THIS MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT HAS 9:33 A.M., JULY 8, 2025.
I AM RUBBER KETTLE, CHAIR OF THE
SAFETY COMMITTEE. WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] THERE ARE THREE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS
PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED UNTIL
HER ARRIVAL. OBVIOUSLY,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WILL NO
LONGER BE PART OF THIS
COMMITTEE. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING, SEEING,
LISTENING FOR ANYTHING. NOTHING.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. FOR CHAIR COMMENT THIS
MORNING, I JUST WANTED TO -- DO
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH ONLINE? I JUST SAW
HER POP UP ON MY SCREEN.
>> HEY, I'M HERE. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH ONLINE. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR POINTING
TO MY SCREEN. I APPRECIATE IT. A
LOT GOING ON HERE IN THE COMMAND
MODULE ON THE COMMITTEE DAIS. WE
HAVE FOUR PRESENT. THANK YOU.
FOR CHAIR, TODAY, I JUST WANTED
TO NOTE, AGAIN, I HAVE BEEN
HAVING A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH
COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THIS
MORNING. I NOTED THE WORK WE
HAVE BEEN DOING ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE, INCLUDING
PRIORITIES FOR 2025, WHICH IS
AMENDING, UPDATING, FIXING
ORDINANCES . THAT WAS THE FIRST
ONE. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT. WE
HAVE ALSO DONE IT WITH LETHAL
WEAPONS, CHIEF INVESTIGATIONS,
AND CLEARLY IS ON THE AGENDA FOR
TODAY. SECONDLY, IT IS A
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. ALL PARTS OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE
REALLY NEED TO BE ENSURING THAT
IT IS WORKING ACROSS THE BOARD,
BECAUSE FOR ALL THE WORK WE DO,
IT COULD BE ONE STEP FORWARD,
TWO STEPS BACK, OR MAYBE TWO
STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH COUNTY AND
STATE ON THIS, AND THERE WILL BE
MORE TO COME OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS SUMMER. FINALLY, COMMUNITY
SAFETY. AN AREA THAT IS KIND OF
NEW TO PUBLIC SAFETY. IT HAS
BEEN PRIMARILY IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES WORLD, BUT IT IS
ANOTHER FORM OF ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE ABOUT COMMUNITY COMING
TOGETHER AND RESPONDING AND
HELPING FOR THAT COMMUNITY'S
PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS. BUT TODAY,
I REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. I TALKED
ABOUT THIS NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH
THE L.A. WILDFIRES AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR A CITY TO BE
READY. THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS
TO BEING READY. THERE IS THE
MORE STRATEGIC LONG-TERM, LIKE
THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
BUT THEN, THERE IS THE MORE
IMMEDIATE PIECES. THE
OPERATIONAL PIECES BEING READY
TO RESPOND. WE ARE SEEING THEM
AGAIN NOW, IN TEXAS, CENTRAL
TEXAS, WITH THE FLOODING . TO
THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS, CENTRAL
TEXAS, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
GO TO THEM. WE HOPE FOR THE BEST
WE CAN IN TERMS OF THOSE THAT
ARE MISSING , BUT ALSO FOR THE
COMMUNITY -- NOT JUST
INDIVIDUALS, BUT FOR THE
COMMUNITIES. I THINK THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO DO. AND SO, THERE
ARE LESSONS FROM THIS THAT WE
ALSO NEED TO BE DRAWING. NOT
JUST FROM THE L.A. WILDFIRES. WE
ALSO NEED TO DRAW LESSONS FROM
THE FLOODING IN TEXAS. ANOTHER
-- AND OTHER TRAGEDIES THAT
HAPPENED AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE
CAN INCORPORATE THEM INTO WHAT
WE ARE DOING. OBVIOUSLY,
EARTHQUAKES IS THE TOP ONE.
THERE IS INCREASING CHANCES OF
WILDFIRES, BUT -- SOON ARMIES
ASSOCIATED WITH EARTHQUAKES. WE
NEED TO BE READY. SEPARATELY,
AND TIED TO THIS, I WANTED TO
ADD THAT WE HAVE HAD A PARTNER
IN FEMA , THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY. IT HAS BEEN A
PARTNER WITH GRANTS FOR OUR
CITY. SO IMPORTANT. WHEN I THINK
BACK, AND I AM LOOKING IN TEXAS
AND READING ARTICLES AND
REPORTS, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING WITH
FEMA AND GRANTS, MAYBE ALERT
SYSTEMS AND THE LIKE, WHAT COULD
HAVE BEEN DONE IN THAT CASE. AND
SO, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO
THIS HERE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. BUT IT
HIGHLIGHTS HOW IMPORTANT THAT
SUPPORT IS FROM THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION. I KNOW WE HAVE A
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, BUT I WANTED TO
SPEAK TO IT DIRECTLY TODAY IN
THE SENSE THAT IT IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT
PARTNER IN FEMA THAT HAS LEARNED
THE LESSONS OF PAST TRAGEDIES,
LIKE KATRINA, TO ENSURE THEY ARE
WORKING WELL WITH STATE AND
LOCAL AUTHORITIES. WE AS A
PEOPLE ACROSS, NOT JUST THE
CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE, BUT
COUNTRY, NEED TO BE DEMANDING
THAT FEMA BE SUPPORTED. ALSO,
AND I RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD THE
PRESIDENT'S DECLARATION TO
GOVERNOR ABBOTT IN TERMS OF THE
DISASTER THAT IS HAPPENING ,
UNFOLDED IN CENTRAL TEXAS , BUT
WE CANNOT HAVE DISASTER AID,
DISASTER RESPONSE, DISASTER
DECLARATIONS BE PART OF SOME
TYPE OF NEW FEDERAL SPOILS
SYSTEM. A YES TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT
SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A YES TO
GOVERNOR INSLEE , ARE NOW
GOVERNOR FERGUSON. WE CANNOT
HAVE THIS FEDERAL RESPONSE. WE
CANNOT HAVE FEMA BECOME PART OF
THE NEW SPOIL SYSTEM. I APPLAUD
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN TERMS OF
HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
RESPONDING TO THE TRAGEDY IN
CENTRAL TEXAS , BUT WE NEED TO
HAVE THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE
NEED THAT IN OUR CITY,
PARTICULARLY IN THE RECENT CASE,
THE COUNTY AND STATE, TO HAVE
THAT RESPONSE. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO STATE THAT,
INSTATED FROM A VERY MATTER OF
FACT, PROFESSIONAL WAY. THAT'S
HOW I APPROACH THIS . THAT IS
HOW WE, AS A CITY GOVERNMENT,
APPROACH THIS. AS MENTIONED LAST
WEEK WITH CHIEF BARNES, IT IS
ABOUT BEING PROFESSIONAL AND
DOING YOUR JOB. WITH THAT, FROM
CHAIR COMMENT, THANK YOU FOR
INDULGING ME. WE WILL NOW OPEN
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THE COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TWO IN
PERSON AND TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START WITH
THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS AND THEN
GO TO REMOTE. CLERK, PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC COMMON INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED AND
DEVELOPMENT. UP TO 60 MINUTES,
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WIND 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT.
SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED IF THEY DO NOT AND THE
COMMENT WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME
TO ALLOW US TO CALL THE NEXT
BIGGER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY
NAME IS THERESA KLEIN. I'VE
LIVED IN SEATTLE MY WHOLE LIFE.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU
ABOUT AN URGENT THREAT TO PUBLIC
SAFETY HERE IN SEATTLE. THAT IS
THE ABSOLUTE ONSLAUGHT OF
POSTERS, STICKERS AND GRAFFITI
THAT SPREAD LIES, HALF-TRUTHS
AND LIBELS ABOUT ZIONISTS AND
THE STATE OF ISRAEL. AS A RESULT
OF THIS KIND OF CONTENT
SPREADING BOTH ONLINE AND ON THE
STREETS, I HAVE BEEN ACCOSTED,
HARASSED AND ASSAULTED BY
MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS FOR WEARING A NECKLACE
, FOR WEARING CLOTHING -- STAR
OF DAVID, FOR WEARING CLOTHING
THAT FEATURES HEBREW LETTERING ,
AND FOR REMOVING CONTENT THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUSLY
ANTI-SEMITIC. I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
MIDDLE EAST. WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS BEING USED
AS A CLOAK TO SPREAD THIS KIND
OF ANTI-SEMITIC CONTENT. I AM
PART OF A TEAM OF SIX EXHAUSTED
JEWS YOU GO AROUND THE CITY
EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES I 2:00 I
AM, TO AVOID THE HARASSMENT AND
ASSAULT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.
REMOVING THIS CONTENT. IT SHOULD
NOT FALL TO US. THIS IS THE
CITY'S PROBLEM. THE CITY NEEDS
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE
SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. WE ALL
KNOW THAT INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE
LEADS TO VIOLENCE. WE HAVE SEEN
THIS AROUND THE WORLD AND HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES WITH WHAT
HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND
BOULDER . PEOPLE SCREAMING FREE
PALESTINE WHILE KILLING OR
ASSAULTING OR FIREBOMBING JEWS.
WE ARE EXHAUSTED. WE ARE
TERRIFIED . THIS CAN'T BE
ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. I AM
BEGGING THE CITY TO PLEASE
EDUCATE EVERYONE WHO WORKS HERE
ON WHAT THIS STUFF LOOKS LIKE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP.
>> PHYSICAL ASSAULTS HAVE NOT
BEEN HANDLED WELL IN THE CITY
FOR QUITE A LONG TIME. WALLET --
WHILE IT ECONOMIC STIMULUS FOR
THE SECURITY INDUSTRY, PRIVATE,
I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM , AND
AT LEAST TAKING CARE OF THE LOW
HANGING FRUIT. BUT TODAY I WOULD
LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT I AM
OLD. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS TOWN A
VERY LONG TIME. I DO REMEMBER A
TIME WHEN SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WAS PRETTY MUCH
SELF-CORRECTING . IF YOU HAD A
PROBLEM WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, I RELATED TO THE
CHAIRMAN AFTERWARDS, OF COURSE,
YOU GO TO THE PRECINCT, AND IF
THEY TELL YOU YOU DON'T LIKE
WHAT THEY ARE DOING YOU SHOULD
MOVE OUT OF SEATTLE, THEN YOU GO
AND CALL THE CHIEF'S OFFICE.
STRANGELY ENOUGH, THE CHIEF DOES
NOT ANSWER THE PHONE PERSONALLY.
HOWEVER, PEOPLE ON STAFF TO --
DO. I HAD AN EXPENSE WHEN I WAS
CHAIRMAN OF THE GREENLEE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL WHERE I TOLD
THE TALE OF WOE, AND THEY TOLD
ME THAT , G, YOU SOUND QUITE
REASONABLE . LO AND BEHOLD, THE
POLICE TOTALLY CHANGE THEIR
ATTITUDE . IT APPEARS THE
CHIEF'S OFFICE HAD A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF SWAY. I DID GET A CALL
LATER ON FROM THE PRECINCT
SAYING , NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A
PROBLEM, PLEASE TALK TO US
FIRST. OF COURSE, I HAD TO TELL
THEM THAT I DID, AND I WAS TOLD
THAT IF I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THEY
WERE DOING I COULD MOVE OUT OF
SEATTLE, WHICH WAS NOT AN
OPTION. BUT WE CAN DO BETTER.
>> THANK YOU .
WE HAVE A THIRD IN PERSON
SPEAKER , COMMENTOR .
>> HELLO. YOU HEAR ME?
>> YOU COULD MOVE IT.
>> I AM USED TO DOING AUDIO.
SOMETIMES I REALLY DON'T NEED
-- THEY HEARD ME. HELLO. I AM
NOT SURE IF THIS IS GERMANE TO
THIS ISSUE, BUT I WANTED TO
DISCUSS THE EXPLOSIVES, THE
BOMBS THAT GOING ON FOR THE LAST
THREE WEEKS. I AM NOT SURE THE
CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY KNOWS THE
DANGER OF THESE BOMBS . THE
EXPLOSIVES , FIRECRACKERS . I
HAVE SEEN TWO OF THEM ALMOST HIT
TWO GIRLS , TWO WOMEN. IT IS NOT
TO BE VAGUE. THIS IS NOT TO BE
-- IT IS DEFINITELY A CLEAR AND
PRESENT DANGER. REALLY CLEAR AND
PRESENT DANGER TO OUR CITIZENS .
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING THE BOMBS GO OFF EVERY
SINGLE HOUR. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE
AN ALARM CLOCK. I'M NOT HERE TO
COMPLAIN. I AM HERE TO OFFER
SOLUTIONS. THE FIRST ONE, AND I
ACTUALLY WENT TO POLICE
HEADQUARTERS BEFORE COMING HERE
COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. HE SAID THAT
CITY COUNCIL DENIED THE USE OF.
I KNOW IT IS A PRIVACY ISSUE,
BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT
IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. THAT
IS NOT TO SAY , TO BELITTLE IT,
THIS IS TO SAY THAT THIS IS
DANGEROUS. IT IS REALLY
DANGEROUS. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THAT
POINT. I HEARD THAT THIS
HAPPENED LAST YEAR. ONE OF THE
VENDORS ACTUALLY GOT HIT BY ONE.
I HAVE HER CARD JUST IN CASE. I
WILL WRAP THIS UP. THIS IS ALSO
A MONETARY ISSUE . IF YOU HAVE
VENDORS , VACATIONERS, ALL THESE
PEOPLE COMING IN TO SEATTLE,
THIS IS MONETARY ALSO.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE COMPLETED
THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER .
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR THE PROMPT, YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
>> HELLO. BALLOT HOMEOWNER.
FORMER SMALL BUSINESS OUT OF HER
CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO REJECT
COUNCIL BILL 121006, WHICH WILL
BE A MASSIVE EXPANSION TO THE
NUISANCE PROPERTY EXISTING LAW.
WITH THIS EXPANSION, IT WOULD
HOLD PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBLE
FOR ACTIONS OF OTHERS, TAKEN IN
OTHER LOCATIONS. THIS IS KIND OF
ABSURD TO THINK SOMEONE HAS TO
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT SOMEONE
ELSE IS DOING ELSEWHERE. LIKE
NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY, NOT AN
ACTION DONE BY THEM OR ON THEIR
PROPERTY, BUT SOMEHOW, THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE THEM
ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
THAT REALLY IS JUST KIND OF
ABSURD. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
TALK ABOUT WANTING TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS. I THINK CALL TO
SEATTLE SHE'D , TAX REVISION TO
HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. WHAT
WILL THIS DO TO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS IF THEY FIND OUT
SUDDENLY, HEY, ANYONE EVER COMES
INTO OUR STORE OR BUSINESS, OR
ANYONE WHO EVEN IS NEAR OUR
BUSINESS, WE ARE NOW POTENTIALLY
CIVILLY LIABLE IF THEY ARE THEN
DOING ANYTHING, NOT EVEN IN OUR
BUSINESS, BUT NEXT TO IT ? WHAT
DOES IT DO TO THEM? IT PUTS A
MASSIVE TARGET ON EVERY SMALL
BUSINESS IN SEATTLE. LET'S FACE
IT, THIS WILL NOT BE ENFORCED
EVENLY. IF IT WAS, EVERY SINGLE
BREWERY WOULD BE GETTING
DECLARED A NUISANCE UNDER THIS
VERY MUCH THE DAY IT IS PAST.
LET'S FACE IT, THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO LIQUOR VIOLATIONS THAT COME
OUT OF THE BREWERIES. PEOPLE GO
IN, AND GO AND DRINK THAT IN THE
PARK NEXT DOOR. THAT WOULD MAKE
THAT BREWERY A NUISANCE UNDER
THIS LEGISLATION. THERE ALSO,
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS A
PROPOSAL TO ADD NOISE
VIOLATIONS. THE STADIUMS WOULD
BE THE BIGGEST NUISANCE EVER IN
THE CITY UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.
EVEN WHAT SPORTS FANS ARE LIKE
BEFORE AND AFTER GAMES. THIS
REALLY NEEDS TO BE REJECTED.
WILL BE TERRIBLE TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AND USED AS A TARGET
FOR -- OR TO TARGET SERVICE
PROVIDERS IN THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
DAVID .
>>
WE ALREADY HAVE AN EMERGENCY
CRISIS WITH CRIMINAL DRUG
PUSHERS DESTROYING LIVES DAILY,
IMPLODING SOCIETY BY THAT
DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO GUN
VIOLENCE. IS STILL LACKING A
TRUSTWORTHY MAYOR TO COMBAT THE
EVIL SCOURGE THAT HAS IMPLODED
SEATTLE AND RUINED THE SALES TAX
REVENUE, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO
SHOP. JUSTIFYING MORE ADVANCED
CRIME-FIGHTING FEMA TO THE EVIL
PREDATORS. I GOT TO ASK, IS THE
CHI STAFF POLICE CHIEF AND
PROPAGANDA COFFEE OUTREACH TEAM
GOING TO WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE THE CRIMINALS LIVE, OR IS
IT TO UNSAFE. THAT SAID, WE NEED
A MORE ROBUST, WHOLEHEARTED
RESPONSE TO NUISANCE PROPERTIES
THAT NEED TO BE TORN DOWN AND
REDEVELOPED WITHOUT COMPENSATING
THE BANK , WHO COULD JUST WRITE
OFF THE DEBT, BECAUSE PROPERTIES
, SUCH AS THE SLUM HOTELS ON
AURORA AVENUE, HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
TO DESTROY PEOPLE'S LIES AND
DRIVE DOWN THE HUMAN AND
PROPERTY VALUES . A LANDOWNER
DOESN'T DESERVE TO SAY I WANT
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED ON FAIR
MARKET VALUE. JUST TAKE THE
PROPERTY AND HAVE THE GOVERNOR
DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD AND
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PAY TO
REDEVELOP WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS AND USE THEIR CHEAP
LABOR AND ABILITY TO GET THINGS
DONE IN THREE FULL SHIFTS WITHIN
A 72 HOUR TO TWO WEEK PERIOD,
AND YOU CAN PROP UP SOME
AUTHORIZED ENCHANTMENTS FOR THE
PUBLIC SAFETY JUNKIE THIEVING
ADDICTS AND SEPARATE THEM FROM
THE EVIL PREDATORY DRUG
PRESSURES, AND THEN HAVE THE
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TEAR
DOWN SLUM HOTELS AND CUT THE
FOLDERS FOR FOUNDATIONS THAT
WOULD BE BIGGER THAN THE
ORIGINAL BUILDING . IT WOULD
TAKE AWAY A LOT OF THE PARKING
SPACES AND BUILD BACK SOMETHING
BETTER TO ADDRESS THE TRAUMA AND
LACK OF SAFETY , AFFORDABLE OR
EMERGENCY HOUSING . ANYWAY,
THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE SAID.
YOU GUYS KINDA LIMIT THE
CONVERSATION, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS
--
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO BOTH
THE IN PERSON AND ONLINE
SPEAKERS. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT
IS COMPLETE . WE WILL NOW
PROCEED TO THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
ENCOURAGED TO EITHER SUBMIT
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
SIGN-UP CARDS AVAILABLE ON THE
PODIUM, OR EMAIL THE COUNCIL,
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO THE FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120995,
ORDINANCE RELATED TO A NEW CIVIL
CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST GRAFFITI
TAGGERS FOR ILLEGAL GRAFFITI ON
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY AND
REQUIRING RESTITUTION; ADDING A
NEW SECTION TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND AMENDING
SECTION 10.07.010 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. THANK YOU
FOR THE COMMENT ON THIS AREA MS.
KLEIN, BUT ALSO THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US AT THE TABLE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE HAD A
PRESENTATION LAST WEEK . I
DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE. I
THINK WE WILL JUST BE SPEAKING
TO THE BILL AND AMENDMENTS. WITH
THAT, I WILL REMOVE -- I WILL
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120995 . IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE BILL .
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CONSIDER
EACH AMENDMENT. I RECOGNIZE THE
SPONSOR, WHICH IS ME. TO MOVE
THE AMENDMENTS AS THEY COME UP.
I WILL RECOMMEND THE SPONSOR.
AFTER A SECOND, ESSENTIAL STAFF
WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE IT SPONSOR
ADDRESSES IT.
>>
-- JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THE
PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS. MY CLERK
HAS GIVEN ME THE ANSWER. WE WILL
PROCEED. I WILL RECOGNIZE, IN
THIS CASE, VICE CHAIR SAKA TO
MOVE HIS AMENDMENT , AND THEN
FOR CENTRAL STAFF TO SPEAK TO
HIM.
>> THANK YOU, MESSENGER. I MOVE
TO AMEND HAS ABOUT 120995 AS
PRESENTED ON THE AMENDMENT ONE.
>> SECOND. OKAY. IT HAS BEEN
SPONSORED AND SECONDED. LET'S
TURN IT OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF
BEFORE THE SPONSOR CAN SPEAK TO
IT.
>> THANK YOU, MESSENGER. GOOD
MORNING, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF HERE TO
PRESENT THE AMENDMENTS TO
COUNCIL BILL WENT TO 0995. THE
FIRST AMENDMENT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS MOVED IS
HIS AMENDMENT. THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD REQUIRE, FOR THE NEXT 10
YEARS, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO INCLUDE, AS PART OF
ITS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL, INFORMATION ON CIVIL
CASES FILED AGAINST GRAFFITI
TAGGERS, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF
CIVIL CASES FILED, THE CASE
OUTCOMES, THE PENALTIES OR
RESTITUTIONS ORDERED BY A COURT,
AND THE NUMBER OF CIVIL
DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED FOR PRIOR GRAFFITI
RELATED PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR HAVE
BEEN THE SUBJECT OF PRIOR
GRAFFITI RELATED COURT ORDERS.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYTHING
ADDITIONAL ON THIS? VICE CHAIR
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS IS
FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT PUTS
INTO PLACE APPROPRIATE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO SEVERAL
KEY ASPECTS OF THIS GRAFFITI
ENFORCEMENT BILL GIVEN THAT
THERE IS A NEW CIVIL CAUSE OF
ACTION. I BELIEVE IT IS
GENERALLY A BEST PRACTICE TO
TRACK AND MONITOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND POTENTIAL
EFFECTIVENESS GIVEN IN THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION . I ASKED
FOR A YES VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. ANY
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> I DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I ALWAYS SAY THE
MORE INFORMATION, THE BETTER. TO
MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS GRAFFITI IS
PROBABLY TRACKED AS A PATTERN ,
LOCATIONS, FREQUENCY, ET CETERA,
BUT I WILL SAY , AND I WOULD SAY
THIS ON THE RECORD AS MANY TIMES
AS I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, THAT
GRAFFITI IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE
MOST COMMON COMPLAINT I GET FOR
MY CONSTITUENTS AS A CITY LIGHT
COUNCILMEMBER. I AM IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF ANY LEGISLATION THAT
WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO BRING --
TO MAKE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR ACTIONS. SO I DO SUPPORT
THE TRACKING, THE REPORTING ON
THIS. I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL
QUESTION , AND I DON'T THINK
THIS NEEDS TO BE WORKED INTO THE
AMENDMENT, BUT AT SOME POINT, I
UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES
GRAFFITI IS FILED AS, OR CHARGED
AS, OR COMBINED TO FORM A FELONY
COMPLAINT INSTEAD OF A
MISDEMEANOR COMPLAINT. HOW MIGHT
THAT BE CHANGED IN THE FUTURE
WITH THIS LEGISLATION ? IS IT
ANTICIPATED THERE IS A WAY TO
ALSO REPORT ON THAT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE
AMENDMENT AND LEGISLATION
FOCUSED ON THE CIVIL SIDE AND
PENALTIES AND RESTITUTIONS
BROUGHT ON THE CIVIL SIDE BY THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT. IT IS
NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE, PER SE, OF
THIS BILL TO MEASURE THE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ,
PROSECUTIONS, SUCCESSFUL
PROSECUTIONS, OUTCOMES. HOWEVER,
THAT IS SOMETHING THE SEATTLE
CITY ATTORNEY DOES, AND THERE IS
SOME INFORMATION IN THE STAFF
REPORT ABOUT CRIMINAL, BOTH AT
THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL, AND AT
THE FENNELLY -- FENNELLY --
LEVEL. THERE WAS SUCCESSFUL
PROSECUTION DID WITH THE
ASSISTANCE OF THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY WERE 17 INDIVIDUALS
WERE PROSECUTED AT THE FELONY
LEVEL. THIS IS SOMETHING THE
CITY ATTORNEY TRACKS, AND THE
INFORMATION , THEY'RE HAPPY TO
SHARE WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS HIGHLIGHTS PILLAR SIX,
WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND
STATE. IN THIS CASE, THE COUNTY.
THIS CAN REACH THE FELONY LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THIS WORK,
YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE ON THIS IN TERMS OF THE
COUNTY AND HOW THAT PLAYS INTO
AS WELL ON THE FELONY LEVEL.
>> I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THE
DAMAGE THAT IS CAUSED BY
GRAFFITI VERY EASILY REACHES A
$750 THRESHOLD, WHICH IS WHAT IS
REQUIRED FOR A FELONY CRIMINAL
CASE. IT IS THE CASE THAT THE
SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY UNDER THIS
LEGISLATION COULD BRING ACTION
AT THE FELONY LEVEL. THAT CAN BE
HAPPENING SEPARATE AND APART
FROM ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT
MIGHT BE BROUGHT BY THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
>> OKAY. IT IS MY DESIRE THAT
COUNCIL BE INFORMED IN THE
FUTURE OF ANY CASES THAT MOVE
BEYOND THE MUNICIPAL COURTS TO
THE COUNTY COURTHOUSES SO WE ARE
AWARE OF THE BIGGER PICTURE
ALWAYS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA, FOR
BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT. IT IS
IMPORTANT. I THINK IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY BEING
COLLECTED . CLEARLY, AS WE SAW
IN THE PRESENTATION , THE
INFORMATION IS THERE,
PARTICULARLY THE PROLIFIC
TAGGERS. I THINK THIS IS
SOMETHING TO PACKAGE IT, AND
THEN SHOW -- TO INFORM FUTURE
COUNCIL, AS I NOTED IN WHAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT FOR THE 2025
ORDINANCES , TO INFORM FUTURE
DECISIONS, IF NEEDED , TO
IMPROVE AND ADJUST IN ANY WAY.
HAVING THIS ADDED IS IMPORTANT.
SO YES, I SUPPORT IT. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT ONE. CENTRAL STAFF
HAS ALREADY BEEN RECOGNIZED ON
THIS, AS HAS COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
FOUR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY. AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS
ADOPTED. IT IS MOVED -- WE WILL
MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
I WILL DEFER TO MY VICE CHAIR
ONCE AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIRPERSON MOVED
WOMAN COUNCIL BILL 120995 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO.
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TO . CENTRAL STAFF IS
RECOGNIZED TO DESCRIBE AMENDMENT
NUMBER TWO.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THIS
ONE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT TAKES THE PENALTY THAT COULD
BE -- THAT A GRAFFITI TAGGERS
MAY HAVE TO PAY FROM
$1000-$1500. COURT MAY ORDER
$1500 INSTEAD , UP TO $1500
RATHER THAN $1000. AND I SHOULD
MENTION THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY
HAS SAID THEY ARE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS CHANGE.
>>. THANK YOU , MR. DOSS. VICE
CHAIR SAKA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
TO ADDRESS AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAMFER
COLLEAGUES, IT IS WELL
DOCUMENTED THAT GRAFFITI REMAINS
A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND HUGE
FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR OUR CITY,
SMALL BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS,
INDEED . GIVEN THE SCOPE AND
SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM, THIS
PROPOSED AMENDMENT, I BELIEVE,
APPROPRIATELY RAISES THE CIVIL
PENALTY FROM $1000-$1500 PER
VIOLATION . AS OUR CENTRAL STAFF
EXPERT NOTED A MOMENT AGO, THIS
IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I AM
ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. MR.
DOSS NOTED YOUR POINT REGARDING
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? OKAY.
>> MR. CHAIR . ONE OTHER THING.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO CRACK DOWN
ON THIS PROBLEM , GRAFFITI
ACTIVITY AND BEHAVIOR . WE
LEARNED FROM THE DEMOGRAPHICS
ANALYSIS PRESENTED FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND I
BELIEVE THE EXECUTIVE, THAT SOME
OF THE MOST PROLIFIC VIOLATORS
ARE WELL-HEELED, OR AT LEAST NOT
STRUGGLING. WE NEED TO MAKE --
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS HURT FOR
THEM FINANCIALLY. THAT IS WHY
THAT'S THAT IS UNDERLYING THE
WHOLE GOAL AND PURPOSE OF THIS
PROPOSED AMENDMENT. IN ANY
EVENT, STILL ASKED FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA.
AS NOTED IN THE PREVIOUS
PRESENTATION ON THIS BILL, YES,
IT IS AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC.
THIS USED TO BE THE YOUNGER
WHITE MALES, TEENAGERS, 20s, BUT
THEY HAVE GROWN UP TO BE 20, 30
SOMETHINGS, EVEN 40 . AS NOTED,
WITH CAREERS OF THEIR OWN . SO
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT,
AT THIS NEW LEVEL WITH THE
SEATTLE'S MINIMUM WAGE, THIS
EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY 75
HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. YOU
KNOW, TWO WEEKS OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE, ALMOST IS SOMETHING
THAT MAY BE WARRANTED AS WELL. I
RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY SERVICE IS
AN OPTION AND 75 HOURS, GIVEN
HOW THIS IS IMPACTING OUR CITY,
COULD BE 75 HOURS WELL SPENT.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN YOU
PLEASE EXPLAIN THE PROCESS FOR
COLLECTING THE FINES OR FEES
GENERATED BY INFRACTIONS.
USUALLY , I KNOW HOW IT IS WITH
A PARKING TICKET, FOR EXAMPLE,
BUT HOW DID PEOPLE FOR OTHER
THINGS, SUCH AS GRAFFITI, IF AN
OFFICER WITNESSES, AND THEN
SOMEHOW IT GETS IN THE BOOKS
THAT THEY ARE BEING FINED FOR
IT, IS SOMETHING SENT TO THEM,
AND IF THEY DON'T PAY IN TWO
WEEKS, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL --
HOW DOES IT WORK? HERE IS MY
REASONING. I DON'T KNOW HOW
$1000 WAS DECIDED, NOR DO I KNOW
WHETHER OR NOT 1500 IS WITHIN
THE REALM OF REASONABLENESS. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
NOT GETTING TO A POINT THAT IT
MAKES IT MORE ONEROUS THAN IT
NEEDS TO BE TO RECOVER A FINE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AT A HIGH LEVEL, WHICH IS WHERE
HE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR
TO ANY OTHER CIVIL ACTION. THE
CITY ATTORNEY WILL BRING IT TO
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT. A
DEFENDANT WOULD BE NOTIFIED AND
HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO HIRE
DEFENSE COUNSEL AND SHOW UP AND
DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THE
CITY'S ACCUSATION THAT THE
GRAFFITI WAS CAUSED BY THEM.
LIKEWISE, IF THE CASE GOES TO
THE CITY, IF IT IS FOUND THE
GRAFFITI TAGGERS DID CAUSE THE
DAMAGE , THEN IT WOULD BE BY
COURT ORDER THAT THE PENALTY
WOULD BE LEVIED AGAINST THE
GRAFFITI TAGGER. AT A HIGH
LEVEL, IT WILL FOLLOW THE SAME
CIVIL PROCESSES AS ANY OTHER
CASE MIGHT. I THINK WHAT YOU ARE
ASKING ABOUT WITH THE LEVEL OF
PENALTY AND ABILITY TO PAY , IT
IS THE CASE THAT , IF A TAGGER
IS ABLE TO SHOW FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP TO A COURT, THEN THEY
MAY REQUEST THROUGH THEIR
DEFENSE COUNSEL THAT THEY
RECEIVED COMMUNITY SERVICE, AS
THE CHAIR HAS MENTIONED.
OTHERWISE, IF THEY CAN PAY THE
FINE, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO
PAY THE FINE VIA THE COURT
ORDER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, MR. DOSS. I DO KNOW
IN THE BILL THAT IT IS UP TO
1500. IN THIS CASE, WITH THE
MEMBER, 1500, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY
PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION. AS IT
GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE
JUDICIAL DISCRETION AND THE
LIKE. YOU KNOW, IT IS VERY
SIMILAR TO OTHER BILLS WE HAVE
DONE IN TERMS OF THAT DISCRETION
AND PLAY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THIS WOULD BE UP TO 1500. THANK
YOU, MR. DOSS, FOR HIGHLIGHTING
THOSE POINTS. OKAY. I AM NOT
SEEING -- IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. I THINK WE DON'T HAVE
ANY MORE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THERE ARE TWO IN FAVOR IN TWO
ABSTENTIONS.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS
ADOPTED. OKAY. MOVING TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE. I
RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH AS SPONSOR OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. TROOPER AND
MOVED WOMAN COUNCIL BILL 120995
AS PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT THREE.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED ,
NOW SECONDED, THANK YOU VICE
CHAIR, TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT THREE.
MR. DOSS, YOUR RECOGNIZE TO
DESCRIBE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BY WAY
OF BACKGROUND, THIS BILL DEFINES
A GRID DEFEATING -- GRAFFITI
TAGGER AS ANY ENTITY THAT
APPLIES ILLEGAL GRAFFITI TO
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY, OR
WHO ASSISTS OR ENCOURAGES
ANOTHER PERSON OR ENTITY TO DO
THE SAME. AMENDMENT THREE THAT
IS BEFORE YOU WOULD ELIMINATE
THE WORD ENCOURAGE. THAT
LANGUAGE ACCORDING TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, WAS ORIGINALLY ADDED
TO PROVIDE RECOURSE AGAINST
THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE
ONLINE PROMOTION OF GRAFFITI
ART. HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT , THE
WORDING, COULD CONFLICT WITH THE
FIRST AMENDMENT FREE-SPEECH
GUARANTEED RIGHTS , AND THAT
THEY SHOULD NOT PRECLUDE THE
SHARING OF IMAGES AND
INFORMATION ONLINE, EVEN IF THAT
MATERIAL IS FOUND OBJECTIONABLE.
THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT WOULD
STRIKE THE WORD ENCOURAGING . IT
WOULD RETAIN ASSISTANCE. IF
SOMEONE WAS, FOR INSTANCE,
ASSISTING WITH THE APPLICATION
OF GRAFFITI, AND ALSO VIDEO
THAT'S MAKING A VIDEO OF THE
GRAFFITI, THAT WOULD APPLY. BUT
IF THEY ARE JUST MAKING A VIDEO
OF THIS GRAFFITI , OR IF THEY
ARE ENCOURAGING ONLINE , THERE
WOULD BE NO RECOURSE UNDER THIS
AMENDMENT FOR THEM.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DOSS.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR PEERK
GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. MY
INTENT WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING
SEATTLEITES' FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS. INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE
RIGHT TO INTERACT WITH OUR
IMMEDIATE ONLINE. SOMETIMES
SOMEONE MAY INTERACT WITH A COOL
PIECE OF ART THEY DO NOT KNOW IS
ILLEGAL GRAFFITI THAT IS ON
SOMETHING, AND I DON'T BELIEVE
THEY SHOULD FACE LEGAL
REPERCUSSIONS FOR THAT IF THAT
WERE. THE STRIKES -- THE STRIKES
THAT WERE. THANK YOU, MR. DOSS,
FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS AS WELL.
>> OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE? COLLEAGUES?
>> MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY. I
APOLOGIZE. I AM LOGGING ONTO THE
ZOOM ONLINE. I WOULD ASK FOR MY
COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT NICELY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
ABSENT OF SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, I WILL SAY , YOU KNOW,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK THROUGH
THE DIFFERENT ANGLES,
PERSPECTIVES RELATED TO THIS. I
DO KNOW SOCIAL MEDIA, FOR
EXAMPLE, ONE WOULD NOT THINK,
AND I DO NOT ANTICIPATE, THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR CITY
OVERALL, TAKING ANY ACTION ON
THAT. HOWEVER, UNDERSTANDING
YOUR POINT, THAT COULD BE SEEN
AS ENCOURAGEMENT. TO KEEP THINGS
A LITTLE BIT CLEANER, A LITTLE
BIT SIMPLER, I RECOGNIZE WHAT
THIS ACCOMPLISHES AND THE REASON
AND RATIONALE BEHIND IT . AND
SO, I DO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT
. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. WITH THAT --
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHY
ENCOURAGE WAS INCLUDED IN THE
LEGISLATION?
>> THE CITY ATTORNEY INDICATED
THAT, IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA
ENVIRONMENT , THERE ARE SEVERAL
FOLKS WHO TAKE VIDEOS OF
GRAFFITI AND, BY POSTING THOSE
VIDEOS, THEY ARE PROMOTING THE
TAGGER WHO MADE THE ART, OR THE
TAG , AND THE IDEA WAS THAT, IF
YOU COULD GO AFTER THOSE FOLKS
AND HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE AS
WELL, YOU WOULD CREATE --
HOPEFULLY, YOU WOULD CREATE A
DISINCENTIVE FOR FOLKS TO BE
DOING THAT, ENCOURAGING FUTURE
GRAFFITI TAGGING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS HIGHLIGHTS HOW COMPLEX
THE NEW ONLINE WORLD IN WHICH WE
LIVE IN , THAT WE ARE LIVING
WITHIN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
OKAY . WE WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY. AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE
IS ADOPTED. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH
THE THREE AMENDMENTS AS
PRESENTED AND SUPPORTED BY
COMMENTARY AND MR. DOSS. ANY
FINAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED? VICE CHAIR SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION
TODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR . I WANT TO THANK THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR PUTTING
THIS FORWARD. IT IS AN IMPORTANT
FIRST STEP , BUT I ALSO BELIEVE
WE HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO .
ON THE GRAFFITI FRONT, I ALSO
THINK MORE COMPREHENSIVE
LEGISLATION IS WARRANTED TO
BETTER ADDRESS THIS. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT TOOL AND WILL HAVE,
UNDOUBTEDLY, SOME IMPACT I THINK
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO
THAT CAN HAVE POTENTIALLY EVEN
GREATER IMPACT BUT THAT DOESN'T
MEAN WE SHOULDN'T DO THE LITTLE
THINGS. FOR THOSE REASONS, I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL
TODAY AS AMENDED . I WANT TO
THANK YOU AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR PUTTING
THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA.
NEXT UP, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU, ALSO, FOR BRINGING THIS
FOR, AND THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICES
CENTRAL STAFF. TRAFFIC TO FIVE,
I GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT. WITH
SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR EXPLANATION AND
EVERYTHING. I JUST WANT TO SAY
FOR THE RECORD AND NOTE, BECAUSE
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT, YOU
KNOW, SEATTLE HAS A THING THAT,
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE
GRAFFITI OR SO FORTH. WE DO
INVESTMENT ON OUR. ON CAPITAL
HILL AND BELLTOWN AND DOWNTOWN,
THERE IS A TON THAT GOES THROUGH
OUR ART DEPARTMENT FOR PEOPLE TO
CREATE MURALS AND BEAUTIFUL
THINGS. THE SIDE THAT IS NOT
BEEN TOLD IS THAT THERE ARE A
LOT OF SCHOOLS TO PAY HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO
THE ABATEMENT OF TAGGERS THAT I
BELIEVE IS DIFFERENT THAN SOME
TYPE OF GRAFFITI OR ARTWORK.
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS INTENDED TO
ADDRESS. I KNOW THAT I AM A BIG
FAN OF ART AND GRAFFITI IN
PLACES THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE
AT, WHERE IT IS INVITED. BUT
WHEN IT IS ON THE FRIEND OF
BUSINESSES OR SCHOOLS , YOU
KNOW, I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE ALL
THE TIME. THEY SPEND A LOT OF
MONEY CLEANING IT UP AND MAKING
SURE THAT THEIR BUSINESS OR
SCHOOL OR PLACE OF WORSHIP -- I
TALKED TO A TON OF BLACK
CHURCHES THAT GET GRAFFITI ALL
THE TIME. THEY HAVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE -- JUST IMAGINE, YOU
KNOW, OLD CONGREGATION OUT THERE
CLEANING GRAFFITI OFF THEIR
CHURCH CONSTANTLY AND BEING
TARGETED. I THINK THERE IS A
NARRATIVE HERE THAT WE HAVE YET
TO -- THAT DOESN'T GET
HIGHLIGHTED ENOUGH BECAUSE IT IS
LIKE, SEATTLE, THE WAR ON
GRAFFITI. I DON'T THINK THAT IS
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THIS IS
ABOUT HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE
FOR PLACES BEING TAGGED. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN SUPPORT
THE ART IN OUR CITY ALL AROUND,
BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO BEAUTIFY A
LOT OF THE EMPTY SPACES AROUND
HERE AND MAKE SURE WE DO THAT IN
A WAY THAT CREATES A VIBRANT
NEIGHBORHOOD TO OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE
RECORD. THANK YOU ALL FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND
ADDING THOSE POINTS CLEARLY .
GRAFFITI HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE
FOR A LONG TIME. THAT IS WHY IT
IS PILLAR FOUR OF THE STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK PLAN. THIS IDEA OF
LETTING IT GO GOES TO THE
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT.. I AM
GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP, BY THE WAY,
BECAUSE I REMEMBER THIS TIME
LAST YEAR, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE
EXACT DATE, WHEN YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE BLACK CHURCHES
IN OUR CITY AND GETTING TAGGED
IN SOME ELDERLY GENTLEMAN HAVING
TO GO UP THERE THAT SHOULD NOT
BE UP THAT HIGH TRYING TO
ADDRESS THE GRAFFITI. THAT IS
JUST NOT RIGHT. FULL STOP. JUST
NOT RIGHT . THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO
BE ACCOUNTABLE. THAT CHURCH
COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
DEAL WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THAT. PLUS, THE POINT
ABOUT ART AND MURALS. THAT IS
SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS DISCUSSION , THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION,
BECAUSE GRAFFITI IS THE SINGLE
MOST COMMON COMPLAINT IN MY
INBOX WHEN IT COMES TO GROUPS OF
ISSUES THAT INTERRUPT OR
UNDERMINE THE LIVABILITY OF OUR
CITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MY
CONSTITUENTS. I ALSO AM IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE A SMALL BUSINESS .
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
TOUCHED ON THIS. THE LAW
REQUIRES SMALL BUSINESSES , OR
THE PROPERTY OWNER, TO REMOVE
GRAFFITI. THAT IS EXTREMELY
BURDENSOME AND CAN BE EXTREMELY
EXPENSIVE. AND SO, THIS IS ALSO
VERY IMPORTANT. I AM VERY MUCH
HOPING THAT THIS ADVANCES THE
DETERRENCE OF GRAFFITI , NOT THE
PROSECUTION. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
I HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY I
ABSTAINED ON INCREASING THE
AMOUNT FROM 1000 TO 1500. IT IS
SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT IS A 50%
INCREASE, AND I HAD TO BELIEVE
THAT THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT WAS SET
AT 1000 FOR GOOD REASONS THAT
ARE BEYOND MY KNOWLEDGE AND
COMPREHENSION. I WILL CERTAINLY
SAY THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY
EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. FOR EXAMPLE,
IF IT IS ON THE I- 5 SIGNAGE, I
CAN APPRECIATE THERE ARE
INSTANCES WHERE 1500 WOULD BE
MORE THAN WARRANTED, BUT IT IS I
DON'T HAVE EXPERTISE IN
UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERNS WELL.
I THINK IT IS SOMETIMES
DIFFICULT FOR COUNCIL TO MAKE
DECISIONS ON ISSUES LIKE THIS
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF --
I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF,
KNOWLEDGE, ABOUT THE PATTERNS
AND SEVERITY IN THE CASES THAT
HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BY THE
CITY. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE DO
MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN ART
AND GRAFFITI. I DID DOUBLE THE
BUDGET FOR UPLIFT NORTHWEST
CONTRACT TO PERFORM GRAFFITI
ABATEMENT . THAT IS ALSO
PRODUCING JOBS. IT IS SOMETHING
THAT COUNCIL TOUCHES ON IN THE
BUDGET PROCESS AS WELL. AND SO,
IT TAKES ALL MEASURES TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE AND MAKE SURE THAT
OUR CONSTITUENTS UNDERSTAND IT
IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOING ITS
JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FOR. I ALSO THINK
THE CITY ATTORNEY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
UPLIFT NORTHWEST. THEY DO A LOT
OF IMPORTANT WORK, WHICH IS ALSO
A GOOD POINT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
THE WORK DONE BY THE EXECUTIVE,
MR. JACKSON, AND THE TEAM THAT
DOES THE CITY'S WORK IN TERMS
OF THE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT. THAT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. BY THE WAY,
WE SHOULD BE ADVOCATING, SINCE
YOU MENTIONED , THE STATE AND
ITS ROLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE
STATE IS GOING TO BE DRAWING
DOWN A LITTLE BIT THEIR ABILITY
TO DO ABATEMENT ON STATE LANDS,
YOU KNOW, LIKE I-5 , AND SO
FORTH. AS NOTED LAST WEEK IN THE
BRIEFING, OR IN THE COMMENTS,
GRAFFITI ALL OVER A SIGN IS A
PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT IN ITSELF.
THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THOSE
THINGS. OKAY. FOR ME, CLEARLY,
GRAFFITI HAS BEEN PART OF OUR
EFFORTS, MY EFFORTS PERSONALLY,
SINCE DAY ONE. THAT IS WHY IT IS
PILLAR FOUR OF THE STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK PLAN. WHAT WE DO OR DO
NOT DO ON GRAFFITI, I KNOW
OTHERS SAY, HEY, DON'T DO
ANYTHING, LIVE AND LET LIVE AND
SO FORTH. BUT IT MAKES A
STATEMENT. IT MAKES A STATEMENT
REGARDING THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT. AND MAKES A
STATEMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT ELSE
IS ALLOWED . THAT IS THE REASON
WHY IT BECAME A PILLAR OF THE
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN. WE DO
NEED TO DO MORE WORK. IT HAS
TAKEN, ARGUABLY, TOO LONG TO GET
TO THIS POINT. TO THE POINT OF
VICE CHAIR SAKA, THERE IS
ADDITIONAL WORK THAT CAN BE
DONE. WE WILL LOOK TO DO THAT. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE TO PRESS, I WOULDN'T
CHARACTERIZE THIS AS LITTLE, BUT
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE PRESS
ACROSS ALL FRONTS RELATED TO
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IN THIS CASE,
GRAFFITI. I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. SINCE IT HAS BEEN
HIGHLIGHTED, THANK YOU TO THE
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT
SUPPORT , LIKE UPLIFT NORTHWEST.
ALSO, THANK YOU TO THE ART
ORGANIZATIONS. THERE ARE SOME
BEAUTIFUL MURALS ALL THROUGHOUT
THE CITY . THERE IS A CERTAIN
RESPECT WITHIN THE TAGGER WORLD
WHERE , PARTICULARLY ARTISTS
THAT ARE RESPECTED, THOSE MURALS
DON'T GET TOUCHED. I LOVE THE
PROLIFERATION OF THE HENRY
MURALS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY TOO,
WHICH I HAVE BEEN SEEING
RECENTLY ON FIRST HILL. THESE
ARE IMPORTANT. BUT OVERALL, IT
IS ABOUT, AGAIN, BRINGING IT
TOGETHER WITH THE CONCEPT THAT
CAN BE BUILT UPON TO THEN AFFECT
OUR GREATER EFFORTS IN PUBLIC
SAFETY. MINDFUL TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENTOR, THERE ARE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF PUBLIC SAFETY , OR
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRAFFITI . WE
NEED TO WORK THOSE ISSUES AS
WELL. WE CAN FIND A FIX IT, BUT
ALSO THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THAT WORK.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW TOO, WE
HAVE THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION IN THE AUDIENCE
TODAY. THIS IS ANOTHER AREA
WHERE THE COMMUNITIES CAN STAND
UP AND HIGHLIGHT THIS CHALLENGE
WE ARE FACING MOVING FORWARD.
WITH THAT ALL SAID, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120995 AS AMENDED?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE BILL PASSES AMENDED WILL BE
SENT TO THE JULY 15 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. DOSS, FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
IN ITEM NUMBER ONE ON OUR
AGENDA. WE NOW HAVE DIRECTOR
NOBLE OF CENTRAL STAFF JOINING
US FOR THE SECOND ITEM ON THE
AGENDA, WHICH I WILL NOW MOVE TO
THE SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> ORDINANCE RELATING TO CHRONIC
NUISANCE PROPERTY; ALLOWING,
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AN
OFF PROPERTY NUISANCE ACTIVITY
TO COUNT TOWARDS DETERMINING
THAT A PROPERTY IS A CHRONIC
NUISANCE ; AMENDING SECTIONS
10.09.010 AND 10.09.030 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, CLERK. ALSO,
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE, FOR
JOINING US TODAY. PLEASE GET
THAT WATER. WE HAD A BRIEFING ON
THIS BILL LAST WEEK, SO TO GET
THE PROCESS STARTED, I WILL MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 121006 .
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
THE BILL . AT THIS TIME, WE WILL
CONSIDER EACH AMENDMENT. I WILL
RECOGNIZE A SPONSOR TO MOVE
THEIR AMENDMENT, AND AFTER A
SECOND, CENTRAL STAFF, DIRECTOR
NOBLE, WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
OF THE AMENDMENT BEFORE THE
SPONSOR ADDRESSES IT. OKAY. WITH
THAT, WE WILL GO TO AMENDMENT
ONE OKAY. WITH THAT, WE WILL GO
TO AMENDMENT 1B.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRPERSON MOVED
TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121006 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT 1B.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND,
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA. NOW
TO DIRECTOR NOBLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS AMENDMENT IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AND TRANSPARENT.
IT WOULD ADD TWO FINDINGS TO
SECTION 1 OF THE ORDINANCE.
THESE ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL RATIONALE FOR THE
UNDERLYING ORDINANCE ITSELF. IN
ADDITION, THERE IS A SUBSEQUENT
AMENDMENT THAT FOCUSES AROUND
SOME NUISANCES THAT ARE
GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND THESE
CALL OUT THE FACT THAT NUISANCE
PROPERTY AND RESIDENTIAL ZONES
IS ALSO AN ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY
ONE OF CONCERN. THAT IS
PARTICULARLY FINDING LITERACY ON
THE SECOND OF THE TWO. HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
VICE CHAIR SAKA, A SPONSOR, I
RECOGNIZE YOU TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAMFER
COLLEAGUES, THIS PROVIDES
MUCH-NEEDED CLARITY AND CONTEXT
FOR THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION BUILDING OFF THE
WORK FROM THIS COUNCIL AND THIS
MAYOR THAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND
IT SPANNING THE FIRE CHIEF'S
ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION AND
SPECIFICALLY ABATE UNSAFE PUBLIC
NUISANCE PROPERTIES THAT POSE A
FIRE HAZARD . I VIEW THIS AS THE
NEXT ITERATION OF THAT . AND SO,
ALL IT DOES IS EXPAND OR CLARIFY
AS MUCH . FOR THOSE REASONS, I
ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA.
OKAY. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 1B?
COLLEAGUES? VICE CHAIR, I WANTED
TO KNOW -- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY , AS
SOMEONE WHO CAME TO CITY COUNCIL
FROM COMMUNITY WHERE, IN THAT
SENSE, I WAS ALSO WORKING PUBLIC
SAFETY SIMILAR TO WHAT I AM
DOING NOW FROM A CITYWIDE
PERSPECTIVE, AND WE OFTENTIMES
HAD , AS NOTED, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES THAT WERE
CONTRIBUTING TO OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES THAT WE WERE
FACING, USUALLY THROUGH NEGLECT
, AND THEN BEING TAKEN OVER .
OFTENTIMES, WITH THE INTERFACE
WITH THE DRUG TRADE . AS NOTED,
WHEN WE HAVE THAT, OFTENTIMES WE
HAVE STOLEN GOODS , AND
OFTENTIMES WE HAVE PROSTITUTION,
SEX TRAFFICKING. IS SO, THESE
CHALLENGES ARE NOW THOUGH SIMPLY
THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH, AS
NOTED IN THE VACANT BUILDING
ABATEMENT BILL. THOSE WORKING
THROUGH THE SDCI PROCESS AND THE
DILIGENCE TO WORK THOSE PIECES.
I WOULD KNOW TOO THAT
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ALSO GET
A LOT OF 911 REPEATED CALLS.
THERE IS THE UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT IS DRIVING THAT IS KEY. I
APPRECIATE THIS PIECE AND
HIGHLIGHTING WHERE THESE CHRONIC
NUISANCE PROPERTIES MAY
ORIGINATE FROM , VICE CHAIR. I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ONE.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THIS BASICALLY ALLOWS THE
CITY TO DECLARE A RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY A NUISANCE PROPERTY, IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> -- AND THEN TAKE STEPS TO
ABATE?
>> THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T DO
THAT. THE UNDERLYING ORDINANCE,
THE EXISTING CITY CODE,
CERTAINLY WOULD ALLOW THAT.
DOESN'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES. IF A RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS,
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE LIST OF
THINGS THAT CONSTITUTE A
NUISANCE. THEY COULD BE SUBJECT
TO AN ABATEMENT , ORDER, IF YOU
WILL, AND ULTIMATELY IT CAN BE
BACKED UP IN COURT. SO YES, IF
IT MEETS THE CRITERIA , THERE IS
NO REASON A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
COULDN'T BE PURPOSELY TARGETED
IN THIS WAY.
>> THIS SIMPLY SAYS WE NEED MORE
TOOLS TO DEAL WITH THIS.
>> YES.
>> BUT DOESN'T DEFINE THE
SPECIFIC TOOLS.
>> THIS ORDINANCE, ITSELF, EVEN
IN THE ORIGINAL FORM WITHOUT ANY
FURTHER AMENDMENT, DOES EXPAND
THE LIST OF THINGS THAT
CONSTITUTE A NUISANCE. IN THAT
SENSE, IT DOES REPRESENT AN
EXPANSION OF THOSE TOOLS. THE
FINDING MAKE SENSE EVEN AS THE
BASE BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> VICE CHAIR, DO YOU WANT TO
ADD ANYTHING?
>> I WILL JUST SAY, IT DOESN'T,
AS NOTED, IT DOESN'T EXPAND ON
THAT AUTHORITY. THE ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE ALREADY DOESN'T
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL
AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. IT
JUST CLARIFIES WHAT IS POSSIBLE
UNDER A SPECIFIC FINDING OF FACT
AND DECLARATION OF THE CITY AND
THIS COUNCIL. I THINK, FOR MY
RECOLLECTION, THE EXECUTIVE HAS
REPORTED THAT SINCE 2009 OF THE
12 OR 13, UP TO 17 CHRONIC
NUISANCE DECLARATIONS BY THE
CHIEF , ABRUPTLY ONE, MAYBE TWO,
WERE FROM RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES. AND SO, YOU KNOW,
CAN REASONABLY EXPECT ROUGHLY
THE SAME , PROBABLY, ON A GOING
FORWARD BASIS. THREE OF THOSE 17
WERE RESIDENTIAL . THE CLARIFIES
THAT I AM LOOKING AT DEPUTY
MAYOR BURGESS IN THE BACKGROUND,
WHO HAS CONFIRMED THERE IS, IN
FACT, THREE OF THE 17 SINCE THE
ORIGINAL BILL WAS PASSED. AGAIN,
JUST CLARIFY WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. YOU
KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT THESE PROPERTIES DO HAVE --
LIKE VICE CHAIR NOTED, THERE ARE
PROCESSES THAT GO BEHIND THESE
IN TERMS OF THE CALLS THAT COME
IN, THE DOCUMENTATION AND THE
LIKE. AS A FINDING, YOU ARE
HIGHLIGHTING, EMPHASIZING
ESSENTIALLY, THAT YOU DON'T
DEFAULT TO CERTAIN TYPES OF
PROPERTIES . IT IS A BROADER
LIST. THAT IS HOW I TOOK IT .
THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING
NONE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT 1B?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> OKAY. AMENDMENT 1B IS
ADOPTED. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE VICE CHAIR SAKA FOR
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
>> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121006 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
NUMBER TWO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TO. -- TWO. DIRECTOR
NOBLE -- I'M STILL IN THE
PREVIOUS ITEM. DIRECTOR NOBLE,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO DESCRIBE
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
>> I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THIS
AMENDMENT HAS A CERTAIN DACIA
VIEW ASPECT TO IT. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD INCREASE THE
FINES AND PENALTIES AVAILABLE,
IF YOU WILL, UNDER EXISTING FOR
VIOLATIONS OF THE NUISANCE
PROPERTY . IN PARTICULAR, IT
WOULD INCREASE THEM BY 50%.
THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT.
SINCE 2009, SO THIS BILL WAS
FIRST ADOPTED IN 2009 AND THE
PENALTY LEVELS WERE SET THEN AT
$500 PER DAY FOR THE PERSON IN
CHARGE IF THEY DO NOT COOPERATE,
AND THEN UP TO $25,000 FOR THE
OWNER IF THEY FAIL TO COMPLY. IF
YOU DO THE MATH, WHICH I HAVE
DONE, INFLATION SINCE 2009,
THEIR DIFFERENT MEASURES OF
INFLATION, BUT 50% TO 60% IS
CLEAR IN TERMS OF THE INFLATION
IMPACT SINCE 2009. THESE
INCREASE BY 50% TO REFLECT THE
IMPACT OF INFLATION SINCE THE
BILL'S ORIGINAL ADOPTION . I
WOULD ADD, AS WELL, AND I
BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUE HAS TOO,
THESE ARE THE MAXIMUM FINES. IT
IS ULTIMATELY UP TO A JUDGE TO
MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE
APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CIVIL
PENALTY TO IMPOSE. THIS
OBVIOUSLY WOULD INCREASE THOSE
MAXIMUMS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE .
VICE CHAIR SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN
DIRECTOR NOBLE, FOR PROVIDING
THAT CONTEXT. I GENERALLY WOULD
AGREE THAT THIS PROPOSED
AMENDMENT DIVIDES A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF DEJA VU WITH RESPECT
TO SOME OF THE PENALTY
AMENDMENTS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED IN
THE PRIOR BILL, BUT I WOULD
CHARACTERIZE THESE AS BEING
SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT , BOTH
IN THE CONTEXT AND THE IMPACT .
WHILE ON THE ONE HAND THEY BOTH
PURPORT TO INCREASE THE PENALTY
, UNLIKE THE LAST BILL WHERE IT
WAS JUST A BLANKET RAISE
INCREASE OF THE PENALTY, THIS
INCREASES THE PENALTY BECAUSE OF
INFLATION. IF WE ARE GOING ABOUT
THE EFFORTS OF PURSUING PILLAR
NUMBER, WHAT IS IT? FOUR UNDER
THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO
ADDRESS THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT, AND UPDATING OUR
BILLS, WE MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD
AND UPDATE THE PENALTY AMOUNTS
TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION. AND
SO, SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT, IN
OTHER WORDS IN THE WHOLE
RATIONALE AND GOAL HERE. ALL IT
IS, I WISH IT WERE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THIS, BUT JUST
UPDATING TO REFLECT INFLATION.
FOR THOSE REASONS, I ASKED FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO? SEEING
NONE RIGHT NOW, I WILL NOTE ,
VICE CHAIR, IT IS INTERESTING .
THE VACANT BUILDING ABATEMENT
BILL IS KIND OF ALSO FROM A
DIFFERENT ANGLE, THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR NOBLE FOR YOUR POINT,
ALSO FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE IN
TERMS OF THAT BILL GAVE
AUTHORITIES TO THE FIRE CHIEF
THE GOT THE OWNER'S ATTENTION .
THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, TO
THE POINT HE HAS WORKED WITH THE
OWNERS AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO
GREAT EFFECT. WE HAVE ABATED SO
MANY BUILDINGS THAT WERE A
PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT. POINT
BEING IS THAT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE
TO GET THE OWNERS ATTENTION.
AGAIN, THIS IS UP TO THE 37 500
NUMBER WILL GET THE OWNER'S
ATTENTION IN A WAY BETTER THAN
OTHERS. BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE DO
HAVE ABSENTEE OWNERS. THEY COULD
BEFORE AND . WE HAVE OUR
CHALLENGES HERE GETTING
ATTENTION TO THESE PROPERTIES
THAT NEED ATTENTION, THESE
CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES. FOR
THAT REASON, I SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT. ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, IN
CASE, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE THERE IS
A RATIONAL REASON. THE -- NOT
THAT THE OTHER ONE WAS A
RATIONAL, BUT IT HELPS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO
THESE FEES, FINES, PUNISHMENTS,
ET CETERA FROM THE PASTOR NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
EXPLAINING THE RATIONALE FOR
THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SEEING NO OTHER HANDS . WE WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] THREE IN FAVOR
AND ONE ABSTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. AMENDMENT TO IS
ADOPTED. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
ONTO AMENDMENT THREE . VICE
CHAIR SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MISINTERPRET I
MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121006 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
THREE.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE. CENTRAL STAFF IS
RECOGNIZED TO DESCRIBE AMENDMENT
NUMBER THREE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. TAKE A STEP
BACK BEFORE HE DIVE INTO THE
DETAILS. JUST TO REFLECT THE
UNDERLYING COUNCIL BILL BEFORE
YOU DOES TWO THINGS. THE MOST
FUNDAMENTAL THING IS TO EXPAND
THE DEFINITION OF NOOSES TO
INCLUDE POTENTIAL OFF-SITE
ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, IT DOES
ADD -- AND THERE IS A LIST, IF
YOU LOOK IN THE BILL ITSELF ,
THERE IS A LIST OF WHAT THOSE
ACTIVITIES ARE. IT ALSO ASKED TO
THAT LIST. IN PARTICULAR, IT
ADDS LIQUOR OFFENSES. THE IDEA
THAT THOSE AFTER-HOURS OR
ILLEGAL SERVING IS ANOTHER
REASON THE CITY MIGHT WANT TO
DECLARE A PROPERTY A NUISANCE
PROPERTY. AGAIN, THE UNDERLYING
BILL DOES TWO THINGS, MOVES TO
OFF-SITE, THE BUT ALSO EXPANDS
THE DEFINITION OF ACTIVITIES.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD FOCUS ON
THE LATTER AND ADD SOME
ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO THE LIST OF
POTENTIAL NUISANCES. IN
PARTICULAR, CRIMES ASSOCIATED
WITH POSSESSION OR TRAFFICKING
IN STOLEN GOODS COULD BE ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE --
THERE ARE THREE NUISANCES WITHIN
A SET PERIOD OF TIME , OR SEVEN
AND A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME,
THAT IS THE QUALIFYING CRITERIA.
THIS WOULD ADD TRAFFICKING ,
POSSESSION OR TRAFFICKING OF
STOLEN GOODS AS ONE OF THOSE
ITEMS. IT WOULD ALSO ADD
VIOLATIONS OF LAWS WITH CRUELTY
TO ANIMALS, VIOLATIONS OF KING
COUNTY, CITY AND KING COUNTY
REGULATIONS RELATED TO GARBAGE
AND WASTE DISPOSAL. ALSO, HEALTH
REGULATIONS RELATED TO RODENT
CONTROL AND VIOLATIONS OF THE
CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE. THOSE
ARE FIVE ADDITIONAL THINGS ,
MAYBE SIX IF YOU COUNT WASTED
SEPARATELY. THE IDEA IS FOCUSING
ON THE KINDS OF NUISANCES
ASSOCIATED WITH RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES , AND THAT YOU WOULD
ADD THESE ITEMS AS THINGS THAT
COULD BECOME EVIDENCE OF A
NUISANCE PROPERTY. AGAIN, THE
CITY WOULD NEED TO DOCUMENT AT
LEAST THREE NUISANCE ACTIVITIES
IN A SET PERIOD OF TIME, AND
THESE ACTIVITIES WOULD THEN BE
ELIGIBLE TO BE EVIDENCE OF A
NUISANCE PROPERTY . I AM NOT
SURE WHAT MORE I CAN SAY. HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. ONE THING I
WOULD SAY, TO SEE WHAT OTHER
LOCAL CITIES ARE DOING. AND
SHORELINE, EVERETT AND TACOMA ,
I CAN SAY THESE ARE ALL LISTED
IN EVERY CITY, BUT THEY ARE
AMONG THE SORTS OF THINGS
IDENTIFIED. I THINK IT IS PRETTY
CLEAR THE FOCUS HERE IS MORE
AROUND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
THAT FALL INTO SOME LEVEL OF
DISREPAIR, AND IN PARTICULAR,
POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
VICE CHAIR SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, THANK
YOU DIRECTOR NOBLE. THIS EXPANDS
THE DEFINITION OF ACTIONS THAT
-- AND ACTIVITIES THAT
CONSTITUTE A CHRONIC NUISANCE
BUT I BELIEVE THE CURRENT
NUISANCE LEGISLATION CAN BE
IMPROVED BY ADDING IN VIOLATIONS
TO BETTER ADDRESS THE BROADER
ECOSYSTEM OF PROBLEMATIC
ESTABLISHMENTS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS .
WHAT I HAVE PUT FORWARD TODAY
ARE ADDITIONS THAT ARE NOT NEW
OR NOVEL IN ANY MATERIAL RESPECT
AND HAVE THOUGHTFULLY LOOKED AT
BEST PRACTICES FROM HER OWN
STATE CODE . OTHER ASPECTS OF
CITY CODE, OTHER CITIES ACROSS
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. I WANT
TO THANK DIRECTOR NOBLE IN THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO I
WORKED WITH CLOSELY, AND PUTTING
TOGETHER ALL OF MY AMENDMENTS.
BUT ONE THING I LEARNED IS, IN
2009 WHEN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE
WAS PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL, IT
WAS CONSIDERED PIONEERING, FIRST
OF ITS KIND, IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, AT LEAST, AND OTHER
CITIES ACROSS THE STATE ADOPTED
THEIR OWN NUISANCE ORDINANCES
THAT, LO AND BEHOLD, LOOKED AN
AWFUL LOT LIKE SEATTLE 'S,
ALTHOUGH THEY ADDED OTHER
FEATURES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
THEIR OWN CITIES AND TOWNS ARE
EXPERIENCING. ALTHOUGH DIRECTOR
NOBLE DID NOT COMPILE THE LIST,
I STILL HAVE A LIST. I WILL
SHARE, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT NEW OR
NOVEL IN ANY MATERIAL RESPECT. I
THINK THE CLOSEST CITY THAT
THESE ARE MODELED AFTER THAT
INCLUDES THE NEXUS OF MANY, BUT
NOT ALL, OF THE ADDITIONS AS THE
CITY OF TACOMA. FOR CLARITY,
AGAIN, OTHER CITIES HAVE
EXPANDED THEIR CODE INTO THESE
POLICY AREAS, INCLUDING, FOR THE
POSSESSION OF TRAFFICKING IN
STOLEN GOODS. THAT INCLUDES
CITIES OF SHORELINE AND TACOMA,
ANIMAL CODE VIOLATIONS ,
INCLUDES CITIES OF EVERETT,
SHORELINE, SUNNYSIDE AND TACOMA
, VIOLATIONS RELATED TO GARBAGE,
WASTE AND SANITATION INCLUDE
TACOMA AND BREMERTON , NOT
LIMITED TO, BY THE WAY. THIS IS
JUST A SAMPLING. WATER CONTROL
ISSUES INCLUDING -- INCLUDE CITY
OF SHORELINE . NOISE VIOLATIONS
INCLUDE SPOKANE . AGAIN,
NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST OF BEST
PRACTICES FROM OTHER CITIES. WE
ARE PIONEERING AT THE TIME WHEN
WE PASSED OUR PUBLIC NUISANCE,
CHRONIC NUISANCE, PROPERTY
LEGISLATION. OTHER CITIES PAST
IT AND HAVE GIVEN IT MORE TIME.
MORE THOUGHT. WE MIGHT AS WELL
UPDATE TO REFLECT REGIONAL BEST
PRACTICES . PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD , FAIRLY BENIGN
. JUST ADOPTING WHAT MANY OTHER
CITIES HAVE DONE. WE LEAD A LOT,
NOT ALWAYS, AND -- ANYWAY, FOR
THOSE REASONS, I ASKED FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD IN
PUTTING TOGETHER THIS LIST. I
HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER
QUESTIONS. WHAT A PRIVATE
PROPERTY OWNER WHO MIGHT BE
VICTIM OF, LIKE, CHRONIC GARBAGE
DISPOSAL ON THEIR PROPERTY,
WOULD THEY BE CONSIDERED THE
NUISANCE UNDER THIS ? COULD THEY
BE CONSIDERED THE NUISANCE
PROPERTY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE
NOT THE ONES COMMITTING THIS
LEGAL DUMPING ACT?
>> I SUPPOSE IN THE ABSTRACT,
YES. BUT AGAIN, KNOWING THE DUE
PROCESS THAT IS PROVIDED, I
WOULD EXPECT THAT IS NOT WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN. THE LEGAL DUMPING
IS LISTED HERE BECAUSE ,
ACCUMULATION OF TRASH ON ONE'S
OWN PROPERTY IS EFFECTIVE --
EFFECTIVELY ILLEGAL DUMPING.
THAT IS THE VIOLATION . BUT
AGAIN, IF YOU'RE BEING DUMPED
UPON, I THINK -- AND CAN EXPLAIN
THAT, IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THE CITY
WOULD GO THROUGH. WHAT WITH THE
APPROPRIATE ABATEMENT BE? I
DON'T WANT TO GIVE A FALSE
SENSE HERE. THIS LEGISLATION
DOES SIGNIFICANTLY EMPOWER THE
EXECUTIVE, ULTIMATELY, REQUIRING
THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ENFORCE. A
LOT OF DISCRETION INHERENT IN
THE SPELL. THAT HAS BEEN THE
CASE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
>> I UNDERSTAND. THE ONE THING
THAT COMES TO MY MIND ALSO TOO
IS THE POTENTIAL OF, LIKE, I SEE
THE RODENT CONTROL. OFTENTIMES,
WHEN DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS,
RODENTS FIND A NEW HOME. IF
YOU'RE SITUATED BETWEEN TWO
UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED,
YOUR PROPERTY BECAUSE IMPACTED
BY THAT. DOES THAT DEEM THAT
PROPERTY -- THERE IS A LOT OF
DISCRETION AND A LOT OF GRAY
AREA.
>> TMI ARE NOT, BUT YEAH, I HAVE
AN ALLEY AND THE RATS IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, I SEE THEM. IT IS
A REALITY IN A CITY. I THINK IT
IS A QUESTION OF HOW THESE LAWS
ARE USED AND IMPLEMENTED. WILL
WE HAVE ON THAT FRONT IS THE
TRACK RECORD TO DATE, BUT IT
WILL BE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES
GOING FORWARD IN RELATIVE POWER.
IT IS HARD TO KNOW THAT THE PAST
WILL PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT THE
CITY HAS BEEN -- HAS USED THESE
POWERS WITH DISCRETION.
>> UNDERSTOOD. I APPRECIATE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THE NOD TO
PREVENTING CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
THAT IS BIG FOR ME AS WELL. I
THINK OUR LAWS, AND I WANT TO
LOOK INTO THAT, I THINK THE LAW
IS A LITTLE TOO LAX IN OUR STATE
AND CITY, PARTICULARLY FOR
ANIMAL ABUSE. THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING ALL THAT IN THERE. I
WILL SAY, AND I KNOW I HAVE
ABSTAINED ON TWO THINGS , ON
THIS ONE, I'M STILL HAVING
TROUBLE ADDING THOSE, JUST
BECAUSE IT GIVES THE POWER OF
DISCRETION TO THE EXECUTIVE OR
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY -- EXCUSE
ME, TO THE EXECUTIVE.
>> ULTIMATELY, THE EXECUTIVES
CAN TAKE THE FIRST ACTION, BUT
ENFORCEMENT REQUIRES THE CITY
ATTORNEY. IN TERMS OF
DISCRETION, THE EXECUTIVE ALONE
CANNOT FORCE AN ISSUE PAST A
CERTAIN -- IF THERE IS
RESISTANCE FROM THE SUBJECT,
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE
IN COURT AND MAKE A CASE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU, MR.
NOBLE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, FOR BRINGING THIS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> DIRECTOR NOBLE, YOU SAID A
MOMENT AGO "A LOT OF DISCRETION
INHERENT IN THIS BILL." I DON'T
WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT AND
SAY, DO YOU THINK IT IS TOO MUCH
DISCRETION? BUT WHAT WERE YOU
TRYING TO GET OUT?
>> THE WAY THIS WORKS, THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF IT FINDS
EVIDENCE OF THREE NUISANCE --
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS
AN EXTENSION OF THE EXECUTIVE,
FINDS EVIDENCE OF THREE NUISANCE
VIOLATIONS, THEY CAN PROCEED TO
ABATEMENT ACTIONS. AND NOW, THAT
INCLUDES OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES.
THAT EVIDENCE, DEPENDING ON THE
NATURE OF IT, CAN BE RELATIVELY
EASY TO ASSEMBLE OR NOT. I
DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW. IT IS A
DECISION ON THE PART OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY
POTENTIAL NUISANCE AND SEEK THAT
DOCUMENTATION IF THEY HAVE IT IN
PLACE. THERE IS NOT A
REQUIREMENT THAT SOME OF THE --
THAT SOMEBODY BE CONVICTED OF A
CRIME, OR EVEN THAT THERE BE A
CHARGE. IT IS A POLICE REPORT.
THAT MAKES SENSE. THE TIME IT
TAKES TO GET TO PROSECUTION ,
NEVERMIND A CONVICTION, THAT IS
PROBABLY NOT A REASONABLE
STANDARD IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
ADDRESS A NUISANCE PROPERTY. IN
TERMS OF ONLY A SET OF
COMPLAINTS AND POLICE REPORT
THAT CAN BECOME EVIDENCE. IT IS
NOT SOMETHING, ITSELF,
ADJUDICATED. THAT IS A FAIR
AMOUNT OF DISCRETION. AND AGAIN,
THE CITY HAS DEMONSTRATED IN THE
PAST 10 PLUS YEARS, MORE LIKE 15
YEARS, THAT POWER HAS BEEN USED
DISCREETLY WITH DISCRETION. THAT
IS THE NOTION.
>> OKAY. CHAIR, MAY I ADDRESS
THE QUESTION TO THE SPONSOR?
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> HOW CAN WE EXPECT OUR
OFFICERS TO KNOW WHAT COUNTY
CODE IS? THAT IS THE ONE THING
GETTING ME HERE THAT WE ARE
ASKING FOR. THEY WILL BE HELD --
WE ARE ASKING CITY EMPLOYEES TO,
THEREFORE, -- GO AHEAD. YOUR
SHAKING YOUR HEAD. CLEARLY, I AM
NOT UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING.
>> I HAVE A POINT OF VIEW ON
THIS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I
DON'T THINK PASSAGE OF THIS
BILL, AS AMENDED, INCLUDING MY
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE,
ISN'T GOING TO SHIFT A HUGE NEW
COMPLIANCE BURDEN FOR FRONT-LINE
RANKING OFFICERS TO ALL THE
SUDDEN UNDERSTAND ALL THE
CRITERIA AND ELEMENTS AND
DIMENSIONS OF THIS BILL. THAT IS
WHY THERE IS COMMAND STAFF,
LAWYERS EMBEDDED WITHIN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS THEIR
EXPERTISE AND RESPONSIBILITY. I
THINK THIS BILL WOULD EMPOWER,
FIRST, THE EXECUTIVE THROUGH THE
POLICE CHIEF TO MAKE THAT
INITIAL DETERMINATION. THAT IS A
THRESHOLD CONDITION. THAT IS A
PREREQUISITE IN ORDER FOR ANY
ACTION, IF ANY , TAKEN PURSUANT
TO THIS NEW BILL. THEN THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WOULD HAVE TO
-- THERE ARE CHECKS AND BALANCES
INHERENT IN THE BILL, BUT THE
INTENT, PURPOSE AND GOAL OF MY
PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AND I THINK
THE BROADER BILL, ISN'T TO
IMPOSE NEW COMPLIANCE BURDEN ON
FRONT-LINE RANK-AND-FILE
OFFICERS. THAT IS NOT HOW THIS
WOULD OPERATE. BUT I DEFER TO
DIRECTOR NOBLE FOR ANY COMMENTS
OR PERSPECTIVES HE MAY OFFER.
>> THERE IS OTHER LANGUAGE IN
THE AMENDMENT THAT MIGHT SPEAK
TO THE ISSUE SPECIFICALLY. AT
THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE
SECTION DEFINITION, NUISANCE
ACTIVITY -- I'M GOING TO REPORT
NUISANCE ACTIVITY MEANS ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING BEHAVIORS THAT
RESULT IN A POLICE INCIDENT
REPORT. WHAT IS BEING ADDED NOW
WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS, IN
ADDITION TO A POLICE REPORT, OR
DOCUMENTATION OF THE OFFENSE
WRITTEN AND FILED BY OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS OR PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE KING COUNTY. THE NOTION
HERE IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
VIOLATIONS OF THESE HEALTH CODE
LIKE THINGS THAT THEY,
THEMSELVES, WOULD HAVE BEEN
GIVEN SOME KIND OF -- THERE
WOULD BE PAPERWORK. SOMEONE
WOULD BE GIVEN A REPORT THEY HAD
VIOLATED WHATEVER THIS
PARTICULAR RULE MIGHT BE. WITHIN
THE CITY, THAT CAN BE SDCI
HAVING ENGAGE IN SOME LEVEL OF
ENFORCEMENT , IT COULD BE KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. WHAT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE
DOING, POTENTIALLY, VERY MUCH A
CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BOTH IN
PRACTICE AND POTENTIAL AMENDMENT
TO THE BILL, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WORKS FOR THE CITY'S
-- CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE
KNOW A NUISANCE, THIS IS THE
DOCUMENTATION WE HAVE BUT I CAN
IMAGINE, IS THERE ANY OTHER
DOCUMENTATION? IT IS IN THAT
PROCESS THEY WOULD IDENTIFY
WHETHER , DOCUMENTATION OF
OFFENSE WRITTEN FILE BY OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS OR PUBLIC
HEALTH. THAT IS THE NOTION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
, DIRECTOR NOBLE . I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
POINT .
>> WHAT YOU MEAN?
>> WHEN I READ THIS BILL, I
NOTED THAT STOLEN GOODS. ALREADY
MENTIONED ONCE YOU HAVE A DRUG
MARKET, YOU HAVE STOLEN GOODS.
THAT IS A DEFINITE ISSUE RELATED
TO CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES,
OFTENTIMES. AND THEN, THE ISSUE
WAS THE OTHER PIECES RELATED TO
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT
, YOU KNOW, SPD. LIKE SDCI IN
THIS CASE, OR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION. AND
THEN, WE HAVE OUTSIDE OF CITY
ENTITIES IN TERMS OF KING COUNTY
PIECES. I HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS
RELATED TO THIS AMENDMENT,
RELATED TO THAT PIECE OF IT. IN
TERMS OF THE EXPANSION OF THESE
PIECES , BECAUSE THEY INVOLVE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS , NOT JUST
SPD, BUT SDCI , OR IN THE
COUNTY, THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND
THAT SIDE OF THINGS AS WELL. TO
THE POINT OF THE AMENDMENT, THE
KEY FACT IS -- I'M LOOKING FOR
THE LINKAGES. WITH THE VACANT
BUILDINGS AMENDMENT BILL WE DID
LAST YEAR, WE HAD THE SDCI
PROCESS, AND THEN A HANDOFF TO
FIRE. I GUESS TO VICE CHAIR, WE
HAVE SIMILAR THINGS HERE WITH
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, THE HEALTH
PIECES, RODENT CONTROL AND THOSE
PIECES . AND SO, THE LINK , AND
THIS IS SOMETHING I OVERLOOKED
INITIALLY, THE LINK TO BRING
INTO THIS IS THAT THOSE PIECES
HAVE TO GENERATE A POLICE
INCIDENT REPORT, BASICALLY, A
911 CALL . IS THAT THE LINK AND
YOU ARE DOING? -- LINKAGE YOU
ARE DOING? HOW DOES IT GET
CONNECTED TO SPD?
>> I WILL LET DIRECTOR NOBLE
COMMENT ON THIS AS WELL. THE
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE
CITY THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENFORCING , TAKE RODENT CONTROL
FOR EXAMPLE -- THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD CAPTURE THAT AS A PROBLEM,
AND THE OPENING LANGUAGE FOR
EXPANDING THE ACTIVITY WOULD SAY
ANY DOCUMENTATION . ULTIMATELY,
ANY DOCUMENTATION ASSOCIATED
WITH RODENT CONTROL, IN THIS
CASE. ULTIMATELY, THE CALL WOULD
BE MADE BY THE EXECUTIVE ,
PRIMARILY THROUGH THE POLICE
CHIEF. BUT IN CLOSE CONSULTATION
WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS,
WHETHER IT IS SDCI OR OTHER
DEPARTMENTS THAT ENFORCE
WHATEVER PROVISION OF THE
EXPANDED LIST .
>> THE REASON I ASKED THAT IS
BECAUSE IN SECTION 2 IT TALKS
ABOUT THE EXECUTION OF A SEARCH
WARRANT, AND THEN SECTION 1
UNDER THE DEFINITIONS , A
PROPERTY IN WHICH THREE OR MORE
NUISANCE ACTIVITIES, AS DEFINED
, WHICH I HAVE BEEN DEFAULTING
TO A 911 CALL. THAT MAY BE THE
CHALLENGE THAT I AM GETTING TO.
AND YOU SPEAK TO THAT? I AM
LOOKING FOR THE LINKAGES.
>> MAY BE A FULL STEP BACK , AND
THE SPONSOR CAN CORRECT ME IF I
GET THIS WRONG. THIS IS STILL, I
THINK THE EXPECTATION HERE, EVEN
ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, IS THAT
THERE IS SOME CRIMINAL LEVEL OF
ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
NUISANCE PROPERTY . THE IDEA IS
NOT TO TARGET PROPERTIES THAT
ARE SIMPLY , IF YOU WILL, CIVIL
NUISANCES FALLING INTO THE
GROUND AND THE LIKE. IN THAT
CONTEXT, IF SPD HAS IDENTIFIED A
PROBLEMATIC LOCATION , THEY WILL
MEET WITH THE ATTORNEY IN SAY,
THIS IS A PROBLEM, -- AGAIN,
BATEMAN HAS TO DO WITH
ADDRESSING ISSUES. IS NOT A
SURLY FORCING SALE OF THE
PROPERTY. IS THE FIRST THING. IF
THERE IS A PROBLEMATIC TENANT,
EVICT THE TENANT. WHATEVER THAT
MIGHT BE. JUST A POINT THAT OUT.
SPD THAT WOULD CONSULT -- THE
PRECINCT CAPTAIN IDENTIFIED A
PROBLEMATIC LOCATION. MEET WITH
THE LIAISON ATTORNEY , AND SAYS,
OKAY, WE NEED TO GET THIS
CLEANED UP. WE NEED WHATEVER
THAT ABATEMENT MIGHT BE. THERE
THEN GOING TO , DO WE HAVE THE
EVIDENCE FOR THAT THEY THEN
COULD LOOK AT THE POLICE REPORTS
THAT HAVE BEEN FILED THAT HAVE A
CONNECTION TO THAT LOCATION .
NOT NECESSARILY ON THE LOCATION.
WITH THESE ADDITIONS, THEY COULD
ALSO LOOK TO SOME OF THESE OTHER
CIVIL INFRACTIONS OR CIVIL
OFFENSES OR WHATEVER THE
LANGUAGE WOULD BE, AND SEE
WHETHER OR NOT THESE FOLKS HAVE
HAD ISSUES WITH GARBAGE REMOVAL,
THIS LIST OF THINGS, AND THAT
COULD BECOME ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE
OF A NUISANCE. IN PARTICULAR,
LOOKING FOR THREE WITHIN 90 DAYS
OR WHATEVER , IF THEY HAVE TWO
CRIMINAL ONES THAT FIT IN THE
LIST AND THEN THEY HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL ONE THAT I WILL
DESCRIBE AS CIVIL SINCE IT IS
ONE OF THE MORE HEALTH-RELATED
THINGS, THAT COULD BE THE THREE.
ALTERNATIVELY, THEY HAVE
MULTIPLE CRIMINALS , AND BECAUSE
I HAVE SEEN THESE LETTERS, IT IS
A LAUNDRY LIST. THERE IS A
VALUE, POTENTIALLY, IN TERMS OF
PERSUASION WITH A LONGER LAUNDRY
LIST, IF YOU WILL.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS,
SECTION 10.09.10 -- MY DEFAULT
IS GOING TO 911 CALLS IS NOT
WHAT IS IN THERE. YOU ARE SAYING
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PIECES AS
WELL?
>> IT IS A POLICE INCIDENT
REPORT AND LISTS THE CRIMES
ASSOCIATED , AND THIS WOULD NOW
ADD SOME OF THESE SPECIFIC THAT
INCLUDES CRIMINAL POSSESSION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF STOLEN PROPERTY,
BUT THEN THAT'S ACTUALLY,
VIOLATIONS OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
IS ALSO CRIMINAL, BUT --
>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ON
ONE HAND, I SUPPORT -- BECAUSE I
RECOGNIZE THOSE VIOLATIONS,
THOSE PIECES INCLUDED IN THE
AMENDMENT, AND MY CONCERN WAS
THE CONNECTIONS BACK. WE HAVE
NOT HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS
THIS. KIND OF HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION IN A THREE-WAY
TRIANGLE DISCUSSION HERE. WOULD
IT BE HELPFUL THEN TO HAVE A
NUMBER THREE -- I GUESS NUMBER
ONE AS THAT IN TERMS OF , AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 10.09. --
UNDER THE DEFINITIONS , LINE 22
AND 23 OF PAGE 2. WOULD THERE BE
A BENEFIT OF HAVING A NUMBER
THREE TO BASICALLY EMPHASIZE OR
CLARIFY OR NOTE THIS CONNECTION?
>> SORRY, I'M NOT SURE I AM
TRACKING EXACTLY WHAT CONNECTION
YOU ARE TRYING TO ADD.
>> TO MAKE CLEAR IT IS NOT JUST
911 CALLS. YOU CAN ALSO HAVE, AS
NOTED --
>> THAT IS REALLY DATA
>> OFFENSES WRITTEN AND FILED BY
OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR PUBLIC
HOUSE SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
>> THAT LANGUAGE IS ADDED. THE
DEFINITION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A
NUISANCE ACTIVITY, THAT IS WHAT
YOU'RE READING HERE ON THE
BOTTOM OF PAGE 1 AND TWO OF THIS
AMENDMENT. THIS IS THE LIST OF
THINGS. THIS IS THE DEFINITION
OF NUISANCE ACTIVITY. YOU CAN
SEE IT CALLS OUT CONDUCT THAT
RESULTS IN A POLICE INCIDENT
REPORT, OR IF APPROVED,
DOCUMENTATION OF THESE OTHER
TYPES OF OFFENSES. IS TRYING TO
MAKE THAT CONNECTION I THINK
YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT.
>> YES. IT IS THE SCOPING OF IT.
AGAIN, I HAVE NOT HAD THIS
DISCUSSION. I AGREE WITH THE
ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED BY VICE
CHAIR. I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR
THE LINKING, THE BRIDGING . WHAT
YOU'RE HIGHLIGHTING IS THAT MY
FOCUS ON 911 CALLS IS A LITTLE
BIT TOO RESTRICTIVE, AND THAT
THE SECTION HAS THAT. THIS
BASICALLY ADDS THAT TO IT. OKAY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> WHAT IS IN CHAPTER 13.04?
>> SORRY, WHICH REFERENCE?
>> GENERAL PROVISIONS . BOTTOM
OF PAGE 2.
>> GIVE ME A MOMENT.
>> SECTION 5.
>> I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF. I
ACTUALLY HAVE THESE TABS OPEN ON
MY COMPUTER. WHAT WAS THE NUMBER
AGAIN?
>> 13.04. I THINK YOU JUST
ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
>> THIS SUBSECTION OF THE KING
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH . GENERAL
PROVISIONS. THE CONNECTIONS TO
PUBLIC SEWER ARE A REQUIREMENT
-- IT IS MORE PUBLIC HEALTH
CODE. WE ARE LOOKING -- THE CITY
HAD A SET OF REGULATIONS RELATED
TO GARBAGE AND SEWER AND THE
LIKE THAT HISTORICALLY -- IN
SOME SENSE, THEY WERE SUPERSEDED
AT SOME POINT BY THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CODE. THIS IS A REFERENCE
TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH CODE. THE
GENERAL PROVISIONS ARE 13.04 ARE
ALL RELATED TO ON-SITE. THIS IS
APPROPRIATE DISPOSAL OF HUMAN
WASTE . AGAIN, THE IDEA IS, IF
YOU HAVE A HOUSE IN DISREPAIR,
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT
HAVE FAILED IS THE SEWER
CONNECTION. THAT WOULD BE A
NUISANCE THAT, UNDER THIS BILL,
COULD BE EVIDENCE OF A CHRONIC
NUISANCE PROPERTY. PRESUMABLY,
THE ABATEMENT THERE WOULD BE TO
RECONNECT . THAT IS PROBABLY NOT
SOMETHING THE POLICE CHIEF IS
ACTIVELY PURSUING, BUT RATHER,
IF THEY HAVE A HOUSE CAUSING
PROBLEMS, THIS IS A PIECE OF
EVIDENCE THEY CAN USE AS PART OF
FORCING ABATEMENT. OF ISSUES IN
GENERAL.
>> I THINK I SHOULD JUST SAY, TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT SOME OF
THE SECTIONS ARE, I WILL
PROBABLY ABSTAIN FROM THIS. I
CAN IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OKAY, IF
YOU GET TO THREE VIOLATIONS OR
CALLS OR WHATEVER, I CAN MENTION
A BUSINESS -- FOR EXAMPLE, A
CRAFT BREWERY THAT DOESN'T
SERVE ANY FOOD, BUT THEY ARE
REQUIRED TO HAVE GREASE TRAPS
AND DON'T HAVE ONE, AND THEY
GET A BAD EXPANSION --
INSPECTION. I'M COMING UP WITH
THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT RISE TO
THE LEVEL. PUBLIC SAFETY WE
THINK OF WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHY
THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT.
>> I THINK YOU'RE RAISING A
GOOD POINT. I'M NOT AN ADVOCATE
ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. IF THAT
IS THE SCENARIO, IF YOU'RE ONLY
-- IF YOU'RE ONLY VIOLATIONS
ARE HEALTH GO, IT IS EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY SPD HAS ANY REASON TO
MAKE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO GO
AFTER YOU. BUT THEY COULD WITH
THESE PROVISIONS. BUT WHAT WITH
THE ABATEMENT BE? THE ONLY THING
WE CAN ASKED FOR IS REASONABLE
ABATEMENT. YOU WILL SEE IN A
MOMENT THE LANGUAGE , THE PARTY
THAT HAS BEEN THE TARGET, CAN
MAKE A CASE ABOUT REASONABLE
ABATEMENT. IN THAT CASE, IT
WOULD BE TO RECONNECT THE GREASE
TRAPS AND THE LIKE. THAT IS
EITHER APPROPRIATE OR NOT. YOUR
JUDGMENT, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE
IDEA. AGAIN, I THINK IT DOES
SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE TYPES
OF EVIDENCE THAT CAN BE USED TO
DESIGNATE CHRONIC NUISANCE. THE
QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THAT
LIKELY TO BE USED IN AN
INAPPROPRIATE WAY, AND DOESN'T
HAVE VALUE IN CIRCUMSTANCES FROM
YOUR PERSPECTIVE THAT IT IS
APPROPRIATE?
>> THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I AM THINKING THAT IT MAY BE
WISE , IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES
-- BECAUSE I DID HAVE CONCERNS,
BUT I UNDERSTAND NOW THE
CONNECTIONS, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, WHAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS
JUST SAID, IT MAY BE WORTH AN
AMENDMENT, MAYBE BEFORE FULL
COUNSEL, TO BE CLEAR THAT SPU
HAS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, SDCI
HAS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. IT IS
WHEN IT REACHES A PUBLIC SAFETY
CONCERN AND JUMPS OVER, JUST
LIKE WITH SDCI AND FIRE RELATED
TO VACANT BUILDINGS, THAT WE
HAVE THAT. TO BE CLEAR, TO
ENSURE BUSINESSES, LIKE YOUR
POINT ABOUT TRAPS AND SO FORTH,
THAT THAT MAY BE COVERED. DOES
THAT MAKE SENSE? DOES THAT MAKE
SENSE, VICE CHAIR? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE
INDULGENCE. WORKING THROUGH THIS
ONE. I WILL SUPPORT IT, BUT I
WILL BE SUPPORTING AN EFFORT ,
MAYBE, WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT OR
MAYBE BY MYSELF, TO ENSURE THOSE
PIECES, AS HIGHLIGHTED BY HER
EXAMPLES, ARE NOTED, AND THEN
THERE ARE THE OFF RAMPS. IT IS
THOSE THAT BECOME -- AS YOU
KNOW, WE DO HAVE RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES THAT DO BECOME A
PUBLIC SAFETY CHRONIC NUISANCE.
>> NOT THAT WE ARE CRAFTING AN
AMENDMENT AT ALL, BUT ONE
POTENTIAL IS THE REQUIREMENT OF,
I THINK, THREE INCIDENTS IN SIX
MONTHS, YOU COULD FURTHER DEFINE
THAT REQUIREMENT TO AT LEAST TWO
OF THE THREE THE THINGS , THE
WAY THIS WORKS, IS THAT --
ANYWAY , HIGHLIGHT THEY NEED TO
BE -- THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE
CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS AT THEIR
CORE, IF YOU WILL.
>> VICE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. VERY
COMPLEX , TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF
THIS, THE EVOLUTION OF THIS. WE
WORKED MOST CLOSELY WITH CENTRAL
STAFF AND CITY ATTORNEY UP HIS
OFFICE TO CRAFT THIS AMENDMENT.
WANTED TO SIMPLY SAY WHAT THE
PROBLEM ACTIVITY IS IN
CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE
APPLICABLE CODE, AND THEN THERE
IS A LEGAL JUSTIFICATION THAT
REQUIRED THE CURRENT STRUCTURE,
I WILL JUST SAY. BUT AGREE, MR.
CHAIR THAT IN THE FINAL BILL, WE
SHOULD WORK TO , IF THIS PASSES,
MAKE SURE . I LIKE THAT
OFF-THE-CUFF SPIT BALL APPROACH
SUGGESTED. THAT IS CERTAINLY
CONSISTENT WITH MY INTENT. THERE
ARE CERTAIN CLASS OF THESE THAT
ARE CLEARLY CRIMINAL IN NATURE,
AND TWO OR THREE UNDER THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BE
NONCRIMINAL, AT LEAST
ORIGINATING IN NATURE. SO MAKING
CLEAR THAT , AT LEAST X AMOUNT
MUST BE CRIMINAL . IN ANY EVENT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. WE
WILL WORK . MR. CHAIR, I WILL
WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ,
PARTICULARLY WITH THE SPONSOR OF
THE AMENDMENT, AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT , TO ENSURE THOSE
POINTS ARE MADE. OKAY. WITH THAT
SAID, IT WILL BE A TWO-STEP
PROCESS. I WILL SUPPORT, VICE
CHAIR, BUT AS A TWO-STEP
PROCESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] TWO IN FAVOR
AND TWO ABSTENTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. AMENDMENT THREE IS
ADOPTED. OKAY. VICE CHAIR
CONTINUES . COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
FOR A MOMENT NUMBER FOUR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I
CLEARLY LIKE WRITING AND WORKING
WITH OUR EXPERTS TO WRITE ON MY
BEHALF TO HELP BRING TO LIFE
POLICY VISION AND GOAL I HAVE
FOR THIS BILL. AGAIN, I WAS
GOING TO WRITE ON MY OWN. THANK
YOU TO THE EXECUTIVE FOR BEATING
ME TO THE PUNCH. THIS AMENDMENT
, FIRST OFF, LET ME MOVE TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121006 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT 4B .
>> SECOND.
>> I WAS GOING TO COME IN, BUT I
WANTED TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MY COLLEAGUES. IT IS MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND BILL AS
PRESENTED. DIRECTOR NOBLE, YOUR
NECK ORGANIZED -- YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> VERY SIMPLE A MEMO. IT SIMPLY
CLARIFIES THAT ANY UNPAID COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH ABATEMENT
INCURRED CAN BE RECOVERED , THAT
THE CITY CAN BE INCURRED BY A
LIEN ON THE PROPERTY. ACTUALLY,
WE HAVE NOW , BUT IT IS DESIGNED
TO CLARIFY THE POINT THAT
ULTIMATELY THE RECORDS FOR ANY
COST THE CITY HAS -- AGAIN, WE
CAN ORDER ABATEMENT IF IT IS NOT
DONE, AND THE CITY CAN STEP IN
AND TRY TO RECOVER COST. THIS
WOULD BE A WAY TO DO THAT. AS
NOTED IN THE TEXT, DOES REQUIRE
A CHANGE OF THE TITLE, BECAUSE
IT ADDS A NEW SUBSECTION
REFERENCE. OTHERWISE, IT IS
QUITE STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT IS
ONLY CLARIFYING WHAT THE CITY
ALREADY HAS.
>> OKAY. VICE CHAIR, AS SPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS
NOTED, THIS AMENDMENT MAKES IT
EXPLICITLY CLEAR THAT WHERE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE NOT FOLLOWED
THROUGH WITH AN ABATEMENT ORDER,
THE CITY MAY IMPOSE A PROPERTY
LIEN TO RECOVER COSTS, AMONG
OTHER POSSIBLE REMEDIES, UNLIKE
SOME OF THE OTHER, ESPECIALLY
THE LAST AMENDMENT . DOES NOT
REPRESENT AN EXPANSION OF
AUTHORITY IN ANY WAY . INSTEAD,
THAT AUTHORITY IS ALREADY
IMPLICIT, ALREADY IMPLIED IN THE
UNDERLYING ORDINANCE. THIS JUST
MAKES EXPLICIT THAT AUTHORITY .
IT MAKES IT CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT
IS ALREADY POSSIBLE ANYWAY.
VERY, VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
COLLEAGUES? ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON AMENDMENT B, 4B,
FOR EITHER DIRECTOR NOBLE OR
VICE CHAIR SAKA? OKAY. HEARING
AND SEEING NONE. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR SAKA . THIS ALSO PARALLELS
THE VACANT BUILDING ABATEMENT
BILL, THIS AMENDMENT. AS YOU
NOTED, ALREADY THERE. I WILL
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF FOUR 4B?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
FOUR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT 4B IS ADOPTED.
THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE
THAT THE VICE CHAIR SAKA PORTION
OF TODAY'S ITEM NUMBER TWO IS
OVER. EXCEPT FOR HIS VOTES. NOW
WE WILL MOVE TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I RECOGNIZE YOU
TO AMEND, TO PRESENT AMENDMENT
NUMBER FIVE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. AND MOVED TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121006 AS
PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT NUMBER
FIVE.
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT FIVE.
CENTER STAFF, DIRECTOR NOBLE,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS
AMENDMENT FOCUSES ON THE
QUESTION OF DUE PROCESS. AS YOU
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, THE
PROCESS THAT IS PROVIDED, THE
DUE PROCESS, IS AN IMPORTANT
ASPECT , I THINK, OF THE
BALANCING OF THE POWER AND
AUTHORITY INHERENT IN THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION. WITH
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO, IT
WOULD BE TO CLARIFY AND MORE
SPECIFICALLY, DIRECT -- SORRY.
LET ME TAKE A STEP BACK. SPD
IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL PROPERTY
DOCUMENTS ISSUES OF THE
NUISANCE, AND THEN SENDS A
LETTER SAYING, THESE ARE THE
THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO ABATE ,
AND YOU NEED TO DO IT IN THIS
TIMELINE. IF THEY DO NOT DO
THAT, THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN
GO TO COURT TO TRY TO FORCE
ACTION ON THAT ABATEMENT. IT IS
A CITY ATTORNEY 'S DECISION,
ULTIMATELY, TO DECIDE WHETHER OR
NOT TO PURSUE THAT IF ABATEMENT
HAS NOT OCCURRED. WHAT THIS DOES
IS ADD LANGUAGE TO THE SECTION
THAT TALKS ABOUT THE DECISION BY
THE CITY ATTORNEY TO COMMENCE
ACTION AND AS THE FOLLOWING
PHRASE "THE CITY ATTORNEY SHALL
CONSIDER ANY DOCUMENTATION
PROVIDED BY THE PERSON IN
CHARGE, OR THE PROPERTY OWNER,
THAT CONTESTS THE DESIGNATION AS
A CHRONIC NUISANCE OR CHALLENGES
THE REASONABLENESS OF ANY
SPECIFIC ABATEMENT REQUESTED BY
THE POLICE CHIEF BEFORE
INITIATING AN ACTION IN COURT TO
BE A CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY."
THE NOTION HERE IS THAT, AND
AGAIN, CANNOT BE ASSURED BY THE
CITY ATTORNEY THIS WOULD THAT
THEY WOULD DO THIS ANYWAY, BUT
THIS MAKES IT EXPLICIT THEY
WOULD HAVE TO AT LEAST LOOK AT
WHATEVER EVIDENCE HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY THE PARTY, THE
ABATEMENT PURSUED AGAINST, IF
YOU WILL. AGAIN, DON'T KNOW
WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, BUT
THE IDEA IS, IF YOU/ I DON'T
IMAGINE TARGET IS THE RIGHT
WORD, BUT IF YOU'RE CAUGHT UP
IN THIS PROCESS KNOWING THAT
WHAT YOU PUT ON THE TABLE, IF
YOU WILL, WILL AT LEAST BE
CONSIDERED. THAT IS THE INTENT
HERE.
>> NICU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS
AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MY
INTENT FOR THIS AMENDMENT IS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE UPHOLDING DUE
PROCESS. BASICALLY, WHAT MR.
NOBLE JUST SAID. I HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION, AND I'M JUST
MAKING SURE THAT, MAKING IT
CLEAR THAT THE RECIPIENT OF THE
CHRONIC NUISANCE DESIGNATION HAS
THE RIGHT TO CONTEST THEIR
DESIGNATION BEFORE ACTIONS OF
ENFORCEMENT ARE PURSUED IN
COURT. I THINK THAT IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD THAT SOMEONE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTEST -- IF
WE ARE SHIFTING , YOU KNOW,
CERTAIN TYPES OF POWERS TO THE
EXECUTIVE AND TO OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO, CITY
ATTORNEY, THAT SOMEONE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO CONTEST A CHRONIC
NUISANCE DESIGNATION THAT THEY
HAVE RECEIVED. IT IS DUE
PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. YES, I AGREE ,
HAVING THESE CHECKS AND BALANCES
ARE IMPORTANT, AND IT CAN GO TO
WHATEVER EVENTUAL ABATEMENT
PROCESS MAY BE . ALSO, SINCE YOU
MENTION IT, COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION , YOUR SUPPORT. I DO
WELCOME THEIR THOUGHTS ON
DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION,
EITHER DIRECTLY TO ME OR TO THE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ON THE
COMMITTEE. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
FIVE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> I THINK THIS GETS TO ONE OF
THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN MOST
THINKING ABOUT IN THE COURSE OF
THIS CONVERSATION, WHICH IS HOW
WE, AS POLICYMAKERS, KNOW THE
PEOPLE ENFORCING OR IMPLEMENTING
THESE RULES WE ARE PASSING, HOW
WE KNOW THEY HAVE ALL THE
INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO THEN EITHER SLAP DOWN A
NUISANCE VIOLATION NOTIFICATION
OR NOT. I DO THINK , ALWAYS
HEARING FROM THE OTHER SIDE IS
IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
ARE EXPANDING THE CITY UP HIS
POWERS. I CAN JUST THINK ABOUT
THE PROPERTY OWNER, A BUSINESS
OWNER SING, I HAD A REALLY GOOD
REASON, AND HERE IT IS. I KEEP
THINKING OF THE EXAMPLE, AND
THIS IS ALL I CAN THINK OF,
LET'S SAY THERE IS NOISE
COMPLAINT OUTSIDE OF THE
BUSINESS, BUT IT COINCIDES THAT
THE NOISE OCCURS AT A CERTAIN
TIME BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
COMPLETELY NOT IN CONTROL OF
THAT BUSINESS OWNER. ANYWAY, I
JUST THINK IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD
PRACTICE TO GIVE A CHANCE FOR
THE OTHER SIDE TO SAY THEIR
PIECE. -- PEACE. I WOULD HOPE
MAYBE THERE COULD BE VOLUNTEER
REPORTING IF IT IS NOT ACTUALLY
WRITTEN INTO THE LEGISLATION FOR
HOW THIS PLAYS OUT OVER THE
COURSE OF THIS COMING YEAR.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, FOR
BRINGING THIS UP, AND TO THE
POINTS RAISED BY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THIS IS SERIOUS, JUST
LIKE OTHER LEGISLATION WE HAVE
DONE. DUE PROCESS IS IMPORTANT.
HAVING THAT PROCESS , THAT
OPPORTUNITY, IN THIS CASE, TO
ADDRESS THE VARIOUS ASPECTS AND
GET INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD AS
PART OF THE PUBLIC
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IS VERY
IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE
TO HAVE THIS BALANCE. IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY, THE
CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES
CONSTITUTE A PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGE AND THREAT . BUT AT
THE SAME TIME, WE DO NEED TO
STEP THROUGH THE VARIOUS DUE
PROCESS PIECES. THIS ADDS TO
THAT. BUT NOT UNDULY. I THINK IT
MAKES SENSE. WITH THAT, I'M NOT
SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO THE NEXT
AMENDMENT, MEMO NUMBER SIX, THE
LAST ONE, POSSIBLY, WITHIN SIX
MINUTES. AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE,
NOW WE ARE NUMBER SIX. I'M
GOING TO REFER TO MYSELF SINCE
THIS IS MY MMM. I MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121006 AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUICK
SECOND. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX. CENTER
STAFF, DIRECTOR NOBLE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I PRESENTED
THE UNDERLYING BILL . IT AS
OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES AND
EXPANSIVE DEFINITION. THE CEMENT
IT SPEAKS TO THE FORMER OFF-SITE
ISSUE. IN PARTICULAR, IT IS
TRYING TO TIGHTEN THE
RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED BETWEEN
THE OFF-SITE ACTIVITY AND THE
NUISANCE PROPERTY. IT DOES IT IN
A WAY THAT IS CANDIDLY NUANCED
AND HARD TO DEFINE. FOR AN
OFF-SITE ACTIVITY TO BE A
RELEVANT NUISANCE, ESSENTIALLY
THREE THINGS ARE REQUIRED. IT
HAS GOT TO BE ADJACENT OR IN
PROXIMITY TO THE PROPERTY. IT
HAS TO BE NEARBY. IT HAS TO
INVOLVE A PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH
THE PROPERTY, WHICH COULD BE A
GUEST . AND THIS IS THE
IMPORTANT PART, AND
CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCUSE ME, FACTS
AND CIRCUMSTANCES ESTABLISH A
NEXUS BETWEEN THE PROPERTY AND
THE NUISANCE ACTIVITY. IT HAS
GOT TO BE -- NEXUS IS A TERM OF
ART IN LAW DEFINED TO MEAN A
CONNECTION IMPLYING A CAUSAL
CONNECTION . IT IS INTERPRETED
IN THE CONTEXT IT IS USED. THE
EFFORT HERE IS TO MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT THAT NEXUS NEEDS TO BE
SOMEWHAT TIGHTER THAN NOT. THE
LANGUAGE SUGGESTED HERE IS A
CLEAR NEXUS. IN TERMS OF A COURT
WILL UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT JUST A
NEXUS, IT IS A CLEAR NEXUS. AND
WANTS TO BE SOMEWHAT STRONGER. I
CANNOT TELL YOU, AND I DON'T
EVEN HAVE AN EXAMPLE TO OFFER
YOU WHAT THAT DISTINCTION WOULD
BE, BUT THIS DOES, ADDING THIS
WORD, DOES CREATE AN EXPECTATION
OF A CLOSER CONNECTION, BECAUSE
HE COULD HAVE JUST USED NEXUS
AND YOU WON'T HAVE , USED CLEAR
NEXUS, WHICH IMPLIES SOMETHING
MORE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT PROPERTY. I REALIZE THAT IS
SOMEWHAT UNSATISFYING
EXPLANATION, BUT THAT , AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, IS WHAT THE
IMPLICATIONS ARE OF THE WORDS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE. AS
SPONSOR, I WILL ADD, YES . YOU
KNOW, I WANTED TO SAY TOO THAT
THIS CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY
HAS BEEN FRONT OF MIND FOR ME
FOR, BASICALLY, A DECADE. IT HAS
BEEN A DECADE WHEN , YOU KNOW,
SINCE I BEEN WORKING DIFFERENT
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES,
COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL. AS
PILLAR TWO OF THE PLAN, UPDATING
ORDINANCES IS REALLY KEY. THIS
CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY NEEDS
TO BE UPDATED, BECAUSE IT NEEDS
TO BE USED JUDICIOUSLY, BUT IN
ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY PASTOR. ONE OF THE BIG
PIECES OF THIS CHANGE OF THIS
ORDINANCE PRIOR TO THESE
AMENDMENTS IS THE CONNECTION
BETWEEN CHRONIC NUISANCE
PROPERTIES AND, AS NOTED, THOSE
NEARBY. WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS
AGAIN AND AGAIN. THIS WAS TIED
TO THE AFTER HOURS ESTABLISHMENT
BILL WE PASSED EARLIER, AND SO
THIS COMES UP AGAIN. AT THE SAME
TIME, AS WE PUSH THESE BILLS AS
PART OF THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN, WE ARE ALSO ENGAGING WITH
COMMUNITY. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE
BEEN ENGAGING WITH THE POLICE
COMMISSION, THE COMMUNITY. THAT
INCLUDES BUSINESS OWNERS. THERE
IS CONCERN, KIND OF LIKE HOW
CONCERNS COME UP, AS NOTED,
RELATED TO SBU AND SOME OF THOSE
ASPECTS IN TERMS OF WASTE AND
THE LIKE . TO ENSURE THERE IS
THE PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT ANGLE
TO THESE PIECES. THAT IS WHAT IS
HAPPENING OFTENTIMES, MANY
TIMES, AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE
AFTER OUR ESTABLISHMENT. IT IS
ABOUT CREATING THAT CLEAR
CONNECTION, BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE
JUST RANDOM. I KNOW THERE ARE
PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY BUSINESS
OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS SENSE IT
MIGHT BE JUST RANDOM, LIKE
REALLY QUICK . NO NO, IT'S NOT
. IT IS ABOUT HAVING A CLEAR
NEXUS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
THREAT, THE CHALLENGE WE ARE
FACING. THIS AMENDMENT, IN
COMBINATION WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S AMENDMENT, THE
TWO ARE KIND OF PAIRED, I THINK.
AND TO AMELIORATE THE CONCERNS
RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORING, THE
ADJACENT OR NEIGHBORING OR
CONNECTED IN SOME WAY PROPERTY
TO THE CHRONIC , BASED CHRONIC
NUISANCE PROPERTY. AND SO, THE
GOAL HERE WAS TO BE CLEAR ABOUT
THAT AND TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS
AND ADD TO THE POINT IN TERMS OF
THE DUE PROCESS WE HAVE ALREADY
TALKED ABOUT TO ENSURE A BETTER
BILL AND CLEARER UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT WE MEAN WE TALK ABOUT A
NEXUS. WITH THAT, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
I'M NOT HEARING OR SEEING ANY.
WE ARE DOWN TO BASICALLY A
MINUTE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT SIX IS ADOPTED.
OKAY. NOW WE ARE DOWN TO THE
LAST MINUTE. ANY FINAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
COLLEAGUES?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SIMPLY SAY
THAT THE ACTION WE ARE TAKING
TODAY , IF I AM DASHING MY
ASSUMPTION IS CORRECT, IT HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF YOUR
PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN . IT HAS BEEN
ONE OF THE PILLARS, BUT IT HAS
ALSO BEEN IN RESPONSE TO SOME
FAIRLY HORRIFIC, SERIOUS CRIMES
IN THE PAST YEAR. WE ARE TRYING
TO IDENTIFY HOW WE CAN CHANGE IN
ENVIRONMENT SO THAT WE CAN
CHANGE BEHAVIOR, IS SORT OF THE
BIG PICTURE WE ARE DOING. I WANT
TO SAY THAT, AS I ALLUDED TO
BEFORE, WE ARE NOT EXPERTS AND
HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT.
SOMETIMES WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES
HEAR ABOUT A LAW OR SOMETHING,
THEY THINK, THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN
REAL LIFE. AND SO, I THINK WE
ARE DOING THIS -- THE BALANCE ,
THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY
FAR OUTWEIGH THE POTENTIAL
COSTS. I DO THINK WITH TRACKING
OF SOME OF THESE -- AND I MIGHT
SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT OR ASKED
FOR ONE A FULL COUNCIL, SO WE
GET A SENSE OF THE PATTERN OF
THE USE OF THIS EXPANDED
LEGISLATION . I THINK IT WILL
MAKE US BETTER ABLE TO ADVOCATE
ON BEHALF OF THE SAFETY OF OUR
RESIDENTS. AND BALANCE THE NEEDS
OF OUR BIGGER COMMUNITY ,
BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS, THAT
WILL BE INHABITING THESE ACTUAL
BUILDINGS AND LOCATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? JUST TO
CLOSE, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS
CORRECT, THIS, AS NOTED BY THE
EXECUTIVE AND CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, THIS HAS BEEN A
CHALLENGE. IT HAS NOT BEEN USED
THAT OFTEN, BUT IT IS ALSO
NEEDED TO ADDRESS THOSE PIECES
THAT ARE THREATENING OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY PASTOR . AS NOTED EARLIER
REGARDING THE GRAFFITI BILL WE
DID, WHICH WAS, AS VICE CHAIR
SAID, THE ISSUE IS, IT IS NOT
LITTLE OR BIG. IT IS HOW THESE
DIFFERENT BILLS, HOW THESE
DIFFERENT CHANGES OR PIECES,
COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY. WE ARE DOING THIS
FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, BUT
WE WILL WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE.
LIKE PUTTING IN PLACE ALL THE
BILLS WE PASSED LAST YEAR, TO
PUT THOSE THINGS IN PLACE AND
CARRY OUT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY
A COMPREHENSIVE ONCE HE OUT A
WAY TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY
PASTOR. THESE COMBINATIONS ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT. IT IS WITH
THIS THAT WE WILL DO THAT. I
THINK THAT IS THE UNDERLYING
POINT HERE. THESE BILLS ARE NOT
DONE RANDOMLY . THEY'RE NOT
DONE OUT OF THE BLUE. IT IS NOT
THE GOOD IDEA IN YOUR HEAD. IT
IS YEARS, MONTHS , IN THE MAKING
. IT IS ABOUT COORDINATION,
COLLABORATION WITH THE VARIOUS
ELEMENTS RESPONSIBLE . THAT IS
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AS THE
COMMITTEE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO DO SO. THAT IS HOW IT PLAYS
INTO FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE
ARE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN.
SINCE I MADE THAT REFERENCE, I
DO SEE VICE CHAIR JUMPED IN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THAT
CLEARLY GOTCHA. THAT LITTLE
COMMENT CLEARLY GOTCHA. I WAS
WRONG FOR SAYING THAT. I DIDN'T
MEAN TO TAKE A SHOT AT YOU OR
ANYONE FOR THE BILL. WE ARE
INDIRECTLY TAKING SHOTS AT EACH
OTHER, RATIONAL , IRRATIONAL AND
ALL THIS OR THAT. I DON'T HOLD
ANY GRUDGES. ALL GOOD. I DO
BELIEVE THAT , YOU KNOW, WITH
RESPECT TO THE GRAFFITI BILL,
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE THINGS
THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE MORE
IMPACTFUL IN TERMS OF
LEGISLATION. THAT SAID, I THINK
THIS WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT. THAT
BILL, IN PARTICULAR, WILL HAVE
IMPACT AS WELL. RATHER THAN
COMPARE POSSIBLE IMPACTS, I
THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE
NEED MORE TOOLS. THAT IS WHAT
THE GRAFFITI BILL DOES, AND THAT
IS WHAT THIS BILL DOES. I
SUPPORT EVERY TIME ADDING MORE
TOOLS TO THE TOOLKIT OVER
POLITICS. PROUD TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL TODAY. NOW
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
NUISANCE PROPERTY BILL. I WANT
TO THANK THE EXECUTIVE OR
PUTTING IT FORWARD. PUTTING
FORWARD THE ORIGINAL WORDS ON
PAPER FOR ME IN MY OFFICE TO
REACT TO NOW THAT WE ARE
COSPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION.
IT MADE HER JOB AND THE JOB
ESSENTIAL STAFF A BIT EASIER,
ALTHOUGH FOUR MM IS, MANY OF
WHICH ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX AND
TECHNICAL, ANY EASIER AND
PRACTICE. IN ANY EVENT, BOTTOM
LINE, THIS IS ABOUT ADDING TOOLS
. THIS IS ABOUT ADDING AEROS TO
THE QUIVER. FOR THOSE REASONS, I
SUPPORTED. THANK YOU.
>> YES, THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AGAIN, YOU
DO HIGHLIGHT THE COORDINATION
AND CORROBORATION --
COLLABORATION. THIS IS SOMETHING
I HAVE BEEN QUARTERBACKING AND
PROMOTING A LONG TIME. I WILL
CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE INPUT
WE RECEIVE FROM INSTITUTIONS,
ORGANIZATIONS RELATED TO THE
CITY OR OUTSIDE, AND WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT PRESSING
FORWARD. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> WHILE WE ARE EXPRESSING
GRATITUDE, I DO WANT TO THANK
YOU, CHAIR CATTLE, FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD AND REQUESTING THAT
THIS LEGISLATION BE PRESENTED TO
US AND PUT FORWARD. YOU CLEARLY
HAVE A VISION, AND I DIDN'T
WANT THAT TO GO UNRECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ALL
RIGHT. WITH THAT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO PASS COUNCIL
BILL 121006 AS AMENDED?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES THAT THE BILL
PASSES AMENDED WILL BE SENT TO
THE JULY 15 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYBODY. WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN?