>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 10, 2020.
COUNCIL BRIEFING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IF 9:30 A.M.
WE ARE PERFECTLY ON TIME.
I AM TERESA MOSQUEDA, PRO TEM
FOR TODAY.
WE ARE JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN, AND SOON BY
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME,
COUNCILMEMBER DONE STYLES.
WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE OUR OFFICE
OF INTERNAL GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS AT THE TABLE WITH US.
DIRECTOR LILY KADOKA WILSON,
AND CHERYL SWAB, AND WE ARE
GOING TO LET YOU GUYS GO AHEAD
WITH YOUR PRESENTATION FIRST.
WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO EACH
INDIVIDUAL'S REPORT.
IN TERMS OF WHAT'S COMING UP ON
THIS WEEK IS PUFF AGENDA, I
WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA IN ADDITION
TO THE FINDING AND FINANCING
COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, GOOD
MORNING.
LILY WILSON-CODEGA, OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
WE ARE HEADING INTO THE FIFTH
WEEK OF THE 60 DAY LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
WE HAVE RECENTLY PASSED THE
FIRST MAJOR MILESTONE OF THE
SESSION, THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN
CUT OFF AS OF FRIDAY.
THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT
ACTIVITY AND PRESS ATTENTION ON
THE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
PROPOSAL.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT MOSQUEDA HAS
ASKED THAT WE HOLD THAT UNTIL
THE END, SO WE ARE HAPPY TO
HOLD THAT FOR THE END OF THE
YOUR BRIEFING TODAY.
WE ALSO HAVE RELAYED TO THE
PRIME SPONSOR AND OTHER
LEGISLATORS OF THE ISSUE, THE
CONCERNS AROUND PREEMPTION THAT
THE COUNCIL HAS MADE CLEAR TO
US AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THAT AS THE BILL MOVES FORWARD.
I AM GOING TO FIRST TURN IT
OVER TO CHERYL SWAB, WHO'S
GOING TO GO OVER THE SEXUAL
HEALTH EDUCATION BILL.
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THIS WOULD EXPAND --
>> COULD YOU PULL IT A LITTLE
CLOSER TO YOU?
>> TO EXPAND COMPREHENSIVE
SEXUAL EDUCATION ACROSS ALL
GRADES ACROSS THE STATE, AND
OVER SEVERAL YEARS, FAITH IN AN
AGE APPROPRIATE EXCEPTION FOR K
THROUGH FIVE.
THE SENATE BILL PASSED OUT ON
JANUARY 22 AND IS NOW IN-HOUSE
EDUCATION.
IT HAS UNTIL FEBRUARY 28 TO BE
HEARD.
THE HOUSE BILL PASSED OUT OF
HAS TO EDUCATION, AND
APPROPRIATIONS.
IT HAS UNTIL THE 11th TO BE
HEARD AND PASSED OUT OF
COMMITTEE.
A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS WERE
ADDED IN-HOUSE EDUCATION,
SEVERAL ARE OF CONCERN, ONE
WHICH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL
REPORTING FOR SCHOOLS AND WAS
OPPOSED BY OSPI.
WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON
THAT.
BOTH CHAMBERS SEEM INTENT ON
HAVING THERE IS BE THE VEHICLE.
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW THEY
WILL RECONCILE THEIR
DIFFERENCES.
MY NEXT POINT IS THE FARESTART
FOR KIDS ACT.
THIS BILL IS HEARD IN THE HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 6. IT'S A
COMPREHENSIVE EARLY LEARNING
PACKAGE.
THE BILL DOES NOT INCLUDE A
VENDING SOURCE, BUT A CAPITAL
GAINS TAX PROPOSAL TO FUND THE
EARLY LEARNING SYSTEM IS
EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED.
>> MOVING ONTO QUINN, WHO'S
GOING TO COVER THE LEGISLATION
AND THE ENVIRONMENT SECTION.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
IF YOU UPDATES ON BILLS RELATED
TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW ONES.
FIRST, 2311 REGARDING
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AMENDS
THE STATE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS LIMITS TO ADOPT THE
MOST RECENT, AVAILABLE, AND
UPDATED CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE.
THE IMPACTS ARE PRIMARILY
FURTHER OUT.
IT'S MORE RELATED TO GOALS AND
TARGETS, BUT THIS IS RELATED TO
A POSITIVE BILL WE ARE MOVING
OUT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
OMMITTEE THIS WEEKEND.
>> REPORTED LAST WEEK ON THE
28th 92, WHICH IS BEING
REFERRED TO AS THE AUTHORITY
BILL.
IT RESTORES THE DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY'S, AUTHORITY TO
REGULTE EMISSIONS ARE INDIRECT
OR MOBILE.
PRIMARILY, DISTRIBUTION OF
TRANSPORTATION FUELS.
THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT IS NOW HEADED TO
THE FLOOR.
THE SENATE VERSION IS IN
APPROPRIATIONS.
WE WILL NEED TO RECEIVE A VOTE
BY TUESDAY.
SO, THE BILLS ARE CONTINUING TO
MOVE HERE WITH SOME DIVERGENCE
IN THE POLICIES.
THAT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
MOVING FORWARD.
FINALLY, AN UPDATE ON
BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION,
HOUSE BILL 2586.
AMENDMENTS WERE ADOPTED IN
COMMITTEE, AND IT IS NOW HEADED
TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, AS WELL.
THOSE AMENDMENTS SHOULD ADDRESS
SOME OF THE CONCERNS RELATED TO
THE IMPACTS TO UTILITIES.
IT WILL REQUIRE ELECTRIC
AFFILIATION PLANS DEMONSTRATE A
POSITIVE BENEFIT TO RATEPAYERS
AND REQUIRES THAT THE SWITCH TO
ELECTRICITY BE DEMONSTRATED
WITH CLEANER THAN NATURAL GAS.
NO PROBLEM FOR OUR GREENEST
UTILITIES IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO CHERYL, WHO WILL
COVER GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> WE HAVE ADDED THREE BILLS AT
THE REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ'S OFFICE.
THESE ARE RELATED TO THE
COTTAGE FOOD INDUSTRIES.
UNDER THE STATE COTTAGE FOOD
PROGRAM, A PERSON MAY PRODUCE
CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS THAT ARE
NOT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS IN A
HOME KITCHEN FOR DIRECT SALES
TO A CUSTOMER.
HOUSE BILL 2217 WOULD REMOVE
THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE COTTAGE
FOOD BUSINESSES TO PLACE THEIR
BUSINESS ADDRESS ON THE PRODUCT
LABELS, AND INSTEAD REQUIRES
INCLUSION OF THE COTTAGE FOOD
PERMIT NUMBER.
2218 WOULD INCREASE THE CAP ON
GROSS SALES FOR COTTAGE FOOD
PRODUCTS FROM 25,000 TO 50,000
IF THE GROSS SALES EXCEED THE
CAP, THE BUSINESS MUST EITHER
ACQUIRE A FOOD PROCESSOR
LICENSE OR CEASE OPERATIONS.
BOTH BILLS ARE NOW IN RULES,
AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE IS THE
MICRO ENTERPRISE HOME KITCHENS.
THIS ALSO ADDRESSES HOME-BASED
FOOD ENTERPRISES.
THE SEATTLE VENTURES IS A
NONPROFIT SUPPORTING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THIS AUTHORIZES MICROSCALE FOOD
OPERATIONS AND HOME KITCHENS.
LEGISLATES OR CREATES
PERMITTING PROCESS FOR A NEW
BUSINESS MODEL.
THIS IS FOR A FOOD FACILITY
OPERATED IN THE PRIMARY
DOMESTIC RESIDENCE, WHERE FOOD
IS PREPARED AND SERVED TO
CONSUMERS.
THE BILL WAS IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION ON FEBRUARY 7.
>> THANK YOU.
MOVING ONTO HEALTHCARE, I'M
GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ROBIN.
>> FIRST, I WANTED TO BRIEF YOU
ON THE HELPING MOMS, HEALTHY
BABIES SENATE BILL 6128 THAT
YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT.
THIS BILL WOULD EXPOSE
POSTPARTUM HEALTH COVERAGE FROM
60 DAYS TO 12 MONTH.
WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME
ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS.
THE MORTALITY REVIEW PANEL
FOUND 30% OF ALL PREGNANCY
RELATED MATERNAL DEATHS AND THE
MAJORITY OF SUICIDE, AND
ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSES OCCUR 43
TO 65 DAYS AFTER DELIVERY, AND
WE KNOW THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
DISPARITIES IN RACIAL MORTALITY
RATES.
THE SENATE BILL WAS HEARD
GENERATE 20 AND VOTED OUT OF
THE LONG-TERM CARE COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY, AND THEN HAD A
HEARING IN WAYS AND MEANS LAST
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4. IT MUST BE
VOTED OUT OF THE FISCAL
COMMITTEE BY THE 11th.
IT IS COMING UP ON A DEADLINE.
THE HOUSE BILL IS NOT OPEN AS A
VEHICLE.
WHILE KNOWN AS OPPOSED TO THE
POLICY, THE BILL WITHOUT A
FEDERAL MATCH HAS A HEFTY PRICE
TAG.
ADVOCATES ARE MEETING WITH THE
HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY ON THE
PRIME STAFF TO DETERMINE
OPTIONS I COULD TRIM THE FISCAL
IMPACT TO GET THE POLICY IN
PLACE, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE FROM A
BUMP THAT WOULD COME IN A
FEDERAL MATCH.
>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO
ADD TO THE AGENDA.
THE U.S. HAS SOME OF THE
HIGHEST RATES OF MATERNAL
MORTALITY, AND I UNDERSTAND
THERE'S A CONCERN FROM THE
HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY THAT YOU
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT
UNTIL 2022.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMIND PEOPLE HOW MANY LIVES AT
RISK IF WE DELAY THIS ANOTHER
YEAR OUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU
TO AMEND THE BILLS, SO THE
IMPLEMENTATION TATE REMAINS
2021, AS IT IS CURRENTLY
WRITTEN IN THE BILL.
>> WE WILL MAKE SURE TO
COMMUNICATE THAT.
>> I MISSED ONE.
I REALIZED.
CAN I GO BACK TO PAGE 3. I
MEANT TO REPORT ON 6152, A
FOREIGN NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
CAMPAIGNS.
THIS DEALS WITH FOREIGN
INTERESTS IN ELECTIONS.
THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE CERTAIN
REPORTS TO HAVE ENTITIES MAKING
CONTRIBUTIONS, THAT THE OWNER'S
CONTRIBUTION IS LESS THAN 50%
FOUR AND ONLY CORPORATIONS
CERTIFYING LESS THAN 50% OF ITS
STOCK IS OWNED BY FOREIGN
NATIONALS CAN MAKE POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS.
IT'S A SIMILAR CONCEPT TO
CAMPAIGN LEGISLATION PASSED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL EARLIER THIS
YEAR.
IS BANNED CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
COMPANIES WITH AT LEAST 5%
FOREIGN OWNERSHIP.
IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
THERE.
THE 6152 BILL WAS HEARD ON
JANUARY 17.
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL REPLIED TO
ALL ENTITIES, NOT JUST
CORPORATIONS, WAS PASSED OUT ON
THE 29th AND IS NOW IN RULES.
WE ARE TRACKING THIS ONE.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE IS NOTHING LEFT IN THE
HEALTHCARE SECTION, DO YOU WANT
TO MOVE ON TO HOUSE AND?
>> YES.
I AM GOING TO GO BACK.
THIS BILL FALLS INTO THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND THE HOUSING
PORTFOLIOS.
IT IS SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL
2405.
THE C PACER BILL ON PAGE 2.
THIS BILL WAS VERY NEAR AND
DEAR TO BARB GRAF.
IT WOULD CREATE CLEAN ENERGY
AND A RESILIENCY PROGRAM FOR
FINANCING. BARB GRAF WAS
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED BECAUSE
IT WOULD ALLOW US TO ADDRESS
SOME OF OUR UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDINGS, AND THE
SNOW, LUCKILY, A MEMBER OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
CONTACTED US WITH QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF
THE BILL, AND WHAT IMPACTS WERE
FISCALLY, AND SO, WE ARE
WORKING WITH BEN NOBLE IN THE
OFFICE TO GET SOME INFORMATION
FROM THE COMMITTEE AND GET THE
BILL MOVING BEFORE THE CUTOFF
DATE ON THE 11th.
MOVING ON TO THE MORE GENERAL
HOUSING BILLS, AS I WAS
ALLUDING TO AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE
ARE STILL QUITE A FEW HOUSING
BILLS THAT ARE STILL VERY LIVE.
ONE BILL THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WAS PARTICULARLY
INTERESTED IN, HOUSE BILL 3732
WOULD CREATE LAND MITIGATION
FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
IT HAS MADE IT INTO THE RULES
COMMITTEE, AND IS APPARENTLY
MOVING ALONG QUITE NICELY.
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION, HOUSE
BILL 2 453, IS ALSO MOVING
ALONG.
THE SENATE BILL IS DEAD, BUT
THE HOUSE HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS
THE VEHICLE BY LEADERSHIP.
YOU SHOULDN'T ASSUME ANYTHING
BY THE SENATE BILL BEING DEAD.
OF COURSE, THE MULTIFAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION BILL, THE GOVERNOR
PROPOSED TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
ONE MUST SIGNIFICANTLY FOR
SEATTLE, WOULD ALLOW FOR AN
EXTENSION TO ADDRESS EXPIRING
UNITS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME DENSITY
PROVISIONS, AND SPENT THE
MULTIFAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
PROGRAM TO SOME ADDITIONAL
COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE.
THAT BILL IS SCHEDULED TO MOVE
OUT OF FINANCE TODAY, AND IS
BEING HEARD IN THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE WITH AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION SCHEDULED FOR
TOMORROW.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BILL,
WITH ADVOCATES, LABOR, AND
OTHER CITIES TO TRY TO COME TO
A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT THAT
SERVES EVERYONE, AND CAN MOVE
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, ROBIN.
BEGINNING ON THE MIDDLE OF PAGE
7 UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY, WE SAW
TWO CASUALTES OF THE FIRST CUT
OFF AS NEITHER THE GOVERNMENT
NOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
REQUESTS TO BAN ASSAULT
WEAPONS, OR THE BILL REPEALING
THE STATUTE PREEMPTING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FROM REGULATING
FIREARMS WERE VOTED OUT OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE POLICY
COMMITTEES, SO THOSE BILLS ARE
NO LONGER MOVING FORWARD.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE, HOWEVER,
MOMENTUM ON MANY OF THE
COUNCILS OTHER PRIORITIES,
INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE
HANSEN'S BACKGROUND CHECK BILL
ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 7.
GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL
REQUEST LEGISLATION LIMITING
HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES LISTED
ON THE TOP OF PAGE 8. A
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH THE
OFFICE OF FIREARM PREVENTION,
AND THE FELONY DUI FIREARM
RESTRICTION BILL.
TOWARDS THE TOP OF PAGE 9 UNDER
SAFETY NET AND CIVIL RIGHTS,
LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE THE
DEATH PENALTY AND STATUTE
PASSED THE SENATE 28-18, AND
HAS BEEN REFERRED TO PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THE HOUSE.
THE POLICY MODELED ON
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S BILL
OF RIGHTS, SENATE BILL 6247
PASSED OUT OF SENATE LABOR, AND
SEVERAL VOTER ACCESS BILLS
SURVIVED THE CUTOFF, INCLUDING
SENATE BILL 6228 ON THE TOP OF
PAGE 9 THAT WOULD RESTORE
VOTING RIGHTS TO THOSE WITH
FELONY CONVICTIONS, WHO ARE
CONTINUING TO SERVE OUT THEIR
COMMUNITY CUSTODY, AS WELL AS
SENATE BILL 6313, A PROPOSAL
LISTED TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF
PAGE 9 THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE 17-
YEAR-OLDS TO VOTE IN THE
PRIMARY IF THEY WILL BE 19 BY
THE GENERAL ELECTION.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO QUINN TO
COVER TRANSPORTATION AT THE
MIDDLE OF PAGE 9.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
THE STATEWIDE SECURE SCHEDULING
BILL.
IS THAT STILL ALIVE?
>> I BELIEVE IT IS STILL ALIVE.
I KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES
BEING NEGOTIATED BETWEEN LABOR
PARTNERS AT THE MOMENT, BUT I
BELIEVE THAT IS STILL ALIVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION,
THERE WILL BE SOME MOVEMENT AND
ACTION IN THE SENATE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
THERE WILL BE A HEARING ON THE
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
BILL, WHICH WILL PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR CITIES
TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE AND
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
HAVE BOTH STATED THEY PUBLICLY
VIEW THIS AS CONNECTED TO A
BROADER STATEWIDE REVENUE
PACKAGE, WHICH THE NEGOTIATION
FORMAT, AND DISCUSSIONS ON
THAT, ARE ONGOING AND EXPECTED
TO LAST INTO NEXT SESSION.
WHILE A HEARING IS A POSITIVE
STEP FOR THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, IT IS NOT EXPECTED
TO MOVE FORWARD THIS SESSION,
BUT WE WILL BE EMPHASIZING THE
BENEFITS TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR NEW LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
REVENUE OPTIONS.
THE SENATE AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE VOTING
ON OUR AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SAFETY
CAMERA DECISION RELATED TO
TRANSIT PLANES, AND WE WILL
ALSO BE VOTING ON SENATOR LEE'S
LEGISLATION AROUND SOUND
TRANSIT CAR TAB VALUATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST CLARIFYING. THANK YOU
FOR THAT UPDATE ON THE RED
LIGHT CAMERAS AND BLOCK THE BOX.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS
MOVING OUT OF THE HOUSE.
THE HOUSE IS THE VEHICLE.
>> I THINK AT THIS POINT, THIS
IS MOVING THE SENATE VERSION
OUT OF THE COMMITTEE.
SO IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO
SENATE TRANSPORTATION.
THE SENATE VEHICLE STILL HAS
TIME TO MOVE, AND SO AT THIS
POINT, JUST TO KEEP OUR OPTIONS
OPEN, YOU CAN ADVANCE BOTH
BILLS, BUT THE HOUSE BILL HAS
GONE FURTHER.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WERE
CONCERNS IN THE SENATE
COMMITTEE, AND HAVE SOME OF
THOSE CONCERNS BEEN RELIEVED?
>> YES.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH
OUR STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS.
I BELIEVE THE ISSUES AROUND
TRANSIT OPERATORS AND ATU HAVE
BEEN RESOLVED.
THE QUESTIONS WITH THE TRUCKING
ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
THEY NO LONGER HAVE CONCERNS.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH
THE ACLU.
I BELIEVE, WE HAVE MADE
PROGRESS AND HAVE A TENTATIVE
AGREEMENT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO
OVERSTATE ANYTHING, AT THIS
POINT.
>> GREAT.
JUST PLEASE, LET ME KNOW
ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SUPPORT
THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I THINK IT CONCLUDES OUR REPORT
TODAY.
EXCEPT FOR THE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE DISCUSSION.
>> WE KNOW THERE WAS SOME
ACTION TAKEN ON FRIDAY.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, MAY I ASK
A QUESTION?
>> I'M SORRY.
>> ANOTHER BILL I'VE BEEN
TRACKING, AND I THOUGHT WE MAY
HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST TIME
YOU GUYS WERE HERE WITH US, BUT
I MIGHT BE MISTAKEN.
THE PACER BILL FOR URM, THE
FINANCING MECHANISM?
>> THAT BILL IS THE ONE THAT I
MENTIONED, OF OUR GRAF.
HOUSE BILL 2405.
THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
IT.
IT WAS HEARD ON SATURDAY.
THE CITY SUBMITTED A LETTER
SUPPORTING IT, AND THANKFULLY,
REPRESENTATIVE POLLET CONTACTED
ME TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
WE ARE WORKING TO RESOLVE THOSE
QUESTIONS IN HOPES THAT WE CAN
HELP THE BILL MOVE OUT OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
TREASURERS ARE STILL OPPOSED,
BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT
OPPOSITION.
WHICH AT THIS POINT, ISN'T A
MAJOR ROADBLOCK.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO DO TO
ASSIST, THIS IS HIGH PRIORITY
FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW.
>> ANY OTHER BILLS FOLKS WOULD
LIKE TO CALL OUT?
>> WE ASKED OUR DIRECTOR TO
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE BILL, HOUSE
BILL 2907.
I KNOW THIS IS A BILL MANY OF
US HAVE BEEN TRACKING.
SOME ACTION WAS TAKEN ON FRIDAY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING AN
UPDATE ON THAT.
>> HOUSE BILL 2907 I KNOW
EVERYONE IS FOLLOWING CLOSELY,
WAS HEARD ON FRIDAY, AND PASSED
OUT OF COMMITTEE.
I BELIEVE, IT WAS 8-4. THAT WAS
MOVING FORWARD.
THERE WAS ONE AMENDMENT PUT
FORWARD BY REPRESENTATIVE ORWALL
THAT HAS TO DO WITH REGIONAL
REPRESENTATION ON THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
THERE IS NO PREEMPTION LANGUAGE
INCLUDED IN THE VEHICLE THAT
MOVED FORWARD, SO I'M GOING TO
ASK ROBIN, WHO HAS BEEN OUR
LEAD ON THIS ISSUE, TO FILL IN
ADDITIONALCONTEXT AROUND THE
BILL, AND THE HEARING.
>> I THINK THE ENDORSEMENT OF
THE BILL WAS VERY POSITIVE ON
FRIDAY NIGHT, AND I THINK ONE
OF THE PRIME SPONSORS HAVE BEEN
COMMUNICATING WE SHOULDN'T MAKE
ANY ASSUMPTIONS BY WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE COMMITTEE VOTE.
THEY FELT IT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THE BILL
MOVED ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
NOW, REPRESENTATIVE MacRI, AND
REPRESENTATIVE SPRINGER, ARE
HOSTING NEGOTIATIONS AROUND THE
BILL.
I BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO BEGIN
WITH TALKING TO THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY EARLY THIS WEEK.
BUT A QUESTION ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT.
THIS MORNING, I DIDN'T SEE AN
AMENDMENT POSTED ONLINE.
IT DIDN'T SAY SUBSTITUTE BILL.
WAS THAT AMENDMENT,?
>> IT WAS.
I AM HAPPY TO SEND IT TO YOU.
>> SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION.
I THOUGHT THE BILL WAS
INTRODUCED AS AMENDED, BUT
REALLY, THE ORWALL AMENDMENT IS
ADDING ONE ADDITIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE TO WHERE?
>> TO AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THAT WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF
LOOKING AT HOW THE MONEY IS
SPENT IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY
COMMITTEE.
>> NO CHANGES.
>> NO CHANGES TO THE UNDERLYING
BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, AND
THEN ANYBODY ELSE.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
MOSQUEDA .
I WILL HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
I WILL ASK THEM AND THEN LET
YOU RESPOND.
YOU MENTIONED THE PRIME
SPONSORS, INCLUDING
TO START NEGOTIATIONS, AND MEET
WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
IT'S EXTREMELY CONCERNING TO ME
THAT I AM NOT HEARING ANYTHING
ABOUT THEM MEETING WITH
ORDINARY PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE PREEMPTION LANGUAGE.
THIS CAME UP FROM THE STATE
LEGISLATORS.
THEY HAVE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN TO
THIS.
TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT EFFORTS
ARE THEY MAKING TO ENGAGE WITH
THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
ACTIVELY FIGHTING RIGHT NOW, TO
TEXT BUT BUSINESS AT THE CITY
LEVEL, AND THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT DOING THAT
AT THE CITY LEVEL?
I THINK WE CAN SAFELY SAY
AGAIN, MOST PEOPLE, EVEN IF
THEY DON'T FALL EXACTLY IN A
GIVEN CATEGORY, WOULD PREFER
THAT THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY
TO RAISE TAXATION.
I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, THE
PROBLEMATIC ASPECT IS NOT THE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUES.
WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORT FOR
PROGRESSIVE REVENUES.
THAT IS NOT THE POINT.
THE POINT IS LOOMING
PREEMPTION.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY
ARE ENGAGING, IF AT ALL WITH
JUST REGULAR PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND, AND THEN SECONDLY, IF
YOU COULD RUN OVER SOME OF THE
DEADLINES.
IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
WHAT ARE THE UPCOMING HOUSE
COMMITTEE VOTES?
WHAT ARE THE HOUSE FLOOR VOTES,
SENATE FLOOR VOTES,
RECONCILIATION.
IN YOUR MIND, WHAT ARE THE
DATES THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE
OF, AS WE GO FORWARD?
I THINK WE ALL KNOW, ANY OF US
WHO HAS LOOKED AT THE WAY THE
STATE LEGISLATURE FUNCTIONS,
THIS ITERATION OF THE BILL DOES
NOT HAVE PREEMPTION.
AT A FUTURE ITERATION COULD.
WHAT ARE THE DATES WE SHOULD
KEEP IN MIND?
AND, ALSO, IF YOU COULD WAIT IN
A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT VARIOUS
LEGISLATORS ARE SAYING,
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATORS ARE
SAYING ON PREEMPTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS FROM A
CROSSCUT ARTICLE.
I AM QUOTING FROM THE ARTICLE
THAT SAYS MacRI DIDN'T RULE OUT
LEADING WITH LATER ITERATIONS.
I WOULD SEEK TO AVOID WHERE
BUSINESSES COULD BE DOUBLE
TAXED.
WE HAVE THE MOST REGRESSIVE TAX
SYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW, THERE
IS ANY CONCEPT OF DOUBLE.
WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN WHEN THEY
ARE NOT BEING TAXED HARDLY AT
ALL?
I AM NO SENATOR JOE NGUYEN HAS
SPOKEN TO THIS.
MAYBE OTHERS.
>>
I KNOW HOUSING ADVOCATES HAD A
LOBBY DAY IN OLYMPIA, I BELIEVE
THE SAME DAY AS THE HEARING ON
THIS LEGISLATION, AND WE ARE
PRIORITIZING THE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE AS A PRIORITY FOR THEM,
PARTICULARLY THE FOCUS ON
HOUSING, YOUR HOPE, AND
REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE IMMEDIACY OF THAT PROBLEM.
IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL
LEGISLATOR CONVERSATIONS WITH
OTHER FOLKS, I THINK WE ARE
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT FROM
YOU.
THE NEXT BIG HURDLE TO KEEP IN
MIND IS THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN
FISCAL COMMITTEE CUT OFF, SO
THAT IS TUESDAY, AND THEN WE
HAVE THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN FLOOR
CUT OFF AND IT HAS TO PASS THE
HOUSE ON THE 19th.
THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT MOST
IMMEDIATE.
WIND BILLS THAT ARE IN THE
FISCAL COMMITTEES HAVE TO PASS
OUT, AND THEN OFF THE FLOOR OF
THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN BY THE
19th.
>> HAVING SPENT A LOT OF YEARS
IN OLYMPIA WITH OUR FRIEND,
DIRECTOR, DEGA, I KNOW THE
STATES ARE VERY CONFUSING.
ONE OF THE NOTICES I SAW
INCLUDED IN THE BOLTON WAS THE
DATE THAT THE FRONT HERE.
THIS IS A NEW ADDITION, IF I'M
CORRECT, FROM LAST YEAR.
I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THOSE
UPCOMING DATES.
THAT'S HELPFUL, BUT THE POINT
IS STILL WELL TAKEN ABOUT WHEN
INDIVIDUAL BILLS GET SCHEDULED.
THAT IS SOMEWHAT OF A
FRUSTRATION, I KNOW BECAUSE
THOSE HEARING DATES DON'T COME
OUT UNTIL THE WEEK BEFORE.
I KNOW THAT, AS YOU UNDERSTAND
THIS IS A BILL OF INTEREST TO
US AS THOSE HEARING DATES
POSSIBLY COME UP ON THE
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I THINK IT'S WEDNESDAY NIGHT OR
WEDNESDAY MORNING, LET US KNOW
WHEN THOSE BILLS COME UP.
THAT'S TRUE FOR ANY OF THE
BILLS YOU ALL ARE TRACKING,
INCLUDING BAN THE BOX AND OTHER
CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES.
>> WE WILL.
AS YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALLY
FLAGGED PRIORITIES FOR YOUR
RESPECTIVE OFFICES, WE WANT TO
PROVIDE THE MOST CURRENT
UPDATES AS POSSIBLE, SO I THINK
MANY OF YOU RECEIVED A FRIDAY
NIGHT CALL FROM VARIOUS MEMBERS
OF OUR TEAM JUST TO LET YOU
KNOW, GIVEN HOW HIGH A PRIORITY
WE KNOW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE IS.
WE WILL KEEP YOU CONSISTENTLY
UPDATED AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD.
WHILE YOU HAVE CUT OFF DATES,
UNDERSTANDING THERE'S A LOT
THAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN THAT
TIME.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO KEEP
EVERYONE UPDATED ON COUNCIL.
>> ONE ADDITIONAL, PROCEDURAL
UPDATE IS THE SENATE BILL WILL
NOT BE MOVING FORWARD, SO IT'S
ONLY THE HOUSE BILL THAT'S THE
VEHICLE.
>> SORRY, AND WE KNOW THAT FOR
A FACT?
>> YES.
THE CUTOFF HAS PASSED, AND IT
DID NOT MOVE.
ACTUALLY, IT STILL COULD, BUT
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WILL
ONLY BE THE HOUSE BILL MOVING
FORWARD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THIS IS MORE OF A GOING
FORWARD QUESTION.
FIRST OFF, I AM VERY ENCOURAGED
THAT, REGARDLESS OF THE NATURE
OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT
REPRESENTATIVE MacRI IS
CONDUCTING THE NEGOTIATIONS.
THAT GIVES ME A LOT OF
CONFIDENCE.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANY ELECTED
OFFICIAL IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON THAT IS MORE
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC HEALTH.
I KNOW THAT SHE HAS THE
INTEREST OF THIS COUNCIL AT
HEART, IN THE INTEREST OF
PROGRESSIVES EVERYWHERE AT
HEART.
MY QUESTION IS, ALSO BASED ON
MY PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH
NICOLE MacRI.
I DO UNDERSTAND THERE IS GOING
TO BE IN THE INTEREST OF CITIES
AS PART OF THIS NEGOTIATION,
GIVE AND TAKE THAT MacRI AND
REPRESENTATIVE SPRINGER ARE
GOING TO BE HOSTING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
PROBABLY GOING TO DO DURING THE
SESSION TODAY IS SEND A LETTER,
EXPRESSING THE INTEREST OF THIS
COUNCIL, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE FACTORED INTO THE
NEGOTIATIONS ON 2907.
I UNDERSTAND MAYORS, AND
GOVERNMENTS ALL OVER KING
COUNTY ARE PRESENTING SIMILAR
COMMUNICATIONS, AS PART OF THIS
PROCESS.
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT, IN
THE EVENT THAT THIS COUNCIL
SENDS THIS LETTER, WILL THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS MAKE PLAIN IN THESE
NEGOTIATIONS, THAT THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL HAS MANIFESTED, IN
THIS LETTER THAT WAS CAREFULLY
CRAFTED BY A NUMBER OF MEMBERS
HERE, ONCE TO SEE THESE THINGS
INC., AND WILL THAT BE
COMMUNICATED TO INFORM THE
NEGOTIATIONS?
>> ROBIN IS OUR LEAD ON THIS
LEGISLATION.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
CONCERNS AND PRIORITIES ARE
RELATED TO LEGISLATORS AS
NEGOTIATIONS MOVE FORWARD.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WILL TALK MORE
ABOUT THE LETTER WE HAVE FOR
YOU TO CONSIDER DURING MY
UPDATE AFTER OUR FRIENDS FROM
OIR FINISHED THEIR
PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE YOU FLOGGING A
NUMBER OF LETTERS GOING IN.
THIS WILL BE A HELPFUL WAY TO
ELEVATE THE VOICE OF CITY
MUNICIPALITIES.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
ATTENTION PAID TO THE QUESTION
úOF PREEMPTION IN THIS BILL.
I AM WONDERING, IS THERE ANY
DISCUSSION AROUND THE QUESTION
OF RATE, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE
RATE IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET OUR
REGIONAL NEEDS?
I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE OF
GREAT IMPORTANCE.
TO THIS COUNCIL.
AND SHOULD BE OF GREAT
IMPORTANCE TO ANY ELECTED
OFFICIAL IN THIS REGION.
I AM JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR
NOT THERE ARE CONVERSTIONS
AROUND THAT, AS WELL.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MacRI HAS
INDICATED ABSOLUTELY ANY AND ALL
PROVISIONS OF THIS LEGISLATION
ARE UP FOR CONVERSATION, SO I
THINK SHE WANTED TO BE VERY
CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S WHY EFFORTS WERE MADE TO
MOVE THE BILL AS CLEAN AS
POSSIBLE OUT OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE AS A STRONG
COMMUNICATION TO EVERYONE THAT
ALL POINTS OF VIEW ARE BEING
CONSIDERED VERY STRONGLY.
>> AND I THINK THOSE
CONVERSATIONS SHOULD BE INFORMED
BY THE BEST DATA THAT WE HAVE
ABOUT OUR NEEDS.
AS WELL AS INFORMATION THAT WE
HAVE ABOUT OUR EXISTING
CONTRIBUTION TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, BOTH IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AND IN KING COUNTY,
AND THE AMOUNT THAT THOSE
DOLLARS CAN CURRENTLY LEVERAGE,
AND THE AMOUNT THEY COULD
LEVERAGE UNDER THIS NEW
TAXATION.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY
THAT THIS NEW TAX MECHANISM CAN
HIT THAT GOAL, BUT I THINK WE
NEED TO FLUSH OUT A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE ARE
CURRENTLY MAKING TWO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AT THE CITY, AND COUNTY
LEVEL, AS WELL AS THE LEVERAGE,
AND BONDING CAPACITY, SO WE ARE
NOT JUST SHOOTING IN THE DARK.
>> POINT WELL TAKEN.
HOPEFULLY, I AM UNIQUELY
POSITIONED TO TALK ABOUT THAT
GIVEN MY POSITION AT OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
ON THE POINT ABOUT THE AMOUNT
OF REVENUES THAT WOULD BE
GENERATED, I THINK IT IS VERY
MUCH TIED TO THE QUESTION OF
PREEMPTION.
WE ARE NOT IN A UNIVERSE WHERE
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE,
OR THE COUNTY RAISING ALL OF
THE REQUISITE REVENUES, I'M
SAYING LET'S NOT HAVE CITIES TO
THEIR OWN THING.
IN FACT, BECAUSE THIS HAS COME
UP, MY STAFF AND I HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE HISTORY
OF PREEMPTION, HOW IT HAS BEEN
USED.
THE EARLIER HISTORY OF
PREEMPTION NATIONWIDE, NOT JUST
WASHINGTON STATE, WAS A
PROGRESSIVE HISTORY WHERE CIVIL
RIGHTS ORGANIZERS USED THE
CONCEPT OF PREEMPTION AT THE
STATE LEVEL IN A GOOD WAY,
MEANING TO SAY THAT WE WANT TO
HAVE VERY MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS IN PUBLIC SPACES,
BUSINESSES, AND SO ON.
AND WE DON'T WANT INDIVIDUAL
CITIES THAT MIGHT BE MORE RIGHT-
LEANING CARVE OUT THEIR OWN
STANDARDS.
WE WANT TO MAINTAIN A STANDARD,
BUT THAT TIME IS LONG GONE.
I AM HAPPY TO SEND OIR AND MY
COLLEAGUES THIS INFORMATION.
THERE'S ONE STUDY FROM THE
NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW PROJECT
THAT SHOWS A LONG HISTORY, NOW
THE MORE RECENT HISTORY THE
LAST FEW DECADES, IS ACTUALLY
PREEMPTION BEING A VERY
STANDARD TOOL USED BY THE RIGHT-
WING, BIG BUSINESS, TO PUSH
BACK AGAINST US TO SAVE TIME,
MINIMUM WAGE, STANDARDS, EVEN
ON MUNICIPAL BROADBAND.
THE REVIEW LOOKS AT A WHOLE
RANGE OF THINGS THE RIGHT WING
HAS USED TO ATTACK USING
PREEMPTION.
I THINK THE CONCERN WITH
PREEMPTION IS VERY MUCH TIED TO
THE STATES SAYING THERE IS THE
IMMEDIACY OF A PROBLEM, AND WE
HAVE THE McKENZIE STUDY SHOWING
$450 MILLION TO GO $1 BILLION
EVERY YEAR, BASED ON THE
CURRENT TRENDS AND EVERYTHING.
WE KNOW IT'S A MOVING TARGET.
HOW IS IT THAT, IN THIS
CONTEXT, ALL WE HAVE IS A BILL
THAT WILL CREATE AUTHORITY,
WHICH WE SUPPORT, FOR KING
COUNTY TO RAISE REVENUES.
THE HOUSE BUILT ITSELF, IT IS
SORT OF CONFUSING.
THE HOUSE BILL ITSELF DOES NOT
RAISE REVENUES.
IT CREATES AN AUTHORITY FOR
KING COUNTY TO RAISE REVENUES
AT THE MAXIMUM OF $121 MILLION.
THAT'S THE MAX KING COUNTY CAN
DO.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN WHETHER KING
COUNTY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO
IT, BUT EVEN IF THE BEST CASE
SCENARIO HAPPENS, THAT'S A
FRACTION OF WHAT KING COUNTY
AND SEATTLE NEEDS.
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG.
I KNOW OTHERS ARE DOING THIS,
AS WELL, BUT I WANT TO FLAG HOW
DEEPLY DAMAGING THE IDEA OF
PREEMPTION WOULD BE IN THE
CONTEXT OF A MAJOR UNPRECEDENTED
CRISIS IN OUR SOCIETY.
I DON'T BELIEVE SOMEONE CAN
HAVE PROGRESSIVE CREDENTIALS
AND THEN PLAY A ROLE IN
SOMETHING SO HISTORICALLY
DAMAGING.
FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I HAVE
ALSO COMMUNICATED WITH
REPRESENTATIVE MacRI, SO I'M
NOT SAYING ANYTHING HERE I HAVE
NOT COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO
HER.
I AM VERY ABOVEBOARD ABOUT ALL
OF THIS, BUT THIS IS NOT
NEGOTIABLE.
YOU CANNOT LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
TO PREEMPTION, AND SAY THAT
THEY PROGRESSIVE THING.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED EVERY
PROGRESSIVE ELECTED OFFICIAL AT
EVERY LEVEL TO SAY, I WILL
ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE THIS, BUT THE
PRIME SPONSOR HAS THE MAIN
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S HER BILL.
NOT JUST HER, BUT HER
COLLEAGUES, WHOEVER IS
SPONSORING IT.
IT'S THEIR BILL.
IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO
SAY I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS.
IF I WITHDRAW SUPPORT FROM MY
OWN BILL IF IT CONTAINS
PREEMPTION.
THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.
OTHERWISE, VERY SOON WE WILL
SEE THAT.
I ALSO WANTED TO FLAG THAT THE
RENT CONTROL BAN WAS PASSED IN
1981.
40 YEARS LATER, NEW GENERATIONS
OF US ARE FIGHTING THIS STILL,
SO IF THIS PREEMPTION HAPPENS,
I DON'T THINK I AM
EXAGGERATING.
THIS WILL STICK, AND THEN WHAT
WILL WE DO ABOUT OUR CRISIS?
I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO MYSELF
THAT I WILL HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HAVE
PREVENTED THIS REGARDLESS OF
WHAT ANYONE ELSE DOES.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE LETTER
THAT PRESIDENT MOSQUEDA WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES,
BUT I AM ALSO BRINGING A
RESOLUTION FOR A VOTE, AS I'M
SURE YOU KNOW.
NOT THAT IT'S RELEVANT TO OIR,
BUT I WANTED TO MENTION IT IN
THAT CONTEXT.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE COMMENTS,
OR QUESTIONS FOR OUR OIR TEAM?
OKAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
PROVIDING US WITH THE UPDATE.
WE KNOW THINGS ARE MOVING
QUICKLY, AND THIS IS A SHORT
SESSION, SO IT'S MOVING EVEN
FASTER THAN USUAL.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION,
AND I KNOW YOU ARE PROBABLY ON
YOUR WAY TO OLYMPIA TODAY, SO
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US WITH
THESE UPDATES.
WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH
A COPY OF THE LETTER, AS WELL,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE TIME
YOU ARE SPENDING DOWN THERE.
I KNOW HOW HECTIC IT IS.
I WOULD PUT MY HEATING PAD ON
MY SHOULDERS IN THE EVENING TO
DECOMPRESS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK
YOU ARE DOING.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, FOR THE
GOOD OF THE ORDER, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE APPROVE THE
MINUTES FROM LAST WEEK.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 3,
2020 MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
BRIEFING WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE
QUESTIONS YOU PROVIDED TO OUR
LEGISLATIVE TEAM.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS
MOVING THROUGH FROM
TRANSPORTATION, TO HOUSING, TO
CIVIL RIGHTS.
THE LAST CONVERSATION WAS JUST
ONE ELEMENT.
I APPRECIATE OUR OIR TEAM.
AS YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD
TODAY, THERE IS A LETTER THAT I
WOULD LOVE FOR THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER SIGNING ONTO.
OUR CALLED SOUL COLLEAGUE LISA
HERBOLD, AT THE END OF THE
TABLE, AS THE OFFICIAL COPY TO
PASSED ON FOR SIGNATURE.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I
CIRCULATED THIS LETTER AND
ASKED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF
A LETTER THAT WOULD DO TWO
THINGS.
ONE IS TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT
OUR ONGOING DESIRE TO SEE MORE
ADDITIONAL, PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
TOOLS IN THIS CITY, THIS
REGION, AND IN THIS STATE.
IDEALLY, THIS WOULD BE A STATE
CONVERSATION ABOUT PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE TO RIGHT SIDE UP OUR
UPSIDE DOWN TAX SYSTEM.
WHAT HOUSE BILL 2907 DOES IS
ADD ANOTHER POTENTIAL
PROGRESSIVE TOOL TO THE REGION
BY ALLOWING KING COUNTY TO HAVE
THIS AUTHORITY.
AS IT STANDS, YOU JUST HEARD
THE BILL MOVED OUT EVEN WITH
THIS MINOR AMENDMENT THAT I WAS
NOT CAPTURING BEFORE.
IT KEEPS INTACT THE PROGRESSIVE
BILL AS INTRODUCED.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN
ASK COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
SUGGESTED, AS OTHER CITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES ARE ALSO
WEIGHING IN.
THE VOICE OF SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL SHOULD ALSO BE HEARD.
AS OTHER ENTITIES, LIKE LABOR,
BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS ARE SENDING LETTERS
úWITH PRINCIPLES, I THOUGHT IT
WAS IMPORTANT FOR OUR
PRINCIPLES TO BE RECOGNIZED, AS
WELL.
WE KNOW THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR
OF THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN
OUR REGION.
WE HAVE DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY IN OUR CITY.
THIS BILL, POTENTIALLY COULD
MAKE SIGNIFICANT STEPS TOWARD
BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE,
IF THE STATE WERE TO PASS IT,
AND THE COUNTY WERE TO ACT.
WE COULD POTENTIALLY SEE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE COMING IN.
I DON'T WANT TO SUGARCOAT IT.
THIS IS CLEARLY NOT AS MUCH
REVENUE AS WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT
IT IS A HUGE, HUGE IMPROVEMENT
IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET UPWARDS
OF OVER $120 MILLION, IF NOT
POTENTIALLY MORE.
WHAT YOU ALSO SEE IS A DESIRE
THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR IN OUR
PRINCIPLES THAT WE WOULD LIKE
THERE TO BE A FUTURE
CONVERSATION ABOUT INCREASING
THE TOTAL REVENUE AUTHORITY.
THAT IS CLEARLY CALLED OUT.
AS WELL THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS VERY CONCERNED, HAS
DEEP CONCERNS WITH THE
PREEMPTION CONVERSATION, AS
ARTICULATED TODAY AND LAST
MONDAY.
THERE IS ALSO A DESIRE THAT WE
STAND ON PRINCIPLE, THAT THE
MAJORITY OF FUNDING BE DIRECTED
TOWARDS HOUSING.
THAT WE USE EVIDENCE-BASED
INTERVENTION MODELS.
THAT INCLUDES ENHANCED
SHELTERS, MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES, BUT REALLY PUTS A
FRONTLOADED AMOUNT INTO
HOUSING, SO THERE IS AN EXIT ON
THE HORIZON, AND LASTLY THAT
THERE IS GREATER CLARIFICATION
FOR HOW THE REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY WILL GET FUNDING,
COMPARED TO THE COUNTY AND THE
CITY.
I THINK MORE DIRECTION ON THAT
IS HELPFUL, AS OUR CENTRAL
STAFF HAS OUTLINED.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
CLARITY ON THAT AS WE GO IN.
THESE ARE THE PIECES THAT ARE
CALLED OUT AS THE PRINCIPLES
THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE TO ADDRESS.
LASTLY, I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT
SAYING.
MUCH LIKE THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
MEMBERS, OUR KING COUNTY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THE
REGIONAL CITY PARTNERS, WE HERE
IN THE CITY HAVE ALSO BEEN
ELECTED TO SERVE OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE NEED
EVERY TOOL IN OUR TOOLKIT.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
WE WERE ELECTED WITH A DUTY TO
RESPOND TO THOSE CONCERNS.
IT'S A REQUEST, A DESIRE TO BE
PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, SO
THEY ARE NOT JUST WITH ONE
FOCUS GROUP, BUT INCLUDE THE
CITY AS THE CONVERSATION MOVES
FORWARD.
THAT'S MY INTENT WITH
CIRCULATING THIS LETTER TODAY,
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO UNDERSCORE
MY APPRECIATION FOR THE
SPONSOR, SPONSORS, OF THE BILL.
THAT'S WHO THIS LETTER IS
DIRECTED TOWARDS, WITH THE
STRONG POSITION THAT THIS IS A
STARTING PLACE, AND THEY KNOW
THIS IS ALSO NOT THE WHOLE
FUNDING SOLUTION, BUT A
STARTING PLACE TO HELP BRING IN
ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
SOURCES, SO WE DON'T CONSTANTLY
HAVE TO RELY ON SALES TAX, AND
PROPERTY TAX.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, THAT WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR NEXT
FINANCE COMMITTEE, FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING ON
FEBRUARY, WEDNESDAY 19th AT
2:00 P.M.
THAT WILL BE A SPECIAL
COMMITTEE.
WE HAD TO MOVE IT DUE TO THE
MONDAY HOLIDAY.
WEDNESDAY AT 2:00 P.M.
WE WILL HAVE A VOTE ON THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS LIST FOR 2020,
WHICH WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE COUNCIL AND MAYORAL
APPOINTMENTS, AND THIS TIME, WE
WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE
FUTURE OF WORK.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I WILL LET
YOU WALK THROUGH THE PREVIEW OF
THE AGENDA, AS YOU HAVE MANY
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
IF THERE AREN'T ANY CONCERNS, I
WILL BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT COUNCIL
BILL 119726 IS AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO RENTERS RIGHTS, AND
EVICTIONS, A RESOLUTION ON GOOD
FAITH INTENT FOR FUTURE
BARGAINING ON THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS RELATED TO
SPOG, THE TRANSPORTATION
UTILITIES COMMITTEE FOR THE
MOVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE
RENTERS SYSTEMS BOARD, AND THE
LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE
PRESIDENT'S'S REPORT.
>> OKAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
BUT GOOD MORNING.
>> ON THAT LETTER, I STRONGLY
SUPPORT IT.
I AM HAPPY TO SIGN IT.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THERE IS ONE
ITEM FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND RENTER'S RIGHTS COMMITTEE
THAT MY OFFICE SPONSORED, TO
BAN CRUEL WINTER EVICTIONS
DURING THE COLDEST AND WETTEST
MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
THIS WOULD BE PRECEDENT-SETTING
LEGISLATION.
IT IS MODELED AFTER A VERY
SUCCESSFUL BAN ON WINTER
EVICTIONS IT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT
IN FRANCE FOR 70 YEARS.
HOWEVER, AS FAR AS WE CAN
DETERMINE, IT WOULD BE THE
FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED
STATES.
HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NOT ONLY
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS
TO RENTERS THIS TIME FROM
WINTER EVICTIONS IN OUR CITY,
BUT ALSO INSPIRE OTHER CITIES,
AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO DO THE SAME.
I WANTED TO SHARE THIS ARTICLE
FROM DAN BEEKMAN OF THE
"SEATTLE TIMES."
IT'S EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE.
ON WINTER EVICTIONS.
ON THE BILL ITSELF, BUT ALSO
THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THIS BILL
HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD.
AS YOU KNOW, AND WAS PUT
FORWARD FROM MY OFFICE IN
RESPONSE TO A STRONG
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE RENTER'S COMMISSION.
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS A LOT
KIND OF DATA THAT SHOWS WHY
THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT DAN BEEKMAN
HAS HERE, I HAVE SHARED
NUMEROUS TIMES WITH YOU, THOUGH
LOSING HOUSING REPORT.
NEARLY 10,000 OF THOSE EVICTED
ENDED UP HOMELESS.
MANY OF THEM WERE CHILDREN.
THEY WERE OVERWHELMINGLY FROM
BLACK HOUSEHOLDS, SO REALLY, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT BLACK WOMEN
AND CHILDREN, WHO ARE THE MOST
DEEPLY IMPACTED, AND WE SEE THE
EVICTION PROCESS ITSELF IS WHAT
YOU WOULD CALL MEANS TESTED IN
THE SENSE THAT MIDDLE-CLASS
PEOPLE DON'T FALL PREY TO
EVICTIONS.
IT'S MARGINALIZED, AND
VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE EVICTED,
AND THE STUDY ALSO FOUND, IN
THE SAMPLE, THAT THEY WERE
EVALUATING FOUR OF THE EVICTED
TENANTS, FOUR CONVICTED
COMMITTED SUICIDE.
THE STATISTICS ARE COUNTYWIDE
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY ARE
TRACKED, BUT IT'S CLEAR SEATTLE
HAS A BIG PART OF SETTING THE
STANDARDS RIGHT, AS WELL.
AND, I THINK, THE BEEKMAN
ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT HOW THERE
HAVE BEEN OVER 1000 EVICTIONS
IN KING COUNTY, IN THIS LAST
YEAR, WHICH IS JUST A STUNNING
MEMBER.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M
SURE YOU HAVE ALL SEEN.
I DON'T HAVE COPIES OF IT, BUT
THE TWO SMALL LANDLORDS WROTE
AN OPINION EDITORIAL IN THE
"SEATTLE TIMES."
WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANY ACTUAL
EVIDENCE THAT WILL BACK UP THE
CONCERNS THEY HAVE.
I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS,
BUT TO ME, OR TO MY OFFICE,
WHICH HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK
AROUND THIS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS,
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A WHOLE
RANGE OF WHAT IF'S, WHICH IS
UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT WHAT IF IS
NOT ENOUGH TO FORMULATE POLICY.
IT HAS TO BE BACKED UP BY DATA.
ONE OF THE CO-AUTHORS OF THE OP-
ED FROM THE LANDLORDS ACTUALLY
MET WITH MY STAFF, AND THEN
THEY TOLD US, THEY HAVE
ACTUALLY NEVER EVICTED ANYONE,
SO THEY WOULDN'T EVEN BE
IMPACTED BY THIS LAW REALLY.
IT'S MEANT TO PROTECT THE
TENANTS OF CORPORATE LANDLORDS,
AND SLUMLORDS, WHO WIND UP
HAVING AN EXPLETIVE APPROACH TO
VERY POOR HOUSEHOLDS.
JUST TO GIVE BACKGROUND OF ALL
THE STEPS WE'VE TAKEN, THIS
BILL WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE RENTER'S
COMMISSION IN EARLY NOVEMBER OF
LAST YEAR.
IN DECEMBER, MY OFFICE
INTRODUCED THE FIRST DRAFT, AND
THEN AT THE SUSTAINABILITY AND
PRINTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE WE
DISCUSSED AN AMENDED VERSION OF
THE DRAFT, WHICH WAS ALREADY
AMENDED DRAMATICALLY TO CREATE
EXCEPTIONS FOR SITUATIONS LIKE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
REMODELED IT AFTER THE EXISTING
JUST CAUSE EVICTIONS ORDINANCE,
AND WE PASSED IT OUT OF
COMMITTEE WITH A RECOMMENDATION
FOR A VOTE AT THE CITY COUNCIL
ON FEBRUARY 3. ON THE 3rd, THE
COUNCIL DELAYED THE BILL,
HOLDING IT TO TODAY, WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WANTED TO
PRIMMER MORE AMENDMENTS, BUT I
AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.
I AM QUITE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE
MOST OF THE AMENDMENTS ARE
GOING TO MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT, AND MORE RESTRICTIVE
FOR RENTERS TO BE PROTECTED.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBERS WILL GO
OVER THEIR OWN AMENDMENTS.
I WILL SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR
LATER, BUT THE EXCEPTION TO MY
CONCERNS IS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS'S AMENDMENT, WHICH HE
BROUGHT FORWARD DURING
COMMITTEE.
I SUPPORT IT.
THE ORDER WAS READY LAST WEEK,
BUT ALL OF THE OTHER AMENDMENTS
WOULD BE WATERING DOWN THIS
LEGISLATION TO MAKE IT MORE
EFFECTIVE.
JUST TO QUICKLY SUMMARIZE MY
CONCERNS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW RENTERS WHO GO
TO COURT ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW
THAT THEY NEED TO DEMONSTRATE
HOW MANY UNITS THERE LANDLORD
OWNS.
I CAN TELL YOU, MY OWN OFFICE,
AND JUST SORT OF DOING AN
EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT HAS FOUND
IT QUITE HARD TO FIND OUT HOW
MANY UNITS ARE OWNED BY ANY
GIVEN EXPLETIVE LANDLORDS LIKE
HAGLUND.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SOMEONE IS
SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT
INFORMATION.
AS FOR MEANS TESTING, THERE IS
JUST A LONG, LONG SERIES OF
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE TO SHOW
THAT ANY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO
SUPPORT LOW INCOME PEOPLE IS
BEST DESIGNED IF IT'S NOT MEANS
TESTED FROM S.N.A.P.
TO THE UTILITY PROGRAM.
EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE SHOWS
MEANS TESTING BECOMES A
BARRIER.
I WOULD URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
THINK ABOUT WHO NEEDS OUR
SUPPORT THE MOST.
IS IT THE MOST VULNERABLE
RENTERS, WHO ARE BEING EVICTED,
OR LANDLORDS WHO OWN MULTIPLE
HOUSEHOLDS AND EXPLOIT, NOT THE
LANDLORDS WHO ARE NOT
EXPLOITING THEIR TENANTS.
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTER'S
RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEETS ON THE
FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH,
SO OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY 25.
JUST ONE MORE ITEM.
AT TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
MEETING, I ALSO PROBABLY TO
WORK ON A VOTE FOR A RESOLUTION
OPPOSING ANY EFFORT TO BAN
CITIES LIKE SEATTLE FROM
ENACTING PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS
TAXES, SUCH AS THE AMAZON
MOVEMENT THAT HAS NOT ALREADY
BEEN GROWING SINCE LAST YEAR'
ELECTION AND HAS HAD MANY
SUCCESSFUL EVENTS WITH HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATING, AND DOZENS OF
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING
PROGRESSIVE LABOR UNIONS.
WE HAVE JUST DISCUSSED IT.
THE IMMEDIATE DANGER IS THE
PREEMPTION.
NOT THE REVENUES.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR AGAIN
AND AGAIN THAT WE WELCOME THE
REVENUES.
BUT WE DO REJECT ANY
POSSIBILITY OF PREEMPTION, AND
AS PRESIDENT MOSQUEDA SAID, WE
NEED TO HAVE EVERY TOOL AT OUR
DISPOSAL, EVERY TOOL IN OUR
TOOLBOX.
I SUPPORT THE LETTER, BUT I
HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT
THE RESOLUTION.
I SENT YOU ALL A DRAFT LAST
FRIDAY TO SUPPORT PROGRESSIVE
BUSINESS TAXES AND OPPOSE
PREEMPTION.
THE RESOLUTION URGES MAYOR
JENNY DURKAN TO PUBLICLY OPPOSE
PREEMPTION AND REQUEST
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TO
ADVOCATE THESE POSITIONS IN
OLYMPIA.
>> COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW, ON THE
EVICTION ONE, IF THERE IS ANY
CONCERN THAT THE BILL IS NOT
GOING TO BE FULLY AMENDED OUT
THERE, AND THAT IT WILL RUN
SMOOTHLY WITH ONGOING DEBATE, I
WILL ASK TO HOLD IT.
IF THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION
AROUND THE MULTIPLE NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
IT'S GOING TO BE FULLY BAKED UP
THERE, I THINK IT'S MORE
IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THE
BILL READY TO GO AS IT COMES TO
COUNCIL.
AS I READ IT, I THINK ALL OF
THESE AMENDMENTS LINE UP, AND
IF THEY WERE INCLUDED OR NOT
INCLUDED, THE BILL COULD MOVE
OUT TODAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO
SIGNAL THAT I THINK, IF FOLKS
FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN MOVE
IT FORWARD TODAY, I WILL, BUT
IF IT ENDS UP LONG AND DRAWN
OUT, I THINK THERE IS MORE WORK
TO DO.
INSTEAD OF SENDING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE, IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE
TO HOLD IT, BUT LET'S HAVE A
CONVERSATION OUT THERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE AMENDMENTS
ARE READY TO GO.
MY DESIRE WOULD BE THAT WE
INCLUDE THE AMENDMENTS TODAY,
OR AT LEAST HAVE A VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENTS TODAY, AND MOVE THE
BILL OUT.
>> IF THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
HAVE AMENDMENTS WANT TO WEIGH
IN ON THIS, BUT IN RESPONSE TO
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I WOULD
PREFER THE BILL TO BE PASSED
OUT OF FULL COUNCIL TODAY.
I HAVE MY OWN POSITION ON THE
AMENDMENTS, BUT I DON'T NEED
ADDITIONAL TIME.
>> THEN WE WOULD MOVE THE BILL.
>> I WANT TO MOVE THE BILL
TODAY.
>> GREAT.
QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> MADAME PRESIDENT PRO TEM,
THANK YOU.
JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, I JUST
WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT
WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY
AFTER FULL COUNCIL OF THE
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
WE WILL BE TAKING A BRIEF
RECESS AFTER FULL COUNCIL AND
RECONVENING PROBABLY AT THIS
TABLE TO HAVE IT FEEL MORE LIKE
A COMMITTEE AFTER THE MEETING.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO
COME, AND DEFINITELY FIVE OF
YOU, SO WE HAVE A QUORUM, BUT
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENT
ORDINANCE.
KETIL FREEMAN CIRCULATED I
BELIEVE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, A
MEMO DISCUSSING THE STATUS OF
WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
PROPOSED, AND A BRIEF
DISCUSSION OF ALL OF THE
AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR
WORKING WITH CENTRAL STAFF TO
GET THOSE IN.
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SUMMARY OF
WHERE WE ARE.
JUST REVIEW THE EMAIL PRIOR TO
THAT COMMITTEE HEARING TO GET A
GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION
OF WHERE THE AMENDMENTS ARE.
JUST AS A REMINDER, I INTEND TO
HOLD A VOTE ON THAT.
THIS AFTERNOON, SO WE CAN QUEUE
IT UP A WEEK FROM NOW TO MAKE
SURE OUR PARTNERS AND THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR WHO OPERATE A
LOT OF THESE TRANSITIONAL
ENCAMPMENTS GET AMPLE NOTICE OF
THE NEW PERMITTING AUTHORITY,
SO THAT THERE IS A SMOOTH
TRANSITION, AND WE ARE NOT
PUTTING THEM IN A POSITION
WHERE THEY POTENTIALLY MIGHT
HAVE TO SCRAMBLE, OR HAVE SOME
UNCERTAINTY.
SO, THAT IS MY PLAN CURRENTLY,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
CONVERSATION.
IN THE DISTRICT, LAST WEEK, WE
HAD OUR FIRST OFFICE HOURS,
WHICH WAS GREAT.
WE HAD TWO SESSIONS.
ONE ON FRIDAY MORNING IN
BELLTOWN, AND THEN ONE ON
SATURDAY MORNING IN UPTOWN.
WE MET WITH 11 CONSTITUENTS,
INCLUDING 10 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED
UP FOR APPOINTMENTS IN ADVANCE,
AND ONE PERSON WHO RECOGNIZED
ME, AND STARTED TALKING TO ME,
WHICH IS GREAT, AND DEFINITELY
ENCOURAGED.
I AM GLAD THAT IS WORKING OUT.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
ABOUT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE,
PIKE PLACE MARKET, EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT, AMONG OTHER
TOPICS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
HOLD HIS OFFICE HOURS IN THE
DISTRICT, AND I WILL REPORT
BACK ON THE RESULTS OF THOSE
CONVERSATIONS TO FULL COUNCIL,
AND IF IT CAN INFORM OUR
DELIBERATIONS AS A BODY.
MOVING ON, TO THE LETTER, THANK
YOU SO MUCH TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR DOING THE WORK ON
PUTTING THIS LETTER TOGETHER.
I AM HAPPY TO SIGN IT.
I THINK IT DOES A REALLY GOOD
JOB OF EXPRESSING OUR CONCERNS,
AND THEN HAVING VERY CLEAR,
BULLETED, ENUMERATED ACTION
THAT WE WANT TO SEE ON THE BILL.
I THINK THIS IS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT OVER THE WEEKEND.
IT DOES SOUND LIKE A LOT OF
CITIES IN KING COUNTY ARE
MAKING THEIR OPINIONS KNOWN.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR
INPUT AS AN INSTITUTION BE PART
OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.
I THINK WE SHOULDN'T LOSE SIGHT
OF THE FACT THAT, DESPITE
POTENTIAL HURDLES HERE, AND OUR
VIGILANT ADVOCACY, TO PREVENT
ANY UNWANTED CONSEQUENCES,
NEVER IN MY LIFETIME HAVE I SEEN
A CONVERSATION ABOUT REGIONAL
PROGRESSIVE AUTHORITY, AND THE
COUNTY THAT IS GOING TO TAX BIG
BUSINESSES NOT FUNDED BY A
AGGRESSIVE SOURCE.
I'VE ONLY EVER SEEN
CONVERSATIONS, TYPICALLY IN THE
PASSED, WHERE IT'S ONLY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, AND WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT A SALES TAX LEVY.
THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
I AM PROUD TO SIGN THIS LETTER
THAT MAKES SURE OUR VOICE IS IN
THE MIX, AS WELL AS OTHER
GROUPS FOR WHO WE MIGHT HAVE
DISAGREEMENTS WITH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS
OF COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
THANK YOU, PRO TEM MOSQUEDA,
FOR CRAFTING THIS LETTER SO
CAREFULLY.
THERE IS COMMON GROUND AMONG
ALL OF US HERE.
THE IDEA THAT PREEMPTION WOULD
TAKE AWAY OPTIONS, AND TOOLS
FOR THE CITY.
I DO NOT SUPPORT PREEMPTION
GENERALLY.
SO, I WILL BE SIGNING THIS
LETTER.
ALSO, PERSONALLY, I LIKE TO SEE
THE RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS A
REGIONAL CRISIS, THAT WE ARE
LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE BASED
SOLUTIONS.
IT HONORS THE EXISTENCE OF THE
ORIGINAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY
THAT WAS RECENTLY CREATED, SO I
AM PLEASED TO SEE HOW CAREFULLY
CRAFTED THE LETTER WAS.
I THINK LETTERS ARE VERY
APPROPRIATE TO COMMUNICATE THE
COUNCIL'S POSITION ON ISSUES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE
IMPACTING OTHER LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT, SO THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, OUR
FEARLESS LEADER OF THE AND
NATIVE COMMITTEE ASKED ME TO
ADVERTISE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
FIRST THREE COMMUNITY
DISCUSSIONS ON HOW OUR SEATTLE
PARKS DISTRICT CAN BEST INVEST
THE TAX DOLLARS IT WILL BE
RECEIVING OVER THE NEXT SIX
YEARS, SO, THEY HAVE PUT
TOGETHER THREE COMMUNITY
MEETINGS.
MONDAY, MARCH 2 AT DELRIDGE
COMMUNITY CENTER FROM SIX IN TO
8:00 P.M.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5 AT LAKE
CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER.
SIX TO 8:00 P.M.
SATURDAY, THEN NELSON COMMUNITY
CENTER FROM 10:00 A.M.
TO 12:00 NOON.
THIS IS BUILDING OFF OF THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SEATTLE
PARKS AND REC CONDUCTED DURING
THEIR STRATEGY PROCESS, SO THEY
ARE KICKING OFF THIS PUBLIC
PROCESS FOR THE SEATTLE PARK
DISTRICT.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE VOTERS
APPROVED THE SEATTLE PARKS
DISTRICT IN 2014 AND TAX
REVENUES HAVE BEEN INVESTED
BACK INTO OUR PARKS AND REC
SYSTEM.
IT'S TIME TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR
THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, OR I'VE
TALKED ABOUT IN MY DISTRICT
COMPANY THAT BENSON PARK
COMMUNITY CENTER.
THERE ARE NEEDS AND EVERYBODY'S
DISTRICT, SO WE HOPE FOLKS COME
OUT, AND EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE
TO SEE WHERE INVESTMENT SHOULD
GO FOR PARKS.
>> I THINK THERE IS A QUESTION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN
ANSWER COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
BUT IF YOU DO, I WANT TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT.
>> I THINK THIS IS GREAT THAT
PARKS IS DOING THIS OUTREACH.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN MY
DISTRICT, SENT MY, UNCERTAIN
PARKS AND RECREATION
IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD
POSSIBLY COME AS PART OF THIS
LEVY.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST
WAVE OF THESE MEETINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF PARKS HAS LAID
OUT A BROADER SCHEDULE.
JUST NONE OF THESE INITIAL
MEETINGS ARE IN MY DISTRICT, SO
IF THERE IS SOME ADVOCACY OUR
OFFICE WOULD NEED TO DO, TO
MAKE SURE THERE IS SOME
COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO ALL OF
THE DISTRICTS.
FOR THAT MATTER, I THINK IT IS
CONCENTRATED IN THREE OF THE
SEVEN DISTRICTS.
>> I THINK PARKS IS LISTENING
RIGHT NOW, HEARING YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR.
THERE'S NOT ONE IN DISTRICT 4,
EITHER, WHICH IS WHY I PUT IN A
PLUG FOR MAGNUSON PARK
COMMUNITY CENTER.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING,
YES.
ARCH TWO, FIVE, SEVEN.
JUST THE VERY BEGINNING.
>> IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING
THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL
MEETINGS, AND THAT THEY WILL
TRY TO COVER ALL OF THE
DISTRICTS?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS ONE
ITEM ON THE AGENDA AT FULL
COUNCIL TODAY, THE APPOINTMENT
OF KEVIN WARNER TO THE MOVE
SEATTLE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE.
OUR COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS HIM.
HE HAS A SCIENCE BACKGROUND
RATHER THAN AN ADVOCACY
BACKGROUND, WHICH WILL HELP ON
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS,
FOR EXAMPLE.
IN DISTRICT 4, LAST WEEK DURING
MY OFFICE HOURS, I MET WITH
ANOTHER GROUP OF RESTAURANTS TO
DISCUSS HOW THINGS ARE GOING
FOR THEIR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESSES, AND THE
DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES THEY
FACE.
THESE DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES,
FROM SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESSES I'VE BEEN HEARING
THE SAME THING THROUGHOUT MY
DISTRICT.
THE U-DISTRICT, EAST LAKE,
ROWENA, WALLINGFORD.
IT'S A THEME WE ARE HEARING.
I KNOW THAT BOBBY LEE, AND
OTHERS, AND THE EXECUTIVE ARE
HEARING THIS, AS WELL.
HOPEFULLY, EVERYBODY SAW OUR
INCREDIBLE CIVIC COCKTAIL
PROGRAM.
>> I SAW A NUMBER OF THINGS
ABOUT IT WITH PEOPLE IMPRESSED
BY ALL OF YOU.
>> IT WAS GREAT TO BE UP THERE
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES,
PETERMAN, AND STRAUSS.
DURING DISTRICT HOURS, I WAS
ALSO JOINED BY ROB DEMANSKI
FROM KING COUNTY COUNCIL.
HE'S BEEN A VERY RELIABLE
FRIEND . WE WERE MEETING WITH
FOLKS WHO WANTED TO SEE GREATER
INVESTMENT THERE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I WILL ECHO MY COLLEAGUES A
PUFF APPRECIATION FOR THIS
LETTER, TO THE FOLKS IN
OLYMPIA.
I THINK IT'S PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE CLEAR WE
ARE HOPING TO SEE A BILL THAT
DOES NOT INCLUDE REACTION, AND
THAT WE WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTED IN A HIGHER REVENUE
GENERATION, GIVEN THE CRISIS
THAT WE ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE
WITH THIS FUNDING SOURCE.
JUST REGARDING THE AGENDA
TODAY, WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS
ON THE REFERRAL CALENDAR.
WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMISSION
APPOINTMENTS COMING UP.
WE ALSO HAVE AUTHORIZATION THAT
WE NEED FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE
, DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE
TO ACCEPT A SEATTLE PARKS
DONATION, SO THAT'S WHAT IS
INCLUDED ON THE CALENDAR.
THIS IS TO DELIVER ON AN
A.I.D.S.
MEMORIAL PATHWAY ARTS PROJECT.
IT'S ADJACENT TO THE PUBLIC
PLAZA AT THE CAPITAL LIGHT-RAIL
STATION.
AND CONNECTING THE FESTIVAL
STREET BLOCK OF EAST DENNY WAY.
WE HAD DISTRICT HOURS.
WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON
FRIDAYS.
I ALSO MET WITH SEVERAL SMALL
BUSINESSES FROM OUR DISTRICT,
AND HAVE HAD A LOT OF
CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS ABOUT
THE ISSUE OF ALIGNMENT ON OUR
DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT
HOW TO BEST SERVE SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE KINDS OF SEAMLESS
SERVICES FROM OUR CITY THAT
THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS, SO
THEY CAN STAY IN THE CITY.
AND, NEXT WEEK, OUR OFFICE
HOURS FOR THE DISTRICT WILL BE
10:00 TO NOON AT CAFC RED, SO
IF FOLKS IN OUR DISTRICT WANT
TO COME SEE ME, THAT'S WHERE
YOU CAN BE.
AND THEN, I NEED MORE
INFORMATION ON THIS, BUT I DO
KNOW METRO, AND SDOT WILL BE
DOING SOME OUTREACH IN DISTRICT
2 REGARDING THE RAPID RIDE R
LINE, SO THERE IS A SERIES OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES
THAT ARE BEGINNING SOON.
AS I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
YOUR FOLKS CAN COME HERE ABOUT
THE OPTIONS, AND GIVE THEIR
INPUT, I WILL MAKE SURE TO
SHARE THAT HERE AND THROUGH
SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD
WEEKEND.
THERE ARE ZERO ITEMS ON THE
LAND-USE COMMITTEE AGENDA.
THERE IS ONE ITEM ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR,
AND THAT'S THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
DIRECTOR NATHAN TORGESON AS A
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION, I BELIEVE WE
SUBMITTED CHRISTIANS FROM OTHER
OFFICES.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT
DIDN'T GET ON, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW.
THE NEXT LAND-USE AND
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE IS THIS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS.
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR
TORGESON.
WE SPLIT IT INTO TWO HOUSE
BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS.
THE PRESENTATION FROM SDCI IN
RESPONSE TO LESTER'S TREE
RESOLUTION.
I AM VERY EXCITED TO GET TO
WORK ON THIS.
AND 3144 THAT YOU'VE HEARD ME
SPEAK OF, I THINK THIS IS NOW
THE THIRD TIME IN FOUR WEEKS
ABOUT THE CONTRACT REZONE OF
4600 UNION BAY PLACE.
LAST WEEK WAS VERY BUSY.
WE HAVE MORE THAN FIVE
ENGAGEMENTS.
I HAD FOUR TIMES EITHER IN A
PUBLIC MEETING, OR ON STAGE, SO
LAST MONDAY, I ATTENDED THE
43rd DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL.
IT WAS MOSTLY AROUND THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND THE FACT THAT
WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL
CRISIS.
THE 43rd ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS,
TUESDAY.
I JOINED COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
AT THE URGENCY NOW JEWISH
CLIMATE FESTIVAL, WHILE MY
STAFF ATTENDED THE PHINNEY
RIDGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING.
ON WEDNESDAY, I JOINED
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES, LEWIS,
AND PEDERSON WHILE MY STAFF
ATTENDED THE NORTH PRECINCT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL SMALL
LANDLORDS ON THURSDAY, AND
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND FOLKS WHO
WERE CONCERNED, AND INTERESTED
TO KNOW HOW THEY COULD HELP
ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS
IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MORE
EFFECTIVELY.
ONE OF MY PROPOSALS COMING
FORWARD WILL BE ABOUT 311, AN
EMERGENCY CRISIS LINE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD
ONE STOP SHOP AS COMPARED TO 2-
1-1, WHICH IS NONEMERGENCY, BUT
MORE ON THAT FOR ANOTHER DAY.
ON FRIDAY, I HAD THE HONOR OF
JOINING JOHN RICHARDS, JOHN IN
THE MORNING, FOR INTERNATIONAL
CLASH DAY.
CLASH FOR CLIMATE.
I LET HIM KNOW, WE HAVE OUR OWN
JOHN IN THE MORNING HERE AT
CITY GRANT, ALSO A MUSIC GROUP.
IT WAS A REALLY GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE
CLASH OF CLIMATE AND WHAT WE
CAN DO HERE.
I MET WITH BALLOT P PATCH, AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
TO LOOK HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
TOGETHER TO PRESERVE ONE THIRD
OF DISTRICT 6'S PLACES, AND
MAKE SURE OPEN SPACE IS IN OUR
CITY.
WE HAVE THE CENTRAL BALLOT
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, AND YOU
WILL ALSO SEE ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRALS
CALENDAR TODAY, MANY ITEMS THAT
ARE BEING RE-REFERRED FROM LAST
YEAR, AND SO, IF ANYONE IS
LOOKING AT OUR IRC, THAT'S FOR
MANY OF THESE ITEMS ARE COMING
FROM.
FINALLY, I HAVE A PROCLAMATION
I WOULD LIKE TO SEND DOWN THE
LINE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO
LET COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS KNOW.
BUT CAN YOU REITERATE WITH THE
PROCLAMATION WAS RELATED TO?
>> YES.
IT IS REGARDING STAFF.
>> OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THIS IS -- ON MY TEAM, WE
HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT SERVED
UNDER COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW,
WHO ARE SERVING UNDER ME.
THIS WEEK IS ALLISON WRIGHT,
CHIEF OF STAFF, AND
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW'S CHIEF
OF STAFF.
THIS IS HER LAST WEEK BEFORE
ATTENDING TO FAMILY LEAVE TO
CARE FOR HER NEW SON.
WORDS ARE TOO BLUNT TO EXPRESS
THINKS APPRECIATION WE HAVE FOR
PROFESSIONALISM LIKE ALLISON
EXUDES.
>> EXCELLENT.
WONDERFUL.
>> I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT A
SURPRISE.
>> YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME.
I'M SO SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE WILL KEEP IT A SECRET.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> NO SENDING THAT OUT ON
TWITTER.
>> BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST
WANT TO LET COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS KNOW THAT, REPORTEDLY,
FROM ANOTHER CLASH FAN, THERE
WAS A SHOW IN URUGUAY THAT
APPRECIATED SEATTLE FOR THE
CLASH PROGRAM.
AS FAR AS WHAT ITEMS I HAVE FOR
MY PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE ON THE
COUNCIL AGENDA, I HAVE
RESOLUTION 31930, WHICH IS A
RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE CITY'S
GOOD FAITH INTENT TO CONSIDER
RAISING IN THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILD,
2021 CONTRACT RENEWAL.
POLICE BARGAINING
ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSALS THAT
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE
PUBLIC, AND THE POLICE
OVERSIGHT AGENCIES.
THIS WAS ADOPTED IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 28 AND
HELD FOR A WEEK SINCE I WAS OUT
OF TOWN LAST WEEK.
THE RESOLUTION ITSELF
SUMMARIZES THE COMMENTS MADE
THE PUBLIC AT THE DECEMBER 5
HEARING IN THE GENDER EQUITY
SAFE COMMUNITIES, NEW
AMERICANS, AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE, AND INCLUDES LETTERS
FROM THE THREE ACCOUNTABILITY
BODIES.
THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION, THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL, AND THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
THE MUNICIPAL CODE REQUIRES THE
COUNCIL TO HOLD COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING WITH THE POLICE
OFFICER'S GUILD AND REQUIRES
THE CITY TO CONSIDER, IN GOOD
FAITH, WHETHER AND HOW TO CARRY
FORWARD THE INTERESTS EXPRESSED
AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE RESOLUTION IS DESIGNED TO
MEET THE INTENT OF THE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND STATES THAT
THE CITY WILL CONSIDER, IN GOOD
FAITH, WHETHER AND HOW TO CARRY
FORWARD THIS INTEREST ALONG THE
LINES OF RESOLUTIONS THE
COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED PREVIOUSLY.
MOST RECENTLY, IN 2014.
ALSO, I WILL BE WALKING ONTO
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, THE REAPPOINTMENT FOR
COLLEEN ECHO-HAWK TO THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION,
FOR A TERM OF DECEMBER 31, 2022.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT,
OR SUNLIGHT AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
FOR THE WINTER EVICTIONS
LEGISLATION, WHICH WE WILL BE
HEARING, AS WELL, TODAY
POTENTIALLY IN FULL COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS IS AN
AMENDMENT THAT WAS REQUESTED
FROM SOME OF OUR NONPROFIT
HOUSING PROVIDERS, AND I THINK
IT'S ALSO GOOD BUSINESS FOR
OTHER TENANTS IN THE BUILDING,
AND IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO EXEMPT
EVICTIONS FOR WHOM THE NOTICE
OF EVICTION IDENTIFIES BEHAVIOR
THAT IMPACTS THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OTHERS.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE
AMENDMENT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT ALREADY PROPOSED . AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
THERE ARE VARIOUS TYPES OF RULE
VIOLATIONS THAT MAY NOT RISE TO
THE LEVEL OF TERMINAL ACTIVITY,
BUT THAT ARE THE TYPE OF
VIOLATIONS THAT CAN HAVE A
NEGATIVE IMPACT TO THE SAFETY
OF OTHER TENANTS, AND AS WELL
AS BUILDING MANAGEMENT, SO THIS
WAS A REQUEST FROM CCS, AND I
INTEND TO PUT THAT FORWARD IF
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS
BILL TODAY.
IN ADDITION, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR ADDING
AN OPTION FOR HOUSING PROVIDER
TO HAVE ACCESS TO RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FUNDS IN THE CASE
THAT A TENANT FALLS BEHIND IN
THEIR RENT DUE TO NONPAYMENT.
I REQUESTED THAT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND INTO HIS AMENDMENT,
A REQUIREMENT THAT IF THE
LANDLORD IS PAID DIRECTLY FROM
THIS FUND, BECAUSE THERE IS
SOME LACK OF CLARITY WHETHER OR
NOT IT'S GOING TO BE A LANDLORD
ACCESS FUND, OR A A TENANT
CCESS FUND, BUT IF THE
LANDLORD IS PAID DIRECTLY, THEY
MUST FIND AN AGREEMENT THAT
THEY WILL NOT REPORT OR RENT
DELINQUENCIES TO CREDIT
AGENCIES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
TENANTS NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR
DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH PASSED
DUE RENT IN THOSE INSTANCES
THAT THE RENT HAS BEEN PAID.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
THERE'S A QUESTION.
FOR COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THAT CHANGE IS SOMETHING
I'M IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING IT IN THE VERSION OF
THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU BROUGHT
FORWARD.
SORRY IF I WASN'T CLEAR.
úBUT JUST IN CASE, IF IT WASN'T
>> MY PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETS
TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:30 A.M.
ITEMS THAT I HAVE ON MY
COMMITTEE AGENDA ARE TWO
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION.
ONE APPOINTMENT IS PRACHI DAVE
FOR THE NOMINATING BODY OF
PRACHI, DAVE, AND THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF COLLEEN ECHO-
HAWK.
THAT'S A MAYORAL APPOINTMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ON
THE 2020 WORKPLAN, AND WE WILL
BE RECEIVING A DIRECTOR'S
REPORT FROM ACTING DIRECTOR
JOHNSON, OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
HE WILL COVER A HIGH-LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S
WORK AREAS, AND 2020 GOALS.
JUST TO CLARIFY, HE WILL NOT
COVER ISSUES RELATED TO
HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENTS
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PURVIEW
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS.
FINALLY, I WANT TO, AGAIN, SOME
LIKE THE FACT THAT I WILL BE
DISTRIBUTING, IN THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS,
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS, A
LETTER RELATED TO A BUDGET
PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL LAST
YEAR.
AND THIS IS A LETTER REGARDING
THE PROGRAM CALLED HOME FOR
GOOD.
THIS LETTER, I WILL CIRCULATE.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IT
OVER THE WEEKEND.
THE INTENT IS TO SHARE WITH THE
EXECUTIVE OF THE HOME FOR GOOD
PILOT SHOULD LAST FOR 12 MONTHS,
EVEN THOUGH, BECAUSE WE ARE
ACTUALLY DEVELOPING A NEW
PROGRAM, WE MAY NOT ACTUALLY
COMPLETE A CONTRACT FOR THAT
PROGRAM UNTIL FIRST QUARTER.
HOME FOR GOOD IS THE NAME OF
THE PILOT.
IT'S IN DEVELOPMENT TO PREVENT
OR END HOMELESSNESS FOR PEOPLE
OVER 50 YEARS OLD LIVING ON
FEDERAL DISABILITY BENEFITS.
IF IT'S INADEQUATE TO COVER THE
COST OF RENT, AND STILL HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE ON EVEN IN
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, THE
POPULATION IS LEFT VULNERABLE.
A SEATTLE MAN, DWIGHT WILLIAMS,
FELL INTO HOMELESSNESS WHEN HE
GAINED FEDERAL DISABILITY
BENEFITS, WHICH DID NOT COVER
THE COST OF HIS SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, I WOULD
BE HAPPY TO SHARE IT.
IT EXPLAINS THE DISCONNECT
BETWEEN THE STATE AND FEDERAL
POLICY THAT PUSHES PEOPLE LIKE
MISTER WILLIAMS INTO
HOMELESSNESS, EVEN AFTER
RECEIVING BOTH STATE, AND
FEDERAL SUBSIDIES TO ASSIST
THEM.
THROUGH THREE SEPARATE COUNCIL
BUDGET ACTIONS LAST YEAR, THE
COUNCIL ALLOCATED $750,000 TO
CREATE, AND EVALUATE A PILOT
PROJECT THAT WOULD PROVIDE
FRONTAL SUBSTUDY TO TRY TO
STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING.
THE PRIME SPONSOR FOR THIS
ACTION WAS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
LORENA GONZALEZ.
THE STAKEHOLDERS GATHERED TO
GET INPUT FOR PROGRAM DESIGN
LAST WEEK.
THERE WAS CONFUSION AS TO
WHETHER OR NOT THE FUNDS MUST
BE EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31.
THE INTENT OF THE COUNCIL IS
FOR A FULL 12 MONTHS WORTH OF
FUNDING.
LAST YEAR, THIS WOULD MAKE FOR
A REALLY SHORT PROJECT, IF IT
WAS MORE LIKE NINE MONTHS WORTH
OF FUNDING SINCE THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS STILL IN
THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE
PROGRAM, DEVELOPING AN RFP,
ISSUING AN RFP, AND THEN
SELECTING A PROVIDER BASED ON
RESPONSES TO THE RFP, AND ALSO
NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS.
IT IS NOT A TYPICAL FOR THE
EXECUTIVE TO TAKE THE FIRST
CORNER OF A YEAR.
DURING THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
COUNCIL'S INTENT FROM LAST YEAR
BE CLEAR.
AND THAT THIS LETTER SIMPLY
EXPRESSES THAT THE COUNCIL
UNDERSTANDS THAT BASED ON
STAKEHOLDER INPUT, THAT THE
PILOT MAY BE MOST EFFECTIVE IF
IT'S A FULL YEAR'S WORTH OF
FUNDING, MEANING EXTEND FUNDING
INTO 2021.
THIS COUNCIL MAY BE CONSIDERING
ADDITIONAL PROCESS CHARGES THIS
YEAR.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS ON THAT, JUST A QUICK
OVERVIEW OF WHAT I'VE GOT GOING
ON THIS WEEK, --
>> QUICK QUESTION.
IS THAT LETTER OF SIGNATURE
THIS MORNING MORE THIS
AFTERNOON?
>> THIS AFTERNOON.
IT'S IN EVERYBODY'S INBOX.
MY STAFF, CHRISTINA, SENT IT
OVER THE WEEKEND.
AS FAR AS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
MON COUNCIL MEETINGS, I HAVE
THE KING COUNTY ORIGINAL POLICY
COMMITTEE THAT MEETS ON
WEDNESDAY.
THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME
ATTENDING THAT COMMITTEE
MEETING.
THE LAST FEW YEARS I'VE BEEN ON
THE REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMITTEE
MEETINGS, SO I'M HAPPY TO GET
TO WORK ON THE ORIGINAL POLICY
COMMITTEE.
I AM ALSO ON THE FIREFIGHTER'S
PENSION BOARD.
I WILL BE ATTENDING THAT THIS
WEEK.
OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS, COMING
UP THIS EVENING.
I AM ATTENDING A MEET AND GREET
WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMISSION HERE.
ON TUESDAY, I AM REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS MEETING IN THE
DISTRICT AT ROCK HILL PARK,
SPECIFICALLY REGARDING A
PROJECT THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON FOR A WHILE.
IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, COUNTY, AND CITY
AGENCIES.
SPECIFICALLY, SEATTLE UTILITIES
TO RESTORE THE ECOSYSTEM, IN
WHAT WAS THE ROXHILL BOG AND
ENGAGING WITH THE AREA FOR
RECREATIONAL EDUCATION.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, THIS
PROJECT, TO THE HELP OF ONE
FELLOW CREEK, AND THE SAVING OF
ONE OF THE LAST -- IN SEATTLE.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBANIZATION
HAVE CAUSED THE BOG TO DEGRADE
TO A CRITICAL TIPPING POINT.
IF NOT ADDRESSED NOW, IT MAY NO
LONGER BE FEASIBLE.
WE'VE GOT A PLAN TO DO SOME
IMPORTANT RESTORATION.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
KING COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY.
SPECIFICALLY, MISTER McDERMOTT
FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, I WILL
BE ADDRESSING THE LAST SEATTLE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT THEIR
ANNUAL MEETING.
FINALLY, SATURDAY, AT THE
LANGSTON HUGHES PERFORMING ARTS
CENTER.
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU
WERE GOING TO MOVE FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR TO INCLUDE THAT
APPOINTMENT, BUT NOT THE AGENDA
TODAY, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
THANK YOU.
I AM AMENDING THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR TO INTRODUCE
IT TO MY COMMITTEE TOMORROW.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS
ON THE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
LETTER ON HOUSE BILL 2907.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MESSAGE
WE ARE SENDING AS A BODY.
I HOPE THE TAKE AWAY FROM
TODAY'S DISCUSSION, THE LETTER,
AND FUTURE CONVERSATIONS IN
OLYMPIA IS THAT WE ARE NOT
TRYING TO MAKE THIS INTO
SOMETHING IT'S NOT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL
LEVERAGE OR WAGING A POLITICAL
FIGHT IN PUBLIC.
THIS IS ABOUT WANTING TO BE A
GOOD PARTNER, AND WANTING GOOD,
SOUND PUBLIC POLICY.
I THINK YOU SEE A SINCERE
EFFORT TO SAY, WE WANT TO HELP
THE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
WE ARE READY TO ROLL UP OUR
SLEEVES.
WE THOUGHT OF CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS IN THE PASSED.
WE WANT PROGRESSION AT THIS
LEVEL, AND WE WANT THIS BODY TO
FUNCTION, SO THERE IS REAL
CHANGE IN OUR STREETS, AND
DRILL EXPERIENCED CHANGE FROM
THE INDIVIDUALS VULNERABLE TO
HOMELESS OR EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COLLECTIVE
WORK TO SEND THAT UNIFIED
MESSAGE.
I HOPE IT IS WELL-RECEIVED.
I KNOW OUR FRIENDS, THE
SPONSORS, REPRESENTATIVE MacRI
AND SENATOR KEISER IN THE
SENATE HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS
OF PUBLIC POLICY, AND WANTING
THIS HOUSING, AND FUNDING.
I KNOW WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THEM.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK.
WE WILL SEE YOU AT 2:00 P.M.
FOR THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
AS A NOTE, AS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS MENTIONED, THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS WILL
MEET IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS.
WE ARE TALKING 10 MINUTES.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET MORE
FOLKS OUT OF HERE, SO THEY CAN
GO TO OUR EVENING EVENTS OR
BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND
HOMES.
TODAY'S COUNCIL BRIEFING IS
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.