[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
-- OKAY. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THE JULY 28th MEETING OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS 2:05 P.M.. I'M
JOY HOLLINGSWORTH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA PRESENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
-- HOLLINGSWORTH HERE.
-- NINE. PRESENT.
-- AWESOME. COLLEAGUES. THERE'S
NO PRESENTATIONS TODAY. AND
BEFORE WE JUMP RIGHT INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT, I'M GOING TO START
OPENING THIS MEETING. WE WILL DO
A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE
VICTIMS WHO DID LOSE THEIR LIVES
AT THE SEATTLE CENTER. AND
PEOPLE ARE ALSO THE ONES THAT
WERE SHOT AND ARE RECOVERING
TODAY. SO WE WILL CALL WE WILL
ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO
RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE PEOPLE
THAT LOST THEIR LIVES. AND THE
FOLKS THAT ARE RECOVERING TODAY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THAT
WE'VE HEARD CALL TO ACTION FROM
CITY OFFICIALS FOR CITY
OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY
COUNCILMEMBERS. WE LEGISLATE
LAWS IN OUR CITY. THE EXECUTIVE
EXECUTES AND THE DEPARTMENTS
HELP DELIVER THIS WORK. AND WE
ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. SO
THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT MOMENT OF
SILENCE AS WE PRAY FOR THE
VICTIMS, AND THEN ALSO THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE RECOVERING RIGHT
NOW. WE ARE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. AND
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE
GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT IS
LIMITED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THE
COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM. THE
COUNCIL CANNOT ACCEPT COMMENTS
ON QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEMS OR ON
CAMPAIGN RELATED MATTERS. I KNOW
WE HAVE OVER 30 SPEAKERS, SO
BEFORE EVERYONE BOOS,
EVERYONE'S GOING TO GET ONE
MINUTE BECAUSE THOSE ARE WITHIN
COUNCIL RULES. OVER 30 PEOPLE.
HOW MANY FOLKS DO WE HAVE?
-- WE HAVE ABOUT 34 IN PERSON
AND 37 REMOTE.
-- OKAY, SO NINE. SUCCESS.
THAT'S 71. SO USUALLY IF IT'S
MORE THAN 60, IT'S ONE MINUTE
OR LESS. BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO
ONE MINUTE. I'D LIKE TO HONOR
THAT. AND IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I
THINK LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IS
QUICK. AND IS THAT COOL. I'M
JUST LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT.
AWESOME. THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
SO WE WILL DO ONE MINUTE FOR
SPEAKERS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE TO
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD?
-- THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DID NOT
END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
-- OKAY, AWESOME. WE'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE WE'RE GOING TO CALL
PEOPLE IN GROUPS OF FIVE. SO IF
YOU HEAR YOUR NAME AND PLEASE
COME UP TO THE FRONT AND JUST
START GETTING UP SO WE CAN KIND
OF JUST KEEP PEOPLE MOVING.
DON'T WORRY IF YOU'RE CONTINUING
TO SIGN UP, WE'LL STILL HAVE
YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
SO FIRST UP, WE HAVE EL
HARRISON, JEROME, MARIA. WE HAVE
JUNE VAL AND KATE. THOSE FIVE
YOU ARE UP AND ON DECK. WE HAVE
MARTA JOHNSON, CHRIS, MAGDALENA,
FRANCESCA AND DAVID LONG. SO AIR
HARRISON. SO WE'LL ASK MARIA TO
ON DECK. JUNE, VAL AND KATE.
RUBEN. THANK YOU ALL. AND YOU
CAN START WHENEVER YOU ARE. AND
THE TIMER. YOU'RE ALL GOOD. MAKE
SURE YOU SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE
MIC AS WELL.
-- THANK YOU COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
EL HARRISON JEROME. IT IS HOT IN
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. NOT
ONLY IS IT HOT, SOME PLACES LIKE
CORPUS CHRISTI AND PHOENIX ARE
ON TRACK TO BECOME
UNINHABITABLE. IF YOU THINK THE
TECH BOOM IS BRINGING A LOT OF
PEOPLE TO THE CITY, IMAGINE WHAT
ECOLOGICAL COLLAPSE OF THE
AMERICAN SOUTHWEST WILL BRING.
WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR OUR
POPULATION TO BE IN THE MILLIONS
BY MID-CENTURY. THERE IS NO WAY
OF AVOIDING THIS. THE COMP PLAN
WE HAVE FALLS WOEFULLY SHORT OF
THE CAPACITY. CAPACITY WE NEED.
EVERY SERIOUS CLIMATE AUTHORITY
EXPRESSES THAT WE NEED TO
URGENTLY MOVE TOWARD DENSE
HOUSING. THIS APPEAL PROCESS IS
NOT ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND IS
CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTALISM. THE. THIS
APPEAL PROCESS IS WHY THE
MISSING LINK ON THE BURKE-GILMAN
HASN'T GOTTEN DONE IS WHY LIGHT
RAIL IS PROGRESSING SO SLOWLY.
THIS IS WHY PEOPLE WONDER WHY
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN'T
LEAD. BECAUSE THEY CAN'T. IF YOU
THINK IT'S JUST ONE MORE YEAR OF
DELAY, JUST ONE MORE YEAR OF
HOMES NOT BEING BUILT. JUST ONE
MORE YEAR OF PEOPLE BEING FORCED
OUT OF SEATTLE BECAUSE THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH UNITS FOR EVERYONE.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS IS 2300
PAGES LONG. NIMBY GROUPS WILL
FIND A TECHNICALITY. VOTE YES ON
THE BILL. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. L NEXT WE HAVE
MARIA, FOLLOWED BY JUNE. VAL,
KATE. RUBEN. WELCOME.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY
THOUGHTS WITH YOU. MY NAME IS
MARIA AND I CHAIR THE BEACON
HILL COUNCIL. THE CITY BILL ONE,
TWO, 125 PROPOSES TO RETAIN
PROJECTS, ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS
AND ELIMINATE RESIDENTIAL
APPEALS UNFORTUNATELY,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN IS SILENT. THE
ACTUAL IMPACT OF THE BILL, WHICH
IS TO DENY RESIDENTIAL OWNERS
THE ABILITY TO APPEAL WHEN THEY
THINK THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION LAW IS NOT PROPERLY
APPLIED. WE UNDERSTAND THOSE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ARE
STILL IN PLACE. AS AN EXAMPLE OF
THE VALUE OF THE APPEAL, THE
SCALE APPEALED. THE MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ACT QUITE
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, AND THEY
AND MYSELF PRESENT TEN PLUS CITY
DEPARTMENT MEMOS THAT CONCLUDED
THAT EITHER MHA DID NOT HAVE A
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS
AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY. ARE
BASQUE. ASKED TO PAUSE THE BILL,
VOTE IT DOWN OR VOTE, AS AMENDED
BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU MARIA. NEXT WE HAVE
JUNE, FOLLOWED BY VAL AND THEN
KATE AND MARTA.
-- COUNCILMEMBERS, I URGE YOU TO
VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT B TO
COUNCIL BILL 121215. THIS
AMENDMENT PRESERVES THE ONLY
AFFORDABLE SEPA APPEAL OPTION
FOR SEATTLE CITIZENS AND
COMMUNITIES. IF AMENDMENT B DOES
NOT PASS, VOTE NO ON THE BILL.
IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO CITE
SEATTLE'S HARMFUL HISTORY OF
RACIST LAND USE POLICIES LIKE
REDLINING, AND THEN FAIL TO TO
PERFORM A RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS
ON CB 121215. PLEASE READ THE
LIVED HISTORY FROM LOIS MARTIN
OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, ABOUT BLACK COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS SUCCESSFUL USE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS TO PREVENT
OR MITIGATE HARM TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES. YOU MAY SAY THOSE
WERE PROJECT ACTIONS. THIS BILL
PRESERVES THOSE STATE LAW AND
RECENT CITY ACTION NOW EXEMPT
MOST HOUSING PROJECTS FROM SIPA
REVIEW. THERE IS NO APPEAL WHERE
THERE IS NO REVIEW. PROJECT
REVIEW LOOKS AT ONE DEVELOPMENT
AT A TIME. NON PROJECT REVIEW
LOOKS AT THE RULES THAT SHAPE
WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE ONLY
STAGE WHERE THE CITY STUDIES
DISPLACEMENT AND COMMUNITY.
CUMULATIVE IMPACT ACROSS A
COMMUNITY.
-- JUNE NEXT WE HAVE VAL
FOLLOWED BY KATE, RUBEN, MARTA,
CHRIS, MAGDALENA. FRANCESCA.
DAVID. WELCOME.
-- HI, I'M VAL, I'M PART OF
DISTRICT TWO. I WANT YOU TO VOTE
YES ON AMENDMENT B, AND IF THIS
AMENDMENT DOESN'T PASS, PLEASE
VOTE NO AS A BILL AS A WHOLE.
EDDIE LIN, I'M ONE OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. THE REASON WHY
I'M HERE IS BECAUSE OF YOU. I
ACTUALLY CAME HERE TO LET YOU
KNOW THAT I FEEL VERY MISLED BY
SOME OF THE BY SOME OF THE WORK
THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, SOME OF
THE EMAILS THAT I'VE BEEN
READING, I ACTUALLY FELT SOME OF
THEM MISLED BY BY SOME OF THAT
I, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT AMENDMENT
B, WHICH I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT
BECAUSE YOUR WORK WAS VERY
MISGUIDED, MISLEADING. I
APOLOGIZE, YOUR BILL DOES NOT
WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT. B, THE
BILL DOES MORE HARM TO PEOPLE AS
A WHOLE. I JUST WANTED TO LET
YOU KNOW I'M NOT A
WELL-RESOURCED INDIVIDUAL. I
DON'T HAVE GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
HOUSING. BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE NOT HAVE A CAMERA
COST OF NOT BEING ABLE TO APPEAL
FOR RACIAL EQUITY. THAT ALREADY
HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I LIVED IN
YESLER TERRACE. I'M NOT LETTING
IT HAPPEN AGAIN, AGAIN, BUT NO.
VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT B, VOTE NO
ON THE BILL AS A WHOLE IF IT
DOESN'T PASS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE KATE,
FOLLOWED BY MARTA AND THEN
CHRIS. HI, KATE. RUBEN. OH,
YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK FOR
TIFFANY
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT. OKAY. IF
WE SWITCH. SHE'S STILL IN LINE.
-- YEAH. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT
NUMBER ARE YOU?
-- I DID NOT GRAB A NUMBER FROM.
-- BURIEN. YOU'RE FINE.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
-- YEAH. YOU'LL SWITCH. THANK
YOU TIFFANY.
-- THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
TIFFANY MCCOY. I'M THE INTERIM
CEO AT THE SEATTLE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER. WE HAVE BEEN
IN MULTIPLE NEGOTIATIONS FOR
LAND SITES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
PIPELINE FOR MONTHS. WE HAVE
SITE CONTROL ON TWO PARCELS OF
LAND, AND WE'RE GETTING READY
TO ANNOUNCE SOME OF THOSE SITES
ONCE DUE DILIGENCE IS WAIVED, WE
WILL BE BUILDING 50% OF THOSE
UNITS AT TWO AND THREE BEDROOM
UNITS. WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY
DEVELOPERS IN THIS CITY THAT HAS
A MANDATE TO BE BUILDING FAMILY
SIZED UNITS. BUT I CONTINUE TO
FIND THAT THERE IS A NAGGING
CONCERN IN THE BACK OF MY MIND
THAT OUR VOTER MANDATED SOCIAL
HOUSING EFFORTS WILL BE STIFLED
THROUGH OUR CURRENT SEPA SYSTEM.
WHY CAN WE BUILD ENDLESS ROADS
AND HIGHWAYS? BUT WE CAN'T SITE
A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE FOR OUR
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, OR A
MULTIFAMILY BUILDING IN OUR
HISTORICALLY REDLINED
NEIGHBORHOODS? I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT ALL OF US HERE CARE ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT I FEAR THAT
SOME OF US ARE USING THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR PROXY MEANS
OTHERWISE. WHY DON'T WE SEE THE
SAME FACES HERE FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY?
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOU ARE A
BREATH OF FRESH AIR. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COURAGE.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
TIFFANY. NEXT. YEP. YOU'RE ALL
GOOD. THANK YOU. MARSHA.
WELCOME.
-- HELLO ALL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS MARTIN. I'M HERE WITH
FOREST SEATTLE IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBERS LIN'S
LEGISLATION. THANKS SO MUCH FOR
YOUR EFFORTS HERE. QUICKLY.
SEATTLE DOESN'T HAVE A HOUSING
SHORTAGE BECAUSE WE LACK GOOD
INTENTIONS. WE HAVE HOUSING
SHORTAGE BECAUSE WE'VE BUILT A
DUPLICATIVE SYSTEM THAT MAKES IT
TOO EASY TO DELAY THE HOMES WE
ALL DESERVE. SEATTLE SHOULD BE A
CITY THAT SAYS YES TO MORE
NEIGHBORS, MORE HOMES, AND A
FASTER PATH FROM POLICY TO
REALITY. WE SHOULD MEASURE OUR
SUCCESS NOT BY HOW MANY
OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO DELAY
CHANGE, BUT BY WHETHER PEOPLE
CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO LIVE
HERE, GET AROUND EASILY AND
AVOID THE SPRAWL THAT COULD
ENDURE. I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES
TO COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S BILL
TODAY TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY
DELAYS AND HELP SEATTLE BUILD A
FUTURE WE CAN ALL ENJOY.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU MARTHA.
NEXT WE HAVE CHRIS, FOLLOWED BY
MAGDALENA, FRANCESCA AND THEN
DAVID. WELCOME, CHRIS.
-- THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHRIS
JENKINS. I AM THE COORDINATOR OF
THE SEATTLE COMMITTEE TO SAVE
SCHOOLS. FIVE POINTS. NUMBER
ONE, THE SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
WENT INTO DEBT TO BUY A NEW
HEADQUARTERS SOME 25 YEARS AGO.
NUMBER TWO, I FILED APPEALS
ALONG WITH INDUSTRIAL USERS IN
THE AREA. THE CITY THEN DENIED
PERMITS FOR THE PROJECT. THE
DISTRICT THEN SUED THE CITY.
NUMBER THREE ONE STOP ALONG THE
WAY WAS THE CITY HEARING
EXAMINER'S OFFICE. NUMBER FOUR.
THE FIRST CITY PROPOSAL AFFECTED
A GIANT NUMBER OF PROPERTIES.
THE EXAMINER RULED THAT FURTHER
ANALYSIS WAS REQUIRED. NUMBER
FIVE, COUNCIL BILL 12, 12, 15
ALSO AFFECTS A GIANT NUMBER OF
PROPERTIES. HAS THERE BEEN A
REQUIRED SEPA THRESHOLD
DETERMINATION? PLEASE VOTE NO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU. CHRIS. IS
IT MAGDALENA? IS IT WOULD YOU
MIND? YOU'RE ON CRUTCHES. IF
SHE CAN, CAN SHE GO BEFORE YOU?
IS THAT OKAY? OKAY. FRANCESCA.
I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. I HAD YOU
STANDING THERE THE WHOLE TIME. I
APOLOGIZE, GO RIGHT AHEAD. THANK
YOU. MAGDALENA, I APPRECIATE
THAT.
-- THANK YOU.
-- MY NAME IS FRANCESCA. I'M AN
ARTIST AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER,
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, AND
I WORK IN DISTRICT TWO. I'M HERE
TO ASK COUNCIL TO ADOPT
AMENDMENT B FOR COUNCIL BILL 12,
1215, OR VOTE NO TO COUNCIL BILL
12, 1215. I UNDERSTAND SEATTLE
IS IN A HOUSING CRISIS, BUT WE
ARE ALSO FACING GREATER THREATS
TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY THAN
EVER BEFORE. BUILDING HOUSING OR
CITY INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY
WILL INEVITABLY LAND HARDEST ON
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE'VE SEEN
PROOF OF THIS IN THE PAST WITH
I-90 IN THE SAM SMITH PARK, AND
WE SEE PROOF OF THAT TODAY WITH
RAINIER VALLEY LIGHT RAIL
CUTTING THROUGH MLK, PUTTING
PEDESTRIAN LIVES IN JEOPARDY
EVERY DAY. MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES CANNOT AFFORD TO
PURSUE LEGAL RECOURSE. LIKE OUR
WHITE COUNTERPARTS. PROTECT
SEATTLE'S ENVIRONMENTAL APPEAL
PROCESS TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR AND THE LEGACY OF OUR
CITY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, FRANCESCA. NEXT,
WE HAVE MAGDALENA. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. MAGDALENA. AND THEN NEXT
WE HAVE DAVID AFTER MAGDALENA.
-- COUNCIL. DO WE SUPPORT BLACK
WOMEN? RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU
SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN. THERE WE
GO. LET'S GET SOME MORE HANDS.
I DON'T SEE ANY WHITE HANDS IN
THE AIR. WHAT'S GOING ON? ALL
RIGHT. DO WE SUPPORT INDIGENOUS
WOMEN? CAN WE RAISE OUR HANDS?
YES. CAN WE SUPPORT THAT? YES.
SO WHY DOES IT CHANGE WHEN
THEY'RE TRANS? REMEMBER, JUAREZ
TRANS PEOPLE MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS TRANS PEOPLE
MISSING AND MURDERED, INDIGENOUS
TWO SPIRIT PEOPLE AND MISSING
AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS QUEER
PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON YOU TO
STEP FORWARD AND FIGHT FOR OUR
RIGHTS IN THIS TIME OF CIVIL
EMERGENCY. IN THE TRANS REFUGEE
CRISIS. IF YOU THINK THAT THIS
IS A WHITE ISSUE, THINK AGAIN.
REMEMBER STRAUSS AND COMMANDER
KETTLE. COMMANDER KETTLE, YOU
WOULD HAVE DRUMMED HALF OF THE
SPD OUT OF THE NAVY IF THEY HAD
BEEN YOUR SAILORS. INSTEAD, WE
ARE SERVED BY MERCENARIES FROM
OUT OF TOWN. AND TELL ME WHAT
CITY HAS EVER RETAINED ITS
SOVEREIGNTY BY BEING ENTIRELY
STAFFED BY MERCENARIES. SUPPORT
TRANS RIGHTS AND GIVE US AN
EMERGENCY AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU MAGDALENA. THANK
YOU. MAGDALENA. NEXT WE HAVE
DAVID LONG AFTER DAVID. WE HAVE
MARTA, FOLLOWED BY STEVE AND
THEN ALICE.
-- HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
DAVID LONG. I AM A FIFTH
GENERATION SEATTLEITE AND FIRST
OF ALL, I WANT TO COMMEND THE
POLICE FOR THEIR RESPONSE. ON
SUNDAY. AND I WAS OUT OF TOWN, I
HEARD ABOUT IT IMMEDIATELY, MADE
SOME PHONE CALLS, AND JUST FOUND
OUT THAT THE POLICE DID AN
EXCEPTIONAL JOB. SO I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE I COMMEND THE
POLICE FOR THEIR RESPONSE. I
WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE IT THAT'S BRINGING
BROUGHT TO THE CITY. AND WHAT IS
THE CB ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO, TWO,
FIVE AS WE'RE LOOKING AT
UPGRADING OR ADDING IT OR PEOPLE
THAT HANDLE THAT, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UPGRADING
THE SYSTEMS AT THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND ALL OF OUR OTHER
PUBLIC PLACES. A LOT OF PEOPLE
SOMETIMES SAY THEY DON'T LIKE
THE CAMERAS OF THE POLICE. WE
NEED MORE COVERAGE, I'LL JUST
PUT IT THAT WAY. SO AS YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT GROWTH, AS WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT EXPANDING IN
AREAS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS OF
KEEPING THE EYES ON THE PEOPLE
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SAFE. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, DAVID. NEXT WE
HAVE. SO THE NEXT TEN SPEAKERS
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO TEN
SPEAKERS HERE. AND THEN WE ARE
GOING TO GO, WE'RE GONNA DO 20
IN PERSON. EXCUSE ME. IF YOU'RE
ONLINE, WE'RE GOING TO COME TO
YOU AND DO TEN. AND WE'RE GOING
TO COME BACK AND DO IN PERSON.
SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO
TEN MORE HERE IN PERSON. WE'LL
GO ONLINE AND DO TEN AND WE'LL
DO 20 IN PERSON. SO WE'LL KEEP
ROTATING OR ELSE IT GETS LONG
FOR THE PEOPLE ONLINE AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE MARTHA, MARTHA,
MARTHA BASKIN FOLLOWED BY STEVE
HERE. THE NEXT TEN. SO MARTHA,
STEVE, ALICE GREEN, JEFF, PAUL,
DAVID HILL, KENNETH, KENNETH
DAVIES, JORDAN, ALICIA, LYDIA
AND STEVE SMC. SO WE HAVE
MARTHA, STEVE, MARTHA, EXCUSE
ME, STEVE, ALICE, JEFF, DAVID,
KENNETH. JORDAN, ALICIA, LYDIA
AND STEVE. YOU ALL ARE THE NEXT
TEN SPEAKERS. GO AHEAD. MARTHA.
-- ALL RIGHT. I LIKE MARTHA,
ACTUALLY, IT'S FAR PREFERABLE.
SO GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO. HELLO,
PLEASE VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT B,
AND IF THAT AMENDMENT DOES NOT
PASS, SAY NO TO CB 1215. THE
RATIONALE BEHIND CB 1215 AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ELIMINATE
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS ON ALL
CITY LAND USE LEGISLATION AND
ANY CITY BUILDING PROJECT IS,
LIKE TRUMP'S CLAIMS ABOUT VOTER
USE. VOTER FRAUD, RATHER AN
EXERCISE IN DECEPTION. TRUMP'S
CRUSADE ISN'T ENSURING EVERYONE
GETS TO VOTE. IT'S ABOUT
DISENFRANCHIZING VOTERS, IN THIS
CASE. CB 1215 ISN'T ABOUT
REFORM. IT'S ABOUT TAKING AWAY
THE ONE AVENUE ORDINARY PEOPLE
HAVE TO ADDRESS CRITICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. THE CITY
IS IGNORING. AND WITH THIS NEXT
POINT, I INVOKE THE VOICE OF
LOIS MARTIN, A TREE ALLY AND A
FRIEND WHO I'M HONORED TO KNOW.
MARTIN IS AN EDUCATOR AND
TEACHING CHILDREN. AS WE. AS I
SPEAK, THE SPONSORS PUBLIC FAQ,
SHE WRITES, INVOKES THE UGLY
HISTORY OF REDLINING AND THE
WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES IT LEFT
FOR BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS OF
SOUTH AND CENTRAL SEATTLE YET NO
RACIAL EQUITY IN.
-- THANK YOU MARTHA. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE HAVE
STEVE, AND YOU CAN PUT YOUR
COMMENTS IN THE BASKET, TOO. WE
HAVE STEVE, ALICE, JEFF. AND
THEN DAVID. WELCOME. STEVE.
-- YES, THIS IS EXPERIMENT IN
DEMOCRACY. YOU KNOW, IT'S SO
MUCH MORE EFFICIENT NOT TO HAVE
PEOPLE COMMENT. IT IS SO MUCH
MORE EFFICIENT NOT TO HAVE
PEOPLE WITH POWER, BECAUSE YOU
CAN DO THINGS QUICKLY. AND OUR
FEARLESS LEADER, WHO'S ALSO A
DEVELOPER, STRANGELY ENOUGH,
THINKS LIKE A DEVELOPER,
BELIEVES THE SAME THING. I
DON'T I THINK THAT SEATTLE HAS
GONE TOO FAR THAT WAY BECAUSE
WE'RE SEEING LESS AND LESS GOOD
DEVELOPMENT. RECENTLY, I'VE SEEN
A LOT OF OLDER BUILDINGS BEING
TORN DOWN IN THE BELLTOWN AREA
AND SOME OTHER AREAS OF THE
CITY, AND THESE ARE NOT GOING TO
BE REPLACED BY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO
LOOK AT MHA, WE REFUSE TO SAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT IS NOT
SUBSIDIZED. SO LET'S DO
SOMETHING FOR DEMOCRACY. YOU
KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF
MONEY, YOU CAN GO TO SUPERIOR
COURT. IF YOU DON'T.
-- HEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
STEVE. NEXT, WE HAVE ALEX GREEN,
JEFF, PAUL, DAVID, KENNETH
JORDAN. WELCOME.
-- THANK YOU FOR HEARING US
TODAY. I'M WITH THE GREEN PARTY
OF SEATTLE. MY NAME IS ALICE
GREEN. MY MAIN CONCERN IS
ELIMINATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEWS FOR BUILDINGS. I DO
THINK WE NEED TO STREAMLINE IT.
WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE INTO
HOUSES. BUT WITH ALL OF THE
VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACE AND
OFFICE SPACE DOWNTOWN AND ALL
THE POTENTIAL FOR DEEP DENSITY,
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT AS
WELL. I WOULD SAY VOTE FOR THE
AMENDMENT B, THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU ALEX. NEXT WE HAVE
JEFF. PAUL, WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE
YOU, DAVID. KENNETH JORDAN.
HELLO. HELLO.
-- HELLO, COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO
GO A LITTLE HIGHER. MY NAME IS
JEFF PAUL. I'M THE CO-EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS,
AND I'M A RENTER IN D THREE. I
HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS
BILL. AGAIN, I'M HERE BECAUSE
I'M STILL VERY FRUSTRATED. I'M
FRUSTRATED THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE
WHO CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT, YET THEY'RE
FIGHTING AGAINST ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS,
WHICH IS DENSE HOUSING THAT
ENABLES CAR FREE OR CAR LIGHT
LIVING. I'M YOUNG ENOUGH TO GET
TO LOOK FORWARD TO CLIMATE
COLLAPSE IN MY LIFETIME. I'LL BE
LIVING IN SEATTLE IN A FEW
DECADES. WHEN CLIMATE REFUGEES
POUR IN, AS ENTIRE SWATHS OF OUR
PLANET BECOME UNLIVABLE. UNLESS
WE TAKE DRASTIC ACTION, EVERY
SINGLE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
IN THE WORLD SAYS THAT WE HAVE
TO MASSIVELY REDUCE THE AMOUNT
OF TIME PEOPLE DRIVING CARS,
THEY DESTROY OUR ATMOSPHERE,
THEIR TIRES AND BRAKES, POLLUTE
OUR WATER. SEATTLE IS JUST ONE
CITY, BUT WE MUST DO OUR PART TO
MOVE WITH URGENCY. THE ONLY WAY
WE CAN DO THAT IS IF WE BUILD
DENSELY. PUBLIC TRANSIT ONLY
WORKS WHEN WE HAVE DENSE CITIES.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
DRAW DOWNS THAT WE CAN MAKE.
PLEASE TAKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CRISIS AND THE HOUSING CRISIS
SERIOUSLY.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JEFF.
NEXT WE HAVE DAVID, KENNETH,
JORDAN, ALICIA, LYDIA, STEVE,
WELCOME.
-- HI, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID
HILL. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION. I'M HERE
TO ASK YOU TO VOTE YES ON
AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 12, 12,
15. CITIES HAVE TO EVOLVE TO
MEET NEW DEMANDS. OPPONENTS OF
THIS CHANGE ARE CLINGING TO AN
OUTDATED VISION OF SEATTLE FROM
1995 THAT SIMPLY CANNOT SUPPORT
OUR CITY TODAY. TO DELIVER THE
WALKABLE, TRANSIT RICH FUTURE IN
OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE MUST
BUILD DENSE HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT
DENSITY IS CLIMATE ACTION. RIGHT
NOW, SPECIAL INTERESTS USE $100
$120 FILING FEES TO WEAPONIZE
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS AND BLOCK
HOUSING, FORCING GROWTH OUT TO
THE PERIPHERY AND DESTROYING
ACTUAL WILDLIFE HABITAT, PUSHING
HOUSING INTO SPRAWLING
SUBDIVISIONS IS NOT
ENVIRONMENTALISM. TRUE CLIMATE
JUSTICE MEANS WELCOMING
NEIGHBORS INTO OUR URBAN CORE.
PLEASE END THE CYNICAL ABUSE OF
PROCEDURAL RED TAPE AND VOTE YES
ON AMENDMENT ONE.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU DAVID.
NEXT WE HAVE KENNETH, FOLLOWED
BY JORDAN, ALICIA, LYDIA, STEVE,
WELCOME.
-- HI. A FEW OF YOU ON THE CITY
COUNCIL THINK SILENCING THE
PUBLIC IS A GREAT IDEA. YOU HAVE
PLANS AND IDEAS, AND YOU DON'T
WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ANY OF THE
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THEM. IF
THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE GETTING
IN THE WAY AND THEY'RE SLOWING
THINGS DOWN, WELL, THOSE RIGHTS
JUST HAVE TO GO, DON'T THEY?
BUT HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SEATTLE
RAILROAD THROUGH A POLICY YOU
KNEW WAS WRONG, BUT IT WAS
ENACTED ANYWAY? OF COURSE YOU
HAVE. SO WHY ARE YOU WANTING TO
TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHT TO POINT
THESE PROBLEMS OUT BEFORE THEY
BECOME LAW? THIS ONE MINUTE
KABUKI THEATER IS A JOKE.
SEATTLE GIVES US THE RIGHT TO
CHALLENGE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES,
TO HAVE PROPOSALS THAT CAN BE
CORRECTED AND IMPROVED BEFORE
THEY'RE ENTOMBED IN CONCRETE,
BEFORE THEY'RE TOO BIG TO FAIL
AND MUST BE PASSED. DON'T TELL
THE PUBLIC TO SHUT UP AND LET
THE DEVELOPERS RULE. WHEN YOU
DEMOCRATS ACT LIKE THIS, YOU
DON'T NEED REPUBLICANS TO TAKE
AWAY OUR STATE GIVEN RIGHTS.
YOU'LL DO THAT FOR THEM. DON'T
BECOME AS BAD AS THE
REPUBLICANS. DON'T IMITATE THEIR
VERY WORST BEHAVIORS. DON'T
APPROVE THIS TERRIBLE PROPOSAL.
-- IF WE THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
JORDAN, FOLLOWED BY ALICIA. WE
DO JUST SPIRIT HANDS. I WILL
KEEP US GOING. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WELCOME, JORDAN.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JORDAN
CRAWLEY, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT ONE. SPEAKING IN
OPPOSITION TO AMENDMENT B AND IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL 121215.
I'M ALSO SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED
THROUGH HOUSING INSECURITY AND
STRUGGLED WITH AFFORDING A ROOF
OVER MY HEAD. THE UNDERLYING
BILL HELPS TO STREAMLINE
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS CRITICAL TO
OUR ABILITY TO BUILD ENOUGH
HOUSING AT ALL INCOME LEVELS IN
OUR CITY. AMENDMENT B UNDERMINES
THAT EFFORT. PRESENTED AS A MERE
CHANGE, IT DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS
THE CORE PURPOSE OF THE BILL. IT
LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN TO THE
TYPES OF APPEALS THAT HAVE
BOGGED DOWN DEVELOPMENT FOR
DECADES, WITHOUT ANY MEANINGFUL
REDUCTION IN PROCESSING TIME. IT
WOULD ALLOW OPPONENTS OF A
TALLER AND DENSER SEATTLE TO
REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS
COUNCIL. AND THAT IS NOT WHAT
GOOD GOVERNANCE LOOKS LIKE. IF
YOU BELIEVE IN A HOUSED SEATTLE,
IF YOU BELIEVE IN AFFORDABILITY
FOR ALL, WE NEED YOU TO OPPOSE
EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE THIS BILL
AND OPPOSE AMENDMENT B. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU JORDAN. NEXT WE
HAVE ALICIA, FOLLOWED BY LYDIA
AND THEN STEVE. AND THEN WE'RE
GOING TO GO ONLINE. SO IF YOU'RE
LISTENING ONLINE, FIRST TEN
SPEAKERS AND WE'LL COME BACK IN
PERSON. THANK YOU.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALICIA RUIZ.
I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, KING AND
SEATTLE KING AND KITTITAS
COUNTIES. OVER 1400 LETTERS HAVE
LANDED IN YOUR INBOXES FROM OUR
OUR NETWORK OF SUPPORTERS. THEY
ARE ALL IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 12115. THAT'S NOT NOISE.
THAT'S A COMMUNITY TELLING YOU
THAT DELAY HAS A COST. A FAMILY
DOESN'T NEED MORE REVIEW. THEY
NEED A ROOF EVERY MONTH. THIS
REDUNDANT PROCESS DRAGS ON IS
ANOTHER MONTH THEY SPEND WAITING
FOR A HOME TO CALL THEIR OWN.
THAT WAIT ISN'T PAPERWORK TO
THEM. IT'S REAL LIFE. PUT ON
HOLD. HABITAT BELIEVES STRONGLY
IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS,
BUT BUT THIS IS. THIS IS BEING
USED AS A TOOL TO STALL HOUSING
RATHER THAN SAFEGUARD OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. BUILDING
AFFORDABLE, DENSE HOMES NEAR
TRANSIT ISN'T AT ODDS WITH OUR
CLIMATE GOALS. INSTEAD, IT'S ONE
OF THE CLEAREST WAYS TO ADVANCE
THEM. SEATTLE HOUSING CRISIS
DEMANDS ACTION, NOT REDUNDANT
PROCESS. WE URGE YOU TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 121215 TODAY AND
VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT B.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALICIA.
NEXT WE HAVE LYDIA, FOLLOWED BY
STEVE. WELCOME.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS LYDIA AND I'M HERE IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL 121215.
PROTECTING LAND USE ACTIONS FROM
EIS APPEALS. MANY OF US HAVE
PARTICIPATED FROM BEGINNING TO
END OF OUR LONG SEATTLE PROCESS.
JUST TO SEE A FEW PEOPLE OR EVEN
ONE PERSON HALT IMPLEMENTATION
BECAUSE IT WASN'T THE OUTCOME
THEY WANTED. THIS IS NOT FAIR OR
DEMOCRATIC. WE HAVE SUFFERED THE
TYRANNY OF THE FEW FOR TOO LONG.
WE HAVE SPOKEN FOR LAND USE CODE
THAT ALLOWS MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE
WITHIN OUR URBAN BOUNDARIES AND
REDUCES CAR DEPENDENCY, WHICH IS
THE GREATEST THING WE CAN DO FOR
OUR ENVIRONMENT. FRIVOLOUS, TIME
CONSUMING APPEALS PREVENT OR
DELAY WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY
SPOKEN FOR. AND I'M SO TIRED OF
HAVING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING
AGAIN AND AGAIN. I'M ASKING THAT
YOU END THIS TYRANNY. I'M ASKING
THAT YOU APPROVE THIS BILL.
PLEASE VOTE NO TO AMENDMENT B,
WHICH EFFECTIVELY NEGATES THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION. THANK YOU
COUNCIL.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE STEVE
AND THEN WE WILL GO ONLINE WITH
RILEY AVRON. YOU WILL BE FIRST
ONLINE. WELCOME, STEVE.
-- STEVE ZEMKE SPEAKING FOR
FRIENDS OF SEATTLE'S URBAN
FOREST AND TREE PACK. NOTE THAT
WE SUPPORT BUILDING MORE HOUSING
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE
SUPPORT BUILDING UP. WE SUPPORT
STACKED FLATS AND WE SUPPORT
COMMON WALLS AND THINGS LIKE
TOWNHOUSES SO WE CAN GET MORE
TREES ON LOTS AND NATURE IN
PARTICULAR, WE WANT TODAY TO
THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. WE
THINK THESE ARE HELPFUL. THEY
ARE POSITIVE CHANGES IN MOST
CASES. IN PARTICULAR AMENDMENT
B, WE SUPPORT. WE FEEL THAT IT
ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF SEPA
APPEALS BY THE PUBLIC AND
PROPOSES NECESSARY REFORMS SUCH
AS MOVING THESE APPEALS TO THE
FRONT OF THE LINE FOR THE
HEARING. EXAMINER PROPOSES
REASONABLE TIME FRAMES TO
CONSIDER APPEALS. FOR INSTANCE,
90 DAYS SUPPORT AMENDMENT A BY
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
PROPOSED ORIGINAL ADDITION TO
DIRECTOR'S REPORTS ALSO SUPPORT
AMENDMENT F BY KETTLE SUPPOSEDLY
DEVELOP A SEPA HANDBOOK AND DO
HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT NOT
COVERING THE COUNCIL NOT HAVING
TO DO DIRECTOR'S REPORTS BY
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU, STEVE.
THANK YOU STEVE. THANK YOU, MR.
ZEMKE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT
WE HAVE RILEY, FOLLOWED BY KEN,
THEN LOIS MARTIN, YOU'RE GOING
TO PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
-- HI THERE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
RILEY FROM WEST SEATTLE. I WANT
TO FIRST RECOGNIZE THAT THIS
FORM OF PUBLIC COMMENT IS
PROFOUNDLY UNREPRESENTATIVE AND
BIASED TOWARDS PEOPLE LIKE ME,
WHO ARE ABLE TO SPEND THEIR
WEEKDAY AFTERNOON PARTICIPATING
IN THIS MEETING. THAT SAID, I
URGE YOU TO PASS THIS BILL
WITHOUT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
GETTING AMENDMENT. WE DON'T LET
ONE PERSON WASTE MONTHS ON
POINTLESS PROCESS WHEN IT COMES
TO BUDGET OR THE POLICE CONTRACT
OR WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS. BUT
WHEN IT COMES TO ALLOWING MORE
HOMES, WE DO. THESE APPEALS ARE
THE SEATTLE PROCESS IN THE WORST
WAY. A WASTE OF TIME AND A WAY
TO RUN DOWN THE CLOCK, GET THE
APPEAL PROCESS HAS NEVER
RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES
TO AN EIS, MUCH LESS TO THE
ACTUAL PLAN. BUILDING MORE HOMES
IN OUR CITIES IS UNEQUIVOCALLY
GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
RECOGNIZING THIS, THE STATE IS
ALREADY PERMANENTLY ELIMINATING
THESE APPEALS. AS OF KING
COUNTY, BELLEVUE, TACOMA AND
EVERETT. AGAIN, SEATTLE, SEPA
APPEALS HAVE NEVER RESULTED IN
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO AN EIS OR
THE ACTUAL PLAN. THE STATUS QUO
IS NOT NEUTRAL AND WASTING TIME
TO PRESERVE IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
PLEASE PASS THIS BILL. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. RILEY. NEXT WE
HAVE KEN, FOLLOWED BY LOIS
MARTIN. TOBY IS NEXT. STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. WELCOME,
KEN. YOU'RE STILL ON MUTE, KEN.
JUST STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. STAR SIX. WE'LL COME
BACK. OKAY. SO, LOIS. OH, THERE
YOU GO. HELLO
-- HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YEP. GO AHEAD AND START. KEN.
-- OH, THIS IS AARON TULLOCK
WITH FMS GLOBAL STRATEGIES. TOLD
ME TO UNMUTE.
-- OKAY, GOOD. GO AHEAD. IT SAYS
KENT. GO. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
-- OKAY AFTERNOON. I'M AARON
TULLOCK WITH FMS GLOBAL
STRATEGIES AND THE. WE BUILD
BACK BETTER ALLIANCE, A
COALITION REPRESENTING MORE THAN
900 COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU FOR
REACHING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
MAYOR. RATHER THAN MAKING
SEATTLE CHOOSE BETWEEN FEEDING
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, FEEDING
THEM. WHEN IT CLOSES. AMENDMENT
SIX, VERSION TWO FEEDS UP TO
5000 FAMILIES A YEAR ON WEEKENDS
AND BREAKS FOR SIX YEARS.
UNIVERSAL MEALS REACH MORE THAN
6800 FOOD INSECURE STUDENTS AT
53 SCHOOLS NOT COVERED LAST
YEAR, WHEN THE CAFETERIA CLOSES,
A CHILD WHO EATS 2 OR 3 MEALS AT
SCHOOL STOPS EATING. WE SUPPORT
THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN AND ASK YOU TO
CARRY IT. BOTH PIECES TO FINAL
PASSAGE INTACT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU AARON. NEXT WE HAVE
LOIS MARTIN, FOLLOWED BY TOBY
SALYER.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
MARTIN AND I'M SORRY I COULD
NOT BE THERE IN PERSON, BUT I'M
HERE ABOUT ONE THING. OUR RIGHT
AS CITIZENS TO HOLD THE CITY
ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THE CITY PLANS
A MAJOR CHANGE, IT HAS TO STUDY
THE HARM FIRST, INCLUDING WHO
GETS THIS PLACE. PEER REVIEWED
RESEARCH, THE COLOR OF HEALTH
FOUND THAT TRANSIT DRIVEN
DEVELOPMENT AND GENTRIFICATION
AROUND IT DISPLACES COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR, AND THAT BLACK
RESIDENTS BENEFIT LEAST AND ARE
PUSHED OUT MORE. CB 121215 TAKES
AWAY OUR RIGHT TO QUESTION THE
CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEAL. HOUSING BUILT FOR
AFFORDABILITY IS ALREADY EXEMPT
FROM THESE APPEALS, SO THIS BILL
DOES NOT CLEAR THE WAY FOR THAT
HOUSING. IT ONLY REMOVES OUR
VOICE ON THE BIG REASON FOR
DISPLACEMENT HAPPENS. AND BY THE
CITY'S OWN SUMMARY AND FISCAL
NOTE, NO RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS
WAS DONE ON THIS BILL. NONE. SO
I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT
B, AND IF THAT DOES NOT PASS,
THE VOTE NO ON CB 121215. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. LOIS. NEXT WE HAVE
TOBY FOLLOWED BY RICK K. THEN
DEB KEN OR EXCUSE ME, TOBY STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- HELLO. TOBY TAYLOR HERE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. THE
STATED MOTIVE FOR ELIMINATING
SEPA APPEALS IS TO PREVENT DELAY
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEEDED
HOUSING. THUS, WHAT HOUSING IS
NEEDED. WHAT WE NEED IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE CITY
ATTORNEY HAS STATED ON THE
RECORD THAT INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF MARKET RATE HOUSING
UNITS WILL DECREASE THE COST, OR
AT LEAST LIMIT THE INCREASE IN
COST, AND IT WILL REDUCE
DISPLACEMENT ON THOSE AREAS THAT
TRADITIONALLY HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED BECAUSE OF THEIR LOWER
COSTS, END QUOTE. IN OTHER
WORDS, THE CITY TAKES THE
POSITION THAT INCREASING THE
QUANTITY OF MARKET RATE HOUSING
IS MITIGATION OF DISPLACEMENT.
IF THAT CLAIM WERE TRUE, THEN
THE 2019 MHA PROGRAM WOULD HAVE
MADE A DENT IN DISPLACEMENT. BUT
THE CITY HASN'T PRODUCED ANY
EVIDENCE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
WHERE IS THE OPCD? THE POINT OF
CPA IS TO
-- THANK YOU TOBY. NEXT WE HAVE
RICK, DEB. AND THEN IRENE WALL.
-- THE DATA SHOWED THAT THE
PUBLIC HAS NOT BEEN ABUSING THE
APPEALS PROCESS. ON THE OTHER
HAND, SOME CITY EMPLOYEES AND
ELECTEDS HAVE BEEN ABUSING THE
FAITH THAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN
THEM, MAKING SHODDY POLICY
CONTRARY TO SCIENCE AND
EXCLUDING THE SCIENTIFIC
COMMUNITY FROM INVOLVEMENT. THEY
HAVE BEEN OBSTINATE IN REFUSAL
TO CORRECT EVEN OBVIOUS ERRORS
IN THE ANALYSIS. THEY EVEN
REWORDED PEOPLE'S COMMENTS IN
THE COMMENT SECTION TO REMOVE
THE SUPPORTING ARGUMENTS. IT'S
TIME FOR BETTER ANGELS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL TO SPEAK UP FOR THE
PEOPLE AND CREATE LEGISLATION
THAT ENABLES INTELLIGENT PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT. THE GOAL SHOULD BE
TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR APPEALS
RATHER THAN BLOCKING
ACCOUNTABILITY. NOW IS NOT THE
TIME. WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK
PUSHING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. AND YOUR
ACTIONS HERE LOCALLY ARE
DISCREDITING THAT ONLY A TOTAL
HYPOCRITE CAN LET THE
BILLIONAIRES OWN THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL AND THEN COMPLAIN
THAT THEY OWN DC. IF YOU WANT
ACCOUNTABILITY IN DC, MODEL IT
HERE. REMEMBER, YOU DON'T KNOW
WHO WILL BE IN OFFICE AFTER YOU
VOTE NO ON THIS
DISENFRANCHISEMENT BILL. COMMIT
INSTEAD TO INCREASED
ACCOUNTABILITY, CLAIMING THAT
THERE'S NO NEED FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DEB,
FOLLOWED BY IRENE JAMES AND THEN
PATRICK. AND THEN WE'LL COME
BACK IN PERSON. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF, DEB.
-- HELLO, MY NAME IS HELLO. MY
NAME IS DEB LEICESTER AND TB
12115 SHOULD NOT BE PASSED
UNLESS AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED,
WHICH PRESERVES THE PUBLIC'S
RIGHT TO APPEAL DURING THE NON
PROJECT PHASE. PROBLEMS
IDENTIFIED IN THE NON PROJECT
PHASE CAN IMPACT THE ENTIRE CITY
AND MUST BE CORRECTED BEFORE
THEY REACH THE PROJECT LEVEL.
WHEN IT'S TOO LATE FOR
CORRECTIONS, THE DMB OPTION IS
NOT FEASIBLE FOR MOST DUE TO
COST AND ANALYSIS. NO ONE CAN
AFFORD TO. CHALLENGE IS NOT
RIGOROUS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS
LOST. STATE LAW AND RECENT CITY
ACTION NOW EXEMPT MOST HOUSING
PROJECTS FROM TEP REVIEW. THERE
IS NO APPEAL WHEN THERE IS NO
REVIEW WITHOUT THE APPEAL OPTION
OR FOLKS THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE
NHP PROCESS, PUBLIC INPUT IS
LIMITED TO THESE ONE MINUTE
PUBLIC COMMENTS. WRITTEN
COMMENTS DURING A COMMENT PERIOD
THAT ARE OFTEN NOT INCLUDED, ARE
RESPONDED TO OR CONTACTING YOUR
COUNCIL PERSON, WHO IN MANY
CASES WILL NOT RESPOND TO OR
MEET WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
THESE ARE ALL FRUSTRATING
OPTIONS. SEATTLE CAN DO BETTER
BY MAINTAINING THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR RESIDENTS TO IDENTIFY KEY
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, SO THEY
CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE THE
DAMAGE IS DONE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE IRENE
WAHL, FOLLOWED BY JAMES WU,
PATRICK TAYLOR. THEN WE'LL COME
BACK IN PERSON.
-- HELLO, THIS IS IRENE WALL,
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX. TO
ADDRESS CB ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO
AND FIVE, THE FLURRY OF LATE
AMENDMENTS SHOWS THE MATTER IS
NOT READY FOR FINAL VOTE TODAY.
AMENDMENT B IS WORTHY OF
CONSIDERATION AS THE BASIS FOR A
SUBSTITUTE BILL, BUT OTHERWISE
THE AMENDMENTS DON'T ADDRESS THE
FUNDAMENTAL REASON THE MAJORITY
OF PEOPLE STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS
ACTION. ATTEMPTS TO JUSTIFY THIS
BILL FAIL TO CONVINCE ANYONE.
YES, WE ELECT THE COUNCIL TO
REPRESENT US, BUT THAT DOES NOT
MEAN REPLACE US OR SILENCE US IN
MATTERS AS IMPORTANT AS THE
FUTURE OF OUR CITY. PLEASE READ
THE COMMENTS IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES FOLLOWING THE PRO CON
OPINIONS. WHEN COMMUNITY LEADERS
AND RESIDENTS FROM VERY
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS VOICED
THEIR OPPOSITION, THAT SHOULD BE
YOUR GUIDE, NOT THE TEAR STAINED
ALLEGATIONS THAT RARE SEPA
APPEALS ARE PREVENTING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THOSE PROJECTS ARE
ALREADY EXEMPT FROM SEPA AND
DESIGN REVIEW. GETTING SEPA
RIGHT IS ABOUT GETTING
MITIGATION NEEDED TO GET
DEVELOPMENT.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
JAMES, FOLLOWED BY PATRICK JAMES
FOLLOWED BY PATRICK. AND THEN
WE'LL COME BACK IN PERSON. STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- THANK YOU, DEAR
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A PHD
STUDENT OR PHD SCIENTIST WORKING
IN HEALTHCARE. I WOULD LIKE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY OF
THE CLIMATE HARMS OF NOT
BUILDING HOUSING DENSELY ENOUGH.
HOW DO I MAKE SURE THIS GETS
STUDIED? I WOULD LIKE A RACIAL
EQUITY ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING
HIGH OPPORTUNITY WEALTHY,
MAJORITY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS OF
THE CITY, PREVENTING DENSE
RENTAL HOMES FROM BEING BUILT IN
THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. HOW DO
I GET THIS STUDY STARTED? THESE
ARE, OF COURSE, RHETORICAL
QUESTIONS. THE ANSWER IS I
CANNOT APPARENTLY, CITIZENS ONLY
HAVE THE RIGHT TO DELAY CHANGE,
BUT NEVER THE RIGHT TO QUESTION
THE DAMAGE OF THE STATUS QUO.
YOU'VE HEARD TODAY FROM
PROPERTY OWNING TREE
REACTIONARIES THAT THE STATUS
QUO WORKS JUST GREAT FOR THEM.
WHAT STUDIES SHOW THAT HOUSING
DELAY KILLS RENTERS HAVE THREE
AND A HALF YEARS SHORTER LIFE
EXPECTANCY THAN HOMEOWNERS DUE
TO THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF
SUFFERING, INSTABILITY PAST 12,
12, 15 AS IS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, JAMES. NEXT WE
HAVE PATRICK. AND IF WE COULD
JUST DO SPIRIT HANDS, WE HAVE
OVER 100 SPEAKERS. AND SO WE'LL
TRY TO MOVE THROUGH AS BEST WE
CAN. NEXT WE HAVE PATRICK. AND
THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK
IN PERSON. BEFORE YOU GO,
PATRICK, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UP
ON DECK NEXT IS ALEXANDRIA.
SARAH CLARKE SHIMONA MCKENZIE,
LOGAN, JONATHAN FITTER FRUIT
FRITTER. IF I SAID YOUR NAME
WRONG, I REALLY APOLOGIZE.
BENNET LAM AND THEN HARPER, YOU
ALL WILL BE NEXT AFTER PATRICK.
YOU SPEAK ONLINE. GO AHEAD.
PATRICK STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
-- HI.
-- MY NAME IS PATRICK TAYLOR.
DUE TO MY COMMENTS REGARDING CB
121215, I'M SURE EVERYONE IN
COUNCIL HAS TALKED ABOUT
IMPROVING THE SEATTLE PROCESS
AND CUTTING RED TAPE. THIS IS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
COUNCILMEMBER LYNN'S PROPOSAL IS
A SENSIBLE REFORM THAT WILL
SPEED UP MUCH NEEDED POLICY
CHANGES AND IMPORTANT PROJECTS,
WHILE MAINTAINING AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR APPEAL. IT WILL WILL
ELIMINATE MALICIOUS APPEALS, THE
COST OF THE CITY TIME AND
TAXPAYER MONEY SPENT ON
ADDITIONAL STUDY AND DELAY THAT
DON'T IMPROVE POLICY OR
ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES. WORK ON
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR OVER FOUR YEARS,
WITH SEVERAL MORE TO GO. THERE
HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OPEN HOUSES,
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS, COUNCIL
HEARINGS, SEVERAL ELECTIONS AND
A 2000 PAGE EIS. RESIDENTS HAVE
HAD ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS LOUD AND
CLEAR. YET A SMALL GROUP OF
AFFLUENT PEOPLE WITH FREE TIME
AND MONEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
SUBVERT THE PROCESS, DELAYING
THE COMP PLAN AND MUCH NEEDED
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS
NOT WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.
THIS IS NOT WHAT SMART
ENVIRONMENTALISM LOOKS LIKE
EITHER. PLEASE PASS THE BILL AND
VOTE DOWN THE AMEND. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU PATRICK.
ALL RIGHT. ALEXANDRIA, WELCOME.
FOLLOWED BY SARAH SHIMONA
MCKENZIE. LOGAN, WELCOME.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ALEXANDRA
KLEEMAN, A PARTNER AT HILLIS,
CLARK MARTIN AND PETERSON THAT
PRACTICES IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL
GROUP. ONE AREA OF MY PRACTICE
RELATES TO THE CLEANUP OF
CONTAMINATED SITES UNDERGOING
REDEVELOPMENT. THE CLEANUP THAT
OCCURS AS PART OF THIS NEW
CONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE
URBAN AND URBAN LOCATIONS. IF
THESE SITES ARE NOT REDEVELOPED,
THEN THEY ARE OFTEN NOT CLEANED
UP. URBAN REDEVELOPMENT LEAVES
BEHIND A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT. IN
ADDITION TO THE CLEANUP THAT
OCCURS AS PART OF THIS
REDEVELOPMENT, WASHINGTON STATES
BASELINE TECHNICAL CODES LIKE
THE ENERGY CODE AND THE
STORMWATER CODE RESULT IN GREEN
NEW DEVELOPMENT PASSING NEW CODE
TO IMPLEMENT PRO-HOUSING
POLICIES IS ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS THIS COUNCIL CAN DO TO
ENCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT AND
CLEANUP OF CONTAMINATED SITES.
COUNCIL BILL 121215 MAKES THAT
CODE ADOPTION PROCESS MORE
EFFICIENT, AND I ENCOURAGE YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR.
-- YOUR TIME.
-- THANK YOU. ALEXANDRIA. NEXT
WE HAVE SARAH SHIMONA MACKENZIE
LOGAN, WELCOME, SARAH CLARK.
-- HEY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH. MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE
RECORD, MY NAME IS SARAH CLARK
AND I'M HERE TODAY TESTIFYING
ON THE OVER 2600 MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER, SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL
121215. SEATTLE'S BUSINESS
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN
OUR ADVOCACY ON HOUSING POLICY.
WE HAVE A HUGE DEFICIT AND IN
ORDER FOR US TO BUILD ALL THE
HOUSING ACROSS ALL TYPES AT ALL
INCOME LEVELS FOR ALL PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE, WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH, AND WE FEEL THAT. CB
ONE TWO, ONE, TWO, ONE FIVE IS
GETTING US INTO A BETTER
DIRECTION BY ELIMINATING
REDUNDANT REVIEWS IN THE SEPA
PROCESS FOR SEATTLE'S BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALSO
CONTRIBUTES TO OTHER STRUGGLES
TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN WORKERS,
AND WE ARE IN A VULNERABLE PLACE
AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE
MORE. SO WE ARE RESPECTFULLY
ASKING THE COMMITTEE TO TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU
TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, SARAH. NEXT, WE
HAVE SHIMONA, FOLLOWED BY
MACKENZIE AND THEN LOGAN.
WELCOME.
-- HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS SHIMONA MORENO AND I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT 350
SEATTLE. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK
YOU TO PLEASE PASS COUNCIL BILL
121215. THIS IS A PRACTICAL
PROCESS REFORM. ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW REMAINS IN PLACE AND THE
BILL ADDRESSES A REDUNDANT LOCAL
APPEAL PATH THAT CAN ADD MONTHS
TO LEGISLATIVE HOUSING DECISIONS
WITHOUT BUILDING A SINGLE HOME
OR IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL
OUTCOMES. HERE AT 350 SEATTLE,
WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSING IS A
HUMAN RIGHT AND A POWERFUL
CLIMATE SOLUTION. WHEN WE BUILD
AFFORDABLE, DENSE HOUSING WHERE
OUR PEOPLE WORK, SHOP, PLAY AND
PRAY, WE DRIVE LESS, WHICH MEANS
LESS POLLUTION, LESS SPRAWL,
LESS TIME IN TRAFFIC AND LOWER
MONTHLY BILLS. DENSE, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS THE CRITICAL FIRST
STEP TO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
EVERYONE CAN GET THEIR NEEDS MET
BY WALKING, ROLLING, BIKING AND
BUSSING. CLIMATE RESILIENCE CAN
HAPPEN WITHOUT. IT CAN'T HAPPEN
WITHOUT IT. I HAD THE HONOR OF
BEING PART OF MAYOR'S TRANSITION
TEAM AND A BIG THING PEOPLE
MENTIONED IN OUR STAKEHOLDERS IS
IN THE HOLD UP IN SEATTLE'S
PLANNING PROCESSES.
-- THAT WE GET STUCK IN PROCESS.
-- THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I KNOW
YOU COULD PUT YOUR COMMENTS IN
THE IN THE THING IF YOU WANT, OR
YOU CAN EMAIL THEM TO US AS
WELL. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR THEM.
OKAY, AWESOME. LOOKING FORWARD
TO THOSE. MCKENZIE. FOLLOWED BY
LOGAN. AND THEN FRITTER.
WELCOME. MCKENZIE.
-- HELLO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME
IS MCKENZIE MAYFIELD. I GREW UP
IN SEATTLE AND I'M A CURRENT
GRAD STUDENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE AT UW. I'M HERE TO URGE
YOU TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL ONE
21215. THE ABILITY OF JUST A FEW
WELL RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO STALL REFORM
WITH SEPA APPEALS LONG TERM IS
NEITHER DEMOCRATIC, NOR IS IT
GOOD ENVIRONMENTALISM.
CONTINUING TO LIMIT HOUSING
DENSITY IN A GROWING CITY WILL
LEAD TO SUBURBAN SPRAWL AND
INCREASE CAR TRAFFIC. THIS WILL
LEAD TO INCREASED INPUTS OF
GREENHOUSE GASES IN THE
ATMOSPHERE, INCREASED STORMWATER
RUNOFF INTO THE WATERWAYS. WE
KNOW THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE
FEAR AROUND URBAN GROWTH. BUT
RATHER THAN BEING AFRAID OF
CHANGE, WE NEED TO FACE IT AND
ADAPT TO IT. WE HAVE A CITY WITH
A GROWING POPULATION AND A
HOUSING SHORTAGE. LET'S NOT KID
OURSELVES THAT MAKING SEATTLE
LESS LIVABLE WILL IMPROVE THE
ENVIRONMENT, OR THAT DELAYING
BUILDING WILL STOP GROWTH.
INSTEAD, I URGE THE CITY TO FACE
THE PROBLEM HEAD ON WITH
SOLUTIONS LIKE BUILDING MORE
WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
INCREASING PUBLIC TRANSIT
ACCESS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. MCKENZIE. NEXT, WE
HAVE LOGAN, FOLLOWED BY FRITTER,
JONATHAN BENNETT LAMPO HARPER.
WELCOME, LOGAN.
-- AFTERNOON. COUNCIL. LOGAN
WITH MAX AND ALSO DISTRICT FIVE
RESIDENT. I'M HERE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL 121215.
AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES
TODAY, INCLUDING A YES ON
AMENDMENTS A, D AND E. SEATTLE
IS IN THE MIDST OF A REAL
HOUSING SHORTAGE, AND WE CAN SEE
THAT AS PERMANENT APPLICATIONS
CONTINUE TO DROP TO ALL TIME
LOWS AND HOME PRICES CONTINUE TO
RISE. WHILE THIS BILL ITSELF
DOESN'T BUILD MORE HOUSING, IT
DOES HELP ENSURE THAT THE CITY
DOES NOT EXPERIENCE FURTHER
UNNECESSARY DELAY IN PLANNING
FOR AND IMPLEMENTING ZONING AND
POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL BUILD
MORE HOUSING. AND I WANT TO
REITERATE, BECAUSE THIS CANNOT
BE STATED ENOUGH HERE TODAY,
THIS IS A PROCEDURAL REFORM, AND
IT DOES NOT ELIMINATE PUBLIC
PROCESS OR TAKE BACK
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. VOTING
YES TODAY WILL HELP ENSURE THAT
WE CAN BUILD MORE HOUSING OF ALL
TYPES, BUILD FASTER AND WITHOUT
DELAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU LOGAN. NEXT WE HAVE
FRITTER FOR IS FRITTER HERE.
WALT. WALLET, IS THAT YOU, SIR?
I MESSED UP YOUR NAME. I'M SORRY
FRITZ, OKAY. I DIDN'T SEE THE Z.
-- FRITZ WALLET. OKAY. THANK
YOU.
-- YOUR Z IS A LITTLE. YOU GOT
TO ADMIT, BECAUSE PEOPLE ON TV
ARE GOING TO THINK I CAN'T READ.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME THAT? THAT
THE Z IS A LITTLE ARE OFF.
-- I'M SORRY. WHAT?
-- NEVER MIND ON YOUR WRITING.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR WRITING.
THAT THAT AYE.
-- DIDN'T I APOLOGIZE.
-- NO, NO NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. I
DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK I
CAN'T READ. THANK YOU. FRITZ.
OKAY, THEN. JONATHAN BENNETT,
LAMB AND HARPER. THANKS FOR
GIVING ME THAT ONE.
-- SO I COME HERE TODAY TO
OPPOSE 12, 12, 15 AS IT'S
PRESENTLY WRITTEN. IF AMENDMENT
B WERE TO PASS, THAT WOULD
VASTLY IMPROVE ITS PROVISIONS. I
AM A FORMER ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEY. I WORKED UNDER THREE
CITY ATTORNEYS WHILE I WAS HERE
FOR 18 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER
SEEN A BILL QUITE LIKE THIS
DURING THE TIME I WAS THERE THAT
TOOK AWAY RIGHTS IN SEATTLE, WE,
GENERALLY SPEAKING, PRESERVE
RIGHTS OR WE INCREASE RIGHTS, WE
DON'T TAKE THEM AWAY. WE LEAVE
THAT TO THE FOLKS ON THE BANKS
OF THE POTOMAC IN THE WHITE
HOUSE TO DO THAT. I REGARD 12,
12, 15 AS AN OVERREACTION TO
GENERAL GODFREYS JENNIFER
GODFREY'S VICTORY IN THE COURT
OF APPEALS. AND WE GOT A LOT OF
HELPFUL INFORMATION IN THE COURT
OF APPEALS. LET'S MOVE ON TO
PASS A BILL THAT SUPPORTS THE
ENVIRONMENT AND TREES AND
SALMON. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, FRITZ. NEXT WE
HAVE JONATHAN, FOLLOWED BY
BENNETT LAMB AND THEN HARPER. WE
JUST DO OUR SPIRIT HANDS. WE'LL
GET TO JONATHAN BENNETT, LAMB
AND HARPER. WELCOME.
-- OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JONATHAN LOPEZ AND I SERVE AS AN
APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE'S IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMISSION. AND I AM HERE IN
THAT CAPACITY TODAY TO ADVOCATE
FOR SEATTLE'S IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
THE MEMBERS OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCING THE.
FEPP LEVY. IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN. SEATTLE'S
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES DO NOT LACK TALENT,
AMBITION OR THE DESIRE TO
CONTRIBUTE. HOWEVER, MANY FROM
THESE COMMUNITIES ARE NOT
PRESENTED WITH THE SAME ACCESS
TO PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS. CAREER
PREPARATION, MENTORSHIP AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP REACH
THEIR POTENTIAL. PASSING THIS
PLAN IS IMPORTANT, BUT ITS
SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED BY
WHETHER THESE OPPORTUNITIES
REACH THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN FURTHEST FROM
THEM. PLEASE PASS COUNCIL BILL
12140121240. SORRY ABOUT THAT
AND CONTINUE PRIORITIZING
INVESTMENTS THAT ALLOW EVERY
YOUNG PERSON IN SEATTLE TO
LEARN, CONTRIBUTE AND THRIVE.
-- THANK YOU JONATHAN. THANK
YOU. THERE YOU GO. BENNETT.
LAMB. HARPER. WELCOME.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS BENNETT HAZELTON. AND
TODAY OUTSIDE THE STORM FEVER
GAME AT CLIMATE PLEDGE, THERE IS
AN ANTI-TRANS GROUP PLANNING TO
HOLD A RALLY. NOW, WHEN I SAY
ANTI-TRANS, IF THE GROUP SAID
SOMETHING LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, WE
DIDN'T THINK ABOUT DOING
SOMETHING WITH THE RULES BECAUSE
TRANS WOMEN HAVE SUCH A PHYSICAL
ADVANTAGE OVER SWISS WOMEN. AND
PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK
THAT'S HATE SPEECH, BUT I'VE
BEEN TO THESE THINGS AND THEY
NEVER STOP WITH THAT. IT'S
ALWAYS THIS UGLY, LIKE SAYING A
TRANS WOMAN IS A MAN IN A DRESS,
CALLING TRANS WOMEN MENTALLY
ILL, CLAIMING THAT TRANS WOMEN
ARE DANGEROUS TO KIDS, WHICH IS
UP AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY NOT
SUPPORTED BY STATISTICS. WE NEED
TO GO ON RECORD THAT THIS RALLY
THAT'S HAPPENING DOES NOT
REPRESENT SEATTLE'S VALUES.
THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT
VICTORIA PALMER IS GOING TO BE
THERE. SHE, OF COURSE, MOST OF
YOU KNOW, IS A PIECE OF WORK.
WHO'S THE ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
OF THE KING COUNTY REPUBLICAN
PARTY AND IS THE ONE WHO CAME TO
CITY COUNCIL CLAIMING THAT TRANS
PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING A GENOCIDE
AGAINST OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OR
SOMETHING. IT'S UP. SO I WOULD
INVITE YOU IF YOU HAVE TIME OR
ANYONE HERE OR ANYONE WATCHING
TO COME AND HELP PROTEST THIS.
I'M GOING TO BE THERE WITH A
SIGN EXHORTING TICKET HOLDERS
TO. PLEASE THROW YOUR. YOU KNOW
WHAT'S AT THESE IDIOTS NOT ONTO
THE COURT.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. BENNETT. BENNETT. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
BENNETT. CAN WE HAVE LAMB AND
HARPER? WE LOVE YOUR SIGNS,
BENNETT, BY THE WAY. ALL RIGHT,
LAMB. AND THEN HARPER.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS LAMB
HOE, AND I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER
OF THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
I'VE ALSO BEEN A COMMUNITY
LAWYER FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES IN
LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. SO DUE
PROCESS AND A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
LEGAL SYSTEM IS SOMETHING THAT
IS MY GUIDING PRINCIPLE AND OF
MY WORK. AND I'M HERE TO ASK
FOR YOU TO VOTE FOR ONE, TWO,
ONE, TWO, ONE, FIVE WITHOUT
AMENDMENT B, BECAUSE IT IS THE
DEMOCRATIC OPTION. THE. WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT DUE PROCESS, IT'S
AN. IT FACTORS IN MEANINGFUL
ACCESS, WHICH COUNCILMEMBER LIN
HAS THOUGHT VERY MEANINGFULLY
ABOUT AND MAINTAINED AN
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, WHICH
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS
ACTUALLY WITHOUT A FEE. SO THIS
STILL IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEAL PROCESS, AS WELL AS A
JUDICIAL OPTION THAT'S STILL
AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES TO
QUESTION DECISIONS BY THE CITY.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BALANCE IT
WITH THE IMPACT WHEN MEANINGFUL
ACCESS IS NOT DOES NOT PROVIDE A
RESOLUTION TO WHAT IS JUST AND
WHAT IS JUST IS ENSURING THAT
SEATTLE IS NOT HARMED BY THE
CONTINUING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS
AND THE CRISIS THAT WE DEAL WITH
HOMELESSNESS. WE CAN'T ALLOW.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU LUM.
THANK YOU. LUM. YOU'RE ALL GOOD.
HARPER. YOU'RE NEXT. AND THEN
THE NEXT TEN PEOPLE. AND THEN
WE'LL JUMP BACK ONLINE. BEFORE
YOU GO, HARPER, GIVE ME ONE
SECOND. I'M GONNA SAY THE NEXT
TEN PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
SANDY. SANDY. KATHY. JESSICA.
SUSAN. DAVID MEGAN. CATHERINE.
MARK. MANTAI. AND THEN PAUL. YOU
ALL ARE NEXT. SO IF YOU ALL
START STANDING UP AND GETTING
READY, YOU ALL WILL BE THE NEXT
TEN. AND THEN WE WILL GO THROUGH
THEM AND WE'LL JUMP BACK ONLINE.
HARPER. NATALIE, YOU ARE UP.
-- HELLO, I'M HARPER NELLY, AND
I'M A LIFELONG
ENVIRONMENTALIST, WHICH IS WHY I
SUPPORT 121215 WITHOUT
AMENDMENT. BE. THE SIDES TO ME
ARE CLEAR. I CARE ABOUT TREES.
WHICH IS WHY I BELIEVE WE SHOULD
MAKE IT EASIER TO PREVENT
SPRAWL. I CARE ABOUT TREES. OR
IF YOU CARE ABOUT TREES, YOU
CARE ABOUT DEFORESTATION. IF YOU
CARE ABOUT PRESERVING YOUR HOME
VALUE AND YOUR WEALTH, YOU CARE
ABOUT OPPOSING SEPA,
STREAMLINING ABUSE OF SEPA BY
HOMEOWNERS IS A HUGE PART OF WHY
LA AND SAN FRANCISCO ARE SOME OF
THE LEAST AFFORDABLE CITIES IN
THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. WE ARE. WE.
SORRY, I FINISHED MY SCRIPT.
THE. THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN
PRESERVE TREE COVERAGE IN
SEATTLE AND THAT DON'T HARM
HOUSING. WE CAN REPLACE STREET
PARKING WITH PLANTERS. THIS IS A
VERY, VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION TO
THIS PROBLEM THAT IN THEORY
SATISFIES, SATISFIES BOTH SIDES.
ASK YOURSELF WHY IT DOESN'T.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. HARPER. NEXT WE
HAVE SANDY, KATHY, JESSICA.
SUSAN. DAVID. WELCOME, SANDY
-- GREAT.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M SANDY
SHETLER AT EVERY MEETING ON THIS
BILL, SOMEONE HAS ASKED THE
SPONSOR, DOES CB 1212, 15 TAKE
AWAY PROJECT APPEALS? AND EVERY
TIME WE'VE BEEN REASSURED THAT
IT DOESN'T. BUT THIS IS
DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE. CB 121093
ALREADY REMOVED ALMOST ALL
PROJECT SORRY REMOVED ALL SEPA
AND THE PROJECT APPEALS THAT GO
WITH THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, A 300
ZERO SQUARE FOOT BIG BOX STORE
IS COMPLETELY EXEMPT FROM A
PROJECT APPEAL FROM A SEPA IF IT
HAS ONE ADU IN THE BASEMENT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ALSO
ALREADY EXEMPT. ADMINISTRATIVE
TYPE FIVE APPEALS ARE ALL WE
HAVE LEFT, AND THEY ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT. IT'S THE ONLY STAGE
WHERE THE CITY STUDIES
CUMULATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
AND DISPLACEMENT ACROSS THE
COMMUNITY. NOT ONE PARCEL AT A
TIME. WITHOUT THE CHECK OF A
POTENTIAL APPEAL, EIS QUALITY
WILL CERTAINLY DECREASE. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
SPONSORING AMENDMENT B, WHICH
STREAMS.
-- THANK YOU SANDY. NEXT WE HAVE
KATHY, FOLLOWED BY JESSICA AND
SUSAN. WELCOME, KATHY.
-- HI. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
KATHY KAPLAN. TODAY, CITIZENS
HAVE A RIGHT, INDEED A
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE
GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THE FULL
EXTENT OF VARIOUS IMPACTS BEFORE
IRREPARABLE HARM IS DONE, TO TRY
TO MAKE SURE BIG MONEY DOES NOT
RECKLESSLY DESTROY THE
ENVIRONMENT. CB 121215 WOULD
MOVE THE TIMING OF THAT RIGHT TO
ONLY AFTER PERMANENT SLASH LONG
LASTING HARMS HAVE BEEN DONE. I
-- I DO NOT TAKE KINDLY TO BEING
DENIED MY RIGHTS. WE CAN HAVE
BOTH TREES AND DENSE HOUSING
JUST DONE RIGHT AND CAREFULLY.
SO I ASK, IS THIS A COUNCIL THAT
WILL SUMMARILY ABANDON GREEN
SPACE? ADVOCATES AGAIN? HOUSE
TREES WITH HOUSING? IS THIS A
COUNCIL THAT WILL BEND ITS KNEE
TO THE INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD SEE
OUR FAIR CITY LOOK LIKE NEW YORK
CITY? I URGE YOU, I NEED YOU TO
STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY AND
SCIENCE AND VOTE NO ON CB 12,
1215.
-- THANK YOU KATHY. THANK YOU
KATHY. NEXT WE HAVE JESSICA,
FOLLOWED BY SUSAN AND THEN
DAVID. YOU PUT YOUR COMMENTS IF
YOU WANT OR SEND THEM TO US,
WHATEVER, WHATEVER IS BEST FOR
YOU IF YOU WANT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, SUSAN, KATHY. JESSICA.
WELCOME.
-- HI. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. HI.
-- WHICHEVER ONE YOU WANT TO
USE. HI.
-- HI. MY NAME IS JESSICA DIXON.
I'M IN DISTRICT SIX. I'M ASKING
THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON CB
121215. UNLESS AMENDMENT B
PASSES. AMENDMENT B PRESERVES
THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO APPEAL
WHILE REFORMING THE PROCESS TO
STREAMLINE HOUSING RELATED
APPEALS. CB 121215
DISENFRANCHIZES SEATTLE VOTERS.
OTHER APPEALS PROCESSES COST
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. LOTS OF
TIME AND ONLY HAPPEN AFTER
LEGISLATION IS ENACTED CB 121215
IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A
PROBLEM. AS NOTED BY FUTUREWISE,
SEATTLE HAS CONSISTENTLY LED THE
NATION IN PRODUCING HOUSING.
THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IF
APPEALS WERE REALLY HOLDING UP
THE HOUSING PRODUCTION, AND AN
ARGUMENT THAT APPEALS COST TIME
AND MONEY FALLS FLAT. SINCE
2016, SEATTLE'S AVERAGE JUST 2.7
APPEALS PER YEAR, AND ONLY EIGHT
OF THE 27 APPEALS INVOLVED
HOUSING. ELIMINATING THE RIGHT
TO ADDRESS FEWER THAN ONE
HOUSING RELATED APPEAL PER YEAR
IS OUT OF SCALE. VOTE NO. UNLESS
B IS PASSED.
-- THANK YOU KATHY. NEXT WE HAVE
JESS OR THAT WAS JESSICA. SORRY.
THANK YOU JESSICA. NEXT WE HAVE
SUSAN, FOLLOWED BY DAVID. AND
THEN MEGAN. WELCOME.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON SUSAN. FOR
DISTRICT ONE. I'D LIKE TO
EXPRESS OPPOSITION TO CB 121215
AS WRITTEN, NOT AS ANTI-HOUSING,
BUT AS PRO ACCOUNTABILITY.
CITIZEN APPEALS AND PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION ARE NOT OBSTACLES
TO PROGRESS. THEY'RE HOW WE
CATCH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
BEFORE THEY BECOME PERMANENT.
AMENDMENT B EFFECTIVELY
ADDRESSES THE CONCERN THAT
PROMPTED THE BILL, AND ALSO
PROTECTS MEANINGFUL PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION. I STRONGLY URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT AND OFFER THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
SPONSORING IT. A STATED INTENT
OF THIS BILL WAS TO MEANINGFULLY
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE. FOR A
CITY THAT BELIEVES IN SCIENCE,
YET THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION, COMPRISED OF
SCIENTISTS AND ARBORIST
APPOINTED BY CITY LEADERS WHO
VOLUNTEER EXPERTISE TO INTEGRATE
ECOLOGICAL WISDOM INTO URBAN
PLANNING, ARE LARGELY UNDER
UTILIZED, IF NOT IGNORED. BY
CONTRAST, DEVELOPERS ARE GRANTED
PRIVATE MONTHLY MEETINGS WHO ARE
NOT STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE GUIDED
MORE BY PROFIT THAN SCIENCE,
WHICH IS WHY WE CONTINUE TO LOSE
SOME OF OUR BIGGEST TREES. FOR
MORE PARKING SPACES. THE PUBLIC
DESERVES TO MAINTAIN A SEAT AT
THE TABLE, AND AMENDMENT B
ALLOWS FOR THAT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU SUSAN. NEXT WE HAVE
DAVID, FOLLOWED BY MEGAN.
KATHERINE. HI, DAVID.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
DAVE GALLAGHER FROM DISTRICT
FIVE COUNCIL. BILL 121215 HAS
BEEN PRESENTED WITH A STAGGERING
AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION. HERE
ARE A COUPLE EXAMPLES. IT IS A
CLAIM THAT APPEALS SLOW,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT,
BUT NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SHOWN
TO SUPPORT THIS. THE ORCA APPEAL
WAS FILED BECAUSE THE EIS FOR
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN HAD SERIOUS
FLAWS. IT WAS NOT TO SLOW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE CITY
ATTORNEYS HAVE FILED LEGAL
DELAYS AT EVERY STEP OF THE
APPEAL PROCESS, SO BLAME THEM,
NOT THE APPELLANT OR BLAME THE
CITY FOR PRODUCING AN INCOMPLETE
EIS. THE SPONSOR OF 12, 1215
CLAIMS TO CARE ABOUT SOUTH AND
CENTRAL SEATTLE, BUT HE CONDEMNS
A SYMBOL SIMILAR NATIONAL APPEAL
PROCESS FROM 50 YEARS AGO THAT
WAS CRUCIAL TO THE BLACK
COMMUNITY'S FIGHT FOR IT OVER
I-90 AND THE RAINIER VALLEY
MITIGATION FUND. THE NATIONAL
PROCESS DOESN'T APPLY TO LOCAL
ISSUES, AND CB 121215 WOULD TAKE
THAT AWAY. SO NO, ON 12, 12, 15,
UNLESS WE GET AMENDMENT B FROM.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE MEGAN, FOLLOWED BY
KATHERINE MARIE MANTEI AND PAUL.
-- GREETINGS EVERYBODY.
-- GREETINGS.
-- I NEVER AM REAL HAPPY TO BE
HERE AND I'M ALMOST LOSING HOPE.
I I'M MEGAN MCKIERNAN. I'M A
THIRD GENERATION SEATTLEITE AND
I GOT TO CURE THE CHILDHOOD
BLUES BY STOMPING AROUND IN
THORNTON CREEK. AND I WANT SO
MUCH FOR THE CITY TO GROW IN A
WAY THAT PRESERVES AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE OUR CANOPY, OUR
EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW WE NEED
AND LOVE. I DON'T HAVE
GRANDCHILDREN. I'M DOING THIS
WORK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE'S
GRANDCHILDREN COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
THANK YOU FOR CARING ENOUGH TO
WORK THIS HARD TO BRING THIS
BILL FORWARD. IT NEEDS HELP. I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
AND WE. BUT WE NEED MORE TIME.
WE. WE NEED THE THE THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE. PLEASE INCLUDE THE
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. PLEASE VOTE
FOR AMENDMENT B AND THEN LET'S
HAVE A NEW BILL AND LET'S HAVE A
NEW TREE ORDINANCE.
-- THANK YOU MEGAN. NEXT WE HAVE
KATHERINE, FOLLOWED BY. WELCOME.
-- HELLO.
-- MY NAME IS KATHERINE
SHOEMAKER AND I LIVE IN
NORTHEAST SEATTLE. AND I'M
STANDING HERE WITH MANY OF MY
FELLOW CITIZENS TO URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON CB 121215
UNLESS AMENDMENT B PASSES. IF
PASSED WITHOUT AMENDMENT B, THIS
BILL WOULD EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATE
THE ONLY AFFORDABLE LEGAL
PATHWAY FOR SEATTLEITES TO
CHALLENGE THE CITY'S
ASSUMPTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THE CITY'S
DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS ON
WATERWAYS, TREES AND ANIMALS.
THE CITY'S ASSUMPTIONS ARE
SOMETIMES BASED ON INACCURATE OR
INCOMPLETE INFORMATION. LET
SEATTLE CITIZENS SPEAK. VOTERS
AND TAXPAYERS DESERVE THE
ABILITY TO AFFORDABLY, LEGALLY,
AND FORMALLY CHALLENGE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCLUSIONS THE
CITY MAKES WHEN THERE IS
AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO THE
CONTRARY, MANY RESIDENTS IN THE
CITY ARE DESPERATE TO WORK WITH,
NOT AGAINST, THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO ACHIEVE COMMON GOALS
OF INCREASED HOUSING WHILE
PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE DO NOT SHUT US OUT OF THE
PROCESS.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES. WE'RE ABOUT AN HOUR
IN AGAIN. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO EXTEND
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
ANOTHER HOUR. WE DO HAVE ABOUT
40 PEOPLE ONLINE, AND THEN WE
HAVE A REMAINING ABOUT 30. WE DO
SIX. OKAY. SO AROUND. SO YEAH.
SO IF NO OBJECTION AND THEN IF
WE HAVE TO EXTEND IT, WE'LL
CONTINUE TO EXTEND IT. OKAY. NO
OBJECTION. AWESOME. ALL RIGHT.
CATHERINE, THAT WAS CATHERINE.
WAS THAT CATHERINE? THAT JUST
SPOKE? THAT WAS OKAY. NOW WE
HAVE MARLEE. IS MARLEE HERE?
MARLEE HOLLAND I MIGHT THAT'S
YOU. DID I SAY YOUR NAME WRONG?
COME ON, MARLEE, YOU'RE UP.
YOU'VE WON THE LOTTO. COME ON.
POWERBALL, MARK. OH, OKAY.
YOU'RE OKAY. HOLD ON.
-- OKAY.
-- VOTE NO ON ONE TWO. 1215. I
HELPED WIN AN APPEAL AGAINST THE
CHEASTY BIKE PARK ON BEACON
HILL. AS A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS
OF CHEASTY, AN APPEAL MEETS THE
LEGAL DEFINITION OF THE FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PETITION THE
GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF
GRIEVANCES. YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE
ASKING YOU TO APPROVE A LAW TO
ELIMINATE THE RIGHT OF MOST, BUT
NOT ALL CITIZENS TO FILE THE
APPEAL. ALL BUT EDDIE LYNN'S
HIGH PAYING CORPORATE CLIENTS.
OUR APPEAL MADE THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT DO THEIR JOB RIGHT.
FOR EXAMPLE, SPR WILL NEVER
AGAIN BE ALLOWED TO CONTROL
PERMITTING FOR PROJECTS IN GREEN
SPACES AND NATURAL AREAS. ALL
PERMITS MUST NOW GO THROUGH SDCI
TWO. SPU SPR WILL NEVER AGAIN
LET A SINGLE COMPROMISED
EMPLOYEE CONTROL A PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT OR PERMITTING
PROCESS TO BENEFIT HIS FRIENDS
COMPANY, ON WHICH HE SERVED AS A
BOARD MEMBER. THREE SPR WILL
NEVER AGAIN FILE FOR A PERMIT IN
NATURAL AREAS WITHOUT FIRST
DOING NECESSARY GEOTECHNICAL AND
WILDLIFE STUDY. OUR APPEAL
PROTECTED CHEASTY, GREENSPACE
AND ULTIMATELY ALL GREEN SPACES
AND DEMOCRACY IN SEATTLE. VOTE
NO ON CB ONE, 21215. THANKS.
-- THANK YOU MARK. NEXT WE HAVE
MANTEI FOLLOWED BY PAUL. AND
THEN WE'RE GOING TO JUMP
ONLINE. OUR FIRST SPEAKER ONLINE
WILL BE RACHEL NATHANSON
WELCOME.
-- YOU MAY CALL ME MONTY. I'M A
SPIRITUAL LEADER IN THE TRANS
COMMUNITY HERE IN SEATTLE. KEEP
YOUR OATHS AND HAVE MERCY FOR MY
PEOPLE. THE REGULATIONS ARE
WRITTEN IN BLOOD. KILL NO, RAPE,
NO DOCS, NO ERASE NO EXPLOIT NO.
EVERY DAY, THE CRUEL GOVERNMENT
OF THIS NATION DOES ALL IT CAN
TO BREAK THESE RULES, BETRAYING
ITS CHILDREN. AND LOOK WHAT
HAPPENS. YOUR LEADERS ARE
DEMENTED. DISEASED STALKS THE
LAND. YOUR CROPS ARE FAILING.
YOUR CATTLE ARE DYING IN WAR.
YOU BLUNDER, UNREST AND VIOLENCE
SPREADS. NOW NATURAL DISASTERS
ARE COMING. THE GOVERNMENT OF
THIS NATION HAS LOST THE MANDATE
OF HEAVEN FOR WHAT IT DOES TO MY
PEOPLE. AND IF YOU DO NOT WISH
TO JOIN THEM IN PERDITION, YOU
CANNOT SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING.
YOU MUST FULFILL YOUR PROMISES
OF SANCTUARY TO TRANSGENDER
PEOPLE. I WOULD SAY, HAVE YOU NO
ROOM AT YOUR INN? BUT UNLIKE
YOU, THE INNKEEPER DID NOT
PROMISE A ROOM TO MARY AND
JOSEPH BEFORE THEY TRAVELED TO
BETHLEHEM. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW
HOW TO LOVE A WRETCH LIKE ME,
YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO LOVE GOD.
HAVE MERCY ON MY PEOPLE.
-- THANK YOU. MANTAI. NEXT WE
HAVE PAUL. WELCOME, PAUL. AND
THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO ONLINE.
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME ONLINE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THEN WE HAVE RACHEL WHO WILL
SWITCH TO ONLINE. WELCOME, PAUL.
-- HI. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE BLUE
ANGELS MADE THE NEWS WITH AN
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LOW PASS.
AND I'M NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE
LAST YEAR THEY FLEW BARELY
HIGHER THAN THAT ABOVE MY HOUSE.
MIND YOU, IT'S NOT PART OF THE
SHOW. IT'S NOT VISIBLE BY THE
PEOPLE, BY THE PUBLIC OF
SEAFAIR. I AM NOT EVEN IN THE
AREA THAT IS SAID TO BE AFFECTED
BY SEAFAIR. YET HERE WE ARE
EVERY YEAR WITH EXTREMELY LOW
PASS THAT ARE SO LOW, SO LOUD IT
TRIGGERS CAR ALARMS. WHAT DO YOU
THINK IT DOES TO CHILD'S EARS?
SO I'M ASKING TO YOU ALL THIS
YEAR, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO
PREVENT DANGEROUS MANEUVERS AND
EXTREMELY LOW PASS ABOVE OUR
HABITATIONS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING
TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HOLD
THE PILOTS ACCOUNTABLE? BECAUSE
WE KNOW THEY WILL NOT LISTEN. WE
ARE NOT COMMUNING WITH THE ARMY
AND ITS WAR MACHINES. AND WE. WE
ARE THE UNWILLING COLLATERAL
DAMAGE. IT IS TIME TO PUT AT
LEAST SOME COMMON SENSE LIMITS
ON THAT. THANK YOU. AND I
SUPPORT THE BILL. BY THE WAY.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU. NOW WE'RE
GOING TO JUMP ONLINE. SO ONLINE,
TEN SPEAKERS, RACHEL, FOLLOWED
BY RUTH DIET LADY SCRIBE MARK
ROSE, JASON BRANDON, ORLA. AND
MARIANA STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF AND THEN WE'LL COME
BACK IN PERSON. STAR SIX RACHEL
STAR SIX IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON
AND WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
LET'S COME BACK TO YOU. LET'S
GO TO LADY SCRIBE STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF. STAR SIX.
-- HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YES, WE CAN. GO AHEAD. SCRIBE
OH, OKAY.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL LADY
SCRIBE I'M A MOTHER AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. I WISH I
CAN GIVE AN EDUCATED OPINION ON
THE CB. 121215 BUT AS WE ARE
CONTINUING BURYING OUR BABIES
AND BYSTANDERS, I DON'T EVEN
HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO DO
SO. I'M HERE TO FIGHT AGAINST
RACISM AND THE HATE SPEWING FROM
JUST TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO
FEED OUR CHILDREN. THE FEP
FINDINGS CONFIRMED WHAT MANY OF
US HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS FOOD
INSECURITY IS A BARRIER TO
EDUCATION, HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY
AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S WHY
I'M IN THESE THIS MATTER. AS
SOMEONE WHO GREW UP BLACK IN
SEATTLE, IT WAS DEEPLY
DISAPPOINTING TO SEE
COUNCILMEMBER EDDIE LIN
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AMENDMENT SIX
WOULD BENEFIT CHILDREN IN
DISTRICT TWO, YET NOT SUPPORT
IT. FOR MANY OF US, THAT
REFLECTS THE SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES
AND DISENFRANCHISEMENT WE'VE
EXPERIENCED FOR GENERATIONS. I
WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO
THE PRESIDENT, HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND STRAUSS
FOR WORKING TO FIND A PATH TO
WITHOUT TAKING AWAY FROM
SEATTLE'S MOST VULNERABLE. AND
ALSO, PLEASE LOOK INTO WHO OWNS
YOUR CITY.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MARK
BRUNSON, FOLLOWED BY ROSE, AND
THEN JASON STAR STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF, MARK.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
MARK BRUNSON. I URGE THE COUNCIL
TO PASS CB ONE TWO, ONE TWO, ONE
FIVE AND REJECT AMENDMENT B. OUR
CITY FACES A CLIMATE CRISIS AND
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND A
TRAFFIC SAFETY CRISIS. OUR CITY
NEEDS TO ACT ON THESE CRISES
WITH THE URGENCY THEY DEMAND.
THE CONSENSUS OF CLIMATE
SCIENTISTS AND THE IPCC IS THAT
CITIES MUST BUILD DENSE HOUSING
THAT FOCUSES ON MOBILITY, THAT
FOCUSES MOBILITY ON WALKING,
CYCLING AND PUBLIC TRANSIT. ALL
THE RESEARCH ON TIRE AND BRAKE
DUST EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES
MAKES CLEAR THAT IT IS HAZARDOUS
TO HUMAN HEALTH AND LETHAL TO
OUR SALMON POPULATION. I CAN'T
APPEAL THE CURRENT ZONING THAT
CONFINES NEW MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
AND COMMERCIAL SPACE TO POLLUTED
AND UNSAFE ARTERIALS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE DESTRUCTIVE
STATUS QUO IS SACROSANCT IN OUR
SYSTEM, AND ANY ATTEMPTS TO
IMPROVE IT MUST SURVIVE LONG AND
ARDUOUS PROCESS. WE SHOULD NOT
BE PROVIDING A MECHANISM OF
DELAY FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO
MAINTAIN UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND MAXIMIZE DRIVER'S
CONVENIENCE. PLEASE PASS THIS
BILL WITH ITS ORIGINAL INTENT
INTACT.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MARK.
NEXT, WE HAVE ROSE, FOLLOWED BY
JASON AND THEN BRANDON.
-- HELLO. THIS WEEK WE ARE
REELING FROM THE SHOOTING THAT
HAPPENED THIS LAST WEEKEND. THE
TRANS COMMUNITY IS ALSO REELING
FROM A SUICIDE THAT HAPPENED OF
SOMEONE KILLING THEMSELVES AT
RED SQUARE, WHERE THE MEMORIAL
WHERE JUNIPER BLESSING WAS
MEMORIALIZED IN MAY. WE ARE
CURRENTLY SUFFERING IN WAYS THAT
ARE. BEYOND DESCRIPTION,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I
REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL ABOUT
TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE INCIDENTS
THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE POLICE
AS WELL THIS LAST WEEK, AND I
HAVE NOT RECEIVED MUCH OF A
RESPONSE. I WANTED TO SET UP A
MEETING OR A TIME OR THINGS TO
BE ABLE TO TALK. WHAT'S GOING
ON. AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED
EITHER. WE NEED AN EMERGENCY
DECLARATION. PEOPLE ARE LOSING
HOPE. PEOPLE ARE FEELING LIKE
THEY ARE LOST AND WE NEED TO BE
THERE FOR THEM. AND RIGHT NOW
THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THE CITY
IS THERE FOR THEM AND THEY'RE
CHOOSING TO KILL THEMSELVES IN
RESPONSE. HOW MANY MORE OF MY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL WE HAVE
TO BURY BEFORE SOMETHING IS
DONE? BEFORE WE START LOOKING
INTO THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING
AND STRUGGLING AND JUST WANT TO
EKE OUT AN EXISTENCE IN THIS
CITY.
-- THANK YOU. ROSE. NEXT WE HAVE
JASON, FOLLOWED BY BRANDON AND
THEN JASON. BRANDON, ORLA.
-- HI. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JASON. WHILE I AM A HOMEOWNER IN
DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M CALLING TO
GIVE COMMENT IN FAVOR OF PASSING
CB 121215 AND REJECTING
AMENDMENT B, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY
ABOUT HOMELESSNESS 13 YEARS AGO,
AND SINCE THEN, OUR POPULATION
HAS GROWN AND OUR UNHOUSED
POPULATION HAS ALSO GROWN, AND
THE COST OF HOUSING CONTINUES TO
GROW PAST THE POINT OF
AFFORDABILITY FOR MANY OF OUR
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS, BUILDING
MORE HOUSING HAS BEEN SHOWN BY
TALENTED RESEARCHERS, INCLUDING
GREG COLBURN AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON, TO BE DIRECTLY
RELATED TO HOUSING PRICES AND
HOUSING PRICES ARE RELATED TO
THE LEVEL OF HOMELESSNESS. SEPA
WAS STARTED WITH THE BEST OF
INTENTIONS, BUT IT HAS BEEN USED
IN BAD FAITH BY MANY
WELL-MEANING PEOPLE TO SLOW THE
GROWTH OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
ALL HOUSING. WE NEED MORE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY, SO I URGE
YOU TO PASS THE BILL. THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. JASON.
NEXT, BRANDON, FOLLOWED BY ORLA
AND MARIANA STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF, BRANDON
-- I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT COUNCIL
BILLS 121215. YOU'VE HEARD MANY
PEOPLE SAY THE RIGHTS OF
RESIDENTS ARE MOST IMPORTANT,
BUT ALL HUMANS HAVE EQUAL
RIGHTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO DO
NOT LIVE HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO DO
NOT LIVE HERE YET ARE NOT ABLE
TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING TO
DEFEND THEMSELVES. THE ONLY WAY
WE CAN HEAR THEIR VOICES IS IF
WE BUILD THE REQUISITE HOUSING
FOR THEM TO BECOME RESIDENTS. I
ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL
AGAIN THAT DURING THE MIDDLE OF
A 9 TO 5 WORKDAY, THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE
TO COMMENT ARE THE ONES
PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE TO
WORK DURING THIS TIME. YOU CAN
NOW HEAR THE TWO SIDES, PEOPLE
WHO DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO
MOVE INTO THE CITY UNLESS
THEY'RE DISPLACING RESIDENTS
WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE PEOPLE
OF COLOR, DISABLED OR POOR, AND
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO
WELCOME NEW NEIGHBORS. THE ONLY
WAY NEW PEOPLE CAN MOVE IN
WITHOUT DISPLACING OTHERS IS IF
WE BUILD MORE HOUSING. PLEASE
REJECT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA POISON
PILL AMENDMENT TO THIS BILL.
AMENDMENT B WOULD GET THE BILL
ENTIRELY. IT RETAINS THE
EXISTING RIGHT TO APPEAL, WHICH
DEFEATS THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF
THIS BILL IN FAVOR OF SOME
HOPEFUL LANGUAGE THAT DOESN'T
MEANINGFULLY CHANGE ANY
REALITIES ABOUT THE APPEAL
PROCESS, PLEASE VOTE NO ON
AMENDMENT B AND YES ON CB
121215. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. BRANDON. NEXT WE
HAVE ORLA, FOLLOWED BY MARIANA
AND THEN ARETHA.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS ORLA
CONCANNON. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. I AM ASKING YOU TO
PLEASE VOTE NO ON CB121215
UNLESS AMENDMENT B PASSES. AS IT
STANDS, THE BILL DISENFRANCHIZES
AND MUSCLES SEATTLE RESIDENTS
AND THE BILL REMOVES THE ONLY
AFFORDABLE WAY FOR THE PUBLIC'S
RIGHT TO FILE APPEALS. THIS IS
FAR FROM DEMOCRATIC. FURTHER,
THIS BILL SHOULD NOT PASS
WITHOUT A RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT
ANALYSIS. THE CURRENT ORCA
APPEAL HAS BEEN DELAYED BY THE
CITY'S ATTORNEYS, NOT THE
APPELLANTS. IT IS INCREDIBLY
UNFORTUNATE TO PENALIZE THE
PUBLIC AND CONCERNED PEOPLE WHO
VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO SAVE
NATURE, AND PARTICULARLY
ENDANGERED RESIDENT ORCAS
WITHOUT OTHER SPECIAL INTERESTS,
AS CLAIMED, RATHER, THE SPECIAL
INTERESTS STRIKE ME AS A 30
PRIVATE MEETINGS OF THE CITY HAS
HAD WITH DEVELOPERS WITHOUT ANY
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS PRESENT. AS
NOTED BY FUTUREWISE, SEATTLE HAS
CONSISTENTLY LED THE NATION IN
PRODUCING HOUSING. THIS WOULD
NOT.
-- THANK YOU ORLA. NEXT WE HAVE
MARIANA, FOLLOWED BY ARETHA AND
THEN JOANNA CULLEN AND GREG
SMITH AS OUR CUT OFF FOR THE
PEOPLE ONLINE. AND THEN WE'LL GO
BACK IN PERSON AND WE'LL
ALTERNATE. HI, MARIANA
-- HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MARIANA HIKE WITH THE NORTH
COAST CARPENTERS UNION. I'M
HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
RESOLUTION 121215. WE KNOW
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR
HOUSING. WE'VE HEARD IT A COUPLE
OF TIMES ON THIS CALL ALREADY,
AND WE MUST CREATE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROJECTS TO BE
BUILT. THIS RESOLUTION CAN HELP
BY OPENING THE DOOR FOR NEW
DEVELOPMENT AND MOVE US CLOSER
TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, WE DO
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD
MUCH NEEDED HOUSING AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE ALSO
INVESTING IN THE WORKERS WHO
BUILD IT. SO I JUST ASK YOU REAL
QUICKLY, PLEASE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS A
GREAT RESOLUTION. AGAIN, 12, 12,
15 AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
ARETHA, FOLLOWED BY JOANNA AND
THEN GREG SMITH. AND WE'LL COME
BACK IN PERSON.
-- HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. ARETHA
BASU, POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF
PUGET SOUND, SAGE. AND I'M
CALLING IN TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
CHANGES TO SEPA, THE LONG TERM
ECONOMIC AND RACIAL SEGREGATION
THAT SEATTLE HAS SEEN BECAUSE OF
SINGLE FAMILY ZONING MUST END.
ALL NEIGHBORHOODS NEED TO ACCEPT
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF HOUSING, AND
THE STRUGGLE OVER WHO GETS
DENSITY AND WHO DOESN'T SEE THE
APPEALS HAVE PRIMARILY BEEN USED
BY WELL-OFF HOMEOWNERS TO STOP
DENSITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
FOR THIS REASON, PUGET SOUND
SAGE SUPPORTS THE CHANGE TO THE
CITY'S FAS PROCESS. OVER THE
LAST 40 YEARS, BIPOC COMMUNITIES
HAVE FACED EXTREMELY HIGH RATES
OF GENTRIFICATION AND
DISPLACEMENT FROM THEIR HISTORIC
NEIGHBORHOODS. IN THE LARGER,
LONGER STRUGGLE OVER LAND USE,
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE ALMOST
ALWAYS LOSE. SO IN ADDITION TO
CHANGING PEOPLE RULES, I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO COMMIT TO
CENTERING THE NEEDS OF WORKING
CLASS BIPOC NEIGHBORHOODS. AS
YOU MAKE MORE CHANGES TO LAND
USE POLICY IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. ARETHA. JOANNA
CULLEN, FOLLOWED BY GREG SMITH.
AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK IN PERSON
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF,
GREG OR JOANNA. SORRY. GO AHEAD.
JOANNA.
-- I'M SORRY. AM I UNMUTED NOW?
-- YOU ARE UNMUTED. GO AHEAD AND
JUST TALK.
-- I'M JOANNA CULLEN IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. PLEASE VOTE NO
ON PB 121215. REMEMBER, THERE
ARE IMPORTANT REASONS WHY THE
COMMUNITY VALUES THE CURRENT
APPEALS PROCESS. THE PROCESS
HELPS SAVE THE COMMUNITY FROM
HISTORIC DEMOLITION AND TOTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION. IT
EMPOWERS THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO POWER BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS. IT INVITES THE COMMUNITY
TO EXAMINE AND UNDERSTAND EVEN
WHEN THEY DON'T OBJECT. SEEKING
CONCESSIONS IS HOW I-90, LID AND
THE RAINIER VALLEY MITIGATION
FUND WERE. ONE FOR COMMUNITIES
WITHOUT WEALTH, POLITICAL POWER
AND LEVERAGE. THE APPEAL PROCESS
IS NOT AN ABUSE OF A PROCESS. IT
EMPOWERS THE PEOPLE TO HOLD
THEIR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR
RIGHTS AND DON'T SILENCE OUR
VOICES.
-- THANK YOU JOANNA.
-- THANK YOU.
-- NEXT WE HAVE GREG SMITH, AND
THEN WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK IN
PERSON. BEFORE YOU GO, GREG,
I'LL TELL YOU, THE PEOPLE THAT
NEED TO GET READY, WE HAVE
CEDAR.
-- HI, I'M GREG SMITH.
-- HEY, GREG. GIVE ME ONE
SECOND. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CALL THE NEXT PEOPLE UP. SO
GIVE ME ONE SECOND, OKAY? DON'T
START YET. CEDAR. JULIE. SUSAN.
SOLAR. CAROL. NOAH. KATE. RUBIN,
YOU SWITCHED WITH TIFFANY. KATE,
ARE YOU STILL SPEAKING? YEP.
OKAY. AWESOME. KATE RUBIN,
FOLLOWED BY CAROLINE, AMANDA AND
ANDREW WHITTON. SO. CEDAR.
JULIE. SUSAN. SOLAR. CAROL.
NOAH. KATE. CAROLINE. I THINK
IT'S AMANDA AND THEN ANDREW.
OKAY, GREG. GO RIGHT AHEAD
-- GREG. HI, I'M GREG SMITH. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE. I URGE
YOU TO VOTE FOR CB 121215 AS IS
TO REDUCE REDUNDANT APPEALS. CB
121215 IS PRO-ENVIRONMENT AND
WILL MAKE A SEATTLE MORE
AFFORDABLE. CB 121215 WILL ALSO
REDUCE DISPLACEMENT.
DISPLACEMENT IN ANY PARTICULAR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS CAUSED BY LACK
OF ENOUGH HOUSING IN A CITY.
BUILDING MORE REDUCES
DISPLACEMENT. THEY NEED TO BE
BUILDING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AS
FAST AS POSSIBLE TO REDUCE
DISPLACEMENT. THE RECENT SIX
MONTH DELAY OF THE COMP PLAN BY
A CAO APPEAL MEANS SIX MORE
MONTHS OF DISPLACEMENT. PLEASE
VOTE FOR CB 121215 REJECT
AMENDMENT B. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU GREG. SO.
CEDAR. JULIE. SUSAN. SODA.
CAROL. NOAH. TIFFANY. CAROLINE
OR EXCUSE ME NOT TIFFANY. KATE.
CAROLINE, AMANDA AND ANDREW. YOU
ALL ARE NEXT. SO JUST START
COMING UP ON DECK. GO AHEAD.
CEDAR.
-- OKAY, SO OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS, WE ARE IN FOR SOME
EXCITING TIMES. FIRST OFF, WE
HAVE THE EXPANSION OF THE
SURVEILLANCE STATE THAT WILL SEE
COPS REPLACED WITH ROBOTS. NEXT
IS THE MASS SURVEILLANCE
CENTERS. NOW, AS A MEMBER OF A
FAMILY IN THE AMERICAN 1%, WE
ARE BUILDING MASS SURVEILLANCE
CENTERS TO STEAL WATER FROM THE
MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
TO POISON THE HABITAT, SEE THE
FARMERS EXPERIENCING STILLBORN
LIVESTOCK AND PEOPLE HAVING A
COUNTLESS HEALTH EFFECTS LIVING
NEAR THEM. SO YES, WE ARE
BUILDING THEM TO HURT THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE JOB
MARKET, THE MILITARY AND POLICE
ARE BOTH REPLACEABLE AT THIS
POINT, HAVING LONG SERVED THEIR
PURPOSE AS FAR AS REPLACING
GOES, WE ARE ALSO ATTEMPTING TO
HURT THE MAJORITY OF THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC BY MAKING
FARMING UNAFFORDABLE, POISONING
YOUR WATER THROUGH MONSANTO AND
OTHER CORPORATIONS AND GOOD OLD
CAPITALISM. SO IF ANY OF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, I
WILL BE IN THE HALLWAY.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
JULIE, FOLLOWED BY SUSAN AND
SOLO. WELCOME, JULIE
-- HI, COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO
SPEAK. GROWING UP, ALL MY
PARENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE ALWAYS
EMPHASIZED TO SPEAK UP, LET YOUR
VOICE BE HEARD. THIS IS ME
SPEAKING UP. AND IN MY OPINION,
WE NEED TO HAVE A PROCESS FOR
APPEALS. THE DEVELOPERS TALK
ABOUT FASTER AND QUICKER, AND
THEY THINK THAT TAKING AWAY THE
PROCESS WILL MAKE THINGS FASTER
AND CHEAPER. WELL, WE ALL KNOW
THAT EACH LAW IS UNIQUE AND WE
CAN'T RUBBER STAMP LAND, USE
WATER, USE TREE CANOPY WITH NO
PROCESS. WE'RE ASSUMING THAT
EACH DEVELOPMENT IS THE SAME,
AND WE NEED TO BE SMARTER. WE
NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE, AND WE NEED
TO BE OPEN TO A PROCESS.
OTHERWISE, IT FEELS LIKE THE
INSTITUTIONS ARE JUST TELLING US
CITIZENS TO JUST SHUT UP, PIGGY.
AND THAT IS JUST NOT RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU JULIE. NEXT WE HAVE
SUSAN, FOLLOWED BY SOLAR AND
THEN CAROL. SUSAN HERE, SUSAN
JONES, WELCOME. YOU ARE UP.
FOLLOWED BY SOLAR. CAROL AND
THEN NOAH, WELCOME.
-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TO YOU. MY NAME IS SUSAN JONES.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, AND I AM
HERE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE
WHO PRECEDED ME IN OPPOSING 12,
12, 15 I AM ESPECIALLY DISTURBED
BY THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF OUR
CITIZEN RIGHTS UNDER THIS BILL,
AND I'M ESPECIALLY DISAPPOINTED
THAT COUNCILMEMBER LYNN IS THE
ONE WHO AUTHORED THIS BILL,
BECAUSE I WENT TO A A
NEIGHBORHOOD MEET AND GREET
BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED. AND I
ASKED HIM SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HIS
FEELINGS AND VALUES FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT AND TREE CANOPY. AND
HE ASSURED ME THAT HE WOULD
UPHOLD THOSE VALUES. SO ANYWAY,
I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE.
-- THANK YOU. SUSAN. NEXT WE
HAVE SOLAR, FOLLOWED BY CAROL
AND THEN NOAH, KATE, REUBEN,
CAROLINE. AMANDA, ANDREW.
WELCOME SOLAR. WELCOME.
-- AFTERNOON. SORRY. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SOLAR AND
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS FOR PLYMOUTH HOUSING.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PASS COUNCIL
BILL 121215 AND REJECT
AMENDMENT. B. PLYMOUTH HOUSING
BELIEVES DEEPLY IN ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP. MEANINGFUL PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION AND RESPONSIBLE
PLANNING. THIS. THIS BILL DOES
NOT END ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. IT
CHANGES A LOCALLY CREATED
ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL PROCESS
FOR LEGISLATIVE LAND USE
DECISIONS, A PROCESS STATE LAW
DOES NOT REQUIRE WHEN REDUNDANT
PROCEDURES ADD MONTHS TO HOUSING
PLACEMENT, REVIEW COMMUNITIES
PAY THE PRICE LITERALLY BECAUSE
DELAYS COST MILLIONS. PLYMOUTH
RESIDENTS ALREADY FACE LIMITED
OPTIONS FOR HOUSING, SCARCE
PUBLIC FUNDING AND LONG WAIT
LISTS. COUNCIL SHOULD CONTINUE
DEMANDING STRONG ANALYSIS,
TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT. BUT A DUPLICATIVE
APPEAL PATH IS NOT THE SAME
THING AS ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION. GOOD REVIEW SHOULD
INFORM DECISIONS. IT SHOULD NOT
DELAY BECOMING A TOOL FOR
IMMEDIATE SORRY. IT SHOULD. IT
SHOULD NOT BECOME A TOOL FOR
INDEFINITE DELAY. PLYMOUTH ASKS
YOU TO PASS THIS BILL AND
PRESERVE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
AND CREATE A PROCESS THAT
DELIVERS MORE HOUSING IN SEATTLE
URGENTLY.
-- THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK
YOU. SO NEXT WE HAVE CAROL,
FOLLOWED BY NOAH, THEN KATE,
REUBEN, CAROLYN, AMANDA. ANDREW,
WELCOME.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
CAROL BURNS. LET ME START WITH.
I'D LIKE TO URGE YOU TO
PRESERVE AN ACCESSIBLE CITIZEN
APPEAL PROCESS AND VOTE NO ON
12, 12, 15. THE ABILITY TO
APPEAL A CITY DECISION IS A
CORNERSTONE OF ACCOUNTABLE
GOVERNMENT. IT RECOGNIZES THAT
NO DECISION MAKING PROCESS IS
PERFECT, AND THAT INDEPENDENT
REVIEW PROTECTS BOTH THE PUBLIC
AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT. IF APPEALS BECOME
MORE EXPENSIVE, MORE COMPLICATED
OR MORE LIMITED, THE PEOPLE WHO
LOSE ACCESS WON'T BE LARGE.
ORGANIZATIONS OR WELL-FUNDED
INTERESTS. AND YOU CAN'T HEAR,
OKAY, SORRY, IT WILL BE ORDINARY
SEATTLE RESIDENTS WHO SIMPLY
WANT A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HEARD, WHICH WE'RE ENTITLED TO,
AND WE SHOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND.
PUBLIC TRUST IS BUILT THROUGH
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
NOT BY MAKING OVERSIGHT HARDER.
I'LL AD LIB A LITTLE BIT
FASTER. TO ME, HEARING ALL THESE
ARGUMENTS, I TOTALLY GET IT. WE
HAVE A HOST OF PROBLEMS IN THIS
CITY HOUSING EVERYTHING, RIGHT?
BUT TAKING AWAY MY RIGHTS FROM
THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU, CAROL.
THANK YOU. CAROL. THANK YOU.
CAROL. NEXT WE HAVE NOAH,
FOLLOWED BY KATE. CAROLINE,
AMANDA AND ANDREW. WELCOME,
NOAH.
-- THANK YOU COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
NOAH WILLIAMS FROM WEST SEATTLE,
BUT I WAS BORN IN ALASKA, A
STATE WHERE I WAS FORCED OUT
BECAUSE OF, AMONGST OTHER
THINGS, THE COST OF LIVING THAT
KEPT INCREASING. GROWING UP
THERE, I SAW A LOT OF
ENVIRONMENTALLY DESTRUCTIVE
DEREGULATION FOR PROFIT. AND
THIS BILL IS NOT THAT THIS IS
KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REGULATIONS AND ALLOWING THE
REGULATORS TO BE THE ONES TO
ENFORCE THEM. ONE OF THE MOST
SALIENT AND CRITICISMS OF THIS
COUNTRY IS THAT WE'VE TRAINED A
NATION OF LAWYERS, NOT
ENGINEERS. IF YOU PASS THIS BILL
WITHOUT AMENDMENT B, YOU'LL HAVE
LEGISLATION WITH STRONG
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
REMAINING IN PLACE. THIS BILL
ELIMINATES THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION, WHICH WAS AN ABUSED BY
RACIST NIMBYS OVER AND OVER
AGAIN WHO DON'T GIVE A ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT THEY TRY TO HIDE
BEHIND. IF WE START, IF WE WANT
TO START UNDOING THE DAMAGE DONE
BY THESE DECADES OF DEEPLY
MALICIOUS AND RACIST. KEEP THOSE
PEOPLE OUT OF HERE POLICIES. WE
HAVE TO PASS THIS BILL AND DO SO
WITHOUT AMENDMENT B. AND TO THE
OLD WHITE PEOPLE ADVOCATING THE
CONTINUATION OF THIS, I SEE YOU,
I HEAR YOU, AND I'M MORE
DISAPPOINTED IN YOU BECAUSE OF
IT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE KATE
RUBIN, FOLLOWED BY CAROLYN,
AMANDA AND ANDREW. WELCOME,
KATE.
-- HELLO, MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN.
I'M THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
BE SEATTLE AND A RENTER LIVING
IN DISTRICT TWO. I URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER LIN BILL
REGARDING SEPA APPEALS. IT'S
EASY TO FEEL VIRTUOUS PROTECTING
THE TREE OUTSIDE YOUR OWN HOUSE,
BUT THAT IGNORES THE FACT THAT
THERE ARE ENTIRE FORESTS BEING
CUT DOWN TO BUILD HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO SPEND AN HOUR
COMMUTING, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T
ENOUGH HOUSING HERE TO
ACCOMMODATE THEM. I GREW UP IN
THE WOODS IN UNINCORPORATED
SOUTH KING COUNTY. IT'S NEARLY
UNRECOGNIZABLE NOW. SEATTLE'S
REFUSAL TO GROW IS CREATING
MASSIVE URBAN SPRAWL THAT HAS
FAR GREATER IMPACTS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT AS A WHOLE THAN
CONCENTRATING GROWTH IN THE
LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE. THE
DUPLICATIVE SEPA APPEALS PROCESS
HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED TO KEEP
RENTERS OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
UNDER THE GUISE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION. THE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME FOR HOMEOWNER HOUSEHOLDS
IS NEARLY TWICE THAT OF RENTER
HOUSEHOLDS. WE DESPERATELY NEED
MORE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOCIAL
HOUSING, AND WE NEED IT NOW.
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL
121215.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU KATE.
NEXT WE HAVE CAROLINE FOLLOWED
BY AMANDA AND THEN ANDREW.
WELCOME, CAROLINE.
-- HELLO. AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. MY NAME
IS CAROLINE VILANOVA AND I'M
THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS AT SEATTLE PARK
FOUNDATION. I WANT TO SHARE THAT
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE
THOUGHTFUL AMENDMENTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS CREATED AND PUT
FORWARD FOR CB ONE, TWO, ONE,
TWO, ONE FIVE. AND WHILE WE SEE
THE BENEFITS OF ALL THE
AMENDMENTS YOU'RE CONSIDERING
TODAY, WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT
AMENDMENT B IS A MUST PASS. THIS
AMENDMENT IMPROVES THE APPEAL
PROCESS RATHER THAN REMOVING IT
OUTRIGHT, ALLOWING FOR CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW OF PUBLIC PROJECTS. A
FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENT
HEARING EXAMINER PROCESS THAT
PRIORITIZES HOUSING RELATED
APPEALS IS A CLEAR WIN FOR
DEVELOPING THE MUCH NEEDED
HOUSING IN THE CITY, AND TODAY
YOU CAN SHOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE A
PROCESS RATHER THAN DISMANTLING
IT AND BUILD A LIVABLE AND
CLIMATE RESILIENT CITY. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, AND WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
B SO THAT YOU CAN VOTE YES ON CB
121215.
-- THANK YOU. CAROLINE. THANK
YOU. NEXT WE HAVE AMANDA
FOLLOWED BY ANDREW. AMANDA LIN.
WELCOME. AND THEN WE HAVE
ANDREW. AND THEN AFTER AMANDA
AND ANDREW WE HAVE PETER STAR
CURTIS, CLIVE, CARL, RUTH,
JENNIFER, AMBER AND CEDRIC
-- AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS AMANDA LYNN. I AM AN
ORGANIZER FOR HAUSER NEIGHBORS.
I'M ALSO A RENTER IN DISTRICT
THREE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, WE
OFTEN PICTURE FORESTS, WETLANDS,
OPEN SPACE. BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW,
THE MOST EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICIES WE HAVE TO PROTECT
THOSE LANDS IS ACTUALLY ALLOWING
MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
BEYOND THE DELAYS AND COSTS I
TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME I WAS
HERE ON THIS ISSUE, WHICH MOST
DRASTICALLY AFFECT OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS.
THIS IS A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUE, AND AS AN
ENVIRONMENTALIST, I'M LISTENING
TO THE EXPERTS. IF WE ARE
SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING THE
CLIMATE CRISIS, PROTECTING OUR
NATURAL LANDS, AND CREATING MORE
EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES THAN WE
NEED TO EMBRACE COMPACT, TRANSIT
ORIENTED GROWTH THAT ALLOWS MORE
PEOPLE TO LIVE WHERE THEY CAN
THRIVE. WE NEED TO THINK BEYOND
THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR IMMEDIATE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND SINGLE TREES
THAT MAKE OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE
PLEASANT, AND INSTEAD SEE THE
LARGER PICTURE CREATING A GREEN,
EQUITABLE CITY WHERE EVERYONE
HAS ACCESS TO TREES, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, AND A HIGH
QUALITY OF LIFE WHERE WE HAVE A
FUTURE IN WHICH EVERYONE HAS
CLEAN AIR AND WATER. THE
POSITION ALIGNED WITH
ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IS TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION.
-- I URGE YOU TO PASS IT SO THAT
WE DON'T LOSE ANOTHER
GENERATION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANDREW,
IS ANDREW HERE? ANDREW, ARE YOU
HERE? WHAT WAS HIS LAST NAME? I
GAVE IT TO YOU. AMELIA. I'M
SORRY. ANDREW. NEXT WE HAVE
PETER, THEN STAR, THEN CURTIS.
CLIVE. CARL.
-- ANDREW.
-- WHITTON. IS ANDREW WHITTON
HERE? ANDREW? NO. OKAY. HI,
PETER. GOOD TO SEE YOU. ONE
SECOND. LET ME JUST SAY
EVERYONE'S NAME. YOU COOL? OKAY.
AWESOME. STAR. CURTIS CLIVE.
CARL. RUTH. JENNIFER. AMBER.
CEDRIC. WE'RE GOING TO FINISH
OUT THE PEOPLE INSIDE. PAMELA.
WE HAVE X, WE HAVE HANNAH AND
HENRY. AND THEN WE'LL GO JUMP
BACK ONLINE. OKAY. HI, PETER.
HI.
-- HI, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M PETER
HASEGAWA, I'M A RESIDENT OF D7
AND A BOARD MEMBER OF 350
SEATTLE HERE IN SUPPORT OF 1212,
15. I WANT TO START BY
RECOGNIZING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ADVOCATES WHO CAME TODAY
INVOLVED. NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES
ARE A PREREQUISITE FOR HEALTHY
NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY. THE
FACT THAT PEOPLE FEEL
STEWARDSHIP AND OWNERSHIP IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS IS A CIVIC
ASSET, AND I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
TRY TO REACH RESPECTFUL,
REASONABLE COMPROMISES. BUT THE
REASON THAT I THINK PASSING THIS
ORDINANCE IS THE RIGHT CHANGE
FOR OUR CITY COMES FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
IN MY SON SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL,
WE ARE FRIENDS WITH ONE FAMILY
WHO MOVED HERE AFTER THEIR.
THEIR HOME BURNED IN EASTERN
OREGON. ANOTHER FAMILY MOVED
HERE FROM ARIZONA BECAUSE THEY
DO NOT SEE A LIVABLE FUTURE IN
THE SOUTHWEST, AND BECAUSE WE
WILL HAVE ONE OF THE FEW GOOD
CLIMATES LEFT IN THE UNITED
STATES, THIS TREND IS GOING TO
CONTINUE. WE ALSO HAVE AN
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. THE MORE
PEOPLE WE HAVE. SHARING THE COST
OF A NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP, A
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT DAM OR A
ROAD, THE CHEAPER. ALL OF THESE
THINGS CAN BECOME FOR ALL OF US.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS
ORDINANCE.
-- THANK YOU PETER. NEXT WE HAVE
STAR, FOLLOWED BY CURTIS, CLIVE
AND CARL STAR HERE, STAR M OKAY,
I'LL YOU GO GET HER. I'LL JUST
GO TO THE NEXT PERSON. THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT. CURTIS FOLLOWED
BY CLIVE. GO. CURTIS. THEN
CLIVE. WELCOME THANK YOU, THANK
YOU.
-- YES. ON AMENDMENT B OR NO ON
CB121215CB121215 IS NOT A BLOW
AGAINST SPECIAL INTERESTS. IT'S
A BLOW FOR THE REAL SPECIAL
INTEREST DEVELOPERS. AND NO,
I'M SORRY, CLIMATE CHANGE IS
NOT GOING TO BE ADDRESSED BY
LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS.
THAT'S ABSURD. WHAT'S NEXT?
LET'S CUT DOWN THE TREES IN
ORDER TO SAVE THEM. NO FRIENDS.
ALLOWING FASTER URBAN
DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT REGULATION
DOES NOT STOP URBAN SPRAWL. BOTH
ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.
BOTH ARE ELIMINATING GREEN
SPACE, AND THEY'RE AIDED BY
THINGS LIKE THIS PROPOSAL AND
THE COMP PLAN. THE MARKET IS NOT
GOING TO SAVE YOU. IT'S NOT
GOING TO RESULT EITHER IN MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THESE
PLANS. THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO
LET DEVELOPERS BUILD WHATEVER IS
MOST PROFITABLE. EXAMPLE 2024
MOST HOUSING BUILT IN SEATTLE IN
ALL TIME. MAJORITY OF APARTMENTS
BUILT WERE LUXURY APARTMENTS.
AVERAGE PRICE FOR NEW HOME OVER
$1 MILLION. CONDOS 950 000. WE
LOST 4000 TREES. MEANWHILE, WE
NEED A PLAN, AN OVERALL PLAN FOR
PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU CURTIS. THANK YOU CURTIS.
YOU CAN PUT YOUR. THANK YOU
THANK YOU CURTIS. NEXT WE HAVE
STAR. COME ON UP STAR. IT'S
YOUR BEAUTIFUL BABY.
-- HI MY NAME IS KIANA
MONTGOMERY. AND I'M ASKING YOU
GUYS.
-- HOLD ON. LET'S START YOUR
TIME OVER AND JUST TALK IN THE
MIC SO WE CAN HEAR YOU'RE GOOD,
YOU'RE GOOD.
-- YOU'RE GOOD. HI, MY NAME IS
KIANA MONTGOMERY, AND I'M
ASKING YOU GUYS TO PASS CB
121215 REJECT AMENDMENT B AS
SOMEBODY WHO WAS HOMELESS, I WAS
AN ADDICT. AND THERE WAS A
COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN
THROUGH IN THIS CITY WAITING FOR
PEOPLE TO KEEP RE EDITING AND
DOING LIKE THAT. I HAD TO WAIT
MULTIPLE YEARS FOR HOUSING. I
WAS GETTING ASSISTANCE FROM THE
REACH PROGRAM AND THE LEAD
PROGRAM. THEY'RE A VERY GREAT
PROGRAM. I AM NOW A MOTHER TO
THREE BEAUTIFUL KIDDOS, AND I
JUST GOT MY HOUSING TWO YEARS
AGO, AND I'VE BEEN MAINTAINING
IT. THERE'S A LOT OF OVERSIGHT
THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
THAT CAN BE APPROVED, BUT I'M
NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY
THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE
PROGRAM. I DO FEEL LIKE THE MORE
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN AND
DELAYING PROGRAMS AND RE HASH
HASHING OUT BILLS, IT MAKES IT
HARDER FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO GET
HOUSING. I WAS WAITING FOR
HOUSING SINCE 2018. I WAS 18
YEARS OLD, I WAS HOMELESS, I WAS
TRAFFICKED, I WAS BROUGHT HERE.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY NEED TO
MAKE THINGS BETTER AND MAKE
THINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE. I'M NOT
SAYING THAT I HATE THE TREES OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT. MY KIDS LOVE
GOING TO THE PARK, BUT I'M
SAYING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE IT
TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET HOUSING.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GLAD
YOU GOT HOUSING FOR YOUR BABIES.
YOU AND YOUR BABIES. HAVE A GOOD
DAY. LIKEWISE. THANK YOU QUEEN.
ALL RIGHT. WE GOT CLIVE WELCOME,
FOLLOWED BY CARL. COME ON.
-- CLIVE HAYWARD.
-- I'M A STREET MAGICIAN WHO
HAS PERFORMED ON THE SEATTLE
WATERFRONT FOR OVER A DECADE.
THE TINY NUMBER OF DESIGNATED
FREE SPEECH ZONES ON THE
WATERFRONT ARE UNNECESSARY.
INSTEAD, THE CITY SHOULD USE
NARROWLY TAILORED, CONTENT
NEUTRAL RULES SUCH AS REASONABLE
NOISE LIMITS, KEEPING SIDEWALKS
CLEAR AND MAINTAINING EMERGENCY
ACCESS THOSE MEASURES PROTECT
THE PUBLIC WITHOUT RESTRICTING
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THE
CURRENT SYSTEM ENABLES SELECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PERFORMERS,
DISCOURAGES PROTECTED
EXPRESSION, AND HAS DRIVEN MANY
PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS AWAY FROM
THE WATERFRONT. YOU'RE NOT ONLY
LIMITING FREE SPEECH, YOU'VE
TAKEN AWAY PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.
FOR MANY PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS,
THIS IS THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF
INCOME. SEATTLE HAS ALREADY LOST
IN THE NINTH CIRCUIT OVER
SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS. I URGE YOU
TO REPLACE THE RULES FOR THE
DESIGNATED FREE SPEECH ZONES
WITH NARROWLY TAILORED RULES
THAT PROTECT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
-- THANK YOU CLIVE. NEXT WE HAVE
CARL, FOLLOWED BY RUTH AND THEN
JENNIFER.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
-- MY NAME IS CARL NELSON. I'M A
17 YEAR RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR,
ATTENDANCE ORGANIZER AND
CO-CHAIR OF THE CEDAR CROSSING
TENANTS ASSOCIATION AND A MEMBER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. I'M HERE TODAY IN MY
PERSONAL CAPACITY, THOUGH, TO
VOICE SUPPORT FOR COUNCILMEMBER
LIN LEGISLATION REFORMING OUR
BROKEN SIPA PROCESS. LET'S BE
VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE
HERE. THERE IS NO GREATER THREAT
TO OUR SALMON POPULATION, OUR
ORCAS OR TREES OR TREE CANOPY,
OUR CLEAN AIR AND WATER, AND ALL
OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE THAN THE
CONTINUOUS SPRAWL CREATED BY OUR
REFUSAL TO BUILD THE CITY. WE
MUST. A SEATTLE WITH DENSE,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND AMPLE ACCESS
TO PUBLIC TRANSIT. THIS IS A
FUTURE THAT ALL OUR CHILDREN
DESERVE. TODAY, COUNCILMEMBER
LIN IS GIVING US A COMMON SENSE,
LONG OVERDUE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT HELPS OUR CITY
BUILD THE FUTURE IT NEEDS.
INSTEAD OF CLINGING TO AN UNJUST
AND UNSUSTAINABLE STATUS QUO, I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS
LEGISLATION WITHOUT AMENDMENT B,
WITHOUT DELAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, CARL. NEXT WE HAVE
RUTH, FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER,
AMBER AND CEDRIC. WELCOME, RUTH.
-- HELLO.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M RUTH
WILLIAMS, REPRESENTING THORNTON
CREEK ALLIANCE LARGELY IN DEFY
AGAINST SPEAKING AGAINST COUNCIL
BILL 121215. AS IT STANDS, WE
THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
WORKING TO REDEEM THE BILL WITH
AMENDMENT B. THIS AMENDMENT IS
EXACTLY THE KIND OF THOUGHTFUL
PERSPECTIVE THE CITY NEEDS IN A
TIME WHEN WE KNOW THAT ALL THE
FACTS AND FIGURES WE CITE CAN BE
WRITTEN OFF TO UNSUBSTANTIATED,
IMPURE MOTIVES, WE VOLUNTEER OUR
TIME HERE AND PLEAD OUR CASE TO
YOU, THE COUNCIL. WHILE MONEYED
INTERESTS HAVE ROUTINE MEETINGS
WITH SDCI, APPEALS TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER, DO OFFER AN
INKLING OF FAIRNESS. JUST THE
POSSIBILITY ALSO HELPS KEEP
LEGISLATION MORE REASONED AND
CAN HELP REIN IN A CHERRY PICKED
RESPONSE TO HOUSING AND CLIMATE
CHANGE THAT IGNORES HEAT ISLAND
EFFECTS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. PLEASE
VOTE YES FOR AMENDMENT B. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU RUTH. NEXT WE HAVE
JENNIFER, FOLLOWED BY AMBER AND
CEDRIC. WELCOME, JENNIFER.
-- HI.
-- PLEASE PASS AMENDMENT B OR
VOTE NO ON 12, 12, 15. AND
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT. THE CITY
CAUSED DELAYS. MY APPEAL DIDN'T
DELAY OR LIMIT HOUSING. MY
APPEAL IS ON THE KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT CALENDAR. WHILE
SEATTLE DELAYS THE DATE AGAIN
BANNING THE ABILITY TO CORRECT
DANGEROUS ERRORS IN THE LARGEST
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. WHEN
PUBLIC COMMENT FAILS IS
ANTI-DEMOCRATIC. I ATTENDED
PUBLIC MEETINGS TO CORRECT
DANGEROUS ERRORS FOR TEN MONTHS
BEFORE APPEALING THE 2859 PAGE
LONG EIS, THE CITY STILL MEETS
MONTHLY, WITH DEVELOPERS.
PRIVATELY, EIS STATES THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE WILL HAVE THE SECOND
HIGHEST VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED.
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY SHOWED NO
LOSS OF DENSITY WHEN PROTECTING
WATER FILTERING AND COOLING BIG
TREES. NOAA'S SALMON AND ORCA
RECOVERY PLANS BOTH SAY, TO
PROTECT SALMON HABITAT IN URBAN
AND RURAL AREAS. IT'S NOT IF,
BUT HOW WHEN PUBLIC COMMENT
PROCESS FAILS, APPEALS ARE
NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE COUNCIL
HAS THE BEST INFORMATION IN
FRONT OF IT. AS THE STATE COURT
OF APPEALS RULED, THE LAKE
WASHINGTON STUDY LEFT OUT THE
MAJORITY OF HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS
TO SALMON AND ORCA. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU JENNIFER. NEXT WE
HAVE AMBER SEDGWICK, FOLLOWED BY
PAMELA. WE HAVE X, HANNAH AND
THEN HENRY. WELCOME.
-- HELLO, COUNCIL. I'M A
LIFELONG ENVIRONMENTALIST AND I
SUPPORT CB 121215 RODE MY BIKE
HERE AND I ALSO TEACH AT UW, AND
I'M ONLY AVAILABLE TO BE HERE
BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO NOT TEACH
CLASS TODAY. I URGE YOU TO THINK
ABOUT WHO ARE WE EXCLUDING BY
HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT AT 2 P.M.
ON A TUESDAY. WHILE MOST FULL
TIME WORKERS. SO I'M HERE FOR
ALL OF MY FRIENDS THAT ARE HARD
AT WORK POWERING SEATTLE, PAYING
TAXES, MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITY
BECOMES A MORE LIVABLE PLACE.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT UNITES
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO IS
HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND HOUSING.
AND THE THING THAT I HEAR FROM
PEOPLE OF ALL POLITICAL STRIPES
IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE MAKE IT
HARDER TO DELAY HOUSING. HOUSING
DELAYED IS HOUSING DENIED. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. AMBER. NEXT WE
HAVE CEDRIC, FOLLOWED BY PAMELA
X, HANNAH HENRY, AND THEN WE'LL
GO BACK ONLINE. IS CEDRIC HERE?
CEDRIC JONES, CEDRIC JONES ONCE,
TWICE SOLD TO THE SIGN UP SHEET.
NEXT WE HAVE PAMELA. PAMELA
HERE. PAMELA ADAMS THERE YOU GO.
YOU HOPPED UP FAST.
-- PAMELA ADAMS, FREELANCE
BEAVER DETECTIVE COMING BACK
WITH SEVEN INCH STRETCH. ANYWAY,
I WANT TO JUST TO SAY THERE'S
SOME OVERSIGHTS THAT I
DISCOVERED IN MY FIVE YEARS
HERE. ONE, BEAVERS WERE NOT
INCLUDED ON THE LIST OF
WILDLIFE. WHEN YOU'RE DOING A
DEVELOPMENT, AND I BROUGHT IT UP
TO CITY COUNCIL AND THEY TOLD ME
IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT. I WAS ALSO
TOLD I WAS WEARING A BEAR SUIT.
THAT WAS AN OVERSIGHT TO. I JUST
THINK I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ROB BE
PASSE OR, YOU KNOW, DO NOT
CONTINUE. BECAUSE WHEN WE NEED
WHEN WE TAKE PUBLIC AWAY, WE
THINK WE MIGHT LOSE GAPS.
THERE'S OVERSIGHTS AND THERE'S
OVERSIGHT OVERSIGHTS THAT COULD
BE FILLING IN A GAP LIKE PIKES
LAKE MARKET. WHEN THE PUBLIC
CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT, HEY,
WE COULD DO SOMETHING BETTER,
WE'VE GOT THAT NOW. WE NEED
PUBLIC INPUT AT ALL POINTS. THE
28 TIMES THAT THIS APPEALS
PROCESS HAS BEEN USED IS NOT AN
OBSTRUCTION. WE'RE NOT, YOU
KNOW, IT'S NOT OBSTRUCTING
HOUSING. SO WHY ARE YOU TAKING
IT AWAY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND
THAT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
PAMELA ADAMS. OH, THAT WAS THAT
WAS YOU. SORRY. MY BAD. THAT WAS
PAMELA. MY BAD. THANK YOU.
PAMELA X FOLLOWED BY HANNAH AND
THEN HENRY. AND THEN WE'LL GO
ONLINE. WELCOME.
-- X HELLO, COUNCILWOMAN. MY
COUNCILWOMAN. HEY, GUYS I'M JUST
SO TIRED FROM THIS IRRATIONAL
ARGUMENT THAT ONE THING LEADS TO
ANOTHER THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE SIX STORY
HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY,
WHEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK
OUT THERE TO SEE A HOLE IN THE
GROUND. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
LAND USE TAXES THAT MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING THE LAND
THAT ALREADY EXISTS FOR HIGH
DENSITY HOUSING. THERE'S A BRAND
NEW STARBUCKS IN BALLARD. IT'S
HUGE, BUT IT'S A PARKING LOT.
WHY? WHY IS BALLARD BLOCKS HAVE
NO HOUSING? WHY DOES U VILLAGE
HAVE NO HOUSING? WHY DO YOU GO
TO WHOLE FOODS IN INTERBAY AND
THERE'S NO HOUSING? AND WHY IS
IT THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALLOWING
THIS KIND OF STUFF TO HAPPEN
WHILE WE PIT NEIGHBOR AGAINST
NEIGHBOR, INSTEAD OF SAYING,
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN
TREE CANOPY WHEN WE HAVE A
GLOBAL WARMING CRISIS THAT WILL
BE AT OUR DOORSTEP, WE HAVE
ORCAS WHO ARE DISAPPEARING AND
WE HAVE WILDLIFE IN THIS CITY
THAT NEEDS US TO DO BETTER.
IT'S KIND OF JUST OLD, STALE
AND INCORRECT. WE NEED TO BE
CRITICAL THINKERS, NOT
REACTIONARY. AS A LOT OF FOLKS
HERE TODAY HAVE BEEN.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU X. NEXT
WE HAVE HANNAH,
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- FOLLOWED BY HENRY.
-- HI. THANK YOU. I'M HANNAH
FROM PIONEER SQUARE. I JUST WANT
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT WE'RE ON NATIVE LAND. I
THINK IT'S A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTING THAT WE WENT
THROUGH THIS WHOLE MEETING, AND
NOBODY RECOGNIZED THAT. AS FAR
AS I KNOW, WHEN I GO WITH MY
FRIENDS TO FIND THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR AN APARTMENT I OWN DOWNTOWN,
I WALK HERE, THESE GIANT
APARTMENT BUILDINGS BUILT BY
DEVELOPERS, THEY'RE 98, 99%
FULL. AND THEN WE HAVE BIG HOLES
IN THE GROUND EVERYWHERE, AND IT
MAKES IT UNSAFE FOR WALKING. AND
THEN WE IN THIS MEETING,
THERE'S PEOPLE WHO WANT HOUSING
AND THERE'S ENVIRONMENTALISTS,
AND THEN THEY'RE FIGHTING OVER
THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. WHEN ALL
OF THESE THINGS GO TOGETHER, WE
SHOULD BE COOPERATING, NOT
FIGHTING OVER THESE THREE
THINGS. SO IT JUST SEEMS KIND OF
LIKE A CLUE. I REALLY WANT TO
COMMEND LIN FOR TARGETING WHAT
WENT WRONG, BECAUSE WE NEEDED
THIS HOUSING YESTERDAY. AND THEN
HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND IN THIS
PROCESS WHAT WENT WRONG OVERALL
TO TRIANGULATE THESE THREE
THINGS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU HANNAH. NEXT WE
HAVE HENRY AND THEN WE WILL JUMP
RIGHT ONLINE. THANK YOU. HANNAH.
WHAT'S UP HENRY. AND WE'RE
GOING TO GO STRAIGHT TO ETHAN.
ETHAN IS NEXT ONLINE. WELCOME.
-- HI. MY NAME IS HENRY AND I'M
A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
SEPA IS AN EXCELLENT PROCESS FOR
PRESERVING PROPERTY VALUES
THROUGH ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY FOR
NEARLY $120, APPLICANTS CAN
THROW APPEALS AT THE WALL TO SEE
WHAT STICKS, WHILE DELAYING MUCH
NEEDED HOUSING AND WASTING
THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
LAST YEAR, APPEALS LARGELY FROM
SEATTLE'S WEALTHIEST ZIP CODES
HELPED PUSH THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, ONE YEAR BEHIND THE STATE
DEADLINE. HOUSING DELAYED IS
HOUSING DENIED. URBAN SPRAWL IS
THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE
ENVIRONMENT, WORSENING
DEFORESTATION AND CLIMATE
CHANGE, REMOVING REDUNDANT
BARRIERS TO DENSER, ABUNDANT
HOUSING IN WALKABLE, INCLUSIVE
NEIGHBORHOODS IS THE SCIENCE
BASED ANSWER. IF YOU WANT
SEATTLE TO BE A WELCOMING CITY
FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING YOUNGER
WORKING PEOPLE OF COLOR LIKE
MYSELF AND MY SON, AND TO SAVE
THE ORCAS, PLEASE VOTE YES ON CB
121215. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT WE
HAVE ETHAN ONLINE AND THEN WE
ARE GOING TO. I SKIPPED OVER
SOME PEOPLE, RACHEL NATHANSON
AND THEN RUTH DIED. SO THEY WILL
BE AFTER ETHAN. ETHAN. WELCOME.
STAR SIX.
-- GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YES, WE CAN.
-- ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS ETHAN
KARLINSKY AND I LIVE IN MADISON
VALLEY. I'M SPEAKING IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL ONE TWO,
ONE, TWO, ONE FIVE AND URGING
YOU TO REJECT AMENDMENT B PEOPLE
WAS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT, BUT IN SEATTLE IT
HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED AS A TOOL TO
BLOCK PROGRESS AND FIGHT AGAINST
CHANGE WITH WILDFIRE SMOKE
CHOKING OUR CITY, OUR SKIES, AND
CRUSHING, CRUSHING HOUSING
CRISIS, IT IS CLEAR THAT CHANGE
IS ALREADY UPON US, WHETHER WE
LIKE IT OR NOT, WE CANNOT STOP
CHANGE. BUT WE DO HAVE A HAND IN
SHAPING WHAT KIND OF CHANGE WE
GET. I WANT A FUTURE WHERE WE
BUILD THE HOUSING AND GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO FACE
THE CLIMATE CRISIS HEAD ON,
RATHER THAN HUDDLING TO PROTECT
A FEW PRIVILEGED ENCLAVES IN A
GROWING CITY. URBAN LIVING IS
LOWER IMPACT THAN SPRAWL, AND IT
IS CRAZY THAT SEPA OF ALL
THINGS, HAS DELAYED THE CITYWIDE
UPZONE FOR THIS LONG. THIS
UPLOAD ZONE CAME FROM A MANDATE
FOR MORE HOUSING, BUT WE'RE
STILL WAITING. PLEASE APPROVE IT
WITHOUT AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE RUTH
OR EXCUSE ME, RACHEL NATHANSON.
AND THEN RUTH DIED. STAR SIX. TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- THIS IS RACHEL NATHANSON.
-- I'M CALLING TO URGE YOU TO
NOT APPROVE CB 121215 UNLESS
AMENDMENT B IS ATTACHED TO IT.
THIS BILL IS A PERMANENT CHANGE
TO THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING
THINGS. IT IS A TAKING OF RIGHTS
WE HAVE HAD SINCE ITS INCEPTION
IN 1972. BUT KEEP IN MIND,
SOMEDAY THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL WILL
BE FILLED WITH OTHER DECISION
MAKERS. THE CITY STAFF WILL BE
DIFFERENT. AND KEEP IN MIND THAT
THE LOSS OF APPEALS AFFECTS MUCH
MORE THAN JUST HOUSING. DO WE
REALLY WANT TO REMOVE THIS CHECK
ON THE SYSTEM AND LEAVE IT TO
THE FUTURE AS YET UNKNOWN
DECISION MAKERS? WHAT WILL THEIR
AGENDA BE? WILL THEY BE GOOD AT
THEIR JOBS? AS WE'VE SEEN A
REGIME CHANGE IN OUR NATIONAL
POLITICS HAS CREATED A DISASTER.
LET'S NOT APPROVE. CB 121215
AND TAKE AWAY THE ONE SMALL
CHECK ON THE SYSTEM WE CURRENTLY
HAVE AND MAY VERY WELL NEED IN
THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU RACHEL. NEXT WE
HAVE RUTH DIONNE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. AND THEN
JULIA SHETLER
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
RUTH STAR SIX.
-- CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YES. HELLO.
-- THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO ASK
YOU TO PRESERVE OUR DEMOCRATIC
RIGHT TO APPEAL INADEQUATE EIS
AND VOTE FOR COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
AMENDMENT B TOO OFTEN WE
CONFLATE A HOUSING CRISIS WITH A
HOUSING PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE
NOT THE SAME. A HOUSING CRISIS
IS PEOPLE LIVING ON OUR STREETS
OR WHO ARE SO RENT BURDENED THEY
CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY FOOD AND
MEDICINE, JUSTIFYING DRAMATIC
ACTION THAT MAY REQUIRE SWEEPING
ASIDE RULES. PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
THE CITY BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY
A HOME IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS A
HOUSING PROBLEM, AND WE HAVE
TIME TO DELIBERATE ON IT. WE
HAVE SHOWN SIGNIFICANTLY ALREADY
UNDER HB 1110 AND WITH WIDE
INCREASES IN ALL THE LR ZONES,
WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CAPACITY.
RIGHT NOW. TRUMP CREATES A
CRISIS AROUND EVERYTHING FROM
IMMIGRATION TO VOTING TO JUSTIFY
ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOVES. I SEE
STATE AND CITY DECISION MAKERS
DOING THE SAME. FRAMING HOUSING
IS A CRISIS TO LIMIT CITIZEN
INVOLVEMENT, ROLL BACK QUALITY
OF WHITE DEVELOPMENT,
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND CURB
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. CB 12.
-- THANK YOU RUTH. NEXT WE HAVE
JULIA, FOLLOWED BY. JULIA STAR
SIX. TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- HI THERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YES.
-- HI. THANK YOU. YEAH. MY NAME
IS JULIA. I AM AN ENGINEER AND A
RENTER, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO
PLEASE PASS AMENDMENT B OR VOTE
NO ON CB 1212, 15. FIRST, PLEASE
PAY ATTENTION TO WHO IS GIVING
THESE COMMENTS. I'VE HEARD
LOBBYISTS AND LAW FIRMS COMMENT
IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL EVERY DAY.
SEATTLEITES, WHICH IS YOUR
CONSTITUENCY, IS ASKING YOU TO
REJECT IT SINCE 2016, ONLY 27
APPEALS HAVE COME FORWARD AND
THE VAST MAJORITY ARE QUICKLY
STRUCK DOWN. I'VE HEARD SO MANY
COMMENTERS SAY THAT THESE
APPEALS ARE USED BY WEALTHY
LANDOWNERS TO STOP HOUSING. NOT
ONLY IS THIS FALSE, BUT THE
BILL'S SPONSOR HAS PROVIDED NO
EVIDENCE THAT REMOVING APPEALS
WOULD SPEED UP HOUSING. IN
REALITY, THESE APPEALS HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY VALUABLE. IT WAS A
SEPA APPEAL THAT RESULTED IN THE
CREATION OF THE RAINIER VALLEY
VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FUND. IRONICALLY, THIS BILL
SPONSOR CITED REDLINING IN HIS
PUBLIC FAQ IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL, BUT NO RACIAL EQUITY
ANALYSIS WAS EVEN PERFORMED.
AMENDMENT B IS THE ONLY PATH
THAT WOULD RETAIN SEPA APPEALS
WITH REFORM. PLEASE VOTE B OR
VOTE NO.
-- THANK YOU JULIA. NEXT, WE
HAVE ANDREW LYNN, FOLLOWED BY
KEITH, AND THEN MATT
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
STAR THE LITTLE STAR IN NUMBER
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. IF NOT,
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU OH,
THERE YOU GO.
-- OH, THERE WE GO. IT TOOK A
COUPLE OF TRIES. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
ANGELINA FIGUEIREDO FROM PIERCE
COUNTY DISTRICT TWO. AND I AM
SPEAKING TODAY IN REGARDS TO A
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT IS AN
EMERGENCY FOR WOMEN WHO ARE
HAVING TO ENDURE ILLEGAL
PREGNANCY EXPERIMENTATION,
INCLUDING MYSELF WHILE
WASHINGTON STATE IS A NO BAN,
ABORTION STATE, THERE'S A
THERE'S STILL A HUGE PROBLEM
WITH TRYING TO GAIN ADEQUATE
ABORTION, HEALTH CARE FROM
HOSPITALS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. ACCORDING TO WASHINGTON
STATE UNIVERSITY, MORE THAN TWO
THIRDS OF ABORTIONS IN WESTERN
WASHINGTON ARE OCCURRING. KING,
PIERCE AND SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
WHILE WE HAVE THE LARGEST
STATISTICS AT THE SIDE OF OUR
STATE, WE ARE STILL LACKING IN
MEDICAL CARE TO ACTUALLY HAVING
TO RECEIVE AN ABORTION, SURGICAL
PROCEDURE OR ABORTION MEDICATION
FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, I HAVE
SEARCHED FOR ABORTION MEDICATION
DUE TO BEING A VICTIM OF ILLEGAL
PREGNANCY EXPERIMENTATION. I
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY.
IS THAT.
-- THANK YOU ANGELA. AND NEXT WE
HAVE KEITH COLLEAGUES. WE'RE
GOING TO EXTEND. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES.
WE'RE ABOUT TWO HOURS IN AND WE
HAVE ABOUT 18 MORE PEOPLE. NO
OBJECTION. AWESOME. THANK YOU.
KEITH, WELCOME
-- HELLO. MY NAME IS KEITH AND
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT
FOUR. I'M COMMENTING ON CV
121215. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
INTRODUCTION OF THIS BILL IS
MOTIVATED BY THE ONGOING LEGAL
CHALLENGE TO THE FBIS OF THE ONE
SEATTLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE
CITY ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT AN
APPEAL OF THE EIS, BUT LOST AT
THE STATE LEVEL. SO NOW SOME
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE TRYING TO
CHANGE THE LAW TO AVOID HAVING
TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE
CITY'S ENVIRONMENT IT IS CITY
COUNCIL'S UNNECESSARY PUSHBACK
THAT HAS RESULTED IN DELAYS.
THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS
ON THE WAYS THAT THE EIS COULD
BE IMPROVED. RATHER THAN ADDRESS
THESE SHORTFALLS. THIS COUNCIL
HAS PUT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT INTO
VILIFYING AND THWARTING THOSE
WHO SEEM TO TAKE TO IMPROVE THE
FEIS. IT IS UNFAIR TO SAY THAT
THOSE WHO SEEK TO RETAIN THE
CITY'S GREEN SPACE AND PROTECT
THE REGION'S WILDLIFE ARE BEING
MALICIOUS AND ATTEMPTING TO
WEAPONIZE SEPA. WE ARE NOT A
SMALL NUMBER AND WE ARE NOT
WEAPONIZING A SYSTEM. PLEASE
VOTE NO ON COUNCIL BILL 121215
OR IF THE BILL MOVES FORWARD,
PLEASE PASS THE VERSION THAT
INCLUDES AMENDMENT B. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU KEITH. NEXT WE HAVE
MATT, FOLLOWED BY RICHARD
-- HI, I'M MATT HUTCHINS AND I
URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON B AND YES
ON CB 121215. SEATTLE'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SO FAR HAS
TAKEN FIVE YEARS AND HAS BEEN
SHAPED BY THOUSANDS, TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF CITIZEN COMMENTS.
BUT TODAY IT HINGES ON WHETHER
EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS A
SPARE $120 CAN FILE AN APPEAL
THAT THEY'RE SATISFIED WITH
EVERY POTENTIAL, EVEN MARGINAL
IMPACT, HAS BEEN STUDIED.
COUNCIL SPENT $555,000 ON THE
ONE SEALED PLANS EIS. THAT'S
MORE THAN 3000 PAGES LONG. AND
SOMEHOW IT'S NOT ENOUGH. YOU
BUDGET ANOTHER $350,000 FOR THE
SUPPLEMENTAL EIS. YOU SLASH.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO GET
APPEALED TO. WHY? WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT DELAY IS THE GOAL. WITHOUT
COUNCILMEMBER LIN PERFORM, THE
NEXT EIS WILL BE EVEN MORE
EXPENSIVE, EXHAUSTIVE, AND
ESOTERIC TO THE POINT WHERE ANY
ZONING REFORM IS GOING TO COST
TAXPAYERS $1 MILLION BEFORE IT
CAN EVEN BE CONSIDERED.
-- THANK YOU MATT. NEXT WE HAVE
RICHARD, FOLLOWED BY SARAH, THEN
NATHANIEL RICHARD, STAR SIX. TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF
YOU'RE OFF MUTE, RICHARD. HELLO.
-- HELLO. I'M. HELLO, I AM
RICHARD ALLISON, A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT FOUR. I OPPOSE CB
121215 BANNING PUBLIC APPEALS ON
TEP DECISIONS AS WRITTEN, BUT
SUPPORT AMENDMENT B BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, WHICH
PRESERVES AND STREAMLINES THE
APPEAL PROCESS. THE LOSS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE IS
ROOTED IN THE 1990s DECISIONS BY
THE CITY COUNCIL, ALLOWING
DEVELOPERS TO TEAR DOWN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT NOT
REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND DECADES OF
LEADERSHIP FROM THE MASTER
BUILDERS ASSOCIATION HAS ONLY
RESULTED IN EXPENSIVE MARKET
RATE HOUSING. NOW, THE COUNCIL
WISHES TO REMOVE ENVIRONMENTAL
APPEALS ON ANY DECISIONS AS A
SUPPOSED PANACEA TO THE HOUSING
CRISIS. THIS HOUSING CRISIS IS
BECAUSE THE COUNCIL FOR DECADES
HAS BEEN RUN BY THE MASTER
BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, WHO
DOESN'T WANT TO BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH LOWER
PROFITS, COMPACT AND DENSE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN BE BUILT
AROUND TREES AND OPEN SPACE.
MORE HOUSING BUILT TALLER AROUND
TREES AND OPEN SPACE. BUT TO
POSTURE AND, SAY
ENVIRONMENTALISM IS NIMBYISM AND
TOTAL Bs IS DRINKING, THE MASTER
BUILDERS KOOL-AID, VOTING WITH
LOTS WITH 100% IMPERVIOUS
SURFACE.
-- AND THANK YOU, RICHARD. NEXT
WE HAVE SARAH, FOLLOWED BY
NATHANIEL, SARAH, THEN
NATHANIEL.
-- HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YES WE CAN. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR WAITING.
-- HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YES, WE CAN
-- HEAR. OKAY. YEAH GREAT,
GREAT. THANK YOU. I'M CALLING
TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT
B, AND IF AMENDMENT B DOES NOT
PASS TO VOTE NO ON CB 121215,
I'M WONDERING IF THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS WHO MENTIONED TOXIC
STORMWATER RUNOFF FROM TIRES ARE
AWARE THAT THE FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR THE COMP PLAN CONTAINS A
STATEMENT CLAIMING THAT
POLLUTANTS IN STORMWATER RUNOFF
ARE IMMEDIATELY DILUTED TO
CONCENTRATIONS TOO LOW TO AFFECT
MARINE LIFE. THAT'S SIMPLY
FALSE. RETIRED KING COUNTY
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGIST DEB LESTER
SUBMITTED COMMENTS IDENTIFYING
THIS ERROR OVER MULTIPLE YEARS.
YET IT REMAINS IN THE DOCUMENT
TODAY. IF PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE
CONSISTENTLY AND MEANINGFULLY
ADDRESSED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
NO NEED FOR THE ORCA APPEAL.
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS EXIST
BECAUSE AGENCIES SOMETIMES FAIL
TO CORRECT SIGNIFICANT ERRORS.
DESPITE EXTENSIVE PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION. ENVIRONMENTAL
APPEALS ARE NOT AN OBSTACLE TO
GOOD GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE A
SAFEGUARD THAT HELPS ENSURE
DECISIONS ARE LEGALLY AND
SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
BRINGING FORWARD AMENDMENT B. IT
PRESERVES CITIZENS RIGHTS TO
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEAL WHILE
MAKING THE PROCESS MORE
EFFICIENT, AND THAT'S A
REASONABLE COMPROMISE. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
NATHANIEL, FOLLOWED BY HANS AND
THEN SCOTT NELSON.
-- HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU,
NATHANIEL. HELLO
-- OKAY. HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS NATHANIEL, MY RENTER,
SIX YEAR RENTER IN DISTRICT
THREE. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT B FOR CB
121215. AND IF THAT DOES NOT
PASS, PLEASE VOTE NO ON CB
121215. AS A WHOLE, THE CLAIMS
THAT SEPA APPEALS DELAY HOUSING
ARE NOT GROUNDED IN REALITY,
RATHER, FAILURES IN THE CITY'S
OWN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND
BUREAUCRATIC FOOT DRAGGING IN
HEARING. THESE APPEALS ARE WHAT
ARE BOGGING THE SYSTEM DOWN.
ACCURATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
SHOULD BE THE CITY'S GOAL, NOT
PUBLIC DISENFRANCHISEMENT.
FURTHERMORE, SEATTLE HAS
CONSISTENTLY LED THE NATION IN
ADDED HOUSING STOCK IN THE PAST
TWO DECADES. YET VACANCY AND
AFFORDABILITY ISSUES PERSIST.
THAT INDICATES A PROBLEM WITH
THE MONEY DEVELOPMENT LOBBY, NOT
WITH AN ACCESSIBLE APPEALS
PROCESS. PLEASE AGAIN, VOTE YES
ON AMENDMENT B, OR IF THAT DOES
NOT PASS, PLEASE VOTE NO ON CB
121215. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE HANS,
FOLLOWED BY SCOTT AND THEN
DAVID. I HAVE ABOUT TEN MORE
SPEAKERS. THANK YOU ALL FOR
WAITING.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS HANS. I WOULD LIKE TO
VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR BILL 12125.
I'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF
THESE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ADVOCACY MEETINGS AND THE
PROCESS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND
IT SEEMS THERE IS NO END TO WHAT
WOULD BE DEEMED ADEQUATE PROCESS
OR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THE CITY
SPENDS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IF
NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND
YEARS AND YEARS COLLATING AND
COLLECTING PUBLIC COMMENT AND
INPUT ON ITS PROCESS. WE HAVE A
REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF
GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE ELECTED THE
COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION
AMONGST A BUNCH OF COMPETING
INTERESTS AND TO FORM A
GOVERNMENT. THEY'VE DONE THAT,
AND THE THE TECHNICAL REVIEW CAN
STILL OCCUR FOR THE WORK
PRODUCT, WHICH CAN HAPPEN AT THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT BOARD LEVEL.
REMOVING THIS APPEAL DOES NOT
TAKE AWAY OUR VOICE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE THAT
WAS SCOTT DAVID HAYNES, FOLLOWED
BY JASON LEE, STAR SIX. TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
-- HI. THANK YOU, DAVID. IT'S A
PROVEN FACT AND IT'S DIRECTLY
CORRELATED THAT WHEN YOU EXEMPT
MISDEMEANOR DRUG CRIMES, IT
ESCALATES VIOLENCE BETWEEN RIVAL
DRUG GANGS. AND YET WE SEE
SEATTLE REPEATING THE SAME BAD
HISTORY OF ALLOWING FOR THE SAME
BAKED INTO THE BUDGET FROM THE
THREE PREVIOUS FAILED MAYORS AND
TOP COPS THAT ALLOW FOR BAD
POLICIES TO CONTINUE TO BE
PLAYED OUT. IT'S ALMOST AS IF
GEORGE SOROS IS USING SEATTLE'S
POLICE REFORM AS A PILOT PROJECT
TO DESTROY AMERICA'S EFFORTS TO
GET PUBLIC SAFETY RIGHT, AND
LEAD, WHO ALWAYS IS RUNNING
INTERFERENCE FOR THE CRIMINAL
JUNKY, THIEVING REPEAT
OFFENDERS, ARE FILLING UP THE
CAPACITY OF HOUSING AND
PURPOSELY DENYING INNOCENT
PEOPLE, HOMELESS CITIZENS ANY
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WHILE BEING SUBHUMAN IS TREATED.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT
CITY COUNCIL IS ALLOWING
BALTIMORE, WHICH HAD 30 SOME.
-- THANK YOU, DAVID SCOTT
NELSON, FOLLOWED BY JASON.
-- HEY, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS SCOTT NELSON AND I'M
CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION. JUST
COMMENTING HERE TODAY TO GIVE
HEARTFELT THANKS AND TO DESCRIBE
THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR TODAY. THE
SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION IS
HAVING THREE NEW MEMBERS
CONFIRMED. AND THAT IS RARER
THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR A
FEW YEARS THERE. BUT EVER SINCE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ CAME BACK
TO THE COUNCIL AND THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, THE
SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION IS
NEARING ITS FULL CAPACITY FOR
THAT. I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE
COUNCIL AND ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS
TO GET PHYSICALLY INVOLVED.
-- THANK YOU JESSICA. NEXT WE
HAVE JASON LEE, FOLLOWED BY RUBY
HOLLAND. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
WAITING TWO HOURS ON THE PHONE
-- GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
-- MY NAME IS JASON LEE. I'M A
RESIDENT OF CAPITOL HILL. I'M A
HOMEOWNER ACTUALLY, AND I'M HERE
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL
BILLS 121215 AS WRITTEN. AS MANY
PEOPLE BEFORE ME HAVE STATED,
SEATTLE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A
DIRE HOUSING CRISIS, AND WE NEED
TO ACT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS
RESOLVED AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO
LIVE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE. IN
SEATTLE. I REALLY LOVE CAPITOL
HILL, BUT I KNOW THAT A LOT OF
MY NEIGHBORS AND A LOT OF MY
FRIENDS EITHER CAN'T AFFORD TO
LIVE THE CAPITAL IN CAPITOL HILL
ARE BEING FORCED OUT BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST NOT
ENOUGH HOUSING. AND CAPITOL HILL
IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT ARE
PRETTY WELL ABSORBED. BUT THAT
MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE REST
OF THE CITY ISN'T. AND WE REALLY
NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE ANYWHERE IN
THE CITY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
INCOME, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
ABILITY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE
AREAS OF THE CITY WITH GOOD
TRANSIT ARE REALLY DESIRABLE,
AND THEY ARE SEVERELY LACKING IN
HOUSING RIGHT NOW. AND WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN
LIVE WHERE THEY WHERE THEY
DESIRE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. JASON. NEXT WE
HAVE RUBY HOLLAND, FOLLOWED BY
ALBERTO ALVAREZ, STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF, MISS HOLLAND
I DON'T SEE HER ONLINE. I KNOW
TECH IS LOOKING FOR. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL WE'LL LOOK FOR HER. WE'LL
GO TO ALBERTO ALVAREZ IF HE'S
IF HE'S STILL ONLINE. BUT KEEP
LOOKING FOR RUBY HOLLAND. MISS
HOLLAND. THANK YOU.
-- HELLO. THANK YOU. HOW MANY
MORE TRAGEDIES WILL THE POLICE
CHIEF BE AWAY IN CHICAGO OR ON A
SPEAKING TOUR IN OTHER CITIES
AND OTHER STATES? ACTUALLY, CAN
YOU, CHIEF THAT LIVES HERE
VALUES OUR CITY. YOU CAN'T RUN
A POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA ZOOM OR
WITH A FEW TEXT MESSAGES OR
ESPECIALLY HAS NO RIGHT TO FEEL
UPSET. WHEN A REPORTER ASKED WHY
HE WAS GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN
FOR MULTIPLE WEEKS OF AUGUST, IF
RUNNING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
OUR CITY IS TOO MUCH OF A BOTHER
FOR BARNES, HE NEEDS TO TURN
OVER HIS BADGE OR THE MAYOR
NEEDS TO FIRE HIM. IT'S BAD
ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT MANY POLICE
OFFICERS DON'T WALK OR LIVE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES. EVEN WORSE,
WHEN YOU HAVE A CHIEF WHO
DOESN'T VALUE OUR CITY AND
SPENDS HIS TIME IN ANOTHER STATE
EVERY CHANCE HE GETS, WE NEED A
CHIEF WHO LIVES IN OUR TOWN.
-- THANK YOU ALBERTO. TWO LAST
SPEAKERS WE HAVE KEVIN MEANS,
FOLLOWED BY EDWIN. LINDO. KEVIN
STARR SIX.
-- HI, COUNCIL.
-- THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- SURE CAN. KEVIN. HEY
-- GREAT. THANK YOU. YEAH, I'M A
PARENT AND A RESIDENT AND
HOMEOWNER IN D2, AND I WAS
CALLING IN TO SUPPORT COUNCIL
BILL 121215 AND ASK YOU TO
REJECT AMENDMENT B. I HAVE THREE
KIDS WHO ARE HERE IN THE BACK OF
THE MINIVAN WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
AND DON'T WORRY, I'M PARKED.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
LIVE IN SEATTLE TWO. AND RIGHT
NOW IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD. IF
THE HOUSING PRICES CONTINUE THE
WAY THEY HAVE BEEN GOING AND OUR
LACK OF BUILDING HOUSING
CAPACITY CONTINUES THIS WAY, I
WOULD ALSO LIKE THEM TO LIVE IN
A CITY THAT HAS FORESTS AND
HEALTHY OCEANS AROUND THEM, AND
THAT MEANS BUILDING DENSER AND
AVOIDING SPRAWL. SO THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU KEVIN.
NEXT WE HAVE EDWIN. WELCOME.
AND YOU ARE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
HEAR YOU WHEN YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
NO. YOUR YOUR PHONE MIGHT BE
MUTED. EDWIN. BUT YOU LOOK
AWFUL.
-- I AM.
-- THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO.
-- CAN YOU HEAR ME?
-- OKAY, LOUD AND CLEAR.
-- EVERYONE, I APPRECIATE IT.
HI, EVERYONE. EDWIN LINDO WITH
LIBRARY. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE
MY SUPPORT FOR 12, 12, 15 WITH
THE AMENDMENTS, NOT INCLUDING
AMENDMENT B. I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND OTHERS
REALLY REFINING THIS, MAKING
SURE THAT THERE'S STILL AN
APPEAL PROCESS FOR NON PROJECTS
ON THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECT LEVEL.
SO THAT STILL EXISTS AND THAT
THE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS AT LEAST REPORTS BEING
PRESENTED TO COUNCIL WHEN THOSE
ARE ASKED BY COUNCILMEMBERS. BUT
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A LOT
OF THE CONCERNS COMMUNITIES
HAVE, INCLUDING MYSELF, IS THAT
THERE ISN'T AN ACTUAL REVIEW
FOR THE IMPACT OF DISPLACEMENT
ON MANY OF THESE PROJECTS,
INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL, AND I
WOULD REALLY LOVE FOR COUNCIL TO
EXPLORE TOGETHER HOW WE CAN
CREATE SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT
OF A ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OR
DISPLACEMENT REVIEW PROCESS OR
BOARD. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AS
WE CONTINUE TO GROW, THAT WE
AREN'T EXACERBATING THE
DISPLACEMENT TAKING PLACE IN THE
HIGH RISK AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN
THE SOUTH END OF SEATTLE.
-- THANK YOU. EDWIN, ARE THERE
ANY MORE? THERE'S NO PUBLIC
COMMENT. SPEAKERS. WE'RE ABOUT
TWO HOURS AND 15 MINUTES IN
PUBLIC COMMENT. I DON'T SEE
ANYONE ELSE ONLINE WHO IS NOT
PRESENT. WE'LL GIVE IT LIKE 10
SECONDS SAM WOLFSON, NICOLE
CORRADO, RUBY HOLLAND HARPER
NALLEY AND STARR HOPE AND KEN
LETTERMAN. OKAY, PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU
ALL FOR COMING FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. VERY GRATEFUL. I KNOW
PEOPLE STOOD IN LINE FOR A LONG
TIME, AND THEN PEOPLE WERE ON
THE PHONE FOR A LONG TIME. SO
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND YOUR COMMENTS TODAY AND
TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY. I
ALSO WANT TO CHECK IN WITH MY
COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE MOVE IN
POWER THROUGH THE AGENDA. DOES
ANYONE NEED A RECESS OR ARE WE
GOOD? I'LL BE LOOKING. SOME
PEOPLE COULD USE ONE FIVE
MINUTES. IS THAT OKAY? SO RIGHT
NOW IT'S GOING TO BE FOR 15. IF
WE CAME BACK AT 420, MY FAVORITE
TIME, WE WILL COME BACK AND
RESTART THE MEETING. OKAY. THANK
YOU.
-- [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
-- OKAY. TESTING SEATTLE
CHANNEL. ARE WE ON? AND WE'RE
READY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND
BEGIN. RESUME ROLL. WE'RE GOING
TO START TWO.
-- YOU WANT.
-- ALL RIGHT. WELL THE CLERK
PLEASE. WE ARE HERE. TESTING
ONE. TWO. TESTING ONE, TWO.
-- ALL RIGHT. GOOD.
-- YOU ALL RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO
START. WE'RE GOING TO START.
WE'RE GONNA START. WE'RE GONNA
START. WE'RE GOING TO START IT
UP. FOOT ON THE GAS. ALL RIGHT.
CAN THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL WHILE WE'RE DRIVING THIS
CAR?
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES. HERE.
-- EIGHT EIGHT. PRESENT.
-- AWESOME. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
IS EXCUSED UNTIL SHE GETS HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS HERE, SO
PLEASE CALL HER AGAIN. I WANT
HER TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE
DOESN'T GET COUNTED AS LATE
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ YES!
-- AWESOME PRESENT. ALL RIGHT,
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION. THANK
YOU. THERE'S NO OBJECTION. THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING. NO. NO
OBJECTION. THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE'RE NOW GOING TO
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR INCLUDE MINUTES OF JULY
21st. COUNCIL BILL 121260, WHICH
IS PAYMENT OF THE BILLS. WE HAVE
ONE BILL FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES, LABOR AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND 19
APPOINTMENTS FROM THE HOUSING,
ARTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? HEARING NONE, I MOVE
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. HI,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. HI,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. HI,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. I
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR. NONE. OPPOSED.
-- CONSENT. CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND THE
LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
-- THE REPORT OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE FAMILIES,
EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE
LEVY. SIX YEAR IMPLEMENTATION
AND EVALUATION PLAN AGENDA ITEM
ONE. COUNCIL 1212 40. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2025
FAMILIES EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL
AND PROMISE LEVY APPROVING AND
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
PLAN AS REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE
127238. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THE BILL PASSES AMENDED.
COUNCILMEMBERS. RIVERA
HOLLINGSWORTH. FOSTER. JUAREZ,
KETTLE, LIN, RINCK AND STRAUSS
IN FAVOR AND COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
OPPOSED COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
PRESENT THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
-- I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HERE.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SO EXCITING.
THIS IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'VE
BEEN WORKING ON MY TEAM AND MANY
OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. REALLY.
AND SO THIS IS A REALLY BIG
MOMENT. THIS IS A LEVY THAT
EVERYONE CAN GET EXCITED ABOUT
AND CAN STAND BY. PASSED BY 80%
OF VOTERS WE SAW, AND WE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE
DEPARTMENT ON ALL THE WONDERFUL
WORK THAT GETS DONE WITH THIS
PARTICULAR LEVY. SO CLERK DO WE
NEED TO DO I NEED TO WE DO
EVENTUALLY.
-- YOU DO? YES. AND JUST
CHECKING, I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS HIS HAND.
-- I WAS TRYING TO GO AFTER
CHAIR.
-- UNDERSTOOD. GOT IT. GOT YOU.
MY BAD. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. CONTINUE,
PLEASE.
-- THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A LONG
A LONG MEETING TODAY, SO I'M NOT
GOING TO SAY MUCH MORE. I SAID
WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY AT THE
SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT I
JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOUR
ATTENTION TO THIS. I KNOW THIS
IS SOMETHING, AS I SAID EARLIER,
WE ALL VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT, AND
I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM AND YOUR
OFFICES AND OUR CLERKS AND
EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN IN
GETTING TO THIS VOTE TODAY ON
THE FINE AND ALSO THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING,
SOME FOLKS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE,
SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REALLY
IT'S IT'S WHEN WE ALL, LIKE I
ALWAYS SAY, WHEN WE ALL WORK
TOGETHER, WE GET BETTER OUTCOMES
AND RESULTS. AND THIS IS A
PRODUCT OF THAT. SO I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO TAKE THIS FINAL VOTE
TODAY. CHAIR. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. SO YOU'RE
GOING TO MOVE TO AMEND YEP. I'LL
YEAH, I'LL LET YOU DO THAT. AND
THEN PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY HAVE
THEIR FINAL COMMENTS. WE'LL GET
THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS.
-- OKAY, GREAT. CLERK, CAN YOU
JUST CONFIRM, DO I MOVE THE BILL
AND THEN MOVE TO AMEND THE BILL
OR JUST MOVE TO AMEND, JUST MOVE
TO AMEND. ALL RIGHT. I MOVE TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121240 AS
PRESENTED ON THE PROPOSED
SUBSTITUTE TO AMENDMENT ONE.
-- SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND
SECOND, TO AMEND ATTACHMENT
NUMBER ONE TO THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON THE PROPOSED
SUBSTITUTE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS IT.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE SUBSTITUTE WAS NEEDED THE
SUBSTITUTE. SO THAT'S WHAT THE
AMENDMENT IS TO FIX. PAGE NUMBER
REFERENCES, ADD CLARIFICATIONS
ON TO PAGES 54 AND 63 AND MAKE
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO ADDRESS
CENTRAL STAFF ERRORS IN THE
SPEND PLAN. THAT IS BASICALLY
WHAT THE SUBSTITUTE IS DOING.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
-- ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
SUBSTITUTE TO ATTACHMENT NUMBER
ONE? SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE SUBSTITUTE TO
ATTACHMENT ONE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- AYE.
-- IN FAVOR NONE. OPPOSED.
-- MOTION CARRIES. SUBSTITUTE
SUBSTITUTE IS ADOPTED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO MOVE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121240 AS
SPECIFICALLY PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT A SECOND.
-- IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND,
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT A COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER
TO ADDRESS IT.
-- THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE THAT SHEPHERDED
AND OVERSAW THIS PROCESS END TO
END, FOR, AS WAS NOTED TO TWO
YEARS NOW. SO, COLLEAGUES, THIS
AMENDMENT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD,
PRACTICAL, AND INTENDED TO
STRENGTHEN HOW WE EXPAND THE
SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM OVER
THE LIFE OF THIS LEVY. I WANT TO
THANK AGAIN CHAIR RIVERA COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES AND DEAL FOR THEIR
WORK ON THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
AND FOR THE COLLABORATIVE
CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THIS
AMENDMENT SIMPLY CLARIFIES THAT
AS DEEL CONSIDERS WHERE TO
EXPAND PRESCHOOL CAPACITY IN
FUTURE YEARS, IT SHOULD
EXPLICITLY CONSIDER TWO
IMPORTANT FACTORS. FIRST, THE
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WITH THE
HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF
FAMILIES ON THE ESP WAIT LIST,
AND SECONDLY, OPPORTUNITIES TO
HELP CLOSE THE KINDERGARTEN
READINESS GAP FOR CHILDREN WHO
ARE FURTHEST FROM OPPORTUNITY.
AS WE CONTINUE EXPANDING SBP,
DEMAND WILL CONTINUE TO OUTPACE
AVAILABLE SEATS IN SOME PARTS OF
THE CITY. BUT WHEN WE'RE
INVESTING PUBLIC DOLLARS TO
CREATE NEW CAPACITY, WE SHOULD
BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHERE THOSE
INVESTMENTS WILL HAVE THE
GREATEST IMPACT. AND THIS HELPS
GET US THERE. I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. ARE THERE
OTHER FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE TO
COMMENT ABOUT THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE US?
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER THANK
YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
APPRECIATE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
AYE. KNOW WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION
IN THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEES IN
TERMS OF HOW TO TAKE UNDER
CONSIDERATION GEOGRAPHIC
LOCATION, AS WELL AS OTHER
FACTORS. AND I KNOW AFTER SOME
OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, I THINK WE
REALIZED THAT WE WERE CLOSER
TOGETHER THAN WE WERE ON THOSE.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
BACK THIS AMENDED APPROACH.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS REGARDING AMENDMENT A
COUNCILMEMBER? SAKA WOULD YOU
LIKE TO DO ANY CLOSING? IS THAT
AN OLD HAND? COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS YOU WANT.
-- TO SORRY, I'M STILL JUST
WAITING IN THE QUEUE.
-- OKAY.
-- GOT VERY EXCITED.
-- OKAY, AWESOME. ME TOO. ME
TOO. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA YOUR
CLOSING STATEMENT. OKAY.
-- I JUST ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
-- THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT A.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AYE
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR? NONE. OPPOSED.
-- MOTION CARRIES. AN AMENDMENT
A IS ADOPTED. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
BEFORE WE HAVE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS.
-- ON THE UNDERLYING BILL, AS
AMENDED. IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
FANTASTIC. AS YOU CAN TELL, I AM
JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING
THIS FAMILIES EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL PROMISE LEVY
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BEFORE US
COLLEAGUES. LAST WEEK WE HAD A
ROOM DIVIDED, NOT DIFFERENT THAN
THE ROOM THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT
FEELS A LITTLE DIVIDED. AND I
WAS REALLY HAPPY THAT OVER THE
WEEKEND AND EARLY THIS WEEK THAT
THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS HERE,
THE SPONSORS AND THE MAYOR
AGREED ON A UNIFIED STRATEGY TO
IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS FOR SEATTLE
STUDENTS. YES, EVERYONE CAN WIN
WHEN IT COMES TO FEEDING KIDS.
WE KNOW THAT HUNGRY KIDS DON'T
LEARN WELL AND THAT WE NEED TO
BE FEEDING KIDS DURING SCHOOL.
AFTER SCHOOL, ON BREAKS. WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT FOOD SECURITY
IS CENTRAL AND FOR EVERYONE WHO
NEEDS IT. AND THAT'S NOT JUST
UNIVERSAL. THAT ALSO MEANS
BEYOND UNIVERSAL. THE PROPOSAL
THAT WE HAVE FUNDS, BOTH THE
UNIVERSAL FREE MEALS AS PROPOSED
BY THE MAYOR AND SIX YEARS OF
FOOD SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN
NEED OF OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM
FOOD, AS PROPOSED BY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JOY HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBER DIONNE FOSTER.
THESE TWO THINGS ARE NOT AT ODDS
WITH EACH OTHER. WE DO NOT NEED
TO BE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER,
AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT WE
WERE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT
THAT WE ARE TOGETHER NOW. WE ARE
UNITED IN REJECTING THE NOTION
THAT WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
FEEDING STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL
OR OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. WE CAN
AND MUST DO BOTH. THIS
INVESTMENT IS SIMPLY TOO
IMPORTANT NOT TO MAKE, AND I'M
PROUD TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR AND
MY COLLEAGUES HERE TO MAKE SURE
AND ENSURE BOTH OF THESE
CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN
ADDRESSING STUDENT HUNGER BECOME
A REALITY, MAYOR WILSON SAID.
TODAY, WE ARE MAKING UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEALS A REALITY FOR
SEATTLE THIS SEPTEMBER, AND
STUDENTS WHO MOST NEED IT WILL
HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO FOOD ON
WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL BREAKS.
FEEDING EVERY STUDENT IN SEATTLE
IS A GOAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR, AND SHE IS
GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE PATHWAY FORWARD THE
AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE FOLLOWS
THESE TWO SEPARATE PROPOSALS,
ONE FROM THE MAYOR, WHICH FUNDS
THE UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS
PROGRAM FOR 2026 AND THROUGH
2028 SCHOOL YEARS AND ONE FROM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, HOLLINGSWORTH
AND COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER THAT
WOULD HAVE STARTED THE MEALS AT
A LATER DATE SO THAT WE COULD
INVEST IN THESE SIX YEARS OF
FUNDINGS FOR FOOD INSECURE
STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE
CLASSROOM THAT VOTE WAS HARD
LAST WEEK, IN PARTICULAR,
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE TITLE
ONE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT IN MY
DISTRICT ARE THE SAME SCHOOLS
THAT NEED FOOD THE MOST WHEN
THEY'RE NOT IN THE CLASSROOM,
AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO SAY
YES TO UNIVERSAL MEALS, DESPITE
ALL OF THE DATA, THAT SHOWS THAT
IT REDUCES STIGMA, REDUCES
DOCUMENTATION BARRIERS, REDUCES
EVERYTHING, MAKES KIDS SMARTER,
ALL OF THE REST. IT IS HARD FOR
ME TO TAKE LIMITED DOLLARS WHEN
I KNOW THAT KIDS DOWN IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY ARE HUNGRY ON
WEEKENDS AND ON BREAKS. AND I
KNOW THAT WHEN WE PUT OUR BEST
WORK TOGETHER AS THE MAYOR, AS
THE COUNCIL, WE CAN FIND
PATHWAYS TO DO THIS RIGHT. AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PATHWAY
FOR THE FAMILIES, EDUCATION,
PRESCHOOL PROMISE LEVY TO FULLY
FUND THE AFTER SCHOOL MEALS AND
THE WEEKEND MEALS. AND WE FOUND
ONE TIME FUNDING TO GET THE
UNIVERSAL MEALS STARTED THIS
YEAR. AND SO, YES, WE ALL CAN
EAT LUNCH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU
THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH, BUT WE
CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS
DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT
BECAUSE THE KIDS NEED TO BE FED
SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN. WELL, I
WENT OFF SCRIPT. I'M EXCITED
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION NEXT WEEK IN THE
FINANCE, NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND
TRIBAL NATIONS COMMITTEE,
IDENTIFYING WHICH ONE TIME FUND
SOURCE OPTION WE WILL UTILIZE SO
AS NOT TO ADD TO THE STRUCTURAL
BUDGET DEFICIT AND TO ENSURE
THAT WE ARE FEEDING OUR KIDS,
BECAUSE WE KNOW HUNGRY KIDS
DON'T LEARN. WELL, THANK YOU,
ESPECIALLY TO OUR STUDENTS WHO
CAME TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FUTURE
THAT THEY WANT TO SEE. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
-- AWESOME. WELL SAID. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
OUR BUDGET CHAIR. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS REGARDING
THE BILL? THE FINAL BILL BEFORE
US? WE DO. OKAY. AWESOME. WE
HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I COLLEAGUES, I VOTED
AGAINST THE THE BILL AS IT WAS
THEN AMENDED IN COMMITTEE
BECAUSE AYE. I THOUGHT I THINK
WE WERE ALIGNED ON CONCEPTS, BUT
THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE I THOUGHT
GUTTED TOO MANY HARD FOUGHT D-1
PRIORITIES WITH RESPECT TO
IMPLEMENTATION. I AM HEARTENED
AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT
FOR MY AMENDMENT TO. TO CLARIFY
WHAT WHAT WAS INTENDED THE
ENTIRE TIME AND AS COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER NOTED EARLIER, THERE WAS
A VERY SPIRITED DISCUSSION AT
THE TIME, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL
MORE ALIGNED THAN IN ON ON
THINGS THAN WE DIFFER. SO, SO I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND I'M ALSO HEARTENED, I'LL
SAY, BY THE UNIFIED STRATEGY
THAT, THAT WE'VE ALIGNED ON AS
A COUNCIL WITH WITH THE
EXECUTIVE. SO LEDGE EXEC UNIFIED
STRATEGY TO FEED KIDS IN SCHOOL,
PROVIDE UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL STARTING THIS
YEAR. SO I WANT TO THANK THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS
FOR THAT. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA COUNCIL AND
COLLEAGUES, JUST TO KNOW, THIS
IS THE THE FINAL COMMENTS
REGARDING THE BILL BEFORE US FOR
THE LEVY IMPLEMENTATION. AND
THEN I WILL HAND IT BACK TO OUR
CHAIR FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON MY IT STUFF OVER
HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND I WANT TO START
WITH JUST A LOT OF APPRECIATION.
SO, YOU KNOW, FIRST I'LL SAY
THANK YOU TO TO IN THIS
INSTANCE, CHAIR RIVERA, FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS, BOTH LAST YEAR AND
THIS YEAR. I SAID IT, YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE DID STM, PUTTING THESE
TOGETHER IS A LOT OF WORK. AND
SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
AND APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WANT
TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO
THE CENTRAL STAFF HERE, WHO DID
JUST A LOT OF WORK IN TERMS OF
THE PLAN, AND JUST WANT TO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THEM, TO
THE STAFF AND THE LEADERSHIP AT
DEEL AND TO THE STAFF AND THE
LEADERSHIP IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND TO THE MAYOR AS WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU WENT
OFF SCRIPT. ME TOO.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- SO THIS WILL BE FUN. I THINK
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK FROM THE
HEART A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW,
AND I, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN
CHAMBERS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS
ON THIS HAVE BEEN REALLY
CHALLENGING FOR A LOT OF US, AND
I THINK THEY'VE BEEN
CHALLENGING, IN PART BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT WE GENUINELY CARE
ABOUT BOTH OF THE PIECES THAT I
WAS TRYING TO SOLVE FOR IN TERMS
OF THE AMENDMENT THAT I BROUGHT
FORWARD. YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE
TALKING TO STUDENTS WHO WERE AT
SCHOOLS THAT HAVE UNIVERSAL
LUNCHES BUT STILL EXPERIENCE
GAPS IN MEAL ACCESS, IS
SOMETHING THAT INFLUENCED THIS,
AS WELL AS A BELIEF THAT WE
SHOULD AND WANT TO GET TO
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS AND, YOU
KNOW, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME
WHEN I LOOKED AT HOW MUCH MONEY
WE WERE INVESTING, THE ROUGHLY
500 000 A YEAR IN THAT OUT OF
TIME ACCESS THAT, EXCUSE ME, OUT
OF SCHOOL ACCESS THAT AS WE'RE
GROWING AND WE'RE IMPLEMENTING
UNIVERSAL MEALS THAT WE WERE
ALSO GROWING OUR INVESTMENT IN
THAT OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACCESS. AND
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE
FACT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO A
PLACE WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO
IMPLEMENT THOSE. BOTH
SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IMPLEMENT
THEM BOTH STARTING THIS YEAR,
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S
ULTIMATELY WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR
STUDENTS. SO I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY APPRECIATION TO THE MAYOR AND
HER TEAM FOR THE CONVERSATIONS
OVER THE LAST WEEK. I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY REALLY DEEP
APPRECIATION TO YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH. I THINK
THAT THE IDEAS THAT WE WERE
TRYING TO PUT FORWARD HERE AND
SOMETIMES WERE DIFFICULT TO KIND
OF COME ACROSS AND, AND TO
EXPLAIN, LIKE WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO DO IS COVER THESE GAPS THAT
WE SEE WHILE ALSO COVERING ALL
OF OUR STUDENTS. AND I KNOW THAT
WAS ALWAYS AT THE HEART OF THIS.
AND IT TOOK A LOT TO TRY TO STAY
FOCUSED ON THAT. AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP THERE. AND I THINK
THAT THERE WAS A PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION THAT, YOU KNOW, IN
TERMS OF THOSE SCHOOL BREAKS
THAT WE JUST WEREN'T HAVING
PREVIOUSLY. AND I THINK, I ECHO
YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU
KNOW, GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND
DEEPEN THAT COLLABORATION AND
IMPROVE THAT COLLABORATION. AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
DOING THAT, CONTINUING TO DO
THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND
MONTHS. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION TO YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR YOUR.
THERE IS A WAY FORWARD. ENERGY
AND ATTITUDE THAT YOU BROUGHT TO
THIS. IT WAS. IT WAS REALLY
MEANINGFUL AND CONTAGIOUS. SO.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH JUST
SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THAT
THIS DISCUSSION ON HOW WE'RE
APPROACHING MEALS, I THINK, HAS
BEEN THE FOCUS FOR THE LAST FEW
WEEKS. BUT THE FOCUS FOR THE
LEVY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT
EQUITY AND CLOSING GAPS FOR OUR
STUDENTS. AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY
TO GO THERE ON GRADE LEVEL
READING, ESPECIALLY FOR, YOU
KNOW, WE LOOK AT THOSE THE THIRD
GRADE NUMBERS FOR OUR BLACK
STUDENTS. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO
GO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
EQUITY IN WHO'S ACCESSING OUR,
OUR PROGRAMS, WHETHER THAT'S
PRESCHOOL OR WHETHER THAT'S OUR
PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR
OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING INTO
TRADE PATHWAYS, CAREERS, OR
WHETHER THAT'S OUR STUDENTS WHO
ARE GOING INTO TWO YEAR COLLEGE
OR FOUR YEAR COLLEGE AND THAT'S
WHAT I'LL BE LOOKING TOWARDS
OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS HOW
ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS ON THOSE
OUTCOMES AND HOW ARE WE MAKING
PROGRESS ON SETTING OUR STUDENTS
UP FOR SUCCESS? SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COLLEAGUES, FOR ALL OF THE
DEEP ENGAGEMENT ON THESE ISSUES.
I KNOW I WASN'T HERE WHEN THIS
WAS PUT TOGETHER, SO JUST TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO
OTHERS WHO WERE HERE AND WHO PUT
A LOT OF HARD WORK INTO THE
CONCEPTS IN THIS LEVY. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. WELL SAID. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COLLEAGUES BEFORE THAT
HAVE COMMENTS BEFORE I TURN IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I
WILL SAY THIS REAL QUICK. RIVERA
AND THEN YOU HAVE CLOSING
COMMENTS. I'LL BE FAST. I WANT
TO GIVE A SEND A TREMENDOUS
GRATITUDE TO THE CHAIR FOR YOUR
TIRELESS WORK AND COMMITMENT AND
THAT YOU GAVE TO SEATTLE AND THE
KIDS AND FAMILIES. I'VE SEEN YOU
WORK LONG HOURS IN THE OFFICE
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY HALL WALLS,
AND I COULDN'T BE MORE
IMPRESSED WITH YOUR DEDICATION
TO HELP BUILD A SUCCESSFUL LEVY
IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE REST OF
YOUR COLLEAGUES. AND YOU ALSO
REMINDER YOU ALSO DID A LIBRARY
LEVY THIS YEAR, AND YOU HELPED
PASS THE THE LEVY LAST YEAR.
THIS WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN. SO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ALSO
SENDING A BIG. I WILL NOT GO
INTO DETAILS ABOUT MEALS BECAUSE
WE HAD A OVER $1 BILLION LEVY
AND THIS WAS LIKE LESS THAN A
CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE
CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MANY AMAZING THINGS WITHIN THIS
LEVY. VERY GRATEFUL TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP ON THIS AS WELL. AND
THEN VERY GRATEFUL TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS AS OUR BUDGET
CHAIR AS WELL FOR THE CITY AND
FINDING A PATHWAY FORWARD. AND
TO MAYOR WILSON, HER TEAM AS
WELL FOR THE LAST THE
CONVERSATIONS FOR THE LAST WEEK
OR TWO ABOUT THIS, I THINK WE
FOUND A PATHWAY FORWARD AND JUST
REALLY EXCITED COLLEAGUES,
INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR
OBVIOUSLY, THE MEALS THAT ARE
CREATING THAT ARE GOING TO BE
FOR STUDENTS IN SEATTLE, FOR
THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT TITLE
ONE SCHOOLS. AND THEN ALSO, MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE BREAK MEALS AND
THE WINTER BREAK AND SPRING
BREAK. AND THAT IS BUILT INTO
THE LEVY FOR SIX YEARS, IS A
TREMENDOUS THING TO HAPPEN, TO
GIVE PEOPLE THE CHOICE. OKAY, SO
THEY CAN BE ABLE TO DO THEIR
DIETARY NEEDS, CULTURAL NEEDS
AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND THE
DIGNITY THAT THAT HAS. WHEN WE
GIVE PEOPLE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE
TO CHOOSE IS BIGGER THAN A PRICE
TAG, TO BE HONEST. SO ANYWAYS,
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. I WILL
STOP THERE AND I WILL PASS IT
OVER TO YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR CLOSING COMMENTS
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE.
-- THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW,
SAYING THE PIECE ABOUT THIS LEVY
CONTAINS THERE ARE A LOT OF
PARTS CHILD CARE, PRESCHOOL K
THROUGH 12 INVESTMENTS PROMISE
PATH TO TREAT. THAT IS A LOT FOR
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS CITY IN
ONE PACKAGE. AND SO ALL OF IT IS
IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR
THE REMINDER ON THAT. I WILL SAY
COLLEAGUES, IT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME. YOU KNOW, THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT SCHOOL MEALS.
I'M ALSO APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE
AGAIN, AS I SAID EARLIER IN THIS
IN IN OUR MEETING TODAY, WHEN WE
WORK TOGETHER, WE GET BETTER
RESULTS. AND SO REALLY
APPRECIATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCIL MEMBER, FOSTER AND
STRAUSS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO FIGURE
OUT A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE. BECAUSE AT THE END OF
THE DAY, WE CARE ABOUT KIDS IN
THIS CITY. WE CARE ABOUT KIDS IN
GENERAL. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE
CARE ABOUT THE KIDS THAT ARE
FURTHEST FROM AND IN AND WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING OPPORTUNITY GAPS.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
AND I'LL PUT A PLUG IN AGAIN
FOR DEAL IS I KNOW THAT DEAL
WORKS REALLY HARD TO ENSURE THAT
THESE INVESTMENTS ARE REALLY
CLOSING GAPS FOR STUDENTS
FURTHEST FROM THEIR EDUCATION
ACHIEVEMENT. AND THAT IS WHY ALL
OF THE LEVY IS PRIORITIZED FOR
OUR LOW INCOME KIDS. AND OUR
BLACK AND BROWN KIDS ACROSS THE
CITY WHO HAVE NEEDS. AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
ACHIEVING ACADEMICALLY BECAUSE,
AS I ALWAYS SAY, AS GROWING UP,
A POOR PUERTO RICAN GIRL IN THE
BRONX, WHAT GOT ME OUT OF
POVERTY WAS AN EDUCATION. AND SO
TO ME, THIS IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT LEVY WE COULD EVER
PASS. EVERY LEVY IS IMPORTANT TO
ME. THIS ONE IS THE THE, THE ONE
THAT'S NEAREST TO MY HEART
BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OUR KIDS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW AND LEARN AND HAVE A BRIGHT
FUTURE. AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL OF YOUR WORK WITH THAT. AND
AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE
DEPARTMENT'S HARD WORK AND MY
WORK WITH BOTH ADMINISTRATIONS.
THIS STARTED WITH HAROLD THE
HERO ADMINISTRATION. AND I SAID
LAST WEEK, DEPUTY MAYOR TIFFANY
WASHINGTON, WHO DID SO MUCH AND
WORKED, PARTNERED WITH ME ON
THIS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THIS
ADMINISTRATION CARES AS WELL,
WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WAS
EVIDENCED BY THIS CONVERSATION
ABOUT MEALS. SO AGAIN, WE ALL
CARE SO MUCH ABOUT OUR KIDS. AND
THEN SOMETIMES WHAT WE DISAGREE
ON IS HOW TO GET THERE. WE ALL
WANT THE END GOAL. AND THEN WE
ALL MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT
OPINIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE GET
THERE. AND THEN WHEN WE WORK
TOGETHER, WE FIGURE OUT A PATH.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT
MAKES THIS ENTIRE BODY AND OUR
CITY AND OUR KIDS IN THE CITY
AND OUR FAMILIES BETTER FOR IT.
AND SO I, FOR ONE, AM VERY
GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND I'M SO
EXCITED TO BE PASSING THIS TODAY
TO HAVE EXPANDED MUCH EXPANDED
CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS. AND
K THROUGH 12 OFFERINGS THAT HAVE
INTENSE TUTORING AND MENTORSHIP
SO THAT KIDS DO MEET THEIR
MILESTONES FOR THIRD AND FOURTH
GRADE READING AND MATH, WHICH
ARE SO CRITICAL. THEY ARE A
FOUNDATION. YOU CANNOT GRADUATE
AND GO INTO EITHER PROMISE OR A
PATH TO TRADES WITHOUT MEETING
YOUR EDUCATIONAL MILESTONES.
GRADUATING OUT OF 12th GRADE.
AND THAT IS WHAT K THROUGH 12 IS
THERE TO DO IS SUPPORT THE KIDS
WITH THIS INTENSE TUTORING AND
MENTORSHIP. TO ACHIEVE THAT. AND
THEN, OF COURSE, THE PROMISE TO
EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT,
PUBLIC, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, AND
PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENT IN
THE CITY TO HAVE TWO YEARS OF
COLLEGE OR A PATH TO THE TRADES,
WHICH ARE REALLY GREAT UNION
PAYING JOBS. YOU ALL KNOW THIS.
THAT ONE IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR
TO MY HEART. AND SO THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE REALLY
PROUD OF. AND I AM JUST SO PROUD
OF THIS LEVY AND OF THE INE THAT
WE ARE ULTIMATELY PASSING TODAY
AND GRATEFUL. AND I'M EXCITED TO
SEE IT MOVE FORWARD. I WILL SAY,
COLLEAGUES, THAT IN TERMS OF THE
MEALS, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE
COMMITMENT TO. IT WAS IT'S A
GAP. IT'S FILLING THE GAP
BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THE STATE
STARTS PAYING FOR THIS
INVESTMENT. AND THAT IS CRITICAL
BECAUSE THE INITIAL LEVY DID NOT
CONTEMPLATE AN A UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEALS. SO LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE STATE COMING IN. AND THIS
WAS INTENDED AS A GAP AS THE
MAYOR PROPOSED IT. AND AS YOU
ALL HAVE FOUND A PATH FORWARD.
SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND
THEN ALSO JUST KEEPING IN MIND,
AS I SAID LAST WEEK, THERE'S
SOME INVESTMENTS THAT WEREN'T IN
HERE BEFORE. AND SO WE'RE GOING
TO KEEP OUR EYE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE
SERVING THE POPULATIONS THAT WE
TOLD VOTERS WE WOULD SERVE WITH
THIS LEVY. SO WE'RE GOING TO
MONITOR THIS LEVY VERY CLOSELY,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH NOT JUST DEAL, BUT
IN THIS CASE AS WELL. HSD PARKS
AND RECREATION AND OSE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
ON THESE ON THESE INVESTMENTS.
SO WITH THAT, CHAIR, THANK YOU
FOR LETTING ME HAVE A FEW EXTRA
MINUTES. I KNOW IT'S A LONG
MEETING. LET'S TAKE THIS AMAZING
VOTE.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. OKAY. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL, AS
AMENDED?
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR? NONE. OPPOSED.
-- BILL PASSES AS AMENDED. THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
CONGRATULATIONS, COLLEAGUES.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- OKAY.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- OH, YEAH.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- OKAY, GOOD.
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- GOOD ONE. WOO! KIDS.
-- ALWAYS CLAPPING FOR KIDS. NOW
WE'RE GOING TO CLAP FOR LAND
USE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
THE ITEM? READ ITEM NUMBER TWO
INTO THE RECORD.
-- THE FOR THE LAND USE AND
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. GENDA
ITEM TWO COUNCIL BILL 121215. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
COUNCIL LAND USE DECISIONS
AMENDING SECTION 23.76.0 50
.06225.05.0, 70.3, 40.4, 55.4,
60.502 AND 0.6, 80. THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO CLARIFY
PROCESSES FOR COUNCIL LAND USE
DECISIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THE BILL AS AMENDED WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS, LIN, FOSTER AND
RINCK IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED
WITH ABSTENTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- AWESOME. COUNCILMEMBER LIN. I
KNOW YOU'VE BEEN READY FOR THIS.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO GIVE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT TODAY. BUT ALSO
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS,
NOT JUST IN SENDING EMAILS,
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU
KNOW, SUBMITTING OP,
PARTICIPATING IN RADIO
INTERVIEWS AND JUST REALLY
HAVING A ROBUST DIALOG ABOUT, AS
WE HEARD ONE COMMENTATOR SAY
ABOUT DEMOCRACY, ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT, ABOUT HOUSING,
ABOUT OUR PROCESSES. SO THANK
YOU. WE DID HEAR THIS IN OUR
COMMITTEE FOUR SEPARATE TIMES.
AND THEN WE IT WAS RECOMMENDED,
AS YOU HEARD, THREE AND TWO
ABSTAINED. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS THAT WE WILL TALK
ABOUT TODAY, BUT I JUST IF
YOU'LL ALLOW ME TO JUST SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT
I'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY, WHAT
I'VE HEARD FROM COLLEAGUES, MY
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, AND JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE
WE HEARD A LOT OF A LOT OF GOOD
DEBATE AND DIALOG TODAY, AND I
APPRECIATE THAT. AND I TAKE IT
SERIOUSLY, I TAKE SERIOUSLY THE
CRITICISMS OF MY BILL. I TAKE
SERIOUSLY MY JOB TO NOT JUST
REPRESENT MY OWN VIEWS, BUT TO
REPRESENT ALL THE FOLKS I
REPRESENT IN DISTRICT TWO. AND I
THINK WE HEARD A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT VIEWS THERE TODAY. I
WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THIS IS
NOT, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED ON THE
ORCA APPEAL. THAT HAS BEEN A LOT
OF THE DISCUSSION. I WANT TO
MAKE CLEAR THAT THE ORCA APPEAL
IS BEING HEARD RIGHT NOW IN
FRONT OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
HEARINGS BOARD. THE ORCA APPEAL
WAS HEARD ON THE MERITS LAST
WEEK, AND THE APPELLANTS ARE
SEEKING TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND SEEKING
TO INVALIDATE WHAT WE PASSED
LAST DECEMBER, INCLUDING THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MIDDLE
HOUSING. SO I JUST WANT TO WE WE
WILL WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD
DECIDES. AND I THINK WE'RE
HOPING TO GET A DECISION IN
SEPTEMBER. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT I BELIEVE THE ORCA
APPEAL TO THE HEARING EXAMINER.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD THAT
IT WOULD BE SORT OF A SECOND
SORT OF APPEAL ON THE SAME SAME
ISSUE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD
GO FORWARD. AND REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THIS LEGISLATION PASSES,
I BELIEVE THAT AND I WILL BE
URGING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE TO ALLOW THAT APPEAL TO
MOVE FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY,
EXPEDITIOUSLY, BEFORE THE
HEARING, EXAMINER AND THIS BILL
DOES NOT PRECLUDE THAT FROM
GOING FORWARD. SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE THAT CLEAR. I ALSO WANT TO
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
DEMOCRACY TODAY. WE'VE HEARD A
LOT ABOUT DEMOCRACY, AND I
BELIEVE WE ALL BELIEVE IN THE
IMPORTANCE OF DEMOCRACY. YOU
KNOW, OUR DEMOCRACY IS NOT
PERFECT. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY
EVIDENT FROM WHO IS IN PRESIDENT
TODAY AND THAT HE'S BEEN IN
THAT SEAT TWICE NOW. AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I
HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY WITH
CHALLENGING GOVERNMENT. I WAS IN
PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR EIGHT
YEARS, AND THE BULK OF THE WORK
THAT I DID WAS CHALLENGING
GOVERNMENT. I FOUGHT CITY OF
BELLEVUE, AND I BROUGHT A NUMBER
OF SEPA APPEALS FIGHTING AGAINST
A ROAD PROJECT. I FOUGHT AGAINST
SOUND TRANSIT. AND THEN IN IN
2017, TRUMP TOOK OFFICE AND I
KNEW I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT AND I NEEDED TO GIVE
BACK TO MY COMMUNITY IN A
DIFFERENT WAY. AND THAT'S WHY I
FELT VERY PRIVILEGED TO JOIN THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN 2017.
AND I LOVE THAT JOB. IT WAS THE
HONOR. IT WAS AN EXTREME HONOR
TO TO REPRESENT THE CITY IN THAT
WAY. AND, AND I'M SAD TO REPORT
THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS
ANOTHER CHANGE, ANOTHER ELECTION
THAT ALSO INSPIRED ME BECAUSE
WHEN HE WAS ELECTED AGAIN, I
KNEW THAT AGAIN, THAT I NEEDED
TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AS
MUCH AS I COULD. AND IT WAS AN
IMPORTANT, MOTIVATING,
MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ME RUNNING
FOR OFFICE BECAUSE DEMOCRACY
MATTERS. AND THE DISCUSSION
WE'VE HAD TODAY, I THINK IS
MEANINGFUL. A LOT OF THE
AMENDMENTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
HEAR TODAY ARE A RESULT OF YOUR
VOICES AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS
BILL, WHETHER IT WILL PASS OR
NOT TODAY, WHETHER MY MY BILL
WILL PASS TODAY, NOT TODAY. AND
THAT'S THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S
DEMOCRACY. BUT I JUST WANT TO
MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I RESPECT ALL
OF YOUR VOICES AND THAT THEY DO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW THAT
ONE MINUTE IS NOT ENOUGH. THANK
YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOR ALLOWING SORT OF
ALL THE COMMENTS TO GO FORWARD.
AND WE HEARD QUITE A QUITE A
LOT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD
PROBABLY KEEP KEEP HEARING MORE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT
DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND I
ALSO THINK THAT DEMOCRACY
DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS
GOING TO WIN EVERY TIME. YOU
KNOW, SOMETIMES DEMOCRACY MEANS
YOU TRY AND TRY AGAIN. SOMETIMES
THE VOTE DOESN'T GO YOUR WAY.
AND WE WILL SEE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN
FOR THIS BILL. BUT THAT'S NOT
THE IMPORTANT THING. THE
IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE, THAT WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE DEBATES, AND
ALSO THAT THAT FROM TIME TO TIME
THAT WE WE HOPEFULLY LISTEN TO
EACH OTHER. YOU KNOW, AND THAT
WE WORK TOGETHER. AND I DO THINK
WE HAVE A LOT MORE IN COMMON
THAN DIVIDES US. I ATTENDED THE
VIGIL LAST NIGHT AT THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND IT WAS WAS PRETTY
HEARTBREAKING. YOU KNOW, AND IT
WAS JUST A REMINDER, ONE, HOW,
HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS AND HOW WE
SHOULD VALUE EACH OTHER. AND
MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE A PAUSE
BEFORE WE TEAR EACH OTHER DOWN
QUITE SO MUCH. BUT IT WAS ALSO A
REMINDER THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH
MORE IN COMMON THAN DIVIDES US
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO
THINGS LIKE YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE,
HOW WE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE
TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY,
WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO COME
TOGETHER. AND I THINK IT'S TRUE
HERE TOO, YOU KNOW, AS OUR CITY,
HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS
THINGS LIKE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND, AND THE
ENVIRONMENT? WE'RE NOT GOING TO
GET THERE JUST YELLING AT EACH
OTHER. WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE
WORKING TOGETHER. AND I BELIEVE
WE HAVE A LOT MORE IN COMMON
THAN DIVIDES US IN TERMS OF THIS
SPECIFIC BILL. WHY I BELIEVE
THIS WILL ACTUALLY IMPROVE OUR
DECISION MAKING PROCESS. FIRST
OF ALL, AGAIN, IT DOES NOT
PREVENT APPEALS TO THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD THAT
STAYS IN PLACE. AND YOU HAVE
EVERY RIGHT TO CHALLENGE
GOVERNMENT ACTION. AND WE HAVE
SEEN THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE. WE
HAD A BILL LAST YEAR ON THE
HOUSING IN THE STADIUM DISTRICT
THAT WAS APPEALED TO THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD, AND
WE WERE OVERTURNED AND WE HAD TO
REPEAL IT. THAT IS A POSSIBILITY
WITH THE CURRENT APPEAL, AND
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A
POSSIBILITY WITH FUTURE APPEALS.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT
CLEAR. ANOTHER THING I WANT TO
MAKE CLEAR IS THAT PROJECT BASED
APPEALS WILL CONTINUE TO BE TO
GO FORWARD, EVEN IF THIS BILL IS
PASSED. AND AS I MENTIONED, I
FOUGHT AGAINST THE ROAD PROJECT
IN BELLEVUE. I, YOU KNOW, HAVE
GREAT RESPECT FOR RESIDENTS WHO
FOUGHT I-90. AND, YOU KNOW, IF
THERE WAS A HIGHWAY PROJECT, I
WOULD BE OUT THERE FIGHTING WITH
YOU. AND THAT APPEAL OF, OF A
PROJECT BASED DECISION LIKE THAT
WOULD BE AVAILABLE UNDER SEPA,
UNDER NEPA AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED
I'VE HEARD FROM A COMMENTER WHO
TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
SEPA TO THEM FIGHTING NUCLEAR
POWER PLANTS IN THE 1970s.
AGAIN, A PROJECT BASED APPEAL
THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE
ALLOWED. I ALSO JUST WANT TO
MAKE CLEAR THAT I DO THINK
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HIGHWAYS BEING BUILT, DESTROYING
COMMUNITIES, NUCLEAR POWER
PLANTS AND HOUSING. I DON'T
THINK HOUSING AND FUTURE
RESIDENTS ARE TOXIC WASTE OR
POLLUTION THAT NEED TO BE
STUDIED. FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND
YEARS ON END. I BELIEVE HOUSING
IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND WE SHOULD
TREAT IT THAT WAY AND THAT WE
NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
MOVE FORWARD URGENTLY, TO BUILD
THE HOUSING WE NEED SO THAT
EVERYONE CAN LIVE HERE AND
THRIVE, SO THAT WE THAT THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED HAVE A
PLACE TO, TO RETURN TO SO THAT
REFUGEES FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, FROM ACROSS THE WORLD
HAVE A PLACE TO THRIVE, SO THAT
OUR YOUNG CHILDREN, OUR ELDERS,
CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE AND THRIVE
IN THIS COMMUNITY, SO THAT OUR
MOST VULNERABLE, WHO ARE ON THE
STREETS, CAN HAVE A PLACE TO
CALL HOME. AND I BELIEVE, AGAIN,
THE WAY THAT WE GET THERE IS
WORKING TOGETHER. IT IS NOT
FIGHTING. IT IS NOT YELLING AT
EACH OTHER. AND AND THAT IS WHAT
I SEE AS A ROOT CAUSE OR A ROOT
MOTIVATION FOR THIS BILL. I
DON'T BELIEVE THE HEARING
EXAMINER IS DEMOCRACY. I DON'T
BELIEVE LITIGATING. WHETHER THE
EIS OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT WAS SUFFICIENT. BEFORE
WE EVEN GET TO THE HARD WORK OF
TRYING TO REACH COMPROMISE AND
DEBATE AND DISCUSSION HELPS OUR
DECISION MAKING. I HAVE NOT SEEN
ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF
-- DECADES, WHETHER AS A
CONSTITUENT, WHETHER IN MY TIME
IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT
IF WE CONTINUE ON THIS PATH OF
SIMPLY TRYING TO LITIGATE THIS,
THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIND A
PATH FORWARD. WE ARE NOT COMING
UP WITH WIN-WIN SOLUTIONS IN
FRONT OF THE HEARING EXAMINER.
WE ARE NOT LISTENING TO EACH
OTHER IN FRONT OF THE HEARING
EXAMINER. TODAY, WE HEARD A LOT
OF DIFFERENT VOICES AND
HOPEFULLY WE LISTENED TO EACH
OTHER. I FOUND IT VERY
MEANINGFUL. WE I'M GOING TO
STOP THERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE,
AGAIN, EVERYONE'S PARTICIPATION
IN THIS. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL
MY COLLEAGUES AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO. REGARDLESS OF THIS OUTCOME,
I LOOK FORWARD TO US CONTINUING
TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR
MOST URGENT PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR THAT. AND
WE HAVE A LIST OF AMENDMENTS. SO
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I'D
LIKE TO INVITE LIZ WINSTON
WHITSON. SORRY I CALLED YOU.
WINSTON. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
I'M SORRY. LIZ, HE'S OUR
DIRECTOR OF COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF TO COME TO THE TABLE,
COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE AS WE GO
THROUGH THEM, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS. POINT OF ORDER.
-- YEAH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES BECAUSE
AMENDMENTS ARE TYPICALLY DONE IN
COMMITTEE. AND IS THAT CORRECT,
CHAIR?
-- YEAH, THAT WAS IN MY THANK
YOU. THAT WAS IN MY NOTES.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF TO ADDRESS
THE COUNCIL. IS THAT OKAY?
AWESOME. I KNOW, AWESOME. THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
HEARING NO OBJECTION, WE WILL BE
JOINED BY LIZ, DIRECTOR OF
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF OKAY,
AWESOME. AND THEN I'M GOING TO
MOVE MY AMENDMENT. OKAY, HERE WE
GO. SO I'M GOING TO MOVE TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL ONE TWO, ONE
TWO, ONE FIVE AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT A.
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT A AS
SPONSOR. I WILL ADDRESS IT. NO.
YEAH, I WILL I WILL ADDRESS IT.
IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WOULD YOU ALL LIKE AN UPDATE
FROM LIZ ABOUT THE AMENDMENT OR
WOULD YOU LIKE LIZ, WILL YOU
GIVE US WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT
THIS AMENDMENT, PLEASE? SORRY.
THANK YOU. PUTTING YOU ON THE
SPOT.
-- VERY BRIEFLY.
-- THERE YOU GO.
-- THERE YOU GO AMENDMENT A
WOULD REQUIRE THAT THERE BE A
SUMMARY PROVIDED FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
THAT IS NO MORE THAN TEN PAGES
LONG FOR LAND USE DECISIONS.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU. LIZ. THIS
IS REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I
HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT EYES
BEING THOUSANDS OF PAGES. SO I
WANTED SEATTLEITES TO HAVE A
CLEAR, EASY TO READ SUMMARY OF
EACH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT WITHOUT THROWING IT
THROUGH AI YOURSELF. SO THIS
AMENDMENT REQUIRES A SUMMARY OF
KEY ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS NO
MORE THAN TEN PAGES IN PLAIN
ENGLISH TO HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPACTS WERE
STUDIED AND ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY
DURING THE 45 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. SO SOMETHING THAT WILL
JUST SUMMARIZE IT AND MAKE IT
SUPER EASY. AND THEN I ALSO HAD
AN AMENDMENT TO EXTEND THE DRAFT
EIS COMMENT PERIOD FROM 30 TO 45
DAYS AS WELL. SO, COLLEAGUES, I
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ON THIS
AMENDMENT AND WE'LL OPEN UP TO
COMMENTS. IF THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE.
THANK YOU
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT
TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THIS.
YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF
AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT IS TO IMPROVE OUR
DECISION MAKING. THAT IS HARD TO
DO WHEN IT'S A 3000 PAGE
DOCUMENT. AND SO I DO BELIEVE A
SUMMARY, AS PROPOSED WOULD BE
EXTREMELY HELPFUL. SO I JUST
WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT.
-- THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER LIN ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING
AMENDMENT? A? AWESOME. I DON'T
HAVE ANY CLOSING COMMENTS. THANK
YOU. COLLEAGUES, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT A.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- AND IN FAVOR? NONE. OPPOSED.
-- MOTION CARRIES. AMENDMENT A
IS ADOPTED. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO MOVE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121215 AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT B
-- SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECOND, TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT B.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
IT.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AT STAKE. OUR FUNDAMENTAL DUE
PROCESS RIGHTS, FREE SPEECH
RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE
TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR
A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES. THESE
RIGHTS FORM THE BEDROCK OF OUR
DEMOCRACY AND THESE RIGHTS ARE
ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
COLLEAGUES, I AM OFFERING
AMENDMENT B BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THERE IS A BETTER PATH FORWARD.
WE SHOULD REFORM AND STREAMLINE
THIS PROCESS, NOT ELIMINATE IT.
SEATTLE MUST MOVE FASTER TO
ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE. WE
MUST UPDATE OUR COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
EFFICIENTLY AND MEET OUR
OBLIGATIONS UNDER STATE LAW. BUT
WHEN A PUBLIC PROCESS TAKES TOO
LONG, OUR FIRST RESPONSE SHOULD
BE TO IMPROVE IT, NOT ABOLISH
IT. MY AMENDMENT TAKES A
BALANCED APPROACH. IT PRESERVES
THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO SEEK
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE
CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS,
WHILE MAKING THAT REVIEW FASTER,
MORE PREDICTABLE AND BETTER
ALIGNED WITH OUR HOUSING GOALS.
SPECIFICALLY, IT REQUIRES THE
HEARING EXAMINER TO PRIORITIZE
HOUSING RELATED APPEALS AND
SHORTENS THE STANDARD TIMELINE
FROM 120 DAYS TO 90 DAYS.
THAT'S MEANINGFUL REFORM. I ALSO
WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT SEPA
APPEAL IS AND WHAT IT'S NOT. IT
IS NOT A VETO OVER HOUSING. IT
IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO STOP
GROWTH SIMPLY BECAUSE SOMEONE
DISAGREES ABOUT A POLICY
DECISION. AN APPELLANT MUST
SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY A
LEGITIMATE DEFICIENCY IN THE
CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS.
THE CITY'S DETERMINATION
RECEIVES SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT, AND
THE BURDEN STILL RESTS ON THE
PERSON BRINGING THE APPEAL,
MAKING THE CHALLENGE. IF THE
CITY'S WORK IS SOUND, IT SHOULD
WITHSTAND INDEPENDENT REVIEW. IF
NOT, THEN CORRECTING AND
REMEDIATING THAT DEFICIENCY
BEFORE ADOPTING A DECISION THAT
SHAPES SEATTLE FOR GENERATIONS
MAKES OUR DECISIONS STRONGER,
MORE DURABLE AND WORTHY OF
PUBLIC TRUST. NOW, AS AN AIR
FORCE VETERAN, I PROUDLY SERVED
OUR COUNTRY TO PROTECT THE
FREEDOMS THAT DEFINE OUR
DEMOCRACY, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM
FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES
HEARD. THAT EXPERIENCE CONTINUES
TO SHAPE HOW I APPROACH PUBLIC
SERVICE TODAY DEMOCRACY IS
STRONGEST WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THEIR
VOICES MATTER, THEIR CONCERNS
ARE HEARD, AND OUR GOVERNMENT
REMAINS ACCOUNTABLE AND
RESPONSIVE. OUR LAND USE
DECISIONS SHOULD REFLECT THOSE
SAME VALUES. WE'VE HEARD
CONCERNS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEALS ARE ROUTINELY WEAPONIZED
TO DELAY HOUSING THE RECORD
BEFORE US TELLS A MORE NUANCED
STORY OVER ROUGHLY THE PAST
DECADE, THE CITY IDENTIFIED JUST
28 RELEVANT APPEALS. MOST WERE
DISMISSED OR WITHDRAWN, AND ONLY
A HANDFUL RESULTED IN ANY FORM
OF REMAND OR REVERSAL. THAT DOES
NEED. TO ME, THAT DOES NOT
SUGGEST A SYSTEM OVERWHELMED BY
FRIVOLOUS APPEALS. IT SUGGESTS A
LIMITED ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM
THAT GENERALLY FILTERS OUT WEAK
CLAIMS WHILE PRESERVING AN
AVENUE TO IDENTIFY LEGITIMATE
PROBLEMS. THAT SAID, SOME
APPEALS HAVE CLEARLY TAKEN TOO
LONG. I AGREE, AND THAT IS
EXACTLY WHY THIS AMENDMENT
SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS. HOUSING
AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE NOT
COMPETING VALUES HOUSING AND
PUBLIC TRUST ARE NOT COMPETING
VALUES. WE CAN BUILD MORE HOMES
WHILE PRESERVING CONFIDENCE THAT
THE CITY HAS DONE ITS WORK
CAREFULLY, TRANSPARENTLY AND
LAWFULLY. IN FACT, PUBLIC TRUST
HELPS MAKE LASTING, DURABLE
HOUSING POLICY POSSIBLE. THIS
AMENDMENT DOES NOT PRESERVE OR
PRESERVE DELAY FOR DELAY'S
SAKE. DOES NOT CREATE A NEW
OBSTACLE TO HOUSING. IT
MODERNIZES THE PROCESS,
ACCELERATES IT, PRIORITIZING
HOUSING, AND PRESERVES AN
INDEPENDENT CHECK THAT
STRENGTHENS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN
OUR DECISIONS. THAT IS A
PRACTICAL, BALANCED REFORM. IT
MOVES HOUSING FORWARD WITHOUT
LEAVING PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
BEHIND. I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. I KNOW YOUR
HAND IS UP, I THINK, CAN WE GO?
AND I FORGOT TO DO THIS. CAN WE
GO TO LIST SO YOU CAN EXPLAIN
WHAT AMENDMENT NUMBER B DOES? I
APOLOGIZE JUST FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC FOR TRANSPARENCY. AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER LIN WILL JUMP
TO YOU.
-- SURE.
-- AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME,
I'LL JUST VERBALLY DESCRIBE IT.
BUT I ALSO HAVE ALL THE
AMENDMENTS. IF YOU WANT TO DIVE
INTO THE DETAILS. SO GENERALLY
THIS REMOVES THE PROVISIONS OF
COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO,
ONE FIVE. THAT WOULD ELIMINATE
APPEALS TO THE HEARING EXAMINER
ON SOME LEGISLATIVE LAND USE
ACTIONS IT ASKS THE HEARING
EXAMINER TO PRIORITIZE APPEALS
OF SEPA DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY COME
TO HIS OFFICE AND IT REDUCES THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THE HEARING
EXAMINER IS REQUESTED TO
CONSIDER AN APPEAL FROM 120 DAYS
TO 90 DAYS.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU. LIZ
COUNCILMEMBER LIN
-- THANK YOU AND COLLEAGUES. WE
DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO BRIEF
THIS IN COMMITTEE, SO I JUST
WANT TO, FOR THE PUBLIC'S SAKE,
ASK A FEW QUESTIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONS ONE, I JUST WANT
TO I HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT A
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO THESE
APPEALS. CAN YOU CLARIFY, IS
THERE A. UNDER STATE LAW, DO
PEOPLE DO WE HAVE TO OFFER THESE
APPEALS?
-- NO, THEY ARE VOLUNTARY
DECISION BY THE CITY.
-- OKAY SO I DON'T THINK WE
CAN'T ABROGATE PEOPLE'S
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. IS THAT
CORRECT? THROUGH OUR BILLS.
-- CORRECT. YOU SHOULD NOT.
-- OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO
THERE IS NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
TO THESE TYPES OF APPEALS. WOULD
THAT BE CORRECT?
-- CORRECT.
-- THANK YOU. DID WE DO YOU KNOW
WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE ARE THEY
SUBJECT TO THEY ARE THE LARGEST.
THE WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE, THE
LARGEST LEGISLATIVE BODY IN THE
STATE. DO YOU KNOW WHETHER THEY
ARE SUBJECT TO SEPA AT ALL,
WHETHER THEY DO ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW BEFORE THEY PASS
LEGISLATION AT ALL
-- LEGISLATION AT THE
LEGISLATURE IS EXEMPT FROM SEPA.
-- OKAY. SO THE LARGEST
DEMOCRATIC BODY IN OUR STATE IS
DOESN'T DO ANY CPA REVIEW FOR
ANY OF THEIR LEGISLATION.
THAT'S. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. DID
WE PASS LEGISLATION IN 2019 THAT
TRIED TO PUT LIMITS ON THE
TIMELINES FOR THESE APPEALS?
-- YES. THAT'S WHERE THE 120
DAY PERIOD CAME FROM.
-- OKAY. BUT DO APPEALS GO
EXCEED, GO BEYOND 120 DAYS?
-- YES. THEY HAVE.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL
MY QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE SOME
COMMENTS IF SHOULD I GIVE THOSE
NOW OR SHOULD I?
-- NO. ABSOLUTELY.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES,
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, I
BELIEVE THE UNDERLYING BILL IS
REFORM BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL HAVE
THE RIGHT TO APPEAL DECISIONS TO
THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT HEARINGS
BOARD. THE EXPERTS IN THIS
ISSUE. AND AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, THOSE HAPPEN IN A VERY
TIMELY MANNER. WE AGAIN SAW WITH
THE STADIUM REZONE, OUR DECISION
WAS OVERTURNED. SO IF WE MAKE A
BIG MISTAKE, OUR OUR DECISIONS
ARE NOT LOCKED IN STONE. THEY
CAN BE OVERTURNED. BUT I DON'T
SEE A MATERIAL DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THIS BILL OR THIS
AMENDMENT AND OUR CURRENT
PRACTICE. AND SO I WOULD URGE A
NO VOTE. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THOSE QUESTIONS AND
REMARKS. AND, YOU KNOW, SERVING
AS A MEMBER OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE, I WANT TO SAY WE HAD
THIS IN COMMITTEE FOUR TIMES FOR
DISCUSSION. SO, YOU KNOW, AS
I'M REVIEWING THIS AMENDMENT
THAT WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY, I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THAT WE
DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRIEF AND DISCUSS IT IN
COMMITTEE. SO WE ARE DOING SO
TODAY IN FULL COUNCIL. I WANT TO
GO BACK AND SORT OF BUILD A
LITTLE BIT. ACTUALLY, MY
QUESTIONS, I THINK, PICK UP
WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. YOU KNOW, SO
WE DID A PREVIOUS REFORM THAT
LED US TO THIS 120 DAY EXISTING
LANGUAGE. AND WHAT I BELIEVE MY
UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT
DESPITE THAT PREVIOUS REFORM
ATTEMPT, WE STILL HAVE APPEALS
THAT GO BEYOND THAT PERIOD. SO I
GUESS I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
CONCERN THAT THERE'S NOT A
REASON TO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD
BE ABLE TO REACH THIS 90 DAY
GOAL. AND THEN I WANT TO ASK
LISH, CAN YOU JUST COMPARE TO US
THE BILL? WERE THIS TO PASS, HOW
THAT DIFFERS NOT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LIN UNDERLYING
BILL, BUT FROM OUR EXISTING
PRACTICE
-- YEAH. THE HEARING EXAMINER
WOULD. LIKELY TRY TO PRIORITIZE
IF IF THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT
VOLUME OF APPEALS IN FRONT OF
THE HEARING EXAMINER. HEARING
EXAMINER WOULD TRY TO PRIORITIZE
THE SEPA APPEAL. AND THEY WOULD.
TRY TO SCHEDULE APPEALS SO THAT
THEY TAKE PLACE WITHIN 90 DAYS.
AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN
DISCUSSION WITH THE VARIOUS
PARTIES TO THE APPEAL.
-- GOT IT. SO ESSENTIALLY, THE
HEARING EXAMINER WOULD MAKE A
BEST EFFORT TO SCHEDULE WITHIN
THE 90 DAYS PRESENTED HERE. ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER REFORMS FROM
THIS COMPARED TO OUR CURRENT
PRACTICE?
-- NO.
-- OKAY. THAT'S I THINK THAT'S
REALLY HELPFUL. AND OH, NO.
OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE TRYING
TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT.
LISH. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE THE
STATEMENT I WANT TO MAKE HERE
IS, AND I APPRECIATE THE BALANCE
THAT YOU'RE STRIKING HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. AND THE BILL
THAT YOU PUT FORWARD, BECAUSE
FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, I SEE
THAT BILL AS REFORM, THE
UNDERLYING BILL AS REFORM. AND I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AGAIN, TO
REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF CITIES AROUND THE STATE WHO
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
MANAGE GROWTH WITHOUT HAVING
THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF SEPA
APPEAL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
INCLUDING CITIES WHO ARE HAVING
GREATER SUCCESS WITH THEIR TREE
CANOPY COVER AND OTHER EFFORTS
COMPARED TO SEATTLE. SO I WILL
NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I
DO APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING
IT FORWARD AND BRINGING THIS
CONVERSATION. I DO WISH WE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS
IN COMMITTEE, BUT I DO BELIEVE
THAT OUR CURRENT SEPA PROCESS
WARRANTS MORE REFORM THAN WOULD
BE PUT FORWARD WITH THIS
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA THANK
YOU.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. SAKA FOR
BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD.
I, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE AND I, I
AGREE, WE CAN AGREE ACTUALLY IN
THAT WE HEARD FROM. AND I
CERTAINLY HEARD FROM A LOT OF MY
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS ABOUT. TAKING AWAY
THEIR ABILITY TO APPEAL TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER. AND I THINK
THAT YOU'RE HEARING THAT, TOO.
AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS
IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT WHAT I HEARD
YOU DESCRIBING WAS TRYING TO
ADDRESS THAT PIECE OF IT. I WILL
SAY THAT I HAD A SOME A
CONVERSATION AND SUBSEQUENT, YOU
KNOW, WITH THE HEARING EXAMINER
BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS PIECE ABOUT DELAYS
AND HOW LONG THINGS TAKE. AND,
AND THE COURSE OF MY
CONVERSATION WITH HIM, HE TALKED
ABOUT THE, THIS IDEA OF THE 90
DAYS VERSUS 120 DAYS. AND THEN I
LEARNED THAT FOR MASTER USE
PERMITS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A
LAND USE DECISION THEY STRIVE TO
DO. AND THE LEGISLATION SAYS
HAVE A DETERMINATION ON THE
MERITS WITHIN 90 DAYS. AND THEN
FOR THOSE THINGS THAT REQUIRE
COUNCIL LAND USE DECISIONS, THEY
HAVE, THEY HAVE UP TO 120 DAYS.
BUT THERE IS THIS CAVEAT THAT
THEY CAN ALWAYS, IF IT GOES PAST
THE 90 OR 120 DAYS, THEY CAN
TAKE MORE TIME IF NEEDED, WHICH
IS WHY THINGS TAKE MORE LIKE 4
TO 5 MONTHS. IS, IS WHAT THINGS
ARE TAKING TO, TO HEAR FROM THE
HEARING EXAMINER'S OFFICE. SO I
THINK THAT. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I JUST
DON'T THINK IT SOLVES FOR THE
MAIN. THE MAIN THING. AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M NOT GOING
TO BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL. BUT
I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU WERE
TRYING TO ADDRESS CONSTITUENTS
CONCERNS THAT THAT I SHARE WITH
YOU. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO
MAKE SOME CHANGES HERE TO
ADDRESS THAT. AND I GUESS
THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU FOR DOING
THAT. AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE
THIS IS COMING FROM. AND THEN I
ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS TO THE
PUBLIC WHY AND TO MY
CONSTITUENTS IN PARTICULAR, WHY
I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING
THIS AMENDMENT. I DON'T ACTUALLY
THINK IT GETS TO WHERE, YOU
KNOW, WE WHERE I THINK PEOPLE
WANT TO BE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ABOUT AMENDMENT B
BEFORE I PASS IT BACK TO THE
AMENDMENT SPONSOR COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
CLOSING COMMENTS AND WE'LL TAKE
THE ROLL.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
YES. THIS AMENDMENT, IT IS
ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THERE IS NO
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT STATE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO THIS
FORM OF PETITIONING THE
GOVERNMENT, CHALLENGING
DECISIONS, SEEKING REDRESS IN
SUCH A MANNER AND BUT THERE IS A
STATUTORY RIGHT TO DO SO
CURRENTLY, AND THE BASE PROPOSAL
WOULD ERODE THAT RIGHT. AND. I
THIS AMENDMENT SEEKS TO ADDRESS
THE UNDERLYING CONCERNS, WHICH
IS SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN. IN THE
PROCESS. AND DOING THAT BY
PRESERVING. AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT
A. RIGHT, BY THE WAY, WE HEARD.
DOZENS OF PEOPLE TODAY, FROM
THEIR PERSPECTIVE SAY IT IS A
RIGHT. AND THEN HUNDREDS AND
HUNDREDS,
700 WOULD LIKE. 756 EMAILS. MY
OFFICE RECEIVED THAT
SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED CB 121215
RECEIVED SINCE LATE MAY OF THIS
YEAR. HUNDREDS MORE, HUNDREDS
UPON HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS MORE
THAT DON'T SPECIFICALLY MENTION
THAT COUNCIL BILL. BUT. BUT
BROADLY REFERENCED SEPA AND THE
APPEAL PROCESS, THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF THOSE ROUGHLY 80%,
80% ARE OPPOSED. THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION, SOME I DON'T KNOW,
I HAVEN'T DONE A TALLY, BUT THE
PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC, THAT
IS THAT THESE THE BASE
LEGISLATION ERODES A RIGHT AND
WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THAT
PERCEPTION OR NOT, MY. MY
PROPOSED AMENDMENT SEEKS TO
ADDRESS IT AND. AND I APPRECIATE
THE THE INTENT BEHIND THE BASE
BILL AGAIN, I THINK MY PROPOSAL
STRIKES A BALANCED APPROACH AND.
AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. OH, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON AMENDMENT B.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA I
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
-- I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
-- ABSTAIN.
-- HE ABSTAINED AND.
-- I CAN ABSTAIN ON A.
-- NO.
-- HE CAN ABSTAIN AN AMENDMENT
NOT IN FULL COUNCIL. I'M
ASSUMING.
-- NO, NOT ON BILLS.
-- NO, WE'RE NOT ON A BILL.
WE'RE ON THE AMENDMENT.
-- CORRECT. THE COUNCIL BILLS
PROVIDE THAT A MEMBER MAY
ABSTAIN ON RESOLUTIONS AND VOTES
ON RESOLUTIONS ONLY.
-- STAND CORRECTED. NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. NO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, NO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. NO
COUNCILMEMBER LIN COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- NO.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH. NO. THAT IS ONE
IN FAVOR. AYE. OPPOSED.
-- MOTION FAILS. AMENDMENT B IS
NOT ADOPTED. THERE IS NO
AMENDMENT C, BUT NOW WE'RE
GOING TO GO TO AMENDMENT D
COUNCILMEMBER LIN YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO MOVE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
-- I MOVE AMENDMENT D TO THE
UNDERLYING BILL. IS THERE A
SECOND.
-- MOVE? AND SECOND TO AMEND THE
BILL AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
D? CAN WE GO TO CENTRAL STAFF TO
EXPLAIN WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS
AND THEN GO TO YOU?
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. IS THAT OKAY?
AWESOME. WISH YOU WERE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. AMENDMENT D ADDS A
NUMBER OF RECITALS DESCRIBING
THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS. AND
THEN STATES THAT WHEN THERE'S A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR A COUNCIL
LAND USE DECISION, THAT PUBLIC
HEARING SHOULD COVER THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS THAT
WERE PREPARED FOR THE
LEGISLATION.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU. LIZ
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SOME WAS
INTENDED TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A
CLARIFICATION. WE ALREADY HAVE A
PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENT FOR
TYPE FIVE COUNCIL LAND USE
DECISIONS. AND CERTAINLY PEOPLE
ARE FREE TO GIVE COMMENTS ON
BOTH THE UNDERLYING SORT OF BILL
OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE
CONSIDERING, AS WELL AS THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS. AND
THIS JUST WANTS TO UPLIFT THE
IDEA THAT, AGAIN, PART OF MY
MOTIVATION IS TO BRING FORWARD
THE THE EIS PROCESS AND MAKE IT
A MEANINGFUL PROCESS. AND THAT
REQUIRES THAT WE HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND
THAT WE GIVE CONSIDERATION TO
THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
DOCUMENTS. AND SO THIS IS MEANT
TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
DETERMINATIONS WHEN WE DO THOSE
PUBLIC HEARINGS OR REQUEST YOUR
SUPPORT.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN JUST TO
CONFIRM, WE DID MOVE THE AMENDED
WE DID MOVE THE AMENDMENT. YEAH
WE DID. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS REGARDING AMENDMENT
NUMBER AMENDMENT LETTER D? IT'S
NOT A NUMBER. IT'S A LETTER NO.
OKAY. AWESOME. DO YOU HAVE ANY
CLOSING REMARKS? COUNCILMEMBER
LIN.
-- NO.
-- OKAY. AWESOME. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT D.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA I
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
-- D AYE.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- NO.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- THAT IS SEVEN IN FAVOR. TWO
OPPOSED.
-- MOTION CARRIES. AMENDMENT D
IS ADOPTED. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER
LIN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO MOVE
AMENDMENT E.
-- I MOVE AMENDMENT E TO THE
BILL.
-- SECOND.
-- IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND,
TO AMEND BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT E COUNCILMEMBER LIN
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER. OH,
BEFORE YOU DO IT, PLEASE, WILL
YOU TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON?
-- SO COUNCIL BILL 121215
REMOVES A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE
BE DIRECTOR'S REPORTS PROVIDED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS. WHEN
THERE IS COUNCIL GENERATED LAND
USE LEGISLATION. THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD REQUIRE THAT COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF INSTEAD PROVIDE A
REPORT THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE
DIRECTOR'S REPORTS THAT SDCI
PROVIDES. THE. ONE DIFFERENCE
WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD NOT
PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION ON
WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE THE
LEGISLATION.
-- THANK YOU, LIZ COUNCILMEMBER
LIN. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED AMENDMENT
E, AMENDMENT E COLLEAGUES E.
-- YES, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
AND THIS GETS BACK TO THE
UNDERLYING BILL REMOVES THE
REQUIREMENT FOR DIRECTOR'S
REPORT. CERTAINLY PEOPLE IN.
THERE'S ALREADY LANGUAGE THAT
SAYS THE COUNCILMEMBER CAN
REQUEST A DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
AND. AND I THINK IN THE NORMAL
COURSE, A DIRECTOR'S REPORT
WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. WE JUST
DIDN'T WANT TO REQUIRE IT IN
CASE BECAUSE I WOULD GIVE A
LITTLE BIT OF A TOO MUCH POWER
TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO
BASICALLY DELAY SORT OF A VETO
POWER. SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO
REQUIRE IT. BUT WE DO THINK THAT
A COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF REPORT
CAN SERVE A VERY SIMILAR
PURPOSE. AND I THINK IT MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE TO HAVE IT BE A
NEUTRAL AND OBJECTIVE. SO WITH
THAT, WE THIS WAS IN DIRECT
RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME
SORT OF DESCRIPTION, SOME SORT
OF REPORT, WHETHER FROM CENTRAL
STAFF OR THE SDCI FOR
LEGISLATION. SO I WOULD REQUEST
YOUR SUPPORT.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN WE'RE ON
AMENDMENT E, AS IN EDDIE K E. IS
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
REGARDING AMENDMENT E? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, DO YOU HAVE ANY
CLOSING COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE
A VOTE? AWESOME. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT E AS IN
EDDIE LIN
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. I
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AYE
COUNCILMEMBER LIN COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. YES. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AS EIGHT IN FAVOR ONE OPPOSED.
-- MOTION CARRIES. AMENDMENT E
IS ADOPTED. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO MOVE
AMENDMENT F AS IN FIFA.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121215 AS PRESENTED. AMENDMENT F
VERSION ONE.
-- SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECOND TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT F WILL GO
TO LISH AND THEN WE'LL BOUNCE
BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- ALL RIGHT
-- EACH EACH ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENT IS PREPARED SORT OF ON
ITS OWN. THERE ARE STATE
GUIDELINES, BUT THIS AMENDMENT
ASKS THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE
A REPORT TO COUNCIL WHETHER OR
NOT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO
CREATE CITY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
ON HOW ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
SHOULD ANALYZE AREAS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCIL BILL 121215. IN A LOT OF
WAYS IS A REFLECTION OF FAILURE,
OF A CONVOLUTED PROCESS THAT HAS
REDUCED CONFIDENCE IN OUR SYSTEM
IN MY AMENDMENT, I NOTE THAT THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS
DEVELOPED GUIDANCE ON SPECIFIC
TOPICS TO GUIDE ANALYSIS AND
ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS UNDER THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ACT. THE CITY OF NEW YORK HAS
DEVELOPED A TECHNICAL MANUAL TO
GUIDE ANALYSIS OF PROPOSALS
UNDER THE CITY. ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY REVIEW, AND UNLIKE SOME
STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA, CITIES
LIKE NEW YORK CITY, NEITHER
WASHINGTON STATE NOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAVE DEVELOPED DETAILED
GUIDANCE ON HOW SEPA ANALYSIS
SHOULD BE PERFORMED, RESULTING
IN EACH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT USING DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO ANALYZE THE
POSSIBLE IMPACTS. CLEAR AND
UNIFORM SEPA GUIDELINES CAN
INCREASE CLARITY, TRUST,
CONSISTENCY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENTS. COLLEAGUES, I WOULD
NOTE THAT SEPA AND IES REPORTS
ARE NOT UNDERSTOOD OR ACCESSIBLE
TO THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, AND I
ARGUE A LOT OF WAYS COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO. WE COUNCILMEMBERS
NEED THE CLARITY AND
TRANSPARENCY WITH RESPECT TO
SEPA AND EIS AND WE AS A COUNCIL
NEED TO HAVE THIS CLARITY AND
TRANSPARENCY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
THAT BASELINE. OUR RESIDENTS
NEED THIS TRANSPARENCY SO THEY
CAN PETITION THEIR DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE AND THEIR TWO
CITY WIDE REPRESENTATIVES. AND I
NOTE I'D ADD A GREATER COMMENT.
TIME WINDOWS ARE IMPORTANT, TOO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND ALSO THE TEN PAGE SUMMARIES
AS WELL. WE THE COUNCIL FIRST,
THE LAND USE COMMITTEE AND THEN
SECOND TO FULL COUNCIL NEED TO
DO OUR JOB TO INCLUDE HEARING
APPEALS FROM CONSTITUENTS,
COMPLETING THE DUE DILIGENCE AND
ADVOCATING FOR AMENDMENTS AND OR
THE BILL ITSELF. WE NEED TO DO
THIS WITH BETTER TOOLS, WITH
GREATER CLARITY AND
TRANSPARENCY. WE NEED STANDARDS
ON HOW SEPA EYES ARE CONDUCTED
AND PREPARED. MY AMENDMENT IS
GEARED TO THIS, WITH THE IDEA
THAT WE COULD BETTER FULFILL THE
ROLE OF ACTING ON LAND USE
DECISIONS WITH BETTER BASELINES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANTED TO ADD
ONE ADDITIONAL POINT, AND THIS
COMES OUT FROM SOME OF THE.
COMMENTS I'VE HEARD TODAY, BUT
ALSO PREVIOUSLY. IT'S REGARDING
THE TONE TAKEN IN THE
DISCUSSIONS AND WORDS USED IN
DISCOURSE IN THE DISCOURSE OVER
THIS BILL TODAY, I NOTE THAT WE
ARE IN A AIR WAR AGAINST IRAN.
27 YEARS AGO I WAS THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICER TO THE DIRECTOR OF
INTELLIGENCE AND AIR FORCE
GENERAL REPORTING TO GENERAL
WESLEY CLARK. I WORKED THE
TARGET PACKAGE PROCESS CENTERED
ON TARGETING AND WEAPON HEARING
FOR THE KOSOVO WAR AGAINST
YUGOSLAVIA AND SERBIA IN 1999.
TODAY, I DO NOT THINK IT'S
RIGHT TO DECLARE OUR NEIGHBORS
OUR WEAPONIZING THE HEARING
EXAMINER PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IN
A PERIOD OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR
CITY. AS WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY, I
KNOW MANY NEIGHBORS TO INCLUDE
OLD COLLEAGUES ON THE QUEEN ANNE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL WHO TOOK
POSITIONS AND MADE APPEALS. THEY
WERE ACTING ON PRINCIPLED
POSITIONS AND NOT WEAPONIZING A
PROCESS. AND I JUST THINK,
COLLEAGUES, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT
TO TO ENGAGE AND USE A TONE AND
WORD CHOICE THAT DOESN'T
DEMONIZE EITHER SIDE. AND, AND I
USE THIS PARTICULARLY GIVEN
RECENT EVENTS WITH GUN VIOLENCE,
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WAR IN
IRAN, AND THE IDEA OF
WEAPONIZING AND WEAPONIZING AND
TARGETING THAT. I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE THAT STATEMENT. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING
AMENDMENT F AS IN FIFA
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE AND FIRST, THANK YOU FOR
THE FOR THIS AMENDMENT. I DO
THINK, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THIS
WHOLE PROCESS HAS IS OFTENTIMES
CONFUSING AND NOT VERY
ACCESSIBLE, BOTH FOR THE PUBLIC
AND FOR COLLEAGUES AND SO I DO
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO TRY
TO IMPROVE THAT, INCLUDING WITH
BEST PRACTICES. AND THANK YOU
ALSO FOR YOUR COMMENT THERE
ABOUT RHETORIC. AND, YOU KNOW, I
WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE EXTENT
THAT I'VE USED SOME OF THAT
RHETORIC AND PARTIALLY, YOU
KNOW, THAT COMES FROM MY
PRACTICE AS AN ATTORNEY WHERE I
SAW THESE TOOLS BE VERY POWERFUL
LEGAL TOOLS. I GUESS I'LL USE A
DIFFERENT TERM INSTEAD OF THE
WORD WEAPON. BUT THEY ARE VERY
POWERFUL TOOLS. AND SO THAT'S,
YOU KNOW, COMES FROM MY
EXPERIENCE OF SEEING BOTH
BUSINESSES AS WELL AS OTHER, YOU
KNOW, FOLKS WHO OFTENTIMES ARE
BRINGING IN FORWARD WITH GOOD
INTENTIONS. BUT THEY CERTAINLY
ARE VERY POWERFUL TOOLS. AND SO
THAT'S WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THIS AMENDMENT AND THANK THE
SPONSOR, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. I THINK
WE HAVE ALL LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND THE
WAY I SEE THIS AMENDMENT. THIS
IS A WAY FOR MORE PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
PROCESSES. AND SO I TRULY SEE
THIS AMENDMENT AS GOOD
GOVERNANCE. I THINK THIS WILL BE
HELPFUL REORIENTATION FOR OPCD
IN OUR WORK MOVING FORWARD. AND
I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING
AMENDMENT NUMBER F AS IN FIFA,
THE LAST AMENDMENT? OKAY, NO.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION? OH, I'M
SORRY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I
APOLOGIZE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT?
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT? I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE THAT OPCD HAS
REVIEWED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
LANGUAGE, AND THEY, AS THEY
SAID, ARE A WILLING PARTNER TO
DO THE ANALYSIS AND MAKE THE
REPORT. AWESOME. AND I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES.
-- ALL RIGHT. AWESOME. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER F, LETTER F.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
-- AYE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HOLLINGSWORTH NINE IN
FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED.
-- KETTLE. MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT F IS ADOPTED. GOOD
JOB. OKAY, SO ARE THERE ANY
OTHER FINAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE
BILL BEFORE US? IS THE FINAL
BILL, SO WE HAVE NO MORE
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU FOR ALL
YOUR HELP AND EXPLAINING THOSE
AMENDMENTS. NOW WE'RE HAVING
FINAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE BILL
BEFORE US. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LIN. YOU KNOW, YOU AND I TALKED
ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT AND TO THE
POINT YOU MADE EARLIER, I AGREE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, AND
SOMETIMES WE'RE GOING TO
DISAGREE, AND SOMETIMES WE'RE
NOT. BUT I HAVE RESPECT FOR YOU,
AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE
RESPECT FOR ME. AND SO I JUST
WANTED TO STATE THAT PUBLICLY
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. AND
THAT'S HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, I THINK WE ALL
AGREE WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN
THIS CITY, AND WE'RE ALL TRYING
TO GRAPPLE WITH HOW TO GET IT
DONE FASTER. SO I UNDERSTAND,
AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND I BECAUSE
I HAVE A LAW DEGREE, I PULL FROM
MY LEGAL BACKGROUND AS WELL. AND
I, I CONSTANTLY, I WILL SAY I
PULL FROM MY MEDIATION CLASS A
LOT BECAUSE I TRY TO DO WHERE
I'M LOOKING AT BOTH SIDES AND
I'M GATHERING ALL THE
INFORMATION ON BOTH SIDES, AND
I'M WEIGHING WHAT IS THE BEST
WAY TO MOVE FORWARD. AND, YOU
KNOW, THESE ARE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS. I WILL SAY IN THIS
CASE, I REALLY LED WITH MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HEARING
EXAMINER BECAUSE I WANTED TO
REALLY LEARN FROM THE HEARING
EXAMINER ON HOW HOW LONG ARE
THESE DECISIONS ACTUALLY TAKING,
AND IS THERE A TRUE PROBLEM THAT
WE NEED TO SOLVE FOR THAT WEIGHS
AND BALANCES THAT WE ARE TAKING
SOMETHING AWAY FROM
CONSTITUENTS? THAT IS REALLY
HARD, AND I KNOW THAT I HEARD
FROM MANY, MANY CONSTITUENTS,
BOTH EMAILS AND IN CHAMBERS AND
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS ABOUT TAKING THIS THESE
APPEALS, THE ABILITY TO TO
APPEAL TO THE HEARING EXAMINER
SPECIFICALLY. AND MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HEARING
EXAMINER, I LEARNED, AS I SAID
EARLIER, AND IN PART I SAID
EARLIER ABOUT THE THE 90 DAY
VERSUS THE 120. IT ACTUALLY, IN
REALITY, IT TAKES LONGER. I WISH
THAT WE COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW,
AND PASS LEGISLATION TO TRULY
MAKE IT THAT SHORTER TIME,
BECAUSE THEN IT WOULD LEAD TO
FASTER HOUSING. FOR INSTANCE,
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE ALL CARE
ABOUT, BUT WE KNOW IT TAKES A
LITTLE LONGER. BUT IN THE END,
WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT MOST OF
THESE CASES ARE RESOLVED WITHIN
4 OR 5 MONTHS. AND MANY OF THE
CASES ARE EITHER WITHDRAWN OR
DISMISSED. AND THEN MOST OF THE
CASES ARE DO NOT PREVAIL. SO
GIVEN THESE ALL THESE FACTS AND
ALSO THE HEARING EXAMINER DID
NOT FEEL LIKE THEY HAD LIMITED
CAPACITY TO HEAR THESE CASES.
THEY CAN HEAR THESE CASES. THE
CURRENT HEARING EXAMINER HAS
BEEN THERE TEN YEARS. AND I
ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO
HEAR THESE CASES OVER THE LAST
TEN YEARS. SO BASED ON ALL OF
THAT INFORMATION AND I'M
WEIGHING ALL THE FACTS AND AND,
YOU KNOW, I TO SUPPORT HOUSING,
WE NEED MORE OF IT OF ALL OF ALL
TYPES OF HOUSES, HOUSING, I
MEAN, AND THEN TAKING SOMETHING
AWAY FROM CONSTITUENTS, WEIGHING
ALL THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME,
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A
SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE
THESE CHANGES. PERHAPS IN THE
FUTURE WHEN WE HAVE IF THERE ARE
MANY MORE APPEALS AND THEN
THERE'S AN IMPACT TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER'S OFFICE, THEN
THERE'S ALWAYS ABILITY TO LOOK
SOMETHING UP TO EXCUSE ME, TO
LOOK AT SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.
BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT'S
OUTWEIGH THE ABILITY TO GIVE MY
CONSTITUENTS THE ABILITY TO TO
APPEAL. IF, IF THEY FEEL LIKE WE
GOT SOMETHING WRONG, GIVEN THAT
THAT TIME FRAME IN THE SCHEME OF
THE CREATION OF HOUSING AND AND
GIVEN THAT MOST OF THESE CASES
DO NOT PREVAIL. SO I REALLY WANT
TO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
BECAUSE WE HAD A COUPLE
CONVERSATIONS IN DEPTH ABOUT
THIS. SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO CREATE
HOUSING FASTER. I DO TOO, AND
I'M WEIGHING MY CONSTITUENTS
INTEREST AND THE ACTUAL TIME IT
TAKES TO DO TO DO THESE ACTUAL
APPEALS. SO I DON'T WANT IT TO
BE SAID THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT
CREATING HOUSING FASTER, I DO.
THESE ARE NOT EASY DECISIONS. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
FOLLOWED BY JUAREZ. AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. LOOK, WE CAN QUIBBLE
ABOUT WHETHER THE LEGISLATION
IMPLICATES A RIGHT OR WHETHER
WHETHER IT IS THE MORE FORMAL
TECHNICAL TERM OF APPEAL
DIRECTLY TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER. AND WE INDEED, WE DID
THAT TODAY. I'M SURE, SURE THAT
THAT HAPPENED DURING COMMITTEE
TO. HERE'S A TRUE SEATTLE CAN
BUILD MORE HOUSING. WITHOUT
ASKING THE PUBLIC TO SURRENDER
WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. IN MY
VIEW, I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT
MEASURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. IT
IS. IT IS A AN IMPORTANT
MECHANISM TO DOUBLE CHECK OUR
WORK. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE
BILL, AS SPECIFICALLY MODIFIED
AND AMENDED TODAY, EVEN IN THE
ABSENCE OF MY OWN AMENDMENT, IS
BETTER THAN THE BASE BILL THAT
WAS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING
OF COUNCIL TODAY. BUT I STILL
THINK IT ALSO GOES A BIT TOO FAR
AND I CANNOT SUPPORT IT. I HEARD
SOME GREAT PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY,
AND IN LINE WITH A FEW PIECES OF
FEEDBACK THAT I'VE HEARD FROM
OTHERS AS WELL ABOUT THE THE
FACT THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A
NOMINAL FEE THAT PEOPLE ARE
PAYING TO MUCK UP THE SYSTEM
WITH FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS. IF THIS
PROPOSAL WERE ABOUT FEE REFORM
OR INCLUDED FEE REFORM AS A
COMPONENT OF THE BROADER
SOLUTION WOULD ABSOLUTELY GET
BEHIND THAT. BUT IT'S NOT. AND
REASONABLE MINDS DISAGREE ON ANY
NUMBER OF THINGS, INCLUDING
WHERE WE'RE AT HERE. BUT I, I
DO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. HIS HIS LEADERSHIP
IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THESE
ARE TOUGH POLICY CONVERSATIONS
THAT WE'RE HAVING OPENLY IN A
TRANSPARENT MANNER IN PUBLIC,
DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. AND AYE. SO
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LIN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP I ALSO
WANT TO SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT
THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD SOME
COMMENT WRITTEN FORM AS WELL.
PEOPLE. DOING PERSONAL ATTACKS
AGAINST COUNCILMEMBER LIN
ATTACKING HIS CHARACTER,
ATTACKING HIS. IMPUGNING HIS
MOTIVES AND INTENT, AND AYE. AND
NOW, MORE THAN EVER, WITH ALL
THE STUFF GOING ON. I THINK WE
SPECIFICALLY NEED TO REJECT
THAT. THAT'S WRONG WE CAN
DISAGREE ON POLICY AND SUBSTANCE
AND THE MERITS OF THE ISSUES.
AND WE'VE HAD THOSE
CONVERSATIONS TODAY AND FOR A
FEW MONTHS NOW ON THIS THIS ONE
PROPOSAL. BUT I DON'T I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. I KNOW HIS
HEART. I KNOW HIS CHARACTER. WE
SHOULD NOT ATTACK THE CHARACTER
AND MOTIVES OF PEOPLE FOR TRYING
TO DO THEIR LEVEL BEST TO, TO
INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM
PEOPLE. WE JUST HAPPEN TO
DISAGREE ON ON, YOU KNOW, THE
FINAL POLICY MATTER BEFORE US.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AGAIN FOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS BILL TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. WE'VE HAD
LONG TALKS IN THE LAST COUPLE
MONTHS, AND THEN WE HAD A FEW
MORE OF THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY
AND TODAY. AGAIN, LET ME JUST GO
BACK WITH SOME OF THE BASIC
STUFF THAT WE HAD READ. I HAD
READ ALL THE CASE LAW. WE LOOKED
AT WHAT THE HEARING EXAMINER
SAID. WE LOOKED AT THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT APPEAL. WE HAD A FLOW
CHART. WE READ THE SUMMARY IN
FISCAL NOTE. WE HAD THE
ANALYSIS, AND I'LL GIVE A
LITTLE BIT BACK TO THE FACTS IN
A MINUTE, BUT AYE. I WANT TO
MAKE SOMETHING VERY CLEAR. I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT APPEALS ARE
HOLDING UP HOUSING PRODUCTION. I
THINK IT'S A FALSE NARRATIVE. I
THINK IT'S A FALSE EQUATION. I
DON'T THINK APPEALS AND DELAYS,
WHICH ON THE AVERAGE ARE AROUND
APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS. I
DON'T THINK THEY ALWAYS EQUAL
LACK OF HOUSING PRODUCTION. AND
TO PIT THOSE TWO AGAINST EACH
OTHER TO ME IS JUST I THINK
IT'S INTELLECTUALLY NOT
CORRECT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY
DISHONEST BECAUSE I CAN
UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE TAKE THAT
POSITION, BUT I DON'T AGREE
WITH THAT. I CANNOT MAKE THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN OR
UNEQUIVOCAL STATEMENT THAT THE
APPEALS STOP HOUSING PRODUCTION.
I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT
THAT'S TRUE. AND I WANTED TO
ADD IS THAT WE WENT BACK AND
LOOKED AT HOW MANY OF THESE
APPEALS COME FORWARD AND TO
DATE, FROM THE STATS WE RECEIVED
FROM CENTRAL STAFF AND SOME ARE
WORKING WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL
ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES. LAUREN,
WE HAVE 2728 APPEALS THAT WE'VE
RECEIVED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
AND OF THOSE APPEALS, THEY TOOK
AN AVERAGE OF 151 DAYS TO
RESOLVE. SO ABOUT 5 OR 6 MONTHS,
APPROXIMATELY 88% OF THOSE CASES
WERE AFFIRMED OR DISMISSED BY
THE EXAMINER, SO THAT MEANS 12%
WERE EITHER SUCCESSFUL OR THEY
WERE REEXAMINED. AND I KNOW THAT
THERE'S ISSUES THAT OTHER
CITIES, WELL, OTHER CITIES
DON'T HAVE THIS, THIS, THIS
STEP IN CITY DOES. BUT SEATTLE
DOES WELL. SEATTLE DOES A LOT OF
THINGS THAT A LOT OF OTHER
CITIES DON'T DO. AND SEATTLE IS
THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON AND THE LARGEST
ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE STATE.
AND THEREFORE, WE HAVE A LOT
MORE DENSITY. WE HAVE A LOT
MORE. WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN HOW HOW THIS CITY IS
GOING TO GROW. AND SO I KIND OF
FELT LIKE THIS LEGISLATION WAS A
SOLUTION, LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM.
I WOULD RATHER ON THE SIDE. AND
I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
HEAR THIS STATUS QUO. NO, I WANT
TO ON THE SIDE OF GIVING A
LITTLE BIT MORE, GIVING THE ROOM
THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY ARE
ACCUSTOMED TO, TO STEPPING
FORWARD TO PROTECTING THE
ENVIRONMENT, THE TREES, THE TREE
CANOPY, AND ALL THE OTHER ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE NOW. YES, THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE LAW AND USE IT AS A SWORD TO
STOP CONSTRUCTION OVER
SOMETHING. JUST WE'VE SEEN IT.
THEY'VE MISUSED THAT. AND I
RELY ON THE HEARING EXAMINER AS
A FORMER JUDGE TO WEED THOSE
THINGS OUT AND SAY, THIS IS
FRIVOLOUS. YOU'RE JUST DOING
THIS TO STOP IT BECAUSE YOU
DON'T LIKE IT. AND THAT HAPPENS
A LOT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A
HEARING EXAMINER. THAT'S WHY
SOMETIMES THIS BOARD OR THIS
THIS, THIS GROUP US IS ELECTED
HAVE QUASI JUDICIAL ISSUES AS
WELL. WHEN WE WERE DOING THE
WATERFRONT, WE HAD 62 LAWSUITS,
63, I THINK. AND AT THAT TIME,
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I SAID,
YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO
HIRE A HEARING EXAMINER. WE'RE
GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERY ONE OF
THOSE, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
BECOME EXPERTS. WE'RE GOING TO
LET A HEARING EXAMINER LISTEN TO
FOLKS COME FORWARD AND MAKE A
RECORD AND A RECOMMENDATION, AND
WE WILL GO FROM THERE. I DID NOT
WANT TO STAND IN THE SHOES OF
THAT. NOW, THERE IS A FORMER
CITY ATTORNEY HERE, AND I
LISTENED TO WHAT HE WAS SAYING,
AND I KNOW LAWYERS KIND OF GET
CAUGHT UP IN THE WONKY STUFF,
BUT BUT I AGREE. CITY, CITY OF
SEATTLE. ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU
KNOW, LOVE IT OR HATE IT, WE
LOVE COMMITTEES. WE LOVE PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE WANT TO HEAR MORE.
AND WE CAN'T GROW MORE GROUND.
WE CAN'T GROW MORE SEATTLE.
THIS IS THIS IS ALL WE GOT. AND
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE FIGHT ABOUT
EVERY INCH. AND IN PARTICULAR,
WHAT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE OF
REDLINING IN SOUTH OF THE SHIP
CANAL IS WE HAVE SO MANY, SO
MUCH. WE HAVE MORE GREENERY IN
THE NORTH THAN WE DO IN THE
SOUTH. AND THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS
HAVE GOTTEN HAVE HURT FOR THAT
WITHOUT A TREE CANOPY. WE IN THE
NORTH HAVE FOUGHT REALLY HARD TO
PROTECT THORNTON CREEK, THE
NORTH AND THE SOUTH FORK, AND WE
STILL WANT TO PROTECT AND KEEP
AS MUCH LAND AS WE CAN. GREEN
FOR THE FOLKS SOUTH OF THE SHIP
CANAL. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I
DO AGREE WITH WITH AS A LAWYER,
I AGREE WITH WITH COUNCILMEMBER
LIN THAT THIS IS KIND OF AN
UNNECESSARY KIND OF HOLDS THINGS
UP. I GET IT, IT WOULD
STREAMLINE. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE
MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT AS A
LEGISLATOR, NOT AS A JUDGE, NOT
AS LEGAL COUNSEL, BUT AS A
STATE, AS A LEGISLATOR FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. I HAVE TO ON
THE SIDE OF MORE BECAUSE THAT'S
DUE PROCESS. AND THAT IS THAT'S
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. SO WITH
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER, I'M SORRY
THAT I CANNOT SUPPORT YOUR
LEGISLATION, BUT I WANT TO SAY
THIS, THOUGH, COUNCILMEMBER LIN
IS INCREDIBLY DILIGENT,
INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT, AND I
REALLY ENJOY TALKING WITH HIM
AND I LOVE THIS ABOUT HIM, IS
THAT WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE
AND WE'RE GOOD. AND THAT
HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE IN
MY TEN YEARS ON THIS COUNCIL. SO
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
FOR BEING NOT ONLY
INTELLECTUALLY WONDERFUL TO SPAR
WITH, BUT BEING A TRUE
GENTLEMAN. SO THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, DO YOU WANT
ME TO GO TO YOU LAST? OKAY,
AWESOME. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER, CAN WE GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? SHE HASN'T
SPOKEN YET. AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. AWESOME.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT COLLEAGUES, IN
PREPARATION FOR THIS POLICY
MATTER, REALLY STARTING WHEN WE
HAD OUR FIRST COMMITTEE
BRIEFING, WHICH THEN FOLLOWED
FOUR SEPARATE COMMITTEE
BRIEFINGS ON THIS TOPIC, I SPENT
SOME TIME TO DO A REFRESHER ON
OUR CPA PROCESS WITH AN EYE
TOWARDS HOW THEY'RE DEVELOPED,
BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COMMUNITY VOICE. NOW, THE
CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO USE
OUTSIDE CONSULTING TEAMS TO
DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENTS WITH INPUT FROM
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN CITY
DEPARTMENTS. SEVEN DIFFERENT
CONSULTING FIRMS WERE A PART OF
THE TEAM THAT PUT TOGETHER THE
ONE SEATTLE EIS. THIS INCLUDES
BURKE CONSULTING FOR CPA
DOCUMENTATION, LAND USE AND
SHORELINE PATTERNS. RELATIONSHIP
TO PLANS, POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS, POPULATION, HOUSING
AND EMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC
SERVICES. THERE WAS INFERS AND
PEERS WHO COVERED
TRANSPORTATION, THEN HISTORICAL
RESEARCH ASSOCIATES FOR CULTURAL
RESOURCES. KIMLEY-HORN FOR AIR
QUALITY AND GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS, ENERGY AND NATURAL
RESOURCES AND NOISE MAKERS FOR
URBAN FORM. PARAMETRICS FOR
EARTH AND WATER QUALITY. PLANTS
AND ANIMALS AND UTILITIES.
SCHEMATA WORKSHOP FOR URBAN
FORUM AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
ADVISOR AND THEN STATE AND
FEDERAL AGENCIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS WERE CONSULTED IN
DEVELOPING THE AIS AND WERE
EXPLICITLY GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES
FOR INPUT. AND DURING THE
SCOPING PROCESS FOR AN EIS, IT
SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ANYONE CAN
PROVIDE INPUT INTO WHAT SHOULD
BE STUDIED AND HOW IT SHOULD BE
STUDIED. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING
THE SCOPING PROCESS FOR THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN, OPCD RECEIVED MORE
THAN 1000 COMMENTS ON WHAT
SHOULD BE STUDIED, BOTH IN TERMS
OF ALTERNATIVES AND THE ANALYSIS
THAT SHOULD BE DONE. AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHAPE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AT THAT
STAGE. NOW, BOTH EYES AND
DETERMINATIONS OF
NON-SIGNIFICANCE OR DNS PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENTS FOR
AN EIS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT COMES WHEN THE DRAFT EIS
IS COMPLETE. THE DRAFT EIS IS
PUBLISHED AND ANYONE CAN SUBMIT
THEIR CRITIQUES. CRITICISMS OF
THAT ANALYSIS THAT WAS
PERFORMED. NOW, I CAN ACTUALLY
RECALL DURING THE TOWN HALL
PHASE OF THE ONE SEATTLE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, FOUR OF THE
TOWN HALLS I HAD ATTENDED BACK
IN 2024. THEY HAD A TABLE
DESIGNATED FOR EIS COMMENTS. NOW
THE LEAD AGENCY AND CONSULTANT
TEAM ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO
EVERY SUBSTANTIVE CRITIQUE. ICES
ARE FREQUENTLY AND EXTENSIVELY
UPDATED TO RESPOND TO COMMENTS,
AND FOR DNS, ANYONE CAN SUBMIT
COMMENTS IDENTIFYING
DEFICIENCIES OR PROBLEMS WITH
THE ANALYSIS THAT CAN BE
PERFORMED. SO FOR THE TYPES OF
LAND USE DECISIONS THAT ARE
CONSIDERED UNDER CONSIDERATION
IN THIS PARTICULAR BILL, THE
COUNCIL MUST HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT
BEFORE ACTING. THIS IS ONE
OPPORTUNITY OF MANY TO FOR
ANYONE TO RAISE THEIR CONCERNS
WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW BEFORE
DECISION MAKERS ARE ACTING ON A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION. AND AS YOU
CAN IMAGINE, AND AS IS EVIDENCED
BY TODAY, WE HEAR FROM THE
PUBLIC A LOT, NOT JUST IN THIS
ROOM, BUT THROUGH OUR EMAILS,
PHONE CALLS IN COMMUNITY. I GET
STOPPED ON THE STREET TO TALK
ABOUT THE WORK OF THIS BODY.
VERY OFTEN IN THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING IN THE CITY. BUT IN
OTHER WORDS, AN EIS OR DNS IS
ONE INPUT FOR COUNCILMEMBER
DELIBERATIONS. AND WE HEAR QUITE
OFTEN AND CONSIDER ANY OTHER
INFORMATION THE PUBLIC WANTS TO
PROVIDE WHEN THEY ARE
CONSIDERED. WHEN WE ARE
CONSIDERING ADOPTING A BILL, AND
AS WAS EMPHASIZED IN PUBLIC
COMMENT AND AGAIN BY THE BILL
SPONSOR, THESE APPEALS CAN STILL
BE BROUGHT TO THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT HEARING BOARD AT NO
COST OR TO THE KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT AND APPEALS AND
-- LEGAL ACTION CAN STILL BE
BROUGHT ON FOR LAND USE
DECISIONS, INCLUDING COUNCIL
REZONES. DESIGNATIONS FOR MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS. MASTER PLANS AREA
WIDE REZONES. PUBLIC FACILITIES
THAT HAVE EXCEPTIONS TO CODE AND
MORE. SO COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU
FOR INDULGING ME ON THAT. I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
OPPORTUNITIES AND GROUND US IN
WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND THE
OPPORTUNITIES THE PUBLIC HAS TO
ENGAGE IN THIS DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS AND MORE BROADLY IN OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE SAW
THAT TODAY, AND I AM GRATEFUL
THAT WE HEARD SO MANY VOICES
TODAY. I WANT TO REFLECT A
COMMENT THAT STUCK WITH ME FROM
ONE OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS
ABOUT HOW PEOPLE BEING ENGAGED
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND FEELING
OWNERSHIP OVER THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS IS AN ASSET TO OUR
CITY. AND SO I FEEL LUCKY THAT
THE MATTER THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY IS A MATTER OF
ENGAGING AND THE LEVELS AND WAYS
THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ENGAGE ON
LAND USE MATTERS. AND REALLY,
WHAT IS THE WORK OF BUILDING OUR
CITY? AND TODAY WE HEARD A
COALITION OF SUPPORT FOR THIS
BILL FROM AFFORDABLE AND SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND
PROVIDERS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ATTORNEYS, SCIENTISTS, AND
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE 350 SEATTLE
AND PUGET SOUND, SAGE TENANT
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EVERY DAY
THAT HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AGREE ON SOMETHING. BUT
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THIS.
SEATTLE IS MY HOME, BUT I GREW
UP IN ANOTHER PLACE, A PLACE
WHERE WE HAD A SAYING, IF IT'S
YELLOW, LEAVE IT MELLOW. IF
IT'S BROWN, FLUSH IT DOWN. AND
IF ANYONE KNOWS THAT PHRASE,
IT'S IT'S GROSS. FIRST OF ALL,
BUT IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH
THAT PHRASE, IT'S SOMETHING I
FEEL LIKE WE WE TELL OURSELVES
TO COPE WITH DROUGHT CONDITIONS,
WHICH I GREW UP IN A LOT. AND SO
I KNOW MY WHOLE LIFE, LIKE MANY
MILLENNIALS AND YOUNGER
GENERATIONS, WE HAVE BEEN
STARING DOWN A CLIMATE CRISIS
OUR WHOLE LIVES. GROWING UP IN
CONSTANT DROUGHT, IT FELT REAL.
THE THOUGHT OF NOT HAVING WATER
TO DRINK IS TERRIFYING, AND THAT
CLIMATE ANXIETY HAS ONLY
AMPLIFIED AS OUR CLIMATE CRISIS
HAS WORSENED. AND AS I THEN
ENTERED INTO ADULTHOOD FROM
ALMOST GETTING HEATSTROKE IN MY
APARTMENT DURING THE HEAT DOME
HERE IN SEATTLE, NOW WE KNOW
THAT THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN
DO TO ADDRESS OUR CLIMATE CRISIS
LOCALLY, AND THAT IS WITHIN OUR
POWERS, IS TO LOWER OUR
EMISSIONS. AND IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, TWO THIRDS OF OUR
EMISSIONS ARE COMING FROM
TRANSPORTATION. AND WE LOWER OUR
EMISSIONS BY THOSE EMISSIONS BY
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR
CARS. WE DO THAT NOT JUST BY
INCREASING PUBLIC TRANSIT
OPTIONS, BUT BY BUILDING MORE
HOUSING WITHIN THE CITY SO
PEOPLE CAN BE CLOSER TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND WHERE THEY WORK.
SO I VOTED YES IN COMMITTEE ON
THIS, AND I'LL BE VOTING YES
TODAY. AND I DO WANT TO THANK
OUR LAND USE CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER
LIN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE
DONE ON THIS. AS WAS REFLECTED
BY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I
PARDON ME. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I
TOO HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED OVER
THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT
THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE HAS THEN
INCLUDED DIRECT ATTACKS ON YOU
AS A PERSON, AND I KNOW THAT
YOUR WORK ON THIS BILL HAS BEEN
GUIDED BY A URGENCY TO MOVE
TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE VERY REAL
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES THAT
OUR CITY AND OUR CLIMATE CRISIS,
AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT. AND
I KNOW THAT THIS BILL WILL
POSITION US BETTER AS DECISION
MAKERS TO TAKE THE OVERDUE
ACTION TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING
AND CLIMATE CRISIS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COUNCILMEMBER, IS IT
BEFORE WE GO TO YOU, IS THERE
ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBER THAT
WANTED TO TALK BEFORE WE DO
SECOND? OKAY.
-- COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
-- IS THAT OKAY? COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA JUST LETTING EVERYONE
TALK FIRST AND THEN WE'LL COME
BACK. OKAY. AWESOME.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. FOLLOWED
BY. DAN. COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
OVERALL, I'M DISAPPOINTED ABOUT
HOW THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LED
THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION. THIS
BILL WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE FOUR
TIMES AND WAITED TWO WEEKS TO
COME TO COUNCIL. AND YET THE
TIMING AND POLICY FRAMING HAS
MADE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT
EVERYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THIS
BILL. WE HAVE PEOPLE LITERALLY
TALKING PAST EACH OTHER. IT IS,
IN FACT, POSSIBLE THAT DIFFERENT
SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN
LOOK AT THE SAME WORDS ON A
PIECE OF PAPER AND COME TO
DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS. DOES
PASSING THIS BILL HELP OR HARM
THE ENVIRONMENT? DOES NOT
PASSING THIS BILL HELP OR HARM
THE ENVIRONMENT IT IS OUR JOB TO
STEWARD THE COMMUNITY THROUGH
THIS CONVERSATION IN A WAY THAT
DECREASES CONFLICT AND INCREASES
OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO
A COMMON FUTURE THAT IS BRIGHTER
AND BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE
TODAY. I AM DISAPPOINTED WHERE
THIS PROCESS HAS LANDED US AND
HAS BEEN EXPLAINED FOR YOU, THE
PUBLIC AND OUR RESIDENTS. THE
NUMBER AND THE CONTENT OF
AMENDMENTS AT FULL COUNCIL IS
THE DATA POINT THAT DESCRIBES,
THROUGH ACTION THAT THIS
CONVERSATION HAS BEEN PASSED
EACH OTHER, RATHER THAN WITH
EACH OTHER. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M
DISAPPOINTED IN TODAY. THANK
YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- I THINK EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER. LIN AGAIN FOR
BRINGING THIS LEGISLATION
FORWARD. I'LL PUT THE CART IN
FRONT OF THE HORSE AND SAY I
WAS, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORTED THIS
IN COMMITTEE AND I'LL BE
SUPPORTING IT AGAIN TODAY. AND
I'LL BE BRIEF WITH MY REMARKS.
YOU KNOW, FROM MY VANTAGE POINT
AS CHAIR OF HOUSING, ONE OF THE
THINGS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE FOCUSED ON IN THIS CITY IS
SPURRING ADDITIONAL HOUSING
PRODUCTION, AND WE NEED TO DO IT
ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS AND ALL
TYPES, AND WE NEED TO DO IT IN A
WAY THAT IS INCLUSIVE BECAUSE,
AS WAS ALREADY STATED, SPRAWL IS
ONE OF THE MOST THREATENING
THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE
CHANGE AND NOT JUST CLIMATE
CHANGE, BUT ENJOYING YOUR LIVES
AND HAVING LIVABILITY. I TALK A
LOT TO FOLKS WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF
THE CITY AND ARE COMMUTING IN
FOR WORK OR PLAY OR FUN OR
CHURCH, AND THAT HAS AN IMPACT
NOT JUST ON CLIMATE WHEN FOLKS
ARE IN THEIR CARS, BUT ALSO ON
YOUR TIME AND ANYBODY'S ABILITY
TO ENJOY THEIR LIFE AND THEIR
LIVELIHOOD. AND I THINK THAT'S,
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO ADDRESS WITH HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING
INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY. AND
I'LL SAY AGAIN, I THINK THAT
WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD
HERE, I DO SEE IT AS REFORM TO
OUR PROCESS, GIVEN THAT WE WILL
STILL HAVE THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
PROCESS AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS
WHO WANT TO SEEK AN APPEAL,
GIVEN THE APPLICATION WHEN IT
COMES TO PROJECT LEVEL ACTIONS.
AND I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I
APPRECIATE THE CLARITY THAT WE
GOT TO HAVE IN OUR LAST
COMMITTEE WHEN WE HAD THIS
DISCUSSION AROUND APPLICABILITY
OF THIS. SO FROM MY VANTAGE
POINT, I THINK THIS IS A
SUCCESSFUL APPROACH AT REFORM. I
THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK, YOU KNOW,
NO FURTHER THAN OTHER CITIES
LIKE BELLEVUE AND EVERETT, WHO
HAVE ALREADY HAVE THIS PROCESS
IN PLACE, THIS CHANGE IN THIS
DIFFERENCE IN PLACE TO SEE THAT
THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN PUT IN
PLACE AND CONTINUE TO HAVE
SUCCESS IN BEING, BEING A CITY
AND BEING THE LARGEST CITY IN
THE STATE, I THINK WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO STRIKE THAT
BALANCE. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT
THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT
FORWARD STRIKES THAT BALANCE. SO
I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT TODAY.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. AND BEFORE YOU GO TO
YOUR LAST WORDS, COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, I'LL SPEAK ABOUT I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD AND JUST DOUBLE
DOWN ON WHAT EVERYONE SAID ABOUT
THE. OFTENTIMES, WE MISS THE
POLICY DISCUSSION. WE GO
STRAIGHT TO CHARACTER
ASSASSINATIONS, AND IT'S JUST
UNFORTUNATE. SO I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE
WE DO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND
BUT IT COMES FROM BOTH SIDES.
OKAY, SO JUST WANT TO JUST WANT
TO STATE THAT IN COMMITTEE, I
VOTED TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE I
NEEDED MORE INFORMATION,
COMMUNITY TRANSPARENCY AND PLAIN
LANGUAGE TO UNDERSTAND THE
PROCESSES, PROCEDURES AND HOW WE
WERE, HOW WE WERE MOVING
FORWARD. AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.
I KNOW WE HEARD IT A LOT IN
COMMITTEE AND BOTH SIDES HAD
VALID POINTS AS WELL, AND
THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT TWO
AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL, WHICH
WAS TO EXTEND IT FROM 30 DAYS TO
45 DAYS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD
THE AMENDMENT TODAY TO HAVE
PLAIN ENGLISH AS WELL. AND I
ALSO KNOW THAT I WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK ON BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT
THERE'S NOT JUST BILLS THAT.
SLOW DOWN. IF SOME PEOPLE LIKE
SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS OR
HOUSING. THERE ARE THINGS RIGHT
NOW THE CITY CAN PERMIT FEES,
FINANCING AND LOANS, BUILDING
CODES, COSTS OF MATERIALS,
EXECUTION OF PROJECTS, UTILITY
CONNECTIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE,
EXPENSIVE LAND. I HAVE PROJECTS
ALL OVER IN THE DISTRICT THAT
EITHER DON'T HAVE FINANCING.
THEY CAN'T GET STARTED. NUMBERS
DON'T WORK. THE UTILITY FEES
ARE HIGH TO CONNECT THE DOT TO
DO THE BEAUTIFICATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. THERE
ARE A TON OF THINGS THAT GO INTO
BUILDING PROJECTS THAT DO NOT
INVOLVE, THAT ARE, THAT ARE
WITHIN OUR REACH, THAT WE CAN BE
ABLE TO CUT RED TAPE AND BE ABLE
TO DO. AND I'M ALWAYS COMMITTED
TO THAT. SO COUNCILMEMBER LIN
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AMENDMENT
OR EXCUSE ME, THIS BILL, I KNOW
EXACTLY WHERE YOUR HEART IS AT
AND WHERE IT CONTINUES TO BE AT
FOR THIS AND, AND FIXING A
PROBLEM TO MAKE THINGS FASTER
AND REACH THE SENSE OF URGENCY
THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED FOR, FOR
HOUSING AS WELL. SO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. I DON'T KNOW
IF THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS THAT
NEED TO SPEAK OR WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK. COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA,
DID YOU HAVE FINAL COMMENTS
BEFORE I PASS IT TO
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- AGREED COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN
TERMS OF YOU KNOW, I DO
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
YOUR POINT ABOUT. I DON'T THINK
THIS IS A THING THAT'S ACTUALLY
CAUSING THE MOST BOTTLENECKS TO
THE CREATION OF HOUSING. I
SUPPORT CREATION OF HOUSING, AND
I'M HERE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO
INCENTIVIZE THAT, BECAUSE WE
NEED HOUSING OF ALL KINDS JUST
ACROSS THE BOARD. SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
CONVERSATION. I DID HAVE IN MY
CONVERSATION WITH THE HEARING
EXAMINER. HE ALSO MENTIONED, YOU
KNOW, IN THE LAST TEN YEARS,
MAYBE HIS DECISIONS HAVE BEEN OR
THE HEARING EXAMINER'S
DECISIONS, I BELIEVE, HAVE ONLY
BEEN REVERSED TWICE. I THINK. SO
I JUST I THINK THAT AT THIS
POINT IN TIME, THIS ISN'T THE
THING. AND SO I WON'T BE
SUPPORTING THIS BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND I SO
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS
WE'VE WE'VE HAD, BUT I AM HERE
TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS
COUNCILMEMBER LIN ON WHAT WE CAN
DO TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF
MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA COUNCILMEMBER LIN FINAL
COMMENTS.
-- YEAH, THANK YOU ALL. AND I'LL
TRY TO KEEP THIS SHORT. I KNOW
PEOPLE NEED TO GET GOING. I KNOW
THAT CHANGE IS HARD. YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE ARE WHO WHO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROCESS ARE
USED TO IT. BUT I THINK, YOU
KNOW, THE QUESTION FOR ME, FOR
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, AND THIS
IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFERENT FOR
PROJECT BASED DECISIONS WHERE WE
ARE NOT THE DECISION MAKERS, BUT
FOR LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, WE ARE
THE DECISION MAKERS. AND THAT'S
AT THE HEART OF THIS FOR ME IS
WHERE DO PEOPLE GO TO MAKE THEIR
VOICES HEARD? DO WE SEND PEOPLE
OFF TO THE HEARING EXAMINER WHO
HAS NO ABILITY TO MAKE
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES, WHO HAS NO
ABILITY TO FOSTER DIALOG,
COMPROMISE SOLUTIONS, AND I
REALLY SEE IT AS A DELEGATION OF
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENGAGE
MORE DIRECTLY. SO I BELIEVE THAT
BY, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE SO
MUCH TIME AND RESOURCES, AND
THIS WOULD GIVE US ADDITIONAL
TIME AND RESOURCES TO, TO DO
THAT DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WHERE I
BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET
BETTER OUTCOMES AND BETTER
DEMOCRACY WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY I HAD FOR COMMITTEE
MEETINGS ON THIS BECAUSE I, YOU
KNOW, I'M NOT JUST ABOUT
RUSHING THE PROCESS. I'M ABOUT
IMPROVING THE PROCESS. AND
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THIS BILL
DOES. I BELIEVE IT FOSTERS
DIALOG BY BY PUTTING COUNCIL
BACK IN THE CENTER SEAT OF
ENGAGING WITH HOW TO PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT, HOW TO UNDERSTAND
THE IMPACTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD URGE YOUR
SUPPORT.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL? ARE THERE ANY OTHER
FINAL FINAL COMMENTS? WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AMENDED. I'M
SORRY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL, AS AMENDED
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- A.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE A.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- NO
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- NO.
-- THAT IS FIVE IN FAVOR. FOUR
OPPOSED PASSES.
-- THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? CONGRATULATIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
FOUR INTO THE RECORD? PARDON ME.
OH, LORD.
-- THE REPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM THREE.
COUNCIL BILL 121256 RELATING TO
CITY EMPLOYMENT. AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION. MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THE PROFESSIONAL AND
TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES. LOCAL 17
REGARDING THE CREATION OF THE
FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER
CLASSIFICATION SERIES.
-- THIS COUNCIL BILL 12125766.
ONE. SECOND. HOLLY, I DON'T
HAVE.
-- A PAPER.
-- SORRY. WE'RE GOING TO BE AT
E OKAY. FOUND IT. SORRY. MY
APOLOGIES. THANK YOU. ITEM
NUMBER THREE INTO THE RECORD.
YOU JUST READ IT. OKAY, I MOVE
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 121256. IS
THERE A SECOND? SECOND. AWESOME.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO
PASS THE BILL. AS SPONSOR OF THE
BILL. I WILL ADDRESS IT. THANK
YOU, KARINA, FOR SENDING US SUCH
A DETAILED MEMO ABOUT THIS BILL.
COUNCIL BILL 121256 WOULD
AUTHORIZE A A MEMORANDUM OF
MEMORY MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE
PROFESSIONAL AND TECH LORD
PROTECT. 17 OKAY. REGARDING THE
ACCRETION OF THE FIRE PROTECTION
ENGINEER CLASSIFICATION SERIES
IN THE PROTECT. 17 STRATEGIC
ADVISORS AND MANAGERS COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT, WHICH IS
CALLED THE CBA. THE MOU WOULD
COVER FIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
EMPLOYEES IN THESE POSITIONS
REVIEW AND APPROVE FIRE
PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
SYSTEMS AND BUILDING PLANS AND
DRAWINGS TO ENSURE CONFORMANCE
WITH FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY CODES.
THIS AGREEMENT WOULD INCLUDE A
9.4% SALARY INCREASE FOR EACH
EMPLOYEE AND THE PROVISIONS IN
THE EXISTING STRATEGIC ADVISORS
AND MANAGERS. SEE B AYE ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
REGARDING THE BILL BEFORE US?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL
-- ROB SAKA
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER.
-- JUAREZ AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH NINE IN FAVOR?
NONE OPPOSED.
-- BILL PASSES. THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ITEM
NUMBER FOUR. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ INTO THE RECORD.
-- AGENDA ITEM FOUR COUNCIL
CHAIR 121257 RELATING TO CITY
EMPLOYMENT. AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION OF A COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT AND THE INTERNATIONAL
BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL
WORKERS. LOCAL 77.
-- AWESOME COLLEAGUES, I MOVED
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 121257. IS
THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO
PASS THE BILL. AS SPONSOR OF THE
BILL, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS IT.
CB 121257 WOULD AUTHORIZE A
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS, LOCAL 77.
THE CBA WOULD COVER 548
ELECTRICAL WORKERS IN SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT. THE AGREEMENT WOULD
INCLUDE NEGOTIATED WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR SPECIFIC
POSITIONS RANGING FROM 5 TO 15%,
THAT WERE INFORMED BY
COMPARATIVE MARKET STUDIES AND
GENERAL ANNUAL WAGE INCREASES. A
W IES. COLLEAGUES, I URGE YOUR
SUPPORT AND WE'LL PAUSE TO SEE
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ON THE BILL WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED.
-- AWESOME. THE BILL PASSES.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ NUMBER ITEM NUMBER FIVE
INTO THE RECORD.
-- AGENDA ITEM 5.121258 RELATING
TO CITY EMPLOYMENT. AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING THAT MODIFIES THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL
EMPLOYEES. LOCAL 17.
-- AWESOME COUNCIL BILL 121258
WOULD AUTHORIZE A MOU BETWEEN
THE CITY AND PROTECT 17 TO
CORRECT PAY INVERSIONS FOR THE
BRIDGE, ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE
SUPERVISOR AND BRIDGE GENERAL
MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR'S
POSITIONS IN SDOT. SO THAT'S ALL
THIS IS, IS JUST A PAY PAY
INVERSION FOR THE BRIDGE.
ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE PAY
INVERSIONS HAPPENS WHEN
CLASSIFICATION IS PAID MORE THAN
A SENIOR OR SUPERVISORY CLASS.
SO AFTER 500 JOBS, JOB TITLES
ACROSS THE CITY RECEIVED A
NEGOTIATED WAGE ADJUSTMENT UNDER
THE 2023 TO 2026 COALITION
AGREEMENTS, SOME SENIOR OR
SUPERVISOR CLASSIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE A PAY INVERSION, SO
INCLUDING THE BRIDGE ELECTRICAL
MAINTENANCE SUPERVISORS AND
BRIDGE GENERAL MAINTENANCE
SUPERVISOR POSITIONS.
COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BILL
BEFORE US? I DID NOT MOVE IT.
CAN I MOVE COUNCIL BILL 121258.
IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND TO FOR COUNCIL BILL
121258. IF THERE'S NO OTHER
COMMENTS CAN WE TAKE A VOTE
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- NINE IN FAVOR. NONE. OPPOSED.
-- BILL PASSES. CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF? COLLEAGUES, THERE
WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. THERE IS NOT A
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION OR
ADOPTION TODAY, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER WILL BE EXCUSED IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION. FROM THE
AUGUST 18th CITY COUNCIL MEETING
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER IS EXCUSED
FROM THE AUGUST 18th COUNCIL
MEMBER MEETING. I KNOW WE'VE
BEEN IN HERE FOR HOURS, BUT I
PROMISE THIS LITTLE GIRL. I'D
READ THE EMAIL HER MOTHER SENT.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL
KNOW THIS YOUNG WOMAN BEFORE WE
GO. THIS YOUNG WOMAN SENT ME AN
EMAIL THAT SHE WAS A PARENT OF A
THREE YEAR OLD. THEY WERE
RECENTLY PLAYING AT A PLAYGROUND
IN MONTLAKE PLAYFIELD FELL ON
THE GROUND AND PRETTY HIGH UP
ABOUT A SIX SEVEN FOOT LANDING.
WHEN SHE LANDED ON HER BACK, SHE
WAS ABLE TO RECOVER COMPLETELY.
DESPITE THAT HIGH FALL, BUT SHE
USED TO POKE FUN AT THE MINI
PLAYGROUNDS AND FIELDS THAT WERE
COVERED IN SOFT TURF. SHE SAID
SHE USED TO ROLL HER EYES, BUT
AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, SHE
UNDERSTANDS WHY, AND SHE WANTS
TO THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
ALL THE VOTES ON A LOT OF THE
SUSTAINABLE FIELDS AND THE
PLAYGROUNDS THAT COME. AND SO
WE'RE HERE TO SAY, KIRA, WE
LOVE YOU. WE'RE GLAD YOU GOT
WELL, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE ON A BUNCH OF
PLAYGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
THAT CAN HAVE SOFT LANDINGS SO
YOU DON'T FALL AGAIN. OKAY?
KIRA, THE THREE YEAR OLD. WE
HOPE THAT YOU'RE GETTING WELL.
ALL RIGHT. SO JUST WANTED TO
READ THAT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
COLLEAGUES, BEFORE WE END THIS
MEETING, I ALSO WANT TO SAY I
WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
HARD WORK. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A
CHALLENGING COUPLE WEEKS WITH A
LOT OF THE STUFF GOING ON, BUT I
JUST WANT TO SAY REALLY
APPRECIATE AND I HOPE AS
COLLEAGUES, I'M WRAPPING IT UP.
I HAVE THIS LAST THING THAT I
REALLY WANT TO SAY.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. OKAY, SO
THANK YOU. I SEE YOU ROLLING.
THIS IS MY LAST THING IS THAT WE
CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE
CHARACTER OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS
WITH EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY IN
PUBLIC, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES
THERE'S A LOT OF CHARACTER
ASSASSINATIONS. AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY, I HAVE EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOUR BACK BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT YOUR INTENTION AND I HOPE
THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO DO THE
SAME AS WELL, NOT JUST BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS. COLLEAGUES ON THE
DAIS AND OUT FRONT INTO PEOPLE
AS WELL. I THINK THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT AS WELL WHEN WE'RE
DOING THIS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU
ALL. YOU KNOW, I HAVE YOUR BACK
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. SO
WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, GUESS WHAT?
THIS. WE ARE ADJOURNED. WE'VE
REACHED TODAY'S AGENDA. THE
NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS
GOING TO BE AUGUST THE 4th AT 2
P.M., HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
-- COUNCIL.
-- [MUSIC] [MUSIC]