>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> KETTLE?
>> HERE .
>> RINCK?
>> WE ARE FOUR ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA. PRESENTED BY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF. DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. EARLY LEARNING.
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. AND SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS. BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. BEFORE WE MOVE ONTO OUR
FIRST AGENDA ITEM, THERE ARE TWO
SIDE THINGS GOING ON FROM
COMMITTEE. WE HAVE THE GREAT
SHAKE-OUT TODAY AT 10:15. WE
WILL DO THAT HERE SO SEATTLE
CHANNEL JUST KEEP ROLLING. WE
WILL DUCK AND COVER FOR A COUPLE
OF MINUTES AND COME BACK OUT.
THEN WE HAVE A FLAG RAISING FOR
THE MARINERS THIS AFTERNOON. AND
SO, WITH THAT, WE WILL STILL
RETAIN OUR 12:30 TO 1:30 RECESS
SHOULD WE STICK ON SCHEDULE. IF
ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN HAVING
IS A 30-MINUTE RECESS SO WE GET
OUT EARLIER, LET ME KNOW AND WE
CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. BUT
I WON'T MAKE THAT DECISION
WITHOUT CHATTING WITH FOLKS. WE
WILL SEE WHAT OTHER FOLKS SAY.
WITH THAT, WE ARE MOVING ONTO
OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
>> OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> WE ARE JOINED BY BEN NOBLE,
JEN LABRECKQUE AND TRACI R
RATZLIFF.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JENNIFER LABRECKQUE.
>> TRACI RATZLIFF CENTRAL STAFF.
>> WE ARE HERE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT OH'S 2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THERE
WE GO. SORRY. YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT. OVERALL, THE OH
BUDGET, THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET
IS QUITE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT
WAS IN THE 2026 ENDORSE BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE IN THE
MULTIFAMILY BSL. THIS IS DUE TO
A TRANSFER OF 5 MILLION PET.
WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT MORE
LATER ON IN THIS PRESENTATION.
I'LL NOTE HERE THAT AS I'M
SURE YOU HAVE HEARD. THE MAYOR
HAS PROPOSED USING $28 MILLION
FOR A NEW ANTIDISPLACEMENT AND
REPARATIONS HOUSING FUND WITH
THE INTENT TO FUND 80 MILLION
OVER FOUR YEARS. THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT PROVIDE
ANY NEW FUNDING FOR THIS
PURPOSE. IT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN THE
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AND WE WILL
BE DISCUSSING THAT FURTHER LATER
ON IN THIS PRESENTATION.
>> FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK HAS JOINED US.
>> THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF AT
OH HAS REMAINED CONSISTENT FROM
THE 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET TO THE
2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. AGAIN,
YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT IS REDUCED
BY 5 MILLION AND WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THAT IN A COUPLE OF
MOMENTS. OH RECEIVES NO GENERAL
FUND DOLLARS AND OTHER FUND
SOURCES INCLUDE THE HOUSING
LEVY, WEATHERIZATION FUNDING AND
A SMALL AMOUNT ABOUT $2 MILLION
OF FEDERAL HOME DOLLARS. NEXT
SLIDE. ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL
UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WE
WILL START TALKING ABOUT THE
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. OUR FIRST
POLICY CONSIDERATION IS
INVOLVING NORTH GATE COMMONS. SO
THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET
TRANSFERS ABOUT $5 MILLION OF
PET FROM OH TO FINANCE GENERAL
FOR SHA'S NORTH GATE'S COMMONS
PROJECT. THIS IS THE FIRST OF
WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE A $20
MILLION INVESTMENT FROM THE
CITY. THE EXECUTIVE HAS STATED
THE 5 MILLION IS BEING
TRANSFERRED FROM OH TO FINANCE
GENERAL. BECAUSE OF OH
ADMINISTERED THE FUNDING TO SHA
WOULD NOT BE I A HOWED UNDER THE
COUNCIL ADOPTED HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES WHICH ESSENTIALLY
GOLFER ALL OF OH'S CAPITAL
DOLLARS. NORTH GATE COMMONS MAY
NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME
POLICIES OR OVERSIGHT AS OTHER
OH FUNDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS. OH'S ROLE IN
NEGOTIATING THIS CONTRACT WITH
SHA REVIEWING THE PROJECT FOR
FEASIBILITY IS UNKNOWN. THE
EXECUTIVE HAS STATED THAT OH
WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY ONGOING
COMPLIANCE MONITORING TO THIS
PROJECT ONCE IT IS COMPLETE
WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE
FROM PAST PROJECT FOR OH
PROJECTS. CURRENTLY, OH PROVIDES
COMPLIANCE MONITORING TO 24 SHA
PROJECTS THEY HAVE FUNDED IN THE
PAST. OH MAINTAINS OVERSIGHT
OVER A $20 MILLION INVESTMENT
AND TARIFFS PASSED SHA PROJECT.
THE OH FUNDS PROVIDES A GOOD
EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS HAS BEEN
DONE. THE OPTIONS HERE ARE DO
NOTED TRANSFER $5 MILLION OF PET
FROM THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO
FINANCE GENERAL. AND INSTEAD, IN
2026, AMEND THE HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES OR ADOPT AN ORDINANCE
TO ALLOW A DIRECT ALLOCATION TO
SHA FOR THE NORTH GATE COMMONS
PROJECT WHILE MAINTAINING OH
OVERSIGHT. OR, OPTION B, NO
CHANGE. AND WE'LL PAUSE THERE
FOR QUESTIONS.
>> LET'S TICK THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT, OUR SECOND POLICY
CONSIDERATION IS REGARDING USE
OF PET RESOURCES. AND POTENTIAL
OVERCOMMITMENT OF PET RESOURCES.
OH MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PET
REVENUE TO COVER ALL OF THEIR
PROPOSED OR EXPECTED USES OF
PET. SO CURRENTLY, OH HAS $137
MILLION OF PET IN THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET BUT THEIR TOTAL
USES INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY
SELF-DETERMINATION FUND, THE
ANTIDISPLACEMENT AND REPARATION
FUND AND FUNDING FOR OPERATION,
OPERATING STABILIZATION REPORT
TOTAL 181 MILLION. THE EXECUTIVE
ANTICIPATES THAT THIS WILL NOT
BE AN ISSUE. BECAUSE THE SAME
DOLLAR COULD BE USED TO SATISFY
MULTIPLE COMMITMENTS. IT COULD
BE COUNTED AS AN
ANTIDISPLACEMENT HOUSING PROJECT
OR COUNTED TOWARD THE EXACT
HOUSING LEVY GOALS. THE
ANTIDISPLACEMENT AND REPARATION
FUND. I WANT TO NOTE HERE THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN HOW
PET IS RELATED TO THE LEVY GOALS
WHEN THE LEVY WAS PASSED IN
2023, IT WAS NOT EXPECTED ANY
PET CAPITAL WOULD BE NEEDED TO
HELP MEET HOUSING LEVY GOALS.
HOWEVER BECAUSE OF INCREASED
COSTS, THIS IS NO LONGER TRUE
AND OH ANTICIPATES $46 MILLION
PER YEAR OF PET WILL BE NEEDED
JUST TO MEET HOUSING LEVY GOALS
WHICH DOES HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
IMPLICATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF
FUND AVAILABLE FOR OTHER USES.
IT MAY NOT BE REALISTIC FOR THE
EXECUTIVE TO SATISFY ALL THE
VARIOUS COMMITMENTS THAT THEY
HAVE MADE FOR PET. SIMPLY BY
USING THE SAME DOLLAR TO MEET
MULTIPLE GOALS. FOR EXAMPLE,
SOME OH PET MAY BE TRANSFERRED
FROM OH TO OPCD FOR THE
ANTIDISPLACEMENT AND REPARATION
FUNDING. TRADE OFFS MAY NEED TO
BE MADE ON HOW TO USE THE
LIMITED DOLLARS AND THEY COULD
IMPACT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO
MEET HOUSING LEVY GOALS OR OTHER
PRODUCTION TARGETS IN THE
HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN RESENTLY
SUB COMMITTED. THE
ANTIDISPLACEMENT AND
REPREHENSIBLE RATION FUND. ADOPT
A SLY OR IMPOSE A PRIVASO FOR
THEM TO REPORT BACK HOW THEY
WILL USE THEIR FUNDING OR NO
CHANGE. NEXT ONE. ALL RIGHT,
THIS ONE IS VERY RELATED TO THE
POLICY CONSIDERATION WE JUST
DISCUSSED. CURRENTLY THE
PROPOSED BUDGET ALLOCATES $20
MILLION TO THE FIRST YEAR WITH
THE INTENT TO FUND, TO PROVIDE
$80 MILLION TO THIS FUND OVER
FOUR YEARS. THE EXECUTIVE'S
VISION IS IT WILL REMEDY PAST
HARMS CAUSED TO BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH
THE FOCUS ON REPAIRING HOUSING
HARMS. HARMS CAUSED THROUGH
HOUSING POLICIES. THE EXECUTIVE
DOES NOT YET KNOW IF THIS
FUNDING WILL REMAIN OR IF THEY
WILL PROPOSE TRANSFERRING SOME
OR ALL OF THE FUNDS OF OCPD IN A
FUTURE BUDGET ACTION. THAT
DECISION WILL DEPEND ULTIMATELY
ON THE ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED BY
THE ANALYSIS AND PROGRAM DESIGN
CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS AND THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND YOU CAN SEE
THOSE TWO MEMOS FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNDING BEING
REALLOCATED OR ADDED TO THEIR
BUDGETS TO SUPPORT THIS BODY OF
WORK. AND THERE IS A POLICY
CONSIDERATION WITH OPTIONS. FOR
OH, THE OPTIONS HERE ARE RELATED
AGAIN TO THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT
THE USE OF PET. AND, SORT OF THE
CURRENT SITUATION THAT PET AND
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS TO
MEET MULTIPLE GOALS. THE SAME
DOLLAR HAS TO MEET MULTIPLE
GOALS WHICH IS DIFFICULT IF WE
ARE TRANSFERRING MONEY TO A
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT. NEXT
SLIDE. THIS OUR FINAL ONE.
>> JENNIFER, GOT A QUESTION FROM
THE VICE CHAIR. CAN WE TICK BACK
TO NUMBER THREE?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. JUST TO ASK,
I'M CONFUSED. A HOUSING
PROPOSAL, WHY WOULD IT NOT BE AN
OH?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I
THINK WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION
BUT NOT A LOT ON THAT. WE HAVE
HAVED SIMILAR QUESTIONS. IT IS
CALLED THE ANTIDISPLACEMENT AND
REPARATIONS HOUSING FUND. IT IS
A HOUSING FUND. THE WAY THE
EXECUTIVE DESCRIBED IT IS THAT
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY
FUNDED BY THIS FUND WILL BE
HOUSING RELATED BUT NOT
TRADITIONAL OH ACTIVITIES.
SUPPORTING PROPERTY OWNER TO
BUILD AN EDU IN THEIR BACKYARD.
SO THERE IS A QUESTION IF
SOMETHING IS NOT THE TRADITIONAL
OH ACTIVITIES, INVESTING IN
RENTAL HOUSING AND THE CREATION
OF NEW HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS OR
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, IF IT
WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR OH OR A
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT. THAT IS AN
OPEN QUESTION, BUT THAT'S THE
LOGIC THAT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO
US.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> ABSOLUTE LY.
>> ANNUAL INVESTMENT REPORT
SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL. OH
TYPICALLY REPORT, ON ONLY TWO
MILESTONES. WHEN THE PROJECT IS
INITIALLY AWARDED AND THEN WHEN
IT OPENS. AND AS WE ALL KNOW,
GIVEN THE NATURE OF HOUSING
PROJECTS WHICH ARE CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS, THAT CAN ACTUALLY
BE THREE TO FIVE YEARS BETWEEN
THOSE TWO DIFFERENT MILESTONES.
COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER
REQUESTING THAT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING PROVIDE A MORE DETAILED
ON PROJECT STATUS IN THE ANNUAL
INVESTMENT REPORT. IT COULD
REPORT ON WHEN THE LOAN HAS
CLOSED. ANOTHER IMPORTANT
MILESTONE, OR WHEN CONSTRUCTION
HAS STARTED. THERE IS EVEN A
MILESTONE FOR WHEN CONSTRUCTION
HAS COMPLETED BUT THE FUNDING
HAS NOT CLOSED OUT. THE PROVIDER
HAS NOT SUBMITTED THEIR FINAL
INVOICES. IN ADDITION, THE
ANNUAL INVESTMENT REPORT COULD
PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OH
TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON PROGRESS
IN ACHIEVING EXPECTED
PRODUCTION. THAT COULD BE
RELATED TO THE HOUSING GOALS AND
TARGETS INCLUDED IN THE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN. THAT THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING RECENTLY SUBMITTED.
SO ESSENTIALLY AN ANNUAL UPDATE
ON HOW WELL THE CITY IS DOING
MEETING THE GOALS AND THE
HOUSING NEEDS IDENTIFIED. THE
OPTIONS HERE ARE TO ADOPT A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
REQUESTING OH TO INCORPORATE
MORE INFORMATION IN THE ANNUAL
INVESTMENT REPORT. AND AN UPDATE
ON HOUSING PRODUCTION RELATED TO
HOUSING PRODUCTION GOALS
INCLUDED IN THE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN. OR NO CHANGE
AND I WILL STOP THERE FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU JENNIFER.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED
JUST NOW? I HAVE A FEW, BUT I
WILL GO LAST AS IS COMMON PLACE.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. I SAW NOBODY
WAS RAISING THEIR HANDS SO I
SAID I'LL GO. IT IS
INTERESTING. THERE'S A LOT OF
POLICY ISSUES OUT THERE. IT IS
INTERESTING ON THOSE FOUR. IS
THERE ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU
THINK THAT ARE IMPORTANT THAT
DIDN'T QUITE MAKE THE BRIEF?
>> I THINK OUR ANALYSIS IS
ALWAYS LIMITED TO THE PROSE
PODDED BUDGET. REALLY AROUND
WHAT IS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT I
WOULD SAY IS RELATED TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING IS THE
ANALYSIS AROUND WHAT IS
HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL
LANDSCAPE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING AND WE
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN
THE PRESENTATION TOMORROW
AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OH, NO, I THINK WE TOUCHED ON
IT HERE. BUT IF YOU WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT IT IN MORE DETAIL,
THE OTHER PIECE IS PROVIDERS
HAVE IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR
ORGANIZATIONAL STABILITY FUNDING
YOU KNOW. ULTIMATELY, I THINK
THE REASON THAT DID NOT END UP
AS AN ISSUE HERE IS BECAUSE OH
HAS COME FORWARD AND SAID THEY
WILL BE PROVIDING FUNDING FOR
THAT. RIGHT? SO THEY JUST
ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THEY WILL BE
RELEASING A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS FOR $28 MILLION FOR
OPERATION SUPPORT. SO THAT
ACTION HAS SORT OF NEGATED THE
NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AS AN ISSUE
IN THIS PAPER.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD ONE AND
THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU
CAN ATTACH TO THAT. I COME FROM
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND EVERYBODY
KNOWS I HAVE BEEN ENGAGING ON
THE SCENE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY
AND PUBLIC HEALTH OR HUMAN
SERVICES OR HOUSING PART OF THAT
IS THE ABILITY TO OPERATE AND DO
SO IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN I
AM TALKING TO COMMUNITY AND
PROVIDERS AND THEY HAVE THESE
ISSUES, AS WE HAVE LEARNED, FOR
THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN HOUSING
FIRST, OKAY. IF IT IS A PHOTO
FINISH BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE
THOSE SERVICES THERE.
PARTICULARLY AT THE LOWER LEVELS
OF AMI IN THE LIKE OR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THERE'S A
LOT OF SECURITY CHALLENGES. I
WAS JUST OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK I
THINK. OR LAST WEEK, ANOTHER
PROVIDER, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THAT. IS THAT INCLUDED? THE
SECURITY AND CREATING A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE THERE?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT SECURITY
COSTS INCLUDING PAYING FOR
SECURITY STAFF IS AN ELIGIBLE
USE. I WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK
AND SAY OH RELEASED A REQUEST
FOR PROPOSALS . WE HAVEN'T SEEN
THE DETAILS OF THE 2026 MONEY
AND HAVE IMPOSED QUESTIONS TO
THE Q AND A TO DETERMINE IF THAT
IS TRUE FOR THIS NEW MONEY THAT
COMES OUT,.
>> TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU
SEEING OR LIKELY TO BE ASKING
FOR IN TERMS OF THOSE FUNDING
AND THE NEEDS FOR THAT FUNDING?
SO I THINK THEY ARE HOPING TO
GATHER SOME MORE INFORMATION
BASED ON SOME OF THE WORK THEY
HAVE ALREADY DONE WITH THAT
INITIAL ALLOCATION.
>> SO THAT IS POLICY FIVE. I
WOULD LIKE TO PROMOTE IT.
DIRECTOR NOBLE. AND THEN
SEPARATELY, TIED TO THIS IS AND
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE HOUSING
PROVIDERS AND THEIR
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY
AND NEIGHBORHOODS. AND, OTHER
SERVICE PROVIDERS. I HAVE ALWAYS
SAID ON THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENTS I'M NOT LOOKING FOR
ANYTHING PUNITIVE. I JUST WANT
COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION.
AND I AM EVEN, I SAID IN THE
MEETING I SAID COME UP WITH A
NEW NAME. AND GOING FORWARD ON
THIS, TO HAVE THE HOUSING
PROVIDERS, TO HAVE A
NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT AND
MITIGATION PLAN. THOSE, WE CAN
REBRAND IT. AGAIN, SOMETHING TO
ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNICATION AND
COLLABORATION SHOULD APPLY TO
OH. IS THAT PART OF DISCUSSION
ANYWHERE?
>> WE TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING
CALLED THE HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES. AND DO GOVERN THE USE
OF ALL OH CAPITAL FUNDING. THOSE
POLICIES HAVE A SECTION ON SORT
OF COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION OR
ENGAGEMENT TO BE FRANK, THEY ARE
VERY FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT DURING THE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT BUT
THEY COULD BE STRONGER WHEN IT
COMES TO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE
PROJECT OPENS. AND THE ONGOING
OPERATING. TYPICALLY, THE
HOUSING FUNDING POLICIES GET
UPDATED EVERY TWO YEARS AND ARE
ADOPTED BY COUNCIL. THAT
PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
COUNCIL TO ENGAGE WITH THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING TO STRENGTHEN
AND PROVIDE THE DETAIL WITH WHAT
THE EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR
SOMETHING LIKE GOOD NEIGHBOR
POLICIES DURING THE ONGOING
OPERATIONS OF THE PROJECT.
>> THIS IS POLICY NUMBER SIX.
AND I WANT TO DO THIS IN A
COLLABORATIVE WAY. LET'S GET ON
THE JUMP. BECAUSE WE CAN'T
WAIT. BECAUSE THESE ARE REAL
ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING ON THE
STREET. BY THE WAY, THIS IS
IMPACTING THE HOUSING PROVIDERS
TOO. WE HAVE TO REDEFINE. COME
WITH A NEW NAME. IF GOOD
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS HAVE A
NEGATIVE CONNOTATION, FINE. THIS
IS THE ISSUE. THESE ARE THE
FACTS ON THE GROUND. WHAT CAN WE
DO? AND THAT'S MY APPROACH. I
DON'T COME WITH LIKE, BAGGAGE .
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO OH
ON THEIR SEATTLE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN REPORT OR MEMO.
I REALLY APPRECIATED IT. I HAVE
ALREADY COMMUNICATED THIS TO THE
DIRECTOR AND I THINK IT IS A
GREAT START. BUT I ALSO THINK
THAT AND I REALIZE WE HAVE KING
COUNTY, WE HAVE FEDERAL THROUGH
SEATTLE HOUSING. WE HAVE THESE
DIFFERENT PIECES. SOMEBODY NEED
TO KEEP THE BIG PICTURE. WHILE I
APPRECIATE WHAT SHE HAS DONE
WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR
MHA, THE LEVY. I THINK ALSO, ON
ONE END, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THAT PLAYS IN
WITH LOWER LEVEL AMI. AND NOW WE
HAVE THIS NEW THING CALLED
SOCIAL HOUSING AND I THINK AS A
CITY, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF KEEPING THE BIG PICTURE AS IT
RELATES TO OUR CITY. AND THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING PDA WILL
IMPACT SEATTLE. UNDERSTANDING
HOW THAT PLAYING IS SOMETHING I
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM IN
TERMS OF TAKING WHAT I REALLY
LIKE READING. BUT TAKING IT TO
THE NEXT LEVEL AND BECAUSE IT
GOES TO, YOU KNOW, DO WE BUILD
MORE NEW OR REPAIR? DO WE
CONSERVE WHAT WE HAVE? AND THIS
PLAYS OUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
ARE SEEING ON THE STREET. AGAIN
FROM A VERY PRACTICAL
PERSPECTIVE. AND BY THE WAY, I
SAID THIS ON THE DAIS RECENTLY.
15 TO 40% OF THE PEOPLE AT THIRD
PIKE AND PINE HAVE HOUSING AND
THERE'S DIFFERENT REASONS WHY
THEY ARE ON THE STREETS AND I
GOT SOME GRIEF ABOUT THAT. I
WOULD LIKE TO PROMOTE THE
SEATTLE NICE PODCAST THAT JUST
CAME OUT THIS WEEK. NICOLE
TALKED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING
ON THE STREETS. WE HAVE TO PUT
EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE FORWARD. SEATTLE TIMES
NEVER REPORTS ON THIS. THOUGH
THEY HAVE A HOMELESS REPORTER.
HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT THIS AND
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO CONFIRMED THIS TO
ME. BUT YET, IT'S LIKE IT
DOESN'T EXIST. PEOPLE WE SEE ON
THE STREET ACTUALLY DO HAVE
HOUSING. AND WE ARE NOT FIGURING
OUT WHY. IS IT BECAUSE THE
HOUSING STOCK WE HAVE IS IN SUCH
POOR SHAPE THAT PEOPLE ARE LIKE
HEY? WHEN YOU SEE A MASSIVE
RAT'S NEST, YOU'RE LIKE WHAT
IS IT LIKE ON THE INSIDE? OH, NO
WONDER PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE
INSIDE. AND IT COMES BACK TO DO
WE KEEP BUILDING NEW AND GET RID
OF THE OLD OR DO WE REFURBISH
AND MAINTAIN BETTER? SINCE WE
ADD THE CARPENTER'S UNION IN
TERMS OF THAT PIECE, TOO, IN HOW
WE CAN SUPPORT THE TRADES
COMMUNITY AS WE LOOK TO BUILD
MORE HOUSING. SO THEY HAVE COME
OUT WITH NOTHING ON PAPER. WE
NEED A PROVISO TO UNDERSTAND
NUMBERS TWO AND THREE. I REALLY
THINK THE ORGANIZATIONAL
STABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN THE IDEA OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MITIGATION
ENGAGEMENT PLAN. IS REALLY AN
IMPORTANT POLICY AS WE MOVE
FORWARD ON OH AND HOUSING AND
WHAT WE DO HERE IN THE CITY.
>> I SEE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> MR. CHAIR, BEFORE WE GO, CAN
I MAKE A POINT OF ORDER HERE?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE YOU ARE
REFERRING TO POLICIES. MY POWER
POINT ONLY GOES UP TO FOUR. YOU
ARE SAYING FIVE AND SIX?
>> THOSE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> OH.
>> WE HAVE BEEN VERY
CONVERSATIONAL IN THE MANNER.
>> SORRY, IT'S OKAY.
>> IT IS ALWAYS FUN, BUT IT
ALWAYS GETS A LITTLE
DISTRACTING.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW. I THOUGHT MY
POWER POINT WAS WRONG. SORRY.
THANK YOU.
>> NO PROBLEM. WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. AND THEN
CONNELL SO.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR ASSESSMENT. AND
YOUR POLICY CONSIDERATIONS AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING UP TWO ITEMS WHICH
I HAVE ACTUALLY TALKED TO JEN
AND TRACI ABOUT. THE
STABILIZATION FUNDS FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY. THIS IS SOMETHING I
TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR, BECAUSE
SOME OF THE HOUSING PROVIDERS
THAT ARE IN THE DISTRICT THAT I
REPRESENT HAD BEEN HAVING ISSUES
WITH KEEPING THEIR RESIDENTS
SAFE. AT THE TIME THEY COULD NOT
USE OH FUNDS FOR SECURITY OR
EXTRA CASE MANAGEMENT IF THEY
NEED TO KEEP THEIR FOLKS SAFE
AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO
SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THIS, AND THIS YEAR, I
KNOW LAST YEAR, OH HAD THOSE
STABILIZATION FUNDS. THANK YOU
FOR YESTERDAY. I THINK YOU FOUND
OUT ABOUT THE 28 MILLION WE HAD
NOT KNOWN ABOUT THAT BEFORE
YESTERDAY I BELIEVE. AND WANT
MORE DETAILS AND I KNOW YOU ARE
GETTING MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE LIST OF
ITEMS ARE LONG AND I WANT TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND. SOMETIMES
WHEN YOU PEANUT BUTTER THE MONEY
AROUND, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE
INTENDED IMPACT. SO, I WOULD
LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THINGS
QUALIFY. BUT I DO BELIEVE
SECURITY IS PART OF THAT. AND
MAYBE EVEN CASE MANAGEMENT. BUT
I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD BE
INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE. AND
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY WE
DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFORE
AND HOW IT INTERSECTS WITH THE
BUDGET IN TERMS OF THEIR PUTTING
IT OUT NOW. SO THEY HAD
UNDERSPENT. I'M A LITTLE
UNCLEAR HOW THIS IS COMING
FORWARD NOW.
>> I WILL SAY, I THINK THE
EXECUTIVE HAS TOLD US THAT THEY
WERE PLANNING TO DO AN RFP FOR
OPERATING STABILIZATION OF 28
MILLION. WE HEARD A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT TIME LINE. THAT IT
WOULD BE RELEASED IN Q1 OF 2026
AND THEY WERE STILL WORKING TO
DETERMINE THE FINAL AMOUNT.
WOULD IT BE 28 MILLION.
SOMETHING ELSE. AND WHAT THE
ELIGIBILITY USES WOULD BE. SO I
THINK THE MAJOR CHANGE HERE IS
JUST MOVING UP THE TIME LINE.
WHERE THEY NOW PLAN TO RELEASE
THE RFP IN NOVEMBER AND HOW
CONTRACTS UNDERWAY BY THE END OF
JANUARY, 2026 SO IT IS JUST
MOVING UP THE TIME LINE.
>> TO JUST REMIND FOLKS WE ALSO
KNOW THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE 2025NOFA
THAT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR
ORGANIZATIONAL STABILITY. IT
WILL TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
APPROACH TO TRY TO REDUCE THE
DEBT SERVICE SOME OF THESE
PROJECTS HAVE TO PAY. THAT
ACTUALLY FREES UP SOME OPERATING
DOLLARS FOR THEM. SO THERE WILL
BE A LOT OF MONEY TO BE
DETERMINED THAT WILL ALSO BE
AVAILABLE IN THE 2025 RELEASED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. I WAS NOT AWARE
OF THIS 28 MILLION. AND, BECAUSE
YOU WERE ASKING QUESTIONS I
THINK IN PART ON MY BEHALF, WE
FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ACCELERATED
TIME LINE ON THIS 28 MILLION. SO
JUST TRANSPARENCY. JUST WANT TO
KNOW WHAT THE FAMILIARS ARE OF
THAT AND WHETHER IT ADDRESSES
THE THINGS THE PROVIDERS ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT GOING AS FAR
BACK AS WHEN I STARTED LAST
YEAR. SO MORE TO COME ON THAT.
AND THEN, ON THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENT MAYBE SHOULD BE CALLED
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN
BECAUSE TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE'S POINT, SOMEHOW THAT
HAS A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION. BUT
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS NOT
MEANT TO BE PUNITIVE. IT IS HOW
CAN WE FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS AND
COMMUNITY WHERE THE HOUSING
BUILDINGS EXIST SO EVERYONE
BENEFITS FROM THE RELATIONSHIP
AS A POSITIVE THING. WE DON'T
WANT TO BE A NEGATIVE SPACE. WE
HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH JEN AND
TRACY ON HOW WE CAN BE INVOLVED
IN SOME GUIDANCE AS PART OF THE
HOUSING PROJECTS. SO, ANYWAY,
MORE TO COME, BUT THANK YOU FOR
CLARIFYING THAT. CENTRAL STAFF
ENGAGES AND FINDS OUT
INFORMATION THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW ABOUT. AND THAT WAS REALLY
HELPFUL SO THANK YOU FOR DOING
THAT. AND THANK YOU TO OH FOR
THE SECOND ROUND IT SOUNDS LIKE
OF THIS STABILIZATION FUNDED IS
NEEDED AND THAT IT DOES INCLUDE
THE PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENTS TO IT
BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE
PROVIDERS THAT THEY NEED THAT.
SO, THANK YOU TO OH AND THANK
YOU TO YOU TWO. THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING TO FOLLOW
UP? COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS. I
WILL START WITH THE NORTH GATE
COMMONS FUNDING ON PAGE 3. MY
QUESTION IS, AND I HAVE NOTHING
BUT RESPECT FOR THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY AND FROM WHAT
I KNOW ABOUT THIS PROJECT, IT
SOUNDS LIKE A VERY GOOD ONE. BUT
I AM WONDERING WHY YOU NOTE THAT
IF WE GIVE 5 MILLION TO AN
EXTERIOR EXTERNAL AGENCY. THOSE
DOLLARS MAY NOT BE SUBJECT TO
THE SAME POLICIES OF OVERSIGHT
AS OTHER OH FUNDED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS. AND SO, ANY OF
THE PAPERS THAT EXPLAIN WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS DOING, WAS THAT
ISSUE EVER ADDRESSED?
>> I WILL SAY NO. I THINK THE
RATIONALE FOR MOVING THE MONEY
WAS REALLY THAT UNDER THE
CURRENT HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES, SHA WOULD HAVE HAD TO
GO THROUGH THE NOFA PROJECT, THE
COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS.
YOU CAN'T DO A DIRECT
ALLOCATION UNDER THE HOUSING
FUNDING POLICIES. THOSE ARE
ADOPT BY COUNCIL AND CAN BE
AMENDED AND THE PROJECT THAT IS
ALSO AN OH FUNDED PROJECT
PROVIDES REALLY GOOD PRECEDENT
OF ANOTHER APPROACH SO COUNCIL
AMENDED THE HOUSING POLICIES. TO
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING RECEIVE AN
APPLICATION AND REVIEW IT FOR
FEASIBILITY. AND I THINK COUNCIL
ALSO ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE AND WE
COULD DO MORE RESEARCH TO FIGURE
OUT DID WE NEED BOTH. BUT ONLY
TO SAY THERE IS A DIFFERENT
PATHWAY AND WE HAVE A PRESS DENT
FOR IT. AND I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY
REASON WHY WE COULD NOT TAKE
THAT ALTERNATIVE APPROACH.
>> THANK YOU. ONE REASON I ASK
IS NOT JUST YOU KNOW, TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO
PLAN BUT I AM BECOMING MORE AND
MORE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE
MONEY THAT SITS IN DIFFERENT
ACCOUNTS WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S BUDGET DOES EARN
INTEREST. SO WHEN WE ARE
TRANSFERRING MONEY OUT OF THE
CITY TO ANOTHER EXPERSONAL
ENTITY I AM THINKING WHERE IS
THAT BETWEEN WHEN IT IS
TRANSFERRED AND WHEN IT IS
ACTUALLY USED, WHO IS COLLECTING
THAT INTEREST? AND I'M ALWAYS
BECOMING MORE KEENLY AWARE OF
THAT RESOURCE THAT GROWS BEFORE
MONEY IS ACTUALLY SPENT SO THAT
IS PART OF THE REASON I'M
ASKING.
>> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW AT
THIS POINT THE CONTRACT, WE KNOW
THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A CONTRACT
BUT IT HASN'T BEEN NEGOTIATED.
THOSE ARE OTHER INVOICES SO YOU
MAKE A GOOD POINT AND WE DON'T
YET KNOW THE ANSWER WITH THAT.
IT IS NOT SITTING IN THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING ACCOUNT. RIGHT? IT IS
SITTING IN A CENTRAL ACCOUNT AND
YES. IT IS EARNING INTEREST.
>> BUT CITY OF SEATTLE CONTROLS
IT?
>> YES. YES.
>> SECOND QUESTION IS, AND THIS
GOES BACK TO THE OPERATING
STABILIZATION FUND. DO YOU HAVE
ANY DETAIL ON HOW THAT WAS
SIZED? LIKE, 28 SEEMS LIKE A
REALLY SPECIFIC NUMBER. SO DID
THEY ASK.
>> THAT IS THE ONLY INFORMATION
I HAVE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
SOURCE OF THAT SIZE. AND WE DO
HAVE QUESTIONS PENDING WITH OH
ABOUT SORT OF UNDERSTANDING THE
OVERALL NEED FOR THE PORTFOLIO.
RIGHT? SO WHAT DATA DO WE HAVE
ABOUT THE NEED FOR OPERATING
STABILIZATION SUPPORT AND HOW
THAT FITS INTO IT. SO HOPEFULLY,
I WILL BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO
YOU WITH MORE INFORMATION IN THE
NEXT WEEK OR TWO.
>> FOR THE RECORD, I DO
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO NEED
HELP. FIRST OF ALL, TO REPAIR
DAMAGED BUILDINGS, FOR
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. AND, THE
COLLECTION OF RENTAL. I
UNDERSTAND THEY ARE HURTING, WE
GAVE I THINK 14 MILLION A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO RIGHT? I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FACT
CHECKING OR REALITY CHECKING THE
NUMBERS WE ARE GIVEN. MY LAST
ONE IS YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN
REALLY FOCUSED ON WANTING THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING TO GET MONEY
OUT THE DOOR BECAUSE THEY CARRY
A CASH RESERVE. THE I HAVE BEEN
GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR A LONG
TIME. IN EXCHANGE, READS WE ARE
EXAMINING PROCESS CHANGES THAT
CAN EXPEDITE EXPENDITURES WITH
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AND I
RESPOND WHAT KIND OF CHANGES? IS
THERE A GOAL FOR THE THE AMOUNT
OF TIME THEY COULD SHAVE OFF
COMPLETION OF A PROJECT AND THE
AMOUNT OF TIME IT SITS ON OH'S
BOOKS? THIS EXCHANGE WAS FROM
BETWEEN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, AND
OCTOBER OF 2024. AND SO, DO YOU
KNOW OF ANY PROCESS CHANGES THAT
HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED, ANY REALLY
SERIOUS CONTEMPLATION OF HOW THE
CITY CAN HELP OUR PROVIDERS
ACCESS THE FINANCING NEEDED TO
GET SO WE ARE NOT CARRYING SO
MUCH CASH BALANCE AND WE CAN GET
THE PROJECTS GOING FASTER?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OFF THE
TOP OF MY HEAD.
>> OKAY. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
OTHERWISE, I CAN JUMP INTO A
COUPLE OF MINE. SEEING NONE, MY
QUESTION IS ABOUT THE OVERALL
FUNDING OF THE DEPARTMENT AND I
WILL GET INTO POLICY
CONSIDERATION USING YOUR FIVE
AND THEN SIX YEAR LOOK BACKS
REALLY NOTING THAT IN 2019,
OFFICE OF HOUSING HAD $69
MILLION. AND TODAY THEY ARE
PROPOSED AT. LET ME FLIP THE
PAGE HERE. TO I BELIEVE IT IS
249. 344.4. I GUESS I SHOULD
LOOK UP AT THE POWER POINT. OVER
THE LAST SIX YEARS THE
DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN
SUBSTANTIALLY. THE PART OF THAT
WAS THE JUMP START INFUSION OF
FUNDS THAT THROUGH THE DIFFERENT
UNFORTUNATE DISAGREEMENTS IN
THAT TIME THERE WERE STRICT
RULES IN PLACE REGARDING THE
JUMP START FUND. BUT AT THIS
TIME, WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDING
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AGAIN AT
HISTORIC LEVELS. EVEN BEYOND
LAST YEAR WHICH WAS 344.3. BUT,
THE 344 DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 5
MILLION TO NORTH GATE. IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> SO THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET
DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 5 MILLION
GOING TO NORTH GATE.
>> SO IT IS 349 THIS YEAR.
REGARDING YOUR POLICY
CONSIDERATION NUMBER TWO. I WANT
TO UNDERSTAND THIS A LITTLE BIT
BETTER. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY
SAYING. ARE THESE DIFFERENT
OPERATING STABILIZATION SUPPORT?
COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION
FUND, ARE THESE DIFFERENT FUND
LEVELS NOT FUNDED AT THE LEVELS
WE WANT THEM TO OR THE COLOR OF
MONEY WE ARE USING?
>> IT IS NEITHER CAN I CAN TAKE
A MOMENT TO WALK THROUGH IT.
WHAT WE ARE DESCRIBING IS ALL
PET. SO, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PET
THAT OH IS RECEIVING. IN 2026.
IS 137 MILLION. AND THIS IS JUST
SAYING IF YOU ADDED UP EVERY
SINGLE USE THE EXECUTIVE HAS
TALKED ABOUT. AND THESE ARE
INFORMAL. THERE IS A BUDGET AT
THE BSL LEVEL. IF YOU ASK THEM
FOR THEIR PLAN. THEIR TOTAL PLAN
IS 177 MILLION I WANT TO SAY. SO
THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR MORE PET
THAN THEY CURRENTLY HAVE. AND WE
WILL USE ONE DOLLAR TO MEET
MULTIPLE GOALS OR PROMISES WE
HAVE MADE. WE CAN INVEST IN A
SINGLE PROJECT AND WE CAN SAY WE
ARE GOING TO COUNT, USE THAT
TOWARD OUR HOUSING LEVY GOALS, A
SELF-DETERMINATION FUND PROJECT
AND ANTIDISPLACEMENT AND
REPARATION FUND PROJECT. SO WE
CAN SORT OF WORK WITHIN OUR
EXISTING BUDGET OF MONEY TO MEET
MULTIPLE PROMISES. DOES THAT
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> IT HELPS ME TO UNDERSTAND.
THIS YEAR, WHEN WE HAD A JUMP
START DOWNTURN IN THE FORECAST,
THE CBO REPLENISHED THAT WITH
GENERAL FUNDS SOY WAS TRYING TO
GET A BETTER SENSE OF ARE WE
SPLITTING HAIRS OVER WHAT COLOR
OF MONEY IS IT TODAY? AND WHAT
I'M HEARING, WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING IS IF WE COULD HAVE A ONE
PROJECT THAT DID ALL THOSE THREE
THINGS AND WE COULD HAVE MANY OF
THOSE PROJECTS I THINK OUR CITY
WOULD BE IN A BETTER PLACE. AND
SO, THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR
ME TO UNDERSTAND AS WOE ARE
MOVING THROUGH THIS.
>> TABLE ONE IN THE MEMO SHOWS
THIS BREAK DOWN. IT MIGHT HELP
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT AS WELL. THAT CALLS OUT
THIS ISSUE CLEARLY.
>> LAST ONE IS JUST A STATEMENT
ON POLICY CONSIDERATION NUMBER
FOUR. COLLEAGUES, ITER TAKES A
LONG TIME TO STEER A BUREAUCRACY
OR SHIFT IN A NEW DIRECTION AND
THE FACT THIS IS A POLICY
CONSIDERATION THAT WE ADD
ADDITIONAL FOR BETTER REPORTING
THROUGH A PLAN THAT WAS
REQUESTED LAST YEAR BY THE
COUNCIL. THIS IS JUST DETERMINE
RATING THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO
TACK AND MAKE BETTER PROGRESS ON
UNDERSTANDING THE HOUSING
LANDSCAPE THAT WE NEED TO BUILD
AND FUND. NICE WORK. WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ON THIS?
>> MR. CHAIR?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU SIR. I KNOW I HAD
EMAILED YOU SAYING I WOULDN'T
SPEAK BUT THE DAYQUIL HAS KICKED
IN. YOU GOT US AND OUR TEAM UP
TO SPEED QUICKLY WITH OH AND THE
FACT IT IS IN THIS COMMITTEE OF
MINE I HAVE COCHAIRED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SULLIVAN. I'M
REALLY GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE
NORTH GATE. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
I WAS GOING THE ASK YOU IF YOU
KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT A SIMILAR
PROJECT DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
THAT PROJECT WAS WITH SHA IN
WHICH THE CITY OF SEATTLE DID A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM? DO YOU
REMEMBER HOW MUCH THAT WAS?
>> WE MADE A NUMBER OF
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT PROJECT
ABOUT TELEPLAYS BUT WE WILL GET
YOU THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
>> IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO ME
AND I WILL SHARE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES. WHEN YOU ARE
SHEERING A SHIP IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION AND IT TAKES A WHILE
TO, I'LL USE HIS TERM TACT.
THIS ISN'T UNHEARD OF AND I
HOPE SOME OF MY COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO REPRESENT DISTRICTS CAN USE
THIS AS A TEMPLATE TO DO
PARTNERSHIPS WITH GROUPS LIKE
SALE HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND
CREATING REAL BRICK AND MORTAR
HOUSING. YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR
SHOULDER IN AND PLAY THE LONG
GAME. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT HAVING SOME KIND OF
WATERSHED MOMENT WHERE WE GET
REPORTED BACK TO CITY COUNCIL
WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON. I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
SHE HAS BEEN GOOD ABOUT
REMINDING US IT IS OUR JOB TO
ASK QUESTIONS. WE NEED TO KNOW
WHERE IT IS GOING AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING AND THAT IS NOT A
CRITICISM. IT IS JUST OUR JOB.
SO I WANT TO APPRECIATE ALSO
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE SAID
ABOUT ALL OF THESE OH, KING
COUNTY, HSD. I HATE USING THIS
WORD. INTERSECTIONALTY. BUT THEY
ALL CONNECT IN THE SENSE OF WE
WANT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOUSING
AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE SAFE.
BUT THEY ALL CONNECT. SO THANK
YOU FOR BRING TAG TO OUR
ATTENTION TO REMIND US THIS IS A
UNIVERSE OF ALPHABET SOUP AND WE
NEED TO KNOW WHEN WE HAND OUT
MONEY WHERE DOES IT GO AND WHAT
DO WE HAVE TO DO TO BRING IT
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. I KNOW
YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY SICK OF
HEARING ME TALK ABOUT THE LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? I'M
SORRY. WE HAVE TO PAUSE FOR AN
EARTHQUAKE DRILL.
>> I'M DONE. MY EARTHQUAKE IS
DONE.
>> WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU IN A
MINUTE.
>> I'M DONE. THANK YOU!
>> BUT DON'T FORGET TO GET
UNDER YOUR DESK.
>> I WILL DO IT RIGHT NOW. THANK
YOU.
>> WELL I THINK THAT IS
SATISFACTORY.
>> ARE WE DONE?
>> I THINK SO. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> ARE WE DONE?
>> THEY HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED THE
RELEASE. BUT, IT IS 10:17 ON THE
CHAMBER FLOORS. HERE WE ARE.
>> THERE IT IS.
>> THANK YOU. I GUESS IF I DID
NOT FOLLOW THOSE INSTRUCTIONS, I
MAY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF THE
EARTHQUAKE. BUT, HOPEFULLY, WE
WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM. HOPEFULLY ALL OF THE
VIEWERS OF SEATTLE CHANNEL ARE
NOT HAVING THAT ALMOST LIVE
MOMENT OF APRIL 1st SO MANY
YEARS AGO WHEN ALMOST LIVE
SHOWED A PICTURE OF THE SPACE
NEEDLE FALLING OVER AND THEY
OVERRAN 911 CALL CENTER AND SHUT
IT DOWN. WITH THAT CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE READ THE SECOND ITEM
INTO THE AGENDA?
>> ITEM 2, DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> DIRECTOR NOBLE.
>> I DISCOVERED THIS DESK IS
STABILIZED BY A HUGE STEEL BEAM.
IT IS A HUGE STEEL BEAM. VERY
IMPRESSIVE. YEAH.
>> I HAD NO IDEA.
>> WE JUST DISCOVERED THAT.
>> YES. THE ADVANTAGE OF THE
DRILL! WE HAVE LEARNED
SOMETHING.
>> FANTASTIC. AND WE ARE JOINED
BY JASMINE OF CENTRAL STAFF. AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AFTER THE
PRESENTATION, I WILL HAVE YOU
MAKE, I WILL GIVE THE FLOOR TO
YOU FIRST.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. I AM
JASMINE MARWAHA HERE TO PRESENT
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING. AS I AM SURE YOU
ARE AWARE, THE CITY INVESTMENT
AND SUPPORT SERVICES FROM EARLY
CHILDHOOD INVESTMENTS TO POST
SECONDARY. AND, WHILE WASHINGTON
STATE AND SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
BASIC EDUCATION TO K-12
STUDENTS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY
PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING AND
WE ARE INDEED DOING THAT. SO
HERE WE HAVE THE BUDGET OVERVIEW
AT THE BSL LEVEL. THIS TABLE
LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN
OTHERS YOU HAVE SEEN AND OTHER
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS
PERHAPS. BECAUSE IT HIGHLIGHTS
THE CHANGES FROM THE 2026
PROPOSED TO THE 2025 ADOPTED.
BECAUSE THE LEVY'S FISCAL YEAR
FOLLOWS THE SCHOOL YEAR
CALENDAR, TYPICALLY, THE
CALENDAR YEAR BUDGET WOULD
INCLUDE THE SECOND HALF OF ONE
SCHOOL YEAR AND THE SECOND HALF
OF THE THE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR,
SO THE ENDORSE BUDGET ON THIS
TABLE REFLECTS ONLY SIX MONTHS
OF FUNDING FROM THE CURRENT 2018
LEVY. AND IT DIDN'T ASSUME
REVENUES FROM A RENEWED LEVY
SINCE LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. NOW WE
HAVE THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. A
PROPERTY TAX LEVY GENERATING
APPROXIMATELY $1.3 BILLION OVER
THE NEXT SIX YEARS. AND THAT
WILL BE ON THE BALLOT NEXT
MONTH. AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS
TABLE IT INCLUDES NOTABLE
INCREASES ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.
JUST A FEW OF THESE INCREASES
INCLUDE FOUR-AND-A-HALF MILLION
DOLLARS FOR THE CHILD CARE
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. $6.7MILLION
FOR THE SEATTLE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. 2.8 IN CHILD CARE
WORKER SUPPORT. 1.2MILLION.
$4MILLION TO EXPAND THE SEATTLE
PROGRAM. THESE INCREASES AND
MORE ARE LISTED OUT IN THE
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS PAPER.
JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A FEW OF
THOSE. IN ADDITION TO INCREASES
IN PROGRAMMING, THE RENEWAL
WOULD SHIFT FUNDING FROM GENERAL
FUND TO HAVE IT ALL ROLLED UP.
THE ONLY REMAINING GENERAL FUND
YOU SEE IS IT JUST REFLECTS
GRANT FUNDING THAT WE WILL GET.
LIKELY NEXT YEAR. SO HERE WE GO
TO THE POLICY CONSIDERATION. THE
DEAL WILL COME BACK IN MAR WITH
A PLAN THAT WILL PROVIDE A MORE
DETAILED PROPOSED EXPENDITURES
FOR THE LIFE OF THE LEVY. IT
WILL ESTABLISH THE CRITERIA,
OUTCOME AND METHODOLOGIES. THEY
ARE NOT STARTING FROM A BLANK
ISOLATE. THE STARTING POINT IS
CONTAINED IN ATTACHMENT A OF THE
MEMO. AND ACCORDING TO THIS,
THESE LINE ITEMS ARE UNLIKELY TO
CHANGE SUBSTANTIATIVELY. THOUGH
SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT REPRESENT
BROADER BUCKETS WOULD BE
PRESENTED WITH GREATER
SPECIFICITY. SO, AS I NOTE IN
THIS SLIDE, COUNCIL MAY WISH TO
ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS OR
EXPRESS PRIORITIES AT THIS STAGE
TO HELP SHAPE THE PLAN AND THIS
CAN TAKE A FEW DIFFERENT FORMS.
THERE IS A SPECTRUM IN TERMS OF
HOW MUCH DIRECT YOU WOULD LIKE
TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENT. THE MOST
DIRECTIVE THING YOU COULD DO IS
ACTUALLY MOVE MONEY AROUND
BETWEEN BSLs OR ISSUE PROVISOS.
THIS MIGHT POSE SOME RISK OF
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. BECAUSE
THE PLANNING PROCESS COULD
RESULT IN DIFFERENT COST
ANALYSES WITH SOME PROGRAMS
BEING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN
INITIALLY ASSUMED AND A PROVASO
MAY CONSTRAIN FUNDING. IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE
DEPARTMENT MORE FLEXIBILITY. YOU
COULD DO A STATEMENT OF INTENT
AND REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT TO
INCORPORATE PRIORITIES IN THE
PLAN. A SLIDE COULD ASK THE
DEPARTMENT TO ASK HOW COUNCIL
PRIORITIES ARE INCORPORATED AND
HOW THEY CAME TO THE DECISIONS.
THE SLIDE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
SCALDING. BASICALLY IT CAN BE A
WAY OF SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO
MESS AROUND WITH THIS INVESTMENT
TABLE RIGHT NOW. BUT WE WOULD
LIKE YOU TO INCORPORATE THESE
ITEM INS THE PLAN OR AT THE VERY
LEAST TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY AND
FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. THAT'S
SORT OF THE MIDDLE GROUND
OPTION. COUNCIL WILL HAVE
ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE IN THE
SPRING TO APPROVE LEVY
ALLOCATIONS WHEN ADOPTING THE I
AND E PLAN. IF THE LEVY PASSES
OF COURSE IN NOVEMBER. I WANT TO
DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE
LEVIENED A THE POTENTIAL FOR THE
GUIDANCE. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE
IS NO POLICY CONSIDERATIONS.
>> FANTASTIC. THANKS JASMINE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THIS
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR
AND JASMINE FOR PRESENTING THE
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEALS
BUDGET. COLLEAGUES I WANT TO
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ENGAGING IN
THE PROCESS EARLIER THIS YEAR,
AS YOU MAY ALL REMEMBER, WE HAD
A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT
ACTUALLY HELPED SHAPE THE FINAL
PROPOSAL. THE BASIS BY WHICH WE
ARE PUTING THE PROPOSAL ON THE
BALLOT IN NOVEMBER SO I WOULD
SAY THAT WAS OUR FIRST BITE OF
THE APPLE OF EXPRESSING OUR
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS AND I KNOW
MANY OF YOU DID JUST THAT. OF
COURSE, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN WITH THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
PLAN THAT DEAL WILL BE BRINGING
TO US. IN THE EARLY SPRING AND I
WILL SAY I WANT TO UNDERSTAND
SCORE THAT DEALS, THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE ON A SCHOOL
YEAR. FOR ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS
THAT YOU SEE. IN READING OVER
DEALS BUDGET, THERE IS A LOT OF,
YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE BEING
ESTIMATED. ONE, WE DON'T KNOW
FOR CERTAIN THE LEVY WILL PASS
TO BEGIN WITH. SECONDLY, BECAUSE
THIS PLAN WILL ACTUALLY BE THE
GUIDING PRINCIPLES BY WHICH WE
WILL MAKE BUDGETARY DECISIONS
FOR THE FALL OF 26. BECAUSE WE
WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BASED
ON THE INE PLAN AND THE MID YEAR
BUDGET TO IMPACT WHAT HAPPENS IN
THE FALL FOR THE FOLLOWING
SCHOOL YEAR. SO ALL OF THIS IS
TO SAY WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF
OPPORTUNITY ONCE A DEAL, IS
STAKE HOLDERRING WHICH THEY ARE
DOING NOW. THEY HAVE ALREADY
STARTED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED WITH THEM AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. THEY HAVE
ALREADY STARTED THE PLANNING FOR
THE INE PLAN. AND, STARTED DOING
THIS STAKE HOLDERRING. IN TERMS
OF THE REVIEW. KEEP IN MIND THAT
THEY ARE DOING THE STAKE
HOLDERRING PROCESS NOW WHICH
WILL GUIDE THE INE PLAN. SO, FOR
INSTANCE, IN THE POLICY
CONSIDERATION PAPER IT TALKS
ABOUT THE PROMISE PROGRAM
SERVING 1475 KIDS. THAT IS JUST
AN ESTIMATE. AS YOU KNOW, THE
PROMISE PROGRAM SERVES EVERY
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATE. WHO WOULD LIKE
TO GO TO COLLEGE ADD ONE OF THE
SEATTLE COLLEGES AND WE HAVE A
GREAT PARTNERSHIP IN THE SEATTLE
COLLEGES THAT WILL HELP AND BE A
PARTNER IN THE CONTINUATION OF
PROMISE WHICH INCLUDES ALSO PATH
TO UW AND A PATH TO THE TRADES
AND SO WE ARE ENGAGED IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
CHANCELLOR AT SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS ON ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS
I JUST MENTIONED. SO ALL OF THIS
TO SAY DEAL IS ACTIVELY WORKING
ON THIS. I HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF OUR
PARTNERS AS WELL. YOU HAVE MY
COMMITMENT I AM WORKING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WHAT YOU ALL INCLUDED
AS AMENDMENT TO THE INITIAL
PROPOSAL ARE CONTINUES TO MOVE
FORWARD TOWARD THAT CONCLUSION
OF THE PLAN. THANK YOU CHAIR AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS JASMINE'S
PRESENTATION. BUT ALSO HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS PEOPLE
MIGHT HAVE IF IT IS HELPFUL. BUT
MORE TO COME.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I
FORGOT TO SAY THAT FOR THE
OTHERS SO THANK THEM. I KNOW
THEY ARE NOT HERE AT THE TABLE
ANYMORE. THAT THEY CAME. AND OF
COURSE, DIRECTOR NOBLE. CAN YOU
GO TO SLIDE TWO? I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT. THIS
COMES OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF
A BROADER BUDGET QUESTION. BUT
THIS SLIDE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW
THINGS CHANGE OVER TIME. WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE PARKS LEVY AND
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY. THIS
LAYS IT ALL OUT. AND I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS. I
WANTED TO DO IT PARTLY BECAUSE
WE GET COMMENTS IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS. I WAS READING
THE STRANGER ARTICLE THIS
MORNING TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GET
INPUT FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS TO INCLUDE THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS. AND, IN SOME OF
THOSE COMMENTS THEY DON'T
REALIZE THINGS HAVE CHANGED. SO
IT'S NOT BEING CUT, JUST
SHIFTED. AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT
POINT FROM A BUDGETING
PERSPECTIVE WE LET THE PUBLIC
KNOW. IT HIGHLIGHTS IN TERMS OF
THE GENERAL FUND THE PET AND THE
SWEET AND BEVERAGE TAX. I THINK
THAT YOU KNOW, THIS SLIDE KIND
OF HIGHLIGHTS IN A BROADER
PERSPECTIVE THE EBBS AND FLOWS
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUDGET.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
WHEN PEOPLE SEE A SLICE, IT IS
LIKE THE ELEPHANT. YOU HIT THE
LEG, YOU HAVE TO GET THE WHOLE
PICTURE. AND UNDERSTANDING THE
WHOLE PICTURE WILL EXPLAIN WHY
MAYBE THAT PET MONEY IS NOT
GOING TO MENTAL HEALTH OR THE
DIFFERENT THING THAT'S ARE
HAPPENING AND THIS HIGHLIGHTS
AGAIN, THE SWEET AND BEVERAGES
AS WELL. SO, VICE CHAIR, I JUST
WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT. I CAN SEE IT
COMING UP THE COURSE OF US DOING
BUNT. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE IS THE USE OF VOTER
APPROVED REVENUE BOTH IN AREAS
THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY CORE
GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT AREAS.
THEN IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT SCORE
CITY FUNCTIONS. EDUCATION IS NOT
A CORE CITY FUNCTION. THAT IS
ONE ELEMENT. IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS
AS YOU NOTED, THAT THEY CAN BE
USED TO HELP EASE THE FINANCIAL
CONSTRAINTS ON THE GENERAL FUND
SO THERE IS SOME FUND SWAPPING
HERE. WE ARE ASKING THE VOTERS
TO APPROVE THIS FOR EDUCATION
BUT ALSO TO HELP SUSTAIN
EXISTING CITY SERVICES AND A
THIRD POINT IS THE USE OF
DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCES AND
THEY ARE FROM A FINANCIAL
BUREAUCRAT, VERY ATTRACTIVE
POLITICALLY IN YOU END UP WITH A
SOURCE OF MONEY DEDICATED TO A
SPECIFIC PURPOSE, BUT AS WE FACE
CONSTRAINTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS,
BEING ABLE TO SHIFT THE MONEYS
CREATIVELY HELPS SUSTAIN THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM, BUT IT THEN LEADS
TO QUESTIONS TO THOSE ADVOCATING
FOR THE DEDICATED FUNDS. WILL IT
BE FUNDED AND WILL IT BE FUNDED
RELIABLY GOING FORWARD? THERE
ARE NOT NECESSARILY BLACK AND
WHITE ANSWERS TO THOSE
QUESTIONS. BUT ALL OF THIS IS
GOING ON HERE. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE
COMPLEXITIES OF THIS. AND I
THINK IT IS A CHALLENGE THAT
FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN FROM AN
ADVOCACY PERSPECTIVE, AGAIN,
THIS IS WITH LOVE IF YOU WILL.
FOCUSED ON THEIR DEDICATED
REVENUE SOURCES AND WHERE THE
FUNDS ARE GOING. THERE'S A
LOGIC FROM OUR END TO SHIFTING
FUNDING SOURCES AND TO
BENEFITING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM BUT
IT IS HARD TO SEE IF YOU
ADVOCATED FOR A DEDICATED
FUNDING SOURCE AND SEE THAT AS A
WAY TO GUARANTEE INVESTMENTS AND
WHATEVER AREA THAT IS. AND I'M
NOT RESOLVING BUT DESCRIBING IT
BECAUSE IT IS REAL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. TO ADDRESS COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE ALSO IN TERMS OF THE FUND
SWAPS. AS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING
THE PROCESS. THE FUND SWAPS ARE
GOING WARD KIDS AND EDUCATION.
SOME OF IT WAS BECAUSE COUNCIL
HAD GIVEN DEALS TO DO CERTAIN
THINGS. THEY WERE TOLD TO DO. SO
THOSE THINGS GOT TRANSFERRED AS
PART OF THIS PROCESS TO BE MORE
SUSTAINABLE MOVING FORWARD AS
PART OF THIS NEXT IT RATION OF
THE SIX YEAR LEVY. SO IT WAS
VERY FOCUSED ON THE EDUCATION.
THE KID'S COMPONENT OF THE
OTHER FUNDING SOURCES. NOT
THINGS THAT WERE RANDOM.
>> THAT IS GOOD CLARIFICATION.
>> THANK YOU. CHAIR YOU ARE
BACK.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE? NOTHING ELSE?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. AND JASMINE,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMO AND
PRESENTATION TODAY. I WANTED TO
TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE
RELATE TODAY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
AND A COUPLE OF GENERAL COMMENTS
ABOUT SOME OF MY INTERESTS AND
PRIORITIES AS IT RELATES TO
THIS. I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND DATA
ATWAYS PROGRAM, AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR INSPIRING EDUCATORS OF COLOR
IN GETTING THEIR TEACHING
SERVICEIFICATIONS AT A TIME WHEN
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
IS UNDER ATTACK AT SO MANY
LEVELS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
STUDENTS TO SEE THEMSELVES
REFLECTED IN THEIR TEACHERS.
SECONDLY WITH THE CONTEXT OF THE
SCHOOL BOARD'S LATEST VOTE, I
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING
WHAT OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT
ANALYSIS IS CONDUCTING WITH
SAFETY AROUND SCHOOLS. THE
RESORETIVE JUSTICE PRACTICE
PROGRAM. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW
DEAL IS CONDUCTING COMMUNITY
ENCAGEMENT AND EVALUATING WHAT
THESE INVESTMENTS MIGHT LOOK
LIKE. I KNOW I CONTINUE TO HEAR
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOW THEIR
HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST IS MAKING
SURE WE ARE MAKING PROPER
INVESTMENTS INTO SAFETY AROUND
SCHOOLS. THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF
POINTS I WANTED TO DAYLIGHT FOR
OUR DISCUSSION. I KNOW THIS IS
JUST THE BEGINNING OF OUR
CONVERSATION AS IT RELATES TO
THE PLAN. AND WHETHER THAT BE
WORKING THROUGH SLIES OR JUST
WITH DIRECT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE
TABLE THERE? NOPE? IF THERE ARE
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
I WILL MAKE MINE WHICH ARE TO
SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COST
BENEFIT. THAT WE CAN PROVISO
THINGS AND STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT ARE MORE
HELPFUL IN SOME WAYS. I'M
ADDING THE NARRATIVE THERE OF
BEING MORE HELPFUL. YOU JUST
SAID HERE IS ANOTHER OPTION
BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THAT
FLEXIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND IN SIX
MONTHS FROM NOW WHAT ARE THE
TRADE OFFS RATHER THAN TRYING TO
WALK OURSELVES INTO SOMETHING
THAT WE MAY WANT TO CHANGE IN
JUST SIX MONTHS SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND THEN I
WILL GIVE THE FLOOR BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE LEVEL AND MOVE ONTO
THE NEXT ITEM.
>> I JUST WANT TO REMIND US ALSO
COLLEAGUES THAT WE GET TO PASS
THE I AND E PLAN. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY. THAT WE WILL
HAVE TO DO. SO WHETHER OR NOT WE
DECIDE TO DO ANY SLIES AS PART
OF THIS BUDGET, I WOULD SAY THAT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE WILL
GET TO WEIGH IN AND PASS THAT.
SO, THE DEPARTMENT CANNOT MAKE
ALLOCATIONS OR DETERMINATIONS ON
THEIR OWN. THAT IS OUR DECISION
TO MAKE. THAT IS REALLY AN
IMPORTANT POINT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JASMINE, ANYTHING
ELSE TO LEAVE US WITH? THANK
YOU. COLLEAGUES WE WILL MOVE
RIGHT ON INTO THE THIRD ITEM. I
KNOW WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE A
BREAK BEFORE THE THIRD ITEM. BUT
THANKFULLY, OUR HERO HERE FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF IS READY
SO IF THE CLERK WOULD READ THE
THIRD ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ATEEM 3, PRESENTATION
OF CENTRAL STAFF.
>> WE ARE JOINEDLY LISH WHITSON.
THUMBS UP FROM COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. WITH THAT, AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE, LISH, WE WILL MOVE
RIGHT ON.
>> GOOD MORNING. LISH WHITSON.
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF HERE TO
TALK ABOUT THE OFFICES OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BUDGET. PROPOSED
BUDGET FOR 2026. THERE ARE THREE
DIFFERENT LINES OF BUSINESS
SHOWN ON THIS CABLE. THE SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION IS RECEIVING
ABOUT $200,000 IN ADDITIONAL
POSITION TO HELP WITH THEIR
REVIEW OF THE SOUND TRANSIT 3 BY
EXPANSION PROGRAM. THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS SEEING
A SLIGHT DECREASE IN MAINLY THAT
IS RELATED TO A SHIFTS OF SHORT
TERM RENTAL TAX FUNDING AND I
WILL GET INTO THAT IN JUST A
MINUTE. IT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES
I'M RAISING. PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS GETTING
SOME OF THAT SHORT TERM RENTAL
TAX FUNDING. THEY HOUSE THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
STAFF POCKETS SO SOME OF WHAT
YOU ARE SEEING IS SHIFTS OF
FUNDING FROM EDI TO PLANNING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO COVER
STAFF COSTS. THERE IS ALSO A NEW
NORTHERN LIGHTS PLANNING PROJECT
GETTING FUNDED. ALTHOUGH THE
TABLE SHOWS THAT THERE IS THE
SAME NUMBER OF FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES IN THE
DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE SOME
SHIFTS. POSITION THAT HAS BEEN
WORKING ON THE DUWAMISH ISSUES
ALONG THE DUWAMISH RIVER HAS
BEEN SHIFTED TO THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
CITY WIDE COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BUILDING POSITION IS BEING
SHIFTED TO DEPARTMENT AND
NEIGHBORHOODS. BOTH OF THOSE,
MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THOSE
DEPARTMENTS , RECEIVE A POSITION
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK ABOUT.
AS I MENTIONED. PLANNING AND
THEN, ANOTHER POSITION THAT I
WILL TALK ABILITY IN A MINUTE IS
BEING DEFUNDED IN THE LONG RANGE
PLANNING. DIVISION OF THE
DEPARTMENT BUT THE POCKET WILL
REMAIN. I HAVE IDENTIFIED FIVE
ISSUES RELATED TO THE BUDGET FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE FIRST IS
PLANNING FOR LONG RANGE PLANNING
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK
HAPPENING. ON LONG RANGE
PLANNING. RELATED IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE PLAN IS ONGOING. THERE IS
DIVISION THAT HAS BEEN VACANT
ALL YEAR. AND THE 2025-2026
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD DEFUND
THAT BUT RETAIN THE POCKET. THE
OFFICE'S COUNCIL'S REQUEST IN
RESOLUTION 32, 183 FURTHER
PLANNING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL
INTERESTS RELATED TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITHOUT THAT
POSITION. SO YOU HAVE SOME
OPTIONS HERE. REFUND THAT
POSITION IS FUNDING IS
AVAILABLE. IF YOU WANT TO SPEED
THAT WORK, YOU CAN ADD
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS IN THIS
AREA. OR, NO CHANGE.
>> AND LISH IF I MIGHT JUMP IN
HERE AND ASK SOME FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A POSITION IN
OPCD THAT IS NOT FILLED OR
FUNDED, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT IS FUNDED FOR 2025, BUT
NOT 2026.
>> THAT WAS FROM THE ORIGINAL
INTENTION WE WOULD BE WRAPPED UP
ON TOP OF THE COMP PLAN BY NOW.
>> I THINK IT IS ACTUALLY
BECAUSE THE OFFICE WAS GIVEN A
TARGET FOR A BUDGET CUT. MANY
OFFICES WERE. AND, STOPPING
FUNDING FOR A VACANT POSITION IS
THE EASIEST WAY TO MEET THAT
WITHOUT ATTACKING OTHER EXISTING
POSITIONS.
>> SO FOR THIS POSITION IN
PARTICULAR, HAVE WE ENGAGED IN
THE WORK OF THE LONG RANGE
PLANNING POSITION YET? IS THIS
MICHAEL HUBNER? I WILL ADD ONE
MORE TANGENT TO THIS QUESTION OF
DID COUNCIL'S ACTIONS THE LAST
TWO MONTHS INCREASE THE AMOUNT
OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE
INCREASED?
>> COUNCIL'S ACTIONS HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE
AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THIS
DIVISION IS BEING ASKED TO DO.
>> SO WE ARE THE PROBLEM. OKAY.
>> THAT'S THE ISSUE.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. DIRECTOR NOBLE?
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE
COUNCIL TAKING ON ITS OWN
RESPONSIBILITIES. IT WAS
DELIVERED A YEAR LATE. I
WOULDN'T ACCEPT THAT
RESPONSIBILITY SO EASILY.
>> THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FAIR.
BUT IT IS THE POINT THAT THE
DISTRICT OFFICES. WE WENT OUT
AND DID A LOT OF ADDITIONAL
OUTREACH FOR NEIGHBORS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE DECISIONS
THAT ADDED TO THE WORKLOAD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THERE HAS BEEN A
LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT OPCD'S
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WORK.
OPCD HAS ONE POSITION FOCUSED ON
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT RELATED
TO LONG TERM PLANNING. IT IS
SCHEDULED TO BE ELIMINATED AT
THE END OF 2026. AND, THE OFFICE
HAS VERY LIMITED FUNDING FOR
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EXCEPT
FOR PROJECTS WHERE THAT IS
BUILT, WHERE THEY HAVE DEDICATED
FUNDING FOR A PROJECT AND THE
OUTREACH FUNDING IS BUILT INTO
THE BUDGET FOR THAT. PROJECT. IF
COUNCIL WANTS TO INCREASE THE
CAPACITY FOR OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT AND ENABLE THEM TO
USE ADDITIONAL TOOLS SUCH AS
MAILINGS THEY WILL NEED
ADDITIONAL BUDGET TO DO THAT.
YOU COULD ADD FUNDING. YOU COULD
MAKE THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
POSITION PERMANENT WHICH WOULD
NOT HAVE AN EFFECT IN 2026. BUT
WOULD STARTING IN 2027, OR YOU
COULD ADD ADDITIONAL STAFF TO
HELP WITH THIS WORK.
>> THANK YOU. OPCD ONLY HAS ONE
FTE FOR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
IS THAT ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT?
>> YES.
>> AND SO, THIS IS PART OF WHY
WE SEE MICHAEL HUBNER GOING
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
>> ALL OF THE PLANNERS IN THE
DEPARTMENT ARE DOING OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT ON THEIR
PROJECTS. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK THAT GOES INTO IT. THERE IS
SCHEDULING BROOMS. THERE'S
COORDINATING WITH PRESS. THEY
ARE TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THAT
TO DO THAT WORK. YOU WILL HAVE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS AND STAFFS
THE ADVISORY COUNCILS. THAT THE
CITY CONVENES OF NEIGHBORS OF
MAJOR INSTITUTIONS WHEN THEY JR.
INSTITUTIONS ARE DEVELOPING
THEIR NEW MASTER PLAN. WAIVERS
OF DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR
SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROJECTS. YOU WILL HAVE THE
QUESTION ON WHETHER YOU AGREE
WITH MOVING THIS BODY OF WORK
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE IS A
FOCUS ON THE OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT. IT IS AN OVERLAP
THAT WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU. AS
YOU HEARD A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO,
THERE IS FUNDING IN THE OFFICE
OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BUDGET. TO THE
PROCESS ADMINISTERING AN EQUITY
HOUSING FUND. $200,000 IS BEING
ADDED. OPCD'S WORK WOULD START
AFTER THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
COMPLETES A STUDY. THIS IS THE
TIME IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO
SHAPE THAT WORK IN ANY WAY TO
EITHER ADD A PROVISO REQUIRING
SPECIFIC THINGS HAPPEN BEFORE
THOSE FUNDS GET EXPENDED OR TO
REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN COMPONENTS
BE ADDED TO THE STUDY. OR, ADD A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
SAYING ASKING ABOUT OUTCOMES
THAT YOU WANT THEM TO EXPLORE.
FINALLY. THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN
THE CITY HAS A SET OF POLICIES
RELATED TO THE USE OF SHORT TERM
TAX FUNDING. THERE ARE
CONSTRAINTS ON SHORT TERM RENTAL
TAX FUNDING FUNDING THAT COME
FROM THE STATE OUTREACH
ENGAGEMENT RISING LEGISLATION.
IT NEEDS TO BE USED FOR
COMMUNITY INITIATED EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROGRAMS. AND THE CITY
HAS BROUGHT LATITUDE TO
DETERMINE WHAT IS COVERED BY
COMMUNITY EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS.
ORDINANCE 125872 SAYS THAT THE
FIRST FIVE MILLION DOLLARS OF
SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX PROCEEDS
WILL GO TOWARD GRANT FOR THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE. THE NEXT $2.2
MILLION WILL GO TO PAY OFF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS THAT
WERE ISSUED A NUMBER OF YEARS
AGO. $3.3MILLION WILL GO TO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
OPERATIONS. UP TO $1.1 MILLION
WILL GO TO EQUITABLE INITIATIVE
OVERHEAD. THE 2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THOSE
REQUIREMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE.
SLIGHTLY LESS MONEY IS GOING TO
EDI GRANTS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BOND PAYMENTS. AND MORE
MONEY WOULD GO TOWARD PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE OVERHEAD.
SO THE QUESTION IN FRONT OF YOU
IS DO YOU WANT TO AMEND THE
BUDGETS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH
THE LEGISLATION THAT THE COUNCIL
PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED? OR CHANGE
THAT LEGISLATION IN THE
EXECUTIVE TRANSMITTED
LEGISLATION YESTERDAY THAT WOULD
AMEND ORDINANCE 185572 TO REMOVE
THE SPECIFIC FUNDING LEVELS THAT
ARE IN THAT ORDINANCE. AND
INSTEAD, SAY THAT THESE THREE
CATEGORIES OF USES OF SHORT TERM
RENTAL TAX FUNDS ARE THE
APPROPRIATE USES OF THOSE FUNDS.
>> JUST A LITTLE CONTEXT HERE.
CREDIT TO LISH FOR DISCOVERING
THIS REALITY. AND THEY GENERATED
THIS TO CORRECT THIS RATHER
QUICKLY. JUST, A LITTLE BIT OF
CONTEXT. I MAY NOT HAVE IT ALL.
DON'T HAVE ALL THE HISTORY. THE
EXISTING ORDINANCE WHICH THE
CURRENT BUDGET IS INCONSISTENT
WITH, WAS CLEARLY PASSED AS PART
OF THE LAST BIANNUAL BUDGET. THE
LEVELS MATCH WHAT THE
ALLOCATIONS WERE IN THE BUDGET.
SO, IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO NEED
TO BE CHANGED AT SOME POINT. AT
LEAST IN MY VIEW. IT WAS NOT A
GENERAL SPECIFICATION. IT WAS
CLEARLY WE ARE GOING TO GET
THROUGH THIS BUDGET WITH THIS
ALLOCATION AND REVISIT THIS. AND
THEN IN THE WAY THINGS GET
FORGOTTEN IT MUST HAVE GOTTEN
FORGOTTEN. THAT IS, I WOULDN'T
PUT TOO MUCH ON THE SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS THAT WERE THERE
PREVIOUSLY. THEY WERE THEMSELVES
A PRODUCT OF A SCENARIO NOT
UNLIKE THIS ONE WHERE THERE WAS
A RECOGNITION OF WHAT THE NEEDS
WERE. IT GETS TO THE POINT I WAS
ALLUDING TO EARLIER. HOW THOSE
CONSTRAINTS CAN SORT OF TIE US
IN KNOTS WHEN WE DON'T NEED
THEM TO AT SOME LEVEL. BUT
AGAIN, YOUR DISCRETION IN
DECISION HERE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO SCOLD
ANYONE. IN TERMS OF THE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
FUNDING, COSTS FOR THOSE
OPERATIONS FOR EXISTING
CONTRACTS HAVE GONE UP. AND SO,
THERE IS A NEED TO PAY MORE
MONEY FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF
WORK BECAUSE OF INFLATION. THAT
IS PART OF WHY YOU ARE SEEING
THIS SHIFT.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE THE NEXT
SLIDE IS QUESTIONS. WHICH IS
WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY. LISH,
THANK YOU FOR DIGGING INTO THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING DEVELOPMENTS
ID AREAS AS THE DEPARTMENT IS
SEPARATED FROM EDI AND THE LONG
RANGE PLANNING WORK THAT THEY DO
AND THAT WORK ALSO WAS INFUSED
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS THROUGH
THE JUMP START FUND. COLLEAGUES,
ANY QUESTIONS HERE?
COUNCILMEMBER SOL MONO, IF
YOU'VE GOT STUFF, I'LL GIVE
YOU THE FLOOR FIRST.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIR. I REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD. I DID, I WAS
HAPPY TO SEE THE CALL-OUT OF
THAT LONG RANGE. WE PUT AN
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK ON
OPCD. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
ADD. I DO POINT OUT MY VOICE
ISRASPY AND I NEED TO DROP OFF
FOR AN INTERNAL MEETING BUT I
WILL BE BACK WHEN THAT MEETING
IS DONE. THANK YOU AND I YIELD
MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR, THANK YOU
LISH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE
EXCELLENT ISSUE ID POINTS. AS
YOU POINTED OUT. MANY OF US AND
ME INCLUDED HAVE HAD QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE OUTREACH AT OPCD AND
PARTICULARLY I HAVE JUST BEEN
CONCERNED. AND, TOWARD THAT END,
I ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE THAT
ESTABLISHED THIS DEPARTMENT TO
GET CLARITY ON WHAT THEIR MAIN
MANDATE IS AND I WILL SAY I JUST
WANT TO READ FOR THE RECORD THE
OBJECTIVES OF THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING ARE AS FOLLOWS. SUPPORT
A SHARED VISION FOR
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION AT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. DEPARTMENT WITH
THE COMMUNITY AND DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS TO IDENTIFY CITY
WIDE SPECIFIC PRIORITIES FOR THE
CITY'S FUTURE GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT. SHARE WITH THE
PUBLIC THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER PUBLIC
AGENCIES, COMPREHENSIVE
INFORMATION ON DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITY AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES
TO SUPPORT THE ALIGNMENT OF
PROJECT PLANS IMPLEMENTATION
EFFORTS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
AND FINALLY, COORDINATE ACROSS
CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO PRIORITIZE BUDGETS AND
RESOURCES. THE REST GIVES A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL AS TO THAT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE
VERY MUCH, THEY WERE OF, THE
DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED TO
WORK ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE
CITY. AND WHY DO I CARE ABOUT
THIS? BECAUSE OF THIS CONCERN
ABOUT THE OUTREACH AND THE
PLANNING THE STAFFING THAT CAN
DO THE OUTREACH OR THE
DEPARTMENT TO DO THE WORK THAT
THEY ARE MANDATED BY SMC TO DO.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE
DEPARTMENT IS NOT DOING THE WORK
THAT IS THEIR MAIN BODY OF WORK.
AND WE HAVE REGIONAL PLANNING
COMING UP AMONG OTHER THINGS IN
THE SPRING OF 2026. SO, TO NOT
HAVE STAFFING IN PLACE TO DO
THAT AND WORK WITH THE VARIOUS
NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITY WIDE
AGAIN, AS PER THEIR MANDATE IS
OF CONCERN TO ME. AND LISH, I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY
FEEDBACK THERE. BUT I DO
APPRECIATE THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED
THAT.
>> FOR THE REGIONAL PLANNING,
EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS HAS BEEN
GIVEN ITS OWN BUDGET SO THEY
HAVE BEEN BUDGETED INDIVIDUALLY.
AND EACH OF THOSE BUDGETS DOES
INCLUDE OUTREACH. AND ENGAGEMENT
FUNDS AS POCKET OF SORT OF PART
OF THE WHOLE BUDGET. ON THAT
COUNT THEY SHOULD BE OKAY IN
TERMS OF HAVING SPECIFIC
RESOURCES THERE. BUT THE
QUESTION IS FOR OTHER PROJECTS
WITH NO DEDICATED SET OF FUNDING
DO THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES TO MEET THE CITY'S
GOALS THEY ARE GETTING A STAFFER
DEDICATED TO OUTREACH. THAT IS
OF CONCERN. MY SECOND POINT OR
QUESTION ACTUALLY TO YOU, LISH,
IS, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR AS YOU
KNOW, I PUSHED THE DEPARTMENT
HARD ON EDI BECAUSE I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS
WERE UNDERWAY. MY PUSHING HAPPY
THAT THE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY
COMPLETED 11 PROJECTS IN ONE
YEAR WHEN NINE HAD BEEN
COMPLETED PRIOR. IN THE YEARS IT
HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE. I'M
REALLY GLAD STAFF PUSHED
THEMSELVES I GUESS. AND I'M
WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE
DIRECTOR ON WHAT THEY CHANGED TO
BE ABLE TO DO THOSE PROJECTS
FASTER. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO
HEAR. THAT MEANS NOW, 20
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. OF
COURSE, 55 ARE REMAINING TO BE
COMPLETED. SO, HOW DO WE GET
THOSE PROJECTS TO THE FINISH
LINE? AND SO MY QUESTION IS ON
THE EDI OVERHEAD, YOU WERE
SAYING THE OVERHEAD IS
INCREASING. IS THAT GOING TO
HELP GET PROJECTS DELIVERED
FASTER? I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO
BE THE CASE.
>> YEAH. SO THERE HAVE BEEN TWO
VACANT POSITIONS IN THE EDI
DIVISION. THEY ARE JUST GOING
OUT FOR HIRING THOSE THIS FALL.
SO, HOPEFULLY, HAVING A FULL
STAFF WILL HELP THEM TO GET
PROJECTS COMPLETED FASTER. IN
TERMS OF THE EDI OVERHEAD, IT IS
AN ACCOUNTING ISSUE. SOME OF THE
STAFF ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE
PAYROLL EQUITY TAX. SOME FUNDED
THROUGH SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX.
THEY ARE SHIFTING EVERYBODY TO
SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX. IT IS
EASIER TO TRACK HOURS FOR THAT
GROUP. BUT IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT
OF FUNDING. AND MORE PAYROLL
EQUITY TAXES AVAILABLE FOR THE
GRANTS.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR CLARIFYING AND I'M HAPPY TO
HEAR THEY HAVE TWO MORE PEOPLE
COMING ONTO HELP FINALIZE AND
GET THE PROJECTS TO COMPLETED.
LET'S MAKE THOSE PROJECTS
HAPPEN. THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COLLEAGUES, OTHER
QUESTIONS ON OPCD? I KNOW THAT
WHEN THE DEPARTMENT PRESENTED TO
US JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE
SPENT MORE TIME WITH THIS
DEPARTMENT THAN MANY OTHERS SO I
WANTED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE
WERE OTHER QUESTIONS. I ASKED
MINE THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION
SO I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE
US WITH LISH?
>> NO. THANK YOU.
>> FANTASTIC. WE WILL NOW, IF
THE CLERK CAN READ THE FOURTH
ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 4. FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. AS KETIL FREEMAN
IS GETTING READY AND PREPARING
HIS POWER POINT FOR SHARING, I
WILL MAKE NOTE OF WE ARE MOVING
THROUGH THESE PRESENTATIONS AT A
VERY RAPID CLIP. I WOULD SAY
OFTENTIMES, THIS SECTION OF THE
BUDGET PRESENTATIONS IS LONGER
BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE ISSUES
THAT PROGRAMS HAVEN'T BEEN
FUNDED. THERE ARE MORE DESIRED
RESOURCES FOR X, Y, AND Z. THIS
IS A YEAR AS WE SAW WITH THE
PUBLIC HEARING, NOT A LOT OF
PEOPLE CAME BECAUSE A LOT OF
FOLKS HAD GOTTEN THEIR ASKS
FULFILLED BY THIS BUDGET. AND SO
WHILE THAT MAKES THIS SECTION OF
THE BUDGET PRESENTATION SHORTER
BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER ISSUES
FOR US TO BE AWARE OF IT MAKES
THE NEXT STEPS OF OUR BUDGET
MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE IS
NOT AS MUCH FREE FREE FLOATING
MONEY OR MONEY IN COUCH CUSHIONS
AROUND THE CITY BUDGET. WITH
THAT, I WILL PASS IT TO DIRECTOR
NOBLE AND THEN OVER TO KETIL
FREEMAN.
>> I WANTED TO ECHO THAT POINT.
THIS IS A BUDGET OF ADDS AND NOT
CUTS. WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED
EACH OF THEM ADD AN ISSUE UNTO
ITSELF. BECAUSE EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF THEM AT SOME LEVEL
ADDRESSES AN AREA OF CONCERN IN
THE CITY. BUT AGAIN, THAT
DOESN'T MEAN IT IS A PRACTICAL
MATTER TO SUSTAIN ALL OF THEM
INTO 2026 AND BEYOND. BUT WE, SO
THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE SHORTER
THAN THEY OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE
BEEN. IT DOESN'T MEAN THOSE
COULDN'T BE ISSUES OF CONCERN
FOR YOU IN TERMS OF AS YOU THINK
ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, WHAT IS
POSSIBLE AND WHAT IS NOT. JUST
BY WAY OF, I'M NOT TRYING TO
HAVE YOU SIT OUT HERE ANY LONGER
BUT ONLY EXPLAINING WHY THIS HAS
BEEN AS EXPEDITIOUS AS IT HAS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. KETIL
FREEMAN. TAKE IT AWAY.
>> KETIL FREEMAN. SEATTLE
CENTRAL STAFF. LY BE DOING AN
OVERVIEW IDENTIFYING A FEW
ISSUES WITH THE INSPECTIONS
PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET. FIRST JUST
TO ORIENT YOU ALL. WITH
REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER THE
USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE
PROPERTY. RENTAL REGULATIONS.
LAND USE REGULATIONS AND
ENFORCES COMPLIANCE. THERE IS A
PERMITTING COMPONENT AND A
COMPLIANCE COMPONENT. AND
ELECTRICAL PERMITS. SITE
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND PERMITS
RELATED TO ACHIEVING ENERGY
STANDARDS.
>> MR. FREEMAN AS I HAVE SAID TO
ALMOST EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN AT
THE TABLE, IF YOU COULD MICK
JAGGER THE MICROPHONE.
>> THERE IS A PRETTY SMALL
DECREASE IN STCI'S BUDGET OVER
THE ENDORSED 2026 BUDGETS. THAT
SAID, THERE ARE SOME CHANGES IN
THE OPERATING BUDGET. I WILL
HIGHLIGHT A FEW. ONE IS AN
ISSUE. THE OTHER ELECTIVE ADDS
AS YOU HAVE HEARD THERE ARE A
BUNCH OF SHIFTS. REVENUE
SOURCES, I WILL EXPAND ON THIS
IN A MINUTE. AN OPERATING FUND
DEPARTMENT. MOST OF ITS REVENUE
FUND COMES FROM PERMIT FEES
CHARGED FOR REGULATORY SERVICES.
AS WITH MANY DEPARTMENTS,
STCI'S LABOR CONTRACTS YOU HAVE
SEEN ACROSS MANY DEPARTMENTS,
REDUCTIONS IN LABOR COSTS
BECAUSE INFLATION WASN'T AS
HIGH AS ANTICIPATED. THERE ARE
OTHER CHANGES LIKE THAT.
EXPLAINING IN PART THE SLIGHT
REDUCTION. I WILL HIGHLIGHT A
FEW THINGS HERE. AND I WILL TALK
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT AN ISSUE.
THERE IS AN ADD OF $280,000 IN
GENERAL FUND ONGOING TO SUPPORT
A MULTIYEAR EFFORT TO ESTABLISH
STANDARDS FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN HOTELS.
THERE IS ALSO AN ADD, $100,000
IN GENERAL FUND ONGOING TO
ESTABLISH A CONSERVATION
EASEMENT PROGRAM FOR FREE
PRESERVATION. BOTH OF THOSE
GENERAL FUND ADDS ARE
HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PAPER THAT
TOM WENT THROUGH YESTERDAY. THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THE ONGOING
GENERAL FUND DEFICIT AS THEY ARE
ANTICIPATED TO BE ONGOING
GENERAL FUND ADDS. THERE IS ALSO
A GENERAL FUND ADD OF $750,000
FOR AN AI BASED PERMIT
APPLICATION SCREENING SOFTWARE.
I'M HIGHLIGHTING THAT BECAUSE
THAT IS A PURCHASE THAT COULD BE
MADE BE OTHER RESOURCES. IT IS A
POLICY CHOICE FOR THE COUNCIL ON
HOW AND WHEN TO PAY FOR THAT.
OH, YES. WHILE I'M ON THIS
PAGE, LABOR BUDGET. YOU MAY HAVE
NOTICED THERE IS A DECREASE IN
EMPLOYEES IN 2026 CONSISTENT
WITH WHAT WAS ENDORSED LAST
YEAR, ABOUT 10 POSITIONS. 10 HER
PIT REVIEW POSITIONS LAST YEAR.
THE COUNCIL ACTION THERE WAS A
POSITION LAST YEAR TO GIVE FOLKS
A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO DECIDE
TO TAKE ACTIONS RELATED TO THEIR
FUTURES. SO THAT IS WHEN YOU
NOTICE THAT CHANGE. IT IS
LARGELY ASSOCIATED WITH
COUNCIL'S ACTION LAST YEAR. IN
TERMS OF APPROPRIATIONS AS I
MENTIONED, STCI IS AN OPERATING
FUND. MOST OF THE REVENUE COMES
FROM THE INSPECTIONS FUND. THERE
IS A VERY MODEST GENERAL FUND
INCREASE HERE ASSOCIATED WITH
THE ADDS I JUST HIGHLIGHTED FOR
YOU, SO, SOME OF OF THE
FUNCTIONS HAVE TO BE FUNDED BY
THE GENERAL FUND. LARGELY
ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLIANCE. WHEN
THERE IS AN NICHE COMPLAINT MADE
ABOUT A LAND USE CODE VIOLATION
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE
INVESTIGATION HAS TO BE DONE ON
THE GENERAL FUND'S DIME. THERE
ARE A FEW OTHER COLORS OF MONEY
IN STCI. I THINK SOME OF THIS
WAS TOUCHED ON BY THE
PRESENTATION YESTERDAY. BUT
THERE IS SOME READ THAT PAYS FOR
THINGS LIKE TENANT RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE AND THERE HAS BEEN
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. ALSO IN THE
2026 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE
SAME AMOUNT IN THE ENDORSED. SO,
MOVING ON HERE TO ISSUES. SO
STCI'S BUDGET RELIES ON CHANGES
TO THE FEE ORDINANCE AND 18% FEE
INCREASE. WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO
CONSTRUCTION AND LAND USE
PERMITS. THE PROPOSED INCREASE
IS ANTICIPATED TO GENERATE ABOUT
$8.2 MILLION IN 2026 TO REVIEW
PERMITS THAT STCI ISSUES. THAT
REVENUE WOULD HELP MAINTAIN
STAFFING LEVELS. BECAUSE STCI IS
AN OPERATING FUND DEPARTMENT AND
RELIES ON PERMIT FEE REVENUE IT
IS SUBJECT TO A LOT OF
VOLATILITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY. IT RELIES ON
ESSENTIALLY TWO MECHANISMS. ONE
IS CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY
WHICH ALLOWS STCI TO ADD STAFF
WITHOUT EXPLICIT COUNCIL
APPROVAL UP TO A LIMIT. STCI HAS
TO HAVE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE
STAFF. THAT IS HOW STCI STAFFS
UP. IT RELIES ON A CORE STAFFING
RESERVE WHEN TIMES ARE BAD. THAT
RESERVE IS INTENDED TO MAINTAIN
TRAINED STAFF WITH INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO
LAY THAT STAFF OFF THERE ARE
FOLKS WHO NOW HOW TO ADMINISTER
THE CODE. AND ISSUE PERMITS
EFFICIENTLY. THE PROPOSED BUDGET
WOULD INCREASE FEES FOR BUILDING
PER MINES TO MAINTAIN THAT SCORE
STAFFING RESERVE, EVEN WITH THAT
18% INCREASE, THERE COULD BE A
DRAW DOWN IN THE CORE STAFFING
RESERVE IN 2026. SO THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF OPTIONS HERE. THERE
WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT COUNCIL
MEMBERS ABOUT THAT INCREASED FEE
AND WHAT THAT MAY MEAN FOR THE
REGULATED COMMUNITY AND THEIR
CUSTOMERS. TENANTS AND
PURCHASERS OF HOMES. SO I HAVE A
FEW OPTIONS. ONE IS REDUCE THE
RATE OF INCREASE SIGNAL TO
INCREASE FEES WHEN IT DROPS
BELOW AN ESTABLISHED THRESHOLD.
QUARTERLY REPORTING ON PERMIT
VOLUMES. MAKE FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS
BASED ON THE HEALTH OF THE
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS FUNDS.
SO TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL FEE
INCREASES IF NECESSARY AND
DECREASE IF NECESSARY TO
MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF THE
CONSTRUCTION FUND. WITH THAT
OPTION IS TO MAKE NO CHANGE AND
APPROVE THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED.
>> KETIL, THANK YOU. I SEE MY
COLLEAGUES QUESTIONING WHY I'M
RISING MY OWN HAND. IT IS TO
SIGNAL THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER. I AM JUST, BUT THE
SERVANT OF THIS MEETING. NOT THE
BOSS. KETIL, THANK YOU FOR THAT
PRESENTATION. WHEN STCI
PRESENTED WE HAD A COUPLE MORE
DIFFICULT CHOICES PUT ON THE
TABLE AS WELL. WE COULD INCREASE
GENERAL FUND TO THE PERMIT
STAFFING EVEN THOUGH IT IS FEE
BASED. AND THAT IS A POLICY
CHOICE. OR WE COULD LAY OFF
ADDITIONAL STAFF. NEITHER OF
THOSE ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE
OPTION, ESPECIALLY THE LATTER.
BUT KETIL HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF
FRAMING SOME ATTAINABLE ACTIONS
WE COULD ENGAGE IN WITH THIS
BUDGET.
>> THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS
ALSO DURING STCI'S PRESENTATION
ABOUT SORT OF WHAT OTHER JUST
DICTIONS CHARGE. MANY ARE
CHARGED A FEE BASED ON THE VALUE
OF THE CONSTRUCTION. THAT IS
TRUE NOT JUST ACROSS SOMETHING
THE CITY DOES BUT SOMETHING
EVERY JURISDICTION DOES AND I
SPENT TIME LOOKING AT WHAT
TACOMA, KING COUNTY, AND
BELLEVUE CHARGE. TYPICAL SORT OF
FOUR UNIT TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT
WOULD HAVE A CONSTRUCTION
EVALUATION OF ABOUT A MILLION
DOLLARS. SEATTLE'S CURRENT FEES
ARE ON THE LOW END OF THAT. SO,
A MILLION DOLLARS THAT MAYBE
OTHER, THERE WOULD BE OTHER
CHARGES THAT GO ALONG WITH
PERMITTING THAT TYPE OF
DEVELOPMENT. BUT, TODAY, IT
WOULD COST ABOUT EVALUATION
COMPONENT WOULD BE ABOUT $7,000
FROM THE CITY. TACOMA WOULD
CHARGE YOU ABOUT 12,000, KING
COUNTY, 9,000, AND BELLEVUE,
$7,200 SO WE ARE ACTUALLY ON THE
LOW END COMPARED TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS.
>> THAT IS VERY HELPFUL. DOES
THAT NUMBER INCLUDE THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
FEE AS WELL?
>> IT DOESN'T INCLUDE IMPACT
FEES. THE CITY CHARGES A
TECHNOLOGY FEE. THAT IS JUST THE
CONSTRUCTION VALUE EVALUATION
COMPONENT OF YOUR FEE.
>> VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
MOVING ONTO POLICY CONSIDERATION
NUMBER TWO. AS I MENTIONED, THE
MAYOR HAS A PROPOSED ADD FOR
THREE QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLARS FOR PURCHASE OF AN AI
PERMITTING TOOL TO REVIEW
APPLICATIONS FOR COMPLETENESS.
SO COMPLETENESS IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP IN APPLICATION REVIEW.
THINGS DON'T REALLY GET STARTED
UNTIL STCI IS A COMPLETE
APPLICATION IN THE DOOR. ONE
THING STAFF HAS TO DO IS YOU
HAVE A COMPLETE APPLICATION.
THIS WOULD BE A TOOL THAT WOULD
ASSIST IN THAT. STCI HAS BEEN
PILOTING SOME TOOLS ALREADY.
THIS WOULD BE FOR A PERMANENT
PURCHASE. THE OUT OF POCKET COST
FOR THE TOOL WOULD BE PURCHASING
THE TOOL WOULD BE $500,000. AND
THEN THERE WOULD BE AN ONGOING
COST OF ABOUT $250,000 EVERY
YEAR FOR INTEGRATION. ALSO FOR
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE SOFTWARE
TOOL. SFC HAS A FUND THAT IS
DEDICATED TO PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY
PURCHASES. IT IS A LITTLE
UNUSUAL FOR THE MAYOR TO PROPOSE
PURCHASING SOMETHING LIKE THIS
WITH GENERAL FUND REVENUE. THE
GENERAL INSPECTIONS FUND IS NOT
IN GREAT CONDITION. THERE IS A
QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A
PURCHASE THETY SHOULD MAKE AT
THIS TIME AND WHAT THE COLOR OF
MONEY SHOULD BE FOR THE
PURCHASE. SO I PUT A COUPLE OF
OPTIONS UP HERE FOR YOU. TO MAKE
THE PURCHASE SO THERE WOULD NOT
BE $500,000 HIT ON THE GENERAL
FUND. THAT WOULD NOT BE GREAT
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS
FUND. BUT IT IS AN ELIGIBLE USE
OF THAT REVENUE. A LITTLE BIT
HEALTHIER IN WHICH CASE,
DEFERRING THE PURCHASE.
>> BEFORE MOVING ON HERE, MY
ONLY COMMENT ON THIS IS THAT WE
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
PROCESS PERMITS THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC WITHOUT ACELA AND BLUE
BEAM WHICH ARE TECHNOLOGIES WE
CHANGED OVER FROM PAPER AT SDCI
IN 2019, 2018. THAT SAID, IT IS
AN IMPROVEMENT TO HAVE THEM.
YET, THOSE CONTRACTS ARE NOT
PERFORMING NECESSARILY TO THE
METRICS I BELIEVE WE WANT. AND
SO, THERE DOES WITH TECHNOLOGY
LIKE THIS, THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENTS
ULTIMATELY IT COMES DOWN TO HOW
WILLING IS THE CONTRACT THAT WE
ARE USING TO MEET THE
EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE. I SAY THAT
BECAUSE SEATTLE IS DIFFERENT
THAN ALL OTHER 281 CITIES AND
TOWNS IN SEATTLE BASED ON OUR
SIZE, COMPLEXITY. WE ARE THE
ONLY FULL TIME CITY COUNCIL IN
THE STATE. AS AN EXAMPLE. SO I
JUST, I'M INTERESTED IN THIS
AND WARY OF UNFORESEEN COSTS.
THANK YOU. BACK TO YOU.
>>> MOVING ON HERE TO THE THIRD
ISSUE. THIS IS ACTUALLY A
COMBINED ISSUE. IT HAS TO DO
WITH CODE DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES.
IT WAS THE CASE AT ONE TIME THAT
THEY WERE PART OF THE SAME
DEPARTMENT BUT THEY SPLIT APART.
IN THE COURSE OF THE CITY'S
HISTORY, THAT HAS HAPPENED A FEW
TIMES WHERE THE PERMITTING
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN SEVERED FROM
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. AND
RECOMBINED. SO, THERE ARE, BUT
BOTH DEPARTMENT HAVES
RESPONSIBILITY FOR GENERATING
LAND USE CODE AND OTHER POLICY
CHANGES THAT THE COUNCIL
REVIEWS. AND, SOMETIMES, THERE
IS A PRETTY CLEAR DIVISION OF
LABOR WRIT IS OBVIOUS ONE
DEPARTMENT SHOULD DO ONE AND ONE
SHOULD DO THE OTHER. THERE IS A
CONSTRUCTION CODE ADVISORY
BOARD. ALL SQUARELY WITHIN
STCI'S WHEEL HOUSE AS REGULATOR
OF CONSTRUCTION. IT IS CLEAR HA
IS SOMETHING STCI SHOULD DO.
SIMILARLY, STCI GENERATES EVERY
OTHER YEAR OR SO AN OMNIBUS BILL
THAT INCLUDES AMONG OTHER
THINGS, TECHNICAL CHANGES
IDENTIFIED IN THE COURSE OF
ADMINISTERING THE CODE THEY
THINK WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO
ADMINISTER TO CODE. SO THAT IS
IN STCI'S WHEEL HOUSE. OPCD
DOES THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
FOR THE CITY. AND FOR BROAD
MANDATES, THEY ALSO GENERATE
LEGISLATION FOR THE COUNCIL.
BOTH DEPARTMENTS DON'T WORK IN
ISOLATION. THEY WORK WITH EACH
OTHER, PLANNERS AT STCI WORK
WITH PLANNERS AT OPCD IN
DRAFTING LEGISLATION FOR THE
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. BUT IN
RECENT YEARS, THE COUNCIL HAS
STEPPED BACK. THE STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY INTERESTED IN
MANDATES FOR PLANNING AND THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT . IN
PRIOR YEARS, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN
EFFORTS TO LOCAL CONTROL. IN
RECENT YEARS, THERE IS LESS
DEFERENCE. AS A CONSEQUENCE,
THERE IS A BURDEN ON THE CITY TO
DEVELOP REGULATIONS THAT ARE
CONSISTENT WITH THE MANDATES
COMING FROM THE STATE. SO IN
RECENT YEARS BOTH HAVE FAILED TO
MEET SOME OF THOSE DEADLINES.
THE HOUSE BILL 110 STUFF,
HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF THE
YEAR, HOUSE BILL 1293 RELATED TO
DESIGN REVIEW. UNDER A BROADER
FEDERAL LOOK. WE HAVE EXTENDED A
MANDATE FROM FEMA FOR A FLOOD
PLAN UPDATES. WE WE ARE ON THE
NINTH EXTENSION OF THAT. THERE
ARE THINGS THE CITY HAS BEEN
REQUIRED TO DO THAT WE HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH BY THE
DEADLINES SET BY THE STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN FAIRNESS
SOME OF THOSE DEADLINES, THERE
HAVE BEEN FACTORS BEYOND THEIR
CONTROL SUCH AS CEPA APPEALS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, IT CREATES
PROBLEMS, NOT JUST FOR
APPLICANTS WHO MIGHT THINK THEY
UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS NOT
KNOWING THOSE REQUIREMENTS HAVE
BEEN PREEMPTED BY STATE LAW IT
CREATES BUDGETARY PROBLEMS FOR
THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THE STATE
HAS BEEN MOVING TOWARD POSSIBLY
PUNITIVE MEASURES. SO THERE'S A
FEW OPTIONS HERE FOR THE COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER IN TRYING TO SORT
OUT HOW THINGS CAN GET TO THE
COUNCIL SOONER. ONE IS TO
REQUEST THE STCI AND OPCD
JOINTLY PREPARE A RESPONSE
IDENTIFYING HOW CURRENT AND
FUTURE LEGISLATIVE MANDATES WILL
BE PRIORITIZED. AND TRANSMITTED
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TIMELY
ACTION. GETTING THEM BOTH TO
LOOK AT THE BROAD MANDATES HAVE
CLEAR DIVISIONS OF LABOR.
LETTING THE COUNCIL KNOW WHEN TO
EXPECT THOSE THINGS. SO IT IS
NOT HAPPENING AD HOC. ANOTHER,
POTENTIALLY MORE DRACONIAN, AN
INVITATION, A CARROT, A STICK.
IT EXPENDITURES ON MANDATED
REQUIREMENTS UNTIL LEGISLATION
IS TRANSMITTED TO THE COUNCIL.
AND A THIRD IS A NO CHANGE
ALTERNATIVE. THERE IS A FOURTH
ALTERNATIVE HERE WHICH I WILL
OFFER FOR STCI'S BUDGET. THIS
IS ACTUALLY TRUE FOR MANY OF THE
ISSUES I IDENTIFIED. THERE IS A
NEW DIRECTOR COMING INTO STCI.
AS PART OF THE CONFIRMATION
PROCESS FOR THAT DIRECTOR,
TIMELINESS OF LEGISLATION,
WHETHER AND HOW AI TOOLS ARE
USED. THINGS LIKE THIS
MONITORING THE HEALTH OF THE
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS FUND
CAN ALL BE THINGS THAT ARE PUT
ON HER PLAIT AS PART OF THE
PROCESS, SO THAT'S IT FOR STCI.
>> THANK YOU MR. FREEMAN AND I
APPRECIATE THE CONTEXT THAT YOU
SHARED WITH THIS POLICY
CONSIDERATION NUMBER THREE,
REGARDING THE MANDATORY
LEGISLATION THAT THE CITY AND
DEPARTMENTS NEED TO PASS. I'LL
ADD A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT TO
ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES. ALL OF
THEM STAND. I WILL SHARE THE
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ON THE
FLOODPLAINS. THE ISSUE IS THAT
THE PORT OF SEATTLE CONTINUES TO
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE BUILDINGS
THAT ARE WITHIN THE POTENTIAL
SEA LEVEL RISE ZONE. AND I THINK
THERE IS CONSTERNATION THERE.
SO, THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ON
JUST STCI. THERE ARE MULTIPLE
PLAYERS FOR THE FLOOD PLANES
LEGISLATION SPECIFICALLY. I ONLY
HAVE ONE QUESTION OVERALL. I
WILL CHECK WITH MY COLLEAGUES IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
ISSUED .
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY
HELPFUL PRESENTATION AND
OVERVIEW, COMPREHENSIVE SUMMERY
OF SOME OF THE KEY POLICY ISSUES
FOR US TO CONSIDER AND LOOK
TOWARD. I HAVE A QUESTION.
COMMENTS ABOUT SLIDE NUMBER
FOUR. THE AI TOOL. I WILL JUST
SAY FIRST OFF THAT I AM A STRONG
PROPONENT OF LEVERAGING
TECHNOLOGY TOOLS AND INNOVATIONS
LIKE AI. WE ARE A GLOBAL MARKET
LEADER HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. FOR INNOVATION. AND, A
LOT OF THAT, NOT ALL, BUT A LOT
OF THE UNDERLYING REASON IS
BECAUSE WE ARE A LEADER IN AI.
AND BUILDING AI TOOLS ON TOP OF
ALREADY INNOVATIVE CLOUD
TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT
IS MOSTLY PRIVATE ACTORS,
PRIVATE SECTOR. BUT AS THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, I THINK WE HAVE A
ROLE IN DOING WHAT WE CAN TO
SUPPORT THAT INNOVATION. AND, BE
MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
WITH OUR SPENDING AND
POTENTIALLY LEVERAGING THESE
INNOVATIONS AND TOOL TO DO THAT.
AND, SO, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE
WHO REALLY GEEKS OUT ABOUT TECH,
A FORMER TECH WORKER TEN YEARS
BEFORE I JOINED THE COUNCIL. I
SEE A REALLY IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A CITY AND
I'M NOT NECESSARILY TALKING
ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC DEPLOYMENT
OF AN AI TOOL IN THE CONTEXT OF
PERMITTING FOR THE DEPARTMENT
HERE. BUT JUST MORE BROADLY.
I'M A STRONG BELIEVER IN THE
POWER OF AI TO UNLOCK
OPPORTUNITY. DRIVE LOCAL ECONOMY
AND GET MORE PEOPLE
PARTICIPATING IN THE ABUNDANCE
THAT IS TO BE HAD HERE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. IN ANY EVENT,
WE NEED TO DO SO RESPONSIBLY.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF
ETHICAL USE OF AI. CERTAINLY
FROM A GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE I
WOULDN'T WANT THIS TECHNOLOGY
OR TOOLING TO REPLACE ANYONE'S
WORK. WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT MORE
EFFICIENT. BUT ALWAYS KEEPING
HUMANS IN THE LOOP. MAKING SURE
HUMAN EYES ARE REVIEWING THE
FINAL THING. WHATEVER THAT
OUTPUT IS. IN THAT A HUMAN, NOT
A ROBOT, OR, SOME LINES OF CODE
THAT SHOW UP AS SOFTWARE
SERVICES BUT A HUMAN IS MAKING
THE FINAL DECISION. ON WHATEVER
THE TOPIC IS. HERE IN THIS
CONTEXT, PERMITTING. IN ANY
EVENT, WE ALSO NEED TO BE
MINDFUL OF POTENTIAL USES OR
POTENTIAL BIASES. NOT POTENTIAL.
THERE ARE BIASES BAKED INTO THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. SO THERE'S
A LOT OF POTENTIAL TRAPS BUT
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POWER OF
THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYED
MORE BROADLY. I KNOW THAT
RESPONSIBLE, THE CITY EARLIER,
THE SUMMER OR SPRING LAUNCHED A
NEW RESPONSIBLE AI PLAN. AND,
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH EVERY
ASPECT OR FEATURE OF THAT. BUT
AS IT RELATES TO BUDGET, DO WE
HAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A
QUESTION FOR YOU OR MAYBE WE
HAVE DIRECTOR NOBLE HERE AT THE
TABLE AS WELL BECAUSE IT
IMPLICATES THE BROADER PROPOSED
BUDGET SITUATION. WHAT IS THE
EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED SPIN ON AI
TOOLING MORE BROADLY? IS THERE A
TALLY ON THE TOTAL SPEND FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S NEW
RESPONSIBLE AI PLAN?
>> I THINK I WILL LET DIRECTOR
NOBLE ANSWER MOST OF THAT
QUESTION. IT'S A GOOD ONE. I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE
THINGS I THINK YOU ALLUDING TO
THERE. A PERMIT BEING COMPLETE
IS ACTUALLY A REALLY IMPORTANT
THING. A LOT OF LEGAL RIGHTS
THAT AN APPLICANT MAY HAVE MAY
HINGE ON A DETERMINATION OF
WHETHER OR NOT A PERMIT
APPLICATION IS COMPLETE. YOU
HAVE ASKED WHEN YOU HAVE A
COMPLETE BUILDING PERMIT
APPLICATION SO IT IS NOT A SMALL
THING SO WE CAN GET A LITTLE
MORE CLARITY ABOUT HOW QUALITY
CONTROL WOULD BE APPLIED TO USE
OF AN AI TOOL. YOU CAN IMAGINE
SIMILAR KIND OF LEGAL ISSUES.
>> BROADER USE OF AI IN THE
CITY. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER ON
THE SPECIFICS BUT I DO KNOW THAT
SEATTLE IT HAS BEEN PILOTING
WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE ACCESS TO
I'M NOT GOING TO NAME A BRAND,
BUT ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN AI
TOOLS, ONE THAT FITS THE CITY'S
SOFTWARE SUITE IF YOU WILL. BUT
I DON'T KNOW THE STATUS. OUR
TEAM HAS BEEN IN THAT LOOP IF
YOU WILL AND HAS BEEN TESTING
OUT SOME THINGS. BUT I DON'T
HAVE AN ANSWER IN TERMS OF WHAT
THE BROADER PLAN IS. AND WHAT IF
ANY POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS HAVE
BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH AT SEATTLE
IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND
INSIGHTS AND I WOULD APPRECIATE
SOME FOLLOW-UP AND CLARITY ON
THAT WITH THE EXECUTIVE. AND,
THANK YOU MR. CHAIR, NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS. BUT, GO MARINERS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. AND YES. GO
MARINERS. AND, I SUPPOSE I
DON'T MEAN TO DRAW A CONTRAST
TO MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA BUT I WANT TO TAKE THIS AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY STATE
MY APPREHENSION AROUND SOME OF
THE AI INVESTMENTS AND THE
POLICY AROUND AI AND WITH A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I WOULD BE
REMISS IF I DIDN'T UPLIFT AS
CHAIR OF CITY LIGHT THE ENERGY
DEMANDS ASSOCIATED WITH AI. I
KNOW WE IN COMMITTEE RECEIVED A
BRIEFING EARLIER THIS YEAR
UNDERSTANDING THAT CITY LIGHTS
IS NOT PROVIDING ENERGY TO ANY
OF OUR DATA CENTERS BUT WE
RECEIVED REQUESTS. AS QUESTION
ARE LOOKING AT OUR UPCOMING
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANS, WE'LL
SEE WHAT THEY WILL BE AND WE
HAVE TAKEN UP IN COMMITTEE
LEGISLATION. BUT I WANT TO
PUBLICLY STATE MY APPREHENSION
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
BUDGET ADD DOESN'T TIP THE
SCALE FULLY BUT I WANT TO JUST
VOICE THIS BROADER POLICY
CONSIDERATION WE ARE MOVING
TOWARD A WORD THAT SEEMS TO BE
INTEGRATED A LOT MORE AI AND I
HAVE SOME VERY REAL QUESTIONS
ABOUT HOW THERE IS SOME
DISCONNECT BETWEEN OUR
LIMITATIONS WHEN IT COME TO OUR
OWN OWNED ENERGY PRODUCTIONS AND
THE BROADER ENERGY MARKET. AND
SO, I THINK IT IS ALSO REPORT
NOTING THAT JUST IN THE PAST
HOUR, BIDEN'S FORMER ENERGY
ENVOY IS WARNING THAT THE AI
ENERGY DEMAND COULD SOON BECOME
A CRISIS. AND SO, I THINK I AM
JUST UPLIFTING MY BROADER
CONCERNS ABOUT HOW WE ARE
APPROACHING AI INTEGRATION AND
HOW THAT MAY BE OUT OF STEP WITH
ALSO OUR CURRENT ENERGY POLICIES
AND WHERE WE ARE GOING. AND
HOPING THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY
FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT TO LOOK
TOWARD HOW WE WORK WITH CITY
LIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS
AS A POINT TO SAY THAT I AM
HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN LOOK TOWARDS
ENSURING WORKERS HAVE A VOICE AT
THE TABLE WHERE WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT INTEGRATION OF AI TOOLS. I
KNOW THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT BILL
IN OLYMPIA ABOUT AI AS PART OF
THE BARGAINING TABLE. BUT JUST
THINKING OF A MORE HOLISTIC CITY
POLICY. HOW OUR CITY UNIONS HAVE
A VOICE IN THIS MATTER IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO ME. I
AM THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE
TYING OUR STRATEGIES. THE
BROADER STRATEGIES WE HAVE
RELATED TO ENERGY UTILIZATION.
LOAD MANAGEMENT AND PAIRED WITH
THAT, IF THERE IS ANY POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE COUNCIL
SIDE THAT WE COULD TAKE UP WHEN
IT COMES TO ENSURING THAT OUR
CITY UNIONS COULD HAVE A VOICE
AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO
BARGAINING OR INTEGRATION OF AI
TOOLS.
>> YOU CAUGHT ME MULTITASKING
HERE. AND I APOLOGIZE.
>> I THINK WHAT I AM HEARING,
SORT OF A BROAD CONCERN, SORT OF
BOTH ABOUT ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
ALSO WITH A LABOR COMPONENT TO
THE CITY USING AI. THOSE ARE
ISSUES THAT GO WELL BEYOND
STCI'S SCOPE. THEY SOUND TO ME
LIKE TWO THINGS. ONE IS SOME
KIND OF IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT TO THE
SEATTLE IT OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT. ASKING FOR POLICY
DEVELOPMENT AROUND AI. SORT OF
WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE
CITY TO USE AI AS A TOOL. AND
I'M SURE IT IS MORE THAN JUST
SEATTLEITES INVOLVED IN
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEN WITH
RESPECT TO THE ENERGY LOAD. YOU
MAY HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> Referee: KNOW IT IS A
SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. THERE ARE A
SERGEANT OF STRATEGIC QUESTIONS.
CITY LIGHT IS A PORTFOLIO POWER
DESIGNED ON MORE THAN AN AVERAGE
BASIS EXCEED THE CITY'S DEMAND.
SO THAT WE ARE, AT SOME LEVEL,
WE HAVE AN AVERAGE OF SURPLUS OF
POWER. THE REALITY ABOUT AI, I
SUSPECT, IS THAT THE MACHINES
THAT ARE ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS
ARE LOCATED IN EASTERN
WASHINGTON OR DOWN IN THE GORGE
AND BEING SERVED BY OTHER
UTILITIES SO IT IS REALLY A
BROADER QUESTION ABOUT
RESPONSIBLE ENERGY USE OF
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT MIGHT BE
PART OF FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE
PART OF HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE
CITY'S USE OF THIS. NOT TO MAKE
THIS TOO PERSONAL, BUT
CONVERSATIONS AT HOME. IS THAT
THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS?
NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH THAT ENERGY
CONSUMPTION IS. JUST TO PIGGY
BACK ON WHAT KETIL IS DESCRIBING
AND ON THE ENERGY AND THE LABOR
SIDE, THE FOCUS ON SEATTLE IT IS
PROBABLY TOO NARROW IN TERMS OF
DEVELOPING A CITY POLICY ON AI
AND ITS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
USE THAT MIGHT BE A BROADER
QUESTION TO THE EXECUTIVE. WHOM
THAT MIGHT BE. TO WORK THIS
ISSUE AND START DEVELOPING
POLICIES ON A CITY WIDE BASIS OF
UNDERSTANDING. AND I SAY THAT AT
THE SAME TIME, I WOULD HATE TO
GET THAT. BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A
BROAD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN RETURN.
IT DEPENDS WHAT SIDE OF IT YOU
ARE TOUCHING. THIS IS UPON US IN
MEANINGFUL WAYS. AND AT LEAST
STARTING OUR CONVERSATION IN AN
ORGANIZED WAY. AS MUCH AS I
WOULD HATE TO GET THAT, WE WOULD
CRAFT IT IN A WAY THAT DESIGNED
TO OPEN DIALOGUE. FROM MY END. I
CAN'T SEE ANYTHING LESS, BUT
ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT IS MORE
PRODUCTIVE IF YOU WILL.
>> CERTAINLY. NOW THANK YOU FOR
THAT RESPONSE. AND AGAIN, I
UNDERSTAND THIS GOES BEYOND THE
BOUNDS OF JUST WHAT IS PROPOSED
HERE IN STCI'S BUDGET. WANTING
TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
OPEN THIS POLICY DISCUSSION.
BECAUSE I THINK IT IS AN
IMPORTANT ONE. THE BREAKING NEWS
THAT JUST CAME OUT IN THE PAST
HOUR, BUT ALSO, AGAIN, THE FACT
THAT CURRENTLY, CITY LIGHT, WE
ARE NOT PROVIDING POWER TO ANY
DATA CENTERS BUT WE ARE GETTING
REQUESTS AND I KNOW CITY LIGHT
IS WORKING ALONGSIDE PSE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING
RESPONSIVE TO THOSE REQUESTS BUT
THIS IS COMING AND I'M THINKING
ABOUT THE DEMANDS ON OUR OWN
ENERGY SYSTEM AND WHAT IT MEANS
FOR THE BROADER WORK OF THE
CITY. AND FURTHER THE CONTINUED
CHANGES WE ARE SEEING AT BPA AND
HOW THAT IS INFLUENCING THE
ENERGY MARKET.
>> THERE ARE ULTIMATELY
IMPLICATIONS ON RATES HERE. WE
ARE TALKING GENERATING MORE
POWER UNLESS WE FIND
EFFICIENCIES TO REDUCE DEMAND
ELSEWHERE. AND THAT LEADS TO
HIGHER PRICES. YOU HAVE TO BUILD
MORE SUPPLY. AND THAT WILL RAISE
QUESTIONS ITSELF ABOUT THE
UNDERLYING SOURCE OF GENERATING
ELECTRICITY. HOPEFUL WE CAN HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION. I UNDERSTAND
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT OUR
REGION IS A LEADER IN TECH AND I
JUST WANT US TO MOVE
THOUGHTFULLY. AS WE MOVE INTO A
NEW WORLD.
>> DO I SEE A NEW HAND?
FANTASTIC OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. LOVE
THIS CONVERSATION. APPRECIATE
THE DISCUSSION. INCLUDING THE
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW. WE
ARE SORT OF CULLING TOGETHER ON
THE FLY. BROADLY, A VERY
STRATEGIC DISCUSSION AROUND OUR
PLACE AND ROLE AS A SEATTLE CITY
GOVERNMENT. AND, RECEIVE PLOYING
AND SUPPORTING AI TOOLS AND
INNOVATION. WE ARE CULLING
TOGETHER FROM THAT. DOUBLE
CLICKING ON TWO BROAD ISSUES.
ONE IS THE LABOR INVOLVEMENT AS
A STAKE HOLDER AND HAVING A SEAT
AT THE TABLE IN SOME OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS. WITH THAT I 100%
AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE. I THINK
THAT IS TABLE STAKES. THE OTHER
ISSUE IS ANOTHER APT ONE AS WELL
ABOUT THE ENERGY POLICIES AND
THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND
LIMITED DEMAND THAT THESE AI
TOOLS I GUESS, GENERATE OR
CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEMAND CITY
LIGHT HAS. I SIT ON THE CITY
LIGHT COMMITTEE. THAT DEPARTMENT
HAS A LOT OF COMPLEX REALLY
THORNY PROBLEMS TO SOLVE. AS
THEY FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY WILL
MEET THE SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASING DEMAND THE NEXT FEW
YEARS AND DECADE. REALLY COMPLEX
NITTY-GRITTY THORNY STUFF. AND
AS LEGISLATIVE ORDERS AS ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN THIS CITY, WE PLAY
AN IMPORTANT OVERSIGHT ROLE IN
THAT. BUT I WANT TO NOTE THE
PACE OF INNOVATION AND TOOLING
IS MOVING LIGHTNING QUICK. I
WISH I COULD SNAP, I CAN'T
SNAP! I JUST CAN'T BEGIN TO
DESCRIBE HOW QUICK RAPIDLY
EVOLVING THE AI LANDSCAPE IS
RIGHT NOW. EARLIER THIS YEAR, A
CHINESE COMPANY NAMED DEEP SEEK
CAME UP WITH THE NOVEL NEW
METHOD THAT PREVIOUSLY NO ONE
THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE. THAT
ESSENTIALLY SHORTCUTTED ALL THE
WORK THAT THE CHATGPT AND OPEN
AIs OF THE WORLD WERE DOING IN
SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTCUTTING THAT.
AND THEREFORE, THERE WAS A
CORRESPONDING DECREASE IN THE
AMOUNT OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ULTIMATELY USED. IT WAS A WAKE
UP CALL FOR A LOT OF LOCAL AI
SOFTWARE SERVICES PROVIDERS AND
MY HOPE IS THAT MANY OF THEM
HAVE INCORPORATED SOME OF THOSE
ENGINEERING BEST PRACTICES TO
DRIVE FUTURE EFFICIENCIES ON
WHICH WOULD IF ADOPTED IN PART
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS
EXPRESSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. I WANT TO NOTE THAT
TRANSPORTATION IS A SIGNIFICANT
STRAIN ON THE LOCAL GRID AS
WELL. WITH THE PARALLEL EFFORTS
TO ELECTRIFY THE PORT OR THE BUS
FLEET OR CARS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
THAT IMPOSES A NON-TRIVIAL
STRAIN ON OUR ENERGY TARGETS AS
WELL. I TOOK A BUS THIS MORNING
THAT WAS FULLY ELECTRIC. I'M
NOT GOING TO STOP TAKING A BUS.
TO ADDRESS THE CONSUMPTION
NEEDS. I THINK WE STILL NEED TO
EMBRACE THESE TOOLS. SO I
UNDERSTAND THE APPREHENSION.
MAYBE I'M MORE CAUTIOUSLY
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE PERILS AND
PITFALLS AS WELL. THAT
IMPLICATES MORE ON THIS
PROPOSED. IT IS AN IMPORTANT
BROADER TOPIC AND I THANK MY
COLLEAGUES AND STAFF HERE FOR
THE GREAT DIALOGUE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. AS WE SEE
WITH THESE ISSUE IDS, THEY DO
IDENTIFY THE ISSUES THAT ARE
WITHIN THIS BUDGET. SOMETIMES
WITHIN A SINGLE DEPARTMENT. AND
SOMETIMES CROSS CUTTING WHERE WE
STARTED WITH. THANK YOU FOR
BEING ABLE TO STAFF THIS CROSS
CUTTING ISSUE UNEXPECTEDLY. WITH
THAT I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION
THAT STEMS FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
WE WERE HAVING THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT THE CORE STAFFING FUND.
I'LL PUT THE QUESTIONS ON THE
RECORD NOW FOR US TO JUST FOLLOW
UP WITH. WHICH IS WHAT IS THE
JOB DISTRIBUTION, WHAT IS THE
ROLE OF THE PERMIT EXPEDITER AND
HOW MANY? IF I WAS, DO WE HAVE
HIRED AS STAFF WITHIN STCI, IF I
WAS TO GUESS FROM THAT
CONVERSATION WE HAD THE OTHER
DAY, THAT THE PERMIT EXPEDITER
POSITION ASSISTS IN EXPEDITING
PERMIT INS CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT WAS THE
SENSE I GOT. BUT IF WE COULD
HAVE A MORE FORMAL RESPONSE. AND
I BELIEVE THERE IS ONLY ONE. BUT
IF YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION,
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> FOR MY OWN CLARITY, THERE IS
A POSITION THAT IN PART WORKS AS
A SMALL BUSINESS COORDINATOR TO
HELP TENANT IMPROVEMENTS.
>> FROM THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE
WITH THE DEPARTMENT HERE, THEY
USED THAT PHRASE IN PARTICULAR.
IT WAS A NEW PHRASE FOR ME.
COLLEAGUES I SHARE THE INTEREST
WITH YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE AN
AUDIT COMPLETED BY THE CITY
AUDITOR OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE
PERMITTING PROCESS. WHICH IS
REVIEW AND APPROVAL. I ASKED THE
AUDITOR TO ENGAGE IN THE SECOND
HALF OF THE AUDIT. WHERE ARE THE
LAGS? UNTIL WE HAVE OUR PERMIT
SYSTEM IMPROVED WE MIGHT NEED
ANOTHER PERMIT EXPEDITER.
>> COLLEAGUES ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? SEEING
NONE, AGAIN, WE ARE GETTING DONE
A LITTLE BIT EARLY IN PART
BECAUSE THE ISSUES WITHIN THE
BUDGET ARE THAT IT DOES
EVERYTHING SO WE MAY HAVE TO
PULL BACK FROM THAT. THAT'S THE
PROBLEM OF THIS YEAR RATHER THAN
PART OF THE BUDGET CYCLE WHICH
IS TYPICALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT WAS
NOT FUNDED. IN THE NEXT COMING
DAYS WE HAVE COMMITTEE TOMORROW.
WE'LL HAVE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. SEATTLE CARE
DEPARTMENT. SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. AND, BEN, I WILL
CHECK IN WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. ARE
WE ALSO PLANNING FOR TOMORROW TO
HAVE THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AND FEDERAL BACK FILL
AS WELL?
>> I THINK WE HAVE COVERED THAT
SUFFICIENTLY. THAT WAS THE PLACE
HOLDER I HAD. I THINK WE
HIGHLIGHTED IT. AND YOU WILL
HEAR ABOUT IT AS WELL IN SOME OF
THE OTHERS. SO YES. IT IS NOT AS
FULL AN AGENDA AS IT MIGHT LOOK,
BUT THOSE ARE WEIGHTY
DEPARTMENTS AS A COLLECTIVE.
>> YES THEY ARE. THANK YOU FOR
THAT UPDATE. AND COLLEAGUES,
AGAIN, REMEMBER, MONDAY MORNING,
THERE WILL BE A FORECAST COUNCIL
MEETING IN CHAMBERS THAT THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MYSELF
WILL BE ATTENDING ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY COUNCIL. AND THEN, IN
THE AFTERNOON, WE WILL HAVE ARE
THE DIRECTOR OF THE FORECAST
COUNCIL COME TO OUR SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING. TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. WITH
THAT, IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, THIS
CONCLUDES THE THURSDAY OCTOBER
16th, 2025 SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING. AND, DON'T FORGET
THAT COUNCILMEMBER PROPOSALS ARE
DUE ON TUESDAY AT NOON. I'LL BE
WALKING MY PROPOSALS AROUND WITH
COLLEAGUES THIS AFTERNOON. THANK
YOU. NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. LET'S GO MARINERS.