>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THE
SPECIAL GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS 9:33 A.M. I AM
SARA NELSON, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. THESE CORAL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
.
>> PRESENT.
>> FIVE PRESENT, NOT EXCUSED.
>> WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR
AGENDA WHICH IS A BRIEFING WE
NEED TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY
VOTE ON 120862 WHICH WOULD
EXTEND THE HIRING INCENTIVES
PROGRAM AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT
OF THE BONUS PROVIDED FOR
LATERAL HIRES. WITH THAT WE
WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT
ON THE AGENDA ITEM. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE REGISTERED TO
SPEAK?
>> WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS AND 10 VIRTUAL.
>> AS USUAL WE WILL START WITH
THE IN PERSON, LET'S GET TO
ALL OF THEM AND EVERYONE WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. GO AHEAD AND
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE.
>> I WILL CALL ON THE SPEAKERS
IN THE ORDER THEY SET UP TO
SPEAK STARTING WITH IN PERSON
COMMENTERS. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. WHEN YOU HEAR THE
CHIME YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT.
IF YOU EXCEED THAT TIME YOUR
MICROPHONE MAY BE CUT OFF SO WE
CAN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
IF YOU ARE OFFERING REMOTE
COMMENT PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE AND WE WILL BE
STARTING WITH THE IN PERSON
COMMENTERS, ALEX YOU ARE UP.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS ALEX, I
COME TO SPEAK NOT ABOUT MONEY
BUT AS MEN. PLACEMENT LESS
MONEY FOR POLICEMAN. PROBLEM IS
WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM . BONUSES,
NO BONUSES DON'T CHANGE
NOTHING. YOU SIT IN THIS
CHAMBER AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU DIFFERENT WHAT I SEE
BEFORE FOR 20 YEARS HERE. YOU
CANNOT CHANGE , YOU LOST YOUR
PRINCIPAL ON HOW TO MAKE CITY
BETTER. CHANGE COLOR OF YOUR
CLOSET BUT FROM THE SAME CIRCLE
IS EXACTLY SAME , EXACTLY WHO
YOU ARE. IT MAKES ME SICK
BECAUSE I REMEMBER FIRST
MEETING WHEN YOU COME TO POWER.
PEOPLE WERE VERY HAPPY WE HAVE
MORE CONSERVATIVE COUNSEL. SAY
YOU DIFFERENT, THIS IS A
PROBLEM. BONUS CAN BE 1 MILLION
BUCKS BUT YOU HAVE THE SAME
PEOPLE COME PICK MONEY NEVER
CHANGE PRINCIPAL. IT DOES NOT
MATTER WHO YOU ARE. DO YOU
UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEAN? YOU
CHANGE CITIES YOU NOT DOING
NOTHING ABOUT THIS. SPEAK ABOUT
THE BONUSES IN EVERY DISTRICT,
THE Q AND A SPEAK ABOUT THIS ,
IT'S MONEY SAME AS BEFORE. BY
DEFINITION [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
STOP SEATTLE , YOU BY
DEFINITION IDIOT. IT'S A
PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT WE HAVE LILY
HAYWARD.
>> GOOD MORNING SHARON NELSON
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MY NAME
IS LILY HAYWARD SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF MORE THAN 2500
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE METRO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SUPPORT
OF THE BILL. ARE SHORTAGE
IMPACTS ALL MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY. IT MEANS WAITING ON
THE NONEMERGENCY LINE FOR HOURS
AFTER A BREAK-IN, TRAINING
EMPLOYEES IN DE-ESCALATION,
HIRING PRIVATE SECURITY AND
PANGS GUY RECKONING INSURANCE
RATES AFTER CONTINUOUS
BREAK-INS. SOME OF YOU HAVE
HEARD THESE STORIES AND
MEETINGS , SOME RESTAURANT
OWNERS EVEN SAID THEY DEEPEN
THEIR BUSINESSES TO DETER
BREAK-INS. WE SUPPORT THE ALL
ABOVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY
AND THAT MUST INCLUDE
ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGHLY
QUALIFIED POLICE OFFICERS. WE
NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH ME
THE PARTIES IN WASHINGTON AND
IN OTHER STATES AND MAKE THESE
HIRING INCENTIVES PERMANENT.
PLEASE PASS THIS LEGISLATION
AND CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO
MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THAT CONCLUDES IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, PLEASE PROCEED TO
THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER
PRESENT IS JULIA. JULIET YOU
HAVE BEEN ON MUTED . DIED.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6, I WOULD
LIKE TO START RIGHT QUOTING
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON, WE
HAVE TO STOP DOING WHAT WERE
DOING, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM THAT DOES
NOT GET BETTER REQUIRES THAT WE
STOP. EVALUATE OUR INVESTMENT
AND EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT WE
WANT TO CONTINUE OR REDIRECT
THOSE DOLLARS. LAST THURSDAY WE
LEARNED THAT SPD DEVELOPED [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FROM PRIVATE
SOURCES WITH AN UNKNOWN PRICE
TACK BUT NEVER TURNED IT ON.
THE INTERNAL REPORTING HAS HAD
HIRING BONUSES HAVEN'T HELPED
THEM TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE
IN OFFICE. IF OUR COUNCILS
UNIFYING PRINCIPLE IS FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND RESULTS, AND
THAT INCLUDES 40 MILLION A YEAR
THAT WAS SPENT ON THE SALARIES
OF OFFICERS WHO WERE NOT IN
FACT HIRED WHICH HAS BEEN AN
ONGOING ISSUE, WHY DOES NO ONE
ASK THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
EFFICACY OF OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT AS WE COMMIT MORE
FUNDS. WHY IS THE CHAMBER
SUDDENLY THING YOU CAN'T EXPECT
US TO IMPROVE THE PROBLEM BUT
THIS IS WORKING WHEN ANYONE
SITTING DOWNTOWN CAN SEE THAT
IT'S NOT. IF FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CASTLE
THAN I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHY
THIS IS HAPPENING AND IF THE
PRINCIPAL IS NOT FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW WHAT WE ARE OPERATING
FROM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT VIRTUAL
PUBLIC COMMENT OR IS BJ. BJ YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED .
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BJ
, A HOMEOWNER AND CALLING ON
THE COUNCIL TO REJECT 120862
EACH WOULD GIVE THE COPS HIRING
BONUSES. THE COST OF TO THE
CITY'S $1.5 MILLION A YEAR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS LAST WEEK SAID
THIS IS BUDGET NEUTRAL BECAUSE
IT'S COMING FROM GHOST CAP
SLUSH FUND OR SALARY SAVINGS,
THAT'S A LOT. IT'S NOT EVEN A
GOOD LIE, COUNSEL CAN TAKE AWAY
THIS FUND AND SHIFT BETWEEN
BUDGETS AND HIS COUNSEL'S JOB
TO CONTROL THE PURSE AND THE
SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY WHICH YOU
ALL CLAIM TO RUN ON. SAW THE
SHIFTING OF MONEY BETWEEN
DEPARTMENTS LAST MONTH. NO
PROBLEMS DEFINING STUDENT
MENTAL HEALTH BY $8 MILLION.
COUNSEL IS SAYING THIS MONEY
HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED SO
LEAVING IT THERE IS BUDGET
NEUTRAL BUT NO THEY TOOK IT
AWAY. LAST MONTH COUNSEL ALSO
GAVE SPD OVER $1 MILLION OF
ADDITIONAL BUDGET EVEN THOUGH
THEY HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN SALARY SAVINGS FOR THESE
BONUSES ARE ALREADY ACTUALLY
HAVING BUDGET IMPACTS. THAT
MILLION DOLLARS TO NOT HAVE TO
GO TO THEM BECAUSE THEY
COULD'VE COVERED IT OUT OF ITS
SALARY SAVINGS. BUT THEY GOT
MORE MONEY. WHAT ARE THEY DOING
WITH THAT ADDITIONAL SALARY
SAVINGS ? IN THIS CONSTANT
THROWING MONEY AT SPD AND
LETTING THEM KEEP THE MONEY IS
HOW THEIR BUDGET HAS GROWN TO
RECORD LEVELS EVEN AS THE
NUMBER OF COPS HAS DROPPED.
ESSENTIAL STAFF ALWAYS USED TO
SAY AT THE START OF THE BUDGET
THAT SPD'S BUDGET WAS ENTIRELY
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] AND THIS WAS
MEANT TO IMPLY IF YOU WANTED TO
REVIEW IT IT MEANT YOU WOULD
HAVE TO TAKE AWAY COPS THE
NUMBER OF COPS HAS DROPPED BUT
THE BUDGET HAS CONTINUED TO
GROW. SOMEHOW THE FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY COUNSEL HAS
NEVER DECIDED TO ASK ABOUT
TAPPING. VOTING FOR THESE BILLS
.
>> NEXT VIRTUAL PUBLIC
COMMENTOR IS AIDAN FALLER . GO
AHEAD.
>> A COUPLE OF REMINDERS. THE
BIGGEST WASTES OF POLICE TIME
IS WHERE AM RIGHT NOW. SWEEPS
CUT THERE ARE OPTIONS BUT IF
YOU LEAVE THE CAMP ALONE FOR A
YEAR OR TWO, THEY BECOME SLUMS
. YOU CARE WHERE THIS HAPPENED
AND DECIDE WHERE IT HAPPENED.
IF YOU LET IT HAPPEN THOSE WHO
STILL WILL EVENTUALLY STOP
STEALING AND JUST PAY PEOPLE
NOT TO A BASIC INCOME, SOUNDS
CRAZY BUT IT'S TRUE. IT WOULD
BE CHEAPER IN THE BUDGET TO
GIVE EVERYBODY HOUSING,
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND FOOD
AND SPEND THE MONEY WE SPEND
INCREASINGLY ON POLICE,
PRISONS, COURT. THE OTHER THING
IS HOW IN CIRCLES YOU SEEM TO
BE GOING . YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN
EVERYTHING WE LEARNED FOUR
YEARS AGO ABOUT SYSTEMIC
RACISM, THAT WAS NOT SOME
IDEOLOGICAL GAME. THERE ARE
INHERENT AND UNCHANGEABLE
THINGS ABOUT THE WAY THE LAWS
ARE WRITTEN SO THAT WHEN POLICE
ARE JUST DOING THEIR JOB
ENFORCING THE LOSS, THAT IS
SYSTEMIC RACISM INHERENTLY
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE ECONOMY
IS THAT UP BASED ON SLAVERY AND
THINGS THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM
IT, WE CANNOT CHANGE THIS WITH
ANY KIND OF SPECIAL WORDS OR
SPECIAL REFORM LAWS BECAUSE
THAT'S NOT WHERE THE PROBLEM
CAME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE PROBLEM IS INEQUALITY . YOU
CAN CHECK EVERY SINGLE BIT OF
THIS IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.
SUFFOLK UPDATED. I DON'T
EXPECT YOU TO LISTEN BUT I WANT
TO LEAVE A RECORD FOR THE NEXT
TIME.
>> NEXT VIRTUAL COMMENTOR IS
LILIA . YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED
LILIA .
>> I AM IN DISTRICT FOR AND ASK
YOU TO VOTE NO ON CB 120862.
THAT'S HOW YOU STREAMLINE COPS
WHO ARE ESCAPING ACCOUNTABILITY
IN THEIR HOMELAND DISTRICTS.
DON'T SEEM MOTIVATED TO CHANGE
THAT. KEVIN DIED HAD SIX
INVESTIGATIONS IN TWO YEARS
INTO ON-DUTY COLLISIONS AND DID
NOT HAVE A VALID DRIVERS
LICENSE WHEN HE HIT AND KILLED
HER GOING ONLY FIVE MILES PER
HOUR. THIS PROGRAM GIVES HIM A
SIGNING PROCESS. THIS IS THE
KIND OF BEHAVIOR YOUR ENCOURAGE
AND REWARD WITH THESE
INCENTIVES. THIS MONEY COMING
OUT OF THE SALARY SAVINGS DOES
NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT SPD IS
ABSORBING ALL POSSIBLE CITY
MONEY. YOU DEFEND STUDENT
MENTAL HEALTH AND CATALYZE
AFFORDABLE SOCIAL HOUSING IN
LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS CLOSE TO
BUDGET DEFICITS IN YOUR FEUD TO
ADD SERVICES TO THE EXCLUSION
ZONES BUT YOU'VE GIVEN HUGE
SUMS TO SPD ALREADY THIS YEAR.
THE HUNDRED MILLION BACKPAY WAS
EVEN LARGER THAN THE CITY HAD
ANTICIPATED AND SET FUNDS ASIDE
FOR. IT HAS NO BARRIER TO
EXCEEDING THAT FUND AND YOU'LL
HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER ROOM TO
CUT TO FUND THIS DEPARTMENT IN
HIRING COPS THAT ARE ALREADY
AVOIDING ACCOUNTABILITY BEFORE
THEY EVEN START YOUR. VOTE NO
ON CB 120862. ALSO ON THE CCTV
ORDINANCE. IT WILL OPEN THE
DOOR TO EXTREME PRIVACY
VIOLATION IS ANOTHER WAY OF SPD
TO ABSORB EVERY POSSIBLE
DOLLAR. THE OF THE REST OF MY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT COMMENTOR IS
TRIMANA .
>> HELLO. I AM A LONGTIME
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE. I REJECT
THIS AMENDMENT AND WE SHOULD
NOT SPEND. WHERE WE GIVING
50,000 HIRING BONUS POLICE WHEN
WE HAVE PROGRAMS CAMPAIGNING
RIGHT NOW , JUST FIVE OF THESE
WITH THE CENTER OF 50,000 FOR
FUNDING. ORGANIZATIONS FOR
GROWTH AND HEALING. I WORK WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE AND I HAVE
FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE NEEDING
MORE NEGATIVE. KEEP THEM OFF
THE STREETS AND OUT OF OUR
BYLINE SPACE FOR CREATIVITY AND
PROVIDING FOOD. POLICE DO NOT
KEEP US ALL SAFE WHEN WE ARE
GIVING THEM AN INCENTIVE TO
JOIN A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A
HISTORY OF BEING HURTFUL TO THE
COMMUNITY. I KNOW HUNDREDS OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD
BENEFIT FROM THIS SURPLUS OF
MONEY . OUR YOUTH ARE ASKING
FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPTIONS AND JOB TRAINING. THERE
WERE ASKING FOR MORE TREATY
SUPPORT. OF THE NEXT SEVERAL
WEEKS YOU WILL HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE
AND ORGANIZERS WHO ARE
PASSIONATE ABOUT A BUDGET THAT
AMPLIFIES THE VOICES AND DEMAND
IN THE CITY. $50,000 COP
BONUSES AS I HEAR, THEY DO NOT
STOP VIOLENCE. ULTIMATELY
POLICE ARE VIOLENCE WORKERS,
THE RESPONSE DEVICES WERE
VIOLENCE OR THE THREAT OF
VIOLENCE. FUNDING THAT WORKS
WHAT WE KEEP GETTING A SYSTEM
THAT KEEPS PROVING IS NOT DOING
WHAT THE CITY. UNDERSTAND THAT
THEY TAKE ON TYPE BUT YIELD THE
REST OF MY TIME.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KATIE FOLLOWED
BY ALICE. KATIE?
>> HELLO. I AM CALLING IN TODAY
TO REJECT COUNSEL BILL 120862.
SAY NO TO PROMOTE THE HIRING
BONUSES FOR COPS . WHERE IS THE
FUNDING FOR FORMAL HOUSING,
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH LIBRARIES
AND OUTREACH TO AND HOUSED IN A
RESTRICTED BRING BACK FUNDING
FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. $50,000 IS
THE ANNUAL SALARY OF MANY
HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WITH MONTHLY RENT AT 2000 PER
MONTH, THE SUM COULD HOUSE T5
FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH. INSTEAD OF
GIVING THIS POST TO 12
OFFICERS, CHOOSE TO HOUSE 25
PEOPLE FOR A YEAR IN THAT.
POLICE DO NOT KEEP US SAFE,
WHAT KEEPS US SAFE IS ACCESS TO
HEALTHY FOOD, AND AFFORDABLE
ROOF OVER OUR HEADS AND ACCESS
TO PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
CARE, HARM REDUCTION SERVICES
AND OUTREACH TO VULNERABLE
NEIGHBORS . PLEASE DO NOT PASS
THIS BILL AND INVESTING CARE
FOR THE PEOPLE INSTEAD. I WANT
TO LIVE IN A SEATTLE WERE
PEOPLE CARE FOR EACH OTHER, NOT
CRIMINALIZE OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THANK YOU.
YOU MY TIME.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALICE AND TO
CONCLUDE WE HAVE GABRIEL.
ALICE, YOUR NEXT.
>> COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFTER THE
LAST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THIS
COMMITTEE, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALL
MADE COMMENTS EXPLAINING THAT
THE NEW HIRING BONUSES ARE
ALREADY PAID FOR. I'M SO
FRUSTRATED BY THIS . AS A
TAXPAYER I JUST OBJECT, YOU ALL
KNOW THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING
TO FALL WAY SHORT IN BUDGET
FEES AND YOU'LL BE MAKING HARD
DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU FIND.
YOU KNOW IT IS COMPLETELY IN
YOUR POWER TO NOT DO THESE
HIRING BUDGET BONUSES AND
INSTEAD AND THIS JOKE OF THE
GENERAL FUND THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY FUNDS THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SPIN
THIS ON THE THINGS YOU WILL
OTHERWISE CUT. THAT IS A
DECISION THAT YOU WILL ALL BE
MAKING. IT IS A FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE DECISION TO AWARD
THESE HIRING BUDGETS BEFORE YOU
DECIDE WHAT OTHER THINGS THAT
ARE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND
YOU WILL CUT. I'M JUST ASHAMED
OF MY CITY COUNCIL TODAY. I AM
PARTICULARLY ASHAMED THAT MY
TESTIMONY WAS CALLED EGREGIOUS
BY COUNCILMEMBER ROB SAKA. THAT
WAS ERRONEOUS AND HONESTLY
BASICALLY DECLAMATORY. THIS IS
NOT OKAY. FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE . THE WAY YOU
THINK ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS OF
THE CITY IS NOT OKAY , THAT'S
ALL I'VE GOT.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST VIRTUAL
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING IS
GABRIEL JONES. YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED . PRESS*SIX TO UNMUTE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> MY NAME IS GABRIEL AND
RECENTLY A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF
MINE CONSULTED OUTSIDE OF THE
HOUSE AND WHEN I WENT TO GO
REPORT THAT TO MAKE SURE HE GOT
THE JUSTICE HE DESERVED WE WENT
TO EVERY SINGLE POLICE PRECINCT
IN THE CITY, NOT A SINGLE ONE
WAS OPEN TO TAKING REPORTS.
WHAT I DID SEE THROUGHOUT MY
JOURNEY , A REALLY NICELY
WRAPPED FIBER TRUCK. WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY APPARENTLY TO
MAKE SURE CITIZENS COMPORT
CRIMES THAT HAPPENED TO THE BUT
WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE COPS CAN OWN
CYBER TRUCKS. IT'S 80 K TO BUY
A CYBER TRUCK, WE TALKED ABOUT
GOOD GOVERNANCE WORK TO BECOME
A DRINKING GAME BUT WE DON'T
ACTUALLY DO IT, THERE ARE SO
MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO DO
SOMETHING WITH MONEY BUT
INSTEAD WE JUST FUNNEL OVER AND
OVER AGAIN AND THEY DON'T
ACTIVELY USE THE MONEY THEY
HAVE. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND KNOW
THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE. BUT TIME
FOR THE COPS IT'S GIVING THEM
ANOTHER HUGE BONUS THAT WAY
COPS WHO COMMIT CRIMES IN OTHER
DISTRICTS CAN MOVE HERE AND
WORK FOR US AND WE'LL PAY
THEM. ABSOLUTELY INSANE, IT
DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE AND WE
NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE, LOADOUT.
>> REACHED THE END OF THE
LEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED. WILL
THE CLERK READ THE TITLE OF
ITEM WANTED TO RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
COUNSEL BILL 120862 AND
ORDINANCE RELATED TO
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAKING
PERMANENT A HIRING INCENTIVES
PROGRAM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126654, BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> LAST TIME WE HAD A
PRESENTATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ON THIS, THIS IS OUR SECOND
DISCUSSION AND WERE HOPING TO
VOTE TODAY. COLLEAGUES I FOUGHT
HARD TO REESTABLISH THE HIRING
BONUSES OR INCENTIVE PROGRAM
THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE IN
PREVIOUS YEARS. AS A MEANS TO
BETTER COMPETE WITH NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS WHO PRETTY MUCH
ALL HAVE SOME FORM OF HIRING
BONUSES OR INCENTIVE PROGRAM
PUTTING US AT A DISADVANTAGE.
WE ARE ALL COMPETING FOR A
LIMITED POOL OF RECRUITS AND
THAT'S WHY WAS SO FOCUSED ON
THIS. IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT I
AM VERY INVESTED IN EXTENDING
THIS PROGRAM WHICH IS SET TO
EXPIRE THIS DECEMBER. THAT IS
WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. DATA
SHOWS THAT HIRING BONUSES DO
WORK AS A MEANS TO ATTRACT MORE
APPLICANTS, THAT IS THE TOP OF
THE FUNNEL LEADING DOWN TO
ULTIMATE HIRES. I JUST WANT TO
HOLD THE SLIDE UP TO REMIND
PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE DIPS
IN THE MONTH-TO-MONTH NUMBERS,
THE GENERAL TREND LINE FROM
WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS
ESTABLISHED IS UP AND THAT'S
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. I AM GOING
WITH THAT. REMINDER THAT THESE
BONUSES ARE FUNDED BY THE
SALARY SAVINGS FROM VACANT
POSITIONS IN SPD BECAUSE WE ARE
STILL LOSING MORE OFFICERS THAN
WE CAN HIRE, WE ARE WORKING ON
ALL FRONTS TO REVERSE THAT
TREND. THE MONEY THAT IS IN THE
SALARY SAVINGS BUCKET IS
PRIMARILY USED FOR OVERTIME.
LATERAL RECRUITS ARE ESPECIALLY
VALVE WILL VALUABLE BECAUSE IT
GOT TO THE ACADEMY AND CAN HIT
THE STREETS FASTER, PLAIN AND
SIMPLE. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE SO
SOUGHT AFTER. WE HAVE GOT TO
ENSURE THAT THE BONUS WE OFFER
IS COMPETITIVE OR SUPERIOR TO
THE BONUSES OFFERED BY
JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE
ESSENTIALLY IT'S A NUMBERS
GAME PLAIN AND SIMPLE AND WE
WANT TO BE IN THE POSITION OF
CHOOSING THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR
OUR POLICE FORCE THAT REFLECTS
THE VALUES THAT WE STRIVE TO
INSTITUTIONALIZE. SO THAT IS
WHY THIS LEGISLATION IS BEFORE
US. THE HIRING BONUSES IN THIS
LEGISLATION FOR LATERALS IS
SUPPOSED TO GO FROM 35,000 TO
55,000. EXECUTIVE EXPLAINED
THAT RATIONAL LAST TIME. I WILL
BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT, MONEY
ISN'T EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES
TO BRINGING ON MORE OFFICERS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE THINGS
AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO DO WITH SO MUCH OF THE
LEGISLATION WE HAVE PASSED THIS
YEAR. PEOPLE DO NOT MAKE A
DECISION TO WORK FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BASED
SOLELY ON THE HIRING
INCENTIVES, THERE IS EVIDENCE
FROM A SURVEY THAT SUGGESTS IT
DID FACTOR INTO THEIR DECISION.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO REVISIT
THAT CONVERSATION, THERE WAS A
PRESENTATION THAT WAS PRESENTED
ON SEPTEMBER 16th , JUST
PUTTING THAT DATE OUT SO PEOPLE
CAN FIND IT. THAT WAS A SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE. I
WILL MOVE THIS LEGISLATION AND
ALLOW FOR MORE DISCUSSION AS
DESIRED. WITH THAT I MOVED THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED PASSAGE
OF THE COUNSEL BILL. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE
OUR STAFF ANALYST HERE AT THE
TABLE TO DESCRIBE MORE WITH
THIS LEGISLATION DOES AND THAT
WE WILL ADDRESS A POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT AFTER THE FACT. FIRST
I WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. GO AHEAD
COUNCILMEMBER MARITZA RIVERA.
>> I WILL SUPPORT THIS TODAY
BECAUSE IT IS A FACT THAT WE
NEED MORE OFFICERS IN THE CITY.
I HEAR FROM FOLKS IN THE
DISTRICT OVERWHELMINGLY, THE
CONVERSATIONS I HAVE WITH THE
CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT FOR IS
THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CRIME
HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY AND
IN DISTRICT FOR. POLICE IS NOT
ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CRIME WE
ARE SEEING. THESE ARE TOOLS WE
ARE TRYING TO UTILIZE TO HIRE
MORE POLICE OFFICERS TO ADDRESS
THE CRIME AND SITUATIONS WE ARE
FACING ACROSS THE CITY. [
CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
SO LIKE I SAID FOR THOSE
REASONS, I'LL BE SUPPORTING
THIS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TAMASO, DID I HIT ALL THE
POINTS THAT THE RELEVANT POINTS
OF THIS LEGISLATION?
>> YES.
>> ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
>> TAMASO JOHNSON. I'LL JUST
NOTE A COUPLE OF OTHER ELEMENTS
IN ADDITION -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
EXCUSE ME. THE CITY HAD HAS
SOME VERSION OF A HIRING BONUS
PROGRAM FOR SPD OFFICERS IN
PLACE SINCE 2019. THE CURRENT
BONUS STRUCTURE IS SET TO
SUNSET AT THE END OF THIS YEAR
AND IS CURRENTLY $30,000 BONUS
FOR LATERAL HIRES AND $7,500
FOR NEW OFFICERS. THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD INCREASE THE
LATERAL OFFICER BONUS FROM
$30,000 TO $50,000 RETAIN THE
$7,500 BONUS FOR NEW OFFICERS.
AND MAKE THE PROGRAM PERMANENT.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER TECHNICAL
CHANGES IN THE BONUS PROGRAM
THAT THE LEGISLATION
ACCOMPLISHES. SUBSTANTIVELY THE
ONLY OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THE
MODIFICATION TO THE CLAW BACK
PROVISION. ONE OF THE AREAS
THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE
EXECUTIVE'S EVALUATION OF THE
CURRENT PROGRAM WAS TO NOTE
THAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE
SHORTER CLAW BACK PERIODS,
MEANING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT
AN OFFICER NEEDS TO STAY IN
EMPLOYMENT WITH SPD AFTER
RECEIVING THE BONUS TO RETAIN
IT.
BETWEEN ONE AND THREE YEARS ARE
MORE COMMON THAN THE FIVE YEAR
CLAW BACK. THIS LEGISLATION
WOULD RETAIN THE FIVE YEAR CLAW
BACK PROGRAM BUT WOULD PRORATE
IT SO THE OFFICER COULD RECEIVE
A BONUS COMMENSURATE TO THE
NUMBER OF YEARS UP TO FIVE THAT
THEY STAY WITH SPD IF THEY WERE
TO LEAVE AFTER RECEIVING THE
BONUS. AND THAT IS -- THAT'S
IT FOR THIS BILL. I WILL NOTE
JUST TO REITERATE THE FISCAL
IMPACT IS $1.5 MILLION
PROJECTED AS YOU NOTED THAT'S
COMING FROM SPD SALARY SAVINGS.
THIS YEAR, AND INTO THE FUTURE
AS FAR AS I KNOW, SPD HAS
PREDICTED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE
SALARY SAVINGS INTO THE NEAR
TERM. SO THIS $1.5 MILLION
FISCAL WOULD NOT REPRESENT A
NET INCREASE INTO THE SPD
OVERALL BUDGET. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL AND ALSO
OUR HARD WORK. BECAUSE WE ARE
HOPING FOR THE DAY WHEN WE
DON'T HAVE THAT BIG POT OF
MONEY THAT IS COMING FROM
VACANT POSITIONS AND AT THAT
POINT WE CAN EVALUATE WHETHER
OR NOT THIS PROGRAM IS
NECESSARY BUT I DON'T SEE THAT
CHANGING WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR
OR TWO FOR SURE. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON -- PUT MY HAND DOWN.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. I THINK DEFINITELY WANT
TO ADDRESS AND MAKE SURE THAT
OUR COUNCIL -- AND IT'S
PROBABLY GOING TO BE OUR
COUNCIL PARTICULARLY DOING A
BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING TO
THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ABOUT --
AND I'LL TAKE THIS ON MYSELF
-- COMMUNICATING REGARDING THE
INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING ON
THE HOLISTIC APPROACH OF PUBLIC
SAFETY IN ADDITION TO OUR
POLICE HIRING. BUT THE FOOD
INVESTMENTS, THE AFTER-SCHOOL
PROGRAMS THE GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND MAKING
SURE THAT IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS, THAT WE ARE DOING OUR
DUE DILIGENCE BECAUSE WE ALL
BELIEVE IN THE HOLISTIC
APPROACH OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THAT INCLUDES OUR POLICE ANFIRE
AND EMT AND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS
AND THE -- AND THE AND PIECE
THAT I THINK IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. BUT THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE AS A CITY CONTINUE TO MAKE
THOSE INVESTMENTS AND WE JUST
-- YOU KNOW 7 DAY FORECAST A
BETTER JOB OF ARTICULATING
THOSE AND SHOWING WHERE THE
SERVICES ARE AND SHOWING THOSE
INVESTMENTS AND HOW THEY ARE
ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CARE TEAM.
AND OUR HELP ONE WITH OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S
INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. AND I THINK PEOPLE
HAVE THIS NOTION OF, YOU KNOW,
POLICE OFFICERS, WE NEED MORE
OUT THERE FIGHTING CRIME. WE
NEED MORE DETECTIVES. PEOPLE
BEHIND THE SCENES. THAT ARE A
LOT OF THE DETECTIVE WORK FROM
DIFFERENT UNITS AND FROM THE --
THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION TO
THE DETECTIVE SOLVING -- JUST
YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE SCENES AND
I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
SEE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL MIGHT
HEAR DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT A
LOT OF THE CRIMES BEING SOLVED
BEHIND THE SCENES THAT I DON'T
THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC SEES
IN THE FRONT SO I JUST WANTED
TO I GUESS EXPRESS THAT COMMENT
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE
HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT THAT HAD VALID
STATEMENTS REGARDING OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND REGARDING THE
CONCERN ABOUT THE INVESTMENT
PIECE AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU
KNOW, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD,
THAT THEY HAVE THE COMMUNITY
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO
FEEL SAFE WHICH IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. SO I JUST -- I WANT
THIS TO BE AN AND CONVERSATION
AND I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT AND I KNOW WHEN I
TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES IT'S AN
AND AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH
THAT FORWARD. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP AGAIN
THE DETECTIVES' ISSUE BECAUSE
IN 2022, 100 OFFICERS THAT HAD
BEEN IN THE SPECIALIZED
INVESTIGATIONS UNITS WERE MOVED
TO PATROL BECAUSE OUR 911
RESPONSE TIMES WERE GETTING SO
LONG. SO WITHOUT THAT --
WITHOUT THAT INVESTIGATION
CAPACITY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO TRACK HOW THE GUNS AND THE
FENTANYL IS HITTING OUR STREETS
AND MOUNT CASES AGAINST THE
PERPETRATORS AT THE TOP. SO I
DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT
IS A PROBLEM WE'RE HEAPING TO
SOLVE AND -- HOPING TO SOLVE
AND LATERALS I WOULD IMAGINE
BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
LATERAL HIRES WOULD BE ABLE TO
PERHAPS FULFILL THOSE
INVESTIGATION FUNCTIONS MORE
QUICKLY THAN RECRUITS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? COSPONSOR
OF THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
CHAIR NELSON. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
JOHNSON, FOR COMING TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS OUR SECOND
HEARING AND I APPRECIATE YOU
NOTING AND YOU AS WELL COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, REGARDING A LOT OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS REGARDING
THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING OF
THIS -- THE S PD SALARY PROVISO
IS REAL AND IT'S THERE AND AS
YOU NOTICED WE MAY GET TO A DAY
THAT WE WILL GET TO THE DAY --
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHEN --
WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE INCENTIVE
PIECE IS GOING AWAY. MY
EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY
THERE'S TONS OF INCENTIVES AND
THEY CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. WE
REALLY HAVE TO THINK OF THEM IN
COMBINATION BECAUSE IN TODAY'S
WORLD, RETENTION PROGRAMS
REALLY ARE RECRUITMENT
PROGRAMS. AND VICE VERSA. SO
THAT'S ONE KEY. THANK YOU FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THAT. ALSO -- YOU
KNOW, IN THE BILL, IT TALKS
ABOUT REGARDING COMING BACK WE
WILL DEFINITELY BE AS A COUNCIL
AND AS A COMMITTEE, EITHER
GOVERNANCE AND/OR PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE YOU KNOW HAVING SPD
FROM ACCOUNTABILITY AND
OVERSIGHT PERSPECTIVE, WE WILL
BE FOLLOWING THIS. THIS GOES TO
THE GOOD GOVERNANCE YOU KNOW
FALLING ON THE BUDGET PIECE.
AND WE WILL HAVE THESE NUMBERS
AND WE WILL BE LOOKING TO SEE
IF THINK -- THEY ARE YOU KNOW
ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS. THIS
KIND OF ATTENTION, YOU KNOW,
WAS BEHIND OUR RECRUITMENT BILL
AND THESE ARE THIS THINGS WE
NEED TO CONTINUE IN TERMS OF
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
ONE THING AND THIS COMES BACK
TO MY MILITARY EXPERIENCE WITH
BONUSES AND THE LIKE, WHICH I
SHOULD NOTE THE INTELLIGENCE
FOLKS NEVER GOT -- IT WAS
ALWAYS THE AVIATORS AND OTHERS
THAT GOT THESE BONUSES TO WHICH
I WAS SOMEWHAT JEALOUS. ONE OF
THE THINGS IS LIKE IN THE NOTE,
IN THE -- SUMMARY FISCAL NOTE,
IT TALKS TO THE POINT THAT THE
INCENTIVES SHALL NOT EXCEED
$50,000 PER HIRE. ONE OF THE
THINGS OFTENTIMES IN TERMS OF
BONUSES IS WHAT YOU BRING TO
THE TABLE. AND THAT WOULD GO UP
TO $50,000. SO IS THERE A
LITTLE BIT OF A SCALE IN TERMS
OF WHAT THIS RECRUIT BRINGS?
MAYBE EDUCATION, ADDITIONAL
EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS,
TRAINING, SPECIALIZED TRAINING?
MY BROTHER WAS A FORMER
SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND HE GOT A
LOT OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING.
WHICH WAS MADE HIM VALUABLE. IS
THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN
TERMS OF LIKE A GRADUATED SCALE
UP TO $50,000.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE VIE
COUNCILMEMBER COAT -- QUESTION
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THE
LEGISLATION DOESN'T ADDRESS
THAT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS
YOU SAID THOUGH THAT UNDER THE
CURRENT $30,000 SYSTEM SWEELS
THE PROPOSED $50,000 PAY SCALE
IT'S A MAXIMUM AMOUNT AND
CHIEF RESERVES DISCRETION TO,
YOU KNOW, DETERMINE THE ACTUAL
NUMBER. I BELIEVE IT IS AS YOU
SAID BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS OF
THE POTENTIAL LATERAL HIRE
APPLICANT. THERE'S NOT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AT THIS
TIME IN THE LEGISLATION. BUT
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
THE EXECUTIVE PLANS TO
IMPLEMENT THIS.
>> THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING
TOO. THAT COULD BE A QUESTION
AS WE FOLLOW THIS PROGRAM AS
WELL JUST TO ENSURE AND THAT
KIND OF GOES TO THE POINT THAT,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CALLERS
AND SOME OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS, IS IT'S NOT
AUTOMATICALLY THAT A LATERAL
TRANSFER IS 50K. IT COULD BE
BASED ON WHAT THAT PERSON
BRINGS TO THE FORCE. LASTLY,
AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I
TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS I HEAR
FROM A LOT OF FOLKS, I THINK
THE LATERALS ARE, YOU KNOW,
SEATTLE PD IS BECOMING WAY MORE
ATTRACTIVE TO LATERALS FOR TWO
DIFFERENT REASONS. ONE, WHAT
MAY BE HAPPENING IN THEIR OWN
JURISDICTIONS. AND I WON'T
MENTION WHAT JURISDICTIONS MAY
BE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES WHICH
MAY INCREASE THE DESIRE FOR
THOSE OFFICERS TO LOOK AT
SEATTLE. BUT OUR FOCUS IS ON
WHAT WE CAN CONTROL AND THAT IS
WHAT WE DO. AND I APPRECIATE
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S NOTE
OF THIS CHART THAT SHOWS THE
INCREASE, PARTICULARLY FROM,
YOU KNOW, THE TIME OF COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S INITIAL INCENTIVE
BILL, BUT I ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE
STEEP CURVE AFTER MARCH OF THIS
YEAR BECAUSE I HEARD FROM MANY
FOLKS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE
NEW COUNCIL AND NEW COMMITTEE,
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, NEW
GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
THEY'RE ON STANDBY. BECAUSE WE
ALL RAN ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE
ALL HAD IDEAS AND WE'RE GOING
TO PUSH ON THESE BUT THEY'RE
ON STANDBY. BUT WITH THE STAND
UP TO THE COMMITTEES, THE
QUESTIONS THE COMMENTS MADE,
BOTH IN THIS COMMITTEE AND THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE,
OPENING AND CLOSING ALL THE
ABOVE COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, ON THE DAIS. THAT
SHOWED INTENT. AND THEN LIKE
WITH THE VACANT BUILDING
ABATEMENT BILL, AND THEN ALPR.
STREET RACING. AND MORE -- AND
SCORE JAIL. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD
THE NEWS FROM PRIOR TO
REGARDING KING COUNTY JAIL.
SEPARATELY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY
MORE RECENTLY, SODA AND SOAP
AND WE ALSO HAVE IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE REALTIME CRIME
CENTER AND CCTV.
SO THIS IS REALLY SHOWING THESE
POTENTIAL L AT TRANSFERS TO OUR
JURISDICTION THAT WE'RE SERIOUS
ABOUT YOUNG TAKING ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES WE
HAVE INHERITED AND THAT WE'RE
ACTING ON THEM AND I THINK THAT
IS THE KEY THING FOR US TO
ATTRACT OFFICERS, PARTICULARLY
LATERAL TRANSFERS, IS SHOW THAT
WE'RE TAKING ACTION AS IT
RELATES TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
POSTURE AND OUR GOAL OF
CREATING A SAFE BASE IN OUR
CITY. SO -- THANK YOU MR.
JOHNSON FOR THE SUMMARY AND --
MY COLLEAGUES FOR SETTING UP I
BELIEVE CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO ACT ON IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. AND
I WILL PROUDLY BE VOTING FOR
THIS LEGISLATION TODAY.
MAINTAINING COLLEAGUES AS YOU
KNOW, MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY
IS A KEY AND CORE CHARTER
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ALL HAVE
FOR OUR CITY. AND IN JUST NINE
MONTHS, OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS
TAKEN STRIDENT ACTION, POLICY
STRIDES, TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES IN OUR
CITY. AND OUR COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE TICKED OFF
A COUPLE OF THEM. SCRATCHES THE
SURFACE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING ON
-- FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY
STANDPOINT. BUT COLLEAGUES
UNDERPINNING ALL THESE POLICIES
IS A FUNDAMENTAL RECOGNITION WE
NEED OFFICERS ON THE BEAT AND
EFFECTIVELY ABLE TO RESPOND TO
CALLS TO CREATE A SAFER SEATTLE
FOR ALL AS PART OF THE BLENDED
APREP AND COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY. YES
WE NEED OFFICERS ON THE BEAT TO
RESPOND. AND -- TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
GREAT POINT EARLIER, YOU KNOW,
WE ALSO NEED TO FOCUS ON OTHER
THINGS LIKE PREVENTION WHERE
OFFICERS ARE GOING TO PLAY LESS
OR NO ROLE IN PREVENTION IS
GREAT FOR PREVENTING THINGS
OBVIOUSLY CRIME AND SITUATIONS
FOR TOMORROW. BUT WHAT ABOUT
TODAY? YES. WE NEED OFFICERS TO
ADDRESS AND WE NEED GOOD
INTERVENTIONS AND RESPONSE
CAPABILITY. SO TODAY, WE HAVE A
CRUCIAL OFFICER SHORTAGE THAT
HAS MADE THE ENFORCEMENT OF
BASIC PUBLIC SAFETY A
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE. ALL OF
US HAVE FELT IT. OUR
CONSTITUENTS, WHETHER IT'S D4.
AS COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED.
WE'RE FEELING IT HARD IN
DISTRICT 1. I KNOW ALL OF YOU,
EVEN FROM A CITY-WIDE
PERSPECTIVE, MADAME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I KNOW YOU ARE
HEARING IT FROM VARIOUS
CONSTITUENTS. SO IT IS CRUCIAL
THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND,
HOWEVER, THAT THE FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES IN THIS BILL ARE NOT
NET NEW DOLLARS. BUT INSTEAD AN
EXPECTED REALLOCATION OF POLICE
DEPARTMENT SALARY SAVINGS. WE
ARE A WORLD CLASS CITY. AND WE
NEED -- AND ALSO DEMAND -- THAT
WE HAVE THE BEST WE HIRE AND
RETAIN THE BEST OFFICERS. SO
THIS LEGISLATION WILL ALLOW US
TO ATTRACT THAT ELITE LEVEL
TALENT AND AGAIN, I'M PROUD TO
SUPPORT IT TODAY. WE'RE IN A
REALLY UNIQUE POSITION WHERE
WE'RE ALWAYS COLLABORATING
WITH NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS
ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. ON
POLICY CHALLENGES, THESE ARE
ALL SHARED. BUT WITH RESPECT TO
THE HIRING AND RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION OF QUALIFIED
OFFICERS, WE'RE IN A UNIQUE
POSITION WHERE WE'RE NOT ONLY
COLLABORATING FOR BEST
PRACTICES OF THE BEST TALENT
BUT WE'RE ALSO COMPETING.
IT'S A DOG FIGHT FOR HIRING
AND RETAINING THE BEST TALENT.
SO THIS LEGISLATION I'M
CONFIDENT WILL HELP PUT US IN A
BETTER POSITION TO ACHIEVE OUR
OFFICER STAFFING GOALS OVER
TIME. AND PROUD TO SUPPORT IT
ON COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
EARLIER POINT ABOUT THE
MILITARY, INCENTIVES, AND
BONUSES, I'M SORRY THAT IT
SOUNDS LIKE AT LEAST IN THE
NAVY, THE NAVY, INTEL WAS NOT A
PRIZED POSSESSION IN TERMS OF
THE PRIME BENEFICIARY OF SOME
OF THE GENEROUS RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION BONUSES. GOOD NEWS
IS, THE AIR FORCE WAS
INTELLIGENCE AS A DISCIPLINE
AND A FUNCTION IN THE AIR FORCE
WAS -- WAS ON THE LIST. AND
UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T
PERSONALLY BENEFIT BECAUSE I
WAS PRINCIPALLY A RESERVIST
MOST OF THE TIME AND MOST OF
THE BONUSES FOR INTEL WAS FOR
ACTIVE DUTY BUT HEY. NOW WE GET
TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY. WE
SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND NOW WE
GET TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP
RETAIN AND RECRUIT TALENT FOR
THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY AND
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
ABOUT THAT. BUT OF COURSE WE
WERE FULLY MANNED AND STAFFED
AND I REALIZE THE AIR FORCE WAS
COMING UP SHORT IN THAT AREA
AND HAD TO GO TO THE BONUSES
BUT YES I APPRECIATE THE
EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE AIR
FORCE TO CATCH UP TO THE NAVY
IN TERMS OF STAFFING GOALS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT.
I AGREE WITH SAKA AND
HOLLINGSWORTH, THANKS FOR
BRINGING UP AND. IT'S VERY
MUCH ALWAYS "AND" AND I KNOW
THIS COUNCIL VERY MUCH FEELS
AND SUPPORTS THE AND APPROACH.
WE NEED THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION
PROGRAMS AND WE NEED SOCIAL
WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES AND WE ALSO NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE
POLICE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER 911
CALLS WHEN THEY COME IN AND WE
KNOW RIGHT NOW WE CANNOT DO
THAT AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM LOW
INCOME HOUSING PROVIDERS, I
HAVE HEARD FROM LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS, AND I HAVE HEARD
FROM -- WE EVEN -- I HAVE HEARD
FROM SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
THAT SERVICES LOW INCOME FOLKS
THAT THEY ARE ALSO SUFFERING IN
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
PUBLIC SAFETY ACROSS THE CITY.
AND INCLUDING FOR OUR PARTNERS
LIKE I SAID THE HOUSING
PROVIDERS AND SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY. SO THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS BEING FELT ACROSS THE
CITY.
AND THAT ALL RESIDENTS NEED.
THEY NEED PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THEY NEED TO KNOW WHEN
SOMETHING HAPPENS, AND THEY
CALL 911, THAT WE CAN HAVE AN
OFFICER AT THE READY TO BE ABLE
TO ADDRESS THAT EMERGENCY RIGHT
AWAY. AND NOT HAVE TO WAIT OR
WHAT I HEAR MOSTLY THEY DON'T
COME AT ALL. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE
MITIGATING FOR AND I JUST WANT
TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE
HAVE HEARD FROM THE LOW INCOME
COMMUNITY AS WELL. SO THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT ALL RESIDENTS
ACROSS THE CITY ARE SUFFERING
FROM. A LACK OF BEING ABLE TO
HAVE AN OFFICER COME WHEN
THERE'S AN EMERGENCY. IT IS
SOMETHING THAT LIKE I SAID, ALL
RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND ARE ASKING FOR US TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT.
AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO ADDRESS
THAT. AND TO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S POINT, THESE ARE
ALL TOOLS. WE DON'T KNOW IF
IT'S ALL GOING TO WORK. BUT WE
HAVE TO DO ALL THE TOOLS TO TRY
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS
ISSUE.
SO I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT AS
WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THAT -- THAT
OUR PARTNERS WHO BUILD AND
MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
OTHER -- OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
AROUND -- OTHER NONPROFITS IN
TOWN DO REQUEST THE SERVICES OF
FIRST RESPONDERS. AND IN FACT,
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ADDRESSES
THAT ARE MOST RESPONDED TO, YOU
WILL SEE THAT MANY OF THEM ARE
PLACES WHERE WE ARE ALSO
INVESTING IN SERVICES SUCH AS
HOUSING AND ET CETERA. THAT WAS
A GOOD POINT TO BRING UP. NOW
LOOK -- WE AND I WANT TO REMIND
THAT WE DO HAVE QUARTERLY
REPORTS ON -- SINCE IN PROGRAM
STARTED ON HOW -- ON THE USE OF
THESE INCENTIVE DOLLARS. AND SO
THERE'S ONGOING REPORTING ON
THIS PROGRAM THAT WILL
CONTINUE. AND I REMIND PEOPLE
THAT WE ALSO HAVE A REPORT DUE
TO US ON HOW THE -- THE -- HOW
THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
LEGISLATION WE PASSED THIS YEAR
IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AND WHAT
IS WORKING AND WHAT ISN'T. I
WANT TO KNOW IF THAT -- HOW THE
MANDATE TO RAPIDLY RESPOND TO
APPLICANTS TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOW THAT IS
GOING AND WHAT NEW RECRUITMENT
OUTREACH, ACTIVITIES ARE BEING
CONTEMPLATED OR PERFORMED AND
I'M MENTIONING THESE THAT WE
ARE -- WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
RECRUITMENT AND HIRING ISSUE.
AT THE OTHER END OF THE FUNNEL
WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
PROCESSES ARE WORKING WELL. AND
THEN FINALLY, I -- I WILL ALSO
TALK ABOUT A PROPOSED
AMENDMENT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
THE FACT THAT WE ALWAYS TAKE A
SERVICES AND A -- WE TRY TO
TAKE A SERVICES AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT APPROACH,
COMPASSION AND WISDOM ET
CETERA. I WILL NOTE THAT THE
JOB OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PER TH
CHARTER IS TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL
SERVICES. AND POLICE, FIRE,
PARKS, TRANSPORTATION, AND
POLICE, FIRE, PARKS,
TRANSPORTATION -- THEN THERE'S
ONE LAST ONE THAT IS -- ARE
SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN OUR
CHARTER AND OURCHARTER ALSO
SAYS THERE WILL BE ADEQUATE
POLICE PRESENCE IN EVERY
DISTRICT OF OUR CITY ET CETERA.
WE TAKE AN OATH. I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THAT WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING
THE NUMBERS IN THIS -- SPD TO
KEEP OUR PEOPLE AND ALL
CONSTITUENTS SAFE. VISITORS ET
CETERA. WHEN I WENT TO THE NLC
THIS PAST WEEK AND HEARD FROM
LEADERS OF OTHER LARGE CITIES,
IT WAS -- ONE OF THE SEGMENTS
THAT WE DID WAS ON PUBLIC
SAFETY EXCLUSIVELY WHEN THEY
HEARD HOW MANY OFFICERS IN THE
PERCENTAGE LOST TO OUR FORCE,
THAT SEATTLE IS SUFFERING FROM,
THEY WERE ASTOUNDED. AND SO I
DO HAVE TO SAY THAT WE ARE IN A
UNIQUE POSITION OF VERY MUCH
NEEDING TO DO ABSOLUTELY
EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN
TO BRING THESE NUMBERS UP. I
HAD CIRCULATED A -- A PROPOSED
WALK-ON AMENDMENT TODAY AND IT
WAS A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT
HAD TO DO WITH TWO WORDS,
STRIKING OR SPD IN A SECTION OF
THE LEGISLATION. THIS WAS --
WAS REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
LATE LAST WEEK. AND I AM JUST
NOTING THAT WE'RE NOT -- I'M
NOT GOING TO MOVE THAT
AMENDMENT TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE
DOING OUR LAST BIT OF DUE
DILIGENCE WITH THE LAW
DEPARTMENT AND SO THAT WILL
LIKELY COME UP IF WE PROCEED
WITH IT WHICH I DON'T -- WE
LIKELY WILL AND THAT WILL COME
UP AT THE VOTE IN FULL COUNCIL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
BUT I'M HEARING IS THAT YOU --
YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOTING
THIS OUT AND THAT YOU APPROVE
OF THIS LEGISLATION. SO WITH
THAT, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS -- WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? [
ROLL CALL ]
>> FIVE IN FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
MOTION CARRIES. AND THE BILL
PASSES.
>>> SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF AND
THIS WILL COME BEFORE FULL
COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 8th.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE ANY BUSINESS THAT WE
HAVE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN? NO? OKAY. I
WILL -- IN CASE YOU ARE
INTERESTED I WILL PROVIDE FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT I
LEARNED FROM OTHER CITIES AND
SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES THAT
I SEE OTHER CITIES --
IMPLEMENTING. WE DID TOUR THE
-- THE DC EQUIVALENT OF A
REALTIME CRIME CENTER THERE.
AND SO THAT WAS REALLY
EXCITING. I'M SORRY TO HAVE
MISSED THAT DISCUSSION IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. ALL
RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THE -- THIS CONCLUDES
THE SPECIAL SEPTEMBER 23rd
MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT MEETING AND OUR
NEXT MEETING IS THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 12th AT 2:00 P.M.
SEEMS LIKE A LONG WAY OFF
DOESN'T IT? ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH EVERYBODY. THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
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