>>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE FOR OUR FINANCE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE . THE
DATE IS JUNE 12, 2019 . IT'S A
LITTLE AFTER 2 PM.
I AM CHAIR BAGSHAW AND I AM
JOINED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL.
YOU FOR BEING HERE
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN TO TALK
TO US ABOUT THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX AND SHORT TERM
RENTAL TAX STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT RESPONSE.
INKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE
ENTIRE MEETING.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY.
THE FIRST IS A THANK YOU TO OUR
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
FINANCE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE ARE HERE.
THE SECOND IS OUR SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX AND SHORT TERM
RENTAL TAX STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT RESPONSE AND
THE LEGISLATION INTENT
RESPONSE.
THEN WE HAVE THE FIRST MEETING
REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF
ROBERT HUMES AS DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES.
WE WILL NOT BE VOTING ON
ROBERT HUMES TODAY BUT THIS IS
OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
WITH HIM AND WITH THE
EXPECTATION THAT ON JUNE 26 AT
OUR NEXT MEETING WE WILL HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON HIS
APPOINTMENT AT THAT POINT.
SO WITH THAT, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, THIS AGENDA WITH
THE THREE ITEMS WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA
IS ABOUT TO BE ADOPTED AND WE
WILL PROCEED.
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL NOW TAKE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEMS
THAT APPEAR ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
I SEE THAT WE HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE
SIGNED UP AND IF I CAN JUST
CALL YOU IN ORDER, WE WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES EACH.
I WILL ASK YOU TO APPROACH THE
MICROPHONE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM TO WHICH YOU
ARE SPEAKING AND THEN WE WILL
KEEP MOVING AND ASK YOU TO
EITHER LIGHT UP OR BE AT ONE OF
THE TWO MICROPHONES.
THE FIRST ONE IS LINDSAY.
THE SECOND IS JIM.
NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF
WORK FOR US.
IT LOOKS LIKE LIKA ?
>> I AM LINDSAY I AM WITH THE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND
ALSO HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF
THE CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION
COALITION.
THINGS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE A BRIEF COMMENT TODAY.
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND
SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT RESPONSE
WHEN IT WAS PASSED IN 2018.
SCIENCE TOLD US AT THE TIME AND
THE EVIDENCE CONTINUES TO GROW
THAT THIS POLICY COULD HELP
REDUCE THE OVERCONSUMPTION OF
UNHEALTHY SUGARY DRINKS AND
DISEASE.
LEADING UP TO THE PASSAGE OF
THIS ORDINANCE THERE WAS MUCH
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AND THE
COMMUNITIES DESIRE TO INVEST
THE REVENUE INCLUDE ACCESS AND
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WAS
CLEARLY REFLECTED IN THE
ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.
LET'S GO STEP FURTHER.
LET'S CREATE A DEDICATED
ACCOUNT FOR THESE FUNDS TO
IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY.
LET THE COMMUNITY SEE WHAT
MONEY IS COMING IN AND WHERE IS
GOING CLINIC GOES OUT THE DOOR.
LET'S ENSURE THESE FUNDS ARE
USED FOR THEIR INTENDED
PURCHASE PURPOSE TO GROW AND
EXPAND THESE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES SO MORE OF OUR FRIENDS
AND NEIGHBORS CAN BENEFIT.
LET'S NOT USE IT SIMPLY TO
SUPPLANT UNDERLYING FUNDING FOR
EXISTING PROGRAMS.
PLEASE UPHOLD THE CITY'S
COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE TO THE
COMMUNITY TO USE HIS REVENUE TO
PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHY
FOOD FOR MORE PEOPLE AND MORE
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE
OF OUR CITY'S CHILDREN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE LINDSAY.
>> WE HAVE JIM AND THEN LIKA .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHAIR
BAGSHAW.
I AM COCHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND
SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT RESPONSE
IN SEATTLE.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE
ORDINANCE AND MAKES
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR
AND THE HEALTH ON HOW TO
ALLOCATE THE TAX REVENUES
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE INTENT
WAS OF THIS ORDINANCE WHICH IS
FOR THE REVENUES AND IF IT.
THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE THE
GREATEST INCREASE IN EDUCATION
AND HEALTH.
WE ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO SEE
THAT THESE REVENUES ARE
ALLOCATED TO PROMOTE RACIAL AND
HEALTH EQUITY INCLUDING
ADDRESSING THE AGGRESSIVE
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OF
HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS.
IT'S REALLY THE UTMOST
IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD THAT THE REVENUE
ALLOCATION IS DIRECTED TO THESE
LOW INCOME IMMUNITIES AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO EXPAND
HEALTHY FOOD AT AFFORDABLE FOOD
AXIS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO
SUPPORT AN EDUCATION.
ONLY THEN WILL THAT MAKE THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND
SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT RESPONSE
A TRULY PROGRESSIVE POLICY.
THEREFORE WE ARE URGING THE
COUNCIL TO HONOR LEGISLATIVE
INTENT TO USE THAT REVENUE
SOLELY TO EXPAND EXISTING
PROGRAMS TO CREATE NEW PROGRAMS
AND NOT TO USE IT TO SUPPLANT
EXISTING FUNDING FOR THESE
PROGRAMS.
THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN THE
2018 BUDGET WHERE UP TO $6
MILLION WAS SUPPLANTING GENERAL
FUNDS AND SUPPORTING EXISTING
ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN GROWTH
AND EXPANSION AS INTENDED BY
THE LEGISLATION AND WAS
ADVOCATED FOR BY THE COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE WE HAVE TWO GOALS.
WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FUND
ESTABLISHED TO A WET ALLOW FOR
TRANSPARENT REVENUE TRACKING
AND EXPENDITURES AND MAKE SURE
THE MONEY WILL BE USED ON NEW
AND EXPANDED PROGRAMS.
WE KNOW THE COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS WHO SUPPORTED THESE
REVENUES FOR EXPANDING PROGRAMS
THERE IS BROAD COMMUNITY
SUPPORT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BE MORE
EFFECTIVE IN PERFORMING OUR
DUTIES.
THE LAST POINT IS IF WE CAN GET
THIS IN PLACE BEFORE THE 2020
BUDGET PROCESS IT WILL MAKE IT
MORE TRANSPARENT AND MORE
CONSISTENT WITH HOW WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE TAX
IMPLEMENTED.
ENCLOSING WE SUPPORT THE
SPECIAL FUND FOR THE REVENUES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TWO MINUTES.
I WANT TO REALLY RECOGNIZE YOU
JIM AND LIZZIE BOTH FROM THE
HEART ASSOCIATION FOR YOUR HARD
WORK ON THIS.
WE KNOW THAT YOU SPENT UNTOLD
HOURS AND YOUR DEDICATION IS
MUCH APPRECIATED.
NEXT ITEM, LIKA .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM A REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND
I SIT ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY
BOARD ON A FOOD AXIS SEAT AND
PART OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE.
WHAT HE DID FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HERE AND SHARE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ESTABLISHING
A SEPARATE FUND FOR THE CITY
BUDGET TO TRACK THE SUGARY
BEVERAGE TAX REVENUE.
THIS IS REALLY NECESSARY TO
HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN THE
COLLECTION AND COLLECTION OF
THE FUND REVENUE.
THE SEPARATED BUT WOULD ENSURE
THE CITY IS UPHOLDING THEIR
ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE TEXT AND
INVESTING THESE FUNDS IN AN
EQUITABLE WAY WHICH WOULD
BALANCE THE AGGRESSIVE NATURE OF
THE TAX.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED ADVOCATING
WHEN THE PROCESS OF THE TAX WAS
BEING IN PLACE, I WAS TALKING A
LOT WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT KEPT COMING UP WAS PEOPLE
BEING REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
ATTACKS SUCH AS THIS LOOKING
LIKE THE TOBACCO TAX WHERE A
LOT OF MONEY, MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS WOULD BE COMING IN AND
PUTTING INTO A GENERAL FUND.
FOLKS WERE REALLY HESITANT
ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT IS
PROGRESSIVE TAXING THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE MOST IN NEED OF GETTING
SUPPORT.
SO WHEN THE CONVERSATION
SHIFTED TOWARDS THIS MONEY
GOING TOWARDS EARLY EDUCATION
BUT MORE PORTLY THE FOOD
ACCESS, THERE WAS LOT MORE
SUPPORT AND LAST YEAR WHEN THE
FUNDS DID GET SUPPLANTED AND 6
MILLION PUTTING INTO THE
GENERAL FUND THERE WAS A LOT OF
THIS DISTRESS THAT CAME BACK UP
ABOUT HOW THIS WAS REALLY BEING
SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND A
LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT
TRANSPARENCY AND THE CAMERA
ACCOUNTABILITY TO WHAT WAS
ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR.
WHAT I AM ADVOCATING FOR IS
HAVING THESE FUNDS PUT IN A
SEPARATE ACCOUNT SO THERE CAN
BE TRACKING OF IT, THE
TRANSPARENCY THAT IS NEEDED FOR
THE COMMUNITY TRUST BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY THAT THERE IS
ACCOUNTABILITY TO HAVING
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AND
REALLY INVESTING THESE FUNDS
INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED
IT MOST AND THAT ARE TARGETED
BY THE SUGARY BEVERAGE INDUSTRY
AND WE CAN HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY
TO THAT COMMITMENT THAT THE
CITY HAS AROUND SOCIAL JUSTICE
AND RACIAL EQUITY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS TANIKA THOMPSON AND
I AM AT THE FOOD ACCESS WORKER.
WE WORK REALLY HARD TO TALK
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO
ENSURE THEM THAT THIS IS NOT
GOING TO BE A REGRESSIVE TAX
AND SOMETHING THEY WERE GOING
TO SUFFER FROM.
WE DID A LOT OF DOORKNOCKING
AND WE PROMISED PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT THIS MONEY WAS
GOING TO COME BACK TO THEM
BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES WHO
ARE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED.
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE I LET THEM
DOWN.
THAT IS JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS
MONEY TAKEN AWAY FROM THE TAX
AND PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID TO ME.
THE ASKED, THEY WOULD JUST PUT
THE MONEY IN GENERAL FUNDING
AND DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH IT.
I TOLD THEM NO, THERE IS AN
ORDINANCE THAT STATES THERE
WILL BE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS
AND THERE WILL BE EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
I TRIED TO WRITE DOWN EXACTLY
WHERE ALL THE MONEY WAS GOING
TO GO.
IT IS MY NAME THAT IS OUT
THERE.
IT'S MY JOB'S NAME.
WE ARE OUT THERE TALKING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT MY
ACCOUNTABILITY MAY NOT BE
INTACT.
THEY MAY NOT WANT TO BELIEVE ME
THE NEXT TIME I GO OUT AND TALK
TO THEM.
SO I TOO, LIKE THE MEMBERS OF
THE CAB, THINK THERE SHOULD BE
A SPECIFIC FUND TO TRACK THE
MONEY AND IT NEEDS TO BE
APPLIED AS STATED IN THE
ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HELLO.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF OTHERS.
WE ARE AWARE OF THE
DISPLACEMENT THAT IS HAPPENING
IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR CITY
AND HOW WE SEE IT AFFECTING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE ALSO KNOW THE NEED FOR A
DEDICATED FUND FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
THE NEED IS GREAT.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 30 MILLION
ASKED US FOR THIS BUT AROUND 5
MILLION AVAILABLE FOR IT.
WHAT WE NEED IS REALLY TO
INCREASE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR
DEVELOPMENT IN THE ADI.
WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU TO BRING
A SOLUTION TO THE COMMUNITY AND
CREATE A DEDICATED FUND FOR ADI
. AND INCREASE WHAT IS
AVAILABLE FOR THE ADI.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JASMINE AND I AM
PART OF THE ADVISORY BOARD.
I AM HERE TO AFFIRM THAT WE
NEED A DEDICATED FUND FOR THE
ADI INITIATIVE AND THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX TO MATCH
THE COUNCILS ORIGINAL INTENT
FOR THIS REVENUE STREAMS.
RAPID DISPLACEMENT IS HAPPENING
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ONE OF
THE PRIMARY WAYS WE CAN PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT IS THROUGH
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. TACKLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IS ONE
OF THE ONLY TOOLS THE CITY HAS
TO ADDRESS THE MULTIPLE EQUITY
DRIVERS AND PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT.
THERE IS A DEEP NEED FOR THE
ADA FOR LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR
WE HAVE OVER 30 APPLICATIONS
THIS YEAR THAT ARE WORTH OVER
$30 MILLION AND OUR FUND IS
ONLY $5 MILLION PER SO WE NEED
A LOT MORE FUNDING TO SUPPORT
THIS STRATEGY AND TO HAVE IT BE
SOMETHING THAT CAN ACTUALLY
WORK AT THE SCALE THAT IS
NEEDED.
THE TIME IS NOW.
WE NEED TO ENSURE REVENUE FROM
THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TAX WHICH
YOU GOT A PORTION OF,
ULTIMATELY FUNDS ADI BY PUTTING
THEM IN A DEDICATED FUND.
THIS LAST BUDGET CYCLE OVER 20%
OF THE FUNDS WERE REPURPOSED
FOR OTHER USES AND THICKLY THE
COUNCIL REPLACED THOSE FUNDS
FOR 2019 THAT WE STILL HAVE A
MILLION-DOLLAR GAP IN THE 2020
BUDGET.
WE NEED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE
NOW WELL IN ADVANCE OF BUDGET
LIBERATIONS SO COUNSEL DOES NOT
HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO BACKFILL
THE ADI BUDGET.
SO I AM HERE TO SAY THAT ONE OF
THE FIRST STEPS TO ADDRESSING
THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE
REVENUE FOR THE SHORT-TERM
RENTAL TAXES PLACED IN A
DEDICATED FUND AND WE URGE YOU
TO BRING LEGISLATION TO THIS
COMMITTEE TO CREATE A DEDICATED
FUND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US AT
THE TABLE.
JOHNSON, WELCOME.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT TWO MONTHS
AGO WHERE HE MADE A
PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL
AROUND NONPROFITS USING
SAMARITAN TO ELEVATE THE
OUTCOMES OF PEOPLE USING
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
FIRST ONE OF THE MEMBERS AT THE
TABLE WHO WAS WITH US, A
CURRENTLY HOMELESS PERSON,
DAVID, AFTER 13 YEARS OF BEING
ON THE STREETS HE RECENTLY
REPORTED THAT HE HAD SECURED
FULL-TIME WORK IN SECURITY.
HE GOT A BIG ACCOUNT AND WAS
SAVING TOWARDS A DEPOSIT.
THAT IS REALLY EXCITING FOR US.
SECOND, A CITY FUNDED SHELTER
WROTE A STATEMENT THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU GUYS IF
THAT IS OKAY TALKING ABOUT
THEIR DESIRE TO GIVE MORE
PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE ACCESS
TO A SAMARITAN BEACON.
SO IT IS ALL RIGHT I WILL HAND
THESE TO YOU GUYS.
HE COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY
BUT THEY WROTE A STATEMENT FOR
YOU AS COUNSEL AND IF ANY OF
YOU ARE AROUND AFTERWARDS AND
HAVE A MOMENT TO CHAT ABOUT
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GIVE
POTENTIALLY 2000 MORE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
ACCESS TO A SAMARITAN BEACON I
WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
IT.
/ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
MR. WILLIAMS?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS,
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF
SEATTLE PARKS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ROBERT
HUMES APPOINTMENT FOR THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES.
I HAD A CHANCE TO HIRE HIM OUT
OF SEVERAL HIGHLY QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES.
HE STOOD OUT BECAUSE OF HIS
OVERWHELMING ENTHUSIASM,
POSITIVE ENERGY, AND HE WAS NOT
ONLY ENERGETIC BUT I SAW HIM AS
A TYPE OF LEADER THE CITY
SHOULD BE HIRING.
HE IS A NEXT-GENERATION LEADER
OF OUR TIME.
I'VE NOT ONLY BEEN IMPRESSED
WITH HIS ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM
BUT ALSO HIS VOCABULARY AND THE
WAY HE PHRASES, RATHER THE
PHRASES HE USES TO DESCRIBE THE
POTENTIAL WE HAVE WITH CITY
EMPLOYEES.
I SEE BOBBY AS A LEADER
COMMITTED TO NEW SOLUTIONS FOR
INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS.
HE HAS STREET CREDIBILITY WITH
EMPLOYEES.
HE IS ALMOST AN EVANGELIST FOR
THE CITY'S SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE.
HE CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND PUTS
HUMAN INTEREST ABOVE
TRANSACTIONAL WORK AND
BUREAUCRACY.
BOBBY IS A PEOPLE CENTERED
LEADER FOR OUR TIME.
BOBBY NOT ONLY IS ENTHUSIASTIC
AND ENERGETIC, HE IS STRATEGIC
IN HIS THINKING AND HE HAS A
STRONG ACTION ORIENTED BIAS.
HE SIMPLY GETS THINGS DONE.
I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT ROBERT
HUMES APPOINTMENT AS THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES.
/ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WORDS.
I KNOW ALLISON, YOU WILL RUSH
RIGHT OVER HERE AND READ IN THE
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR
FRIENDS FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TO COME FORWARD.
ANDREW, GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.
I WILL ASK FIRST FOR
INTRODUCTIONS AND THEN WE WILL
DIVE RIGHT IN.
>> MY NAME IS ANDREW LEE ,
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
>> I AM ELLEN STEWART ,
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
>> HILLARY HAMILTON ,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES .
>> THANK YOU, WHO IS LEADING?
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
WE HAVE A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES
WHO FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAR CALL
SOURCE CONTROL AND MOTION
PREVENTION.
THESE EMPLOYEES ARE ON THE
FRONT LINES OF INSPECTING
BUSINESSES FOR PUSHING AND
RESPONDING TO SPELLS FOR
PUSHING THAT CAN IMPACT OUR
WATERWAYS.
THEIR FIELDWORK AND THE 24-HOUR
RESPONSE NEEDS OF THIS GROUP
REQUIRE FACILITIES THAT CAN
ACCOMMODATE THEIR WORK AND
POSITION THEM FOR THE FASTEST
AND MOST EFFICIENT RESPONSES.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
A PROPOSED LEASE FOR A BUILDING
THAT MEETS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF
THIS GROUP.
THE MAIN DRIVER FOR THIS
PROPOSED LEASE IS THE LOSS OF
THEIR EXISTING OFFICE SPACE IN
BALLARD BECAUSE OF THE WATER
QUALITY PROJECT.
THAT MEGAPROJECT IS A $570
MILLION PROJECT REQUIRED BY OUR
FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE TO
ADDRESS COMBINED CONSUMER
OVERFLOWS INTO SHIP CANAL OF
LAKE UNION.
THE GROUP WILL BE VACATING
THEIR EXISTING LOCATION TO
ACCOMMODATE THE EXISTING
INSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES FOR THE
SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY PROJECT
WHICH WILL BEGIN AT THE END OF
THE YEAR.
HENCE, THE NEED FOR THE NEW
SPACE.
HILLARY HAMILTON AND ELLEN
STEWART WILL NOW PROVIDE MORE
DETAILS.
THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS AND THE
TERMS OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU ABOUT
OUR WORK.
THE DIVISION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN PROTECTING THE CITIES
DRAINAGE AND SEWER SYSTEM AND
OUR WATERWAYS FROM SOURCES OF
POLLUTION.
THE WORK IS REQUIRED BY THE
CITY'S STORMWATER AND
WASTEWATER PERMIT UNDER THE
CLEAN WATER ACT.
WE HAVE 19 STAFF, A FLEET OF 16
VEHICLES, ONE SPILL RESPONSE
BOAT AND TO SPILL SUPPLY
TRAILERS.
AS ANDREW MENTIONED, THE NATURE
OF THE WORK IS VERY FIELD
BASED.
WE DO 24-HOUR SPILL RESPONSE
FOR THE CITY.
WE DO SAMPLING AND MONITORING
AND WE WORK WITH BUSINESSES AND
RESIDENTS TO RESOURCE SOURCES
OF POLLUTION.
YOU WILL SEE ON YOUR POWERPOINT
AND EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE WORK
THAT WE DO.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO REDUCE
SOME OF THE HISTORY WHICH HAS
BROUGHT US TO THE POINT OF
ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THIS
LEASE.
HISTORICALLY OUR DIVISION WAS
SPLIT BETWEEN TWO LOCATIONS.
THEY WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO
THE BALLARD OPERATIONS BUILDING
IN 2017.
THAT PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED AS
PART OF OUR SHIP CANAL WATER
QUALITY PROJECT AND THAT LOOP
WAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO BE A
TEMPORARY ONE AS THE PROJECT
AND CONSTRUCTION STAFF WILL
OCCUPY THE BUILDING DURING
CONSTRUCTION.
AS ANDREW ALSO MENTIONED IT WAS
REALLY THAT PROJECT SCHEDULE
THAT IS DRIVING OUR TIME ON
HERE AS THE CONTRACTORS WILL
BEGIN TO MOVE IN IN JANUARY AND
EVERY MONTH OF DELAY TO THE
PROJECT IS ABOUT $1.3 MILLION.
THE TEAM WAS ORIGINALLY
SCHEDULED TO MOVE TO THE SOUTH
OPERATIONS CENTER AND MEET WITH
OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF.
THAT PROJECT HAS SHIFTED IN
SCOPE AND IT IS NO LONGER
FEASIBLE FOR US TO BE THERE.
THAT SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE THE
NEEDED BOAT ACCESS AND THE
ABILITY FOR OUR CITYWIDE SPILL
RESPONSE AS IT WAS REALLY
INTENDED FOR OUR SOUTH
OPERATIONS CREWS.
SO WITH THE CHANGE IN SCOPE AND
IN THE FALL OF 2008 AND WE KNEW
WE NEEDED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO
FIND A SPOT INSECURE A LEASE.
LAST WINTER WE WORKED WITH FAS
TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SITES THAT
MET OUR CRITERIA.
WE EVALUATED THE TEEN SITES.
WE VISITED FOUR OF THEM.
WE REVIEWED COST PROPOSALS FOR
TWO OF THEM AND ULTIMATELY
CHOSE THE WHARF BUILDING AS OUR
PREFERRED OPTION.
THE WHARF BUILDING IS LOCATED
AT 4209 21st AVE W
OVERLOOKING FISHMAN'S TERMINAL.
IT OFFERS THE ABILITY TO
RENOVATE THE SPACE TO MATCH OUR
UNIQUE FIELD NEEDS.
IT OFFERS AN AREA FOR LOCKER
ROOMS, EQUIPMENT REPAIR, LAB
SPACE, WE WILL HAVE AN AREA FOR
DECONTAMINATION FOR OUR SPELL
RESPONSE, LAUNDRY, SECURED
PARKING FOR ALL OF OUR 16 CITY
LOCALS AND SPILL RESPONSE
TRAILERS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR
BOAT MORTGAGE NEARBY WITHIN
FIVE MINUTES DRIVE WHICH IS A
COVERED IN WATER SECURE
STORAGE.
THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US AND
ALLOWS US TO RESPOND VERY
QUICKLY TO WATERWAY SPELLS.
SO OVERALL WE THINK THIS IS A
GREAT MATCH FOR OUR TEAMS NEEDS.
>> HILLARY DO YOU WANT TO DRIVE
DIVE INTO THE LEASE TERMS?
>> FAS HAS THE PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENGAGING IN
LEASING ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF OF
OF ITSELF AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND WE ARE OBLIGED
TO BRING CERTAIN LEASES TO THE
CITY COUNCIL IF THEY EXCEED
5000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE
SPACE, IF THEY EXCEED IDEAS,
AND IF THEY EXCEED A BASELINE
OF RENTAL RATES.
SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE
TODAY.
THE LEASE WITH BROADACRES LLC
THAT OWNS THE WHARF BUILDING,
PROVIDES ABOUT 7700 SQUARE FEET
OF SPACE.
IT IS EXCELLENT FOR OUR CITY
VEHICLES AND WE NEGOTIATED A 10
YEAR TURN.
THERE IS AN OPTION TO EXTEND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS
IMPORTANT TO SPU IS THE OPTION
TO TERMINATE EARLY.
THEY ARE HOPEFUL THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO MOVE BACK INTO THE
BALLARD OFFICE BUILDING AS THE
PROJECT COMPLETES THAT WE HAVE
PROVIDED A WINDOW OF
OPPORTUNITY IN CASE THERE IS A
DESIRE TO DO MORE WITH THAT
OTHER BUILDING OR OTHER CITY
NEEDS.
ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES HERE IS
THAT THE CITY AS AN ENTITY IS
THE TENANT SO IF WE WANT TO
TAKE DOWN A LITTLE EXTRA SPACE
FOR PROJECT STAFF OR OTHER CITY
INSPECTORS, PERHAPS WE WILL
HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT
UNDER THE AUTHOR A SUBJECTION
AUTHORIZATION WE HAVE ASKED FOR.
THE RENT IS COMPARABLE TO SOME
OF THE OTHER BUILDINGS OF A
SIMILAR TYPE AND SIZE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT THESE
UTILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE
RENT.
ALSO THIS LANDLORD DID PROVIDE
ABOUT $40 PER SQUARE FOOT OR
$310,000 FOR TENANT
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL HELP
WITH SOME OF THE SPECIALIZED
NEEDS LIKE THE DECONTAMINATION
AREA AND LOCKER ROOMS AND SO
ON.
WE FEEL IT IS A GOOD LEASE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRIEFING ME ON
THIS RECENTLY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ALLOWING ME
TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO THAT YOU CONCUR
THAT THIS IS A ROUTINE LEASE.
THAT IS NOT ANYTHING OUT OF THE
ORDINARY THAT YOU WOULD NOT
HAVE DONE FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS
. ALSO IF YOU CAN TALK JUST A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT, AND YOU
MENTIONED IT, WE HAVE A IS YOUR
OPTION TO RENEW IF THEY WANTED
TO EXTEND IT BUT YOU ALSO HAVE
THE TO YOUR PRIOR TO THE END OF
THE 10 YEARS SHOULD THEY DECIDE
YOU WANTED TO TERMINATE THE
LEASE.
DO YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE PLEASE
JUST THE SAVINGS AND THE
FLEXIBILITY AROUND THAT OPTION
IN THE LEASE?
>> WE HAVE FOUND THAT MOST OF
THE LEASES THAT WE BRING TO
COUNSEL WE ARE INCLUDING AT
LEAST ONE FIVE-YEAR OPTION AND
I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE
WITH THE PROJECT BASED NEED
THAT WAS PARTICULARLY USEFUL.
IT IS PRETTY STANDARD CLAUSE WE
ARE INCLUDING IN LEASES.
THE EARLY TERMINATION IS
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE
CERTAINLY.
AGAIN, IT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE FLEXIBILITY.
THE LANDLORD WISHED FOR 10
YEARS SO RATHER THAN NEGOTIATE
48, WE WENT WITH 10 BECAUSE HE
WAS WILLING TO PROVIDE THE
TENANT IMPROVEMENTS AND SPREAD
THAT COST OVER THE LEASE
REVENUES FOR 10 YEARS.
THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO GET
NOTICE AT THE END OF THE EIGHTH
YEAR AND, OR TO LEAVE AT THE
END OF THE EIGHTH YEAR WITH ONE
YEAR NOTICE.
THAT JUST PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY
FOR THE PROJECT AND WE MAY OR
MAY NOT WANT TO DO IT BUT IT IS
THERE IF WE NEED IT.
>> COUNSEL AND COLLEAGUES DO
YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR
CONCERNS ABOUT THIS LEASE?
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
IF YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE COUNCIL
BILL 119541 .
>> THOSE IN FAVOR?
ANY OPPOSED?
NOBODY ABSTAINS SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, THIS PASSES AND THIS
WILL MOVE FORWARD TO OUR FULL
COMMITTEE ON MONDAY. I
APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU HAVE
DONE ON THIS AND THE BRIEFING.
LET US MOVE ON TO THE SECOND
ITEM OF BUSINESS. ALLISON, DO
YOU WANT TO READ THIS ONE INTO
THE RECORD?
I'M SORRY, I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE THE PRESENTERS TO COME UP
.SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND
SHORT TERM RENTAL TAX STATEMENT
>>OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
RESPONSE BRIEF AND DISCUSSION.
>> ALY PENNUCCI, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, YOLANDA
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THIS DURING
THE FALL BUDGET WAS IS
REQUESTING THAT THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE SUBMIT INSULATION BITE
MARCH 28, 2019 THAT WOULD
CREATE SEPARATE FUNDS FOR
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX AND
SHORT-TERM REVENUES. THIS SITE
IS IN SPOTS TO THE PROPOSED
SPENDING PLANS FOR CALENDAR
YEARS 2019-2020 WHICH DID NOT
FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE POLICY
INTENT WHEN INITIALLY ADOPTED
THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING
THESE TAXES.
ON MARCH 28, WE SUBMITTED THE
RESPONSE BUT THE RESPONSE DID
NOT INCLUDE THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION NOR DID HE PROPOSE
FINANCIAL POLICIES.
IS SET IT OUTLINED THEIR
PROPOSED APPROACH WHICH IS TO
TRANSLATE LEGISLATION TO --
TODAY WE WILL BRIEFLY OUTLINE A
FEW POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR
THE HEALTH ABOUT WHY WAITING TO
ESTABLISH THE FUNDS AND
FINANCIAL POLICIES MIGHT NOT BE
IN THE POLICIES INTEREST AND
PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND
INFORMATION ON THE TWO TAXES
CUSTOMIZE THE LEGISLATION WE
HAVE DRAFTED AT THE DIRECTION OF
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN WHICH
WOULD ESTABLISH THE FUNDS AND
FINANCIAL POLICIES AND OUTLINED
A FEW ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD CONSIDER
IF THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
SO FIRST I WILL PROVIDE THE
BROADER POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
AND THEN WE WILL DIVE INTO THE
TWO SPECIFIC FUNDS.
THE MAIN PART OF THE
CONSIDERATION HERE IS THAT THE
2019 AND 2020 BUDGET ALLOCATED
TAX REVENUES FROM THESE TWO
SOURCES IN A MANNER THAT DID
NOT FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE
COUNSEL'S INTENT.
THEY DID SO IN A MANNER THAT
MADE IT DIFFICULT TO AMEND THE
SPENDING PLAN WITHOUT REDUCING
OR ELIMINATING FUNDING FROM
OTHER PARTIES THAT HAD
PREVIOUSLY BEEN FUNDED WITH ONE-
TIME FUNDS.
THE COUNSEL OF COURSE ALWAYS
HAS THE OPTION OF AMENDING THE
PROPOSED BUDGET AND ASSOCIATED
BUDGET LEGISLATION HOWEVER THE
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF REQUESTING
THAT LEGISLATION AS MARK WAS TO
PROVIDE TIME OUTSIDE OF THE
COMPRESSED BUDGET SEASON TWO
ALLOW CLEAR FINANCIAL POLICIES
TO INFORM THE 2020 BUDGET AND
FUTURE YEAR BUDGETS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS
COUNSEL COULD PURSUE.
ONE WOULD BE TO TAKE NO ACTION
NOW AND AWAIT THE LEGISLATION
BEING TRANSMITTED WITH THE
BUDGET.
THIS COULD BE COUPLED WITH A
LETTER OR RESOLUTION EXPRESSING
COUNCILS EXPECTATION FOR WHAT
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THAT
LEGISLATION.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO
INTRODUCE COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN'S PROPOSED LEGISLATION
AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT THE
LEGISLATION FOR THE SHORT-TERM
RENTAL TAX HUNT AND FINANCIAL
POLICIES WAS INTRODUCED DURING
THE BUDGET PROCESS THE COUNSEL
CHOSE NOT TO ACT AT THAT TIME
AND INSTEAD WENT THE ROUTE OF
SUBMITTING THE FUTURE SLIDE.
OF COURSE YOU COULD ALSO JUST
DO LEGISLATION FOR ONE BUT NOT
BOTH OF THE FUNDS.
YOU HAVE A VARIETY OF OPTIONS
IN FRONT OF YOU.
IF THE COUNSEL CHOOSES TO GO
WITH THE EXECUTIVE PROPOSED
TIME IN WHICH IS WAY TO THE
2020 PROPOSED BUDGET IS
TRANSLATED TO TRANSLATE THE
FUNDS THE MAYOR PROPOSED USE
FOR THE REVENUES IS LIKELY TO
BE WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE
INDOORS 20 BUDGET AND MAY
CONTINUE TO BE INCONSISTENT
WITH COUNSEL'S INTENT.
WE WOULD BE IN THE SAME
POSITION THAT COUNSEL WAS A
MASTER IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY
CUTS OR PROPOSE NEW REVENUE
SOURCES TO ADJUST THE SPENDING
PLAN.
IF INSTEAD THE COUNSEL CHOOSES
TO ACT NOW TO ADOPT LEGISLATION
INSTEAD OF SALVAGING THE FUNDS
AND PET FINANCIAL POLICIES,
THERE MAY BE SOME POLICIES
AFFECTED IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET.
HOWEVER IT'S LIKELY GIVEN THAT
DURING WHAT IS IN A ENDORSED
BUDGET IS INCONSISTENT WITH
ORIGINAL POLICY INTENT OF THE
FUNDS, IT'S LIKELY THAT THE
BUDGET WOULD BE PROPOSED IN THE
SAME MANNER THAN WHAT WAS IN
THE ORIGINAL.
BUT WHAT THE COUNSEL'S INTENT
WAS WOULD BE KILLED AND
CIRCULATED AND IDENTIFYING NEW
BUDGET CUTS WOULD BE
TRANSPARENT AND EVERYONE WOULD
BE ON THE SAME PAGE IN TERMS OF
WHAT THE GOAL IS.
SO NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
YOLANDA TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
ON THE BEVERAGE TAX.
>> JUST AS A QUICK REFRESHER,
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX WAS
STABBED BY ORDINANCE IN 2017
AND ON JANUARY 1 THEY COLLECTED
THE NEWS AND IT IS A TAX ON THE
DISTRIBUTION OF SUGARED
SWEETENED BEVERAGES.
SO THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED
FINANCIAL POLICIES TO DIRECT
THE REVENUES FOR SPECIFIC
PURPOSES SOME OF WHICH ARE ONE-
TIME LIMITED DURATION
EXPENDITURES AS DESCRIBED IN THE
MEMO AND OTHERS ARE ONGOING AND
THOSE ARE IN PARTICULAR TO
SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO EXPAND
ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND
AFFORDABLE FOODS, CLOSE THE
FOOD SECURITY AND PROMOTING
HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AS WELL AS
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND
SOME SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE
PURPOSES SERVICES OF THE CITY.
SO AS WE, AS WAS JUST MENTIONED,
DURING THE BUDGET LETTER THE
PROPOSED BUDGET, SO BASED ON
THE REVENUE FORECAST, I SHOULD
BACK UP A LITTLE BIT, WE HAD
ANTICIPATED THAT THE SPT WOULD
BRING IN CLOSE TO $15 MILLION
BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT IT
ACTUALLY WAS BRINGING IN MORE
THAN THAT SO WHILE THERE HAD
BEEN A SPENDING PLAN IN PLACE
FOR THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE,
GIVEN THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES,
WHAT WE SAW IN THE BUDGET LAST
YEAR WAS THAT APPROXIMATELY 5.7
MILLION DOLLARS OF THE
UNANTICIPATED ACCESS REVENUE
WAS USED TO SUPPLANT GENERAL
FUND MONIES THE FOUR PROGRAMS
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF EARLY EDUCATION AND EARLY
LEARNING, HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FREEING
UP GENERAL FUND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES WHICH DID ALIGN WITH
THE SPENDING GUIDANCE IN THE
ORDINANCE THOUGH IT WAS NOT
NECESSARILY IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE INTENT THAT THESE REVENUES
BE INVESTED IN THE EXPANSION OF
EXISTING PROGRAMS OR CREATING
NEW PROGRAMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE STATUTE.
SO INSTEAD, SOME OF THE MONEY
WAS THEN USED TO ESSENTIALLY
MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF
SPENDING SUCH AS FOOD BANKS,
CHILDCARE VOUCHERS, AND THE
PARENT CHILD HOME PROGRAM WHICH
RAISED CONCERNS AMONG SOME
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING SOME
MEMBERS OF COUNSEL AND THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
SO THIS IS KIND OF LEADING US
TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
SO UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN, WE
WORKED ON LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD ESTABLISH A FUND FOR SPT
REVENUES AND ALLOWING FOR THE
TRACKING OF THAT MONEY SEPARATE
FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND IN
ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL
POLICIES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN
THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, WHAT
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD DO IS
CODIFY THE SPENDING GUIDANCE
AND IT WOULD BE IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE SO FOR THE
PUBLIC TO SEE EASILY VERSUS
LOOKING FOR THE ORDINANCE ONLINE
AND ALSO WOULD ADD SOME
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE IN THAT IT
WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE EXCESS
REVENUES BE USED SOLELY FOR
EXPANDING EXISTING PROGRAMS OR
CREATING MORE PROBLEMS --
PROGRAMS THAT ALIGN WITH THESE.
YOU COULD CONSIDER THAT AS AN
OPTION OR POTENTIALLY ALLOW FOR
MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR ALLOCATING
EXCESS REVENUES, FOR INSTANCE
SOME PORTION COULD BE
APPROPRIATED ACCORDING TO THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
ANOTHER FOR SPECIFIC TERMS SUCH
AS FOOD BANKS AND THE REMAINDER
LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE
EXECUTIVES.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS WITH
THAT.
I WILL TURN IT BACK TO ALY
PENNUCCI.
>> SHOULD WE STOP AT THAT ON
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE OR
SHOULD BE GO TO THE SHORT-TERM
RENTALS?
I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE BEVERAGE PIECE. SHOULD BE
TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATION?
>> IT IS A CONTEXT QUESTION.'S
WHEN WE SET UP THE ADVISORY
BOARD, WE GAVE THEM A
DISCRETIONARY AMOUNT I THINK IT
WAS 2-3 MILLION, I MAKE THAT
PART OF SOMETHING FOR THEM TO
DECIDE WHERE THAT WOULD GO AND
IN THAT GROUP I RECALL THEY
WERE BOTH FOOD EXPERTS IF YOU
WILL AND SOME EDUCATION FOLKS I
THINK. SO WAS THEIR TASK JUST
SORT OF LOOKING AT THEIR POT
THAT THEY WERE DIRECTING WHERE
TO GO OR DO THEY ALSO HAVE SOME
SORT OF OVERSIGHT FUNCTION OF
THE ENTIRE FUND?
>> IN THE ORDINANCE, WHAT
HAPPENED IN 2018 WAS THAT THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, YES,
THERE WAS A RESERVE SET ASIDE
AND ONE MEMBER WAS APPOINTED TO
THE ADVISORY BOARD THEY WERE
ABLE TO ALLOCATE THOSE MONIES
AS THEY SAW FIT AND ALSO THEIR
ONGOING ROLE IS TO PROVIDE SOME
OF THE ADVICE AND
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR.
>> OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS?
>> GIVING RECOMMENDATIONS SO
WHAT THEY DID LAST YEAR WAS
PROVIDE THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR THAT THEY WANTED A
CERTAIN PERCENTAGE TO GO TO SUIT
ACCESS.
A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE TO CHILD
DEVELOPMENT.
SO EVERY YEAR THEY WILL PROVIDE
US WITH GUIDANCE,
RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> I WILL JUST ADD, MY
UNDERSTANDING ON THAT FIRST
YEAR WAS THAT IT WAS GOING TO
TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THE
ESTABLISHED AND IT INCLUDES
BOTH FOOD AND EDUCATION
EXPERTS.
THEY NOTICED THE MONEY WOULD BE
COMING IN IMMEDIATELY AND
HAVING THIS GROUP BEING FORMED
ON DAY ONE, WE ALLOCATED SOME
MONEY IN THE FIRST YEAR AS PART
OF THE BUDGET AND RESERVE SOME
BUT SAID WHEN YOU GET ESTABLISH
AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH
EACH OTHER WE'LL HAVE A POOL OF
MONEY FOR YOU TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON FOR THIS
FIRST YEAR.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IN
SUBSEQUENT YEARS THEY WOULD BE
MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
ENTIRE BODY.
>> THEY WOULD REVIEW THE
INITIAL ALLOCATION AND THEN
MAKE SUBSTANCES CHANGES WHERE
YOU DIRECTED THE FIRST YEAR'S
WORTH OF MONEY, THEY WERE
LARGELY WORKING ON PROGRAMS,
THAT WAS THINGS THEY AGREED
WERE APPROPRIATE PRIORITIES.
>> AND MY LAST QUESTION, IS, WE
HAVE A GOOD PROBLEM IN A WAY
WITH THE SURPLUS.
DO WE PROJECT IN YEARS TO COME
THAT IT WILL START SPIRALING
DOWN AS BEHAVIORS CHANGE AND
REVENUES WILL GO DOWN OR DO WE
THINK IT'S PRETTY MUCH LEVELED
OUT NOW AND IT WILL BE A LEVEL
REVENUE SOURCE?
>> WE ORIGINALLY FORECASTED A
DOWNTURNED AND THE WHOLE
STRUCTURE WAS ORIGINALLY
BUDGETED THAT FOR A WHILE, WE
WOULD TAKE THE FIRST 20% AND NOT
COMMIT IT TO ONGOING THINGS
BECAUSE WE EXPECTED WE COULD
SEE A DOWNTURNED AS MUCH AS
20%.
SO FAR WE HAVE ONLY SEEN GROWTH
BUT THAT'S, NOT NECESSARILY
WE
BECAUSE THERE IS MORE SODA
BEING CONSUMED BUT THE TAX
COLLECTION HAS GONE INTO
IMPLEMENTATION AND MORE HAVE
COME INTO COMPLIANCE.
WE HAVE SEEN THOSE REVENUES
GROW BUT THAT'S MORE ABOUT A
COMPLIANCE ISSUE AND PEOPLE
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY IS.
THE TAX IS A ON THE DISTRIBUTOR
AND NOT THE RETAILER.
AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE NOT
SEEN THE BEHAVIORAL IMPACT WE
SUSPECTED EITHER.
WE ARE EXPECTING IT TO
EVENTUALLY STABILIZE AND TURN
AROUND BUT NOT RIGHT AWAY.
>> WE WANT TO MAINTAIN SOME
LEGISLATION TO SEE WHERE THE
REVENUE GOES BUT I WAS ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT THE
IMPLEMENTATION, THE BEHAVIORAL
CHANGES OR LACK THEREOF, IMPACT
ON SMALL BUSINESSES WHETHER WE
HAVE TWO MITIGATE THEM, MAYBE
WE DON'T.
SORT OF WHAT HAPPENED NOW THAT
WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT AND AS WE
FOCUS ON REVENUES, I AM HOPING
WE CAN WORK ON THE TAX ITSELF
AND WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE.
WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT SINCE
THEN, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING
LESSON.
>> IF I CAN ADD, I DON'T WANT
TO CONTRADICT YOU BUT YOU MADE
A COMMENT THAT THE GOOD NEWS
WAS WE GOT MORE MONEY AND FROM
A REVENUE PERSPECTIVE YES, BUT
THE POLICY, ESPECIALLY ON THIS,
WAS REALLY TRICKY. AS WE HEARD
IN PUBLIC COMMENTS, THERE IS A
LOT OF ECONOMIC EVIDENCE AND
PUBLIC HEALTH EVIDENCE THAT
MIGHT PUTTING A TAX ON
SOMETHING WE WANT PEOPLE TO
CONSUME LESS OF IT MAKES THAT
ONE PRODUCT RELATIVELY MORE
EXPENSIVE HOPING THAT BEHAVIOR
WILL SHIFT TO THE LESS
EXPENSIVE PRODUCTS THAT WOULD
HOPEFULLY AT LEAST IN A RELATIVE
PERSPECTIVE, HEALTHIER.
THERE'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT
WHERE THIS HAS A ECONOMIC
IMPACT.
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CHOICES OR
WHETHER IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO
OFFSET IT OR WHATEVER REASONS
MAY BE SIGNIFICANT, MAYBE
MARKETING IN CERTAIN
POPULATIONS, THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO CONSUME AND JUST BE POOR.
TO THE POINT THAT WE BROUGHT IN
$8 MILLION, A GOOD THING FROM
REVENUE FOR THE CITY, IT'S
REALLY A BAD THING IN THAT WE
ARE IMPACTING CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES MORE THAN WE
THOUGHT WE WERE.
I HAVE DISCOMFORT ABOUT THIS
TAX IN GENERAL BECAUSE WHEN WE
ARE LOOKING AT OUR RACE AND
JUSTICE GOALS A
DISPROPORTIONATE TAX IS
SOMETHING WE WOULD NOT WANT TO
DO.
WE DO HAVE EXPERTS WORKING WITH
COMMUNITIES AND WE HEARD
TESTIMONY TALKING TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THINK WE ARE PROPOSING
TO TAX YOU BUT WE WANT TO
REINVEST THAT MONEY INTO YOUR
COMMUNITY.
THAT IS THE CRUX.
FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, I
COULD NEGATE THE INCOME EFFECT
OF THE TEXT BY SIMPLY COLLECTING
THE MONEY AND GIVING IT BACK TO
THE PEOPLE BY SAYING, YOU CAN
USE THIS TO BUY JUICE AND IT
WILL BE LESS EXPENSIVE OR YOU
CAN BUY COKE AND IT WILL BE
MORE EXPENSIVE.
WE CAN'T JUST GIVE CASH BACK TO
INDIVIDUALS HAS OF OTHER
REASONS BUT WE CAN INVEST IN
WAYS AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE A
BETTER IMPACT.
THAT'S WHERE I THINK I AM
GETTING AT IN SETTING UP THIS
MONTH.
>> IN OUR NEXT MEETING PERHAPS
WE CAN REVIEW WHAT WE RECEIVED
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON EARLIER THIS YEAR.
I THOUGHT THEIR ANALYSIS WAS
GREAT THAT TEAM WAS SHOWING
WHERE ACROSS THE CITY WE WERE
COLLECTING MONEY AND I BELIEVE
THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO COME BACK
IN SEPTEMBER TO TALK TO US MORE
ABOUT THE ACTUAL INCOME THAT
HAS BEEN RAISED AND WHERE IT
HAS BEEN RAISED SO WE CAN HAVE
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS.
I THINK THE POINT YOU ARE
MAKING, COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
YOU HAVE BEEN REALLY CONSISTENT
ABOUT THIS IS WE ARE
COLLECTING MONEY FROM CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE REINVESTING AND
THAT WAS THE UNDERLYING
INTENTION.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT AND A POLICY STANDPOINT.
>> I HEAR FROM YOU THAT THERE
HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF EVIDENCE
THAT TAXES HAVE BEEN DECLINING
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND IN THE
CONVERSATION, THE BRIEF
CONVERSATION I HAD WITH JIM A
FEW MONTHS AGO IS THAT THERE IS
SOME EVIDENCE THAT BEHAVIOR IS
SHIFTING.
I THINK IT IS PREMATURE TO
DISCUSS THAT AT THIS POINT THAT
HOPEFULLY RELATIVELY SOON WE
WILL HAVE DATA ON THAT AND SEE
WHERE IT'S GOING.
>> FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE SAYING
IS A TAX WORKING OR NOT, LET'S
RESERVE JUDGMENT ON THAT ONE.
WE DON'T HAVE HISTORIC DATA OF
ANY REAL LENGTH SO IT'S HARD TO
DISCERN AS I DESCRIBED.
IN THIS INITIAL PHASE, WE NEVER
KNEW WHAT THE TAX BASE WAS
UNTIL WE APPLIED THE TAX.
AS YOU COME INTO COMPLIANCE, I
DON'T WANT TO EMPLOY IMPLY
PEOPLE ARE CHEATING, BUT WE
HAVE NOT STABILIZED THE REVENUE
SOURCE TO ANALYZE BUT WE
ULTIMATELY NEED TO.
>> TWO POINTS.
ONE IS, I WANT TO COMMEND OUR
FRIEND HERE IF HE IS STILL
HERE, I APPRECIATE SO MUCH SHE
WAS HELPING US GET THE WORD OUT
TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT
THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO DO
AND THAT WE WOULD BE
REINVESTING.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU SAID
YOUR NAME IS ON THE LINE.
I REALLY RESPECT THE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE ON THAT.
THE SECOND POINT, IS WASHINGTON
VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE, LIKE
55-45 VOTED THAT GOING FORWARD
OTHER THAN IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THAT OTHER CITIES
COULD NOT IMPOSE THIS TAX.
I THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
ADJUST IT SOMEWHAT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE CAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN'T EXTEND IT
TO DIET DRINKS WHICH IS A
CONCERN FOR ME EVERY BIT AS
MUCH AS SUGARY BEVERAGES BUT
THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE US TO
FOCUS BACK IN ON THE POLICIES
HERE AND WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT
IS WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD
POTENTIAL LEGISLATION THAT WE
ARE NOT VOTING ON ANYTHING
TODAY, THIS IS ONLY
INFORMATIONAL.
>> I'LL JUST ADD ONE MORE THING
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE ADVISORY
BOARD IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR
PUBLISHING AN ANNUAL REPORT ON
THE TAX AND PROGRAMS FUNDED BY
IT SO THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE
PLEADED BY THE END OF THIS
MONTH OR EARLY NEXT MONTH SO
THAT COULD BE ANOTHER
ADDITIONAL POINT FOR ADDING TO
THE DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE SHORT-
TERM RENTAL TAX.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS
POINT?
>> JUST AS A WAY OF SOME
BACKGROUND ON THAT SHORT-TERM
RENTAL TAX, IT IS A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF A BUMPY PATH.
IN 2017 THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A
LOCAL TAX ON EACH SHORT-TERM
RENTAL OPERATOR IN SEATTLE.
THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR THIS TAX
OR THE INTENT FOR CREATING THIS
NEW REVENUE SOURCE WAS TO
CREATE AN ONGOING SOURCE OF
REVENUE FOR GRANTS PROVIDING
THROUGH THE CITIES EQUITABLE
ENDOWMENT WHICH WOULD PROVIDE
MONEY FOR GRANTS TO COMMUNITIES
ANNUALLY THAN ANYTHING ABOVE $5
MILLION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS
OR TO BE USED TO PAY THE DEBT
SERVICE ON BONDS ISSUED TO
DEVELOP NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE LEGISLATION OUTLINED THE
COUNCIL'S INTENT FOR USE OF
THOSE FUNDS IN THE MANNER I
JUST SUGGESTED.
THE FIRST $5 MILLION FOR EDI
GRANTS.
THE NEXT $2 MILLION FOR PORTAL
HOUSING AND THAT EVERYTHING
ABOUT THAT COULD BE SPLIT
BETWEEN BOTH THE NON-HOUSING
AND HOUSING PORTIONS OF
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
FOLLOWING ADOPTION OF THE LOCAL
TAX THE STATE ADOPTED A TAX ON
SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITH
INFORMATION IN THAT LEGISLATION
THAT IF THE CITY REPEALED THEIR
LOCAL TAX, ANY TAX REVENUE
GENERATED FROM ESTATE TAX AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WOULD BE
DIRECTED TO THE CITY.
SO THAT WAS RATHER THAN A PER
NIGHT TAX WAS BASED ON THE COST
OF THE RENTAL SO IT WAS MORE
EQUITABLE AND FRANKLY THE CITY
DID NOT HAVE TO IMPLEMENT A NEW
TEXT.
SO THE CITY REPEALED THE NEW
LOCAL TAX WITH THE INTENT THAT
THE TAX REVENUE GENERATED FROM
THAT SOURCE WILL BE DIRECTED IN
THE SAME MANNER AS WAS
DESCRIBED IN THE LOCAL
ORDINANCE.
THE STATE BILL WAS LESS
SPECIFIC ABOUT THE FUNDING.
IT DIRECTED MONEY FOR USE FOR
COMMUNITY INITIATED EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS WELL AS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT WAS NOT AS PRESCRIPTIVE AS
THE LOCAL ORDINANCE.
THE SPENDING PLAN IN THE 2019
AND 2020 BUDGET SUPPORTED
SEVERAL COUNSEL PARTIES BASED
ON PORTABLE HOUSING AND
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT BUT
SUPPORT STAFF IN RESOURCES FOR
THE ACTUAL SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS
RATHER THAN PROVIDE A FULL $5
MILLION IN GRANTS TO THE
COMMUNITY AND TO SUPPORT
EXISTING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROGRAMS AND THE SEATTLE RENTAL
HOUSING PILOT RATHER THAN NEW
PORTAL HOUSING PROJECTS.
THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY CONSISTENT
WITH THE COUNCIL'S ORIGINAL
INTENT BUT I THINK THIS
HIGHLIGHTS ONE OF THE POLICY
CHALLENGES HERE IS THAT IT IS
FUNDING OTHER COUNSEL
PRIORITIES SO THERE ARE TRADE-
OFFS HERE IN TRYING TO USE
THESE NEW REVENUE SOURCES TO
BUY NEW THINGS ESSENTIALLY AND
HOW WE FUND EXISTING ONGOING
EXPENSES OR PROGRAMS THAT THE
COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR HAS
PROPOSED IN PREVIOUS BUDGET
YEARS.
THE COUNCIL WAS UNABLE TO FIND
ONGOING RESOURCES TO FULLY
ALIGN THE PROPOSED SPENDING
PLAN WITH THE ORIGINAL INTENT
HOWEVER WE WERE ABLE TO ENSURE
THAT IN 2019 A FULL $5 MILLION
WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR EDI
GRANTS BY ALLOCATING COMMUNITY
HEALTH BLOCK GRANT FUNDS THAT
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FULLY
RESTORE THE FUNDING FOR 2020.
THE DOOR'S BUDGET ONLY INCLUDES
$4 MILLION FOR EDI GRANTS.
THAT LEGISLATION PREPARED UNDER
THE DIRECTION OF COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN WOULD ESTABLISH THE
FUND AND INITIAL POLICIES FOR
THE SHORT-TERM TAX PROCEEDS
THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT WAS INCLUDED ORIGINALLY IN
THE LOCAL TAX ORDINANCE.
IF THE COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD
WITH LEGISLATION THERE ARE SOME
EDIFICATION TO THOSE POLICIES
THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED.
ONE CHANGE WOULD BE RATHER THAN
ALLOCATING THE FIRST 5 MILLION
TO ADI YOU COULD CONSIDER
DIRECTING THE FIRST $2.2
MILLION TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE
ON BONDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
ISSUED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS.
AT THIS STAGE I THINK IT IS
LOOKING LIKE WE WILL HAVE MORE
THAN $2.2 MILLION COMING IN
FROM SHORT-TERM TAX REVENUE BUT
IF IN SOME YEARS IT WOULD BE
LAWYER LOWER WE WOULD BE FIRST
PAYING OUR DEBT SERVICE RATHER
THAN PAYING GRANTS.
IN ADDITION OR INSTEAD THE
COUNCIL CAN'T ALLOW MORE USE OF
TAX REVENUES IN 2020
ESSENTIALLY TO REFLECT WHAT WAS
IN THE PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN
IN THE ENDORSED BUDGET AND THEN
PUT IN STRICTER POLICIES THAT
WOULD GO INTO PLACE IN 2021 OR
LATER.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON SHORT-
TERM RENTALS.
QUESTIONS?
>> I WANTED TO LOOK AT A
BROADER CONTEXT IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET AND HOW THE MAYOR GOT
WHERE SHE GOT AND YOU KNOW HOW
YOU GOT WHERE YOU GOT.
GOING INTO LAST FALL'S BUDGET
PROCESS, WE FACE A SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGE.
PARTICULARLY AROUND
HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESSNESS
FUNDING.
IT ENDS UP TREADING ON SOME
UNCOMFORTABLE GROUND BUT IT'S
AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE
STORY.
THE PREVIOUS FALL, COUNCIL HAD
APPROVED SOME SIGNIFICANT
POTENTIALLY ONGOING FUNDING FOR
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES ON THE
EXPECTATION THAT THERE WOULD BE
A HEAD TAX THAT WOULD PROVIDE
THE ONGOING FUNDING FOR THOSE
AND ULTIMATELY PROVED NOT TO BE
VIABLE.
THE 2018 BUDGET INCLUDED ONE-
TIME SOURCES THAT WERE FUNDING
A SERIES OF ULTIMATELY ONGOING
SERVICES LIKE SHELTERS AND THE
LIKE AND THE EXPANSION OF THOSE
SERVICES.
THAT WAS IN THE BASE 18 BUDGET.
WHEN MAYOR DURKIN WAS ELECTED
SHE TOOK THE LANDSCAPE AND TOOK
THEIR PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER
EXPANSION OF HOMELESS SERVICES
THAT AT THE TIME WAS LARGELY
SUPPORTED BY ONE-TIME RESOURCES
AS WELL AND ACKNOWLEDGED THEN
AS WE RESENTED IT AS SOMETHING
WE WOULD HAVE TO SORT OUT AS WE
BROUGHT FORWARD THE BUDGET.
IT WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF A
DECLARED EMERGENCY ON
HOMELESSNESS AND THE NEED TO
FIND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE
RESPONSE TO THAT THAT WE
STARTED TO LOOK FOR, AND I SAID
THIS BEFORE AND I WILL AGAIN,
CREATIVE USES OF THE CITIES
AVAILABLE REVENUES.
THE COUNCIL AS A BODY HAD IN
PREVIOUS YEARS AND PERHAPS IN
THE LAST FALL OR PREVIOUS FALL,
IN THE PREVIOUS FALL DEBATED
THE USE OF AN EMERGENCY FUND
AND THE SOURCE TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS GIVEN THERE WAS A
DECLARED EMERGENCY.
THE REASON THAT YOU DIDN'T AND
I THINK YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE AND
THE REASON IT DOESN'T WORK IS
THAT THE EMERGENCY FUND IS A
ONE-TIME SOURCE.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY
UNUSUAL DECLARED EMERGENCY.
WE CANDIDLY DON'T SEE IT'S AN.
SO TO RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY
AND AN ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
IS AN OBVIOUS THING TO DO.
THIS HAS TO BE AN ALLOCATION OF
ONGOING RESOURCE TO BE
MEANINGFUL. SO ALL CITY REVENUES
WERE INCREASING BUT NOT AT A
RATE TO SUPPORT, WHAT ULTIMATELY
WAS A HUGE AD FOR HOMELESSNESS.
LARGELY FOR SHELTERS AND FOOD
PROGRAMS, A VARIETY OF THINGS.
SO WE HAD TO GET VERY CREATIVE
SO PART OF THE BUDGET YOU
APPROVED FOR 2019 AND ENDORSED
FOR 2020, USES A SWAP TO TAKE
$10 MILLION OF EXCISE TAX
REVENUE AND EFFECTIVELY
REDIRECTED INTO THE GENERAL
FUND, THAT IS A TYPICAL
DECISION AND IT DEPRIVES A
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT TYPES OF
PROJECTS THAT DEPEND OTHERWISE
ON THOSE RESOURCES.
THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH.
SO WE THEN TURN TO SOME OF
THESE OTHER SOURCES, SOME
PARTICULAR ONCE YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY.
SO IT IS TRUE THAT THE
PROPOSALS, AND I AM NOT DENYING
IT AS I SIT HERE, WERE
INCONSISTENT WITH THE COUNCIL'S
ORIGINAL INTENT.
WHEN THAT ORIGINAL INTENT WAS
DEVELOPED YOU DID NOT KNOW THIS
POTENTIAL SITUATION YOU WOULD
BE IN THAT THE TAX WOULD NOT BE
PROVEN TO BE A VIABLE ARTILLERY
TO THE WORK GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE CHANGED
I DID NOT SEEM UNREASONABLE
THAT THE POTENTIAL USE OF THE
MONEY AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT
MIGHT BE, AND TO BE CLEAR, I
KNOW A REGRESSIVE TAX WHEN I
SEE IT.
WE ARE STARING STRAIGHT AT ONE.
THIS IS NOT THE WEIGHT YOU WANT
TO BE RAISING REVENUE JUST TO
RAISE REVENUE.
IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE OTHER
GOALS.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE ON THAT
POINT.
BUT AGAIN, WE NEED AN ONGOING
SOURCE.
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS I WAS
BUDGET DIRECTOR, WE HAVE ASKED
GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS FOR
REDUCTIONS AND EVERY YEAR WE
HAVE LISTED THOSE THINGS AND
HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY TRANSPARENT
AND WILL TRANSFER THAT LIST TO
YOU ONCE WE HAD IT OURSELVES.
THIS IS NOT A CRITIQUE BECAUSE
WE REJECTED THE CUTS AS WELL
BUT YOU DIDN'T PICK UP ANY OF
THEM EITHER.
I SAY THAT AS I DELIVERED THE
LAST NIGHT, IT IS INSTRUCTIVE
TO ME IF NOT PAINFUL FOR ALL OF
US AS WE WENT THROUGH THE
PROCESS LAST FALL, THAT YOU
WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND
ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES TO
SUPPORT THESE ONGOING
ACTIVITIES.
I DON'T THINK THEY EASILY
EXIST.
I DON'T THINK THE CUTS THAT
WOULD NEED TO BE MADE ARE
OBVIOUSLY ON THE TABLE WITHOUT
CUTTING SERVICES THAT SUPPORT
THOSE IN NEED OR THE VARIETY OF
CITY SERVICES.
THE OBVIOUS ONE CALL POLICE AND
FIRE, ACCOUNT FOR OVER 40% OF
THE GENERAL FUND.
FIRE IS NOT SHRINKING NOR IS
POLICE FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE
AND A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS.
THERE IS NOT SOMETHING OBVIOUS.
IT IS INSTRUCTIVE TO ME AND I
HOPE IT'S INSTRUCTIVE TO YOU
THAT YOU GET THE IT WASN'T EASY
AND YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT.
I'M NOT SURPRISED, I WASN'T
ABLE TO DO IT EITHER.
IT IS THAT HARD.
SO WHAT I WORRY ABOUT FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS MY OWN
IS THAT IF YOU ESTABLISH THESE
POLICIES WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT
THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT YOU
COULD POTENTIALLY REGRET THEM
AND THAT AGAIN IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE EMERGENCY WE ARE LIVING
IN NOW, THAT PENDING SOME OF
OUR BROADER, YOU ARE UNDER
POLICY OBJECTIVES TO MEET THIS
OTHER OVERRIDING NEED IS WHERE
WE ARE.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE.
THESE ARE YOUR JUDGMENTS ARE
NOT MINE BUT I THINK THAT
CONTEXT AND THE REAL ROCK AND A
HARD PLACE JOHN'S THAT YOU FACE
IS RELEVANT.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IF
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN WANTS TO
CHIME IN BUT THIS IS A CONCERN
EVERY YEAR AND AS A FINANCE
AND BUDGET CHAIR COMING UP I AM
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT DECISION
WE MAKE NOW AND HOW THEY MIGHT
LIMIT CHOICES THAT WE MAY WANT
TO TAKE IN OCTOBER.
BUT RECOGNIZING THAT, I THINK
WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT THE
REVENUE SOURCES ARE.
WE MAY NOT KNOW EXACTLY THE
DOLLAR AMOUNTS BUT THE GOAL TO
FIND ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES
TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT MANY OF US WANT, INCLUDING
THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT RIGHT HERE, HOW DO WE
FUND AND TAKE THE SUGARY
BEVERAGE TAX THAT COMES FROM
OTHER LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY TODAY,
BUT THEN ALSO THINKING THAT IF
I CAN JUST INSERT THIS THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT ADDING SOME
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDERS.
THERE ISN'T A THING WRONG WITH
US CONSIDERING THAT BUT WE DO
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REVENUE
SOURCES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
THE HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDERS
ARE VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WHICH I
THINK WE ALL LOOK AT AND SEE
THEIR BUDGET SOURCES AND HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS.
AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS
TODAY I WANT TO BE COGNIZANT
THAT WE HAVE SOME CHOICES TO
MAKE SHORT-TERM AND WE WILL
DEFINITELY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL
CHOICES TO MAKE, OCTOBER.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU LAYING OUT
THE CHALLENGES THERE AND YOU
AND I HAVE TALKED AND AGREE ON
THE CHALLENGES AND DISAGREE ON
THE POLICY OUTCOME.
THE CHALLENGE FOR ME, THERE ARE
TWO SEPARATE ISSUES BEFORE US.
THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE TAXES
AND THEY ARE ASKED DISTINCT.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX BUT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING THE TAX
IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO
ME.
ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR ARE A LOT
OF IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE
BUDGET AND PRIORITIES WE HAVE
CHOSEN NOT TO DEFUND, I STILL
CANNOT SUPPORT A TAX THAT IS
DISPROPORTIONATE ON THESE
COMMUNITIES TO FUND THOSE
NEEDS.
IF THOSE NEEDS ARE PRIORITIES
FOR US AND I THINK THEY ARE, WE
SHOULD FIND A TAX SOURCE THAT
IS MORE PROGRESSIVE.
THERE ARE OTHER TAX SOURCES.
THERE AREN'T A LOT OF GREAT
OPTIONS.
WE HAVE USED A NUMBER OF THEM.
BUT THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES DIDN'T EXIST A
COUPLE YEARS AGO.
IF WE WANT TO TAX SOMETHING
SELECTIVELY THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED
WEALTHY PEOPLE WE COULD FIND
SOURCES.
WHAT I PROPOSE IS WE GET THIS
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED AND PASS
IT AND ASKED THE MAYOR TO
PRESENT A BUDGET THAT FINDS
SOME SOLUTIONS WHETHER IT IS
CUT SOME OTHER THINGS OR OTHER
TAXES THAT ARE MORE IN LINE
WITH OUR VALUES.
THEN WE WILL HAVE TO STRUGGLE
WITH WHATEVER WE GET BECAUSE IT
WON'T BE EASY BUT I PERSONALLY
CAN'T SUPPORT THIS THE WAY IT IS
>> I WANT TO UNDERSTAND
SOMETHING.
I AM HEARING YOU SAY THAT THE
TAX IS DISPROPORTIONATELY PAID
BY LOWER INCOME AND WE TURN
AROUND AND REINVEST THAT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE SHOULD NOT --
>> THE TAX ITSELF HAS AN IMPACT
ON CONSUMER CHOICE.
PART OF THE REASONS WE ARE
DOING THIS IS WE WANT PEOPLE TO
SHIFT BEHAVIOR AND THE TAX IS
EFFECTIVE IN THAT.
BUT THE IMPLICATION THAT IT
MAKES THEM MORE POOR, WE WANT TO
INVEST THAT BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
I SUPPORT THAT.
THAT HOMELESSNESS IS A HUGE
PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO FIND
FUNDING TO SOLVE IT.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAX FOR
PEOPLE TO FIND A SOLUTION.
I THINK WE SHOULD TAX SOCIETY
BROADLY TO SOLVE IT.
SIMILARLY, FOOD BANKS AND
HOUSING, THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON
THE BACKS OF THOSE WHO OVER
CONSUME COKE AND PEPSI.
IT SHOULD BE ON ALL THIS OR
MAYBE DISPROPORTIONATELY ON
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING WELL IN
THIS ECONOMY.
FINDING A GOOD TAX FOR THAT IS
HARD BUT A YOUNGER YOGA TAX OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WOULD BE
MORE APPROPRIATE.
>> LAST YEAR ONE OF THE
DIFFICULT PART ABOUT OUR BUDGET
WAS A CONFLICT THAT AROSE
AROUND SHOULD WE PUT MORE MONEY
INTO FOOD BANKS OR SHOULD WE
PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE ITEMS
THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE
COMMITTEE.
WE STRUCK A DEAL AND THERE WAS
PEACE IN THE FAMILY AND WE WERE
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
HOW DO YOU SUGGEST WE ADDRESS
THAT?
>> I THINK THAT IS SEPARATE
FROM THIS.
HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY AND HOW
WE PRIORITIZE IT, WE ARE, I
BELIEVE THAT CAB IS RECENTLY
READY TO FINALIZE THAT AND WE
WILL GET DIRECTION ON HOW THAT
GROUP PROPOSES TO ADDRESS FOOD
INSECURITY INCLUDING FOOD BANKS.
I AM LOOKING FOR TO HEARING
FROM THEM.
IT MAY BE THAT THE COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR DISCREET WITH THEIR
SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS SO WE
WILL CONSIDER THAT AGAIN IN
PART OF THE BUDGET.
I TEND TO DEFER TO THOSE
BUDGETS BUT I THINK THAT IS A
SEPARATE DECISION ABOUT SHOULD
THIS FUNDING BE DIVERTED OR
SUPPLANTED. AGAIN, NOT IN A
DEVIOUS WAY.
>> WE HAVE THE UMBRELLA
QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING
TO SPEND IT AND THEN GETTING
INTO THE DETAILS OF SOMETHING
WE WILL DISCUSS AGAIN IN THE
COUNCIL BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO
HAVE MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT
THAT UPFRONT IF WE CANCEL IT
DOESN'T DEVOLVE.
>> FOR ME TO BE CLEAR, I AM
HAPPY TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATION
BUT I WOULD LIKE THIS RESOLVED
THIS MONTH.
I HEAR FROM FOLKS UP THERE,
THEN HAS TOLD US WHAT HE WANTS
TO TAKE BACK TO THAT MAYOR.
I'M TELLING YOU I WANT TO SEND
SOMETHING DIFFERENT BACK.
THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY GET
RESOLVED HERE BUT I THINK THE
SOONER THE COUNCIL WEIGHS IN,
NOT JUST MYSELF WEIGHING IN AND
GIVE YOU CLARITY, IT DOESN'T
FIX THE PROBLEM BUT AT LEAST
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS MORE THAN A
COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE
BUDGET IS DONE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE THIS
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED TO THIS
COMMITTEE TO COME BACK IN A
COUPLE OF WEEKS OR I CAN PUT IT
INTO MY COMMITTEE, BUT I FEEL
ESPECIALLY FOR TAMIKA WHO IS
KNOCKING ON DOORS TALKING TO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAYING WE ARE
GOING TO REINVEST US BACK INTO
THE COMMUNITY AND I JUST CAN'T
WAIT MUCH LONGER TO TELL THEM,
WE ARE STILL SITTING ON OUR
HANDS.
NOT ONLY DOES IT HURT US NOW
BUT IT HURTS US FOR FUTURE
CONSIDERATIONS.
>> IS IS ON OUR CALENDAR FOR
THE 26th?
>> THAT WAS LARGELY ABOUT THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX.
THAT EQUITABLE TO INITIATIVE IS
A DIFFERENT BEAST.
THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING TAXED,
IS NOT A DISPROPORTIONATE TAX
LIKE THIS.
IT IS LARGELY TOURISTS FROM OUT
OF TOWN WHO BEARS THE COST
WHICH IS MORE COMPLEX WHETHER
IT'S THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE
GUEST VISITING.
BUT SOME MIX OF THOSE FOLKS ARE
PAYING IT.
I HAVE LESS CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
I DO FEEL THAT EDI INVESTMENTS
ARE A HIGH PRIORITY AND I THINK
IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR
INVESTMENTS BOTH AND BROADLY
DISPLACEMENT HAPPENING.
THE DECISION I BELIEVE HAPPENED
LAST YEAR THAT WE CORRECTED WAS
BETWEEN 4 MILLION AND 5 MILLION
BEING INVESTED IN PROJECTS AND
THE ENDORSED BUDGET FOR NEXT
YEAR HAS ONLY 4 MILLION BEING
INVESTED WHEREAS COMMUNITY AND
WHAT WE INVESTED BEFORE WAS $5
MILLION.
$1 MILLION IS A BIG GAP BUT NOT
AS BIG AS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IN THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE
TAX.
WHEN YOU HEAR OF 30 PROJECTS,
THE VAST MAJORITY OF PROJECTS
THAT WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO FUND
FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT WORK IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
SOME OF THOSE PRODUCTS LINED UP
WITH OUR PORTABLE HOUSING
INVESTMENTS AND SOME ARE
COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.
THAT DOES RAISE TO THE LEVEL
FOR ME THAT IT IS A PRIORITY.
IT IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC.
WERE TALKING ABOUT SIMILAR
TOOLS FOR THESE SO I THINK
TALKING OF ABOUT THESE IS
IMPORTANT BUT THE DRIVING
FACTOR BEHIND IT IS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT FOR ME.
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE REVENUE
COMING IN IS THIS YEAR?
IS THERE MORE EXPECTED IN OUR
SHORT-TERM RENTAL TAX?
>> AT THIS STAGE WE ONLY HAVE A
QUARTER'S WORTH OF DATA.
I THINK WE HAVE RESOLVED THEM.
FOR THE FIRST QUARTER WE HAVE
ONE DATA POINT THAT WORKS OUT
TO THE $10 MILLION WE HAD
ANTICIPATED.
ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL AND
THE USE OF REVENUES, EVEN
WITHIN THE CONTEXT YOU PROPOSE,
ONE THING I WOULD KNOW IS IT
TALKS ABOUT THE MONIES BEING
USED FOR THE GRANTS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT AS PART OF THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO THE
CAPACITY FOR THE AGENCIES THAT
COULD BE APPLYING FOR THE
GRANTS IS INTEGRAL TO THE
PROGRAM.
YOU COULD DO IT WITH THE
GENERAL FUNDS SUBSIDY, THE
GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION, BUT
TO DISTINGUISH THE GRANTS FROM
THAT CAPACITY BUILDING IS IN
SOME WAYS TO MISUNDERSTAND THE
PROGRAM.
I DON'T MEAN TO LECTURE YOU. AN
EXAMPLE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND.
I THINK THE STAFF SUPPORT AND
THE DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR ARE 50-
50.
THAT'S NOT WRONG BECAUSE IN
ORDER TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK,
I THINK A BROADER DEFINITION OF
WHAT CONSTITUTES THE PROGRAM
MIGHT BE MEANINGFUL.
>> THAT'S FAIR.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE WAS THAT
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN FUNDING
STAFF WORK OUT OF GENERAL FUND
MONEY.
WHEN APPLE CAME ALONG THE
COMMUNITY EXPECTATION WAS 5
MILLION AND THERE WAS SOME
SUPPLEMENTATION.
WE CAN DO THAT.
WE MIGHT SAY LET'S DO 6 MILLION
AND 1 MILLION WILL GO TO GRANTS
BUT THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE
PROBLEM BUT IT'S FAIR TO SAY
THAT STAFF WORK IS IMPORTANT
WORK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I AGREE WITH THAT.
>> THE CAPACITY BUILDING SITE
IS NEVER LARGER OR AN EVER MORE
PART OF THE PROGRAM.
THE COMMUNITIES FOR REASONS OF
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND
OPPRESSION HAVE NOT BUILT THEIR
COMMUNITIES TO A PLACE WHERE
THEY CAN ENGAGE IN THE KIND OF
STANDARD GRANTMAKING THAT WE
DO.
I HAVE COME TO LEARN MYSELF
MORE ABOUT THAT AND THE REALITY
OF IT.
>> STEAK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
BOTH OF THESE ISSUES, ON YOUR
COMMITMENT.
I SIT BESIDE YOU ON THESE
ISSUES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
MAKING SURE WE ARE PROTECTING
THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NEAR
ANDDEAR TO US.
THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING
TAXED AND WE ARE TRYING TO HELP
AND GET BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
WE WILL BE ALL OVER THAT IN THE
END.
A LOT OF AFFLUENT PEOPLE ARE
PLAYING A ROLE IN THAT.
>> I WOULD HAVE A REQUEST.
I SUSPECT BUT DON'T KNOW ON
BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, ON THIS
SIDE OF THE RECOMMENDATION
SAYING THIS IS HOW YOU WOULD
LIKE THE FUNDS DIRECTED, IT
SEEMS REASONABLE THAT DO ALSO
SIGNAL TO THE MAYOR HOW YOU
WOULD LIKE THAT MET.
IF IN FACT THERE ARE TAX
PROPOSALS YOU THINK ARE
REASONABLE, I HAVE EXPLORED
PROGRESSIVE TAX OPPORTUNITIES
AND THEY ARE LIMITED.
OR ALTERNATIVELY FROM THE
GENERAL FUND SIDE, WHAT ARE THE
PRIORITIES YOU SEE AS A LOWER
HANGING FRUIT?
OTHERWISE THIS IS A ONE-SIDED
POLICY FRAGMENTATION THAT DOES
NOT OWN THE OTHER SIDE.
THE BUDGET IS NOT A COMPETITIVE
SPORT.
WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR
YOUR DIRECTION AND ADVICE.
TO OFFER THE SPENDING SIDE WITH
SOME WITHOUT SOME
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE OTHER SIDE
, IT'S A SINCERE REQUEST TO
UNDERSTAND IF WE ARE GOING TO
REFER PHTHISIS MONEY, WHAT WILL
WE PRIORITIZE?
OR WHAT NEW REVENUES WOULD YOU
PROPOSE TO USE?
>> I AM OPEN TO THAT REQUEST.
I DO THINK WE ARE PRETTY CLEAR
INITIALLY IF OUR PROJECTION WAS
$22 MILLION OR $14 MILLION WE
WOULD NOT BE IN THIS PLACE.
>> YOU ALSO THOUGHT WE WOULD
HAVE A HEAD TAX AND WE HAVE IT.
I'M SORRY.
>> WE WILL GO TO THE MAYOR TO
HELP US WITH THAT. STUCK I
THINK WE SHOULD MOVE ON.
COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL, DID YOU
HAVE ANYTHING MORE YOU WANTED
TO ADD?
>> IT DIDN'T FEEL GOOD ON MY
END.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE
OUR PRIORITIZE AND THE MAYOR IS
EXECUTIVE AND SHE CAN
UNDERSTAND OUR PRIORITIES.
WE ARE PRIORITIZING POOR PEOPLE
IN THIS SENSE AND WE HAVE OTHER
ISSUES BUT QUITE QUICKLY, THAT
IS HER JOB.
>> I AGREE.
THE OVERALL REVENUE FORECAST
HAS NOT MEANINGFULLY CHANGED SO
IF WE ARE GOING TO REDIRECT
THESE RESOURCES AWAY FROM WHERE
THEY ARE PROPOSED IN THE 2020
BUDGET, SOMETHING HAS TO FILL
THEIR SPACE. THAT IS EITHER A
REDUCTION SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO
YOUR PRIORITIES, YOU ENDORSED
THE 2020 BUDGET, THAT'S THE
LAST EXPRESSION OF YOUR BUDGET
PRIORITIES.
THIS IS A CHANGE TO THOSE.
YOU ARE POSITIONED TO MAKE
THAT.
BUT IF IT IS HALF THE
RECOMMENDATION AND NOT THE
OTHER HALF, LEADS US GUESSING.
IT LEAVES THE MAYOR GUESSING AS
TO WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE US MEET
THAT CHALLENGE.
THAT'S ALL I WAS INTENDING.
>> I THINK THIS IS A GREAT
BEGINNING CONVERSATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE.
WILL PLAN IT ON THE 26th.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN FOR
JOINING US AND BEING HERE.
THANK YOU ALY PENNUCCI AND
YOLANDA FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.
OUR THIRD ITEM OF THIS IS,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ IT IN
FOR US?
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL WHO
ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF ROBERT
HUMES TO COME UP TO THE TABLE .
>> APPOINTMENT 01370 ,
APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT HUMES AS
DIRECTOR, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES, FOR A TERM TO
JUNE 1, 2023.
>> THANK YOU.
EXCELLENT TO HAVE YOU THREE
GENTLEMEN HERE WITH US.
MR. ROBERT HUMES, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FIRST?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER, I
HAVE PREPARED SOME REMARKS IF
YOU DON'T MIND.
>> I AM DAVID MOSELY, DEPUTY
MAYOR.
>> IF YOU HAVE PREPARED REMARKS,
DAVID MOSELY, DO YOU WANT TO
DO A QUICK INTRO?
>> I AM TEMPTED JUST TO READ
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS STATEMENT
AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY
CAPTURED BOTH BOBBY AND HIS
APPROACH TO THIS WORK.
BUT I WILL SAVE YOU THAT.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND WE HAD
ABOUT 118 APPLICANTS FOR THIS
POSITION.
WE HAD A SEARCH COMMITTEE
COMPRISED OF LABOR AND
DEPARTMENT HR DIRECTORS ACROSS
THE CITY, ABOUT NINE OR SO
MEMBERS OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
WHICH HELPED US IDENTIFY THE
SIX PEOPLE, ACTUALLY WE HAD
EIGHT PEOPLE WE IDENTIFIED TO
INTERVIEW AND TO REVIEW WITH
YOU AT THE LAST IN A SO WE HAD
SIX. BOBBY CAME OUT CLEARLY THE
ONE THAT THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED TO THE MAYOR. THEY
DIDN'T MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BUT
CLEARLY INDICATED THEY THOUGHT
HE WAS A VERY STRONG CANDIDATE
FOR THE POSITION AND THE MAYOR
AFTER DOING INTERVIEWS IS HAPPY
TO PROVIDE YOU HER NOMINATION OF
BOBBY HUMES AS THE DIRECTOR OF
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES .
>> I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
LENA TEBO WHO WAS ON THE
COMMITTEE AND I APPRECIATE ALL
HER WORK AND INSIGHTS INTO THE
PROCESS.
I WANT THE TWO OF YOU TO KNOW
THAT I HAVE HAD THE PRESSURE OF
SERVING WITH BOBBY ON OUR
COMMITTEE, THE SEATTLE
EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT
ASSISTANCE.
SO IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO HAVE
YOU THERE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
POSITIVE ENERGY THAT YOU BRING.
I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE A
REAL ASSET IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU HAVE A PREPARED
STATEMENT?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS WITH EXTREME HONOR TO BE
SELECTED TO SERVE AS DIRECTOR
OF THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES.
IN MY SHORT TIME AS INTERIM I
HAVE WITNESSED THE FOCUS ON
WORK FORCE EQUITY THROUGH THE
DILIGENT RESPONSE TO THE
MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON
ANTIHARASSMENT AND
ANTIDISCRIMINATION.
THE EMPLOYEE CENTERED APPROACH
TO STANDING UP HR INVESTIGATION
UNIT.
I AM IMPRESSED BY THE CUSTOMER
DRIVEN APPROACH TO PROVIDING
SERVICES TO THAT NUANCED
SITUATION WITHIN 18 DEPARTMENTS
WITH UNIQUE MISSIONS AND
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES.
I HAVE WITNESSED CENTERS OF
EXCELLENCE AMONG THE EVER-
GROWING LIST OF SERVICES THAT
IMPACT THE ENTIRE CITY
WORKFORCE.
THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR
RETIREES.
I HAVE ALSO WITNESSED EMPLOYEES
WHO ARE STILL IN NEED OF TIME
AND ATTENTION TO HEAL FROM THE
HARM OF INCONSISTENT LEADERSHIP
WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND
BEYOND.
I BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE OF THIS
DEPARTMENT AND IN OUR FELLOW HR
PACKAGES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN A
CAPACITY THAT YIELDS
COMMUNITIES IN HR EXCELLENCE
AND PROVIDES THE CITY WITH
COMPETENT SUPPORT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGING
WORK AHEAD OF US IN THE HR
SPACE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF HR
OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE OUR
EFFECTIVENESS WITH LABOR
PARTNERS BY ENSURING THE HONOR
OF OUR AGREEMENTS AND
RESPONSIVE TO GRIEVANCE
PROCESSES.
WE OWE THIS TO OUR MANAGERS AND
EMPLOYEES.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH I.T.
AND VIOLENCE AND ACCOUNTING
SERVICES AND CBO, WE HAVE A
WINDOW OF TIME TO DELIVER
TALENT ACROSS THE CITY TO
IDENTIFY AND INTIMATE HUMAN
RESOURCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW US TO BETTER
MANAGE HUMAN RESOURCE AUCTIONS
AND OUTCOMES.
AS DIRECTOR, MICHAEL WILL BE
CENTRAL TO RACE AND COMMITMENT.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF ON OPTIONS
THAT BEST SUPPORT THE CITY'S
GOAL OF BEING AN EMPLOYER OF
CHOICE.
THIS WORK HAS BEEN CHALLENGING
YET EXTREMELY REWARDING AT HIS
BECOME CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE
ARE LEVERAGE POINTS IN
INCREASING OUR SHARED IMPACT ON
HR POLICIES AND PRACTICE,
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND
SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY.
I AM EAGER TO ENFORCE STRONG
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITY COUNCIL
STAFF AND HR.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
I AM EAGER TO HEAR YOUR
QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE RESPONSES
AND PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT ABOUT
MY VISION FOR THE WORK OF HR
PRACTICED CITYWIDE AND MY
POTENTIAL IMPACT IN THE ROLE OF
DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
>> I'M ABOUT TO ASK YOU SOME
QUESTIONS.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR
APPROACH IS YOUR HEART AND YOUR
SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE YOU WORK
WITH.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
ANOTHER SUPPORTER HERE AT THE
TABLE.
IT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT
EVERYBODY HAS ASKED AND IT WAS
IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH QUESTION
THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO YOU IS,
QUITE YOU WANT THIS JOB?
I KNOW THAT IN THE DECADE I
HAVE BEEN HERE, I HAVE SEEN
STRUGGLES, I HAVE SEEN THERE
ARE QUESTIONS OF MORALE WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TRIED.
I BELIEVE YOU WILL SUCCEED IN
MAKING THIS DEPARTMENT
SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS
REALLY PROUD ABOUT THAT TALK TO
US ABOUT WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF
CONFIDENCE.
WHAT BRINGS ME HERE IS WHAT
BRINGS ME TO THIS PROFESSION.
HR IN MY OPINION IS A CALLING.
IT'S HARD TO DO IF YOU DON'T
LOVE PEOPLE.
YOU CAN LOVE THE PROCESSES, YOU
CAN LET THE OUTCOMES, BUT IF
YOU DON'T LOVE THE HUMAN
EXPERIENCE, ALL HUMAN
EXPERIENCE, THIS BECOMES VERY
HARD.
SO I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TWO
LEVERAGE THE DIFFERENT
PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAD.
IT IS LOOKED AT AS THE PLACE
YOU GO WHEN YOU NEED HR
ANSWERS.
WE WANT TO DEFINE WHO OUR
CUSTOMER IS.
WE WANT TO REDEFINE WHAT IT IS
TO BRING VALUE TO THE HR SPACE
FOR THE CITY, FOR THE BENEFIT
OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
THAT IS MY WIFE.
CREATE VALUE.
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR CUSTOMER
NEEDS AND DO ALL OF THAT THROUGH
A LENS OF RACIAL EQUITY.
>> NICE.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS?
I CAN CONTINUE BUT IF YOU HAVE
SPECIFICS YOU WANT TO BRING UP
I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.
THANKS FOR RESPONDING SO
COMPETENTLY TO THE DOZEN OR 20
QUESTIONS, 21 QUESTION.
I WAS LOOKING AT ONE OF YOUR
QUESTIONS ON YOUR VISION FOR THE
DEPARTMENT AND YOU TALK ABOUT
WITH THE INITIAL PART, LET ME
BACK UP.
IN ONE OF YOUR VISIONS YOU
DON'T TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY AT
ALL.
THERE IS NO MENTION OF
DIVERSITY, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
THE WORKPLACE IS CHANGING
DEMOGRAPHICALLY, THEN IN YOUR
QUESTION ON CHANNEL 13 I
NOTICED YOU DIDN'T MENTION
AFRICAN-AMERICANS FOR SOME
REASON. COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE
ABOUT, MAYBE THAT WAS JUST AN
OVERSIGHT.
YOU HAD A LOT OF INFORMATION.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE CHANGE IN
DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE COUNTRY
CALLED THE CITY, AND HOW THAT
AFFECTS THE CITY.
SOME PEOPLE SAY WE ARE THE
WHITEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COMPUTE
SOME OF THIS STUFF BUT THIS
WILL BE A CHALLENGE TO HAVE A
DIVERSE WORKPLACE WHEN YOU HAVE
RICHARD DEMOGRAPHICS COMING
INTO A CITY.
IT WILL JUST BE A CHALLENGE.
I NOTICED YOU DIDN'T MENTION
ANY OF THAT IN YOUR VISION AND
SOME ABSENCES IN THIS
DESCRIPTION.
>> IT WAS PROBABLY AN OVERSIGHT.
I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
WITHIN THE CITY, WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN BY THE
TERM GREATER SEATTLE.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
FORCES THAT ARE SHAPING OR
REDEFINING OR RESHAPING WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE PART OF THE CITY
ARE ALSO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE IN IDENTIFYING WHAT WE
MEAN BY DEMOGRAPHICS.
SO WE HAD A DISCUSSION THIS
MORNING WITH OUR DIRECTOR, OUR
TALENT ACQUISITION DIRECTOR,
CHIEF OF STAFF, ABOUT HOW ARE
WE GOING TO PUT THE CITY IN
POSITION TO BE RESPONSIVE TO I
1000 WITH ITS INITIAL PASSAGE.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A
FUNDAMENTAL DECISION ABOUT DATA
AND DEFINING WHAT OUR SCOPE OF
HUMAN INFORMATION WE ARE GOING
TO LEVERAGE IN ORDER TO TELL A
STORY ABOUT OUR VALUE IN
CREATING MORE DIVERSE
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE CANNOT USE THE DEMOGRAPHICS
IN OUR CITY AND DEFINED WHAT WE
MEAN BY EQUITY.
WE HAVE TO THINK IN BROADER
TERMS.
WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE COMMUTING
INTO THE CITY.
WE KNOW WE MUST REDEFINE OUR
TALENT ACQUISITION PRACTICES IN
ORDER TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WHO WORK IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, REPRESENT
THE LARGE SWATH OF PEOPLE WHO
MAY NOT LIVE HERE BUT
DEFINITELY WORK HERE.
SO THAT IS MY RESPONSE TO THAT
QUESTION.
I THINK WE WANT TO BE AHEAD OF
WHATEVER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
REPORTING IS GOING TO HAPPEN SO
WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO
BRING OUR LARGER ORGANIZATIONS
TO GATHER WITH US TO HELP US
DEFINE THESE THINGS.
WE DON'T WANT TO DEFINE THEM ON
OUR OWN AND THEN CREATE A
COMPLIANCE DRIVEN METHODOLOGY.
WE WANT TO HAVE SHARED VALUES
IN OUR APPROACH TO HAVE AN
APPROACH TO EQUITY THAT IS
CENTERED AROUND THE GREATER
SEATTLE DEFINITION AND WHAT
THAT MEANS TO ALL THE SPECS BUT
THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPONSE.
SO EARLIER YOU TALKED ABOUT THE
18 DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU ARE
SURE TO DEAL WITH.
I AM A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ON
THIS THAT WE HAVE OUR
DEPARTMENT AND MANY DEPARTMENTS
HAVE THEIR HR.
BUT YOUR HUMAN RESOURCES, LIKE
POLICE AND FIRE, THOSE ARE THE
BIG DEPARTMENTS.
YOU INTERFACE WITH THEM A LOT.
I WILL JUST ASK THE DEPUTY
MAYOR.
WHAT ROLE DOES THAT PLAY IN
DEPARTMENT LIKE POLICE AND FIRE
IN TERMS OF RECRUITING BECAUSE
WE HAVE A HUGE CHALLENGE IN
DIVERSE RECRUITING IN THESE
DEPARTMENTS.
DO THEY HANDLE THIS THEMSELVES
OR WITH THIS BE UNDER BOBBY'S
PURVIEW?
>> TYPICALLY POLICE AND FIRE ARE
IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
THEY COORDINATE WITH THIS AT 18
DEPARTMENTS BOBBY WAS REFERRING
TO WERE THE SMALLER OR THE SIZE
DEPARTMENTS THAT HD HR PROVIDES
SERVICES TO WHEREAS THE LARGER
DEPARTMENTS LIKE CITY DELIGHT
CITY LIGHT AND PARK AND OTHERS
HAVE THEIR OWN HUMAN RESOURCES
STAFF BUT THAT IS DONE IN
COORDINATION WITH THE CITY HR.
>> OKAY.
BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO MY
EARLIER REPORT IS WHAT I WAS
HOPING TO SEE AND IT WASN'T IN
THERE BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME
ISSUES ON THIS AS A CITY.
I WILL TAKE SOME OWNERSHIP AS
WELL.
WE AS A CITY IN TERMS OF OUR
RECRUITING, PRINT SHIP,
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, IT IS
JUST A BIG ISSUE, I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ HAS PUT
A LOT OF ENERGY BEHIND THIS AS
WELL.
I WAS HOPING TO HEAR A CHAMPION
ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES COMING
FROM YOUR SPOT AND WHEN I SEE A
VISION THAT DOESN'T EVEN
MENTION THAT I AM CONCERNED.
NOT THAT YOU ARE NOT A
OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE BUT WHEN
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT INITIAL
PASSAGES OF I 100 AND YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH EVERY GROUP EXCEPT FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, I'M
THINKING, HOW DID WE MISS THAT
ONE?
>> THAT LIED WAS IN REFERENCE TO
AREAS WE DON'T HAVE STATED
GROUNDS IN THOSE PUBLISHING
GROUPS.
IN ALL THE OTHER AREAS WE HAVE
A TARGETED RECRUITMENT PLAN FOR
THOSE PUBLISHING GROUPS AND WE
HAVE EXTREME DEFICITS THERE.
THERE IS NO STRATEGY FOR THE
SCRIPTS AND THAT'S WHERE THAT
COMES FROM.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT I AM A
PROPONENT OF THE DIFFERENT
AVENUES BY WHICH PEOPLE ENTER
EMPLOYMENT INTO THE CITY SO
THAT IS DEFINITELY A PART OF MY
BEING.
THAT'S PART OF WHO I AM.
>> UNDERSTOOD.
AND Q KOSTER.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION THAT
DOVETAILS TO THAT LAST ANSWER
THAT HAD BEEN ITCHING TO ASK.
IN THE CONTEXT OF CREATING
PATHWAYS FOR CAREERS AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING WE COULD DO MUCH
BETTER AT AS A WHOLE.
AS A THINK ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF
A CENTRALIZED HR VERSUS A
DECENTRALIZED HR, I THINK IT'S
FAIR TO SAY WE HAVE A FAIRLY
HYBRID SYSTEM CURRENTLY WHERE
THERE ARE SOME INHERENT
SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT HYBRID BECAUSE THERE
ARE A LOT OF LARGER WELL
RESOURCE LIST AND FUNDED
DEPARTMENTS THAT CAN SOURCE
THEIR OWN HRA DO IT THE WAY
THEY WANT TO DO IT WHILE SOME
OF THE OTHER MIDSIZE AGENCIES
HAD TO REALLY RELY ON HR
DELIVERING THE SERVICES IN A
MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH
THEIR AGENCIES CULTURE.
IF THAT IS ALSO IMPACTED BY THE
AMOUNT OF RESOURCES OR MORALE
ISSUES THAT MIGHT EXIST AT
CENTRAL HR. SO I THINK THAT
MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR
MIDSIZED AND SMALLER AGENCIES
TO GET A REALLY RESPONSIVE
REACTION FROM CENTRAL HR ARE ON
REALLY CRITICAL ISSUES THAT, ON
CRITICAL ISSUES THAT THEY CARE
ABOUT.
ONE EXAMPLE OF A PATHWAY TO A
CAREER IN THE CITY THAT WE
DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT IS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO WORK-STUDY
AND INTERNSHIPS IN THE CITY.
WE AT THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT HAVE OUR OWN HR
DEPARTMENT AND WE REALLY
UTILIZE AND VALUE AND HAVE
INTEGRATED WORK-STUDY INTERNS
INTO MANY OF OUR OFFICES AND
HIRING PRACTICES.
MOST OF OUR COUNCIL OFFICES
HAVING INTERNS AS WELL AS SOME
OF OUR MR. RED OF OFFICES.
I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD FROM SOME
SMALLER MIDSIZE DEPARTMENTS
THAT THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN
DIVERSIFYING THEIR WORKFORCE
AND CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR
YOUNGER FOLKS TO CONSIDER
CAREERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND
IN DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE
INACCESSIBLE TO THEM WHETHER IT
BE ENVIRONMENT OR LAND-USE OR
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, LINE
WORKERS. MINEWORKERS IS A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE
IT'S AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
WORK-STUDY INTERNSHIP THERE IS
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE
PATHWAYS FOR CAREERS WHETHER
IT'S WITH THE CITY OR JUST
BUILDING THEIR RESUME TO BE
ABLE TO LAND SOMEWHERE UPON
ACTUATION FROM UNIVERSITY.
SOME OF THESE AGENCIES I HAVE
BEEN TALKING TO SAID THEY HAVE
HEARD DIRECTLY FROM HR THAT'S
WORK-STUDY IS NOT AN OPTION FOR
THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE BEEN
DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY STRAIGHT
UP TO PARTICIPATE IN A WORK-
STUDY INTERNSHIP STATING UNDER
THE OFFICES THAT ONLY THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T.
I KNOW FOR FACT THAT IS NOT
TRUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU
WHAT YOU ARE PRIORITIES ARE IN
THE FACE OF WORK-STUDY
INTERNSHIP AND ALIGNED WITH
THAT, HOW DO WE GET MORE
ALIGNMENT AND UNDERSTANDING
WITHIN CENTRAL HR ABOUT WHAT
OUR POLICIES ARE AND WHAT OUR
POLICIES ARE NOT.
CONSISTENCY IS SOMETHING THAT
HAS BEEN LONG FLAGGED AS A
CONCERN AS IT RELATES TO
INTERPRETATION OF OUR POLICIES,
PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES OF THE
CITY SPECIFIC TO HR AND THEY
WANT TO GET A SENSE FROM YOU
ABOUT HOW YOU TACKLE THAT.
THAT'S SORT OF A TWO-PART
QUESTION I WILL REMIND YOU.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE THE
SMALLER HR SHOPS OR THE SMALLER
BUDGETS, THEY ARE PART OF THE A-
TEAM AND THEY RECEIVE SERVICES
FROM OUR HR BUSINESS PARTNERS.
WE HAVE A TEAM THAT ARE THERE
TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING
QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE.
ARTS AND CULTURE IS ONE OF
THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
WHEN ARTS AND CULTURE CONTACTED
US AND LET US KNOW THEY WERE
NOT GETTING THE TYPE OF
CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY VALUE, WE
SHIFTED.
WE LISTENED TO THEM AND WE
SHIFTED.
THAT IS OUR NEW NORMAL, TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO OUR CUSTOMER.
AND GIVE THEM VALUE.
THAT IS AT THE PINNACLE OF WHAT
WE DO.
I WOULD SAY MY VALUE OR MY
BELIEFS ABOUT INTERNSHIPS IS IN
LINE WITH THE MAYOR'S DIRECTIVE
AS FAR AS INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF INTERNSHIPS WE HAVE
CITYWIDE.
IF THERE ARE DEPARTMENT OUT
THERE WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE
HEARING THE BILL FROM US WE
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU TO
EDIFY WHO THEY ARE SO WE CAN
PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO
THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR NEEDS
ARE.
>> I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR I AM
NOT TELLING TALKING ABOUT THE
SEATTLE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE WORK
STUDY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHICH
IS DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROGRAM.
>> THEY ARE IN COLLEGE AND THEY
WANT TO BE PART OF THE SEATTLE
WORKFORCE THROUGH AN INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE INTERNSHIP
PROGRAMS.
SO WE ARE ENGAGING OUR
WORKFORCE EQUITY TEAM.
THEY CAME TO ME REALLY EARLY ON
IN MY INTERIM ROLE AND SAID WE
KNOW THIS IS NOT A BUDGET
PRIORITY.
SOME OF THESE PATHWAYS TO
INCLUDE GREEN PATHWAYS, WE WANT
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT YOU THINK WE CAN DO?
MY CURRENT TO THEM WAS, GO TO
IT.
PUT YOUR BEST THINKING OUT
THERE.
LET'S BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND
FIND THE INDIVIDUALS WE CAN
LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES AND MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
THAT WORK IS HAPPENING.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.
WE HAVE SEEN IN SOME CASES,
SOME DEPARTMENTS DOUBLING THEIR
NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR'S
PARTICIPATION AROUND
INTERNSHIPS.
THAT WORK IS HAPPENING.
>> MAY I INTERRUPT HERE FOR
SECOND?
CAN IT HAS AN IMPORTANT EVENT
AT 4:00 HE HAS TO GET TO SO I
WANT TO PASS OVER TO HIM.
>> I AM SORRY I CAN'T STAY.
IT'S MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP THIS THING
GOING HERE.
IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS. I MISTIMED
MY TIME.
I THINK YOU FOR THIS AND I WILL
WATCH THE REST ON TV.
I WILL HAVE TO EXCUSE MYSELF.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU
MORE ABOUT MY VIEW ON DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION.
>> WE SPENT A GOODLY AMOUNT OF
TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED
WITH HIS RESPONSES.
TAKE CARE OF THE BIRTHDAY.
VERY GOOD.
CONTINUE.
I APOLOGIZE.
/ HOW DO WE BECOME MORE ALIGNED
WITH OUR HR POLICIES AND
PRACTICES? THAT'S THE CRUX OF
THAT.
I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A CHARGE
THAT CAME FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO PROVIDE MORE
CONSISTENT AND COMPETENT HR
SERVICES AND SUPPORT. THAT
MEANS THAT WHILE DEBORAH'S TEAM
HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO BE
CREATIVE BECAUSE WITH THE
RESOURCES THEY ARE ABLE TO
LEVERAGE, EVERY BUT HE HAS
CONSTRAINED BUDGETS.
NOBODY HAS A MONEY TREE.
THERE ARE LEVERAGE POINTS FOR
TEAMS TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS,
HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE THOSE INTO
PILOT OPPORTUNITIES SO WE CAN
UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS MIGHT WORK
ACROSS OUR ENTERPRISE AND THEN
SCALE THOSE THINGS TO FIT INTO
THE NUANCED NATURE OF LINES.
SO WHAT WORKS FOR US MIGHT NOT
WORK FOR PARKS.
BUT WE COULD PILOT THAT HERE
AND THEN HAVE THAT SCALED
ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE.
WE ARE DOING THAT WITH THE
ALTERNATIVE WORK ARRANGEMENT
PROJECT.
WE HAVE SHOWN SOME GREAT
NUMBERS.
WE HIT OUR GOALS PLUS.
NOW THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
THINK ABOUT EQUITY IN THE
PROGRAM AND WHEN I SAY EQUITY I
MEAN RACIAL EQUITY.
THOSE WHO WE KNOW WORK IN OUR
COMMUNITIES WHO MOW OUR LAWNS
AND TAKE CARE OF OUR GREEN
SPACES, THOSE FOLKS WHO DON'T
WORK IN OFFICES, HOW DO WE
LEVERAGE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
INTO HAVING FOUR TENDS OR NIGHT
80s?
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IS
PARTNERING WITH US TO PILATE
THAT MOVING FORWARD. THEN IT
BECOMES ADOPTION.
IT'S NOT JUST, WE ALL DO IT THE
SAME BUT HOW DO WE MEASURE THE
FACT THAT WE ARE DOING IT THE
SAME?
THAT IS OUR DEPARTMENT'S ROLE.
I BELIEVE THAT OUR ROLE IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYS
CONDENSED CONSISTENT.
WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY, WE ARE
LOOKED AT ON HR.
I GET EMAILS A LOT, THERE IS A
POLICY INFORMATION AND LANDS ON
MY DESK.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE YES OR NO
DECISIONS.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
CLIENTS GOING BACK TO CUSTOMER
SERVICE.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR
NEEDS ARE BASED ON HOW THEY'RE
ASKING ME TO THINK ABOUT THE
POLICY OUTCOMES.
THEN I BRING MY TEAM.
LET ME MAKE SURE THERE IS
PRESENCE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN HERE AS LONG AS
SOME OF THEM HAVE AND I WANT TO
HONOR THEIR WISDOM IN LOOKING
AT SOME OF THESE POLICY
OUTCOMES.
IN RESPONSE YOUR QUESTION, I AM
THINKING ABOUT CONSISTENCY,
APPROACHABILITY, AND
COMMUNICATION.
WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION THAT
GOES OUTSIDE OF PRESENTS OR
ESTABLISHES A NEW PRESENCE, HOW
CAN WE COMMIT IT WITH LABOR TO
KNOW THAT MAYBE THAT IS A ONE-
TIME DECISION OR MAYBE IT'S
SOMETHING WE NOW THINK ABOUT
DIFFERENTLY AND HOW DO WE SHARE
THAT WITH OUR THIS IS PARTNERS?
IT'S NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM.
WE COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT
HOW YOU USE YOUR GOVERNMENT TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME
SHARED OUTCOMES AND THE SAME
ELEVATIONS AROUND HOW WE LOOK
AT POLICY.
BUT THOSE ARE SOME WAYS I THINK
ABOUT IT.
>> I THINK MR. WILLIAMS HAD A
COMMENT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO
BOBBY'S COMMENTS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP WITH HDHR AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER
OF COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS IN THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT.
LAST YEAR WE HAD ZERO.
THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE 20-25.
>> I WANTED TO BE REALLY, THE
PARKS AND RECREATION IS IN A
VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION
BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN HR.
MY CONCERN IS THOSE DEFERMENTS
THAT DO NOT HAVE AN HR TO
PERMIT AND HAVE TO RELY ON
CENTRAL HR FOR THE SUPPORT.
IF I AM A DEPARTMENT THAT IS
SMALLER WITH 30 EMPLOYEES OR 20
EMPLOYEES AND I DON'T HAVE THE
LUXURY OF HAVING MY OWN HR
PERSON, I HAVE TO RELY ON
CENTRAL HR TO DELIVER THESE
SERVICES TO ME.
IF I GO TO YOU AND SAY, I AM
INTERESTED IN DIVERSIFYING MY
WORKFORCE, I THINK A GREAT
PATHWAY FOR ME AS A DIRECTOR OF
THIS DEPARTMENT IS TO STAND UP
AND IMPLEMENT A WORK-STUDY
IMPLEMENT INTERN SHIP PROGRAM
THAT WILL ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS
AND THEN GET TOLD NO, YOU DON'T
DO THAT, I THINK FROM A POLICY
PERSPECTIVE,I THINK THAT'S A
BAD POLICY.
>> I AGREE.
>> I AM DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR
THAT THAT WOULD BE A RESPONSE
OUT OF HR.
WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU IS
A COMMITMENT AND A PLAN OF
MOVING FORWARD ABOUT HOW WE
TURN THAT NARRATIVE AROUND TO
ALLOW FOR WORK-STUDY INTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AT
OUR DEPARTMENTS.
IT IS AN INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE
BIG. IT IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM BOTH FOR US AND PEOPLE
WHO PARTICIPATE IN IT.
I THINK IT'S SUCH A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY IN THIS AREA WHERE
WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO SUPPORT
OUR YOUTH AND THEIR SUCCESS.
I FEEL STRONGLY THIS NEEDS TO
BE A PRIORITY FOR A CHARGE.
>> IT WILL BE.
ONE OF THE THINGS OUR HR
SERVICES DELIVERY TEAM IS DOING
IS GOING ON A ROAD SHOW FOR
THOSE 18 DEPARTMENT AND
REDEFINING THE VALUE WE WANT TO
CREATE FOR THEM.
I AM GOING TO GO BACK TOMORROW
AND TALK TO THE LEADERS ON
THOSE TEAMS AND MAKE SURE THAT
THEY UNDERSTAND FROM WORKFORCE
ARE FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS SO S
WHEN THAT COMES UP, BUT ONLY
WHEN IT COMES UP SO THEY CAN
PRESENT PROACTIVELY THAT PART
OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT
IS VALUABLE TO US TOO.
THIS IS MEETING A LOT TO US AS
WELL.
>> SOME OF THE SMALL DEFERMENTS
DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY OR THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT WORK-STUDY
INTERNSHIP EXISTS AS A PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
PROACTIVELY COMMUNICATE THAT TO
DIRECTORS OF THE AGENCIES THAT
RELY ON YOU ALL FOR THIS
SERVICE SO THEY KNOW THEY HAVE
A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM
IF THEY WISH TO DO SO.
THEN THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONNECT THEM TO SOME OF THE
BIGGER AGENCIES THAT RUN THESE
PROGRAMS AS A MENTORSHIP
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A
SUCCESSFUL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SHIFT, BY
THE WAY YOU HAVE A LOT MORE
SUPPORTERS BEHIND YOU NOW.
WE ARE WORKING ON A
HOMELESSNESS REGIONAL GOVERNANCE
APPROACH AND, IN THE CITY, AND
WORKING WITH TEST COLBY FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, SHE IS A
REAL ASSET TO THIS WORK. AND
POWER COUNTY COLLEAGUES ARE
GETTING STARTED AS WELL.
IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.
HE WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND
I'M WONDERING, WHAT WILL YOUR
APPROACH BE?
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR HUMAN
RESOURCES GETTING ENGAGED AND
BEING INVOLVED?
I WOULD SAY THAT ANY EMPLOYEE
THAT IS IMPACTED BY THAT
VALUABLE WORK WE ARE MOVING
TOWARDS IS A CUSTOMER.
AND BECAUSE THEY ARE A CUSTOMER
WE HAVE AN INHERENT SENSIBILITY
TO MAKE SURE THEY TRANSITION
HEALTHY AND WELL AND THEY
UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS ANY
NEWNESS TO THEIR JOB THEY KNOW
WHAT THAT IS.
IF THERE IS TRAINING THAT IS TO
HAPPEN THEY CAN DO THAT.
IS OUR ROLE, WE MIGHT NOT BE
THE LEAD IN THAT PROJECT THAT
WE ARE A PART OF THE CARING AND
FEEDING OF THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT
MAY BE IMPACTED BY THE CHANGE.
WE HAVE A TEAM OF FOLKS, AND
ONE OF THE PEOPLE, WAS PART OF
THE AQUARIUM WHEN WE DID THE
SAME THING WITH THE AQUARIUM.
HE HAS THE INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT THE
IMPACTS OF A CHANGE LIKE THIS
CAN BE.
WE'RE GOING TO USE GOOD LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
COMMUNICATE WITH LABOR.
ENSURE WE ARE A GOOD PARTNER FOR
EACH DST.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU
MENTIONED YESTERDAY THAT
IMPRESSED ME WAS YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH EACH
INDIVIDUAL WHO COULD POTENTIALLY
BE IMPACTED.
COULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT?
THAT SPOKE VOLUMES TO ME AS TO
HOW YOU WILL BE APPROACHING THIS
AND SOLVING IT FOR EVERYONE
THAT IS INVOLVED.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
AS WE DO THAT COMMUNICATION
THAT WE PROVIDE SOME EFFECTIVE
FEEDBACK LOOPS SO THAT
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS,
THERE IS A LOT CRITICALLY AT
STAKE HERE.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS, PAY, THESE
THINGS MAKE PEOPLE NERVOUS AND
WOULD MAKE ANYONE OF US NERVOUS.
HOW DO WE EFFECTIVELY
COMMUNICATE WHAT CHANGES ARE ON
THE TABLE POTENTIALLY AND AS
SOON AS WE KNOW WHAT THE FINAL
ANSWERS ARE, HOW DO WE
COMMUNICATE THOSE AND GET BACK
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE NOT
INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF
THAT.
HOW DO WE HELP THEM CONSIDER
WHAT THEIR OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT
BE?
OR HELP THEM DECIDE WHAT THEIR
NEXT LIFE CHOICE IS BASED ON
THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH
AND WANT TO REFLECT SOMETHING
YOU SAID TO ME YESTERDAY WHICH
WAS CAUGHT WE KNOW INDIVIDUALS
ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR JOBS.
THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHATEVER
THEIR RETIREMENT IS, WHAT THE
SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THEIR
SENIORITY IS, AND I APPRECIATED
YOUR COMMITMENT TO BEING
WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS UP
FRONT.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT
WILL LOOK LIKE.
WE ARE MONTHS AWAY FROM
KNOWING.
BUT FOR INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES,
WE ARE TAKING THEIR CONCERNS TO
HEART THAT WHEN WE NOTE WE WILL
TELL THEM BUT IN THE MEANTIME
YOU ARE THE PRINCIPAL WE ARE
APPLYING.
TO ME THAT WAS A REALLY
GRACIOUS APPROACH.
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW I HEARD IT
AND APPRECIATED IT.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IT
IS NOT MY INCLINATION OR
EXPECTATION ON MY TEAM TO BE
THE STAR OF THE SHOW.
WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS.
WE WANT TO HELP OUR PARTNERS
REFLECT ON THESE NUANCES AS WE
THINK ABOUT THE HUMAN CENTERED
APPROACH TO THIS CHANGE.
>> TAKING US BACK TO THE
SEATTLE CITY EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE 457
PLAN WHICH IS OUR DEFERRED COMP
WHICH IS IN YOUR SHOP.
AN YOU TALK ABOUT JUST HOW YOU
PLAN TO COMMUNICATE TO
EMPLOYEES AND WRINKLY TO GET
THEM ENGAGED EARLY AND TO LET
THEM KNOW WHETHER THERE IS OPT
IN OR OPT OUT?
>> SHORT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY
IN OUR CONVERSATION.
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO
LEVERAGE NEW EMPLOYEE
ORIENTATION TO BETTER EDUCATE
THEM ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
I THINK THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS
EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT TELLING THEM
OTHERWISE.
SOMEONE HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY
FOR THREE YEARS AND THAT THEY
WERE IN A RETIREMENT PLAN OR
PART OF ANOTHER DEFERRED COMP
PLAN THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
THESE THINGS WERE DETRIMENTAL
WHEN YOU ARE PLANNING OUT
RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS.
HOW CAN WE BE MORE PROACTIVE?
NOT JUST INDIVIDUALLY IN OUR
PLAN BUT HOW DO WE LEVERAGE
PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT WE ARE
SHARING THE DATA THAT WE CAN TO
KNOW, BOBBY MAY HAVE A
RETIREMENT PLAN BUT HE DOES NOT
HAVE DEFERRED COMP.
SO IN A SENSE YOU DIFFER COMP
OR RETIREMENT IS SENDING OUT A
EMAIL TO HIM TALKING ABOUT HIS
ADDRESS OR MAYBE THEY HAVE
SOMETHING ON THAT SAYING, HAVE
YOU CONSIDERED DEFERRED COMP?
THAT IS NOT MY NEW IDEA.
THAT IS THE CONVERSATION
ALREADY HAPPENING WITH DEFERRED
COMP ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS MICHELLE'S BRILLIANT
IDEA.
THEN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EMPOWER HR RESIST PARTNERS TO
PARTNER WITH US TO BE MORE
PROACTIVE IN REGULAR
COMMUNICATION ABOUT THESE
OPPORTUNITIES.
ONE VISION I HAVE IS THAT I SEE
A SERIES OF EVENTS WHEREBY YOU
CAN COME AND BRING YOUR PAYSTUB
AND THIS WAS AN IDEA THAT WAS
PUT FORTH IN THE DISTRICT THAT
WORKED WELL.
YOU BRING YOUR PACE UP AND GO
LINE BY LINE AND MAKE SURE YOU
UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS CODES
AND YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND
YOU HAVE PAYROLL THERE.
YOU HAVE DEFERRED COMP.
YOU HAVE RETIREMENT.
THE BEST VALUE WE CAN CREATE AS
HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS IS
NOT PASSIVE.
IT IS ACTIVE.
SO HOW DO WE BECOME MORE
CREATIVE AND CREATE VALUE FOR
OUR CUSTOMER?
>> DEBORAH SMITH, SINCE YOU
CAME DOWN HERE AND ARE SITTING
AT THE TABLE, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
>> SO YES.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH BOBBY QUITE A BIT AND
HIS TIME AS INTERIM DIRECTOR
AND IT HAS BEEN A REALLY
WONDERFUL COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK BOBBY IS A NATURAL
LEADER.
HE IS ENTHUSIASTIC, HE IS
GENUINE, AND HE DOES HAVE A
COMPELLING VISION AND I THINK
THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
OPPORTUNITIES THAT DEPARTMENTS
CAN HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND
SOME OF THEM ARE WELDED TO
QUESTIONS RAISED BY SOME OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE LIKE CAREER
DAYS AND THINGS THAT WE BRING
FOLKS TOGETHER ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS SO IT'S NOT JUST
ONE DEPARTMENT LIFTING AWAY AND
I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF
THING COUNCIL MEMBER THAT CAN
HELP WITH SMALLER DEPARTMENTS
AS WELL BECAUSE THEN THEY DON'T
HAVE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT.
BOBBY IS A GREAT PARTNER.
HIT HE IS SOLUTIONS ORIENTED.
I KNOW HE HAS AND WILL SUPPORT
HIS PEERS IN IDENTIFYING AND
LAMENTING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
FOR THE PRIORITIES WE ARE ALL
WORKING ON TOGETHER.
HE IS A LEARNER.
I FEEL A LITTLE BIT MOM LIKE
WITH BOBBY SO THAT'S OKAY.
HE LOVES ME SO THAT THE NICE
THING, RIGHT BOBBY?
THAT HE IS HUMBLE, FUNNY,
ENGAGING.
HE IS LOOKING FOR TEAM WINS.
REGARDLESS OF TEAM.
WHETHER IT'S HIS TEAM OR THE
TEAM THAT EXISTS AMONGST TIME
AND HAS.
HE IS LOOKING FOR THAT TEAM
WHEN NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL WIN.
PLUS I THINK HE IS A REALLY
GOOD FRIEND.
HE BUILT BRIDGES AND I KNOW HE
WILL DO SO ACROSS THE CITY,
BETWEEN MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES,
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, WHEN HE
SEES ME, HE SAYS, HELLO FRIEND!
THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT REALLY
CAN'T BE OVERSTATED BECAUSE THE
HUMAN RESOURCES IS A VERY TOUGH
PLACE TO BE BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE
AN ENFORCEMENT COMPLIANCE ALSO
BREAKING DOWN THOSE BRIDGES AND
MAKING IT CLEAR THAT YOU ARE
HERE TO HELP EVERYONE SUCCEED
REGARDLESS OF THEIR ROLE, I
THINK THAT IS HARD AND I THINK
HE HAS THE RIGHT PERSONALITY TO
DO SO.
>> THANK YOU DEBORAH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ DO
YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>> ONE LAST QUESTION AND THEN
WE WILL STOP PILING ON.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW
OFFICE?
>> I AM PROUD OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES I WORK FOR
, FELICIA CALDWELL WAS IN
CHICAGO OVER THE LAST WEEKEND AT
A CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER
TRAINING SYMPOSIUM. HER
FEEDBACK WAS WHERE SEATTLE IS
HOW WE ARE NOWHERE PERFECT BUT
WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF
CREATING RESPONSIVE EMPLOYEE
SUPPORT SYSTEM IS HEAD AND
SHOULDERS ABOVE CITIES OF OUR
SIZE. BY HIRING, I WILL TALK
ABOUT THE OFFICERS.
SO THE OFFICE OF EMPLOYEE ON BUT
IS NEEDED.
I SUPPORT IT'S INDEPENDENCE AND
I ALSO SUPPORT WHATEVER
LEVERAGE WE CAN CREATE
TOGETHER.
THAT STILL REMAINS TO BE FULLY
FLUSHED OUT.
WE ARE WORKING AND HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF
EMPLOYEE ON BUT TO PROVIDE
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND VALUE AND
MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE GOOD
ON BOARDING AND THEY ARE A
STRONG TEAM FROM THE FUNCTIONAL
PRACTICE OF HIRING NEW FOLKS TO
SET UP A NEW OFFICE.
AND THE BENEFIT OF IT IS THE
DOCTOR WHO IS A FRIEND.
I WAS IN THE HIRING PROCESS
WHEN SHE WAS SELECTED AND WE
HAVE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE,
INTRODUCED A LOT OF PEOPLE HER
AUTHENTICITY, HER FOCUS ON THE
HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN OF THE
WORK SHE GETS TO DO, SHE MADE
ME WANT THIS JOB MORE.
THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH HER
AND STEVE OUR NEW HR
INVESTIGATIONS UNIT DIRECTOR,
THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR US.
WE WILL FILL THAT OUT TOGETHER.
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS
HONORING THE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE OFFICE BE INDEPENDENT.
NOT ONLY ON ITS FACE BUT IN ITS
PROCESSES.
SHE IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO ME.
I AM NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO HER, WE
ARE PARTNERS.
I TAKE THAT BACK, I AM
ACCOUNTABLE TO HER.
SHE BRINGS SOMETHING TO MY
ATTENTION THAT CRITICALLY AFFECT
OUR EMPLOYEES I WILL RESPOND.
I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT HER
AND MIKE OPTIMISM ABOUT THAT
OFFICE BUT I AM PROUD OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR HAVING THAT
OFFICE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE DAVID MOSELY
YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE OUT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU
HAVE PROVIDED US TODAY.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COLLEAGUES
ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU BOTH AT
THE TABLE AND IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO
TALK AT OUR NEXT MEETING WHICH
IS JUNE 26 AND AT THAT POINT IT
WILL BE UP FOR DISCUSSION AND A
POSSIBLE VOTE.
TAKE YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
ALL RIGHT, FOR THE GOOD OF THE
ORDER, THANK YOU ALL.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
>> [MEETING ADJOURNED]