>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ARE EXCUSE
TODAY. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTIONS, THE MEETING MINUTES
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, AT MEETING MINUTES
ARE ADOPTED. BILLS AND MINUTES,
ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND USE
AND ZONING TO ADOPT TEMPORARY
REGULATIONS FOR DESIGN REVIEW
EXEMPTIONS. THAT'S IN LAND USE
AND SUSTAINABILITY. AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
TO ENTER INTO A LONG-TERM
AGREEMENT FOR ACQUISITION OF
ELECTRIC POWER THAT IS PARKS AND
CITY LIGHT, AND AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE 2025 FAMILY
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PROMISE.
APPROVING AN IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN FOR THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. THERE IS ALSO AN
ORDINANCE GRANTING SKYLINE TO
PRODUCT SKY BRIDGE OVER EIGHTH
AVENUE AND FIRST HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT IS IN THE
TRANSPORTATION, WATERFRONT IN
SEATTLE CENTER. WE HAVE NO
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS SCHEDULED FOR
TODAY. THERE IS NO LETTERS OR
PROCLAMATIONS FOR SIGNATURES
TODAY. AND I GUESS RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO
BEGINNING OUR DISCUSSION ON THE
PREVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
AND COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES IN THE ORDER OF
DISCUSSION, I GUESS, WILL GO TO
MY RIGHT. AND COLLEAGUES. I KNOW
WE HAVEN'T -- WE ARE STILL
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OUR FLOW
FOR MONDAY BRIEFINGS. I KNOW
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
COMMITTEES, A LOT OF TIME
DEDICATED TO YOUR REGIONAL
COMMITTEES, YOUR CITY
COMMITTEES, CONSTITUENT AFFAIRS,
SPECIAL MEETINGS WE'VE HAD, ALL
THE LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE HAD,
THAT'S BEING TRANSMITTED, NOT
COMING DOWN, THAT'S BEING
TRANSMITTED, EXCUSE ME, BEFORE
BUDGET OR EXCUSE ME, BEFORE OUR
RECESS, THEN WE JUMP RIGHT INTO
BUDGET. SO WE'RE STILL TRYING
TO GET A FEEL FOR THESE MONDAY
BRIEFINGS. AND REGIONAL AS WELL
FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE. SO JUST
TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF
PEOPLE'S TIMES, AND I GUESS
WE'LL START TO THE RIGHT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HELLO, EVERYBODY. IT'S BEEN A
WHILE SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE AT
THE TABLE. STARTING OFF THIS
WEEK AND STARTING OFF TODAY. I
WAS VERY HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE
WITH A BELLTOWN MURAL EVENT THAT
INCLUDED THE NORWEGIAN CRUISE
LINE. AND IT WAS A FANTASTIC
EVENT AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE,
CITY OF SEATTLE, WORKING
TOGETHER, WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY. THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, NOT JUST NORWEGIAN
CRUISE LINES, BUT THE PROPERTY
OWNER, ACROSS THE BOARD, AND WE
BASICALLY DEDICATED A MURAL. THE
ART WHO DID THE WORLD FAMOUS CUP
POSTER. AND YOURS TRULY GOT TO
DO THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THIS
MURAL WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE
CRUISE SHIP. HE HAD HIS PIECE,
AND DID THIS. THE POINT HERE IS
ABOUT BRINGING ART AND, YOU
KNOW, THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN
BELLTOWN. AND I THINK WHAT
THEY'VE DONE WITH THE MURAL
PROGRAM WAS UNBELIEVABLE. IT HAS
A LOT OF OTHER BENEFITS AS WELL,
IF I PUT MY COMMITTEE HAT ON. IT
WAS FANTASTIC TO BE WITH NOW A
FAMOUS ARTIST WAS OUT. IT WAS
PRETTY NICE AS WELL. SO THIS
WEEK, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, LIKE TODAY
IN PARKS AND SDOT. TOMORROW,
DIRECTOR PHAM FROM
NEIGHBORHOODS, ALONG WITH
OTHERS. OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR
ROUND OF 32 MATCH ON WEDNESDAY,
BUT THEN I'LL BE MEETING WITH
THE AQUARIUM. WE HAVE ALL OF OUR
DIFFERENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS AS
WELL. HAPPY FOURTH TO EVERYBODY.
NEXT WEEK, FOLLOWING WEEK,
AGAIN, DIFFERENT MEETINGS SO
FORTH. OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING BECAUSE WE'VE
HAD FIVE, SIX MONTHS, IT IS
ACTUALLY NOT UNTIL JULY 14,
WHICH IS TWO WEEKS AHEAD, WHICH
IS KIND OF WEIRD. WE'LL BE
DIVING INTO OUR POSSESSION BILL,
WHICH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
CARE BILL, WHICH WAS PASSED OUT
OF COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, KIND OF
WORKED TOGETHER IN TERMS OF
DEALING WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES
THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR
STREETS. AND SO THAT IS -- OH.
IN TERMS OF LAST WEEK, I HAVE TO
HIGHLIGHT. SPENT A COUPLE OF
GREAT EVENTS WITH OUR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. FIRST, WE HAD A TOUR
OF KXP DOWN THERE IN DISTRICT
SEVEN, BUT ALSO SEATTLE CENTER.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. A GREAT
EVENT. THEY'RE A GREAT ASSET.
BY THE WAY, THEY ARE AN ASSET TO
THE CITY. AS I SAID IN SOCIAL
MEDIA. THE WAY THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE SEE SEATTLE IS HOW THEY
HEAR IT THROUGH IN TERMS OF THE
MUSIC, HOW WE DO BUSINESS, AND
THEN ALSO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S
BORN FROM THAT, SO THAT WAS
FANTASTIC. SO THAT WAS IN THE
MORNING THAT WE DID THIS WITH
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND THE TWO
OF US WENT TO SEATTLE STORM WITH
DIRECTOR FOSTER WHO IS NOT HERE
TODAY TO READ THE PROCLAMATION
AND FOLLOW UP WITH THE SEATTLE
STORM. THEY'RE AT THEIR
PERFORMANCE CENTER IN DISTRICT
SEVEN. [ LAUGHTER ] AND SO
FANTASTIC EVENT . ANY WAY I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. I ALSO
DID SOME OTHER THINGS, AND WENT
TO THE NEW COURSE SUMMER PLANT
IN DISTRICT ONE. AN UNBELIEVABLE
EVENT THERE. BUT I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THE FRIDAY VISITS
TO THE SEATTLE STORM PERFORMANCE
CENTER AND ALL THE WORK THEY DO
IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS
FANTASTIC. THE KIDS PROGRAM AND
THE LIKES. SO ANY WAY OVER TO
YOU, MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT
SIX.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I TOO HAVE PART OF INNER
BAY IN DISTRICT SIX, A PART OF
FISHERMAN'S TERMINAL. YOU KNOW,
IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
TRAIN TRACKS. ANYHOW IN FINANCE,
NATIVE COMMUNITY AND TRIBAL
COMMUNITY, WE FOCUSED ON THE
SUPPLEMENTAL. I'LL TELL YOU WE
RECEIVED THE MID YEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL, TAKING A LITTLE
EXTRA TIME BEFORE INTRODUCING IT
TO ENSURE WE DON'T, THAT THERE
AREN'T ANY NEEDS FOR
PRE-INTRODUCTORY CHANGES. SO WE
HAD NEXT WEEK, JULY 7, SCHEDULED
TO START THE MID YEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL CONVERSATION. WE
ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL TWO
WEEKS. AND SO IF WE ARE ABLE TO
HAVE SOME OF OUR NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT WORKS PRESENT NEXT
WEEK, WE WILL STILL HAVE
COMMITTEE. IF NOT, WE WILL HAVE
A MORE COMPRESSED SCHEDULE LATER
THIS SUMMER. SO THE REMAINING
WORK WE NEED TO DO IN NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS ARE APPOINT FOLKS TO
THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL,
HEAR FROM THE INDIGENOUS COUNCIL
ABOUT THEIR WORK PROGRAM FOR THE
YEAR. AND ALSO WALK THROUGH THE
DIFFERENT COMMITMENT AREAS THAT
WE MADE DURING THE SUMMIT. SO
WHETHER THAT STARTS ON JULY 7 OR
IS A PART OF A MORE RIGOROUS
COMMITTEE PROCESS LATER THIS
YEAR, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO STAY TUNED TO HEAR IF NEXT
WEEK'S COMMITTEE IS A GO OR IF
WE'RE GOING TO CANCEL IN LIEU
OF SPENDING MORE TIME TOGETHER
LATER. BACK TO THE MID-YEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL. CENTRAL STAFF IS
CURRENTLY WORKING TO REVIEW AND
WRITE THE MEMO. WE'LL TAKE A
COUPLE EXTRA WEEKS. SO WE
ANTICIPATE HEARING THE MID-YEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL FOR THE FIRST TIME
DURING OUR JULY 21 MEETING. THIS
MEANS AMENDMENTS ARE DUE TO
CENTRAL STAFF, JUST THREE DAYS
LATER. BUT YOU'LL ALL HAVE
ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION, WELL
IN ADVANCE OF THAT COMMITTEE
MEETING. WE WOULD HAVE A SECOND
BRIEFING IN COMMITTEE VOTE ON
AUGUST 4, SO THAT IS GOING TO
COME TO COUNCIL IN THE MIDDLE OF
AUGUST. IN MY EXTERNAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEE, I WAS IN SPOKANE LAST
WEEK WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
REPRESENTING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AT THE ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON
CITIES AT BOTH BOARD MEETINGS
AND THE CONFERENCE. IT WAS A
PRODUCTIVE CONFERENCE. WE WERE
ABLE TO CONNECT WITH MANY
DIFFERENT CITIES AND TOWNS,
WHETHER THEY ARE JUST ON THE
CITY OF SEATTLE'S BORDER AND
ACROSS THE STATE. I COULD TELL
YOU ALL 281 CITIES ARE FEELING
SIMILAR PRESSURES. AND WHETHER
IT IS PUBLIC SAFETY,
TRANSPORTATION, THE BUDGET, WHAT
I CAN TELL YOU IS ALL CITIES ARE
FEELING THIS BUDGETARY PRESSURE
THAT WE ARE HEARING IN SEATTLE.
AGAIN, THAT'S BECAUSE ALL
CITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE ARE
NOT ABLE TO RAISE REVENUES
BEYOND 1%, WHICH IS OFTENTIMES
4% LESS THAN INFLATION. SO EVERY
DOLLAR WE HAVE TODAY GOES, THREE
QUARTERS OF THAT DISTANCE THE
FOLLOWING YEAR. ALSO IN EXTERNAL
RELATIONS, I ATTENDED THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK,
WHERE WE DID PASS THE FIRST
ROUND OF DESIGN FUNDING FOR WEST
SEATTLE AND BALLARD. WHILE WE
HEARD BAD NEWS EARLIER THIS
YEAR, THE MONTH BEFORE REGARDING
BALLARD, THIS IS A BIT OF GOOD
NEWS. THIS PROCESS, THIS IS NOW
THE PROCESS IN WHICH WE'LL FIND
THE COST SAVINGS WITHIN THE
LINE. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO
THE BRIGHTER FUTURE. IN DISTRICT
SIX, WE HAD -- WE DID NOT HAVE
OFFICE HOURS LAST WEEK BECAUSE I
WAS IN ASSOCIATION FROM
WASHINGTON CITY, BUT WE WERE
ABLE TO REOPEN THE GOLDEN GARDEN
DIRECT PILOT PROGRAM THAT
CONNECTS THE ONLY -- THE GOLDEN
GARDENS ARE THE TWO MOST POPULAR
BEACHES IN THE CITY. GOLDEN
GARDENS HAS NO TRANSIT SERVICE.
SOMETHING I LEARNED ACTUALLY IN
AFTER THE FACT AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE, IS IF WE WANTED TO
MAKE THIS PILOT TO GOLDEN
GARDENS PEARL INNOCENT. THE
CURRENT THING IN THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE DOES NOT ALLOW
US TO DO THAT. SO IF WE WANTED
TO -- I MEAN, LAKE WASHINGTON, I
THINK OF THE WATERFRONT, I THINK
OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT
PLACES, WHERE PEOPLE DO NEED
THAT LAST MILE TRANSIT. WE MIGHT
NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE, SO THAT
COULD BE PERMANENT. AND OFFICE
HOURS THIS WEEK, AND THAT IS MY
REPORT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. ANY
QUESTIONS? WITH THAT, I'LL TURN
IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON
COLLEAGUES ON THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
FRONT. THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO
DILIGENTLY WITH OUR CENTRAL
STAFF EXPERTS, FOR GETTING THOSE
MEMOS ON TIME. WE HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 20 PLUS AMENDMENTS
THAT I'M AWARE OF AT A HIGH
LEVEL, SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU
ALL KINDLY RELEASE
CONFIDENTIALITY WITH MY OFFICE,
SO WE CAN MAKE THIS THE MOST
EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE SET OF
REMAINING TWO MEETINGS THAT WE
HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC
HEARING. BUT I APPRECIATE ALL OF
YOUR THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT ON
THAT. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE
NEXT MONDAY, JULY 6 AT 11:00
A.M. WE HAVE SLIGHTLY REVISED
THE MEETING START TIME IN LARGE
PART TO ACCOMMODATE A FIFA
MATCH. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
WORKERS AND STAFF MEMBERS THAT
ARE HERE FOR THAT, AND IT'S
GOING TO BE AN ELIMINATION
ROUND, ROUND OF 32 MATCH, SO WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO START AND END
ON TIME TO PRESERVE FLEXIBILITY
FOR LOGISTICS AND ALL THE STAFF
THAT WILL NEED TO GO TO VARIOUS
PLACES. LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, I WAS
REALLY HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN
A MEMORIAL FOR A RESIDENT, A
COMMUNITY LEADER, LIFELONG
CYCLIST, LGBTQ COMMUNITY MEMBER,
AN ADVOCATE, RESPECTED POLITICAL
ACTIVIST. 76-YEAR-OLD WHO
TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE ON OUR
ROADS. IN PARTICULAR IN WEST
SEATTLE, ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO SHE WAS CYCLING AT THAT TIME
TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ANTI-I.C.E.
PROTEST. CONTINUING HER LIFELONG
COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. TO HER WIFE,
LAURA, AND HER DAUGHTER,
FRIENDS, AND THE RAINBOW RIDER
CYCLING GROUP, MY HEART IS WITH
YOU. MEANT SO MUCH TO SO MANY
PEOPLE, AND THE WEST SEATTLE
LGBTQ AND CYCLING COMMUNITIES
ARE GRIEVING DEEPLY AND WILL
CONTINUE TO. A HUGE LOSS FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, BUT WAS HONORED
TO BE ABLE TO JOIN AND VISIT A
COMMUNITY RALLY, A MEMORIAL TO
HONOR HER LAST FRIDAY NIGHT. THE
PLACE AT THAT CRASH SITE STANDS
AS A MEMORIAL, BUT IT IS ALSO A
WARNING THAT OUR STREETS ARE NOT
SAFE. PLENTY OF MORE WORK TO DO.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, OKAY. ON A MUCH
LIGHTER NOTE. FIFA, FIFA WAS
MENTIONED. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT
OF EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY
PERTAINING TO FIFA. WE'RE ABOUT
TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY THROUGH AS
A HOSTING CITY. NOT A BAD TIME
TO STEP OFF THE GAS IN TERMS OF
ALL OF OUR IMMENSE PLANNING AND
EXECUTION, THAT IS TAKING PLACE
AS WE SPEAK. BUT SO FAR SOME OF
THE INITIAL DATA WE'VE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN THIS MULTI-YEAR
PLANNING EFFORT. SO I REALLY,
REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL THE
14,000 OR SO CITY OF SEATTLE
EMPLOYEES ACROSS 40 PLUS
DEPARTMENTS, WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING SO HARD, SO DILIGENTLY
IN PLANNING OVER THE LAST THREE,
FOUR PLUS YEARS TO HELP US BE SO
SUCCESSFUL. SO FAR WHETHER
THEY'RE FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
THE OFFICE OF WATERFRONT,
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE
C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT, THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND SO MANY
MORE. WE'RE EXPERIENCING
SUCCESS FROM KING COUNTY METRO,
SOUND TRANSIT, ETC. I WANT TO
SHARE SOME -- BRIEFLY SHARE SOME
IMPORTANT DATA. TELLS A CRITICAL
PICTURE ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE
AND THIS SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL
STATE. ON THE JUNETEENTH MATCH
ALONE, OF COURSE, THE BIG TEAM
U.S.A. VERSES AUSTRALIA MATCH.
SO SHARED MICRO MOBILITY
SCOOTERS, LIME SCOOTERS TALLIED
83,000 RIDES ALONE, WHICH IS A
RECORD. BEAT THE CITY HAWKS,
VICTORY PARADE BACK IN FEBRUARY.
SO SHOT OUT TO MICRO MOBILITY.
SOUND TRANSIT, LIGHT RAIL, HAD A
RECORD OF 280,000 PLUS
BOARDINGS. KING COUNTY METRO
TALLIED OVER 320,000 RIDERS ON
THAT DAY. SEATTLE MONORAIL, KING
COUNTY METRO WAS A RECORD, NO
RECORD. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS
A RECORD, BUT STILL 84,000 PLUS
FANS ON JUNETEENTH. THE SEATTLE
STREETCAR COMBINED FOR A TALLY
OF 7,000, WHICH INCLUDED RECORD
RIDERSHIP FOR THE FIRST HILL
LINE. EVEN THE WATERFRONT, THE
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI BROUGHT
IN OVER 8,500 PASSENGERS ACROSS
THE BAY THAT DAY. NOT
SPECIFICALLY LIMITED TO THE
JUNETEENTH HISTORIC MATCH, BUT
FROM THE TIME FIFA STARTED
THROUGH THE FIRST 11 DAYS OF
FIFA. THE FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT PARK REPORTED OVER
450,000 PEOPLE AT SEATTLE'S
WATERFRONT PARK. AND GUYS AS YOU
KNOW, ARE DISTRIBUTED WITH THE
FAN EXPERIENCE MODEL. WE DON'T
HAVE EVERYTHING CONCENTRATED IN
ONE LOCATION. IT IS NOT JUST
SEATTLE CENTER, BUT ALSO THE
STADIUM. THERE IS ALSO PACIFIC
PLACE AND THE WATERFRONT.
THERE'S OTHER UNOFFICIAL PLACES
LIKE PIONEER SQUARE. CHECK THAT
OUT. VISIT THEM ALL. ME AND MY
OFFICE HAVE VISITED WHERE THE
WATERFRONT IS PROBABLY ONE OF
THE MOST EXCITING, BUT ALL SUPER
COOL. CHECK THEM OUT. AND I'LL
CLOSE ON FIFA, EXCITEMENT,
ENERGY, AND WE ARE ALREADY
HAVING INITIAL PRELIMINARY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SEATTLE,
POTENTIALLY HOSTING THE 2031
FIFA WORLD WOMEN'S CUP SHOULD
IT BE SELECTED LATER THIS YEAR
AS PART OF A HOST COUNTRY.
CURRENTLY THE U.S., JAMAICA,
COSTA RICA, AND ONE OTHER
COUNTRY ARE IN THE RUNNING,
BLEEDING CANDIDATES TO BE A HOST
COUNTRY FOR THE WOMEN'S WORLD
CUP IN 2031. SO ALREADY HAVING
AN INITIAL CONVERSATION ABOUT
LET'S RUN IT AGAIN. LET'S RUN
IT BACK, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
PRIDE MATCH OR EXCUSE ME, PRIDE
-- HAPPY PRIDE EVERYONE. STILL
JUNE. HAPPY PRIDE. WAS HONORED
YESTERDAY TO PARTICIPATE WITH MY
OFFICE, OUR ANNUAL BIG CITY
PRIDE MARCH DOWNTOWN. SUCH AN
AMAZING VIBES. BROUGHT MY
12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, MAY WITH
ME. SHE REALLY LOVED IT. SO JUST
SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT. MOVING ON
TO LAST WEEK. I HAD THE PLEASURE
OF JOINING COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER'S OFFICE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEST
SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S
FORUM RIGHT THERE. OF COURSE,
WEST SEATTLE, SUCH A GREAT
EVENT. AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TO SOME WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN, YOU
KNOW, COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD,
COMMUNITY LEADERS, NEIGHBORHOOD
LEADERS. POLITICAL LEADERS IN MY
DISTRICT FOR MANY DECADES.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION, FOCUSED
AREAS, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION,
PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY, AND SO MUCH MORE.
HOW PEOPLE CAN AGE IN PLACE,
ETC. SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO
JOIN THAT, AND I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED. THE
MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED, AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER'S OFFICE
FOR BEARING WITH ME THROUGH MY
CORNY DAD JOKES. THEY WERE A
LOT. I AM DAD FROM DELRIDGE. I
WAS INFUSIVE OF THOSE CORNY DAD
JOKES. FINALLY, I WANT TO NOTE
THE RECONNECT SOUTH PARK EFFORT.
OVER THE EFFORT TO REUNITE OUR
WONDERFUL DIVERSE SOUTH PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS CURRENTLY
CUT IN HALF. BISECTED BY STATE
ROUTE 99. LAST WEEK OPCD
RELEASED A REPORT IN CONJUNCTION
WITH RECONNECT SOUTH PARK, A
PROJECT THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
ENGAGED ON SINCE I'VE BEEN IN
OFFICE, OVER TWO AND A HALF
YEARS NOW THAT IDENTIFIES
HIGHWAY 99 AS A MAJOR BURDEN ON
SOUTH PARK. NOTE THAT THERE
WHERE ARE FOUR OTHER MAJOR
NORTH-SOUTH ARTERIALS, SIMILAR
TO HIGHWAY 99, THAT ARE WITHIN
ONE MILE OF HIGHWAY 99,
INCLUDING I-5 AND STATE ROUTE
509. THE REPORT FINDS MANY
OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTS A NUMBER
OF OPTIONS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
FURTHER REFINED AND STUDIED AND
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS, AND THEN
COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDER,
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. ALL THAT.
WHATEVER THE FINAL OPTION, MAYBE
ONE OF THE FINAL OPTIONS IS A
HYBRID OF SOME OF THE CURRENT
OPTIONS. BUT IN RESPECT OF THE
FINAL COMMUNITY, I THINK IT IS
VERY CLEAR THAT THE STATUS QUO
OF HAVING SOUTH PARK CUT IN HALF
AND THE DANGER THAT POSES ON
PEOPLE'S HEALTH, THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND TRAFFIC SAFETY
AND SO MUCH MORE. IT IS TOTALLY
UP B ACCEPTABLE, AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE
COMMUNITY TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT WITH
ONE MINOR EXCEPTION. THE FOURTH
OF JULY IS COMING UP. I WANT TO
WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY
INDEPENDENCE DAY. ONE OF THE
MOST PROFOUND IN MY TWO AND A
HALF YEARS IN THIS BODY
CONVERSATION A MONTH OR TWO AGO
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
PATRIOT IN THIS COUNTRY AND
THESE TIMES. IN PARTICULAR,
MINOR EPILOGUE TO THAT. IT'S A
THREE TO FOUR-PART DOCU SERIES.
I STARTED THE FIRST ONE LAST
NIGHT. REALLY, REALLY GREAT.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU ALL TO
CHECK IT OUT. BLACK PATRIOTS ON
NETFLIX. THANK YOU. I WELCOME
ANY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. IF
NOT, WE'LL PASS IT ON TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I'M GOING
TO START THIS WEEK THIS MORNING.
I HOSTED A PUBLIC SAFETY WALK IN
WEDGEWOOD. YOU HAVE ALL HEARD ME
TALK ABOUT SINCE I CAME ONTO THE
COUNCIL, HOSTING PUBLIC SAFETY
WALKS TO VISIT WITH OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
AND HEAR FROM THEM ON THEIR
EXPERIENCES. AND REPRESENTATIVES
FROM CARE AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IT AND PARKS. AND FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, FOR ALSO
JOINING US. AND I HAVE TO SAY, I
WAS VERY ENCOURAGED BECAUSE OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES IN WEDGEWOOD
ARE REPORTING THAT THINGS ARE A
LOT BETTER THAN THEY WERE. I HAD
A CONVERSATION WITH A LOT OF THE
BUSINESSES LAST YEAR WITH THEN
MAYOR HARRELL AND BUSINESSES
WERE VERY STRESSED OUT. AND THIS
YEAR THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER. SO
I REALLY WANTED TO THANK ALL THE
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, CHIEF BARNES,
AND HIS TEAM FOR REALLY
FOCUSING, REALLY FOCUSING CHIEF
BARNES' COMMUNITY POLICING
EFFORT. IT IS SOMETHING HE VERY
MUCH CARES ABOUT AND HAS
FOSTERED IN THE DEPARTMENT, AND
WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS OF
THAT WITH HIS GREAT TEAM. AND
ABOUT IMPLEMENTING OUR VACANT
BUILDINGS, LEGISLATION AMONGST
OTHER THINGS. AND HUGE RESPECT
FOR BOTH THE CHIEFS. AND THEN A
LOT OF OUR FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS LIKE UTILITIES FOR
HELPING WITH TRASH MITIGATION,
ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE DUMPSTERS
AROUND. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, DOWN
TO OUR CARE TEAM, HELPING TO
ADDRESS, OUR NEEDS, THE UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORHOODS OF OUR DISTRICT.
SO REALLY SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE.
AND THE RESULTS, WE'RE SEEING
THE RESULTS. THAT FEELS REALLY
GOOD BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING
YOU'LL KNOW. SOME OF US STARTED
HERE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
IT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF THEM
ARE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS.
IT REALLY FEELS GOOD TO BE ABLE
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE AND
HAVE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY WERE
BEING HEARD AND THINGS WERE
BETTER FOR THEM. SO WE'RE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK, ALL THAT TO
SAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYONE'S PARTICIPATION THIS
MORNING. AND ALSO TOMORROW,
WE'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING
ANOTHER SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
PLAN, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON THEIR
ISSUE I.D. AND OUR POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PARTICIPATION. I'M NOT
SURE IF I WAS ABLE TO SAY THE
LAST TIME. BUT JUST TO SAY THAT
I CREATED THE SELECT COMMITTEE,
SO EVERYONE COULD PARTICIPATE ON
THIS CONVERSATION, RATHER THAN
ME HAVING IT THROUGH OUR REGULAR
COMMITTEE MEETING BECAUSE ONLY
FIVE OF US COULD PARTICIPATE ON
THAT. ROBUSTLY ANYONE COULD
JOIN, BUT ONLY FIVE PEOPLE COULD
VOTE. IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
ME THAT EVERYONE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND AT
LEAST CREATE A SELECT COMMITTEE
FOR THAT. AND REALLY THANK YOU
FOR PRIORITIZING THAT AS PART OF
YOUR SCHEDULES. I KNOW YOU ALL,
WE HAD THAT FIRST MEETING, AND
TOMORROW IS A SECOND MEETING. SO
PLEASE, I, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU
ALL LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE
AMENDMENTS. IT IS GREAT WHEN YOU
TELL CENTRAL STAFF. BUT TO BE
HONEST WITH YOU, IT IS ALSO
HELPFUL WHEN YOU TELL THE CHAIR.
BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
AS WE ARE LEADING THOSE
MEETINGS. AND SO I WOULD SAY,
YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT FOR YOU TO
TELL CENTRAL STAFF WHO ARE
HELPING YOU ACTUALLY CRAFT
THOSE, AND IT IS EQUALLY
IMPORTANT TO TELL THE CHAIR. SO
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE
TELL US, SO IT HELPS US PREPARE.
AND THEN LAST WEEK AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS BEAT ME TO
THE PUNCH THERE. WE ATTENDED
ASSOCIATION OUT OF WASHINGTON
CITY. WE BOTH SIT ON THE BOARD
AS REPRESENTATIVES TO SEATTLE. I
ALSO SIT ON THE LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE, SO WE HAD A MEETING
ABOUT THAT AS WELL. MORE TO COME
ON THAT. WE ARE STARTING TO
FORMULATE THE AGENDA FOR THAT.
NOT SURPRISING MOST CITIES
ACROSS THE STATE ARE GRAPPLING
WITH BUDGET ISSUES AND
STRUCTURAL BUDGET ISSUES. THAT
WAS A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION AT
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. I ALSO
WAS REALLY HONORED TO HAVE BEEN
ASKED BY AWC TO LEAD, CO-LEAD
WITH MY FRIEND AND COUNTERPART
IN THE CITY OF JILLIAN HENSLEY
TO LEAD A ROUND TABLE FOR NEW
ELECTIVES. AND THAT WAS REALLY
GREAT. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR,
FIRST OF ALL, SOME FOLKS WATCH
OUR MEETINGS. SOME OF OUR
COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE CITY. SO
THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, AND
REALLY JUST KIND OF A NEAT THING
TO KNOW. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO
HEAR FROM NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS,
THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND IT WAS
REALLY A ROUNDTABLE TO SHARE HOW
WE, YOU KNOW, PROBLEM SOLVED FOR
CHALLENGES AS WE SIT ON COUNCILS
ACROSS THE STATE. SO THAT WAS
REALLY HUMBLING. I WAS REALLY
HONORED, AND IT WAS GREAT TO
HEAR FROM FRESHLY APPOINTED, NOT
APPOINTED, BUT ELECTED COUNCIL
MEMBERS. SOME ARE APPOINTED AS
WE DO HERE, WHERE THEY ARE BACK
FILLING, THEN THEY GO ONTO THE
ELECTIONS, SO VERY INTERESTING.
THE WEEK BEFORE I'LL SAY
SOMETHING THAT I'M SUPER,
SUPER, I FELT SO PRIVILEGED AND
HONORED TO ATTEND. SEATTLE
PROMISE AND PROJECT BALDWIN HAD
A RECEPTION FOR THE SEATTLE
PROMISE STUDENTS. AND IT WAS FOR
THE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENT, WHICH I'M FIRST
GENERATION. I WAS VERY TEARY
EYED, I'LL ADMIT. JUST SEEING
ALL THESE FAMILIES AND YOUNG
PEOPLE, SOME OLDER PEOPLE TOO
WILL GET THEIR COLLEGE DEGREES.
IT WAS REALLY JUST SUCH A JOY AS
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY. I WAS
REALLY PRIVILEGED TO HELP
IMPLEMENT THE FIRST SEATTLE
PROMISE, ALONG WITH THE SEATTLE
COLLEGES AND MAYOR DURKIN, HER
LEGACY. A PART OF HER LEGACY.
AND IT EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS
IN TERMS OF SUCCESS. THAT WAS A
REALLY WONDERFUL THING TO BE A
PART OF. SO MANY FIRST
GENERATION KIDS, YOU KNOW, MANY
OF WHICH ARE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY BLACK AND BROWN
STUDENTS, SO MANY IMMIGRANT
FAMILIES AND STUDENTS. THIS IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY. SO THAT'S
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. I'M SO
PROUD OF THEM, AND IT WAS VERY
UPLIFTING. THEN LASTLY I'LL
SAY, ANOTHER EQUALLY UPLIFTING
EVENT WAS THIS IMMIGRANT
HERITAGE MONTH, AN EVENT PUT ON
BY OUR OFFICE OF REFUGEE AFFAIRS
TO CELEBRATE ORIENTAL GRANT AND
REFUGEE NEIGHBORS HERE IN THE
CITY. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WAS
THERE AS WELL. WE GOT TO GREET
THE AUDIENCE, WHICH WAS REALLY
SPECIAL AND TO REALLY TALK ABOUT
AND SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE
CITY. OF COURSE, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO ALL OF US. AND I WAS JUST SO
HONORED TO BE THERE AS WELL. SO
THERE IS MORE I COULD SAY.
UNLESS YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YES, SORRY, I PROBABLY SHOULD
HAVE ASKED THIS LAST WEEK. FOR
THE PRIORITY AT AWC. COLLEAGUES,
WE'VE HAD TIMES WHERE AWC HAS
LOBBIED AGAINST OUR INTERESTS.
WE HAVE HAD TIMES WHERE THEY
HAVE LOBBIED ALONGSIDE OF OUR
INTEREST. THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME
FIRM COMMITMENTS. IT'S ABOUT
HB2213 RELATING TO THE RECYCLING
LAWS. THIS WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT
I ADDED TO OUR OWN LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES HERE AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. AND LAST YEAR THE BILL
DIDN'T EVEN GET A HEARING. SO
IT MOVED NOWHERE. JUST BASICALLY
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A LOOPHOLE
THAT IF YOU GET $30, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO SHOW I.D., YOU COULD GET
PAID IN CASH. THERE IS NO
ACCOUNTABILITY EFFORTS. DID
ANYONE RAISE THAT ISSUE? DO YOU
KNOW IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN
SUPPORTING THIS? DID YOU GET A
SENSE?
>> WE HAVEN'T YET DONE
ESTABLISH WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS
GOING TO BE WORKING ON. WE'RE
KIND OF IN THE IDEATION PHASE IF
YOU WILL, SO I'M HAPPY TO GO
BACK AND ASK ABOUT THAT IN
PARTICULAR. WHAT WILL BE ON THE
AGENDA FOR THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IN JANUARY, BUT MORE TO
COME ON THAT. YOU ALSO DON'T
HAVE TO WAIT FOR ME WHEN I'M
ASKING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR
ONE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE LIST
YET. LIKE WE DON'T HERE EITHER,
IN FACT. BUT YEAH, WE'LL SEE.
>> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. I THINK NEXT WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. FOR THE
RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER IS
HERE. WE'LL GO COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, THEN
BOUNCE IT BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THAT UP, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. WE ALL KNOW COPPER WIRE
THEFT IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL,
INCLUDING THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE. THE LIGHTS WERE OUT
RECENTLY. WE'RE SPENDING
ENORMOUS AMOUNTS ON SOMETHING
THAT CAN BE SOLVED PRETTY
SIMPLY, SO THERE IS NO REASON
FOR THAT NOT TO BE A PRIORITY IN
OUR MIND. YOU KNOW, WE SAW
SIMILAR EFFORTS. AND I HAVE NOT
HEARD ABOUT THE CONVERTED THEFT
FOR QUITE A BIT NOW. I DON'T
KNOW. MAYBE IT'S STILL
HAPPENING. OKAY. BUT CERTAINLY
HAS DECLINED FROM THE HEIGHT. SO
YEAH, PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET
RID OF COPPER THEFT ALTOGETHER,
BUT WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT
EASY FOR IT TO HAPPEN. SO YEAH,
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME ACTION
THERE. IN TERMS OF COMMITTEES,
LAND USE COMMITTEE, WE'LL BE
MEETING THIS WEEK. WE WILL HAVE
OUR SEPA APPELLATE PROCEDURE
BILL. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC
HEARING, NOT A VOTE THIS
WEDNESDAY. SO WE'RE
ANTICIPATING A VOTE ON JULY 15.
SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL A
HEADS UP ABOUT THAT. BUT WE WILL
BE HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING
THIS WEDNESDAY. THE OTHER THING
THAT WILL BE ON JUST FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION IS A
TEMPORARY DESIGN REVIEW BILL.
BASICALLY THERE WAS A TEMPORARY
DESIGN REVIEW BILL THAT HAS
EXPIRED, SO WE BASICALLY WANT TO
PUT THAT, WHAT WAS IN PLACE AND
KIND OF MAKE THAT ACTIVE AGAIN.
WHILE THE SDCI WILL WORK ON A
PERMANENT DESIGN REVIEW. WE'RE
REQUIRED TO UPDATE OUR DESIGN
REVIEW PER STATE LAW. AND IN THE
MEANTIME, THIS BILL WOULD BE
HELPFUL, PREVIOUSLY ALLOWING IF
YOU'RE DOING THE IMAGE
PERFORMANCE TO BE EXEMPT. AND SO
WE WILL BE BRINGING BASICALLY
REAUTHORIZING THOSE ON THE
TEMPORARY SIX-MONTH BASIS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE
MOMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
THERE'S QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> IF I MAY, I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR RAISING WHAT YOUR
OVERVIEW IS TODAY, BUT ALSO
RAISING THE IMPORTANT ISSUE OF
COPPER WIRE THEFT AND THE IMPACT
THAT HAS ON OUR UTILITIES, OUR
ECONOMY, AND SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
SPECIFICALLY THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE, THE COPPER WIRE THEFT,
WHICH HAS BEEN HAPPENING NOW FOR
OVER A YEAR. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
CLOSELY INVOLVED AND ENGAGED
WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, SPANNING TWO
ADMINISTRATIONS NOW, SPD ON THIS
ISSUE. SEATTLE CITY LIGHT LET US
KNOW EARLIER TODAY THAT I
BELIEVE ON SATURDAY NIGHT, THERE
WAS SPD ARRESTED INDIVIDUAL ON
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE. THE
COPPER WIRE FROM STREET LIGHTS.
IT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS AND
HARMFUL SET OF CONDUCT FOR OUR
ECONOMY. TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC
SAFETY AND ROAD SAFETY. WHEN YOU
CANNOT SEE ONE OF THE CORRIDORS
OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. SO SHOUT
OUT TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, SPD
FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR EFFORT TO
HOLD THAT INDIVIDUAL
ACCOUNTABLE, THEN MAKING
APPROPRIATE UPGRADES TO HARDEN
THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BETTER
PREVENT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT
HAPPENING AGAIN. THANK YOU.
>> AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD,
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
YOU KNOW, AWC IS ONE BODY, BUT
WE HAVE OUR OWN LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA OBVIOUSLY. SO THIS IS
SOMETHING TO TALK TO OIR ABOUT,
OBVIOUSLY. BECAUSE WITH AWC AND
THE SAME WAY WE DO HERE, BUT
PROBABLY EVEN MORE SO THERE
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
CITIES. YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY
HARD WHEN YOU HAVE HUNDREDS AND
HUNDREDS IN OLYMPIA. AND THEY
PRIORITIZE THEIR TOP THREE, FOUR
THINGS. IT'S NOT THE ONLY
THINGS THEY CARE ABOUT, BUT IT
HAS TO BE THE PRIORITY PIECE.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT FOR OURSELVES. WHEN
WE'RE TALKING TO OIR, MAKE SURE
THIS IS RISING TO THE SURFACE
BECAUSE IT IS A BIG ISSUE IN OUR
CITY, AND I DON'T THINK IT IS
JUST OUR CITY. IT IS DEFINITELY
A BIG ISSUE IN OUR CITY, AND
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR BRINGING IT UP. SO IT IS
SOMETHING FOR US TO TALK TO OIR
AND MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING IT
OUR PRIORITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A
LOBBYIST THAT WILL GO TO
OLYMPIA, SO THIS IS SOMETHING TO
TALK ABOUT, AS WE'RE
PRIORITIZING OUR AGENDA, SO
THANK YOU.
>> IF I MIGHT STEP IN REAL
QUICK. I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM A
NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES REGARDING
OIR COMING FOR AN UPDATE, JUST
SO WE COULD KIND OF HEAR WHAT
THEY'RE COOKING UP, AND THEY
NEED TO HEAR FROM US. I'VE
HEARD THAT REQUEST, AND EVEN GOT
A SIDE EYE FROM COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE JUST NOW. I'M JUST
PLAYING. IT WAS A POSITIVE SIDE
EYE, OKAY? I'LL MAKE SURE THAT
IS ON THE DOCKET FOR JULY FOR US
TO GET AN UPDATE FROM OIR, SO
THAT IS ON MY LIST. I'VE HEARD
LOUD AND CLEAR, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND I WANT TO KICK OFF BY
THANKING EVERYONE WHO
PARTICIPATED IN LAST WEEK'S
SELECT COMMITTEE ON POLICY
CHANGES FOR THOSE WHO MISSED IT
AS WELL AS A PANEL FOCUSED ON
ISSUES FACING OUR LOCAL TRANS
COMMUNITY. SOME OF THE PARTNERS
WE HAD AT THE TABLE LAST WEEK
INCLUDED ARBOR VIEW CEO AS WELL
AS HERE IN THE HEALTHCARE
AUTHORITY AND SOME OF THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTNERS, SUCH
AS SEATTLE INDIANA HEALTH BOARD,
AGENT COUNCILLING AND REFERRAL
SERVICES, AND A DIVISION WITHIN
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
WHICH PROVIDES A LOT OF
LONG-TERM CARE SUPPORT. THEY
ACTUALLY HOLD THE LOCAL AREA
AGENCY. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UPLIFT THAT. ONE OF THE KEY
THINGS TO KNOW OUT OF THAT
UPDATE IS THE IMPACTS OF HR ONE,
SO HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE, ALSO
KNOWN AS THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL
OR AS MANY PEOPLE ALSO CALL IT,
THE TRAIL BILL, INCLUDED SEVERE
CUTS TO MEDICAID. THOSE IMPACTS
ARE GOING TO START COMING IN
FACING OUR RESIDENTS STARTING
OCTOBER 1 OF THIS YEAR. SOME OF
THOSE BIG IMPACTS INCLUDE THE
INSTITUTION OF WORK
REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS
REQUIRING FOLKS TO REAPPLY FOR
THEIR HEALTHCARE IN SIX-MONTH
INCREMENTS AS OPPOSED TO
ANNUALLY. AND THE OUTSTANDING
ISSUE OF NON-CITIZEN, LONG-TERM
CARE RESIDENTS, WHO WILL NO
LONGER BE ELIGIBLE ON THE
QUESTION OF WHERE DO THOSE FOLKS
GO. SO PRETTY SEVERE
CIRCUMSTANCES COMING OUR WAY AND
A DEFINITE CALL TO ACTION BY
SOME OF OUR PANEL PARTICIPANTS
TO START THINKING HOW WE WRAP
OUR ARMS TOGETHER IN THE
COMMUNITY TO TRY TO WEATHER THE
IMPACTS. WE HAD A PANEL FOCUSED
ON THE TRANS ISSUE FACING OUR
CITY, HAVING THE COMMISSION AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AT THE
TABLE, TALKING ABOUT THE TEAM
THAT HAS BEEN STOOD UP TO TAKE A
CITY WIDE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING
AND REALLY DEVELOPING A PLAN TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR TRANS
RESIDENTS AND THOSE FLEEING
OTHER STATES, BECOMIN NEW
RESIDENTS FOR THE CITY. THIS
WEEK, WE WILL BE MEETING
ACTUALLY ON JULY 2, SO IT IS A
SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE WE WILL
HAVE THIS FRIDAY OFF. AND WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING AND HOLDING A
POSSIBLE VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL
121207, WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH A
FORENSIC DIGITAL EVIDENCE
CLASSIFICATION TITLE SERIES AND
CORRESPONDING RATES OF PAY IN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE APPOINTMENTS
TO DOMESTIC WORKERS SUPPORT. TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME REGIONAL WORK,
THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE MET ON
FRIDAY, AND RECOVERED THREE MAIN
POINTS. WE RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON
THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. WE
ALSO PROVIDED SOME UPDATES TO
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF
PROTOCOLS. AND THEN LASTLY, WE
RECEIVED THE REPORT ON THE 2026
POINT IN TIME COUNT. SOME MAY
HAVE SEEN THE REPORTING ON THIS
2026 POINT IN TIME COUNT FOUND
WE HAD A 9% RISE IN HOMELESSNESS
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. IN THAT
PRESENTATION, WE REALLY WALKED
THROUGH KIND OF THE FINER
DETAILS OF THAT REPORT, BUT ALSO
HAD A FEW COMMUNITY PARTNERS. I
SHOULD SAY SERVICE PROVIDER
PARTNERS, A PART OF THE
DISCUSSION, TALKING ABOUT THEIR
WORK AS THEY ARE SEEING IT, SO
PARTICIPATING IN THE DISCUSSION
AS WELL. TO THAT END, I THINK
IT'S CLEAR TO SAY ANY INCREASE
IN HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY
IS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING. AND
IT'S SADDENING FOR MANY OF US
WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
WORK FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND
WANT TO SEE OUR NEIGHBORS GET
HOUSED. SO IT IS WORTH
COMMENDING THE ACTIONS WE'VE
TAKEN THIS PAST YEAR TO SCALE
MORE SHELTER ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO
GO, AND THE CHALLENGES ARE
MOUNTING AGAINST US AS WE
CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING, WHICH
IS UNDER THREAT RIGHT NOW. I
WANT TO NOTE WITH JUST CLOSING
A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY EVENTS AND
TO GO TO A MORE POPULAR PLACE
AFTER NOTE. AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR SIGNING ONTO THE
TRANS PRIDE PROCLAMATION. I WAS
ABLE TO IN COMMUNITY ON FRIDAY
NIGHT AT TRANS PRIDE. IT WAS A
REALLY BEAUTIFUL EVENT. AND
THERE WAS A LOT OF APPRECIATION
FOR THAT PROCLAMATION, AND I
ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND MOUNT
BAKER PRIDE. THIS IS A
FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT THAT TOOK
PLACE ON SUNDAY. REALLY
BEAUTIFUL, LOTS OF KIDDOS OUT.
IT WAS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL THING
OUT AT THE PARK ON FRIDAY, AND
OF COURSE, IT IS ALWAYS A BLAST.
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH PERHAPS --
I DON'T WANT TO CHOOSE
FAVORITES, BUT PROBABLY ONE OF
THE MOST MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY
EVENTS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND
THIS WEEKEND. IT WAS THE GRAND
OPENING OF THE NICHOLSVILLE
VILLAGE, WHICH WAS LONG AWAITED
IN SOMETHING THAT MY OFFICE HAS
ENGAGED WITH AND TRACKING A
NUMBER OF YEARS NOW. SO HAVING
THOSE 14 UNITS OF HOUSING COME
ONLINE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T
KNOW. IT IS A SELF-MANAGED
MODEL. THIS IS ACTUALLY NOW
THEIR THIRD SITE IN THE CITY. IT
WAS JUST A VERY WHOLESOME DAY
AND ONE THAT DEFINITELY INSPIRED
A BIT OF GUYS WITHOUT SHELTER
PEOPLE WHO DIE, AND WE'RE
MAKING SURE THEY'RE TRYING TO
MAKE MORE SHELTER ACROSS THE
CITY. AND SO I WANTED TO CLOSE
ON THAT NOTE OF POSITIVITY. I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. ALL
RIGHT, I'LL PASS IT ONTO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. WHO WAS
THERE AT THAT OPENING.
>> I WAS THERE AT THAT OPENING.
WHAT A GREAT PASS OFF. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. I'M
REALLY GLAD I MADE IT. APOLOGIES
FOR ARRIVING LATE. I WAS AT A
CONVENING HELD BY THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE THIS AFTERNOON
SURROUNDING HOUSING, BUT HAPPY
TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL RIGHT
NOW. I'LL START WITH COMMITTEE
UPDATES. SO THIS MORNING, WE
HEARD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION MY
OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN COMMITTEE,
SURROUNDING HOMEOWNER PRIVACY
AND PROTECTIONS. SO THIS IS
LEGISLATION THAT OUR COMMITTEE
WILL BE CONSIDERING IN THE
COMING WEEKS. I BELIEVE MY STAFF
HAS CHATTED WITH YOUR OFFICES
ABOUT IT. I'LL SHARE JUST A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT HERE. I'M
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION. IT CAME FROM
ENGAGEMENT THAT WE DID. THINGS
WE HEARD AROUND EXCESSIVE
SOLICITATION, IN PARTICULAR FOR
LEGACY HOMEOWNERS AND SENIORS.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
CONSISTENT, FREQUENT CALLS AND
LETTERS, SOMETIMES IN-PERSON
VISITS TO THEIR HOMES WHEN THEIR
HOMES ARE NOT ON THE MARKET.
ASKING THEM TO PUT THEIR HOUSE
FOR SALE. WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE
WHO SHARED SOME REALLY EMOTIONAL
EXPERIENCES. BOTH ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, JUST THE INTERRUPTION OF
THEIR PRIVACY, BUT ALSO ON THE
OTHER END OF THE SCALE. PEOPLE
WHO DO END UP GOING FOR THESE
DEALS, WHICH ARE NOT DEALS, BUT
ARE OFTEN AGGRESSIVE WAYS THAT
GET PEOPLE TO SELL THEIR HOUSES
FOR UNDERMARKET VALUE. WE HEARD
STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LEFT
CANDY ON THE PORCH FOR THE
HOMEOWNERS' CHILDREN. WE HEARD
STORIES OF PEOPLE DROPPING OFF
SIGNED CONTRACTS WITH OFFERS
UNDER MARKET VALUE. AND IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THE
END OF THE DAY, WE KNOW SO MUCH
OF WEALTH BUILDING ISN'T
HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND IN PARTICULAR
FOR BLACK RESIDENTS OF THE CITY,
WE KNOW WE HAVE A GAP IN BOTH
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND WEALTH
BUILDING. BUT BEYOND THAT, THIS
IS LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO
BE IMPACTFUL FOR EVERYONE. OUR
OFFICE PUT OUT A SURVEY, AND
WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN
EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT ABOUT
THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH UNWANTED
SOLICITATION. WE ACTUALLY HAD A
LOT OF FOLKS CALL IN TODAY AND
SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. SO REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION
THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING, AND THE
INTENT OF IT, AGAIN, IS TO ALLOW
PEOPLE TO OPT IN TO A DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST TO PREVENT THEM
FROM RECEIVING UNWANTED REAL
ESTATE, UNWANTED REAL ESTATE
SOLICITATIONS. SO THIS IS NOT A
BLANKET CONSIDERATION. IT'S
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COULD
CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN. IT
WOULD CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION FOR FOLKS, AND IT WOULD
ALSO ALLOW THE CITY TO ASSESS
FINES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
REPEAT VIOLATION OF THE
ORDINANCE. AND WE THINK THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THE
END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO ENFORCE THIS. WHEN I
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE
FOLKS WHO JOINED US AT THIS
TABLE THIS MORNING, CHUKUNDI
SALISBURY FROM BLACK LEGACY
HOMEOWNERS. WE HAD GREGORY SAVES
FROM RAINIER BEACH ACTION
COALITION, AND LONG-TIME BEACON
HILL LEADER, MARIA AS WELL.
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE IF YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS. OUR CENTRAL
STAFF IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
WE'LL BE MAKING A COUPLE
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TIMELINE TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE SPACE TO GET
ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS IN, BUT
THIS IS SOMETHING WE FEEL VERY
PASSIONATELY ABOUT. I ALSO WANT
TO SHARE WE WILL HAVE IN
COMMITTEE TOMORROW. WE'LL BE
VOTING ON THREE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION COMING FROM MY
COMMITTEE. THAT IS GOING TO SET
THE CITY UP TO INVEST IN
BUILDING AT LEAST 277 NEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. AND
YOU'LL HEAR MORE TOMORROW, BUT
THESE ARE PROJECTS IN MOUNT
BAKER, MOTT LAKE, AND THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. AND I WILL
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING STAFF FOR
THEIR LONG-TIME WORK ON THESE
PROJECTS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN IN THE MIX FOR QUITE A
BIT, AND HAVE REQUIRED
COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY, THE
STATE, AND LOCAL DEVELOPERS. SO
REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO BRING
IN PARTICULAR, THE MOUNT BAKER
PIECE TO THE FINISH LINE. BUT
I'LL HIGHLIGHT TODAY, AND I'LL
HIGHLIGHT AGAIN TOMORROW FOR THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT PROJECTS.
REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST
BRING THESE PROJECTS TO
FRUITION, BUT WE WILL BE -- THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING WORKED WITH MY
OFFICE ROB PREINTRODUCTION
EDITS, TO BE APPLYING TO THAT
PROJECT. AND COMMUNITY
PREFERENCE WILL ALLOW THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING TO AFFIRMATIVELY
MARKET AND PRIORITIZE PEOPLE
WITH, EXCUSE ME, HISTORIC TIES
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO A REALLY
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
BRING BACK AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP INTO THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. ALL RIGHT. STARTING
WITH THOSE, I'LL JUST SHARE A
COUPLE OF UPDATES. WE'VE BEEN
BUSY. WE'VE ALL BEEN BUSY. SO
MOST RECENTLY I WANT TO
APPRECIATE MOST OF MY
COLLEAGUES. I SAW YOU AT THE
SOUTHEAST EDUCATION FORUM. THERE
WERE SEVERAL OF THERE THAT TO
ISSUE A QUORUM. I GOT A CHANCE
TO HAVE A TOUR. IT WAS OVER IN
YOUR DISTRICT. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA WITH THE COMMUNITY IN SOUTH
PARK, AND TALKING TO THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THERE. IN
PARTICULAR, ACTUALLY, ABOUT THE
CHANGES COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE POSSIBLE
UNENROLLMENT OF MANY OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
CURRENTLY SERVED VIA THE WORK
THEY'RE DOING TO PLAN AND TO
ADJUST. THAT WAS REALLY
FANTASTIC. I DON'T BELIEVE WE
HAVE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WITH
US HERE, BUT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND MYSELF HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE
OFFICIAL STORM DAY PROCLAMATION.
I LIVED TO TELL THE STORY. I
DIDN'T FAINT. I DIDN'T PASS
OUT FROM MY FANDOM. I'M VERY
PROUD OF THAT, COLLEAGUES. BUT
IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC. WE GOT
A CHANCE TO PRESENT THE
PROCLAMATION TO THE ROOKIES THAT
WERE THERE, AND IT WAS REALLY
SPECIAL. AND SO SANDWICHED
BETWEEN TWO HOME TEAM WINS, I
WOULD SAY. SO CREDIT TO THE
TEAM, BUT THE TIMING IS
IMPORTANT, I THINK. I'M JUST
SAYING. I'M JUST SAYING. OUR
OFFICE ALSO HAD SOME GREAT
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FOLKS FROM
SOLID GROUND, AND I WANT TO
APPRECIATE THEM FOR ENGAGING
WITH US ON THE IMPACT OF THE
SALES TAX, ON OUR LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE WE WERE SEEKING PROACTIVE
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THERE. WE
WERE IN QUEEN ANNE. AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE DID NOT
PLAY PICKLEBALL WITH ME, BUT
WE'LL LET THAT SLIDE. AND A LOT
MORE ENGAGEMENT FOR THE
COMMUNITY COMING UP. I'LL LEAVE
IT THERE AND HAPPY TO TAKE
QUESTIONS.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO
HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S
GOING ON IN THE COMMITTEES,
REGIONAL COMMITTEES, WHAT YOU
HAVE GOING ON, ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE COMMUNITY. I'LL BE SUPER
QUICK ON MINE. THE UTILITIES
COMMITTEE WILL BEGIN AND WILL
MEET ON JULY 9. WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE ONE APPOINTMENT TO THE
WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION
CENTER BOARD, OKAY? AND THEN GET
A PRESENTATION FROM THE CITY
AUDITOR'S OFFICE AS WELL AS YOU
ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE HIRING.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING
A NEW CITY AUDITOR WITH THE
CITY, WE'LL HEAR FROM THEIR
OFFICE REGARDING SOME AUDITS AND
SOME OTHER BACKGROUNDS. WE'LL
ALSO HEAR FROM THE PROGRAM
LEGISLATION THAT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND THEN
GET BRIEFED ALSO AS WELL ON
SEATTLE UTILITY RATES, WHICH
WILL BE GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT THE
WATER RATES IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM. SO
THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF
MOVEMENT AS WE KNOW FROM OUR
UTILITIES. WE KNOW EVERYONE IS
PASSIONATE ABOUT UTILITIES AND
WASTEWATER, AND ALL OF THE
THINGS. I DO KNOW EVEN THOUGH WE
SENT OUR LETTER TO KING COUNTY,
REGARDING THE RATES. I KNOW THEY
STILL PUSHED THROUGH A DIFFERENT
RATE OPTION, SO I THINK THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM COULD
NOT COME AT A BETTER TIME,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DURING
THIS PROCESS. BUT I THINK THIS
IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL, ESPECIALLY
WITH AFFORDABILITY. THERE IS
ONLY CERTAIN LEVERAGE WE COULD
PUSH IN THE COUNCIL ON THE
LEGISLATIVE ROLE, WHICH IS A BIG
ONE. AND THE UTILITY OFFICIAL
NOTICE WILL BE COMING SOON. SO
WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING. OUR
MEETINGS ARE ONLY ONCE A MONTH,
SO I KNEW THAT DURING THIS TIME
BEFORE A BREAK, BEFORE RECESS OR
BUDGET THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE TO
BE SOME MEETINGS WE COULD
SQUEEZE IN TO FIT SOME OF THE
LEGISLATION MOVING THROUGH.
COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK ON THAT. LAST, BUT NOT
LEAST, END OF JUNE, SO PRIDE
MONTH IS COMING TO A CLOSE, BUT
IT'S PRIDE MONTH EVERY DAY HERE
ON COUNCIL, DIFFERENT PRIDE. YOU
MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT PRIDES. IT
MIGHT BE NORWEGIAN PRIDE. IT
MIGHT BE YOUR PRIDE, JUST
HANGING UP IN YOUR OFFICE OR THE
WEST SEATTLE FLAG. WHATEVER
PRIDE YOU'RE CELEBRATING, I'M
HERE FOR IT, OKAY? THE OTHER
THING, COLLEAGUES. I DO WANT TO
TAKE THIS TIME AND THANK YOU
ALL. I KNOW THAT IT IS VIOLENCE
PREVENTION MONTH, EVERY TUESDAY,
SINCE THE BEGINNING. AND I JUST
WANT TO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME AND ENGAGEMENT. A LOT OF
THE FAMILIES I HAVE KNOWN FOR
YEARS. AND IN A RESPECTFUL WAY.
YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY, REALLY
MEANINGFUL TO THOSE FAMILIES
BECAUSE IT IS ONE THING, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE AWARENESS, BUT I
THINK IT IS ANOTHER THING TO
ACTUALLY SEE THE IMPACT THAT
THIS IS HAVING ON FOLKS. A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO, I LOST MY COUSIN TO
GUN VIOLENCE, AND HE WAS A
GENTLEMAN. SHOUT OUT AND REST IN
PEACE TO CASH STEWARD. HIS
FATHER IS ANTHONY STEWARD, WHO
IS MY COUSIN, AND HE LOST HIS
LIFE IN RAINIER BEACH. TO THIS
IS VERY IMPACTFUL. ALWAYS A
COUPLE OF DEGREES OF SEPARATION
FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FORCED,
YOU KNOW, IN OUR CITY. AND I
KNOW WE ALL HAVE FAMILY OR
FRIENDS OR WE KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO
PASSED AWAY FROM GUN VIOLENCE IN
THOSE THINGS AND HOW WE'RE
IMPACTED. SO YOU KNOW, IT IS A
VERY HEAVY MONTH, BUT I DO
BELIEVE THERE ARE A LOT OF
FORWARD PROGRESS DURING THIS
MONTH WITH THE GUN VIOLENCE
SYMPOSIUM. WE ALSO HAD THE
PEOPLE COME AND TELL US THIS IS
WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN
OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE COMMUNITY
PASSAGES COMING HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON
THE COMMUNITY. SO I KNOW THERE
IS FORWARD PROGRESS, AND A LOT
OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE THIS.
I KNOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WANT
TO SEE PROGRESS. EVERYBODY WANTS
TO SEE THE PROGRESS ON THIS. SO
JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT DURING
THIS MONTH. SO COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. FIRST OFF, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
THOSE HONORARY PROCLAMATIONS IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE THAT THEY
REFLECTED FOR PROGRESS AND
MOMENTUM, AND LAYER THAT ON TOP
OF COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, GUN
VIOLENCE PREVENTION SUMMIT. THE
OFFICIAL NAME ESCAPES ME. BUT
TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, A GREAT SET
OF SPECIFIC ACTIONS, TREMENDOUS
MOMENTUM. SO KUDOS, ABSOLUTE FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP, RESPONSIVE
LEADERSHIP. I WANTED TO QUICKLY
SHIFT GEARS TO A MUCH MORE,
MAYBE DRY OR DULL TOPIC. I
DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
SITTING ON YOUR COMMITTEE, WHERE
THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED FURTHER.
CAN YOU HELP US BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT TIMELINE
AND PLAN, AND KIND OF SCHEDULED
FOR HIRING, YOU KNOW, THAT
CRITICAL ROLE WITHIN THE CITY?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. THIS IS NOT A DRY SUBJECT.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO THE
TIMELINE FOR THE CITY AUDITOR,
DAVID JONES, HAS BEEN WITH I
BELIEVE OVER 20 YEARS, IS IT 20?
20 PLUS YEARS. SO THIS IS A BIG
DEAL, AND BECAUSE THE CITY
AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS VERY SMALL.
IT IS BETWEEN 15 PEOPLE OR LESS.
IT IS VERY SMALL. I'M LOOKING
AT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. IF I
GET A HEAD NOD FROM HIM, I KNOW
I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK. JUST
ONE. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TONE FOR
THE TIMELINE IS HIRED A
CONSULTANT. WE HAD AN HR
DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO HAD, I
BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
SOMEONE WAS ON THE FIRST ROUND,
SO WE DID HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS
AND THEN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE
AS WELL, BE ENGAGED IN THAT
FIRST ROUND OF THE POOL OF
CANDIDATES. SO THEN NOW WE'RE
MOVING ONTO THE SECOND ROUND,
WHICH I AM MORE HAPPY,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, IF THIS IS
AN OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU WANT TO
SIT WITH ME. I SEE THE HAND
RAISED. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> YES, MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I WOULD LOVE THIS, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, AWESOME. SO GOING INTO
SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS ON
THAT? NO. THE SELECTION
COMMITTEE IN ADDITION TO THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE, THE PANEL. WE
HAVE OUR TOP FIVE CANDIDATES.
FIVE, SIX CANDIDATES. AND WHERE
WE ALL KIND OF DECIDE AND, YOU
KNOW, I TAKE FEEDBACK FROM YOU
ALL, ESPECIALLY FROM THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THAT
FINAL CANDIDATE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. ALL THAT MAKES SENSE.
FOR CLARITY, WE WOULD LOVE TO
SIT ON ANY SUBSEQUENT PANEL OR
IN ANY WAY THAT COULD BE
HELPFUL. THIS IS COMPARED TO,
YOU KNOW, GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, ARGUABLY MORE,
SLIGHTLY MORE DRY AND DULL. BUT
VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY. AND
THE CORNERSTONES ARE EFFECTIVE,
EFFICIENT, AND RESPONSE OF
GOVERNMENT. SO ACCOUNTABILITY,
THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICES. IT
MIGHT BE THEY WOULD PERFORM SOME
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK
ACROSS THE CITY OF SEATTLE. SO
IT IS WHY I ASKED, AND ALSO TO
KIND OF THREAD THE NEEDLE HERE
THROUGH SOME OF THE PREVIOUS
CONVERSATIONS. I PREVIOUSLY
TALKED ABOUT THE UNTIMELY DEMISE
ON OUR ROADS AS A CYCLIST IN
WEST SEATTLE, A WEEK AND A HALF
AGO, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO NOW.
AND THAT IS TWO PLUS WEEKS AFTER
THE OTHER CYCLIST LOST THEIR
LIVES ON CITY STREETS AND, YOU
KNOW, PEDESTRIANS GETTING KILLED
ALL THE TIME. NO ONE REPORTS ON
IT UNFORTUNATELY. TALKING ABOUT
ALL THE PEDESTRIANS THAT ARE
DYING. THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT TOPIC. FOR THE TRAFFIC
SAFETY PROGRAM. I WILL BE
PUSHING FOR, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
WHO IS GOING TO PRIORITIZE THAT
WORK. AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO
ME. I MET WITH THEM, AND THEIR
INTERIM LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW,
THAT ARE UNDERTAKING PRELIMINARY
EFFORTS RIGHT NOW, WHICH I
REALLY APPRECIATE, AND THEY
ADDED THIS TO THE QUEUE. GIVEN
THE SORT OF GRAVITY AND WEIGHT
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, I'LL
BE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT WILL
BE PRIORITIZING.
>> WANTING A LITTLE EXTRA THING,
WHICH IS PERFECT. WE DO HAVE
REALLY GREAT FINALISTS, YOU
KNOW, HAVE SELECTED BETWEEN SIX
TO EIGHT IDENTIFIED FOLKS. SIX.
WE HAD SIX, OKAY. THANK YOU. I
THINK I HAD ADDED. ANY WAY THE
WHOLE POINT IS, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. WE'RE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS.
HOPEFULLYWHAT WE HAVE AT THE END
OF THE YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE
SELECTED A NEW AUDITOR AT THE
TIMELINE. SO I WILL GET YOU IN
THAT PROCESS. IF ANYONE ELSE
WANTS YOU TO BE EMBEDDED IN THE
PROCESS LEADING UP TO THE FINAL
SELECTION, MORE THAN HAPPY TO
INCORPORATE YOU ALL AS WELL.
YEAH, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AS YOU
KNOW, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN
AUDITS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE ACCOUNTABLE. SOMETIMES THE
ONLY WAY THAT WE KNOW FOR
CERTAIN IS WHEN WE GET THAT
AUDIT INFORMATION BACK. IT IS
VERY HELPFUL AND VERY IMPORTANT
AND A NECESSARY PART OF THE JOB.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO --
>> OF COURSE.
>> BEING CONSIDERED AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE THAT
INFORMATION. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY STILL
NEED TO BE CONFIRMED BY COUNCIL.
SO THIS IS SHAPING THAT AND WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE. OUR AUDITOR'S
OFFICE MIGHT BE SMALL, BUT
MIGHTY AND VERY EFFICIENT. THEY
WILL GET A LOT OF STUFF DONE AND
VERY CLOSE KNIT. I GOT TO LEARN
THEM VERY WELL. JUST COULDN'T
BE MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE
PROFESSIONALISM FROM OUR OFFICE,
FROM OUR AUDITORS OFFICE AS
WELL. THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO, YOU
KNOW, HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP IN
THERE. BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT THE
AUDITORS OFFICE, IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THEY WERE
INCLUDED IN EVERY SINGLE STEP OF
THIS PROCESS AS THEY ARE
CHOOSING, AS WE ARE ALL
CHOOSING, BUT WANTED THEM TO
FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN A PART
OF THE PROCESS VERY INTIMATELY,
SO THEY ARE NOT JUST SURPRISED
BY THE CANDIDATES. THEY'VE BEEN
ON ROUND ONE IN THE SELECTION
ROUND TWO, ROUND THREE. THEY
HAVE BEEN, WE MET WITH THEM
PREVIOUSLY BEFORE, TO FIND OUT
WHAT VALUES THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR. WE ALSO HAVE OUR CONSULTANT
MAKE SURE THEY TOOK A LIST. SO
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
WERE, WE ARE RUNNING A GOOD
TOPNOTCH PROCESS. AWESOME. YES,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> ONE LAST THING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH. YOU
BROUGHT UP THE GUN VIOLENCE
SYMPOSIUM. THIS WAS NOT MEANT TO
BE A GATHERING, THEN WE DON'T
DO ANYTHING. SO I'M WORKING ON
NEXT STEPS WITH THEM. YOU KNOW,
WE'VE SPOKEN, I'VE SPOKEN WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WELL, SO
MORE TO COME ON THAT. I DON'T
WANT FOLKS TO THINK THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. YOU'RE GOOD.
COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY OTHER
FURTHER BUSINESS? JUST TO
CLARIFY, MY GOAL IS TO ALWAYS
HAVE COUNCIL BRIEFING NO MORE
THAN AN HOUR, SO WE ARE AROUND
THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I
CAME LATE. WE STARTED AT 2:05.
BUT THAT IS THE GOAL FOR THESE
TO BE AN HOUR, GET IN, AND GET
OUT, AND BE VERY EFFICIENT. YES?
AWESOME. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? NO?
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, IT
IS 3:10. THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.