>> THE SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:32 JUNE
25th, 2024. I'M ROBERT KETTLE,
CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
THERE ARE THREE MEMBERS PRESENT
AND ALSO RECOGNIZING
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS A
NONVOTING MEMBER.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS JOINING
US DUE TO THE AGENDA, BUT FOR
ANY OCCASION , YOU ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME TO JOIN US, OBVIOUSLY,
WITH OUR SAFETY BRIEFING .
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS
MORNING. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED , HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, IT IS ADOPTED. WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT . ÷PUBLIC, SHOULD
RELATE TO THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THE COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE ONE PERSON AND
ONE REMOTE.
>> THANK YOU. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START
WITH THE IN PERSON SPEAKER.
PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER, IT IS UP TO
20 MINUTES, SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
110 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME. SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL
BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
THERE COMMENT WITHIN THE TIME
TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS --.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING THE WATER STUDY DONE
TODAY . IS A TOPIC THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT , TO MY MEMBERS, AS
WELL AS OTHERS IN THE MARITIME
COMMUNITY. WHAT OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TRY TO FUND THE
POLICE , THAT GROUP TRIED TO
MOVE HARBOR PATROL OVER TO THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT , WHICH PEOPLE
I'M ASSOCIATED WITH APPRECIATE
BOTH SERVICES , BUT THEY SEEM
VERY DIFFERENT. WE PUT TOGETHER
A COALITION, A RECREATIONAL
BOATERS MARITIME INTEREST FROM
THE PORTS. WHICH IS NOT PORT
RELATED BUT MORE TO THE ALASKA
AREA AND WE FOUND A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO PUT TOGETHER SEVERAL
FACILITIES ON THE WATER , AND
MANY OF THE FESTIVALS, TO MAKE
SURE WE HAD A HARBOR PATROL,
WHICH IS SUCCESSFUL. IN
RESPONSE TO THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS PUT TOGETHER MONEY FOR
THE STUDY BECAUSE WHEN IT CAME
DOWN TO IT, NOBODY REALLY
UNDERSTOOD WHO WAS PATROLLING
WHAT AND WHAT SAFETY EFFORTS
WOULD BE DONE , AND SO, WE PUT
TOGETHER THE STUDY WHICH I HAVE
READ AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO IT.
IT'S LIKE A BASELINE ON WHAT
IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
. SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE
FUTURE. IF YOU READ IT, YOU CAN
SEE HOW COMPLICATED THE
SITUATION IS. IT NEEDS SOME
MORE WORK AFTER YOU REVIEW
THIS. FOR SOME PEOPLE THIS IS A
VERY LIFE-SAVING EFFORT BY BOTH
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HARBOR
PATROL. LAST SUMMER THERE WERE
QUITE A FEW RESCUES BY BOTH
GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER AND
SEPARATELY THAT SAVED PEOPLE'S
LIVES. THAT THE PRIMARY THING ,
SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES. THE
SECOND THING FOR US, WE ARE
MORE FRIENDLY WITH THE HARBOR
PATROL BECAUSE THEY PATROL. WE
TALK TO THEM. THEY ARE OUT
THERE A LOT. WE APPRECIATE THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT BUT WE DON'T
KNOW THEM PERSONALLY AND I'M
TRYING TO CHANGE SOME OF THAT.
OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT FIRE
TRAINING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
HAVING --. WE HAVE A LOT OF
CRIME COMING IN OFF THE WATER
AND SO HARBOR TRAILS ESSENTIAL
TO US TO PROTECT OUR BUSINESSES
AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE
ON THE WATERFRONT. ONE QUICK
THING, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH
ANDREWS BAY THAT THEY ARE NOT
GETTING SERVICES FROM HARBOR
PATROL FOR SAFETY, AND THAT
NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AS AN
EQUITY ISSUE. THANK YOU.
>> I SHOULD NOTE THAT, YES, AS
CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, WE ARE
HAPPY AND ENCOURAGING AND IN
SUPPORT OF THE MARITIME SAFETY
BRIEFING, BUT AS NOTED,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WAS THE
ONE WHO KICKED THIS PROCESS
OFF, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE A REMOTE
SPEAKER AND THAT IS BJ LAST.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO BE ON
MUTED.
>> MY NAME IS BJ. I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE COUNCIL ON FINDING
INEFFICIENCIES IN THE BUDGET
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THEY
HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT DOING
TO ADDRESS THE RECALL. SEATTLE
WATERWAYS SAFETY OVERVIEWS
DUPLICATION OF SERVICES TAKING
PLACE ON SEATTLE WATERS. THERE
ARE BOTH RECENT AGENCIES AND 11
OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT HAVE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATERWAY
SAFETY. [ INAUDIBLE ] TO START
TRYING TO CLOSE $260 MILLION
BUDGET DEFICIT WITHOUT SEEING
ANY SERVICES. SOME EXAMPLES OF
DUPLICATION, THERE ARE SEVEN
AGENCIES , ONLY ONE OF WHICH IS
RELATED TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE HAVE SIX AGENCIES OUTSIDE
THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO HAVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ON SEATTLE
WATERWAYS, INCLUDING U.S. COAST
GUARD. IN TERMS OF SEARCH AND
RESCUE, THERE ARE SEVEN SEARCH
AND RESCUE AGENCIES. THIS IS A
TON OF DUPLICATION AND
INEFFICIENCY THAT CAN REALLY
HELP TO START CLOSING THE
BUDGET GAP. I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF LISA JUDGE
AS HEAD OF THE OIG. I DON'T
THINK SHE SHOULD BE GETTING
REAPPOINTED EVEN WITH THE
HISTORY OF OIG. THEY ARE
PRESSURING STAFF -- WHICH IS A
BIG PART OF OIG'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE
INDEPENDENT. ALSO HAD REPORTS
OF OIG AUDITORS CERTIFYING OPA
CASES WITHOUT EVEN OPENING THE
FILE OR VIEWING A SINGLE
DOCUMENT WITHIN IT. ALSO, THREE
YEARS AGO THERE WAS A BIG ISSUE
OF SPD AND OPA VIOLATING HIPAA
BY INCLUDING MEDICAL
INFORMATION IN A CLOSED CASE
SUMMARY. OIG HAS COMPLETELY
DODGED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS
BY SITTING ON IT FOR 6 MONTHS
AND NOW OFFLOADING THAT TO AN
OUTSIDE PARTY. THAT'S WHITE
THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL
ONGOING THREE YEARS LATER.
ACCOUNTABILITY ORGANIZATIONS
NOT BE COUNTED ON FOR SEATTLE
WHICH IS A MASSIVE CONCERN
GIVEN THE WAY COUNCIL IS TRYING
TO EXPAND SURVEILLANCE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS
AND WE WILL NOW PROCEED FOR THE
FIRST AGENDA ITEM. I WANTED TO
DO OUR CHAIR REPORT AFTER THE
PUBLIC SPEAKERS. THERE IS A
COUPLE OF ITEMS I WANT TO SPEAK
TO REALLY QUICKLY. THE FIRST IS
A REPORT FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION REPORT
SUBTITLED ENTRY POLICE EXAM
VENDOR DUE DILIGENCE REPORT .
THIS IS BECOMING A SUBJECT THAT
IS IN THE NEWS , MANY TIMES.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
COMMITTEE AND ME AS A CHAIR TO
SPEAK TO ITS. ONE OF THE THINGS
IN THESE ARTICLES, THEY KEEP
SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE RECENTLY
PASSED WAS TO REPLACE THE
NATIONAL TESTING NETWORK WITH
THE PSD, THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEST
. THAT WAS NEVER THE CASE. WITH
OUR LEGISLATION, IT WAS ALL
ABOUT AUGMENTING THAT NTN WITH
THE PST. AND WITHIN THE REPORT
, THAT IS .1 -- WITHIN THE
REPORT THEY SAID THE IDEA THAT
YOU CAN NOT HAVE BOTH TESTS.
THERE ARE INSTANCES IN
WASHINGTON STATE WHERE BOTH
TESTS ARE USED AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE. I SUPPORT
THE NTN , THE NATIONAL TESTING
NETWORK. I THINK IT'S A VERY
GOOD TEST. BUT THAT CHALLENGES
COME ITS PRESENCE WITHIN
WASHINGTON STATE. IT IS
MINIMAL, COMPARED TO THAT PST
TEST, WHICH IS RUN BY IOS. ONLY
ABOUT A QUARTER -- I HAD A
MEETING WITH THE RECRUITMENT
TEAM AS PART OF THE FOLLOW-UP
TO OUR LEGISLATION EARLIER THIS
YEAR AND NOTED THAT A QUARTER
TO ONE THIRD OF THE POLICE
OFFICERS ARE FROM OUT-OF-STATE.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR OFFICERS
ARE COMING FROM IN-STATE. THIS
IS A PROBLEM. PST IS THE MOST
USED IN WASHINGTON STATE AND
IMPORTANTLY, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WHEN THE
APPLICANTS THE CANDIDATES APPLY
WITH THE PST, THEY CAN SEND IT
TO MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS, NOT
UNLIKE A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
LOOKING TO GO TO COLLEGE CAN DO
A COMMON APPLICATION TO MANY
COLLEGES. THIS FACT BUT US AT A
DISADVANTAGE WHEN WE ARE TRYING
TO RECRUIT AGAINST NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS, AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO THE BEST
THAT WE CAN AND TO ELIMINATE
THESE DISADVANTAGES THAT WE
HAVE. THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE
WERE IN THIS LEGISLATION,
CALLING ON, NOT MANDATING,
CALLING ON THE COMMISSION TO
ADD THE PSD TO THE NTN. THEY
MAKE A VALID POINT ABOUT
RANKING AND THE REPORTS. I HAVE
NOTHING AGAINST THAT'S, BUT
THE SAD FACT OF LIFE IS, THAT
WOULD BE APPLICABLE IF , FOR
EXAMPLE, WE WERE LOOKING FOR
TWO OUT OF 10 QUALIFYING
CANDIDATES , BUT THE BOTTOM
LINE IS, AND SADLY, AND THIS
COMES OUT OF THE ACTIONS OF THE
PREVIOUS COUNCIL, WE ARE
DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE
WE NEED 10 OF 10 QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES AND WE WILL NEED 10
OF 10 QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR
A LONG TIME COMING. AND SO, WE
NEED TO BE ADDRESSING OUR
CHALLENGES AND DOING IT WITH
ALL OF THE MEANS AVAILABLE.
THAT'S WHY OUR LEGISLATION
CALLS FOR THE NTN TO BE
AUGMENTED BY THE PST AND THAT
-- NOT REPLACED BY THE PST. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW , AND WE HAVE
SOME FIRE PERSONNEL WHO WILL
RECOGNIZE THIS POINT, FELLOW VE
THIS IS AN ENTRY LEVEL
TEST. THERE IS SO MUCH
ATTENTION BEING BROUGHT TO IT,
BUT IT IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.
TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER IN
OUR CITY YOU GO THROUGH A
BATTERY OF TESTS. YOU HAVE THE
ORAL BOARD, PSYCH EMAILS,
POLYGRAPHS, A WHOLE LIST OF
THINGS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
ENTIRE ACADEMY, WHICH IS A
PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL,
ACADEMIC, EMOTIONAL CHALLENGE.
I TEST EVERY DAY THAT YOU ARE
IN THE ACADEMY. EVEN AFTER,
BEFORE THE BATCH HAS TURNED OUT
TO BE A TEST. AND NOT TO
MENTION, ONCE THEY BECOME
OFFICERS AND THEY GO ON THE
STREET, THEY ARE STILL ON
PROBATION. AND SO, THERE IS AN
ARC OF TESTS BEFORE A POLICE
OFFICER BECOMES UP AND UP ON
OUR STREETS TO OUR CITY. THIS
IDEA THAT NTN IS THE THING AND
THE ONLY THING , THE IMPRESSION
I GET FROM THESE ARTICLES AND
REPORTING , AND IT IS
MISPLACED. I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT AS IT SAYS IN THE
TITLE, ENTRY POLICE EXAM , IT
IS THE SCREENING TEST, NOT THE
TEST SOLELY IN TERMS OF
DETERMINING IF AN OFFICER
CANDIDATE IS QUALIFIED TO SERVE
ON OUR POLICE FORCE. AGAIN, WE
NEED 10 OF 10 QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES TO THE RANKING
POINT. IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE
LOOKING TO GET TWO OF 10.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE THOSE REMARKS .
PART OF THIS, TOO, EXPECTATIONS
MANAGEMENT, TOO. THERE HAS BEEN
SOME RECENT REPORTING ABOUT THE
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF
OFFICERS AND RETENTION NUMBERS,
THE LOWEST SINCE -- A VERY LONG
TIME AGO, DECADES AGO. WE
FLATTENED THE CURVE ON
RETENTION. THE RECRUITMENT
PIECE WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE -- LIKE
THE TERM OF THIS COUNCIL -- TO
UNDO WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS IT
RELATES TO POLICE SPD STAFFING.
THAT'S AND EXPECTATIONS
MANAGEMENT PIECE AS WELL. BUT
WE AS A COUNCIL, US AS A
COMMITTEE, WE ARE DETERMINED TO
WORK THIS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT
LEVELS AND WE WILL. THE OTHER
THING I WANTED TO NOTE AS CHAIR
, FOR THOSE WHO READ THE SUNDAY
TIMES , THERE WAS TWO ARTICLES.
ONE WAS TITLED COPS AND
CONSEQUENCES, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND THE
SECOND ONE WAS BY NICHOLAS --
ALEX FRYER AND KRISTOF WITH HIS
NOW REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED
LAST WEEK IN THE NEW YORK TIMES
AND CAME OUT SUNDAY WITH OUR
SEATTLE TIMES, WHAT HAVE WE
LIBERALS ONTO THE WEST COAST? I
RECOMMEND BOTH AND I WANTED TO
SPEAK TO THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
GOES TO PILLAR SIX OF OUR
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS
THE PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT
UNDERLIES OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES. WE AS A CITY NEED
TO WORK TOGETHER AND THIS IS
WHY IT LIKE TODAY WITH OUR
BRIEFINGS AND THE WORK WE ARE
DOING WITH OIG AS WELL AND WITH
THE STREET RACING IS THAT WE AS
A CITY COME TOGETHER , CITY
ATTORNEY, EXECUTIVE,
LEGISLATIVE COME TOGETHER AND
WE WORK OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES. IMPORTANTLY, PILLAR
SIX, WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE
COUNTY AND STATE. IT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH
THE STATE SO THE ISSUES HERE IN
THIS ARTICLE COME AND SPEAK TO
THINGS LIKE PURSUIT, SPEAK TO
THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE
IMPACTED OUR PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT, OUR ABILITY TO
ADDRESS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENGAGE AND
WE ARE DEVELOPING A LIST OF
ITEMS TO ADVOCATE WITH OLYMPIA
COME NEXT SESSION, AND WE NEED
TO DO THIS AND ENGAGE WITH OUR
STATE LEGISLATORS AND UP TO THE
GOVERNOR ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE
HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS ARTICLE,
BUT EVEN MORE, AND WE HAVE TO
DO THIS QUITE IMPORTANTLY. THE
ONE CRITICISM I HAVE , PUBLIC
SAFETY, THERE IS LITTLE MENTION
OF HEALTH . AS I HAVE MENTIONED
MANY TIMES, WE ARE NOT GOING TO
SUCCEED IN PUBLIC SAFETY IF WE
DON'T SUCCEED IN PUBLIC
HEALTH. THIS IS WHERE THE STATE
REALLY NEEDS TO COME THROUGH. I
HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, IF WE
WERE RANKED IN MENTAL HEALTH
SPENDING, NUMBER 2, LIKE OUR
DOGS AND YOU DUB , IF WE WERE
NUMBER TWO IN MENTAL HEALTH
SPENDING ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
ACROSS THE 50 STATES, OVER THE
LAST DECADE, HOW MUCH CAPACITY,
HOW MANY , HOW MUCH CAPACITY
WOULD WE HAVE IN THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SIDE RIGHT NOW? WHAT
WOULD BE THE IMPACT ON OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY? WHAT WOULD BE
THE IMPACT ON OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT IF WE HAD THE STATE
SUPPORT, NOT TO MENTION COUNTY
SUPPORT AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WHAT
WOULD THAT DO TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT? IT IS KEY IT IS NOT
REALLY SPOKEN TO THE MAIN
ARTICLE BUT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED
IN THE SECOND ARTICLE. THIS IS
WHY I BRING IT UP. NICHOLAS
KRISTOF TALKS ABOUT HIS
EXPERIENCE IN OREGON AND
PORTLAND AND SPEAKS OF HIS
SCHOOL FRIEND WHO DIED, PUBLIC
HEALTH CHALLENGE. I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THESE TWO
ARTICLES, TO HIGHLIGHT THE
POINT THAT WE NEED TO COME
TOGETHER AS A ONE SEATTLE TEAM
TO WORK TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE
ARE SHOWING THIS IN OUR MEETING
TODAY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY
BEING HERE, EXECUTIVE OF FIRE
AND MARITIME SAFETY TO THE
POINT RAISED BY BOTH IN PERSON
AND ONLINE, IT'S BRINGING THE
WHOLE NUMBER OF ACTORS TOGETHER
FOR MARITIME SAFETY TO ENSURE
PUBLIC SAFETY OVERALL IS SET. I
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
AS A CHAIRS REPORT. IS A LITTLE
PROBATIVE THIS MORNING . THANK
YOU FOR THAT INDULGENCE. CLERK,
WE WILL MOVE TO OUR FIRST ITEM.
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER ONE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, APPOINTMENT
02896 REAPPOINTMENT OF LISA
ELLISON JUDGE ASKED INSPECTOR
GENERAL , FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31st, 2030 .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ON
THIS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR
AGENDA ONE, LISA JUDGE AND THAT
REAPPOINTMENT OF HER AS THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL TO LEAD OUR
OFFICE . THIS IS A VITAL
POSITION. STOOD UP UNDER HER.
SHE IS THE FIRST AND WE ARE
LOOKING TO REAPPOINT HER. I
WILL SAY, FROM A COUPLE THINGS,
ONE, THE OIG OF PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND, IT'S THE
ORGANIZATION THAT'S GOING TO
INHERIT THE RESPONSIBILITY'S
OF THE FEDERAL MONITOR. ARE
LOOKING TO GET -- MOVE ON .
WHICH HAS BEEN A DRIVER FOR OUR
PERFORMANCE, WHICH WE ARE
EMBRACING , BUT WE NEED TO MOVE
ON AS WELL AND PART OF THAT
PROCESS IS TO TRANSFER THOSE
RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE
FEDERAL MONITOR TO THE OIG AND
WE HAVE A STRONG OIG THAT IS
BEING DEVELOPED UNDER INSPECTOR
GENERAL JUDGE. I HAVE WORKED
WITH HER DIRECTLY ON A NUMBER
OF ISSUES. I HAVE ALSO SEEN HER
WORK RECTALLY WITH MY STAFF
WITH COUNTERPARTS, PARTICULARLY
OPA. AND THIS IS THE KIND OF
THING THAT WE NEED -- WE NEED
TO HAVE THIS CORPORATION AND
COORDINATION BETWEEN THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS, NOT
JUST THE THREE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS TO OIG AND OPA, BUT
ALSO WITH US AS THE COUNCIL
BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM DUE TO
OUR OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES
OVER THE EXECUTIVES AND SYSTEM
OVERALL. AND SO, WITH THAT,
PLUS THE FACT THAT THE OIG HAS
RECEIVED AWARDS AND THEY HAVE
BEEN DOING THEIR JOB , AND
IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM , WE DO
NEED THE STABILITY. WE NEED TO
BUILD ON WHAT HAS BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR AND I THINK
THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF LISA JUDGE AS
OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL. SO, I
WOULD MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 2896 . IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? VICE CHAIR?
THANK YOU. I'M CURIOUS, WHERE
IS INSPECTOR JUDGE THIS
MORNING? SHE IS NOT HERE. I DID
NOT ASK FOR HER TO BE HERE
SINCE SHE WAS HERE LAST TIME
FOR THE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I GUESS I WOULD
HOPE INSPECTOR GENERAL JUDGE
SHOW UP OR THE FINAL COMMITTEE.
I PREPARED TO VOTE TODAY BUT
FOR THE COUNCIL --. GIVEN THE
GRAVITY OF THIS APPOINTMENT AND
THE IMPACT. I'M PREPARED TO
MOVE FORWARD TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION
TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THREE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> BASED ON THE MAJORITY , THE
MOTION CARRIES IN THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED WILL
BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
WHERE PER VICE CHAIR SOCCER,
SHE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE . WE
WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM
OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD?
>> SEATTLE WATERWAYS SAFETY
OVERVIEW BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION WITH ARIEL HSIEH AND
BOB KERNS FROM THAT FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
>> OKAY, WELCOME, EVERYONE. I
APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE
TODAY IN THIS PRESENTATION OF
THE REPORTING FROM THE
CONSULTING FIRM . THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS
MORNING AND WHAT THE CLERKS --
LINE THINGS UP AND WE WILL TURN
IT OVER TO YOU. WITH THIS
BRIEFING AND THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE THE FOUR OF US HERE THAT
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS , TO
INCLUDE FROM OUR GUEST
COMMITTEE MEMBER ,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE
ASK AS WE GO ALONG OR YOU CAN
HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE
END. EITHER WAY, I THINK WE
HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
>> CHAIR, MAY I? ACTUALLY, CAN
YOU DO THAT AS AN INTRODUCTION?
I OFTEN JOKE , I OFTEN CALL
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS THE
COUNCIL HISTORIAN, AND THAT
HISTORY SET UP PIECE IS VERY
IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE OR FINANCE
COMMITTEE BUT ALSO TURNING OUT
TO BE HELPFUL WITH THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE.
>> I MAY BE YOUNGER IN AGE BUT
IN MY HEART I AM AN OLD MAN.
AND SELL I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THIS IS A
PRODUCT OF MANY YEARS OF WORK.
ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WAS
GOING BACK TO 2020 AND HOW WERE
WE GOING TO MANAGE OUR
WATERWAYS? WHAT REALLY STOOD
OUT TO ME IN 2020 IS, UNLESS
YOU ARE ON THE WATER, YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR
WATERWAYS, AND SO THE BURKE
TEAM DID A REALLY AMAZING JOB
OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS
ON OUR WATERWAYS AND ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT ARE
INVOLVED BECAUSE AS SOMEBODY
WHO HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON
THE WATERWAYS , WHAT STANDS OUT
TO ME MOST IS, IF YOU ARE
DRIVING IN MY DISTRICT DOWN TO
THE BRIDGE AND YOU ARE ON
SCHOLL , ALL YOU SEE IS WALLS
AND FENCES YOU DON'T REALIZE
YOU ARE ONLY 50 FEET FROM THE
WATER. IF YOU ARE WORKING ON
THE WATERFRONT , YOU HAVE A
VERY DIFFERENT INTERACTION WITH
THE WATERWAY THAN YOU DRIVE 10
TIMES IN ONE DAY DOWN SCHOLL .
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE TEAM
RIGHT NOW TO DO THEIR
PRESENTATION, BUT REALLY STOOD
OUT TO ME IS THAT WE HAVE
200 MILES OF COASTLINE IN OUR
CITY. WE HAVE MULTIPLE
DIFFERENT AGENCIES RESPONDING
AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE DEATH HAPPENS.
DROWNINGS HAPPEN QUICKLY.
SITUATIONS TURN BAD VERY FAST
AND I HAVE AN EXAMPLE THAT I
WILL SHARE. IT IS NOT THAT WE
NEED FEWER PEOPLE OR FEWER
AGENCIES WORKING ON OUR
WATERWAY, IT IS ACTUALLY THAT
WE LIKELY NEED MORE. WE NEED
THEM TO BE MORE COORDINATED AND
JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE NEED FULL
STAFFING OF BOTH SPD HARBOR
PATROL AND THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENTS TEAMS AND WE NEED
MORE BECAUSE NOT EVERY CALL IS
A MEDIC CALL, NOT EVERY CALL IS
A SWIMMER OR VOTE IN DISTRESS,
NOT EVERY CALL IS CRIMINAL.
IT'S THAT WE NEED MORE AND WE
NEED DIFFERENT TYPES BECAUSE
HAVING SPD OR SFD RESPOND TO A
NOISE COMPLAINT MIGHT NOT BE
THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF OUR
RESOURCES. AT TIMES , DOING
EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS IS GOOD ,
BUT WE HAVE HIGHER NEEDS FOR
OUR FOLKS HERE IN THE CITY
FAMILY. SO, I MAY BE GETTING
FURTHER INTO IT. I'M GOING TO
TURN IT OVER TO BERK TO SAY
THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT THAT THE
CONVERSATION STARTED IN 2020. I
BELIEVE WE GOT FUNDING IN
2021-2022. THE TERM -- TEAM HAS
BEEN WORKING OVER A YEAR ON
THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME
COMING AND IT IS REALLY
EXCITING FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WAS
SAYING, THIS BRIEFING WILL
HIGHLIGHT REASONS WHY WE NEED
TO HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT
IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND
TRANSPORTATION EFFORTS TO THE
PLANT AND LEVY AS WELL. I
SHOULD NOTE THE WATERFRONT , ON
THE SALTWATER SIDE, COVERS
DISTRICT SIX , ONE AND SEVEN.
OVER TO YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR CATTLE
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. MY NAME
IS ALLEGRA CALDER. I'M JOINED
BY ARIEL HSIEH AND PLEASED TO
BE JOINED BY LIEUTENANT TODAY.
WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE
INFORMATION AND DID WANT TO
EXTEND OUR THANKS PUBLICLY TO
THE MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
HARBOR PATROL AND FIRE
DEPARTMENT WHO SUPPORTED THIS
WORK. THEY SHARED INFORMATION
AND DATA WITH US, SPEND TIME
WITH US AND EXPLAINED THE ROLES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES ALONG WITH
THEIR EXPERIENCE AND
PERSPECTIVES. WE ARE GRATEFUL
TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
SPEND TIME WITH US INCLUDING
EUGENE WHO WAS IN THE AUDIENCE
TODAY. THE REPORT HAS MUCH MORE
DETAIL AND WE ARE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT
PEOPLE MAY HAVE RELATED TO
THAT. I'M HAVING A LITTLE
TROUBLE ADVANCING THE SCREEN.
THERE WE GO. SO WE TALKED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STUDY
MOTIVATION. I THINK AN
IMPORTANT POINT IS, WITH THE
GROWING RESIDENTIAL AND VISITOR
POPULATION. THERE HAS BEEN
INCREASED ACTIVITY AND THIS HAS
CREATED NEW DEMAND FOR PATROLS,
EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ASSETS AND
CORONATION OF THE MULTIPLE
ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR ON THESE
BODIES OF WATER. AS YOU WILL
HERE IN A MOMENT, AND WE
DISCUSSED ALREADY, THERE ARE A
LOT OF AGENCIES WITH ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR WATERWAY
SAFETY AND IT IS CRITICAL TO
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES. NOT
EVERYTHING THAT WE SHARE TODAY
IS IN YOUR PURVIEW. WE ALSO
HEARD THAT THE MARITIME
INDUSTRY IS CRITICAL IN TERMS
OF REVENUE AND JOBS, BUT ALSO
TO OUR IDENTITY. WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE MAP, YOU SEE A CITY THAT
IS SURROUNDED ON TWO SIDES BY
WATER WHERE THE REBEL, CANAL
AND LAKES . WE DIDN'T FIND A
LOT OF CITIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR
MARITIME MAKEUP. OUR OBJECTIVES
WITH THE STUDY WERE TO
ESTABLISH A BASELINE
UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT
STATE OF MARINE PUBLIC SAFETY
TO INFORM POLICYMAKING AND
INVESTMENTS IN FUTURE RESOURCES
AND STAFFING. OUR RESEARCH FOR
THIS STUDY WAS GUIDED BY A
WORKING GROUP OF CITY STAFF WHO
WE MET WITH TO DISCUSS THE CITY
CONTEXT AND SHARE PROGRESS. WE
INTERVIEWED MANY WATERWAY
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THOSE
FROM COMMERCIAL , RESIDENTIAL,
AND RECREATIONAL GROUPS. WE
VISITED THE HARBOR PATROL
STATION ON LAKE UNION, FIRE
STATION FIVE, WHICH IS BETWEEN
PIER 54 AND COLMAN DOCK , AND
THE KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S
MARINE RESCUE DIVE UNIT OFFICE
BY LAKE WASHINGTON. WITH DATA
FROM CITY AGENCIES AND PUBLIC
SOURCES, WE LOOKED AT TRENDS IN
THE VOLUME OF WATERWAY
ACTIVITIES AND SAFETY RESPONSES
AND WE ALSO RESEARCHED MARINE
SAFETY OPERATIONS AND PEER
CITIES. THE CITY IS EXACTLY
LIKE SEATTLE BUT IT WAS
INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT THIS
IS IN OTHER CITIES SUCH AS THE
USE OF VOLUNTEER OR UNSWORN
OFFICERS. WE COULD NOT HAVE
DONE THIS STUDY WITHOUT DESK
RESEARCH ALONE AND WE ARE
GRATEFUL TO ALL WHO TOOK THE
TIME TO MEET AND SPEAK WITH US.
THANK YOU. DURING THE STUDY WE
LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY
AGENCIES WITHIN OUTSIDE THE
CITY WITH COMPLEMENTARY PUBLIC
SAFETY ROLLS ON SEATTLE
WATERWAYS . AGENCIES WITHIN THE
CITY ORGANIZATION ARE THE SPD
HARBOR PATROL UNIT SHOWN IN
BLUE ON THE MAP . THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS MARINE RESPONSE
ASSETS AT FIRE STATION THREE,
PARISHIONERS TERMINAL, FIRE
STATION FIVE AND FIRE STATION
36 IN WEST SEATTLE. FIRE
STATION FIVE IS THE HOME BASE
FOR THE FIRE BUT UNIT SHOWN IN
ORANGE. IN THE SUMMER, SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION STEPS
LIFEGUARDS AT THE SWIMMING
BEACHES SHOWN IN PINK. SEATTLE
PARKS STAFFS BOAT RAMP RANGERS
IN THE SUMMER AND THE PARK
RANGER PROGRAM IS EXPANDING TO
PROVIDE PATROLS AT DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE PARKS. THEY BRING IN
REGIONAL AGENCIES , ALSO HAVE
JURISDICTION ON SEATTLE
WATERWAYS SUCH AS MERCER ISLAND
AND THE KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE. IN ADDITION TO THE
PUBLIC AGENCIES LISTED HERE,
THERE ARE SOME PRIVATE
COMPANIES INVOLVED WITH
WATERWAY SAFETY SUCH AS VESSEL
TOWING COMPANIES.
>> WITH THAT OVERVIEW, MOVING
INTO SOME OF THE FINDINGS, WE
HAVE ALLUDED THAT THE WATERWAY
ACCOMMODATES A WIDE VARIETY OF
USES. THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS EXPERIENCED
POPULATION GROWTH THAN THE REST
OF THE CITY. WITH 10,000 NEW
RESIDENTS SINCE 2010 AND BEING
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE MAY
REMEMBER A REAL INCREASE IN
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY DURING
THE PANDEMIC. STAND UP PADDLE
BOARDS ARE VERY POPULAR AND
MORE SERVICERS AND WAYS TO RENT
BOTH AND WATERCRAFT THAN EVER
BEFORE. WE ADDED PASSENGER
FERRY SERVICE ALONGSIDE THE
CRUISE LINES, SAILING AND
FISHING BOATS, AND WE HAVE
FLOAT PLANES LANDING AND TAKING
OFF FROM LAKE WASHINGTON AND
UNION. WE HAVE COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITY . THIS INCREASE IN
USERS HAS LED TO MANY OF THOSE
WE INTERVIEW TO CALL FOR MORE
SAFETY EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY
FOR RECREATIONAL USERS WHO MAY
BE FIRST TIME FOR NEW USERS AND
UNAWARE OF THE REGULATIONS
RELATED TO BOAT SPEEDS,
RIGHT-OF-WAY, WHERE THEY CAN
ANCHOR, OR WHAT SAFETY
EQUIPMENT TO HAVE ON BOARD.
HARBOR PATROL , MERCER ISLAND
MARINE PATROL AND KING COUNTY
SHERIFF TO SPEND A TIME
PATROLLING THE WATERWAYS
PROVIDING VISIBLE PRESENCE IN
ENFORCING BOATER REGULATIONS.
THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE THAT
MORE COULD BE DONE BEFORE
PEOPLE EVEN TAKE TO THE WATER.
THE CURRENT RESOURCES FOR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PATROLS
ARE LIMITED. CALLS FOR SERVICE
ARE BACKUP WHILE STAFFING IS
LOWER THAN IN THE PAST FOR
HARBOR PATROL, AND OBVIOUSLY
SPD OVERALL . THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT NOTED CURRENT
RESPONSE TIMES FOR EMERGENCY
CALLS ON THE FRESHWATER AREAS
ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND
IDENTIFIED ITS GREATEST NEED IS
INCREASING WATERSIDE STAFFING
WITH ADDITIONAL FIRE BOAT CREW.
THIS WOULD ALLOW ONE CREW TO
REMAIN AT STATION FIVE AND THE
SECOND CREW AT A NEW SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC
STATION, IDEALLY LOCATED AT THE
SOUTH END OF LAKE UNION. HAVING
A FIRE BOAT WHAT SPEED UP
RESPONSE TIME ON THAT WATERWAY
AS WELL AS THE SHIP
PORTAGE BAY AND LAKE
WASHINGTON. ASIDE FROM
RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS THAT DO
OCCUR, INTERVIEWEES FROM THE
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
SECTORS NOTED THAT MORE
PROACTIVE PATROLLING, WHICH
WOULD REQUIRE MORE STAFF, MIGHT
HELP WITH PREVENTION OF STAFF
TO ABANDON BOTH AND ARSON . YOU
HEARD IN THE OPENING COMMENT,
THERE ARE REPORTS OF INCREASED
CRIME AND VISIBLE POLICE
PRESENCE MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO
IMPROVEMENT IN THESE MEASURES
BY DETERRING CRIME AND
DECREASING RESPONSE TIMES.
HARBOR PATROL IDENTIFIED ITS
GREATEST NEED AS ADDITIONAL
STAFF TO INCREASE PATROL
PRESENCE AS DID MANY OF THE
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
CONSULTED FOR THIS STUDY HAS
BEEN MENTIONED HAVE GOOD
PARTNERSHIPS WITH HARBOR
PATROL.
>> AMONG OUR OTHER FINDINGS, WE
LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE
SOURCES OF DATA THAT TRACK FOR
HARBOR PATROL ACTIVITIES SUCH
AS TIME SPENT ON TRAINING, BOAT
MAINTENANCE, PATROLS, 911
DISPATCH RESPONSE AND RESPONDED
TO CALLS MADE -- . EACH OF
THESE SOURCES TRACKS ACTIVITY
THAT MAY NOT BE CAPTURED AND
THE OTHERS, WHICH MAKES IT HARD
TO ASSESS WORKLOAD TRENDS AND
RESOURCE NEEDS. REMOVAL OF
DERELICT VESSELS WAS A COMMON
CHALLENGE WE HEARD DURING
INTERVIEWS OF PUBLIC AGENCIES.
THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS TO
PROPERLY DISPOSE OF A VESSEL,
SO OWNERS MAY ABANDON THEM,
WHICH CREATES POLLUTION AND
NAVIGATIONAL HAZARDS. THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES HAS A PROGRAM
IN PLACE TO REIMBURSE PUBLIC
AGENCIES WHO STEP IN AS WELL AS
A PROGRAM FOR OWNERS TO TURN IN
THEIR VESSELS BUT EVEN WITH
THESE PROGRAMS, THERE IS A
BACKLOG OF DERELICT VESSELS IN
THE CITY. HERE IS A PICTURE OF
A DERELICT VESSEL AT THE HARBOR
PATROL STATION, WHICH WE HAVE
PHOTOGRAPHED DURING OUR VISIT
IN OCTOBER. WE ALSO HEARD THAT
POLICE AND FIRE WORK TOGETHER
DURING EMERGENCY RESPONSES,
HOWEVER, THERE ARE EXISTING
THAT ARE OVER 20 YEARS OLD AND
STAFF FROM BOTH DEPARTMENT
NOTED TO CLARIFY ROLES WHEN
BOTH POLICE AND FIRE RESPOND TO
AN INCIDENT.
>> CAN ASK A QUESTION ON THAT
SLIDE ? ON THAT FIRST BULLET,
CAN YOU SPEAK MORE TO WHAT THAT
MEANS? WHO WOULD BE THE
PROVIDER OF THAT DATA? HOW
COULD THAT DATA BE USED?
>> ARE YOU SPEAKING
SPECIFICALLY TO THE METRIC FOR
MARINE POLICE STAFFING?
>> PRIMARILY , BUT WHAT KINDS
OF DATASETS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR
TO IMPROVE ?
>> CHAIR, MAY I JUMP IN? TO
HELP PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT, PART OF THIS STUDY
CAME FROM 2020 ASKING FOR DATA
REGARDING WATER ACTIVITY , HOW
HARBOR PATROL WAS RESPONDING .
WAS A CRIMINAL, NONCRIMINAL, ON
VIEW, DISPATCHED? ONE OF THE
BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE FOUND THAT
HAS BEEN RECTIFIED , BUT I WILL
DOUBLE CHECK AGAIN, WHICH IS IN
THIS REPORT , PEOPLE WOULD CALL
THE HARBOR PATROL DIRECTLY ON
THEIR CITY PHONE LINE AND NOT
CALL NINE -- 911, SO THE DATA
WAS NOT LOGGED. IN 2020-21 WHEN
I WAS ASKING FOR INFORMATION
REGARDING , WHAT ARE YOUR
PRIMARY CALLS YOU ARE
RESPONDING TO? IT WAS NOT
TRACKED OR IT WAS TRACKED ON
PAPER THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO
THE COMPUTER. AND IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS HAS
BEEN RECTIFIED. I THINK IT
WOULD BE GOOD TO DOUBLE CHECK,
BUT IT DOES NOT --.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THE HEAD OF
THE 911 CALL CENTERS IS IN THE
AUDIENCE TODAY. SHE GAVE A
THUMBS-UP. I'M TAKING THAT AS
A POSITIVE. THANK YOU. I WAS
JUST AT FIRE STATION 25
RECENTLY AND THERE WAS AN
INCIDENT AT UNIVERSITY BRIDGE
WERE INDIVIDUAL DECIDED TO JUMP
OFF INTO THE WATER . EVEN ON
THE FIRESIDE, CAPTURING THAT
DATA, WHICH WOULD BE CAPTURED
THROUGH THE 911 SYSTEM. WHAT
YOU ARE SUGGESTING IS DUE TO
THE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST,
PROPER USE OF THE 911 SYSTEM
NOW IS CAPTURING THE DATA SETS?
>> I THINK IT IS WORTH US
CHECKING BACK IN WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE -- HAVE STOPPED
CALLING THEIR DIRECT LINE
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MORE CALLS
ARE COMING INTO 911 RATHER THAN
THEIR DIRECT LINE. I DON'T
KNOW IF THAT HABIT IS
CONTINUING.
>> I GUESS ANOTHER DATA SET,
AND I'M NOT SURE IF I'M
JUMPING AHEAD, I'M THINKING
ABOUT KENMORE . THEY COULD
PROBABLY MAKE A REPORT EVERY
DAY ABOUT INTRUSION IN THEIR
TAXIWAY, RUNWAY SYSTEM. IS
THERE A WAY TO CAPTURE THOSE
KINDS OF PIECES THAT DON'T
NECESSARILY RISE TO THE 911
CALL? IS THAT ENGAGING WITH
OUTREACH IN BUSINESSES?
>> THINGS LIKE KENMORE, WE DID
SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT THAT. I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE OTHER
THOUGHTS ON THAT ONE. THAT
LARGE -- LARGELY DOES NOT GET
COLLECTED IN THE PUBLIC DATA.
ANOTHER PIECE ALLUDING TO THAT
SLIDE, AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE
UNIQUE NATURE OF STAFFING ON
THE WATERWAYS, THERE IS STILL
SOME DISCUSSION WITHIN THE
INTERNAL DATA TEAM AROUND, WHAT
IS THE RIGHT METRIC FOR LEVEL
OF SERVICE? IS IT POPULATION
BASED ON LAND? IS IT WHAT IS
HAPPENING ON THE WATER? THERE
IS WORK STILL TO BE DONE THERE
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE
DATA TEAM IS FOCUSED ON.
>> OKAY.
>> MOVING INTO RECOMMENDATIONS
, OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS
AROUND EDUCATION FOR
RECREATIONAL USERS . DURING
INTERVIEWS WE HEARD THAT
EDUCATION IS THE MOST VALUABLE
TOOL FOR INCIDENT PREVENTION
AND MITIGATION. SOME WAYS TO
AUGMENT EDUCATION INCLUDE MORE
SIGNAGE AND SITUATIONAL
TRAINING MODULES, SIGNS AND
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES COULD
REINFORCE SPEED LIMITS AND
OTHER REGULATIONS SPECIFIC TO
AN AREA . SIGNS PROTECT LIFE
SAFETY , AS THOSE UNFAMILIAR
WITH THE AREA MAY BE UNAWARE OF
RIVER CURRENTS OR WATER
TEMPERATURES. TRAINING MODULES
COULD SHOW USERS HOW TO
NAVIGATE CROWDED WATERWAYS,
ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE ARE
COMMERCIAL VESSELS SUCH AS THE
SEATTLE AREA OR LAKE WASHINGTON
SHIP CANAL. THE CITY COULD
EXPLORE THE REGULAR USE OF PARK
RANGERS AND U.S. COAST GUARD
AUXILIARY TO SUPPORT SAFETY
EDUCATION . THIS PICTURE SHOWS
THE WASHINGTON STATE VESSEL
INSPECTION FORM, WHICH CHECKS
FOR LIFE JACKETS , PYREX AND
WISHERS, NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND
OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON
BOARD. WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY, SAFETY EDUCATION IS
ONE WAY TO DO SO. OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS CAN SUPPORT AS
WELL. PARK RANGERS CAN ALSO
HELP TO SUPPORT NOISE ORDINANCE
ENFORCEMENT , PARTICULARLY IN
AREAS THAT ARE FURTHER FROM THE
HARBOR PATROL STATION LIKE
ANDREWS BAY.
>> PARK RANGERS REALLY COME
ABOUT AFTER THE STUDY , OR AT
LEAST THE NEED FOR THE STUDY,
AND WAS COORDINATION WITH
PARKS. DO I NEED TO ENGAGE WITH
PARKS ON THAT SIDE? DO I NEED
TO BRING THEM IN TO SEE WHAT IS
POSSIBLE WITH REGARD TO PARK
RANGERS? I KEEP LOOKING AT MY
COLLEAGUE SINCE HE WAS THERE.
>> CHAIR, I THINK WE ARE IN A
NAVIGATED TERRITORY.
>> I LIKE THE USE OF ON
NAVIGATED.
>> WHICH IS WHY WE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER ON THIS YEAR THE
INFORMATION THAT WAS SUMMARIZED
IN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE
NOT COME BEFORE THE CITY
PREVIOUSLY. AND SO, BY WAY OF
CONTEXT, MARK RANGERS WERE
BEING SET UP , EXPANDED I
SHOULD SAY , AT THE SAME TIME
THE STUDY WAS HAPPENING. WHEN
THE STUDY BEGAN, PARK RANGERS
WERE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE
OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN. THEY ARE
NOW. WE HAD TWO AND WE KNOW
HAVE 34 . I WILL SAY, IN MY
LIFE LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING BY
GARDENS AND I SAW THE PARK
RANGERS AND I WILL -- I'M
EMBARRASSED TO SAY THIS BUT
IT'S ME. I STOPPED AND I GOT
SO EXCITED THAT I TALKED TO
THEM. I HAD NOT SEEN THEM UP AT
HOLDEN GARDENS BEFORE AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF NOISE COMPLAINTS
AT GOLDEN GARDENS. KIDS WITH
THEIR BOOMBOXES AND WHAT STRUCK
ME WHEN READING THIS REPORT,
ANDREWS BAY IS A PARK , AND IF
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THEIR
BOOMBOXES TO LOAD ON THESE
BOATS WERE ON LAND, A PARK
RANGER WOULD BE RESPONDING TO
THAT. THEY WOULD SAY, PLEASE
TURN DOWN THE MUSIC. THAT
REALLY STRUCK ME IN AN
INTERESTING WAY . I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE MECHANICS ARE AND I
THINK , CHAIR, TO YOUR
QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE MECHANICS ARE TO SAY, DO WE
NEED TO PUT A PARK RANGER ON
ABOUT? DO WE NEED TO HAVE
SOMEBODY THAT COMES BY AND
PICKS UP A PARK RANGER? THESE
ARE QUESTIONS THAT I DON'T HAVE
THE ANSWER TO TODAY. WHAT I DO
KNOW IS THE STUDY HAS
HIGHLIGHTED THAT WORK IS TO GET
DONE.
>> FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ,
WHO IS CHAIR OF PARK SPIRIT I
WILL WORK WITH HER, AND I'M ON
THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL, AND WE
WILL --. THEY ARE BRAND-NEW ,
AND EVERYBODY COMES FROM A
FOCUS. I'M THINKING ABOUT
SOUTHLAKE AND UNION PARK ,
GOING BACK TO KENMORE SQUARE
AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IN TERMS
OF WHAT THE PARK RANGERS CAN DO
AT SOUTHLAKE UNION PARK. I
THINK THERE IS POSSIBILITIES.
WAS COMING OUT OF THIS, THIS IS
THE REASON WHY WE DO THIS. WE
CAN HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM ON THE
FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETING ON
PARK RANGER PROGRAM WHERE WE
CAN TALK ABOUT THESE
CROSS-REFERENCES AND SO FORTH.
AND, NO NEED TO CHASTISE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR HIS
REPEATED WARD OF BOOMBOX, WHICH
IS FROM THREE DECADES AGO BUT
WE WILL LOOK PAST THAT.
>> COULD WE GO BACK TO THE LAST
SLIDE? I HAD SOMETHING ELSE
YOUR. THE IMPROVING
RECREATIONAL BOATER EDUCATION
WITH SIGNAGE AND SITUATIONAL
TRAINING MODULES. THIS IS
REALLY HELPFUL AND IMPORTANT.
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, I WORKED
ON ONE OF THESE DOCS FOR
RENTING OUT. I GOT PEOPLE
PREPARED TO GO OUT ON THE
WATER, SO I DID THERE SAFETY
MODULE. AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU
IS THAT WHEN WE WERE ON THE
DOCK WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT
FAMILIAR WITH THAT, THEY ARE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
BUCKLE THEIR LIFE JACKET. IS
THE PADDLE THE CORRECT WAY? ARE
THE WRITERS IN THE RIGHT PLACE?
ARE THEY SURE THERE BACK IS NOT
GOING TO FALL INTO THE WATER?
SO, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO
THEIR MIND AS WE ARE HAVING THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT , PLEASE
DON'T GO INTO THE SEAPLANE
LANDING ZONE, THE YELLOW BUOYS
ARE OUT THERE TO TELL YOU WHEN
THE SEAPLANE IS COMING. THEY
DON'T HEAR THAT WHEN THEY ARE
ON THE DOCK. ONE THING THAT WAS
IMPORTANT, AND I APPRECIATE IT
IN THE STUDY, ALSO HAVING ON
WATER EDUCATION . I THINK OF AN
OVERSIZED LOAD ON THE FREEWAY .
WHEN YOU HAVE AN OVERSIZED LOAD
ON THE FREEWAY COMING, YOU HAVE
A LEAD CAR AND A FOLLOW CAR
THAT HAVE YELLOW LIGHTS . THEY
ARE NOT FOR ENFORCEMENT. THEY
ARE SIMPLY FOR EDUCATION THAT
THERE IS A REALLY BIG TRUCK
COMING DOWN THE ROAD IT SEEMS
COMMON SENSE TO ME THAT WE
WOULD HAVE THE SAME THING ON
LAKE UNION WHEN I SEE PLANES
LANDING , RIGHT NOW WE HAVE
BUOYS THAT FLASH , BUT IF
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THOSE BUOYS
MEAN , WE ARE NOT COMPLETING
THE MISSION. AND I THINK IT
WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR THE CITY
TO HAVE -- . IT DOESN'T HAVE
TO BE A CITY-OWNED AUXILIARY
UNIT. IT CAN EVEN BE PRIVATELY
OWNED. JUST DO THAT WATER
EDUCATION, BECAUSE WHEN
SOMEBODY IS ON THE WATER, THEY
FIGURE OUT WHERE THEIR LIFE
JACKET IS IN MAJOR THE SNACKS
ARE SAFE AND THAT IS WHEN THEY
ARE READY TO RECEIVE THE
INFORMATION ABOUT STAYING OUT
OF THE SEAPLANE WAY. THANKS FOR
LETTING ME GO ON.
>> AS WE WERE DISCUSSING
EARLIER, WE DO HAVE SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT DATA
SPECIFIC TO HARBOR PATROL .
WOULD RECOMMEND A DATA INFORMED
APPROACH TO DECISIONS ABOUT
HARBOR PATROL STAFFING . THERE
IS A DESIRE FROM THE COMMUNITY
FOR MORE HARBOR PATROL OFFICERS
, BUT AS ADDING OFFICERS IS A
CHALLENGE, GIVING HIRING AND
BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, THE CITY
AND HARBOR PATROL SHOULD BE
TRANSPARENT ABOUT LEVELS OF
SERVICE THAT ARE POSSIBLE WITH
CURRENT STAFFING. THE CITY
COULD USE AVAILABLE DATA TO
UNDERSTAND THE DEMAND FOR
HARBOR PATROL SERVICES WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT DIFFERENT
DATA SOURCES TRACKED DIFFERENT
TYPES OF HARBOR PATROL
ACTIVITY. DATA CAN HELP TO SHOW
THE IMPACT OF RECENT REDUCTIONS
IN STAFFING OR THE IMPACT OF
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL STAFFING .
DATA CAN ALSO HELP TO DECIDE
HOW TO USE EXISTING RESOURCES
AND WHERE TO ASK PARTNERS FOR
SUPPORT. ONLINE DATA DASHBOARD
FOR HARBOR PATROL ACTIVITY
COULD ALSO HELP WITH
TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC
AWARENESS.
>> FINALLY, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR MARINE
RESPONSE FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT ONLY UNION, AND THIS
IS TIED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S
DESIRE TO ADD A SOUTH LAKE
UNION FIRE STATION, WHICH WOULD
INCREASE SERVICE AND RESPONSE
TO SIGNIFICANT GROWTH. THE
DERELICT VESSEL PROGRAM, WE
TALKED ABOUT IT, IT IS A
STATE-LEVEL PROGRAM BUT TAKES
CITY RESOURCES TO ADDRESS AND
IT COULD BE WORTH USING SOME OF
THE CITIES LOBBING RESOURCES TO
ADVOCATE FOR STRONGER
ENFORCEMENT TOOLS . ADDITIONAL
STATE FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE
CONSIDERABLE BACKLOG OF BOTH
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AS
NOTED, STAFF FROM BOTH
DEPARTMENTS, FIRE AND POLICE,
DID MENTION THEY WORK WELL
TOGETHER BUT THERE IS A NEED TO
CLARIFY ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AND REVIEW OF
THE EXISTING SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENTS AND MOUS MIGHT BE
ONE WAY TO DO THAT. WE
DISCUSSED ESTABLISHING A VENUE
WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME
TOGETHER AND DISCUSS ISSUES
LIKE POLICIES AND PRACTICES ,
HOW TO ADDRESS EMERGENT NEEDS,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING ,
AND IT WAS ALSO RAISED THAT
OPENING UP THESE MOUS COULD
CREATE SOME CONTRACT , UNION
CONTRACT ISSUES. WE TALKED
ABOUT MAYBE REVIEWING THOSE AND
PROPOSING SHORT-TERM AND
LONGER-TERM AMENDMENTS THAT
MIGHT BE DISCUSSED. WITH THAT,
THAT IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT IS IN
THERE AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I ALWAYS TURN TO
MY VICE CHAIR AND IF THEY HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS? MIKE I
APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL
CONVERSATION . THANK YOU. MAKE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'M SURE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS A
QUESTION BUT, FIRST, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. LIEUTENANT, I WANT
TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. TO THE
LAST POINT, IT SEEMS LIKE --.
MY FATHER USED TO SAY MANY
HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK. THERE
ARE MANY HANDS THAT HAVE A HAND
IN HERE. I KNOW IS A RETIRED
NAVAL OFFICER AND MY CHIEF OF
STAFF WAS A FORMER COAST GUARD
OFFICER, SO I HAVE SOME
UNDERSTANDING AND WITH OUR
WORK, WITH SPD , THINGS LIKE
THE MANNING OF THE STAFFING
ISSUES, IN TERMS OF THE
CAPACITY , I KNOW THERE IS
COORDINATION BEING DONE. IS
THERE ANYTHING FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, TO ON THE POINT
ABOUT THE MOUS AND THE LIKE,
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE FROM THE
FIRE, WHAT CAN BE DONE ? WHAT
DO YOU THINK, FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?
>> WELL, --. I'M SURE CHIEF
GOGGINS WILL SUPPORT ANYTHING
YOU SAY.
>> I WOULD SAY MOUS ARE
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF TIMES
OVER THE LAST 15 OR SO YEARS. I
HAVE BEEN IN THE MARINE UNIT
FOR 20 YEARS NOW, 17 ON THE
FIRE BOTH , SO OUR INTERACTIONS
WITH HARBOR ON INCIDENCES HAS
CONTINUED TO BE GOOD , I WOULD
SAY. OUR INTERACTIONS, WE COME
FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE AS FAR
AS RESPONSE STYLES AND INITIAL
OBJECTIVES, BUT OUR WORK
TOGETHER HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD.
SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP THAT
CONTINUE , AND TO IMPROVE EVEN
MORE, WHAT BE TO HAVE THOSE
CLARIFIED MOUS . THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN UPDATED FOR MANY YEARS. A
LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED. WE
HAVE ADDED RESOURCES . SEATTLE
FIRE IS GETTING READY TO ADD
RESOURCES DOWN IN SOUTH LAKE
WASHINGTON. WE HAVE TWO RESCUE
CDS THAT ARE GOING INTO SERVICE
JULY 1st. OUR ENGINE FIVE IS
RESPONDING FROM STATION FIVE ON
-- BY THE FERRY TERMINAL -- ON
AN INCIDENT THAT REQUIRES
SEATTLE FIRE PRESENCE ON
FRESHWATER, SO THEY WILL
RESPOND THERE. FIRE BOAT UNIT
WILL RESPOND AND TAKE FIRE BOTH
FROM FISHERMEN'S TERMINAL AND
WHATEVER RESOURCE GET THERE
QUICKER WILL TAKE INITIAL
ACTIONS. THAT WILL BE THERE TO
SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING
RESOURCES THAT HARBOR HAS .
THOSE MOUS WILL BE ADDITIONALLY
IMPORTANT AS WE ADD THAT
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE AND
INTERACT MORE ON THE
FRESHWATER.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE
SOME SENIOR LEADERS OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT BEHIND YOU. WE WILL
WORK WITH THEM. I THINK THE
IDEA OF UPDATING THE MOUS,
WHICH WILL PROBABLY COME BACK
TO YOU AS AN ACTION ITEM TO
WORK WITH YOUR COUNTERPARTS IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
CORONATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
WILL BE WELL SERVED. TO BRING
IN THE NEW ENTITIES LIKE PARK
RANGERS. I ALSO LIKE THESE
SLIDES BECAUSE IT REINFORCES
THE POINT I HAVE BEEN SAYING
AGAIN AND AGAIN, WE NEED TO
HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT
IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE
FIRST BULLET RELATED TO SOUTH
LAKE UNION, BUT ALSO THE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN. WE CAN
HAVE THESE STATIONS WHERE THEY
ARE , BUT THEIR ABILITY TO GET
TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE IN AND
THAT'S WITH THE TRANSPORTATION
POINT COMES IN. TERMS OF
VISION ZERO, YOU HAVE
ACCIDENTS, BUT HOW DO YOU
ACCOUNT FOR FIRST RESPONDER
CAN'T RESPOND AND THEREFORE
THAT PERSON DIES? HOW DOES THAT
GET COUNTED? WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL AS RESPECT TO THE
TRANSPORTATION PIECES LIKE,
FROM STATION FIVE , FRESHWATER,
HOW CAN YOU GET UP AND OVER ?
ALL OF THOSE PIECES NEED TO BE
THOUGHT OUT AND WE NEED TO HAVE
-- BRING THOSE PIECES TOGETHER
TO HAVE RESPONSE CAPABILITY. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE BRIEFING
BECAUSE THIS WILL CREATE SOME
ACTION ITEMS FOR US , WHICH I
THINK IN THE LONG RUN IS GOING
TO HELP OUR PUBLIC CITY AS
RELATES TO OUR MARINE
ENVIRONMENT. THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT ACROSS THE BOARD .
THE EDUCATION PIECE IS GOING TO
BE KEY. THAT WILL BE ANOTHER
ANGLE BECAUSE THAT IS OUTSIDE
THE NORMAL LANES OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ENTITIES. THE EDUCATION
PIECE IS GOING TO REQUIRE
SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF OUR
COMMITTEE JURISDICTION , AND SO
WE NEED TO HAVE THE
COORDINATION. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I WILL GIVE COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS THE LAST WORD AS
A THANK YOU FOR HIM STARTING
THIS PROCESS. COUNCIL NUMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU CAN
SEE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
MARKUPS I HAVE IN THIS REPORT,
PIECES OF REALLY USEFUL
INFORMATION. WE DIDN'T REALLY
GET INTO SOME OF YOUR BEST
WORK, JUST IDENTIFYING HOW THIS
IS IMPORTANT . WE HAVE --
COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, CARGO,
TOURISM, SEAPLANES AND OTHERS
ALL USING 200 MILES OF
COASTLINE HERE IN OUR CITY. AND
SO, CHAIR, I MIGHT ASK THAT WE
RETURN TO THIS ISSUE AT YOUR
DISCRETION, AND MAYBE PICK IT
UP INTO CHUNKS OF, WHAT ARE
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS? YOU ALSO
DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF
LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES LIKE
LONG BEACH, LOS ANGELES AND
THERE ARE SOME OTHER GOOD
RECOMMENDATIONS IN HERE IN WAYS
WE CAN IMPROVE THIS SYSTEM. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND NOW
IT IS ON US TO MAKE SURE THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS GET IMPLEMENT
IT.
>> DON'T WORRY. WILL BE
FOLLOWING UP ON THIS REPORT ,
AND OBVIOUSLY, MOUS ARE GOING
TO BE CLOSE TO HIM IF NOT AT
THE TOP OF THE LIST. THAT
PROCESS IN ITSELF WILL BE
REVEALING , SO THANK YOU,
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK READ THE SHORT TITLE OF
ITEM THREE INTO THE RECORD?
>> CB 120799 , AND ORDINANCE
RELATING TO STREET RACING,
ADDING THE CRIME OF RACING,
ADDING THE TRAFFIC INFRACTION
OF VEHICLE PARTICIPATION IN
UNLAWFUL RACING, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> WE ARE GOING TO START OFF
WITH MR. JOHNSON FROM CENTRAL
STAFF. WE ARE ALSO BEING JOINED
BY -- THE REST OF THE TEAM CAN
COME UP TOO. SO, WE HAVE CITY
ATTORNEY DAVIDSON. WE WILL LET
EVERYBODY INTRODUCED
THEMSELVES. AND ASSISTANT CHIEF
DAN NELSON.
MR. JOHNSON, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, I AM TAMASO JOHNSON,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STUFFED --
STAFF ANALYST. I'M PROVIDING
AN OVERVIEW OF COUNCIL BUILT
120799, ADDRESSING ILLEGAL
RACING. THIS BILL WOULD DO TWO
THINGS, THE FIRST IS CREATE A
NEW TRAFFIC INFRACTION OF $500
FOR THE REGISTERED OWNER OF A
VEHICLE PARTICIPATING IN AN
UNLAWFUL RACING EVENT . IT IS
DEFINED AS AN EVENT ON THE
STREET, ALLEY WAY, WAY OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC OR OFFSTREET
FACILITY WHERE IN PERSONS
WILLFULLY WON COMPARE A CONTEST
RELATIVE SPEEDS BY OPERATION OF
ONE OR MORE MOTOR VEHICLES OR
TWO, DEMONSTRATE EXHIBIT OR
COMPARE SPEED MANEUVERABILITY
IN A STREET OR CURVED
DIRECTION, CIRCULAR DIRECTION,
AROUND CORNERS OR IN CIRCLES
AND ACTIVITY COMMONLY REFERRED
TO AS DRIFTING OR BREAKING
TRACTION. AS I SAID BEFORE,
THIS INFRACTION , $500
INFRACTION WOULD APPLY TO THE
REGISTERED OWNER OF THIS
VEHICLE. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS
TO THIS IN THE CASE OF A
VEHICLE THAT CAN BE PROVEN TO
BE STOLEN OR A RENTAL CAR. THIS
INFRACTION MAY BE PURSUED
THROUGH VIDEO EVIDENCE . THE
OTHER THING THAT THE BILL WOULD
DO IS TO INCORPORATE BY
REFERENCE , CHANGES TO THE
REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON MADE
IN 2023 VIA SENATE BILL FIVE
606 THAT WENT INTO EFFECT ON
JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR. THE RCW
AND CORPORATION WOULD ADD
VARIOUS DEFINITIONS RELATED TO
THE CRIME OF ILLEGAL RACING AND
IT WOULD MAKE ILLEGAL RACING A
RECKLESS DRIVING OFFENSE
PUNISHABLE BY A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR WITH PENALTY OF UP
TO 364 DAYS IN JAIL OR A FINE
OF UP TO $5000. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. CITY
ATTORNEY?
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I
AM JOINED BY MY DEPUTY CRIMINAL
CHIEF, JIM KENNEY AND ALSO
ASSISTANT CHIEF DAN NELSON FROM
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND
TODAY -- THANK YOU FOR THE
INTRODUCTION. GOOD TO SEE YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
SAKA. TODAY, WE DO WANT TO TALK
ABOUT PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL
LEGAL TOOLS FOR THE CITY SO WE
CAN ADDRESS THE RISE IN THE
STREET TAKE OVER EVENTS THAT
HAVE SADLY BEEN ESCALATING.
EVEN AS RECENT AS A COUPLE OF
DAYS AGO, IT HAS BEEN A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON
TRANSPORTATION AND ISSUES THAT
ARE IMPORTANT ACROSS THE CITY.
ROAD SAFETY SHOULD BE INCLUDED
IN THAT PUBLIC SAFETY
DEFINITION, IN MY OPINION .
THAT IS FOR ALL USERS OF OUR
ROADWAYS FROM PEDESTRIAN,
CYCLIST, OTHER DRIVERS. TO HAVE
THESE STREET TAKEOVERS IN THE
FORM OF RACES OR DRIFTING AND
THE EXPANDED DEFINITIONS , I
THINK THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT
TO INCORPORATE AS A CITY. IN
THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THESE
EVENTS HAVE INCREASED THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARD
IN A VERY NEW SINCE WAY BUT
ALSO AS A COMPLETE DANGER. THIS
LAST WEEKEND, A PEDESTRIAN WAS
CRITICALLY INJURED AND ANOTHER
PERSON WAS SHOT. LAST YEAR A
YOUNG WOMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED
AT A CAPITAL HILL STREET RACING
EVENT. WE KNOW THAT WITHOUT
UNDERSTAFFING AT SEATTLE
POLICE, WE HAVE TO BE SMART AND
HOW WE ADDRESS THIS. USING A
DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING TO
PEOPLE WHO ALLOW THEIR VEHICLES
TO BE THERE AND PARTICIPATE,
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO TRY TO
DETER PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AND
GO AND WATCH BECAUSE WE NEED TO
HAVE OUR LAWS MATTER AND OUR
LAWS ARE ABOUT KEEPING PUBLIC
ORDER AND THE PUBLIC SPACES OF
SAFE AND THESE EVENTS ARE
HAMPERING THAT. THAT'S WHY I
WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS BILL AND
ADDED THE CIVIL INFRACTION OF
THAT PENALTY. WE WILL GO
THROUGH AND HAVE THE PROBLEM
DESCRIBED BY ASSISTANT CHIEF
NELSON AND WHAT SEATTLE DIP IS
-- POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE DOING
WHEN THIS TAKES PLACE, AND THEN
WE WILL HAVE DEPUTY JIM KENNEY
PROPOSE TOOLS FOR COUNCIL TO
REVIEW AND HOPEFULLY VOTE AND
APPROVE ON SO WE CAN HAVE SOME
RESPONSIVENESS TO THOSE EVENTS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING ,
CHAIR CATTLE AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME TO PROVIDE MY PERSPECTIVE
REGARDING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
IMPACTS OF THESE STREET RACING
EVENTS. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS, MANAGING STREET RACING
TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY HAS
PRESENTED A CHALLENGE. THESE
EVENTS CREATE LARGE CROWDS OF
ATTENDEES . AS PD HAS RESPONDED
TO VIOLENT CRIMES ASSOCIATED
WITH THESE STREET RACING
EVENTS, TO INCLUDE MULTIPLE
HOMICIDES, TRAFFIC COLLISIONS
RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY,
SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE OR
INVOLVE PEDESTRIANS AND THESE
EVENTS REPRESENT DYNAMIC CROWD
MANAGEMENT INCIDENTS. OUR
CURRENT STAFFING LIMITATIONS
IMPACT OUR EFFICACY IN
RESPONDING TO POP-UP STREET
EVENTS . THESE ARE THE EVENTS
WE ARE NOT AWARE OF IN ADVANCE
AND WHILE ALSO BALANCING THE
NEED FOR 911 RESPONSE TO IN
PROGRESS LIFE SAFETY
EMERGENCIES. THIS LAST SATURDAY
WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE. I WAS THERE
WITH MY TEAM . I GIVE ALL
CREDIT TO THEM. THE FIRST EVENT
WAS NOTED DOWN OFF OF THE 1100
BLOCK OF ALASKAN WAY. THERE WAS
100 VEHICLES IN A PRIVATE
PARKING LOT REVVING ENGINES
WITH A LOUD NOISE. THE TEAM WAS
OUT AND STARTED TARGETING
RECKLESS DRIVING. PEOPLE
DRIVING WITHOUT VISIBLE LICENSE
PLATES , NO LIGHTS, VARIOUS
INFRACTIONS . WE STARTED DOING
TARGET AND ENFORCEMENT AND THAT
REALLY DROVE BEHAVIOR OF A
CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR OF THE OTHER
ATTENDEES. WE SAW PEOPLE
REATTACHING LICENSE PLATES TO
THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY LEFT.
AS THAT EVENT WAS WINDING DOWN,
WE STARTED GETTING INTEL OF A
DIFFERENT EVENT, MLK SOUTH WAS
DESCRIBED OF A TAKEOVER EVENT.
PARTICIPANTS WERE PULLING SIGNS
INTO THE STREET , LIGHTING
FIREWORKS AND MY TEAM RESPONDED
TO THE AREA. THEY BEGAN TAKING
LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION .
RESULTANT OF THAT, ONE PERSON
WAS SHOT AND DROPPED OFF AT
HARBORVIEW BY SOMEBODY ELSE. WE
MADE AN ARREST FOR ALLUDING
WHERE SOMEONE IS LEAVING AT A
HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WE WERE
ABLE TO CATCH AND HOLD HER
ACCOUNTABLE. A COMMUNITY MEMBER
WAS STRUCK BY A FLEEING
MOTORIST. IT WAS A HIT AND RUN,
SIGNIFICANT INJURIES INCLUDING
-- I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT
THAT. THE GROUP MOVED TO SECOND
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN STREET.
RESPONDED TO THE AREA , THE
PARTICIPANTS IN THE ACTIVITY
FLOOD -- FLED , BUT THEY GOT
OUT OF THE SPACE AND THE GROUP
MOVED ON TO BLOCK THE FIRST
AVENUE SOUTHBRIDGE THAT WAS
PREVENTING NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC
INTO THE CITY. AGAIN, ALL OF
THESE TYPES OF INCIDENT
REPRESENT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES. IT'S MY BELIEF THAT
THIS NEW INFRACTION WILL
PROVIDE SPD AN EFFECTIVE
ALTERNATIVE ENFORCEMENT TOOL
THAT WILL DISCOURAGE ATTENDANCE
AT THESE EVENTS AND WHAT WE
LIKE ABOUT THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION IS, IT ALLOWS POST
INCIDENT ENFORCEMENT . SO, WE
CAN HAVE OUR OFFICERS RESPONDED
TO THE HIGHER PRIORITY
INCIDENTS, LIFE SAFETY RELATED
ISSUES DURING THE INCIDENT AND
STILL PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP ON
ATTENDEES AFTER THE INCIDENT IS
OVER. OVERALL, IT WILL HAVE A
GOOD IMPACT ON REDUCING THE
LEVEL OF THESE STREET RACING
EVENTS IN THE CITY. WE PREPARED
OUR VIDEO FROM A MONTAGE OF
CLIPS FROM THIS LAST WEEKEND,
AS WELL AS OTHER STREET RACING
EVENTS.
>> FRED NISSAN HAS NO PLATES .
STOP, BACKUP.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> WE WILL NOW GO TO JIM KENNEY
, WHO WILL GO THROUGH THE
PROPOSAL SO WE CAN BE
RESPONSIVE TO THOSE TYPES OF
EVENTS AS A CITY.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR KETTLE
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
OUR FIRST SLIDE DEALS WITH THE
ADOPTION OF THE STATE LAW .
THAT IS LOCATED IN SECTION 6 OF
THE BILL . THE REASON TO ADOPT
THE CRIME OF RACING UNDER THE
RCW, WHICH IS 4661 530 IS A
SLIGHTLY LARGER OR BROADER
DEFINITION THAN THE CURRENT
DEFINITION OF RACING UNDER THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. THE
PROPOSAL IS TO ADOPT SOME
DEFINITIONS AND THE CRIME. WE
START WITH A DEFINITION OF
DRIFTING. 46 04, 1641. AND
OFFSTREET FACILITY WHICH IS A
PARKING LOT IN 46 POINT 04
.367. THE CRIME IS AT 4661 530
WHICH IS RACING, AND AS I
INDICATED, IT'S A LITTLE BIT
BROADER THAN THE DEFINITION IS
CURRENTLY IN THE CODE. WE ALSO
ADOPT 4661 741, WHICH ALTHOUGH
ENTITLED RACING IMPOUNDMENT, IT
DEALS WITH RACING FORFEITURE
AND THEREFORE THE NEW STATE LAW
FOR FORFEITURE ALLOWS FOR A
SECOND OFFENSE THAT IF THE
PERSON IS CONVICTED OF RACING,
THE VEHICLE CAN BE FORFEITED TO
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT NOT
FOR A FIRST OFFENSE. NOT LISTED
IN THE SECTION 6 AND PART OF
THE BILL , BUT NOTED ON THE
POWERPOINT SLIDE IS RCW 4655
113 AND 4655 360. BOTH OF THOSE
HAD AMENDMENTS THAT ACTUALLY --
IN THE NEW STATE LAW -- THAT
DEAL WITH FORFEITURE , BUT THEY
ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE BILL
BECAUSE RCW 4655 IS ALREADY
ADOPTED BY 1130 030. WHAT THOSE
PORTIONS DO, THEY ALLOW FOR ,
IF SOMEBODY IS ARRESTED BY THE
POLICE FOR RACING, AND THE
VEHICLE IS IMPOUNDED FOR 72
HOURS AND THE PERSON CAN BE
IMPOUNDED FOR 72 HOURS AND THE
PERSON CANNOT PICK UP THE
VEHICLE AT THE TOW YARD. WE ARE
NOT ASKING TO PLACE THAT IN THE
BILL BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY
ADOPTED INTO SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE. THOSE ARE THE PORTIONS
RELATED TO THE CRIME OF RACING.
AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT NOW IS THE NEW INFRACTION
ENTITLED -- 1158 440 , VEHICLE
PARTICIPATION AND UNLAWFUL
RACING. THE PROPOSAL IS THAT
THIS IS AND INFRACTION WITH A
BASE PENALTY OF $500 -- I THINK
WE ARE READY FOR THE NEXT
SLIDE. BASE PENALTY OF $500 ,
AND IT APPLIES TO THE
REGISTERED OWNER OF A VEHICLE
USED IN CONNECTION WITH AN
UNLAWFUL RACING EVENT. THE
ISSUE IS TRYING TO HOLD
RESPONSIBLE THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WHOSE VEHICLES ARE USED IN
THESE EVENTS AND THE KEY POINT
IS THAT IT CAN BE DETECTED OR
THE EVIDENCE CAN BE INCLUDED --
INCLUDE A VIDEO. TYPICAL TIGHTS
OF THAT HE WOULD BE POLICE
VIDEO, AND OTHER VIDEO THAT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS, BUT NOT
INCLUDING TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA
VIDEO FROM THE AUTOMATIC
TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERAS BECAUSE
THOSE HAVE SPECIFIC
REQUIREMENTS FROM RCW 4663 170
THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
INTERFERE WITH , SO THAT CAMERA
FOOTAGE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE
FOR THIS INFRACTION.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK TO --. WHAT
THE ASSISTANT CHIEF WAS SAYING,
INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE OFFICERS
IN DANGER AT THE MOMENT , WE
CAN GO BACK AFTER THE FACT AND
DO IT IN A MORE MEASURED ,
RESPONSIBLE WAY. WHAT YOU SAW ,
THERE CAN BE TIMES WHEN THERE
IS DOZENS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE RISKING THEMSELVES IN A
QUESTION ROULETTE KIND OF WAY.
IN TERMS OF GOING AFTER THE
FACT AND DOING IT RESPONSIBLY.
IS THERE ANY FACTORS OR
CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT? IS IT PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD IN TERMS OF THE
AFTEREFFECT PURSUIT ?
>> IT'S REALLY ABOUT ANOTHER
TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR THAT
TYPE OF ALTERNATIVE. POLICE
OFFICERS IN PERSON COULD STILL
TAKE ACTION , BUT AS YOU CAN
SEE, IT IS DIFFICULT TO
RESPOND. THE RACERS RACE AWAY,
RUN AWAY WHEN THE POLICE
ARRIVED. IT'S HARD TO STOP AND
IDENTIFY THESE INDIVIDUALS .
WITH THE USE OF A VIDEO
AFTER-THE-FACT, PARTICULARLY
FOR THE VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE
AND THEN BEING ABLE TO THEN NO
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF
LICENSING , IS REALLY KEY TO
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE
INFRACTION.
>> CAN I JUST SAY, AS WE WOULD
CLEARLY KNOW, THIS IS THE SMART
WAY TO USE THE RESOURCES THAT
WE DO HAVE, SO THAT EVEN THOUGH
WE MIGHT HAVE AN UNDERSTAFFED
POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE COULD BE
RESPONSIVE AND SAY THAT THIS IS
OUR LAW AND THEY MATTER AND WE
WILL ENFORCE THEM IN STRATEGIC
AND SMART WAYS THAT ARE
SUPPLEMENTING THE OFFICERS IN
PERSON.
>> AS AN EXAMPLE, THIS LAST
WEEKEND I WAS NARRATING TO MY
VIDEO GOING ON IN MY CAR, THIS
IS LICENSE PLATE HERE. WE
CREATE A RECORD SO THEN AFTER
THE EVENT, WHEN THINGS HAVE
CALMED DOWN, AND EVERYTHING ,
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSED AND WE NOW HAVE A WAY
TO GO THROUGH SYSTEMATICALLY AT
ISSUE THOUGH CITATIONS.
>> TWO THINGS I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT, WE JUST PASSED A LPR
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE
SUPPORTIVE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS. IT INCLUDES THE PRIVACY
CONCERNS AND LIKE THAT WE HAVE
USING OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS , BUT IS GOING TO HELP
IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHEN
SOMEBODY IS CLEARLY BREAKING
STATE LAW AND AS WE ARE SEEING
IN THIS PRESENTATION. SECOND
QUESTION OR -- . WE HAVE HAD
SOME INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
PREVIOUSLY LIKE WHAT WE ARE
SEEING FROM LAST WEEKEND, AND
IT'S SO IMPORTANT , THE
CONSTITUENTS AND INDIVIDUALS IN
OUR COMMUNITY WHO CAME FORWARD
TO NOT JUST SPD AND OTHERS BUT
TO OUR OFFICE. THEY HAD VIDEO
AND AUDIO EVIDENCE . HOW CAN
THAT BE USED? HOW IS THAT
USEFUL, TO GET EVIDENCE FROM
THE COMMUNITY HIM IN TERMS OF
VIDEO OR AUDIO?
>> AS LONG AS THAT IS PROVIDED
TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN
CONSIDER THAT AND USE THAT AS
EVIDENCE, THEY WOULD NEED TO
VET IT, BUT AS LONG AS IT COMES
-- IT CAN THEN BECOME PART OF
THE PROCESS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS COME IN
TERMS OF WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY , THEY WANT TO KNOW
THAT IT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A AND SO, THIS LAW , THESE
KINDS OF ACTIONS SHOWS THAT WE
ARE TAKING IT FOR ACTION. WHAT
THEY ARE DOING IS HELPFUL AND
HELPING THEMSELVES , WHICH IS
VERY KEY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> I WOULD JUST CONCLUDE BY
SAYING, THERE IS A PROCESS TO
DEAL WITH RENTAL CARS AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RENTED
FROM RENTAL COMPANIES. THERE IS
AN EXCEPTION FOR STOLEN
VEHICLES IF SOMEBODY HAS HAD
THEIR VEHICLE STOLEN AS PART OF
-- CAUGHT UP IN A UNLAWFUL
RACING EVENT. THE INFECTION
ITSELF IS TREATED LIKE A
PARKING INFRACTION. NOT
INCLUDED IN THE BILL IS DEALING
WITH SPECTATORS , AND IF THERE
IS ANY INTEREST IN DEALING WITH
SPECTATORS, THE CITY CODE DEALS
WITH SPECTATORS IN THEIR
CHAPTER 9 . THEY CRIMINALIZE
ACTIVITY OF SPECTATORS AT
UNLAWFUL RISK EVENTS AND SO, IF
THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN THE
COUNCIL REGARDING SPECTATORS ,
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO
CONSIDER, LEGISLATIVELY. THEY
CAN'T ANALYZE IT AS A
MISDEMEANOR, BUT THERE MAY BE
SOME CONSIDERATION TO HAVE IT
BE AN INFRACTION. SOME OF THE
ISSUES RELATED TO SPECTATORS
THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN
REGISTERED OWNERS, JUST BASED
ON VIDEO , MAKING
IDENTIFICATION OF BYSTANDERS IS
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN THE
REGISTERED OWNER OF A VEHICLE
WHERE YOU HAVE THE VIDEO OF THE
CAR LICENSE PLATE, BUT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT KENT HAS DONE
AND SO SOMETHING THAT IS
POSSIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. AS USUAL, AS YOU
HEARD ME BEFORE , I ALWAYS TURN
TO MY VICE CHIEF SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU, CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON,
ASSISTANT CHIEF TAMASO ,
APPRECIATE THE VERY INSIGHTFUL
AND TROUBLING PRESENTATION ON
THE CURRENT STATE OF THINGS
WITH RESPECT TO RACING. I THINK
IT'S VERY CLEAR FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS A HUGE
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO DO
BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. DO
BETTER AND SET A SIGNAL THAT
THIS SEATTLE WILL BE A SAFE
SPACE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO
RESPECT OUR COMMUNITY AND ENJOY
ALL THE TERRIFIC THINGS WE HAVE
TO OFFER. WE NEED TO TAKE
STRONGER ACTION IN SHUTTING
DOWN THESE DANGEROUS, UNSAFE
BEHAVIORS INVOLVING VEHICLES .
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD FIRST
STEP , THIS PROPOSED PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. I APPLAUD AND
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I
ALREADY KNOW OFFHAND, I THINK
THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WANT TO
PROPOSE TO MAKE IT BETTER . I
HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I
DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE LAST
THING THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS
THE CITY OF KENT'S CODE THAT
GOVERNS SPECTATORS AS PART OF
THEIR STREET RACING ORDINANCE
AND, YES, THERE IS INTEREST IN
THAT, AND THESE ARE -- THE
CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING HERE ,
YES, THEY ARE LOCALIZED. THEY
ARE BROADER CHALLENGES SHARED
BY OUR ENTIRE REGION AND STATE
, SO WE NEED TO LOOK TO WHAT
HAS WORKED FOR KENT . I WILL
PERSONALLY BE CALLING UP THE
MAYOR AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY
APPROACH THIS ISSUE , BUT THERE
IS INTEREST, AT LEAST FROM ONE
COUNCILMEMBER ON BETTER
ADDRESSING SPECTATORS AS PART
OF THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN A
LOT OF CHALLENGES IN PARTS OF
THE CITY. HAVE SEEN SPECTATORS
IN THAT VIDEO FROM ASSISTANT
CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR SHARING
THAT . REALLY DISAPPOINTING TO
SEE THAT DISRESPECTFUL CONDUCT
AND FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS .
PEOPLE FLOATING KNOWN EXISTING
CITY LAWS AND SO, WE NEED TO DO
BETTER AS A CITY TO TAKE
STRONGER ACTION AND SHUT DOWN
THIS KIND OF THING. PEOPLE ARE
LITERALLY DYING AND THAT IS
UNACCEPTABLE. SO, I HAVE A
BUNCH OF QUESTIONS. I DON'T
KNOW WHERE TO START, BUT MAYBE
-- OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
FROM YOU AND YOUR TEAM ON
ADDRESSING , BEING THE FRONT
LINE OF THIS WORK ON THE
ENFORCEMENT SIDE. YOU MENTIONED
AN EXAMPLE OF -- THERE IS A LOT
OF PEOPLE WITHOUT REGISTERED --
UNREGISTERED CARS AND TAGS AND
FAKE AND PHONY LICENSE PLATES,
AND RIGHT AFTER WE INITIATED
SOME SORT OF ENFORCEMENT
ACTION. PEOPLE STARTED FIXING
THEIR PROPER DOCUMENTATION AND
EVIDENCE. I GUESS MY QUESTION
IS, I JUST WANT TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE AND
MAGNITUDE OF WHAT IS GOING ON
HERE. LICENSE PLATES , FALSE ,
EXPIRED LICENSE PLATES , WE
KNOW THEY ARE OFTEN USED IN
CRIMES , SMASH AND GRABS,
WHATEVER IT IS, AND ANY NUMBER
OF THINGS AND , TWO, I READ A
NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE THAT WE
SIS POLITIES AND LOCALITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TAKING
STRONGER ACTION TO SHUT THAT
DOWN. BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS,
PEOPLE ARE USING THOSE CARS IN
CRIMES AMONGST OTHER THINGS. I
GUESS I WOULD LOVE TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND , IN SEATTLE, HOW
BIG IS THAT PROBLEM EXACTLY
EXPIRED TAGS, FALSE TAX ,
WHATEVER IT IS?
>> EXPIRED TAGS IS A MODERATE
PROBLEM FOR US HERE IN THE CITY
. FALSE TAX OR HAVING NO TAGS
ON YOUR CARS IS A BIG PROBLEM,
ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO
STREET RACING EVENTS. THIS IS A
REGIONAL ISSUE. WE DO WORK WITH
OUR PARTNERS AND OTHER AGENCIES
UP AND DOWN I-FIVE AS THESE
EVENTS CRUISED UP AND DOWN THE
I-FIVE CORRIDOR, DIFFERENT
POINTS WE GET REPORTS OF THEM
STOPPING AT A RESTAURANT AND
THEY START TAKING THEIR LICENSE
PLATE BEFORE THEY COME TO THE
CITY. THAT'S WANT TO BE A
CHALLENGING THING WE HAVE TO
OVERCOME, SPECIFICALLY RELATED
TO ENFORCING THIS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. THOSE WOULD BE
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE
THERE WOULD NOT BE A WAY FOR US
TO COME AFTER THE FACT, ISSUE
TICKETS OR CITATIONS FOR THAT.
THOSE WOULD BE STOPS WE WOULD
PRIORITIZE SO WE ACTUALLY COULD
IDENTIFY WHO THE DRIVERS OF
THOSE VEHICLES ARE, AND AGAIN ,
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN MY
COMMENTS, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL
THIS LAST WEEKEND IN MAKING AN
ARREST. IS GOING TO BE TO
CONTINUE DOING THE SAME ON
THAT. WE ARE APPROACHING THESE
TYPES OF EVENTS AS CROWD
MANAGEMENT EVENTS. THEY ARE
DIRECTLY RELATED TO TRAFFIC
SAFETY, BUT IT IS A MASS
GATHERING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
THERE DOING AN ACTIVITY. WE ARE
RE-EXPLORING HOW TO APPROACH
THAT, WHICH COULD INFORM SOME
BETTER RESPONSES DOWNRANGE.
>> THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION
PERTAINS TO SOME OF THE
SPECIFIC RCW CALLED OUT. PART
OF THIS PROPOSED LAW , AS I
UNDERSTAND, IS INTENDED TO
ADOPT AND INCORPORATE RECENT
CHANGES TO STATE LAW, AND JUST
TO LEVEL SET, BECAUSE IT
WASN'T CLEAR FROM THE SUMMARY
OF THE FISCAL NOTE THAT I READ
IN THE BILL, GOING BACK TO YOUR
SLIDE THREE ON ADOPTION OF THE
NEW STATE LAW AND EACH ONE OF
THOSE RCW , FOR MY BENEFIT AND
BENEFIT OF MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, CAN YOU DESCRIBE
BRIEFLY WHAT EACH OF THOSE -- I
KNOW WHAT THE TITLE IS,
DRIFTING, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT CAN
YOU PROVIDE SOME MORE CLARITY
AND COLOR AROUND WHAT THE
SPECIFIC TYPES OF ACTIONS AND
BEHAVIORS EACH OF THESE
RESPECTIVE RCW'S ARE INTENDED
TO PUNISH OR PROHIBIT? PARKING
LOT CONTEXT, WHAT IS THAT? SOME
ADDITIONAL CLARITY AROUND THAT
WOULD BE HELP FOR MY PER SPEC
OF, THANK YOU.
>> RCW 4604 16 4 1 DEFINES
DRIFTING , A DRIVER
INTENTIONALLY OVER STEERING A
VEHICLE CAUSING A LOSS OF
TRACTION WHILE MANEUVERING A
VEHICLE IN A TURNING DIRECTION.
AN EXAMPLE WAS ON THE VIDEO WE
SAW OF THE VEHICLES THAT ARE
SPINNING AROUND IN THE STREET,
AND THAT IS A VERSION OF
DRIFTING THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED
AS PART OF THE CRIME OF RACING.
THE VIOLATION OF RACING CAN
OCCUR ON A PUBLIC STREET, BUT
THE RCW ALSO INCLUDES MAKING IT
A CRIME TO DO IT IN AN
OFFSTREET FACILITY LIKE A
PARKING LOT. IF THERE IS A
TAKEOVER OF A PARKING LOT OR
PARKING GARAGE , AND THIS TYPE
OF DRIFTING OR RACING OCCURS IN
THAT FACILITY, THAT WOULD ALSO
BE A CRIME EVEN THOUGH IT IS
NOT A PUBLIC STREET I'M
ASSUMING IT IS A PRIVATE
PARKING LOT OR GARAGE. THE KEY
PORTION OF THE CRIME IS RCW
4661 530 , WHICH DEFINES THE
CRIME OF RACING AND THE
TRADITIONAL DEFINITION, WHICH
INCLUDES WILLFULLY COMPARING OR
CONTESTING RELATIVE SPEEDS
BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES . THE
ADDITIONAL PIECE THAT IS NEW IN
THE LAW AND WHY WE NEED TO
ADOPT IT AND UPDATE INCLUDES
DRIFTING, THE TYPE OF DRIFTING
THAT WE SAW IN THE VIDEO. THAT
IS WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES -- THAT
IS THE ACTUAL CRIME. THE
PENALTY IS NOT CHANGING, A
GROSS MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY
UP TO 364 DAYS IN JAIL AND
$5000 FINE. IT DOES CARRY A
MANDATORY OF 30 DAY LICENSE
SUSPENSION THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND THE
CRIME WILL BE CHARGED IN
SEATTLE MISCIBLE COURT AND THE
JUDGES HAVE DISCRETION OF WHAT
TO IMPOSE UP TO THE MAXIMUM
THAT I JUST DESCRIBED. THE LAST
TWO RCW'S I NOTED ON THAT
SCREEN ARE NOT BEING
INCORPORATED BECAUSE THEY ARE
ALREADY INCORPORATED THROUGH
SMC 1130 030 RELATED TO
FORFEITURE. THAT 72 HOUR HOLD
FOR ANYBODY WHO IS ARRESTED FOR
RACING. IN A NUTSHELL, THAT IS
THE DEFINITION OF THOSE ITEMS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO
LEVEL SET THAT. MY NEXT
QUESTION PERTAINS TO -- .
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH HAS
A QUESTION AS WELL SO I WILL
PAUSE AFTER THAT AND PASS THE
BATON. MY NEXT QUESTION IN THIS
LINE IS POINTING TO THE USE OF
VIDEO EVIDENCE. CAN YOU PROVIDE
SOME , LIKE AS A PRACTICAL
MATTER, CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF VIDEO
EVIDENCE THAT COULD BE USED IN
THIS CASE? ARE WE TALKING TO
TALK VIDEO, SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO,
VIDEO CAPTURED BY A NEIGHBOR ON
THEIR OWN DEVICE THAT THEY
HAVEN'T UPLOADED TO SOCIAL
MEDIA? WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC
TYPES OF VIDEO THAT ARE
COMPLEMENTED -- CONTEMPLATED?
PART TWO OF THIS QUESTION, I
NOTED THAT THE STATUTE
EXPLICITLY EXCLUDES AND CARVES
OUT AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SAFETY
CAMERAS AS PART OF THAT
EVIDENCE, SO WOULD LOVE TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY , WHAT IS
THE RATIONALE THERE? PRACTICAL
EXAMPLES OF VIDEO EVIDENCE AND
WHY DO WE CARVE OUT AUTOMATED
TRAFFIC SAFETY. THANK YOU.
>> SECTION 5 OF THE BILL WITH
THE NEW INFRACTION ,
SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT SPD
GENERATED VIDEO WHICH WOULD
MOST LIKELY BE PATROL VIDEO AND
BODY WORN VIDEO FROM OFFICERS
THAT WOULD BE ON FOOT . IT
COULD ALSO INCLUDE POLICE
OFFICERS WILL SOMETIMES USE
THEIR OWN CELL PHONES, CELL
PHONE VIDEO THEY GENERATE, AND
IT COULD ALSO INCLUDE OTHER
VIDEO FROM SOCIAL MEDIA,
PERHAPS TAKEN BY THE RACERS
THEMSELVES OR PARTICIPANTS. THE
QUALIFICATION TO THAT IS THAT
SPD WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE
VIDEO BEFORE IT COULD BE USED .
SPD WILL NEED TO DETERMINE ,
DOES IT APPLY? BE PROVIDED TO S
WHAT IS ENVISIONED BY THE
VARIOUS FORMS OF VIDEO THAT
COULD BE USED . THE INFRACTION
HAS TO BE ISSUED BY AN OFFICER.
AN OFFICER WILL HAVE TO REVIEW
IT TO MAKE SURE IT ACTUALLY
SHOWS A VIOLATION THAT CAN BE
SHOWN IN COURT. THE CARVE OUT
FOR AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SAFETY
CAMERAS IS THAT THE VIDEO
GENERATED BY THOSE CAMERAS AND
THOSE CAMERAS ARE USED FOR SOME
RED LIGHT ENFORCEMENT AT
INTERSECTIONS, FOR HOB LINE --
HOV LANE VIOLATIONS. THEY WILL
BE USED MORE FOR SPEED
VIOLATIONS. THERE IS A SPECIFIC
REVISED CODE AT WASHINGTON THAT
GOVERNS THE USE -- GOVERNS
THOSE INFRACTIONS AND THE USE
OF THE VIDEO FROM THOSE
PARTICULAR VIDEO DEVICES. IT IS
VERY SPECIFIC. IT HAS
REQUIREMENTS REGARDING HOW THE
VIDEO IS TAKEN, HOW IT IS KEPT,
THE DIVISION OF THE PENALTY
FROM IT -- THERE IS A REVENUE
SHARING WITH THE STATE. THE USE
OF THAT VIDEO IS GOVERNED BY
THE RCW. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT
IF THAT VIDEO IS USED FOR THIS,
IT ESSENTIALLY BLEEDS OVER INTO
THAT PROCESS AND IT REALLY
NEEDS TO STAY SEPARATE FROM
THAT SO THAT IT IS NOT USED.
THIS IS GOING TO JUST FOCUS ON
SPD GENERATED VIDEO OR VIDEO
PROVIDED TO SPD BUT NOT THE
AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA
VIDEO.
>> I WOULD ULTIMATELY DEFER TO
YOUR WISE LEGAL JUDGMENT ON
THAT. I WOULD BE CURIOUS, IT
DOES MAKE SENSE THAT BECAUSE
AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT VIDEO
TECHNOLOGIES CAN COVER -- THEY
CAN COVER HOV VIOLATIONS. THEY
CAN COVER SCHOOL ZONE
INFRACTIONS. THEY CAN COVER --
THEY CAN ALSO COVER SPEEDING.
SO, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND
WHY, IF IT CAN COVER SPEEDING
AND AN OFFICER USING HIS
JUDGMENT IS ABLE TO SEE TWO OR
MORE CARS RACING DOWN A
SPECIFIC THOROUGHFARE , WHERE
THERE IS ALREADY AN AUTOMATED
SPEEDING CAMERA SET UP, THEY
COULD NOT LEVERAGE THAT VIDEO
AND SAY, IN ADDITION, THAT
WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THIS
NEW PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS WELL?
>> TECHNOLOGICALLY, OF COURSE,
THE AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SAFETY
CAMERA VIDEOS COULD COVER ISTHAW
DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR IT. RCW
463170 HAS VERY SPECIFIC TYPES
OF OFFENSES, INFRACTIONS THAT
ARE COVERED AND THIS PROPOSED
INFRACTION FOR AN UNLAWFUL RACE
EVENT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT.
IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO GO TO
THE LEGISLATURE AND ASK THEM TO
AUTHORIZE IT BUT IT WOULD TAKE
A CHANGE TO THE STATE LAW TO
INCORPORATE IT. THIS IS A CITY,
A LOCAL INFRACTION. IT DOES NOT
CONFLICT WITH ANY STATE
INFRACTION. THE CITY IS FREE TO
ADOPT IT AND ENFORCE IT BUT
BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE AND NOT
RCW RELATED TO AUTOMATIC
TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERAS -- IT IS
VERY SPECIFIC. IT IS ONLY FOR
THE THINGS IN THERE UNLESS THIS
NEW INFRACTION WAS ADDED TO
THAT LIST, IT DOES NOT APPLY.
OUR CONCERN IS THE VIDEO IS
ONLY FOR THOSE THINGS IN THE
AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA
LEGISLATION. THIS IS NOT ONE OF
THEM UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE
BROUGHT IT IN . WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THE VIDEO IS SEPARATE.
>> GOT IT. THERE IS A SPECIFIC
LIST OF AUTHORIZED THINGS THAT
THE RCW COVERS IN THIS
CURRENTLY IS NOT ONE OF THEM
TODAY. IF IT IS NOT IN THAT
LIST, YOU CAN'T DO IT,
BASICALLY. THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY DEFER
TO THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS,
SPD AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING AND
ENFORCING. IF YOU ALL HAD A
POINT OF VIEW AND DEVELOPED ONE
THAT MADE SENSE TO GO TO
OLYMPIA AND ADVOCATE AND LOBBY
FOR THIS CHANGE, AND TO ADD
ANOTHER ARROW IN THE QUIVER, I
GUESS , I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO
HEAR THAT. THANK YOU. GREAT.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> LIST FOR OLYMPIA GETS
LONGER. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR . THANK YOU
FOR PRESENTING THIS
LEGISLATION. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE
STREET RACE ON CAPITOL HILL,
LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD. I
LIVE ON 23rd. STREET RACING,
CONSTANTLY, UP AND DOWN 23rd.
JUST A MONTH AGO, SOMEONE WAS
RACING AND DECIDED TO SHOOT ALL
THE WAY DOWN 23rd FROM EAST
JOHN INTO NORTH CAPITOL HILL
AND MONTLAKE. OFFICERS
RESPONDED VERY, VERY QUICKLY
BUT , I WAS JUST LIKE, BULLETS
CAN GO THROUGH SOMEBODY'S
WINDOW, WHICH THEY HAVE. IT WAS
LIKE 2:00, 3:00 A.M. I WANTED
TO REALLY SUPPORT THIS, LOOKING
FORWARD TO ADDING ANOTHER PIECE
IN THE TOOLBOX FOR OUR
OFFICERS. I HAD A QUICK
QUESTION, ASSISTANT CHIEF
NELSON. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH
-- I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT. I
APOLOGIZE. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO
REPEAT IT. ONE OF THE VIDEOS
SHOWED, HEY , HERE ARE PEOPLE
DOING STREET RACING OR DONUTS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU WILL
ENFORCE THAT? ARE YOU WRITING A
TICKET ON THE SPOT? ARE THEY
GETTING IT IN THE MAIL? JUST
THAT PIECE SO I CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND THAT? I HOPE I DID
NOT MISS THAT.
>> THAT IS GREAT. IT REALLY
DEPENDS. WHEN WE ARE RESPONDING
TO THESE DYNAMIC INCIDENTS, WE
HAVE TO TRIAGE, WHAT ARE THE
IMMEDIATE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES
AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
WE CAN DO AFTER THE FACT? WHAT
IS TRICKY WITH ENFORCING THESE
THINGS, BECAUSE THEY OFTEN USE
THEIR VEHICLES TO CREATE A
BLOCKADE AROUND THE ACTUAL
DRIFTING OR THAT STUFF, IT IS
HARD FOR OFFICERS TO GET IN
THERE. EVEN THE DYNAMIC NATURE
OF THE VEHICLES DOING WHAT
THEY'RE DOING IN THE ROADWAYS,
IT IS UNSAFE TO APPROACH ON
FOOT BECAUSE YOU CAN GET HIT BY
A CAR. THAT IS WHERE THIS
LEGISLATION IS GOOD. WE CAN
MAKE NOTE ON ALL OF OUR BODY
WORN VIDEOS. WE CAN MAKE NOTE
OF THE LICENSE PLATES AS WE ARE
MOVING IN. WE HAVE ALSO
MENTIONED WE WILL SHIFT THE WAY
THAT WE RESPOND IN OUR
PHILOSOPHY TO MORE OF A CROWD
MANAGEMENT STYLE EVENT WHICH
WOULD INCLUDE THE USE OF OUR
POLICE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
TEAM , ENGAGING WITH THE
PARTICIPANTS AND ONLOOKERS TO
SAY THIS IS NOT OKAY BEHAVIOR.
THESE ARE OUR EXPECTATIONS.
THESE ARE THE PENALTIES IF YOU
CONTINUE TO BE HERE. WE ARE
DOING OUR EDUCATION WHILE WE
ARE STILL DOING EDUCATION AND
PRIORITIZING WHAT NEEDS TO BE
TAKEN CARE OF AT THE MOMENT. IT
IS A LITTLE MUDDY OF AN ANSWER
BUT I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR
QUESTION.
>> IT DOES. ESPECIALLY THE
EDUCATION PIECE. I AM ASSUMING
PEOPLE COME TO SEATTLE TO DO IT
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
PARTICULAR LAWS THAT PREVENT
SOME OF THIS FROM HAPPENING.
THE EDUCATION PIECE IS
IMPORTANT. ONE TIME, I SAW --
IT WAS -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE
VIDEO PARTICULARLY, BUT I SAW
HOW PEOPLE WERE LAUGHING AT
OFFICERS BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE
THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING.
JUST THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR
WHERE -- I HAVE SEEN IT ALL THE
TIME BUT I KNOW, PARTICULARLY,
IN THESE INCIDENTS WHEN YOU
HAVE THIS CROWD AND IT IS HARD
TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS STUFF, IS
IT GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE --
WHAT IS THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE
GOING TO LOOK LIKE? IS IT AN
OFFICER TELLING PEOPLE, HEY,
THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE? YOU ARE
GOING TO GET FINED FOR BEING
HERE? HOW WOULD THAT TAKE
PLACE?
>> THAT WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE
IMPORTANCE OF STOPPING AND
SEIZING, COMING UP WITH A
TACTICAL PLAN BEFORE ENGAGING,
ESPECIALLY A MASS GATHERING
LIKE THIS SO YOU DON'T END UP
ON AN ISLAND BY YOURSELF.
AGAIN, MULTI-PHASED. THIS LAST
SATURDAY, WE HAD OUR PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENT SYSTEM READY TO GO
SO WE CAN GIVE WIDE SWEEPING,
LOUD, PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
OUTLINING THIS IS OKAY, THIS IS
NOT OKAY. AGAIN, WE ENGAGE WITH
PEOPLE SAYING, THIS IS NOT
OKAY. YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR
LICENSE PLATE BACK ON YOUR CAR
OR YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO
PENALTIES OR TRAFFIC STOPS AND
DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT
WHILE WE ARE CONSTANTLY
ASSESSING, WHAT ARE THE THINGS
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF?
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE EVENTS,
YOU WILL HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS.
YOU WILL HAVE INTERGROUP
CONFLICT EMERGED FROM THESE AND
THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHAT RESULTS
IN SHOOTINGS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT. IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED
-- THESE EVENTS, AGAIN,
REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC
SAFETY RISK BECAUSE IT IS SO
DYNAMIC AND THERE IS A LOT OF
LAYERS TO IT.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.
TWO QUESTIONS BEFORE CLOSING.
ONE IS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CROWD MANAGEMENT POINT. THIS IS
LIKE SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT,
UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU ARE AND
WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHAT IS
BEST NOT TO DO. CROWD
MANAGEMENT, IT GENERALLY HAS
ANOTHER CONTEXT. THIS IS A NEW
CONTEXT. I AM JUST WONDERING --
I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT YOU
ARE DOING IT BUT HOW IS IT
BEING INCORPORATED UNDER THE
CONSENT DECREE? IS IT A
SEPARATE PARAGRAPH? IS IT A
SEPARATE PIECE? IS AT THE
OVERALL CROWD MANAGEMENT -- CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THAT PART?
>> IT IS A RELATIVELY NEW
PHILOSOPHY BUT WE HAVE A
WELL-DEFINED CRIME MANAGEMENT
POLICY. WE HAVE A CROWD
MANAGEMENT MATRIX AND THAT
INFORMS THE DIFFERENT
ITERATIONS . WHEN WE ARE
ENGAGING WITH A LARGE CROWD
THAT IS ENGAGED IN UNLAWFUL
BEHAVIOR, WE LEAD WITH WARNINGS
IN PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS AND
EDUCATION AND THEN WE WILL TRY
TO ISOLATE AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE
THE VIOLATORS AND THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE CHOOSING NOT TO OBEY
THE LAWS AND DIFFERENTIATE THEM
FROM THE CROWD. THAT GOES MORE
INTO THE DEMONSTRATION RELATED
STUFF. IT GOES INTO THE
PRIORITIZATION OF GETTING THE
BAD ACTORS/PEOPLE ENGAGED IN
IMMINENT LIFE SAFETY ISSUES
FIRST. ULTIMATELY , BRINGS IN
DIFFERENT TOOLS AS FAR AS
DISPERSAL'S. ONE OF THE THINGS
WE TALKED ABOUT ON CAPITOL HILL
WAS THEY TOOK OVER THE STREET
AND WE COULD NOT -- AS OFFICERS
WERE TRYING TO MOVE INTO THE
CROWD, THEY WERE BEING REBUFFED
BY THE CROWD AND THEY WERE
SWINGING SKATEBOARDS AND DOING
ALL KINDS OF STUFF. THEY ARE
INTEGRATING THE PROVEN TACTICS
AND PHILOSOPHIES TO TARGET
THOSE WHO ARE VIOLATING THE LAW
WHILE ENGAGING IN COMMUNICATING
WITH THE GROUP. WHAT HAS BEEN
-- WE WOULD HAVE HAD MUCH
BETTER RESULTS IN THAT
INCIDENT.
>> GREAT.
>> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD TOO
-- THIS IS A BROADER QUESTION.
OBVIOUSLY IN THE VIDEO WE SAW,
ELLIOTT AND WESTERN, WE HAVE
BROAD ARTERIALS . TALK ABOUT
I-5. BETTA SAMPLE AREAS. WE
HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING THESE
SPECIFIC AREAS. I AM THINKING
ABOUT WEST SEATTLE WHERE WE MAY
BE ABLE TO TAKE MEASURES LIKE
WORKING WITH SDOT TO CHANGE
THINGS UP. THE PARKING LOT
PIECE, LIKE HOW THE ROADS ARE
STRUCTURED, BE MINDFUL THAT WE
HAVE TO HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS
BE ABLE TO RESPOND. MAYBE THERE
ARE SOME MEASURES THAT CAN BE
PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD DETER
THE STREET RACING, THE DONUTS,
THE FISH TAILING, THE DRIFTING,
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WORDS. IS
THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE SEEN
FROM YOUR PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
THAT WE MAY BE -- THIS WOULD BE
AN AREA WE COULD DO SOMETHING?
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU BRING UP
SOME POINTS FROM EARLIER,
BRINGING PARKS AND ON THIS. ONE
OF THE ISSUES IS THE BOAT RAMP,
A POPULAR SPOT FOR THESE GROUPS
TO COALESCE AND GET TOGETHER
AND HANG OUT. HAVING A
DIFFERENT BULLARD THAT BLOCKS
IN THE HOURS WHEN IT IS CLOSED
WOULD PREVENT ACCESS FROM THESE
GROUPS INTO THE PARKING LOT SO
THEY COALESCE. THERE IS A LOT
OF THINGS WE CAN DO.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A
GREAT BILL IN FRONT OF US. WE
WILL HAVE SOME RECITALS FOR IT
, WHICH I WILL SPEAK TO NEXT
BUT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING, MR.
JOHNSON, WE CAN WORK WITH
PARKS, FOR EXAMPLE. SOME OF THE
NONTRADITIONAL ELEMENTS GOING
BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MARITIME
SAFETY POINT. I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN
ADD, EVEN AS A RECITAL. WE CAN
GUIDE FUTURE ACTION, THAT MIGHT
BE VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR
ATTENDING, MR. JOHNSON FROM
CENTRAL STAFF, CITY ATTORNEY'S
TEAM. IT IS NOT JUST YOU. IT IS
A BIG TEAM BEHIND YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND
FOR THE TEAM'S WORK AND POOR
ASSISTANT CHIEF NELSON, ACROSS
THE BOARD. IT IS THE VARIOUS
PRECINCT TEAMS AND THE LIKE AND
THIS IS HARD. THIS IS A REASON
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
-- STREET RACING IS A MAJOR
CONCERN. WE HAVE SEEN IT
OURSELVES WE HAVE ALL SEEN IT
OURSELVES AND WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
THAT GOES TO MY OTHER QUESTION.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT,
THAT CONCERN AND WHAT THEY HAVE
SEEN AND THEN BRING IN PART OF
THE PROCESS. THIS IS PART OF
THE SOLUTION. THIS HAS TO BE A
TEAM SEATTLE SOLUTION. IT
CAN'T JUST BE THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND THE LIKE. THANK
YOU, BY THE WAY TO ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD -- VICE CHAIR
SAKA, DID YOU HAVE A --
>> OF COURSE, MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU. I WILL JUST CLOSE OUT MY
SELF REFLECTIONS AS WELL THAT I
HAVE FROM EARLIER. FIRST , I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE CROWD
MANAGEMENT PIECE AND HOW THOSE
CAN TURN INTO LARGER PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES. IF I RECALL
THE SPECIFIC FACTS OF THE CASE
CORRECTLY FROM MAY OF 2023,
THERE WAS A MAN WHO TRAGICALLY
LOST HIS LIFE AT WHALE TAIL
PARK NEAR THE SANDBOX WHERE,
SADLY, ONE OF MY KIDS LOST
THEIR TOOTH. THIS IS A PLACE
WHERE FAMILIES GENERALLY GO TO
CONGREGATE, RECREATE, SHARE
COMPANY AND FELLOWSHIP WITH
COMMUNITIES AND EACH OTHER .
AGAIN, THIS WAS JUST A LITTLE
MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. IF I
RECALL CORRECTLY, THAT STARTED
FROM A TIKTOK CHALLENGE, STREET
TAKEOVER KIND OF EVENT AND THEN
WE SAW THE RESULT. THIS BILL,
THIS PROPOSED BILL RIGHT HERE
IS TIMELY. IT IS IMPORTANT. IT
IS IMPACTFUL. LIKE I SAID, I DO
LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING A CLOSER
LOOK AT IT AND POTENTIALLY
MAKING IT EVEN BETTER. ALSO, I
WILL NOTE THAT CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON, I APPRECIATE YOUR
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.
ONE OF MY LAST MEETINGS -- MY
LAST OFFICE MEETING OF THE DAY
ON FRIDAY FOR 4:30 WAS DIRECTLY
WITH YOU. WE CHECK IN REGULARLY
AND IT WAS PREDICT DID THAT IT
IS A NICE DAY OUT.
UNFORTUNATELY, NOT A GOOD
FORMULA. THE END OF SCHOOL,
HOPE NOTHING BAD HAPPENS
TONIGHT. TRAGICALLY, SOMETHING
BAD HAPPENED THAT NIGHT OR, AT
4:00 IN THE MORNING. 4:00 A.M.,
RIGHT NEAR THE PARK, A KNOWN
CHALLENGE AREA. HINT, THERE IS
NO GOOD THAT CAN COME FROM
ANYONE CONGREGATING AT A
PARKING LOT AND MASS AT 3:00
A.M. OR WHATEVER IT IS. JUST
NORTH OF THAT WHERE COMMUNITIES
HAVE BEEN DEMANDING BETTER
DESIGNS AND ACTIONS FROM A
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AND ROADS
PERSPECTIVE, TO POTENTIALLY
HELP MITIGATE AND MINIMIZE
THESE IMPACTS. SOMEONE WAS
TRAGICALLY SHOT AND KILLED,
MURDERED . SOMEONE ELSE WAS
WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE AND
HOSPITALIZED. I DON'T KNOW
RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT STATE OF
THAT INDIVIDUAL. TWO OF MY
CONSTITUENTS, AT LEAST TWO THAT
I AM AWARE OF HAD THEIR NEARBY
HOMES STRUCK BY GUNFIRE. SO,
THAT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT WE
HAD, CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON IN
THIS BILL IS VERY TIMELY AS
WELL. WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR
COMMUNITIES. THIS IS A SHARED
CHALLENGE AND SHARED
OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THIS CITY.
IT IS UNCLEAR RIGHT NOW BASED
OFF OF THE FACTS, THIS
EVOLVING, DYNAMIC CASE. THE
SHOOTING, THE MURDER ON
SATURDAY MORNING, WHETHER
RACING WAS INVOLVED OR WAS NOT
INVOLVED. REGARD THIS, WE DO
KNOW THAT SPECIFIC POINT IS
OFTEN A LAUNCHING POINT FOR
STARTING, INITIATING RACING. IT
IS ALSO A KNOWN POST RACE RALLY
POINT AS WELL. WE NEED TO DO
BETTER AND I THINK THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT WILL TO HELP US DO
JUST THAT. CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON AND YOUR TEAM, WOULD
YOU HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE FINE AMOUNT -- WHAT
SPECIFIC FACTORS WENT INTO THE
PROPOSED FINE AMOUNT OF $500?
>> FIRST, CAN I JUST COMMEND
YOU ON YOUR PASSION AND
CONVICTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY?
IT IS VERY MOVING TO ME AND I
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU
DON'T REPRESENT MY DISTRICT
BUT YOU HELP THE CITY BETTER
WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. I DO
APPRECIATE IT. WE OPERATE UNDER
THE ASSUMPTION OF A SOCIAL
CONTRACT. WE INDIVIDUALLY GET
PRIVILEGES AND BENEFITS FROM
OUR LAWS. THE OBLIGATION IN
TURN IS OUR COLLECTIVE
FOLLOWING OF OUR LAWS BECAUSE
WE ALL NEED TO LIVE IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY OF ONE ANOTHER. WE
SHOULD BE SAYING UPON
OURSELVES, IT IS MY
RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLY WITH
THE LAW SO WE CAN HAVE A SAFER
SPACE. IT IS EASIER IF WE DO IT
THAT WAY THEN DOING ALL OF THIS
BUT WE DO ALL OF THIS. I JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
THAT. THE AMOUNT IS ONE THAT WE
TOOK INTO ACCOUNT. WE HAD
DISCUSSIONS. WE DECIDED IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
MEANINGFUL, HOPEFULLY A
DETERRENT, NOT SUCCESSIVE BUT A
MESSAGE THAT IF YOU GO WHEN YOU
PARTICIPATE, EVEN AS A
SPECTATOR, YOU ARE ENCOURAGING
THIS BEHAVIOR THAT IS DANGEROUS
AND IS HARMFUL TO THE PUBLIC
AND INDIVIDUALS CAN GET HURT
AND IT COULD BE YOU NEXT TIME
SO YOU SHOULD NOT SHOW UP SO
THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SHOW
OFF IN THIS WAY -- BY SHOWING A
VIDEO THAT THEY SOMEHOW HAVE
POWER AND INFLUENCE THAT, NO,
WE HAVE MORE TOGETHER. WE
SHOULD NOT SHOW UP. HERE IS A
FINE FOR YOU AFTER-THE-FACT
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THAT TO
BE ENCOURAGED. WE HAVE SAFETY
ENCOURAGED. DO YOU WANT TO ADD
TO THAT?
>> NO. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
YOUR KIND WORDS BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
AND COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE
SHOWN. THIS IS NOT JUST ME. IT
IS NOT JUST MMY
COLLEAGUES. THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, THE
MAYOR, IT IS THE COURTS. IT IS
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH
OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS. THESE
ARE NOT MATTERS OF FIRST
IMPRESSIONS OF SEATTLE ONLY.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.
THIS IS A GOOD FORCING FUNCTION
TO HELP US CONTINUE DOWN THAT
PATH. ANY SENSE CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON OR TAMASO HOW THIS
PROPOSED FINE AMOUNT STACKS
AGAINST OTHER COMPARABLE
LEGISLATION IN OTHER NEARBY
JURISDICTIONS IN WASHINGTON? IS
IT ABOUT IN LINE WITH THAT? A
LITTLE HIGHER? A LITTLE LOWER?
ANY INITIAL IMPRESSION OF THAT
RIGHT NOW?
>> AS AN INFRACTION?
>> WE ARE THE FIRST TO DO THE
INFRACTION PIECE SO THAT IS WHY
THERE IS NOT A COMPARISON. WE
LOOKED AT SOMETHING TO START
WITH. AGAIN, YOUR INPUT, WE
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH , IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD -- IT IS
DISRUPTIVE. PEOPLE ARE HAVING
FAMILIES -- IT IS ALWAYS AT
THAT HOUR THAT IS NOT SOMETHING
PRODUCTIVE THAT IS HAPPENING.
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET READY
FOR THE NEXT DAY OR WHAT THEY
NEED TO DO. THAT IS WHERE WE
STARTED BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST
OF IT. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE A
DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK
OUT AND COME FOR THIS ACTIVITY,
NOR DO WE WANT TO SEND IT TO
OUR MUNICIPAL NEIGHBOR. WE GOT
TO START SOMEWHERE SO I DECIDED
THAT I WILL START IT. IT IS
CLEARLY DANGEROUS, CLEARLY
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR
THE COMMON GOOD AND THAT IS
WHERE WE ARE AT. IF YOU HAVE
INPUT IN IT, HAPPY TO LISTEN
AND WORK ON IT. THAT IS WHERE
WE STARTED.
>> GO AHEAD, TAMASO.
>> THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED
TO ADD IS THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN STEP IN
AND CORRECT ME IF THIS IS A
MISTAKE . MY UNDERSTANDING FROM
READING THE TWO THINGS
TOGETHER, THE NEW INFRACTION AS
WELL AS THE CORPORATION OF THE
RCW IS THAT THERE ARE
SUBSTANTIAL, IF NOT TOTAL
OVERLAP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THE CONDUCT THAT TRIGGERS THE
ABILITY TO HAVE THE INFRACTION
FINED IS ALSO CONDUCT THAT
COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR WHICH INCLUDES UP
TO THE FINED. I DON'T THINK I
AM SPEAKING IN ERROR ON THAT.
>> THE INFRACTION IS DESIGNED
TO GO AFTER A REGISTER NUMBER
OF THE VEHICLE WHEREAS THE
CRIME ITSELF WOULD HAVE TO BE
PROSECUTED AGAINST THE DRIVER
OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHALLENGE
IN APPREHENDING THE DRIVER IS
WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHERE
AS THIS IS DESIGNED AS AN
INFRACTION TO GO AFTER THE
REGISTERED OWNER AS A
DISINCENTIVE TO HAVE YOUR CAR
INVOLVED IN A RACING EVENT.
THAT IS THE FINE LINE BETWEEN
THE TWO, THE INFRACTION VERSUS
THE REGISTERED OWNER, THE CRIME
ITSELF INVOLVING THE DRIVER. IT
COULD BE ONE IN THE SAME. POLL
OVER THE DRIVER WHO IS ALSO THE
REGISTERED OWNER. THAT COULD
HAPPEN CURRENTLY. AGAIN, A
RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGE. LET'S
SAY YOU ARE DRIVING 100 MILES
PER HOUR IN A 60 MILES PER
HOUR, YOU GET A RECKLESS
DRIVING CHARGE AND DISPUTING
INFRACTION. YOU CAN HAVE BOTH
BUT THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE.
>> GOT IT. THAT MAKES SENSE.
THE INFRACTION IS INTENDED TO
PUNISH THE REGISTERED CAR OWNER
WHEREAS CRIMINAL VIOLATION
IS INTENDED TO PUNISH THE
DRIVER. THEY CAN EXIST AT THE
SAME TIME BUT NOT NECESSARILY
ALWAYS. I GUESS AS A PRACTICAL
MATTER, FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S PERSPECTIVE , WE
WILL BE PROSECUTING THESE
INFRACTIONS IN PUNISHMENT,
CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS. CAN YOU
COMMENT ON, PRACTICALLY
SPEAKING, HOW YOU PLAN TO USE
THE INFRACTION FINE IN
COMBINATION WITH THE GROSS
MISDEMEANOR THAT THE RCW
INCORPORATION ADDS TO THE CITY
CODE TO THE EXTENT THERE IS A
VARIANCE THERE OUTSIDE OF WHAT
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT?
>> TYPICALLY WHAT WE WOULD DO
FOR THOSE, WHERE WE HAVE THE
CRIMINAL CHARGE IN THE
INFRACTION, IT WOULD TRACK
TOGETHER WITH THE CRIMINAL
CHARGE. THAT IS THE LARGER,
MORE IMPACTFUL -- THAT IS THE
CRIME. THEY WOULD BE HANDLED
TOGETHER AND LIKELY NEGOTIATED
TOGETHER. WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK
LIKE IS TO BE DETERMINED ON A
PARTICULAR CASE BUT THAT IS
USUALLY HOW WE HANDLE WHEN WE
HAVE THOSE DUAL CRIME AND
INFRACTION TOGETHER, TRACK IT
WITH THE CRIME AND THEN
NEGOTIATE THE CASE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR
ATTENDING. A VERY SERIOUS
TOPIC. STREET RACING IS A MAJOR
CONCERN. AS I NOTED EARLIER, WE
HAVE SEEN OURSELVES, EVERYONE
HAS SEEN IT, OUR CONSTITUENTS
HAVE SEEN IT AND IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR VERY MANY
REASONS. THIS WILL BE PART OF
THE BILL AS WELL. THE HEALTH
AND QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERN.
FOR VETERANS WITH PTSD, WITH
THE BACKFIRES AND SO FORTH, IT
FEELS WITH ANXIETY AND MENTAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES, THE THINGS
THEY ARE FACING. OBVIOUSLY, THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS HAVE
NO CLUE, UNDERSTANDING, OR CARE
ABOUT THE DISRUPTION OF SLEEP,
JUST BASIC HEALTH. IT IS SO, SO
IMPORTANT. I WOULD NOTE TOO
THAT NOISE POLLUTION IS
POLLUTION. WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL
OF THAT. I WOULD ALSO SAY
TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
IS PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS A
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. AS
YOU SAW FROM THE VIDEO, THIS IS
DANGER CLOSE. ONE PERSON
JUMPING IN AND SO FORTH IS ONE
THING BUT WE CAN HAVE INSTANCES
WHERE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS,
CHILDREN CAN BE IMPACTED.
AGAIN, DANGER CLOSE. THE LAST
THING I WANT TO SAY -- THIS
GOES TO OUR STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK. IT HAS COME UP A
COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THE
COURSE OF THIS BRIEFING. WHEN
YOU SEE THE VIDEO, IT GIVES THE
IDEA THAT THIS IS PERMITTED,
THAT IT IS PERMITTED, THAT WE
DON'T CARE. BUT, WE DO CARE.
WE CARE FOR ALL OF THE REASONS
WE DISCUSSED BUT WE ALSO CARE
BECAUSE WE CAN'T ALLOW THIS
CREATION -- NOT JUST CREATION,
BUT REINFORCING OF THIS
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT --
EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING IS TO
COUNTER THAT. THAT IS WHY THIS
BILL IS SO IMPORTANT . I JUST
WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. IT
IS SO IMPORTANT IN AND OF
ITSELF AND FOR THE NOTE THAT
THIS ALSO LEADS TO GUN VIOLENCE
AND OTHER ISSUES. IT IS A GREAT
CONCERN AND WE WILL PRESS
FORWARD, THROUGH THE COMMITTEE
AND THE COUNCIL PROCESS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION TODAY . WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO ATTEND?
HEARING NONE, SEEING NONE, WE
ARE ADJOURNED.