>>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
IT IS MARCH 14th, 2023 AND THE
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 201
TIME TIME. I'M SARA NELSON,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL
CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL.
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE HAS BEEN
EXCUSED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> FOUR PRESENT AND ONE
EXCUSED.
>> OKAY. WELCOME BACK
COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC TO THE COMMITTEE. TO
REFRESH, LAST TIME WE HAD A
PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THEY
PRESENTED THE 2024 WORK PLAN
AND THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE
ECONOMY INVESTMENTS FOR THE
YEAR. AFTER THE PRESENTATION,
WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE
OFFICE OF ETHNICS AND ELECTIONS
AND DIRECTOR WAYNE BARNETT
PRESENTED THE OFFICE PATIENTS
WORK PLAN. ONE THING THAT
STRUCK ME DURING DISCUSSION WAS
THE VIOLATIONS OF THE CITY
PATIENTS LOBBY LAW ARE NOT
REALLY BEING ENFORCED. THERE
WAS MENTION THAT PEOPLE THAT
FIELD TO SUBMIT REPORTS ON TIME
OR INCOMPLETE REPORTS ARE
SPOKEN WITH ORC CONTROL BUT
THERE IS A FEE STRUCTURE THAT
THE LAW PROVIDES FOR. AND I
THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
IN ORDER -- FIRST OF ALL, WE
SHOULD BE ENFORCING THE LAWS
THAT WE HAVE. BUT THE LOBBY
LAW IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
IT PROVIDES FOR GREATER
TRANSPARENCY INTO HOW WE MAKE
THE LAWS AND POLICY BY
PROVIDING A WINDOW INTO WHO IS
HAVING INFLUENCE OVER OUR
DELIBERATIONS. AND SO I'M
JUST GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO
THIS A BIT MORE. MY OFFICE HAS
DONE SO LITTLE BIT AND WORKING
WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND WE WILL
BE ASKING WAYNE MORE QUESTIONS
LATER, NOT IN COMMITTEE BUT I
DO WANT TO KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN
BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS AND IT
COULD VERY WELL BE A STAFFING
ISSUE. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT.
ON TODAY PATIENTS AGENDA, WE
HAVE THREE ITEMS. A
PRESENTATION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
ON AN ORDINANCE EXCEPTING
$50,000 IN FUNDS FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THAT
WOULD GO TO REIMBURSE THE WING
LUKE MUSEUM FOR REPAIRS MADE
AFTER A MAN SMASHED WINDOWS AT
THE MUSEUM LAST SEPTEMBER AND
THE NEXT ITEM IS A DEPARTMENTAL
BRIEFING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES. AND TO WRAP UP,
THE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE A
DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFING FROM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S
OFFICE. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
>> SEEING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THE ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA
AND FOLLOWING THAT, I WILL
ISSUE A COUPLE MORE REMARKS IN
MY PRESIDENT PATIENTS REPORT.
SOAP COUNCIL RULE 11C3 PROVIDES
THAT PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE
DIRECTED TO MATTERS WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE OR
ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA. THE
LATTER, ITEMS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA, IS THE PROTOCOL THAT
THIS COMMITTEE FOLLOWS. I WILL
CALL ON SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER
THEY ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
STARTING WITH AN PERSON
COMMENTORS AND SPEAKERS WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. WHEN YOU
HEAR THE CHIME, YOU WILL HAVE
10 SECONDS LEFT. IF YOU EXCEED
THE TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE MIGHT
BE CUT OFF SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER. IF YOU ARE
OFFERING REMOTE COMMENT, PLEASE
MAKE SURE TO PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF. HOW MANY
PEOPLE DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP IN
PERSON?
>> WE HAVE ZERO AN PERSON
SPEAKERS.
>> KNOW IN PERSON SPEAKERS. I
WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC SIGN-UP
SHEET FOR REMOTE SPEAKERS. THE
FIRST SPEAKER IS DAVID HEINZ.
DAVID. JUST A SECOND. WE ARE
SETTING THE TIMER. WE ARE READY
TO GO. YOU MAY SPEAK WHEN YOU
ARE READY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL. MY NAME
IS DAVID HEINZ. I'M NOT SURE
IF THIS IS THE PROPER COMMITTEE
TO BRING IT UP BUT IT SEEMS
THAT SINCE YOU ARE GOING
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES, PERHAPS YOU CAN ASK
THEM, WHY DIDN'T THEY BRING IN
EMERGENCY SHELTER ON LAST
SATURDAY WHEN THEY HAD THE
30-MILE AN HOUR WIND AND
RAINSTORM? AND ASK THEM WHY
THEY DON'T REALLY BRING
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND EXPLOIT
PEOPLE'S NEEDS FOR SHOWER AND
LODGING WHEN THEY COME INTO
THESE EMERGENCY SHELTERS, TO
REALLY OFFER THE SERVICES THEY
ARE BEING PAID FOR . AND I
THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF
A TAINTED RACISM WITHIN THE
HUMAN SERVICES PRIORITIES WHERE
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE
SPENDING PRIORITIES OF THE
PREVIOUS TWO COUNCILS, THEY
REDIRECTED A LOT OF MONEY THAT
WAS EARMARKED FOR HELPING
INNOCENT HOMELESS PEOPLE. THEY
SEEM TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY
RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR REPEAT
OFFENDING CRIMINALS TO APPEASE
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, YET IN
THE RESPONSE OF RUNNING
INTERFERENCE FOR THE CRIMINALS,
THERE IS NO EFFORT TO FIND OUT
WHERE THE DRUG SUPPLIERS ARE
THAT KEEP THE PEOPLE MESSED UP
AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BECAUSE IT
IS A MORE PROFITABLE WRAPAROUND
SERVICE. PEOPLE ARE JUST ACTING
LIKE, THERE IS REALLY NO
ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE THESE
PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS AND WE ARE
JUST HERE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.
BECAUSE HOUSING COMES FIRST.
SOMETIMES, SENDING SOMEONE TO
A PROPER TREATMENT IS THE
BEGINNING. AND QUITE FRANKLY,
A LOT OF THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE
GOING TOWARD INNOCENT, HOMELESS
PEOPLE THAT ARE PURPOSELY STILL
BEING GRACELESSLY DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST. YOU TAKE A LOOK AT
SOME OF THE RACIST WOKE
POLICIES OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE PURPOSELY
DISCRIMINATING AGAINST INNOCENT
WHITE CITIZENS BECAUSE THEY
DEEM THEM ON ENTITLED BECAUSE
THEY HAVE WHITE PRIVILEGE. BUT
YET, IF YOU ARE A
SELF-DESTRUCTIVE DRUG PUSHER,
THEY SAY, THEY DON'T KNOW ANY
BETTER. LET'S HELP THEM
FIRST. HUMAN SERVICES NEEDS TO
BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS JOE KINZER.
>> JOE, PRESS STAR SIX.
>> THANK YOU MADAM, PRESIDENT.
MY COMMENTS ARE ABOUT, IF THE
BOARD WERE TO A PREVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE BUT NOT ON THE
AGENDA, THAT IS, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT POLICIES. IT IS VERY
MUCH APPRECIATED AND I WISH
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODIES WILL
HAVE THE SAME POLICY. IT IS
EXTREMELY STRESSFUL AND PERS
WAS HURTFUL THAT WE ARE DEALING
WITH THESE ISSUES IN 2024. BUT
WE ARE HONEST TO GOD GETTING
SOMETHING DONE TO PROTECT TO
THE COMMUNITIES. AND COMING
DOWN. I WANTED TO CALL IN AND
SAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE
DOING. AND ALSO BECAUSE I SPOKE
TO COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS
EARLIER THIS WEEK. FINALLY,
TOMORROW IS HEIDI WELLS DAY.
>> MR. KINZER, I DO HAVE TO
ENFORCE MY OWN RULE AND THAT
IS, PUBLIC COMMENT IS ON THE
AGENDA. I'M GOING TO STOP YOU
IF THE CONTINUATION OF YOUR
COMMENTS ARE ABOUT SOMETHING
NOT ON THE AGENDA.
>> OKAY. I'M DONE AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
PUBLIC COMMENT ISSUES. THANK
YOU MADAM, PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING.
>> STILL, NOBODY SIGNED UP IN
PERSON?
>> NO COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE
SIGNED UP AND SO I WILL NOW
CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. AND WE WILL MOVE ON.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS
TO MAKE ABOUT AN EVENT THAT I
WENT TO EARLIER TODAY. I SPENT
THE LUNCH HOUR AT THE FIFTH
AVENUE THEATER BECAUSE THEY
LAUNCHED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
FOR THE HISTORIC REGIONAL ARTS
AND CULTURAL VENUE WHICH IS
STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT SINCE
THE PANDEMIC. JUST ONE FACTOID
THAT I LEARNED, THE THEATER HAD
PREPANDEMIC 20,000
SUBSCRIBERS. THESE ARE FOLKS
THAT COME EVERY YEAR. THEY HAVE
A SUBSCRIPTION. THEY HAVE A
PACKAGE OF PLAYS AND NOW THEY
HAVE 7000 SUBSCRIBERS. SO IT IS
QUITE A DECLINE. YOU MIGHT BE
THINKING, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE
TO DO WITH THE COMMITTEE? ARTS
AND CULTURE DRIVE ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY ALL ACROSS THE CITY
AND CREATE JOBS AND THIS IS
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DOWNTOWN
BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN ARTS AND
CULTURAL VENUES PROVIDE
CUSTOMERS FOR THE BUSINESSES
THAT HAVE BEEN LACKING
BUSINESS AND REVENUE WITH THE
DECREASING OFFICE WORKERS. SO
THIS IS A PLUG FOR PAYING
ATTENTION TO THE ARTS AND
CULTURE, SUPPORTING OUR VERY
PRECIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND I DO
HAVE TO SAY THAT I REALIZE FULL
WELL THAT TO GET MORE PEOPLE
INTO THE THEATER SEATS, PEOPLE
HAVE TO FEEL SAFE COMING INTO
TOWN ON PUBLIC TRANSIT OR
WALKING AROUND ON OUR STREETS
AT NIGHT. THAT IS ANOTHER
TOPIC. BUT THERE IS ACCESS TO
PUBLIC SAFETY. BECAUSE
EVERYTHING DOES. AND ESPECIALLY
PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE FOUNDATION
OF OUR RECOVERY. SO I'M SORRY
TO MISS THE MAYOR'S EVENT AT
THE LIBRARY. HE WILL BE HAVING
A PUBLIC SAFETY DISCUSSION WITH
CONSTITUENTS. THAT WAS
SCHEDULED LAST WEEKEND AND I
HAD A LONG STANDING COMMITMENT
ON MY CALENDAR. BUT I JUST
WANTED YOU TO NOTE THAT THE
THEATER IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
AND I HOPE THAT I HEAR MORE
FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE
EVENT TONIGHT, THE LIBRARY.
BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
BE THERE. WITH THAT, WILL THE
CLERK READ THEIR FIRST ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
ORDINANCE RELATING TO GRANT
FUND FROM NON- CITY SOURCES
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TO ACCEPT GRANTS AND EXECUTE
RELATED AGREEMENTS FOR AND ON
BEHALF OF, AMENDING ORDINANCE
126925 WHICH ADOPTED THE 2024
BUDGET CHANGING APPROPRIATIONS
TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND
BUDGET CONTROL LEVELS AND FROM
VARIOUS FUNDS IN THE BUDGET AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS, BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHILE
FOLKS ARE COMING TO THE TABLE,
I WILL SIMPLY NOTE THAT THIS
LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE. IT ALSO AMENDS OET
-- 'S BUDGET. WHICH IS
$50,000. SEPTEMBER 14, 2023,
THE MUSEUM ON SOUTH KING STREET
IN SEATTLE WAS TARGETED IN AN
APPARENT HATE CRIME THAT
RESULTS IN -- AND WE SAY THAT
BECAUSE THAT WAS VERBALIZED,
RIGHT. AND IN AN APPARENT HATE
CRIME THAT RESULTED IN
SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE.
THE CITY AND STATE -- THE
CITY AND THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON HAVE JOINTLY
COMMITTED 100,000, TO ASSIST IN
THE REPAIRS. SO I WILL GO AHEAD
AND LEAVE IT NOW TO OUR
PRESENTERS TO TAKE IT AWAY.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
FIRST .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. MY NAME IS ALICIA
TEEL AND OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
>> AND I AM THERESA BARRERAS,
THE DIRECTOR OF DISTRICTS AT
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
>> WE HAVE A GUEST ON THE LINE
AS WELL JOINING US.
>> HELLO. I AM JOËL BARRAQUIEL
TAN. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
WING LUKE MUSEUM.
>> WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
OUR TEAM IS WORKING EVERY DAY
TOWARD OUR CORE PURPOSE WHICH
IS TO SHAPE AND ECONOMICALLY
DIVERSE, JUST AN RESILIENT
CITY. THAT INCLUDES WORK
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY AS
WELL AS KEEPING SEATTLE
COMPETITIVE ON THE GLOBAL
STAGE. AS YOU MIGHT RECALL,
WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST MONTH,
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE WORK IS
GUIDED BY THE FIVE PILLARS, FOR
THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE ECONOMY
FRAMEWORK, ADOPTED A CITY
POLICY AND RESOLUTION 32099.
THOSE PILLARS ARE WHAT WE
IDENTIFIED FOR CLOSING THE
RACIAL WEALTH GAP AND PROMOTING
INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH,
ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES
SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDED FROM
SUCH OPPORTUNITIES. THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU TODAY
ALIGNS WITH OUR PILLAR OF
INVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND WE
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT
AROUND IT. AS THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NOTED, LAST FALL, THE
WING LUKE MUSEUM AND THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AFTER AN
INDIVIDUAL SMASH SEVERAL OF ITS
WINDOWS PICKED INDIVIDUAL HAS
SINCE BEEN CHARGED WITH A HATE
CRIME.
>> IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
INCIDENT, THE CITY AND STATE
ANNOUNCED $100,000 IN FUNDING
TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS.
>> THIS COMBINED SUPPORT WILL
HELP ADDRESS DAMAGES TO THE
ICONIC, EDUCATIONAL AND
CULTURAL HUB OF THE COMMUNITY
AND ALSO THE NATION'S ONLY PEN
EVEN -- PAN- ASIAN PACIFIC
BASED MUSEUM. THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS
PROVIDING THE $50,000 FOR THE
CITY'S SHARE OF THE
CONTRIBUTION OUT OF THE
EXISTING BUDGET. LEGISLATION,
AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NOTED,
AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO ACCEPT
THE $50,000 FROM COMMERCE AND
ADJUST THE OED BUDGET TO
REFLECT THIS CONTRIBUTION. I
WOULD NOW LIKE TO TURN IT OVER
TO JOËL BARRAQUIEL TAN TO
SHARE MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
THE CONTRIBUTION AS WELL AS THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT THE MUSEUM
PROVIDES AN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOËL
BARRAQUIEL TAN. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WING
LOOP -- WING LUKE MUSEUM.
SINCE APRIL 2022. I'M TRULY
HONORED AND APPRECIATIVE TO
SHARE A BIT ABOUT THE MUSEUM
AND THE COMMUNITY IMPACT AS
WELL AS SPEAKING TO THE IMPACT
OF THE CONTRIBUTION TO CARE AND
REPAIR. REGARDING PUBLIC
BENEFIT, THE MUSEUM, WE ARE
TURNING 56 IS THIS YEAR. AND
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT'S SECOND LARGEST
ECONOMIC DRIVER. MOST OF THE
WAY WE SHOW UP IN THE WORLD IS
THROUGH THE MISSION'S WORK.
AND SHOWS UP MOST RECENTLY IN
STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY
WITH THE LATEST INITIATIVE ARTS
AND CULTURE TO CREATE JOY AND
WELL-BEING IN INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC
PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC EVENTS.
MOREOVER THE FRAMEWORK, WE
LOOK AT THE WAYS WE ARE
REFERENCING COUNCILMEMBER'S
EARLIER COMMENTS. WE SEE THE
GOOD WORK OF CULTURE AND ART IS
CONTINUALLY DRIVING BETTER
HEALTH, BETTER ECONOMY AND
BETTER POLICY. WITH THAT, WE
ALSO EMPOWER LOCAL ARTISTS AND
COMMUNITY VOICES THROUGH THE
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COMMUNITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE METHOD
WHEREBY EVERYDAY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE THE ONES THAT
CREATE THE VIBRANT EXECUTIONS
AND PROGRAMS. AND WE PARTNER
WITH OVER 50 SMALL BUSINESSES
ON FOOD, EVENTS, MARKETING
INITIATIVES, AND ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT WHILE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IS MAKING IS LONG
AND SLOW RECOVERY FROM COVID.
AND WE STILL DO THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AS THE
BEST AND LARGEST EXHIBITION .
AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO SERVE
AS A CULTURAL ANCHOR AND
ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION,
NOT ONLY FOR THE
(INDISCERNIBLE) BUT ACROSS THE
AREAS AROUND IT CONNECTING
LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS IN
A CULTURALLY RISK -- RICH
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT,
CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THE
IMPACT OF THE CONTRIBUTION IS
SIGNIFICANT. AS THE SPECIAL AND
GENEROUS CONSIDERATION ALLOWS
US TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE
CARE AND REPAIR PLAN THAT
CONSISTS OF FAÇADE REPAIR TO
THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, UPDATED
AND ENHANCED PHYSICAL SECURITY
SYSTEMS AS WELL AS TRAUMA
INFORMED, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND
TRAINING. AS YOU CAN PROBABLY
IMAGINE, THE IMPACT OF A HATE
CRIME LIKE THIS HAS A LONG
RANGE AND MUCH OF THE TERROR
ALSO HAPPENS INTERNALLY.
PARTICULARLY FOR THE PUBLIC
FACING STAFF. GENEROUS
SUPPORT ENCOURAGES OTHER GIVING
AND WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN
GETTING OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT,
NOT JUST IN TERMS OF MONEY BUT
IN TERMS OF MORAL SUPPORT THAT
IS NEEDED TO KIND OF DEAL WITH
THE NEW NORMAL. AND THE JOINT
EXPRESSION, I HAVE TO SAY, FROM
CITY AND STATE STATE, REALLY
UPLIFTS AND ASSURES AND AFFIRMS
OUR MISSION'S WORK AND
HONESTLY, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE
IT IS SO COMMON TO TALK ABOUT
ALL THE WAYS THAT GOVERNMENT
FAILS US. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT MOMENTS
WHEN THERE IS A BIG WIN AND A
BIG HEART CENTERED WIN. AND
LASTLY, THE CONTINUED SUPPORT
AND THE ABILITY TO REPAIR AND
HEAL WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO
ALLOW US TO PROVIDE MORE SOCIAL
IMPACT AND SOCIAL BENEFIT. I'M
ENERGIZED BY THIS GREAT, NEW
COUNSEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
KIND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
ZOOMING OUT A LITTLE MORE FOR
SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ABOUT
HOW OED IS ENGAGED IN THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE
MY COLLEAGUE, THERESA BARRERAS,
SHARE ON HOW WE ENGAGE IN THIS
MORE GENERALLY.
>> CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT IS A GEM WERE MANY
COMMUNITIES HAVE COME TOGETHER
TO PRESERVE AND GROW THIS
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS A
NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND
A PRIORITY AREA FOR THE CITY
AND HAS ALSO BEEN NAMED ONE OF
THE 11 MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC
DISTRICTS BY THE NATIONAL TRUST
FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN
2023. WHICH IS WHY I AM GLAD
WE WERE ABLE TO FIND FUNDS TO
SUPPORT WING LUKE'S EMERGENCY
NEED. OED'S ONLY IN SEATTLE
PROGRAM, HAS PROVIDED SUSTAINED
FUNDING TO ORGANIZATIONS AT
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT SO THAT THEY CAN FOCUS
ON MAINTAINING AND BUILDING
THIS VIBRANT AND THRIVING
BUSINESS DISTRICT. THE SEATTLE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS AREA AND LITTLE SAIGON
FRIENDS, WHICH ARE CORE
PARTNERS OF THE PROGRAM, WERE
THERE AND READY WHEN THE
PANDEMIC HIT AND THEY HELP
LOCAL BUSINESSES SURVIVE AND
BEGIN RECOVERING FROM IT. THEY
HELP BUSINESSES ACCESS 55
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND GRANTS
FROM OUR PROGRAM AND COMBINED
WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ECONOMIC
RECOVERY FUND, THEY INSTALLED
SECURITY FILM AND 85 BUSINESSES
TO DETER FUTURE DAMAGE AND
CRIME. YEARS AGO, WE WORKED
WITH OUR PARTNERS TO PILOT A
TENANT IMPROVEMENT GRANT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOW WE HAVE A
PROGRAM THAT HAS PROVIDED A
TOTAL OF $700,000 TO SEVEN
BUSINESSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALSO SUPPLEMENT CLEANING
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA AND
SUPPORTED A TOTAL OF SEVEN
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE
WING LOOP -- LUKE MUSEUM TO
PROVIDE EVENTS WITH THE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUND PROGRAM.
I'M HONORED TO BE ONE OF MANY
A OED WHO SUPPORT THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ON
BEHALF OF OED AND I'M PROUD
THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A
STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU .
>> AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD, IT
IS ONE MORE STEP IN THE ONGOING
SUPPORT OF THE DYNAMIC
NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND
REMARKS. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT
IT IS UP FOR A POSSIBLE VOTE
TODAY AND NORMALLY WE DON'T DO
THAT WITH LEGISLATION. WE
PRESENTED FIRST AND WE VOTE ON
IT THE NEXT WEEK. HOWEVER, THE
CITY'S PORTION, THE $50,000 OF
THE CITY CONTRIBUTION WAS
APPROVED IN THE BUDGET LAST
YEAR. AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE HAVE THE OTHER HALF TO GET
OUT THE DOOR. THAT IS WHY IT
IS CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THE
ACCEPTING MONEY FROM THE STATE.
I'M EXPLAINING WHY DOES UP FOR
A VOTE. I APPRECIATE DIRECTOR
JOËL BARRAQUIEL TAN. CAN YOU
PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME?
>> JOËL BARRAQUIEL TAN. I
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID THAT
THERE IS A LOT GOING ON AND
SOME OF IT IS VERY CHALLENGING.
WHEN THE CITY IS DOING
SOMETHING RIGHT, IT IS GOOD TO
RECOGNIZE THAT AND CELEBRATE
IT. THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE. THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND IS AN
EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF
ASSISTANCE THAT I PREFER WHICH
IS DIRECT ASSISTANCE. IT IS A
CHECK THAT GOES TO BUSINESSES
TO HELP WITH THE COST OF
REPAIRING A STOREFRONT. I HAVE
TO SAY THAT IT CAME ABOUT AS A
CONSEQUENCE OF BUSINESSES
COMING TO THE COMMITTEE LAST
YEAR AND BASICALLY TALKING
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF CRIME ON
THE BUSINESS. SO THE CITY
STEPPED IN. THANK YOU FOR
RUNNING THE PROGRAM. I'M SURE
YOU HAVE HAD MANY APPLICATIONS
FOR THAT MONEY, MORE THAN YOU
CAN POSSIBLY FILL. DID
$100,000 COVER THE COST OF THE
WINDOWS OR IS THERE A REMAINDER
THAT HAD TO BE PAID FOR THE
THINGS TO REPAIRS -- OF THE
THINGS ABOUT REPAIRS TO
HISTORIC BUILDINGS IS THAT IT
IS MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF
THE PROTOCOL INVOLVED IN
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND WHAT
IS NEEDED. THE WOULD FRAMING
ITSELF IS A FACTOR. IT WASN'T
JUST THE WINDOWS. CURRENTLY,
WE ARE WORKING WITH AN
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM GIVEN THE
REQUIREMENTS. AND IT IS GOING
TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN
100,000. IN ADDITION, I THINK
THE TWO OTHER COMPONENTS OF IT
WHICH IS UPGRADING THE SECURITY
SYSTEMS. IT WOULDN'T MAKE
SENSE TO HAVE THIS VERY
EXPENSIVE HISTORICAL BUILDING
FAÇADE REPAIR IF THERE WERE
OTHER SECURITY SYSTEMS THAT
SUPPORTED IT. AND THEY WERE IN
A DIFFERENT TIME POST COVID.
THE IMPORTANT COMPONENT IS THAT
THE TERROR OF THIS HATE CRIME
IS SYMBOLIC AND WITH MATERIAL
DAMAGE THAT HAPPENS AND WREAKS
TERROR ON ONE PATIENTS INTERNAL
LIFE. AND THERE A LOT OF
INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PUBLIC FACING WHO FIND
THEMSELVES ALONE AT NIGHT OR IN
THE MIDDLE OF THEIR SLEEP.
THIS THING HAS -- IT REALLY
IS, FOR US, NOT JUST DAMAGE TO
US BUT AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC,
WHERE THE ACTS OF TERROR WERE
RANDOM ACTS ON THE STREET,
USUALLY TO ELDERS, THIS
REPRESENTS TO US, ALONG WITH A
RECENT RASH OF BREAK-INS AT
ASIAN HOMES. AND NOW, CROSSING
INTO AN INSTITUTION, KIND OF
EMBOLDENING OF THAT KIND OF
HATE INTO HOMES AND
INSTITUTIONS. SO THIS HAS
HELPED MITIGATE AND
COUNTERBALANCE. THE DAMAGE IS
SIGNIFICANT. WE ARE DOING A
LITTLE MORE FUNDRAISING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
>> IN CASE YOU ARE NOT
CONNECTING THE DOTS, FOLKS,
BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINS OF THE
PANDEMIC, THAT IS PARTICULARLY
WAY YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE
SHARP INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> YES .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
YOU MANAGED ALL THE CITY
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS. AND
SO AGAIN, THAT IS A LARGE BODY
OF WORK THAT ALLOWS FOR
PROPERTY OWNERS TO PAY INTO A
POT TO IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICT WHICH
IMPROVES THE WHOLE CITY
ACTUALLY AND HELPS INDIVIDUAL
BUSINESSES. I WILL JUST NOTE
THAT THAT IS A LOT OF STAFF
WORK SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT
SOME POINT, I WANT TO FIND OUT
-- SKIP CAME IN AND GAVE A
PRESENTATION TO OUR OFFICE ON
WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND THEY
DID SAY THAT THE SCREEN STUFF
--
>> I HEAR IT IS QUITE
EFFECTIVE. SO AT A CERTAIN
POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE
COST FOR THAT AND FUTURE PLANS
FOR PERHAPS EXPANDING THAT
SUPPORT. TO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE
PRESENTERS?
>> NO. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS FROM YOU ALL?
>> MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF
I MAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE
INTERVIEW AND THE WING LUKE
MUSEUM AS WELL. I AM SEEING A
NEED FIRSTHAND FOR THE STORE
FRONT REPAIR FUND, HARD AT WORK
ACROSS THE CITY. I'M SEEING
THAT NEEDED MY OWN DISTRICT.
YESTERDAY, I HAD A LISTENING
TOUR WITH A NUMBER OF SMALL
BUSINESSES IN WEST SEATTLE. AND
I HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE FROM
MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS. BUT IT
WAS THIS SPECIFIC PROGRAM,
SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IS
APPRECIATED. AND SO I'M
LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE WITH
INVESTMENTS LIKE THAT AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE. ALSO, WHILE I'VE
GOT YOU HERE, I LEARNED A LOT
YESTERDAY DURING THAT. AND I
WOULD NOT ORDINARILY, DURING
THE COMMITTEE MEETING, BRING UP
A CONSTITUENT SPECIFIC ISSUE.
BUT THE BROADER CHALLENGE IS
SOMETHING THAT YOUR OFFICE IS
EMPOWERED TO DEAL WITH RELATED
TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND SO I
HEARD FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE
OWNER OF SNIPPETS FROM THE
JUNCTION IN WEST SEATTLE AND
CALLING OUT THEIR FRUSTRATION
AND AN ABILITY TO ATTRACT NEW
CUSTOMERS AND IMPART, BECAUSE
OF THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE
NEARBY AREA. I KNOW THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT YOUR
OFFICE HELPS TO ADMINISTER AND
DELIVER AND CONNECT FOLKS WITH
RESOURCES. SO STAY TUNED. WE
ARE WORKING WITH THE OWNER. I
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND
THAT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW
YOU ALL HELPED SMALL BUSINESSES
EVERY DAY AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE USE OF
THE STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND AND
ACTION ACROSS THE CITY. AND
SOME SELFISH CONSTITUENT
RELATED STUFF. BUT ALL GOOD.
>> THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE
FOR. WE ARE HERE TO MAKE
CONNECTIONS AND BRING OUR
LEARNINGS FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS. IT HELPS INFORM
US OF.
>> AND ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND, THERE
IS STILL MONEY IN THE FUND AND
IT IS STILL ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS. SO IF ANY OF YOUR
BEING CONTACTED BY CONSTITUENTS
WHO NEED TO USE THAT FUND,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONNECT
WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANK YOU OED. I WILL SAY
THAT ON THE STOREFRONT REPAIR
FUND, I APPRECIATE THAT IT
EXISTS AND I LOW I KNOW THAT
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN
THE D4, THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM
THE SCENE. BREAK-INS AND
WINDOWS AND DOORS BROKEN INTO.
I KNOW THAT THEIR REQUIREMENTS
TO THAT FUND ARE THERE AND I
HOPE THAT OED WILL LOOK AT
THOSE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE
THERE ARE SOME BUSINESSES THAT
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
BASED ON WHEN THEY FIRST OPEN
DOOR NOT. AND I THINK THAT IS
PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE WHETHER YOU
OPEN PRE, DURING OR POST
PANDEMIC, YOU ARE STILL
SUFFERING. THE IMPACT IS THE
SAME IF YOU ARE GETTING BROKEN
INTO. AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU
WILL REVISIT THOSE REQUIREMENTS
IF POSSIBLE SO THAT ALL SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING THIS CAN PARTAKE
OF THIS FUND, WHICH I KNOW THE
FUNDS EXPIRE BY THE END OF THE
YEAR BECAUSE IT CAME FROM
FEDERAL FUNDS. I'M SURE THAT
DIRECTOR MCINTYRE IS PROBABLY
LOOKING AT WHAT WILL HAPPEN
POST TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE
FUNDS. BUT BETWEEN NOW AND
THEN, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK
AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN COVER AS MANY BUSINESSES
THAT ARE GETTING BROKEN INTO,
REGARDLESS OF WHEN THEY
ESTABLISHED. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CAN I ADD
A LITTLE CONTEXT TO THAT. I
COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED
AND I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN
ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS. ONE
OF THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE
IS THAT THAT IS CORONAVIRUS
FUNDING. THAT IS WHY, WHEN THE
BUSINESS OPENED, IT IS OF
IMPORTANCE. AND I KNOW IT
WOULD BE GREAT TO FIND A
SOLUTION WHERE BUSINESSES THAT
HAVE OPENED SINCE IN OR IN THE
LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE
ABLE TO TAP INTO THE FUND.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING
WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING, THAT IT
IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT. THAT
WHEN THEY OPENED, THAT DATE --
>> I THINK IT IS TO BE IN
COMPLIANCE. THESE WERE
ALLOCATED THROUGH THE
CORONAVIRUS LOCAL RECOVERY
FUNDS.
>> IT MIGHT NOT BE A FEDERAL
REQUIREMENT. THE FEDS ARE NOT
BIRD DOGGING THIS PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A
CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS THAT
THERE CAN'T BE THE GIFT OF
PUBLIC -- YOU CAN'T GIVE
BUSINESSES FUNDING WITHOUT A
REALLY CLEAR NEXUS FOR WHY IN
THE FUND SOURCE. I THINK THAT
IS WHAT YOU ARE GETTING AT.
>> IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.
THE FEDERAL FUNDING IS THE
FUNDING SOURCE AND THAT IS WHAT
HAS ALLOWED US TO HAVE A COLOR
OF MONEY THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN
THE STATE FUNDS AND LOCAL FUNDS
WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE GIFT
OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND I THINK
THAT IS ALSO WHAT HAS MADE THE
CHALLENGE YOU HAVE RAISED A
LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING TO
ADJUST. WHAT IS THE NEW SOURCE
THAT IS NOT TIED TO THE
CORONAVIRUS THAT ALSO ALLOWS US
TO PROVIDE THIS DIRECT
ASSISTANCE.
>> I UNDERSTAND. I ALSO WILL
SAY IN TERMS OF NEXUS, OUR AN
ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO STAFF AS
PD , THERE IS A CLEAR NEXUS. I
KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND NOT
MADE TO DETERMINE. I WANT TO
CALL OUT THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE
AND THE LOW STAFFING NUMBERS
ARE OF CONCERN AND ARE
PARTIALLY CREATING THE
INABILITY TO RESPOND. SO THERE
IS, IN MY MIND, A NEXUS. I KNOW
IT IS A LEGAL ISSUE SO I'M NOT
TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT WE
SHOULD BE GOING AROUND THE
LEGAL ISSUES. I HAVE A LAW
DEGREE MYSELF SO I KNOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF STICKING TO THE
LAW AND I VERY MUCH WANT TO
STICK TO THE LAW AND I'M ALSO
ASKING THE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL
TO THEN ASK THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE HOW
MUCH OR WHETHER THE NEXUS IS
CLOSING UP, WHETHER IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, LET'S GO AHEAD. I
WILL MOVE THIS LEGISLATION. I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE MOVED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF BILL.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDMENT -- AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS,
CAN THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL
ON 12747.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES, IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED. THE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE BILL PASSED WILL BE
SENT TO THE APRIL 2nd CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> WHILE WE'RE WAITING TO SHUT
UP THE PRESENTATION, YOU CAN
COME UP TO THE TABLE PLEASE .
>> WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR YOU
TO READ AGENDA ITEM TWO.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES OVERVIEW, BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> HELLO EVERYBODY. THIS
DEPARTMENT, WELL, I REALLY AM
GOING TO BE HAVING A LOT OF
DEPARTMENTS IN HERE BECAUSE I
HAVE A LOT TO LEARN.
SPECIFICALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES REPORTS TO THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. SO IT WAS
NOT UNTIL I REALLY STARTED
LOOKING AT YOUR WHOLE BODY OF
WORK THAT I REALIZED THAT WE
ARE GOING TO NEED YOU BACK FOR
A SECOND COMMITTEE MEETING TO
DISCUSS HOW POSITIONS ARE
CHANGED AND SALARY BANS ARE
CHANGED AND HOW POSITIONS GET
TURNED TO CIVIL SERVICE, ET
CETERA. THERE IS A WHOLE BODY
OF WORK THAT I'M VERY
INTERESTED IN THAT WE WILL NOT
BE COVERING IN DETAIL AT ALL IF
WE EVEN TOUCH ON IT. YOU DO SO
MUCH AND YOU TOUCH EVERY
DEPARTMENT AND EMPLOYEE IN THE
CITY. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO HEARING YOUR PRESENTATION.
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND YOU MAY START.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND KIMBERLY LOVING AND I'M THE
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
AMANDA GRUMBACH AND I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF SHARED
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBERS. IT IS A
PLEASURE TO MEET YOU ALL.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR
THAT INTRODUCTION. IT WAS GREAT
TO SEE OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE FEDERATED HR MODEL
AND HOW THEY FIT INTO THAT
ROLE. I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM
THE START THAT WE ARE HERE TO
PROVIDE A SUPERHIGH LEVEL. WE
HAVE A PRETTY DECENT SIZED
DEPARTMENT WITH A LOT OF
FUNCTIONS AS YOU MENTIONED.
CERTAINLY, IF THERE ARE
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS OR DETAILS
NEEDED, WE ARE HAPPY TO FOLLOW
UP WITH THAT LATER. WE ARE
PREPARED TODAY TO RESPECT YOUR
TIME AND PROVIDE WHAT WE HOPE
WILL BE A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW
TO GET THE CONVERSATION
STARTED, IF YOU WILL.
>> THIS IS WHAT WE INTEND TO
GO OVER. JUST WHO WE ARE AND
WHY WE ARE HERE AND WHAT IS ON
TRACK FOR LATER THIS YEAR. I
THINK WHAT WE LIKE TO THINK OF
OURSELVES, SIMILAR TO OUR
CENTRAL SHARED SERVICES
PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY, SUCH
AS IT AND FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION, FAS, FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, WE
LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS
THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. WE ARE
HERE TO SUPPORT OUR 13,000
EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE CITY TO
PROVIDE SERVICES SO THAT THEY
CAN PERFORM THEIR JOBS WITH THE
RESOURCES AND EXECUTE ON ALL
THE DIFFERENT BUSINESS OF THE
CITY. THAT IS OUR DRIVING FORCE
OF WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. SO WE
HAVE A FEDERATED HUMAN
RESOURCES MODEL AT THE CITY AS
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD BY NOW. WE
ARE A CENTRALIZED AGENCY WITHIN
THE 44 DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE
CITY AND SDHR, SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGES SOME CENTRALIZED
FUNCTIONS AND WE WILL GET INTO
THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER HERE IN
THE PRESENTATION. THAT
IRRESPECTIVE, IF YOU ARE A
POLICE OFFICER OR YOU WORK IN
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, YOU
UTILIZE THE BENEFITS THAT COME
THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT ARE ADMINISTERED
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OR THE
WORKER'S COMPENSATION
FUNCTION. HOWEVER, THERE ARE
SOME OF THE LARGER DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS THE CITY THAT PERFORM HR
FUNCTIONS WITHIN THEIR OWN
ORGANIZATIONS AND WE WILL TALK
MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> SO WHAT DO WE DO? A LOT.
WE HAVE A FEW BULLETS HERE. WE
PROVIDE THE FULL SCOPE OF HR
SERVICES FOR 20 SUPPORTED
DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE ESTABLISH CITYWIDE PERSONNEL
RULES. WE ALSO OFFER SOME
SELECT CONSULTATION SERVICES AS
WELL. THIS IS JUST A QUICK
LIST OF THE 20 DEPARTMENTS THAT
SDHR THAT PROVIDES FOR THE FULL
SCOPE OF HR SERVICES TOO. THIS
IS AN OVERVIEW VERY QUICKLY OF
THE EXECUTIVE TEAM. AGAIN, WE
WILL KEEP GOING BECAUSE WE ARE
GOING TO BREAK DOWN EACH OF
THESE DIVISIONS. WE THOUGHT
WE WOULD SHARE OUR VALUES AND
THE THINGS WE WORKED TOWARDS IN
OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR CORE
SERVICE VALUES . AND ALSO,
JUST A BRIEF BREAKDOWN OF THE
BUDGET AND HOW IT DIVIDES OUT
AMONG OUR DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE
DIVISIONS.
>> AND FINALLY, WE WANTED TO
SHARE JUST A HIGH-LEVEL GRAPH
OF YEARS OF SERVICE AND THE
DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT.
>> MOVING ON TO THE DIVISIONS
WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, THE
FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS THE
BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND IT IS
LED BY THE CHIEF OF STAFF. THAT
FUNCTION MANAGES COMMUNICATIONS
WHICH ALSO MANAGES THE PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUEST FUNCTION,
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNCTION.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE OUR OWN
INTERNAL FINANCE AND BUSINESS
OPERATIONS AND MANAGE OUR
CITYWIDE POLICY AND LEGISLATION
FUNCTION AS WELL WITHIN THE
UNIT. LABOR RELATIONS, I KNOW
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, HAVE
MET THE LABOR RELATIONS
DIRECTOR , SEAN VAN EYCK. WE
HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
CITYWIDE BARGAINING AND
MANAGING THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH
LABOR PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY.
>> WE ALSO HAVE A TALENT
ACQUISITION AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION. SO IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE FEDERATED
MODEL, THERE ARE PROVIDED FROM
A RECRUITMENT FUNCTION FOR THE
20 DEPARTMENTS THAT WE SUPPORT.
THERE IS ALSO WORK WE DO ACROSS
THE CITY WITH THE TALENT
ACQUISITION COMMUNITY. JUST
TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN
ACROSS THE HR COMMUNITY TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS ALIGNMENT
AND HOW WE PROCESS AND HOW WE
MANAGE THE TALENT ACQUISITION
FUNCTION. WE ALSO HAVE A
CENTRALIZED FUNCTION WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT THAT WE REFER TO AS
HR U. IT IS THE HR
INVESTIGATIONS UNIT. AND THAT
IS LED BY OUR DIVISION
DIRECTOR, RAY SUGARMAN WHERE
ACROSS THE CITY, WE MANAGE THE
INVESTIGATIONS FOR ALLEGED
VIOLATIONS OF PERSONNEL RULE 1.
ONE. SO THAT IS ALL MANAGED
CENTRALLY WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT. AND WE ALSO HAVE A
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
FUNCTION AS WELL. THAT TOO IS A
CENTRALIZED FUNCTION ACROSS THE
CITY. AND I'M GOING TO ALLOW,
OR LET WIND FIVE TALK ABOUT HER
DIVISION OF SHARED
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
>> MY DIVISION IS THE
ADMINISTRATION OF SHARED
SERVICES AND IT IS THE LARGEST
DIVISION WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT
AND IT REPRESENTS, WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE BACK OF THE
HOUSE, TRUE HR OPERATIONS . AND
ALSO, THE LARGEST
REPRESENTATION IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF CENTRALIZED OR
PSEUDO- CENTRALIZED OR
PARTIALLY CENTRALIZED SERVICES
FOR EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE CITY.
SUCH AS BENEFITS
ADMINISTRATION. WE MANAGE THE
BENEFITS PROGRAM AND PROVIDE
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION TO THE
20 SUPPORTED DEPARTMENTS. WE
OWN THE PROGRAM FOR ALL CITY
EMPLOYEES. WE MANAGE THE
PROGRAM AS PLAN PROVIDERS AND
WE ALSO PROVIDE DAY-TO-DAY
SUPPORT FOR THE 20 SUPPORTED
DEPARTMENTS. AS KIMBERLY
MENTIONED, THE CLASSIFICATION
COMPENSATION UNIT THAT WOULD
COME TO THIS COMMITTEE WHEN
THERE ARE QUARTERLY EMPLOYMENT
ORDINANCES, AND WE WILL TALK
MORE AT LENGTH AND A SEPARATE
PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW THAT
WORK INTERSECTS WITH THE
COUNCIL AT ANOTHER TIME. AND
OTHER CENTRALIZED FUNCTIONS
LIKE WORKER'S COMPENSATION
THAT ARE SELF-ADMINISTERED AND
SELF INSURED AND HELP ALL
INJURED WORKERS ACROSS THE
CITY.
>> AND I WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE
SERVICE DELIVERY DIVISION THAT
IS LED BY OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN
RESOURCES, NANA MENDEZ. AS
KIMBERLY REFERRED TO EARLIER
AND THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION
SO FAR, WE PROVIDE
COMPREHENSIVE HUMAN RESOURCES
SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO 20
SMALLER DEPARTMENTS. IN FACT,
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE 20
SUPPORTED DEPARTMENTS. SO IT IS
NICE TO SEE THEM HERE TODAY. AS
WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM. THE PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM E3 AND
AGAIN, INTERNAL TO MANY
DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
>> FINALLY, WE HAVE THE
WORKFORCE EQUITY DIVISION AND
THAT IS LED BY THE WORKFORCE
EQUITY DIRECTOR, CHRISTOPHER
ORTIZ. AND THAT IS WORK THAT
WE DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COLLEAGUES IN THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS. AND WE HAVE
WORKFORCE EQUITY A STRATEGIC
PLAN. THAT IS SOMETHING I'M
SURE YOU WILL ALL BE FAMILIAR
WITH IN THE DAYS TO COME. THAT
IS EXCELLENT WORK THERE THAT IS
REALLY FOCUSED ON OUR
EMPLOYEES.
>> AND THEN WHAT IS AHEAD? SO
I IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE ALL VERY
FAMILIAR WITH THE COALITION OF
CITY UNIONS AGREEMENT. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN THE
WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
DIRECTOR SEAN VAN EYCK HAS BEEN
WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
EXECUTIVE, AND WITH THE MAYOR
AND WITH THE LABOR PARTNERS ON
THAT AND THAT IS SOMETHING
COMING TO RESOLUTION HERE
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER .
WORK DAY, AMANDA, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
THAT?
>> SURE. THIS IS A BIT OF A
SHAMELESS PLUG FOR A PROJECT
THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR
THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT IS
WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE
EVOLVED PROJECT, WHICH IS THE
SYSTEM REPLACEMENT FOR HUMAN
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AND
SO WORKDAY IS THE PLATFORM THAT
THE CITY WILL BE GOING LIVE
WITH SOON. AND SO WE ARE
ABSOLUTELY MOVING TOWARD THAT
GO LIVE DATE THIS YEAR. AND IT
WILL TOUCH EVERY EMPLOYEE
ACROSS THE CITY. IN ADDITION,
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE
RECEIVED FUNDING TO PERFORM A
STUDY, A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY,
OF OUR CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM,
WHICH IS 30 YEARS OLD AND NO
LONGER SERVING THE EMPLOYEES
AND THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF
THE CITY. SO THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS
YEAR AS WELL.
>> THAT IS THE OVERVIEW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN
YOU GO INTO A LITTLE MORE --
BEFORE I OPEN IT UP FOR OTHER
QUESTIONS, WHILE WE ARE ON THE
TOPIC AND THAT BREATH IS IN THE
AIR, CAN YOU GIVE MORE DETAIL
ON THE CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM
BEING 30 YEARS OLD AND CAN YOU
TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT
PROJECT?
>> SURE. AS I SAID, THE
CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM , WHICH
IS, EVERY EMPLOYEE WITHIN THE
CITY, HOLD THE TITLE. AND THAT
TITLE IS WITHIN A
CLASSIFICATION, A JOB
CLASSIFICATION. AND THAT IS A
FORMAL PROGRAM, A FORMAL
SYSTEM, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE
CITY THAT CLEARLY DEFINES,
FORMALLY DEFINES THE BODY OF
WORK, THAT THE EMPLOYEE
PERFORMS. AND SO OUR
CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM HAS NOT
BEEN REVIEWED COMPREHENSIVELY
OR AT ALL FOR THE LAST 30
YEARS. AND SO, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, JOBS HAVE CHANGED. NEW
JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED. NEW
BODIES OF WORK. AND OVER TIME,
THE CITY HAS STRUGGLED TO KEEP
UP WITH ENSURING THAT PEOPLE
ARE CLASSIFIED APPROPRIATELY
AND THE CLASSIFICATIONS ARE
TRULY REFLECTIVE OF MODERN
WORK. AND SO, WE HAVE HAD MANY
STRUGGLES WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS
WHO WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE THAT,
FOR IT EXAMPLE, IT IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF HOW THE WORK HAS
CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF 30
YEARS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. AND
SO IN ORDER TO ATTRACT AND
RETAIN TALENT, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE CLASSIFYING THE
WORK APPROPRIATELY WHICH MEANS
PAYING THE WORK. WE ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH CLASSIFICATION.
SO YOU CAN'T DO A WAGE STUDY
OR LOOK AT COMPARABLE WAGES
UNLESS YOU ARE LOOKING AT TRULY
COMPARABLE CLASSIFICATIONS.
AND SO ENSURING THOSE TWO
THINGS ARE MODERN, SO THAT WHEN
YOU GO OUT TO MARKET AND YOU
TRULY LOOK AT THE CURRENT
MARKETABLE WAGES, THAT THOSE
THINGS ARE ALIGNED. AND WE HAVE
STRUGGLED WITH THAT FOR A LONG
TIME.
>> I WOULD ADD SIMILARLY,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WORKDAY,
SAME THING. INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IT IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT,
WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL AND THAT
THE CITY HAS, AS AMANDA SAID,
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
FOR FOUR YEARS. WE ARE GRATEFUL
AND WE ALL BELIEVE THAT IT IS
THE RIGHT INVESTMENT. BUT IT
IS INFRASTRUCTURE AND I THINK
WE ALL KNOW WHETHER IT IS THE
PUBLIC OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR
THAT SOMETIMES THE
INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE KEEP OURSELVES MODERNIZED.
BECAUSE OF ALL THE DOWNSTREAM
IMPACT AND CONSEQUENCES,
UNINTENDED OR NOT. WHO WE CAN
RECRUIT AND WHO WE CAN RETAIN.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE RELATED TO
HAVING A MODERN HUMAN CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OR HAVING A
CURRENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN
PUSHING AND ARE SO HAPPY TO
FINALLY BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, IT LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD
A QUESTION.
>> I DO.
>> YOU START. I'M TRYING TO
FORMULATE.
>> AND FORMULATING ON THE FLY.
YES. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS
OVERVIEW. VERY HIGH LEVEL. AND
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. I
HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I WOULD
LOVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
SPECIFIC STRUCTURE MODEL THAT
WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. IT IS A FEDERATED
HR MODEL. CERTAIN FUNCTIONS
PERFORM CENTRALLY AND OTHERS
PERFORM AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL
IF THEY ARE BIG ENOUGH. WHAT
ARE THOSE ? I HEARD AT THE
BEGINNING AND WE WILL DISCUSS
WITH THOSE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
ARE THAT ARE PERFORMED AT THOSE
OTHER AGENCIES. I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT WAS CLEAR TO ME. WHAT
ARE THOSE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
THAT ARE THE HR FUNCTIONS
PERFORMED? AND HOW MANY CITY
AGENCIES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
THEIR? WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC
FUNCTIONS THAT ARE PERFORMED,
HR FUNCTIONS THAT ARE PERFORMED
BY THOSE AGENCIES? WE WILL
START THERE.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN
INDEPENDENT HR SERVICES?
>> YES.
>> HR, WHEN WE SAY HUMAN
RESOURCES, IT REALLY IS A
BASKET OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SUPPORT TO AN ORGANIZATION.
AND SO, WHEN I REFERENCE SOME
OF THAT BACK OF THE HOUSE
OPERATIONAL THINGS LIKE
BENEFITS, WORKERS COMPENSATION,
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION
, THOSE ARE REALLY
INFRASTRUCTURE CENTRALIZED
THINGS. THOSE A REPRESENTATIVE
CENTRALIZED SERVICES THAT OUR
DEPARTMENT PERFORMS. BUT THERE
IS A MYRIAD OF THINGS THAT A
HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL
DOES TO SUPPORT AN
ORGANIZATION. SAID THERE ARE
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS. AND ARE IS
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES AND THERE ARE
INVESTIGATIONS. AND ON
RECRUITMENT.
>> AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS
THAT ARE -- HOW MANY? 20?
>> THERE ARE 20 DEPARTMENTS
THAT ARE SUPPORTED. SO 24
DEPARTMENTS.
>> THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TEAMS .
>> HOW MANY HAVE THEIR OWN
TEAMS?
>> 24.
>> SO OF THE 24, WHICH SPECIFIC
HR FUNCTIONS -- AND AM TAKING
THIS . I HEARD EMPLOYEE
RELATIONS, INVESTIGATIONS IT.
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
EVERYTHING FROM HIRE TO RETIRE.
SO THE WHOLE EMPLOYEE
EXPERIENCE IS SUPPORTED BY THE
HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTION WITHIN
AN ORGANIZATION .
>> HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE
RATIONALE FOR DOING THAT AS
OPPOSED TO HAVING A SINGULAR,
CENTRAL HR FUNCTION,
POTENTIALLY WITH EMBEDDED HR
REPS AT THE AGENCIES.
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION. I WILL TELL YOU THAT
THAT IS THE SYSTEM WE WALKED IN
ON.
>> SYSTEMS ARE GREAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE ARE
BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES TO
EITHER. HAVING A CENTRALIZED
FUNCTION AND HAVING A FEDERATED
MODEL.
>> HOW IS OUR MODEL THAT WE
HAVE IN PLACE HERE IN SEATTLE
AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO
OTHER SORT OF LARGER CITIES ?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO
THAT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MIX.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY CITIES AND
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE
CENTRALIZED SERVICES FROM AN HR
PERSPECTIVE. AND THEIR HYBRID
MODELS. AND THERE IS A WHOLE
MIX OF MATRIX MODELS AND OTHER
CITIES AND PRIVATE
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> THIS STRIKES ME AS , THERE
IS A LOT OF DIFFERENTIATION AND
SPECIALIZATION IN EVERY LAST
ONE OF THESE AGENCIES. AND THE
DEPARTMENTS AND ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. THAT DOESN'T
AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT, AND
JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE
BUDGET TO DO IT, THAT THEY
SHOULD STAND UP THEIR OWN HR
FUNCTIONS . I DON'T LOVE THAT
ANSWER. BUT THAT IS THE WAY
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN . THAT IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO START. FOR
ME, I'M THINKING, THAT MIGHT
BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO START
PULLING ON SOME STRINGS AND
FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN BETTER
SUPPORT AND HAVE A FUNCTION
THAT IS MORE STREAMLINED AND I
DON'T KNOW IF THE CURRENT
MODEL THAT EXISTS TODAY DOES
THAT. MAYBE IT DOES AND MAYBE
IT DOESN'T. I DON'T KNOW. I
DON'T LOVE THAT RATIONALE.
LIKE THIS IS JUST HOW WE HAVE
ALWAYS DONE IT. I GET IT.
>> COUNSEL NUMBER, I
APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THE
QUESTION WAS MORE ROUND, WHAT
IS THE RATIONALE AND RESPONSE
TO THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE RATIONALE IS. I KNOW THAT
THIS IS WHAT I INHERITED. AND
I KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS
OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION AND
CHALLENGE AND INNOVATE ON
ANYTHING. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO
BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION. SPECIFICALLY.
>> JUST WORK COLLABORATIVELY
WITH YOU AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO FINANCERS . THAT IS MY
COMMITMENT TO YOU OR ANY
DEPARTMENT HEAD.
>> I SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS DISJOINTED
PERHAPS AND WHERE DOES IT
OVERLAP. IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A
PROBLEM WITH THE MANAGER THAT
ALREADY HAS AN INTERNAL HR,
THEN IT COULD BE MESSY FOR SOME
REASONS IN THAT WAY. BUT IF
THEY ARE DEPARTMENT THAT
DOESN'T HAVE HR, PERHAPS
GETTING THE ATTENTION OR WHERE
DOES IT FALL IN YOUR WORKFLOW
WHEN IT LANDS ON YOUR LAP? I
CAN SEE THE EFFECTS ON EITHER
SIDE. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE OUR OWN HR
BECAUSE WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS
AND YOUR RESPONSES SOON. I
COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU
ARE COMING FROM. AND WHAT IT
COMES THE ENFORCEMENT OF
FEDERAL LAW AND THINGS THAT
SUPERSEDE ANYTHING HAVING TO DO
WITH SEATTLE AND LABOR
FUNCTIONS . WORKING WITH
BARGAINING UNITS ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS, THAT MIGHT BE
BENEFICIAL. BUT POINT TAKEN.
TOTALLY POINT TAKEN.
>> MADAM, PRESIDENT, IF I MAY,
IT IS IMPORTANT. THERE IS A
STRONG RATIONALE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE HR INVESTIGATION
FUNCTION IS CENTRALIZED BECAUSE
THE RISKS THERE, WHEN THE
FUNCTION IS OUT TO THE
INDIVIDUAL, THAT THERE COULD BE
THE PERCEPTION OF THOSE RESULTS
OF THE FINDINGS BEING TAINTED
AND POTENTIALLY UNDULY
INFLUENCE. SO HAVING A
CENTRALIZED HR INVESTIGATION
FUNCTION, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE,
MAKES SENSE. THE RATIONALE FOR
EVERYTHING IS A GOOD THING.
>> RESPECTFULLY, WITH REGARDS
TO INVESTIGATIONS, THERE IS A
WHOLE SPECTRUM. AND THERE IS A
WHOLE SPECTRUM OF WHAT THAT
MIGHT BE. I THINK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT YOSEMITE MADE A
COMMENT ABOUT MY MANAGER, LIKE
I DON'T GET ALONG WITH MY
MANAGER. THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT THE HR OR YOU WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY GET INVOLVED IN
UNLESS THERE WAS SOME VIOLATION
OF PERSONNEL RULE 1.1. THERE
ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS AND A LOT
OF DEPARTMENTS FIND VALUES AS
WE DO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
DEPARTMENTS AS THE HR OR
DIVISIONS, THAT FUNCTION, BEING
ON-SITE AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SAID. THE OTHER THING I WOULD
SAY IS THAT THE CENTRALIZATION
OR THE FEDERATED MODEL RATHER
IS TIED TO MORE THAN JUST THE
HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTION. THE
APPOINTING AUTHORITIES -- THIS
IS REALLY AN APPOINTING
AUTHORITY CONCERN IN A LOT OF
WAYS. IT IS WITH REGARD TO THE
HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTION BUT IT
IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT I THINK
THE APPOINTING AUTHORITIES
WOULD HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT AND
NOT JUST OUR DEPARTMENT.
>> DEPARTMENT HEADS, YES .
>> AND ON TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S POINT, IT MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE, MADAM, PRESIDENT,
IN OUR CASE, THAT WE HAVE OUR
OWN HR FUNCTIONS BECAUSE WE ARE
A SEPARATE, STANDALONE
INDEPENDENT BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT. THAT IS WHY THAT
MAKES PERFECT SINCE. I DON'T
KNOW IF THIS SAME PRINCIPLE
HOLDS TRUE WITH RESPECT TO ALL
OTHER EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS. I
THROW THAT OUT THERE IS AN AREA
FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION. IT
MAKES SENSE UNTIL IT DOESN'T.
EVERYTHING IS OPEN TO EVOLUTION
AND STREAMLINING. NO, THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
THERE IS SO MUCH AT SDHR AND
THIS IS SUCH A SUPER HIGH
LEVEL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HR
COME BACK. AND THERE IS A LOT
WE NEED TO UNPACK MORE DEEPLY.
I WILL ASK, WHAT IS THE NUMBER
OF CLASSIFICATIONS THAT YOU
HAVE? IF YOU KNOW NOW, BUT IF
YOU DO NOT, YOU CAN GET BACK TO
US. AND THE MARKET WAGES, I
ALWAYS HEAR THAT AT SDHR BUT DO
YOU MEAN -- WHEN YOU SAY
MARKET WAGES, DO YOU MEAN IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR DO YOU
MEAN OTHER GOVERNMENTS?
BECAUSE WE ARE PUBLIC ENTITIES
AND NOT PRIVATE ENTITIES AND I
HAVE NEVER QUITE UNDERSTOOD
WHEN YOU ARE TALKING MARKET
WAGES, WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT.
>> MARKET WAGES IS AN INDUSTRY
TERM. IT IS USED BROADLY. YOU
HAVE DESCRIBED BOTH .
POTENTIAL. SO WHEN A MARKET
STUDY IS DONE TO LOOK AT
COMPARABLE WAGES, WE ARE
LOOKING AT WAGES AND COMPARABLE
SIZES OF ORGANIZATIONS,
SIMILARLY SITUATED POSITIONS
DOING SIMILARLY SITUATED WORK.
I CAN TELL YOU COUNCILMEMBER
THAT WHEN WE HAVE DONE WAGE
STUDIES IN THE PAST, WE ARE
LOOKING AT PUBLIC SECTOR
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OF
SIMILAR SIZE . AND BODIES OF
WORK DOING SIMILARLY SITUATED
BODIES OF WORK WITHIN THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL SAY THAT I
KNOW CITY EMPLOYEES DON'T
UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT IS MY
EXPERIENCE, HAVING WORKED AT
THE CITY FOR THE MANY YEARS I
HAVE. WHEN YOU SAY MARKET
WAGES, OFTEN CITY EMPLOYEES
COMPLETE THAT WITH PRIVATE
WAGES AND IT CAUSES SOME
CONCERN .
>> IF I CAN ADD TO THIS A
LITTLE BIT, THERE ARE
SITUATIONS WHEN -- AND I
APOLOGIZE IF I INTERRUPTED YOU.
BUT I DO WANT TO CLARIFY ONE
THING. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN
THERE ARE MAYBE JOBS THAT ARE
NOT FOUND IN OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, RIGHT, SO WE
NEED TO LOOK AT PRIVATE SECTOR
AND SIMILARLY SITUATED CITIES
OF OUR SIZE, FOR SPECIFIC WORK.
AND IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THOSE
TYPES OF JOBS. WHEN YOU ARE
LOOKING AT RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION, THOSE TYPES OF JOBS
THAT I'M REFERRING TO REALLY
ARE YOUR COMPETING FROM THE
SAME POOL. AND SO IT IS
COMPLEX. IT IS NOT VERY EASY TO
EXPLAIN ON A SOUNDBITE. I DID
WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THERE ARE
TIMES WHEN WE ARE NOT ONLY
SLOWLY LURKING -- LOOKING AT
PUBLIC SECTOR BUT PUBLIC SECTOR
IS IN THE GO TO WHEN WE ARE
DOING MARKET ANALYSIS .
>> I JUST FIND THAT TO BE
REALLY PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE
AGAIN, IF EMPLOYEES ARE NOT
CLEAR ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO
WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT OR
SETTING WAGES, IT CAUSES THIS
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WAS SAYING.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK
THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK
AT . THIS MESSAGING. CLEAR
MESSAGING TO EMPLOYEES SO THAT
THEY UNDERSTAND. I WILL TELL
YOU THAT HAVING WORKED AT THE
CITY FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING
AT A DEPARTMENT, THERE IS
CONFUSION AROUND THIS AND IT
CAUSES A LOT OF ANGST.
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE SIMILARLY
SITUATED WORK IS OPEN TO
INTERPRETATION AND IT MAKES IT
REALLY DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES
AND MANAGERS ALIKE. SO THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT I THINK REALLY
NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, AT THE
CITY. I ALSO SHARE THE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF --
FOR THE 20 DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
SUPPORTED BY SDHR VERSUS THOSE
24 THAT ARE NOT. THERE ISN'T
THAT COMPARABLE CONTINUITY OF
SERVICE AND THAT ALSO CREATES
SOME CONCERNS AMONG THE
EMPLOYEES. BECAUSE THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY MAY BE SIMILARLY
SITUATED. THEY ARE WORKING FOR
A DEPARTMENT THAT IS NOT
SUPPORTED BY SDHR VERSUS ONES
THAT ARE. AND SO IT STARTS TO
FEEL LIKE EMPLOYEES SIMILARLY
SITUATED, ARE BEING TREATED
DIFFERENTLY. AND THAT CAUSES
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AS
WELL.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE
SA1 AND SUPPORTED HR -- .
>>>
>> IF I CAN CLARIFY, WE HAVE
NOT DONE A WAGE STUDY. THIS IS
PART OF WHY WE ARE DOING THE
CLASSIFICATION STUDY PROJECT
THIS YEAR. WE HAVE NOT DONE A
COMPREHENSIVE WAGE STUDY FOR
ALL POSITIONS ACROSS THE CITY
IN 30 YEARS. SO WHEN I SAY THAT
WE HAVE LOOKED AT -- WHEN WE
HAVE DONE A WAGE STUDY, THOSE
ARE TIED TO BARGAINING. THOSE
ARE THE ONLY STUDIES WE HAVE
DONE THAT HAVE HAD ANY
IMPLEMENTATION . POSITIONS THAT
ARE BARGAINED POSITIONS. I CAN
TELL YOU THAT THOSE ARE PUBLIC
SECTOR POSITIONS I WOULD SAY. I
DON'T WANT TO MISREPRESENT THE
CURRENT PROGRAM AND THE
EMPLOYEES AT LARGE THAT THE
WAGES HAVE HAD THIS
COMPREHENSIVE WAGE STUDY. THAT
IS PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE
ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THROUGH
STUDYING THE CONCERNS. TO YOUR
POINT, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
THIS STUDY AIMS TO SOLVE FOR.
SO WHAT ARE THE CURRENT STRAINS
OR CURRENT LIMITATIONS OF THE
CURRENT PROGRAM BEING 30 YEARS
OLD. THAT IS ONE OF THEM.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE
AIM TO LOOK AT.
>> AND IT IS NOT JUST THE
EMPLOYEES THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY
DSHR VERSUS THE ONES SUPPORTED
BY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE THEIR
OWN HR DEPARTMENTS BUT
EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE DSHR
SYSTEM THAT ARE IN DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AND EACH DEPARTMENT
IS DOING THINGS A BIT
DIFFERENTLY. SO THAT HAPPENS
AS WELL. SO WHAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT WITH THE
SPECIFICATION AND WAGE STUDY,
WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WILL
BE HELPFUL. BUT THERE IS
THEORY AND THERE IS PRACTICE.
AND IN PRACTICE, THERE IS A
LOT OF MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN
DEPARTMENTS AND SIMILARLY,
QUOTE, UNQUOTE SIMILARLY
SITUATED EMPLOYEES WITHIN THIS
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.
>> CAN YOU TELL THE AUDIENCE
HOW MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS
YOU HAVE WORKED AT? YOU ARE
SOUNDING VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
>> I WAS IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. I HELPED SUPPORT
ABOUT 13-14 CITY DEPARTMENTS
AND THEN I WORKED AT THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE AS DEPUTY
DIRECTOR WHERE I HELPED THE
DIRECTOR OVERSEE THE DEPARTMENT
AND WE WERE SUPPORTED BY SDHR,
AS WAS THE NUMBER OF THOSE
DEPARTMENTS THAT I HELPED
SUPPORT WHILE I WAS IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> OKAY. WE ARE ALMOST AT THE
END. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR COMMENT?
>> I DID NOT. THANK YOU.
>> SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
TRYING TO DO THINGS --
>> YOU WHEN YOU SAID WAGE
STUDIES USUALLY COME UP DURING
BARGAINING, PLEASE GIVE US A
SENSE OF HOW MANY CITY
EMPLOYEES BELONGED TO -- WHO
ARE REPRESENTED AND HOW MANY
ARE NOT?
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T HAVE
THAT INFORMATION OFF THE TOP OF
MY HEAD. I WILL HAVE TO GET
BACK TO YOU.
>> ROUGH PERCENTAGE?
>> I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A
NUMBER INACCURATE.
>> FOR SOME REASON, 12,000
STANDS OUT IN MY MIND BUT I DO
NOT KNOW OF THAT AND I DON'T
WANT TO RELY ON MY OWN MISSED
THINKING. WHAT DID YOU SAY?
>> THANK YOU MADAM, PRESIDENT.
FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE -- I
WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS
EXPRESSED BY MY COLLEAGUE HERE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. I WANT
TO RESTATE, REFRAME MY
ULTIMATE SORT OF CONCERN THAT
UNDERLIES MY EARLIER LINE OF
QUESTIONING. THAT IS, IT MIGHT
HAVE MADE SENSE AT THE TIME,
IMPLEMENTING A SPECIFIC PROCESS
OR PROGRAM OR FEATURE OR MODEL.
AND THEN DOING THE SAME THING A
FEW MONTHS LATER AND THEN THE
NEXT YEAR AND ONE WELL INTENDED
IDEA TO ANOTHER WELL INTENDED
IDEA TO ANOTHER. INDIVIDUALLY,
IN ISOLATION, THAT MIGHT MAKE
PERFECT SINCE. IT MIGHT EVEN BE
ABLE TO BE JUSTIFIED. BUT TAKEN
TOGETHER AT THE END, COULD
POTENTIALLY END UP WITH THIS
FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER IS STAYING
AND THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE SENSE
TODAY. AND WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW
COUNSEL WITH A BRAND-NEW FRESH
PERSPECTIVE AND WE ARE LEARNING
ABOUT WHAT EXISTS TODAY AND
I'M COMMITTED AGAIN TO MAKING
SURE WE BUILD IT BETTER AND
MORE EFFICIENTLY AND DO BETTER
FOR THE WORKERS AS WELL.
WHATEVER WE DO AS A CITY, IT
HAS TO BE JUSTIFIABLE. WE HAVE
TO HAVE A RATIONALE. EVERY
SINGLE THING WE DO. BECAUSE WHY
ARE WE DOING IT? SO THAT IS MY
ONLY COMMENT AND OTHER
COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MADAM,
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
ABOUT -- YOU WILL BE COMING
BACK I BELIEVE ON THE NEXT
COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE WILL TALK
ABOUT CLASSIFICATION PROCESSES,
ET CETERA. MY CLERK IS SHAKING
HIS HEAD. WE CAN GET BACK TO
YOU ON THAT. CLEARLY, THERE IS
INTEREST HERE. AND FOR THE ONE
LAST QUESTION FOR THE
CLASSIFICATION PROJECT THIS
YEAR, ARE YOU GOING TO BE USING
A CONSULTANT? BECAUSE THAT
SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY BIG JOB.
AND WHO IS THAT CONSULTANT?
>> YES, WE ARE.
>> WHO IS THAT CONSULTANT?
>> WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THE
CONSULTANT OR LAUNCHED THE RFP
YET. WE JUST RECEIVED THE
FUNDING. SO IT IS A PROCESS.
>> OKAY, GOT IT. IF THERE ARE
NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU .
>> WE ARE MOVING ON TO THE LAST
AGENDA ITEM. WHICH IS, THE
OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR
OVERVIEW. I WILL SAY THAT, A
LOT OF SMALL DEPARTMENTS REPORT
TO ME. AND SO I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO
TRANSITIONING FROM OVERVIEWS OF
DEPARTMENTS TO GETTING INTO --
MAKING LEGISLATION IF
NECESSARY, IMPROVING PROCESSES
OF THE CITY AND JUST DELIVERING
RESULTS. AND SAID THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR COMING. YOU WILL
LIKELY BE AT ONE OF OUR LAST
INTRODUCTORY DEPARTMENTS. BUT
VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE
HERE. THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE
OFFICE OF ETHNICS AND
ELECTIONS, I CALLED THAT OFFICE
AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER, AND
OF COURSE THE AUDITOR. SO
BESIDES THE CPC AND THE OIG AND
THE OPA. THAT IS DIFFERENT
KINDS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS. I APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT YOU DO AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING HOW YOU DO
IT. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND BRING YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> MY NAME IS DAVID JONES. AND
THE CITY AUDITOR.
>> MY NAME IS MIROSLAVA MEZA
AND I AM THE DEPUTY CITY
AUDITOR.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON TO INVITE
A -- FOR INVITING US HERE
TODAY TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF CITY
AUDITOR. DURING THIS
PRESENTATION, TO LET THE
VIEWING PUBLIC NO AND THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE, WE WILL BE
ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON HAD
ABOUT OUR OFFICE THAT SHE
THOUGHT WOULD BE INSTRUCTIVE,
BOTH TO -- THERE ARE SO MANY
NEW COUNCILMEMBERS AND I HAVE
NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING
IN PERSON COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I HAVE HAD
THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH
AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON OF COURSE.
HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE HELPFUL
TO EVERYONE WHO ISN'T THAT
FAMILIAR WITH OUR OFFICE. THAT
IS THE INTENT. SO VIEWING THE
NEXT SLIDE. STARTING OFF THE
SLIDE, WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK
ABOUT IS BASIC BACKGROUND
INFORMATION. OUR OFFICE WAS
CREATED IN 1991 BY THE SEATTLE
VOTERS WHO AMENDED THE CITY
CHARTER TO CREATE OUR OFFICE.
THE CITY AUDITOR, THE POSITION
I'M HOLDING, THAT PERSON HOLDS
A FOUR YEAR TERM AND CAN ONLY
BE REMOVED FROM THE END OF THE
TERM BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL. THE SEATTLE
MINNESOTA CODE STATES THAT WE
HAVE ACCESSED OUR OFFICE TO ALL
CITY RECORDS AND EMPLOYEES IN
ORDER TO DO OUR WORK. WE ARE A
SMALL OFFICE, RELATIVELY SMALL.
WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO HAVE 10
PEOPLE AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT
ONE OF OUR POSITIONS IS
DEDICATED AND WE HAVE UTILITIES
OFFERS OR WHO CAN ONLY AUDIT
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT. OUR BUDGET IS VERY
LEAN. 90% OF IT IS DEDICATED
TO PERSONNEL COSTS AND OF THE
REMAINING 10%, 9% IS FOR FIXED
COST LIKE THE SPACE IN THE
SEATTLE MINNESOTA WILL TOWER.
SO WE ARE LENIENT. SO WHAT DO
WE DO? STATED MOST SIMPLY, WHAT
OUR OFFICE DOES IS EXAMINE
THINGS THAT THE CITY SPENDS
MONEY ON, TIME AND MONEY ON.
AND WE MAKE ANY NEEDED
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING
WITH A PARTICULAR CITY PROGRAM
OR DEPARTMENT IS DOING.
ESSENTIALLY, WE ARE AN ADVOCATE
FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT. WE DO IN
DEPTH, AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT, IN-DEPTH EXAMINATIONS OF
TOPICS CONCERNING SEATTLE CITY
GOVERNMENT AND WE CAREFULLY
GATHER AND DOCUMENT A LOT OF
EVIDENCE AND BE ENGAGED WITH
THE AUDITED DEPARTMENT AS PART
OF THE PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT
THERE ARE NO SURPRISES ON WHAT
THE REPORT SAYS AND THAT WE
HAVE GOTTEN THEIR FEEDBACK AND
INCORPORATED THEIR FEEDBACK AS
IT MAKES SENSE AND WE DO HAVE
THIS ENGAGEMENT. ONE OF THE BIG
REASONS IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO
DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
MAKES SENSE AND ARE DOABLE AND
THE DEPARTMENT CAN ULTIMATELY
EMBRACE. AND SO PART OF OUR
THING IS WE WANT TO BE AS
OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE AND THE
PROCESSES ARE SET UP TO DO
THAT. WE ARE DRIVEN TO OUR
COLLISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
BY THE EVIDENCE WE COLLECT AND
ANALYZE. ONE WAY TO DESCRIBE
OUR ROLE, ONE OF THE VERY
IMPORTANT ROLES AS WE ARE A
RESOURCE TOOL THAT YOU, THE
CITY COUNCIL, CAN USE TO
PERFORM YOUR OVERSIGHT
FUNCTION. OUR JOB REALLY IS
AFTER YOU WILL PASS A BUDGET OR
A LAW, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING OUT
THERE IN THE DEPARTMENT? THAT
IS THE FUNCTION WHERE WE CAN BE
OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU. NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE.
>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT
HAS COME UP IS, HOW DO WE
MAINTAIN OUR INDEPENDENCE WAS
HOW DO WE MAINTAIN BEING
OBJECTIVE AND INDEPENDENT? I
HAVE A PROP HERE. THIS IS WHAT
WE CALL A YELLOW BOOK, AUDITING
STANDARDS. WE MAINTAIN
INDEPENDENCE BY FOLLOWING
STANDARDS IN THE BOOK WHICH
ARE PROMULGATED BY THE U.S.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL WHO HIS
HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WHICH IS
THE LARGEST GOVERNMENTAL
AUDITING ORGANIZATION IN THE
UNITED STATES. IT IS THE
CONGRESSIONAL AUDITING
FUNCTION. WE ARE EQUIVALENT TO
IT WITH HOW WE ARE STRUCTURED.
AND STANDARDS SAY THAT OUR
OFFICE IS INDEPENDENT. WE ARE
STRUCTURALLY INDEPENDENT
BECAUSE WE ARE HOUSED IN THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT ALONG WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL. WE ARE A SEPARATE
DEPARTMENT. WHAT WE DO IS THE
EXAMINE AUDIT ACTIVITIES OF THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH SO WE ARE
OUTSIDE OF THE BRANCH AND WE
ALSO LOOK AT SOME OF THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE JUDICIAL
BRANCH, THE SEATO SEATTLE MADE
A CIVIL COURT. THAT IS WHAT
KEEPS US INDEPENDENT. AND WE
DON'T AUDIT THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH. THAT IS LEFT UP TO THE
STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO DO
THAT. SO OUR POSITION ENSURES
THAT WE ARE INDEPENDENT. NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE.
>> WHAT DO WE DO? MOST OF WHAT
WE DO ARE PERFORMANCE AUDITS.
AND PERFORMANCE AUDITS, THAT
IS A FANCY WAY OF SAYING THAT
THEY ARE INDEPENDENT IN-DEPTH
ASSESSMENTS USING SOME KIND OF
CREDIBLE CRITERIA OR STANDARDS.
AND WE USE THEM TO EVALUATE
THINGS LIKE A DEPARTMENT'S
COMPLIANCE WITH WHATEVER
POLICIES OR PROCEDURES THERE
ARE. AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
CITY PROGRAM. THE EFFECT OF
EQUITY AND IS IT HELPING TO
ADDRESS EQUITY IN A CITY
PROGRAM. BECAUSE WE DO THINGS
THAT I WILL USE THIS A LOT, IS
IN DEPTH, THE WORK TAKES SOME
TIME. DOING A PERFORMANCE
AUDIT, IT TAKES ABOUT 8-12
MONTHS BECAUSE WE HAVE A
RIGOROUS PROCESS THAT WE GO
THROUGH JUST TO MAKE IT REAL TO
YOU AND THE AUDIENCE, WHAT DO
WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY PERFORMANCE
AUDITS. LET ME DESCRIBE A FEW
THAT WERE DONE. IN 2017, AND
THIS WAS AT A CITY COUNCIL
REQUEST, WE AUDITED THE CITY'S
COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS OF
ITS INCENTIVE ZONING PROGRAM
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THE
COURSE OF THE WORK, WE FOUND
THAT THE CITY HAD LOST TRACK OF
$4 MILLION IN DEVELOPER FEES
THAT WAS OWED. AS A RESULTS OF
THE AUDIT, THE CITY GOT THE
MONEY THAT IT WAS ABLE TO USE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ANOTHER ONE WE DID, THIS LOOKED
AT EFFECTIVENESS. A
PERFORMANCE AUDIT THAT WE DID
IN 2020. WE LOOKED AT HOW WELL
THE CITY WAS MAINTAINING ITS
BRIDGES. THE CITY HAS A LOT OF
BRIDGES. THE REPORT CAME UP
WITH A NUMBER OF
RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE, WHAT THE
CITY COULD DO TO IMPROVE ITS
MAINTENANCE OF ITS BRIDGES,
WHICH IS A REAL CHALLENGE FROM
A FUNDING POINT OF VIEW. I KNOW
ALL OF YOU ARE GRAPPLING WITH
THIS AS WE TRY TO KEEP UP OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> WHAT WAS THE FINDING OF THE
LAST AUDIT YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT? THE BRIDGE ONE?
>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE
QUESTION?
>> WHAT WAS THE 2020 AUDIT YOU
WERE DESCRIBING? I DID NOT
CATCH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING
ABOUT IT.
>> THE BRIDGES AUDIT. BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE, COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON REQUESTED THAT AND WE
WENT IN AND LOOKED. LET ME SAY
THIS MOST SIMPLY. HOW WELL ARE
WE KEEPING UP WITH MAINTENANCE
NEEDS OF THE BRIDGES? AROUND
THAT PERIOD, THE UNIVERSITY
BRIDGE SHUT DOWN FOR A LONG
TIME AND CAUSED A LOT OF
PROBLEMS. AND THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE OF COURSE, THAT
HAPPENING. ESSENTIALLY, WHAT
THE REPORT FOUND WAS THAT WE
NEED BETTER INFORMATION ON HOW
TO KEEP UP THE BRIDGES. AS A
-- IT IS APPARENT WE ARE NOT
SPENDING ENOUGH ON IT. FOR
WHAT THE ENGINEERS AND PEOPLE
THAT KNOW ABOUT THE STUFF SAY.
THAT IS KIND OF WHAT THE
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE AUDIT CAME
UP WITH. DID I ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> YES.
>> JUST GETTING BACK ON THE
EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORMANCE,
THIS TOUCHED ON EQUITY. WE
LOOKED AT THE CITY'S PROMOTION
PRACTICES TO SEE HOW THEY WERE
DOING IN TERMS OF EQUITY. AS A
RESULT OF THE REPORT, WE CAME
UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
AND FINDINGS. SOME OF WHICH
INFORMED THE CITY 'S WORKFORCE
EQUITY PLAN FOR 2024. AND
PROVIDED SOME USEFUL
INFORMATION ON HOW WE WERE
DOING. I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE
ONE THING. A PERFORMANCE
AUDIT, I KNOW THIS IS GETTING
NERDY. BUT IT IS DIFFERENT
FROM THE FINANCIAL AUDIT. WE
DO PERFORMANCE AUDITS. THE
FINANCIAL AUDIT, THAT IS WHEN
YOU ARE LOOKING AT A FINANCIAL
STATEMENT, ACCOUNTING RECORDS,
DEBITS AND CREDITS. AND TO
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FAIR AND
ACCURATE. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
THING. A PERFORMANCE AUDIT
LOOKS AT THE ENTITY'S
OPERATIONS. THAT IS WHAT WE DO.
THE STATE AUDITOR OFFICE FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR AUDITING OUR
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SO THEY
DO THAT, JUST TO ENLIGHTEN YOU
ON ROLES. VARIOUS AUDITORS ARE
FLOATING AROUND IN THE CITY.
>> CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT
THING? I TALKED ABOUT
PERFORMANCE AUDITS. WE TALK
ABOUT NONAUDIT PROJECTS BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT DONE IN STRICT
ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT
AUDITING STANDARDS. WE HAVE
DONE SOME WORK IN THIS AREA.
THEY GENERALLY FALL INTO ONE OF
TWO CATEGORIES. THE FIRST
CATEGORY IS DONE TO RESPOND TO
CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS THAT
REALLY JUST DON'T MAKE SENSE
TO DO AS A PERFORMANCE AUDIT,
AS A FULL-FLEDGED PERFORMANCE
AUDIT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
THESE PROJECTS AREN'T SUBJECT
TO ANY A QUALITY ASSURANCE
PROCESS BUT IT MEANS IT IS A
MORE STREAMLINED PROCESS SO WE
CAN GET THOSE THINGS DONE MORE
QUICKLY. JUST TO GIVE YOU A FEW
EXAMPLES, THIS IS BACK IN 2013.
WE PRODUCED A MEMO AT COUNCIL
REQUEST, ON OTHER JURISDICTIONS
AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE
CENTRALIZED GRANT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM. 2024, WE DID ONE ON HOW
OTHER CITIES OPERATE THE
DISTRICT ELECTION SYSTEMS. SO
WE HAVE DONE THESE MORE
QUICKLY AND MORE TIGHTLY
SCOPED.
>> JUST THIS YEAR, YOU DID
THAT ONE?
>> YES.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
IS IT POSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE?
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> THE CITY ELECTION ONE, YOU
DID A COMPARISON?
>> THIS IS BEFORE THE CITY
ADOPTED THE ELECTION SYSTEM.
>> YOU SAID YOU DID IT IN 2024?
>> I'M SORRY. THIS IS 2014. IT
WAS DONE IN LEIU OF THAT SO
THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC
COULD BENEFIT FROM LEARNING
ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM WAS SET
UP. I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSPOKE.
>> I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
SECOND CATEGORY OF PROJECTS
LATER BECAUSE IT FITS IN
NICELY. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT WILL COME UP AS ONE DO YOU
CONTRACT OUT WORK? WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THE SECOND CATEGORY. THE
FIRST ARE THESE QUICK ONES WE
CAN DO THAT WE DON'T DO AS A
FULL-FLEDGED PERFORMANCE ON IT.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT
COMES UP, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, IS HOW DO WE DECIDE WHAT
WE ARE GOING TO DO? HOW DO WE
DEVELOP THE WORK PROGRAM? WAY
THE SYSTEM IS SET UP OR
PROCESSED IS UP TO THE CITY
AUDITOR TO DECIDE WHAT THE
PROGRAM SHOULD BE AND THE
PROGRAM TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN
ABLE TO BE UPDATED AT ANY POINT
DURING THE YEAR. SO IT IS NOT
FIXED IN STONE. IT CAN BE
CHANGED. IT IS A LIVING
DOCUMENT. AS NEW ISSUES COME
UP, PARTICULARLY THAT THE
COUNCIL WANTS TO ADDRESS, WE
CAN JUGGLE THAT AND REVISE THAT
PROGRAM. AN IMPORTANT THING
FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW, THE
SEATTLE IN A CIVIL CODE
BASICALLY SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO
GIVE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO
WORK REQUESTED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL. SO WE DO THAT . AND
THE WAY THAT WE DO THAT IS, WE
HAVE PRIORITY. IF IT IS A
COUNCIL REQUEST, WE GIVE IT
SERIOUS THOUGHT. AND WE HAVE A
PRIORITY SYSTEM FOR HOW WE
DECIDE WHAT TO DO. HIGHEST AT
THE TOP OF THE HEAP THAT THE
COUNCIL IS BEHIND IS AN
ORDINANCE THAT TELLS US THAT A
LAW HAS BEEN PASSED BY COUNSEL.
WE HAVE THE MAJORITY VOTE OF
THE COUNCIL TO DO THAT. AND
THE COUNCIL REQUEST, A SINGLE
COUNCILMEMBER ASKED TO DO IT.
SO WHAT YOU SHOULD GET OUT OF
THIS, THE POINT I'M TRYING TO
MAKE IS, THE MORE COUNCIL
REQUESTS, THE MORE COUNCIL
MEMBERS THAT REQUEST AN AUDIT
OR PROJECT BY THE OFFICE, THE
GREATER THE ODDS ARE THAT WE
WILL TAKE THAT ON.
>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT. I DID
NOT KNOW THAT GETTING A BUNCH
OF PEOPLE TO SIGN ON WOULD
HELP. I KNOW THAT OFTEN TIMES,
I HAVE SEEN TWO COUNCILMEMBERS
ASK THAT THEY WERE CHAIR AND
VICE CHAIR OF A PERMIT TO KILL
HER -- A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE
AND THE REQUEST IS TO LOOK AT
AN ISSUE LIKE RETAIL THEFT. NOT
LOOK AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THIS ONE LAW. I DIDN'T REALIZE
IT MATTERED. A LOT OF
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE ALSO
INTERESTED.
>> AND AGAIN, IT IS GOING TO
DEPEND ON THE SITUATION IN THE
CONTEXT. OF THE COMMITTEE
CHAIR ASKS FOR SOMETHING THAT
HE OR SHE OR THEY OVERSEE, THAT
GETS SOME POINTS ON THAT.
BECAUSE THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT
THE COMMITTEE HAS TO BE SPONSOR
WILL FOR AS COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
OVERSIGHT OF THAT PARTICULAR
ISSUE IN THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DAVID, IS IT OKAY IF I ASK,
SINCE WE ARE AT THIS JUNCTURE,
HOW WOULD THE COUNCILMEMBER GO
ABOUT ASKING FOR AN AUDIT?
>> IT IS VERY SIMPLE. YOU JUST
CALL OR SEND AN E-MAIL OR
REQUEST A MEETING. THAT IS THE
WAY IT IS DONE.
>> IT IS A REALLY LONG
APPLICATION AND IT TAKES A LONG
TIME. JUST KIDDING.
>> MAYBE WE SHOULD BUT WE
DON'T HAVE A FORM OR ANYTHING.
JUST REACH OUT TO ME.
>> WE JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW IT
IS DONE. THANK YOU.
>> AND THAT IS A VERY
PRACTICAL AND GREAT QUESTION.
SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING IT.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> WHEN WE START A PROJECT, WE
WILL NOTIFY COUNCILMEMBERS AND
THE MAYOR. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW
THAT WE STARTED ON SOMETHING.
SO WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT WE
ARE UP TO AND WE ARE DOING
THAT.
>> I SHOULD SAY THAT AS
RESOURCES ALLOW, ALTHOUGH THE
COUNCIL IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY
BECAUSE WE ARE HOUSED IN THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND WE ARE
HELPING -- OR TRYING TO HELP
YOU PERFORM YOUR OVERSIGHT
FUNCTION, WE WILL ACCEPT OR
CONSIDER REQUESTS FROM OTHER
SOURCES. IF WE HAVE THE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND THE
STAFF AVAILABLE, WE WILL TAKE
THEM ON. THE MAYOR OR THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS OR THE PUBLIC. BUT
AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, AND I
TELL FOLKS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT
COME AND ASK US ABOUT THIS, WHY
DON'T YOU AUDIT THIS OR CAN I
ASK YOU TO DO THIS, REALLY GO
TO YOUR COUNCILMEMBERS. THEY
ARE THE ONES THAT WE, UNDER THE
SEATTLE IN A CIVIL CODE, WE
HAVE TO GIVE HIGHEST PRIORITY
TO THE COUNCIL REQUESTS.
>> THE NEXT SLIDE IS KIND OF
BUSY. BUT IT IS THE WORK
PROGRAM. WE PUT OUR WORK
PROGRAM, WHICH IS A LIVING
DOCUMENT AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE,
IN THE ANNUAL REPORT EVERY
YEAR. WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE
CITY CHARTER AND ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO ISSUE AN ANNUAL
REPORT THAT BY APRIL 1st AND
OURS WILL BE COMING OUT SOON.
HERE IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU LOOK
AT -- WHAT I WANT YOU TO TAKE
AWAY FROM THIS AND THE PUBLIC
TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS MOST
OF OUR WORK ON THE PROGRAM
RIGHT NOW IS REQUESTER MANDATED
BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THE FIRST
ROW LISTS THE PROJECTS THERE
THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE
PROGRAM AND THE SECOND ROW
SHOWS WHY WE ARE DOING IT, WHO
ASKED US TO DO IT OR WHY WE ARE
DOING IT. AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST
OF THEM, IT IS AN ORDINANCE OR
REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU
CAN SEE IN FACT THAT THREE OF
THEM, NUMBER ONE, SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, THE PRODUCT -- THE
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW. NUMBER
FIVE. AND THE NUMBER SIX,
TECHNOLOGY IS REQUESTED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THE
MAYOR. THAT GOES UP WHEN THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ARE BOTH
SAYING, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU
TO LOOK AT THAT. THAT GOES TO
THE TOP OF THE PILE FOR US.
>> CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE.
>> THE QUESTION CAME UP, HOW DO
YOU DECIDE WHICH STAFF TO
ASSIGNED TO A PARTICULAR
PROJECT DURING AN AUDIT? AND
FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, WHEN YOU
CONTRACT OUT AND GO OUTSIDE OF
YOUR OFFICE? THERE IS NO MAGIC
TO DECIDING WHO IN THE OFFICE
WORK SAID IT. THE BIGGEST THING
IS, WHO IS AVAILABLE? WHO HAS
TIME TO DO IT QUICK SECONDLY,
IF THEY HAVE SOME SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTISE IN A
PARTICULAR AREA AND THEN, WITH
THIS PROJECT MEET THEIR
DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OR BE GOOD
FOR THEM TO DEVELOP INTO A
BETTER AUDITOR? THAT WOULD BE
A CONSIDERATION. I WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR IN TERMS OF STAFF
ASSIGNMENT, THAT WE HAVE
STOPPED WORK ON PROJECTS AND
REASSIGNED STAFF TO HIRE
PRIORITY PROJECTS. AGAIN, THIS
IS KIND OF THE LIVING NATURE OF
OUR WORK PROGRAM. IF SOMETHING
COMES UP AND THE PLAYERS THAT
BE, THE ELECTED, SAY WE WOULD
LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT THIS SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER, WE CAN
RECONFIGURE OUR WORK. WE DID
THIS YEARS AGO AND A NEW POLICE
CHIEF CAME IN AND THE POLICE
CHIEF SAID, CAN YOU HELP ME
BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO GET A
HANDLE ON HOW WE ARE MANAGING
OVER TIME EXPENDITURES. AND THE
COUNCIL WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT. SO WE WENT IN AND DID
THAT JOB AND PUT ASIDE SOME
OTHER STUFF AND DID THAT. JUST
ONE POINT I WANT TO MAKE, WE
ARE NO LONGER THE LEAD
PERFORMANCE AUDITOR OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT RESPONSIBILITY NOW RESTS
WITH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL HEADED BY LISA JUDGE
WHO DID A PRESENTATION TO THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE I
BELIEVE. THEY WERE ASSIGNED A
STUDY IN THE WAKE OF THE
CONSENT DECREE INVOLVING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TAKE THE
LEAD ON PERFORMANCE AUDITS
WHICH IS A GOOD THING QUITE
HONESTLY BECAUSE WE COULD'VE
USED UP THE ENTIRE FTE, 10 OF
THEM, ON JUST DOING POLICE
DEPARTMENT STUFF BECAUSE THERE
IS SO MUCH THAT COMES OUT OF
THAT AREA. I WANT TO TELL YOU
ABOUT CONTRACTING. WE HAVE DONE
IT PRIMARILY FOR TWO REASONS.
FIRST, WE HAVE CONTRACTED OUT
WORK FOR NONAUDIT EVALUATIONS
DONE BY OUTSIDE PARTIES WHEN WE
HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE
COUNCIL TO DO THAT. AND THE
COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED US FUNDING
FOR THAT. AND THEY HAVE DONE
IT MAINLY IN RECENT YEARS TO
EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN
ORDINANCES. WHAT ARE THE
EFFECTS? FOR EXAMPLE, THE
MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE OR THE
SECURED SCHEDULING ORDINANCE OR
THE SWEET AND BEVERAGE TAX
ORDINANCE . WE HAVE TAKEN THAT
MONEY AND SELECTED OUTSIDE
EXPERTS, USUALLY ACADEMIC
EXPERTS, TO EXAMINE THE TOPIC.
WE FINISHED UP A LOT OF THAT
WORK IN THE ANNUAL REPORT. YOU
WILL SEE THERE WILL BE A BIG
LIST OF REPORTS DONE BY OUTSIDE
ENTITIES . SO WE FINISHED UP A
LOT OF THAT WORK SO WE ARE
HOPING TO SPEND MORE TIME ON
PERFORMANCE AUDITS. WE HAVE
TAKEN ON THAT DUTY WHEN COUNSEL
HAS ASKED US TO. AND BECAUSE
THEY WANTED SOMEBODY PERCEIVED
AS INDEPENDENT SELECTING THE
PERSONS THAT WOULD BE DOING THE
EVALUATIONS, THE EFFECTS OF
COUNSEL ORDINANCES. THAT BY
THE WAY IS THE SECOND CATEGORY
THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. WE
HAD THE SHORT AND QUICK ONES.
AND WE HAD THE ONE WHERE WE
WERE DIRECTED BY COUNSEL TO USE
OUTSIDE EXPERTS. WHEN WE
CONTRACT OUT, THERE IS ONE
OTHER TIME WHEN WE CONTRACT OUT
OF WORK. IT IS TO GIVE
SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE TO HELP
WITH AN AUDIT. THAT HAS MAINLY
COME UP WITH INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY
AUDITS. THOSE THINGS CAN GET
PRETTY TECHNICAL AND THE
EXPERTISE QUITE HONESTLY, WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SOMEONE
ON OUR STAFF THAT HAS EXPERTISE
ON THAT. IT IS MUCH MORE COST
EFFICIENT FOR US TO CONTRACT
OUT SO WE HAVE DONE THAT. SO
WHAT IS YOUR QUALITY ASSURANCE
PROGRAM OR HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE
YOUR PRODUCTS ARE HIGH-QUALITY?
AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GET MY
PROP HERE AGAIN. WE FOLLOWED
THE REQUIREMENTS, THE RIGOROUS
REQUIREMENTS ON THE GOVERNMENT
AUDITING STANDARDS. WHAT THIS
MEANS IS WE HAVE A HIGHLY
STRUCTURED PROCESS WITH
DEFINED STAGES AND STEPS THAT
WE GO THROUGH WHERE WE DO AN
AUDIT. AND SO A LOT OF
DOCUMENTATION AND A LOT OF
REQUIREMENTS AND A LOT OF STEPS
THAT ARE WRITTEN DOWN. WE HAVE
CHECKLISTS AND TEMPLATES AND A
LOT OF LAYERS OF REVIEW. THERE
IS A GRAPHIC THAT I WILL SHOW
YOU IN A MINUTE. ONE QUESTION
THAT COMES UP ABOUT THIS
RELATED TO THIS IS, WHO AUDITS
YOU GUYS? HOW DO WE KNOW YOU
ARE TURNING OUT QUALITY
OBJECTIVE PRODUCTS? EVERY
THREE YEARS, AND WE HAVE TO DO
THIS TO COMPLY WITH THE
GOVERNMENT ON STANDARDS, THERE
IS AN INDEPENDENT TEAM THAT
WILL COME, APPOINTED BY THE
ASSOCIATION OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNING AUDITORS, AND THEY
WILL ASSESS THE QUALITY
ASSURANCE PROCESS AND SEE IF IT
IS ALIGNED WITH THE GOVERNMENT
AUDITING STANDARDS. SINCE I
BECAME CITY AUDITOR, WE HAVE
PASSED FOUR OF THOSE REVIEWS
AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM,
YOU CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND
WE PUT THEM ON THERE. I'M
REALLY PROUD OF HOW OUR OFFICE
HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN OR
MEET THAT STANDARD. THIS IS
JUST A DOCUMENT. IT IS KIND OF
BUSY, THIS SLIDE, THIS CHART.
THE POINT IS THAT THERE ARE A
BUNCH OF STEPS WE GO THROUGH
AND THEY ARE DOCUMENTED. THEY
ARE FORMALIZED, TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE TURNING OUT A HIGH
QUALITY PRODUCT. AND THIS
INCLUDES, IN STEP SEVEN, WE
WILL SHOW IT TO THE AUDITING
DEPARTMENT OR DEPARTMENTS AND
WE WILL SAY, DID WE GET
ANYTHING WRONG? DID WE MISS
SOMETHING? AND THAT IS NOT TO
SAY THAT, JUST BECAUSE THEY
DON'T LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE
MIGHT HAVE SAID IN THE REPORT
THAT WE WILL TAKE IT OUT. BUT
IF THEY CAN CONVINCE US, WE
WANT TO HEAR THAT. BECAUSE WE
WANT TO PUBLISH THE REPORT AND
RELEASE IT TO THE PUBLIC. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS AS
ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE.
>> OKAY. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE
TO THE END HERE. I KNOW YOU ARE
LEARNING EVERYTHING YOU WANTED
TO KNOW ABOUT AUDITING.
>> THIS SLIDE IS IMPORTANT.
HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR RACIAL
EQUITY WHEN WE ARE DOING OUR
AUDITS? WE TAKE THIS VERY
SERIOUSLY. FOR EVERY AUDIT
THAT WE START UP, WE HAVE A
FORM THAT WE COMPLETE THAT
BASICALLY FORCES US TO THINK
THROUGH THE SOCIAL JUSTICE
IMPLICATIONS OF THE WORK. AND
SO WHAT THIS DOES IS IT ALLOWS
US TO PLAN OUR WORK, A
PARTICULAR AUDIT, SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE WE TOUCH ON ANY
RELEVANT RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE ISSUES AND QUESTIONS.
WE BASE THE FORM ON THE CITY'S
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT THAT I
KNOW YOU HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT.
BUT WE MODIFIED THE FORM TO
MAKE SENSE FOR US AS A
PERFORMANCE AUDIT OFFICE. AND
PROUD OF THE WORK THE STAFF DID
TO COME UP WITH IT. AND WE
REVISED IT RECENTLY. WE ALWAYS
WANT TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE IT.
AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AUDIT
OFFICES HAVE COME TO US AND
SAID, CAN WE SEE YOUR FORM
BECAUSE WE WANT TO DEVELOP ONE
ON THAT AND SEVERAL HAVE DONE
THAT AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF
THAT. THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> THE QUESTION CAME UP, HOW
DO YOU DEVELOP STAFF THAT HAVE
LITTLE OR NO BACKGROUND IN
AUDITING? ONE OF THE ISSUES ARE
THE SMALL POOL OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE EXPERIENCED IN THIS AND IT
IS KIND OF A COMPETITIVE MARKET
FOR IT. SO OUR PREFERENCE IS
TO HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SOME
EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY COME TO
US WITH AUDITING. BUT WE DO
THE FOLLOWING THREE THINGS THAT
ARE LISTED ON THE CHART.
PROVIDE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING BY
PAIRING THEM WITH UNEXPERIENCED
AUDITOR. SECOND, WE HAVE AN
INTERNAL COURSE THAT WE CALL
INTERNAL AUDITING ORIENTATION.
AND THIRD, AS MUCH AS WE HAVE
THE FUNDS TO DO SO, PROVIDE
WITH OUTSIDE TRAINING LIKE AT
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE WHICH
WILL BE HERE IN SEATTLE IN MAY.
WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
BECAUSE IT IS REALLY
COST-EFFECTIVE. I SHOULD NOTE
ONE THING ON HERE. I KEEP
BRINGING UP THE GOVERNMENT
AUDITING STANDARDS. IN ORDER
TO SAY WE COMPLY WITH THEM, THE
STAFF HAVE TO GET 80 CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CREDITS
EVERY TWO YEARS. IT'S LIKE
LAWYERS WITH THIS CLE WHERE THE
CPA HAS TO GET A SPECIAL AMOUNT
OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
REQUIREMENTS. IT IS A GOOD
THING. IT IS NOT JUST THE NEW
STAFF GETTING TRAINING BUT THE
OLDER AND MORE EXPERIENCED
STAFF THAT HAVE A CHANCE TO
CONTINUALLY SHARPEN THEIR
SKILLS AND STAY UP ON TOP OF
THE LATEST TECHNIQUES.
>> THIS IS NOT MENTIONED IN
THE SLIDE BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO
KNOW, IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING
PEOPLE AND TRAINING COME ONE OF
THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE, AND I
FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT, IS WE
HAVE PROMOTED PEOPLE INTERNALLY
WHO HAVE COME INTO THE OFFICE
AND NOT IN AUDITOR POSITIONS
BUT HAVE WORKED IN
ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS OR
KIND OF AN INTERN POSITION AND
PROMOTED THEM INTO AUDITOR
POSITIONS. AND I'M REALLY PROUD
OF HOW WE HAVE DONE THAT AND
THE PEOPLE WE HAVE HAVE TURNED
OUT TO BE REALLY GOOD AUDITORS.
AND SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO
TRY TO DO THAT AND TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT. THEY GET A
CHANCE TO OBSERVE US DOING THE
AUDIT WORK AND WE GET A CHANCE
TO GET TO KNOW THEM AND THAT
OFTEN LEADS TO A SUCCESSFUL
RELATIONSHIP .
>> NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE
PUBLISH A REPORT? WHAT IS THE
COUNCIL SUPPOSED TO DO AND WHAT
IS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
SUPPOSED TO DO AND WHAT IS THE
AUDITING DEPARTMENT SUPPOSED TO
DO? WE CAN ONLY MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE DON'T HAVE
THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THEM.
IT IS UP TO THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. THE CITY
COUNCIL, THE WAY YOU CAN PLAY A
ROLE IN MOST OF YOU KNOW THIS
ALREADY BUT I WILL SAY THIS FOR
THE PUBLIC, YOU CAN DO THINGS
LIKE EXERCISE YOUR OVERSIGHT
ROLE, HAVE DEPARTMENTS MAKE
PRESENTATIONS. HOW ARE YOU
DOING ON IMPLEMENTING
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE CITY
DAUGHTERS MADE. YOU CAN ASK
THEM WRITTEN QUESTIONS. SOME
QUESTIONS TO THEM, HOW ARE YOU
DOING?
>> CAN YOU TALK CLOSER TO YOUR
MICROPHONE? PULL IT UP CLOSER.
THANK YOU.
>> I WILL REPEAT WHAT I JUST
SAID.
>> THE COUNCIL CAN PLAY THE
OVERSIGHT ROLE AND HELP US
ENCOURAGE DEPARTMENTS TO
IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS BY
DOING THINGS LIKE HAVING THEM
COME UP AND DO A PRESENTATION
AT A COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING
OR ASK THEM TO GIVE YOU WRITTEN
RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS. JUST AN
EXAMPLE OF THIS, COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON, FORMER COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON HAD THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
COME TO THE COMMITTEE AND
PROVIDE PROGRESS UPDATES ON HOW
THEY WERE DOING IT AND
IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE IN THE BRIDGE MAINTENANCE
REPORT AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, YOU HAD THEM COME TO YOUR
COMMITTEE. FROM THAT POINT OF
VIEW, IS A REALLY GOOD THING.
>> ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE
SPEND SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT ,
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE HAVING ANY
IMPACT OR ANY EFFECT? I WANT
TO SAY THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF
TIME THINKING ABOUT THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND FORMULATING
THEM AND GETTING FEEDBACK. WE
WANT TO BE SENSIBLE AND DOABLE
AND THAT IS WHY WE WORK WITH
THE AUDITING DEPARTMENT TO COME
UP WITH ONE'S. THERE IS A
GOOD CHANCE THEY WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED. BUT ANNUALLY,
AUDITORS GO TO THE DEPARTMENT
AND WILL FOLLOW UP ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF ALL
RECOMMENDATIONS WE MAKE AND
JUST SAY, HOW ARE YOU GUYS
DOING? ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE
TO DO THIS? YOU HAVE MORE
TIME? OR ARE YOU NOT GOING TO
DO BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO
OR BECAUSE THE RESOURCES
AREN'T AVAILABLE OR RESOURCES
HAVE CHANGED. WE GATHER THIS
INFORMATION EVERY YEAR AND WE
HAVE A REPORT MADE AVAILABLE TO
THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC. AND
I THINK IT IS A REALLY GOOD
THING BECAUSE DEPARTMENTS KNOW
WE WILL COME BACK EVERY YEAR
AND ASK THEM, HOW ARE YOU DOING
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
AND WE WILL REPORT ON THAT. IT
IS LIKE A DOG WITH A BONE.
>> WHEN DID YOU SEND OUT THE
LAST ONE?
>> HE WILL GO OUT AND GATHER
THE INFORMATION AND PUT IT IN A
REPORT AND I THINK THAT IS
REALLY GOOD. THE ANNUAL REPORT.
BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENTS KNOW
THAT WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO
FORGET ABOUT THE
RECOMMENDATION. WHILE IT IS
STILL OPEN, IF IT HASN'T BEEN
DEALT WITH, WE WILL COME BACK
AND WE WILL ASK THEM, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING WITH THIS? AND THEY
HAVE TO TELL US AND THEN WE PUT
THAT IN A REPORT THAT WE MAKE
AVAILABLE TO YOU, ELECTED
OFFICIALS, AND THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AND THE MAYOR AND THE
PUBLIC.
>> MY QUESTION WAS, WHEN DID
YOU SEND OUT THE LAST REPORT?
HERE IS MY REQUEST. CAN YOU
PLEASE -- I DON'T KNOW IF ALL
OF MY COLLEAGUES HAD ALREADY
BEEN IN OFFICE WHEN YOU SENT
OUT THE LAST REPORT SO CAN YOU
PLEASE FORWARD IT TO US IF YOU
HAVEN'T?
>> WE ARE HOPING THE LATEST
ITERATION OF THE REPORT IS
GOING TO COME OUT. HOPEFULLY
FAIRLY SOON. WE DEFINITELY WILL
MAKE SURE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL GET THAT. IN THE
INTERIM, ONE THING I CAN SAY IS
THAT WE DO HAVE AN INTERACTIVE
DASHBOARD ON THE WEBSITE WHERE
YOU CAN GO AND LOOK. ANYBODY
CAN GO AND LOOK AND CHECK UP ON
ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> I HAVE DONE THAT IN IT IS
VERY INTERESTING.
>> THANK YOU. SECOND TO LAST
CHART I WILL SHOW YOU HERE IS,
JUST A PIE CHART. WHAT THIS
SHOWS I THINK IS THE VALUE OF
GOING TO THIS AND MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOLLOWING
UP ON THEM. WE HAVE BEEN
TRACKING THIS SENSE 2007. YOU
CAN SEE THAT 71% OF THEM HAVE
BEEN IMPLEMENTED. AND 12% ARE
PENDING. THE DEPARTMENTS ARE
STILL WORKING ON THEM. THEY
HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK TO US WITH
A FINAL ANSWER. I THINK THIS IS
A GOOD METRIC. IT SHOWS THE
VALUE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND
MOST OF WHAT WE SAY ULTIMATELY
GETS IMPLEMENTED. IT TAKES A
DOGGED APPROACH, KEEPING AT IT
AND DOING THE WORK TO CRAFT A
RECOMMENDATION THAT HAS A GOOD
CHANCE OF BEING IMPLEMENT IT
AND MAKE SENSE AND WILL DO GOOD
FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY
AND FOLLOWING UP ON THAT
REPORT. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO
SAY. VERY HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
JUST ONE NEWSFLASH THAT I WANT
TO SHARE WITH YOU. OUR NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, EVERY YEAR, THEY
GIVE OUT AWARDS FOR THE QUALITY
OF AUDIT REPORTS AND WE JUST
LEARNED THAT OUR REPORT WE DID
LAST YEAR FOR COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ON PERMITTING, GOT AN
AWARD FOR BEING GOOD. A GOOD
AUDIT REPORT. I'M REALLY
PROUD OF THE FOLKS IN THE
OFFICE THAT WORKED ON THAT AND
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW
ABOUT THAT AND BE ABLE TO BRAG
ABOUT THE WORK THEY DID ON
THAT. ALYSSA ALDERSON AND
ANDREW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK
ON THAT. AT THIS POINT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, I'M HAPPY TO
TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU
HAVE FOR US.
>> THANK YOU. MY FAVORITE
AUDIT THAT YOU PUT OUT LAST
YEAR WAS THE ONE ON ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT. I THOUGHT THAT
IT WAS VERY DETAILED AND IT
GAVE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR DIFFERENT BODIES. SPD,
COUNSEL, ET CETERA AND I WILL
CHECK HOW WE ARE WITH
IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT YES, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I WAS JUST
AT THE POINT OF CASTING MY VOTE
FOR A BUDGET ACTION WHICH WOULD
HAVE TAKEN A BUNCH OF MONEY
FROM ONE PLACE AND PUT IT INTO
THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THEN
FINDING OUT WHAT THE POTENTIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN. BUT YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF
WORK TO DO. YOU ARE VERY BUSY
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOUR OFFICE DOES. GETTING
BACK, IT IS INTERESTING WHEN
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT -- WHEN I
ASKED THAT QUESTION, WHAT ARE
THE DEPARTMENT SUPPOSED TO DO?
SOME OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS,
EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT
AUDITING THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE
RECOMMENDATIONS WE NEED TO
IMPLEMENT. WHAT HAPPENS IF
THEY JUST IGNORE YOUR REPORT?
SO YOU ARE DOGGED BUT IT IS --
AT SOME POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT, CAN
DEPARTMENTS APPEAL THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU MENTIONED
YOURSELF YOU SOMETIMES DON'T
HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND
YOU ARE AUDITING THINGS THAT
YOUR STAFF DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF. MAYBE YOU
DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR
CONSULTANT. SO THERE IS GROUNDS
PERHAPS. I'M JUST SUGGESTING
THAT MAYBE IF THE DEPARTMENT
SAYS NO, YOU KIND OF
MISINTERPRETED THAT, IS THERE A
FEEDBACK LOOP THAT THEY CAN SAY
--
>> IT IS ACTUALLY DURING THE
PROCESS. WE WANT TO GET THE
FEEDBACK BEFORE WE FINISH THE
REPORT AND RELEASE IT. AND WE
HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES. AT
LEAST THREE OPPORTUNITIES, FOR
THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE ARE GOING
TO SAY IN THE REPORT. AND WE
WELCOME THAT. WE WANT TO GET IT
RIGHT. WE WANT TO DO IT MAKES
SENSE. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE
CAN DO THAT, BY ENGAGING. WE
ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE
BUT IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THAT
DIALOGUE THAT WE ARE
TRANSPARENT. I WILL SAY
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT NELSON,
ON ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME, THAT
IS ONE AND WE ARE HOPING THAT
THE COUNCIL CAN HELP US ENGAGE
WITH THE EXECUTIVE ON DOING
THAT. BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY ARE STILL
OPEN AND THEY INVOLVE MULTIPLE
STAKEHOLDERS. A NUMBER OF THEM,
I KNOW IT DRIVES THE EXECUTIVES
CRAZY SOMETIMES. WE SAY THAT
THE CITY SHOULD DO SOMETHING.
WE SAY THAT AND THAT KIND OF
IMPLIES THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR
OR MAYBE SOME DEPARTMENTS. BUT
A NUMBER OF THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME REALLY DO INVOLVE
A NUMBER OF CITIES STAKEHOLDERS
IF WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT WE
SUGGEST SHOULD BE DONE. ANY
HELP YOU CAN GIVE US ON THAT,
GETTING STRAIGHT ANSWERS WOULD
BE APPRECIATED.
>> I WAS GOING TO MAKE A JOKE.
DOES INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
POLICE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
WITHOUT ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS? JUST KIDDING.
WE WILL WORK ON YOUR REQUEST.
I SEE HANDS UP AND I DO HAVE
ANOTHER ONE BUT I WILL GIVE THE
MICROPHONE TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WHO HAS NOT HAD A
CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS YET.
>> IT WAS A COMMENT. I WAS
GOING TO READ THE AUDIT ON THE
RETAIL CRIME BECAUSE WE HAVE
BEEN MEETING WITH A TON OF
RETAILERS IN OUR CITY AND
PARTICULARLY A LOT OF GROCERY
STORES. SAFEWAY SPENDS $2.7
MILLION ON JUST PUBLIC SAFETY
EFFORTS IN THEIR STORES. THEY
ONLY HAVE 17 OF THOSE . AND
THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR PUBLIC
SAFETY BUDGET ON THE 17 STORES.
GREATER THAN THE REGIONAL
STORES ALL COMBINED. AND SO A
LOT OF RETAIL STORES IN OUR
CITY ARE REALLY SUFFERING RIGHT
NOW BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY
THAT IS GOING ON. AND I THINK
GROCERY STORES PARTICULARLY
NEED TO BE ELEVATED IN A
DIFFERENT CATEGORY BECAUSE THEY
ARE A LIFELINE. UNFORTUNATELY,
PHARMACIES ARE CLOSING DOWN AND
SO THE GROCERY STORES ARE THE
ONLY PLACE PEOPLE CAN GET
MEDICINE AND FOOD. AND SO
PROTECTING THOSE AS WELL AND A
LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
THAT ARE UNFORTUNATELY THE
SMASH AND GRABS AND THE CAR
GOING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW
MANY MEETINGS I HAVE HAD WITH
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE JUST
REALLY SUFFERING RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE OF THAT. AND THEY
CAN'T TAKE THAT $5000 HIT OR
THE $500 AS SIMPLE AS A WINDOW.
THAT IS A LOT. I WAS GOING TO
READ THAT. THAT IS THE ONLY
COMMENT I HAD. I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS. OVERALL, IT WAS
A PHENOMENAL PRESENTATION.
I'M GLAD COUNCIL PRESIDENT
BROUGHT THAT UP. THAT IS
SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AS A COUNCIL
AND FIGURE OUT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY TO
BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE MORE SMALL
BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO
OPERATE. IT IS A WHOLE
ECOSYSTEM. SO THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND THANK U-CITY
AUDITOR JONES. I LOVE THIS
PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE YOU
AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO
EVERY DAY. I LOVE THIS AUDITING
FUNCTION. IT IS A GOOD THING
-- NO, IT IS AN EXCEPTIONAL
THING. IT PROMOTES GOOD
GOVERNMENT. IT PROMOTES
TRANSPARENCY. IT PROMOTES TRUST
AND CONFIDENCE FROM THE
PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE IN
GOVERNMENT AND HELPS US TO GET
BETTER. WE ALL HAVE BLIND
SPOTS. EVERY LAST ONE OF US.
AND BY HAVING SOMEONE ELSE TAKE
A LOOK AND IN SOME CASES, A
HARD LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING
OR IN SOME CASES WHAT WE ARE
NOT DOING, THAT IS SOMETIMES
THE BEST WAY TO HELP BRING TO
LIFE IN DAYLIGHT THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES WHEEL HAVE TO GET
BETTER. AND SO IT IS A GOOD AND
EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT TOOL,
DEVICE AND STRATEGY THAT WE CAN
EMPLOY AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE
IT. SO THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU AND YOU MENTIONED AT
THE OUTSET OF THE BRIEFING THAT
WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO
CONNECT I WOULD SAY YET, AS
CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE, AND SOMEONE WHO
LIVES IN WEST SEATTLE AND
SOMEONE WHO ALSO REPRESENTS A
COMMUNITY THAT MANY, AND
RESPECTS ARE SOMEWHAT
TRAUMATIZED BY HAVING A 2.5
YEAR BRIDGE CLOSURE, MYSELF
INCLUDED BY THE WAY. BUT TO
BOTH WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY
AND WE WELCOME RESIDENTS TO
DISTRICT 1 FROM ALL PARTS OF
THE REGION AND THE STATE AND
THE COUNTRY. IT IS AN ISSUE
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
AND MY CONSTITUENTS. AND I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
CITY. AND SO, YES, TRUST. THERE
WILL BE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO
PARTNER TOGETHER ON A GOING
FORWARD BASIS. THE AUDIT FROM
2020 WAS NOW FOUR YEARS OLD.
SO I THINK THAT REGULAR,
PERIODIC ANTICIPATED AND IN
SOME CASES UNANTICIPATED
AUDITS, ARE A GOOD THING. SO
-- AND YOU NOTED THAT, PENDING
REPORT, ITERATIVE REPORT FOR
THIS YEAR, IS GOING TO BE
RELEASED SOON. SO I AM GOING
TO BE -- I AM KEENLY INTERESTED
IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT SOME OF
THE SDOT ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
AND FINDINGS AND I WILL BE
PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO
THAT AND I WILL BE WORKING WITH
SDOT IN MONITORING AND TRACKING
THE BRIDGE ASSET MANAGEMENT
PLAN AND MAKING SURE THAT A LOT
OF IMPORTANT COMPLEX
TRANSPORTATION ITEMS ARE IN THE
HOPPER THIS YEAR. FRANKLY, THEY
ARE ALL URGENT AND IMPORTANT.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, AT YOUR
OFFICE, AGAIN, WANT TO APPLAUD
AND CELEBRATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE
AND SHARE MY APPRECIATION AND
GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK YOU ALL
DO TO HELP BRING ABOUT THOSE
THINGS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
GOOD GOVERNANCE, EFFECTIVE
GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY AND
HELPING US IMPROVE AND
RECOGNIZE AND IMPROVE UPON OUR
BLIND SPOTS . AND POLICY
BENCHMARKING. YOU MENTIONED
THAT THAT IS A CAPABILITY THAT
EXISTS. DID IT IN 2014 FOR THE
ELECTIONS. I ASKED THAT
QUESTION EVERY SINGLE BRIEFING
I AM INCOME WHETHER IT IS
BEHIND-THE-SCENES OR HERE OR TO
ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS. IF YOU
ARE NOT ON NOTICE RIGHT NOW,
PLEASE BE ON NOTICE THAT IT IS
SOMETHING I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT,
UNDERSTANDING WHAT POLICIES
EXIST AT A HIGH LEVEL AND OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND HOW OUR
POLICIES AND PROCESSES MAP
AGAINST THOSE AND COMPARE AND
CONTRAST, AT LEAST AT A HIGH
LEVEL. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A
POINT OF VIEW ON EXACTLY THAT.
NOT NECESSARILY WEIGHING THE
QUALITY OF -- OR ASSESSING OR
DOING SOME DEEP INSIGHTFUL
COMPARE AND CONTRAST BUT
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A POINT OF
VIEW UNDERSTANDING THE BROADER
LANDSCAPE BECAUSE IT SHOWS
COLLABORATION AND IT SHOWS A
LITTLE BIT OF HUMILITY AS WELL.
I THINK IN MANY SIGNIFICANT
RESPECTS , SEATTLE NEEDS TO BE
THE LEADER, THE POLICY LEADER
IN MANY AREAS. AND LOCALLY, AT
THE STATE LEVEL, NATIONALLY,
INTERNATIONALLY EVEN. BUT THAT
IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE EITHER.
CERTAIN CHALLENGES, I THINK WE
ALSO JUST NEED TO HUMBLE
OURSELVES AND RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE ARE BEST PRACTICES IN
OTHER JURISDICTIONS. IDEALLY,
WE WILL TRY TO FIND THAT ONE,
FOR ONE COMPARISON. NEVER FIND
IT. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SO
MUCH NUANCE. AT LEAST AT A
HIGH LEVEL IN TERMS OF
POPULATION EQUIVALENCY. BUT
ALBUQUERQUE, LET'S LOOK TO
WHAT IS GOING ON THERE. LET US
FIND THESE BEST PRACTICES AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WORKABLE AND
IMPLEMENTABLE HERE IN SEATTLE.
NOT NECESSARILY A QUESTION BUT
A COMMENT. ISSUE OF GRATITUDE
AND APPRECIATION EMPHASIZING A
FEW PRIORITIES THERE AND WE
WILL HAVE I THINK AMPLE
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER
TOGETHER AND ALONGSIDE ALL OF
THESE -- ALL THE
FORTYSOMETHING DEPARTMENTS. SO
I KNOW , AND THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, DID
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?
>> KNOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
CHECKING IN. I ASKED MY
QUESTIONS EARLIER. I WILL ECHO
THE APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU DO. IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO CITY GOVERNMENTS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
AUDITING OURSELVES TO ENSURE
THAT WE ARE DELIVERING A
SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS AND
THE TAXPAYERS IN A MANNER THAT
IS REALLY HOLDING OURSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE. SO YOU ARE ONE OF
THE KEY PIECES TO THAT AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT --
LET'S SEE, THE AUDIT THAT
CAME OUT IN DECEMBER.
UNDERSTANDING SEATTLE'S
HOUSING MARKET SHIFT FROM SMALL
TO LARGE RENTAL PROPERTIES,
RENTAL REGISTRATION AND
INSPECTION ORDINANCE PROGRAM
AUDIT. YOU ARE LOOKING AT --
ONE OF THE CONCERNS I THINK WAS
LOOKING AT, WIRE PROPERTIES NOT
-- WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
PROPERTIES THAT ARE NO LONGER
ON THE RIO AS WE CALL IT. AND
THAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN FOR ME
BECAUSE I'M ALL ABOUT TRYING
TO MAINTAIN OUR HOUSING STOCK
AND ESPECIALLY HOUSING STOCK
OWNED BY SMALLER HOUSING
PROVIDERS AND IF THEY ARE
SELLING THEIR PROPERTIES OR
DEMOLISHING THEM OR WHATEVER,
WHY IS IT HAPPENING? AND YOU DO
HAVE REALLY GOOD DATA IN HERE
OF, I THINK IT WAS 635
RESPONDENTS ARE SO. 67% OF YOUR
RESPONDENTS SO THAT IT WAS
DIFFICULT TO COMPLY WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE'S RENTAL RULES
AND REGULATIONS. AND 42% SAID,
INADEQUATE SUPPORT AND
RESOURCES FOR LANDLORDS FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. SO THAT
DID CATCH MY ATTENTION AND
INDEED, YOUR FIRST
RECOMMENDATION IS, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, IF THEY WANT TO
PRESERVE SINGLE-FAMILY AND
SMALL MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY,
RENTAL PROPERTY HOUSING, IT
SHOULD CONSIDER ENACTING
POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE
CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THIS TYPE
OF PROPERTY IN THE SEATTLE
RENTAL MARKET. WHEN
CONSIDERING SUCH POLICIES, THE
CITY SHOULD INVOLVE
STAKEHOLDERS MOST IMPACTED BY
RENTAL HEADS AND POLICIES.
ASSUMING YOU ARE MEETING
RENTERS. SO I WILL FOLLOW-UP
WITH YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN BE A
LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC AND THAT
RECOMMENDATION. I KNOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE IS REALLY
INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC AS
WELL. BECAUSE IF THERE ARE
CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO
EXISTING LAWS, WE SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY IS A CRISIS IN
TOWN. CAN YOU PLEASE GO BACK
TO PAGE EIGHT, YOUR CURRENT,
2024 WORK PROGRAM?
>> YES.
>> NUMBER FIVE, YOU WILL
NOTICE THAT, YES, I AND MAYOR
BRUCE HARRELL DID REQUEST THIS
ONE AND IT IS THE CRIME
PREVENTION REVIEW. I WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW MORE SPECIFICALLY WHEN
IN Q3 YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AN AUDIT OF
CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT
DON'T LIVE IN SPD BUT LIVES
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY INITIATIVE BUCKET AND
THAT IS THINGS LIKE, WORKING
WITH REINTEGRATING PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN GUN
VIOLENCE AND THOSE SORTS OF
PROGRAMS. LAND WE WANT TO KNOW
IF THEY ARE EFFECTIVE. AND I'M
THINKING ABOUT THAT TODAY
BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED
YESTERDAY RIGHT IN FRONT OF
GARFIELD. AND SO THAT IS
HEARTBREAKING. I WANTED TO SAY
ON THE RECORD THAT MY HEART
GOES OUT TO THOSE FAMILIES AND
THAT COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE TO
DO BETTER AND HOPEFULLY THE
RESULTS OF YOUR AUDIT WILL
POINT US IN THE DIRECTION OF
WHETHER OR NOT THESE PROGRAMS
ARE EFFECTIVE OR IF THERE ARE
CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO
THEM. WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS IN
THE TOOLBOX TO DECREASE THE
NUMBER OF FATAL SHOOTINGS THAT
WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. I JUST
WANTED TO OWN UP TO WHY THAT IS
IN YOUR WORK PLAN AND I GUESS
BECAUSE IT IS WITH ME AND THE
MAYOR, IT GOT HIGH-PRIORITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE
RESULTS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS?
>> COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK
YOU IN THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING
THIS AUDIT FORWARD. THIS IS
SOMETHING I REALLY CARE ABOUT.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN A
LOT OF SHOOTINGS. THERE WAS AT
LEAST ONE SHOOTING AT A SCHOOL
AND MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS OUTSIDE
OF SCHOOLS AND OUTSIDE OF
COMMUNITY CENTERS. THIS IS
SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO MY
HEART AND ALL OF US ACROSS THE
CITY. THANK YOU FOR DOING
THAT. WE NEED TO BE DOING
BETTER IN THIS SPACE AND WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING, IF THE PROGRAMS WE PUT
IN PLACE, WE DON'T KNOW IF
THEY ARE WORKING OR NOT. SO
THIS AUDIT WILL HELP US
DETERMINE WHETHER THE
INVESTMENTS WE ARE CURRENTLY
MAKING ARE THE RIGHT ONES. AND
IF NOT, WE NEED TO RIGHT SIZE
AND DO MORE HOMEWORK ON OUR END
ON WHAT THEN WILL HELP IN THIS
SPACE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND
THE MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THAT AND IN TERMS OF THE
SMALL LANDLORD ISSUE, I TOO
CARE ABOUT THE ISSUE BECAUSE WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF SMALL
LANDLORDS IN THE D4 THAT ALSO
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY'S
REGULATIONS AND HOW HARD THEY
ARE SAYING THE CITY IS MAKING
OF THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE
LANDLORDS IN THE DISTRICT. SO
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. YOU ARE OUT OF
THE HOT SEAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I
APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND
TALKING TO US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE
APPRECIATE IT.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
YOU ARE DOING. BEING AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL, I DON'T THINK MOST
PEOPLE ON THE STREET UNDERSTAND
THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND WHAT YOU
GUYS GO THROUGH SO THANK YOU
FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO. WE
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT IS OUR JOB TO BE UP HERE
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU
DO. SO THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, FOLKS. DON'T GET AT.
I WANT TO SAY THAT OUR NEXT
MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH
28TH. I SEE THAT MICHAEL WOLFF
HAS BEEN SITTING HERE IN THE
AUDIENCE ALL DAY AND DID NOT
MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT HE IS
THE DIRECTOR OF DRIVE FORWARD.
IT SEEMS LIKE FOR THE PAST
SEVERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE
HAVE HAD COMMENT FROM DRIVERS
THAT ARE PLEADING WITH US TO DO
SOMETHING. MOST OF THEM ARE
SAYING TO REPEAL THE
LEGISLATION THAT CHANGED THE
WAY THAT NETWORK COMPANIES
COMPENSATE DRIVERS AND WE ARE
ALSO GETTING IN BOXES FULL OF
E-MAILS FROM CUSTOMERS THAT CAN
NO LONGER HAVE THEIR GROCERIES
DELIVERED TO THEIR HOMES AND
THEIR MEDICATIONS AND
RESTAURANTS ALL OVER THE CITY
ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE THERE
IS A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF
RESTAURANTS. AND ALSO REALLY
WORRIED. AND WONDERING HOW THEY
WILL STAY IN BUSINESS WITH THE
EXISTING 30% DECLINE IN
REVENUE. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO
KNOW THAT I AM ON IT. I'M NOT
ON IT BUT THIS IS OF GREAT --
IT IS URGENT FOR ME AND IF
EVERYONE OUT THERE IN TV LAND
IS WONDERING WHY WE ARE NOT
DOING SOMETHING 60 DAYS AFTER
THE AND LIMITATION OF THE LAW
AND WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS ASKING FOR
SOMETHING TO BE DONE, YOU KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SPEAKING
WITH NETWORK COMPANIES WITH
DRIVE FORWARD AND YOU HAVE BEEN
MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF WORKING
WASHINGTON. AND SO FOR THOSE
OUT THERE, I HAD HOPED TO HAVE
SOMETHING BEFORE US ON THE
28th. THAT IS ALREADY WAY TOO
LATE. BUT THAT WORK IS
PROCEEDING BEHIND THE SCENES
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO LET ME
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING AS
WELL, I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M HEARING THE FOLKS AT
PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE ARE NOT
DOING NOTHING AND I'M JUST
TRYING TO FIND OUT, WHAT IS THE
BEST PATH FORWARD ?
>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER COMMENTS, THIS MEETING
OF MARCH 14TH IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYBODY.