>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS MARCH 10, 2025. THE
COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER AND THE TIME IS
2:02. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SULLIVAN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STROUSE?
>> HERE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RING?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? .
>> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, FOR MINUTES OF MARCH
2025 WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE MINUTES ARE
ADOPTED. WE DON'T HAVE ANY
PROCLAMATION OR EXECUTIVE
SESSION TODAY BUT WE HAVE THE
UPDATE FROM THE OIR LEGISLATIVE
TEAM ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN
OLYMPIA. TOMORROW'S CITY
COUNCIL MEETING MAY BE ANOTHER
SHORT ONE ON THE MEETING AGENDA,
THERE ARE 16 ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WHICH ARE THE WEEKLY
BILL PAYMENT ORDINANCES, 120950,
ORDINANCE REAFFIRMING THE CITY
AS A WELCOMING CITY SUPPORTING
ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND GENDER
AFFIRMING TREATMENT AND
EXTENDING CITY EMPLOYEES
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE
PROVISION OF THOSE SERVICES. I
WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN OUR
ROUND ROBIN SECTION. AND THEN WE
HAVE 11 APPOINTMENTS INCLUDING
TWO TO THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, THREE TO THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION, ONE TO THE
PACIFIC HOSPITAL PRESERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
GOVERNING COUNCIL, TWO TO THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION, ONE
TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD, TWO
TO THE FAMILY EDUCATION,
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AS WELL AS
BILL 120948 ON THE CONSTRUCTION
CODE ALLOWING AN EXTENSION FOR
CERTAIN PROJECTS AND BUILDING
PERMITS AND COUNCIL BILL 120949,
AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO EASING
BARRIERS TO CONSTRUCTING
DWELLING UNITS. RESOLUTION 32166
APPROVING INSTALLATION,
MAINTENANCE AND INSTALLATION OF
A PEDESTRIAN SKY BRIDGE OVER
EIGHTH AVENUE NORTH OF CHERRY
STREET.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDES
THE WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT
ORDINANCES. THERE ARE ALSO TWO
PIECES OF LEGISLATION UNDER
COMMITTEE REPORTS. THOSE ARE
RESOLUTION 32165, REVISING THE
STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
THAT WERE IN OUR 2025 BUDGET AND
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND
COUNCIL BILL 126, LIFTING A
PROVIZO OF THE 2025 BUDGET
IMPOSED ON TRANSPORTATION LEVY
FUND.
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, MOVING
ON TO THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION UPDATE. WE WILL WAIT FOR
THE PARTICIPANTS TO JOIN US
HERE. GREAT. WHEN YOU ARE READY,
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBER
PRESIDENT NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M MINA
HASHEMI, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
I'M JOINED BY COLLEAGUES ANNA
JOHNSON AND SAMIR JUNEJO WHO YOU
WILL HEAR FROM MOMENTARILY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE HAS
REACHED THE MIDPOINT OF THE 2025
SESSION WITH MEMBERS WORKING
LONG HOURS ON THE FLOOR AND IN
CAUCUS AS THEY APPROACH THE
MARCH 12 DEADLINE FOR BILLS TO
PASS OUT OF CHAMBERS OF ORIGIN.
AS OF THIS WEEK, THERE HAVE BEEN
1051 HOUSE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED AND 519 HAVE MADE IT
TO THE RULES COMMITTEE FOR
FURTHER CONSIDERATION. THE HOUSE
HAS BEEN WORKING ESPECIALLY LONG
HOURS TRYING TO PASS AS MUCH
LEGISLATION AS POSSIBLE STAYING
ON THE FLOOR INTO THE WE HOURS
OF THE MORNING THIS PAST
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. IN THE
SENATE T805 BILLS HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED. BILLS THAT DO NOT
CLEAR THE STAGE OF RULES
COMMITTEE UNLESS DEEMED
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE
BUDGET ARE CONSIDERED DEAD FOR
THE SESSION. BUT IT IS WORTH
NOTING THAT NO BILL IS ENTIRELY
OFF THE TABLE UNTIL THE SESSION
ENDS. THE FIRST HALF OF FLOOR
ACTION TYPICALLY FEATURES BILLS
THAT THE MAJORITY ANTICIPATES
WILL INSPIRE LESS DEBATE. THOSE
WITH TIME CONSUMING AMENDMENTS
ARE SAVED UNTIL CLOSER TO THE
MARCH 12 DEADLINE WHEN DEBATE
CAN BE LIMITED. THAT'S WHAT WE
SAW THIS WEEKEND WITH LONG
HOURS. A NUMBER OF SEATTLE
PRIORITIES HAVE CLEARED THIS
HURDLE. WITH T THAT, I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO ANNA AND SAMIR TO
GIVE YOU AN UP TIDATE ON WHERE
THINGS STAND TODAY, 150th DAY OF
THE SESSION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I WILL START
US OFF, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR, ANNA JOHNSON. WE WILL
START WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES UPDATE FOR OUR
PRIORITIES AND WE WILL ALSO GIVE
YOU SOME ISSUE BASED UPDATES OF
BILLS THAT HAVE CLEARED THE
FLOOR AND ARE ON THE WAY TO THE
NEXT CHAMBER. AND THEN A LITTLE
BIT OF A PREVIEW OF WHAT'S TO
EXPECT AFTER WEDNESDAY'S CUTOFF
DEADLINE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE
HEARINGS ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
OF THIS WEEK. THIS LIST SHOULD
LOOK FAMILIAR FROM LAST WEEK. I
WILL HIGHLIGHT THE BILLS THAT
HAVE HAD ACTION OR ARE READY FOR
FLOOR ACTION. LAST WEEK WE SAW
SENATE BILL 5098 DEALING WITH
WEAPONS IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS
PASSED THE SENATE 28-21. WE ALSO
SEE THAT SENATE BILL 5060 AND
HOUSE BILL 2016 DEAL WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY AND ARE ON THE FLOOR
READY FOR ACTION, ONE IN THE
SENATE, ONE IN THE HOUSE. WE SAW
THAT HOUSE BILL 1423 VEHICLE
NOISE CAMERAS PASSED THE HOUSE
57-40. ALSO ON THE LIST YOU CAN
SEE TWO OF OUR PRIORITY BILLS
ARE ARE SCHEDULED FOR HEARINGS
IN THE SENATE ON THURSDAY. THAT
WOULD BE HOUSE BILL 1112 RELATED
TO PRO TEM JUDGES AND SENATE
BILL 5595 RELATED TO SHARED
STREETS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. YOU WILL SEE
HOUSE BILL 1515, UPDATING
OUTDOOR SALE CENTER AND ALCOHOL
REGULATIONS PASSED THE HOUSE
THIS PAST WEEK BY A VOTE OF
83-13. AND THEN ALSO HOUSE BILL
1774, THE UNUSED HIGHWAY LAND
PASSED AS WELL. TWO BILLS
RELATED TO CONDO DEVELOPMENT,
CONDO REFORM, 1402 AND 1516 ARE
ON THE FLOOR AND AWAITING
ACTION. I SHOULD POINT OUT HOUSE
BILL 1733 RELATED TO THE
ROLOCATION EXPENSES FOR
BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY AGENCY
DISPLACEMENT IN HOUSE RULES HAS
UNTIL WEDNESDAY TO MOVE OFF THE
FLOOR.
>> LAST WEEK, WE ALSO SAW OUR
BIG RECYCLING REFORM BILL PASS
THE SENATE, 27-22. SENATE BILL
52-84. THE SENATE T LIGHT BILL
RELATED TO POWER GENERATION,
BATTERY STORAGE TRANSMISSION,
THIS IS HOUSE BILL 1253 IS
SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING IN THE
SENATE ON FRIDAY. THE CLEAN
FUELS PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS BILL
IS ON THE FLOOR CALENDAR, READY
FOR FLOOR ACTION. A CHILD CARE
CITING BILL, SENATE BILL 5509
PASSED THE SENATE, 42-7. TWO
OTHER CHILD CARE AND EARLY
LEARNING RELATED BILLS PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY THIS PAST WEEK.
HOUSE BILL 1314 RELATED TO THE
EARLY LEARNING FACILITIES GRANT
AND LOAN PROGRAM AS WELL AS 1648
RELATED TO IMPROVEMENTS TO CHILD
CARE PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS
CLEARED THIS CHECKPOINT HERE.
THEN ONE OF OUR K-12 FUNDING
PRIORITIES HAS PASSED SO FAR.
SENATE BILL 5192 PASSED THE
SENATE 47-2. I WILL TALK MORE
ABOUT IT LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION.
>> A RECAP OF SOME OTHER BILLS
THAT HAD ACTION THIS PAST WEEK,
HOUSE BILL 1791 CREATES OR DEALS
WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REAL
ESTATE EXCISE TAX AND MAKES
COVID ERA FLEXIBILITIES FOR HOW
THE FUNDING CAN BE USED FOR CITY
GOVERNMENT. THE CITY HAS BEEN
PRO ON THE BILL AND THE BILL
MOVED OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR.
>> A FEW MORE CLIMATE AND
ENVIRONMENT BUILDS HAVE MADE
THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE AND
SENATE T. HOUSE BILL 1483, THIS
IS KNOWN AS THE RIGHT TO REPAIR
BILL. THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A
FEW SESSIONS. THIS ESTABLISHES
THAT MANUFACTURERS OF DIGITAL
ELECTRONICS NEED TO MAKE
AVAILABLE INDEPENDENT REPAIR
SHOPS AND PRODUCTS IN ORDER TO
HAVE THOSE DEVICES BE ABLE TO
STAY IN THE LIFE CYCLE AND NOT
GO TO THE WEIGH STREAM. THIS ONE
PASSED NEARLY UNANIMOUSLY. I
THINK IT WAS 96-1 OFF OF THE
HOUSE FLOOR. ALSO, HOUSE BILL
1497, THIS DEALS WITH IMPROVING
OUR ORGANICS WASTE SYSTEM. WE
WERE PRO ON THIS SYSTEM AS WELL
AS PRO ON THE RIGHT TO REPAIR
BILL. AND THEN SENATE BILL 5627,
THIS IS KNOWN AS SAFE EXCAVATION
LAW. THEY HAD CONCERN WITH LAW
WITH THIS BILL BUT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE SPONSOR AND
COALITION TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS
FOR THE SENATE FLOOR. WE ARE
HAPPY TO SAY THE AMENDMENTS WERE
ADOPTED AND IT IS GOING TO THE
HOUSE NOW WITH A FEW MINOR
CONCERNS AND WE WILL STAY
ENGAGED AND MONITOR THAT BILL.
>> BILL 1096 DEALING WITH LOT
SPLITTING PASSED THE HOUSE THIS
PAST WEEK. ALSO HOUSE BILL 1696
WHICH UPDATES THE CODE OWNERSHIP
PROGRAM TO INCREASE AMI FOR.
HOUSE BILL 53 IS AN OPTIONAL
PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS SELF
CERTIFICATION FOR CITIES TO OPT
IN TO SELF CERTIFY ADUs AND THAT
BILL PASSED AS WELL. 1491 WHICH
I BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST WHICH
CREATES NEW DENSITY REQUIREMENTS
FOR TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PASSED
THE SENATE. 1621 RELATED TO
HOUSING, COMMISSIONERS ALLOWING
KING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT TO
APPOINT HOUSING COMMISSIONERS TO
HELP WITH THE BACK LOG AND THE
CITY HAS BEEN PRO ON THE BILL
AND THE BILL HAS MOVED FROM THE
HOUSE TO THE SENATE. THE LABOR
AND COMMERCE BILL NOW, 5104
PROTECTS EMPLOYEES FROM COERCION
IN THE WORK PLACE BASED ON
IMMIGRATION STATUS. THIS
ESSENTIALLY IS PREVENT TING
SITUATIONS IN WHICH A PERSON'S
IMMIGRATION STATUS IS NOT BEING
USED AS LEVERAGE BY AN EMPLOYER
TO CREATE, ESESSENTIALLY WORSE
LABOR WORK PLACE CONDITIONS OR
WAGE ISSUES. THAT BILL IS MOVING
PAST THE SENATE T. AND THEN
ANOTHER IMMIGRATION RELATED
BILL, HOUSE BILL 18 # 75 ALLOWS
THE USE OF PAID SICK LEAVE TO
PREPARE FOR AND PARTICIPATE IN
CERTAIN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS
PASSED THE HOUSE. SENATE BILL
5023 RELATES TO LABOR MARKET
PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS. THE CITY IS PRO FOR THE
MOST PART AND REFLECTS CITY
MODEL, MODELED AFTER A SIMILAR
CITY ORDINANCE. SENATE BILL
5101, STANDARD ACCESS TO LEAVE
ACCOMMODATIONS TO INCLUDE
WORKERS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF HATE
CRIMES OR BIAS INCIDENTS. THE
CITY IS PRO ON THAT BILL AS WELL
AND IT MOVED OFF THE SENATE
FLOOR. THIS PAST WEEK, THE
SENATE ALSO PASSED A BILL THAT
EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
BENEFITS FOR STRIKING FOR
LOCKOUT WORKERS.
>> SOME PUBLIC SAFETY AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS THAT HAVE
HAD ACTION OVER THE LAST WEEK
WAS HOUSE BILL 1163. THIS BILL
IS THE PERMIT TO PURCHASE A
FIREARM BILL. THIS CREATES
ENHANCED REQUIREMENTS TO
PURCHASE OR POSSESS A FIREARM BY
CREATING A PERMIT TO PURCHASE
AND CREATING STANDARDS FOR
TRAINING PROTOCOLS WHEN WE ISSUE
THE LICENSE FOR CONCEALED PISTOL
AND CREATES SOME RECORD KEEPING
FOR THE STATE AND REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
THE LICENSES. ALSO, SENATE BILL
5268 PASSED THE SENATE. THIS
BILL CREATES A REQUIREMENT FOR
12 MONTHS OF COMMUNITY CUSTODY
FOR CONVICTIONS OF UNLAWFUL
POSSESSION OF A FIREARM. OVER
THE WEEKEND, HOUSE BILL 1113,
WHICH CREATES A MISDEMEANOR
DIVERSION PROGRAM OPTION FOR
CERTAIN MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES
PASSED THE HOUSE BY A SLIM
MARGIN AND THERE WAS A NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR SO THE
CITY WILL BE REVIEWING THIS
BILL. AND THEN FINALLY, IN TERMS
OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND
EDUCATION, SENATE BILL 5192,
THIS BILL WE HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTING ALONG THE WAY. IT
DEALS WITH MATERIALS,
OPERATIONAL COSTS AND SUPPLIES.
THE ACRONYM THAT IS DESCRIBED AS
MSOC. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A BILL
THAT HELPS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
BE ABLE TO USE STATE FUNDING
MORE FLEXIBLY AND BE ABLE TO
DIRECT IT TOWARDS WHATEVER IS
THE NEED OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
AT THAT TIME. IT MAKES FLEXIBLE
THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THEY
RECEIVE BASED ON ENROLLMENT.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF TIMES
WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN A
CHALLENGING POSITION WITH THE
BUDGET, BECAUSE OF STUDENT
ENROLLMENT, WHAT THE STATE IS
ALLOWING IS AVERAGING OUT THE
CALCULATIONS OF MSOC FUNDING
THEY RECEIVE OVER A THREE YEAR
PERIOD IN CASE THERE IS CHANGES
IN THE CITY ENROLLMENT. THE CITY
IS PRO ON THAT AS WELL AS
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> TRANSPORTATION HOUSE BILL
1923 INCREASES AVAILABILITY OF
PASSENGER ONLY FERRIES BY
ESTABLISHING THE MOSQUITO FLEET
ACT. THAT PASSED OFF OF THE
HOUSE FLOOR AND ONTO THE SENATE.
THIS WEEK HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUTOFF
IS ON WEDNESDAY. THE BILLS HAVE
UNTIL WEDNESDAY TO LEAVE THEIR
RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS AND THEN
BILL HEARINGS IN THE OPPOSITE
CHAMBERS WILL START ON THURSDAY.
YOU WILL HEAR TWO OF THE BILLS
BEING HEARD ON THURSDAY, PRO TEM
JUDGES AND SHARED STREETS.
FRIDAY WE HAVE THE JOINT USE
AGREEMENTS BILL BEING HEARD
THAT'S OUR PRESENTATION. HAPPY
TO ANSWER XAE QUESTIONS.
>> DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT, I
DON'T HAVE A QUESTION BUT I
WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR HASHEMI
AND ANNA AND SAMIR FOR ALL OF
THEIR HARD WORK IN OLYMPIA. I
KNOW IT IS FAST AND FURIOUS. I
KNOW IT IS A LOT OF HARD WORK
THAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN. I WANT
TO THANK YOU DIRECTOR HASHEMI
FOR THE CONVERSATION WE HAD A
COUPLE OF WEEKS ON WHAT IS GOING
ON IN THE OTHER LEGISLATURE ON
THE EAST COAST AND I WANT TO SAY
THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
HONORING MY REQUEST TO HAVE A
WEEKLY CALL WHERE WE CAN, OUR
STAFFS CAN GET INFORMED, YOU
KNOW WEEKLY ON WHAT IS GOING ON.
IT IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN
STAY UP TO DATE, UP TO THE
MINUTE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN
D.C.I ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOUR
STAFF HAS NOT PARTICIPATED TO DO
SO. DIRECTOR MASH HASHEMI IS
WORKING WITH THE PERSON WHO IS
TRACKING THE WORK, ANNIE, MAYOR,
THE FEDERAL LOBBYISTS. I THINK
YOU KNOW WE, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, HIRES FEDERAL LOBBYISTS
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. WE HAVE
ALWAYS HAD ONE AND THEY ARE
WORKING REALLY HARD NOW WITH
EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING. IT
IS THE BEST WAY YOU CAN GET YOUR
ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND
ALSO GET THE INFORMATION BY
WHICH YOU CAN MAKE DECISIONS. SO
REALLY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP. THERE IS A LOT
GOING ON IN OLYMPIA AND YOU ARE
DOING THE FEDERAL AS WELL. SO I
CAN'T THANYOU ENOUGH. AND LLEAG
HAVE YOUR STAFF PARTICIPATE ON
THE CALL IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY,
SO THANK YOU.
>> I'LL SECOND THAT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER.
>> I WILL SAY TLAUNG AND SAY IT
IS GOOD, TIMELY INFORMATION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINK?
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO ECHO THE
APPRECIATION MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
VOICED FOR THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING NOW IN OLYMPIA AND
MONITORING THE FEDERAL WORK,
THANK YOU. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP
BECAUSE MY OFFICE WAS SPENDING
SOME TIME REVIEWING AND BETTER
UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS OF
THE ALL CUTS BUDGE THAT HAS BEEN
MADE PUBLIC. $3.5 BILLION TABEN
OUT OF HEALTHCARE, $1.3 BILLION
OUT OF EARLY LEARNING, 1 .3 OUT
OF HIGHER EDUCATION, $365
MILLION OUT OF BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH, $376 MILLION OUT OF
CORRECTIONS. AND SO REALLY
DEVASTATING CUTS THAT OUR STATE
COULD BE FACING. SO IN LIGHT OF
THAT, AND LOOKING AT I KNOW
FINANCE COMMITTEE IN THE STATE
WAS CANCELED FOR THIS WEEK. WHAT
ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT UPCOMING
REVENUE PROPOSALS? WHEN CAN WE
EXPECT TO HEAR MORE DISCUSSIONS
IN OLYMPIA ON HOW TO SOLVE THE
BUDGET T DEFICIT THAT THE STATE
IS EXPERIENCING?
>> I WILL KICK US OFF AND THEN
TURN IT OVER TO SAMIR WHO HAS
BEEN MORE CLOSELY TRACKING THE
CONVERSATION IN OLYMPIA. I THINK
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE FOCUS
ON THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUTOFF,
WE HAVEN'T HEARD A TON OF
CHATTER OR SEEN ANY POLICIES
DIRECTLY RELATED TO REVENUE I
THINK IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO
SINCE WE LAST UPDATED YOU. IN
REGARDS TO THE BUDGET AND ALL
CUTS BUDGET, WE ARE TAKING A
LOOK AT THAT AND LOOKING THROUGH
THE PROPOSED CUTS AND WORKING
WITH OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES TO TRY TO ASSESS THE
IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE
CITIES OPERATIONS. SAMIR, WHAT
WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT?
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THE
NEXT DATE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
WOULD BE MARCH 20 WHICH IS WHEN
THE REVENUE FORECAST WILL COME
OUT FOR THE STATE. THAT WILL --
THAT'S INFORMATION THEY WILL
USE TO WRITE THE BUDGET. THAT'S
THE NEXT MILE STONE. WE WILL SEE
THE BUDGETS SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM WRITERS THAT
THE BILL WILL BE ALL CUTS BUDGET
T AND SOME REVENUE THERE BUT HOW
MUCH REVENUE AND HOW MUCH CUTS
IS STILL IN THE AIR. WE WILL
KNOW MORE WHEN THE REVENUE
FORECAST COMES OUT.
>> THANK YOU. WE WANT TO STAY
APPRISED. COLLEAGUES IF YOU HAVE
NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT WHAT
IS ON THE LINE, THERE ARE
CRITICAL SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS
DEPEND ON SO WE WANT TO LEND OUR
VOICE TO OLYMPIA WHERE AND WHEN
APPROPRIATE, SO THANK YOU.
>> MORE TO COME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, I TOO FIRST OFF
WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION
TO THE OIR TEAM, DIRECTOR
HASHEMI, ANNA, SAMIR FOR YOUR
SAGE ADVICE AND KEEPING TRACK OF
ALL OF THE THINGS. NOW IS AN
IMPORTANT TIME FOR OUR CITY.
JUST WANTED TO SAY SHOUTOUT,
KUDOS, APPRECIATE IT, KEEP IT
UP. WE NEED YOU. YOU ARE DOING A
GREAT JOB. MY QUESTION PERTAINS
TO HOUSE BILL 1423, THE VEHICLE
NOISE ENFORCEMENT CAMERA
LEGISLATION. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW
IT PASSED THE HOUSE. AND
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU RECALL,
BECAUSE WE ALL SIGNED A LETTER,
I ORGANIZED A LETTER AND WE ALL
SIGNED IT AND SO DID THE MAYOR
IN SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT
PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO ENABLE
ULTIMATELY THE CITY TO HAVE
ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOL KIT TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEM,
NOISE AREAS THAT IMPACT ALL OF
THE DISTRICTS, MY DISTRICT FOR
EXAMPLE, ET CETERA. BUT IT
PASSED THE HOUSE. I PERSONALLY
TESTIFIED IN THE SENATE VERSION
BUT CURIOUS TO UNDERSTAND NEXT
STEPS. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT BILL
IN THE SENATE? AND WHAT IS THE
HARMONIZATION PROCESS,
RECONCILIATION PROCESS ON A
GOING FORWARD BASIS FOR THIS
SPECIFIC BILL?
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR THAT
QUESTION. SO WHAT WE WILL SEE
NEXT IS THE VERSION THAT PASSED
OFF OF THE HOUSE FLOOR GO TO THE
SENATE, LIKELY THE SENATE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WHICH
LIKE YOU SAID HAD HEARD A VERY
SIMILAR VERSION OF THE BILL IN
THE FIRST HALF OF THE SESSION.
SO IT WILL BE THEIR CHOICE. THEY
WILL LIKELY HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING AGAIN. IT WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE SUPPORT. IT
MIGHT BE MORE BRIEF THAN THE
HEARING THEY HAD IN THE FIRST
HALF OF THE SESSION, AND THEN
HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK THROUGH
THE CHALLENGES THAT THE
COMMITTEE MIGHT HAVE HAD BECAUSE
THE HOUSE VERSION WAS ULTIMATELY
THE VEHICLE, PUN INTENDED OF THE
SESSION FOR THAT BILL. SO WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
CHAMBER IS STILL EXCITED. WE
WILL ACROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE
GET THERE. THE NEXT STEP IS JUST
PUBLIC HEARING AND THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
>> IN THE SENATE?
>> IN THE SENATE, CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND ANNA, I PICKED UP ON YOUR
PUN INTENDED, I APPRECIATE THAT.
GOT TO GIVE YOU A SHOUTOUT WHEN
IT IS DUE. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP
BASED ON A COUPLE OF POINTS MADE
ON THE DIS AND A NUMBER OF
MEETINGS THAT I HAVE HAD. HERE
WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE STATE SIDE
AND WITH THE BILLS AND SO FORTH
AND AS NOTED WITH THE BUDGET
CHALLENGES FACING THE STATE, AND
WE ALSO, WITH COUNCILMEMBER
RINK'S QUESTION AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S POINT
REGARDING THE FEDERAL SIDE, I
WILL TELL YOU TOO, THE COUNTY,
AND I KNOW THIS MAY BE FINANCE
AND SELECT BUDGETS SO NOT TO
JUMP IN ON THAT AREA BUT ALL
THREE LEVELS ARE PROBLEMATIC.
IT'S OF CONCERN TO ME. I'M NOT
SURE THAT MAY BE MORE OF A
COMMITTEE MEETING BUT I JUST
WANT TO RAISE IT FOR EVERYONE'S
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS BECAUSE IT
IS COMING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN
THE MEETINGS WE ARE HAVING. WE
SHOULDN'T JUST FOCUS ON THE
STATE BUDGET CHALLENGES OR WHAT
THE FEDERAL MAY OR MAY NOT DO
FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. THERE IS
THE COUNTY PIECE AS WELL. JUST
FOR GENERAL AWARENESS, THANK
YOU.
>> AND THAT WAS -- THANK YOU FOR
NOTING THAT. THAT WAS NOTED AT
THE LAST KCHR MEETING THAT THE
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS GUV
OVERNING BOARD, JUST A QUICK
TOUCH ON THAT.ANYONE ELSE LIKE
TO MAKE COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
SO KEEP US IN MIND IF YOU NEED
RAPID RESPONSE FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF
SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOTED THEY
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
TESTIFYING ABOUT OR WRITING IN
ON. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> OKAY. SO WE WILL NOW MOVE TO
THE PART OF OUR MEETING WHERE WE
GO THROUGH THE -- I'M TRYING TO
FIND MY -- EXCUSE ME. I'M
LOOKING FOR THE ROLL CALL ORDER.
OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE
ROUND ROBIN SECTION OF THE
MEETING AND TODAY'S ROLL CALL
STARTS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SULLIVAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. JUST TO GIVE
AN UPDATE, ON THE WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 24, I WAS TEACHING A
BASIC CRIME PREVENTION COURSE ON
BEHALF OF THE PRIME PREVENTION
ASSOCIATION. THE ASSOCIATION
PROVIDES TRAINING FOR PEOPLE
GETTING INTO THE FIELD OF CRIME
PREVENTION COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I WAS TEACHING THE NUTS AND
BOLTS OF HOW TO DO THAT WORK. WE
ALSO HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM
JURISDICTIONS IN OREGON WHO CAME
TO TAKE THAT TRAINING. LAST
WEEK, I WAS PARTICIPATING IN A
BOARD RETREAT FOR THE STATE
CRIME PREVENTION ASSOCIATION TO
AGAIN CRAFT THE COURSE FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE YEAR AS TO
WHERE THE TRAININGS ARE GOING,
THE PROVIDING AND OTHER CRIME
PREVENTION ASSOCIATIONS AROUND
THE COUNTRY. THAT IS WORK I HAVE
BEEN DOING FOR A WHILE AND I
FIND IT VERY REWARDING TO
PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS WHO
ARE DOING SIMILAR WORK AROUND
THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS CANADA
AND INTERNATIONALLY. THIS PAST
SATURDAY, I WAS AT A SPECIAL
MEETING AT THE BEACON HILL
COUNCIL. IT WAS A HYBRID MEETING
WHERE IT WAS LIKE COME MEET YOUR
COUNCILMEMBER. HAD A GOOD TIME
THERE, SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS,
FIELDED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND
RESPONDED TO A LOT OF CONCERNS.
HEARING A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY, AIR NOISE
POLLUTION, TREE CANOPY, HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY, ALL OF THE ISSUES
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LAND
USAGE, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ISSUES. WE HAVE DONE FOLLOW UPS
ON SPECIFIC POINTS THAT WERE
BROUGHT UP. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK ON THE ISSUES AS FOLKS
BRING THOSE ISSUES FORWARD. IN
TERMS OF WHAT I HAVE COMING UP
THIS WEEK, I WILL BE MEETING
WITH THE DENISE LOUIE
EDUCATIONAL CENTER ON BEACON
HILL. I THINK THEY WANT TO
CONNECT REGARDING THE FAMILY
EDUCATION LEVY. FOLLOWING THAT,
I WILL GO TO THE REST PRECINCT
TO MEET WITH THE WEST PRECINCT
COMMAND STAFF TO TALK ABOUT THE
LITTLE SAIGON AREA, WHAT THEY
GOT GOING ON AND WHAT SUPPORTS
DO THEY NEED. IN ADDITION TO
TALKING WITH CAPTAIN BROWN AND
LIEUTENANT CORILO, I WILL BE
MEETING WITH MONICA LEE. AT THE
SAME TIME, I'M CIRCLING BACK
WITH FOLKS FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON, SKIPPED DIBA, AND SEEING
HOW WE CAN BRING FOLKS TOGETHER
IN PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS WHAT
IS GOING ON THERE INCLUDING
PARTNERS WITH LEAD AND REACH TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS BUT
THE HUMAN SUFFERING OCCURRING IN
THAT AREA. FOR OUR LAND USE
COMMITTEE COMING UP, WE HAVE A
MEETING NEXT MONDAY ON THE 17th
AT 9:30. LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF
APPOINTMENTS AND VOTES REGARDING
THE FORESTRY COMMISSION. THERE
ARE AN ADDITION AL AL FIVE
APPLICANTS THAT NEED TO BE VOTED
ON. WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THAT ON
APRIL 2. WE ARE LOOKING AT
APPLICATIONS FOR THE MAJOR
INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN FOR UW
MEDICAL CENTER ON NORTHWEST
CAMPUS. WE WILL BE BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSING THE BUILDING PERMIT
ORDINANCE TO EXPEDDITE HOUSING
CONSTRUCTION. WE WILL ALSO BE
DISCUSSING THE GROUND FLOOR USE
ORDINANCE FOR SOME DOWNTOWN
AREAS TO EXPAND THE OPTIONS FOR
WHAT CAN BE IN THOSE SPACES, SO
THAT WE DON'T JUST HAVE EMPTY
STORE FRONTS BUT SOME KIND OF
ACTIVATION IN THERE. WE ARE
LOOKING TO SET UP OFFICE HOURS
THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT FOR THE
NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS SO THAT WE
CAN PUT THE INFORMATION OUT
THERE, SO THAT THE FOLKS IN D2
HAVE AMPLE NOTICE ABOUT DATE,
TIME AND LOCATION. THAT'S ALL I
HAVE AT THIS POINT.
>> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE FOUR
BILLS. IS IT IN YOUR LAND USE
COMMITTEE, HOW MANY DID YOU SAY
YOU WILL BE DISCUSSING?
>> WE WILL BE DISCUSSING , TWO
BILLS WILL BE DISCUSSED AND ONE
BILL FOR A POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO NOTE
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON CRIME
PREVENTION. I HAVE PEOPLE ASK IF
ORDINARY RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS
THAT INFORMATION OR WHAT DOES
ONE DO IN ORDER TO GET THAT
TRAINING FOR A RESIDENT.
>> FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED
IN THE CRIME PREVENTION
ASSOCIATION OR FINDING OUT WHAT
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM,
IT IS VERY EASY TO JUST GO TO
THE WSPCA WEBSITE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STROUSE?
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, LITERALLY TEACHING THE
CLASS ON HOW TO DO THIS, THAT'S
WHY WE ARE BENEFITTING FROM YOUR
EXPERTISE HERE. COLLEAGUE
FINANCE, NATIVE COMMUNITIES/BUDG
ET COMMITTEES IS THE REPORT. AT
THE SELECT BUDGET MEET LAST
WEEK, WE PASSED THE LEGISLATION
SPONSORED TO LIFT THE PROVIZO ON
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY. THIS
WILL COME TO A FINAL VOTE AT
COUNCIL TOMORROW. THANK YOU FOR
THE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES AS
WELL AS GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY TO
MAKE SURE THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCE OF DELAY DID NOT
OCCUR. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA FOR YOUR WORK AND
PARTNERSHIP IN ALL OF THIS. AS
WELL, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR
SENDING MY OFFICE QUESTIONS FOR
INTERIM DIRECTOR KIERSTON GROVES
AS PERMANENT DIRECTOR OF
ADMINUTE STRATIVE FINANCES AND
SERVICES. QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN
SENT TO HER AND WE EXPECT
RESPONSES THIS FRIDAY. GROVE
WILL ATTEND THE MARCH 19th
MEETING FOR A FULL Q AND A AS
WELL AS VOTE. SO IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, IF YOU WANT ANSWERS,
THAT'S THE MEETING TO COME TO.
IN EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, SEATTLE
CITY EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT
SYSTEMS, WE HAVE A BOARD
ADMINISTRATION MEETING THIS
THURSDAY. WE WILL BE RECEIVING
INVESTMENT REPORTS, AN UPDATE ON
THEIR SEARCH FOR A NEW OFFICE
SPACE. THEIR OFFICE IS IN A
BUILDING THAT IS NO LONGER
MEETING THEIR NEEDS AND THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR A LESS EXPENSIVE
WITH HIGHER QUALITY OPTION. AS
WELL, WE WILL BE GETTING AN
UPDATE ABOUT THE 2025 TRUSTEE
ELECTIONS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR SENDING OUT THE AWC
BUDGET TRACKER. THERE IS ALSO A
WEEKLY BUDGET OR LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE MEETING EVERY FRIDAY AT
NOON THAT ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE
IN AS A MEMBER OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON CITY.
IF YOU WANT THAT LOG IN INFO,
CONTACT MY OFFICE OR
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S OFFICE
AND WE WILL SET YOU UP. IT IS
VERY INFORMATIVE. MUCH LIKE WHAT
WE RECEIVE ON MONDAYS, JUST ON
FRIDAYS. IN SOUND TRANSIT, THE
CEO SEARCH CONTINUES. THIS WEEK
THE GRAHAM STREET AND BOEING
ACCESS INFILL STATIONS WILL COME
UP. GRAHAM STREET FOR A BRIEFING
AS WELL AS BOEING FOR A SLIGHT
CHANGE IN THE STUDY THAT THEY
WILL DO. THERE IS NOT A VOTE TO
PUT THESE FORWARD INTO BUILD AT
THIS TIME. IT IS SIMPLY FOR
DESIGN AND INFORMATION. IN
DISTRICT 6I HAD OFFICE HOURS
LAST WEEK. I HAVE OFFICE HOURS
THIS WEEK WITH RESIDENTS. AND
THIS LAST WEEKEND ALONG WITH
PORT COMMISSION PRESIDENT AND
KING COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER JORGE
BARON. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BLESS THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHING
FLEET BEFORE THEY HEAD OUT TO
SEA. COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO SPEAK
TO SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAS
HAPPENED THIS WEEK. I WAS
TROUBLED TO LEARN I WAS REMOVED
AS A VICE CHAIR OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE. I
WAS TROUBLED LESS ABOUT THE
DECISION BUT MORE SO ABOUT THE
PROCESS. AS IIC MENTIONED LAST
MONTH, CHANGES TO ROLES WITHIN A
BIENNIAL IS UNUSUAL. AND MORE
UNUSUAL TWICE IN TWO MONTHS.
WHAT WAS TROUBLING WAS LES ABOUT
THE DECISION BUT THE PROCESS.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS
DOING A FANTISTIC JOB AND I HAVE
BEEN HONORED TO HELP AND SUPPORT
HER IN ANY WAY I CAN. NOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON HAS BEEN
NAMED VICE CHAIR, I STAND READY
TO SUPPORT HIM. I DO THINK IT IS
NECESSARY TO FLAG THAT REMOVING
THE VICE CHAIR FROM THE
COMMITTEE IS NOT A NORMAL USE OF
COUNCIL PRESIDENCY. THIS WAS
TROUBLING BECAUSE THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT DID NOT SPEAK TO ME
DIRECTLY. SHE DIRECTLY INFORMED
MY STAFF AS I WAS RETURNING FROM
THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK. THIS IS A TYPE OF DECISION
I WOULD HAVE HOPED TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION ABOUT AND AT A
MINIMUM TO HAVE A DIRECT
COUNCILMEMBER TO COUNCILMEMBER
CONVERSATION RATHER THAN OUR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT INFORMING MY
STAFF. THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
COULD HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION
BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION,
WALKED ME THROUGH THE DECISION
AND HOW SHE CAME TO THE
CONCLUSION BUT UNFORTUNATELY
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AS YOU
KNOW, I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT
ABOUT LETTING THE RECORD REFLECT
WHEN A COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS
EXERCISED HER POWERS IN WAYS
THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE NORMS OF
THE PRESIDENCY. THIS IS NOT TO
AGREE OR DISAGREE TO THE FACTORS
LEADING TO THE DECISION BUT LET
THE RECORD REFLECT THE CHANGES
AS WE HAVE RECENTLY NEW MEMBERS.
I WAS SURPRISED BY THE DECISION
AND I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE
FURTHER DRAMA BUT I THINK IT IS
NECESSARY TO POINT IT OUT FOR
THE HEALTH OF THE INSTITUTION
AND FOR THE RECORD TO REFLECT.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT FROM LAST
WEEK. I THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING
THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST
WEDNESDAY. WE WERE ABLE TO PASS
LEGISLATION WHICH WILL COME TO
FULL COUNCIL TOMORROW. AS YOU
KNOW, LIFTING THE RESTRICTIONS
ON THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
FUNDING. WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW
IS THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
LAST WEEK ALMOST NEVER HAPPENED.
SINCE JANUARY AND REPEATEDLY
THROUGH FEBRUARY, I REQUESTED TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO ALLOW US TO
CONVENE THE MEETING OF THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE. ON
FEBRUARY 23rd, THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NOTIFIED ME THAT SHE
WOULD NOT ALLOW THE COMMITTEE TO
MEET. IF THE DISCUSSION STOOD,
IT WOULD HAVE DELAYED THE
LEGISLATION BY AT LEAST A MONTH.
THAT COULD HAVE DELAYED FUNDING
FOR TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
PROJECTS ACROSS THE EFFECTS
OF THIS DECISION BUT STILL WOULD
NOT ALLOW THE COMMITTEE TO MEET.
THAT DECISION COULD HAVE CREATED
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF
DELAY IN DELIVERING THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY.
UNFORTUNATELY, JUST MINUTES
AFTER THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE ENDED AND BEFORE I
COULD REACH MY OFFICE, OUR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WENT INTO MY
OFFICE AND TOLD MY STAFF SHE
WOULD REMOVE ME AS THE CHAIR ON
THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMITTEE
PLAN. I FEEL THE NEED TO
DAYLIGHT THIS. I DON'T WANT TO
STIR THE POT BUT I THINK THIS
AFFECTS THE HEALTH OF THE
INSTITUTION. I CAN'T HELP BUT
WONDER THE DISAGREEMENT LAST
WEEK ON WHETHER OR NOT COMMITTEE
WOULD MEET WAS CONNECTED TO ME
BEING REMOVED FROM THE VICE
CHAIR OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
COMMITTEE. ULTIMATELY, REMOVINGS
AS VICE CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE
WON'T CHANGE MUCH. I HAVE FAITH
IN HOLLINGSWORTH AND I AM HERE
TO SERVE YOU BOTH. I HAVE
CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH OF THE
INSTITUTION IN WHAT IS BECOMING
A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR. WHAT I'M
CONCERNED IS THAT THE JUNE AND
JULY SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEES
HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED. THIS
LACK OF PREDICTABILITY AFTER
LAST WEEK'S EVENTS MAKES
PLANNING OUR BUDGET
ACCOUNTABILITY AND REFORM WORK
MORE DIFFICULT. WE HAVE MADE BIG
REFORMS TO THE BUDGET LAST YEAR,
THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO
MAINTAIN IMPORTANT
ACCOUNTABILITY WORK. WITH THE
ECONOMY IN FLUX AT THE MOMENT,
IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES TO THE
REVENUE FORECAST OR GRANT
FUNDING, OUR WORK WILL BECOME
MORE URGENT. I'M EAGER TO HAVE
THE JUNE AND JULY SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO APPROVED
TO FOLLOW UP UP ON LAST YEAR AND
SETTING A COURSE FOR THIS FALL
SO THAT WE ARE AS WELL PREPARED
AS WE WERE LAST YEAR FOR THE
DIFFICULT AND IMPORTANT BUDGET
DECISIONS COMING THIS FALL.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. THAT IS
MY REPORT. HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS. SEEING NO QUESTIONS,
I WILL PASS IT TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> I DO HAVE A COMMENT. I HEAR
YOU AND I CHOOSE -- I COULD ALSO
SIT HERE AND EXPLAIN ALL OF MY
REASONS THAT I HAD EXPLAINED IN
EMAILS DIRECTLY TO YOU AND ALSO
THROUGH OUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT MY
DECISIONS AND I CHOOSE NOT TO
GET INTO A BACK AND FORTH. WE
ARE THE MOST SENIOR PEOPLE ON
THE COUNCIL. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE
TO SEE MOM AND DAD IN A SPAT. SO
A NOTE ON THE VICE CHAIR OF THE
COMP PLAN. NORMALLY THE COMP
PLAN IS CHAIRED BY THE LAND USE
CHAIR. OUR LAND USE CHAIR LEFT
HER POST EARLY. THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE COMP PLAN COMMITTEE, THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON COMP PLAN
WAS MADE IN A VOID OF SOMEONE TO
TAKE THAT PLACE. SO CLEARLY, I
REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU
STEPPING IN AND OFFERING YOUR
EXPERTISE, HAVING BEEN A PAST
CHAIR OF LAND USE. NOW THAT WE
DO HAVE A CHAIR OF LAND USE WHO
HAS HIRED A SPECIALIST IN LAND
USE AS STAFF IT ONLY SEEMED
CORRECT TO GO BACK TO THE NORM
WHICH HAS THE CHAIR OF LAND USE
IN THE LEADERSHIP POSITION. THAT
IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THERE IS OTHER LEGISLATION THAT
IS COMING DOWN FROM THE
EXECUTIVE THAT HAVE TO BE
MANAGED IN A LAND USE COMMITTEE.
IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THE
VICE CHAIR OF THE COMP PLAN ARE
ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND MAKING
SURE THAT WHEN MEETINGS ARE
SCHEDULED FOR FUTURE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETINGS THEY
DON'T INTERFERE WITH MISSION
CRITICAL OR DEADLINES THAT HAVE
TO BE MET IN LAND USE
LEGISLATION. SO HAPPY TO GO INTO
THE OTHER POINTS THAT YOU MADE
BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT THAT IS WHY I MADE
THE DECISION. IT HAS BEEN LAND
USE CHAIR AS CHAIR OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I SHOULD
HAVE MENTIONED COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH STEPPING IN AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. SORRY
THAT YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED FOR
HAVING BEEN REMOVED. IT HAD BEEN
TALKED ABOUT SORT OF IN BETWEEN
OFFICES FOR A LONG TIME. I
WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
THAT WAS THE CHANGE AS WE PUT
OUT THE NOTIFICATION FOR THE
ADDITIONAL DEBATE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PRESIDENT. CONVERSATIONS HAVE
BEEN GOING FOR SOME TIME, I
WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
CONVERSATIONS, THANK YOU.
>> THERE WAS NO EFFORT TO
EXCLUDE YOU FROM THE
CONVERSATION. YOU SIMPLY WERE
NOT IN YOUR OFFICE AFTER THE
MEETING AND WE HAD TO GET THOSE
DATES OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS KNEW WHAT THE NEXT
COMMITTEE DATE WAS FOR THE NEXT
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THE PARKS UTILITIES
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE WILL BE
WEDNESDAY MARCH 26 AT 2:00 P.M.
THE AGENDA IS STILL BEING
FORMED. SO HOLD OFF ON YOUR
EXCITEMENT. WE ARE STILL FORMING
THAT AGENDA. THE NEXT THING IS
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETING
IS GOING TO BE MARCH 19. WE SENT
OUT THOSE DATES. WE CHECKED WITH
EVERYONE'S OFFICE AND WE ALSO
SENT OUT A PRESS RELEASE
REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE APPEALS
THAT HAVE BEEN TOWARDS THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND TOWARDS
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STUDIES. PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE
THAT IS IN THE PROCESS WITH OUR
ATTORNEYS, THAT WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO PROCESS AND FOCUS ON
HOUSE BILL 1110 WHICH IS THE
CURRENT LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF
US THAT WE CAN MAKE AMENDMENTS
TO AND ACTUALLY HAS A DEADLINE
TO AS WELL COMING DOWN THE PIPE
LINE. SO THAT HAS BEEN SENT T
OUT AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, MORE THAN HAPPY TO
ANSWER THEM. LAST WEEK,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND I HAD A
MEETING WHERE WE BOTH TALKED
ABOUT THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE, JUST FLAGGING THIS,
HEADS UP. WE WILL HAVE MORE
MEETINGS ABOUT THIS. THE RATES
FOR KING COUNTY HAVE BEEN
PROPOSED TO INCREASE. THAT HAS A
DIRECT IMPLICATION TO OUR RATES
WITH OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES. THERE ARE VERY BIG
CONCERNS REGARDING THAT AND THE
MASSIVE SHORT LITTLE TIME AND
THEN ALSO THOSE PROPOSALS AS
WELL BECAUSE AFFORDABILITY IS
KEY AND RIGHT NOW, I JUST THINK
WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED IS
UNAFFORDABLE FOR FOLKS, AND HOW
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RATES.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I JUST HAVE
TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS. OBVIOUSLY, I
SUPPORT YOUR DECISION TO MAKE
THE DECISION BUT AGREE WITH THE
DECISION OR PROCESS. I WANTED
HIM THERE FOR INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE. I RESPECT THE
DECISION AND I RESPECT THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAVE WITH
EACH AND EVERY COUNCILMEMBER.
AND BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF
CERTAIN THINGS, YOU KNOW, IS
JUST CAUSES TIP TOE FOR STUFF
AND HLs, IT IS QUITE FRANKLY
UNCOMFORTABLE TO BE COMPLETELY
HONEST. I DON'T WANT T TO GET
DISTRACTED FROM THE WORK THAT WE
HAVE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT I
WOULD APPRECIATED A BETTER
PROCESS AND COMMUNICATION WITH
FOLKS JUST SO THAT IT WOULDN'T
PUT PEOPLE IN UNCOMFORTABLE
POSITIONS. I KNOW THAT IS DULY
NOTED BUT I DON'T WANT -- I
DON'T WANT T THE PROCESS TO
RUIN WHAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD. I
APPRECIATE R STRAUSS
BEING AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
AND COMMITTED TO THAT CONTINUED
WORK. ALSO APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON FOR
JUMPING IN AS VICE CHAIR, BUT IF
IT IS GOING TO CAUSE ISSUE, MORE
THAN HAPPY TO JUMP OFF AS CHAIR
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO
MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR FOLKS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT
BECAUSE I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND
CONSISTENCY WITH THE PROCESS.
ANYWAYS, I WANTED TO SAY THAT
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GO AHEAD?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PRESIDENT, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. FOR
MY UPDATE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMUNITY MEETING
TOMORROW, 11th MARCH, ALL ARE
WELCOME. IT IS FOCUSED ON CARE,
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. THAT WILL
BE TOMORROW MORNING. FOR THIS
WEEK, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A
FEW THINGS, STARTING OFF WITH
TODAY, MET WITH THE SEATTLE
HOUSING HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION, VERY INFORMATIVE
MEETING. AND THEN THE KING
COUNTY JAIL HEALTH. SO THAT WAS
AN INTERESTING MEETING WHICH I
WILL BE SHARING THE BRIEFING
FROM WITH MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I WILL BE IN TALKS WITH THEM AS
WELL POTENTIALLY BRINGING THEM
TO COMMITTEE. I THINK IT WOULD
BE QUITE INTERESTING. ALSO,
TODAY, I HAVE A MEETING WITH THE
BELLTOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL AS
PART OF THE OUT REACH WE HAVE
BEEN DOING, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
IT WAS MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY
COUNCIL, LAST WEEK QUEEN ANNE
AND TONIGHT IS BELLTOWN
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING WHICH
WILL INCLUDE WEST PRECINCT
CAPTAIN BROWN. THIS WEDNESDAY, A
MEETING WITH WITH CONDO
CONSTITUENT MEETING, SOMETHING
DIFFERENT IN MY DISTRICT. I HAVE
A LOT OF CONDOS AND APARTMENT
BUILDINGS. SO SOMETIMES WE HAVE
SPECIFIC ADDRESS MEETINGS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THURSDAY'S
MEETING ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA FOR THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION POLICY
BOARD. AND ALSO, A MEETING AS
YOU WILL KNOW, I HAVE BEEN QUITE
ENGAGED ON THINGS INTERNATIONAL
ON THE COUNCIL. AND THURSDAY, I
WILL BE MEETING THE GALWAY
DELEGATION BECAUSE A LITTLE
HEADS UP, COMING UP ON SAINT
PATRICK'S DAY WHICH IS A WEEK
FROM TODAY. AND AS SOMEONE WHO
IS A BIT IRISH, I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT. HOPEFULLY I
DON'T GET COVID LIKE I DID LAST
YEAR. THAT WILL INCLUDE THE
IRISH PROCLAMATION LUNCHEON
SPONSORED BY THE IRISH HERITAGE
CLUB ON FRIDAY, THE 54thEDITION
OF THAT. NEXT WEEK I WILL MEET
WITH PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND THE
COMPLETE COMMUNITIES COALITION,
RELATED TO THE COMP PLAN.
THURSDAY A MEETING ON
CYBERSECURITY FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS, SOMETHING IN THE LINE
OF COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON'S
WORK. AND THEN NEXT THURSDAY
WILL BE OUR D7 TOWN HALL WHICH
WILL BE HELD AT THE LIBRARY. AND
THEN FRIDAY, WORKING ON A
MEETING WITH FIFA WORLD CUP
FOLKS. I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHTALIST LAST WEEK. LAST
FRIDAY, IT WAS A JAM PACKED DAY
THAT HAD BEEN BOUNCING AROUND. I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TO EVERYONE
THAT ON FRIDAY I WAS WITH THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ALONG WITH
GOVERNOR FERGUSON AND MAYOR
HARRELL AT THE NEW LOCATION ON
SENECA. BEAUTIFULLY DONE. IF I
REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD,
114 RESIDENTS, STUDIO, SMALL ONE
BEDROOMS WHICH IS LIKE THE NEXT
STEP FOR HOUSING FOR WOMEN AND
FAMILIES WHO NEED THAT HELP AND
THAT TRANSITION BACK. SO IT WAS
A FANTASTIC EVENT. IT WAS REALLY
GOOD TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH
GOVERNOR FERGUSON. AND YOU KNOW,
AGAIN, FANTASTIC EVENT. STAY
TUNED FOR PICTURES. THEY WILL BE
IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER. I ALSO
HAD A GREAT VISIT. I'M NOT SURE
HOW MANY WENT TO THE BUMPER
SHOOT CANON BALL BUILDING. GREAT
WORK. THAT EFFORT, MUCH LIKE
BASE CAMP DOWN THE BLOCK IS
REFLECTIVE OF THE GREAT WORK WE
HAVE IN THE CITY OF INDIVIDUALS
TAKING AN EFFORT AND
TRANSFORMING THE DOWNTOWN. I
WANTED TO THANK THE BUMPER SHOOT
CANON BALL GROUP FOR ALL OF THE
WORK THEY ARE DOING IN THAT PART
OF OUR DOWNTOWN. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGS WORTH MENTIONED THE
RWQC WHICH IS SOME SERIOUS
PIECES OF THAT. I WENT TO
GEORGETOWN WEATHER TREATMENT
FACILITY WITH KING COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER VAL DUCHY AND
OTHERS. A GREAT TOUR. AND MUCH
LIKE IN OTHER AREAS, WE DO HAVE
SOME CHALLENGES COMING BEFORE US
IN TERMS OF RATES AND BUDGETS
AND THE LIKE. KEEPING TO KING
COUNTY THEME GOING, I MET WITH
KING COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER JORGE
BARON WHO IS MY COUNTERPART
COMMITTEE CHAIR ON THE ISSUES WE
ARE FACING. I HAVE NOT HAD A
CHANCE TO DEBRIEF COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
FINALLY, I WANTED TO NOTE THAT
TODAY WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE
WITH MAYOR HARRELL, MYSELF AND A
NUMBER OF GROUPS IN SUPPORT OF
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
LEVY RENEWAL. THAT WAS KICKED
OFF TODAY WITH MAYOR HARRELL.
THAT WILL BE COMING INTO
COMMITTEE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
COMMITTEE WITH AN EYE, MORE THAN
AN EYE TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT.
IT SHOULD BE ON THE AWARD
WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL. THAT'S
ALL FROM ME. ANY QUESTIONS,
PENDING QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE,
NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE A HOUSING
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ON
THIS WEDNESDAY BUT THAT IS GOING
TO BE CANCELED BECAUSE THE
MOMENT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS.
SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED
NOTIFICATION OF THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU WILL
NOT HAVE A COMMITTEE AS AN HONOR
MEMBER. ANYWAY. THIS WEEK, I'M
SCHEDULED TO ATTEND THE REGIONAL
POLICY COMMITTEE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RINK. I THINK THIS
MEETING WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
THE KING COUNTY PARKS LEVY. SHE
AND I HAVE MET TO COORDINATE OUR
POSITION AS A SEATTLE
REPRESENTATIVE. SO FAR IT IS
LOOKING REALLY POSITIVE IN TERMS
OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR
PARKS MONEY WITH THE CITY OF
WOODLAND PARK AND THE
WATERFRONT. WE WILL MAKE SURE
THAT SEATTLE IS WELL REPRESENTED
IN THE LEVY. WE ALSO WILL BE
ATTENDING THE AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES COUNCIL ON
FRIDAY. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT I
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND
THE WAR OF COMMONS FUNDRAISER ON
SATURDAY. IT WAS VERY WELL
ATTENDED BY COUNCILMEMBERS,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WAS THERE,
COUNCILMEMBER RINK WAS THERE AND
MY FABULOUS PREDECESSOR DEBORA
JUAREZ WAS THERE, JUST A
FANTASTIC ORGANIZATION. IT
PROVIDE A PLACE OF BELONGING FOR
SOMANY WHO ARE ON THE STREETS
AND STRUGGLING TO FIND THEIR WAY
FORWARD. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. I
WAS HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE
THEREPLERLY WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
THAT'S IT, SHORT AND SWEET.
I'LL PASS IT ON, THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINK?
>> THANK YOU. STARTING OFF FIRST
WITH OUR COMMITTEE, THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF CITY LIGHT AND
ARTS CULTURAL COMMITTEE, WE WILL
BE MEETING ON THE 21st AND WILL
BE RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE
OFFICE SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT ON THE RECENT
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FOR THE
CITY. IT WILL BE AN EXCITING
BRIEFING IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A
CHANCE TO CHECK OUT THE REPORT
EMAILED TO US, I WOULD ENCOURAGE
YOU. WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE
IN EMISSIONS IN THE CITY AND WE
ARE GOING TO GET FURTHER DETAILS
ABOUT THE REPORT FINDINGS. I
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ALSO FOR
YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR FIRST
SELECT COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
CHANGES, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
WE HAD TWO PANELS PRESENT, ONE
PANEL FOCUSED ON LGBTQ AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND THE
OTHER FOCUSED ON IMMIGRATION AND
LABOR PROTECTIONS. I KNOW OUR
PANELISTS BROUGHT FORWARD A LOT
OF INFORMATION. THERE IS A LOT
OF TAKE AWAYS FROM THE MEETING
AND WE WANT TO TRANSLATE SOME OF
WHAT THEY SHARED FOR ACTION FOR
THE COUNCIL TO TAKE UP. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. WE
KNOW THE IMPACTS OF THE FEDERAL
POLICY CHANGES ARE PROFOUND.
THEY ARE HITTING EVERY CORNER OF
THE COMMUNITY. I THINK IT IS
WORTH NOTING THAT SINCE THE
COMMITTEE MET ON FRIDAY MORNING,
IT WAS SHARED THAT THE LOCAL SBA
OFFICE IS CLOSING. I'M THINKING
OF THE LOSS OF RESOURCES FOR OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY AS
A RESULT OF THAT . I WANT TO SET
A REMINDER THAT THE NEXT MEETING
IS APRIL 3. AGENDA IS
FORTHCOMING AND WE HAVE
TRANSMITTED ADDITIONAL DATE FOR
THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THOSE ON
FOLKS' CALENDAR. I APPRECIATE
PEOPLE MAKING TIME FOR THE
MEETING. I'M SITTING ALONG SIDE
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR THIS
WEEK'S REGIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE. WE WILL BE RECEIVING
REPORT ON THE KING COUNTY PARKS
LEVY WHICH IS GOING TO BE REALLY
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
FULL COUNTY TO BE MAKING
INVESTMENTS IN THE GREEN SPACES.
HAPPY TO REPORT BACK ON SOME OF
THOSE FINDINGS AND THE
DISCUSSION WE HAVE IN COMMITTEE.
AND THEN FOR SOME OF THE EVENTS
OVER THE PAST WEEK, THAT THE
OFFICE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN, WE WERE ABLE TO
ATTEND THE AMERICAN WATER WAYS
OPERATORS RECEPTION WHICH WAS
COOL, HEARING FROM FOLKS AND
CONNECTING WITH PARTNERS IN
MARITIME AND DISCUSSIONS ON THE
IMPACT OF TARIFFS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY AND WHAT
THIS MEANS FOR OUR PORT. ALSO
HAD MEETINGS WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
CEO AND NEXT STEPS THERE AND
EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPER
AS THEY ARE STANDING UP SO WE
CAN DELIVER HOUSING FOR THE
COMMUNITY. I SPENT THE DAY IN
THE C.I.D., A GOOD CHUNK OF MY
DAY INSIDE THE C.I.D. ALONG WITH
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND PROVIDERS, TALKING ABOUT
ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO
CELEBRATING THE AMAZING WORK
THAT IS IN THE C.I.D. THIS
INCLUDED INTERIM CA , HISTORIC
SOUTH DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS THE
WING LUKE MUSEUM AND MORE. IT
WAS A FANTASTIC MEETING. I
CAN'T TORGET FRIENDS FOR LITTLE
SAIGON, WALKING THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND TALK ABOUT TT
NOT JUST THE CHALLENGES BUT
WHERE THERE IS INCREDIBLE WORK
HAPPENING. STAFF ATTENDED THE
STAND FOR SCIENCE RALLY AT THE
SCIENCE CENTER FREEDOM
TRANSPORTATION. SATURDAY THERE
WAS A LOT HAPPENING IN THE
COMMUNITY BUT OF COURSE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN IN THE
COMMONS, AN INCREDIBLE
ORGANIZATION REACHING THE MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS AND GIVING
PEOPLE DIGNITY AND LEADING WITH
DIGNITY AND HUMANITY WHICH IS SO
IMPORTANT THESE DAYS. ALSO WORTH
RECOGNIZING THAT THE WATER FRONT
BIKE PATH OPENED ON SATURDAY,
ANOTHER REALLY EXCITING
DEVELOPMENT OF COURSE FOR THE
INVESTMENTS IN THE WATER FRONT
T. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOP
ON MY BIKE AND GIVE IT A TEST
RIDE WITH CASCADE BIKE CLUB, A
VERY COOL OPPORTUNITY. IT IS
CLEAR THAT CYCLISTS IN THE
COMMUNITY ARE EXCITED TO HAVE
THE GREATER CONNECTION AND FEEL
SAFER WHILE RIDING THROUGH THE
WATER FRONT AREA. I'LL CLOSE
WITH A FINAL MEETING I WAS A
PART OF YESTERDAY AT THE NORTH
GATE LIBRARY. I WAS INVITED INTO
A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT HAD
BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER
OF ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON HOW
WE CAN BE RESPONDING AND
PROTECTING COMMUNITIES IN THE
WAKE OF THESE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION CHANGES. SO IT
WAS A PACKED ROOM. THERE WAS
OVERFLOW AND FOLKS WERE STANDING
OUT IN THE HALLWAY. THIS WAS
ORGANIZED ALONG SIDE A NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE
LOCAL DEMOCRATS. THEY INVITED IN
THE ACLU AS WELL AS CARE
WASHINGTON AND MYSELF TO TALK
ABOUT LOCAL RESPONSES, KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS TRAINING AND WHAT EVERY
DAY RESIDENTS CAN BE DOING TO
STAND BY THEIR NEIGHBOR. IT WAS
A BEAUTIFUL EVENT AND IT IS
CLEAR THAT THE FEDERAL POLICY IS
FRONT OF MIND FOR A NUMBER OF
OUR NEIGHBORS AND THEY ARE READY
TO TAKE UP WHATEVER ACTION THEY
CAN FOR THE SPEERD OF
SAFEGUARDING OUR CITY. WITH
THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE.
LET'S GO AHEAD WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PRESIDENT. LAST WEEK, JUST OUT
OF THE GATE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AT MAGNUSON
PARK. I MET WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, THE DEPUTY MAYOR
OVERSEEING PARKS FOR THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND TALKED WITH
HER ABOUT T THE ACTIVATION THAT
I REQUESTED FOR MAGNUSON PARK,
AN ACTIVATION SIMILAR TO ONES
THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN PAST
SUMMERS TO MANAGE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES AT THE PARKS. I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
SOME CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, AKA SEPTUD
FROM MY FRIEND AT THE END OF THE
DIS, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. I TALKED
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT
DOING SOMETHING WITH THE PARK
AND WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS
WELL. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
POSITIVE RESPONSES ON THE
EFFORTS, HOPEFULLY SOONER RATHER
THAN LATER. I KNOW SPD AND PARKS
IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE
OF DOING THIS ACTIVATION. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK
IN A POSITIVE WAY FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. SEPARATELY, I
WENT LAST WEEK TO THE ROOSEVELT
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
MEETING WHERE THEY WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT COMP PLAN. IT IS ON
EVERYONE'S MIND AND HAD A
ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT COMP
PLAN AND THE NEEDS IN THAT AREA
OF THE DISTRICT. ALSO
PARTICIPATED ON THE PSRC, I'M
ON THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE. AND WE CERTIFIED SOME
COMP PLANS FOR SOME OF THE
CITIES IN THE REGION. I ALSO
ATTENDED THE AMERICAN JEWISH
COMMITTEE ADVOCACY ACTION
DINNER, SAW MY FRIEND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE THERE. AND
IN ADDITION TO LAST WEEK --
SORRY, I LOST MY POINT IN THE
NOTES HERE. THIS WEEK, WE HAVE
OUR LIBRARIES EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE MEETING
WHERE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WILL
BE THERE TO UPDATE US ON THE
CHINA TOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BUILDING. THEY HAVE SOME
PROGRESS TO SHARE FROM THE LAST
TIME THEY PRESENTED ON THE
PROJECT. THIS WEEK, I ALSO HAVE
THE FIRST OF QUARTERLY MEETINGS
OF DISTRICT 4 COMMUNITY COUNCIL
GROUP LEADERS. WE HAVE ABOUT A
DOZEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL GROUPS
IN THE D4. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A
GREAT WAY TO SHOW OUR WORK AND
SPREAD THE WORK ABOUT WHAT MY
OFFICE IS DOING ON THEIR BEHALF.
I HAVE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE WHO GAVE ME THIS IDEA. I
KNOW HE DOES THIS IN HIS
DISTRICT AND VERY MUCH
APPRECIATION THE COLLABORATION
ON THE IDEA. I WANT TO GIVE MY
FRIEND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
CREDIT THERE. THIS WEEK I WILL
BE ATTENDING AS I'M SURE MANY
OF YOU WILL BE THE APPRECIATION
RECEPTION FOR FORMER INTERIM
CHIEF SUE RAR. I'M SO GRATEFUL
FOR HER LEADERSHIP DURING THIS
TIME BEFORE INTERIM CHIEF BARNES
CAME ON. THIS WAS A LARGE
COMMITMENT FOR HER. I APPRECIATE
ALL O OF THE COLLABORATION AND
PARTNERSHIP REGARDING MAGNUSON
PARK, AND OTHER AREAS IN THE
DISTRICT THAT ARE EXPERIENCING
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. LASTLY, I
GET TO PARTICIPATE THIS WEEK
WITH A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY LEARNING AND THE MAYOR
TO CELEBRATE THE EXPANSION OF
THE SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
THIS YEAR'S EXPANSION WILL BE
IN THE D4 AT THE CHILDREN'S
CENTER AT BERT GILMAN GARDENS.
THE GOAL IS TO SERVE 2500
CHILDREN BY 2026. WE ARE SERVING
2180 KIDS. UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL PASS IT
ON TO MY FRIEND, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> ALL RIGHT. COOL. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES. TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE ON THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE FRONT, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY THANKS TO
EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED OUR
MEETING LAST WEEK WHICH ON
TUESDAY WE HAD, HEARD AND
DISCUSSED TWO IMPORTANT TOPICS
INCLUDING THE 2025 LEVY DELIVERY
PLAN AND VISION ZERO. WRRPT TO
THE LEVY DELIVERY PLAN, I THINK
IT WAS THE FIRST EVER SUCH
DETAILED PLAN PRESENTED TO THE
COUNCIL. IT REPRESENTS IMPORTANT
ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR VOTERS. AND
AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS POINTED
OUT, THE NEXT DAY, AND OUR
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE
REVIEWED AND ULTIMATELY
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PLAN
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON
THAT FINALLY, GET IT OUT OF OUR
QUEUE HERE ON THE COUNCIL
TOMORROW. OUR NEXT
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL BE NEXT TUESDAY. THE AGENDA
IS STILL BEING FINALIZED. I CAN
SAY FAIRLY CONFIDENTLY THAT ONE
OF THE ITEMS THERE WILL BE A
BRIEFING AND PRESENTATION FROM
SOUND TRANSIT, SDOT AND SDCI ON
THE PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL . AND AS
WE KNOW, TRANSPORTATION POLICY,
INFRASTRUCTURE, CITY PLAYS A
CENTRAL ROLE IN TERMS OF OUR
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION BUT IT IS ALSO AN
IMPORTANT REGIONAL CHALLENGE AND
REGIONAL ISSUE. SO WE ARE GOING
TO WITH RESPECT TO LIGHT RAIL
EXPANSION, WE HAVE OUR ESTEEMED
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
PRESENTS OUR VOICE ON THE BOARD.
SOUND TRANSIT IS THE DECISION
MAKER OR PRIMARY DECISION MAKER
ON THAT. BUT OUR CITY PLAYS A
ROLE IN HELPING TO ENABLE AND
IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE DECISIONS
THAT ARE MADE. WE WILL TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AT THE
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING. MOVING
ON FROM A REGIONAL COMMITTEE
PERSPECTIVE, I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO OUR NEXT PSRC,
TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD
MEETING ON THURSDAY, I BELIEVE,
ALWAYS LIVELY AND ENGAGING
CONVERSATIONS. I WILL BE HAVING
DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS LATER THIS
WEEK I THINK ON FRIDAY, LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT. THE FINAL THING
I WILL NOTE FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
KIND OF ROUND TABLE, ROUND NOTE,
JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK COMMENT
ON ONE OF THE BILLS THAT DID NOT
PASS THIS YEAR. THE FREE SCHOOLS
MEALS BILL, 1404 AS WE LEARNED
EARLIER AND PREVIOUS UPDATES
FROM THE OIR TEAM DID NOT
ADVANCE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE
THIS YEAR. WE KNOW THAT WAS A
PRIORITY OF OUR CITY. AND I
THINK THAT -- I DON'T ENVY THE
DECISION MAKERS IN OLYMPIA. I
KNOW IT IS A TIGHT RESOURCE
CONSTRAINED ENVIRONMENT THERE.
AND SO I DON'T ENVY THE
DECISIONS TO -- AND AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, THE BUDGET
IMPLICATIONS WERE KEY DRIVING
FACTOR FOR THAT BILL NOT PASSING
AND MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR. SO
TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE BROADER
BUDGET CHALLENGES BUT I AM
CONCERNED AND DISAPPOINTED AND
I'M SADDENED THAT THAT BILL DID
NOT PASS. ALL OF THE RESOURCE
CONSTRAINTS NOT WITH STANDING,
PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT I
STARTED TO READ ABOUT THIS
MORNING IN THE PAPER IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES ABOUT SOMEPENEDING
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY REDUCE, UNDER
ANOTHER COST CUTTING RATIONALE
THAT WOULD PROPORT TO REDUCE THE
THRESHOLD FOR QUALIFYING SCHOOLS
AND THEREFORE STUDENTS TO
RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED SCHOOL
LUNCH UNDER THE TITLE 1 PROGRAM.
INITIAL STATE ESTIMATES INDICATE
THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS AND
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
STUDENTS IN OUR STATE WOULD BE
IMPACTED. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE
ACCESS TO FREE AND REDUCED
LUNCH. THAT IN PARALLEL WITH THE
FACT THAT THAT FREE SCHOOL MEALS
LUNCH BILL AT THE STATE DID NOT
PASS AND I'M CONCERNED AND
SADDENED. WE TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND I
WILL SPEAK CANDIDLY FROM THE
HEART HERE, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
OVERCOME THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM,
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS RELIED
HEAVILY ON FREE AND REDUCED
LUNCH, AS SOMEONE WHO WENT TO 13
TITLE 1 SCHOOLS K-12 GROWING UP.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WENT TO
SCHOOL OFTENTIMES GROWING UP TO
RECEIVE SERVICES AND FOOD FIRST
AND AS A SECONDARY THING TO
RECEIVE AN EDUCATION, I WILL
TELL YOU THAT THOSE TWO THINGS
TOGETHER ARE GOING TO BE
DEVASTATING TO THE STATE, LACK
OF PASSING THIS AND THEN
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION EVERYTHING
TEES UP TO HOW IT IS SHAPING UP
NOW, THOSE TWO THINGS ARE GOING
TO BE DEVASTATING FOR OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM. LOOK, I KNOW
WHAT IT IS LIKE TO STRUGGLE. WE
ALL HAVE OUR OWN STORIES AND
JOURNEYS. I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE
TO GO TO SCHOOL HUNGRY. IT'S
NOT A GOOD FEELING. AND THE
QUALITY OF EDUCATION NOT WITH
STANDING, IMAGINE TRYING TO
LEARN IF YOU CAN'T FOCUS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE HUNGER PAINS. I
JUST SEE THAT AS AN EXISTENTIAL
CRISIS FOR THE STATE AND OUR
COUNTRY. AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE
PROFOUND IMPACTS IF LIKE I SAID
THINGS SHAPE UP THE WAY THEY ARE
SHAPING UP OR TURN OUT THE WAY
THEY ARE SHAPING UP. I WANT TO
HIGH LOIT THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU, NO
FURTHER COMMENTS. QUESTIONS, I
WELCOME ANY. IF NOT, I WILL PASS
IT ON TO THE NEXT PERSON.
>> I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE. SO
I WILL GIVE MY UPDATE. THE NEXT
MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE WILL BE
THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, AT 2:00
P.M. WE WILL HAVE AN APPOINTMENT
OF JOY SIDACY TO THE WASHINGTON
STATE CONVENTION CENTER PUBLIC
FACILITIES DBA FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
THEN FOLLOWING THAT WE WILL HAVE
A BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON BILL 120950,
THE SHIELD LU. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN
LAST WEEK THAT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE SENT THE BILL TO CONFORM
SEATTLE LAW WITH WASHINGTON
STATE SHIELD LAW SUPPORTING
ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES
AND AFFIRM GENDER AFFIRMING
TREATMENT. IT WAS DRAPTED IN
COOPERATION WITH THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION. AND COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH AND SOLOMON,
QUOTES OF YOU WERE INCLUDED IN
THE MAYOR'S PRESS RELES IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL. SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT. SPECIFICALLY, THE
BILL INCORPORATES RELEVANT
PORTIONS OF STATE STATUTE INTO
CITY LAW AND EXTENDS PROVISIONS
TO CITY EMPLOYEES. AS YOU MAY
KNOW, STATE LAW PROVIDES
PROTECTIONS AGAINST OUT OF STATE
INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS,
PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE AND
CIVIL LIABILITY. IT PROVIDES
EXTENSIVE PROTECTIONS FOR
CONSUMER DATA RELATED TO
REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE. GIVING THE
URGENCY OF THE ISSUE WITH
ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, I WANTED TO FAST
TRACK THIS AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR
THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND TO
REAFFIRM THE CITY'S COMMITMENT
TO BE A SAFE, WELCOMING PLACE
FOR ALL PEOPLE. FOR THAT END,
FOR EVERYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE
PACE OF HOW LEGISLATION MOVES
FORWARD, THE QUICKEST PATH
FORWARD THAT WOULDN'T INVOLVE A
DELAY ON FINAL PASSAGE UNTIL THE
MIDDLE OF APRIL NEXT MONTH IS TO
ADD TO TOMORROW'S IRC SO THE
COMMITTEE CAN CONSIDER ITSET A
MARCH 13 MEETING AND MOVE THE
LEGISLATION FORWARD QUICKLY.
FOLLOWING COMMITTEE, WE WILL
PLAN TO ADDRESS IS AT FULL
COUNCIL ON MARCH 25. AGAIN, THIS
WOULD CONFORM OUR STATE LAW, OUR
LAW WITH STATE LAW. IT UPLIFTS
POLICIES TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS
OF HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED
AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND
IT EXTENDS STATE LAW'S
APPLICATION TO CITY EMPLOYEES TO
SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND
LIBERTIES OF ALL SEATTLE
RESIDENTS AND COMMITMENT TO
PROVIDING EVERYONE WITH ACCESS
TO CITY SERVICES. SO LAST
THURSDAY I PARTICIPATED IN CITY
CLUB'S MONTHLY CIVIC COCKTAIL
WHERE I WAS JOINED BY DEPUTY
CHIEF ELON UNDERWOOD AND
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
NATALIE ANDERSON. THE EVENT WAS
MODERATED BY ANGELA DE VILLEA. I
RECOMMEND IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN
TO A CIVIC COCKTAIL EVENT, THEY
ARE FORMATTED REALLY WELL SO
THERE IS A LOT OF TIME TO MEET
NEW PEOPLE AND THE SECOND ONE I
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, THEY ARE
VERY COMPELLING. AND SOME PRETTY
GOOD FOOD TOO. IF YOU ARE
INVITED TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE
CONSIDER ACCEPTING. THEY A GOOD
JOB OF PUTTING THAT ON. FINALLY,
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MARCH
8th PASSED OVER THE WEEKEND. IT
WILL BE CELEBRATED TOMORROW AT
BERTHA NIGHT LANDIS. I HOPE TO
SEE YOU THERE FOR A BIT OF
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
EVENT. IT WILL HAVE THIS YEAR
FOR THE FIRST TIME A DANCE PARTY
AND A DJ. I LEFT THE NAME OF THE
DJ AT MY DESK. BUT NOTE THAT
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TOMORROW IN
BERTHA NIGHT LANDIS. IS THERE
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, IT IS FOR OUR
FOLKS -- 1516 -- I'M KIDDING.
IT IS 3:16 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.