>> [ MUSIC ]
>> WELL GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYBODY. IT IS THURSDAY, MARCH
13th, THE GOVERNANCE,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 01 P.M. I AM
SARAH NELSON, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING. ALL
RIGHT. WITH THAT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT HAS BEEN A
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> HERE FOR CHRISTINA
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE POINT
>> HERE POINT
>> CHAIR NELSON POINT
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR PRESENT.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
ON, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. HOW
MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE?
>> WE HAVE ONE IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENT ER PLATZ, TWO REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS, CHAIR POINT
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S START WITH
THE IN PERSON COMMENTOR.
>> ALL RIGHT , COME ON UP.
>> PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> I'M GOING TO CALL ON THE
SPEAKERS AND THE ORDER THEY HAVE
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, STARTING
WITH YOU, ALEX PARKER SPEAKERS
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. WHEN YOU
HEAR THE CHIME YOU'LL HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT. IF YOU EXCEED THAT
TIME YOUR MICROPHONE MIGHT BE
CUT OFF SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ONTO
THE NEXT SPEAKER. IF YOU ARE
OFFERING REMOTE COMMENTS, PLEASE
MAKE SURE TO PRESS STAR 62
UNMUTE YOURSELF. GIVE ME A
SECOND.
>> TWO MINUTES?
>> YES, TWO MINUTES.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] MY LOVELY
IDIOTS, MY NAME IS ALEX
ZIMMERMAN, [ INAUDIBLE ], I WANT
TO SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA NUMBER TWO
POINT I LOVE THIS AGENDA NUMBER
TWO POINT YOU KNOW WHY? AND I
EXPLAINED TO YOU. BECAUSE ALL MY
LIFE I WANT TO BE A WOMAN BUT I
CAN'T, SO RIGHT NOW I CAN
BECAUSE I'M 80 YEARS OLD AND MY
[ INAUDIBLE ] WHEN I FEEL VERY
STUPID DON'T WORRY ABOUT THIS.
IT'S TYPICAL FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME
AND EXACTLY FOR WOMAN WHAT AS I
HAVE NOW. AND I'M VERY HAPPY
FOR ANOTHER POINT. SO EVERYWOMAN
RIGHT NOW CAN COME TO DR. AND
TALK, DR.,
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> HEY, CAN YOU PLEASE --
>> SO I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS.
IT'S VERY GOOD. SEATTLE CITY IS
A DEMOCRATIC CITY.
[ INAUDIBLE ] SO I TOTALLY
SUPPORT THIS AND I WANT FOR
THIS, [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> VIVA TROMPE, VIVA YOUR
AMERICAN REVOLUTION, VIVA
AMERICA, STAND UP, EVERYBODY.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE WILL NOW
MOVE TO THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND THE SAME RULES
APPLY.
>> AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS JOINED
US TODAY.
>> FIRST WE'LL HAVE KIRK
ROBBINS. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO?
>> GO AHEAD, KIRK.
>> YES, I'M CALLING ABOUT
WATERFRONT RESUME. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6 ABOUT A BLOCK FROM A
REASONED AREA IN THE BREWERY
DISTRICT AND A BLOCK IN ANOTHER
DIRECTION FROM A DIFFERENT
REZONED AREA. WHEN THIS WAS
REVEALED TO US OVER [ INAUDIBLE
], ACTUALLY, WE WERE TOLD THAT
THIS WAS BECAUSE OF A LARGE DEAL
THAT WAS REACHED, THAT BECAUSE
THE DEAL SERVED THE LARGER
INTEREST OF THE CITY, IT WAS [
INAUDIBLE ] EVERYWHERE AND WE
SHOULD JUST BASICALLY TAKE IT
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT POWERFUL
PEOPLE DID IN SECRET UNDER CITY
OFFICES. IT TURNS OUT THAT WAS A
MISREPRESENTATION. IT TURNS OUT
THAT THERE WAS NO DEAL.
APPARENTLY THE DEALS IN THE
SEATTLE ZONING PROCESS ARE THE
DEALS THAT ARE REACHED IN THE
MIDDLE EAST OR IN DELUGE CONTEXT
THAT PEOPLE SORT OF SEE THESE
THINGS AND GET MANUFACTURED
CONSENT AS BEST THEY CAN, AND
THEN OVER WANT TO OVERRIDE IT
WHEN DEVELOPERS AND THOSE FUNDED
BY DEVELOPERS WANT TO OVERRIDE
WHAT THE DEAL WAS. WE STEP BACK
AND GIVE TO THE RICH AND
POWERFUL WHAT THEY WANT. THE
WATERFRONT INDUSTRY IS PART OF
THE BALANCE OF SEATTLE. IT'S
PART OF THE REASON THAT YOUR
BUDGET PROBLEMS AREN'T WORSE,
IS BECAUSE THERE IS A STABLE
INDUSTRIAL REGIONAL FACILITY
NETWORK HERE AND THE IDEA THAT
THAT'S GOING TO BE SOLD OUT FOR
YET ANOTHER UP ZONE SOMEWHERE
WHERE IT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO DO
SERIOUS HARM TO THE REGION'S
ECONOMY AS WELL AS TO OUR OWN
BUDGETARY SYSTEM, THIS IS REALLY
DISAPPOINTING AND WE DO HAVE
TIME TO RECONSIDER IT. THERE
CERTAINLY IS NO RUSH ON A
REZONED UNLESS IT'S A SPOT
REZONED OR SOME DEVELOPER IS
OVEREXTENDED IN ITS BORROWINGS.
SO PLEASE RECONSIDER ANY
DECISIONS YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE
TO GIVE THE DEVELOPERS WHAT THEY
WANT. [ INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHTS. OUR NEXT REMOTE
COMMENTOR WILL BE DAVID HAYNES.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> DAVID HAYNES, I THOUGHT THIS
WAS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR ALL THE MONEY BEING
SQUANDERED ON BAD POLICY. FIRST
THE INVESTIGATION ON KING COUNTY
REGIONAL WAS AUTHORITY AND THEIR
CONTINUED REFUSAL TO SOLVE THE
HOMELESS CRISIS. BUT WHAT ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE LEADERSHIP
THAT STILL EXISTS, REPEAT
OFFENDING TERMINAL FROM JAIL
THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE
UNDERWORLD WHILE ALLOWING
NONPROFITS TO RACIST WE
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INNOCENT
HOMELESS, MAKING EVERYTHING IN
OUR SOCIETY MORE DIFFICULT TO
DEAL WITH AND YET WE HAVE MORE
EFFORT AND LAWS TO PROTECT
KILLING OFF OTHER PEOPLE'S
UNBORN KIDS AND CALLING IT,
LIONEL LEE, REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE FOR POPULATION
CONTROL. AND WHAT SEEMS TO BE
SEX CHANGES FOR KIDS. IT'S NOT
CLARIFYING WHAT GENDER AFFIRMING
CARE IS BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE
IS A TWISTED AND LOGICAL
MISINTERPRETATION OF SCIENCE AND
BIOLOGY WHEN IT COMES TO
PROGRESSIVES ENCOURAGING A CHILD
TO BE SOMETHING THAT HE OR SHE
IS NOT , FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S
DEVIANCE, ADULT AMUSEMENT. IT
APPEARS TO BE PART OF A
PEDOPHILE CLASS OF PRIVILEGED
DONORS, AND BULLIES, AND
ACTIVIST, AND ORGANIZERS, WHO
HAVE CONTROL OVER THE DEMOCRAT
PROGRESSIVE PARTY. AND WHAT
TYPES OF POLICIES AND PRIORITIES
AND WICKED, PERVERTED IDEAS THEY
GOT FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN
WHEN MOMS AND DADS ARE AT WORK
AND THEY NEED TO TUNE INTO THE
AUDIO AND VIDEO INSIDE THE
CLASSROOM TO LISTEN TO AND SEE
EXACTLY WHAT THE SO-CALLED
TEACHERS ARE TEACHING THEIR KIDS
IN SCHOOL VERSUS NOT KNOWING
WHAT UNTRUSTWORTHY, MISS
EDUCATED ADULTS ARE ENCOURAGING
THEIR KIDS AND THEY ARE READING
ABOUT . WE STILL NEED AN
INVESTIGATION AND A TRESPASSING
OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TO
PARTICIPATING IN VIEWING CHILD
IN THE LIBRARY AND ARE FREEZING
OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS, BECAUSE
THOSE KIDS COULD BE RESCUED IF
THE FBI WOULD INVESTIGATE THOSE
CLAIMS. AND THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP
USING IT. BUT THE LGBTQ T
EMPLOYEES AT THE LIBRARY
COMPLAINED, KICK PEOPLE OUT BUT
I
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I
NEGLECTED TO READ THE SENTENCE
BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT SAYS
THAT THE -- YOU CAN SPEAK TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR WITHIN
THE WORK PROGRAM. SO PLEASE,
FOLKS, WHEN YOU COME TO MAKE A
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS
COMMITTEE, REMEMBER THAT IS
RESTRICTED TO THAT. IT SEEMED
LIKE ONE OF THOSE COMMENTS IS
ABOUT THE, PLAN AND THERE WILL
BE MANY MORE MEETINGS ON THAT
TOPIC. ALL RIGHT POINT OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE AGENDA?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, AGENDA 3080,
APPOINTMENT OF JOY R SHE GAWKY
AS MEMBER, WASHINGTON STATE
CONVENTION CENTER PUBLIC
FACILITIES DISTRICT BOARD FOR A
TERM TO JULY 20th, 2028.
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> ALL RIGHTS. WHILE PEOPLE ARE
GETTING SETTLED AT THE TABLE I
REMIND FOLKS THAT IN CASE YOU
DON'T KNOW, THE WS CC PFT WAS
OFFICIALLY FORMED BY KING COUNTY
ORDINANCE 16883 ON JULY 19th,
2010, AND IS DIRECTED BY A
NINE-MEMBER BOARD OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON, KING COUNTY, AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. SO WE HAVE
A COMMISSIONER HERE TO HEAR FROM
AND I'M SURE THAT WE'LL HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS WHEN YOU FINISH
INTRODUCING YOURSELVES.
>> MY NAME IS JENNIFER LEMASTER,
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
SEATTLE CONVENTION CENTER.
>> I'M JULI SHIGAKI, WATERFRONT
PARK.
>> AND I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE
ON BEHALF OF JOY AND THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS TO SUPPORT HER
NOMINATION TO OUR BOARD.
>> THANK YOU POINT WOULD YOU
LIKE TO SPEAK A BIT ABOUT
YOURSELF AND BACKGROUND OR SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH? GO AHEAD.
>> I'M SORRY, ME OR JOY.
>> EITHER ONE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITING IN OUR
CITY IS THE FINAL OPENING OF
WATERFRONT PARK AFTER 15 YEARS,
AND WE RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH IT'S
GOING TO TRANSFORM OUR DOWNTOWN
AND OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY, REALLY
BRINGING LOCALS AND VISITORS TO
THIS EXTRAORDINARY WORLD-CLASS
EXPERIENCE AT WATERFRONT PARK.
AND PART OF THAT WORK IS HOW WE
SEE OURSELVES BEING FOLDED INTO
THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR CITY.
THIS PARTNERSHIP AND CITY ON THE
BOARD OF THE SEATTLE CONVENTION
CENTER IS AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE ASSET,
WHICH IS INCREDIBLE , THE ENTIRE
CITY, BUT HOW WATERFRONT FOLD IS
GOING TO BE FOLDED INTO THE
EXPERIENCE THAT WERE GOING TO BE
OFFERING FOR VISITORS, AND RANGE
OF CONFERENCES AND OTHER EVENTS
THAT ARE PART OF THE LARGER WORK
OF THE CONVENTION CENTER. I'VE
HAD 25 YEARS OF BACKGROUND WORK
IN GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT AND
THESE LARGER QUESTIONS, I THINK
IS A NONPROFIT THAT MANAGING
THIS PART, NOT JUST NOW BUT FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME, OF HOW WE
REALLY SEE OURSELVES VOTING INTO
A LARGER ECOSYSTEM OF OUR
DOWNTOWN AND OUR REGIONAL
ECONOMY. SO I'D BE HONORED TO
BE PART OF THIS BODY TO REALLY
BE PARTNERS IN THIS WORK. WE ARE
PARTNERS ALREADY BUT REALLY HAVE
AN INTENTIONAL WAY TO HELP GUIDE
AND LEAD THE WORK FORWARD TO
ENSURE THE HELP OF OUR
CONVENTION CENTER AND THE ARCH
AND THE NEW SUMMIT BUILDING,
WHICH ARE BOTH MAJOR ASSETS FOR
THE CITY AND ALSO FOR OUR
REGION.
>> AND I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT
THAT THE CONVENTION CORRIDOR
DEEPLY DESIRES A STRONGER
CONNECTION TO THE WATERFRONT AS
PART OF THE DEFINING
CHARACTERISTIC OF OUR DOWNTOWN
DESTINATION AND THE APPEAL OF
CONVENTION GOERS WORLDWIDE. SO
HAVING JOY'S INSIGHTS AND
THOUGHTS ON OUR BOARD IS GOING
TO BE CRITICAL AS WE SHAPE THAT
CONNECTION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT'S. I HAVE
WRITTEN MATERIALS BUT I KNOW
YOU, JULIE, FOUR YEARS, AND I
THINK I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
YOUR INTEREST BECAUSE YOU WILL
BRING SO MUCH TO THE -- WELL YOU
ALREADY BRING SO MUCH TO THE
CITY AND ESPECIALLY TO THE
CONVENTION CENTER. YOU'RE
RIGHT. WHEN YOU SAID THAT THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
CONVENTION CENTER AND THE
WATERFRONT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
WHEN YOU'RE UPSTAIRS AT THE TOP
OF THAT GRAND STAIRCASE MADE OF
FOR AND YOUR LOOKING WEST, THAT
IS THE WATERFRONT THAT YOU HAVE
SPENT SO LONG, AND WITH SUCH
HARD WORK , RAISING FUNDING FOR
AND MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK IS
WELL COORDINATED, AND ACTUALLY
BOOSTING THE WATERFRONT TO THE
REST OF THE STATE, CITY, AND I
IMAGINE THE WORLD, BECAUSE
PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHEN IT'S
OPENING. I THINK THIS IS A
PERFECT CONTRIBUTION AND ASSET
YOU'LL BE TO THE CONVENTION
CENTER. SO WITH THAT I WILL OPEN
UP FOR OTHER QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS FROM FOLKS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. ARE THERE
DEFINED POSITIONS ON THE
COMMISSION THAT YOU HAVE GOT TO
FILL AND ARE THERE OTHER
VACANCIES COMING UP?
>> YES THERE ARE. THERE IS ONE
OTHER VACANCY. GOVERNORS OFFICE
APPOINTMENT FOR -- SO WITH
JOY'S APPOINTMENT WE WILL HAVE
EIGHT OF OUR NINE SEATS FILLED
AND WE WILL HAVE ONE TO GO.
>> THE REASON THERE IS A LITTLE
BIT OF URGENCY BEHIND THIS IS
BECAUSE THERE IS A BIG MEETING
COMING UP AND WE WANT TO HAVE
YOUR PARTICIPATION.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE WILL BE
ORIENTING TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
THIS MONTH AT OUR MARCH MEETING,
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING JOY
AND STU ROTH, WHO WAS APPOINTED
BY KING COUNTY JUST TWO MONTHS
AGO, ONTO THE BOARD.
>> EXCELLENT. OKAY. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BECAUSE OF
THAT TIME SENSITIVITY, MY
PREFERENCE IS TO GO AHEAD AND
VOTE THIS OUT OF COMMITTEE
TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> YES. THANK YOU CHAIR NELSON.
WELCOME COMMISSIONER SHIGAKI TO
THE COUNCIL, TO THIS COMMITTEE.
AND I KNOW YOU LESS IN TERMS OF
TIME THAN OUR SHARE BUT I HAVE
THE SIMILAR IS IN TERMS OF THE
WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU'VE
DONE FOR THE WATERFRONT AND WHAT
YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY. AND
SO IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE
BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT
PIECE TO OUR CITY THAT WAS
HIGHLIGHTED TODAY AS I MET WITH
THE CITY OF GALWAY DELEGATION.
AND I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE
WATERFRONT, AND ALL THE WORK.
DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY
BUT I SAID THAT WE'D FINISH THE
OVERLOOK WALK FOR THEM. SO WE
GOT IT READY. WE GOT IT DONE
AHEAD OF THEIR ARRIVAL FOR IRISH
WEEK BUT IT GOES TO THE POINT OF
HOW IMPORTANT THE OVERLOOK WALK
AND THE WATERFRONT PROJECT
OVERALL IS TO OUR CITY, AND IT
IS TO BE VISITORS THAT COME. AND
THIS GOES TO THE CONVENTION
CENTER. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT
PLAYING OUT, IN TERMS OF
BUILDING UP AND BRINGING MORE
VISITORS, BRINGING MORE
ATTENTION TO OUR CITY, AND
REALLY HIGHLIGHTING WHAT OUR
CITY HAS TO OFFER?
>> WE ANTICIPATE 15 MILLION
PEOPLE COMING TO THE WATERFRONT,
WHICH I ACTUALLY THINK IS A
FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER. IF
YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THERE ON A
REALLY SUNNY WEEKEND, THE
OVERLOOK WALK AND THE WATERFRONT
IS ACTUALLY BUSTLING, WHICH IS A
GREAT SIGN OF LOCALS COMING
BACK, AS WELL AS NATIONAL
FORESTS. WE DO HAVE A STEADY
STREAM OF VISITORS WHO OBVIOUSLY
COME TO SEATTLE YEAR-ROUND,
SINCE THE TEMPERATURE IS FAIRLY
MODERATE. WE WANT TO BE A
RESOURCE. I MEAN, THE PARK IS A
MAJOR PART OF THE RENEWAL OF THE
CITY, AND WHEN I CAME ON BOARD
IT WAS A TOUGH THING TO ACTUALLY
SAY, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT OF THIS
DOWNTOWN URBAN PARK WAS REALLY
ABOUT A NEW SORT OF FRONT PORCH,
AND REALLY PUTTING SEATTLE, I
THINK, ON THE WORLD STAGE IN A
VERY DIFFERENT WAY. AND WE'LL
SEE THAT EVEN MORE SO STEPPING
INTO 2026 FIFA. WE'RE EXCITED
TO THINK ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE SEATTLE CONVENTION
CENTER AND OTHER CONVENTIONS
THAT ARE COMING TO TOWN, TO SEE
IT AS AN ASSET REALLY
ELEVATE THE INVESTMENT THAT OUR
CITY, OUR CIVIC LEADERS AND OUR
RESIDENTS HAVE MADE TO THIS
PROJECT, AND TO OUR DONORS.
IT'S A STATEMENT ABOUT OUR CITY
AND HOW WE ARE WORLD-CLASS AND
PROVIDING EXTRAORDINARY
EXPERIENCE THAT LEADS ALL THE
WAY THROUGH DOWNTOWN, INTO OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OBVIOUSLY
CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO OUR TWO
CONVENTION SPACES, THAT I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR AN
EXTRA ORDINARY EXPERIENCE ONE
PEOPLE COME TO SEATTLE. AND WE
WANT TO BE PART OF JUST ENSURING
THAT OUR CITY IS HEALTHY AND
THAT WE ARE JUST THINKING
CREATIVELY ABOUT ALL OF THE
ASSETS THAT ARE IN SEATTLE. SO
I'M REALLY PLEASED, FIRST OF
ALL, TO BE ASKED TO BE PART OF
THIS, AND IT'S MORE JEN 'S
LEADERSHIP AND REALLY LEADING
THIS NEXT CHAPTER, HONESTLY, OF
THE CONVENTION CENTER. IT'S
BEEN TOUGH AFTER THE PANDEMIC
BUT I ALSO THINK WE DO THINGS
WELL AND WITH A LOT OF
INNOVATION, SO I REALLY WANT TO
SUPPORT HER WORK AND HER
LEADERSHIP BRINGING US TO THE
NEXT CHAPTER IN THIS
ORGANIZATION.
>> A FOLLOW-ON QUESTION IS, YOU
KNOW, ONE THING I'VE NOTICED IN
THIS JOB AND THAT I'M MORE
MINDFUL, I HAVE A SAYING, BE
PRESENT, BE MINDFUL, BE
PREPARED, AND BEING PRESENT IS
JUST TO BE IN YOUR WITHOUT THE
DISTRACTIONS . MINDFUL IS LIKE
TAKING IT TO THE NEXT STEP,
PUTTING YOURSELF INTO THE OTHER
PERSON'S SHOES. ONE OF THE
THINGS I REALLY NOTICES I REALLY
HAVE A NORTH/SOUTH ORIENTATION
TO THE CITY. I THINK I-FIVE, ALL
THE NUMBERED STREETS, EVERYTHING
IS NORTH-SOUTH AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT HAS
BEEN DONE AS PART S OF
CONNECTING THE WATERFRONT
EAST/WEST, IN THIS CASE EAST BE
SWIMMING, INTO THE CITY, AND WE
RECENTLY WITH DIRECTOR BRADY WE
HAD THE BELL STREET PROJECT
KICKOFF WITH THE SHOVEL AND CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE?
BECAUSE THAT REALLY GOES IN
TERMS OF THE CONVENTIONS. LIKE
HOW DO WE FURTHER THAT EAST/WEST
KIND OF MOVEMENT IN THE CITY?
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
>> I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE
CITY FOR THE DESIGN. AS WE KNOW,
THE VIADUCT REALLY CUT OFF THE
CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN. IT
WASN'T JUST A PHYSICAL
DISCONNECTION BUT IT WAS PEOPLE
ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING HOW TO GO
INTO METAL SQUARE, [ INAUDIBLE ]
IN THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN. I THINK
IT'S REALLY ABOUT NOW HOW DO WE
FIND WAYS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
MAKE THE TREK FROM THE
CONVENTION CENTER, FROM OTHER
ASSETS DOWNTOWN, TO MAKE THEIR
WAY TO THE WATERFRONT AND BACK
SAFELY AND CONTINUE TO BRING
MORE PEOPLE IN TO MAKE OUR
STREETS FULL AND CHANGE THE
PERCEPTION OF DOWNTOWN FEELING
LIKE A SAFE, DYNAMIC PLACE. WE
WILL CONTINUE TO OBVIOUSLY CARE
FOR THE PARK ALONG WITH THE
SEATTLE CENTER, WHO IS A REALLY
CRITICAL PARTNER IN THE DSA, WHO
IS ALSO CARING FOR THE NETTLE
EXTENSION. BECAUSE THIS IS HOW
WE ARE LOOKING AT NETTLE
ECOSYSTEM. THE MORE ACTIVITIES
WE HAVE ON THE WATERFRONT THAT
BRING PEOPLE INTO THE PARK AND
GO BACK INTO THE REST OF
DOWNTOWN AND NEIGHBORHOODS
INCLUDING BELLTOWN, THE BETTER
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BECOME
OF THE BETTER SORT OF THE FEEL
OF THE STREET WILL BE. AND I
THINK WE KNOW SAFE, CLEAN AND
ACCESSIBLE IS THE WAY WE ARE
COMMITTING THAT INTO OUR FRONT
PARK. THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING
SOLVED OBVIOUSLY THROUGHOUT
DOWNTOWN, SOME STREETS A LITTLE
BIT MORE CHALLENGING. I THINK
THAT'S WHAT BUILDS CONFIDENCE
FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND HAVE A
REALLY ASKED ORDINARY
EXPERIENCE. PANDEMIC HAS BEEN
HARD. I ACTUALLY THINK THE
EAST/WEST TENDRILS HAVE BEEN
THAT GREAT REMINDER OF HOW DO
YOU MAKE SURE THERE IS A SIMILAR
EXPERIENCE. COMING FROM
WATERFRONT PARK, THIS AMAZING
URBAN LANDSCAPE, TO OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE BELLTOWN,
LIKE PINER SQUARE, AND A LOT OF
OUR BUSINESSES REALLY NEED THAT
INVESTMENT. OUR MUSIC VENUES,
OUR ARTS AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS NEED THAT SUPPORT
OF PEOPLE COMING IN BELIEVING
THEY CAN HAVE AN EXTRA ORDINARY
EXPERIENCE THROUGH MANY THINGS.
COME TO THE PARK FOR A COUPLE
HOURS. COME TO SEE PROGRAMS.
ENJOY THE BEACH, COME TO SEE
SAM, COME TO A RESTAURANT, COME
SEE A SHOW WE NEED TO CHANGE THE
CONTEXT OF THE EXPERIENCE OF
DOWNTOWN. I THINK WE'RE
BEGINNING TO SEE THAT AND WE'LL
SEE IT EVEN MORE AS WE GET INTO
THE SUMMER MONTHS.
>> EXCELLENT. MAYBE WE CAN SET
UP A WALKABOUT WHERE WE START ON
THE WATERFRONT AND KIND OF GO
ONE WAY, WE HIT THE CONVENTION
CENTERS AND THEN WE KIND OF COME
BACK A SEPARATE WAY. TO FURTHER
THAT WE'LL ENLIST DEPUTY MAYOR
WONG AND WE'LL HOOK HIM IN AND
OTHERS, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
EAST/WEST PIECE AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK THE SAFETY
PIECE, BY THE WAY. SO THANK YOU.
>> BUT WHY STOP AT CONVENTION
CENTER? WE CAN KEEP ON GOING
PINE UP AND OVER THE OTHER BODY
OF WATER.
>> YOU'VE BEEN TO OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS AND I THINK IT'S
ABOUT THE CONNECTION.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND
ESPECIALLY RECONNECTION AFTER
THE VIADUCT CAME DOWN AND ALL
THE REALLY GREAT WORK THAT'S
GOING ON DOWN THERE. AND I WANT
TO SAY, FULL DISCLOSURE, I MET
JOY A COUPLE YEARS AGO BECAUSE
MY HUSBAND DOES VOLUNTEER WORK
WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT. THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR
FAMILY, AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THAT WE RECEIVED LETTERS FROM
MAGGIE WALKER, WHO IS CHAIR OF
THE FRIENDS OF THE WATERFRONT
PARK. MAGGIE IS A GEM TO THE
CITY. SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON
THESE ISSUES FOR A LONG TIME,
AND THEN WE ALSO RECEIVED A
LETTER ON YOUR BEHALF FROM, AS
YOU KNOW, JOHN SCHOOLS WITH THE
DSA, AND I PERSONALLY AM VERY
GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU'VE DONE DOWN AT THE
WATERFRONT, AND TO GET THAT
READY FOR OPENING. THERE IS A
LOT THAT WENT INTO THAT FOR MANY
YEARS AND I AM SO EXCITED THAT
THAT IS OPEN, AND THAT HOPEFULLY
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SUMMER
WHERE IT REALLY IS OPEN FOR
BUSINESS AND RARING TO GO. I AM
SO EXCITED ABOUT ITS CONNECTION
BOTH TO THE SEATTLE CENTER AND
TO THE CONVENTION CENTERS, AND I
THINK YOU KNOW I'M VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR PARTICIPATION
ON THE CONVENTION CENTER BOARD
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING
THOSE CONNECTIONS BECAUSE THIS
IS ALL INTERRELATED AND YOUR
EXPERIENCE WITH THE WATERFRONT,
THERE IS A LOT OF BENEFIT THAT
YOU WILL BE ADDING TO THIS NEW
POSITION. SO VOLUNTEER POSITION
BUT NEVERTHELESS, REALLY EXCITED
TO SEE YOU WORKING WITH THE
CONVENTION CENTER. SO THANK YOU
FOR WANTING TO DO THIS. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> ALL RIGHT. I AM NOT SEEING
MANY OTHER HANDS UP HERE AND I
WANT TO ADD, JEN, GREAT
RECRUITING. SINCE YOU'VE COME
ON BOARD I SEE YOU EVERYWHERE
DOWNTOWN, OR AT EVENTS ALL OVER
THE CITY, AND YOU HAVE AN EYE
FOR EXCELLENCE, AND YOU ARE
MISSION DRIVEN. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THIS ADDITION TO
THE COMMISSION, AS WELL. ALL
RIGHT. LET'S SEE. LET'S GO
AHEAD, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS WE CAN GO
AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTES. HEARING
ON, I RECOMMEND THE COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
03080.
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 0380 AND LET'S GO
AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE POINT
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THIS WILL COME TO FULL
COUNCIL I BELIEVE ON THE 25th,
OR 18th? WHEN IS IT?
>> THIS WILL BE FOR FULL COUNCIL
FOR MARCH 25th.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WOULD
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
COUNCIL BILL 120950, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
REAFFIRMING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AS A WELCOMING CITY SUPPORTING
ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND GENDER
AFFIRMING TREATMENT IN SEATTLE,
EXTENDING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
CITY EMPLOYEES TO PROTECT THE
PROVISION OF REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND GENDER
AFFIRMING TREATMENT AND ADDING A
NEW CHAPTER, 14.1152 THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE, REASON,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR COMING
TO THE TABLE. I'LL GIVE A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION. THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE SENT US THIS BILL TO
CONFORM TO SEATTLE LAW TO THE
WASHINGTON STATE SHIELD LAW
SUPPORTING ACCESS TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
AND GENDER AFFIRMING TREATMENT
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HELD --
ALSO DRAFTED THIS BILL WITH
GUIDANCE FROM THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION. AND AS I NOTED ON
MONDAY, I BELIEVE IT WAS,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WERE BIRTH
BOTH QUOTED IN THE MAYOR'S
PRESS RELEASE LAST WEEK SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE, ALONG WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM GSB A,
SEATTLE PRIDE IN THE CITY'S
LGBTQ COMMISSION, SO I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOUR EARLY SUPPORT
AND IF COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WERE HERE I WOULD
BE NODDING AT HER AS WELL. I
THANK EVERYONE FOR AGREEING TO
HAVE THIS IN COMMITTEE TODAY. AS
I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS WEEK,
THIS BILL INCORPORATES SEVERAL
RELEVANT PORTIONS OF STATE
STATUTE IN THE CITY LAW AND
EXTENDS ITS PROVISIONS TO CITY
EMPLOYEES. STATE LAW PROVIDES
PROTECTIONS AGAINST OUT-OF-STATE
INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS,
PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE, AND
CIVIL LIABILITY. IT ALSO
PROVIDES EXTENSIVE PROTECTIONS
FOR CONSUMER DATA RELATED TO
REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE. GIVEN THE
URGENCY OF THE ISSUE IN LIGHT OF
THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, I WANTED TO FAST
TRACK THIS AND NOT SHOW THAT WE
SUPPORT OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY, AND
TO REAFFIRM OUR CITY'S
COMMITMENT TO BE A SAFE AND
WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
SO TODAY WE'LL HAVE A BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION OF THIS BILL AND
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THESE PROTECTIONS ARE
ENSHRINED IN CITY LAW, WITHOUT
DELAY, I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN
VOTE TODAY, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY
OBJECTIONS. I DO REALIZE,
HOWEVER, THAT THERE ARE SOME
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY CENTRAL
STAFF AND WE HAVE BEEN IN
CONVERSATION WITH -- I
PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN IN
CONVERSATION WITH CENTRAL STAFF
AND OUR INTERNAL LEGAL COUNCIL.
MY STRONG PREFERENCE, HOWEVER,
IS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WITH A
VOTE TODAY BECAUSE I DID CHECK
WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THAT
SEEMS TO BE AGREED TO AS THE
COURSE OF ACTION THAT WOULD WORK
BEST FOR THE PEOPLE. HOWEVER, WE
DO HAVE UNTIL MARCH 25th TO HAVE
THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND
THEN WE'LL PLAY IT BY EAR IF
THERE IS STILL ANYTHING
REMAINING. FOR EXAMPLE, I DO
HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WE'LL
TALK ABOUT LATER TODAY. SO WITH
THAT, COULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND THEN YOU CAN
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY. AND DEPUTY
MAYOR GREG WONG HERE ON BEHALF
OF MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL'S
OFFICE, TO TALK TO THE ORDINANCE
THAT WE'VE TRANSMITTED FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. BEFORE WE BEGIN
THE PRESENTATION I'D LIKE TO
QUICKLY INTRODUCE TWO PEOPLE
WITH ME AT COUNCIL TABLE . NEXT
TO ME ON MY RIGHT IS JESSICA
McHEGG, ONE OF OUR VERY OWN CITY
EMPLOYEES IN SDCI, WHO
PERSONALLY REACHED OUT TO THE
MAYOR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
LEGISLATING IN THIS SPACE, AND
ALSO SOMEONE WHO WE WORK WITH TO
IDENTIFY PRIORITIES TO [
INAUDIBLE ] THIS ORDINANCE. NEXT
TO JESSICA IS ASHLEY FORD, WHO
IS ONE OF OUR LGBTQ COMMISSION
COCHAIRS AND REALLY A PRIME
EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF COMMUNITY
VOICES TO HELP GUIDE US IN THIS
WORK. YOU WILL HEAR FROM BOTH OF
THEM SHORTLY BUT BEFORE I TURN
IT OVER TO THEM I JUST WANT TO
SET A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT FOR
WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. AND I
THINK COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU
SPOKE VERY WELL TO THE URGENCY
OF OUR TIMES. I THINK THERE'S
NO SECRET THAT OUR CURRENT
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND
OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY ARE OPENLY
HOSTILE TO MANY OF THE VALUES
AND COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE
SEATTLE A WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE,
AND VIBRANT CITY. THESE ARE
VALUES THAT MAYOR HARRELL STANDS
STRONGLY FOR AND WE THOUGHT IT
WAS APPROPRIATE TO TAKE ACTION
IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE THREATS.
AS YOU ALSO KNOW, THIS IS NOT
THE ONLY PIECE OF OUR FEDERAL
RESPONSE. WE ARE ACTIVATING ON
MULTIPLE FRONTS TO ENSURE WE AS
A CITY HAVE STRATEGIES AND
ACTIONS TO STAND UP FOR OUR
PEOPLE, OUR POLICIES, AND HOUR
LAWS. WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE
HERE EARLIER ABOUT THE MAYOR'S
DIRECTIVE ON IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT. WE'VE CERTAINLY
TAKEN MANY ACTIONS IN THAT SPACE
AND YOU WILL SEE SOME ECHOES OF
THE WORK THERE IN THE ORDINANCE
THAT WE TRANSMITTED FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION TODAY. AND WE'VE
ALSO TAKEN LEGAL ACTION, AS YOU
KNOW, WORKING WITH YOU AND OUR
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO
ENSURE WE ARE STRONGLY FIGHTING
FOR OUR PEOPLE, FOR OUR FUNDING,
AND AGAIN, FOR OUR VALUES. SO
WITH THAT CONTEXT, FIRST I'D
LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO JESSICA,
WHO WILL SHARE JUST A COUPLE
MINUTES OF REMARKS WITH US.
>>
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
HELLO. MY NAME IS JESSICA
McHEGG. I'M A BUILDING PLANS
EXAMINER FOR THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK MAYOR HARRELL AND
MAYOR WONG FOR INVITING ME TO
SPEAK AT THE PRESENTATION OF
THIS LEGISLATION. I AM HERE
BECAUSE AS A CITY EMPLOYEE I
FOLLOW ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. DURING HIS
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ON
FEBRUARY 18th, THE MAYOR MADE
THIS STATEMENT, A ". WE SHOULD
HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS FOR WHAT THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS IN
STORE FOR OUR CITY AND ITS
PEOPLE. THE ACTIONS AND RHETORIC
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TAKE AIM AT
PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE
VALUE AS CENTRAL TO WHO WE ARE.
OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY,
PARTICULARLY TRANS INDIVIDUALS,
OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
NEIGHBORS, WOMEN, WORKING
FAMILIES, END OLD QUOTE. MY
UNREMARKABLE LIFE HAS BEEN
UPENDED SINCE THE ELECTION. I
WOULD LIKE TO GO ABOUT MY DAY
DRAWING LITTLE TO NO ATTENTION.
THIS IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE,
BECAUSE INSTEAD, I AM SINGLED
OUT OF MY OWN GOVERNMENT AND MY
VERY EXISTENCE IS THREATENED. I
AM FEARFUL FOR LOSING MY MEDICAL
CARE AND ACCESS TO MY
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS,
WORRIED ABOUT WHERE MY FAMILY
AND I CAN TRAVEL SAFELY, AND
RIDICULOUSLY, IF I TRAVEL, WHERE
AND I LET TO P WITHOUT BEING
HARASSED OR EVEN ARRESTED? I
REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR TO
COMMEND HIM FOR IDENTIFYING THIS
CRUEL ATTACK IN HIS SPEECH AND
THEN CHALLENGED HIM AND HIS
STAFF TO GO FURTHER BY FORMALLY
DECLARING SEATTLE AS A SAFE AND
WELCOMING PLACE FOR THESE
COMMUNITIES. THIS RESPONSE IS IN
PART THIS LEGISLATION ADOPTING
SHIELD LAWS FOR PROVIDING
LIFE-SAVING HEALTHCARE, WHICH I
WHOLLY SUPPORT MY LIFE HAS BEEN
VASTLY IMPROVED BY THE QUALITY
HEALTHCARE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCESS IN SEATTLE. HEALTHCARE IS
A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND SHOULD
BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
DENYING HEALTHCARE IS AN ACT OF
AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE.
STANDING UP TO THESE THREATS AND
SHIELDING THESE CARE PROVIDERS
IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
LEGAL PROTECTIONS SUCH AS THIS
ARE PROVEN TO BE SOME OF THE
ONLY EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR
FIGHTING AGAINST THE TIDE OF
LIES, HATE, OPPRESSION AND
DISCRIMINATION EMANATING FROM
OUR VERY OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES. I STAND
WITH MAYOR HARRELL AND DEPUTY
MAYOR WONG IN HOPES THAT YOU,
THE CITY COUNCIL, WILL APPROVE
THIS LEGISLATION. IT WILL SERVE
AS A BEGINNING WHAT IS
ESSENTIALLY A DARK VACUUM OF
SILENCE AND HANDWRINGING ON THE
PART OF MANY OTHER GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AND CORPORATE MEDIA
OUTLETS. I HOPE THIS IS ONE OF
MANY WAYS THAT THE CITY WILL
STAND UP BOLDLY TO THE
OPPRESSIVE ATTACKS [ INAUDIBLE ]
BUT ESPECIALLY INDIVIDUALS AND
GROUPS DISPROPORTIONATELY
TARGETED AND UNDER DIRECT
THREAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA PARKER
>> THERE WILL BE NO
INTERRUPTIONS FROM PEOPLE IN THE
AUDIENCE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA. I WOULD
LIKE NOW TO TURN IT OVER TO
ASHLEY FOR ONE OF OUR COCHAIRS
OF THE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS AND
THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU FOR ADDING
THIS TO YOUR AGENDA TODAY. MY
NAME IS ASHLEY FORD. I USE SHE
AND THEY PRONOUNS, ONE OF THE
THREE VOLUNTEER COCHAIRS FOR THE
LGBTQ COMMISSION. I'VE LIVED IN
THE LAKE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD,
DISTRICT 5, SINCE MOVING HERE
FROM NORTH CAROLINA IN 2019. I
ONLY HAVE A SHORT TIME TO TALK
TO YOU TODAY BUT I REALLY WANT
MY CORE MESSAGE TO RING CLEAR
POINT OF THE BASIC RIGHTS OF
DIGNITY, BASIC RIGHTS AND
DIGNITIES OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
ARE UNDER ATTACK AND WE TRULY
NEED YOUR HELP, CITY COUNCIL AND
CITY LEADERS, TO HELP ENSHRINE
SEATTLE AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY OUR TRANS AND
NON-BINARY NEIGHBORS ARE
PROTECTED AND CHERISHED. WE ALL
HAVE OUR DIFFERENT REASONS FOR
LOVING THE CITY THAT WE CALL
HOME AND FOR MANY OF US IN THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY, THERE IS A
LEVEL OF SAFETY HERE THAT
DOESN'T EXIST IN MANY OTHER
CITIES. EVEN HAVING A COMMISSION
LIKE OURS, THE LGBTQ COMMISSION
TO ADVISE ON BEHALF OF THE LGBTQ
PEOPLE IS RARE AND BECOMING
INCREASINGLY SO, YET STILL WE
ARE EXPERIENCING OUR LOCAL
HOSPITALS MAKING CHOICES IN FEAR
OF ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING
CARE. CORPORATIONS ARE
ABANDONING THEIR COMMITMENTS TO
THEIR LGBTQ EMPLOYEES AND
VIOLENT HATE CRIMES ARE STILL
BEING COMMITTED IN OUR BELOVED
CAPITOL HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. IF
YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING LAST
WEEK, I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE
YOU TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDING
TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM SOME OF
OUR LGBTQ COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN
EXPERIENCING RECENTLY. ON THE
FEDERAL LEVEL IT'S FRANKLY HARD
TO KEEP UP AT THIS POINT. EVERY
TIME I OPEN MY PHONE THERE'S
SOMETHING ELSE IN THE NEWS,
OTHER QUEER FRIENDS SCARED FOR
WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT. IF IT'S
NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT, WE
REALLY ARE IN CRISIS. MANY OF US
ARE MAKING CRISIS PLANS. WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT IS TO COME
NEXT. ON THAT NOTE WE KNOW THAT
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE RESILIENT
AND WE KNOW THAT WE WON'T BACK
DOWN POINT WE WON'T STAND IDLY
BY WHILE PEOPLE ON THE NATIONAL
STAGE [ INAUDIBLE ] OUR RIGHTS
AND DIGNITIES. WE'VE BEEN VERY
GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR THE PARTNERSHIP IN PUTTING
THIS ORDINANCE TOGETHER. AS
MENTIONED, THE WORK WE DO ON THE
LGBTQ COMMISSION IS FULLY
VOLUNTEER. I HAVE A FULL-TIME
JOB IN ADDITION TO THIS SO WE
TRULY DO RELY ON YOU ALL, OUR
CITY LEADERS, TO TAKE ACTION IN
ORDER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE. WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO
OUR ADVISORY ROLE AND REALLY
LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUED
PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION AS
WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THESE
ATTACKS FROM THIS FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR TAKING TIME TO ADD THIS TO
YOUR AGENDA TODAY AND FOR
HOPEFULLY PASSING THIS
ORDINANCE. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
WE TAKE ACTION TO MAINTAIN
SEATTLE'S LONG-STANDING LEGACY
OF BEING A LEADER AND PROTECTING
THE BASIC RIGHTS OF LGBTQ PEOPLE
IN THE CITY. THANK YOU PARKER
>> THANK YOU ASHLEY VERY MUCH.
>> BEFORE YOU BEGIN, I JUST WANT
TO NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME
STAFF ANALYSTS TODAY WHO WILL BE
PROVIDING ANALYSIS AFTER THE
PRESENTATION, JUST SO EVERYBODY
KNOWS. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> AND I JUST WANT TO THANK
JESSICA AND ASHLEY AGAIN FOR
JUST BEING COURAGEOUS LEADERS IN
THIS SPACE AND NOT ONLY SPEAKING
UP ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE
ISSUES, BUT ALSO HELPING TO
ACTUALLY INFORM THE POLICY THAT
YOU ALL WILL BE CONSIDERED THAT
IS JUST INVALUABLE TO US AS CITY
LEADERS. I'M GOING TO SEE IF I
CAN DO THIS POWERPOINT. OKAY,
GREAT . THEN I WILL. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. THERE YOU GO. SO BEFORE
WE GET INTO THE EXACT PIECES OF
THIS ORDINANCE, I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF CONTEXT. BECAUSE THIS
CERTAINLY ISN'T THE FIRST TIME
THAT THE CITY, THE MAYOR, AND
THE COUNCIL HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING
AND UPHOLDING OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS JUST A LIST OF SOME OF
THE -- OPEN BACK UP THE SLIDE --
OF SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN TAKEN JUST IN THE LAST 10
YEARS HERE AND STARTING EVEN
BACK TO 2015, WHEN MAYOR HARRELL
WAS ON COUNCIL. HE LED THE
ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
RESTROOM FACILITIES ARE OPEN FOR
EVERYONE, INCLUDING TRANSGENDER
AND GENDER DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS.
NOW THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF
ACTIONS, POLICIES, AND LAWS IN
PLACE THAT WE ARE BUILDING OFF
OF, LEADING UP TO EVEN A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO AFTER ROE V WADE
WAS OVERTURNED AND PRODUCTIVE
HEALTHCARE WAS AT RISK, WHERE
THIS COUNCIL TOOK ACTION WITH
THE MAYOR ENSURING THAT WE ARE
PROTECTING HEALTHCARE RIGHTS.
NEXT SLIDE? ALSO FOR CONTEXT IS
NOT ONLY IN POLICY AND LAW DO WE
ACT TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY
AND PROTECT OUR RIGHTS, BUT ALSO
IN OUR CITY RESOURCES AND
INVESTMENTS. ACTUALLY THIS LIST
OF DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE HAVE
INVESTMENTS IS NOT COMPLETE .
THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES. I WOULD
WAGER THAT IN ALMOST EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS
THERE IS SOME PROGRAM, SOME
POLICY, SOME WORK THAT IS DONE
IN THE QUEER COMMUNITY THAT
UPLIFT THEM, THAT PROTECTS THEM,
THAT SUPPORTS THEM. I DID WANT
TO CALL OUT JUST A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES AND COULD'VE SPENT AN
HOUR OR TWO GOING THROUGH THE
EXAMPLES, BUT I THINK THESE ONES
ARE KIND OF UNIQUE, AND SO I
THINK THEY'RE WORTH
CELEBRATING. ONE IS PRIDE PLACE.
THIS IS A HOUSING THAT OUR
OFFICE OF HOUSING MADE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN. THIS
WAS COMPLETED JUST A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO ON CAPITOL HILL, OWNED
AND OPERATED BY COMMUNITY GROUPS
HOUSING. BUT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY
SENIOR HOUSING FOR THE QUEER
COMMUNITY. THIS IS A NEED IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT I THINK IS FAIRLY
UNIQUE IN WASHINGTON STATE, THAT
WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT
HOUSING, AND ON THE GROUND FLOOR
THERE WE HAVE SPACE FOR
COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SERVICES
CENTER RUN BY JEN PRIDE. AND
ALSO I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT
WITHIN OUR SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WE HAVE A FULL-TIME
LGBTQ IA PLUS LIAISON. AGAIN,
SOMETHING WE THINK IS UNIQUE IN
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, BUT
SHOWING THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE
HAVE ON MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF
OUR AGENCY'S AND DEPARTMENTS,
INCLUDING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT,
ARE ACTING WITH CARE,
COMPASSION, AND UNDERSTANDING
AND WORKING WITH THE QUEER
COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE. SO ALL OF
THAT IS TO GET BACKGROUND TO THE
ORDINANCE THAT WE TRANSMITTED TO
YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. OUR
VALUES, DESPITE WHAT HAPPENED IN
OUR COUNTRY ON JANUARY 21st OF
THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED
AND THERE'S NO DOUBT IN THE
MAYOR'S MIND, AND I THINK IN
MOST PEOPLE'S MINDS, THAT
SEATTLE IS HERE TO SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING AND
PERHAPS ESPECIALLY THE QUEER
COMMUNITY. SO IN THIS ORDINANCE
I BREAK IT DOWN INTO FOUR BASIC
PARTS. THE FIRST PART IS REALLY
REAFFIRMING OUR VALUES. AS
JESSICA AND ASHLEY BOTH SAID,
OUR POLICIES MATTER BUT ALSO
JUST SPEAKING UP AND
HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUES, AND WHO
WE ARE, AND WHAT WE STAND FOR IS
EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT IN THESE
TIMES, IN THE FACE OF A LOT OF
HATEFUL RHETORIC. AND SO WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
REAFFIRMED OUR VALUES IN OUR
RECITALS, RECOGNIZING,
SUPPORTING EQUAL RIGHTS OF ALL
PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR QUEER
COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDING A SAFE
AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR
THOSE WHO RESIDE IN OR [
INAUDIBLE ] THE CITY. WE ALSO
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORT THE RIGHT
OF INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK, OBTAIN,
PROVIDE AND FACILITATE
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND GENDER AFFIRMING
TREATMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE
LEGAL IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. AND WE AFFIRM OUR
ROLE IN UPHOLDING WASHINGTON
STATE'S SHIELD LAW AND THE
STATE'S LAW AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION, AND RESISTING
EFFORTS TO IMPOSE DISCRIMINATORY
POLICIES THAT WOULD PROVIDE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OR ARE
ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWS. SO WE
START THE ORDINANCE WITH I THINK
WHAT IS NOT JUST EMPTY WORDS,
BUT ARE TRUE STATEMENTS OF
VALUES. NEXT SLIDE. THE SECOND
PART OF THE ORDINANCE IS A
DECLARATION OF PUBLIC POLICY,
AND A DECLARATION OF PUBLIC
POLICY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
ACTUALLY SETS FORTH IN OUR LAW
WHAT THE POLICY OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS HERE. AND WE REALLY
DECLARE STRAIGHTFORWARD THAT THE
PUBLIC POLICY OF THIS CITY IS TO
PROTECT THE PROVISION OF PROTECT
DID HEALTHCARE SERVICES. AND
PROTECTED HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN
THE ORDINANCE AS DEFINED, TO
ENCOMPASS BOTH GENDER AFFIRMING
TREATMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE SERVICES. AS OPPOSED
TO THE RECITALS, WHICH ARE, I
SAY, VALUE STATEMENTS,
DECLARATION OF PUBLIC POLICY
ACTUALLY CAN BECOME RELEVANT AND
HAVE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS. FOR
EXAMPLE, IN THE ORDINANCE,
BECAUSE IT'S OUR PUBLIC POLICY
TO SUPPORT PROTECTED HEALTHCARE
SERVICES, THE POLICY OF THE CITY
IS THAT IN OUR JUDICIAL
PROCEEDINGS, OUR CITY, OUR
LAWYERS, ANY TIME, WE WILL NOT
ASSERT ANY LAW OR ARGUMENTS
CONTRARY TO THAT STATED PUBLIC
PURPOSE . IT ALSO BECOMES
RELEVANT WHEN COURTS ARE
CONSIDERING THINGS LIKE QUASHING
SUBPOENAS BECAUSE CONSIDERING
WITH THE PUBLIC POLICY AT PLAY
IS COULD BE A FACTOR. WE LIKE
THAT. DECLARING THE PUBLIC
POLICY SETS FORTH A STRONG
STATEMENT WITH ACTUAL LEGAL
RAMIFICATIONS. NEXT SLIDE. THE
THIRD COMPONENT OF THE ORDINANCE
PUTS LIMITS ON COOPERATION AND
YOU MAY RECALL FROM OUR
IMMIGRATION WELCOMING CITY LAWS,
THAT QUITE A BIT RELATES TO HOW
OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND
DEPARTMENTS WORK WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHER
GOVERNMENTS IN ENFORCING
OUT-OF-STATE ACTIONS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. AND SO WE ARE
ESSENTIALLY MIRRORING THAT BUT
FOR THE QUEER COMMUNITY. THAT
MEANS WE ARE GOING TO LIMIT OUR
EMPLOYEES FROM COOPERATING FOR
ACTIONS OR INVESTIGATIONS
RELATED TO PROTECT DID
HEALTHCARE SERVICES. WE WON'T
BE MAKING ARRESTS, ISSUING OR
EFFECTUATING WARRANTS, ISSUING
SUBPOENAS, OR PROVIDING
INFORMATION FOR THOSE
INVESTIGATIONS. SO WHILE WE
CAN'T CONTROL WHAT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS DO, WE CAN LIMIT
HOW MUCH WE HELP OR COOPERATE IN
THOSE INVESTIGATIONS. NEXT
SLIDE. FINALLY, THE FOURTH
COMPONENT OF THE ORDINANCE
FOCUSES ON LEGAL REMEDIES AND
THIS GIVES SOME TEETH TO THE
ORDINANCE HERE AS WELL. AND
THERE'S THREE MAIN COMPONENTS
OF THIS, ONE OF WHICH I KNOW MAY
BE SUBJECT TO AN AMENDMENT THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
REFERENCED, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO
DISCUSS THAT, AS WELL. THE FIRST
ONE LEGAL REMEDY IS A CAUSE OF
ACTION FOR INTERFERENCE WITH
PROTECTED HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
SO ESSENTIALLY HOW I THINK ABOUT
THIS IS IF SOMEBODY -- LET'S
SAY A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, MAYBE
SOMEBODY COMES IN FROM OUT OF
STATE TO RECEIVE PROTECTED
HEALTHCARE SERVICES HERE IN
SEATTLE, AND UNDER THE LAWS OF
THAT OTHER STATE THEY ARE BEING
-- THERE IS EITHER CIVIL OR
CRIMINAL ACTION AGAINST THEM.
THAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CAN
BRING A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR
INTERFERENCE WITH THEM FOR
PROVIDING THAT HEALTHCARE
SERVICE. THEY CAN RECOVER
DAMAGES AND ATTORNEY FEES IN
THAT CAUSE OF ACTION. THE OTHER
LEGAL REMEDY THAT WE PROVIDE IS
THE CITY ATTORNEY IS EMPOWERED,
AND GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO SEEK
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IF ANYBODY IS
VIOLATING THIS ORDINANCE. AND
FINALLY, WE ALLOW INDIVIDUALS
WHO RECEIVE SUBPOENAS FROM
OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON STATE TO
MOVE TO QUASH THEM ON GROUNDS
THEY ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE
CITY'S PUBLIC POLICY. SO THOSE
ARE THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE
ORDINANCE. AGAIN, YOU KNOW THAT
LAST SLIDE, TO US THIS IS
IMPORTANT. IT'S TIMELY. IT'S
SUBSTANTIVE. IT PROTECTS OUR
COMMUNITY AND STANDS UP FOR A
COMMUNITY THAT IS UNDER
SIGNIFICANT ATTACK RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING IT AND WE HOPE TO BE
ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE, IN ORDER TO GET YOUR
SUPPORT OF ITS PASSAGE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M NOT SEEING
ANY HANDS UP RIGHT NOW SO MAYBE
IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR FROM
OUR CENTRAL STAFF ANALYST AND
THEN WE CAN TAKE QUESTIONS
AFTERWARDS. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. FOR
THE RECORD, TAMASO JOHNSON,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. I JUST
HAVE A FEW SUPPLEMENTARY
COMMENTS TO MAKE TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE PRESENTATION. IN
PARTICULAR, THE CURRENT STATE
LAW, STATE SHIELD LAW DOES
ALREADY PROHIBITS HER KINDS OF
PARTICIPATION IN THE ENFORCEMENT
OF OUT OF STATE LAWS THAT ARE
CONTRARY TO WASHINGTON PUBLIC
POLICY IN THIS REGARD. IN
PARTICULAR, THE CURRENT STATE
LAW ALREADY PROHIBITS STATE AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
OR OFFICERS FROM EFFECTUATING
WARRANTS FOR THE ARREST OR
EFFECTUATING SUBPOENAS RELATED
TO THESE TYPES OF OUT OF STATE
LAWS, CONTRARY TO OUR PUBLIC
POLICY. SO MAYBE THE MOST KEY
EFFECT THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD
HAVE TO CLARIFY THE BEHAVIOR OF
CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES IN
THAT REGARD WOULD BE RELATED TO
COURT EMPLOYEES, CITY OF SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT EMPLOYEES,
RELATED TO THE EFFECTUATION OF
WARRANTS, SUBPOENAS, OR OTHER
CIVIL ACTIONS. IN ADDITION, THE
STATE LAW ALREADY DOES PROHIBIT
THE COOPERATION OR INFORMATION
SHARING RELATED TO COOPERATING
WITHOUT OF STATE LEGAL ACTIONS,
CONTRARY TO OUR PUBLIC POLICY
FOR STATE OR LOCAL COMMISSIONS,
BOARDS, DEPARTMENTS, OR ANY
EMPLOYEE THEREOF. SO IN THAT
REGARD, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD
FURTHER STATE OUR CITY PUBLIC
POLICY, BUT THE PRIMARY LEGAL
EFFECT, WE BELIEVE, WOULD BE
RELATED TO MUNICIPAL COURT
EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATION. THE
OTHER THING THAT I WOULD ADD IS
THAT IT'S NOTABLE THAT WE
BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THAT THE 2 S DESIGNATION FOR TWO
SPIRIT INDIVIDUALS IS
INCORPORATED INTO MUNICIPAL
CODE, INCLUDING THAT COMMITTED
THE, THOSE COMMUNITIES WITHIN
THE LGBTQ IA PLUS COMMUNITIES,
WHERE IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT
IS A NOTABLE STATEMENT OF PUBLIC
POLICY THAT WOULD APPEAR FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN MUNICIPAL CODE, AS
FAR AS WE ARE AWARE. ALSO JUST
FOR A POINT OF INFORMATION FOR
THIS COUNCIL, THERE IS CURRENTLY
A PIECE OF LEGISLATION MOVING
THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE BILL 5632 THAT'S PASSED
THE STATE SENATE AND IS NOW IN
THE STATEHOUSE AND THE
LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE UNTIL
APRIL TO ACT ON THIS
LEGISLATION. THIS LEGISLATION IS
NOTABLE IN THIS CONTEXT, SIMPLY
BECAUSE IT PROVIDES SOME
RELATIVELY MINOR TECHNICAL
CLARIFICATIONS TO THE STATE
SHIELD LAW . IN RELEVANT PART IT
WOULD OFFER A DEFINITION OF THE
TERM ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS USABLE
IN THE STATE SHIELD LAW AND IN
THIS ORDINANCE BUT IS NOT
DEFINED SO IT WOULD SPELL THAT
OUT A LITTLE MORE PLAINLY WHAT
ASSISTANCE WITH A PROVISION OR
RECEIPT OF PROTECTED HEALTH
SERVICES MEANS. IT WOULD ALSO
ADD AGENTS TO THE CATEGORY ATE
BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS, OR
DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE PROHIBITED
FROM PARTICIPATION, JUST FOR
CLARIFYING THE SCOPE OF THOSE
PROVISIONS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BRING
TO YOUR AWARENESS AND I WILL
HOLD REMARKS ON THE AMEND UNTIL
I GET THERE.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT
PRESENTATION AND THE ADDITIONAL
ANALYSIS. I WILL TAKE A PAGE
FROM YOUR BOOK, VICE CHAIR, AND
ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FIRST BEFORE OPENING
THEM UP TO ANYBODY ELSE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THAT'S THE
FIRST TIME SHE'S DONE THAT. IN
MY COMMITTEE I ALWAYS GO TO MY
VICE CHAIR FIRST. YOU KNOW I
THINK I WILL SAY -- I WON'T
HAVE ANY QUESTION RIGHT NOW BUT
I WILL SAY THAT YOU KNOW, AS A
CANDIDATE I SAID AT DIFFERENT
TIMES THAT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE IS WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE AND
WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IS
HEALTHCARE, AND THAT HEALTHCARE
SHOULD BE BASED ON SCIENCE. THIS
WAS PART OF AS A CANDIDATE. I
SHOULD ADD NOW, THE SAME IS TRUE
FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY OR
THE 2 SL G BT ONE A COMMUNITY,
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO
MAKE THAT POINT , TOO, NOW THAT
I'M A COUNCILMEMBER. AND I ALSO
WANT TO SAY THAT, SADLY, AROUND
THE COUNTRY, SCIENCE IS NOT
OFTEN THE BASIS OF HEALTHCARE
PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS, WHETHER
AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL
LEVEL. AND I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY, FOR
SEATTLE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE BY
HAVING THE SCIENCE BE OUR GUIDE,
AND NOT OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
THAT COULD REALLY TAKE DECISIONS
IN A WAY THAT'S NOT PROPER, NOT
LOOKING OUT FOR THE WHOLE. I USE
MY OLD QUOTE EARLIER TODAY IN A
DIFFERENT CONTEXT ABOUT BEING
PRESENT, LIKE BEING HERE, NOT
BEING DISTRACTED. BUT THE NEXT
ONE IS BEING MINDFUL. BE
MINDFUL. BEING MINDFUL REALLY
SAYS, PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR
SHOES, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT MAY
BE, AND THERE'S DIFFERENT
EXAMPLES OF THAT. I'M
REMEMBERING A STORY OUT OF
MINNESOTA WHERE A MOTHER WAS ON
THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SHE WAS
SUPPORTING THE MASK POLICY, SO
THEY WENT AFTER AND THEN YOU
FOUND OUT HER HUSBAND, BY THE
WAY, WAS RETIRED NAVY, WHICH MAY
BE ONE REASON WHY I REMEMBER SO
WELL, AND AS PART OF GOING AFTER
HER THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEIR
SON WAS LGBTQ COMMUNITY MEMBER
AND THEY MADE THEIR LIFE
TERRIBLE, VERY DIFFICULT, AND TO
THE POINT WHERE I BELIEVE THEY
HAD TO MOVE. AND THAT STORY THAT
HAPPENS AROUND THE COUNTRY, IT
IS TRULY SAD, BECAUSE THAT
CHILD, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT
AGE, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT
OLDER, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT THESE DECISIONS SHOULD BE
BASED ON SCIENCE, AS OPPOSED TO,
IN THAT CASE, THE RULE OF THE
MOB, BECAUSE INITIAL ANGER
BECAME [ INAUDIBLE ] SO THIS IS
WHERE WE NEED TO THINK OF PEOPLE
LIKE THAT. BE MINDFUL OF THEIR
SITUATION. BE MINDFUL OF THEIR
SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. WE CAN BE PREPARED TO TAKE
THE ACTION THAT WE NEED TO TAKE
AND AGAIN, SO THAT'S KIND OF
THE APPROACH THAT I TAKE, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE PANEL, TO
THIS, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT AGAIN FOR SEATTLE TO
BE -- SET THE EXAMPLE AND SHOW
THAT IT'S NOT THE MOB RULE OR
THE VOCAL MINORITY, BUT VERY
STRONG VOCAL MINORITY, BUT
RATHER THAT THE SCIENCE REALLY
DRIVES OUR DECISION, SO THANK
YOU, CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT .
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
VERY WELL SPOKEN. ARE THERE
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
ANYBODY? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR,
FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PRESENT
HERE TODAY. I WANTED TO JOIN
BECAUSE THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ME, AND ALSO
TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY. AND I VERY MUCH SUPPORT
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO
SUPPORT ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE
CARE, WHICH DOES ALSO INCLUDE
GENDER AFFIRMING CARE. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE, THOUGH, THAT
THIS IS SUCH A COMPLICATED AREA
OF LAW, SO MANY DIFFERENT
JURISDICTIONS COMING INTO PLAY,
AND ALSO WE HAVE THE
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION OF FULL
FAITH AND CREDIT, WHICH MEANS
THAT WE HAVE TO -- WE ARE
OBLIGATED CONSTITUTIONALLY TO
PROVIDE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT TO
THE JUDICIAL ORDERS AND
PROCEEDINGS OF OUR NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS. SO I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE -- THAT WHAT WE
ARE CODIFYING HERE, WE TRULY CAN
ENFORCE. LIKE I DON'T WANT TO
CREATE ANY FALSE SENSE OF
PROTECTION. THAT'S THE LAST
THING THAT WE WANT TO DO FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES. SO I MIGHT -- I
HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE
LEGAL AND HOW DO WE BEST
EFFECTUATE TRUE PROTECTIONS. SO
I WILL PROBABLY RESERVE MOST OF
THOSE FOR OFF-LINE
CONVERSATIONS. AND IT DOES LOOK
LIKE -- WELL I'LL ACTUALLY
RESERVE ALL MY QUESTIONS BECAUSE
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW. BUT THE
OTHER QUESTION I HAVE THAT'S
NOT A TECHNICAL QUESTION IS, I
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT THE
CITY AND OUR COMMISSIONS, AND
THE COMMISSIONS PRESENTED TO MY
COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE REALLY
ROBUST AND I THOUGHT PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATION. AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS
WHAT MORE CAN WE DO. AND I KNOW
WHEN, AT OUR FEDERAL COMMITTEE,
ALL METAL CHOICE WASHINGTON AND
PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAD SOME
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE
THE STATE LAW MORE ROBUST, THAT
THEY WERE PURSUING IN OLYMPIA,
THE SHIELD LAW. THERE WERE SORT
OF SOME GAPS THAT WERE THERE. SO
MY QUESTION WAS REALLY, WHERE
ARE THE GAPS, HAVE THEY ALL BEEN
IDENTIFIED , ARE THERE
ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE COULD
BE DOING, AND THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY NEED TO BE JUST
ABOUT CODIFYING STATE LAW. BUT
THE POINT THAT YOU WERE MAKING,
THAT WE HAVE HOUSING FOR LGBTQ
PLUS SENIORS, LIKE HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE THAT THAT HOUSING
REMAINS PROTECTED, ACCESS TO
THAT HOUSING REMAINS PROTECT IT.
I MEAN IS THERE FEDERAL FUNDING
THAT'S COMING IN THAT WE NEED
TO THINK ABOUT? PERHAPS REPLACE?
ARE THERE PARTICULAR LEGAL
PROVISIONS AGAIN, WE SAY EQUAL
PROTECTION BUT I THINK WE NEED
TO THINK AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE.
ABOUT ALL OF THE AREAS IN WHICH
WE CAN SEEK ADDED PROTECTION. SO
I'M JUST ASKING WHAT ELSE CAN
WE DO, WHAT THOUGHT HAS BEEN
GIVEN TO THAT, AND ALL THESE
VARIOUS AREAS THAT WE PROVIDE ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I
THINK FIRST ON YOUR LEGAL
QUESTIONS, CERTAINLY HAPPY TO
WORK THROUGH. I KNOW YOU'LL
WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF
THOSE, BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO BE
APPROPRIATE, AND IN SOME WAYS WE
ARE MIRRORING THE IMMIGRATION
SPACE WHEN THERE IS STATE LAW
THAT SPEAKS ON THIS, BUT WE ALSO
HAVE CITY LAW TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE COVERING ALL AREAS, TO
COVERING LEGAL GAPS THAT MAY
EXIST. ON YOUR KIND OF BROADER
QUESTION ABOUT SYSTEMS GAPS, I
THINK THAT THERE'S ALWAYS MORE
WE CAN DO FOR OUR COMMITTEES.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE STEPS
THAT ARE MEANINGFUL. I THINK
THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS ONE
MEANINGFUL STEP BUT THEN THERE
IS GOING TO BE MORE OF THOSE
DISCUSSIONS, WHETHER IT'S IN
YOUR COMMITTEE, THE FEDERAL
RESPONSE COMMITTEE, JUST WITH
THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M NOT
SURE, ASHLEY MAY HAVE SOME
IDEAS. I KNEW HER LGBTQ
COMMISSION TALKS ABOUT THESE
THINGS ALL THE TIME, ABOUT WHAT
MORE WE COULD DO. BUT WE ARE
OPEN TO THIS CONVERSATION AND
HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE GAPS.
>> TO CONTINUE OFF OF THAT, WE
ON THE COMMISSION ARE
CONTINUOUSLY OPEN TO HAVING MORE
CONVERSATIONS OR REALLY
ENCOURAGING OR COLLABORATION
THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY, AS WELL.
WE INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO OUR
MEETINGS AS WELL, IF YOU WANT TO
HEAR FIRSTHAND WHAT WE'VE GOT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAYING TO US
AS WELL AS SOME OF THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING
AS WELL. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER [
INAUDIBLE ] IS PLANNING ON
COMING TO AN UPCOMING MEL TO AT
THOSE. WE ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE
THESE CONVERSATIONS. IT FEELS
LIKE IT WAS A REALLY LONG TIME
AGO THAT WE HAD THE MEETING WITH
THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE BUT IT WAS REALLY NOT
EVEN THAT LONG AGO. SINCE THAT
TIME, WE WERE PLANNING TO HAVE A
SPECIAL MEETING WHERE WE WERE
GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THIS TYPE
OF PROPOSAL EXACTLY AND WERE
CONTACTED BY THE MAYOR 'S
OFFICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT,
AND ENDED UP ACTUALLY CANCELING
OUR SPECIAL MEETING. STILL
CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS
AND WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH
YOU ALL WITH CONTINUED WAYS THAT
YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT US AS WE
CONTINUE TO FACE DIFFERENT
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION ATTACKS,
ESPECIALLY. I APPRECIATE THE
OPENNESS TO CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY.
>> THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO
REQUEST TO ADD MY NAME AS A
COSPONSOR TO THIS LEGISLATION,
PLEASE.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME TO. THANK YOU
PERKINS BEEN A COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY . I ECHO A LOT OF THE
SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, THANK YOU
FOR JOINING OUR COMMITTEE TODAY.
I, TOO, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IF WE ARE TAKING ACTION, IT'S
GOING TO BE MEANINGFUL ACTION
THAT WE ACTUALLY CAN DO
SOMETHING ABOUT. I DON'T WANTED
TO BE AN EMPTY PROMISE OR AN
EMPTY SHOW BECAUSE WE DO CARE
AND WE WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE,
AND THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT
TIMES. AND THE REASON WHY IT
PROBABLY FEELS LIKE IT WAS SO
LONG AGO IS BECAUSE SO MUCH
CHAOS HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN NOW
AND THEN. IT JUST FEELS LIKE
SHIRLEY THAT WAS WEEKS AGO BUT
NO, UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE HAVING
TO CONTEND WITH ALL OF THE QUICK
AND FAST CHAOS COMING OUR WAY,
SO I REALLY JUST WANTED TO ECHO
MY SUPPORT AND ALSO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR RAISING.
I HAVE SOME OLDER QUESTIONS ON
THE LEGAL AND FOR THE SAME
REASON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ACTUALLY
SUPPORTIVE AND ACTUALLY GOING TO
LEAD SOMETHING TO SOMETHING
POSITIVE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AROUND
THIS, AND AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AND I AGAIN WANT
TO ECHO MY SUPPORT
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR BRINGING THIS
THROUGH QUICKLY, AS WELL , FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I
ALSO SHOULD CLARIFY WE DID WORK
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
IN DEVELOPING THIS SO HOPEFULLY
MOST OF THOSE LEGAL QUESTIONS
WILL BE ANSWERED. I THINK THAT
WE SENT OUT AN ORDINANCE THAT
DOES HAVE STRONG LEGAL
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE
SUBSTANTIVE, AS WELL, AND VERY
MUCH SO OPEN TO THINKING HOW WE
CAN TWEAK THAT, TO IMPROVE IT,
TO MAKE IT EVEN STRONGER
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF YOUR
DELIBERATIONS.
>> AND ONE MORE THING -- I'M
HAPPY TO ALSO LEND MY NAME AS A
COSPONSORSHIP, IF THAT'S
ALLOWABLE AND WELCOME POINT
>> IT IS. THANK YOU.
>> SO I WANT TO -- IT'S ALWAYS
DANGEROUS TO FOLLOW TWO LAWYERS
WHO HAVE MADE COMMENTS, BECAUSE
I MIGHT REVEAL MY IGNORANCE BUT
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN I
WAS READING THIS, SOME PEOPLE
CAME TO ME AND SAID WHY DO WE
HAVE TO DO THIS, BECAUSE THE
STATE LAW APPLIES TO EVERYBODY
IN SEATTLE OR TO THE CITY
EMPLOYEES. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING
WHY WE HAVE TO CONFORM TO STATE
LAWS IS BECAUSE THERE IS ACTION
THAT OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS HAVE
TO TAKE TO IMPLEMENT IT. AND SO
I'M SEEING NODS WITH YOU IN
PUBLIC. THEY ARE NODDING THAT MY
EXPLANATION TO MYSELF IS
CORRECT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW, HAVE YOU ALREADY -- HAS
THE EXECUTIVE ALSO WORKED WITH
-- YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD
INPUT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH THE
COMMUNITY COURT JUDGES?
>> WE HAVE NOT YET ON THAT BUT
AGAIN, WELCOME THAT
CONVERSATION. I ALSO THINK IT'S
WORTH POINTING OUT THAT THERE
ARE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS LIKE
THE CAUSE OF ACTION THAT WOULD
BE A CITY CAUSE OF ACTION AND
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S INJUNCTIVE
RELIEF THAT WE BELIEVE ARE
ADDITIVE TO STATE LAW HERE.
>> GOT IT, AND I DID HEAR THE
COMMENT THAT THERE IS A -- FROM
CENTRAL STAFF, THAT THERE IS A
BILL IN OLYMPIA RIGHT NOW THAT
IS ON A PARALLEL TRACK, IN A
WAY, AND IT COULD -- I DON'T
KNOW, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
BUT COULD CHANGE, COULD THAT
BILL THEN REQUIRE AMENDMENTS TO
THIS LAW AND IS THAT THE CASE?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. IF THE BILL THAT'S
CURRENTLY IN OLYMPIA WERE TO
PASS , CHANGES WOULD BE MADE TO
STATE LAW, DEPENDING ON THE
TIMING OF OUR ADOPTION OF THIS
ORDINANCE. THAT COULD PUT US IN
A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS SOME
RELATIVELY MINOR -- BUT THERE
COULD BE SOME DISCREPANCY
BETWEEN THE SHIELD LAW THAT
SEATTLE WOULD ADOPT AND WHAT
WOULD BE STATE LAW IN WASHINGTON
STATE WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL
MONTHS . AS I MENTIONED, I'M
HAPPY TO PROVIDE, EITHER NOW OR
OFF-LINE, MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE
CHANGES WOULD BE BUT THOSE
CHANGES, IF THEY WERE TO OCCUR
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WOULD
NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY ADOPTED
INTO OUR MUNICIPAL CODE POINT WE
WOULD NEED TO EITHER MAKE
AMENDMENTS TO THIS LEGISLATION,
THIS ORDINANCE, AS IT'S MOVING,
OR ADOPT IT AS WRITTEN AND THEN
MAKE THE DECISION TO COME BACK
AND RE-AMEND CITY CODE IF THOSE
CHANGES OCCUR STATEWIDE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. I
AGREE TO FAST-TRACK THIS
LEGISLATION WITH ALACRITY,
BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, THE CUT OFF
DATE WAS YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE,
FOR BILLS, AND THEN IT WILL NOT
BE HEARD ON THE FLOOR, IF IT IS,
UNTIL MID TO LATE APRIL, AND
THEN IT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT PASS,
ET CETERA. SO WE HAD TO PROCEED
ACCORDING TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO
HERE IN THE CITY. SO THAT IS WHY
I DID THAT. AND SO, IF THERE
AREN'T ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> JUST A QUESTION.
>> SURE POINT
>> SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
ARE ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS HERE
THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE STATE CODE,
AND THOSE ARE GREAT. AND WHAT
I'M WONDERING IS WHETHER
POTENTIALLY WE COULD SIMPLY
REFERENCE THAT YOU ARE CODIFYING
THE RCW AND SAY ADOPT IT AS
AMENDED, WHICH WOULD GIVE YOU
THE ABILITY -- IT WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY AMEND ITS SELF.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK
BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY USED THE
LANGUAGE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS
ONE, DEALING WITH OTHER
LEGISLATION THAT MY OFFICE IS
LOOKING AT, WHERE YOU JUST
OUTRIGHT REFERENCE INDIRECTLY
ADOPT RCW AND THEN SAY, AS
AMENDED HEREIN, WHICH PROVIDES
FOR IT TO CONTINUALLY BE IN SYNC
WITH THE STATE LAW.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I DON'T
KNOW THAT THAT APPROACH WOULD BE
PRUDENT HERE SINCE WE ARE
ADOPTING CURRENT STATE SHIELD
LAW UNDER THIS PROPOSED
ORDINANCE BUT NOT MIRRORING IT
100% POINT THERE ARE SECTIONS
THAT ARE CHANGED TO MAKE
RELEVANT REFERENCE TO CITY
EMPLOYEES, FOR AN EXAMPLE, AND
MERELY ADOPTING RCW WOULD
ACCOMPLISH THAT SAME END
>> IF I MAY, I WOULD JUST
SUGGEST THAT YOU LOOK INTO THAT
FURTHER, BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE
TO ADOPT THE STATE LAW AND THEN
PROVIDE PROVISIONS THAT ARE
SEATTLE SPECIFIC.
>> CERTAINLY SOMETHING --
>> FURTHER PROTECTIVE OF
SEATTLE, ADDITIVE TO THE STATE
LAW. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO, IF
I HAVEN'T ALREADY, MOVE THIS
BILL AND THEN DISCUSS THE
AMENDMENTS, IF THAT'S OKAY.
OKAY. JUST A MOMENT HERE. SEEN
NO QUESTIONS, DID YOU HAVE A
QUESTION? NO, OKAY. I MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120950
POINT
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO THIS IS NOW ON THE TABLE
AND TOMMASO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
PRESENT THE AMENDMENT? I WILL
JUST GIVE AN INTRODUCTION AFTER
WE GOT SOME ADVICE FROM OUR
INTERNAL COUNSEL ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY
OR THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
QUASH SUBPOENAS FROM OTHER
STATES. SO THAT PRODUCED A
CONVERSATION AND IT WAS A
QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED BY
ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER. SO THAT
IS THE REASON THAT THIS
AMENDMENT IS BEFORE US WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE CONCURRENCE OR
BASICALLY YOU ARE CONSIDERING IT
A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. PLEASE GO
AHEAD AND EXPLAIN WHAT IT DOES,
TOMMASO.
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AMENDMENT ONE TO COUNCIL BILL [
INAUDIBLE ] WOULD HAVE THE
EFFECT OF STRIKING THE SUBPOENA
QUASHING SECTION OF THIS
ORDINANCE. IN BRIEF, THIS IS
ANOTHER SECTION OF OUR ORDINANCE
THAT MIRROR STATE LAW REGARDING
THE ABILITY TO FILE A MOTION TO
QUASH THE SUBPOENA. A SUBPOENA
IS A WRIT FROM A COURT
COMPELLING SOMEONE'S
PARTICIPATION OR ATTENDANCE IN A
COURT PROCEEDING. THE ISSUE THAT
THIS AMENDMENT IS DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS IS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT
COURTS ARE PROPERLY CONSIDERED
TO HAVE THE SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION TO ADDRESS
OUT-OF-STATE SUBPOENAS AND IN
ORDER TO EFFECTUATE A MOTION TO
QUASH A SUBPOENA FROM ANOTHER
STATE, THAT WASHINGTON STATE
COURT WOULD NEED TO HAVE
JURISDICTION THAT'S DETERMINED
UNDER THE WASHINGTON RULES OF
PROCEDURE, CIVIL RULES OF
PROCEDURE. SO THOSE RULES ARE
WHAT GUIDE PRACTITIONERS AND
COURTS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE
VENUE FOR MOTIONS TO QUASH AND
OTHER MOTIONS POINT THE ABILITY
TO FILE A MOTION TO QUASH IS
CONTAINED IN THE CURRENT RCW AND
THE AMENDMENT WOULD REMOVE THE
MOTION TO QUASH SECTION FROM OUR
CITY CODE, PROPOSED CITY CODE,
RETAIN OF COURSE THE WASHINGTON
STATE LAW ON THAT AND INSERT
RECITALS SPEAKING TO THAT
UTILIZATION OF THE RCW IN
COMBINATION WITH THE RULES OF
PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE THE
APPROPRIATE VENUE TO FILE A
MOTION TO QUASH.
>> THANK YOU. THE WAY I
UNDERSTAND IT TO MYSELF IS THAT
THE AMENDMENT INCORPORATES CITY
CODE LANGUAGE MIRRORED FROM
STATE LAW TO AFFIRM THE PUBLIC
POLICY OF THE CITY AND CREATE A
CIVIL CLAIM FOR INTERFERENCE
WITH AFFECTED HEALTHCARE
SERVICES. IT WOULD ALSO
INCORPORATE STATE LAW ON
QUASHING CERTAIN SUBPOENAS FROM
COURTS OUTSIDE THE STATE BUT IT
DOES NOT IDENTIFY WHICH COURT IS
COMPETENT TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION
OR QUASH OR MODIFY A SUBPOENA.
ONLY A COURT OF COMPETENT
JURISDICTION MAY HEAR A MOTION
TO QUASH OR MODIFY A SUBPOENA
AND THE COURT THAT ISSUED THE
SUBPOENA WILL BE A FACTOR TO
CONSIDER WHEN SELECT IN WHICH
COURT IN WASHINGTON SHOULD HEAR
A MOTION TO QUASH THE SUBPOENA.
SO THE WASHINGTON RULES OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON
WHICH COURT OF COMPETENT
JURISDICTION MAY HEAR CERTAIN
CASES. FOR THAT REASON, STATE
LAW LANGUAGE ABOUT QUASHING OR
MODIFYING SUBPOENAS DOESN'T SAY
WHICH SPECIFIC COURT TO SELECT
AND INSTEAD POINTS BACK TO THOSE
RULES TO FIGURE THAT OUT. AND
THE SAME COMPLEXITY EXISTS FOR
THE CITY LAW. IF WE ADOPT THE
STATE VISIONING CITY CODE WE
CREATE THE RISK THAT SOMEONE
MIGHT THINK THAT THE MUNICIPAL
COURT IS THE RIGHT COURT TO MOVE
OR QUASH OR MODIFY A SUBPOENA
BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE AND AGAIN IT
DEPENDS ON WHICH COURT FIRST
ISSUED THE SUBPOENA. AND SO I'M
BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO REDUCE
THE CHANCE OF UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES, THAT IS THAT
SOMEONE MIGHT SEEK RELIEF FROM
THE WRONG COURT AND COULD
ULTIMATELY BE HARMED AS A RESULT
OF DOING THAT. BY REMOVING
SECTION 17.11 5.030 AND INSTEAD
CREATING RECITALS THAT DIRECT
SOMEONE WHO SEEKS TO QUASH OR
MODIFY A SUBPOENA TO REFER TO
THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY SEEK RELIEF
FROM THE CORRECT COURT. SO THAT
IS THE REASONING HERE AND IF
ANYONE NEEDS ANY OTHER
EXPLANATION OR WANTS TO ASK ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY I'M
BRINGING THIS FORWARD, OR
COMMENTS FROM THE EXECUTIVE, YOU
ARE WELCOME TO MAKE THEM NOW
POINT OKAY. HEARING NO
AMENDMENTS, I MEAN NO FURTHER
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT ONE, I
WOULD NOW LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
ONE AND COULD I PLEASE GET A
SECOND BEFORE WE VOTE?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
AMENDMENT ONE POINT
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THE LEGISLATION NOW STANDS
AMENDED. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE
BASE LEGISLATION? ALL RIGHT.
CHECKING SCREEN. OKAY. SEEN
NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL -- THE MOTION CARRIES
AND AMENDMENT ONE IS ADOPT IT.
OKAY. GOING FORWARD, IF THERE
ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL BILL 120950
AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> HI.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> TAYLOR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AS
AMENDED WILL BE SENT TO THE
MARCH 25th, 2025 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING, GRANTED THAT THERE ARE
NOT -- GRANTED THAT OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO HAVE
THEIR QUESTIONS OR ANY FURTHER
CONCERNS ADDRESSED. AND I HAVE
TO SAY THAT I AM ANTICIPATING
THAT WE MAY HAVE TO WORK ON THE
FLY HERE BECAUSE THINGS ARE SO
CHAOTIC AND WE HAVE TO ALWAYS BE
PREPARED, AND FLEXIBLE, AND
READY TO RESPOND TO POLICIES
THAT COULD HARM OUR VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES HERE. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
ARE -- FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
GO FORWARD WITH THIS AND HAVE A
VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE, WHICH IS
VERY UNUSUAL, IN ONE COMMITTEE.
HOWEVER, WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
ANY GAPS OF PROTECTION FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND FOR OUR
CITY EMPLOYEES. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THIS
CONCLUDES THE AGENDA OF THE
MARCH 13th MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REMEDY, AND
OUR NEXT ONE IS SCHEDULED FOR
THURSDAY, MARCH 27th AT 2:30
P.M. TO 2:00, I BELIEVE, USUALLY
.2:00. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS,
ANYONE? ALL RIGHT . SEEN NONE,
IT IS 3:14 AND THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.