BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT
IS 9:30 A.M. I AM N STRAUSS,
CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
AND CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> THAT
IS SIX PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE -- GOOD MORNING TO THIS
OCTOBER 17th.
IT'S ANOTHER DAY TO SEIZE THE
MOMENT.
WE HAVE FOUR BRIEFINGS ON
THE AGENDA FOR TODAY THAT
INCLUDES AN OVERVIEW AND
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS OF THE
FOLLOWING
DEPARTMENTS. THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT,
COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE
AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT,
SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
BEFORE WE BEGIN IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
I SEE -- HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED AND I
SEE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS
PRESENTPRESENT
AS WELL.
WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE
FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
IT'S 9:31 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL --
READ THE FIRST ITEM INTO THE
RECORD, PLEASE?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1,
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR
BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'RE JOINED BY GREG DOSS
AND DIRECTOR NOBLE OF
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND
THEN WE'LL HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE OPEN IT UP
AFTER YOUR
PRESENTATION. FEEL FREE TO ASK
QUESTIONS
AS THE PRESENTATION GOES.
>> AS YOU NOTE, GREG DOSS,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF,
TO PRESENT POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
AND DIRECTED BY MY BOSS, BEN
NOBLE, THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL
STAFF.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LAUNCH
INTO IT.
START WITH A TABLE WITH A LOT
OF NUMBERS HERE AND SAY THAT
THETHE
2026 PROPOSE BUDGET FOR THE CITY
POLICE DEPARTMENT INCREASES 4.
4% RELATIVE TO THE 2026 ENDORSED
BUDGET. THE LARGEST PORTION OF
THAT INCREASE IS A NET OF ABOUT
$19
MILLION, WHICH IS ATTRIBUTABLE
TO CHANGES MADE MOSTLY
IN PERSONNEL EXPENDITURES.
SO AS YOU LOOK AT THIS
TABLE, THE MAJORITY OF CHANGES
THAT
YOU SEE, WHETHER THEY BE
REDUCTIONS OR ADDS IN THAT
PERCENT CHANGE
COLUMN, THOSE ARE REALLY THREE
OR FOUR ITEMS SPREAD OUT
THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S
BSL
BUDGET SUMMARY LEVELS WHICH
SERVE AS THE BUREAUS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT, HOW THEY ORGANIZE
THEMSELVES.
THE 16% THAT YOU SEE
IN LEADERSHIP AND
ADMINISTRATION AND THAT IS
SIMPLY MONEY FOR NEW
OFFICERS THAT WAS PUT IN
AND
WE'LL DISCUSSDISCUSS IN A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL LATER.
>> THANK YOU, GREG.
AND JUST TO NOTE, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED US AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO THE MAJOR
ADJUSTMENTS.
MOST ARE PERSONNEL RELATED.
AS I MENTIONED THERE'S A
$26 MILLION ADD.
IT WAS 16% INCREASE TO FUND
86 NEW NET OFFICERS IN 2026.
I THINK MOST FOLKS ARE
AWARE THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS
BEEN
HIRING NEW OFFICERSOFFICERS AND
SOMETHING NEVER
SEEN BEFORE AT THIS MAGNITUDE.
THERE'S A NEED FOR THE BUDGET
TO CATCH UP, AND THAT IS THE
FIRST
ITEM HERE. I'M NOT GOING TO
TALK TOO MUCH
ABOUT THESE ITEMS BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM
THE
EXECUTIVE AND SPD AND
THE CENTRAL BUDGET
OFFICE PRESENTATION AND IN
SPD'S
PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DO
ASK.
OVERTIME BUDGET REDUCED BY
$900,000 TO MEET A
FUND REDUCTION TARGET.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE
IN THE ISSUE SECTION.
THERE IS A
VACANCY RATE ADJUSTMENT AND THAT
VACANCY RATE
ADJUSTMENT AT ANY ONE TIME IN --
AT ANY ONE TIME IN
THE DEPARTMENT THERE'S ALWAYS
GOING TO BE A CERTAIN NUMBER
OF VACANCIES, POSITIONS THAT
ARE EITHER UNFILLABLE, TAKE A
LONG TIME TO FILL, AND WE'RE
GOING TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE
A LITTLE LATER, BUT
THOSE POSITIONS THAT ARE FULLY
FUNDED, THE DEPARTMENT WINDS UP
SAVING
SALARY NOT HAVING TO SPEND THAT
SALARY, AND SO WHAT IS HAPPENING
HERE IS THE CENTRAL
BUDGET OFFICE AND SPD ARE
DETERMINING THAT THERE'S GOING
TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
UNSPENT
SALARY FUNDING BECAUSE OF
UNFILLED
POSITIONS, AND THEY'RE MAKING
AN AFFIRMATIVE CUT OF $2. 8
MILLION
TO RECOGNIZE THAT
ESSENTIALLY NOT ALL POSITIONS
NEED TO
BE FUNDED DUE TO A VACANCY RATE.
AND THEN THE LAST CUT IS A
$395,000 REDUCTION TO
THE TEMPORARY TERM LIMITED
BUDGET,
WHICH IS A SMALLER BUDGET
THAT'S
ONLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS,
SO THIS IS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
CUT. IT IS A BUDGET THAT SPD
USES
FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.
THEY HAVE FOUR POSITIONS
THAT ARE EXPIRING AT THE END OF
THIS
YEAR AND THOSE FOUR
POSITIONS WILL CREATE SOME
SAVINGS
HERE AND IT'S BEING REDUCED.
I'LL STOP AND ASK IF THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS HERE.
OKAY.
>> WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> I KNOW THERE ARE
OFFICERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN
SPECIAL TASK
FORCES WITH FEDERAL TASK
FORCES, AND A WHILE AGO TALKING
TO THE
DEA SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE,
HE NOTED THAT THERE IS
ONE PARTICULAR OFFICER THAT IS
OFTEN -- THAT PARTICIPATES IN
A TASK FORCE AND ASKED THAT
PERSON BE ASSIGNED PERMANENTLY.
THE POINT IS, MY QUESTION FOR
YOU, WHAT CATEGORY ARE
THE PEOPLE IN SPD THAT WORK ON
THESE TASK FORCES?
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
IT IS THE CASE THAT FEDERAL,
STATE, AND LOCAL, REGIONAL
TASK FORCES THAT OFFICERS SERVE
ON
ARE TYPICALLY FUNDED WITH
OVERTIME, AND THAT WAY WE CAN --
THE CITY CAN SEND OFFICERS
TO THESE TASK FORCES WITHOUT
HAVING TO LOSE CAPACITY FOR
SHIFT
OR THE OTHER WORK THESE
OFFICERS ARE DOING, SO IT'S
PRIMARILY
THE OVERTIME BUDGET THAT IS
FUNDING
THESE ACTIVITIES.
THIS PARTICULAR REDUCTION
HERE OF 950,000 WILL NOT AFFECT
THOSE
FUNCTIONS. THOSE FUNCTIONS ARE
FUNDED
PRIMARILY THROUGH GRANTS
AND REIMBURSABLES FROM EITHER
THE FEDERAL AGENCIES OR FROM
THE STATE AGENCIES, AND SO
IT'S REALLY MORE JUST A
FINANCIAL
FUNCTION OF THOSE FOLKS RVING
ON THE TASK FORCES AND THAT
OVERTIME IS REIMBURSED BY
THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE FOLLOW- UP IN TERMS
OF ADDING SOMEONE ON A FULL-
TIME BASIS TO ONE OF THOSE TASK
FORCES, THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT THE
CHIEF COULD DO. OBVIOUSLY THAT
WOULD MEAN
THAT ONE FTE OF A SWORN OFFICER
WOULD
HAVE TO MOVE FROM WHATEVER THEIR
REGULAR SHIFT WORK IS INTO
A ROLE LIKE THAT.
>> RIGHT.
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU, GREG.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANY
FURTHER
QUESTIONS? THE FLOOR IS STILL
YOURS.
>> THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU.
>> GREG, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THE
TEMPORARYTEMPORARY
TERM- LIMITED FUNDING PARTIAL
REDUCTION THERE AND THE FOUR
POSITIONS, ARE THEY SET TO BE
ELIMINATED?
ARE THEY CIVILIAN?
>> YES, THANK YOU THE THEY
ARE ALL CIVILIAN.
THERE WERE TWO IN PUBLIC
AFFAIRS THAT WERE ASSISTING WITH
COMMUNICATIONS.
THERE WAS ONE IN RELATIONAL
POLICING, AND THAT PERSON WAS
SERVING AS
A LIAISON TO THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
AND THERE WAS,
FINALLY, A POSITION THAT WAS
SUPPORTING
D.E.I. AND, AS IT TURNS
OUT, WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT
IS MORE OR LESS CONVERTING THAT
D.E.I. WORK FROM A TERM-
LIMITED TEMPORARY POSITION INTO
A
FULL-TIME POSITION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
A COUPLE OTHER ADDS THAT
AREARE HIGHLIGHTING IN THIS
BUDGET, THERE IS, AS YOU KNOW --
>> ALSO I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS HER HAND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, GREG, FOR BEING
HERE AND DIRECTOR NOBLE.
A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT -- ON
THIS SLIDE TO THE BUDGET SUMMARY
SLIDE ALSO UNDER THE
TERM- LIMITED FUNDING.
IT LOOKS LIKE A
POSITION SUPPORTING THE BEFORE
THE
BADGE PROGRAM IS BEING REDUCED.
HOW MANY -- HOW MUCH CAPACITY
DO WE HAVE IN THAT PROGRAM?
I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING, GREG,
WILL THIS PROGRAM BE IMPACTED
BY THE REDUCTION OF THIS TEMP
PERSON?
>> THE DEPARTMENT SAYS
THAT IT WILL NOT.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER
OF FTE FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT I
CAN
GET BACK TO YOU WITH
MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU, GREG. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO MOVING INTO SOME OTHER
ADDS, I HIGHLIGHT THERE ARE
EQUIPMENT
ADDS.
YOU ALL PASSED A BILL
RECENTLY THAT AUTHORIZED
EXPANSION OF
CCTV AND RTCC, THE CRIME --
ACTIVE CRIME
CENTER. AND PURSUANT TO THAT,
THERE
ARE ADDS IN THE BUDGET FOR
CAMERAS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE
FIRST BULLET
IS 435,000 ADDED FOR CAMERAS IN
THE CAPITAL HILL
NIGHTLIFE DISTRICT AND THE
SECOND ONE
THERE'S $350,000 ADDED FOR CCTV
ADDED IN THE STADIUM DISTRICT.
ONE THING TO NOTE HERE IS
THERE'S ALSO AN APPROPRIATION
IN THE 2025 YEAR- END
SUPPLEMENTAL
FOR THESE CAMERAS, THE STADIUM
DISTRICT.
AND SO THAT TOTAL COST IS MORE
LIKE 535,000.
THERE'S A COUPLE
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR
APPROPRIATION
THERE. AND THESE COSTS ARE, FOR
THE STADIUM DISTRICT CAMERAS,
ARE PRIMARILY BORN BY THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX.
THAT'S SOMETHING NEW WITH SPD.
NORMALLY SPD JUST RECEIVED
GENERAL FUND FUNDING.
IN THIS CASE THERE WAS PLANNING
FOR THE FIFA EVENTS COMING THIS
SPRING, AND THAT IS GOING TO
BE FUNDED OUT OF THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX.
AND THEN ALSO FUNDED AS PART OF
THAT IS 422,000, AND THAT,
AS THE SLIDE SAYS, IS FOR
BARRIERS AND TRAILERS SPD WILL
USE
DURING THOSE FIFA EVENTS.
FINALLY A COUPLE POSITION ADDS.
>> GREG, JUST REAL QUICK --
WE HAVE A QUESTION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I THINK YOU ALL MIGHT BE ABLE TO
GUESS WHAT I'M ABOUT TO INQUIRE
ABOUT, USING THE PAYROLLPAYROLL
TO FUND THE CCTV CAMERAS FOR THE
STADIUM DISTRICT.
DO WE HAVE UNDERSTANDING OF
THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT
FROM THE EXECUTIVE?
>> I THINK THAT FIFA IN
GENERAL WAS -- THERE WAS A
DECISION MADE
ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE THAT ALL
ADDS RELATED TO THAT WERE
GOING TO BE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
ADDS.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE REASON
WHY THAT PARTICULAR REVENUE
SOURCE OR FUND WOULD BE CHOSEN.
I CAN SAY THAT SPD AND
THE
EXECUTIVE ARE CONSIDERING THE
STADIUM CAMERAS TO BE PART OF
THAT OVERALL EVENT AND
SO THEY'RE CHOOSING TO FUND
THEM
HERE.
THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS I
CAN SAY RIGHT NOW.
I'D HAVE TO GET BACK WITH
YOU FOR MORE INFO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, GREG.
>> A COUPLE THOUGHTS ON THAT.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF
THE THINGS -- ONE OF
THE AUTHORIZED USES, IF YOU
WILL,
OF P.E.T. SO YOU COULD MAKE
A CONNECTION THERE.
THE OTHER -- AT SOME LEVEL
IT'S ACADEMIC BECAUSE THERE WAS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER TO
THE GENERAL
FUND SO WE COULD CALL THIS
GENERAL FUND OR P.E.T.
AT SOME LEVEL.
WE'LL ASK THE EXECUTIVE WHAT
THE RATIONALE IS BUT ONCE YOU
PEEL THE ONION IT DOESN'T MUCH
MATTER.
SORRY BUT IT'S TRUE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU BOTH.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
COLLEAGUES, I THINK I WOULD
JUST STATE MY DISPLEASURE SEEING
THAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS
FUNDED WITH THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX JUMP- START GIVEN THE
UNDERLYING
INTENT OF WHAT JUMP START
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AND WHAT IT
WAS SUPPOSED TO FUND,
PARTICULARLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT, OUR GREEN NEW DEAL
INITIATIVE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS,
AND I WILL JUST LEAVE IT THERE
FOR
RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
BACK TO YOU, MR. DOSS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO A COUPLE POSITION ADDS.
THERE'S $580,000 FOR TWO PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE OFFICERS IN 2024
SPD RECEIVED OVER 17,000 PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUESTS.
THAT IS MORE THAN ALL OTHER
DEPARTMENTS COMBINED IN THE
CITY, SO THIS IS A GROWING
INDUSTRY, SO TO SPEAK, FOR SPD,
AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY BUDGET
WE WIND UP -- THE CITY WIND
UP ADDING PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
OFFICERS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
HERE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS
I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE IS
A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND
INCLUSION OFFICER THAT IS ADDED
THAT IS
MAKING PERMANENT FUNCTIONS
THAT HAD BEEN SERVED OVER THAT
TEMPORARY TERM- LIMITED
POSITION.
I'M SEEING HANDS.
>>
YES. THAT'S AN OLD HAND, I
BELIEVE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I SEE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> SO WHAT IS THE AVERAGE FULLY
LOADED FTE AMOUNT OR COST?
BECAUSE
I'M NOTING THAT TWO DIVIDED
INTO 580,000 IS
MORE THAN TWO DIVIDED -- YOU
KNOW,
IS MORE THAN 212, SO WHY IS
THAT?
IS THERE ANOTHER EXPENSE OR
COST THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE
TWO
FTEs FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE?
>> YES, THERE IS.
AND I AM NOT REMEMBERING WHAT
IT IS.
>> PAPER?
JUST KIDDING.
>> NO.
I'M DRAWING A BLANK RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY.
>> IT IS MORE THAN THE SALARIES.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
GOOD OBSERVATION, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I NEED TO GET BACK TO
YOU ONCE
I REMEMBER WHAT THAT IS AND
LET YOU KNOW.
>> OKAY,
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
BACK TO YOU, MR. DOSS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
INTO THE FIRST POLICY
CONSIDERATION
WHICH IS STAFFING ONLY
AND INFORMATION ONLY.
WE'RE GOING
TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THE
UNPRECEDENTED HIRING SPD
HAS SEEN AND HOW THAT WILL
AFFECT
THEIR PATROL AND SWORN STAFFING
AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT
THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THAT
THE
DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE IN THE
FUTURE.
SO TO START OUT WITH THIS
SLIDE, IT SHOWS BASICALLY THAT
THERE
HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF
NEW HIRES GOING HISTORICALLY
FROM SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 60 AND 80
PER YEAR UP TO 169 PROJECTED IN
2025.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN,
I KEEP SAYING UNPRECEDENTED,
THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS VERY
HAPPY
TO SEE HAPPENING AND NEW
OFFICERS
ARE COMING INTO THE SWORN RANKS
AT LEVELS THAT THEY'VE NOT
SEEN.
SO VERY GOOD NEWS THERE.
I WILL ALSO MENTION MY ISSUE
PAPER, IF YOU WANT TO CHECK
OUT THE APPENDIXES, YOU'LL
SEE ATTACHMENT TWO HAS
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THOSE
SWORN
OFFICERS ARE DISTRIBUTED BOTH
THROUGHOUT
THE AGENCY. OFFICERS THAT ARE
DISTRIBUTED
TO FUNCTIONS LIKE SPECIALTY
UNITS LIKE HARBOR PATROL OR
INVESTIGATIONS, AND THERE'S
ALSO AN APPENDIX THAT TALKS OR
SHOWS
HOW OFFICERS ARE DISTRIBUTED
THROUGH PATROL RANKS, HOW
MANY ARE ASSIGNED TO EACH
PRECINCT.
THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
IF YOU WANT IT.
I WOULD SAY EVERY YEAR WE
SUBMIT A STAFFING PLAN THAT
IDENTIFIES
THESE HIRING AND SEPARATIONS
THAT YOU SEE IN THIS CHART.
IT IS THE CASE THAT
BECAUSE WE'RE IN NEW TERRITORY,
WE'VE
NEVER SEEN HIRING LIKE
THIS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR
THEM
TO PROJECT WHAT IT'S GOING TO
LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.
SO, FOR THE MOST PART, THE
BLUE AREAS ON THE TABLE,
THE PROJECTIONS AND PLANNED
PARTS,
ARE STRAIGHT LINES, TAKING WHAT
WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST FIVE OR
SIX MONTHS AND PROJECTING IT
FORWARD.
BEFORE I TAKE QUESTIONS, I
WANT TO JUMP TO THIS NEXT SLIDE
WHICH IS RELATED.
AND THIS SHOWS HOW ADS
WOULD WORK THROUGH THE
SYSTEM, STAFFING ADDS, INTO
BECOMING FULLY SWORN OFFICERS
AND
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE
CONTINUED
TO HIRE AT THIS PACE.
AND IF SPD CONTINUES TO
HIRE AT THIS PACE, OFFICERS WILL
COME
INTO THE SYSTEM AS FULLY TRAINED
OFFICERS AFTER ABOUT A YEAR.
I THINK THE COUNCIL IS
FAMILIAR WITH THE LAG BECAUSE OF
TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY, AND
THEN
WHEN THEY ARE FULLY
TRAINED, THEY WILL BE
REPRESENTED IN THAT
BLUE
LINE. AND THEN THE GREEN LINE IS
THE DEPLOYABLE OFFICERS.
THAT IS THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT
WE CAN PUT OUT ON THE STREET.
IT SUBTRACTS FOLKS THAT ARE
OUT ON LONG- TERM LEAVE OR
MILITARY LEAVE OR OTHER
REASONSREASONS FOR
AWAY FROM SERVICE.
AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE WITH
THE ADDS OF 169 OFFICERS OR 86
OR
87 NET NEW ADDS EACH YEAR, IF
THE DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO
SUSTAIN THAT INCREASE FROM '26
TO 2028,
IT IS THE CASE THAT THEY
WILL REACH HISTORIC LEVELS.
THEY WILL REACH THE HISTORIC
STAFFING LEVELS THAT SPD
SAW BACK IN 2017 OR 2018, AND SO
I KNOW THAT'S A QUESTION
THAT COUNCIL HAS ASKED THE
DEPARTMENT, ASKED THE
CHIEF DURING THE LAST
PRESENTATION, WHEN WOULD WE BE
BACK.
AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS
2028 AT THIS CURRENT RATE.
FINGERS CROSSED THAT THEY
CAN CONTINUE TO HIRE AT THIS
RATE.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I
WOULD NOTE IS AS THE -- AS
OFFICERS
ARE COMING INTO SERVICE, SO
ARE THE COSTS.
IT IS THE CASE THAT THE COSTS
FOR THE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, THE
ADDITIONAL 86 OFFICERS IN
2026 IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 26
MILLION.
THAT'S 23. 5 MILLION FOR
SALARY AND ANOTHER 2. 5 MILLION
FOR
EQUIPMENT.
IF YOU TAKE THE COST FOR THE
2026 OFFICERS AND YOU
ANNUALIZE IT ONCE THEY MOVE INTO
FULLY FUNDED SWORN POCKETS, THE
OBLIGATION IN 2027 WILL
GROW FROM 26 MILLION TO ABOUT 34
MILLION.
AND THAT'S JUST THAT ONE
CLASS FOR NEXT YEAR.
AS YOU SEE CLASSES IN 2027 AND
2028, YOU'LL SEE GROWING
COSTS AGAIN IN THE ORDER OF
MAGNITUDE OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU,
GREG. I SEE WE HAVE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT
AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THERE IS A -- I CAN'T
REMEMBER WHAT THE TERM IS,
BUT THE RATIO OF OFFICERS PER
100,000 POPULATION, AND SO
I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALSO --
THAT IS -- I'LL BACK UP.
THE CITY HAS GROWN SINCE 2017.
SO WE DO HAVE TO TAKE
POPULATION GROWTH INTO ACCOUNT
WHEN WE
THINK OF THE NEEDS OF SPD
AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT
SHOULD BE IN EACH PRECINCT ON
SHIFT
AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
DO YOU KNOW IF THEY --
WHAT RATIO THEY ARE USING AS AN
IDEAL?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
IT IS THE CASE THAT SPD IS
UNDERTAKING A STUDY COMING UP
THIS YEAR WHERE THEY ARE GOING
TO LOOK NOT REALLY JUST
AT RATIOS PER POPULATION FOR
OFFICERS BUT RATHER
SPECIFIC DEMANDS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR OFFICER CALLS AND
PROACTIVE WORK FOR SPD.
THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THAT THIS YEAR AND
THEY'RE
GOING TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC
STAFFING
PLAN, IF YOU WILL, THAT SHOULD
GIVE YOU THE NUMBER THAT
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT WOULD
BE
THE IDEAL NUMBER OF POLICE
OFFICERS
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
CHIEF BARNES
HOPES TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU ALL
NEXT YEAR.
>> RIGHT.
YEAH.
BECAUSE CLEARLY THE FENTANYL
EPIDEMIC HAS HAD AN IMPACT
ON THE NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY, SO
IT'S NOT JUST POPULATION
WHICH DRIVES NEED, STAFFING
NEEDS.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AND, GREG, JUST FOLLOWING
OFF ON COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
COMMENTS, ACTUALLY, WHEN WE WERE
AT
THE HEIGHT OF OUR STAFFING
LEVELS IN
'17 AND '18, HOW WERE WE DOING
IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING
PUBLIC SAFETY ACROSS THE CITY?
MANY OF US WERE NOT ACTUALLY,
AS YOU KNOW, ON COUNCIL -- I'M
NOT
SURE ANYONE WAS ON COUNCIL THEN
WHO IS ON COUNCIL,AGE I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND
PREPANDEMIC HOW WE WERE DOING IN
TERMS OF ADDRESSING
PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND, ALSO, WHAT HAPPENS,
GREG, NEXT YEAR IF WE SEE
STAFFING LEVELS HIGHER THAN
ANTICIPATED?
MEANING I SEE YOUR GRAPH
HERE AND THIS IS REALLY
HELPFUL, THANK YOU.
THIS YEAR WE SAW -- I MEAN, WE
DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET THIS
MANY
OFFICERS THIS YEAR.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THE
INCREASE IS ACTUALLY MORE THAN
WE
ARE PLANNING FOR, YOU KNOW, IN
THE
GRAPH HERE?
>> WELL, FIRST, I WOULD --
I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THAT I
BELIEVE, AT LEAST WHAT I'M
HEARING FROM SPD, THEY
ARE HIRING AT THE ABSOLUTE
FASTEST
CAPACITY THAT THEY CAN.
NOTABLE IS THE PROCESS IS
STILL VERY LONG AND COMPLICATED.
THE BACKGROUND ALONE CAN TAKE
A MONTH OR TWO TO GET AN OFFICER
THROUGH.
SO IT'S THE CASE THAT THEY
ARE PUSHING THROUGH AS MUCH AS
THEY
CAN, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE
SOMEWHAT LIMITED BY THE
CAPACITY THAT THEY HAVE TO HIRE,
BACKGROUND, INTERVIEW
CANDIDATES. PROBABLY YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO
SEE AN INCREASE BEYOND WHERE
THEY'RE AT, BUT THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT
I'D HAVE TO GET MORE INFO
FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE
SOME
CONTEXT. AND THEN DIRECTOR
NOBLE PROBABLY
WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE
FINANCIAL PIECE.
>> AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, THERE
ARE TWO WAYS WITH MORE
OFFICERS THAN WE WERE PLANNING
EITHER BECAUSE WE HIRE MORE OR
THERE'S LESS ATTRITION, SO EVEN
IF
THE HIRING IS AT CAPACITY,
THERE'S AT LEAST A
POSSIBILITY THERE WILL BE LOWER
ATTRITION.
AND THEN AS THIS YEAR THE
CITY FACES A CHOICE TO EITHER
PROVIDE SPD THE FUNDING TO
SUPPORT
THOSE ADDITIONAL HIRES AND, IN
FACT, THERE'S A SUPPLEMENTAL
REQUEST FOR SPD IN PART BECAUSE
HIRING
OUTPACED EXPECTATIONS.
SO EITHER YOU'RE GOING TO
FUND THE POSITIONS OR MAKE A
CONSCIOUS DECISION TO SLOW DOWN
HIRING.
THOSE ARE JUST -- THAT'S JUST
THE MATH, IF YOU
WILL. AND DECISIONS
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE
HIRING ARE
THOSE OF THE THE EXECUTIVE.
>> ONE LAST THING COMING BACK
TO THE FIRST PART OF YOUR
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER.
HOW WILL YOU KNOW THAT THERE
IS AN IMPROVED SERVICE.
ONE MEASURE THAT YOU ALL LOOK
AT, AND EVERYONE LOOKS AT,
QUITE OFTEN, IS 911 RESPONSE
TIMES.
AND I'VE INCLUDED IN YOUR
PACKET IN MY STAFF REPORT
THE HISTORICAL 911 RESPONSE
TIMES, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR
PRIOR ONE CALLS, IF YOU LOOK
BACK TO
2018, THE MEDIAN TIME FOR 911
CALL RESPONSE AT THAT TIME WAS
ABOUT 6. 34 MINUTES, AND NOW IN
JULY 2025 WE'RE UP TO SEVEN
MINUTES. AND SO THIS IS ONE OF A
FEW
DIFFERENT KINDS OF METRICS
YOU COULD WATCH TO SEE HOW
SPD RETURNS TO
BETTER SERVICE WHEN THEY GET
MORE OFFICERS.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, ANYTHING
ELSE?
>> NO, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, GREG, FOR ANSWERING
THAT.
>> BEFORE WE GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, NOT ON
BEHALF OF NOT
ONLY BECAUSE OUR HISTORIAN
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS SICK
TODAY, SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE
HERE IN 2017.
SO, WITH THAT, OVER TO
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> A REMINDER THERE.
I WAS TRYING TO THINK, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION
TODAY, GREG.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WRAP MY
HEAD AROUND THIS, AND I WANT
TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD TODAY
THERE WERE NEGATIVE POLICE
EVERY YEAR UNTIL 2024.
WHERE DID THE FUNDING
FOR THESE STAFF GO?
WAS IT PUT INTO THE UNDERSPEND?
AND, IF NOT, HOW DID SPD
REALLOCATE IN SUCH A WAY
WE NOW KNEE $26 MILLION TO HIRE
NEW
PEOPLE?
>> YES, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I THINK THE CITY AT THE
TIME RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A LOT
OF
UNFUNDED SALARY THAT WAS
SITTING IN THE DEPARTMENT, AND
IT
GOT MOVED TO PRIORITIES THAT THE
CITY HAD OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, ONE OF WHICH WAS
STANDING UP THE NEW C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT.
A LOT OF FUNDING THAT IS IN
THE C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT IS
THE RESULT OF GENERAL FUND
SAVINGS THAT WEREWERE FROM SPD
SALARY SAVINGS.
SO AS THE CITY PROGRESSED
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SALARY
WAS REDUCED IN SPD BECAUSE IT
WAS
UNNEEDED AND IT WAS
REALLOCATED FOR THINGS LIKE
C.A.R.E.
FOR TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT HAS.
THERE ARE PAPERS ON EACH ONE OF
THE DEPARTMENTS, A FIVE-
YEAR HISTORICAL LOOKBACK, OR IS
IT SIX YEAR?
>> SIX YEARS NOW.
>> SIX YEARS THAT THE CHAIR
HAS REQUESTED THAT STAFF DO AND
THE
SPD PAPER HAS A HISTORY OF
ALL OF THOSE TRANSFERS, SO IF
YOU
GO TO THAT PAPER, YOU'LL
SEE ALL THE BIG CHUNKS OF SALARY
FUNDING
THAT MOVED
OUT AND MORE OR LESS WHAT THEY
WERE USED FOR.
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND
READING BOTH THE '25 FIVE- YEAR
SUMMARY
AND '26 SUMMARY.
A FIVE-YEAR LOOKBACK.
THE OTHER THING THAT
HAPPENED WITHIN THOSE YEARS
SALARY
MONEY WAS SHIFTED OVER TIME.
AS SPD -- AS THE OFFICER
COUNT WENT DOWN THERE WAS AN
INCREASING USE OF OVERTIME
AND SO SOME OF THAT MONEY WAS
JUST REDIRECTED THAT WAY.
AS GREG DESCRIBES, NOT ALL OF
IT.
>> IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A
PARTNER UP HERE.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
A LOT OF IT, AS YOU'LL SEE IN A
MINUTE, WAS REDIRECTED FOR
OVERTIME. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
NOBLE.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
THAT'S ALL, CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BACK TO YOU, GREG.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT OVERTIME.
AS WE DISCUSSED, IT'S BEEN
ON THE RISE.
YOU CAN SEE THE
HISTORY OF OVERTIME HERE IN THIS
CHART
SHOWS THAT IN 2018 THERE WAS
ABOUT 350,000 HOURS USED OF
OVERTIME AND THE REASON
THEY SHOW HOURS INSTEAD OF
DOLLARS IS
AS THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENTS FOR THE
UNIONS ARE
AUTHORIZED BY YOU ALL,
THE SALARY DOLLARS GO UP, SO
IT'S MOST COMPARABLE WHEN I
SHOW HOURS FROM YEAR TOTO YEAR,
AND
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WERE
ABOUT 350,000 HOURS USED IN
2019, AND THAT, AS THE
STAFFING -- AS THE STAFFING
SHORTAGE OCCURRED IN 2021, '22,
'23 GREW TO 5,000 HOURS PER
YEAR AND SO IT'S CLEAR THAT
THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
INCREASING RELYING ON OVERTIME
TO PAY
FOR THINGS LIKE EMPHASIS PATROLS
OR
BACK FILL FOR SICK CALLOUTS
OR PATROL AUGMENTATION.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
THE TWO THINGS I WANTED
TO POINT OUT TO YOU, THE REASON
THIS IS
AN ISSUE AND INFORMATION
ONLY ISSUE IS THAT, AS I
MENTIONED
EARLIER, THERE IS A $950,000
CUT TO THE OVERTIME BUDGET.
SPD HAS INDICATED THAT CUT
WAS MADE BECAUSE AFTER EXAMINING
THEIR EQUIPMENT BUDGET AND THEIR
DISCRETIONARY BUDGETS FOR USE
IN OTHER AREAS, THEY CAME TO
THE CONCLUSION THAT THEY DIDN'T
HAVE
MANY OTHER CUT OPPORTUNITIES,
SO THEY PUT FORWARD THIS
$950,000 OVERTIME CUT.
THAT SAID, AS YOU CAN SEE
IN THIS CHART, IF HISTORIC
SPENDING STAYS AT THE $500,000
-- OR
500,000 HOUR LEVEL, THE 450,000
HOURS THAT ARE FUNDED IN THE
2026 BUDGET IS GOING TO BE
INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE
EXPENSES.
NOT ALL OF THAT GAP IS A
RESULT OF THE REDUCTION SPD
MADE.
THAT WAS ABOUT 950,000.
THE
OVERALL GAP IN OVERTIME HOURS
BETWEEN WHAT WE
MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE AND WHAT'S
FUNDED
IS ABOUT 5. 5 MILLION, AND SO
THIS ISSUE IS REALLY
JUST INFORMATION ONLY, LETTING
YOU KNOW THAT AS WE ARE MANAGING
THE
DEPARTMENT NEXT YEAR AND
MANAGING THE WAY THEY USE
OFFICERS AND OVERTIME, THEY ARE
GOING TO BE ATTEMPTING TO REACH
A LOWER EXPENDITURE THRESHOLD.
IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL, GREAT.
IF NOT, THEY WILL PROBABLY
BE COMING TO YOU IN THE MIDYEAR
WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST
THAT COULD BE 5. 5 MILLION OR
HIGHER.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
BUT THE FACT THAT IN 2025
THE REVISED AND THE ORIGINAL
COME INTO LINE BETTER BECAUSE
COUNCIL
MADE A STINK OF NOT --
THE EXECUTIVE NOT PUTTING
ENOUGH MONEY TOWARD OVERTIME
BECAUSE I
THINK WE WERE TALKING IN
COMMITTEE ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE PREVIOUS YEARS THERE WAS IN
2024 CLEARLY THERE WAS AN
IMBALANCE ABOUT THE PLANNED
NEED FOR OVERTIME.
SO WHATEVER THE REASON FORFOR
BETTER SYMMETRY THERE IN 2025,
NEXT YEAR WE HAVE THIS BIG
PARTY COMING TO TOWN, RIGHT?
WORLD CUP.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE SPD ENGAGING IN
STRATEGIC STAFFING EXERCISE AND
PUTTING FORWARD A PLAN, I'M
JUST
GOING TO ASSUME THAT THEY ARE
THINKING
ABOUT OVERTIME NEEDS DURING THE
WORLD CUP.
CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG.
>> YES.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT
OFFICERS AND NEW OFFICERS AND
THEIR
IMPACT ON OVERTIME HERE IN A
SECOND.
BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THE 2025 BUDGET WAS
SUPPLEMENTED.
THERE WAS A YEAR-
END SUPPLEMENTAL FOR $12 MILLION
THE
EXECUTIVE PROPOSED AND THE
COUNCIL ADOPTED THAT -- ACTUALLY
IT WASN'T 2025, IT WAS 2024 --
WHERE THE BUDGET WAS BOOSTED.
IT'S BEEN THE CASE SINCE
THE OFFICER SHORTAGE, SINCE
THE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN
SEPARATING BACK IN 2020- 2021
THAT THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE HAS BEEN
TRYING TO
PLAY CATCH-UP, SO TO SPEAK.
THESE WERE -- IT WASN'T
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
FORECASTED ACCURATELY.
THEY WERE DOING THE BEST TO
KEEP UP THE AUTHORITY WITH
WHAT WAS BEING SPENT.
IN 2022, 2023, THEY JUST
WEREN'T
KEEPING UP WITH THE BUDGET.
IN 2024, LAST YEAR, THEY DID
ADD 12 MILLION AND THAT GETS US
UP INTO THE 450,000, 500,000
HOUR
RANGE. THEY'RE NOW IN THE
RANGE.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE
UNDERFUNDED IN 2026 DUE TO THE
CUT AND
AGAIN STILL PLAYING CATCH-UP.
IT'S POSSIBLE RECENT
SUCCESSES IN HIRING WILL
TRANSLATE INTO
A REDUCTION IN OVERTIME USE
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
ABSOLUTELY THE CHIEF WILL
HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN
HE'S DOING THE STRATEGIC
STAFFING PLAN, BUT I THINK YOU
ALL
HEARD THE CHIEF SAY IN HIS
ADDRESS
TO YOU ALL, HIS BUDGET
ADDRESS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE
AN IMMEDIATE THING.
THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING
THAT PHASENESS OVER TIME.
HIS IMMEDIATE PRIORITY FOR
THOSE NEW OFFICERS IS GOING TO
BE TO
ENSURE THERE'S ADEQUATE
SERVICE IN PATROL, BRINGING DOWN
911 RESPONSE TIMES TO WORK
ON SPECIAL PROJECTS.
SO THE NEW OFFICERS ARE
REALLY AT FIRST GOING TO
SUPPLEMENT
THE
SERVICES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
SUPPLANT OR
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE
OVERTIME THAT'S BEING USED.
THEN OVER TIME AS
OFFICERS ARE -- CONTINUE TO COME
INTO
THE SYSTEM, THERE WILL
BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPLANTING
OF THESE OVERTIME DOLLARS.
IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A
LITTLE TIME.
>> AND ACTUALLY IN THE NEAR
TERM, YOU MIGHT SEE AN INCREASE
IN OVERTIME.
THERE WILL BE MORE OFFICERS
WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO SIGN UP FOR
OVERTIME AND TO DO SO IN SORT
OF A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY AND TO
THE EXTENT THE HEAD COUNT
OVERALL STILL REMAINS BELOW THAT
WHICH THE CHIEF SEES AS IDEAL IN
ORDER TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL
SITUATIONS AND EMPHASIS
PATROLS AND THE LIKE.
SPEAKING AS THE PREVIOUS BUDGET
DIRECTOR.
>> AND MYSELF AS THE PREVIOUS
BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR SPD.
IT IS THE CASE THAT EACH ONE OF
THESE OFFICERS THAT COMES
IN CREATES THEIR OWN OVERTIME
AND
FOR GOOD REASONS.
IF THEY ARE INVOLVED WITH AN
INCIDENT TO THE END OF
THEIR SHIFT AND THEY NEED TO
EXTEND TO
TAKE SOMEONE TO THE HOSPITAL
OR BOOK SOMEONE INTO THE TRAIL,
THEY WILL GO ON TO OVERTIME.
YOU WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN
OVERTIME OVER TIME.
>> I WASN'T SUGGESTING THAT WAS
NECESSARILY A NEGATIVE.
THE GOAL IS MORE TOTAL
OFFICER HOURS ON THE STREET,
GIVE
YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY
IN OVERTIME AS WELL AS THEIR
BASE HOURS.
>> PART OF MY QUESTION IS THE
WAY YOU PHRASE THAT,
GREG, THEY HAD TO COME UP WITH
-- THEY
HAD TO COME UP WITH AN AMOUNT
TO TAKE FROM SOMEWHERE SO THEY
TOOK IT FROM OVERTIME.
IT SOUNDED LIKE WHAT YOU WERE
SAYING. SO ARE YOU SAYING THEY
WERE
GIVEN A DIRECTIVE TO
REDUCE THEIR BUDGET BY A CERTAIN
PERCENT AND WAS THAT 2%?
>> YES, THEY WERE GIVEN
A DIRECTIVE TO REDUCE BY A
CERTAIN PERCENT.
I DON'T RECALL WHAT IT WAS TO
REDUCE, THOUGH.
>> I THINK THE TARGET WAS TWO,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WERE
GOING TO TAKE 2% OF THE
BUDGET. IT WAS A BASE FOR IDEAS.
YOU LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE
IDEAS ARE AND WHETHER THEY ARE
TENABLE
AND DESIRABLE.
>> I'LL NOTE FOR THE RECORD
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT AN AREA
I FEEL COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW,
JUST
CUTTING ACROSS THE BOARD.
IT HAS TO BE MUCH MORE SURGICAL
THAN THAT IF WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY TO PAY OUR EXPENSES.
ANYWAY, GO ON.
>> THE DEPARTMENT IS GOING
TO TRY TO MANAGE TO THE BUDGET
THAT
THEY HAVE.
THEY ARE SETTING TARGETS AND
WORKING WITH SECTION
DIRECTORS TO SEE IF THE TARGETS
ARE
ACHIEVABLE WITHOUT
SACRIFICING SERVICE SO THEY'RE
DOING SOME
REGULAR WORK ON THIS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY CAN -- WHERE
THEY CAN, STAY WITHIN BUDGET
LEVELS.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT REQUIRES THEM TO SPEND
OVERTIME, THEY WILL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO MOVING ON TO THE THIRD
ISSUE, THIS IS PARKING
MENT ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CAME UP
LAST YEAR.
I WILL HAVE SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU
HERE.
JUST BY WAY OF BACKGROUND,
SPD HAS 104 AND AS YOU ALL ARE
AWARE THE DEPARTMENT HAS
DIFFICULTY IN
THE PAST FILLING THESE
POSITIONS.
THE UNIT HISTORICALLY
HAS, WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS,
MOVED BETWEEN SDOT AND SPD.
IT LANDED BACK IN SPD IN 2023
AT WHICH TIME IT HAD 20
VACANCIES.
AND AT THAT TIME THE
EXPECTATION THE
SPD WOULD FILL THOSE VACANCIES.
THE BACKGROUNDING PROCESS THAT
HAVE LIMITED THE RECRUIT CLASSES
AND THE CANDIDATE CLASSES FOR
PEOs IN SUCH A WAY THAT
THERE ARE -- TO COVER FOR THE
FOLKS WHO ARE SEPARATING BUT
NOT ENOUGH CANDIDATES TO REACH
THAT HISTORIC BACKLOG OF 18
POSITIONS.
SINCE 20 23 THOSE VACANCIES
HAVE BEEN REDUCING SALARY
SAVINGS
AND PRODUCING SALARY SAVINGS TO
THE
TUNE OF ABOUT 2. 1 MILLION A
YEAR.
AS SPD OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS HAS HAD OTHER BUDGET
NEEDS THEY'VE HAD TO ADDRESS --
AS
YOU CAN SEE WE TALKED ABOUT
OVERTIME BEING A NEED,
TECHNOLOGY
BEING ANOTHER ONE, THEY HAVE
REDIRECTED SOME OF THIS FUNDING
THAT WAS GOING UNUSED FOR PEO
SALARIES TO THE OTHER NEEDS.
THIS YEAR DUE TO THE NEED FOR
BUDGET REDUCTIONSREDUCTIONS FOR
GENERAL FUND, THE DEPARTMENT
AND THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET CUTS
SOME
OF THE SALARY SAVINGS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN
THE FIRST SLIDE, AND WHAT
THAT EFFECTIVELY DOES IS REDUCES
THE SALARIES THAT SPD WOULD
NEED TO PAY THESETHESE PEOs IF
THEY COULD
HIRE THEM.
IT'S A NATURAL BARRIER FOR
THE DEPARTMENT IN FILLING THOSE
POSITIONS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
THE COUNCIL CAN FIX.
IT IS THE CASE THAT EACH
PEO THAT HITSHITS STREETS
WILL CREATE MORE REVENUE THROUGH
INFRACTIONS THAN.
COST OF THEIR OWN SALARY AND
BENEFITS. ONE THING COUNCIL
COULD DO IS
BACK FILL THE CIVILIAN SALARY
FUNDING AND THEN IF THE
COUNCIL WERE TO DO THAT, CENTRAL
STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND A PROVISO
AROUND THIS FUNDING SO IT ONLY
CAN
BE USED IF THE DEPARTMENT DOES
ACHIEVE NET NEW HIRES, NEW
PEOs ON THE STREET.
THAT WAY WE WOULD KNOW THE PEOs
ARE CREATING FINE REVENUE THAT
WOULD BACK FILL OR SUPPORT
THE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION
AUTHORITY, SO THAT IS A BUDGET
CHANGE THAT COULD
FACILITATE HIRING OF PEOs.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT PEO HIRING IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE
SEEING
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS
A LOWER LEVEL
OF SERVICE WHEN MANAGING THE
RIGHT OF WAY.
IT ALSO IS TRANSLATING INTO
FEWER PEOs FOR TRAFFIC
CONTROL EVENTS AND INCIDENTS.
THAT MATTERS BECAUSE
RECENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
CHANGES HAVE ALLOWED THE CITY TO
USE
PEOs MORE FREQUENTLY FOR EVENTS.
AND SO THE FACT THAT THE
CITY DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOs,
IT REALLY IS WORKING AGAINST
THE EFFICIENCY OF DEPLOYMENT FOR
OUR
SPECIAL EVENTS.
SO ONE WAY -- WELL, LET ME BACK
UP.
THE COUNCIL ADDED LAST
YEAR TO TRY TO HELP WITH THIS
BOTTLENECK IN TRAINING AND BACK
GROUND,
A COUPLE POSITIONS TO TRAIN
PEOs.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN
ABLE TO MAKE THOSE HIRES.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE
THERE'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
REQUIREMENTS AROUND THE
TWO POSITIONS AND SO THEY ARE
HUNG UP IN THE BARGAINING
PROCESS
FOR THE MOMENT.
ONE THING THE COUNCIL COULD DO
WHILE THE BARGAINING IS STILL
OCCURRING IS TO HELP
THE DEPARTMENT USE SHORT- TERM
--
WHAT WE CALL OUT OF
CLASS FUNDING TO TAKE PEOs OUT
OF
SERVICE AND HAVE THEM SERVE AS
TRAINERS. THAT WAY IT ROLLS BACK
TO
THE DEPARTMENT BEING ABLE TO
HIRE MORE PEOPLE AND THEY TRAIN
MORE PEOPLE AND WE CAN FILL
THOSE
VACANCIES. SO THE OPTIONS I HAVE
FOR
YOU TODAY WOULD BE TO DO JUST
THAT, TO ADD MONEY FOR OUT-OF-
CLASS
COSTS, AND THOSE ARE REALLY --
THAT'S REALLY BUDGET FOR A
PEO TO SERVE OUT OF CLASS AND
THEN
ALSO ADDING BETWEEN 350,000 AND
2. 1 MILLION WITH THE ASSUMPTION
THAT, AND PROVISO THAT
PEOs WOULD HIT THE STREETS,
CREATE REVENUE AND BACK FILL
THAT
APPROPRIATION. I'LL STOP AND
ASK IF THERE ARE
>> THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY AT THIS
TIME.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR.
ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION THAT I
READ IN THE POWER POINT AND
IN YOUR MEMO REGARDING HOW MUCH
IT
COSTS US TO HIRE MORE
PEOs BECAUSE THEY'RE OFFSETTING
WITH
TICKET REVENUE.
IS THERE A DIRECT ONE --
DO THESE POSITIONS MAKE MONEY
FOR THE CITY OR ARE WE
EXPENDING FUNDS TO HIRE THEM?
>> I WOULD SAY THERE'S
REVENUE GENERATED THROUGH THEIR
WORK
OR MANAGING THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THE REVENUE GENERATED IS ABOUT
200,000 A YEAR.
IT IS THE CASE THAT THE CITY IS
LIKELY NOT AT ITS MAXIMUM
CAPTURE RATE OF VIOLATION
S MEANING THERE'S WORK OUT
THERE TO DO AND THEY WOULD
LIKELY REACH THE HISTORICAL
AVERAGE OF
$200,000 IN REVENUE.
THE POSITION ITSELF COSTS
115,000 IN SALARY AND
BENEFITSBENEFITS IT WOULD
SUPPORT
THE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY
YOU WOULD FIND HERE AND QUITE A
BIT MORE.
>> THANK YOU. VERY HELPFUL.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, SO FEEL FREE TO
CONTINUE.
>> SO THE LAST ISSUE I HAVE TO
DISCUSS TODAY IS THE 30x30
INITIATIVE.
AS YOU'LL RECALL, YOU ALL
ADDED IN THE 2025 ADOPTED AND
2026 ENDORSED AN UNFUNDED
STRATEGIC ADVISER POSITION TO
PROVIDE STAFFING CAPACITY FOR
THIS
INITIATIVE.
THE
COUNCIL REQUESTED AT THE TIME
THE DEPARTMENT USED
SALARY SAVINGS TO FUND THE
POSITION.
THAT WAS AT A DIFFERENT TIME
AND A DIFFERENT PLACE.
THIS WAS PREHIRING BOOM.
STILL IN THE SITUATION WHERE
SPD WAS REALIZING SALARY SAVINGS
EACH YEAR AND SO AT THE TIME
IT MADE PERFECT SENSE TO SAY
THAT
THIS POSITION COULD BE
FUNDED WITH SALARY SAVINGS.
IT TURNS OUT THAT,
OBVIOUSLY, THINGS CHANGED.
SPD SAYS IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE
TO HIRE THIS POSITION BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COMMIT
SALARY
SAVINGS GIVEN THE CURRENT BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT.
I RAISE THIS ISSUE TO LET
YOU KNOW THE POSITION HAS NOT
BEEN FILLED AND PROVIDE YOU AN
UPDATE
ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH 30
x30 TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT FOR
POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS.
AND SO I'LL START BY
REFRESHING YOU THE WORK HERE,
THEY HAVE
A WORK GROUP THAT CONSISTS OF 12
FULL- TIME AND CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES, IT MEETS ONCE A MONTH
FOR AN HOUR.
THE GROUP IS LED BY THE
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT,
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
ANALYTICS
AND RESEARCH AND
EMPLOYEE SUPPORT SERVICES AS
WELL
AS OTHER CIVILIAN AND SWORN
STAFF.
IN MAY OF 2024, MEMBERS OF
THIS GROUP CAME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE AND
PRESENTED THE 30x30 PLAN THEY
HAD PUT TOGETHER
WHICH CONSISTED OF THREE
SEPARATE PHASES.
THE FIRST -- AND THE
OVERALL GOAL FOR THIS PLAN WOULD
BE, OF
COURSE, TO REMOVE INHERENT BIAS
FROM ASSESSMENTS AND
POLICIES AND TO ENSURE THAT
WOMEN'S NEEDS
CAN BE MET AND TO
TRANSFORM POLICE CULTURE TO
SUPPORT AND
CELEBRATE DIVERSE AND
UNDERREPRESENTED
OFFICERS INCREASING THE GOAL OF
WOMENWOMEN
RECRUITS NATIONALLY TO 30% BY
2030.
AT THE MAY COMMITTEE MEETING OF
LAST YEAR, MEMBERS OF THE WORK
GROUP TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT
THEY HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED
ESSENTIALLY COMPLETED PHASE
ONE AND PHASE TWO OF THEIR PLAN.
PHASE ONE WAS TO DO
SOME IMMEDIATE CHANGES TO MAKE
SOME IMMEDIATE CHANGES THAT WERE
RECOMMENDED BY THE
NATIONAL 30x30 GROUP AND, AS YOU
CAN
SEE ON THIS SLIDE HERE,
PROVIDING SANITARY SPACE,
PRIVATE
SPACE FOR MOTHERS FOR
NURSING, APPROPRIATE
UNIFORMS, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
FOR WOMEN.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE
DEPARTMENT DID RIGHT AWAY
EITHER IN LATE 2023 OR EARLY
2024.
THOSE ARE A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS.
THEY REVISED EEO POLICIES.
THEY HAD COME TO COMMITTEE
IN MAY WITH ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ALREADY
BEING MADE.
PART TWO INVOLVED A SURVEY
OF THE WOMEN IN SPD.
THEY GOT A PRETTY GOOD
RESPONSE RATE FROM THE SURVEY
AND IDENTIFIED BARRIERS THAT THE
FOLKS THAT WERE
SURVEYED HIGHLIGHTED IN THE
SURVEY
AND POTENTIAL PROGRAMS TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS.
AND SO THOSE PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES ARE ON THIS
SLIDE HERE BEFORE YOU.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A
RATHER AMBITIOUS LIST HERE OF
WHAT
THE DEPARTMENT CALLS ITS PHASE
THREE GOALS.
AND THIS IS WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT WORK GROUP SAID THEY
WERE
GOING TO ACHIEVE WHEN THEY MET
WITH
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
IN EARLY 2024.
AS YOU CAN SEE THIS IS -- THIS
IS A PRETTY EXTENSIVE LIST
OF SOME VERY COMPLICATED
ENDEAVORS.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE
LIST TO YOU, BUT I WILL SAY
THAT IT'S CERTAINLY AMBITIOUS
FOR AN
UNDERTAKING FOR AN
INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORK GROUP.
YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF
THE THINGS HERE,
RESEARCHING, FLEXIBLE SHIFT
OPTIONS,
CREATING A MENTORSHIP
PROGRAM, IDENTIFYING DISPARITIES
AND PROMOTIONS AND
CREATING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PATHWAYS, THAT'S JUST SOME OF
WHAT'S ON THIS PAGE.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY
WORK INTENSIVE AND THE
DEPARTMENT HAS
CHARACTERIZED THIS AS LONGER
TERM PROJECTS.
SO, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO
TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY'VE
BEEN DOING WITH WITH INITIATIVE
AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY
ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.
THE FIRST BULLET IS A LIST
OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN DONE.
AS YOU CAN SEE THEY'VE HIRED
CONSULTANTS TO
DEVELOP CHILD CARE OPTIONS.
THEY'VE REWORKED THEIR
MARKETING CAMPAIGNS TO FOCUS ON
WOMEN,
AND THEY'VE IMPROVED THE WAY
THAT THEY EQUIP AND TRAIN WOMEN,
SO,
AS I SAID, THEY'VE BEEN DOING
A LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
THEY HAVE NOT HAD AS MANY
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH SOME OF
THE MORE COMPLICATED PROGRAMS
LIKE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OR CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT
IS
AN AREA WHERE CAPACITY --
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY,
ADDITIONAL STAFF HOURS, MIGHT BE
ABLE TO HELP THEM EXPEDITE THIS
WORK, GET IT DONE QUICKER.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS
REALLY A QUESTION I'LL COME
BACK TO
IN A MOMENT WITH YOU ALL, BUT
BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO
END BY HIGHLIGHTING THE HIRING
DATA
THAT SPD HAS WITH
WOMEN. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING
ROUGHLY
9. 6% OF THE HIRES COMING INTO
SPD ARE WOMEN THAT IS BELOW
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 20% OF
WOMEN
THAT ARE HIRED INTO POLICE
AGENCIES.
FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT,
THOUGH, IT WAS IN THE
2025 QUARTERLY STAFFING UPDATE
THAT I HAD TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT
SPD MADE COMMITMENTS TO
TAKE SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS TO
TRY
TO INCREASE HIRING OF WOMEN.
ONE OF THOSE IS TO HAVE THE
CHIEF AND CHIEF
UNDERWOOD, DEPUTY CHIEF
UNDERWOOD, LOOK
AT APPLICATIONS FOR WOMEN THAT
HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED, GIVE
THEM
A SECOND LOOK, I BELIEVE, IS
WHAT THE CHIEF SAID.
SO THOSE ACTIONS WOULD NOT
BE REFLECTED YET.
YOU WOULDN'T SEE OUTCOMES AS
EARLY AS NOW WHEN YOU'RE
SEEING THE APRIL TO JUNE DATA.
YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO SEE SPD
SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS HOPEFULLY
TAKING SHAPE AND REFLECTED IN
THE DATA IN THE NEXT QUARTERLY
CYCLE. SO I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO
NOTE.
THE LAST THING I'LL NOTE
IS THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS
SAID THAT
AS THE NUMBER OF
QUALIFIED FEMALE APPLICANTS
INCREASES, IT'LL BE BETTER
POSITIONED
TO HIRE MORE WOMEN.
THE GOOD NEWS IS IT IS THE
CASE THAT THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER OF
WOMEN HIRES IS INCREASING.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ON WOMEN
HIRES THAT IS IN ONE OF
YOUR APPENDIX ON MY STAFF
REPORT,
YOU'LL SEE WITH A STRAIGHT-
LINE PROJECTION IT'S POSSIBLE
THEY COULD REACH 600 QUALIFIED
WOMEN APPLICANTS THIS YEAR,
QUALIFIED WOMEN APPLICANT
IS ONE WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH THE
REVIEW AND
IS
QUALIFIED TO SIT FOR THE POLICE
EXAM.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE
WOMEN APPLYING.
IT IS THE CASE THAT IT'S
STILL GOING TO REMAIN ROUGHLY
15%
OF TOTAL
APPLICANTS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
RATIO OF MEN TO WOMEN.
SO I'LL STOP NOW
AND ASK IF THERE'S
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON
TO THE OPTIONS SLIDE.
>> I'M SEEING NO
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, GREG, IF
YOU WANT TO CONTINUE ON TO OUR
OPTIONS.
>> OKAY.
SO MOVE TO THE OPTIONS SLIDE.
IT'S POSSIBLE SPD COULD
BENEFIT FROM MORE CAPACITY TO
SUPPORT THE 30 BY 30 WORK GROUP.
ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO ADD
224,000 TO FUND THE
STRATEGIC ADVISER THAT THE
POSITION
THAT WAS ADDED LAST YEAR TO MAKE
SURE
THE DEPARTMENT HAD FUNDING FOR
IT. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE
TO PROVISO THEIR EXISTING
AUTHORITY TO PAY FOR THIS
POSITION.
I THINK AS YOU ALL HAVE SEEN
THROUGHOUT MY PRESENTATION
THE PRESSURES ON THEIR BUDGET
AROUND OVERTIME AND IN OTHER
AREAS ARE
REAL, AND IF THE COUNCIL WANTED
TO ENSURE THERE'S MONEY FOR THE
POSITION, ADDING MONEY WOULD
BE, OF COURSE, THE MOST SOLID
WAY
TO DO SO.
AND THEN OPTION C IS
OBVIOUSLYOBVIOUSLY SOME OF BOTH
SO
THE MONEY IS ADDED AND THEN
IT'S
ALSO
RESTRICTED ONLY FOR THAT USE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR
YOU AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR
YOU TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
OPENING
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, I KNOW WE'VE
BEEN ASKING THEM
AS WE'VE BEEN GOING BUT NOW
WOULD BE THE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
MR. DOSS, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR WORK
IN THIS AREA AREA ALSO, OF
COURSE, DIRECTOR NOBLE, FOR HIS
INPUT
FROM HIS
VARIOUS MANY ROLES THAT HE'S HAD
OVER THE YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY AS CHAIR I'VE
BEEN WORKING THESETHESE AND
THE COMMITTEE WORK SO A LOT OF
THIS IS STUFF -- ITEMS WE'VE
BEEN
WORK
WORKING OVER THE YEAR.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE SWEARING IN OF NEW OFFICERS
ON
PAGE FOUR.
EVERYBODY
IS SURPRISED BUT THEY SHOULDN'T
BE.
OTHERS WERE TALKING 200, I
WAS THINKING 175.
WE'RE AT 169 PROJECTED
RIGHT
NOW. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE WE CAN GET
THERE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE A
SURPRISE BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLAN.
WE HAVE EXECUTED ON THAT PLAN.
A BIG PIECE WAS THE
INTERIM LABOR AGREEMENT.
THAT WAS HUGE.
BUT I WOULD SUBMIT THAT
THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN
THAT
CENTERS ON WITH ONE PILLAR ON
SPD STAFFING FROM THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE THIS
TERM
OF THE COUNCIL, LIKE
WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S WORK,
BUT WHEN YOU COMBINE ALL
THESE PIECES ON RECRUITING
AND INCENTIVES AND INCENTIVES
RETENTION, RECRUITING RETENTION
AND, TO BE FRANK, THE
LEADERSHIP OF OUR COLLEAGUES,
GOING TO
THE PRECINCTS AND TALKING TO THE
OFFICERS.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND
THAT WORD GETS OUT.
IT SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE.
CAN YOU GO BACK AND FORTH ON
THE NUMBERS BUT PURPOSELY
STARTING AT THIS TERM OF THE
COUNCIL, WE HAD A MISSION VISION
PLAN
TO ADDRESS THIS MAJOR ISSUE
THAT WAS UNDERCUTTING OUR
ABILITY
TO CREATE A SAFE CITY.
AND I WOULD ADD -- AND,
AGAIN, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES,
FOR YOUR
WORK IN TERMS OF ENGAGING
WITH THE OFFICERS.
I KNOW YOU ALL DO IT.
I DO IT ON THE STREET.
HE WAS WALKING DOWN AN ALLEY
IN BELLTOWN AND RAN INTO A
SQUAD CAR, TALKING TO TWO
OFFICERS.
THEY WERE SAYING WHAT
THEY'RE DOING IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW,
THE CHALLENGES BELLTOWN WAS
FACING.
YOU MENTIONED 911 RESPONSE
TIMES, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY IN
TALKING TO THE WEST
PRECINCT CAPTAIN IN TERMS OF
IMPROVED
SERVICE, IMPROVED SERVICE
MEANS BRINGING ON THE SECOND
BIKE TEAM
FOR BELLTOWN, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR TACKLING THE DRUG
MARKET WHICH IS CASCADING
INTO MANY OTHER AREAS IN TERMS
OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
WE'RE FACING ON THE
STREET. SO THOSE ARE REALLY SOME
BIG PIECES IN HERE AND, YES,
MY INTENTION IS TO CONTINUE
THIS WORK AND TO CONTINUE TO
CREATE CONDITIONS WHERE THESE
CONTINUE AS PROJECTED.
COLLEAGUES, IT IS TRUE, AS
MENTIONED, THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE IN A TRANSITION
PERIOD, BUT
THIS IS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING FOR THE COMMITTEE TO
WORK
OVER THE COURSE OF THE
YEAR, PARTICULARLY THE BACK
HATCH
OF THE YEAR -- HATCH LF OF THE
YEAR IN
GOING QUARTER TO QUARTER
AND SEEING HOW THESE PIECES
ARE TRANSITIONING AS WE WORKWORK
THE
FIFA WORLD CUP, HOW THESE THINGS
ARE WORKING.
WORKING THE OT, THE
OVERTIMEPIECE, IT IS
VERY COMPLICATED AND IS EVEN
MORE COMPLICATED WITH THE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE LABOR
AGREEMENT,
THE CATEGORIES AND THE LIKELIKE
THEN PUBLIC PARKING ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER ANGLE THERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU
FOR THAT. THAT'S MY COMMITMENT
FOR THE
COMMITTEE, FOR MY COLLEAGUES
IS THE OVERTIMEPIECE .
I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE,
BECAUSE IT CAME UP AS A COMMENT,
THAT I HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR IN
MY SUPPORT FOR THE BEFORE THE
BADGE PROGRAM TO CHIEF BARNES,
CHIEF
ROHR, CHIEF DIAZ.
I DID THIS PRIOR TO
WORKING EVENTS THAT INCLUDED THE
BEFORE THE BADGE, PRIOR TO
COMING
ONTO THE COUNCIL, AND SINCE
BEING ON
THE COUNCIL WITH SOME OF
MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE DAIS
GOING TO THE CLASSES AND
SEEING THESE COHORTS OF
INDIVIDUALS GOING THROUGH THE
BEFORE
THE BADGE PROGRAM AND SO
THAT PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE
BECAUSE IT'S TIGHTAL AND
IMPORTANT
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING
IN TERMS OF TRANSITIONING TO OUR
NEW POLICE FORCE AS WE
MOVEMOVE
FORWARD. I WOULD THROW OUT, TOO,
A THANK YOU TO MS. VICTORIA
BEACH
AND THOSE WORKING BEFORE THE
BADGE PROGRAM AND TO INCLUDE
INCLUDE
SEATTLE U.
THEY'VE BEEN FANTASTIC
WORKING THESE ISSUES.
SEPARATELY PARKING ENFORCEMENT
OPERATIONS, WE'VE HAD
DISCUSSIONS ON THIS.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS.
I KNOW THERE'S BIGGER -- BIG
PICTURE PIECES MOVING IN TERMS
OF, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE,
THE
DOLLARS, BRINGING ON THE
OFFICERS. THE PARKING
ENFORCEMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
CANNOT
NEGLECT.
I HAVE TWO MAJOR
FRUSTRATIONS. ONE IS, AS YOU
NOTED, THAT
WAS TRANSFERRED TO SDOT IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
PRIOR TO COMING TO
COUNCIL WE HAD A TWO- PAGER ON
POLICE
AND PUBLIC SAFETY REFORM.
WE DID NOT CALL FOR THAT MOVE,
AND THAT MOVE WAS A MISTAKE.
IT WAS A MISS ALIGNMENT OF
MISSION, A MISALIGNMENT ACROSS
THE BOARD, AND NOW WE'RE IN A
SITUATION WHICH GOES TO
THE SECOND FRUSTRATION IS THAT
WE'RE NOT BRINGING IT BACK ON,
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
IT SHOWS THAT GOVERNMENT WORKS.
YOU KNOW?
IF WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU GO
THROUGH
A NEIGHBORHOOD AND COUNTLESS
CARS DON'T HAVE UPDATED TASKS
BECAUSE
THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO GET CAUGHT BASICALLY OR
THEY'RE GOING TO DO X, Y AND Z
IN
TERMS OF PARKING BECAUSE THEY
KNOW THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT,
THAT CREATES ISSUES.
THAT CASCADES TO OTHER AREAS.
BUT IT ALSO HAS THIS
IDEA GOVERNMENT IS NOT WORKING.
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE
LITTLE THINGS AS WELL, AND
THIS GOES TO LEADERSHIP AND I
THINK
WE CAN WORK ON IT.
WORKING ON SOME OF THE IDEAS MR.
DOSS PRESENTED TO US DURING
THE COURSE OF THIS BRIEFING.
I SHOULD NOTE I BELIEVE THE
DEIA PIECE OF THIS IS GOING TO
BE
SET.
THE 30x30, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION ON THIS.
I WILL PROBABLY DEFER
TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
DETAILS.
I'M SURE HE WILL HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS.
THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE IF WE
CONTINUE WHAT WE'RE DOING
AND CREATE A POSITIVE
ENVIRONMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL
POLICING
IN SEATTLE WITH ALL THE
DIFFERENT
PIECES, THIS WILL CHANGE.
IT TAKES TIME TO CHANGE.
I WENT THROUGH THIS IN
MYMY CAREER THROUGHOUT
THE COURSE OF THE '90s.
IT TAKES LIKE A DECADE IF NOT
MORE.
AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE
CONTINUED STAYED ATTENTION TO
THIS.
YOU CAN GET THERE.
AND AS NOTED SINCE I KIND OF
REFERENCED IT TO THE '90s,
THESE NUMBERS ARE LOW, BUT THE
U.S.
NAVY NUMBERS ARE BASICALLY
COMING UP TO A QUARTER OF THE
RECRUITS ARE WOMEN OR JUST
UNDER. A QUARTER, 25%.
AND SO THEY'RE WITHIN
STRIKING DISTANCE OF 30x30,
AND THIS IS -- REFLECTS WELL OF
THE UNITED STATES NAVY, BUT I
THINK THIS IS A MODEL AND
LESSONS LEARNED CAN BE GAINED
FROM
THAT EXPERIENCE IN WHAT'S
HAPPENING
IN OTHER UNIFORMED
SERVICES BEYOND THE SEATTLE
POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN IMPROVE
ON.
COLLEAGUES, THE LAST THING I
JUST WANTED TO NOTE IS WE'RE
IN BUDGET RIGHT NOW, BUT DURING
THE COURSE OF THE YEAR IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WE KIND
OF
WORK BUDGET.
WE BRING UP ISSUES FOR A REASON
TO KIND OF SET UP THE
DISCUSSION AND SET UP THE
CONDITIONS FOR
BUDGET, AND THIS GOES
TO STAFFING AS I TALKED ABOUT
BUT ALSO TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO WE HAVE PUT THIS IN
PLACE, AND THAT WORK THAT
WE'VE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF
THE
YEAR, OVER THE TERM OF THE
COUNCIL HAS SET US UP
FOR SUCCESS IN TERMS OF SAFETY
AND
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK
THIS.
AND WE'VE MADE THE DECISION
ON THESE POINTS THROUGH ALL
THESE
VARIOUS VOTES WE'VE TAKEN OVER
THE COURSE OF 22 MONTHS
ALMOST, AND SO WE CANNOT
UNDERCUT
THAT WORK THAT WE'VE DONE ON
STAFFING.
WE CANNOT UNDERCUT THAT
WORK THAT WE'VE DONE ON
TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE IT IS VITAL
IN EXECUTING
THE PLAN AND CREATING THE SAFE
BASE. I RECOGNIZE THERE MAY BE
TEMPTATIONS TO GO AFTER
PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS AND
SPECIFICALLY
SPD DOLLARS, BUT THAT'S
LIKE, YOU KNOW, PENNY WISE,
POUND
FOOLISH, AND WE NEED TO BE SMART
IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD
ON THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING
AND
REALLY SEE THROUGH THE WORK
THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST
TWO
YEARS.
CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
NOBLE AND DIRECTOR DOSS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. I'M JUST GOING TO
JUMP
RIGHT INTO IT.
THERE ARE -- WELL, WE LOOK
AT WHAT YOU HAVEHAVE IN TERMS OF
THE NUMBERS AND THE BUCKETS,
WHAT THE BUCKETS ARE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M NOT
SEEING IS WHERE THE CIVILIAN
STAFF ARE
PLAYING A ROLE HERE.
SPECIFICALLY WHAT I'M THINKING
OF IS THE ASIAN LIAISON
POSITION THAT'S BEEN OPEN FOR A
YEAR, IS
THAT GOING TO BE REFILLED OR
NOT? LIAISON, WILL THAT BE
REALLOCATED?
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SAFE
PLACE NOW THAT SERGEANTSERGEANT
CARILLO -- DO WE STILL HAVE AN
LGBTQI LIAISON?
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT
STARTED IN SEATTLE, AND I WOULD
HATE
TO SEE IT STOP BECAUSE WE HAD
ONE PERSONNEL MOVE.
I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT
YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT,
GREG,
REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE
GRANT- FUNDED POSITIONS, GIVEN
THAT REALLY NOT TRYING
TO RELY ON THE FEDS FOR
ANYTHING.
WHAT'S THE PLAN TO BACK
FILL THOSE CURRENT POSITIONS IF
THE FEDERAL FUNDING GETS PULLED
OUT?
AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER
THING I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT IS,
YOU KNOW,
MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS A
BUDGET ITEM FOR INVESTING
IN SAFE GROWTH WHICH IS
BASICALLY CONTRACT WITH THIS
ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BUILDING. TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF
LIFE
AND SAFETY ISSUES IN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WHEN WE TALK TO YOU,
THAT'S WHAT YOUR EXISTING
COORDINATORS
ARE ALREADY DOING, SO WHY
WOULD THE DEPARTMENT INVEST IN
AN
OUTSIDE ENTITY TO COME IN AND
DO TRAINING THAT IS ALREADY
BEING
DONE BY ALREADY EXISTING ASSETS?
I KNOW I THREW A LOT AT YOU IN
A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF
TIME, BUT WHAT YOU GOT?
>> GREG, OVER TO YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
THAT'S NOT A SPECIFIC ITEM
WITHIN THIS
BUDGET. I THINK WHAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT IS A STUDY SPD IS
DOING WITH ITS PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES
BUDGET, SO THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT IS WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF
THE CHIEF TO DO.
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
HE'S BETTER POSITIONED TO
ANSWER
WHY THEY'RE DOING THAT SURVEY.
>> OKAY.
BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO
THE EXISTING CIVILIAN POSITION
S,
DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK?
LIKE I SAID, THE EAST
AFRICAN LIAISON POSITION, ARE
THOSE
ANYWHERE IN THE BUDGET THAT
YOU KNOW OF -- OR AM I GETTING
TOO
GRANULAR FOR THIS DISCUSSION?
>> NO.
I MEAN, AT A HIGH LEVEL WHETHER
A I CAN TELL YOU IS NONE OF
THE POSITIONS YOU TALK ABOUT --
THERE AREN'T ANY CUTS TO THE
POSITIONS.
IT IS THE CASE THAT THE $2. 8
MILLION VACANCY REDUCTION
FOR CIVILIAN SALARIES THE
DEPARTMENT IS TAKING WILL CREATE
SOMEWHAT OF A DISINCENTIVE FOR
THEM TO
HIRE CIVILIAN POSITIONS.
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO
ACHIEVE
THAT CUT BY LEAVING
SOME POSITIONS VACANT.
IT'S WHETHER THE CHIEF
PRIORITIZES SOME YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT ABOVE OTHERS TO
REACH THAT
CUT AND, AGAIN, HE'S
BETTER POSITIONED TO ANSWER
THOSE
QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY.
THE QUESTIONS I HAVE GET DOWN
TO THE GRANULAR LEVEL AND
I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING IT'S
PROBABLY A DISCUSSION BETTER
HAD WITH CHIEF.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THERE IS
A BODY OF WORK THAT IS BEING
DONE RIGHT NOW THAT I DON'T
THINK
HAS PROBABLY BEEN RECOGNIZED
FROM MY
PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WHEN WE HAD THE
EVENTS IN 2020 WITH
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND
THE
NEED TO HAVE MORE OFOF
SPECIALTY UNITS DISBANDED TO
BE PUT ON 911 RESPONSE, SO WE
SAW A
REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION, QUITE
FRANKLY, OF PRECINCT THEFT UNITS
AND THEM BEING ROLLED INTO
ONE GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT.
WE SAW THE ELIMINATION OF POLICE
TEAMS WHICH DID A LONG- TERM
ONGOING WORK TO ADDRESS
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS.
AND THEY WEREN'T
NECESSARILY TIED TO 911 CALLS
AND DOING
A LOT OF INTERAGENCY
COORDINATIONS
TO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
WERE EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR
THETHE
COMMUNITY.
AND WHILE THOSE UNITS WENT AWAY,
THE NEED FOR THE WORK DID NOT
AND A LOT OF THAT WORK WAS
PICKED UP BY THE CIVILIAN
COORDINATIONORS AND I WANTED
TO CALL THAT OUT.
WHEN THE DEPARTMENT'S
PRIORITIES, WHEN THEY LIST CRIME
NTION AS THE PRIMARY ONE,
I WOULD HOPE THE BUDGET WILL
REFLECT THAT COMMITMENT BY
SUPPORTING THE FOLKS WHO
ARE ALREADY DOING THAT WORK.
SO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
AND JUST WANT TO LEAVE IT THERE.
AND FOR THE OTHER QUESTIONS I
HAVE, I'LL REACH OUT TO THE
CHIEF'S OFFICE TO SEE IF I CAN
GET SOME CLARITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
FOLLOWED
BY HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, GREG, FOR THE
UPDATE ON THE 30x30 INITIATIVE.
I ADMIT I'M GLAD TO SEE SOME
THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE AND I
REMAIN -- I'M A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTED WE'RE NOT
FURTHER ALONG ON THIS EFFORT,
AND
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE SAYING
APPLICANTS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED
BUT YET THERE'S STILL 15% OF
ALL CANDIDATES WHICH IS A VERY
LOW NUMBER SO THERE'S
DEFINITELY
A LOT THAT WE
NEED TO DO IN THIS SPACE.
CAN YOU TEAL ME WHAT
THAT POSITION WAS
DOING? I KNOW THEY WERE SUPPOSED
TO
BE OVERSEEING THIS WORK, BUT
WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN?
SOME OF THIS OTHER STUFF -- I
MEAN, TO ME THERE'S SOME
LOW- HANGING FRUIT HERE.
AND WHO IS GOING TO BE FOLLOWING
UP ON THIS IF THAT POSITION IS
NOT THERE?
WHAT'S THE DEPARTMENT
COMMITTING
TO IF YOU KNOW?
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. LAST YEAR THE
COUNCIL ADDED
A POSITION 30x30 STRATEGIC
ADVISER 3.
THE POSITION WOULD COORDINATE
30x30 WORK GROUP ACTIVITIES.
IT'S THE CASE NOW THAT THERE
ARE THREE DIFFERENT DIRECTORS
THAT ARE ARE A COORDINATION
ROLE.
IT IS UNCLEAR AS TO HOW
MUCH CAPACITY TO FOCUS ON THE
30x30
GIVEN THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN
ISSUE AREAS AND ASSIGNMENT
AREAS THEY HAVE TO STAFF ON A
FULL- TIME BASIS.
SO WHEN TALKING ABOUT
COORDINATING A PROGRAM
THAT COULD MEAN JUST THE GLUE
OF MAKING SURE THAT THINGS KEEP
MOVING, HOLDING TOGETHER
THE WORK GROUP AND ENSURING
THINGS KEEP MOVING IS SOMETHING
THAT IS A ROLE MAYBE THEY COULD
USE ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR.
IN TERMS OF DEFINING
THAT POSITION AND ITS SPECIFIC
DUTIES, I THINK THAT COMES
DOWN TO THE CHIEF AND THE WORK
GROUP TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE
THAT
RESOURCE.
COUNCIL CAN PUT IT THERE
AND THEY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW BEST
TO DEPLOY IT.
>> THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE
QUESTION.
I DEPARTMENT REALLY KNOW.
WE PUT IT AND WE DON'T
ALWAYS KNOW HOW THESE POSITIONS
ARE ACTUALLY USED.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY WEREN'T
USED FOR THIS PURPOSE BUT I
DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS AROUND
THE BODY OF WORK THAT THEY WERE
DOING ON A DAY TO DAY.
MY OTHER QUESTION,
GREG, DO YOU KNOW -- THE WORK
GROUP AT
SPD THAT CONSISTS OF WOMEN WHO
ARE WORKING AT SPD, I IMAGINE
THAT
THEY'VE WEIGHED INTO SOME OF
THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
>> YES, ACTUALLY.
THE LIST OF PHASE THREE GOALS
IS FROM THE WORK GROUP.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE
OBVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IN THE
NATIONAL INITIATIVE.
THOSE GOALS ARE COMING FROM
THE WORK GROUP.
>> YES.
YES. GREAT TO HEAR.
AND I JUST WANT TOTO
MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING ON
THE
30x30 INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE'RE
A LONG WAYS FROM BEING WHERE I
WOULD LIKE TO BE.
I HAVE VISITED OTHER
CITIES WHERE YOU SEE WOMEN
OFFICERS EVERYWHERE ACTUALLY AND
SO
THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN
SEATTLE AND WE WANT TO BE -- WE
WANT
A WORKFORCE AT SPD THAT
REFLECTS -- THAT REFLECTS THE
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE AND
INCLUDING WOMEN AMONGST
OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SO I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
NOT
LOSING OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE ON
THIS.
THANK YOU, GREG.
>> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER.
IF I COULD FOLLOW UP AND SAY
THE COUNCIL EXPRESSED ITS
PRIORITY FOR THIS PROGRAM AS
PART OF
THE HIRING REFORM ORDINANCE THAT
THE
COUNCIL PASSED IN 2024.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ORDINANCE
DID IS IT REQUESTED REGULAR
DATA ON POLICE RECRUITS AND
REQUESTED UPDATES ON 30 x30
SEMIANNUALLY.
TALES THE CASE THAT
THE DEPARTMENT IS PROVIDING TO
THE COUNCIL REPORTS ON THE
PROGRESS WITH 30x30 AND THEY
BREAK DOWN
THEIR PROGRESS BY THE
VARIOUS PHASE THREE GOALS THAT
YOU
SAW IN MY SLIDE.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE
TO HAVE THE WORK GROUP COME
BEFORE
YOU ALL AND PROVIDE AN
UPDATE ALONG WITH THEIR NEXT
REPORT IF
YOU'RE INTERESTED.
>> PUBLIC SAFETY KETTLE WOULD
BE SOMETHING I VERY MUCH
WOULD SUPPORT BUT OBVIOUSLY
DEFERENCE TO YOU AND I DON'T
SIT ON
THE COMMITTEE BUT I DO ATTEND.
TRUE, GREG.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE NEED
TO SHOW THE PRESENTATION
UNLESS IT'S BEING REFERENCED.
>> NO,
I DON'T NEED THE PRESENTATION,
THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, MR. DOSS, FOR
YOUR MEMO.
I WANT TO RE ITERATE THAT
WE'RE IN A TRANSITION PHASE
WITH OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
ALSO UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
THAT WE HAVE AND ONE OF THE
THINGS
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT CHLS
THE PRIORITY ONE CALLS, HOW WE
WERE
AT OUR HIGHEST LAST YEAR ANDAND
TRENDING DOWN AND THAT WAS
ON YOUR MEMO ON PAGE 51, I
BELIEVE.
BUT THE ONE THING I WANTED
TO BRING UP, WHICH IS GOOD, I
SEE WE'RE GOING DOWN, AND I'VE
TRIED TO LOOK FOR THIS, DOES
OUR SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAVE A
CUSTOMER SERVICE
LINE? AND WHEN I SAY LINE,
A DEPARTMENT OR PEOPLE THAT
RESPOND TO FOLKS?
>> I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS
PROBABLY NO.
THERE IS A NONEMERGENCY LINE FOR
REPORTING EMERGENCY -- NOT
911 LEVEL OF URGENCY BUT ISSUES
THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED BY SPD.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT FITS
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
THOUGH.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
AND MY QUESTION THEN
LEADING INTO THIS IS, IS THERE
ROOM POTENTIALLY -- BECAUSE I
SEE
THERE'S ADDED POLICY
SUGGESTIONS
REGARDING OUR PARKING
ENFORCEMENT AND ALSO THE 30
FOR 30 BUT I THINK OFTENTIMES
THERE
ARE FOLKS THAT ARE
REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH JUST A
RESPONSE
FROM FOLKS, AND I
KNOW PERSONALLY WE HAVE BECOME
THE RESPONSE FOR
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITH LACK
OF
RESPONDING.
AND I WOULD TOTALLY LOVE TO SEE
SPD HAVE SOME TYPE OF CUSTOMER
SERVICE/RESPONSIVE LINE THAT
CAN MAYBE FOLLOW WITH PEOPLE ON
CASES, COULD BE ABLE TO
TELL THEM WHERE THINGS ARE, HOW
TO
NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM, JUST A
RESPONSE, AND I THINK THAT
IS MUCH NEEDED WHILE WE ARE IN
THIS TRANSITION PHASE, AS HAS
ALLUDED TO, BECAUSE THAT IS
THE FRUSTRATION I SHARE THAT
PEOPLE
SHARE AS WELL AND SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING
INTO WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
IS THERE ROOM FOR THAT AND WHAT
WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?
AND THAT RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE
BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING OFFICERS
AND WE'RE ADDING FOLKS.
I KNOW THAT TRANSITION TAKES
A LITTLE BIT, BUT PEOPLE STILL
DON'T FEEL THAT WE'VE ADDED
OFFICERS.
THEY DON'T FEEL THAT IMPACT
YET.
WHEN THEY GET A RESPONSE FROM
SOMEONE, THEY FEEL STUFF IS
MOVING.
I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT
THERE. THANK YOU, MR. DOSS, FOR
CLARIFYING THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
ANYTHING FURTHER COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THAT IS IT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> I ALMOST CALLED YOU
COUNCILMEMBER DOSS.
HERE WE GO.
GOOD
MORNING. WE'VE GOT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT
WORK ON THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.
DIRECTOR NOBLE AS WELL.
MUCH APPRECIATED.
SOME COMMENTS ON A FEW ITEMS AND
THEN A FEW SLIGHTLY MORE
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
PAUSE, REFLECT AND, IN THIS CASE
CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF
OUR CITY AND THE RECORD
UNPRECEDENTED OFFICER HIRING.
THE CURRENT PACE OF
OFFICER HIRING IS THROUGH THE
ROOF.
IT'S EXCELLENT NEWS.
I KNOW THERE WERE
SOME CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT
THIS,
QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SLATE
OF COUNCILMEMBERS COMMITTED TO
DOING ABOUT BUDGET AND
REFORMS AND UDITS BUT ONE THING
THE SLATE WAS ELECTED TO DO,
AT LEAST ME, WAS TO IMPROVE
PUBLIC
SAFETY AND TO SPECIFICALLY HIRE
MORE OFFICERS.
GREATLY ON TRACK BY THE DATA.
THE DATA NEVER TOLD
A TALL TALE. DATA DOESN'T LIE.
SO IT'S GREAT ENCOURAGING NEWS.
WE'RE ALSO AT A FRAGILE STATE
AS WELL.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS
MOMENTUM AND THIS SUSTAINED
EFFORT OVER TIME.
THINGS ARE DELICATE.
SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE
INVESTING AND, TO THAT END, I
WOULD
ECHO THE SENTIMENT EXPRESSED BY
A
FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT AS WE
LOOK
FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO
DRIVE EFFICIENCIES AND, YOU
KNOW,
MAKE SURE WE GET MORE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT, I THINK PUBLIC
PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING, WHICH IS
OUR
HIGHEST CHARTED
RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD NOT BE
CUT.
ACROSS
THE BOARD FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS.
ALL RIGHT.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT 30x30 AND
APPRECIATE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
KETTLE FOR MENTIONING I'M
BASICALLY THE 30x30
GUY. I'VE BEEN ANOINT ED THE
30x30
GUY, I SUPPOSE.
THE REFERENCED COUNCIL
ORDINANCE BY MR. DOSS THAT
INCLUDES
THOSE STRINGENT REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS, THAT WAS MY
AMENDMENT.
AND LAST YEAR DURING
THE BUDGET I CO- SPONSORED ALONG
WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE -- FORMER
COUNCILMEMBERS MOORE
AND MORALES, ACTUALLY, A
BUDGET ACTION THAT I SPONSORED
FOR SPD
TO HIRE A STRATEGIC ADVISER
FOR THE PROGRAM WHICH WE
NOW KNOW WAS UNFUNDED DUE TO
THE HIRING FREEZE AND
POTENTIALLY OTHER
FACTORS.
MY OFFICE HAS CONTINUED TO
FOCUS ON PROGRESS FOR WOMEN ON
NOT
JUST FOR STRICT HIRING GOALS OF
30% OF WOMEN BY 2030 WHICH WE
ARE CLEARLY FAR FROM, BUT
FOR MAKING THIS DEPARTMENT A
GREAT
PLACE, AN EXCEPTIONAL
PLACE WHERE WOMEN WANT TO BE AND
GROW
THEIR CAREERS AND GROW
PROFESSIONALLY. I ALSO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE
AND SUPPORT THE PROGRESS THAT
SPD HAS MADE WITH
VARIOUS INITIATIVES IN PHASE
TWO AND LOOKING FORWARD TO PHASE
THREE WORK ALIGNING WITH
THE 30x30 NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE.
A LOT OF WORK DONE WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT, A LOT OF IT AS
A DIRECT RESULT OF SPECIFIC
COUNCIL ACTIONS AND LEADER SHI
SHIP.
BUT DATA NEVER TOLD
A TALL TALE, LIKE I SAID
EARLIER.
DESPITE THE INITIAL
PROGRESS, CLEARLY MORE NEEDS TO
BE DONE.
AND ALL THAT IS TO SAY I LED
ON A BUDGET ACTION LAST YEAR
IN THIS SPACE.
DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU
SEE SOMETHING AGAIN THIS YEAR
FROM A
BUDGET AMENDMENT PERSPECTIVE.
NOISE DISTURBANCES AND
ENFORCEMENT.
HUGE CHALLENGE.
WITH RESPECT TO TWO BASIC
THINGS, EXCESSIVE CAR NOISE,
A HUGE PROBLEM IN CERTAIN
AREAS IN MY COMMUNITY, IN MY
DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I
KNOW THE
SAME PROBLEM IS AFFLICTING
OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
CITY.
SO EXCESSIVE NOISE IN
THE ABSENCE OF STATE LEGISLATIVE
ACTION TO ALLOW US TO INITIATE
AUTOMATED NOISE
ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY OR CAMERA
S WE'RE
LEFT TO MANUAL ENFORCEMENT OF
NOISE.
THERE IS EQUIPMENT THAT EXISTS
TODAY, AND -- BUT IT'S NOT
BEING
PRIORITIZED, WHICH GIVEN
THE GREATER SCOPE OF CHALLENGES
MAKES SOME SENSESENSE IS
WHY,
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU KNOW ALL NINE
OF US AND THE MAYOR ADDED IT TO
OUR -- SIGNED A LETTER TO
ADD THE TECHNOLOGY TO OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
I HOPE TO PICK THAT UP AGAIN
NEXT YEAR.
THE SECOND PIECE OF THE NOISE
ENFORCEMENT IS NOISE --
EXCESSIVE NOISE IN OUR RIGHTS
OF WAY.
THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS PENDING
ABOUT POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE
UPDATES, BUT THE FACT OF
THE MATTER REMAINS TODAY,
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER
THERE'S FUTURE LEGISLATION
PASSED.
TODAY WE HAVE EXISTING NOISE
REQUIREMENTS AND LAWS ON
THE BOOKS ENSHRINED IN THE CITY
CODE
THAT GOVERN NOISE AND EXCESSIVE
NOISE. AND WHEN MY OFFICE HAS
REACHED
OUT TO SPD OR I UNDERSTAND THAT
SDOT HAS AN ENFORCEMENT ROLE
IN NOISE PARTICULARLY IN THE
RIGHTS OF WAY.
THINK OF STADIUMS.
STADIUMS, STREET
PREACHERS. NOISE ORDINANCES ON
THE BOOKS
TODAY.
MY OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT TO
SDOT OR SPD, AND I THINK
FAS MIGHT HAVE A ROLE IN THAT
OF SOME SORT.
THERE SEEMS TO BE
CONSTANT FINGER POINTING.
WHO IS ON FIRST? NO ONE KNOWS.
SO I ALSO INTEND TO TAKE
SOME BUDGET ACTION ON THAT TO
GET MORE CLARITY.
WHAT IS OUR CURRENT
ENFORCEMENT APPROACH STRATEGY
PLAN?
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT?
HOW DO THE DEPARTMENTS WORK
TOGETHER? WHAT ARE THE GAPS?
WHAT ARE THE
OPPORTUNITIES? WE NEED A MORE
COORDINATED, CONSISTENT APPROACH
AND
STRATEGY.
AND IF WE HAVE LAWS ON THE
BOOKS, WE NEED EDUCATION,
INTERVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT,
OTHERWISE
JUST REPEAL THE DAMN LAW.
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
POINT, THAT WAS A POINT ALONG
THE
LINES OF WHAT HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT
IN THE CONTEXT OF PUBLIC
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND
STAFFING, BUT I THINK THE
SAME BROADER PRINCIPLE APPLIES
TO MULTIPLE SCENARIOS.
AND I SHARE THAT CONCERN ABOUT
THE SIGNIFICANT LACK OF
PUBLIC -- EXCUSE ME,
PEOs, PARKING ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER
POSITIONS -- HAS PROVED TO BE
A HUGE PROBLEM NOT JUST FOR THIS
YEAR, VOLUME OR LACK THEREOF
PEOs, BUT IT'S JUST A APROBLEM
OUR CITY.
AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE
COMING TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE --
I MENTIONED THIS A WHILE BACK
BUT
IT'S REALLY TRUE ACROSS THE
BOARD.
SEATTLE IS NOT A SAFE SPACE
TO COME DO YOUR DIRT.
IT'S NOT
A SAFE SPACE TO COME PARK AND
FLOODFLOOD PARKING LOTS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE A SAFE SPACE
TO VIOLATION OUR NOISE
ORDINANCES.
WHATEVER THE LAW IS.
SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON
THAT.
I KNOW THERE WAS
CONVERSATION EARLIER AT THE
START START
YOUR PRESENTATION, MR. DOSS,
ABOUT TASK FORCE OFFICERS, AND,
YOU
KNOW, IT'S COMMON PRACTICE,
IT'S ROUTINE AMONGST ALL LOCAL
LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ASSIGNED
ON A TEMPORARY PARTIAL BASIS OR
IN
SOME CASES PERMANENT MULTIYEAR
BASIS TO TASK FORCES AT THE
STATE, REGIONAL, COUNTY OR
EVEN FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT NOT ALL
TASK FORCES INVOLVE FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
SO IT'S
COMMON PRACTICE, BUT JUST BE
CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND, IS THERE CURRENTLY
AN INVENTORY WITHIN SPD
OF ROUGHLY -- NOT LIKE A
DETAILED
BREAKDOWN, BUT
ROUGHLY, APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF
TASK
FORCE OFFICERS THAT ARE ASSIGNED
BY
THE DEPARTMENT EITHER ON A
PERMANENT, LIKE, THAT'S
WHAT THEY DO, THAT'S THEIR
40-PLUS- HOUR WORKWEEK JOB, FULL
TIME, I GUESS, FULL- TIME BASIS,
OR A PART- TIME BASIS.
IS THERE CURRENTLY SUCH
AN INVENTORY OF TASK FORCE
OFFICERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT,
MR.
DOSS?
>> THERE IS, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
THAT'S INFORMATION THAT I
CAN GET YOU AS A STARTING PLACE
TO
LOOK, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN YOUR
STAFF REPORT TOWARDS THE
BACK THERE'S AN ITEM IN THE
YEAR- END
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET THAT
LISTS ABOUT 10 OR 12 OF THESE
TASK
FORCES.
IT'S NOT COMPREHENSIVE.
THERE ARE OTHER TASK FORCES
THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS AND I I
GET YOU THAT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE
ASSIGNMENTS AND HOW
MANY OFFICERS ARE ON EACH ONE.
IT VARIES BY THE TOPIC AREA.
SOME ARE THREE OR FOUR
REGULAR ASSIGNED FOLKS THAT ARE
TOTALLY
DEVOTED AND OTHERS IT'S JUST
ONE PERSON DOING PART- TIME
WORK.
YEAH, I CAN GET YOU THAT INFO.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
I APPRECIATE IT.
AND THE FINAL QUESTION HERE
IS, YOU MENTIONED THERE'S A
SPENDING SPD REPORT AND IT'S
CONSISTENT WITH SOME OF MY
CONVERSATIONS
DIRECTLY WITH THE CHIEF AS
WELL, CHIEF BARNES, SPENDING
SPD REPORT ON OFFICER HIRING,
KIND OF A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
THAT
INCLUDES STAFFING RATIOS LIKE
APPROPRIATE STAFFING RATIOS, ET
CETERA.
IS THAT PENDING REPORT
OR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THAT REPORT IN DIRECT RESPONSE
TO
THE SLIDE THAT COUNCIL
SPECIFICALLY
REQUESTED LAST YEAR ON AN
OVERARCHING -- THAT I
HAD SPONSORED ON THE OVERARCHING
--
REQUESTING A HIRING APPROACH AND
STRATEGY?
OR IS THAT DIFFERENT?
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW THE
COUNCIL'S REQUEST INTERACTED
WITH CHIEF BARNES' OWN
STRATEGIC
PLANNING.
HE, AS A NEW CHIEF, CAME IN
AND IDENTIFIED SOME AREAS THAT
HE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT TO
LOOK
INTO.
LOOKING AT AND FIGURING OUT
THE IDEAL NUMBER OF STAFF I
THINK
IS SOMETHING THAT -- IT'S
AN INTEREST THAT YOU ALL SHARE.
>> THANK YOU.
FINAL COMMENT HERE, BACK TO THE
30 x30 CONVERSATION, CLEAR
OPPORTUNITY FROM A SHEER DATA
PERSPECTIVE, MINDFUL OFOF
ABSOLUTE NUMBERS AND
THE RELATIVE NUMBERS BECAUSE
BOTH MATTER AND BOTH ARE
IMPORTANT
BUT THERE'S A CLEAR
OPPORTUNITY.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE POSSIBILITY THAT
THE SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP
CHANGES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT,
HOW
THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT
A STRATEGIC EFFORT LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY
STRATEGIC EFFORTS ACROSS THE
DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'VE HAD
THREE SPD CHIEFS OVER THE
LAST YEAR PLUS, YEAR AND A HALF
ALONE, AND I AM CONFIDENT
IN OUR CURRENT CHIEF'S ABILITY
AND
HIS COMMITMENT TO EXECUTE ON 30
x30,
BUT JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SMART OR
CAPABLE OR QUALIFIED OR
EXCEPTIONAL ANY LEADER IS,
CERTAIN THINGS GET
LOST SOMETIMES DURING PERIODS OF
TRANSITION.
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
COLLEAGUES, ALONGSIDE YOU ALL,
TO BETTER SUPPORT THE
DEPARTMENT FROM A COUNCIL
PERSPECTIVE AND
COLLABORATE AND UPLIFT AND
AMPLIFY THE WORK WITH RESPECT
TO 30x30.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU, GREG, AND DIRECTOR
NOBLE FOR SHARING YOUR
EXPERTISE.
GREG, SPD HAS COMMITTED TO
30x30 MEANING THAT THEY SAY THEY
WANT 30% OF OFFICERS TO BE WOMEN
BY
2030, WHICH IS LESS THAN
FIVE YEARS AWAY.
BUT WE'RE
ACTUALLY GETTING FURTHER AWAY
FROM THAT
GOAL RIGHT NOW BASED ON THIS
YEAR'S HIRING DATA, CORRECT?
>> IF YOU -- I THINK IF YOU
LOOK AT THE HIRING DATA BETWEEN
THE BEGINNING PART OF THE YEAR
THAT I FIRST PRESENTED IN MAY
AND YOU
LOOK AT THE HIRING DATA THROUGH
MIDYEAR, THROUGH JUNE, THERE'S
ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY,
1% INCREASE TO THE NUMBER OF
WOMEN THAT ARE HIRED, BUT IT'S
RELATIVELY NEGLIGIBLE GIVEN THE
OVERALL PICTURE.
IT IS THE CASE THAT THERE ARE
94, I BELIEVE, HIRES AND
EIGHT OF THEM WERE WOMEN.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE
BEST PICTURE TO LOOK AT OVER THE
LAST
SIX MONTHS RATHER
THAN WHETHER OR NOT IT'S BEEN
IMPROVING SINCE
APRIL. YOU DON'T WANT TO GET
TOO
INTO THE DATA AT THAT LEVEL, SO
I WOULD SAY IT'S STAYING THE
SAME
WHICH IS WELL UNDER WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND
WHAT THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE IS.
>> THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 20%.
AND SPD CHOSE NOT TO FUND
THE POSITION THAT COUNCIL
PROVIDED
TO OVERSEE THE 30 BY 30 PROGRAM.
>> THAT IS THE CASE, YES.
>> GREG, WOULD ANOTHER OPTION
BE A POLICY CONSIDERATION HERE
BE TO ENSURE THAT SPD HIRES A
30x30
COORDINATOR
AND PROVISOING THE MONEY FROM
SPD'S MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR ADVERTISING BUDGET?
>> THAT IS AN OPTION THAT I
THINK YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO WANT TO
THINK
ABOUT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY PROS AND
CONS WITH THAT APPROACH.
MY OPTIONS SUGGESTED A
PROVISO TO ENSURE MONEY CAN ONLY
BE SPENT FOR THAT FUNCTION.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROVISO
WOULD RESTRICT OTHER FUNDS
IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT TO
TALK ABOUT.
AS I SAID THERE ARE PROS AND
CONS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
DISCUSSED FURTHER.
>> AS A HIGH- LEVEL COMMENT,
I DON'T THINK IT APPLIES TO
YOUR SCENARIO BUT I WANT TO
LAY IT
OUT THERE. WITH RESPECT TO
PROVISOS, AS A
LEGAL MATTER THERE NEEDS TO BE A
NEXUS BETWEEN THE FUNDS AND
THE TRIGGER TO THE EXTENT
THAT ADVERTISING IS ASSOCIATED
WITH
RECRUITMENT, THERE'S A
DIRECT LINK HERE.
AS GREG DESCRIBES IT, YOU MAY
BE FRUSTRATING YOUR OWN END IF
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SPEND ON
THE
RECRUITMENT BUT AT THE SAME TIME
FINDING A WAY TO, MY
LANGUAGE, MOTIVATE THEM TO
FOLLOW THROUGH.
THAT'S THE VALUE OF THE
PROVISO.
YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THAT
BALANCE.
BUT THERE DOES NEED TO BE A
LINK.
IN THIS CASE I SEE
THE LINK QUITE CLEARLY.
AS WE THINK OF PROVISOS AS
ESSENTIALLY INNOCENT ICHS FOR
-- EXECIVES.
>> COLLEAGUES, I'M BEING
POINTED IN MY QUESTIONS HERE
AND EVEN WITH LIFTING THIS UP AS
A CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THIS IS
SERIOUS.
WE TALK ABOUT CULTURE
ISSUES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT BUT
WE'RE ALLUDING TO ALLEGATIONS
AND LAWSUITS BY WOMEN OFFICERS
ABOUT MISTREATMENT AND MISOGYNY
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
THE MONEY IS THERE AND THE
DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO TAKE THIS
WORK SERIOUSLY.
THE FUNDING IS THERE TO DO THE
WORK.
THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IS NOW NEARLY HALF
A BILLION DOLLARS.
POLICE HIRING, AS HAS BEEN
STATED, IS OFF THE CHARTS.
WE HAVE A ONCE IN A
GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THIS RIGHT
AND HIRE MORE WOMEN AND HIRE
MORE DIVERSE AND REPRESENTATIVE
POLICE FORCE.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE FAILING
TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND I BELIEVE IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THAT
OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE
THE DEPARTMENT IS FOLLOWING
THROUGH ON THEIR COMMITMENTS.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, SEE YOUR
HAND.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> YOU'RE ON MUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
WHEN I SPOKE EARLIER, I
WANTED TO HONE IN ON THE
30x30 INITIATIVE AND I DIDN'T
REALLY
SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET OVERALL
OR THE DEPARTMENT, BUT
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
COLLEAGUE, CHAIR KETTLE'S
REMARKS AND ADD
MY SUPPORT IN TERMS OF WE DID
COME IN AND START WORKING
AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THE DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF
OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ENSURE THAT
OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
IN COMMUNITY WITH US AND WITH
THE
CITY AT- LARGE, AND IT HAS MADE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE, AND I, FOR
ONE, AM GLAD ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT
REALLY DOES ENSURE THAT
THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY,
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE CITY
COUNCIL, ARE ALL WORKING
TOGETHER ON
BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS.
WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY
DIFFICULT PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES
ACROSS THE CITY, AND AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA SAID IN HIS
REMARKS,
MANY OF US NEWER TO THE COUNCIL
LAST
YEAR, NEW TO THE COUNCIL,
RATHER, CAME IN BECAUSE
WE WANTED TO -- THIS WAS A
BIG, HUGE PIECE FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS
AND WE REALLY WANTED TO TURN
THE TIDE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
WERE
SUPPORTING A POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO ENSURE WE HAD THE
NUMBERS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
THE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND ALSO
BUILD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT
OUR
CONSTITUENTS NOT ONLY WERE
BEING SUPPORTED WITH THE WORK
BUT THAT
WE WERE IN THIS POSITIVE
SPACE WITH OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE YOU HAVE
SEEN USUS IT LAST YEAR
AND IT HAS REALLY HAD POSITIVE
RESULTS, SO, YOU KNOW,
I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION WITH OUR 30x30
INITIATIVE AS A WOMAN.
THIS IS SOMETHING -- WITH TWO
DAUGHTERS -- THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
ME, AS I SAID LAST YEAR WHEN WE
WERE DOING THE COUNCIL
ACTIONS RELATED TO THE 30x30
REPORT, AND
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO
SO, AND I ALSO WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DID DO A LOT
OF
THINGS COMING IN LAST YEAR TO
REALLY
BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS BY REALLY BEING
SUPPORTIVE OF
THE DEPARTMENT, REALLY
RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK
THAT THE OFFICERS ARE DOING.
I'VE MET BOTH AT ROLL CALL
AND JUST AROUND THE
NEIGHBORHOODS
WITHIN MY DISTRICT, SOME REALLY
JUST CARING OFFICERS.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THEIR SUPPORT AND I DIDN'T WANT
TO
LEAVE THIS CONVERSATION TODAY
WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT SUPPORT THAT OUR DISTRICT
AND MY
DISTRICT IS GETTING FROM SPD
AND THE OFFICERS THAT I
INTERACT WITH ON A REGULAR
BASIS.
I EVEN SAW ONE OF THE
OFFICERS THE OTHEROTHER BY THE
STADIUM
THAT IS REGULARLY IN MY
DISTRICT.
SO JUST REALLY GRATEFUL TO
CHIEF BARNES AND FOR HIS
PARTNERSHIP
AND LEADERSHIP AND TO
CAPTAIN DAVISON IN THE NORTH
PRECINCT SPECIFICALLY FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN THE
DISTRICT AND
ALSO FOR OUR WORKING TOGETHER
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS
GETTING CLOSER TO BEING FULLY
STAFFED
ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS AND
THAT, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE IN
POSITIVE SPACE WITH.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
GREG, DO YOU NEED TO RESPOND
TO ANYTHING THERE?
COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS? I WILL TURN IT BACK
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THIS
DEPARTMENT.
>> I THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
I DID ALLUDE TO MY VICE- CHAIR
ON THE COMMITTEE REGARDING
30x30 BUT IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ALL OF US, AND AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT
TO
ME. AND SO MY COMMITMENT IS TO
CONTINUE THIS WORK THAT
WE'VE ALREADY DONE AND BUILD
ON IT OVER THE COURSE OF THE
YEAR.
AND SO I AM -- YOU KNOW, AT
THE RIGHT TIME AND EARLY FIRST
QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR WE CAN HAVE
IN COMMITTEE A 30 BY 30 REVIEW.
LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS, IT
REMINDS ME, AGAIN, WITH MY
OWN EXPERIENCE THAT IT IS PART
OF THE BROADER CULTURE PIECE
THAT GOES INTO, LIKE,
ACCOUNTABILITY.
EACH TIME I'M AT THE PRECINCT,
I
TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT'S TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE
LINE POINT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
MENTIONED.
I'VE TALKED TO CHIEF
BARNES, CHIEF ROHR, CHIEF DIAZ,
ABOUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PIECE
THAT SHE KIND OF ALLUDES TO AND
HOW IMPORTANT THE PRECINCTS ARE
AND HAVING SOMEBODY BE THERE AT
THE PRECINCT TO RESPOND TO THE
QUESTION, AND I'VE EQUATED IT
TO
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND
THEIR BEDSIDE MANNER AS WELL.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THE
INTERACTION WITH OUR
COMMUNITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS
IS POSITIVE
BECAUSE THAT GOES TO, AGAIN,
THE CULTURE BUT ALSO GOES
TO CONTINUING TO BUILD ON
THE MOMENTUM THAT WE'VE
HAD REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THEN BRINGING ON MORE OFFICERS
IN THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
AND SO TO COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
BROADER CULTURE, AND 30x30 NEEDS
TO BE PART OF THAT, WE NEED TO
WORK THE BROADER CULTURE AND
TO THINK BEYOND SPD AND THEIR
RECRUITMENT.
WE HAD A DEAL PRESENTATION.
I KEEP TALKING ABOUT SEATTLE
PROMISE, AND HOW WE CAN
LEVERAGE THAT.
HOW CAN WE USE THAT TO
REACH INTO COMMUNITY AND FIND
THE YOUNG WOMEN WHO MAY WANT TO
SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY IN THIS
WAY. AND SO WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING
AT ALL OPTIONS THAT THAT WE
HAVE. AND I APPRECIATE --
SEPARATELY
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA'S COMMENTS ABOUT NOISES.
IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE
CITY AS PART OF OUR INITIATIVES,
NOISE AND THOSE ISSUES ARE
STILL GOING TO BE THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO HIS POINT
ABOUT SUSTAINED EFFORT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT, TOO.
AS I OFTEN SAY, NOTHING BUILDS
MOMENTUM THAN MOMENTUM.
WE HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT
OF MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW, BUT
WE NEED TO KEEP THE PRESS
ON. AND THAT INCLUDES WITH THE
BROADER CULTURE PIECES,
IT INCLUDES WITH THE CUSTOMER
SERVICE PIECES.
30x30.
AND THE VARIOUS PIECES THAT
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE
COURSE OF THIS PRESENTATION.
SO I THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT.
AND ONE LAST POINT, TOO, I
KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK BROUGHT UP
THE P.E.T.
I THINK WE'RE IN A
UNIQUE SITUATION WITH THE FIFA
WORLD
CUP.
I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH THE
FIFA WORLD CUP AND IT
SEEMS ON PAGE 13 OF THE ORIGINAL
OVERVIEW
WHERE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE THIRD BULLET 2025 WORLD CUP
REIMBURSEMENT.
THERE'S A
FINANCIAL BUDGETING PIECE TO
THIS.
IT'S NOT REALLY A BUDGETING BUT
REIMBURSEMENT.
I AGREE P.E.T. IS NOT THE
STANDARD HERE.
OF COURSE P.E.T. AS WE MENTIONED
YESTERDAY IS LIKE THE
OLDSMOBILE COMMERCIALS, NOT
QUITE THE
SAME AS YOUR FATHER'S
OLDSMOBILE,
BUT I RESPECT YOUR POINT.
I THINK IT'S TIED MORE TO --
AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE
EXECUTIVE BUT IN MY
CONVERSATIONS
THE POINT ABOUT THE FIFA WORLD
CUP,
THE ACCOUNTING AND
REIMBURSING, THOSE PIECES MAY BE
DRIVING THAT
AS OPPOSED TO -- IT'S NOT
A POLICY PIECE BASICALLY.
AND SO, CHAIR, I JUST WANTED
TO THANK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
FOLLOW UP ON THIS AND, AGAIN,
I WANTED TO WORK WITH
MY COLLEAGUES ON ALL THE
DIFFERENT ISSUES AND JUST TO
CLOSE, AND
I LOVE CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATORS AND COMMUNITY
POLICINGS WHICH I'VE WORKED
WITH OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS --
NOT
RECENTLY, OF COURSE --
AND THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, FOR THAT POINT, TOO.
MEDICARE?
CHAIR?
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON
UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE
FROM YOU,
GREG?
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO
THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ THE SECOND
PRESENTATION INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, COMMUNITY
ASSISTED RESPONSE AND ENGAGEMENT
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE AT 11:17 A.M. , AS MR.
TAMASO JOHNSON IS COMING TO THE
TABLE.
WE WILL TAKE A LUNCH BREAK
AT ABOUT 12:30 TO 1:30, AGAIN,
IF FOLKS FEEL LIKE THAT'S TOO
MUCH
TIME, JUST TELL ME.
WE CAN COME TO THAT DECISION
AT A LATER DATE -- OR A LATER
TIME
THIS MORNING.
WE ARE JUST PULLING UP
PRESENTATIONS.
I BELIEVE WE'RE ON THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT, MR. TAMASO
JOHNSON, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND
JUST DIVE RIGHT ON IN.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
STRAUSS, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
FOR THE RECORD, TAMASO
JOHNSON, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF,
THE BUDGET OVERVIEW AND
POLICY CONSIDERATION FOR THE
COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE AND
ENGAGEMENT
OR C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT.
AT A HIGH LEVEL THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT AND THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET IS SLATED FOR A
FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANT STAFF EXPANSION.
THE CHANGE WOULD BE
APPROXIMATELY 25% INCREASE
IN THE OVERALL BUDGET IN 2026
OVER THE '25 ADOPTED WITH
THE MAJORITY OF THAT BEING JUST
OVER
DOUBLING OF THE
COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE AND
ENGAGEMENT OR THE CCR COMMUNITY
CRISIS
RESPONDER.
BODY OF WORK AS FOLKS WILL KNOW
THE C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT HAS
TWO PRIMARY BODIES OF WORK.
THE LARGEST BEING
911 CALL RESPONSE AND
SECONDARILY THE
C.A.R.E. OR COMMUNITY
CRISIS SPONSOR CCR,
WORK. THE INCREASES IN THE '26
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT HAVE TO DO ALMOST
EXCLUSIVELY WITH STAFFING
GROWTH. IN THE 911 CALL RESPONSE
AREA
THERE IS 2. 6 ADDITIONAL
ONGOING -- 2. 6 MILLION, I
SHOULD
SAY, FOR 12 ADDITIONAL CALL
TAKERS, THREE ADDITIONAL
TRAINERS, AND THE CONVERSION
OF THREE STAFF MEMBERS THAT
ARE CURRENTLY TEMPORARY
INTO PERMANENT POSITIONS.
THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM,
THE C.A.R.E. SIDE OF THE
C.A.R.E.
HOUSE, IF YOU WILL, THERE IS 4.
9 MILLION ONGOING PROPOSED TO
DOUBLE THE RESPONSE POSITION FOR
A TOTAL IN THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET OF 48 CRRs.
ADDITIONALLY $2 MILLION OF
ONE- TIME FUNDING TO SUPPORT
LOGISTICAL VEHICLE AND SPACE
UPGRADES TO SUPPLEMENT THE
NEEDS OF THE GROWING DEPARTMENT.
I SHOULD SAY, ALSO, THAT
THESE INCREASES BOTH IN 911
STAFFING AND THE COMMUNITY
CRISIS
RESPONSE TEAM ARE PROPOSED TO
BE SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC SAFETY
SALES
TAXES.
YOU'VE HEARD YESTERDAY AND
OTHERWISE THIS IS A BIT OF
A DISTINCTION IN THE SENSE
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX IS
FUNDABLE WITH GENERAL FUND
BECAUSE THERE
IS NOT THE NOT
SUPPLANT LANGUAGE THAT COMES
WITH REVENUE SOURCES.
THERE IS ONE POLICY
CONSIDERATION THAT
WE'VE IDENTIFIED RELATED TO THE
C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT WHICH HAS TO
DO WITH SOMETHING WHICH IS
NOT IN THE BUDGET, WHAT
WAS CONSIDERED IN THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET DELIBERATION PROCESS AND
HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN
DIFFERENT VENUES OVER THE PAST
YEAR AND
THAT IS THE POTENTIAL TRANSFER
OF CONTRACTS WITH LEAD, CO-
LEAD CONTRACTS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY
HOUSED
ADMINISTRATIVELY ADMINISTERED BY
THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
EARLIER THIS YEAR THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP AS WELL
AS MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM,
STEPPED
IN AND ASSUMED A LARGER
PROGRAMMATIC OVERSIGHT ROLE OF
THESE CONTRACTS SO FUNCTIONALLY
HAVING SORT OF CONTRACT
NEGOTIATION, OPERATIONAL
OVERSIGHT, HSD
RETAINS ADMINISTRATIVE
OVERSIGHT.
THAT'S HSD IS WHERE THE MONEY
IS LOCATED FOR THE CONTRACTS.
SO THESE CONTRACTS OVERALL $16.5
MILLION IN THE
2026 PROPOSED BUDGET.
THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES ON WHERE THESE
CONTRACTS AND TOTALITY ARE BEST
SITUATED. ON THE ONE HAND
C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP
HAS EXPRESSED THE OPINION
THAT COORDINATION OF SERVICES
BETWEEN LEAD, CO- LEAD, WE
DELIVER
CARE, THE CARE DEPARTMENT AND
OTHER CITY PARTNERS COULD BE
IMPROVED BY MOVING THE ENTIRETY
OF THE
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATIVE
FUNCTION INTO THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT.
HSD AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
HOLDS THE POSITION THAT C.A.R.E.
CURRENTLY DOES NOT
HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFF TO
ADMINISTER THOSE CONTRACTS AND
THAT
THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT
WHEREBY C.A.R.E. AND THE
MAYOR'S
OFFICE, PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM,
COLLABORATE ON OPERATIONAL
INTERFACE
WITH THE CONTRACT AND HSD
RETAPES
THE SORT OF CORE
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATIVE
CONTRACT PAYMENT
FUNCTION.
HSD AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ARE UNDER -- THEY HOLD
THE
OPINION THAT THE CURRENT -- THIS
CURRENT ARRANGEMENT IS OPTIMAL
IN
TERMS OF LEVERAGING
EFFICIENCIES WITHIN HSD AND THAT
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATIVE WORK,
THEIR EXPERTISE AND THAT WORK.
SO CENTRAL STAFF IS
NOT EXPRESSING AN OPINION ABOUT
THE PROPER PLACE FOR THE
ENTIRETY
OF THAT CONTRACT TO BE HELD,
BUT BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN --
THIS
WAS CONSIDERED -- THIS MOVE
WAS CONSIDERED DURING THE
MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET, ULTIMATELY
NOT PURSUED BY CONVERSATIONS
HAVE BEEN OCCURRING OVER THE
PAST
YEAR, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THIS AS A POLICY
CONSIDERATION. THE OPTIONS THAT
WE'VE
IDENTIFIED HERE, A,
TRANSFER FUNDING RELATED TO
THESE
CONTRACTS.
THAT BEING LEAD, CO- LEAD,
WE DELIVER CARE, FROM HSD INTO
THE C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT
WITHOUT MAKING ADDITIONAL
DEPARTMENTAL
STAFF CHANGES SO
THAT WOULD, IN ESSENCE BE
FINANCIALLY NEUTRAL
BUDGET MOVE.
OPTION B, TRANSFER FUNDING
RELATED TO THESE CONTRACTS
AND PROVIDE C.A.R.E. WITH
ADDITIONAL FTE TO SUPPLEMENT
THEIR STAFFING
PROPOSED IN THE '26 BUDGET TO
DO THIS WORK.
OPTION C COULD BE ENACT A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
REQUESTING THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND VARIOUS
INVOLVED DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE A
PLAN
OR MAP OUT A PLAN AND REPORT
BACK
TO THE COUNCIL ON A CONTRACT
TRANSFER IN THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND OPTION D
IS NO CHANGE AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, TAMASO.
ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME,
COLLEAGUES? I'LL PASS IT OVER
TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AS CHAIR
OF THE DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, FOR
THE PRESENTATION, AND
FOR DIRECTOR NOBLES FOR HANGING
AROUND AND GETTING THE
RIGHT SLIDE DECK
UP. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS
REALLYREALLY
A FEW DIFFERENT PIECES HERE.
AS WE EVOLVE, IT IS HOW WE
DO ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
BUT, FIRST, I WANT TO START WITH
THE 911 CALL RESPONSE.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE
AND DO RIGHT.
IT KIND OF PARALLELS
THE CUSTOMER SERVICE POINT,
BECAUSE
IT'S ABOUT THE INTERACTIONS
WITH THE PUBLIC, AND HAVING THAT
ABILITY TO RESPOND TO TAKE
THAT CALL AND THEN ACT ON IT IN
ITS VARIOUS FORMS WHETHER IT'S
THE
EMERGENCY -- IF IT'S THE
NONEMERGENCY, THE DIFFERENT
PIECES.
AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
US TO IMPROVE THE 911 CALL
RESPONSE.
AND WHEN I SAY 911, THE
BROADER SYSTEM AND TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE
THERE.
AND TO RECRUIT THIS IS
ANOTHER AREA WE HAVE TO ENSURE
LIKE
SPD MORE BROADLY OR PARKING
ENFORCEMENT
SPECIFICALLY, ANOTHER AREA WE
NEED TO RECRUIT
TOP INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE IN
THIS. AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
AS
IT RELATES TO
OVERTIME. AND SO THIS BUDGET
ACTION
IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
NOW FOR THE CRISIS
CARE RESPONDERS OR THE COMMUNITY
CRISIS RESPONDERS, I KIND OF
DEFAULT TO THE FIRST OFTEN.
THIS IS ABOUT IMPROVING AND
BUILDING
CAPACITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE, MY
OFFICE, IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE
BUILD THIS CAPACITY WHICH
WE NEED ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM -- ACROSS THE
ECOSYSTEM.
I HAD SOMEBODY REACH OUT TO
ME FROM EASTERN WASHINGTON,
BECAUSE THE CITIES OUT THERE ARE
FACING SOME OF THE SIMILAR
CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AND,
HEY, HOW
IS SEATTLE APPROACHING IT?
AND IT HAS TO BE
THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
IT'S NOT JUST SPD.
WE DO NEED THIS ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE.
WE DO NEED THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT, SO IMPROVING
THESE NUMBERS TO GET BETTER
COVERAGE
BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, THE HOT
SPOTS ARE NOT JUST LOCATED
IN SOME OF THE AREAS IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY AS WELL AND
HAVING THAT TRUE COVERAGE TO
HELP
THOSE IN NEED AND DO SO IN A
WAY THAT IN SITUATIONS THAT ARE
NOT CRIMINAL IN NATURE, IT
DOES CREATE A PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGE BUT NOT CRIMINAL IN
NATURE, WE
NEED THIS ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
AND IT GOES TO THE CONCEPT I'VE
BEEN PUSHING PARTICULARLY
OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS IS
ADDRESSING THE SCENE
BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
AND C.A.R.E. IS RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THAT
AS IS THE PDA AND LEAD
PROGRAM. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
HAVE
THIS DONE RIGHT AND, YOU KNOW,
ON
THE GROUND AND C.A.R.E. IS
CLOSER
TO THIS.
I SUPPORT THE STEPS THAT HAVE
BEEN TAKEN THUS FAR RELATED
TO THE PROGRAMMATIC OTHERSIGHT,
BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK
THIS
ISSUE AND SPEAK TO IT AND I'M
OPEN TO DISCUSSING THAT WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES, MY COLLEAGUES, ON
THIS TOPIC BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY IT'S ABOUT ENSURING
THAT WE
HAVE A FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM.
A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. AND THIS IS A STEP IN
THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, AND I UNDERSTAND
THERE'S THE THREE OPTIONS AND,
AGAIN, I LOOK TO WORK WITH
MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS AS WE
STEP THROUGH THIS BUDGET
PROCESS.
AND THIS WILL BE SOMETHING
THAT WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
COURSE
OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE I
REMEMBER THIS TIME LAST YEAR
SAYING
WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THIS BIG
AND
YOU'RE MAKING THESE CHANGES,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE
THIS LESSON LEARNED CULTURE
WHERE,
HEY, WE HAVE TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS AND NOT A NEGATIVE
BUT A
REFLECTION OF THE FACTS
AND MAKING THOSE CHOICES.
THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S STARTED HERE
WITH THIS INCREASE FOR THE
COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONDERS
BUT IT'S ALSO SEEN WITH RESPECT
TO
THE IDEA OF A SEAM WITH THE LEAD
PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU,
CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO THIS PRESENTATION.
MR. JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I SEE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> IT SEEMS THIS IS REALLY
SIMPLISTIC TO SAY BUT WE SHOULD
DO WHAT WILL PRODUCE THE BEST
OUTCOMES WHICH WILL SET
UP THESE CONTRACTS FOR SUCCESS.
LEAD IS DIFFERENT FROM CO-LEAD.
ONE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT
DIVERSION AND THE OTHER IS
HOUSING.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO TREAT THEM
ALL IN ONE LUMP BECAUSE
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO
DIFFERENT
THINGS BUT THIS IS A CHANGE
LONGTIME IN
COMING.
I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IT'S COMPLICATED OR NOT.
I LEARNED WHEN I WAS -- WHEN
I PUT FORWARD THE PILOT PROGRAM
TO
ADMINISTER $300,000 OF HSD TO
JUST HELP OUR CASE MANAGERS
GET PEOPLE INTO LAKESIDE IN-
PATIENT
TREATMENT, I HAD A BIG
DISCUSSION WITH
HSD ABOUT, OKAY, HOW MUCH WILL
THAT ONE PERSON
COST AND AT WHAT LEVEL OF
EXPERTISE IS THAT
ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON BECAUSE IT
DEPENDS ON
THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ACTUAL
CONTRACT, SO IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S QUITE A NUANCED QUESTION.
IF WE MOVE THEM OUT OF HSD.
THE PEOPLE ADMINISTERING THE
CONTRACTS ARE STILL IN HSD,
IT'S
HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE HOW
OVERSIGHT OF THE PERFORMANCE
OF THOSE PROGRAMS WOULD BE
IF THEY'RE IN TWO DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS, BUT I VERY
MUCH UNDERSTAND WHY IT MAKES
SENSE TO
MOVE THEM OUT OF HSD BECAUSE OF
THESE SORT OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT NATURE OF SOME OF
THESE, THE
RELATIVE, AND THEY DIFFER
ON THAT SCORE, BUT, YOUYOU THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE
THIS QUESTION SO COMPLEX.
I JUST WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
ANYTHING FROM THE COMMITTEE
TABLE?
NOTHING
THERE? THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
YOU'RE UP NEXT.
YOU'RE STILL ON MUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> Tom: -- TAMASO, FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I DON'T HAVE A
QUESTION
ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR POLICY CONSIDERATION.
I AGREE THAT THIS
IS COMPLICATED AND I HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE
C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY
TO
IMAGINE THESE CONTRACTS,
SO IT IS COMPLICATED.
I WILL SO, TAMASO, IT'S THE
ONLY POLICY CONSIDERATION YOU
POINTED OUT, SO I'M JUST GOING
TO ASK.
THERE WAS NOTHING ELSEELSE THIS
BUDGET THAT YOU THOUGHT
WARRANTED SOME CONVERSATION OF
NOT NECESSARILY A DECISION
POINT?
>> I MEAN, WHAT I'LL SAY ABOUT
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, WE
DO OUR BEST AT CENTRAL STAFF TO
TRY
TO IDENTIFY POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS BASED BOTH ON
THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION WE
RECEIVE
IN THE BUDGET, THE
QUESTIONS THAT WE IDENTIFY
RELATED TO
PROPOSED CHANGES, HOW
SATISFACTORY WE FEEL
THE RESPONSES WE GET ARE FROM
THE
EXECUTIVE TO ILLUMINATE
THE RATIONALE BEHIND THOSE
CHANGES AS WELL AS POLICY
PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED
EXPLICITLY OR IMPLICITLY BY THE
COUNCIL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,
SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS
IS THE POLICY CONSIDERATION THAT
IS
HERE. IF THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
DISCUSSION
ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE
PROPOSED
'26 BUDGET FOR THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT, MYSELF AND
DIRECTOR NOBLE AND OTHERS ARE
HAPPY
TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU
OR OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ON THOSE
AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, TAMASO.
BEN, WERE YOU GOING TO ADD
SOMETHING?
>> ECHOING SOMETHING I SAID
YESTERDAY. I THINK IN ADDITION
-- TAMASO
WAS TALKING ABOUT THEM BOTH --
BUT
THE 911 ADDS IS A SIGNIFICANT
EXPANSION OF THE
CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS, IF I
HAVE THAT TITLE RIGHT, THAT --
THE
COST OF THAT AND THE HIRES
ARE GOING TO RAISE
SUSTAINABILITY
CONCERNS, AS DO ALL OF THE
ONGOING ADS, BUT, AGAIN,
AS A POLICY MATTER, THE COUNCIL
HAS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH
ACTIONS CONSISTENT SUPPORT FOR
EXPANSION OF CARE, AND I SAY
BOTH
IN ACTIONS AND IN WORDS.
WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY THAT AS
A POLICY CONCERN FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THAT NOT
BEING
ALIGNED TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
AND AS YOUR GENERAL INTERESTS,
BUT,
AGAIN, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
SUSTAINED THROUGH TIME, AGAIN,
AND
I HIGHLIGHTED IS AN ONGOING
AND OPEN QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, BEN.
AND THANK YOU, TAMASO.
I KNOW SOMETIMES THERE
ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE IN
DISCUSSION THAT MIGHT NOT GET
INTO AN
ISSUE SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED
JUST
IN CASE THERE WAS SOMETHING
OUT THERE THAT DIDN'T RISE TO
THE LEVEL OF YOU WOULD HAVE
INCLUDED.
THAT'S WHY I ASKED ON THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL SAY THAT I'VE BEEN IN
THE
MINORITY OF THE COUNCIL WHO
HAS BEEN -- WHO HAS
EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE
C.A.R.E.
WORK.
I FULLY SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE, AND I'M JUST NOT --
I DON'T HAVE THE DATA AND
OUTCOMES NECESSARY BY WHICH I
FEEL
LIKE THIS DEPARTMENT WARRANTS
NOW
ANOTHER DOUBLING AFTER
A DOUBLING OF STAFFING LAST YEAR
THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A YEAR
TO DOUBLE AGAIN
IS OF CONCERN AGAIN FOR ME.
AND I ALSO, YOU KNOW,
THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT -- WE
DON'T HAVE INFORMATION.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM
LINE.
WE DON'T HAVE OUTCOMES
INFORMATION.
WE HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW MANY CALLS THEY'VE
RESPONDED
TO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO THOSE
FOLKS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THERE
ARE
REPEAT FOLKS THEY'RE
INTERACTING WITH.
SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A
LOT HERE THAT IS MISSING TO
WARRANT
THIS DOUBLING, AND THANK YOU,
BEN. NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS
HOW
DO YOU SUSTAIN THIS OVER TIME,
SO I
CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE
CONCERNS, COLLEAGUES, AND I
WANTED TO SAYSAY
HERE BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK THAT THIS ISIS WORKING
OUT IN REAL TIME THE WAY
THAT, AT LEAST I WAS HOPING FOR,
AND
I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD
IN CONVERSATIONS FROM MANY OF
YOU
COLLEAGUES AND MANY FOLKS,
AND SO WE HAVE ALL OF
THESE VARIOUS EFFORTS THAT WE'RE
TAKING AND
COLLECTIVELY I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE IMPACT THAT THEY'RE
HAVING
IS ON ACTUAL OUTCOMES.
SO THIS IS NOT A QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A STATEMENT
BUT IT DOES GO TOWARDS
THE BUDGETING AND THE DOUBLING
INVESTMENT AND ALSO WHERE
ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE GOING TO
GO?
IS THIS INCREASING STAFFING TO
EACH OF THE PLACES CURRENTLY
DEPLOYED? WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR
ALL
THESE NEW FOLKS, THIS INCREASE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN
ANSWER THAT OR IF THIS IS A
QUESTION
TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEPARTMENT
ON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
TO YOUR LAST REMARK AND
QUESTION THE DEPARTMENT HAS
STATED
THAT THE EXPANSION WILL CONTINUE
EMPHASIS ON THE
CITYWIDE APPROACH WHICH
IS A RELATIVELY RECENT
GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSION
SO THIS WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW
MORE ROBUST CITYWIDE APPROACH
WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY AND WITH THE
CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL THE
DEPARTMENT IS
CITYWIDE, THE FOCUS --
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE
FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON AREAS
OF
THE CITY WITH THE HIGHEST NEED
AND EMPHASIS AND IN PARTICULAR
THE STAFFING EXPANSION WILL
ALLOW
ADDITION
ADDITIONAL IN NORTH SEATTLE
TO FOLLOW UP ON THE CITYWIDE
EXPANSION THAT HAS
ALREADY OCCURRED WITH THE
CURRENT STAFF
CAPACITY.
>> THANK YOU, TAMASO.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW WELL
IT'S WORKING AND, TO BE FAIR,
IT STARTED IN JANUARY OF THIS
YEAR.
SO I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WELL
IT'S WORKING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND I ALSO
DON'T KNOW WITH THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN C.A.R.E.
AND OTHER
PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS ON
THE GROUND BECAUSE THERE'S
THIS, YOU
KNOW, INTERACTION , AND SO
THAT'S
WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION
ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE
DEPLOYED.
I WOULD THINK TO KNOW WHERE TO
BEST DEPLOY NOW THIS DOUBLING
OF STAFFING.
THERE'S A LOT, TO ME,
UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS. AND WHEN, TO ME, IT
TRANSLATES
TO -- AND I'M NOT SEEING A NET
POSITIVE NECESSARILY ACROSS
THE CITY AND CERTAINLY NOT IN
THE DISTRICT NOT
WITHSTANDING THEY'RE DOING SOME
WORK IN THE
DISTRICT THAT
IS HELPFUL, I JUST DON'T SEE
ACROSS THE BOARD HOW
THIS HAS HELPED ACROSS
THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT AND
MAYBE
THEY ARE BUT, AGAIN, I
DON'T HAVE THAT OUTCOME
INFORMATION BY
WHICH TO BE MAKING A
DETERMINATION THE BEST IS
TO DOUBLE THE FOLKS IF WE
DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE
OUTCOME INFORMATION ON HOW WELL
THIS IS
WORKING BESIDES JUST BEING
ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
ABOUT HOW
MANY CALLS THEY'RE ABLE
TO RESPOND TO PARTICULARLY
UNDER THE CURRENT SCENARIO WHICH
IS
DISPATCH AND, QUITE FRANKLY,
EVEN IF THEY HAD THE ABILITY
TO DO SOLE DISPATCH, I
IMAGINE THERE WOULD BE INSTANCES
IN
WHICH THEYTHEY CALL SPD
FOR ASSISTANCE ANYWAY BECAUSE
THEY MIGHT NEED THAT FOR SOME OF
THE
CASES,
SO I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW WELL THIS
IS WORKING AND THIS PREDICTION
WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ABLE
TO SOLE DISPATCH AND WHAT
THEY THINK WOULD BE DIFFERENT
IN TERMS OF INFORMATION SO THANK
YOU, TAMASO.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE
TO
GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION
FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO
WORK WITH YOU TO GET MORE ROBUST
AND SATISFACTORY
AND THE C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT IS
WATCHING AND LISTENING NOW AS
WELL
AND CAN CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, TAMASO.
AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY I
FULLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
I APPRECIATE THE STAFF -- THE
CURRENT STAFF AT THE C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT THAT I'VE INTERACTED
WITH.
THESE ARE GREAT PEOPLE AND NOT
A COMMENT ON SPECIFICALLY BUT
OVERALL HOW THE PROGRAM
IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND ALSO IF
WE
HAVE AN ALTERNATE RESPONSE --
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, IT
IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND
YIELDING THE OUTCOMES THAT WE
NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
BUT I THINK -- WASN'T THERE A
SLIDE OR DISCUSSION, AT LEAST,
THE PAST YEAR OR SO THAT WAS A
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT
OR A PLAN FOR COORDINATION
AMONGST CARE ANDAND OF THE
PROVIDERS, THE OUTREACH
PROVIDERS BE THEY
LEAD OUT REACH OR
THE THIRD AVENUE PROJECT?
AM I -- WAS THAT RIGHT BEFORE
LAST FALL'S BUDGET IF YOU
DON'T
RECALL, WE CAN THINK ABOUT IT
AND MAYBE GET ME THE ANSWER
LATER.
IT SEEMS WE HAVE ASKED FOR
THIS INFORMATION BEFORE AND IF
WE WERE GIVEN INFORMATION ON
THIS POLICY CONSIDERATION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
DON'T IMMEDIATELY RECALL IF
THAT WAS
IN THE FORM OF A SLIDE.
WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU AND IF
THAT WASN'T THE CASE
THAT IT WAS A SLIDE, IF IT'S
HAPPENED
THROUGH LESS FORM AL MEANS,
IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION WE WANT TO ILLICIT
AND IF WE
WANT TO PROVIDE THAT
THROUGH SOME OTHER MEANS.
WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS A SLIDE
BUT
I DO REMEMBER AA
OF EXASPERATION OR CURIOSITY
ABOUT HOW ALL OF THESE SERVICE
PROVIDERS INTERACT.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS HERE?
I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS AND
TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE JUST TO SAY THANK YOU,
TAMASO,
FOR THIS SUMMARY AND THIS
ANALYSIS.
I KNOW IT WAS MAYBE SHORTER
THAN.
LAST PRESENTATION AND IT WAS DUE
TO THE ROBUST CONVERSATION WE
HAD WITH THE DIRECTOR OFOF
C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT HERE ON THE
COMMITTEE TABLE.
I KNOW THAT THEY HAD BROUGHT
UP A POTENTIAL FOR 30- DAY
AFTER CARE CONNECTION AND WHILE
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA I
ALSO
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
YOU NOT INCLUDED THAT IN YOUR
MEMO BECAUSE
I THINK WE'RE NOT QUITE READY
FOR IT YET.
WHILE THERE ARE ASPECTS
THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS
PRESENTATION, I APPRECIATE
YOU NARROWING IT DOWN AND
FOCUSING ON WHAT IS ACTIONABLE.
INCREASING, DECREASING,
CUTTING COMPLETELY ALL OF THE
FUNDING IS
ALWAYS AN OPTION FOR EVERY
SINGLE BUDGET SUMMARY LEVEL.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT AS WE GO
INTO THE NEXT ROUNDS OF
OUR BUDGET WHERE THERE IS NOT
VERY
MUCH EXTRA MONEY AROUND AND SO
IF WE HAVE PRIORITIES WE
WILL NEED TO FIND FUNDING
SOURCES
FOR THOSE PRIORITIES.
WITH THAT I'M JUST SO
VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE
C.A.R.E.
DEPARTMENT AND I HEAR FROM
THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT I
REPRESENT AND RESIDENTS
ACROSS OUR CITY THEIR DESIRE TO
SEE MORE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE
WITH EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF
PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE.
I FULLY SUPPORT IT.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON
AND EVERYONE FOR THEIR COMMENTS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A
PROJECT IN THE WORKS AND WE
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE
IT.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE,
C.A.R.E., PDA AND OTHERS,
EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE EXECUTIVE
BUT EVERYONE INVOLVED AND FOR
THEIR WORK ON THE STREETS
LOOKING TO
IMPROVE OUR CITY.
SO THANK YOU.
>> TAMASO, ANYTHING TO LEAVE
US WITH AT THE END OF THIS
PRESENTATION?
>> NOTHING FURTHER
FROM ME.
>> APPRECIATE YOUR ANALYSIS.
AND WE WILL MOVE TO THE THIRD
ITEM.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE THIRD
ITEM.
>> AGENDA ITEM 3, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR BROEFG IEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> WE ARE JOINED BY KARINA
BULL AND GREG DOSS ON THE THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'LL LET YOU GET SETTLED AND
THEN BEGINNING WHENEVER YOU
WANT AND TAMASO JOHNSON HAS AN
ONLY
YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES.
GO MARINERS.
>> AN EDITORIAL COMMENT,
INSIGHT INTO CENTRAL STAFF
OPERATIONS THAT YOU DON'T NEED
THIS IS A
FOUR- PERSON TEAM SO WE DOVE
IN FACING SOME STAFFING ISSUES
AND
EVERYBODY HERE AT THE
TABLE, MYSELF INCLUDED, I WOULD
ADD, HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS
WORK.
I THINK MAINLY HEAR FROM GREG
AND KATRINA BECAUSE THEY
WILL FOCUS ON THE ACTUAL ISSUES,
JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE THREE
FOLKS
INVOLVED, AND MYSELF.
WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND
PULLED THIS ONE OFF.
A COMMENT ABOUT THE WAY
THE TEAM HAS -- NOT JUST THE
PEOPLE AT THE TEAM, THE TEAM AS
A WHOLE
HAS COME TOGETHER TO GET STUFF
DONE.
>> WE ARE ALL BETTER FOR IT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I AM KARINA BULL WITH
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND I AM
JOINED BY --
>> GREG DOSS, CENTRAL STAFF.
>> TAMASO JOHNSON,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AND BEN NOBLE,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I WILL PROVIDE THE
OVERVIEW OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND THEN WE
HAVE IDENTIFIED TWO POLICY
CONSIDERATION
CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOU.
TO BEGIN, THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE SEATTLE
FIRE
DEPARTMENT INCREASES BY $8
MILLION.
THAT'S 2. 3% RELATIVE TO THE
2026 ENDORSED BUDGET.
THE BULK OF
THIS INCREASE, APPROXIMATELY
ABOUT $5. 5
MILLION, IS DRIVEN
BY SIGNIFICANT POLICY PROPOSALS
NOT INCLUDED IN THE ENDORSED
BUDGET AND THE REMAINDER
ATTRIBUTING TO
TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS,
NAMELY THE
$2.8 MILLION INCREASE THAT WILL
BE USED TO ADDRESS
THE INCREASED COMPENSATION
COST RELATED TO A NEW LABOR
AGREEMENT WITH 2896 REPRESENTING
THE BATTALION AND DEPUTY CHIEFS.
FOR THE POLICY PROPOSALS YOU SEE
REFLECTED IN THE ADDITIONS,
THE FIRST IS A $1. 2 MILLION
INVESTMENT FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SALES TAX.
I KNOW HOW
WE'RE FRAMING THAT. I DO NOTE
-- BECAUSE THAT WAS
NOTED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET --
WILL EXPAND THE OVERDOSE
RESPONSE FUNCTION.
THIS WILL ADD STAFF AND
FUNDING TO INCREASE SERVICES
FROM
FIVE TO SEVENSEVEN DAYS WEEK.
IT INCLUDES THREE NEW
FTE FUNDING FOR A CONTRACT NURSE
AND TWO NEW VEHICLES AND THEN
TO COMPLEMENT THAT THERE ARE
TWO CASE MANAGERS IN HUMAN
SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. THERE ALSO IS
FUNDING ABOUT
684,000 FOR NEW FTE.
THESE ARE CIVILIAN ADDS FOR DATA
ANALYSIS, RECRUITMENT.
THIS WILL ADD MORE HR
CAPACITY TO HELP MANAGE THE
ANNUAL FIRE
EXAM. YOU WILL RECALL THAT LAST
YEAR COUNCIL ADDED FUNDING TO
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS
TO HOLD AN ANNUAL FIRE EXAM
INSTEAD OF EVERY TWO YEARS IN
ORDER
TO INCREASE THE HIRING OF MORE
FIREFIGHTERS.
AND SO AT THE TIME SFD
RECOGNIZED THAT THEY WOULD
NEED MORE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
TO HELP WITH THAT ANNUAL EXAM
AND THIS POSITION DOES JUST
THAT.
MORE POSITION SUPPORT
IN TECHNOLOGY AND ALSO
FIRE PREVENTION AND THE
ABATEMENT
OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS.
NEXT ON THE SAME TOPIC
AS RECRUITS THERE IS A ONE- TIME
$2. 1 MILLION ADD FUNDED BY
THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX TO
EXPAND THE RECRUIT CLASS FROM
80 TO 100.
RECRUITS FOR MANY YEARS
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS
HAD A HIGH VACANCY RATE DURING
THEIR PRESENTATION EARLIER IN
THIS BUDGET PROCESS THEY HAD A
SLIDE IN THEIR PRESENTATION
THAT SHOWED THE NUMBER OF
VACANCIES GOING BACK TO 2018 AND
IT
RANGED FROM 76 AT THE END OF THE
YEAR
ALL THE WAY TO 132 AT THE END OF
THE YEAR, WHICH WAS 2024.
SO WITH THE FUNDING FOR THESE
20 ADDITIONAL RECRUITS, THEY
ARE EXPECTING BASICALLY TO HAVE
THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES BY THE
END OF 2026.
AT THE END OF 2025,
THEY'RE THINKING THEY'RE GOING
TO
HAVE ABOUT 120 VACANCIES, AND BY
THE END OF NEXT YEAR, THEY
ARE EXPECTING 60 VACANCIES.
AND JUST TO PROVIDE MORE
CONTEXT FOR EACH RECRUIT DOING
THE MATH
IT'S ABOUT $100,000 FOR EACH
RECRUIT. THE COST FOR THAT ARE
ABOUT
HALF OF PAYMENT FOR THE RECRUITS
THEMSELVES.
THEY ARE PAID EMPLOYEES AND
THEN HALF ARE THE
INSTRUCTORS THAT ARE PROVIDING
THE INSTRUCTION
TO THOSE AS PART OF THE ACADEMY.
AND THEN LAST IS A ONE- TIME $1.
5
MILLION TO PAY FOR EQUIPMENT AND
TRAINING IN PREPARATION OF
THE FIFA WORLD CUP EVENTS AND
THE EXECUTIVE HAS NOTED THAT THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX IS FUNDING
THAT.
JUST AS A REMINDER MOST OF
FSD'S
BUDGET IS RELATED TO LABOR,
ABOUT 85% OF THEIR BUDGET IS
FOR THE EXPENSES OFOF LABOR.
AS FAR AS POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS, THESE ADDS
HAVEN'T RISEN TO
THE LEVEL OF A POLICY
CONSIDERATION, BUT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED
TWO. ONE IS TO THE POTENTIAL TO
ADD EIGHT CARS AND ONE IS
RELATED TO
A POSSIBLE TOOL TO ADDRESS
FIREFIGHTER INJURIES.
>> SO I'LL TAKE OVER AND I
WILL DESCRIBE THE FIRST ISSUE,
AID
CARS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRIMARILY
PROVIDES BASIC LIFE
SUPPORT SERVICES OR BLS
THROUGH DEPLOYMENT OF ITS AID
CARS.
THEY PROVIDE CRITICAL TASKS
SUCH AS CARDIAC DEFIBRILLATION
TO
STABILIZE PATIENTS BEFORE
THE PARAMEDICS CAN ARRIVE ON
SCENE.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS SEVEN AID
CARS, FIVE OF WHICH
ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEPLOYMENT
24/7,
AND THEY HAVE TWO 12- HOUR
AID CARS AVAILABLE DURING PEAK
911 CALL HOURS.
IF AN AID CAR IS NOT
AVAILABLE FOR DEPLOYMENT THEN
THE BASIC
LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES ARE
GOING TO BE DELIVERED BY AN
ENGINE COMPANY OR A LADDER, AND
IT
IS OBVIOUS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT WOULD PREFER NOT TO
DEPLOY
ENGINE COMPANIES OR LADDERS
TO DO BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
SERVICES.
IT'S INEFFICIENT, COSTLY
AND REDUCES THE NUMBER OF
VEHICLES AND FIREFIGHTERS
AVAILABLE FOR
FIRE DEPLOYMENTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE BY THIS CHART
OVER THE YEARS THE
DEPARTMENT HAS HAD MORE AND MORE
CALLS
FOR AID CARS, MEDICAL CALLS
THAT COULD BE RESPONDED TO BY
AN AID CAR, BETWEEN 2020 AND
2024
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AVERAGE
CALL NUMBER PER AID CAR HAS GONE
UP FROM ABOUT 3,800 TO 5,300,
AND
THAT SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IS
WELL ABOVE WHAT THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE
AGENCIES SUCH AS THE WASHINGTON
SURVEYING
AND RATING BUREAU
WOULD RECOMMEND BOTH THAT
OUTSIDE AGENCY AND THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT
WOULD RECOMMEND THAT
VARIOUS UNITS RESPOND ONLY 2,500
ALARMS PER YEAR AND THAT ONCE
YOU
REACH THAT THRESHOLD THE CITY
SHOULD
CONSIDER ADDING NEW UNITS.
SO IF THE COUNCIL CHOSE TO ADD
NEW UNITS OR WANTED TO ADD NEW
NEW AID CARS TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, IT WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO DO SO IMMEDIATELY.
IT'S THE CASE NOW THAT CURRENT
FIREFIGHTING STAFFING
ISSUES WILL PRECLUDE THE
IMMEDIATE
ADD OF AN AID CAR.
AS THE IMMEDIATE ADD OF AN AID
CAR WOULD REQUIREREQUIRE
OVERTIME
FUNDING AND OVERTIME IS
STRETCHED RIGHT NOW.
IT IS THE CASE THAT
MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS
ARE
BEING MET THROUGH
OVERTIME. OVERTIME IS AT
CAPACITY.
AN AID CAR COULD NOT BE ADDED
UNTIL THE FIRST CLASS OF
80 RECRUITS GRADUATES AND SO
SFD HAS SAID THEY WOULD LIKE AT
MIDYEAR TO ADD AN AID CAR ONCE
THEY GET MORE STAFFING
CAPACITY FROM THE RECRUIT CLASS.
WHAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU HERE ON
THIS SLIDE ARE SOME OPTIONS
TO DO SO.
OPTION A WOULD BE ADDING 2.
3 MILLION FOR ONE 24/7 AID CAR.
THAT WOULD BE
THE DEPARTMENT'S PRIORITY TO
ADD ONE FULL-
TIME AID CAR.
AND THAT WOULD COST $2. 3
MILLION.
IF THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE
BUDGET IS SUCH THAT ONE AID
CAR COULDN'T BE ADDED, THEN THE
DEPARTMENT'S SECOND CHOICE
WOULD BE TO ADD A 12- HOUR PEAK
TIME CAR WHICH WOULD BE
$4912,000.
>> CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE
ARE QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES.
I SEE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
KOUP SILL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> AS POLICYMAKERS IT BEHOOVES
US TO ASK WHAT IS DRIVING
THE INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR
AID CARS, AND I WOULD DIRECT
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION TO THE
AUDIT ADDRESSING PLACES IN
SEATTLE WHERE OVERDOSES AND
CRIME ARE
CONCENTRATED, AN EVIDENCE- BASED
APPROACH. ON PAGE FIVE, FOR
FUTURE
REFERENCE, DOES LIST
THE ADDRESSES WITH THE TOP
TEN CONTINUOUS -- THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF OVERDOSE RESPONSES AND
CRIME
INCIDENTS. NOW I'M TALKING
ABOUT
OVERDOSES BECAUSE THAT IS A
COMMON
AID CALL AND IN
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FACILITIES.
THIS DOVE TAILS WITH
THOSE FACILITIES RUN WELL.
THAT'S IT.
>> ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS POLICY
CONSIDERATION? SEEING NONE IF
THE DREAM
TEAM WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE.
>> THE NEXT POLICY
CONSIDERATION THAT WE'RE
BRINGING YOUR
ATTENTION
TO REGARDS FIREFIGHTER INJURIES
AND RETURN TO WORK.
AT THE BEGINNING STAGE OF
THE BUDGET THERE WERE QUESTIONS
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT
READY REBOUND AND READY REBOUND
IS A
COMPANY, A PRIVATE COMPANY,
AND IT FUNCTIONS AS A
CONCIERGE SERVICE TO HELP THOSE
WITH INJURIES GET HEALTH CARE
AND THEY PRESENT AS VIP
TREATMENT
TREATING FIREFIGHTERS LIKE
ATHLETES AND STAFF WITH
FIREFIGHTERS FOR EVENGS WORKERS.
THE GOAL IS TO HELP
FIREFIGHTERS GET ACCESS TO CARE
AND GET
THEM BACK TO WORK SOON ER
CONTRACTING TO ACHIEVE THIS
PURPOSE AND
RESULTING IN LOWER
WORKER COMPENSATION COSTS.
THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SOLE
AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTRATE THE
WORKERS COMPENSATION
PROGRAM HAVE CONSIDERED READY
REBOUND
AND HAVE DECIDED THEY DID
NOT FAVOR RETAINING THE PROGRAM
FOR TWO
REASONS. THE ISSER SERVICES DO
NOT HELP THE
ISSUES, THE GREATEST
CHALLENGES, WITH FIREFIGHTER
INJURY CLAIMS.
NATIONALLY, MUSCULOSKELETAL
INJURIES ARE THE --
CONSTITUTE THE GREATEST NUMBER
OF FIREFIGHTER INJURIES, BUT
IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT OF COST
FOR
WORKERS COMPENSATION THE --
THOSE TYPE OF CLAIMS ARE MOSTLY
RELATED TO
CARDIAC ISSUES AND THOSE TYPE OF
CONDITIONS.
10% OF ALL OF SFD'S CLAIMS,
27 OUT OF OVER 270 CLAIMS WERE
THE CLAIMS THAT WERE LONG
LASTING,
COMPLICATED, AND THEY WERE
RESULTING IN THE HIGHEST EXPENSE
IN SFD.
NOT MUSCULO SKELETAL CLAIMS.
ONE THING TO NOTE IS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF CLAIMS.
$17 MILLION WAS SPENT ON
WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS DUE
TO THE
WAY THE PROGRAM IS
ADMINISTERED, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT ENDED
UP PAYING OVER $14 MILLION FROM
THEIR OWN BUDGET AND
$17.3 IN ASSOCIATED LABOR COSTS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FILLING
THAT VACANCY OR VOID WITH
OVERTIME.
THE DEPARTMENT SPENDS MONEY ON
OVERTIME.
IT'S DUE TO OTHER REASONS.
THEY BUDGETED 42 MILLION.
AROUND 42 MILLION FOR OVERTIME.
THAT IS LESS THAN LAST YEAR.
WHEN WORKERS AREN'T ABLE TO BE
ON THE JOB, IT DOES IMPACT THE
COST OF THE DEPARTMENT AND
THE ABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT
TO SERVE THE CITY.
IF THERE'S NOT
ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS WHETHER DUE
TO
VACANCIES, THE RECRUITS
ARE INTENDED TO HELP, THEN IF
THEY'RE OUT ON SICK LEAVE,
THEN THAT IS YET ANOTHER
CONTRIBUTOR
TO NOT HAVING
ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS TO SERVE THE
CITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK
ABOUT IN WAYS TO ADDRESS WORKERS
COMPENSATION.
READY REBOUND IS HELPING TO GET
FIREFIGHTERS APPOINTMENTS
WITH MEDICAL DOCTORS.
IT HAS BEEN SEEN THAT'S NOT THE
GREATEST ISSUE WITH THE COST OF
WORKERS COMPENSATION.
ANOTHER ITEM TO CONSIDER IS SDHR
ADMINISTERS THE CITY'S WORKERS
COMPENSATION PROGRAM.
THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE
LEGALLYLEGALLY
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE PROGRAM OR OUTSOURCING IT TO
ANOTHER VENDOR DOES
HAVE POTENTIAL LEGAL
RISK AND LIABILITIES.
THE WORKERS COMPENSATION
UNIT DOES A VERY LIMITED
AMOUNTAMOUNT
THIRD- PARTY VENDOR CONTRACTS
BUT THEY DON'T RELATE TO
EMPLOYEE ADVOCACY OR CONCIERGE
SERVICES WHICH IS WHAT READY
REBOUND
DOES. IT'S MORE MEDICAL
PAYMENTS AND
THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AND IT
IS A TIGHTLY REGULATED SYSTEM
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
INDUSTRY UNDER STATE LAW IS
REGULATING, SO EVEN
THE CONTRACTS THAT SDHR DOES
NOW RELATED TO THIRD- PARTY
VENDORS ARE ALL GOVERNED BY
EXISTING RULES AND REGULATIONS
THAT
LNI HAS IN PLACE.
THERE ARE NO RULES
AND REGULATIONS FOR SERVICES
SUCH
AS READY REBOUND WHICH
OFFER EMPLOYEE ADVOCACY AND HELP
WITH SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS.
SO THERE ARE SOME RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH ANY SORT
OF THIRD PARTY VENDING
RELATIONSHIP, AND I SAID IN
MY MEMO CENTRAL STAFF
STRONGLY RECOMMENDS DISCUSSING
THOSE IN
A CONFIDENTIAL FORM RATHER THAN
ME GOING AND ELABORATING THEM
THEM
AT THE TABLE.
AS FAR AS -- AND THERE'S LABOR
IMPACTS REGARDING SOMETHING
LIKE A READY REBOUND OR ANYTHING
THAT WOULD IMPACT
WORKERS COMPENSATION AS WELL
THAT I
ENCOURAGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO CONSIDER IF
THERE IS INTEREST
IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS KIND
OF
PROGRAM.
SO AS OPTIONS THETHE
COULD CONSIDER ADDING $400,000
TO SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES.
AGAIN, IT WOULDN'T GO TO SSFD,
SUBJECT TO BARGAINING AND
ALSO SUBJECT TO MEETING IN
A CONFIDENTIAL FORM TO
DISCUSS RISK AND LIABILITIES.
ANOTHER WAY TO ADDRESS
THIS COULD BE TO PASS A
LEGISLATIVE -- STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT REQUIRING
SFD
IN CONSULTATION WITH HR, UNION
PARTNERS, OTHER RELEVANT
ENTITIES TO
COMPREHENSIVELY REPORT ON WAYS
TO DEVELOP OR
ENHANCE THE CITY'S RESPONSE
TO FIREFIGHTER INJURY CLAIMS
THAT ALSO COULD INCLUDE
PREVENTION
OF INJURY, CLAIMS TO THE EXTENT
THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED,
AND BEFORE TAKING ANY STEP
FORWARD TO THINK ABOUT IT
BEFOREHAND,
TO THINK WHERE IS THE
INVESTMENT GOING TO BE BEST
SPENT.
IT'S NOT LISTED ON HERE
BUT ANOTHER POSSIBLE OPTION
IS ADDING A WORKERS
COMPENSATION ANALYST IN THE SDHR
WORKERS COMPENSATION UNIT.
CURRENTLY THAT UNIT HAS
ABOUTABOUT
PEOPLE FOR THE WHOLE
CITY, AND THERE ARE FIVE
ANALYSTS.
SFD DOES HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF
CLAIMS. IF A COUNCILMEMBER IS
INTERESTED
IN THAT, AN ANALYST, A SENIOR
ONE, A POSITION WOULD COST
ABOUT $170,000 A YEAR.
A REGULAR ONE WOULD COST ABOUT
$157,000 A YEAR.
THE REASON WHY I
DIDN'T INITIALLY PUT IT ON THIS
OPTION
LIST IS BECAUSE WHAT THE
ANALYSTS DO AND WHAT
READY REBOUND DO ARE DIFFERENT
IN THAT
THE ANALYSTS AREN'T HELPING
EMPLOYEES SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THEY HAVE
THE RIGHT TO DO ON THEIR OWN
UNDER
STATE LAW, BUT THEY
DO FACILITATE THE ABILITY TO GET
AN APPOINTMENT SUCH AS THEY NEED
TO PREAUTHORIZE TREATMENT
CLAIMS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SDHR IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT
THE IMPACT OF ADDING ANOTHER
PERSON ON THEIR STAFF WOULD BE,
SO
THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED
BEFORE THINKING ABOUT ADDING
ANOTHER PERSON TO THEIR STAFF.
AND LAST, THERE COULD BE NO
CHANGE.
THAT'S IT FOR MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, KARINA.
ALWAYS AN OPTION, NO CHANGE
OR TO INCREASE OR DECREASE.
WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, ARE
THERE QUESTIONS REGARDING READY
REBOUND?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.
DOES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
HAVE THEIR OWN IN- HOUSE
WELLNESS
UNIT AT THIS POINT?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF A WELLNESS
UNIT. THERE IS A DISABILITY
OFFICER THAT IS A UNIFORMED
POSITION
THAT IS HELPING
FIREFIGHTERS FIND LIGHT DUTY AND
MODIFIED
DUTY RETURN TO WORK, AND THAT IS
A VERY BUSY POSITION OFTEN
HAVING TO WORK OVERTIME.
SO THAT'S NOT A WELLNESS
POSITION, SO TO SAY, BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING ADJACENT TO IT.
THE CITY DOES HAVE A WELLNESS
POSITION CITYWIDE THAT IS
AVAILABLE, THAT IS PROMOTING
AND DEVELOPING PROGRAMS TO SERVE
THE
CITY AT-LARGE.
>> OKAY.
WELL, ONE OF THE REASONS I ASK
THIS, I KNOW THAT INTERNAL
SPD THEY HAVE A WELLNESS UNIT
WITH
SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
PREASSIGNED PER PRECINCT. I WAS
WONDERING IF THAT
SAME KIND OF SYSTEM OF SUPPORT
WAS AVAILABLE FOR OUR
FIREFIGHTERS, AND FROM WHAT
YOU'RE
SAYING, YOU HAVE ONE PERSON WHO
IS TRYING
TO DO IT ALL FOR EVERYBODY.
>> I WILL FIND OUT IF
THERE'S OTHERS THAT ARE
ASSISTING
IN THAT EFFORT AND REPORT BACK
TO
YOU.
>> OKAY.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, LOOKING
AT THE -- WHAT SEEMS LIKE
READY REBOUND MAY BE DOING FOR
OUR FOLKS -- A LOT OF WHAT
OUR WELLNESS PEOPLE DO IS MAKE
REFERRALS TO OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE PD
THAT MAY
BE ABLE TO ASSIST FOLKS WHO
ARE DEALING WITH WITH YOU
KNOW, TRAUMA AND OTHER KIND OF
ISSUES.
SO, AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO KNOW
IF THERE IS SOMETHING
SIMILAR AVAILABLE FOR OUR
FIREFIGHTERS.
YEAH, I
WOULD BE INTERESTED TO
FIND OUT MORE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
CENTRAL STAFF WILL FOLLOW
UP WITH YOU THERE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS ON THIS?
IF NOT, I THINK WE'LL TICK
TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHICH IS
QUESTIONS, AND SO AT THAT POINT
I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS OVERALL
REGARDING SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS, AND
THANK YOU FOR REFERRING TO
THEM AS THE DREAM TEAM, GIVEN MY
ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENT, I AM QUITE FORTUNATE
TO WORK WITH
CENTRAL STAFF'S BEST -- WELL, I
GUESS I CAN'T GO THERE BASED
ON THE DIRECTOR'S POINT, BUT IN
MY
VIEW, A TOP TEAM TO WORK
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, SO THANK
YOU, MS.
BULL, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND
FOR THE OTHERS JOINING US IN THE
PRESENTATION.
GOING TO SLIDE TWO, I JUST
WANTED TO THANK
THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE
RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT
FROM CHIEF
SCOGGINS BUT ALSO I WANTED
TO THANK THE FIREFIGHTERS
THEMSELVES, BEST REPRESENTED BY
LOCAL 27 AND, AS YOU
MENTIONED 28 AND 98, AND FOR
THEIR WORK IN
RESPONDING -- THIS IS JUST
FOR THE AID CARS, BUT THE
OVERALL
CALLS THAT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS RESPONDING TO IS
INCREDIBLE.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO GO TO THE FIRE
ALARM
CENTER AND TO GO TO FIRE
STATIONS.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE AND
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT KIND OF
SERVES THE SAME PIECE IN TERMS
OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN
ENGAGING WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I
THINK IT MAKES
A DIFFERENCE. AND IF YOU DO DO
IT LIKE AT A
DINNER, I'VE HAD MANY, I NEED
TO GET BACK INTO THE
ROTATION, YOU'LL FIND THERE'S
ALWAYS
A FIREFIGHTER OR TWO THAT'S
FROM SOME OTHER STATION
COVERING.
AND IT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS
SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT
WE'VE
HAD TODAY, AND SO I DEFINITELY
RECOMMEND THOSE ENGAGEMENTS AND
NOT JUST FOR THE FIRE
STATIONS BUT ALSO HEALTH ONE, 99
AND THOSE UNITS AS WELL.
THIS IS AN INCREASED AREA AND IT
KIND OF INTERSECTS LIKE IN
OUR PAST DISCUSSION WITH
C.A.R.E.
IN TERMS OF THOSE SITUATIONS ON
THE GROUND AND LIKE WITH HEALTH
ONE IN TERMS OF HOW TO MAKE
A POSITIVE CHANGE AND IN A WAY
THAT DOESN'T HAVE A CRIMINAL
ASPECT AND DOESN'T CREATE
A CRIMINAL ASPECT TO THAT.
AND SO, AS NOTED BY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WITH THE AID
CARS AND
WITH THIS SLIDE NUMBER TWO,
WE DO HAVE FOR LACK OF A BETTER
WAY, HIGH UTILIZED LOCATIONS
AND THIS KIND OF DRIVES THE
POINT
AND I'VE BEEN TO THE FIRE
GARAGE, TOO, IN TERMS OF WHAT
IS THE MAINTENANCE COST FOR FIRE
ENGINES AND LADDER TRUCKS.
THE INCREASED USE AND THE DEMAND
ON THOSE BIG RIGS TO GO TO,
ESSENTIALLY, A BLS CALL, THAT IS
A LOT OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S
TAKING
WEAR AND TEAR ON EQUIPMENT THAT
COSTS A LOT, AND YOU LOOK AT
THE FIRE GARAGE WHICH WE HAD
SOME
POSITIVE REPORTS FROM THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING, BUT,
STILL, THE TRENDS ARE NOT GOOD
OF THE
DEMAND CYCLE SIDE OF THINGS AND
WE
NEED TO BE SMART IN TERMS OF
HOW WE'RE ALLOCATING ASSETS AND
PARTICULARLY FOR THE LONG TERM.
AND SO I THINK AID CARS
ARE SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY
NEED
TO DIVE INTO AND REALLY
UNDERSTAND HOW THAT COULD SAVE
IN OTHER
AREAS IN BEING MORE NIMBLE
AND RESPONSE AND SAVE IN THE
BROADER CONTEXT PARTICULARLY
WITH
OUR LADDER TRUCKS AND FIRE
ENGINES.
I THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION
ON THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, EQUIPMENT IS
ONE THING BUT PEOPLE ARE EVEN
MORE
IMPORTANT, SO THE READY RESPONSE
DISCUSSION IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.
I LIKE THE RUNDOWN.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING
MORE GENERALLY WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS OUTSIDE
LIKE MENTIONING WITH THE TWO
LOCALS.
I HAVE TO BE UP FRONT AND SAY AT
THE BEGINNING OF THIS MORNING, I
NOTED THAT WHEN WE SET UP
OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS THROUGH
THE COURSE OF THE YEAR,
WE'RE SETTING THEM UP FOR
BUDGET.
AND WE'VE NOT TALKED ABOUT
THIS IN COMMITTEE, AND SO I
REALLY WOULD LIKE TO DO IT BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE BALL
BASED
ON THE OBVIOUS FACTORS THAT
WE'RE
FACING, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE OPTIONS THAT
WE'VE HAD,
AND I REALLY WANT TO DIVE INTO
THESE
AREAS MORE AS WE MOVE FORWARD
INTO 2026 BECAUSE
THEY'RE VERY
IMPORTANT AND THEY HAVE IMPACTS
ACROSS THE BOARD, AS I WAS
MENTIONING, REGARDING THE
STATUS OF OUR FIRE ENGINES AND
LADDER
TRUCKS. MS. BULL, THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION, AND, AGAIN,
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO GO
TO THE FIRE STATIONS, TO
THESE UNITS LIKE HEALTH ONE,
HARBOR --
NOT HARBOR -- I WAS THINKING
OF A SPECIFIC FIRE STATION --
BUT TO DO THOSE BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND PAYS
DIVIDENDS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR TODAY'S
PRESENTATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
I JUST HAVE A QUICK CLARIFYING
QUESTION GOING BACK TO THE
FIRST POLICY CONSIDERATION.
AM I CORRECT IN
UNDERSTANDING THAT REGARDLESS OF
OPTION A
OR OPTION B THE FIRST YEAR
WILL INCUR AN OVERTIME FUNDING
COST OF $784,000?
AND IF COUNCIL PURSUES OPTION
A, WHAT DOES THE FTE COST LOOK
LIKE FOR YEARS GOING FORWARD
AFTER
2026?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE
AN INITIAL OVERTIME COST IN
2026 WITH EITHER OPTION.
WITH OPTION A, THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD USE
OVERTIME
TO IMMEDIATELY FUND A CAR
STARTING IN JULY, AND AS I
MENTIONED
EARLIER, THE IDEA IS THERE
ARE TOO MUCH -- THERE'S TOO
MUCH DEMAND ON OVERTIME RIGHT
NOW,
SO STARTING IN JULY THEY WOULD
FUND THE CAR WITH OVERTIME.
SIMULTANEOUSLY THEY WOULD
PUT MORE RECRUITS INTO THE JULY
CLASS, AND THE IDEA THERE
IS THAT AS YOU GOT INTO 2026,
YOU COULD HAVE SOME OF
THOSE RECRUITS START STAFFING
THE CAR
AND REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON
OVERTIME.
THE STAFFING COSTS FOR
2026, PUTTING THOSE RECRUITS
INTO
A CLASS AND FUNDING THEM THERE
WITH THE EQUIPMENT AND WITH
THE OTHER COSTS FOR TRAINING
IS ABOUT $1. 04 MILLION.
MOVING INTO 2027, IT WOULD
BE THE CASE THAT 1. 04 WOULD
GROW TO
ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE IS
THE RECRUITS ARE GOING TO
GRADUATE, THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE
INTO FULLY
FUNDED FIRE DEPARTMENT POCKETS.
THEIR SALARIES ARE GOING TO
GROW.
SO THERE IS A BIT OF AN
ONGOING COST THAT INCREASES.
IT'S SIMPLER WITH OPTION
B BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
ONLY STAFFS WITH OVERTIME
WHEN THEY'RE STAFFING THEIR 12-
HOUR
CARS, AND SO IN THAT CASE
YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ANY BACK
FILLING.
YOU WOULDN'T ADD TO RECRUIT
CLASSES.
THEY WOULD JUST START STAFFING
WITH OVERTIME IN MID- 2026
AND THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO STAFF
WITH OVERTIME GOING FORWARD.
DID I GET EVERYTHING?
>> THANK YOU.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS?
>> JUST REAL QUICK.
>> DIRECTOR NOBLE.
>> THIS WOULD BE A DATA POINT
THAT GREG CAN PROBABLY FOLLOW UP
ON.
THE ADVANTAGE OF A PEAK CAR
IS IT MIGHT BE ADDRESSING WHEN
THE LARGER INCREASE OF CALLS IS
OCCURRING.
IN GENERAL THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS DEPLOYED 24/7 AT
AN
EQUAL LEVEL SO THE STATIONS ARE
ALL STAFFED EQUALLY 24/7 EXCEPT
IN THE CONTEXT OF AID CARS, SO
AID
CARS IN PARTICULAR, FEELS TO
ME, A PARTICULAR ONE WHERE
TARGETING THE PEAK USE, AGAIN,
GIVEN
THE ISSUE HERE IS IN RESPONDING
TO THE INCREASING NUMBER OF
CALLS, THAT CAN MAKE A LOT OF
SENSE.
AS NOTED HERE,
FIREFIGHTERS' PERMANENT SHIFTS
ARE 24- HOUR
SHIFTS. YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH
OVERTIME IF YOU DO 24- HOUR
SHIFTS.
SOMETHING AS WE GET INTO THE
ANALYTICS OF WHAT DEMAND ARE
WE TRYING TO MEET IS AN
IMPORTANT PIECE TO CONSIDER.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL JUST MAKE MY COMMENTS.
I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS AT THE
MOMENT.
I'LL FOLLOW UP ON Q&A WITH YOU
SHOULD -- TO FLUSH OUT
THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO BE
ABLE TO HELP PREPARE THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE ESPECIALLY
AFTER I WOULD
LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE PRIORITIES OF MY
COLLEAGUES ARE BECAUSE
EVERYONE HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST
IN
SUPPORTING THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT,
AND SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE
EVERYONE -- WHERE THE BODY IS
AT
BEFORE MAKING FINAL DECISIONS
FOR MYSELF.
OVERALL I COMPLETELY SUPPORT
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I SUPPORT THE ITEMS RAISED BY MY
COLLEAGUES, AND I SUPPORT
THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED
AS ISSUES MUCH LIKE THE LAST
PRESENTATION WITH TAMASO, I
DID NOT SEE A SLIDE SAYING THAT
WE COULD INCREASE OR DECREASE
HEALTH ONE.
JUST NOTING FOR THE RECORD THAT
MIGHT BE SOMETHING I
WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN INCREASING AS WELL
ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE, TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
POINT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF
ENGINES,
LADDER TRUCKS, VERY
SPECIALIZED HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT
THAT IS
ROLLING OUR STREETS FOR
RESPONSES THAT CAN BE HANDLED
BY DIFFERENT UNITS.
THIS WAS THE PREMISE OF HEALTH
ONE.
AND SO WE MAY WANT TO LOOK
INTO THAT BIT MORE.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW FOR THE
RECORD.
COLLEAGUES, LAST CALL ON
QUESTIONS, OTHERWISE I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE
OVERSEEING THE DEPARTMENT
AND FOR A LAST WORD.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY SUPPORT
FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND
THE VARIOUS NEEDS WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT.
SO JUST FOR THE RECORD I
WANTED TO STATE THAT.
AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED
IN HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH
YOU,
CHAIR, ABOUT BOTH THE HEALTH
ONE, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND ONE
OF THE HEALTH ONE TRUCKS -- AND,
GREG, MAYBE YOU CAN CONFIRM
THIS -- BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS
THAT ONE OF THE HEALTH ONE
RIGS GOT WITH THE PEOPLE
TRANSFERRED
OVER TO BECOME A HEALTH 99
AND SO THEN THEY LOST HEALTH
ONE,
AND, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I
WOULD BE INTERESTED, CHAIR, AS
YOU
SAID, TO LOOK INTO WHETHER
WE CAN REPLACE THAT HEALTH ONE
UNIT.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> GREG, CAN YOU CONFIRM?
>> ACTUALLY, IN OUR DREAM TEAM
FORMAT HERE, TAMASO
IS GOING TO BE HANDLING THE --
>> SORRY, TAMASO.
>> -- VARIOUS HEALTH ONE,
HEALTH 99, 98 ISSUES.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE KNOWS THE
ANSWER, BUT I'LL PASS IT OVER.
>> YES, THANK YOU, GREG.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I'M NOT
IMMEDIATELY -- I'M NOT
WILLING THAT IMMEDIATELY OFF THE
TOP
OF MY HEAD BUT I WILL LOOK AT
THAT AND FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
>> I BELIEVE THAT IS THE
CASE,
BUT THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
AND ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE
COMMITTEE TABLE? I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AS
CHAIRMAN OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
AND THIS DISCUSSION
HIGHLIGHTS THAT IT'S A VERY
COMPLICATED SITUATION AND HEALTH
99, HEALTH
ONE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES,
AID CARS AND EVERYTHING, AND
I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE TO SEE
THE COST BENEFIT, THE TRADEOFFS.
THERE'S DEFINITELY
TRADEOFFS WITH THE BIG RIGS, AS
I CALL
THEM.
THE LADDER TRUCKS AND THE FIRE
ENGINES. AND THEN THE ISSUES
WITH THE
FIRE GARAGE WHICH ARE
TRENDING BETTER BUT, STILL,
IT'S
PRECARIOUS, AND
SO WORKING THROUGH THIS IS
REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
BEST POSITIONED PUBLIC SAFETY
BROADLY
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM TO GO, SO
I THANK YOU FOR THE POINTS
RAISED
AND THE ANSWERS RELATED
TO ALL THE DIFFERENT LITTLE
PIECES,
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
TO THE DREAM TEAM, THE
COMMITTEE TABLE, ANYTHING ELSE
TO ADD?
>> NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, COLLEAGUES, WE ARE AT
12:21 P.M.
I'LL SAY THAT WE WILL NOW TAKE
A MOMENT TO GO TO OUR LUNCH
BREAK.
WE'LL JUST ADD THE NINE EXTRA
MINUTES, AND SO TODAY
THE OCTOBER 17th SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE
IN
RECESS UNTIL 1:30 P.M.
THIS AFTERNOON WE HAVE
ONE DEPARTMENT THAT DOES MANY
DIFFERENT THINGS.
EVERY POINT ALONG OUR LIFE
OTHER THAN EARLY LEARNING AND
EARLY
EDUCATION IS THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
FROM BEING A YOUNG PERSON TO --
I'M NOT GOING TO START
PUTTING THESE SUBJECTIVESUBJECTI
VE BUT ALL
ALONG YOUR LIFE, THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL
BE
HELPING YOU OUT.
AND SO WE'LL TAKE THAT UP THIS
AFTERNOON, AND, UNTIL THEN,
WE ARE ON RECESS UNTIL 1:30.
THANK YOU.