>>> GOOD MORNING. WE ARE JUST
WAITING FOR THE LAST PERSON TO
WALK IN THE DOOR. WE HAVE FIVE?
WONDERFUL. GOOD MORNING. THE
OCTOBER 30th, 2025 SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 9:30 A.M. I'M DAN
STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL
MEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> AND CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. AND THIS MORNING,
WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT
ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE'LL DO
THE AGENDA FIRST. ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, WE'LL HEAR THE
REMAINING PROPOSALS FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WE
ALSO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
AND RINCK PRESENT WITH US NOW.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE ARE ABOUT TO
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WAS ADDED BECAUSE
NOT ALL AMENDMENTS OR PROPOSALS
FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ABLE
TO BE PUBLISHED BY THE FIRST
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THIS WEEK.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC
HEARING NEXT THURSDAY. AND
CLERK, CAN YOU LET ME KNOW HOW
MANY FOLKS WE HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE 19 IN PERSON AND SIX
REMOTE.
>> AND LET ME JUST CHECK. WITH A
RAISE OF HANDS, OF THOSE 19, WHO
IS PART OF ONE OF THE GROUPS
THAT I SPOKE WITH? OKAY. A
CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
WONDERFUL. AND HOW MANY DO WE
HAVE REMOTE?
>> WE HAVE SIX. WELL, FIVE.
>> FIVE.
>> UH-HUH.
>> WONDERFUL. SO THE WAY WE'RE
GOING TO WORK THIS MORNING IS A
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES, GROUPS OF THREE OR
MORE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES. AND
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO COMPLETE
EVERYONE SPEAKING WITHIN THE
HOUR. THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS THAT I'M
GOING TO BE STRICT ABOUT THE
HOUR. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO
CHAT WITH THE FOLKS THAT HAVE
COME HERE TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST
WAY TO USE OUR TIME TOGETHER. SO
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CALL,
LET ME FIRST READ THE RULES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNERS.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS AND MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
ON THEIR TIME. PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. I WOULD
SUGGEST USING THESE TWO
MICROPHONES, ALTHOUGH ALL THREE
ARE AVAILABLE. WE'RE GOING TO
START WITH THE IN-PERSON FOLKS
FIRST FOR THE TWO GROUPS. THE
FIRST PERSON IN YOUR GROUP TO BE
CALLED, JUST COME ON UP, AND
THEN WE'LL TICK THEM OFF AS WE
GO. GOOD MORNING, GREG. GOOD TO
SEE YOU.
>> SHOULD I GO NOW?
>> WHEN YOU START, WE'LL START
THE TIMER.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS.
I'M REPRESENTING 4,800 TRANSIT
WORKERS. WE MOVE YOUR CITY. OUR
UNION FULLY SUPPORTS AND ASKS
YOU ALL TO VOTE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S
LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A
TRANSIT SAFETY PROGRAM. THIS
WILL BACK UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMITMENTS TO SUPPORT THE
REGIONAL TRANSIT SAFETY TASK
FORCE THAT OUR UNION DEMANDED
AFTER THE BRUTAL MURDER IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. SEATTLE'S
HUGE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC
TRANSIT ARE PLACED AT RISK IF
PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE TO RIDE
OR OPERATE IT. SEATTLE AND EACH
CITY IN KING COUNTY SHARES JOINT
RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE COUNTY
FOR ITS CITIZENS SAFETY ON AND
AROUND PUBLIC TRANSIT. OUR UNION
IS WATCHING, AND WE'LL BE THERE
TO PUBLICLY PRAISE AND SHOW
SUPPORT WHENEVER THAT
RESPONSIBILITY IS BEING MET. AND
WON'T HESITATE TO CALL IT OUT
WHENEVER IT'S BEING SHIRKED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GREG. UP NEXT IS
NUBA, EXCUSE ME. AND THEN
STANLEY.
>> IT'S NUBA. I KNOW, IT'S A
DIFFICULT NAME. OKAY. GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
NUBA AND I WORK AT THE SOMALIA
SAFETY TASK FORCE THAT SUPPORTS
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ACROSS
KING COUNTY. I'M HERE TO SHARE
MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENT
HSD-620A WHICH PROVIDES ONE
MILLION IN ONGOING FUNDING FOR
SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. AT THE TASK FORCE, WE
EMPOWER SURVIVORS. MANY OF WHOM
ARE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN
THROUGH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE
ADVOCACY, SAFETY PLANNING, AND
ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES
THAT HELP THEM REBUILD THEIR
LIVES WITH DIGNITY AND SAFETY.
EVERY DAY, WE SEE HOW LIMITED
RESOURCES AND LANGUAGE BARRIERS
MAKE IT HARDER FOR SURVIVORS TO
GET THE HELP THEY NEED.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IS NOT AN
ISOLATED ISSUE. IT FUELS HOUSING
INSTABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH
STRUGGLES, AND FAMILY TRAUMA
ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY
COMMUNITIES. AFFIRMING THAT
EVERY SURVIVOR DESERVES SAFETY,
HEALING, AND HOPE. SO THIS IS
FROM MY ORGANIZATION AND
PERSONALLY ME. I WOULD LIKE TO
ADD ONE THING. I WOULD REQUEST
EVERYONE, REQUEST THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO KEEP IN MIND THAT
CURRENTLY, WE ARE REALLY
STRUGGLING WITH EMPLOYMENT.
GRADUATES ARE GRADUATING BUT
SITTING WITHOUT JOB AND
EMPLOYMENT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO
SOLVE THIS, BUT I WOULD REQUEST
YOU ALL TO KEEP THIS IN MIND SO
THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR
SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS TO GET A
GOOD JOB OR TO GET A JOB. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, NUBA. UP NEXT IS
STANLEY. AND IF YOU WANT TO LET
ME KNOW BEFORE WE START YOUR
TIME, EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP, SO
THEN I CAN CHECK THEM OFF HERE.
>> OKAY. EVERYONE IN THE GROUP,
JONATHAN BETSAL, STANLEY, TARA.
>> WONDERFUL. SO WE'VE GOT FIVE
MINUTES, AND YOU CAN USE IT
HOWEVER YOU LIKE.
>> GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
TARA. I LIVE AND WORK AS AN
ARTIST HERE IN SEATTLE AND SERVE
ON THE BOARD OF THE SUDOKU
RENEWAL PROJECT. WE'RE WORKING
IN RESPONSE TO THE THEFT OF THE
BRONZE STATUE OF THE 11-YEAR-OLD
HIROSHIMA BOMB VICTIM. ARTS DOES
NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REPLACE
THE PUBLIC ART, SO THE THEFT,
SINCE THE THEFT OUR GROUP HAS
VOLUNTEERED AND SELECTED AN
ARTIST THROUGH A RIGOROUS JURY
PROCESS. WE NEED TO RAISE THE
NECESSARY FUNDS TO DESIGN,
FABRICATE, AND INSTALL THE WORK
$500,000 BUDGET. THAT NUMBER
INCLUDES A $100,000 MAINTENANCE
FUND FOR ARTS AS THE NEW ART
WORK WILL BE ASCENDED BACK INTO
THE CITY ART COLLECTION. I
EXPRESS MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION
FOR COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S
PROPOSAL OF A BUDGET ACTION FOR
THE $200,000 ARTS AND CULTURE
FUND AND HUMBLEY REQUEST THAT
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORT AND
PASS THE ACTION. FOR THREE
DECADES, THE PEACE PARK PROVIDED
A RATHER DEEP LEVEL OF
ENGAGEMENT FOR A PUBLIC ART
PROJECT AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WOULD FOLD AND HANG ORIGAMI
CRANES ON THE STATUE AND REFLECT
ON WORLD PEACE, NUCLEAR
DISARMAMENT, AND MEMORIALIZATION
OF ATOMIC BOMB VICTIMS. IT
REMAINS AN INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC
RELATIONS ISSUE FOR OUR CITY.
THE THEFT AND ONGOING EFFORT TO
REPLACE THE STATUE IS A
[INDISCERNIBLE] AS WELL AS IN
THE U.S. AND IT IS TIME TO SHOW
THE WORLD THE VALUES THAT OUR
CITY HOLDS DEAR. THIS PROJECT
HAS BROUGHT PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES, THE
JAPANESE AMERICAN AND PEACE
ACTIVIST COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT
THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN
JAPAN. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I'M STANLEY. I'M A
MEMBER ALSO OF THE SADAKO
PROJECT. AND ALSO A BOARD MEMBER
OF SEATTLE CHAPTER OF THE
JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS
LEAGUE. ON THE LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL FOR SOLIDARITY AND A
VETERANS COMMUNITY. I'M A
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. I WANT TO
EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR POSTING
THIS EXPENDITURE FOR THE STATUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT
AS TARA MENTIONED, THIS HAS
BROAD SUPPORT. NOT JUST ONE
COMMUNITY, NOT JUST ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S PEACE
ACTIVISTS FROM THROUGHOUT PUGET
SOUND. IT'S JAPANESE AMERICANS
FROM SEATTLE, TACOMA, ALL OVER.
WE'VE GOTTEN DONATIONS SINCE
THE THEFT OF THE STATUE FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS
JAPAN. A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN
HIROSHIMA DID A HIGH SCHOOL
FUNDRAISING PROJECT AND RAISED
OVER $1,000. THIS HAS
REPRESENTATION OF SO MANY VALUES
THAT SEATTLE HOLDS DEAR. IT
REPRESENTS PEACE. IT REPRESENTS
CHILDREN. IT REPRESENTS HOPE. IT
REPRESENTS A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
THAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY,
ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME. AND
WE'RE NOT HERE TO, I WANT TO
SAY WE'RE NOT HERE TO BEG FOR
FUNDS. WE'RE HERE TO OFFER AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND TO THIS COUNCIL TO
MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT CHILDREN,
ABOUT PEACE, ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL
LIFE THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE IN
THIS CITY. OR NOT. AND I ASK YOU
TO SUPPORT IT.
>> MY NAME IS JONATHAN, MEMBER
OF UNIVERSITY FRIENDS MEETING.
ONE OF FOUNDERS OF OUR MEETING,
ALSO FOUNDED THE PEACE PARK
BECAUSE OF HIS OWN LONG HISTORY
AND STANDING TOGETHER WITH
JAPANESE AMERICANS AS THEY
SUFFERED DISCRIMINATION
THROUGHOUT THE 1940s. WE ARE
TRYING TO UPHOLD THAT SPIRIT
TODAY BY FOLDING OUR OWN PAPER
CRANES AND HANGING THEM ON THE
STATUE. PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE
COUNTRY ARE SENDING PAPER CRANES
TO THAT STATUE ALL THE TIME. THE
POST OFFICE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE
TO TAKE THEM, SO THEY BRING THEM
TO US AT QUAKER MEETING ACROSS
THE STREET, AND THEN IT'S OUR
JOB TO STRING THEM UP AND HANG
THEM ON THE STATUE. WE ACTUALLY
IN 2010, I HAVE PHOTOS FROM A
CEREMONY WHERE WE DID THAT, THIS
WAS FROM A SPECIAL ED CLASS IN
CONNECTICUT. I THEN E-MAILED THE
PHOTOS TO THEM, AND THEY WROTE
BACK SAYING HOW THRILLED THE
KIDS WERE. SO NO DOUBT ABOUT IT,
THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL
OF PEACE. WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP IT GOING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'LL
NOW MOVE ON TO DREW JOHNSTON
FOLLOWED BY DON BLAKENY AND
SALLY BAGSHAW. I REALIZE AS I
READ THE NAME, I DID NOT FOLLOW
THE PROPER PROTOCOL OF CALLING
YOU FIRST. BUT YOU HAVE A LARGE
FIRST. SO WITH THAT, DREW, GOOD
MORNING.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DREW
JOHNSTON. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
LUMEN FIELD. WE ARE VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA'S BUDGET AMENDMENT IN
SUPPORT OF THE UNPERMITTED
VENDING ISSUE THAT WE'VE SEEN
JUST A REALLY SHARP RISE IN
AROUND OUR BUSINESSES. THIS
AMENDMENT IS THOUGHTFULLY
CRAFTED IN A WAY TO HELP WITH
ENFORCEMENT AND PATHWAYS TO
APPROVAL. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK
WHAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING IS A
REAL RISE IN OUR AREA WHENEVER
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS
GATHERED, THERE'S JUST A LOT
OF, IT'S ORGANIZED. WE'RE
SEEING IT ACROSS THE WEST COAST,
AND SEATTLE COULD BENEFIT FROM
THE ABILITY TO DO MORE, TO HAVE
MORE OUTINGS, TO REALLY FOCUS ON
THIS ISSUE. IT'S CREATING
CONFLICTS WITH BUSINESSES THAT
ARE NEARBY, ESPECIALLY ON
OCCIDENTAL. IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE
AS WELL FOR FOLKS, AND THEN
IT'S ALSO JUST A CONCERN WITH
KIND OF ACCESSIBILITY WHEN
THEY'RE CLOGGING UP ALL THESE
AREAS WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE
GATHERED. WE APPRECIATE THE
AMENDMENT AND ON BEHALF OF OUR
COALITION, WE WANT SO SUPPORT
THAT. AND APPRECIATE ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S WORK ON
THE NOISE ORDINANCE. THAT WOULD
REALLY HELP TO REALLY IMPROVE
OUR ABILITY TO DO I LIVABILITY
AND SAFETY WITH THESE LARGE,
MASSIVE GATHERINGS WE HAVE
WHENEVER WE GATHER TOGETHER AS A
CITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, DREW. UP NEXT IS
DON BLAKENY AND THEN SALLY
BAGSHAW AND FRIENDS.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US THIS MORNING. I'M HERE
TO REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP OF
NON-PROFIT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
AREA IN SEATTLE'S U DISTRICT.
WE REPRESENT ABOUT 36,000
PEOPLE. AND FOR YEARS, OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN A PLACE
WHERE HOMELESS HAVE COME TO KIND
OF SITUATE THEMSELVES IN
SEATTLE, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME OF
THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUES
AROUND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
PEOPLE SUFFERING ON THE STREETS
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AS THESE
CONDITIONS GOT WORSE DURING THE
PANDEMIC, WE INVESTED WITH THE
CITY IN SOME HOMELESS OUTREACH
THAT WAS DEDICATED TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE OUR OUTREACH
WORKERS COULD MAKE MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE
SUFFERING FROM THESE ISSUES WHO
ARE ALSO HAVING A MAJOR IMPACT
ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE ABLE
TO CASE PLAN WITH THEM WITH
NETWORKS OF SOCIAL SERVICES THAT
WERE ABLE TO GET THEM THE HELP
THEY NEEDED AND REDUCE THE
IMPACT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE
WERE ABLE TO GET ABOUT 140
PEOPLE IN SHELTER OVER THE LAST
FOUR YEARS, 60 PEOPLE INTO
HOUSING, AND IT'S BROUGHT A
MUCH CALMER ASPECT TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WE STILL HAVE
A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I'M REALLY
EXCITED THAT THERE'S A PROPOSAL
IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER, RIVERA AND YOU,
CHAIR STRAUSS FOR ADVANCING THIS
IDEA OF A DEDICATED OUTREACH
WORKER THAT COULD COME AND
CONTINUE THIS WORK GOING
FORWARD. ALSO DEDICATED
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEDICATION
DISTRIBUTION. THAT WILL BE
SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO US. ANYWAY, WE HAD
A MEETING DOWNSTAIRS AT CITY
HALL HERE EARLIER THIS WEEK
WHERE 100 PEOPLE CAME TO LISTEN
TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE
IMPACT WE'RE HAVING. I THINK
THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE INTEREST
IN THIS RIGHT NOW. IT'S THE
ACUTE PAIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
SEEING WITH THIS CHALLENGING
ISSUE. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A
QUICK PLUG. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOR YOUR
WORK ON THE UNPERMITTED VENDING
THAT'S AFFECTING THE U DISTRICT
AS WELL. AND COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA'S INVESTMENT, THANK YOU
FOR THAT TOO.
>> THANK YOU, DON. AND NOW WE
WILL HAVE SALLY BAGSHAW AND THE
FRIENDS OF SOUTH LAKE UNION
PARK.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, BEFORE I GET
STARTED, DO YOU THINK WE COULD
NEGOTIATE TO ONE MINUTE A PIECE?
WE'VE GOT NINE OR 10 OF US
HERE.
>> UM, IF FOLKS WANTED TO DO ONE
MINUTE A PIECE INSTEAD OF AS A
GROUP, WE COULD DO THAT.
>> WE'LL JUST A FOLLOW UP?
>> IT'S LESS THAN THE TWO
MINUTES THAT WE'RE PRESCRIBED
TO EVERYONE ELSE.
>> THAT'S GREAT. COUNCIL
MEMBER, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. I'M
SALLY BAGSHAW. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE AND CHAIR STRAUSS, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP ON
THE SOUTH LAKE UNION. SO MANY
OTHERS HERE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
IMPACT. SOUTH LAKE UNION PARK
WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR NEWER
PARKS IN SEATTLE, ALTHOUGH IT
WAS DESIGNED INITIALLY BY THE
OLMSTEAD'S IN 1903 FOLLOWED UP
BY A GROUP THAT WAS LOOKING AT
THESE BANDS OF GREEN. AND THEN
THANKS TO SEATTLE PARKS
FOUNDATION, WE WERE ABLE TO
BRING TOGETHER $20 MILLION OF
PHILANTHROPY AND OPENED THIS
PARK IN 2010. SINCE THAT TIME,
WE HAVE REALLY SEEN A DOWNTURN
IN MAINTENANCE. I KNOW SEATTLE
PARKS HAS BEEN DOING WHAT IT
CAN, BUT WE NEED A LOT MORE. AND
THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO
FOLLOW ME, JULIE HOLLAND FROM
SOUTH LAKE UNION COMMUNITY
COUNCIL, THE NORTHWEST HERITAGE,
THAT'S JOE. ANTHONY LONG FROM
MOHI. I'LL LET THE REST OF THEM
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, GOOD TO
SEE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND
WE APPRECIATE WHAT THE COUNCIL
IS DOING.
>> THANK YOU. IF WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE EVERYONE SPEAK, I'D LIKE
YOU ALL TO LINE UP. I'LL CALL
YOU IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU
ARE REGISTERED. WE'LL TICK
THROUGH THIS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. WE HAVE JULIE HOLLAND,
TOM GRAFF, JOE, JOSH ANDERSON,
PAIGE C, ANTHONY LONG, ALICIA
BARNES, STEVE WALKER, Z
BACHELOR, BOBBY NICHOL. YOU HAVE
TO HAVE THE MIC CLOSE.
>> REGARDING THE REQUEST OF $1
MILLION TO REVITALIZE LAKE UNION
PARK, A DECISION CRITICAL TO ITS
FUTURE. NOT SUPPORTING THE
BUDGET REQUEST COMPROMISES TWO
YEARS OF WORK BY THE SLU PARKS
TASK FORCE IN COLLABORATION WITH
PARKS TO SECURE CORE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT FUNDING FOR THE
THREE SLU PARKS, WHICH WAS
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL JUST
THIS YEAR. ALSO, IT COMPROMISES
THESE INVESTMENTS ALREADY
FUNDED, AND THOSE TO BE FUNDED
BY FUTURE PRIVATE SECTOR GIVING.
WHY? BECAUSE MAKING A
SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
IN A PARK WITH DETERIORATING
GROUNDS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE
WITHOUT A REMEDIATION PLAN IS AN
IRRESPONSIBLE DECISION. AND
BECAUSE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO
REVITALIZE THE DETERIORATING
PARK WILL SERVE TO TRIGGER
ADDITIONAL PRIVATE FUNDING.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS REQUEST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JULIE. UP NEXT IS
GARY. GARY, WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GARY
JOHNSON, THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF
A NON-PROFIT CALLED MARKET TO
MOHI. WE CREATED A MARKET TRAIL
IN LAKE UNION PARK. I'M
SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THE REQUESTED BUDGET
ALLOCATION TO MAKE REPAIRS AND
IMPROVEMENTS TO LAKE UNION PARK.
MARKET TO MOHI INSTALLED SIGN
BLADES THAT HAVE IMAGE AND
NARRATIVES ABOUT THE AREA'S
HISTORY AND SIDEWALK TILES THAT
INCLUDE QUOTES FROM PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE AND AROUND THE WORLD.
WE'RE WORKING TO BRING THE
LARGE HISTORIC PINK ELEPHANT CAR
WASH SIGN OUT INTO LAKE UNION
PARK. WE AGREE WITH OUR
COALITION PARTNERS IN FIXING THE
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES THAT THE PARK
IS SUFFERING FROM MUST COME
FIRST. WHEN THE PARK WAS
DEVELOPED WITH $20 MILLION IN
PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING, THE CITY
PROMISED TO MAINTAIN IT AT A
HIGH LEVEL. THAT HAS NOT
HAPPENED. IT NEEDS INTERVENTION
NOW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TOM GRAFF IS NEXT.
TOM, DID YOU WANT TO...
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT THIS MORNING? GARY
JOHNSON, AND JOE.
>> I'M JOE FOR NORTHWEST
SEAPORT. WE OWN THE MUSEUM SHIPS
AT THE HISTORIC WHARF, AND THE
1904 VESSEL, ALSO THE OLDEST IN
WORLD. WE'RE SPEAKING IN FAVOR
OF THIS PROPOSAL. THE PARK
DESPERATELY NEEDS IT. WE'VE HAD
THE PLEASURE THE LAST YEAR OF
TOURING YOU ON OUR SHIPS. WE'D
LOVE TO TOUR THE REST OF YOU SO
YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS PARK NEEDS
THE ADDITIONAL BUDGET. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOE. JOSH
ANDERSON.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M JOSH
ANDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
THE CENTER FOR WOODEN BOATS. WE
MANAGE THE LAKE UNION WORKING
GROUP. ON BEHALF OF SEATTLE
PARKS, I'M PART OF THE FRIENDS
OF LAKE UNION PARK. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION FOR
RENOVATIONS TO LAKE UNION PARK.
THIS PARK IS A VITAL COMMUNITY
ASSET, SERVES RESIDENTS,
FAMILIES, AND VISITORS EVERY
SINGLE DAY. I SEE HOW HEAVILY
THIS PARK IS USED AND HOW MUCH
THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED.
IT CONNECTS THE COMMUNITY TO THE
WATER AND PROVIDES ESSENTIAL
PUBLIC SPACE IN A RAPIDLY
GROWING NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY RELY
ON THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
INVESTING IN LAKE UNION PARK IS
INVESTING IN PUBLIC ACCESS TO
OUR WATER AND THE COMMUNITY
GATHERING SPACES. I URGE YOU TO
APPROVE THIS FUNDING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS PAIGE
C.
>> HI. MY NAME IS PAIGE
CRUTCHER. I AM WITH FRIENDS OF
LAKE UNION PARK. I'M A
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. I GOT
INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT DURING
COVID AS I WAS WALKING THROUGH
THE PARK, IT WAS EXTREMELY
DEGRADED. I REALLY COME FROM THE
WELL BEING OF ADOLESCENTS AND
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING
WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, AND
I SEE THESE SPACES AS THE ONES
THAT INVITE US OUT TO INTERACT
AND TO GET OFF THE SCREENS, AND
THAT PARK HAS REALLY FALLEN
THROUGH THE CRACKS. AND WE'VE
WORKED NUMEROUS YEARS TO SUPPORT
PARKS PHYSICALLY AND
ENCOURAGING, AND IT'S PROBABLY
BEEN SIX OR SEVEN YEARS NOW
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN POLITELY
SUPPORTING THEM. AND I THINK
IT'S TIME WITH FIFA COMING TO
RIDE THAT WAVE, TO BRING THIS
PARK BACK, AND LET IT SHINE.
>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE ANTHONY
WONG NEXT, AND THEN WE'LL COME
TO YOU, ALICIA. ANTHONY, GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANTHONY
LONG. I REPRESENT THE TRUSTEES
OF THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
THE REHABILITATION OF LAKE UNION
PARK. MOHI AND MANY OF OUR PARK
PARTNERS AND NEIGHBORS LOOK
FORWARD TO WELCOMING 10s OF
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO LAKE
UNION PARK NEXT YEAR,
PARTICULARLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE WORLD CUP AND THE VERY
SPECIAL EVENTS BEING PLANNED TO
CELEBRATE THE NATION'S 250th
BIRTHDAY. YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE
PARKS, SAFETY, AND IMPROVEMENT
WILL ENSURE A WELCOMING GREEN
SPACE FOR ALL PARK-BASED
INSTITUTIONS AND THE THOUSANDS
OF VISITORS DURING THIS
IMPORTANT TIME. IT WILL ENSURE
THE PARK REMAINS A VIBRANT AND
BEAUTIFUL FRONT YARD FOR ONE OF
THE REGION'S MOST DIVERSE AND
FASTEST GROWING NEIGHBORHOODS
FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALICIA, WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALICIA
BARNES, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR THE STEAMSHIP VIRGINIA FIVE.
AS THAT IS THE HOME FOR THREE
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE VISITORS FEEL
SAFE AND WELCOME AND LIKE THEY
HAVE THE FACILITIES THAT THEY
DESERVE WHILE THEY'RE THERE. SO
WE REALLY STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, AND HOPE
THAT YOU WILL AS WELL. AND
PLEASE COME VISIT THE SHIPS.
>> THANKS FOR KEEPING THE LAST
OF OUR MOSQUITO FLEET OPERATING
IN OUR WATERWAYS. UP NEXT, I
HAVE STEVE WALKER.
>> I'M, I HAVE THE SEATTLE FIRE
BOAT DEWAMISH. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR CONSIDERING TO GIVE US
THE MONEY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
>> NEXT I HAVE ZANDER BACHELOR.
OH. YEP. COME ON UP. WE HAD DONE
GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE. CAN I
GIVE YOU EACH TWO MINUTES?
>> YES.
>> WONDERFUL. SO TOM, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND ALL OF YOU. I AM TOM
GRAFF. I LIVE AND WORK IN
BELLTOWN. IT IS THE DENSEST
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SEATTLE, AND WE
HAVE NO GREEN SPACE. WHEN IT WAS
ZONED FOR RESIDENTIAL IN 1985,
THEY THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING A
REGRADE COMMONS. IT WAS MODELED
AFTER THE PARKS IN PORTLAND.
WHAT WE GOT INSTEAD WAS THE
REGRADE DOG PARK. IT IS NOT
GREEN, AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE,
ENOUGH OPEN SPACE FOR OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY AT PORTAL PARK TO
ACTUALLY GIVE US OPEN SPACE. AND
THE DIAGONAL FROM FIRST AND
BATTERY TO WESTERN AND BLANCHARD
A CITY RD IS AMAZING. THE PARK
NEEDS SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO
DESIGN AND SCOPE A PARK HERE.
COUNCILMAN KETTLE PUT THIS IN
THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, AND I
BEG YOU TO ALLOW THIS TO MOVE
FORWARD SO WE CAN AT LEAST HAVE
SOME GREEN SPACE.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ZANDER
BACHELOR, PRESIDENT OF THE BELL
TOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL. I'D LIKE
TO ECHO MANY OF TOM'S COMMENTS
AND ADD THAT DURING THIS SUMMER,
WE ALL CELEBRATED THE
WATERFRONT'S REVIVAL. AND THIS
PARCEL IS THE LAST PIECE, PUZZLE
PIECE OF THAT REVIVAL. AND WE'VE
LITERALLY, LITERALLY BEEN
WAITING TWO DECADES FOR THIS TO
HAPPEN. SO IT WOULD BE VERY
NICE, VERY NICE IF I COULD
REPORT BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT THE CITY IS MAKING PROGRESS
ON THIS MATTER. AND I KNOW THIS
BODY HOLDS ITS CONCEPT OF EQUITY
IN HIGH REGARD. WE DO NOT HAVE,
HA, THE GREEN SPACE EQUITY IN
BELLTOWN THAT WE SHOULD. AND
THAT'S PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING
AS, YOU KNOW, WE PAY BUSINESS
TAXES, WE PAY REAL ESTATE TAXES,
AND WE DON'T SEE A
CORRESPONDING INVESTMENT OF THE
CITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE
HAVE MADE IN THE CITY. SO THIS
IS A CHANCE TO BRING THIS ALL IN
LINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE DO HAVE A THIRD PERSON ON
REMOTE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN
LET HER SPEAK NOW OR NOT.
>> WE ARE ABOUT TO MOVE INTO THE
ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE
WILL MOVE RIGHT THERE NOW. IF
YOU ARE IN CHAMBERS AND WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK AND HAVE NOT YET
SIGNED UP, YOU CAN DO SO NOW. I
GOT YOU, BOBBY. SO IF YOU HAVE
NOT SIGNED UP, WE ARE GOING TO
DO THE ONLINE, AND THEN WE'LL
COME BACK TO ANYONE ELSE WHO
SIGNED UP. BUT BOBBY, YOU ARE
YOU ARE LAST ON THE IN-PERSON
LIST, SO COME ON UP, AND THEN
WE'LL MOVE INTO ONLINE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. THERE IS SO MUCH THAT I
COULD CO-SIGN TODAY. THE BETTER
PATH TO FOOD PERMITTING THAT MY
FRIEND DREW MENTIONED AT LUMEN
FIELD IN ADDITION TO THE NOISE
ORDINANCE. THE WORK CHAMPIONING
BETTER HOMELESS RESPONSE, BUT
I'M EXCITED TO TALK
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FURTHER
INVESTMENT INS THE CARE TEAM, IN
PARTICULAR COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
YOUR PROPOSED FUNDING FOR 911
CALL TAKERS AND THE BROADER
EXPANSION OF THE CARE PROGRAM.
WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT
SAFETY FROM VISITORS, INCLUDING
GROUP PLANNERS WHO ARE ACTIVELY
DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO BRING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOCAL
ECONOMIC IMPACT TO SEATTLE. AND
WE LOVE TELLING THEM THAT
SEATTLE HAS A RARE THIRD PUBLIC
SAFETY DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDS
TO CALLS FOR WHICH ARMED
OFFICERS ARE NOT REQUIRED. WE
CAN ONLY CONTINUE TO DO THAT IF
THE CARE DEPARTMENT IS BETTER
EMPOWERED TO COME QUICKLY AND
CONNECTS THE FOLKS EXPERIENCING
CRISES TO LONG-TERM HELP. THE
FUNDING YOU'RE CONSIDERING
TODAY WILL HELP BRING RESIDENTS
AND VISITORS TO SEATTLE, BUT IT
WILL SHOW THAT WE AS A CITY
PRIORITIZE CARING FOR OUR OWN IN
A WAY THAT BEST ADDRESSES THEIR
NEEDS. TO THE POINT OF MY
FRIENDS BEHIND ME, BUDGETS ARE A
MORAL DOCUMENT. I WANT TO THANK
CHIEF AMY BARTON FOR HER
ADVOCACY AND FIGHTING THE STATUS
QUO. THE FOLKS WHO WORKED REALLY
HARD ON REACHING A TENTATIVE
AGREEMENT AND ALL OF YOU CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOUR
STAFFERS FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON
THIS MASSIVE, MONSTER BUDGET.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN
CARE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BOBBY. AND NOW WE
WILL MOVE TO THE ONLINE PUBLIC
COMMENT. I'M GOING TO READ
EVERYBODY'S NAME. ONCE WE'RE
DONE WITH THE ONLINE PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE
REMAINING FOLKS IN CHAMBERS.
PERFECT. SO WE'LL JUST, WE'LL
GET YOU AT THE END OF ONLINE
PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH WE HAVE
ONLINE, WE HAVE DAVID HAINES,
MORGAN LITTLEFIELD, HOLLY
DECKER, JAMIE. THAT'S YOU?
FANTASTIC. DON CAMERON AND
CHILIA JACKSON. I AM CERTAIN MY
BALLARD READING DID NOT TEACH ME
WELL ENOUGH TO READ YOUR NAME
CORRECTLY. WITH THAT, DAVID, I
SEE YOU'RE ALREADY OFF MUTE.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> SEATTLE UNITE AND FIGHT THE
WALL STREET GROCERY STORES THAT
ARE RIPPING PEOPLE OFF. WHY IS
IT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WON'T
USE MONEY TO HELP FARMERS
MARKETS SET UP PERMANENTLY
INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM SET UP IN
THE MORNING AND THEN LEAVE IN
THE AFTERNOON ONE DAY A WEEK AND
ACTING LIKE YOU'RE KEEPING IT
SAFE. WHY IS IT THAT YOU'RE
GIVING MONEY TO THE FOOD BANKS
WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO EXTEND
THEIR HOURS? BECAUSE THEY
PURPOSELY, IT SEEMS, KEPT IT
EXTREMELY DESPERATE FOR PEOPLE.
AND IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE A
CHAOTIC EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY'RE
TRYING TO BUTTON PUSH PEOPLE
DRIVING BY SEEING HOW DESPERATE
IT IS HOPING THEY CAN GET MORE
DONATIONS. AND IT'S A CONCERN
THAT YOU ALL THINK THAT YOUTH
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION EXTENDS
ALL THE WAY UP TO 27-YEAR-OLDS,
LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW ANY
BETTER. THAT'S A REAL CONCERN.
AND YOU KNOW THE CLINIC FOR $6
MILLION IN THE RAINIER BEACH,
ARE THEY ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE
A DOCTOR THERE, OR IS IT GOING
TO BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SCAMS
ON HEALTH CARE WHERE YOU SHOW
UP, THEY CHECK YOUR HEART RATE,
ASK YOU A FEW QUESTION, AND THEN
THEY GIVE YOU A REFERRAL TO GO
ELSEWHERE TO ACTUALLY FIND A
DOCTOR? THAT'S A LEGITIMATE
QUESTION BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES
PEOPLE ARE GETTING RICH OFF
HEALTH CARE BY OVERCHARGING THE
SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE REAL
ESTATE. AND THAT'S REVOLTING.
AND YOU KNOW THE BUS THAT GOES
THROUGH UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO
BALLARD, THE NUMBER 44 THAT USED
TO GO ALL THE WAY TO GOLDEN
GARDENS? WHY DOES COUNCIL HAVE
TO SPEND A HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS FOR A PILOT PROJECT
WHEN, IN FACT, ALL YOU HAVE TO
DO IS REQUIRE ONE OF THE SIX
BUSES THAT BACK UP AT THE 7/11
ACROSS FROM THE LOT AND JUST
HAVE THEM GO OUT TO GOLDEN
GARDENS LIKE THEY USED TO. IT
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WE HAVE
AN ABUSIVE BUS UNION, AND THOSE
BUS DRIVERS NEED TO SPEAK UP
WHEN THERE'S PROBLEMS AT THE
BUS STOPS. THEY ALLOW THINGS TO
GET OUT OF CONTROL AND ACT LIKE
IT'S NOT THEIR BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAINES. UP
NEXT IS BJ. BJ, WELCOME. I SEE
YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS BJ.
I'M A BALLARD HOMEOWNER. I
NOTICED THE AMENDMENTS FOR THE
HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADD UP
TO $127.1 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL
FUNDING. REALLY GOOD NEWS ON
THAT. ALL OF THOSE ITEMS,
COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE TO FUND THEM
BY TAKING MONEY THAT SBD IS
ASKING FOR THAT IT ALREADY HAS
FUNDING FOR. THE BUDGET OF $34
MILLION MEANS COUNCIL CAN DECIDE
TO FUND ALL HSD AMENDMENTS PLUS
THE $10 MILLION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON PUT IN FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR NON-PROFIT
HOUSING PROVIDERS AND STILL HAVE
MONEY LEFT OVER ON THAT ONE.
THAT'S A DECISION COUNCIL CAN
ABSOLUTELY MAKE AND REALLY
SHOULD TO FUND THOSE PROGRAMS TO
REDUCE VIOLENCE AND KEEP PEOPLE
SAFE. WE KNOW SNAP BENEFITS ARE
ABOUT TO EXPIRE. THAT'S GOING
TO IMPACT A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT OF
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. THE CITY
COULD MAKE THE DECISION TO FUND
SNAP BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE CURRENTLY RECEIVING SNAP
FOR A LITTLE OVER SIX MONTHS IF
THEY HELD SBD'S BUDGET TO WHAT
IT WAS BACK IN 2019. IF YOU JUST
REVERSE THE GROWTH SINCE 2019,
YOU'D BE ABLE TO FUND SNAP FOR
OVER HALF THE YEAR FOR THE
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE CURRENTLY
RECEIVING SNAP. AND THAT MAY
SOUND LIKE A, YOU KNOW, EXTREME
OR RADICAL PROPOSAL. IN 2019,
SBD HAD MORE OFFICERS, AND
ACTUALLY HAD ADDITIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE 911
DISPATCH WAS ALSO IN THERE. SO
IT SEEMS VERY REASONABLE TO
EXPECT THAT SPD WITH FEWER
OFFICERS AND A SMALLER WORKLOAD
COULD GET BY WITH THE SAME
BUDGET IT HAD YEARS AGO.
>> I SAW WE HAD 17 SECONDS LEFT.
DID HE JUST DROP? OKAY. BJ,
APOLOGIES. IT SEEMS THAT YOU
DROPPED FROM THE CALL. PLEASE
E-MAIL US AT
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. WITH THAT,
OUR NEXT SPEAKER ON THE LIST IS
MORGAN LITTLEFIELD FOLLOWED BY
HOLLY DECKER. JAMIE IS HERE. BUT
CHILIA, YOU HAVE NOT CALLED IN
YET. MORGAN, I SEE YOU'RE OFF
MUTE. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. I'M
MORGAN LITTLEFIELD, DIRECTOR OF
PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE SEATTLE
KRAKEN. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENSURING WE ARE GOOD NEIGHBORS
TO SEATTLE CENTER. I'M HERE TO
EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S BUDGET
AMENDMENT WHICH REQUESTS THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO LEAD A
COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW ON
THE CITY'S APPROACH TO
LICENSING AND ENFORCEMENT OF
UNPERMITTED FOOD AND MERCHANDISE
VENDING. THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS AREAS HAVE EXPERIENCED
A SHARP RISE IN UNLICENSED
VENDING ACTIVITY OVER THE PAST
FEW YEARS. THIS CREATES HEALTH,
SAFETY, AND ACCESSIBILITY
CONCERNS WHILE PLACING COMPLIANT
BUSINESSES AT A COMPETITIVE
DISADVANTAGE. WE PREPARE TO
WELCOME THE WORLD FOR 2026 FIFA
WORLD CUP. COORDINATED ACTION
WILL HELP ENSURE OUR CITY
REMAINS SAFE AND WELCOMING WHILE
ENSURING SUCCESS FOR LOCAL
BUSINESSES, MANY STILL
RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC. I
ALSO WISH TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT
FOR THE RELATED AMENDMENT
MO-002SA CALLING FOR A STUDY ON
CITYWIDE NOISE ENFORCEMENT. WE
ARE ASKING FOR A SOLUTION FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO USE DEVICES AT
UNSAFE NOISE LEVELS PARTICULARLY
AS GUESTS ENTER AND LEAVE
VENUES. THIS CAN CREATE AN
UNPLEASANT AND POTENTIALLY
UNSAFE EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS,
EMPLOYEE, AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN
THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO
SOLUTIONS THAT SERVE ALL OF
SEATTLE'S COMMUNITIES. THANK
YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS HOLLY DECKER
FOLLOWED BY DON CAMERON. MORGAN,
TALKED TO MORGAN. HOLLY, I SEE
YOU'RE HERE. STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
THERE YOU ARE. GOOD MORNING.
>> HI. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS HOLLY DECKER. I'VE BEEN
LEADING THE PORTAL PARK
COMMITTEE SINCE 2020. I'M HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE TO
SUPPORT. THE WORK ON THE PORTAL
PARK SITE BEGAN IN 2017 WELL
BEFORE THE BATTERY STREET TUNNEL
DECOMMISSIONED IN 2019. WE'VE
MADE GREAT PROGRESS PARTNERING
WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, SEATTLE
PARKS FOUNDATION, THIS COUNCIL,
AND CITY AGENCIES LIKE SDOT. IN
2022, THERE WAS A CONCRETE MINI
PARK OVERLOOKING THE PORTAL PARK
SITE. THE PORCH HAS BECOME A
GATHERING PLACE WELCOMING SUNSET
ADMIRERS AND CLUBBERS ON A
BREAK, MOVIE GOERS, FRIENDS. AND
OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY
ALSO MADE POSSIBLE THE PLANTING
OF OVER THREE MILLION WILD
FLOWERS FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A
ROW, THIS WAS JUST RE-SEEDED
LAST SUNDAY. WE NEED GREEN SPACE
AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION IN OUR
DENSE NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR WORK TO
OPEN THE PORTAL PARK IS NOWHERE
CLOSE TO DONE. YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT REMAINS ESSENTIAL TO
BUILD ON THIS INCREDIBLE
MOMENTUM. I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY
THANK THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM,
BOB KETTLE. COUNCIL SUPPORT OF
THE BUDGET CONTINUES TO BUILD ON
THE STRONG FOUNDATION THAT YOU
HAVE HELPED US CREATE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE
DON CAMERON AND THEN CHILIA. I
SEE YOU ARE NOW CALLED IN. GOOD
MORNING, DON. STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
DON, STAR 6 TO UNMUTE. OH, LOOKS
LIKE DON DROPPED. DON, YOU'RE
BACK. STAR 6 TO UNMUTE. WHY
DON'T WE LEAVE DON THERE AND
WE'LL BRING UP CHILIA. YOU'RE
ALREADY OFF MUTE. OH, DON, NOW
WE'RE... DON, THANK YOU. THERE
WE ARE. DON, TAKE IT AWAY. GOOD
MORNING. TWO MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
MY NAME IS DON CAMERON. I'M
WITH SEATTLE CARES AND MENTORING
MOVEMENT. WE'RE A MENTORING
PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH AT-RISK
AND COURT-INVOLVED KIDS IN
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY. WE
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
BILL NUMBER 65 THAT PROVIDES
SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS
IN OUR COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK
THERE'S EVER BEEN A TIME IN MY
LIFETIME THAT I'VE SEEN HOW OUR
PROGRAMS CAN BE MORE IMPACTFUL,
PARTICULARLY WITH MOST OF THE
FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH ARE
RECEIVING SNAP DOLLARS. I'VE
BEEN GETTING PHONE CALLS AROUND
THE CLOCK IN TERMS OF PROVIDING
SUPPORT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE
DONE THIS YEAR JUST RECENTLY IS
WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED
PARTNERSHIP FOR HOPE. WE'RE
BRINGING 36 PALETTES OF FOOD TO
OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE FOCUSING
ON SCHOOLS AND APARTMENT
COMPLEXES. WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE LAKE WASHINGTON
APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR THE LAST
TWO YEARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CHURCH HOME AND THE 4C
COALITION. WE'VE SENT THOUSANDS
OF FAMILIES OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME
WE'RE GOING TO BRING THAT FOOD
DELIVERY TO MERCER MIDDLE SCHOOL
IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE. WE'RE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THE
FOOD DELIVERY IS GOING TO TAKE
PLACE ON DECEMBER 8th STARTING
IN THE MORNING AT 8:00. WE ERR
RUNNING THREE SHIFTS. WE LOOKING
FOR VOLUNTEERS. THIS IS A
PROGRAM THAT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW
FITS, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT WE HAD NO IDEA WHEN WE
ENVISIONED THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM
WOULD BE RUNNING OUT. WHAT WE DO
KNOW IS SOMETIMES WHEN YOU
PREPARE FOR THINGS AND YOU TRY
TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN OUR
COMMUNITY, OPPORTUNITY JUST
COMES, AND THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ARE
WELCOMING AND WE'RE EXCITED
ABOUT. IN ADDITION TO THAT,
WE'RE GOING TO DO THE FOOD
DELIVERY ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING
MENTORING, WORKING WITH
FAMILIES. I THOUGHT IT WAS
IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU, DON. CHILIA, I SEE
YOU'RE ALREADY HERE. MY
APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO
READ VERY WELL THIS MORNING AND
PRONOUNCE THE WORDS THAT I SEE
BEFORE ME. BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF. YOU CAME OFF
MUTE, WENT BACK ON MUTE. STAR 6.
WE'LL TRY ONE MORE TIME. THERE
YOU ARE. WELCOME.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> WE CAN. GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CHILIA JACKSON. I RUN THE
PANTHER YOUTH FOOTBALL
ORGANIZATION IN THE SEATTLE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. I'M CALLING
TO SAY I WANT SUPPORT THE
INITIATIVE OF THE BUDGET TO
PROVIDE OPERATIONS FOR THE CD
PANTHER FAMILIES OUT HERE, FOR
US. THE FUNDING WILL HELP US FOR
PURCHASING EQUIPMENT, PAYING FOR
FEES FOR THE FAMILIES, MY
PLAYERS OUT THERE, THE
CHEERLEADING SQUAD, AND SAVE
FAMILIES THAT CAN'T FEED THEIR
FAMILIES TOO. THE FUNDING WILL
HELP US BUILD COMMUNITY OUT
THERE AND HELP US PROVIDE
OUTREACH FOR THE KIDS AND MAKE
SURE THAT THEY HAVE SOMEWHERE TO
GO TO AND THE FUNDING WILL MEAN
A LOT TO US IF WE HAVE THE
FUNDING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE
COMPLETED ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO THE
IN-PERSON, SO WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE CHRISTIAN AND THEN JAMIE,
YOU'LL HAVE LAST WORD THIS
MORNING. CHRISTIAN, GOOD
MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING YOUR CREW DID THIS
YEAR. YOU MADE LIFELONG MEMORIES
FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. WE
WISH THE SEASON COULD HAVE.
>> HANG ON REAL QUICK.
>> IS THE MICROPHONE?
>> IF YOU COULD MICK JAGGER.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE,
AND I WAS, WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT
THE WAY IN WHICH THE MARINERS
SEASON RALLIED THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO ADD ON
BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE MARINERS,
TO ADD OUR VOICE TO THE CHORUS
OF THOSE YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD
FROM IN SUPPORT OF THE
COUNCIL'S ATTENTION TO THE TWO
I THINK VERY PRESSING ISSUES
INVOLVING UNPERMITED FOOD
VENDORS AND THE USE OF AMPLIFIED
SOUND DEVICES IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT OF WAY. WE ARE
PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR PROPOSING
MO-002SA AND MO-003SA. WE
BELIEVE BOTH OF THESE ISSUES
MERIT SUBSTANTIAL STUDY AND THE
PURSUIT OF SOLUTIONS. WHEN
DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF
UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDORS, WE
BELIEVE THIS PRESENTS
SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY
RISK TO THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE
AWARE THAT THE PUBLIC
FACILITIES, WHICH ARE OUR JEWELS
AND THE CROWN OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, IS PRESSING. THIS ISSUE
AFFECTS OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS,
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND BUSINESS
DISTRICTS IN WAYS THAT MERIT
YOUR ATTENTION. WE BELIEVE THAT
THE UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING
ISSUE PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT
PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS, BOTH WITH
RESPECT TO FOOD SAFETY, BUT ALSO
THE UNREGULATED USE OF COOKING
DEVICES AND FLAMMABLE GASES. AND
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
ARE SAFE AND THAT WE ALSO ENSURE
THAT PERMITTED BUSINESSES HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE. WITH
RESPECT TO THE USE OF AMPLIFIED
SOUND DEVICES IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT OF WAY, WE ARE ACUTELY
AWARE OF THE HEALTH RISKS THAT
THE SOUND CREATED BY THESE
DEVICES THREATENS, AND THAT RISK
IS POSED TO BOTH GUESTS WHO ARE
TRAPPED IN CONFINED SPACES AS
WELL AS ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO
ARE ASSIGNED TO WORK IN THIS
SPACE. WE APPRECIATE YOU PAYING
THIS ATTENTION, AND WE WOULD ASK
YOU TO SUPPORT BOTH.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS DEFINITELY
SOMETHING TO BE SAID WHEN THE
AMPLIFIED NOISE OUTSIDE THE
STADIUM IS LOUDER THAN THE CROWD
CHEERING FOR SUAREZ'S GRAND
SLAM. THAT'S GRAND SALAMI. MY,
OH, MY, GRAND SALAMI TIME.
JAMIE, YOU HAVE LAST WORD THIS
MORNING. HANG ON REAL QUICK.
JAMIE, JUST, MUCH CLOSER.
>> HELLO.
>> THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING, SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M
NORTHERN ARAPAHOE. I'M HERE
TODAY TO REPRESENT CHIEF SEATTLE
CLUB AND SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF OUR
BUDGET REQUEST. HSD-042A1, AN
INVESTMENT IN THE ABILITY TO
HEAL OUR COMMUNITY. OUR MISSION
IS TO PROVIDE SACRED SPACE TO
NURTURE, AFFIRM, AND STRENGTHEN
THE SPIRIT OF URBAN NATIVE
PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT JUST A
STATEMENT. IT'S A DAILY
PRACTICE ROOTED IN OUR CULTURAL
CARE, COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND
INDIGENOUS RESILIENCE. WE ARE
MAKING HISTORIC PROGRESS IN
HOUSING OUR RELATIVES. AND WITH
CONTINUED ALLYSHIP AND
PARTNERSHIP FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE CAN EXPAND OUR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORK. IT
ALLOWS US TO MEET URGENT NEEDS
WHILE HONORING THE SPIRIT AND
TRADITION OF OUR PEOPLE. I WANT
TO PERSONALLY THANK
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ON BEHALF
OF CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WHAT A WONDERFUL
WAY TO END PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
THE MORNING. COLLEAGUES, THAT
DOES CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. SEEING AS WE HAVE NO
MORE REGISTRANTS REMOTELY OR
PHYSICALLY PRESENT, I'LL JUST
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GRACE AS
WE JUST, UM, TODAY'S PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WAS THE EXCEPTION
TO THE RULE IN THE SENSE THAT I
HAVE VERY STRICT GUIDELINES THAT
WE LIKE TO FOLLOW, AND SOMETIMES
WE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE. WE WERE
ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT IN LESS THAN THE HOUR
THAT WAS PRESCRIBED FOR THIS
MORNING, AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO
OUR FIRST ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
GREAT. AND SO WE WILL, I BELIEVE
WE DID MOVE THE AGENDA, NO?
LET'S START FROM THE TOP ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. ARE THE
REMAINING PROPOSALS FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
HSD-63A1, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY. COLLEAGUES, TODAY WE
HAVE 35 REMAINING AMENDMENTS. WE
ARE 43% OF THE WAY THROUGH HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. REMINDER,
THE LAST TWO AMENDMENTS TOOK
ABOUT 15 MINUTES. AND SO THESE
ARE, I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE WE
WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH A LOT
YESTERDAY. HOWEVER, THERE'S
STILL A LOT MORE TO GO TODAY. WE
WILL BE HERE UNTIL WE COMPLETE
TODAY'S AGENDA. WE HAVE FIVE
AMENDMENTS FROM CARE, FOUR FROM
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, 11 FROM
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND ONE
FROM OIG. SO THAT'S WHERE WE
SIT RIGHT NOW. AND BEFORE WE
MOVE INTO, RIGHT BACK TO WHERE
WE WERE, WHICH IS HSD-63,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, DO YOU
HAVE A POINT OF ORDER?
>> I DO HAVE A POINT OF ORDER,
CHAIR, THANK YOU.
>> AND WHAT IS YOUR POINT?
>> OH, MY POINT IS I NEED SOME,
WELL FIRST I WANTED TO GIVE A
NOTE OF GRATITUDE TO YOU. BUT
THEN ALSO I HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS.
>> PLEASE.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, FIRST, THANK
YOU FOR INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY, AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR FOLKS TO COME TELL US HOW
THEY FEEL ABOUT THE PARTICULAR
AMENDMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN
REVIEWING THESE LAST THREE DAYS.
I'VE ALSO BEEN REFLECTING ON
THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OF
REVIEW OF THESE AMENDMENTS, AND
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THE
VERY IMPORTANT TRANSPARENCY TO
THIS PROCESS BY DOING THIS. I'M
ALSO HOPING TO GET BRIEFLY SOME
CLARITY ON THE CRITERIA YOU'LL
BE USING FOR SELECTING THESE
AMENDMENTS IN THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE AND WHETHER THE COOF
SPONSORSHIPS YOU HAVE BEEN
ACCESSING FROM THE DAIS THESE
LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN
TODAY WILL BE A FACTOR IN YOUR
DECISION MAKING. I JUST, IT WILL
BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO HAVE SOME
CLARITY ON WHEN WE'RE ADDING
ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIPS, WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN? AND WHETHER
THOSE WILL GET CONSIDERED AS
PART OF YOUR DECISION MAKING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU OFFLINE. THIS ADDED
STEP USED TO BE A STEP THAT WE
USED PREVIOUS TO THE LAST TWO
YEARS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR COLLEAGUES TO BE ABLE TO SAY
MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE ARE
INTERESTED IN AN IDEA. AND SO
CO-SPONSORSHIPS, IT'S A LITTLE
BIT LIKE A WEIGHTED METRIC. IF
SOMEBODY SIGNS ON TO EVERYTHING,
THEN IT'S CLEAR THEY'VE SIGNED
ON TO EVERYTHING. IF THEY'VE
ONLY SIGNED ON TO ONE OR TWO
THINGS, THAT MEANS THAT'S VERY,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A DIFFERENCE THERE. AND SO
WITH THAT, WE WILL BE IN A
SIMILAR PROCESS TO LAST YEAR,
CREATING THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE IN
A WAY THAT SEEKS TO BE ABLE TO
UPLIFT EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL
AND COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM AS
WE DID WITH THE BUDGET LAST
YEAR. AND THAT'S PART OF WHY
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO
BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE
ELSE IS PROPOSING. THIS WAS A
REQUEST MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
AFTER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, AND I
THINK IT'S BEEN AN INPROVEMENT.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR AMENDMENTS
MUCH BETTER THIS YEAR THAN I DID
LAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST
ALSO, THE CLARITY IS IMPORTANT
AS PART OF THIS TRANSPARENCY
THAT I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO
DO. AND ALSO, IT HELPS TO KNOW
AHEAD OF TIME WHEN BECAUSE THE
TRUTH IS, AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
A LOT OF AMENDMENTS, AND JUST TO
SAY ON THEIR MERITS, I WOULD
SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE ONE, AND I
COULD CO-SPONSOR EVERY SINGLE
ONE IF I KNEW WE HAD THE MONEY
TO DO SO. BUT WITH ABOUT $85
MILLION AND LESS THAN $35
MILLION TO ALLOCATE, IT BECOMES
REALLY CHALLENGING. JUST BECAUSE
I DIDN'T ADD MY CO-SPONSORSHIP
TO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN I
DON'T WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT
AND WOULD WANT TO ADD IT TO THE
FINAL PACKAGE. THAT'S WHY I WAS
TRYING TO GET SOME CLARITY
AROUND WHETHER OR NOT THESE
ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORSHIPS ARE
GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT.
BECAUSE I DO VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT YOU ASKED US TO
CO-SPONSORSHIPS FOR ANYTHING WE
WERE BRINGING BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT WAS YOUR WAY OF MAKING SURE
THAT THINGS HAD SUPPORT, AND
THAT WAS ALSO, THAT THERE WOULD
BE DISTRICT-WIDE REPRESENTATION.
OR CITY-WIDE DISTRICT
REPRESENTATION AS PART OF THIS
BUDGET. SO REALLY APPRECIATE
HAVING THE EXTRA CLARITY, CHAIR.
AND AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, GIVEN
THAT WE'RE HAVING THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
CO-SPONSORSHIPS, WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR THAT DO NOT TAKE MY LACK
OF CO-SPONSORING SOMETHING
YOU'VE PUT IN AS MY NOT
SUPPORTING YOU. I WISH I COULD
CO-SPONSOR EVERY SINGLE LAST
THING THAT IS IN HERE BECAUSE I
DO BELIEVE IN EVERY LAST THING
THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET, AND WE HAVE THE
DIFFICULT -- AND CHAIR, YOU, I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE THE
VERY DIFFICULT DECISION OF
PICKING AND CHOOSING WHICH
AMENDMENTS MAKE IT INTO THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE. I DO NOT TAKE
THAT LIGHTLY. I KNOW THAT'S
GONNA BE HARD WORK OVER THE
WEEKEND. AND REALLY DIDN'T WANT
TO LEAVE THIS PROCESS WITHOUT
SAYING, COLLEAGUES, THAT I
SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
YOU AND ALL THE ADDS THAT YOU'VE
MADE BECAUSE IT BEARS
MENTIONING. IT'S A REALLY
DIFFICULT TASK. SO AGAIN, THANK
YOU, CHAIR, FOR THE WORK THAT
YOU'VE DONE. DEFINITELY STILL
HAVE THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE
CO-SPONSORSHIPS WILL WEIGH IN.
BUT HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE
THAT CONVERSATION. WANNA MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW,
REPRESENTATION ACROSS THE CITY
IN THIS BUDGET, WHICH I KNOW YOU
SHARE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. VERY WELL SAID.
THERE WERE SO MANY AMENDMENTS
YESTERDAY THAT I AM FULLY
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT I DID NOT ADD
MY NAME TO. AND LAST YEAR, WE
DID HAVEN'T THE ABILITY, AND I
HEARD VERY CLEARLY THAT FOLKS
WANTED TO ADD THEIR NAMES. SO
IT'S AN ITERATIVE PROCESS. I'M
ALWAYS HERE TO TAKE FEEDBACK SO
WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER FOR NEXT
YEAR. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE
RIGHT BACK IN. AMELIA, IF YOU
COULD READ ALL OF THE ITEMS INTO
THE RECORD.
>> TWO THROUGH SIX, HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY ALL FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WITH ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR, FIVE VERY, THE FIVE
DEPARTMENTS THAT COULD TAKE A
LONG TIME TO TALK ABOUT ONE
AMENDMENT EACH, WE HAVE 35
AMENDMENTS AHEAD OF US. AND WITH
THAT, DIRECTOR NOBLE, I'LL LET
YOU TAKE IT AWAY AND INTRODUCE
WHOMEVER IS GOING TO SPEAK ON
HSD-63.
>> THAT'S ME.
>> THAT'S YOU. I DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW, SO THERE YOU GO.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. .
TOMASO JOHNSON, CENTRAL STAFF.
HSD-63 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY $250,000
ONE TIME FOR SUPPORTIVE
COMMUNITY BUILDING AND MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES SUCH AS
COMMUNITY SEWING PROGRAMS FOR
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT WOMEN.
COUNCIL HAS IDENTIFIED SOMALI
SAFETY TASK FORCE. PRIME SPONSOR
IS COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH AND RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS WAS
MENTIONED, THIS IS A ONE-TIME
FUNDING OF $250,000 TO THE
FAMILY SAFETY TASK FORCE FOR THE
SEWING PROGRAM, WHICH INITIALLY
STARTED IN 2013. IT ADDRESSES A
CRITICAL NEED IN OUR CITY'S
MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK PROVIDING
SPACE FOR RECOVERY THROUGH
TRAUMA WHILE PRESERVING CULTURAL
HERITAGE AND BUILDING COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO
CALL OUT THE SERVICE BECAUSE IT
WILL PARTICULAR BENEFIT MENTAL
HEALTH NETWORK OF OUR REFUGEES
AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, MANY
OF WHOM HAVE WITNESSED OR
EXPERIENCED CONFLICT THEMSELVES.
THIS WILL PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY
WITH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
SERVICES, EMPOWER OUR REFUGEE
COMMUNITY WITH SKILLS, AND A
SPACE TO DEVELOP MENTAL HEALTH
COPING STRATEGIES. IF APPROVED,
THE CBA WOULD ALLOW THE SAFETY
TASK FORCE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM
FROM SERVING 30 COMMUNITIES TO
SERVING OVER 300 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FOR THE FIVE DAYS A
WEEK. . THESE DOLLARS WILL ALSO
COVER THE COST NEEDED TO EMPLOY
BILINGUAL EDUCATORS, THERAPEUTIC
PROGRAM COORDINATION, AND
PROVIDE FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES
TO ALLOW THE PARTICIPATION OF
MOTHERS AND FAMILIES WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK
MY CO-SPONSORS ON THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. COLLEAGUES, DISCUSSION?
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR HSD-63,
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AT THIS
TIME. CO-SPONSORING HSD-63, WE
HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. THANK
YOU. MOVING ON TO HSD-64.
>> HSD-64 WOULD INCREASE
PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS TO THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY
$1.2 MILLION ONE TIME FOR
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR
SURVIVORS OF COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION OR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. THIS IS SPONSORED BY
SOLOMON AND SAKA AND
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THE NEED
FOR THESE SERVICES HAS WIDELY
BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MY
COLLEAGUES, AND I SPECIFICALLY
WANT TO CALL OUT NOT ONLY IS
THIS FUNDING INTENDED FOR
SURVIVORS OF COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION BUT ALSO SURVIVORS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. REGARDLESS
OF LOCATION, WE KNOW THAT SEX
TRADE HARMS WOMEN, GIRLS
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, INCLUDING
THE BLACK AND TRANS-GIRLS. WE
FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SURGE
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACTIVITY
AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE DURING
NEXT YEAR'S WORLD CUP GAMES.
WITH THAT CONTEXT IN MIND, THIS
ONE-TIME BOOST OF FUNDING IS
PURPOSELY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
THE EXECUTIVE WITH MAXIMUM
FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THE CITY'S
NEEDS IN 2026. I WILL FURTHER
SAY THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT WHO'S
IN THAT SPACE AND WHO'S DOING
THE WORK, WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT WHO IS ACTUALLY SHOWING
UP. WHO ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND?
AND I WANT US TO SEE, I WANT TO
SEE US CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE
FOLKS WHO ARE DOING WORK, BOOTS
ON THE GROUND, SHOWING UP FOR
THOSE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION. AND I DO WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR THEIR
CO-SPONSORSHIP, AND I'M ASKING
FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO FURTHER
CO-SPONSOR THIS BUDGET ASK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. COLLEAGUES, COMMENTS,
DISCUSSION? IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR HSD-64, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE JOINING
HD-64. MOVING ON TO HSD-65.
>> HSD-65 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY $250,000
ONE TIME FOR FAMILY-BASED YOUTH
VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND
MENTORING. COUNCIL HAS
IDENTIFIED THE ORGANIZATION
SEATTLE CARES MENTORING MOVEMENT
FOR THIS FUNDING. THIS IS
SPONSORED BY THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, CO-SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAKA AND
SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYONE. AND I DO WANT TO FIRST
EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAKA AND SOLOMON
FOR BEING CO-SPONSORS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, SEATTLE
CARES MENTORING IS UNIQUE AMONG
A LOT OF OTHER SORT OF YOUTH
ORGANIZATIONS AND ANTI-VIOLENCE
ORGANIZATIONS IN THAT IT WORKS
WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. IT
DOESN'T JUST HELP KIDS WHO ARE
AT RISK, BUT IT ALSO TAKES A
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WORKING
WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND
CLOSE FRIENDS WHO ARE IN DIRECT
CONTACT WITH THE YOUTH IN
QUESTION. AND SO THIS IS A
CRITICAL DIFFERENTIATION, AS I
MENTIONED, AND IT'S BASED ON
NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES TO
REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE BY
ENSURING THAT YOUTH HAVE THEIR
BASIC NEEDS MET FIRST AND
FOREMOST, AND THEN THE MENTORS
WORK WITH THE KIDS THEMSELVES
AND ALSO TO BOOST SELF-ESTEEM,
YOU KNOW, TRACK THEIR SCHOOL
WORK, THEIR PROGRESS IN CLASS,
AND ALSO CREATE A SENSE OF
BELONGING FOR THE YOUTH AND THE
FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR LARGER
COMMUNITIES. AND WHAT YOU HEARD
THIS MORNING WAS THE DIRECTOR
DON CAMERON TALK ABOUT PROJECT
HOPE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY TIMELY.
AS PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO LOSE SNAP
BENEFITS AND THEY ARE
PROACTIVELY DISTRIBUTING FOOD
THROUGH THE, I THINK THEY SAID
MERCER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND
THERE'S ONE OTHER MIDDLE
SCHOOL. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT
IT WAS FROM PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT
THIS IS EXTREMELY TIMELY WORK,
AND IT JUST SHOWS HOW THEY TAKE
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE ISSUE
OF YOUTH WELLNESS, VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, AND COMMUNITY
BUILDING. SO HAPPY TO PROVIDE
MORE INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS,
DISCUSSION, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS?
>> OH, I HAVE ONE. SORRY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DO YOU
HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> YES. I'M SORRY. THIS IS
LISTED AS AN ADD. HOWEVER, YOU
KNOW, AS MY STAFF WILL BE
TALKING TO YOUR STAFF, CHAIR,
THIS COULD BE A PROVISO. I SEE
THIS BEING FUNDED MOST LOGICALLY
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE DOLLARS. SO WHEN IT
COMES TO IS THIS ADDITIONAL
FUNDING OR IS THIS A REUSING OF
FUNDS THAT, YOU KNOW, UP FOR
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. CO-SPONSOR HSD-65?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. GOT
JUAREZ, RIVERA, AND
HOLLINGSWORTH. ALL CO-SPONSORING
HSD-65. WE'LL MOVE ON TO
HSD-66.
>> HSD-66 WOULD INCREASE
PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS BY
$43,000 FOR YOUTH FOOTBALL
PROGRAMMING. COUNCIL HAS
IDENTIFIED THE ORGANIZATION
CENTRAL AREA PARENTS AND COACHES
ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
CD PANTHERS FOOTBALL PROGRAM FOR
THESE FUNDS. THIS IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON,
CO-SPONSORED BY SOLOMON AND
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. ALSO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR MY CO-SPONSORS. I
SO APPRECIATE THIS, SAKA AND
HOLLINGSWORTH. THIS WAS MY BAD,
FRANKLY. LAST YEAR, I INTENDED
TO COVER THE BUDGET OF THE CD
PANTHERS FOR 2025 AND 2026, AND
I LEARNED JUST RECENTLY THAT
WASN'T THE CASE. SO THIS IS TO
CONTINUE THAT PRECIOUS
ASSISTANCE FOR THE CD PANTHERS
THAT YOU ALL GENEROUSLY PROVIDED
FOR LAST YEAR. THE CD PANTHERS,
OF COURSE, IS AN INSTITUTION IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. IT'S NOT
JUST A FOOTBALL AND CHEER SQUAD.
IT IS VIOLENCE PREVENTION
EMBODIED. YOU KNOW, AND I'VE
BEEN GOING TO CD PANTHERS GAMES
SINCE 2021. THIS IS THE WAY THAT
WE MEET SO MANY OF OUR POLICY
GOALS FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING,
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, YOUTH
VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND ALSO
JUST THE STABILIZATION OF SOME
OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES.
SO YOU HEARD THE PRESIDENT OF
THE CD PANTHERS TALK ABOUT WHAT
THIS MONEY WAS ABLE TO BE USED
FOR THIS PAST YEAR, SAVING
FAMILIES AN AVERAGE OF $500 PER
PLAYER THAT THEY'D ORDINARILY
HAVE TO PAY FOR EQUIPMENT AND
THE VARIOUS FEES. AND IT ALSO
SAVES THE TEAM TIME THAT THEY'D
ORDINARILY SPEND ON FUNDRAISING
TO REALLY DO THE REAL WORK OF
NOT JUST COACHING IN FOOTBALL
AND CHEERING BUT BUILDING
COMMUNITY AND TEACHING THE
IMPORTANT, THE ESSENTIAL LIFE
SKILLS THAT THESE KIDS HAVE TO
BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE AND ALSO
STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. SO I'M
HOPING THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT
EXTENDING THIS FUNDING FOR
ANOTHER YEAR. THANKS.
>> COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON FOR PUTTING
THIS FORWARD. AS A PROUD FATHER
OF THREE YOUNG KIDS, ALL OF
WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN VARIOUS
ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND YES
YOUTH SPORTS, AND ALSO AS
SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS A
DISTRICT ACROSS THE COUNCIL OR
ACROSS THE CITY THAT ANECDOTALLY
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AT
LEAST HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST
NUMBER OF UNDER 18 YOUTH,
ANECDOTALLY AT LEAST, WE'LL
KNOW MORE ONCE WE GET THE
SNAPSHOTS DATA BACK FOR THE
SLIDE WE REQUESTED ON THAT WITH
MORE PRECISION. BUT THERE ARE
CERTAINLY A LOT OF YOUTH IN MY
DISTRICT. SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND
THE POWER THAT VARIOUS YOUTH
ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
SPORTS CAN PROVIDE. YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THEY DO
EMPOWER COMMUNITIES. THEY DO
HELP BUILD COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE
ONE OF MULTIPLE, UH, VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ONE WAY
OF MANY THAT WE GO UPSTREAM AND
ADDRESS SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES
AND GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO IN A MOMENT, I'M GOING TO BE
RAISING MY HAND TO CO-SPONSOR
THIS. BUT JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NELSON?
>> I MISSPOKE. I WAS READING THE
WRONG LINE, AND I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
CO-SPONSORING AS WELL. AND THERE
IS SOME GOOD NEWS I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE. I MENTIONED YESTERDAY
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
FINALLY TURFING THE PLAY FIELD.
THERE WILL BE TWO BIDS THAT ARE
COMING FORWARD. THE PROCESS IS
NOW FARTHER DOWN THE LINE THAN
WE THOUGHT. AND HOPEFULLY THIS
WEEK WE'LL RECEIVE A COUPLE
BIDS ON HOW MUCH THAT WILL COST.
TWO CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED FOR POSSIBLY DOING
THIS WORK. SO YOU KNOW, THINGS
TAKE TIME, BUT THINGS HAPPEN.
>> WITH NO FURTHER ADIEU, IF
YOU'D LIKE TO SPONSOR HSD-66, I
SEE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S
HAND, AND I COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THIS IS YOUR AMENDMENT. SORRY.
SO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, RIVERA,
JUAREZ AS CO-SPONSORS TO HSD-66.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, DID YOU WANT
TO CO-SPONSOR?
>> SORRY.
>> WE HAVE 32 AMENDMENTS
REMAINING. WE'LL BE HERE UNTIL
6:00 IF WE'RE NOT ON POINT. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO RAISE YOUR
HAND TO CO-SPONSOR HSD-66, RAISE
YOUR HAND. I HAVE YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. I HAVE
COUNCILMEMBERS RIVERA, KETTLE,
SAKA CO-SPONSORS HSD-66. MOVING
ON TO HSD-68.
>> A PROVISO ON $195,000 IN THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO
FUND ONE STRATEGIC ADVISOR, ONE
TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP A NORTH
SEATTLE SAFETY HUB PRIORITIZING
AT-RISK YOUTH, CONNECTING THEM
TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THIS IS
CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH AND JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, AS SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THIS IS A REINSTATEMENT OF A
POSITION THAT WE ADDED LAST YEAR
INTO THE BUDGET. AND IT IS
PROPOSED FOR A CUT NOW IN '26.
AND THIS WOULD REINSTATE IT. YOU
ALL HEARD ME SAY LAST YEAR AND I
APPRECIATED YOUR SUPPORT LAST
YEAR IN INCLUDING THIS THAT THE
NORTH PRECINCT HAS THE HIGHEST
RATE OF YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE IN
THE CITY. BECAUSE OF THIS
ALARMING STATISTIC, LAST YEAR I
ADDED WITH THE SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WHO WAS AT
THE TIME IN D-5, WE ADDED
FUNDING TO THE BUDGET FOR A
FULL-TIME POSITION TO CREATE
THIS NORTH AND SAFETY HUB WITH A
FOCUS ON YOUTH SAFETY. THE
POSITION WAS GOING TO BE
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
NORTH AND INCLUDING WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT SERVICE YOUTH TO CONNECT
AT-RISK YOUTH TO COMMUNITY
GROUPS AND SERVICES. THE
POSITION WAS POSTED, AND THEY
HIRED SOMEONE MIDWAY THROUGH THE
YEAR ON A TEMPORARY BASIS,
PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT
THEY WERE, THAT THIS WAS GONNA
GET PROPOSED TO BE CUT. BUT IT
WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE A
FULL-TIME POSITION TO DO THE
WORK. THIS IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW,
A LOT OF OUTREACH WORK THAT
TAKES TIME TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL THOSE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ON
THE NORTH END THAT SERVICE YOUTH
THAT AREN'T ALREADY DOING THIS
TYPE OF WORK. THERE'S A
COMMUNITY SAFETY HUB ON THE
SOUTH END. IT'S WORKED REALLY
GREAT. WE VERY MUCH SUPPORT
THAT. AND WE WANT TO DO
SOMETHING SIMILAR ON THE NORTH
END TO HELP THESE KIDS WHO NEED
THE EXTRA SUPPORT. SO THAT IS
WHAT THIS ADD IS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS,
DISCUSSION? I'LL ASK THE
QUESTION THAT I HAD YESTERDAY
THAT WE PREPARED FOR TODAY.
THERE WAS ALSO A PROPOSAL TO ADD
ADDITIONAL STAFF TO DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS AS COMMUNITY
OUTREACH FOLKS. AND I ASKED
YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS TODAY. WHAT
IS THE DIFFERENCE, SIMILARITY?
ARE ALL FOUR OF THESE POSITIONS
BUILDING OFF EACH OTHER? ARE
THEY DUPLICATIVE? CAN YOU HELP
ME UNDERSTAND THE SIMILARITIES
AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE
AMENDMENTS?
>> I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
INSIGHT INTO THE WORK THAT DON
IS DOING. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING
OF SPEAKING WITH HSD, I THINK
THIS IS A DISTINCT BODY OF WORK.
AS COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
MENTIONED, THE REDUCTION IN 195
IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
WAS PART OF A DEFICIT REDUCTION
EXERCISE, BUT THIS POSITION,
THIS ROLE IN HSD WOULD BE A
VALUE ADD THAT WOULD BE DISTINCT
FROM DON IS MY UNDERSTANDING
FROM HSD.
>> OKAY. COLLEAGUES, FURTHER
DISCUSSION?
>> YES, CHAIR.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION,
QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU HAVE
LAST WORD.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU,
TOMASO, I SHOULD HAVE SAID
EARLIER FOR INTRODUCING THIS.
AND TO MY CO-SPONSORS FOR THE
SUPPORT, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
EXCUSE ME, AND COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I'LL SAY THIS IS
NOT WORK THAT DON HAS THE
EXPERTISE TO DO. THIS IS REALLY
WORK THAT HSD HAS BEEN DOING, AS
I SAID. THERE IS A SOUTH SAFETY
HUB. IT'S PROVEN REALLY
SUCCESSFUL, AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE KIDS ON THE NORTH
END ALSO HAVE THAT TYPE OF
SUPPORT AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT
HSD IS BETTER, IN A BETTER
POSITION SINCE THEY ALREADY
MANAGE THE INVESTMENT ON THE
SOUTH END SAFETY HUB. SO IT IS
VERY DISTINCT FROM OUTREACH
POSITIONS. AND DON, THIS ISN'T
JUST OUTREACH. THIS IS IF KIDS
ARE AT RISK AND THEY ARE
IDENTIFIED, IT'S A WARM HAND
OFF TO THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION, AND IT'S VERY
HANDS ON WITH THE KIDS. VERY
MUCH BASED ON VIOLENCE AND
VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND
INTERVENTION. SO IT IS NOT
DUPLICATIVE OF THE DON OUTREACH
POSITIONS. THIS IS NOT THE TYPE
OF WORK THAT DON DOES. AND WE
DON'T WANT THEM TO BE DOING
THIS TYPE OF WORK BECAUSE IT IS
VERY SPECIFIC TYPE OF WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, IF
YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
HSD-68, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. I HAVE ADDITIONAL
SPONSORS OF SAKA AND NELSON.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS SAKA AND
NELSON.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO
HSD-69.
>> HSD-69 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT BUDGET BY
$25,000 ONE TIME FOR A YOUTH GUN
VIOLENCE SUMMIT TO BE PLANNED IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL AND
THE CRIME AND COMMUNITY HARM
REDUCTION DIVISION OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS
IS SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, CO-SPONSORED BY
HOLLINGSWORTH AND KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBERS KETTLE AND
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR CO-SPONSORING.
COLLEAGUES, YOU ALL KNOW YOUTH
VIOLENCE HAS UNFORTUNATELY
TOUCHED MY OWN FAMILY AND MANY
OF OUR FAMILIES HERE AND
CERTAINLY ALL THE FAMILIES IN
YOUR DISTRICTS THAT YOU
REPRESENT. AND TO EVEN OBVIOUSLY
OUR CITY WIDE REPRESENTATIVES ON
THE COUNCIL. THIS IS IN MANY
CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN
HAVING ACROSS THE CITY, BOTH IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH CONSTITUENTS
AND THE WORK THAT HSD IS DOING
AND THEN OUR NEW EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CRIME AND
COMMUNITY HARM REDUCTION
DIVISION, LEE HUNT, WHO BOTH HSD
AND DR. HUNT WERE PRESENTING
HERE WHEN HSD WAS DOING THEIR
PRESENTATION BEFORE, THEIR
BUDGET PRESENTATION IN CHAMBERS.
BORN OUT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS
THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING SOME EXPERTS THAT ARE
WORKING IN THE YOUTH VIOLENCE
PREVENTION ARENA. WE HAVE GREAT
FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING IN THIS
ARENA IN TOWN, SO THIS IS NOT TO
SAY WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN TOWN.
THIS IS MORE MEANT TO BRING
ADDITIONAL LEARNINGS TO THE CITY
AND TO US AS WE ARE LOOKING AT
WAYS TO ADDRESS YOUTH GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE CITY. THE SUMMIT
WOULD BUILD OFF RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S REPORT
AND THE WORK THAT THE CRIME AND
COMMUNITY HARM REDUCTION
DIVISION IS DOING. WE NEED TO
LEARN WHAT HAS WORKED IN OTHER
CITIES AND USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO
IMPROVE OUR EFFORTS HERE IN
SEATTLE. AND A COUPLE OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT I HAVE IN
MIND AND SPEAKING WITH, SOME
EXPERTS ARE THE NATIONAL NETWORK
FOR SAFE COMMUNITIES AT JON JAY
COLLEGE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
MARYLAND'S VIOLENCE REDUCTION
CENTER. TO ME, IT'S ALWAYS MORE
IMPORTANT TO GET MORE
INFORMATION AND MORE LEARNINGS.
AND EVERY SO OFTEN, REFRESH AND
GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND
BRING LOCAL LEADERS TOGETHER
WITH NATIONAL EXPERTS TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION. BECAUSE THE
SITUATION IS NOT GETTING BETTER
IN SEATTLE. WE'RE MANAGING FOR
IT, OF COURSE, AND WE HAVE GREAT
ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN THAT ARE
HELPING US DO THAT, BUT WE ARE
NOT MAKING A HUGE DENT INTO THIS
ISSUE. AND IT IS AN ISSUE THAT
UNFORTUNATELY OUR CITY IS
GRAPPLING WITH. SO THIS IS JUST
A CONVENING. IT'S A VERY SMALL
ADD THAT WOULD BRING CONVENERS
HERE, BE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT CONVENING, AS
I SAID WHEN I STARTED LAST YEAR,
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN
TOP OF MIND. AND SOMETIMES IT
TAKES TIME TO TALK TO FOLKS AS I
WANTED TO BEFORE I MADE A
RECOMMENDATION ON LET'S HAVE
THIS CONVENING AND THIS
CONVERSATION AND BRING EVERYONE
TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE
NOT MISSING SOMETHING. AND WE
COULD BE DOING SOMETHING MORE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, AND
HOPEFULLY YOU ALL WILL BE
SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING SUCH A
CONVENING SO THAT WE CAN LEARN
MORE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COLLEAGUES, DISCUSSION?
QUESTIONS? IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR HSD-69, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME. AND SO
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS?
THANK YOU. WE HAVE COUNCIL
MEMBERS SAKA, STRAUSS, NELSON,
RINCK.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS SAKA,
STRAUSS, NELSON, AND RINCK.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO
HSD-71.
>> ALL RIGHT. HSD-71A WOULD
INCREASE AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS
BY $1.4 GENERAL FUND FOR RUNAWAY
AND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS.
KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY WOULD
ADMINISTER A COMPETITIVE
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE
FUNDS. IT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS RINCK,
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS
AMENDMENT IS MEANT TO ADDRESS
THE CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE
FEDERAL AND STATE CUTS IN
STABILIZATION NEEDS FOR RUNAWAY
AND HOMELESS YOUTH PROGRAMS
AROUND SEATTLE. AND THIS
INCLUDES IMPACTED PROVIDERS SUCH
AS YMCA, NEW HORIZONS, YOUTH
CARE, AND ROOTS YOUNG ADULT
SHELTER. ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE
SEEING THE ACTIONS OF THE TRUMP
REGIME DESTABILIZING OUR LOCAL
SYSTEMS. EARLIER THIS YEAR,
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING YOUTH
CARE AND SPECIFICALLY THEIR
PROGRAM ISIS HOUSE WERE UNABLE
TO RECEIVE THE RUNAWAY HOMELESS
YOUTH FUNDING THAT'S USUALLY
ADMINISTERED AND PROVIDED BY
HUD. MORE CHANGES AND CUTS ARE
ANTICIPATED BY PROVIDERS IN
2026. IN ADDITION DURING THE
STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES WERE CUT
LEAVING GAPS FOR ORGANIZATIONS
AS OPERATING COSTS CONTINUE TO
RISE. WE KNOW ONE OF THE NUMBER
ONE PREDICTORS OF CHRONIC ADULT
HOMELESSNESS IS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS DURING CHILDHOOD
AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD. WITHOUT
INTERVENTION, WE ARE LEAVING
HUNDREDS OF YOUNG ADULTS IN AN
EVEN MORE PRECARIOUS POSITION.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN
CONJUNCTION WITH JORGE BARONE.
WE REALLY WANT TO UPLIFT THE
PARTNERSHIP THAT'S HAPPENING
WITH CITY AND COUNTY TO ADDRESS
THIS. THE FUNDING WOULD BE
GRANTED TO ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH
AN RFP THAT WOULD BE
ADMINISTERED BY KCHRA. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS?
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
HSD-71, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ ADDING HER NAME TO
HSD-71. MOVING ON TO HSD-72.
>> HSD-72A WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS IN HSD BY $2
MILLION OF GENERAL FUND TO
ASSIST PEOPLE LIVING IN VEHICLES
ENTER SHELTER AND IMPOSE A
PROVISO LIMITING USE OF FUNDING
SOLELY FOR STORAGE OF
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN SAFE
LOTS AND ASSISTING VEHICLE
RESIDENTS TRANSITIONING INTO
SHELTER OR HOUSING. THE FUNDING
WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY HSD AND
IT IS SPONSORED BY STRAUSS,
KETTLE, AND SAKA. IT WOULD LIMIT
USES FOR RV STORAGE OR
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE SAFE LOTS
OR ASSISTING VEHICLE RESIDENTS
TRANSITIONING INTO SHELTER OR
HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER. AS
SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENT, I'LL
ADDRESS IT. I DON'T THINK I CAN
SAY IT BETTER THAN THE FACTS
THAT JENNIFER PRESENTED. FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING IN THEIR
VEHICLES TRANSITIONING INTO
SHELTER IS A BIT MORE DIFFICULT.
OFTENTIMES BECAUSE IT'S THE
LAST POSSESSION THAT THEY OWN.
AND NOT ALL SHELTERS ARE THE
RIGHT FIT FOR EVERYONE. AND SO
GIVING UP THE LAST PIECE OF
PROPERTY YOU OWN IN EXCHANGE FOR
A SHELTER BED THAT MIGHT NOT
WORK OUT IS NOT A CHOICE THAT
PEOPLE MAKE WITHOUT SOME
ADDITIONAL SECURITY, SUPPORT, OR
RESOURCES. AND SO THIS FUNDING
WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT,
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT WHETHER IT'S STORAGE OF
STORING RVs AT THE PERSON ENTERS
A SHELTER OR THE SAFE LOT WHERE
RVs ARE KEPT ON THE SAME LOT AS
THE TINY HOMES OR PALETTE
SHELTERS THAT ARE ON THE LOT.
THIS IS ALSO TO HELP ASSIST
FOLKS MOVING FROM THEIR VEHICLES
INTO SHELTERS OR HOMES.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE'S FURTHER
DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? OR
COMMENTS? AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR HSD-72, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME. I'VE
GOT COUNCIL MEMBERS SOLOMON AND
HOLLINGSWORTH ADDING THEIR NAMES
TO HSD-72.
>>> HSD-73, PLEASE.
>> HSD-73SA WOULD REQUEST THAT
HSD PRIORITIZE THE USE OF $7.8
MILLION TO SUSTAIN EXISTING
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES AND
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROJECTS BEFORE FUNDING NEW
SHELTER BEDS GIVEN SIGNIFICANT
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS. THE
PROPOSED BUDGET HAD ADDED $7.8
MILLION TO CREATE 155 NEW
SHELTER BEDS IN 2026. AND SO
THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD
INSTEAD PRIORITIZE USE OF FUNDS.
THE SAME FUNDS TO SUSTAIN
EXISTING SHELTER BEDS. IT IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
KETTLE, JUAREZ, AND RINCK.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, AS SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUMMARY. AND I
ALSO THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS RINCK AND JUAREZ FOR
YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP OF THIS
AMENDMENT. I DON'T SEE IT IN
THE WRITE-UP, THE BUT THE
KEYWORD YOU USED, MISS LEBRECK,
WAS UNCERTAINTY. THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE FACING WITH THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND RESPECTIVE
FEDERAL FUNDING. IT'S
UNCERTAIN. THERE'S SOME
OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY EXIST.
I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
MANY PEOPLE TO INCLUDE PDAs,
LISA DUGARD, ON SOME OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY BE THERE.
BUT LIKELIHOOD IS WE MAY NOT BE
GETTING WHAT WE NEED. AND SO
THIS GOES TO THE IDEA OF
FLEXIBILITY. WE HAVE TO BUILD IN
SOME FLEXIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT
WE CAN BE READY TO FLEX IF WE
GET INTO A SITUATION. AND SO
THIS IN A SENSE A CONTINGENCY IN
THE POSSIBLE, LIKELY EVENT THAT
WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING WE'RE
EXPECTING IN THE AREA. AND TO
GIVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE
FROM, YOU KNOW, BUILDING NEW TO
ENSURING THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN
THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN
NEED. BECAUSE TO HAVE THAT
HAPPENING TODAY WOULD BE
UNCONSCIONABLE WHEN WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO FLEX ON THAT WITH THE
IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, USING THOSE
FUNDS FROM THE FUTURE. AND I
KNOW THAT LONG TERM, THIS IS
NOT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE
REALLY WANT TO DO. BUT WE'RE IN
UNCERTAIN TIMES, AND WE HAVE TO
BASICALLY BE AT THE READY. AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS
ALL ABOUT, BEING AT THE READY.
SO COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT, AND
TO YOU, VICE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS? OKAY. I DO HAVE A
QUESTION, JEN. AND THAT IS SO DO
WE HAVE SHELTER THAT IS, I JUST
WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE JUST SAID
AND HOW I'M HEARING IT. WE HAVE
EXISTING SHELTER THAT IS AT
RISK, SHELTER BEDS, SO WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE THAT
BEFORE WE TRY TO ADD MORE. AND
WOULDN'T WE DO THAT ANYWAY?
I'M NOT SURE HOW IT WORKS FOR
THE HSD. SORRY, IS THIS KCHRA?
>> IT'S APPROPRIATED TO HSD.
I'LL ANSWER IN A COUPLE
DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE IS THAT THE
MOST UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW IS
AROUND FEDERAL CONTINUUM OF CARE
FUNDING THAT COMES FROM HUD.
FRANKLY, MOST OF THAT FUNDING
RIGHT NOW GOES TO PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS.
HOWEVER, ALL INDICATIONS ARE
THAT IN HUD'S NOFA, THEIR
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
THAT WILL COME OUT AS SOON AS
THE GOVERNMENT REOPENS, THAT
WILL BE COMING OUT, THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO OPEN UP. THEY'LL HAVE
NEW ELIGIBILITY RULES. THE
FUNDING FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING WILL BE LIMITED TO 30%.
RIGHT NOW, 85% OF OUR FUNDS GO
TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS.
THINK OF THE HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES SYSTEM AS A SYSTEM.
THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE THE
SYSTEM ITSELF WILL BE
CHALLENGED, AND THERE MIGHT NEED
TO BE A LOT OF SHIFTING OF
FUNDS. FOR EXAMPLE, BETWEEN
SHELTER AND PSH TO HELP PROJECTS
MEET COC RULES. IS THERE
SPECIFIC FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
SHELTER THAT'S CHALLENGED RIGHT
NOW? I'D SAY THE BIGGER RISK IS
ON THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING SIDE. BECAUSE THE WHOLE
THING FUNCTIONS LIKE A SYSTEM,
CUTS TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING WILL CHALLENGE THE
SYSTEM, AND THERE MIGHT NEED TO
BE SUPPORT, LOCAL SUPPORT FOR
BOTH SHELTER AND PSH PROJECTS. I
SHOULD SAY ALSO IN THIS
PARTICULAR SLIDE THAT IT CALLS
TO SUSTAIN FUNDING FIRST FOR
BOTH SHELTER AND PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS
BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON
THE COC LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
THAT, JEN. ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES, SEEING NO OTHER
QUESTIONS -- OH, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YES. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS
DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE $28
MILLION TO, YOU KNOW, TO, I
CAN'T REMEMBER THE TERM OF ART
FOR THAT MONEY. BUT THE MONEY TO
SHORE UP OUR EXISTING PROVIDERS,
DO WE KNOW THE PERCENTAGE THAT
WILL BE GOING TO PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN THAT
NUMBER?
>> IN THE $28 MILLION, I BELIEVE
YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE AMOUNT
OF COC FUNDING THAT GOES TO
BRICK AND MORTAR PROJECTS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THE ONE THAT HSD ASKED FOR.
>> UM, LET ME THINK. THERE'S A
FEDERAL, THERE'S A RESERVE IN
THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR $9
MILLION AS LIKE A CONTINGENCY
RESERVE FOR CHANGES IN FEDERAL
FUNDING. NOT SURE IF I'M
FAMILIAR WITH THE $28.
>> I'M REFERRING TO THE $28
MILLION WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE
TIMES AT THE TABLE. ANYWAY, I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. DO YOU
WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT?
>> I SEE THOSE AS TWO SEPARATE
ISSUES. I THINK YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF HOUSING, THE
$28 MILLION FOR THE OPERATING
STABILIZATION FUND. THAT IS TO
SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS WITH THEIR OPERATING
STABILIZATION COSTS. I WOULD
ACTUALLY GUESS THAT MUCH OF THAT
FUNDING WILL GO TO NON-PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS,
YOUR MORE TRADITIONAL PROVIDERS.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF OVERLAP
HERE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE
IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OR
QUESTIONS ON HSD-73? IF YOU'D
LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR HSD-73,
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AT THIS
TIME. WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS
RIVERA, SOLOMON, AND
HOLLINGSWORTH ADDING THEIR NAME
TO HSD-73.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS RIVERA,
SOLOMON, AND HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>> AND MOVING ON TO HSD-74.
>> HSD-74 WOULD REQUEST THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE
PROPOSED COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS
INITIATIVE PILOT TO REDUCE
UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN
DOWNTOWN. IT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS RINCK,
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET, THERE
IS A PROPOSED ONE-TIME $4.5
MILLION INVESTMENT INTO THIS
PILOT PROGRAM. I RAISED SOME
QUESTIONS DURING OUR ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION SESSION. WHILE WE
NEED TO TAKE A MULTI-PRONGED
APPROACH, I DO HAVE SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS ABOUT PROGRAM DESIGN
SO THIS SLIDE SEEKS TO ANSWER
SOME OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
BEFORE A CONTRACT IS PUT INTO
PLACE. LOOKING AT HOW OUTCOMES
WILL BE MEASURED, INCLUDING
HOUSING STABILITY SIX AND 12
MONTHS AFTER RENTAL SUBSIDIES
END, HOW THE PROGRAM WILL
IDENTIFY PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE A
GOOD FIT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL
SUBSID IES, HOW WE'RE
INCORPORATING LESSONS LEARNED
FROM PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO, AND
THEN HOW WE WILL DEVELOP A
RAMP-DOWN PLAN FOR THE END OF
ONE-TIME FUNDING SO PEOPLE
ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM DO NOT
RETURNED TO UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS. I'LL CLOSE BY
THANKING COUNCIL MEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH AND KETTLE FOR
THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS AMENDMENT.
>> COLLEAGUES, FURTHER
DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS? SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION,
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
HSD-74, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>>> MOVING ON TO HSD-75.
>> HSD-75A WOULD INCREASE
PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS TO HSD
BY 7.6 MILLION, OF THAT 6.7
MILLION IS GENERAL FUND, AND
$890,000 ARE OTHER FUND SOURCES
FOR A TOTAL WAGE EQUITY INCREASE
OF 5%, WHICH IS A 3% INCREASE
BEYOND WHAT IS IN THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET. OR PUT ANOTHER
WAY, THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET
CONTAINS A 2% WAGE EQUITY
INCREASE IN THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
CHANGE THAT TO A 5% WAGE EQUITY
INCREASE. SO IT PAYS FOR THE 3%
DIFFERENCE. IT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS RINCK, SOLOMON,
AND SAKA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD INCREASE THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY
$7.6 MILLION TO PROVIDE THE FULL
5% WAGE EQUITY ACROSS ALL
SERVICE PROVIDER CONTRACTS. SO
WHILE THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
ADVANCES WAGE EQUITY FOR HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDERS, THIS IS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT
IT DOES NOT FULLY MEET THE NEED
OF WHAT IS OWED TO HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO REMAIN UNDERPAID
AND WORKING WITH THOSE WHO ARE
HIGHEST NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN THE
THROES OF AN AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS. HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS
ARE QUITE LITERALLY AT THE FRONT
LINE OF THAT CRISIS, AND TOO
MANY OF OUR WORKERS ARE AT THE
BRINK AS WELL. ACCORDING TO OUR
WAGE EQUITY STUDY THAT WENT TO A
MARKET ANALYSIS, THEY FOUND THAT
NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
IN WASHINGTON EARN 37% LESS THAN
SIMILAR WORKERS IN FOR-PROFIT
NON-CARE INDUSTRIES. THE MEDIAN
ANNUAL EARNINGS FOR ALL
FULL-TIME HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS
IN THE STATE WAS ABOUT $33,000
IN 2019 COMPARED TO THE MEDIUM
$54,000 FOR FULL TIME WORKERS IN
NON-CARE INDUSTRIES. I'LL CARE
TO REMIND EVERYBODY OUR 100%
AREA MEDIAN INCOME IN SEATTLE
FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF ONE IS
$110,000 ANNUALLY. SO WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT PAYING HUMAN
SERVICES WORKERS AT WAGES THAT
QUALIFY THEM FOR THE PROGRAMS
THAT THEY SERVE IN. AND TO DRAW
SOME IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR THIS
CONVERSATION, THE LAST CITY
WORKERS UNION CONTRACT INCLUDED
A 5% ANNUAL WAGE INCREASE
RETROACTIVELY APPLIED FOR 2023
AND A 4.5% ANNUAL INCREASE FOR
2024 TOTALING A 9.74%
ADJUSTMENT. THE CONTRACT
INCREASED BY ROUGHLY 24% IN
EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ACROSS THE
THREE YEARS OF THE AGREEMENT. IT
HAS IMPROVED WAGE INCREASES LIKE
THIS BECAUSE OF A FUNDAMENT
RECOGNITION THAT WE NEED LOWER
TURN OVER AND OVERALL A
HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. I HOPE WE
CAN FIND A WAY TO TURN A 3%
INCREASE INTO A 5% INCREASE TO
SUPPORT THESE CRITICAL WORKERS
IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHILE I CAN
RECOGNIZE THIS IS ONE OF MY MORE
ASPIRATIONAL AMENDMENTS, I THINK
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE KEEP THIS
CONVERSATION ALIVE AND FIND THE
BEST WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT OUR
HUMAN AND SOCIAL SERVICES
PROVIDERS AND CONTINUE TO MOVE
THE NEEDLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. VERY WELL SAID.
COLLEAGUES, FURTHER DISCUSSION?
QUESTIONS? I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK STATED, THAT
IT IS IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL
THAT WE KEEP THIS DISCUSSION
GOING. COLLEAGUES, WITH THAT, IF
YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
HSD-75, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. SEEING NO FURTHER
CO-SPONSORS, WE'LL MOVE ON
HSD-76.
>>> HSD-76SA WOULD REQUEST THAT
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
ASSESS KING COUNTY REGIONAL, THE
KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE SHORTFALL.
IDENTIFY IF THERE IS A NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND THE AMOUNT
NECESSARY AND INCORPORATE
ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR KCHRA INTO
THE 2026 MID-YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET PROPOSAL. IT IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, SORRY
COUNCIL MEMBERS RINCK, KETTLE,
AND NELSON.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, KETTLE,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, MISS LEBRECK. THE
KING COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC
SINCE DAY ONE. IT'S HAD SUCH A
MASSIVE FALSE START. WE MADE
GREAT CHANGES LAST YEAR AT THIS
TIME CHANGING IT, REFORMING IT.
BUT AS YOU LOOK INTO IT AS WE
DID LAST YEAR AND I CONTINUE TO
DO BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
SEAMS THAT DOES HAVE IMPACT ON
PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU START TO
REALIZE THERE'S EVEN MORE
PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUCTURE. YOU
KNOW, I'M AGHAST THAT WE'VE
CREATED A STRUCTURE WHERE THE
CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE TO KIND
OF GIVE THEM MONEY BUT LATE AND
THEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE A LOAN.
AND LAST YEAR, THEY ESSENTIALLY
HAD TO PAY A MILLION DOLLARS IN
INTEREST TO KING COUNTY. WHO
DESIGNED THAT? IT'S
UNBELIEVABLE. WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING TO SET UP ORGANIZATIONS
FOR SUCCESS, NOT FAILURE.
THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING
WITH KCHRA FROM DAY ONE, AND
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT IS TO LOOK
TO BASICALLY FIX THE
ADMINISTRATIVE MESS FOR THE LACK
OF A BETTER WORD THAT WE HAVE
WITH KCHRA. I BELIEVE IT'S
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
WITH THE REFORMS WE DID LAST
YEAR. I DO BELIEVE THEY CAN DO
SO UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR.
KINNESON. THE BEST WAY TO CREATE
A PROPER REGIONAL APPROACH IS TO
SHOW THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN
KING COUNTY THAT WE HAVE A
FUNCTIONAL, CREDIBLE REGIONAL
HOMELESS AUTHORITY. PART OF THAT
IS ENSURING THAT IT'S SET UP
FOR SUCCESS BY THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY. AND SO COLLEAGUES, THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT AS WE LOOK TO
ADDRESS WHAT IS REALLY A KEY
AREA, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING. THIS KIND OF GOES TO
THE SHIP, THE SEATTLE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN TO UNDERSTAND
BETTER AND SEE THE INTERACTIONS
WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
SOCIAL HOUSING. BUT WE'RE GOING
TO BE IN A VERY DIFFICULT SPOT
IF THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESS AUTHORITY, THE KCHRA
CONTINUES TO BE SET UP FOR
FAILURE AND NOT SET UP FOR
SUCCESS. COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. FURTHER DISCUSSION?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> TODAY THE GOVERNING BOARD
MEMBERS OF KCHRA RECEIVED AN
E-MAIL FROM DIRECTOR DR. KELLY
KINNESON SAYING AFTER CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION, I'VE MADE THE
DECISION TO PART WAYS WITH SIMON
FOSTER, EDMOND WHITER, AND TIM
THOMAS, AND JAMES ROUSSE.
THEY'RE THE DEPUTY CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GENERAL
COUNSEL, CHIEF RESEARCH AND DATA
OFFICER, AND CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER RESPECTIVELY. SO THIS IS
NOT AT ALL A, UH, A COMMENT OR A
-- I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS NOT A
NECESSARY BUDGET ACTION
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I'M JUST LETTING PEOPLE
KNOW THERE ARE EFFORTS UNDERWAY
RIGHT NOW TO BRING THE
ORGANIZATION MORE IN LINE WITH
THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AND
TO FILL BUDGET, A BUDGET GAP. I
THINK IT'S OF ABOUT $2 MILLION.
I WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS
WORK IS BEGINNING TO BE MADE.
THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE FOR HIS COMMENTS. BUT
WHEN WE CREATED THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY IN
2019 THEN WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HARA WHO'S NOW OUR MAYOR, WE
DID ENVISION A DIFFERENT PLAN,
BUT THIS WAS THE STRUCTURE AND
HOW THE VOTE SHOOK OUT TO CREATE
THE STRUCTURE THAT WE SEE TODAY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS CORRECT IN
THE LAST WEEK WE'VE BEEN
MEETING WITH KING COUNTY WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WELL ON
RESTRUCTURING. THE BOARD HAS
BEEN VERY CLEAR WITH DR.
KINNESON, THE CUTS THAT NEED TO
BE MADE UNFORTUNATELY, AND ONE
OF THE ISSUES IS THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY IS
SHIFTING AWAY FROM DIRECT
SERVICES AND TO BASICALLY BE THE
WAREHOUSE FOR CONTRACTS. AND
AWAY FROM ADVOCACY. I HAVE SOME
PERSONAL OPINIONS ABOUT THAT,
BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER
RIGHT NOW. THAT'S IN THE PAST.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD. BUT I DO
WANT TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I'M
HOPING FOLKS ARE LISTENING
BEYOND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
BECAUSE THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
THE MOST SERVICES AND MONEY
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MOST PEOPLE
HERE, BUT IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE
WE ARE THE BIGGEST CITY. THERE
ARE 39 CITIES IN KING COUNTY.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, ONE OF THE
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE
OUTLYING CITIES THAT EITHER DO
NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE OR
CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOMELESS ISSUE
AND CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IT'S A
SEATTLE PROBLEM. AND HAVE
PASSED, QUITE FRANKLY,
ORDINANCES THAT HURT THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOUSING AGAINST,
YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT ARE
UNHOUSED. AND SO IF YOU ARE AN
OPENING CITY THAT WANTS TO
PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, YOU
KNOW, AT SOME POINT THESE ARE
ALL CITIES WITHIN THEMSELVES
THAT HAVE THEIR OWN
SENSIBILITIES. AND IF THEY FEEL
DIFFERENTLY, WE CAN'T MAKE
THEM. ALL WE CAN DO IS CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND
HOPEFULLY CHANGE THE HEARTS AND
MINDS THAT NOT EVERYONE WHO IS
UNSHELTERED, UNHOUSED IS A
CRIMINAL. A LOT OF US ARE ONE,
TWO PAYCHECKS AWAY. SEATTLE IS
AN EXPENSIVE CITY TO LIVE IN. WE
FIND OURSELVES BEING THE MOST
WELCOMING CITY. I'M SURE I'LL
HEAR ABOUT THAT LATER FROM OTHER
CITIES. BUT SOME OF US WHO SAT
ON THERE AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
SINCE 2019, I CAN SAY WE ARE
MOVING FORWARD. THERE'S A LOT
OF CHANGE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE
INFORMATION WE RECEIVED
YESTERDAY IN THE BOARD MEETING
AND EXECUTIVE SESSION WE HAD TWO
DAYS AGO. SO WE ARE ON TRACK TO
CHANGE THINGS. I THINK IN THE
NEXT MONTH, WE CAN COME BACK AND
REPORT THAT WE'VE MADE SOME
SYSTEMIC CHANGES. AND I HOPE
THOSE OUTLYING CITIES OUT THERE
RECOGNIZE THIS IS AN ISSUE ABOUT
HUMANITY. AND IF THEY CAN OPEN
THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS TO
UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE THAT'S
UNHOUSED AND UNSHELTERED ISN'T
IN SEATTLE, THEY COME FROM
KIRKLAND AND KENT, YOU NAME IT.
IF THEY COULD JOIN US, THAT
WOULD BE NICE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. JUST NOTING SOMETHING
YOU SAID, A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE
ONLY TWO PAYCHECKS AWAY FROM
BEING HOMELESS. FOR A LOT OF
FEDERAL WORKERS, SOME OF THEM
ARE FACING THEIR FIRST OR SECOND
PAYCHECK THAT THEY'RE NOT
RECEIVING THIS WEEK. IT'S
DEVASTATING. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, I SEE YOU HAVE A HAND.
BEFORE YOU GO ON, ONE THING I
APPRECIATE ABOUT YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU ARE
ALWAYS CONSISTENT. SINCE WE
FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT
KCHRA IN 2017, YOU'VE CALLED IT
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY EVERY
SINGLE TIME. AND I THINK IT WAS
AN ACRONYM ISSUE BACK THEN. SO I
DO APPRECIATE THAT EVEN THOUGH
YOU CALLED IT THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY, WE KNOW YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY.
>> DID I SAY THE HOUSING?
>> EVERY SINGLE TIME. YOU
LEARNED IT THE FIRST TIME IN
2017 AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY
EVER SINCE.
>> CAN I JUST SAY ONE? JUST SO
WE'RE ALL CLEAR HERE. I DID NOT
WANT IT TO BE THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY. I
WANTED IT TO BE A PDA. I WANTED
IT TO BE AN INSTITUTION WHERE WE
COULD ISSUE DEBT, ASSUME DEBT,
AND GET A BUY-IN. THE MAYOR NOW,
ME AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT AT THE
TIME DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES FOR
THAT STRUCTURE. SO I'M GOING TO
LEAVE IT AT THAT. I'LL KEEP
CALLING IT WHAT I WANT.
>> COMPROMISE DOESN'T ALWAYS
WORK OUT. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, I
SEE YOU HAVE A HAND. SITTING
EXPERT ON THE DAIS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THAT'S
GENEROUS. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR HER
COMMENTS REALLY CALLING
ATTENTION TO THE HARMFUL KIND OF
LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE SEEN
PASSED WITHIN THIS COUNTY. AND
PARTICULARLY THE KIND OF IMPACTS
THAT HAS ON REALLY MEETING THE
NEEDS OF OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
I ALSO WANTED TO UPLIFT THAT I
KNOW WE HAVE A REAL SPIRIT AND
DESIRE TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS A
REGIONAL ENTITY, AND I'D LIKE
TO REMIND THE BODY AND ANY OF
THE LISTENING PUBLIC THAT WHILE
WE WANT MORE CITIES TO BE A PART
OF KCHRA, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
SUBURBAN JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE
CONTRIBUTED FUNDING TO THE
ENTITY AND MERGED THEIR
CONTRACTS INTO A REGIONAL
RESPONSE. I WANTED TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO CELEBRATE AND REMIND
EVERYONE THAT THE CITIES OF
BOTHEL, SHORELINE, LAKE FOREST
PARK, AND WOODVILLE HAVE BOUGHT
INTO A REGIONAL SOLUTION AND
MOVED THEIR CONTRACTS UNDER
KCHRA. THAT HAPPENED A COUPLE
YEARS AGO. AND WE'D LIKE TO
HAVE A TRUE REGIONAL SOLUTION
AND HAVE OTHER CITIES AROUND THE
REGION TRULY BUY THIS. THAT'S
WHY THIS SLIDE IN PARTICULAR IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. KCHRA HAS
TAKEN UP RESTRUCTURING TO
RIGHT-SIZE THE AGENCY AND THEIR
STAFFING MODEL. I'M HOPING THE
INFORMATION WE GLEAN ABOUT
ADMINISTRATION NEEDS WILL REALLY
HELP IN FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN
SET UP THE AGENCY TRULY FOR
SUCCESS. INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT
THE KIND OF FINDINGS THAT COMING
OUT OF THIS SLIDE AS KCHRA WORKS
WITH HSD TO IDENTIFY THIS
INFORMATION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, I
BELIEVE THIS IS YOUR SECOND?
>> YEP.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE
TAKE A TIME AND THEN WE'RE GOING
TO KEEP MOVING THROUGH BECAUSE
WE STILL HAVE 65% OF AMENDMENTS
TODAY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON,
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYBODY REALIZES
THAT KCHRA ACTS AS BASICALLY A
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATIVE
ORGANIZATION. THE REAL WORK IS
BEING DONE BY THE PROVIDERS THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS PAYING
FOR. WHEN WE ARE, OUR
CONTRIBUTION GOES INTO PAYING
THOSE CONTRACTS FOR THE ACTUAL
PROVIDERS WHO ARE PROVIDING THE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, ETC. BUT
THE ACTUAL AGENCY HAS ABOUT 89
FTEs, AND I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
EXACTLY THE WORK IS BEING DONE
BY THE EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENCY
VERSUS THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE
PROVISING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE UNHOUSED RIGHT NOW. WHEN WE
CHARACTERIZE A SHORTFALL AS A
SHORTFALL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
WHO IS ACTUALLY DOING WHAT WORK.
HOPEFULLY THIS SLIDE REQUEST
WILL PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER KETTLE,
LAST WORD, AND THEN WE'LL CALL
FOR CO-SPONSORS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE
COMMENTS FROM MY CO-SPONSORS,
NELSON AND RINCK, BUT ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ PROVIDING
SOME OF THE HISTORY PIECES
THERE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,
AND IT SHOWS IT COULD HAVE BEEN,
LIKE YOU SAID, SO WE'RE AT THE
POINT NOW WHERE WE DO NEED TO
ENSURE IT IS SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
I THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, FOR THAT POINT. MY TEAM
LAST YEAR WORKED THROUGH THIS
PROCESS TO GET TWO SHELTERS, AND
WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH
LEHIGH. ONE WILL BE AT LAKE
CITY. THE SECOND ONE IS STILL
TBD FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT
THAT KIND OF SHOWS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S POINT. BUT BOTTOM
LINE IS ABOUT GETTING THE JOB
DONE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO,
AGAIN, ENSURE THEY'RE SET UP
FOR SUCCESS AND WORK WITH THE
COUNTY TO ENSURE THE COUNTY IS
COVERED TO COUNCIL JUAREZ'S
POINT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, NOT ONLY THOSE
HIGHLIGHTED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. WITH THAT, CHAIR, I'M
DONE. I KNOW WE'RE ON A
TIMELINE.
>> I GAVE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
LAST WORD. IS THAT ALREADY ALL
RIGHT?
>> I REALLY WAS TRYING TO GET
TO.
>> ONE QUESTION, PLEASE. SORRY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT TOPIC, SO OBVIOUSLY
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS
AROUND IT. I'M JUST,
COUNCILMEMBER JEN OR
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THIS
ADMINISTRATIVE SHORTFALL AND THE
PLAN, WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY,
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT HOW
TO FIND MORE FUNDING, IT'S JUST
SORT OF IN GENERAL HOW TO FIGURE
OUT PART OF THIS IS THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP OF THE
ORGANIZATION. AM I UNDERSTANDING
THAT CORRECTLY FROM THE
CONVERSATION THAT JUST
TRANSPIRED?
>> JENNIFER?
>> I DO, KCHRA, THEY HAVE
IDENTIFIED AN ADMINISTRATIVE GAP
OF ABOUT $4.6 MILLION. THEY'VE
ALREADY TAKEN REALLY STARTING
THIS WEEK AS YOU'VE HEARD
MENTIONED A SERIES OF STEPS TO
REDUCE THAT GAP, WHICH HAS BEEN
TO ELIMINATE VACANT POSITIONS,
AND THEN TO LAY OFF SOME STAFF.
SOME ON THEIR SENIOR LEADERSHIP
TEAM AND SOME IN ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT POSITIONS. I THINK AT
THIS POINT, THEY HAVE CLOSED THE
GAP, AND THERE'S A COUPLE
REMAINING ISSUES. ONE IS JUST
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THEM?
TERMS OF ARE THEY ABLE TO
PERFORM THEIR WORK? ARE THERE
THINGS THAT NOW THEY CAN'T DO
TO DO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE OR KING COUNTY OR
OTHER JURISDICTIONS? WHAT IS THE
IMPACT, AND ARE THERE UNMET
NEEDS GIVEN THE ADJUSTMENTS
THEY'VE MADE. I THINK AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ALSO
MENTIONED, KCHRA PAY PROVIDERS,
AND THEN THEY INVOICE AND GET
PAID. THAT MEANS THEY RUN IN THE
NEGATIVE AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE
OUT A LOAN FROM KING COUNTY.
THAT'S ABOUT A MILLION A YEAR.
ONE OF THE WAYS TO SORT OF
INCREASE DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR
ADMIN IS TO ADDRESS THE INTEREST
ISSUE. THAT IS ANOTHER THING
THIS SLIDE IS ASKING TO LOOK AT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SORRY, CHAIR. I IMAGINE WITH
ALL OF THAT, IT WILL LOOK
OVERALL AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE
STRUCTURE BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE
TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO FIGURE IT
OUT, RIGHT?
>> JENNIFER AND THEN WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON.
>> I THINK THOSE DETAILS ARE TO
BE DETERMINED. THIS SLIDE DOES
NOT SPECIFY.
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE TO
COSPONSOR HSD-76, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME. I HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
HOLLINGSWORTH, SAKA ADDING THEIR
NAMES TO HSD-76.
>>> I'M GOING TO PAUSE AGAIN.
EVERYONE READY? I HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
SOLOMON, AND SAKA. WE'LL MOVE
ON TO HSD-78. COLLEAGUES, WE
TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OF TODAY'S
AGENDA OUT YESTERDAY. BUT JUST
ON TODAY'S AMENDMENTS, WE STILL
HAVE 65% OF OUR AMENDMENTS
REMAINING FOR TODAY. OVER TO
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. HSD-78A WOULD
INCREASE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT'S APPROPRIATIONS BY
$350,000 FOR STIPENDS TO HELP
LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
EXITING INPATIENT RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT PROGRAMS BE ABLE TO
LIVE IN PRIVATELY RUN RECOVERY
HOUSING. AND THE GOAL WOULD BE
TO PROVIDE A HOUSING ENVIRONMENT
SO INDIVIDUALS CAN CONTINUE
THEIR RECOVERY IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT. IT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS NELSON, RIVERA,
AND KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. I WANT
TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS KETTLE
AND RIVERA FOR CO-SPONSORING
THIS BUDGET ACTION. I'LL JUST
BE QUITE BLUNT AND SAY THAT THE
LACK OF MORE THAN A SCANT
HANDFUL, AND I MEAN THAT QUITE
LITERALLY, A SCANT HANDFUL OF
RECOVERY-BASED HOUSING UNITS,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SOBER HOUSING
UNITS IS QUITE, IT'S SHOCKING
ACTUALLY. WE ARE NOW FINALLY
INVESTING MORE IN THE EXPANSION
OF TREATMENT SERVICES, ALL
DIFFERENT KINDS OF OPTIONS, BUT
WITHOUT SOME PLACE FOR THOSE
PEOPLE TO GO AND LIVE ONCE THEY
HAVE COMPLETED OR ONCE THEIR
TREATMENT IS ONGOING, A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE NOT
LIVING NEXT DOOR TO SOMEONE WHO
IS USING OR SELLING DRUGS IS,
IT'S A BIG PROBLEM IN OUR WHOLE
RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
AND SO THIS BUDGET ACTION BUILDS
UPON THE REALLY GREAT SORT OF
NEW WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND
OUR NEW ATTENTION TO RECOVERY
AND TREATMENT. IT BUILDS UPON
OUR FIRST OF ITS KIND PILOT
PROJECT PROGRAM FOR INPATIENT
TREATMENT. AND SO MANY OF THE
OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE
MAKING THIS YEAR. SO I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT THIS, SO THE
MECHANICS OF THIS, AGAIN
BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE DOES NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE NEW
FUNDING. THIS COULD BE EXISTING
FUNDING THAT IS ALREADY BEING
PROPOSED. THERE IS, TO BE USED
WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX
INCREASE. IT FALLS IN LINE WITH
THOSE INVESTMENTS. IT DOESN'T
REALLY MATTER TO ME. WHAT
MATTERS IS WE GET THESE UNITS
ONLINE. I HAVE RECEIVED
INFORMATION FROM LISA DUGARD
EXPLAINING THE COST STRUCTURE.
THERE'S $320,000 OF STIPENDS IN
CIRCULATION THAT THE PDA USED TO
HAVE TO PROVIDE TO PEOPLE FOR
SOBER HOUSING. AND THE PROBLEM
IS, THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT
THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT, THERE IS
VERY LITTLE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
FOR THIS KIND OF HOUSING. YOU
KNOW, FEDERAL FUNDING COMES FROM
HUD, AND VERY LITTLE OF IT IS
DEDICATED TO RECOVERY BASED
HOUSING AT ALL. SO IT EXISTS
ACROSS KING COUNTY, BUT ITS COST
IS ALMOST NEVER SUBSIDIZED BY
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FOR THOSE
THAT NEED THIS FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE. THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL
WOULD EXPAND OUR
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PILOT PROJECT
AND STRENGTHEN AND COMPLIMENT
THE OTHER TREATMENT INVESTMENTS
WE'RE MAKING. SO IN 2024, $1.5
MILLION WAS AWARDED STATEWIDE
FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR PEOPLE
LIVING IN LEVEL ONE OXFORD
HOUSE. THAT'S THE SOBER HOUSE
THAT A LOT OF TREATMENT CENTERS
SEND PEOPLE TO. AND LEVEL TWO
RECOVERY RESIDENCES. DEMAND FAR
OUTPACES SUPPLY. THERE IS,
COLLEAGUES, AN ACTUAL
ORGANIZATION CALLED RECOVERY
HOUSING DOT ORG. YOU CAN LOOK AT
IT ONLINE. IT LISTS ALL THE
OPTIONS THAT ARE ACCREDITED FOR
BEING OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE
INTO. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO MONEY
TO SUPPORT PEOPLE GOING THERE.
AND SO THIS IS REALLY A CRITICAL
PIECE OF PUTTING TREATMENT AND
RECOVERY AT THE CENTER OF THE
CITY'S AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER
DISCUSSION? SEEING NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION, IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR HSD-78, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND NOW. SEEING NO FURTHER
CO-SPONSORS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO
LEDGE ONE, WHICH --
>> IT'S NOT A MISTAKE.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING
TO THE DEGREE OF OUT OF ORDER
BUT IN ORDER. JENNIFER, OVER TO
YOU.
>> SO LEDGE ONE, THIS IS LEDGE
001-A. IT IS HERE BECAUSE IT IS
VERY MUCH RELATED TO HSD AND
ALSO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. THIS
WOULD INCREASE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS BY
$80,000 GENERAL FUND FOR A
CONSULTANT TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK
FOR PROJECT-SPECIFIC
NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT AND
MITIGATION PLANS. BOTH FOR
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROJECTS AND HUMAN SERVICES
PROGRAMS WHERE SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED ON SITE AT A PHYSICAL
LOCATION. IT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS KETTLE, JUAREZ,
AND NELSON. AND I'LL STOP
THERE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE IS SPONSORING THE
AMENDMENT, AND YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> YEAH, I HAVE SPONSORS KETTLE,
RIVERA, JUAREZ. AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. AND
AGAIN, THANK YOU, MISS LEBRECK.
MY TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH
MISS LEBRECK AND HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES QUITE A BIT
RECENTLY. WHICH REALLY GOES TO
THE SAME IDEA OF WHERE THE
INTERACTIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES AND HOUSING.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS, AS I
MENTIONED AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE FOR THE TENTATIVE
AGREEMENT, I TALKED ABOUT
NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. AND
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING
AT THIS. I'VE VISITED MANY
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE
DISTRICT AND ACTUALLY THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. AND THEY RECOGNIZE THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE ON THE
GROUND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED. AND THE
CONCERNS, THOUGH, ALSO WITH
RESPECT TO AGREEMENTS WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, I'VE BEEN
LISTENING TO THESE PROVIDERS,
AND I RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, SOME
OF THE CONCERNS THEY HAD
PARTICULARLY AS SOMEONE WHO'S
SERVED IN THOSE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND KNOWS MANY
THAT DO, I UNDERSTAND THAT PART.
AND SO THE MAIN THING HERE IS
NOT ABOUT NAMES OF PROGRAMS AND
THE LIKE, BUT IT'S ABOUT
FOSTERING COMMUNICATION AND THEN
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
VARIOUS PROVIDERS, HOUSING OR
HUMAN SERVICES, AND THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS. BECAUSE YES, WE
NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR NEIGHBORS
AGAIN WITH COMPASSION, BUT THEN
HAVE THE WISDOM TO LOOK OUT FOR
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS SLIDE IS
REALLY LOOKING TO DO THAT. IN
SOME WAYS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A
COMMITTEE MEETING KIND OF A
PROCESS TO REALLY BRING UP THE
ISSUE, TACKLE THE ISSUE, AND
GAIN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY AHEAD.
AND THIS WOULD BE ALSO, BY THE
WAY, SINCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
KCHRA, IN TERMS OF ENGAGING WITH
THEM AS WELL TO BETTER SET THEM
UP FOR SUCCESS IN THIS AREA.
THAT'S BASICALLY THE THEME THAT
RESONATES ALL THE TIME AS WELL.
HOW CAN WE SET UP THE SITUATION
FOR SUCCESS, FOR THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
PARTICIPATING, BUT ALSO FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE. FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. HE DID APPROACH ME ABOUT
THIS. HE TALKS MORE IN MILITARY
TERMS THAN ME, BUT I THINK WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT OUR
DISCUSSIONS WERE, MR. KETTLE AND
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS
THIS IS MORE BUILDING ON GOOD
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS.
>> UH-HUH.
>> AND IN THE PAST WHAT WE'VE
DONE IS SAT WITH THE COMMUNITY,
PUT TOGETHER A CHECKLIST, IS
THERE GOING TO BE SECURITY? IS
THERE GOING TO BE LIGHTING? IS
THERE GOING TO BE A SOCIAL
WORKER? IF WE HAD A LIST OF 10,
IF WE COULD MEET EIGHT, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WAS HAPPY TO SOME
DEGREE. I THINK WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO IS BEEF THIS UP.
WHEN WE HAVE WELCOMING
NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAVE SOMETHING
THAT'S NEGOTIATEED, THAT PEOPLE
CAN BE COMPLIANT WITH, THAT THEY
CAN RELY ON, THAT'S TO SOME
DEGREE ENFORCEABLE. WE CAN HAVE
MORE WELCOMING NEIGHBORHOODS WHO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY AND ALL
THESE OTHER GROUPS ARE GOING TO
NOT JUST WORK WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BUT WORK WITH
DECIDING THE ISSUES THAT CENTRAL
STAFF HAS LISTED. ALL THE GROUPS
IN HERE, THE TYPE OF HOUSING,
WHETHER IT'S PERMANENT,
SUPPORTIVE, CAMPING, ENCAMPMENT.
THAT'S BEEN MISSING FOR AT
LEAST 10 YEARS. I WAS HAPPY TO
DO THIS. WHETHER IT'S AN
$80,000 CONTRACT OR A $50, IT
DOES HAVE TO GET DONE. WE'VE
NEVER REALLY SAT DOWN AND SAID,
WE'VE KIND OF HAD A FEEL-GOOD
GENTLEMAN'S, I HATE USING THAT
TERM, GENTLEMAN'S HANDSHAKE, WE
TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN, BUT
WE'VE NEVER REALLY HELD THE
PROVIDER ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOME OF
THE THINGS THEY PROMISED THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY DIDN'T
COME THROUGH WITH. SOMETIMES AS
SIMPLE AS LIGHTING. IS THERE A
SOCIAL WORKER THERE? ALL THESE
THINGS THAT WE SAY WE'RE GONNA
DO, WE NEED SOMEONE TO BE THE
CARETAKER AND SAY THIS IS HOW
YOU GET ORGANIZED, FOLKS. THIS
IS THE PERSON WE'RE GOING TO
PAY TO DO THAT. WE KIND OF WANT
A TEMPLATE THAT WE USE WHERE WE
HAVE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE CITY
FOR ALL THE TYPE OF HOUSING THAT
WE PROVIDE FOR OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND THEN
NELSON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU, JEN, FOR THAT GREAT
EXPLANATION. AND THEN THANK YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBERS KETTLE AND
JUAREZ, THIS IS A CONVERSATION
WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR A LONG
TIME. THIS WAS NOT JUST THIS
BUDGET. THIS IS WE'VE BEEN
HAVING COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
SINCE WE GOT HERE. AND THEN
SINCE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU
CAME BACK. AND THIS IS REALLY TO
SET EVERYBODY UP FOR SUCCESS.
AND IT'S A POSITIVE THING.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE LESS THAN
THAT. AND I THINK THAT I
APPRECIATE THAT OH DOES WORK
WITH THE PROVIDERS ON THE FRONT
END OF A PROJECT TO, YOU KNOW,
REQUIRE PROVIDERS TO DO A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OUTREACH. AND
THIS IS JUST SAYING LET'S KEEP
IT GOING. LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S
NOT JUST A BEGINNING THING BUT
THROUGHOUT BECAUSE IT'S GONNA
SET UP THAT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
AND THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE
LIVING IN IT. AND THE NEIGHBORS,
THE WELCOMING NEIGHBORS UP FOR
SUCCESS. IF WE ARE CONTINUING
THAT RELATIONSHIP, IT'S REALLY
A RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, AND
I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS. I GREW
UP IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING, AND
WE ALL TOOK CARE OF EACH OTHER
IN OUR BUILDING BECAUSE WE KNEW
EACH OTHER. ALL THE PARENTS KNEW
EACH OTHER, THEN THE KIDS KNEW
EACH OTHER, AND THAT MADE FOR A
BETTER RELATIONSHIP EVEN IN AN
APARTMENT BUILDING. SO I THINK
THIS IS REALLY SAYING THE SAME
THING. THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE
NEED TO BE IN IF RELATIONSHIP,
IN COMMUNITY ALONG WITH THE
FOLKS THAT LIVE NEAR THEM AND
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEM SO
THAT IT IS, WE ARE CREATING
WELCOMING NEIGHBORHOODS IN
GENERAL. AND WE'RE GIVING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE
WELCOMING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
JUST TALKING TO THEM AT THE
BEGINNING BUT THROUGHOUT. SO IF
THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT SURFACES,
WE THEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO
HANDLE IT. AND I WILL SAY THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES
IN THE DISTRICT, AND THE ISSUES
WE'RE HAVING IN THE DISTRICT
ARE BEING FACED BOTH BY THE
RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS THE
NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET. SO
EVERYONE'S DEALING WITH THE
SAME THING. BUT PEOPLE AREN'T
NECESSARILY TALKING WITH EACH
OTHER AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.
AND SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CONTINUING ESTABLISHING THE
RELATIONSHIP, CONTINUING IT SO
THAT FOLKS HAVE SUPPORT WHEN
ISSUES ARISE. SO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> THANKS. SO COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA WON THE ARM WRESTLE TO BE
THE THIRD CO-SPONSOR. BUT I AM
ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, OF
THIS BUDGET ITEM. AND BUILDING
ON WHAT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
SAID, WE DO HAVE TO PUT SOME
TEETH INTO WHAT HAS BEEN UP TO
NOW KIND OF A CHECK-THE-BOX
EXERCISE OF MAKING SURE THERE'S
A GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT. WE
HAVE TO HAVE SOME WAY OF
ENFORCING OR REALLY WHAT WE'RE
REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS MAKING
SURE THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING IS MORE THAN JUST
HOUSING FIRST. OR JUST HOUSING
FIRST IN NAME ONLY. THERE DO
HAVE TO BE SUPPORTS IN THESE
FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
RESIDENTS ARE GETTING THE CARE
THEY NEED SO THAT SOME OF THE
PROBLEMS WITHIN THESE FACILITIES
DON'T SPILL OUT INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT. WE'RE
CITING THESE ALL OVER THE CITY,
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT'S GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS
AND NOT BAD FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT'S REALLY
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND
I'LL REMIND PEOPLE LAST YEAR,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TRIED TO TIE
FUNDING TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF
GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD AGREEMENTS,
AND THAT GOT SO MUCH BLOW BACK,
SHE BASICALLY PULLED BACK THAT
PART. BUT THERE'S SOMETHING IN
BETWEEN JUST MAKING SURE IN NAME
ONLY THERE'S A GOOD NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENT, AND THEN DISRUPTING A
FUNDING MODEL FOR AN
ORGANIZATION IF THEY'RE REALLY
NOT ABLE TO ENFORCE A GOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD AGREEMENT. SO THIS
IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL
BE ABLE TO GO EVEN FARTHER THAN
THIS TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THESE
FACILITIES ARE CARED FOR.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION? FINAL
COMMENT, AND I'M NOT COMING
BACK TO ANOTHER FINAL COMMENT
AFTER THIS. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, YOUR FINAL WORD?
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
ALL THE COMMENTS FROM ALL MY
COLLEAGUES. IT WAS NOTED BY
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YES GOOD
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT WAS THE WORD.
IT WAS CREATING SOME CHALLENGES,
REACTIONS FROM OUR PROVIDER
FRIENDS. WE CREATED THIS NAME,
AND AS A BIG FAN OF KXP, I WAS
REALLY LOOKING TO FIND AN X
WORD. I DIDN'T THINK
NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT FOR
XANADU PLAN WOULD BE THE BEST,
SO I DECIDED NOT TO GO THAT
ROUTE. SO NEXP DIDN'T QUITE
MAKE IT. THANK YOU AND I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
LEDGE 1A 1 AT THIS TIME, PLEASE
RAISE YOUR HAND. PENCILS DOWN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> COSPONSORING LEDGE 1A IS
SAKA, HOLLINGSWORTH, NELSON,
SOLOMON.
>>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. WE ARE
MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY
ASSISTIVE RESPONSE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE 60% OF THE AMENDMENTS
REMAINING FOR TODAY, AND THAT
WAS AGAIN FROM THE ABBREVIATED
AGENDA SINCE WE GOT THROUGH A
LOT YESTERDAY. WE WILL BE
BREAKING AT 12:30. SO WE HAVE 51
MINUTES AT THIS TIME. LOOKS LIKE
I'M GOING OVER TO MR. TOMASO
JOHNSON. WELCOME. TAKE IT AWAY
WITH CARE 1.
>> CARE 1 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE CARE
DEPARTMENT BY $200,000 FOR
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION
AND ONGOING SUBSCRIPTIONS AIMED
TO IMPROVE DATA VISIBILITY AND
COORDINATION BETWEEN CARE AND
OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES IN
THE CITY. THIS CBA IS SPONSORED
BY KETTLE, CO-SPONSORED BY
STRAUSS AND RINCK.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, AS SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> CHAIR, IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, I'M GOING TO SAY THREE
THINGS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, AS I ALWAYS SAY. BUT WE
NEED TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL PUBLIC
SAFETY SYSTEM. WITH THAT, I'M
LOOKING WITH THIS AMENDMENT TO
SET UP CARE FOR SUCCESS, AND I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SORRY,
THAT WAS A FOURTH.
>> THAT'S FINE. I'M GOING TO
DIG INTO THIS MORE. WHAT ARE THE
SOFTWARE UPGRADES, AND WHY ARE
THEY NEEDED AT THIS TIME?
>> YEAH. SO IN SPEAKING WITH THE
CARE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP, THEY
WERE CLEAR THAT THIS IS A VERY
HIGH PRIORITY OF THEIRS THAT
DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. SO THIS WOULD
PROVIDE AN ONGOING SOFTWARE
PACKAGE THAT WOULD BASICALLY
PROVIDE GREATER DATA VISIBILITY
BETWEEN CARE, INCREASE THE
INTEGRATION AND VISIBILITY WITH
OTHER SYSTEMS SUCH AS SFD'S
HEALTH ONE, AND IT WOULD ALLOW
THEM TO BOTH HAVE BETTER
VISIBILITY FOR DISPATCH, ONGOING
DATA COLLECTION, AND INFORMATION
TO BE RESPONSIVE TO IMPROVE THE
INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO
DISPATCHERS AS WELL AS CARE
RESPONDERS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER PARTS OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR RESPONSE
ECOSYSTEM IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION, FURTHER
QUESTIONS? SEEING NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS, IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR CARE
1A, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AT
THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, CO-SPONSORING CARE 1A.
>>> THANK YOU. CARE 2.
>> CARE 2 WOULD IMPOSE A PROVISO
ON $579,000 IN THE CARE
DEPARTMENT FOR 911 CALL TAKER
STAFFING TO PRIORITIZE
NON-EMERGENCY CALLS WITH THE
INTENTION TO DECREASE
NON-EMERGENCY WAIT LINE TIMES.
JUST TO NOTE, FUNDING IN THIS
AMOUNT, $579,000 FOR FOUR-TIME
EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES IN CARE WAS
APPROPRIATED BY COUNCIL IN 2025
FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE
BEING TO DECREASE THE WAIT TIME
ON THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE. THIS
IS INTENDED TO AFFECT EFFECTUATE
THE INTENT OF THE 2025 ADD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR. I
THINK TOMASO DID AN EXCELLENT
JOB OF EXPLAINING. WE HAD FOUR
DEDICATED NON-EMERGENCY LINE
CALL TAKERS THAT WE MUTT IN,
THAT I BROUGHT LAST YEAR, AND
YOU ALL SUPPORTED. VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT. SINCE I GOT
HERE, I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM
CONSTITUENTS THAT THE 911
NON-EMERGENCY LINE HAD
CONSISTENTLY HAD LONG WAIT
TIMES. WE PUT IN THE FOUR
DEDICATED POSITIONS BECAUSE CARE
HAS HAD DIFFICULTY HIRING 911
EMERGENCY CALL TAKERS. THOSE
POSITIONS WERE USED TO THE
DEDICATED NON-EMERGENCY LINE
POSITIONS HAVE BEEN USED FOR THE
EMERGENCY LINE, AND THAT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE. I'M PUTTING,
MAKING SURE THOSE FOUR
NON-EMERGENCY DEDICATED FOLKS WE
PUT IN LAST YEAR ARE CONTINUING
TO THIS YEAR, INTO THIS 2026
BUDGET CYCLE. SO THAT IS WHAT
THIS IS. AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING
THEY'RE PRIORITIZING, THESE
FOUR DEDICATED ON THE
NON-EMERGENCY DEDICATED LINE. IF
THE EMERGENCY LINE NEEDS CALL
TAKERS, THEY'LL HAVE TO BORROW
FROM THOSE FOUR, AND THAT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT JUST
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE CAPACITY
TO ANSWER THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE
BECAUSE IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU
KNOW THAT FOLKS DON'T NEED TO
BE TAKING UP THE EMERGENCY LINE
AND REPORTING SOMETHING. THE
NON-EMERGENCY LINE WILL BE MORE
HELPFUL. AND TRUE ALSO OF NOW,
CARE'S ABILITY TO SOLE
DISPATCH, I WONDER IF SOME OF
THOSE NON-EMERGENCY CALLS WILL
BE RELATED TO SOMETHING THAT THE
CARE RESPONDERS CAN ADDRESS IF
IT'S A NEIGHBOR NEEDING
ASSISTANCE OR AN UNHOUSED
NEIGHBOR NEEDING ASSISTANCE IN
THE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I THINK
THIS MIGHT ALSO BE HELPFUL FOR
THAT, I WOULD THINK. SO ANYWAY,
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. AND I
APPRECIATE THE 911 CALL TAKERS.
SHOUT OUT TO THE CALL TAKER. IT
IS A REALLY DIFFICULT JOB. I
WENT DOWN THERE WHEN I FIRST GOT
HERE TO SIT WITH THEM AS THEY
TAKE CALLS, AND THEN THEY GET
ROLLED OVER TO DISPATCH, AND THE
DISPATCHERS AS WELL SHOUT OUT TO
EVERYONE AT THE 911 CALL CENTER
BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING THE HARD
WORK OF RESPONDING TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THE CALL TIMES FOR THE
EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY LINE
ARE ABBREVIATED SO THAT FOLKS
ARE GETTING THE ASSISTANCE THAT
THEY NEED. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
CARE 2, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, SAKA, SOLOMON,
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS JUAREZ, SAKA,
SOLOMON, AND HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>> THANK YOU. PHYSICAL HANDS DO
WORK AS WELL. SO.
>> HA.
>> IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE
FINDING THE MOUSE, JUST RAISE
YOUR HAND. THANK YOU. CARE 3
PLEASE.
>> CARE 3 WOULD DECREASE
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY $14.5
MILLION GENERAL FUND $2 MILLION
TO JUMP START PET. ALLOCATED TO
SUPPORT LEAD, CO-LEAD, AND THIRD
AVENUE PROJECTS AND WOULD
INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS BY THE
SAME AMOUNT IN THE CARE
DEPARTMENT TO TRANSFER CONTRACT
ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE
CONTRACTS FROM HSD TO CARE. AS
WAS NOTED IN SOME EARLIER
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE BUDGET,
THERE WAS AN ARRANGEMENT PUT IN
PLACE TOWARD THE BEGINNING OF
THIS YEAR, 2025, WHEREBY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, PUBLIC SAFETY
TEAM, AND CARE DEPARTMENT
LEADERSHIP HAVE HAD OPERATIONAL
OVERSIGHT IF YOU WILL OF THESE
CONTRACTS AND THE FINANCIAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACT FUNCTION
HAS BEEN RETAINED IN HSD. THIS
WOULD TRANSFER THE ENTIRETY OF
CONTRACT, OVERSIGHT, AND
ASSOCIATED DOLLARS FROM HSD INTO
CARE. THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
CO-SPONSORED BY SOLOMON AND
JUAREZ. ONE OTHER NOTE THAT I
WOULD MAKE BEFORE WE MOVE ON IS
SUBSEQUENT TO THE PUBLISHING OF
THE CBA, IN THE AGENDA, WE
RECEIVED UPDATED TECHNICAL
INFORMATION FROM HSD. THERE'S A
CORRECTION TO THE DOLLAR
AMOUNTS. THERE WAS JUST SOME
DOLLARS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
THESE CONTRACTS. SO THAT IS
GOING TO BE UPDATED. WE WERE
ALSO MADE AWARE SUBSEQUENT TO
PUBLISHING OF THIS CBA THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS A POSITION
THAT SHOULD THIS MOVE FORWARD,
THEY'RE PREPARED TO TRANSFER
FTE FOR OVERSIGHT OF THIS
CONTRACT FROM HSD INTO CARE. AS
WELL, I KNOW THAT HAD BEEN A
QUESTION WHEN THIS HAS COME UP
PRIOR. SO WE ARE DEVELOPING AN
ALTERNATE VERSION B OF THIS
SHOULD THIS MOVE FORWARD TO BE
USED IN CONSIDERATION FOR THE
CHAIR'S BALANCING PACKAGE AND
ON WARD THAT WOULD HAVE THE TWO
CHANGES AND THE TECHNICAL
CORRECTION ON THE DOLLAR
AMOUNTS. THIS IS REVENUE-NEUTRAL
SINCE IT JUST INVOLVES
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TRANSFER OF A
POSITION AS WELL AS THE FUNDING
ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CONTRACTS.
>> THANK YOU. THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS STEP IN THE BUDGET
DAYLIGHTING THESE CHANGES SO
THESE TYPES OF ERRORS CAN BE
CAUGHT EARLIER RATHER THAN IN
THE HECTIC AND FRANTIC DAYS THAT
WILL COME LATER THIS NEXT MONTH
SINCE WE'RE NOT IN NOVEMBER
YET. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, FOR THAT
SUMMARY. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS
ABOUT THE SEAM BETWEEN PUBLIC
SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES. BUT IT'S PUBLIC
SAFETY HEAVY. AND SPECIFICALLY
RELATED TO ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BEST THING
TO SAY IS LIKE YOU, I'M OUT AND
ABOUT OFTEN, AND I WAS ON THIRD
AVENUE. I ONE DAY SAW SOME
OFFICERS, SAID HELLO, CHECKED IN
WITH THEM. THEY WERE ON THIRD
AVENUE. THEN I WENT DOWN
BLANCHARD AND I WAS IN THE ALLEY
FOR A BIT. YES, I DO VISIT THE
ALLEYS OF MY DISTRICT AND SEE
THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST THERE.
AND I RAN INTO SOMEONE FROM THE
CRT AND HE NOTED HOW THE MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASK WE DID
LAST YEAR WAS SO GREAT FOR THE
CRT, THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM,
AND MADE A DIFFERENCE AS RELATED
TO THE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL. AGAIN, ANOTHER
PART OF THIS SEAM. AND THEN I
WENT TOWARD SECOND, AND I HAD A
MEETING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CARE,
WE DELIVER CARE, AND THE PDA,
THE LEAD PROGRAM. THAT KIND OF
SHOWS THIS IS WHERE THE PROGRAM
IS, YOU KNOW? ON THE GROUND,
IT'S CARE WITH WE DELIVER CARE
THERE ON THE STREETS OF
BELLTOWN. SO THIS IS A BUDGET
PIECE TO BASICALLY RECOGNIZE
THAT ALIGNMENT, RECOGNIZE THE
MISSION SETS AND WHO HAS
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR IT, IT'S
ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE, IT'S
ABOUT ALIGNMENT, AND THANK YOU,
MR. JOHNSON, THE PIECE ABOUT THE
FTE IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
THIS WILL BE COVERED WITH THE
FTE SHIFT WITH THAT EXPERTISE
WITH THAT FTE, HATE TO SAY THAT
IN THE THIRD PERSON ABOUT A
PERSON. BUT THAT PERSON WILL BE
TAKING CARE, PARDON THE PUN IF
YOU WILL, OF THIS, THIS BUDGET
PIECE AS IT RELATES TO THE
CARRYING OUT OF THE CONTRACTS
AND THE LIKE. SO COLLEAGUES,
AGAIN, FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE, FOR
ALIGNMENT, AND HELPING WITH THE
SEAM, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COLLEAGUES, FURTHER
DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION,
QUESTIONS? IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR CARE 3, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME. I HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK ADDING HER
NAME TO CARE 3.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>>> MOVING ON TO CARE 4.
>> CARE 4 IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT WOULD
REQUEST THAT THE CARE DEPARTMENT
REPORT ON ITS TRAINING PRACTICES
AND PROTOCOLS FOR THE CARE
CRISIS COMMUNITY RESPONDER
TEAMS. TO DATE, THE REPORT SHALL
INCLUDE INFORMATION DETAILING
HOW THE TRAINING HAS BEEN
PERFORMED TO DATE AND HOW
TRAINING WILL CHANGE THE WITH
ADVENT OF SOLE SOURCE DISPATCH.
CRISIS RESPONSE, DEESCALATION,
OUTREACH, AND REFERRALS. THIS IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, CO-SPONSORED BY KETTLE
AND THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, AS SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
TOMASO, FOR THAT GREAT
DESCRIPTION. THIS IS A SLIDE
REQUESTING INFORMATION. WE ALL
AGREE THAT ON AN ALTERNATIVE
CRISIS RESPONSE ACROSS THE CITY
AND IN GENERAL, FULL STOP. WE
CREATED THE CARE OR MAYOR HARRA
CREATED WITH THE SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL AND THE CONTINUED
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL A CARE
DEPARTMENT TO BE THAT
ALTERNATIVE CRISIS RESPONSE
THIRD PUBLIC SAFETY ARM. THIS IS
JUST REQUESTING INFORMATION
ABOUT THE TYPE OF TRAINING THAT
OUR CARE RESPONDERS RECEIVE. AND
WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES USED
AS THE CARE RESPONDERS ARE
RESPONDING? WE'VE HEARD A LOT
OF ANECDOTAL, AND I APPRECIATE
DIRECTOR BARTON COMING TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE ANECDOTAL
PIECES TO THAT TRAINING. BUT
WE'VE NEVER RECEIVED, AND I
CERTAINLY HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT IS
THEIR TRAINING? WHAT ARE THE
BEST PRACTICES THEY USE WHEN
THEY PROVIDE THE TRAINING? I
KNOW THERE ARE OTHER SIMILAR
EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND
SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET
THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE QUITE
FRANKLY, WHEN I TALK WITH
CONSTITUENTS, I WANT TO BE ABLE
TO SAY THIS IS YOUR THIRD SAFETY
DEPARTMENT. THIS IS WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT. ALTERNATIVE CRISIS
RESPONSE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
EVERY CONSTITUENT THAT I HAVE
SPOKEN WITH, THEY AGREE, AND
THEY SUPPORT AN ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE. AND THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THAT IS
AND WHAT THESE FOLKS ACTUALLY DO
AND WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING GOES
INTO IT. THIS IS NOT JUST
SOMETHING THAT'S HAPHAZARD.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY FORMAL
AND FORMALIZED APPROACH, AND I
WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT
INFORMATION SO I CAN ACCURATELY
DESCRIBE TO CON PITCH WENTS WHAT
THIS APPROACH IS AND THESE FOLKS
ACTUALLY DO NOW THAT THEY'LL
HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SOLE
DISPATCH, WHICH WE ALL VERY MUCH
WANT. ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF
THIS DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COMMENTS, QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. IN OUR MEETING WITH
CHIEF BARTON, THE PIECE ON THE
TRAINING IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW ARE
THEY GOING TO RECRUIT? IF WE ARE
GOING TO DO TRUE COMMUNITY
POLICING, THEN WE ARE GOING TO
WANT TO TRUE COMMUNITY CRISIS
RESPONSE FOLKS OUT THERE AS
WELL. PARTICULARLY, HOPEFULLY
PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS, UNDERSTAND THOSE
COMMUNITS, KNOW WHO ALL THE CARE
PROVIDERS ARE. THAT'S SO, SO
CRITICAL. I'M GOING TO BE VERY
INTERESTED IN THE RECRUITMENT
PIECE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, FURTHER DISCUSSION?
QUESTION? IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR CARE 4, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME. THANK
YOU. WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, SOLOMON, SAKA
CO-SPONSORING CARE 4.
>>> CARE 5.
>> CARE 5 IS ANOTHER STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THIS
SLIDE WOULD REQUEST THE CARE
DEPARTMENT PROVIDE A REPORT
DESCRIBING THE FOLLOWING THREE
TOPICS. NUMBER ONE IS THE STATUS
OF THE CREATION OF A PUBLICLY
ACCESSIBLE ONLINE DASHBOARD,
WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED
BY COUNCIL IN 2024 PROVIDING
INFORMATION ON THE COMMUNITY
CRISIS RESPONDER TEAMS. IT WOULD
DESCRIBE SPECIFIC BENEFITS
PROVIDED. AND FINALLY,
INFORMATION REGARDING THE
DETAILS OF CARE'S SERVICE
INTEGRATION WITH OTHER PARTNER
AGENCIES. THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
CO-SPONSORED BY KETTLE AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALSO YOUR GREAT
DESCRIPTION OF THIS NEXT SLIDE.
WE DID PUT THIS, THIS IS ANOTHER
ONE OF THOSE WE PUT IT IN LAST
YEAR, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT
THIS YEAR. THIS DASHBOARD HAS
NOT BEEN COMPLETED, SO IT IS
REQUESTING THAT. AND ALSO
INFORMATION PARTICULARLY AGAIN
WE'RE GOING TO SOLE DISPATCH.
SO GETTING THE INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW THINGS ARE GOING WILL BE
CRITICAL. I DID WANT TO NOTE AND
I APPRECIATE THAT THE CARE TEAM
HAS BEEN SENDING ME THEIR
MONTHLY SNAPSHOTS ON THE TYPES
OR THE NUMBER OF CALLS THEY'VE
ANSWERED AND ALSO SOME LIMITED
INFORMATION ABOUT TYPES OF
CALLS. BUT THERE'S NO OUTCOMES
NECESSARILY WHERE DID THOSE
PEOPLE GO WHEN THEY MAKE THAT
CONTACT AND THEY MAKE THAT
REFERRAL? WHAT IS HAPPENING TO
THESE FOLKS? SO A PUBLIC-FACING
DASHBOARD IS REALLY IMPORTANT, I
BELIEVE, IN ORDER TO -- WE ALL
NEED TO SHOW OUR WORK. THIS IS A
VERSION OF THAT. AND JUST
KNOWING, YOU KNOW, TO ME IT
SHOWS THE VALUE THAT THESE FOLKS
ARE PROVIDING. I'VE MET SOME OF
THE FOLKS THAT WORK THERE,
SOCIAL WORKERS, AND THEY DO
REALLY GREAT WORK, AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE
INFORMATION. AND ALSO, AS WE ARE
MAKING BUDGET DECISIONS IN THE
FUTURE, WHAT IS NEEDED? THIS IS
MORE INFORMATION, THIS TYPE OF
DASHBOARD HELPS TO KNOW WHAT DO
WE NEED TO KNOW EITHER
DIFFERENTLY OR MORE OF? SO
THAT'S WHAT THIS SLIDE IS
HOPING TO GET TO.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION? SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION,
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
CARE 5, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, HOLLINGSWORTH, SOLOMON.
>>> WE ARE GOING TO NOW MOVE
INTO THE NEXT DEPARTMENT. WE
HAVE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
FOUR AMENDMENTS FROM THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH 45% OF OUR
AGENDA TODAY REMAINING. WE HAVE
CROSSED THAT 50% THRESHOLD.
HOWEVER, 45 IS STILL ALMOST
HALF. WITH THAT, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT 30.
>> SFD-30 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS TO THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT BY $572,000
GENERAL FUND AND TWO FTE FOR
EXPANSION OF THE MOBILE
INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM HEALTH
ONE ACTIVITY BY ONE UNIT. THIS
FUNDING WOULD SUPPORT NECESSARY
STAFF, OPERATIONS, AND VEHICLE
COSTS FOR THIS EXPANSION IN SFD.
STAFF COSTS IN SFD WOULD BE A
COMBINATION OF THE ADDITIONAL
TWO FTE FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS
AND THE USE OF OVERTIME TO
TRANSFER EXISTING FIREFIGHTERS
TO THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH
PROGRAM UNTIL NEW HIRES PROPOSED
ELSEWHERE IN THE BUDGET COME
ONLINE. THIS CBA WOULD ALSO
INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY,
EXCUSE ME, $153,000 AND ONE FTE
FOR AN ADDITIONAL CASE MANAGER
POSITION IN HSD THAT IS PART OF
THIS HEALTH ONE TEAM. ONE OTHER
THING I WOULD NOTE ABOUT THIS IS
THE COST OF THE EXPANSION
ENTIRELY IS NOT KNOWN AND MAY
NOT BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF
THE CBA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS
INDICATED THAT BECAUSE THEY WILL
BE USING OVERTIME COSTS TO
EXPAND THIS UNIT, AT LEAST IN
THE NEAR TERM, IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT THE OVERTIME, THE ACTUAL
COSTS OF THE OVERTIME COULD
EXCEED THE AMOUNT BUDGETED IN
THIS CBA, WHICH IS A TOAL OF
$725,000. THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
CO-SPONSORED BY KETTLE AND
RINCK.
>> THANK YOU. AND AS SPONSOR OF
THE AMENDMENT, I'LL SPEAK TO IT
BRIEFLY. HEALTH ONE IS DESIGNED
TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS
IMMEDIATELY IN THEIR MOMENT OF
NEED, HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE
SITUATION, WHETHER THEY NEED
MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, SHELTER,
OR OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES
INCLUDING HOUSING, HEALTH ONE IS
ONE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT
PROVIDES SERVICES TO EVERY DAY
SEATTLEANS WHO NEED IT MOST. I
WILL SAY IT HAS BEEN AMAZING TO
WATCH HEALTH ONE GROW OVER THE
LAST SINCE 2018-2019 WHEN WE
WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE
PILOT PROJECT OUT. IT'S AN
AMAZING PROGRAM, AND THANK YOU
TO EVERYONE WHO WORKS ON HEALTH
ONE. WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, I'D
LOVE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT.
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? DISCUSSION?
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR,
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AT THIS
TIME. GOTCHA. I'VE GOT COUNCIL
WEBS JUAREZ, SAKA, SOLOMON,
HOLLINGSWORTH, RIVERA, NELSON.
AND THAT MAKES NINE.
>> ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> UNANIMOUS. LOOKS LIKE IT'S
GOING IN THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE.
>>> I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
THINGS, IF EVERYONE ON THE DAIS
SAYS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, THAT
MEANS THERE'S UNANIMOUS SUPPORT
FOR SOMETHING. WITH THAT,
SFD-101.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GREG
DAWES HERE FOR A COUPLE FIRE
CBAs. THIS PARTICULAR CBA,
SFD-101 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT BY $2.3 MILLION,
ADD 10 FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE
STAFFING OF ONE 24/7 AID CAR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, AS SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. AND I
APPRECIATE MY CO-SPONSORS
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAKA AND RIVERA.
SO HERE'S THE DEAL. WE HAVE
THREE CBAs THAT ARE ALL IN
SUPPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT THEY ALL DO IS
DECREASE, IS LOWER THE RESPONSE
TIMES FOR THOSE WITH MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON
OUR STREETS. AND SO BASICALLY,
AND THIS FREES UP RESOURCES TO
RESPOND TO OTHER KIND OF
EMERGENCY CALLS AND RIGHTSIZES
THAT RESPONSE SO MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES CAN GET THE CARE
THEY NEED. WE DO NOT WANT 15-TON
FIRE ENGINES GOING TO MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES. THAT IS THE SPIRIT
BEHIND THIS CBA. WHETHER OR NOT
IT IS 24/7 OR HALF THAT IN THE
FOLLOWING CBA, TO ME I AM, I'M
FAIRLY AMBIVALENT BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT THE EXPERT
ON STAFFING OF VEHICLES IN THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. I LEAVE THAT TO
THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW BETTER. I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
WAS UNDER OUR CONSIDERATION
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO
SPEND OUR RESOURCES WISELY, AND
DISPATCHING AN ENGINE WHEN THESE
SITUATION CALLS FOR AN AID CAR
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND I
REALLY SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK PUTTING FORWARD AN
ALTERNATIVE. AND I'LL BE HAPPY
WITH WHATEVER THE BODY COMES
FORWARD WITH. AND I ALSO WANT TO
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR HEALTH ONE.
SO YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A FINITE
AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND I DO WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT HEALTH ONE
DOES GET THE SUPPORT TOO BECAUSE
THAT WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL
REQUESTS FROM LOCAL 27. AND WE
KNOW THAT WORKS. SO THAT'S MY
ARGUMENT FOR ALL OF THE OPTIONS
ON THE TABLE.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, AND
ACTUALLY BEFORE WE GO INTO
FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL ASK US
TO READ SFD-102 AND HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK PROVIDE THAT
DESCRIPTION, WE'LL THEN TAKE
DISCUSSION ON BOTH, AND I'LL
CALL FOR CO-SPONSORS
INDIVIDUALLY.
>> SFD-102 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY IN THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY $1.4
MILLION AND ADD FIVE FTE
FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE ADDITION OF
A 12-HOUR PEAK TIME AID CAR.
IT'S SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
MEMBERS RINCK, SAKA, AND NELSON.
CENTRAL STAFF DID SOLICIT THE
12-HOUR CAR AND THE 24-HOUR CAR
OPTION. IT IS THE CASE THAT SFD
HAS EXPRESSED IN JUST BASICALLY
MORE AID CAR STAFFING. AND SO
HAVING BOTH THESE OPTIONS ON THE
TABLE IS ALLOWING CENTRAL STAFF
TO DO AN ANALYSIS, WORK WITH THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND FIGURE OUT
HOW TO MEET THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, AS SPONSOR OF SFD-102,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
THIS IS THE ALTERNATIVE.
BRINGING THIS ITEM FOR
DISCUSSION IS ONE OF OUR POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS THAT WAS
PRESENTED AND PROVIDES AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THE PREVIOUSLY
INTRODUCED 24/7 AID CAR. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON,
AND WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS CBA. THE
12-HOUR AID CAR COST IS $1.8
MILLION. THIS WILL ALLOW SFD TO
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL AID CAR AND
STAFFING TO ENSURE THAT PEAK
DEPLOYMENT HOURS DO NOT REQUIRE
A DEPLOYMENT OF ENGINE AND
LADDERS AS IT IS LESS EFFICIENT
AND MORE COSTLY TO DEPLOY AN
ENGINE IN PLACE OF AN AID CAR.
AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW,
AID CARS WILL ALLOW THE MOST
EFFICIENT USE OF OUR RESOURCES
WHEN ANSWERING BASIC LIFE
SUPPORT MEDICAL CALLS.
>> AND NOW WE WILL OPEN
DISCUSSION ON BOTH AMENDMENTS.
AT THE END, I'LL CALL FOR
CO-SPONSORS ON THE AMENDMENTS
INDIVIDUALLY. WITH THAT, I HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA WITH HER
HAND.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT I VERY MUCH SUPPORT
ALL OF THESE THREE PIECES,
HEALTH ONE, AND THEN EITHER THE
FULL 24/7 AID CAR OR THE 12. AND
THIS IS AN INSTANCE WHEN I
MYSELF WANTED TO BE A PRIME
SPONSOR FOR HEALTH ONE, AND THEN
WE ALL BEAT EACH OTHER TO THE
PUNCH. AND EVERYONE'S TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHO'S CO-SPONSORING.
AND BY THE TIME IT ALL SHAKES
OUT, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT YOU,
BUT YOU'RE GLAD YOUR COLLEAGUES
DID IT ANY WAY. THAT'S WHY I
LENT MY SUPPORT TO THE HEALTH
ONE, AND I WILL BE LENDING
SUPPORT TO BOTH OF THESE OPTIONS
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
AGAIN, WE ALL KNOW WE'RE
LIMITED BY AMOUNT OF MONEY WE
HAVE TO SPEND. AND SO WHATEVER
WE CAN DO, WHETHER IT'S 24/7 OR
HALF OF THAT, WE DO NEED MORE
SUPPORT. AND I VERY MUCH SUPPORT
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE
WORK THAT THEY DO IN RESPONDING
TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES,
INCLUDING THEIR, YOU KNOW, FIRE
PORTFOLIO AS A WHOLE. SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE TWO
AMENDMENTS? QUESTIONS? IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR SFD-101
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON FOR 24/7 AID CAR, PLEASE
RAISE YOUR HAND NOW. COUNCIL
MEMBERS JUAREZ, HOLLINGSWORTH,
SOLOMON.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS JUAREZ,
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU. ALL HANDS ARE
DOWN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR 12-HOUR BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, PLEASE
RAISE YOUR HAND NOW. AND I'VE
GOT COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON,
KETTLE, RIVERA, AND
HOLLINGSWORTH. AND WE'LL NOW
MOVE ON TO SFD-103. OH, HANG
TIGHT.
>>> COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> SFD-103S IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. IT WOULD
REQUEST THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES, UNION PARTNERS, AND
OTHER RELEVANT ENTITIES TO
REPORT ON STRATEGIES WITH THE
OBJECTIVE OF WEAVING TOGETHER A
PLAN TO RETURN INJURED EMPLOYEES
TO WORK SOONER, IMPROVING
EMPLOYEE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND
ACHIEVING COST SAVINGS. THIS
ITEM IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
CO-SPONSORED BY STRAUSS AND
KETTLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS
SLIDE REQUESTS THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND
OUR UNION PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER
TO STRENGTHEN OUR INJURY CLAIM
AND WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEM,
WHICH MAY INCLUDE READY REBOUND.
MY OFFICE SPOKE WITH KENNY
STEWART FROM IAF LOCAL 27, AND I
THINK WE ALL HAVE A COMMON GOAL
OF BRINGING FIREFIGHTERS BACK TO
WORK WHILE ENSURING THEIR INJURY
ARE TREATED PROPERLY.
CONSIDERATION OF PROGRAM
ENHANCEMENTS WITH A BENEFIT TO
ALL CITY OPERATIONS AND
ESPECIALLY OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO
WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SFD
SERVICES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
DISCUSSION? COMMENTS? QUESTIONS?
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
SFD-103, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE JUAREZ,
SAKA, SOLOMON, HOLLINGSWORTH,
RIVERA, NELSON. THAT'S
EVERYONE.
>> I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY.
>> UNANIMOUS.
>>> MOVING ON TO THE NEXT
DEPARTMENT, IT IS 12:09 A.M.,
P.M., 12:09 P.M. ON OUR THIRD
DAY IN THE ROW. WE'LL MOVE INTO
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
NOW, AND WE WILL BREAK AT 12:30,
SO 21 MINUTES. WE HAVE 34% OF
OUR AMENDMENTS REMAINING FOR THE
DAY. SO ON THIS PACE, WE'LL BE
HERE UNTIL ABOUT 4:00 OR 5:00.
MOVING ON TO SPD-101A1.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
SPD-101A1 WOULD INCREASE
APPROPRIATIONS BY $2.1 MILLION
FOR 2 SALARY AND BENEFITS OF 18
PARKING ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN LONG-TERM
VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT AND
ARE LOSING THEIR SALARY FUNDING
DUE TO A VACANCY CUT. IT WOULD
ALSO IMPOSE A PROVISO SUCH THAT
THE FUNDING FOR THESE PDO'S
WOULD NOT BE SPENT UNTIL A
FUTURE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZES
SPENDING, AND THE PREREQUISITE
FOR THAT ORDINANCE IS THE PDO'S
HAVE BEEN HIRED, ADDED TO STAFF,
AND ARE PRODUCING REVENUE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU, GREG, FOR YOUR HELP WITH
THIS AND FOR YOUR HELP IN
CRAFTING THIS, ACTUALLY. AND
COLLEAGUES, LET ME START BY
SAYING THIS AMENDMENT IS MEANT
TO BE BUDGET NEUTRAL. THESE
FOLKS GET PAID BY THE REVENUE
THAT WE COLLECT FROM THE TAXES,
EXCUSE ME, FROM THE TICKETS THAT
THEY WRITE. WE DO NEED AND I'VE
HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT
ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLES AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND SO
THE CITY HAS HAD DIFFICULTY
STAFFING THESE POSITIONS, BUT I
BELIEVE THEY ARE NECESSARY AND
CRITICAL. TO GREG'S POINT, THIS
WILL ALL DEPEND ON THE ABILITY
TO BE ABLE TO HIRE THESE
POSITIONS AND COLLECT THE
REVENUE SO THAT THIS CAN BE A
BUDGET NEUTRAL ADD. BUT I DO
BELIEVE THEY ARE IMPORTANT, AND
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IF THIS
GETS SUPPORT, AND I HOPE IT DOES
FROM THE DEPARTMENT ON
RECRUITING EFFORTS FOR TRYING TO
GET MORE PDO'S. I'VE HEARD
ABOUT THE DIFFICULTS WITH
NEEDING PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND
THE CAPACITY NOT BEING THERE. SO
I THINK IF THE DEPARTMENT HAD
DIFFICULTY RECRUITING FOLKS TO
DO THIS JOB, HOPEFULLY THAT CAN
GET ADDRESSED. IN THE MEANTIME,
I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
KEEP THESE ADDS IN THEIR BUDGET
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE IT IS A
BUDGET-NEUTRAL ADD, AND WE NEED
THE WORK DONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> SO ONE THING I'M NOT CLEAR
ON IS IF IT SAYS INCREASE SPD,
SALARIES. ONE PRE-CONDITION YOU
DIDN'T MENTION IS ANY KIND OF
SALARY NEGOTIATION. IS THAT ON
THE DOCKET? IS THAT COMING UP
ANY TIME SOON? OR IS THIS SIMPLY
GET MORE PEOPLE IN THERE AND PAY
THEM?
>> I'LL TURN THIS OFF TO GREG
DAWES.
>> I THINK THIS ACTION IS MORE
ABOUT THE LATTER. IT IS MORE OF
A BUDGET CORRECTION, IF YOU
WILL, THE SALARY FOR THESE FOLKS
HAS BEEN REDUCED VIA THE VACANCY
REDUCTION. THIS WOULD SIMPLY ADD
IT BACK. IT ADD ITS IT BACK AT
ITS CURRENT RATE. THE QUESTION
OF BARGAINING WITH PEO'S AND
SALARY IS ONE THAT IS HANDLED AS
PART OF THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS, AND I
BELIEVE THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT
NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, FURTHER DISCUSSION?
QUESTIONS? IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR
HAND AT THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>>> MOVING ON TO SPD-102.
>> $1.1 MILLION GENERAL FUND IN
SPD FOR CIVILIAN OUTREACH
POSITIONS. IT'S THE CASE THAT
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT
OUTREACH POSITIONS NOW AND
SEVERAL OF THEM ARE GENERAL FUND
FUNDED. MANY OF THEM ARE VACANT.
UNDER THE CBA, THE SALARIES FOR
THOSE POSITIONS WOULD BE
PROVISOD SUCH THAT THEY CAN ONLY
BE SPENT ON THOSE POSITIONS AND
CAN'T BE REALLOCATED ELSEWHERE
IN THE DEPARTMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. THIS PROVISO IS A
REALIZATION OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN
OCCUR IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN THE PAST WHERE YOUR CIVILIAN
OUTREACH POSITIONS, YOUR
COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATORS, OTHER POSITIONS
WERE CUT OR ABROGATED IN FAVOR
OF OTHER DEPARTMENT PRIORITIES.
I REFLECT BACK TO A TIME WHEN
THERE WERE 15 CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATORS WORKING CITY WIDE.
FIVE ASSIGNED TO THE NORTH
PRECINCT. FOUR WERE DEDICATED TO
WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTIAL
COMMUNITY. ONE WAS DEDICATED TO
WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY. AND I SAY THAT NOT TO
LOOK BACK AT WHAT WAS BUT TO
LOOK FORWARD AS TO WHERE WE NEED
TO GO. YEARS AGO I WAS LOOKING
AT HOW CAN WE BUILD UP OUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE
DISBANDMENT OF THE COMMUNITY
POLICE TEAMS AND WHILE THOSE
BODIES WENT AWAY, THE WORK DID
NOT. THAT WORK WAS ACTUALLY
PICKED UP BY THE CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATORS. RATHER
THAN FOCUSING ON DOING BLOCK
WATCH AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
GROUPS, YOUR CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATORS ARE DOING MORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, MORE
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH
RESOURCES, MORE INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION, MORE PLACE-BASED
CRIME PREVENTION SEVENTIES.
FUDEP IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CRIME
PREVENTION INITIATIVE THAT WAS
TAKEN ON BY THE CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATOR. SO IT'S MUCH MORE
THAN JUST ORGANIZING BLOCK
WATCHES. IT REALLY IS ABOUT
CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY. AND
WHEN WE HAVE AN ORGANIZATION
WHOSE CORE VALUE SAYS CRIME
PREVENTION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE PUT OUR DOLLARS TOWARD THAT.
WHICH IS WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT
MAKING SURE THAT THESE POSITIONS
THAT ARE FUNDED, THAT HAVE
ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE NOT ALL
FILLED, WE DON'T CANNIBALIZE
THOSE POSITIONS SO THAT WE CAN
HAVE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
WE CAN HAVE THAT CONNECTOR
BETWEEN OUR CITY AND OUR
COMMUNITY. LOOKING AT ONE OF THE
POSITIONS THAT WAS CREATED, THE
LIAISON POSITION, THAT WAS
CREATED AFTER THE MASSACRE IN
1983. THAT POSITION CONTINUED TO
BE STAFFED UNTIL LYNN TUCK
RETIRED LAST YEAR. THAT POSITION
IS CURRENTLY VACANT. I WOULD
OFFER THAT THE NEED FOR THAT
LIAISON FOR THAT COMMUNITY HAS
NOT GONE AWAY. JUST THE BODY
HAS. I WANT TO RESTORE THAT
BODY. THERE ARE TWO OTHER
POSITIONS OR ONE OTHER POSITION,
RATHER, THAT WAS FUNDED IN 2021
THAT HAS NEVER BEEN FILLED.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED TO
FILL THAT BODY. YOU KNOW, TO
HAVE THAT PERSON DO COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. AND WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, BUDGET
PROPOSAL AS COMES FORWARD NEXT.
BUT ALL THIS TO SAY THAT I'VE
SEEN THIS PLAY OUT BEFORE WHERE
THE ALLOCATION FOR CIVILIAN
POSITIONS TO DO THAT COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, TO DO THAT COMMUNITY
CAPACITY BUILDING HAVE BEEN CUT,
YET THAT NEED HAS NOT GONE AWAY,
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHEN WE SAY THAT CRIME
PREVENTION IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF OUR WORK AS A CITY, THAT WE
ACTUALLY PUT SOME DOLLARS BEHIND
THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
FURTHER DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS?
>> ALSO, AND THANK YOU FOR MY
CO-SPONSORS. SORRY TO MENTION
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL
CALL FOR ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS
TO SPD-102. COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> JUAREZ, HOLLINGSWORTH, AND
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> 11 MINUTES LEFT IF YOU NEED
A LITTLE BIT OF SNACK, THEY'RE
IN THE GREEN ROOM. SPD-103.
>> WOULD INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS
IN THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BY $237,000 AND AT TWO FTE CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATORS TO
INCREASE OUTREACH TO BUSINESSES,
SPECIFICALLY IN THE NORTH AND
WEST PRECINCTS. IT WOULD ALSO A
PROVISO THAT RESTRICTS THAT
FUNDING SO IT MAY ONLY BE SPENT
ON THE ADDITION OF TWO NEW CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATORS. THE
$237,000 NUMBER FOR SALARY IS
ADJUSTED FOR THE HIRING DATES OF
THESE INDIVIDUALS. THEY
WOULDN'T BE HIRED INSTANTLY. IT
PROBABLY WOULDN'T COME ONLINE
UNTIL MARCH OR APRIL. THAT'S
WHY THE NUMBER MAY SEEM LOW.
IT'S BROUGHT TO YOU BY
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, SAKA, AND
KETTLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, I DON'T WANT
TO FOCUS ON LOOKING BACKWARD.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO FOCUS ON
MOVING FORWARD. HOWEVER, I
CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT,
AGAIN, AT ONE TIME THERE WERE 15
CRIME PREVENTION COORDINATORS
WORKING CITY WIDE, THREE OF WHOM
WERE FOCUSED ON WORKING WITH THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY. ONE ON THE
NORTH END, ONE IN THE EAST
PRECINCT, AND ONE IN THE WEST
PRECINCT. WITH THE EXISTING
CODRAY, MANY OF THEM HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO WORK BOTH WITH THE
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AND THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WITH TWO
EXCEPTIONS. ONE BEING THE NORTH
PRECINCT. OVER 40% OF OUR LAND
MASS AND POPULATION, OKAY? YOU
HAVE TWO BODIES UP THERE RIGHT
NOW TRYING TO DO ALL THAT WORK.
NO ONE FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON
WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY. I'M THINKING LAKE
CITY, AURORA, BALLARD, I'M
THINKING U DISTRICT, NORTH GATE.
IF WE HAD A BODY DEDICATED TO
WORKING WITH THOSE BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES, I THINK WE COULD
HAVE SOME BETTER OUTCOMES IN
TERMS SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESSES,
ESPECIALLY OUR SMALL MOM AND POP
BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING
WITH BREAK-INS, VANDALISM,
GRAFFITI, ALL MANNER OF ISSUES.
SECOND ONE IS AT ONE TIME, WE
DID HAVE A CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATOR THAT WAS FOCUSED
SOLELY ON WORKING WITH THE
DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, OKAY? THAT
WAS A CRITICAL PIECE, A CRITICAL
POSITION, AND I'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION THAT WOULD
LOVE TO SEE THAT POSITION BACK.
I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE THEM
POSITION BACK. WHEN I LOOK AT
THE WORK THAT THE CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATOR IS DOING
IN THE WEST PRECINCT, AGAIN
FOCUSED MAINLY ON PROBLEM
SOLVING, ON PLACE-BASED CRIME
PREVENTION THINGS, THERE REALLY
ISN'T THE CAPACITY TO HAVE THAT
FOCUS WORKING WITH OUR DOWNTOWN
BUSINESS CORE. BRINGING THAT
POSITION BACK TO WORK WITH OUR
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS CORE, HAVING
THAT LIAISON THAT OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITY CAN INTERACT WITH, I
THINK WOULD PAY DIVIDENDS FAR
INTO THE FUTURE. WHICH IS WHY
I'M ADVOCATING THAT WE INCREASE
THE STAFFING TO PROVIDE FOR
THOSE TWO BODIES PRIMARILY TO
WORK WITH OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. COLLEAGUES, FURTHER
DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION?
THANK YOU. AND I HAVE TO, I'LL
TAKE CHAIR'S PRIVILEGE IN
THANKING KAITLYN FROM THE
PRECINCT.
>> AND COUNCIL MEMBERS SAKA AND
KETTLE FOR THEIR CO-SPONSORSHIP
OF THIS.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR,
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AT THIS
TIME. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
NELSON.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS JUAREZ AND
NELSON.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO SPD-104.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SPD-104
WOULD INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS BY
$137,000 GENERAL FUND AND ADD
ONE FTE TO SERVE AS A CENTRAL
DISTRICT LIAISON FOR THE
DEPARTMENT. IT WOULD ALSO IMPOSE
A PROVISO SO THOSE FUNDS COULD
ONLY BE SPENT FOR A CENTRAL
DISTRICT LIAISON. IT IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, CO-SPONSORED BY
HOLLINGSWORTH AND KETTLE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON, AS
SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENT, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH AND KETTLE, FOR
CO-SPONSORING. ALL RIGHT. SO
WHILE TECHNICALLY AN INCREASE,
THIS CBA IS BUDGET NEUTRAL
BECAUSE SPD USES A TEMPORARY
POSITION TO EMPLOY A CENTRAL
DISTRICT LIAISON. THIS BUDGET
ACTION WOULD MAKE THAT TEMPORARY
POSITION PERMANENT. THE
TEMPORARY POSITION IS SET TO
EXPIRE ON, LET'S SEE, IN
DECEMBER 2025 THIS YEAR. SO THIS
WOULD MAKE IT ONGOING. I WILL
NOTE THAT SPD ALREADY HAS A
PERMANENT LIAISON TO THE CID. SO
THIS BRINGS IT UP TO PARITY WITH
THAT POSITION. THE SERVICES THAT
ARE PROVIDED BY THIS POSITION
INCLUDE OFFERING TECHNICAL AND
POLICY EXPERTISE ON ISSUES
INVOLVING AND ENCOMPASSING THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND AFRICAN
AMERICANS. IT HELPS SPD
REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DESIGNS
AND CREATES NEW CRIME IMPACT
PROGRAMS AND TRAINING. AND THEN
THREE, IT SUPPORTS THE BEFORE
THE BADGE PROGRAM. WITH STAFFING
ASSISTANTS AND ALSO
RECOMMENDATIONS AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND ALSO IMPROVEMENT
OF THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
HERE'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN IN
ENGLISH. WE ALL TALK ABOUT
COMMUNITY POLICING. WE ALL TALK
ABOUT RELATIONAL POLICING, AND
THIS IS THAT. SO I THINK THAT,
WELL I'M ASKING FOR YOUR
SUPPORT TO MAKE THIS A PERMANENT
POSITION SO IT DOESN'T SEEM AS
THOUGH IT'S SORT OF CONTINGENT
ON SOMETHING. SO THIS WOULD
SIMPLY MAKE IT PERMANENT. AND
AGAIN, IT'S ALREADY PAID FOR.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER
DISCUSSION?
>> SORRY.
>> MR. DAWES?
>> IT IS THE CASE THAT THIS CBA
WOULD ADD THE $137,000. IT IS
TRUE THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
MAKES A POINT THAT THERE WAS A
CD LIAISON ON STAFF AND WILL BE
ON STAFF UNTIL THE END OF THIS
YEAR. THAT PERSON WAS IN A
TEMPORARY POCKET WITH FUNDING
THAT HAS BEEN CUT IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET. THEREFORE, THIS
WOULD ADD FUNDING $137,000 TO
CONTINUE THE POSITION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANY
FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM YOU?
COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER
DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS? IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
SPD-104, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON ADDING HIS NAME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>>> SPD-105.
>> SPD-105 WOULD ADD $385,000
AND TWO MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS TO INCREASE CRISIS
RESPONSE IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. IT WOULD ADD A TOTAL
OF ONE UNIT WITH TWO PEOPLE TO
STAFF THAT UNIT, AS WELL AS
OTHER UNITS IN THE DEPARTMENT,
AND ENSURE THAT THERE WAS ONE
CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT AT EACH
PRECINCT FULLY STAFFED AT ALL
TIMES. THIS CBA IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
CO-SPONSORED BY SOLOMON AND
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, AS SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW
AND EXPAND GETTING ADDITIONAL
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IS
ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES FOR AN
EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
ENVIRONMENT. SO THIS CBA WILL
ALLOW US TO TAKE THAT HOLIST
APPROACH, ESPECIALLY WITH FOLKS
DIRECTLY EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH ISSUES AND ALLOWS OUR
CITY TO DIRECT FOLKS AWAY FROM
THE TRADITIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM
TOWARD DIFFERENT RESOURCES.
EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS RED FLAG LAWS
SO INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF
HARMING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS
FROM HAVING ACCESS TO FIREARMS.
IN THE CRT IS THE TEAM THAT HAS
THE EXPERTISE TO CARRY THAT OUT.
SPD EMPLOYS ONE CRT IN EACH OF
ITS NORTH, WEST, AND EAST
PRECINCTS. THE SOUTH AND
SOUTHWEST PRECINCTS SHARE A CRT
UNIT. REGULAR VACATION LEAVE AND
SICK LEAVE USE CAN OCCASIONALLY
LEAVE INSUFFICIENT MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDER STAFFING TO FULLY
DEPLOY ALL CRTs. THIS EXPANSION
OF THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM
WOULD ALLOW EVERY PRECINCT IN
THE CITY TO HAVE A DEDICATED
TEAM, FURTHER EXPANDING OUR
CAPACITY. THANK YOU.
>> THAN I THANK YOU. FURTHER
DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR
SPD-105, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
AT THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
ADDING HIS NAME TO SPD- 105.
>>> SPD-106. OH, WE'LL HOLD
THERE. I SEE IT'S 12:28. WE
HAVE 20% OF TODAY'S AGENDA
REMAINING. SO WE STILL HAVE A
GOOD AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO. WHILE
THEY'RE ALL REMAINING TO BE
SPD, WE HAVE SEVEN AMENDMENTS
REMAINING. NONE OF THESE ARE
SHORT TOPICS, SO WE'LL COME
BACK TO ORDER AT 1:30 SHARP AND
COMPLETE THE REST OF THE DAY.
WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL BE IN
RECESS UNTIL 1:30