>> ELECTED TRIBAL LEADERS WILL
GO FIRST, SO WE DIDN'T GIVE
PEOPLE PROPER NOTIFICATION SO WE
ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE
AGENDA SO TYPICALLY THEY WOULD
GO FIRST. ALSO WE HAD SO MANY
APPOINTMENTS THAT WE FOCUS ON
GETTING APPOINTMENT PACKETS ON
THE AGENDA AND DID NOT GET THE
PRESENTATION ON THE AGENDA SO IT
IS BEING PRINTED AND HAS BEEN
EMAILED TO YOU. VICE CHAIR
RIVERA IS NOW PRESENT. WITH
THAT, WE HAVE FOUR GROUPINGS OF
ITEMS. WE HAVE VOTES AND 8
APPOINTMENTS , A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON THE APPOINTMENT OF
DAN EDER IS DIRECTOR OF THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE, A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES WORK, AS
WELL AS A BRIEFING DISCUSSION ON
THE SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER LOAN. BEFORE WE BEGIN
OF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
ADDENDA -- AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. MOVING ON TO THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD .
>> SEEING AS WE HAVE NO PUBLIC
COMMENTERS PHYSICALLY OR
REMOTELY PRESENT, WE WILL OPEN
AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE
SAME PERIOD. FOR THE FOLKS WERE
SITTING WITH YOUR BACKS -- YOU
CAN SLIDE AROUND THE TABLE AND
SCRUNCH IN AS WELL AS YOU CAN
MOVE THOSE MICROPHONES SO THAT
EVERYONE GETS A MICROPHONE. FUN
FACTS THAT THE COMMITTEE TABLE
IS THAT YOU HAVE TO GET THE
MICROPHONE REALLY CLOSE TO YOUR
MOUTH FOR US TO HEAR YOU. PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD HAS OPENED AND
CLOSED. MOVING ON TO THE FIRST,
I BELIEVE 8 ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF THE FIRST 8 ITEMS
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
EIGHT. APPOINTMENTS 3178 THROUGH
3185. APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS OF LAURA E.
NICHOLSON, ANGIE S. WOOD, BILAN
ADEN, BARBARA BAQUERO ,
NURHALIZA MOHAMATH AND TANIKA
THOMPSON BIRD AS MEMBERS OF THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX COMMUNITY
FOR THE TERM OF -- TO AUGUST
31st, 2027. 0318 AND 0315,
APPOINTMENT OF JOEY LU AND
YAMILA STERLING-BAKER AS MEMBERS
OF THE SWEETENED AVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY AUGUST-- ADVISORY
BOARD UNTIL 2029. THIS IS FOR A
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE VOTE AND
PRESENTERS WILL INCLUDE BRIDGET
IGOE FROM THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
>> BRIDGET, WELCOME. YOU'VE
BROUGHT EVERYONE HERE TODAY
WHICH IS UNUSUAL AND WONDERFUL
TO HAVE EVERYONE HERE WITH US
TODAY. MAYBE IF YOU WANT TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND HAVE
FOLKS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND
SHARE WHY EVERYONE IS HERE
TODAY.
>> YEAH, WONDERFUL. GOOD MORNING
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
TIME TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON
THIS COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
BRIDGET IGOE AND I AM A FOOD
POLICY ADVISOR AT THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
AND IT IS MY DEEP LEISURE TO
INTRODUCE FIVE CANDIDATE
APPOINTMENTS AND THREE CANDIDATE
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX COMMUNITY ADVISORY
BOARD. DO I JUST START
PRESENTING?
>> COLLEAGUES, IF WE CAN HOLD
QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION
UNTIL WE GET TO THE END WHERE WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT APPOINTMENTS,
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> CAN YOU SEE MY PRESENTATION.
>> NOT YET. IF YOU COULD--
THAT'S FINE. THERE IT GOES.
OVER TO YOU, PLEASE.
>> ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO. JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF REEF INFORMATION
ABOUT SEATTLE SWEETENED BEVERAGE
TAX. THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
BEEN TAXING SWEETENED BEVERAGE
PROJECT PRODUCTS WITHIN THE CITY
SINCE 2018. THE TAXES LEVIED ON
THE DISTRIBUTORS OF SUGARY
BEVERAGES AND WAS DESIGNED TO
IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS BY REDUCING SALES AND
CONSUMPTION OF SUGARY DRINKS.
THE TAX ALSO RAISES ABOUT $21
MILLION PER YEAR FOR PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES THAT INCREASE
ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD,
ALLEVIATE HUNGER AND SUPPORT
CHILD HEALTH AND EARLY LEARNING.
THE SAME ORDINANCE THAT CREATED
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX ALSO
ESTABLISHED AN 11 MEMBER
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. THE
BOARD ADVISES AND MAKES
RECOMMENDATION TO THE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL ON FOOD ACCESS AND
EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT ARE
SUPPORTED BY THE SBT. THE ANNUAL
WORK PLAN IS CLOSELY ALIGNED
WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS OF THE
CITY AND EVERY YEAR THIS BOARD
DEVELOPS ANNUAL RECOMMENDATIONS
DIRECTED TO THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL. IN THIS WAY, THE BOARD
PLAYS A KEY ROLE INTEGRATING
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES INTO CITY
BUDGETING AND PROGRAMMING
SUPPORTED BY THE SBT. IN
ADDITION TO BUDGET
RECOMMENDATIONS, THIS BOARD ALSO
DEVELOPS AN ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT
INVESTMENTS AND REPORTS ARE
DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING, HUMAN SERVICES,
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT AND THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE. THIS BOARD CONSISTS OF
11 MEMBERS, HAS FOUR POSITION
TYPES THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE
ENABLING ORDINANCE. THREE
MEMBERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IN
LAMENTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
FOCUSED ON EXPANDING HEALTHY
FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD SECURITY.
TWO MEMBERS REPRESENT
POPULATIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY THE HEALTH IMPACTS
RELATED TO CONSUMING SUGARY
DRINKS, FOUR MEMBERS HAVE
EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
NUTRITION AND TWO MEMBERS HAVE
EXPERTISE IN EARLY LEARNING. NOW
MY ANIMATION ISN'T GOING TO
WORK. HERE IS OUR CURRENT ROSTER
INCLUDING THE CANDIDATES BEING
CONSIDERED TODAY FOR
APPOINTMENT. AS I OPENED WITH,
IT REALLY IS A TRUE PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE THE NEW AND RETURNING
CANDIDATES. I THINK YOU WILL
FIND THEY COLLECTIVELY BRING
TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE AND
EXPERTISE IN FOOD AND EARLY
LEARNING PROGRAMMING. I AM GOING
TO VERY BRIEFLY INTRODUCE EACH
ONE AND THEN, UNLESS WOULD YOU
ALL LIKE TO GO AROUND? LET'S DO
THAT. BILAN ADEN WHY DON'T YOU
GO AHEAD?
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
BILAN ADEN, I AM THE-- SHOULD I
TALK ABOUT MY DAY JOB?
>> SURE.
>> WHO YOU ARE AND WHY YOU ARE
INTERESTED.
>> I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT AND
COFOUNDER OF AFRICAN COMMUNITY
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT. WE
FOCUS ON HOUSING, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, FOOD ACCESS AND
DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
HOME OWNERSHIP. I'VE BEEN ON
THE COMMITTEE FOR ALMOST, I
THINK SIX YEARS NOW AND I AM
PRIVILEGED TO BE SUPPORTING AND
PROVIDING INFORMATION ON WHAT IS
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. OUR
ORGANIZATION RUNS THE DELL RICH
FARMERS MARKET AND ANOTHER
FARMERS MARKET IN SEATAC AND
IT'S A PLACE WHERE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS COME TOGETHER AND HAVE
ACCESS TO HEALTHY, CULTURALLY
RELEVANT FOOD , BASIC NEEDS, AND
JUST BEING IN COMMUNITY. OUR
ORGANIZATION HAS BENEFITED FROM
THIS PROGRAM, AS WELL BECAUSE
DELL RICH FARMERS MARKET WOULD
NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE
INVESTMENTS MADE FROM THE CITY
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SO SHE IS A
RETURNING CABINET MEMBER IN
POSITION FOUR WHICH IS A
COMMUNITY SEAT. NEXT WE HAVE
LAURA NICHOLSON WHO IS A NEW
CANDIDATE APPOINTMENT IN
POSITION 10 FOR EARLY LEARNING .
>> MY NAME IS LAURA NICHOLSON
AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF LAUNCH. WE ARE A 48 YEAR
NONPROFIT SERVING CHILDREN IN
SOUTH SEATTLE. WE HAVE 13
LOCATIONS AND I'VE HAD THE
BENEFIT OF ACTUALLY SEEING WHAT
THIS INVESTMENT CAN DO FOR OUR
FAMILY AS WE GET FOOD BAGS FOR
OUR FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES. IT
HAS BEEN A TRANSFORMATIONAL
EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF THE
FAMILIES IN OUR PROGRAM SO,
EXCITED TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JOEY
LU, A NEW APPOINTMENT IN
POSITION NUMBER ONE AND HE'S
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS
MARKET ALLIANCE.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING. IN MY ROLE
AS A FOOD ACCESS COORDINATOR I
GET TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS , STATE AND CITY LOCAL
AGENCY AS WELL AS FARMERS TO
IMPLEMENT FOOD ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS IN OUR MARKETS TO MAKE
SURE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY
HAS ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD AND I
AM EXCITED TO JOIN THE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, JOEY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ANGIE WOULD --
ANGIE S. WOOD FOR SEAT NUMBER
SIX AND JOEY, EXCUSE ME, ANGIE
COMES TO US FROM PIKE MARKET
SENIOR CENTER AND FOOD BANK.
>> THE NAME IS A MOUTHFUL. THE
DIRECTOR OF FOOD BANK PROGRAMS ,
I WAS ACTUALLY HIRED ABOUT 5 1/2
YEARS AGO AS THE ASSISTANT
MANAGER AT THE FOOD TANK USING
NEW FUNDING FROM THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX SO THIS IS BEEN ON
MY RADAR FOR A LONG TIME AS A
REALLY IMPORTANT INNOVATIVE
COMMUNITY FUNDING SOURCE . WHEN
IT CAME UP I WAS REALLY
INTERESTED TO BE INVOLVED. IN
ADDITION TO SERVING THE WHOLE
REGION WITH FOOD BANK PROGRAMS,
WE DO ABOUT 300 HOME DELIVERY
SERVICES HERE IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE EVERY WEEK AS WELL AS WE
HAVE A NO PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY
FOR HOMELESS RESIDENTS OR
NEIGHBORS AND THAT HAS JUST BEEN
EXPANDING HUGELY SO WE ARE
REALLY INTERESTED IN EXPANDING
SERVICES FOR THAT POPULATION
RIGHT NOW. ON THE SENIOR CENTER
SIDE WE ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK AND DO HOT, HAND COOKED
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR SENIORS
EVERY DAY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE NURHALIZA
MOHAMATH WHO COMES FROM US --
COMES TO US FROM RAY NEAR BEACH
-- APPOINTMENT AND IS A
CANDIDATE FOR PRECISION --
POSITION NUMBER THREE.
>> THANK YOU AND HELLO,
EVERYBODY. NURHALIZA MOHAMATH
WITH THE RAY NEAR BEACH ACTION
COALITION AND I CURRENTLY SERVE
AS THE FOOD JUSTICE AND YOUTH
PROGRAMS MANAGER . WE HAVE A
SATURDAY WEEKLY FARM STAND FOR
THE SEASON AND ARE ALSO
LAUNCHING CSA BOX PROGRAM WHICH
IS SLIDING-SCALE. WE WORK WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE AND BLACK AND BROWN
FARMERS AND THIS LAST YEAR WE
DISTRIBUTED OVER $300,000 IN
LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TO THE
COMMUNITY IN SOUTH SEATTLE. RAIN
NEAR BEACH ACTION COALITION HAS
BEEN LIKE AN ORIGINAL COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS ADVOCATED
FOR THIS REVENUE TO FUND HEALTHY
FOOD ACCESS SO, HERE TO
REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
BARBARA WHO COMES FROM -- SCHOOL
OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WE HAVE
CONVINCED HER TO COME BACK AS A
RETURNING CANDIDATE , A
RE-APPOINTMENT. BARBARA IS IN
SEAT NUMBER TWO, FOOD ACCESS.
>> GOOD MORNING, IT WAS AN EASY
DECISION TO COME BACK. IT'S AN
HONOR. BUT SO INTERESTING ABOUT
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS IN MY
POSITION, AND SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
HEALTH, TO BRING SOME OF THE
EVIDENCE AND THE INTERVENTION
AND THE RESEARCH AND WE DO
ENRICH THAT WITH COMMUNITY
EFFORTS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR THESE TYPES OF POLICIES IN
TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE
IMPLICATIONS OF IT, AND ALSO
BRINGING FORWARD ALL THE WORK
AROUND IT. SO THE SHARED
GOVERNANCE MODEL THAT WE HAVE
NOT ONLY HAS IMPACT ON FOOD
SECURITY AND FOOD ACCESS BUT IS
ALSO A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY IN
TERMS OF HOW A PROGRAM LIKE THIS
CAN REALLY FILL THE GAP IN MANY
OF THE SAFETY NET PROGRAMS THAT
WE HAVE. SO, IT'S AN HONOR TO
BE HERE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE TANIKA THOMPSON
BIRD WHO IS A RETURNING MEMBER
AND HAS ALSO BEEN THE COCHAIR
FOR THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD FOR
SEVERAL YEARS. SHE IS IN
POSITION NUMBER 5 , COMMUNITY
REPRESENTATIVE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
TANIKA THOMPSON BIRD, I AM
CURRENTLY THE CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
AT GOT GREEN. FORMER FOOD ACCESS
ORGANIZER. I WORKED WITH FORMER
CITY COUNCIL TO HELP WITH THE
SUGARY BEVERAGE TAX AND MAKE
SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS
ACCEPTING AND UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY
WHAT THIS TAX WOULD BRING TO
THEM. THE BENEFIT . AND, I AM
REALLY PROUD TO BE HERE. THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE YAMILA
STERLING-BAKER WHO COMES TO US
FROM SOLID GROUNDS AND WOULD BE
FEELING SEAT NUMBER SEVEN,
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION.
>> I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FOOD
ACCESS AND EDUCATION FOR SOLID
GROUND AND ONE OF THE BODIES OF
WORK IS THAT WE SUPPORT SEATTLE
COMMUNITIES THAT IS COMPRISED OF
FOOD BANKS IN SEATTLE AND IN
ADDITION TO THAT WE PROVIDE FOOD
DELIVERIES TO ALL OF THE FOOD
BANKS IN SEATTLE. WE ALSO HAVE A
CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO PROVIDE FARM TO
PRESCHOOL CLASSES . SBT IS ONE
OF THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE DAN
WITH US TODAY. HE IS NOT A FOR
APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT BUT
IS HERE TO SUPPORT HIS
COLLEAGUES. THERE ARE ONLY TWO
EARLY LEARNING SEATS ON THIS
BOARD AND DAN IS IN ONE OF THEM.
>> I'M JUST YOUR FOR ONE OF
THEM. LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE
CAB, IT'S A TREAT TO SERVE ON
THIS COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
YOUR INTRODUCTIONS AND I TURN IT
OVER TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR QUESTIONS OR
DISCUSSIONS.
>> THIS TIME I WILL TAKE
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM
COLLEAGUES. I FEEL THIS IS A
COMMITTEE TABLE THAT EMBODIES
THE YOUNG EARLY LEARNING FROM
YOU DAN AS WELL AS FOOD ACCESS.
IT IS IMPORTANT WORK THAT ALL OF
YOU DO. COLLEAGUES DO YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
OTHERWISE I CAN JUMP IN. COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU COULD HAVE
YOUR OWN MEETING RIGHT NOW .
>> THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HEADED
NEXT. IT'S WHY WE ARE ALL HERE.
>> WELL THAT'S PERFECT TIMING.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE.
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE DO
GET VARIOUS APPOINTMENTS FOR
VARIOUS COMMISSIONS AND GROUPS
OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. AS A
GROUP I HAVE TO SAY THE ONE
THING THAT STRIKES ME IS YOUR
VOLUNTEERISM AND SERVING ON
DIFFERENT NONPROFITS AND GROUPS.
THAT JUMPED OUT IN TERMS OF YOUR
RESUMES AND SHOWS WHERE YOUR
HEART IS IN THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING VOLUNTEERING OF YOUR TIME.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING
THAT BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT.
I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT SO I
APPRECIATE THE DEMANDS ON YOUR
TIME AND YOUR FAMILY AND
WHATEVER YOUR SITUATION SO THANK
YOU FOR COMING TOGETHER ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. I JUST
WANTED TO ALSO THANK , ONE OF
THE THINGS AS YOU MAY KNOW, I'VE
BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK RELATED
TO PIKES PACE -- PIKE PLACE
MARKET. SEATTLE THINK OF THE
MARKET OF THROWING FISH, SEEING
RACHEL THE PIG AND THEN YOU HAVE
PIKE PLACE ITSELF AND THE ICONIC
SIGNAGE BUT I APPRECIATE YOU
BEING ON HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE
HIGHLIGHTING THE POINT WHEN
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE MARKET,
BEING A COMMUNITY BUT IT'S NOT
JUST THAT. THERE'S THE SENIOR
CENTERS. THERE'S PRESCHOOL.
BASICALLY IT'S A VILLAGE . CAN
YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOUR GROUP
DOES AND MAYBE TOUCH A LITTLE
BIT BROADER IN TERMS OF HOW THAT
IMPACTS COMMUNITY? YOU TALK
ABOUT THE ELDERS. WHAT IS THE
IMPACT AND HOW DOES THAT
TRANSLATE TO HAVING BASICALLY AN
IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES?
>> YOU ARE SO RIGHT. PIKE PLACE
MARKET, THAT COMMUNITY IS A
REALLY UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM FOR
PEOPLE. THERE'S A CHILDCARE
CENTER AND A SENIOR CENTER AND A
FOOD BANK AND AN ASSISTED LIVING
CENTER, AND A CLINIC. THEY ARE
WRITTEN INTO THE CHARTER OF PIKE
PLACE MARKET AND RUN BY THE TDA
SO ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND
WE WORK TOGETHER AND ARE
SUPPORTED BY THAT FOUNDATION TO
ENSURE THAT ALL RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE WORK AND VISIT PIKE PLACE
MARKET BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A HUB.
NOT JUST FOR DOWNTOWN BUT FOR
ALL OF SEATTLE AND ALL OF THE
REGION. WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WHATEVER ISSUE COMES UP WE
THE COMMUNITY ARE THERE AS A
SAFETY NET FOR FOLKS. DO YOU
HAVE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT AND I SEE
FROM THE BACKGROUND THAT THIS IS
HAPPENING IN ITS OWN WAY IN LIKE
THE RAINIER SO ON AND SO FORTH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COORDINATION
AS WELL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON I
SEE YOUR HAND IS RAISED.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR NUMBER ONE
COMING IN PERSON SO WE CAN MEET
YOU IN PERSON AND THANKS TO THE
REAPPOINTING FOLKS BECAUSE YOU
HAVE PUT IN YOUR TIME AND YOU
ARE WILLING TO KEEP ON WITH THE
WORK SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
ALWAYS THINK THE APPOINTMENTS
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE
REAPPOINTED OR NEW, THANK YOU
FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME AND
EXPERTISE. YOU ARE CLEARLY
PROFESSIONALS IN THIS POLICY
REALM SO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING
UP. THE LAST TIME I REMEMBER THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX FUNDING
SITUATION BEING PRESENTED, IT
WAS EITHER A YEAR OR SO AGO. ONE
OF THE MESSAGES OR THE THINGS
THAT KEPT COMING UP WAS THAT ,
BECAUSE THE TAX IS WORKING OR
PEOPLE ARE CONSUMING BEVERAGES
OR THEY ARE PURCHASING THEM
ELSEWHERE, THE POINT IS, THE
STRUCTURAL ISSUE IS THAT REVENUE
IS DECLINING. IS THAT AN ISSUE,
IS THAT TOP OF MIND FOR HOW YOU
DEAL WITH THAT?
>> YES, IT IS SOMETHING WE
TALKED ABOUT A LOT AT OUR LAST
MEETING. HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT
OUR COMMUNITY IS BENEFITING FROM
SO MUCH WITHOUT -- I MEAN, LIKE
YOU SAID , TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO CONTINUE PROGRAMS AND
KEEP THEM GOING. WE JUST STARTED
TO TALK ABOUT IT AND I THINK
IT'S SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO TRY TO ADDRESS AND
WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU ALL WILL
THINK ABOUT IT AS WELL AND TRY
TO FIND SOME TYPE OF RESOURCE
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THESE
WONDERFUL PROGRAMS WORKING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT'S HARD FOR COMMUNITIES,
FOOD ACCESS, CHILDCARE. THESE
ARE THINGS THAT EVERYONE NEEDS
TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND THIS
REVENUE IS DECLINING AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE
THAT WILL HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE
YEAR AND PROBABLY BE MORE ACUTE
GIVEN SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH
PUBLIC SERVICES ARE BEING PULLED
BACK FEDERALLY PRIMARILY BUT IT
IS SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT EVERY
MEETING.
>> MAY I ADD, I THINK FOR US IS
THAT WE WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH
ALL OF YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO
WE SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN
RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE EVEN
THOUGH WE KNOW THAT PROTECTIONS
ARE DECLINING IN TERMS OF THE
TAX BUT FINDING OTHER WAYS TO
CONTINUE SUPPORTING THIS
PROGRAM. WE HOPE THIS CAN ALSO
BE A NEW FACE IN CONTINUING
COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF YOU.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY WHEN WE HAD
OUR DISCUSSION AT THE LAST
MEETING WE THOUGHT ABOUT, OKAY,
IT'S A SUCCESS. WE HAVE HELPED
CURB THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
SOME TO IN BUT ALSO TONS OF
AMAZING PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED AND THEY NEED TO
FIND A NEW REVENUE SOURCE TO
MAINTAIN AND CONTINUE THAT
TRAJECTORY OF KEEPING COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HEALTHY, SAFE, AND
ACTIVE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.
>> JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT
WAS ON THE RADAR AND MAYBE THERE
WAS A PLAN IN THE MAKING FOR
SOME OPTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS JOINED
US AS WELL. AND I SEE VICE CHAIR
RIVERA HAS HER HAND UP .
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE A SIMILAR
QUESTION IN THAT I KNOW THE
PURPOSE OF THE TAX WAS TO MAKE
IT OBSOLETE IF YOU WILL BECAUSE
IT MEANT THAT LESS PEOPLE AND
PARTICULARLY KIDS WERE CONSUMING
SUGARY BEVERAGES, SO I WONDERED
WHETHER AT THE INCEPTION OF THE
ADVISORY BOARD, THERE WAS A PLAN
FOR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE
SUCCESSFUL GETTING FOLKS
ESPECIALLY KIDS NOT TO CONSUME
THESE BEVERAGES. WHAT IS THE
PLAN FOR ADDRESSING EITHER A
RAMP DOWN OR, IT'S
TO ME WE DO THESE THINGS
TO HAVE AN INTENDED IMPACT AND
THEN WHEN WE DO IT'S HARD FOR
US TO GRAPPLE WITH WHAT HAPPENS
NEXT. SO I AM VERY INTERESTED TO
HEAR IF AT THE INCEPTION OF THE
ADVISORY BOARD, THE ADVISORY
BOARD TALKED ABOUT THE
CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR IT AND YOU
DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THIS TODAY
BUT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION I
LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT NOW THAT THE
MONEY HAS BEEN USED FOR PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
COMMUNITY GIVEN OUR BUDGETARY
REALITIES ACROSS THE BOARD. OF
COURSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AND IN THE GENERAL
FUND WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT
PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES SO HOW
DO WE MARRY ALL OF THAT, IF YOU
WILL? IS REALLY IMPORTANT. ALL
OF THAT SAID THE WORK WE DO IS
SO IMPORTANT AND I AM
APPRECIATIVE THAT FOLKS ARE
WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME
AND EXPERTISE TO THIS IMPORTANT
WORK . ADVISORY BOARDS ARE
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AND I SAY
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL PUT
IN FOR FREE, AND IT DOES NOT GO
UNNOTICED OR UNDERAPPRECIATED SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE AND HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING IN
PERSON. NOT ACROSS THE TABLE BUT
CLOSER, AND HAVING ACTUAL
CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR. IF
IT'S OKAY WITH YOU I'M GOING
TO JUST ASK EACH OF YOU SOME
QUESTIONS. IS BILAN HERE? I
WROTE DOWN YOUR NAME
INCORRECTLY. THAT'S WHY. EXCUSE
ME. HERE WE ARE. THAT'S GREAT.
I WILL START WITH YOU. YOU'VE
SEEN YOUR ORGANIZATION GROW UP
TO 30 PEOPLE IN FIVE YEARS. WHEN
YOU APPLY THAT SCALABILITY AND
GROWTH MINDSET TO WHAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE TO HOW THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX IS DEPLOYING
FUNDING, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU
SEE HIS NEED TO DO OR
OPPORTUNITIES OR CHALLENGES?
>> WHEN WE ESTABLISHED -- IN
2018 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE
FIRST GRANT I EVER WROTE WAS THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND IT
WAS AROUND USE, ENGAGEMENT
AROUND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND
HELPING WITH DEVELOPING
LEADERSHIP SKILLS. THEIR CALL TO
ACTION AFTER HOSTING COMMUNITY
EVENTS WAS TO DEVELOP A FARMERS
MARKET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ACCESS
CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS.
THERE'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
FOR VENDORS, IT WAS ONCE
CONSIDERED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
FOOD APARTHEID ZONE AND NOW IT
NO LONGER IS . WE DON'T WANT TO
TAKE ALL THE CREDIT BUT WE DID
HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.
LAST YEAR WE DISBURSED , WE GAVE
OVER 25,000 POUNDS OF HEALTHY,
LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCE AND I
THINK HAVING THAT GROWTH MINDSET
HAS ATTRIBUTED A LOT TO THE
EXPANSION. NOW WE ARE IN SEATAC
AND HAVE OVER 25,000 PATRONS WHO
COME AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE
MONEY TO SHOP. KIDS GET FREE
FIVE DOLLARS KID BUCKS SO THEY
HAVE AGENCY TO SHOP FOR
THEMSELVES . REALLY CREATING AN
ENVIRONMENT OF A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY AND BELONGING FIRST
AND THEN WE ADD OTHER ELEMENTS
OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MOBILE
CLINICS DURING THE PANDEMIC WE
DID SHOTS IN ARMS SO THINKING
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT
IT TAKES FOR A HUMAN BEING TO
FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING,
FEELING HEALTHY AND CONNECTED TO
THEIR COMMUNITY AND REACHING OUT
TO PARTNERS AND FRIENDS ALL OVER
THE CITY. THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR ALWAYS
SHOWING UP AND VOLUNTEERING AT
THE MARKET . JUST LISTENING TO
COMMUNITY AND WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE
AND USING THE DELRIDGE FARMERS
MARKET HAS BEEN A MODEL FOR ALL
OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS TO THINK
HOLISTICALLY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO
LIVE WORK AND PLAY IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL REGION OF OURS.
>> IN YOUR FIRST GRANT WAS A
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX GRANT.
LOOK HOW THE SEED HAS GROWN.
>> WE SERVE OVER 10,000 PEOPLE
IN KING COUNTY IN PEARSON AND
SNOHOMISH.
>> DAN I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT
UP FOR APPOINTMENTS BUT I'M
GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
WHY IS EARLY LEARNING IMPORTANT
AND WHY IS FOOD IMPORTANT?
>> THE VALUE IN THE FIRST FIVE
YEARS OF OVERALL LIFE
DEVELOPMENT IS HUGE IN TERMS OF
NEURONS THAT ARE FORMED IN THE
EARLY YEARS. IT HELPS TO BE MORE
SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND LIFE SO
IN MY WORK AT THE FOUNDATION WE
ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT
CAREGIVERS NATIONALLY AND
GLOBALLY HAVE THE BEST
INFORMATION ABOUT BRAIN SCIENCE
AND ACTIVITIES THEY CAN DO EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN
ARE DEVELOPING AT AN APPROPRIATE
LEVEL. I THINK HISTORICALLY IT
IS UNDER INVESTED AND THIS IS
WHERE WE ARE DOING SOME GOOD
WORK. THE NUTRITION PIECE IS
IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT AND NUTRITION IS
ESSENTIAL TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
GROWING HEALTHY AND STRONG AND
GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL ADULTS
SOME DAY.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK. AND YOU DELIVER
THE FOOD. IT'S ONE THING TO
HAVE SOME HAVE SOME FOOD IN A
WAREHOUSE BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THE ROLE THAT YOU
PLAY GETTING FOOD TO FOOD BANKS
AND PROVIDING FOOD TO PEOPLE?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
THIS SITUATION WE ARE FACING?
>> USUALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD
DELIVERY OR TRANSPORTATION THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT THOUGHT
ABOUT. IT'S THINKING ABOUT THE
END-USER OR THE COMMUNITY MEMBER
OR THE CLIENT OR THE NEIGHBOR
BUT TRANSPORTATION IS COSTLY AND
AT TIMES SOME OF THE FUNDING
THAT WE SEE , IT CAN BE CITY OR
STATE, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT
COVER TRANSPORTATION AND IT'S
HARD TO RAISE FUNDING FOR THAT
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF
FUNDERS AND FOUNDATIONS REALLY
WANT TO SEE SOMETHING MORE
VISUALLY APPEALING WHICH IS
PEOPLE EATING, PEOPLE THRIVING.
AND HOW THE FOOD IS GOING TO GET
THERE, PEOPLE FORGET THAT. SO I
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
TRANSPORTATION IS THE CONNECTOR
AND I USUALLY HIGHLIGHT THAT . I
THINK DURING COVID, IT REALLY
HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF
TRANSPORTATION AND HOW FRAGILE
THAT IS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK
HITTING FOOD INTO THE HOMES OF
PEOPLE. IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THE
FOOD BANK YOU CAN'T GET HOME.
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE
START. WHAT HAS THE IMPACT ON
COMMUNITY BEEN OVER TIME?
>> WELL I CAN SPECIFICALLY TALK
ABOUT THE FIRST-- PROGRAM . WE
WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM
AND MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY EBT
USERS WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THE
PROGRAM BUT WORKING FAMILIES AS
WELL. I PERSONALLY ENROLLED OVER
600 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO
USE FRESH BUCKS AND IT HAS BEEN
OVERWHELMING AND REALLY
SUCCESSFUL AND GREAT FOR
FAMILIES. I MAKE MYSELF
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF THOSE
FAMILIES. THEY CAN REACH OUT AND
CALL ME. I'VE DELIVERED FRESH
ONES DURING COVID TO PEOPLE'S
HOMES. BEFORE, THEY WERE GIVEN
CARDS TO USE AND THEY HAVE JUST
BEEN SO GRATEFUL. THERE ARE
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ON THE
WAITING LIST TO ACCESS THE
PROGRAM. IT IS JUST REALLY
SUCCESSFUL, FAMILIES ARE
THRIVING AND AND THEY ARE
GRATEFUL TO HAVE IT.
>> I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. THE
PROGRAM HAS EXCEEDED
EXPECTATIONS. BARBARA, YOU HAVE
THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SIT IN
ACADEMIA WHERE YOU SEE ACROSS
THE LANDSCAPE, THE COUNTRY AND
THE WORLD ABOUT WHAT IS GOING
WELL, WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE WE
HAVE TO FACE . WHAT DO WE KNOW
TODAY FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND
THE WORLD OF WHAT WE ARE DOING
WELL AND WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE
ON?
>> WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS
WELL AND I THINK WE HAVE A
COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF AS
WELL AS RESEARCHERS. IN TERMS OF
THE DEDICATION AND ATTENTION TO
DETAIL FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS
PROGRAM. IT IS UNIQUE IN TERMS
OF LONGEVITY, SOURCES OF FUNDING
AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS IN
THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE LOTS OF
EVIDENCE WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU
THAT NOT ONLY SPEAKS TO THE
ACTUAL IMPACT OF HAVING THESE
ADDITIONAL $40 FOR EXAMPLE FROM
THE PROGRAM, TO COMPLIMENT THE
BUDGET OR TO ACTUALLY SPEND IT
ON HEALTHIER FOOD, BUT A SENSE
OF DIGNITY AND NOW WE HAVE THE
EBT CARD AND WE SEE FROM THE
CUSTOMERS THAT THEY FEEL MUCH
MORE COMFORTABLE GOING INTO
STORES. THE FACT OF, DO YOU ALSO
PROMOTE AND ROLLING LOCAL SMALL
BUSINESSES AND STORES THAT
REPRESENT THE CULTURE OF MANY OF
THESE CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS.
THEY SEE THEMSELVES SEEN IN THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE -- BY
THE PLACES THEY CAN GO AND SHOP
. I COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT
THIS. IT ALSO HAS AN IMPACT ON
MENTAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH. WE
KNOW THAT PEOPLE FEEL LESS
STRESS BECAUSE THEY CAN BRING
FRESH PRODUCE OR EVEN FROZEN OR
CANNED PRODUCE HOME TO FEED THE
CHILDREN AND THEIR KIDS AND TRY
NEW FOODS. IT'S LIKE I'VE NEVER
TRIED KIWI BECAUSE I COULDN'T
AFFORD IT AND NOW I CAN. SO THIS
PROGRAM IS A SPARK FOR THEM. I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE
MULTIPLYING EFFECT THAT IT HAS
IN COMMUNITIES. NOT ONLY
INDIVIDUALS BUT IN THE BUSINESS
IS THAT THEY SERVE. THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO LET OTHERS KNOW
HOW THE PROGRAM ACTUALLY GETS
FOOD ACCESS TO EMERGENCY FOOD
AND THEN PROMOTING THE ACCESS
THROUGH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. I
CAN TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT THIS
BUT THE IMPACT IS GREAT AND WE
ARE RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY IN TERMS
OF HOW WE DO WITH JUSTICE AND
FAIRNESS AND TRYING TO SERVE THE
MOST VULNERABLE . I ALSO WANT TO
SAY LAST THING THAT I DON'T
THINK IT'S NECESSARILY THAT
WE'VE DONE IT AND WE NEED TO
KEEP GOING. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
HAVING THESE RESOURCES BECAUSE
THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE TO GO
BUT HOW DO WE CONTINUE FINDING
OTHER WAYS TO CONTINUE IN TERMS
OF FUNDING PROGRAMS WE HAVE ,
THANK YOU.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US
TWIST YOUR ARM TO RETURN.
>> NURHALIZA YOU MENTIONED
YOU'D DELIVERED POUNDS OF FOOD
THROUGH YOUR NETWORK. CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING WELL
ARE NOT GOING WELL ABOUT THE
ABILITY TO GET FOOD INTO HOMES?
>> WE DISTRIBUTED $300,000 IN
PRODUCED JUST AS A DETAIL, BUT I
WOULD SAY WHAT IS WORKING REALLY
WELL FOR US AS OPERATING FROM
THE RAIN NEAR BEACH FOOD HUB . I
WOULD HIGHLIGHT COMMUNITY
STEWARD LAND ACCESS AS A PIECE
OF THE PUZZLE IN TERMS OF ALL OF
US AT THE TABLE ADVOCATING FOR
HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS , MAKING
SURE THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
PART OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS
REMAIN IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
KNOWING THAT FOOD JUSTICE IS
INTERSECTIONAL AND INTERSECTS
WITH TRANSPORTATION, JUSTICE,
URBAN PLANNING, ECONOMIC JUSTICE
AND ALL THOSE THINGS, KNOWING WE
HAVE A CENTRALIZED PLACE WHERE
WE ARE ABLE TO AGGREGATE PRODUCE
FROM LOCAL FARMERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS CAN COUNT ON THIS PLACE
THAT THEY CAN COME EVERY WEEKEND
HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE SIMILAR TO
DELRIDGE FARMERS MARKET OR THAT
SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SAFETY IS
HUGE BUT I THINK A CHALLENGE IS
THAT IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH, AS
WE KNOW. FOOD INSECURITY
CONTINUES TO RISE, FOOD
CONTINUES TO GET MORE AND MORE
EXPENSIVE. 10%, 20%, 30% AND
WEALTH INEQUALITY CONTINUES TO
GROW SO ADDRESSING THE QUESTION
OF EVEN IF WE ARE CURBING
CONSUMPTION , THE COMMUNITY
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS IN PLACE
AND BEING BUILT HAS TO STAY AND
I THINK THAT IS A CHALLENGE.
LEARNING HOW WE CAN DO THAT ALL
YEAR ROUND YEAR AFTER YEAR BUT
IT ENDS UP HAPPENING IN THE
COMMUNITY ENDS UP SHOWING UP SO
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
ANGIE I AM GOING TO SKIP YOU
BECAUSE MY QUESTION WAS ASKED.
JOEY, THE IN YOUR OPERATING OF
FARMERS MARKETS , IT IS GETTING
FARMERS INTO THE CITY AND
PROVIDING ACCESS TO FRESH FOODS.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING
WELL AND WHAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE
ON FOOD DELIVERY THROUGH THE
FARMERS MARKET LINES?
>> YEAH. I WAS MENTALLY
PREPARING . WE OPERATE 8 FARMERS
MARKETS AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS
WE CAN ACCEPT INCLUDING FRESH
BUCKS WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX. THAT HAS
BEEN POPULAR AND WHAT WE ALSO
HAVE IS SNAP MARKET MATCH WHICH
IS THE EBT PROGRAM AND THAT IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS AUGMENTED
SO THERE'S NO DAILY CAP FOR
SHOPPERS AND FOLKS CAN WITHDRAW
AS MUCH AS THEY NEED TO SPEND AT
THE MARKET WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE
SUCCESS AND PART OF THAT COMES
FROM THE BUDGET FROM THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT WHICH HAS BEEN AN
IMPORTANT PROGRAM MAKING SURE
THAT MARKETS ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR
EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY. I
THINK THE CHALLENGE IS JUST WITH
EVERYTHING GOING ON AT THE
FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, HOW CAN
WE ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN
STILL HAVE ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS
AND SUPPORT LOCAL PRODUCERS AND
BUILD SUPPORTIVE AND RESILIENT
FOOD SYSTEMS. HOW DO WE MITIGATE
THE UPSTREAM FX BEFORE THEY
AFFECT PRODUCERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR GETTING THE
FOOD OUT THERE AND FOR ALL YOUR
WORK GETTING THE EBT PROGRAM
WORKING BETTER.
>> YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET FOOD
INTO FAMILY HOMES. WHAT IS GOING
WELL AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT GETTING FOOD INTO THE
HOMES THAT HAVE KIDS IN THEM?
>> THE BIGGEST THING WE ARE
SEEING IS THAT CONTINUED FOOD
INSECURITY IS HAPPENING
ESPECIALLY IN PROGRAMS THAT WE
RUN WHEN THERE ARE BREAKS OR
CLOSURE DAYS AND MAKING SURE
THERE IS ACCESS TO FRESH AND
LOCAL FOODS. OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS THANKSGIVING AND
CHRISTMAS, ALL OF THOSE BREAKS
WERE HANDING OUT 400 - 500 BAGS
OF PRODUCE TO FAMILIES AND
SOMETHING WE ARE ALSO REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT AND THAT WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS IS SOME OF
THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS ABOUT
HOW IMPORTANT NUTRITION IS.
DURING THE PANDEMIC WE RAN
COOKING CLASSES SO WE WOULD
PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE TO
FAMILIES AND THEN DID VIRTUAL
COOKING CLASSES. SOMETHING WE
CONTINUE TO SEE AS COSTS RISE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS ACCESS TO
FRESH PRODUCE. THAT SPECIFICALLY
HAS BECOME LESS OF A PRIORITY AS
THEY ARE TRYING TO MEET THE
BASIC NEEDS. SO MAKING SURE WE
ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THOSE
FRESH FOODS ON A REGULAR BASIS
IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I
SEE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA 'S HAND
TO SHOW ME WE ARE NOT MANAGING
TIME WELL.
>> TWO SECONDS AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WILL HAVE THE
LAST WORD.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. FIRST,
LISTENING TO A GREAT AND
INTERESTING, THE NICHE, THE
AREAS OF YOUR WORK AND SO FORTH
AND FILLING THE GAP. I THINK
ABOUT THE QUEEN AND FOOD BANK
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WE RECENTLY
HAD A HIGHLIGHT. IT WAS
HIGHLIGHTED LIKE GROCERY STORES
AND WAS JUST ANNOUNCED THEY ARE
LOSING ONE. I WAS THERE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
SHE BROUGHT THAT UP THE OTHER
DAY. IN THE RADIUS OF MY OWN
HOME, HOW MANY GROCERY STORES I
HAD AND I EVEN FORGOT ONE. ONE
THAT IS EQUAL TO THE ONE THAT IS
CLOSING. MAYBE THIS IS AND ASK.
CAN YOU LOOK AT THAT ISSUE
BECAUSE THEN IT IMPACTS YOU AND
FORCES YOUR GROUPS TO DO MORE.
I'M NOT SURE OF THIS IS
SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING AT AS
A GROUP BUT I ASK THAT YOU LOOK
AT THAT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS
ON YOUR WORK AND ULTIMATELY
GETTING FOOD TO FAMILIES,
PARTICULARLY CHILDREN.
>> I WAS TOLD IT WOULD ONLY BE
TWO SECONDS. YOU'VE GOT A ONE
SECOND RESPONSE. WE WILL GET
BACK TO YOU. OVER TO YOU, YOU'VE
GOT LAST WORD THAT WE ARE WAY
OVER TIME AND THAT IS MY FAULT.
>> THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.
FIRST OFF COLLEAGUES I WILL SAY
REGRETS THAT I CANNOT BE WITH
YOU JOINING YOU IN PERSON TODAY.
MY WIFE IS WORKING IN THE OFFICE
TODAY AND WORKING PARENT ,
DIVIDE AND CONQUER STRATEGY IN A
DEAL WE WORKED OUT TODAY. I'M
GOING TO BE WORKING REMOTELY
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT TODAY IS
THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IT'S
A HALF DAYS SO HAVE TO PICK UP
THE KIDS . THE BEAUTIFUL
STRUGGLE OF BEING A WORKING
PARENT IN SEATTLE IS REAL. NO
QUESTIONS, JUST A COMMENT OF
EXPRESSING MY SINCERE GRATITUDE
AND APPRECIATION FOR EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR
DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE AND
COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. YOU ALL ARE STRONG
LEADERS INDIVIDUALLY AND WITHIN
YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES BROADLY AND
INCLUSIVELY DEFINED BUT I LOVE
LOVE LOVE THAT YOU ALL GET TO
COME TOGETHER AND BE EVEN
STRONGER AND MORE IMPACTFUL
LEADERS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE SO
FAMILY IMPACTFUL WORK , I JUST
WANT TO AGAIN EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU ALL. I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE
IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE IN MY
DISTRICT AND ESPECIALLY IN
DELRIDGE BUT IN THE CASE OF CHD
AS THE CASE FOR MANY OF YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS THE IMPACT
TRANSCENDS DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
AND CITY BOUNDARIES SO JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO
SERVING OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL ROLE ON APPOINTMENTS
3178 THROUGH 3185?
>> DO YOU NEED A SECOND?
>> I MOVE THESE APPOINTMENTS. IT
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCILMAN SAKA? VICE CHAIR
RIVERA? COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
CHAIR STRAUSS? FIVE IN FAVOR AND
0 OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US
TODAY. WE ARE GOING TO
TRANSITION PRETTY QUICKLY TO THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM AND THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
>> PLEASE COME ON UP. THE NEXT
ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY , WE WILL
MOVE ON TO WHAT FEELS LIKE THE
SECOND AGENDA ITEM AND IS THE
NINTH AND WHEN THE CLERK RETURNS
SHE WILL READ IN THE SHORT TITLE
. THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO
PRESENTATIONS . WE HAVE JUST
SENT THE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE
JEREMY RACCA . BECAUSE WE HAVE
ELECTED COUNCILMEMBERS WAITING
FOR US IF WE COULD BE BRIEF, AND
COLLEAGUES I WANT TO MAKE SURE
TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET
HIS APPOINTMENT PACKET ON THE
RECORD THAT SERVES AS PART OF
THE TWO MEETING RULE. WE'VE GOT
DETAILED QUESTIONS AND MORE
OPPORTUNITIES. WILL YOU PLEASE
READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT OF DAN EDER IS
DIRECTOR OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE FOR TERM OF JULY 1, 2029
. THIS ITEM IS FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION. AND DAN, INTERIM
DIRECTOR OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE.
>> JEREMY I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
YOU IF YOU WANT TO MAKE INITIAL
INTRODUCTIONS AND DIRECTOR IF
YOU HAVE COMMENTS, IF YOU HAVE
BURNING QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO
BE ASKED TODAY THE FLOOR WILL BE
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR, I WILL TRY
TO MAKE THIS QUICK AND I HAVE
PREPARED REMARKS BUT WILL READ
THEM FAST BECAUSE I HEARD WE ARE
RUNNING BEHIND. THANK YOU SO
MUCH CHAIR AND PRESIDENT. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN YOU
TODAY TO WELCOME THE CITY BUDGET
DIRECTOR. THEY CARRY
CONSIDERABLE RESPONSIBILITY WITH
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ARE
EXPECTED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH
ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND CENTRAL
STAFF TO CRAFT OUR CITY BUDGET
THAT REFLECTS OUR SHARED
PRIORITIES AND GUIDES OPERATIONS
EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IT'S A
PIVOTAL POSITION AND I KNOW THAT
YOU KNOW THAT. HE HAS SERVED
SINCE DAY ONE OF OUR
ADMINISTRATION INITIALLY AS
POLICY DIRECTOR AND APPOINTED AS
THE INTERIM BUDGET DIRECTOR LAST
YEAR. PRIOR, SERVED 14 YEARS ON
CENTRAL STAFF INCLUDING AS
DEPUTY AND INTERIM DIRECTOR .
THE MAYOR RECOGNIZED THE
EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND WORKING IN
THE BRANCH AND IS AN INCREDIBLE
ACCESS . HE IS KEENLY AWARE OF
COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES WHEN
THE MAYOR DEVELOPS AND DELIVERS
HIS PROPOSED BUDGET TO ALL OF
YOU. AS YOU COLLECTIVELY WORK
THROUGH THE REVIEW OF LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET I TRUST YOU FOUND
DAN TO BE MEASURED, CALM, SMART,
HIGH INTEGRITY AND SHOW
TREMENDOUS JUDGMENT. HE WAS ALSO
SOMEONE WHO HAS SHOWN HE CAN
WORK CLOSELY AND I THINK THAT IS
ANOTHER ASSET HE BRINGS TO THE
TABLE. I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM A
PERSONAL NOTE I WORKED WITH THE
CITY AND WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON SINCE 2012 AND WAS THERE
FROM DAY ONE. HE WAS ALWAYS CALM
AND STEADY AND HAS A TREMENDOUS
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE COMPLEX
INFORMATION IN A VERY
STREAMLINED AND SIMPLE WAY FOR
DECISION-MAKERS TO MAKE
DECISIONS. AS A LAWYER I CAN
TELL YOU THAT WE OFTEN FAIL TO
DO THAT BUT DAN DOES NOT. WE
HAVE A CHALLENGING BUDGET
SITUATION BEFORE US WITH
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL AND I THINK WE CAN ALL
AGREE IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN
EVER TO HAVE A STRONG BUDGET
DIRECTOR IN PLACE THAT CAN
CLEARLY GUIDE THE SHIFT THROUGH
THOSE TIMES. WE WOULD LIKE TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND I WOULD LIKE
TO TURN IT OVER TO HIM TO MAKE
HIS OWN OPENING REMARKS HOPING
THAT LIKE ME HE WILL CUT SOME OF
HIS PREPARED REMARKS OUT SO WE
CAN GET TO THE AGENDA AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF OF
STAFF FOR THE KIND WORDS ON THE
WARM INTRO AND I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE BEFORE
YOU. AT THE FRONT END I WANT TO
SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO THE
MAYOR FOR HIS CONFIDENCE IN ME
NOMINATING ME FOR THE DIRECTOR
ROLE AND LEADERSHIP OF OUR GREAT
CITY. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE SMART, HARD-WORKING AND
SEASONED TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS
WHO I WORK WITH AT CBO. IT IS A
PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH THEM
EVERY DAY. COUNCILMEMBERS,
DURING THE PAST YEAR AND SOME OF
YOU FOR A LOT LONGER THAN THAT
I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO
WORK WITH EVERY ONE OF YOU. I
KNOW THAT FROM MY YEARS OF WORK
, HOW HARD OF A JOB IT IS THAT
YOU DO SO THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING ME
FOR THE PERMANENT DIRECTOR
POSITION AND IF CONFIRMED I
WOULD DO MY BEST TO LIVE UP TO
THE TRUST THAT THE MAYOR AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE PLACING
ON ME. WHEN I JOINED CBO THE
CITY WAS FACING A $250 MILLION
DEFICIT IN THE GENERAL FUND. I
AM PROUD OF THE WORK SUPPORTING
THE MAYOR AND DOING THE HARD
WORK TO COME UP WITH A FULLY
BALANCED PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 25
AND 26. I AM ALSO PROUD OF THE
ROLE OF SUPPORTING DELIBERATIONS
AND ADOPTION OF THE 25 BUDGET
AND ENDORSING THE 26 BUDGET. IN
THE TIME SINCE THE CITY ADOPTED
THE BALANCE BUDGET WE BEEN GIVEN
SOME HARD NEWS. WE HAVE LOWER
REVENUES BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT CAME
OUT IN THE APRIL FORECAST AND WE
ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE THREAT
OF REDUCED FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR
CITY SERVICES AND SERVICES OF
PARTNERS IN THE REGION. FINALLY
WE ARE LOOKING AT INFLATIONARY
COST PRESSURES THAT ARE
THREATENING TO INCREASED THE
COST OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS. WE
ARE THEREFORE ROLLING UP OUR
SLEEVES TO GET BACK IN THE
BALANCE WITH OUR BUDGET AND IT
WILL BE NECESSARY TO MAKE SOME
HARD CHOICES INCLUDING SPENDING
LESS. I DON'T EXPECT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET
PURELY THROUGH REDUCTIONS IN
SPENDING. WE WILL ALSO NEED TO
LOOK AT NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
OPTIONS SUCH AS THE $100 MILLION
OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS THAT I
ADVOCATED SUCCESSFULLY FOR IN
OLYMPIA AND THAT WERE PASSED
INTO LAW DURING THIS YEAR'S
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. FINALLY I
AM CONVINCED THERE ARE WAYS WE
CAN WORK SMARTER AND BETTER TO
DELIVER SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE. SO IN CLOSING THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP
PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE AND
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ME FOR
THE DIRECTOR POSITION. I WILL BE
HAPPY TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS.
>> I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL
HAVE MANY QUESTIONS AND THAT WE
ARE TAKING UP THAT WORK AS PART
OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
COLLEAGUES, NOW IS THE TIME TO
ASK YOUR QUESTIONS BUT IF WE
COULD BE BRIEF, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. I REGRET
HAVING TO BE BRIEF BECAUSE THIS
IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
APPOINTMENTS IN THE CITY. THAT
IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT GETTING
INTO THE DETAIL OF HOW YOU
APPROACH THE BUDGET AND HOW YOU
WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT
EFFICIENCIES, REVENUE, POTENTIAL
CUTS IS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.
SO I WOULD LIKE IT IF YOU COULD
SEND YOUR COMMENTS , I WOULD BE
INTERESTED READING THEM IN THEIR
ENTIRETY. ONE THING I WOULD LIKE
TO NOTE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE CONSIDERING THE CARRYOVER
LEGISLATION IN THIS COMMITTEE AT
SOME POINT. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S
IMMINENT BUT IN ORDER TO REALLY
THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE
CARRYOVER EXPENSES FROM NOT JUST
2024 BUT ALSO 2023 IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL FOR ME TO HAVE THE
RESPONSE TO THE SLIDE THAT I
REQUESTED WHICH LOOKS AT
HISTORIC UNDER SPENDING AND THE
TOP THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE
EXTERNAL CONTRACTING AND WHEN
THOSE CONTRACTS BEGAN IT'S
REMINISCENT OF THE CONVERSATION
WE HAD EARLIER TODAY WITH A LOT
OF THOSE COMMITMENTS WE HAVE OUT
IN COMMUNITY. JUST A SHAMELESS
PLUG FROM THE DAIS TO SAY THAT
WAS DUE IN MAY AND I THINK THE
EXTENSION WAS INTO JULY BUT I
WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING THAT
INFORMATION SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER SO I CAN THINK ABOUT THE
CARRYOVER LEGISLATION IN THAT
CONTEXT.
>> I KNOW THAT WE ARE BUSY AT
WORK TRYING TO GET YOU A
RESPONSE. THAT HIS WORK THE
ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO DEEPLY
CARING ABOUT AND WANTED TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS IN HOW THE CITY
DOES ITS BUSINESS. SO I COMMIT
TO GETTING YOU THAT INFORMATION
AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND I
AM INTERESTED IN IT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DIRECTOR, THANK YOU AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY MANY MEETINGS IN MY
OFFICE, YOU ARE A KNOWN QUANTITY
HERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR STYLE OF
LEADERSHIP, THAT KIND OF STEADY
CONFIDENCE APPROACH. THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING UP THE PUBLIC
SAFETY PIECE. THERE ARE A COUPLE
PUBLIC SAFETY PIECES ON THE
REVENUE SIDE WE NEED TO LOOK AT
AND I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT ,
AS I HAVE NINE ENTITIES ,
COMMISSION AND OFFICE THAT
REPORT TO MY PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, THAT THEY BE IN THAT
2% BECAUSE IT IS ONE ECOSYSTEM
AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE
FACING IS A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. EVERY PIECE
NEEDS TO BE WORKING ON IT. SOON
WE WILL HAVE A KING COUNTY DAY
WHO ARE A PART OF IT AS WELL AND
THE STATE AS YOU NOTED WITH
THESE REVENUE EXAMPLES, I JUST
WANT TO REITERATE THAT POINT. I
KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT IT BUT IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT AND ALSO IMPORTANT FOR
TWO THINGS. ONE IS A POTENTIAL
REVENUE OPTIONS AND I
ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONALLY IT'S
BEEN ABOUT 50% OF THE GENERAL
FUND BUT THE GENERAL FUND HAS
BEEN SHIFTING WITH LEVIES AND SO
FORTH. THAT PERCENTAGE CANNOT BE
A HARD MARKER. WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT ENABLES THE
OTHER THINGS TO HAPPEN. YOU CAN
SPEAK TO THAT OR WE CAN SPEAK TO
IT NEXT WEEK THAT I APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY AND ONE THING I
ALSO APPRECIATE IS THAT YOU GET
TO MEET PEOPLE, YOU PICK UP
LITTLE PIECES HERE AND THERE AND
SO FORTH AND THEN YOU SEE THE
RESUMES AND SAY OKAY. SO I
SHOULD SAY BONJOUR.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING INTO
ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS AND
MORE DEPTH WHEN WE MEET AGAIN ON
THE SECOND OF JULY AND I WILL
SAY WITH RESPECT TO THE TARGETS
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR
DEPARTMENTS, THOSE ARE TO CREATE
A MENU OF OPTIONS AND I WOULD
ASK THAT YOU GIVE US A LITTLE
BIT OF TIME TO PROCESS THE
DECISIONS WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE.
THEY WILL BE HARD TRADE-OFF
QUESTIONS AND THE PROOF WILL BE
IN THE PUDDING WHEN WE PROPOSE A
BUDGET. YOU WILL SEE WHICH
DEPARTMENTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED
WHAT AMOUNTS IN TERMS OF HELPING
BALANCE TO THE LOWER LEVEL OF
REVENUES THAT WE NOW HAVE FOR
THE GENERAL FUND. THAT IS WHEN
IT COUNTS. THE MENU OF OPTIONS
IS THE STARTING PLACE IF YOU
WILL AND THE FINISHING PLACES
THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE
ADOPTED VERSION THAT COMES
THROUGH THIS COUNCIL .
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. VICE
CHAIR RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I ALSO WISH
WE HAD MORE TIME SO I'M GOING
TO OFFICIALLY REQUEST A
ONE-ON-ONE MEETING TO TALK ABOUT
YOUR APPOINTMENT. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT WHEN I REACH OUT
TO YOU DIRECTLY YOU ARE VERY
RESPONSIVE VERY QUICKLY WHICH IS
IMPORTANT IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL
THAT WE NEED TO DO RELATED TO
THE BUDGET AND FINANCES. I ALSO
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS
A POSITION THAT REPORTS TO THE
EXECUTIVE AND WE AS COUNCIL
BECAUSE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
PASSING THE BUDGET RELY VERY
HEAVILY ON YOUR SERVICES AND
THAT OF YOUR TEAM SO I HAVE A
LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU
TOGGLE BETWEEN ANSWERING TO THE
EXECUTIVE AND HELPING US BE ABLE
TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS ABOUT THE
BUDGET. IT IS NOT AN EASY
POSITION TO BE IN SO I HAVE A
LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND I WANT
TO HAVE A ROBUST DIALOGUE AROUND
THAT , YOUR TAKE ON HOW YOU
SERVICE COUNCIL VERSUS THE
EXECUTIVE WHOM YOU REPORT TO AND
YOUR TEAM. I ALSO HAVE TO SAY BY
WAY OF TRANSPARENCY I HAVE
WORKED WITH CBO FOR MANY YEARS
IN MY PRIOR ROLE AS OPERATIONS
MANAGER FOR THE PRIOR MAYOR SO I
HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH
SOME OF YOUR STAFF AND I'VE
ALWAYS GOTTEN GOOD SERVICE FROM
THE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE AND
STILL THERE. THE LEADERSHIP IS
IMPORTANT THERE SO YOUR ROLE IS
CRITICAL BECAUSE THOUGH I MAY
HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, THEY ANSWER
TO YOU SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT I AM CLEAR AS TO WHAT YOUR
VISION IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
YOU HAVE HELD THE ROLE FOR NOT
THAT LONG SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT
YOU'VE NOTICED, HOW BETTER YOU
CAN WORK WITH THE SECOND FLOOR.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING BETTER
TOGETHER IS IMPORTANT OF, YOU
DON'T REPORT TO US, YOU REPORT
TO THE EXECUTIVE. THIS IS ALL
THAT I HAVE IN MIND AND WHAT I
PLAN TO RAISE WHEN WE MEET
ONE-ON-ONE BUT I WILL SAY IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR TRANSPARENCY THAT
I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO GET
INTO THIS PUBLICLY BUT I WILL BE
DOING, WHOEVER IS WATCHING, MY
DUE DILIGENCE AS THIS
APPOINTMENT IS BEING DISCUSSED.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THIS IS ONE STEP ON A MULTI
STEP PROCESS WHERE WE RECEIVE
THE APPOINTMENT PACKET. WE ASKED
FOR QUESTIONS OF COLLEAGUES TO
FORMALLY ASK THE DIRECTOR . YOU
ARE HERE TODAY IN COMMITTEE TO
PUT THE APPOINTMENT PACKET ON
THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL
COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT THE
DISCUSSION PORTION IS COMING IN
TWO WEEKS. AND DIRECTOR I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK IF YOU COULD REACH
OUT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL
COUNCILMEMBER TO OFFER AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU
ONE-ON-ONE BETWEEN HERE AND
THERE, THAT WOULD BE VERY
HELPFUL. IN TWO WEEKS WE WILL
HAVE MORE TIME FOR DISCUSSION
BECAUSE WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WE
HAVE ASKED AND WE WILL TAKE A
VOTE. IF YOU NEED MORE TIME AT
THAT POINT THAT IS ALSO
SOMETHING YOU CAN SHARE. THIS IS
NOT A RUSHED PROCESS, JUST ONE
STEP IN A LONG PROCESS. THANK
YOU, DIRECTOR. I WILL SHARE WITH
THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FROM LAST
YEAR, IT FELT LIKE YOU HAD BEEN
HERE FOREVER SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE AND ALL YOUR WORK
GETTING THE BALANCED-BUDGET PAST
LAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
FOR HOLDING QUESTIONS FOR YOUR
ONE-ON-ONE WHICH LETS US MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS. WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE 10th ITEM OF
HIS IS THAT FEELS LIKE THE
THIRD. WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
10 INTO THE RECORD?
>> PRESENTATION REGARDING TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES UPDATE FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION. CENTERS INCLUDE
COUNCILMEMBER DONNIE STEVENSON
OF THE MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE,
FRANCESCA MURNAN THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND
LYDIA FAITALIA, OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THANK YOU. TWO COUNCILMEMBERS
STEVENSON AND MILLS THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING US TO BE YOUR GUEST
TODAY AND MY DIRECT APOLOGIES
FOR NOT HAVING YOU FIRST ON THE
AGENDA. WE WILL NOT MAKE THAT
ERROR AGAIN. WITH THAT I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO YOU AS ELECTED
LEADERS AND WE WILL PASS IT OVER
TO FRANCESCA AND LYDIA. SO
COUNCILMEMBERS STEVENSON OR
MILLS, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SAY TO START US OFF? OR WE
CAN JUST KICK IT OVER TO THE
TEAM.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY NO
APOLOGIES NECESSARY. IT WAS
GREAT LISTENING INTO YOUR
MEETING THIS MORNING.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> DONNIE STEVENSON ,
MUCKLESHOOT . GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS DONNIE STEVENSON. I AM
MUCKLESHOOT, A MEMBER OF THE
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE AND
ELECTED MEMBER OF TRIBAL COUNCIL
AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK YOU. CHAIR STRAUSS AND
MEMBERS AND PRESIDENTS FOR YOUR
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TO SPEAK
WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
>> I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
FRANCESCA AND LYDIA FOR
INTRODUCTIONS. WE WILL TAKE
QUESTIONS AT THE END BECAUSE
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
CHANGES IN THE ROLES OF THE WORK
SO OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS AND
VICE CHAIR RIVERA. WE APPRECIATE
THE INVITATION TO COME BEFORE
COUNCIL AND SHARE SOME UPDATES
FROM OUR PROGRAMS. TO COMPLETE
INTRODUCTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER
MILLS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE AN
ADDITIONAL INTRODUCTION FOR US?
>> SURE. HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS LUTHER J
MILLS, AND ROLLED MEMBER OF THE
SNOQUALMIE SHOULD TRIBE AND 38
YEARS SERVING ON COUNCIL. 48
YEARS EMPLOYED WITH MY CURRENT
POSITION AS THE ENTERPRISE
AMBASSADOR. I'VE BEEN A
FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND
LOOK FORWARD TO THE ADDITIONAL
WORK. I MISS BEING IN YOUR
OFFICE AND CHAMBER.
>> WE WILL HAVE YOU AGAIN SOON.
LYDIA?
>> MY NAME IS LYDIA FAITALIA AND
I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS A
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT MANAGER IN THE
DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS UNDER
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
PROGRAM WITH DANIEL SIMS LEADING
AND HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING
THE INDIGENOUS COUNCIL.
>> MY NAME IS FRANCESCA MURNAN
OF CHEROKEE NATION AND I NOW
WORK AT THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AS
THE TRIBAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND HAVE
DEVIOUSLY BEEN BEFORE YOU AS THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL
LIAISON SO GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THIS
WORK IN A NEW WAY WITH TRIBAL
AND NATIVE LEADERS. AS A QUICK
REFRESHER, THIS CITY IS SITUATED
IN THE REGION WITH MANY
FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES AND
IS HOME TO A DIVERSE AND
THRIVING COMMUNITY OF AMERICAN
INDIAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN
PEOPLE FROM HUNDREDS OF NATIONS
. TRIBAL AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES
HAVE INTEREST IN LOCAL POLICY
THAT EXTEND WELL BEYOND THE
GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS. CITY POLICY
SERVICES AND UTILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE FAR-REACHING
IMPACTS FOR TRIBAL NATIONS, AND
NATIVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE WORK
PLAY AND EXERCISE SOVEREIGNTY
AND TREATY RIGHTS IN AND AROUND
OUR CITY. WE WILL START WITH A
FEW UPDATES FROM TRIBAL
RELATIONS. THE CITY APPROACHES
TRIBAL AND URBAN ENGAGEMENT
THROUGH TWO MAIN PATHWAYS.
TRIBAL RELATIONS AND THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL. IT
WAS -- RELATIONS WERE
ESTABLISHED IN 2021 AND THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL WAS
CREATED BY CITY COUNCIL THE SAME
YEAR. AS A RESULT WE CONTINUE TO
SEE POSITIVE SHIFTS IN
ENGAGEMENT ACROSS PRODUCTS AND
PLANS. BY STRENGTHENING CITY AND
TRIBAL RELATIONSHIPS WE ARE ON A
PATH TO MORE CONSISTENTLY
ENGAGING SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTS
AND HIS REGIONAL PARTNERS. THERE
ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
TRIBAL NATIONS TO WORK WITH THE
CITY ON CRITICAL ISSUES
IMPACTING THE CITY AND THEIR
INTERESTS. IT FULFILLS A
LONG-STANDING GAP IN OUR ABILITY
TO ENGAGE WITH A DIVERSE RANGE .
IT IS A SUPPLEMENTAL AVENUE THAT
STRENGTHENS OUR ONGOING AND
UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH TRIBES
AND WORKS TO FULFILL THE LEGAL
POLITICAL AND RACIAL OBLIGATIONS
TO NATIVE PEOPLE IN THE CITY. IT
IS CRITICAL BOTH OF THESE
PATHWAYS EXIST AND OFTEN TIMES
OUR WORK IS SEPARATE.
OCCASIONALLY WE DO COLLABORATIVE
EFFORTS THAT SUPPORT OUR NATIVE
COMMUNITIES LIKE THE CITY TRIBAL
NATION SUMMIT WHERE WE WORK TO
ORGANIZE AND CONVENE THAT EVENT.
TRIBAL RELATIONS IS ONE OF FIVE
TORT FOLIOS AT THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND
THE WORK IS TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH LEADERSHIP
AND STAFF TO ENSURE THAT TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY AND TREATY RIGHTS
ARE RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE
MANY PROJECTS OF INTEREST. THE
SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPT TO
TRAVEL ROOM -- TRIBAL RELATIONS
WORK IS RESPECTING THE LEGAL
RELATIONSHIP OF FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBES AND THE US
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TREATIES
SIGNED BY TRIBAL NATIONS REQUIRE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
PROTECT TRIBAL LANDS, ASSETS
RESOURCES AND OTHER RESERVED
RIGHTS. IT SPANS ISSUES OF
HOUSING, HEALTH, NUTRITION,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
EDUCATION. INDIAN LAW IS NOT
RACE-BASED POLICY. IT IS ROOTED
IN POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF
SOVEREIGN NATIONS. WHILE NATIVE
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN CATEGORIZED AS
A RACE WE OFTEN CARRY POLITICAL
STATUS AND INHERENT RIGHT TO
FULFILL RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE
CITIZENS OF OUR NATION'S. IN
SELF-DETERMINATION WE SEE THAT
TRIBAL NATIONS IN MANY
ORGANIZATIONS PLAY A ROLE
FULFILLING THAT FEDERAL TRUST
RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH
PROVISIONS OF SERVICES SO FOR A
SHORT EXAMPLE, MANY TRIBAL
NATIONS CONTRACT WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO OPERATE
THEIR OWN HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THEIR MEMBERS AND OFTEN FOR
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND IN
SEATTLE THAT IS FULFILLED BY AN
URBAN INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAM THAT
PROVIDES SERVICES TO NATIVE
PEOPLE IN URBAN AREAS. THERE ARE
MANY FEDERAL STATE LAWS AND
EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT OUTLINE
OBLIGATIONS TO CONSULT AND
COLLABORATE WITH TRIBAL NATIONS.
THESE OVERARCHING ORDERS OFFER
CLEAR GUIDANCE FOR REGULAR AND
MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION AND
COLLABORATION. TRIBAL RELATIONS
IS MOST OFTEN HAPPENING IN THE
FORM OF CONSULTATION AND
ENGAGEMENT . THERE ARE MANY
DEFINITIONS THAT CAN VERY AND
HOW THEY SHOULD BEST BE PRACTICE
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING
CONSULTATION IS A FORMAL PROCESS
OFTEN OUTLINED IN FEDERAL AND
STATE LAW AND REQUIRES TWO-WAY
DIALOGUE AND MEANINGFUL
ENGAGEMENT OF TRIBAL PRIORITIES.
IT HAPPENS EARLY AND OFTEN IN
THE LIFE SPAN OF HER PROPOSED
ACTION AND SHOULD RESULT IN
MEANINGFUL INTEGRATION OF TRIBAL
PRIORITIES. CONSULTATION CAN
ALSO INCLUDE ENGAGEMENT OF
ELECTED LEADERS FOR BOTH
GOVERNMENTS. TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT
ENCOMPASSES A BROADER RANGE OF
INTERACTIONS TO SEEK GUIDANCE
FEEDBACK AND INVOLVEMENT ON A
WIDE RANGE OF PROGRESS PLANS AND
ACTIONS. IT CAN INCLUDE
INFORMATION SHARING,
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND
COLLABORATION. REGARDLESS OF IF
WE ARE CONSULTING OR ENGAGING,
THESE ARE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT
FROM OTHER STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT OUT OF RECOGNITION
FOR THE POLITICAL DISTINCTION IN
CLASS OF TRIBES AS NATIONS. ON A
REGULAR BASIS TRIBAL RELATIONS
OCCUR OVER 15 CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGING TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS IN THE DESIGN
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A
WIDE RANGE OF CITY WORK. TO
SHARE A FEW EXAMPLES THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE SEEKS
GUIDANCE AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH
TRIBAL NATIONS TO IDENTIFY
ARTISTS FOR THE ONE PERSON FOR
ARTS PROGRAM. THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT ENGAGES TRIBAL
NATIONS AND CULTURAL RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION OF
INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
INTO THE DESIGN OF PROJECTS IN
PARK FACILITIES AND THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT ADMINISTERS
THE AGENCY ON AGING FOR KING
COUNTY WHERE THEY CONSULT WITH
TRIBAL NATIONS TO PROVIDE THE
ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT OF
SERVICES FOR ELDERS AND PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES. TRIBAL
RELATIONS CAN ALSO TAKE THE
FORMS OF MEETINGS AMONG ELECTED
LEADERS OF TRIBES IN THE CITY OR
ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND
EVENTS, ALL OF WHICH HELP US
LEARN ABOUT TRAVEL PRIOR--
TRIBAL PRIORITIES AND BRING THAT
BACK INTO OUR WORK. TO SHARE A
RECENT EXAMPLE, FOUR CITY
DEPARTMENTS COLLABORATED TWO
PRESENT AT THE 18th ANNUAL
CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION
SUMMIT LAST MONTH AT SNOQUALMIE
AND WEIGHT PRESENTED WITH THE
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE. THIS
IS THE CONFERENCE THAT DRAWS
OVER 200 ATTENDEES NATIONWIDE
AND IS THE ONLY TRIBALLY DRIVEN
CULTURAL RESOURCE CONFERENCE IN
THE NATION . IT BRINGS TOGETHER
PRACTITIONERS FROM TRIBAL STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS
THOSE WHO WORK IN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT TO DISCUSS AND
CONSULT AROUND ISSUES OF
PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF
TRIBAL CULTURES SUCH AS
ARTIFACTS AND CULTURAL
LANDSCAPES. IT SPOKE TO OUR
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TRIBAL
ENGAGEMENT ON A VARIETY OF
PROJECTS RANGING FROM PUBLIC ART
TO RELICENSING OF HYDRO PROJECTS
ON THE SKAGIT RIVER. WE
DISCUSSED PROGRESS AND EXPANDING
ENGAGEMENT GOING WELL BEYOND
LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND WE ALSO HAD TO
NAME THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO
GO AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THIS WORK. WHICH BRINGS US TO
THE LAST PART OF THIS SECTION.
LOOKING AHEAD THE ULTIMATE GOAL
FOR US AT THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS IS
TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY HONORS
AND RESPECTS SOVEREIGNTY BY
BUILDING UP THE CAPACITY AND
CONFIDENCE OF LEADERSHIP AND
STAFF TO CONSULT AND ENGAGE WITH
TRIBAL PARTNERS. WE WANT LEADERS
AND STAFF AND BOTH CITY AND
TRIBES TO HAVE STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER
SO THAT WHEN QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS ARISE WE CAN WORK
COLLABORATIVELY TO ADDRESS THOSE
ISSUES IN AN APPROPRIATE AND
RESPECTFUL MANNER. TO ACHIEVE
THE GOAL WE ARE FOCUSED ON
INTERNAL CAPACITY BUILDING,
INTERNAL COORDINATION AND
SYSTEMS CHANGE. IN THE YEAR
AHEAD WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVISE
STAFF ON EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
OF WORKING WITH NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AS WE BUILD UP OUR
OWN CURRICULUM AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ADVISE CITY STAFF
AND PARTNERS TO CREATE TOOLS
THAT IMPROVE INTERDEPARTMENTAL
COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION
ON THE DOZENS OF OUTREACH
EFFORTS THAT ARE ACTIVE. FINALLY
WE WILL INVEST IN CREATING
MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENTS THAT
INCLUDE TRIBAL NATIONS IN CITY
WORK SUCH AS THE TRIBAL NATIONS
SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS
FALL AS WE WORK TOWARD BUILDING
STRONG AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT
TO GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP THAT
IS CODIFIED AND SYSTEMATIZED
ACROSS CITY INSTITUTIONS.
>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT THE IAC. COMPLETING THE
THIRD YEAR AS A CITY COMMISSION,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> I WAS GOING TO INTERRUPT
BECAUSE LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO
JUST TALK ABOUT THE ROLES AND
HOW THEY HAVE SHIFTED. I DON'T
KNOW THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS MET
YOU YET, LYDIA.
>> FRANCESCA WAS PROMOTED TO OIR
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE CURRENTLY
RECRUITING FOR A REPLACEMENT AS
A LIAISON FOR IAC. I OVERSEE
BOARD COMMISSIONS IN DEPARTMENT
NEIGHBORHOODS AND IAC IS ONE OF
THEM. I SUPPORT THE CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND I HOPE
THAT IS HOPEFUL. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. JUST CLARIFYING
THAT FRANCESCA HAS JOINED OUR
COMMITTEE MANY TIMES IN THE PAST
IN HER ROLE BEING A FACILITATOR
FOR THE IAC. YOU ARE HERE IN A
NEW ROLE AS THE TRIBAL RELATIONS
DIRECTOR UNDER OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
OVER TO YOU LYDIA.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
FEEDBACK? THANK YOU FOR HAVING
US. THE IAC IS COMPLETING OUR
THIRD YEAR AS A CITY COMMISSION
AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE OUR WORK FROM 2024. IN
2023 THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY
COUNCIL SET OUT THREE SHARED
GOALS WITH CORRESPONDING
ACTIVITIES TO GUIDE THE
COLLECTIVE WORK OF THE
COMMISSION. LET ME BACK IT UP A
LITTLE BIT. THE INDIGENOUS
ADVISORY COUNCIL FORMED IN 2021
TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR NATIVE
REPRESENTATION AND INDIGENOUS
KNOWLEDGE IN LOCAL PUBLIC
POLICY. WE ARE THE ONLY CITY
BOARD OR COMMISSION COMPRISED
ENTIRELY OF NATIVE PEOPLE
REPRESENTING A DIVERSE RANGE OF
PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES
FROM INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY. AS A
CULTURALLY GROUNDED BODY WHICH
ACT AS A TRUSTED ADVOCATE
ADVISOR AND CONNECTOR AMONG CITY
PARTNERS. TODAY WE WILL SHARE
MORE ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO
POLICY AND SYSTEMS WITH
TRANSFORMATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
ROOTED IN RESPECT REPAIR AND
SHARED POWER WITH INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES. IN 2023 THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL SET
OUT THREE SHARED PRIORITY GOALS
AND CORRESPONDING ACTIVITIES TO
GUIDE THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF THE
COMMISSION. THE STRATEGIC PLAN
AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN ARE
SUBMITTED TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ANNUALLY. YOU CAN EXPECT THE
NEXT ANNUAL WORK PLAN AND REPORT
LATER THIS SUMMER. THE FIRST
GOAL ENCOMPASSES A LOT OF WORK
TO DATE WHICH INCLUDES
DEVELOPING SHARED UNDERSTANDING
AND FOUNDATION OF A SUSTAINABLE
AND COULD PRODUCTIVE GROUP OF
CULTURALLY GROUNDED ADVISORS
THAT ACT AS CONNECTORS OF
COMMUNITIES. THE SECOND AREA OF
WORK INCLUDES SETTING UP GOALS
PRIORITIES AND ACTION STEPS THAT
DRIVE WORK FORWARD AND CAN BE
EVALUATED. OUR THIRD GOAL
FOCUSES ON SETTING COLLECTIVE
POLICY AND PRIORITIES THAT BUILD
TRUST AND RACIAL EQUITY TO
NATIVE COMMUNITIES. WE RECENTLY
ADOPTED A SET OF POLICY
PRIORITIES FOR 2025 AND WILL BE
SHARING THOSE IN THE COMING
MONTHS . LAST WEEK AT THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL
ADOPTED A SET OF BUDGET AND
POLICY PRIORITIES FOR 2025 THAT
WILL BE SHARED ELECTRONICALLY.
THE POLICY PRIORITIES CAN BE
GROUPED INTO TWO KEY THEMES. THE
FIRST, ITEMS LISTED UNDER
HONORING POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP.
LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIONS THAT RECOGNIZE TRIBAL
NATIONS AND CITIZENS ARE
BENEFICIARIES OF UNIQUE FEDERAL
TRUST RELATIONSHIPS. A SECOND, A
SET OF PRIORITIES ALIGNS WITH
THE CITY'S RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVES TO UNDO
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM BY
CENSORING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE
AND COMMUNITY DEFINED
PROGRAMMING. PRIORITIES INCLUDE
A VARIETY OF HEALTH, SOCIAL
SERVICE PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY
CITY DEPARTMENTS. THE
RECOMMENDED FUNDED LEVEL TO
MAINTAIN CITY INVESTMENTS DURING
THIS CHALLENGING BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT. THE NEXT FEW SLIDES
ARE PROJECTS LED BY THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL SAW
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST AN
EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR TO DISCUSS
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THE FIRST WEBINAR
SHOWCASED THE WORK OF TWO
ORGANIZATIONS AND A TRIBAL
NATION PARTNER APPLYING
PREFERENCE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNITS IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT
VIOLATE FAIR HOUSING LAWS. THE
CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP HAS BROUGHT
DOZENS OF UNITS TO PORTLAND,
OREGON. THE URBAN INDIAN
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED ARE
PARTNERING TO CREATE HOUSING
THAT ADDRESSES CULTURAL NEEDS OF
NATIVE PEOPLE THROUGH ON-SITE
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES. THE WEBINAR DREW MORE
THAN 40 POLICYMAKERS AND
PRACTITIONERS FROM TRIBES, CITY
AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AS WELL
AS URBAN ORGANIZATIONS AND
GROUPS ACROSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SECTORS. THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP
OF OUR YOUTH DELEGATE THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL
ATTENDED A LISTENING SESSION AND
NATIVE YOUTH POLITICAL
EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT. THESE EVENTS
WERE LED BY URBAN NATIVE
EDUCATION ALLIANCE AND URBAN
NATIVE ACTION NETWORK , TWO
ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOSTER STRONG
CIVIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT
AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. BOTH EVENTS FOCUS ON
INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING,
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT,
PROMOTION OF HEALTHY CIVIC
DIALOGUE AROUND ISSUES MOST
IMPORTANT TO NATIVE YOUTH
INCLUDING ACCESS TO CULTURAL
EDUCATION AND SPACES LIKE
LIBRARIES, CREATIVE ARTS, AND
GREEN SPACES. THE NATIONAL CIVIC
LEAGUE AWARD. THIS PAST YEAR THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL WERE
FEATURED IN THE TO BE NAMED AN
ALL-AMERICAN CITY. THROUGH OUR
APPLICATION AND PRESENTATION TO
A JURY OF NATIONAL LEADERS
SEATTLE WAS AWARDED THE
PRESTIGIOUS ALL-AMERICAN CITY
AWARD BY THE NATIONAL CIVIC
LEAGUE FOR EXEMPLIFYING THE
POWER OF CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND
INNOVATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
FOLLOWING THIS NATIONAL
RECOGNITION WE WERE FEATURED IN
THE NATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW WHICH
IS A NONPARTY CAN PUBLICATION
TITLED, MORE THAN A LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. AUTHENTIC TRIBAL
AND URBAN NATIVE ENGAGEMENT BY
THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS PROFILED THE CITY 'S
EFFORTS WE HAVE DISCUSSED TODAY.
IN 2020 FOR THE 10th ANNIVERSARY
OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE STAY IN
SEATTLE WAS THE FIRST YEAR THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL TOOK
OVERSIGHT IN SUPPORTING THE
EFFORTS TO MARK THIS DAY OF
CELEBRATION OF NATIVE CULTURES.
THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL
INVESTED IN FOUR INTERTRIBAL
COMMUNITY LET CELEBRATIONS
ACROSS SEATTLE. THE EVENTS
INCLUDED CELEBRATORY MARCHES,
SONG, DANCE, POETRY, MEALS AND
GIFTING FROM DOZENS OF NATIVE
ARTISTS. THE COUNCIL ALSO
COMMISSIONED AN UPDATE UP TO THE
2014 GIFTED IMAGE TO CREATE A
COMMEMORATIVE EVENT POSTER THAT
WAS SHARED ACROSS THE
FESTIVITIES. A FINAL COMPONENT
OF THE WORK INCLUDED
COMMISSIONING A NATIVE
JOURNALIST TO CREATE A FOUR -
PART SERIES FEATURED IN THE
SOUTH SEATTLE EMERALD THAT
SUPPORT NATIVE ART AND
PODCASTING IN INDIGENOUS FASHION
AND AMPLIFIED THE DOZENS OF
EVENTS AND PLACES TO CELEBRATE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE STAY
THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.
>> BEFORE I MOVE ON I WOULD LIKE
TO LOOK AT COUNCILMEMBER
STEVENSON AND COUNCILMEMBER
MILLS FOR ANY OF YOUR
REFLECTIONS.
>> I WILL DEFER TO COUNCILMEMBER
MILLS AS SENIOR COUNCILMEMBER
AND MY ELDER IN LIFE.
>> THANKS, DONNIE. [ LAUGHTER ]
I THINK THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN
DONE WITH THIS ADVISORY COUNCIL,
I GUESS THE FIRST THING I WOULD
LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE SUMMIT
WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY,
DEPARTMENTS TOOK 165 YEARS TO
TAKE PLACE AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT
NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE DONE .
THAT SUMMIT REALLY PROVED THE
CITY'S WILLINGNESS TO UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT THE TRIBAL RELATIONS
. I LEARNED MORE ABOUT TREATY
RIGHTS AND I CANNOT THINK THE
MAYOR MORE FOR GETTING THAT
SUMMIT SET UP. WE TALKED ABOUT
SOME OF THE WORK WITH THE CITY
PARKS DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST MEETINGS THAT THE
TRIBES HAD MET AND I WAS LUCKY
ENOUGH TO PROVIDE A LUNCH TO
BRING SOME OF OUR NATIVE FOODS
TO THAT WORKSHOP . IN SHARING
THAT , NATIVE FOODS AND
EXPLAINING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS ,
WHAT RUNS INTO ELLIOTT BAY THAT
RUNS INTO THE SEA, I ALWAYS TELL
PEOPLE THAT A LOOK AT IT AS A
FOOD SOURCE. FAR TOO MANY LOOK
AT IT FOR TRANSPORTATION OR
RECREATION BUT THE SHRIMP, THE
CLAMS, THE SALMON . ALL OF THESE
THINGS ARE HARVESTED, THAT WE
GREW UP WITH. LISTENING TO FOOD
SOVEREIGNTY TALKS AND WHAT
BEVERAGE TAX IS PROMOTING IS
INCREDIBLE. WE NEED TO ADD SOME
OF OUR SEAFOOD TO GO ALONG WITH
SOME OF THAT SEAFOOD. I JUST
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
WORKING WITH THE CITY. OUR
CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL WOULD LIKE,
AND I KNOW WE TALKED WITH
FRANCESCA ABOUT HAVING A
ONE-ON-ONE WITH CITY COUNCIL SO
I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE SO SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE
WE CAN DO THAT. THEN I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO DONNIE.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS, AGAIN, AN
INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE AND AN
HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS
TIME AND SPACE AND APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND
SPEAK TO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
WORK TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
INITIATIVES THAT THE INDIGENOUS
ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS BEEN ABLE
TO ACCOMPLISH IN SOME OF THE
AREAS WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPLANT
AND ACCOMPLISH INTO THE FUTURE.
SORT OF TAKING A STEP BACK AND
SPEAKING FROM A GLOBAL
PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER MILLS OPENED WITH
. SOME OF THIS WORK AND SOME OF
THE FORMAL ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS
RESULTED , THE TRIBAL NATIONS
SUMMIT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE .
THAT WAS LITERALLY THE FIRST
FORMAL MEETINGS THAT HAD TAKEN
PLACE BETWEEN INDEPENDENT
SOVEREIGN NATIONS, TRIBAL
NATIONS IN THIS REGION AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE SINCE TREATY
TIMES AND REALLY TAKING A MOMENT
TO BREATHE THAT IN IS IMPORTANT
. ENGAGING IN WAYS THAT ARE
MEANINGFUL AND SET THE BAR AND
SET AN EXAMPLE. ALSO WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THAT OPPORTUNITY, THIS
IS A COMPLETELY UNIQUE TEAM AND
GROUP AND THE COUNCIL, WHICH IS
MADE UP OF INDEPENDENT ,
SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION
REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL AS
NONPROFIT INDIGENOUS URBAN
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP , YOUTH,
ELDERS , WHEN YOU PUT THAT IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE WORK THAT
GOES ON WITHIN THE CITY, THE
SITUATION TO HELP DECOLONIZE THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY
AND PEOPLES THEREIN AND TO HELP
AND DIGITIZE THE WAY THAT THE
CITY ENGAGES AND OPERATES WITH
ALL OF THOSE FOLKS. THAT IS A
MODEL THAT IF YOU LOOK
NATIONALLY THERE ARE NOT ANY
OTHER PLACES YOU CAN LOOK TO TO
FIND EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ARE
DOING. I WANT TO CHARACTERIZE
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT
SEATTLE, THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
YOU AS LEADERS OF THE CITY HAVE
REALLY ALWAYS TAKEN A PROACTIVE
APPROACH . THE INDIVIDUAL
LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND
RACIAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN
GROUPS LIKE OURS ARE AN
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE THAT WORK
AT THE FOREFRONT AND TO DO IT IN
A WAY THAT IS TANGIBLE AND
MEANINGFUL AND HAS THE ABILITY
TO HAVE REAL AND MEANINGFUL
IMPACTS. WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT
WITH THE ADDED COMPONENT OF THE
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
FUNCTION AND RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN THE TRIBES , FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBAL NATIONS AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THAT WE
REALLY ARE A NATIONAL LEADER IN
TERMS OF SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO
FOLLOW. I DON'T THINK THE
IMPORTANCE OF THAT CAN BE
OVERSTATED AND I ALSO DON'T
THINK THAT WE SHOULD FORGET HOW
INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL THAT IS
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME
OF THE CHALLENGING HISTORY THAT
HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THAT REGION
OVER SORT OF THE COLONIAL
PROCESS AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE
SHAPED AND IMPACTED TRIBES IN
THE COUNTRY. FOR THAT I AM
INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL. I RAISE MY
HANDS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION
AND DIALOGUE. I LOOK FORWARD TO
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH
EACH OF YOU MOVING FORWARD AND
ESPECIALLY IN THIS MOMENT WHERE
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR
RELATIONSHIP, AND TREATMENT OF
THEIR GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN
IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES AND RACIAL
EQUITY AND JUSTICE, FOR US TO BE
AT THE FOREFRONT SETTING THE
EXAMPLE AND SETTING THE BAR IS
VERY POWERFUL AND VERY
MEANINGFUL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
THE PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION OF US BEING ABLE
TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE THINGS
THAT ARE RIGHT AND CONTINUE TO
BE AN EXAMPLE OF POSITIVITY IN
THE WAY THAT INGS CAN WORK
BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW
IN THIS MOMENT MORE THAN EVER.
THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT TODAY.
>> TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS MILLS
AND STEVENSON THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FEEDBACK AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. AT THIS TIME
COUNCILMEMBER STRESS WE HOPE
THIS PROVIDES YOU WITH AN
OVERVIEW OF OUR WORK AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE
CULTURALLY GROUNDED ADVISORY
SUPPORT WITH CITY PARTNERS.
>> THANK YOU LIDIA AND
FRANCESCA. I WILL OPEN IT UP TO
QUESTIONS AND WILL SHARE IN THE
TRANSITION WITH TIM MOVING ON
AND FRANCESCA MOVING UP WE HAVE
NOT BEEN HAVING THE TRIBAL
RELATIONS ASPECT IN COMMITTEE
EVERY MONTH. MOVING FORWARD
EXCEPT FOR DURING THE BUDGET WE
WILL HAVE THEM BACK EACH MONTH
TO DIVE DEEPER INTO EACH OF
THESE SECTIONS . ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I HAD FOR YOU FOR THE
EARLY NEXT MEETINGS IS ABOUT THE
UPDATES FROM THE TRIBAL NATIONS
SUMMIT. EACH DEPARTMENT HAD
ACTION ITEMS SO I AM STATING ON
THE RECORD WHAT I STATED IN
PRIVATE THAT I EXPECT UPDATES BY
JULY 2 AND OF DEPARTMENTS ARE
NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE
REPORTS AT THIS TIME, THEN I
NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE
BARRIERS AND THE TIMELINES FOR
OVERCOMING THOSE BARRIERS FOR
THE COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE A
REPORT FROM DEPARTMENTS
REGARDING ACTION ITEMS FROM THE
LAST TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT.
PUTTING THAT ON THE RECORD FROM
WHAT I SHARED WITH YOU
PRIVATELY, I SEE VICE CHAIR
RIVERA HAS HER HAND . OVER TO
YOU, VICE CHAIR.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK
FRANCESCA AND LYDIA AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE AND THANK
YOU FOR PRIORITIZING PUTTING
THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA. I
WONDERED WHERE WE WERE IN THIS
TRANSITION PERIOD SO GLAD TO
KNOW WE WILL BE HAVING YOU MORE
FREQUENTLY IN COMMITTEE AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
PARTNERSHIP . I WAS REALLY HAPPY
TO VISIT WITH YOU RECENTLY,
DONNIE SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME. THIS IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US
AND TO ME IN PARTICULAR SO I AM
HAPPY THAT WE ARE BACK ON. WE
WERE OFF BECAUSE I KNOW
FRANCESCA YOU ARE VERY CLOSELY
PARTNERING , AND LYDIA, YOU AS
WELL. WE SEE EACH OTHER AND I
KNOW THAT IAC IS ON MY CALENDAR
AND WE HAVE NOT MET BECAUSE OF
THE TRANSITION PERIOD I SUSPECT
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING
BACK UP AND HAVING CONTINUE
CONVERSATIONS ON HOW WE CAN BE
SUPPORTIVE SO REALLY JUST
WANTING TO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE AND I'M GLAD TO SAY THIS
IS BACK ON OUR AGENDA.
>> WONDERFUL. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS? COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. COUNCILMEMBER
STEPHENSON, YOU MET WITH EACH
COUNCILMEMBER INDIVIDUALLY WITH
ELDERS AND LEADERS OF THE
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE AND THAT WAS
PROFOUNDLY EDUCATIONAL AND
MEANINGFUL TO ME AND I HAVE
FOLLOWED UP ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS
THAT CAME UP OF MUTUAL INTEREST
BETWEEN US BOTH. I JUST HAVE TO
SAY ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS HERE
IN FOR OLE MISS LIKE THIS IS,
DON'T JUST INVITE US TO THE
TABLE. DON'T JUST INVITE THE
TRIBAL COMMUNITY OR LEADERS AS
THEY CHECK THE BOX. BRING US IN
WELL BEFORE ANYTHING GETS TO THE
TABLE AND DO WHAT WE WANT YOU TO
DO TO PUT IT BLUNTLY. THAT IS A
CONSTANT REMINDER THAT I THINK
WE ALL AS LEADERS HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT , I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CHAIR HAVING THIS ITEM ON THE
AGENDA AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
MORE FORMAL TALKS ESPECIALLY AS,
I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT IN
PARTICULAR AROUND ADDICTION
TREATMENT AND OTHER CONCERNS IN
THAT REALM AND CONTINUE TO WANT
TO BE KEPT INFORMED . NEW
INITIATIVES GOING ON THAT I
WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT AND NEW
ASKS OF THE CITY THAT I SHOULD
BE AWARE OF AS WE ENTER BUDGET
SEASON .
>> ANYTHING FURTHER?
>> YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT ME
TO ASK HOW ABOUT WE DO IT NOW?
BUT OFF-LINE YOU CAN LET ME
KNOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS OR THE
COMMITTEE TABLE, I WOULD OPEN
THE FLOOR.
>> I THINK WE APPRECIATE THE
REMARKS BUT I SAW COUNCILMEMBER
MILLS RAISE HIS HAND. YOU ARE ON
MUTE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR ASKING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE. I HAVE TWO
KIDS THAT WERE SUFFERING FROM
ADDICTION AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY
THAT JUST YESTERDAY WE WERE ALL
OUT ON THE WATER EXERCISING OUR
TREATY RIGHT . THEY ARE BOTH
DOING WELL . WE GOT SOME MONEY
FROM THE STATE TO ACQUIRE A
TREATMENT FACILITY HERE AND THE
STATE HELPED US OUT WITH ABOUT
$18 MILLION IN FUNDING TO GET
THE FACILITY UP AND RUNNING. WE
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
INTEREST IN HOW THINGS ARE
GOING.
>> LET'S BE IN TOUCH MORE.
>> I WOULD ADD THAT I APPRECIATE
THE OUTREACH. THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SIT DOWN AND SHARE TIME WITH
THOSE OF YOU WHO I HAVE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WITH,
WHICH IS MAJORITY OF COUNCIL
INDIVIDUALLY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
YOUR INTEREST IN THE RECOVERY
PROGRAMS AND SORT OF, TREATMENT
OPTIONS OF THE MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE
IS PUT TO WORK AS I'M SURE YOU
ARE AWARE WITH SOME FOLLOW-UP
CONVERSATIONS. WE HAVE TWO
CLINICS OPENING WITHIN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. WE HAVE ONE ON THE
NORTH SIDE AND THE OTHER IN WEST
SEATTLE SO THAT BRINGS US UP TO
A TOTAL OF FIVE CARE CLINICS IN
THE REGION AND THAT IS WORK THAT
WE FIND INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND
THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
PUSH TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. THE
OPIOID EPIDEMIC CERTAINLY
IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY AS A
RIDICULOUS RATE THAT WE
RECOGNIZE AND WE SEE THAT IS A
PROBLEM THAT WE ALL HAVE IN
COMMON. BEING A PART OF THE
SOLUTION AND HEALING OUR
COLLECTIVE PEOPLES AND COMMUNITY
IS A COMMITMENT THAT THE TRIBE
HAS MADE IN A REAL AND TANGIBLE
WAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT
WORK UNTIL THERE'S NO MORE WORK
TO DO. THANK YOU FOR THAT
INTEREST AND AGAIN, THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION . IT'S GREAT TO
BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THIS WAY AS
A MEMBER OF THE INDIGENOUS
ADVISORY COUNCIL AND WITHIN THE
STRUCTURE OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I ALSO REALLY
APPRECIATE THE GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE
HAVE FORMED WITH EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU AND AT THAT TIME I'VE
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND
WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
IS REALLY MEANINGFUL AND
BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND
RAPPORT SO THAT WENT ISSUES THAT
IMPACT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WE
SERVE THAT COME UP THAT WE HAVE
THE ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER AND
TALK AS PEERS AND COLLEAGUES .
IF I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SIT DOWN WITH YOU ALREADY,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PRESIDENT
NELSON , COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ,
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT I
LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO
SO IN THE NEAR FUTURE SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WELL SAID. COUNSEL RIVERA
THAT'S COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS
AT OLDER NEW? WE WILL GO WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THANK YOU
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE . I WANT
TO CONGRATULATE THE MOVE TO THE
OIR AND THE DEAL AND POSITION. I
LOOK TO CONTINUE THE WORK ON
DIFFERENT ISSUES . THE WORK IS
ALSO HERE LOCALLY AT CITY HALL.
AND FOR COUNCILMEMBERS
STEPHENSON AND MILLS I WELCOME
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET. I
REGULARLY DO SO LIKE WHEN WE
HAVE THE OPENING OF WHAT I CALL
THE LONGHOUSE ARTWORK BY THE
TERMINAL AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THOSE BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING DIRECT MEETINGS LIKE THIS
AFTERNOON. I WELCOME THESE
OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE
SUBJECTS THAT WE NEED TO WORK
AND I THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR EXAMPLE TO WORK THE ISSUES
THAT RELATE TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND
TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE WHERE WE
CAN BRING THAT INTO THE
COMMITTEE AND BRING IT INTO A
SPECIFIC TOPIC TO ENSURE THAT
THE NATIVE COMMUNITY IS COVERED,
I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT. I
WELCOME THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE
PAST, I HEARD QUITE CLEARLY
OFTEN TIMES THE NATIVE COMMUNITY
AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE
CONTACTED AT THE END OF THE
PROCESS AND AS I NOTED , YOU CAN
BE THERE AT THE BEGINNING. WE
JUST HAD A SURVEY DONE IN THIS
GOES TO SOME OF THE PREP WORK
RELATED TO THAT . THE VIADUCT
WAS CONSIDERED AN INDUSTRIAL,
YOU HAD TO DO A SURVEY AND SOME
WORK ON THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE ARE
TRANSITIONING AND THIS IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN
THE VOICES FROM THE NATIVE
COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO
PORTAL PARK AS AN EXAMPLE. I
MADE THAT COMMITMENT LAST YEAR
SO I AM BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE
WE ARE AT THAT INFLECTION POINT
STARTING THAT TRANSITION. I
THINK IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT
TO DO SO. AND DISTRICT ISSUES
ITS THINGS LIKE PARKS OR
TRANSPORTATION, CONSTITUENT A
FAIR KIND OF TOPICS BUT ALSO
BROADER CITYWIDE AND IN MY CASE
PARTICULARLY PUBLIC SAFETY, I
WILL SAY IN SOME WAYS, CHAIR
STRAUSS I NOTE YOUR POINT THAT
WE SHOULD HAVE LED WITH THIS BUT
AT THE SAME TIME IT ALSO ALLOWED
YOU TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON
WITH THE COMMISSION EARLIER SO
THERE WAS VALUE IN THAT. AGAIN
HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THE
NATIVE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF
THAT PROGRAM IS WELL COVERED?
HAVING YOU SEE THE PEOPLE OR THE
TOPICS COMING UP AS PART OF THE
REVIEW I THINK WAS VERY
EDUCATIONAL AND VALUABLE SO AS
IT TURNS OUT AND I THINK THE
AGENDA WORKED OUT WELL, IT ALSO
HIGHLIGHTS HOW CAN WE ENSURE
THAT THE NATIVE COMMUNITY IS
REPRESENTED , ACCOUNTED FOR, IS
REACHED OUT TO EARLY AND NOT AT
THE END. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT SO FRANCESCA LOOKING AT YOU
AND PORTAL PARK, FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS AND OTHERS
DEFINITELY ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SIDE , I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT .
CHAIR, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MILLS OR STEPHENSON? I JUST
ALWAYS LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR.
IF NOT, I'M GOING TO SEE VICE
CHAIR RIVERA HAS HER HAND UP.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STEPHENSON, I
APPRECIATE THE TOUCH POINTS. NOT
JUST THE OCCASIONAL TOUCH POINTS
THAT ARE IMPORTANT. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCILMEMBERS STEPHENSON AND
COUNCILMEMBER MILLS WE HAVE NOT
HAD AS MANY MEETINGS. I WELCOME
THAT AND I WILL SAY THAT TO YOUR
POINT, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
THOUGH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
AND NATIVE COMMUNITY SITS ON THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE IT IS ALSO
SOMETHING THAT CUTS ACROSS ALL
THE COMMITTEES. I WELCOME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IAC FOR
DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD
SPACE TO DO A DEEPER DIVE, I
DON'T THINK THAT IN ANY WAY IT
TAKES AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT
THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND
NATIVE COMMUNITY SITS ON THIS
COMMITTEE. IT'S ANOTHER TOUCH
POINT AND ANOTHER WAY TO SAY
THAT THIS CUTS ACROSS ALL
COMMITTEES AND ACROSS THE CITY
SO I WELCOME THAT AND LYDIA YOU
AND I CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES
SENSE BUT JUST TO SAY THAT I
WELCOME THE CONVERSATION AT MY
COMMITTEE AS WELL IS SOMETHING
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I
WANT TO REITERATE THAT
COMMITMENT SO THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I WILL
SHARE A FEW COMMENTS AND TURN IT
OVER TO LIDIA AND FRANCESCA AND
COUNCILMEMBER MILLS AND
STEPHENSON, YOU GET LAST WORD
AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR
LAST TOPIC WHICH IS GOING TO BE
A LITTLE BIT SHORTER THAN
EXPECTED. SORRY, COLLEAGUES.
THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME I RUN
OVER IN A MEETING. JUST WANTED
TO CHECK IN AGAIN ON TRIBAL
NATIONS SUMMIT. DO WE HAVE A
DATE SET OR ARE WE IN A RANGE OF
DATES?
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT SEPTEMBER
2025 SO WE WILL BE IN TOUCH AND
LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU ALL.
>> THAT IS IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AND THAT IS IN PART WHY I WILL
SAY IT ON THE RECORD AGAIN I AM
EXPECTING FROM YOU A REPORT IN
COMMITTEE ON JULY 2 WITH UPDATES
FROM EACH DEPARTMENT THAT HAD
TASKS IN THE LAST TRIBAL NATIONS
SUMMIT . IF THAT IS NOT ABLE TO
BE PRESENTED ON JULY 2 I AM
HAPPY TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSION AS
LONG AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
BARRIERS TO PROVIDING THE REPORT
ARE AND THE TIMELINES TO
OVERCOMING THOSE BARRIERS. TO
GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS IF THERE
IS NO UPDATE THAT NO WORK HAS
BEEN DONE, I HOPE THAT'S NOT
THE CASE BUT THAT IS AN UPDATE
IN AND OF ITSELF. THIS IS NOT
SAYING YOU DIDN'T DO YOUR JOB
WELL BUT GROUNDING OUR FEET SO
WE ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OUTCOMES
OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. IF YOU
NEED TO SHOW THIS TO KNOW THAT I
AM SERIOUS PLEASE DO. I'M NOT
SURE OF ITS ENGAGEMENT OR
CONSULTATION WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MILLS AND COUNCILMEMBER
STEPHENSON ON A FEW TOPICS , AND
WE ARE WAITING TO TAKE ACTION TO
START THESE PROCESSES UNTIL WE
HAVE THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE IN
PARTNERSHIP FROM THE FIRST STEP.
THE WATER BODY BEING A SOURCE OF
FOOD AND AN INDICATOR FOR WORLD
'S HEALTH AND THE FACT THAT
THERE IS NOT A JURISDICTION THAT
OVERSEES OUR OCEANS WE WILL HAVE
AN OCEAN WEEK THIS COMING
OCTOBER WITH A SHIP SAILING
AROUND THE WORLD TO BRING
ATTENTION TO THIS.
COUNCILMEMBERS MILLS AND
STEPHENSON WE WILL BE ASKING HOW
YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THAT AND I THINK YOU HAVE GOOD
KNOWLEDGE TO BRING TO US IN
LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS THE
EMERGENCY ACCESS IN MAGNOLIA
WHICH I WILL BE ASKING FOR
FEEDBACK FROM COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WE
STAND BEHIND YOU. AGAIN MY
REQUEST FOR THE SNOHOMISH
COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH
CITY COUNCIL TO GET THAT TIME
THAT DONNIE HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM
US . I APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY THANK
YOU TO FRANCESCA AND LYDIA FOR
ALL THE WORK THAT YOU BEEN
DOING. I WILL BE VISITING YOUR
COUNCIL AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE
STILL WORKING OUT A TIME TO COME
DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THOSE ITEMS.
LAST PLUG THAT I WILL PUT OUT IS
THE ARTICLE THAT FRANCESCA AND
TIM REALLY CREATED BECAUSE WE
COULD NOT TALK ABOUT THE BODY OF
WORK WITHOUT IT BEING CREATED
AND THAT, IN THE NATIONAL CIVIC
REVIEW IS REALLY AMAZING. WE
WILL PASSOUT AROUND AS WELL AS
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ SENT
ME AN ARTICLE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING
ON IN PORTLAND AND THEY ARE
STARTING TO LOOK AT US AS A
LEADER HERE. WITH THAT I WILL
GIVE COUNCILMEMBER STEPHENSON
AND MILLS LAST WORD AND WE WILL
GET TO THE NEXT ITEM IN FIVE
MINUTES.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL AND
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU DO. IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED
. JUST TAKE CARE.
>> I WOULD ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MILLS . IN THE
SPIRIT AND SPACE OF WORKING
TOGETHER IN COLLABORATION IS
WORK THAT I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF . WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF
CREATING SOMETHING WITH THE
INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
BRAND-NEW. IT IS PROGRESSIVE AND
SOMETHING FOR WHICH THERE IS NO
ROADMAP OR GUIDE. THAT IS WHAT
MAKES IT SO COMPELLING AND
IMPORTANT AND THAT'S WHY
ARTICLES SHOW UP IN PLACES LIKE
THE NATIONAL REVIEW. IT HELPS
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
RECEIVE RECOGNITION LIKE AN
ALL-AMERICAN CITY AND THE
PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE WORK .
TO DO THAT WORK IN COLLABORATION
WITH LEADERS LIKE YOURSELVES .
IT REALLY IS A NEW HONOR. IN OUR
LANGUAGE THERE IS A TERM THAT WE
USE THAT LITERALLY TRANSLATES,
TOO GOOD WORK. IT CARRIES THE
CONNOTATION OF A DEEPER
MEETING-- MEANING AND IS
SOMETHING THAT IS INGRAINED IN
THE SOUL OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND
THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE .
I RAISE MY HANDS TO EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR HELP. I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN THIS
KIND OF WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU MOVING FORWARD. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HERE TODAY AND LEADERSHIP
ESPECIALLY IN A TIME IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT FEELS VERY
TRANSITIONAL AND IMPORTANT. I
WAS TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY AND
WHAT I WAS ULTIMATELY EXPRESSING
TO THEM IS THAT WE ARE WATCHING
HISTORY UNFOLD RIGHT NOW , WE
ARE CREATING IT. I LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO CREATE HISTORY
WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU,
SO THANK YOU.
>> INSPIRING WORDS. AMEN. LET'S
GO. THAT'S MY REACTION. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU
LIDIA AND FRANCESCA. WITH THAT
WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM. I WILL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE
WEEKS AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
IF THE CLERK COULD READ THE
FINAL ITEM INTO THE RECORD AND
COLLEAGUES, I AM GOING TO ASK
FOR 15 EXTRA MINUTES AND GIVE
PRESENTERS A CUT OFF WITH 10
EXTRA MINUTES, IF POSSIBLE.
CLERK?
>> PRESENTATION ON THE SEATTLE
SO SHOOTING-- SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER LOAN. JAMIE CARNELL,
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF CITY
FINANCE, CHRISTA, ROBERTA
JIMINEZ AND JEN LABRECQUE OF
CENTRAL -- COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> WE MAY NEED ASSISTANCE
GETTING THAT UP SO I'M GOING TO
DO A BRIEF OVERVIEW. THIS ITEM
HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED TO US TODAY
SO THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM
. WE WILL NOT MOVE ON UNTIL
EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE SO
DON'T FEEL LIKE TODAY IS A
RUSH. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT WE
WERE ABLE TO FINALIZE THE
AGREEMENT LAST WEEK WHICH IS WHY
WE HAVE IT IS AN INFORMATIONAL
ITEM TODAY . WE ARE TRYING TO
MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH
THE UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE TO
HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE
TAKING A VOTE. ALL THINGS ARE
TRUE AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR CHRISTA AND I AM TRYING TO
FIND EVERYONE ELSE'S NAMES
HERE, FOR EVERYONE TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES, AND THEIR ROLE IN
THIS PROJECT AND TO MOVE ON FROM
THERE. WITH THAT THE
PRESENTATION IS UP AND I WILL
PASS IT OVER TO YOU. YOU HAVE A
MICROPHONE?
>> GOOD MORNING. STILL MORNING.
CHRISTA VALLES.
>> ROBERTO JIMINEZ, CEO OF
SEATTLE CENTRAL -- SOCIAL
HOUSING. YAMILA STERLING FIVE,
CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR. JEN
LABRECQUE, CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE WILL
JUST DIVE IN. AS CHAIR STRAUSS
JUST MENTIONED, THIS IS
INFORMATIONAL BECAUSE THE
LEGISLATION HAS NOT BEEN
TRANSMITTED. WE ARE TRANSMITTING
THE LEGISLATION TODAY AND THERE
WAS A SLIGHT DELAY BECAUSE
LEGISLATION INCLUDES THE ACTUAL
LOAN AGREEMENT AND WE WANTED TO
GIVE THE CEO ROBERTO TIME TO
REVIEW THE AGREEMENT AND MAKE
SURE HE WAS OKAY WITH IT. TODAY
WE ARE GOING TO GET AN OVERVIEW
OF THE AGREEMENT AND YOU WILL
HAVE THE LEGISLATION IN HAND AND
CENTRAL STAFF HAD IT FOR A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AS WELL. WITH
THAT , WE WILL START WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. IN
2023 VOTERS APPROVED INITIATIVE
135 WHICH CREATED THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER. SOCIAL
HOUSING IS HOUSING THAT IS
DEVELOPED, OWNED, MAINTAINED AND
LEASED BY THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER AND MIXED INCOME
HOUSING WITH A RANGE OF INCOMES
UP TO 120% AMI. THE INITIATIVE
ALSO REQUIRED THE CITY TO
PROVIDE START UP SUPPORT FOR THE
FIRST 18 MONTHS OF OPERATIONS
AND THE CITY IN DOING SO ENTERED
INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE PDA TO
PROVIDE $850,000 APPROXIMATELY
FOR 18 MONTHS WORTH OF STARTUP
COSTS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IN
THE EARLY DAYS THE CITY PROVIDED
$20,000 OF CONSULTING ASSISTANCE
AND WORKED AS A PASS-THROUGH FOR
THE STATE FOR $180,000 THE STATE
HAD APPROPRIATED. SO FUNDING
UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT WAS
PROVIDED TO THE PDA THIS PAST
MARCH . THERE IS GOING TO BE A
GAP IN FUNDING WITHOUT FURTHER
SUPPORT SO THIS IS WHY WE ARE
HERE TODAY PROPOSING TO PROVIDE
THE PDA WITH A LOAN. THAT
INITIATIVE PASSED A COUPLE YEARS
LATER TO FUND THE PDA OPERATION.
THE FIRST INITIATIVE DID NOT
HAVE ANY FUNDING ATTACHED TO IT
. THE SECOND INITIATIVE PROVIDED
A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE PDA AND
A 5% TAX ON EMPLOYERS DOING
BUSINESS IN SEATTLE. ANY
COMPENSATION ABOVE $1 MILLION.
>> THAT COULD AMOUNT TO
APPROXIMATELY $50 MILLION
A
YEAR. BUT SINCE THE FIRST YEAR
OF
REVENUES, WHICH STARTS THIS
YEAR, WILL NOT BE
COLLECTED UNTIL NEXT YEAR, WE
WON'T
KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHAT THAT MIGHT
LOOK
LIKE. IT'S SIMILAR TO OUR PET
REVENUES, THIS REVENUE SOURCE.
AND THEN ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS NEW INITIATIVE, THE CITY IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR
ACTUALLY COLLECTING THE TAX
REVENUES
AND TRANSFERRING THEM TO THE
PDA,
SO THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
AGREEMENT WITH THE PDA FOLLOWING
THIS ONE THAT SETS UP THAT
RELATIONSHIP AND HOW THAT'S
GOING TO WORK.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THOSE
TAXES FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH START
THIS
YEAR AND ARE REQUIRED TO BE
COLLECTED THIS YEAR WILL
NOT ACTUALLY COME IN UNTIL THE
FIRST
QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR
THE PDA TO HAVE SOME BRIDGE
FUNDING, SO THEIR
OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE REALLY
JUST
GETTING UNDER WAY, ARE NOT
INTERRUPTED.
SO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS IN
FULL SUPPORT OF PROVIDING THIS
$2
MILLION LOAN REQUEST TO
THEM. AND I HAVE DIRECTOR
CARNELL
HERE, WHO WILL BE THE ONE
THAT YOU WILL BE AUTHORIZING TO
ENTER
INTO A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH
THE PDA.
SHE'S GOING TO PROVIDE
MORE DETAILS OF THAT LOAN
AGREEMENT THAT THE FINANCE
DEPARTMENT
WORKED WITH OUR ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE ON.
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED,
ROBERTO HERE DID HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY
TO REVIEW THE AGREEMENT AND HE
IS OKAY WITH IT AS WRITTEN, AND
THAT WILL COME ATTACHED AS
PART OF THE LEGISLATION FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
SO IF THERE AREN'T ANY
QUESTIONS THERE, I WILL TURN IT
OVER
TO DIRECTOR CARNELL.
>> LET'S FINISH THE
PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL TAKE
QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE
GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND TO
THE SOCIAL HOUSING GROUP FOR
WORKING WITH US ON THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION.
SO THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION THAT'S COMING TO
YOU
WILL AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR
OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO A
LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE PDA.
THIS ALLOWS THE PDA TO CONTINUE
THE
TAX REVENUES START COMING IN.
AND THROUGH THE WORK OF THE
STAFF, BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND THE PDA AND CITY
FINANCE, WE BELIEVE THAT
THIS CITY LOAN IS THE MOST
EFFICIENT AND FISCALLY
FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY TO
PROVIDE INTERIM FUNDING TO THE
PDA
TO ENABLE IT TO CARRY OUT ITS
MISSION.
AND SO THE NEXT SLIDE
REALLY JUST GOES THROUGH THE
PROPOSAL
AND AGREEMENT THAT IT'S NOT TO
EXCEED THE
$2 MILLION WITH DISBURSEMENTS
REQUESTS FROM
THE
PDA. THE LOAN WILL BE DRAWN ON
SEVERAL DISBURSEMENTS AND THE
BALANCE CANNOT EXCEED THE $2
MILLION.
THEN THERE'S INTEREST EARNINGS
THAT WILL BE CHARGED, WHICH
IS RIGHT NOW THE CITY'S
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW RATE,
TODAY THE RATE IS 6.35%.
HOW THIS WILL BE REPAID IS
THE CITY IS GOING TO
AUTOMATIC DEDUCT THOSE AMOUNTS
NECESSARY TO MAKE ALL THE
PAYMENTS
DUE RESPECT TO THE LOAN AS THE
TAX REVENUES COME IN.
THEN THOSE TAX PROCEEDS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE INTERCEPTED
UNTIL
THE LOAN, PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST
IS REPAID, WE EXPECT IT TO BE
PAID FULLY FROM THE 2025 TAX
PROCEEDS. THE LOAN MATURITY IS
DECEMBER
1, 2026, JUST TO GIVE TIME IN
CASE THERE'S NEEDED TO BE EXTRA
TIME FOR THOSE COLLECTIONS TO
COME IN.
SO THAT'S THE BASICS
OF THE PROPOSAL AND AGREEMENT
WHICH
IS BEING TRANSMITTED TO YOU
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST TO REPEAT BACK AND THEN
I'M GOING TO CALL IN JEN AND
THEN
ROBERTO.
WE HAVE CASH ON HAND IN THE CITY
THAT ACCRUES INTEREST.
WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THE
PDA WITH SOME OF THE TAX REVENUE
THAT THEY'RE COLLECTING TODAY
--
OR THAT IS BEING ACCRUED
TODAY THAT WILL BE COLLECTED IN
THE
FUTURE.
WE WILL THEN INTERCEPT THE
FUNDS BECAUSE WE MANAGE THIS
TAX COLLECTION ON BEHALF OF THE
PDA TO BE REPAID AT THE SAME
INTEREST RATE THAT WE WOULD
HAVE RECEIVED HAD THAT CASH BEEN
ON
HAND.
>> YEAH, WE'RE UTILIZING
OUR CASH POOL TO CREATE THIS
LOAN, WHICH THEN -- OBVIOUSLY WE
WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE SAME
INTEREST RATE THAT WE WOULD BE
EARNING, SHOULD THAT CASH FLOW
REMAIN
THE SAME.
SO THE CASH FLOW IS GOING
TO CREATE THE LOAN AND WE'RE
GOING
TO BE CHARGING THE INTEREST
RATE THAT WE WOULD BE
EARNING.
>> AND BECAUSE WE COLLECT THE
TAX, WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE BEING PAID BACK?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON JEN --
JENNIFER, SORRY, FROM CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> JEN IS FINE.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT MORE TO ADD.
I WOULD JUST SECOND -- YOU
KNOW, I DID MY OWN ONLY SIS OF
THE
SOCIAL HOUSING CASH FLOW AND THE
EXECUTOR IS GREAT THAT THE
BARE BONES OPERATION WILL NEED
THIS
LOAN IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE OPERATIONS INTO THE
SECOND HALF
OF THIS YEAR, JUST TO
SUSTAIN BARE BONES.
AND I KNOW THEY HAVE AN
INTENTION TO DO MORE THAN
THAT AND BEGIN TO PREPARE
FOR EXPANDED OPERATIONS
NEXT YEAR. THIS MONEY IS
ESSENTIAL JUST
TO MAINTAIN WHAT THEY HAVE,
BUT ALSO TO MEET THEIR GOAL OF
BEING ABLE TO EXPAND AND SORT
OF PREPARE FOR THE LARGER
AMOUNTS
OF REVENUE BEGINNING IN 2026.
AND THEN JUST THE SECOND POINT,
WHICH DIRECTOR CARNELL JUST
MADE, WHICH IS THAT THIS LOAN
WILL BE REPAID DIRECTLY
FROM PROCEEDS WHICH ARE
COLLECTED IN
JANUARY OF 2026, BUT YOU'LL
NOTE THE LOAN MATURITY DATE
IS 12 MONTHS AFTER THAT IN
DECEMBER,
AND, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S
JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF
CUSHION IN CASE OF THE
UNEXPECTED, WHICH I DON'T
THINK ANYONE IS EXPECTING, BUT
IT'S LOGICAL IN ORDER TO AVOID
A DIFFICULT
SITUATION.
>>
THANK YOU. AND ROBERTO, I
BELIEVE THIS
IS YOUR FIRST TIME BEFORE CITY
COUNCIL, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> I'M SORRY TO KEEP IT SHORT.
WE WILL -- I PROMISE TO HAVE
YOU BACK.
ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE ABOUT THIS AND THEN
WE'LL TAKE COUNCIL MEMBER
QUESTIONS.
>> YEAH, JUST QUICKLY,
AND WITH RESPECT TO YOUR TIME,
GREATLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR
PUSHING THIS FORWARD FOR US, AND
ALSO THE COUNCIL -- OR THE
COMMITTEE FOR ALSO AGREEING TO
TAKE UP
THE ISSUE.
I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
AND COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON AND I
TALKED ABOUT AN
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY IN THE
DISTRICT,
SO THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO THE
REST OF YOU, AND YOU WELCOME
ANY CONVERSATION.
>> WONDERFUL.
AND COLLEAGUES, JUST SO THAT
WE UNDERSTAND THE NEXT STEPS
HERE, WE WILL HAVE THIS BACK
IN COMMITTEE ON JULY 2nd, IF
YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE ALL OF YOUR
QUESTIONS ANSWERED BETWEEN
HERE AND THERE, WE'LL TAKE A
VOTE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND WE TAKE
THAT COURSE AND USE THE
INTERVENING TIME TO HAVE YOUR
QUESTIONS
ANSWERED OFFLINE.
WE DO
WANT TO MOVE QUICKLY, BUT IF YOU
ARE NOT
COMFORTABLE, WE WILL STILL BRING
IT FORWARD
SO THAT YOU CAN ASK MORE
QUESTIONS
AND WE'LL HOLD IT UNTIL
YOU'RE COMFORTABLE VOTING.
IT DOES SEEM STRAIGHTFORWARD TO
ME, THOUGH.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THIS IS NOT A QUESTION,
IT'S A STATEMENT.
I JUST -- AND I'LL SAY IT
AGAIN, I AM FULLY PREPARED TO
SUPPORT
THIS LOAN AND IT IS -- I
BELIEVE IT'S IN OUR BEST
INTEREST AS
COUNCIL, EVEN THOUGH WE DID PUT
AN ALTERNATIVE ON THE
BALLOT, IT IS IN OUR BEST
INTEREST, THE
PVA'S BEST INTEREST AND THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE'S
BEST INTEREST THAT WE DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SET YOU UP
FOR
SUCCESS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR COMING TODAY AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU DOWN
THE
LINE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT
NELSON. BASED ON THE ARTICLE
THAT WAS
IN "THE TIMES" YESTERDAY ON
THE STATE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, IT'S NOT JUST IN
SEATTLE,
IT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.
THAT'S WHY I CHOSE TO COME
HERE AND TAKE OVER LEADERSHIP OF
SEATTLE'S SOCIAL HOUSING.
WE CAN DO A LOT TO HELP
AND SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY AS IT
IS AND THE CITY.
>> AND I JUST WANT TO ADD
ON YOUR POINT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, IN TERMS
OF SETTING UP FOR UCCESS, I DO
WANT
TO CLARIFY THE SOCIAL HOUSING
PDA IS ELIGIBLE FOR
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BONUS CONTAINED IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
I THINK THERE'S SOME
CONFUSION AROUND THAT, BUT WE
ARE
AGNOSTIC AROUND WHO PARTICIPATES
IN
THAT BONUS AND THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER IS MORE THAN
WELCOME AND ELIGIBLE TO DO
SO, AS LONG AS THEY MEET THE
AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE OUTLINED.
>> THANK YOU.
VICE CHAIR AND THEN COUNCIL
MEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
NICE TO MEET YOU AND I HOPE I
GET TO MEET YOU ONE-ON-ONE IN
A DIFFERENT SETTING OR JUST IN
MY OFFICE.
WELL, ONE, ON THE MECHANICS OF
IT, WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING
FROM, THE LOAN THAT
WE'RE GIVING?
>> YEAH, SO THIS IS
COMING FROM THE CASH POOL THAT
WE HAVE,
SO THIS IS --
>> IS THAT RESERVES WHEN
YOU SAY --
>> CASH RESERVES OUT OF
THE GENERAL FUNDS, YES, RESERVES
OUT
OF THE GENERAL
FUND.
>> SO GENERAL FUND RESERVES.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY VOTERS HAVE
SPOKEN, AND SO WE WANT TO HELP
SET THE PDA UP FOR
SUCCESS BECAUSE VOTERS HAVE
SPOKEN
VERY CLEARLY THAT THEY WANT THIS
AND THIS IS WHY THEY VOTED TO
HAVE THIS REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE
PDA.
ROBERTO, WOULD YOU MIND TELLING
US, JUST BY WAY OF
BACKGROUND AND ANYONE WHO MIGHT
BE WATCHING -- BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS
AROUND
THIS, AND I'VE HEARD YOU
HAVE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN
DEVELOPING THIS TYPE
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND THERE?
>> SURE.
>> SINCE WE'RE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION, I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE
AWARE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT
YOU'VE DONE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
AND ALSO WHETHER YOU THINK
THAT THE PDA WILL BE ABLE TO
STAND
UP HOUSING NEXT YEAR.
LIKE, WHAT ARE THE -- NOT
EXTENSIVE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE TO
CONSTITUENTS BY MAKING SURE WE
HEAR A LITTLE FROM YOU ON THIS.
>> AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR 20 YEARS AS A CEO
AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, I'VE WORKED IN
RURAL HOUSING IN OREGON,
PRIMARILY
WITH FARMWORKERS, AND
IN CALIFORNIA IN THE
CAPITAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE,
WHERE WE -- I MOVED A VERY SMALL
AGENCY, WHICH IS ARGUABLY ONE
OF THE LEAST PRODUCTIVE
AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS IN THE
STATE TO
BEING NUMBER FIVE AT THE POINT
WHEN I
LEFT SEVEN YEARS LATER.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT
NUMBER THREE.
SO HIGH PRODUCTION IS WHAT
I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON FOR THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS, AND I THINK
THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT FUNDS
COMING FOR THE TAX TO LEVERAGE
TO DO
SOME SERIOUS REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE
CITY
AND TO SUPPORT THE
AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY.
I'VE ALSO BEEN A
PROPERTYPROPERTY
MANAGER AND I'VE DONE
THAT FOR 20 YEARS.
I'VE ONLY EVER SELF- MANAGED
PROPERTIES.
AND I SPUN OFF A
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY FROM
A NONPROFIT INTO A
SEPARATE NONPROFIT SO THAT WE
COULD PROVIDE THIRD- PARTY
SERVICES.
AND I'VE ALSO -- ALL THREE OF
THE AGENCIES THAT I'VE RUN FOR
THE LAST 20 YEARS HAVE A BOARD
COMPOSITION THAT'S VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT THIS ONE IS, 60%
OF THE
BOARD ARE RESIDENTS.
IN THE CASE OF THESE
OTHER TWO, THEY'RE RESIDENTS
WHO LIVE
IN THE HOUSING, AND THAT WILL
BE THE CASE GOING FORWARD
WITH SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.
YOU BROUGHT UP THE
ARTICLE YESTERDAY AND I WOULD
LOVE TO
HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT
AND HOW WE SET AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
UP IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE
AND
SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM AND
NOT SUBJECT TO SOME OF THE
PITFALLS WE'RE SEEING.
SO I WILL SCHEDULE A MEETING
SEPARATELY, BECAUSE I KNOW WE
DON'T HAVE TIME TODAY.
BUT I THINK ALL
THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND THANK YOU
FOR SHARING THE EXTENSIVE
EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE IN THIS
REALM.
BECAUSE I DON'T SIT ON
THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE, I'M NOT AS WELL
VERSED AND HAVE THE
INFORMATION, SO I WILL HOPEFULLY
HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO
SCHEDULE SOMETHING WITH YOU
SEPARATELY
TO FIND OUT MORE.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE
NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE DO
FUND IS
SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK
YOU. AND YES TO ALL OF THAT.
I WOULD DEFINITELY
RECOMMEND REQUESTING A MEETING
WITH
EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE, OVER
TO YOU.
WE'VE GOT TWO MINUTES LEFT ON
MY EXTENSION.
SO MY SUCCESS IS IN YOUR
HANDS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
I JUST WANT TO WELCOME BACK
DIRECTOR CARNELL AND CENTRAL
STAFF, AND ALSO EXTEND A
WELCOME TO OUR NEW CHIEF EXECER,
JIMENEZ. WELCOME, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT YOU BE HERE AND START
THIS
DIALOGUE AND RELATIONSHIP.
BECAUSE I SUPPORT SOCIAL
HOUSING, CLEARLY I WAS IN
SUPPORT OF A DIFFERENT
OPTION, SO I'LL JUST BE BLUNT
ABOUT THAT.
BUT I'VE ALREADY MET WITH
MRS. McCOY FROM HOUSING
OUR NEIGHBORS.
I SHOOK HER HAND
AND CONGRATULATED HER, OKAY,
LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND
LET'S
LEARN TO BE BLUNT FROM THE
MISTAKES.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO AVOID.
THAT GOES TO SETTING UP FOR
SUCCESS.
THAT'S WHY WE PASSED THE
REFORM LAST FALL RELATED TO
KCRHA.
AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
SINCE I'M UNDER SHORT TIME, THE
HIGHLIGHT THAT I THINK THAT
WE REALLY DO NEED A SEATTLE
HOUSING PLAN FOR OH TO GO
THROUGH
THE SAME PROCESS THAT SDOT DOES
WITH THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN.
WE WENT THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR ABOUT
CREATING A SEATTLE INVESTMENT
HOUSING
PLAN.
THIS IS HOW WE CAN GO THROUGH
THIS, LOOKING AT
REVENUES, LOOKING AT OPTIONS,
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND THEN DO IT IN A
WAY THAT IT'S REALLY CLEAR TO
THE PUBLIC KIND OF LIKE HOW SDOT
HAD TO GO THROUGH DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS
AND SO FORTH. I THINK THIS WOULD
BE VERY
HELPFUL.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE
NEED TO HAVE THE MIX AND WE NEED
TO BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
I LOOK AT THIS FROM A
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE WITH
MY COMMITTEE, BUT WE NEED TO DO
IT HERE, TOO.
SO WITH THAT SAID, AND
THAT BELIEF TO SET UP FOR
SUCCESS,
I WELCOME YOU AND LOOK FORWARD
TO
ANY OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH YOU.
AND HOPEFULLY I'M UNDER TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER, YOU ARE UNDER
TWO MINUTES BY FIVE SECONDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I SEE YOU'VE
GOT
YOUR HAND.
DON'T WORRY, IT'S MY
FAULT, ANYWAY.
SO BACK TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I'LL JUST BE BRIEF, UNLIKE A
FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES.
JUST REALLY WANTED TO THANK
EVERYONE AT THE TABLE TODAY AND
JUST TO NOTE THAT WITH
RESPECT TO SOCIAL HOUSING,
SUPPORTING AND HELPING TO
IMPLEMENT FROM A
CITY PERSPECTIVE, THE APPROVED
INITIATIVE, JIMENEZ, YOU NOTED,
RATHER, THAT YOU MET WITH MY
OFFICE RECENTLY ABOUT A
POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY IN D1.
WOULD LOVE TO, IF YOU'RE
AMENABLE, TO HAVE A
GENERAL INTRO MEETING BETWEEN ME
AND
YOU.
BUT ANYWAYS, JUST LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER
WITH YOU ALL, TO HELP US DO MORE
AND DELIVER UPON THESE
COMMITMENTS
FROM VOTERS -- OR REQUESTS FROM
VOTERS.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
IT'S THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
AND COLLABORATION AND
STRONG COMMUNICATION THAT WE
CAN ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AND
I REALLY AGAIN APPRECIATE THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS BEING OPEN TO
TALKING AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO TALKING WITH
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD
TO CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS WITH
THAT. THERE GOES MY PERFECT
STREAK ON
HAVING MY COMMITTEE END ON
TIME, AND IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
I WILL JUST SAY FOR THE
RECORD THAT THIS DOES CONCLUDE
THE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18th, 2025
FINANCE NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2nd, 2025.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE
WE ADJOURN? SEEING NONE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.