>>> GOOD MORNING.
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND
POLICY CHANGES COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:33 A.M. , AUGUST
15th, 2025.
I'M ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
LET THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE.
>>
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>>
HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS.
>>
PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>>
HERE.
>> CHAIR RINCK.
>>
PRESENT.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ONTO
THE APPROVAL OF TODAY'S AGENDA.
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC, THE TOPIC OF
ENERGY
POLICY WILL BE DISCUSSED AT
A FUTURE FEDERAL SELECT
COMMITTEE
MEETING. MY TEAM FOUND IN
SPEAKING
WITH OUR DEPARTMENT EXPERTS THIS
WEEK THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO
KEEP THIS CONVERSATION NARROWED
TO
A DISASTER AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES
FOCUSED
MEETING. SO WITH THAT, I MOVE TO
REMOVE ITEM 1 FROM THE AGENDA TO
BE HEARD AT A LATER COMMITTEE
MEETING. IS THERE A SECOND?
>>
SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO ADOPT -- PARDON ME.
THERE WE GO.
I MOVE TO ADOPT TODAY'S AGENDA
AS AMENDED.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WONDERFUL. WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO
THE FEDERAL SELECT COMMITTEE
ON FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
AND POLICY CHANGES.
AND ALSO PLEASE LET THE RECORD
REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS JOINED
US IN PERSON.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
GOOD MORNING.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL
MEETING OF THIS COMMITTEE UNTIL
AFTER BUDGET SEASON IS WRAPPED.
AND TODAY WE ARE FOCUSED ON
THE TOPIC OF DISASTER AND
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE SYSTEMS.
I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
HIS FOR HELPING SUPPORT
THE SHAPING OF TODAY'S
CONVERSATION ALONGSIDE MY TEAM.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE
THE COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT
THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM PROVIDES.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD
TO DAYLIGHTING THIS
TOPIC SPECIFICALLY SINCE
ESTABLISHING THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE AS IN ADDITION TO
CHAIRING
THIS COMMITTEE I ALSO CHAIR OUR
SUSTAINABILITY CITY ARTS
AND CULTURE COMMITTEECH AND
I CHAIRED BACK IN JANUARY
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE
BRIEFED ON THE IMPACT OF THE
BOMB CYCLONE THAT CAUSED ENOUGH
MAJOR DAMAGE TO PUBLIC PROPERTY
AND THE LONG- LASTING POWER
OUTAGES
ACROSS THE REGION THAT IT
REQUIRED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
TO DECLARE THE EVENT AS A
MAJOR DISASTER WITH THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY,
FEMA, WHICH HAS SINCE
BEEN DENIED TWICE IN APRIL AND
JUNE BY THE TRUMP REGIME WITH
ZERO
EXPLANATION OF THE DENIAL.
THE MAJORITY OF
OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
HAVE PENNED JOINT LETTERS
DEMANDING
ANSWERS, AND THE
FEDERAL RECOVERY SUPPORT THAT
WASHINGTON
STATE DESERVES. TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS I
HAVE HEARD COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
SAY
BOTH ON AND OFF THE DAIS
MANY
TIMES NATURAL DISASTER AND
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SHOULD
NEVER BE A POLITICAL ISSUE.
AND IT IS DISTURBING
TO COMPREHEND WE ARE IN A
SITUATION WHERE THAT HAS ALREADY
HAPPENED
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WHEN WE
KNOW IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN
AND NOT IF A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE
WILL HIT THE PACIFIC NORTH WEST.
AND SINCE THE TRUMP REGIME
RESUMED POWER, ARKANSAS,
CALIFORNIA,
TENNESSEE, WASHINGTON STATE, AND
WISCONSIN HAVE ALL BEEN DENIED
FEMA
AID, AND THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.
ACCORDING TO KOW FOR THE LAST 25
YEARS DISASTER DECLARATIONS
HAVE BEEN APPROVED 85% OF THE
TIME, AND EVEN DURING THE FIRST
TRUMP REGIME 88% OF
DISASTER DECLARATIONS WERE
APPROVED.
ADDITIONALLY UNDER THE
TRUMP REGIME IT'S VERY CLEAR
THEY ARE
UNAFRAID TO CRITICIZE DEPLOYMENT
OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.
WE SAW THIS THIS SUMMER AND JUST
THIS WEEK WITH THE
PRESIDENT TAKING CONTROL OF THE
POLICE FORCE WITHIN THE
NATION'S
CAPITOL.
SO I WILL KEEP SAYING IT.
WE ARE NOT IN NORMAL TIMES.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
SCARED, AND THE PEOPLE ON THIS
DAIS MUST DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO PROTECT OUR HOME AND OUR
SEATTLE VALUES.
AND WITH THAT, 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
ARE SIGNED UP FOR
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ZERO
IN- PERSON SPEAKERS.
AND THERE IS ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> GREAT. OUR REMOTE SPEAKER
WILL BE
GIVEN 2 MINUTES.
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED IN
THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
UP TO 30 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY
ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE
BETWEEN SETS OF IN PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
PASSED.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST, WHICH
IS DAVID HAYNES.
AND PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI,
THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES.
WHEN IS COUNCIL GOING TO REALIZE
UNDER BIDEN FEMA WAS POLITICIZED
AND WEAPONIZED THE
ENTIRE GOVERNMENT AGAINST
INNOCENT WHITE CITIZENS WITH A
RACE JUSTICE LENS THAT DUMPED
OTHER
PEOPLE'S TRAUMA ON THE WHOLE OF
COMMUNITY FRAMING THE
WRONG PEOPLE
FOR PROBLEMS. UNDER BIDEN WE SAW
FEMA AS
THE CORRUPT AGENCY THAT
USES DISASTERS TO BUY NEW
EQUIPMENT,
TRUCKS, AND MOVE INTO FIVE-
STAR HOTELS AND CATERED FOOD
OWNED BY
MIDDLE MEN OF WALL STREET
DONORS TO BOOST THE MORALE OF
AGENCY EMPLOYEES AND MAKE WALL
STREET
MIDDLEMEN HAPPY WHILE
GETTING VOLUNTEERS TO ONLY HAND
OUT EXTREMELY SMALL BOTTLES OF
WATER AND SNACKS WHILE MOST ALL
THE MONEY IS SPENT ON NEW
TRUCKS,
HOTELS, AND
CATERED FOOD. THIS COMMITTEE IS
NOTHING
BUT DRAMA AND RACIST BOTTOM OF
THE BARREL OVER DRAMATIC
SCARE
TACTIC. ALWAYS ATTEMPTING TO
MAKE THE
THEME THE
GRINGO IS THE ENEMY AND TRUMP
IS TO BLAME FOR EVERYTHING LIKE
DRAMA QUEENS.
WHILE SEATTLE
REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT'S
WRONG WITH
AMERICA.
IE, SEX CHANGES FOR KIDS,
MISJUDGMENTS BASED ON THE PAST
OVERTHROWN BUT STILL
REGURGITATED BY POWER
HUNGRY
HYPOCRITES. ALWAYS PLAYING THE
RACE
CARD WHILE DOING THE BIDDING OF
PEDOPHILING GROOMERS
CONSPIRING AGAINST OTHER
PEOPLE'S KIDS.
AS YOU CONTINUE TO
UNDERMINE PUBLIC SAFETY ACTING
LIKE COPS
AND THE NATIONAL GUARD ARE
THE BIGGEST THREAT, NOT THE
PUMPS, REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE
THE
BEST INTEREST OF COMMUNITY AT
LARGE IN SEATTLE'S RACIST,
ANTI- SOCIAL
JUSTICE LENS IS MORE OF
A REMINDER UNDER RACIST KAMALA
HARRIS-BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
THE FEMA AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION INFRACTION DECIDED TO
PURPOSELY NOT HELP WHITE PEOPLE
AND
ONLY HELP BLACK PEOPLE AND
ILLEGALS
REMINDING AMERICA HOW EVIL AND
HYPOCRITICAL PROGRESSIVES ARE
IN THE PACIFIC NORTH WEST, AS IF
IN CAHOOTS CONSPIRING -- WHO
TREAD
ON OTHERS --
>> ALL RIGHT, THERE
ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
SO MOVING NOW TO OUR FIRST ITEM
OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
2 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> ITEM 2, FEDERAL IMPACTS
ON DISASTER AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.
BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> WONDERFUL.
AND AS OUR PRESENTERS MAKE
THEIR WAY UP TO THE TABLE, ONCE
YOU'RE
READY, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT
TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY
STATING YOUR FULL NAME AND
ORGANIZATION INTO THE MICROPHONE
FOR THE
RECORD.
THANK YOU. AND
PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
HAS JOINED US IN PERSON.
GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M CURRY MAYER, THE DIRECTOR
OF SEATTLE'S OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK FOR
INVITING ME TO SPEAK ON
THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
AND THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH WHAT
IS THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE, KIND
OF SETTING THE STAGE FOR HOW
THE NORMAL FLOW OF
DISASTER RESOURCES OCCURS AND
WHAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING TO DATE SO
THAT THEN
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS PROPOSING AND SOME THINGS
THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, IT
WILL MAKE MORE SENSE.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART
HERE, THE DISASTER AT THE
BOTTOM NEXT TO CITY RESPONSE.
AS MOST DISASTERS AND
EMERGENCIES ARE HANDLED WELL BY
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NOT ONLY
IS THIS A REQUIREMENT AS A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE
SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
HERE,
BUT ALSO WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THE GEOGRAPHY.
WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE,
AND SO WE ARE BEST EQUIPPED
TO RESPOND IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY
THAT
UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE PUBLIC
NEEDS, ALSO WHO IS
MOST VULNERABLE AND HOW WE CAN
BEST HELP.
SO SOMETIMES WHEN THERE'S
A BIGGER DISASTER, WE NEED
OUTSIDE
RESOURCES.
"WE" MEANING THE CITY.
SO THE NEXT GOVERNMENT UP IN
GOVERNMENT IS THE COUNTY, SO WE
WOULD MAKE A REQUEST TO THEM.
AND AS YOU TRAVEL EACH OF
THE LEVELS ABOVE A CITY
RESPONSE, THOSE ARE BIGGER AREAS
FROM WHICH TO FIND RESOURCES SO
THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO MORE
RESOURCES, ACCESS TO MORE MONEY.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET
ADDITIONAL HELP THAT WE MAY NOT
HAVE IN THE CITY.
THE NEXT LEVEL UP WOULD BE
FOR STATE RESOURCES.
AND THEN IF IT IS ALSO
BEYOND WHAT THE STATE'S
CAPABILITIES
ARE, THE GOVERNOR WOULD THEN
PROCLAIM A LOCAL EMERGENCY.
SO THE CITY PROCLAIMS
AN EMERGENCY.
THE STATE PROCLAIMS AN
EMERGENCY.
THEN THERE IS A DISASTER
THRESHOLD OF DAMAGES
THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET RELATED TO
A
DISASTER, AND THEN YOU
WOULD APPLY TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO ASK FOR FEDERAL
RESPONSE.
SO, AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THE COUNTY HAS
MORE RESOURCES.
THE STATE DOES AS WELL, AND THEN
OF COURSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS THE MOST MONEY
AND
RESOURCES. THE ARROW THAT POINTS
DOWN
SHOWS THAT THEN THOSE
FEDERAL RESOURCES IN THE CURRENT
SYSTEM
WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY
LEVEL AND BE UNDER THE
COMMAND, IF YOU WILL, OR
DIRECTION
OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
AGAIN, THOSE PEOPLE WHO KNOW
THE MOST ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND WOULD ASSIST
WITH THE THINGS THAT WE NEED FOR
A RESPONSE.
SO THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN
PROPOSED ARE QUITE
SUBSTANTIVE
IN NATURE. AND - - SO JUST
A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO
POINT OUT. THAT PRESIDENTIAL
DISASTER
DECLARATION AND POST-
INCIDENT FUNDING, CURRENTLY THE
DAMAGE DISASTER THRESHOLD THAT
WE
MUST MEET IS $1. 89 PER CAPITA.
SO WASHINGTON STATE'S THRESHOLD
IS $14. 5 MILLION, WHICH
SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT TIME
AND AGAIN OUR DISASTERS THAT ARE
NOT NECESSARILY
CATASTROPHIC FOR THE
ENTIRE STATE BUT FOR A REGION,
THE BOMB
CYCLONE THAT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
MENTIONED WAS OVER THE
THRESHOLD OF $14. 5 MILLION EVEN
THOUGH THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE
OF COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THAT.
I THINK
FOUR ALTOGETHER. THE PROPOSAL IS
TO SAY THAT A
PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION
WILL ONLY APPLY IF $7. 56 PER
CAPITA IS MET, INCREASING
THAT THRESHOLD THAT -- THAT IS
REQUIRED FOURFOLD, WHICH
MEANS THAT FOR WASHINGTON THAT
WOULD BE $58 MILLION.
TO GIVE YOU A FURTHER EXAMPLE OF
WHAT THAT MEANS, THE COVID
RESPONSE, WHICH ALTHOUGH
UNUSUAL, WAS ONE OF THE
MOST EXPENSIVE IN HISTORY
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST
FOR US.
BUT SEATTLE'S REIMBURSEMENT
JUST FOR COVID WAS $30 MILLION.
SO HAVING TO MEET A
DAMAGE THRESHOLD OF $58 MILLION
EVEN
FOR THAT COVID RESPONSE
THAT WENT ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND
INVOLVED MANY THINGS THAT
DON'T USUALLY OCCUR, WOULD
STILL
NOT HAVE MET THE THRESHOLD.
SO CURRENTLY WHEN WE
RECEIVE THAT DIRECT FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE, WE OFTEN GET
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
FROM -- FROM FEDERAL STAFF, FROM
DIFFERENT AGENCIES,
AGAIN, EXPERIENCE OR EXPERTISE
THAT
MAY NOT EXIST AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL.
SO THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WE MAY
NOT GET ANY FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.
AND SOMETHING ELSE AS AN EXAMPLE
THAT YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN A LOT
IN THE NEWS, THERE'S BEEN
PRETTY SEVERE CUTS TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THEY ARE
A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR
PREPAREDNESS AND THINKING
ABOUT RESPONSE, INTENSE STORMS,
WHETHER IN THE WINTERTIME
OUR HEAT OR THE DISASTER
THAT SEATTLE RESPONDS TO THE
MOST
OFTEN. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE
THAT DISASTER DOESN'T HAVE TO
BE CATASTROPHIC FOR IT TO BE
REALLY EXPENSIVE FOR US
TO RECOVER. THE BOMB CYCLONE,
AGAIN, IS
A
GOOD EXAMPLE. WE -- IT WAS
REALLY
IMPACTFUL FOR THIS AREA AND SOME
OF
OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS BUT
CATASTROPHIC LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE.
AND IT STILL HAD JUST FOR
SEATTLE $7. 4 MILLION WORTH OF
REIMBURSEMENT -- OF DAMAGES.
GO BACK
ONE. WHOOPS.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO -- OKAY.
SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
OUTLINED NEW TERMS
AND CONDITIONS FOR US TO RECEIVE
FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS THAT
MAY MAKE SEATTLE INELIGIBLE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT THE STATE HAS TO
APPLY FOR
THE GRANTS FIRST, AND
THEN CITIES AND LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS ARE SUBVERSE TO
THAT GRANT.
THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT,
WHICH ARE
FUNDS THAT CURRENTLY SUPPORT TWO
OF MY STAFF -- TWO FDEs --
MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SEATTLE
THIS CALENDER YEAR.
THE NOFO HAS COME OUT, SO
THE NOTICE OF FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY.
BUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND ALSO IN OTHER PLACES
AROUND THE COUNTRY IS THAT EVEN
IF
THAT GRANT IS RELEASED, THAT
THERE
MAY NOT BE ANY FUNDING TIED TO
IT.
SO THAT WOULD HAVE BIG
IMPACTS FOR US.
AND I HAVE A STAFF OF 13,
SO MISSING TWO IS A BIG DEAL.
WE ALSO OFTEN RELY ON
FEMA CLASSES FOR THOSE TOPICS
THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STAFF
TO HELP US WITH.
DEBRIS MANAGEMENT IS A
GOOD
EXAMPLE. ALSO SOME OF THE
FEDERAL
REIMBURSEMENT COURSES THAT
FEMA DOES ARE PARTICULARLY
HELPFUL FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THE NEW TERMS AND
CONDITIONS ARE ALSO MORE STRICT.
ONE OF THE NEW THINGS THAT WAS
REQUIRED IS THAT THE LOCAL --
OR WHOEVER RECEIVES THE GRANT
FUNDS
ATTEST THAT THEY WILL HAVE NO
DEI PROGRAMS FOR THE LENGTH OF
TIME THAT THE GRANT IS --
THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD FOR
THE GRANT.
AND IF THEY FIND THAT YOU HAVE
DONE THAT IN SOME WAY, THEY
CAN TAKE THE MONEY BACK
REGARDLESS OF IF IT'S STILL
IN PLAY. SOME OF THE RESPONSE TO
THAT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALSO
HERE IN WASHINGTON HAS BEEN TO
FILE
LAWSUITS. SO TO APPLY FOR THE
GRANTS
AND THEN TO FILE A LAWSUIT
AND SAY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
ARE
UNLAWFUL.
WE HAVEN'T, IN FACT,
THOUGH, SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS
WITH
THEN THE ADMINISTRATION
FOLLOWING WHAT JUDGES HAVE PUT
IN
PLACE AFTER THOSE LAWSUITS.
AND SOMETIMES THOSE
LAWSUITS TAKE A LONG TIME TO --
TO
REMEDY OR TO GO THROUGH THAT
WHOLE PROCESS.
YOU ALSO MAY HAVE SEEN
RECENTLY IN THE NEWS THAT TRUMP
RELEASED A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER
WHICH
AIMS TO GIVE POLITICAL
APPOINTEES POWER OVER THE
BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS AWARDED BY
ANY OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, SO
NOT JUST FOR EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT BUT FOR
THESE OFFICIALS ITCLUDES
MAKING CERTAIN THE GRANTS ADHERE
TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
POLICIES.
IT ALSO REQUIRES AGENCIES
TO MAKE IT SO THAT CURRENT AND
FUTURE FEDERAL GRANTS CAN
BE TERMINATED AT ANY TIME
INCLUDING DURING THE GRANT
PERIOD.
AGENCIES CANNOT ANNOUNCE
NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES UNTIL
THE
PROTOCOLS ARE IN
PLACE, ACCORDING TO THIS NEW
ORDER,
AND THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF THAT
IS FURTHER DELAY ON THE
OPPORTUNITIES BEING RELEASED AND
OF COURSE THE FUNDING BEING
RELEASED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OF ANY KIND.
JUST TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER
EXAMPLE, I MENTIONED THE BOMB
CYCLONE.
WE DID APPLY FOR A FEDERAL
DECLARATION, MEANING THE
STATE APPLIED FOR THE BOMB
CYCLONE.
JUST SEATTLE ALONE
SUSTAINED OVER $7. 4 MILLION
WORTH OF
DAMAGES.
WE THEN GIVE THOSE --
THAT DAMAGE INFORMATION TO KING
COUNTY, WHOSE THRESHOLD
BY THEMSELVES IS $10. 7 MILLION,
SO
WE WERE A HUGE CHUNK
OF THAT. THE STATE'S
CLAIM EXCEEDED THE DAMAGE
THRESHOLD OF $4. 5
MILLION.
AND AS COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
MENTIONED, THAT WAS DENIED.
WE THEN APPEALED IT.
AND THE APPEAL WAS ALSO DENIED.
THE ONLY INFORMATION THAT WAS
GIVEN BACK IN THE DENIAL
WAS THAT WE DID NOT MEET THE
CRITERIA, WHICH AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE WAS CONFUSING BECAUSE
WE FELT WE HAD EXCEEDED IT.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS ALL
OF THAT DAMAGE MOSTLY TO CITY
LIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOW THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF SEATTLE ALONE.
SO THE FEDERAL CHANGES
ARE ALSO AFFECTING REGIONAL
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
I AM HAPPY TO TELL YOU,
THOUGH, THAT WASHINGTON IS A
VERY
COLLABORATIVE STATE.
EMERGENCY MANAGERS
ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND AT THE
COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL WORK
TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.
ONE OF THE MAJOR EFFORTS
THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW
SPEARHEADED
BY WASHINGTON EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT DIVISION IS HOSTING A
NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS TO LOOK AT
ALTERNATE -- POSSIBLE ALTERNATE
SOURCES OF FUNDING TO PUT
ASIDE BOTH FOR RECOVERY AND FOR
MITIGATION PROJECTS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT A
LOT OF WHAT THE HELP THAT WE
GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS ALSO FOR MITIGATION
PROJECTS, WHICH ARE SPREAD
ACROSS
THE DEPARTMENTS HERE IN SEATTLE
AND
HAVE A REAL IMPACT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SUPPORTS.
AS I SAID WITH THE COLLEAGUES IN
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WE
CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH
THEM ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.
WE'RE HAVING A BIG
EARTHQUAKE EXERCISE IN OCTOBER.
WE'RE HAVING A FIFA
SCENARIO-RELATED EXERCISE IN
JANUARY THAT WILL BE QUITE
EXTENSIVE, AND IT WILL ALLOW US
TO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS. AND THEN JUST TO GIVE
YOU AN
EXAMPLE OF THE PARTNERS THAT
WE WORK WITH ON A REGULAR
BASIS INCLUDING GETTING READY
FOR
FEMA, I MENTIONED
KING COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AND WASHINGTON EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
THERE'S ALSO A REGIONAL
PARTNERSHIP WITH EIGHT COUNTIES
IN THE PUGET
SOUND AREA. SOUND TRANSIT, RED
CROSS, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
UDUB
HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH, KING
COUNTY AUTHORITY,
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL, KING
COUNTY
PSE, AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS.
SO WE'RE LUCKY WE HAVE THAT
COALITION OF PARTNERS.
SO WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO I'M
GOING
TO PASS IT TO
ANNE.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MAYER.
ANNE MAHER WITH THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT
HERE, BUT I DID WANT TO FLAG A
FEW THINGS ON THE HORIZON
ON THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.
SO CONGRESS IS CURRENTLY ON
RECESS, BUT PRIOR TO THAT
THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE,
WHICH
IS COCHAIRED BY OUR OWN
CONGRESS MEMBER RICK LARSON,
INTRODUCED
H.R. 4669, FIXING AMERICAN
DAEKS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FOR
AMERICANS. AND THIS IS
BIPARTISAN
LEGISLATION AND REALLY
INTENDING TO RESTORE FEMA AS A
CABINET- LEVEL AGENCY.
CONCURRENTLY
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM WITH DHS
AND SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH OF
DoD ARE LEADING THE
PRESIDENT'S FEMA
REVIEW COUNCIL. AND THIS IS
COMPRISED OF REALLY
FEDERAL, STATE, AND
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ALONG WITH
INDIVIDUALS.
MAYOR GENE CASTER OF TAMPA IS
ON THAT COUNCIL, AND THERE HAS
BEEN
SOME OUTREACH THROUGH
HER THROUGH THE U.S. CONFERENCE
OF
MAYORS. AND THIS CAME OUT OF AN
EARLY
JANUARY EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE
PRESIDENT, BUT THEY'RE
REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET
FEEDBACK FROM
GOVERNMENT JURISDICTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTING
THING TO NOTE HERE IS THAT
CONGRESS APPEARS TO BE ACTING
SORT OF
IN OPPOSITION TO THE
ADMINISTRATION.
WE WERE SORT OF CURIOUS
WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE DIRECTION
THEY'D BE HEADING, SO WE'VE
BEEN MONITORING THAT.
AND THEN IT'S GREAT TO SEE
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
COMING OUT OF CONGRESS.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, WE HEAD
INTO THE FALL.
IT WILL BE PRETTY INTERESTING
TO SEE WHERE THEY LAND.
THE CONGRESS WILL
BE DOING MARKUP OF THAT FEMA
BILL
ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL WILL
BE PROVIDING THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THAT --
THAT SAME TIME.
AND ON A SIMILAR NOTE, HOUSE AND
SENATE ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.
AND JUST GIVEN, YOU KNOW,
THE SCRUTINY AROUND
IMMIGRATION RIGHT NOW, THIS BILL
WILL
FACE POLITICAL HEADWIND.
AND SO WE WILL, OF COURSE,
BE MONITORING WHERE THAT COMES
OUT, THE DRAFT OF THE HOUSE
VERSION DID INCLUDE SOME GRANTS
THAT
ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY
INCLUDING THE URBAN SECURITY
AREA
INITIATIVE GRANT.
SO AS THE SEPTEMBER 30th
GOVERNMENT DEADLINE IS
APPROACHING, THERE'LL BE A LOT
TO GET DONE IN CONGRESS.
AND SO WE WILL, OF COURSE,
BE MONITORING THOSE CHANGES
IN COORDINATION
WITH OEM. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS YOU
HAVE FOR OUR PANELISTS THIS
MORNING.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> DIRECTORS, YOU WERE TALKING
IT OCCURRED TO ME TRUMP IS A
DISASTER IN SO MANY WAYS.
BUT IN TODAY'S CONVERSATION
IT'S
BECAUSE HIS CUTS WILL CAUSE
THE EMERGENCIES WE USUALLY RELY
ON FEMA TO HELP MANAGE.
AND BY CAUSE I SHOULD SAY
WORSEN BECAUSE CUTS TO THE
WEATHER
SERVICE, TO USGS, TO
NOAA. WE RELY ON EARLY WARNINGS
TO
HELP PREPARE OUR CONSTITUENTS
FOR POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF
THOSE STORMS COMING IN.
AND IF WE CAN'T TRACK THEM OR
SEE THEM, THEN WE CAN'T --
THEN OUR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
IN
DANGER, SO THAT'S WHAT
REALLY OCCURS TO ME.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL
LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE WORDS
DISASTER,
CATASTROPHE, BIG ORANGE BOMB
CYCLONE, THOSE ARE THE
THINGS THAT COME TO MIND IN
YOUR CONVERSATION.
BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
LET'S SEE, IT IS HOW -- HOW
MUCH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
EMERGENCY
HUBS ARE FUNDED WITH FEMA
DOLLARS AND OTHER FEDERAL
DOLLARS.
BUT THAT'S REALLY KEY BECAUSE
THOSE ARE THE WAYS THAT WE
ORGANIZE OUR
RESPONSE.
>> SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND JUST FOR CONTEXT FOR
EVERYONE, THE EMERGENCY HUBS
ARE PRIMARILY FOR COMMUNICATION.
THEY ARE RUN BY VOLUNTEERS
THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH OUR
OFFICE BUT NOT -- WE DON'T
DIRECT THEM IN ANY WAY.
IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL GROUP
OF
VOLUNTEERS.
AND WHY THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT
IS THOSE THEN COMMUNICATION
HUBS ARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEY CAN PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, OR
THEY SAY WE'RE FINE IN THIS
AREA, WE'RE
ISOLATED, BUT WE'LL BE OKAY FOR
A LITTLE WHILE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BACKDROP.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM.
THEY DO NOT GET FEDERAL DOLLARS,
THOUGH.
WE DO TRAINING FOR
THEM INITIALLY WHEN THEY ARE
GOING
TO STAND UP, AND THEY ARE RUN
AND OPERATED BY -- BY
VOLUNTEERS.
>> OKAY.
SO THE EQUIPMENT AND THE
TRAINING IS ALREADY COVERED
WITH LOCAL DOLLARS?
>> YEAH, YES.
SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AND
THEN
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> YES, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH THANK
YOU, DIRECTOR. AND THANK YOU
BOTH FOR WEEK
HERE.
IN MY PREVIOUS ROLE I
WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AND JUST WANT TO REFLECT FOR
THE PUBLIC THAT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, OFTENTIMES
THE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOLKS ARE
NOT INCLUDED IN
THAT
CONVERSATION. AND I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT
THAT YOU'RE VERY MUCH A PART OF
THAT CONVERSATION.
AND, AGAIN,
GREAT SHOUTOUT FOR THE EMERGENCY
HUBS.
THOSE VOLUNTEERS, I'VE WORKED
WITH THEM IN VARIOUS PARTS
OF THE CITY, KNOW THE
DEDICATION, KNOW THE WORK THAT
THEY DO
BECAUSE WHEN IT REALLY
COMES DOWN TO IT -- AND AGAIN
THIS
MAY BE MORE FOR PUBLIC
CONSUMPTION, IF WE HAVE A MAJOR
DISASTER YOUR
NEIGHBORS BECOME
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS BECAUSE
POLICE, FIRE
AND MEDICAL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
GET TO YOU FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
SO THAT'S WHY WE MAKE A PUSH
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
RESILIENCY, NEIGHBORHOOD
COHESION TO BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER
FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS IN THE
EVENT OF A
MAJOR DISASTER, PARTICULARLY AN
EARTHQUAKE BECAUSE IT'S NOT
A MATTER OF IF.
IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR
EARTHQUAKE.
WHICH KIND OF GETS ME TO THE
QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK
REGARDING THE EQUITY IN TERMS OF
WHO FEMA IS GOING TO HELP
AND WHEN.
SO WE'VE APPLIED SEVERAL TIMES
FOR RELIEF AND HAVE BEEN DENIED.
I'M WONDERING IF THE 4th OF
JULY FLOODING THAT HAPPENED IN
TEXAS, HAS TEXAS APPLIED FOR
RELIEF AND
GOTTEN IT?
AND -- OR THE DISASTERS
FOLLOWING THAT HIT
THE CAROLINAS.
JUST THINKING THAT IF WE CAN
SHOW THAT, HEY, THESE STATES
WHO ARE RED GOT IT, THESE STATES
WHO ARE BLUE AREN'T, THAT SEEMS
TO ME TO BE SETTING US UP FOR A
PRETTY WELL- GROUNDED LAWSUIT
AGAINST -- YES, LET'S JUST
PUT IT THERE.
ANYWAY, THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> SO FIRST I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC
SAFETY.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
WE ARE SORT OF THE LITTLE
SISTER OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
KIND
OF BEHIND THE SCENES THAT
PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS CONSIDER,
SO
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK IT'S -- YOU KNOW,
PART OF THE STRUGGLE OR
CHALLENGE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
REALLY HAS BEEN THAT THE
DECISIONS THAT
ARE MADE IN WHO GETS HELP DON'T
SEEM
TO FOLLOW A LOGICAL PATTERN.
SO, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY IT
WAS CONSIDERED THAT ONLY BLUE
STATES WOULD GET ASSISTANCE.
AND THEN WE SAW THAT THAT
WASN'T
TRUE, EITHER THAT I
BELIEVE ARKANSAS DID NOT GET
SOME
OF THE -- SOME OF THE FUNDING
THAT THEY HAD ASKED FOR.
IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW THAT
WILL PAN OUT.
I THINK IT DOES BRING SOME
LIGHT TO IF FEMA IS RETURNED TO
A
CABINET- LEVEL POSITION AND IS
DIRECTLY UNDER THE WHITE
HOUSE,
DOES THAT MEAN THE WHITE HOUSE
WILL HAVE MORE OVERSIGHT
ABOUT WHO GETS FUNDING AND WHO
DOESN'T?
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN
DISCUSSED.
BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO KNOW AND
IT
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
LOGICAL, I THINK OUR BEST
SOLUTION IS
TO THINK ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING
TO DO THIS AS BEST WE CAN
WITHOUT
THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT
WE'VE RELIED ON FOR SO LONG?
IT'S NOT.
I THINK IT'S A SUPER
COMPLICATED
SITUATION, THOUGH.
WE GET SO MUCH
ASSISTANCE, REALLY FUNDING
ASSISTANCE FOR
MITIGATION, WHICH, OF
COURSE, REDUCES THE IMPACT OF A
KNOWN
HAZARD. THAT'S MORE IMPACTFUL
THAN
RECOVERY.
RECOVERY, ALSO, THOUGH, TENDS TO
BE REALLY EXPENSIVE.
SO WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ABLE
TO MARSHAL THE FUNDS WE NEED
FROM
LOCAL SOURCES I THINK IS YET
TO BE SEEN, SO IT'S -- I THINK
IT'S COMPLICATED AND HARD TO
KNOW.
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT
UP.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON.
COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> HERE.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
APOLOGIZE FOR NO VIDEO.
NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I'VE RECYCLED --
YEAH, THE DEMONS IN THE COMPUTER
ARE REFLECTING THIS.
THAT SAID, YOU PROBABLY
DON'T WANT TO SEE ME ANYWAYS,
SO
HERE WE GO.
I JUST WANTED TO, "A," THANK
CHAIR FOR HAVING THIS ON.
AS YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS
APPRECIATE WHEN EVERY MEETING
BECOMES
A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
MEETING
LIKE YESTERDAY'S COMMITTEE
MEETING BECAUSE IT REALLY HAS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE
FACING
TO INCLUDE WITH THE
FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. ON THIS AREA I'VE
BEEN
SPEAKING REGARDING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AT MY COMMITTEE AS
PART OF THE
CHAIR COMMENT.
THREE MEETINGS AGO I SPOKE
TO FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT,
SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, I.C.E.
AND THE NEED FOR
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HOLD
ITSELF TO
A HIGHER STANDARD, TO BE A
VARSITY VERSUS JUNIOR VARSITY.
AND THEN EARLIER THIS WEEK I
SPOKE AS WELL PARTICULARLY
RELATED TO THE NATIONAL GUARD
DEPLOYMENT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
, IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE
NEED IN OUR CITIES IS NOT
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
YOU KNOW, WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY WHAT WE NEED TO
INTERDICT, YOU KNOW, DRUGS OR
GUNS COMING INTO
OUR CITY IS THE ATF OR THE
DEA OR FBI.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN OUR
CITY.
AND THE SAME
THING, WE NEED SUPPORT FOR SWORN
OFFICERS LIKE
GOVERNOR FERGUSON'S PLAN HERE
IN WASHINGTON STATE FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY.
SUPPORT OUR FIREFIGHTERS
REALLY WITH PERSONNEL AND
EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS
IS NOT JUST FOR OUR CITY.
IT'S ALSO FOR -- FOR
EXAMPLE, THE L.A. WILDFIRES,
WHICH
I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER THIS WEEK.
THE FACT THAT
FIREFIGHTERS FROM OUR CITY AND
FROM THE
REGION WENT TO CALIFORNIA TO
SUPPORT THEM IN THAT DISASTER,
THAT NATURAL DISASTER.
AND IT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS
TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY.
AND SO WE NEED FEMA TO BE
NOT STRIPPED-DOWN TO NOTHING,
WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT
OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
THROUGHOUT FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BUT TO BE ENHANCED
BECAUSE IT
HAS BEEN INCORPORATING THE
LESSONS LEARNED IN KATRINA
AND OTHER PLACES BECAUSE IT HAS
BEEN THE FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR
OUR COUNTRIES AND COUNTIES AND
FOR
OUR CITIES. AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT
TO HIGHLIGHT FOR OUR RESIDENTS
AND FOR EVERYONE, YOU KNOW,
BOTH IN THE CITY, COUNTY, AND
THE
STATE ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION AS IT RELATES
TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS. AND WE NEED TO BE,
YOU
KNOW, WORKING IN CONJUNCTION
WITH OUR
COUNTY, COUNTY COUNTER PARTS AND
OUR STATE COUNTER PARTS TO
THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY
WITH ANYTHING FROM HIGHLIGHTING
THE
DISCREPANCIES AND I
RECOGNIZE THE ARKANSAS EXAMPLE,
BUT
JUST THE APPROACH THAT WE GET
VERSUS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY
TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON'S
POINT.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
PUSH THESE PIECES.
YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME,
WE NEED TO DO OUR JOB HERE
IN SEATTLE.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS IN MY
DISCUSSIONS WITH OEM IS AS
PART OF THIS NEW WORLD IN WHICH
WE'RE
LIVING, WE DO NEED TO
CLEANUP OUR BUDGET LINES.
AS NOTED IN THE
PRESENTATION, TWO POSITIONS OUT
OF THE OEM
WERE KIND OF HISTORICALLY BASED
ON
THE GRANTS. AND GIVEN THE
UNCERTAINTY,
THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
ADDRESS AS WE GO THROUGH OUR
BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE AT THE
END
OF THE DAY WE NEED A STRONG OEM
THAT'S THERE WHEN -- WHEN
IT'S NEEDED.
AND I'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH
THE EXECUTIVE AT DIFFERENT
LEVELS
TO SUPPORT OEM AND TO REALLY IN
ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH
OTHER DEPARTMENTS SO IT CAN BE
THERE WHEN IT'S NEEDED.
SO, CHAIR, I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A
QUESTION SINCE THE BRIEFING
PRETTY
MUCH SPOKE TO THE DIFFERENT
PIECES.
AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR CONGRESS
THE
BOTTOM LINE IS THEY NEED FEMA TO
BE ABLE TO DO ITS JOB.
I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT
IT BEING CABINET LEVEL.
WE JUST NEED IT TO DO ITS JOB,
WHETHER IT'S THERE OR WITHIN
HOMELAND SECURITY.
WHATEVER IT MAY BE, IT JUST
NEEDS TO DO ITS JOB.
THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> EXCUSE ME.
THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU
FOR THE
PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR
ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO MIRROR SOME OF
THE COMMENTS MADE
BY
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, WHERE
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, IF YOU
WILL, IN ONE OF THOSE LARGE
DISASTERS WILL BE OUR NEIGHBORS.
IT WILL BE THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO
US. I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CAN
SOMETIMES BE
OVERLOOKED WHEN THINGS ARE FINE.
AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT, YOU
ARE THE ONE THAT WE ARE
RELYING UPON.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE
THIS MOMENT TO PUBLICLY THANK
YOU
FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO,
THE READINESS EVERY TIME
THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
IS
ACTIVATED.
MOST PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF THE
ACTIVITY THAT IS OCCURRING,
AND YOUR CENTER IS JUST BUZZING
WITH ACTIVITY.
TO MAKE SURE IF SOMETHING
HAPPENS, WE'RE READY.
AND TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE
SURE SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN.
BUT IN THE WORLD OF NATURAL
DISASTERS, WE DON'T HAVE
THAT CONTROL.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR
KEEPING US AS READY AS
POSSIBLE IN ANY LARGE NATURAL
DISASTER ESPECIALLY.
WE'LL NEVER BE READY.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE
YOU HAVING US AS READY AS WE CAN
BE.
THANK YOU,
CURRY.
>>
THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS? COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE.
SEEMS LIKE WE END
UP TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE
CONTRADICTIONS
AND THE
ILLOGICAL NATURE OF THE
DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
BUT I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
THE PERFORMANCE.
LET'S SEE, WHAT ARE THE --
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA OF THE
PERFORMANCE GRANT THAT YOU --
THAT YOU STAND TO NOT BE ABLE
TO GET?
AND I'M ASKING BECAUSE
ON PAGE -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT
PAGE
IT IS -- 8 OF YOUR PRESENTATION.
RAISING THE THRESHOLD OF $7.
56 FROM $1.89 PER CAPITA
TO QUALIFY -- YEAH, THAT'S TO
QUALIFY, I SUPPOSE.
BUT MY POINT IS THAT IS --
THAT IS BASICALLY MEANING THAT
THE MORE MONEY YOU SPEND, THE --
THE
MORE YOU STAND TO GET FROM
THE FEDERAL.
AND YOU RUN A VERY WELL- RUN --
I MEAN A VERY COST- EFFECTIVE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE.
AND SO WHY THINKING IS THAT
IT'S -- IT'S CONTRADICTORY
THAT, IF I'M READING THIS
RIGHT,
YOUR PERFORMANCE WOULD HAVE TO
BECOME LESS EFFICIENT IN ORDER
FOR THE
CITY TO QUALIFY FOR THESE
GRANTS.
AND THATTHAT JUST, LIKE, YOU CAN
--
IT SEEMS LIKE TRUMP IS ALWAYS
JUST RESPONDING TO
PRETEND EMERGENCIES LIKE
IMMIGRATION,
LIKE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC
SAFETY, WHEN ACTUALLY RATES ARE
GOING DOWN IN D.C. AND IN
SEATTLE.
AND YET DEPLOYING THE
NATIONAL RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT
IS
COMPLETELY WASTEFUL. HE'S
ENCOURAGING WASTE, I GUESS,
IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
BUT PLEASE RESPOND TO MY
QUESTION ABOUT THE
CRITERIA.
>> YEAH, I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
I THINK THERE'S TWO AREAS
OF CONCERN HERE.
ONE IS RELATED TO THE CHANGE
IN THE PER CAPITA TO -- TO EVEN
BE
ABLE TO APPLY FOR A
DISASTER
DECLARATION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT SO
THEN IF YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL
IN GETTING THAT DISASTER
DECLARATION, THAT WOULD MEAN
THAT RECOVERY MONEY, YOU
ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR
REIMBURSEMENT. SO FEMA DOESN'T
SAY I'M SO SORRY
YOU HAD THAT DISASTER, HERE'S
A CHECK FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.
WHAT THEY SAY IS HERE NOW ARE
CERTAIN CATEGORIES.
YES, YOU CAN APPLY FOR THESE
CATEGORIES OF REIMBURSEMENT
FOR MONEY THAT YOU, THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR THE
STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE ALREADY
SPENT.
SO YOU HAVE TO SPEND IT
YOURSELF, AND THEN YOU APPLY TO
GET
REIMBURSED. SO EVEN IF THERE'S
A FEDERAL
DECLARATION WITH THAT HIGH
AMOUNT, THERE'S ANOTHER LEVEL
OF THEY COULD STILL SAY THIS IS
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
REIMBURSEMENT, WE'RE SORRY YOU
SPENT THAT
MONEY.
THEY TEND TO BE THINGS LIKE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, SO PUBLIC
FACILITIES, DAMAGE TO ROADWAYS,
BRIDGES, YOU KNOW,
SEATTLE FACILITIES AND THEN
SOME INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
FOR BUSINESS AND FAMILIES ARE
THE
OVERARCHING CATEGORIES WHERE
THAT WOULD COME INTO PLAY.
SO THAT'S ONE PIECE THAT'S
AT STAKE.
THE OTHER THAT YOU MENTION,
THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PERFORMANCE GRANT, WHICH IS ONE
OF
THE OLDEST GRANTS IN
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THE THING THAT WE LOVE ABOUT IT
IN MY FIELD IS THAT IT'S VERY
GENERAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOESN'T SAY
YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON TERRORISM.
IT BASICALLY SAYS WHAT ARE
THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES THAT YOU
WANT TO
ENHANCE, AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT
THAT WORK? SO FOR SEATTLE THE
TWO
AREAS THAT WE MOST OFTEN ASK FOR
SUPPORT IN THE WAY OF
FUNDING ARE FOR TRAINING AND
EXERCISES, WHICH MEANS ALL OF
THE WORK WE
DO WITH ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS, SOME OF WHICH I
MENTIONED,
WE THEN ARE ABLE TO TRAIN WITH
THEM AND DO EXERCISES
AROUND SCENARIOS LIKE EITHER
FIFA
OR
EARTHQUAKE SO THAT WE CAN TEST
OUR CAPABILITIES AND KNOW WHAT
WE'RE REALLY GOINGGOING BE ABLE
TO DO AND MIGHT BE GAPS.
THE OTHER AREA WHICH IS
REALLY IMPACTFUL AND
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON ALLUDED TO
EARLIER,
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITIES.
IN LANGUAGE
ACCORDING TO THEIR CULTURAL
NORMS, ALL OF THOSE
THINGS ARE IMPORTANT, SO
THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE, THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE ASK
FOR
ASSISTANCE IN FUNDING SO
THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER
PROGRAMS THAT
MATCH WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THAT IS ALSO AT STAKE
WITH LOSING THOSE TWO FTEs.
SO RATHER THAN -- I'M SO
GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP
BECAUSE RATHER THAN, OH, IT'S
JUST TWO
FTEs, IT'S
REALLY SPECIFIC WORK THAT IS
REALLY INTEGRAL TO WHAT
WE DO AND HOW THAT MAKES
US SUCCESSFUL WORKING WITH
PARTNERS AND THEN OUR ABILITY TO
HAVE
A REALLY ROBUST COMMUNITY
OUTREACH.
AND ALSO AS YOU
MENTIONED, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON,
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE OFTEN THINK OF FIRST
RESPONDERS AS POLICE AND FIRE,
BUT IT'S REALLY YOUR NEIGHBOR.
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO
REACH THOSE FIRST
RESPONDERS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO
GOVERNMENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO OUR
ABILITY TO TEACH HAZARD
AWARENESS AND SOME
BASIC DISASTER SKILLS IS SUPER
IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S PART
OF THE THING THAT WOULD BE
COMPROMISED.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR.
I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A PITCH,
AGAIN, FOR OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
IF ANYBODY HAS -- IF YOU
HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GO TO
THEIR FACILITY AND SEE IT
AND SEE HOW THEY OPERATE, IT IS
VERY
EYE OPENING.
I HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE
IN THAT SPACE AND TO,
AGAIN, WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS.
FUN FACT DID YOU KNOW THAT
THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER
WAS
OPERATED AFTER THE SEAHAWKS WON
THE SUPER BOWL?
YEAH.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, FUN FACT
THAT BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE
PARADE THAT WAS COMING THROUGH
TOWN, THEY WERE ACTIVATED.
SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIFA
AND ALL THE FOLKS COMING INTO
THE
CITY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUSY.
SO, AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO
GIVE YOU SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ANY TIME.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU
COME VISIT.
LET ME KNOW.
>> IT'S THAT INVISIBLE
WORK,
RIGHT? IT'S CERTAINLY
APPRECIATED.
>> IT'S LIKE THREE BLOCKS
DOWN
THE ROAD. IT'S EASY TO GET
TO.
>> IT'S A
DOWNHILL WALK.
>> WONDERFUL. WELL, I'LL JUMP
INTO A COUPLE
OF MY QUESTIONS MAYBE TO GIVE
MY COLLEAGUES A MOMENT IN
CASE ANYONE HAS SOME FINAL
QUESTIONS.
ONE
IS ACTUALLY BUILDING ON SOME OF
THE POINTS RAISED BY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, JUST
THIS POINT OF RAISING UP
THE CAPITA -- THE PER CAPITA
AMOUNT AND THE REIMBURSEMENT
AMOUNT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE
CONTEXT YOU CITED WITH HOW
MUCH WAS SPENT ON COVID
RESPONSE.
AND WHEN I SEE THESE
NEW THRESHOLDS IT FEELS LIKE
IN EFFECT A WAY OF LOCKING US
OUT
OF GETTING FUNDING, OR TO
THE POINT THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUST RAISED, INCENTIVIZING AND
OVERSPEND.
MY QUESTION TO
INCENTIVIZING WASTEFUL SPENDING
IS THEN
WHAT ARE THE AUDITS OF CLAIMS?
COULD YOU KIND OF EXTRAPOLATE ON
WHEN WE MAKE CLAIMS IF THERE'S
AN AUDITING PROCESS.
OR MAYBE THERE'S A
PROCESS RELATED TO AUDITING,
CLAIMS TO
EVALUATING.
IS THAT EVER PART OF THE
PROCESS, OR IS THAT IN THE
DISCUSSION
NOW?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT
THAT UP.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
CRITERIA THAT HAVE TO BE LOOKED
AT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.
ONE FOR THE FEDERAL
DECLARATION, AS I MENTIONED.
AND THEN WHEN YOU APPLY FOR
REIMBURSEMENT IN CERTAIN
CATEGORIES, THERE'S A LOT
OF VERY DETAILED REQUIREMENTS
THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET.
SO THE FIRST THING THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOKS
AT IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR
--
LET'S SAY THEY SAY
YES, WASHINGTON NOW HAS THIS
FEDERAL
DECLARATION, YOU APPLY
FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
THE FIRST THING THEY LOOK AT
IS SOMETHING CALLED THE
STAFFORD ACT.
SO THE STAFFORD ACT WAS
ACTUALLY PUT IN PLACE IN THE
'70s BUT HAS
BEEN AMENDED FOR SOME NUMBER OF
TIMES.
USUALLY AFTER LARGE EVENTS
LIKE AFTER 9/11, AFTER KATRINA.
USUALLY WHAT IT SPELLS OUT
IS THESE ARE THE
ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES ELIGIBLE FOR
REIMBURSEMENT.
SO THEN THERE ARE DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES OF REIMBURSEMENT.
SO IMMEDIATE PUBLIC
SAFETY
MEASURES. AND COVID, AGAIN, IS
KIND OF
AN OFF EXAMPLE WAS THERE WAS
SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC
VACCINATIONS, PUT IN PLACE
ALL THE EXTRA HEALTH CARE FOLKS
WE
NEEDED HELP NOT ONLY FROM
PUBLIC HEALTH BUT FROM LOCAL
HOSPITALS.
ALL OF THAT WAS IN THE
IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY MEASURES.
AND THEN THERE ARE
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE
ALSO A CATEGORY, WHICH MAY SEEM
ODD EXCEPT RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES ARE OFTEN USED FOR
VACCINATION, SHELTERS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
AND SMALLER CATEGORIES THAT
USUALLY HAVE TO DO WITH
PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, EXPERTISE
THAT WAS NEEDED FOR
THAT SPECIFIC DISASTER.
SO THE THINGS YOU ASK FOR
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WE NEED
$100 MILLION FOR THIS
DISASTER, IT WAS TERRIBLE.
IT HAS TO MEET THOSE
CRITERIA, AND IN FACT YOU AS
A JURISDICTION MIGHT
HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE
IS
REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RECOVERY THAT
DID NOT MEET
ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES,
AND YOU WOULD NOT RECEIVE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR
THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR LAYING THAT
OUT AND JUST TO PROVIDE BROADER
CONTEXT MY THINKING IS
BY RAISING THE THRESHOLD OF THIS
CRITERIA, OF COURSE I'M
THINKING
ABOUT JURISDICTIONS OTHER
THAN OUR OWN BUT JURISDICTIONS
LESS RESOURCED THAN WE ARE THAT
MIGHT BE INCENTIVIZED TO BALLOON
THEIR NUMBERS OUT OF
DESPERATION,
TO GET SOME AMOUNT OF RESOURCES
AND ANY SUBSEQUENT AUDIT
PROCESS THAT COULD PENALIZE THEM
FROM ANY
SUPPORT.
>> YES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE
EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION.
AND THEN AS YOU GO THROUGH THE
RECOVERY PROCESS AND USING
THAT FEDERAL FUNDING, WHICH
USUALLY
TAKES YEARS, THERE ARE
AUDITS ALL ALONG THE WAY THAT
THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU'RE MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS THAT THE WORK
IS ACTUALLY DOING WHAT YOU SAID
IT
WAS GOING TO DO IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
SO, YEAH, IT'S QUITE
COMPLICATED.
>> I APPRECIATE WHOEVER DOES
THAT
PAPERWORK.
>> IT'S HARD TO JUST
OVERSPEND ON SOMETHING THAT'S
NOT
ACTUALLY RELATED TO THE
DISASTER.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL
THOSE
CHECKS.
>> GOT IT.
THANK YOU FOR LAYING THAT
OUT AND CLARIFYING THAT.
KIND OF BUILDING TO THAT POINT,
WE KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF ONGOING
LAWSUITS BETWEEN DIFFERENT
JURISDICTIONS AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT RIGHT
NOW OVER FUNDING.
AND RECENTLY WE'VE SEEN
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
IGNORE COURT RULINGS.
SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE
THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT
RECEIVING FUNDING WHILE WE WAIT
FOR
LAWSUITS
TO SETTLE?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
SO YOU HAVE HEARD BOTH IN THE
MEDIA AND THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON IS INVOLVED IN
A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS ALREADY.
ONE WAS ABOUT THE BOMB
CYCLONE, AND THEN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO
ALSO IS TALKING ABOUT SUING
ABOUT
THE UNREASONABLE TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT
THERE'S A
HUGE DELAY -- A FURTHER DELAY
OF FUNDING WHILE YOU'RE WAITING
FOR THE LAWSUIT TO BE RESOLVED.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN THAT EVEN
THOUGH SOMETIMES THERE'S AN
INJUNCTION THEN BY A JUDGE, THAT
THEN THE
ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T
ALWAYS FOLLOW WHAT THE
INJUNCTION SAYS.
SO TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE FOR US AND
MAKE IT SEATTLE SPECIFIC,
THE NOTICE OF FUNDING CAME OUT
VERY
LATE. THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR,
AS
YOU KNOW, STARTS AT THE
BEGINNING
OF OCTOBER.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT
FUNDING WILL NOT BE RELEASED
THIS
CALENDER YEAR, SO WE HAVE A
GAP FROM SEPTEMBER TO THE END OF
THE
YEAR WHILE WE WILL NOT
RECEIVE THAT FUNDING, EVEN IF WE
WERE
TO GET IT LATER.
AND THEN WE HAVE HEARD THAT
THEY MAY SAY TO DIFFERENT
JURISDICTIONS WHETHER OR
NOT THEY ARE AWARDED THE GRANT.
BUT THEN WHETHER OR
NOT THERE WILL BE MONEY THERE.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR
A
LAWSUIT, THAT CAN FURTHER DELAY.
SO THAT HAS REAL IMPACT RIGHT
AWAY FOR US IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR LAYING
THAT OUT.
AND MY FINAL QUESTION IS JUST
AS WE TURN AN EYE TOWARDS D.C. ,
IF THE NATIONAL GUARD TAKES OVER
TO
COMMANDEER A CITY'S LOCAL
POLICE
FORCE THEY DON'T HAVE
THE AUTHORITY TO ARREST PEOPLE
FOR MINOR OFFENSES BUT ARE
RATHER USING
THIS MOMENT SEEMINGLY FOR
A POLITICAL STATEMENT. WHAT IS
OEM'S ROLE
IN COMMUNICATING IF SOMETHING
LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO SEATTLE
TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC? WHAT SHOULD THE
PUBLIC KNOW AS
THERE ARE INCREASING FEARS ABOUT
OUR CITY BEING A TARGET?
>> I THINK THAT THE
IMPORTANT ROLE FOR COMMUNICATING
WITH
THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT JUST BE OEM
BUT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT
HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES, DEPARTMENT AND
NEIGHBORHOODS, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALL HAVE CONNECTIONS IN
DIFFERENT WAYS TO
DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES. SO I THINK PROBABLY
THE
FIRST MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE
WOULD
BE FOR PEOPLE TO NOT BE AFRAID.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, FEAR IS
A TACTIC THAT KEEPS PEOPLE
FROM TAKING ANY KIND OF ACTION
OR
PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING
WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO ARREST PEOPLE.
I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT
FOR US TO GIVE THE
MESSAGE THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
KNOWS
OUR COMMUNITIES AND IS COMMITTED
TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THEIR JOBS IN
THAT WAY.
AND THEN, YOU
KNOW, IN GENERAL PEOPLE SHOULD
-- SHOULD NOT
BE AFRAID AND NOT BE
AFRAID TO SPEAK UP AND TALK
ABOUT THOSE
THINGS THAT SEEMS SCARY OR
THAT MAY MAKE THEM
FEEL FEARFUL WHEN IT'S MORE
ABOUT A TACTIC
RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL AUTHORITY
THAT THEY WOULD HAVE.
NATIONAL GUARD IS OFTEN USED IN
DISASTERS FOR DISASTER
KINDS OF WORK THAT'S NOT
MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE
CLEARING DEBRIS
AND DOING OTHER KINDS OF
THINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FINAL QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
AND WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSEOUT
THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE AND LAYING THIS OUT
FOR US AND FOR THE LISTENING
PUBLIC.
THIS WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU
DO.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE
IT.
>> WELL, THANKS, EVERYONE.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME
BEFORE COMMITTEE? NO.
I KNOW IT'S THE FRIDAY BEFORE
RECESS, SO I THINK
EVERYONE'S EAGER TO GET OUT OF
HERE.
I'LL TAKE A PERSONAL MOMENT
OF PRIVILEGE TO SAY BECAUSE I
THINK THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING
BEFORE RECESS AS A FULL BODY, SO
I
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A FABULOUS
RECESS AND ENJOYS THE SUN AND
GET
SOME GOOD REST.
AND WE WILL SEE YOU ALL
IN
SEPTEMBER. JUST IN TIME FOR
BUDGET.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT HEARING
NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
IT IS 1027 A.M.