>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THE AUGUST 4, 2025 SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:01.
I'M SARA NELSON, PRESIDENT OF
THE COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THERE
-- AND I'M NOT HEARING ANY
OBJECTIONS SO THE COUNCIL RULES
ARE SUSPENDED AND WE WILL
PROCEED WITH THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE THREE IN PERSON AND
ONE REMOTE.
>> HOW MANY IN PERSON?
>> THREE.
>> OKAY, WE WILL START WITH IN
PERSON AND THEN GO TO THE
REMOTE.
AND EVERYBODY WILL GET 2
MINUTES.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
UP TO 20 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER TO WHICH THEY REGISTERED
MERCHANDISE W.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP IN PERSON AND THEN THE
SPEAKER SIGNED UP REMOTELY.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WITH
10 SECONDS LEFT FOR THEIR TIME.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST.
>> I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA
NUMBER 2, ABOUT TAXES.
I TRY AND UNDERSTAND --
>> MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE
A POINT OF ORDER.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE MR.
ZIMMERMAN CALLS ME OUT ON MY
RACE AS -- I WANT HIM ON NOTICE
AGAIN WE DO NOT ATTACK THE
ETHNICITY OF ANY RACE.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, SO I
WOULD ASK A POINT OF ORDER IF HE
CONTINUES HE SPEAK TO THE MATTER
ON THE AGENDA AND NOT
SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT ANYONE ON
THEIR RACE AND ETHNICITY AT THIS
TIME, AND THAT HE WOULD BE
LOOKING AT A SUSPENSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
IN FACT, THIS DOES CONSTITUTE
ABUSE OF LANGUAGE, WHICH IS A
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AGAINST
WHICH WE HAVE RULES.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> THAT IS THE --
>> I NEED A RUSSIAN TRANSLATOR.
PLEASE BRING IN RUSSIAN
TRANSLATOR.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I'M AN
IMMIGRANT.
PLEASE BRING IN RUSSIAN
TRANSLATOR.
>> PLEASE SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING
ON THE AGENDA OR THE PROGRAM.
>> EXACTLY.
YOU DON'T GIVE ME A CHANCE.
NO PROBLEMO.
CAN I SPEAK?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NUMBER TWO, YOU TALKTING ABOUT
TAXES AND MAKES ME SICK BECAUSE
I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WHY
YOU ALL THE TIME TALKING TAXES?
IT'S GETTING WORSE, WORSE, AND
WORSE.
WHY?
BECAUSE YOUR TAXES FOR PERSONAL
INFORMATION, FOR PERSONAL NEED.
SO YOU ACCEPT PEOPLE WHO ARE
PURE FASCISTS.
WE HAVE THIS RIGHT NOW WHAT HAS
COME LIKE A PURE FASCIST.
FOR 40 YEAR SHE NEVER SHOW
PEOPLE FACES WHEN THEY SPEAK.
I NEVER SEE LIKE THIS BEFORE IN
MY LIFE.
WHY SHE DOING THIS?
>> PERSONAL ATTACKS ARE ALSO NOT
ALLOWED AGAINST COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> HOW YOU HAVE A COUNCIL WHO
HAVE SOMETHING WHICH IS PROBABLY
NEVER FASCIST --
>> THIS IS VIOLATION OF OUR
COUNCIL RULES.
THIS IS ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR.
THIS IS YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL
WARNING, AND IF YOU CONTINUE
WITH THIS, PLEASE --
>> AND I WANT RUSSIAN TRANSLATOR
NEXT TIME WHEN SHE SPEAKING.
YOU SEE IT?
I CAN GO?
>> THAT WAS YOUR FIRST WARNING.
>> NEXT JORDAN CROWLEY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JORDAN CROWLEY.
>> PAUSE AND PUT THE TIME BACK.
COUNCILMEMBER -- I MEAN, MR.
ZIMMERMAN, PLEASE BE SEATED.
YOU'VE HAD YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK,
DON'T INTERRUPT OTHER PEOPLE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JORDAN CROWLEY.
I'M STANDING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE TAX.
PRIMARILY IT IS NOT A TAX TO
SPEND BUT A TAX TO DO.
TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WHAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT.
SPEAKING BEFORE KING COUNTY
COUNCIL IN JANUARY I SAID
KNOWING WHAT AWAITED US AFTER
INAUGURATION DAY THAT OUR REGION
NEEDED TO PREPARE TO GO IT
ALONE.
LEADERS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
RECOGNIZED THE SAME THING.
I'M HERE TO ASK THAT EACH OF YOU
SUPPORT THE BILL AS PROUDLY AS
THE COALITION STANDING BEHIND
IT, LET'S SUSTAIN FUNDING FOR
CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND DO
SOMETHING FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE --
>> HI.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU
TODAY.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AT THE LATINO
COMMUNITY FUND.
AND I'M HERE TO SHARE OUR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE SEATTLE SHIELD
PROPOSAL.
SMALL BUSINESSES PARTICULARLY
IMMIGRANT OWNED BUSINESSES
GENERATE OVER $2.3 BILLION IN
ANNUAL REVENUE AND CREATE
THOUSANDS OF JOBS ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE.
THEY'RE ALSO THE ECONOMIC
BACKBONE OF OUR BELOVED CITY.
IN SEATTLE THEIR IMPACT GOES
BEYOND ECONOMICS.
THESE BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTE TO
THE RICH CULTURAL AND SOCIAL
FABRIC THAT MAKES OUR CITY
UNIQUE.
THEY CREATE JOBS, PROVIDE
ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND FOSTER
THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT
DEFINES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
LET US NOT FORGET THAT MANY OF
TODAY'S CORPORATE GIANTS LIKE
AMAZON AND STARBUCKS BEGAN A
SMALL LOCAL VENTURES RIGHT HERE
IN SEATTLE.
WHEN WE INVEST IN THE SMALL
BUSINESSES TODAY PARTICULARLY
THOSE FROM UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES, WE ARE NOT JUST
SUPPORTING THEIR ECONOMIC
SURVIVALING, WE ARE NURTURING
THE NEXT GENERATION OF ECONOMIC
DRIVERS FOR OUR CITY.
HOWEVER, MANY SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE CURRENTLY STRUGGLING TO
SURVIVE.
THEY'RE FACING A PERFECT
STORM -- INFLATION, RISING
OPERATING COSTS, LABOR
SHORTAGES, DECLINING FOOT
TRAFFIC, AND MOST SIGNIFICANTLY
SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS.
THESE CHALLENGES ARE NOT
THEORETICAL.
THEY ARE THREATENING
LIVELIHOODS.
THIS IS WHY WE IRMLY SUPPORT
THE SEATTLE INITIATIVE.
IT PROVIDES MEANINGFUL TAX
RELIEF FOR SMALL AND
MICROBUSINESSES WHICH HELPS THEM
WEATHER ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.
IT ALSO PROTECTS CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS -- BOTH OF WHICH ARE
ESSENTIAL IN BUILDING STRONG
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S THE END OF OUR
IN-PERSON REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
HALLIE WILLIS.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 WHEN YOU
HEAR THE PROMPT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HALLIE WILLIS.
I'M THE POLICY MANAGER FOR
SEATTLE TEAM COUNTY COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS AND A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE HOMELESS COALITION.
I'M GLAD TO SUPPORT THE
PROGRESSIVE SHIELD SEATTLE
PROPOSAL FROM COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AND MAYOR HARRELL.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO GET BACK
THE $10 MILLION WE LOST TO IN
THE COMMUNITY AND SEND IT TO THE
VOTERS.
LAST WEEK'S AMENDMENT WEAKENS
THE BILL AND DRAMATICALLY
EXPANDED ITS PURPOSE.
WE URGE YOU TO GET THAT $10
MILLION BACK BY ADJUSTING RATES
PAID BY THE BIGGEST BUSINESSES
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE SIMPLY NOT IN A POSITION
TO TURN DOWN NEW REVENUE.
LASTLY, I WANT TO URGE CAUTION
AGAINST SPREADING THESE AND
OTHER REVENUES TOO THINLY ACROSS
TOO MANY CAUSES.
WE URGE YOU TO FOCUS YOUR BUDGET
THIS FALL ON MEETING PEOPLE'S
BASIC NEEDS -- FOOD, SHELTER,
AND HEALTH, ESPECIALLY NOW WE
AREN AN ERA OF PROFOUND AND
TARGETED ATTACKS ON LOW INCOME
PEOPLE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AND MAYOR HARRELL FOR
PROPOSING THIS REVENUE PACKAGE,
AND I URGE ALL OF YOU TO REVIEW
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
REVENUE STABILIZATION WORK GROUP
AND PUT FORWARD ADDITIONAL
REVENUE TO MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL REMOTE
SPEAKERS REGISTERED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT LIST, AND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED.
LET'S SEE.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD?
ALL RIGHT, I MOVE TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 121013.
IS THERE A SECOND?
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE ARE HERE AGAIN.
I AM FLOODED WITH EMOTION.
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY HAS, I GUESS, COLLEAGUES,
HOW MUCH OF THIS BACKGROUND DO
YOU WANT?
HOW MUCH DO YOU REMEMBER
ALREADY?
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAS SEEN
THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES.
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY PRODUCED UPDATED MAPS AND
ENSURES THE NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE PROGRAM IN COMMUNITIES
INCLUDING THE CITY ADOPT CODE
THAT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIRED
STANDARDS FOR THESE REGULATIONS
AS ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS.
I SEE FOLKS FROM SDCI IN THE
AUDIENCE.
I SAY ALL OF THIS ONLY BECAUSE
WE'VE HAD IT WITH US SO MANY
TIMES.
I AM HAPPY TO MOVE IT FORWARD
AGAIN TODAY, THOUGH.
FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS CONTAIN
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT MAKES
HOMES, PEOPLE, AND BUILDINGS
SAFER FROM FLOODING.
IF WE DO NOT EXTEND THIS BILL
TODAY, PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE
FLOODPLAINS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE NEW FLOOD INSURANCE
POLICIES, RENEW EXISTING
POLICIES, OR OBTAIN FEDERALLY
BACKED LOANS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE
LONG HISTORY OF THIS.
ALL IS TO SAY THAT SDCI HAS
SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME
RESOLVING CONCERNS RAISED BY THE
COURT AND WITH ESSENTIAL
WATERFRONT PIER AND BUSINESS
OWNER GROUPS.
WITH THE AGREEMENT REACHED, SDCI
NEEDS THIS FINAL EXTENSION TO
PUBLISH A SEPA ADDENDUM AND
CONSIDER ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON
IT BEFORE TRANSMITTING THE
PERMANENT LEGISLATION TO ALLOW
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
NOW, APPROVING THE LAST
EXTENSION OF THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION WILL ALLOW THE
DEPARTMENT TIME TO ENSURE THE
PERMANENT LEGISLATION HAS
APPROPRIATE PUBLIC -- HAS
APPROPRIATE TIME IN THE PUBLIC
AND FOR COUNCIL REVIEW AND
FEEDBACK.
SO, COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE URGING
AN AYE VOTE TODAY.
AND AS IT WAS PUBLISHED AGAIN ON
THE AGENDA, NO FAULT OF
ANYONE'S, THERE WAS AN ISSUE
WITH THE ATTACHMENT.
AND SO -- EXCUSE ME, AN ISSUE
WITH ONE OF THE DATES THAT WAS
SENT IN THERE, NOT THE
ATTACHMENT, SO I WILL NEED TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE
AMENDMENT "A" AS DISTRIBUTED.
YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE
WALK ON AMENDMENTS, AND I REALLY
ATTEMPTED TO NOT BRING THIS, BUT
IT'S NECESSARY.
>> INDEED.
SO THIS HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED, AND NOW THERE'S AN
AMENDMENT TO THE BILL THAT WAS
DISTRIBUTED, AS JUST NOTED AFTER
127B NOON TODAY, SO THE RULES
WILL NEED TO BE SUSPENDED IN
ORDER TO CONSIDER IT.
AND SO I DON'T SEE ANY
OBJECTION.
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED IN ORDER
TO CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121013 AS RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED
ON THE AMENDMENT "A."
>> SECOND.
>> SO WE WILL HAVE --
COUNCILMEMBER HAS NOTED HE HAS
NOT SEEN IT, SO IF ANYBODY ELSE
NEEDS TO SEE IT.
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MAY I?
>> ONE MOMENT PLEASE.
>> JUST TO DESCRIBE THE
AMENDMENT.
>> YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE HAD IT IN THEIR
HANDS BEFORE YOU STARTED.
GO AHEAD PLEASE.
>> IT INADVERTENTLY INCLUDED
EFFECTIVENESS STANDARD IN THE
BILL.
IT WAS A TYPICAL EFFECTIVENESS
CLAUSE BUT A 30-DAY
EFFECTIVENESS PROVISION WOULD
NOT WORK IN THIS CASE BECAUSE IT
WOULD ALLOW THE CURRENT
REGULATIONS TO LAPSE.
THIS AMENDMENT IS ATTACHED THAT
IS WITHIN THIS WALK-ON, WOULD
ALLOW FOR THE BILL TO BE
IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE.
IS THIS IS THE SAME
EFFECTIVENESS LANGUAGE THAT HAS
BEEN USED IN THE LAST EIGHT
EXTENSIONS.
SO DEVIATING FROM THAT WOULD
ACTUALLY BE A DEVIATION RATHER
THAN -- SO USING THE STANDARD
EFFECTIVENESS CLAUSE WOULD BE
THE DEVIATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
AND IN FACT, THE REASON WHY WE
ARE HEARING IT TODAY IN A
MEETING THAT WAS PRIMARILY
CALLED TO THROW SOMETHING ONTO
THE BALLOT WAS THAT SO WE COULD
PRECISELY AVOID A GAP.
SO ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT?
"A"?
ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT "A."
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT "A" IS ADOPTED, AND SO
NOW WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I'M NOW
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 12103.
CLERK, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE ONE IN-PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S CALL ON THAT
PERSON AND THEY CAN HAVE,
OBVIOUSLY, 2 MINUTES.
>> YOU ARE NOW IN VIOLATION OF
OUR RULES AGAIN.
ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AND SO I
WILL ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE
SEATED AND DISCONTINUE YOUR
COMMENTS.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> SO I CANNOT SPEAK?
>> YOU WERE GIVEN A WARNING
PRIOR TO THIS ABUSIVE LANGUAGE
IN VIOLATION OF OUR RULES, AND
WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY LENIENT
UP TO THIS POINT.
PLEASE, YOU'RE WASTING OUR TIME
NOW.
YOU'RE DISRUPTING OUR
PROCEEDINGS, SO PLEASE TAKE A
SEAT.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> THAT WAS THE ONLY REGISTERED
SPEAKER.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'VE
REACHED THE END OF OUR PUBLIC
SPEAKERS PRESENT TO SPEAK AT
THIS PUBLIC HEARING, SO THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL
121013 IS NOW CLOSED, AND ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDED BILL BEFORE WE VOTE?
ALL RIGHT, I AM SEEING NO
COMMENTS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL
AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
ALL RIGHT, ITEM 2.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 121028 RELATING
TO THE OCCUPATION AND SPECIAL
TAX REQUESTING A SPECIAL
ELECTION BE HELD CONCURRENT WITH
THE NOVEMBER 4, 2025 GENERAL
ELECTION.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
I BELIEVE WE WERE ALL TOGETHER A
FEW DAYS AGO.
I'LL LET THE SPONSOR OF THE
INITIATIVE SPEAK TO IT, SEEING
AS YOU ALL WERE IN COMMITTEE
WITH ME AND ALL OF US TOGETHER
LAST WEEK.
THAT SAID, I DO HAVE AS I STATED
IN THAT COMMITTEE, A WALK-ON
AMENDMENT TODAY REGARDING THE
TAX CREDIT, AS I DISCUSSED, THAT
NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME
BETWEEN OUR COMMITTEE AND TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AS SPONSOR
OF THE BILL YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, TODAY IS A BIG DAY.
WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
TOOK OFFICE AND KICKED OFF A
FLURRY OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS
THROWING FEDERAL MONEY, OUR
FEDERAL WORKFORCE, AND OUR CIVIL
RIGHTS INTO JEOPARDY, THIS BODY
RESPONDED BY STANDING UP OUR
SELECT COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
CHANGES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE
IMPACTS MEAN FOR OUR CITY.
AND MONTH AFTER MONTH WE'VE
LEARNED IN COMMITTEE ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THINGS
LIKE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION,
CONCERNS ABOUT MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT, THE STATE OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SERVICES,
IMMIGRATION AND LEGAL DEFENSE,
LABOR PROTECTIONS, CHANGES IN
S&P, AND THE INCREASING NEED
WE'RE SEEING AT FOOD BANKS AND
MEAL PROGRAMS.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S
ACTIONS SINCE TAKING OFFICE THIS
YEAR HAVE ELIMINATED ANY SENSE
OF STABILITY AND PREDICT FOR OUR
BUSINESSES AND HAVE ELIM GNATTED
OR ATTEMPTED TO ELIMINATE WHOLE
CATEGORIES OF SUPPORT FOR CITIES
LIKE SEATTLE.
THOSE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES AND
THOSE REAL AND EXPECTED FEDERAL
FUNDING CUTS PAIRED WITH THE
EXISTING STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES
HAVE MADE PLANNING OUR CITY'S
BUDGET HARDER THAN USUAL.
WE BUILT THE SEATTLE SHIELD
INITIATIVE AS A WELL-RESEARCHED,
THOROUGHLY STAKEHOLDERS AND
STRONGLY VETTED RESPONSE TO THIS
CONSTELLATION OF CHALLENGES.
TODAY WE WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO
SEND THIS MORE PROGRESSIVE
REBALANCING OF OUR B AND O TAX
TO THE VOTERS.
ONCE THE VOTERS PROVIDE US WITH
THIS TOOL, WE CAN ENSURE THAT
CRITICAL CITY SERVICES ARE
MAINTAINED DESPITE THE
CHALLENGES TO OUR BUDGET OR THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PRESENT.
WE WILL ALSO BE GIVING SEATTLE
VOTERS A CHOICE ON SHIELDING OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, THE HEARTBEAT
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, FROM
ECONOMIC EARN CERTAINTY.
THESE ARE THE COFFEE SOPS WHERE
THEY GET YOUR OWN LOCAL LATTE
JUST RIGHT, THE FAMILY
RESTAURANTS THAT KNOW THEY WANT
THREE STARS ON THEIR PAD THAI,
THE BOOK AND STAFF
RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT YOU WANT
TO READ NEXT.
I WANT TO THANK THEM INTEREST
THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN DEVELOPING
THIS LEGISLATION AND TO THANK
EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL
PARTNERSHIP AS THIS BILL MADE
WAY LOW THE BUDGET AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
WE RAD VANCED IT UNANIMOUSLY OUT
OF COMMITTEE LAST WEEK AND
PASSING IT UNANIMOUSLY TODAY
WOULD SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO
THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO MOVING ON, WE HAVE NOW HAD
THE -- THE COMMITTEE REPORT
PRESENTED AND COMMENTS FROM THE
SPONSOR.
AND NOW WE WILL -- WE BEGIN
DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO MOVE
AMENDMENT "A."
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121028 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
"A."
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO MOVE THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT "A," VERSION 3, I
BELIEVE.
CORRECT?
YES.
ALL RIGHT, CENTRAL STAFF -- NO,
THEY ARE NOT.
THIS IS THE LINE THAT IS
OBSOLETE BECAUSE THIS IS THE
FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO PRESENT
THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PREZ.
AMENDMENT "A" WILL ADIMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS AS AN
ELIGIBLE USE IN THE GENERAL FUND
BACK FILL PORTION OF THE USE OF
FUNDS.
WE ADDED SEVERAL THINGS AT THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND SO
THIS IS ADDING THE ABILITY TO
USE GENERAL FUND, BACKFILL FUND
FOR THE IMMIGRANT TAX AND
REFUGEE FUND AFFAIRS SUCH AS THE
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> OKAY, I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF
ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
TODAY IN SPEAKING TO THE TWO
AMENDMENTS, I ALSO WANTED TO
SPEAK TO MY AMENDMENTS AND
GENERAL APPROACH TO THIS BILL.
IN MY MIND THIS IS A BUDGET BILL
AND SHOULD NOT BE, IN MY
OPINION, CONFLATED WITH THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AS A
SEATTLE SHIELD BILL.
I'D ASK DOES THE BILL ADDRESS
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GIVEN THE
ACTIONS TAKEN AND TO BE TAKEN
AGAINST FEMA, AND NOTING HOW
IMPORTANT FEMA IS IN OUR EARLIER
AGENDA ITEMS, COUNCIL BILL
121013.
DOES THE COUNCIL BILL SHIELD
THESE ESPECIALLY THOSE ESSENTIAL
TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE?
AND I NOTE TOO REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE AND WOMEN'S HEALTH
CARE AND WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE IS
HEALTH CARE.
AND HEALTH CARE, CONTRARY TO
TRENDS ACROSS THE CITY -- ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, SHOULD BE BASED ON
SCIENCE.
BACK TO THIS BILL, I'D ARGUE OUR
FOCUS SHOULD BE CENTERED ON OUR
FISCAL CHALLENGES AND CREATING A
LONG-TERM STRATEGIC WAY AHEAD
WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET.
GOOD GOVERNANCE MEANS THAT THIS
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION, B AND O
BILL, SHOULD NOT BE LOOKED AT IN
ISOLATION OR SOLELY NEAR-TERM.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR
PASSING AN AMENDMENT ON THE
FINDINGS OF THE FORECASTS AND
THE NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX FOR A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
THANK YOU FOR PASSING THE
AMENDMENT ON THE CRITICAL NEED
TO HAVE A SEATTLE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN THAT SHOWS THE
VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES AND A
STRATEGY THAT LOOKS ACROSS
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOCIAL
HOUSING, MARKET HOUSING, AND
MAKES CLEAR THE TRADEOFFS THAT
NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO
CREATE A PLAN TO INCLUDE SHOULD
WE BUILD NEW OR SHOULD WE FIX --
MAINTAIN CURRENT INVENTORY, TO
WHICH I'VE SEEN ON MY WALKS
ABOUT OFTENTIMES IN DIRE
STRAITS.
WE'RE IN MAJOR NEED OF WORK.
BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO BE
CLEAR OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF
WHERE HOUSING IS WITH RESPECT TO
OUR BUDGET.
AND BASICALLY THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING SHOULD PRESENT THE WAY
SDOT DOES WITH THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
IN DOING SO, THAT WOULD HELP US
DO BUDGET MORE PROPERLY AND
WOULD BE IN KEEPING WITH GOOD
GOVERNANCE.
GOOD GOVERNESS IN THE B AND O
ALSO REQUIRES THE FISCAL
TRANSPARENCY PROGRAM FOR BOTH
THE B AND O AND P.E. T.
AS WE HAVE IN THE AMENDMENT IN
THE PAST FEW YEARS A ZERO FUND
BALANCE.
CREATING A STRUCTURED BUDGET
REFORM STRATEGY NEEDS FOCUS AND
REMOVING THE SUNSET AND
POTENTIAL EXTENSION PROVISIONS
WITH A REVENUE NEUTRAL STRUCTURE
IS IMPORTANT TO KIND OF FOCUS
THE DECISION MAKERS TO INCLUDE
US ON HAVING A TRUE BUDGET
STRATEGY THAT WORKS IN THE
LONG-TERM.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
I WILL ADMIT I BELIEVE I -- YOU
KNOW, THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS
SUBMITTED WITH A FIVE-YEAR
TIMELINE MAY HAVE BEEN BETTER
THAN A SEVEN-YEAR TIMELINE UPON
REFLECTION.
CATEGORIES, COLLEAGUES, I'M
GENERALLY OPPOSED TO THE USE OF
CATEGORIES OR BUCKETS AS SOME
MAY SAY.
I BELIEVE THEY WERE A MISTAKE IN
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX SINCE
OVER THE YEARS CONDITIONS
CHANGED BUT THE LEGISLATION
REMAINS THE SAME, BASICALLY
LOCKS IN THOSE CATEGORIES, AND
THAT'S A PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, AND THIS WAS A PROBLEM
UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN WE -- WITH
OUR LEGISLATION THAT WE MADE
THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE P.E.T.,
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX.
THE MAYOR HAS HIS
RESPONSIBILITY.
THE EXECUTIVE HAS ITS
RESPONSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO
THE BUDGET AS DO WE.
SO THESE CATEGORIES OF BUCKETS,
I'D ARGUE, KIND OF TAKE AWAY
FROM THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT
CATEGORIES OR BUCKETS IN THIS B
AND O LEGISLATION WAS A MISTAKE
IN THE WAY THAT BUCKETS BEGETS
BUCKETS.
SO WE WENT FROM A SHORT LIST TOA
LONG LIST.
TO A LONG LIST THAT DOESN'T
ACCOUNT FOR EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, DOESN'T ACCOUNT
FOR DIFFERENT PIECES TO INCLUDE
ON TODAY'S AMENDMENT LIST.
AND FOR BOTH BACKFILL AND TAX
CREDITS.
YOU KNOW, OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON
THE DEFICIT.
THAT SHOULD BE OUR FOCUS.
AND I THINK OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE
FOR THE CLEAN BILL TO ENSURE
THAT WE ARE FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE, THAT MEET THE NEEDS
OUR CITY WORKING IN CLAB RAISE
AND SOMETIMES IN OPPOSITION, IF
NEEDED TO GET US TO WHERE WE
NEEDED TO BE.
COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE THESE POINTS BECAUSE
GRANTED I MISSED THE LAST
MEETING.
I WAS TRAVELING DURING THE
COURSE OF THAT MEETING.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
US TO HAVE THAT KIND OF APPROACH
TO THE BUDGET, TO FORCE THAT
DISCIPLINE INTO THE BUDGETARY
PROCESS, TO GET THE EXECUTIVE TO
DO THESE PIECES THAT ARE
NECESSARY IN TERMS OF THE
OUTLOOK OVER THE YEARS, TO HAVE
A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH HOUSING AND ITS
IMPACTS ON OUR BUDGET.
I SUPPORT SOCIAL HOUSING.
I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHAT I DON'T SUPPORT IS THIS
SORT OF VAGUENESS THAT SURROUNDS
THIS TOPIC.
I THINK HAVING OH GO THROUGH
WHAT SDOT DOES IN THE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN WOULD ALLOW
THEM TO SHOW AND THE PUBLIC THIS
IS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THIS IS
WHY WE MADE THESE DECISIONS.
WE CAN'T SPEND THE ENTIRE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY ON BRIDGES.
WE CAN'T SPEND THE WHOLE THING
ON SIDEWALKS, CAN'T SPEND IT ON
ROADS.
WE CAN'T -- WE HAVE TO HAVE
TRADEOFFS.
AND THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN AND THE LEVY PAIRED WITH
THAT, REALLY DOES THAT.
AND I THINK BY DOING THAT WITH
HOUSING, THAT WOULD BE SO
CRUCIAL IN TERMS OF REALLY
GETTING LONG-TERM UNDERSTANDING
AND A WAY AHEAD OUT OF RESPECT
TO IT OUR BUDGET CHALLENGES.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
WE CAN'T RUN DEFICITS, SO THIS
IS TO CLOSE THE REASON WHY AT
THE END OF THE DAY I BELIEVE
THIS COULD BE A BUDGET BILL, AND
WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THAT
WAY.
BECAUSE I THINK -- AND I
UNDERSTAND THE POINTS MADE, BUT
I THINK WE GET OFFTRACK FROM
WHAT OUR JOB IS HERE BECAUSE WE
DO THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS IN
TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS
OF OUR CITY AS WE WORK THROUGH
SUPPLEMENTS AND ALL OF THE
ABOVE.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO RESPOND TO THOSE
COMMENTS?
>> THEY WERE GOOD COMMENTS BUT I
BELIEVE WASN'T SPECIFICALLY
NECESSARILY TO THIS AMENDMENT
BUT MORE TO ALL THE AMENDMENTS.
I WILL SAY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
I AGREE WITH YOU THAT -- AND I
SAID THIS DURING ONE OF OUR
COUNCIL BRIEFINGS IN CHAMBERS,
IT MADE MORE SENSE TO ME THAT WE
CONSIDER THIS FUNDING IN LIGHT
OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS AND
RATHER THAN SINGLE OUT ITEMS
THAT THIS MONEY SHOULD HAVE JUST
GONE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN WHEN THE MAYOR WAS
PUTTING TOGETHER THE BUDGET THAT
HE SENDS US, HE COULD HAVE THEN
CONSIDERED THIS FUNDING ALONG
WITH ALL THE OTHER FUNDING.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE GOOD
GOVERNANCE WAY TO DO THIS, BUT
THAT IS NOT HOW THIS MOVED
FORWARD, AND AS SUCH, I ADDED A
COUPLE OF THINGS INTO THE LIST
OF ITEMS SIGNALING THAT THESE
ARE OUR -- THAT THESE ARE
PRIORITIES AS HE IS WORKING ON
THE BUDGET THAT HE WILL SENDS TO
US IN SHORT ORDER NEXT MONTH.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
I DON'T DISAGREE, AND THIS IS
WHERE THINGS LANDED, AND I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF
OUR PRIORITY ITEMS THAT WE'VE --
MANY OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN
THE LAST YEAR MADE THEIR WAY
INTO THIS LIST.
SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
I THINK THIS AMENDMENT IS IN
LINE WITH THE LEGISLATION, AND
I'LL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND I TOO JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR
BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD
AND ALLOWS US TO FOLLOW THROUGH
OUR COMMITMENT TO BETTER SUPPORT
OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES MORE BROADLY, SO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> OKAY, I -- I'LL JUST NOTE MY
THINKING ON THIS, WHICH IS THAT
WE HAVE IN THE -- IN THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL POLICIES
CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
WE HAVE MENTIONED OVER AND OVER
AGAIN OUR CONCERN ABOUT THE
IMPACTS ON OUR IMMIGRANT AND
OTHER VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BY
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S
EITHER SORT OF RETALIATORY MOVES
AGAINST THE FACT THAT WE ARE A
WELCOMING CITY OR THROUGH
FEDERAL CUTS THROUGH PROGRAMS
THAT DIRECTLY HELP THESE
COMMUNITIES, SO I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS
AN AREA OF FOCUS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN DEMONSTRATING SINCE -- I
CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN, BUT PERHAPS
FEBRUARY OR SO.
SO IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS
COUNSEL OR HAS STATED AS SUCH.
AT THE SAME TIME I TOTALLY HEAR
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S CONCERNS
BECAUSE WE ARE ADDING TO --
CONCERNS ABOUT BUCKETS.
AND IN FACT, WHENEVER WE PUT
BUCKETS INTO LEGISLATION
ESPECIALLY WITHOUT TALKING TO A
MAJORITY OF COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT
THAT, THEN THE MAJORITY OF
COUNCILMEMBERS COULD VER WELL
WANT TO ADD THEIR OWN BUCKETS.
THIS IS THE BUCKET SPREAD OR
SUITE WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A VALID
ADDITION TO THE STATED
PRIORITIES FOR WHAT THIS
POTENTIAL REVENUE WOULD BE
COVERING.
I ALSO ADDED AN ITEM TO A BUCKET
THAT THAT WAS A BUCKET UNDER
THE -- IN THE CATEGORY OF THE
POTENTIAL UP TO $30 MILLION FOR
CUTS FROM THE -- THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
REGARDLESS WE ARE STATING OUR
PRIORITIES IN THE USE OF THESE
POTENTIAL REVENUES SHOULD THE
VOTERS PASS IT.
AND SO THAT IS THE CONVERSATION
AT HAND.
AND SO WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON
THIS AMENDMENT.
BUT I DO HAVE ONE FINAL OTHER
QUESTION.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, IF IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING, HOW DOES THIS
IMPACT THE POTENTIAL CHANGE TO
THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL THAT YOU
ARE INTERESTED IN?
ON A CHANGE OF -- I THINK IT WAS
A CHANGE OF THE USE OF FUNDS FOR
ONE THING TO SOMETHING VERY
CLOSELY RELATED TO THIS.
>> YEAH, CERTAINLY.
I BELIEVE IF I'M TRACKING
CORRECTLY, YOU'RE ASKING A
QUESTION ABOUT THE AMENDMENT I
BROUGHT FORWARD LAST WEEK
RELATED TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET.
>> YES.
>> YES, SO I HAD BROUGHT FORWARD
AN AMENDMENT, AND I INTEND TO
BRING IT FORWARD TOMORROW AS
WELL RELATED TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET AND UNDERSCORE FROM THE
SPEND JAIL CONTRACT.
FROM SOME OF THE INFORMATION
THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO US
FROM OIRA, THEY HAVE BEEN
TRACKING WE HAVE ABOUT $3.7
MILLION THAT HAS BEEN LOST IN
FEDERAL FUNDING ACROSS MANYF OUR
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT'S A STARK NUMBER, AND I
THINK WE -- GIVEN WHAT WE ARE
ALSO CONTINUING TO SEE ON OUR
STREETS WITH THIS MASS
DEPORTATION AGENDA, I THINK WE
SHOULD BE ALL HANDS ON DECK.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET OFFERS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MORE
IMMEDIATE ACTION.
THIS BILL WOULD NOT START
COLLECTING UNTIL EARLY NEXT
YEAR, AND SO I AM SEPARATELY
BRINGING FORWARD THAT AMENDMENT
TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR LEGAL
DEFENSE WITHIN OIRA, SO WE CAN
BE MORE IMMEDIATELY RESPONSIVE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION, AND THERE WILL BE
OPPORTUNITY FOR CONVERSATION
ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.
OKAY, SO I'M NOT -- WOULD YOU
LIKE TO HAVE ANY CLOSING
COMMENTS BEFORE I CALL FOR A
VOTE?
>> SURE, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER -- OR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
I WILL SAY THAT, YES, I THINK
THAT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WAS CHALLENGING FOR
MANY REASONS.
ONE IS IT CAME VERY LATE, AND IT
NEEDS TO BE PASSED BY TODAY IN
ORDER TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT
FOR NOVEMBER.
AND I WISH THAT WE WOULD HAVE
BEEN -- WELL, MANY OF US -- I'LL
STATE I WAS NOT CONSULTED WHEN
THE LIST OF USES CAME TO PASS.
AND SO IT MADE IT REALLY
DIFFICULT WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
THEN WE'RE ALL WORKING TO TRY
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING
A PRIORITY THAT WE'RE HEARING
FROM COMMUNITY INTO THIS
LEGISLATION.
SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE
ADVANTAGEOUS HAD WE BEEN
CONSULTED ON THE FRONT END.
MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD AS
MANY AMENDMENTS TRYING TO ADD
THINGS AS MANY OF US DID UP
HERE.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE GOT TO
TODAY WITH THIS PARTICULAR ADD
THAT MAY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED
EARLIER, PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE PROFFERED
IT THEN INSTEAD OF NOW.
SO THAT'S JUST A LESSON TO US
ALL.
THE HOAR WE COMMUNICATE AHEAD OF
TIME WITH EACH OTHER, I THINK
THE BETTER OUTCOMES WE ALWAYS
HAVE WITH THESE THINGS.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT'S HERE
BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I HOPE I HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
AND CERTAINLY AS THE MAYOR AND I
SEE THE BUDGET DIRECTOR IN THE
AUDIENCE, AS YOU ALL -- DIRECTOR
EDER AND THE MAYOR ARE LOOKING
AT THE BUDGET FOR THE FALL, IT
GIVES THE GUIDANCE YOU KNOW THAT
WE CARE ABOUT, AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE'LL BE HARD CHOICES TO BE
MADE, BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE
ARE LOOKING TO PRIORITIZE AS
YOU'RE MAKE YOUR HARD CHOICES
AND THEN WILL COME TO US.
SO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
AMENDMENT "B."
>> "A."
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> SIX IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, MOTION CARRIES AND ONE
ADOPTED.
I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHY I
KEEP GETTING IN MY HEAD.
I'M A LITTLE BIT EAGER BEAVER
HERE.
ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION CARRIES
AND AMENDMENT "A" IS ADOPTED.
MOVING ON, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON -- NO, PLEASE
MOVE --
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121028 WITH AMENDMENT "B" AS
PRESENTED IN THE AMENDMENT "B"
DRAFT.
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT "B."
AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU'RE
WELCOME TO ADDRESS THE AMENDMENT
"B."
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS IS JUST A CORRECTION, A
TECHNICAL CORRECTION.
COLLEAGUES, SINCE WE ADDED THE
TAX CREDITS, THE LANGUAGE NEEDS
TO BE UPDATED TO REFLECT -- TO
REFLECT THAT ACTION, SO IT'S
REALLY JUST A TECHNICAL
CORRECTION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENT?
LOOKING AT THE OTHER SCREEN.
OKAY, I AM NOT SEEING ANY
COMMENTS.
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT "B"?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> KYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT "B" IS ADOPTED.
AND NOW WE'RE ONTO AMENDMENT
"C."
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121028 RELATING TO THE RECENTLY
ZRIBLTED AMENDMENT "C."
>> SECONDED.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT "C."
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HOLD MY AMENDMENT LAST WEEK AND
BRING IT BACK THIS WEEK IN
EXPLORING THE NEED TO OFFSET THE
B AND O RATE CHANGES.
I ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO BRING
THE SAME AMENDMENT THAT I
BROUGHT TO COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
AND SO THIS AMENDMENT DOES THREE
THINGS.
AND BEFORE I GET INTO WHAT THE
THREE THINGS ARE, UNDERSTANDING
WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.
OUR TARIFFS ARE IMPACTING PORT
AND MARITIME SECTORS.
THE PORT AND THE MARITIME
SECTORS ARE THE LINE OF BUSINESS
HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
THAT KNOWS NO BORDERS.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT
THERE IS NOT ONE GOVERNING
AGENCY THAT GOVERNS OUR OCEANS.
THE OCEANS ARE BOUNDARIES THAT
ARE INTERNATIONAL IN NATURE.
AND THE WORK THAT OCCURS BOTH
FOR THE SHIPS THAT COME INTO OUR
SHIPYARDS, FOR THE VESSELS
CARRYING WHAT IS TECHNICALLY
FRIGHT BUT IS FISH COMING INTO
OUR PORTS, THESE TYPES OF
BUSINESSES ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND OUR BUDGETING PRACTICES HERE
AS WELL AS FOR A SHIPPING -- A
CARGO SHIP COMING THROUGH THE
STRAIT, THEY STILL HAVE THE
CHOICE TO TURN NORTH OR SOUTH
WHEN THEY GET TO VICTORIA.
FOR A COMPANY DOING SHIP REPAIR,
THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN
COMING BACK FROM ALASKA, TO STOP
ANYWHERE IN CANADA, WHICH IS
CLOSER TO THEIR FISHING GROUNDS.
BUT HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WE HAVE THE CLOSEST FRESH-WATER
PORT TO THE GULF OF ALASKA AND
THE BERRING SEA.
AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE CLOSEST
PORTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY FOR CARGO.
AND SO THIS IS WHY I AM BRINGING
FORWARD THIS AMENDMENT THAT DOES
THREE THINGS.
I HAD EXPLORED A DESIRE TO
ASSIST THE SHIP BUILDING
COMMUNITY IN A LARGER FASHION.
HOWEVER, WITH THE DEFINITIONS IN
STATE LAW AND CITY LAW, EVEN
THOUGH ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S
DONE AT A SHIPYARD IS SHIP
BUILDING, THAT WORK IS COMPLETED
BY BOILERMAKERS, BY
ELECTRICIANS, BY CARPENTERS, BY
FABRICATORS, BY WELDERS, BY
GLAZERS.
I AM GOING TO BE IN A LOT OF
TROUBLE WHEN I GET HOME FOR
FORGETTING SOMEONE.
BUT THERE'S EVERYTHING FROM
EXTREMELY HIGH END ELECTRONICS
TO REFRIGERATION NOT JUST FOR
THE FOOD THAT PEOPLE EAT ONBOARD
BUT FOR KEEPING THEIR FRIGHT
THAT IS FISH COLD.
THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT GOES
ON IN OUR SHIPYARDS.
BUT WHEN IT IS -- WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE DEFINITIONS FOR -- THAT
ARE ESTABLISHED HERE IN THE CITY
AND STATE CODE, THEY BREAK THEM
DOWN INTO THEIR INDIVIDUAL
INDUSTRIES, AND SO IT IS
DIFFICULT TO PLACE THEM ALL
TOGETHER.
AND SO NOW WHAT DOES THIS
AMENDMENT DO?
IT DOES THREE THINGS.
IT CREATES THE WHEREAS CLAUSE
STATING OUR INTENT TO MONITOR B
AND O TAXES IMPACT ON OUR
MARITIME COMMUNITY FOR THE
REASONS I JUST DESCRIBED.
SECOND, IT CREATES A TAX CREDIT
AIMED AT HELPING TO STABILIZE
COMMERCE COMING IN AND OUT OF
OUR PORT AS THEY DEAL WITH THE
CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY FROM THE
FEDERAL TARIFF POLICY.
AND THE THIRD THING IT DOES IS
IT CREATES A SUNSET FOR THAT TAX
CREDIT AFTER FOUR YEARS, WHEN BY
GOLLY, I THINK WE'RE ALL HOLDING
HANDS TO SEE CALMER SEAS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THAT HORIZON.
AND IF NOT, THEN WE'LL HAVE THE
ABILITY TO COME BACK AND HAVE
THIS DISCUSSION AGAIN.
I DON'T TAKE THIS TAX CREDIT
LIGHTLY.
I HAVE WORKED TO LIMIT THE
IMPACT ON REVENUE.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DO
THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT,
MEASURED APPROACH TO HELP
PROTECT OUR MARITIME SECTOR,
WHICH AFFECTS OUR ENTIRE SUPPLY
CHAIN HERE, WHETHER IT'S THE
FISH THAT YOU EAT.
IF ANYONE GETS A FISH-WHICH IN
OUR CITIES, IT COMES THROUGH OUR
CITY.
IF YOU'RE TAKING A FERRY BOAT,
IT COMES THROUGH OUR CITY.
IF YOU'RE BASICALLY DOING
ANYTHING ON THE WATER, YOU'RE
BEING TOUCHED BY THE MARITIME
INDUSTRY.
WITH THAT, THE STATE DOES HAVE
WIDE RANGING LIMITS ON THE
ABILITY TO EXEMPT OTHER SECTORS
INCLUDING RETAIL BUSINESSES LIKE
GROCERY STORES AS WELL FOR THE
SAME REASON I JUST DESCRIBED IN
DESCRIBING THE SHIPYARD.
AND THIS TAX CREDIT MIRRORS A
SIMILAR CREDIT AT THE STATE
LEVEL AT WASHINGTON STATE
ALREADY WHICH IN IS PLACE, AND
IS ONE OF THOSE LIMITED OPTIONS
THAT WE HAVE IF NOT FOR THAT
LINE AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE
WOULD NOT HAVE AN OPTION HERE.
SO, COLLEAGUES, I URGE AN AYE
VOTE, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENT?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COLLEAGUES, AS I STATED IN OUR
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK, I DO NOT SUPPORT ADDING
ANY CREDITS OR EXEMPTIONS TO
THIS TAX IN THIS BILL.
WE CAN EXPLORE ANY AND ALL
STAKEHOLDERS REQUESTS FOR
CREDITS VIA SEPARATE LEGISLATION
AT ANY TIME.
AND FOR THAT REASON I WILL BE
VOTING NO ON THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
OBVIOUSLY I JUST GAVE MY
REMARKS, WHICH WAS QUITE CLEAR
IN TERMS IN THE APPROACH TO THE
B AND O TAX AND THE GOOD AND THE
BAD FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS
AND MY POINT ABOUT CATEGORY AND
BUCKETS WHETHER BACKFILL OR TAX
CREDITS.
SO DESPITE MY STRONG SUPPORT OF
THE MARITIME COMMUNITY, YOU
KNOW, YOU -- THIS IS A
PRINCIPLE, AND THIS GOES TO GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND THE BUDGET
OVERALL, AND THAT WILL BE
DRIVING MY VOTE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, AND THIS DEFINITELY
BENEFITS THE MARITIME ECONOMY,
WHICH WE ALL BENEFIT FROM, ALL
OF OUR RESPECTIVE COUNCIL
DISTRICTS.
AS THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
FOR DISTRICT 1 WITH A FAIR
AMOUNT OF THE UNDERLYING
OPERATIONS IN THE PORT AND A
MARITIME INDUSTRY THAT WOULD
BENEFIT FROM SUCH AN AMENDMENT,
I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS.
I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS
SUFFICIENTLY NARROW AND TAILORED
ENOUGH, CARVED OUT ENOUGH TO
MAKE SENSE FOR THIS CASE, SO
PROUD POOTO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
IT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD.
>> OKAY.
I WILL SIMPLY NOTE THAT I
COMPLETELY APPRECIATE THE --
THIS AMENDMENT.
IT'S A CORNERSTONE OF SEATTLE'S
INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE, AND I
SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE
THE IMPACT THIS TAX COULD HAVE
ON MANY HIGH GROSS REVENUE BUT
LOW MARGIN BUSINESSES.
BUT THEY -- BUT THAT'S BESIDE
THE POINT RIGHT HERE.
IT ALSO COMES IN THE FACE OF
MANY OTHER BUSINESSES, WHICH
CERTAINLY WE DON'T HAVE -- AN
EXEMPTION FOR REACHING OUT TO US
AND ASKING FOR CARVE OUTS
BECAUSE OF THE SAME CONCERNS.
AND I RECOGNIZE THIS IS -- THAT
THE BUSINESSES ARE DEFINED
CATEGORY THAT REDUCES THE RISK
SHOULD WE PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS FOR
SOME OF THE -- OR TAX CREDITS
FOR SOME OF THE BUSINESSES.
I JUST HAVE TO SAY I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF THIS
AMENDMENT BECAUSE I THINK THERE
ARE A LOT OF BUSINESSES, AND
ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE BUSINESSES
BECAUSE MARITIME BUSINESSES ARE
SUBJECT TO EVEN GREATER RISKS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
RIGHT NOW ARE IMPORTANT, BUT FOR
SOME OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE
BEEN EXPRESSED, I WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS.
BUT I DO WANT TO LOOK AT WAYS
THAT WE CAN, AGAIN, SUPPORT
THESE BUSINESSES GOING FORWARD
IN LIGHT OF THE FEDERAL TARIFFS
AND OTHER DELETERIOUS POLICIES
COMING OUT OF D.C.
ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT SEEING ANY
OTHER -- WOULD YOU GO AHEAD?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR --
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS' ZEALOUS
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE
MARITIME INDUSTRY.
AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL SUPPORTIVE,
AND EVERYONE'S BEING IMPACTED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN VERY
TERRIBLE WAYS, AND SO I
UNDERSTAND THE WANTING TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT.
AND THIS IS A FOR-PROFIT
CATEGORY, AS OUR -- THERE ARE
MANY FOR-PROFIT CATEGORIES THAT
ARE ALSO GOING TO BE IMPACTED.
AND WE'VE ALL HEARD FROM MANY
BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE
IMPACTED WHO WERE ASKING FOR
RELIEF AS WELL.
I KNOW I BROUGHT THE TAX CREDITS
FOR FRED HUTCHEN, SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S IS A VERY SPECIFIC
NON-PROFIT.
WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT CANCER
PATIENTS AND CHILDREN.
AND AT THE SAME TIME I
UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF OUR
BUSINESSES ARE SUFFERING THE
IMPACTS OF THE TARIFFS AND ET
CETERA.
SO WHILE WE WOULD WANT TO
PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO EVERYONE,
WE JUST CAN'T PROVIDE RELIEF TO
EVERYBODY.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I'M NOT
GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT,
THOUGH.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE
SPIRIT OF WHY IT WAS BROUGHT.
AND I TOO WOULD LOVE TO FIND
WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR MARITIME
INDUSTRY IN SEATTLE AND ALL OUR
BUSINESSES THAT WE REALLY LIKE
THE FOLK THAT PROVIDE FOOD, FOR
INSTANCE, BECAUSE EVERYONE
GETTING, LIKE I SAID, IMPACTED
IN VERY NEGATIVE WAYS THAT THEN
GETS PASSED ONTO OUR RESIDENTS.
SO ANYWAY, ALL THAT SAID, THANK
YOU.
>> YOU BRING UP ONE FINAL
THOUGHT.
I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE GETTING
AT AND WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS OR
JUST POINT OUT AT IS THERE ARE
SOME VERY -- WHAT'S MORE
ESSENTIAL THAN OTHERS IS WE CAN
GO ON AND ON OFF BUT I DID
STRUGGLE WITH WHETHER I SHOULD
PUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD EXEMPT WHOLESALE FOOD
DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE THERE IS
SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHOLESALE
FOOD, EXEMPTING THOSE WOULD BE A
VIOLATION OF THE UNIFORMITY
CLAUSE THAT IS PROHIBITED IN
THIS -- IN THE MODEL TAX B AND O
CODE, AND SO I JUST DIDN'T HAVE
TIME TO TRACK DOWN WHICH LAWYER
WAS RIGHT AND SO BASICALLY
DECIDED TO DROP THAT, BUT AGAIN
THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO
WITH OUR LIMITED TIME GOING
FORWARD.
OKAY, NOW, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
FINISH YOUR COMMENTS OR HAVE THE
CLOSING WORD?
>> THANK YOU.
LAST COMMENTS, IS THAT WHAT
WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW?
>> I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE'S
HANDS RAISED.
YES.
>> WONDERFUL.
LAST WORD IS, COLLEAGUES, I URGE
AN AYE VOTE TO PROTECT OUR PORT
AND OUR MARITIME SECTORS.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
SO WITH THAT, SEEING NO MORE
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT "C"?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THOUGH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES, AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> NO.
>> THAT IS THREE IN FAVOR, SIX
OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, THE MOTION FAILS -- SO
THE MOTION FAILS BUT WE STILL
HAVE TWO OTHER AMENDMENTS.
AND SO ARE THERE -- PARDON ME?
>> ONE MORE AMENDMENT.
>> RIGHT.
BUT WE HAVE OTHER AMENDMENTS
THAT DID AMEND OUR LEGISLATION,
AND SO NOW WE HAVE TO BASE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US.
YES.
OKAY, WITH THAT, LET'S CONTINUE
THE -- THIS WOULD NOW WE A
CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR -- PROVIDE COMMENTS BEFORE
THE VOTE TO SEND THIS TO THE
BALLOT.
AND SO I WOULD OPEN THE DOOR TO
THE SPONSOR AGAIN TO ADDRESS
THIS, OR WE CAN ADDRESS -- OTHER
PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BASE
LEGISLATION AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
I WAS GOING TO DEFER TO THE
SPONSOR, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
AND I THINK I HAD SOME GOOD
CONVERSATIONS OFF-LINE, AND I'M
VERY, VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT
THIS.
AND WHAT SHE'S DONE OUT OF THE
GATE, AND I THINK IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE.
SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS, AND I
STARTED TO SAY THIS LAST WEEK,
AND I'LL BE SHORT I PROMISE.
SO THIS POLICY I BELIEVE
REFLECTS OUR COLLECTIVE
HUMANITY, MAKING SURE WHEN I
READ THE ORIGINAL INTENT THAT
PEOPLE HAVE FOOD, THAT PEOPLE
HAVE HOUSING, THAT THEY HAVE THE
BASICS TO LIVE.
AND WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION
BECAUSE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION,
WHICH STARTED IN 2016 AND IS NOW
BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.
AND I SHARED THIS BEFORE AND I
WANT TO SHARE IT AGAIN FOR THE
RECORD.
THAT THIS GOES BACK TO, BELIEVE
IT OR NOT, MAZLOV'S ORIGINAL
HIERARCHY OF NEED WHICH WAS
BASED UPON MY TRIBE THAT TALKED
ABOUT THOSE NEEDS.
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS,
SURVIVAL, FOOD, WATER, SHELTER
AND SLEEP.
THE SAFETY NEEDS, THE LOVE AND
BELONGING NEEDS, THE ESTEEM
NEEDS AND THE
SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
AND THOSE ARE IMPORTANT, AND
IT'S REALLY HARD FROM A
LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE TO TRY
TO CONDENSE THAT INTO INK ON
PAPER TO BE A POLICY, TO BE
LEGISLATION, TO MAKE IT A LAW.
BUT I THINK THAT WITH THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE MAYOR -- MAYOR
HARRELL, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND EVERYONE
OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE ON THIS
DAIS, BECAUSE I JUST GOT HERE,
IT'S BEEN A REAL HONOR TO WATCH
YOU GO THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS,
TALK ABOUT THE POLICY, GO
THROUGH THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE
LEGISLATION.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE SEATTLE
SHIELD, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
CALLING IT, THE SEATTLE SHIELD.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER -- WELL, FIRST OF
ALL, I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE -- YOU CAN HAVE THE FIRST
AND LAST WORDS.
SO GO AHEAD WITH YOUR FIRST
WORDS.
>> I'LL JUST SAVE FOR FINAL
REMARKS.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AS I SAID EARLIER, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR
DEFICITS PREDATE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
THIS SINGLETON KIND OF APPROACH
WITH LIKE THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX AND OTHER PIECES BY OUR
COUNCIL PREDATES THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE THE
FOCUS REGARDING WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE
CREATING A PROCESS BY OURSELVES
BUT ALSO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
EXECUTIVE, WHERE WE DO HAVE ALL
THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE
SMART IN TERMS OF THE DECISIONS
THAT WE MAKE ON THE BUDGET,
HENCE THE NEED FOR THE SEATTLE
HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN.
I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE
SIMPLIFIED TO THE BEST ABILITY.
THE CATEGORIES, THE BUCKETS, I
BELIEVE ARE WITH RESPECT TO THIS
BILL AND THEN GENERALLY ADVISORY
IS ONE THING, BUT HOW THESE
OFTEN GET MADE IS A MISTAKE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THEIR
INCLUSION IN THIS BILL KIND OF
TAKES US OFF THE PATH OF WHAT
THE FOCUS IS, WHICH IS THE MAJOR
DEFICIT THAT WE'RE FACING AS A
CITY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IN
TERMS OF REITERATING WHAT I HAD
SAID BEFORE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
AGAIN, I VIEW THIS AS IS THE B
AND O TAX.
TO ME THIS IS NOT THE SHIELD
TAX.
I APPRECIATE THE POINTS MADE,
AND WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE
WORKING TO COUNTER THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WE'RE
DOING IN SO MANY WAYS TO INCLUDE
PUBLIC SAFETY, AS I'VE BEEN
SPEAKING TO AT COMMITTEE.
BUT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE
DEFICIT.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT
WE HAVE MAJOR DEFICIT.
AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS
DEFICIT.
AND THIS BILL -- THIS B AND O
CHANGE IS A SHORT TERM.
AND AS I SAID UPON REFLECTION, I
WISH MY AMENDMENT WAS NOW 5
YEARS INSTEAD OF 7.
BUT IT ADDRESSES THE BUDGETARY
CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD, AND I'D
LIKE TO THINK IT WOULD HELP PUSH
US TO DOING COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET
REFORM IN TERMS OF HOW WE DO
BUSINESS AS A CITY.
SO WITH MY -- THOSE POINTS MADE,
I WILL BE GUIDED BY THOSE IN
TERMS OF MY VOTE FOR THIS BILL.
THE BOTTOM LINE BEING THE
DEFICIT THAT WE'RE FACING.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I OAKO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
HAS SAID AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
THIS BILL RECOGNIZES THE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING.
I ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGH REVENUE
AND NET INCOME AND THAT THERE
ARE HIGH REVENUE BUSINESSES WITH
SUPER SMALL MARGE NSZ INS LIKE
THIN LIKE GROCERY STORES AND
RESTAURANTS THAT WE'VE HEARD
PARTICULAR ABOUT B AND O TAXES
AND SO FORTH AND ALSO OUR
HOSPITALS AS WELL.
IN MY MY DISTRICT WE HAVE
VIRGINIA MASON AND CAN I SEER,
TWO SWEDISH HOSPITALS, MEDICAL
CENTERS THAT ALONE WILL PAY MORE
WITH THESE TAXES.
BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I
WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS THROUGH
MY TENURE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE GROCERY STORES ARE
PROTECTED AT THE STATE LEVEL TO
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A
CLASSIFICATION AS ESSENTIAL.
BECAUSE AS WE SEE NOW MORE OF
FOOD ACCESSIBILITY, AND I AM
VERY GLAD THAT ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS LOVE FOOD AND SEE
HOW IMPORTANT THE ACCESS IS.
AND I'VE SEEN IT FROM ALL OF
Y'ALL AND JUST REALLY RECOGNIZE
THAT.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE
MOVING IN A TIME WHERE OUR
GROSSI STORES ARE ESSENTIAL FOOD
ACCESS POINTS, AND THEY NEED TO
BE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL AND
TREATED VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN
THEY HAVE IN THE PAST AND NOT
JUST IDENTIFIED AS PARTICULARLY
JUST REVENUE -- EXCUSE ME, OF
RETAIL BACK AND FORTH.
THAT THEY ARE A FOOD ACCESS
POINT.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT.
MY VOTE TODAY IS IN SUPPORT OF
THIS.
I ALSO -- AND FOR US TO PLAUG IN
OUR BUDGET HOLE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, I ALSO
EXPECT PROGRESSIVE OUTCOMES IN
OUR CITY AND OUTCOMES FOR
PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS THESE WILL
GO TO IN MAKING SURE THAT WE
WILL HAVE THE OUTCOMES THAT
SEATTLE DESERVES.
THIS WILL NOW BE HANDED TO THE
VOTERS IN NOVEMBER AND VERY
HAPPY OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AND MAYOR HARRELL, FOR
THIS LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
YES?
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
YOU KNOW, I AGREE THAT WE HAD A
BUDGET DEFICIT BEFORE THIS
CURRENT -- BEFORE THIS CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION UNLEASHED ITS
ATTACKS ON OUR RESIDENTS, WHICH
HAVE IMPACTED OUR IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES, HEALTH CARE,
REPRODUCTIVE CARE, AND
EVERYTHING FOOD ACCESS, AND
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
I WILL SAY THAT WITH OUR BUDGET
DEFICIT, LIKE I SAID, IT GOT
COMPOUNDED BY THIS CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION'S UNLEASHED
TERROR.
AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS EARLY ON
THIS YEAR I TALKED ABOUT SEATTLE
BEING A SANCTUARY CITY AND
REALLY RESPONDING TO OUR
RESIDENTS.
SO IN THAT REGARD I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PROTECT
OUR MUCH NEEDED SERVICES FROM
OUR OWN DEFICIT AND FROM THE
FURTHER COMPOUNDING NEGATIVE
IMPACTS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I WILL
CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR BUDGET
REFORM AT THE CITY, SO WE ARE
NOT IN THIS CONSTANT STATE OF
DEFICIT.
IT IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND
IT IS BAD GOVERNANCE FOR US TO
BE IN A CONSTANT DEFICIT BECAUSE
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE A HARD
LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND OUR
PROGRAMS AND REALLY DO THAT WORK
THAT IT TAKES TO FIGURE OUT
WHETHER THESE PROGRAMS ACTUALLY
DOING WHAT THEY'RE INTENDING TO
DO.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO DO THAT
WORK.
THIS DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF
THAT WORK.
IT IS NOT OKAY TO CONSTANTLY
BRING ABOUT MORE -- YOU KNOW,
MORE TAXES OF THIS NATURE
WITHOUT DOING THE WORK.
AND BEFORE ANYONE MISQUOTES ME,
I AM NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD
NOT BE BRINGING TAXES.
THAT'S HOW THE GOVERNMENT GETS
THEIR MONEY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED
TO DO ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE
AND FOR THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS
IS NOT JUST FOR US, IT'S FOR THE
RESIDENTS.
AND FOR US WE NEED TO TAKE A
LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND NOT HAVE
THE KNEE JERK REACTION THAT
EVERY TIME WE ARE IN THIS
DEFICIT SITUATION INSTEAD OF
LOOKING AT IT PROGRAMS WE
AUTOMATICALLY GO TO HOW CAN WE
BACKFILL IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
AND ALSO AM MINDFUL ABOUT THE
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY SOMETIMES
WE HAVE AS WE'RE TAKING THESE
VOTES.
AND AS NEW INFORMATION COMES IN
THAT SHOWS THE SITUATION IS NOT
AS BAD AS IT IS, WE ALL GOT
TODAY THE REVENUE FORECAST THAT
THE FORECAST IS ACTUALLY BETTER
THAN WE ANTICIPATED BY $90
MILLION -- $90 MILLION WHICH IS
ACTUALLY VERY COINCIDENTLY THE
ACTUAL $90 MILLION IN THIS B AND
O PROPOSAL.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE WHEN
WE WERE BUDGETING.
AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I'M IN
AGREEMENT WITH YOU ON THAT.
AS WE ARE PUTTING THESE
PROPOSALS FORWARD, WE DO HAVE
FUNDING SOURCES FROM MANY
DIFFERENT AREAS, AND WE REALLY
NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN AS
A CITY DO BETTER ON BEHALF OF
OUR RESIDENTS ON OUR BUDGETING
SIDE.
AND THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, THAT
INCLUDES THE EXECUTIVE AND THIS
LEGISLATIVE BODY, EVERYBODY
WORKING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT
HOW WE CAN BEST DO THIS BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT DOING IT
WELL.
HAVING A $200 MILLION DEFICIT IS
NOT OKAY.
AND THEN WHEN SOMETHING LIKE
THIS HAPPENS LIKE THIS FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, WE DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE TO PULL FROM, AND
THAT'S NOT OKAY.
SO I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE ALL OF
US TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE
OUT A BETTER WAY OF DOING THIS,
WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE, THAT
WE CAN PRESERVE THE SERVICES,
THE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES AND NOT
CONSTANTLY BE IN A STATE OF
DEFICIT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I'M ZOOM IS NOT WORKING SO
I'M SPECIFICALLY RAISING MY
HAND.
>> SURE.
GO AHEAD.
>> IS THIS A GOOD TIME OR --
>> I HAD COMMENTS TOO, BUT
YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I DO BELIEVE THIS IS AN
INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO PROTECT
THE SOCIAL SERVICES, AS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SPOKE.
I WON'T USE MAZLOV'S HIERARCHY
OF NEED.
BUT SPECIFICALLY IT IS THOSE
THINGS THAT ALLOW -- IT CAN'T
CREATE SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
IT CAN'T CREATE COMMUNITY.
BUT IF YOU'RE HUNGRY.
IF YOU ARE UNCLOTHED, IF YOU ARE
UNSHELTERED, YOU CANNOT FIND
YOUR WAY TO A BETTER LIFE.
THERE THEY ARE.
LOVE AND BELONGING, ALL OF THE
ESTEEMED NEEDS HERE.
AND REALLY THE THINGS THAT
SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS
ARE IN LINE TO HAVE THEIR THIRD
CUT IN -- IN THIS ONE YEAR, AND
THAT'S FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S FROM THE STATE
GOVERNMENT, AND THEY'RE ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK FOR US HERE IN
THE CITY THIS YEAR.
BECAUSE WHILE WE HAVE A HIGHER
PROJECTED REVENUE TODAY THAN WE
DID LAST FRIDAY, IT STILL
LEAVES -- AND THAT WAS PART OF
THE CONVERSATION AT THE REVENUE
FORECAST MEETING THIS MORNING IS
THAT THE 150 -- NOW THE $140
MILLION HOLE THAT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED THIS YEAR IS WHAT IS
BURNING A HOLE IN MY RIGHT EYE.
I WAS GOING TO SAY THIS LATER IN
MY TALKING POINTS, BUT LET'S
JUST GET THIS LATER RIGHT NOW.
LAST YEAR WE CLOSED A $250
MILLION HOLE THROUGH
EFFICIENCIES, THROUGH SOME
RESTRUCTURING, THROUGH
REDUCTIONS, THROUGH LAYING
PEOPLE OFF AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
2008.
THESE WERE NOT SMALL CHOICES.
THESE WERE LARGE DECISIONS TO BE
MADE.
AND AS SOON AS WE FINISHED THAT
EXERCISE, WE WERE HIT AGAIN WITH
WORSE NEWS IN APRIL.
TODAY WE DID RECEIVE BETTER
NEWS, BUT WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE
WOODS YET.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE MORE
EFFICIENCIES AND MORE PROGRAMS
TO REDUCE WITHOUT MAKING THAT
DIRECT IMPACT TO OUR SMALLEST
BUSINESSES, ON THE PEOPLE WHO
NEED OUR HELP TO REMAIN IN
POSITION WITHOUT LOSING GROUND
IN SOCIETY.
AND SO, YES, THIS WOULD RAISE
ABOUT $80 MILLION NOW FOR THINGS
LIKE FOOD BANKS, GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
THOSE SAME TYPES OF SERVICES
UNDER ATTACK FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND AT THE SAME TIME
IT WOULD REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE
B&O TAX FROM 90% OF BUSINESSES
IN SEATTLE, THE SMALL AND MEDIUM
SIZED BUSINESSES.
ULTIMATELY, WE'RE NOT HERE
VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO
ENACT THIS PLAN.
COUNCIL IS DECIDING ON WHETHER
OR NOT TO GIVE VOTERS THE CHANCE
TO DECIDE WHAT THEY THINK IN
NOVEMBER, AND I DO BELIEVE WE
OWE THEM THAT CHOICE.
WITHOUT THIS PLAN -- AND
ACTUALLY I SEE THAT DIRECTOR
EDER HAS NOW LEFT, BUT IT REALLY
IS THIS PLUS THE OTHER SMART
BUDGETING PRACTICES THAT HAVE
BEEN IN WORKS FOR MONTHS AND
GNAT ARE STILL IN WORK TODAY.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT A VERY
DIFFICULT BUDGET SEASON COMING
UP.
$150 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS OR
REDUCTIONS AMOUNTS TO PEOPLE'S
LIVES.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE -- I
GUESS, AGAIN, HOW DO WE FIND
OURSELVES HERE?
WE FOUND OURSELVES HERE LAST
YEAR AFTER A DECADE OF HIGH
GROWTH AND LOW INFLATION.
WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE PROPERTY TAX
PLUS CONSTRUCTION, SO ANYTHING
THAT'S IN CONSTRUCTION WE'RE
ABLE TO RECEIVE.
BUT OUR PROPERTY TAX IS CAPPED
AT 1%.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR WERE WILLING TO GIVE US
ANY FLEXIBILITY WITH THAT AS
WELL AS THE STATE CUT OUR
FUNDING TO THE CAMP THAT'S BEEN
EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN GETTING
PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO
STABLE HOUSING.
WHEN WE'RE CAPPED AT 1% PER YEAR
PLUS INSTRUCTION AND THEN WE SEE
6 TO 7% INFLATION LIKE WE'VE
SEEN IN RECENT YEARS, ON TOP OF
GROWTH SLOWING AFTER WE WERE THE
FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE
NATION FOR TOO MANY YEARS ON
SOME ACCOUNTS, WE FIND OURSELVES
IN THIS UNSUSTAINABLE BUDGET
SITUATION, WHICH WE TOOK GREAT
ACTION.
AND COLLEAGUES, I DO THINK THAT
WE SHOULD ALL NOT PAT OURSELVES
ON BACK, BUT BE PROUD OF THE
WORK WE DID LAST YEAR.
THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
WE DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF SAVING
MONEY, CREATING EFFICIENCIES
WHERE WE COULD, AND THEN WE WERE
FACED WITH WHAT WE HAVE THIS
YEAR.
AND ULTIMATELY, WE NEED
PROGRESSIVE TAXATION REFORM AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
AND WHILE WE CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR THAT, WHAT WE'RE
SAYING HERE TODAY IS THAT
SEATTLE CAN'T WAIT TO STOP
INVESTING IN SERVICES THAT MAKE
OUR CITY SAFER AND MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR WORKING FAMILIES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE ALREADY
CUTTING THE FUNDING FOR THOSE
PROGRAMS THAT SEATTLEITES RELY
ON.
SO I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK
AND RIVERA AS WELL AS THE BUDGET
CHAIR.
I HAVE BEEN INTIMATELY AWARE HOW
MUCH EFFORT YOU HAVE BEEN
PUTTING INTO THIS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO I WILL -- I'LL PROVIDE SOME
COMMENTS AND THEN PASS IT ONTO
THE SPONSOR.
SO I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT I
VOTED FOR THIS LAST -- IN CASE
YOU'VE FORGOTTEN BECAUSE A LOT
HAS HAPPENED, I VOTED FOR THIS
BILL LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF THE
VERY IMMEDIATE BENEFITS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES OF RAISING THE -- THE
B AND O TAX THRESHOLD FROM
$100,000 TO $2 MILLION AND ALSO
PROVIDING A DEDUCTION.
ON THE FORMER THERE HAVE BEEN
ARGUMENTS FOR A LONG TIME
INCLOUDING FROM OED AND I
EXPLORED THIS A LONG TIME AGO.
I VERY MUCH WANT -- THIS SHOULD
HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO
BECAUSE $100,000 THRESHOLD OF
GROSS RECEIPTS IS VERY, VERY
LOW, AND SO WE HAVE TO DO OUR
BEST TO HELP OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
SO FULL OF PLUGS FOR THAT.
AND I AM GOING TO VOTE TODAY TO
THE BALLOT.
AND THE FIRST IS ABOUT TIMING.
I HAVE THREE CONCERNS.
THE FIRST IS ABOUT TIMING AND I
MENTIONED THIS LAST WEEK.
THIS WAS A RUSHED PROCESS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COMPLETELY
RESTRUCTURING THE WAY WE CHARGE
B AND O TAXES WHICH MAKES UP
ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR GENERAL
FUND REVENUE AND COULD HAVE
PRETTY PROFOUND IMPACTS ON OUR
ECONOMY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ALWAYS THINKING
ABOUT IS JOBS.
AND THIS HAS LIMITED THE -- AND
THIS IS ALL GOING ON RIGHT WHEN
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE -- YOU
KNOW, DELIBERATE ON THE COMP
PLAN.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.
AND WE HAD A COUNCIL VACANCY AND
EVERYTHING ELSE MOVING THROUGH
THE BUDGET, THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE
LEGISLATION WE'RE TRYING TO WRAP
UP IN OUR INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES
BEFORE RECESS AND BUDGET.
SO THIS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE IT HAS IMPACTED OR
MINIMIZED THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE
CAN DO OUTREACH TO OUR -- TO THE
PEOPLE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED.
THE NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES OF
ALL SIZES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED
BY SOME OF THESE CHANGES IN
POSITIVE AND POTENTIALLY
NEGATIVE WAYS, AND THAT'S JUST I
FEEL IRRESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE DO
HAVE TO DO THIS WORK.
SO I WILL JUST -- I TRIED TO DO
AS MUCH OUTREACH AS I COULD.
I DID REFERENCE SOME OF THE
POSITIONS OF SMALL BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS.
BUT FOR SOMETHING THIS CRITICAL,
WE REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE GET IT RIGHT AND MINIMIZE THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
SO THE SECOND POINT I HAVE OR
THE SECOND CONCERN HAS TO DO
WITH PRECISELY UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
BECAUSE, AS I'VE SAID, WHILE 90%
OF SMALL BUSINESSES WILL PAY NO
OR REDUCED B AND O TAXES, THEY
ARE PART OF A LARGER ECOSYSTEM,
AND I'VE SAID BEFORE THEY ARE
NOT -- THEY'RE NOT SO
SHORTSIGHTED AS TO THINK ABOUT
ONLY THE -- I MEAN THE HUNDREDS
OR COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT
THEY WILL BE SAVING THEMSELVES.
AND THEY ARE ALSO THINKING
ABOUT, WELL, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO
THE BROADER ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM
OF WHICH THEY ARE A PART.
AND SO -- AND THIS WAS ECHOED
TODAY ACTUALLY IN COMMENTS IN
THE FORECAST MEETING BY THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND REVENUE
FORECAST DIRECTOR JOHN DURASS
THAT SAID A LOT OF THESE RATE
INCREASES WILL DEPEND ON THE
BEHAVIOR OF LARGE IN RESPONSE TO
RATE INCREASES.
HE SAID THAT A COUPLE DIFFERENT
TIMES AND GAVE EXAMPLES.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
BUSINESSES -- THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT COULD LOSE
CLIENTS BECAUSE THE LARGE
BUSINESSES DECIDE TO SORT OF
TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS IN RESPONSE
TO THE INCREASE THEY'LL PAY IN B
AND O.
THE IMPACTS TO THE BARS,
RESTAURANTS, BARBERSHOPS, THAT
COULD LOSE CUSTOMERS IF THOSE
BUSINESSES MOVE OUT OF TOWN OR
JUST, YOU KNOW, STOP OPERATIONS
ALL TOGETHER.
AND THESE ARE THE SORTS OF
THINGS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES
THINK ABOUT ALL THE TIME.
THEY DON'T JUST THINK ABOUT
THEIR OWN POCKETBOOK.
SO WE HAVE TO REALLY DO CONSIDER
THIS.
WE RECEIVED AN E-MAIL LAST WEEK
THAT HAD THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY
OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND IN THE SURVEY 60% OF THE 70
RESPONSES REPORTED REVENUE BELOW
2.5 MILLION OR 2 MILLION OF
GROSS REVEL NEW.
AND OF THESE BUSINESSES -- YOU
CAN LOOK THIS UP IN YOUR
E-MAIL -- ONLY 21% SUPPORT THE
CHANGE IN THE REPORTS.
24% ABOVE 2.5 GROSS REVENUE SAY
IT WILL HELP, AND 59% SAY IT
WILL HURT.
AND SO IT JUST GOES ONTO SAY
BUSINESSES DON'T WANT TO TRADE
SLIGHTLY LOWER FEES FOR
DRAMATICALLY LESS BUSINESS.
AND THE CITY'S BUSINESS AND TAX
BASE IS -- THEY FEAR THE TAX
BASE SHRINKING AND NEW
BUSINESSES FILING FOR -- FILING
IN SEATTLE FELL FROM ABOUT
13,300 PER YEAR BETWEEN 2012 AND
2019 TO JUST 7,700 IN THE
FOLLOWING YEARS.
AND THAT IS A 42% DROP.
SO WE DO HAVE TO TAKE THAT
SERIOUSLY.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THOSE
BUSINESSES LICENSES WEREN'T
RENEWED.
BUT WE, OF COURSE, DON'T WANT TO
LOSE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES IN TOWN.
ANYWAY, SO THAT'S THE SECOND
POINT I WANTED TO BRING UP.
AND THEN THIRD CONCERN IS THE
IMPACT TO OUR OVERALL ECONOMY,
WHICH IS VERY CLOSELY RELATEDCH
AND IN A JUNE 26 MEMO FROM THE
DIRECTOR ON THE RISK OF THE B
AND O TASK RESTRUCTURE ON
SEATTLE'S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, HE
SAID THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER
BUSINESS TAX INCREASE IN A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME INCLUDING THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX IN 2021.
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX RATES
INCREASED IN 2024.
THE NEW SOCIAL HOUSING TAX
STARTING IN 2025.
TAX INCREASE IN 2025 DUE TO
SENATE BILL 5814, WHICH YOU
MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES THIS
MORNING.
AND FINALLY THE PROPOSED CHANGE
IN BUSINESS TAX IN 2026.
SO HE'S LOOKING AT THE IMPACTED
AGRUGET OF MANY TAXES ON THE
SORT OF ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND HOW
SEATTLE IS PERCEIVED BY -- BY
BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE
THINKING ABOUT MOVING HERE.
AND LIKE -- LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, I FULLY BELIEVE WE DO
NEED TO ADDRESS OUR AGGRESSIVE
TAX STRUCTURE.
IN FACT, I VOLUNTEERED FOR THE
STATEWIDE TAX A COUPLE YEARS
AGO.
I RECOGNIZE I'M JUST CONCERNED
ABOUT ISOLATING SEATTLE WHEN ALL
THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND
US ARE DOING SOMETHING ELSE
BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT
TO UNDERMINE OUR
COMPETITIVENESS, AND THAT'S SORT
OF ALWAYS ON MY MIND.
ANYWAY, HE GOES -- AND HE DID
NOTE THAT THE B AND O TAX RATES
IN SEATTLE ARE ALREADY MUCH
HIGHER THAN IN THE SURROUNDING
CITIES, AND HE KEPT REFERRING TO
THIS CHART, WHICH HAS BEEN IN
OUR CENTRAL DRAFT CHART MEMO AND
IN THE MEMO THIS MORNING OF THE
ECONOMIC FORECAST.
AND IT REALLY DOES -- THIS IS
THE LINE -- THE TOP RED LINE IS
OUR B AND O TAX RATE AND THE
LIGHTER LINE FOLLOWING THAT
WOULD BE THE TAX READ, YOU KNOW,
WHEN HOPEFULLY THE VOTERS
APPROVE THIS.
AND SO WE DO HAVE TO KEEP IN
MIND, AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT OUR
COMPETITIVENESS.
SO HE CONCLUDES IT'S DIFFICULT
TO PREDICT HOW LARGE BUSINESSES
WILL REACT TO THE CUMULATIVE
IMPACT OF ALL THESE INCREASES IN
TAX BURDEN, BUT SEVERAL LARGE
EMPLOYERS HAVE RECENTLY MOVED
SEVERAL LARGE JOBS OUT OF
SEATTLE TO SURROUNDING CITIES.
I BELIEVE WHAT COMES TO MIND IS
THE QUIET QUITTING OF AMAZON
MOVING OVER 10,000 WORKERS
ACROSS TO BELLEVUE.
THAT'S ABOUT JOBS.
THAT'S ABOUT OUR JOBS, OUR
WORKERS, AND ALSO ABOUT OUR TAX
BASE.
AND A LARGE B AND O TAX INCREASE
COULD POTENTIALLY EXACERBATE
THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WOULD THEN
LEAD TO DOWN STREAM EFFECTS,
LOWER JOB AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN
THE LOCAL ECONOMY AS WELL AS
LOWER B AND O TAX PAYROLL AND
EXPENSE TAX IN THE NEXT SEVERAL
YEARS BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS TO
LARGER BUSINESSES COULD THEN
IMPACT OUR TAX BASE.
THIS IS ALL SAYING EVERYTHING IS
CONNECTED IN OUR ECONOMY
OBVIOUSLY, AND SO WE DO HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT ALL OF THESE IMPACTS
OF MAKING THIS CHANGE ESPECIALLY
WITHOUT PERHAPS HAVING TIME
FOR -- AS INDIVIDUALS TO ASK
REALLY WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT BESIDES SMALL BUSINESSES
IT IS GREAT THEY WILL HAVE A B
AND O TAX EXEMPTION OR
REDUCTION, WHICH IS AGAIN WHY
I'M SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION
AND WHY I WILL VOTE TO SEND THIS
TO THE VOTERS.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'M
RAISING MY HAND.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANT TO NOTE THERE WAS
A NOTE THIS PROCESS WAS RUSHED.
WE HAD THIS IN COMMITTEE THREE
TIMES.
I ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER
COMMITTEE MEETING ON FRIDAY,
JULY 25th AND COUNCILMEMBERS LET
ME KNOW THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
WE ALSO TRIED FOR NOVEMBER JULY
23rd, AND QUORUM WAS NOT REACHED
IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE
RECORD WHILE I CAN'T CONTROL THE
INTRODUCTION OF THIS, I PUT THAT
WE HAD MORE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
THAN MANY OTHER HIGHLY
CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT HAVE
COME BEFORE US RECENTLY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I DO HAVE TO RESPOND.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAS DROPPED
IN OUR LAPS WHILE WE'RE TRYING
TO DO THESE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT
THINGS.
BUT WE ARE FACED WITH A DEADLINE
OF TOMORROW TO SEND THIS TO THE
COUNTY.
AND WHILE YOU SAY THAT WE'VE HAD
SEVERAL MEETINGS, THE FIRST WAS
WE HAD A DISCUSSION IN YOUR
COMMITTEE -- I THINK IT WAS YOUR
FINANCE COMMITTEE BEFORE I HAD
EVEN REFERRED LEGISLATION
BECAUSE WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE
LEGISLATION.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT FIRST
DISCUSSION COUNTING AS -- AS
REALITY, I WOULD SAY WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT A CONCEPT, AND I
ALWAYS WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW,
THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAD A
SECOND COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH
WAS LAST WEEK.
I CAN'T REMEMBER.
IT WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BUT WE
WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT A LOT --
THIS IS QUITE DENSE AND THERE
WERE OTHER THINGS ON THE AGENDA,
SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEND A
HECK OF A LOT OF TIME IN GETTING
INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY.
AND THEN AGAIN I WOULD SAY OUR
CENTRAL STAFF IS REALLY BUSY
DOING A LOT ON COMP PLAN, AND WE
ALL HAVE THINGS THAT WE'RE
PRAPING UP IN COMMITTEE, SO I
GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO AGREE TO
DISAGREE THIS WAS RUSHED.
I PERSONALLY DON'T FEEL I WAS --
THAT I COULD DO MY DUE DILIGENCE
OR WHAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO
HAVE DONE WHEN EXPLORING A MAJOR
RESTRUCTURING OF A TAX THAT
PROVIDES 30% OF OUR REV FEW.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
I WOULD LIKE TO THEN PROVIDE
CLOSING COMMENTS TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND COLLEAGUES, I'VE ALREADY
THANKED YOU.
OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, CBO, OERF, AND I THANK
YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR WORDS AND
YOUR EFFORTS ON THIS LEGISLATION
BECAUSE TOGETHER WE'VE GOTTEN
THIS LEGISLATION TO A GREAT
PLACE.
AND WHAT'S PUT TOGETHER WILL NOW
BRINGEN AN ANTICIPATED $80
MILLION FOR CRITICAL SERVICES.
AND I WANT TO USE THIS TIME TO
GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF ESPECIALLY TOM AND
THE GENERAL NOBLE FOR THE
COUNTLESS HOURS THEY PUT IN TO
SUPPORT ALL OF US IN CRAFTING
AND FINE TUNING THIS BILL.
YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS WORK IS
INSPIRATIONAL AND I'M VERY
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VERY BIG
BRAINS AND HEARTS.
WE TRULY COULD NOT DO THIS WORK
WITHOUT YOU.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE MANY
UNION SERVICE PROVIDERS, UNION
PARTNERS AND SMALL BUSINESS
LEADERS TO SPENT TIME WITH MY
OFFICE TO WORKSHOP THIS PROPOSAL
AND CHAMPION IT.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR
HOSTING ROUND TABLES WITH
PROVIDERS, DOING WORKSHOPING,
REFINING IN RESPONSE TO
FEEDBACK.
THE HOURS SPENT CANVASSING
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT GOING
DOOR-TO-DOOR WENT INTO THIS
BUSINESS TODAY.
SO TIM, KENNY, RACHEL, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR HARD WORK, AND I HOPE
SEATTLE THANKS YOU, TOO.
COLLECTIVELY WITH A VOTE FOR
THIS WE'LL HAVE SHOWN THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CAN STEP UP WHEN
FEDERAL LEADERSHIP STEPS BACK.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW
THAT SEATTLE REMAINS A CITY THAT
CHOOSES COLLABORATION OVER
DIVISION, THAT INVESTS IN EACH
OTHER, AND THAT BUILDS A FUTURE
WE ALL DESERVE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE GIVE
SEATTLE VOTERS THE CHOICE THEY
DESERVE, THEY WILL CHOOSE TO
SHIELD OUR CITY AND PROTECT WHAT
MATTERS MOST.
THANK YOU.
>> LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE
OTHER COMMENTS.
OKAY, NO.
WITH THAT, SEEING NO OTHER
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE AMENDED
LEGISLATION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVER MAUCH.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES.
WILL THE CLERK SIGN IT, AND
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE DO WITH
ALL LEGISLATION, BUT THE BALLOT
TITLE IS IN THE LEGISLATION.
IT'S IN SECTION 7, YES, AND THE
WORK WILL NOW BE DONE TO -- TO
GO AHEAD AND MAKE EVERYTHING
SHIPSHAPE SO THAT IT CAN BE SENT
TO THE COUNTY IN TIME.
OKAY.
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT IS THERE
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS.
OKAY, THERE'S NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL, SO WE'VE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S A.
IT IS 3:28.
AND THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL WILL
MEET TOMORROW, AUGUST 5th, AT
2:00 P.M.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE
ARE ADJOURNED.