>>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS 9:32
A.M. THE GOVERNANCE,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER. I'M SARA NELSON. WE
HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE JOINING US
REMOTELY. WILL CLERK PLEASE
CALL ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE ROLL
AGAIN. I THINK SOMEBODY JUST
GOT OFF MUTE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>>
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR PRESENT IT. THANK VERY
MUCH. ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE
HAVE A CONTINUED DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON ZERO 2930 AS
MINA HASHEMI AS THE OFFICE OF
GOVERNMENTAL DOOR -- RELATIONS.
AND 12862, AN ORDINANCE RELATED
TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKING
PERMANENT A HIRING INCENTIVES
PROGRAM IN THE SEATTLE LEASE
DEPARTMENT AND AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126654.
>> WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP
TO SPEAK PLEASE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE HAVE
TWO IN PERSON SPEAKERS AND
SEVEN VIRTUAL SPEAKERS THIS
MORNING.
>> WE WILL START WITH IN PERSON
SPEAKERS TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA AND WE WILL GIVE
FOLKS TWO MINUTES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS JOINED
US.
>> AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
MENTIONED, I WILL CALL ON
SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER THEY
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK STARTING
WITH THE IN PERSON COMMENTERS.
TWO MINUTES. WHEN HEAR THE
TIME, YOU WILL HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT. IF YOU EXCEED THAT TIME,
YOUR MICROPHONE MAY BE CUT OFF
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER. OFFERING REMOTE
COMMENT, BE SURE TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT MENTIONED, WE
WILL START WITH IN PERSON
COMMENTERS. FIRST LARS
ERICKSON. LARS.
>> GOOD MORNING. CHAIR NELSON,
MY NAME IS LARS ERICKSON. I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN
2900 MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
IN SUPPORT OF COUNSEL BILL
12862. THE CITY SHORTAGE OF
POLICE OFFICERS IMPACTS ALL
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. FOR
THE EMPLOYER COMMUNITY, IT
MEANS WAITING ON NONEMERGENCY
LINES FOR HOURS AFTER A
BREAK-IN, TRAINING EMPLOYEES
AND DE-ESCALATION, HIRING
PRIVATE SECURITY AND PAYING
SKYROCKETING INSURANCE RATES
AFTER CONTINUOUS BREAKDOWNS.
SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD THESE
STORIES AND MEETINGS THE
CHAMBER HOSTED WITH SMALL
BUSINESSES AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
SEVERAL RESTAURANT OWNERS EVEN
SAID THEY SLEPT IN THEIR
BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO DETER
BREAK-INS. WE SUPPORT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE MOST
INCLUDE ATTRACTING AND
RETAINING HOLY QUOTE --
HIGHLY QUALIFIED POLICE
OFFICERS. WE NEED TO BE
COMPETITIVE WITH MUNICIPALITIES
IN WASHINGTON AND OTHER STATES
AND MAKING PERMANENT THESE
HIRING INCENTIVES IS AN
ESSENTIAL WAY TO DO THAT.
PLEASE PASS LEGISLATION AND
CONTINUE FINDING WAYS TO MAKE
THE COMMUNITY SAFER. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO MY LOVELY NAZI --
>> PAUSE. THAT IS ABUSIVE
LANGUAGE WHICH EQUATES TO
ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. YOU BEEN
WARNED SEVERAL TIMES, PLEASE
REFRAIN FROM SUCH SPEECH.
>> I WILL SPEAK ABOUT 62. GIVE
ME CHANCE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> LAST TIME, YOU REMEMBER YOU
GAVE EXAMPLES OF THE ABILITY
POLICE. BILLY POLICE NOT SO
GOOD.
[ INAUDIBLE ] IN COURT AND I
WIN ALWAYS. THIS COSTS $10,000
FOR EVERY TICKET. IT IS OKAY.
WHAT I WANT TO EXPLAIN TO GUYS
IS HOW YOU CAN HEAR WHICH YOU
ACHIEVE. YOU UNDERSTAND. I
CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS. THE
SAME PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THE
CHAMBER FOR 40 YEARS. WE HAVE
BEEN IN THIS CHAMBER FOR 20
YEARS. YOU CANNOT TEACH OLD
DOGS NEW TRICKS. YOU IN GOOD
POLICE, WE NEED CHANGES. FIRST
MY PREPOSITION AND I TOLD YOU
BEFORE. WE NEED TO HIRE RUHLMAN
FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS ONE WAY TO CHANGE
SOMETHING.
INDICATING WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
FOR $400,000, WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT? YOU CANNOT FIND
INTELLECTUAL MEN THAT CAN
HANDLE VERY IMPORTANT AND
CRITICAL DEPARTMENTS FOR ALL OF
THE CITY. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?
WE DON'T HAVE SMART PEOPLE
AROUND? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
WHO CAN EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
STANDUP AMERICA.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT
CONCLUDES IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENT AND WE WILL MOVE TO THE
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. SAME
RULES APPLY. FIRST, WE HAVE MET
OFTEN BOOKER. YOU HAVE BEEN
OFF MUTE.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS . THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE BRIGHT AND EARLY
GETTING THE CITY'S BUSINESS
DONE. ON THE CAPITOL HILL
RESIDENT AND A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER IN A SODO. I'M CALLING
TODAY TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON
THE $50,000 HIRING BONUSES FOR
POLICE OFFICERS. I'M SURE YOU
HEARD THE EXPRESSION, INSANITY
IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER
AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING
DIFFERENT RESULTS .
EVERY STUDY, INCLUDING THE
SPD'S OWN STUDIES HAVE FOUND
THAT HIRING BONUSES DON'T
WORK. WE HAVE HAD THEM ON AND
OFF FOR FIVE YEARS AND SPD HAS
YET TO COME CLOSE TO MEETING
ITS HIRING TARGETS. WHY IS
THIS? IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE
ASKING OFFICERS TO DO A JOB
THAT THEY ARE NOT SUITED FOR
AND DON'T WANT TO DO. IF YOU
HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR
POLICE
CHIEF, YOU WILL KNOW THAT THE
POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT ANY
KIND OF SOLUTION TO THE COMPLEX
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY POVERTY,
HOUSING SHORTAGES AND CHEAP AND
POWERFUL DRUGS. 1. $5 MILLION
OF RELIEF BONUSES THIS YEAR
MEANS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO
DEFUND SOMETHING ELSE BY THAT
SAME AMOUNT. SO I WOULD LOVE,
AND YOUR DISCUSSIONS TODAY,
THIS BILL, FOR YOU TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE
REDUCED BY 1. $5 MILLION TO PAY
FOR THESE BONUSES. LIBRARIES,
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOOD
ACCESS, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. WE
DON'T NEED MORE POLICE
OFFICERS TO MAKE US SAFER AND
WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED TO BE
THROWING GOOD MONEY AT THE BAD.
ESPECIALLY IN THE UPCOMING
BUDGET WHERE WE THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE WILL BE WATCHING
CLOSELY AS YOU WRESTLE WITH A
$260 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT WE HAVE FLORA WRIGHT.
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I'M FLORA WRIGHT, SEATTLE
RESIDENT CALLING IN TO OPPOSE
WHICH WOULD GIVE $50,000 HIRING
BONUSES TO COPS. THE CITY IS
IN OVER $260 MILLION BUDGET
DEFICIT IN THE FIRST UNDER
ATTACK WERE NECESSARY SERVICES
LIKE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND
LIBRARIES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS BUT THEY ARE
TRYING TO CUT MINIMUM WAGE AND
DESPITE THE CITY ALREADY GIVING
SPD 24-POINT NUMBER 27, THEO,
YOU FOUND MORE MONEY FOR THE
CAUSE. SINGLE HERRINGBONE IS TO
PAY THE RENT OF TWO AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLDS IN SEATTLE FOR A
YEAR. YOU WANT TO REDUCE CRIME,
INVEST IN HOUSING. THE SPD
REPORT ON THE REPORT BY CENTRAL
STAFF HAVE SHOWN THAT HIRING
BONUSES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR
THE MAJORITY OF THE LAST FIVE
YEARS AND DON'T ACTUALLY
INCREASE HIRING. RESEARCH GOING
BACK TO THE 1974 KANSAS CITY
PREVENTATIVE CONTROLS PERMIT
HAVE DEBUNKED THE MYTH IN MORE
POLICE EQUALS LESS CRIME OR
VIOLENCE. ONE EXAMPLE IS KEVIN
DAVIES, THE OFFICER WAS HIRED
DESPITE A CHECKERED HISTORY WHO
KILLED SOMEONE DRIVING THREE
TIMES THE SPEED LIMIT WITHOUT A
LIGHT OR SIRENS OR A VALID
WASHINGTON STATE LICENSE AND
RECEIVED A HIRING BONUS.
SEATTLE IS REQUIRED TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET WHICH MEANS EITHER
OR BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT. REJECT HEART
BONUSES AND TRANSFER THE 1. $5
MILLION A BONUSES TO EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY BASED INVESTMENTS
THAT, UNLIKE COPS, ARE PROVEN
TO REDUCE VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
JULIA BUCK . JULIA
. YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS JULIA BUCK. I AM A
BALLARD RESIDENT. I AM CALLING
TO SUGGEST THAT YOU SHOULD ALL
VOTE NO ON THE POLICE HIRING
BONUSES
FOR $50,000 FOR TRANSFER. THE
ATLANTIC RECENTLY PUBLISHED AN
ARTICLE OVER 20 YEARS OF DATA
THAT FOUND 70% OF OFFICERS HOLD
JUST ONE JOB AND 21% WHOLE JUST
TWO. AND THE REMAINING 9% ARE
SOME OF THE MOST PRONE TO
DISCIPLINARY ISSUES. AND SO
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE'RE
PAYING A $7500 ROOKIE BONUS FOR
POLICE OFFICERS AND WE ARE
PAYING A 15,000-DOLLAR BONUS TO
ATTRACT BASICALLY OFFICERS WITH
DISCIPLINARY RECORD ISSUES
POTENTIALLY. AND THAT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL. SO I'M
ASKING YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO,
ESPECIALLY AND A BUDGET CRISIS.
THROWING MORE MONEY AT THIS IN
THIS MANNER DOES NOT MAKE ANY
SENSE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JULIA. NEXT, MAX
DOGGETT. MAX.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED .
>> MY NAME IS MAX. FOR THE
BETTER PART OF THE DECADE, I
HAVE BEEN A JOB COACH FOR
ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN
SEATTLE. I AM HERE TO URGE THE
COUNTY NOT TO INCREASE THE
HIRING BONUS FOR NEW POLICE
HIRES. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
WILL SPEAK TO THE STATISTICS
BETTER THEN I WILL. I'M
ACTUALLY GOING TO HOPE SOME
SPEAKERS THE CITY POLICE HAVE
PUSHED TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE
CITY.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> MAX?
>> WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> WE CANNOT HEAR YOU, MAX. IF
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH
YOUR MICROPHONE .
>> MAX, IF YOU ARE HAVING
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO SIGN ON AGAIN. IF
NOT WE WILL MOVE ON TO BJ LAST.
BJ, YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED .
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A BALLARD
HOMEOWNER AND I'M CALLING ON
COUNCIL TO REJECT CB120-862,
WHICH WOULD GIVE SPD HIRING
BONUSES OF $50,000. I DO
APPRECIATE THAT IT IS ACTUALLY
FINALLY HONEST ABOUT WHY COPS
ARE COPS. THIS IS A ONE-TIME
ABOUT WHY THEY SHOULD BE IN
THIS ROLE. THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE
THERE TO HELP COMMUNITY AND DO
THE RIGHT THING. IT IS BECAUSE
OF THE MONEY. THIS IS SPD'S
OWN FINDING. AND THE MOST
IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE
APPLICANT'S DECISION TO BECOME
A POLICE OFFICER. SO WE ARE
ACTUALLY BEING HONEST ABOUT WHO
IT IS WE ARE GIVING GUNS AND
PRETTY MUCH IMMUNITY FOR
VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUNG PEOPLE.
WHAT IS REALLY KIND OF FUNNY IS
EVEN WITH THEM BEING SUCH
MERCENARIES, BONUSES DON'T
ACTUALLY WORK TO ATTRACT COPS.
WE HAVE SEEN US TIME AND AGAIN
WITH THE SPD STUDY AND CENTRAL
STAFF STUDY AND OTHERS AT THE
HIRING BONUSES DON'T WORK. IT
IS KIND OF EASY TO SEE WHY. THE
BONUS STRUCTURE ACTUALLY TELLS
EXISTING COPS TO LEAVE. IF YOU
ARE A CURRENT COP ON SPD, YOU
JUST GET BACK PAY IN THE
CONTRACT SO YOU CAN GO TO
ANOTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW,
COLLECT A BONUS AND TWO YEARS,
COME BACK TO SEATTLE AND GET
ANOTHER 50,000-DOLLAR BONUS.
YOU ARE TELLING COPS TO LEAVE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THAT WOULD EVEN
IMPACT THEIR PENSION BECAUSE
THE PENSION IS STATEWIDE BASED
ON YEARS OF EARNINGS REGARDLESS
OF THE DEPARTMENT IT IS WITH.
THIS LEGISLATION ALSO TILLS NEW
RECRUITS NOT TO BOTHER JOINING
SPD BECAUSE THE BONUSES ARE SO
MUCH SMALLER. SO THEY WILL JOIN
A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AND THEN
MAYBE SPD IN A FEW YEARS TO GET
A BIGGER BONUS. SO LEGISLATION
HAS POTENTIALLY TOLD COPS TO
LEAVE BECAUSE HE CAN FINALLY
GET RID OF SOME OF THEM AND WE
WOULD HAVE MORE SALARY SAVINGS
THAT COULD GO TO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS OF COURSE, YOU WILL
NEVER DO THAT. YOU WILL KEEP
GIVING MONEY TO THE COPS. SO
REJECT CAP BONUSES.
>> THANK YOU BJ. NEXT WE HAVE
ALICE LOCKHART. YOU HAVE BEEN
ON MUTED. UNMUTED.
>> GOOD MORNING .
>> GOOD MORNING COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. AND ALICE LOCKHART, A
HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 5. AND
CALLING TO EXPRESS MY
CONFIDENCE THAT THIS COMMUNITY
IS AS CONCERNED ABOUT FESTIVAL
RESULTS ABILITY AS I AM.
MANY MEMBERS, NEXT MONTH, YOU
WILL BE FACED, MOST OF YOU WITH
YOUR FIRST BUDGET SEASON
DEALING WITH HARD QUESTIONS OF
A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF $200
MILLION.
I'M SURE YOU WILL AGREE THAT
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO COMMIT
FUNDS THAT ARE NOT THERE. IN
THE INTEREST OF GOVERNMENT
TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, PLEASE DO A
COMMIT TO THE POLICE HIRING
BUDGET UNTIL THE AMENDMENT
PROCESS DURING BUDGET SEASON.
AT THAT TIME, YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO MAKE EXPLICIT EXACTLY WHAT
YOU ARE GOING TO CUT IN ORDER
TO FUND THE BONUS --
BONUSES. PLEASE BE TRANSPARENT
AND LET US KNOW THE INFORMATION
DURING BUDGET SEASON AND PLEASE
BE CAUTIOUS. IT MAY TURN OUT TO
BE REALLY, REALLY HARD TO FIND
SOMETHING TO CUT. AND YOU CAN
ABSOLUTELY CROSS THAT BRIDGE
WHEN YOU COME TO AN OCTOBER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ALICE. LAST
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT IS
ALBERTO ALVAREZ. ALBERTO. YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED
UNMUTED.
>> WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? THE
SARA NELSON COUNSEL SEEMS ONLY
FOCUSED ON REGRESSION. BLANK
CHECK FOR POLICE HARASSING
BLACK, BROWN AND LGBT A FEW SEX
WORKERS AND NO MILLIONS IN
BONUSES FOR REHIRING OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE SQUANDERED THE ENTIRE
YEAR ON THE GRIEVANCES OF
OFFICER GUILT. CAN THE COUNCIL
NAME THREE GOOD THINGS THEY
HAVE DONE FOR THE AVERAGE
WORKING PERSON IN SEATTLE? ANY
WORD ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING? ANY
PUSH TO RAISE WAGES FOR
ALL. WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN
BEGGING YOU TO FUND DIVERSION
ACTIVITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES?
MAKE SOME EFFORT TO IMPROVE OUR
LIVES, OUR LIVES.
NOT JUST THE RICH AND
WELL-CONNECTED. COUNSEL IS A
SERVICE TOOL AND NOT A
RUBBERSTAMP FOR THE ELITE.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD MY TIME .
>> WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
THE LIST OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK AND PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW
CLOSED COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HEARING
PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED,
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
APPOINTMENT 02930, APPOINTMENT
OF MINA HASHEMI AS DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS. DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> COLLEAGUES, IN THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING LAST WEEK,
THE DEPUTY MAYOR INTRODUCED ME
TO MINA HASHEMI AS THE MAYOR'S
PICK FOR THE OIR DIRECTOR AND
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM HER AND ALSO ASK
QUESTIONS OF OUR OWN AND
ELABORATE ON SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED
AND ANSWERED PRIOR TO THE
MEETING. AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS AND IT IS MY HOPE
THAT WE CAN VOTE FOR THIS TODAY
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY WE SCHEDULED THE SPECIAL
MEETING TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THIS VOTE
OUT BEFORE WE ENTERED THE
BUDGET SEASON WHICH IS COMING
UP. AND THAT IS BECAUSE ,
ALTHOUGH THE SESSION DOESN'T
START UNTIL JANUARY, IT IS
CLEAR THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THE UPCOMING SESSION ARE
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. AND FOR
EXAMPLE, I WAS INVITED TO
ATTEND THE APPLE CUP SATURDAY
AND THERE WERE OTHER OFFICIALS
AND I HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT
NEXT TO A REPRESENTATIVE AND
TALK ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
NATURALLY DRIFTING TO THE
UPCOMING SESSION AND HIS
PRIORITY. AND IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT, THIS IS RAMPING UP IN THE
TABLE IS BEING SET FOR WHAT IS
COMING UP AND WE HAVE A FULLY
CREDENTIALED LEADER WORKING
BEHIND THE SCENES AND ALSO HARD
AT WORK STRENGTHENING THE
PROCESSES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT
LAST WEEK WHEN IT COMES TO
MAKING SURE YOUR OFFICE IS AS
EFFECTIVE AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE
IN REPRESENTING THE CITY'S
INTEREST. WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP TO ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES OR QUESTIONS . I'M
NOT SEEING ANY SO WE INVITED
YOU TO BE AT THE TABLE TO OFFER
YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
LAST WORDS ON THIS DISCUSSION
AND I WILL MOVE THE ACTUAL
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION FOR MY
APPOINTMENT AS DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
OIR. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU
TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THE CONVERSATION LAST WEEK
AND THE COMMITTEE. IT IS ALWAYS
GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY
FROM YOUR PRIORITIES AND GOALS
FOR OIR AND I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS AND ALSO YOUR
INVESTMENT IN OUR SUCCESS. AS I
SHARED LAST WEEK, I'M SUPER
EXCITED ABOUT THIS POSITION. IT
HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT
EXPERIENCE AND A PRIVILEGE TO
SERVE AS INTERIM DIRECTOR THE
LAST FEW MONTHS AND TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS AND TO SERVE
YOU.
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL AND THE
BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT WE CALL
HOME. THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE IS
BRIGHT AND IT IS TRULY AN HONOR
TO HAVE YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR
THIS APPOINTMENT. AS I SHARED
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I HAVE
SERVED ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE
STATE, LOCAL AND REGIONAL
LEVEL, WORKING DIRECTLY FOR AN
EXECUTIVE AND A LEGISLATIVE
BODY. AND EACH ROLE ROLE, I
HAVE GAINED AN UNDERSTANDING OF
THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH TYPE
OF LEGISLATOR AND DEMONSTRATED
MY ABILITY TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE FROM
DIVERSE REGIONS, BACKGROUNDS,
IDEOLOGIES AND ACCESS TO
GOVERNMENT. THIS TYPE OF WORK
DRIVES ME AND I'M EXCITED AND
READY TO USE THIS EXPERIENCE TO
HELP COUNSEL ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS
AND TO HAVE A HAND IN DIRECTLY
SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND
ACHIEVING PROGRESS IN THE CITY
THAT I LIVE IN. AS WE TALKED
ABOUT LAST WEEK, WE ALL KNOW
THE CITY IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN
WE ARE WORKING AS REGULAR AND
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS AND
CONVERSATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT
AT ALL LEVELS.
OIR PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE
BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY WITH
THESE PARTNERS THROUGH MANY
AVENUES INCLUDING DIRECT
LOBBYING, EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE CITY'S
PRIORITIES, COMPELLING ASKS AND
REGULAR ENGAGEMENT.
AS I SHARED, MY VISION FOR OIR
IS ACTION ORIENTED.
I HAVE BEEN PART OF WORKING THE
LAST FEW MONTHS, PLANNING AND
ORGANIZING TO CAPITALIZE ON
GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
FUNDING AND POLICY SOLUTIONS TO
ADDRESS THE CITY'S NEEDS AND
TO MOVE US FORWARD ON OUR
GOALS. AND SO AS I MENTIONED, I
HAVE REALLY BEEN FOCUSING ON
SETTING THE CITY UP FOR MORE
SUCCESS IN THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION THROUGH NOT ONLY A MORE
CONCISE STATE LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA BUT ALSO WITH EARLIER
ENGAGEMENT WITH LEGISLATORS AND
STAKEHOLDERS TO FIND ALIGNMENT.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU
HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON
THAT. I HAVE PUT HEAVY EMPHASIS
ON THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OIR
IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOLUTIONS
TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S BUDGET
NEEDS AND WORK WITH PARTNERS TO
IDENTIFY SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SEEKING
THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES ARE
FUNDING AND THAT WE ARE
DELIVERING COMPELLING ASKS. I
AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OIR IS
TALKING MORE FREQUENTLY WITH
REGIONAL PARTNERS AND THAT WE
ARE SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO
BETTER COORDINATE ON STATE AND
FEDERAL ASKS AS WELL AS
IMPLEMENTATION AT THE POLICY OR
REGIONAL LEVEL.
AS DIRECTOR OF THE OIR, I CAN
COMMIT THAT I WILL FIGHT FOR
SEATTLE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE AND YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT
ON THE TEAM FOR FIERCE ADVOCACY
AND OPEN COMMUNICATION AS WELL
AS A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE
INTRICACIES OF OUR CITY AS WELL
AS ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. I AM
SUPER GRATEFUL FOR COUNSEL'S
COLLABORATION ON THIS WORK AND
YOUR OPENNESS TO WORKING WITH
US ON THESE PRIORITIES. AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
VERY THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION
OF MY APPOINTMENT AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU
AGAIN TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THOSE ADDITIONAL REMARKS. I
LEARNED SOMETHING NEW, THAT THE
NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS HAS
GONE UP. WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE
THE LEGISLATION AND THEN GET TO
MY COLLEAGUE'S QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
02930 OF MINA HASHEMI AS
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO
APPOINT 02930.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
AGAIN. I APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT RANGE FROM
THE INTERNATIONAL, DOWN TO
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT NATIVE
COMMUNITY. WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
WHAT IS REALLY FANTASTIC IS IN
ORDER TO SOLVE LENGES
WE FACE IN PUBLIC SAFETY,
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS,
WE NEED TO BE IN SYNC WITH THE
COUNTY IN THE STATE. IT HAS TO
BE A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR
REQUIREMENTS AND NEEDS AND THE
CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED
BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF
LEGISLATION AND CHANGES ON THE
GROUND. I LOOK FORWARD TO
LEVERAGING THAT EXPERIENCE THAT
YOU NOTED BECAUSE WE REALLY
NEED TO HAVE THE STATE, THE
COUNTY AND THE CITY WORKING IN
CONCERT. OTHERWISE, WE ARE
TAKING ONE STEP FORWARD AND
POTENTIALLY TWO STEPS BACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL
SUPPORT YOUR NOMINATION
NOMINATION.
>> ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT IT
SEEMS LIKE THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA GETS A LOT
OF ATTENTION, AS IT SHOULD.
HOWEVER, YOU HAVE STAFF THAT
ARE WORKING VERY HARD DAILY TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBERS IN THEIR
WORK ON REGIONAL COMMITTEES. SO
I REALLY WANT YOU TO KNOW OFTEN
THAT HARD WORK GOES UNNOTICED
BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
PREPARE US FOR THE CONTENT OF
THOSE MEETINGS AND ALSO THE
EXECUTIVE POSITION, ET CETERA.
AND ALSO, WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF
TWO SISTER CITY ORGANIZATIONS.
THEREFORE, THAT IS ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT
OF GOOD WORK THAT BROADENS OUR
HORIZONS AND ENRICHES US WHEN
IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT
IS GOING ON IN OTHER CITIES AND
BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CAN
INSTITUTE HERE. AND OF COURSE
MY SISTER CITY TO CHRIST CHURCH
FOR THE OIR -- WAS A KEY MEMBER
OF THAT DELEGATION. SO KUDOS TO
ALL THE WORK YOUR OFFICE DOES.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
ENGAGING FURTHER ON THE
LEGISLATE OF AGENDA AS IT IS
DEVELOPED, FINALIZED, PRESENTED
AND VOTED ON BY THIS BODY AND
ALSO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH
THIS FANTASTIC TEAM, NOT JUST
IN OLYMPIA BUT EVERY DAY. THANK
YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK .
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I
KNOW THAT MY STAFF WOULD BE
HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
>> IF I MISSED ANY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT THERE, I DO
APOLOGIZE. IT IS ALL IMPORTANT.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WILL CLERK CALL ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> WIN FOR.
>> AYE.
>> NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR. NO OPPOSED.
>> THIS WILL BE FORWARDED TO
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL FOR
CONSIDERATION ON SEPTEMBER
24TH.
CONGRATULATIONS. APPRECIATE IT.
>> WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM TWO
INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNSEL BILL 12862. IN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKING
PERMANENT A HIRING INCENTIVE
PROGRAM IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126654 BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS
FOLKS ARE GETTING TO THE TABLE.
IN HISTORY, IN MARCH OF 2022, I
PUT FORWARD RESOLUTION 32350
CALLING FOR AN HIRING --
A HIRING INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND
ALSO STATING OUR INTENT TO LIFT
THE BUDGET PROVISO ON THE
SALARY SAVINGS OF VACANT POLICE
POSITIONS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR
THOSE INCENTIVES. A COUPLE
MONTHS LATER, COUNSEL PASSED
ORDINANCE 126654 WHICH LIFTED
THE PROVISO AND AUTHORIZED THE
CREATION OF A HIRING INCENTIVE
PROGRAM. AS YOU WILL HEAR IN
THIS PRESENTATION, THAT PROGRAM
INCENTIVE IS SCHEDULED TO END
AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WE WILL
HEAR ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION TO
EXTEND AND MODIFY SLIGHTLY THAT
PROGRAM. WILL THE PRESENTERS
PLEASE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AS
WE GET STARTED ON THE
PRESENTATION .
>> GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> GOOD MORNING. AND DEPUTY
MAYOR TIM BURGESS.
>> I MIC FIELD, THE SPD HR
DIRECTOR.
>> NATALIE WALTON ANDERSON,
PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR FOR THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE EXECUTIVE HAS A
PRESENTATION. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
FRAME THE DISCUSSION HERE VERY
BRIEFLY?
>> I WILL LET THEM TAKE IT AWAY
AND I WILL COME BACK IF THERE
ARE OTHER THINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE ARE
DELIGHTED TO BE HERE THIS
MORNING TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE
ON THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU.
I THINK AS YOU ALL KNOW WE ALL
NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN
SEATTLE. WE ARE SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 300-350 SHORT OF THE
IDEAL NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT
WE CAN DEPLOY IN OUR CITY. THIS
LEGISLATION HELPS BY OFFERING
HIGHER INCENTIVES TO LATERAL
TRANSFERS, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
ALREADY COMMISSIONED AS POLICE
OFFICERS AND WANT TO TRANSFER
TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. IT INCREASES THAT
INCENTIVE TO $50,000 FROM
$30,000. IT ALSO CONTINUES THE
$7500 INCENTIVE FOR FIRST-TIME
RECRUITS RECRUITS WHO ARE
JOINING THE DEPARTMENT.
AND FINALLY, IT MAKES THIS
PROGRAM ONGOING. NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. WE DISCOVERED THIS
SLIDE SO WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS A
NUMBER OF RECRUITS BY MONTH. IN
JULY, WE REACHED A HIGH OF
446 APPLICANTS WHICH IS THE
HIGHEST NUMBERS SINCE BACK
AROUND 2013. THE PREVIOUS TO
MOST RECENT HIGH WAS IN JANUARY
OF 2021 WHEN 428 NEW APPLICANTS
APPLIED . AS A LOOK AT THE
CHART FROM MARCH OF 2024 ON, I
THINK IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE
THAT THE NEW CONTRACT WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER'S GUILD
WAS MARCH 14TH. AND WE SAW AN
IMMEDIATE SURGE IN
APPLICATIONS. NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE.
>> THIS SLIDE GRAPHICALLY SHOWS
THE PROBLEM WE ARE ATTEMPTING
TO ADDRESS. WE ARE AVERAGING,
AND THE CURRENT EXAM CYCLE FOR
POLICE OFFICERS, ONE LATERAL
APPLICANT PER DAY. AND I'M
GOING TO TURN TO DIRECTOR
FIELDS AND HAVE HIM TALK JUST
FOR A MOMENT ABOUT WHY LATERAL
TRANSFERS ARE SO ATTRACTIVE TO
THE CITY.
>> IT IS JUST WORTH MENTIONING
THAT LATERAL HIRES ARE FIELD
DEPLOYABLE AND SIGNIFICANTLY
FASTER THAN ENTRY-LEVEL
OFFICERS AND A REALLY THE MOST
EFFICIENT WAY TO ADDRESS
DEAFENING ISSUES. TOTAL
TRAINING TIME FOR A LATERAL IS
APPROXIMATELY 22 WEEKS QUICKER
THAN ENTRY-LEVEL. MEANING
LATERAL HIRES ARE IN THE FIELD
MORE QUICKLY. IT IS WORTH
MENTIONING THAT LATERALS ARE
HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD OF
ENTRY-LEVEL CANDIDATES IN TERMS
OF COMPLETING THE TRAINING
CHECKOUTS AND BACKGROUND
STANDARDS.
HOWEVER, THE PREVIOUS LAW
ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE ALLOWS
THEM TO BE OUT IN THE FIELD
MUCH
MORE QUICKLY.
>> NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE
COMPETITION WE FACE IN HIRING
POLICE OFFICERS. YOU WILL SEE
IN THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN THAT WE
ARE SUGGESTING RAISING THE
INCENTIVE FOR LATERALS FROM
30,000, UP TO 50,000.
THAT WILL MOVE US AHEAD OF
EVERETT, FEDERAL WAY, DES
MOINES AND MERCER ISLAND. NEXT
SLIDE.
>> WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF NEW
APPLICANTS TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. 60 RESPONDENTS TO
THE SURVEY AND ALL BUT TWO OF
THEM SUGGESTED THAT INCENTIVE
PAY HAVE SOME LEVEL OF
IMPORTANCE IN THEIR DECISION TO
BECOME A POLICE OFFICER IN
SEATTLE. 23% RANKED FIRST OR
SECOND IN IMPORTANCE. 41%
RANKED THIRD.
36% RANKED AS FOURTH OR FIFTH.
ONLY TWO OF THESE INDIVIDUALS
DID NOT GIVE ANY RANK TO THE
INCENTIVE PAY. IN ORDER TO BE
COMPETITIVE REGIONALLY, WE WANT
TO CONTINUE THE HIRING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND
SPECIFICALLY INCREASE THE
INCENTIVE FOR LATERAL HIRES.
THANK YOU.
>> IF I MIGHT, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, OTHER DETAILS I
WOULD ADD ARE JUST BY WAY OF
BACKGROUND, THERE WERE RECENT
PRIOR HIRING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
IN 2019 THAT COUNSEL ADOPTED AN
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A ONE
TIME INCENTIVE PAYMENT OF
$15,000 FOR LATERAL TRANSFERS
FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF
THAT ORDINANCE. AND THERE WAS
ANOTHER ONE TIME INCENTIVE
PROGRAM CREATED UNDER EMERGENCY
EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY
FOR THE MAYOR PURSUANT TO THE
PANDEMIC THAT INCLUDED A
$25,000 LATERAL HIRING BONUS.
AS YOU NOTED EARLIER, THIS
CURRENT PILOT PROGRAM
AUTHORIZING THE $30,000 LATERAL
HIRING BONUS IS EXPECTED TO
EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
A COUPLE OF OTHER MINOR NOTES I
WANTED TO MAKE ABOUT THE EFFECT
OF THIS LEGISLATION, IN
ADDITION TO THE INCREASE IN THE
AMOUNT OF THE BONUS AND THE
REMOVAL OF THE TEMPORARY NATURE
OF THE BONUS STRUCTURE, THIS
BILL ALSO MODIFIES THE
PROVISION OF THE INCENTIVE
PROGRAM.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS
IDENTIFIED BY THE EVALUATION.
IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE
PERIOD BE MODIFIED NOTING OTHER
JURISDICTIONS HAVE A SHORTER
PERIOD ON THE SCOPE OF 1-3
YEARS WHEREAS OUR INCENTIVE
PROGRAM IS FIVE YEARS MEANING
THAT IF AN OFFICER RECEIVES A
LATERAL HIRING BONUS AND THEN
LEAVES THE DEPARTMENT FIRE TO
-- PRIOR TOO YEARS UNDER THE
CURRENT PILOT PROGRAM, THEY
WILL REPAY THE AMOUNT IN FULL.
THE MODIFICATION THAT THIS
LEGISLATION INTRODUCES IS A
PRORATED SYSTEM MEANING THAT
THE AMOUNT THEY PAY BACK, IS
BASED ON THE TIME THEY ARE
WORKING . THERE ARE OTHER
TECHNICAL CHANGES THAT THIS
LEGISLATION MAKES FOR THE
PROGRAM TO BETTER REFLECT THE
DIFFERENT WAYS LATERAL
EMPLOYEES CAN ENTER THE
DEPARTMENT IF THEY ARE FORMERLY
EMPLOYED BY SPD. ALSO NOTE THAT
THE BILL STRIKES THE REPORTING
REQUIREMENT THAT WAS COMPLETED
EARLIER THIS YEAR. THAT WAS THE
FACET OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.
BRIEFLY COME ON THE FISCAL
IMPACT, THE FISCAL NOTE FOR
THIS LEGISLATION IDENTIFIES A
1. 5 MILLION-DOLLAR ANNUAL
ONGOING COST AND ALSO
IDENTIFIES THE AMOUNT THAT WILL
BE PAID OUT OF THE SPD SALARY
SAVINGS. SALARY SAVINGS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE ONGOING AT LEAST
FOR THE NEAR TERM AND THE
FUNDING STRUCTURE WILL BE
REFLECTED IN THE EXECUTIVE'S
2025-2026 BUDGET. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE?
>> NO. I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND TO
QUESTIONS.
>> I WILL START A BIT. YOU
MENTIONED THE ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION. WHICH IS OF THE
FUNDING SOURCE WILL BE THE
SALARY SAVINGS FROM VACANT
POSITIONS. I'M UNDERSTANDING
THAT IS THE CASE. OKAY, GREAT.
>> THAT IS BASED ON THE
INFORMATION WE HAVE AVAILABLE
AT THIS TIME.
>> THAT IS IMPORTANT. SO THAT
MONEY IS ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR
THIS PURPOSE. I HAD A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SLIDES. ON
SLIDE THREE COMIC COULD YOU
PULL UP SLIDE THREE PLEASE?
I'M WONDERING
-- I'M LOOKING AT THE UP AND
DOWN LYING OF APPLICATIONS. TO
WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE
DECLINE IN APPLICATIONS BETWEEN
JULY AND AUGUST FROM 446, TO
378, WHICH IS A NEGATIVE OF 68.
THAT IS THE FIRST MONTHLY
DECLINE SINCE FEBRUARY OF 24 .
AND THE LARGEST DECLINE SINCE
OCTOBER AND SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
I MOSTLY ASKING THE QUESTION OF
, DO YOU HAVE A WAY OF
ACCOUNTING FOR THE UP-AND-DOWN
NATURE OF THE APPLICATIONS
MONTH-TO-MONTH?
>> I THINK IF YOU LOOK OVER THE
MULTI- YEARS REPORTED HERE, WE
SEE THAT FLUCTUATION EACH
MONTH.
I DON'T THINK WE COULD TELL
YOU PRECISELY WHY THE NUMBER OF
APPLICANTS WENT DOWN IN AUGUST.
>> I WOULD SPECULATE THE REASON
WE SEE IT GOING UP AND DOWN
OVER TIME, INCLUDING RECENTLY,
IS A FUNCTION OF THE TESTING
WINDOWS THAT WE HAVE OR THE
TESTING WINDOWS OVER A YEAR AND
WE KNOW THAT WILL BE CHANGING.
WE GET REGISTERS EVERY TWO WEEK
STARTING NEXT MONTH WHICH WOULD
BE HELPFUL FOR A LOT OF
REASONS. WE COULD DIG INTO THE
DATA MORE CLOSELY.
I SUSPECTED AS A FUNCTION OF
WHEN THE TESTING WINDOW HITS
RELATIVE TO A GIVEN MONTH THAT
IT MIGHT SKEW THE DATA THAT
WAY.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. I WAS
WONDERING IF IT HAD TO DO WITH
ANY MARKETING EFFORTS LIKE AD
PLACEMENT. IS A DISCERNIBLE IN
THE DATA AT ALL ?
>> THERE HAS BEEN NO MATERIAL
CHANGE IN THE AD PLACEMENT
VOLUME. WE CONTINUE TO TEST
MESSAGING AND ADVERTISING BUT
THE VOLUME OF ADVERTISING IS
PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENT .
>> I WOULD ASK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT THAT THE RATE OF
DAILY APPLICATION, WHICH IS OF
COURSE A DIFFERENT METRIC,
CONTINUES TO STAY HIGH. I DO
SUSPECT IT IS A FUNCTION OF THE
TEXTING WINDOW LINING UP WITH
PARTICULAR MONTHS.
>> THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT BUMP
ON THAT SLIDE IS, AS MENTIONED,
IN JANUARY OF 2020.
>> 2021.
>> YES AND THAT WAS FOLLOWING
THE PREVIOUS HIRING INCENTIVE
PROGRAM I BELIEVE. BECAUSE
HIRING TAKES A VERY LONG TIME
TO -- BECAUSE THE APPLICATION
PROCESS IS SO LONG, IT IS
DIFFICULT TO TRACK WHETHER OR
NOT A HIRING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
IS SUCCESSFUL.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS ON THE
NOTION THAT THEY DON'T WORK
BASED ON A REPORT THAT CAME OUT
MID-2022.
THAT IS BEFORE WE COULD
ACTUALLY SEE THE HIRING FROM
THAT BUMP RESULTING IN THE
INSTITUTION OF THE HIRING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM. I CONTINUE
TO BELIEVE HIRING INCENTIVES IN
GENERAL ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE
WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITH
NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS AND
WE ARE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE
SAME RECRUITS. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
ANYBODY ELSE? GO AHEAD
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU MADAM, PRESIDENT
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. WE APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION AND MORE DATA TO
SUPPORT, HELP AND EMPOWER AND
INFORM DECISION-MAKING HERE. I
HAVE LONG BEEN CALLING FOR OR
COMMENTING THAT WE NEED TO
IMPROVE OR STREAMLINE THE
HIRING OF OFFICERS. WE ARE NOT
GOING TO HIRE 400-600 OFFICERS
TO GET US TO APPROPRIATE
STAFFING LEVELS BY ATTRACTING
THOSE ENTRY-LEVEL RECRUITS. AND
SUPPLEMENT THE RECRUITS WITH A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LATERAL
HIRES FOR THE REASONS MENTIONED
AND ALSO THE EXPERIENCE OF
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT I
APPRECIATE THE DATA YOU GAVE
INCLUDING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
TIME TO RAMP SOMEONE UP
ESSENTIALLY THAT IS A LATERAL.
IS 22 WEEKS QUICKER THAN AN
ENTRY-LEVEL OFFICER. VERY
IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT THESE
INCENTIVES WILL HELP US BETTER
ACHIEVE A COMPREHENSIVE
THOUGHTFUL BALANCE TO HOW WE GO
ABOUT RESTORING OFFICER
STAFFING LEVELS. IT TOOK ONE OF
MY QUESTIONS COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WAS WONDERING THE SAME THING.
MAYBE I WILL APPROACH IT FROM A
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE.
ON SLIDE THREE, AS COUNSEL
PRESIDENT NOTED, A NOTABLE
DECLINE FROM JULY TO AUGUST AND
THIS IS A SNAPSHOT. A FIVE YEAR
ROLL UP. AT A QUICK GLANCE, ALL
BUT ONE YEAR FROM JULY TO
AUGUST, IT LOOKS LIKE A DECLINE
OF SOME SORT. ALTHOUGH THIS
YEAR IT IS MORE SUBSTANTIAL
THAN PRIOR YEARS FOR SURE . IN
ADDITION TO JUST BEING CURIOUS
ABOUT WHY, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE
IS NO STRONG VIEW OF THAT RIGHT
NOW.
ALSO I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THAT
NUMBER -- AND THIS DATA MORE
BROADLY COMPARES TO THE
APPLICATION DATA AT NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS
JURISDICTIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT
AND ON A LATER SLIDE, SLIDE
FIVE TO BE EXACT, IT SHOWS HOW
THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM STACKS
AGAINST NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS IN SEATTLE WHICH
MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
DO YOU HAVE AN INITIAL VIEW OF
HOW THAT 68 OR WHATEVER THAT
NUMBER IS DECLINED FROM JULY TO
AUGUST THIS YEAR, HOW THAT
COMPARES TO WHAT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ARE EXPERIENCING?
YES, WE ALWAYS COLLABORATE WITH
OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS
ON ANY NUMBER OF POLICY
PRIORITIES AND POINTS. BUT THIS
OFFICER HIRING IS UNIQUE
INSOFAR AS WE ARE
COLLABORATING. BUT MANY
NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS ARE
TRYING TO BOOST AND RESTORE
OFFICER STAFFING LEVELS.
ALTHOUGH NONE TO THE EXTENT
THAT WE ARE HERE. ON THE ONE
HAND, NOT ONLY ARE WE
COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH THEM
BUT WE ARE ALSO COMPETING
FIERCELY FOR TALENT. IT WOULD
BE GOOD TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU
HAVE AN INITIAL VIEW ON HOW
THAT DECLINED FROM JULY TO
AUGUST AND COMPARES TO WHAT
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE
EXPERIENCING .
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, WE
DON'T HAVE DATA FROM
SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS AS TO
THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THEY
ARE RECEIVING. I WOULD POINT
OUT, AS BOTH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND YOU POINTED OUT,
THE DECLINE IN AUGUST. AUGUST
AT 378 IS THE THIRD-HIGHEST
MONTH IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
WHILE THERE IS A DECLINE, IT IS
MUCH HIGHER THEN WE HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING OVER THE LAST FOUR
YEARS.
>> GOT IT. I HAVE ANOTHER
QUESTION PERTAINING TO SLIDE
FIVE.
>> I'M SORRY. CAN I JUST ADD
TO THAT ISSUE?
>> SURE.
>> THAT IS A VERY GOOD POINT,
DEPUTY MAYOR. AND I DO KNOW
THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS, THAT
LINE HAS BEEN GOING UP SINCE
APRIL OF 2022. THAT IS WHEN WE
STARTED TALKING ABOUT HIRING
TIPS TO BEGIN WITH.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT IS
BECAUSE OF THE COUNSELOR
ANYTHING BUT THE LINE IS GOING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHEN IT
COMES TO GROWING THE POOL OF
APPLICANTS WHICH IS THE FIRST
STEP TOWARD ACTUALLY HIRING
THOSE. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. ON SLIDE FIVE, IT
NOTES THE INCENTIVE FOR
RECRUITS TODAY. SO FOR ALL
RECRUITS, SO IT DOESN'T
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN LATERAL OR
ENTRY-LEVEL. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT DOESN'T.
>> BEFORE .
>> WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE
ENTRY LEVEL FOR NEW RECRUITS.
THAT STAYS AT 7500. THE LATERAL
AMOUNT WAS $30,000. THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD MOVE TO
50,000.
>> GOT IT. THAT WAS THE FOCUS
OF MY QUESTION. THE
50,000-DOLLAR FIGURE. UP FROM
$30,000 . HOW DO WE ARRIVE AT
THAT NUMBER IN PARTICULAR IN
ADDITION TO
-- SO $30,000 WAS AT THE HIGHER
END. AS WE NOTE, THERE ARE
NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS WITH A
HIGHER OF 40,000. HOW DID WE
ARRIVE AT 50,000? JUST TO BE
THE BEST IN CLASS SO TO SPEAK?
AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT IS
A PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE ANSWER.
I JUST WANT TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS
THAT WENT INTO ARRIVING AT THE
50,000-DOLLAR PROPOSED FIGURE.
>> WE SUGGESTED THE CHANGE IN
ORDER TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE
REGIONAL MARKETPLACE. WE KNOW
THAT LATERAL OFFICERS THAT MEET
OUR STANDARDS ARE QUICKER TO
HIRE AND TRAIN AND PUT IN THE
FIELD BY 22 WEEKS WHICH WE
HEARD FROM DIRECTOR FIELDS.
THEY ARE ALSO MORE EFFECTIVE AS
POLICE OFFICERS WHEN THEY ARE
DEPLOYED BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE OF BEING POLICE
OFFICERS. RAISING THE
INCENTIVE, WHICH WE KNOW IS
IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TO
LATERALS, PUTS US IN A MUCH
STRONGER COMPETITIVE POSITION
WITH SOME OF OUR REGIONAL
COMPETITORS.
>> MAKES A LOT OF SINCE. FINAL
QUESTION. WITH RESPECT TO THE
NEW PRORATED CLAWBACK AMOUNT WE
TALKED ABOUT A MOMENT AGO, JUST
BE CURIOUS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
HOW THAT NEW REVISED STRUCTURE
COMPARES TO WHAT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS DO WITH THE SAME
INCENTIVE .
>> I'M JUST REFRESHING MY
MEMORY. THERE WAS SOME
INFORMATION PROVIDED,
COUNCILMEMBER, IN THE MEMO THAT
WAS TRANSMITTED IN FEBRUARY. AS
I SAID, THAT WAS ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE AND I
DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD WHAT THE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS HAVE SPECIFICALLY
FOR A CLAWBACK PERIOD . THE
MEMO DOES MENTIONED THAT THE
KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AND BELLEVUE PD EMPLOYEE A
THREE YEAR CLAWBACK PERIOD
WHERE KENT AND FEDERAL WAY HAVE
A ONE YEAR.
THAT IS THE SAMPLES THAT WE
HAVE AS FAR AS JURISDICTIONS.
>> THE NEW APPROACHES ONE YEAR?
>> IT RETAINS THE FIVE-YEAR
PERIOD BUT IT PRO RATES THAT
BASED ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
YEARS FOLLOWING BONUSES.
>> THANK YOU .
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR NELSON.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING
THIS MORNING. I DO LISTEN TO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
SOMEONE ACCUSED ME OF NOT. BUT
I DO. ONE OF THE REPEATED
THEMES FROM THIS MORNING 'S
PUBLIC COMMENT IS THE FUNDING
SOURCES. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE
NEED TO GET THAT OUT BETTER IN
TERMS OF WHERE THIS IS COMING
BECAUSE CLEARLY, SOME OF THE
COMMENTS WERE
NOT GERMANE GIVEN THIS IS
COMING FROM SALARY SAVINGS. I
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THAT
IS A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION
FROM AN EXPECTATION
PERSPECTIVE. IN TERMS OF THE
SALARY SAVINGS AND WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO IN TERMS OF
BUILDING UP NUMBERS, I VIEW
THIS IS TAKING THE ENTIRETY
INTO THE NEXT TERM. I THINK IT
IS A PORT EXPECTATION
MANAGEMENT TO MAKE THE POINT. A
LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING
IMMEDIATE CHANGE AND THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN. I WAS
WONDERING, ARE THERE ANY
EFFORTS IN TERMS OF EDUCATING
BOTH OF THOSE POINTS IN TERMS
OF THE EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT
AND HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO
GET BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE
WITH OVERALL POLICE STAFFING?
AND WITH ELEMENTS AND ISSUES
LIKE THIS, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
ARE TRYING TO DO.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER .
THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR 2024
INCLUDES FUNDING FOR THESE
INCENTIVES AND THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO
YOU NEXT MONDAY, FUNDS THIS IN
2025.
>> MONDAY OR TUESDAY?
>> EXCUSE ME, TUESDAY.
>> I'M FROM THE OLD DAYS WHEN
MONDAY WAS THE COUNCIL FUNCTION
DAY. IT IS FULLY COVERED IN
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WHICH
YOU WILL RECEIVE NEXT WEEK. THE
REASON WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS
LEGISLATION NOW AND WE HOPE YOU
ACT FAVORABLY ON IT IS THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
THESE INCENTIVES STARTING AS
QUICKLY AS WE CAN, AS SOON AS
THE LEGISLATION TAKES EFFECT.
IF IT PASSES OUT OF THE FULL
COUNCIL SOON IN THE NORMAL 30
DAY WINDOW, WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO PAY THESE INCENTIVES THE
LAST COUPLE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. ANOTHER QUESTION
THAT CAME AT A PUBLIC COMMENT
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO RESTATE
IT, IT IS THAT IT IS A POSITION
OF THE COUNCIL THAT QUALITY IS
KEY. I RECOGNIZE ON EACH
INDIVIDUAL BASIS, THERE MIGHT
BE ONE OFF SWITCH WILL GET THE
FOCUS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO RESTATE STANDARDS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO INCLUDE EACH
OF THESE TRANSFERS.
IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
TO INCLUDE BEFORE THE BADGE
PROGRAM WHEN THEY GO INTO EACH
OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO LEARN
THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND LEARN THE
DIFFERENT PIECES AND THEY ARE
STILL EVALUATED BY THE WAY. CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THE QUALITY AND
STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ASPECTS OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING
TO DO?
>> THINK YOU COUNCILMEMBER.
THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE WILL START WITH THE ORDER OF
EVENTS AS THEY OCCUR. IN TERMS
OF BACKGROUND STANDARDS,
LATERALS ARE THE SAME WAY.
SUBJECT TO THE SAME
REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS
AND IT IS NOT A FOREGONE
CONCLUSION THAT THEY WILL BE
HIRED. THERE IS A FULL BEDDING
IN THE BACKGROUND PROCESS. IN
TERMS OF TRAINING, ALTHOUGH IT
IS A SHORTENED TIME PERIOD,
LATERALS GO THROUGH A FIELD
TRAINING PROCESS THAT
CULMINATES IN A CHECKOUT
PROCESS. UNTIL YOU MEET THE
CHECKOUT PROCESS, WHICH HOLDS
THEM TO THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS
WITH BOTH ENTRY-LEVEL OFFICERS,
THEY ARE NOT FIELD DEPLOYABLE.
AND IF THEY DO NOT COMPLETE THE
PROCESS AND DO NOT SUCCESSFULLY
CHECK OUT, THEY CAN BE
SEPARATED ON PROBATION.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS AN
IMPORTANT POINT. I ALWAYS
APPRECIATE MR. JOHNSON'S MEMOS
FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE. I NOTICED
BASICALLY YOU ARE TAKING THE
SEPTEMBER 1 IN A LOT OF WAYS AS
AN UPDATE FROM YOUR FEBRUARY
MEMO. IN THAT MEMO, YOU TALKED
ABOUT HOW RESPONDENTS TO THE
SURVEY THAT ARE LOOKING TO
TRANSFER TO SEATTLE WERE ALSO
LOOKING AT OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES
TO INCLUDE 18 THAT WERE
MENTIONED.
AND SOME THAT WERE OUT OF
STATE. LA, NEW ORLEANS AND
HONOLULU. I WANT TO ASK THE
CONVERSE OF THAT.
WITH THESE APPLICANTS, WHERE
DID THEY COME FROM, AND TERMS
OF THIS FEBRUARY? FOR THESE
TRANSFERS, WHERE ARE WE SEEING
THEM COME FROM? ARE WE SEEING
THEM FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
THE WEST COAST OR HERE LOCALLY
IN WASHINGTON STATE OR EVEN
HERE IN THE PUGET SOUND?
>> GREAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER. I'M NOT
FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THE
INFORMATION TO ANSWER THAT. MY
COLLEAGUES, I THINK YOU
REFERRED TO THE MEMO WITH MY
COLLEAGUE GREG DOS EARLIER ON
THE ISSUE. I WILL DEFER TO SPD
AS THEY HAVE MORE INFORMATION
IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, WE
KNOW THAT OF ALL APPLICANTS.
FIRST-TIME RECRUITS AND
LATERALS.
MOST, THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER
OF THEM COME FROM WASHINGTON
STATE AND THEN ON THE WEST
COAST, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.
WE DO ATTRACT CANDIDATES FROM
ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES
AS WELL.
OVERWHELMING NUMBERS. AND I'M
NOT SURE IF IT IS A MAJORITY OR
SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN A MAJORITY
THAT COME FROM WASHINGTON
STATE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT IS AN
IMPORTANT PIECE BECAUSE THAT
GOES TO OTHER ISSUES WE ARE ALL
AWARE OF.
>> WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND
YOU AND WE WILL SEND YOU THAT
INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WOULD BE
VERY HELPFUL. AND I JUST WANT
TO CLOSE WITH THE IDEA THAT THE
IDEA OF RECRUITMENT'S
RETENTION AND THE IDEA
RETENTION IS RECRUITMENT. ALL
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS CYCLE AROUND
AND COULD BE RECRUITING NEWBIES
IN THE SENSE THAT THEY COULD
ANTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE. I
APPRECIATE HAVING A BROAD
APPROACH TO WHAT WE ARE DOING
AND I REALLY LIKE HOW THE CHART
HAS GONE UP. I THINK IT IS A
REFLECTION OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, WORKING TOGETHER WITH
THE COUNCIL AND MULTIPLE
COMMITTEES. LABOR, GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY. AS I NOTED
BEFORE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
YEAR, PUBLIC SAFETY, GIVE US
ONE YEAR. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO
LEAVE OR RETIRE, I ALSO WANT TO
MAKE A CALL FOR THOSE THAT
CURRENTLY ARE WORKING IN
ANOTHER JURISDICTION. MAYBE
THERE WILL BE OTHERS NEARBY. TO
LOOK AT THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I THINK THAT THE
ENVIRONMENT IS SUCH,
PARTICULARLY WITH THE INTERIM
DEAL, THE RECRUITMENT BILL
FAMILIAR THAT CAME OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE. NOT TO MENTION THE
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER,
STREET RACING. CURRENTLY THE
REALTIME CRIME CENTER, SHOWS
THE COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE MY
MISSION OF CREATING A SAFE BASE
IN THE CITY AND DOING IT WITH
ACCOUNTABILITY AND STANDARDS AS
WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL JUST SHARE
ONE OTHER COMMENT.
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL HAS SAID
MANY TIMES HOW PROUD HE IS OF
OUR SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS AND
THE WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY. WE
THINK THAT WE HAVE THE BEST
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE,
IF NOT THE UNITED STATES.
THERE IS ONE OTHER PART OF THIS
INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT I WILL
MENTION AND THAT IS THAT CITY
EMPLOYEES WHO REFER AN
INDIVIDUAL TO BE CONSIDERED AS
A SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER AND
THAT PERSON IS HIRED AND
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE
ACADEMY IN THE FIELD TRAINING
PROGRAM, CAN RECEIVE A $1000
REFERRAL FEE
THAT IS ELIGIBLE TO EVERY CITY
EMPLOYEE EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO
WORK FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL SERVICE MISSION OR ARE
PART OF THE RECRUITING UNIT IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT IT
IS A NICE INCENTIVE FOR CITY
EMPLOYEES TO REFER FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS AND OTHERS THAT THEY
KNOW WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE
POLICE OFFICERS AND WOULD LIKE
TO JOIN THE BEST POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE .
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. I APPRECIATE MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, UNDERSCORING THAT THIS
MONEY IS COMING FROM SALARY
SAVINGS SO WE WILL NOT BE
CUTTING SOMETHING IN ORDER TO
PAY FOR THIS. I ASSUME THAT THE
CHANGE IN THE PERMANENCY IS
THAT WE WILL ALWAYS ASSUME THAT
WE WILL HAVE SOME SALARY
SAVINGS BECAUSE THERE ARE FOLKS
THAT WIND UP RETIRING, ET
CETERA. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME
AMOUNT OF SALARY SAVINGS THAT
EVERY DEPARTMENT CARRIES FROM
YEAR TO YEAR. SO I ASSUME THAT
THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN
OUT OF THAT SALARY SAVINGS AND
NOT A DIFFERENT PROGRAM AT THE
CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR
CONFIRMING THAT. AND I WILL
ALSO SAY THAT THESE ARE
ONE-TIME INCENTIVES. THESE ARE
NOT ONGOING INCENTIVES. THIS IS
TO TRY TO GET FOLKS IN NOW AND
CONTINUE TO HIRE MORE FOLKS.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT IN TERMS
OF POLICE STAFFING LEVELS,
BECAUSE I HEAR THE NUMBER
FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 3-400 OR
SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I
WILL SAY THAT IS THE OVERALL
NUMBER.
AS I CONTINUED TO SPEAK TO THE
NORTH PRECINCT FOR INSTANCE, I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY
20 OFFICERS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT
AVAILABLE AT THE NORTH
PRECINCT. I THINK THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. THE OTHER
NUMBERS SEEMS HIGHER. BUT THE
FACT THAT --
OF THE 300-400 OFFICERS WE ARE
DOWN, WE REALLY ONLY HAVE 20
AVAILABLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME AT
ANY OF THESE PRECINCTS. WHICH I
THINK IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
TALK ABOUT IN THOSE NUMBERS
BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD, AS YOU
KNOW, DEPUTY MAYOR, SOME CRIME
ON THE NORTH END.
WE SAY CRIME, OR I SHOULD SAY
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
SHOOTINGS. WE HAVE IT CRIME ALL
ALONG. AND OUR ABILITY TO BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CRIME THAT
HAPPENS, WE CAN ONLY DO SO IF
WE HAVE THE OFFICERS THERE AND
IF WE ONLY HAVE 20 OFFICERS,
YOU CAN SEE HOW QUICKLY IT
HINDERS OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS
EVERY SINGLE THING HAPPENING
AND WE ARE SEEING MORE VIOLENCE
ACROSS THE CITY, PARTICULARLY
OF THE SHOOTING . OR SHOOTINGS.
AND I THINK, I DON'T THINK BUT
I KNOW, WE ARE ALL WORKING HARD
TO EFFECTUATE THE ABILITY TO
HAVE MORE THAN 20 OFFICERS AT
ANY GIVEN TIME IN ANY OF THOSE
PRECINCTS TO ADDRESS THE CRIME
HAPPENING. AND I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING CRITICAL. AND WHILE
WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE KINDS
OF EFFORTS TO TRY TO ATTRACT
MORE OFFICERS, I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE YOU DELINEATING THAT
. WE ARE NOT SACRIFICING
STANDARDS AND WE ARE LOOKING AT
LATERALS. THAT THEY DO HAVE TO
MEET OUR STANDARDS AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL OFFICERS
AT THE CITY. AND I SUPPORT AND
I CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WE NEED
YOUNG PEOPLE WANTING TO DO
THESE JOBS. OBVIOUSLY THEY
WOULD BE ENTRY-LEVEL RECRUITS.
AND MEETING MORE OF THOSE AS
WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO
UNDERSCORE THAT.
WE ARE TACKLING A HUGE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUE IN THIS CITY. AND
I TOO HEAR COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, THE FOLKS THAT COME FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT AND I HEAR FROM
A LOT OF THE CONSTITUENTS
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE
750,000 CONSTITUENTS IN THE
CITY AND WE ONLY HEAR FROM A
COUPLE OF THEM AT ANY GIVEN
TIME. SO I'M OUT THERE IN THE
DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT
HEARING FROM FOLKS THAT ARE
VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SITUATION BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE GETTING KILLED. THIS IS
REALLY SOMETHING. PEOPLE ARE
GETTING KILLED. AND WE NEED THE
ABILITY TO ADDRESS THIS. AND WE
CANNOT DO THAT IF WE DON'T
THINK OF CREATIVE WAYS,
INCLUDING INCENTIVES, TO BE
ABLE TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS AT
THE CITY. THAT IS JUST THE
BOTTOM LINE. IT IS SIMPLE. IT
IS BASED ON FACTS.
IT IS BASED ON DATA. AND IT IS
OUR JOB TO WORK WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE SPD TO
FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE
FOLKS SO WE CAN ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES. WE HAVE A LOT OF
VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS. WE
HAVE MORE GUN VIOLENCE IN THE
SCHOOLS. AND OUR ABILITY TO
ADDRESS THAT REALLY RELIES ON
HAVING A POLICE FORCE THAT CAN
GO OUT TO THESE SCHOOLS
WHENEVER THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
NO MATTER HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT
POLICING, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, IT IS A FACT THAT WE ARE
HAVING KIDS GETTING KILLED
ACROSS THE CITY. ALL OF OUR
DISTRICTS ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM
THE SHOOTINGS . AS I SAID, TWO
SHOOTINGS IN ABOUT A MONTH.
FATAL SHOOTINGS JUST ON THE
NORTH END. WE REALLY NEED TO DO
ALL THAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE
HIRING OF MORE OFFICERS SO THAT
FOLKS CAN SHOW UP. SO THIS IS
CRITICAL IN MY MIND. AND
CERTAINLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT
I WILL BE SUPPORTING ON BEHALF
OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE
DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT. SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
EFFORTS. I KNOW THAT NONE OF
THIS IS TAKEN LIGHTLY. THERE IS
A LOT THAT GOES INTO THESE
PROPOSALS THAT ARE MADE AND WE
ARE BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON.
AND FOLKS
NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TACKLING
WITH.
.
>> THE RESIDENT CITIZENS OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, OUR CHARTER
SAYS, THERE SHALL BE
MAINTAINED, ADEQUATE POLICE
PROTECTION IN EVERY DISTRICT OF
THE CITY. AND I'M SORRY THAT I
DON'T HAVE THAT DIRECT QUOTE.
I SAID IT OFTEN ENOUGH WHEN I
PUT OVER THE LEGISLATION TO
INITIATE THE HIRING INCENTIVE
PROGRAM IN 2022. I SAID IT OVER
AND OVER AGAIN AS WE WERE
DELIBERATING ON THE LEGISLATION
PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO
IMPROVE THE HIRING PROCESSES
AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. I'M
VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO A
REPORT ON HOW THAT IS GOING. I
BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE
EXPECTING THAT ANYTIME NOW.
THIS IS ONE PIECE. ONE PIECE OF
DOING OUR DUTY FOR THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE.
WE MENTIONED THE NORTH
PRECINCT. 20 OFFICERS. THAT IS
EVERYTHING NORTH OF THE SHIP
CANAL. THAT IS THE LARGEST
PRECINCT. AND THAT IS EXTREMELY
FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THE TIME IT TAKES FOR
FIRST RESPONDERS TO COME TO AN
EMERGENCY. AND IT IS
FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU THINK THAT
WE HAVE PULLED INVESTIGATORS
FROM SPECIAL UNITS TO PATROL IN
ORDER TO HAVE 20 PEOPLE AT ANY
TIME ON PATROL IN THE NORTH
PRECINCT. AND SO EMPHATICALLY,
WHEN I SAY NO STONE UNTURNED,
DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN,
THIS IS MONEY SITTING THERE TO
BE USED. TO FILL HISTORIC
STAFFING DEFICIT AT SPD. SO I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YES, WE
ARE LISTENING TO ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND ON A DAILY
BASIS, WHAT WE HEAR FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES IS PRETTY
DEVASTATING, WHAT IS GOING ON
OUT THERE. OF COURSE, I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS AS WE GO
FORWARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE ANY OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO SAY CLOSING WORDS.
GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR
THE RECORD AND I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERO FOR
REITERATING THIS. THESE ARE
FUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
ALLOCATED TO OUR SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE BEEN
MOVING FROM ONE BUCKET TO A
DIFFERENT BUCKET TO BE
ALLOCATED. THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT HAS BEEN
OFFERED. THERE IS NO
REDIRECTION OF FUNDS COMING
FROM ANOTHER CITY DEPARTMENT.
THESE ARE FUNDS THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED TO OUR
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT
HAVE BEEN UNUSED AND WE ARE
JUST SWITCHING BUCKETS WITHIN
THAT PIECE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> AWESOME. I JUST WANTED TO
CLARIFY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU.
>> MONTH-TO-MONTH, I DON'T
KNOW IF THIS IS STILL THE CASE.
I'M LOOKING AT A NEGATIVE IN
NEW OFFICERS HIRED. SO THE
MONEY IS THERE. UNFORTUNATELY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. WE APPRECIATE ALL
THE THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM YOU COLLEAGUES . 100%
AGREE. I GUESS FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, I'M JUST GOING TO
PILE ON BECAUSE IT IS WORTH IT.
LET US NOT USE THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECTLY
ADDRESS, DEMYSTIFY AND DEBUNK
SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS
MYTHS THAT ARE LIKELY TO SWIRL
FROM ALL OF THIS CONVERSATION .
THIS IS BEING FUNDED SOLELY AS
A DIRECT RESULT OF EXISTING
SALARY SAVINGS. IT DOES NOT
REFLECT NEW SPENDING OR --
NET NEW SPENDING. SO JUST WANT
TO PILE ON. ON THAT POINT. I
DID HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. ONE
MORE PESKY QUESTION. SORRY. BUT
THIS IS IMPORTANT STUFF AND I
JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CLICK A
LITTLE MORE ON SOME OF THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN SLIDE
FIVE ABOUT INCLUDING THAT TABLE
OF INCENTIVES. SO WE TALKED A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT THE
BASIS FOR ARRIVING AT THIS
50,000-DOLLAR PROPOSED LATERAL
INCENTIVE NUMBER. MAKES SINCE.
I WOULD JUST BE CURIOUS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF THIS
KIND OF DATA. IN PARTICULAR,
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT CAN WE
EXPECT ROUGHLY TO SEE AS A
DIRECT RESULT OF GOING $10,000
ABOVE THE HIGHEST JURISDICTION
TODAY ?
>> THE REASON WHY I ASK IS
BECAUSE IF, AND TO THE EXTENT
WE END UP BACK HERE IN THE
EXACT SAME SPOT SIX MONTHS FROM
NOW OR A YEAR FROM NOW OR AT
ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE,
RAISING IT EVEN FURTHER TO
$75,000 BECAUSE DES MOINES'
AND MERCER ISLAND ALSO RAISE
THERE IS TO $60,000 ABOVE AND
BEYOND OURS.
I'M FINE TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION BUT I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT IS NOT PURELY
BECAUSE OF A REACTIONARY. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- IT
HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SHOW THAT IT
IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.
SO I WILL RESTATE MY QUESTION.
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT CAN WE
EXPECT TO SEE AS A DIRECT
RESULT OF THIS 50,000-DOLLAR
LATERAL HIRING INCENTIVE
PROPOSAL?
>> OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO
HIRE MORE LATERAL TRANSFERS. SO
THEY WILL ATTRACT MORE. ONE OF
THE SLIDES SHOW THAT WE ARE
GETTING, ON AVERAGE, ONE
LATERAL APPLICATION A DAY
CURRENTLY. WE WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE THAT TO EVEN TWO A
POSSIBLE. AS TO YOUR COMMENT
ABOUT THE FUTURE, THERE ARE
SOME CALIFORNIA CITIES THAT ARE
PAYING INCENTIVES CLOSE TO
$100,000 TODAY. THE WHOLE
CHALLENGE OF HIRING POLICE
OFFICERS IS NOT UNIQUE TO
SEATTLE . IT IS HAPPENING IN
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND
ESPECIALLY IN MAJOR CITIES.
SOME ANALYSIS I HAVE READ SHOW
THAT WE ARE MAYBE A LITTLE
WORSE OFF THAN MANY COMPETING
MAJOR CITIES. CLEARLY IT IS A
CHALLENGE AND SO FAR THIS YEAR,
WE ARE STILL LOSING MORE
OFFICERS THEN WE ARE HIRING. WE
ARE STILL IN A NET DEFICIT. WE
NEED, AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON JUST SAID, TO USE EVERY
TOOL, EVERY INCENTIVE, EVERY
OPPORTUNITY WE CAN TO INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE APPLYING
SO THAT THEY CAN GO THROUGH THE
BACKGROUND IN THE FIELD
TRAINING THAT DIRECTOR FIELDS
REFERRED TO. EVEN OUT OF 100
APPLICANTS TODAY, WE WILL BE
DOING REALLY WELL IF WE HIRE
TWO OR THREE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
SO IS A CHALLENGE AND WE ARE
OBVIOUSLY UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.
WE ARE WORKING HARD. THE POLICE
RECRUITING UNIT IS WORKING
REALLY HARD. THEY ARE BRINGING
ON RETIRED DETECTIVES TO HELP
WITH THE BACKGROUND PROCESS IN
ORDER TO SPEEDED UP. CHIEF RAR
HAS ILLUMINATED THE PHASE OF ON
BOARDING. THEY HIRED OUTSIDE
SERVICE BUREAUS TO HELP WITH
SOME OF THE TECHNICAL
VERIFICATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND
CREDIT HISTORY AND CRIMINAL
HISTORY AND THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS. SO THEY ARE TAKING A
LOT OF STEPS TO IMPROVE THE ON
BOARDING PROCESS IN TERMS OF
TIME. SO WE ARE DOING WHAT WE
THINK IS NECESSARY. BUT I WILL
BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT
HIRING POLICE OFFICERS IN THE
UNITED STATES TODAY IS HARD
WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT
SOME OF THOSE CHANGES. I DID
NOT REALIZE SOME OF THOSE
CHANGES WERE HAPPENING AND I'M
GLAD TO HEAR IT. I WOULD LIKE
TO, OFF-LINE, TALK ABOUT WAYS
OF TRANSMITTING THE INFORMATION
TO COUNSEL ALSO. I THINK THAT
FALLS WITHIN SOME OF THE THINGS
REPORTING REQUIREMENT --
ARE THE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION LEGISLATION WAS
ASKING FOR. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW,
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING BESIDES
JUST MONEY? AND I WOULD LIKE TO
SAY THAT, BEFORE BE AT TOO FAR
OR BEFORE WE CLOSE, THAT I
WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS IS
IN OUR COMMITTEE TODAY. INSTEAD
OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE THIS
IS URGENT. BECAUSE IT WAS
RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PROGRAM IS
ENDING AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY
IS TO
PROTECT THE WELL-BEING AND
SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
AND ALSO BECAUSE THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE WAS ABSOLUTELY
CHOCK FULL OF OTHER
LEGISLATION. I DO WANT TO
MENTION EARLIER, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE DID ASK TO BE A
COSPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION
AND WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE
RECORD IN A PUBLIC MEETING AS
WELL .
>> YES, GO AHEAD.
>> ONE QUICK POINT OF
CLARIFICATION FOR WHAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER. OBVIOUSLY I
REPRESENT THE NORTH END. WE
ALSO SEE AND I CARE ABOUT THE
ENTIRE CITY.
THAT IS WHY I AM HERE
REPRESENTING THE D4 AND CARING
ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE IN THE CITY
AS WELL. SO I WANTED TO
MENTION. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE HAD
KIDS BEING SHOT AND KILLED AT
GARFIELD. AND COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S DISTRICT. AND
THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S DISTRICT.
THAT IS BY WAY OF EXAMPLE. AND
A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS WE ARE
LOSING ACROSS THE CITY AND A
LOT OF CRIME HAPPENING ACROSS
THE CITY. SO I DID NOT WANT IT
TO STAND THAT WE ARE JUST
TALKING ABOUT THE NORTH END.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL ACROSS
THE CITY. THOSE OF US THAT
REPRESENT PARTICULAR DISTRICTS,
WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT THE
DISTRICTS AND WE ARE HERE TO
REPRESENT ALL 750,000
APPROXIMATE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE . I DID ONE THAT NOTED
FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT, LET'S END THIS
DISCUSSION AND WILL TAKE THIS
UP AGAIN IN THE SPECIAL MEETING
ON
SEPTEMBER 23rd, CORRECT? THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION. IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN, GO AHEAD
AND ASK THEM SO WE CAN GET THEM
ON THE TABLE BEFORE A VOTE
BEFORE BUDGET.
>> THIS CONCLUDES -- FOR ME,
THIS CONCLUDES THE SPECIAL
SEPTEMBER 6 ANDTH MEETING OF
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
AND SPECIAL GOVERNANCE MEETING
UNLESS THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
THINGS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
BRING FORWARD.
>> THE NEXT MEETING IS 9:30
A.M. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A
SPECIAL MEETING. AND IF YOU
CAN'T ATTEND, PLEASE HAVE YOUR
OFFICE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE
AND LET US KNOW. WITH THAT, IT
IS 10:48 A.M. AND THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU
EVERYONE.