4:30.
>> THANK YOU , THANK YOU
AUDIENCE, FOR ALLOWING FOR THE
RAPID SUCCESSION OF SPEAKERS.
>> ALICE, FOLLOWING HER WILL BE
SHARON APPEARED GO AHEAD,
ALICE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM ALICE
LOCKHART, AND YOU WILL HEAR
FROM A MOMENT IN OUR -- FROM
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEEN [
LAUGHTER ] I NEED TO ADD TO THE
TESTIMONY, THE EDI , IT IS THE
CITY'S PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC TOOL
AGAINST DISPLACEMENT.
DISPLACEMENT HAS TWO REALLY BAD
EFFECTS, ONE IS THAT IT
FRACTURES AND IT DAMAGES THE
RESILIENCY THAT IS IN PLACE.
AND [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. IT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE CLIMATE
POLLUTION THAT IS SEATTLE'S
LARGEST SOURCE OF
TRANSPORTATION. THEREFORE,
PLEASE LOSE AMENDMENT B, THE
REPORT THAT FOSTERS EDI AND
INSTEAD ISSUED THE 2024 EDI RFP
AS OF RIGHT NOW.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON,
THEN JULIE LOPEZ. GO AHEAD.
>> I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AT SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE AND
ANYWAYS THAT WE CAN STAVE OFF
THE EXECUTIVE DECISION, WE ARE
TELLING THEM TO NOT PUT THE
BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF BIPOC
COMMUNITIES. FROM THE SOUTH END
TO THE NORTH END, EDI HELPS US
FIGHT INFLATION. IT MAKES
ECONOMIC COMMON SENSE, IT
DRIVES JOB CREATION, IT
SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
PROTECT THESE INVESTMENTS AND
FOCUS ON EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS
THAT BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
TELL THE MAYOR TO IMMEDIATELY
ISSUE THE 2024 EDI REQUESTED
PROPOSAL, IT HARMS IT . THE
CITY SHOULD STAND BY THEIR
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND DELIVER ON THE
PROMISES MADE [ INDISCERNIBLE
]. THANK YOU.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS
GROUP OF REMOTE SPEAKERS WILL
BE JOEY LOPEZ. FOLLOWING JOEY,
WE WILL MOVE BACK TO IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS. JOEY, GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS JULIE LOPEZ, I AM
THE CODIRECTOR IN SEATTLE, I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 3, AND I
WORSHIP THE DISTRICT 7. NOT TOO
MANY COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN
KEEN TO QUESTION WHY THERE HAS
BEEN NO RFP. THIS WAS NOTHING
MORE THAN A SMOKESCREEN OF
DISINFORMATION, IMPLYING THAT
OCD WAS NOT FULFILLING A HIGHER
OR TRUER INTENT. AS MEMBERS OF
CITY GOVERNMENT, I EXPECT THAT
YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE MAYOR
HAS NOT ADVISED THIS RFP. I
APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY, BUT THIS IS NOT
RESOLUTION , EDI HAS BUILT
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
ENHANCE LOCAL SERVICES,
LEVERAGING FEDERAL FUNDING.
THESE SHOW SKILLED GOVERNMENTAL
EFFECTIVENESS. WE ASK THE
COUNCIL TO PASS CB AS SUBMITTED
.
>> WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE
NEXT 10 SPEAKERS, NUMBERS 12
THROUGH 21 AND IF YOU ARE IN
THAT RANGE, PLEASE GO UP AND GO
TO ONE OF THOSE PODIUMS,
PLEASE. ALEX, JASON, AND ALICE
PARK, AGAIN, NUMBERS 12 THROUGH
21. ALEX KIM?
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ALEX KIM,
I AM A RESIDENT TO MEMBER. LAST
WEEK SOMEONE SAID THAT THE
DOORDASH TOP DASHER PROGRAM IS
BASED ON DELIVERY. IT IS TO GET
PEOPLE TO ACCEPT TERRIBLE
OFFERS, WITH OVER 21, THERE IS
NO NEED. EVERY ORDER GETS
PICKED UP, BECAUSE EVERY ORDER
IS WORTH TAKING. IT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POSITIVE AND
NEGATIVE. IT IS ACCEPTED THAT
POSITIVE MOTIVATION IS MORE
ACCEPTED THAN NEGATIVE. THE
PROPOSED REVISION ALLOWS FOR
UNDERPAYMENT ON OFFERS, INSTEAD
OF A STRAIGHT PAPER OFFER, SO,
ONE WORKER CAN COMPLETE TWO,
THEY ARE BOTH GOING TO GET PAID
$20. WORKERS WILL TAKE LONGER
ON EACH JOB, BECAUSE THERE IS A
FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO DO SO,
THAT IS BAD. I URGE THE COUNCIL
TO REJECT THE REVISION AND GO
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH
REAL WORKERS INVOLVED. THANK
YOU.
>> JASON ?
>> $12 AND 56 -- $12.66 PER
HOUR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. LAST
MONTH, I COBBLED TOGETHER A $73
EMERGENCY FUND FROM CUSTOMER
TIPS OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS,
NOW I HAVE $17 IN MY BANK
ACCOUNT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO
EAT. THAT HAS BEEN THE MONTHLY
PATTERN SINCE JANUARY. THIS LAW
NEEDS TO CHANGE. PEOPLE NEED
THE RELIEF RIGHT NOW.
>> SPEAKER NUMBER 14, ALICE.
>> MY NAME IS ALICE PARK AND I
AM JUST NOTHING -- TESTIFYING
ON BEHALF OF OF THE
RECONCILIATION ALLIANCE. THIS
WILL BE RADICAL TO PROTECT
RESOURCES THAT ARE VITAL TO
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND
PRESERVE REVENUE STREAMS. THE
POLICE WERE GIVEN A $40 MILLION
RAISE, BUT SUSTAINED SAFETY
RELIES ON HARDSHIP AND HARDSHIP
WHILE OTHERS ARE PREDICTED.
PLEASE PRESERVE EDI, THAT IS
WHAT HELPS BIPOC FEEL SAFE AND
DO NOT ALLOW BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES TO SUFFER AND TAKE
THE BRUNT OF THE BUDGET
SHORTFALLS, WE ASK YOU TO TELL
THE MAYOR TO AUTHORIZE THE
RELEASE OF THE EDI RFP. VOTE NO
ON THE AMENDMENT , ADDING
FURTHER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
STRETCHED THIN WITH LIMITED
RESOURCES, STAFF, CAPACITY, AND
TIME. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS SLIM. I LEAD THE
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
. FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS, THE
ORGANIZATION HAS SERVED THE
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF THE
CHINESE COMMUNITY AND OTHER
UNDERSERVED REFUGEES AND
IMMIGRANTS, SEATTLE EDI PUT US
ON THE MAP, AND THEY KNEW WHO
THE PEOPLE WERE. WE WERE DOING
WORK ON VOLUNTARY EFFORTS
WITHOUT RECOGNITION, THIS EDI
PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT, THE
TEAM HAS PROVIDED A LOT OF
SUPPORT FOR OUR PRODUCTS. YOU
KNOW, WITHOUT DOING THE
PROJECTS THEM SELVES, THEY HAVE
DONE REAL ESTATE TRAINING,
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ASSET
MANAGEMENT, PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT, AND ALSO, ADJUSTING
THE BARRIER THAT MANY OF THE
EDI PRODUCTS WERE FACING. THERE
WAS A GROUP OF RECIPIENTS THAT
WERE THERE. -- [ INDISCERNIBLE
- LOW VOLUME ] MOVE FORWARD
WITH -- [ INDISCERNIBLE - LOW
VOLUME ].
>> I BELIEVE IT WILL BE PETE,
FOLLOWED BY LEAH.
>> MY NAME IS PETER. HI MY NAME
IS PETER MANNING, I AM WITH
BLACK EXCELLENCE CANNABIS AND
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MONEY,
TOO. LAST YEAR, THIS COUNTERED
IT, WELL, THE PRIOR, IT
APPROVED A SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAM, THAT MONEY WAS
ALLOCATED, BUT WE HAVE NEVER
SEEN IT, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
WHERE THAT MONEY IS AT. I HAVE
BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, THE
CITY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
HELPING TO CUT OUT THE BLACK
AND BROWN DISPENSARY OWNERS IN
2015. NOW , THOSE LICENSES HAVE
BECOME AVAILABLE, THE CITY
SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO OPEN THAT
BACKUP AND CORRECT THE ZONING
PROBLEM THAT THE BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES SUFFER. WHAT
KILLS ME IS, IF YOU TAKE AWAY
FROM US OUR OPPORTUNITIES, OUR
FAIR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAD
AT ONE TIME, LEGALLY [
INDISCERNIBLE - BACKGROUND
NOISE ] AND WE HAVE THE COME
AND ASK FOR MONEY, WHO IS AT
FAULT? YOU CLOSED US DOWN FOR
MAKING MONEY AND INCOME FOR OUR
FAMILIES, WE DO NOT NEED A
STIPEND FROM YOU. [
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> NUMBER 17, 18, 19, AND 20.
AND WE HAVE JORDANA , LEO,
JESSE . ALL RIGHT, NUMBER 17 ,
OKAY, NUMBER 18 , FOLLOWED BY
19. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS LEAH MARTIN, I AM
THE CO-OWNER OF VALIDITY
ARCHITECTS. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, YOU HAVE ASKED WHAT CAN
BE DONE TO MAKE EDI PROJECTS
WORK FASTER, I HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THEM SINCE 2019,
AND I HAVE OBSERVED FIRSTHAND
WHAT WOULD HELP THE MOST, EDI
NEEDS A MUCH LARGER STAFF, MORE
FUNDING TO ALLOCATE TO
PROJECTS, AND IT REALLY NEEDS
TO COMMIT -- CONNECT TO THE
COMMUNITY. IT NEEDS TO RELIEVE
THE COMMUNITIES OF THE OWNER'S
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS , TO
CORRECT THE WRONGS OF THE PAST,
EDI PRODUCTS DO WHAT MARKET
RATE PRODUCTS CANNOT. EDI
INNOVATE FROM THE GROUND UP,
WHEN COMMUNITIES DESIGN AND
BUILD THEIR OWN PROJECTS, THEY
GET WHAT IS NEEDED MOST. EDI IS
THE BEST TOOL TO ENABLE
INNOVATION IN THE CITY. IT IS
WHAT GOT US WHERE WE ARE. EDI
IS ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS WE
HAVE TO IMPROVE ON THE STATUS
QUO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF POLICY AT THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM
. I HAVE BEEN HEARTENED BY THE
OUTPOURING OF COMMITTEE VOICES
AT THE HEARING LAST WEEK AND
TODAY, TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE
GREAT WORK HAPPENING HERE IN
SEATTLE, WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, CHILDCARE, CULTURAL
CENTERS. THAT HAS ONLY BEEN
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
EQUITABLE DIVISION. IT TAKES
TIME AND IT TAKES MONEY. EDI
FUNDS ARE INTENDED AS THE FIRST
ROUND OF INVESTMENT, TO SHOW
COMMITMENT TO A GIVEN PROJECT
AND HELP A COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION GET OFF THE
GROUND, TO BE ABLE TO ASSEMBLE
OTHER FUNDING AND NAVIGATE
PERMITTING. I AM GLAD TO SEE
THAT THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT
FREEZING FUNDS WAS WITHDRAWN. I
ASK, AS YOU LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT
YEAR, THE DIFFICULT BUDGET
SEASON, THAT YOU UPHOLD THE
INTEGRITY OF THE JUMPSTART
SPENDING PLAN SO THAT WE CAN
KEEP INVESTING IN EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT -- [ INDISCERNIBLE
- LOW VOLUME ]
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. MY NAME IS [
INDISCERNIBLE ], DIRECTOR OF
FUND DEVELOPMENT IN THE
CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY, A
CULTURAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY.
BEFORE THAT I WAS THE
DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE AT OBESITY. -- OPCD
. IT HAD A VISION, SINCE YOU
ARE SAYING THAT WE DID NOT KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON, IT STATES,
SEATTLE WILL BE A CITY WITH
DIVERSE CULTURES, RACES, AND
INCOMES, ALL PEOPLE WILL BE
ABLE TO ACHIEVE FULL POTENTIAL,
REGARDLESS OF RACE OR MEANS. WE
WILL INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY
ANCHORS SUPPORT GOODS,
SERVICES, AMENITIES, AND
RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO LEAD
HEALTHY LIVES AND FLOURISH. AND
QUOTE. CUT THE CHECKS FOR
CAPACITY BUILDINGS -- [
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ] --
ROB SAKA YOU HAVE A PROJECT IN
DISTRICT 1 -- [ INDISCERNIBLE -
LOW VOLUME ].
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER,
NUMBER 21.
>> MY NAME IS TONY AND I AM A
RETIRED RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE TASK
FORCE THAT PARTNERED WITH THE
OFFICE OF OPCD, THAT CEDED THE
CREATION OF THE PROGRAM , PLAN
UPDATE, THE EDI PROGRAM WAS A
FIRST IN SEATTLE, AND IN THE
COUNTRY, DOCUMENTING HISTORIC
MARGINALIZATION THROUGH
REDLINING AND A MYRIAD OF
SCHEMES TO DENY ACCESS TO
TANGIBLE ASSETS BY BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES. SEATTLE 2035
IS AN ADOPTED POLICY BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. TO NOT ONLY
RECOGNIZE THE JUSTICE, BUT TO
ACT ON REVERSING GENERATIONAL
GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED THIEVERY,
BY MERGING SOCIAL EQUITY WITH
FINANCIAL EQUITY, THE EDI FUND
IS THE ONLY PUBLICLY-BUT A
DEDICATED SOURCE OF CAPITAL [
INDISCERNIBLE - BACKGROUND
NOISE ] UPON WHICH OTHER
COMMUNITIES FIGHT DISPLACEMENT
BY CREATING OR PRESERVING
INSTITUTIONS ONE BY ONE. [
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON, THANK
YOU, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR
LAST TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS. OUR
LAST WILL BE CELINE RUSSO. GO
AHEAD, A REMINDER, YOU MAY NEED
TO PRESS STAR SIX. GO AHEAD,
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS CELINE RUSSO I AM
A DIFFERENT ONE COMMUNITY
MEMBER. ALL OF THE OTHER
SPEAKERS HAVE POINTED THIS OUT.
I WANTED TO CALL IN AND SHOW MY
SUPPORT FOR EDI. IT HELPS BIPOC
COMMUNITIES THRIVE. IT IS
PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE ONLY
THINGS IN THE CITY THAT
ACTUALLY IS ABLE TO WORK. IT
PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HOUSING, SAFETY , IN OUR
COMMUNITY. PLEASE DO NOT ADD
ANY MORE UNNECESSARY REDTAPE.
IT IS NOT BROKEN, SO QUOTE, FIX
BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS
OF BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALBERTO
ALVAREZ AND WE MAY TRY ONE MORE
TIME FOR MS. FREEMAN TO SEE IF
SHE IS ABLE TO UNMUTE. IT WILL
BE ALBERTO ALVAREZ. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS ALBERTO, I AM A
DELIVERY DRIVER IN SEATTLE,
VERY QUICKLY, I STAND WITH EDI,
I SUPPORT THAT, I UPHOLD THAT
AT ALL COSTS CUT ANYTHING ELSE
BEFORE YOU EVEN LOOK AT EDI
AGAIN. WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT,
AS A DELIVERY DRIVER , I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT COMPETITION.
HARD-WORKING DELIVERY PEOPLE,
RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, AND YES, EVEN DELIVERY
SERVICES MUST COMPETE. FAIR
COMPETITION IS GOOD FOR
BUSINESS. COLLUSION BY DOORDASH
AND UBER EATS, WHO ARRIVED AT
THE SAME FIVE DOLLAR PENALTY
FOR ORDERS, IS WHAT IS HOLDING
OUR ECONOMY HOSTAGE. THE APPS
HAVE FLOODED POLITICS WITH
MONEY. THEY ARE NOT APPLYING
FAIR ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES. THERE
ARE RULES THAT ARE BEING
BROKEN. COLLUDING APPS SHOULD
BE FORCED TO COMPETE, FAIR
WAGES, FAIR COMPETITION, FAIR
LEADERSHIP TO SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, NOW WE WILL TRY
FREEMAN, BEFORE FINISHING UP
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, IN PERSON.
ARE YOU THERE? IT YOU MAY NEED
TO PRESS, ONE TIME, STAR SIX.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL JUST HAVE TO
MOVE ON. OKAY, SHE IS NOT
UNMUTING. GO AHEAD.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES.
>> OKAY.
>> LET ME CALL THE NEXT THREE
SPEAKERS. IF WE CAN GET THROUGH
MORE, WE WILL, MEMBERS 22, 23,
24, STEPHANIE, COURTNEY, AND I
BELIEVE , I CANNOT PRONOUNCE
THE NAME, BUT IT IS 22, 23, AND
24. 22, YES. GO AHEAD.
>> WE ARE TIRED. WE ARE TIRED
OF THE POLITICS, WE ARE TIRED
OF THE PUSH AND PULL, THE GIVE
AND TAKE. THERE IS IRONY IN THE
FACT THAT THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR
WAS EVER CALLED INDIAN GIVER. I
STAND BEFORE YOU TO UP HOLD THE
PROMISE, THE PROMISE AND FULL
OF THOSE WHO SAT IN THE SEAT
BEFORE YOU THAT HAVE THIS DUTY,
THAT HAVE THIS OATH , BECAUSE
YOU REPRESENT THAT. AS A
PROMISE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT,
NOT JUST BY THE CONSTITUENTS OF
YOUR DISTRICT, BUT WHAT IS
FAIR, RIGHT, AND JUST FOR ALL
THE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. TO
DISENFRANCHISE US IN A MOMENT
WHEN WE ARE MOST VULNERABLE IS
TO BE COMPLICIT IN THE VERY ACT
THAT THIS FUNDING IS MEANT TO
MAKE RIGHT. WHEN YOU REDACT,
REDUCE, OR RESTRICT MONEY MEANT
TO BE CREATING FAIRNESS, YOU
TAKE AWAY OUR ABILITY TO CREATE
[ INDISCERNIBLE - BACKGROUND
NOISE ] -- BY OURSELVES, BY THE
ONLY TRUE MEANS OF LIBERATION
IN THIS SYSTEM, WHICH IS
OWNERSHIP. WE KNOW THAT YOU
WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR
THE CITY TO GROW. [
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> HI THERE, MY NAME IS
COURTNEY CASEY, I AM PARTNER AT
MOUNT BAKER HOUSING
ASSOCIATION. AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS ARE NOT ONLY TASKED
WITH ADDING HOMES TO
NEIGHBORHOODS BUT ENGAGING IN
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY BUILDINGS.
THEY ARE OFTEN ZONED TO REQUIRE
COMMERCIAL SPACE. THE EDI
PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT TO
PROVIDING ORGANIZATIONS TO
BIPOC -LED ORGANIZATIONS,
ANCHORED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY
SERVE. THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
CAN TAKE EIGHT TO 10 YEARS
THROUGH ACQUISITION, DESIGN,
AND PROBATION, IT DOES NOT
PROVIDE ANY SOURCE TO PAY FOR
CONSTRUCTION. NONPROFIT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS
LIKE US ARE REQUIRED TO FIND
COMMITTED BUYERS TO SECURE THE
CONSTRUCTION LOANS TO BUILD THE
BUILDINGS. SINCE PUBLIC
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS ARE
NOT ALLOWED TO BE SPENT IN
COMMERCIAL SPACINGS, EDI ALLOWS
US TO COMPLETE WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE. PLEASE
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER.
>> I WORK FOR MOUNT BAKER
HOUSING. I AM THE RESIDENT
SERVICES MANAGER. I AM HERE IN
SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING FOR
EDI. MY TEAM AND I HAVE THE
HONOR OF DIRECTLY SERVING BLACK
AND BROWN AND REFUGEE RESIDENCE
. AND ONE MAJOR PILLAR OF OUR
WORK IS PARTNERSHIPS WITH
ORGANIZATIONS THAT KNOW BEST
HOW TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS. THAT
IS WHY EDI FUNDING HAS BEEN SO
IMPORTANT, IT HELPS THESE
ORGANIZATIONS STAY CLOSE . WE
ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT EDI FUNDING AS
INTENDED, THANK YOU.
>> MY NUMBER, NEXT. YOU TOLD ME
25.
>> SIR, WE HAVE REACHED THE END
OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO ROUNDS
IN 20 MINUTES. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED. WE
WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
>> BUT YOU TOLD ME, NUMBER 25.
>> PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT. YOU ARE
DISRUPTIVE.
>> I AM SORRY. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION ,
ONE LAST THING, FOR ALL OF YOU
WHO CAME TO SPEAK TODAY, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR ENGAGING. AND
FOR WANTING TO SHARE YOUR
THOUGHTS WITH US. YOU KNOW HOW
TO REACH US, PROBABLY, BUT
PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO
US. THE FASTEST WAY IS
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV, YOU CAN
SEND THEM TO INDIVIDUAL
COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
UNDERSTANDING OUR TIME
CONSTRAINTS. I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR GRACE. OKAY, MOVING ON ,
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
ADOPTION AND OF INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE ADOPTION OF INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED, AND IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING ON, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED, WE WILL NOW
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR, THE MINUTES OF MAY
28, 2024. WHAT? IT IS HARD TO
HEAR THOUGH. OKAY . THE MINUTES
OF MAY 28th, 2024, CONSUL BILL
, THE LAST DIGIT I THINK IS
MISSING, 793, THE PAYMENT OF
THE BILLS FROM THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY , AND TWO
OPPONENTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT
SAFETY COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY
ITEMS THAT MEMBERS WOULD LIKE
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR? I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A
SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ? I'M
SORRY. [ LAUGHTER ] I'M SORRY
THOUGH. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON ?
>> AYE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON MY
BEHALF? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, APPOINTMENT
OF THE GENERAL MANAGER AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS THIS
ITEM. THIS REQUIRES, NO,
NEVERMIND. AHEAD, PLEASE LEAD
THE DISCUSSION.
>> I AM HONORED TO BE THE FIRST
CONFIRMATION FOR DEPARTMENT
HEAD, 2024, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT, I SPENT TIME WITH
DAWN , WHEN WE TOURED THE
SKAGIT RIVER HYDROELECTRIC
PROJECT THAT I LEARNED THAT
DAWN HAS ALREADY ACHIEVED SO
MUCH AND I HAVE ALWAYS
APPRECIATED LEARNING MORE ABOUT
HER VALUES, IN RESPONSE TO
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY IMPACTS,
AND FACING ENVIRONMENTAL
CHALLENGES AND COMMITMENTS. I
AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, DAWN
LINDELL CHAMPIONS THE CUSTOMER
SERVICE EXPERIENCE, AND SHE
MAKES DECISIONS THAT ARE
CENTERED ON EQUITY ABILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTIONS,
AND THANK YOU TO DAWN FOR YOUR
THOUGHTFUL RESPONSES. SO, IF
POSSIBLE , I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE DAWN NOW TO TALK MORE
ABOUT HER BACKGROUND AND
ASPIRATIONS FOR SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT?
>> YES. SO, I BELIEVE THAT WE
NEED TO SUSPEND THE RULES IN
ORDER TO DO SO. OKAY, WE WOULD
GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AFTER WE
VOTE. SO, DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS,
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE?
>> I HAVE TO SAY, YOU LEAD THIS
PROJECT EXPEDITIOUSLY IN SUCH
GREAT FASHION AND FORM. YOU
SEEM LIKE YOU HAVE DONE THIS
BEFORE. COLLEAGUES, TAKE NOTE.
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT DAWN,
IT HAS BEEN A SHORT TIME SINCE
WE WORK TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE
ALREADY GOTTEN INTO THE WEEDS
OF SOME PRETTY THORNY ISSUES,
WHETHER DOING GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT , WITH THE MAGNOLIA
BRIDGE STREETLIGHTS AND SOME
PRETTY INCREDIBLE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS AGING ,
AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THOSE
ARE THORNY ISSUES THAT COULD GO
DOWN A LOT OF DIFFERENT LINES.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, YOU HAVE
BEEN A PARTNER, YOU HAVE LOOKED
AT PROBLEMS STRAIGHT ON AND
SAID, HOW DO WE SOLVE THESE?
THE ANSWERS MAY NOT BE WHAT WE
WANT, BUT THEY ARE TRANSPARENT,
TRUTHFUL, AND ACTION ORIENTED.
I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE.
>> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS? I HAVE ONE. I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM
DELIGHTED. I AM DELIGHTED TO
VOTE YES ON THE APPOINTMENT OF
DAWN LINDELL AS GENERAL MANAGER
AND CEO OF SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
I DO NOT SERVE ON THIS
COMMITTEE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO
READ ALL 30 PAGES TO THE
QUESTIONS AND I WAS IMPRESSED
BOTH BY HER REFLECTIVENESS AND
LEADERSHIP STYLE, SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES SHE HAS FACED AND
THE STRENGTHS SHE BRINGS AND
THE VAST KNOWLEDGE OF, WELL, OF
THE SECTOR , AND EXPERIENCE IN
CALIFORNIA. I ALSO MET WITH
HER, ONE ON ONE. I BELIEVE THAT
WE AGREED ON MANY ISSUES,
PARTICULARLY THE NEED TO
SUPPORT THE WIDEST ARRAY OF
RENEWABLE RESOURCES INTO OUR
PORTFOLIO, NOT ONLY TO PROTECT
OUR RATEPAYERS, BUT ALSO OUR
ENVIRONMENT. I BELIEVE SHE IS
THE RIGHT PERSON, WITH THIS
PRESSURE FOR INCREASED
ELECTRIFICATION, THAT IS A GOOD
THING. THAT IS THE DEMAND ON
THE CAPACITY. AND THE INTENSE
SEASONAL STORMS AND DROUGHTS,
ALL OF WHICH IMPACT THE
SNOWPACK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR LEADING THE PROCESS. I AM
HAPPY TO VOTE YES. FOR MS. DAWN
LINDELL. ANYTHING ELSE ? IF
NOT, WILL BE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCILMEMBER BETA 44? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE APPOINTMENT IS
CONFIRMED, CONGRATULATIONS,
GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, YOU ARE NOW
AUTHORIZED TO SPEAK. AFTER I
SUSPEND THE RULES. NO
OBJECTIONS? OKAY, YOU ARE NOW
AUTHORIZED TO COME UP AND OFFER
SOME BRIEF COMMENTS.
>> COUNCIL CHAIR OF THE
SUSTAINABLE CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER 48, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
GUIDANCE , YOUR THOUGHTFUL
PERSPECTIVES, AND YOUR
REPRESENTATION OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS AND
ISSUES MAKE US ALL BETTER,
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TO THANK
, I WANT TO START BY THANKING
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL . HIS
ENERGY, LEADERSHIP,
SUSTAINABILITY, DECARBONIZATION
, IT HAS MADE SEATTLE AND OUR
PLANET BETTER. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK THE LEADERSHIP IN THE
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, THE CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER, AND THE
SENIOR ADVISERS, TILE AND
SARAH, FOR THEIR INSIGHTS AND
ADVICE. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE
OF WORKING WITH DAN, WHO HAS
BEEN AMAZING IN SHARING HIS
WISDOM, THE ENTIRE CABINET IS
INSPIRING, AND I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE GRACIOUS WELCOME
THAT THEY HAVE EXTENDED TO ME,
MAKING ME FEEL PART OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE'S FAMILY. I DEEPLY
APPRECIATE THE CITY LIGHT
REVIEW PANEL, THE TRIBAL
LEADERS, THE CUSTOMER
STAKEHOLDERS GROUP, THE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT TOOK
THE TIME TO WELCOME ME IN THE
FIRST FEW WEEKS, AND SHARED
THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF CITY
LIGHT, AS WELL AS GIVING ME
SUPPORT. STARTING THIS, I AM SO
IMPRESSED WITH HOW THE LEADERS
OF CITY LIGHT HAVE DEMONSTRATED
CARE AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL THEY
DO, CREATIVE IMPLEMENTATION
ENSURE THAT WE MAKE EVERY
SINGLE DOLLAR ACCOUNT, AS WE
SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS , I HAVE
LEARNED MORE ABOUT OUR HIGHLY
REGARDED UTILITY AND THE
VALUABLE COMMUNITIES THAT WE
SERVE, THE PROFESSIONALS AT
EVERY LEVEL GIVE THEIR TIME,
TALENT, AND ENERGY TO THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE,
DOING THEIR PART TO KEEP THE
LIGHTS ON, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,
365 DAYS A YEAR, INCLUDING THE
LAST WINDY ONCE. TERRIBLE
WEATHER? YOU CAN BET THEY ARE
NOT SERVING THE COMMUNITIES.
FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK MY
FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WITHOUT
THEIR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, I
WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
STEP INTO LEADERSHIP. MY MOM IS
86 YEARS OLD, AND STILL AN
INSPIRING LEADER, SHE HAS
SERVED MULTIPLE TIMES IN EVERY
SINGLE LEADERSHIP POSITION, HER
BUNKO CLUB , AND SHE ENGAGES
AND INFLUENCES POLITICS ,
CHURCH, AND FAMILY MEMBERS ,
AND SHE IS TRYING TO GET THOSE
PEOPLE AROUND SAFELY. SHE
ENCOURAGED SPIRITED
DISCUSSIONS, BROAD LEARNING,
AND CREATIVITY, AN ARTIST IN
HER OWN RIGHT, SHE ENCOURAGED
US IN OUR PURSUITS. AS A WOMAN
IN HER 50s, SHE IS ONE OF THE
MILLIONS OF WOMEN TO PAVE THE
WAY. THANK YOU, MOM, FOR BEING
THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. MY
HOPE IS THAT JAY LINDELL WILL
HAVE INSPIRED HIMSELF . FIND A
WAY, THEN PUSH IT UP, THOSE ARE
HIS FINANCE THE -- FINANCIAL
PHILOSOPHIES. IT HAS BEEN SO
NICE TO GET TO KNOW MY STEPSONS
AND WATCH THEM SUCCEED AS WELL.
THE FUTURE CITY LIGHT FACES IS
ONE OF CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE
NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR
INDUSTRY, THE MOVE TO 100% ,
CARBON-FREE ENERGY HAS PLACED
INCREDIBLE PRESSURES ON THE
RESOURCES, MORE THAN TRIPLING
THE COST , WEATHER-VARIABLE
RESOURCES LIKE WIND AND SOLAR,
PLUS BATTERIES MUST BE
SUPPLEMENTED WITH BASE
RESOURCES AND NEW RESOURCES
THAT WILL PROVIDE RESOURCES
EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR. WE MUST
CAST A WIDE NET AS WE UNCOVER
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A
RELIABLE ENERGY FUTURE. SEATTLE
'S BOLD MOVES TO RAPIDLY
INCREASED ELECTRIFICATION MAKE
OUR PLANET CLEANER. THEY ALSO
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO
MEET A LOAD THAT, SINCE 2022,
HAS FORECASTED TO TRIPLE , THAT
HAS INCREASED 70%, IN FACT, TWO
YEARS AGO, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD
BE ADDING ADDITIONAL MEGAWATTS.
TODAY, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO
ADD AT LEAST 1800 MEGAWATTS OF
ADDITIONAL LOAD, THAT IS MORE
THAN FOUR TIMES WHAT WE
THOUGHT, JUST TWO YEARS AGO, WE
NEED TO INVEST IN ASSETS,
BECAUSE OLD COMPONENTS HAVE
JUST BEEN INCREASING OUTAGES. I
AM MAKES A -- EXCITED. WE WILL
INCREASE OUR ENGAGEMENT THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE ONE THAT
WE ARE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTING TO
REACH OUT TO MORE
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
WE WILL PARTNER WITH BUSINESSES
TO DEMAND CONSERVATION
PRACTICES. WE WILL PARTNER WITH
RESIDENTS, WITH TIME OF USE
RATES, TO REWARD THOSE WHO HELP
US TO REDUCE OUR PEAK DEMANDS.
WE WILL HELP CUSTOMERS SAVE
MONEY THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. WE
WILL PARTNER WITH NONPROFITS,
INCLUDING SUSTAINABILITY,
EQUITY, AND HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS , AS WELL AS
PLEDGE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER
INDUSTRY LEADERS MAY HELP US
MEET OUR INVESTOR NEEDS, BY
SHARING COSTS, TO BUILD THE
ADDED RESOURCES. DIVERSITY OF
THOUGHT , RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE,
AND DISAGREEMENT, AS WELL AS
CREATIVITY, ARE SO CRUCIAL IN
HELPING US TO REIMAGINE ENERGY
GENERATION USE AND RECOVERY.
FINALLY, WE NEED IDEAS FROM ALL
OVER. WE WILL FIND MANY THINGS.
SOME WILL WORK AND SOME WE WILL
LEARN FROM, AS WE TRY AGAIN
DIFFERENTLY. I AM SO GRATEFUL
TO GET TO LIVE HERE IN THE
EVERGREEN STATE, AND ALSO TO BE
ABLE TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF
THIS WORK TO CREATE A
SUSTAINABLE RELIABLE AND
AFFORDABLE ENERGY FUTURE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND
CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ]
YES ?
>> THANK YOU. I MEANT TO
MENTION IT EARLIER, BUT I'LL
43 MENTION THE MILITARY, THAT
WAS A BIG PART OF OUR
CONVERSATION. AND I WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
ON THAT FRONT, BECAUSE THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DO NOT
REALIZE THAT I DO. SO, THANK
YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM
2, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
THE ITEM.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120777 ,
RELATED TO UNSAFE BUILDING
ABATEMENT, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSING AS RECOMMENDED.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT,
THERE ARE FIVE AMENDMENTS AND
SO, I WILL BE GOING THROUGH
THOSE SEQUENTIALLY AND I
BELIEVE, THIS IS EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION. WE REQUIRE SEVEN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THE NEED FOR THIS
ORDINANCE, LEGISLATION, IT IS
CLEAR FROM THE NEWS TODAY,
EARLY MORNING HOURS, INTO
TODAY, THERE WAS A FIRE IN A
VACANT BUILDING , ONE
INDIVIDUAL SKILLED, THREE WORK
INJURED. OUR REPRESENTATIVES
WERE BEING PUT AT RISK, WE NEED
TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION TO
CREATE THE SAFETY FOR OUR
FIREFIGHTERS , FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS, AND ALSO, PART OF
THE ATTEMPT TO , YOU KNOW,
BASICALLY UNDERLINE THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES, I AM HONORED
WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO HAVE THIS
BILL BEFORE US , AND I URGE
SUPPORT FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE BASE
LEGISLATION? OKAY, SEEING NONE,
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE
AMENDMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE
AMENDMENT A?
>> YES, I MOVED TO AMEND
CONTRADICT BILL 120777 ON THE
AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO MOVE , BELT 120777.
>> REGARDING AMENDMENT A,
CONSTITUENTS FROM MY DISTRICT
HAVE RAISED CONCERN WITH ME,
SPECIFICALLY ON HOW THE BILL
WOULD IMPACT HISTORIC
BUILDINGS. WHAT THIS SEEKS TO
ACCOMPLISH IS TO SIMPLY CLARIFY
WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS A GOOD
GOVERNANCE AMENDMENT. BUILDINGS
ACROSS SEATTLE, AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE IS A VALID REASON WHY,
THEY HAVE THE HISTORICAL
PRESERVATION DISTRICT
DESIGNATION, SO ANYWAY, THANK
YOU TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, IN
THIS CASE, PIONEER SQUARE, VERY
VALUABLE AND WE HEARD YOU ,
LOUD AND CLEAR, THIS IS THE
THRUST OF THAT AMENDMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO, GO AHEAD
.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LOOK, I WOULD DEFER TO THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BUT I THINK
SO.
>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
EXPLANATORY COMMENTS THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. GO AHEAD
AND
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FORTH
THIS AMENDMENT. THERE WAS AN
HISTORICAL BUILDING THAT CAUGHT
ON FIRE AND SAT EMPTY FOR YEARS
BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO
REDEVELOP IT, I AM GRATEFUL FOR
THE MANY PEOPLE WHO CAME
FORWARD TO BRING IT TO LIGHT. I
AM HAPPY THAT YOU PUT FORTH
THIS AMENDMENT BASED ON MY
EXPERIENCE, I AM GLAD THERE
WILL BE COLLABORATION AND
GRACE, WITH FAMILIES WHO
PRESERVE THAT CHARACTER. BUT
ALSO TO REDEVELOP AND HOPEFULLY
KEEP THE CHARACTERISTICS OF
THESE HISTORICAL PROPERTIES,
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU. I THINK I SUPPORT
THIS AND IT IS BORN OUT OF
PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT
IS IMPORTANT AND I DEFINITELY
RECOMMEND ANYONE TO COME UP AND
MAKE THAT. THAT TURNS INTO, IN
PART, THIS AMENDMENT. I WANTED
TO NOTE THAT WE RECEIVED
COMMENTS FROM MANY GROUPS,
FRIENDS OF HISTORIC BELLTOWN,
FOR EXAMPLE. SO, THIS AMENDMENT
IS FOR THEM. AND AMENDMENT B ,
WHICH WILL COME UP LATER, ALSO
SPEAKS TO THIS, IN TERMS OF THE
ORDER CALLS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ROB SAKA, FOR
THIS AMENDMENT.
>> AND A SHOUT OUT TO CHRIS ,
FROM THE ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER
SQUARE WHO I BELIEVE BROUGHT IT
UP. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
COMMENTED. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. MOVING
ON, TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT. I
BELIEVE THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> I MOVE AGENDA -- AMENDMENT
B.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120777.
>> COLLEAGUES, THIS
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THESE
BUILDINGS REPRESENT A SAFETY
RISK TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT
THEY ARE LOCATED IN AND THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, BECAUSE THEY
CAN CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
UNAUTHORIZED TRESPASS OR
OCCUPANCY, WHICH MAY ENABLE
UNSAFE OR ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR,
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS FOR THE
POTENTIAL FOR DRUG USE OR OTHER
ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR COULD LEAD TO
FURTHER STRUCTURAL DAMAGE,
DECREASE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND I
DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE DID, THERE
WAS ANOTHER FIRE AND DEATH ON
66 AND ROOSEVELT, ONE PERSON
WAS KILLED AND THREE WERE
INJURED, AND SO THIS COULD NOT
BE MORE TIMELY. I DO WANT TO
THANK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND
OUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE
COLLABORATION ON THIS.
>> COMMENTS?
>> I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
FRANKLY, IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND
IT CAPTURES BASICALLY WHAT
HAPPENED THIS MORNING, THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR
THIS AMENDMENT.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON ? NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT B IS ADOPTED, WE
WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT
AMENDMENT, SPONSORED BY CHAIR
KETTLE, EXCUSE ME.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 120777, AMENDMENT C, ON
THE AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED, YOU MAY PROCEED.
>> THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT
FORWARD, IT KIND OF GOES TO THE
POINT, REGARDING THE FIRST
AMENDMENT, IN TERMS OF MAKING
SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
PROCESS THAT WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH, THE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE
NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER
APPLICATION OF THE ABATEMENT ,
IT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT IS
ABOUT GOOD GOVERNESS AND MAKING
SURE, AGAIN , ENSURING THAT THE
PROPERTIES AND OWNERS AND OTHER
PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED.
>> FOR THE PUBLIC, ALL OF THESE
AMENDMENTS ARE LINKED TO THE
AGENDA, IF YOU ARE WONDERING
ABOUT THE SPECIFICS AND THERE
ARE COPIES UP HERE AT THE
TABLE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ? WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT C?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO -- STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES, AMENDMENT C
IS ADOPTED. MOVING TO AMENDMENT
D ?
>> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120777 AS PRESENTED, WITH
AMENDMENT D ON THE AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> THIS AMENDMENT IS VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD, WORKING WITH
THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING AND
ENGAGING, AN IMPORTANT PART OF
THIS IS THE MASTER BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION BECAUSE THEY ARE
BUILDING THIS BUILDING , AND
THEY NOTED ONE THING THAT WAS
NOT COVERED, WAS THE IDEA OF
CONSTRUCTION SITES, THE
BUILDINGS THAT MAYBE WERE
ABANDONED . SO, THIS IS
ESSENTIALLY THE CONSTRUCTION
SITE AMENDMENT THAT I ENCOURAGE
EVERYBODY TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU
BERT
>> COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ? OKAY,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? NINE
IN FAVOR .
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND IT IS
ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU CELTIC PRESIDENT,
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120777, AMENDMENT P .
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120777, WITH THIS AMENDMENT P.
>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, THIS
AMENDMENT REQUIRES A REPORT
GIVEN TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, THE
NUMBER OF SUMMARY ABATEMENT
ACTIONS, THE NUMBER OF
DEMOLITIONS, ALL OF THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATUS OF
ATTEMPTED COST RECOVERY FOR
THESE ACTIONS, DATA ON THE
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF
ABATEMENT, AND THE TYPE OF
PROPERTIES INVOLVED, BASICALLY
, GIVING THE REPORTING ON WHAT
HAS HAPPENED EACH YEAR. THANK
YOU.
>> ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ? SAY
NONE, WILL THE PLEASE -- CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON ? NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT E IS ADOPTED. WE
NOW HAVE THE AMENDMENT BEFORE
US. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS ALREADY
BEEN SAID, BUT I WANTED TO TALK
ABOUT THE VACANT BUILDING AND
ROOSEVELT WHERE THERE WAS A
FIRE EARLIER THIS MORNING. IN
THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT,
THERE WAS ONE FATALITY, AND
THREE INJURED. I HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL SINCE
THE VERY BEGINNING. SO I WANT
TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES WHO
BROUGHT IT FORWARD, AND ALL OF
THE AMENDMENTS, AND ALL OF THE
WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS,
AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHIEF
SECONDS , HIS CREW, HIS TEAM,
AT THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
WHO DO GREAT WORK, AND EVERY
TIME ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS, OR
ANY BUILDING, FOR THAT MATTER,
IS ON FIRE, THEY WORK AS
QUICKLY AS THEY CAN, TO GET
EVERYONE OUT, AND SADLY, ONE
PERSON , IT JUST, IT WAS, THE
DAMAGE WAS TOO GREAT. SO,
REALLY, MY HEART GOES OUT TO
THE FAMILY OF THAT PERSON. YOU
KNOW , THIS IS SADLY AN EXAMPLE
OF WHY THIS WAS NEEDED. THANK
YOU TO MY CHIEF AND THANK YOU
TO MY COLLEAGUES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION FORWARD. GOVERNMENT
IS IMPERATIVE IN ENGAGEMENT ,
THIS LEGISLATION BUILDS OFF OF
THE COUNCIL BILL 126002 THAT
INCREASED THE MONITORING
STANDINGS , AS WELL AS THE
TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE
THAT COMPLIANCE IS MET, AS WELL
AS INCREASING THE STANDARDS TO
WHICH VACANT BUILDINGS ARE
HELD. AND AT TIMES, THEY NEED
TO BE DEMOLISHED AND THEN
FOLLOW-UP WITH A FIRE DUE, THAT
GIVES US A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL,
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THANK
THE SPONSORS FOR CONTINUING
THIS WORK, I THANK YOU FOR ALL
OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT DOES, AND ALL OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES.
>> I WILL SAY ONE THING. THEN I
WILL PERMIT THE COSPONSORS TO
HAVE THE LAST WORD. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, I HAD A PROP THAT I
WAS GOING TO BRING, A PIECE OF
WOOD, SOMETHING I COLLECTED ON
THE DAY THAT THAT BUILDING
BURNED DOWN, THAT WAS THE FIRST
TIME THAT I LEARNED, FROM
FIREFIGHTERS ON THE SCENE, THAT
THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION IS
NECESSARY, THAT WAS, I BELIEVE
I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THIS
ON THE RECORD, MY POINT IS, THE
CITY ATTORNEY, AND ALSO THE
EXECUTIVE, THANK YOU FOR
EVERYONE, WE COULD HAVE
IMPROVED THIS FOREVER. BUT, IT
IS AN EMERGENCY, AS WE
WITNESSED AND HAVE ALREADY
EXPRESSED ABOUT THIS MORNING,
SO I THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING
AMENDMENTS THAT PROVIDE FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SPECIFICITY
. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, AND I WILL LET YOU
TAKE US OUT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THE CHIEF , YOU
REPRESENT OUR COMMITTEE, TO
YOU, THE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE,
AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT IS
A COMMITMENT TO OUR NEIGHBORS
IN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS, THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING FAITH IN
THESE HANDLING OF PUBLIC SAFETY
THREATS, ESSENTIALLY. CREATING
A SAFE SPACE FOR OUR CITY, SO,
THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WILL BE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ? COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> WILL BE CLERK PLEASE FIX THE
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION,
ON MY BEHALF. MOVING RIGHT
ALONG, WILL BE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM THREE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120774, AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE
126955 WHICH ADOPTED THE 2024
BUDGET.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU
WILL RECOGNIZE.
>> IT IS DEJA VU ALL OVER
AGAIN. I SAY THAT IN GOOD
TIDINGS. COUNCIL BILL 120774 IS
BEFORE US TODAY TO CARRY
FORWARD UNEXPENDED
APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE 2023
BUDGET TO THE 2024 BUDGET. THIS
LEGISLATION REQUESTS THAT
UNSPENT FUNDS BE REAPPROPRIATED
TO THE CURRENT YEAR THIS IS A
SMALL, TECHNICAL BILL, I AM NOT
GOING TO READ THROUGH ALL OF MY
NOTES, BECAUSE THE UNDERLYING
BILL IS TECHNICAL IN NATURE AND
DOES NOT TYPICALLY CAPTURE THE
CITY'S ATTENTION, I URGE YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DO
HAVE AN AMENDMENT. IT IS NOW
TIME TO ASK FOR COMMENTARY ON
THE BILL. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER .
>> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120774 , AS PRESENTED ON THE
AGENDA.
>> SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL,
120774, AS PRESENTED. AFTER
MEETING WITH MEMBERS AND
STAKEHOLDERS, I HAVE DECIDED TO
WITHDRAW AMENDMENT A, WHICH
CONSIDERED A PRETTY SO --
PROVISO. I AM KEEPING THE CALL
FOR THE DETAILED REPORT FROM
OPCD ON HOW THEY WILL ENSURE
THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF 56
ONGOING PROJECTS. THIS IS THE
MAIN INTENT OF MY AMENDED I
CONTINUE TO HAVE QUESTIONS. IT
DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THEY HAVE
BEEN PARTNERING TO HELP THE
PROJECT ALONG. I AM CONCERNED
THAT OPCD HAS NOT SHOWN AN
APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF
ACCOUNTABILITY OR TRANSPARENCY,
REGARDING THE EDI PROGRAM AND
THE ABILITY TO TRACK AND
COMPLETE THESE IMPORTANT
PROJECTS AND COMMUNITIES. WE DO
NOT CONTROL THE DEPARTMENTS,
BUT WE CAN COMPEL THEM TO OFFER
TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. AS I SAID LAST
WEEK, THE ONGOING EDI PRODUCT
WERE NEVER AT RISK. OPCD COULD
HAVE ASKED FOR A CARRY-FORWARD
INTO NEXT YEAR . I UNDERSTAND
THAT STAKEHOLDERS NEEDED A
STRONG MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR
THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHY I
WITHDREW AMENDMENT A. I HAVE
LEARNED THAT OPCD HAS SPENT, ON
AVERAGE, ONLY 25% OF THE EDI
TOTAL BUDGET EVERY YEAR, FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IF THIS
TREND CONTINUES, BY 2026, THE
PROGRAM WILL HAVE OVER $90
MILLION IN UNSPENT FUNDS IN ITS
BUDGET, WHICH THEY NEED, TO
REQUEST CARRYFORWARD AUTHORITY
. THIS CHART, WHICH I SHOWED
YOU ALL YESTERDAY, CREATED BY
CENTRAL STAFF, MAKES THIS TREND
VERY CLEAR. EVEN IF THE
DEPARTMENT WERE TO INCLUDE THE
SPENDING OF THIS PROGRAM -- IT
WOULD STILL HAVE MORE THAN $50
MILLION OVERSPENT EACH YEAR FOR
THIS PROGRAM, MY INTENT IS TO
PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THIS
AND ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS. WE
NEED TO PROVIDE GOOD GOVERNESS
-- GOVERNANCE AS WE CONTINUE TO
UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORT THE
COMMUNITY AND THESE PROJECTS
THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND WHO
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR QUITE
SOME TIME TO GET THESE PROJECTS
COMPLETED. AS I SAID, I TALKED
TO THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT
THEY ARE IN NEED OF NOT JUST
THE FUNDING, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO REACH OUT WITH
THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ARE T
, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU FOR REMOVING THE
PROVISO. I DO HAVE A QUESTION,
THE NEW AMENDMENT DOES NOT
INDICATE WHAT HAPPENED AFTER
THE SUPPORT WAS SUBMITTED I
HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. HOW WILL
THE REPORT BE EVALUATED AND
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT LIKE
THE REPORT. IS THE PLAN TO DENY
FUNDING AT THAT POINT?
>> CAN YOU TALK CLOSER TO THE
MICROPHONE?
>> THE REPORT IS SO THAT WE
KNOW HOW THE PROGRAM IS DOING.
AS YOU KNOW, THESE REPORTS HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE,
DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO DELIVER
REPORTS ON HOW THE DEPARTMENTS
ARE DOING, THEY DO NOT ALWAYS
SUBMIT DETAILED REPORTS THAT
ARE TIMELY. THIS ENSURES THAT
IT IS HAPPENING. SO THAT THESE
PROJECTS, WE KNOW WHERE THEY
ARE , IN THE PIPELINE, AND WE
KNOW WHAT OPCD INTENDS TO DO .
THERE IS NOTHING ATTACHED IN
TERMS OF FUTURE REPORTING, IT
IS VERY MUCH AN ASK OF THE
DEPARTMENT TO GIVE A DETAILED
REPORTING, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED
, I HAVE NOT SEEN, AND VERY
MUCH , I WANT TO GET THE
DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THESE
ORGANIZATIONS, TOWARD, WHAT
FURTHER CAN THEY DO TO MOVE
THESE PROJECTS FORWARD. FROM
INSIGHTS I HEARD FROM A
COMMUNITY MEMBER, SO , MY ASK
IS, OPCD SHOULD BE WORKING WITH
AT THE CIA, AND WHERE THEY CAN
HELP, HELP FURTHER THESE
PERMITTING PROCESSES, LET'S DO
SO ARE THERE THINGS WE CAN DO
TO HELP THEM MOVE ALONG FURTHER
AND HELP COMMUNITIES TO
COMPLETE THESE? WE NEED TO DO
THAT. SINCE WE COMMITTED TO
COMMUNITY TO HELP WITH THESE
PROJECTS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> HOLD ON A SECOND.
>> DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME
]
>> OKAY, THAT'S FINE. I WILL
JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE MY
REMARKS. COLLEAGUES, I DO NOT
DISAGREE THAT AN EVALUATION
COULD DETERMINE THE LONG-TERM
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PROGRAM,
PARTICULARLY AS AN
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STUDY IN
FACT, I WELCOME THE CHANCE TO
DO THAT. BUT THAT TYPE OF
PROGRAM EVALUATION HAS TO BE
CAREFULLY PLANNED AND THROWN --
NOT JUST THROWN TOGETHER IN A
FEW WEEKS. IT IS JUST AS
HARMFUL, EVEN IF THE LANGUAGE
DOES NOT EXPLICITLY CALL OUT
FOR A REDUCTION OF FUNDING. IT
IS UNCLEAR WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER'S --
COUNCILMEMBER WILL DO WITH IT.
I MET TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS
ON HIM AMENDING RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM THE CITY AUDITOR. IT WAS
REQUESTED IN 2021, THE AUDITOR
SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS
DETERMINING THE RIGHT SCOPE OF
WORK, AND IT TOOK A YEAR TO
CONDUCT THE AUDIT OF THE
PERMITTING PROCESS AND
PROGRAMS, THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF
RECEIVED THE REPORT AND
RECOMMENDATIONS LATE LAST YEAR
AND THEY ARE NOW SEVERAL MONTHS
INTO IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION OF THOSE RECOMMENDED
CHANGES. MY POINT IS, CITY
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT MOVE
QUICKLY AND THE PROCESSES ARE
DESIGNED, FOR BETTER OR FOR
WORSE, TO BE THOROUGH AND
CAUTIOUS. THAT GOES FOR PROGRAM
EVALUATION, TOO. IN AN ARTICLE
BY A RESOURCE FOR STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE AUTHOR
DESCRIBES HOW MUNICIPALITIES
CAN ENSURE THAT THEIR
EVALUATIONS HAVE A SUFFICIENTLY
LONG TERM SCOPE. TAKING A
LONG-TERM APPROACH , LEAVING A
FEW NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS, AND
THEN MOVING ON WILL NOT ALLOW
MUNICIPALITIES TO TRACK AND TO
MITIGATE THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS.
SHORT-TERM EVALUATIONS FAILED
TO PLAN OUT THE LONG-TERM
TRAJECTORY OF THE PROGRAM AND
CAN BECOME OUTDATED AND
UNHELPFUL QUICKLY. THIS
AMENDMENT REQUESTS SIGNIFICANT
INFORMATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT. THE OPCD EDI TEAM
IS IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING
EDI, PUTTING PRESSURE ON A TEAM
THAT IS ALREADY SIGNIFICANTLY
CONSTRAINED AND UNDERSTAFFED TO
DO QUALITY EVALUATION IT JUST
90 DAYS. I SUPPORT THE
EVALUATION, BUT I THINK THE
TIMEFRAME SHOULD BE SET BY
OPCD. THEY SHOULD PRESENT THEIR
FINDINGS. FOR FUNDING
DECISIONS, THERE SHOULD BE A
SIMILAR PROCESS TO SDOT. BOTH
HAVE SIGNIFICANT CARRYOVER
FUNDING . IN SHORT, WE CAN DO
THIS WITHOUT AN AMENDMENT,
BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY, AS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SAID , IS
THIS AMENDMENT SUGGESTING IF IT
IS BASED ON SOME UNDISCLOSED
RUBRIC, THAT FUNDING FOR EDI IN
2024 AND BEYOND IS STILL AT
RISK? IF THEY DO NOT PRODUCE A
REPORT THAT WE APPROVE OF, WHAT
WILL BE THE IMPACT OF THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WILL BE
RELEASED? RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE
FIVE OR SIX BUILDINGS THAT ARE
FOR SALE. THIS CREATES AN
HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE
BUILDINGS AND EDI FUNDS HELP
WITH THAT KIND OF ACQUISITION
TO MAINTAIN PROPERTIES FOR THE
PUBLIC GOOD, TO PRESERVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR TO
CONVERT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES, ELIMINATING THIS
PROGRAM FUNDING IT MEANS THERE
ARE VIRTUALLY NO OTHER SOURCES
TO HELP THE CITY JUMP ON THESE
OPPORTUNITIES, WITHOUT PUBLIC
FUNDING TO SUPPORT EDI
ACQUISITION, WE ARE ALL VERY
LIKELY TO HEAR MORE SPECULATIVE
DEVELOPMENTS WE PITTED TWO
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. AGAIN, I
DO NOT OBJECT TO EVALUATION OF
THIS PROGRAM, BUT THE REAL
PURPOSE IS TO SERVE AS A
PRETEXT FOR DEFUNDING THE
PROGRAM BEFORE AN AUTHENTIC
AUDIT CAN BE PERFORMED, THAT
DOES NOT SERVE OUR GOALS OF
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OR FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, IT JUST SERVES
TO HARM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
FOR COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS AND
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU , MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
I WANT TO CLARIFY, I AM A
STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE EDI
PROGRAM FOR
HISTORICALLY-MARGINALIZED
COMMITTEE , AND BRINGING
TOGETHER PARTNERS AND
EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY WEALTH
BUILDING, ABSOLUTELY, YES. IN
MY OWN DISTRICT, I HAVE ASKED
FOR CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS AND
BREAKDOWN OF, SORT OF WHAT
THOSE PROJECTS ARE, AND THEN
THAT WAS LAST WEEK, AND NOW,
MANY OF THEM, I KNOW, MANY OF
THEM, ALREADY, BUT IN MY OWN
DISTRICT, THERE ARE 11 CURRENT
ACTIVE PROJECTS. AND, OF THOSE
11, ALREADY THIS YEAR, AS A
COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE EITHER
VISITED PERSONALLY, OR
CONNECTED WITH , ENGAGED WITH
SIX OF THOSE, SIX OF THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS, ON THAT LIST, SO
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS NEAR
AND DEAR TO ME, AND I AM
FAMILIAR WITH MANY OF THE
BENEFICIARY COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS. AGAIN, THEY ARE
VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME. AND,
AND, THAT IS JUST WITHIN MY
DISTRICT, THERE ARE
ORGANIZATIONS ON THE LIST THAT
I AM CLOSE TO AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH. FULL
TRANSPARENCY, MY FAMILY , MY
CHILDREN 'S OWN DAYCARE,
FAMILY CENTER, IS ON THAT LIST,
THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT
FAMILY CENTER, IN DISTRICT 1,
ON THAT LIST. I AM INVESTED,
PERSONALLY, BEFORE I EVEN
BECAME A MEMBER OF ANY OF THESE
PROGRAMS, AND I HAVE FOUGHT
LIKE HECK TO PROTECT THEM. EVEN
THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT
FAMILY CENTER, I HAVE
REPRESENTED, PRO BONO, IN
CONNECTION WITH A DISPUTE THEY
HAD, WITHIN THE CITY. I AM VERY
FAMILIAR WITH THE IMPACTS OF
WHAT THIS PROGRAM CAN DO FOR
COMMUNITIES AND I AM COMMITTED
TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE
EDI PROGRAM. MY POSITION IS
THAT, IT IS CRITICAL TO FUND ,
THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND THESE
PROJECTS TO COMPLETION AND
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT
STATUS OF PRODUCTS IN THE
QUEUE, ALONG WITH TECHNICAL
SUPPORT THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED TO
GET THE PROJECTS COMPLETED IN
THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER
POSSIBLE. WE NEED BETTER HELP
IN SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING
THESE COMMUNITIES. I THINK I
UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA 'S
AMENDMENT. AS A CITY, WE NEED
TO LIVE UP TO OUR SPENDING
OBLIGATIONS. THIS AMENDMENT,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROVISO ,
DOES EXACTLY THAT. AND I ALSO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE AMENDMENT
IS INTENDED , GENERALLY, TO
PROVIDE BETTER TRANSPARENCY IN
REPORTING, WHICH COULD APPLY
EQUALLY TO ALL PUBLICLY-FUNDED
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS,
ABSOLUTELY WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF THIS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, SO
THE REPORTED -- REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS AS OUTLINED ARE
WORTHY OF MY SUPPORT, AS ARE
THE BROADER PRACTICE TO DRIVE
GOOD GOVERNANCE. IN AN IRONIC
TWIST OF FATE, COLLEAGUES, 15
MINUTES AGO, WE JUST GOT DONE
APPROVING, UNANIMOUSLY, THE
AMENDED VERSION OF THE VACANT
BUILDING LEGISLATION THAT HAD
AMENDMENT E , THAT REQUIRED
ANNUAL REPORTING , EARLIER
TODAY. WE SET HERE AT THIS VERY
DAIS AND I SET BEFORE YOU , AS
CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE, I PROPOSED A $1.5
BILLION AMENDMENT PACKAGE. IN
THAT PACKAGE , WAS SOME OF THE
MOST COMPREHENSIVE,
TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE
REPORTING OBLIGATIONS . IT
IMPOSED THOSE OBLIGATIONS, IN
THIS CASE, ONTO SDOT. BECAUSE
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MOST
TRANSPARENT, THE MOST
REPORTING, THE MOST
ACCOUNTABLE, IN THE HISTORY OF
ANY LEVY. AS AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT, THE PROPOSAL REQUIRES,
QUITE LITERALLY REQUIRES SDOT
TO REPORT, TO CREATE AN INITIAL
READINESS REPORT, BEFORE ANY
MONEY IS EVEN APPROVED BY
VOTERS, THEY SHOULD CREATE A
REPORT TO DOCUMENT THEIR
READINESS AND HOW THEY ARE
PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT, THAT IS
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO AVOID
THE LEVY, LIKE, THE INITIAL
CHALLENGES THAT HAPPENED DURING
THE 2015 MOVEMENT. BUT, AGAIN,
ENHANCED REPORTING. REPORTING,
JUST IN GENERAL, IT IS
GENERALLY A GOOD THING. THIS
DOES NOT IMPOSE ANY CONDITIONS,
THE TEXT OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT SAYS , IT SAYS, THE
CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS. NOT
SAYING THE DEPARTMENTS SHALL OR
MUST , BUT, REQUEST. SO , I
SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE AND I
AM SADDENED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE
LEFT. I WANTED TO SAY IT TO OUR
DUWAMISH FRIENDS WHO WERE
SITTING RIGHT IN THE FRONT ROW.
I WILL SAY THIS TO THOSE
REMAINING, AND THOSE OUTSIDE, I
SUPPORT THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, IT IS
SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR
DISADVANTAGED AND MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES, WE NEED A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. TO MEET
THAT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
APPROACH. AS NOTED LAST WEEK, I
RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN A
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING THAT
FEATURED EDI BUSINESSES THAT
PARTICIPATED AND THEY ARE KEY
CONTRIBUTORS TO THEIR
COMMUNITY. AND I ALSO NOTE THAT
GOOD GOVERNANCE REQUIRES
OVERSIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE, TO
ENSURE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF
PROGRAMS. I AM NOT SUPPORTING
ANYTHING BUT ALLOWING THEM TO
REPORT ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE
WITH THE PROJECTS, THROUGHOUT
OUR CITY, THIS SERVICE SITE IS
NOT LIKE -- NOT UNLIKE WHAT I
HAVE THE MOST DIRECT ENGAGEMENT
ON, WHEN WE WORK WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND SPD TO
INCREASE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION, WITH FIRE, AND THE
BILL JUST PASSED, RELATED TO
BUILDINGS IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
THREAT THAT THEY IMPOSE. THERE
ARE MANY REQUIREMENTS , I HAVE
MULTIPLE BILLS RIGHT NOW, IN
WORK, RIGHT NOW, THAT REQUIRE
THE DEPARTMENT TO FALL UNDER MY
COMMITTEE TO REPORT,
PARTICULARLY, SPD. AGAIN, I AM
NOT SUPPORTING ANYTHING ,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, THAT
WOULD ONLY ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATORS. I
RECOGNIZE THE COMBINATION OF
THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WITH
RESPECT TO THE TIMING OF THE
KERRY FORWARD BILL WAS NOT
IDEAL BUT THAT CONTRIBUTED ALSO
TO THE CHALLENGES WE WERE
FACING. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT
THE TOPIC HIGHLIGHTS THE ISSUE
OF MISCOMMUNICATION, OR AT
WORST, THIS COMMUNICATION, AT
NO TIME , THEY WERE IN
COMMUNICATION . IN MY
COMMUNICATIONS , NO ONE EVER
PROPOSED MOVING FORWARD ON TOP
OF THEM, THIS REMINDS ME OF THE
EMAILS, ET CETERA THAT WERE
SENT AND SAID TO ME, REGARDING
THE LOWERING OF STANDARDS . I
WOULD READ THESE AND I WOULD BE
LIKE, WHAT? AT NO TIME WERE WE
GOING TO LOWER THE STANDARDS OF
OUR RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AT NO TIME. AND I WAS
GETTING ALL OF THESE. HOW IS
THAT POSSIBLE? I WAS NEVER
GOING TO PULL THE NATIONAL
TESTING NETWORK TEST AND I WAS
VICE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE.
PLUS, I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, I WAS
NEVER GOING TO PULL THE NTN,
THERE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE
LOWERING THE STANDARDS IN THAT
BILL, BUT YET, HUNDREDS,
HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS OF EMAIL AND
OTHER COMMUNICATION STUDY --
STATED IT . THAT IS A PROBLEM,
HOW DOES THIS GET PUSHED? I
DON'T KNOW. SOME MAY SAY THIS
IS POLITICS. BUT I THINK IT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE LACK OF
CIVILITY. IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE
LACK OF THE ABILITY TO HAVE A
FULL PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON THE
ISSUES THAT FACE THE COUNCIL.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING TO DO BETTER. AND
AGAIN, BOTTOM LINE, THERE WILL
BE NO PULLING OF THE
CARRYFORWARD MONEY, THIS YEAR,
WE WORKED WITH THE EXECUTIVE,
ALL OF THAT PROCESS WILL WORK
THROUGH. AND TO THE CHAIR, I
RECOGNIZE AND I SUPPORT THAT
THIS IS A STANDARD BILL, BUT I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRAM. I WILL
SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
>> I KNOW MANY OF THESE
PROJECTS I AM KNOWLEDGEABLE, I
WORK CLOSELY WITH MANY OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS. THIS WEEK , I
HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANY
OF MY EDI STAKEHOLDERS AND
FRIENDS. MANY OTHERS ARE IN
CONTACT WITH THOSE IN THEIR
DISTRICT. THIS HAS GROWN TO
PROVIDE FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS
TO COUNTERACT HISTORICAL
DISPARITIES CAUSED BY REDLINING
AND OTHER FORMS OF
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, I KNOW
THAT MANY, IF NOT ALL OF US,
WANT TO PRESERVE EDI FUNDING,
NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE. I
UNDERSTAND, WE WANT TO
PRIORITIZE STABILITY IN THE
FACE OF UNPRECEDENTED
SHORTFALLS. PARTICULARLY
PROJECTS WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS,
IT IS MORE THAN JUST THE
FUNDAMENTAL SUPPORT OF THE
COMMUNITY. I AGREE WITH THIS.
AND IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE
AFTER DECADES OF INSTITUTIONAL
RACISM. PLACING THAT ON FUNDS
WEAKENS THE VERY FOUNDATION
THAT THE EDI PROGRAM WAS
CREATED TO STRENGTHEN. HOWEVER,
I DO BELIEVE THERE IS AN
OBLIGATION TO MAKE DECISIONS
BASED ON GOOD DATA, AND FISCAL
ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT MEANS
UNDERSTANDING WHERE EACH
PROJECT IS AT, BECAUSE THAT
WILL TELL US THE SPECIFIC
IDEAS. I WANT THESE PROJECTS TO
SUCCEED AND I WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE WE COULD BE
SENDING SUPPORT. HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE THAT WE GET THIS , FINISH
TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT. I AM
THANKFUL WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL
WEEK TO SEE ALL OF THE GOOD
WORK THAT THEY ARE
ACCOMPLISHING IN THE COMMUNITY
AND I SUPPORT THE REPORTING OF
THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
?
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO
CLARIFY, FOR THE RECORD, WE ARE
VOTING ON -- THE FUNDS ARE NOT
BEING FROZEN , THEY ARE BEING
CARRIED OVER. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY AN AMENDMENT THAT
CALLS -- THAT REQUESTS , THAT
OPCD PROVIDES A REPORT ON THE
50 -PLUS PROJECTS, OR 70 ,
THERE WERE A BUNCH OF THEM. 56,
THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, THAT CURRENTLY HAVE
BEEN FUNDED. ESSENTIALLY, WHERE
ARE THE GAPS THAT WE NEED , TO
BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THE
PROJECTS, TO CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD? I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE,
THE DATE OF THE REPORT . I DO
HAVE AN ISSUE, WITH THE AMOUNT
OF TIME . I SUPPORT THE SUPPORT
REPORT BEING GIVEN, AND I THINK
THE AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU KNOW,
GIVING THEM 90 IS A LITTLE
CHALLENGING. THAT REPORT THAT
WE JUST VOTED ONTO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THAT IS BY THE
31st, IT IS THROUGH THE END OF
THE YEAR. NOT NECESSARILY
BEFORE BUDGET SEASON. SO THAT
IS ONE THING THAT I FLAGGED BUT
I DO SUPPORT THE REPORTING
EFFORTS, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE
ARE. AND WHAT SUPPORT WE CAN
GIVE. BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY,
THIS IS NOT FREEZING ANY
FUNDING, THIS MONEY CONTINUES
TO CARRYFORWARD, IS THAT
CORRECT? I WANT THAT ON THE
RECORD SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
UNDERSTAND.
>> CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL LET YOU
HAVE THE LAST WORD. I JUST HAVE
A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I VOTED
THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE, AND
I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR IT TODAY
AND SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT,
BECAUSE THIS, IN OUR
LEGISLATIVE WORLD, WE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING
EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS, AND THIS IS
ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, I THINK, IN FACT,
THIS DISCUSSION, OVER THE PAST
WEEK OR SO MADE ME REALIZE HOW
MUCH I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT
THE PROGRAM AS WELL AS SEEING
THE POTENTIAL FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF BETTER
SUPPORTING PROJECTS TO BE
COMPLETED, WHICH BENEFITS THE
VERY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THE
PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP
AND SUPPORT, THAT IS WHO IT WAS
DESIGNED FOR. I THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD, THIS
AMENDMENT, TO PROVIDE MORE
INFORMATION FOR US ALL, AND FOR
EXPLAINING THE INTENT BEHIND
IT, TODAY, AND I WILL BE
SUPPORTING IT. AND I WILL LET
YOU TAKE US OUT OF THIS
DISCUSSION.
>> SORRY, I RAISED MY HAND
AGAIN. I DID NOT THINK I WAS
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE COMMENTS.
I NEED TO, BEFORE SHE CLOSES
THIS OUT. COLLEAGUES, I CAME
OVER HERE, I LOOKED AT MY
NOTES. I CAME TO COUNCIL
PREPARED TO NOT SUPPORT THIS
FOR A PROCEDURAL REGION --
REASON, NOT BASED ON CONTENT. I
JUST VOTED ON THE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE BANKING
-- THANKING BUILDING BILL, THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE, COMING BACK
WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON
THE AUDIT AND ASK FOR, ON
PERMITTING. I AM A REGULAR USER
OF PLEASE REPORT BACK TO CITY
COUNCIL. FROM A PROCEDURAL
STANDPOINT, THE AMENDMENT, BOTH
THE ORIGINAL AND EXTENDED
DEADLINES, IT MISSED. I WAS
GOING TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I
HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO KEEP
AMENDMENTS AND COMMITTEE AND
THAT MY DECISION WAS BASED ON
PROCEDURE, NOT CONTENT.
COLLEAGUES, I AM GOING TO USE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STILL SHARE
THE WORDS I WAS GOING TO SAY
BECAUSE I MAKE GREAT EFFORTS TO
GIVE EARLY ALERTS , SO THAT,
COLLEAGUES, WE ALL HAVE THE
TIME TO DEVELOP THE AMENDMENTS
AHEAD OF THE DEADLINES. THE
REASON THAT I USE THIS MOMENT
TO REITERATE THIS CLAIM IS,
BECAUSE BETWEEN NOW AND
DECEMBER, THE ISSUES WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE THAT I
CHAIR WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE
DIFFICULT. THE REASON THAT I
SPEND SO MUCH OF MY TIME,
MAKING EFFORTS TO BE SHORT EACH
OF YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION
THAT YOU NEED, IN THE TIME THAT
YOU NEED IT, AND THAT THERE ARE
NO GIMMICKS, WHEN IT COMES TO
DEADLINES, IS SO THAT I AM ABLE
TO FACILITATE A PROCESS IN A
GOOD WAY, WHICH WE ALL NAVIGATE
TOGETHER. AND I GIVE
COUNCILMEMBER WOO AND RIVERA
IMMENSE GRACE , REGARDING THE
MISSED DEADLINE, BECAUSE THERE
ARE NOTIFICATIONS. I COME TO
YOU TODAY, WITH GRACE. BECAUSE
A LOT OF THE ACTIONS COMING
ACROSS OUR DESKS, IT IS FOR THE
FIRST TIME, WHETHER IT IS
PROCEDURE, POLICY, ET CETERA,
SO, I COME TO YOU WITH GRACE
TODAY, MY NOTES SAID I WILL
VOTE AGAINST THIS BUT I WILL
VOTE WITH YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
, BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONTENT
CHANGE FROM THE AMENDMENT THAT
WAS PROVIDED LAST WEEK. I WILL
REITERATE, I WILL DOUBLE DOWN ,
AS I GIVE GRACE, I HAVE NEVER
SEEN A CARRYFORWARD BILL USED
IN THIS WAY, BUT TODAY, I WILL
VOTE YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES ABOUT THAT ?
>> I DO NOT MEAN TO INTERRUPT.
I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT, REALLY
QUICK, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW
PAINFUL IT WAS LAST WEEK, FOR A
LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS TO
COME HERE, YOU KNOW, WITH
INFORMATION AND FEELING LIKE
COUNCIL WAS GOING TO BE
DEFUNDING. I KNOW THAT THERE
WERE A LOT OF WORDS THROWN
AROUND, EDI. YOU KNOW , I SPENT
THE WHOLE WEEKEND CONNECTING
WITH A LOT OF GROUPS AND
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE ON THAT
LIST, PEOPLE THAT I KNEW
PERSONALLY AND WHO I HAD GROWN
UP WITH, AND SO FORTH. IT WAS
REALLY TOUGH AND CHALLENGING. I
KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
SCARED. THEY WERE NERVOUS, YOU
KNOW, THEY HAD BEEN ON EDGE .
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT. WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE
AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, AND
ENOUGH TIME FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THE LEGISLATION
BEING PRESENTED AND WHAT IT
MEANS, AND THE IMPACT. IT WAS
PAINFUL FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND
WATCH THAT. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT. I DO NOT THINK THAT HAD
BEEN ADDRESSED , PEOPLE TOOK
TIME OFF, PEOPLE HAD
BABYSITTERS. I CANNOT BEGIN TO
TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE, SOME
OF THEM SAID THIS WAS THEIR
FIRST TIME, I WANTED TO
RECOGNIZE AND PRESENT THAT,
BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU.
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, THIS IS THE
SECOND TIME THAT YOU HAVE
GOTTEN UP AND DISRUPTED THE
SPEECH OF COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. COULD YOU PLEASE
TAKE YOUR SEAT? DO YOU HAVE
FINAL COMMENTS ?
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. IT IS UNFORTUNATE ,
THE CARRYFORWARD WAS NEVER AT
ISSUE. I THINK IT IS
UNFORTUNATE, THE MONEY WAS AT
RISK. AND THAT IS WHY COMMUNITY
CAME TO CHAMBERS, THAT WAS
UNFORTUNATE . UNFORTUNATELY, WE
CANNOT CONTROL HOW OTHER
PARTIES COMMUNICATE TO THE
COMMUNITY. AND IT IS REALLY , I
FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WILL
SAY, AS A WOMAN OF COLOR, IT
REALLY PAINS ME WHEN COMMUNITY
IS PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN
SUCH A WAY AND IT WAS REALLY
UNNECESSARY IN THAT INSTANCE,
BECAUSE THE FUNDING WAS NEVER
AT ISSUE. OPCD HAD NOT PUT OUT
AN RFP, ALL ALONG, I WAS TRYING
TO GET THEM TO BE RESPONSIVE TO
THIS PROGRAM. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT THAT THEY OVERSEE. ON
THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE
REPORTING, IT IS A REQUEST. IT
IS REPORTING ON THE STATUS OF
EACH PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE EDI,
THEY SHOULD HAVE, INCLUDING THE
CURRENT PROJECT STAGE AND
COMPLETION TIMELINE. ALL OF
THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT
EDI SHOULD HAVE, THIS JUST
TALKS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO
MANAGE THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM,
WHICH CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I
CARE ABOUT THE COMPLETION OF
THE PROJECT. I KNOW, AS I SAID
EARLIER, ANOTHER PIECE IS TO
COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. AS I
SAID, SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IDENTIFIED SOME, THAT
IS JUST ONE ASPECT. THAT IS NOT
ALL OF THE ASPECTS. NOTHING IN
HERE IS REALLY ONEROUS.
DEPENDENT PARTIES ARE REQUIRED
TO DO THE REPORTING, BUT THEY
DON'T ALWAYS. IF WE DON'T
FOLLOW-UP, THEY DON'T ALWAYS
SEND IT TO US, IT IS A
BACK-AND-FORTH, IT WAS AN
ATTEMPT TO GET INFORMATION FROM
THE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I WANT
TO SEE THEM MOVE FORWARD. YOU
KNOW, ACCOUNTABILITY IS
IMPORTANT, WE HAVE ALL TALKED
ABOUT THAT, I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THAT, TOO, I WANTED TO SAY THAT
THAT IS THE POINT OF THE BILL,
IT WAS NEVER TO TAKE MONEY AWAY
FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS. SOME OF
WHICH STAND TO LOSE BIGGER ,
THAN JUST THE EDI FUNDS. AND
THEY HAVE 10 YEARS WITH WHICH
TO COMPLETE THOSE. SO, THERE
ARE TIMELINES FOR THESE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
RECEIVING THIS FUNDING. SO, WE
NEED TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ,
WHO IS MANAGING THIS PROGRAM TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING
RESPONSIVE AND PROVIDING ALL OF
THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT THAT WE
LEGALLY CAN, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT B IS ADOPTED, ARE
THERE OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL, AS AMENDED? LET ME
SEE HERE ?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF I
COULD JUST CLOSE US OUT. THIS
IS A SMALL AND TECHNICAL BILL
IN NATURE. WE WILL HAVE MORE
BEFORE US AS WE CONTINUE
THROUGH THE SELECT BUDGET
SERIES, AS WELL AS INTO THE
FALL BUDGET SESSION. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH YOU ON THESE UPCOMING
ISSUES AND I URGE A YES VOTE ON
THIS BILL.
>> WILL BE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? EXCUSE
ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA ? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED.
WILL BE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. THERE WERE NO ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, THERE IS NO ADOPTION
OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS. IS THERE
ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT,
HEARING NONE, WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF TODAY'S AGENDA. OUR
NEXT MEETING WILL BE JUNE 11th
AT 2:00 P.M. HEARING NO
OBJECTIONS, WE ARE NOW
ADJOURNED AND IT IS 3:59, ONE
MINUTE TO GO BEFORE THE
DEADLINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYBODY.