ON THE BUDGET PROCESS AND ONE
PROCLAMATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR SIGNATURES. THE
CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDES THE
WEEKLY THE -- BILL PAYMENT
HORNETS, TO PAYMENTS FROM THE
LIBRARY EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE TO THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD AND
NINE FROM THE PARKS PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE. THAT INCLUDE SIX FOR
THE SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION AND THREE FOR THE
BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSION. FINALLY, SIX PIECES
OF LEGISLATION FROM COMMITTEES.
ONE THAT WENT STRAIGHT TO FULL
COUNCIL IS A RESOLUTION
EXPRESSING INTENTION TO HOLD A
PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING CHANGES
TO THE SOTO AT THE NEXT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, ONE FROM
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT
AIMS TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS FROM
PREDATORY HOMEBUYING PRACTICES,
ONE FROM THE LIBRARY'S
EDUCATION AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE NAMING THE TEMPLE
CHURCH OF GOD AS AN HISTORIC
LANDMARK, THREE FROM PARKS,
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND THE
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. THE FIRST
UPDATE SIDE SEWER REGULATIONS TO
CONFORM TO CURRENT STANDARDS
CLARIFIES EXISTING REQUIREMENTS
AND ALLOW SIDE SEWERS TO BE --
FEES TO BE CREATED BY THE
DIRECTOR'S RULE. THE SECOND
ALLOWS FOR THE RENEWAL OF
AGREEMENT BETWEEN SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, AND OTHER ME IS
APPELLATE THESE REGARDING WATER
SUPPLY AND REVENUES. IN THE
THIRD UPDATE THE ONGOING
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL FOR SPU TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT AND
IMPLEMENT THE SIX-YEAR STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN. THERE ARE FOUR
ITEMS FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY
NEEDS ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE
THAT AUTHORIZE A SIX-YEAR -- 16
YEAR REMOVAL THAT RENEWAL,
SECOND AUTHORIZES CONTINUED
ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCENTIVE
PROGRAMS, THE THIRD ADOPT THE
BIENNIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION
TARGET AND TENURE CONSERVATION
POTENTIAL, AND THE FOURTH BILL
APPROVES THE 2026-2029 CITY
LIGHT CLEAN ENERGY
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. FINALLY,
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE, BOTH OF
WHICH RELATE TO PERMITTING FOR
PART ONE IMMENSITY POLICY THAT
DEFINES HOW LONG PROJECT PERMIT
REVIEW SHOULD TAKE, AND THE
OTHER IMMENSE DEFINITIONS OF
SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION TO ADD
CLARITY AND EXEMPT A WIDE SWATH
OF SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS. THAT
IS ALL UP TOMORROW. YOU CAN TELL
THERE IS A LOT OF LEGISLATION
BEING FINISHED BEFORE BUDGET.
NEXT WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM
CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE
WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2025
BUDGET CALENDAR. I KNOW A NUMBER
OF EMAILS HAVE GONE BACK AND
FORTH INTERNALLY REGARDING
VARIOUS MILESTONE DATES FOR THE
BUDGET PROCESS. THIS IS A GOOD
PLACE TO START TALKING PUBLICLY
ABOUT IT, AND IT IS GOOD FOR THE
PUBLIC. DIRECTOR NOBLE, GO AHEAD
AND PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AS YOU DESCRIBED, WE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU
EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY. I WILL
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY A WEEK
AHEAD OF TIME TO GIVE YOU AN
OVERALL SENSE OF THE PROCESS. I
WILL USE THE CALENDAR AS THE
TOOL, BUT WE WILL TALK THROUGH
THE VARIOUS STEPS OF THE PROCESS
ITSELF AND SOME CHANGES, MINOR
CHANGES, FROM LAST YEAR. YOU
HAVE A COPY OF THE CALENDAR AT
THE DAIS. I PASSED THOSE OUT. I
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE EASIER THAN
HAVING TO REFER BACK HERE. THIS
IS SIX STEPS . I WILL WALK
THROUGH EACH OF THE STEPS WITH A
LITTLE COMMENTARY. AT THE END,
DEPENDING ON TIME, THERE IS A
QUICK LOOK AT WHAT THE FORMAT IS
FOR THE PRESENTATIONS FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL BE THE
FIRST STEP. I WILL HOLD THAT
UNTIL THE END SO WE CAN DO THE
PROCESS TOGETHER. WE WILL GET
THINGS KICKED OFF NEXT TUESDAY
WHEN THE MAYOR WILL DELIVER HIS
BUDGET SPEECH AND DELIVER THE
BUDGET. THAT INCLUDES HARD
COPIES AND BINDERS FOR EACH
OFFICE AND FOR MYSELF, AS WELL
AS ALL THE ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
ONLINE. I WOULD ADD THAT WE GET
A SET OF TECHNICAL MATERIALS.
ALL THE BUDGET ISSUE PAPERS, ALL
THE BACKUP THAT WENT INTO THE
EXECUTIVE DECISIONS, AS WELL AS
THE BUDGET IN THE ELECTRONIC
FORM IN TERMS OF TRANSACTIONAL
DETAIL. FOLKS ON MY TEAM WILL BE
PROCESSING THAT OVER THE FIRST
24 TO 48 HOURS, AND THEN FEEDING
BACK TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF ALL
OF THAT INFORMATION. YOUR STAFF
HAVE BEEN OFFERED A COUPLE OF
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. WE WILL
CONTINUE THOSE. THE BUDGET
DELIVERED ON THE FIRST DAY, AND
THEN A COUPLE DAYS AS WE PROCESS
VARIOUS BITS OF THE TECHNICAL
INFORMATION. WE THEN START WITH
THE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS.
THOSE WILL BE FROM THE EXECUTIVE
STAFF, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, AND
TYPICALLY FINANCE MANAGERS WILL
BE HERE . THEY WILL GO THROUGH
EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS AT A
HIGH LEVEL, GIVING YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AN INITIAL
SET OF QUESTIONS. I WOULD SAY
FOR ME A WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS
IS THAT THERE ARE LAYERS. THE
FIRST LAYER IS THE INITIAL SET
OF QUESTIONS. ALL OF US WILL
HAVE ONLY SEEN THE BUDGET FOR A
SHORT PERIOD BY THAT TIME, BUT
WE CAN BEGIN THE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT
Q&A AS WE GO. THE NEXT STEP IN
THE PROCESS IS THE DISCUSSION OF
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FROM STAFF
. BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE -- AND
THEN ULTIMATELY, THE REVENUE
FORECAST UPDATE. I WILL TALK
ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE. I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT, AND IT IS NOT IN ONE
OF THE STEPS, BUT THE FIRST
PUBLIC HEARING HAPPENS AFTER
STEP ONE AND BEFORE STEP TWO. I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE
FORMAT OF THOSE IS TAKEN ON THE
MODEL USED JUST RECENTLY FOR THE
COMP PLAN. REMOTE INPUT TAKEN IN
THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN IN
PERSON HEARING IN THE EVENING
STARTING AT 5:00. THAT WILL BE
THE STRUCTURE FOR BOTH OF THE
PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE FIRST ONE
BEING ON OCTOBER 7. THE WEEK
FOLLOWING, CENTRAL STAFF WILL
BEGIN ITS POLICY CONSIDERATION
PRESENTATIONS. CENTRAL STAFF
WILL LARGELY WORK FROM HOME FOR
THE FIRST TWO WEEKS REALLY
DIVING IN . IT IS AVAILABLE
ONLINE TO BOTH YOU AND YOUR
STAFF, BUT DIGGING IN AND
IDENTIFYING FOR YOU THEIR
ASSESSMENT. WE WILL GO
DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT. THEY
SEE KEY ISSUES YOU MAY WANT TO
BE AWARE OF AND YOU MIGHT NOT
HAVE FOUND READING THROUGH THE
600 ODD PAGES YOURSELF. WE TEND
TO ORGANIZE THOSE BY DEPARTMENT.
LET ME ADD THAT FOR BOTH
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS IN
ROUND ONE AND ROUND TWO FOR
THESE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS,
THERE WILL BE A MEMO AND/OR
PRESENTATION FOR EACH AND EVERY
DEPARTMENT. IN PUBLIC, YOU CAN
ONLY GO THROUGH THE ONES WE HAVE
TIME ON THE AGENDAS FOR, BUT
THERE WILL BE MATERIALS. ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS ON THE EXECUTIVE
SIDE WILL PREPARE PRESENTATIONS,
EVEN THOUGH THEY WILL NOT ALL BE
INVITED HERE TO PRESENT THEM.
SIMILARLY, CENTRAL STAFF WILL
DEVELOP MEMOS FOR EACH OF THE
DEPARTMENTS, ALTHOUGH WE WILL
ONLY PUBLIC PRESENT SOME OF
THOSE BECAUSE OF TIME
CONSTRAINTS. I WOULD NOTE THAT
TOWARDS THE END OF THE POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS WINDOW, WHICH IS
OCTOBER 15 THROUGH MONDAY THE
20th, THE VERY LAST DAY THERE
WILL BE THE REVENUE FORECAST
UPDATE. THE REVENUE FORECAST
COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO MEET ON
THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 20 AND TO
RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE AUGUST
UPDATE TO THE REVENUE FORECAST .
THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE MORNING,
AND IMMEDIATELY IN THE AFTERNOON
WE WILL HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF
THAT OFFICE, MYSELF, BUDGET
DIRECTOR, HERE TO PROVIDE A
SUMMARY OF THE REVENUE FORECAST.
IT COULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE
IMPORTANT IMPACTS ON THE BUDGET
TO THE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
CAN'T FORESEE THAT IN ADVANCE.
BUT THAT WILL BE A KEY STEP. AS
WE WRAP UP THE POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS AND IDENTIFY THE
ISSUES IN THE BUDGET, YOU WILL
ALSO GET THAT REVENUE FORECAST.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE WILL THEN
MOVE INTO A PHASE, THIRD PHASE ,
A PRESENTATION OF COUNCILMEMBER
BUDGET PROPOSALS. THAT IS
ACTUALLY -- THIS IS A RENEWAL OF
THE PHASE USED IN PREVIOUS
YEARS. THIS WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO HEAR
WHAT EACH OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE
THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF
POTENTIAL AND LIMITS, AND FOR
THE PUBLIC AS WELL. A REAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSPARENCY
ABOUT THINGS YOU HAVE UNDER
CONSIDERATION. LET ME TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THOSE
AMENDMENTS WILL GET DRAFTED. THE
DEADLINE FOR THE AMENDMENTS OR
IDEAS FOR AMENDMENTS IS THE
21st. THE DAY AFTER THAT REVENUE
FORECAST. AGAIN, THESE DON'T
HAVE TO BE FULLY FLESHED OUT
IDEAS, BUT WE NEED TO PUT IN A
DATE TO GET STARTED ON WORKING
ON THE DETAILS. THAT DEADLINE TO
BEGIN IS ON THE 21st. WE WILL
HAVE AN ELECTRONIC FORM. WE WILL
BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE
DEADLINES, JUST SO YOU KNOW. I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IS THE
LAST TIME TO START TALKING ABOUT
AN AMENDMENT. AS CENTRAL STAFF
FINISH OF POLICY PAPERS IN THE
PERIOD OF AND DAYS BEFORE THE
15th, AND THAT PERIOD, THEY WILL
BE AVAILABLE TO WORK WITH YOU
AND AVAILABLE BEFORE THAT TO
CHAT WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
THE REASON TO WAIT UNTIL THE
21st IS ALL I AM SAYING BECAUSE
THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF WORK TO
BE DONE HERE. IN ORDER TO
ULTIMATELY END UP ON THE AGENDA
AS PART OF A PUBLIC
PRESENTATION, BUDGET PROPOSALS
WILL NEED TWO COSPONSORS.
ULTIMATELY, THREE SPONSORS FOR
THE PROPOSALS. OBVIOUSLY,
INITIAL STAGES OF FRAMING, WE
DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THOSE
COSPONSORS. YOU WON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING
INTO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE
AMENDMENT DRAFTED UP. WITH THAT
WILL BE -- IN ORDER TO FOCUS
ATTENTION ON THOSE THAT HAVE THE
LARGEST PROSPECT OF GOING
FORWARD, THREE SPONSORS TOTAL IN
ADDITION TO THE PRIMARY AUTHOR .
AND THEN, DURING THAT THIS
ALWAYS BECOMES AN ISSUE. DURING
THE PUBLIC SESSION, THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO BECOME COSPONSORS AS
WELL. RAISING OF HANDS, WE WILL
KEEP TRACK OF THAT AND ADD
SPONSORS AND ACKNOWLEDGE
SPONSORSHIP ACCORDINGLY.
OVERALL, THOSE PROPOSALS WILL
LOOK AND FEEL LIKE A REGULAR
LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT. THERE
WILL BE A COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION,
BUT WE WILL DRAFT THEM UP LIKE
IT AFFECTS STATEMENT. THE
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION OF
THE PROPOSAL WILL BE CENTRAL
STAFF'S PRODUCT. AS WE BRING
THEM FORWARD, WE EXPECT HE WILL
TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER
UP THE RATIONALE FOR THE
PROPOSAL AND MAKE YOUR CASE, IF
YOU WILL. THAT TAKES US THROUGH
THE THIRD STEP. AGAIN, JUST
EMPHASIZING THAT WILL BE A LEVEL
OF INTERACTION AND TRANSPARENCY
WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST TIME. THE
IDEA IS AS THE BUDGET CHAIR
MOVES TO ASSEMBLE A PACKAGE, YOU
WILL ALL HAVE A SENSE OF ALL THE
ELEMENTS THAT COULD BE IN THE
PACKAGE AND ALL THE THINGS YOU
WILL HAVE DISCUSSED. THAT TAKES
US TOWARDS THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH
WILL BE THE CONSIDERATION OF
ACTUAL AMENDMENTS. YOU SEE THE
CALENDAR. IT WILL BE THE WEEKEND
OF HALLOWEEN. ESSENTIALLY, THE
31st AND FIRST AND SECOND THAT
CENTRAL STAFF EXPECTS TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH CHAIR STRAUSS TO
ASSEMBLE A PACKAGE THAT MEETS
COUNSEL -- COUNCIL NEEDS AND
RECOGNIZES CHANGES THAT COME
WITH THE REVENUE UPDATE , AND
THEN IT CAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THAT
WILL HAPPEN -- WE EXPECT TO BE
DRAFTING THAT THE WEEKEND OF
HALLOWEEN. YOU WILL NOTE
ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY THAT
FOLLOWS ON THE FOURTH.
OBVIOUSLY, IMPORTANT FINANCIAL
ELEMENTS ON THE BALLOT. ASSUMING
-- AND WE EXPECT THE BUDGET WILL
ASSUME PASSAGE OF BOTH THE LEVY,
FAMILIES AND EDUCATION LEVEL --
LEVY, AND ALSO THE TAX PROPOSAL.
ASSUMING DOES HAPPEN, THE CHAIR
PACKAGE WILL BE READY TO ROLL.
THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING IS
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY THE CHAIR
PACKAGE WILL BE READY TO ROLL.
THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING IS
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
6. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
DEADLINE FOR AMENDMENTS. THESE
WILL BE AMENDMENTS TO THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE. THAT DEADLINE
WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 7. HERE IS
STEP FOUR. DESCRIPTION OF THE
PRESENTATION OF THE CHAIR'S
BALANCING PACKAGE. EFFORT TO
REFLECT AS MANY COUNCIL IDEAS AS
POSSIBLE. I NOTED TO BECKY
ELEMENTS ON THE BALLOT. THE
DEADLINE FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE
BALANCING PACKAGE WILL BE THE
SEVENTH. THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO
HAVE THEM FULLY FLESHED OUT. BUT
WE DO KNOW TO GET STARTED ON
STUFF BECAUSE IT IS THE
FOLLOWING FRIDAY, THE 14th, YOU
WILL BEGIN VOTING ON AMENDMENTS
TO THE BALANCING PACKAGE. AND
AMENDMENTS OVERALL TO THE
BUDGET. AGAIN, WE WILL ORGANIZE
THOSE -- THAT VOTING FIRST TO
FOCUS ON CHANGES TO THE
BALANCING PACKAGE. THE CHAIR MAY
HAVE PROPOSED CHANGES OF HIS OWN
BASED UPON THE FEEDBACK AND
INPUT WE RECEIVED. YOU ALL MAY
HAVE SOME AS WELL. AND THEN,
SEPARATELY THERE WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE
BALANCING PACKAGE. IT WOULD BE
OUTSIDE THE BALANCING PACKAGE.
BY DEFINITION, THOSE WILL HAVE
TO BE SELF BALANCED. YOU HAVE TO
FIND THE RESOURCES TO PAY FOR
WHATEVER ADDITIONAL
EXPENDITURES, ASSUMING THEY ARE
OF THAT FORM AS OPPOSED TO A SLI
OR SOME OTHER THING. THOSE VOTES
ARE SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN ON THE
14th, WHICH IS A FRIDAY, AND THE
17th, WHICH IS A MONDAY. I WOULD
NOTE ALSO IN THAT WINDOW THAT
THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME
COMMITTEE VOTES ON BUDGET
LEGISLATION. SOME OF THE MORE
ROUTINE BUDGET LEGISLATION. THE
BUDGET ITSELF WILL COME AS A
STACK OF 20 PLUS ORDINANCES.
THOSE WILL ALL NEED VOTES AS
WELL. THOSE DATES, THE 14th AND
17th, ARE REALLY WHEN THE POLICY
ISSUES -- WE TEND TO GET
RESOLVED. THERE IS FINAL
COMMITTEE VOTES SCHEDULED FOR
THE 20th, AND FULL COUNSEL --
COUNCIL ON THE 21st. FOR US, THE
17th AND THE 20th IS NOT MORE
ABOUT POLITICAL MACHINATIONS, IT
IS MUCH MORE ABOUT CHECKING MATH
AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THIS ALL
BALANCED. WE ARE ALL THE FUNDS
THE CITY OPERATES AT ONE TIME.
WE ARE PURPOSELY SET FOR FINAL
COUNCIL ACTION ON THE 21st. THE
FRIDAY BEFORE THE WEEK OF
THANKSGIVING. THAT IS ALSO THE
FRIDAY BEFORE THE GENERAL
ELECTION IS CERTIFIED, AND A NEW
COLLEAGUE WILL BE JOINING YOU.
THE GOAL IS TO WRAP UP THE
BUDGET WITH THE BODY THAT WILL
HAVE BEEN DEBATING IT. THAT
REQUIRES A VOTE ON THE 21st. AT
A HIGH LEVEL, THAT IS THE BUDGET
PROCESS IN FRONT OF US. HAPPY TO
SHOW YOU THE FORMAT FOR THE
PRESENTATIONS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT. BUT PERHAPS, TAKE
SOME QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY
ON THE PROCESS BEFORE THEN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANKS
DIRECTOR NOBLE FOR BEING HERE
AND REVIEWING THIS IMPORTANT
TIMELINE IN PIECES FOR THE
BUDGET. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK
QUESTIONS. ONE IS ON PAGE 6.
THANKS FOR PUTTING PAGE NUMBERS.
THIS TWO COSPONSORSHIP PIECE,
HOW WAS THIS DONE IN THE PAST?
WE DIDN'T DO IT LIKE THIS LAST
YEAR. IN THE PAST WAS THERE
ALWAYS TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT
HAD TO COSPONSOR A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION , I MEAN, A CHANGE?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL THE
YEARS I WAS AWAY FROM THIS ROLE,
BUT IN MY TIME THERE ALWAYS HAS
BEEN A SPONSORSHIP REQUIREMENT,
TYPICALLY, TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AGAIN, -- SO IT IS TWO
COSPONSORS AND THE AUTHOR. A
TOTAL OF THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS
SPONSORING . AGAIN, THE GOAL IS
TO, GIVEN THE POTENTIAL BREATH
OF THINGS, TO FOCUS ENERGY ON
THOSE THAT HAVE THE MOST FOR
SUCCESS.
>> UNDERSTOOD, I'M WONDERING IF
IN THE PAST IT WAS THREE OR TWO.
>> I RECALL IT BEING TWO. BUT I
COULD BE WRONG.
>> CHAIR, MY RECOLLECTION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN TWO COSPONSORS PLUS
THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS WRITTEN
IT FOR A TOTAL OF THREE. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE HAVE IN
PLACE IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE
HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. I HAD NO
ENDEAVOR TO MAKE IT HARDER. I
THOUGHT THE PROCESS WORKED WELL
BEFORE. I KEPT THE PREVIOUS
PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I DIDN'T KNOW. THAT IS
WHY I AM CALLING THE QUESTION,
JUST FOR MY OWN CLARIFICATION.
ON PAGE 7, CHAIR, IF I MAY ONE
MORE.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAD A
CONTINUATION.
>> BE AWARE BOTH AS AN AUTHOR
AND SPONSOR THAT THERE IS
POTENTIAL FOR PROPOSED BUDGET
MMS TO CHANGE VERSIONS AS
CENTRAL STAFF PROVIDES INPUT AND
THE EXECUTIVE PROVIDES INPUT.
BOTH AS A SPONSOR AND AUTHOR TO
CHECK BACK WITH FOLKS AND LET
THEM KNOW ABOUT WHERE THINGS
HAVE STOOD BEFORE WE REACH THE
FINAL VERSIONS.
>> THANK YOU , BEN. ONE FINAL
QUESTION ON PAGE 7. THE CHAIR'S
BALANCING PACKAGE GETS RELEASED
ON THE FIFTH , NOVEMBER 5. BY
MIDDAY TWO DAYS ON THE SEVENTH,
A DAY AND A HALF LATER, THAT IS
WHEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PROFFER
OUR SELF BALANCED AMENDMENTS.
THAT IS NOT A LOT OF TIME. CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW
THIS IS GOING TO WORK?
>> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE FIFTH
IS WHEN THE PRESENTATION WILL BE
MADE. I KNOW THE CHAIR
ANTICIPATES MEETING INDIVIDUALLY
WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ADVANCE
TO SHARE THE DETAILS. I MEANT TO
LOOK THIS UP BEFORE I CAME OUT
HERE. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY
WHEN IT WILL BE PUBLISHED, BUT
AT LEAST A DAY IN ADVANCE.
>> GOOD QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. I WILL ENDEAVOR TO ALSO
HAVE THE PACKAGE PUBLISHED 48
HOURS AHEAD OF THE PUBLIC
HEARING, TYPICAL PRACTICE IN THE
PACK /PAST HAS BEEN 24 HOURS. AS
WELL, I ALREADY HAVE TIMES THAT
WITH ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ON OUR
CALENDARS FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER
3. SO YOU WILL HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I WAS AND
WAS NOT ABLE TO DO BASED ON YOUR
REQUESTS. THE GOAL IS NO
SURPRISES. THE GOAL HERE IS
INCREASED TRANSPARENCY. THE GOAL
IS TO SET YOU ALL UP FOR
SUCCESS, EVEN IF IT IS NOT MY --
EVEN IF WE HAVE POLICY
DIFFERENCES. I AM NOT HERE TO
SIDELIGHT YOU WITH THE PROCESS.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON THE
THIRD? I DIDN'T HEAR.
>> WE HAVE MEETINGS ALREADY ON
EVERYONE AT THIS CALENDARS. I
THINK, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU
MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE WE ARE
WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM. WE
HAVE PROACTIVELY, EVEN BEFORE
BUDGET HAS STARTED, HAVE SET UP
TIME TO MEET WITH COUNCIL
MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY. WE WILL GO
OVER WHAT REQUESTS FROM THAT
COUNCILMEMBER WERE INCLUDED OR
NOT WITHIN THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE.
LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT EXTRA BIT
OF INFORMATION. REALLY HELPFUL
TO HAVE UPFRONT.
>> I EMPHASIZE THAT THE DEADLINE
IS TO GIVE US YOUR IDEA FOR YOUR
MEMORY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FULLY
FLESHED OUT. I WILL AGAIN.OUT --
POINT OUT TIMELINES ARE TIGHT
FOR ALL OF US. BY THAT TIME, YOU
WILL HAVE SEEN THE BUDGET FOR A
GOOD MONTH. MY GUESS IS YOU WILL
BE PRETTY AWARE OF WHAT YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR AND IF THAT IS
SOMETHING IS NOT THERE, THE
POTENTIAL MIGHT BE. I AM LESS
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT . BUT IT IS
ALWAYS HARD TO KNOW.
>> SINCE YOU HAVE TO SELF
BALANCE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE
SOMETHING OUT TO PUT SOMETHING
IN. THEN IT BECOMES, YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO
DO THAT. IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT
ON A COLLEAGUE, PROBABLY. ARE
YOU MINDFUL ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING
THAT FOR EVERYBODY. IT IS ALSO,
AT TIMES, AND INTENSE PROCESS.
THAT WILL BE ONE OF THOSE
WINDOWS, FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I DID
NOTICE THE QUICK TURNAROUND
MYSELF. ONE MIGHT NOT KNOW
WHETHER OR NOT ONE WANTS TO TRY
TO GET AN AMENDMENT IN THAT WAS
NOT INCLUDED IN THE CHAIR'S
AMENDMENT UNTIL ONE SEES
EVERYTHING IN THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE. SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO TRY TO TAKE MONEY FROM TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD WHATEVER YOU ARE
TRYING TO ADD, IF THAT IS WHAT
YOU ARE TRYING TO DO? I DID
RAISE THAT CONCERN. A QUESTION
IS, WHEN IT SAYS AMENDMENTS ARE
DUE ON THE SEVENTH, WHICH IS TWO
DAYS AFTER YOU FIND OUT WHAT'S
GOING ON IN THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE, DOES THAT MEAN THEY
HAVE TO BE WRITTEN? IS THAT ONE
OF THOSE IDEAS THAT CENTRAL
STAFF WILL SPEND THE REST OF THE
WEEK TRYING TO CRAFT?
>> IT IS ONE OF THOSE IDEAS.
AGAIN, I WOULD POINT OUT WE ONLY
HAVE THE WEEK TO FOLLOW. AS MUCH
AS YOU -- YOUR THINKING IS
SOLIDIFIED, THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY
BE HELPFUL AS WELL. I DO
RECOGNIZE THE TRADE-OFF. AT THIS
STAGE, WHEN THINKING ABOUT SELF
BALANCING AMENDMENTS, IT IS NOT
UNUSUAL FOR MORE THAN ONE
COUNCILMEMBER TO LOOK AT THE
SAME SOURCE TO FUND DIFFERENT
THINGS. THEY BECOME MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE BY DEFINITION. SO
THERE ARE , IF NOT HORSETRADING,
SOME BACK-AND-FORTH THERE. I
EXPECT THAT TO BE A RELATIVELY
INTENSE PERIOD OF TIME AS WE GET
CLOSER TO WRAPPING THINGS UP.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I WAS GOING TO QUICKLY GIVE A
PREVIEW OF WHAT THE
PRESENTATIONS LOOK LIKE FOR EACH
OF THE DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE
GIVEN THIS GENERAL. THE IDEA IS
THAT YOU WOULD ASK QUESTIONS
WITH THE BASE INFORMATION. A
SUMMARY THAT SHOWS A HIGH LEVEL
WITH THE TOTAL BUDGET IS AN
TOTAL POSITION COUNT FOR THIS
CURRENT YEAR. WHEN IT WAS IN THE
ENDORSE BUDGET, THE ONE YOU
LITERALLY ENDORSE LAST FALL, AND
THEN THE PROPOSED. WE WILL,
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, TALK
ABOUT THE CHANGES BETWEEN THE
ENDORSED AND PROPOSED, BECAUSE
THAT IS REALLY THE KEY
DIFFERENCE. THERE WILL THEN BE A
SET OF SLIDES , OR NOT,
DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION,
WHERE THE DEPARTMENT WILL
HIGHLIGHT SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTIONS. WE HAVE LEFT THEM TO
DETERMINE WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO
DESCRIBE. WE APPRECIATE
SOMETHING AND I'LL RETURN
SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR
SMALLER DEPARTMENT WOULD BE
INCONSEQUENTIAL OF SOMETHING
LIKE CITY LIGHT WHERE THE BUDGET
IS DEFINED INFILLING AS MUCH AS
ANYTHING. THAT WILL VARY
DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT. WE ARE
ASKING THEM TO DESCRIBE THE
IMPACT, AND ALSO DESCRIBE
WHETHER THERE ARE ANY SCALING
OPTIONS. IF IT IS A CUT, COULD
IT BE MADE A LITTLE SMALLER WITH
HALF THE MONEY MEANINGFULLY
DELIVERING HALF THE SERVICE,
SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. YOU
MAY HAVE TO QUERY THE
DEPARTMENTS TO GET MORE
INFORMATION. ALSO, SIGNIFICANT
ADDITIONS. THEY HAVE AS MANY
SLIDES AS THEY NEED TO HIGHLIGHT
THOSE, ESSENTIALLY IN THE SAME
FORMAT WHERE THEY ARE GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE RATIONALE
AND HIGHLIGHTED THE POTENTIAL TO
SCALE THAT ADDITION AS WELL ONE
WAY OR ANOTHER. THOSE ARE THE
KEY ELEMENTS IN THE PRESENTATION
TEMPLATE. AGAIN, IT IS
STRUCTURED, BUT I THINK YOU WILL
HEAR DIFFERENT THINGS FROM
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS
OF THEIR APPROACH. THE LAST
PIECE I HAVE HERE IS TO MENTION
THE BUDGET Q&A SITE. IN ORDER TO
GET RESPONSES FROM THE EXECUTIVE
IN AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
WAY, WE OPERATE THIS SITE WERE
CENTRAL STAFF POST QUESTIONS TO
CBO AND THE EXECUTIVE . ALL OF
YOUR STAFF CAN SEE ALL THE
QUESTIONS AND CAN SEE ALL OF THE
ANSWERS. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE
YOU TO USE IT AS WELL. IT
PROVIDES THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT WAY TO DIVIDE
INFORMATION TO ALL OF YOU. I
WOULD ADD THAT DEPARTMENT STAFF
HAVE BEEN TOLD EXPLICITLY NOT TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS DIRECTLY FROM
YOUR STAFF, BUT RATHER, TO ASK
FOR FOLKS TO SUBMIT IT THIS WAY.
IT CREATES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
FRICTION. I REALIZE THAT CAN BE
ANNOYING AND A TEST OF YOUR OWN
PREROGATIVE AT TIMES, BUT IN MY
EXPERIENCE, IT REALLY IS THE
BEST WAY TO DO THIS. THERE ARE
LITERALLY GOING TO BE HUNDREDS
OF QUESTIONS DIRECTED AT SOME OF
THE LARGER DEPARTMENTS. BEING
ABLE TO SORT THROUGH THE
RESPONSES AND GIVING THEM THE
BEST CHANCE TO ANSWER THEM, WE
HAVE FOUND THIS IS THE BEST WAY
TO DO THAT. ENCOURAGING YOU TO
USE THIS TOOL AS WELL. THAT IS
ALL I HAVE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK ONE
SLIDE. THIS IS THE WAY WE WILL
SEE PRESENTATIONS MADE FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS . LAST YEAR, AS PART
OF MY BUDGET REFORM EFFORTS, I
REQUESTED CENTRAL STAFF TO
CREATE A , I THINK AT THAT TIME,
A FIVE-YEAR LOOK BACK SO WE CAN
UNDERSTAND HOW THE CITY UP HIS
BUDGET WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ,
CHANGE DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND
GOT TO THE CURRENT STATUS. I
ASKED CENTRAL STAFF TO DO SO
AGAIN . EVEN WITH FEWER STAFF,
WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
GRANTED, I REQUESTED IN JUNE. I
AM HAPPY IT ARRIVED TODAY.
MESSAGES OF APPRECIATION AND
GRATITUDE. NOTHING ELSE. WE WILL
HAVE THE DOCUMENT ATTACHED TO
THIS WEEK'S FINANCE , NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE . WE ARE
NOT GOING TO DIG INTO IT IN
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK. WE ARE
POSTING IT ON THE COMMITTEE
WEBSITE SO YOU HAVE ACCESS . IT
IS SOMETHING I WILL BE USING AS
A REFERENCE DOCUMENT THROUGHOUT
BUDGET . WE HAVE POSTED IT SO
YOU ALSO CAN USE IT AS A
REFERENCE DOCUMENT THROUGHOUT
BUDGET. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS
SLIDE BECAUSE IT IS SIMILAR AND
DIFFERENT THAN THE INFORMATION
WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THE CBO,
BECAUSE THIS IS COUNCIL
GENERATED. I KNOW THAT TRACY HAS
SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS. I
KNOW WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS
WITHOUT PATTY. I JUST WANT TO
EXPRESS IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO
BOTH OF THEM , AND BEN, FOR ALL
YOUR WORK TO GET THIS DONE. THE
SIX YEAR LOOK BACK WILL BE
HELPFUL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY TRENDS, RATHER THAN
INCREMENTAL YEAR-OVER-YEAR
CHANGE. THANK YOU.
>> AND THANK YOU, BUDGET CHAIR
STRAUSS. EMPHASIZING AGAIN, AS
WE LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET, WE
GET FOCUSED ON INCREMENT FROM
THIS YEAR COMPARED TO NEXT YEAR
OR THE PAST YEAR TO THE CURRENT.
THIS DOCUMENT, A SIX YEAR LOOK
BACK, PROVIDES MORE OF A
HISTORICAL VIEW OF HOW THE
DEPARTMENT GOT WHERE IT GOT, IF
YOU WILL. FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH,
WE THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING IT A
FIVE-YEAR ROLLING LOOK BACK .
THE CHALLENGE IS THAT 2020,
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BASE
YEAR WE WOULD SHIFT TO COME UP
WITH SUCH AN UNUSUAL YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC THAT I
THINK THE SIX YEAR LOOK BACK
WITH 2019 AS THE ANCHOR YEAR
MAKE SENSE. IT WILL FOR A FEW
MORE YEARS UNTIL WE GET TO A
POINT WHERE WE CAN JUMP PAST THE
PANDEMIC THAT IT REALLY CREATED
A NUMBER OF ANOMALIES, BOTH FROM
A FINANCIAL AND POLICY
PERSPECTIVE. HISTORICAL PATTERNS
ARE HARD TO DETECT. IN ANY CASE,
HAPPY TO HAVE COMPLETED THAT IN
TIME FOR IT TO BE A REFERENCE
FOR YOU ALL.
>> OKAY. I AM NOT SEEING ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS. THINK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THE OVERVIEW.
APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. THE
NEXT ITEM -- LET'S SEE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. YOU HAVE A
PROCLAMATION FOR SIGNATURE TODAY
PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH
OCTOBER 15, 2025 AS HISPANIC
HERITAGE MONTH. PLEASE LEAVE THE
DISCUSSION, AND THEN I WILL OPEN
THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS BEFORE
REQUESTING SIGNATURES TO BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES PETE
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FIRST
DESIGNATED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN 1988 TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE FROM
HISPANIC AND LATINO, LATINA
BACKGROUNDS. WE CELEBRATE THIS
MONTH EVERY YEAR . AND THIS
YEAR, IT SEEMS EVER MORE
IMPORTANT AS WE ARE SEEING THE
ATTACKS ON OUR LATINO, LATINA
AND OTHER IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I WILL NOW
READ THE PROCLAMATION AND ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT ONTO THE
MEETING SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH
OCTOBER 15 AS HISPANIC HERITAGE
MONTH IN SEATTLE. WHEREAS OUR
COUNTRY HAS OFFICIALLY
RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED THE
TRADITIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF
THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY DURING
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FROM
SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15
EACH YEAR SINCE 1988. WHEREAS,
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
UPLIFTS THE CULTURE OF RESIDENTS
OF MEXICAN, SPANISH CENTRAL AND
SOUTH AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN
DISSENT. AND WHEREAS, THIS MONTH
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD
GREATER AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING
AND APPRECIATION FOR LATINO,
LATINO, AND HISPANIC TRADITIONS
AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. AND WHEREAS,
THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO SEATTLE AND THE
PUGET SOUND REGION FOR CENTURIES
SINCE THE FIRST SETTLERS OF
SPANISH AND MEXICAN DESCENT
ARRIVED AS EARLY AS 1774. WE SEE
THE LEGACY OF SPANISH
EXPLORATION IN PLACE NAMES SUCH
AS THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS, CAMINO
ISLAND AND THE , AND WHEREAS,
OUR COUNTRY RELIES ON, AND
SUCCEEDS, WITH THE VALUABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC
IMMIGRANTS , AND IN THIS TIME OF
OPEN HOSTILITY AND CRUELTY FROM
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, THEY
DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND SUPPORT
. AND WHEREAS, 9% OF SEATTLE'S
RESIDENTS IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC
OR LATINO . AND WHEREAS, IN
1968, AFTER CHICANO STUDENTS AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT, THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON WAS THE
FIRST CAMPUS IN THE UNITED
STATES TO STOP SELLING
CALIFORNIA GRAPES IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE UNITED FARM WORKERS
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE LED BY
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER. AND
WHEREAS, WE RECOGNIZE CELEBRATED
LOCAL ARTISTS, SUCH AS A CHICANO
MURALIST WHO ATTENDED UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON IN THE LATE '60s
AND WAS ACTIVE IN BOTH THE
CHICANO AND FARMWORKERS
MOVEMENTS, AND WHOSE MURALS,
INCLUDING SEVERAL AT THE
UNIVERSITY, REMAIN KEY SYMBOLS
OF THE CHICANO MOVEMENT. AND
WHEREAS, WE RECOGNIZE LEADERS IN
SEATTLE'S HISPANIC COMMUNITY,
SUCH AS EDUARDO, A RHODES
SCHOLAR AND CURRENT RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY, THE LATE
PHYLLIS GUTIERREZ, ONE OF THE
FIRST LATINAS TO SERVE IN THE
FIRST WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATOR, JORGE GONZALEZ,
FOUNDER OF THE SEATTLE LATINO
FILM FESTIVAL, A TRADITIONAL
DANCER, AND MANY OTHERS. AND
WHEREAS, SEATTLE HISPANIC SMALL
BUSINESSES ADD TO THE VIBRANCY
AND CULTURE OF SEATTLE AND ARE
UPLIFTED AND AMPLIFIED BY THE
SEATTLE LATINO METROPOLITAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND
WHEREAS, ORGANIZATIONS AND
GROUPS, SUCH AS LAKE CITY
COLLECTIVE, THAT CULTIVATE SOUTH
PARK , BUT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
AND FOSTER THE HISPANIC
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE. AND
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
COMMEMORATES THE LATINO ATHLETES
REPRESENTING SEATTLE, INCLUDING
SEATTLE MARINERS JULIO RODRIGUEZ
, AND LUIS CASTILLO. AND SEATTLE
SEAHAWKS , AMONG OTHERS. AND
WHEREAS, THE LATINO COMMUNITY
CELEBRATES MANY CULTURAL
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN SEATTLE,
INCLUDING HISPANIC SEAFARER,
SEATTLE LATINO FILM FESTIVAL,
NORTHWEST FESTIVAL, CINCO DE
MAYO, AND OTHERS. AND WHEREAS,
THE CITY OF SEATTLE CELEBRATES
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND
COMMENCED THE CULTURAL, ECONOMIC
AND HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF
THE LATINO COMMUNITY, HELPING US
ADVANCE THE VALUES OF THE ONE
SEATTLE VISION TO BUILD AN
INNOVATIVE, THRIVING AND
WELCOMING CITY FOR ALL. NOW,
THEREFORE, THE MAYOR OF SEATTLE
IN THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH
OCTOBER 15, 2025 TO BE HISPANIC
HERITAGE MONTH IN SEATTLE AND
ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN
US IN OBSERVING AND
ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMMEASURABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS LATINOS, LATINAS,
HAVE MADE TO OUR CITY.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE MY STAFF IN DRAFTING
THIS PROCLAMATION , AND THE
DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS
WORKING ON AN EVENT TO HONOR
THIS MONTH WHERE WE WILL PRESENT
THIS PROCLAMATION. YOU WILL ALL
RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO JOIN IN
THE CELEBRATION ONCE IT IS
FINALIZED. LAST YEAR WE HAD
STORYTELLING, CHILDREN SINGING
AND A DANCE PERFORMANCE IN
CELEBRATION OF OUR CULTURE. I
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
PRESENTING THIS. I AM LOOKING TO
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS. NOT SEEING ANY. I
WILL JUST SAY THAT IT IS
PROBABLY NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE
SOUTH PARK FIESTA ANNUAL PARADE
WAS THIS PAST WEEKEND. IT IS PUT
ON BY THE THEME THIS YEAR WAS,
IS, OUR VOICE, OUR STRENGTHS. IT
CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF
LANGUAGES AND CULTURE AND
CUSTOMS OF VARIOUS LATIN
AMERICAN COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO
RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
UNITY. I RECOMMEND THE PARADE TO
ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO GO. IT IS A
LOT OF FUN. YOU CAN LEARN A
WHOLE BUNCH TOO. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS POWER.
ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
HANDS UP. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] EIGHT
SIGNATURES WILL BE AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
WILL BE PRESENTED TO BE
DETERMINED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE COME TO THAT PART OF THE
AGENDA WHERE WE JUST TALK ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK, WHAT IS
COMING FORWARD THIS WEEK, AND
WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND. WE WILL
START WITH COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY ARTS AND CULTURE
COMMITTEE ACTUALLY ISN'T UNTIL
OCTOBER. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
A BREAK. SIMILARLY, WE ARE NOT
RECONVENING THE SELECT COMMITTEE
OF FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND
POLICY CHANGES UNTIL DECEMBER.
BUT I WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME
TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED IN A REGIONAL COMMITTEE
LAST WEEK, THE REGIONAL POLICY
COMMITTEE. LAST WEDNESDAY THE
REGIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE TOOK
UP THE RENEWAL OF THE KING
COUNTY MENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG
DEPENDENCY SALES TAX. THE SALES
TAX IS , BUT RACIAL POLICY
COMMITTEE TAKES IT UP AS IT IS A
REGIONAL MATTER. IT DOES NOT
HAVE A MANDATORY DUAL REFERRAL.
BUT IT WAS SUBJECT TO TWO -- TO
DISCUSSION. TYPICALLY RENEWALS
FOR SALES TAX ARE FOR NINE
YEARS. AT THE RBC MEETING, LOCAL
LITTERS FROM THE SOUND CITY
RAISE THE IDEA OF A ONE-TIME
SHORTENING OF THE RADIAL TO JUST
TWO YEARS TO ALIGN A FULL-TERM
IMPLEMENTATION WITH BOTH THE
KING COUNTY BIENNIAL BUDGET
CYCLE AND CONCLUSION OF THE NEXT
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
PLAN. THIS WOULD BE UNUSUAL AND
SUBJECT PROVIDERS TO INCREASED
INSECURITY IN AN ALREADY
UNCERTAIN CLIMATE GIVEN FEDERAL
DEFUNDING OF CRITICAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS. BUT RBC
REPRESENTATIVES OFFERED TO
IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE PLANNING
AND DESIGN ASKS INTO AN
AMENDMENT TO THE NINE-YEAR
RENEWAL OF THE NEXT KING COUNTY
COUNCIL MEETING. MID-RENEWAL
PASSED OUT OF OUR PC WITH THAT
RECOMMENDATION GOING TO KING
COUNTY COUNCIL . SO LOOKING
FORWARD AND WATCHING TO SEE HOW
THAT DISCUSSION GOES FORWARD AT
KING COUNTY COUNCIL, MAKING SURE
WE HAVE AN UNINTERRUPTED
CONTINUATION OF THIS IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT GOES
TOWARDS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES. ON A FUN NOTE,
CELEBRATED ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY
YESTERDAY . FOR THOSE WHO ARE
NOT FAMILIAR, KING COUNTY
METRO'S RAPID G LINE RUNS TO
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ON MADISON
STREET AND OUTBOUND TRIP TRAVEL
IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. THE G
LINE LAUNCHED SEPTEMBER 2024. IT
USES THE FIRST, STILL ONLY,
CENTER RUNNING BUS LANES IN KING
COUNTY. SOME MAY KNOW THE ROUTE
HAD A BUMPY START WITH SIX
MINUTE FREQUENCIES, WHICH LED TO
SOME SEVERE BUS BUNCHING, BUT
OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS, THESE
ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND
RIDERSHIP HAS STEADILY INCREASED
EACH MONTH. I CAN ATTEST TO IT
ANECDOTALLY AS A RIDER MYSELF.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE DATA THAT
SUPPORTS THAT. THEY FOUND IN MAY
OF THIS YEAR THE G LINE HAD AN
AVERAGE OF 6113 AVERAGE WEEKDAY
BOARDINGS, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPRESSIVE. I WOULD SAY IT SEEMS
LIKE THERE ARE MORE AND MORE
FOLKS ON THE BUS EVERY DAY.
EXCITING TO SEE THAT WE CAN
DELIVER THAT KIND OF FREQUENT
TRANSIT WHEN WE MAKE THOSE
INVESTMENTS, PEOPLE COME AND
DEFINITELY USE IT. I WILL CLOSE
WITH A NOTE ON THE FEDERAL
SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN
WITH BREAKING NEWS AS WE WERE
BEGINNING THIS MEETING. AS WE
HAVE BEEN MEETING THIS
AFTERNOON, THE PRESIDENT
ASSIGNED A PRESIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM ESTABLISHING THE
MEMPHIS SAFE TASK FORCE IN
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, REPLICATING
THE FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF
WASHINGTON D.C. THE MEMPHIS SAFE
TASK FORCE IN MEMPHIS,
TENNESSEE, REPLICATING THE
FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF WASHINGTON
D.C. IN THE NAME OF LAW AND
ORDER. AND TO PULL A QUOTE FROM
THE MEMO HIGHLIGHTING THE TASK
FORCE'S OBJECTIVE, IT IS, I
QUOTE "OBJECTIVE SHALL BE TO END
STREET IN VIOLENT CRIME IN
MEMPHIS TO THE GREATEST EXTENT
POSSIBLE , GREATEST POSSIBLE
EXTENT THROUGH THE PROMOTION AND
FACILITATION OF HYPERVIGILANT
POLICING, AGGRESSIVE
PROSECUTION, COMPLEX
INVESTIGATIONS, FINANCIAL
ENFORCEMENT AND LARGE-SCALE
SATURATION OF BESIEGED
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND WHICH
SHALL COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH
STATE OFFICIALS IN TENNESSEE AND
LOCAL OFFICIALS IN MEMPHIS TO
SHARE INFORMATION, DEVELOP JOINT
PRIORITIES AND MAXIMIZE
RESOURCES TO MAKE MEMPHIS SAFE
AND RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER. " IT
ALSO CALLS ON THE SECRETARY OF
WAR TO CALL ON THE GOVERNOR OF
TENNESSEE TO DEPLOY THEIR
NATIONAL GUARD IN SERVICE OF
THIS EFFORT AND ASSIST IN
MOBILIZATION AND TRAINING MORE
GUARDSMEN FOR THIS PURPOSE. IN
REMARKS TO THE PRESS, THE
PRESIDENT HAS ALSO CLEARLY
STATED THAT NEW ORLEANS AND ST.
LOUIS AND OTHER CITIES WILL BE
NEXT. AS SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER
KILLED PRESIDENT SAID ON A
PODCAST RECENTLY, THIS IS THE
BLUEPRINT. MY OFFICE WILL BE
KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON HOW THE
PEOPLE OF MEMPHIS, WHETHER THIS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL FEDERAL
OCCUPATION AND THE EXTENT TO
WHICH THEIR DOWNTOWN COMMAND
CENTER, WHICH IS THE PREVALENT
TO OUR REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER,
IS USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
FURTHERANCE OF TRUMP'S AGENDA.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES HERE
TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT TOO. ON
THAT SOMBER NOTE, I WILL YIELD
MY TIME FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
IN ADDITION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN WORK WE ARE ALL ENGAGED IN,
LAST WEEK I MET WITH THE
PRESIDING JUDGE ANITA CRAWFORD
WILLIS TO HEAR ABOUT THE WORK AT
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT. I
ALSO CHAIRED THE LIBRARIES,
EDUCATION AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE WHERE WE VOTED TO MOVE
FORWARD THE TWO APPOINTMENTS
PRESERVATION BOARD THAT WE WILL
VOTE ON AT FULL COUNCIL
TOMORROW, AND ALSO DESIGNATING
THE TOLLIVER CHAPEL CHURCH OF
GOD AND CHRIST AS A HISTORIC
LANDMARK, WHICH WE WILL ALSO
VOTE ON TOMORROW. IT WAS REALLY
A SPECIAL TO HAVE THE PASTOR
FROM THE CHURCH HERE . I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AT FULL
COUNCIL ON THIS DESIGNATION. WE
ALSO STARTED THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
DIRECTOR CHAPELLE AS DIRECTOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING. THIS WEEK
CONTINUING, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO
DO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WORK
THAT IS BEFORE US. ALSO THIS
WEEK, DEPENDING ON SOME OF THE
WORK WE ARE DOING ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I SIT ON THE
BOARD OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON CITIES, AND AS YOU
ALL KNOW, WE HAVE A BOARD
MEETING AND RETREAT THIS WEEK. I
AM GOING TO TRY TO MAKE SOME OF
THAT ON FRIDAY, BUT IT WILL
REALLY DEPEND ON HOW MUCH WE GET
TO THE BEGINNING PART OF THE
WEEK ON OUR VOTES. I WANTED TO
LET YOU KNOW THAT I WAS TRACKING
THE AWC . IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, HAPPY TO
TALK TO YOU OFF-LINE. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? GO
AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. OUR NEXT MEETING OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
WILL BE TOMORROW , SEPTEMBER 16
AT 9:30 A.M. THIS WILL BE OUR
FINAL COMMITTEE MEETING BEFORE
BUDGETS . SEVERAL IMPORTANT
AGENDA ITEMS ARE TEES UP,
INCLUDING LIKELY VOTES ON THE
DISTRICT PROJECT FUND AND
RESOLUTION , INNOVATIVE NEW
LETTER E CARGO BIKES PROGRAM,
WHICH IS IN MY VIEW A SUPERCOOL
PERMITTING PROGRAM TO PROMOTE
THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY CARGO BIKES TO BETTER
SUPPORT LAST MILE DELIVERY AND
HELP STRENGTHEN THIS PILOT
PROGRAM . WE WILL ALSO HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON
OUR SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
THREE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ,
WHICH IS MADE PURSUANT TO THE
BROADER SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN AND STRATEGY WE PASSED LAST
YEAR. FINALLY, WE HEAR
LEGISLATION FROM SDOT REGARDING
A VERY TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO
PREVIOUSLY PASS COUNCIL
ORDINANCE FROM 2023 . THAT WILL
ALL BE TOMORROW. LOOK FORWARD TO
IT. SHOULD BE EXCITING. NEXT I
WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE HAS BEEN
SOME VANDALISM AND STREETLIGHT
OUTAGES ON THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE. THERE WAS A TROUBLING
ARTICLE THAT APPEARED THAT I SAW
AFTER NINE HOURS OF PUBLIC
TESTIMONY AND HEARING, THAT LONG
MEETING WE ALL HAD ON FRIDAY,
COLLEAGUES, FIRST MEDIA REPORTS
I HAPPEN TO SEE WAS REPORTING IN
THE SEATTLE TIMES THAT NOTED
SEVERE OUTAGES ON STREETLIGHTS
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE, IN
LARGE PART, ATTRIBUTE IT TO
VANDALISM. I SAW FOLLOW-UP
REPORTING FROM WESTSIDE SEATTLE,
AND I THINK EVEN THE WITH
SEATTLE WE HAVE PICKED THIS UP
AS WELL. IN ANY EVENT, THIS
VANDALISM LINKED TO -- THESE
OUTAGES LINKED TO VANDALISM
UNDERMINE KEY CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS AND
ELECTRICITY ASSETS ACROSS THE
CITY. IN THIS CASE, IT IS A
VITAL PORTION OF A BRIDGE THAT
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RELY
ON DAILY TO TRAVERSE ACROSS THE
CITY. I HAPPENED TO GO HOME
LATER THAT EVENING AND WITNESSED
SOME OF THE OUTAGES FIRSTHAND.
BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY
ATTRIBUTE IT TO VANDALISM ,
THESE KIND OF ILLEGAL ACTS ARE
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IN THIS
CASE, RISKING DRIVER SAFETY ON
THE ROAD, IN ADDITION TO COSTING
OUR CITY IN A CHALLENGING BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT, NO LESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, I PERSONALLY HAD
TO ALSO WITNESS PEOPLE STRIPPING
COPPER WIRE WALL RIDING TRANSIT
. WE SEE A SYMPTOM OF THIS. AND
MORE SYMPTOMS OF IT MANIFESTED
ITSELF BY THE LATEST TROUBLING
CASE ON THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
I PERSONALLY REACHED OUT TO THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT CEO TO
INQUIRE ABOUT ADDRESSING THE
SITUATION, ASKING FOR PROMPT
ACTION AND ATTENTION. WE ARE
AWAITING HER RESPONSE. LOOKING
FORWARD TO COORDINATING WITH
CITY LIGHT AND SDOT ON MAKING
REPAIRS AND DOING OTHER THINGS
TO MITIGATE AND PREVENT THE
LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE VANDALISM
HAVING SUCH A SUSTAINED, DURABLE
IMPACT , AS IN THIS CASE. SO
STAY TUNED. NEXT, I WANT TO NOTE
SOME IMPORTANT ROAD SAFETY
UPGRADES TAKING PLACE , AND
EFFORTS TAKING PLACE IN SOUTH
PARK. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE SOUTH PARK
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE
DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY
COALITION , CULTIVATE SOUTH
PARK, LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES ,
FAMILIES, PARENTS TO SECURE LONG
NEEDED TRAFFIC CALMING
IMPROVEMENTS ALONG 14th AVENUE
SOUTH AND SOUTH PARK . WE HAVE
DONE A NUMBER OF WALKING TOURS
WITH COMMUNITY AND SDOT LEADING
UP TO THIS . THIS IS A VERY
DANGEROUS FREIGHT ARTERIAL THAT
HAS SEEN TWO TRAGIC PEDESTRIAN
FATALITIES IN THE PAST YEAR
ALONE . AFTER SUSTAINED ADVOCACY
THAT MY OFFICE BEGAN AFTER
TAKING OFFICE , AND
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH TWO MORE
FATALITIES OVER THE PAST YEAR,
LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ARE SEEING
SOME CROSSWALK MARKINGS NOW IN
PLACE , IN ADDITION TO SOME
SPEED CUSHIONS . SPEED CUSHIONS.
I THINK THIS IS A HUGE WIN , AND
ADDITIONAL UPGRADES AND
INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED AND ARE
BEING PLANNED RIGHT NOW BY THE
DEPARTMENT. BUT I DO WANT TO
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
DIRECTOR EMORY, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, COMMUNITY FOR THEIR
RESPONSIVENESS AND PARTNERSHIP
IN DELIVERING THESE CRITICAL
SAFETY UPGRADES AS IT TOOK MUCH
COMPLEX COORDINATION WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, OTHER GROUPS,
INCLUDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND OTHER REGIONAL PARTNERS TO
DELIVER. THESE MEASURES ARE AN
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD SLOWING
TRAFFIC AND CREATING SAFER
CROSSINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY .
LIKE I MENTIONED, MORE
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ON THE WAY. I
SHOULD NOTE THAT LAST SUMMER MY
OFFICE , WE STARTED HEARING
INCREASED DEMAND FOR MORE ROAD
SAFETY INVESTMENTS ALONG TO
ADDRESS SOME SPECIFIC PROBLEM
ACTIVITY IN THAT CASE PERTAINING
TO EXCESSIVE SPEEDING AND ROAD
RACING. AND SO, BECAUSE OF THE
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND A PUSH
FOR MY OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO
DELIVER SOME SPEED CUSHIONS. THE
DEPARTMENT STUDIED THIS CLOSELY
AND WAS ABLE TO DELIVER SPEED
CUSHIONS, WHICH MADE A
DIFFERENCE, SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE, IN ADDRESSING SOME
OF THE PROBLEM ACTIVITY IN TERMS
OF SPEEDING. REMAINING CONCERNS
AROUND EXCESSIVE NOISE , BUT IN
TERMS OF THE UNDERLYING ISSUE OF
SPEEDING AND ROAD SAFETY, THOSE
HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE. I KNOW THERE WAS A
LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION . IS THIS
THING ON? SOUTH PARK , THE
DEPARTMENT DELIVERED THE EXACT
SAME TREATMENT FOR SOUTH PARK,
AMONG OTHER POTENTIAL UPGRADES ,
COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE RCC
STILL ASKING FOR MORE,
INCLUDING, RIGHTLY SO, A RED
LIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERA AT THE KEY
INTERSECTION THERE. AND THE
DEPARTMENT HAS MORE ON THE WAY.
THEY ARE DOING THE ANALYSIS,
DATA ANALYSIS, FOR THAT CAMERA
RIGHT NOW. MORE UPGRADES ON THE
WAY. WE DELIVERED , OUR CITY WAS
ABLE TO DELIVER SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR UPGRADES. MY HOPE IS
THAT ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN
THESE NITTY-GRITTY EFFECTS, IF
YOU WILL, OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS TOO. IT IS
IMPORTANT. THIS IS A DIRECT
RESULT OF THE EFFICACY OF
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH PARK
COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK THEM,
BECAUSE IN MY VIEW, THIS IS A
GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW COMMUNITIES
ARE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER , WORK
WITH GOVERNMENT, TO MAKE SURE
THEIR GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY
BEING RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY
CONCERNS. PLENTY MORE TO DO, OF
COURSE. BUT I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE I MENTIONED. ALL RIGHT.
IN TERMS OF BEING IN THE
COMMUNITY, THIS PAST SATURDAY I
WAS PROUD TO WALK IN THE FIESTA
PARADE WITH MY DAUGHTER , A FEW
MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY IN THIS COOL,
EXCITING ANNUAL EVENT. ONE OF MY
PERSONAL FAVORITES. AT HONORS
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH
TODAY, A MOMENT AGO, WE SIGNED
THE PROCLAMATION BROUGHT ON
BEHALF OF COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
THIS MONTH. VERY TIMELY. BUT
THIS EVENT, COOL EVENT HOSTED ,
WE CELEBRATED THE RICH HERITAGE
AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF SEATTLE'S
LATINO COMMUNITY AND THANK THEM
FOR GOING FORTH WITH IT. THE
THEME THIS YEAR, AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ALLUDED TO EARLIER, IS
OUR VOICE, OUR STRENGTHS. IT
FELL PARTICULARLY PROFOUND AND
MEANINGFUL THIS YEAR AT A TIME
WHEN IMMIGRATION OR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANT REFUGEE
COMMITTEES , ARE LIVING IN FEAR
BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S RELENTLESS AND
AGGRESSIVE ATTACKS AND I.C.E.
ENFORCEMENT. THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT THAT. CONTRIBUTED TO
TURNOUT THIS YEAR. I WILL SAY
THAT , ANECDOTALLY, THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE IN TERMS OF
PARTICIPANTS LINED UP ALONG THE
PARADE ROUTE , IT APPEARED TO BE
ABOUT ROUGHLY HALF OF WHAT IT
HAS BEEN THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS I HAVE BEEN AT THIS EVENT
. JUST FOR MY PERSPECTIVE, SO NO
DOUBT, IT HAD AN IMPACT. TALKING
WITH THE EVENT ORGANIZERS, THEY
REPORT THAT THERE WAS STILL 45
PARADE PARTICIPANTS, WHICH IS
IDENTICAL. THE IDENTICAL NUMBER
FROM LAST YEAR, BUT THEY DID
HAVE MORE NEW PARADE
PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR. THEY
DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY RENEWALS .
AND SO, NO DOUBT WE HAVE SEEN
SOME IMPACT THERE. AGAIN, TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S AGGRESSIVE
I.C.E. RAIDS AND ATTACKS ON
LOCAL IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED
TURNOUT SOMEWHAT, BUT IT DID NOT
AT ALL , NOR CAN IT, DIMINISH
THE SPIRIT OF THE CELEBRATION,
AND THE PRIDE THAT IT ENGENDERED
IN ALL. REPORTED THAT HISPANIC
HERITAGE MONTH, BOTH WASHINGTON
AND OREGON, ARE SANCTUARY STATES
, AND I.C.E. ACTIVITY IN THIS
AREA IS RISING. WE ALL KNOW
THAT. MORE SPECIFIC DATA FROM
THE DEPORTATION DATA PROJECT
SHOWS THERE WERE AROUND 1660
ARRESTS IN THE FIRST SEVEN
MONTHS OF 2025 AT A SEATTLE
FIELD OFFICE. THE GEOGRAPHIC
REGION THAT COVERS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. THAT IS UP FROM AROUND
1570 IN ALL OF 2024 COMBINED. SO
WE WILL NOT SIT SILENTLY ON THE
SIDELINES . THE PARADE WAS,
NONETHELESS, A BEAUTIFUL
REMINDER THAT OUR CITY IS
ENRICHED EVERY SINGLE DAY BY THE
TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
POPULATIONS, AND ESPECIALLY
THOSE FROM LATIN AMERICA. ON A
FINAL NOTE, I WILL SAY THAT AT
THE FIESTA PARADE I RAN INTO A
LOT OF COOL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ,
INCLUDING CHEERLEADERS AND THE
FOOTBALL TEAM . I RAN INTO, I
BELIEVE, HEAD COACH CAMACHO, WHO
INVITED ME TO HIS , MAYBE NOT
THE BEST WORK DASHBOARD,
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED AND
COMMANDED I ATTENDED AN
IMPORTANT RIVALRY GAME.
IMPORTANT INTER-PENINSULA,
FOOTBALL RIVALRY GAME ON FRIDAY
BETWEEN WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL
AND INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT IS COMING UP ON FRIDAY.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT, YES,
COACH CAMACHO, I WILL BE
ATTENDING THE ANNUAL FOOTBALL
GAME. BIG RIVALRY FOOTBALL GAME
BETWEEN CROSSTOWN COME ACROSS
PENINSULA RIVALS, WITH SEATTLE
AND AT THE SOUTHWEST ATHLETIC
COMPLEX. EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO
JOIN THAT EVENT ON THIS COMING
FRIDAY. I WILL ALSO BE
PRESENTING THE TROPHY FOR THIS
YEAR'S WINNING TEAM. AGAIN,
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE . I DON'T HAVE A
DOG IN THE FIGHT. I WANT A FUN
AND COMPETITIVE GAME AND SAFE
GAME. BUT EXCITED AND HONORED TO
BE THERE. THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL
I HAVE IN THE WAY OF UPDATES. I
WELCOME ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM ANY OF YOU ALL.
IF NOT, I WILL PASS IT ON.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA FOR THE UPDATES. ESPECIALLY
WANT TO NOTE THE TRAFFIC CALMING
MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN
PLACE TO DEAL WITH THE SPEEDING.
WE HAVE SPEEDING AS WELL ON SAND
POINT WAY AND 95th STREET. I
WANT TO RAISE THAT AS THIS
HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY. I
HAVE ALSO BEEN REQUESTING FROM
SDOT SUPPORT ON PUTTING TRAFFIC
CALMING MEASURES IN PLACE AT
THAT AREA AS WELL. SO FOR ANY
CONSTITUENTS LISTENING, I DON'T
WANT THEM TO THINK THAT I
HAVEN'T BEEN REQUESTING THAT AS
WELL. I HAVE, AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO. I AM GLAD THEY GOT
PUT IN PLACE IN YOUR DISTRICT ,
AND THEY ALSO NEED TO RESPOND TO
CONSTITUENTS IN THE OTHER
DISTRICTS WHO ARE ALSO DEALING
WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE RACING
AND DANGER. I WILL SAY THE
SPEEDING PIECE, WE HAD A
FATALITY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
OF A BELOVED LIBRARIAN IN THE
DISTRICT. WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING THERE AS WELL. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THEY COULD, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. AS CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE ON THE NEED
FOR OUR CITY AS LED AND EXECUTED
BY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
TO FIND WAYS TO ADD SAFETY,
IMPORTANT IMMUNITY REQUESTED
SAFETY INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE
CITY . I HIGHLIGHTED A FEW
EXAMPLES IN MY OWN DISTRICT, BUT
THE SAME UNDERLYING ISSUES ARE
ACROSS THE CITY. THE GOOD NEWS
IS THAT TOMORROW AT OUR
COMMITTEE WE ARE CONSIDERING AN
IMPORTANT , MORE FUNDING TO
ALLOW , YOU KNOW, MORE TREATMENT
IN MORE AREAS. THE DISTRICT
PROJECT FUND , THERE IS A
RESOLUTION ON THAT. BASICALLY A
NEW PROGRAM AND MORE FUNDING.
DOZENS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS IN
THE DEPARTMENT, AS WE KNOW, TO
ADDRESS SAFETY . BUT WE ARE
CREATING ANOTHER ONE AND ADDING
ANOTHER MECHANISM. BUT THE
BROADER POINT AND CONCERN IS
DULY NOTED . AND I APPRECIATE
YOU FOR SHARING THAT. BECAUSE I
KNOW YOU AND I HAVE TALKED
MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY ACROSS THE
CITY, PARTICULARLY IN YOUR
DISTRICT AND MAGNUSON POINT
AREA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY. LET'S SEE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON
IS NOT HERE. COPY THAT. THANK
YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS WEEK WE
HAVE THE FINEST NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE. WE HAVE
GOT TO SHORTENING. WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THAT LATER . A LONG NAME.
ANYWAY, THE THINGS YOU INHERIT
FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE SMARTER
THAN YOU. WE ARE MEETING
WEDNESDAY AT 9:30 A.M. I HOPE IT
IS A SHORT MEETING BECAUSE WE
HAVE TWO OR THREE DAYS WORTH OF
COMP PLAN FOLLOWING THAT
DIRECTLY. THE AGENDA THIS WEEK
IS ONLY THE SOUND TRANSIT
STAFFING APPROPRIATIONS BILL. WE
HEARD THIS IN COMMITTEE BEFORE.
I'M NOT GOING TO ASK FOR A FULL
PRESENTATION. IF FOLKS HAVE
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS,
PLEASE AIR THEM , AND WE WILL
VOTE ON THAT. THE SECOND ITEM IS
WHAT I DISCUSSED DURING DIRECTOR
NOBLE'S PRESENTATION, THE SIX
YEAR LOOK BACK ON DEPARTMENT BY
DEPARTMENT BUDGETS. THIS IS A
REALLY HELPFUL DOCUMENT, BECAUSE
IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT HOW
BUDGETING HAS OCCURRED OVER
TIME, RATHER THAN INCREMENTALLY.
IT HELPS US LOOK AT WHAT THE
FUNDING STREAM IS. IS A JUST
JUMPSTART, GENERAL FUND, JUST
LEVY, JUST RATEPAYER? IT REALLY
HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THESE DEPARTMENTS
HAVE BEEN BUDGETED AND WHAT ROOM
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THEIR
SITUATION, GOOD OR BAD. SO THAT
IS THE COMMITTEE FOR THIS COMING
WEDNESDAY. WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING FOR FULL COUNSEL TODAY,
OR TOMORROW, COMING OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE. AND TOMORROW IS THE
TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT. THE
SECOND ONE EVER. I KNOW MYSELF
AND A NUMBER OF OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS WILL BE EXCUSED FROM
COMMITTEE MEETINGS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOR LETTING
ME BE EXCUSED FROM
TRANSPORTATION. I WILL ALSO BE
EXCUSED FROM FULL COUNSEL
TOMORROW. I WILL BE IN THE
BUILDING. IT IS DOWN IN THE
ROOM. IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME,
JUST SHOOT ME A TEXT, AND I WILL
COME RIGHT UP. DEBORAH WON'T.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS.
I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF
COLLEAGUES HAVE WORKED WITH
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS ON PARTICIPATION. FROM
SOUND TRANSIT, YOU MIGHT HAVE
READ THE ARTICLE FROM LAST WEEK
REGARDING WEST SEATTLE AND
EVERETT. AS I HAVE STATED THE
LAST NUMBER OF MEETINGS, I AM
CONTINUING TO BRING THIS UP SO
EVERYONE CAN STAY ENGAGED. WE
ARE GOING THROUGH AN ENTERPRISE
INITIATIVE TO FIND COST SAVINGS
THROUGHOUT THE SOUND TRANSIT
THREE EXPANSION. THIS LAST WEEK
-- EACH OF THE SOUND TRANSIT
COMMITTEES IS TAKING OF THEIR
OWN AREA OF EXPERTISE. THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE IS TAKING UP
FINANCE ISSUES, OPERATIONS
TAKING UP OPERATIONS, RIDERSHIP,
ET CETERA. AS SOMEBODY THAT SITS
ON THE EXPANSION COMMITTEE, I
SIT IN FRONT OF THE ELEMENTS
THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING THE SOUND
TRANSIT 3 GOALS. WE HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED JUST THIS LAST WEEK ON
THE WEST SEATTLE AND EVERETT
NUMBERS. THE EVERETT NUMBER IS
NOT GOING TO TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF
WORK TO GET IT BACK WITHIN THE
ORIGINAL FINANCIAL PLAN.
GRANTED, WITH SEATTLE HAS SOME
MORE CHALLENGES. THERE ARE GOING
TO BE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO
MAKE. I WILL QUOTE MYSELF FROM
THE SEATTLE TIMES, WHICH IS TO
BUILD SOTO TO DILL RIDGE IS THE
WORST IDEA I HAVE EVER HEARD IN
MY LIFE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I
REPRESENTED YOUR OPINION ON THE
BOARD AS WELL. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THIS FOR YOU. IF YOU
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE TACOMA EXTENSION , THE
WEST SEATTLE EXTENSION, BALLARD,
EVERETT EXTENSION, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW. I WILL SAY THAT IT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT
WE ALSO FINISH THE SPINE . AND
SO, WE MUST FINISH THE SPINE
BECAUSE IT IS WHAT CONNECTS
EVERETT TO TACOMA AND GIVES
SEATTLE THE ACCESS TO EVERYWHERE
IN BETWEEN PIERCE COUNTY AND
SNOHOMISH COUNTY AS WELL. AND
SO, FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANY
QUESTIONS THERE. IN DISTRICT 6
IN LIEU OF OFFICE HOURS LAST
WEEK , FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A
ROW, I CANCELED OFFICE HOURS AND
REPURPOSE THEM TO MEET WITH
RESIDENTS ABOUT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND GO OVER
THE MAPS. COLLEAGUES, I HAVE
REDUCED MY NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS
FROM 27 TO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE FINAL NUMBER IS, BUT I SEE
YOU SMILING, CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH
. WE HAVE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTIONS. A REAL PLEASURE TO
WORK WITH NEIGHBORS. COLLEAGUES,
I WILL HAVE AMENDMENTS TO THE
MAPS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
IN MY DISTRICT. WE ARE NOT
MAKING REDUCTIONS TO
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. I WOULD
LIKE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT.
BECAUSE I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF
WORK WITH MY NEIGHBORS, WITH THE
DISTRICT 6 RESIDENTS, TO GET
THESE LINES TO THE BEST OF OUR
ABILITIES -- THEY ARE NOT
PERFECT, BUT TO THE BEST OF OUR
ABILITIES. I WOULD ASK YOU TO
SUPPORT MY AMENDMENTS AS I HAVE
WORKED WITH THESE RESIDENTS
SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND
AS MOST RECENTLY AS WEDNESDAY OF
LAST WEEK. I ALSO HAD THE
PLEASURE OF ATTENDING FALL
FISHERMAN'S FESTIVAL THIS LAST
WEEKEND DOWN AT PORT OF SEATTLE
FISHERMAN TERMINAL. THE CLOSEST
FRESHWATER PORT TO THE GULF OF
ALASKA AND THE PUGET SOUND TO
GET TO MEET WITH FOLKS WHO ARE
IN OUR FISHING INDUSTRY.
EVERYONE FROM CARL, THE
SOMETIMES CAPTAIN OF THE FISHING
VESSEL WIZARD AND GOT A NICE
TOUR, TOO, WHO ELSE DID WE MEET?
FOLKS FROM THE PORT. MARITIME
BLUE . I DON'T KNOW WE SAW ANY
MAGICIANS. WE ALSO SAW THE CEO
OF TRIDENT SEAFOODS, THE LARGEST
DOMESTIC PRODUCER OF SEAFOOD IN
THE UNITED STATES. I LET HIM
KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
YOU OFTENTIMES ARE VERY PROUD OF
THE NUMBER OF HEADQUARTERED
COMPANIES IN DISTRICT 7. I JUST
REMINDED HIM THAT YOU CAN'T EAT
COMPUTERS.
>> OKAY.
>> I GUESS WE WILL AGREE TO
DISAGREE ON THAT. SORRY FOR
GOING OFF ON A TANGENT. REALLY
GREAT TO GET TO CELEBRATE THE
FISHERMEN THE KEEP OUR ECONOMY
WORKING FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THAT IS MY REPORT. ANY
QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I WILL PASS
IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. I WILL BE
BRIEF. PARKS, UTILITIES AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE WILL BE
MEETING UNTIL DECEMBER. WE HAVE
SOME TIME TO DO OUR AGENDA. THE
UPCOMING LEGISLATION TOMORROW,
WHICH COUNCIL PRESIDENT WENT
OVER, IS SIDE SEWER CODE, SPU
45th AVENUE COLVER, AND ALSO THE
CRP EXPANSION. WE HAVE A LOT OF
TECHNICAL STUFF COMING TOMORROW.
LOOKING FORWARD TO EARNING
EVERYONE AT THE SUPPORT ON
THOSE. NEXT, THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. AND WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO SHOWED UP TO THE PUBLIC
HEARING, ESPECIALLY STAFF ,
I.T., COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE PUBLIC. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT
DURING THIS PROCESS THROUGH
EMAILS, PHONE CALLS, CONNECTING
WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE ALL
WORKED HARD TO DO PUBLIC
MEETINGS, AND ALSO HAVE , YOU
KNOW, MAKING SURE WE ARE
PRESENTING INFORMATION OUT TO
FOLKS. REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE AS MUCH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
AS POSSIBLE. THE NEXT MEETING IS
GOING TO BE WEDNESDAY, THE 17th,
AT 2:00 P.M. WE JUST RELEASED
THE AGENDA TODAY AT 2:00. OR
JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO. WE
RELEASED WEDNESDAY'S AGENDA. WE
WILL ALSO RELEASE A PUBLIC PRESS
RELEASE , AND ALSO I KNOW THAT
SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED ABOUT
THE VOTING PROCESS AND WHAT
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
WILL LOOK LIKE. WE WILL SEND OUT
A MEMO FROM CENTRAL STAFF IN A
LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THAT WRITTEN DOWN. MORE
THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH COUNCIL
MEMBERS AS WELL WITH CENTRAL
STAFF TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT
PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
AS WE ARE NAVIGATING A TON OF
LEGISLATION, ALL OF 27
AMENDMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, JUST PLAIN. I DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY IT IS NOW. A TON
OF INFORMATION. I KNOW IT WILL
BE REALLY WONKY. WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO NAVIGATE A LOT OF
THINGS. BUT VERY CONFIDENT WITH
THE WAY WE HAVE BROKEN IT UP,
THE WAY THAT CENTRAL STAFF HAS
LAID IT OUT , AND ALSO HOW WE'RE
GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE
PROCESS. I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN
YOU ALL, COLLEAGUES, AND FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS
AND MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE. SO
WEDNESDAY, THE 17th AT 2:00
P.M., THE FIRST MEETING. ALSO
SCHEDULED TO HAVE A MEETING ON
THURSDAY, THE 18th, AT
9:THURSDAY -- 9:30. IF NEEDED,
WE WILL HAVE A MEETING ON FRIDAY
AT 9:30. THIS PART IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. WE ARE GOING TO
PUBLISH IT AS WELL . I BELIEVE
IT IS ALREADY PUBLISHED IN THE
AGENDA THAT PUBLIC COMMENT WILL
ONLY BE ON WEDNESDAY, THE 17th.
THAT WILL BE FOR ONE HOUR. WE
ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO HAVE ONE
MINUTE OF PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE
GOING TO FIT AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE WITHIN THAT HOUR. THAT
IS BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO GET
THROUGH THE LEGISLATION AT HAND.
WE HAVE HAD AN IMMENSE TIME OF
PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC
HEARING DURING THIS PROCESS. SO
WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO
SEND IN YOUR WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENTS HOWEVER WAY YOU
COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COUNCIL
MEMBERS. PLEASE DO , BECAUSE
THERE WILL ONLY BE PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR ONE HOUR ON
WEDNESDAY. THAT HAS GONE OUT ON
THE AGENDA AT 2:00 P.M. EVERYONE
WILL GET ONE MINUTE. WE'RE
GOING TO FIT AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE IN THE PROCESS. THANK
YOU ALL. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I
BELIEVE THAT IS IT. I WILL PAUSE
HERE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>> NOT SEEING ANY.
>> THE BEST EVER WHEN NO ONE HAS
QUESTIONS. I WILL NOW PASS IT
OFF TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
CAN'T SPELL. MY BED.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, STAR SIX. WITH
THAT, I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT
LAST WEEK , WHAT IS
UP-AND-COMING, AND I WILL TRY TO
BE BRIEF. WE CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES
TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THE
CLOSURE OF THE FRED MEYER LAKE
CITY . WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE
MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP FOR
PROPOSING 12 MILLION IN BUDGET
INVESTMENTS TO SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE READ ACCESS IN RESPONSE
TO THE LOSS OF THE GROCERY STORE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK FOR
JOINING ME AND TO SURVIVE WITH
THE MAYOR TO ANNOUNCE THESE
INVESTMENTS UP ON LAKE CITY WAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
OUR OFFICE ARE WORKING TOGETHER
TO INCREASE FOOD AND PHARMACY
ACCESS AND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED
BY THE CLOSURE. WE ARE CURRENTLY
EXPLORING OPTIONS WITH SAFEWAY
FOR FREE DELIVERY AND PHARMACY
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, DELIVERY
PROGRAMS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
THOSE, AS YOU KNOW, THAT
PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT CITYWIDE
AND TO SURVIVE ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FRIDAY.
UPCOMING, AND I WILL GIVE A
LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND IF
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WILL
ALLOW. I AM EXCITED TO ATTEND
THE TRIBAL NATION SUMMIT AT CITY
HALL TOMORROW. THIS WILL BE THE
SECOND ONE . AS YOU KNOW, THE
FIRST WAS IN 2023 AND MAYOR
HARRELL WAS PRESENT AT THAT ONE
TOO. CONVENING OF LEADERS OF
TRIBAL NATIONS, URBAN INDIAN
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO DISCUSS ISSUES. THE
ISSUES THIS YEAR ARE HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS, NATURAL AND
CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND
COMMUNITY SAFETY. I WANT TO GIVE
A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO CAN'T ATTEND TO 2023.
THEY DID PUT OUT A REPORT THAT
IS ONLINE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT.
JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW. IN 2023
WITH AND MAYOR HARRELL, WE HAD
11 TRIBAL NATIONS THAT ATTENDED.
WE HAD SIX URBAN INDIGENOUS LED
INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ATTENDED. 16 CITY DEPARTMENTS ,
AND WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM
THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL
BRANCH, INCLUDING THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR AND CITY
ATTORNEY AND CHIEF OF POLICE,
WHICH WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE. THE
THEMES LAST YEAR WERE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMUNICATION,
CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION,
CULTURAL VITALITY AND
VISIBILITY, EDUCATION AND
AWARENESS, TRUST BUILDING,
EQUITABLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION
AND PARTNERSHIPS , AND
INNOVATION. THIS YEAR, 2025,
THIS IS EXCITING, WE ARE UP FROM
11 TO 20 ELECTED TRIBAL LEADERS
AND TRIBAL LEADERSHIP STAFF FROM
THE REGIONS AROUND PUGET SOUND
AND EAST OF THE MOUNTAIN WE WILL
HAVE, AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER FROM
THE YAKIMA NATION. THIS YEAR WE
HAD 10 INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS,
SUCH AS SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH
BOARD, UNITED INDIANS, SEATTLE
INDIAN SERVICE LEAGUE AND CHIEF
OF SEATTLE. WE HAVE 70 CITY
LEADERS , DEPARTMENTS, DIRECTORS
AND STAFF. THREE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STAFF, AND THREE FOLKS
FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS. THAT WILL PROBABLY BE
10. AFTER HE LEFT THE CITY, HE
WENT TO WORK FOR GOVERNOR
FERGUSON. I SHOULD ADD THAT IN
2023 GOVERNOR INSLEE HAD SENT
REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL. WE ALSO
HAD THREE FOLKS FROM OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. WE
ALSO HAD , OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE
FROM THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY
COUNCIL MET. WHEN WE FIRST
CREATED THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY
COUNCIL, IT HAD NINE SEATS. AT
THAT TIME OF THE NINE SEATS,
FOUR WERE HELD BY TRIBALLY
ELECTED LEADERS AROUND AND
YEAH,. THAT WE HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE
ON THE COUNCIL AND AN OPEN SEAT.
WE HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING THAT
EVERYWHERE TO FILL THE LAST
SEED. OF THE EIGHT, THREE ARE
DULY ELECTED TRIBAL LEADERS.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. IT
SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE CITY'S
COMMITMENT TO INDIAN COUNTRY,
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT, AND
RECOGNITION OF TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY. I AM VERY PROUD OF
THE CITY. ALSO, WE ARE THE FIRST
CITY TO DO THIS. THE TOPICS
COVERED THIS YEAR WILL BE
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE HAD OUR MEETING WITH
CHIEF BARNES REGARDING
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT , MO USE
AND CROSS JURISDICTIONAL AND
CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS. IS
ONE ISSUE WE COVERED IN 2023
WITH MISSING, MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS. WE
WILL ALSO BE COVERING HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS AND CULTURAL
AND NATURAL RESOURCES. WITH
THAT, I THINK -- DID I GET IT
ALL?
>> YOU DID BETTER THAN I DID.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS WITH
THE TEAM IN 2023. AND SO, MYSELF
AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I
THINK HE WILL BE OPENING , DO
THE OPENING REMARKS. I WILL
FOLLOW HIM. AFTER THAT I WILL
INTRODUCE THE MAYOR. WE WILL SIT
DOWN AND GO THROUGH THE ISSUES.
THIS IS REALLY EXCITING. WHAT IS
UPCOMING FOR ME, NOT A WHOLE LOT
YET. HERE WE GO. I WILL BE
JOINING UNITED INDIANS OF ALL
TRIBES FOR THE ANNUAL GALA.
RETURN TO THE WATERFRONT. WE
WILL CELEBRATE THEIR WORK
UPLIFTING THE NATIVE COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW, UNITED INDIANS OF
ALL TRIBES HAVE BEEN AROUND
SINCE THE 70s WHEN WE TOOK IT
OVER. I WAS 12. ACTUALLY, I WAS
A BABY. I THINK THAT IS IT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> THEY COULD, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOR THAT.
I ALSO WANTED TO JUST ADD ,
BECAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE,
WHOEVER IS WATCHING THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, WILL MAKE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT. I KNOW THE SAFEWAY
ON 15th IS IN THE PROCESS OF
BEING DEVELOPED, NOT STARTING
THE PROCESS, BUT FIGURING OUT
NEXT STEPS AS TO DEVELOPMENT OF
THAT PROPERTY. I KNOW THERE IS
GOING TO BE A STORE CLOSURE. I
DON'T KNOW WHEN ASKED SOME
STUFF GOT PUSHED BACK BECAUSE OF
CONSTRUCTION. WE KNOW OUR
BUILDING , THEIR BUILDING WILL
LOOK LIKE THE NICE BUILDING ON
CAPITOL HILL. THAT SURFACE
PARKING LOT WILL BECOME A
SAFEWAY ON THE BOTTOM, AND THEN
APARTMENTS AND HOUSING UP TOP.
BUT A PART OF THAT IS THAT
GROCERY STORE CLOSURE AND HOW IT
WILL IMPACT THE COMMUNITY ON THE
15th. OPERATIONS WILL BE MOVED A
LOT TO MADISON PARK WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S OFFICE
WITH THE CLOSURE IN DISTRICT 5
OF A GROCERY STORE THAT THERE IS
A SAFEWAY ABOUT 1.5 MILES FROM
THAT STORE AND ON A BUS LINE. SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
HER OFFICE IN MITIGATING SOME OF
THE IMPACTS OF STORE CLOSURES.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THOSE ARE
FOR FOOD ACCESSIBILITY AND
PEOPLE GETTING THEIR GROCERIES
AND PHARMACIES AND ALL THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT IS LIKE
THE NUMBER ONE THING TO ME
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE
RESOURCES NEEDED. WE ARE TRYING
TO BE INCREDIBLY CREATIVE
OUTSIDE OF JUST LEGISLATION TO
BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT FOOD
ACCESS POINTS, DIFFERENT
NONPROFITS, AND ALSO OUR PRIVATE
SECTOR SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE STILL GETTING THE SAME
OUTCOMES TO OUR COMMUNITY SO
THEY HAVE THE FOOD AND THEIR
PRESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED. I
AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ANNOUNCING
WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SOME
OF THOSE PLANS THAT WILL BE IN
PLACE IN PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
THE CONTRAST, LIKE IN DISTRICT
7, RECOGNIZING GREATER DOWNTOWN
BECAUSE IT WASN'T DESIGNED FOR
RESIDENTS INITIALLY HAS ITS
CHALLENGES. THERE IS A STARK
CONTRAST, FOR EXAMPLE, MY
EXPERIENCE, MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF THE MANY
OPTIONS WE HAVE FOR GROCERY
STORES AND PHARMACIES. IN FACT,
CVS HAS JUST TAKEN OVER. FROM
THE LOOKS OF IT, IT WILL BE
PRESSING FORWARD VERY NICELY.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. SO THANK YOU,
EVERYONE, WHO HAS BEEN
HIGHLIGHTING THAT ISSUE. AND FOR
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DISTRICT
7 ALSO HAS GREAT RESTAURANTS
ACROSS THE BOARD. I WILL GIVE
RETORTS TO YOU, THOUGH. YOU GOT
THAT. ALTHOUGH THE TOP HAS A
BIT. BUT OVERALL, DISTRICT 6 ,
GIVE THAT OVER. ON A SERIOUS
NOTE, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IS
NEXT WEEK, SEPTEMBER 23. WE HAVE
A BRIEFING ON COMMUNITY SAFETY,
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. ON
THE GRASSROOTS, LIKE ANOTHER
LEVEL OF RESPONSE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK TO
UNDERSTAND OUR BROADER PUBLIC
SAFETY ENVIRONMENT. SO THAT WILL
BE ON TAP, ALONG WITH THE VOTE
ON THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
PRO TEM JUDGES LEGISLATION. WILL
HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE IN
FOR TECHNICAL CODE UPDATES ON
THAT SIDE. AGAIN, TECHNICAL CODE
UPDATES. FINALLY, WE WILL HAVE
CPC ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENTS . ONE
OF THEM WILL BE FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL. THAT PERSON IS WHO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND I SPOKE
TO TWO WEEKS AGO. MR. RICK
WILLIAMS. AS I HAVE SAID IN
DIFFERENT WAYS, THE LIFTING OF
THE CONSENT DECREE WAS A
MILESTONE, BUT ALSO A
STEPPINGSTONE. BRINGING ON MR.
RICK WILLIAMS TO THE CPC IS A
STEPPINGSTONE THAT SHOWS OUR
COMMITMENT TO MOVE FORWARD AS A
COMMUNITY, AS A COUNCIL, ON
THOSE POINTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING SO HARD ON OVER THE
COURSE OF THE CONSENT DECREE. I
THINK HIM AND THE OTHERS FOR
LOOKING TO SERVE ON THE POLICE
COMMISSION. I ALSO WANTED TO
SPEAK WITHIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
REALM TO COUNCILMEMBER RINCK 'S
POINTS RELATED TO MEMPHIS. I SAW
THE NEWS. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
THE NEWS. THE MAYOR AND MEMPHIS
NOTED THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO ADDRESS CRIME IN THE CITY.
COLLEAGUES, I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING
TO THIS ISSUE OF FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, NATIONAL GUARD, AND
COMMITTEE DURING MY CHAIR
COMMENTS, WHICH WAS THEN
PACKAGED UP TO A STATEMENT,
WHICH WAS RELEASED. ONE OF THE
THINGS I NOTE IS THAT WE DO NOT
NEED THE NATIONAL GUARD. WHAT WE
NEED IS ATF , DEA AND F.B.I.
WORKING THE FLOW OF GUNS AND
DRUGS UP THE -- I-5 CORRIDOR
ACROSS STATE LINES. WE NEED HELP
AND ASSISTANCE RELATED TO
ONBOARDING SWORN OFFICERS, KIND
OF LIKE GOVERNOR FERGUSON'S
PLAN. BUT HOW ABOUT A FEDERAL
VERSION OF THAT? RELATED TO FIRE
DEPARTMENT, I'VE NOTED WHAT WE
REALLY NEED IS EQUIPMENT. FIRE
ENGINES, LADDER TRUCKS , WHICH
HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW. AND
THE ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A BIG
ISSUE FOR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT IS HOW THEY CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. BY THE WAY, THAT
EQUIPMENT AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS
ARE THE ONES WHO THEN DEPLOYED
ACROSS STATE LINES TO L.A.
DURING THE L.A. FIRES TO ASSIST.
IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC
SAFETY, THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT.
YOU DON'T SEND IN THE NATIONAL
GUARD. I SHOULD NOTE THAT
EXAMPLE HIGHLIGHTS THAT WHAT WE
REALLY NEED IS A STRONG FEMA
THAT HAS LEARNED THE LESSONS OF
KATRINA AND MOVE FORWARD AND IS
THERE FOR CITIES, COUNTIES AND
STATES. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED. WE
DO NOT NEED THE NATIONAL GUARD.
GOVERNOR LEE FROM TENNESSEE
NOTED HE IS LOOKING TO DEVELOP A
PLAN TO FIGHT CRIME IN THE CITY.
GOVERNOR, MIND YOU. I WILL
HIGHLIGHT THAT SEATTLE ALREADY
HAS A PLAN. WE HAVE OUR
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN. THE
EXECUTIVE HAS THE RESTORATION
FRAMEWORK PLAN. THOSE ARE
COMPLEMENTARY. WE DO A LOT OF
COORDINATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE,
AND ALSO JUDICIAL WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY AS WELL. SO THIS IDEA
WE NEED TO DEVELOP A PLAN IS A
FALSE NARRATIVE. THE IDEA , AS I
STATED IN OTHER PLACES, THAT WE
NEED A PLANNER FROM THE NATIONAL
GUARD BUREAU AND PENTAGON IS
SIMPLY WRONG. WE DO NOT NEED IT.
I WOULD HIGHLIGHT HERE AGAIN,
YOU KNOW, THE NAVY SENT ME TO
THE ARMY'S COMMAND OF GENERAL
STAFF COLLEGE. THE IDEA WE NEED
PLANNERS IN THE PENTAGON TO
ASSIST IS SIMPLY WRONG. WE HAVE
GOT IT COVERED. WE ARE LOOKING
TO MOVE FORWARD. I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT -- AND AGAIN, WE
HAVE A THIRD OF THIS COUNCIL
WERE MILITARY VETERANS. THE
NATIONAL GUARD, THE MILITARY, IS
THERE TO DEFEND THE NATION. IF,
AS NOTED BY TENNESSEE STATE
REPRESENTATIVE IN TERMS OF THE
PENDING DEPLOYMENT TO MEMPHIS, A
MILITARIZED OCCUPANT TAGE --
OCCUPATION DIVERSITY IS NOT A
RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM YOU
HAVE. IN FACT, IT WILL CREATE
PROBLEMS. THE MILITARY TALK
ABOUT SECOND AND THIRD ORDER
EFFECTS. THE MILITARY IS THERE
TO DEFEND THE NATION. IF IT GOES
INTO CITIES AND SEEN AS BEING
PARTISAN AND POLITICAL AND
PERFORMATIVE, AS WE ARE SEEING
IN D.C. RIGHT NOW, THE MILITARY
IS LOOKED AT AS NOT BEING THERE
FOR THEM. THE MILITARY HAS TO BE
FOR ALL AMERICANS. THIS IS NOT
DISCUSSED ANYWHERE, BY THE WAY.
NOT DISCUSSED BY THE PRESIDENT
OR VARIOUS GOVERNORS AND SO
FORTH. BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE
NEED TO SPEAK TO, BECAUSE THE
MILITARY IS THERE FOR THE ENTIRE
NATION. IT IS THEREFORE, AS
FORMER, RED, WHITE AND BLUE
AMERICA. THAT NEEDS TO BE THE
FOCUS. THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF
THE DISCUSSION. I DON'T SEE IT.
I READ ARTICLES ALL THE TIME.
NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT. I
THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF
THE DISCUSSION. IF YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT SHORT-TERM PIECES,
LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN
L.A. OR D.C. , ALMOST IN
CHICAGO, NOW SEEM TO BE MEMPHIS,
THAT SHORT-TERM. WE HAVE TO BE
CONSIDERING THE LONG-TERM
IMPACTS. AGAIN, AS WE SAY,
SECOND AND THIRD ORDER EFFECTS.
SADLY, THERE IS NO STRATEGIC
THINKING AS WE LOOK TO DO THIS.
SOMETHING I NOTED IN MY
STATEMENT. SO COLLEAGUES, LET'S
CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK, SET THE
EXAMPLE, AND SHOW THAT WE CAN DO
IT, BECAUSE WE ARE DOING IT.
THANK YOU ON THAT. SHIFTING NOW.
THIS WEEK IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY
AND EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, I HAVE
THE UPTOWN ALLIANCE -- I SHOULD
NOTE TODAY ARE ALREADY MET WITH
LEHIGH . GREAT MEETING WITH THEM
RELATED TO THE CHALLENGES THEY
ARE FACING IN LITTLE SAIGON. A
FANTASTIC MEETING. TALKING
THROUGH THE DIFFERENT ISSUES.
TOMORROW UPTOWN ALLIANCE.
WEDNESDAY A LOT OF WORK GOING ON
WITH THE BIA. I SUPPORT THAT
WORK. APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE
WORK THAT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH
THE BIA ISSUES THUS FAR. AND
CORDY -- KING COUNTY BOARD OF
HEALTH ON THURSDAY. AUGUST THE,
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I MET WITH
KING COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER TODAY
WHO CHAIRS THE KING COUNTY BOARD
OF HEALTH ON ISSUES RELATED TO
THAT AREA. NEXT WEEK, I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE, AS YOU KNOW, I
HAVE AN INTEREST IN ALL THINGS
INTERNATIONAL. WE HAVE THE KOREA
CITY COUNCIL COMING TO OUR CITY
NEXT MONDAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO
MEETING WITH THEM. THE PS RC
EXECUTIVE BOARD, PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL MET. BY THE
WAY, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IT
IS ALSO IMPORTANT RELATED TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BECAUSE, AS
YOU KNOW, AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS TALKED ABOUT, LAND-USE
AND TRANSPORTATION NEED TO BE IN
SYNC. THAT GOES TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THE PS RC,
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL, IN
TERMS OF REGIONAL --
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. ALSO
VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHAT
IS HAPPENING OR NOT HAPPENING. A
BIT CONCERNED. THIS WILL COME
TOGETHER FOR US IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WORK TOO. AND
SO, AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT THIS
WEEK. FRIDAY IS THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PREVENTION COUNCIL. I
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THOSE COMMUNITY AND EXTERNAL
COMMITTEE WORK WE DO . IN MY
CASE, MY SCHEDULE. AND TO END ON
A LIGHTER NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE EVERYONE TO GO VISIT
WOODLAND PARK . I HAD A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BEHIND THE
SCENES OF THE PARK. SEE THE
CHALLENGES, AND SEEING WHAT THEY
ARE DOING TO MOVE FORWARD. I
THINK IT WAS GREAT. AND I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE THERE IS ONE
PENGUIN NAMED BUBBA WHO IS VERY
OUTGOING. I TOLD THE GROUP, OF
ALL THE PENGUINS, THIS ONE COULD
BE A COUNCILMEMBER. ACTUALLY
FOLLOWED US BACK INTO THE
ENCLOSURE. YOU GUYS MAY HAVE A
CHALLENGER IN THE FUTURE, BUBBA
FROM WOODLAND PARK. I GUESS THAT
WOULD BE FOR DISTRICT 6 OR MAYBE
ONE OF THE AT-LARGE SEATS. ON
THAT LIGHTER NOTE, I JUST WANTED
TO FINISH . THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT PENGUINS? GO
AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> NOT SO SPECIFIC ON THE
ANIMAL. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I
APPRECIATE OUR CHARLIE
BACK-AND-FORTH THAT SHOWS
COLLEGIALITY IN A ONE SEATTLE
FASHION, AND TO EXPAND TO SAY
THAT THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO IS
NOT JUST A CITY OR DISTRICT 6
ASSET , IT IS A REGIONAL ASSET
FOR ALL OF KING COUNTY AND
BEYOND. I THINK THE NEXT CLOSEST
WHO IS THE POINT DEFIANCE ZOOM,
AND THAT IS TAKOMA PARK ALL I AM
SAYING.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT APPEARS I AM
LAST. OKAY. LAST WEEK WE HAD THE
FINAL GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE MEETING BEFORE BUDGET.
IT WAS A PACKED AGENDA. WE
PASSED THREE ITEMS OUT OF
COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE ON THAT
AT FULL COUNCIL NEXT WEEK. I
WILL TALK ABOUT THAT FIRST. THE
FIRST BILL IS AN UPDATE TO THE
SECTION OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE THAT GOVERNS THE OFFICE OF
THE CITY AUDITOR, ALIGNING THE
CODE TO INCLUDE BEST PRACTICES
OF PEER AUDIT OFFICES AROUND THE
COUNTRY, AND ALSO ESTABLISHING A
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION FOR THE
POSITION OF HERE IN SEATTLE. THE
SECOND AND THIRD PIECES OF
LEGISLATION ARE AMENDMENTS TO
THE WEST SEATTLE AND U DISTRICT
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS. BOTH
OF THOSE WERE ASKED FOR THESE
CHANGES TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS
AND IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL
SECURITY. STABILITY. I WILL GO
INTO THE DETAILS, BUT WE ARE TWO
WEEKS OUT FROM THE VOTE , A WEEK
OUT FROM THE VOTE. SO WHY NOT
JUST ADDRESS IT AS WE GET
CLOSER? YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND
READ THAT LEGISLATION ONLINE.
THE MEETING STARTED, HOWEVER,
WITH A FAIRLY LONG AND DETAILED
PRESENTATION FROM THE BUDGET
OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
IN RESPONSE TO STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, CBO-003S-A
THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED AS PART OF
THE 2025 BUDGET. IT SPECIFICALLY
DIRECTS THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE
TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE
HISTORICAL BUDGET UNDER SPANS
FROM 2018 THROUGH 2023 ORGANIZED
BY FUND AND DEPARTMENT. IT
STATES THAT THE REPORT SHOULD
ANALYZE AND IDENTIFY THE
SPECIFIC REASONS FOR THE UNDER
SPENT AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE,
IDENTIFY REFORMS AND PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS TO EXPAND
APPROPRIATIONS MORE
EXPEDITIOUSLY. THERE IS A NOTE
SAYING, PARTICULARLY IN THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING WHEN IT COMES
TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS I
SAID, IT WAS A LONG DISCUSSION,
BUT THE REPORT ITSELF SHOWS I DO
SPEND RANGING FROM 5.9 IN 2018
TO 11.5 AND 23, AVERAGING AROUND
9% OR SO OVER THE COURSE OF
THOSE YEARS. IN THE JUMPSTART
FUND CARRIES AND UNDER SPENT OF
OVER 40%. IN A SEPARATE FUND ,
TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND
AFFORDABILITY, IN THE MIDST OF
AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, THERE
IS A SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE
CARRYFORWARD YEAR OVER YEAR FOR
THE LOW INCOME HOUSING FUND OF
211 MILLION IN 2023 , 212
MILLION IN 2022, AND 230 MILLION
IN 2021. SO THINGS ARE GETTING
BETTER. BASICALLY, YOU CAN WATCH
THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL. SPOILER ALERT,
NEITHER THE SLI RESPONSE OR
PRESENTERS IDENTIFIED REFORMS OR
PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS TO EXPAND
APPROPRIATIONS MORE
EXPEDITIOUSLY, EVEN DESPITE SOME
PRODDING FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AT
THE TABLE. AND SO, I TAKE AWAY
THAT THE EXECUTIVE THINKS --
WELL, BELIEVES THAT THINGS ARE
GOING FINE . AND THAT IS A
LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTING TO ME.
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT IN HOW WE SPEND OUR
FUNDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE
REALLY FACING AN AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS IN SEATTLE, AND I BELIEVE
THAT THERE IS, PERHAPS, MORE WE
CAN DO TO HELP OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROVIDERS GET THE
ADDITIONAL FINANCING IN TIME TO
BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT HOUSING ,
OR ACROSS OTHER FUNDS IF THERE
IS ANYTHING THE GOVERNMENT CAN
DO TO HELP GET THE MONEY OUT THE
DOOR FASTER SO IT ACTUALLY ENDS
UP HELPING OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN
MIND GOING FORWARD. I TIMED THE
DEADLINE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE
THIS INFORMATION BEFORE GOING
INTO BUDGET JUST TO INFORM SOME
OF OUR THINKING. THE RESPONSE
ALSO CONTAINS -- LET'S SEE, IT
HAS A LIST OF OUTSTANDING CITY
CONTRACTS AND GRANTS AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 2024. FROM THE
THREE DEPARTMENTS WITH THE
LARGEST PORTFOLIO OF GRANTS TO
NONPROFIT PROVIDERS. A PRETTY
LONG FILE, SPREADSHEET, AND ALL
OF THE DOCUMENTS ARE LINKED TO
THE AGENDA. COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
THE OVERSIGHT BODY OF THE CITY.
AWAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT NOT ONLY DO WE
ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR CERTAIN
THINGS, WE CONTROL THE POWER OF
THE PURSE, BUT ALSO ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT
DUTIES. ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO
ASK QUESTIONS EVERY NOW AND THEN
ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING ON
THAT FRONT. LET'S SEE. THAT IS
MY COMMITTEE REPORT. ON TUESDAY
I WILL JOIN LEHIGH EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR SHARON LEE AND FORMER
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER
COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ANNOUNCE
NEW PROPOSED PACKAGE OF --
ACTUALLY A PLAN, 15 POINT PLAN,
FOR LITTLE SAIGON AND THE CID. I
WILL BE ATTENDING THE MAGNOLIA
COMMUNITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY
EVENING TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON
THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL THIS
YEAR. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT HEARING ANY
DIRECTED AT ME. I WILL NOW ASK
IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE WE ADJOURN. OKAY. HEARING
NO FURTHER BUSINESS. THIS
MEETING IS