>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS
MORNING FOR OUR GOVERNANCE,
EQUITY, AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE HAVE A RATHER SHORT AGENDA
WITH SOME APPOINTMENTS SO I
WILL DISPENSE WITH THE REPORT I
HAVE TO GIVE IN THE MORNING.
I WILL SEE IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION WE WILL APPROVE THE
AGENDA.
I WILL NOT OBJECT TO MYSELF SO
WE WILL APPROVE THE AGENDA.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS SO I WILL ASK ANYONE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPOINTMENT
OR REAPPOINTMENT TO COME
FORWARD TO THE TABLE AND IT
WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 01373 THROUGH
APPOINTMENT 01375.
APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS
FOR RENE J. PETERS, JR. ,
TORGIE MADISON , AND STEVEN N.
MAHESHWARY AS MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY
BOARD FOR A TERM THROUGH
DECEMBER 31, 2020 .
>> GOOD MORNING.
LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
INFORMALITY OF THE SITUATION
AND START WITH INTRODUCTIONS
AND HAVE A DISCUSSION.
>> HELLO I AM TRACYE CANTRELL
OF SEATTLE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, AN EXECUTIVE
ADVISOR .
>> I AM TORGIE MADISON, A CO-
VICE CHAIR OF THE PRIVACY AND
SECURITY COMMUNITY.
>> I AM STEVEN MAHESHWARY, THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD .
>> MY NAME IS RENE J. PETERS,
JR., A NEWLY APPOINTED MEMBER
OF THE BOARD.
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> I THOUGHT YOU ARE RUNNING
FOR OFFICE OR SOMETHING . SO
WHY DON'T WE, IF ANY OF THE
COCHAIRS OR LEADS OF COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD WANT
TO START, I WILL START OUT WITH
YOU RENE PETERS.
TELL ME WHY YOU ARE WANTING TO
JOIN SEATTLE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY.
>> WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO
SEATTLE LAST YEAR I WAS VERY
EXCITED TO SEE THERE WAS A
FORUM WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME
AND TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT
MATTER TO THEM AS FAR AS
TECHNOLOGY AND HOW IT IMPACTS
THEIR LIVES.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE
REALLY SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT
POINTS IN MY CAREER AND
EDUCATIONAL LIFE.
I STARTED AT MIT AS A CHEMICAL
ENGINEER.
I WORKED IN MANUFACTURING FOR
PROCTER & GAMBLE BEFORE GOING
TO BUSINESS SCHOOL.
NOW I WORK AS A TECHNICAL
WORKER FOR STOPPED WORKING IN
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
THROUGH THE MANUFACTURING LENS,
THE TECH LENS, THROUGH STUDYING
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND
THINKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AS A
WHOLE, YOU WILL GET TO THINKING
ABOUT HOW IT CAN IMPACT
PEOPLE'S LIVES FOR THE BETTER.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS IN
THIS COUNTRY AFFECT PEOPLE'S
LIVES AND TECHNOLOGY REALLY HAS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE
THEIR SITUATION IN MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGH EQUITY,
ACCESS, INFORMATION, AND WHEN I
GOT HERE AND SAW THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU ARE
HAVING, I WAS REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT HOW OPEN THEY WERE. AS A
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC I WAS ABLE
TO HOP ON AND IN A QUESTION I
ASKED IN ONE OF THE SESSIONS
THEY ASKED ME TO COME AND
COLLABORATE WITH THEM IN ONE OF
THEIR EFFORTS INVOLVING THE
20/40 INITIATIVE.
PEOPLE REALLY MAKE THERE WERE
BOYS VOICE HEARD.
I APPRECIATE THAT SO I AM
EXCITED TO GET TO WORK AND I AM
HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS.
>> I LOOKED AT YOUR BACKGROUND
AND THIS MAY SEEM STOIC BUT
THIS IS MY EXCITED FACE TO HAVE
YOU.
SO UNDERSTAND THAT.
I AM VERY PLEASED.
YOUR BACKGROUND IS INDEED
IMPRESSIVE.
ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION
WAS THAT AS I RECALL, I DON'T
HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME BUT
THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT SOME
SMART CITIES WORK.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR THAT.
I THINK MAYBE 4-5 YEARS AGO WE
STARTED A SMART CITIES
INITIATIVE.
WE PUT SOME INVESTMENT BEHIND IT
AND SOME PERSONNEL.
IT MORPHED INTO A DIFFERENT
KIND OF INITIATIVE FOR THE CITY
BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE THIS WEEK
MEETINGS WITH YOUR EMPLOYER AND
SOME TEAM MEMBERS REVISITING HOW
WE ARE DOING SOME OF THAT SMART
CITY WORKER DOES NOT CALLING IT
AS SUCH AND LOOKING AT HOW WE
CAN DO BETTER BECAUSE I THINK
THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE
WAY MORE FURTHER ALONG THAN US
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS NOT
CONDUCIVE ROLES OF YOUR
EMPLOYER BUT LET YOU KNOW ABOUT
THESE MEETINGS AND WHO THE
PEOPLE ARE THAT YOU WOULD
PROBABLY RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE
NAMES.
THIS IS THE SECOND MEETING I AM
HAVING WITH THEM.
I AM DOING THIS PURPOSELY
BEFORE OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS
SO I WILL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP
ON THAT WORK WE ARE DOING.
>> PLEASE DO.
I AM ACTUALLY VICE CHAIR OF THE
SMART CITIES COMMITTEE.
WE ARE FOCUSING ON PREDICTIVE
POLICING AND THE MANAGEMENT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE SO I CAN
DEFINITELY LOOP THAT INTO MICRO
SOFT IN A HARD WAY.
>> WE ARE MEETING ON THURSDAY I
KNOW THAT MUCH.
AGAIN, I KNOW THE PROTOCOL SO I
DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO WONDER WHY
YOU ARE THERE BUT THEY WERE
PROBABLY WELCOME ANY INPUT.
THIS WAY WE HAVE AN EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE OF WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO ON THE BUSINESS
SIDE OF THINGS.
SO GENTLEMEN, WHAT OTHER
THOUGHTS SHOULD BE TALK ABOUT?
WHAT IS GOING ON?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HOT ISSUES
? I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE
LOOKING AT THE SURVEILLANCE
WORK WE ARE DOING AND THAT
BECOMES VERY CHALLENGING
BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO GET
OUT WHAT SOME OF US THINK ARE
GOOD TECHNOLOGY AND EFFECTIVE
TECHNOLOGY PARTICULARLY IN
PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER AREAS.
AGAIN, NO PRIVACY CONCERNS ARE
BREACH OF PRIVACY SO MAYBE YOU
GUYS CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
ISSUES.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND, WORD OR
COULD PERMIT US, I HAVE SOME
WORDS PREPARED TO PROVIDE SOME
TRANSPARENCY OVER MY TIME WITH
THE BOARD OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
THANK YOU TODAY FOR YOUR TIME
AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR
NOT JUST MY REAPPOINTMENT, ALL
OF OUR APPOINTMENT AND
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD.
I AM PROUD TO BE A MEMBER AND
CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD
WHICH IS AN ACTIVE BOARD THAT
HAS BEEN RESIDENT IN OUR
COMMUNITY FOR 24 YEARS WHICH
ACTUALLY SURPRISED ME AND WE
WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 25th
ANNIVERSARY NEXT YEAR.
AND THOUGH I HAVE BEEN A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE FOR SIX
YEARS, THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH
THIS HAS HELPED ME TO CONNECT
WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
AS A BOARD WE ARE TRULY
DEDICATED TO INCITING THE
COMMUNITY IN OUR WARD NAME.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY ADVOCATING
FOR THE RIGHTS OF THOSE
DISADVANTAGED BY LACK OF ACCESS,
BROADBAND OR TECHNOLOGY, FOR
THOSE WHOSE RIGHTS MAY BE
INFRINGED UPON BY POTENTIALLY
OVERREACHING CYBER SECURITY
TECHNOLOGIES AND FOR COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN
BENEFIT FROM CITY RESOURCES
WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING OR
CREATING DIGITAL LITERACY
PROGRAMS OR ACCESS TO
TECHNOLOGY.
JUST BRIEFLY I WOULD LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR
ACCOMPANIMENTS TO PROVIDE
VISIBILITY INTO OUR BOARDS
EFFORTS.
IN 2018 WE HOSTED MANY PUBLIC
PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS OF
AI, AUTOMATION, IMPACT TO
LABOR, ON TECH FOR GOOD PRIVATE
SHIPS, BROADBAND ACCESSIBILITY
FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS, WE
HAVE MEMBERS OF WAVE AND
COMCAST.
WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS URBAN
LEAGUE, THE MAYOR OF MERCER
ISLAND, THE CITY COUNCIL,
MICROSOFT, EXECUTIVES FROM
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND
MORE.
IN ADDITION WE HAVE MONTHLY
PRESENTATIONS FROM VARIOUS
NONPROFIT LEADERS AND MEMBERS
OF CITY GOVERNMENT PRESENT ON
THE LATEST ISSUES AND
INITIATIVES.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE REALLY
STEPPED UP OUR FOCUS ON THE
TECH COMMUNITY OVERALL AND THE
TECH FOR GOOD COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE CO-ORGANIZED A HACK IS
ON AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CODE
FOR AMERICA AND WASHINGTON
TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS A SERIES OF SOLUTION
DRIVEN HACKER FUNDS WHERE
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS RANGING
FROM PROVIDING GREATER
TRANSPARENCY TO GOVERNMENT
DATA, RESEARCH ON ORCA WHALES
AND MORE.
IN ADDITION WE HAVE PARTNERED
WITH THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES TO COSPONSOR AN
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SERIES
WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN LEARN
ABOUT EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
RANGING FROM VIRTUAL REALITY
AND AUGMENTED REALITY TO
PRIVACY TECHNOLOGIES.
RECENTLY WE HAVE HOSTED
DISCUSSIONS ON AREAS AT THE
NEXUS OF TECH AND IMPACT
INCLUDING LOW INCOME HOUSING.
WE RECENTLY HAD A PRESENTATION
ON BELLWETHER HOUSING, ON
TRANSPORTATION, AND SUPPORTING
THE SOLUTION DRIVEN TECH FOR
GOD COMMUNITY.
I THINK MORE RELEVANT TO THE
COMMITTEE IS THAT WE HAVE
ISSUED A NUMBER OF ADVISORY
COMMENTS AND POLICY REVIEWS.
1026 HAS BEEN NEGATIVE IN
ISSUES OF CYBER SECURITY AND
PRIVACY AND COLLATES OUR
COMMUNITY ON OUR COMMITTEE AND
WE HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVE REVIEWER
OF TECHNOLOGIES AND HAVE BEEN
IN MEETINGS OF THE LAST TWO
YEARS INCLUDING THOSE OUTLINING
SURVEILLANCE.
OUR ADVISORY COMMENT ON PUBLIC
BENEFITS DURING THE WAY
FRANCHISE RENEWAL,
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE
20/40 AND THE AUNT
TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE THAT
WAS MENTIONED, OUR SURVEILLANCE
VIDEO GROUP AND MORE.
I WOULD LIKE TO PASS ALONG TO
COMMENTS THAT WE RECENTLY
APPROVED TO PROVIDE TO CITY
COUNCIL AND ONE IS REGARDING AN
ANALYSIS OF THE RECENT
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS AND ADOPTION
SURVEY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE
FINDINGS AROUND DIGITAL EQUITY
THAT WE FOUND THROUGH THE DATA
SET THAT WAS COLLECTED AS WELL
AS ANOTHER LETTER IN SUPPORT OF
THE CRITICALLY NEEDED DIGITAL
EQUITY ACT LEGISLATION PROPOSED
BY SENATOR MURRAY.
ALONGSIDE THAT OTHER DIGITAL
EQUITY EFFORTS INCLUDE MAKING
OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND FOR
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT IS THAT OUR BOARD
MEMBERSHIP IS SIGNIFICANTLY
LIMITED COMPARED TO OTHER
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AS WE ONLY HAVE SIX MEMBERS AND
THREE VACANCIES OF WHICH ARE
WAITING TO BE FILLED BY MAYORAL
PARTIES.
IF THREE MEMBERS ARE MISSING
FOR SOME REASON WE WOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO VOTE OR APPROVE OR MAKE
PROGRESS DURING BOARD MEETINGS
WHICH WOULD HINDER THE MOMENTUM
AND ENERGY FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A VOLUNTEER
BOARD WE ARE ALSO LUCKY TO HAVE
THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF
MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN
PROVIDING VALUABLE PUBLIC POLICY
INSIGHT, AND MORE.
ONE OF OUR SUB COMMITTEES THAT
RENCE IS ON IS LED ENTIRELY BY
NON-BOARD MEMBERS.
IN THE LAST ROUND OF APPLICANTS
INTERESTED IN OUR THREE
VACANCIES THAT WERE "WE
RECEIVED 31 APPLICATIONS FROM
MANY WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF C TAB
LONGER THAN MYSELF.
I AM PAINFUL FOR THE SUPPORT
AND ENERGY NOT JUST FROM OUR
BOARD MEMBERS BUT FOR OUR BOARD
MEMBERS AS WELL.
I HOPE YOU TAKE NOTE OF OUR
COMMUNITY INTERESTS AND
CONSIDER A EXPANSION OF OUR
BOARD TO 15 MEMBERS WHICH WOULD
BRING US INTO PARITY WITH NOT
JUST THE ROADMAP OF THINGS WE
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH BUT WITH
MANY OTHER BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE A
COMMUNITY FOCUS IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE SEEKING TO HAVE A
BALANCED BOARD IN TERMS OF
GEOGRAPHIC, GENDER, RACE,
ETHNIC SISSY AND -- ETHNICITY.
IT ALLOWS US TO BE GREATER
CONTRIBUTORS TO CURRENT AND
UPCOMING LEGISLATION INCLUDING
FOR THE SURVEILLANCE ORDINATES.
WHILE I AM HERE HUMBLY FOR YOU
TO CONSIDER MY REAPPOINTMENT I
HOPE THIS ALSO PROVIDES
VISIBILITY INTO OUR CURRENT
PROGRESS AND OUR NEED TO BE A
BETTER BOARD TO SERVE YOUR
COMMITTEE, CITY COUNCIL, AND
THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH STEPHEN.
MY RESPONSE IS THAT WAS A VERY
IMPRESSIVE PRESENTATION.
DID YOU WANT TO SIGN IN AND
AGREE WITH THAT REQUEST?
>> AS CO-VICE CHAIR OF SEATAB,
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD
A CHANCE TO READ THAT SO I
DEFERRED TO HIM.
BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH
THAT STATEMENT AND MY COMMITTEE
IN PARTICULAR HAS QUITE A BIT
OF WORK CUT OUT FOR IT.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCES HAVE
KIND OF A LONG HISTORY WITH THE
CITY COUNCIL AND I WAS INVOLVED
IN THE ADVISORY GROUP FROM THE
VERY START THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER
. I WAS AWARE OF IT AND
PARTICIPATING IT WELL AWARE OF
THE LEADERSHIP POSITION INSIDE
OF THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY BOARD.
IN THAT SPIRIT WHEN THE GROUP
2 TECHNOLOGIES WERE AVAILABLE
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, THE
COMMITTEE SOURCED VOLUNTEER
EFFORTS FROM ACTIVE MEMBERS OF
SEATAB AND ACTIVE MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY WHICH WERE NOT
AS SEVERELY ATTENDING THE BOARD
MEETINGS AND SUBMITTED AN
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT. SO I
THINK THAT TO STEVENS POINT,
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE PRIVACY
AND SECURITY SECTOR AND AS
STEPHEN MENTIONED, THE SURVEY
FOR TECHNOLOGY ACCESS AND
ADOPTION, WE HAVE A SUMMARY
THERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND 80%
OF THE RESPONDENTS IN THE
SURVEY MENTIONED THAT THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THEIR
INFORMATION WAS ONE OF THE TOP
CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD WHEN
CONSIDERING THE TECHNOLOGY ON
THEIR DEVICES. SO I WANTED TO
REITERATE STEVENS POINT.
>> TAKE YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
TOO.
I THINK I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU
THAT, I RELY ON SEATAB OVER
THE LAST YEARS AND WE CUT DOWN
ON A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONS
DURING SOME TOUGHER TIMES IN OUR
BUDGET ANALYSIS BUT I THINK
THAT YOU ARE WELL WITHIN YOUR
RIGHTS TO SUGGEST WE GET MORE
MEMBERS AND SO, THIS IS NOT A
SURPRISE BY THE WAY.
I WAS PREPARED FOR YOUR REQUEST
SO YOU FOR AIRING THAT PUBLICLY
SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS BOTH
YOUR PASSION TO DO THE WORK AND
ASK FOR MORE RESOURCES AND MY
RECEPTIVENESS TOWARDS IT.
WE'LL DO SOME WORK OFF-LINE
LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS.
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I DIDN'T
REALIZE YOU HAD AS MANY
VACANCIES AS POSSIBLE AND JUST
FOR THE RECORD THEY ARE ALL ON
THE MAYORS SITE.
ALL OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL
APPOINT IS, I WOULD LIKE TO
COMMEND US FOR TAKING THE
OUTREACH IN FINDING SEATAB
MEMBERS AND IN FINDING NOT
ONLY COUNTED FOLKS BUT ALSO
DIVERSITY AND THEY TAKE IT VERY
SERIOUSLY AND THEY DO AN
OUTSTANDING JOB.
HELP ME OUT AND TELL ME WHY WE
HAVE SO MANY VACANCIES ON THE
MAYORS ASIDE?
>> I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC
REASON TO ARTICULATE TODAY BUT
I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE MAYORS
OFFICE AND FIND OUT WHAT IS THE
STEMMING THE CURRENT ROUND OF
VACANCIES.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO, WE COULD
HAVE HAD A TALK BEFORE THIS BUT
YOU WERE AWARE OF THE VACANCIES.
DID YOU MAKE ANY INQUIRIES
ABOUT THEM?
OR YOU COME HERE FOR THREE
POINT IS REALIZING THAT YOU
HAVE SIX OR SEVEN?
>> WE HAD JUST MEMBER TERM OFF.
WE HAVE FOUR TOTAL, ONE COUNSEL
COST THREE MAYOR, RENCE IS
TAKING THE CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTMENT AND WE HAVE THREE
WHERE THE INTERVIEWERS WERE
FINISHED AND REGULATIONS HAVE
MADE TO THE MAYORS OFFICE AND
WE ARE WAITING FOR THE MAYOR TO
MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON THE
THREE CANDIDATES.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE
ALL 10 HERE PRETTY SHORTLY IS
WHAT I AM UNDERSTANDING.
>> WE ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THE
TIMELINE ON THE MAYORS SIDE.
>> BUT THROUGH THAT PROCESS,
THE THREE, THE FOUR SLOTS THAT
ARE OPEN NOW SHOULD BE FILLED
WITHIN THE NEXT 3-4 WEEKS
SSUMING THAT THE PEOPLE MEET
THE SCRUTINY THAT WILL BE
LAUNCHED UPON THEM?
>> THAT SOUNDS RIGHT.
>> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS THEN.
I DIDN'T REALIZE MYSELF BY THE
WAY THAT, I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN
I SEE SO MANY VACANCIES SO THAT
IS ALL OF OUR JOBS HERE.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO
MEET THAT.
IT SEEMS A LITTLE CRAZY FOR US
TO GO UP TO 15 WHEN WE ONLY
HAVE 10 AND WE HAVE SO MANY
VACANCIES.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE FIRST ORDER
OF BUSINESS WOULD BE TO FILL
THE VACANCIES WHICH IT SOUNDED
WE ARE DOING.
>> PREVIOUS TIMES WHEN WE HAVE
MADE THIS REQUEST WE HAVE HAD
AS MUCH IS 11 AND WE HAVE FOUND
OUR WORKLOAD GREATLY EXCEEDED
THE CAPACITY OF OUR EXISTING
MEMBERSHIP WHICH IS WHY WE DO
DRAW ON A LOT OF OUTSIDE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO NOT
JUST BE AN ACTIVE PART BUT ALSO
LEAD OUR SUBCOMMITTEES.
>> UNDERSTOOD.
I DON'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF
MY HEAD BUT WHAT WAS THE HIGH
NUMBER OF SEATAB NUMBERS?
AT ONE POINT WE CHARTERED MANY
MORE.
WAS IT 15 OR 20?
WE SCALED IT DOWN WHEN WE
THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO DO
SO.
I HEAR YOU LOUDLY SO WE WILL
TALK OFF RECORD ABOUT WHAT WE
HAVE THERE AND DOUBLE DOWN ON
OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS TO GET
SOME GOOD TALENT LIKE RENE
PETERS HERE.
TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE WITH YOU IS, WITH THE
INNOVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL,
ONE OF THE IDEAS WE HAVE HAD AS
A CITY OR ARE TRYING TO SEE
WITH THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS
AND HOUSING AND HOW WE CAN BEST
USE TECHNOLOGY MORE EFFECTIVELY
TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEMS,
THERE IS ONE PARTICULAR
TEHNOLOGY KNOWN AS THE
SAMARITAN APP OR THE SAMARITAN
MEDALLION IF YOU WILL.
IT IS A DEVICE, A DEACON, I
THINK IT'S REFERRED TO AS A
BEACON.
SO WE HAVE THE FOUNDER OF THE
COMPANY MEET WITH US AND
DISPLAY HIS PRODUCT AND IT
ACTUALLY BROUGHT HOMELESS
PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS THAT ARE NO LONGER
THERE AND THEY HAVE HAD SOME
GREAT SUCCESS IN HOW THE
SOFTWARE IS USED.
SO I MET VERY BRIEFLY WITH OUR
HUMAN SERVICES GROUP AND THEY
GET A LOT OF IDEAS, PROBABLY
WEEKLY ON HOW TO SOLVE
HOMELESSNESS.
BUT JUST AS YOU AND YOUR
RESPECTIVE COMPANIES HAVE A
PRETTY SMART EVALUATIVE PROCESS
FOR NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
FOR APPS, IN ANOTHER LIKE I
PLAYED A ROLE WITH THAT IN
ANOTHER COMPANY.
BUT I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE
EQUIPPED TO THAT.
WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE OUR NEEDS
AND PEOPLE RESPOND TO IT BUT IN
TERMS OF SOME OF THESE IDEAS
AND I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THE
RIGHT PROCESSES AND PERHAPS YOU
CAN PLAY A ROLE AT LOOKING AT
THAT PARTICULAR SAMARITAN DID
RAISE SOME ISSUES WITH PRIVACY
OR POTENTIAL FOR SEX TRAFFIC.
I THINK YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
IT IS A BEACON THAT CAN
ACTIVATE THROUGH BLUETOOTH AND
ALLOWS A PERSON IN THE PUBLIC
TO UNDERSTAND WHO THIS PERSON
WAS AND WHO THEY WERE BEFORE
THEIR EXPERIENCE OF
HOMELESSNESS.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO TRANSFER
DOLLARS TO THIS PERSON THROUGH
ONE OF OUR AGENCIES LIKE MARY'S
PLACE.
THEN THIS PERSON CAN RECEIVE THE
CREDIT AND GO THERE AND CASH IT
IN IF YOU WILL.
IT'S NOT PANHANDLING.
THE ASSOCIATING WITH THAT
PROCESS IS A MENTORING AND A
SOCIAL SERVICE ASPECT SO WE ARE
GETTING THIS PERSON NOT ONLY
SOME FINANCIAL HELP WHICH THEY
NEED, BUT ALSO WRAPAROUND
SERVICES SO SOME MEDICATION AND
THERE ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE
THAT MIGHT BE WILLING TO HELP
AND THEY NOW HAVE A PORTAL BY
WHICH THEY CAN HELP EVEN TO A
COMPLETE STRANGER.
SO IT RAISES SOME ISSUES.
PERHAPS ONE OF THE IDEAS I HAD
IS PERHAPS YOU GUYS WOULD BE SO
KIND AS TO HAVE THE APP
DEMONSTRATED TO YOU AND COME UP
WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR
THE COUNCIL TO BUDGET THIS ITEM
WITHOUT IT GOING THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT THAT ARE EXPERTS IN
THIS AREA.
MY PROCESS IS TO ANTICIPATE ANY
OBJECTIONS. I PARTICULARLY LIKE
IT.
IT IS CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY.
I DON'T THINK IT CAN HURT
THINGS.
I THINK IT CAN DRASTICALLY
IMPROVE THINGS AND WE SAW REAL
LIFE EXAMPLES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE
YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
INSECURITY, THAT KIND OF THING,
COULD HELP FOR THIS SAMARITAN
TECHNOLOGY.
I MAY SEND THEM YOUR WAY SO BE
FOREWARNED.
>> WE ACTUALLY HAD SAMARITAN
PRESENTED AT GOVERNANCE,
EQUITY, AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE SEVEN AND WE HAD A
SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO THE ONE
YOU MENTIONED AND WE WERE ALSO
FLOORED BY THE APP.
I BELIEVE THE FOUNDER IS
JONATHAN.
WE ARE AWARE OF IT AND IF THERE
IS SOME SORT OF WAY THAT WE CAN
GET AN ADVISORY STATEMENT FROM
THE COUNCIL?
>> YOU GUYS ARE PATIENT.
YOU LISTEN TO ME GO ON AND ON
LIKE YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT IT.
>> WE DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT
YOU.
>> SO HERE IS THE THING.
HERE IS THE BEAUTY WITH SEATAB.
I DON'T THINK YOU ALL ARE
LIKELY MOTIVATED IN ANY WAY.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE HAVING
THIS POLITICAL AGENDA.
I THINK YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY
PURE TO THE TECHNOLOGY AND HAVE
GOOD HEARTS AND ARE JUST TRYING
TO DO GOOD.
COMING FROM YOU ALL IT IS LESS
WEEKLY CHARTS.
HERE IS THE ISSUE, HERE IS
WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO USE THE
TECHNOLOGY.
YOUR BACKGROUNDS IN TECHNOLOGY
MAKES YOU EXPERTS.
SO SOME KIND OF STATEMENT FROM
YOU, TO ME TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES AND THE EXECUTIVE, I
AM INTERESTED IN TRYING TO
EMPLOY THIS IN SOME SORT OF
TRIAL BASIS.
IT'S JUST LIKE HOW I WAS WITH
BODY CAMPS WHEN THEY STARTED IN
2010.
NOW WE HAVE THIS EMPLOYED BUT
IT'S A LITTLE JARRING IN THE
BEGINNING TO PEOPLE.
WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL BUT I AM
REALLY INTERESTED IN TRYING TO
FIND THAT THIS YEAR.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE LAST
POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE.
TO ME, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE
CHIMING IN WITH CERTAIN ISSUES
PARTICULARLY WITH TECHNOLOGY,
IT STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SEEN AS A
VERTICALLY CHARGED GROUP.
YOU ARE SEEN AS SOMEONE WHO IS
NEUTRAL ON THESE ISSUES BUT
COMING IN WITH TECHNOLOGY.
THAT'S WHY I THINK ADDING
PEOPLE TO THIS GREAT GROUP
MAKES SENSE TO ME AT LEAST.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DO YOU WANT
TO CLOSE OUT?
>> I AM JUST THRILLED THIS IS A
NEW AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ME.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING
GROUP AND THERE ARE NOT MANY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE STOOD
THE TEST OF TIME.
SO YOU SEE ACTIVISM, HARD WORK,
AND DEDICATION.
I THINK THAT IS WONDERFUL.
>> THINK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS,
STEVEN MAHESHWARY.
JUST YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE
BUDGET WORKS ON THESE KINDS OF
THINGS, IT COMES FROM THE MAYOR
AND COMES TO US SO I AM HOPEFUL
THIS IS NOT JUST A COUNSEL.
YOU COULD COME AND POST IT IN
THE BUDGET AND ALL I DO IS
ENDORSE IT.
WE HAVE TWO GROUPS HERE.
ACROSS THE STREET TO THE
JUDICIAL SIDE, YOU CAN DO THAT
TOO.
THERE IS NO LOCATION INVOLVED.
SO LET'S ABOUT.
I WILL MOVE THE APPOINTMENT OF
RENE PETERS AND THE
REAPPOINTMENTS OF TORGIE
MADISON AND STEVEN MAHESHWARY .
I WILL SECOND IT.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
THERE IS NO ONE A POST SO I
WILL PRESENT THIS TO THE FULL
COUNCIL.
I WILL MOST LIKELY ALSO WHEN I
PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL MONDAY
AT 2:00 ARTICULATE THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CONCERNS
WE HAVE HAD AND ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU
DO.
THANK YOU TRACYE CANTRELL AGAIN
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I WAS A LITTLE BLINDSIDED ABOUT
THE VACANCIES AND I DON'T LIKE
TO SEE THAT ON MY WATCH.
SO THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.
WE STAND ADJOURNED.
>> [MEETING ADJOURNED]