WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ?
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SILENT ON ALLOWING ELECTRONIC
PARTICIPATION AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETINGS TO CONTINUE
PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, I'LL
MOVE TO SUSPEND THE COUNCIL
RULES THROUGH MAY 31ST, 2020, TO
ALLOW THIS MEETING TO OCCUR
WHILE PARTICIPATING THROUGH
ELECTRONIC MEANS.
OF COURSE, THIS IS IN REACTION
TO THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT BY
GOVERNOR INSLEE EXTENDING HIS
STAY-AT-HOME, STAY HEALTHY ORDER
FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT AND
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH MAYOR
DURKAN'S COMMUNICATION RELATED
TO THE SAME ISSUE AND EXTENDING
TELECOMMUTE OPPORTUNITIES AND
TELEWORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
SEATTLE WORKERS THROUGH
MAY 31ST, 2020, NOW ALSO
EXTENDING THOSE POLICIES THROUGH
THIS RULE SUSPENSION.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC
PARTICIPATION AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETINGS THROUGH
MAY 31ST, 2020.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETINGS WILL
BE HELD WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS
PARTICIPATING ELECTRONICALLY
THROUGH MAY 31ST, 2020.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES OF
APRIL 27TH, 2020, WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
AGAIN, QUICKLY MOVING TO
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I'LL MAKE IT
SHORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE MEMO
I SENT OUT YESTERDAY, THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
TELEWORKING PRACTICE HAS BEEN
EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 31ST, 2020,
THE TIMELINE IS COMPATIBLE WITH
THE GOVERNOR'S STAY HOME, STAY
HEALTHY PROCLAMATION AND THE
TELEWORKING POLICY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
WE CAN EXPECT ADDITIONAL
DETAILED UPDATES AS SOON AS WE
MOVE FORWARD ABOUT HOW WE CAN
HOPE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AND
START FRAMING POTENTIAL RETURN
TO CITY HALL IN THE COMING
MONTHS AND SO I HAVE ALREADY
ASKED THE CITY CLERK AND FINES
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO START
THINKING THROUGH A PLAN FOR THE
NEEDS, POTENTIALLY TO REOPEN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND ALSO FOR
THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE
POTENTIAL RETURN OF SOME
INDIVIDUALS TO THE SECOND AND
THIRD FLOOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT, SO MORE TO COME, NO
DECISIONS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE ENGAGE WITH ALL OF THE FOLKS
THAT NEED TO BE ENGAGED WITH
BEFORE WE FORMALIZE ANY RETURN
TO WORK OPPORTUNITIES AND
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU
ALL AND WITH OUR OPERATIONAL
STAFF AROUND HOW TO BEST
ACCOMPLISH THAT IN A WAY THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH PUBLIC, ONGOING
PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS IN
THIS SPACE.
THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF MY
PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT.
HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE RIGHT
INTO A PREVIEW OF THE CITY
ACTIONS AND WORK ON REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBERS IN A ROLL CALL
FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
FIRST WE'LL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, HERBOLD,
LEWIS, MORALES, MOSQUEDA AND
I'LL CONCLUDE THE AGENDA
DISCUSSION FOR TODAY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS.
I'M HOPING WE CAN GET THROUGH
TODAY'S PRESENTATION AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE
ARE SOME LINGERING LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN
BETWEEN NOW AND NOON, SO I AM
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAND IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
ON FRIDAY, MAY 1ST,
INTERNATIONAL WORKER'S DAY, MAY
DAY, MY OFFICE JOINED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVISTS AND
VERY SUCCESSFUL SOCIALLY
DISTANCED FOR OUR CAR VAIN AND
BIKE PROTEST AGAINST THE AMAZON
MOVEMENT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD
I ENCOURAGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE
DEMONSTRATION WE LIVE STREAMED
DURING THE EVENT AND FIND IT ON
MY COUNCIL OFFICE'S YOUTUBE OR
FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE AT THE
RALLIES, ONLINE RALLIES, WHY ARE
AMAZON TAXES SO NECESSARY FOR
OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT ONLY TO
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS,
REESTABLISH PUBLIC JOBS PROGRAM
TO HIRE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AND TO CARRY OUT GREEN
NEW DEAL, BUILDING RETROFITS AND
OTHER PROGRAMS, AND ALSO,
PARAMOUNT POINT THAT WAS MADE BY
SPEAKERS IS THAT GIVEN THE
CITIES AND STATES DUBIOUS
DISTINCTION OF THE NATION'S
AGGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM, NOT ONLY
IS IT UNJUST THAT THE WORKING
PEOPLE HAVE THE BURDEN OF
REVENUES BUT NOW WE'LL FACE AN
EVEN BRUTAL QUESTION IS THAT
WHEN WE HAVE WIDESPREAD
JOBLESSNESS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN
THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT WE'RE
HEADING INTO A DEEP RECESSION
WITH MASSIVE JOBLESSNESS, FOR A
REGRISIVE TAX SYSTEM THAT IM
REPLIES A PLUMMETING OF
REVENUES, THAT IS A MATHEMATICAL
SEQUENCE.
ANY REFUSAL FROM THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT TO TAX BIG
BUSINESS AND THE WEALTHY WILL
MEAN BUDGET SHORT FALLS AND
BUDGET CUTS UNLESS WE SHORT UP
ON REVENUES AND INCREASE PUBLIC
REVENUES.
I WAS STRUCK BY HOW MANY PEOPLE
PARTICIPATED.
I SAW MANY NEW FACES AND
INCREDIBLE ENERGY IN THE
DEMONSTRATION.
AT THE SAME TIME,
OVERWHELMINGLY, THE SERIOUS
APPROACH TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL
DISTANCING TO KEEP THE
COMMUNITIES SAFE.
IT WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE
CAN HAVE DEMOCRATICALLY
ORGANIZED PROTEST ACTIONS BUT IN
A SAFE WAY.
JUST LAST POINT, WE'RE BEGINNING
THE MOVEMENT TO ORGANIZE
DISTRICT BASED TOWN HALLS THAT
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ARE LEADING
FROM EACH DISTRICT AND I KNOW
THAT UAW 4121 AND OTHERS HAVE
INVITED COUNCILMEMBERS PEDERSEN
AND LEWIS FOR DISTRICT 4 AND
DISTRICT 7 TOWN HALL COMMUNITY
TOWN HALL TOMORROW AT 6:00 P.M..
I BELIEVE GONZALEZ AND MOSQUEDA
HAVE ALSO BEEN INVITED.
I WOULD URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
HEAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE'LL
MOVE THROUGH THE REST OF THE
LIST HERE, SO NEXT UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING AND MY
APOLOGIES FOR THE TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES.
I'M PARTICIPATING BY PHONE WHILE
ON A COMPUTER.
AUDIO IS NOT WORKING AS WELL.
THERE ARE ZERO ITEMS FROM THE
LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOOD'S
COMMUNITY ON THE AGENDA AND ZERO
FROM THE LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOOD'S COMMUNITY FOR THE
CALENDAR.
I HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF WEEKLY
OFFICE HOURS OVER THE PHONE THIS
LAST WEEK AND HAVE HELD
MEETINGS, SPOKEN WITH OR
SCHEDULED A MEETING WITH
EVERYONE WHO REQUESTED A MEETING
THIS LAST YEAR.
WE MADE CHANGES ON HOW WE
RESPOND TO E-MAILS AND PHONE
CALLS WE RECEIVE SO WE'RE
PROACTIVELY OFFERING THEM A
MEETING WITH ME.
AS YOU MAY REMEMBER FROM LAST
WEEK, MY STAFF WORKED WITH SMALL
BUSINESS GROUPS, OTHER
INTERESTED PARTIES, AND ALL OF
THE COUNCIL OFFICES ON A LETTER
TO STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS
REGARDING THE WAYS IN WHICH THE
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT CAN STEP UP
TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL
ESTABLISHMENTS.
I DIDN'T HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN I'LL
FOLLOW UP WITH AFTER THIS CALL
AND THEN WE'LL SEND THAT LETTER
AROUND AGAIN AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO BRINGING THAT TO FULL COUNCIL
FOR SIGNATURE THIS AFTERNOON.
MY OFFICE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE
DIRECT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO
SMALL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS
ON HOW TO BEST NAVIGATE THE
SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ARE
INVOLVED.
ANOTHER UPDATE FROM THE COMMONS
PARK, AS OF THIS WEEKEND, THERE
WAS NOTICE POSTED FOR AN
ENCAMPMENT REMOVAL.
IT WAS POSTED LESS THAN THE
72 HOURS.
THE GUIDANCE ABOUT ENCAMPMENT
REMOVAL REQUIRES NOTICE BE
PROVIDED NO FEWER THAN 72 HOURS.
THIS OCCURRED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF
THE ENCAMPMENT REMOVAL THAT
OCCURRED.
ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS THAT PUSH
PEOPLE OUT OF THE COMMUNITY
WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE UNDER
LYING ASSOCIATION IS NOT IN LINE
WITH MY VALUES.
MY CALLING FOR URGENCY AND
RESOURCES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
WEEKS AND BEFORE THE COVID
PANDEMIC BEGAN ARE BECAUSE I
ALSO UNDERSTAND THE NEED OF
ADJACENT RESIDENCE TO HAVE
RELIEF FROM LIVING NEXT TO AN
UNMANAGED ENCAMPMENT.
WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE PUBLIC
SPACE.
WE HAD SUCCESS WITH INCREASED
ACCESS TO HYGIENE AND CLEANER
AND BETTER MAINTAINED PARK.
THESE ARE THE STEPS WE HAVE TO
MAKE AS WE MOVE PEOPLE INTO
SHELTER.
NAVIGATION HAD MOVED 17 PEOPLE
OUT OF THE PARK INTO 24/7
SHELTER AS OF LAST WEDNESDAY.
WE NEED TO MANAGE THIS PUBLIC
SPACE AND WE HAVEN'T.
INITIAL SUCCESS, ACCESS TO
HYGIENE AND BETTER MAINTAINED
PARK.
WHERE WE FAILED IS PROVIDING LAW
ENFORCEMENT THE TOOLS THEY NEED
TO ADDRESS AND INTERVENE
PREDATORY BEHAVIOR AS WE
DEPLOYED THE NECESSARY RESOURCES
TO STABILIZE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
TRYING TO GET OFF THE STREETS.
AGAIN, ON SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, A
NOTICE WAS DISTRIBUTED AND
INDICATED AN ENCAMPMENT REMOVAL
WOULD OCCUR THIS MONDAY, MAY 4TH
AT 9:00 A.M..
THIS DID NOT MEET THE NOTICE
REQUIREMENTS OF PROVIDING NOTICE
NO FEWER THAN 72 HOURS FOR AN
ENCAMPMENT REMOVE YAFL.
THEY WERE STOPPED IN THE 11th
WEEK OF THIS YEAR DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
IN THE FIRST TEN WEEKS OF THIS
YEAR, THERE WERE SEVEN
ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS WITHIN AN
HOUR OF THE COMMONS PARK.
SIMPLY PUT, THIS MEANS THAT
EVERY WEEK WE PUSH PEOPLE FROM
ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER WITHOUT
ADDRESSING THE UNDER LYING
ISSUES.
THIS IS NOT IN LINE WITH MY
VALUES.
PUSHING PEOPLE FROM ONE PLACE TO
ANOTHER INTO OUR GREEN SPACES
AND OUR INDUSTRIAL AREAS AND
OTHER RESIDENT'S FRONT YARDS
EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM WE'RE
TRYING TO ADDRESS AND DOES NOT
PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS.
BY THE END OF THIS CONVERSATION,
THERE WILL BE MORE TENTS ON THE
SEAVIEW AVENUE AND IN THE GREEN
SPACES.
AGAIN, WE NEED TO USE STRATEGIES
THAT DO NOT REQUIRE US TO COME
BACK WEEK AFTER WEEK TO PUSH
PEOPLE AROUND BECAUSE PUSHING
PEOPLE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER
IS AGAIN, NOT IN LINE WITH MY
VALUES OR PROVIDES A MEANINGFUL
INTERVENTION INTO THE UNDER
LYING ISSUES PEOPLE ARE FACING
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR THAT REPORT AND
THOSE IMPORTANT WORDS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
I SEE A COUPLE OF HANDS GOING
UP.
I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING BUT I'LL
WAIT.
I'LL ALLOW THE COLLEAGUES TO GO
FIRST.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOLLOWED
BY LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE IN
YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THE ISSUE AND
LETTING US KNOW WHERE YOU STAND.
I HAVE HEARD OVER THE WEEKEND
THAT PRIOR TO THIS ACTION ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY TO BEGIN THE
STEPS NECESSARY TO TAKE AN
ENCAMPMENT REMOVAL, THAT PRIOR
TO THAT DECISION, THERE WAS AN
AGREEMENT BOTH ON THE PART OF
CO-LEAD, THE LEAD PROGRAM
FOCUSED ON COVID-19 RESPONSES,
AND THE COMMUNITY, THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO ENGAGE THE
RESIDENTS OF THE ENCAMPMENT AND
IT ACTUALLY HAVE SECURED
SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO HOUSE
PEOPLE AS WELL AS THEIR STATE OF
THE ART CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT
CONVERSATION STANDS WITH OTHER
PARTS OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT WE NEED
TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS AT THE
SCALE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE
FACING AND THAT MEANS BRINGING
PEOPLE INSIDE WITH LOW OR NO
BARRIER SHELTER THAT IS
CONNECTED WITH CASE MANAGEMENT.
IF THAT MEANS, AND I HAVE CALLED
PREVIOUS TO THIS FOR THE ABILITY
TO BRING PEOPLE INTO HOTEL ROOMS
AND PROVIDE THEM CASE MANAGEMENT
AND THIS, I BELIEVE, IS THE
SOLUTION THAT WE SHOULD BE
TAKING.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU,
AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
I JUST WANT TO PUT A FINER POINT
ON THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT PRIOR TO THE
DECISION TO REMOVE THE
ENCAMPMENT, THERE WAS AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE BALLARD
COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE
BUSINESS DISTRICT, THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO AVAIL THEMSELVES
AND ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO AVAIL
ITSELF OF THE SERVICES OF
CO-LEAD TO HELP THE INDIVIDUALS
AND NOW BECAUSE OF THE
ENCAMPMENT REMOVAL DECISION,
THAT AGREEMENT IS NO LONGER IN
PLACE AND THOSE SERVICES WILL
NOT BE PROVIDED TO THIS COHORT
OF INDIVIDUALS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR THOSE QUESTIONS,
REALLY IMPORTANT LINE OF
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I'LL GO
AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, FOR YOUR
COMMENTS.
SO I DID SEND AN E-MAIL THIS
MORNING IN ADVANCE OF THE
BRIEFING MAKING INQUIRIES TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON SOME OF THE
DETAILS OF THIS REMOVAL.
I HAVE RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION
THAT I JUST WANTED TO RELAY TO
INFORM THE CONVERSATION.
FIRST THAT EVERYBODY WHO HAS
BEEN CONTACTED, THAT BALLARD
CONFERENCE HAS BEEN GIVEN AN
OFFER OF SHELTER IN ENHANCED
SHELTER.
THAT IS THE FIRST THING I WANTED
TO RELAY.
THERE WAS NO ANNOUNCEMENT ON
WHETHER THIS REPRESENTS A
BROADER SHIFT FROM KIND OF THE
STATED PARAMETERS OF WHERE THE
NAVIGATION TEAM STANDS AT THIS
TIME, BUT I'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE
INQUIRIES.
OBVIOUSLY MY MOST URGENT WAS
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF SHELTER
BEING OFFERED TO BEING THAT ARE
REMOVED.
I'M ASSURED THERE IS CAPACITY
FOR 100 % OFFERS FOR FOLKS FOR
ENHANCED SHELTER BUT OF COURSE,
THROUGHOUT TODAY, I'LL CONTINUE
TO FOLLOW UP TO GET MORE
INFORMATION.
I LEARNED ABOUT THIS REMOVAL FOR
THE FIRST TIME VIA TWITTER, SO I
THINK WE'RE ALL IN A PLACE WHERE
WE'RE WORKING TO CATCH UP TO IT.
I CAN SAY THAT I DID PERSONALLY
VISIT THE BALLARD COMMONS A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
THAT PARTICULAR ENCAMPMENT WAS
IN A REALLY DIFFICULT STATE IN
TERMS OF POSING PUBLIC HEALTH
CHALLENGES TO THE REST OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, SO SOME KIND OF
INTERVENTION, IT WAS CERTAINLY
WARRANTED.
I HAVE HAD SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS
TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
ELUDED TO WITH THE CO-LEAD
PROGRAM AND HAVE BEEN TALKING
WITH LISA DUGARD.
THAT IS TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT
WE HAVE TO REALLY REVISIT SOME
OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN HAVING AS A COUNCIL.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND I HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE EXPANDED
USE OF HOTEL ROOMS, CASE WORK,
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE EVER
INCREASING NUMBER OF
UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND GET
PEOPLE INSIDE, GET PEOPLE
SERVICES, GET PEOPLE IN A PLACE
WHERE THEY CAN BE LIVING WITH
DIGNITY AND ACTUALLY PRACTICING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD TO
FOLLOW FROM THE GOVERNOR AND
FROM THE CITY.
SO I'M GOING TO WORK TODAY TO
GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
REMOVAL.
THE TOP LINE DATA THAT I HAVE
GOTTEN SO FAR IS THERE ARE
UNIVERSAL OFFERS OF SHELTER
BEING MADE.
I DID JUST WANT TO RELAY THAT.
AS I GET MORE INFORMATION, I
WILL CERTAINLY CIRCULATE AND
SHARE IT TO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, FOR THAT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.
COLLEAGUES, ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE
ISSUE THAT WAS FLAGGED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBERS
MENTIONING THIS IN BRIEFING.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS TALKED ABOUT HOTEL ROOMS
AND OTHER SOLUTIONS, WHICH OF
COURSE, ALL OF WHICH I WOULD
STRONGLY SUPPORT BASED ON THE
TRACK RECORD OF MY COUNCIL
OFFICE.
I ALSO THINK, THOUGH, IF WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT, HONESTLY TALKING
ABOUT SOLUTIONS FOR THE SCALE OF
THE PROBLEM, WE CAN'T ADDRESS
PROBLEM ONE WITHOUT THE COUNCIL
TAKING A STRONG POSITION AGAINST
SWEEPS ON OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS
AS A WHOLE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITHOUT
ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RENT
CONTROL, PUBLICLY OWNED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE SCALE
OF THE PROBLEM WE FACE AND THAT
IS WHY I THINK A LOT OF THESE
QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING UP
WITH GOING TO CONVERGE ON THE
QUESTION OF WHETHER THE COUNCIL
HAS THE COURAGE TO HAVE ACCESS
TO MAKE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER
SERVICES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I WAS, I
JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
AND I WANT TO SEE IF YOU HAVE
POSED THESE QUESTIONS OR IF YOU
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AROUND THESE PARTICULAR POINTS,
SO THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, IN A POST DATE EED
MARCH 17TH, 2020, ON THEIR
WEBSITE, YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING AN
UPDATE ON WHAT THE CITY'S
EFFORTS WOULD BE AROUND
EXPANDING SHELTER, HYGIENE, AND
OUT REACH TO INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
SPECIFICALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE, SO I
THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
US TO ROOT THE COMMENTS THAT YOU
HAVE MADE, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, NOT JUST IN THE SORT OF
ORDINARY, YOU KNOW, DAY-TO-DAY
CONTEXT, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT
THIS SWEEP IS BEING DONE DURING
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON
THEIR WEBSITE MADE
REPRESENTATIONS TO US AND TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THEY
WOULD BE APPROACHING
UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS IN THE
SPECIFIC CONTEXT OF COVID-19 AND
THIS PANDEMIC, AND IN THAT
CONTEXT, THEY SAY TWO THINGS
I'LL READ DIRECTLY FROM THE
WEBSITE.
FIRST, THE NAVIGATION ALONG WITH
THE PARKS AND RECREATION, POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND OTHER CITY
PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE TO PAUSE
72-HOUR REMOVALS AND WILL PAUSE
OBSTRUCTION OPERATIONS TO
PRIORITIZE COVID-19 OUT REACH.
THE TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO REMOVE
WASTE, GARBAGE, AND DEBRIS FROM
UNMANAGED ENCAMPMENTS TO REDUCE
PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS IN UNMANAGED
ENCAMPMENTS.
POST CONTINUES TO SAY NO SUCH
REMOVALS WILL CONTINUE DURING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
UNLESS, UNLESS NEEDED FOR AN
EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE THAT
PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER
TO ACCESSIBILITY OF CITY STREETS
AND SIDEWALKS AND IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SAFETY
HAZARD THAT PUTS PEOPLE LIVING
UNSHELTERED OR OTHERS AT RISK,
INDIVIDUALS IN ALL OF THE CASES
WILL BE OFFERED SHELTER.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AND I
HAVE HEARD FROM COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, THAT THE EXECUTIVE SAID
100 % HAVE BEEN OFFERED SHELTER.
FACTORS OR CRITERIA BEING MET,
THAT ONE, THEY'RE CLAIMING, HAS
BEEN MET, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY
INFORMATION, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AROUND WHAT EFFORTS THE
NAVIGATION TEAM MADE TO, QUOTE,
CONTINUE TO REMOVE WASTE,
GARBAGE, AND DEBRIS FROM
UNMANAGED ENCAMPMENT, AT BALLARD
COMMONS PARK?
THAT IS MY FIRST QUESTION.
SECOND, DO YOU HAVE ANY
INFORMATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ABOUT WHY -- WHAT SET OF FACTS
THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT RISES TO
THE OCCASION OF SAYING THAT THIS
IS AN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO SORT OF DEVIATE
FROM THEIR STATED POLICY OF NO
REMOVALS DURING THIS PERIOD OF
TIME?
WHAT FACTS HAVE THEY BEEN GIVEN
YOU THAT THIS HAS RISEN TO THE
STANCE OF THE EXTREME
CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SAFETY
HAZARD THAT PUTS PEOPLE LIVING
UNSHELTERED OR OTHERS AT RISK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WHAT I CAN SAY AND WHAT I SAID
EARLIER IN MY COMMENTS IS THAT
THIS COULD HAVE REALLY BEEN
AN -- FOR THE NAVIGATION TEAM
BECAUSE FOR THE LAST TEN DAYS,
THEY HAVE PROVIDED DIRECT
REFERRALS INTO SHELTER AND AS OF
LAST WEDNESDAY, THERE WERE 17
PEOPLE REFERRED INTO 24/7
SHELTER.
THIS WAS INCLUSIVE OF DOING
DEBRIS REMOVAL, SANITATION,
REMOVING, YOU KNOW, SERVICING
THE TRASH CANS AND THE GARBAGE
AT A HIGHER RATE.
I WANT TO FRAME THIS AS A MONTH
AGO WHEN WE BEGAN THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT BALLARD
COMMONS PARK.
THE HEPATITIS A SPIKE AND WHAT
IS OCCURRING ACROSS OUR CITY,
THAT THE SITUATION OF BALLARD
COMMON PARK WAS UNTENABLE.
WITH THE CITY'S RESOURCES COMING
IN TO ADDRESS THAT SANITATION,
GETTING PEOPLE INSIDE, AND
INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE, WE
WERE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
AND THE NAVIGATION TEAM IN ITS
BEST ROLE IS SET UP WITH THE
RESOURCES IT NEEDS, WHICH IS
ACCESS TO SHELTER AND THE
ABILITY TO REFER PEOPLE INTO
SHELTER.
I DO NOT HAVE, AS YOU REQUESTED,
FACTS REGARDING THE EXTREME
CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE
ALSO HAVE NOT PROVIDED OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT THE TOOLS THAT THEY
NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS
SITUATION BECAUSE WE NEED LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO BE A PARTNER IN
OUR DIVERSION PROGRAMS SO THAT
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH
THE STEPS THEY NEED TO DO TO
INTERVENE AND PROVIDE THEM THE
SUPPORT AND THE RESOURCES THEY
NEED TO HAVE SUCCESS.
THERE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASPECT TO THAT.
WE NEED TO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT
TIE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH OUR
DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND THAT IS
WHERE WE FAILED IN THIS
SITUATION.
>> SO I THINK I APPRECIATE THAT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND I
GUESS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
IS THAT WE HAVE THE MULTIPLE
DISCIPLINARY RULES AROUND
ENCAMPMENTS THAT EXIST DURING
NORMAL TIMES, WHICH I THINK ARE
OFFICIALLY OVER AND HAVE BEEN
FOR AWHILE, AND WE HAVE NOW SEEN
A POLICY PUT OUT, A SHIFT IN
POLICY PUT OUT BY THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT
MODIFIES THAT ORIGINAL POLICY TO
REQUIRE SOMETHING MORE
EXTRAORDINARY THAN WHAT WE
NORMALLY SEE IN SOME
UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS WHETHER
IT IS BALLARD COMMON PARKS OR
ANYWHERE ELSE.
I GUESS I'M CONCERNED BASED ON
ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE
SHARED OR INFORMATION
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS SHARED
SO FAR, I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER THERE WAS COMPLIANCE
WITH THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
WITH THE NEWLY STATED POLICY
THAT CRIME IS NOW IN PLACE.
AT CITY COUNCIL, WE'RE CHARGED
PRIMARILY WITH THE ROLE OF OVER
SIGHT AND POLICY DIRECTION AND
IF THERE HAS BEEN NONCOMPLIANCE
WITH A STATED POLICY, THEN I
THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO
HOLD THE EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTABLE
TO THE POLICY THEY CLAIM TO HAVE
IN PLACE.
THE CONSEQUENCES HERE ARE SEVERE
AS YOU ARTICULATED.
THIS IS IN ORDER TO STRIKE A
BALANCE BETWEEN PEOPLE'S
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EXIST IN
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY DON'T
HAVE APPROPRIATE SHELTER AND
BALANCE THAT OUT WITH SOME OF
THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT
CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES THAT
WE HAVE TO UPHOLD AND IF THERE
HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THAT, AS
IT RELATES TO EITHER THIS
ENCAMPMENT OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN
THE CITY, THEN I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT OUR FINGER
ON THE PULSE OF THAT AND BEGIN
TO DIG IN ON HOW TO CORRECT
COURSE SO THAT WE ARE FUNDING
AND SUPPORTING THE USE OF MORE
APPROPRIATE DIVERSION TOOLS THAT
WILL ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS
OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
THESE UNSANCTIONED AND UNMANAGED
ENCAMPMENTS.
>> I AGREE AND I SHARE YOUR
CONCERNS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I SEE
YOU HAVE RAISED YOUR HAND.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
TO BE CLEAR, A LOT OF THE SAME
INQUIRIES THAT YOU JUST
ARTICULATED AND POSED TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I
FORMALLY HAVE WRITTEN THE
QUESTIONS TO THE EXECUTIVES TO
GET THE ANSWERS AND ONCE I DO I
CERTAINLY WILL RELAY THEM TO THE
REST OF THE COUNCIL.
I CAN JUST SHARE ANECDOTALLY
FROM HAVING GONE TO BALLARD
COMMONS PARK PROBABLY AT THE
PEAK OF THE SITUATION THERE,
PRIOR TO THE INITIAL 17 OFFERS
OF SHELTER THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ELUDED TO EARLIER, I
DON'T KNOW THAT, I DON'T KNOW
THAT IT WOULD BE THAT DIFFICULT
FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO HAVE MADE A
DETERMINATION OF AN
EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE BASED
ON WHAT I SAW, BUT I DO WANT TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT
PROCESS IS GOING TO BE LIKE, HOW
THE DETERMINATIONS ARE GOING TO
BE MADE AND ALSO HOW THE COUNCIL
AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS WILL BE
INFORMED WHEN THOSE DECISIONS
ARE MADE.
ONCE I GET THAT INFORMATION, I
WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL
IS DULY APPRISED OF THAT AND WE
CAN ASSESS WHERE TO GO FROM
THERE.
>> AND I HAVE NO QUESTIONS
AROUND THE ONGOING CONCERNS
ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF BALLARD
COMMONS PARK FOR BOTH THOSE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
THERE AND SORT OF THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THE CONCERNS ARE REAL
AND HAVE BEEN LONG STANDING.
I'M NOT -- MY COMMENTS AREN'T
DESIGNED TO SORT OF NEGATE THE
REALITY OF WHAT THE ENVIRONMENT
LOOKS LIKE AT BALLARD COMMONS
PARK.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE.
I GET -- I UNDERSTAND IT, I SEE
IT.
MY BIGGER CONCERN IS THAT IF THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS
MAKING A COMMITMENT TO, QUOTE,
CONTINUE TO REMOVE WASTE,
GARBAGE, AND DEBRIS FROM
UNMANAGED ENCAMPMENT TO REDUCE
PUBLIC HEALTH RISK, WAS THAT NOT
DONE TO THE LEVEL IT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN IN ORDER TO AVOID
DISRUPTION AND SPREADING OF THIS
ENCAMPMENT DURING THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, AN
EVEN MORE EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE
THAN IN A NONPANDEMIC SETTING.
THAT IS MY CONCERN IS DID HSD
AND OTHERS FULFILL THEIR
OBLIGATION TO DO SORT OF THAT
HYGIENE WORK AT THE LEVEL THAT
THEY NEEDED TO BE DOING IT AS
THEY SAW THE CONDITIONS EVOLVING
IN A WAY THAT WE CAN SAY WAS
DONE IN GOOD FAITH TO AVOID THE
NECESSITY AND THE NEED TO POST
THE NOTICE THAT THEY JUST
POSTED.
>> APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> SUPER QUICK.
AS MENTIONED, I WAS BOUNCED OFF
THE CALLER, I BOUNCED MYSELF OFF
THE CALL.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT THE CDC
HAS ISSUED GUIDANCE ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR TOPIC OF HOW LOCAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HANDLING
UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENT AND THE
CDC GUIDANCE IS THAT ENCAMPMENTS
SHOULD NOT BE MOVED DURING THE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS TO KEEP
EVERYONE HEALTHY SO IT IS NOT
JUST OUR OWN DEPARTMENT'S POLICY
THAT WE'RE ASKING ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT THERE IS FIDELITY AND
ADHERENCE TO, IT IS THE CDC
GUIDANCE THAT I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO CENTER OUR INQUIRY
ON.
>> THAT IS A GREAT POINT AND
AGAIN, I THINK THAT -- I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AND IN PARTICULAR FOR
CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 6 TO
HEAR FROM US THAT WE -- THIS
ISN'T AN ISSUE OF US NOT
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE
CONDITIONS ARE AT BALLARD
COMMONS PARK IT IS A MATTER OF
FIGURING OUT WHAT ARE THE BEST
RULES TO IMPLEMENT DURING THE
COVID-19 CRISIS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE NOT EXACERBATING
THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
BY VIRTUE OF ENGAGING IN THE
REMOVAL, WHEN THE CDC AND OUR
OWN HSD DEPARTMENT IS SAYING
WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PAUSE ON
THESE.
WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS THE
DANGERS OF CORONAVIRUS THAT MAY
EXIST AT THOSE PARTICULAR SITES,
SO I APPRECIATE THAT FINE POINT.
I HAVE GOTTEN A FLAG THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS A
QUESTION.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
I COULDN'T SEE YOU RAISE YOUR
HAND SO I WANT TO CALL ON YOU
NOW TO ASK YOUR QUESTION.
PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU, YEAH, WE WERE
HAVING SOME TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES THIS MORNING AS
WELL.
SO I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR DOING HIS BEST TO
DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION, YOU
KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE ALL BEEN
STRUGGLING FOR QUITE A LONG TIME
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO -- WITH THE
FACT THAT ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS
ARE NOT AS LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
TO DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS WITH
THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS AND WITH
THE AFTER EFFECTS, WHERE THE
FOLKS WHO ARE ACTUALLY BEING
MOVED, AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
SAID, THE CDC WEEKS AGO ISSUED
THEIR STATEMENT SAYING THIS IS
NOT A GOOD STRATEGY, THAT IT
ACTUALLY INCREASES EXPOSURE, THE
RISK OF EXPOSURE FOR PEOPLE.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE WITH THE
MAYOR'S POLICY IS THAT IT ISN'T
ENFORCEABLE.
IT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION
AND THAT IS WHY OUR OFFICE HAS
BEEN WORKING ON LEGISLATION TO
REALLY TRY TO DEAL WITH HOW
THESE ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS OCCUR
AND BE PREDICTIVE ON WHAT
CONSTITUTES AN EXTREME RISK AND
A REAL LEGITIMATE REASON FOR WHY
FOLKS MAY BE MOVED.
WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THAT
LEGISLATION READY SOON SO THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A PERMANENT
POLICY, WHAT THE MAYOR HAS
PROPOSED THROUGH HER
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS AND MY
HOPE IS THAT WE'LL HAVE
SOMETHING IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO
THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FROM
EITHER THOSE ON THE PHONE OR
THOSE ON VIDEO?
OKAY, SO HEARING NOTHING.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> WE OFTEN MEASURE WHETHER OR
NOT SOMEBODY HAS BEEN REFERRED
TO SHELTER SERVICES.
DO WE HAVE ANY CONFIRMATION ON
HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY
WERE ADMITTED INTO SHELTER
SERVICES AND WHETHER OR NOT WE
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST
OF THOSE?
>> COUNCIL STRAUSS RAISED HIS
HAND FIRST AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
DATA I HAVE IS DATA FROM LAST
WEDNESDAY.
NAVIGATION WAS OUT THERE
REFERRING PEOPLE INTO SHELTER AS
OF LAST WEDNESDAY, 17 PEOPLE HAD
BEEN PLACED IN SHELTER
ALTERNATIVE LAKE FRONT AND SOUTH
LAKE UNION.
I DO NOT HAVE UPDATED
INFORMATION SINCE THAT TIME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, ANYTHING
TO ADD?
>> I WAS JUST ADD, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THAT MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT, LIKE THE REMOVAL ITSELF
IS OCCURRING PRETTY MUCH, LIKE,
RIGHT NOW.
IT STARTED AT 9:00 A.M.
THIS
MORNING, SO THE FINAL DATA AND
INFORMATION ON THAT SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE, I WOULD IMAGINE,
EARLY THIS WEEK, AND THAT IS
ANOTHER ONE OF MY INQUIRIES THAT
I HAVE SENT ALONG TO THE
EXECUTIVES.
ONCE I GET THAT INFORMATION,
I'LL RELAY IT OUT.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, STRAUSS,
AND MOSQUEDA, FOR THAT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD?
OKAY.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE READY TO
CONTINUE THROUGH COUNCILMEMBER
REPORTS, SO NEXT UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
PLEASE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE HAS NO ITEMS
ON THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
TODAY, NOR IS THE COMMITTEE
MEETING.
THERE ARE THREE BILLS THAT I
HAVE SPONSORING AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL HAVE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SHARE
BECAUSE SHE IS ALSO
CO-SPONSORING THE BILLS.
THE BILLS ON THE FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA TODAY THAT I'M SPONSORING
ARE 119780.
119781 AND 119782.
THOSE THREE BILLS ARE RELATED TO
THE WORK ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE
STATION 31, A REPLACEMENT FOR
FIRE STATION 31.
AGAIN, THERE ARE THREE BILLS.
THE FIRST BILL AUTHORIZES A
LEASE FOR THE TEMPORARY LOCATION
OF FIRE STATION 31 TO A PARKING
LOT ACROSS THE STREET AT EPIC
LIFE CHURCH.
THE SECOND BILL AUTHORIZES FAS
TO PURCHASE PROPERTY FOR THE
PERMANENT RELOCATION OF FIRE
STATION 31, AND THE THIRD BILL
DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS, A
LIMITED TAX TAX GENERAL
OBLIGATION
FUND AND A LOAN TO PLACE INTO
THE FUND.
THE INTERFUND LOAN IS
$8.1 MILLION.
IT IS A LOAN FROM THE
CONSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONS
FUND AND WILL BE PAID BACK AT A
LATER DATE BY AN LTGO BOND.
THOSE, AGAIN, THOSE THREE BILLS
ARE CONSIDERED NECESSARY IN
ROUTINE AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THEM
SHORTLY AND SHARING SOME SUPPORT
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM LOCAL
27 AND SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO
THE CRISIS NECESSITY ASSOCIATED
WITH THE CONDITIONS AT FIRE
STATION 31.
OHER ITEMS THAT CAME UP LAST
WEEK FOR ME, I CHAIRED THE
WATERSHED RESOURCE INVENTORY
AREA 9 MEETING.
I RECENTLY HAVE BECOME A
CO-CHAIR OF THAT REGIONAL
COMMITTEE, AND THEN I ALSO HELD
MY VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS LAST
WEDNESDAY AND TOOK VIRTUAL
MEETINGS WITH CONSTITUENTS FROM
2:00 TO 6:00.
AS FAR AS ITEMS THAT I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT COMING UP OR
ACTUALLY, THESE ARE MORE LAST
WEEK ITEMS.
REALLY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT
THE WEST SEATTLE FARMER'S MARKET
REOPENED LAST WEEK USING SOCIAL
DISTANCING PROTOCOLS THAT WERE
NEGOTIATED AND AGREED UPON WITH
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
NEARLY 1,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE
SUNDAY FARMER'S MARKET.
ALSO, LAST WEEK, PARTICIPATED
WITH COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ON
THE CLIENT MEETING WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ABOUT THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE AND THEN ALSO,
LATE LAST WEEK, I SENT A LETTER
TO WASHINGTON STATE ASKING THEY
CONSIDER DIRECTING SOME OF THE
TRAFFIC BETWEEN SOUTH WORTH TO
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND CONSIDER
TRIPS FROM FOUNT LA ROY TO
DOWNTOWN.
I RECOGNIZE THAT ACCOMMODATING
THIS REQUEST WOULD NOT BE SIMPLE
GIVEN THE SHORTAGE OF SLIPPAGE
SPACE AT THE DOCK BUT GIVEN THAT
THE BRIDGE MAY NOT REOPEN IT IS
IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER OPTIONS
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DEEMED
FEASIBLE BEFORE.
WE KNOW THAT DURING PREVIOUS
YEARS IN 1981, 1993, AND 2002,
EASTBOUND FERRY TRAFFIC WAS
DIVERTED TO DOWNTOWN INSTEAD OF
GOING TO LAROY ON A TEMPORARY
BASIS.
THERE WILL BE PROBABLY OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, A SERIES
OF REQUESTS TO VARIOUS
JURISDICTIONS WHO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO HELP WEST SEATTLEITES
IN IDENTIFYING NEW TRANSIT NEEDS
TO HELP MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF
HAVING THE BRIDGE CLOSED AND
YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM ME
ON MY EFFORTS THERE.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S REPORT?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE'LL
GO AHEAD AND MOVE THROUGH THE
ROLE CALL.
NEXT UP WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO
PATIENT WITH ME EARLIER LAST
WEEK.
I'M LEARNING TO USE MY MUTE
BUTTON BETTER.
I APOLOGIZE.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS RELATED TO
EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR GOING OVER THE SPECIFICS,
ITEMS 4, 5, AND 6 THAT RELATE
TO THE FIRE STATION REPLACEMENT
IN THE NORTH END AT 113th AND
MERIDIAN.
WE REALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY AND WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE
LAST YEAR, I WOULD SAY, WITH FAS
AND MORE RECENTLY WITH THE CHIEF
SKOGINS REGARDING A REPLACEMENT
FIRE STATION, FIRE STATION, 31.
YOU SHOULD HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE JUST SENT -- WENT OUT THERE
THIS MORNING A LETTER FROM KENNY
START AT LOCAL 27.
THERE SHOULD BE A LETTER THAT
YOU HAVE THAT OUTLINES THE
HISTORY OF FIRE STATION 31.
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND
PROTECTIONS OF THE PEOPLE.
IT IS A LONG HISTORY AND KENNY
DID A GOOD JOB OF OUTLINING IT
MY COLLEAGUES AND FOR THE
PUBLIC.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT THAT.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, WE
CAN DISCUSS THEM THIS AFTERNOON.
IN REGARDS TO PARK AND REC, PARK
AND RECREATION, ONCE THE REPORT
IS COMPLETE, I'LL MAKE SURE,
LIKE I DID YESTERDAY, TO SEND
UPDATES TO MY COLLEAGUES.
THIS HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US.
I WANT TO THANK THE
SUPERINTENDENT WORKING CLOSELY
WITH OUR OFFICE.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
THEM ONCE, TWICE A WEEK ON
PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING REGARDING
PARKS, OPENING SAFE STREETS AND
GETTING THEIR DATA DISTANCING
INTO COLLECTION AND WHAT PARKS
ARE USED THE MOST AND USING THAT
TO MODEL WHICH PARKS CAN BE OPEN
AND HOW WE IMPLEMENT MORE
PROGRAMS AND THAT HAS BEEN
VALUABLE.
I WANT TO THANK THE
SUPERINTENDENT FOR THAT.
I'M NOT THE CHAIR OF
TRANSPORTATION BUT MR. PEDERSEN
CAN WORK WITH THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
SEATTLE GREENWAYS ON THE STAY
HEALTHY STREETS.
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION WILL OPEN 11 MORE
MILES OF THE STAY HOME HEALTHY
STREETS.
BALLARD, HIGHLAND PARK
COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO
ACCESS ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND
MORE SPACE FOR SAFE RECREATION.
THESE LOCATIONS SHOULD BE OPENED
BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
THE PROGRAM WILL BE OPEN 24/7
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
I'M GOING TO LOOP BACK TO THAT
IN A MINUTE.
I WANT TO TALK QUICKLY ABOUT A
PROGRAM THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL ON
CAPITOL HILL WE REPLICATED IN
THE NORTH END.
A BIG SHOUT OUT TO CHRIS, WHO IS
NOW THE PROJECT MANAGER AT BUILD
LAKE COMMUNITY TOGETHER ALONG
WITH THE FRIENDS OF CHILDREN'S
HOME SOCIETY.
AND MEN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
WE STARTED THE FOOD IS LOVE
PROJECT.
IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN
CAPITOL HILL AND NOW WE'RE DOING
THIS IN THE NORTH END AND
DONATIONS ARE MADE TO THE
PROJECT TO PAY LOCAL RESTAURANTS
TO PREPARE MEALS DELIVERED AND
THESE MEALS ARE DELIVERED BY
LAKE CITY TOGETHER VOLUNTEERS TO
OVER 30 FAMILIES IN NEED IN LAKE
CITY.
THESE ARE FAMILIES WHERE WE KNOW
THEY HAVE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
AND WE WENT OUT THERE, WE HAVE
TAKEN PICTURES IT IS AMAZING, WE
BASICALLY HAVE ALL OF THE MANY,
MANY SMALL BUSINESSES AND
RESTAURANTS COOKING FOOD EVERY
WEDNESDAY, LOADING IT UP, AND
TAKING IT OUT TO THE FAMILIES.
I CAN'T THANK ANNETTE AT COFFEE
KLATCH.
LAKE CITY, VIA VERDE, BEYOND THE
BOWL AND MANY, MANY OTHERS.
I'M LEAVING OUT SMALL BUSINESSES
AND EXPANDING IT ALONG NORTHGATE
WAY AND OVER TO AURORA.
THIS IS A FOOD IS LOVE AND THE
SUCCESS ON CAPITOL HILL HAS BEEN
PHENOMENAL.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
VOLUNTEERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
AND RESTAURANTS ON THAT ARE
USING AND MAKING FOOD, LOADING
IT UP AND DELIVERING IT TO OUR
FAMILIES.
I HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH A
HANDFUL OF SMALL BUSINESSES LAST
WEDNESDAY AND -- LAST WEDNESDAY
OR LAST TUESDAY, I CAN'T
REMEMBER.
IT WAS GREAT.
WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT WHO HAS
BEEN APPLYING FOR LOANS, THE
PROCESS HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING.
THE PAY ROLL PROTECTION, WHAT
THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE, AND WE
HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY -- WE HAVE
OPENED UP THE NEWSLETTER TO MORE
THAN JUST THE NEWSLETTER.
I WANT TO THANK DEAN, A
PHENOMENAL EDITOR.
REMAINING ACTIVE, STAYING
CONNECTED TO OUR HUMANITY,
TRYING TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE
NEW NORMAL AND HOW WE REACT IS
TO EACH OTHER AND CARE ABOUT
EACH OTHER.
ARE WE AT A GREAT MEETING, I
SAID I WOULD LOOP BACK, WITH
SEATTLE GREENWAYS?
MORE SPECIFICALLY THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.
THE REASON WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
TO THEM AND ASSISTING WITH US
AND WORKING WITH PARKS TO TALK
ABOUT HOW WE HAVE MORE SAFE
STREETS AND THEY PRESENTED SOME
PLANS TO US AND I'M GUESSING
THAT THEY HAVE MET.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE
MET WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
AS WELL.
BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE
THREE STRATEGIES OR ABOUT HOW WE
CAN START REDUCING DANGEROUS
CROWDING ON THE SIDEWALKS AND
PARKS.
ADAPTATION TO TALK ABOUT
SIDEWALK EXPANSIONS, A LOT OF
BUSINESSES WANT S-DOT TO LIFT
RESTRICTIONS SO THEY CAN START
PUTTING SMALL TABLES OUTSIDE,
HAVING A BETTER WAY TO BE ABLE
TO SERVE PICK UP FOOD OUTSIDE,
THEY HAVE CAR-FREE RECREATIONAL
ROUTE THAT REDUCES SPEEDING.
IT HAS BEEN GREAT MEETING WITH
THEM AND GETTING THEIR IDEAS AND
SITTING DOWN OR TALKING TO --
NOT SITTING DOWN, BUT TALKING TO
THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT HOW WE
CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THE
IDEAS NOW THAT WE KNOW WE'LL BE
SHELTERING IN PLACE IN ALL OF
MAY AND WEATHER IS GETTING
BETTER, MORE THAN EVER WE HAVE
TO OPEN UP MORE SPACE SO PEOPLE
CAN GET OUT AND MOVE AROUND,
PARTICULARLY THE CHILDREN NOT IN
SCHOOL.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
LOOKED AT IS WE LOOKED AT
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING
THE NATION WITH 74 MILES OF OPEN
STREETS.
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO
STRIVE FOR MORE OPEN STREETS AND
WORKING WITH PARKS WITH THAT.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PARKS
AND SHARE INFORMATION ON THE
HIGH USE AT GAS WORKS, GOLDEN
GARDENS, GREEN LAKE AND
VOLUNTEER AND LOOKING AT OF
COURSE, THE HEALTHY STREET
EXPANSION.
AGAIN, S-DOT, ALONG WITH PARKS,
IS COLLECTING DATA ON USER
STREETS AND SATISFACTION.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY, THOUGH I
DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO WALK
THROUGH THERE, TWO BLOCKS AWAY
WE HAVE A STREET CLOSED IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, A SAFE STREET, AND
WONDERFUL TO SEE A LOT OF
FAMILIES OUT THERE THIS WEEKEND.
RUNNERS, PEOPLE WITH THEIR
STROLLERS WALKING, I DID NOT
KNOW THERE WERE SO MANY DOGS AND
CHILDREN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW I KNOW.
I THINK THAT IS IT, EXCEPT FOR
THE FIRE STATION, AND I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING ON
TOP OF THIS AND ON A SIDE NOTE,
I KNOW THIS HAS ALL BEEN
DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US, TRYING
TO DO OUR JOBS FROM HOME, BUT I
THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO CALL AND CHECK ON
ME AND GET INFORMATION AND SEND
US INFORMATION.
I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO THE
DIRECTOR FOR GETTING THE
INFORMATION AND THE CLERK'S
OFFICE, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE DO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WANT TO THANK THE CLERK'S
OFFICE FOR GETTING US A SHEET OF
ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO SIGN-IN SO
IF WE'RE LISTENING, WE HAVE A
SIGN-IN SHEET AND KNOW WHO IS
SPEAKING AND WHERE THEY'RE FROM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT IS ALL I GOT.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
FOR THAT REPORT.
JUST QUICKLY, COLLEAGUES, I WANT
TO NOTE THAT TOM IS ON THE CALL
WITH US THIS MORNING IF FOLKS
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
COUNCIL BILLS RELATED TO FIRE
STATION 31, SO TOM, I KNOW
YOU'RE MUTED RIGHT NOW.
DO YOU WANT TO UNMUTE, AND IS
THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD TO THE FIRE STATION 31
COUNCIL BILLS THAT HASN'T
ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED BY MY
COLLEAGUES?
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, NO, I DON'T
THINK SO.
I THINK BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRETTY MUCH TOUCHED ON THE
ISSUES.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR TOM OR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD OR JUAREZ
ON THE FIRE STATION 31 COUNCIL
BILLS WE'LL BE CONSIDERING THIS
AFTERNOON?
ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS LIKE THIS KNOCKED IT OUT
OF THE BALL PARK WITH THEIR
BRIEFING THIS MORNING, SO THANK
YOU, TOM, FOR BEING AVAILABLE
THIS MORNING.
I APPRECIATE YOU HANGING TIGHT
THROUGH THE REPORTS IN THE EVENT
THAT FOLKS HAD QUESTIONS.
OF COURSE, THEY CAN STILL REACH
OUT TO YOU BETWEEN NOW AND 2:00
IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT
COME UP.
THIS WAS SORT OF THEIR SHOT TO
HAVE YOU AVAILABLE IN THIS LESS
FORMAL SETTING TO ASK ANY
QUESTIONS.
YOU'RE FREE TO GO AND GET ON
WITH YOUR DAY IF YOU NEED TO.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ON HER
REPORT?
I DON'T SEE OR HEAR ANY, SO WE
ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
ALONG TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
NOT A LOT FROM ME TODAY.
THERE IS NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON HOMELESSNESS TRAGEDIES AND
INVESTMENTS, I CAN SAY THAT LAST
WEEK I PAIRED THE FIRST MEETING
OF THE COUNCIL'S AUDIT STAKE
HOLDER COMMITTEE.
IT WENT REALLY WELL.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC LISTEN LINE SO
IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET IN THERE
AND HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON WITH
THE PERFORMANCE AUDITING AND
LISTEN TO DAVID JONES, LISTEN TO
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, THE
AUDITOR, IT IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC, SO
JUST FLAGGING THAT AS WE GO
FORWARD, ALL OF THE INFORMATION
FOR THE GROUP IS POSTED ON MY
COUNCIL WEBSITE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH THE
STAKE HOLDER GROUP.
I ENGAGED IN A WEEKLY CALL WITH
THE BUSINESS GROUPS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY WHERE WE GOT A PRESENTATION
FROM KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY ON SOME OF THE ACTIONS
THAT THEIR OFFICE IS TAKING.
PART OF THAT INCLUDED A
BRIEFING, AND THIS WAS COVERED A
LITTLE EARLIER, A BRIEFING ON
THE CO-LEAD PROGRAM AS IT
RELATES TO ASSISTING FOLKS
RELEASED FROM KING COUNTY JAIL.
KING COUNTY JAIL DID REDUCE
THEIR POPULATION TO ALLOW FOR
SOCIAL DISTANCING FROM 1,800 TO
1,300 INMATES.
A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
RELEASED ARE ENGAGED WITH
CO-LEAD, HAVE BEEN RELEASING
SERVICES AND IT WAS AN
INTERESTING PROGRAM THAT MIGHT
HAVE SOME SCALEABILITY TO
ADDRESS SOME OF OUR ONGOING
ISSUES AND ENGAGING WITH FOLKS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THAT IS AN INTERESTING
CONVERSATION.
I DO WANT TO FLAG, GOING BACK TO
OUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S UPDATE,
THAT I WILL BE ATTENDING THE
TOWN HALL TOMORROW NIGHT
RELATING TO THE PAY ROLL TAX
LEGISLATION AT 6:00 P.M..
NOT SURE IF MY OFFICE IS
FORMALLY RSVPED.
IF NOT, CONSIDER THIS THE FORMAL
RSVP.
I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.
OTHERWISE, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER UPDATES
AT THIS TIME GIVEN THAT THE
OTHER UPDATES WERE PROVIDED
DURING COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WE'LL
CONTINUE ON WITH REPORTS THIS
MORNING, SO NEXT UP WILL BE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
I WILL BE INTRODUCING A BILL TO
PREVENT COVID-19 RELATED HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION FOLLOWING THIS
EMERGENCY AND WOULD CERTAINLY
APPRECIATE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
VOTING TO PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR
FOR DISCUSSION.
THE FOR WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS
WORRIED ABOUT EVICTION.
WE KNOW AS IT STANDS, MANY FOLKS
WILL BE FACING EVICTION ONCE THE
MORATORIUMS WE HAVE ARE LIFTED.
A NEW RESEARCH STUDY SHOWS THAT
NEARLY HALF OF LOW INCOME
AMERICANS HAVE EXPERIENCED
INCOME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
WASHINGTONONS HAVE FILED FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT AND MANY ARE IN
SEATTLE.
THIS CRISIS SHOULDN'T HAUNT
PEOPLE FOR THE REST OF THEIR
LIVES, AS WE KNOW CAN HAPPEN IF
SOMEONE HAS AN EVICTION NOTICE
ON THE RECORD.
WE WOULD BAR LANDLORDS FROM
DENYING HOUSING FOR TENANTS THAT
FACED AN ELECTION DURING THE
EMERGENCY ORDER AND THE SIX
MONTHS FOLLOWING.
THAT INCLUDES EVICTION NOTICES
AND EXCLUDES EVICTIONS THAT
RESULT FROM A THREAT TO THE
HEALTH OR SAFETY OF NEIGHBORS,
THE LANDLORD, OR THE TENANT OR
LANDLORD HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.
SECOND THING IS IT PROVIDES A
CAUSE FOR ORDER OF LIMITED
DISSEMINATION WHICH WOULD HIDE
AN EVICTION FROM A TENANT
SCREENING ITEMS.
THIS LEGISLATION COMPLIMENTS THE
EVICTION DEFENSE LEGISLATION
THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
IS SPONSORING THAT WE WOULD
DISCUSS THIS AFTERNOON, WHICH I
SUPPORT, AND IT DOES THAT BY
ADDING AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF
PROTECTION FOLLOWING ANY
APPEARANCE IN COURT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION
ONCE WE HAVE IT ON.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
CO-SPONSORING THIS.
IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WANT TO
CO-SPONSOR, BE IN TOUCH.
THE LAST WEEK, MOVING ONTO THE
DISTRICT, LAST WEEK I HELPED
WASHINGTON BUILDING LEADERS OF
CHANGE, HELPED THAT TEAM FEED
THE BEACH.
TWICE A WEEK THEY GO OUT AND
PROVIDE FREE HOT LUNCH FOR FOLKS
IN THE COMMUNITY, SO I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR LETTING ME COME
TOGETHER TO ASSESS BALE FOOD
PACKS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND
SUPER SIX FOR THE DELICIOUS
WRAPS THEY PROVIDED.
WE ALSO MET WITH S-DOT LAST WEEK
TO TALK ABOUT PLANS FOR
MITIGATING THE IMPACTS OF THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE ON THE
GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD FOR
TRAFFIC MITIGATION AND IMPACTS,
THEY'RE FOCUSING ON FOUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, GEORGETOWN, SOTO,
HIGHLAND PARK AND SOUTH PARK AND
THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
OSE TO PUT TOGETHER FOR
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE DIFFERENT
PROJECTS WILL BE HAPPENING, SO
THESE ARE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTS.
THEY WILL DO THIS FOR CYCLISTS
AND FOR MARITIME AND FREIGHT AND
PRIORITIZING THE PROJECTS WITH
THE COMMUNITIES, SO WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL HAVE A
DRAFT PLAN IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
THEY DO HAVE INFORMATION ON
THEIR WEBSITE FOR NOW, AND THEN
THIS FRIDAY WE'LL BE MEETING,
HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH
GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORS TO SHARE
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND TO HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM FOLKS WILL BE
IMPACTED BY THE CHANGE.
WE ALSO WILL BEGIN -- WE'LL
CONTINUE VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS ON
FRIDAY FROM 10:00 A.M.
TO NOON.
IF CONSTITUENTS ARE INTERESTED,
SIGN UP FOR OFFICE HOURS BY
VISITING MY COUNCIL WEBSITE AND
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MORALES.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' REPORT?
OKAY, SEEING AND HEARING NONE,
WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THE LIST
HERE.
SO NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> FIRST I WANT TO NOTE LAST
FRIDAY, MAY 1ST, WE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR
WORKERS ACROSS NOT JUST THE
REGION BUT OUR WORLD AND THE
NUMBER OF LOW WAGE WORKERS
CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL WORKERS NOW
FOR COURAGEOUS ACTION TO CALL
ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES THEY'RE
STILL FACING IN THE WORKPLACES,
NOTABLY THE LOWER WAGES, LACK OF
PPE, LACK OF SUFFICIENT TIME
OFF, EITHER SICK LEAVE OR
MEDICAL LEAVE, AND JUST A DESIRE
TO CALL ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO
HAVE OFTEN BEEN PAID THE LEAST
NOW BEING DEEMED ESSENTIAL
WORKERS AND WANT TO MAKE SURE IN
THE POST COVID WORLD, THINKING
ABOUT WHAT RECOVERY LOOKS LIKE,
WE THINK ON HOW WE LIFT UP AND
PROTECT THE WORKERS A.
I WANT TO THANK THE WORKERS WHO
STEPPED FORWARD AND CALLING
ATTENTION TO THE WORKPLACE
CONDITIONS.
WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO
PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERNATIONAL
WEBINAR OR A NATIONAL WEBINAR
WITH REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR,
WHO HAS PUT FORWARD LEGISLATION
THIS CONGRESS TO PROTECT RENTERS
AND TO PROTECT MORTGAGE PAYMENTS
WHEN WE'RE IN A CRISIS OF PEOPLE
NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY RENT, THAT
ALSO AFFECTS SMALL LANDLORDS WHO
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR
MORTGAGES AS WELL.
IN ORDER TO SUPPORT TENANTS AND
THOSE WHO ARE SMALL LANDLORDS OR
HOUSING AUTHORITY LEADERS AND
ALSO NON-PROFIT HOUSING
ASSOCIATIONS, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THERE IS ACTUAL SUPPORT FOR
THE ENTITIES.
THANK YOU TO REPRESENT ILHAN
OMAR FOR ORGANIZING THIS CALL.
WE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH
COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM DENVER,
LOUISIANA, LOUISVILLE,
PHILADELPHIA, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS
ANGELES, I SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED
NOT JUST FOR THE TEMPORARY
MEASURES TO PROTECT FOLKS FROM
THE IMPOSING COSTS OF RENT AND
MORTGAGES BUT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE
NEED TO ADDRESS ON THE GOING
CRISIS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND LARGER
CITIES LIKE SEATTLE.
BOTH PROVIDE IMMEDIATE
PROTECTIONS NOW AND THE CALL FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DOUBLE
DOWN IN THEIR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOW FASTING.
WE'RE AT A 40-YEAR HISTORIC LOW.
IT IS IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT
BOTH IN THE SAME BREATH.
>> COLLEAGUES TODAY, THE FIRST
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A PUBLIC
HEARING.
THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW
FOR THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND
INCLUDES DETAILS FOR THE CITY TO
SPEND THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ON
GRANTS.
TWO, THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS.
THIRD, THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS
GRANT, ESG, AND FOURTH, THE HOME
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
OR THE HOME FUNDS.
A DRAFT OF THE PLAN BASED ON THE
BEST ESTIMATES ON HOW MUCH
FUNDING WE WOULD RECEIVE AND THE
2020 BUDGET WAS HEARD IN
DECEMBER OF 2019.
WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE
ACTUAL GRANT AMOUNT.
THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO ADOPT THE
FINAL AMOUNT.
THE PLAN WAS ORIGINALLY
TRANSMITTED AND THIS PLAN THAT
WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSMITTED HAS
BEEN UPDATED BY THE EXECUTIVES
SO THERE IS NOW A PROPOSED
SUBSTITUTE WHICH REFLECTS THE
LATEST INFORMATION ON THE GRANT
FUNDS AND THE PROJECTS THAT THEY
SUPPORT.
YOU WILL FIND ALL OF THAT
INFORMATION LINKED IN THE AGENDA
TO THE PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE.
THE PLAN INCLUDES OVER
$25 MILLION OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE INCLUDING
3.4 MILLION TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY
SHELTER OPERATIONS AND CASE
MANAGEMENT TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
7.8 MILLION TO PROVIDE HOUSING
FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH AIDS AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
1 MILLION TO IMPROVE FIRE SAFETY
AT THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
6.4 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT, AND 2.8 MILLION FOR
SMALL BUSINESS STABILIZATION.
MOST OF THESE FUNDS WERE
INCLUDED IN THE 2020 BUDGET, THE
PLAN REFLECTS THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED MORE GRANT AND FUNDINGS
THAN PARTICIPATED.
THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, I
WANT TO REPEAT IS A PUBLIC
HOUSING.
IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO COMMENT BY REGISTERING
TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING
TODAY AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HAS NOTED THROUGH PUBLIC
COMMENTS LINK WHICH IS AT
SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL/COMMITTEES/
PUBLIC-COMMENT.
YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT BEGINNING TODAY AT NOON
AND THERE IS ALSO A LINK IN
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S PUBLIC
HEARING ON THE ELEMENT, YOU'RE
ALSO ABLE TO SEND COMMENTS TO
SEATTLE.GOV.
AGAIN, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, TODAY
IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR ACTION ON
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING TO
COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS BUT
THE HOPE IS THAT THE VOTE ON
THIS PLAN WILL TAKE PLACE ON
MAY 11TH.
THE NEXT BIG ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER
2.
COUNCIL BILL 119783.
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE
BILL THAT WE GOT A BRIEFING FROM
LAST WEEK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND MOST NOTABLY, DIRECTOR BEN
NOBLE AND THE CEO IN THE BUDGET
OFFICE.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE FIRST
ROUND OF FUNDING FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AS WE DO
SO, AS I NOTED LAST WEEK, THIS
HELPS SET A TONE FOR HOW WE WILL
ALLOCATE AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO
SUPPORT THOSE IN THE CRISIS THAT
IS COVID.
THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THAT HAS
BEEN SENT AROUND FOR YOUR REVIEW
PRIOR TO OUR FULL COUNCIL
MEETING TODAY.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT SENT BY AMY
GORE.
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR THE WORK
AND WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
AS WE REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL SENT
DOWN.
I WANT TO THANK BEN NOBLE FOR
WORKING WITH US AS WE CONSIDER
POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS AS WELL.
THIS IS A POINT IN TIME
AMENDMENT AND GIVE YOU A FEW
UPDATES ON WHAT WE ANTICIPATE TO
HAPPEN TODAY AND OVER THE NEXT
WEEK OR SO.
WE KNOW WE'RE IN A CRITICAL TIME
TO RESPOND TO THIS ECONOMIC
CRISIS AND SO THAT IS WHY YOU
SEE IN THE PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS
IN FRONT OF US THINGS LIKE
SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION FUND, FOR FUNDING
THE FUNDING STABILITY FUND,
WHICH IS WHAT YOU DISCUSSED LAST
YEAR.
FOR ASSISTANCE AND RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US NOT
TO JUST RESPOND TO THE ECONOMIC
CRISIS THAT IS PRESENTED IN
FRONT OF US DUE TO COVID BUT ACT
WITH URGENCY DUE TO THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS PRESENT IN OUR
COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR
COMMUNITY THAT IS THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
THOSE WITH EXISTING HEALTH
CONDITIONS, THOSE WHO ARE
HOMELESS OR HOUSING UNSTABLE AND
MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THE
NECESSARY ASSISTANCE VIA FOOD,
SUPPORT, SHELTER AND ASSISTANCE,
GETTING FOLKS INTO INDIVIDUAL
ROOMS SO THEY DON'T CONTRACT THE
VIRUS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE WHO ARE PROVIDING SERVICES
IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE THE
STAFFING AND SUPPORT THEY NEED
IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE
ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
THE AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF US
ATTEMPTS TO WALK A FINE LINE
WITH ATTEMPTING TO SHARE THE
RESOURCES, THE INITIAL DOLLARS
ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR THE
HEALTHCARE CRISIS AS WELL AS THE
ECONOMIC CRISIS.
WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF
US IS ADDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BUILDING
STABILITY FUND, ALSO MAKING SURE
THAT WE'RE CLARIFYING THAT THE
DOLLARS IF AVAILABLE AND
APPROPRIATE, CAN BE USED FOR
FOOD SUPPORT FOR THE UNSHELTERED
PERSONS, USING THE ESG FUNDS
ALLOWS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO
MEAL DELIVERY TO THOSE IN
SUPPORT OF HOUSING USING THE OAA
FUNDS WHEN APPROPRIATE.
WE HAVE AMY GORE ON THE PHONE
THAT CAN HELP WALK US THROUGH
ANY AMENDMENTS OR CONCERNS YOU
HAVE AS WELL.
I'LL BE VERY BRIEF AND PERHAPS
TURN IT OVER TO AMY IF THAT IS
OKAY WITH YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS YOU'LL SEE
FROM US IN THE AMENDMENT IS A
DESIRE TO HOLD BACK ABOUT
$1.4 MILLION IN USE FOR RIGHT
NOW.
OUR DESIRE IS TO ENGAGE IN A
CONVERSATION OVER THE NEXT FEW
DAYS HERE WITH THE OFFICE AND
HSD TO TALK ABOUT THE PRESSING
ISSUES THAT WE SEE FROM HOMELESS
SERVICE PROVIDERS AS THE DESC
AND E-MAIL TO THE CITY LAST
FRIDAY, THE COVID RELATED CRISIS
IS COMING INTO FOCUS NOW SINCE
WE HAVE HAD TWO MONTHS OF
EXPERIENCE TAKING ACTION TO
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS
AMONG OUR CLIENTS AND THE
BROADER COMMUNITY.
HE GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE
ISSUES AROUND MEAL DELIVERY,
NEEDING TO PUT INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE CURRENTLY IN SHELTER INTO
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS, THE COST OF
HOTEL ROOMS POTENTIALLY AND THE
COST OF STAFFING TO MAKE SURE
THOSE SERVICES ARE ONGOING FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND MEALS CAN BE
DELIVERED.
I THINK THAT IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN A
ROBUST CONVERSATION WITH HSD,
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING, WITH
THE OFFICE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
THE FOLKS ON THE FRONT LINE
PROVIDING SERVICES TO THOSE IN
SHELTERS AND TALK ABOUT THE NEED
FOR US TO QUICKLY ALLOCATE
EXISTING FUNDS OUT THE DOOR TO
DE-DENSEFY THE REMAINING
INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED INDIVIDUAL
ROOMS, TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS
SUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR FOOD
ASSISTANCE TO THOSE LIVING IN
VARIOUS PLACES, MEAL DELIVERY TO
SUPPORT THE HOUSING AND TO THOSE
THAT ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AND
ENSURE THERE IS SUFFICIENT
FUNDING FOR STAFF.
SO WITH THE SUPPORT AND I THINK
AGREEMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE,
OUR AMENDMENT WOULD HOLD BACK
1.4 MILLION OF THE CBDG FUNDS
ALLOCATED IN THIS ROUND OF THE
CARES ACT TO ENSURE THERE IS
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOMELESS
SERVICE PROVIDERS, TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE FUNDING NEEDS ARE THAT
THEY HAVE FOR COVID RESPONSE AND
IDENTIFY THE SOURCES TO MEET THE
NEEDS AND WITH THAT, PERHAPS I
WILL PAUSE TO ALLOW FOR AMY GORE
TO WALK THROUGH ANY OF THE
AMENDMENT DETAILS IF THAT IS
DESIRED SINCE IT CAME IN THIS
MORNING AT 10:00 A.M.
AND I'LL
CLOSE WITH CLOSE COMMENTS WHICH
THEY ARE TO BUILD TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK AMY ON THE
LINE TO WALK US THROUGH THE
AMENDMENTS AND TAKE, PERHAPS,
SOME QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT OR THE SUBSTANCE OF
THE BILL.
MISS GORE, PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, CAN
YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> WE CAN.
>> FANTASTIC.
SO AS COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED, I SENT AROUND A
SUBSTITUTE COUNCIL BILL 119783
ABOUT 20 MINUTES AGO.
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL DOES THREE
THINGS.
FIRST, IT ADDS FOOD SUPPORT FOR
UNSHELTERED PERSONS TO THE USES
OF FUNDS FOR THE EMERGENCY
SERVICE GRANT MONEYS THAT WE
ARE ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING.
THE SECOND THING THAT IT DOES IS
ADDS MEAL DELIVERY TO PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO USES OF
FUNDS FOR THE OLDER AMERICANS
ACT GRANT, MONEY THAT WE ARE
ACCEPTING.
THE ORIGINAL BILL JUST TALKS
ABOUT MEAL DELIVERY TO
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
PARTICIPATING IN THE CONGREGATE
MEAL PROGRAMS BUT DOESN'T
DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL OF THOSE
DELIVERIES GOING TO INDIVIDUALS
WHO MIGHT BE HOME BOUND IN
PERMANENT SUPPORT HOUSING.
IT CHANGES THE USE OF THE FUNDS
A LITTLE BIT TO ALLOW FOR THAT
ACTION.
THE MAJOR CHANGE THAT THE
SUBSTITUTE BILL DOES IS CHANGE
THE FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR THE
CDBG FUNDS.
IT ACCEPTS ALL 5.6 MILLION OF
THE CDBG FUNDS BUT TAKES
1.4 MILLION OF THOSE FUNDS AND
DOES NOT APPROPRIATE THEM AND
THEN REDISTRICTED THE
APPROPRIATION FOR THE REMAINING
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE FUNDED
THROUGH CDBG.
THAT WOULD WESTBOUND A REDUCTION
AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION FROM
THE PROPOSED 1.5 MILLION IN
APPROPRIATIONS TO APPROXIMATELY
$705,000.
IT WOULD REDUCE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE THAT IS GOING TO THE
HOME BASE PROGRAM THAT IS BEING
ADMINISTERED BY UNITED WAY.
IT WOULD REDUCE THAT
APPROPRIATION FROM 1.5 MILLION
TO $705,000.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE BUILDING
STABILITY FUND, WHICH IS THE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WILL GO
TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO TO
COVER LOST RENT.
IT WOULD CHANGE FROM 1.1 MILLION
TO 1.4 MILLION.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE SMALL
BUSINESS STABILIZATION FUND
WOULD BE REDUCED SLIGHTLY FROM
1.5 MILLION TO 1.4 MILLION.
THE 1.4 MILLION THAT IS NOT
APPROPRIATED, THE IDEA IS THAT
AFTER THE DISCUSSIONS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED, THAT COUNCIL WOULD
APPROPRIATE THE 1.4 MILLION IN
FUTURE ACTION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AIMLE.
IF AMY, IF I
MAY SUMMARIZE SOME POINTS ON
THIS.
>> CAN I OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS REALLY QUICKLY AND
THEN YOU CAN SORT OF CLEAN UP IF
YOU NEED TO.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I SAW YOU
RAISE YOUR HAND, PLEASE.
YOU'RE ON MUTE.
>> FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
CENTRAL STAFFER AMY GORE FOR
FULFILLING ONE OF THE THINGS I
WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
DO BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO DO.
AND THAT IS NAMELY TO FUND SOME
MEAL DELIVERY TO SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING PROJECTS.
WE HAD BEEN LOOKING AT THE ESG
SOURCE AND FOUND THAT THAT WAS
NOT AN ALLOWED SOURCE OF FUNDS
FOR THE PURPOSE.
SO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
TO THE DECISION ON HOLDING OFF
ON APPROPRIATING SOME OF THE
FUNDS, THE CDBG FUNDS, I HAVE
SOME CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY THE
REDUCTION IN RENT ASSISTANCE.
WE KNOW THAT THE FUNDED HOME
BASE PROGRAM TOOK 7,000
APPLICATIONS A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO AND THEY'RE ONLY
ANTICIPATING BEING ABLE TO FUND
ABOUT 2,000 HOUSEHOLDS OUT OF
7,000 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED IN A
48-HOUR PERIOD, AND I BELIEVE
THAT WAS BASED ON THE
ANTICIPATION OF THE ALLOCATION
OF CBDB FUNDS TO ADD TO THE HOME
BASE PROGRAM.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE INTENT IS
NOT TO NEVER APPROPRIATE THEM,
BUT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS THE BEST
APPROPRIATION OF THEM, BUT I AM
CONCERNED, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
WE HAVE ALREADY EAR MARKED -- WE
HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, BUT THROUGH
AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR HOME
BASE, WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW
GREAT THE NEED IS FOR THESE
FUNDS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT DELAYING THE
AVAILABILITY OF THESE FUNDS
WHILE WE HAVE ANOTHER
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT IT IS THE BEST USE OF THE
FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO
WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE TO
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DO YOU
HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR
DO YOU WANT AMY TO?
>> I'M HAPPY TO AND THEN, AMY,
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
ADD, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR ARTICULATING THAT.
AS YOU SAID, THERE IS PRESSING
NEED FROM EVERYTHING FROM FOOD
ASSISTANCE TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND AS
WE'RE HEARING FROM THE FRONT
LINE CARE PROVIDERS FOR THOSE
WHO ARE TRYING TO DE-DENSEFY THE
SHELTER SERVICES, THE ONGOING
NEED FOR FOLKS TO GET MOVED INTO
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS AND TRYING TO
STRIKE THE BALANCE IS EXACTLY
THE CONCERN THAT WE CAME UP.
IN TALKING TO SOME FOLKS WHO
WERE WORKING ON TRYING TO GET
PEOPLE INTO INDIVIDUAL ROOMS AND
THE MEAL DELIVERY SERVICES, I
RAISED THE CONCERN ABOUT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND BEING A BIG
PRIORITY FOR US WITH THE ENTIRE
COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK
IS IMPORTANT IS NOT SAYING IT
WON'T BE USED.
WE'LL BE ALLOCATING THE DOLLARS
AS WE SEE THE 13 MILLION GOING
OUT FROM THE STATE DOLLARS AND
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO
REALLOCTE THE FUNDS, WE HAVE
HEARD THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY
FUNDING AT HSD ALREADY TO BE
FUNDING A DE-DENSIFICATION
STRATEGIES WITHIN THE SHELTERS.
IT WAS SUGGESTED WE HOLD BACK
THE 1.4.
DON'T ALLOCATE IS SPECIFICALLY
TO DEDENSIFICATION, WHICH IS MY
DESIRE.
KNOWING THERE ARE EVICTION
PROTECTIONS AND RENTAL
PROTECTIONS IN PLACE AND B,
THERE IS ONGOING FUNDS AND TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY ADDITIONAL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE WE CAN GET OUT
THE DOOR.
IDEALLY ON MONDAY, BUT TO KNOW
THAT WE DO HAVE THE 1.4 JUST IN
CASE THINGS DON'T COMING
TOGETHER OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS
HERE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS
DE-DENSIFICATION.
THE REAL IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I
KNOW THE EXECUTIVES OFFICE IS
AWARE OF THIS AS WE TALK TO THE
COUNTY PARTNERS, IS THE DESIRE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY
THE FUNDING THAT IS NEEDED AND
IF WE NEED THE 1.4, I THINK WE
ALL WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHERE THAT SHOULD PROBABLY
GO.
MY DESIRE WOULD BE THAT THE 1.4
ULTIMATELY GO BACK INTO RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AS WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT HERE, KNOWING IT IS ONE
SMALL PIECE OF A LARGER PIE, BUT
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FOLKS THAT
ARE IN SHELTERS STILL, WE KNOW
WE HAVE ABOUT 500 INDIVIDUALS
THAT NEED TO GET INTO THE
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS, WE HAVE A NEED
FOR ONGOING MEAL ASSISTANCE AND
PERSONNEL SUPPORT, AND WHEN I
HEAR THAT THERE IS POTENTIALLY
FUNDING ALREADY EXISTING AT HSD,
I THINK THAT IS REALLY POSITIVE
AND WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH THE
EXECUTIVE TO RELEASE THAT 1.4
QUICKLY, BUT I THINK THEY AND WE
HAVE A SHARED DESIRE THAT WE GET
THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE DOLLARS
OUT THE DOOR AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO WANT ASSURANCES IF THERE
IS NOT THAT FUNDING OR THE
CONVERSATION DOESN'T
MATERIALIZE, THAT WE HELP MOVE
PEOPLE OUT OF THE CONGREGATE
SHELTER SETTINGS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
ONE REPORT THAT I HEARD LATE
LAST WEEK AS WE WERE WAITING FOR
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS TO BE
ANSWERED THAT WE SUBMITTED ON
MONDAY WAS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TWO
WEEKS AWAY.
WE'RE TWO WEEKS BEHIND IN SEEING
SOME OF THE DATA POINTS THAT WE
HAVE SEEN FROM LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES ALREADY.
IF INDIVIDUALS DON'T GET MOVED
INTO INDIVIDUAL BEDS OR
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS, WE'RE GETTING
TO A CRISIS POINT WHERE PEOPLE
START CONTRACTING COVID-19 AT A
HIGHER RATE AND I WANT ON
APPLAUD THE HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS ON THE
FRONT LINE THAT KEPT THE NUMBERS
RELATIVELY LOW, BUT WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE FOLKS THAT
ARE IN SHELTERS STILL, HAVING
THEM SIX FEET APART IN BEDS AND
ASSUMING PEOPLE WILL STAY SIX
FEET APART AND NOT CONTRACT
COVID AT SOME POINT IN THE DAY
IS NOT WORKING OUT.
WE'RE PLAYING WITH A LITTLE BIT
OF A FIRE HERE AS WE THINK ABOUT
HOW WE GET FOLKS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE INTO THAT INDIVIDUAL
ROOM SETTING AND AWAY FROM
CONGREGATE SHELTERS.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT IT
IS A CONCERN SHARED BY OTHER
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT WE GET
AS MUCH FUNDING OUT IN RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AS POSSIBLE AND WE DO
IT WITH URGENCY.
>> GREAT.
I KNOW THAT WE ALSO HAVE TRACY
RATCLIFFE AND JEFF SIMMONS ON
THE LINE RELATED TO THIS
PARTICULAR BILL SO WANTED TO
CERTAINLY GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD ANYTHING THAT
THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT TO THIS
CONVERSATION AT THIS POINT.
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
UNITED WAY DOES HAVE A MILLION
DOLLARS OF FUNDING THAT WE
PROVIDED AND WE DID THAT THROUGH
REALLOCATION FOR THE FUTURE
HOUSING LEVY.
THEY HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS THAT
THEY'RE USING MEET THE NEEDS OF
CITY RESIDENTS THAT HAVE APPLIED
SO FAR.
OBVIOUSLY THE LEGISLATION IS
SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE ANOTHER
$700,000 IN THE SHORT-TERM TO
ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO MEET
THE NEED.
JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW THAT.
>> GREAT.
CHEF, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY.
SO I THINK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, I WANT TO APPRECIATE
THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH
THE EXECUTIVE TO GET MORE
INFORMATION AND SORT OF ZERO IN
ON THIS PARTICULAR APPROPRIATION
NEED AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE
HEARING FROM COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, WHICH I THINK YOU AGREE
WITH AND ARE ALSO ALIGNED WITH,
WHICH IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
CREATE ANY SORT OF UNDO DELAY OR
DELAY CERTAINLY THAT WOULD
RESULT IN NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RELYING ON
THE SERVICES THROUGH THE FUNDING
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND I AM
HEARING YOU SAY THAT THAT IS NOT
THE GOAL AND THAT REALLY, WE
NEED TO SEE SOME MOTIVATION ON
BEHALF OF THE EXECUTIVE TO GO
AHEAD AND ADVANCE THE
CONVERSATION IN DUE HASTE TO
COME UP WITH A CLEAR SOLUTION TO
GET THESE DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR.
MY HOPE IS THAT THAT WILL BE
ABLE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AND THAT
WE'LL SEE A GOOD PROPOSAL FOR
APPROPRIATION FOR THE DOLLARS
COME THROUGH QUICKLY.
I JUST WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO HEAR
YOUR THINKING ON HOW QUICKLY YOU
THINK THE TURN AROUND ON THIS
COULD BE OR HOPE IT WOULD BE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE
CLARIFICATION BY THE END OF THIS
WEEK.
I KNOW THAT THE OFFICE IS
COMMITTED TO ENGAGING WITH
SERVICE PROVIDERS THIS WEEK.
IT WAS FRIDAY WHEN FOLKS BEGAN
TO RECEIVE A NUMBER OF COMMENTS
ABOUT THE REALITY ON THE GROUND
AS IT RELATES TO THOSE WHO ARE
TRYING TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT
ARE STILL IN SHELTERS AND AS THE
REALITY IS SHARED AND PEOPLE
REALIZE THE TIGHT CONSTRAINTS
PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW,
POTENTIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO
OPERATE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, I
KNOW THAT THAT IS A REAL CONCERN
FOR THE CITY AT LARGE.
I BELIEVE THAT WITHIN THE NEXT,
A FEW DAYS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
HAVE THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS
AND HOPEFULLY REPORT BACK ON
MONDAY THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE
HEARD.
AGAIN, IF THE COUNCIL IS
SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOMES OF
THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND THE FUNDING
IDENTIFIED FOR A DECENT
DE-DENSIFICATION I THINK WE CAN
QUICKLY ON THE 1.4 MILLION
ALLOCATION AND RELEASE IT
APPROPRIATELY AS WE ALL DESIRE.
I WANT TO THANK FOLKS, THIS
WOULD BE A COMPLIMENT TO THE
HOTEL SERVICES AND
DE-DENSIFICATION SERVICES THAT
THE COUNTY IS RUNNING WHICH ARE
FOCUSED ON ISOLATION AND
QUARANTINE OR INQ.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
BEDS ARE SAVED FOR THOSE WHO MAY
BE EXPERIENCING COVID, SHOWING
SYMPTOMS, ARE CONTAGIOUS
THEMSELVES.
THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
EFFORT TO TRY TO REALLY BE
PREVENTIVE AND TO GET SOME OF
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STILL
IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS INTO
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS.
WHEN WE SPEND MONEY, IF WE'RE
ABLE TO GET FOLKS INTO
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS, A LOT OF THE
FUNDING, THE THREE QUARTERS ARE
REIMBURSED LATER, IDENTIFYING
OTHER SOURCES IS A FINE
CONVERSATION TO ENGAGE IN.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE WANT TO BE SMART WITH THE
DOLLARS AND USE AS MUCH
OPPORTUNITY AS WE CAN TO GET
REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDS.
MY HOPE IS WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME
BACK TO YOU NEXT WEEK AND TALK
ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THE 1.4.
FEELING PRETTY OPTIMISTIC AT
THIS POINT IN THE MORNING BUT I
KNOW THERE IS A PRESSING NEED.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU
HAD ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> I DO.
I REALLY SUPPORT THE UNDER LYING
GOALS AS EXPRESSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO USE
CITY
>> SIMILAR TO THE OTHER ISSUE
THAT I RAISED EARLIER, I WAS
GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT WITH
THE RABBIT HOLE AND HOW TO HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
NEED TO SHIFT OUR DE-
DENSIFICATION APPROACH AWAY FROM
THE INTENSIFYING FOR SHELTERS
INTO OTHER CONGREGATE CARE
SETTINGS BUT INSTEAD FROM
SHELTERS INTO HOTEL ROOMS.
AND I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT
REALLOCATING SOME OF THE FUNDS
SPECIFICALLY I WAS INTERESTED
IN REALLOCATING THE FUNDS FOR
THE COUNCILS HOMES FOR GOOD
PROGRAM BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE
WAS, IS PROPOSING IN THIS BILL
TO BACK OUT THE GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS THAT THE COUNCIL
PROVIDED AND INSTEAD USE THE
FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS AS A WAY
OF MAKING THE PROGRAM FUNDING
MORE SUSTAINABLE.
I WAS THINKING, WELL, WE FUNDED
THAT PROGRAM, LET'S HEAR $750
FOR THE INTENSIFICATION PROGRAM
FOCUSED ON PROVIDING HOTEL ROOMS
BUT THE THING I AM STRUGGLING
WITH IS I DON'T SEE, WE COULD
EARMARK MONEY BUT IF THE
EXECUTIVE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND
THEM THAT WAY I DON'T SEE A
WILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF THE
EXECUTIVE TO BUY HOTEL ROOMS
FOR THIS PURPOSE.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE ASKED THEY
HAVE SAID THAT'S WHAT THE
COUNTY IS DOING.
SO, HAVE YOU IN YOUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EXECUTIVE
HEARD A WILLINGNESS TO START
BUYING HOTEL ROOMS FOR THIS
VERY IMPORTANT PURPOSE?
>> YOU ARE EXACTLY ARTICULATING
THE CONCERNS I HAVE AS WELL.
I THINK THE UNDERSTANDING OF
WHY THESE HOTEL ROOMS IS
EVOLVING FOR THE EXECUTIVE, I
THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE
OPEN ROOMS AVAILABLE FROM THE
KING COUNTY PROGRAM AND
DEFINING THOSE KING COUNTY
ROOMS AS HIGH IQ IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
WE NEED ISOLATION AND
QUARANTINE ROOMS BUT IT'S VERY
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU AND I
ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH A MORE
PREVENTATIVE STRATEGY.
I WILL SAY I THINK THEY ARE
AWARE OF THE CONCERNS NOW MORE
THAN EVER, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
OF THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS
WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FOUR
DAYS ABOUT INTENT TO PUT
FORWARD, I THINK THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS, SPECIFICALLY OTHERS
WHO HAVE BEEN WEIGHING IN SINCE
FRIDAY HAVE PROVIDED A MORE
ROBUST PICTURE OF THE REALITY
ON THE GROUND.
I AM HOPING THAT MEANS BETWEEN
NOW AND THE NEXT FEW DAYS WITH
HST AND EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE
BEING INVOLVED AND
CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO
PAINT THIS PICTURE FOR US WE
WILL SEE A MOVEMENT TOWARD
PURCHASING ROOMS.
ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS.
YES, IT IS RESOURCE INTENSE AS
HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN "THE
SEATTLE TIMES" BUT IT ALSO
HELPS SAVE LIVES.
I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST
THING THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY
CONCERNED WITH RIGHT NOW.
IF IN THE NEXT 3 TO 4 WEEKS WE
CAN ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS
THAT IDEALLY WILL BE THREE
QUARTERS REIMBURSED BY THE FEDS,
AND WE SAVE LIVES, THAT WOULD BE
A WIN-WIN.
MY HOPE IS THAT BETWEEN YOU AND
ME AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVOLVE
OTHERS ON THE COUNCILS WELL, WE
CONTINUE TO SORT OF UNDERSCORE
AND MAKE THE PUSH FOR THESE
DOLLARS TO BE USED EXACTLY AS
YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
I WOULD SAY THIS PROBABLY MORE
OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
NEED IS NOW, GIVEN THE
PROVIDERS WEIGHING IN AND LAST
FOR DAYS AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHY WE WANT TO BRING FORWARD
THE AMENDMENT AND AT THIS POINT
HOLD BACK THE 1.4 SO THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING AND
WE HAVE ASSURANCE THAT THEY
DON'T COME TO FRUITION WE HAVE
1.4 AS A DOWN PAYMENT BUT
YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A TOUGH
DECISION BUT THESE ISSUES I
THINK IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE
REALLY PAINTED A NEW STARK
REALITY FOR OUR FRIENDS IN
TERMS OF WHERE THE ALLOCATIONS
SHOULD GO.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THE PRESENTATION?
WE HAVE COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF
WITH US SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FOR THEM OR CONCERNS ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL?
I DON'T HEAR ANY, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE
BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO THIS.
SEEING THERE ARE NO MORE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT
THIS BILL IF YOU ARE FREE, GO
ABOUT THE REST OF YOUR WORK FOR
THE DAY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO
CALL IN THIS MORNING.
I APPRECIATE IT AND ALL OF THE
WORK YOU ARE DOING.
ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR REPORT OR
CAN WE CONTINUE?
>> WE CAN CONTINUE, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO ECHO THE APPRECIATION
FOR CENTRAL STAFF, ESPECIALLY
AMY GORE, THANK YOU FOR HER
WORK OVER THE WEEKEND.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON THROUGH.
WE ARE CLOSE TO BEING DONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
ON THIS AFTERNOON , FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA, THERE ARE NO
ITEMS. IN ADDITION OUR
COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION,
UTILITIES IS CANCELED FOR THIS
WEEK.
THIS PAST WEDNESDAY I JOINED A
CONFERENCE CALL WITH NEARLY 20
DISTRICT 4 COMMUNITY COUNCIL
LEADERS REPRESENTING
NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 4.
PRIORITIES THEY DISCUSSED
INCLUDED CRIME PREVENTION,
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, PUBLIC INPUT
ON REAL ESTATE PROJECTS, COVID-
19 PANDEMIC, HOMELESSNESS, THE
NEW DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT AREA,
CITY BUDGET, BUS SERVICE,
CONCERNS ABOUT UP ZONES,
CONCERNS ABOUT DISPLACEMENT,
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT, NORMALLY
OUR OFFICE IS LIKE MANY
OFFICES, WILL ATTEND COMMUNITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS EACH MONTH
WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING
REQUIREMENTS NECESSITATED THIS
CONFERENCE CALL.
IT WAS GREAT TO NOT ONLY HEAR
FROM THEM BUT ALSO ABLE TO HEAR
EACH OTHER'S CONCERNS.
THIS IS GREAT TO SUPPORT EACH
OTHER ACROSS COMMUNITIES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS EVERY WEEK
WITH INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS
WHO WOULD LIKE TO REACH OUT,
THEY CAN SIGN UP ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
I DO HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS AND I
WILL ORGANIZE HOW WE DISCUSS
THAT THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN ON HIS REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE TO THE FINAL REPORT
WHICH IS MINE.
SO, I WILL ANSWER GOING THROUGH
THAT, WE HAVE SOMEONE ON THE
LINE WHO WILL BE WALKING US
THROUGH THE COUNSEL BILL I HAVE
ON THE AGENDA.
THE GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE THAT IS REGULARLY
SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2020 IS
CANCELED CONSISTENT WITH THE
STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY ORDER.
I HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
THIS ESTIMATE THE FIRST IS ON
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFER
COLANDER.
COUNSEL BILL 119762 IS NOW
REINTRODUCED AS BILL 119 788.
TO REFLECT THE BILL TITLE
CHANGED MY RENTAL PAYMENT PLAN
BILL.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE FULL
COUNCIL WILL TAKE FINAL ACTION
ON THIS RE-INTRODUCED BILL NEXT
MONDAY, 11.
I TO ALERT YOU THAT WE HAD TO
DO A REINTRODUCTION OF THE BILL
FOR A BILL TITLE CHANGE.
AFTER CROSS WALKING IT WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION.
SO THE SECOND ITEM IS KOSOVO
119 784 AND AGAIN, WE HAVE
COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF COMING
WITH US TODAY TO WALK US
THROUGH THIS SUBSTITUTE BILL.
AND SHE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE
VARIOUS AMENDMENTS.
BEFORE I HANDED OVER I WANT TO
SHARE A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS
BILL.
ON MARCH 3 THE MAYOR DECLARED A
CIVIL EMERGENCY IN RESPONSETO
THE PANDEMIC.
COVID-19.
BY MARCH 14 SHE HAD DECLARED A
MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL
EVICTIONS.
GOVERNOR INSLEE DECLARED A
SIMILAR MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS
ON MARCH 18.
BOTH EVICTION ORDERS WERE
EXTENDED NOW TO JUNE 4. IN
THOSE EARLY WEEKS IN MARCH IT
BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS CRISIS
WOULD HAVE A WIDESPREAD LASTING
IMPACT AND SO MY OFFICE BEGAN
THE WORK AND IDENTIFIED TWO
AREAS OF PROTECTION THAT THE
COUNCIL COULD ENACT NOW TO HELP
PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES
THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC AND IN
THE AFTERMATH OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO, WHILE NEITHER OF THESE
BILLS PROHIBITS NOR PUTS A
PERMANENT MORATORIUM ON
EVICTIONS, BOTH OF THE BILLS
THAT I HAVE INTRODUCED ARE
INTENDED TO HELP TENANTS HAVE
MORE TIME AND FLEXIBILITY TO
ULTIMATELY STAY HOUSED AS THEY
GET BACK TO BUSINESS.
TODAY WE WILL CONSIDER COUNSEL
BILL 119 784 WHICH WOULD CREATE
AN ADDITIONAL DEFENSE FOR THOSE
IN EVICTION PROCEEDINGS SIMILAR
TO THE BILLS WE HAD AND PRE-
EXISTING JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE.
I HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS FOR
CONSIDERATION TODAY, ONE OF
WHICH IS PRETTY TECHNICAL.
AND BEFORE I SORT OF WALK
THROUGH THOSE I WILL ASK ASHER
TO WALK US THROUGH THE
SUBSTITUTE BILL AND THEN
ADDRESS THE AMENDMENTS AND WE
WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP SOME
QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WE DO
THAT, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD WHO AS WE KNOW
HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE ON
BEHALF OF TENANTS FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS.
AND SHE HAS BEEN JUST REALLY
HELPFUL TO ME IN THINKING
THROUGH HOW TO CRAFT THIS BILL
IN A WAY AND THE OTHER BILL AS
WELL, IN A WAY TO MAKE SURE IT
HAS MAXIMUM PROTECTION FOR
TENANTS WILL ALSO BALANCING THE
NEEDS OF PROPERTY OWNERS IN
THIS CONTEXT.
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL OF
HER GOOD THINKING AND
PARTNERSHIP ON MANY OF THE
CHANGES THAT ARE REFLECTED IN
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL THAT WILL
BE BEFORE US NOW.
SO, I WILL HANDED OVER TO ASHA
TO HAVE US WALK THROUGH THE
CHANGES IN THE COUNSEL BILL AND
THE AMENDMENTS AND WE WILL, WE
WILL ADDRESS THE AMENDMENTS
RESPECTIVELY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> AS A COUNCIL PRESIDENT
DESCRIBED THIS AS A SUBSTITUTE
BILL FOR 119 762 AND IT DOES A
COUPLE THINGS.
THE CHANGES BETWEEN THIS BILL
AND THE PREVIOUS BILL ARE FOUR
MAJOR THINGS, THE CHANGE.
THE FIRST IS WE MOVED THE WHEN
THIS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM,
DURING AND WITH ITS SIX MONTHS
AFTER THE CIVIL EMERGENCY TWO
ONLY KICK IN SIX MONTHS AFTER
THE END OF THE MAYOR'S
MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL
EVICTIONS.
SPECIFICALLY SINCE THAT
MORATORIUM HAS NOW BEEN
EXTENDED, TO MATCH THE MAYOR'S
ASSUMING THERE ARE MORE
EXTENSIONS, JUNE 4, IF THERE
ARE ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS OF
THE MORATORIUM THIS DEFENSE
WILL KICK IN AFTER SIX MONTHS
AFTER THIS END.
SO, THAT'S THE FIRST CHANGE.
THAT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT
REQUIRED A TITLE CHANGE, THAT
IS WHY WE ARE USING THE
SUBSTITUTE BILL.
THE SECOND MAJOR CHANGE IS THAT
THE ORIGINAL BILL HAD REQUIRED
THAT THE FAILURE TO PAY RENT BE
LINKED TO A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
RELATED TO THE COVID-19
EMERGENCY.
THIS BILL REMOVES THAT PIECE OF
CAUSATION AND ESSENTIALLY SAYS
IF YOU ARE REQUIRED TO VACATE
WITHIN THE EFFECTIVE PERIOD OF
THE BILL YOU CAN USE THIS
DEFENSE.
THE THIRD MAJOR CHANGE IS MORE
OF A TECHNICAL CORRECTION IN
THAT THE ORIGINAL BILL HAD
REFERENCED SOME TEN-DAY PAY OR
VACATE NOTICES AS THE BASIS OF
THE EVICTION ACTION.
DUE TO SOME CHANGES IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE THAT OCCURRED
IN 2019 TEN-DAY NOTICES ARE NO
LONGER ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE
TO PAY RENT SO ALL OF THOSE
REFERENCES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED
TO REFER TO 14 DAY PAY OR
VACATE NOTICES.
AND THEN, THE LAST CHANGE IS
NOT NECESSARILY A MAJOR ONE
THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SECTIONS
IN THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT IT
ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO IN-STATE
ESTATE WHITE EVICTION
MORATORIUM WHICH IS NOW BEEN
DONE.
AND THAT RELATED TO THE
EFFECTIVE AN ADDITIONAL
ORDINANCE WHICH WAS THE
EVICTIONS BILL BUT SINCE
INTRODUCTION OF THIS NEW BILL
THAT IS NO LONGER A CONCERN
BECAUSE THAT BILL HAS GONE INTO
EFFECT.
THOSE OF THE MAJOR CHANGES.
WE ALSO MADE SEVERAL ADDITIONS
TO THE NEW BILL.
THE FIRST IS TO REQUIRE THAT
ANY EVICTION NOTICE THAT GOES
OUT HAS TO HAVE SPECIFIC
INFORMATION ON IT THAT LETS
TENANTS KNOW ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO
RAISE THIS DEFENSE TO EVICTION.
IF THE NOTICE DOES NOT PROPERLY
CONTAIN THAT INFORMATION IT
ALLOWS THE PERMIT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION TO
LET THE LANDLORD KNOW THAT
NOTICE IS NOT VALID AND THEY
WOULD HAVE TO REISSUE IT GOING
FORWARD.
SECONDLY IT INCLUDES ATTORNEYS
FEES SIGNALING TO THE COURT
THAT IF LEFT TO THEIR
DISCRETION THAT ATTORNEYS FEES
SHOULD NOT BE AWARDED TO
LANDLORDS IN THIS SITUATION.
THE COURT HAS DISCRETION ABOUT
WHETHER TO AWARD THOSE ARE NOT
SO THIS BILL DOESN'T REQUIRE
THAT THERE ARE, IT MAKES IT
CLEAR TO THE COURT THAT THE
PREFERENCES THAT THOSE FEES NOT
BE AWARDED.
THERE ARE SOME UPDATES,
RECITALS AND LEGISLATIVE
FINDINGS, MAKING SOME
GRAMMATICAL CORRECTIONS AND
UPDATING THE BILL IN TERMS OF
WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY
INTRODUCED TO DEVELOPMENT SO
THINGS LIKE THE EXPANSION OF
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND
EXTENSION OF THE GOVERNOR STAY
HOME, STAY HEALTHY ORDER.
IT INCLUDES A CLAUSE JUST TO
COVER IN CASE PROVISIONS OF THE
BILL ARE STRUCK IN COURT.
THE REMAINING PROVISIONS WILL
STILL BE IN EFFECT.
IT ALSO INCLUDED SOME LANGUAGE
ABOUT THE COURT PROVIDING
INSTALLMENT PLANS AFTER THE
TENANT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
ASSERT DEFENSE.
BUT THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN
RELATION TO ONE OF THE
AMENDMENTS.
SO, THE AMENDMENTS, THAT YOU
HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION,
THE FIRST ONE IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ AS SHE
MENTIONED, IT IS TO MAKE
GRAMMATICAL CORRECTIONS, REVISE
SOME REFERENCES TO DATES AND
THAT WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S ORDER ON THE OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
THE SECOND IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN AND
WOULD CARVE OUT AN EXEMPTION
SIMILARLY.
THE THIRD WHICH IS CURRENTLY
DESIGNATED AS 3K OR THREE B,
WHICH IS PROCEDURAL IN TERMS OF
WHETHER THE SECOND AMENDMENT
úPASSES OR FAILS, REQUIRES THAT
THE TENANT ENGAGE IN GOOD FAITH
EFFORT TO EXIT RENTAL ASSESSES
FUNDS.
THIS COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE
THE HOMEBASE FUND OR SOMETHING
ELSE.
AND THEN PROPOSED AMENDMENT 4
WHICH WAS CIRCULATED ON FRIDAY
WOULD REMOVE THAT INSTALLMENT
PLAN EDITION THAT I JUST
MENTIONED IS IN THE BILL.
THAT IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
AND LESLIE I'M WORKING ON
FINALIZING ONE ADDITIONAL
PROPOSED AMENDMENT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
ABOUT SOME REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
THEY WOULD ASK SDA TO REPORT
BACK ON THE USE OF THIS DEFENSE
AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF
EVICTIONS THAT ARE BEING FILED
IN COURT DURING THIS TIME
PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU, AISHA, SO MUCH
FOR THAT HESITATION.
AND FOR THE AMENDMENT YOU
CIRCULATED DESCRIBING THE BILL
AS YOU JUST PRESENTED ABOUT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO, I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
JUST WALK US THROUGH SOME OF MY
AMENDMENTS, AND TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE AND THEN
I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN HAS SOME AMENDMENTS
AND I WILL LET HIM DESCRIBE HIS
AMENDMENTS AND THEN I WILL
HAPPILY SHARE WITH YOU ALL, YOU
WILL GET MY THOUGHTS ON THOSE
LIMITS.
AS WAS DESCRIBED, AMENDMENT ONE
IS LARGELY TECHNICAL CHANGES AS
SHE DESCRIBED THOSE AND I DON'T
THINK THOSE WERE CONTROVERSIAL.
WE WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I ALSO HAVE A SECOND AMENDMENT,
AMENDMENT 4 ON THE AGENDA, THIS
AMENDMENT IS AS DESCRIBED WOULD
REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE
COURT ORDERED PAYMENT PLANS IN
LARGE PART BECAUSE WE ENGAGED
WITH SOME OF THE LAWYERS WHO DO
REPRESENTATION IN THE EVICTIONS
DEFENSE AREA AND THEY SHARED
INSIGHTS ABOUT HOW SOME CLIENTS
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST
VULNERABLE AND WOULD NEED THE
GREATEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION
WOULD REALLY EXPERIENCE A
NEGATIVE IMPACT AS A RESULT OF
THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
WE WANT TO SORT OF LET OUR
PAYMENT PLAN BILL STAND ON ITS
OWN.
IF A COURT SEES THAT THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF
RELIEF FORTHE TENANT WE WANT
TO ALLOW THE COURT TO USE
WHATEVER THOSE BELIEFS MIGHT BE
INCLUDING WAVING RENT OR
PURSUING SOME OTHER TYPE OF
RELIEF ON BEHALF OF THE TENANT.
BUT WE WANT TO ALLOW FOR THAT
TO OCCUR INDEPENDENTLY IN THE
COURT PROCEEDINGS.
THAT IS SORT OF THE ESSENCE OF
THAT PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
I AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT MY AMENDMENTS
IN PARTICULAR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON MY
AMENDMENTS?
OKAY, HEARING NONE I WILL
HANDED OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN WHO HAS A FEW
AMENDMENTS OF HIS OWN.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ HAS DONE
WITH THIS LEGISLATION AND
TAKING THE EXTRA TIME AND CARE
TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS AND
PROPOSALS AND THE CITY
GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT EVICTIONS
AND HARM THAT COMES WITH THOSE,
I'M PROUD JOIN MY COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR ON THE
RELIEF PROGRAMS WITH MORE
RELIEF PROGRAMS COMING.
MEETING WITH YOU, THE
C.A.R.E.S.
ACT, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN
ADDITIONAL EVICTION PREVENTION
AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND I
WANT OUR COMPASSIONATE POLICIES
ALSO TO BE SUSTAINABLE AND
CONSTITUENTS HAVE CONTACTED MY
OFFICE BOTH IN FAVOR OF THE
LEGISLATION AND OPPOSED TO IT.
AND TO RECONCILE THOSE OPPOSING
VIEWS I PUT FORWARD THESE
AMENDMENTS WHICH I BELIEVE WILL
ENABLE US TO LOOK AT THE DATA
ALONG THE WAY AND YOU HAVE
THESE AMENDMENTS, THEY DO NOT
GARNER SUFFICIENT SUPPORT
TODAY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO THESE IDEAS, TO DISCUSS
THEM, RESPECTFULLY, I THINK
IT'S REALLY HEALTHY THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE
RESTRICTED FROM HAVING CERTAIN
PUBLIC MEETINGS, HAVING THE
PUBLIC COME IN TO THE MEETINGS,
I WANT TO HEAR THESE ISSUES IN
THE FORM OF AMENDMENTS SO THEY
ARE VERY SPECIFIC, THREE
AMENDMENTS AS AISHA SAID, I
WANT TO THANK SEVERAL STAFF FOR
THEIR WORK ON THESE, IT'S VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID FOR THE
BAN ON WINTER EVICTIONS.
WE EXEMPTED SMALL LANDLORDS,
THESE ARE LANDLORDS WHO OWN FOR
FEWER UNITS.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT ON THE
GOOD FAITH EFFORT, THIS IS TO
SHOW THAT TENANTS ARE MAKING A
GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO TRY TO
ACCESS THESE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE BECAUSE THE
WHOLE POINT IS TO PREVENT THE
EVICTION AND NOT JUST HAVE IT
IS ONLY A DEFENSE LATER BUT TO
PREVENT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE ARE AMENDING THIS, WE ARE
REVISING THIS AMENDMENT, TO ADD
AN ADDITIONAL PASS FOR SHOWING
SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS WHICH
IS TO SELF CERTIFY OR SELF
DECLARATION THAT THE PERSON IS
SUFFERING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP SO
THAT WILL MAKE THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW MUCH MORE
FLEXIBLE FOR THE TENANTS.
THAT LANGUAGE WILL BE CERTAINLY
PROVIDED SHORTLY, WE ARE
WORKING ON THE FINAL DETAILS
THIS MORNING.
ALLOWING SELF CERTIFICATION
LIKE WE ARE DOING FOR THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM.
THE OTHER AMENDMENT IS
REPORTING REQUIREMENT BASICALLY
ASKING THE EXECUTIVE TO COME
BACK IN A COUPLE MONTHS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE SIX MONTH PERIOD
AND REPORT ON THE LIMITATION,
THE ORDINANCE, TERRIFIED AS
MUCH DETAIL AS THEY HAD AND IS
AVAILABLE SO WE ARE TRACKING
AND SEEING THE EFFECT THIS IS
HAVING.
THOSE ARE THE THREE AMENDMENTS,
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS AND ASHES HERE, AS
WELL.
>> BEFORE I OPEN UP FOR
QUESTIONS I WANT TO SORT OF CUE
UP MY REACTION TO SOME OF THESE
. ON AMENDMENT TWO, A SMALL
LANDLORD EXEMPTION BY EXEMPTING
LANDLORDS WITH FOUR OR FEWER
PROPERTIES FROM THIS BILL, I AM
NOT SUPPORTING THAT AMENDMENT
IN LARGE PART BECAUSE I BELIEVE
GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE
CRISIS AND THE PANDEMIC WE KNOW
THAT ALL TENANTS, ALL PEOPLE
WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PAY RENT
DURING THE MONTH MAY BE
SUFFERING FROM FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP THAT MAKES IT
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO PAY RENT
AND SO I THINK THAT IS TRUE
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE
COMPLEX.
AND THE SIZE OF THE UNIT.
AND MY GOAL HERE IS TO REALLY
MAKE SURE THAT THIS DEFENSE
WHICH IS TIME CAPTAIN NATURE IS
ACCESSIBLE TO THE GREATEST
NUMBER OF PEOPLE POSSIBLE,
AGAIN, WE ARE CREATING A PATHWAY
FOR TENANTS TO BE ABLE TO ARGUE
IN COURT THAT THE REASON THEY
ARE UNABLE TO PAY RENT IS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED
FINANCIAL ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AS
A RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
EXPERIENCING.
I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
AS MANY TENANTS AS POSSIBLE ARE
ABLE TO ACCESS THAT DEFENSE SO
UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T SUPPORT
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 FOR THOSE
REASONS.
IN TERMS OF AMENDMENT THREE A
AND 3B, I HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE
LANGUAGE AS DESCRIBED BY
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN , I'M
INTERESTED IN A SOFTENING OF
THAT LANGUAGE AND WOULD NOT BE
OPPOSED TO AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE
TO DECLARE THAT THEY HAVE
SUFFERED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
AND THEREFORE ARE UNABLE TO PAY
RENT.
WE DO CHECK IN WITH THE TENANT
ADVOCATE SPECIFICALLY AT THE
KING COUNTY HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT WHO MENTIONED AND TOLD
US TODAY THAT IN EFFECT PEOPLE
WILL, TENANTS WILL, BE MAKING
THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP IN COURT IF THEY ACCESS
THAT DEFENSE.
AND SO, THERE WASN'T A STRONG
OPPOSITION TO COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN'S PROPOSAL TO PURSUE
THAT PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
SO, AGAIN, I HAVE TO SEE THE
LINK WHICH OF THE AMENDMENT,
I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING IT.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
RECEIVING THAT LANGUAGE BEFORE
I TAKE A FINAL POSITION ON
WHETHER OR NOT I CAN SUPPORT
THE AMENDMENT AROUND ACCESS TO
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE A CERTIFICATION OF
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT MAKES
IT DIFFICULT TO PAY RENT. MY
CONCERN ABOUT THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS THAT NOT
EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO ACCESS
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AS
DEFINED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND BY THE STATE
DOLLARS, THERE ARE SWATHS OF
CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN CATEGORICALLY EXCLUDED
FROM BENEFITING FROM THOSE
TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT
SORT OF TYING OURSELVES TO
THOSE QUALIFIERS AND THEREBY
HAVING THE RESULT OF WALKING OUT
THE SAME CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE
PRINT EARLY IF UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS FROM ACCESSING THIS
DEFENSE IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO
EVER SAY THAT THEY BEEN ABLE,
IN GOOD FAITH, TRY TO GET
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THEY ARE
INHERENTLY NOT EVER ABLE TO
ACCESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE
THOSE DOLLARS AND PROGRAMS ARE
UNAVAILABLE TO THEM.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THEM
NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THIS
AS A DEFENSE.
IN THE COURSE OF AN EVICTION
PROCEEDING.
SO THAT IS MY UNDERLYING
CONCERN ABOUT THE AMENDMENT AS
WAS INTRODUCED BUT I'M HAPPY TO
TAKE A LOOK AT ANY REVISIONS
THAT SOFTEN AND CREATE AN
ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY FOR FOLKS
TO CONSIDER.
ON THE AMENDMENT 5, WE'VE BEEN
CONSISTENT IN WANTED TO GET
DATA AND EVALUATING THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF MANY OF OUR
POLICY CHOICES AND HAVE NO
OBJECTION TO HAVING THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT AND
MONITORING PROGRAMS TO CREATE A
REPORT.
THAT IS WHERE MY STAND IS ON
THE LIMITS AS PROPOSED I'M
HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT.
I AM HEARING NONE.
SO, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND LOOK
FOR THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE
FROM YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING IT AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH YOU BETWEEN NOW
AND 2:00 WHEN YOU FINALIZE THAT
PARTICULAR LANGUAGE.
ONE LAST THING, COLLIES, FROM
ME, IS A EXCITING OPPORTUNITY
TO SIGN UP FOR A PROCLAMATION.
SO, THIS IS, THIS WEEK, THE
WEEK OF MAY 3, THROUGH MAY 9,
MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK, THE CITY
CLERK IS THE CHARTER PUBLIC
OFFICE THAT SUBSCRIBES TO
PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT
AND OATH OF OFFICE WHICH
TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE SERVE AS A AND IDEATION
UPON WHICH THE OFFICE STANDS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS WORK
THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN
THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS OFFICE DO
DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO PROVIDE
THE VERY IMPORTANT SERVICES TO
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND TO EACH OF US SO
MANY OF US INTERFACE AND
INTERACT WITH THE CITY CLERKS
OFFICE ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY
ARE INVALUABLE TO OUR
OPERATIONS.
AND ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO
MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS
ACCESS TO US AND WE ARE BEING
HELD UP HUMBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
I WILL MOVE FORWARD A
PROCLAMATION, PRESENTING A
PROCLAMATION THIS AFTERNOON TO
THE CITY CLERK STAFF IN THAT
DRAFT OF THE PROCLAMATION HAS
BEEN CIRCULATED TO ALL OF YOU.
I THINK WITHIN THE LAST HOUR.
AND CONSISTENT WITH PAST
PRACTICES WE WILL DO A QUICK
ROLL CALL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
WOULD LIKE TO SIGN, HAVE YOUR
NAME ADDED TO THE PROCLAMATION.
YOU CAN SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROCLAMATION BEFORE I GO
THROUGH THE ROLL CALL?
OR HAVE THE CLERK GO THROUGH
THE ROLL CALL?
ALL RIGHT, GREAT.
>> I WANT TO SAY, GIVE MY
COMMENTS TO THE CITY CLERKS.
I FEAR THE SERVICE TO BE
AMAZING AND I APPRECIATE THEM
SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR STAYING THAT.
THEY DO AMAZING WORK.
LET'S GO AHEAD, CLERKS, IF YOU
CAN GET YOUR PENCILS READY WILL
CALL THE ROLE ON HAVING COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND THEIR NAMES TO THE
PROCLAMATION THAT RECOGNIZES
MUNICIPAL CLERK WEEK.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> AYE
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS .
>> EMPHATIC AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBAL.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALE IS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF DALLAS.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH
COLLEAGUES FOR ENTERTAINING THE
SIGNATURE OF THE PROCLAMATION.
I APPRECIATE IT.
THAT IS THE LAST ITEM ON OUR
AGENDA.
SO, WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED
AND WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY AT
2:00.
THANK YOU.