WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
SHOULD BE COMING IN A COUPLE
MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> AND CHAIR KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING, SEEING NOTHING
COME THROUGH THE ETHER NET, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. I WANTED TO
SPEAK TO ONE OF THE TOPICS AT
HAND TODAY, AND WHEN IT COMES TO
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I WANTED TO
SAY QUITE CLEARLY AND AFFIRM
THAT YES, SEATTLE IS WARY OF GUN
VIOLENCE. BUT ALSO, YES WE'RE
TAKING ACTION. I RECOGNIZE
SEATTLE TIMES HAS THEIR
EDITORIAL ON THIS. AND I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A NUMBER OF
ITEMS TO IT. WE'RE TAKING
ACTION. WE'VE TAKEN ACTION
THROUGHOUT 2024. AND TODAY WITH
OUR AFTER HOURS ESTABLISHMENTS
LEGISLATION WE DO SO HEAR.
SADLY, THIS HEARING ON THIS
LEGISLATION COMES TWO WEEKS
AFTER OUR FIRST MEETING, AND IN
THOSE TWO WEEKS, WE'VE ACTUALLY
HAD GUN VIOLENCE AT AN AFTER
HOURS ESTABLISHMENT WHERE TWO
WERE KILLED. WHICH JUST
UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO TAKE
ACTION. AND REGARDING THE
AUDITOR'S REPORT, WE ARE
ENGAGED AS A COMMITTEE, AS A
COUNCIL ON THE ISSUES RAISED IN
THE REPORT TO THE CARE
DEPARTMENT. WE'VE HAD COMMITTEE
MEETINGS ON CARE. MEETINGS WITH
THE EXECUTIVE ON CARE. BUT ALSO
COMMUNITY SAFETY. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THESE TWO
TOPIC AREAS, THE ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY,
BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING IN NEW
DIRECTIONS AND IT'S IMPORTANT
TO HAVE THIS OVERSIGHT. AND WE
BE HAVING MEETINGS ON THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES MOVING FORWARD
AS WE GO CAN INTO SUMMER. AND
SEPARATELY, AGAIN, WE'VE NOT
BEEN PASSIVE ABOUT THIS. WE'VE
HAD MEETINGS WITH THE EXECUTIVE
ON THIS. THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT
FRAMEWORKS, ONE OF ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I WANTED TO
NOTE OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN REALLY UNDERSCORES THE
CRIME AND RANDOM VIOLENCE THAT
WE SEE TO INCLUDE GUN VIOLENCE.
I WOULD NOTE, TOO, BECAUSE THE
EDITORIAL TALKED ABOUT A
LIFELINE, BUT WE'VE BEEN
ENGAGED ON THIS THROUGHOUT 2024
AND INTO '25. YOU KNOW, CLEARLY
SPD STAFFING IS CRUCIAL AS IT
RELATES TO GUN VIOLENCE. AND
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FROM
A NUMBER OF ANGLES. THE
TECHNOLOGY PIECES ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THIS AS WELL. AND
THIS IS PART OF OUR ONE SEATTLE
APPROACH. IT'S INTERESTING
READING THIS REPORT, THE
AUDITOR'S REPORT, BECAUSE IT
MADE REFERENCE TO AN EARLIER
REPORT, SO I WENT INTO THAT
REPORT FROM 2012, AND IT'S
INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY NOTED A
NUMBER OF THINGS. INCLUDING
VACANT BUILDINGS. WE'VE HAD OUR
VACANT BUILDING ABATEMENT BUILD
AT CHIEF COGAN'S, FIRE, HAS
BEEN USED TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC
STORM. MY TEAM KNOWS ABOUT
GRAFFITI. CONSTANT BATTLE. SUB
TED, THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN. HUGE. BIA'S, AND I'M
VERY HAPPY TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE
BIA'S REPRESENTED HERE, MS.
GOODMAN. AND ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH.
WHICH IS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF
OUR FRAMEWORK PLAN. BUT
INTERESTINGLY IN THAT 2012 PLAN,
IT NOTED THAT MANY OF THE
PROGRAMS WERE CONSIDERED
INCONCLUSIVE. AND YOU KNOW, THIS
IS WHERE WE HAVE A BODY OF WORK
TO WORK AT PARTICULARLY IN THIS
AREA WHERE WE HAVE THIS OVERLAP
OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH. AND WE WILL DO THAT IN
THIS COMMITTEE. I ALSO WANTED TO
KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF
REPORTS ABOUT THE SHOOTING AT
THE AFTER HOURS ESTABLISHMENT
WHERE TWO WERE KILLED, BUT IT
TALKED ABOUT THE USE OF THE
NUISANCE PROPERTY ORDINANCE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW
FROM MY TIME IN COMMUNITY AND SO
I WANT TO THANK SPD CHIEF BARNES
FOR USING IT. BECAUSE YOU KNOW,
LEGAL TOOLS PILLAR TWO OF OUR
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN. WE
NEED TO ENGAGE ON THOSE
ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE. WE NEED
TO BE USING THEM. IF THERE'S
ANY ISSUES, COME TO US AND WE
WILL FIX THEM. OR IF THERE'S
ANY NEW ONES NEEDED DUE TO
CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS, WE WILL
WORK THEM. THESE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT PIECES FOR US TO DO.
AND IT'S PART OF THIS OVERALL
EFFORT THAT WE HAVE ONGOING. I
ALSO, YOU KNOW I MENTIONED WHEN
I SAW OUR, THE COMMITTEES, THE
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN, BUT I
ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
EXECUTIVES. ONE SEATTLE
FRAMEWORK, RESTORATION
FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS A COMPANION
PIECE AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
WORKING WITH THEM ON, AND ALONG
WITH THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
BRIEFINGS. PROGRAMS THAT THEY
HAVE AS WELL. THIS KIND OF AGAIN
POINTS TO THE NEED FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY, FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
TO WORK TOGETHER. WE TALKED
ABOUT TAKING ACTION AND MOVING
FORWARD. AND I ALSO WANT TO
ALONG THOSE LINES, THANK CHIEF
BARNES FOR HIS INTERMEDIATE
VIOLENT CRIME ENFORCEMENT PLAN.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE'VE
HAD A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH
SPD, WITH THE PRECINCT. I'VE
HAD MANY MEETINGS IN COMMUNITY
WHERE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES ARE BROUGHT FORWARD
VERY STRONGLY BECAUSE IT'S
IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S
IMPACTING OUR RESIDENTS. IT'S
IMPACTING OUR BUSINESSES. AND
THROUGH THAT ENGAGEMENT AND
COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT, WE'RE
REALLY, IN MY ROLE THROUGHOUT
THE CITY, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING
WITH SPD TO INCLUDE WITH RESPECT
TO DISTRICT SEVEN, THE WEST
PRECINCT. SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT
WITH THIS IS YOU KNOW, THE IDEA
THAT WE NEED INCREASED PATROLS
AND VISIBILITY. YES. THAT WE
NEED ACTIVE INVESTIGATION AND
APPREHENSION OF VIOLENT
OFFENDERS. YES. AND PROACTIVE
ENFORCEMENT OF GUN CRIMES AND
RELATED OFFENSIVES. YES. AND I
DO WANT TO THANK THE WEST
PRECINCT, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE
ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE DAY, I
DROPPED IN WITH A BUSINESS THAT
WAS, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHTING THE
CHALLENGES THAT THEY WERE FACING
IN ONE OF THESE COMMUNITY
MEETINGS. AND IT WAS UN
ANNOUNCED AND I TALKED TO THE
LADY THAT WAS AT THE MEETING,
AND THEY DID CONFIRM THAT THE
WEST PRECINCT WAS ENGAGING. THE
DETECTIVES, I'M NOT GOING TO GO
INTO THE DETAILS, BUT THE
EFFORTS THAT THEY'RE DOING AND
WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS TO
ENSURE THAT WE'RE GOOD. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO
BUILD ON AS THE CCTV AND THE
REALTIME CRIME CENTER, AND THE
RTC COME ONLINE AND BRING IN
PIECES LIKE THE ALR. THIS IS THE
KIND OF THING WE'RE GOING TO BE
ENGAGED IN. SO THERE'S MULTIPLE
LIFELINES THAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO WORK. AND I JUST
WANTED TO CLOSE WITH ONE THING.
THIS AREA THAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH, COMMUNITY SAFETY, GUN
VIOLENCE IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT
ALSO ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, IT'S
REALLY A SCENE. AND SOMETHING I
SAW IN MY PREVIOUS CAREER. AND
SEAMS ARE ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.
IT'S ALWAYS AN AREA WHERE, YOU
KNOW, BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN, OR
THINGS CAN GO AWRY. AND YOU
KNOW, WHAT FALLS UNDER PUBLIC
SAFETY? WHAT FALLS UNDER HUMAN
SERVICES OR COMMUNITY SAFETY?
HOW DO WE GET THAT BALANCE? HOW
DO WE ENSURE THAT THESE PIECES
ARE WORKING TOGETHER? AND THAT
IS MY GOAL. THAT IS MY
COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE TO WORK THIS SEAM WITH
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS ALSO
REPRESENTED IN THE AUDIENCE
TODAY. AND I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO
KNOW. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S
A SCENE, WE'RE IN THE NEW AREA
AS WELL AS IT RESULTS TO
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, PUBLIC
SAFETY, HUMAN SERVICES, THE
COMMUNITY PIECE, YOU KNOW,
GETTING AHEAD IN TERMS OF CRIME
PREVENTION TO ENSURE THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE LOWER THESE DEATHS. AND
I THINK WE WILL DO THAT, BECAUSE
THAT'S OUR MISSION AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THROUGH
THE COURSE OF 2025. SO I
APPRECIATE THE REPORTS THAT CAN
ARE COMING OUT. I APPRECIATE THE
REPORTS AND THE EDITORIALS AND I
APPRECIATE THE COORDINATION AND
COOPERATION THAT I'M GETTING
WITH EXECUTIVE MAYOR HARRELL,
THANK YOU, AND HIS TEAM, BUT
ALSO THE DEPARTMENT'S,
PARTICULARLY IN THIS CASE, SPD
AND CARE. SO WITH THAT I
CONCLUDE MY CHAIR COMMENT. BUT I
WILL HAND OVER TO OUR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR SOME REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. I
SO APPRECIATE YOU HIGHLIGHTING
WHAT THE MISSION IS AND WE ARE
AT AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IN
ONE SEATTLE WE HAVE THE COUNCIL
AND THE EXECUTIVE WORKING WELL
TOGETHER. SO I DO WANT TO GIVE A
NOTE OF APPRECIATION TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY WHO IS HELPING US WRITE
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THESE CRUCIAL ISSUES AND, YOU
KNOW, IT'S EVERYTHING THAT WE
HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL WE HAVE TO
USE. AUDITORS REPORTS, ET
CETERA. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT WE
ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE
RESOURCES THAT WE CAN. THANK
YOU.
>> ACTUALLY, I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU COMING ON, NOT NORMALLY THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT SEGMENT OF THE
AGENDA, BUT I DO APPRECIATE
THAT. BECAUSE WHEN I TALK ABOUT
LEGAL TOOLS LIKE PILLAR TWO OF
OUR FRAMEWORK PLAN, WHEN I TALK
ABOUT THE NUISANCE PROPERTY
ORDINANCE AND OVERALL WITH THIS
BILL THAT'S GOING TO COME UP
LATER, OUR ONE SEATTLE IN MY
MIND, AND WHAT I MEAN IS INCLUDE
THE CITY ATTORNEY. I DO WANT TO
INCLUDE HER AND HER TEAM FOR THE
WORK RELATED TO THIS. SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT REMINDER TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT RIGHT NOW. ALL
RIGHT, WITH THAT COMPLETE, WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, OR WITHIN THE
PER VIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE
HAVE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE NINE SPEAKERS. TWO IN
PERSON AND SEVEN REMOTE.
>> GIVEN NORMALLY WE START IN
PERSON, BUT WE'RE GOING TO END
IN PERSON TODAY. SO WE'RE GOING
TO START ONLINE AND WE'RE GOING
TO START WITH A FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER. CLERK, OR TWO?
TWO MINUTES, YES.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 60
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY'RE
REGISTERED, SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN THERE IS TEN SECONDS
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, AND
WILL BEGIN WITH FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WU ON THE
LIST AND THEN PROCEED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP.
THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
TANYA WU, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6
WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT. YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TANYA
WU. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE NIGHTCLUB SAFETY
LEGISLATION. THIS IS PERSONAL,
MY FRIEND DONNY CHEN DEDICATED
HIS LIFE TO KEEPING US SAFE. HE
WAS OFTEN THE FIRST TO RESPOND
WHEN EMERGENCIES HAPPEN.
ESPECIALLY WHEN FIRST RESPONDERS
WERE NOT REALLY AVAILABLE. HE
WAS SHOT AND KILLED DOING WHAT
HE ALWAYS DID. PROTECTING
OTHERS. HIS LOSS ECHOS
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. ALSO
WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD WAS WHEN
THE CLUB MASSACRE HAPPENED. THIS
WAS ALSO AN OFFER-HOURS
NIGHTCLUB THAT HAD KILLED 13
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO
THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN DEEPLY
TRAUMATIC AND HELP BRING UP AND
MAKE A GENERATION OF PEOPLE. AND
YOU KNOW IT HASN'T STOPPED. JUST
THIS WENT WE HAD TWO MORE
SHOOTINGS. WE CONTINUE TO DO
MORE, YOUNG MEN WHOSE LIVES WERE
CUT SHORT BY VIOLENCE. THEY WERE
SONS, FRIENDS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND HAD FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO LOVED THEM. WE NEED TO MOVE
FROM THE ACTIONS PREVENTION.
THIS LEGISLATION DOESN'T
PENALIZE VENUES. IT PARTNERS
WITH THEM AND ENSURES THEY ARE
HAVING BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS IN
PLACE. THESE STEPS ARE
REASONABLE, AND NECESSARY, AND
THEY COULD SAVE LIVES. SO I WANT
TO THANK THE FAMILY FOR
CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR THIS
LEGISLATION IN HONOR OF THEIR
SON, THEIR BROTHER, AND THEIR
COUSIN. AND YOU KNOW, YOUR
STRENGTH IS A BEACON AND WE
STAND WITH YOU. SO LET'S HONOR
ALL THOSE WE'VE LOST AND LET'S
ACT NOW BEFORE ANOTHER LIFE IS
LOST. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU,
CHAIR, AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE FOR PUSHING FORWARD
WITH THIS LEGISLATION AND LET'S
ACT BEFORE WE LOSE MORE LIVES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT
YOU DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
HOPEFULLY SEEING THIS COME
BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL NEXT
WEEK.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE HAVE
HOWARD GALE.
>> GOOD MORNING, HOWARD GALE.
THIS MORNING, YOU WILL DISCUSS
THE SEARCH FOR A NEW OPA
DIRECTOR WITH BOTH OF OUR PRIOR
DIRECTORS HAVING LEFT THAT ROLE
IN DISGRACE. THREE WEEKS AGO,
THE SPD KILLED THE 19th PERSON
IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 14
YEARS WHO WAS BRANDISHING AN
ETCHED WEAPON OR HAD NO WEAPON
AT ALL IN THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY
WERE KILLED. 14 OF THESE PEOPLE
WERE CLEARLY EXPERIENCING A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THESE KILLINGS WAS
DECLARED PROPER OR LAWFUL.
NOTABLE TODAY IS THAT THE PERSON
BEFORE YOU TO DISCUSS THE OPA
DIRECTOR SEARCH PROCESS, FORMER
OPA DIRECTOR ANDREW MYERBERG
PRESIDED OVER INVESTIGATING
SEVEN OF THESE CASES GOING SO
FAR AS TO BLAME PEOPLE IN SEVERE
CRISIS FOR THEIR OWN DEATH WITH
OUTRAGEOUS AND HEARTLESS CLAIMS
THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS MADE A
DECISION AND A CHOICE TO
THREATEN POLICE. ON NOVEMBER 2,
2021, KOW'S HIGHLY RESPECTIVE
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER REPORTED
ON THE ABUSES BY ANDREW
MYERBERG. WHEN HE WAS WORK AS
SEATTLE ATTORNEY HE WAS
SANCTIONED BY THE COURT FOR
MISCONDUCT AND HIDING EVIDENCE
DURING HIS FAILED ATTEMPT TO
PROSECUTE A PARAPLEGIC BLACK MAN
WHO WAS BEATEN TO DEATH BY
POLICE. WHEN KILLINGS OF POLICE
BY PEOPLE BRANDISHING ETCHED
WEAPONS IS COMPARED TO THE UK,
THE PER CAPITA KILLING RATE IS
OVER 459 TIMES HIGHER THAN IN
THE UK. AND THE UK IS NOT ALONE
TO MANAGING TO NOT SUMM AROUND
ARILY KILL PEOPLE WITH KNIVES.
WE NEED TO RADICALLY ALTER
PROCESS FOR INVESTIGATING POLICE
ABUSE. WE DO NOT NEED TO ENGAGE
IN A LENGTHY PERFORMATIVE
PROCESS TO FIND OUR NEXT CORRUPT
DIRECTOR OF THE OPA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE HAVE
CAROLINE ECOTEL.
>> CAROLINE ESCOTEL. GOOD
MORNING, SEATTLE COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M CALLING TODAY IN
REPRESENTATION OF MY FAMILY AND
ALL OTHER SEATTLE FAMILIES WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES TO
GUN VIOLENCE. IT'S CRUCIAL THAT
WE WORK TOGETHER TOWARDSES
IMPLEMENTING PREVENTIVE SAFETY
MEASURES ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE
HOURS OF 2:00 A.M. AND 6:00 A.M.
THIS BILL IS THE STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. I HUMBLY ASK
ONCE MORE FOR YOU TO USE YOUR
POSITION AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE IN THIS AFTER HOURS BILL
WHICH WILL HELP REGULATE
NIGHTLIFE SPACES AND ASSIST IN
PUTTING A STOP TO ILLEGALLY
OPERATING VENUES. I'D LIKE TO
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK
EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS
HELPED CAREFULLY DRAFT THIS BILL
AND WHO CONNECTED US TO BE A
PART OF IT IN HONORING MY
BROTHER'S MEMORY. AARON
GOODMAN, TANYA WU, SCOTT LINDSEY
AND THEIR TEAM. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, AND SAKA, AND ALL OTHERS
WHO HAVE LISTED. I TRUST IN YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE
ERICA SANTANA.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ERICA
SANTANA, AND I'M HEAR SPEAKING
FOR THE NIGHTLIFE BILL. I'M THE
OLDER SISTER OF A VICTIM ON
AUGUST 17th 2024. I AM HERE,
JUST LIKE MY SISTER, ONCE MORE,
URGING YOU TO VOTE YES. WHEN MY
SISTER AND I ATTENDED THE LAST
COUNCIL MEETING URGING YOU ABOUT
THIS BILL, NOT MANY DAYS PASSED
WHEN TWO MORE VICTIMS IN AN
AFTER HOURS ESTABLISHMENT DIED.
THIS ESTABLISHMENT HAD
PREVIOUSLY HAD DEATHS WEEKS
BEFORE. HOW WAS THIS STILL
ALLOWED TO BE OPEN? HOW IS THIS
ALWAYS HAPPENING? WHOSE FAULT IS
IT? THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND TAKES
ADVANTAGE OF NO REPERCUSSIONS?
HOW IS THIS PERMITTED? HOW DOES
THIS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN OVER AND
OVER, OR THE PERSON WHO SHOOTS
AND ATTENDS THIS TYPE OF
ESTABLISHMENT KNOWING THEY WILL
GET AWAY WITH IT, OR IS IT THE
PEOPLE WHO HAD THE LACK OF
REGULATIONS PREVIOUSLY BEFORE.
THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS, I
UNDERSTAND, AND THIS BILL WILL
HELP TAKE OUT THOSE FACTORS AND
I URGE YOU PLEASE TO VOTE YES ON
APRIL 15th. JUST LIKE MY SISTER,
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU
WHO HAVE LISTENED TO US, BECAUSE
THERE HAS BEEN SUCH A HARD
SITUATION IN OUR FAMILY AND TO
HAVE PEOPLE LISTEN TO US AND WE
SEE THAT YOU ARE HELPING US AND
YOU'RE PUSHING THIS BILL AS
WELL, AND WE HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. I ALSO
WANTED TO THANK NINA AND
COUNCILWOMAN WU FOR BEING THOSE
WHO REACHED OUT AS WELL. AARON
GOODMAN, WHO WAS THE VERY FIRST
PERSON WHO OPENED THAT DOOR FOR
US. EVERYONE INVOLVED, WE THANK
YOU SO MUCH, AND WE URGE YOU
PLEASE TO VOTE YES ON APRIL
15th. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE HAVE
DAVID HAINS.
>> HI. WE HAVE TOO MANY
OVER-SERVING BARTENDERS, SENDING
PEOPLE OUT DRUNK WITH NOWHERE TO
GO EXCEPT THE HOOKAH LOUNGE THAT
OFFERS TOXIC POISONS FROM THE
THIRD WORLD THAT MESS YOUR MIND
UP. WHY IS COUNCIL GOING OUT OF
THEIR WAY TO CONTINUEATE THAT?
WE NEED ORGANIC MARIJUANA CAFES
BEFORE SOME IGNORANTLY STUPID
HOOKAH LOUNGE THAT SMOKES TOXIC
POISON, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
HISTORY OF HORRIBLE VIOLENCE
THAT REGULARLY TAKES PLACE IN
THESE SO-CALLED BUSINESSES. HOW
MANY MORE KNOWN VIOLENT ACTS
WILL IT TAKE TO FINALLY SHUT
DOWN THESE AFTER-HOURS,
SO-CALLED CLUBS THAT HAVE NEVER
BEEN PROPERLY PUNISHED AND
VETTED. IT'S ALL ABOUT
GENERATING REVENUE AND LOOKING
THE OTHER WAY AND ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO PAY TO GET OFF SCOTT
FREE. IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T CARE
ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE
COMMUNITY. ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS
GENERATING REVENUE, NO MATTER
WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS IT IS.
PERMISSIBILITY IN VIOLENCE
ESCALATES VIOLENCE, SO WHY IS
COUNCIL AUTHORIZING HOOKAH
LOUNGES ALLOWING FOR SECOND HAND
SMOKE TO GET UNDERAGE KIDS HIGH,
AND PEOPLE DANCING TO GET
CANCER. IT'S ALL IN
INAPPROPRIATE BUILDINGS THAT ARE
USUALLY COMMERCIAL SLUMS IN
NO-MAN LAND AND NO FOOD OR
ANYTHING SAFE TO DRINK, BUT
PLENTY OF MORE DRUGS FROM THE
THIRD WORLD. IT'S LIKE
TERRORISTS FROM THE THIRD WORLD
SMOKE THE CRAP THAT THEY SMOKE
IN THE HOOKAH LOUNGES. WHO ARE
YOU KIDDING? IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
NOT ALLOWING FOR MARIJUANA
CAFES, BUT YOU'RE ALLOWING A
HOOKAH LOUNGE. IT'S FILLWIDE
THE EVILS OF THE THIRD WORLD
THAT AROUND EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE
IN THIS COUNTRY. IT MAKES ME
WONDER WHAT YOU ALL ARE EATING
AND SMOKING AND POPPING AND
DRINKS. WE DON'T NEED
POLITICIANS STAYING IN OFFICE
FOR YEARS WHILE THEY SLOWLY GET
AROUND TO VIRTUE SIGNALING ABOUT
HOW THEY NEED TO STAY IN OFFICE
LONGER TO GET IT RIGHT WHEN IT
COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS VALERIE SLURDET.
SORRY IF I MESSED THAT UP.
>> VALERIE, IF YOU'RE THERE,
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> WE'LL PIVOT TO IN-PERSON
COMMENTERS. THE FIRST IN-PERSON
COMMENTER IS RODNEY JOHNSON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT. HEY, I'M RODNEY.
HI SARA. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC?
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.I'M RODNEY.
SARA, GOOD MORNING. AND I CONCUR
YOUR COMMENT. THE CITY OFFICE IS
DOING GREAT, SPECIFICALLY FRED
WHO IS THE HEAD OF CRIMINAL.
I'M HERE FOR TWO THINGS TODAY.
24 HOURS VERSUS TWO WEEKS.
THAT'S HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIME TO BE
PROCESSED IF YOU ARE IN CUSTODY
BY SEATTLE POLICE OR NOT IN
CUSTODY BY SEATTLE POLICE. THE
EXACT SAME CRIME. AND SO IF
SOMEONE TAKES AN OBJECT LIKE A
BAT, HITS IT UPSIDE YOUR HEAD,
IF WE CATCH THEM IN 24 HOURS
THERE ARE CHARGES THAT ARE FILED
AND A PROTECTION ORDER IS ALSO
IN PLACE. IF NOT, SO THIS PERSON
RUNS AWAY, WE DON'T CATCH THEM
WITHIN THE FOUR HOUR MINIMUM,
THEN AT THAT POINT, THIS PERSON
WILL BE AT MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKS,
SOMETIMES UP TO EIGHT, BEFORE
CHARGES ARE FILED. I ASK YOU TO
ASK THE MAYOR TO PUSH THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER IN PLACE FOR AN
INVESTIGATION OF THAT PROCESS
AND BY THE END OF THE YEAR, I
WOULD LOVE FOR THAT PROCESS TO
BE APPROVED BY A MINIMUM OF 25%
OR AT LEAST HAVE THE PROTECTION
ORDERS SERVED, OR IN PROCESSED
IMMEDIATELY. THERE'S AN OPTION
WHERE THE CITY CAN INITIATE THAT
PROCESS IF THEY'RE NOT IN
CUSTODY, THE VICTIM HAS TO DO
THAT. THE SECOND THING IS I
WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO ALSO
IN SOME CAPACITY HAVE THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATE
AN APPROVAL MATRIX FOR POLICE
REPORTS. SO WHAT DO I MEAN BY
THIS? WHEN A POLICE OFFICER
WRITES A REPORT, THAT REPORT CAN
BE APPROVED AFTER SUBMITTED
WITHIN ONE MINUTE AND 36
SECONDS. THAT ON AVERAGE IS WHAT
HAPPENS. THEY'RE CLICKING,
CLICKING, CLICKING APPROVED. SO
I ASK YOU ALL TO TAKE A MINUTE
AND INVESTIGATE HOW IS THAT SO
POSSIBLE AND CREATE AN APPROVAL
MET MATRIX BECAUSE DOROTHY KIM
SAYS THERE IS NO PROCESS. I'VE
GOT TO GO. I HAVE MORE MEETINGS.
BUT I LOVE THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT
IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS AARON
GOODMAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS
COMMITTEE MEETING. I'M ERIN
GOODMAN, THE EXECUTIVE OF THE
SODO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA.
I'M HERE BOTH IN MY
PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY, BUT ALSO
LIKE FORMER COUNCILMEMBER WU,
THIS IS PERSONAL BECAUSE I LIVE
LESS THAN A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE
CAPRI LOUNGE. SO I'M HERE TODAY
TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR
THE PROPOSED NIGHT-LIFE
LEGISLATION, WHICH IS BELIEVE IS
AN ESSENTIAL STEP TOWARD OUR
CITY'S AFTERHOURS NIGHTLIFE. IN
SODO WE'VE SEEN THE
CONSEQUENCES OF ILLEGAL
NIGHTLIFE VENUES. LAST YEAR WITH
THE FATAL SHOOTING, AND SINCE
JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE'VE HAD
OVER 200 SHOTS FIRED RELATED TO
AFTER HOURS VENUES. THIS
SENSELESS VIOLENCE UNDERSCORES
THE DANGERS OF VENUES THAT
OPERATE WITHOUT THE NECESSARY
PERMITS, SECURITY, OR OVERSITE.
THESE BUSINESSES OFTEN HIDE
BEHIND THE BUSINESS OF
LEGISLATECY, LEAVING PATRONS
UNAWARE THEY'RE OFFERING AREAS
WHERE -- THEY AFTER A PATHWAY TO
LEGAL BUSINESSES WHO WISH TO
OPERATE AFTER 2:00 A.M. WHILE
ENSURING THAT SAFETY IS
PRIORITIZED. IT IS DESIGNED TO
CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THOSE WHO
TWANT TO PROVIDE LATE NIGHT
ENTERTAINMENT LEGALLY AND SAFELY
AND THE DANGEROUS UNREGULATED
VENUES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST. BY
EXISTING CLEAR REQUIREMENTS SUCH
AS LICENSING TRAINED SECURITY
PERSONNEL AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
IT CREATES A SAFER ENVIRONMENT
FOR ALL. IT'S A BALANCED
APPROACH THAT SUPPORTS
BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO OPERATE
RESPONSIBLE WHILE PRIORITIZING
THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. AS
REPRESENTATIVE OF SODO BIA, I'M
DEEPLY INVESTED IN CREATING A
THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS WILL
NOT ONLY IMPROVE SAFETY, BUT
ENSURE THAT OUR NIGHTLIFE SCENE
IS VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC. I WANT
TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER WU FOR
CHAMPIONING THIS WORK, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AND I
ENCOURAGE SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL PIVOT TO
OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER, VALERIE
SLURDET. REMINDER TO PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6. VALERIE, FINAL
CALL.
>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU, CLERK. I
ALWAYS APPRECIATE PUBLIC
COMMENT. AND I HEAR THE COMMENTS
THAT ARE MADE AND TODAY
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. I
WANTED TO -- IN HONOR OF THE
COMMENTS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER
WU AND THE ESCOTEL FAMILY, TO
HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE
CHEN FAMILY FOR THE ESCOTEL
FAMILY, FOR THE OTHER FAMILIES
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED OVER THE
YEARS, TO INCLUDE THE FAMILIES
OF OZZIE WHITFIELD AND JULIUS
RODRIGUEZ WHO WERE KILLED AT THE
CAPRI JUST RECENTLY. SO INSTEAD
OF COMMENT, SILENCE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
HAS EXPIRED. WE WILL NOW PROCEED
TO OUR ITEM OF BUSINESS. MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC ARE ENCOURAGED TO
SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENT CARDS OR
EMAIL THE COUNCIL AT
SEATTLECOUNCIL.GOV. BEFORE
MOVING ONTO OUR ITEM OF
BUSINESS, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WHO WAS
ONLINE, BUT IS NOW HERE IN
PERSON. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. WE WILL NOW MOVE AND OUR
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120956. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
REGULATION OF AFTER HOURS
NIGHTLIFE LOUNGES, DEFINING
AFTER HOURS NIGHTLIFE LOUNGES
ESTABLISHING OPERATIONAL AND
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH
BUSINESSES DESCRIBING
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS AND
ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 10.10 TO
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> GENTLEMEN, WILL YOU PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE STAFF?
OKAY. ACCORDING TO MY CLERK I
WILL NOW MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 120956. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
THE BILL. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? WE WILL START WITH
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> SURE, BRIEFED ON THIS ON
MARCH 2R5ST, MAYBE I WILL JUST
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT THE BILL
DOES. SO COUNCIL BILL NUMBER
120956 WILL CREATE NEW SAFETY
REGULATIONS FOR BUSINESSES THAT
ARE OPEN BETWEEN THE HOURS OF
2:00 A.M. TO 6:00 THAT ARE OPEN.
THOSE INCLUDE RESTAURANTS, ADULT
ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHES, ALL
AGES DANCE VENUES AND THEATERS
AND ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS AND
SPECTATOR SPORTS FACILITIES. THE
REGULATIONS, THOSE BUSINESSES
THAT THE REGULATIONS DO APPLY TO
WOULD BE ABLE TO REMAIN OPEN
PAST 2:00 A.M., BUT THEY WOULD
HAVE TO HAVE AN EXTENDED HOURS
PERMISSION AS PART OF A VALID
LICENSE ISSUED BY THE WASHINGTON
STATE LIQUOR AND CANNABIS BOARD
MAINTAIN MINIMUM SECURITY
REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING HAVING
AT LEAST TWO TRAINED SECURITY
PERSONNEL ON SI
SAFETY PLAN THAT WOULD BE
SUBMITTED TO FAS AND REVIEWED BY
FAS. THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO
ALLOW PUBLIC AREAS TO THE
BUSINESS DURING BUSINESS HOURS.
VIOLATIONS COULD RESULT IN
INCREASING FINES, AN INITIAL
FINE OF $5,000, AND A SUBSEQUENT
FINE OF $5,000, IN ADDITION TO
THOSE FINES, THE CITY COULD SEEK
EQUITABLE RELIEF INCLUDING
CLOSING THE BUSINESS. FAS WOULD
BE THE PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY, ALTHOUGH LIKELY WOULD BE
SUPPORTED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS
FOR SAFETY REASONS INCLUDING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO
UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE BILL --
>> THANK YOU, MR. FREEMAN. MR.
JOHNSON ANYTHING TO ADD? OKAY,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUESANY COMMENTS? VICE
CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DEFER
TO MY COLLEAGUES.
>> COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY
MUCH TO CHAIR FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION FORWARD, AND ALSO I
WANTED TO THANK FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WU FOR
CHAMPIONING THIS IDEA
ORIGINALLY. IT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION AND I
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF EVERYONE
ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I SPOKE LAST AT THE LAST
MEETING SO I WON'T REPEAT WHAT
I SAID BEFORE WITH, BUT IN
ADDITION TO BASICALLY MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT IN
THE RULES THAT WE WANT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES, OUR LARGE
BUSINESSES, OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITY TO ABIDE BY WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THOSE
RULES IS MAINTAINING A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT. SO THAT IS --
THAT'S CLEAR AND I BASICALLY
SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT PLAY BY THE
RULES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY ALL DO. THAT'S THE
COMMENT I MADE WITH MY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CHAIR HAT ON. BUT
THE DEEPER ISSUE IS WE ALSO HAVE
TO SAVE LIVES OR MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE DOING OUR UTMOST TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS A -- AS I
SAID BEFORE, A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN IMPACTING
ESPECIALLY A COUPLE REGIONS IN
THE CITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW,
AND I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE
PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC THAT THINK,
WHY DON'T WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS? WELL, NOW WE FINALLY ARE,
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
IS, YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH
A LACK OF OPTIONS TO ADDRESS
THIS SITUATION. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS
BEFORE US, AND AS I SAID IN MY
COMMENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
MEETING THANK YOU CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON FOR YOUR OFFICE'S WORK
ON GETTING THIS LEGISLATION
PREPARED, AND ALSO FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WU FOR
DRIVING THIS INITIATIVE AND YOU
OF COURSE FOR PRIVILEGING THE
TIME IN YOUR COMMITTEE BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY THINGS, CHAIR, TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PRESIDENT. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS
WITH US, ALTHOUGH ONLINE RIGHT
NOW. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, I'LL OFFER IF
YOU WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT ON THE BILL BEFORE GOING
TO VICE CHAIR.
>> WELL THANK YOU, CHAIR KETTLE.
AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON
THIS. I KNOW THIS WAS A LONG
TIME COMING AND I THANK OUR CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL FOR
THEIR HELP IN CENTRAL STAFF AND
ALSO THANKING FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WU AND ALSO
ANITA PARK AS WELL FOR THIS. I
KNOW THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE
COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT
TO PEOPLE. I KNOW THIS IS AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN OUR CITY.
AND WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO
MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER, AND I
KNOW THAT WE HAD ENGAGED WITH
THE CAPITOL HILL BUSINESSES AS
WELL. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS AS WELL,
AS WE ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE,
YOU KNOW, JUST THE DIFFERENT
LANDSCAPE THAT IS IN OUR CITY,
AND I THINK IT'S A WORK IN
PROGRESS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
WORK TO DO, BUT THIS IS A GREAT
FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS, SO
THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
>> THEY'RE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. VICE CHAIR SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FIRST I
JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT
TO PAUSE AND REFLECT WHERE WE'RE
AT IN TIME. BECAUSE THIS SAME
EXACT CONCEPT CONTAINED IN THIS
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN CONSIDERED
BEFORE IN THIS CITY. THERE ARE
EFFORTS UNDERWAY SPANNING MANY
YEARS BEFORE EACH AND EVERY LAST
ONE OF US IN THIS DEUS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TO
REPRESENT THE KIND OF GUN
VIOLENCE THAT STEMS FROM THESE
UNLAWFUL, UNREGULATED AFTER
HOURS NIGHTLIFE ESTABLISHMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN TRIED BEFORE.
OBVIOUSLY NOTHING HAS EVER
HAPPENED. NO SUBSTANTIVE ACTION
HAS FLOWED AND FOLLOWED FROM
SOME OF THE TRAGEDIES THAT DATE
BACK DECADES IN SEATTLE FROM
THIS. KNOWN PROBLEM. AND TRIED
BEFORE. AND BECAUSE POTENTIALLY
IT WAS DEEMED POLITICALLY
EXPEDIENT TO AVOID DIRECTLY
ADDRESSING THIS, AND INSTEAD
WRITE A CHECK TO COMMUNITIES,
THAT STUFF WE CAN ALL BE PROUD
OF AND CELEBRATE. IT'S HARD TO
DO STUFF LIKE THIS. SO WHERE
WE'RE AT IN THIS MOMENT, THIS
IS ABOUT LEADERSHIP. SO I WANT
TO THANK FORMER COUNCILMEMBER
TANYA WU, EVERY STRATEGIC
INITIATIVE REQUIRES A CHAMPION
IN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. AND
THE CHAMPION OF THIS SPECIFIC
INITIATIVE STARTED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER WU, AND AT THE END
OF LAST YEAR, BECAUSE SHE ROLLED
OFF THE COUNCIL WE NEEDED A NEW
CHAMPION TO CARRY THIS FORWARD,
SO WHICH IS WHY I WANT TO THANK
CHAIR KETTLE FOR CHAMPIONING
THIS INITIATIVE. AND ALL OF US
ARE GOING TO BE DIRECTLY
ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS
HERE TODAY AND AT ANY FINAL
VOTE. BUT THIS, AT THE END OF
THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, I'M NOT HERE
TO DO THE POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT
THING NECESSARILY. I'M HERE TO
PRODUCE RESULTS, AND I AM HERE
TO WORK ON HARD PROBLEMS. THIS
IS NO DIFFERENT. I'VE SAID
BEFORE, COLLEAGUES, PLAYERS
PLAY. BASKETBALL SHOOTERS SHOOT.
AND LEADERS LEAD. AND THIS IS
EXACTLY A MOMENT, AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO DO EXACTLY THAT. SO I
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY OF
FRANCISCO DAVID ESCOTEL, WHO
TESTIFIED TODAY AND IN THE PAST.
GUN VIOLENCE HAS NO PLACE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR MY OWN
DISTRICT. DISTRICT ONE. AND
SPECIFICALLY THE COMMUNITIES OF
PIONEER SQUARE, SODO, AND
DELRIDGE, WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
GUN VIOLENCE THAT INVARIABLY
FLOWS FROM THESE UNLAWFUL,
UNREGULATED, UNPERMITTED AFTER
HOURS ESTABLISHMENTS. SO WE KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO
WHEN TWO LIVES WERE TRAGICALLY
AND PREVENTABLY LOST. TWO YOUNG
MEN MET THEIR DEMISE IN
CONNECTION WITH ONE OF THESE
UNREGULATED ESTABLISHMENTS. AND
WE ALSO KNOW LATER THAT SAME DAY
IN DELRIDGE, NORTH DELRIDGE, A
COMMUNITY THAT ALREADY BEARS A
DISPROPORTIONATE RELEVANCE OF
GUN VIOLENCE, RELEVANCE TO OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY, THERE WAS A
TRIBUTE MEMORIAL FOR ONE OF THE
VICTIMS WHERE 100 PLUS GUNSHOTS
RANG OUT. BULLET WENT THROUGH A
CHILD'S ROOM IN A HOME NEARBY.
COMMUNITIES, I GUESS, WE SHOULD
BE THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HIT
OR INJURED. NO. WE'RE NOT
THANKFUL. WE NEED ACTION. AND
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION ALLOWS
US TO TAKE STRONG DECISIVE
ACTION TO ADDRESS THESE
CHALLENGES HEAD-ON. MAKE NO
MISTAKE. WE'RE HERE TO WORK.
WE'RE HERE TO ADDRESS THESE
HARD PROBLEMS. AND DO SO
DECISIVELY WITH BOLD LEADERSHIP,
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, MY DISTRICT
CAN IS IS DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY THESE ESTABLISHMENTS
AND ALL THE CONSEQUENCES THAT
ALWAYS FLOW FROM THEM. AND YOU
WILL OFTEN HEAR ME TALK ABOUT
I'M HERE TO CHAMPION A YES AND
APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC
SAFETY. BOTTOM LINE, WE NEED A
NUMBER OF TOOLS AND STRATEGIES
TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE AND
THIS LEGISLATION IS AN IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR BROADER TOOL KIT.
ANOTHER QUIVER IN THE ARROWS, OR
ARROW IN THE QUIVER, SO TO
SPEAK. AGAIN, THESE UNREGULATED,
AND UNPERMITTED NIGHTLIFE
ESTABLISHMENTS OFTEN OPERATE
UNDER THE GUISE OF LEGITIMACY
WITH ATTENDEES OFTEN HAVING NO
IDEA THAT THE CLUB THEY ARE
ENTERING DOES NOT HAVE THE
NECESSARY PERMITS, TRAINING, OR
SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE TO
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR
PATRONS. WE NEED A SAFE PLACE
FOR PEOPLE TO BE IN THESE EARLY
MORNING HOURS. SO IT IS ABOUT
SAFETY FOR THE PATRONS, AND IT
IS ABOUT SAFETY FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS COMMON SENSE
LEGISLATION. IT'S UNFORTUNATE
THAT IT TOOK MANY, MANY YEARS TO
GET US TO EVEN THIS POINT. WHO
KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
WITH THIS? BUT LIKE I SAID, THE
CONCEPTS CONTAIN IN THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION ARE NOT NEW.
EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TRIED IN THE
PAST, BUT NOW WE HAVE
APPROPRIATE POLITICAL WILL AND
LEADERSHIP TO ACT, WHICH IS WHY,
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER WU, CHAIR KETTLE.
I WANT TO THANK NINA PARK FROM
COUNCILMEMBER WU'S OFFICE AND
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
THE INSIGHT, AND SAVVINESS TO
RETAIN NINA AT THE STAFF EXPERT
LEVEL. SO ANYWAYS, I STRONGLY
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION. IT'S
ABOUT LEADERSHIP. IT'S TIME TO
ACT. I'M NOT PREPARED TO TELL
THESE FAMILIES NO. WE NEED TO
ACT. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR. AND
THANK YOU FOR CALLING OUT
EXCEPTIONAL STAFF. TO CONCLUDE
BEFORE VOTING, I JUST WANTED TO
RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY. SOME OF ITS
REPRESENTED HERE FROM SODO, AND
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE WE ALL HERE FROM
COMMUNITY ON THE GUN VIOLENCE
ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING.
PARTICULARLY RELATED TO AFTER
HOUR ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH IS
MORE THE DISTRICT 1, 2, 3,
CHALLENGE. BUT STILL A CHALLENGE
FOR OUR CITY AND THE CHALLENGE
THAT WE NEED TO UNDERTAKE. SO I
WANT TO THANK COMMUNITIES AGAIN
REPRESENTED IN PART TODAY. BUT
THEN ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY
LEADERS PAST AND PRESENT. I
THINK OF DONNY CHEN A DECADE
AGO, WHO WAS A COMMUNITY LEADER,
AND TODAY'S COMMUNITY LEADER,
COUNCILMEMBER WU WHO SPOKE
TODAY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THOSE VOICES HEARD AND, SO THAT
STORY CAN BE TOLD AND ACTED ON.
AND SEPARATELY, I ALSO WANT TO
THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON
THIS. IT WAS MENTIONED IN
DIFFERENT PIECES. BUT THEY ALSO
DID ENGAGEMENT. IT WASN'T JUST
WORKING OURSELVES WITH THEIR
OFFICE. THEY REACHED OUT TO
COMMUNITY AS WELL, AND I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR THAT. NOT
MENTIONED YET, BUT HAS BEEN PART
OF THIS STORY THAT I'VE BEEN
INVOLVED IN RELATED TO THIS
BILL, I WANT TO THANK FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
IT'S A DEPARTMENT THAT KIND OF
FLIES UNDER THE RADAR, BUT
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE
FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT, BUT
ALSO FOR LEGISLATION LIKE THIS,
SO I WANT TO THANK THE FAS TEAM
FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN GETTING TO
A GOOD ANSWER AND A GOOD
APPROACH FOR THIS LEGISLATION. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, AND
THEN THAT WE ACT ON THEM. YOU
KNOW, I NOTED THE EDITORIAL THAT
SAID SEATTLE IS WARY OF GUN
VIOLENCE. YOU KNOW, IN THE
EDITORIAL ITSELF IT SAID THIS IS
A CRISIS AND IT MUST BE TREATED
AS SUCH. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
DOING. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING
ON A DAY-TO-DAY, MONTH-TO-MONTH
BASIS, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
ESPECIALLY DOING TODAY, BECAUSE
IT IS A CRISIS AND WE NEED TO
TAKE ACTION, AND WE WILL WORK
WITH ALL PARTS OF GOVERNMENT AND
THE COMMUNITY TO GET ANSWERS.
AND TO VICE CHAIR'S POINT, WE
DO NEED TO TAKE ACTION, AND WE
CANNOT GET SIDETRACKED WHICH IS
SOMETHING THAT'S COME UP
RECENTLY AS WELL. BUT WE DON'T
DO THAT. I WAS RECENTLY
INTERVIEWED BY A REPORTER WHO
KIND OF HAD A QUESTION ALONG
THOSE LINES AND I KIND OF LOOKED
AT HIM AND COULDN'T REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. SO WHAT
DRIVES THIS? WHAT DRIVES THIS
LEGISLATION IS OUR MISSION. AND
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A SAFE
BASE IN OUR CITY. IT'S OUR
VISION. IT'S A VISION WHERE
KIDS CAN RIDE THE BUS FREELY.
WHERE BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE TO
HAVE PRIVATE SECURITY. WHERE
KIDS OR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GO
AFTER 2:00 A.M., AND NOT HAVE TO
FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES. SO THAT IS
OUR VISION. SO I LOOK AT OUR
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN AND
THAT'S WHAT DRIVES EVERYTHING.
IT'S THE MISSION. SO WITH THAT,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE AND WILL THE COMMUNITY PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120956?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES. YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED. THE.
>>
>> THE MOTION PASSED, AND IT
WILL BE SENT TO THE APRIL 15
COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO BE
ADDED AS A COSPONSOR, PLEASE.
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN FACT, I THOUGHT YOU
ALREADY WERE.
>> I MIGHT HAVE SAID THAT. I
FORGOT. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SAY
IT.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ONTO THE
SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS.
>> OPA DIRECT CANNER, SEARCH
PROCESS UPDATE.
>> OKAY, GOOD MORNING DIRECTOR
MYBERG. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
THIS MORNING. COLLEAGUINGS, I'VE
ASKED MR. MYERBERG TO JOIN US
THIS MORNING. PARTLY BECAUSE WE
WILL BE HAVING OUR NEXT MEETING
WILL BE FOCUSING ON OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS. YOU
KNOW, THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION. THE OFFICER
INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND ALSO THE
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND ONE ITEM, AND I DIDN'T WANT
TO DISTRACT. I WANTED THAT
MEETING TO BE FOCUSED ON THE
ISSUES RELATED TO THE
ORGANIZATIONS. SO I'VE ASKED
MR. MYERBERG AS A WAY TO ADDRESS
ONE ISSUE TODAY. SO NOT TO BE
INCUMBERING THE NEXT MEETING,
WHICH I WANT TO BE FOCUSING ON
THE ORGANIZATIONS AND HOW WE CAN
SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS TO
DISCUSS THE OPA DIRECTOR SEARCH
PROCESS. MR. MYERBERG.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY. QUICK APOLOGIES.
AISHA FOSTER FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE WAS GOING TO BE HERE, BUT
HAD A CONFLICT. SO YOU JUST HAVE
ME, UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU. SO
FIRST, THANKS FOR INVITING US TO
DISCUSS THE SEARCH PROCESS
TODAY. AND THANK YOU TO CHAIR
KETTLE FOR COLLABORATING WITH US
ON THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PROCESS
AND FOR AGREEING TO SERVE IN THE
SEARCH COMMITTEE. WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT. SECOND, I WANT
TO REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT TO A
COMPREHENSIVE SEARCH PROCESS.
OUR GOAL TODAY IS JUST TO WALK
THE COMMITTEE THROUGH THE HIGH
LEVEL SEARCH TIMELINE AND
PROCESS. HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS DURING THE DISCUSSION
OR AFTERWARDS, WHATEVER IS THE
COUNCIL'S PREFERENCE.
>> WE'LL WAIT UNTIL THE END.
>> TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO I'LL
JUST WALK THROUGH THESE
TIMELINES AGAIN AT A VERY HIGH
LEVEL. THE JOB POSTING FOR THE
OPA DIRECTOR WAS POSTED PUBLICLY
ON APRIL 2nd. WE POSTED ON A
NUMBER OF WEBSITES, MOST NOTABLY
IT GOES ON THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WEBSITE, THE WEBSITE FOR
CIVILIANS, FOR IN OVERSITE OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE ARE
FINALIZING THE DATE FOR THE
FIRST MEETING OF THE SEARCH
COMMITTEE. THAT IS GOING TO
OCCUR BEFORE APRIL 25th, BUT
WE'RE STILL WORKING FOR WITH
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
FINALIZE THAT DATE. WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE A FOUR PERSON SEARCH
COMMITTEE. SO THE ORDINANCE
REQUIRES US TO HAVE A SEARCH
COMMITTEE THAT HAS A QUARTER OF
CPC MEMBERSHIP. SO WE WILL HAVE
CURRENT CPC COCHAIR JOE MERKEL.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WILL ALSO
BE ON THE COMMITTEE. LISA DUGARD
WILL ALSO BE ON THE COMMITTEE AS
WELL AS TY FROM THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO A SMALL
COMMITTEE, BUT WE FEEL THAT WILL
HELP US HAVE A MORE SEARCH LINE
APPROACH. WE WILL BE ASSESSING
OUR APPLICATIONS BEGINNING ON
APRIL 21st, REGARDING OUR SECOND
CITY ECONOMY MEETING WHICH WILL
BE ON MAY 2. AT THAT MEETING, WE
WILL BE CALLING TO SEE WHO IS
GOING TO BE INTERVIEWED, A
UNDERSTAND THOSE INTERVIEWS WILL
OCCUR DURING AN ALL DAY SESSION
ON THE 16th OF MAY. DURING THE
FINAL DAY OF MAY, THEY WILL BE
MEETING WITH SPD CAN AND OTHERS.
ON THAT SAME DAY, THEY WILL
INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. THEN
THE MAYOR WILL ANNOUNCE HIS
SELECTION IN EARLY JUNE. SO
AGAIN, A HIGH LEVEL PROCESS
OVERVIEW, AND HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT
.
>> GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> OKAY, WELL THANK YOU, MR.
MYERBERG. AND YES. APPRECIATE
THE COLLABORATION. WE'VE BEEN
VERY BUSY. SO THE TIMELINE IS
SOMETHING THAT I THINK WORKS
WELL. I DO BELIEVE MS. GLENN HAS
THE REIGNS AND OPA IS IN GOOD
HANDS AT THE MOMENT. SO I DO
BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD SETUP,
GIVEN ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS
THAT NEED TO BE A PART OF THIS.
SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR THAT TIMELINE. I AM A LITTLE
CONFUSED. JUST LOOKING AT
SMC29315. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW
YOU'RE CALCULATING THE 90 DAYS?
BECAUSE I THINK IT HAS BEEN 90
DAYS, MORE THAN 90 DAYS.
>> SO THE 90 DAYS IS CALCULATED
FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE
EXPIRATION OF THE TERM. FOR THE
LAST TWO SEARCHES, THE SEARCH
HAS GONE BEYOND THE 90 DAYS, AND
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ASKED
FOR COUNCIL CONSENT. HERE WE
REQUESTED AN EXTENSION OF THE
TIMELINES, WHICH COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE EXTENDED IT.
>> OKAY, SO YOU REQUESTED AN
EXTENSION OF THE TIMELINE FROM
THE RESIGNATION?
>> SORRY, SO THERE'S A 90 DAY
PERIOD SET IN ORDINANCE. SO THE
LAST DAY FOR THE LAST OPA
DIRECTOR WAS JANUARY 3rd, WAS
HIS LAST DAY IN HIS SPOT. SO THE
90 DAYS RUNS FROM JANUARY 3rd,
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN APRIL 3rd,
APPROXIMATELY. SO PRIOR TO THAT
DATE, WE CALLED FOR AN EXTENSION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, WHICH
WAS EXTENDED. SO KNOW IT RUNS
UNTIL JUNE.
>> GOT IT.
>> THANK YOU MR. MYERBERG FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. CAN YOU
HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND, SO
YOU LISTED THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. HOW MANY TOTAL IS THAT?
IS THAT FIVE?
>> FOUR.
>> FOUR, FOUR. OKAY. THANK YOU.
AND THEN ALSO WHAT IS THE --
WHAT IS THE RECRUITMENT OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY AND
APPROACH? AND THIS IS A VERY
HIGH PROFILE, HIGH IMPACT ROLE
AND OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE
THE FUTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY,
AND POLICING IN OUR CITY. THE
NEXT WAVE, HOPEFULLY SOON IN THE
ABSENCE OF A FEDERAL CONSENT
DECREE, AND TAKE CONTROL OF OUR
OWN REINS AND OUR OWN DESTINY,
SO TO SPEAK. SO VERY NATIONAL
ROLE, LOCAL FOCUS AND IMPACT.
HOW DO WE GO ABOUT MAKING SURE
WE RECRUIT? WE CAST A WIDE NET
AND RECRUIT THE BEST OF THE BEST
OF THE BEST NATIONALLY.
>> SO THE RECRUITMENT IS
OVERSEEN AT THE MAYORS OFFICE.
WE HAVE A SENIOR EXECUTIVE
RECRUITER ASSIGNED TO SEE IT, AS
WELL AS OTHER RECUTERS UNDER
HER. OBVIOUSLY WE POST THE JOB,
BUT THAT'S ONLY A PIECE OF WHAT
WE DO. IS THERE IS ACTIVE
CONTACT THAT WE MAKE WITH
CANDIDATES THAT WE IDENTIFY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO IT IS A
VERY ACTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE
RECRUITMENT PROCESS. IT WAS THE
SAME IN THE LAST PROCESS, WHERE
YES, WE RECEIVED APPLICATIONS,
BUT WE ALSO WORKED A NUMBER OF
STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY OTHERS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO MIGHT BE
A FIT FOR THE POSITION. SO
AGAIN, WE HAVE MULTIPLE STAFF
MEMBERS AT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
WORKING ON THIS, SO IT IS NOW
OUR PRIORITY RECRUITMENT FOR THE
NEXT TWO MONTHS.
>> CAN YOU CLARIFY? HAS THE CITY
ENGAGED IN A STAFF MEMBER TO
ASSIST IN THIS, OR IS THIS 100%
HANDLED IN HOUSE?
>> WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE THIS
IN HOUSE. WHICH IS PART OF THE
PROCESS WE'VE DONE THE LAST
COUPLE OF RECRUITMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, SO I'M HEARING A
MIXTURE OF SORT OF PASSIVE
RECRUITMENT POST OF A JOB AND
JUST WAIT FOR CANDIDATES TO COME
IN AND AN APPROACH WHERE WE'RE
IDENTIFYING CANDIDATES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HOW MANY
CANDIDATES DO WE ANTICIPATE
BEING SURFACED TOTAL FOR AS PART
OF THIS RECRUITMENT EFFORT
NATIONALLY?
>> I COULDN'T TELL YOU.
>> IS THERE AN ESTIMATE?
>> NOT THAT I CAN MAKE. BUT I
CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION TO IT AT
A LATER DATE.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU MR.
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THE RESPONSIBILITIES.
DIRECTOR ARE SET BY LAW AND BUT
I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING
FROM YOU, OR JUST SEEING THE JOB
DESCRIPTION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
WHAT, ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL
DUTIES OR QUALIFICATIONS OR --
THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUESTED?
SO DO YOU SEE THE SCOPE OF THE
WORK DIFFERENTLY OR EXPANDED IN
ANY WAY?
>> WELL, TO YOUR POINT, YES.
THERE ARE QUALIFICATIONS THAT
ARE IN ORDINANCE AND
REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO
CONSIDER, INCLUDING PAST
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. THEY
CAN'T BE A FORMER SWORN
EMPLOYEE FOR SPD. ABOVE AND
BEYOND THAT, IT'S A GREAT
QUESTION. I THINK WE ARE
OBVIOUSLY FOR THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM TO WORK,
YOU NEED SOMEONE THAT IS
COMFORTABLE BOTH IN ENGAGING
WITH COMMUNITY AND MEETING
COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'RE AT, BUT
AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING THE
COMPLEXITIES OF THESE
INVESTIGATIONS AND THE IMPACT IT
CAN HAVE ON SWORN OFFICERS. SO
WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FOR
SOMEONE TO WALK THAT LINE AND
HOLD THAT BALANCE. I WILL SAY
BONNEY GLENNS THAT DONE A GREAT
JOB IN THAT RESPECT. I DON'T
MEAN THIS AS AN AFFRONT TO HER,
BUT THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS
ABOUT. WE SEE OPA HIGHLIGHTED BY
MANY OFFICERS AS AN AREA OF
CONCERN. AND THESE
INVESTIGATIONS ARE TAKEN VERY
SERIOUSLY BY SWORN OFFICERS, AS
THEY SHOULD. HE WITH WANT
SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT
DUALITY, AND HAS EXPERIENCE, NOT
JUST RUNNING INVESTIGATIONS, BUT
ALSO SUPERVISING. NOT JUST
RACIALLY DIVERSE, BUT
PROFESSIONALLY DIVERSE, WHERE
YOU HAVE SWORN IN CIVILIANS THAT
WORK FOR OPA. SO THEY'RE NOT
SOFT SKILLS, BUT THOSE ARE THE
SKILLS THAT MAKE IT HARD IN THE
JOB DESCRIPTION, AND WE'RE
HOPING THE COMMITTEE WILL FOCUS
ON PRETTY HEAVILY IN THE
INTERVIEW PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, THAT HELPS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I THINK THAT IS IT FOR QUESTIONS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES. I JUST
WANTED TO, FIRST A COMMENT. I
THINK ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO MAKE
THIS JOB AS ATTRACTIVE AS
POSSIBLE TO HELP IN YOUR SEARCH,
AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL'S
APPROACH, AND SUPPORT FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS IS
EVIDENT. AND WE WILL BE SHOWING
THAT NEXT WEEK IN TERMS OF AGAIN
MY GOAL IS ALWAYS WHAT CAN WE DO
TO FOSTER SUCCESS? , YOU KNOW,
SET IT UP FOR SUCCESS INSTEAD OF
SET IT UP FOR FAILURE. THAT IS
OUR COMMITMENT, MY COMMITMENT,
TO YOU, BUT ALSO TO OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS. AND SO
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL AID IN THE
RECRUITMENT PROCESS. I JUST
WANTED TO ASK TOO, SO NEXT WEEK,
WE'LL HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY PART.
NOT NEXT WEEK, NEXT MEETING
WE'LL HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD REGARDING
THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, OR
OPA SPECIFICALLY?
>> I WILL ADD TO YOUR POINT. WE
AGREE THAT THIS JOB, AND I CAN
SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE, IS
INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING. BUT ALSO
VERY REWARDING. BUT IT'S
DIFFICULT. YOU'RE CONSTANTLY IN
THE MIX OF MAKING DECISIONS THAT
NO ONE EVER REALLY LIKES. IT HAS
MADE IT AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE
WILL SEE PEOPLE MORE RECEPTIVE
TO TAKING ON THIS BIG CHALLENGE,
SO WE APPRECIATE THAT, CHAIR
KETTLE. THE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM, AND HE WAS PART OF THE
DESIGN AS WAS I AND AS OTHERS
WERE AT THIS DIAS, HE IS
CONSTANTLY EVOLVING CHANGING
SYSTEM, AND WE NEED TO EMBRACE
THAT, AND TO REALIZE WHAT WORKED
IN 2017 IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WORKS IN
2024 AND 2025. SO YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE REALLY ENJOYED OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR TEAM AND
OUR YUFS, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE CAN BE.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TWEAKS TO
THE CHIEF OF ORDINANCE, WHICH IS
COMING DOWN THE WAY, WHICH MAKES
A LOT OF SENSE. IT COULD BE DONE
IN A WAY THAT BRINGS MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY
TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE
INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH CAN
INCREASE PRETTY EXPONENTIALLY.
WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BE ISSUING
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO FOLLOW
UP ON THE NFR REPORT. ONE OF
THOSE WAS EXPLORING SOME
INVESTIGATIONS. SO WE NEED TO
LOOK INTO THAT MORE DEEPLY AND
TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY AND
VIABILITY OF THAT, UNDERSTANDING
THERE ARE PROBABLY COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING IMPLICATIONS THERE.
BUT OVERALL, WE ARE INTERESTED
IN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH
OUR PARTNERS. I'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE CDC IN THEIR NEW
LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW, LISA JUDGE
IS NOW OUR LONGEST TENURED
MEMBER OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM. I THINK WE HAVE REALLY
GREAT PIECES IN PLACE AND WE'RE
LOOKING FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL
TOOLS WE CAN MAKE THAT KEEP US
EVOLVING OVERTIME.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR NOTING. THAT KIND
OF TEES UP OUR NEXT MEETING, AND
THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE
CHIEF OF POLICE INVESTIGATION
ORDINANCE. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING
AT, BECAUSE THAT KIND OF
HINDERED OPA IN ITS ABILITY TO
DO ITS JOB. THAT GOES TO THE
IDEA OF SETTING UP THESE
ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUCCESS VERSUS
FAILURE. SO WE NEED TO IDENTIFY
ITEMS LIKE THAT. SO DON'T BE
SURPRISED EVERYONE, THE CHIEF OF
POLICE ORDINANCE WILL BE LOOKED
AT AS WE LOOK OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MEETINGS. WITH THAT,
THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. MYERBERG
FOR JOINING US. AND I BELIEVE
THAT'S AN OLD HAND, SO I'M
GOING TO SAY WE'VE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE
WE ADJOURN? VICE CHAIR.
COLLEAGUES? OKAY. HEARING AND
SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.