>>> THE MARCH 19th, 2025 FINANCE
NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT'S 9:31 A.M. I'M DAN
STRAUSS. THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK CALL
THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> FIVE PRESENT. ZERO EXCUSED.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE THE
APPOINTMENT OF KIERSTEN GROVE
AND A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON
PROTECTION REGULATIONS. WE WILL
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. BEFORE I READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS, WE DO HAVE DAVID
HAYNES SIGNED UP ONLINE. BUT NOT
PRESENT. NOW IS THE TIME TO CALL
IN. I SEE YOU ARE NOW PRESENT.
SO, THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. WITHIN THE PER
VIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP? JUST ONE?
>> JUST ONE ONLINE.
>> THANK YOU. EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES. WE WILL
TAKE OUR COMMENTS NOW. PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
OUR ONLINE SPEAKERS. AND
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT. SPEAKERS
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME. PUBLIC
COMMENT IS OPEN. DAVID, WELCOME.
STAR 6.
>> HI THANK YOU, HELLO. THERE
HASN'T BEEN TOO MANY COMMITTEE
MEETINGS FOR THE FINANCE NATIVE
TRIBAL COMMITTEE. WHY IS THAT?
IT SEEMS THIS FINANCE COMMITTEE
COULD BE INTRODUCING LAWING THAT
WOULD OFFSET THE IMPACTS OF THE
IMMORAL SLAVE. STEAL TOO MUCH OF
THE CAPITAL BEGANS FROM THE
ACTUAL WORKERS. JUSTIFYING A
TRUE DEMOCRACY OF LEGISLATION TO
MAKE IT BENEFIT THE COMMONWEALTH
THAT HAS DRAINED OF ALL OF ITS
CAPITAL GAINS GENERATED BY THE
WORKERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT ARE PITTED AGAINST EACH
OTHER EVERY THREE MONTH
QUARTERLY REPORT THAT NEVER GETS
SHARED WITH ALL THE UNFORESEEN
CAPITAL GAINS THEY ARGUE ABOUT
TAXES THAT ARE STILL OWED TO THE
WORKERS. WITH THE WORKERS WHO DO
ALL THE WORK. PROVING THE
MIDDLEMEN OF OUR IMMORAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM HATE THE HONEST
FORTHRIGHT DILIGENT WORKING
CLASS. THE VERY FOUNDATION OF
OUR CIVILIZED SOCIETY BEING
FORCED TO LIVE PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK AS SOCIETY IMPLODES AND
TAX REVENUES TANK. CRIMINALS
EXEMPTING FROM JAIL.
PRIORITIZING FOR HOMELESS AND
HOUSING SERVICES BEFORE
INNOCENT, PEOPLE RACISTLY
DISCRIMINATED MAKING IT SAFE TO
GO OUT. WHILE WORKERS IN SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE BEING BACK
STABBED BY 20th CENTURY RENTALS
AND LEASE SPECULATED RENTALS,
JUSTIFYING LEGISLATION TO
INCENTIVIZE BANKS AND FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS TO PRIORITIZE
FINANCING NEW HOMES AND
REDEVELOPMENTS THAT WOULD CREATE
MORE ROBUST FLOOR SPACE AND
HIGHER LEVELS IN HOUSING AND
MULTIUSE WITH BETTER FLOOR
PLANS. TO OFFSET THE SUFFERING
OF THESE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL
REAL ESTATE.
>> THANK YOU DAVID. THAT DOES
CONCLUDE ALL OF THE PUBLIC
SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE PHYSICALLY
OR REMOTELY PRESENT. WE WILL
MOVE ONTO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLE OF ITEM ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 3094, KIERSTEN
GROVE AS DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR A
TERM TO MARCH 1, 2029 FOR A
BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. INTERIM DIRECTOR
GROVE JOINED US AT THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE MARCH 5th AS
WELL AS COO OF MARCO LOWE. THE
COUNCIL THAT DAY FINANCIALIZED
AND SENT WRITTEN QUESTIONS TO
HER. SHE HAS RESPONDED AND WE
FORWARDED THOSE RESPONSES OUT
THIS PREVIOUS FRIDAY. THE
ANSWERS WHERE ALSO ATTACHED TO
THE AGENDA. I'LL TURN IT TO
YOU. I HAVE THE QUESTIONS HERE.
I'LL ASK A FEW QUESTIONS AND
COLLEAGUES IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
AFTER THEIR BRIEF INTRODUCTION
WILL BE THE TIME. THANK YOU,
OVER TO YOU MARCO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST
WANTED, WE ARE BACK HERE DOING A
QUICK INTRODUCTION OF KIERSTEN
GROVE. YOU WONDER WHAT THE FAS
DOES AND THEN YOU WONDER WHAT
THEY DON'T TOUCH BY THE SECOND
WEEK. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND
THOUGHT THE COUNCIL PUT INTO
THOSE AND THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK. I
APPRECIATED THE THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS YOU SENT. I WANTED TO
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE
DONE. THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR
DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF FAS
OPERATIONS. I APPRECIATE YOUR
CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AT THE
BALLOT CENTER TO MAKE THE CENTER
A HUB FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
FOR STANDING HIGH PAY
CONSTRUCTION CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. MY TEAM
ENJOYED SHOWING YOU AROUND THE
FIRE GARAGE. AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. FOR OUR
MEETING LAST WEEK. IT WILL BRING
AMAZING THINGS TO OUR CITY. AND
WE AND FAS LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THOSE EFFORTS THROUGH
CONTRACTING FLEETS AND FACILITY
MEETS. FINALLY, THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S
WINBY EFFORTS AND THE LAUNCH OF
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ON
CONTRACTING EQUITY. I HAVE
ENJOYED WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU
AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
AS I MENTIONED WHEN I WAS HERE
TWO WEEKS AGO, I WORKED AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR ALMOST 13
YEARS. I HAVE MADE SEATTLE MY
HOME AND IN RAISING MY FAMILY
HERE. I'M DEEPLY COMMITTED AND
CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES. I WORKED IN A
NUMBER OF CITY DEPARTMENTS. I
FEEL PARTICULARLY HONORED TO BE
HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT MY
LEADERSHIP AT FAS. WE ARE TRULY
THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY. AND
PLAY A PART IN ALMOST EVERY
ELEMENT OF CITY SERVICE AND I
CAN'T THANK MY TEAM AT FAS
ENOUGH AND IN PARTICULAR THE FAS
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE AND OUR
DIVISION DIRECTORS. EACH ONE
BRINGS A UNIQUE KNOWLEDGE SKILL
SET THAT MAKES OUR TEAM STRONGER
AS A WHOLE. WHETHER IT IS
BUILDING AND MAINTAINING CITY
FACILITY IT IS. SUPPORTING
SEATTLE RESIDENTS, ADMINISTERING
THE CITY'S REGULATORY PROGRAMS.
PROCURING, MAINTAINING OR
FUELING THE CITY'S FLEET
VEHICLES, RUNNING THE SEATTLE
ANIMAL SHELTER, I'M INCREDIBLY
PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO AT FAS.
DURING THE TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN
ACTING DIRECTOR WE HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED A LOT WORTH NOTING.
OUR SUCCESS AND CONNECTING WOMEN
IN MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES
WITH OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE
CITY. WE ARE ACHIEVING
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES FOR WINBY
BUSINESSES. THERE IS A PET
VACCINATION CLINIC HAPPENING AT
THE RAINIER WAREHOUSE. WE PUT
THE CITY'S 500th ELECTRIC
VEHICLE INTO OPERATION. AND
FINALLY, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
DEPARTMENT WIDE TRAINING AND
SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO HELP OUR TEAM
DEVELOP CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS
THAT FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP GROWTH
WHILE CENTERING EQUITY. I'M
VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU
TODAY ABOUT LEADING FAS AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THE
THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS YOU
PROVIDED PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU INTERIM DIRECTOR. I
WILL PASS IT TO MY COLLEAGUES
FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
BEFORE I ASK MY QUESTIONS. I
WILL KICK US OFF TO SAY FAS IS
THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY. YOU
OPERATE OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR
FLEETS. YOU PROVIDE FOR OUR
ADMINISTRATION. YOU CREATE AND
ACCEPT THE CONTRACTS I WAS JUST
INVESTIGATING AN ISSUE WE WERE
HAVING WITH THE PARKS RFP. THEY
DON'T DO IT THEMSELVES. THEY
RELY ON FAS TO PUT OUT THE RFPs
. YOU ARE OUR FRONT DOOR AND OUR
FRONT DESK. IT IS AN ACTUAL
PLEASURE TO GET TO WORK IN THE
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IN
BALLARD BECAUSE I GET TO SEE THE
FRONT DESK TO THE CITY. YOUR
EMPLOYEES OFTENTIMES MEET PEOPLE
ON THEIR MOST UPSET DAYS. AND,
THEY DO REALLY HARD WORK ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY. AND IT IS
REALLY AN HONOR TO GET TO SEE
THEM DOING THEIR FINE TEST. AND
SO, WITH THAT, I'LL HOLD MY
QUESTIONS FOR A MOMENT BUT I
WILL KICK OFF, I DIDN'T ASK A
QUESTION IN WRITING BECAUSE WE
TALK ABOUT IT SO OFTEN. AND THAT
IS ABOUT THE BACK IN BUILDING.
WHAT IS THE TIME LINE I THINK,
YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY WHAT
YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY SO MANY
TIMES IS WE NEED TO MOVE FASTER
EVEN IF WE ARE STILL ON TIME AND
I KNOW SOME UNEXPECTED BARRIERS
HAVE ARISEN. MY GOAL IS TO GET
THAT PROJECT MOVING AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT WE CAN MEET
OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AGREEMENTS. ANY UPDATES YOU WANT
TO SHARE AND THEN I WILL OPEN IT
UP TO MY COLLEAGUES.
>> AS YOU KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT,
WE HAVE DONE SOME FINANCIAL
FOUNDATION WORK TO PROMPT US TO
LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY
AT THE PEERS HOLDING THE
BUILDING UP. WE ARE DOING THAT
WORK NOW IN INVESTIGATING
WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL LEAD TO
ADDITIONAL EFFORTS. BUT SHOULD
BE COMPLETE WITH 30% DESIGN IN
THE COMING MONTHS. AT WHICH
POINT WE'LL HAVE A BETTER
ESTIMATE BOTH ON FINAL TIMING
AND TOTAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH
IT. SO MOVING ALONG, CERTAINLY,
AND, WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE
CONCRETE UPDATES IN THE COMING
MONTHS.
>> OKAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
COLLEAGUES, AS ALWAYS, THE
FASTER WE CAN MOVE, THE BETTER.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HONOR
THAT. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS.
WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THE FIRE GARAGE. IT
IS AN UNDERVALUED AND I WOULD
ARGUE UNDERRESOURCED . I TOURED
THE FACILITY AND THE WORK THEY
DO FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WITH
THE VEHICLES, INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. AND I RECOGNIZE WHAT
YOU DO FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY
RELATED FACILITIES, CHIEF
SCOGGINS GAVE ME AN UPDATE
YESTERDAY. MONDAY. ANOTHER
ISSUE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAINTAIN THOSE FACILITIES. I
HAVE BEEN TO A NUMBER OF FIRE
STATIONS. THERE IS ONE IN CAP
HILL THAT HAS A LOT OF
CHALLENGES AND THESE ARE THINGS
WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH BECAUSE
IT GOES TO OUR FUTURE CAPACITY.
OUR CAPABILITY TO RESPOND. I
RECOGNIZE THAT AND I RECOGNIZE
YOUR ROLE IN THAT. I WILL DO MY
BIT, TOO. HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE
A PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT BRINGS
IT TO THE FORE INSTEAD OF
SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT. BECAUSE IT
IS THAT IMPORTANT. MY QUESTION,
I HAD A QUESTION RELATE TODAY
BEN ROYAL HALL. YOU SPOKE TO THE
BEN ROYAL HALL PIECE. THE GARDEN
OF REMEMBRANCE DOESN'T HAVE
THAT KIND OF STRUCTURE. IT
DOESN'T HAVE WHAT BEN ROYAL
HALL HAS HOPEFULLY THE SURVEY
SHOWS THE MEMBRANE NOT TO BE AN
ISSUE. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT
AND SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE
GARDEN?
>> FIRST I SHOULD NOTE THE
OFFICE OF CITY AND FINANCE
ACTUALLY HAS THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH BEN AROYO HALL. SO MY
KNOWLEDGE OF THIS IS SECONDARY
TO THEIRS. BUT WE'LL NOTE THAT
IT DOES MANAGE THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS BOTH FOR BEN AROYA
AND FOR THE GARDEN OF
REMEMBRANCE. SO, THEY ARE THE
OVERALL BODY. WE DO FAS DOES GET
FACILITY UPDATES ON BOTH THE
GARDEN AS WELL AS THE BUILDING
ITSELF. AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT THE OUTCOME OF THE MEMBRANE
CITY PARTICULARLY WAS
PARTICULARLY POSITIVE IN TERMS
OF ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE THAT
WAS THERE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. THAT'S A
LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE TO ME.
I DIDN'T REALIZE. I WAS
THINKING OF THE GARDEN AS A
SEPARATE ENTITY. IN SOME WAYS IT
MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE GARAGE
IS UNDERNEATH IT AND THEY WOULD
HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AS IT
RELATES TO THE GARAGE. THANK YOU
FOR THAT. PLEASE LET EVERYBODY
KNOW I WILL BE WATCHING AND
FOLLOWING CLOSELY. COLLEAGUES,
OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M SEEING NO
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND
INTERIM DIRECTOR GROVE. COO
LOWE. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING
HERE AS WELL. AND I TOO ENJOYED
OUR CONVERSATION LAST WEEK. I
HEARD THAT, THANK YOU. IT'S
BEEN GREAT TO GET TO KNOW YOU
THESE PAST FEW WEEKS. WHEN WE
MET LAST WEEK, ME AND MY OFFICE
SHARED WITH YOU THREE PRIORITIES
I HAVE FOR YOU AND FAS.
EXCELLENT DELIVERY OF
INFRASTRUCTURE, CAPITAL PROJECTS
MAKING SURE THEY WERE DELIVERED
ON TIME AND ON BUDGET.
ACCELERATED DELIVERY. YOU PLAY A
ROLE IN THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY.
AND THEN, THIRD AND FINALLY,
GOOD OLD FASHIONED CONSTITUENT
SERVICES AND RESPONSIVENESS AND
BEING A CONNECTIVE ENABLER. AS
YOU KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENT MANAGES
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE FIND IT
FIX IT APP AND PLAY A CENTRAL
ROLE IN THAT CENTRALIZED
REPORTING SYSTEM FOR ANY
CONSTITUENT ISSUES UNDER THE
SUN. THOSE THREE PRIORITIES. I
APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES TO OUR
BROADER QUESTIONS REQUEST. OUR
FOURTH PRIORITY, I WAS THINKING
OF, I SHOULD HAVE SHARED IT. IT
KIND OF TIES INTO THE FIRST TWO
BUT I WILL SHARE IT HERE AND
JUST BE CURIOUS TO HEAR YOUR
APPROACH TO THIS. I DON'T ENVY
YOU OR ANY DEPARTMENT HEAD
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE
COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUALS OF MY
PRIORITIES IN THIS BODY. THAT
YOU POINT DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR.
BUT THEN TRYING TO HARMONIZE IT
ALL TOGETHER. I THINK IN THIS
ROLE, IT IS PROBABLY A LITTLE
EASIER THAN SOME OTHERS. A
FOURTH PRIORITY WOULD LOVE TO
SHARE WITH YOU. DELIVERY OF
BASIC CITY SERVICES. HERE IS AN
EXAMPLE. AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE
CENTER IN WEST SEATTLE,
SOUTHWEST TEAM LIFE CENTER,
DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM
CHIEF SOUTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL WHERE I HOLD MY OFFICE
HOURS, LAST YEAR I NOTICED SOME
PESTY POTHOLES IN THE PARKING
LOT. AND THAT REALLY IRKS ME.
BECAUSE ONE, IT IS A SYMPTOM OF
INOPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE. AND
TWO, IN MY VIEW, THAT'S THE
PRINCIPLE FOCUS OF LOCAL
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AT LEAST
AS A STARTING POINT. AND IF WE
ARE UNABLE TO ALIGN AND
EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY
DELIVER THOSE BASIC SERVICES OF
FILLING AND REPAIRING POTHOLES.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE US AS
THE CITY BEING ABLE TO DELIVER
ON EVEN BIGGER GRANDER GOALS.
AND SO, WHEN I SAW THOSE
POTHOLES, I WAS IRKED, ANNOYED.
AND I CONNECTED WITH PARK
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ AND IT WAS
PATCHED. THE PARKING LOT ITSELF
STILL NEEDS SOME WORK. BUT
REGARDLESS, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE
OF EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES. AS
WE LEARNED, THE DEPARTMENT HAS A
VERY BROAD EXPANSIVE PORTFOLIO
AND SCOPE OF WORK WITHIN ITS
MISSION. HOW WOULD YOU
PRIORITIZE MY FOURTH PRIORITY
THERE? WHAT KIND OF
OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE TO
BUILD UPON THAT WORK?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO FAS, MUCH LIKE YOU TALKED
ABOUT, THEY COME UP FAIRLY
FREQUENTLY. AND WE HAVE
IMPLEMENTED A SYSTEM WHERE IF AN
EMERGENT SYSTEM HAPPENS, STAFF
IMMEDIATELY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REPORT THAT TO AN INTERNAL
LIST. TO HANDLE THAT PARTICULAR
ISSUE. ONE EXAMPLE MIGHT BE IF
THERE IS AN ISSUE AT THE SEATTLE
ANIMAL SHELTER, WE HAVE AN
ELECTRICAL SURGE SITUATION
HAPPENING IMMEDIATELY. THEY
REPORTED IT. WE ALSO HAVE
ELECTRICIANS AND A SPAT LINE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO RESPOND. I
THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY
AND PROBABLY MANY OTHER
DEPARTMENTS. HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DO THE SAME THING SIMILARLY.
I'M SURE, SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ
IS ALSO VERY AWARE OF THESE
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU. AND MY NEXT AND
FINAL QUESTION IS, THIS WHOLE
NOTION OF BREAKING DOWN SILOS.
AND THE MAYOR HAS A ONE SEATTLE
VISION AND APPROACH THAT MANY OF
US ON THIS FLOOR HAVE ADOPTED.
WE TRY TO LIVE UP TO IT AS BEST
AS POSSIBLE. THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE SOME GAP
FOR OUR PURPORTED VALUES. AND
PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVED
EXPERIENCES. AND ONE OF THE
PERCEPTIONS IS LIKE, THE
DEPARTMENTS ARE SILOED. AND WHEN
CONSTITUENTS REPORT AN ISSUE,
THE PERCEPTION SOMETIMES IS
THERE IS A LOT OF FINGER
POINTING AND WHO'S ON FIRST.
AND WELL, IT IS CONFUSING TO
CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
CARE IF IT IS A SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROBLEM OR A SEATTLE PARKS
DEPARTMENT PROBLEM OF THE 40
PLUS CITY DEPARTMENTS PROBLEM.
THEY DON'T CARE. NOR SHOULD
THEY. NOR SHOULD THEY UNDERSTAND
OR COMPREHEND WHO ARE THE
DECISION MAKERS AND WHO SHOULD
BE INVOLVED IN THAT SOLUTION?
FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE IT IS A
CITY PROBLEM. THAT'S IT. AND
THE PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE, THE
PEOPLE AT THIS DAIS SHOULD
UNDERSTAND THE BACK END NUANCES
OF WHO IS ON FIRST. BUT
CONSTITUENTS, IT SHOULD BE
SEAMLESS FOR THEM. AND I FEEL
LIKE YOUR DEPARTMENT IN
PARTICULAR HAS A VERY UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY GIVEN THE INTEGRATED
APPROACH AND ROLE THAT YOU HAVE
WITH THE FIND IT FIX IT APP FOR
EXAMPLE. TO HELP MAKE THAT
EXPERIENCE FOR TAX PAYING
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND
CONSTITUENTS A LITTLE MORE
SEAMLESS. AND SO, JUST CURIOUS
TO HEAR YOUR VISION FOR DOING
EXACTLY THAT. AND HOW WE CAN DO
BETTER.
>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU
ARE SAYING. WHEN YOU SAID IT IS
A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO FILL THE
POTHOLES I THOUGHT THAT WAS
UNACCEPTABLE. WE SHOULD DO THAT
FASTER. AND FAS HAS DONE A GOOD
JOB THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
WHERE THE CITY HAS EVERY CITY
DID, A LOT OF THINGS ON THE
FRONT RUNNER. THE MAYOR
MENTIONED THE PACKED PROGRAM.
AND I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB AND
I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER
AND IT COMES DOWN TO
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SILO BUSTING
AND THE DEPARTMENTS NEED TO KNOW
THEY ARE EXPECTED. KIERSTEN HAS
X AMOUNT OF POWER AND FAS KEPT
THE LIGHTS ON FOR A LOT OF OUR
CUSTOMER SERVICE WORK. BUT AS A
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR IT IS HARD
TO GET DEPARTMENTS TO LISTEN TO
YOU AS ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. SO
ULTIMATELY, AND I MEAN THIS
SINCERELY, AS WE DO THIS EFFORT
IMPLEMENT HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE GET RESPONSES THAT ARE
QUICK, THEY HAVE UPDATES. FIND
IT FIX IT DOESN'T EVEN TELL YOU
IF IT IS RESOLVED. IT DOESN'T
MEAN IT IS RESOLVED. IT MEANS WE
CLOSED THE TICKET OUT WHICH IS
INFURIATING TO SOMEONE WHO PUT
IN TWO TICKETS LAST NIGHT
INCLUDING MYSELF. SO I WELCOME
YOU TO BRING ME BACK TO THE
TABLE WITH THE OTHERS TO MAKE
SURE WE WORK WITH THE COUNCIL.
KEEP YOU INFORMED AND THAT YOU
ARE SEEING WHAT THE MAYOR HOPES
TO SEE IN IT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. AND I WOULD AGREE
THAT THE SYSTEM AS IT CURRENTLY
EXISTS AND OPERATES TODAY IS
GENERALLY GOOD. IT'S NOT GREAT
AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GET BETTER JUST LIKE IN
EVERYTHING IN LIFE. SO ANYWAY, I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU. AND MY COLLEAGUES TO DO
EXACTLY THAT. THANK YOU MR.
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
VICE CHAIR RIVERA. I SEE YOUR
HAND.
>> THANK YOU. AND TERM DIRECTOR
GROVE AND I WANT TO SAY I AGREE
WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
GENERAL SERVICE, CITY SERVICES
CAN BE MUCH IMPROVED IN THE
CITY. I WILL SAY THAT IS NOT TO
YOUR POINT, MARCO, IT IS NOT THE
RESPONSIBILITY NECESSARILY,
SOLELY OF FAS. I WILL SAY I
THINK THE FIND IT FIX IT APP HAS
BEEN WORKING THE BEST I HAVE
SEEN SINCE MY TIME AT THE CITY
IN YESTER YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE
ONE CENTRAL REPOSITORY THAT
FOLKS COULD REPORT ALL THE
THINGS THEY NEEDED. ANY RESIDENT
CAN REPORT ANYTHING THROUGH FIND
IT FIX IT. IN MY OPINION, ET IS
GETTING STUCK AT THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS WHICH IS WHAT YOU
ARE DESCRIBING SO OUR
EXPERIENCES ARE MATCHING. SO I
WILL SAY THAT YES, JUST AS A
CITY, WE NEED A BETTER RESPONSE
TO CONSTITUENTS' NEEDS ACROSS
THE BOARD AND THAT IS NOT THE
SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF FAS AND I
WILL SAY AGAIN I THINK FAS IS
DOING A GOOD JOB FARMING OUT AND
THEY HAVE TO RELY ON CITY
DEPARTMENT TO DO THE WORK AND
SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THEN
FAS WILL GET BLAMED BECAUSE THEY
HAVEN'T RESPONDED WHEN THEY
CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT
WHICH AGAIN, THANK YOU MARCO FOR
RAISING THAT. CHAIR I DON'T
HAVE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK
INTERIM DIRECTOR GROVE DID A
GREAT JOB ANSWERING THE
QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A COMMENT
AS I SAID LAST TIME. I HAVE HAD
THE PLEASURE AND HONOR OF
WORKING WITH INTERIM DIRECTOR
GROVE IN THE FORMER MAYOR'S
OFFICE WHERE WE WERE BOTH
OPERATIONS MANAGERS AND I WILL
SAY AS A PEER AND COLLEAGUE AT
THE TIME, I HAD, I WATCHED HER
DO HER WORK AS I WAS DOING MY
WORK HANDS ON AND WE
COLLABORATED TOGETHER. MANY
OTHER TIMES. FAS WAS UNDER HER
PORTFOLIO AT THE TIME SO SHE HAS
BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT
FOR A LONG TIME. AS WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT TODAY, THE
DEPARTMENT HANDLES EVERYTHING
FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAU
WHICH INCLUDES THE FRONT DESK OF
CITY HALL. WHERE FOLKS LIKE ZEB
HILL, HE IS A GREAT PERSON WHO
WELCOMES PEOPLE IN A VERY WARM
WAY. AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR TEAM
MEMBERS HERE. YOU HAVE A GREAT
TEAM AT FAS. I KNOW THIS IS
ABOUT YOU AND I KNOW YOU HAVE
GREAT STAFF TO HELP YOU DO THE
WORK THAT YOU DO. YOU ALSO
MAINTAIN OUR BUILDINGS HERE AND
DO OUR CHARGING STATIONS AT THE
GARAGE. YOU DO THE ANIMAL
SHELTER. YOU MANAGE THE CITY'S
WIMBY PROGRAM AS WE HEARD AND
SET POLICIES FOR OUR CONTRACTING
WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS AND YOU
HELP DEPARTMENTS. THERE ARE
THINGS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE
DEPARTMENTS SEEK YOUR ADVICE ON
THEIR CONTRACTING. I KNOW WHEN I
WAS DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, WE
REACHED OUT TO GET ADVICE
ONSETTING UP CONTRACTS AND HELP.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU
WOULDN'T HEAR UNLESS YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW IF YOU KNOW. SO I KNOW
THAT YOU ALL DO ALL OF THAT
GREAT WORK. KIERSTEN, I KNOW
YOU, I KNOW YOU WORK ETHIC. I
KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK AND I
KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCES. YOU HAVE
BEEN WITH THE CITY 13 YEARS BUT
THAT IS NOT YOUR FIRST CITY
EXPERIENCE. I KNOW THAT ABOUT
YOU. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO
HAVE YOU HERE AND I REALLY,
COLLEAGUES CANNOT LEND MY
ENDORSEMENT TO INTERIM DIRECTOR
GROVE MORE STRONGLY. SO THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SING
HER PRAISES, CHAIR. I WILL KICK
IT BACK TO YOU.
>> AN EXCITING DAY FOR ALL OF
US. I ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT
LEASING POLICIES BECAUSE THE
CITY IS A PRETTY MAJOR PROPERTY
OWNER WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL
OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, CITY
HALL, SO I WAS WONDERING WHEN IF
A SMALL BUSINESS WANTS TO OPEN
UP SHOP AT A COMMUNITY CENTER,
THIS WAS PROMPTED BY THE BAGEL
SHOP CLOSING. MY POINT IS THAT
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE LEASE
TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COULD ADD
VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY. ET
CETERA. SO, I WAS JUST
WONDERING. DO WE HAVE POLICIES
ABOUT THAT? ARE YOU ALLOWED TO
MAKE MONEY ON CITY PROPERTY, ET
CETERA, AND WHAT HOOPS DO YOU
HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH AND YOU
INDICATED IN YOUR RESPONSE IT
DEPENDS ON THE DEPARTMENT. SO,
COULD YOU JUST EXPAND ON THAT?
>> SURE, THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. I APPRECIATE IT. IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO FAS AND OUR
DOWNTOWN CORE BUILDINGS. WE OWN
AND MANAGE OVER 100 DIFFERENT
BUILDINGS. BUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS
HAVE JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY.
WE HAVE CITY HALL. THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL TOWER. POLICE AND FIRE
STATIONS. PARKING WOULD HAVE
THEIR OWN POLICIES AS WOULD
CENTER. SO THOSE ARE SORT OF THE
BIG ONES. FAS HAS A FEW RETAIL
SPACES. ONE OF THEM YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT EARLIER IN SEATTLE
CITY HALL. AND SOME AS WELL IN
THE MUNICIPAL TOWER. FOR US, WE
CAN COLLECT RENT FROM A
BUSINESS. AND THE CONDITIONS
HAVE REALLY THE MARKET
CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED QUITE A
BIT WE WERE FULLY OCCUPIED
BEFORE COVID AND HAVE HAD MORE
TURNOVER THAN WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED IN THE ENTIRETY OF
THE TIME I HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY
SINCE THEN. SO OUR GOAL IS TO
GET BUSINESSES IN. TO CREATE
FOOT TRAFFIC, TO PROVIDE
AMENITIES FOR THE TENANTS OF THE
BUILDING AND TO MEET THE POLICY
GOALS OF THE CITY. PARTICULARLY
THINGS WE CAN DO TO FOSTER
BUSINESSES. AND ENSURE THEY ARE
ABLE TO EXIST AND ACTUALLY MAKE
A PROFIT. THAT'S A TOUGH
BALANCE. WE DON'T WANT
BUSINESSES THAT ARE TOO CLOSELY
COMPETING BECAUSE IT CAN BE HARD
TO SUSTAIN THAT. SO FOR US, IT
IS REALLY ABOUT THE TENANT
AMENITY THAT THE BUSINESS
PROVIDES AND MAKING SURE OUR
EXISTING AND FUTURE TENANTS CAN
REMAIN OPERATIONAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I MENTION TO MENTION, THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT PIECE. AT THE
CENTER OF THE WORK SHE DOES, IS
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT IS
REALLY CRITICAL TO ANY
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND I
DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS
CONVERSATION WITHOUT POINTING
THAT PIECE OUT. AT THE END OF
THE DAY, WE ARE PROVIDING THE
SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS. THAT
IS PARAMOUNT TO DIRECTOR
GROVE'S WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
GOING TO DIG INTO THE QUESTIONS
THAT YOU ANSWERED FOR US. I WILL
START WITH COMBINING NUMBER TWO
AND NUMBER THREE. TELL US A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE
ACHIEVED AT THE INTERIM DIRECTOR
AND WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING?
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. I
MENTIONED ALREADY, I'M
INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR
PERFORMANCE AND THE WORKER WITH
HAVE DONE TO BRING OPPORTUNITIES
TO WIMBY BUSINESSES. WE HAVE
SEEN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR BUSINESSES TO WORK NOT JUST
WITH US BUT WITH DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS THE CITY. ADDITIONALLY,
THE ANIMAL SHELTER, THE
VACCINATION CLINICS WE HAVE
STARTED ARE UNIQUE. IT IS THE
FIRST TIME WE HAVE DONE THIS AS
A CITY AND IT HAS CHANGED THE
WAY WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER
SERVICES. WE HAVE A LOCATION IN
INNER BAY. WHICH AT THE TIME OF
ITS OPENING WAS AT A MORE
CENTRAL LOCATION. IT IS NOT NOW.
WE DID 1500 VACCINATIONS. WE ARE
DOING A CLINIC TODAY AND WOULD
LOVE TO EXPAND THAT. I THINK
ADDITIONALLY, YOU ELECTRIFICATIF
OUR BUILDINGS AND FLEETS. WE
HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
IMPLEMENTING GOALS. THEY ARE
VERY EXPENSIVE. ABDOMEN AND
THERE IS AN ART AND SCIENCE TO
GETTING THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR
BUCK. WE NEED TO LEVERAGE
FUNDING TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM
BOTH OF FLEET AND OUR BUILDINGS.
IN A WAY THAT IS BOTH
ENVIRONMENTALLY AND FISCALLY
SUSTAINABLE. I AM VERY COMMITTED
TO IMPROVING OUR CUSTOMER
SERVICE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE
WORK THAT OUR FOLKS DO AT OUR
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS THAT
DIRECT PERSON TO PERSON
INTERACTION IS JUST AMAZING. I
HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER AT OUR
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS AND
EXPERIENCED JUST SO MUCH BENEFIT
FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND I SEE
THE WORK THEY DO AND THE WAY
THEY ARE CONNECTING AND REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. I THINK THERE IS
SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THINK
ABOUT USING OUR DATA AND THE
ABILITY OF NEW TECH KNOWLEDGES
TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE
REPRESENTATIVES WITH BETTER
INFORMATION SO THEY CAN ALSO
SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS. QUICKER
AND EASIER. AND THEN, IN TERMS
OF BIGGEST CHALLENGES, WE HAVE
AN AGING BUILDING STOCK AND AN
AGING FLEET. AND WE ARE ALSO IN
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE HAVE A
LOT OF INFLATION. AND WE ARE A
DEPARTMENT THAT HAS TO PURCHASE
GOODS AND SERVICES IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR
FLEET. SO THE BALANCE OF
PROVIDING THOSE WITH THE SAME
AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT EVERYTHING
COSTS MORE IS A CHALLENGE I
THINK. IT IS A CHALLENGE TO
DELIVER THE SERVICE AND A
CHALLENGE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. WHO
ARE ASKED TO DO MORE WITH WHAT
COMES TO BE LESS. FOR US THAT
MEANS WE HAVE TO THINK
CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW WE
PRIORITIZE OUR LIFE SAFETY
SYSTEMS IN OUR BUILDINGS AND HOW
WE PRIORITIZE FLEET MAINTENANCE
AND THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT
THE SAFETY OF OUR VEHICLES AND
WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING
INVESTMENTS LONG TERM. SO WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
BUDGET OFFICE TO DO THAT IN THE
COMING YEARS. AND, IT IS REALLY
A QUESTION OF PLANNING AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD
UNDERSTANDING.
>> ABSOLUTELY. OPERATING AND
MAINTAINING BUILDINGS, AN OUNCE
OF PREVENTION IS CHEAPER THAN A
POUND OF CURE. I UNDERSTAND YOU
HAVE TO MAKE THOSE BALANCES AS
WE MOVE THROUGH CHALLENGING
BUDGET TIMES SO THANK YOU THERE.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE
ONTO QUESTION FIVE WHICH IS HOW
HAS AND WILL FAS CONTINUE TO
ALIGN WITH COUNCIL DISTRICTS. IT
IS INTERESTING TO SEE ALREADY
YOUR SERVICE CENTERS ARE ALREADY
EVENLY SPREAD OUT. AND THIS HAS
BEEN A CHANGE FOR THE CITY WHERE
COUNCIL DISTRICTS HAVE DON
THROUGH MULTIPLE ELECTIONS. AND
IT IS A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP
THAT DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS
HAVE WITH THEIR DISTRICTS. THERE
IS A FAMILIAR FOCUS FOR EACH OF
US. HOW HAS FAS CHANGED AND
WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO FROM
THERE?
>> I WILL SAY AND I THINK YOU
HAVE ID IT IN YOUR OPENING
REMARKS THAT OUR CUSTOMER
SERVICE CENTERS HAVE BECOME MUCH
MORE INTEGRAL. AND WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DELIVER SERVICES I THINK
IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN EACH OF THE
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS SO THEY
HAVE UNIQUE CONSIDERATION. SO
SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST, WE HAVE
MORE PASSPORT APPLICATIONS THAN
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY. WE
DEFINITELY SEE THAT AS A FOCUS
IN THOSE PARTICULAR COUNCIL
DISTRICTS. WE MAY HAVE HIGHER
UTILITY PAYMENT RATES AT ANOTHER
ONE. AND WE MAY HAVE OPTED TO
PROVIDE REGULATORY LICENSING
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT FOLKS WERE
COMING IN FOR TAXI LICENSES OR
OTHER BUSINESS LICENSES. LIVE IN
THE AREA OR DO BUSINESS IN THE
AREA. AND THAT IS AN CONVENIENT
AND EASY LOCATION FOR THEM. JUST
THE WORK WE DO TO SUPPORT
INTERNAL OPERATIONS FOR OTHER
DEPARTMENTS HAS ALSO BECOME A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO FOR
INSTANCE, ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE
NOW VERY PROMINENT THROUGHOUT
OUR FLEET FOR PARKS, FOR SDOT,
FOR SPU AND WE HAVE CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE CERTAINLY IN THE
CENTRAL AREA. BUT WITH EVs WE
ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE, THE
OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. THE SUPPORT SERVICES
HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON
NEIGHBORHOOD EFFORTS AND HOW WE
DO THAT. IN A MORE DIRECT WAY.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL TAKE US
BACK. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE
CHANGE HAPPENED BUT THEY USED TO
BE OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT CHANGE
OCCURRED AND AS SOMEBODY WHO
USED TO SIT ON THE BALLARD
DISTRICT COUNCIL MYSELF, WE HAD
THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH
DEPARTMENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'M WORKING OUT OF THOMAS'
OFFICE NOW. WHAT I NOTICED WITH
THOSE CHANGES AND HOW THE CITY
WAS DEPLOYING IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE THE BUILDING
INFRASTRUCTURE AND I'M NOT HERE
TO SAY ANY WHICH WAY ABOUT THE
RELATIONSHIP OF DISTRIBUTION
COUNCILS OR COMMUNITY COUNCILS,
WHAT I HAVE BROUGHT, I WILL FILL
IN THAT SPACE THAT THOMAS USED
TO HAVE. THIS IS NOT FOR YOU
THIS IS MORE A CHALLENGE FOR MY
COLLEAGUES. WE HAVE THE BUILDING
AND THAT SPACE NEEDS TO BE
FILLED BY US TO HELP CREATE THAT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I HAVE
SEEN A POSITIVE CHANGE AT THE
BALLARD SERVICE CENTER. JUST BY
BEING PRESENT AND ENGAGED.
FILLING IN THAT SPACE THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS USED
TO OCCUPY. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
I SEE YOUR HAND.
>> I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN
SOMEONE OUT OF GREAT JEALOUSY OF
DISTRICT 6. IT IS ADD IN A WAY.
OH, WE ARE GOING TO HOLD IT AT
CITY HALL. AND YOU KNOW, THE
BOUNDARY OF DISTRICT 7, THE JAIL
AND THE KING COUNTY BUILDING. WE
HAVE THE JAIL ON ONE SIDE AND
THE PIT ON THE OTHER. EVERYBODY
IS ALL TO THE NORTH. THE IDEA
THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME
DOWN HERE IS FARCICAL TO BE
HONEST. TEND T THE BACKUP IS THE
MUNICIPAL TOWER. I DON'T HAVE A
VERSION OF THAT. WE HAVE OUR
CHALLENGES WITH COMMUNITY
COUNCILS. BELL TOWN, UPTOWN.
SOUTH LAKE UNION. IT IS DEVOID
OF ALL THAT. AND THERE SHOULD BE
SOME MASTER PLAN. DISTRICT 7
DOESN'T HAVE IT. I'M TRYING TO
ARRANGE THE TOWN HALLS. IT IS
REALLY HARD. IT MAKES IT HARD TO
DO THE OUTREACH. I'M SOMEONE
WHO WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PHASE
OF THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOODS AND
RELATIONSHIP WITH MAYOR MURRAY
ANDEVERYONE ELSE. IT USED TO BE
VERY STRONG. AND IT USED TO BE
POINT TO POINT. I KNEW THE
PERSON. AND IT'S NOT THERE NOW.
I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING
NEGATIVE ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS BUT EVERYTHING HAS
BEEN SHIFTED IN A WAY WHERE WE
DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF
RELATIONSHIP WE HAD IN THE PAST.
I JUST WANT TO REMARK THAT
DISTRICT 7 COULD USE THAT
DISTRICT 6 HAS. I'M NOT
EXPECTING A GOVERNMENT CENTER. I
HAVE BEEN THERE. I GOT MY VISION
ZERO SIGNS AND MY LAST PASSPORT
THERE. THE LIBRARY IS RIGHT NEXT
DOOR. TOOK MY DAUGHTER THERE.
VOTED THERE WITH MY DAUGHTER AND
WENT TO STARBUCKS AFTERWARDS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN
DISTRICT 7.
>> YOUR DISTRICT IS NINE STORIES
TALL. MINE IS ONE. I'M TEASING.
I'M NOT GOING TO OPEN THIS CAN
OF WORMS TODAY FOR ANSWERS. BUT
AS I REMEMBER, WHEN THE MERCER
MEGABLOCK WAS SOLD, THERE WAS
MONEY SET ASIDE FOR A COMMUNITY
CENTER. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN
MANY ITERATIONS AND MANY YEARS
THAT HAVE GONE BY. AND THE
DESIRE AND THE NEED FOR THAT
COMMUNITY CENTER IS REAL. IN
PART BECAUSE THE BELL TOWN
COMMUNITY CENTER IS CLOSED. I'M
PUTTING ON MY D7 HAT AGAIN,
SORRY BOB. MOHI IS A REALLY
GREAT GATHERING SPACE BUT IT IS
NOT A PURELY PUBLIC SPACE.
RIGHT? IT IS NOT A COMMUNITY
CENTER OR A CITY ASSET. I WOULD
SAY WE SHOULD FOLLOW UP TO SEE
IF THERE ARE WAYS TO HASTEN THE
PACE WITH THAT COMMUNITY CENTER
PROPOSED OUT OF THE MERCER
MEGABLOCK. IF THERE ARE
BUREAUCRATIC THINGS IN THE WAY
OF REALIZING THE FULL POTENTIAL
OF THAT AGREEMENT, WE SHOULD
MOVE MORE QUICKLY. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. JUST A
COMMENT THAT ANOTHER THING WE
TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE MET LAST
WEEK. I ADVOCATED STRONGLY ON
BEHALF OF MY DISTRICT FOR ANY
NUMBER OF THINGS AND I THINK THE
CURRENT COMPOSITION OF THE
COUNCIL, WE ARE ALL ESSENTIALLY
DOING THE SAME THING. WE ALL
WANT A SHARE OF THE RESOURCES TO
GO TO OUR OWN DISTRICTS SO WE
TALKED ABOUT HISTORICAL
UNDERINVESTMENT IN MY DISTRICT
IN PARTICULAR IN THE SOUTH END.
THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT.
LEGACY OF RED LINING FOR
EXAMPLE. AND, RACIST POLICIES
JUST HISTORICALLY. TODAY THERE
IS A RECOGNITION AND AWARENESS
OF ALL THOSE THINGS. AND IT'S
NOT LIKE ANYONE IS TRYING TO
THUMB THEIR NOSE AT ME AND MY
CONSTITUENTS. PARKS RECENTLY
FOUND OF ALL THE, AND THIS IS
NOT YOUR PRIMARY TOIL, THIS IS A
CITY PROBLEM. PARKS FOR EXAMPLE,
REVEALED THE TOP 20 LIST A FEW
WEEKS AGO OF THE MOST
PROBLEMATIC PARKS SUBJECT TO
ROUTINE REGULAR GRAFFITI.
VANDALISM. AND LACK OF
CLEANLINESS AND MAINTENANCE AND
MY DISTRICT ONLY HAS 20% OF THE
PARKS. WE HAVE 40% OF THE
PROBLEM. SO NO ONE IS TRYING TO
THUMB THEIR NOSE AT US. WE ARE
JUST, WE SEEM TO BE BEARING THE
BRUNT OF ANY NUMBER OF
CHALLENGES. HIGHEST
CONCENTRATION OF RVs FOR
EXAMPLE. TWO TO THREE X MORE
TIMES THAN THE NEXT DISTRICT.
RENEED TO BE INTENTIONAL
TRYING TO COUNTER THOSE THE
LEGACY OF OPPRESSION AND LACK OF
INVESTMENT. I VISITED CHAIR
STRAUSS' OFFICE IN BALLARD. YOU
SHOULD BE PROUD. IT'S THE BEST
I HAVE SEEN IN THE CITY. I LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE I HAVE A
LITTLE OFFICE ENVY FOR YOU. IT
IS A VERY CLEAN MODERN FACILITY.
LIKE A FISH BOWL. EVERYONE CAN
SEE YOU. YOU CAN SEE EVERYONE.
VERY MODERN, CLEAN, ORGANIZED IN
MY OFFICE IN WEST SEATTLE IS
GENERALLY A JANITOR'S OFFICE. I
HAVE TO KNOCK AND GIVE A SPECIAL
HANDSHAKE TO GET IN MEETING WITH
CONSTITUENTS. SO YEAH. I HAVE A
LITTLE ENVY. BUT I DO WANT US TO
BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE DISPARITY OF
RESOURCES BOTH FROM A
PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL AND IN A
PROJECT LEVEL. AND THE PROJECTS
SHOW UP IN DISTRICTS. PROGRAMS
ARE CITY SIDE. I JUST WANTED TO
SHARE THAT PERSPECTIVE. THAT
SAID, BASED OFF MY CONVERSATIONS
WITH YOU AND READING YOUR
MATERIALS. AND LEARNING MORE
ABOUT YOU THE PAST CULL OF MY
WEEKS AND MY OFFICE'S
INTERACTIONS WITH YOUR
DEPARTMENT SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN
OFFICE, I AM CONFIDENT IN YOUR
ABILITY TO DELIVER UPON ALL THE
PRIORITIES AND ISSUES I
MENTIONED CONTAINED IN THE 14
PAGE Q AND A DOC YOU SENT. IN
ANY EVENT, THAT IS ALL. I LOOK
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU TODAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
VICE CHAIR RIVERA'S HAND UP. I
WILL JUST JUMP IN FOR SOME
HISTORY SETTING. THE BALLARD
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER USED TO
BE ON MARKET STREET. WHEN THE
OLD BALLARD BRANCH LIBRARY WHERE
I LEARNED TO READ WAS TORN DOWN.
WHEN THE BALLARD BRANCH LIBRARY
WAS REBUILT, IT TOOK ON THE
SERVICE CENTER SO IT HAS BEEN
REALLY ILLUMINATING HAVING THE
BUILDING OWNED BY THE LIBRARY.
AND SO, FAS IS ACTUALLY A TENANT
OF THE LIBRARY AND I'M A TENANT
OF FAS. THIS BECAME VERY CLEAR
TO ME ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHEN MY
OFFICE HOURS RAN PAST 8:00 P.M.
WITHOUT ME REALIZING IT AND MY
CAR GOT LOCKED IN THE GARAGE AND
THERE WAS NOBODY FROM THE FAS
SIDE THAT COULD HELP ME BECAUSE
IT WAS ALL THE LIBRARY SIDE. I
DID GET HOME. I DID GET BACK TO
WORK THE NEXT DAY. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING OF
YOUR ENVY OF THE OFFICE, I
THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT ALL OF THE PLANTS THAT I
BROUGHT IN.
>> THOSE ARE NICE TOO.
>> I SAY THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS
ANOTHER PART OF THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH FAS. WHILE IT IS MODERN, IT
CAN ALSO FEEL STERILE. WHAT I
NOTICED IN THE PANDEMIC WITH
MANY THINGS FALLING APART. IT
NOT ONLY FELT MATERIAL, BUT A
LITTLE UNSAFE. IT WAS THE
CONDITIONS IN THE FRONT DOOR BY
ADDING THE PLANTS IT WAS A WAY
TO BRIGHTEN WHAT FELT LIKE A
STERILE ENVIRONMENT. FAS WAS
CLEAR FOR ME IF I WAS TO BRING
IN PLANTS I HAD TO CARE FOR
THEM. IT WAS OUR JOB TO FILL IN
THE SPACE. THERE ARE STILL SOME
DARK CORNERS OF THAT OFFICE. I
HAVE DONE MY BEST TO BRING IN
MORE POSTERS AND WAYS TO LIGHTEN
IT UP. I SHARE THAT BACK WITH
US. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
HELP FILL IN THE BUILDINGS
LEASED TO US.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. BUT JUST TO
SAY THAT THE D FOURTH QUARTER. I
DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE AT, I
MEAN, DIRECTOR RUBIN I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THIS. THERE IS A
CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTER WHERE
PEOPLE CAN THEY PAY THEIR BILLS.
WE ALL HAVE TO FIND PLACES
WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS TO MEET
PEOPLE. SO WHAT YOU ARE HEARING
IS A NEED FOR THAT. BUT THIS IS
ALSO EXEMPLIFYING HOW THIS IS A
CITY WIDE ISSUE. I KNOW WE HAVE
A NEW DEPUTY MAYOR IN CHARGE OF
PARKS. I KNOW I HAVE MET WITH
HER. I'M SURE YOU WILL MEET
WITH HER. THIS IS SOMETHING I
WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO RAIDS WITH
THE DEPUTY MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE TOTALLY. I UNDERSTAND NOT
HAVING AN OFFICE. I'M IN THAT
POSITION AS WELL. WE HAVE TO GET
SUPER CREATIVE ABOUT IT BUT IT
IS SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO WORK
TOGETHER ON. AND JUST REMINDING
US THAT OR AT LEAST GIVING THE
INFORMATION THAT THERE ISN'T A
PLACE IN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS
THAT FAS HAS AN OFFICE THAT WE
CAN UTILIZE. AND IN YOUR CASE,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, IT IS THE
LIBRARY THAT HAD SPACE AND SOME
OF THE LIBRARIES HAVE SPACE AND
SOME DON'T. IT IS NOT
CONSISTENTLY EACH BRANCH IS
DIFFERENT. EACH COMMUNITY CENTER
IS DIFFERENT. AND EACH FAS
COUNTER IS DIFFERENT. AT THE END
OF THE DAY, I HEAR YOU
COLLEAGUES AND I AGREE WE NEED
TO HAVE SPACES WHERE
CONSTITUENTS CAN COME GET
SERVICES. BUT WE DON'T WANT TO
NECESSARILY PUT THAT ON FAS
BECAUSE IT IS A CITY WIDE
RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR. WE HAVE
GOTTEN TO ABOUT THE END OF OUR
ALLOTTED TIME. I HAVE SOME MORE
QUESTIONS THAT YOU DID RESPOND
TO IN WRITING REGARDING THE
ANIMAL SHELTER. YOU ALSO HAD
GOOD ANSWERS ABOUT THE FIND IT
FIX IT. WE HAD A GOOD
CONVERSATION EARLIER. I WILL
JUST SAY AND IT IS NO FAULT OF
ANYONE. BUT, WHEN MAYOR HARRELL
TOOK OFFICE, THE BACK END OF
FIND IT FIX IT WAS PRETTY BAD.
WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE
TODAY. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.
IT IS RARE THAT WE FIND PEOPLE
TAKING DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY SO
YOUR RESPONSES TO THAT GIVES ME
GREAT HOPE. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT ACCOUNTABILITY THERE. I DO
WANT TO TOUCH ON THE ANIMAL
SHELTER. IN YOU WANT TO BRIEFLY
DESCRIBE THE SITUATION, THERE
MAY NEED TO BE SOME RESET WITH
RELATIONSHIPS. I AM INTERESTED
TO BE INVOLVED BECAUSE I REALLY
LIKE THE WORK THE ANIMAL SHELTER
DOES. I GOT TO BENEFIT. MY DOG
WAS DEFINITELY EATING MY SALMON
THIS MORNING.
>> WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE SHELTER.
I HAVE YET TO MEET YOUR DOG BUT
WOULD LIKE TO. I HAVE HEARD THE
STORIES OF ITS ADOPTION SEVERAL
TIMES. THE THING I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SHELTER IS
THE AMAZING WORK OF THE STAFF
AND VOLUNTEERS. OFTEN PEOPLE
DON'T RECOGNIZE WE ARE THE ONLY
OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER IN THE
CITY. ANIMALS COME TO US IN A
TIME OF CRISIS. AND THE PEOPLE
WE WORK IN ARE ALSO IN A TIME OF
CRISIS. IT MIGHT BE A CASE WHERE
THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN ABUSED.
PERHAPS THE ANIMAL IS SICK AND
THE PERSON CAN NO LONGER TAKE
CARE OF THE ANIMAL. WE ARE THE
ONLY PLACE IN THE CITY WHERE THE
ANIMALS CAN COME. THAT SAID, OUR
STAFF ARE INCREDIBLY VERSED IN
WORKING WITH BOTH ANIMALS AND
PEOPLE IN CRISIS. IT IS A
STRESSFUL CONDITION AND I CANNOT
THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR ALL THE
WORK THEY DO AND THE VOLUNTEERS
THERE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE BOTH
WITHIN THE SHELTER BUT ALSO AS
FOSTER HOMES FOR OUR ANIMALS. WE
SEE MORE ANIMALS AND WE SEE
ANIMALS THAT ARE IN A MORE
STRESSFUL CONDITION. THAT IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE POST PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE BEEN IN A FACILITY THAT
HAS NOT REALLY CHANGED ITS
SHAPE. THERE IS A BALANCE WE TRY
TO HOLD THERE. WE TRY TO GET
ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO
EITHER ADOPTIVE OR FOSTER HOMES
AND THAT IS THE BEST OUTCOME FOR
THOSE ANIMALS. AND WE TRY TO
MANAGE THE ANIMALS IN THE
SHELTER. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE AND
INCREASE OUR VOLUNTEER BASE. AND
WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ON
FACILITY WORK THAT COULD HAPPEN
IN THE FUTURE. SO VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT. JUST CAN'T SAY
ENOUGH ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE
STAFF AND THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE
SHELTER.
>> THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE
THE ANSWERS THAT YOU PROVIDED IN
WRITING AS WELL. THERE IS MORE
WORK TO DO. FOR EVERYONE
WATCHING, YOU, TOO, CAN FOSTER A
DOG OR ANIMAL. AND IF YOU GO
ONTO THEIR WEBSITE, IF I COULD
ADOPT ANOTHER DOG, I WOULD BE
DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW TO ADOPT
BLAZE. WHAT A GREAT LOOKING.
THERE ARE SO MANY ANIMALS. I
CAN'T GO THROUGH ALL THEIR
NAMES. I WILL WRAP US UP. BUT
MUCH LIKE VICE CHAIR, I WILL
GIVE A FEW FOLKS I WILL GET IN
TROUBLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T NAME
EVERYONE. NICOLE AND KIMMY AND
FRAN HERE DOWNTOWN. JUST THANK
YOU. WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, IF
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
I WILL MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
KIERSTEN GROVE THROUGH
APPOINTMENT 3094. A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. TO CONFIRM KIERSTEN
GROVE'S APPOINTMENT. FINAL
COMMENTS? THANK YOU FOR NONE.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> AND CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR. ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENT OF KIERSTEN GROVE AS
OUR DIRECTOR OF FAS WILL BE SENT
TO THE MARCH 25th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING FOR FINAL CONFIRMATION.
THANK YOU FOR SPENDING SO MUCH
TIME WITH US THIS MORNING. AND,
YOU DON'T NEED TO COME ON
TUESDAY, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO WATCH ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
EITHER WAY. WE ARE HAPPY. SO
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT AND ALL OF YOUR
QUESTIONS TODAY.
>>> WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT
ITEM OF BUSINESS. CLERK, WILL
YOU READ THE SHORT TITLE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> INFORMATIONAL ITEM HEARING
PROTECTION REGULATIONS FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED BY
JASMINE MARWAHA FROM CENTRAL
STAFF. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT
YOUR WORK PORTFOLIO IS CHANGING
TO. I WANTED TO GET THIS IN
FRONT OF US SOONER THAN LATER
MAKING SURE WE STILL HAVE
QUORUM. WE DO. ALTHOUGH
COUNCILMEMBERS IF ANY OF US
LEAVE, I HAVE TO STOP COMMITTEE.
SO THANKS. MOVING ON, THIS
LEGISLATION CAME TO ME AS A
RESULT OF OFFICE HOURS WHERE WE
HAVE A CONCERNED IDITARODOLOGIST
IN DISTRICT 6. WHAT WE SEE TODAY
IS JUST A DRAFT. THIS BILL IS
ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH
ENJOY SEATTLE'S VIBRANT MUSIC
SCENE AND PROTECT THEIR HEARING
HEALTH NO MATTER WHERE THEY GO.
IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT MUSIC
VENUES EITHER PROVIDE HEARING
PROTECTION FOR FREE OR SELL IT
FOR UP TO ONE DOLLAR. WE ALSO
ENCOURAGE MUSIC VENUES TO PUT UP
SIGNS LETTING PATRONS KNOW THIS
IS AVAILABLE. WE KNOW THAT THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT MANY IF NOT
ALL, MANY VENUES ALREADY DO.
THIS IS SIMPLY PUT A GOOD LITTLE
BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MUSIC
PATRONS KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS A
WAY TO GET EAR PLUGS IF YOU
FORGET YOURS. INTERESTING FUN
FACT ABOUT ME. I DON'T HEAR ALL
THAT WELL. AT THIS POINT, I READ
LIPS A LOT OF THE TIME. SO I USE
THEM WHEN I GO TO CONCERTS. I
DIDN'T TEN YEARS AGO, SOMETIMES
I FORGET THEM. WITH THAT I WILL
PASS IT OVER TO JASMINE TO WALK
US THROUGH THE LEGISLATION. AND
OVER TO YOU. AND IT IS GREAT TO
HAVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
WORK ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS. CHAIR STRAUSS.
MY NAME IS JASMINE MARWAHA. I
WILL BE PRESENTING A DRAFT BILL.
THE HEARING PROTECTION
ORDINANCE. SO WE WILL GO OVER A
LITTLE BACKGROUND. CHAIR STRAUSS
JUST WENT OVER A BIT. SOME
POTENTIAL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
AND THEN NEXT STEPS. SO BRIEF
BACKGROUND. ACCORDING TO THE
CDC, NEARLY ONE IN FOUR U.S.
ADULTS AGED 20 TO 69 YEARS SHOW
SOME EVIDENCE OF HEARING LOSS.
THERE ARE RISKS TO HEARING AT
MUSIC VENUES AND YOU CAN SEE ON
THIS IMAGE WHICH I SHOULD CREDIT
JESSE FRANZ FROM CHAIR STRAUSS'
OFFICE PROVIDED SOME OF THE
VISUALS HERE. THERE IS THE FRONT
ROW OF THE ROCK CONCERT. BUT
EVEN GOING TO THE SYMPHONY,
EXPOSES ONE TO NOISE LEVELS THAT
ARE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. THERE IS
A LACK OF AWARENESS GENERALLY
ABOUT THESE RISKS. PARTICULARLY
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THERE HAVE
BEEN OTHER MUNICIPAL EFFORTS TO
ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS. THERE
IS, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
REGULATIONS PARTICULARLY IN
EUROPE REGARDING LIMITING
DECIBEL LEVELS BUT CLOSER TO
HOME, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES. SAN FRANCISCO REQUIRES
VENUES THAT HAVE AN EXTENDED
HOURS PERMIT HOLD OVER 500
PEOPLE. AND HAVE AN AREA FOR
DANCING. THEY REQUIRE THAT THOSE
VENUES PROVIDE EAR PLUGS FOR
FREE OR AT A REASONABLE PRICE.
AND MINNEAPOLIS REQUIRES CLUBS
AND BARS THAT FEATURE LIVE MUSIC
TO PROVIDE FREE EAR PLUGS IF
THEY ARE SUPPLIED TO THEM AT NO
COST. THERE IS A GROUP THERE OF
BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY THAT
HAVE BEEN PROVIDING EAR PLUGS
FOR FREE FOR BUSINESSES THERE.
SO THE POLICY GOALS ARE TO RAISE
AWARENESS OF THE RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH LOUD MUSIC TO
PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO
ACCESS HEARING PROTECTION AND
ADVANCE CONSUMER PROTECTION.
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE
LEGISLATION. IT WOULD REQUIRE
THAT CERTAIN LOUD MUSIC VENUES
WHICH THE DEFINITION OF WHICH WE
WILL GET INTO. THEY OFFER
PATRONS HEARING PROTECTION WITH
A NOISE REDUCTION RATING OF 20
DECIBELS FOR FREE OR SALE. IF
THEY OFFER FOR SALE, AT LEAST
ONE OPTION MUST BE OFFERED FOR A
DOLLAR OR LESS. AND IT SAYS ONE
OPTION BECAUSE IT COULD BE THAT
A BUSINESS MAY WANT TO SELL
HIGHER PRICED BETTER EAR PLUGS
AND NOISE PROTECTION, BUT AT
LEAST ONE OPTION HAS TO BE AT A
LOWER PRICE LEVEL. THE BILL
WOULD BE ENFORCED BY FINANCE
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE DRAFT IS
JANUARY 1, 2026.
>> BEFORE YOU MOVE ON HERE, I
JUST WANT TO FOCUS COLLEAGUES IN
THIS SECTION, WITHIN THE
ENFORCEMENT CLEARLY WE HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING. THE INTENTION IS
NOT TO BE PUNITIVE. LOOKED AT
THE MODEL WHEN WE FOUND THE
PROGRAM TO BE LESS EFFECTIVE
THAN TODAY. AND JUST KIND OF
PLAINLY SPEAKING HERE. WHICH WAS
IF SOMEBODY RECEIVED A CITATION
OR WARNING, I WOULD BE GIVEN 30
DAYS TO COMPLY. THAT IS
SOMETHING THE NUMBER CAN CHANGE.
IF WE ARE ASKING FAS, WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT COST RECOVERY. THIS IS
NOT INTENDED TO BE PUNITIVE SO
WE HAVE TO KNOW HOW MUCH IF WE
ARE ASKING FAS TO ENFORCE. WE
ARE NOT LOOKING TO CHARGE
PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO
BE PUNITIVE. TO CREATE A FLOOR.
TO GIVE THEM THAT LEAD TIME.
THIS MOVES ON SCHEDULE, WE PASS
THIS AT THE END OF APRIL. SO,
GIVES THEM ENOUGH TIME TO COME
UP TO SPEED. VICE CHAIR RIVERA,
I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR HAND.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO WAIT UNTIL
THE END?
>> I THINK WE ONLY HAVE ONE OR
TWO MORE SLIDES.
>> SO IS MINNEAPOLIS AND SAN
FRANCISCO THE ONLY TWO CITIES
THAT HAVE IT?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IN THE U.S.
IS THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO
CITIES.
>> AND HOW LONG AGO DID THEY
PASS THEIRS? WHAT HAVE WE SEEN?
HOW WELL HAS IT WORKED THERE?
WHAT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
HAVE THEY SEEN? THERE IS A
LIABILITY ISSUE HERE IF THE CITY
TAKES ON A REGULATION OF
SOMETHING. IT OPENS US UP TO
LEGAL LIABILITY ON THE BACK END.
SOMEONE COULD SUE THE CITY. SO
HOW HAS THAT WORKED IN THESE TWO
OTHER CITIES AND IS THIS EXACTLY
WHAT THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE OR
IS THEIRS DIFFERENT? AND IF SO,
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?
>> SO MINNEAPOLIS I BELIEVE
PASSED IT IN 2014. AND SAN
FRANCISCO I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF
THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I BELIEVE IT
WAS AROUND THE SAME TIME. IN THE
TENS. WE CAN GET INTO HOW THIS
IS DIFFERENT IN THE POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS. THE LIST OF
VENUES INSPIRED BY SAN FRANCISCO
BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT. THERE WAS A LOT OF
INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF
PASSAGE. BUT, I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION
OUT THERE REGARDING ANY ISSUES
SINCE PASSAGE. BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING WE CAN, I CAN EVEN IN
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS REACH
OUT TO THOSE JURISDICTION TO SEE
IF I CAN GET MORE INFORMATION.
>> ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT IS
PRUDENT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING, WE SHOULD KNOW HOW
WELL THINGS ARE WORKING
ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE HAD A
DECADE AND THEIRS IS NOT EXACTLY
LIKE OURS.
>> THAT IS A GOOD SEGWAY INTO
THE NEXT SLIDE. UNLESS THERE ARE
OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO,.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, DO YOU
HAVE A QUESTION?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
ACTUALLY, I WILL WAIT UNTIL YOU
FINISH AND THEN I WILL ASK AT
THE END. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? WE WILL
WAIT? TAKE IT AWAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> SO, YES. THE NEXT COUPLE OF
SLIDES GO OVER SOME POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS. AS A PREVIEW FOR
WHAT THE MEMO MIGHT BE. THE
INTENTION IS TO SEE IF THERE IS
FEEDBACK THAT CAN INFORM THE
LEGISLATION AT THIS STAGE IN THE
DRAFTING. THE FIRST IS WHO IS
GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY THIS.
AND HOW DO WE DEFINE WHAT A LOUD
MUSIC VENUE IS. AND THE
DISTINCTION OF THIS PROPOSAL IS
THAT BOTH MINNEAPOLIS AND SAN
FRANCISCO HAVE A TYPE OF VENUE
THAT THIS REGULATION COULD
EASILY APPLY TO. SO IN
MINNEAPOLIS, THEY APPLIED IT TO
ENTERTAINMENT. I CAN LOOK AT
THIS.. I'LL LOOK THIS UP LATER
BUT THEY HAVE AN ENTERTAINMENT
PERMIT THIS APPLIES TO THAT
HOSTS LIVE MUSIC AND THEN IN SAN
FRANCISCO, THEY HAVE AN EXTENDED
HOURS PERMIT. SO BUSINESSES THAT
HAVE THAT PERMIT THEN THIS
APPLIES TO. WE DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE, WE DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME TYPE
OF LICENSED OR PERMITTED VENUES
THAT LIKE THIS TYPE OF
REGULATION COULD EASILY APPLY
TO. WE COBBLED IT TOGETHER.
>> THE SAN FRANCISCO CHAIR I
DIDN'T HEAR.
>> I'M SORRY. I COULDN'T HEAR
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
>> NO ONE CAN HEAR EACH OTHER.
WE ALL NEED BETTER EAR PLUGS.
>> WHAT TYPE OF VENUE IN SAN
FRANCISCO?
>> EVERYONE PLEASE USE THEIR
MICROPHONES.
>> THEY HAVE A PERMIT CALLED AN
EXTENDED HOURS PERMIT FOR WHICH
THIS TYPE OF REGULATION APPLIES.
BUSINESSES THIS DRAFT BILL WOULD
ATTEMPT TO COVER AS WELL. SO
WHAT WE, WHAT THE PROPOSAL DOES
IS, IT GETS INSPIRED BY THE SAN
FRANCISCO MODEL. ESPECIALLY THAT
NUMBER 2 TO SAY THAT VENUES, IT
IS A PROXY FOR EXTENDED HOURS
PERMIT. VENUES LICENSED TO SELL
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR
CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES WHICH
CONTAIN A DANCE FLOOR OR OTHER
PLACE PRIMARILY DESIGNATED FOR
DANCING AND HAVE A MAXIMUM
OCCUPANCY OF OVER 500, THAT KIND
OF GETS A LITTLE BIT AT WHAT THE
SAME TARGET AUDIENCE OR VENUE AS
SAN FRANCISCO. WE HAVE A COUPLE
OF VENUES DEFINED IN OUR CODE.
THE MUSIC VENUE PARKING PERMIT
DEFINITION AND THEN ALL AGES
DANCE VENUE AS WELL. FINALLY,
THE PROPOSAL ALSO WOULD COVER
VENUES LIKE LARGER VENUES LIKE
ARENAS THAT HOST LIVE MUSIC OR
DANCE AT LEAST 20 TIMES PER
YEAR. AND HAVE A MAXIMUM
OCCUPANCY OF OVER 5,000. THAT
COVER THE CAPITOL HILL BLOCK
PARTY. SO, ANOTHER APPROACH,
THERE ARE CERTAINLY POLICY
QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER THE
CAPACITY THRESHOLDS ARE AT THE
RIGHT LEVEL OR THE DESIRE TO
BRING IN SMALLER VENUES UNDER
THE REQUIREMENT. MAYBE THERE ARE
TOO MANY PARTS TO THIS
DEFINITION AND WE NEED TO
SIMPLIFY IT. ANOTHER APPROACH
THAT WAS CONSIDERED WOULD HAVE
DEFINED LOUD MUSIC VENUE BASED
ON THE DECIBEL LEVELS THAT
PATRONS ARE EXPOSED TO. THAT
POSES SOME OTHER THORNY
QUESTIONINGS. WHO WOULD MONITOR.
OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME.
BUSINESSES WOULD YOU KNOW, MIGHT
WANT MORE PREDICTABILITY ABOUT
WHETHER THEY ARE COVERED OR NOT.
SO RATHER THAN GETTING INTO THE
BUSINESS OF MONITORING DECIBELS,
THIS APPROACH HERE SEEMED MORE
ENFORCEABLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD
TO KNOW WHAT TYPES OF PREMISES
THIS WOULD APPLY TO. SO THIS IS
A POLICY QUESTION AS TO WHETHER
THIS STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE.
>> I WOULD SAY LET'S GET
THROUGH THE REST OF YOUR
PRESENTATION. WE ARE ALMOST TO
THE QUESTIONS SLIDE. COLLEAGUES
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU MY NORTH
STAR WITH THIS POLICY IS
MINIMIZING NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON
BUSINESSES AND MAXIMIZING
POSITIVE ACCESSIBILITY. I DON'T
WANT TO GET PUNITIVE IN
EXPANDING OUR SCOPE
UNNECESSARILY. BACK TO YOU.
>> SURE. SO THE OTHER POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS, IT MIGHT
ACTUALLY BE MORE HELPFUL TO GO
BACK TO THE SUMMARY SLIDE. IS
THE DOLLAR THRESHOLD, IS THAT
TOO HIGH? TOO LOW? IT SAYS
VENUES WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO
POST NOTICE. POLICY
CONSIDERATION. SHOULD WE REQUIRE
THEM THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS POST
NOTICE? OR WOULD THAT WILL
OVERLY BURDENSOME BECAUSE
BUSINESSES HAVE A PROFIT
MOTIVATION? MAY NOT NEED TO HAVE
A REGULATION ABOUT THE POSTING
OF NOTICE. THAT'S THE QUESTION.
THE ENFORCEMENT. THERE MIGHT BE
GOOD REASON AS CHAIR STRAUSS
MENTIONED TO SET THE AMOUNTS
WHERE THEY ARE AND HAVE A
WARNING THE COUNCIL COULD CHOOSE
TO INCREASE THOSE PENALTIES OR
HAVE A STRONGER APPROACH.
FINALLY, THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS
ALSO A POLICY CHOICE. COUNCIL
MAY WANT TO MOVE IT FORWARD TO
ALLOW IT TO GO INTO EFFECT
SOONER BUT IT IS POSSIBLE
ALLOWING A LONGER LEADUP TIME
WOULD ALLOW TIME FOR MORE
OUTREACH TIME. SO AGAIN, THESE
ARE ALL JUST QUESTIONS FOR
CONSIDERATION. AND THAT BRINGS
ME TO THE NEXT STEPS SO THE GOAL
IS TO HAVE THIS FOR INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL IN TIME I BELIEVE
COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE MEETING
APRIL 16th. THEN FOR DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE DEPENDING ON
HOW THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
GOES.
>> COLLEAGUES, WE WILL BE
SHARING THE DRAFT SINCE IT HAS
NOT BEEN INTRODUCED. THIS IS A
GREAT TIME TO HAVE YOUR
FINGERPRINTS ON IT. AGAIN, I'M
LOOKING FOR COLLABORATIONS. IF
YOU HAVE AMENDMENTS PLEASE BE
READY TO BRING THEM TO THE APRIL
16th COMMITTEE IN JUST UNDER A
MONTH. I SEE A NUMBER OF HANDS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU LOWERED
YOUR HANDS. YOU WANT TO GO?
>> SURE. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR DIRECTING THIS
PROPOSAL AND SHARING AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT IT TODAY. A FEW
QUESTIONS I HAVE. THERE IS NO
CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS MEMO YET
CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> I SHARE SOME OF THE CURIOSITY
EXPRESSED BY MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. IT IS GOOD
TO HEAR THERE ARE ALREADY MODELS
AND SCHEMES IN PLACE IN
MINNEAPOLIS AND SAN FRANCISCO.
TWO CITIES I HAVE LIVED IN
PERSONALLY. AND I WOULD BE
CURIOUS TO ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. THIS
WOULD INTRODUCE A NEW REGULATORY
SCHEME IN SEATTLE FOR I THINK A
VALID PURPOSE. AT A HIGH LEVEL
I'M JUST CURIOUS TO MAKE SURE
IT IS TAILORED ENOUGH TO MEET
THE BALLOT NEED. AND SO, SOME
QUESTIONS I HAVE IN MY MIND IS
LIKE BASED OFF LOOKING AT,
HEARING YOUR PRESENTATION.
LOOKING AT IT LIVE AND THE MODEL
OR CURRENT DRAFT OF THE BILL IS
WHAT'S THE RATIONAL FOR THE
HEARING PROTECTION TO BE OFFERED
AT ONE DOLLAR A LESS AND WHY NOT
REASONABLE PRICE LIKE
MINNEAPOLIS HAS A REQUIREMENT
FOR? ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE,
BECAUSE THERE IS NO CENTRAL
STAFF ANALYSIS MEMO. WHAT IS THE
TOTAL ANTICIPATED COST OF
IMPLEMENTATION? SET UP A NEW
REGULATORY STEAM WE SHOULDN'T
ENDEAVOR TO WRITE LAWS ON THE
BOOKS IF WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO
ENFORCE AND ADMINISTER THOSE. SO
WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED COST?
HOW IS THE DECISION MADE TO
SELECT FAS AS THE ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY AS OPPOSED TO THE
OTHER EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS? HOW
MANY TOTAL IMPACTED VENUES? THAT
IS A POLICY CONSIDERATION AT THE
END OF THE DAY, BUT UNDER THE
CURRENT PROPOSAL, HOW MANY
VENUES WOULD BE IMPACTED? THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD STARTING POINT.
BUT I APPRECIATE HEARING ABOUT
THIS TODAY SO WE CAN FLESH OUT
SOME OF THOSE. AND BRING THIS TO
SOMETHING WE CAN ALL RALLY
BEHIND.
>> THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS AND
JASMINE HAS SOME ANSWERS.
>> THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS AND
I CAN TAKE A STAB AT INITIAL
ANSWER FOR SOME OF THEM.
REGARDING THE COST OF
IMPLEMENTATION, I SENT THIS TO
FAS UNDER THEIR CONSUMER
PROTECTION DIVISION AND THEY
IDENTIFIED NO RED FLAGS. THE
ENFORCEMENT SCHEME ALLOWS THERE
TO BE LESS OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDEN ON FAS FOR SCAFFOLDING
FOR ENFORCEMENT AND WAS REMITTED
AS A WAY TO HAVE IT BE A LITTLE
LESS IMPACTFUL ON FAS. IT IS
COMPLAINTS BASED. AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY
BELIEVE THEY CAN ABSORB THIS IF
IT IS A COMPLAINTS BASED SYSTEM.
I CAN CONFIRM THAT AND NAIL DOWN
WHETHER THEY ANTICIPATE ANY
DIRECT COST. THERE MIGHT BE SOME
OUTREACH COST OR STAFF TIME. AND
WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME
FIGURES ON THAT. BUT IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE
A COMPLETE ANSWER ON THAT. WHY
FAS? IT FALLS UNDER TITLE 7
UNDER THEIR CONSUMER PROTECTION
CODE. AND IT SORT OF FITS IN
THEIR LINE OF BUSINESS IN TERMS
OF REGULATING CONSUMER
PROTECTION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE DID INVITE THE
MUSIC COMMISSION. THEY ARE
CURRENTLY MEETING RIGHT NOW. I
WILL MOVE ON. I WILL SEE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HEARING LOSS IS VERY
IMPORTANT. MY LEFT YEAR.
SOMETIMES MY WIFE THINKS I
DON'T HEAR HER. I WOULD KNOW
PROBABLY THE MOST AMOUNT OF
NOISE EVER IS IF YOU HAVE EVER
BEEN ON A FLIGHT DECK OF AN
AIRCRAFT CARRIER DURING CURRENT
OPERATIONS. THAT IS ONE. BUT
HERE LOCALLY, STREET RACING
CREATES A LOT OF NOISE FOR OUR
RESIDENTS SOMETIMES IT CAN BE
SLIGHT TO WAKE YOU UP AT 4:15 IN
THE MORNING OR IF YOU ARE RIGHT
THERE, IT CAN BE VERY LOUD
DECIBELS IMPACTING. THAT
HIGHLIGHTS A CHALLENGE I'M NOT
SURE IF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE
SENSED AS MUCH AS OURS. BUT,
WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF
RESIDENTS. AND THERE IS MORE
ACTIVITY. THESE CONFLICTS ARE
STARTING TO BREW IN TERMS OF
NOISE. I WON'T MENTION THE
VENUE OR WHERE THE RESIDENT
LIVED BUT IT IS FUNNY HOW THIS
HAS COME UP WITHIN THE LAST WEEK
IN MY INBOX. THAT'S THE FIRST
PART. MY QUESTION OR THOUGHTS
WERE SOMETHING FOCUSED MORE ON
CHILDREN. YOU KNOW. BECAUSE THE
POTENTIAL FOR MORE DAMAGE,
CHILDREN UNDER 18, UNDER 21,
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THAT'S A
CONSIDERATION. I WAS GOING TO
ASK ABOUT THE MUSIC COMMISSION.
SEEMS LIKE THE MUSIC COMMISSION
SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TOWAY
IN. THROUGH THAT COLLABORATION,
THIS WOULD BE AN AVENUE. THESE
ARE FIRST REFLECTIONS BUT THOSE
ARE JUST CONSIDERATIONS. JUST
THE FIRST THINGS THAT CAME TO MY
HEAD. AND THE LAST ONE RELATED
TO COST AND FAS. SOMETIMES IT IS
NOT AS EASY AS YOU THINK IN
TERMS OF TRYING TO DO REGULATION
AND COST. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION TO ASK. SOMETIMES CAN
ANSWER CAN BE WAY MORE DIFFICULT
THAN YOU THOUGHT. SO CHAIR,
THOSE ARE MY OFFICIAL INITIAL
THINGS. IN TERMS OF HEARING
LOSS. AND THE CHILDREN THE
MUSICS COMMISSION WEIGHING IN
AND THE PILOT PROGRAM. AND THE
FAS PIECES TO THAT.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I WILL
QUICKLY RESPOND AND PASS IT OVER
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE
CHAIR. THE MUSIC COMMISSION WAS
THE FIRST, MUSIC COMMISSION WAS
MY NEXT STOP. ORIGINALLY THE
IDEA PRESENTED TODAY ME WAS TO
PROVIDE HEARING PROTECTION FOR
FREE. I BROUGHT THAT UP WITH THE
MUSIC COMMISSION. IMMEDIATE
FEEDBACK WAS CAN YOU LET US SELL
IT FOR A DOLLAR OR LESS. IN THE
SPIRIT OF CREATING THE FEWEST
NEGATIVE IMPACTS AND THE MOST,
THEY WERE INVITED TO COME BUT
THEY HAD A CONFLICT. I THINK WE
WILL HAVE THEM JOIN ON THE 16th.
I'LL MAKE SURE THEY DO. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND VICE CHAIR RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS FUNNY. THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD
ABOUT THIS SO I DID EMAIL SCOTT
SAYING HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS
SO IT IS CLEAR THAT THEY ARE
AWARE OF THIS. WHO ELSE HAS BEEN
OUTREACHED TO? WHAT ARE THEIR
NIGHT LIFE VENUES?
>> WE ARE DONE SOME INITIAL
STAKE HOLDER OUTREACH.
>> YOU CAN'T MENTION A COUPLE
OF THE CLUBS OR FESTIVAL
PROMOTERS OR WHOEVER THIS WOULD
BE?
>> IF IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO
GIVE YOU THAT LIST AFTER
COMMITTEE. JESSE HAS BEEN
STAFFING ME ON THIS. HE IS
CURRENTLY ON WELL EARNED
VACATION. SO THAT IS THE ISSUE
OF TODAY. I HAVE SPOKEN DIRECTLY
TO A FEW PEOPLE. HAPPY TO TALK
TO YOU OFFLINE ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU. AND, FOR ME, I
WILL BE WANTING TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS WIDE OUTREACH. I HEARD
THEY JUST GOT THROUGH A PANDEMIC
AND THEY ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON
MAKING, REBUILDING THEIR
BUSINESSES AFTER THAT. THEY HAVE
SOME PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN, THAT THEY ARE PARTNERS AT
THE TABLE. CHILDREN AND STREET
RACING. THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE HEARING
DAMAGE SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT
OTHER SOURCES OF LOUD MUSIC WERE
PUT ON THE TABLE FOR ADDRESSING
WHEN IT COMES TO REALLY
PROTECTING PEOPLE'S HEARING.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS HELPFUL. IN
THIS CONTEXT, JASMINE BROUGHT UP
WE DISCUSSED SETTING IT AT A
DECIBEL LEVEL. AND ONE OF THE
THINGS WE REALIZED QUICKLY THERE
IS THAT IT COULD INCLUDE
CHURCHES. MANY CHURCHES HAVE
ROCK BANDS THESE DAYS. AND THAT
IS WHERE IT BECAME A LITTLE
BLURRY. ARE WE PUTTING A
REGULATION ON A BUSINESS OR
ENTITY THAT DOESN'T REALIZE IT?
SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE LOOKING AT
THE DEFINITIONS TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH BUSINESS LICENSES. SO WE
CAN BE SURE WE ARE NOT
UNINTENTIONALLY REQUIRING
SOMETHING OF SOMEONE WITHOUT
LETTING THEM KNOW. AND THE PILOT
PROJECT, THAT IS A BIT OF WHAT
WE ARE LOOKING TO DO HERE.
RATHER THAN MAKE IT EXPANSIVE BY
DECIBEL LEVEL THAT COULD ENSNARE
MANY UNINTENTIONALLY FOR A GOOD
REASON. BUT UNINTENTIONALLY.
BEING MORE NARROW WITH THE
DEFINITION ALLOWS US TO PILOT
WITH THE PLACES THAT WE ALREADY
ARE SURE THAT HEARING LOSS COULD
OCCUR.
>> IN JESSE'S ABSENCE IS THERE
ANYBODY ELSE IN YOUR OFFICE THAT
COULD FORWARD ME THE LIST OF
VENUES THAT HAVE BEEN OUTREACHED
TO?
>> WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HAVE
STAFF WORK WITH YOUR STAFF.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. IN ADDITION
TO ALL OF THE QUESTIONS, I ECHO
THE SAME QUESTIONS OF MY
COLLEAGUES. I NOTICE YOU HAVE
OUTDOOR THAT HAS BEEN SELECTED.
IN MY MIND, THERE IS A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUTDOOR AND
INDOOR. AGAIN, I STILL HAVE THE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGAL
LIABILITY BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE
CITIES TAKE ON REGULATORY PIECE,
THEN IT BECOMES CAN PEOPLE SUE
US BECAUSE THEY LOST THEIR
HEARING, ET CETERA.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE YOU BRING
UP A GREAT POINT ABOUT STREET
RACING OBVIOUSLY. AND I KNOW YOU
KNOW THIS BUT I'M GOING TO SAY
IT OUT LOUD. STREET RACING IS
DIFFERENT FROM SOMEONE HAS
CHOSEN TO GO TO A LOUD MUSIC
VENUE. IT IS ALMOST LIKE AN
ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY. PEOPLE
ARE CHOOSING THAT. IN MY
DISTRICT, WE HAVE HAD SERIOUS
ISSUES WITH PARTYING AT PARKS
THAT WHILE IT MIGHT NOT BE A
HEARING LOSS ISSUE, IT IS VERY
MUCH A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THAT
UNDER CONTROL SO IT IS SOMETHING
WE NEED TO LOOK AT. THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. THAT
PIECE. FOLKS ARE GOING TO A
MUSIC VENUE. THEY KNOW IT WILL
BE LOUD MUSIC SO I WANT TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT WHO REQUESTED THIS.
IS THIS THE BEST WAY TO MEET
WHAT WAS REQUESTED I FIND IT
INTERESTING ONLY TWO CITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DONE IT.
THEY DID IT TEN YEARS AGO AND NO
ONE ELSE HAS DONE IT AGAIN AND
THIS ISN'T LIKE IN GENERAL WHEN
WE ARE GOING TO DECIDE TO START
REGULATING SOMETHING, WE DO NOT
CURRENTLY REGULATE. THERE ARE
JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND
THERE HAS TO BE A SCRUTINY ON
ALL OF IT IN GENERAL. AND THIS
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER
OR NOT WE SUPPORT THE MERITS OF
IT. WE JUST HAVE TO DO OUR DUE
DILIGENCE AND THERE IS A LOT OF
MISSING INFORMATION HERE THAT I
AM HOPING WILL BECOME PART OF
THIS CONVERSATION OBVIOUSLY
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER IF THE
TIME LINE IS TO BE KEPT FOR
APRIL. I AM NOWHERE NEAR BEING
ABLE TO MAKE, TO TAKE A VOTE ON
THIS IN APRIL. BECAUSE I THINK
THERE IS A LOT HERE THAT NEEDS
TO BE TEASED OUT.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE IF WE
CAN GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
IN THE NEXT MONTH. IF YOU NEED
MORE TIME, WE'LL TAKE MORE TIME.
>> SO CERTAINLY, THIS WOULD PICK
UP MANY CONCERT VENUES. HENCE
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MUSIC
COMMISSION. THE LAST CONCERT I
ATTENDED. ME AND MY WIFE WENT TO
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE LAST YEAR.
VERY LOUD. IT WAS LARD IN PART
BECAUSE OF ME. I WAS SCREAMING
LIKE A TEENAGE GIRL. IT WAS
AWESOME. AND SO YEAH. WHEN WE GO
TO CERTAIN EVENTS. MANY PEOPLE
BUT NOT ALL KNOW THEY CAN EXPECT
THIS, SOME LEVEL OF NOSE. SO AS
PART OF THE FORTHCOMING
ANALYSIS, I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SIGNAGE
REQUIREMENT VERSUS
ENCOURAGEMENT. I WOULD BE
CURIOUS TO EXPLORE THAT. MAYBE
IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE SIGNAGE
VERSUS ENCOURAGE IT. IF WE DO
THAT, ALL THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE
FURTHER EXPLORED. FOR CERTAIN
VENUES THAT MIGHT BE SUFFICIENT
SO WOULDN'T HAVE TO POSE AN
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT THEY
OFFER FOR SALE OR PROVIDE FOR
FREE EAR PLUGS WHICH IS AN
ADDITIONAL LAYER OF OVERHEAD
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN
THAT AND HAVE SOMEONE AVAILABLE
TO SELL IT AS OPPOSED TO POSTING
A SIGN ONE TIME. SO JUST
DECONSTRUCTING AND UNDERSTANDING
THE TRADE-OFFS OF ENCOURAGING
VERSUS REQUIRING. I TOO SHARE
CONCERN ABOUT THE LIABILITY BUT
I THINK IT IS A SOLVEABLE ONE.
ONCE GOVERNMENTS GET IN THE
BUSINESS OF REGULATION, AS A
GENERAL PROPOSITION, IT OPENS
THE DOOR FOR YOU KNOW, INCREASED
LEGAL EXPOSURE AND RISK AND
LAWSUITS. BUT WE CAN LIMIT OUR
OVER LIABILITY STATUTORILY. I
REPRESENT DISTRICT ONE AND I
HAVE TWO WORLD CLASS VENUES
STADIUM INS MY DISTRICT IN SODO.
AND I NOTE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
HAS CLIMATE PLEDGE IN THEIRS. I
AM CURIOUS TO HEAR THEIR
THOUGHTS BUT I 100% AGREE WITH
THE POLICY GOALS LIKE THE
PRINCIPLE LEVEL. THAT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALIGN ON
BECAUSE WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE
SPECIFIC DETAILS LATER SO I JUST
WANT TO SAY I WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> I WILL JUST CHAT BRIEFLY
ABOUT THE SIGNAGE AND PASS IT TO
YOU VICE CHAIR. YOUR QUESTION
WAS THE SAME ONE I HAD. I
BELIEVE THE MUSIC COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED WE REQUIRE SIGNAGE.
THAT MADE ME A LITTLE NERVOUS TO
BE HONEST. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
A VENUE TO GET A PENALTY IF THEY
DIDN'T PUT THE SIGN IN THE
RIGHT PLACE OR IT FELL DOWN AND
THE MANAGER FORGOT TO PUT IT UP.
THAT IS A POLICY CHOICE WE CAN
AND WILL MAKE. THAT IS WHY I
CHOSE ENCOURAGE RATHER THAN
REQUIRE. MANY VENUES ALREADY
PROVIDE HEARING PROTECTION FOR
FREE. BUT WIELDING INTO THAT. SO
GOOD POINT. VICE CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. WE WOULD
NEED TO HAVE SOME STATUTORY
REQUIREMENT, OR LANGUAGE TO
LIMIT OUR LIABILITIES THIS IS A
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE WE ARE
TRYING TO ADDRESS. THE HEARING
LOSS ISSUE. HISTORICALLY, DO WE
HAVE DATA AROUND PEOPLE ARE
LOSING THEIR HEARING BECAUSE
THEY ARE GOING TO THESE MUSIC
VENUES? I UNDERSTAND THE RISKS
BUT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR
SOMETHING VERY TANGIBLE. IS
THERE A WAY TO GET TO THE PUBLIC
HEALTH BENEFITS? I AGREE PEOPLE
SHOULD KNOW. WE OFTEN DO P As TO
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT A
HEALTH RIFFLE. I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE REALM
OF LOUD MUSIC AND HEARING LOSS
BUT I WOULD TO HEAR ABOUT AROUND
THE COUNTRY HAVE SOME TYPE OF
CAMPAIGN TO LET FOLKS KNOW. I DO
AGREE PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF
THE RISKS. AND OVER THE YEARS
HAS THE SOUND INCREASED AT THESE
MUSIC VENUES OR NOT? WHAT IS
DIFFERENT? WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN
INTO THE REALM OF REGULATING
THIS SO WHY NOW, MUSIC VENUES
HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO ME ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT, JASMINE. TO
HEAR ABOUT AS WE ARE REVIEWING
ALL OF THIS.
>> THANK YOU, THAT IS VERY
HELPFUL. WE HAD HOPED THE MUSIC
COMMISSION COULD JOIN US. WE HAD
ONE OF THE IDEOLOGISTS WHO AT
THE LAST MINUTE COULDN'T
ATTEND. PART OF THIS IS ME
SETTING THE STAGE SO EVERYONE
CAN ENGAGE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
I THINK WHEN WE HAVE THAT PANEL
UP, IT WILL GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THEM
DIRECTLY. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING
ELSE?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. I JUST
REALLY WANT TO, WHAT ARE WE
SOLVING FOR EXACTLY? IS THIS
GOING TO MEET WHAT WE ARE
SOLVING FOR? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
YOU HAVE RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE
LOUD MUSIC AND HEARING LOSS.
THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE
THE GOAL?
>> WONDERFUL. EACH OF US WE'LL
HAVE TO COME TO THAT CONCLUSION
ON OUR OWN. I WILL TELL YOU, WE
TAILORED THIS TO BE AS NARROW
WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF
CATCHING PEOPLE UNNECESSARILY TO
SOLVE THE ISSUE IN PRETTY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WAS ASKING
ABOUT IN A PILOT SETTING. THIS
HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF GOTCHAS.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR INPUT
AND COLLABORATION. SO IF THERE
ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO
CHANGE BEFORE IT IS FORMALLY
INTRODUCED, HAPPY TO DO THAT. OR
IF THERE ARE AMENDMENTS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO BE.
>> I THINK WE NEED ALL THESE
ANSWERS TO CENTRAL STAFF BEFORE
WE MOVE FORWARD. I APPRECIATE
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND FEEL
LIKE I'M SURPRISED THAT WE
DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO THESE
QUESTIONS TODAY.
>> IN PART, BECAUSE, MOST BILLS
ARE NOT DISCUSSED UNTIL AFTER
THEY ARE INTRODUCED AND WE ARE
TAKING AN EARLIER STEP TO ENGAGE
FOLKS SOONER.
>> ARE THERE EAR PLUGS THAT ARE
NOT RUBBER OR PLASTIC? ARE THERE
DISPOSABLE ONES OR COMPOSTABLE
ONES OR WHATEVER?
>> YEAH. THAT'S A GOOD
QUESTION. IN MY RESEARCH, WE SEE
THE BASIC ONE UP THERE ON THE
SLIDE. YOU CAN GET FOR LIKE 10
CENTS A PAIR. $60 FOR 600 OR
SOMETHING. BUT I DO BELIEVE
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF EAR PLUGS THAT IS
PARTLY WHY THE DRIFT IS WRITTEN
FOR FLEXIBILITY.
>> WHEN I GO TO SHOWS THAT MAKES
IT SOUND LIKE I DO A LOT WHICH I
DON'T OF COURSE. I SEE
GROWN-UPS USING THEIR BASIC AIR
PODS IN THEIR EARS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. SO IT COULD BE THAT
IS WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE DOING
SO AS NOT TO RELY ON THESE
IMPLEMENTS. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU
ARE IN FOR WHEN YOU GO TO A
MUSIC SHOW. I WOULD THINK THAT
THOSE OPTIONS ARE ALREADY,
PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THOSE AND I
DON'T WANT TO SEE A BUNCH OF
THESE THINGS LITTERED ON THE
GROUND OUTSIDE OF SHOWS JUST
BECAUSE THEY WERE HANDED OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. ONE
OTHER KIND OF FINAL THOUGHT THAT
I THINK WE'LL WANT TO CONSIDER
AS THIS MOVES FORWARD IS
POTENTIAL FIFA IMPACT. IS THIS
INTENDED TODAY APPLY TO INDOOR
FACILITIES ONLY OR IS THERE
OUTDOOR VENUE IMPACT? STATE
LEGISLATURE PREVIOUSLY
AUTHORIZED ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES
TO ALLOW WATCH PARTIES
THROUGHOUT PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND WE'LL HAVE OVER 1 MILLION
PEOPLE HERE FROM OTHER PARTS OF
THE WORLD VISITING HERE IN
SEATTLE. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
DO WE SUSPEND? DO WE CARVE OUT
OUTDOOR VENUES AND EXCLUDE THEM
FROM THE SCOPE OF THE
ORDINANCE'S REACH? DO WE
SUSPEND FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD?
I'M TALKING THE WORLD CUP. BUT
THE BIG BANG IS NEXT YEAR. HOW
ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THIS IN
THE CONTEXT OF FIFA? THANK YOU
MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
IN PART, THAT GETS BACK TO THE
DEFINITIONS AND I WOULD LOVE TO
WORK WITH YOU ON THE
DEFINITIONS. IT GOES BACK TO IF
WE REGULATED THIS BY DECIBEL
LEVEL, IT COULD ENSNARE THOSE
PLACES UNINTENTIONALLY. AND IF
WE BUILD IT TOWARD A BUSINESS
LICENSE. IT ALLOWS THE EDUCATION
TO BE SENT EASILY. THAT IS WHY
WE PUT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OUT.
SO WHEN BUSINESSES RENEW THEY
ARE ABLE TO BE EDUCATED IN THIS
WAY. I BRING MY OWN EAR PLUGS.
SOMETIMES I FORGET. WE HAVE A
LOT OF FOLKS COMING IN FOR
TOURISM AND WE ARE KNOWN
INTERNATIONALLY FOR OUR MUSIC.
WHETHER IT WAS THE KINGS MAN OR
NIRVANA OR MCLEMORE. NOW THAT
I'M LISTING THOSE I SHOULD
PROBABLY LIST EVERYONE. IT JUST
COMES BACK TO THE FACT THAT
FOLKS COME TO OUR CITY FOR MUSIC
BECAUSE IT IS A HIGHLIGHT OF OUR
REPUTATION.
>> THANK YOU. WHAT ABOUT SIR
MIX-A LOT? AND EDDIE VETTER?
WEST SEATTLEITE? YEAH. NO, I'M
JUST JOKING.
>> BEFORE WE COP ON, VICE CHAIR,
DO YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION. DO
THEY REGULATE THE OUTDOOR MUSIC
OR IS IT JUST INDOOR?
>> I CAN LOOK INTO WHAT THE
PERMITTING, WHAT FALLS UNDER
THEIR EXISTING PERMITS. IT COULD
BE OUTDOOR VENUES OR SPECIAL
PERMITS WOULD STILL NEED
EXTENDED HOURS HOURS PERMIT MANY
SAN FRANCISCO. I DON'T KNOW BUT
I CAN LOOK THAT UP.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE
ESTABLISHMENT IN YOUR DISTRICT?
>> THE ANSWER FOR ME AT LEAST IS
THE SOUND GARDEN.
>> THE NEPTUNE IS A GREAT PLACE
AS WELL. THE SOUND GARDEN IS NOT
SO LOUD. AS WE HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS AND WE ARE SIX MINUTES
AHEAD OF OUR SCHEDULED END TIME.
I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING FOR THE
GOOD OF THE ORDER. WE ARE
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. WE
ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES.