>>> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THE OCTOBER 14, 2025
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS 2:04 P.M. I'M SARA NELSON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL
RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS
TWO PROCLAMATIONS FOR
PRESENTATION AND SIGNATURE
TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL
SHARE COMMENTS ON THE
PROCLAMATION, AND THEN I'LL
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS. AFTER COUNCIL
MEMBERS HAVE MADE THEIR
COMMENTS, THE ROLL WILL BE
CALLED TO AFFIX SIGNATURES TO
BOTH PROCLAMATIONS, AND THEN WE
WILL SUSPEND THE RULES TO
PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION TO OUR
GUEST AND ALLOW OUR GUEST TO
PROVIDE BRIEF COMMENTS BACK.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THE PROCLAMATION, PROCLAIMING
OCTOBER 2025 AS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE TWO
PROCLAMATIONS, AND WE HAVE TWO
GUESTS, SO I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY
GO OVER THEM, AND THEN I KNOW MY
COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE QUESTIONS
LATER AFTER THE PRESENTATION TO
OPEN UP THE FLOOR. SO THE FIRST
PROCLAMATION IS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN
SEATTLE. THAT IS GOING TO BE
PRESENTED BY JUDITH. JUDITH,
I'M GOING TO GET YOUR NAME
WRONG. WHERE ARE YOU? I SAID IT
WRONG, DIDN'T I? I KNEW I DID.
JUST LET ME GO WITH JUDITH.
JUDITH IS FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. BUT JUST AS A GENERAL
ONE, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE AFTER
THIS. I'M GOING TO READ THE
FIRST SECTION, AND THEN TELL YOU
A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THIS IS.
OUR PRESENTERS CAN SHARE MORE.
WHEREAS THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH WAS
FIRST ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER,
1987, TO FOSTER DIALOGUE,
STRENGTHEN SURVIVOR'S
PROTECTIONS, EDUCATE LEADERS,
AND ENCOURAGE PUBLIC ACTION
AGAINST ABUSE. AND I'M GOING TO
LET OUR PRESENTERS GO MORE IN
DEPTH. BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE
WERE DOING THIS A LONG TIME AGO.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A CITY,
IN THE END IN THE WHEREAS, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS HOSTING A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVENT AT CITY
HALL ON OCTOBER 28 FROM 1 11:00
TO 2:00 TO HONOR ADVOCATES, CASE
MANAGERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND
SURVIVORS WHO CULTIVATE HOPE AND
HEALING FOR GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE. WHEREAS THIS OCTOBER,
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RECOGNIZES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 AS PURPLE
THURSDAY, A DAY OF ACTION, TO
HONOR SURVIVORS, RAISE
AWARENESS, AND RENEW OUR PLEDGE
TO EDGING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I
HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE
SECOND PROCLAMATION. AND I KNOW
I'M GOING TO GET THIS NAME
WRONG TOO. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO HELP ME OUT. THE SECOND
PROCLAMATION IS A LITTLE MORE
INTENTIONAL IN DEALING WITH AND
DISCUSSING AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTING
OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION. AND IT
STARTS OUT AS WHEREAS SEATTLE IS
STRENGTHENED BY ITS DIVERSE
IMMIGRANT IN REFUGEE COMMUNITIES
WHOSE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS ENRICH
THE LIVES OF OUR CITY. IT
BASICALLY GOES IN TO THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GENDER
BASED VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS IN
THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFTEN
SILENT, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS,
AND I'LL LET, AGAIN, OUR GUESTS
GO INTO THAT. SO THEREFORE THE
MAYOR IS GOING TO DECLARE, AS
WELL AS SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
MONTH IS THIS MONTH IN SEATTLE.
AGAIN, IT STATES AND ENDS WITH
RECOGNITION OF THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ON
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING WOMEN,
LGBTQ+, AND GENDER DIVERSE
SURVIVORS IN SEATTLE. WE URGE
ALL RESIDENTS TO STAND WITH
SURVIVORS, RAISE AWARENESS, AND
HELP BUILD A FUTURE FREE OF
VIOLENCE AND FEAR. WITH THAT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO
HAND IT BACK TO YOU, AND THEN
I'LL HAVE SOME CLOSING
COMMENTS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THIS PRESENTATION. I'LL NOW
OPEN THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS?
JUST A SECOND HERE. JUST RAISE
YOUR HAND TO GET MY ATTENTION AS
I PULL THIS UP. ALL RIGHT, GO
AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
JUST A NOTE OF APPRECIATION TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR
CONTINUING TO HOLD THIS MANTLE
UP. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO'S RECEIVING THE
PROCLAMATIONS FOR THE IMPORTANT
WORK YOU DO ON BEHALF OF
SEATTLE. NOT GOING TO GO INTO
DETAILS HERE, BUT WE RELY ON YOU
IN SO MANY WAYS THAN YOU KNOW,
SO THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I ALSO
SUPPORT THIS. WITH THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PREVENTION COUNCIL, THE
WORK OF, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE
CHIEF, THE DIRECTOR OF HSD, THE
CITY ATTORNEY, AND US HERE ON
THE COUNCIL DOES A LOT OF WORK
IN THIS AREA. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND WE NEED TO ENSURE
WE HAVE THESE BASES COVERED, AND
TO REALLY -- A PART OF THAT IS
REALLY RAISING AWARENESS, SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
IN SOMETHING WE CAN BUILD ON.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I WILL ALSO EXTEND -- OH,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I TOO WANT TO EXTEND MY
GRATITUDE TO OUR COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOR
BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION
FORWARD. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE WHAT MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY -- COMMUNITIES DEAL
WITH. I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO
TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE
VARIOUS ISSUES AND STRUGGLES
THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING
IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SUPPORT, A
VOICE OF SUPPORT AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS CERTAINLY AMONG
THOSE THINGS WE NEED TO SPEAK
OUT LOUDLY AGAINST AND SUPPORT
OF THE VICTIMS. SO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'M SO
HAPPY TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO THIS
PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING
ANYTHING ELSE. I'LL ADD MY
VOICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SUPPORT
AND THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE DOING
THE WORK OUT THERE BECAUSE I
OFTEN THINK OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
OR GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AS A
GATEWAY CRIME. AS A GATEWAY
ISSUE THAT LEADS TO SO MANY OF
SOCIETY'S ILLS. HOMELESSNESS
WHEN FLEEING VIOLENCE IN THE
HOME. LOSS OF JOB, LOSS OF
CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY GET
SOMETIMES SEPARATED FROM
PARENTS. IT CAN LEAD ALSO TO
VIOLENCE, PERPETUATED WITHIN THE
FAMILY UNIT. AND SO BY
ADDRESSING IT UPSTREAM, WE
REALLY DO -- WE ARE ALSO
PREVENTING FURTHER HARM
DOWNSTREAM. I ALSO HAVE TO NOTE
THAT WHEN WE KNOW THAT WHEN
LOOKING INTO THE HISTORY OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN
SOMETIMES QUITE SERIOUS PUBLIC
SHOOTINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND
OTHER CRIMES. OFTENTIMES IT'S
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THEIR
HISTORY. SO IT'S AN INDICATOR
AS WELL AS SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I
THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION AND
INVESTMENT ON THIS ISSUE, SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
>> DID YOU WANT ME TO --
>> GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
>> IF NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO MAKE
ANY COMMENTS, I'D HAVE TO DO IT
--
>> SORRY, I WAS GOING TO WAIT TO
DO THE CLOSING.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY, GREAT. I JUST WANT TO
ADD A FEW OTHER ITEMS IN. THANK
MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING
SUPPORTIVE HERE TODAY. THANK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR BRINGING THE
FIRST PROCLAMATION, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND
THANK THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD TO PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES. WE ALL KNOW THAT
YOU CAN JUDGE A SOCIETY BY THE
WAY THEY TREAT THEIR WOMEN AND
CHILDREN. LAWS AND POLICIES AND
PROTECTIONS. THAT ISN'T JUST
THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT'S
GLOBALLY. I THINK I READ A
UNITED NATION'S CHARTER ISSUE
ABOUT THAT. I'M NOT, YOU KNOW,
THROWING SHADE ON OTHER
COUNTRIES, BUT I THINK WE CAN
ALL AGREE THAT HOW A SOCIETY
TREATS ITS WOMEN AND CHILDREN
AND AFFORDS LAWS AND PROTECTIONS
IS REALLY A MEASURE ABOUT ISM. I
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY THIS,
BUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS OR HUMAN
RIGHTS, AND I DIDN'T COIN THAT
ISSUE. HILLARY CLINTON DID, BUT
I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT, AND I'M
GLAD YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD
TODAY. I HAVE A QUICK FEW FACTS
I WANTED TO SHARE BECAUSE WE
KNEW WE WERE GOING TO DO THESE
TWO PROCLAMATIONS FOR YOUR
GROUP. FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
WE HAVE OVER 35 PARTNERS SERVING
MORE THAN 10,000 SURVIVORS AND
THEIR FAMILIES. THIS IS FOR
PARTICULARLY FOR INDIAN COUNTRY.
WE HAVE THE GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE PROGRAMMING, HELPING
INDIVIDUALS FLEEING IT IN THOSE
SORTS OF SURVIVORS THAT ARE
RECOVERING. I WANT TO THANK THIS
COUNCIL AND PRIOR COUNCILS FOR
FUNDING THAT EVERY YEAR. WE ALSO
KNOW DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AWARDED $8 MILLION TO COMBAT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SEPTEMBER
-- THIS IS SEPTEMBER 2024. THIS
IS WHERE WE DID -- THIS CITY, WE
WENT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. ON THE
CITY'S BEHALF TO ADVOCATE FOR
THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S
ACT. AND IT HAS TO BE RENEWED
EVERY FOUR YEARS. THAT WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT NATIONALLY TO
DO. IT WAS ORIGINALLY ENACTED IN
1994. WE WENT BACK TO MAKE SURE
IT WAS REAUTHORIZED FOUR YEARS
LATER, AND IT WAS REAUTHORIZED
IN 2022, AND IT WILL EXPIRE
AGAIN IN 2027. SO AGAIN, WE WILL
BE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. I WON'T
BE HERE, BUT I'M SURE ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES WILL, TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE DO GET
FUNDING FOR THAT. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, IT KEEPS WOMEN,
CHILDREN, AND THE ISSUE OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE
FOREFRONT. AND I THINK THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. AND SO WITH
THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
GUYS FOR COMING, GETTING US THE
PROCLAMATION, AND PARTICULARLY
THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NO FURTHER COMMENTS. LET'S GO
AHEAD AND SUSPEND THE RULE. IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION -- WELL,
FIRST OF ALL, LET'S TAKE THE
VOTE FOR THE SIGNATURES, AND
THEN WE'LL SUSPEND THE RULES
FOR OUR GUEST TO SPEAK. OKAY.
SEEING THERE'S NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION ON THE PROCLAMATION,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH COUNCIL
MEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATIONS, PROCLAIMING
OCTOBER 2025 AS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN
SEATTLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. OKAY. NOW IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO PRESENT THE
PROCLAMATION AND ALLOW OUR GUEST
TO ACCEPT IT AND PROVIDE
REMARKS.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED. THE
PROCLAMATION WILL NOW BE
PRESENTED. AFTER IT'S PRESENTED,
JUDITH WHOSE NAME I'M GOING TO
MISS PRONOUNCE, FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND
NASIM FROM THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE SOME
BRIEF REMARKS AS WELL. PICTURES.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS JUDITH, AND I'M WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT,
WHICH IS PART OF THE SEATTLE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I
JUST WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR PUSHING
THIS PROCLAMATION, AND REALLY
SHEDDING LIGHT INTO THIS ISSUE
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE FOR HIS WORK AS A COCHAIR
FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
PREVENTION COUNCIL. SO OCTOBER
MARKS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AWARENESS MONTH. A TIME TO
REAFFIRM OUR COLLECTIVE
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE
MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. DV
AFFECTS MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CUTTING
ACROSS EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC AND
EVERY COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT ONLY
A PERSONAL TRAGEDY, BUT A PUBLIC
ISSUE THAT DEMANDS ACTION AT
EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. AS
POLICYMAKERS AND PUBLIC
SERVANTS, WE MUST ENSURE THAT
SURVIVORS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE
HOUSING, LEGAL PROTECTION,
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND
JUSTICE. WE ALSO -- WE MUST ALSO
INVEST IN PREVENTION THROUGH
EDUCATION, EARLY INTERVENTION,
SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. LET US NOT ONLY
RAISE AWARENESS, BUT COMMIT TO
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. SAFETY IS
NOT A PRIVILEGE, IT IS A BASIC
RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THE WHOLE
COUNCIL. IS THIS WORKING?
PERFECT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
NASIM. I'M ONE OF THE
COMMISSIONERS WITH THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION AS PART OF
SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I'M ABSOLUTELY HONORED TO BE
HERE WITH SOME OF MY AMAZING
FELLOW CO-COMMISSIONERS HERE,
BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO
ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF THE GENDER
BASED VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ON IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES. WHILE THE DATA IS
ALREADY STAGGERING FOR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES,
ONE EVERY FOUR WOMEN AND ONE IN
EVERY NINE MEN HAS EXPERIENCED
THIS VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME.
THE DAY IT COMES TO IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES CAN REACH UP TO 94%.
COUNCILMEMBERS, THE MEN AND
WOMEN YOU SEE EVERY DAY, MANY OF
THEM COME FROM THE COUNTRIES,
EITHER FROM BACKGROUNDS OR
DISPLACED BY WAR OR THEY ARE
REFUGEES. THEY HAVE EITHER
EXPERIENCED THESE VIOLENCE
FIRSTHAND, AND THEY CONTINUE TO
REMAIN VULNERABLE EVEN AFTER
MOVING HERE. THERE'S MULTIPLE
CULTURAL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT
THEM FROM SEEKING HELP OR
EXPRESSING THE TRAUMA THEY
SUFFERED FROM. TODAY, WE WANT TO
TELL THEM WE HEAR THEM, WE SEE
THEM, WE KNOW THEIR EXISTENCE,
AND WE RESPECT THEIR RESILIENCE.
WE KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD
FAMILIES AMONG US. WE ADMIRE
THEM. VIOLENCE IS NOT CULTURAL,
IT IS THE PRODUCT OF SYSTEMS
THAT TEACH DOMINATION INSTEAD OF
EQUALITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TO BRING
ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. HUGE
THANKS FOR RECOGNIZING THIS
BURDEN FOR THIS COMMUNITY. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE. WE WILL
NOW, COLLEAGUES, MOVE INTO THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL WORK
PROGRAM. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> YOU HAVE 13 REMOTE AND 16 IN
PERSON.
>> OKAY. EVERYONE WILL GET ONE
MINUTE. LET'S START WITH THE
IN-PERSON COMMENTERS. WE WILL GO
AHEAD AND DO -- LET'S JUST DO
THEM ALL IN PERSON AND THEN
REMOTE. IT'S EASIER.
>> OKAY.
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER OF WHICH THEY'RE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS' MICS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME, TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
DEAN. JODY, CAN YOU DO ME A
FAVOR? CAN YOU STOP SHARING YOUR
SCREEN, AND I WILL DO THE TIMER
IN HERE, SO WE CAN TIME THE
SPEAKER. THERE WE GO, SO WE CAN
SEE.
>> WE WILL DOUBLE THE TIME FOR
THIS?
>> YES.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WE ARE MOVING YOU UP FIRST.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> THE INTERPRETER CAN'T SEE.
>> THERE WE ARE.
>> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> CAN THE CAMERA BE MOVED SOME?
SO THAT I CAN SEE YOUR PRESENTER
BETTER.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO -- ALSO, I
HAVE REQUESTED I DO NEED TO HAVE
A TEAM ON THIS CALL WITH ME.
I'M SORRY I INTERRUPTED YOUR
MEETING TO SAY THAT.
>> DO WE NEED TO MAKE AN
ADDITIONAL REQUEST OR ARE YOU
DOING THAT ON YOUR END?
>> I CAN'T CALL -- YOU WOULD
NEED TO ADD THEM ON YOUR END.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
APPRECIATE YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'M READY FOR
YOU.
>> I AM A RECIPIENT OF MFT. AS
AN ADA ACCOMMODATION, I WILL
NEED MORE TIME AS MY FINGERS
DISLOCATE, AND I AM STILL
LEARNING ASL AFTER HAVING MY
VOICEBOX REMOVED AFTER A
PESTICIDE EXPOSURE UNTIL THE
HOTEL. THE WESTERN EXTERMINATOR
HIRED BY TONYA, WHO WOULD NOT
LET ME MASK, WHILE THEY SPRAYED
PESTICIDES IN MY UNITS INDOORS.
OUR BUILDING HAS HAD A ROACH AND
BEDBUG INFESTATION FOR OVER A
YEAR. I AM NOW A STAGE IV CANCER
PATIENT AS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
SAID, YOU CAN JUDGE A CITY AND
COMMUNITY BASED ON HOW YOU TREAT
ITS WOMEN. CHILDREN AND CANCER
PATIENTS. MFT WAS THE PROMISE IF
YOU BUILD THESE LUXURY
APARTMENTS THAT YOU, THE CITY,
WOULD MAKE SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE SEATTLE. PEOPLE LIKE ME
WHO WORKED IN SEATTLE BEFORE
CANCER AND WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A
POSITIVE BACKGROUND CHECK AND
MEET INCOME REQUIREMENTS. I WAS
ABLE TO MAKE THESE REQUIREMENTS.
BUT SO MANY GOOD TENANTS IN
SEATTLE CAN'T. AND NOW YOU'RE
TRYING TO UP THESE REQUIREMENTS
THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY EVEN MORE
APPLICANTS THAT WOULD BE GREAT
TENANTS. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS
THAT MFT UNITS COST TOO MUCH AND
COST TO CLIENTS NEED TO BE
LOWERED. MFT NEEDS TO ACCOUNT
FOR THE INSANE INFLATION THE
CITY FACES AS FAR AS FOOD COSTS,
AND LARGE-SCALED LAYOFFS, AND
THE GOVERNMENT FURLOUGHS AND
SHUTDOWN. IT NEEDS TO ACCOUNT
FOR THE FAMILIES SHELTERING IN
PLACE, DUE TO ILLEGAL
CONSTITUTIONALIZED RAIDS.
ACCORDING TO SEATTLE TIMES,
ABOUT 85% OF RENTERS IN THOSE
APARTMENTS WERE PAYING MORE THAN
30% OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT,
WHILE A QUARTER WERE PAYING MORE
THAN HALF THEIR INCOME,
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT. LAST
YEAR, THE CITY'S OFFICE OF
HOUSING PROPOSED THAT ELECTED
OFFICIALS LOWER RENT LIMITS IN
MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION UNITS FROM WHAT THEY
CURRENTLY ARE TO FIX THESE
ISSUES. DEVELOPERS PROTESTED,
SAYING THE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE
TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE WORTH THE
TAX EXEMPTION. SO THE CITY CAME
BACK WITH A NEW PLAN. THIS PLAN
ALREADY RULES OUT MANY SURVIVORS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FINANCIAL
ABUSE, WHO HAS THEIR CREDIT
RUINED BY AN ABUSIVE PARTNER.
YOU'RE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR
A STUDENT WITH ZERO CREDIT WHO
GOT KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME FOR
BEING GAY OR TRANS. YOU'RE
MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SENIOR
CANCER PATIENT WITH MEDICAL
DEBT. I WAS STILL GIVEN A UNIT
THAT I HAD TO BE MOVED FROM DUE
TO A HOLE IN THE CEILING THAT
ACCUMULATED MOLD. MFT ALSO ASKS
FOR PROVIDING A POSITIVE
CONSISTENT RENTAL HISTORY. THIS
MEANS THAT IF YOU EVER
COMPLAINED ABOUT ISSUES WITHIN
YOUR BUILDING LIKE MINE, YOU MAY
NOT BE APPROVED FOR HOUSING. IT
MAY BE A STANDARD ACROSS HOUSING
IT DISCOURAGES TENANTS FROM
BEING ABLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT
SAFETY ISSUES LIKE MINE. THERE
ARE GREAT TENANTS FOR THIS
PROGRAM, BUT THEY ARE RULED OUT
BEFORE THEY CAN APPLY. THEY
MIGHT BE VETERANS OR ON SSI, BUT
LANDLORDS VIOLATING FAIR HOUSING
LAW ARE ADVERTISING ABOUT MFT
UNITS AND SOCIAL WORKERS FOR
THESE COMMUNITIES AREN'T
INFORMED. SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
CURRENTLY WANT TO CHANGE --
>> THANK YOU.
>> BY GETTING RID OF CORNER
STORES, YOU GET RID OF MOM AND
POP BUSINESS THAT OFTEN ARE THE
ONLY STORES THAT TAKE EBT.
>> WHENEVER IT IS CONVENIENT
LIKE THEY DID ON BROADWAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THESE SMALL CORNER STORES
WILL STAY FOR DECADES. THEY
CREATE JOBS, FEED COMMUNITIES,
AND SUPPORT OTHER SMALL
BUSINESSES LIKE CONTRACTORS IN
THE CITY WHO EAT THERE. I AM
SAYING KEEP MFT, BUT YES, WE DO
NEED TO CHANGE IT. IT NEEDS MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO POOR PEOPLE --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU NEED
TO BE CLEAR, SO PEOPLE WHO COME
--
THANK YOU, YOU ARE WELCOME TO
SEND A PRINTED COPY TO COUNCIL
AFTER THE FACT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WHO IS NEXT, PLEASE?
>> WE'LL NOW GO TO PATRICK
FOLEY, THEN EMILY THOMPSON.
OH, JUST A SECOND.
>> PATRICK FOLEY. SEATTLE
DEVELOPMENT COMPANY THAT DOES
MOSTLY HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND
URBAN INFILL APARTMENT PROJECTS.
WE BUILD PROBABLY 3,600 UNITS
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR
COMPANY. MORE THAN 1,100 WHICH
ARE AFFORDABLE. WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO TAKE OR USE THE MULTI-FAMILY
TAX EXEMPTION IN LARGE PART TO
DELIVER THOSE PORTABLE UNITS. I
GUESS I'M HERE TO SPEAK. REAL
SIMPLE, THIS IS A MATH EQUATION.
PROGRAM SIX, AS IT IS, WE HAVE A
THOUSAND UNITS IN THE PIPELINE
FROM NORTHGATE TO THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT TO THE RAINIER VALLEY.
PROGRAM SIX, AS IS, WE WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE PROJECTS
FORWARD IF WE KEEP PROGRAM SIX
AS IS. THE ECONOMICS ARE SO
TIGHT. FINANCE ABILITY OF IT IS
SO TIGHT THAT IT JUST MAKES IT
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. SO IF
PROGRAM SIX, WE WON'T BE DOING
THOSE PROJECTS. IF PROPERTY
SEVEN HAPPENS, WE WILL, SO VERY
SIMPLE. I'D APPRECIATE YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THANKS.
>> HI, I'M EMILY THOMPSON, I'M
A LOCAL DEVELOPER FOCUSED ON
AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING
IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO
URGE YOU TO ADOPT PROGRAM SEVEN
TODAY. NOT VOTING NOW AFTER
ALMOST A YEAR OF WORK HAS GONE
INTO THIS IN FAVOR OF YET MORE
DISCUSSION IS PUTTING THE
SEATTLE PROCESS AHEAD OF
PROGRESS. I PERSONALLY DISAGREE
WE SHOULD LOWER THE AMI
TARGETING, AND TURN THIS TOOL
INTO ANOTHER LOW INCOME HOUSING
TOOL. I SAY THAT AS A LOW INCOME
HOUSING DEVELOPER. THIS IS THE
ONLY TOOL WE HAVE FOR MIDDLE
INCOME RENTERS. WE OWN AND
OPERATE A BUILDING THAT HAS
AFFORDABLE CITY SUBSIDIZED UNITS
AND MFT UNITS, AND THEY WORK IN
COMPLIMENT TO EACH OTHER. AS
PATRICK SAID, THE ECONOMIC
REALITY OF TODAY IS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN WHEN P6 WAS
PASSED IN 2018, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT P7 WORK AS AN
INCENTIVE, AND THE CHANGES TO
THE AMI LEVELS ADDRESS THAT.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE MFT PROPERTY
TAX EXEMPTION IS NOT MEANT TO BE
A ONE-FOR-ONE FINANCIAL
TRADE-OFF. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE
AN INCENTIVE. SO PLEASE REMEMBER
THAT, AND THE VALUE OF THE UNITS
THAT IT LEVERAGES. THANK YOU.
>>
>> HELLO. SEATTLE'S MFTE
PROGRAM ISN'T SERVING THE
WORKING PEOPLE. IT SUBSIDIZED
DEVELOPERS AND PERPETUATES LOW
WAGE CONSTRUCTION. ACCORDING TO
THE UNIVERSITY'S WASHINGTON
REPORT, NEARLY $80 MILLION IN
PROPERTY TAXES SHIFTED FROM MFT
DEVELOPERS ONTO EVERYONE ELSE.
THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO BUILD AND
MAINTAIN THE CITY ARE PAYING FOR
SOMEONE ELSE'S PROFIT MARGINS.
WHAT DO WE GET FROM THAT? MOSTLY
SMALL HIGH-END RENT UNITS,
WORKING FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD,
BUILT BY WORKERS, EARNING BELOW
THE STANDARD CITY WAGE. WHEN THE
CITY HANDS OUT 12 TO 24-YEAR TAX
EXEMPTION WITHOUT LABOR
STANDARDS, IT CREATES A SYSTEM
WHERE WAGES GETS SUPPRESSED,
APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES
DISAPPEAR, AND THE VERY WORKERS
BUILDING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO
HELP THEMSELVES. THE LOOP THAT
WE'RE STUCK IN. OUR ASK IS TO
KEEP MFT MOVING, BUT CONVENE
90-DAY STAKE HOLDER PROCESS,
WHERE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
CONTRACTORS IN THE CITY TO DRAFT
A RETURN WITH LABOR STANDARDS,
MINIMUM STAY THAT INCLUDES AREA
STANDARD OF PAY FOR CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS AND REGISTERED
APPRENTICES. IF PUBLISH
RESOURCES ARE BEING BUILT TO
HOUSING, THEY MUST ALSO BUILD
ECONOMIC STABILITY. THANK YOU.
>> AND THEN MATT?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
MATT DAVIES. I'VE BEEN BUILDING
HOUSING IN THIS CITY FOR YEARS.
MEASURINGS FT IS MARKETED AS
AFFORDABILITY. BUT ON THE JOB
SITE, IT'S TOO OFTEN CHEAP
LABOR AND EXPENSIVE LIVING.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON'S
ANALYSIS SHOWS THEY ARE COST
BURDEN. THAT'S A SYMPTOM OF
POLICY ARCHITECTURE THAT PUSHES
DOWN WAGES, WHILE CLAIMING
AFFORDABILITY ON PAPER.
MEANWHILE THE SAME DEVELOPERS
BENEFITING FROM TAX BREAKS,
HIGHER SUBS IT RATES FAR BELOW
AREA STANDARDS. PEOPLE BUILDING
THE UNITS CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO
LIVE IN THEM. THAT'S NOT
SUCCESS, THAT'S CIRCULAR
POVERTY. OUR CONSTRUCTIVE
PROPOSAL DON'T STALL THE
ORDINANCE AND PROVE IT.
COMMITMENT TO A THREE MONTH CITY
LED STAKEHOLDER TABLE THAT TIES
MFT TO PREVAILING WAGE AND
APPRENTICESHIP. MAKE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING MEAN AFFORDABLE TO LIVE
IN AND DIGNIFIED TO BUILD. THANK
YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MONA, AND
I'M A VERY PROUD FEMALE UNION
CARPENTER. FROM THE GROUND
LEVEL, MFTE PROJECTS ARE FRAMED
BY WORKING PEOPLE, TOO OFTEN
SUBSTANDARD WAGE CONDITIONS.
IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT. IT'S A
POLICY CHOICE. WHEN TAX
EXEMPTIONS ARE GRANTED WITHOUT
LABOR STANDARDS. LOW WAGES,
HOUSING AND SECURITY, MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUILT AGAIN
WITH LOW WAGES. NOT HOUSING
POLICY IS ECONOMIC CONTAINMENT.
WE CAN BRING THE LOOP WITHOUT
STOPPING THE PROGRESS. DIRECT OH
AND FAS TO CONVENE A 90-DAY
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS WITH LABOR,
RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS, AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERS TO
BRING BACK LABOR STANDARDS
AMENDMENT. PREVAILING WAGE, PLUS
APPRENTICESHIP UTILIZATION. FOR
MFTE PROJECTS, NO TAX BREAKS
WITHOUT FAIR WAGES. NO
AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUILT BY LOW
PAYING JOBS. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE MATT AND THEN
FOLLOWING MATT WILL BE DANIEL
GALLAGHER AND NORRIS COOPER.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MFTE IS SOLD AS A TRADE-OFF. TAX
BREAKS FOR AFFORDABILITY. BUT
ANALYSIS SHOWS ONLY A PART
REACHES TENANTS. THE REST BOOSTS
MARGINS. WHILE THEY CUT
WORKER'S PAY, WE ARE LOSING
TWICE. PUBLIC REVENUE OUT, TAKE
HOME PAY DOWN. WHEN THE CITY
EXTENDS WITHOUT LABOR STANDARDS,
THE PUBLIC ENDS UP SUBSIDIZING
BOTH SIDES OF THE PROGRAM. RENT
ASSISTANCE FOR TENANTS THAT MAKE
THE WORKERS NEED THAT
ASSISTANCE. YOU CAN CHANGE THAT
NOW AND KEEP PROJECTS MOVING.
AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE A
90-DAY STAKE HOLDER PROCESS TO
DRAFT LABOR STANDARD AMENDMENTS,
TIEING MFTE TO PREVAILING WAGE
AND REGISTER APPRENTICESHIP.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY SHOULD PRODUCE
GOODS, GOOD HOMES AND GOOD JOBS.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I'M
THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY,
ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE WORK
FORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY. I
ENCOURAGE YOU STRONGLY TO
APPROVE THE MFTE LEGISLATION AS
AMENDED IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, EVERYONE
IN THIS ROOM WANTS THE SAME
THING, AND THAT IS MORE HOUSING
BUILT AND MORE AFFORDABILITY IN
THAT HOUSES. MFTE CONTRIBUTES TO
THOSE THINGS. SUPPLY IS THE
ANSWER HERE. WE ARE ON SEVERE
HOUSING SHORTAGES IN THIS CITY.
CONSTRUCTION STARTS HAVE DROPPED
TO NEARLY ZERO. NEW PERMIT
APPLICATIONS HAVE DROPPED TO
NEARLY ZERO. VERY BAD THINGS FOR
AFFORDABILITY IN THE FUTURE.
MFTE IS NOT THE SOLUTION. WE
GRANT YOU THAT. BUT IT'S PART
OF THE SOLUTION. PLEASE, PLEASE
HELP US PROVIDE MORE SUPPLY OF
HOUSING IN OUR CITY, WHERE IT IS
NEEDED MOST AND FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO NEED IT THE MOST. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> WE HAVE NORRIS COOPER AND --
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT?
OKAY.
>> I NEED TO SEE YOUR
PRESENTERS, SO I CAN TELL YOU
WHAT SHE'S SAYING, PLEASE? JUST
A SECOND.
ALL RIGHT, THE INTERPRETER NEEDS
A TEAM SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE A
BREAK EVERY 15 MINUTES. YOU NEED
TO PROVIDE A TEAM FOR YOUR
INTERPRETER. WE ARE PROVIDING
THE REQUEST --
>> STANDBY, HERE COMES ANOTHER
ONE.
>> WE MADE TWO REQUESTS AT THIS
POINT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND WE
ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO
JOIN THE CURRENT INTERPRETER.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> INTERPRETER BRIAN IS BEING
PROMOTED NOW. INTERPRETER BRIAN,
PLEASE ACCEPT PROMOTION.
>> ALL RIGHT, PLEASE ALLOW YOUR
CURRENT INTERPRETER JUST A
MOMENT TO INFORM THE SECOND
INTERPRETER WHAT IS GOING ON. I
DO NOT SEE THEM THOUGH.
>> I'M HERE.
>> HI, BRIAN. ARE YOU ABLE TO
SEE HOST AND PANELIST CHAT?
>> ONE MOMENT. YES.
>> ONE MOMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'LL LET YOU GO
AND TAKE OVER.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY, WE HAVE AN INTERPRETER,
SO WE WILL CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT. I BELIEVE WE LEFT OFF
ON DANIEL. NOW WE HAVE NORRIS
COOPER, IS THAT CORRECT? AFTER
NORRIS.
>> HELLO, NORRIS COOPER HERE.
WORK FOR HOLLAND PARTNER GROUP,
MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPER HERE IN
THE SEATTLE REGION. I'M HERE IN
SUPPORT OF PROGRAM SEVEN, TRYING
TO GET SOME OF OUR PROJECTS
STARTED. IT IS ONE OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT IS AN INCENTIVE
THAT IS A TOOL WE ARE ABLE TO
LEVERAGE IF THE FINANCIALS WORK
TO PRODUCE MORE HOUSING. WE'RE
AT A TIME WHERE WE ARE BATTLING
TARIFFS AND INTEREST RATES,
ESCALATING CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
AND SEATTLE REGION AS A WHOLE,
AS A STATE HAS LOST OVER 11,000
CONSTRUCTION JOBS. AS A RESULT
OF DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE FALLING
SHORT. SO ANYTHING THAT
DEVELOPERS CAN DO IN CONJUNCTION
WITH POLICY TO PRODUCE MORE
HOUSING ADDS TO THE SUPPLY AND
IT IS BETTER FOR US ALL. AND THE
PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, PAY
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAXES AND
CREATE JOBS AND REPORT AND HELP
THE FUND AS WELL. THANKS.
>> HI, D3. YOU'VE BEEN TOLD
P7'S GENEROUS TERMS FOR
DEVELOPERS WILL BE ENOUGH TO
REIGNITE THE HOUSING MARKET,
WHICH IS ADMITTEDLY REALLY TOUGH
RIGHT NOW. AND BRING BACK THE
CRANES. THIS WOULD BE A
WORTHWHILE CLAIM TO GENUINELY
INVESTIGATE. IT'S A HOST OF
OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT
TO ASK AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, IF
THE JUSTIFICATION FOR P7 IS TO
GROW SUPPLY, HOW COME DOES IT
ALLOW PROJECTS THAT WORK
PERFECTLY FEASIBLE UNDER THE
SUPPOSEDLY HORRIBLE P6 TO
CONVERT TO THE TERMS OF P7? HOW
DOES LETTING EXISTING BUILDINGS
GET AN ADDITIONAL 12 YEARS OF
TAX BREAKS IN EXCHANGE FOR LESS
AFFORDABILITY DO ANYTHING FOR
SUPPLY? IF I WERE AT OH OR FDOT,
YOU WOULD BE ASKING ME HARD
QUESTIONS, AND ASKING ME TO
SUBSTANTIATE MY ANSWERS. IT IS
HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS
NOT THE CASE.
>> WE HAVE ERIC KENNEDY AND THEN
WE'LL GO TO BENNETT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ERIC
KENNEDY, AND I AM PART OF THE
NATIONAL YOUTH RIGHTS
ASSOCIATION. I AM HERE TO ASK
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GIVE THE
RIGHT TO VOTE TO THE CITY
ELECTIONS TO ALL SCHOOL-AGED
MINORS K-12. EVERY SCHOOL KID
WHO LIVES IN SEATTLE IS AFFECTED
BY THE POLICIES PASSED BY CITY
COUNCIL. SO THEY SHOULD HAVE AN
EQUAL SAY ON WHO GETS ELECTED TO
SIT ON CITY COUNCIL AND IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. YOUTH RIGHTS
ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. THANK YOU.
>> YOU HAVE BENNETT. AFTER
BENNETT, I BELIEVE IT'S NATHAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. SO I WAS DOWN
IN PORTLAND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS
TO DOCUMENT THE PROTEST GOING ON
OUTSIDE THE I.C.E. FACILITY. THE
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT I
GATHERED WAS THE PROTEST OUTSIDE
THE FACILITY ARE OVERWHELMINGLY
PEACEFUL AND VIOLENCE HAPPENS
AND MOSTLY INSTIGATED BY DHS AND
I.C.E. AGENTS PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTING PROTESTERS. THIS IS
AN ISSUE WHERE I THINK THE
ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, PLUS THE
MAYOR, PLUS MOST OF THE CITY ARE
ON THE RIGHT SIDE FOR ONCE. BUT
ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU'RE HAVING A
HEARING TO PROVIDE AN ARGUMENT
FOR WHY WE NEED TO RESIST TRUMP
FEDERALIZING THE NATIONAL GUARD,
FOR SENDING MORE AGENTS TO THIS
CITY. I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK
AND DO A LONGER PRESENTATION
ABOUT SOME OF THE EVIDENCE I
GATHERED. GOING TO SEE IF THIS
WORKS. NO LAPTOP DOWN. IT'S NOT
ENOUGH TIME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WOMEN TALKING TO A ROW OF COPS.
SHE IS JUST TALKING PEACEFULLY
FOR ABOUT TEN SECONDS. I THINK
YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN WHAT
HAPPENS. AND THEN SHE IS JUST
SITTING THERE, SPEAKING TO THEM,
AND THEN THREE, TWO, ONE, BLAST
HER IN THE FACE WITH PEPPER
SPRAY. WHAT THE HELL? THANK YOU.
>> AND THEN THE NEXT PERSON I
BELIEVE, LAST NAME IS WALL, AND
LILY HAYWARD AND CARTER NELSON
AND GABRIEL JONES.
>> SORRY FOR MY HANDWRITING. SO
I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO EXPRESS
MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH IT HAD
CONSERVATIVE CITY COUNCIL
MAJORITY. YOU ALL PAID $144,000
A YEAR. INSTEAD OF REPRESENTING
YOUR COMMUNITIES, YOU RUN A VERY
PETTY AND INEFFECTIVE COUNCIL
MAJORITY, BULLYING TAMMY MORALES
OUT OF HER SEAT, FAILING TO PASS
A BILL OUT OF NINE MONTHS.
TURNING THE COMP PLAN IN LATE.
IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING.
DEFUNDING PROGRAMS, ATTACKING
THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, AND GOING
ON WITH THE CRUSADES AGAINST
CURBS. FRANKLY TWO OF YOU HAVE
ENDORSED ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK
WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST A FAR
RIGHT MAGA. IT'S DISAPPOINTING
-- RACHEL SAVAGE HAS NO PLACE ON
OUR COUNCIL, AND I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T PUT
YOUR DIFFERENCES WITH ALEXIS AND
ENDORSE HER. SARA, YOU'RE GOING
TO LOSE IN NOVEMBER, AND YOU'LL
HAVE NO REASON TO BLAME YOURSELF
AND YOUR COLLEAGUES. COLLEAGUES
--
>> WE HAVE LILY AND THEN CARTER
NELSON AND GABRIEL JONES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, LILY HAYWARD
WITH THE SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER.
WE'RE HERE TO UPDATE THE MFTE
PROGRAM SEVEN, WHICH PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE HOUSING
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
IT'S THE ONLY TOOL SEATTLE HAS
TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR
MIDDLE INCOME RENTERS WHO EARN
TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, BUT STILL
CAN'T AFFORD MARKET RENTS. OVER
THE PAST 25 YEARS, MFTE HAS
DELIVERED MORE THAN 8,000 BELOW
MARKET UNITEDS, WHICH IS NEARLY
AS MUCH AS THE SEATTLE HOUSING
LEVY. BUT PARTICIPATION HAS
DROPPED BY HALF BECAUSE P6 MADE
IT TOO COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE
TO USE FOR MANY DEVELOPERS. P7
FIXES THAT. IT KEEPS STRONG
ABILITY, WHILE EXPANDING THOSE
EARNING 70% TO 80% BEING PRICED
OUT OF SEATTLE. IF WE DON'T
RENEW MFTE, THOUSANDS OF RENTERS
CAN SEE THEIR RENTS SPIKE. WE
NEED TO TACKLE THE HOUSING
CRISIS INCLUDING PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SOLUTIONS. PLEASE PASS
P7 TODAY, AND ALLOW OUR HOUSING
PRODUCTION AT ALL INCOME LEVELS.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL, CARTER NELSON. THE
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT. WE REPRESENT
MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPERS WHO USE
MFTE PROGRAM TO DEVELOP HOUSING
ACROSS SEATTLE. IT'S VOLUNTARY
AND ONE OF THE FEW TOOLS THAT
INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE AND BELOW
MARKET HOUSING. IF THE PROGRAM
ISN'T FINANCIALLY VIABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN, THE
AFFORDABILITY IT PROVIDES
DISAPPEARS. WE SAW THIS HAPPEN
WITH PROGRAM SIX, WHEN
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS WERE
PUSHED TOO FAR BELOW MARKET.
DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION DROPPED
BY NEARLY 50%. THAT WASN'T DUE
TO LACK OF INTEREST. IT WAS
BECAUSE THE ECONOMICS NO LONGER
WORKED. SOME ARE CONCERNED
PROGRAM SEVEN RAISES RENTS, BUT
THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHAT IT
ACTUALLY DOES IS EXPAND ACCESS,
BY ADJUSTING AMI LIMITS TO
BETTER REFLECT THE MIDDLE INCOME
BRACKETS, SPECIFICALLY 70% TO
90% AMI. IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR
MORE RENTERS TO QUALIFY FOR
DISCOUNTED UNITS. THESE ARE
TEACHERS, JOURNALISTS,
RESTAURANT MANAGERS, AND
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO EARN TOO
MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO
AFFORD MARKET RATE RENTS. THANK
YOU FOR THE EXTENSIVE WORK
THAT'S GONE ON.
>> AND GABRIEL, YOU'RE NEXT AND
LAST REGISTERED IN-PERSON
SPEAKER, THEN WE'LL GO TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
>> MORNING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
GABRIEL JONES. I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT CAL ANDERSON. IT'S BEEN A
MINUTE SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH YOU
ALL BECAUSE I'M RECOVERING FROM
THE AFFECTS OF SPD RUNNING WILD.
WE'RE FIVE MONTHS AWAY FROM CAL
ANDERSON. THIS IS ABOUT THE TIME
WE START GETTING BODY CAMERA
FOOTAGE BACK, AND SURPRISINGLY,
A LOT WORSE THAN WE CAME TO
EXPECT. EARLY LAST WEEK, FOOTAGE
CAME OUT OF AN OFFICER WHO IS A
SERGEANT, DAVID ADAMS, ATTACKING
SOMEONE. THIS PERSON WAS NOT
RESISTING, ONLY PROTECTING THEIR
HEAD. THEIR HANDS WERE VISIBLE.
PUNCHING THE HEAD REPEATEDLY.
CONTRADICTING MULTIPLE
STATEMENTS HE MADE. ALSO IN THIS
FOOTAGE, YOU SEE ME, MOMENTS
AFTER I GET TACKLED TO THE
GROUND. I PLACE MY HANDS VERY
CLEARLY IN THE AIR BEFORE I'M
PUNCHED IN THE HEAD OVER AND
OVER, WHILE CAUSING NO THREAT TO
THE OFFICER. I'LL LEAVE YOU A
COPY TO LOOK AT THAT.
PERSONALLY, IF I SHOW UP TO MY
JOB AND I DO POORLY, I GET
REPRIMANDED, FIRED. WHEN YOU DO
POORLY, YOU GET UNELECTED, LIKE
SARA IS ABOUT TO BE. BUT WHEN
SPD DOES IT, THEY GET RAISES,
THEY GET BONUSES. THEY GET THE
IDEA TO TALK ABOUT SUBSIDIZING
HOUSING. IT'S TIME TO MAKE A
CHANGE TO SPD. I'LL MAKE SURE
NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU WILL --
>> WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO REMOTE
SPEAKERS, AND A REMINDER TO OUR
REMOTE SPEAKERS TO PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD
THE MESSAGE THAT YOU BEEN
UNMUTED. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD, HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD. OVER
156,000 FOREIGN BORN SEATTLE ARE
UNDER IMMINENT THREAT, AS ARE
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR ANYONE
WHO MIGHT LOOK FOR -- MAYOR
HARRELL'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS LAST
WEEK FALL FAR SHORT THE NEED TO
PREVENT EGREGIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL
ABUSES, MOST NOTABLY THE NEED
FOR SEATTLE POLICE TO ACTIVELY
PROTECT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT
RIGHTS OF SEATTLE. CONTRARY TO
THIS, HARRELL HAS QUOTED IN NO
WAY ARE THEY, POLICE, ENABLE
THIS ABUSE OF POWER FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THE
FUTURE, DO WE WANT TO BE THE
AMERICANS OF THE 1940s WHO COULD
ONLY SAY WE DID NOT HELP SEND
THOSE FOLKS TO CAMPS? SHOULD WE
NOT WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE
ACTED TO PREVENT FOLKS FROM
BEING TAKEN? 36th LEGISLATIVE
DEMOCRATS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED --
[ INAUDIBLE ] REQUIRING SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS TO ACT DIRECTLY
AND AFFIRMATIVELY TO PROTECT THE
FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF ALL
SEATTLE WORKERS. IT'S URGENT
YOU ACT ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MEREDITH. FOLLOWED BY IRENE.
GO AHEAD, MEREDITH.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MEREDITH
WITH MEL CREEK RESIDENTIAL. WE
OWN AND OPERATE MANY PROJECTS IN
SEATTLE USING MFTE. AND I URGE
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF
PROGRAM SEVEN AND PASSAGE OF THE
LEGISLATION TODAY. WANTED TO
ADDRESS ONE TOPIC, RUMOR THERE
IS HIGH LEVELS OF VACANCY IN
MFTE UNITS. WE HAVE NOT SEEN
THIS ACROSS OUR PORTFOLIO AND DO
NOT SEE THIS AS A WIDESPREAD
PROBLEM. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN
A TEMPORARY MOMENT IN THE
MARKET, WHERE THERE'S BEEN AN
INCREASE IN SUPPLY IN GENERAL IN
SEATTLE FROM THE POST PANDEMIC
BOOM. BUT NOW YOU'LL SEE
SEATTLE'S DECLINE IN NEW
ACTIVITY. WE WILL SOON BE
LOOKING AT A DROP OFF IN SUPPLY,
INCREASING MARKET RENTS, AND
VACANCIES DECREASING. SO I URGE
YOU TO APPROVE PROGRAM SEVEN
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS IRENE, AND IRENE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM SNYDER. GO
AHEAD, IRENE. AND REMEMBER --
THERE YOU GO.
>> GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IRENE HERE,
DISTRICT SIX. I ONCE AGAIN URGE
YOU TO POSTPONE VOTING ON THIS
MFTE REAUTHORIZATION. YESTERDAY
I WROTE TO YOU ASKING LARGE
NATIONAL CORPORATE REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES SHOULD GET
SEATTLE TAXPAYERS TO UNDERWRITE
THEIR INVESTMENTS. HERE'S
ANOTHER EXAMPLE. INTERESTING.
MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL, BASED IN
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA, IS A
DEVELOPER OF APARTMENTS IN
SEATTLE BETWEEN 2017 AND 2025,
UNDER THE MODERA BRAND. EVERY
ONE OF THEM IS ON THE MFTE DULL.
THE EXEMPT ASSESSED VALUE
EXCEEDS $320 MILLION IN 2025.
BASED ON PROVIDING THE MINIMUM
20% MFTE UNITS, THAT EQUATED TO
A TAXPAYER SUBSIDY AN AVERAGE OF
$970 A MONTH FOR EACH UNIT.
THAT'S ON TOP OF THE RENT THEY
CHARGE. ALL OVER SEATTLE, THESE
EXPENSIVE NEW APARTMENT
BUILDINGS ARE HAVING FIRE SALES
TO FILL UP THEIR VACANT UNITS,
OFFERING MONTHS OF FREE RENT AND
FREE PARKING.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS WILLIAM SNYDER. FOLLOWING
WILLIAM WILL BE SAM. GO AHEAD,
WILLIAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON AND MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS WILLIAM.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
WASHINGTON MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING 734
PROPERTY MEMBERS AND 92,500
UNITS IN SEATTLE ALONE. OUR
MEMBERS OVERSEE MFTE BUILDINGS
AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE
RESIDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THIS
PROGRAM. UNDER PROGRAM SIX, THAT
WORK BECAME FAR MORE DIFFICULT.
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS
PUSHED MANY PROPERTIES OUT OF
PARTICIPATION. AND THE
RECERTIFICATION PROCESS CREATED
CONFUSION, ADMINISTRATES
STRAINS, AND IN SOME CASES
CAUSED RENTERS TO LOSE ACCESS TO
THEIR UNITS THEY HAD QUALIFIED
FOR. PROGRAM SEVEN IS A CRITICAL
IMPROVEMENT. ADMINISTRATION,
ADJUST AMI LIMITS TO BETTER
SERVE MIDDLE INCOME RENTERS, AND
MAKES CONTINUED PARTICIPATION
FEASIBLE. WITHOUT THESE CHANGES,
MANY PROPERTIES -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
THEIR 12-YEAR TERM ENDS.
COMMITTED TO BEING A PART OF THE
AFFORDABILITY SOLUTION, AND WE
APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL SOURCE ON
STRONGER --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SAM. FOLLOWING SAM WILL BE
ROSALIE. GO AHEAD, SAM.
>> HELLO AGAIN, COUNCIL. MY NAME
IS SAM. I WORK HERE AT THE
SEATTLE LEAD PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
GENERATED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SALES TAX. WE WORK WITH PEOPLE
WHOSE NEEDS WON'T BE ADDRESSED
BY SINGULAR CONNECTIONS TO
RESOURCES, WHICH IS WHY WE
UTILIZE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT TO
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH
CLIENTS, CREATE PLANS, CONNECT
THEM TO RESOURCES, AND CONTINUE
UNTIL THAT PERSON'S SITUATION
AND BEHAVIOR HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSED. THIS WORK IS COMPLEX
BECAUSE OF SITUATIONS FACED BY
OUR CLIENTS. LEAD IS A UNIQUE
PIECE THAT ALLOWS US TO BRIDGE
BETWEEN FIRST RESPONSE AND
LONG-TERM PLANNING. I'D LIKE TO
APPRECIATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON FOR WORKING TO ENSURE THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX CENTER
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER,
AND RECOVERY RESOURCES, AND THE
LONG-TERM CARE THAT CAN STRING
THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER. I'D
ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL FOR
THE SUPPORT OF THIS WORK FOR
PAST, PRESENT, AND URGE THE
COMMITTEE TO ENSURE FUNDING IS
STABILIZED IN THE 2026 BUDGET.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE A
BRIEF PAUSE TO SWITCH
INTERPRETERS.
>> LAURA, IS THERE A QUESTION?
>> I WAS JUST TRYING TO -- THIS
IS ONE OF YOUR INTERPRETERS
SPEAKING. I WAS JUST TRYING TO
GET THE ATTENTION OF MY TEAM
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T SEE WE HAD
A REPLACEMENT FOR HIM AND THE
CHAT WAS DISABLED FOR ME.
>> OKAY, PERFECT. JUST WANTED TO
CONFIRM. ARE YOU ABLE TO
PROCEED? IF YOU NEED ANYTHING
ELSE, YOU CAN PROCEED WITH
SENDING YOUR MESSAGES VIA THE
ZOOM CHAT. OF COURSE, IF THAT
DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE'LL SEND
YOU AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, IF WE CAN
GET SOME SORT OF ADDRESS FROM
YOU SPECIFICALLY OR SHOULD WE
MAIL THE COMPANY?
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER WILL BE ROSALIE.
FOLLOWING ROSALIE WILL BE ALEX
MARTIN. GO AHEAD. AND PLEASE
REMEMBER YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
-- WELL, YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME
IS ROSALIE. I'M IN SUPPORT OF
CB121055 TO EXTEND THE
MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION KNOWN AS MFTE, BY THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. WITH ONE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT THAT RESTORES
UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE COMMUNITY.
TO ALLOW MFTE PROJECTS EXPIRING
IN 2025 TO RENEW. I MANAGE
YOUNGSTOWN FLATS OF WEST
SEATTLE. YOUNGSTOWN FLATS IS
CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN MFTE,
BUT A CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES
IN DECEMBER 2025. YOUNGSTOWN
FLATS HAS LARGE TWO BEDROOM
MFTE. OUR TENANTS LOVE THE MFTE
UNITS. IT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO PUT
DOWN ROOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OF WEST SEATTLE. THIS IS EXACTLY
THE TYPE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THE CITY SHOULD PRIORITIZE TO
MFTE. WE WANT TO KEEP IT. THE
COMMUNITY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED AN
AMENDMENT, A COMMITTEE TO ALLOW
OUR PROPERTY, ALLOW WITH THE
MFTE PROPERTY EXPIRING IN 2025
--
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALEX MARTIN. FOLLOWING ALEX
WILL BE SCOTT. GO AHEAD, ALEX.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ALEX MARTIN. I'M AN AFFORDABLE
PROGRAM MANAGER OVERSEEING
SEVERAL MFTE COMMUNITIES IT IN
SEATTLE. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S P7
PROPOSAL. WE'RE PROUD TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE MFTE PROGRAM,
RECOGNIZE HOW CRITICAL IT IS.
SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS WILL BE
EXPIRING SOON, AND WE WOULD VERY
MUCH LIKE TO CONTINUE OFFERING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH MFTE.
BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN
ACCESSIBLE PROGRAM. CURRENTLY
THE ANNUAL INCOME CERTIFICATION
PROCESS IS DIFFICULT, LENGTHY,
FEEL LIKE AN INCREDIBLE
DIVERSION FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WE
FIND RESIDENTS WERE ELDERLY OR
LIVE WITH DISABILITIES. CREATE
DISPROPORTIONATE STRUGGLES TO
COMPLETE INCOME CERTIFICATIONS.
EXPERIENCE THAT IS DEEPLY
UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THEM. P7
CHANGES TO THE CERTIFICATION
PROCESS TO GREATLY ALLEVIATE
THESE CHALLENGES. MIDDLE INCOME
RESIDENTS WHO FIND THEMSELVES
OVERCALING AS THEIR INITIAL
ATTEMPT, RARELY OVERQUALIFIED
MARGIN. RAISING THE RANGE TO
INCLUDE 90% OPTIONS WOULD CREATE
MORE ACCESS. PLEASE VOTE IN
FAVOR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SCOTT. FOLLOWING SCOTT WILL
BE JOE. GO AHEAD, SCOTT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
SCOTT. I'M A PRINCIPAL WHERE WE
ARE LOCALLY BASED SEATTLE
FOCUSED URBAN HOUSING, HAVING
DELIVERED 600 UNITS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. I STRONGLY URGE YOU
TO ADOPT MFTE PROGRAM SEVEN
BECAUSE IT WILL HELP PUSH
PROJECTS CLOSER TO FEASIBILITY.
PROGRAM SIX SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK.
OUR COMPANY HAS RESCINDED MFTE
APPLICATIONS ON FOUR OF OUR LAST
FIVE COMPLETED BUILDINGS DUE TO
LACK OF MFTE FEASIBILITIES,
PROVIDING DIRECT EVIDENCE THE
PROGRAM IS NOT WORKING AS
INTENDED. WE HAVE ANOTHER
THOUSAND UNITS IN OUR PIPELINE
ACROSS THE CITY. ON AVERAGE,
PROGRAM SIX RESULTS IN A LOSS OF
REVENUE AND NOT A CONSIDERATION
OF THE CITY'S PROJECT. PROGRAM
SEVEN PROVIDES ENOUGH REVENUE TO
INCENTIVIZE PARTICIPATION.
PROGRAM SEVEN WILL ENCOURAGE NEW
HOUSING, WILL CREATE WORKFORCE
HOUSING, SUPPORT MIDDLE AND
INCOME RESIDENTS, AND
INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, JOE. GO
AHEAD, JOE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JOE
HERE. I'LL TALK A LITTLE FAST.
FIRST, IT'S FROM MY E-MAIL. YOU
NEED TO ENFORCE -- AND STOP
ANYONE FROM CAMPAIGNING. MOVING
ON BECAUSE WE ARE TIME LIMITED.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR HOLDING THE LINE AGAINST
ALEX TSIMERMAN. MOVING ON, I
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL AS
MUCH AS I'M STILL A HEIDI WILLS
FAN. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR BEING
ON THE BOARD AND ASKING SOME
REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT
EFFORT LINK. IT IS VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED, AS WELL AS MAKING
SURE THEY GET THE LIGHT RAIL,
AND WE DO GET TO OPEN THE HEIDI
WILL STATION SOME TIME IN OUR
LIFETIMES. FINALLY, GO MARINERS,
GO SEAHAWKS, AND GOD BLESS
SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU HAD. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY OUR LAST
SPEAKER. YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
OKAY --
>> SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD
AFTERNOON TO THE COUNCIL. I AM
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
I'M ADVOCATING FOR REJECTING
AND REWORKING THE PROPOSAL TO
AMEND THE MFTE PROGRAM. NOW,
THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS WITH THE
CYCLES AND TAX REVENUES. THE
REVISED INCENTIVE -- [ INAUDIBLE
] RAISING THE RENT CAPS TO
MARKET PRICES OF 14 TO 22%
ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE TIMES,
AND EXTENDING TAX RATES FOR
DEVELOPERS -- [ INAUDIBLE ] [
INAUDIBLE ] MFTE IS A POLICY IT
IN DESPERATE NEED OF REVISION. [
INAUDIBLE ] I URGE THE COUNCIL
TO RECONVENE ON MFTE TO FIGURE
OUT A SOLUTION --
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS HALEY
WILLIS. I'M A RENTER IN
DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE TO URGE
YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED P7
RENEWED P6 FOR A YEAR, AND
RETHINK THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE
THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOMES WE
ACTUALLY NEED. IT WILL MAKE MFTE
APARTMENTS MORE EXPENSIVE. IN
MANY CASES, CLOSE TO MARKET
RATE. THIS IS A BAD DEAL FOR
MFTE RENTERS. IT PROVIDES TOO
LITTLE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO BE WORK
THE $20 MILLION ANNUAL PRICE
TAG. WE URGE YOU TO TAKE THE
TIME WE NEED TO WORK WITH
RENTERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
TO DEVELOP A BETTER PLAN. FOR
MAKING THIS RECOMMENDATION
ALONGSIDE THE RENTERS PROGRAM,
AND OVER 200 SEATTLE RESIDENTS
AND WORKERS WHO SIGNED AN OPENER
LETTER THAT I SENT YOU EARLIER
IN THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> WE HAVE ONE IN-PERSON
SPEAKER. IT WILL BE CAROLINE,
AND THEN THAT WILL BE THE LAST
REGISTERED SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, FOR THE
RECORD, I'M CAROLINE SANDERS.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING PDA. WE
WANT TO THANK THE EXECUTIVE,
THIS COUNCIL, AND SPECIFICALLY
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON FOR HER
LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING THAT THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE WOULD BENEFIT
FROM THE OPPORTUNITY CREATED BY
THE STATEWIDE HOUSE BILL 2015.
NOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PERFECT.
THERE IS BROAD CONSENSUS THAT IT
WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IF WE WERE
TO LEVERAGE PROGRESSIVE TAX
SOURCE. HOWEVER, THERE IS ALSO
CONSENSUS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD
TO DELAY ACTION ON THIS ISSUE,
EVEN ONE MORE DAY. SO WE COMMEND
YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND USING
THE TOOL AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO
FORTIFY RECOVERY SUPPORT AS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY CONTINUUM, AND LEAD AS A
PART OF THAT. SO I AM ALSO
RELIEVED TO BE ABLE TO SAY EVERY
MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL NOW HAS,
IN YOUR POSSESSION, A LEAD DATA
PACKET, SPANNING THE LAST TWO
YEARS. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT
WE SEND TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON THE MONTHLY BASIS. PLEASE
KNOW, I WAS LOATHED TO SEND YOU
240 EXTRA PAGES OF READING AT
THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE. BUT MY
TEAM WAS INSISTING YOU NEED IT
AT ALL. I KNOW THEY WERE RIGHT
ABOUT THAT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD
TO DIGGING INTO THE DETAILS WITH
YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED
SPEAKER.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKER'S
LIST, SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. LET'S
SEE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 1 -- NO, I HAVE TO GET TO
ALL THE OTHER STUFF HERE. LET'S
SEE. IF THERE IS OX, THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE'LL NOW
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR IN THE ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ARE THE MINUTES
OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2025.
COUNCILMEMBER 121085 THROUGH
121087, PAYMENTS OF BILLS. SIX
APPOINTMENTS FROM THE HOUSING
AND SERVICE COMMITTEE. THREE
APPOINTMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. ARE IT THERE
ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD
LIKE TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S
CONSENT CALENDAR? HEARING NONE,
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE
ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURES TO THE
MINUTES AND LEGISLATION TO THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF?
ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, 121077, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO CITY EMPLOYMENT,
ADOPTING A 2025 CITYWIDE
POSITION LIST.
>> I MOVE 121077, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. I'LL ADDRESS IT FIRST
AND THEN OPEN THE FLOOR TO
COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES,
AMANDA ALLEN IT FROM CENTRAL
STAFF SENT OUT A MEMO ON THIS
LEGISLATION ON OCTOBER 9, AND
I'LL BRIEFLY READ A BIT FROM
IT. COUNCIL BILL 120 RSJ 121077
WILL IDENTIFY A 2025 POSITION
LIST AUTHORIZING EACH CITY
DEPARTMENT OR OFFICE AS OF
JANUARY 1, 2025. THE 2025
POSITION LIST REFLECTS A TOTAL
OF 1,325 POSITIONS. OF THOSE,
1,890 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENCE.
COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS
LIST IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
EXERCISE ANTICIPATED BY
RESOLUTION 28885. NOTE THE
BEGINNING NUMBERS ARE BEING 28,
THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO. AND
ORDINANCE 127156. RESOLUTION
28885 ADOPTED PROTOCOLS FOR CITY
WIDE BUDGETING, INCLUDING THE
EXPECTATION THE CITY WOULD ADOPT
DEPARTMENTAL WIDE POSITION LIST.
ORDINANCE 127156 ADOPTED THE
2025 BUDGET AND ESTABLISHED AN
EXPECTATION THAT SDHR WOULD
SUBMIT A LIST OF THE CITY'S
REGULAR POSITIONS IN EACH
DEPARTMENT OR OFFICE AS OF
JANUARY 1, 2025 FOR COUNCIL'S
CONSIDERATION DURING THE 2026
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS. SO PASSING
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD NOT HAVE
A SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT ON CITY
OPERATIONS EMPLOYEES, FUNDS, OR
PRESENT OTHER IMPLICATIONS TO
THE CITY. SO THAT'S BASICALLY
THE RUNDOWN. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS? HEARING NO COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES, AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT HOUSING PROGRAM,
121055, RELATING TO THE
MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PROPERTY
TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM, RENEWING
AND MODIFYING THE PROGRAM,
INCLUDING TO MAKE CHANGES IN
CONFORMITY WITH STATE LAW. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS AS AMENDED.
>> ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, VICE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121055 CONSISTENT
WITH AMENDMENT A, AND TITLED ADD
A POLICY REGARDING DEMOLITION OF
UNITS, ELIMINATE THE LATER
EXTENSION APPLICATION DEADLINE
FOR 2025, EXPIRING PROJECTS, AND
ELIMINATE THE PROVISION ALLOWING
UNITS IN EXTENDING PROPERTIES TO
MAINTAIN THEIR ORIGINAL UNIT
DESIGNATION.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL
AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT A.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON IS THE
SPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
BASICALLY THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
DO THREE THINGS. ONE, BRING THE
MFTE PROGRAM IN COMPLIANCE WITH
STATE LAW, WHICH REQUIRES
SEATTLE TO ESTABLISH
REQUIREMENTS, ADDRESSING
DEMOLITION OF EXISTING
STRUCTURES. TWO, ELIMINATE THE
NOW MOVED 2025 MFTE EXTENSION
DEADLINE. AND THREE, BETTER
ADHERE TO STATE LAW BY STRIKING
A PROBLEMATIC REVISION,
REGARDING MAINTAINING CERTAIN
SINGLE BEDROOM UNIT
DESIGNATIONS. IN SHORT, THIS
AMENDMENT HAS HELPED ENSURE
SEATTLE'S MFTE PROGRAM COMPLIES
WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS AND
BETTER ALLOWS OFFICE OF HOUSING
TO ADMINISTER THE 2025 MFTE
PROGRAM, AND I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT A? I AM NOT SEEING ANY
HANDS RAISED ON THE SCREEN. ALL
RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT A?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT A IS ADOPTED. ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON
THE AMENDED BILL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121055, CONSISTENT WITH
AMENDMENT B ENTITLED ESTABLISHED
CONVERSION PROCEDURES AND
CLARIFY THE START DATE OF THE
12-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR CONVERTING
PROJECTS.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL
AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT B.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AS
SPONSOR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO
ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ESTABLISH
APPLICATION CONVERSION
PROCEDURES FOR PROJECTS,
CONVERTING FROM THE MFTE PROGRAM
SIX TO PROGRAM SEVEN. WHILE ALSO
CLARIFYING THAT THE START DATE
FOR THE 12-YEAR EXEMPTION DOES
NOT RESET UPON CONVERSION. THE
ATTEMPT BEHIND THIS AMENDMENT IS
TO BETTER ENSURE PROJECTS USING
MFTE CHOOSE TO USE THE MFTE
EXTENSION OPTION. THEREBY
FURTHER SECURING CRITICAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 12-YEAR PERIOD. AND I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S
SEE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON FOR BRINGING THESE
AMENDMENTS FORWARD TODAY. I JUST
WANTED TO BRIEFLY SPEAK TO MY
SUPPORT FOR THEM BECAUSE I THINK
THEY ADDRESSED SOME OF THE
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CONCERNS
WE HAVE HEARD. SO I WANT TO
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING
THESE FORWARD. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT B?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE
MOTION CARRIES, AND AMENDMENT B
IS ADOPTED. ARE THERE FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED BILL?
I'M OFFERING YOU THE FLOOR TO
SPEAK TO THE AMENDED BILL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR
HOUSING DEVELOPERS, REALLY CLEAR
ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED IS
MORE HOUSING SUPPLY. GIVEN THE
ECONOMIC REALITIES OF WHERE WE
ARE RIGHT NOW, CONSIDERING WHERE
THE VERSION WAS PASSED, THE
ECONOMIC REALITIES ARE WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT SO
THESE UNITS WILL PASS, AND WE
CAN GET MORE HOUSING UNITS
ONLINE. SO I URGE THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL AS AMENDED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
APOLOGIES. I WAS SLOW ON MY HAND
THERE. I WANTED TO GET THIS LAST
WORD ON THIS. I WANTED TO CHIME
IN ON A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE
BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE. NAMELY
THAT I'M GLAD THROUGH
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON'S
AMENDMENT, WE ADDRESSED SOME OF
THE OUTSTANDING CONCERNS WITH
THE P7 PROPOSAL. I KNOW THIS
ADDRESSES SOME OF THE PRIMARY
COMMUNITY CONCERNS MY OFFICE HAS
HEARD. I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY THAT
IN COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE
PASSED COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND
I'S AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD
REESTABLISH THE SUNSET TO
PROVIDE CLARITY ON THE CHANGES
IN THE P7 PROGRAM. I THINK THIS
ALSO GIVES US THE ABILITY TO BE
NIMBLE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
CHANGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. WE
KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
CHANGES IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE
HOUSING MARKET. ALSO HAPPY TO
SEE IN THIS PROPOSAL, WE HAVE
CHANGES TO ENSURE RENTERS ARE
GETTING A MORE STREAMLINED
APPLICATION PROCESS, AND WANT TO
THANK AGAIN THE COMMITTEE FOR
PASSING MY AMENDMENT TO
INCENTIVIZE MORE MULTI-FAMILY
UNITS TOWARDS DEVELOPING MORE
FAMILY-SIZED HOUSING. IT MIGHT
GO WITHOUT SAYING WORTH
REITERATING HERE MFTE ALONE
CANNOT SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS.
WE HAVE SO MANY FORCES IMPACTING
OUR ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSING
RIGHT NOW. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT MORE DEEPLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT MFTE IS
A TOOL IN OUR TOOL BOX TO CREATE
WORKFORCE HOUSING WHILE
DISPERSING DEVELOPMENTS TO
ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE. WE
NEED HOUSING THAT DEVELOPS ON
DEEPER LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY,
WHICH IS CONTINUING OUR
INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE HOUSING,
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER,
OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND THE
SUPPORT SERVICES, FIGHTING TO
BACK FILL OUR CONTINUUM OF
FUNDING. BUT MFTE BEING AN
IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO HELP
AGAINST WORKFORCE HOUSING IS
TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT, AND I'LL
BE SUPPORTING THE LEGISLATION
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AND MY
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS
BILL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL
THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS WHO HAVE
COME OUT. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR COMING HERE TO SPEAK TO THE
BILL AND ALL THE ISSUES THAT
RELATE TO IT. SEPARATELY, I ALSO
WANT TO THANK OH, OFFICE OF
HOUSING DIRECTOR, WINKLER-CHIN
FOR HER RECENTLY FINISHED MEMO
ON THE SEATTLE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN, AS WE'VE BEEN
CALLING THE SHIP, THE SEATTLE
HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN BECAUSE
IT SPEAKS TO MFTE. IT ACTUALLY
SPEAKS TO MFTE PLUS MHA, PET,
AND ALSO THE LEVY. I REALLY
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, YOU
KNOW, CENTER THE DISCUSSION ON
THAT MFTE AS PART OF -- UM --
THE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES WE
HAVE, TO INCLUDE THE MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM,
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, AND THE
HOUSING LEVY. I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT
CONTEXT. SO I THANK HER FOR
BUTTING INTO THE STUDY, INTO THE
PLAN BECAUSE IT'S REALLY
HELPFUL. I ALSO ASK, YOU KNOW,
WE GO FURTHER AND INCLUDE --
BECAUSE AS IT SITS HERE, MFTE
ALONE IS EXPECTED TO MEET NEARLY
100% OF THE HOUSING NEEDED AT
THE 50% TO 80% AMI BETWEEN 2024
AND 2023. BUT THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS JUST ONE PIECE OF
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE HAVE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSE,
SOCIAL HOUSING. SO I LOVE IT HAD
PLAN, I LOVE READING IT. BUT WE
ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A BIGGER
PICTURE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH HOUSING. WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WHERE NOW THE
NEW SOCIAL HOUSING WITH THE NEW
PDA, PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY. AND TO REALLY HAVE A
TRUE SENSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
ON THE HOUSING FRONT,
PARTICULARLY WITH THE VARIOUS
REVENUE SOURCES. TO THAT, I
THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A STRATEGY
IN TERMS OF THESE FUNDING
SOURCES. ARE THEY THE RIGHT MIX?
DO WE HAVE IT RIGHT? I BELIEVE,
YOU KNOW, AS RELATED TO THE
TYPES OF HOUSING, AND ALSO
QUESTIONS. THIS HAS COME UP AS I
DUG INTO THIS MORE AND MORE IN
TERMS OF BUILDING NEW OR
MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING WHAT
WE HAVE NOW. THIS HAS BECOME A
BIGGER ISSUE, AS I'VE BEEN
JUMPING INTO THIS. I THINK AN
EXPANDED PLAN THAT HAS A
STRATEGY PIECE THAT SPEAKS TO
THESE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I DO
WANT TO SAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE WHO HAS COME OUT TO
INCLUDE ON THE DEVELOPER SIDE.
BUT ALSO ON THE UNION SIDE, THE
CARPENTER'S UNION AND THE
BROADER UNION COMMUNITY, YOU
KNOW, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
I'VE OFTEN BEEN SPEAKING TO
THIS ON THE MIRROR TIME SIDE,
BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO BUILD
APPRENTICESHIPS. WE NEED TO
BUILD A PROGRAM THAT REALLY BIDS
UP OUR TRADES AND OUR CITY AND
OUR BROADER LABOR COMMUNITY. SO
I THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT
BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING IS
A PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY.
COULD SPEAK TO THIS IN A WAY, IN
A WAY THAT LOOKS AT IN TERMS OF
HOW CAN WE REALLY ADDRESS ALL
THE VARIOUS PIECES. THIS HOUSING
PIECE IS SO COMPLICATED WITH SO
MANY DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES,
DIFFERENT HOUSING, ALL THE
LITTLE PIECES. BUILD NEW,
CONSERVE WHAT WE HAVE. THOSE WE
SEE ON THE STREETS, DO THEY
ALREADY HAVE HOUSING? WHY DO
THEY DO THIS? AND THAT GOES TO
PRESERVING THE LIKE. I THINK IF
WE DO THIS AND WE CAN FOLD IN
THIS PIECE BECAUSE I DO THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT. LONG TERM, AGAIN,
NOT JUST FOR THE MIRROR TIME,
BUT THE ENTIRE LABOR COMMUNITY.
THE PROGRAMS IT IN BUILDING IT
HAD KIND OF TRADE COMMUNITY IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I JUST
WANTED TO AGAIN, THANK THEM FOR
COMING OUT AND JUST TO CONCLUDE
WITH ALL THAT SAID THAT I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THE P7 PROGRAM, SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, AS MANY OF US HAVE
SAID, WE NEED MORE HOUSING
ACROSS THE BOARD IN THIS CITY. I
UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT PERFECT,
BUT THIS LATEST REITERATION OF
THE MFTE PROGRAM ATTEMPTS TO
INCENTIVIZE HOUSING AT A TIME
WHEN CONSTRUCTION HAS STALLED
DUE TO INCREASED COSTS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO
INCREASED TARIFFS COMING FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT IS
ANOTHER TOOL TO ADDRESS MUCH
NEEDED HOUSING. I DO NOT SIT ON
THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE, AND I APPRECIATE MY
COLLEAGUES WHO DO AND WHO WORK
WITH THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS
AND CONTRIBUTE AMENDMENTS THAT
STRENGTHEN THE INITIAL PROPOSAL
AND TO OUR LABOR PARTNERS. I
REALLY WANT TO SAY WHO CAME OUT
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I
RECOGNIZE IT IS NOT EASY FOR YOU
TO TAKE TIME OUT OF WORK TO COME
HERE AND GIVE US PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO PLEASE DO KNOW THAT WHILE
MAYBE YOU MAY NOT GET THE
OUTCOME YOU WOULD LIKE AT THE
END OF THIS VOTE. I DO WANT YOU
TO KNOW HOW MUCH I PERSONALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I DO
NOT TAKE YOUR COMMENTS FOR
GRANTED. THESE ARE TOUGH VOTES,
AND I KNOW THAT -- I WANT YOU TO
KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE AND HOW MUCH I VALUE
YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
JUST WANT TO START OUT THANKING
THE CARPENTERS WHO SHOWED UP
HERE TODAY. I'M SORRY. WE KNOW
THAT IT TAKES TIME OUT OF YOUR
DAY. AFTER BEING UP HERE FOR A
FEW YEARS, I APPRECIATE WHEN
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND GROUPS LIKE
YOURSELF SHOW UP AND SPEAK AND
DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK ON
YOUR BEHALF. I WANT TO REITERATE
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SAID
YOU MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY HAPPY,
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A TOOL AND IT
IS VOLUNTARY, AND I WANT TO, FOR
THAT PURPOSE, THANK YOU. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON FOR JUST SHEPHERDING
THIS LEGISLATION. THROUGH
NUMEROUS COMMITTEE MEETINGS. AND
ALSO HUGE THANK YOU TO GREGORY
WHO WORKED WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON TO MAKE SURE THIS GOT
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. BUT I'LL
BE SUPPORTING THIS AND I'LL
TELL YOU WHY. THIS IS A
CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE SAW IN
1990 WITH THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
ACT WHEN THE CITY ADOPTED MFTE
IN 1995. TO FOLLOW THE ORIGINAL
INTENT OF THE STATE LAW. I'M
SORRY, THE STATE ADOPTED MFTE IN
1995. THE CITY ADOPTED MFTE IN
IS THE 98. ORIGINAL INTENT WAS
TO GO AHEAD AND STIMULATE
CONSTRUCTION, STIMULATE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES, TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT, WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THAT'S THE
LENS IN WHICH I LOOK AT A TOOL
LIKE MFTE. SO IN THE BIG
PICTURE, THE SCHEME OF THINGS,
THAT'S THE ORIGINAL INTENT. AND
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE
ORIGINAL INTENT AND SPIRIT AS
OUR COUNTIES AND OUR CITIES
GROW, AND THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE JOBS
THAT ARE COMING ONLINE TO LIVE
AND WORK HERE. WE KNOW THAT RENT
IS TOO HIGH. AGAIN, AS
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK SHARED,
THESE ARE JUST ANOTHER TOOL WE
COULD WORK WITH DEVELOPERS,
NON-PROFITS TO GET PEOPLE HOUSED
AND GET THIS STUFF BUILT. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE YOU HAD
ONE MORE COMMENT?
>> I SHOULD HAVE THANKED OUR
COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON
FOR SHEPHERDING THESE THROUGH.
THESE ARE HEAVY LIFTS. THIS
PROGRAM EXPIRED IN MAY, SO IT
WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO GET DONE
QUICKLY, SO I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR
SHEPARDING THIS THROUGH. ALSO, I
NEVER TALK ABOUT THIS MYSELF
BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS
SELF-SERVING, BUT I WOULD BE
REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY. AND
THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY MY
DAD IS NO LONGER WITH US, SO I
TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL EITHER.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND
HOW MUCH I REALLY DO CARE. THAT
IS GENUINE FROM THE HEART, SO
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
I'LL SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS TO
LEAVE IT OUT TO CLOSE US OUT. I
FIRST WANTED -- I HAVE SPOKEN OF
MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE MFTE
PROGRAM BEFORE. NOW I'D LIKE TO
READ AN EXCERPT THAT I READ THIS
MORNING BECAUSE IT GETS TO THE
ISSUE BEHIND WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE. INCREASED AMI IN THE
PROGRAM, SET IN THE MFTE
PROGRAM, TO EQUITABLE ACCESS IS
RETURNING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
RENTERS WHO EARN BETWEEN 65 AND
90% AMI, THEIR ONE TOOL THEY HAD
ACCESS TO RENT DISCOUNT. THIS IS
WHAT THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAM WAS
MEANT TO DO, WHICH THE HOUSING
LEVY AND NON-PROFIT BUILDERS
CREATE. IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT
BEHIND. SO ANY WAY, I HOPE YOU
-- SO IF YOU DIDN'T READ THAT,
THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR
APPROVAL. I'LL REITERATE THAT
THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM IN OUR
CITY THAT PROVIDES FOR UNITS FOR
OUR TEACHERS, ARTISTS, RETAIL
WORKERS, ETC. I DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE THEM OUT. THERE IS A LARGE
SWATH OF SEATTLE POPULATION THAT
MAKES BETWEEN 60, 70 TO 90% OF
AMI THAT IS COMPLETELY LEFT OUT,
EXCEPT FOR IF YOU GOT THE MONEY
TO BUY A HOUSE, THEN MAYBE YOU
CAN AFFORD ONE OF THE HOMES THAT
$970 MILLION HOUSING LEVY ALLOWS
TO PRODUCE. THAT'S A WORK FORCE
SLIVER, BUT IT IS NOT FOR
RENTERS, IT IS FOR BUYERS. SO I
WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT I'VE BEEN
A STRONG PROPONENT OF THIS AND I
WILL SAY IT AGAIN. THIS PROGRAM
ACHIEVES THREE GOALS. IT
INCENTIVIZES THE PRODUCTION OF
HOUSING IN GENERAL. WE NEED MORE
HOUSING PERIOD. IT ALSO
INCENTIVIZES ON SITE THE 25% OF
AFFORDABLE UNITS. AND THEN
FINALLY, IT NEEDS A POLICY GOAL
THAT WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR, BUT
RARELY MEET, WHICH IS MIXED
INCOME HOUSING IN THIS CITY. MHA
PROVIDES FOR THE DEVELOPERS TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN A FEE IN LIEU OR
PERFORMANCE ON SITE AND THE VAST
MAJORITY OF TIMES, DEVELOPERS
CHOOSE TO WRITE A CHECK. THIS IS
ALLOWING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WORK FORCE UNITS ON SITE AND WE
NEED TO -- THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT
THIS PROGRAM. SO I'M OBVIOUSLY
GOING TO BE VOTING YES FOR THIS,
AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN A LONG
TIME COMING. THE PROGRAM SIX
EXPIRED LAST YEAR, AND I'M GLAD
WE ARE FINALLY AT A POINT WHERE
WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON PROGRAM
SEVEN. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE US OUT?
>> I THINK IT HAS ALL BEEN SAID.
I URGE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> 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. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 3 INTO
THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE, AGENDA 3,
121083, RELATING TO TAXATION,
IMPOSING A LOCAL SALES AND USE
TAX TO FUND INVESTMENTS IN
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE. YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. AS WE
ALL WERE IN THE COLLECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK. THIS BILL
WAS PUT FORWARD AS A WAY THAT
WAS OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION,
A WAY TO PROVIDE MANY IMPORTANT
RESOURCES FOR SEATTLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING. THIS IS ALSO
REQUIRED, IF WE WANT TO BALANCE
THE BALANCE AS IT WAS PRESENTED
TO US. SO COLLEAGUES, I URGE A
YES VOTE.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
BILL? ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO AHEAD
AND MAKE SOME COMMENTS, AS SOON
AS I FIND MY NOTES HERE.
THESE PROGRESSIVE INVESTMENTS
WILL SAVE LIVES AND FILL GAPING
HOLES IN OUR RESPONSE TO
SEATTLE'S DRUG CRISIS. I LIVED
THE CHARGE TO PUT AN ADDICTION
TREATMENT AT THE CENTER OF THE
CITY'S AGENDA BECAUSE THE
FENTANYL EPIDEMIC ARE ROOT
CAUSES OF BOTH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
AND CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
CHALLENGES. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS
MIGHT BE SHOCKING TO HEAR
BECAUSE I THINK BACK THREE YEARS
WHEN I TOOK OFFICE. IT WAS VERY
SURPRISING TO ME WHEN I FOUND
OUT UP UNTIL THE PILOT PROGRAM,
I STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THE CITY, NOR THE COUNTY, FUNDED
REHAB. AND SO I'M TALKING ABOUT
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. WE ONLY
HAD PROGRAMS THAT OFFER OPIOID
USE DISORDER MEDICATION. SO I'M
VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT ONE OF
THE LINE ITEMS THAT PASSAGE OF
THIS BILL WILL FACILITATE IF WE
APPROVE ITS PROPOSAL IN NEED
BUDGET. IT'S ONE OF THE --
IT'S AN EXPANSION OF THAT
PROGRAM. AND A LONG LIST OF
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY TO FILL IN THE GAPS
TOWARD PROVIDING A PATHWAY TO
RECOVERY FOR OUR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS. THE STATE GIVES US
VERY LIMITED SET OF TOOLS TO
RAISE REVENUE FOR THE ESSENTIAL
SERVICES THE CITY PROVIDES. I
DON'T LIKE THIS IS A REGRESSING
TAX, BUT IT ISN'T ABOUT RAISING
TAXES ON WORKING FAMILIES. THIS
IS ABOUT USING PUBLIC SAFETY
DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WHEN
WE INVEST IN GETTING PEOPLE OFF
THE STREETS AND INTO TREATMENT.
WE PREVENT CRIME, REDUCE
EMERGENCY RESPONSES, AND MAKE
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER. AND
THAT IS SMART PUBLIC SAFETY
SPENDING. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT
IS THE MORAL THING TO DO. SO I
LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS
TODAY, AND THEN WORKING WITH ALL
OF YOU TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF
THIS NEW REVENUE BY PRIORITIZING
THE INVESTMENTS IN THE HIGHEST
NEEDS AREA LIKE TREATMENT
RECOVERY AND RECOVERY HOUSING,
ETC., AND WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
IT IN THE COMING WEEKS.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, AS I SAID LAST WEEK,
I STRUGGLED WITH THIS VOTE, THIS
TAX PROPOSAL IS OF A CONCERN TO
ME BECAUSE BASICALLY WHAT IT
DOES IS TAX POOR PEOPLE TO HELP
POOR PEOPLE. I SAY THIS BECAUSE
AS WE KNOW, SALES TAX ARE THE
MOST REGRESSIVE TAX GOVERNMENTS
CAN LEVY, AND THEY HIT OUR LOW
INCOME FAMILIES THE HARDEST.
WHILE GROCERIES ARE EXEMPT FROM
SALES TAX AND MANY OTHER ITEMS
THAT ARE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
PURCHASED THAT ARE NOT EXEMPT
LIKE CLOTHING AND SHOES FOR
THEIR KIDS, AMONG MANY OTHER
IMPORTANT NEEDS. WE KNOW WE HAVE
AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM IN
SEATTLE. THIS PROPOSAL IS JUST
GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE,
COMBINED WITH THE RECENT .1%
SALES TAX INCREASE LEVY BY KING
COUNTY, SEATTLE SALES TAX WILL
BE 10.55%, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN
SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK CITY,
CHICAGO, BOSTON, EVEN AMONG THE
EIGHT STATES WITHOUT AN INCOME
TAX. WE ARE STILL AT THE TOP,
COMPARED TO CITIES OF OUR SIZE.
AND WHAT'S MORE, THIS COMES
INSTEAD OF WHAT WE REALLY NEED
TO BE DOING, TAKING A VERY HARD
LOOK AT THE CITY'S BUDGET, FOR
THESE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ADDITIONAL
HANDS RAISED, BUT I DO WANT TO
SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE, I VERY MUCH
RESPECT YOUR POSITION, AND I
ALSO STRUGGLED WITH IT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COURAGE.
OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, IS THIS LAST WORD?
>> YEP.
>> GREAT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO A
VOTE AFTER THIS, I HOPE. JUST TO
SAY WE HAD A LOT OF WORK WE
ACCOMPLISHED THIS LAST YEAR IN
OLYMPIA, REQUESTING DIFFERENT
WAYS THE CITY COULD FUND THE
PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES WE
PROVIDE SEATTLE. THIS IS FROM
ALL 281 CITIES ACROSS OUR STATE,
WORKING TOGETHER TO ASK FOR NEW
REVENUE OPTIONS. BECAUSE AS THE
PROPERTY TAX IS CAPPED AT 1%
PLUS NEW CONSTRUCTION, OUR
ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH
INFLATION IS LIMITED. WITHOUT
STATE AUTHORIZATION FOR
DIFFERENT OPTIONS, WE CAN'T
MOVE FORWARD EXCEPT FOR WHAT
THEY PROVIDE US. AND WHILE I
WISH WE HAD OTHER OPTIONS, SUCH
AS, YOU KNOW, I WISH WE HAD
OTHER OUTCOMES THAT CAME OUT OF
OLYMPIA. OLYMPIA HAS MORE WORK
TO DO TO HELP MAKE CITY'S HOLE
AND KEEP UP WITH INFLATIONS, SO
WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BASIC
SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS REQUEST.
AT THIS TIME, THIS IS THE OPTION
BEFORE US. WE NEED TO TAKE IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
OH, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'M HOPPING ON BOARD WITH THE
CHORUS OF FOLKS SAYING I WISH WE
HAD BETTER OPTIONS. I'LL ALSO
USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SAY I SINCERELY HOPE WE WORK
TOGETHER WITH OUR STATE
DELEGATION, THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION TO GET BETTER OPTIONS.
BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THIS IS
WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS MOMENT. YOU
KNOW, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON
AUTHORIZES THIS TAX, BUT I
UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF TAKING UP
THE SPEND PLAN WILL BE A PART OF
BUDGET. AND FROM WHAT HAS BEEN
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR, THERE
IS A LOT OF NEW SPENDING
ASSOCIATED ALSO WITH THIS. SO
WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE A NUMBER
OF THE HIGHLIGHTED INVESTMENT,
THEY ARE ALL THINGS I HAVE
CERTAINLY CHAMPIONED IN MY
CAREER. I ALSO WOULD TAKE A
MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR OWN
STRUCTURAL BUDGET CHALLENGES,
THINKING ABOUT BUDGET
SUSTAINABILITY MOVING FORWARD
AND HOW WE GRAPPLE WITH THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WE FIND OURSELVES
IN, OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET
CHALLENGES. I WANTED TO ADD TO
THOSE NOTES. I HOPE THIS IS THE
LAST SALES TAX WE APPROVE. I
SINCERELY MEAN THAT. MOVING
FORWARD, BUT FOR TODAY AND
CONSIDERING THE MOMENT WE ARE
IN, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. ONE FINAL NOTE. THE
PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN THAT CAME
WITH THE BILL, AS AN ATTACHMENT
THAT WOULD BE THE ADDITIONAL
SALES TAX WOULD BE USED FOR OVER
THE SUMMER IN JULY. WE BASICALLY
SAID 25% OF WHATEVER PUBLIC
SAFETY SALES TAX REVENUE BE
DIRECTED TOWARD RECOVERY
SERVICES, RECOVERY BASED
HOUSING, STABILIZING EXISTING
SERVICES. AND, IN FACT, I WILL
READ OFF THE EXPENDITURES IN
HERE. FIVE MILLION FOR LEAD.
THAT IS THE STABILIZING EXISTING
SERVICES BUCKET. $1.6 MILLION TO
EXPAND HEALTH 99 PROPOSED
OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM. $1.2
MILLION FOR DESC ORCA CENTER
PATIENT OUTREACH DIVISION OR POD
TEAM. $2.9 MILLION FOR DETOX AND
INPATIENT TREATMENT AND
RESIDENTIAL SET ASIDE BEDS. AND
$1.8 MILLION FOR THE THUNDERBIRD
TREATMENT CENTER. SO GLAD WE
WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE THAT AS
WELL. SO ALTOGETHER THAT EQUALS
ABOUT 32% OF THE TOTAL, WHICH IS
PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO 25. I
BELIEVE I DO HAVE MY MATH
CORRECT ON THAT. LET'S SEE, BUT
MY STAFF WOULD TELL ME IF NOT.
BUT THE POINT IS IT'S ENTIRELY
CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENTION WE
VOTED ON OVER THE SUMMER. SO
RECOVERY WINS ON THIS ONE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. IF THERE IS NO
FURTHER COMMENT? GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
SINCE YOU READ ALL THAT, I
DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT UNSAID.
I, OF COURSE, SUPPORT
THUNDERBIRD AND THE OTHER USES
OF ATTACKS. I JUST THINK WE
SHOULD BE LOOKING THE AT BUDGET
AND FIND REVENUE, NOT REVENUE,
EXCUSE ME, MONEY TO PAY FOR
THOSE THINGS OUT OF OUR EXISTING
BUDGET. BUT NOT THAT WE SHOULD
BE INCREASING THE SALES TAX.
THAT'S REALLY, AS I SAID
EARLIER, A REGRESSIVE TAX
THAT'S GOING TO HURT OUR LOW
INCOME FAMILIES, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND. I
DIDN'T READ IT TOO.
>> ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL OF THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
4 INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE PARKS,
PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE. COUNCIL BILL 121051,
RELATING TO SOLID WASTE SYSTEM
OF SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
REVISING RATES AND CHARGES FOR
SOLID WASTE SERVICES, REVISING
CREDITS TO LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS
FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
IS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE
THE COMMITTEE REPORT. AND THERE
WAS A QUESTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. YOU WERE
SAYING, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, IF
THEY COULD ALL BE READ TOGETHER?
WHAT WERE YOU MEANING?
>> I WAS -- COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THANK YOU. ACTUALLY THIS COMES
AFTER THE PUBLIC SAFETY -- I
MEAN THE PARKS.
>> SORRY.
>> BECAUSE THE COUNCIL BILLS, I
WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THOSE THREE
BEING DONE TOGETHER. SORRY. NOT
RELATED TO PARKS.
>> OKAY. PLEASE GO AHEAD. SORRY
ABOUT THAT.
>> NO WORRIES. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THERE IS
ALWAYS A CORRELATION WITH PARKS
AND PUBLIC SAFETY, SO THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. SEPTEMBER
10, THE PARKS' PUBLIC UTILITIES
AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
APPROVED COUNCIL BILL 121051,
WHICH SETS SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES SOLID WASTE RATES FOR
2026 TO 2028. THIS ORDINANCE
WOULD RAISE SOLID WASTE RATES ON
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
CUSTOMERS BY AN AVERAGE OF 3.3%
OF THOSE YEARS. TRANSPORTATION
RATES WILL BE INCREASED BY 5.2%
IN 2026 THROUGH 2028. COMBINED,
THESE NEW RATES ACCOUNT FOR
INFLATION AND ARE ALSO
CONSISTENT WITH THE OVERALL
AVERAGE RATE PATH OF 3.1% PER
YEAR PER SOLID WASTE RATES
APPROVED BY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
A YEAR AGO THROUGH THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITY STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN. I DO WANT TO
THANK THE COMMITTEE AND
DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
ENGAGING AS WELL. I KNOW THERE
WERE SOME CONCERNS, AND I KNOW
THERE WERE SOME FOLLOWUPS FOR
DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS
REGARDING SOME OF THESE RATES
AND THEN SERVICES AS WELL IN
DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. I AM
CONFIDENT THAT THESE MEASURES
WILL ASSURE A MORE HACK THE RAT
BILLING FOR SPU AND ALSO ENSURE
-- SORRY, I CAN'T READ. WILL
ENSURE ACCURATE BILLING FOR SPU
AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE TOO
WHEN SOMETHING COMES BEFORE US
AND WE SEE AN INCREASE OF RATES,
THE FIRST THING WE ALWAYS TALK
ABOUT IS AFFORDABILITY, AND THAT
HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, I KNOW FROM
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND ALSO
DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON OUR -- IN
OUR COMMITTEE. THAT IS ALSO
SOMETHING OF MINE I'M VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT. JUST TALKING TO
SPU AND TALKING ABOUT THE
THRESHOLDS FOR ELIGIBILITY FROM
DIFFERENT RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE
THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE AS
RATES ARE GOING UP. WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO RAISE THRESHOLDS AND
THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS IN
WHICH WE CAN ACTIVATE AND GET
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE
RELIEF THAT FOR SOME OF THESE
RATES. THAT IS ONE THING WE'RE
ALWAYS THINKING OF. I WILL TAKE
THIS TIME TO ALSO MENTION THAT
30%, ONE-THIRD, 30% OF OVERALL
SOLID WASTE IS ACTUALLY FOOD
WASTE. THERE'S A STRATEGIC PLAN
TO GET THAT DOWN TO 20% BY 2030.
BUT KNOW WE CAN CURE SOME OF OUR
FOOD INSECURITY NEEDS BY
REDIRECTING FOOD BEFORE IT GETS
WASTED AND EXTENDING ITS LIFE AS
WELL. THAT'S ALSO A STRATEGY
THAT'S IN OUR FOOD ACTION PLAN.
SO I WANTED TO TAKE THAT TIME.
THERE IS ALWAYS A CORRELATION
WITH FOOD ANYWHERE. ALL RIGHT,
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR BRINGING THAT
UP. YOU ARE ALWAYS SO GRACIOUS.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY. YOU AND I SHARE
THAT CONCERN. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. I
VOTED NO AT COMMITTEE AS YOU
KNOW, BUT I DO APPRECIATE, AND I
BELIEVE YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING
YOU CAN TO ADDRESS
AFFORDABILITY, SO I WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. AND THEN I
WANT TO SAY COLLEAGUES, THE
AFFORDABILITY PIECE IS SOMETHING
OF CONCERN FOR ME, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF RETIREES
IN THE DISTRICT AS YOU KNOW, WHO
ARE LIVING ON FIXED INCOME.
EVERY TIME WE RAISED SOMETHING,
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AS
ARE OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.
SO I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, YOU
KNOW, INCLUDED IN THIS RATE
INCREASE IS A SPECIAL PICKUP
RATE. AND TO BRING THAT PROGRAM
TO DO LIKE A COST SHARING MODEL,
AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, SOME
FOLKS TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE,
YOU HAVE A COUCH THAT YOU NEED
TO GET RID OF. YOU CALL FOR A
PICKUP. THEY WILL COME, THEY
WILL PICK IT UP, AND YOU PAY FOR
THAT PICK UP. THIS PARTICULAR
PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES NOW THE
RATE IS INCREASING A CERTAIN
PERCENT SO THAT EVERYONE CAN
JUST PICK UP AND THEN THEY PICK
IT UP FOR FREE. THESE ARE THE
KINDS OF THINGS WHILE I SUPPORT
SPU COMING TO PICK UP THESE
ITEMS, SO THEY'RE PROPERLY
DISPOSED OF. IT'S HARD TO
CONTINUE TO PASS ALL THESE COSTS
ONTO ALL THE CONSTITUENTS ACROSS
THE BOARD. BECAUSE A LITTLE FROM
HERE AND A LITTLE FROM THERE,
ETC., ETC. AND THEN IT ALL ADDS
UP. SO I DON'T WANT TO BE
CAVALIER ABOUT THIS OR SAY I
KNOW PEOPLE MIGHT SAY OH, WELL
IT'S A SLIGHT INCREASE. YES,
BUT WE'RE INCREASING OTHER
THINGS AS WELL. AND THESE THINGS
HAVE IMPACT TO OUR LOW INCOME
AND ALSO OUR RETIREES ACROSS THE
CITY. AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I
VOTED NO ON THIS. I'M GOING TO
VOTE NO TODAY. BUT I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE AS I SAID MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, WHO HAS DONE AN
AMAZING JOB, SHEPHERDING ALL OF
THIS THROUGH HER COMMITTEE.
AGAIN, I KNOW HOW MUCH SHE
CARES. SHE IS ALWAYS FINDING
OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND AREAS
WHERE WE CAN HELP PEOPLE AND
YOU'VE SUPPORTED A LOT OF THE
THINGS I BROUGHT IN THE PAST. SO
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, I SUPER
APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW YOU CARE
-- ANY WAY, THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES.
>> ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO FURTHER
COMMENTS. OKAY. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
5 INTO THE RECORD?
>> YES, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
GROUP ITEM FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN,
IS THAT THE CASE? OKAY. SO GO
AHEAD AND READ THOSE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DO YOU WANT TO DO EIGHT AS
WELL? OKAY, AGENDAS FIVE THROUGH
SEVEN. COUNCIL BILL 121079,
RELATED TO THE CITY'S CIVIL
INFRACTION CODE, CONFORMING TO
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH
CHANGES IN STATE LAW AND MAKING
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. COUNCIL
BILL 121080, RELATING TO THE
CITY'S CRIMINAL CODE,
CONFORMING THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE WITH CHANGES IN STATE LAW
AND MAKING TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS. AND COUNCIL BILL
121081, RELATING TO THE CITY'S
TRAFFIC CODE, CONFORMING THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH
CHANGES TO THE STATE LAW AND
MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THESE
BILL PASS.
>> AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS THEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL BILL 121079,
121080, AND 121081 ARE ALL
RELATED IN THE SENSE THIS IS
THREE BILLS THAT WILL ALIGN
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH THE
REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON.
BASICALLY ENSURE THE CITY AND
THE STATE'S LAWS ARE IN SYNC.
WE HAVE ROUTINE UPDATES TO ALIGN
THE CITY CODE TO STATE LAW. THIS
IS REALLY DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE
TO ENSURE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE AND THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT, AND ALSO SEATTLE PD, THAT
CONNECTION CAN BASICALLY
ADJUDICATE THESE LAWS. OTHERWISE
IT WILL BE FALLING ON THE KING
COUNTY. AS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
FOCUSED ON FELONIES, AND THIS
WOULD NOT BE DONE. THE CITY,
JUST TO REMIND YOU, IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MISDEMEANORS
IN THE CITY. SO THIS BASICALLY
CATCHES US UP THROUGH THE
VARIOUS BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN
PASSED OUT OF THE STATE
LEGISLATURE THROUGH THE 2025
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. AND SO
BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS
SOMETHING I ALSO SPEAK TO ON A
REGULAR BASIS. WE HAVE TO HAVE A
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO
HAVE ALL THESE PIECES WORKING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR CITY CODE
LINING WITH STATE LAW. SO THEN
WHEN THE CITY, WHEN OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT TAKES ACTION AND THEN
REFERS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE THAT THEY CAN TAKE THEIR
ACTION. THEN OBVIOUSLY SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AS WELL. THIS
IS, AGAIN, ABOUT HAVING A
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM THROUGH ALL PHASES AND
ALL PIECES OF IT. THIS IS
BASICALLY A FOCUS FOR OUR
COMMITTEE, PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE OVER THE COURSE OF
2025. COUNCIL BILL 121079
RELATES TO THE HARBOR CODE THAT
CHANGES THE DESIGNATION AND
BASICALLY BRINGS THIS UP INTO
ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS. THERE'S A
LITTERING INFRACTION PENALTY.
BASIC STUFF LIKE THAT, SO IT
ALIGNS WITH THE $125 PENALTY.
080 RELATES TO ALLOWING THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT TO WORK
THESE CHANGES IN STATE LAW THAT
RELATE TO HAZING. TO FIREARMS
AND WEAPONS RESTRICTIONS THAT
RESTRICT AND REGULATE THE SALT
WEAPONS, PROHIBIT IMPORT
DISTRIBUTION OF SALE. VEHICLE
PROBLEMS IN THE SECOND DEGREE.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT.
SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN
OUR CITY OVER THE YEARS. AGAIN,
ALL THESE THINGS ARE DONE, SO WE
CAN PROPERLY PROSECUTE AND WORK
THESE ISSUES, AND AGAIN HAVE A
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. 081 RELATES TO TRAFFIC
CODE, TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS,
AGAIN, BASED ON STATE LAWS. ONE
IS TO ENSURE, AGAIN, LINING WITH
STATE LAW LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
TO MAKE THOSE COVERS YOU SEE
ILLEGAL. INCREASE THE RESPONSE
TIME TO RESPONDING TO A TICKET
FROM 30 DAYS TO THE CURRENT 15.
AND ALSO ADDS A NEGLIGENT
DRIVING INFRACTIONS IN REGARDS
TO VULNERABLE USERS. BASICALLY
COVERING UP A GRAY, MIDDLE AREA
THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR
LEGISLATION, I MEAN, WITH OUR
CODE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. SO
AGAIN, IN SUMMARY, THIS IS ABOUT
ALIGNING SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
WITH THE REVISED CODE OF
WASHINGTON, AND I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT FOR ALL THREE BILLS,
COUNCIL BILL 121079, 121080, AND
121081, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF
THESE BILLS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WE
WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THEM
SEPARATELY. SO WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM 5?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. AND
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ --
CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM SIX?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL IS PASSED AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM -- OR WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM SEVEN?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
EIGHT INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM EIGHT, COUNCIL
BILL 121061, RELATING TO
REMOVING THE CITY RESIDENCY
REQUIREMENT FOR JUDGES
PROTEMPORE IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COLLEAGUES. AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE, I WORK WITH
PRESIDING JUDGE CRAWFORD WILLIS
IF HAD THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND
WORKING THROUGH THOSE ISSUES
AGAIN WITH AN EYE OF ENSURING WE
HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE CHALLENGE
THE COURT IS FACING THAT'S
UNDERMINING THE COURT IS
THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE
RESIDENCY IN SEATTLE. AS YOU
KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFICULT CHALLENGES ON THIS IN
TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY. ALL
THOSE KINDS OF CONSIDERATIONS.
BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO CONFLICTS
IN THE LIKE. SO THIS BILL WILL
WAIVE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
AND ALLOW FOR THE COURT TO BRING
ON MORE PRO TEM JUDGES AND TO
BASICALLY GIVE THE FLEXIBILITY
THAT'S NEEDED IN THE COURT FOR
THEM TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR
MISSION. AND THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AS THEY'RE TAKING ON
NEW WORK TO INCLUDE THE DRUG
PREVENTION AGREEMENT PROGRAM.
THINGS WE WORKED THROUGH IN
ADDITION TO BRINGING ON MORE
MARTIALS, ALL TO MAKE SURE WE
MOVE FORWARD ACROSS THE BOARD TO
INCLUDE THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
AS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON COUNCIL
BILL 121064. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT SYNOPSIS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. I'LL JUST
ASK ONE QUESTION. I REMEMBER
THIS WAS -- THERE WAS A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WHEN THEY
WERE GOING THROUGH OLYMPIA THIS
PAST SESSION, RIGHT?
>> THIS IS UNIQUE TO SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT. THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING OTHER AREAS OF THE
STATE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH.
>> GOT IT. I JUST REMEMBER BEING
A PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
AND WHY IT WAS NECESSARY. OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL IN THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL
RIGHT, NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, AND THERE IS
NOT A RESOLUTION FOR
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION TODAY.
IS THERE FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THIS RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY
AND IT ALSO RELATES TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. WE DO NOT HAVE OUR
STANDARD MEETINGS. WE DO NOT
HAVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
MEETING. SO I WANTED TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO AN
ISSUE. I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN SEEING IN PORTLAND AND
OTHER PLACES AROUND CHICAGO AND
OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE
COUNTRY. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS
BASELINE IN FACTS. WE HAVE TO
HAVE THIS BASELINED IN REALITY.
RECENTLY DHS SECRETARY, KRISTI
NOEM SAID IT IS JUST AS
SOPHISTICATED AS MS-13, AS ISIS,
AS HEZBOLLAH, AS HAMAS, AS ALL
OF THEM. AND ISIS BEING, BY THE
WAY, ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ AND
SYRIA, WHICH PREDATED IN THE
ARAB WORLD OR ISLAMIC STATE IN
IRAQ AND BEFORE THAT, AL QAEDA
AND IRAQ. I BRING THEM UP FOR A
REASON. BUT THE IDEA OF ANTIFA
IS A TERM THE RIGHT HAS JUMPED
ON. IN REALITY, THERE ARE BLACK
CLAD PROTESTERS WE'VE SEEN IN
THE CITY. THE MAYOR RECENTLY
MENTIONED BLACK BLOCK, WE'VE
HAD THESE PROTESTERS IN
CHAMBERS. I'VE SEEN THEM IN
LOCATIONS. I HAVE A SENSE OF
WHAT THEY ARE. WE'VE SEEN THEM
IN DIFFERENT PROTESTS AND THE
LIKE, BUT I JUST WANT TODAY SAY
TO COMPARE THIS GROUP WITH ISIS
AND HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS IS
ABSURD. AS I NOTED, ISIS AND ISI
AND GOING BACK, YOU CAN'T
COMPARE THE TWO. I WOULD NOTE
WAS BEHIND 8 NOVEMBER, 2004. THE
ATTACK ON THE 8th OF NOVEMBER
THAT YEAR KILLED TWO WITHIN THE
PERSONAL SECURITY DETAIL, TWO
PEOPLE I KNEW. AND THEIR ACTIONS
SAVED THE LIVES OF THAT
PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL ADVISER.
THAT WAS THE VEHICLE I USED TO
BE IN, A VEHICLE THAT WAS
TOTALED IN THE ACING THAT. SO
THE COMPARISONS FROM THE DHS
SECRETARY ARE ABSURD. WE NEED TO
GET BACK TO BEING WHERE WE NEED
TO BE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE
ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE US. WE
ALSO NEED TO GET TO A PLACE
WHERE OUR PROTESTS ARE DONE IN
THE MANNER OF OUR NAME SAKE,
MARTIN LUTHER KING. THIS IS
SOMETHING MOST PROTESTERS DO. I
WANT TO THANK THEM. I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT TO PROTEST, AND I
THINK DOING SO IN THE MANNER OF
OUR NAME SAKE AS A COUNTY,
MARTIN RUTH KING, IS IMPORTANT.
SO I ASK TO DO SO TO INCLUDE
THOSE, AS I SAY PROTESTERS, THAT
WE ALL DO SO, TO SHOW EVEN
FURTHER, OUT OF TOUCH, OUR DHS
SECRETARY WITH THEIR ASSERTIONS
THAT WHAT WE HAVE IN PORTLAND OR
CHICAGO IS SOMEHOW EQUATED TO
ISIS, HEZBOLLAH, AND HAMAS.
THAT'S ABSURD AS NOTED IN MY
EXAMPLE, EXTREMELY ABSURD. SO
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR ME,
ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THIS
ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ALL BASED
ON WHAT IS REALITY, SO WE CAN
FACE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE
TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE FOR YOUR REMARKS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE ALWAYS YOUR
LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC
SAFETY. SEPARATELY, I DID WANT
TO SAY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A FULL
COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE WE'RE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET
PROCESS. OCTOBER IS BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. THIS IS
A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR
REMEMBER IGNITION AND ALSO TO
REMIND FOLKS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
TO WOMEN GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS. IT
SAVES LIVES. I DIDN'T WANT THE
MONTH TO END WITHOUT RECOGNIZING
THE MONTH AS BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH AND REMINDING
FOLKS IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, GO
GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM. IT REALLY
DOES SAVE LIVES, SO THANK YOU.
THAT'S WHY I'M WEARING MY PINK
RIBBON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL SAY
IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER, THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT, NOT SEEING ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS. HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, WE'LL NOW
MOVE INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL RIGHT, AS PRESIDING OFFICER,
I'M ANNOUNCING SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION. PURPOSE OF
WHICH IS TO DISCUSS PENDING
POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL LITIGATION.
THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE SESSION
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- FOR THE
COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL
LEGAL MATTERS WITH CITY
ATTORNEYS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
A LEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS
PRESENT TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL
RECEIVES QUESTIONS OF POLICY,
RESERVES THE QUESTIONS OF POLICY
FOR OPEN SESSION. I EXPECT THE
TIME OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO
END BY 5:15? ALL RIGHT. 5:15. IF
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO BE
EXTENDED BEYOND THAT TIME, I
WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND
THE EXPECTED DURATION. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS EXECUTIVE
SESSION, THIS COUNCIL MEETING
WILL AUTOMATICALLY ADJOURN AND
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF OCTOBER 21 WILL BE
CANCELED DUE TO ONGOING BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS AND THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL MEET AGAIN ON
OCTOBER 28, 2025 AT 2:00 P.M.
COUNCIL IS NOW IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION. COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE
LOG ON TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
ZOOM MEETING. [ MEETING WILL
RESUME AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION ]