SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. THE
TIME IS TO:02. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
>> REPORTER:.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. EIGHT
PRESIDENT.
>> PLEASE NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS
EXCUSE. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE MINUTES OF
DECEMBER 26 -- DECEMBER 16,
2024 WILL BE ADOPTED. THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED . I WANT TO
START BY WELCOMING EVERYBODY
BACK TO THE FIRST COUNCIL
BRIEFING OF THE YEAR. I HOPE
YOU ALL HAD A RELAXING BREAK
AND REJUVENATING, ET CETERA. I
DO HAVE SOME SAD NEWS I WANTED
TO MENTION IN CASE YOU MISSED
IT. A WEEK AGO SUNDAY, JENNIFER
WINKLER, A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT,
FAMILY PASSED AWAY. SHE WAS
HIRED IN SEPTEMBER 2001 AS THE
CITY RECORDS MANAGER AND SERVED
IN THIS ROLL THROUGH HER
RETIREMENT IN JULY 2023. MOST
OF YOU WERE NOT HERE, BUT
PERHAPS I AM SEEM RECOGNITION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
BECAUSE SHE WAS HERE WHEN WE
WERE SERVING COUNCILMEMBER
CONLON. SHE PASSED. I WANTED TO
SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO HER
LOVED ONES. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
WE HAVE ONE LETTER FOR
SIGNATURES TODAY . THE
PRESENTATION ON THE VACANCY IN
DISTRICT 2 AND EXECUTIVE
SESSION. AT TOMORROW'S
MEETING, THERE IS ONE ITEM ON
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR. IT IS THE WEEKLY BILL
PAYMENT ORDINANCE. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR INCLUDES THE WEEKLY
BILL PAYMENT ORDINANCE, AND
THERE ARE NO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION FROM COMMITTEES
THIS WEEK. FINALLY, PLEASE STOP
BY THE SECOND FLOOR DESK AND
WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF
THE TEAM. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP,
WE WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE
PRESENTATION. ON THE DISTRICT 2
COUNCIL POSITION VACANCY
PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
THE STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING
VERY, VERY -- ARE YOU WANTING
SOMETHING? I SAW YOU POINTING.
>> SORRY. IS ASKING THE CLERK
IF I NEEDED TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS
PROCESS. THERE IS A LOT OF
BACKGROUND WORK THAT GOES ON
WHEN WE FILL A VACANCY. YOU
HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK. WE DO
HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON OUR
WEBSITE. I WILL INVITE YOU TO
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION NOW ,
AND FIRST, INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS TRAGEDY FOR. I AM
SEATTLE CITY CLERK.
>> I AM LAW -- LAUREN HENRY,
LEGISLATIVE LEGAL COUNSEL.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO SHARE THE SCREEN SO EVERYONE
CAN SEE THE PRESENTATION. I
HOPE I AM SPEAKING LOUD ENOUGH
FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR. I JUST
WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR
RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF
JENNY WINKLER. SHE CAME FROM
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
IT IS A HUGE LOSS FOR OUR
WORKGROUP THERE. ONE OF THE
BIGGEST THINGS THAT I KNOW OF
HER WAS THE RECORD., A CITYWIDE
PROGRAM THAT AFFECTS EVERY
DEPARTMENT. IT TOOK A LOT OF
ADVOCACY AND HARD WORK ON HER
PART TO BRING TO OUR CITY. I
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
ACKNOWLEDGING HER. MOVING ON TO
THE POSITION VACANCY. AS WE
KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS
-- HERE WE GO. COUNCILMEMBER
MOREL IS IS RESIGNING FROM HER
POSITION AS OF TODAY.
THEREFORE, THE VACANCY WILL BE
EFFECTIVE TOMORROW, JANUARY 7,
2025. THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS
FOR THIS VACANCY IS 20 DAYS ,
AS ESTABLISHED BY SEATTLE CITY
CHARTER. NOTES THAT IF YOU DO
THE MATH ON THAT, IT WOULD HAVE
LANDED ON A SUNDAY. BY CHARTER,
THE LAST DAY IS THE 27th.
APPOINTED -- YOU EVER THE
APPOINTED COUNCILMEMBER WILL BE
WILL SERVE UNTIL THE NEXT
GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS ARE
CERTIFIED . THAT WOULD BE
GENERAL ELECTION OF 2025. SO
UNTIL NOVEMBER 2025. THAN
WHOEVER IS ELECTED AT THAT
ELECTION, THE GENERAL ELECTION,
WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO
WAS SWORN IN ONCE THE RESULTS
ARE CERTIFIED. MUCH LIKE WE
JUST SAW WITH COUNCILMEMBER
>> REPORTER:. THERE IS PUBLIC
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE
WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THIS
VACANCY. APPLICATIONS ARE
CURRENTLY OPEN . THE
APPLICATION PERIOD OPENED ON
JANUARY 2 AT 8:00 A.M.
APPLICATIONS NEED TO BE
SUBMITTED TO THE EMAIL AND THEY
NEED -- TO CLARIFY, THEY NEED
TO BE RECEIVED BY THE CITY
CLERK'S OFFICE BY 5:00 P.M. ON
JANUARY 9. THE REASON WHY WE
SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IF YOUR
EMAIL WAS SENT AT 5:00 P.M.,
BUT WE RECEIVED IT AT 5:01
P.M., WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT
APPLICATION. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO NOT SEND IT AT THE
LAST MINUTE. THE APPLICATION
MUST INCLUDE A COVER LETTER, A
RESUME, AND THE FINANCIAL
INTEREST STATEMENT FORM THAT
CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE.
THIS FINANCIAL INTEREST
STATEMENT FORM , IT IS
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
THE CORRECT ONE. IT WILL SAY IT
IS FOR THE POSITION 2 AND NOT
POSITION EIGHT LIKE THE LAST
VACANCY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
ANYONE SUBMITTING IS MAKING
SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT
DOCUMENT. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
THE FORM HAS BEEN UPDATED TO
INCLUDE THE APPLICANT'S NAME
AND ADDRESS. WE NEED THAT TO BE
ABLE TO VERIFY THEM WITH KING
COUNTY ELECTIONS THAT THEY ARE,
IN FACT, CITIZENS OF DISTRICT
2. SO BY STATE LAW, AND THE
CITY CHARTER, CANDIDATES MUST
BE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED
STATES, A QUALIFIED ELECTOR OR
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ,
ABLE TO READ AND WRITE THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND A
REGISTERED VOTER OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND RESIDENT OF THE
DISTRICT REPRESENTED, IN THIS
CASE, DISTRICT 2, FOR AT LEAST
120 DAYS PRIOR TO FILING THE
DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY. ONCE
THE APPLICATION PERIOD IS
CLOSED , ACTUALLY, CONCURRENTLY
WE ARE ALSO BRINGING AN
APPLICATION PERIOD FOR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
ACCORDING TO CHARTER, WE ASK
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO
EITHER SUBMIT THE APPLICATION
TO MODERATE THE PUBLIC FORUM,
WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE
VACANCY PROCESS WHERE THE
PUBLIC CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND
FIND OUT MORE FROM THE
CANDIDATES FOR THE VACANT
POSITION, OR THEY CAN MERELY
SUBMIT FEEDBACK ABOUT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FORM
STRUCTURE . QUESTIONS THAT
SHOULD BE POSED TO DO THE
CANDIDATES, OR ANY
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS.
THIS APPLICATION IS RUNNING
CONCURRENTLY TO THE APPLICATION
FOR THE CANDIDATE. IT IS
JANUARY 2 THROUGH JANUARY 9.
THEY NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY
5:00 P.M. A LETTER OF INTEREST
IS SUBMITTED TO THE WEBSITE ,
THE COUNCIL
VACANCY@SEATTLE.GOV. CURRENTLY
ON THE SCREEN IS THE TENTATIVE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS . THE
VACANCY , YOU KNOW, THE SEAT IS
BEING VACATED TODAY. THE
VACANCY OFFICIALLY STARTS
TOMORROW . THE APPLICATIONS
OPEN ON THE SECOND AND LAST
UNTIL THE NINTH. AND THE
WONDERFUL STAFF IN THE OFFICE
OF CITY CLERK WILL WORK TO
PROCESS THESE APPLICATIONS. WE
ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING THEM.
WE HAVE TO SEND THEM TO KING
COUNTY ELECTIONS TO BE
VERIFIED. THERE WILL BE THAT
TIME FROM THE LAST APPLICATION
RECEIVED TWO WHEN WE CAN
PROVIDE A LIST OF THE QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES. THAT WILL BE UNTIL
THE 13th. THERE WILL BE THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION WHERE YOU ALL
GET TO NOTE THE LIST OF
APPLICANTS AND DISCUSS THAT AND
EVALUATE QUALIFICATIONS. AND
THEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL NEED
TO REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS.
THEN WE HAVE ON THE 17th THE
MEETING CHOOSING THE FINALISTS.
HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY FORUM
WILL BE ON THE 21st. THEN WE
HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TO
INTERVIEW THE APPLICANTS, AND
THEN THAT FINAL MEETING TO FILL
THE VACANT SEAT WILL BE ON THE
27th. AS WE KNOW, IF WE DO NOT
FILL THE SEAT ON THE 27th,
COUNCIL MUST MEET EVERY
BUSINESS DAY UNTIL THEY FILL
THE SEATS. -- SEAT . THAT'S
ALL I HAVE. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
VACANCY. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND. WHEN YOU WERE --
CAN YOU GO BACK UP TO THE
CALENDAR? YOU MADE A POINT OF
SAYING THAT IT TAKES TIME
BETWEEN WHEN YOU GET ALL OF THE
APPLICATIONS TO WHEN WE SEE
THEM. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN
THAT PERIOD OF TIME IS
REDACTING .
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE REDACTING
INFORMATION BECAUSE THESE ARE
PUBLIC RECORDS, BUT WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO
PRESERVE THAT.
>> YEAH, THE PRIVACY. I SAID
PII AT ONE POINT. PERSONAL
INFORMATION -- I ALREADY FORGOT
WHAT THE ACRONYM MEANS. THE
REDACTED INFORMATION THAT WOULD
IDENTIFY THE CANDIDATES.
USUALLY ON YOUR RESUME YOU HAVE
THE PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS.
WE WILL REDACT THAT . EMAIL
ADDRESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT TAKES SOME TIME . I WANT
TO THANK OUR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
OFFICER , BECAUSE HE CAME UP
WITH THE IDEA OF USING ONE OF
OUR INTERNAL PROGRAMS THAT
USUALLY -- EASILY REDOX
INFORMATION. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL
GO FASTER. WE ALSO NEED TO
COMPILE IT INTO AN EASILY
ACCESSIBLE FORMAT FOR COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO GO
THROUGH. WE DON'T WANT TO
THROW BUDGET PDFS YOUR WAY.
THAT DOES TAKE SOME TIME AS
WELL. AS I MENTIONED , TO GET
THE INFORMATION VERIFIED BY THE
KING COUNTY ELECTIONS, WHO WAS
IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO WIN
AN ELECTION FOR FEBRUARY AS
WELL.
>> -- THAT INFORMATION, THE
INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO
COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ALSO TO
THE PUBLIC AT THE SAME TIME. IT
WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE
WEBSITE BY THE 14th. AND SO,
ANYONE WHO HAS SUBMITTED AN
APPLICATION WILL KNOW IF THEIR
APPLICATION WAS ACCEPTED AND
APPROVED BY THAT LIST.
>> GOT IT. HOW MANY PEOPLE OF
APPLIED SO FAR?
>> APPROXIMATELY NINE.
>> OKAY. GOT IT. BECKY VERY
MUCH. THE REASON YOU SAY
TENTATIVE, YOU AND I HAVE
SPOKEN ABOUT THIS. THERE IS THE
WHITTLING DOWN TO A LIST OF
FINALISTS. WE DID THAT LAST
TIME, BECAUSE WE HAD ABOUT 90
SOMETHING APPLICATIONS.
DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WE HAVE THIS TIME, WE
MIGHT NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THAT STEP. I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT IS WHY YOU PUT
IN THE WORD TENTATIVE AND
THERE.
>> CORRECT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS
WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO
COUNCIL TO APPROVE , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. AND SO, YES, PART OF
THAT IS THAT WE HAD MANY MORE
APPLICANTS. I WILL SAY IF WE
HAVE NINE BY DAY -- WHAT ARE
WE? ABOUT THREE DAYS IN . I DO
ANTICIPATE AT LEAST DOUBLING
THE NUMBER, IF NOT MORE,
BECAUSE A LOT OF THE
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST TIME
CAME ON THE LAST DAY. THAT IS
WHY I REALLY DO WANT TO
EMPHASIZE TO NOT WAIT UNTIL
4:59 TO SUBMIT YOUR
APPLICATION.
>> PEOPLE ARE PROOFREADING. [
LAUGHTER ] OKAY. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. LET'S SEE. I'M GOING TO
OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS HERE.
DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROCESS? WOW. SEE HOW
EXPERIENCED WE ARE ALREADY? ALL
RIGHT. IF YOU DO, WE HAVE
CAPABLE FOLKS HERE READY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT
COME UP GOING FORWARD. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WERE TO THE PUBLIC, TO
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESS, AND/OR CONSIDERED FOR
APPOINTMENT TO THE VACANCY, BE
SURE TO GET YOUR MATERIALS IN
BY 5:00 ON JANUARY 9.
PREFERABLY, BEFORE THAT. WE
WELCOME YOUR INTEREST.
>> I WANT TO ALSO REMIND PEOPLE
IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE VACANCY PROCESS, THEY
CAN STILL EMAIL THE SAME EMAIL
ADDRESS I CHECKED IT. WE HAVE
AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE DEDICATED
TO CHECKING IT. ALSO, IF THEY
REACH OUT TO THE CITY CLERK ON
SEATTLE.GOV OR JUST CALL OUR
OFFICE, WE CAN ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THEY HAVE ABOUT THE
PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL
RIGHT. OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE
SIGNING OF LETTERS AND
PROCLAMATIONS. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS A LETTER FOR
SIGNATURE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THE SEATTLE INDIAN HILLS
BOARD'S THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT
CENTER COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
PLEASE LIVE THE DISCUSSION ON
THE LETTER FOR ANY ADDITIONAL
FEEDBACK BEFORE AND REQUEST
SIGNATURES TO BE AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. IF I MAY COME A
MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
SPEAK ABOUT JENNIFER WHEN
CLEAR. -- WINKLER. WHEN I FIRST
CAME ON HIS STAFF, I TOOK MY
TRAINING WITH JENNIFER. THE
CITY CLERK , SCHEEREEN DEDMAN,
BRIEFLY MENTIONED THIS. SHE
CREATED THE PROGRAM WE ARE ALL
RELYING ON WITHIN OUR OUTLOOK
THAT ARCHIVES THE WORK WE DO
HERE FOR POSTERITY , BUT WAS
ALSO SET UP FOR THE ENTIRE
STATE. WITHOUT JENNIFER, MUCH
LIKE THE LAST CITY CLERK THAT
TOOK US FROM HAVING BITERS HERE
ON THE DAIS, WHICH IS WHY IT
WAS BUILT WITHOUT COMPUTER
SCREENS, TO TODAY, IT IS AN
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK TO TAKE
US FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL.
JENNIFER DID AN AMAZING JOB.
HERE IS TO YOU, JENNIFER. WHAT
I HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A
LETTER THAT I CIRCULATED LAST
MONTH ON THE 7/17. WE WERE
HOPING TO BRING THIS BEFORE
RECESS. BUT I GOT THE LETTER IN
ON A THURSDAY RATHER THAN
WEDNESDAY. JUST SPEAKING ABOUT
THIS. THE SEATTLE INDIAN HILLS
BOARD, IT IS IN SUPPORT OF THE
HEALTH BOARD THUNDERBIRD
TREATMENT CENTER. MEMBERS OF
THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL
REACHED OUT TO ME AS CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE REGARDING THIS.
IN THIS LETTER, TALKS ABOUT THE
OPIOID CRISIS THAT CONTINUES TO
BE ONE OF THE GREATEST AND
DEADLIEST PUBLIC HEALTH
CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME. WE KNOW
THE IMPACT IS BEING FELT
ESPECIALLY HARD BY OUR NATIVE
INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
RESIDENTS DYING OF OVERDOSE AT
A RATE MORE THAN FIVE TIMES
HIGHER THAN NON-HISPANIC WHITE
RESIDENTS. THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S INDIGENOUS ADVISORY
COUNCIL HAS ALSO SENT A LETTER
SUPPORTIVE OF THE THUNDERBIRD
TREATMENT CENTER TO KING COUNTY
. IN THEIR LETTER THEY POINT
OUT THAT DESPITE VARIOUS
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE,
THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT GAP
IN ACCESS TO COPPERHEADS OF
TREATMENT SERVICES FOR THOSE
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.
TODAY THERE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY
140 INPATIENT BEDS IN KING
COUNTY, AND THUNDERBIRD
TREATMENT CENTER WOULD INCREASE
THAT BY 62% TO 240. COLLEAGUES,
I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. WE HAVE
BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT THIS BY
MEMBERS OF THE INDIGENOUS
COUNCIL. --
>> WANT TO PRY VIED CONTACTS.
ON OCTOBER 20 AFTER MEETING
WITH BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS TO
SHARE MY BUDGET PRIORITIES, PUT
OUT MY NEWSLETTER LISTING SEVEN
OF THEM, ONE OF WHICH WAS
PROVISO JUMPSTART FUNDS IN 2025
FOR PROPECIA TO THE SEATTLE
INDIAN HILLS -- HEALTH BOARD
FOR THE TREATMENT CENTER. I
PROVIDED THIS BACKGROUND . IN
2020 THE SEATTLE INDIAN HILLS
-- HEALTH BOARD CLOSE DISTRICTS
TREATMENT CENTER BECAUSE IT WAS
AGING AND COULD NO LONGER
ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASING
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING
TREATMENT. THE SEATTLE INDIAN
HEALTH IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN THE
NEW TREATMENT CENTER ON VASHON
ISLAND IN MID 2025. IT WILL
OFFER A 45 DAY LONG COURSE OF
TREATMENT BASED ON A MODEL
CALLED INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
INFORMED SYSTEMS OF CARE ,
WHICH BLENDS MODERN TREATMENT
PLANS WITH TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
AND CULTURALLY ATTUNED CARE.
THERE IS A ONE $.6 MILLION GAP
IN THE THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT
CENTER CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION
BUDGET RESULTING FROM INCREASED
FINANCING COSTS. FILLING IT IS
A PRIORITY FOR ME BECAUSE THE
HEALTH BOARD'S PREVIOUS
FACILITY MADE UP 20% OF THE
CITY STATE LICENSE TREATMENT
BEDS AND HAD THE LOWEST RELAPSE
RATE IN THE STATE, AND UNTIL A
RECENT INVESTMENT IN VALLEY
CITY'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THE
ONLY SEATTLE FUNDING FOR
COMPREHENSIVE RESIDENTIAL DRUG
TREATMENT WAS 300,000 IN THE
2024 BUDGET. THAT IS NOT
ENOUGH. ALTHOUGH THE FACILITY
WILL BE LOCATED ON VASHON
ISLAND, THE HELP FOR PRESIDENT
AND CEO EXPECTS THAT 70% TO 80%
OF THE PATIENTS SERVED AT
THUNDERBIRD WILL BE FROM
SEATTLE. SO AGAIN, THESE ARE
OUR RESIDENTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY
ARE GOING TO VASHON TO BE
TREATED AND HEALED. THIS IS
GOING TO LARGELY SUPPORT AND
SERVE SEATTLE RESIDENTS. I DO
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IF PEOPLE
WOULD SIGN ON THEIR SUPPORT . I
HOPE IF ANYBODY FROM THE COUNTY
IS HEARING THAT THEY COULD SEE
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FOR THE
MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF
OUR -- WELL, FOR OUR URBAN
TRIBAL PEOPLES, AND ALSO JUST
BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING
TO DO. I THINK -- I WILL PUT A
PLUG IN. IF THERE'S ANYBODY
FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE
LISTENING, I THINK IT WOULD
ALSO -- IF WE COULD EVENTUALLY
FIND FUNDING , OR WHENEVER,
THPOSSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE SOME SEATTLE AT SOME
POINT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GET
INTO THE BALANCING PACKAGE. I
THINK THAT IS VALID AS WELL.
NOT TO DISCOURAGE THE COUNTY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY. I WILL ASK, SINCE THERE
IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION,
PLEASE CALL THE TO DETERMINE
WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE
THEIR SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE
LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE
TREATMENT CENTER.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
86 ENSURES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.
-- EIGHT SIGNATURES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. OKAY. NOW IT IS TIME
TO PREVIEW CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES. THE ORDER IS
ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATED ROLL
CALL FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS,
WHICH IS DESIGNATED
ALPHABETICALLY BY LAST NAME AND
WITH A COUNCIL PRESIDENT CALLED
LAST. THE ROLLCALL ROTATION
BEGINS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
>> REPORTER:. PLEASE BEGIN, AND
THEN HANDED OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. THANK
YOU.
>> FABULOUS. HAPPY TO KICK US
OFF IN THE NEW YEAR. HI,
EVERYBODY. STARTING OFF WITH
THE COMMITTEE AND CHAIR.
SUSTAINABILITY CITY LIGHT ARTS
AND CULTURE WILL HAVE THE FIRST
MEETING OF THE YEAR ON THE
17th, FRIDAY. IT WILL BE AT
9:30 A.M. WE WILL RECEIVE A
BRIEFING AND DOWNLOAD FROM CITY
LIGHT ABOUT THE OUTAGES FROM
THE WIND STORM . LOOKING TO
EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, THE
REGIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE WILL
BE MEETING THIS WEEK WHERE THEY
WILL APPROVE A WORKPLAN WE WILL
ALSO BE RECEIVING REPORTS ON
ANNUAL UPDATES RELATED TO
HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE MENTAL
ILLNESS DRUG DEPENDENCY
PROGRAM. ALSO LOOKING AND
DISCUSSING TO PLACE A
PROPOSITION FOR A SPECIAL
ELECTION BALLOT RELATED TO THE
REGIONAL AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM IN KING
COUNTY. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
DISCUSSION. SINCE WE HAVE BEEN
ON RECESS, I DON'T HAVE TOO
MUCH ROOM -- TO REPORT RELATED
TO COMMUNITY, BUT I WOULD SHARE
A HAD THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO THE WASHINGTON
INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRATIC FUTURE
TALKING ABOUT EXPERIENCE AS A
YOUNG LEADER, AND JUST REALLY
INCREDIBLE GROUP OF YOUNG
LEADERS THAT WILL BE SERVING
THE REGION AGES 21 THROUGH 39.
A STATEWIDE COHORT. IT IS
ALWAYS VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE
THE NEXT GENERATION STEPPING UP
TO LEADING OUR CITY AND STATE.
LASTLY, ONCE AGAIN IN
RECOGNITION OF COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S DEPARTURE TODAY. AS
WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS
APPOINTING SOMEONE TO THE
POSITION, WANTING TO BE SURE WE
BRING SOMEONE ON BOARD WHO CAN
SERVE THE DISTINCT AND UNIQUE
NEEDS OF DISTRICT 2. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HELLO, COLLEAGUES.
NICE TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN
AFTER RECESS. I KNOW MANY OF US
WERE WORKING REMOTELY, BUT WE
HAVE NOT SEEN EACH OTHER. IT IS
NICE TO REALLY BE BACK AND SEE
ALL OF YOU AGAIN. I HOPE YOU
HAD A RESTFUL AND PEACEFUL TIME
WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. THIS WEEK
MANY OF YOU HAVE MEETINGS ON
YOUR CALENDAR TO HAVE
PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THE UPCOMING FAMILIES EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL PROMISE LEVY . SINCE
MY OFFICE WILL BE LEADING THE
RENEWAL PROCESS ON THE
LEGISLATIVE SIDE, I HAVE
SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH ALL OF
YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU EVERY
STEP OF THE WAY AND HEARING
FROM YOU ALL ON YOUR INITIAL
THOUGHTS. THIS WEEK I WILL ALSO
BE ATTENDING A COMMUNITY
COUNCIL MEETING . I LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THOSE
NEIGHBORS. THEY HAVE LOTS OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WITH THE
PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES WILL
MEAN FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
WITH ME. I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION
WITH THEM. ON FRIDAY I WILL BE
APPEARING ON THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL'S COUNCIL ADDITION
WITH HOST BRIAN CALLAHAN, ALONG
WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL
MEMBERS MOORE AND
>> REPORTER:. I LOOK FORWARD TO
THAT CONVERSATION. ALSO, ON
FRIDAY MORNING I WILL ATTEND
THE MEMORIAL FOR THE METRO BUS
DRIVER WHO WAS FATALLY STABBED
IN THE U DISTRICT RIGHT BEFORE
THE HOLIDAYS. I WILL SAY THAT I
DID ATTEND RIGHT BEFORE THE
HOLIDAYS A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY HIS
COLLEAGUES AT METRO AND THE
DRIVERS UNION. IT WAS A REALLY
TOUCHING VIGIL. I KNOW THAT THE
DRIVERS ARE VERY CONCERNED, AS
AM I ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ON
BUSES. IT IS SOMETHING WE KEEP
TALKING ABOUT. I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, DURING THE
LAST BUDGET PROCESS, YOU GIVING
ATTENTION TO THIS . IT IS
SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING TOWARDS METRO AND THE
COUNTY ON HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE PROVIDING A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR WORKERS
THAT WORK ON THE BUSES, AND
ALSO FOR THE RIDERS. I AM
SOMEONE WHO IS A BIG PROPONENT
OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AS WE
LOOK TOWARD OUR CLIMATE GOALS,
WE REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING OUR
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, AND WE
NEED TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR PEOPLE
TO RIDE. AND SO, THIS IS AN
ONGOING CONVERSATION. I KNOW
THERE ISN'T ANYONE UP HERE WHO
DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IT. I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING
CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF YOU,
AND KING COUNTY METRO, WHO
OVERSEES THE BUSES, OBVIOUSLY,
AND SOUND TRANSIT, FOR THAT
MATTER. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO
SOUND TRANSIT ABOUT SAFETY ON
THE LIGHT RAIL. ANYWAY, ALL
THAT TO SAY, CONTINUING
CONVERSATION, AND ALSO, I WILL
BE ATTENDING THAT MEMORIAL ON
FRIDAY. MAYBE I WILL SEE SOME
OF YOU THERE. IT IS VERY SAD.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE
FAMILY. THANK YOU. UNLESS THERE
ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. HAPPY NEW YEAR,
COLLEAGUES. WELCOME BACK. I'M
PERSONALLY EXCITED TO BE BACK
AFTER A WONDERFUL RECESS BREAK
. I AM READY TO HIT THE GROUND
RUNNING. I STARTED THAT THIS
MORNING FOR AN EARLY WITH SURE
HOLLINGSWORTH'S SELECT MEETING
ON THE COMP PLAN. I HAVE NOT
FELT MORE ENERGIZED OR MOVED TO
GO EVEN HARDER IN THE PAINT
THIS YEAR ON ALL THINGS
LEGISLATIVELY AND CONSTITUENT
ISSUES, INCLUDING PUBLIC
SAFETY. ALSO AGAIN, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND STEPPING UP
TO SHEPHERD AND LEAD THE COMP
PLAN PROCESS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR
YOU AND STAND READY TO SUPPORT
YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN IN THAT
EFFORT. I WILL TRY TO BE A GOOD
COLLEAGUE AS BEST AS I CAN. A
GOOD SEPARATELY ELECTED
COLLEAGUES. ALL RIGHT. ON THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE FRONT,
THE COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW
MORNING IS CANCELED.
COLLEAGUES, NO WORRIES THERE.
WE ARE FINALIZING THE AGENDA OF
THE NEXT ONE, WHICH WILL BE ON
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21. WE ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE
AGENDA. WORKING ON THE NUTS AND
BOLTS OF TRANSPORTATION POLICY.
AT THE CITY LEVEL. KEEP OUR
CITY MOVING SAFELY AND
EFFICIENTLY. IN TERMS OF POLICY
AREAS FOR 2025, TRANSPORTATION,
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
THINGS. I SHARE A LOT OF THIS,
MORE FULL DETAIL AT THE
COMMITTEE LEVEL, BUT I WILL
SHARE A SLIGHTLY HIGHER LEVEL
HERE AS WELL. A COUPLE OF
THINGS. SPEED CAMERA DEPLOYMENT
. A LOT OF FUNDING FOR SPEED
CAMERAS OF ALL TYPES, INCLUDING
SPEED CAMERAS IN SCHOOLS, AND
ALSO NON-SCHOOLS. KEENLY
INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE
ACTUALLY BRING THAT TO LIFE AND
BUILD IT . GET THOSE SET UP AND
DEPLOYED. MAKE THEM OPERATIONAL
. EXECUTE, IF YOU WILL. ALSO,
WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY PROVISO
, THE MEGA LEVY , SUPER,
WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW, THAT
BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS CALLED IT.
YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT THE
PROCESS FOR , YOU KNOW,
CONSIDERING REMOVAL , LIFTING
THAT. ALSO, TRANSIT SECURITY IS
HUGE . ALLOWED AND SQUEAKY
WHEEL ON THAT. MY FIRST YEAR
THE WHOLE TIME UNAPOLOGETICALLY
, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
MORE NOT TO COME. -- ON THAT TO
COME. CONFIRMATION PROCESS OF
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE WILL COME THROUGH
COMMITTEE. AS WELL, EVENTUALLY,
ONCE THE MAYOR MAKES HIS
DECISION ON A REPLACEMENT FOR
THE DIRECTOR OF SDOT, THAT WILL
INVARIABLY COME THROUGH OUR
COMMITTEE AS WELL. PLUS, MANY
MORE TOPICS. EXCITING TIMES IN
THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY FRONT
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I
GUESS IN THE COMMUNITY I JUST
WANT TO NOTE THAT I AM REALLY,
REALLY EXCITED THAT I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE WEST SEATTLE
CHAMBER LUNCHEON EVENT LATER
THIS WEEK, I THINK ON THURSDAY
. I WILL BE DELIVERING THE
KEYNOTE ADDRESS THERE FOR THE
SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF
WEST SEATTLE. EXCITED FOR THAT.
ALSO , I GUESS, ON THE TOPIC OF
TRANSIT SECURITY ,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THAT UP. AS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED, WE
LOST WAS HIS NAME. A TRANSIT
OPERATOR, BUS DRIVER . WENT TO
WORK THAT EVENING ON THAT SHIFT
WITH REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS
THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO
COME HOME TO HIS FAMILY
WHENEVER HIS SHIFT WAS OVER. HE
WAS TRAGICALLY MURDERED , AND
HIS PLANS WERE CUT SHORT. HIS
FAMILY IS FOREVER IMPACTED, AND
OUR CITY AND METRO, I KNOW, IS
IMPACTED FOREVER AS WELL. LOOK,
I ATTENDED -- RIGHT AFTER THAT
HAPPENED, I ATTENDED THE LOCAL
587 , THE PRESIDENT ORGANIZED A
PRESSER. ACTUALLY, THE MORNING
OF. I WAS HONORED TO ATTEND
THAT. I GOT TO SEE
COUNCILMEMBER
>> Reporter: THERE AS WELL
UNDER SUCH HORRIBLE
CIRCUMSTANCES. ANOTHER LOCAL
ELECTED OFFICIALS -- AND OTHER
LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. LATER
DURING A RECESS , AS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED,
THERE WAS A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL.
MOVING. IT HAPPENED IN HER
DISTRICT. BUT IT COULD HAVE
JUST AS WELL HAPPENED IN ANY OF
OUR DISTRICTS. TO BE HONEST, IT
COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE OUTSIDE
THE CITY AS WELL. IT WAS GOOD
TO SEE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBER
>> Reporter: THERE WERE OTHER
-- I THINK I EVEN THOUGHT CITY
ATTORNEY DAVIDSON WAS THERE .
IT WAS GOOD TO HONOR THE
CANDLELIGHT VISUAL -- VIGIL
CAPACITY THE LEGACY OF SEAN. I
TOO AM GOING TO BE HONORED TO
JOIN AND PRIORITIZE ATTENDING
THE OFFICIAL MEMORIAL FOR HIM
ON FRIDAY , THIS COMING FRIDAY
. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO CONTINUE
TO SHOW UP AND SUPPORT THE
FAMILY, METRO, THE TRANSIT
UNION HERE , LOCAL 587 , AND
THE COMMUNITY AS BEST I CAN. I
HAVE UNAPOLOGETICALLY BEEN
TALKING ABOUT TRANSIT SECURITY
ALL LAST YEAR. SCREAMING IT
FROM THE ROOFTOPS AS LOUD AS I
CAN. TO THE DISMAY OF SOME.
TRANSPORTATION POLICY ADVOCATES
AND EXPERTS. AT LEAST,
SELF-PROCLAIMED. WHY ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT THAT, ROB? IT IS
NOT A SHINY NEW THING. I'M
GOING TO EXPOSE THE DEEP DARK
UNDERBELLY FOR A MOMENT OF WHAT
I LEARNED IN MY FIRST YEAR IN
OFFICE , AND A YEAR BEFORE THAT
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THE
TOPIC OF TRANSIT SECURITY
DOESN'T GET A LOT OF
ATTENTION. WE DO A LOT FOR IT,
WE FUND INITIATIVES, WE HAVE
DONE THAT AND WILL CONTINUE TO,
BUT IT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF
ATTENTION OR PRESS CONFERENCE
-- COVERAGE, FOR THAT MATTER. I
THINK THERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR
THAT. TWO MAIN REASONS. WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT TRANSIT SECURITY, IT
DOESN'T INVOLVE US LAUNCHING A
SHINY NEW THING. SHINY NEW
OBJECT. THERE IS NO COOL
RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY WE CAN
ATTEND GET CAMERAS IN FRONT OF.
REASON NUMBER ONE. REASON
NUMBER TWO IS -- AND THIS IS
MORE DIFFICULT AS WE STAY IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT , BUT IT
REQUIRES US TO COLLECTIVELY
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SHORTCOMINGS
AND IMPERFECTIONS . THE STATUS
TRANSIT SECURITY ISN'T WHERE
IT SHOULD BE. WE HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE MORE
INVESTMENTS AND MORE
IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE
PEOPLE'S LIVES . IN SOME
CASES, MANY CASES, SAVE LIVES.
BUT AT ITS CORE, THE SECOND
PIECE IS THAT IT REQUIRES US TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS NOT -- WE
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. IT REQUIRES
A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BEING
VULNERABLE . THAT IS HARD TO DO
AS LEADERS AT THE ELECTED
LEVEL, AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL.
IT IS HARD. BUT I HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG
TIME. ALONGSIDE MANY OF YOU ALL
AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER, PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR KETTLE HAS BEEN A
CHAMPION, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
CHAMPION OF TRANSIT SECURITY,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CHAMPION .
THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER
INVEST IN AND STRENGTHEN ON A
GO FORWARD BASIS. I DON'T CARE
IF THERE'S NOT A SHINY NEW
THING ATTACHED TO THIS. A
RIBBON-CUTTING OPPORTUNITY. I
HAVE NO AUTHOR'S PRIDE IN THIS
FIRST YEAR . WE WILL CONTINUE
TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SHORTCOMINGS
AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET BETTER. IT
IS NOT A REFLECTION OR
INDICTMENT OF ANYONE DEPARTMENT
OR ANY ONE AGENCY OR
JURISDICTION OR CITY, SEATTLE
INCLUDED. I THINK THE PRESIDENT
OF TRAGEDY FIVE LOCAL 587 MADE
THAT CLEAR. THIS IS A
COLLECTIVE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE.
IT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO
POINT FINGERS AT METRO OR SOUND
TRANSIT OR ANY TRANSIT AGENCY
OR ANY CITY . THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY WE ALL HAVE
COLLECTIVELY TO DO BETTER.
WE'VE DONE A LOT, AS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED
ALREADY. THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE
WE FUNDED $2 MILLION,
COLLEAGUES. $2 MILLION. WE
BUILT UPON ANOTHER ADVOCATE OF
TRANSIT SECURITY ,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. HE LED
THE EFFORT TO GET GUARDIANS,
EXCUSE ME, AMBASSADORS ,
TRANSIT AMBASSADORS . WE BUILT
UPON THAT EFFORT DURING THE
BUDGET, AND NOW ALLOWED MORE
SOCIAL WORKERS. TRANSIT
AMBASSADORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS
. AND WE ALSO ADDED -- $1
MILLION FOR THAT. WE ALSO ADDED
$1 MILLION FOR EXTRA CONTRACTED
TRANSIT SECURITY, INCLUDING
TRANSIT POLICE, WHETHER METRO
POLICE OR SPD, WHATEVER WE CAN
WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS TO FIGURE OUT THE
BEST WAY TO SPEND THAT MONEY.
WE DID A LOT THROUGH PURE, RAW
INVESTMENT POWER THIS PAST
BUDGET CYCLE. WRITING A CHECK.
WE ALSO DID ANOTHER IMPORTANT
THING, EXERCISED OUR POWER AS
WELL. DIDN'T GET PROBABLY ANY
PRESS COVERAGE OR ATTENTION,
BUT REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO HERE IS
WRITE CHECKS AND COMPEL THE
DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION AND DISCLOSE
INFORMATION. THERE WAS ONE
TRANSIT SECURITY SLI WE DID.
COSPONSORED BY PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR KETTLE. AND I THINK YOU
AS WELL, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
IT REQUIRED ENHANCED REPORTING
AND TRANSPARENCY ON THE
INCIDENCE OF TRANSIT SECURITY.
A HIGH LEVEL PATH TO A PLAN FOR
, ULTIMATELY, A REGIONAL
APPROACH TO TRANSIT SECURITY.
WE DID ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS .
GOOD START IN 2024. BUT SADLY,
DESPITE OUR EFFORTS AT THE
COUNCIL LEVEL, AND AT THE CITY,
IT COULD NOT HELP THE FAMILY OF
SEAN YEM . THE INK WAS STILL
DRYING ON THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
LEGISLATION SIGNATURE.
COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO
ACTUALLY SPEND IT AND CONTRACT
FOR THAT MONEY . OF COURSE, THE
DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH
OTHERS. A LOT OF DEPENDENCIES
WORKING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS
THAT COLLECT THE DATA TO BRING
TO LIFE THE SLI. WE DID A LOT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO MORE
THIS YEAR. WE NEED TO DO BETTER
. YOU DON'T LIKE ME TALKING
ABOUT TRANSIT SECURITY, IT
DOESN'T GET BETTER FOR YOU
THIS YEAR. I WILL BE PERFECTLY
BLUNT ABOUT THAT. MAKE NO
APOLOGIES ABOUT THAT. TRANSIT
SECURITY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS
WHERE -- I WILL TAKE AN ANALOGY
TO WHAT I HEARD COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE SAY APPROPRIATELY THIS
MORNING IN ANOTHER CONTEXT WITH
THE COMP PLAN. TRANSIT SECURITY
IS NOT LIKE THE FIELD OF DREAMS
WHERE IF YOU BUILD IT , TRANSIT
SERVICE IS NOT LIKE THE FIELD
OF DREAMS WHERE IF YOU BUILD
IT, THEY WILL COMFORT YOU
CAN'T POLITELY EXPAND AND ADD
NEW SERVICE LINES. NO . WE NEED
TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS WHERE
PEOPLE ARE DELIGHTED TO TAKE
IT, ARE EXCITED TO TAKE IT.
THAT MEANS KEEPING IT SAFE. NOT
JUST RELIABLE . NOT JUST
EXPANDING FREQUENCY . AND
RELIABILITY. KEEPING IT SAFE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, TRANSIT
IS A CHOICE FOR MANY. I HAVE
BEEN THERE. I HAVE BEEN TRANSIT
DEPENDENT BEFORE. IT IS
HUMBLING FOR ME . NOW I SIT ON
THE REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMITTEE
AT THE COUNTY LEVEL WHERE WE
ARE TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY
ADDING RAPID LINE SERVICE FOR
THE OLD BUS ROUTE THAT USED TO
TAKE ME TO WORK AT SOUTH CENTER
MALL. ROUTE 150. I HAVE BEEN
THERE BEFORE . I KNOW WHAT IT
IS LIKE. NOT EVERYONE IS
TRANSIT DEPENDENT . WE NEED TO
CREATE CONDITIONS -- AND THESE
ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
CONVERSATIONS. WE NEED TO MAKE
TRANSIT SAFER FOR ALL. THAT
MEANS RIDERS , THAT MEANS
OPERATORS , AND I KNOW
PRESIDENT WHITFIELD WAS CALLING
FOR TWO MAIN THINGS AT A HIGH
LEVEL. IN LIGHT OF THE MURDER .
IS CALLING FOR ENHANCED
PROTECTIONS FOR THEIR DRIVERS,
WHICH I STRONGLY SUPPORT, AND
LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH
METRO AND ANYONE ELSE TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT THEY MIGHT NEED FROM A
CITY PERSPECTIVE TO BUILD AND
IMPLEMENT . TALKING ABOUT
PROTECTIVE BARRIERS AND CAGES ,
AMONG OTHER THINGS. IF THAT
MEANS WE HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE
MORE FOR THE TRANSIT SERVICE ,
FINE. HE IS CALLING FOR EXTRA
TRANSIT SECURITY TO PROTECT
THEIR DRIVERS . ALSO, AT A HIGH
LEVEL, CALLING FOR US TO
FINALLY ALIGN ON A REGIONAL
APPROACH TO TRANSIT SECURITY,
WHICH WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE
TODAY. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT
SLI . THAT LITTLE NITTY-GRITTY
SLI WITH COOL DETAILS AND
POLICY WONKY STUFF DOESN'T GET
COVERED OR REPORTED. THAT PUT
US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO
HELP US DIRECTLY ACHIEVE THAT .
BUT WE NEED A REGIONAL APPROACH
TO TRANSIT SECURITY. BECAUSE
SEAN YEM'S SERVICE TO OUR
REGION , AND ULTIMATELY, HIS
SACRIFICE IS MY COMMITMENT TO
MAKE SURE HE WASN'T KILLED AND
WASN'T MURDERED IN VAIN. WE
NEED TO DO MORE . WE NEED TO
TREAT THIS WITH THE URGENCY
THAT THIS ISSUE -- THIS ISSUE
WITH THE URGENCY IT DESERVES.
IT IS BORING TO SOME. I GET IT.
I DON'T CARE. ALL RIGHT. I
WILL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX. REST
IN PEACE TO BROTHER SEAN YEM .
MY THOUGHTS AND CONDOLENCES ,
AND FOR ME, PRAYERS, ARE FOR
HIM AND HIS FAMILY. LOOK
FORWARD TO MAKING SURE WE MAKE
SURE HIS SACRIFICE WAS NOT IN
VAIN. AND THAT WE PROTECT
RIDERS AND DO MORE TO PROTECT
OPERATORS AND RIDERS ALIKE.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER. I HAVE A
QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THOSE
MOVING WORDS. COLLECTING
MYSELF. WHEN IS THE BUDGET
ACTIONS WE TOOK FOR SECURITY
PERSONNEL ON METRO BUSES --
WHEN DOES THAT GO INTO EFFECT?
WHAT WERE THE DATES SPECIFIED
IN THAT LEGISLATION?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. OF INITIAL THOUGHTS
ON THAT. I WILL COME ANY
CLARIFICATION THAT THE BUDGET
CHAIR MIGHT HAVE. WE
APPROPRIATED THAT MONEY TO BE
SPENT IN 2025. IT IS IN A LINE
ITEM THAT THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS CAN, AND SHOULD,
SPEND, AND START CONTRACTING
FOR, TODAY. YESTERDAY.
TOMORROW. WE HAVE APPROPRIATED.
SO ASAP, NEEDED IT YESTERDAY.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES
SOME TIME ON THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT SIDE TO
OPERATIONALIZE BUT I DO KNOW WE
HAVE A STRONG PARTNER WITH THE
MAYOR. I THINK THERE IS
OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER
PARTNERSHIP TO EXPEDITE THIS
AND DO IT MORE QUICKLY. BUT I
KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS
COMMITTED TO THE SAME
PRIORITIES I SHARE. I KNOW MANY
OF YOU SHARE AS WELL. I THINK
THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
SHARE. THAT IS MY INITIAL
REACTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS --
>> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
REALLY WILL SET. TO ADD ONTO
THAT, A YEAR PREVIOUS WAS AT A
TIME THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES
IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY
COURTHOUSE. METRO SECURITY WAS
INCREASED, BUT THEY DID IT
INCREASE ANY ON BUS -- WHERE
THE SECURITY OR AMBASSADORS. IT
WAS AT THAT POINT THAT I PASSED
A PROVISO ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
TO ADD AMBASSADORS TO ANY BUS
GOING TO LIGHT RAIL OR DOWNTOWN
. UM HE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A
BACK-AND-FORTH ON THE DAIS AT
THE END JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A
YEAR LATER AND METRO HAD NOT
DELIVERED. I THINK THAT IS
WHERE MY FRUSTRATION SITS RIGHT
NOW. SEATTLE PAYS THE BENEFIT
DISTRICT AT A RATE THAT METRO
CAN'T SPEND . AT FIRST THEY
SAID THEY COULDN'T HIRE ENOUGH
OPERATORS, AND THAT IS WHY WE
HAD TO CUT BUSES IN OUR CITY.
AND THEN, I GAVE THEM THE
OFFRAMP ARE SAYING, IF YOU
CAN'T HIRE OPERATORS, CAN YOU
HIRE AN EVERYDAY PERSON TO BE
ON THAT BUS SO THE OPERATOR
DOESN'T HAVE TO PLAY THE
RECORDING OF PLEASE TURN DOWN
YOUR MUSIC. IT CAN BE A SAFE
PERSON FOR THE KIDS RIDING THE
BUS FOR THE FIRST TIME. CAN
ASKED PEOPLE TO PICK UP THE
BOTTLE THAT IS ROLLING AROUND
THE BACK OF THE BUS. YEAR LATER
THEY COULDN'T DELIVER. I
DON'T KNOW IT IS SOMETHING I
AM GOING TO WORK WITH YOU ON,
ROB. IT IS NOT A PRESS
CONFERENCE. IT IS AN OUTCOME.
SOMETHING YOU WERE SHARING
DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS IS
THAT OUTCOMES ARE THE THING
THAT WE ARE LACKING AT TIMES.
WE REALLY FOCUS ON -- OUTCOMES
ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN POP
AND CIRCUMSTANCE -- POMP AND
CIRCUMSTANCE. I AM WITH YOU. IT
WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AT THE
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. THIS WAS A
PREVENTABLE AND UNNECESSARY
DEATH. WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF
HOW SEAN LOST HIS LIFE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE MOVING
WORDS. I REALLY WANTED TO ADD
THAT , YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE TIMOTHY NELSON, A
FELLOW DRIVER WHO WAS DRIVING
THE BUS WHERE THE SUSPECT
ENTERED THE BUS, AND HE
BRAVELY, AND VERY CALMLY,
CALLED SEATTLE POLICE SO THEY
COULD COME AND APPREHEND THE
SUSPECT. AND THEY DID SO SAFELY
AND WITHOUT INCIDENT . AND SO,
I REALLY DID WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE TIMOTHY AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID. I
CANNOT IMAGINE HOW , YOU KNOW,
ALL THE EMOTION AND FEELINGS
TIMOTHY WOULD HAVE HAD WHEN
THAT HAPPENED. LIKE I SAID, HE
WAS VERY BRAVE. THEY WERE ABLE
TO HAPPY AND -- APPREHEND THE
SUSPECT, WHO HAS BEEN
APPREHENDED AND CHARGED. I
WANTED TO ADD THAT SO FOLKS
KNOW WHERE THIS WAS .
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THANK
YOU FOR THE LAST PIECE. I AM
VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR -- YOU
HAVE HEARD US SAY THAT WE
DON'T OVERSEE METRO, AND WE
DON'T OVERSEE SOUND TRANSIT.
WE ARE PARTNERS AND DO GIVE
MONEY TO THOSE AGENCIES. SO HOW
DO WE PARTNER TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE SAFETY PIECE IS BEING DONE?
BECAUSE ONE THING, MANY THINGS,
BUT I JUST NOTED AT THAT
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL THE
FRUSTRATION FROM THE MANY
DRIVERS THAT SHOWED UP TO PAY
RESPECTS TO THEIR FELLOW
DRIVER, SEAN , IS THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN ASKING THE COUNTY FOR
CERTAIN THINGS TO BE PUT IN
PLACE , CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS, AND
THOSE HAVE NOT HAPPENED,
INCLUDING SOME KIND OF BARRIER
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THESE
THINGS ARE NO-BRAINERS. I
CAN'T IMAGINE PUTTING A
BARRIER WOULD BE VERY COSTLY,
OR THAT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN ON
THOSE BUSES. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
I AM INTERESTED IN LEARNING
MORE ABOUT THAT . BUT THESE ARE
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED
TO HAVE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING UP WITH
BOTH THE COUNTY AND SOUND
TRANSIT ON IN GENERAL. BECAUSE
I KNOW THERE ARE SAFETY
CONCERNS ON THE LIGHT RAIL AS
WELL . ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND
THE DRIVERS ON THE LIGHT RAIL
ARE PROTECTED . SOMETIMES THEY
HAVE TO RESPOND TO THINGS THAT
PUT THEM IN HARMS WAY. NOT TO
TAKE AWAY FROM THE METRO. THEY
DEFINITELY NEED SOME KIND OF
BARRIER. I VERY MUCH SUPPORT
THAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL
THOSE CONVERSATIONS. LIKE I
SAID, I WANTED TO REALLY
ACKNOWLEDGE TIMOTHY NELSON AND
SPD FOR APPREHENDING THE
SUSPECT. THANK YOU.
>> MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
BUILDING UPON WHAT I SAID.
THANK YOU. WE ARE A TEAM HERE.
ESPECIALLY I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR CALLING OUT TIM. I
HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HIM AT THE
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. SILVER
LINING IN ALL THIS, TIM IS A
HERO. AND SO, I APPRECIATE HIM
AND ALL THE OPERATORS THAT
EVERY DAY KEEP US MOVING AROUND
THE CITY EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY . I TAKE TRANSIT
PERSONALLY MYSELF REGULARLY,
ALMOST DAILY. I AM PROUD OF IT
AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. BY
MY INITIAL READ, I THINK THAT
IS WHY I WANT MORE DATA. THAT
IS WHY WE CALLED FOR THE SLI.
BUT BY MY INITIAL READ, YOU
KNOW, I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN
REPORTED TO ME SO FAR , WITHOUT
MY REQUEST, THE NUMBERS OF
INCIDENTS OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE
ON TRANSIT SEEM TO BE DOWN .
OVERALL. TRENDING .
INCREMENTALLY YEAR OVER YEAR .
THAT MAY BE TRUE . MAYBE NOT. I
DON'T KNOW. WE WILL LEARN MORE
WHEN WE GET THE SLI. BUT IT IS
DISRESPECTFUL AF THAT WE SAY
THAT RIGHT AFTER SEAN YEM IS
MURDERED . YOU CAN SAY THE
MEDIA SENSATIONALIZE IS ALL
THESE THINGS. OKAY. MAYBE. THE
PROBLEM ISN'T AS BAD AS, I
DON'T KNOW, PERCEPTION IS
REALITY. WE HAVE JUST AS MUCH
OF A PERCEPTION PROBLEM AND
JUST AS MUCH OF AN OUTCOMES AND
RESULT PROBLEM UNDERLYING ALL
OF THIS. I AM COMMITTED TO
DOING MORE IN THE WAYS I
MENTIONED WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY ASIDE YOU ALL
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND ALL
THE MANY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED,
TRAGEDY FIVE LOCAL 587, MAYOR,
METRO, SO MANY FOLKS. IN ANY
EVENT, I WILL STOP THERE. THANK
YOU, MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANKS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER D2. -- SAKA.
THERE IS NOT MUCH ON THE DOCKET
RIGHT NOW. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU
IS THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS
MONTH OF JANUARY TO REFLECT ON
ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR WORTH OF
BRIEFINGS AND ANALYSIS , AND
THEN BUDGET WORK OF LAST YEAR.
WE WILL BE CREATING A CONTINUED
BUDGET REFORM DOCUMENT THAT CAN
HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT
WENT WELL, THE LESSONS LEARNED
, AND TAKING FROM YEARS
PREVIOUS TO INFLUENCE HOW WE
MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE YOUR SLI WAS MEN THAT
ONE OF MANY, IF WE DON'T
RECEIVE THE INFORMATION , IT
WAS JUST A PIECE OF PAPERWORK.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS BUDGET
REFORM WORK. THERE IS NO
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK. I SEE
ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER IS TAKING
THEIR SWEET COMMITTEE TIME FOR
ANOTHER COMMITTEE. NICE WORK.
LATER THIS MONTH , AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, MY OFFICE WILL WORK
WITH YOUR OFFICE. IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THERE MAY BE A
FEW LAND USE ITEMS THAT NEED TO
BE PASSED BEFORE THE
APPOINTMENT IS DONE. IF THAT IS
THE CASE, I AM HAPPY TO USE MY
FINANCE NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TIMESLOTS
FOR LAND USE. I KNOW ALL THE
LAND USE ARE TAKEN UP BY THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I WILL LET
OUR STAFFS WORK THAT OUT.
SHARING THIS FOR US AS A GROUP
HERE THAT THIS IS WHAT IS GOING
ON IN THE COMMITTEE. ON THE
EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE SEATTLE CITY
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SERVICES
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION MEETING
THIS THURSDAY. AND THE SOUND
TRANSIT SYSTEM EXPANSION
COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, I HEAR YOU. THERE IS
ALWAYS MORE TO DO TO MAKE SOUND
TRANSIT BETTER. I WILL TELL YOU
ANECDOTALLY THAT I HAVE HEARD
SOUND TRANSIT IS OPERATING
HEADS ABOVE METRO AS FAR AS
TRANSIT SECURITY. THE FUN FACT,
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW
THIS, IS THAT SOUND TRANSIT IS
OPERATED BY PIERCE TRANSIT ,
METRO AND COMMUNITY TRANSIT.
SOUND TRANSIT PAYS THE BILLS.
THEY PUT THE NAMES ON THE SIDE
OF THE BUSES, BUT IT IS ALL RUN
BY METRO DRIVERS, PIERCE COUNTY
DRIVERS, COMMUNITY TRANSIT
DRIVERS. WHEN WE WERE AT THE
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, I WAS
TALKING TO SOME OF THE FOLKS
THAT ARE METRO EMPLOYEES THAT
ARE ON THE RAIL DIVISION. LIGHT
RAIL. AND SO, IF WE HAD THE
SAME PEOPLE DOING THE SAME WORK
IN GENERALLY THE SAME PLACES,
WHY ARE WE HAVING TWO VERY
DIFFERENT OUTCOMES? WE HAVE HAD
THIS CONVERSATION. I SHARE THAT
BECAUSE SOUND TRANSIT WAS ON MY
NOTES. IN SOUND TRANSIT
EXPANSION, WE WILL BE HAVING AN
ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT
REGARDING THE STRIDE 405 RAPID
TRANSIT PROJECT, AS WELL AS
WORKING ON THE OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE FACILITY SOUTH .
THAT IS COMING INTO DEVELOPMENT
DOWN ON FEDERAL WAY. WE WILL
NEED TO PURCHASE SOME
PROPERTIES DOWN THERE. WE'RE
GOING TO WORK ON THE DRAFT
COMMITTEE WORK PLAN FOR THE
YEAR. I DO NOT HAVE OFFICE
HOURS THIS WEEK. IT IS THE
FIRST WEEK BACK AFTER RECESS .
WE DID HOLD OVER 20 HOURS OF
OFFICE HOURS IN THREE WEEKS IN
DECEMBER ON TOP OF GOING ON A
FEW WALKING TOURS WITH
RESIDENTS. WE DO HAVE OFFICE
HOURS NEXT WEEK, THE WEEK
AFTER, AND THE WEEK AFTER THAT.
WE HAVE TIMES HELD IN FEBRUARY,
BUT WE HAVE NOT OPENED THEM UP
FOR SCHEDULING YET. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. THAT IS MY REPORT.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I
WILL HANDED OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. APPRECIATE THAT.
PARKS, UTILITIES, TECHNOLOGY
MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 22 AT 2:00 P.M. WE ARE
WORKING ON THE AGENDA RIGHT
NOW. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE
ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THAT. PLEASE
BE PATIENT. WE WILL GET THAT ON
THE DOCKET. I ALSO SAID IT
BEFORE, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL AGAIN FOR BEING AT THE 9:30
A.M. SELECT COMMITTEE FOR THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . THE NEXT
MEETING WILL BE JANUARY 15 AT
2:00 P.M. AFTER THE -- AFTER
THE MAYOR SENDS DOWN THEIR
PLAN, I WILL BE SCHEDULING
MEETINGS WITH EVERYONE
ONE-ON-ONE AND CONNECTING WITH
FOLKS JUST MAKING SURE THAT,
YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE SCENES
STUFF WE CAN GET SOME
INFORMATION THROUGH TO
EVERYONE. PLEASE STAY FORWARD
WITH THAT. LOOK FORWARD TO
THAT. OTHERWISE, ONE THING I
WANTED TO MENTION. I KNOW
PUBLIC SAFETY IS HUGE. WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT IT AND HAVE MADE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I WANT TO
SAY THIS PUBLICLY. I SENT CHIEF
SCOGGINS AN EMAIL LAST WEEK.
THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO
OVERDOSED AT THE PARK BY MY
HOUSE. I SAT THERE IN MY CAR
AND WATCHED HOW FIREFIGHTERS
RESPONDED . THEY PERFORMED CPR
ON THIS GENTLEMAN FOR 20
STRAIGHT MINUTES. THEY DID 10
ROTATIONS OF TWO MINUTES WHILE
THEIR ARMS GOT TIRED AND THEY
ROTATED TO THE NEXT PERSON. I,
FOR SURE, BUT THIS GENTLEMAN
HAD PASSED AWAY AND WAS GONE.
BUT THEY NEVER GAVE UP. THE
LAST ROUND THEY FOUND A PULSE .
THIS GENTLEMAN SURVIVED. IT
ALSO WAS A BIGGER PICTURE. HE
HAD BEEN IN THE PARK ON
FENTANYL FOR WEEKS. I WANT TO
SAY THIS PUBLICLY, BECAUSE I
SAID THIS PRIVATELY BEFORE, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
I KNOW WE HAVE -- WE ARE MAKING
PROGRESS, BUT WHAT IS GOING ON
ON 12th AND JACKSON, BROADWAY
AND JOHN AND NORTH BROADWAY,
AND OTHER PLACES IN THE
DISTRICT, IT IS REALLY
HEARTBREAKING. IT REALLY HAS
IMPACTS. A LOT OF THESE PLACES
ARE ALSO BY SCHOOLS. I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ON THE
FAMILY EDUCATION LEVY BECAUSE I
SIT HERE AND SAY, WHAT ABOUT
THE CHILDREN? WHAT ABOUT OUR
KIDS RIGHT NOW? THEY HAVE TO
WALK THROUGH THIS AND BE
EXPOSED TO THIS. THEY HAVE TO
ENDURE A LOT OF THESE
UNFORTUNATE SITES AND SEEING
PEOPLE SUFFER RIGHT NOW. I JUST
REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY ARE
RIGHT NOW -- WE HAVE PUT THEM
IN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
POSITIONS, REALLY TOUGH
POSITIONS WHERE THEY ARE
STRESSED OUT TO THE MAX
RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS SO
OFTEN. I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR
THEM FOR THAT, BUT IT TOOK A
LOT . IT TOOK A TOLL ON THEM .
ANYWAY, I WANTED TO POINT THAT
OUT. I HAVE SEEN IT. I BEEN
AROUND IT. I GET THE EMAILS
CONSTANTLY ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY
KIDS THAT HAVE TO WALK THROUGH
IT AND GET OFF AT A BUS STOP
AND SEE IT AND SMELL IT, INHALE
IT AND BE AROUND IT. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO US TO FIGURE
OUT TO FIND SOLUTIONS. WHAT
WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE
GOT TO GET BETTER. I WANTED TO
THROW THAT OUT THERE. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND YOUR
OFFICE, WITH THE FAMILY
EDUCATION LEVY, TO FIGURE OUT
SAFETY MEASURES FOR OUR KIDS,
AND ACTIVITIES FOR OUR KIDS SO
WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM
SAFE DURING THIS PROCESS.
ANYWAY, I WILL STOP THERE.
ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT. IF
YOU'RE BORN THIS YEAR, YOU ARE
IN THE NEW GENERATION.
GENERATION BETA. IT SOUNDS VERY
SCARY TO ME. SOUNDS LIKE A
CONTROLLING GENERATION FULL OF
COOL THINGS THAT THEY WILL DO
WITH TECHNOLOGY. BUT GENERATION
BETA. LOOKING FORWARD TO
GENERATION ALPHA, THE YOUNG
GENERATION, AND GENERATION BETA
IS THE NEXT UP-AND-COMING
GENERATION FOR OUR KIDS. THANK
YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>>
>> HOLD ON A SECOND.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO
SHARE. ARE YOU PREPARED TO TALK
ABOUT THE BROADWAY FLATS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION. COLLEAGUES,
BROADWAY FLATS , THE INCIDENT
WITH AN ENCAMPMENT THAT WAS
RESOLUTION AND MEMBERS WERE
MOVED INTO BROADWAY FLATS,
WHICH IS OFF OF BROADWAY AND
JOHN IN MY DISTRICT. I'VE
NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE --
YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW
WAREHOUSING FOLKS, WHICH IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. IT WAS
THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS WAS
OFFERING WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO
OUR INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED HELP
. AND ADDRESSING THAT
IMMEDIATELY WITH THE ASSESSMENT
AS WE MOVE THEM IN, AND ALSO
UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS A
PROCESS AND THE LONG-TERM-CARE
OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE
HAVE MADE STRIDES. I AM REALLY
HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE WE HAVE
GOTTEN FROM KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMES AUTHORITY --
HOMELESS AUTHTHE AT
ARE PULLING FORTH AND SAYING,
HEY, THESE ARE SERVICES WE CAN
PROVIDE, THIS IS WHAT WE
DELIVER CARE HAS STEPPED UP.
URBAN LEAGUE IS ONE OF THE
CONTRACTORS DID ALL THESE
PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP. I'VE
BEEN HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT
HAPPEN AGAIN. WE HAVE TO HAVE
PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN
PLACE WHEN WE MOVE PEOPLE FROM
ENCAMPMENTS INTO BUILDINGS THAT
WE ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE
ISSUES AND SOME OF THE NEEDS
IMMEDIATELY FOR SOME OF THE
ACTIVITY THAT WAS IS COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE IN THAT BUILDING.
ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK SOME OF
MY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I KNOW YOU
ALL ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS. WE
HAD A BUNCH OF MEETINGS BEHIND
THE SCENES. I AM VERY
ENCOURAGED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE,
HEALTHY, AND WE CAN MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE THE
RIGHT HELP THEY NEED . BUT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
YOU SIT OVER HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT YOU BROUGHT SOME CONCERNS
AS WELL , AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AS WELL. THANK YOU BOTH. WE DID
GET THAT RESOLVED. I REALLY AM
ENCOURAGED OF THE PATHWAY
FORWARD THAT KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY AND
OTHER FOLKS ARE TAKING. THANK
YOU.
>> I WILL NOTE THAT YOU AND I
ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF
HEALTH. THIS IS ANOTHER AREA
WHERE LAST YEAR I HAD AN
AMENDMENT TO THE WORK PLAN TO
PUT OUR RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID
CRISIS . WE ONLY GOT TWO
BRIEFINGS ON WHAT IS ALREADY
HAPPENING. WE HAVE TO BE ON
THAT AND MAKE SURE IT IS A
PRIORITY, NOT JUST TO BRIEF THE
BOARD, BUT TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT . BECAUSE IT IS GREAT
THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON
REDUCING OVERDOSES, FATAL
OVERDOSES. THAT IS EXCELLENT BY
THE WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF
NARCAN, BUT AS YOU NOTED, WE
HAVE TO WORK ON THE PREVENTION
SIDE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR
YOUTH. THAT IS ALL TIED
TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THAT ON ALL
OF THE BOARDS AND EXTERNAL
COMMITTEES THAT WE ALL SERVE ON
THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS
OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
FOCUSING ON THE THINGS THAT ARE
ABSOLUTELY 100% URGENT I WOULD
SAY THAT , OF COURSE, PUBLIC
SAFETY , A MORE ROBUST RESPONSE
TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS IS RIGHT
UP THERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE
LEVY. I ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE
CURRENTLY FUNDING THE HUBS,
COMMUNITY SAFETY HUBS, THAT ARE
HELPING KIDS . COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AND I , COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS -- STRAUSS WAS
INTERESTED IN A NORTH HUB. WE
ARE CREATING A NORTH HUB TO
MANAGE FOR SOME OF THIS WITH
KIDS. ALSO, I KNOW YOU PUT IN A
SLI ABOUT THE YOUTH PROGRAMS .
THIS IS ALL CONNECTED. AND SO,
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
THE RESULTS OF THE SLI. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON THE WORK
THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING ON THE
HUBS, AND SOME OTHER YOUTH
VIOLENCE SAFETY PROGRAMS .
ALSO, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHO
HOST TEEN NIGHT AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE. LOOKING AT THE
RESULTS OF ALL OF THIS. IS THIS
HELPING? IS IT NOT HELPING?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE DOING?
AND OF COURSE, WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SIDE OF
THINGS ON HOW WE ENSURE THAT
THIS ACTIVITY IS NOT OCCURRING
BY SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS.
BECAUSE REALLY, RIGHT NOW,
THERE IS NOTHING IN PLACE THAT
I KNOW OF -- I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
TO REALLY ADDRESS THESE
ACTIVITIES HAPPENING NEAR
SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS. THAT
IS ALL PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED.
SO I WANT TO HEAR MORE. I KNOW
THIS WILL BE THE TOPIC OF
CONVERSATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
THIS YEAR AS WELL. I WANTED TO
SAY , YES, TWO MORE OF ALL OF
IT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE
ALL ASKED THESE QUESTIONS AND
WORKED TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THESE THINGS, AND THE
OUTCOME PIECES ARE IMPORTANT
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO
HELP IF WE DON'T KNOW IF WHAT
WE'RE DOING IS WORKING OR NOT
CURRENTLY. THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THAT.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
JOINING AS -- US AT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY.
ACTUALLY, FIRST I WANTED TO
WELCOME -- NORMALLY AND COUNSEL
BRIEFING WE DON'T HAVE AN
AUDIENCE. I WANT TO WELCOME
THOSE IN CHAMBERS TODAY.
APPARENTLY A FAMILY. I REMINDED
LAST YEAR OF A FATHER WHO
BROUGHT TWO SCOUTS WITH HIM TO
SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
EXCELLENT. I LIKE IT VERY MUCH
TO SEE THAT. WELCOME. ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY POINTS, WE ARE IN
A NEW YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE
DONE A LOT ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN
2024. IN '25, SOME MEAN AREAS
WILL BE, YOU KNOW, WORKING
ORDINANCES THAT NEED TO BE
UPDATED , AND SEPARATELY, THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS OF
CONCERN TO ME. THAT IS AN AREA
WE NEED TO BRING SOME DAYLIGHT
TO. A THIRD ONE THAT KIND OF
CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET PIECE
TOO THAT WAS JUST REFERENCED
IS, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY PIECE. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMITTEE TO
LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS
KIND OF LIKE THE NEXT LAYER OF
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. LOOKING
AT THIS AND GOING THROUGH
BUDGET, I HAVE NOTED SOMETIMES
HE REPORTS TO DEPARTMENT
NEIGHBORHOODS, SOMETIMES HUMAN
SERVICES AND DIFFERENT PIECES.
I HAVE A SAYS THAT NOBODY KEEPS
THE BIG PICTURE. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMITTEE TO
DO THIS DUE DILIGENCE FROM A
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE .
INTO CHAIR STRAUSS, FROM THE
BUDGET PIECE TOO. THIS KIND OF
GOES TO, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE
WORK PREPARING AND SUPPORTING
BUDGET , IN THIS CASE, 2025. I
LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. OF
COURSE, FOR THOSE NOT ON THE
COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE
EDUCATION ANGLE. AS
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
NOTED, WE HAVE TO DO, AS SHE
WOULD SAY, FOR OUR BABIES. I
THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ALSO BROUGHT UP TODAY, TRANSIT
SECURITY. I WANT TO THANK
TRANSPORTATION CHAIR SAKA FOR
HIS WORK ON THIS. CLEARLY, WE
HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK
CONVERSATIONS. THE LEVY, THE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN. A LOT OF
THINGS AHEAD OF THOSE TWO
ACTIONS. OBVIOUSLY, TRANSIT
SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT
PLAYS INTO OUR RELATIONSHIP. IT
GOES INTO OUR STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK PLAN. I WILL SAY
PILLAR SIX, WORKING WITH THE
COUNTY AND THE STATE. THE
COUNTY, IN TERMS OF KING COUNTY
METRO, BUT ALSO THE KING COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE HAVE
ENGAGED HARD AND KEPT THE PRESS
ON. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO
THIS YEAR. THAT IS WHERE SHOWS
UP WITH THE THIRD AVENUE
PROJECT AND SO FORTH. WE NEED
TO DO MORE IN TERMS OF ENGAGING
WITH THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW WHAT?
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO OUR
BEST. THIS IS WHERE THE BUDGET
ACTION IS SO IMPORTANT. WE ARE
PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR
MOUTH IS. WE'RE STANDING UP TO
CONTRIBUTE AND PARTICIPATE. IN
TERMS OF THE TRAGIC INCIDENT
WITH SEAN YEM AND FOR THE WHOLE
ATU LOCAL 587 FAMILY, WE HAVE
TO DO TRANSIT SECURITY BETTER.
THIS IS BROADER TOO. THIS IS
PUBLIC HEALTH. WHERE ARE WE
WITH ADDICTION WORKING WITH THE
COUNTY? THE STATE? MENTAL
HEALTH. IF WE NEVER ADDRESS THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH
ASPECTS OF WHAT WE ARE FACING,
AS I HAVE OFTEN SAID, WE WILL
SUCCEED IN PUBLIC SAFETY UNTIL
WE DO SO. WITH THAT SAID, AND
GOING BACK TO COUNSEL BRIEFING,
THE FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING OF 2025 WILL
BE ON THE 14th, THE MORNING OF.
WE WILL BE LOOKING, AS I NOTED,
AT ORDINANCES THAT WILL BE
UPDATED. IN THIS CASE, THE LESS
LETHAL ORDINANCE OF CROWD
MANAGEMENT. I DO HAVE A CHAIR
AMENDMENT PACKAGE THAT WILL BE
REFINING THIS WEEK. I'VE
TALKED TO MANY OF YOU. I
DEFINITELY NEED TO TALK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. WE HAVE
TRIED MANY TIMES. BUT WE WILL
MEET TO TALK ABOUT THE PACKAGE.
AS A REMINDER, DUE TO THE
UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE
CONSENT DECREE, YOU KNOW, WITH
THE FEDERAL MONITOR AND SO
FORTH, AMENDMENTS ARE DUE BY
THE NINTH. MR. DAWSON IS THE
APPOINTED CONTACT. SEPARATELY,
THIS WEEK IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY
AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, WE
HAVE SOUTHLAKE UNION COMMUNITY
COUNCIL THIS TUESDAY. TUESDAY
IS THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY
BOARD. FRIDAY I WILL BE MEETING
WITH THE MARINE EXCHANGE OF
PUGET SOUND . ALSO, THE PORT OF
SEATTLE. AFTER THAT, AND I
BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THIS IS
ANOTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE AS
WELL, I WILL BE HAVING A
MEETING WITH SDOT DIRECTOR AND
NEW PIKE PLACE PDA EXECUTIVE .
THIS IS IMPORTANT , OBVIOUSLY,
WITH THE TRAGIC INCIDENT IN NEW
ORLEANS IN TERMS OF THE KILLING
OF SO MANY WITH, SADLY, THE
VETERAN WHO COMMITTED THAT HE
THIS ACT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AS IT RELATES
TO PIKE PLACE BY BRINGING IN
THE RELEVANT PLAYERS TOGETHER.
PIKE PLACE PDA, SDOT, AND THEN
SET UP MOVING FORWARD. I HAVE
RECEIVED A NUMBER OF EMAILS ON
THIS. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE
TO RESPOND. THIS WILL BE PART
OF THE DISCUSSION ON FRIDAY
WITH THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS, AND
MAY BE MORE GIVEN THE DIRECTOR
WILL BE RESIGNING , TO SET UP
THE BIGGER STAKEHOLDER PROCESS,
WHICH CAME OUT OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN . WE WILL
WORK THIS. I SPOKE TO THE NEW
PDA DIRECTOR . BY APRIL
PROBABLY, WE WILL HAVE THAT
MEETING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN
DO AHEAD OF THE SUMMER SEASON
TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A
FUNCTIONING PIKE PLACE MARKET,
BUT ALSO OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR
THOSE THAT COME TO INCLUDE
THOSE PEDESTRIANS. NEXT WEEK ,
TUESDAY IS A PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, THURSDAY IS THE KING
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH, AND
ALSO REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE THAT I SERVE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
ALSO ON FRIDAY, I WILL BE
JOINING OPCD WITH THE QUEEN
ANNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS THEY
TALK ABOUT THE CONFERENCE A
PLAN. ON FRIDAY WE WILL BE
MEETING WITH THE ST. PAUL'S
CONSTITUENCY IN TERMS OF UPTOWN
AND THE CHALLENGES AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT IS IT . COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
I TURN OVER PENDING QUESTIONS
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO
EVERYONE. IT IS NICE TO SEE ALL
OF YOUR SMILING FACES. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR SECOND
YEAR TOGETHER . LOTS OF GOOD
THINGS AHEAD, I BELIEVE. THE
NEXT MEETING OF HOUSING IN
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE IS
THIS WEDNESDAY. ON THE AGENDA
WE HAVE NINE COMMISSION
APPOINTMENTS. WE ALSO HAVE
OFFICE OF HOUSING PRESENTATION
AND HSD PRESENTATION ON THE
CITY'S GENERAL RESPONSE TO
COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION . WE DO
HAVE A HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PROCLAMATION THAT WILL BE
COMING FORTH. I JUST THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AND COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN THE CITY
AS IT WAS A MAJOR TOPIC LAST
YEAR FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION. IT
IS JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO BE MINDFUL OF. FOR
EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE REGIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. I WILL ALSO ATTEND THE
AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK . A COUPLE
OF THINGS. I WILL ALSO BE
APPEARING ON COUNCIL EDITION ON
FRIDAY. I'M TRYING TO GET MY
RESEARCH SO I AM PREPARED FOR
THE QUESTIONS FROM THE EMMY
AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM AND
PRESENTER. I WAS ABLE TO MEET
WITH A NUMBER OF DISTRICT 2
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS FOR THE
VACANCY . UNLIKE THE LAST
PROCESS WHEN I DID NOT MEET
INDIVIDUAL -- INDIVIDUALLY, I
DECIDED TO DO SO THIS TIME
AROUND. I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO
MEET WITH ANYONE WHO IS SEEKING
THAT APPOINTMENT. PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE
. ADDITIONALLY, I AM STARTING
UP OFFICE HOURS AGAIN. WE WILL
HAVE OFFICE HOURS THIS COMING
WEDNESDAY EVENING , REMOTE
HOURS. AND THEN, MOVING BACK TO
THE REGULAR THURSDAY AFTERNOON
HOURS. WE WILL BE MEETING LATER
IN THE WEEK WITH CEO KENNISON ,
CACR HA. BASED ON THE EVENTS
THAT HAPPEN WITH BROADWAY
FLATS, AND I AM PLEASED TO SEE
THAT IS RESOLVING IN A POSITIVE
WAY, BUT I THINK IT DID RAISE A
LOT OF CONCERNS FOR ME. I THINK
ALSO FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS
THE REPRESENTATIVES ON KCHRA
GOVERNING BOARD, CERTAINLY
SOMETHING I WILL BE BRINGING
FORTH FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW
WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF
THOSE THINGS IN PLACE SO WE
DON'T HAVE DIFFICULT ISSUES
THAT OCCUR -- THAT OCCURRED AT
BROADWAY FLATS. WE ALSO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TWO,
UNFORTUNATELY, -- NOT THAT THEY
WERE BRIEF, IT WAS UNFORTUNATE
THE FACT THAT I HAD TO DO THEM.
TO INTERVIEWS. ONE RELATING TO
A MID AFTERNOON SHOOTING JUST
TWO BLOCKS OFF OF AURORA IN A
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ON A
SATURDAY. IT WAS A WEEK AGO
SATURDAY. ONE PIMPED HAD
CORNERED ANOTHER ONE IN THEIR
CAR AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, 12 A
CLOCK, NO CONCERN ABOUT THE
PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS,
ABOUT BEING ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON
VIDEO. AND UNLOADED 10 TO 12
SHELLS INTO THIS OTHER CAR AND
PROCEEDED TO CHASE IT. THIS IS
AN INDIVIDUAL KNOWN TO THE
POLICE TO BE A PIMPED . THEY
WERE ABLE TO GET THE LICENSE
PLATE NUMBER. WONDERFUL FOOTAGE
OF THIS INDIVIDUAL 'S FACE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE RESIDENTS
WERE EXTREMELY CONCERNED. SPD
DID DO -- THEY OPENED AN ACTIVE
INVESTIGATION. I BELIEVE, BASED
ON CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
CAPTAIN, WERE ACTIVELY PURSUING
AN ARREST. THEY DID ALSO ASK
THAT, IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO
HAVE SIGHTINGS OF THIS CAR IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO PLEASE
CALL 911. I JUST BRING THAT UP
BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE
STILL SEEING GUN VIOLENCE IN
DISTRICT 5 AND ALONG AURORA.
WE'RE STILL SEEING GUN
VIOLENCE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED
WITH THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION GOING ON UP THERE,
WHICH WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THE
LEGISLATION WE PUT FORTH AND
PAST. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT
THE PROCESS OF GETTING THINGS
IN PLACE TO BEGIN ENFORCEMENT ,
BOTH RELATING TO SELLERS, BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, RELATING TO
BUYERS INTO THE THEMSELVES IS
MOVING SLOWLY. I AM
TELEGRAPHING THAT I WILL BE
REACHING OUT TO SPD , HSD AND
THE MAYORS OFFICE TO SET UP A
MEETING SO WE CAN -- I THINK
WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE IS A POINT
PERSON TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE
DIFFERENT PIECES AND BRING IT
TO FRUITION. BECAUSE WE CANNOT
CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE FEEL
THEY CAN BRAZENLY ENGAGE IN GUN
VIOLENCE WITH NO CONSEQUENCES
FOR THAT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION IS BEING
ADDRESSED. IT SHOCKS ME TO HAVE
HEARD MANY OFFICERS IN THE
NORTH PRECINCT ARE UNAWARE OF
THE FACT THAT WE ACTUALLY
REINSTATED THE LOITERING LAW. I
WOULD LIKE TO NOTE FOR THE
RECORD THAT, WHILE THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT CURRICULUM AND
TRAINING REQUIREMENT RELATED TO
ITS ENFORCEMENT AROUND SELLERS,
THERE IS NOT A SIMILAR
REQUIREMENT AROUND ENFORCEMENT
AGAINST THE BUYERS THE EMPHASIS
OF THIS BILL WAS TO ARREST AND
PROSECUTE BUYERS, AS WELL AS
THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE
EXPLOITATION , THE PIMPS. IT
CONCERNS ME WE HAVE NOT HAD LAW
ENFORCEMENT, WHO WAS REQUESTING
THE REINSTATEMENT OF THIS TOOL,
HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN MADE
AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IT
EXISTS OR THAT IT IS BEING SLOW
TO BE IMPLEMENTED I UNDERSTAND
THE POLICY HAS TO BE WRITTEN.
THERE IS A PROCESS, BUT IT IS
ALSO IMPORTANT FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO KNOW THAT WE
HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THEIR
REQUEST FOR TOOLS. JUST SO THAT
THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT WHEN
CONSTITUENTS ASKED THEM ABOUT
WHAT IS GOING ON. THERE ABLE TO
GIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION AS
WELL. THE OTHER INTERVIEW
RELATED TO TREES. WE CONTINUE
TO SEE THE INDISCRIMINATE
CUTTING OF TREES RELATING TO
DEVELOPMENT . UNFORTUNATELY,
THE TREE ORDINANCE , THAT PIECE
OF THE TREE ORDINANCE CONTINUES
TO NOT WORK WELL. WE HAVE
LEGACY CAPITAL, A REPEAT
VIOLATOR OF THE ORDINANCE ,
AGAIN ENGAGE IN -- I WOULD GO
SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT THEY DID
NOT COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICE . IT
WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS
OF ALERT NEIGHBORS THAT SEVERAL
TREES WERE NOT ILLEGALLY CUT
DOWN. THIS REMAINS A PROBLEM.
THIS IS AN ISSUE I HAVE
COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING . I
KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE COMP
PLAN TO BEGIN TO DISCUSS TREES.
I'M ALSO THINKING WE NEED TO
ADDRESS, DO SOMETHING SOONER
THAN JUST A LEASING -- LENGTHY
COMP PLAN BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING
TREES AT TOO RAPID A RATE IN
TERMS OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS UNDERMINING ARE VERY GOOD
GOALS OF INCREASING OUR TREE
CANOPY ACROSS THE CITY,
PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH AND
ON PRIVATE LAND. AGAIN, I
REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING AND NOT HAVING
SUFFICIENT STAFF OR COMMITMENT
TO BEING ABLE TO BE RESPONSIVE
WHEN THEY ARE NOTIFIED OF
POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS, NOT
GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO THE SITE
ON TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT IS
HAPPENING ACTORS SUCH AS LEGACY
CAPITAL, WHO SEEM TO BE THE
ONES WHO RECURRING THEY SHOW UP
WITH THE SORT OF ATTEMPTS TO
CIRCUMVENT THE PARTS OF THE
TREE ORDINANCE THAT ARE THERE
TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE DUE
DILIGENCE, NOTICE , CONTINUE TO
BE ABLE TO ACT WITHOUT MUCH --
WITH SORT OF A MINOR SLAP ON
THE HAND. THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.
THE LAST THING I WILL MENTION
IS, I DON'T KNOW GIVEN TODAY
IS JANUARY 6, CERTIFICATION OF
THE NATIONAL ELECTION . OVER
THE HOLIDAY I WAS READING AN
ARTICLE WHERE IT NOTED THAT
STEVE MILLER, WHO WILL BE
FROM'S DEPUTY SECRETARY ON
POLICY, HIS AMERICA FIRST
ORGANIZATION SENT OUT A LETTER
TO 259 JURISDICTIONS AND
REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE IN WHAT
WE CALL SANCTUARY CITIES
THREATENING ALL OF US WITH
ARREST AND PROSECUTION SHOULD
WE IMPLEMENT OUR MUNICIPAL LAW
. AND THOSE WHO WE ASKED TO
IMPLEMENT THOSE LAWS . I LOOKED
AT EVERY SINGLE LETTER .
SEATTLE WAS NOT LISTED, BUT
WASHINGTON WAS. I'M NOT SURE
IF THAT IS BECAUSE WASHINGTON
HAS A STATE LAW AND MANY OF THE
OTHER JURISDICTIONS WERE
MUNICIPAL JURISDICTIONS. BUT I
FOUND IT DEEPLY TROUBLING,
NEEDLESS TO SAY . I'M NOT SURE
IT COULD LEGALLY BE
IMPLEMENTED, BUT THE FACT THAT
A MEMBER OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION FEELS AT LIBERTY
TO SEND A THREATENING LETTER TO
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE
SIMPLY EXECUTING THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES AS THEY WERE
DULY ELECTED TO DO SO, I FIND
THAT DEEPLY TROUBLING. I'M
GOING TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL
REQUEST AGAIN THAT WE HAVE A
COUNCIL BRIEFING , MAYBE IT
NEEDS TO BE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY WHAT THIS MEANS TO
HAVE THIS LETTER SENT TO
JURISDICTIONS THAT QUALIFY OR
CONSTITUTE SANCTUARY CITIES . I
ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD IN OUR
RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS
WITH THE TRUMP'S
ADMINISTRATION AROUND
IMMIGRATION WE HAVE AN ACTIVE
-- WE HAVE AN OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT REFUGEES AFFAIRS. WE
ARE ACTIVELY RESETTLING PEOPLE.
I FEEL COMPLETELY AT A LOSS IN
TERMS OF HOW WE ARE PREPARED TO
DEAL WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER I
ANTICIPATE WILL BE COMING SHORT
ORDER MANDATING MASS
DEPORTATIONS. I ALSO WANT TO
KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL
WITH HOUSING FUNDING. IS THE
FUNDING GOING TO BE THREATENED
BASED ON WHAT WE ARE SIMPLY
DOING HERE AS THE LAWS REQUIRE
? I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING
, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT WE
HAVE SOME KIND OF BRIEFING
ALONG THOSE CONCERNS. IF THERE
ARE NO QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
MENTIONING THAT. MY OFFICE HAS
BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR
OFFICE AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
AND THE MAYOR AT THIS OFFICE TO
RESPOND TO YOUR REQUEST AND FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE ARE
RESPONDING AT THE STATE -- HOW
WE ARE RESPONDING TO FEDERAL
ACTIONS LOCALLY, AND ALSO
SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
IMMIGRATION , ET CETERA. I HAVE
TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I AM
RESPONDING TO . IT IS JUST A
QUESTION OF THE DATE OF THAT
BRIEFING , AND PROVISIONALLY,
THINKING ABOUT THE 13th. AND
THEN, POSSIBLY, ALSO FOLLOWED
BY EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS ALL
BEING WORKED OUT. I WILL LET
YOU KNOW MORE.
>> I WILL JUST ADD, THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I DID HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE BECAUSE I REQUESTED OUR
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS TO COME TO COMMITTEE
SINCE IT IS UNDER THE COMMITTEE
I CHAIR. THE CONVERSATION WAS
THAT IT WAS BEST THAT IT WAS
WITH FULL COUNSEL SO WE ALL
HEAR THE INFORMATION AND THAT
THEY WILL COME AS A PART OF
THAT, BUT JUST A MORE HOLISTIC
ON ALL THE ITEMS THAT YOU JUST
TALKED ABOUT. THAT WAS
REQUESTED. NOW THIS IS HOW IT
HAS COME TO A BIGGER , BROADER,
I SHOULDN'T SAY BIGGER, A
BROADER -- TO THE FULL COUNSEL
SESSION.
>> JUST A SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER
CATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR HER
REMARKS ON DIFFERENT PIECES, TO
INCLUDE THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
BILL, AND TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS . IF WE DON'T FOLLOW
WELL, IT ENDS UP BEING A PIECE
OF PAPER. IN THAT ORDER, I AM
SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE
CHIEF ON WEDNESDAY. I WILL
ALREADY BE ASKING, BUT I WILL
SAY TO YOU, AND AS YOU SAID, I
WILL ASK ABOUT WHAT WE DID IN
2024. I WILL START OFF WITH
SOAP. AND THEN SODA, AND THE
TECHNOLOGY CCTV AND HOW THAT IS
COMING ALONG. FOR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I WILL ASK ABOUT
RECRUITMENT AND INCENTIVES.
ALONG WITH STREET RACING, WHICH
I THINK I HEARD THIS WEEKEND AT
6:00 IN THE MORNING FOR MY
HOUSE. JUST A FOLLOW-UP IN
TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH
THOSE BILLS AND PUT THESE
PIECES IN PLACE. IT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT WE DO SO , BECAUSE IF
WE WANT TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS
IN 2025, THESE PIECES NEED TO
BE PUT IN PLACE TO FULL EFFECT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
FOR BRINGING THAT UP. BY THE
WAY, SINCE I MENTIONED THE
CHIEF. WE WILL HAVE CHIEF
BARNES AS WELL. I DID MEET WITH
HIM IN NOVEMBER. ONCE WE GET
DATES, WE WILL BE WORKING THAT
AS WELL. SORRY FOR NOT
MENTIONING THAT EARLIER.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S CONTINUE
THIS THEME HERE. I WILL TALK
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THIS
THURSDAY, IN A MOMENT, BUT I DO
WANT TO NOTE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE
WE ARE ENGAGED IN SOMEWHAT OF A
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
MEETING. I DO WANT TO NOTE THE
PRESS RELEASE I SENT OUT THIS
MORNING ON BEHALF OF -- WELL,
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT, URGING CONTINUED
FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN 2025
AFTER RECORD NUMBER OF BILLS
PASSED IN 2024. WE HAVE SPOKEN
ABOUT SOME OF THOSE. I SENT
THAT OUT TODAY BECAUSE I DO --
BECAUSE IT DOES COINCIDE WITH
THE RECEIPT OF AN EMAIL FROM
ADAM SCHAFFER AND THE
EXECUTIVES TODAY BASICALLY
SENDING DOWN THE PAPERWORK,
MAKING IT OFFICIAL AS OF
JANUARY 25 THAT WE WILL HAVE AN
ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE . SO NOW
IS THE TIME NOT TO REST ON OUR
LAURELS, BUT TO BUILD ON OUR
MOMENTUM AS THE LEGISLATIVE
BODY. WE CAN PASS THE LAWS,
THEY NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
THIS PRESS RELEASE WAS
BASICALLY SAYING -- AND IT CAME
WITH A LIST OF 14 PUBLIC SAFETY
RELATED PIECES OF LEGISLATION
THAT COUNCIL PASSED LAST YEAR.
THE BASIC MESSAGE IS SIMPLY,
OKAY, WE PASSED THIS
LEGISLATION, WE NEED TO KEEP
OUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL IN MOVING
FORWARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY. WE
ARE NOT DONE YET. AND WE NEED
TO WORK WELL WITH THE EXECUTIVE
. I WAS PERSONALLY WELCOMING
ACTING CHIEF BARNES . JUST
SAYING THAT COUNCIL SERVES --
COUNCIL IS HERE AS A WILLING
PARTNER IN MAKING OUR CITY A
SAFER PLACE. IN THIS PRESS
RELEASE, I DO MENTION THE SODA
AND SOAP LEGISLATION THAT WAS
PASSED. I NOTE IT IS NOW UP TO
THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES AND
SPD OFFICERS TO IMPLEMENT . AND
SO, WE ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART.
I DO RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE READ
THAT, TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIST
OF LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2024,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING OUR FOCUS ON THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER AND ALSO PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR KETTLE, FOR THE --
FOR THAT PRESS RELEASE. AS WE
HAVE DISCUSSED ALL AFTERNOON,
THIS IS TOP OF MIND. EVEN
THOUGH WE'VE GOT A HUGE
PROJECT ON OUR PLATE, WHICH IS
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
AND FILLING OF THE DISTRICT 2
VACANCY, PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS
THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY. WE
CANNOT -- WE WANTED TO LOSE
FOCUS, I'M SURE, BUT WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS
THINKING ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING
IS INTERCONNECTED IN WHAT WE
DO. AND ALL OF OUR ACTIONS,
ALSO IN THE EXTERNAL
COMMITTEES. ALL RIGHT. AS I
SAID, THIS THURSDAY WE WILL
HAVE THE FIRST MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
AT 2:00 ON THURSDAY , AND WE
WILL BE HAVING THE SECOND
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON
THE Q4 EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. IF
YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD THE FIRST
DISCUSSION AT THE LAST MEETING
LAST YEAR. I AM LOOKING TOWARD
A POSSIBLE VOTE, BUT I WILL
CHECK WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. I WANT
TO RESPECT THAT AS WELL. ALSO,
ONE THING I AM VERY MUCH
LOOKING FORWARD TO AND EXCITED
ABOUT, WE ARE HAVING A
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH A
PANEL OF RESPECTED AND
EXPERIENCED ARCHITECTS OF
COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL AND
MIXED-USE PROJECTS OF ALL
DIFFERENT SIZES TO DISCUSS
PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH OUR
PERMITTING PROCESSES. THIS IS
AT THE BEHEST OF JIM GRAHAM,
FOUNDER OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS
ARCHITECTS. AND THE LIST OF
PRESENTERS WILL BE FINALIZED
LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WHY IS
THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE WHETHER
YOU ARE TRYING TO REMODEL A
KITCHEN OR BUILD A MIXED-USE
PROJECT IN ONE OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS, OR GET
THEM APPROVED, IT SEEMS AS
THOUGH SOME OF THE SAME
PROBLEMS KEEP COMING UP OVER
AND OVER AGAIN WITH PERMITTING.
COMMON COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE
IS NO -- THERE IS A LACK OF
PREDICTABILITY ABOUT WHEN ALL
THE PERMITS WILL BE APPROVED,
AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME
ITERATIONS OF CORRECTIONS .
THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE
SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD.
WE HAVE HAD AN AUDIT ON OUR
PERMITTING SYSTEM. THAT HAS
BEEN PRESENTED AS WELL TO
COUNCIL. THIS FALLS IN THE
ACCOUNTABILITY DEPARTMENT. WE
HAVE SOME INDUSTRY EXPERTS THAT
ARE COMING TO JUST MAKE SURE WE
ARE FOCUSED ON SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING UP
THEIR WORK AND ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY IN THE CITY. AND SOME
PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH
ON. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. IT'S NOT LIKE
HE IS UNAWARE OF THIS. THAT
WILL BE AN INTERESTING
DISCUSSION. I INVITE FOLKS WHO
AREN'T ON THE COMMITTEE TO
ALSO PARTICIPATE. YOU ARE VERY
WELCOME. I WILL SKIP EVERYTHING
ELSE I WAS GOING TO SAY,
BECAUSE IT IS FREE:37. WE DO
HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION
TODAY. HOLD ON A SECOND. I WANT
TO MAKE SURE --
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> WAIT A MINUTE, PLEASE.
MAKING SURE -- ONE MORE THING.
COMING UP THIS WEEK I WILL BE
AT THE LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE
RECOGNITION CEREMONY. I LOOK
FORWARD TO HONORING THE SERVICE
OF LONG TIME STAFF. THAT IS
COMING UP THIS THURSDAY. OF
COURSE, YOU ARE ALL WELCOME,
AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
>> THEY CAN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
NOTING FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T
NEED A RESPONSE. GESTATING FOR
COLLEAGUES -- GESTATING FOR
COLLEAGUES THAT I HAVE NEVER IN
THE PAST SEEN A BODY OF WORK
REMOVED FROM A COMMITTEE AND
PLACED IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE. I
BELIEVE THE PANEL YOU WILL
HAVE, IT SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY
PERFECT. IT IS ABSOLUTELY
SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE. I WILL LEAVE IT AT
THAT. THIS IS A PRACTICE I'VE
SEEN EMPLOYED A COUPLE OF
TIMES. I WILL RAISE IT EVERY
TIME I SEE IT HAPPEN.
>> I DISAGREE THAT THIS IS AN A
REGULAR PRACTICE. IT IS ALL IN
HOW YOU LOOK AT AN ISSUE. LIKE
I SAID, WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES IN MY COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE THEMES OF OUR
DISCUSSION IS THAT THINGS SEEM
TO BE ALL CONNECTED. IF YOU ARE
PERCEIVING THIS AS A SLIGHT OR
GOING OUTSIDE MY BOUNDS, I WILL
SIMPLY SAY THE TITLE OF MY
COMMITTEE IS GOVERNANCE ,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. AS I NOTED, OUR
ISSUES WITH PERMITTING DO SLOW
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, AND THIS IS
AN ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE. IF
THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER, EVEN
THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED
IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE, IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY AS AN OVERSIGHT
BODY TO MAKE SURE WE DO
ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
IMPROVE OUR CITY'S PROCESSES.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE PEOPLE
WOULD LIKE TO SAY? OKAY. IF
THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION. HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS. IT IS NOW
TIME. I AM ANNOUNCING THAT THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION IS TO DISCUSS PENDING,
POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL LITIGATION.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL
MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEYS AS
AUTHORIZED BY LAW. ILLEGAL
MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS
PRESENT TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL
RESERVES QUESTIONS FOR OPEN
DISCUSSION. EXPECT THE TIME OF
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END BY
4:40 P.M. IT COULD END EARLIER
THAN THAT. IF IT DIES, THIS
MEETING WILL END -- IF IT DOES,
THIS MEETING WILL END
AUTOMATICALLY. IF THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION EXTENDS, I WILL
ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND
EXPECTED DURATION. ALL RIGHT.
THE COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING
WILL OFFICIALLY ADJOURN. THE
NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING IS ON
GENERAL 13, 2025 AT 2:00 BM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.
SEE YOU IN A FEW MINUTES.